Iranian Journal of Health Sciences
Year:2013 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:13

Background and purpose: Organizational commitment is one the important attitude in organizations, which together with development of ethical values that needs to be emphasized. The goal of this study is to survey relationship between staff ethical values and organizational commitment in public and non- public hospitals in Tehran.Materials & Methods: This correlation study includes 280 public and non-public hospital workers randomly selected. The data were gathered using a standard questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistical and Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis through SPSS software.Results: The organizational commitment mean was 6.17±.632 and ethical values mean was 5.64±.843. The study shows high correlation between organizational commitment and ethical values.Conclusion: Policymakers and hospital managers need to plan and improve cultural and ethical issues which can increase the organizational commitment.

Background and purpose: Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that is commonly caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. As Kurdistan province is close to Iraq (risky due to political instability in recent years), the Bane city had high interaction with Iraq, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of tuberculosis in Bane (Kurdistan) between 2003 and 2010.Materials and Methods: This descriptive longitudinal study was done from 2003 to 2010. The number of people with TB was 94 cases taken from the registry. The data included age, sex, type of disease, age and place of registration. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods through SPSS 20 software.Results: Among the 94 cases recorded in this analysis, the women had higher percentage than men (41.49 percent and 58.51 for men and women, respectively) and the incidence rates were found to be 7.93 in men and 11.64 in women 100000 persons; therefore, there were significant differences between men and women (a p-value<0.01) in all patients in this study. Fifty five percent were from the urban and some others the rural areas and 98.9 percent of them were from Iran.Conclusion: The incidence rate of tuberculosis in females is higher than males. In addition, the average delay time of symptoms to diagnosis was 191 days, so this time, it is relatively high because TB is an infectious disease.

Background and purpose: Prematurity birth occurs when a newborn is born before the thirty seventh week of pregnancy. Preterm birth is the most expensive and the most common health problem. So, the aim of this study was to do epidemiological survey of prematurity in Gonbad-e Kavous in 2010.Materials and Methods: This sectional- descriptive study was carried out on 172 premature babies with census method. A questionnaire was made with a=0.873 to collect the data. The data were analyzed with SPSS software, descriptive statistics and Poisson regression.Results: The incidence of prematurity was 41.04 at live births per 1, 000 and the mortality rate of prematurity based on all births at live births per 1, 000 was 7.78 in 2009. In 2007 and 2008, the mortality rate of prematurity based on all births at live births per 1000 was 10.74 and 7.08, respectively. The villages of Baghlimara, Gadomabad, Aghabad, Gharemohammadtapeh, Chaighoshan, Agribaghaz, Soltanali, Taghiabad, Gonbad1, Gonbad 6, Bibishirvan had the highest maturity rate in 2009-2010, respectively. The most focused was in the south and southeast villages and broader line villages had the lowest rate of prematurity.Conclusion: The majority of mothers who had preterm birth did not have appropriate nutrition, economic and social situations. In terms of education, 61% of them were at primary level that can have effect on their knowledge and practice. Therefore, increasing knowledge rate and changing diet in pregnancy care and paying more attention to related organizations in improving their livelihood are recommended.

Background and purpose: Consumption of baking soda, as a primary material for preparation of bread dough, has been banned due to its health complications in Iran. So bread production in our country faced difficulties and one part of them is related to health issues which are bread production. Also, in some cases, baking soda is used in the bread production. This study was done to study the environmental health status and consumption of baking soda in the military and urban Lavash bakeries of Tehran in 2012.Materials and methods: This is a descriptive comparative study done on Lavash bread production of 14 military bakeries and 14 corresponding urban bakeries near them. PH in the samples was tested based on Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran No.2628. To check the status of environmental health and personal hygiene of bakeries, the check list of Cereal Research Center was used.Results: In terms of environmental health status, 28.6% military bakeries and 7.1% urban bakeries were at good level. In terms of personal hygiene, all bakeries were in the poor category. Also, 42.9% of military Lavash bakeries and 14.3% of urban Lavash bakeries used baking soda in their bread production.Conclusion: Environment health and personal hygiene status in military bakeries are better than the urban bakeries; however, hygiene status was not desirable in military bakeries. Also, baking soda consumption in military bakeries was more common than the urban bakeries. According to the results of this study, control of health status and avoiding baking soda consumption in the bakeries are necessary.

Background and purpose: The study about effective management dimensions in hospital staff performance is important. This study was done to survey the relationship between job satisfaction and burnout in the rehabilitation personnel of Razi Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 77 subjects including psychometrics, general practitioners, specialists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and psychologists were selected randomly among rehabilitation staff in Razi Psychiatric Hospital in 2011. The data were collected using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ).The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation method.Results: Job satisfaction had an inverse relationship with "emotional exhaustion" and "depersonalization" (p<0.001), but there was not a significant relationship between "personal accomplishment" and "job satisfaction". The mean of emotional exhaustion was 68.18, depersonalization 68.4 and personal accomplishment 29.36. In addition, the results of this study showed that 36.6 percent of rehabilitation team employees in Razi Psychiatric Hospital were satisfied with their jobs.Conclusion: As the results show, it is necessary to perform further research to find the main reasons of intensifying job burnout and then reduce these critical factors leading to personnel dissatisfaction from their jobs and any probable consequence of this dissatisfaction.

Background and purpose: Health related quality of life (HQOL) has different dimensions and many factors affect it. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lifestyle satisfaction and health- related quality of life in the population aged 40 year old and over. The question is, if there is not lifestyle satisfaction, how should be the pattern of tendency to behavioral changes.Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The statistical population is the inhabitants aged40 and over in Mazandaran province. One thousand and two hundred twenty five subjects by stratification and clustering random sampling were selected. The data were collected by face-to-face interview using the Persian version of the Short Form Health survey (SF-36). SF-36 is a standard questionnaire and Persian translation is valid and reliable. Lifestyle variable assessment includes smoking, physical activity, nutritional status, exercise and stress. Lifestyle satisfaction, tendency to behavioral change and demographic variables were assessed by separate questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed by T-test and ANOVA by SPSS.Results: All health related quality of life components had meaningful relationship with lifestyle satisfaction. The mean of all the components of SF-36 measurements for those who had high lifestyle satisfaction were higher than the others (p<0.001).The highest amount of tendency to behavioral change was seen in nutritional status, exercise, stress control and smoking habits.Conclusion: According to the results, for promoting physical and mental health, lifestyle satisfaction must be increased. Nutrition, exercise, and giving up smoking are of great importance in physical health promotion.

Background: and purpose: Dye is one of the problems of industrial effluent such as textile industries. The dyes can be removed by various methods. Therefore, the aim of this study was the evaluation of adsorption rate of reactive red 198 from aqueous solution by activated red mud.Materials and methods: This research was a lab study. Activated red mud was used as an adsorbent to remove reactive red 198 dye. The effect of various parameters on performance of adsorbent was investigated and the isotherm of adsorption was determined. The dye concentration was measured in wavelength of 518 nm by spectrophotometer.Results: The results indicated that the adsorption efficiency reduced by increasing of initial dye concentration. Increasing of contact time and adsorbent dose can lead to increasing of the removal efficiency. The maximum removal efficiency was occurred pH between 2 to 3. The data was best fitted on Frandlich and Temkin isotherms.Conclusion: The red mud had a satisfactory quality in dye adsorption. It can be used as effective and inexpensive adsorbents for treatment of textile effluent.

Background and purpose: After lung cancer, breast cancer, among the prevalent cancers of the world is of the most widespread disease among women. It is the most common cause of mortality among women. This study aimed to analyze the results using breast cancer screening methods among women over 20 years old.Materials and methods: The present study is a cross-sectional-descriptive research. The sample volume is 1416 women over 20 years in Mazandaran province. One hundred forty one clusters of 10 families including 81 urban clusters and 60 rural clusters were determined at thought the province. The questionnaires were completed by the subjects through direct administration. The data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16) statistical software and descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Results: The results show that 46% of study women had self – examination record and 14.3% of them had regular and monthly self – examination, 38% of women had breast clinical examination by a physician. And 20.7%, breast clinical examination was done regularly and annually. Fourteen percent of women had mammography record, in which only 3.5% was done at a regular time interval every 3 years.Conclusion: According to the findings, women performance about the early detection of breast cancer was not satisfactory. Thus, planning and designing appropriate educational interventions within socio-cultural conditions and using health training models can lead to promoting breast cancer early detection performance among women over 20 years.

Background and purpose: Surgery is a high risk profession owing to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Fine and precise operations cause surgeons to adopt prolonged fixed posture. As there is limited information in this region, the purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of MSDs and personal and occupational risk factors among surgeons in Babol (a northern city in Iran).Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 45 surgeons during 2011 using a questionnaire in three parts including: Demographic and occupational data, Nordic standardized musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire (NMQ), and Body Discomfort Assessment technique. The working posture during operation was assessed by Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical indexes and chi- square test, and a p<0.05 was considered as significant.Results: According to the data, the mean of work experience was 19.9±6 years, and the mean of work hours was 54.2±14 (ranged 20-80 hours per week). Ninety five percent of surgeons reported experiencing one or more MSDs symptoms during the previous year. Neck pain (66.7%) and low back pain (LBP) (51%) was the more frequent reported complaint. The results showed a significant statistical difference between LBP with weekly regular exercise and work experience.Conclusion: The results indicate that MSDs are the common problems among the surgeons and they are at risk because of their personal and occupational conditions. So, ergonomics interventions in order to prevent MSDs are recommended.

Background and purpose: Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor is an aerobic attached growth with better biofilm thickness control, lack of plugging and lower head loss. Consequently, this system is greatly used by different wastewater treatment plants. High TDS wastewater produced petrochemical, leather tanning, sea food processing, cannery, pickling and dairy industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of MBBR in saline wastewater treatment.Materials and methods: In this study, 50 percent of a cylindrical reactor with 9.5 liter occupied media with 650 m2.m-3. In the first step, hydraulic regime was evaluated and startup reactor was done by sanitary sludge. Bio film was generated with glucose as the sole carbon source in synthetic wastewater. MBBR performance evaluation was performed in 6: 30 and 8: 45 with saline wastewater after bio film produced on media.Results: After 83 days of passing MBBR operation with saline wastewater containing 3000-12000 mg.L-1 TDS, organic loading rate of 2.2-3.5 kg/m3.d COD removal efficiency reached 80-92%.Conclusion: Moving bed biofilm reactor is effective in organic load elimination from saline wastewater.

Background and purpose: Phenol is one of prevalent contaminants found in many industrial wastewaters. The combination with special features, such as high toxicity, carcinogenic properties, vitality gathering ability, low biodegradation potentiality and others, based on the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, classified as a priority pollutant. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficiency of Moringa Peregrina tree shell ash for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions.Materials and Methods: This study is experimental and pilot scale. To determine the efficiency of Moringa Peregrina tree shell ash for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions; the examination was carried out in a batch system. To achieve the aim of this study, the effect of each of the parameters affecting the adsorption process, such as initial pH of solution, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial concentration of phenol in solution were studied.Results: The results showed that the highest percentage of phenol removal by the ash occurred at pH 6, initial concentration100 mg.L-1and adsorbent dose 0.4 g/l in which the 79.96% phenol was removed. For the analysis of the absorption constant, the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm were used. The results showed that the experimental data fit the Langmuir (R2=0.9833) much better than the Freundlich model (R2=0.9373).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it was found that the Moringa Peregrina tree shell ash is not only a low-cost adsorbent but also has a high performance in the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions.

Background and purpose: The basic responsibility of nurses is to maintain patient safety including notifying patients and colleagues about risk and risk reduction methods, supporting the patient safety and reporting events to a responsible person. Without creating a safety culture in all health facilities a sustainable development in the patient care do not occur. This study aims to determine the patient safety culture in teaching hospitals in Gorgan.Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a target group includes nurses at 5 Azar, Taleghani and Deziani Hospitals in Gorgan in 2011. The study population included 348 nurses in these hospitals. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire with 43 questions. Statistical tests were ANOVA and T-Test.Results: Twenty four percent of nurses believed patient safety culture is weak, 46.8% of them, moderate and 30.7% good. The weakest dimension was non-punitive response to error and strongest dimension was organizational education. Statistic test showed significant relationship between patient safety culture and experience (p=0.021), employment status (p=0.001), hospital (p=0.001), ward (p=0.003).Conclusion: The status of the patient safety culture was related moderate from the nurses' view point but it is necessary it improved in dimensions of the non-punitive response and the staff workload to note that it is highly recommended to take some actions in this regard.

Background and purpose: One of the most prominent concerns for the water consumers is pathogenic microorganism contamination. Wells and underground water resources are the main resources of drinking water in Sari city, Iran. The main objectives of the research project were to explore the distribution and frequency of mycoflora in wells and underground water resources of the city and their contamination effects on humans.Materials and methods: Three reservoirs and 18 wells or underground water resources were analyzed. Water samples were then filtered and analyzed according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Each filter and 0.2 ml of suspension inoculated on SDA+CG media. For fungal growth, plates were incubated at 27’C for 7-10 days. The fungi were identified by standard mycological techniques.Results: Fungal colonies were isolated from all samples. From total of 160 fungal colonies isolated from wells water, 14 species of fungi were distinguished. Rhodotorula (54.4%), Monilinia (13.7%), Alternaria (6.9%) were the most commonly isolated. Drechslera, Rhizopus, and Exserohilum (0.6%) had the lowest frequency. There was no significant difference between fungal elements isolated from three major reservoirs (P>0.05).Conclusion: This study revealed that resources of drinking water from an area have to monitored and if its fungal CFU be greater than a certain value, medical and health preventive measures should be taken before the water is used by human. In this context, public and private awareness should also be provided through the media, broadcasting, teachers and scholars.