JOURNAL OF SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
Year:2019 | Volume:17 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background and Aim: Since many of the healthy behaviors are adopted and develop during adolescence, proper choice of such behaviors is very important in this period of life. In addition, paying attention to the health of girls is crucial because they will transfer such behaviors to the next generation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the role of health literacy and demographic variables in determining health-promoting behaviors among second-grade high school girl students in the City of Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 female students using cluster sampling method in 2018. Data were collected using demographic, Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII) questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS25. Results: The results of multivariate regression analysis revealed that there were statistically significant direct associations between health-promoting behaviors and the following variables: one’ s health literacy (β = 0. 39, p<0. 001), interest in health topics (β = 1. 35, p<0. 001), reading of journals and newspapers (β =0. 76, p= 0. 007), father's education (p= 0. 002), body mass index (p= 0. 022), field of study (p<0. 001), the first source of health information (p<0. 001) and place of residence (p = 0. 023). Further analysis of the data showed an indirect association between healthpromoting behaviors and age (β =-1. 69, p<0. 001) and health assessment (β =-1. 67, p<0. 01). Conclusion: Based on the findings it is concluded that the subjects’ health literacy and healthpromoting behavior scores were “ not sufficient” and “ intermediate” , respectively. It is recommended to design and implement appropriate training/intervention programs aiming at increasing the heath literacy and promoting health behaviors of female students.

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of family-based interventions on clinical symptoms and social skills of hyperactive children. Material and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pre-and post-test. A total of 28 school students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) referring to a Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Counseling Center along with their parents were selected using the available sampling method as the main sample of the study. They were then divided into two equal groups ─ an experimental group receiving intervention (family therapy) and a control group receiving no intervention. The research tools were the Inderbitzen and Foster Adolescents Social Skills Questionnaire (CWS, 1992) and the Conners Parent Questionnaire (1999). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Results: Analysis of the data showed that family-based interventions can lead to increases in social skills and decrease clinical symptoms in children with ADHD. Conclusion: It is concluded that family-based intervention can result in enhancing social skills and reducing clinical symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background and Aim: Safe food and proper nutrition play a vital role in the health of populations. Food-borne diseases are a serious public health problem. Food handlers working in the kitchen play an important role in the transmission of foodborne diseases. Food-borne diseases, especially those caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, are preventable. Proper manpower training is a key factor in provision of safe food and prevention of malnutrition. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional and applied study was conducted in 10 hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2017. The knowledge, attitude and practice of 136 food handlers working in the kitchens of the hospitals was assessed using questionnaires. Results: Analysis of the data showed that 8. 08% of the participants had a good knowledge about food hygiene and safety (a score above 75%), while 16. 7% of them achieved the full score as regards attitude. The hospitals’ performance was at a desirable level. The level of food hygiene and safety knowledge of the food handlers was significantly associated with their refresher trainings (p <0. 05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the awareness of food handlers in most of the hospitals about food hygiene and safety is not sufficiently high. It is suggested to design and implement proper refresher training crash courses, as well as sensitize the personnel.

Background and Aims: Nocardia asteroides complex is the most common cause of infectious diseases due to nocardiosis. Interspecies differentiation of Nocardia genera is essential for prognosis and timely proper treatment, as well as for epidemiological studies. Since each genus has its own antibiotic resistance, precise careful diagnosis is of prime importance. As compared to biochemical and phenotypic methods, the efficacy of molecular methods for fast and accurate identification of Nocardia species has been proven. The aim of this study was to detect for the first time Nocardia asteroides complex in clinical isolates using real time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR). Materials and Methods: Out of the 25 clinical isolates suspected to be Nocardia asteroides genus 10 were identified as Nocardia asteroids complex by biochemical and phenotypic methods, followed by genomic DNA extraction of the suspicious isolates. Nocardia asteroides complex positive controls were prepared using standard strains. Real-time PCR was conducted on all the 10 suspicious isolates. The final real-time PCR samples were sent for sequencing to verify the identified species. Results: Based on sequencing results 3 of 10 clinical isolates suspected to be identified as Nocardia asteroides complex were confirmed as belonging to the Nocardia asteroids complex genera ─ Nocardia asteroids, Nocardia farcinica, and Nocardia nova. Conclusion: This study shows that, as compared to biochemical and phenotypic methods, realtime polymerase chain reaction is faster and more specific, and is considered as an efficient method, for Nocardia interspecies identification and differentiation.

Background and Aim: Human resources are of paramount importance in the success of any organization. In the health care system, nurses play a great role in the delivery of high-quality care. In this regard, in the process of providing high-quality and efficient healthcare delivery, justice perception of performance appraisal system and organizational citizenship behavior (JPPAS & OCB) are strong tools for performance management. The aim of this study was to determine the association between JPPAS & OCB among nurses in Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a sample size of 346 nurses working in Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals. Data were collected using two questionnaires, namely, the JPPAS & OCB and a general demographic questionnaire. SPSS 24. 0 for windows was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: Analysis of the data showed that justice perception of performance appraisal system (2. 70) and organizational citizenship behavior (2. 66) are at a moderate level. Based on the correlation analysis, a significant positive association was found between performance appraisal and organizational citizenship behavior. In the final analysis it was shown that performance appraisal could predict organizational citizenship behavior (30. 9% of the variance). Conclusion: Justice perception of performance appraisal system can positively influence loyalty, job satisfaction and employees’ commitment, as well as create organizational confidence, enhance productivity and improve participation.

Background Aim: Job burnout among health educators is increasing with serious physical, psychological and social consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore the causes of job burnout from the perspective of health educators and identify their needs for reducing it. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was carried out in comprehensive health service centers of Sanandaj, west of Iran, in 2017, including 15 health educators selected by purposive sampling. The data were collected through individual interviews and semi-structured group discussions, observation and field notes and analyzed using the conventional content analysis approach with due consideration of acceptability, verifiability and transferability to ensure the accuracy and strength of the data. Results: The causes of job burnout were extracted in 5 categories including "issues related to comprehensive health service centers", "individual challenges of staff members", "management weakness", "executive system challenges" and "issues related to clients". The participants emphasized the following actions for reducing job burnout: strengthening individual skills, effective evaluation and management support, providing recreational and welfare facilities, reducing job stress, and strengthening intra-and inter-sectoral communications. Conclusion: The results of this study show that various factors contribute to job burnout among health educators. Improvements in management, laws and welfare facilities not only would reduce job burnout but also may increase the efficiency of health education programs.

Background and Aim: Considering the central role of low health literacy (HL) in causing health inequalities and the fast growth of university student populations, this study aimed to determine the HL and its related factors among university students. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study including 375 female students of Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin, Iran in 2019 selected using the stratified random sampling method. The data-collecting tools included a demographic and background questionnaire and an Iranian adult HL assessment questionnaire. The SPSS 23 software was used for data analysis, the statistical tests being descriptive and logistic regression tests. Results: Data analysis showed that 17 (4. 5%) of the students had inadequate, 112 (29. 9%) insufficient, 188 (50. 1%) adequate, and 58 (15. 5%) excellent HL, the mean HL percentage (± SD) being 70. 80 (± 12. 49). Based on logistic regression analysis, there was a statistically significant association between HL and physical activity (p =0. 039), such that the chance of having good HL among the students with physical activity on most days was 2. 097 times that of those with regular daily physical activity. A significant relationship was also found between HL and employment (p =0. 042), such that the chance of having good HL among the employed students was 0. 534 times that of unemployed students. Conclusion: Considering the low health literacy rate among the students with low physical activity and those who are unemployed, it is recommended to pay more attention to these students when designing educational programs to increase their health literacy.

Background and Aim: Considering that a person’ s identity in formed during adolescence and that such identity formation is of particular importance in this period and the many factors that play important roles in it, the present study was conducted to determine the factors related with identity formation among high school students in Mazandaran Province, Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study. The participants were 394 high school students in Mazandaran Province, Iran selected by random cluster sampling. Data were collected using 3 questionnaires, namely, the Benion and Adams Identity Scale Questionnaire (EOM-EIS-2), the Identification Factors Questionnaire and a Demographic Questionnaire. For data analysis, Wilcoxon, Spearman correlation and linear regression tests were used. Results: Over half (51. 8%) of the participants were girls and 48. 2% boys. The results of regression analysis showed that the factors studied (family, personality, school, community and culture and media) could explain 22. 7%, 11. 2%, 10. 5% and 21. 2% of the variance in turbulent, early, delayed and advanced self-identification in adolescents, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to organize parenting and student training courses and make the school environment more favorable for the students, as well as include extracurricular activities in the school to help students identify themselves more easily.