Health Promotion
Pegah Mohaghegh; Ehsan Abedi; Masomeh Sofian; Fatemeh Rafiei
Abstract
Background and aims: The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in health anxiety among general population and unreasonable referring to health centers. This study aimed to assess health anxiety related to COVID-19 in individuals referring to healthcare centers of Arak, Iran in 2020. Methods: ...
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Background and aims: The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in health anxiety among general population and unreasonable referring to health centers. This study aimed to assess health anxiety related to COVID-19 in individuals referring to healthcare centers of Arak, Iran in 2020. Methods: Using convenient sampling method, the participants of this cross-sectional study were selected from 16 urban health centers of Arak. Salkovskis 18-item Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18) was completed by 392 participants. The collected data entered in SPSS software version 24 and was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Mean ± SD of total score of health anxiety was 28.96 ± 7.62. Most participants (74.7%) had medium anxiety and 19.1% had high anxiety. The mean of total score of health anxiety was higher in the 30-59 age range, higher education, single people and students. Participants with chronic diseases and symptoms of cold and people who referred to health centers due to COVID-19 screening had a higher anxiety level. Conclusion: Most people referring to health centers of arak had moderate anxiety. COVID-19-related health anxiety was higher in middle age range, higher education, students, people with chronic diseases, and people with symptoms of common cold.
Health Promotion
Zahra Karimi; Leili Rabiei; Asma Sayyad; Masoud Lotfizadeh
Abstract
Background and aims: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common problems that women experience. Dysmenorrhea brings about psychological problems for women and adversely affects their performance. Therefore, providing, maintaining, and promoting the health of women is an important goal. The present study ...
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Background and aims: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common problems that women experience. Dysmenorrhea brings about psychological problems for women and adversely affects their performance. Therefore, providing, maintaining, and promoting the health of women is an important goal. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between general health and Dysmenorrhea in students of Shahrekord University in 2018.Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 245 female students were selected by random cluster sampling method from Shahrekord University in 2018. Data were collected using the GHQ28, visual analogue scale (VAS), and a reliable and valid questionnaire designed by the researchers to determine menstrual pattern. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and independent samples t test.Results: The mean age at menarche was 13.5 years. Dysmenorrhea was observed in 82.8% of students. The severity of pain was measured by the VAS scale, indicating that 22.3% of the participants had severe menstrual pain. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in participants with a family history of Dysmenorrhea was greater and statistically significant. The result of the t-test showed that there is a relationship between dysmenorrhea and the general health of the participants (p =0.036). There was also a significant relationship between menstrual cycle regularity and physical characteristics of the participants (p =0.019). Significant relationships were also found regarding the interval between menstrual cycles and physical symptoms (p =0.026), and depression and general health (p =0.0001).Conclusion: Due to the importance of dysmenorrhea and its high prevalence among female students, it is important to provide education and control on this disorder to improve the quality of life of women. It is also beneficial to create counseling centers to raise awareness of the psychological health of female students suffering from dysmenorrhea.
Health Promotion
Zahra Karimi; Elahe Tavassoli; Akbar Babaei Heydarabadi
Abstract
the present research aimed to study the relationship between the consumption of fast foods with perceived stress level among female students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present research was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study which was conducted on female ...
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the present research aimed to study the relationship between the consumption of fast foods with perceived stress level among female students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present research was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study which was conducted on female students of different faculties and majors in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2016-2017. Out of the study population, 152 students were selected as the sample using random cluster sampling method. The required data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire , a standard 14-item scale for the measurement of perceived stress level, and a checklist to record the number of fast foods consumption (daily, weekly, and monthly). Finally, the data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and analytic tests in SPSS-18. Participation in the study was voluntary. Results: The results showed that 45.4% of students participated in this study aged 18-20, 16.4% of them were studying in General Hygiene, and 85.8% were a B.S. student. The mean score of perceived stress and fast foods consumption was 51.36±13.52 and 12.42±5.42, respectively. The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between age and perceived stress and also between mother’s educational attainment and perceived stress Conclusion: Considering the relationship between perceived stress and fast foods consumption in university students, it is necessary to apply effective patterns and theories of health education and promotion and also to pay attention to interpersonal and environmental factors in order to reduce stress and encourage healthy diets eating habits.
Health Promotion
Leili Rabiei; Masoud Lotfizadeh; Mohamad Abbasi; Akbar Babaei Heydarabadi; Reza Masoudi
Abstract
Background and aims: Maintaining the health of diabetic people depends on the self-management of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of distress, self-efficacy, perceived social support, and self-care with self-management behaviors in the patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: ...
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Background and aims: Maintaining the health of diabetic people depends on the self-management of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of distress, self-efficacy, perceived social support, and self-care with self-management behaviors in the patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: The present analytical-descriptive study was conducted on 228 diabetic patients, during 2016-2017. Most of the participants were male (60.6%) and the mean age of them was 51.95±15.04. The participants were selected based on a simple random sampling method after completing the consent form. The required data were collected through questionnaires of distress, self-efficacy, perceived social support, self-care, and self-management. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0.
Results: Out of 228 participants, 77.3% were married and the highest frequency in terms of educational attainment was related to those with a high school diploma. The results indicated that the duration of affliction with diabetes was less than 10-15 years in 88.9% of the participants. Pearson correlation test demonstrated that the total score of self-management had a significant relationship with the total scores of distress, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and self-care (P<0.005). The results of regression analysis also indicated that distress, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and self-care had a predictive power of 0.43% for self-management. Among these variables, the predictive powers of self-efficacy and self-care were statistically significant, and the prediction rate of self-efficacy was more than that of other ones (β = 0.17).
Conclusion: The study findings showed that the researchers who want to perform interventions based on cognitive-social theory should mainly focus on self-care and self-efficacy.
Health Promotion
Kh. Shafiur Rahaman; Md. Ahsan Habib; Mainul Alam Chaklader
Abstract
Background and aims: Increasing prevalence of disability in Bangladesh indicates the need of special attention to disability care services within the healthcare setting. Our study aims to identify the level of satisfaction of clients using disability services as well as their opinions to improve those ...
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Background and aims: Increasing prevalence of disability in Bangladesh indicates the need of special attention to disability care services within the healthcare setting. Our study aims to identify the level of satisfaction of clients using disability services as well as their opinions to improve those facilities. Methods: We have conducted a cross-sectional study in six disability service centers from Kurigram district of Bangladesh. We have chosen our study participants conveniently during each visit to the service centers. Using a structured questionnaire, the interview process was done. We excluded mentally impaired participants from the study. We have used descriptive analysis of data using appropriate statistical technique. Results: We have interviewed a total of 384 individuals. Respondents mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 38.35±16.01 years with a range of 12 to 65 years. Most of our participants were physically disabled (63%). Participants were found to be moderately satisfied with the service providers, but marked dissatisfaction were observed among the participants regarding available services and 61.7% participants were dissatisfied with the overall services. The service was not easily accessible reported by the respondents. Lack of physician was the most common complaint. Despite of indicating positive aspects, they recommended employing at least 1 physician for medical treatments and improving positive attitude towards disabled persons. Conclusion: Poor level of satisfaction towards overall disability services were observed in this surveyed community. Policy makers should initiate appropriate measures to ensure easy access and better quality of services based on the results and guidelines discussed in this study.
Health Promotion
Morteza Arab-zozani; Reza Majdzadeh; Parvin Sarbakhsh; Roshanak Naseri Sis
Abstract
Background and aims: Positive attitudes toward future career lead to job motivation and consequently to career success. Health technology assessment (HTA) students are worried about their future career due to lack of defined vacancies. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of HTA ...
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Background and aims: Positive attitudes toward future career lead to job motivation and consequently to career success. Health technology assessment (HTA) students are worried about their future career due to lack of defined vacancies. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of HTA students toward the field of study and future career. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. The samples (n = 40) were selected by census and the questionnaire was sent by email to each participant. The data collection period was 6 months. The questionnaire reliability was evaluated using Cronbach alpha (α = 0.85). Questions were measured by 5-point Likert scale (absolutely agree to absolutely disagree). The data were analyzed by relevant statistical tests using SPSS version 20.0. At the beginning of the study, informed consent forms along with questionnaire were sent to participants and the participants were enrolled if they were volunteered. Results: Response rate was 95%. The mean score of students’ attitudes toward the field of study and future career was 62.48 (11.15) and 62.63 (8.61) respectively. Participants’ attitudes were generally positive. There was a significant positive correlation between the 2 main areas of attitude (r = 0.43, P = 0.006). Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that the attitudes of HTA students toward the field of study and future career are positive. Proper planning in the admission process, addressing the needs of students, professor’s paying attention to motivate the students and responding to student questions, and anticipated job categories in the relevant organizations, can lead to job satisfaction and optimism about the future career.
Health Promotion
Mohammad Reza Noormohammadi; Mohsen Arbabi; Hassan Moghim; Masoud Amiri
Volume 4, Issue 2 , April 2017, , Pages 173-175
Abstract
As a temporary emotional situation and a relatively stable state of being happy (subjective happiness level), happiness can be considered. In fact, people with high subjective happiness level think more positively than others.There are many factors with potential positive or negative effects on happiness ...
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As a temporary emotional situation and a relatively stable state of being happy (subjective happiness level), happiness can be considered. In fact, people with high subjective happiness level think more positively than others.There are many factors with potential positive or negative effects on happiness such as: the (dark and milky) chocolate, Yoga, outdoor group walks in the natural environments, personality, social exclusion, negative emotional feelings, normative and subjective oral health status, socioeconomic factors, leisure time program, training like skills for coping with stress, increasing marriage satisfaction, improving economic status, and religion.Due to different related factors affecting on each person, it is not an easy task to clarify the methods of raising happiness in the communities . Each part of the world has its own culture and traditions, resulting in the fact that there is no identical way to make happier people. It is recommended to have several studies on happiness worldwide to investigate the specific policy for each region.
Health Promotion
Ali janati; Mobin Sokhanvar; Edris Hasanpoor; Edris Kakemam; Morteza Arab-zozani; Elaheh Haghgoshayei
Volume 4, Issue 2 , April 2017, , Pages 176-181
Abstract
Background and aims: Public sector in Iran is responsible for providing whole primary health care and approximately 85% of the second and third level services. Following the previous programs, and in order to improve health system performance, Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education launched ...
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Background and aims: Public sector in Iran is responsible for providing whole primary health care and approximately 85% of the second and third level services. Following the previous programs, and in order to improve health system performance, Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education launched Health Sector Evolution Plan of Iran (HSEP) in 2014 aimed to reduce patients’ cost, improve quality, and provide equal access for all.Methods: We examined the achievement of these objectives through reporting a case and comparing current and past situation. The data related to the case were collected by interview and surveying patient documents. Published articles were considered as a base to compare some indices before and after the plan.Results: Our case was a Ph.D. student who sought out health care for his wound treatment. Total treatment expenses were $ 195 and many medical supplies were used. Waiting time and visit length were calculated 345 minutes and 1 minute, respectively. Paying an amount of money equivalent to almost 57% of his salary and too long waiting time to receiving short visit are in contrast to the primary objectives of HSEP and show no improvement in these indices compared with prior to the plan.Conclusion: With regard to increasing financial resources through HSEP (70%) compared with the same time before HSEP, it is necessary to manage these funds properly to achieve objectives more effective and efficient than the current ones.
Health Promotion
Ali Janati; Edris Hasanpoor; Farzaneh Aslani; Elaneh HaghGoshayie; Ebrahim Hassanzadeh
Volume 4, Issue 1 , February 2017, , Pages 69-77
Abstract
Background and aims: Quality of visit services is a decisive aspect of patient-physician communication that its inadequacy can negatively influence the diagnosis efficiency. The aim of this study was to survey visit quality at provincial level during plan of health sector evolution in Tabriz. Methods: ...
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Background and aims: Quality of visit services is a decisive aspect of patient-physician communication that its inadequacy can negatively influence the diagnosis efficiency. The aim of this study was to survey visit quality at provincial level during plan of health sector evolution in Tabriz. Methods: A sample of 540 patients who referred to the outpatient clinics (Sheikh Al Raeis of Tabriz Province) in North West of Iran was randomly selected. Data were collected by a researcher-made checklist and summarized using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The average visit time was found to be 8.52 minutes, which is significantly lower than the minimum average of 15 minutes approved by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME). The average of waiting time was found to be 101.57 minutes for patients. The results showed that the structural quality was found to be 51.36%, process quality was found to be 62.69% and outcome quality was found to be 50.82%. Conclusion: Visit length was shorter than other developed and developing countries. If the consultation process in health care delivery to patients is incorrect or incomplete, the following process will be without quality and security. This study showed that visit time is short and waiting time is very long.
Health Promotion
Edris Hasanpoor; Ali Janati; Elaheh HaghGoshayie; Farzaneh Aslani; Morteza Arab Zozani
Volume 3, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 239-245
Abstract
Background and aims: Visit quality is a crucial component of patient-physician interaction that its inadequacy can negatively influence the diagnosis and treatment efficiency. The waiting time and visit length are important determinants of quality in the outpatient care setting. Thus, the aim of this ...
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Background and aims: Visit quality is a crucial component of patient-physician interaction that its inadequacy can negatively influence the diagnosis and treatment efficiency. The waiting time and visit length are important determinants of quality in the outpatient care setting. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine waiting time and visit length and to compare them before Implementation of health sector evolution in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during autumn 2014. A sample of 540 patients who referred to the outpatient clinics of Sheikh Al Raeis of Tabriz Province (North West of Iran) were randomly selected and surveyed. Data were collected by the collection tools and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The average visit time and standard deviation were 8.52 min and 3.14 respectively, which is significantly lower than the minimum average of 15 min approved by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Educations (MOHME). Average of waiting time was 101.57 min for patients. The result showed that visit time was shorter than standard (7.5 min per patient) of health sector evolution in specialties of general Surgery, ophthalmologist, ENT, orthopedics and pediatrics. Also, the variables such as: number of visits, age of physicians, experience of physicians, men physicians, working shift of afternoon influenced on visit time significantly. Conclusions: The starting points of health care delivery to patients are consultations. This study showed that visit time is short and waiting time is very long. But, it seems that implementation of health sector evolution and plan of visit quality improvement led to increased visit time.
Health Promotion
Hossein Ansari; Mahmood Khorram; Ali Soleimaninejad; Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam
Volume 3, Issue 1 , February 2016, , Pages 33-41
Abstract
Background and aims: Life skills involve a big class of socio-psychological and interpersonal skills which help a person to take conscious decisions, communicate effectively and improve self-management skills. Preparing a plan for all the above mentioned programs, need awareness about life skills level ...
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Background and aims: Life skills involve a big class of socio-psychological and interpersonal skills which help a person to take conscious decisions, communicate effectively and improve self-management skills. Preparing a plan for all the above mentioned programs, need awareness about life skills level of different groups such as students in universities. Present study was aimed to reveal the predictors of life skills level of Students in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in southeast of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study carried out on 380 medical students of Zahedan in 2015. The subjects were selected using stratified random sampling method. The data were collected using reliable Life Skill Dimensions Score questionnaire. The data were analyzed in Stata.12 software using ANOVA, Independent t-test and multiple linear regression with Hosmer-Lemshow method. Results: The mean of total score regarding life skills score was 280.8±45.8. The linear regression analysis indicated that gender (β=11.15, 95% CI: 5.03-17.27), socioeconomic status (β=6.78, 95% CI: 1.76-11.8) and average grades (β=15.3, 95% CI: 9.11-21.49) were associated with life skills score. However, the life skills score was not associated with the age, semester, residential area, smoking, marital status and school of education (P>0.05). Conclusion: The level of life skills scores of medical students in southeast of Iran is low in all dimensions especially in communication skills. Thus, promoting life skills in university students is too important. However, the life skills training programs should be implemented with respect to socioeconomic status, gender and average grade and male students with low socioeconomic status and average have priority.
Health Promotion
Safa Seidpour; Eskandar Gholamy- Parizad; Abdolhossein Poornajaf; Ashraf Direkvand-Moghadam; Ali Delpisheh
Volume 2, Issue 3 , September 2015, , Pages 134-139
Abstract
Background and aims: The mortality rate for breast cancer is directly related to the stage of disease at diagnosis. The present study was aimed to determine the factors influencing on knowledge, attitudes, and practices in women with breast cancer and its screening methods.Methods: In a cross- sectional ...
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Background and aims: The mortality rate for breast cancer is directly related to the stage of disease at diagnosis. The present study was aimed to determine the factors influencing on knowledge, attitudes, and practices in women with breast cancer and its screening methods.Methods: In a cross- sectional study, we evaluated 383 women who referred to health centers of Ilam. Sampling was done in 2 stages. The inclusion criteria were included healthy women with minimum education level. Data were collected by a two-section questionnaire including demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitudes and practices of women with the breast cancer and its screening methods. Data were analyzed using chi-square and t-test in SPSS software. The level of significance was considered P<0.05.Results: The Mean ± SD knowledge score was 22.43±11.01. The Mean ± SD attitude and performance score were 29.08±3.34 and 3.52±1.66, respectively. There was a significant correlation between age, occupation and education with knowledge, attitude and practice of women with breast cancer and its screening methods (P<0.05). There was no significant relationship among the marital status, history of benign breast disease and family history with knowledge, attitudes and practices of breast cancer and screening methods, (P>0.05).Conclusion: Half of the participants had good knowledge about breast cancer and screening procedures, but, all the participants with good knowledge had not good practice. Therefore, further training is necessary to enhance awareness and more research should be conducted to identify barriers to women's performance.
Health Promotion
Zahra Taheri
Volume 1, Issue 1 , December 2014, , Pages 44-46
Abstract
Annually, many women become pregnant worldwide; however, pregnancy and childbirth is not a pleasant event for all them. In fact, more than 90% of maternal anxiety could be related to the delivery process. It should be noted that delivery is also a stressful event that sometimes, due to different reasons ...
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Annually, many women become pregnant worldwide; however, pregnancy and childbirth is not a pleasant event for all them. In fact, more than 90% of maternal anxiety could be related to the delivery process. It should be noted that delivery is also a stressful event that sometimes, due to different reasons and in order to avoid its potential hazards which could threaten the lives of mother and baby, it is not possible to deliver through the natural channel and Caesarean section delivery is necessary. However, nowadays, many of cesarean sections are unnecessary.
The unnecessary cesarean delivery has an important impact on maternal and neonatal health and reducing (unnecessary) caesarean section is one of the health priorities. That’s why many countries are trying to reduce unnecessary cesarean and promote natural childbirth. In Iran, Maternal Health Office at Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2002, initiated the design of a national program for mother-friendly hospitals to reduce the cesarean rate by 25 % until 2015. In addition, previous research has shown that through education of mothers and reducing their fear about childbirth and correcting some wrong beliefs about natural childbirth, the unnecessary cesarean section could be reduced.
By systematic training to control of the fear and anxiety in pregnant women, they will believe that they have ability to do natural childbirth and in turn could increase their self-confidence. Finally, it will lead to increased cases of vaginal delivery.