Abstract Background COVID-19 is one of the most common diseases in recent years, the most important way to prevent is through self-care behaviors; therefore, it is important to these behaviors in ...people. According to the importance of promoting self-care behaviors of this disease, and according to the characteristics and effectiveness of interventions based on behavior change, this study aimed to investigate the effect of educational intervention on self-care behaviors of COVID-19 in a group of patients. Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 164 people who referred to health and treatment centers in Dehdasht City, Iran. The cluster sampling method divided the participants into experimental and control groups at random (82 people for each group). Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire completed by the control and experimental groups before and three months after the intervention. The intervention program in this training group is to form a WhatsApp group and send messages in the form of audio files, text messages, text messages with photos, video messages, and PowerPoints. After creating the group and adding the participants, according to the agreement with the group members, every day of the week (8:00 am to 12:00 pm) to send educational files through the WhatsApp application. Also, the group members could ask their questions and problems to the researcher during the designated hours. The control group was also given routine care and follow-up at the centers, and no training was given regarding self-care behaviors. After entering the SPSS 24, data were analyzed by independent t, chi-square, and paired t statistical tests. Results 164 individuals working in healthcare services from health and treatment centers were included in this study. Before the intervention, demographic characteristics such as marital status, education level, medical history, and smoking history were similar between the two groups ( P > 0.05), as indicated by the results of chi-square tests. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and self-care behaviors between the experimental and control groups prior to the intervention ( P > 0.05), according to independent t-tests. Following the intervention, notable changes were observed. The post-intervention analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of knowledge, attitude, and self-care behaviors ( P = 0.001). Specifically, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in these variables compared to the control group. Conclusion In this study, education led to the improvement of self-care behaviors in people who referred to health centers. Considering the importance of the role of health education in promoting self-care behaviors as well as preventing infectious diseases such as COVID-19, it is suggested that educational interventions focus on self-care behaviors in other diseases.
Abstract Background Colorectal cancer is the second most prevalent cause of death from malignancies globally. The present study was conducted targeting the influence of an educational intervention ...based on the health belief model (HBM) on colorectal cancer screening behaviors in people 50 years old and older. Methods All 134 samples were included in this quasi-experimental study from Fasa City Health Service Center, equal halves were random into experimental group and control group. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that contained questions on demographic variables, knowledge, and HBM constructs (perceived sensitivity, perceived intensity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and screening behaviors). Both groups answered the questionnaire before and two months following the intervention. There were six 90-minute instruction sessions for the intervention group. SPSS 22 and descriptive and analytical tests (independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test) were used for data analysis ( P < 0.05). Results 59 women and 75 men took part in this study. A majority of participants were married and had at least high school diploma. The findings indicated that the mean scores for knowledge, each of the HBM’s constructs, and cancer screening behaviors did not differ significantly from one another before the intervention between the test group and the control group. However, post the intervention, the intervention group exhibited a significant rise in all mentioned dimensions. Conclusion In light of the outcomes, the application of the HBM on colorectal cancer screening behaviors in people 50 years and older was successful. This approach might serve as a helpful foundation for planning, carrying out, and overseeing colorectal cancer screening programs.
Background. Considering the increasing use of the Internet in Iranian society, especially among students, and the importance of sleep quality, the present study investigated the relationship between ...sleep quality and Internet addiction among medical students in Shiraz. Methods. In this descriptive-analytical study, the sample included students of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who were selected by a multistage sampling method in 2018. Each faculty was considered to be stratified, and the samples were selected from all strata by simple random sampling. A total of 400 student questionnaires were eligible for analysis. The level of sleep disturbance was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate Internet addiction. Cronbach’s alpha for PSQI and IAT was 0.77 and 0.93, respectively. Results. 109 (%28.9) and 58 (%14.4) of all the people under study were at risk of Internet addiction or poor sleep quality, respectively. The highest percentage of poor sleep quality was in those who were addicted to the Internet (60%), but the lowest percentage was observed in the group without addiction (27%). In addition, there was a significant correlation between Internet addiction and subjective sleep quality (r = 0.191, p = 0.05), sleep latency (r = 0.129, p = 0.01), sleep duration (r = 0.119, p = 0.01), habitual sleep efficiency (r = 0.186, p = 0.05), sleep disturbances (r = 0.169, p = 0.01), use of sleeping medication (r = 0.203, p = 0.05), and daytime dysfunction (r = 0.188, p = 0.05). Conclusion. These findings help national health officials and planners in Iran to design appropriate and effective interventions to improve students’ health and prevent Internet addiction.
Background. In all countries, the knowledge of driving guidelines is the most important and critical mechanism to ensure the safety of drivers. Naturally, it is expected that more knowledge and ...attitude towards driving laws would result in fewer driving violations. The aim of this research is to investigate both the knowledge and attitude of taxi drivers in the field of traffic rules and regulations in Shiraz city, Fars province, in 2019. Methods. This research is a cross-sectional study, based on which about 1077 taxi drivers were randomly chosen in Shiraz city, Iran. The data collection tool is a demographic information questionnaire and a questionnaire on driving guidance. After collecting these questionnaires, the obtained data were entered into SPSS version 20 and then analyzed by descriptive analyses (mean, standard deviation, and percentage). Afterward, the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient are implemented and investigated. Results. The mean and standard deviation of knowledge score in drivers were about 26.8 ± 55.2 while the mean and standard deviation of drivers’ attitude were about 98.16 ± 59.3. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the variables studied (R = −0.07; P=0.02) and drivers’ attitudes toward driving (P=0.01). Conclusion. The results of this research show that the mean scores of knowledge and attitude of taxi drivers in Shiraz city are moderate in terms of driving rules and regulations; moreover, among taxi drivers of increasing age, the average score of knowledge was lower.
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases among men. This study aimed to assess the effect of educational program based on Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in ...Educational/Environmental Diagnosis and Evaluation (PRECEDE) model in promoting prostate cancer screening in a sample of Iranian men. This is a quasi-experimental study carried out on 300 men aged 40 to 70 (the subjects 150 experimental and 150 control groups) in Shiraz City, Fars Province, Iran, in 2016. The participants of the intervention group attended training based on the PRECEDE model. The study compared mean scores of knowledge, attitude, enabling factors, perceived social support, quality of life, general health, self-efficacy, and screening behaviors of the subjects before and 6 months after intervention in experimental and control groups. The mean age of experimental group was 56.45 ± 8.65, and the mean age of the control group was 55.64 ± 8.71 years (
P
= 0.521). The study showed that there was a significant increase in the mean score of knowledge, attitudes, perceived self-efficacy, enabling factors, perceived social support, quality of life, public health and screening behaviors of the experimental group; however, no significant change was observed in the mean score of knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, quality of life, general health, perceived social support, enabling factors, and screening behaviors of the control group. Our findings showed that the health education programs designed based on PRECEDE could positively affect prostate cancer screening behaviors of individuals by improving their knowledge level and attitude, enabling factors, perceived social support, quality of life, general health, and self-efficacy.
Background
One of the most crucial and essential methods for the prevention and management of respiratory infections is for healthcare professionals to take precautions for their own safety. Using ...Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the current study looked into effective elements influencing the staff at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital's preventive actions against respiratory diseases.
Methods
One hundred ninety‐two male and 108 female employees of the Valiasr Hospital in Kazeroon, Iran, participated in this cross‐sectional study, in May 2022. Census data were used as the sample technique. A questionnaire based on the PMT and a questionnaire collecting demographic data served as the data collection method. The study's content validity was confirmed by 10 health education experts, and its reliability was assessed using internal consistency techniques, resulting in a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.87.The statistical program SPSS 24 was used to examine the data using the independent t test, logistic regression, and Pearson correlation.
Results
The average age was 34.11 ± 8.91 for men and 32.77 ± 6.09 for women. The majority of participants were married (73.3%), had university education (76.7%), and earned a monthly income between 10 and 15 million Tomans (75%). Notably, 97.7% of participants had received the COVID‐19 vaccine, and 77.7% had undergone training related to respiratory infections. The most common preventive practices included avoiding touching the eyes, noses, or mouths, wearing appropriate protective gear, and maintaining a safe distance of 1–2 m from others. Analysis of PMT constructs showed that participants had a generally positive perception toward preventive behaviors. Perceived vulnerability (P = 0.02), perceived cost (P = 0.03), and motivation (P = 0.001) were the three analyzed components that had the greatest impact on respiratory infection preventative behavior. Logistic regression revealed that perceived susceptibility, cost, and motivation significantly predicted the prevention of respiratory infections, with a predictive power of 45%. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the factors influencing preventive behaviors among hospital staff, from respiratory infections like COVID‐19.
Conclusion
According to the findings, the personnel at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital wore gloves, goggles, and other appropriate personal protective equipment. The individuals' decision to wear personal protection equipment was also impacted by perceived susceptibility, cost, and motivation.
This study used the protection motivation theory to analyze factors influencing healthcare professionals' preventive actions against respiratory diseases. 192 employees at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital in Iran were involved. Common preventive practices included avoiding contact, wearing protective gear, and maintaining a safe distance. Perceived vulnerability ability, perceived cost, and motivation significantly influenced respiratory infection preventative behaviors.
Many personality traits of adolescents are influenced by the personality traits and parenting styles of parents; Parents grow their children in different ways based on their cultural patterns and ...ideals; due to the importance of anxiety and depression in adolescents and considering the vital role of parents in growing children, the present study was designed and conducted to investigate the effect of parenting skills training on anxiety and depression in adolescent girls aged 12–16 years in Mahshahr city, Khuzestan province, Iran.
This experimental study was performed on adolescent girls aged 12–16 years in Mahshahr city, Khuzestan province, Iran, in 2020. We chose both groups of our study using a multistage cluster sampling method. Mean anxiety and depression before, two, and six months after the intervention was measured by the test and control groups using parenting style, anxiety, and depression questionnaires. The educational intervention program for the training group was like a WhatsApp group, and sending messages were in the form of audio files, text messages, photos with captions, video messages, and PowerPoint presentations. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24 and using independent t-test, paired t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and ANOVA.
The mean and standard deviation of the age were 14.03 ± 1.41 in the experimental group and 14.06 ± 1.38 in the control group. Before the educational intervention, the mean scores of anxiety and depression were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. In contrast two months and six months after the educational intervention, there was a significant difference in the mean scores of anxiety and depression between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.05).
The findings of the present study showed that an educational intervention on a group of mothers regarding their parenting styles has helped their adolescent daughters to handle their anxiety and depression and also led to a decrease in their anxiety and depression scores.
Education; Parenting style; Anxiety; Depression; Teenage girls.
Abstract Objective To recognize and screen common mental disorders in elderlies and determine their relationship with social support in Shiraz, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional analytical study, ...400 elderlies aged >60 years from Shiraz were selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection was done by 3 demographic data, Medical Outcome Study (MOS), social support, and standardization of mental disorders symptoms checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 22, using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. A P value <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results A total of 400 elderlies (mean age = 67.39 ± 6.89), among whom 204 individuals were female (51%), participated in the study. Somatization and phobic anxiety were the most (68.9%) and least (14.2%) prevalent disorders, respectively. The average total score of social support was 85.59 + 3.5. Social support and its 5 subscales showed statistically significant negative correlation with SCL-90 total scores and its 9 domains ( P < 0.05). A 1-point increase in social support score results in reduction in the psychological disorders score by 0.35 point ( P < 0.001). Conclusions It seems necessary to plan and make policies by the authorities to increase social support and reduce the burden of common mental disorders in the elderly.
Background: Successful aging (SA) is considered an indicator of satisfaction of older people. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) on SA among older ...women. Materials and Methods: quasi-experimental research with a control group was conducted in 2021 on 120 older women in Shiraz city, south Iran. Eligible samples were selected by a three-stage cluster sampling method and were classified into two equal intervention and control groups. Eight training sessions (exercises) were conducted for the intervention group using the OEP. SA questionnaire was completed at the beginning and 2 months after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the IBM-SPSS version 26, and the effect sizes were extracted. Results: The mean age of samples in the intervention and control groups was 69.71 + 59.59 and 68.83 + 5.08 years, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in the mean scores of SA between the two groups at the beginning of the study, 2 months after the intervention implementation, the mean scores of SA increased significantly in the intervention group (t = 8.57, p ≤ .001). Conclusion: It seems that OEP is an effective strategy for supporting SA in older people.
Leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Iran. Since education to prevent the disease is important, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED ...model on preventive behaviors of cutaneous leishmaniosis among housewives. In this quasi-experimental study, 240 housewives under the coverage of health centers, who lived in the endemic area of Mianshahr, Fasa city, Fars Province, Iran in 2016, were selected (120 people for the experimental group and 120 for the control group). The educational intervention for the experimental group was based on the PRECEDE model, which consists of seven 50-60-minute sessions of lectures, group discussions, role playing, practical displays, and video and PowerPoint displays. These sessions addressed the familiarity with cutaneous leishmaniasis and its different types and carriers, methods of preventing and fighting against it, personal protection, sanitation of the environment and drinking water, spraying of sites, use of mosquito nets, etc. Data were collected before educational intervention and three months after educational intervention. The mean age of the experimental group was 39.24±9.12 years and that of the control group was 38.84±9.28 years. Three months after the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant increase in knowledge, attitudes, reinforcing factors, enabling factors, and performance compared to the control group. The education based on enabling factors, reinforcing factors, and predisposing factors had a significant effect on the preventive behaviors of cutaneous leishmaniasis among housewives.