relationship between health literacy and health promoting behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: Health promoting behaviors are known to be a key factor in managing type 2 diabetes and improving the quality of life in diabetic patients. However, there is little known about the factors influencing these behaviors in diabetic patients. This study aimed to find the relationship between the health literacy and health promoting behaviors in patients with type II diabetes

Methods: This correlational study was conducted from August to September 2016 on 175 eligible diabetic patients [20 to 65 year-old] who referred to the selected centers of diabetes control in Ahvaz City. Patients were chosen using convenience non-probable sampling. Data were collected by diabetic patients' health promoting behaviors' questionnaire and health literacy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient

Result: The mean scores for health promoting behaviors and health literacy were determined 100.45 +/- 19.82 and 76.14 +/- 15.26, respectively. The highest and lowest scores in health promoting behaviors belonged to nutrition [26.11 +/- 6.85] and physical activity [6.70 +/- 2.75], respectively. There was a significant relationship between all dimensions of health promoting behaviors and health literacy [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Since health literacy has a positive relationship with health promoting behaviors in diabetic patients, health care providers need to concentrate on increasing the health literacy of their patients rather than solely concentrating on increasing their knowledge, thereby facilitating the development of health promoting behaviors in patients

relationship between health locus of control and health behaviors in emergency medicine personnel

Background: Health locus of control defined as individual beliefs based on past experiences in health issues and having external or internal control over them, could affect health. Health locus of control plays a role in health behaviors. We aimed to investigate the relationship between health locus of control and health behavior in emergency medical personnel in Ahvaz during 2016

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study, which began in August 2016 for a period of six months on 215 emergency medical personnel in Ahvaz who were selected randomly. The data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, Rotter's locus of control questionnaire, and health behavior questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software, version 22. The correlation between variables was estimated by Pearson's correlation coefficient and independent t test. The level of significance for all statistical tests was set at 0.05

Results: We found no significant relationship between health locus of control [external and internal] and health behavior [P>0.05].Health behaviors were very good in terms of personal health [86.5%], nutrition [53%], and sleep and rest [48.4%], and poor in terms of physical activity [52.6%] and stress management [79.5%]. Furthermore, 79.5% of the emergency personnel, in general, had poor heath behaviors

Conclusion: Leaders and officials in the field of health must necessarily design programs in relation to health locus of control and the factors developing and affecting it as well as the role of health locus of control in doing correct behaviors

Correlation of serum lipoprotein ratios with insulin resistance in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a case control study

Background: Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance [IR], occurring in most infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS], increase the risk of cardiovascular disease [CVD] and type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to assess the relationships between lipopro-tein ratios and IR in PCOS women

Materials and Methods: Thirty six infertile women with PCOS selected based on Andro-gen Excess Society [AES] criteria and 29 healthy women matched for age were recruited to this case-control study. After physical measurements, fasting serum glucose [Glu], insulin and lipid profile levels [triglycerides [TGs], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C]] were measured, while lipoprotein ratios [TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C] were calculated. IR was also calculated using homeostasis model assessment [HOMA]-IR. The optimal cutoffs of lipoprotein ratios in relation to HOMA-IR were calculated based on the Receiver Operating Characteristics [ROC] curve analysis using the area under curve [AUC]

Results: Waist circumference [WC], insulin levels, HOMA-IR, TG levels, and all lipoprotein ratios were significantly higher, while HDL-C was lower in PCOS group as compared to healthy controls. All lipoprotein ratios, TG levels, and WC are significantly correlated with insulin levels and HOMA-IR. Among lipoprotein ratios, the highest AUC of the ROC belonged to TG/HDL-C ratio with sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 84.4% [TG/HDL-O3.19] as a marker of IR in infertile PCOS women

Conclusion: Lipoprotein ratios, particularly TG/HDL-C, are directly correlated with insulin levels and can be used as a marker of IR [HOMA-IR] in infertile PCOS patients

Pediatric burns in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Burn injuries are the most frequently occurring injuries among pediatric populations worldwide, and they are significant pediatric injuries in Iran. This study was conducted to analyze the pattern of pediatric burns in Khuzestan province in the south-west of Iran from April 2006 to March 2007. The location of the study was Taleghani Hospital, a sole center for burn patients in Khuzestan province. The number of patients with burns admitted to the center in 1 year [from April 2006 to March 2007] was 211. Data were obtained by reviewing the medical records of patients hospitalized at the center. Of the patients, 85 [40.3%] were female and 126 [59.7%] were male. Of the 85 female patients, 50 were from urban areas and 35 were from rural areas. Of the 126 male patients, 68 [54%] were from urban areas and 58 [46%] were from rural areas. The mean +/- SE age of the children ranging between 0 and 11 years was 3.20 +/- 0.188. Scalding was the predominant cause of burns and caused 86.7% of the burns. The age of the patients with scald injuries [2.95 +/- 2.56 years] was significantly lower than that of patients with flame injuries[4.28 +/- 3.3 years] [P =0.007]. Correlation analysis showed that younger children and urban residents are more vulnerable to scald injuries. The mean body surface area of burns was 20.5 +/- 10.26 cm in all patients. Scalding was the most common cause of burns. Age o 4 years and residency in urban areas were the major factors increasing the risk of burn accidents in children in Khuzestan. An appropriate burn prevention program, with focus on education, is needed to prevent this injury

Survival at 1, 3, and 5 years in diabetic and nondiabetic patients on hemodialysis

We analyzed survival of 185 adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis [9 h/wk to 12 h/wk] at Emam Khomini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. Patient survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 89.2%, 69.2%, and 46.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference between diabetic and nondiabetic patients in 1-year survival [87.1% versus 89.7%, P = .66]. But, 3- and 5-year survival rates of diabetic patients were significantly lower than those of nondiabetic patients [52.2% versus 73.8%, P = .04; zero versus 56.9%, P < .001; respectively]. Based on our findings, the survival of diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis was much worse than survival of nondiabetic patients. Thus, prevention of diabetic nephropathy should be more emphasized; and if end-stage renal disease is present, other renal replacement therapies such as kidney transplantation must be considered as soon as possible

Office hysteroscopy in infertility

For patients undergoing in vitro fertilization, lower pregnancy rates are observed in the presence of uterine cavity anomalies and correction of these anomalies has been associated with improved pregnancy rates. Office hysteroscopy has been proven to have superior sensitivity and specificity in evaluation of the endometrial cavity. Diagnostic hysteroscopy can be performed in an office with minimal discomfort and at a much lower cost than in an operating room. Our study was done to evaluate the importance of office hysteroscopy in diagnosis of pathology in normal appearing infertility work up. This study was performed from September 1, 2006 till September 1, 2008 at Imam Khomayni hospital, Ahwaz, Iran. All infertile patients who had unexplained infertility or uterine factor infertility were enrolled in the study and underwent office hysteroscopy. The participants were divided into two groups. Group one was composed of 54 patients with unexplained infertility and group two was composed of 53 patients with abnormal vaginal sonography or hysterosalpangography. Of the 54 patients with unexplained infertility; 33 patients [61.2%] had normal and 21 patients [38.8%] had abnormal hysteroscopic findings. Among 53 patients in the uterine factor group, there were 7 women [13.3%] who had a normal hysteroscopy and abnormal sonography or hysterography. In group one [unexplained infertility], there was a 38.8% positive finding in office hysteroscopy in spite of normal hysterosalpingography and sonography results. Therefore, it seems that office hysteroscopy should be a part of a routine work up in infertile patients