Effect of Co-Driver on Job Content and Depression of Truck Drivers

BACKGROUND: Since the presence of a co-driver can be considered as a companion, partner, or friend for a driver through eliminating driver's loneliness, it plays a significant role in health and safety of drivers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of co-drivers on depression and occupational stress on male truck drivers. METHODS: This study was an interventional case-control study. Seventy truck drivers were selected and divided into two groups: case (33 truck drivers with co-drivers) and control (37 truck drivers without co-drivers). Two Goldberg depression inventories (for evaluating driver's depression) and the Karasek job content questionnaire (for evaluating driver's job stress) were used to collect data which were completed by interview. RESULTS: The results showed that job content values for the case group were higher in all dimensions except job nature. The comparison of the percentages showed significant difference between two groups. Depression rate in drivers with co-driver is truly less than depression rate in drivers without co-driver. There was significant positive relationship between dimensions of job content and depression rate. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be claimed that a co-driver decreases stress and loneliness of drivers, as well as increases work performance and job satisfaction, and, in turn, leads to a decrease in job-related depression.

Work-related stress dimensions among a subsidiary company workers of Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company

Background: Work-related stress and its causes are among the most important issues which can seriously challenge organizational efficiency and employees' health. Different occupational environments and groups have different levels of job stress. The present study aimed to investigate relationships between job stress and its dimensions with three occupational groups (administrative, administrative-operational, and operational) among a subsidiary company workers of Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company.Methods: The present study had descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional type and was conducted among 468 out of 503 employees (with entry condition of a year of work experience as well as an official and contractual membership) volunteered to participate in research. Data collection tools included demographic questions and job stress questionnaire as well as human resource department information to determine occupational group of employees. Descriptive statistics, statistical tests, Independent test, and one-way ANOVA in addition to SPSS 21 software were used for data analysis.Results: There were significant relationships between age, education levels, work experience and smoking with mean score of job stress (P-value 0.05).Conclusion: Exposure to different occupational harmful agents, facing with different safety risks, being far from family, heavy workload, and uncertain employee roles have significantly increased job stress in both operational and executive occupation groups compared to other two occupational groups; hence, there is a positive correlation between high job stress and operational jobs.

Adapting life to the reality of diabetes

Background: Diabetes is one of the most challenging and burdensome chronic diseases of the 21st century. Adaptation to disease is a mental, multidimensional, interactive process and is influenced by social and cultural factors. It should be explained in the cultural context of each society with qualitative studies.

Aims: In this study, we explored the subjective experiences of adaptation to type 2 diabetes among Iranian patients.

Methods: This was a qualitative study using a grounded theory approach. Purposeful sampling was used initially, followed by theoretical sampling based on derived codes and categories as the sampling method. Twenty patients as main participants and 7 from the healthcare system and family members were selected based on a purposeful and theoretical sampling method. Data were collected through semistructured and deep interviews. Data were analysed using the approach of Strauss and Corbin simultaneous with data collection.

Results: Five categories that emerged from the data included: perceived threat of disease, reality compliance, comprehensive reconstruction, normalization of living with illness, and return to resources. Finally, data analysis on selective coding led to recognition of “endeavour to reconstruction of life” as the core variable. The core variable showed the way participants adapted to diabetes.

Conclusions: This study showed that the process of adaptation to diabetes has a dynamic nature in which participants make major changes in their cognitive, emotional and behavioural structures in order to have a normal life.

Other Side of Breast Cancer: Factors Associated with Caregiver Burden

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine factors associated with caregiver burden among primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study conducted in 2012 on 150 main caregivers of patients with breast cancer who came to the oncology clinic of Shahid Ghazi hospital in Tabriz, Iran. A questionnaire which included caregiving-related factors and the Zarit Burden Interview was used for data collection after its validity and reliability were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software with descriptive and analytic statistics. The association between significant variables and the dependent variable with an observation of the effects of other variables was assessed using the multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: The mean age of caregivers was 39.60 ± 13.80 years old, and 77 (51.3%) of them were men. The mean score of the Zarit Burden Interview was 30.55 ± 19.18. In the regression model, the mean score of activities of daily living, level of education, gender, and financial status were identified as the determining factors of the burden of caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Primary caregivers need to be financially supported by the relevant organizations. Care skills training and providing palliative care seem helpful in reducing the pain and the burden of family caregivers for patients with breast cancer.

Epidemiological study of fatal and nonfatal road traffic accidents and their outcomes on children and adolescents in Shahroud, Iran

Background: Traffic accidents are among the important health issues that threaten human life. Children are among the main victims of these accidents. This research aimed to study the epidemiology of fatal and nonfatal road traffic accidents and their outcomes in children and adolescents in Shahroud, Iran

Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was conducted from July to December 2011. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. After verifying its content validity and reliability, the questionnaire was completed by emergency medical technicians. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics [the Chi-square test]

Results: Of 363 studied cases, the majority of accidents happened in July with 108 [29.8%] cases and on Thursdays [18.7%]. About 89.3% of drivers were male and aged 39 to 40 years [44.6%]. Most accidents happened during 8 to 12 AM [23.7%]. Moreover, 21.28% [1161 persons] of all injured people and 18.75% [48 persons] of all deceased victims were children under 14 years old. None of the victims under 14 years of age used protective tools. Head and spine trauma, respectively, were reported as the most common injury in this age group. There was no significant differences between victims aged less and more than 14 years old in terms of spinal cord injury [P=0.03]

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to take some basic actions such as improving roads, identification of black spots, installation of warning signs at those points, and extending controls and supervisions by police. It is also very important to use standard protective tools for children and adolescents, force rules for using appropriate safety equipment for this age group, and provide public trainings for the people to raise their level of awareness

Prevalence and risk factors of varicose veins among female hairdressers: a cross sectional study in north-east of Iran

Venous diseases including varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency are one of the most important pathogenic factors worldwide. High prevalence of varicose veins and its complications is an emerging problem in the twenty-first century. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of varicose veins in female hairdressers in Shahroud, north of Iran in 2012. In this cross-sectional study, 197 employed hairdressers, licensed by the Health Department of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were studied. Standard physical examination was used to check the condition of varicose veins of the lower extremities of participants. Data were collected by demographic information form. Proportional odds model for ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between risk factors and status of varicose disease in subjects. Prevalence of varicose veins was 47.7%. Varicose veins were significantly associated with age [OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.13]; family history of varicose disease [OR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.82], blood pressure [OR=4.41; 95% CI: 1.63, 11.90]; and duration of standing [OR=2.34; 95% CI: 1.05, 5.22]. Varicose veins in the legs of female hairdressers had a high prevalence, and it was associated with increasing age, family history of varicose disease, high blood Pressure, and prolonged standing

Initiation and continuation of smoking in Iran: a qualitative content analysis

Smoking is the cause for many preventable deaths worldwide. The rate of smoking has not increased in Iran in the past two decades, but its increase among adolescents and young adults is a concern. This study investigates the risk factors of initiation and continuation of smoking in Iran using a qualitative approach. This is a qualitative content analysis study conducted on 12 smokers and 6 non-smokers in 4 selected cities in Iran. Data were collected with deep and semi-structured interviews, verbatim transcription and simultaneously coding. Then, they were analyzed through content analysis. Three themes and 16 subcategories emerged. The themes were personal inefficacy with 6 subgroups included inadequate information, low age, curiosity, consideration of smoking not as a major problem, wrong beliefs, and making reasons. Family inefficacy with 4 subgroups included poor authority, lack of reaction, existence of stressors, and history of smoking. Vulnerable social environment with 6 subgroups included poverty, social stressors, magnification of smoking, network of cigarette smoking, smoking as a norm and convenience of access. Recognition of smoking among children, modification of wrong beliefs about smoking, empowerment of the individuals against smoking from the very childhood, consideration of familial stress and crisis, and ultimately, paying attention to the role of social variables will play a major role in prevention of smoking and encouraging individuals to quit smoking

Health Care Failure Mode and Effect Analysis: a Useful Proactive Risk Analysis of Nutrition and Food Distribution in Mashhad Qaem Hospital's Women's Surgery Ward in 2013

Good medical nutrition therapy [MNT] is crucial to inpatients' health and treatment, and is part of routine hospital cares. Surgery ward is a highly danger-prone section in any hospital. The present study was conducted for a proactive risk analysis of nutrition and food distribution in Mashhad Qaem Hospital' Women's Surgery Ward in 2013 through health care failure mode and effect analysis [HFMEA]. A qualitative-quantitative research identified and analyzed the failure modes and effects through HFMEA. To rank error modes, we drew upon nursing errors in the clinical management model; to rank the effective causes of failure, we approved the model by the UK National Health System; and to rank the performance improvement approaches, we used the theory of inventive problem solving, TRIZ [theory of inventive problem solving]. A total of 42 failure modes were identified for 15 sub-processes listed in 7 processes of nutrition and food distribution. In sum, 11.9% of the failures modes were classified as high risk [hazard scores >=8]. Of 15 effective failure modes, the highest number of cause failure modes was associated with team factors, and the lowest number was associated with facilities. Using proactive HFMEA is highly effective in detecting potential failures in medication, effective factors in failure modes, and performance improvement approaches in hospital food distribution. [Monitoring proper patient-wards relationship], [committee establishment on diet, nutrition and medications], [performance assessment checklist making] and [supervising by nutrition authority over food distribution in wards] were identified as effective performance approaches in the Women's Surgery Ward in Qaem Hospital

Health-promoting lifestyle among Mashhad School of health students, Mashhad, Iran, 2014

Health-promoting lifestyle [HPL] is one of the main criteria which determine health and underlying factors preventing the health-threatening factors. HPL includes six dimensions of spiritual growth, health responsibility, nutrition, stress management, interpersonal relations, and physical activity. Considering the importance of students' health, both at individual and social levels, the present study was carried out to evaluate HPL among students [mainly females] of School of Health, affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 107 students of Mashhad School of Health using stratified random sampling were included. In order to collect data, Walker questionnaire, with a 4-point Likert scale, was utilized which included two sections of demographic questions, and questions related to the six dimensions of HPL. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and independent T-test, using SPSS version 11.5. The significance level was considered less than 0.05. Lifestyle of 9.3%, 84.1%, and 6.5% of the students was poor, moderate and good, respectively. The mean scores of HPL dimensions were as follows: spiritual growth: 30.27 +/- 5.4, health responsibility: 32.15 +/- 6.5, nutrition: 15.65 +/- 4.06, stress management: 12.76 +/- 2.9, interpersonal relations: 21.34 +/- 4.35, and physical activity: 13.69 +/- 5.1. A significant relationship was seen between gender and physical activity [p<0.05]. The majority of students had a moderate score of HPL. Since the lowest scores were related to physical activity and stress management, more facilities and training programs are required to improve these issues. It is recommended to provide high-quality healthcare services for students and raise their awareness about the benefits of physical activity via mass media

[Association of preterm birth with intelligence quotient in 5-11 years children in Rasht]

A potential brain damage, as a result of premature birth, can cause damage to intelligence quotient [IQ]. Due to the high incidence of preterm birth and its associated disorders and its impact on society and according to a few studies in this field, this study with the aim of evaluating association between IQ and preterm birth was conducted. This historical cohort study was done on 282 children of school age, dividing into two groups of cohort [n = 147] and controls [n = 156]. Demographic characteristics and findings of Raven's test for assessing IQ were gathered in children. Data were analyzed by SPSS software at a significance level of less than 0.05. The mean and standard deviation of IQ in cohort groups and control were the 99.46 +/- 9.91 and 100.02 +/- 8.61, respectively. The mean gestational age was 33.74 weeks in cohort group and 38.63 weeks in the control group. Mean birth weight and head circumference in the cohort and control group were 2226.81gr, 32.72 cm and 3260.57gr, 33.97 cm, respectively. Mean score of IQ was not significantly different between two groups, but IQ had significant correlation with birth weight and head circumference [r=0.179, P=0.002 and r=0.299, P<0.001, respectively]. Unlike results of a few previous studies on this issue, no significant differences were found between the two groups. It is recommended that future assessments study should be done on broader populations and should be considered behavioral and psychological dimensions

Mental illness stigma among nurses in psychiatric wards of teaching hospitals in the north west of Iran

Stigma is one of the obstacles in the treatment and regaining the mental health of people with mental illness. The aim was determination of mental illness stigma among nurses in psychiatric wards. This study was conducted in psychiatric wards of teaching hospitals in Tabriz, Urmia, and Ardabil in the north west of Iran. This research is a descriptive analysis study in which 80 nurses participated. A researcher made questionnaire was used, which measured demographic characteristics and mental illness stigma in the three components of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral. All data were analyzed using SPSS13 software and descriptive and analytical statistics. Majority of nurses [72.5%] had medium level of stigma toward people with mental illness. About half of them [48.8%] had great inclination toward the social isolation of patients. The majority of them [62.5%] had positive emotional responses and 27.5% had stereotypical views. There was a significant correlation between experience of living with and kinship of nurses to person with mental illness, with prejudice toward and discrimination of patients. There was also a significant correlation between interest in the continuation of work in the psychiatric ward and prejudice, and also between educational degree and stereotypical views. The data suggest there is a close correlation between the personal experience of nurses and existence of mental illness stigma among them. Therefore, the implementation of constant educational programs on mental illness for nurses and opportunities for them to have direct contact with treated patients is suggested.

Comparing mothers' satisfaction from ethical dimension of care provided in labor, delivery, and postpartum phases in Tabriz's educational and noneducational hospitals in 2009

It is believed that one of the most important criteria of health care's /quality is care satisfaction. It seems mothers' satisfaction concerning childbirth care process would be a determinant factor in family and community mental health. The aim of this study is to compare others'satisfaction of ethical dimension of care provided in labor, delivery and postpartum phases. This is a descriptive-comparative study which was conducted on 270 women's labor in educational [Alzahra, Talegani] and non-educational [29-Bahman] hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. To gather the data, we used a mothers' satisfaction questionnaire which measures their satisfaction about maternal cares during the hospitalization period. Using descriptive and analytic statistics, we analyzed the data via SPSS software. In the educational hospitals, the respondents' satisfaction during labor, delivery, and postpartum phases were 52.5%, 73.5%, and 73.0%, and in the noneducational hospital it were 67.1%, 80.0%, and 81.4%, respectively. Data analysis also showed the significant differences between educational and non-educational hospitals [P<0.001]. Besides, the mothers' satisfactions from ethical dimension of the care provided in labor phase was low, both in the hospital types. It indicates to apply appropriate activities for improving the ethical supports during the phase that may be achieved by the health care teams' members.