ABSTRACT
Congenital hypothyroidisrn causes irreversible, irreparable damage and lifelong complications such as mental retardation. Using the Health Belief Model questionnaire, this study aimed to determine the effect of a health education program on mother's participation for neonatal hypothyroidisrn screening program. In the current interventional study, 46 pregnant women from three Health-medicine centers were randomly assigned to an intervention group and 46 pregnant women from three other health centers were assigned to the control group. The Health Belief Model questionnaire assessed perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. For measuring the scientific validity of the designed tool, there was an expert panel, and for reliability we used Cronbach's Alpha. This questionnaire was completed by both groups before educational intervention. The educational intervention consisted of 4 educational sessions, implemented for the intervention group. After the training, the questionnaire was completed again by both groups. Data analyzed with SPPS software using chi-square and ANCOVA. There were statistically significant deferencse between the two groups regarding the perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and cues to action scores after the training sessions [p<0.001]. The difference in mean barrier scores of the two groups was not statistically significant after the training sessions [p=0.16]. Timely referral by mothers for neonatal hypothyroidisrn screening was higher in the intervention group [p<0.001].The study indicated that educational programs based on Health Belief Model assessment are effective in timely participation of mothers for neonatal screening and its use is strongly recommended in screening programs
ABSTRACT
Oral lichen planus [OLP] is a chronic immunologic disease. The etiology of OLP is unknown, viral antigens [for example Epstein-Bar virus] have been proposed as etiologic agents. OLP may get transformation to malignancy so research on the presence of EBV in OLP lesions seems to be necessary. The aim of this study was to ascertain if EBV acted as etiologic factor in pathogenesis of OLP. Tissue specimens of 22 patients with clinical diagnosis and histopathological confirmation of OLP were used as case group. And that of 22 persons without OLP served as control group. Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] method was used. Each sample was tested twice. All biopsy specimens from patients and controls were negative for EBV presence. In spite of the fact that the presence of EBV in OLP in these two small groups of Iranian population was not confirmed with PCR method, but due to different ideas and reports in this field, proving or disproving of presence or etiological role of EBV in OLP is continuously a question and needs to be examined in further studies