[Assessment of vitex agnus -castus L. extract effect on treatment of premenstural syndrome]

Premenstrual syndrome is a cyclic recurrence of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle of combination of distressing physical, psychological of sufficient severity to result in deterioration of interpersonal relationships and/or interference with normal activities. Traditionally, Vitex agnus castus fruit extract has been used in the treatment of many female conditions. Assess of Vitex agnus -castus effect [4.3 - 4.8 mg dry extract] on treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group comparison over two menstrual cycles on students of Tehran Medical University and Tehran University, that live in dormitory. Volunteers under vent a preliminary screening interview, completed Daily Symptom Rating [DSR] [contain 18 symptoms] for two cycle, and attended a medical screening visit before being diagnosed with premenstrual syndrome and screening for depression by Beck questionary. 116 students were screened and 99 were evaluated [active: 49; placebo: 50]. Participants took Vitex agnus- castus [dry extract tablets] one tablet daily or matching placebo for two cycles. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistics [chi-square, fisher exact test, willcoxon, mann-whitney u and t test]. Decrease of severity of premenstrual syndrome was significantly greater in the Vitex group compared with placebo group in total symptoms of premenstrual syndrome [60.73% versus 20.79%, p<0.001], psychological symptoms [65.62% versus 28.19%, p<0.001] and physical symptoms [57.98% versus 16.22%, p<0.001]. Sixteen of eighteen symptoms of premenstrual syndrome indicate significant superiority for Vitex, other symptoms including [suicide and swelling of extremities] being unaffected by treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in regard to adverse events. Vitex is an effective treatment for the relief of symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome

[Effect of counseling on sexual satisfaction among infertile women referred to Tehran fertility center]

Infertility leads to sexual dissatisfaction in women who believe that their inability to conceive have serious negative effects on their life, particularly their sexual relations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of counseling on sexual satisfaction among infertile women referred to Tehran Fertility Center. It is a controlled clinical trial. One hundred infertile women were recruited in the study using convenience sampling method. Then they were randomly allocated in case and control groups. Data were gathered in two phases: before the intervention and 3 month after the intervention. The intervention group participated in two-hour counseling sessions for about 2 weeks. Data were collected using a 2-sectioned questionnaire; including demographic characteristics, and sexual satisfaction questions. Data were analyzed using X[2], Mann Whitney U, and Willcoxon statistical tests. Results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in sexual satisfaction before the intervention [P = 0.401]. There was significant difference between two groups 3 months after the intervention [P = 0.019]. Also, there was significant difference between women's sexual satisfaction in the counseling group before and 3 month after the intervention [P = 0.002]. Sexual counseling improves sexual satisfaction of infertile women

[Effect of pre-marriage counseling on the sexual health]

Regarding the increase of sexual transmitted disease, high risk behaviour and unwanted pregnancy in one hand, and myth, incorrect believes and low knowledge about sexuality in the other hand, sexual health education is one the basic compartment of health promotion. The pre-marriage counseling is one of the best opportunities to reach our aim. This was a semi-practical study. We had considered 32 case couples and 32 control couples randomly. The couples had been chosen from those, which have been contacted to the clinics of Tehran University of medical sciences. All cases had contributed to three lectures given by the researcher. The lectures were mainly based on the different aspects of sexual health, like: family plain, safe sex, different aspects of sexuality and physiologic different in men's and women's. On the other hand the control group had taken the normal lectures, which presents in the clinics which were based on the family planning and pre-marriage experiments. Both groups [cases and controls] had been asked to fill a form six months after counseling. In this form, we had included 10 questions of sexual health and 10 demographic questions. We had finally analyzed our data by SPSS software where we had used descriptive and discriminated statistics. We have obtained a considerable difference in sexual health between the two groups by Man-Whitney test [p=0.000]. The majority of case group [96.9%] showed a good sexual health whereas the most procent of control group [59.4%] had a moderate sexual health. To improve the quality of pre-marriage counseling, the content of usual lectures should be modified in addition to consider more time for these lectures. The results revealed that the pre-marriage counseling enhances the sexual health that lead to marital satisfaction

[ comparative study of knowledge and universal precaution in preventing Hepatitis B among midwives and midwifery's students in some medical science University Hospitals in Tehran 2002]

Hepatitis B is the most common occupational hazard for health care workers. Midwives get infected with patient's blood and discharges in 25% of vaginal deliveries. The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge and universal precautions and their performance about Hepatitis B prevention among midwives and midwifery students in some medical science university hospitals in Tehran, 2002. This study was based on survey questionnaires with a total of 120 midwives and midwifery's students between June and October 2002. Hospitals were selected by cluster sampling and persons were selected by simple randomization. Data were analyzed with chis quare and Fisher's exact test. Knowledge and universal precaution were moderate in majority of midwives and midwifery's students. There was no significant deference between knowledge and universal precaution of midwives and midwifery students [P[k]=.784],[Pp=.847]. The study demonstrated that the level of knowledge and universal precaution of midwives and midwifery's students were inadequate. The education about universal precaution is indispensable. It is desirable to raise the level of knowledge and include of in the curriculum. Further educational interventions for midwives are needed to increase their compliance about blood borne disease, particularly Hepatitis B

[Effect of hypericum performatum L. for treatment of premenstrual syndrome]

The premenstrual syndrome is characterised by Physical and Psychological symptoms apearing regularly during the week prior to menstruation and disappearing within a few days of its onset, causing disruption to occuptional, family and personal functioning. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Hypericum is useful in releving the symtoms of premenstrual syndrome, but as yet there has been no clinical investingation of this. To compare the efficacy of Hypericum with placebo to treat the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. A double blind, placebo controlled, randomised design was used in the clinical study. 70 Students of Tehran University with premenstrual syndrome who were in otherwise good Physical and mental health, completed Daily symptom Ratings for two cycles. Then participants devided were in two groups [active 35, Placebo 35] and took Hypericum or placebo for two complete menstrual cycles [2 x 30 drops for 7 days before menstruation]. Hypericum obtained a mean reduction of%46.45, in symptoms and placebo%18.1. There were significant reductions in all symptoms between two groups. [p=0.000] Treatment was well tolerated and there was not any discontinuation or complication with Hypericum. Hypericum treats premenstrual syndrome, and offers a therapy limited to the luteal phase for at least two cycles

[Parent's satisfaction of infant health care]

Introduction: evaluation of health care services is an essential step in improving health care quality and without it such an improvement could not be achieved

Material and Methods: in this descriptive study, parent's satisfaction of child's health care in the health and treatment centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences was evaluated. Four hundred parents who had attended 25 health and treatment centers were participated in this research. A questionnaire was completed through the interview with parents of 1 to 12 months old children. Analytical and descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of data

Results: the finding of this study showed that the majority of parents had average levels of satisfaction concerning communication's skills of health care providers and high levels of satisfaction about availability of these cares. Satisfaction of parents in the section of the vaccination was high and majority of samples had average levels of satisfaction about growth monitoring of children. There was a relationship between infant's age and parent's satisfaction

Conclusion: based on these findings recommendations have been made for future research. The findings of this study can be utilized in public health planning in order to improve the quality of the infant's health care services

[Evaluation of Midwifery students' clinical decision making]

Introduction: Quality evaluation and clinical decision making education are two important elements in health personnel's decision-making status. PMP [Patient Management Problem] is one of the clinical decision making methods in which some clinical conditions are taken from a disease and are put forward in the form of a multi stage question. This study has tried using computerized PMP to evaluate midwifery students' clinical decision making

Methods: In a cross-sectional census study, 40 Senior BS midwifery students from Tehran, Iran and Shahid Behshti Medical Universities were studied. Computerized PMP questionnaire, including 9 imagined clients referring for preconception care designed in a software program was given to the subjects to fill. The data were analyzed by descriptive, and multiple regression in SPSS software

Results: The mean score taken by the studied students was 35.62+/-7.01 out of 100 scores. Most of the subjects had average clinical decision-making. The acquired mean score of the subjects in risk assessment, in education and counseling and in intervention were as 40.17 +/-9.14, 31.87+/-10.23 and 31.42+/-13.77 respectively. Most of the subjects had average clinical decision making in these three fields

Discussion: Since clinical decision making as a major element in enhancement of health team services as well as midwifery students' services can be evaluated and taught by PMP and as most of the studied subjects regarding preconception care were not in an appropriate level, more precise education in this field seems essential