Assessment of questionnaire measuring quality of life in menopausal women: a systematic review

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process in women and is defined as occurring 12 months after the last menstrual period marking the end of menstrual cycles. Menopause has a negative impact on the quality of life [QoL]. Various generic and specific questionnaires have been used for assessing different dimensions of QoL in menopausal women. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify those general and specific instruments, and to determine the factors that affect QoL in menopausal women. We assessed eight specific and three general tools and found that some general and specific instruments, such as the 36-item short form [SF-36] and the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire [MENQOL], were mostly used for assessment. The specific tools available were diverse. Employment status and a high educational level in menopausal women were considered to be protective factors in improving QoL. Identification of predicting factors of QoL, such as body mass index, race, age, duration of menopause, and social and occupational variables can help to improve the QoL of these women allowing planning of psychological consultations and practical interventions

Effect of educational interventions based on theory of planned behavior [TPB] in selecting delivery mode among pregnant women referred to Rasht health centers

In recent years, most developed countries have aimed at reducing the cesarean rate through education and other interventions. In our country, however, despite all efforts, the cesarean rate remains very high. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of educational intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior [TPB] on choosing delivery mode in pregnant women, who were referred to the Rasht Health Centers. This quasi-experimental study included 72 pregnant women referred to various Health Centers in Rasht in the spring and summer of 2010. After a pre-test by using a valid and reliable questionnaire for both groups, specific training was provided for the intervention group based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. At the end of the pregnancies, post-test were performed in both groups and the results were analyzed by SPSS-13 software. The results indicate that there were significant differences in the mean knowledge, evaluations of behavioral outcome, attitude [P =0.000], perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and behavioral intention [P < 0.05] among pregnant women in the test group compared with the control. There was a significant difference in behavior between the two groups [P < 0.05]. The results show that maternal educations in the field for persuasion of normal delivery had been effective. Therefore, we recommend implementing training programs based on Theory of Planned Behavior, in order to persuade pregnant women for normal delivery and decreasing the rate of the cesarean section

[Women's attitudes toward elective delivery mode based on the theory of planned behavior]

Cesarean section [CS] delivery is more risky than normal vaginal one for both mothers and neonates. However, due to various reasons, the rate of CS is rising unfortunately. Unawareness and unfounded attitudes are among the more common reasons for this increasing rate of CS. To survey women's attitudes toward elective delivery mode based on the Theory of Planned Behavior [TPB] in Rasht, northern Iran. This descriptive-analytical study was carried out with 207 women referred to health centers in Rasht, using cluster sampling, in winter 2010. Questionnaires were used to collect the respective data which were analyzed by SPSS-13. Findings showed that 43% of the women have had normal vaginal delivery, 36.2% caesarean section for medical reasons and 20.7% elective cesarean section. In the elective cesarean section group, the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, evaluation result and perceived behavioral control were 42.56, 55.87, 60.33 and 47.28, respectively. The tendency of more than 70% of the women was CS absolutely while the two other groups favored normal delivery. All the three groups support the physician as the best source to consult for the selection of delivery mode. As demonstrated, the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, evaluation result and perceived behavioral control for the women with elective cesarean section were lower than the corresponding scores for the two other groups. Since the majority of the women in the study were primiparous, appropriate strategies including training programs for pregnant women and young girls based on behavioral theories and models such as TPB, and counseling with families, arranged by health centers and the mass media can be suggested

[Relationship between educational practice of volunteer health workers and preventive behavior of households under their coverage regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis based on the BASNEF model in Yazd City, Iran]

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between educational practice of volunteer health workers [VHWs] and preventive behavior of households [HH] under their coverage regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] based on the BASNEF model in Yazd City, Iran. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the 60 VHWs in the CL-endemic regions in Yazd City were interviewed and completed a valid and reliable questionnaire designed by the investigator. In addition, from among the households under coverage of each one of the VHWs, 2 HHs were selected randomly and their heads were interviewed and completed the relevant questionnaire [total n=120]. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. There was a positive correlation between the knowledge and attitude of VHWs and knowledge of the households, as well as between the VHWs' behavioral intention and households' behavior. Further analysis of the data also revealed a positive correlation between the enabling factors of VHWs and the knowledge, behavioral intention, enabling factors and behaviors of families, as well as between educational behavior of VHWs and knowledge, attitude and behavior of the families. Volunteer health workers can potentially play an important role in case-finding, prevention and timely treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, merely promoting their awareness of the disease will not lead to improvements in their educational behavior in the community. More effective education aiming at promoting their awareness and enabling factors, as well as developing better attitude in them, will certainly result in better behavior of households and control of the disease

[ study on the effect of physical education [II] curriculum based on BASNEF model on female students' regular physical activity in Isfahan university of medical sciences]

Due to the benefits of regular physical activity and prevalence of sedentary of physical activity among females and the potential of health education theories and models in changing behaviors, this study was designed to assess the effect of physical education [II] based on BASNEF Model on female students' regular physical activity of Isfahan university of medical sciences. All female students who registered in physical education II classes in the first semester of academic year 2007-2008, participated in this experimental intervention program [N=120]. These students were from six classes and randomly divided into two groups: experimental group [3 classes] and control group [3 classes]. The data was collected using a developed questionnaire based on BASNEF Model [contain Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, Enabling Factors components] as well as international physical activity questionnaire [IPAQ]. The experimental group participated in 2 months ordinary physical education program based on BASNEF Model. The control group had 2 months ordinary educational program. The data was collected in pre and post-test periods and then 2 and 4 months follow-up and analyzed using SPSS software. After intervention, the mean scores of BASNEF components were significantly high in experimental group in comparison to the control group. Also the experimental groups' participation in regular physical activity was significantly greater than the control group after 2 and 4 months prior to the interventional program. Developing physical education courses based on BASNEF model can improve regular physical activity of female students

[ effect of educational program based on BASNEF model on diabetic [Type II] eyes care in Kazemi's Clinic, [Shiraz]]

Ocular complications are the most important impediment that result from uncontrolled blood sugar among diabetics. For eye care, patients need to be educated on how to control their blood sugar and increase their behavioral preventive skills. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of educational program based on the BASNEF [Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, Enabling Factors] Model on Diabetic [Type II] eye care in Nader Kazemi Clinic, Shiraz City. This is a perspective and quasi-experimental intervention study, the research population being type II diabetics, between the ages of 40 and 65 years, having had diabetes for over 5 years. During the first visit of the subjects' eyes exam, 68 of 215 patients, diagnosed with ocular complications, were eliminated from the study. Finally, 100 diabetic patients, fulfilling the inclusion criteria, participated in the study, and were randomly divided to two groups, experimental and controls. The instruments for data collecting were a questionnaire established based on the BASNEF Model, a check list related to patient practice on the basis of self reporting, a check list for recording the patients' HbA[1]c and FBS levels, and the ophthalmologist's eyes exam report as well. All groups completed the questionnaires and check lists, and ophthalmic eye examination results were documented before and three months after intervention. The patients of the experimental group participated in 6 educational session classes during the one month of intervention and again two months after, with 2 session meeting classes as the follow up of intervention. The data were collected and analyzed by SPSS computer software. Our findings indicated that mean scores of BASNEF Model variables [beliefs, attitudes, subjective norm, enabling factors] were significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the controls after intervention. Also, behavioral eye care, rate of HbA[1]c [before intervention as 8.65% after three months 7.47%] and FBS levels [before intervention 207.08, after three months 124.2] improved significantly among the experimental group, compared to control group. Applying the BASNEF Model is very effective for developing an educational program for diabetics, in order to control their blood sugar and enhancing behavioral eye care. Besides such programs, follow up education on controlling and monitoring is highly recommended

[Factors contributing in job satisfaction in employees of Hamedan governmental organizations]

Identifying the factors which affect the level of the workers' satisfaction, has a potential important role in sustainability of the satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors which affect the employees' satisfaction of the governmental organizations in Hamedan Province. In this descriptive-analytic study, 2923 employees were selected from the eight province districts through stratified randomized sampling. The sample consisted of 1793 men [61.3%] and 1130 [38.7%] women. The average age of the employees was 34.86 +/- 6.23 [years-old]. From all employees, 2516 [68.1%] were married and the rest 407 [13.9%] were single. Data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire whose reliability and validity had been already examined. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Spearman correlation tests, running SPSS software