ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was designed to examine the effect of metabolic syndrome [MetS] on health-related quality of life [HRQOL] in patients with suspected nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]
Subjects and Methods: Three hundred thirty-two patients [236 males and 96 females] with suspected NASH from the Amol cohort study were included in this study. MetS was diagnosed based on Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and HRQOL was measured using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12] questionnaire [with 8 subscales and 2 summary components]. A multivariable linear regression model was used to assess the independent effect of MetS on HRQOL
Results: The mean age of the study population was 42 +/- 13 years [range 18-82]. The prevalence of MetS was 43.4% [n = 144] and the mean scores on the Physical Component Summary [PCS] and the Mental Component Summary were 72.4 +/- 20.86 and 42.7 +/- 12.42, respectively. The multivariable linear regression model showed that MetS was negatively associated with 4 subscales of HRQOL that included: role limitations due to physical problems [RP] [B = -14.05, p = 0.004], bodily pain [BP] [B = -7.37, p = 0.02], vitality [VT] [B = -7.72, p = 0.022], and role limitations due to emotional problems [RE] [B = -12.67, p = 0.005] after adjustment for other variables. Also, MetS had a borderline association with the general health and mental health subscales and the PCS [p < 0.1]
Conclusion: In this study, there was a strong association between MetS and 4 subscales [RP, BP, VT, and RE] of HRQOL in patients with suspected NASH; this could be considered as a part of health policy to improve general health
ABSTRACT
Background: It is important to know media and educational intervention and also produce them according to standards. Thus, media and health educational interventions should evaluate to improve education quality
Methods: The study sample were whole produced media and interventions in all medical universities, deportments, offices, and centers affiliated to ministry of health in 2008 and in the first half of 2009. Sampling took a census. The evaluating tool was a checklist which made in four domains including pre-media, media and intervention specifications, production, and implementation, evaluation
Results: 7.1% percent of media and interventions achieved 50 percent score in pre-media. The other results were respectively in media specification 63.7% percent, implementation and production 15.7% percent, and also evaluation 2.9% percent.Intervention just evaluated in pre-media
Conclusion: The results of the evaluation in health education media indicate that the IEC cycle [Information, Education, Communication] in health care system is an incomplete process. Meanwhile regardless of prerequisite the scoped phase will implicate and lead to educational budget dissipation
ABSTRACT
Background: Methadone maintenance therapy [MMT] is an evidence-based approach for opiate addiction treatment. While its effectiveness in reducing opiate use has been evidently verified, unanswered questions with respect to the cultural scenarios for MMT programs remain unanswered. This study was conducted to explore understanding address MMT initiation among a women-recruited sample of persons who use Opiate
Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were used in purposeful and maximum variation sampling. All participants recruited for interview in 60-90 minutes were 17 women with opiate addiction experience from three MMT clinics in Sari capital city of Mazandaran, Iran. We applied a content analysis with a conventional approach for analyzing and finding addicted women perception towards MMT
Results: To answer the main concern of the research team about how Iranian Opiate- addicted women perceived the MMT. The results were categorized into six main themes including Service Providers' Support, Stigma in Society, Fear of Rejection, Long waiting time, Family Support, and Methadone' Side Effects
Conclusion: The results revealed that there are several perceived reasons beyond personal and psychological factors. The contextual experience acts as important cues that might encourage or deter drug users toward MMT