[Effect of red clover Isoflavones extract on menopausal symptoms]

Menopausal symptoms influence mental, physical and emotional health, as well as social performance and family relationships. Due to the undesirable side effects of alternated hormone-therapy, tendency toward alternative treatments in relieving these symptoms have been increased, and the use of herbs like phytoestrogens seem preferable. This study was conducted to determine the effect of red clover Isoflavones extract on menopausal symptoms. This clinical randomized, triple-blind trial was conducted on 72 menopausal women who referred to Navab Safavi health care center, Isfahan, Iran during Oct-Apr 2011. After two weeks of monitoring and determination of the baseline symptoms score including hot flushes and sweating, paresthesia, insomnia, nervousness, depression, vertigo, weakness and fatigue, arthralgia and myalgia, headache, palpitation and formication, the women were randomly divided into two groups of 36 subjects: placebo and intervention [taking 45 mg of red clover Isoflavones extract capsules]. The subjects were given one capsule daily for eight weeks and menopausal symptoms were recorded weekly. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18, independent t-test, ANOVA, chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. 55 women completed the study: 27 subjects in the placebo and 28 in the intervention group. The mean age of subjects in placebo and intervention group was 53.92 +/- 3.21 and 52.96 +/- 3.07 years, respectively. The mean age of menopause in the placebo and intervention groups was 51.38 +/- 2.63 and 50.05 +/- 1.17 years, respectively. The mean elapsed time since menopause was determined as 2.69 +/- 1.47 years in placebo and 2.66 +/- 1.65 years in intervention group. The average score of menopausal symptoms at the end of the 10[th] week was 13.87 +/- 7.22 and 16.44 +/- 11.59 in intervention and placebo groups, this reduction was significant [P<0.05]. This study showed that consumption of capsules containing red clover Isoflavones extract for 8 weeks, reduces menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women

Developing a holistic accreditation system for medical universities of the Islamic Republic of Iran

This report describes the steps in the development of an accreditation system for medical universities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The national accreditation project, supported by the government, was performed from 2001 to 2005. The project was carried out in 3 main phases, each phase including a number of tasks. After a review of the international literature on accreditation and through national consensus, a set of national institutional accreditation standards was developed, including 95 standards and 504 indicators in 10 areas. By complying with accepted national standards, Iranian medical universities will play an important role in promoting health system performance

[Comparing the factors related to the effective clinical teaching from faculty members' and students' points of view]

Teaching and learning are interdependent in educational process. Teaching effectiveness, therefore, is to be investigated both from teachers' and learners' viewpoints in order to achieve a better education. This study was conducted to determine and compare the factors related to effective clinical education from teachers' and students' viewpoints in School Of Nursing and Midwifery in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the population under the study was 53 faculty members and 118 senior students selected through purposeful sampling. The research environment consisted of teachers' offices, hospitals, and clinical centers affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The data gathering tool was a researcher made questionnaire consisted of two parts of demographic feAutres and factors related to clinical education which contained 5 general areas of individual feAutres of the learner, clinical teacher, clinical environment, educational planning, and clinical evaluation. Questions related to each of these areas were scored based on a five point Scale. The questionnaires were distributed anonymously and gathered after one week. The data was analyzed by SPSS software. Mean of the scores in areas of factors related to the individual feAutres of the learner, clinical teacher, clinical environment, and educational planning were above 4 and only in the area of clinical evaluation it was 3.95 +/- 0.81 out of the total score 5. T-test results for four before mentioned areas were 0.46, 0.45, 0.53, and, 1.39, respectively and it was 0.38 for evaluation area which revealed no significant difference. Regarding the agreement of faculty members and students on the importance of these factors in clinical education, it is recommended to apply all these factors in order to promote the quality of clinical education

Analysis of international organizational and management standards in midwifery education and recommendation of appropriate national standards

Today, moving toward high quality and efficient education is essential in educational systems. To achieve it, management, research and educational programs should evolve consistent with the produced knowledge, professional developments and standards. Regarding the important role of midwifery education in improvement of social health, the current study was carried out to identify the international organizational and management standards in midwifery education and to recommend appropriate national standards. This is a triangulation study which was fulfilled in 1381 and 1382, in seven steps. In first three steps, following search and collection of standards of various countries, the survey tool which consists of the fields and recommended standards was designed. In steps four to seven, these fields and standards were surveyed through an opinion poll; using Delphi's method. Sampling population was all the midwifery national board members and heads of midwifery departments in governmental university which at least offer B. Sc of midwifery. The standards should be marked as appropriate, relatively appropriate and inappropriate by participants. Finally, the data was analyzed using descriptive analysis methods. After analyzing the opinions; using Delphi's method, the results were proposed as 37 recommended standards. They were grouped as 13 standards in the field of missions and objectives and 24 standards in the field of organizational and management structure. Extracting organizational and management standards of midwifery and recommending the proper national standards help the planners in defining the missions, visions and goals of the systems. It would also help the authorities in designing proper organizational and management structure and evaluating the midwifery management system

comparative study on growth pattern of low birth weight and normal birth weight neonates

Low birth weight [LBW, birth weight<2500g] is a significant health problem in children all around the world. There is a direct relationship between low birth weight and infant mortality rate. One of the most important measures to prevent childhood morbidity is growth monitoring. The present study was planned to compare the growth rate of LBW neonates with those weighing 2500g and more at birth [normal birth weight [NBW]] during the first two years of life. This was a retrospective cohort study, which included 218 two years old infants [109 LBW, 109 NBW]. Data gathering tool was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive analytic statistical methods [the t- test and the chi 2 test]. Our findings revealed that there was a significant difference between the mean values of child weight, height and head circumference from birth until 2 years of age between the two groups [the LBW group had lower values than the NBW group]. Height by age, weight by age and weight by height indices also had significant difference between the two groups until 2 years of age. Growth curves in LBW group were upslope until 2 years old. Moreover, the weight percentile of the LBW children at 2 years of age was deeper than the NBW group. In the present study, comparison of growth parameters until 2 chart years of age and growth of both groups showed a better growth velocity in the LBW group. The LBW growth curve moved upslope and was more compatible with standard percentiles throughout the growth curve. However, growth of the NBW group was not fine and more investigation is needed in this field

[ comparative study on the growth of children born with low birth weight and normal birth weight within 2 years after birth]

Low birth weight [LBW, birth weight< 2500 g] is a significant health problem of children. Many studies have made it apparent that there is a direct relationship between low birth weight and infant mortality. One of the most important measurements to prevent children morbility is growth monitoring. The present study was set up to compare the growth of children born with low weight with those with weight of 2500 g and more at birth [normal birth weight, NBW] during 2 years after birth. This research is a retrospective Cohort study. The samples included 218 two-years-old Children. Selection criteria for the LBW and NBW infants were factors such as having birth weight< 2500 g in LBW group and 2500-4000 in NBW group, absence of congential anomalies and born from singleton pregnancies act. Needed data were were collected through a questionnaire by the researcher. Statistical analysis was carried out by t-test and the chi square test. Our findings revealed that the group of LBW children hand a statistically significant lower body weight, shorter stature, smaller head circumference and lower weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height indexes upto two years compared to the group of NBW children. Moreover, the weight percentile of LBW children at 2 years off age was less than the NBW group. The data suggest that low birth weight adversely affect children's growth in their early life. Therefore, LBW infants require special considerations about growth follow up and monitoring after birth

Investigating international management and organization st and ards in midwifery and proposing appropriate national st and ards

Nowadays, it is essential to the educational systems to move toward effective and optimal education. The necessity of managerial and educational programs adaptation with professional improvement and st and ards is felt well. Since midwifery education plays an important role in the public health improvement, this study has tried to determine international management and organization st and ards in midwifery education and also suggests appropriate national st and ards. This was a Triangulation study conducted in 2003. The research samples consisted of managers of midwifery department with bachelor's degree and also the members of the division of midwifery board who were selected by convenience and census sampling respectively. In order to suggest domestic st and ards,data collection was performed during 6 stages. After a vast research and collecting the st and ards of different countries through stages 1-3, the proposed area and st and ards were determined by experts in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Through stages 4-7, Delphi method was used to take votes and finally resuls were analyzed via descriptive statistics. The findings of this study include 2 distinct areas and 37suggested st and ards for mission and goals [13 st and ards], management and organization [24 st and ards]. Extracting management and organization st and ards in midwifery education and suggesting appropriate national st and ards can help the planner to collect midwifery mission and goals. It is important for designing managing structure and finally for evaluation of management system in midwifery dicipline according to these st and ards

Comparison of premarital educational needs among would be spouses in Molahady center [Isfahan 2004]

One of the most important events in the life of people is marriage. Premarital counselling can help would be spouses first to get knowledge and then get married. Since, educational need assessment studies are essential to design every educational program, this study tried to evaluate the educational needs of would be spouses and to compare them between men and women. This research is a descriptive-comparative study with the goal of assessing educational needs of would be spouses in 4 fields [reproductive health, family planning, diseases and prevention of common cancers] in 300 women and men. Data were collected by a questionnaire with 57 questions in 2 sections [demographic and educational subjects]. Descriptive statistical methods and T-test were used to analyse the data. Findings of this study indicated significant differences between men and women's educational needs in all of the fields [p<0/05] with exception of cancer prevention. Also, all of the samples in both groups needed all these subjects. Premarital counselors must be aware of premarital educational needs of would be spouses and then design educational programs according to these needs. Inclusion of above four fields, investigated by this study, in designing educational programs is suggested