intervention based on protection motivation theory in reducing skin cancer risk

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable, curable and treatable of all other cancers. In the past decade, the rates for most cancers, specially the skin cancers increased visibly. Sun exposure is a major causative factor for skin cancer for which prevention is possible. Protection motivation theory [PMT] provides one model for increasing healthy behavior through persuasive communication. We apply this theory for skin cancer prevention behavior. This was an experimental study. Participants were 360 female students from four high schools in Yazd city, Iran that divided in two groups [180 in case and 180 in control group]. A self-report questionnaire was used to assess the variables in the PMT model at pretest, post-test and follow-up. The questionnaire was distributed before the intervention [pre-test] and afterwards [post-test] and following at a 2 month lag. For data analysis ANOVA, T-test, Wilcoxon, Pearson's correlation and coefficient were used. A significant difference between all variables except fear was noted in the case and control groups in follow-up [p=0.00]. There was significant difference between mean grades score of all of variables in case group, in pre-test and follow up. No significant difference was seen between mean grade scores of variables in control group in pre-test and follow up. There is significant difference between using methods for prevention skin cancer in case and control group after intervention. Results support the effectiveness of a PMT-based intervention to change the attitude and behavior associated with skin cancer risk. Theory-based intervention can motivate people to alert their attitudes and behaviors regarding sun exposure

[ role of health beliefs in preventive behaviors of individuals at high-risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus]

Diabetes mellitus is an important health problem that leads to severe complications, is the cause of early death, and is showing an increase in frequency. Development of positive health behaviors is extremely important for prevention of diabetes in at high-risk individuals. This study aims to identify the relationship between health beliefs and diabetes preventive behaviors in individuals at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taft city. A study using the Health Belief Model [HBM] framework was undertaken with 114 subjects of both genders aged 30 years and above from three urban health centers who were diagnosed as at high risk for type 2 diabetes during the screening program. Research tool was a 66-item questionnaire. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U-test. Of the total, 29.8% of subjects were male and 70.2% were female. Regarding education, 68.4% of the subjects had not completed high school and 89.4% of them was married. Mean score of knowledge and preventive behaviors was 5.80 +/- 2.87 and 5.41 +/- 2.83, respectively such that subjects scored 30.05% of maximum obtainable score of preventive behaviors. There were significant correlations between preventive behaviors and perceived susceptibility, r=0.243[P<0.009], perceived severity, r=0.312 [P<0.001], perceived barrier, r=0.245 [P<0.006] and perceived self-efficacy, r=0.497 [P<0.001]. Preventive behaviors among the subjects at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes despite the presence of risk factors was poor due to lack of susceptibility, severity, barriers and self-efficacy perception

[ relationship between predisposing factors and self-care behaviors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

Self-care activity is a key factor in managing Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] in order to reduce disability caused by the disease. Predisposing factors including knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy are introduced as determinants of self-care behaviors in the forth phase of PRECEDE model, i.e., ecological and educational assessment. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the predisposing factors and self-care behaviors in patients with RA in Yazd, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling was used to recruit 181 outpatients with RA referred to a rheumatology clinic in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected by conducting interviews with the participants using a survey questionnaire included knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy, as predisposing factors; and self-care behaviors items. Reliability and validity of the instruments were examined and approved. The statistical tests included bivariate correlations, Mann-Whitney U test, and linear regression. Knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy scores were 71.7%, 66.9%, and 47.5%, respectively. The total predisposing factors score was 62.3%. There was a significant positive correlation between the self-care behaviors with attitude and self-efficacy. However, there was no significant correlation between the patients' knowledge and self-care behaviors. Totally, the measures explained 39.3% of total self-care behaviors variance within which the self-efficacy was the strongest predictor [beta=0.41]. Regarding the high power of predisposing factors, especially self-efficacy, in predicting self-care behaviors; and the low scores of self-efficacy, health promotion planners should pay more attention to predisposing factors of self-care behaviors especially the self-efficacy in designing health promotion programs

Knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS of schoolteachers in Yazd, Islamic Republic of Iran

A cross-sectional interview study was made with 290 teachers in 10 high schools in Yazd city, Islamic Republic of Iran. More than 90% of the participants had previously received information about HIV and AIDS. Only 207 [71.4%] correctly answered all questions on methods of transmission of HIV/AIDS. Most knew about sexual contact [93.1%] and infected blood [92.1%] as methods of transmission. Some teachers [20.3%] thought that mosquitoes could transmit HIV/AIDS. Regarding attitudes toward HIV/AIDS, over 55% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that infected people should be quarantined, whereas 17% agreed or strongly agreed that AIDS is a specific disease of those with high-risk sexual behaviour. Married teachers held more positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS than unmarried teachers

Study of depression prevalence in the patients with type ii diabetes referring to yazd diabetes research centers in 2008

Diabetes is one of chronic diseases with relatively high prevalence paying. Attention to psychiatry problems especially, depression in diabetic patients can raise quality of life in these individuals.The goal of this study is to assess the prevalence of depression in patients with type II diabetes. The subject participating in this descriptive study were 100 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] referring to Yazd diabetes research center years in 2008. Depression in these patients was assessed with the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. Patients were compared for demographic variables such as sex, age, duration of disease, after diagnosis educational level, history of family depression, presence of diabetes complication associated with depression. One hundred patients with type II diabetes [29men and 71 women] participated in this study. Prevalence of depression was 64% so that 48.3% of men and 70.4% of women were depressed. We found significant differences between patients on the basis of educational level [P=0.004], history of family depression [P=0.004], presence of diabetes complication [P=0.0001], and duration the disease [P=0.001].There was no statistically significant relationship between BDI scores and age groups i with due attention to high depression prevalence in type II diabetic patients, psychiatry consulting and psycho-education for the purpose of early depression diagnosis and regulating programs related to prevention and improvement of depression in this patients is important and useful

[Knowledge and attitude survey of high school students of Yazd province of Iran about HIV/AIDS]

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS] epidemic is in its third decade and presently no single disease has attracted as much attention in the international community as AIDS. This Cross-Sectional study carried out in order to determine and evaluate the knowledge and attitude of high school students about AIDS in Yazd province at 2005. 2146 high school students in different grades from four cities of Yazd province were selected through cluster sampling and evaluated by Self-Administered questionnaires. Although most of the students had an accurate knowledge about modes of HIV/AIDS transmission, but there were significant misconceptions about the disease and modes of HIV/AIDS transmission, but totally, the majority of students [35.2%] had a good knowledge about HIVIAIDS. Most of the student [36.3%] had a positive attitude; however, regarding the proportion of 32.4%, negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS was common also. The knowledge and attitude regarding the academic grade of students was significantly different [p<0.001]. Additionally, attitude of girls was significantly more positive than boys [p<0.001]. Radio and Television [63.9%] were the main sources of information and 21.2% of student named Internet as one of information sources. The Majority of students [56.1%] spoke with their friends about HIV/AIDS. According to the results, it can be recommended that schools have to be regarded as one of the main foci of activities in the strategies of AIDS risk reduction, and education of high school students [as one of the most important risk groups] about all aspects of HIV/AIDS, have to be seriously considered by the education policy makers

[ study of knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers on hypertension at villages of Yazd - 1384]

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Statistics indicates the high rate of hypertension in Iran [11.5%] and in yazd the highest [19.3%]. Regarding the role that inappropriate diet plays in causing hypertension as well as mothers' role in nutritional management of family and in adopting and administrating health instructions, this study was carried out to determine the knowledge and attitude of mothers in villages of Yazd. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was collected by a standard questionnaire. 363 mothers, their health being controlled by Health Service Centers, were selected by simple sampling and the data was analyzed by SPSS. 92.4% of the mothers knew that salt overuse can act as a factor affecting hypertension. According to most of the mothers [76.1% and 73.8%] hypertension has a good effect on stroke and heart attack respectively. Mothers' knowledge mean score on hypertension was 16.4 +/- 3. 68.3% of mothers had an average knowledge on hypertension and merely 23.1% enjoyed a good knowledge in this regard. In this study, there was no significant relationship between disparity of the average knowledge score among various academic and business groups [P>0.05]. However the relationship between mothers' knowledge score and informed threat score was significant. Media was the most important source of information for mothers [47.5%]. Mothers regarded daily chores as the most effective factor on lack of hypertension control. 32% of the patients were on a diet and 60% used medicine prescribed by their physicians. No one believed that drugs are of no use on hypertension control. Generally, the results showed the good knowledge of mothers about effective factors on hypertension and their complications. But, mothers' attitude and practice on prevention and control of hypertension wasn't acceptable. It was suggested that an extensive educational program should be planned to promote knowledge, attitude and practice of the people especially mothers on the problem