Determinants of caesarean birth on maternal demand in the Islamic Republic of Iran: a review

The phenomenon of caesarean birth on demand has gained attention, particularly as a first caesarean birth appears to be strongly predictive of subsequent caesareans. Identification of reasons behind caesarean birth on demand is important for planning effective interventions. Therefore, this review reports the factors involved in the tendency of women to undergo caesarean birth, based on studies in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Several keywords including caesarean delivery, childbirth, causes, maternal request/demand, and patient choice were used to search Medline, PubMed, Ovid, Scientific Information Database, Magiran, Google and Google Scholar. The search was conducted on Persian and English language articles, with no time limitation. Using content analysis, the factors influencing caesarean section were divided into 3 categories: maternal, social and healthcare giver. According to the high prevalence of caesarean section, it is important to design and implement effective programmes and interventions with consideration of the key reasons that lead women to opt for unnecessary caesarean section

Cognitive factors related to regular physical activity in college students

Despite the well evidenced health benefits of regular physical activity, many Iranian college students do not engage in physical activity sufficiently. The aim of this study was to assess cognitive factors related to regular physical activity in college students in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbass, Iran. A total of 314 students from three schools of the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences were selected randomly. Of the total number of students, 249 students filled out the questionnaires completely [response rate = 79.3%]. Exercise Benefits/Barriers scale, Selfefficacy scale, Exercise norms scale, and Planning for exercise scale were used to assess cognitive factors regarding physical activity; the Cronbach's alpha of these scales were 0.87, 0.83, 0.73, and 0.82, respectively. The mean age of participants was 21.7 +/- 2.7. Of all the participants, 46.2% were male. Only 26.5% [n = 66] were engaged in regular physical activity. Perceived barriers to exercise, selfefficacy to exercise, planning for exercise, and exercise norms had a significant relationship with physical activity [P < 0.05]. However, there was no significant relationship between perceived benefits to exercise and physical activity. For increasing physical activity in college students, self-efficacy and social support improvement is suggested

Fish consumption in a sample of people in Bandar Abbas, Iran: application of the theory of planned behavior

This study aimed to apply the conceptual framework of the theory of planned behavior [TPB] to explain fish consumption in a sample of people who lived in Bandar Abbass, Iran. We investigated the role of three traditional constructs of TPB that included attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control in an effort to characterize the intention to consume fish as well as the behavioral trends that characterize fish consumption. Data were derived from a cross-sectional sample of 321 subjects. Alpha coefficient correlation and linear regression analysis were applied to test the relationships between constructs. The predictors of fish consumption frequency were also evaluated. Multiple regression analysis revealed that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly predicted intention to eat fish [R[2] = 0.54, F = 128.4, P < 0.001]. Multiple regression analysis for the intention to eat fish and perceived behavioral control revealed that both factors significantly predicted fish consumption frequency [R[2] = 0.58, F = 223. 1, P < 0.001]. The results indicated that the models fit well with the data. Attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control all had significant positive impacts on behavioral intention. Moreover, both intention and perceived behavioral control could be used to predict the frequency of fish consumption

Hookah smoking and associated factors in rural region of Hormozgan, Iran

Smoking hookah is a traditional method of tobacco smoking which is common in Middle East and Arabic countries. The Hormozgan province is in the second rank of hookah use after Bushehr in Iran. This research is seeking to study the factors affecting hookah smoking in a sample of rural community of the Hormozgan province. From the total population of the Hormozgan province villages, 310 residents were selected through multistage sampling. The data were analyzed in a logistic regression model. The prevalence of hookah smoking was 36.5%; 28.4% in men and 45.16% in women. Marital Status and Job are associated with Hookah smoking [p<0.05], age [OR=1.04], gender [OR=4.43], cigarette smoking [OR=5.16], having a hookah smoker in the family [OR=1.9], and education [OR=0.34] were effective in hookah smoking. Considering the high prevalence of hookah smoking, appropriate educational programs should be designed in order to qualitatively study the reasons of region's people tendency toward the hookah.

[Relationship between perceived benefits/barriers and decisional balance with stages of change for physical activity among high school students in Bandar Abbas]

This study aimed to assess relationship between perceived benefits/barriers and decisional balance with stages of change for physical activity among high school students in Bandar Abbas, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in high schools of Bandar Abbas, in the south of Iran. A total of 422 high school students were selected. Twenty two participants did not fill out questionnaires completely. A total of 400 questionnaires were analyzed [response rate=94.8%]. The perceived benefits/ barriers to exercise and decisional balance were assessed using the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale; and stages of change were assessed using the Physical Activity staging. Data were analyzed in the SPSS v.16. The mean age of the participants was 15.9 [SD=1.1] ranging from 14 to 18 years. More than half of the participants [51.8%] were male and 48.2% were female. About half of the participants [49.2%] were engaged in regular physical activities. Fifteen per cent of the participants in the precontemplation stage, 15.8% in the contemplation stage, 20% in preparation stage, 15.8% in action stage, and 33.4% in maintenance stage for physical activity. From precontemplation stage to maintenance stage, the perceived benefits and decisional balance were increased and the perceived barriers was decreased. The results of this study are in line with the Transtheoretical model. This model can be used as a framework to design interventions for improving physical activity in population

Attitudes toward learning communication skills among medical students of a university in Iran

Communication skills play a paramount role in clinical practice. In every clinical setting, medical doctors need to interview their patients efficiently and be persuasive toward their health issues. This study aimed at assessing the attitudes of medical students toward learning communication skills at Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. In this cross-sectional study, the questionnaires were distributed to 210 medical students. Twenty eight students were excluded since they either did not return the questionnaires or filled them out incompletely. So, totally 182 questionnaires were analyzed [response rate=%86.6]. Data was collected using communication skills attitude scale [CSAS] which consists of 26 items, 13 indicative of positive attitude and 13 indicative of negative attitude toward learning communication skills. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software. The mean age of the participants was 21.7 [SD=2.7]. Male and female students accounted for 38.5% and 61.5% of the participants respectively. The mean scores for positive attitude was 54.8 [SD=7.3] out of 65, and the mean scores for negative attitude was 35.3 [SD=5.9] out of 65. There were statistically significant differences between male and female students and between basic sciences and pathophysiology students on the one hand and clinical course students on the other as regards their attitudes toward learning communication skills [P<0.05]. Although students had strongly positive attitudes toward learning communication skills, curriculum planners should not lose sight of negative attitudes and measures need to be taken to minimize or if possible eliminate them

impact of cognitive-behavioral stress management training program on job stress in hospital nurses: applying PRECEDE model

Nursing is one of the most stressful jobs. The present study aimed to determine the effect of a cognitive-behavioral stress management training program based on PRECEDE model on stress reduction among nurses. In this quasi-experimental study, which was conducted in 2010, 58 female nurses in Hamadan, northwest Iran were enrolled in the study and were divided into two equal groups included 29 nurses from one Hospital and 29 nurses from the other as intervention and control groups respectively. The data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire including demographic characteristics and nursing stress scale [NSS]. In addition, a questionnaire based on PRECEDE model was used in order to assess predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors. The intervention was a training program including five sessions during three weeks in which relaxation and problem-solving training was thought. A pre-test and a post-test were performed 1.5 months apart. The t-test, Mann Whitney and Willxocon statistical tests were used for data analysis at 95% significant level using SPSS 13. The baseline score average of job stress was 113.0 and 109.8 for intervention and control groups respectively [P=0.250]. After intervention, score average of job stress decreased to 94.0 in experimental group while that of control group remained relatively unchanged [109.2], [P<0.001]. A significant difference was found in PRECEDE model constructs and stress management behaviors in intervention group compared to control group after training interventions [P<0.001]. Training programs based on PRECEDE model might be effective on decreasing job stress in nurses

Knowledge of Iranian nurses about HIV/AIDS: a cross sectional study from Bandar Abbas

Surveying knowledge of nurses about HIV/AIDS can provide an evidence for designing appropriate educational program. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of a sample of Iranian nurses about patients living with HIV/AIDS in Bandar Abbas, Iran. In this cross sectional study, 150 nurses completed two questionnaires, one dealing with demographic data and the other inquiring knowledge of nurses about HIV/AIDS based on existing instruments developed by Eckstein in 1987. The mean age of studied sample was 31.9 +/- 8.2 years. At the time of the study, 63.3% of the respondents had previously cared HIV-infected subjects. Most of the participants [99.3%] knew that drug abusers were at higher risk for HIV acquisition. Most of the participants [97.3%] also answered correctly that person with HIV could be asymptomatic but still infected. Finally, 29.3% thought that recapping used needles is a good way to prevent HIV infection. Those who had participated in educational program had higher overall scores of knowledge than non-participants [10.09 +/- 2.18 vs. 9.66 +/- 2.32, p=0.002]

Distribution of smokers by stages of change of smoking: a population based study from BndarAbbass, Iran

Transtheoretical Model is a behavior change model that incorporates the stages of change for the process of quitting smoking. The aim of this study was to determine these stages in smokers living in Bandar Abbass, Iran. This was a cross sectional study. Using cluster random sampling, 1810 subjects aged 15 years and over, were studied from April to May 2007 in Bandar Abbass, Iran. Economy Model Questionnaire was used to collect data regarding three stages of change including precontemplation, contemplation and preparation within current smokers to describe different levels of readiness to quit smoking. In all, 1810 individuals were studied. Two hundred and twelve participants [11.7%] were smokers, among them 204 [96.2] were men. There were statistically significant differences between smokers and non-smokers in terms of gender, age and education [P < 0.001]. The stage of change distribution across precontemplation, contemplation and preparation was 50.9%, 46.2%, and 2.8% respectively. There were no statistical differences between stages of change in terms of gender, age and education. This study revealed the majority of smokers were distributed in precontemplation and contemplation stages. These findings should be considered in future studies

[Exercise self- efficacy, exercise perceived benefits and barriers among students in hormozgan university of medical sciences]

The objective of this study was to determine self efficacy, perceived benefit/ barriers to exercise of students in Hormozagan University of Medical sciences [HUMS]. This was a cross-sectional study. Using stratified sampling, 350 current students of HUMS were studied from November to December 2007 in Bandar Abbass, Iran. Data regarding self efficacy, perceived benefits/barriers to exercise among participants were assessed through Exercise self efficacy scale and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. Data were analyzed by SPPS version 1 3. In all, the data of 249 participants with mean age of 21.7 +/- 2.7 were analyzed. Among them 65 participants [26.5%] including 36 girls and 30 boys were doing physical activity. Mean scores of self efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers were 23 + 7.1, 96 +/- 12.5 and 31.9 +/- 6.1, respectively. There were statistically significant relationship between self efficacy and perceived barriers with physical activity [P<0.05]. This study revealed perceived barriers such as insufficient time, money and also tiredness due of exercise could decrease physical activity. However perceived self-efficacy and encouraging by friends and family members have a key role of doing regular physical activities