Psychometric properties of the Social Cognitive Theory questionnaire for physical activity in a sample of Iranian adolescent girl students

This research examined the validity and reliability of a researcher-developed questionnaire based on Social Cognitive Theory [SCT] to assess the physical activity behaviour of Iranian adolescent girls [SCT-PAIAGS]. Psychometric properties of the SCT-PAIAGS were assessed by determining its face validity, content and construct validity as well as its reliability. In order to evaluate factor structure, cross-sectional research was conducted on 400 high-school girls in Tehran. Content validity index, content validity ratio and impact score for the SCT-PAIAGS varied between 0.97-1, 0.91-1 and 4.6-4.9 respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis approved a six-factor structure comprising self-efficacy, self-regulation, family support, friend support, outcome expectancy and self-efficacy to overcoming impediments. Factor loadings, t-values and fit indices showed that the SCT model was fitted to the data. Cronbach's alpha-coefficient ranged from 0.78 to 0.85 and intraclass correlation coefficient from 0.73 to 0.90

Effect of communication skills training on health belief model constructs about AIDS in Zanjan health volunteers [2010-11]

The prevalence of AIDS/HIV is dramatically increasing worldwide. Iran and other Middle East countries are no exception in this regard. The main aim of this study was to assess the effects of communication skills program and AIDS education on Health Belief Model [HBM] constructs among the health volunteers in Zanjan. The study was conducted as a quasi-experimental trial. Eighty health volunteers were divided into two equal groups. The interventional group participated in two educational programs on communication skills and AIDS, compared to the control group that participated in AIDS education program only. Data collection was done both prior to and 20 weeks after the intervention using a self-report type questionnaire. The results of this study show that combining AIDS education program and communication skills training had a significant effect on susceptibility, [P<0.01] severity [P<0.003] and perceived barrier [P<0.0001] constructs of AIDS in the test group. By contrast, only the perceived barrier construct [P<0.0001] showed a significant change in the control group. Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor within the HBM. Findings of this study indicate that a combination of communication skills training and AIDS education program could have a better effect on Health Belief Model constructs on AIDS in health volunteers than the AIDS education program by itself

[Design and determine validity and reliability of safety locus of control scale in Isfahan steel company workers]

The degree to which a person perceives that the outcomes of the situations they experience are under their personal control is a psychological variable known as Locus of Control [LOC]. Safety LOC is the construct that specifically address the internal and external LOC in industrial domain. Previous research suggest that safety locus of control can be assessed and used to predict safe behaviors. The main aim of this study was designing, validating, and determining the reliability of safety locus of control scale. Four hundred workers of Isfahan Steel Company participated in this study. The reliability coefficients were calculated in two different methods: test-retest and Cronbach alpha. In order to survey validity of the scale we used three methods including face validity, content validity and construct validity. We established the content validity of the Persian translation by translating [and then back-translating] each item from the English version into the Persian version. Exploratory principal components analysis yielded a three-factor structure that explaining a considerable proportion of the total variance [63.5]. Moreover the fit indices of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis turn out were sufficient to support three-factor structure. In addition, the reliability results were acceptable, too. In most studies, designing, validating and determining the reliability of scales are time consuming and costly and if there are valid and reliable scales in different topics, could avoid repetitious works in researches. The results showed that the reliability and validity of Safety Locus of Control was acceptable and respectable and is suggested as an applicable scale for industrial psychology and safety studies in Iran

Self-efficacy: does it predict the effectiveness of contraceptive use in Iranian women?

This study explored the relative effects of self-efficacy on oral contraceptive use among a sample of 352 Iranian married women aged 18-49 years. In structured interviews 5 variables based on the Steps to Behaviour Change model [knowledge, approval, intention, practice and advocacy] were assessed and correlated with measures of family planning self-efficacy and general self-efficacy. The results indicated that the 2 independent measures, when taken together, were more effective in predicting behavioural intentions for effective use of oral contraceptives, with family planning self-efficacy making the strongest contribution. It is suggested that self-efficacy intervention techniques will benefit oral contraceptive users in preventing unintended pregnancies

effect of childbirth preparation classes on childbirth fear and normal delivery among primiparous women

There has been an increase in the number of women willing to have a caesarean birth because of their fear of childbirth. It seems the childbirth preparation educational class is a good way to remove or alleviate fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth.This research designed to identify the effect of childbirth preparation classes on childbirth fear on the primiparous women. The present study is a clinical trial which was carried out in 2007 at Milad Hospital, with 100 nulliparous pregnant women. Childbirth fear was measured by childbirth attitudes questionnaire. Normal pregnant women in the second trimester with childbirth fear score was 28 or more were randomly selected and dirided into experimental and control group with 50 subject in each qroup. The experimental group attended nine childbirth preparation class sessions and control group received routine antennal care. The mean scored fear of childbirth in case and control group were 39.35 +/- 6.96 and 40.71 +/- 6.23 respectively. There was not significant difference between two groups. After the sessions, comparing childbirth fear score between two groups in third trimester showed the mean score of childbirth fear among experimental group was lower than control group [29.82 +/- 7.18 compare to 38.03 +/- 9.27], and the differences statistically was significant [p < 0.001]. Mode of delivery was significantly different between the two groups. Primiparous women attended childbirth preparation classes acquired lower score of childbirth fear in compare to women received routine prenatal care. The results of this research showed relaxation training decreased childbirth fear and increased normal vaginal delivery