[ effect of assertiveness training on medical students' shyness]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an assertiveness training program on medical students' shyness. This study is a semi-experimental one with pretest and post-test. We used convenience sampling method. Our intervention group included 50 second semester medical students of Kurdistan University who participated in assertiveness skills training course for 4 weeks. Control group consisted of second semester students of Kermanshah University who had not passed any course on assertiveness skills training. Cheek and Briggs Shyness Questionnaire was used for evaluation of both groups. For data analysis we used analysis of covariance Experimental group included 19 men and 31 women and control group consisted of 20 men and 30 women. Both groups were similar in regard to the mean scores of the pretest. But the mean scores of the post-test in control and experimental groups showed a significant difference which indicated that life skills training could be beneficial for the students to overcome their shyness significantly [p=0.001]. The results of this study showed that training of assertiveness skills could be helpful to the university students to control their shyness. Short term training of assertiveness skills is recommended for the school and university students

[Prevalence rate of suicidal thoughts and its related factors in the medical students in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences]

Suicide is the third most common cause of death between 15 and 44 years of age. Medical students are one of the high risk groups. Suicidal ideation is regarded as a predictive factor for suicide attempt. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of suicidal thoughts and its related factors among the students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. In this descriptive - analytical study, 452 students with different fields of study in medical sciences were selected randomly. Using Beck Inventory [BSSI] the rate of suicidal thoughts was determined. Data were entered into SPSS V.16 software and analyzed by x[2] and logistic regression. p <0.05 was considered significant. In this study 34.3 percent of the students were male and 65.7 percent were female, with a mean age of 21.16 +/- 2.41 years. 32.7 percent of all students and 42.7percent of medical students had mild to severe suicidal thoughts. A significant relationship was observed among academic fields, residential area, performance of religious obligations, history of suicide attempts and current suicidal thoughts [p<0.01]. This study indicated a high prevalence rate of suicidal thoughts among the university students which calls for more attention by the university officials in order to take necessary measures for prevention of suicidal attempts among the students