assessment of relations between socioeconomic status and number of complications among type 2 diabetic patients

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Iranian aged 25-64 estimated to be about 7.7%. The aim of current study was the assessment of socioeconomic status of diabetic patients and their complications. A cross sectional study was conducted on type 2 diabetic patients with complications in four major teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS] during July 2009 to March 2010. All patients [530] were interviewed through a questionnaire with 85% response rate [450 patients]. Skilled nurses were assigned as responsible for data collection. Collected data analyzed by Exact Fisher and x2 tests using SPSS version 11.5. The majority of patients had experienced one or more complications. Findings revealed that 50%, 33.6% and 16.4% of the patients suffered from one, two, and three complications of type 2 diabetes, respectively. Patients with cardiovascular complications included 22.2%, with both cardiovascular and eye complications [12.7%], and with cardiovascular, eye and foot ulcer together 14% of the respondents. Frequency of complications demonstrated significant relation with sex, age, educational level, type of occupation, duration of diabetes [P 0.001] and social class [P=0.002]. The majority of patients [54.2%] belonged to low income group. It seems patients with low socioeconomic status face more challenges in their social environment together with less psychological support. Health care systems are responsible to empower them to control their illness and feel a better life to live

Development of a valid and reliable diabetes empowerment scale: an Iranian version

Patient empowerment can enhance the outcomes of care such as metabolic control as well as quality of their life. This study evaluates the Iranian version for development of a valid and reliable diabetes empowerment scale. Validity and reliability of Iranian version of Diabetes Empowerment Scale [DES-LF] were measured through a cross-sectional study. DES-LF was evaluated through a qualitative and quantitative study by 160 type 2 diabetic patients. Reliability and validity of the scale and its 3 subscales, namely, managing the psychosocial aspects of diabetes [alpha=0.94], assessing dissatisfaction and readiness to change [alpha=0.96], and setting and achieving diabetes goals [alpha=0.96] were approved by a psychometric analysis. Findings approved the reliability and validity of the Iranian version of DES-LF for patient education and psychosocial interventions among Iranian people with type 2 diabetes

[Effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on knowledge and attitude about pap smear test among female secondary school teachers in district 11 of Tehran]

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women with incidence of more than 500000 cases per year. It is preventable because of its long precancerous period, suitable screening programs and effective treatments. Since the social and cultural barriers alongside the lack of knowledge are deterrents to participation in screening programs, the current study was performed to assess the effect of educational intervention through the Health Belief Model on knowledge and attitude of teachers about pap smear, considering their role in making people aware. This was a controlled before-after interventional study conducted on 72 individuals selected through simple sampling, assigned to two groups. Data collection tool was a questionnaire used and compared before training and one month after that. Training methods [intervention] included lectures with questions and answers. Data were analyzed with SPSS, version 11.5. 47.2% of intervention and 45.8% of control group were 40 to 50 years old and majority of them [47.2% and 50% respectively] had undergraduate educational level and 86.1% were married. Respectively, 67.2% and 74.2% have experience of being examined via Pap smear, while the knowledge of women in both groups was moderate about the disease. Study results revealed significant differences in knowledge, attitude and Health Belief Model constructs within intervention group [before and after training] as well as between groups [p<0.05]. Using Pap smear test among the participants was lower compared with healthy people aims targeted by 2010. Therefore, necessity of education and knowledge promotions are obvious

[ effect of education based on health belief model on promotion of physical puberty health among teen girls in welfare boarding centers in Tehran]

Puberty as a stage of life is an important developmental process. Teen girls have numerous health care needs and their specific issues should be considered. This study mainly aimed to determine the impact of education based on health belief model on promotion of physical puberty health among female teenagers who were residents in welfare boarding centers in Tehran city. It was a quasi-experimental intervention study, conducted in welfare boarding centers of Tehran city among inhabitant girls with 12 to 19 years old. All eligible persons were selected [n=61]. Data collection tool was a questionnaire including demographic information, health belief components, physical function during menstruation, completed before and one month after training by interview. Educational intervention was implemented in 3 months. Data was analyzed by Wilcoxon statistical test using SPSS16 software. After educational intervention, perceived severity [p<0.001], perceived susceptibility [p<0/001], perceived barriers [p<0.001], perceived benefits [p<0.001], and physical function during menstruation were significantly different. Educational intervention improved girls' perceptions and performance. Thus, health belief model should be used for puberty health education planning in female adolescents

Trends in prevalent injuries among Iranian pilgrims in Hajj

Annually millions of Muslims depart to Saudi Arabia for performing a religious pilgrimage called "Hajj". In this ceremony, pilgrims face numerous health hazards and injuries such as pressing in overcrowding, sliding, burning, falling down, traffic accidents etc. The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of injuries in Hajj period across 2004 to 2008. This study was conducted on 253808 Iranian pilgrims on five consecutive years of Hajj ceremonies, from 2004 to 2008. We used a report sheet with 13 types of injuries and 13 mechanisms of these injuries. SPSS V13.5 soft ware was used for analyzing the data. ANOVA and independent sample t- test was conducted, and relationships were considered significant at P< 0.05. The most common injuries was "tissue contusions and ruptures "[about 76/10000], and "tendon lesions" [about 62/10000]. In addition, the most common mechanism of injuries was "ankle sprain" [69/10000] during the five consecutive years. The prevalence of all fractures was about 49/10000 and the proportion of burning with hot water or fire was about 40/10000. Changes of all causes of the injuries were significant in this study [P< 0.05]. We have suggested some directions for preventing of injuries and related Injuries in Hajj, in this study

Patients' perspectives on factors that influence diabetes self-care

Although diabetes mellitus is of high concern in Iran, and the level of control is unacceptable, few qualitative studies have been carried out to reflect the experiences of patients on the barriers and motivators to self-care. This study aimed to explore a culturally based experience of Iranian diabetic patients regarding the personal and environmental barriers to and facilitating factors for diabetes self-care. Six focus groups were conducted among type 2 diabetic patients in the Charity Foundation for Special Diseases' diabetes clinic. Purposeful sampling was used. Newly diagnosed patients [less than six months] and all type 1 diabetic patients were excluded. Three focus groups were held on for each sex. A total of 43 patients participated in the study. Framework analysis was used to extract the themes from the data. Data analysis showed five main barriers: physical barriers [such as physical effects of diabetes]; psychological barriers [such as health beliefs]; educational barriers [such as lack of knowledge about diabetes]; social barriers [such as group pressure]; and care system barriers [such as service availability]. Along with the barriers, there were some motivators that the participants mentioned as a stimuli to control their diabetes. They include beliefs about diabetes, perceived responsibility for family, religious beliefs, and the views of significant others. Culturally based interventions are needed to improve diabetes care management in Iran. In addition to personal factors, diabetes health educators should pay attention to the environmental factors when they develop programs

effect of educational intervention on knowledge, attitude and Practice of the girl students on iron deficiency anemia in Tehran university dormitories

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world, affecting more than two bilion people, thus leading to an increase in mothers, mortality and low birth weight. So the role of educational intervention to increase the knowledg attitude and practice [KAP] of the students through utilizing appropriate and efficient methods is an important consideration. In this interventional study, 80 students were randomly selected and assigned to two gnoups: control and experimental. Relevant data were gathered through an appropriate questionnaire [including demographic information and some questions related to KAP of the subjects]. KAP were assessed before implementation of educational program by using questionnaire. The variables were evaluated by SPSS 1-1.5 months after the program in intervetional group to control the intervention effect in students [through t-test two -way analysis of variance, spearman correlation and descriptive statistical indices]. The results showed no significant difference in knowledge between the two groups before the intervention. However the difference came to get meaningful regarding KAP of the subjects after the intervention [P<0.0001]. Also from among the factors under study, fathers, level of education has been important on increasing the KAP of the subjects. The results indicates that by promoting the students, KAP it is possible to control anemia among students

Quality of life in women with different intensity of low back pain

It is widely believed that pain has a profound effect on health related quality of life. This study was conducted to assess quality of life in patients suffering from different density of chronic low back pain. The sample consisted of 101 patients with chronic low back pain attending to the Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences between July and September 2003. All patients were female, married, aged 18 years or over and underwent rheumatologic clinical examination. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using the Iranian version of the Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]. Relative to mean score of bodily pain, patients were divided into 2 groups: severe pain group [group 1] and mild pain group [group 2]. Then, quality of life scores was compared between these two groups. Independent sample t-test was applied and the results showed that there were significant differences between quality of life scores among people with different intensity of low back pain in all dimensions but the role emotional and social functioning scales. The findings from this study confirm that quality of life in patients with low back pain depending on its intensity may vary

[Comparing the effects of educational methods of group discussion and lecture on attitude and practice of health communicators on milk and its products in health centers of Ray city]

Educational methods such as group discussion and lecture may have different effects for various groups of people in every society. The focus of this study is to evaluate this effect on attitude and practice of health communicators on milk and its products. In this research 180 communicators were randomly placed in 3 separate groups of control, lecture, and group discussion. Relevant information was gathered through questionnaires on demographic specifications, attitude evaluation and practice. Prior to educational intervention the questionnaires were completed by all groups. The educational intervention as to lecture or group discussion was carried out for 45 minutes and the questionnaires were completed once more after the program. After one month, questionnaires of attitude and practice were completed by three groups again and the data was analyzed by t-test and one-sided variation analysis. The evaluation revealed the positive effect of educational intervention on attitude of the two groups, compared with the control group [P=0.002]. But there was no difference between group discussion and lecture group [P>0.05]. The results indicate a significant change in using group discussion on practice [P<0.05], but no significant effect on lecture

Patient's Knowledge, Perception and Belief about the Reasons of Low Back Pain

Patients with chronic low back pain [LBP] hold various knowledge, perceptions and beliefs about their pain which are based on prior learning and social conditions. Since LBP is a bio- psycho-social phenomenon and there are not any reports about awareness and attitude of Iranian patients' views regarding it, this descriptive study was employed to earn this information P to apply its results in health education planning. For data gathering, deeply interviewing with 24 patients were performed. Volunteer patients were from Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Science from July 1st to Sep 1st 2003 who had inclusive criteria such as: 18 years old or more, suffering from LBP more than 90 d and not having experience of surgical operation in last two years. Interviews were individually held at rheumatic disease center which was convenient to the participants and were being continued to earn data saturation regarding patient's knowledge, perception and belief about LBP. The findings showed that the most popular risky behavior for LBP was hard manual activities, also this study revealed that knowledge of the patients about LBP and its risk factors was little and LBP was not understood by the majority of patients [74%].Only a few people [11%] believed risk factors and risky behaviors could deteriorate it. From this study it can be concluded that health educators should emphasize on perception and attitude of the patients regarding LBP for changing behavior and complying of recommended body mechanics