ABSTRACT
Objectives@#Insufficient evidence exists regarding factors that affect screening adherence among people with a family history of diabetes, who comprise roughly half of all patients with diabetes. Therefore, we aimed to identify the determinants of diabetes screening adherence in adults with a family history of diabetes who had not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was conducted at selected urban primary healthcare facilities in Tehran, Iran. The study population was clinically non-diabetic adults above 20 years of age with a family history of diabetes in at least 1 first-degree relative. All eligible people identified on randomly-selected days of the month were invited to join the study. @*Results@#Among 408 participants, 128 (31.4%) had received a fasting blood glucose check during the last year. Using binary logistic regression, the independent predictors of screening adherence were knowledge of adverse effects of diabetes such as sexual disorders (odds ratio [OR], 3.05) and renal failure (OR, 2.73), the impact of family members’ advice on receiving diabetes screening (OR, 2.03), recommendation from a healthcare provider to have a fasting blood glucose check (OR, 2.61), and intention to have a fasting blood glucose check within the next 6 months (OR, 2.85). Other variables that predicted screening adherence were age (OR, 1.05), job (being a housekeeper; OR, 3.39), and having a college degree (OR, 3.55). @*Conclusions@#Knowledge of the adverse effects of diabetes, physicians’ and healthcare providers’ advice about the benefits of early disease detection, and family members’ advice were independent predictors of screening adherence.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#Insufficient evidence exists regarding factors that affect screening adherence among people with a family history of diabetes, who comprise roughly half of all patients with diabetes. Therefore, we aimed to identify the determinants of diabetes screening adherence in adults with a family history of diabetes who had not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was conducted at selected urban primary healthcare facilities in Tehran, Iran. The study population was clinically non-diabetic adults above 20 years of age with a family history of diabetes in at least 1 first-degree relative. All eligible people identified on randomly-selected days of the month were invited to join the study. @*Results@#Among 408 participants, 128 (31.4%) had received a fasting blood glucose check during the last year. Using binary logistic regression, the independent predictors of screening adherence were knowledge of adverse effects of diabetes such as sexual disorders (odds ratio [OR], 3.05) and renal failure (OR, 2.73), the impact of family members’ advice on receiving diabetes screening (OR, 2.03), recommendation from a healthcare provider to have a fasting blood glucose check (OR, 2.61), and intention to have a fasting blood glucose check within the next 6 months (OR, 2.85). Other variables that predicted screening adherence were age (OR, 1.05), job (being a housekeeper; OR, 3.39), and having a college degree (OR, 3.55). @*Conclusions@#Knowledge of the adverse effects of diabetes, physicians’ and healthcare providers’ advice about the benefits of early disease detection, and family members’ advice were independent predictors of screening adherence.
ABSTRACT
Aim: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of PARV4 virus among the healthy population and four other groups of HBV infected, HCV infected, HIV infected and HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Iran
Background: Parvovirus 4 [PARV4] was first discovered in 2005, in a hepatitis B virus-infected injecting drug user [IDU]. To date, the best evidence about PARV4 transmission is parenteral roots which comes from IDU individuals. It seems that the prevalence of the virus in the normal population is very low
Methods: A total of 613 patients, including chronic HCV [n=103], HBV [n=193], HIV [n=180] infected individuals, HIV/HCV [n=34] co-infected patients and 103 healthy controls, were studied by using nested-PCR and also real-time PCR techniques
Results: Of those 180 samples were positive for HIV RNA, co-infection of PARV4 was detected in 3 cases [1.66%]. All these three patients were male with the age of 28, 32 and 36 years [mean: 32]. No statistical differences were found between HIV positive group and the healthy individuals. [P>0.05] The result of PARV4 PCR was negative in all other samples and healthy controls as well
Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the occurrence of PARV4 among these groups in Iran. The results show, that the virus is not significant in Iranian population, even in patients with blood born infections such as HCV, HBV or even HIV patients. Further studies in other areas and various groups are required
ABSTRACT
The primary healthcare [PHC] services in the Islamic Republic of Iran have succeeded in addressing high levels of communicable diseases; however, they seem less able to deal with maternal and paediatric oral diseases. The aim of this study was to examine problems in integrating oral health services into PHC. This was a qualitative research study comprising focus group discussions and interviews. Five focus-group discussions were held with midwives, family healthcare practitioners, rural PHC workers, duty-service dentists, and public health dentists. Also, individual interviews were organized with experts of faculty members in related fields, informant managers and policy makers, and in-depth interviews were done with pregnant women in four PHC centres. Audiotapes were transcribed following each session, and then a qualitative thematic analysis was carried out on gathered data. Data analysis resulted in 4 main themes relating to the challenges: environmental, educational, organizational and school-based programme factors. This study provides a clearer understanding of the challenges of integrating oral health services into PHC
ABSTRACT
Healthy eating in adolescent girls has a crucial role in normal growth and reducing the incidence of chronic disease related to nutrition in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to determine high school girl's eating behaviors in north of Tehran. In this cross-sectional study, 722 female students who were selected randomly from public high schools in four districts of Tehran participated. Demographic variables and nutritional status were evaluated using systematic interviews with them by health professionals. Anthropometric parameters were also assessed. Most girls [42.4%] had a normal BMI. The mean [SD] of daily consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products were 2 [1.1], 1.8 [1], 1.9 [1.07] servings, respectively. The mean [SD] of weekly intake of red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and beans were 3.08 [2], 3.15 [2.9], 0.95 [0.9], 2.6 [2.9] and 2.2 [1.2] times, respectively. The mean [SD] frequency of eating breakfast was 4.9 [2.6] times per week. 16.9% of girls never consumed fast foods. Girls who do not consume salty snacks and fast foods per week, had significantly normal BMI [p<0.05]. Low-fat milk consumption, daily consumption breakfast and non consumption of fruits were significantly associated with social status [p<0.05]. Do not eating breakfast had significant association with BMI [p<0.05]. The consumption of major food groups in this study was lower than the recommended amounts. Further research is needed to determine enabling and reinforcing factors to healthy eating behaviors. Also, improvement attitudes and empowerment of adolescent girls to adopt healthy eating behaviors can be effective
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Job satisfaction is an important variable in the area of organizational behavior. Without job satisfaction it is not possible to achieve organizational goals. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess job satisfaction among Shomal health center of Tehran personnel affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. This cross- sectional study was a descriptive-analytical one. Shomal health center of Tehran personnel with at least six months of work experience participated in the study. Data were collected by demographic characteristics and the Minnesota Satisfaction questionnaire. Job satisfaction was categorized into six areas and five levels. Reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed through Chronbach's alpha calculation. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS-18 software. Two hundreds and Fifty-nine personnel participated in the study. The mean [SD] of overall satisfaction score was 50.1[12.3] from 100. The study showed that job satisfaction of financial facilities and welfare, educational facilities and job promotion, politics and policy management, quality of human relations, Job security and professional social status were 40%, 43.4%, 53.4%, 66.6%, 54.3% and 57.4%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between gender and occupational field. Improving the physical conditions at workplace, increasing employee participation in decision-making, the relative increase in salary, Encouraging personnel, job promotion and intimate relationships between them can lead to increase job satisfaction among employees
ABSTRACT
Leadership style or behavior is an effective factor in employee performance. The purpose of the study was to determine heads' leadership style and its relationship with job satisfaction and burnout in staff of Shomal health center of Tehran. In this cross-sectional study, 207 subjects, including 16 heads and 191 health care staff of Shomal health center of Tehran participated. Data were collected using three questionnaires [leadership style, job satisfaction and burnout questionnaires]. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS-18 software. Descriptive and analytic methods such as Pearson's correlation coefficient and t-test were used for analysis. In this study 85.9% of heads of health centers use consideration leadership style. Overall job satisfaction of staff score was 50.1 [from 100], 48.6 in women and 55.1 in men. Managers' leadership style had direct and significant relationship with job satisfaction of employees [P<0.001].17.3% of staff had average job burnout and 2.6% of them had high job burnout. Average job burnout in men and women were 32.5 and 37.5, respectively. Managers' leadership style had significantly inverse relationship with job burnout in staff [P<0.001]. Selecting leadership style according to the working conditions and attention to modern management methods can lead to increased job satisfaction
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Background: We need a defined population for determining prevalence and incidence of diseases, as well as conducting interventional, cohort and longitudinal studies, calculating correct and timely public health indicators, assessing actual health needs of community, performing educational programs and interventions to promote healthy lifestyle, and enhancing quality of primary health services. The objective of this project was to determine a defined population which is representative of Tehran, the Capital of Iran. This article reports the methodology and establishment of the research network of Tehran defined population
Methods: This project started by selecting two urban health centers from each of the five district health centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Inside each selected urban health center, one defined population research station was established. Two new centers have been added during 2013 and 2014. For the time being, the number of the covered population of the network has reached 40000 individuals. The most important criterion for the defined population has been to be representative of the population of Tehran. For this, we selected two urban health centers from 12 of 22 municipality districts and from each of the five different socioeconomic of Greater Tehran. Merely 80000 individuals in neighborhoods of each defined population research station were considered as control group of the project
Findings: Totally we selected 12 defined population research stations and their under-covered population developed a defined population which is representative of Tehran population
Conclusion: a population lab is ready now in metropolitan of Tehran
ABSTRACT
The lack of a proper sewage collection and disposal system, the water and sewerage project, in the city of Rasht, became a priority by Guilan province Urban Water and Sewerage Company with the government partnership and World Bank financial support. The objective of this research was to complete the first phase of a two-phase study, to determine the impact of using an urban sewerage system on acute diarrhea in children under five years old, in Rasht city in the Guilan province. The study is a concurrent control before and after field trial which is carried out in two phases: before [phase I] and after [phase II]. Sampling for phase I was performed in the middle month of each season, November and February 2009 and May and August 2010. The incidence of acute Diarrhea was measured with the participation of 1560 mothers of children under 5 years old. This was done in two groups: the intervention group [inside the sewerage system project perimeters] and the control group [outside the project perimeters]. Data was collected by local female general practitioners and medical students by doorto- door interviews with mothers. Data was analyzed using the SPSS 11.5 software package. The Pearson Chi-Square was used to compare qualitative variables between groups, whilst the t-test and One-Way ANOVA was used to compare quantitative variables. The average annual incidence of acute diarrhea in children under five years old was 10.4% [9.4% in the intervention group and 11.4% in the control group]. The seasonal pattern of acute diarrhea incidence was 10.5% [9.3% in the intervention group and 11.7% in the control group] in May, 12.5% [11.5% in the intervention group and 13.4% in the control group] in August, 9.3% [8.1% in the intervention group and 10.5% in the control group] in November, and 9.1% [8.5% in the intervention group and 9.8% in the control group] in February respectively. The study showed the incidence of acute diarrhea in children under five years old in Rasht city is moderate and it follows a seasonal pattern. The highest rate was seen in summer and the lowest rate in winter. It is expected to decrease with the initiation of the sewerage system program
ABSTRACT
Quality is a major concern in the services offered by the health sector. The first basic step, in formulating any quality-improvement program, is recognizing consumers' perceptions and expectations of the services' quality. The aim of this study is to determine the gaps in the health services and provide solutions to increase clients' satisfaction in the clinics of Shomal Health Center of Tehran. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was done in 2013. The sample size was 325, proportionately selected from the recipients of primary health care in each clinic. Data was collected by a questionnaire, based on the five dimensions of service quality gap SERVQUAL instrument; which includes 22 questions. The collected data was statistically analyzed using SPSS software. There was a significant difference between the client's perception and expectation in each of the five dimensions of service quality. The smallest gap was in the communion [0.68] and the largest gap in the concrete [0/88] service. The client's education was significantly associated with the quality gap. None of the service dimensions were beyond the expectations of the respondents. Therefore, there is an ample room for improving the service processes