[Effect of theory based education on blood sugar control in type-2 diabetic patients]

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of educational intervention based on a self-efficacy model and its effect on two constructs of self-efficacy and outcome expectations in order to promote self-care and glycemic control in patients with type II diabetes

Materials and Methods: This pretest-posttest with randomized control group study was conducted on 80 patients with type-2 diabetes. These patients were selected based on inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups [n=40 each]. The intervention group attended six sessions of group and face-to-face consultation sessions focused on self-efficacy and outcome expectation strategies. Data were collected through laboratory tests and questionnaires before and three and six months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 and Independent T-test and ANOVA for repeated measures tests

Result: Three months after the intervention a significant increase occurred in intervention groups in self-efficacy, outcome expectations and self-care and these changes were statistically significant at 6 months after the intervention. Six months after the intervention a significant decrease in HbA1c was observed. After the intervention diet, physical activity and foot care improved significantly. No significant improvement occurred in self-monitoring of blood glucose and medication adherence

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that educational interventions based on the self-efficacy model in six months is beneficial for diabetic patients. It seems that implementing these educational strategies can be effective for patients with diabetes and are recommended to be used in their education for metabolic control

Exploring the characteristics of public reproductive health services in the Islamic Republic of Iran from the perspectives of unmarried women: what needs to be changed?

This qualitative study in the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to the use of reproductive health services by unmarried women. A purposive sample of unmarried women aged 25-60 years in Isfahan city were interviewed about their experiences of reproductive health services in public health centres. Content analysis of responses revealed that the favourable characteristics of reproductive health services in public centres were services that: were delivered by personnel of the same sex in a woman-friendly environment and available at a suitable price, and did not label clients. In contrast, the following characteristics made public health centres undesirable for unmarried women: not addressing single women for reproductive health services; lack of privacy; failure to maintain confidentiality; doubts about skills and scientific ability of personnel; and lack of integration of services

[Effect of motivational interviewing on weight loss]

Background and Objective: Obesity presented as the most pivotal public health problem. Motivational interviewing is a client-centered and direct technique to improve intrinsic motivation of people to change behavior using search and resolve ambivalence that its beneficial outcomes have widely been confirmed. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of motivational interviewing on weight loss in women

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 150 women with overweight and obesity were randomly divided into control, motivational interviewing and motivational interviewing and intention implementation groups. Data were collected through a researcher made questionnaire at baseline and 2 month follow up

Results: The score of protection motivation theory constructs including susceptibility, severity, rewards, self-efficacy, response efficacy and cost were significantly increased in the two intervention groups compared to the control group [P<0.05]. Anthropometric characteristics were significantly reduced in the motivational interviewing and motivational interviewing with intention implementation group [P<0.05] in compare to the control group [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Motivational interviewing integrated into intention implementation causes weight loss and increase the constructs score in women

Assessment of some predicting factors of self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Increasing patient empowerment in order to improve diabetes self-care plays an important role in disease control. One of the most important measures/steps in this field is promoting patients' self-efficacy which can lead to greater participation of the patient in treatment and prevention of serious complications in patients. The purpose of this study hence was to determine the predictors of self-efficacy for self-care behavior in patients with type II diabetes In order to plan educational interventions in health promotion strategies. This is a descriptive study conducted on 187 diabetic patients referred to Hazrat Ali diabetes clinic in Isfahan, using the convenience sampling method. Health literacy, self-efficacy and diabetes knowledge in patients were assessed by standard questionnaires i.e FCCHL, DMSES and DKQ respectively. The data collected was analyzed, using descriptive and inferential statistics by means of SPSS vr.17 software. There was a statistically significant association between functional, communicative, and critical, health literacy and diabetes knowledge with patient's self-efficacy for diabetes self-care. Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed that all of these factors had a linear and direct relationship with self-efficacy and the predictive power [R2] was equal to 0.37. Functional health literacy is a better predictor of self-efficacy for self-care behaviors in diabetic patients. Considering the importance of self-efficacy in educational interventions for improving diabetes self-care, well documented in various studies, raising patient levels of knowledge and health literacy as predictors affecting self-efficacy is imperative

Mandibuloacral dysplasia in an Iranian girl

Mandibuloacral dysplasia [MAD] is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome. Less than 25 families have been reported, most of which are Italian. Here, we describe a new patient of Iranian origin, born to consanguineous parents