Global warming: knowledge and views of Iranian students

Study of students' knowledge about global warming can help authorities to have better imagination of this critical environmental problem. This research examines high school students' ideas about greenhouse effect and the results may be useful for the respective authorities to improve cultural and educational aspects of next generation. In this cross-sectional study, a 42 question questionnaire with mix of open and closed questions was used to evaluate high school students' view about the mechanism, consequences, causes and cures of global warming. To assess students' knowledge, cognitive score was also calculated. 1035 students were randomly selected from 19 educational districts of Tehran. Sampling method was multi stage. Only 5.1% of the students could explain greenhouse effect correctly and completely. 88.8% and 71.2% respectively believed "if the greenhouse effect gets bigger the Earth will get hotter" and "incidence of more skin cancers is a consequence of global warming". 69.6% and 68.8% respectively thought "the greenhouse effect is made worse by too much carbon dioxide" and "presence of ozone holes is a cause of greenhouse effect". 68.4% believed "not using cars so much is a cure for global warming". While a student's 'cognitive score' could range from -36 to +36, Students' mean cognitive score was equal to +1.64. Mean cognitive score of male students and grade 2 and 3 students was respectively higher than female ones [P<0.01] and grade 1 students [P<0.001] but there was no statistically significant difference between students of different regions [P>0.05]. In general, students' knowledge about global warming was not acceptable and there were some misconceptions in the students' mind, such as supposing ozone holes as a cause and more skin cancer as a consequence of global warming. The Findings of this survey indicate that, this important stratum of society have been received no sufficient and efficient education and sensitization on this matter

Air pollution: the knowledge and ideas of students in Tehran-Iran, and a comparison with other countries

Study of students' knowledge about air pollution can help authorities to have better imagination of this critical environmental problem. This research examines guidance school and high school students' ideas about air pollution and the results may be useful for the respective authorities to improve cultural and educational aspects of next generation. In this cross-sectional study, a closed questionnaire was used to examine knowledge and ideas of 2140 randomly selected school students of Tehran-Iran about composition of unpolluted air, air pollution and its causes and consequences. Cognitive scores were also calculated. Outcomes were compared with results of similar researches in Australia, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. While a student's 'cognitive score' could range from -16 to +16, Iranian students' mean cognitive score was equal to +2.97. There was not significant statistical difference between girls and boys [P=0.32]. In response to question "most common gas in unpolluted air" nitrogen was mentioned by only 23.7%, While 45.1% of students mentioned oxygen. In general, student's knowledge was not acceptable and there were some misconceptions such as "supposing oxygen as the most prevalent gas in unpolluted air". The findings of this survey indicate that, this important stratum of society of Iran have been received no sufficient and efficient education and sensitization on this matter

[Factors affecting return to work after lumbar disc herniation surgery]

The disability caused by the lower back pain is one of the leading factors contributing to work absenteeism. This disability which is usually due to spinal disc herniation prevents an employee from doing his/her daily job, thus creating numerous destructive socioeconomic consequences for him/her as well as the society. The goal of this study is to determine the patients return-to-work rate after undergoing the lumbar disc herniation surgery and to study the related factors. This study was a cross sectional study. All patients suffered from lumber discetomy from 2005 to 2009 at two TUMS [Tehran University of Medical Sciences] educational hospitals were included in this study. Required data about the patients were gathered from the hospital documents, and the return-to-work rate was evaluated by following up on patients via phone calls. Chi-square and T tests were used for evaluation of quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively. From 603 final participants, at least 6 month after the surgery, 504 cases [83.6%] returned to work. From these 504 cases, 364 patients [72.2%] returned full time, and 140 patients [27.8%] returned part time. A multivariate regression analysis showed that the return-to-work rate has a strong correlation with age, sex, educational level, body mass index, positive expectation from the surgery before doing it, doctor's encouragement, hospitalization time, manual work, and job satisfaction [p<0.05]; however, it had no significant correlation with marriage status, income level, impairment request, insurance coverage, peer support, and the work category with respect to physical labor demand [p>0.05]. Our findings show the importance of work related and psychological factors as the determinants of the return-to-work rate after the lumbar disc surgery. From this study, it is apparent that appropriate strategies and team work [between the patient, the surgeon, the rehabilitation specialist, the occupational medicine specialist, and the employer] would elevate the job satisfaction and positive expectations about the surgery, and therefore, they encourage the patient to return to work at a suitable time which in turn, may increase the total return-to-work rate