[ effect of instruction on students' knowledge and attitude towards breast self-examination]

Breast self examination [BSE] is an easy and inexpensive method to screen breast cancer and unlike Mammography, BSE performing is widely possible in developing countries. The incidence rate of breast cancer is higher in developed countries but it is being increased in developing countries such as Iran as a result of lifestyle change and reproductive pattern similar to those in western countries thus affecting Iranian women at a younger age and at advanced stages. Due to the fact that BSE should perform monthly after the age 20, the aim of the present study was to determine instruction effect on students' knowledge and attitude of female students upon BSE. 174 students were selected by cluster random sampling and questionnaires were completed by interview. After that an instructional program was planned for them with the model being presented through live lecture. Finally the same questionnaires were completed again after 4 months by interview. The data were then analyzed by S.P.S.S software [ver10]. The mean scores of students' knowledge and attitude were significantly increased after education. [p<0.001]. These findings showed that Iranian students' knowledge of BSE is inadequate. It may be due to two causes: 1. there is no formal instructional programs about awareness of breast cancer for this age group in Iran. 2. As the students are unmarried and very young, they may rarely refer to health care centers. The importance of BSE has been highlighted and it is recommended that BSE instruction be put in the students' curriculum

[ effect of health education on performing Pap smear test for prevention of cervix cancer in teachers of Isfahan city]

Early diagnosing and treatment of cancers is vital. Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among women that can be diagnosed in antemalignant stage. In this study, the effect of health education on performing Pap smear test for prevention of cervix cancer in teachers of Isfahan city was evaluated. In this quasi-experimental study, effect of health education on the knowledge, attitude and performance of the 150 female teachers about Pap smear test to prevent cervix cancer was evaluated. Teachers were well-informed about Pap smear and their knowledge, attitude and performance were evaluated before and after education. Mean scores of knowledge and attitude were statistically different before and after health education [P<0.05], while there was no difference between performance of before and after education. Health education has positive effect on knowledge and attitude, although no effect was observed on performance. This study suggests the necessity of general health and women's health education by physicians and mass media

[Investigating the attitudes and performance of dentists in Isfahan in respect to observing health standards to prevent infection transmission in dentistry]

The risk of being affected by infectious diseases in dentistry directly depends upon the degree of contact with body liquids, such as blood and saliva, as well as the working tools. Different micro-organisms including the viruses causing AIDS and Hepatitis B as well as oral thrush are possible to be transferred in dentistry. According to the Dental intervention [FDI], it is suggested that all dental patients, in spite of the healthy look, are considered to be infective. Therefore, the health principles and protective and safety methods must be observed in all the sequences to prevent cross-infection. Thus, the present study seeks to investigate the degree to which the dentists in Isfahan respect and approach to such standards. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. In order to answer the questions of the study [as found in tables 1 and 2], the data related to the participants' attitudes and performance were collected by having them fill out a questionnaire and a checklist. A total of 140 dentists in Isfahan were selected through a random sampling in 1385 [HS]. The data collected was then evaluated with SPSS. The mean score obtained from the attitude-related questions was 5.36. Also, the mean score of performance-related questions was found to be 8.03. No significant relation was found between the dentists' attitudes and the years of service [P=0.092, r=0.17]. No significant relation was found between the dentists' performance and the years of service [P=0.12, r=0.15]. No significant relation was found between the dentists' attitudes and their performance [p=0.1, r=0.16]