Internal evaluation of Social Medicine Department of Rafsanjan Medical School

Situation assessment during the implementation process will create favorable feedback that makes clear to what extent the implemented program has been successful in achieving the predetermined goals. Therefore, the internal evaluation of Social Medicine Department of Rafsanjan School of Medicine was aimed at understanding the strengths and weaknesses points in order to improve weaknesses and reinforce strengths. In this descriptive study, different parameters were evaluated including; relevant criteria for the head and middle manager of the group, technical facilities and equipments, library facilities and services, analysis of students' comments regarding educational curriculum i.e. theory, apprenticeship and internship cpourses, faculty members' structure and their curriculum vita [CV] and finally, the group colleagues' comments about the faculty members' teaching quality. Markers associated with each criterion were determined in a checklist form and compared using the Gorman table. Evaluation results showed that the mean scores for the aforementioned parameters were 4.89, 4.46, 5, 2.77, 4.79, 4.56, 4.15, 2.53 and 2.30 respectively. The overall rank for internal evaluation of the group, 3.83, was considered good based on the Gorman ranking criterion. According to the results, the group rank was strong and very strong for most of the parameters. However, the group rank was satisfactory and borderline for the parameters of library facilities and services and students' comments regarding educational curriculum in apprenticeship and internship cpourses. The findings of this study put a higher responsibility on the Social Medicine Department to have a complete revision of the educational curriculum in apprenticeship and internship courses for medical students and to seek to eliminate weaknesses and enhance strengths points and take the appropriate action to equip and support the library

Effect of acute smoking on diastolic function

Smoking is a known risk factor of atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, athermanous plaque rupture, unstable coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. The present study comprised 40 randomly selected healthy male hospital staff without a history of hypertension or cardiac or pulmonary disease. Participants were divided into two groups. The first group included 20 professional smokers [at least 5 pack/year till the time of study] and the second group consisted of 20 nonprofessional smokers defined as 0.5 pack/ year or less till the time of study. Participants were instructed not to smoke for 6 hours before the study. Patients underwent echocardiography before smoking. The participants were then asked to smoke a whole cigarette. After smoking, echocardiography was repeated within 7 to 15 minutes. Echocardiographic indices of diastolic function [E wave, A wave, Ea, E/A ratio and deceleration time] were measured before and after smoking. There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline measures in both groups before smoking and also there was no significant difference between measures in the two groups after smoking. The analysis of the pooled data from two groups showed that, smoking resulted in significant increase of heart rate [P<0.001]. A wave, E wave, Ea, E/A ratio and deceleration time changed significantly after smoking [P<0.001, P=0.027, P=0.011, P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively]. Smoking of only a cigarette in both professional and nonprofessional smokers resulted in the same significant diastolic dysfunction

[Correlation between marital satisfaction and depression among couples in Rafsanjan]

Marital satisfaction is among the factors considered to influence the improvement and goal achievement of life. Contrarily, depression can suppress motivation and activity, leading to job and family problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between marital satisfaction and depression among couples in Rafsanjan [Iran]. This was a descriptive-analytical study in which 300 married couples [300 men, 300 women], aged between 18-35 years, were investigated. The population study were chosen based on random multi-stage sampling during one-month trial [February to March] in 2003. The data were collected using two questionnaires, the Beck and Enrich scales to study depression and marital satisfaction, respectively. Later, using SPSS software, Pearson correlation coefficient, chi-square test, and Fisher test, the data were analyzed. The prevalence of depression in married couples was 25.7% for men and 27.7% for women. Statically, a significant difference was found between the degree of depression and sex, age, number of children, and the length of marriage. The prevalence of marital satisfaction among couples was 85.4% and 77% for men and women, respectively. Again, a significant difference was seen between the degree of depression and marital satisfaction. In general, there was a negative relationship between depression and marital satisfaction [p<0.05]. Based on data found in our study, more comprehensive health and nursing programs to simultaneously lowering the degree of depression and promoting the level of marital satisfaction among the couples are suggested