Applying an educational-participatory program based on the PRECEDE model for promoting self-esteem and mental health of students in Iran

The students' vulnerability to different problems can have an impact on their mental health. Regarding the lack of evidence on the effectiveness of interventional programs based on health education planning models in this area in developing countries, an educational-participatory program based on the PRECEDE model was used, to promote the medical science students' self-esteem and mental health status, in Iran. In this experimental study, 154 students from the universities of medical sciences in the north east of Iran were selected by stratified random sampling method. Then, they were randomly assigned to two groups of case and control. The questionnaires, including the enabling, reinforcing, and predisposing factors, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the GHQ-28 were used for data collection. Then, an intervention plan, including focus group discussions and training of selected life skills, based on the PRECEDE model, was conducted for the case group. The predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors, and the self-esteem and mental health of the students showed a significant difference between the case and control groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there was a correlation between mental health and knowledge [P =0.008], between self-esteem and knowledge [P =0.02], self-esteem and attitude [P =0.01], and mental health and attitude [P = 0.03]. Health promotion planning by using life skills training based on the PRECEDE model can result in participation and empowerment, in order to promote the self-esteem and mental health of the students

Effect of three different sanitizing solutions on the contaminated bone: an experimental study in the rabbit

To determine the efficacy of three different antiseptic solutions [Control group [I], Antibiotic solution - Neomycin and polymyxin [II], Chlorhexidine 0.4% [III], and povidone - iodine 10% [IV]] in disinfecting contaminated bone fragments. Under sterile conditions, the femora of 12 rabbits were removed and cut into six millimeter pieces. A total of 200 bone specimens were obtained. All 200 specimens were dropped on the operating room floor for fifteen seconds and assigned to one of four experimental groups. Group I samples were cultured after immersion in normal saline solution [Control group]. In other three groups, prior to culture the samples, they were washed with normal saline for ninety seconds and placed in an antibiotic solution [Neomycin and Polymyxin] [group II], Chlorhexidine 0.4% [group III], and povidone-iodine 10% [group IV] respectively. In group I, 22 of 50 specimens had positive cultures. Of 50 specimens of group II and IV, positive cultures were found in 3 and 2 grafts respectively after 10 days whereas no positive cultures were detected in any samples of group III. Chlorhexidine 0.4% seems to be the best antiseptic solution for discontaminating the contaminated bone samples although it did not have any significant difference with povidone-iodine and other antibiotic solution