Investigation of Predictors of Dairy Consumption in Students of Shahr-e Kord University of Medical Sciences: An Application of the Health Belief Model

@#Introduction: Balanced nutrition and the use of dairy products, because of their nutrients, is one of the basic pillars of health and can be effective in increasing educational efficiency. The present study aimed to determine predictors of dairy consumption in students of Shahr-e Kord University of Medical Sciences using the health belief model. Methods: The present research was a descriptive-analytical study which was conducted on 351 students of Shahr-e Kord University of Medical Sciences in 2017. The participants were selected using cluster sampling. The required data were collected through a three-part questionnaire (demographic variables, constructs of the Health Belief Model, and items related to the dairy consumption behavior) and then statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and analytical tests (Pearson correlation and regression analysis) in SPSS-18. Results: The results showed that 45.9% of male students and only 12.7% of females used dairy products every day (p<0.000). Except for perceived benefits, there was no significant difference between male and female students in the mean score of other constructs (p<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that perceived susceptibility in male students and perceived self-efficacy in female students are the main predictors of dairy consumption behavior. Conclusions: Based on the study findings, perceived susceptibility and perceived self-efficacy, as the most important predictors of dairy consumption behavior in university students, should be emphasized in the development of training interventions.

Impact of health literacy, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations on adherence to self-care behaviors in Iranians with type 2 diabetes

Objectives: Diabetic patients with higher health literacy [HL] may feel more confident in their ability to perform self-care behaviors and may have strong beliefs that diabetesrelated behaviors will lead to specific outcomes. Our study aimed to document the relationships between HL, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and diabetes self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] in Iran

Methods: We conducted a crosssectional observational study of 187 patients with T2DM. Participants completed the Functional Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale, Outcome Expectations Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire

Results: Participants who received diabetes education [t = 5.79, p<0.001] and were married [F = 3.04, p<0.050] had better diabetes self-care behavior. There was a significant positive correlation between self-care behaviors and communicative HL [r = 0.455, p<0.010], critical HL [r = 0.297, p<0.010], self-efficacy [r = 0.512, p<0.010] and outcome expectations [r = 0.387, p<0.010]. Diabetes education and marital status accounted for 16.9% of the variance in diabetes self-care. Self-efficacy, outcome expectations, communicative, and critical HL explained 28.0%, 1.5%, 3.7%, and 1.4% of the variance, respectively

Conclusions: This study revealed that the potential impact of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, communicative, and critical HL should be considered in the education program for patients with diabetes. We found self-efficacy to be the most important predictor of diabetes self-care. Therefore, the use of self-efficacy theory when designing patient education interventions could enhance diabetes self-care. It is essential that health care providers assess patient's HL levels to tailor health-related information specific to a domain of HL. This would fully inform patients and promote empowerment rather than simple compliance

effect of education on the improvement of fruits and vegetables consumption aiming to preventing colorectal cancer

This study was performed to determine the effect of health education on the improvement of intake of fruits and vegetables aiming at preventing colorectal cancer among high school girls in the city of Shahr-e-kord. Colorectal cancer is one of the most important and most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Every year, nearly one million new cases of colorectal cancer are recognized around the world and nearly half of them lose their lives due to the disease. 130 students were randomly divided to two groups, which experimental [65] and controls [65] were chosen from the city of Shahr-e-kord for this experimental study. The instruments for data collecting were selfmade questionnaire health belief model based and food frequency questionnaire. The HBM FFQ questionnaires were completed before, immediately and two months after education by participants. After pre-test, 5 educational session classes in experimental group were performed. Finally, data collected and analyzed by SPSS16 computer software [Ttest, T-Paired, repeated measure ANOVA]. Findings of the study showed that before the intervention there was no significant differences between the scores of different structures of HBM model in two groups [P>0.05], after the intervention there was significant differences between experimental and control groups in the levels of knowledge, structures of HBM model and performance for preventing colorectal cancer [p<0.001]. Performing educational programs based on health belief model increases the knowledge and improves the attitudes and practices of students regarding prevention of the colorectal cancer.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables among college students living in dormitory in Shahid Beheshti university of medical sciences

Obesity is rising rapidly in Iran. Nutrition is an important issue of obesity; Fruits and vegetables are among the best food sources of antioxidant vitamins, soluble fibers, phytochemicals, and other nutrient constituents. Further, some of these foods have been shown to be protective related to reduction of chronic disease risk. In this study, consumption of fruits and vegetables and body mass index [BMI] among College Students Living in dormitory at Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences were evaluated. In this descriptive analytic survey, 658 college students whose have being lived in dormitory at Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences were selected by clustering sampling method. Data collected using a food frequency questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS[16] software. Mean age of participants was 21.82 for females and 22.76 years for males. Frequency of fruits consumption was 2.6+/- 0.9 per day in female and 2.3+/-0.7 in male, while frequency of vegetables consumption was 3.2+/-1.00 in female and 2.9+/- 0.9 per day in male students. In general, consumption of fruits [p=0.003] and vegetables [p<0.001] were significantly more in female than males students. BMI in students was normal. Results indicated that students hadn't optimal practice towards fruits and vegetables consumption. Thus, it is essential that authorities pay more attention to this specific problem in training the students, in order to maintain the optimal nutritional status

Knowledge and attitude of dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences about substance abuse in 2013

The increase in substance abuse among youths and its complications form one of the most pressing health problems among students as an important and vulnerable group in society. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences regarding substance abuse in 2013. This is a descriptive-analytic cross sectional study carried out on dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences regarding substance abuse in 2013. 604 male and female students living in the dormitories were selected via random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researcher based on the questionnaire used by Dehghan, and on a review of relevant literature and expert opinion obtained from professors of the field. Data were analyzed by SPSS16 using descriptive and analytical tests [Pearson correlation, T-test and chi-square]. The mean score of knowledge of dormitory students at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences was 9.86+/-2.13. Most students [65.6%] had moderate knowledge about drugs. The subjects' mean score on attitude was 61.99+/-10.10. Most students [58.3%] had moderate positive attitudes towards drugs. Students are considered as major assets of a country. Therefore, planning and developing intervention strategies to prevent and reduce substance abuse among university students is essential and plays a major role in improving their health

Perceived social support, depression, and perceived stress in university students

Psychological disorders are universally common problems. Social support contributes much to the health of individuals. Focusing upon social support and upon vicissitudes of life can help prevent the depression-induced disorders. The present paper investigated the relationship between perceived social support, depression and perceived stress in university students.The descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 390 students living in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sceince campus, whom were selected based on a simple random selection method. The related questionnaires of multidimensional scales of perceived social support, Beck's depression, and perceived stress then were distributed during midterm among students to collect the necessary data. Data was fed into SPSS 16 and analysed using ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher exact test.Our results indicated that 49.7 per cent of students suffered from specific degrees of depression. 30.5 per cent of students had given educational progress and employment as sources of stress in living in the campus. The perceived social support scores were 28.32+/-9.56, depression, 12.10+/-9.02, and for perceived stress was 26.84+/-8.27. A significant relationship was shown to be between perceived social support, depression, and perceived stress [p<0.001] The conclusion made in the paper is that considering depression and stress is crucial to the health of the students. Also, forming workgroups to increase social support for students can help alleviates depression and stress in university students

Study of Knowledge, attitude and practice towards physical activity and its Related Factorsof College Students Living on Campus in Shahid Beheshti University of medical science

Regular physical activity has a positive effect on physical, mental, and social aspects of individual and community health. Regarding prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as primary hypertension, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases that sedentary is responsible for them; health policy makers plan to encourage people to do more physical activity. In this study, knowledge, attitude and practice towards physical activity and its related factors of students living on campus at Shahid Beheshti university of medical science were determined.In this descriptive analytic survey, 665 individuals college students living on campus at Shahid Beheshti university of medical science were selected by clustering sampling method. Data collected using questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS16 software.54.9% of the subjects were female and 45.1% male. Mean age of participants was 21.82 years for female and 22.76 years for male. Mean scores of knowledge was 73+/-1.72 for male and 78.90 +/-1.66 for female. In addition mean scores of attitude was 79.18 for male and 74.33 for female and mean scores of practice was 228.78 minute per week for male and 174.41minute per week for female.Results indicated that students had no optimal practice towards physical activity. Thus, more attention is necessary to be paid by authorities to this specific topic and some measures are essential in training students

[Assessing the effect of educational program based on small group on promoting knowledge and health literacy among women with type2 diabetes referring to selected hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences]

Health Literacy is the capacity in which individuals have to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Limited health literacy can reduce adults' ability to comprehend and adhere treatment plans. This study was designed and implemented to assess effect of health education on promoting knowledge and health literacy in women with type 2 diabetes. This randomized clinical trial study, was conducted among 160 women with type 2 diabetes, in two experimental and control groups. Tools of current study were a brief form of standard questionnaire [Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, TOFHLA] and knowledge was measured by self-administrated questionnaire. Intervention in a form of small groups, was performed in 6 educational sessions [45-60minuts] in experimental group. In order to analyzing data, SPSS16 software was used and independent t- test, Kruskal-Wallis, Whitney U, Wilcoxon, Co-Variation, Chi-square were conducted. Demographic variables of studied population in two groups was similar before intervention [p>0.05]. Differences between the scores of Knowledge and Health Literacy in two groups, after and before intervention, was totally different [after, p<0.001] and [before, p>0/05]. Study findings indicated that education with small group's strategy in experimental group, in comparison with current education is effective