[ effect of problem-based learning on nursing students' learning level]

To offer a better care in complex clinical environments and with rapid changes in technology, nurses need to improve their problem-solving skill. Student-centered and active learning approaches are more effective in this regard. Hence, this study was to determine the effect of Problem-Base Learning [PBL] on nursing students' learning level. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 32 nursing students [in their fifth semester] who had chosen mental health course in Golestan University of Medical Sciences in 2007. The students were randomly divided into two groups of cases [8 persons] and controls [24 persons]. Having applied PBL and lecture during the course, learning was evaluated via theoretical exams of similar content and cognitive level in two groups, right at the end and two months after the course. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney and independent t-Test. The level of significance was 0.05. Most of the students, with a mean [ +/- SD] age of 21.85[ +/- 1.97] years, were single [90.62%], and lived in a dormitory [75%]. Although the mean scores were higher in cases compared to the controls two months after the course, there was no significant difference in both groups regarding overall learning. However, a significant difference was seen in different cognitive levels [P<0.0001]; this implies that lecture based learning students got a better score in knowledge level whereas PBL students received a higher score in tests of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. our results suggest that although both forms of teaching were effective, PBL seemed to be more effective than Lecture Based Learning in improving knowledge level and constant learning

[ causes of short stature among children in Gorgan-Iran]

Short stature among children is often due to physiological causes but it can be a sign of important and curable diseases. Thus early detection of problem, before epiphyseal closure, is critical. This study was done to determine the cause of short stature among children in Gorgan-Iran. This cross- sectional research study was done on 100 children of 6-14 years of age during 2005 in Gorgan-Iran. Children were selected by census. Demographic character of children, history of serious disease, prematurity, blood and provocative growth hormone tests, physical examination, wrist radiography and standard deviation score [SDS] were recorded for each child. Data were analyzed by t-student and chi-square tests. The finding of this study showd that most children with short stature was girl [66%]. mean+-SD of calendar and bone age of female children was 10.4+-2.25 and 8.4+-2.32 year, respectively. The most frequent causes of short stature were constitutional [57%], Growth hormone deficiency [30%] and familial causes [8%]. Mean+-SD of calendar and bone age of males children was 10.79+-2.32 and 7.89+-2.19 years. Children with growth hormone deficiency had lower bone age and children with constitutional short stature had higher standard deviation score than others. [P<0.05]. This study showed that since growth hormone deficiency was one of the common and important pathologic causes of short stature. Therefore growth hormone determination and theraphy is recommended, after elimination of familial and constitutional factors