[Application of transtheoretical model to determination of smoking behavior]

Background and Objective: Smoking is one of the important risk factors for many diseases and increases the premature death. Transtheoretical models is one of the behavioral models for behavior understanding specifically in addictive behaviors. This study was done to evaluate the application of transtheoretical model to determination of smoking behavior among smokers

Methods: This descriptive - analytical study conducted on 450 male smokers in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2014. Data gathering instruments were Diclemente smoking stages of change, Velicer decisional balance and temptation, Prochaska processes of change measurements along Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependency

Results: Based on the stages of changes, 39.1%, 13.8%, 42.4%, 2.7% and 2% of subjects were in precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance stage, respectively. There was a significant relationship between stages of change with all transtheoretical model variables and nicotine dependency [P<0.05]. Cons of smoking, self-reevaluation, self-liberation, and social liberation had the highest effect while helping relationship had the lowest effect

Conclusion: Cons of smoking, self-reevaluation, self-liberation, and social liberation had the strongest predictors of smoking stages movement. Helping relationship had the lowest predictor of smoking stages movement

[ perceived of self care among general people living in south of Tehran, Iran]

Although in many developed and developing countries, self care is the most important part of primary care, in Iran it has not been supported as well as its values. The aim of this study was to assess the views of general people living in south of Tehran about self care. This was a population based study in which 1200 individuals aged 15 years and over were interviewed using cluster sampling. A structured interview questionnaire which including 5 sections on regarding demographic characteristics, views on general health, views on self care knowledge, interest and practice, views on barrier and enabler factors for self care, and views on sources of information was used. Content validity and cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for its validity and reliability. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 11. The mean age of participants was 27.9 +/- 5.2 years. Six hundred and fifty eight respondents [55%] stated they were not knowledgeable on self care, 986 [82%] and 1035 [86%], were interested and self rated themselves active regarding healthy life style, respectively. In practice, only fifty three participants [4%] were actually active in eating >/= 7 glasses of water daily, 31 [3%] stated they ate more than five portions of fruits daily and 51 [4%] did physical activity more than 3 hours weekly. The findings of this study have highlighted the significant role of information in doing self care activities

knowledge level of the fifth -year and six - year veterinary students of tehran university on mad cow disease in 1383

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy [BSE], commonly known as mad cow disease' [MCD], is a progressive lethal neurological disorder of the cows. The aim of the current study is to assess the knowledge of veterinary students in Tehran University regarding this disease. Eighty seven students were selected from veterinary college in Tehran University and were asked to fill out a self-administeration questionnaire. Seventy eight students [response rate 89%] 39 males and 39 females, ranging 22 to 29 years handed in the questionnaires after completing. Overall the correct answers of the students to the questions ranged from poor [16.7%] to very good [94.9%]. Females answered better to some of the questions than males, and also students in the higher terms answered better to some of the questions than students in the lower terms, but these were not statistically significant. The present study provides an insight into the knowledge of veterinary students in Tehran University towards MCD. A limitation of this study is that our sample is not representative of all veterinary students in Iran. Future surveys should also target veterinary students enrolled in other universities in the country