[Relationship between mothers' and daughters' self-esteem]

Background: Adolescence is one of the most critical stages of human development. Low self-esteem is one of the problems that most adolescents often face with. Moreover, low selfesteem can cause other psychological disorders [e.g. anxiety, depression and drug abuse]. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between mothers' and daughters' self-esteem

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 474 students were randomly selected among the Kashan's high schools during 2009-10. They were divided into three equal groups [low, average and high self-esteem] who met the inclusion criteria [ages 13-19, living with biological parents and without experiencing severe stress over the last year]. Izink standard test and a researcher-made questionnaire were also used to assess both the mothers' and daughters' self-esteem; scores less than 14 were considered as low selfesteem

Results: There was a significant relationship between mothers' and daughters' self-esteem [OR= 3.24, CI= 2.1-4.85, r=0.416]. Seventy-six percent of mothers with low self-esteem had also daughters with low self-esteem. Moreover, while no significant relation was seen between the student's self-esteem and age, education level, birth order and number of brothers and sisters, but there was a significant relationship between the student's self-esteem and intimacy with mother, number of close friends, the average school scores in last year, extracurricular activities, feeling of success, popularity among friends and satisfaction with height and weight

Conclusion: Our study showed a positive correlation between mothers' and daughters' selfesteem

[Health status and activities of daily living in hemodialysis and transplant patients]

The aim of renal transplantation is improvement of general health and well-being in patients with end-stage renal disease. Both hemodialysis and renal transplantation have complications that can adversely affect health and activities of daily living [ADL] in patients. The assessment and comparison of these variables can be helpful in proper management of the patients. This study was conducted to assess and compare activities of daily living and health status among hemodyalisis and renal transplant patients in Kashan, Iran in 2004-2005. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 163 patients undergoing hemodyalisis and renal replacement therapy in Kashan, Iran. They were selected by census and evaluated by Nottingham Standard Activities of Daily Living questionnaire and DUKE health profile. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The mean age was 40.6 in transplant and 55.3 years in hemodialysis patients. Of dialysis group 55.6% were female, while the female patients were 41% in transplant group. The mean duration of current therapy was 64.7 month in transplant and 30.3 months in dialysis patients. The mean score of general health was 59.1 +/- 17.7 in transplant and 49.8 +/- 17.6 in dialysis patients [p

[Self treatment in diabetes mellitus in Kashan]

Self treatment in diabetes mellitus might have serious consequences. This study examined self treatment behaviors in patients with diabetes mellitus, in Kashan city. In this cross sectional study, patients aged over 18 years, with at least 6 months history of diabetes were asked to participate. A 25 item questionnaire with the 4 likert scale was used for recording data. The content validity of the questionnaire was approved and the reliability of the questionnaire was 0.85. The Chi square, T student and multiple regressions were used for data analysis. A total of 400 patients participated in the study. Mean age of participants was 54.9 +/- 12.9 years; 68.2% percent were female; 4.2% had high self treatment score, while 65.8% had medium and 30% had low self treatment scores. Self treatment had no significant relationship with age, duration of disease, the place of living, kind of treatment, insurance, kind of diabetes or the inpatient outpatient status. Female gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and education had significant relationship with self treatment. There was a medium tendency for self treatment in patients. It seems that education focusing on treatment modalities might improve the effectiveness of self treatment in diabetes

[Medical surgical nursing department, nursing faculty Kashan university of medical sciences]

The quality of life [QOL] is an important indicator in management of the patients with diabetes Mellitus. The assessment of the QOL in patients with diabetes has been ignored in the kashan city. This investigation is performed in order to study the QOL and other associated factors in diabetes in Kashan diabetes center in 2006. In a cross-sectional study the three dimensions of QOL [general, health related and total] were evaluated among the random selection of 310 patients with diabetes referring to Kashan Diabetes Ceneter in 2006. A standard questionnaire was employed for this study. The relationship between QOL and other variables were analysed by SPSS 16 using T student, pearson, chi 2 and regression statistical methods. The 66.1% of the patients had low Total QOL. The health related QOL was low in 73.9% patients while the general QOL was low in 51.6% of patients. Only 11.3% of patients had high Total QOL. Insulin therapy, the kidney disease and hypertension had adverse affect in Total QOL [P>0.005]. The kind of diabetes, BMI, age and marital status had no significant relationship with QOL. The QOL in all dimensions was low in majority of patients. To improve the QOL in the patients, the management of the patients should focus on decreasing the complications of diabetes

[Self treatment experience in diabetes mellitus type 2]

It has been recognized that adoption of self treatment or self management skills by diabetics is beneficial in treatment/management of their disorder. Self-treatment or self-management is the behavior that a patient follows to relieve his/her health related problems without professional supervision. In a qualitative and phenomenology study, adult patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, who were referred to the diabetes clinic in Kashan in 1386, were interviewed with and questioned about their experiences in self treatment all interviews were recorded and data was analyzed using the Colizzi method. Twenty patients [14 females and 6 males] participated in the study, average age 51 years. The 80 themes extracted from the interviews were clustered in 7 categories. Concealing the disease, such as denial factors facilitating self treatment, such as treatment costs factors related to disease such as type and severity of the disease factors related to the physician, such as trust and availability and hopeless of consulting the doctor the restricting inhibitor factors like education, or unsupervised self treatment, such as self medication self treatment related consequences like delayed recovery or complications. Self treatment is a complex behavior with different presentations that is influenced by so many interrelated factors. Self treatment in diabetes mellitus can have severe consequences, viz. delay in treatment. Patient education and facilitating easier access to treatment can improve the use of such treatments