Determinant of health related quality of life on people living in Bandar Abbas, Iran

The relationship between socio demographic status and Health Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] in general population living in Bandar Abbas. This cross sectional study was conducted among general population living in Bandar Abass, Iran from Jun to Jul. 2007. Using a multistage sampling method, a random sample of individuals aged 15 years and over were interviewed through SF-36 questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis were used to predict determinant factors on health related quality of life. Overall, 1675 Iranian adults were interviewed. The majority of the participants were female [50.4%], married [70.9%] and employed [36.8%]. The range of education years of most participants [56.7%] were from 6 to 12 years. Female participated in this study had significantly poorer HRQOL than male in all aspects of SF-36 except for Role Emotional [P<0.001]. Furthermore there were significant differences between different age groups in all individually scales and two summaries [P< 0.001]. after adjusting for the impacts of other socio demographic factors, variable such as older age, female gender and lower educational level could independently decrease both mental and physical aspect of HRQOL [P<0.01]. Female, older and less educated people are at higher risk of poorer health quality of life in both mental and physical aspects and should be considered as high risk groups in priority health programs

[Cutaneous manifestions in chronic renal failure patients under hemodialysis in Shahid Mohammadi Hospital Dialysis Center in Bandar Abbas]

Chronic renal failure is a clinical state which results in declining the kidney function. Chronic renal failure has numerous cutaneous manifestations, when the process of hemodialysis begins, new changes may appear as a result. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of cutaneous problems among patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis in Bandar Abbas, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients with chronic renal failure under hemodialysis in Shahid Mohammadi Hospital Dialysis Center were examined by a dermatologist. The data were gathered and analyzed by SPSS software [version 16] using descriptive statistics, t and chi[2] tests. P less than 0.05 was considered significant. The most common skin findings were dry skin [78.3%], followed by pallor [71.7%] and pruritus [58.3%]. Other common cutaneous manifestations were half-half nail [35%], idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis [33.3%], yellowish skin color change [31.7%], subungal hyperkeratosis [30%], onycholysis [20%], beau's line [15%], cherry angioma [15%], skin hyperpigmentation [15%] and purpura [13.3%]. Chronic renal failure is associated with various cutaneous manifestations caused by hemodiaysis or the disease itself. The most common ones are dry skin and pallor. The early diagnosis of cutaneous changes may decrease the morbidity and eventually lead to quality of life improvement in these patients

Distribution of smokers by stages of change of smoking: a population based study from BndarAbbass, Iran

Transtheoretical Model is a behavior change model that incorporates the stages of change for the process of quitting smoking. The aim of this study was to determine these stages in smokers living in Bandar Abbass, Iran. This was a cross sectional study. Using cluster random sampling, 1810 subjects aged 15 years and over, were studied from April to May 2007 in Bandar Abbass, Iran. Economy Model Questionnaire was used to collect data regarding three stages of change including precontemplation, contemplation and preparation within current smokers to describe different levels of readiness to quit smoking. In all, 1810 individuals were studied. Two hundred and twelve participants [11.7%] were smokers, among them 204 [96.2] were men. There were statistically significant differences between smokers and non-smokers in terms of gender, age and education [P < 0.001]. The stage of change distribution across precontemplation, contemplation and preparation was 50.9%, 46.2%, and 2.8% respectively. There were no statistical differences between stages of change in terms of gender, age and education. This study revealed the majority of smokers were distributed in precontemplation and contemplation stages. These findings should be considered in future studies