Identification of the opportunities and threats of using social media among Iranian adolescent girls.

Background: The use of the Social Media (SM) has increased dramatically among adolescents. Social media are full of opportunities and threats. The present study aims at identification of opportunities and threats of using social media among Iranian adolescent girls. Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and content analysis in 2019 in the city of Kermanshah, western Iran. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 36 adolescent girls aged 12-18 years who were selected by theoretical and purposive sampling. ATLAS.ti-2019 software and Graneheim and Lundman analysis method were used to analyze the data and Guba and Lincoln criteria were used to evaluate the transferability of the results. Results: The results showed that social media is both a threat and a flourishing platform for adolescents. Findings were classified into 2 main categories and 8 subcategories: threats of using social media including 5 subcategories such as unhealthy lifestyle, increased risky sexual behaviors, academic challenges, tensions, psychological effects, and unconditional freedom, and opportunities to using social media including 3 subcategories such as psychosocial development, knowledge gain, and increased interactions. Conclusion: To strengthen social media opportunities in the face of its challenges, measures such as strengthening media literacy and teaching the correct use of the Internet and social media, educating adolescents and parents about the dangers of social media, educating and empowering parents to effectively communicate with children, producing content tailored to the cultural context and interests of adolescents, using affirmative approaches and removing access restrictions can be helpful.

Effectiveness of telephone-based screening and triage during COVID-19 outbreak in the promoted primary healthcare system: a case study in Ardabil province, Iran.

Aims: Screening services for early detection of patients is one of the important capabilities of the health system with a proper referral system. In the crisis of respiratory infection of Covid-19, screening based on symptoms is one of the key measures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the telephone-based screening and triage services in the promoted primary healthcare system with regard to the Covid-19 outbreak, in terms of reducing unnecessary referrals to the hospital. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in two stages on 1,406,635 households during March/April 2020 in Ardabil province for screening and early detection of Covid-19 disease. In the first stage, conducted by trained healthcare providers through telephone, individuals suspected of Covid-19 were identified. In the second stage, the individuals were referred to the second level of service in comprehensive healthcare centers (16- or 24-h centers) for clinical evaluation by a physician. Results: The results showed that before establishing a screening and triage system for patients in comprehensive healthcare centers, all patients were referred directly to the hospital, while after the implementation of the program, a significant reduction in hospital visits was observed and a large number of patients undertook the care and triage services in comprehensive healthcare centers. Conclusion: The use of a grading system in referring patients with suspected cases, triage of patients according to symptoms at the comprehensive health centers, and activation of home isolation were the most important factors in reducing the burden of unnecessary referrals of patients to the hospital.

Evaluation of quality of life in diabetic pregnant women.

AIMS: Gestational diabetes is the most common clinical complication during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes face many problems in their personal, family and social lives that affect their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of diabetic pregnant women. METHODS: This study was a descriptive study and the study population was all diabetic pregnant women referred to health centers in Kermanshah, Iran in 2019-2020. The studied variables were collected using a short form of quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF-26 items). Then, with the help of SPSS software version 25, data analysis was performed based on frequency table and independent t-test. RESULTS: 101 pregnant women with gestational diabetes were studied. Their mean age was 33.06 ± 05.05 years. The quality of life of all mothers participating in the study was above average. The average quality of life and psychological domains, social and environmental relationships of mothers were higher in people with higher incomes and employment, and also the average quality of life and psychological domains, social and environmental relationships were higher in mothers who had less than 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of mothers were overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) and obese (BMI ≥ 30), which is one of the most important risk factors for gestational diabetes. Given the importance of quality of life of pregnant mothers, health policy makers are asked to provide more training for pregnant mothers on nutrition and increased physical activity to prevent gestational diabetes and improve their quality of life.

The effect of consuming multivitamin/mineral supplements on elderly quality of life: Based on randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials concerning the effect of supplements or multivitamin on improving the quality of life have proven different results. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of multivitamin supplement on quality of life of the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four old people over 65 years of age in Kermanshah Elderly Care Center participated in this randomized trial. The samples were first selected using the convenience sampling and then were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received one multivitamin mineral (MVM) supplement capsule every day for 3 months with no intervention for the control group. Standard quality of life questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 70.77 ± 8.29 years. The results of intra-group evaluation of the aspects of quality of life of the elderly show the lack of significant changes in the mean scores of physical health and environmental health of the elderly in the intervention group (P > 0.05) and the significant reduction of these aspects in the control group (P < 0.05) after intervention. The mean score of mental health scores in the intervention group significantly increased (P = 0.01), but there are no significant changes in the control group (P = 0.273). The mean scores of social relationships as well as the overall score of quality of life in the intervention and control groups showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the consumption of MVM supplements can have a positive effect on increasing the quality of life of the elderly, but it is recommended to be done in the long term along diet. Moreover, considering the fact that no change was observed in the other aspects of the quality of life, attentions should be paid to the environmental and social factors such as social supports and empowerment of the old people in the future studies.

Effect of educational intervention based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory on self-care behaviors in type 2 diabetic patients.

AIMS: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and progressive disease which requires ongoing medical care as well as patient's self-care skills to prevent acute complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory on self-care behaviors in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: In this semi-experimental study, 86 type 2 diabetic patients referred to the diabetes clinic of Ardabil were randomly selected and divided into two groups (n = 43). Patients in group 1 received educations based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory while patients in group 2 received only educations based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The self-made questionnaire was used to measure demographic information and PRECEDE-PROCEED model variables at baseline and one month after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy (p = 0.001), self-care (p = 0.001), enabling factors, and reinforcing factors had significant differences in both groups before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, one month after the intervention, the mean scores of attitude, self-efficacy, self-care, and reinforcing factors were significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2. CONCLUSION: The results indicate the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory to improve self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes.