The Impact of Individual Factors on Health Information-Seeking Behavior of Infertile Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Longo Model.

Background: This study investigated the impact of individual factors on the Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) of infertile couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Materials and Methods: This applied study was done using the descriptive-analytical method. The population of the study remains to be infertile couples undergoing ART referred to a public Infertility Center and a private one in Bandar Abbas (capital of Hormozgan province, Southern Iran) in the summer of 2020. Using simple random sampling, 168 people were selected. The data collection tool was a questionnaire extracted from Longo HISB Model, used after validation and reliability. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential tests. Results: The results showed that individual factors (gender, education, income, age, and cause of infertility) affect the HISB of infertile couples. Based on the analysis of variance, there was a significant difference between infertile couples concerning Passive Information Receipt (F = 2.688 and P = 0.048) so the couples with a male cause used Passive Information Receipt more. Conclusions: Considering the results, it is necessary for the country's health system to take appropriate measures to provide an appropriate situation for better decision-making for infertile couples and improve the chances of fertility by reducing the existing inequalities to Active Information Receipt and quality health information.

The use of medicinal plants in the prevention of COVID-19 using the Health Belief Model: A survey based on the Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Because of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the preventive measures have increased, such as focusing on the use of medicinal plants in most communities, including Iran. The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitude, and performance of individuals toward the use of medicinal plants and to identify the predictors of the use of medicinal plants in the prevention of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study (February-April 2021) was performed on 3840 Iranian men and women aged 20-70 years selected as a multi-stage cluster study. At the first stage, all provinces were divided into five regions: North, South, East, West, and Center. In the second stage, a provincial center and a city were randomly selected from each region (North: Sari, Babol; South: Bushehr, Bandar Genaveh; East: Mashhad, Sabzevar; West: Hamedan, Toisarkan; Center: Yazd, Ardakan). Data were collected by a researcher-made scale based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Data analysis was performed applying Pearson correlation coefficient, logistic regression, and linear regression. RESULTS: The results showed that people have relatively high knowledge and positive attitude toward the use of medicinal plants in prevention of COVID-19. The most important reason for positive attitude was the perceived benefits with the mean of 75.06%. Also, half of the people had poor performance. Correlation coefficient showed that the use of medicinal plants with perceived sensitivity (p = 0.000, r = 0.3), perceived benefits (p = 0.012, r = 0.126), perceived barriers (p = 0.000, r = 0.179), and perceived self-efficacy (p = 0.000, r = 0.305) had a significant correlation. The strongest correlation between perceived self-efficacy was observed with the use of herbs in prevention of COVID-19. The HBM constructs can predict 26% of the variance for the use of medicinal plants in the prevention of COVID-19, among which perceived self-efficacy (ß = 0.230) was the most powerful predictor. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the predictive role of self-efficacy constructs for the use of medicinal plants in prevention of COVID-19 has been confirmed according to the HBM. Therefore, methods of increasing self-efficacy such as training programs and providing appropriate intervention models can be used not only as promoters of using medicinal plants in prevention of COVID-19 but also for improving people's performance in the proper use of medicinal plants.

The Effect of Palm Pollen and Black Seed Pollen on Male Sex Hormones and Sperm Quality: A Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, using medicinal properties is a good alternative for infertility treatment to use them is increasing in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Herbal oral capsules included palm pollen extract (DPP) and Nigella Sativa extract (NS) on sex hormones in adult infertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this a single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial study, a total of 62 infertile men between 22 and 42 years of age were randomly selected and tested for sex hormones and prolactin. Thirty people in the case group received two 500 mg/kg capsules on a daily basis containing an herbal composition of palm pollen extract (350 mg) and black seed powder extract (250 mg) and the 20 in the control group received a placebo in the morning and at night for 3 months. The herbal composition capsules were manufactured by the Golbadistan Company. At the end of the three -month period, blood and semen tests were performed before and after the intervention in the case group that was compared with the control group. Hormonal assays were performed by Immunoradiometric Assay (IRMA) method. The data entered SPSS statistical software and the level of significance was set at P≤0.05. RESULTS: The spermiogram test results showed significant changes in the sperm count, progressive motility and rapid progressivity of the case group at the end of a quarterly period after consuming plant composition except for morphology (P=0.001, P=0.001, P=0.02, P=0.23). In addition, in the case group, the concentration of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) was significantly increased compared to the control group (P=0.000, P=0.004, P=0.012). CONCLUSION: It seems that taking one 500 mg/kg capsule of DPP and NS extract can significantly increase sperm parameters and testosterone (registration number: IRCT2015020120895N1).

Health Information Needs of Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques.

Background: Couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) come across various information needs. This study aimed to identify the health information needs of couples undergoing ART. Materials and Methods: The methodology of the present applied study was qualitative and the research method was conventional qualitative content analysis performed with the participation of 25 infertile couples under ART. The study took nine months (July 2020 to March 2021). The samples were objectively screened based on the criteria from the couples referred to the infertility center affiliated to Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences (Public) and Ome-Leila Specialized infertility clinic (Private) in Bandar Abbas (Iran). Data collection was performed by semi-structured interviews. The typical content analysis method was used in this research. Data analysis was carried out based on coding by the use of MAXQDA a software for qualitative and mixed methods data analysis. Results: Information needs of couples under ART were categorized into three main categories and ten subcategories: 1) main cause of infertility [feminine or masculine cause, and etiology (nature and origin)], 2) treatment of infertility [identifying ART, treatment success rate, complications and risks (outcomes) of the treatment method, and treatment duration], and 3) healthcare [advice on medication, healthy nutrition (diet), sexual relations, and daily routine]. Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize that the country's health officials, especially those in charge of the healthcare of infertile couples under ART, must necessarily pay more attention to meeting the needs of this group of people in society.

E-Health: The Impact of Social Network on Self Care Behavior in Heart Failure Patients toward COVID-19 Epidemic.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure are one of the high-risk groups for coronary artery. Distance education of self-care behaviors can be effective in preventing the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of social networks in explaining the awareness of cardiovascular patients' self-care behaviors toward COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present survey study, 227 patients with a history of heart failure were selected from Shahid Rajaei Hospital in Tehran by the available sampling method (May to July 2020). Data collection tools were the standard European Self-Care Behavior Questionnaire for heart failure and the Dorty Elizabeth Orem self-care model. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22. RESULTS: The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient showed a positive and relatively strong linear relationship between the variable of the degree of persistence in the use of networks with the eight dimensions of self-care behavior except psychological emotion control (r = -0.39, P = 0.315). Furthermore, a significant weak inverse relationship between the dimension of "cooperation with physicians and treatment staff" (r = -0.22, P = 0.129). Moreover, psychological support (r = -0/034, P = 0.446) was observed with the use of networks. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the type of activity and participation in networks has a greater share and effect in increasing the score of self-care behavior of 0.55. CONCLUSIONS: Since the use of networks has a positive effect on patients' self-care behavior, the use of these networks is recommended as a community-based approach in the health system and to improve health and health outcomes.

Effective characteristics on designing the information system of medicinal plants from users' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Designing information systems will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the system according to the information needs of the stakeholders. The present study examined the effective features of designing the information system of medicinal plants from the perspective of its users as a prerequisite for the design of this system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This applied research was carried out using survey method and a researcher-made questionnaire. The study population consisted of two groups of information users (faculty members, students, and researchers of medicinal plants) and information disseminators (librarians), and 308 individuals were selected by cluster sampling from five universities. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 22. RESULTS: The results showed that in view of the two groups of users, there was a significant difference in the search options in the database of medicinal plants and the displaying characteristics of the search results. On an average, the rank of the two groups in these two domains was largely different. In other cases, the users considered shared features for capabilities and facilities in an information system of medicinal plants. CONCLUSION: According to the results, for obtaining the information system of medicinal herbs with better capabilities and facilities, it is essential for designers to pay attention to all elements and objections in the interaction of the human and the system, especially in the field of search.

Qualitative Study of Health Information -Seeking Barriers among Mastectomy Patients.

BACKGROUND: Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) plays a key role in self-care management, promoting quality of life and improving health. However, some individual and contextual barriers hinder women undergoing mastectomy access to needed information. Identifying and removing health information-seeking barriers for these women undergoing mastectomy can lead to improving their health outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the health information-seeking barriers for women with breast cancer after mastectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a conventional qualitative content analysis in which the participants were selected through purposive sampling based on the study inclusion criteria from two hospitals of Shahid Mohammadi and Persian Gulf and Chemotherapy Center of Omid in Bandar Abbas. The study population consisted of 17 women with breast cancer after mastectomy. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Seven main themes were introduced as three individual barriers, including fear, shame and embarrassment and inadequate health literacy and four contextual barriers of economic status, physicians and medical staff, lack of accessibility of information sources and the behavior of those around them that were the underlying factors to explain the barriers of health information seeking in mastectomized women. CONCLUSION: The results of this study emphasize the need for further attention from Iranian authorities to health care, especially women' health care institutions, to reform the health system and remove their health information -seeking barriers.
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Using information sources by breast cancer women treated with mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Awareness of sources of information of mastectomy patients has an important role in accessibility of reliable health information sources, thus, when they get information, they can be effective in the treatment and self-care. The present study aimed to identify the sources of information used by women underwent mastectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current practical research methodology was qualitative, and research method was conventional qualitative content analysis was performed on 17 patients with breast cancer undergone mastectomy. The sample targeted two hospitals were selected based on criteria of Shaeid Mohammadi and the Persian Gulf and Omid Central chemotherapy in Babdar Abbas. Data were collected by face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in winter 2015. Qualitative content analysis of data was performed at the same time of data collection. RESULTS: Three themes were seemed (medical, interpersonal, and media) sources for explaining the sources of information searching. Subcategories derived from the content of medical (physicians, surgeons, and health workers of health facility centers), interpersonal sources (Family and friends, peers), and media sources (printed, electronic, and Internet). CONCLUSION: Given the importance of information on women underwent mastectomy, and their priority in the use of medical sources, necessitates more attention of health system managers and planners in providing essential information and their accessibility.

Impact of Health Information Prescription on Self-care of Women with Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Women with breast cancer experience various challenges. Prescription of health information provides appropriate information at appropriate time to the appropriate person and plays a role in empowering self-care and improving health. The current research aims to evaluate the effect of health information prescription on self-care power of women with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This semi-experimental quantitative study was done using pretest and posttest method in one group of 61 women with breast cancer selected from the Women's Cancer Center of Khatamolanbia Hospital using purposive sampling method. Data were collected by an author-made self-care questionnaire and patients' self-care score was calculated at the first visit (before health information prescription) and the second visit (after health information prescription). Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 23 software and analysis of variance at a statistical significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Total mean score of self-care in women with breast cancer was 40.97 and 115.3 before and after health information prescription, respectively. Increase of mean was observed in all subscales of self-care score from pretest to posttest so that change in posttest was higher in subscales of effective implementation of treatment and prevention from disabilities and personal functioning regulation (39.44), specialized knowledge on breast cancer (30.46), searching medical services and cooperation with treatment group (28.59), and awareness and attention to impacts and results of breast cancer (16.81). CONCLUSION: Health information prescription improves self-care power of women with breast cancer, and it is necessary to provide health information services in order to support women's self-care by the health authorities.