Investigating the Effect of Implementing a Web-Based Educational Program on Fathers' Involvement in Infant Care 0 to 6 Months.

Background: Fathers need education to understand their role in infant care and its implications regarding the child's health. Virtual education has been able to compensate for the shortcomings of traditional training and education, and with respect to this, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of virtual education on fathers about infant care and their involvement in infant care. Materials and Methods: The quasi-experimental study was performed on 83 participants in healthcare centers affiliated with North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences. The involvement of fathers in infant care was assessed with a questionnaire of the father's involvement in the care of the infant (mother-reported) in 4-time points: 3-5 days, and 2, 4, and 6 months after birth. Educational materials based on the child's growth and needs and as well as the latest references and national guidelines were prepared, and as the infant grew, were taught step by step to fathers using Soroush's messenger while their questions were answered. Results: The mean score of total father involvement in infant care at two, four, and six months after childbirth was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: With regard to the lack of access to fathers during their working hours, virtual education can be used to increase their involvement in infant care.

Effect of Education on Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors That Prevent Breast Cancer in Middle-Aged Women: Application of Protection Motivation Theory.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, an increased incidence of breast cancer has made this disease the most common malignancy among Iranian women. Since education plays an important role in the implementation of preventive behaviors in breast cancer treatment, this study investigates the effect of educational interventions on the promotion of lifestyle-related behaviors that prevent breast cancer in middle-aged women. METHODS: In this randomized control study, 120 women referred to Neyshabur Health Services Centers were randomly selected and divided into two groups: an intervention group (60 subjects) and a control group (60 subjects). An educational intervention was carried out over five sessions, based on protective motivation theory constructs. Participants completed a researcher-designed questionnaire immediately and again 2 months after the intervention. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 19.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: The results revealed a significant difference between the mean scores of participants exposed to protective motivation theory, awareness, and physical activities immediately and also 2 months after the intervention (P<0.05). Although the healthy diet scores of the two groups differed significantly immediately after the educational intervention (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the groups 2 months after the intervention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Given the effective role of education in protective motivation theory and the physical activity levels of the women who participated in this research, it seems clear that the women's financial status shaped their ability to consume more fruits and vegetables. As this social element impacts the health of individuals, training programs alone cannot succeed.

Assessment the accuracy of dose calculation in build-up region for two radiotherapy treatment planning systems.

AIM: Our objective is to quantify dose calculation accuracy in the build-up region using TiGRT and Prowess Panther treatment planning systems (TPSs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thermoluminescent dosimeter-100 chips were used in a phantom for dose measurement. TiGRT Version 1.2 (LinaTech, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) and Prowess Panther version 5.1 (Prowess Inc., Concord, CA, USA) TPSs were also used for dose calculations. Finally, the confidence limit values obtained to quantify dose calculation accuracy of the TPSs at build-up region for different field sizes and various gantry angles. RESULTS: For 8 cm × 10 cm, 10 cm × 10 cm, and 15 cm × 10 cm field sizes, the confidence limit values for TiGRT TPS were 16.64, 16.56, and 25.85; for Prowess TPS with fast photon effective (FPE) algorithm were 15.17, 14.22, and 9.73; and for Prowess TPS with collapsed cone convolution superposition (CCCS) algorithm were 10.53, 9.97, and 9.76, respectively. For wedged field with gantry angles of 15°, 30°, and 60°, the confidence limit values for TiGRT TPS were 12.11, 12.96, and 22.69 and for Prowess TPS with FPE algorithm were 24.50, 22.07, and 7.82, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that for open field sizes without gantry angulation, dose calculation accuracy in Prowess TPS with CCCS algorithm is better than TiGRT and Prowess TPSs with FPE algorithm. Furthermore, it is concluded that for wedged field with large gantry angle, dose calculation accuracy of Prowess TPS with FPE algorithm is better than TiGRT TPS while, for medium and small gantry angles, dose calculation accuracy of TiGRT TPS is better than Prowess TPS with FPE algorithm.

Cytogenetic analysis in lymphocytes from radiation workers exposed to low level of ionizing radiation in radiotherapy, CT-scan and angiocardiography units.

Ionizing radiation is known as a classical mutagen capable of inducing various kinds of stable and unstable chromosomal aberrations. The percentage of cells with chromosomal aberrations was analyzed in peripheral blood lymphocytes of occupationally exposed workers in radiotherapy, CT-scan, angiography and healthy controls. The incidence of all types of aberrations (gap, acentric fragment, dicentric and ring) in exposed subjects were higher than those observed in healthy controls (P=0.0001). However, the frequency of aberrant cells with dicentric and ring chromosome in exposed subjects were not significantly different from those in controls. To see whether there is a significant difference in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations among three groups, they were compared for all types of observed aberrations. No significant difference was found between radiotherapy and CT-scan groups (P=0.838). The percentage of aberrant cells observed, for angiography groups were significantly higher than radiotherapy (P=0.0001) and CT-scan (P=0.0001) group. Taken together these data suggest that the cumulative effects of low level chronic exposure to ionizing radiation is higher for those who occupationally exposed in angiography.