ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Iranian aged 25-64 estimated to be about 7.7%. The aim of current study was the assessment of socioeconomic status of diabetic patients and their complications. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on type 2 diabetic patients with complications in four major teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) during July 2009 to March 2010. All patients (530) were interviewed through a questionnaire with 85% response rate (450 patients). Skilled nurses were assigned as responsible for data collection. Collected data analyzed by Exact Fisher and χ2 tests using SPSS version 11.5. RESULTS: The majority of patients had experienced one or more complications. Findings revealed that 50%, 33.6% and 16.4% of the patients suffered from one, two, and three complications of type 2 diabetes, respectively. Patients with cardiovascular complications included 22.2%, with both cardiovascular and eye complications (12.7%), and with cardiovascular, eye and foot ulcer together 14% of the respondents. Frequency of complications demonstrated significant relation with sex, age, educational level, type of occupation, duration of diabetes (P<0.001) and social class (P=0.002). The majority of patients (54.2%) belonged to low income group. CONCLUSION: It seems patients with low socioeconomic status face more challenges in their social environment together with less psychological support. Health care systems are responsible to empower them to control their illness and feel a better life to live.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patient empowerment can enhance the outcomes of care such as metabolic control as well as quality of their life. This study evaluates the Iranian version for development of a valid and reliable diabetes empowerment scale. METHODS: Validity and reliability of Iranian version of Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES-LF) were measured through a cross-sectional study. DES-LF was evaluated through a qualitative and quantitative study by 160 type 2 diabetic patients. RESULTS: Reliability and validity of the scale and its 3 subscales, namely, managing the psychosocial aspects of diabetes (α=0.94), assessing dissatisfaction and readiness to change (α=0.96), and setting and achieving diabetes goals (α=0.96) were approved by a psychometric analysis. CONCLUSION: Findings approved the reliability and validity of the Iranian version of DES-LF for patient education and psychosocial interventions among Iranian people with type 2 diabetes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Annually millions of Muslims depart to Saudi Arabia for performing a religious pilgrimage called "Hajj". In this ceremony, pilgrims face numerous health hazards and injuries such as pressing in overcrowding, sliding, burning, falling down, traffic accidents etc. The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of injuries in Hajj period across 2004 to 2008. METHODS: This study was conducted on 253808 Iranian pilgrims on five consecutive years of Hajj ceremonies, from 2004 to 2008. We used a report sheet with 13 types of injuries and 13 mechanisms of these injuries. SPSS V13.5 soft ware was used for analyzing the data. ANOVA and independent sample t - test was conducted, and relationships were considered significant at P< 0.05. RESULTS: The most common injuries was "tissue contusions and ruptures "(about 76/10000), and "tendon lesions" (about 62/10000). In addition, the most common mechanism of injuries was "ankle sprain" (69/10000) during the five consecutive years. The prevalence of all fractures was about 49/10000 and the proportion of burning with hot water or fire was about 40/10000. Changes of all causes of the injuries were significant in this study (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We have suggested some directions for preventing of injuries and related Injuries in Hajj, in this study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although diabetes mellitus is of high concern in Iran, and the level of control is unacceptable, few qualitative studies have been carried out to reflect the experiences of patients on the barriers and motivators to self-care. This study aimed to explore a culturally based experience of Iranian diabetic patients regarding the personal and environmental barriers to and facilitating factors for diabetes self-care. METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted among type 2 diabetic patients in the Charity Foundation for Special Diseases' diabetes clinic. Purposeful sampling was used. Newly diagnosed patients (less than six months) and all type 1 diabetic patients were excluded. Three focus groups were held on for each sex. A total of 43 patients participated in the study. Frame-work analysis was used to extract the themes from the data. RESULTS: DATA ANALYSIS SHOWED FIVE MAIN BARRIERS: physical barriers (such as physical effects of diabetes); psychological barriers (such as health beliefs); educational barriers (such as lack of knowledge about diabetes); social barriers (such as group pressure); and care system barriers (such as service availability). Along with the barriers, there were some motivators that the participants mentioned as a stimuli to control their diabetes. They include beliefs about diabetes, perceived responsibility for family, religious beliefs, and the views of significant others. CONCLUSION: Culturally based interventions are needed to improve diabetes care management in Iran. In addition to personal factors, diabetes health educators should pay attention to the environmental factors when they develop programs.
