Psychometric Properties of the Mobile Health Literacy Scale in the Workers of an Automotive Metal Sheet Factory in Shahrekord, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) literacy refers to the ability to use mobile devices to search, find, understand, evaluate, and use health information to identify or solve a health problem. Health literacy skills are important for improving health information interventions and it will not be possible to investigate this skill unless a valid and reliable tool is developed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the mHealth Literacy Scale in the workers of an automotive metal sheet factory in Shahrekord, Iran. METHODS: After forward and backward translation of the scale and ensuring the accuracy of the translation, qualitative face validity was examined by an expert panel and quantitative face validity by 10 workers using the item impact score. Content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio were investigated by seven experts on health education. To investigate construct validity, the scale was completed by 200 workers. One-factor and two-factor structures of the measure were studied using confirmatory factor analysis and the reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. KEY RESULTS: The CVI for each of the three parameter (relevance, clarity, simplicity) was rated 0.75 to 1 for each item. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the one-factor model had a better fit to the data than the two-factor model [goodness of fit index = 0.985(>0.90), comparative fit index = 0.999 (>0.90), Tucker-Lewis index = 0.996 (>0.90), normed fit index = 0.994(>0.90), root mean square error of approximation = 0.038(< 0.08)]. Furthermore, the scale had an acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.964). CONCLUSION: The Persian version of mHealth Literacy Scale has satisfactory reliability and validity and could be used as an effective tool to evaluate mHealth literacy among Iranian workers. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2022;6(4):e257-e261.] Plain Language Summary: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 workers of an automotive metal sheet factory in southwest Iran to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the mHealth Literacy Scale. The results demonstrated that one-factor structure was more appropriate for evaluating mHealth literacy among Iranian workers.

Nutrition literacy and its related demographic factors among workers of Taraz Steel company, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran.

Background: Nutrition is critical to prevent some chronic diseases. Nutrition literacy refers to ability to gain, understand and evaluate nutrition facts to choose appropriate foods. Nutrition literacy has recently drawn the attention of professionals with respect to health promotion. The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrition literacy and potentially related demographic factors among workers of a steel company in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, southwest Iran. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study in 141 workers of Taraz Steel company in 2021, participants were selected by convenience sampling and a self-report nutrition literacy scale nativized to Iranians was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: About 75% of workers had adequate nutrition literacy and around 24% inadequate nutrition literacy. The highest percentage of mean score was obtained for determination of food groups (85.4%) and the lowest for calculation of food units (47%). The mean score of nutrition literacy was significantly higher in people with higher education (P = 0.020). Also, people with adequate monthly salary attained a higher mean score on determination of food groups (P = 0.021) and higher overall nutrition literacy (P = 0.003) compared to other people. No relationship was observed between nutrition literacy and body mass index as well. Conclusion: Most workers have adequate nutrition literacy but their scores on calculation of food units are relatively low. It is essential for policymakers to collect information on the level of nutrition literacy in different populations, especially Iranian workers, to reduce the prevalence of nutrition-related chronic diseases.

Study of Effect of Household Parental Smoking on Development of Acute Otitis Media in Children Under 12 Years.

BACKGROUND & AIM: High prevalence of acute otitis media (AOM) in children represents a combination of the factors developing eustachian tube dysfunction and higher susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections in children. This disease is relatively prevalent in Iran and much cost is spent annually to treat it. This study investigated the effect of household parental smoking on development of AOM in children under 12 years. METHODS: In this case-control study all patients under the age of 12 years with AOM referring an ENT clinic in Shahrekord, southwest Iran between April 2014 and August 2014 were enrolled by convenience sampling. This study included two groups. Group 1 (G1) was exposed to parental smoking at home and group 2 (G2) was not. For the patients, a questionnaire of demographic data such as age and gender, the disease symptoms, parents' education level, history of respiratory diseases, allergy, surgery (adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and tympanostomy), and household smoking was filled out by a specialist through interview. RESULTS: In this study, 250 children 1-12 years with AOM, 145 in G1 and 105 in G2, were investigated. Clinical symptoms including fever (p=0.001) and hearing loss (p=0.014) were significantly more frequent in the children of G1 than G2, and otalgia, discharge, and tinnitus were similarly frequent in the two groups (p>0.05). Also, eardrum inflammation was more frequent in G1 than G2, with no significant difference (p>0.05). AOM was reported 70.3% in G1, which was higher than 26.7% reported in G2 (p=0.001). Also, asthma, recurrent ear pain, enlargement of the tonsils, and respiratory problems were more frequent in G1 than G2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Parental smoking was a risk factor for AOM and respiratory problems and therefore the parents are recommended to avoid smoking near children to reduce the likelihood of AOM development and exacerbation in children.

Determination of preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 based on protection motivation theory among female high school students in Isfahan, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic has recently threatened the health of world's population more than ever. Non-pharmaceutical measures are important to prevent the spread of influenza A/H1N1 and to prevent a pandemic. Effective influenza pandemic management requires understanding of the factors influencing preventive behavioral. This study reports on predictors of students' preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 using variables based on the protection motivation theory (PMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, multiple-stage randomized sampling was used to select 300 female students in Isfahan who completed a questionnaire in December 2009. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire based on PMT. The statistical analysis of the data included bivariate correlations, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and linear regression. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 15.62 (SE = 1.1) years old. Majority of participants were aware regarding pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (87.3%, 262 out of 300). Results showed that, protection motivation was highly significant relationship with preventive behavior and predicted 34% of its variance. We found all of the variables with the exception of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and response cost were related with protection motivation and explained 22% of its variance. CONCLUSION: Promotion of students' self-efficacy, and intention to protect themselves from a health threat should be priorities of any programs aimed at promoting preventive behaviors among students. It is also concluded that the protection motivation theory may be used in developing countries, like Iran, as a framework for prevention interventions in an attempt to improve the preventive behaviors of students.

Determinants of fast food consumption among Iranian high school students based on planned behavior theory.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify some factors (beliefs and norms) which are related to fast food consumption among high school students in Isfahan, Iran. We used the framework of the theory planned behavior (TPB) to predict this behavior. SUBJECTS & METHODS: Cross-sectional data were available from high school students (n = 521) who were recruited by cluster randomized sampling. All of the students completed a questionnaire assessing variables of standard TPB model including attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control (PBC), and the additional variables past behavior, actual behavior control (ABC). RESULTS: The TPB variables explained 25.7% of the variance in intentions with positive attitude as the strongest (ß = 0.31, P < 0.001) and subjective norms as the weakest (ß = 0.29, P < 0.001) determinant. Concurrently, intentions accounted for 6% of the variance for fast food consumption. Past behavior and ABC accounted for an additional amount of 20.4% of the variance in fast food consumption. CONCLUSION: Overall, the present study suggests that the TPB model is useful in predicting related beliefs and norms to the fast food consumption among adolescents. Subjective norms in TPB model and past behavior in TPB model with additional variables (past behavior and actual behavior control) were the most powerful predictors of fast food consumption. Therefore, TPB model may be a useful framework for planning intervention programs to reduce fast food consumption by students.

Determinants of oral health behaviors among high school students in Shahrekord, Iran based on Health Promotion Model.

PURPOSE: This paper reports on predictors of students' oral health behaviors, using variables based on the Health Promotion Model in an attempt to identify influential variables that may be addressed through intervention efforts. METHODS: A non-probability sample of 300 high school students was recruited from 4 high schools in Shahrekord City, Iran. The study took place between January and March of 2008. Appropriate instruments were used to measure the variables of interest. The statistical analysis of the data included bivariate correlations, t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression. RESULTS: The cognition variables - perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and activity-related affects, and commitment to a plan of Oral health behaviors, were significantly related to oral health behaviors among the respondents. A negative association was found between oral health behaviors and perceived barriers. Interpersonal influences, such as modeling and norms, and situational influences were found to be significantly related to increased oral health behaviors. All of the Health Promotion Model variables were statistically significant predictors of oral health behaviors, and accounted for 65.1% of the variation. CONCLUSION: Promotion of interpersonal modeling and the students' perceived self-efficacy should be priorities of any programs aimed at promoting oral health behaviors among students. It is also concluded that the Health Promotion Model may be used in developing countries, like Iran, as a framework for planning intervention programs in an attempt to improve the oral health behaviors of students.