ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients, as one of the most prominent groups requiring health-based information, encounter numerous problems in order to obtain these pieces of information and apply them. The aim of this study was to determine the information-seeking behavior of cardiovascular patients who were hospitalized in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a survey research. The population consisted of all patients with cardiovascular disease who were hospitalized in the hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during 2012. According to the statistics, the number of patients was 6000. The sample size was determined based on the formula of Cochran; 400 patients were randomly selected. Data were collected by researcher-made questionnaire. Two-level descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: The data showed that the awareness of the probability to recover and finding appropriate medical care centers were the most significant informational needs. The practitioners, television, and radio were used more than the other informational resources. Lack of familiarity to medical terminologies and unaccountability of medical staff were the major obstacles faced by the patients to obtain information. The results also showed that there was no significant relationship between the patients' gender and information-seeking behavior, whereas there was a significant relationship between the demographic features (age, education, place of residence) and information-seeking behavior. CONCLUSION: Giving information about health to the patients can help them to control their disease. Appropriate methods and ways should be used based on patients' willingness. Despite the variety of information resources, patients expressed medical staff as the best source for getting health information. Information-seeking behavior of the patients was found to be influenced by different demographic and environmental factors.
ABSTRACT
Various studies carried out on different photo anthropometry, but each one had some deficiencies which during the years they have been resolved. The objective of this paper is to test the efficiency of two-dimensional image processing software in photo anthropometry of hand. In this applied research, 204 office workers and industrial workers were selected. Their hands were measured by manual with photo anthropometric methods. In this study, designing the "Hand Photo Anthropometry Set," we tried to fix the angle and distance of the camera in all of the photos. Thus, some of the common mistakes in photo anthropometric method got controlled. The taken photos were analyzed by Digimizer software, version 4.1.1.0 and Digital Caliper (Model: Mitutoyo Corp., Tokyo, Japan) was used via manual method. t-test statistical test on data revealed that there is no significant difference between the manual and photo anthropometric results (P > 0.05) and the correlation coefficients for hand dimensions are similar in both methods illustrated in the range of 0.71-0.95. The statistical analyses showed that photo anthropometry can be replaced with manual methods. Furthermore, it can provide a great help to develop an anthropometric database for work gloves manufacturers. Since the hand anthropometry is a necessary input for tool design, this survey can be used to determine the percentiles of workers' hands.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Elevated total plasma homocysteine has been established as an independent risk factor for CVD. A strong relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and mortality has been reported in patients with CAD. Interference with folate and homocysteine metabolism by some drugs, may lead to increased plasma homocysteine levels. The object of the study was to examine the effect of AEDs on the serum concentrations of folic acid. METHODS: A total of 22, older than 18-year-old, epileptic patients, admitted in the Neurology Clinic, who were treated with AED at least for one year were selected. Twenty-two sex- and age-range-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Concentrations of total homocysteine and folic acid in the serum were measured in a fasted status. Demographic and medicine information was collected via a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by spss(16) software. RESULTS: Mean of serum Hcy concentration in the patients was significantly higher compared to that in the controls (p = 0.04). Serum folic acid had a nonsignificant negative correlation with the dose of drug used (p = 0.2). Serum homocysteine was not significantly correlated with the dose and duration of drug consumption (p values were 0.4, 0.24, respectively). Serum homocysteine was not significantly correlated with the kind of drug (p = 0.4), but folic acid concentration was significantly lower in the monotherapy group than in the poly therapy group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Homocysteine (Hcy) was not different between the epileptic and nonepileptic groups, although the means of the serum folic acid were similar. Possible mechanisms by which AEDs could cause hyper-homocysteinemia might be through the dysfunction of homocysteine metabolism, the acceleration of vitamin metabolism, and the interference in the metabolism of folic acid coenzymes.
ABSTRACT
Measurements of height and weight are important data source relating to growth and development, puberty, and nutritional status of children and adolescents. In clinical setting, the charts of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), USA, are used in Iran. A survey identified significant differences in weight- and height-for-age across provinces, between urban and rural children. Although the percentiles derived from data of the national health survey, in 1990-1992, were substantially below the NCHS charts, the growth patterns were parallel to the NCHS percentiles. In 1997, an anthropometric assessment of male students aged 6-18 years was conducted in Isfahan, a centrally-located city in Iran. The goal of the study was to establish the normograms of heights and weights in Isfahan for use in clinical settings. By a random cluster sample survey, 4,364 of 200,000 male students aged 6-18 years were selected from all areas of the city. Trained health staff measured their heights (cm) and weights (kg), and all the percentiles were calculated. A comparison was made with weight and height data collected from other parts of the country on several occasions. Findings showed that the growth percentiles of 6-18-year male students of Isfahan in 1997 were comparable to the NCHS charts. These students were taller and heavier than their fellow-citizens 22 years earlier, their compatriots in rural areas of Isfahan (1997) and Rasht (1989). They were also taller than those who were living in Tehran (1994). A similar study was conducted at the same time on urban Isfahani female students aged 6-18 years. All the percentiles of their height and weight curves were comparable with those of the NCHS charts. Thus, it is appropriate to use the NCHS charts for school-age children and adolescents in Isfahan city. The cause of improvement in growth parameters in Isfahan should be evaluated in future studies.
