The effect of self-care self-efficacy program on life satisfaction of the Iranian elderly.

BACKGROUND: With the increase in the elderly population in the world and the consequent increase in diseases and their physical and mental problems, improving self-care behaviors by increasing self-efficacy in the elderly plays an important role in promoting their health and can increase their life satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate the effect of self-care self-efficacy program on life satisfaction of the elderly referred to selected health centers in Isfahan, Iran, in 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental study with two experimental and control groups and was performed on 64 elderly people referred to selected health centers in Isfahan. The samples were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, and a self-care self-efficacy program was performed on the experimental group. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire and life satisfaction indexes A questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the statistical tests such as Chi-square, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Least Significant Difference (LSD) post hoc test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics. Before the intervention, the mean score of life satisfaction was not statistically significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.88). However, immediately and 1 month after the intervention, the mean score of life satisfaction in the experimental group increased, and this score was significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that the self-care self-efficacy program has been effective in increasing the life satisfaction of the elderly. Therefore, using this self-care self-efficacy program is recommended to promote life satisfaction in the elderly.

Correlation Between Protamine-2 and miRNA-122 in Sperm from Heroin-addicted Men: A Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: Recreational use of illicit drugs is one of the main factors affecting male fertility. However, the mechanisms of heroin smoke-associated damage to mature spermatozoa are still completely unknown. The aim of this study was to concomitantly examine the levels of protamine-2 gene and protein concentrations, the amount of miRNA-122 in seminal plasma and semen analysis findings in heroin-addicted men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a case control study, twenty-four fertile men that lacked any recreational drug abuse were considered as the healthy group, and 24 addicted men who used only heroin for at least four months were selected as the addicted group. Semen samples were gathered by masturbation after 2 - 5 days of sexual abstinence. Following the preparation of a semen analysis by computer-assisted sperm analysis according to WHO (2010), the level of protamine-2 gene expression in sperm and miRNA-122 in seminal plasma was measured using real-time sqPCR. Also, protamine-2 protein concentrations were quantified by nuclear protein extraction, SDS-Page and western blotting. RESULTS: Among the studied variables, body mass index (27.75±0.88 vs. 22.30±0.36, p=0.001), seminal pH (7.79±0.06 vs. 7.58±0.06, p=0.003), white blood cell count in semen (1.69±0.41 vs. 8.61±1.73, p=0.001), motility (65.51±2.57 vs. 41.96±3.58, p=0.001) and survival rate (87.41±1.00 vs. 71.50±4.59, p=0.002) of sperm cells was significantly different between the healthy and addicted groups. In addition, the levels of protamine-2 gene and protein expression in the addicted group (0.05±0.02 and 0.10±0.02, respectively) were significantly lower than the healthy group (3.59±0.94 and 0.27±0.06, respectively) (p=0.002 and p=0.017, respectively). Seminal miRNA-122 levels in addicted men (3.51±0.73) were statistically higher than in healthy men (1.52±0.54) (p=0.034). However, there were some significant relationship between the studied parameters and addiction (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This is one study on human infertility that evaluates the effects of heroin on protamine deficiency and seminal small RNAs expression levels. Heroin abuse may lead to male infertility by causing leukocytospermia, asthenozoospermia, protamine deficiency, and seminal plasma miRNA profile alteration.

Comparing the effect of two health education methods, self-directed and support group learning on the quality of life and self-care in Iranian postmenopausal woman.

BACKGROUND: Women during menopause stages experience many symptoms, for which they lack enough knowledge to manage them. This study aimed to compare the effect of self-directed and support group health education on the quality of life (QOL (and self-care of postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This field trial study was carried out with three groups. One hundred and eight menopause women were selected through convenient sampling method based on the inclusion criteria from three comprehensive health centers. Health centers were randomly assigned to support (n = 36), self-directed (n = 36), and control groups (n = 36). In the self-directed group, education was provided through educational package, and the control group received routine care from the health center. The support group received education through four group sessions by trained healthy volunteers. Data were collected by menopause-specific QOL and self-care standard questionnaire. RESULTS: Immediately after the intervention, the mean scores of QOL in the self-directed group, support group, and control group were 41.82 ± 7.61, 40.31 ± 4.80, and 48.17 ± 8.45, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, the mean scores of self-care were significantly different between the self-directed (40.67 ± 7.36) and support (36.50 ± 3.36) groups compared to the control group (47.83 ± 8.47) (P < 0.05). After 1 month from intervention, QOL scores in the self-directed group (40.67 ± 7.36), support group (36.50 ± 3.36), and control group (47.83 ± 8.47) were significantly different (P < 0.05). In addition, the mean scores of self-care were 64 ± 6.79 and 65 ± 8.32 in the self-directed and support groups, respectively, compared to the control group (49.09 ± 9.43). Post hoc test (least significant difference) revealed higher effectiveness of the support group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated QOL and self-care in menopause women in self-directed and support groups improved. However, the support group provided higher effectiveness. Therefore, we recommended paying more attention to the capabilities of healthy volunteers for the promotion of QOL in menopause women.

The Effect of Need-oriented Educational Intervention on the General Health of the Elderly.

INTRODUCTION: Improving the health of the elderly must be based on their special needs that can be achieved through self-needs assessments through education, which is one of the most important tools in the field of health improvement. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of need-oriented educational interventions on the general health of the elderly living in nursing homes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a clinical trial conducted among the elderly living at the Sadeghieh nursing home of Isfahan, Iran. Seventy elderly people who satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into two groups of case and control. The case group went through 8 sessions of group therapy for educating participants who were previously investigated through needs assessment. The control group received the usual health care. The general health level of the participants was evaluated before and 1 week and 1 month after the intervention using Goldberg's general health questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and variance analysis. RESULTS: The score of general health had no significant difference between both the groups before the intervention, however, the difference in the score between both the groups 1 week and 1 month after the intervention was significant (1 week after the intervention, the scores were 15.6 and 30.3, and 1 month after the intervention, the scores were 16 and 32.2, respectively) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Need-oriented educational intervention is an effective, safe, and inexpensive method for improving the general health of the elderly living in nursing homes.

Does Islamic spiritual program lead to successful aging? A randomized clinical trial.

CONTEXT: Successful aging is a pattern of aging that has gained much attention during recent years. One factor that has a negative impact on successful aging variables is hypertension. The phenomenon of aging when accompanied with hypertension promotes spiritual needs. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the Islamic spiritual program on successful aging in elderly patients with hypertension who were referred to health centers of Isfahan, Iran, in 2014. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was a randomized clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants (52 elderly patients with hypertension) were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. While the control group received training related to health promotion, the Islamic spiritual program was implemented in the experimental group for eight sessions in two health centers of Isfahan. The data collection tools consisted of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire developed by Goldberg and the satisfaction with life scale developed by Diener. The questionnaires were completed in three steps; pretest, posttest, and follow-up (1-month). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 20 and Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Statistical tests showed that the mean score of general health and life satisfaction of the experiment group had a meaningful difference from that of the control group in the posttest stage (P < 0.001). This difference was also meaningful in the follow-up stage (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicated the effectiveness of an Islamic spiritual program on successful aging variables.

The Effect of Spiritual Intervention on Postmenopausal Depression in Women Referred to Urban Healthcare Centers in Isfahan: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Depression is not only common after menopause, but also affects postmenopausal women more than other women. Some studies show the positive effects of spiritual intervention on postmenopausal women and depressed patients. However, there is inadequate experimental data for supporting the effectiveness of such interventions. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of a spiritual intervention on postmenopausal depression in women referred to urban healthcare centers in Isfahan, Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on postmenopausal women referred to the healthcare centers of Isfahan. Sixty-four women with postmenopausal depression were assigned randomly into an experimental group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 32). The experimental group received eight sessions of spiritual intervention while the control group received two sessions of training on healthy diet for postmenopausal women. All subjects in the experimental group and the control group responded to the Beck's depression inventory at the start of the study, at the end of the fourth week, and a month after the last educational session. In addition to descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, independent samples t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the study groups did not differ significantly in terms of mean depression scores (20.76 ± 4.61 vs. 19.58 ± 5.27, P = 0.33). However, immediately after intervention and after one month, the mean depression scores of 11.01 ± 7.85 and 11.21 ± 9.23 in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group (19.22 ± 4.94 and 19.34 ± 4.92, respectively) (P = 0.001). In repeated measures analysis of variance, Mauchly's test of sphericity was not significant (P = 0.672), and in the test of within-subjects effects, a significant interaction was found between the spiritual intervention and time. CONCLUSIONS: Spiritual intervention effectively could reduce the severity of postmenopausal depression. Considering the high prevalence of depression in postmenopausal women and the effectiveness, simplicity, and affordability of spiritual intervention, using such interventions in postmenopausal women is recommended.

The impact of group training about parenting styles on maternal attitudes toward parenting styles.

BACKGROUND: Parenting style is one of the most important and effective factors in training and growth of children and adolescents and the method that parents communicate with their children is an effective factor on family contact models. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of group training about parenting styles on maternal attitudes that were admitted to Isfahan Imam Ali (AS) health care center in 2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an experimental study, which was conducted on a random sample of 25 mothers referred to this health care center. They were divided into two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group received five sessions of group training, and the control group received a booklet about parenting styles. The used tool in this study was the Bamerind Parenting Style Questionnaire that was completed by the mothers before and after the intervention and finally, their obtained scores were compared with each other. RESULTS: The results of the present study showed that the mean score of attitude toward easy-going style in test group was less than the control group after intervention (P = 0.045). The mean score of attitude toward authoritative style in the experimental group was less than control group after intervention (P = 0.037) and the mean score of attitude toward authoritative style in the experimental group was more than the control group after intervention (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Group training can be an appropriate method in changing maternal attitudes toward parenting styles.

Effect of public health nurses' educational intervention on self-care of the patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the most common metabolic disease and the sixth cause of mortality in the world. Most of the conducted studies show that the only way to control this disease and prevent its disabling complications is constant administration of self-care. AIM: This study was conducted with the goal of determining the effect of public health nurses' educational intervention on the self-care of the patients with type 2 diabetes who referred to Hazrat Ali clinic in Isfahan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a two-group two-step clinical trial with a before-after intervention design in which 50 patients with type 2 diabetes and with a mean age of 40-70 years were selected and assigned to study (n = 25) and control (n = 25) groups by allotting them even and add numbers. Educational intervention was conducted in the study group through seven educational sessions. Mean scores of self-care before and after interventions were compared by Toobert and Glasgow brief self-care activities questionnaire. RESULTS: Results showed no significant difference in the self-care scores before intervention in the two groups (P = 0.67, z = 0.43), but the mean score of self-care showed a significant increase after intervention in the study group, compared to the control group (P = 0.002, z = 3.14). CONCLUSION: Based on the obtained results, it is suggested to provide constant education of self-care for diabetic patients in health care centers, with more emphasis on a change in self-care skills and behavior.

Woman's experiences of applying for a divorce.

BACKGROUND: Divorce is one of the most controversial and damaging social issues. Since the divorce rates are increasing rapidly, the current study evaluated the effects of factors leading to divorce application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative content analysis used purposive sampling to select 10 female divorce applicants at Isfahan Department of Justice (Isfahan, Iran). In-depth interviews were used for data collection. The contents of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a phenomenological method. The reliability and validity, i.e. real values, applicability, stability, and fact-based results, were ensured through relevant measures. RESULTS: Overall, 110 codes were extracted from the interviews. The codes were organized in 18 subthemes and seven main themes. The main themes included experiences of violence, cultural factors, family factors, financial factors, safety factors, experiences of promiscuity, and social factors. CONCLUSION: Different individual, social, and cultural factors may lead to divorce. The first step in reducing divorce rates is to identify the most important and influential risk factors for divorce. Community health nurses will then be able to help the families solve their problems. In general, eliminating the causes of divorce can prevent its severe consequences at individual, family, and social levels.