Development of a valid and reliable diabetes empowerment scale: an Iranian version.

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.

The Relationship between Obesity and Quality Of Life in School Children.

BACKGROUND: To determine relationships between healths related quality of life and body mass index in children aged 9-11 years old. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted on 240 children 9-11 year olds who were selected via multi stage cluster sampling design from primary schools in the Shahre Qods of the Tehran, Iran in 2007. Pediatric Quality of Life inventory was completed by child self report with measured height and weight used to determine body mass index percentile/weight classification. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥95(th) percentile for age and gender and one way analyses of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analyses. RESULTS: Physical, social and school functioning was significantly lowered for obese when compared to normal weight children (P<.05). The impairment in QOL in the community-based sample of elementary school children was less marked than clinical sample of obese. Obese children maintain emotional health. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance in considering dimensions of quality of life at further understanding obesity in children.

Incidence of leptospirosis in Mazandaran Province, north of Iran: a one year survey.

The aim of this study was to provide the first report of incidence of leptospirosis and to determine the epidemiology of this zoonotic disease in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran. In the period of one year, from April 2007 to April 2008, forty seven confirmed reports of human cases of leptospirosis was received by Mazandaran Health Centre from local hospitals and leptospirosis laboratory. The annual incidence rate for the total population was 1.6 per 100,000 person-year. The majority of cases were males (84.1%). The maximum number of cases was seen to occur between 40 and 59 years of age. Seasonal outbreak of leptospirosis was seen in summer (70.3%). Farmers (57.4%) more frequently affected by disease than other occupations. In conclusion, it is necessary for medical practitioner to pay attention to leptospirosis in farmers during summer season.

Effects of a continuous care model on perceived quality of life of spouses of haemodialysis patients.

We carried out a semi-experimental study with simple randomized sampling to study the effects of applying a continuous care model on the quality of life of 36 spouses of haemodialysis patients in Hamedan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Participants took part in group discussions and training on the continuous care approach and completed the Perceived Quality Of Life (PQOL) questionnaire before and after the intervention. Mean scores on the physical, social and cognitive dimensions, as well as happiness and total scores significantly increased after the intervention. Applying a continuous care model has positive effects on the caregivers of chronic patients.

Effects of a continuous care model on perceived quality of life of spouses of haemodialysis patients

We carried out a semi-experimental study with simple randomized sampling to study the effects of applying a continuous care model on the quality of life of 36 spouses of haemodialysis patients in Hamedan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Participants took part in group discussions and training on the continuous care approach and completed the Perceived Quality Of Life [PQOL] questionnaire before and after the intervention. Mean scores on the physical, social and cognitive dimensions, as well as happiness and total scores significantly increased after the intervention. Applying a continuous care model has positive effects on the caregivers of chronic patients

Evaluation of the effect of group counselling on post myocardial infarction patients: determined by an analysis of quality of life.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group counselling program on quality of life in survivors of myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction is one of the most dramatic illnesses that can afflict patients. Despite decreases in mortality from coronary heart disease in most developed countries, mortality is increasing in most eastern European countries and developing countries. DESIGN: A randomized-controlled trial design. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with myocardial infarction were chosen, case group, (31 patients), distributed in five subgroup (each subgroup conclude six or seven patients) and control group (31 patients). A group-counselling program was performed two days per week, each session last one hour. However, no counselling was performed for the control group. The quality of life score was estimated in both groups by the use of the MacNew Quality of Life after Myocardial Infarction questionnaire, before the group counselling program, and one month after the group counselling program, and the quality of life between both groups were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the mean quality of life score of case and control groups before group counselling program. While there was a significant difference (P = 0.001) between the mean of quality of life score after the group counselling in both groups. The mean of quality of life score, before and after group counselling program indicated a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the case group, while there was no significant difference in the control group. The statistical comparison of the mean of quality of life score in general and in each dimensions before and after group counselling program indicated that there was a significant difference between before and after group counselling in the case group whereas in the control group it has slightly decreased. Pearson's correlation coefficient test (P = 0.002) showed a significant correlation between the duration of myocardial infraction and the quality of life score. The effectiveness of the planned counselling program on quality of life was estimated 24.08 by growth test. CONCLUSION: As indicated by the results of this study, group counselling program can promote patient's quality of life in all dimensions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: There is a need for nurses and physicians to apply group counselling program in a wide variety of settings ranging from community to intensive care, as a simple and safe intervention to promote patient's quality of life.