Drug Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (DASES): psychometric properties of the Farsi version.

BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated that therapeutic interventions based on the self-efficacy theory produce positive outcomes for people who exhibit addictive behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use. Several questionnaires based on self-efficacy theory have been developed to evaluate the extent to which intervention programs can modify behavior. The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the Drug Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (DASES). DESIGN AND METHODS: The forward-backward approach was employed to translate the DASES from English into Farsi. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the DASES were measured. Using a cluster sampling method, 400 male people who use drugs aged 20 years or older were selected from 10 addiction treatment clinics in Mazandaran, Iran. The internal consistency and test-retest methods were used to measure the reliability of the DASES. Face and content validity were measured, and the construct validity of the DASES was assessed through both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. RESULTS: The results of the EFA indicated a four-factor solution for the DASES that accounted for 64.72% of the observed variance. The results obtained from the CFA demonstrated that the data fitted the model: the relative chi square (× 2/df) equaled 1.99 (p < 0.001), and the root mean square error of approximation equaled 0.071 (90% CI = 0.059-0.082). All the comparative indices of the model were equal to or greater than 0.90 (0.91, 0.93, 0.94, 0.93, and 0.90, respectively). The Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.90 to 0.93, proving a satisfactory reliability. Additionally, the intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.75 to 0.98, which is an acceptable result. CONCLUSIONS: This study's results show that the Iranian version of the DASES has good psychometric properties and is appropriate for assessing substance use behaviors among Iranian addicted persons.

Factors Associated with Tobacco Use among Iranian Adolescents: An Application of Protection Motivation Theory.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is a significant predisposing factor to many diseases. Protection motivation theory is a well-suited theory, since fear can motivate individuals to change their unhealthy behaviors. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the associations between the constructs of this theory with intention and tobacco use behavior. METHOD: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Noshahr, Iran. The participants were 440 high school boys selected using a stratified random sampling in 2016. A questionnaire about tobacco use based on protection motivation theory was developed and its validity and reliability were assessed. The questionnaire included the demographic information, the constructs of theory, and tobacco use behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to test the associations between the constructs with intention and tobacco use. RESULTS: The variables of perceived vulnerability (ß = 0/137, P < 0.001), fear (ß = 0/149, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (ß = 0/249, P < 0.001), perceived intrinsic reward (ß = -0.285, P < 0.001), threat appraisal (ß = -0.25, P < 0.001), and coping appraisal (ß = 0.358, P < 0.001) had direct effect and are significant with intention. Moreover, perceived vulnerability (ß = -0.158, P < 0.001), fear (ß = -0.172, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (ß = -0.288, P < 0.001), perceived intrinsic reward (ß = 0.329, P < 0.001), threat appraisal (ß = 0.265, P < 0.001), and coping appraisal (ß = -0.379, P < 0.001) affected tobacco use indirectly through intention and were significantly associated with behavior. Also, intention had direct effect and is significant with tobacco use (ß = -1.156, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The protection motivation theory provides a useful framework for investigating factors of tobacco use among male students. Future tobacco prevention interventions should focus on increasing the vulnerability and fear, decreasing intrinsic reward, and improving self-efficacy to reduce tobacco use.

Self Management Behaviors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and Associated Factors in Tehran 2013.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic, autoimmune and inflammatory disease with an unknown etiology that is associated with progressive joint degeneration, limitation of physical activity and disability. The aim of the study was to evaluate self-management behaviors and their associated factors in RA patients. MATERIAL & METHOD: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2013 on185 patients in Iran. Data were selected through convenient sampling. The collected data included demographic variables, disease related variables, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS-2SF), and Self-Management Behaviors (SMB). Data were analyzed by SPSS17 using Spearman correlation and logistic regression test. RESULT: In this study drug management, regular follow-up, and food supplement were used as the most frequently applied SMB and aquatic exercise, diet, massage therapy, and relaxation were the least common SMBs. Age, education, health status, occupation, marital status, sex, DAS28 (Disease Activity Score 28 joints), and PGA (Physician Global Assessment) were significantly related with SMB. CONCLUSION: The result of the study highlight the influence of demographic variables, health status, and disease related data on SMB. Thus, more studies are required to find factors influencing SMB in order to improve SMB.

Predictors of non- hookah smoking among high-school students based on prototype/willingness model.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine predictors of refraining from hookah smoking among high-school students in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran based on Prototype/Willingness model. METHODS: This cross- sectional with analytic approach was performed on 240 high-school students selected by a cluster random sampling. The data of demographic and Prototype-Willingness Model constructs were acquired via a self-administrated questionnaire. Data were analyzed by mean, frequency, correlation, liner and logistic regression statistical tests. RESULTS: Statistically significant determinants of the intention to refrain from hookah smoking were subjective norms, willingness, and attitude. Regression model indicated that the three items together explained 46.9% of the non-smoking hookah intention variance. Attitude and subjective norms predicted 36.0% of the non-smoking hookah intention variance. There was a significant relationship between the participants' negative prototype about the hookah smokers and the willingness to avoid from hookah smoking (P=0.002). Also willingness predicted non-smoking hookah better than the intention (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Deigning intervention to increase negative prototype about the hookah smokers and reducing situations and conditions which facilitate hookah smoking, such as easy access to tobacco products in the cafés, beaches can be useful results among adolescents to hookah smoking prevention.