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Background & Objective: It is essential to conduct studies on factors related to obesity in both reproductive ages and menopausal period. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of general and android obesity and to assess determinants of overweight in pre- and post-menopausal women.

Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional, random survey of households, about 610 women 20-65 years were recruited. Data were collected via interviews with the participants. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured as well. The Body Mass Index (BMI) and the waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Overweight and general obesity were defined as 25≤BMI<30 and BMI≥30, respectively. Android obesity was defined as WHR≥0.85.

Results: The prevalence of overweight and general obesity was 90.6% in the premenopausal women and 72.6% in the post-menopausal women. About 75% and 41.9% of pre- and post-menopausal women had android obesity, respectively. Low literate post-menopausal women had significantly more general and android obesities. In addition, postmenopausal women with more parity had more android obesity. Pre-menopausal women with low literacy and housewives had significantly more general and android obesities. In addition, pre-menopausal women with more parity had less general obesity and more android obesity. In these women, android obesity was increased with age and decreased with physical activity.

Conclusion: The prevalence of general and android obesities was high in Islamshahr women, especially in the post-menopausal women. This result indicates that the women have potential risks for various diseases.

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Background & Objective: Osteoporosis is a serious metabolic bone disorder and a major health concern in women. Osteoporosis affects the quality of life of women. Studying the osteoporosis related food habits and behaviors can promote health promotion program planning. It seems that female teachers are the best models and educational sources for female students. This study was carried out to determine the osteoporosis related food habits and behaviors among female teachers.

Methods & Materials: This study was a cross-sectional study in which 308 female teachers were randomly selected using stratified sampling method from the schools of the 6^th district of Tehran. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using student t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Tukey test.

Results: Mean score of osteoporosis related food habits and behaviors was 14.9±4.2 (out of a possible 24 maximum attainable score). Osteoporosis related food habits and behaviors score was significantly higher in the teachers who had higher knowledge score, aged more than 50 years old, had worked for more than 25 years , had used educational books and booklets as the first informational source, and among the post- menopausal teachers (P<0.03).

Conclusion: According to the findings, the teachers demonstrated average level of osteoporosis related food habits and behaviors, whereas their mean calcium intake was relatively adequate, but their other food habits and behaviors were relatively inappropriate. It seems developing and implementation of educational programs and offering educational booklets to teacher can help to promote their food habits and behavior which may be helpful in enhancing students&apos food habits.

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Background & Aim: Nursing is a shift-working job at different hours of the day. Therefore, sleep disorders caused by disruption of sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm commonly occur in this group. The Benson’s relaxation technique is an easy, non-invasive, and non-pharmacological method that can affect the sleep quality in people. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Benson's relaxation technique on sleep quality among shift-working nurses in hospitals.
Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 80 nurses working in three hospitals in Rafsanjan in 2019, who had poor sleep quality score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire were selected by the convenience sampling method, and were assigned into either intervention- or control group, using stratified random sampling method. The intervention group was taught the Benson’s technique and they were asked to perform it before sleeping for one month. After one month, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire was completed again by the both groups. The data were analyzed by independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square and fisher exact test using the SPSS software version 18.
Results: the mean and standard deviation of sleep quality score for the intervention group and control group before the intervention were 7.79±2.53 and 7.95±2.78 respectively and there was no significant difference between the two groups. One month after performing the technique, the mean and standard deviation of the sleep quality score for the intervention group were 5.58±2.32 and for the control group were 8.53±2.93, and the two groups were significantly different from each other (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: In this study, the Benson’s relaxation technique, which is a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive method with no side effects, improved the sleep quality of shift-working nurses. Therefore, nurses’ education and the implementation of this technique is recommended to improve their sleep quality.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180306038981N1
 

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Background & Aim: Pain during vascular access is an integral part of the life of hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of topical ginger on pain following needle insertion into the arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 100 hemodialysis patients were selected from two hospitals in Shahroud in 2019 and were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. For the intervention group, ginger ointment was used 20 minutes before needle insertion into the arteriovenous fistula. The control group only received routine care. Patients' pain after needle insertion was assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 18 and Chi-square, Fisher, and independent t-tests.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean and standard deviation of pain scores between the control (8.46±1.26) and intervention (5.08±1.29) groups (P<0.001). While most people in the intervention group experienced moderate pain, most people in the control group had severe pain.
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the use of topical ginger, which is cheap with almost no side effects, can reduce the severity of pain following needle insertion into the arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients, and its use in hemodialysis wards is recommended.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20190825044608N1