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Pregnant women can be infected with TORCH (toxoplasmosis, other virus, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes) which have been linked to fetal or neonatal malformations. Toxoplasmosis is the most common of these infections. Toxoplasma is an intracellular parasite that is found in animals, including sheep and mice. It is transmitted in the feces of cats who have consumed infected mice and in meat from infected animals. The disease in humans may have no symptoms or may cause lymphadenopathy, fatigue, fever, sore throat, eye pain, and rash. It may be mistaken for influenza or mononucleosis. At least half of all pregnant women in the united states have antibodies to toxoplasma. The rate of infection in pregnancy is 1-5 in 1000 birth. When infection does occur, spontaneous abortion, chorioretinitis, anemia, liver damage, CNS abnormalities and prenatal death may result. Pregnant women should be treated for acute toxoplasmosis to prevent fetal malformations. Neonates must also be treated, even if asymptomatic. Midwives and nurses play an important role in home assessment and prenatal teaching to prevent this infection. This preventive advice has significantly reduced the incidence of toxoplasmosis in areas where it has used systematically.

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Background & Aim: Some aspects of life style in adulthood have major preventive role from osteoporosis in adult ages. This research has been done in order to determining female teenager’s life style in relation with prevention of osteoporosis.

Methods & Materials: This research was a descriptive - analytical study. In this study, 760 person of female teenage students in high schools and pre-university centers of zone 17 in Tehran city were chosen by random classified cluster sampling method. In this study, the tool for data collection was written questionnaire, and method of it was answering to questionnaire. The questionnaire had 2 parts. First part included demographic characteristics, and second part included different dimensions of lifestyle in relation with prevention of osteoporosis, such as nutrition, exercise and physical activity, habits (smoking, using weight loss food regimen and weight loss drug). The life style categorized as 3 levels unfavorable, partially favorable, and favorable. The collected information was assessed by SPSS software and descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used to reaching study objects.

Results: Results Showed nutrition, phisycal activity and exercise the highest percent of cases (51.8%, 57.7%) had undesirable lifestyle. Also 50 percent of cases had undesirable lifestyle. About habits (Smoking, using weight loss food regimen and using weight loss drug) the highest percent of cases (74.9%) had desirable lifestyle. Also there was a significant statistical relationship between life style and variables of education level (p=0.004), economical status of family (p=0.043), the birth number in family (p=0.001) and educational level of mother (p=0.005).

Conclusion: According to the results of research, lifestyle of 50% of female teenagers was undesirable. Findings of this research are attentive and need more assessment and planning by responsible people in order to omitting noted problems in lifestyle.

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Background & Aim: Youths are the most at risk group for HIV/AIDS in the world and education of the preventive measurements is the most effective way for decreasing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among them. Due to ever-increasing cases of HIV and the importance of education, we compared the effects of three educational methods (peer education, education by physician and giving pamphlets) on knowledge of female high school students&apos of Kerman shah on HIV/AIDS.

Methods & Materials: One thousand and five hundred female third grade students were recruited from 21 high schools using stratified random sampling method. An average of 73 students were selected from each school and participated in a pre-test exam using a questionnaire. Of 1500 students, 498 and 502 students were taught by general practitioners and peers, respectively. Pamphlets were presented to 500 other students. Twenty days after the educational intervention, the participants were contributed in a post-test exam using the very questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS version 11.5.

Results: The students&apos mean age was 16.78 (SD=0.7). The mean scores of pretests and post-tests in all 3 groups were significantly different (P<0.001). The mean score for the group taught by general practitioners (10.7±3.6) was higher than the scores of other two group scores (8.8±3.4 and 7.3±3.9, respectively for peer education and pamphlet groups) after the interventions. Bonferroni statistical test showed the significant difference (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Education presented by general practitioners seems to be more effective than the other two ways in increasing students&apos knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

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Background & Aim: Modification of unhealthy life style is a preventive method in cardiovascular diseases. It seems that education which results in enhancing knowledge would improve the life style. For developing effective educational plans, it is required to evaluate the knowledge and performance of the patients. So, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the teachers&apos preventive behaviors and their knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors.  

Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted in five zones of Ministry of Education in Tehran. Seven hundred and three teachers participated in the study. Multi-stage sampling was used to gather data using a self-report questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, risk factors of CAD, and related modifiable behaviors. Data were analyzed using Pearson coefficient test to determine correlations.

Results: The results showed that the majority of participants (67%) had good knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors with the mean scores of 15.20±2.63 out of 20. Stress was found to be the most recognized risk factor (95.3%). Knowledge about diabetes (61.2%) and gender (17.6%) were in the lowest level. Regarding prevention, just 27.7% of the participants reported healthy nutrition. Some of the patients (35.6%) exercised regularly and majority of them (77.7%) were not active or passive smokers. Pearson coefficient did not find any significant relationship between knowledge level and preventive behaviors among teachers.

Conclusion: According to our findings, teachers&apos knowledge level on cardiovascular risk factors was good but it did not result in healthy practice. Therefore, providing effective educational programs about healthy life style can improve their daily life practices, as well as it can affect the knowledge and practice of their students about prevention of CAD.

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Background & Aim: Osteoporosis is a silent and preventable disease that mostly affects women. Osteoporosis prevention requires enhancing knowledge and awareness of students. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of education on prevention of osteoporosis among high school female students in the sixth distinct of Tehran.

Methods & Materials: In this randomized controlled trial, 600 students were selected using cluster sampling method. Data were gathered using a three-part questionnaire including demographic, knowledge, and practice items. After the baseline measurement, the students were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. Two educational sessions were held for the intervention group. At the end of the sessions, educational booklets were distributed among the students. The educational strategies included giving lectures, and practicing physical exercises. After two weeks, the participants completed the questionnaires again. The educational classes were held for the control group after the last measurements.

Results: Data analysis showed that the mean of knowledge score and the participants&apos practice were significantly different between two groups after the intervention (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Regarding the effect of education on enhancing students&apos awareness and practice about osteoporosis prevention, designing educational programs could be beneficial.

 

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Background & Aim: Delirium is a common problem among patients with open heart surgery admitted to intensive care units. This study aimed to assess effectiveness of a multifactor intervention on delirium prevention and length of stay in patients with open heart surgery.

Methods & Materials: In this semi-experimental study, we first recruited 195 patients. Among them, 15 patients were excluded during the study due to different reasons. The participants were divided into to study groups. The implemented intervention included staff education, environment changes, and installation of guideline reminding on ward. Patients were assessed for delirium twice a day using the CAM-ICU scale. Demographic characteristics as well as disease and sleep items were completed by the researchers a day before surgery. Moreover, length of stay was recorded by the researchers. Data were analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square, Independent Samples, and the Fisher&aposs Exact Test.

Results: A significant decrease was found in the incidence of delirium in the intervention group: 11.1% Vs 35.6% (P<0.05). Average length of stay in the control and intervention groups was 6.23 Vs 6.30 days, respectively. Length of stay among patients with delirium and patients without delirium was 7.5 Vs 5.8 days, respectively. Patients with delirium were aged 55 and more in both groups.

Conclusion: Multifactor intervention was effective in decreasing the prevalence of delirium. Educational interventions are recommended to improve staffs&apos knowledge and environment changes.

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  Background & Aim: The ventilator associated pneumonia is a common problem in critical care units. It is associated with increased mortality, cost and length of stay. Nurses have great role in preventing the ventilator associated pneumonia. The aim of this study was to assess nurses' performance in prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia .

  Methods & Materials: In this descriptive study, 110 nurses working in selected hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected using convenience sampling method. A 32-item observational checklist was provided based on the ventilator associated pneumonia prevention guideline. The nurses' performance was observed three times. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in the SPSS-16 . 

  Results: This study showed that the mean score of the nurses' prevention was 46.8±5.79. Most of the nurses (66.4%) had poor performance and 36.6% had relatively good performance. There were no nurses with favorable performance in the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia. The highest score was in contact precaution (72±9.67) and the lowest score was in mouth hygiene (18.78 ± 17.4) .

  Conclusion: The majority of nurses had poor performance in prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia. More attention should be paid for planning appropriate training programs for nurses and giving adequate facilities to improve health care quality .

  

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  Background & Aim: Falling is common among elderly due to changes in sensory–motor function. Falling causes physical, emotional and financial problems and decreases the quality of life in elderly. Since the causes of falling are multifactorial, multi-dimensional approaches should be considered to prevent it. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a multidimensional fall prevention program on the incidence of falling and quality of life among old people living in nursing homes.

  Methods & Materials: This before-after quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 old people living in nursing homes who met the inclusion criteria. Multidimensional fall prevention program was focused on: 1- exercise (stretching, balance, and strength) 2-training classes for caregivers and elderly and 3-environmental modification. Data were collected before and six months after the intervention using demographic and illness form, fall frequency form and the LEIPAD questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using the paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests in the SPSS-16 . 

  Results: Before and six months after the intervention, the mean frequencies of falling were 2.00 (±0.70) and 0.20 (±0.55), respectively. The mean scores of quality of life before and six months after the intervention w ere 56.48 (±10.45) and 77.43 (±10.45), respectively. Results indicated that there were statistically significant difference between the study participants before and six months after the intervention regarding falling frequency (P<0.001) and quality of life score (P<0.001).

  Conclusion: The multi-dimensional fall prevention program decreased the fall frequency and increased quality of life of participants. Health care providers, particularly nurses can use the prevention program to diminish falling incidence among elderly and improve their quality of life.

  

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Background & Aim: The most common complication of peripheral intravenous catheter use is phlebitis. This study aimed to determine the effect of Arnebia Euchroma on the prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter-related phlebitis.
Methods & Materials: A double-blind randomized clinical trial done on 120 patients hospitalized in CCU and heart wards of Shariaty hospital in Tehran in 2017. The convenience samples were allocated into the two groups of control and intervention. After the insertion of an IV catheter (by sterile technique, in the site of upper limb without any signs of phlebitis), Arnebia Euchroma poultice for the intervention group and placebo poultice for the control group, was applied to the skin in the distal portion of IV catheter at 3×3 cm from the catheter insertion site. Then, this site was covered by sterile dressing. The patient was monitored every 12 hours by removing the dressing, and the poultice was applied again. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS software.
Results: The two groups were homogeneous in terms of age and sex, but were different in the number of hospitalization days. While no phlebitis was observed in the baseline, there was a significant difference between the two groups (42.37% for intervention group vs 0% for control group) at the hour of 12. By adjusting the effect of hospitalization days, the difference was still significant (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Arnebia Euchroma poultice was effective in the prevention of phlebitis. Thus, this poultice can be used when inserting a peripheral intravenous catheter.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2017012432147N1
 

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Background & Aim: Considering the importance of accidents prevention especially in children under 5 years, the study was conducted to determine the predictor factors for household accidents in children under 5 years based on protection-motivation theory (PMT) in Bushehr.
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive study, 700 mothers with a child aged 6 months to 5 years, referred to health centers in Bushehr were selected by the convenience sampling method from March to August 2018. To collect the data, a valid and reliable self-structured questionnaire including demographic characteristics, questions on constructs of PMT and questions on the household accidents prevention behaviors was used. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 22.
Results: In this study, 86% of mothers (602) were housekeeper and 46% (326) had academic education. The most common accident prevention behavior was preventing access to drugs, chemicals and toxins (98%). Perceived self-efficacy (P<0.001, B=0.259) and perceived cost (P<0.001, B=-0.159) were significant predictors for household accident prevention behaviors in children under 5 years, and perceived self-efficacy was the most predictors construct. Based on the linear regression model, these two constructs along with a history of prior accident, predicted 15% (R²=0.150) of behavioral changes.
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the PMT is a poor predictor for accident prevention behavior, and in educational programs, emphasis on promoting self-efficacy and providing assistance to reduce barriers and difficulties in creating safety in the home (decreasing perceived cost) are necessary for reducing household accidents in children under 5 years.