K Etemad, A Heidari, K Nadafi, Mh Panahi, E Ahmadnejad, Sh Malekafzali, M Najmi, E Idani, H Amiri, Z Khorami, N Rajaee Behbahani , F Davoodi, S Taravatmanesh, A Malekifar, M Nejatifar, M Lotfi,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (Vol 12, No.1 2016)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Ahvaz has become one of the most polluted cities in the world. Only on 11 November 2013, over one thousand residents in Khuzestan Province attended the nearest health center with severe symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and high blood pressure. During a week, more than 7 thousand patients were registered with this syndrome. This study was conducted to investigate the evidence for the confirmation of an epidemic in acute respiratory syndrome among the residents of Ahwaz in November 2013.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the data of the use of drugs related to acute respiratory attacks from November 2008 to 2013 in Ahvaz. Then, we conducted a descriptive study on the general population. The sample size was 120 and the study participants included different segments of the general population. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire and the data were analyzed using SPSS.18.
Results: The use of the respiratory drugs increased from 2008 to 2013. The drug consumption was markedly higher in November 2013. In the study of the general population, 93% of the participants declared that they had never seen a similar event, and 92.5% mentioned that they had never heard of a similar occurrence.
Conclusion: Due to the significant increase in respiratory medicine in November 2013 and the unexpected nature of the event, an epidemic seems to be obvious.
M Nejatifar , H Soori, M Ghaffari,
Volume 13, Issue 2 (Vol.13, No.2, Summer 2017)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: A feasible and cost-effective tool is required to investigate young children' behaviors with regard to the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometrics of the Persian version of the Injury Behavior Checklist (IBC).
Methods: After validating the translation (backward-forward translation), the final version of the checklist was developed through content analysis and face validity and according to the comments of a panel of experts. The final version was distributed among 300 mothers of children aged 2-5 years referring to the kindergartens of Tehran. Convergent validity was evaluated by internal consistency through calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient, as well as item-total correlation. The reliability of the checklist was assessed through the test-retest method with participating 55 mothers and comparison of the scores of the two steps by correlation coefficient and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results: The content validity ratio was acceptable (0.6-1) for 100% of the items, and the content validity index was 0.93 for relevancy and clarity and 0.92 for simplicity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.87. All 24 items of the IBC were acceptably and directly correlated with the total score of the tool (r=0.25-0.65). Reliability results also confirmed the test-retest reliability of the Persian version of the IBC (r=0.90; ICC=0.86).
Conclusion: The Persian version of the IBC is a reliable tool for investigation of risk taking and its association with different injuries in children aged 2-5 years.
