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Background and Aim: The goal of this study is to determine the effects of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program (CCRP) on various domains of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) patients.

Materials & Methods: Forty- four post CABG patients aged 40 - 60 years (mean age = 52.95, SD = 6.02) participated in Phase II CCRP. The SF-36 health survey was used to assess the HRQOL before and after the CCRP and at three-month follow up. The data of patients were compared before and after the intervention and with the normal values of age matched (45-64 Yrs., 882 persons).

Results: The findings showed that there was a significant difference in seven domains of HRQOL between patients prior to CCRP and general population (P ≤ 0.05). There was a significant difference in all HRQOL domains after CCRP (P ≤ 0.005). Five out of 8 domains of HRQOL were unchanged at least 3 months after the CCRP, whereas there was an improvement in 3 domains of HRQOL (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the physical and mental health interventions in CCRP are among  critical  keys to prevent and/or at least decrease the adverse effects of surgery on HRQOL.

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Background and Aim: One of the consequences of obesity is coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes. Effective exercise programs for patients with the coronary artery disease is a strategy for decreasing obesity and is expected to help in eventually limiting obesity-associated long-term health. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a physiotherapy and exercise based cardiac rehabilitation  on the anthropometric measurements of obesity in the diabetic and non diabetic men. 

Materials and Methods: Seventy one 45- to 75-years-old male volunteers with coronary artery disease (32 diabetic & 39 non diabetic patients) participated in 6-8 weeks of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training consisting of 45 min sessions of  treadmill, stationary bicycle and arm bicycle. Anthropometric measurements of obesity (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio and waist to height ratio) were measured at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of exercise sessions in both groups.

Results: Following the cardiac rehabilitation program, all of the anthropometric measurements except hip circumference in diabetic patients decreased significantly (P<0.05). BMI, waist circumference and waist to height ratio  increased in non diabetic patients (P<0.05).

 Conclusion: Exercise training alone in cardiac rehabilitation program is not sufficient to reduce the anthropometric measurements of obesity in non-diabetic patients. 

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Background and Aim: Proverb comprehension can be used to assess cognitive function. Since tests of proverb comprehension impressed by language and culture, designing proverb comprehension test in Persian is necessary in order to evaluate cognitive and executive function. The purpose of the present study was to design a proverb comprehension test and to determine its validity and reliability.

Material and Methods: The present, Proverb Comprehension Test includes two subscales of out context and in context. The statistical population of the study were students of elementary and high schools in 1393-1394. The sample included 234 student with age range 10 to 18 years old that selected by Convenience Sampling scheme. Two halves method and Cronbach's alpha test were used in order to evaluate internal consistency. Discriminative validity was achieved from comparing average scores of age groups. For investigation of concurrent validity, Pearson test was used between results of proverb comprehension test and verbal fluency test.

Results: Subscales of out context  Proverb Comprehension Test with verbal fluency test had positive significant relationship. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of subscales of out context, in context and the total test was respectively 0.76, 0.72 and 0.88 and the reliability coefficient of two halves method was 0.82. Comparing between groups indicated the discriminative validity of the test.

Conclusion: Proverb Comprehension Test is a valid and reliable test for measuring executive and verbal functions.

Keywords: Proverb Comprehension, Reliability, Verbal fluency, Validity