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M Faghihnasiri, J Rezaee , M Tavakoli Baghdad Abad,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (7 2009)
Abstract
Background and Aim: By definition, the ratio of output to input in any firm is called efficiency. In general, there are two main approaches for measuring efficiency ─ parametric and non-parametric. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of Health Services Workshops in Iran in 2006.
Methods and Materials: The efficiency of Health Services Workshops in Iran in 2006 was assessed using the non-parametric method, based on linear programming. More specifically, the Data Envelopment Analysis (D.E.A) was used. The most important feature of the Data Envelopment Analysis (D.E.A) is its applicability for the firms that operate under a multiple input-and-output framework. Assessment of efficiency was based on 2 assumptions, namely, fixed and variable efficiency.
Results: The data show that, based on fixed efficiency, the efficiency in the Bushehr, Fars, Kerman, Mazandaran and Yazd provinces is the highest, the average being 80%, which means that the idle capacity is 20% . Based on the variable efficiency. assumption, in Ilam, Chahar Mahal-and-Bakhtiari, Semnan, and Kohgiluyeh Boyerahmad provinces the efficiency is 85% (idle capacity = 20%).
Conclusion: On the whole, the Chaharmahal-Bakhtiyari province is the most efficient in holding Health Services Workshops in Iran. Therefore, other provinces should follow this province as an example when planning to increase their efficiency.
Hashem Mohammadian, Seyed Gholam Abbas Mousavi, Hasan Eftekhar Ardebili, Jafar Kord Zanganeh,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (3-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: It is known that personal behavior influences one’s health. The present study was designed to investigate lifestyle of non-medical students of governmental and private (Azad) universities in Kashan, Iran and factors affecting it.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 520 non-medical students in Kashan, Iran, selected by convenience sampling, in academic year 2013-14. Data on demographic characteristics and health behaviors were collected using standard valid questionnaires, for the latter the questionnaire being the Pender’s Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). The data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, followed by t-test, and U Mann-Whitney test to compare the means of the two populations.
Results: The m ean age of the students was 21.75 ± 2.5 years. Their overall health-promoting lifestyle score was of 2.43 (SD = 0.38). This score, as well as scores for the subcategories ─ nutritional behavior, spiritual development, physical activity, health responsibility, and stress management ─ were lower for the subjects with an experience of stressful events. Further analysis of the data showed that t here were significant differences between boys and girls as regards physical activity (P = 0.000), between single and married students as regards nutritional status (P = 0.032), and between working and non-working students as regards spiritual development (P = 0.014).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that experienced stressful events lay the ground for the adoption of risky behaviors in university students. Therefore, universities should design and implement programs aiming at improving lifestyle of the students and promoting their health.
Masoud Keimasi, Ozhan Karimi, Hossein Rastian Ardestani,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (3-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This study was conducted to assess customers’ perceptions of the quality of services in clinical diagnostic laboratories
Materials and Methods: Based on the SERVEIMPERF model, different dimensions of quality of services in terms of performance (current situation) and importance (weight) of each of the dimensions were assessed. A sample of 328 persons consulting Tehran clinical diagnostic laboratories, selected by stratified random sampling, was included in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire.
Results: The customers’ scores for perceptions of the quality of services and its dimensions were higher than average. Dimensions of reliability with a mean score of 3.49 and that of empathy with a mean score of 2.73 were considered to be the highest and lowest dimensions, respectively. As regards importance of dimensions of service quality, the customers’ perceptions of assurance with a mean score of 4.448 was assessed to be higher than other dimensions, while the dimension of tangibility with a mean score of 3.983 was considered to be lower than other dimensions.
Conclusion: In can be concluded that different customers do not have the same perception of the various dimensions of quality of services and do not evaluate them in the same way. Thus, the differences should be taken into consideration when designing plans to improve the quality of services and deciding about priorities. It seems that the dimension of trust in the customers’ perceptions of the quality of services in clinical diagnostic laboratories is the most important and the first priority.
Fatemeh Fallah Madvari, Halle Sadrzadeh Yeganeh, Fereydoun Siasi, Giti Sotoudeh, Seyed Mostafa Hosseini, Seyed Vahid Mahdavi Rad,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (3-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Food insecurity is a major public health problem in developing and developed countries , underlying developmental and psychological problems , nutrient deficiencies and chronic diseases . The aim of this study was to determine food security status and factors associated with food insecurity in households with children 4-5 years old under coverage of urban health centers and health houses in Mehriz, Iran.
Materials and Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 on 500 households with children 4-5 years old under coverage of urban health centers and health houses in Mehriz, Iran. The subjects were selected by cluster sampling. To determine household food security, the USDA 18-item food security questionnaire was used. Economic and socio-cultural status were assessed using a general-information questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using the Chi-square and independent t-tests and multiple logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was 39.6% (food insecurity without hunger 23.2%, and moderate and severe food insecurity with hunger 15% and 1.4%, respectively). Food insecurity was negatively correlated with parental education, parental occupational, monthly household income and maternal height ( p <0.008) and positively correlated with maternal age and family size ( p <0.004) . Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression , father's occupation and education level were predictors of food insecurity .
Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity in the population studied is high. Based on the results of this study, promotion of parental education, family job security and improved economic status, and control of family size are essential measures that should taken to improve household food security.
Fezzeh Mohammadhassani, Alireza Esfandiarinezhad, Mohammad Reza Asad, Afshar Jafari,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (6-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the uncertainties about associations between orexin-A and obesity, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of 8 weeks of endurance training and high intensity interval training ( HIIT) on plasma levels of orexin-A and some anthropometric parameters in obese adolescent boys.
Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental project 35 healthy, inactive and obese boys (mean age 15.5±0.69 years, mean body mass index (BMI) = 28.72±2.20, equal to or higher than the 95th percentile) were randomly divided into three groups of equal numbers, namely, control, endurance training, and HIIT. The endurance training and the HIIT group participated in eight weeks of endurance training (25-40 minutes running per day, with an intensity 65-85% Heart Rate Reserve) and eight weeks of HIIT (30 seconds running with an intensity 90-95% Heart Rate reserve, 4-7 repetitions a day and two minutes of a rest interval with 50-55% Heart Rate reserve), three days per week, respectively. Plasma levels of orexin A, anthropometric measurements (waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage and body mass index) and VO2 max were determined before and 48 hours after the last session of the training. Data were analyzed and are reported as mean ± SD using repeated measure ANOVA (p < 0.05).
Results : Despite a decreasing trend in the plasma orexin-A level in the control and HIIT groups and its rising trend in the endurance training group, no statistically significant differences were observed between the control and experimental groups (P>0.05). However, HIIT and endurance training caused significant reductions in the anthropometric parameters such as body fat percentage (8.7%, 9.7%), body mass index (1.6%, 1.9%) and waist to hip ratio (2.7%, 2.9%), accompanied by a significant increase in the VO2 max (6.7%, 10.9%) (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Endurance training is more effective than HIIT as regards improvement in body composition of obese adolescent boys, although the changes may not be in line with changes occurring in plasma orexin-A levels. It is recommended that more studies be conducted in this area, controlling sleep, nutrition and changes due to puberty, and with longer durations of exercise.
Hashem Mohammadian, Jafar Kord Zanganeh, Parvaneh Kiani, Farzaneh Sharifat,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (3-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in the population. Child abuse is a complex phenomenon with multiple causes. The purpose of this study was to do a confirmatory factor analysis of child abuse potential inventory among Ahvazi children in Ahvaz, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study, including all Ahvazi primary school pupils aged 8-13 years in the academic year 2015-2016.
The sample size for confirmatory factor analysis was determined based on the number of questions per parameter.The variance was extracted on the basis of mean scores and
composite reliability for structural equation modeling was determined based on the first-order and second-order confirmatory factor analysisusing the LISREL software.
Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a short form of the child abuse's original 3-actor structure, including the psychological, physical and neglect scales. The outcomes indicated that the firstorder model was a better fit for the data than the second.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Ahvazi version of the child abuse potential inventory questionnaire is acceptable from a psychometric point of view. We think it is essential to take into consideration the diversity of perspectives between parents and children in future research in this area.
Abolfazl Moradi, Masoumeh Hosseini, Razieh Moradi,
Volume 15, Issue 1 (6-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This study was conducted to identify deterrents to women's participation in sport activities in Alborz Province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive field study. The statistical population was all the working women in Alborz province, Iran, approximately 100000, from among whom a random sample of 384 was drawn based on Morgan table. A standard questionnaire designed with 31 5-choice items, whose reliability had been determined (Cronbach Alpha coefficient 90%), was used for gathering data. The deterrent factors for participation of the women in sports were determined in six areas, namely, cultural and social; economic; specialist manpower; family attitude; equipment and facilities; media and advertisement. The descriptive demographic data on the subjects (age, educational field, etc.) were first analyzed using the SPSS software, followed by nonparametric analysis using the Friedman and Kruskal- Wallis tests to prioritize questionnaire items as well as compare priorities in various age groups.
Results: Organizational life creates mental pressure, stress and tiredness in the work environment. Furthermore, women working in an organization are faced with restrictions in many areas, especially as regards participation in sport activities and programs. The resulting immobility among girls and women would mean physical and mental health deprivation, as well as unhappiness and low work efficiency, of an important segment of the society, which would lead to irreparable damage to the whole society.
Conclusion: Based on the findings it can be concluded that the most important deterrent factors for participation of working women in sport activities in Alborz Province are economic factors and equipment and facilities. Family attitude was found to be the least important deterrent.
Hassan Ramshini, Azam Sadat Moghaddasi,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The aggregation of misfolded proteins leads to various cellular malfunctions and disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The conventional treatments of such diseases often fail due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. The ability of nanoparticles to influence protein folding and aggregation and, as a result, their potential therapeutic effect in diseases involving protein aggregation, sounds promising. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the amyloid aggregation of Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL).
Material and Methods: Lysozyme was dissolved at 2 mg/mL in a 50 mM glycine buffer (pH 2.5) and incubated at 57 °C while being stirred gently with Teflon magnetic bar; the result was conversion of lysozyme to amyloid. The effect of the particles was assessed using different technics: Thioflavin T (ThT), Congo Red, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Toxic test (MTT). Data were analyzed using SPSS 16, the statistical test being the independent t-test.
Results: Incubation of lysozyme with AgNPs at a concentration of 3-60 mcg/L could inhibit the HEWL fibrillation (p<0.05). Surprisingly, the lowest concentration (3 mcg/L) was found to be the most effective; at this concentration, the lag time (nucleation phase) became longer and the fibrillation phase considerably shortened. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the aggregated amyloids in the cell culture decreased.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is concluded that silver nanoparticle surfaces can actas nano-chaperones and inhibit HEWL fibrillation; thus, they can potentially be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Jafar Kordzanganeh, Hashem Mohamadian,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (6-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Delays in childbearing, in addition to creating health risks for the mother and the child, may lead to permanent parental bereavement. The purpose of this study was psychometric assessment of the validity and reliability of the Iranian version of attitude toward reproductive and childbearing inventory (ATRCI) in women without a history of pregnancy.
Materials and Methods: This study was done on 235 women without a history of pregnancy selected by multi-stage sampling in the South of Iran. They completed a fertility and childbearing attitude questionnaire. The validity and reliabilty of the ATRCI were determined using SPSS-16 software, the statitical tests being Cronbach's alpha coefficient and exploratory factor analysis.
Results: The mean age of the women was 24.47 ± 4.1 years, and the Cronbach's alpha total coefficient was 0.888. The KMO and Bartlett's test of sphericity value (0.890) was significant.
In this study, in addition to the main components of the questionnaire, the childbirth postponement component was also extracted; they explained 63.01% of the total variance related the attitude toward fertility and childbearing.
Conclusion: The 4-component Iranian version of the attitude toward fertility and childbearing inventory was found to have acceptable psychometric validity and reliability. It is recommended that in the future studies this inventory be used in intervantional studies and heath and demographic programs for women without a history of pregnancy.
Ensiyeh Babaie, Fereshteh Bakhshian, Aram Karimian, Reza Saadatmehr,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering that a person’s identity in formed during adolescence and that such identity formation is of particular importance in this period and the many factors that play important roles in it, the present study was conducted to determine the factors related with identity formation among high school students in Mazandaran Province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study. The participants were 394 high school students in Mazandaran Province, Iran selected by random cluster sampling. Data were collected using 3 questionnaires, namely, the Benion and Adams Identity Scale Questionnaire (EOM-EIS-2), the Identification Factors Questionnaire and a Demographic Questionnaire. For data analysis, Wilcoxon, Spearman correlation and linear regression tests were used.
Results: Over half (51.8%) of the participants were girls and 48.2% boys. The results of regression analysis showed that the factors studied (family, personality, school, community and culture and media) could explain 22.7%, 11.2%, 10.5% and 21.2% of the variance in turbulent, early, delayed and advanced self-identification in adolescents, respectively.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to organize parenting and student training courses and make the school environment more favorable for the students, as well as include extracurricular activities in the school to help students identify themselves more easily.
Fatemeh Maarefi, Abdolnabi Sharifi,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (6-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This study was performed to investigate the effect of mental wellbeing on flow at work with the mediator variable of perceived organizational support in Payam Noor University in Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Matrials and Methods: This was an applied research project. The research population was the personnel of Payam Noor University in Khuzestan Province, Iran. The sample size was, based on the Cochran formula, 228 subjects selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a standard questionnaire (on a 5-point Likert scale), the validity of which was determined based on experts’ confirmation and confirmatory factorial analysis and the reliability by Cronbach alpha (in both cases over 0.7). Data analysis was done using the SPSS-21 and Amos software.
Results: The effects of mental wellbeing on flow at work and perceived organizational support were found to be 0.76, 0.48, respectively, the effect of perceived organizational support on flow at work being 0.23.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is concluded that mental wellbeing has a significant positive impact on flow at work and perceived organizational support. In addition, the mediating effect of perceived organizational support is confirmed.
Akbar Bahmani, Elahe Mollaei, Saba Babaei,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between job stress and emotional fatigue with due consideration of the mediating role of resilience in an organization.
Materials and Methods: This applied research project was a descriptive survey, the statistical population being all the staff (n = 360) of Shahid Modarres Hospital in Saveh, Iran. The sample size, using the Krejcie and Morgan table, was 186 individuals selected by a simple random method. The field data were collected using a standard questionnaire.
Results: Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant positive relationship between job stress and emotional fatigue (coefficient +0.514), as well as negative relationships between resilience on the one hand and job stress (coefficient -0.503) and emotional fatigue (coefficient -0.395) on the other. The findings also showed that resilience played a mediating role in the relationship between job stress and its effect on emotional fatigue.
Conclusion: In can be concluded that job stress has a direct positive relationship with emotional fatigue and an inverse relation with resilience; resilience is also inversely related to job stress among employees.
Sedigheh Rostami, Hamzeh Akbari, Hassan Abdollahzadeh,
Volume 21, Issue 1 (10-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Self-care behaviors are the most common behavioral response in attempts to prevent corona stress in patients with diabetes. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of positive thinking skills training and behavioral activation therapy on self-care and corona stress in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Materials and Methods: This was a semi-experimental study using a pretest-posttest and follow-up design with experimental and control groups. The statistical population included all the diabetic patients referring to the Vanoshe Diabetes Clinic in Qaemshahr city, Iran in 2020-2021, from among whom 45 patients were selected by accessible sampling technic based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly divided into three 15-member groups, namely, positive thinking skills training, behavioral activation therapy and a control group. The first and second experimental groups received positive thinking skills training in six 60-minute virtual sessions and behavioral activation therapy training in eight 70-minute virtual sessions, respectively, and the control group was in the waiting list. Data were collected using the Corona Stress Scale "CSS-18" and the Summery of Diabetes Self-Care Activities "SDSCA" and analyzed using the repeated measures of variance analysis and the Bonferroni post hoc test with SPSS-22.
Results: The findings revealed that there was a significant difference between the two experimental groups and the control group. Both the positive thinking skills training and behavioral activation therapy interventions reduced corona stress (F= 15.73) and increased self-care (F= 16.17) in the patients, and the effects of the interventions in the follow-up phase were found to be continuing (p <0.05). In addition, the results of Bonferroni post hoc test showed that positive thinking skills raining was more effective than behavioral activation therapy on corona stress reduction (IJ= 9.02), while as regards self-care the behavioral activation therapy (IJ= 12.93) was more effective (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings it can be concluded that positive thinking skills training and behavioral activation therapy interventions can be effective in improving self-care and corona stress reduction among diabetic patients. It is recommended that therapists and counselors use, in addition to other treatment methods, these therapies to improve the self-care and corona stress reduction in diabetic patients.
