Showing 42 results for Tin
Behzad Damari, Abbas Vosoogh Moghaddam, Kamel Shadpour, Ali Akbar Zinaloo,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (3-2014)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Since health is a multidimensional issue and several factors affected on it, forming a structure which can manage these factors at provincial level is difficult but possible. Analysis of Stewardship function of Iranian Health system showed that an effective platform for operationalizing the national policies has not been provided in provinces yet So, study the current situation of policy making and planning process and designing a model for provinces was necessary.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytic study which used system designation mathod. Information were gathered by reviewing scientific literatures of policy making systems, critical review of documents related the policy making and planning structures in universities of medical sciences(UMS) in the country and written survey of the chancellors. Synthesized information presented to steering committee, that had been selected after stakeholder analysis, and the principles and requirement of designation were agreed by them. Based on the principles, Components of the proposed system as "Provincial Health Policy Secretarite(PHPS)" including mission and goals, system process, procedures and standards, management style and financial, human and information resources prepared and finalized by running several focus group discussion sessions, presenting selected health experts and steering committee.
Results: Scattering of policy and decision making centers in UMSs, weakness of monitoring and evaluation of provincial health policies and programs, weakness of coordination of education, research and health services policies, weakness of evidence based policy making system in 3 levels of UMS, board of trustees and health and food security technical taskforce of the province, weakness of presence of key stakeholders in preparing policies in UMS are the most important improving opportunities of provincial health policy and planning system. Considering existing gaps, PHPS could operationalize brokering, supervising and surveillance roles of the chancellor (Vice Minister of Health at Province) and ensure the attainment of the three streams: following the standards of academic and community engagement, evidence based policies and plans and monitoring progress of provincial health indices improvement policies and plans among executive organizations.
Conclusion: Several units effective on policy and planning in province should be coordinated. PHPS not only prevent the parallel structure but can improve the other structures functions as well. Formal implementation of PHPS in top chart of UMSs and training experts of the unit will help integrated policy and planning and facilitate to achieve the best health indices in the province and the country.
Mohsen Shamsi, Hadi Neyestani, Hassan Ebrahimipour, Habiballah Esmaeili, Ali Vafaei Najjar, Maliheh Nosrati,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2014)
Abstract
Objectives: The role of mammography in early detection of b reast cancer is evident and persuasion to do that is very important in health sector. Majority of the interventions are based on education and informing and there has been less attention to making mammography cost beneficent. This study aimed at assessing the effect of a social marketing-based intervention to persuade to do mammography in Bojnord.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, two villages around Bojnurd with similar demographic characteristics, considered as intervention and comparison groups randomly. All 35- years and older women consist of 343 women (151 in intervention and 191 in comparison groups) were identified. To obtain the main idea for intervention, and exploring the viewpoints of target group about mammography, a formative research combined of a quantitative survey (through completing the questionnaire for assessing the women’s attitudes based on health belief model) and a qualitative study (through establishing four focus group discussions) was done. According to the gathered and analyzed data, an intervention focused on the main barriers designed and implemented through four weeks. One week after the intervention, the number of mammograms in two villages was determined and compared.
Results: Quantitative survey showed that the mean of the scores related to expending time and high economical costs (perceived barriers) not remember to do mammography and fear of exposure to x- ray is less than other constructs. In qualitative study, time expending and high economical cost considered as two main factors related to not doing mammography. After the intervention, 48.1 percent of the women in intervention group went to do mammography and there are no change similar results in comparison group.
Conclusions: Educational interventions are not enough to persuade women to do mammography and we have to consider their perceived barriers and concerns. One of the most effective approach to promote an idea, behavior or service, is identifying the viewpoints of target group and design them as consumer- oriented programs. So, acceptance of the idea and behavior will be cost-beneficent.
Azadeh Khalilitehrani, Mostafa Ghorbani, Saeed Hosseini, Hamideh Pishva,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (12-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Malfunction in the energy homeostasis central system resulting from melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) mutations is considered to be an important factor in development of obesity. Although physical activity can weaken the effect of obesity-related genes, very few investigations have been carried out in relation to the MC4R gene. This study was conducted to investigate the association between physical activity and body mass index (BMI) in different MC4R genotypes (rs17782313).
Materials and Methods: A sample of 400 individuals was randomly selected from among subjects participating in the Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS). Their weights and heights were measured and their dietary intakes and physical activity data assessed using validated questionnaires. In addition, the different MC4R genotypes (rs17782313) were determined in the subjects by the PCR-RFLP method. Finally, using the adjusted multiple linear regression model, the probable effect of physical activity on BMI in different MC4R polymorphisms (rs17782313) was determined.
Results: Only in individuals with the CT genotype was a statistically significant association (p<0.05) observed between body mass index and physical activity (hr/d and METs-hr/wk).
Conclusions: Physical activity, particularly in heterozygous MC4R polymorphism individuals (rs17782313), can play an effective role in reducing body mass index.
Zahra Taghadomi Masoumi, Mohammad Reza Eshraghian, Mehdi Hedayati, Hamideh Pishva,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (3-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Obesity is now recognized as the most prevalent metabolic disease worldwide.A decrease in resting energy expenditure (REE) may increase risk of obesity. This study was carried out to compare dietary, biochemical, anthropometric and body composition parameters and physical activity in obese women with a normal and those with a low REE.
Materials and Methods: A total of 49 subjects (women, 30-50 years old), were divided into three groups: group one (obese, n = 16) with a body mass index (BMI) of 28-39.9 and a normal REE, group 2 (obese, n = 17) with a BMI of 28-39.9 and a low REE, and group 3 (n = 16) with a normal BMI and a normal REE as the control group. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, REE and fasting blood lipid profile were determined in the 3 groups. In addition, dietary intakes and physical activity were assessed using valid questionnaires.
Results: There was no significant difference in body composition between the two obese groups. However, REE was significantly lower in the obese group with a lowREE than in the other 2 groups.Energy and macronutrient intakes and physical activity were not statistically different among the 3 groups. Neither was there any significant difference between the 2 obese groups (one with a normal and one with a low REE) as regards lipid profile.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that in some obese people the resting energy expenditure is much lower as compared to that in other obese people, although their body composition, age, sex, dietary intake, lipid profile and physical activity are not different.
Mostafa Maleki, Ali Mousavizadeh, Saadat Parhizkar, Mohsen Shamsi,
Volume 15, Issue 2 (9-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In Iran the rate of Cesarean section is reported to be 48%, which is higher than the acceptable rate recommended by WHO (15%). This study was conducted to determine the effect of an intervention based on social marketing on the reduction of intention to choose Cesarean section by primigravidae in Boyer-Ahmad County, Iran in 2015.
Materials and Methods: In this field trial 39 primigravidae three to four months pregnant who had an intention to choose Cesarean section for delivery participated. A formative research (a quantitative survey and a qualitative study) was done to achieve the social marketing mix, and based on the results a tailored intervention was designed and pretested on the subjects. The final intervention was implemented for a period of one month and its effectiveness assessed after at least one month by a proportion test.
Results: The average age of the women was 25.82 years. The proportion of the women with a high school (or lower) and university education was 38.5% and 61.5%, respectively. One month after the intervention thirty of the pregnant women expressed willingness and intention to have a normal delivery, which was a statistically significant change (p=0.01).
Conclusion: An educational intervention based on the consumer-oriented social marketing theory can be effective in designing, implementing and evaluating a program aiming at reducing Cesarean section intention.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Ensiyeh Ashrafi,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (3-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Quality management, as an organizational strategy, helps enhance hospital effectiveness and efficiency. This study aimed to examine the effect of a quality management model on the efficiency
of the respiratory intensive care unit in Labafijejad Hospital, Tehran in 2013-14.
Materials and Methods: This was a participatory action research conducted in
the respiratory intensive care unit in Labafijejad Hospital, Tehran in 2013-14. A quality improvement team was formed to implement the quality management system and promote working processes. The team identified and standardized working processes, determined the quality goals for the processes, and improved the processes based on the 10-stage Mosaddeghirad Quality Management model. Performance indicators of the unit (bed occupancy, bed turnover, and bed interval rates; patient average length of stay in the ward) were calculated and compared before and after the intervention.
Results: Implementing quality management brought about an increase of 2.8% and 19.2% in bed occupancy rate and bed turnover rate, respectively, as well as a decrease of 14.1% in patient average length of stay and a decrease of 35.6% in bed interval rate in the respiratory intensive care unit of the hospital.
Conclusion: Implementing quality management can increase the efficiency of the respiratory intensive care unit of a hospital. A suitable quality management system and the commitment of the hospital manager and staff can result in enhancement of efficenicy in a hospital.
Hashem Mohamadian, Mohammad Reza Jafari, Kambiz Ahmadi Anghali,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (3-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The prevalence of chronic diseases can be reduced by correcting people's food habits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the explanatory power of the Expectation-Confirmation Model for the intention to continue fruit and vegetable consumption.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study included 332 elderly people with a history of receiving health care services from 8 rural health centers and 40 health houses in Abadan city, Iran in the second half of 2015. Data were analyzed by path analysis and the multicolinearity test using LISREL8.8 and SPSS16 software, respectively.
Results: Less than half (48%) of the subjects consumed 1 to 3 servings of fruit and vegetable daily. The model used could explain 79% of the intention to continue fruit and vegetable consumption. Analysis of the data also showed positive associations between the intention to continue fruit and vegetable consumption and the following variables: self-efficacy (β = 0.09, P <0.01), perceived ease of use (β = 0.15, P <0.01), perceived benefits (β = 0.37, P <0.01), and satisfaction (β = 0.35, P <0.01); however, the perceived barriers had an inverse relationship with that intention (β=-0/2, P <0.01). From among the constructs of the mode, perceived benefits were the most effective factor influencing the intention to continue fruit and vegetable consumption (β=0.85, P <0.01).
Conclusion: The model used in this study is suitable for explaining the elderly people’s intention to continue fruit and vegetable consumption. It is recommended that policy-makers use appropriate strategies to increase the understanding of the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables by the elderly and, thus, sensitize them to increase their consumption through public campaigns and communication with the relevant organizations, families, etc.
Beyram Bayat, Bahram Mohebbi, Azar Tol, Roya Sadeghi, Mir Saeid Yekaninejad,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (3-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Quality of life is considered as an effective indicator for general, as well as mental, health. With increasing longevity of individuals, health-promoting behaviors and rising quality of life will become much more important. This study aimed to determine the quality of life predictors among health volunteers in South Tehran Health Centers.
Materials and Methods: : This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 health volunteers of South Tehran Health Centers selected by cluster sampling. Data were collected using valid and reliable questionnaires for demographic variables, Health-promoting Behaviors (HPLPII) and Quality of life (SF-36), as well as the BAZNEF model constructs, whose validity and reliability were assessed (α: %88). Data analysis was done using the SPSS24 software, the statistical tests being descriptive statistics and multi-linear regression; a p-value <0.05 was used to show statistical significance.
Results: Regression analysis revealed that the strongest predictors for the quality of life were age (p=0.003), enabling factors (p=0.02) and general health-promoting behaviors (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The findings of this study confirm the suitability of the BAZNEF model for predicting health-promoting behaviors for the quality of life. Using this model can help in identifying factors influencing the quality of life of health volunteers and designing an appropriate educational program for them.
Asiyeh Molaeifard, Mohammad Hossein Haghighi Zadeh, Hashem Mohammadian,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the lack of attention to the health promotion of adolescents due to their perception of being healthy in most countries of the world, we aimed to evaluate the predictors of adolescent health promoting lifestyle through path analysis based on IMB model.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study on 400 high school students in Andimeshk city in two urban and rural areas. The sample size was obtained using the Cochran formula.They were selected by classified random sampling. In this study, demographic data, information about IMB model structures and student adherence to healthy lifestyle were collected in four areas nutrition, physical activity, stress control and responsibility. Correlation between total structures was analyzed using SPSS-23 software. Lisrel 8.5 software. Meanwhile, the relationships between variables were analyzed using Path analysis to fit and approve model fit model using LISREL8.8 software.
Results: All structures of IMB model had a Significant relationship with adolescent healthy lifestyle. Self-efficacy structure had the most predictive power. In general, self-efficacy variables, 75%, motivation 66%, and 50% knowledge had a positive and significant effect on behavior. This model was able to explain 71% of the variance in adolescent lifestyle behavior. Also, in this model, the level of self-efficacy variance (behavioral skills), 52%,, And motivation variance was explained 57%. Motivation and knowledge indirectly influenced the lifestyle behavior (behavior) by 55% and 50%, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the IMB model has a good application for explaining and predicting the healthy lifestyle of adolescents. Accordingly, it is recommended that health planners apply the IMB model in order to promote adolescent lifestyle in this population.
Alireza Heidari, Mohammad Arab, Kourosh Etemad, Behzad Damari, Mansoureh Lotfi,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The purpose of phenylketonuria (PKU) screening is to assess the risk of, and prevent, the disease in the newborns likely inflicted with it. The aim of this study was to investigate why and how PKU screening was decided to be included in the national health agenda, initiated and implemented in Iran.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted based on the Kingdon’s framework model in 2015. The participants were thirty-eight policy-makers, managers and researchers selected by purposeful sampling.Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using framework analysis.
Results: The physical and mental disabilities, medical and maintenance costs and the need for rehabilitation services were examples of the problem stream. In addition, sampling based on the National Congenital Hypothyroidism Program and implementation feasibility at the national level were examples of the policy stream. Finally, pressure by the patients' families, the Scientific Children Association and executive managers were examples of the political will stream. When the three streams occurred simultaneously, health policy-makers agreed to implement the program and then was opened the window of opportunity.
Conclusion: Successful implementation of the National Phenylketonuria Screening Program in Iran has been the result of interactions among three streams, namely, nature of the problem, political will and optimal use of policy-makers of the window of opportunity opened.
Neda Karimi, Shahrzad Saadat Gharin, Azar Tol, Roya Sadeghi, Mehdi Yaseri, Bahram Mohebbi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Since many of the healthy behaviors are adopted and develop during adolescence, proper choice of such behaviors is very important in this period of life. In addition, paying attention to the health of girls is crucial because they will transfer such behaviors to the next generation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the role of health literacy and demographic variables in determining health-promoting behaviors among second-grade high school girl students in the City of Tehran, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 female students using cluster sampling method in 2018. Data were collected using demographic, Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII) questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS25.
Results: The results of multivariate regression analysis revealed that there were statistically significant direct associations between health-promoting behaviors and the following variables: one’s health literacy (β= 0.39, p<0.001), interest in health topics (β= 1.35, p<0.001), reading of journals and newspapers (β=0.76, p= 0.007), father's education (p= 0.002), body mass index (p= 0.022), field of study (p<0.001), the first source of health information (p<0.001) and place of residence (p = 0.023). Further analysis of the data showed an indirect association between health-promoting behaviors and age (β= -1.69, p<0.001) and health assessment (β=-1.67, p<0.01).
Conclusion: Based on the findings it is concluded that the subjects’ health literacy and health-promoting behavior scores were “not sufficient” and “intermediate”, respectively. It is recommended to design and implement appropriate training/intervention programs aiming at increasing the heath literacy and promoting health behaviors of female students.
Seyed Samad Beheshti, Mohammad Norian Najafabadi,
Volume 18, Issue 4 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the dimensions of health is mental health that could be affected by the quality of occupational life. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of job satisfaction on teachers' mental health with due consideration of the moderating role of gender and the subjects taught.
Materials and Methods: This was a quantitative survey using a questionnaire including a sample of 373 teachers, selected by multistage random sampling, from among all (n = 1500) the secondary school first- and second-grade teachers in Najafabad city, Isfahan Province, Iran. Data analysis was done using the software AMOS and SPSS.
Results: The confirmatory factor analysis of the items showed that these items could explain 63.25% of the variance of the mental health construct. In addition, the standard effect of job satisfaction on mental health was found to be 0.37 (p <0.001), explaining 13% of the mental health construct variance. Further analysis of the data showed that the teachers’ mean mental health construct (66.64) and their mean of job satisfaction (73.90) were lower and higher than the means of the respective spectra (p <0.001), respectively.
Conclusion: Job satisfaction, which has been proven to affect the teachers’ mental health, can improve their personal and social life and make them more efficient in education. In this regard, gender and the type of subject taught can have moderating effects on the relationship between job satisfaction and mental health of the teachers. Based on the beta-values (0.55 for the women group and 0.68 for the experimental science teachers group), the gender female and teaching experimental science can have a stronger effect on the teachers’ mental health than gender male and teaching subjects other than experimental science.
Saeed Motesadi Zarandi, Rasul Nasiri, Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (6-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: High concentrations of particulate matter-25 (PM2.5) have been the cause of the unhealthiest days in Tehran, Iran in recent years. This study was conducted with the aim of the spatio-temporal analysis of traffic volume and its relationship with PM2.5 pollutant concentrations in Tehran metropolis, Tehran during 2015-2018, using the Geographic Information System (GIS).
Materials and Methods: In this study in different regions of Tehran, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) model was used for prediction and zoning of the PM2.5 concentrations and traffic volume during the period 2015-2018. In addition, the association between the PM2.5 concentrations and traffic volume was determined based on the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model.
Results: The findings showed that the southern and southwestern regions of Tehran had the highest PM2.5 pollutant concentration (annual average more than 40 μg/m3), while the eastern and northern regions had the highest traffic volume. In addition, based on the GWR model, the eastern regions were found to have the highest local R2 values (between 0.36 and 0.70).
Conclusion: In most regions of Tehran, no strong association can be found between high concentrations of PM2.5 and traffic volume. However, based on the findings of this study we cannot reject the relationship between traffic volume and PM2.5 pollutant but postulate other sources to be the main reason for the high concentrations of PM2.5. Thus, in the first step, these sources should be identified, followed by adopting strategies for traffic volume control and reduction aiming at having a cleaner air in Tehran.
Behzad Damari, Seyed Hasan Emami Razavi, Ahmad Hajebi, Elham Elahi,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: According to the definition proposed by WHO, social health is a health dimension that impacts, or is affected by, the two physical and mental dimensions. Based on the definition given by the Academy of Medical Sciences of Islamic Republic of Iran, social health includes reciprocal qualitative and quantitative behaviors by individuals towards welfare of the society. Pro-social behaviors and an encouraging environment are considered as the two main components of social health promotion. The purpose of this study was to identify pro-social behaviors in the Iranian society.
Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative study. Data were collected using 1). Literature review based on sources related to Iranian culture and religious advice, as well as published international experiences, and 2). Expert opinions based on focus group discussions on eight specialized disciplines. The data obtained were content analyzed.
Results: Analysis of the data of this study showed twenty pro-social behaviors (possible to be categorized into three domains/areas of social thinking, speech and expression, and behavior):
acceptance of diversity and altruism, understanding human rights, not telling lies, cooperation, humbleness, donation/free contribution, being critical, patience and forgiveness, lack of distrust/suspicion, speaking competence, proper balance/equilibrium, sense of responsibility, brotherhood, personal discipline/order, fidelity, trustworthiness, consultation, cultural exchange, self-identity and, finally, respecting the environment.
Conclusion: Behavior change requires applying evidence-based models, e.g., social marketing. It is, thus, suggested that after investigating and surveying pro-social behaviors in the Iranian society, barriers to pro-social behaviors should be investigated and social marketing programs be developed and implemented aiming to help improve these behaviors.
Mohammad Javad Kabir, Alireza Heidari, Nahid Jafari, Zahra Khatirnamani, Mohammad Reza Honarvar, Naser Behnampour,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Using a proper method to prioritize and develop a basic health services package is a serious challenge. This study was conducted to design a process for developing and revising a basic health services package in Iran.
Materials and Methods: A combined study of quantitative and qualitative methods was used in this study. The qualitative part was conducted through holding 25 in-depth individual interviews and two focus group discussions with experts from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Program and Budget Organization and insurance organizations, while the quantitative part was a descriptive cross-sectional study including 277 experts using a valid and reliable questionnaire. Data analysis of the qualitative and quantitative parts was done using a content analysis and the SPSS-23 software, respectively.
Results: The process of developing a basic health services package includes 4 steps, namely, explaining the list of services in the basic health services package, extracting the criteria for including services in the service package, prioritizing the criteria for including services in the package, and comparing services with priority criteria. In the prioritization stage, disease burden criteria, target groups and community needs were found to have the highest means and recognized as the most important criteria.
Conclusion: The process designed in this study for developing and revising a basic health services package provides policymakers with the required scientific evidence by emphasizing the introduction and continuity of services that have higher priorities and the elimination of services that have lower priorities.
Seyyed Mahdi Seyyedzadeh, Khadijeh Jangi,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Domestic violence is one of the most important cases of hidden victimization influenced by different factors. This research aimed to investigate the effect of Corona as a medical crisis on the level of domestic violence.
Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive research of the correlation type conducted on the statistical population of women in Mashhad City, the sample being 250 women in the outskirts of the city selected using the convenience sampling method. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to get information related to the behavior of the husband when faced with different types of violence during a period of two years ─ one year before, and one year after, the corona virus outbreak. The Pearson's correlation coefficient method was used to find the semantic relationship of the variables. Results: The incidence of domestic violence has increased in the first year after the coronavirus outbreak. The highest and lowest shares of such violence were found to be related to emotional and verbal violence and sexual violence, respectively. The findings also showed a highly significant relationship between income and the increase in violence during the Corona era (P<0.01) but no statistically significant relationship between access to support services and increased violence. Finally, restricting access to gatherings was found to be the most important factor in increasing violence.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it seems that policies related to imposing communication restrictions, home quarantine and the economic damage caused by them can be the main factors causing increased domestic violence due to coronavirus.
Siroos Ahmadi, Mohammad Norian Najafabadi,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a disease in the treatment of which the biological and medical methods are emphasized, but social factors also play an effective role. This research has tried to investigate the relationship between problem-solving skill and successful quitting of SUD.
Materials and Methods: This was a causal-comparative research in which two groups, namely, drug addicts with successful quitting (n = 222) and those with unsuccessful quitting (n = 222) selected by multi-stage random sampling were compared. The research tool for measuring the problem solving skill was the Social Problem Solving Scale of D'Zurilla et al. (2002).
Results: The findings showed that the mean problem-solving skill score and its five components were significantly higher in the successful quitting group than in the unsuccessful group. Based on the logistic regression results, the problem-solving skill (B=0.271, Wald=110.490 Sig=0.000, EXP (B) =1.76, Cox & Snell=0.457) will increase the chance of successful quitting 1.76 times and can explain 0.457 of the changes in the dependent variable.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that psychosocial factors are also effective in the treatment of the substance use disorder. This means that paying more serious attention to these factors will help to alleviate one of the basic social and public health problems of the society.
Marzieh Khounani, Davoud Shojaeizadeh, Zahra Jalili,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health brokers are responsible for conveying messages related to a healthy lifestyle to the target community, who are selected by them in the public participation houses, otherwise called People's Home for Participation in Health (PHPH). Implementing focused educational interventions can strengthen the self-efficacy of health brokers in performing health-promoting behaviors. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory on the healthy lifestyle of health brokers.
Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental and interventional study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group in 2024. The statistical population included health brokers in PHPHs affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Using the simple random sampling method 4 participating households were selected as the experimental group, the rest acting as the control group; the total number of participants was 74. Four 2-hour training sessions were held for the experimental group, and reviewing of the topics and assignments and answering questions were done through a virtual training group. Data were collected using standard "self-efficacy" and "health-promoting lifestyle" questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 28, the statistical tests being Chi-square, T-test, Pearson, and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests.
Results: After the intervention, the health-promoting lifestyle score increased from 30.40±21.00 to 168.31±24.71 and the health self-efficacy from 68.57±10.21 to 84.57±11.84 in the experimental group (P<0.001). The highest significant correlation was observed between lifestyle dimensions and self-efficacy (r=0.741)
Conclusion: The findings of this study show that training based on self-efficacy theory can improve healthy lifestyle behaviors in brokers and can be used as an effective strategy in health education.
Azar Houri, Roya Sadeghi, Azar Tol, Mahdi Yaseri, Yaser Tedadi,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Adolescence is a critical period for educational investment, which can enhance individual quality of life and reduce the future burden of disease and healthcare costs. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of direct education and peer education on health-promoting behaviors among first-grade middle school students in Shush, Khuzestan, in 2024.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up was conducted on 448 female first-grade middle school students in Shush using multistage cluster sampling. In the peer education group, selected students served as peer educators after receiving training and passing written and practical evaluations. Data were collected using the Walker Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II). The intervention was delivered in eight 60–90-minute sessions. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software version 27, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Both direct and peer education significantly improved health-promoting behaviors (p< 0.05). Direct education had greater effects on overall scores and the dimensions of health responsibility, physical activity, and stress management, which persisted up to three months. Peer education had the strongest impact on interpersonal relationships and spiritual growth.
Conclusion: Both direct and peer education are effective in promoting health behaviors; however, direct education provides more durable effects on core health dimensions, while peer education primarily enhances interpersonal and motivational aspects. A combination of these methods may yield better outcomes in promoting student health.
Vida Saghari, Hossein Jalali, Nabi Shariatifar, Mona Belandi,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Edible films represent an innovative solution for meat preservation, helping to reduce spoilage and extend shelf life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of edible films containing whey protein and free-form or Pickering emulsion of Trachyspermum copticum L. essential oil on the properties of beef during refrigerated storage.
Materials and Methods: Edible films containing whey protein and T. copticum L. essential oil (in free and Pickering emulsion forms) were prepared. Their physical, microbial, and chemical properties, as well as sensory attributes, were evaluated.
Results: Physical tests demonstrated successful film preparation, with the average zeta diameter of nanoliposomes ranging from 73.91 to 110.53 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) from 0.451 to 0.471, zeta potential from −5.12 mV to −3.64 mV, and encapsulation efficiency from 49.61% to 64.23%. The best performance in microbial, chemical, and sensory evaluations was observed in the treatment containing whey protein with nano-essential oil (Pickering emulsion), compared to the control and free essential oil samples.
Conclusion: The results indicate that edible films containing whey protein and nano-essential oil of T. copticum L. can be an effective strategy for storing beef under refrigerated conditions, improving product shelf life.
