Showing 25 results for Shoja
H Tabatabai , Z Shoja , M Sarijloo , Sh Shahmahmoudi , A Sarijloo, K Farokhi , M Mahmoodi , T Mokhtari-Azad , R Nateg,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (3 2007)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Iran managed to eradicate the wild poliovirus in 2000. However, a large number of AFP cases are still detected each year because of close surveillance: there were 450 reported AFP cases in 1382. The expected number of cases for the year 1382 in the province of West Azarbayjan (with an under-15 population of 1100000) was 11, while the observed number was more than 6 times greater (70 cases). In this study we investigated the non-polio enteroviral agent which could cause the AFP cases especially in Azarbayjan Province. Hence, the main purpose of the study was to identify circulating non-polio enteroviruses, using cell lines RD, Hep2, L20 and RT-PCR.
Material and Methods: All stool specimens of AFP cases were treated with chloroform and then injected into the above-mentioned cell lines. The isolated viruses were identified by the NT method. In cases where polioviruses were isolated, intratypic differentiation (wild vs. vaccine strains) using hybridization and ELISA tests. Finally, we performed RT-PCR with pan-EV primers on all samples.
Results: Using cell cultures, we were able to isolate 10 viruses, 9 of which were isolated by the RD cell line and this is regarded as the most sensitive cell line. The RT-PCR also identified 16 different viruses, 7 of which were not isolated on the RD line. Thus, RT-PCR could increase viral detection by 10%, indicating a high degree of high sensitivity.
Conclusion: Although the combination of cell culture and RT-PCR for detection and identification of non-polio enteroviruses causing AFP is invaluable, more than 75% of AFP patients were enterovirus negative. Therefore, they must be checked for other agents such as flavivirus (viral) and Campylobacter jejuni (bacterial).
Gh Mowlavi, A Behdasht Mansoorian, M Mahmoodi, R Pourshojaei, M Salehi,
Volume 7, Issue 1 (23 2009)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The role of fresh water snails as the intermediary host in transmitting parasitic infestations in man and animals is well known. In Iran, urinary schistosomisasis is known to be endemic in the Khuzestan Province, south-west of the country. Considering the Egyptian experience concerning the negative effects of Aswan Dam construction on expanding the prevalence of human bilharziasis, the possible role of huge agro-industrial sugar-cane projects on eliminating schistosomiasis in the only known endemic province of Khuzestan in Iran came to our attention. The main objective of this study was to identify the species of fresh water snails in a vast area under cultivation of sugar cane in Khuzestan province, S.W. Iran.
Methods and Materials: Thirty locations (points) under cultivation of sugar-cane in the area were selected for snail collection. In the selected localities there existed drains, canals, ditches, and water stands. Preliminary identification of snails was performed at the time of collection. A more complete taxonomical study was made after the samples were transferred to the laboratory of Dezful Health Research station.
Results: The total number of snails collected was 3825 snails, and seven different species were identified: Physa sp . (29%), Gyraulus sp. (19%), Melanoides sp. (16%), Bellamya sp. (14%), Melanopsis sp. (12%), L. gedrosiana, (7%)L. truncatula(2%). No Bulinus truncatus was seen .
Conclusion: Most of these snails are capable of getting involved in the life cycle of some zoonotic helminth parasites, e.g., Fasciolid and Heterophyd. These findings are encouraging. However, in order to avoid any possible undesirable effects on the public's health, constant monitoring, as well as annual malacological surveys, is essential.
E Tavassoli, A Hasanzadeh, R Ghiasvand, A Tol, D Shojaezadeh,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (23 2010)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Today cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of disability and mortality in many countries. This study was performed to determine the effect of health education based on the Health Belief Model on the knowledge, attitude and practice of housewives in Isfahan, Iran regarding improving their nutritional behavior for preventing heart disease.
Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental intervention, including 68 Isfahani housewives randomly divided into an experimental (n=34) and a control (n=34) group. Data were collected using a standard health belief model (HBM) and a food-frequency (FFQ) questionnaire. The experimental group attended, after a pre-test, 6 weekly education sessions. The HBM questionnaire was completed 3 times (before and immediately, and 2 months, after education), while the FFQ questionnaire was completed twice (before and 2 months after education) by the housewives. The data were analyzed using SPSS16 software, the statistical tests being t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA.
Results: The two groups were not significantly different with regard to demographic variables. Similarly, before the intervention they were statistically similar with respect to the scores of the HBM components (P>0.05). After the intervention, significant differences appeared between the experimental and the control groups with regard to all the components (knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived efficacy, and performance in all cases, P<0.001)
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the intervention had a positive impact on the feeding pattern of the women and was effective in increasing or improving their knowledge, attitude and practice.
H Mohamadian, H Eftekhar Ardebili, A Rahimi Foroushani, M.h Taghdisi, D Shojaiezade,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (20 2011)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Presently not sufficient attention is paid to adolescent health promotion in many countries, because of the widespread belief that adolescents are generally healthy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictors of adolescent girls' quality of life using path analysis based on Pender's health promotion model.
Materials and Methods: The Pender's health promotion model served as the framework of this cross-sectional study, which included a total of 500 adolescent girls (grades 9-11) selected by stratified random sampling from 20 high schools for girls in 4 districts of Kashan province, Iran. Inclusion criteria were being in grades 9-11 and a written informed consent (from teachers, parents and the girls themselves). Data were collected through interviewing the girls, the interviewers being trained persons, using several standard questionnaires (for perceived self-efficacy, perceived affect, perceived barriers, perceived social support health promoting lifestyle, and health-related quality of life). Data analysis was done using SPSS18 and LISREL 8.8, the statistical test being path analysis.
Results: All constructs of the health promotion model and health promoting lifestyle were significantly related to adolescent girls' quality of life. Perceived self-efficacy (β=0.70, p<0/01) and perceived affect (β=0.21, p<0/01) had the highest correlation with the quality of life. The model and the health-promoting lifestyle as a mediator accounted for 73% and 39% of variance in adolescent girls' quality of life, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the health promotion model can be used to explain and predict the quality of life of adolescent girls. Thus, the Pender's health promotion model is recommended to health planners for promoting the quality of life in this population.
Reza Majdzadeh, Arash Rashidian, Mohsen Shams, Davood Shojaeizadeh, Ali Montazeri,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (21 2011)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In social marketing, the common techniques of commercial marketing are used to increase the chances of acceptability of an idea or action by the target group. In this study, we determined the impact of an intervention based on social marketing to reduce risky driving behaviors among taxi drivers in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study, consisting of a quantitative and a qualitative part, on taxi-drivers in 2 regions (an intervention and a control groups) in the City of Tehran. Based on a formative research approach, the components of social marketing, namely, the product (reminder message for concentrating on avoidance of two target behaviors, tailgating and not driving between lines), price, place and promotion were determined. An 8-week educational program was implemented, the components being installation of stickers before the driver's eyes, distributing a pamphlet, and transferring messages through taxi route supervisors as opinion leaders. After six weeks, risky driving behaviors were assessed by checklists and compared.
Results: The intervention resulted in statistically significant reductions in the two target behaviors in the intervention group as compared with the control group. Furthermore, logistic regression showed that the odds ratio for avoiding both behaviors increased significantly in the intervention group.
Conclusion: Determining specific target groups, designing interventions based on actual needs and wants of the target group, and focusing on the factors influencing the behavior market are the basic elements of social marketing. Due consideration of these elements when designing behavioral interventions would lead to reductions in risky driving behaviors.
Alireza Didarloo, Davood Shojaeizadeh, Hasan Eftekhar Ardebili, Shamseddin Niknami, Ebrahim Hajizadeh, Mohammad Alizadeh,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (21 2011)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Many studies show that the only way to control diabetes and prevent its debilitating complications is continuous self-care. This study aimed to determine factors affecting self-care behavior of diabetic women in Khoy City, Iran based the extended theory of reasoned action (ETRA).
Materials and Methods: A sample of 352 women with type 2 diabetes referring to a Diabetes Clinic in Khoy City in West Azarbaijan Province, Iran participated in the study. Appropriate instruments were designed to measure the relevant variables (diabetes knowledge, personal beliefs, subjective norm, self-efficacy and behavioral intention, and self-care behavior) based on ETRA. Reliability and validity of the instruments were determined prior to the study. Statistical analysis of the data was done using the SPSS-version 16 software.
Results: Based on the data obtained, the proposed model could predict and explain 41% and 26.2% of the variance of behavioral intention and self-care, respectively, in women with type-2 diabetes. The data also indicated that among the constructs of the model perceived self-efficacy was the strongest predictor for intention for self-care behavior. This construct affected both directly and indirectly self-care behavior. The next strongest predictors were attitudes, social pressures, social norms, and intervals between visiting patients by the treating team.
Conclusion: The proposed model can predict self-care behavior very well. Thus, it may form the basis for educational interventions aiming at promoting self-care and, ultimately, controlling diabetes.
Azar Hadadi, Mehrnaz Rasoulinezhad, Saeed Jamali, Seyed Ahmad Seyed Ali Naghi, Kousha Paydari, Mohammad Ali Boyer, Esfandiar Shojaie, Alireza Soleymani, Sirous Faraji, Saeed Kalantari, Samaneh Bayrami, Mostafa Hosseini,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (6 2012)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the adherence to anti-retroviral prophylaxis after occupational and non-occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients consulting the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center (VCT) of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran during the period 2008 to 2009.
Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients were selected, the required information about them was recorded, and adherence to anti-retroviral drugs (including Ziduvudin, Lamivudin and Efavirens) was determined based on self-report by the patients. Eighty-nine exposed patients were followed monthly for 4 months, and in the case of low-adherence (less than 95%) they were asked for the reason(s) for noncompliance.
Results: Of the 89 patients, 55 were men (61.8%) and 34 (38/2%) were women with a mean age of 30.16± 8.39 years 47 participants (52.8%) were single and 42 (47.1%) married 27 subjects (30.3%) were physicians, 35 (39.3%) nurses and 27 (30.3%) had occupations outside the healthcare system. From among the 36 subjects (40.5%) who stopped the treatment, 24 (27.0%) stopped it correctly (that is, when the serological test proved to be negative), while 12 (13.4%) did not stop it on a sound basis. Fifty-three subjects (59.6%) completed the prophylaxis. Adherence was found to be significantly associated with age and marital status (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The main reason for stopping the prophylaxis (a negative serological test result of the resource patient) was more pronounced than previous studies, which indicates the higher availability of the resource patient.
Azar Tol, Gholamreza Sharifi Rad, Ahmad Ali Eslami, Fatemeh Alhani, Mohammad Reza Mohajeri Tehrani, Davoud Shojaeezadeh,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (13 2012)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a widespread disease. Diabetes patients should be fully familiar with the different dimensions of this chronic disease and possess the skills required for self-management and self-care. They should realize that each patient is a different case. It is to be noted that promoting self-management behavior is an essential component of case management in type-2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to assess self-management behavior of type-2 diabetes patients in Isfahan, Iran and determine factors influencing it.
Materials and Methods: This was a 6-month cross-sectional study conducted in 2011. The study population was type-2 diabetes patients consulting an outpatient diabetes center in Isfahan, Iran. The sample included a group of 350 patients selected by the continuous sampling method. The self-management behavior of the patients was assessed using a diabetes self-management instrument (DSMI), containing questions on 5 domains. The responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale and SPSS software, version 11.5 was used for analyzing the collected data.
Results: The response rate was 88%. The majority of the patients were 50-60 years (55.52 ± 8.42) old and 54.3% of them demonstrated borderline metabolic control according to the World Health Organization criteria. Mean scores of self-integration, self-regulation, interaction with health professionals and other influential persons, self-monitoring blood glucose, and adherence to recommended regime were 33.67±6.36, 29.09±5.9, 27.08±4.81, 11.71±3.91 and 11.46±2.9, respectively. On the whole, the global diabetes self-management behavior seemed to be not quite desirable (the score was at an intermediate level). Further analysis of the data revealed that self-management behaviors (at 3 levels, namely, desirable, intermediate, and undesirable) had significant associations (p<0.001) with demographic (age, gender, marital status, education level) and health-related (duration of diabetes, diabetes-related diseases, diabetes complications, general health, type of treatment, family income, and serum HbA1C level) variables. Self-management behavior had no association with disease history
Conclusion: Empowerment of patients afflicted with diabetes and, more generally, non-communicable diseases, which are quite prevalent and on the increase, in the area of self-management at the individual and community level will be a vital step towards promotion of health of the population.
Fatemeh Vasheghani, Fereshteh Majlesi, Mahmoud Mahmoudi, Davoud Shojaeezadeh,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (24 2012)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women with incidence of more than 500000 cases per year. It is preventable because of its long pre-cancerous period, suitable screening programs and effective treatments. Since the social and cultural barriers alongside the lack of knowledge are deterrents to participation in screening programs, the current study was performed to assess the effect of educational intervention through the Health Belief Model on knowledge and attitude of teachers about pap smear, considering their role in making people aware.
Materials and Methods: This was a controlled before-after interventional study conducted on 72 individuals selected through simple sampling, assigned to two groups. Data collection tool was a questionnaire used and compared before training and one month after that. Training methods (intervention) included lectures with questions and answers. Data were analyzed with SPSS, version 11.5.
Results: 47.2% of intervention and 45.8% of control group were 40 to 50 years old and majority of them (47.2% and 50% respectively) had undergraduate educational level and 86.1% were married. Respectively, 67.2% and 74.2% have experience of being examined via Pap smear, while the knowledge of women in both groups was moderate about the disease. Study results revealed significant differences in knowledge, attitude and Health Belief Model constructs within intervention group (before and after training) as well as between groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Using Pap smear test among the participants was lower compared with healthy people aims targeted by 2010. Therefore, necessity of education and knowledge promotions are obvious.
Shayesteh Shirzadi, Davoud Shojaeezadeh, Mohammad Hossein Taghdisi, Agha Fatemeh Hosseini,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (24 2012)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Puberty as a stage of life is an important developmental process. Teen girls have numerous health care needs and their specific issues should be considered. This study mainly aimed to determine the impact of education based on health belief model on promotion of physical puberty health among female teenagers who were residents in welfare boarding centers in Tehran city.
Materials and Methods: It was a quasi-experimental intervention study, conducted in welfare boarding centers of Tehran city among inhabitant girls with 12 to 19 years old. All eligible persons were selected (n=61). Data collection tool was a questionnaire including demographic information, health belief components, physical function during menstruation, completed before and one month after training by interview. Educational intervention was implemented in 3 months. Data was analyzed by Wilcoxon statistical test using SPSS16 software.
Results: After educational intervention, perceived severity (p<0.001), perceived susceptibility (p<0/001), perceived barriers (p<0.001), perceived benefits (p<0.001), and physical function during menstruation were significantly different.
Conclusion: Educational intervention improved girls' perceptions and performance. Thus, health belief model should be used for puberty health education planning in female adolescents.
Hamed Rezakhani Moghaddam, Davoud Shojaeizadeh, Mohammad Hasan Taghdisi, Yousef Hamidzadeh Arbabi, Mohammad Taghi Savadpour,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (26 2013)
Abstract
Background and aim: Delivery or parturition is the peak of a woman’s pregnancy period, accompanied with birth of one or more babies. Unfortunately, Cesarean section, despite its probable undesirable health and economic consequences, has become more and more common. Considering that the goal of health education is behavior change in people, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of health volunteers in educating mothers consulting the health care centers in Ardabil in the area of choice of delivery method based on the Behavioral Intention Model (BIM).
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 140 primaparous mothers in Ardabil city in the seventh month of pregnancy were selected by systematic random sampling and divided into a case and a control group, and a written pretest was given to both groups. Education based on the BIM was imparted to the case group. One month after delivery, both groups were post-tested. The data on awareness, attitude, results evaluation and practice were analyzed using the Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney-U and Chi-square tests.
Results: The findings revealed statistical differences between the case and control groups after intervention with regard to awareness, evaluation of results and attitude (p<0.001). However, behavioral intention did not change (p=0.106).
Conclusion: Although health volunteers' participation results in an increase in knowledge and promotes attitude and evaluation of behavioral results in pregnant women, it does not change their behavioral intention. It is suggested to conduct similar studies for comparative purposes involving other trainers, such as physicians and nurses in other cities, using other educational models and methods.
Najmolmolook Amini, Davood Shojaeezadeh, Mohsen Saffari,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (1-2014)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Physical inactivity is one of the 10 leading causes of mortality and disability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of e-learning on physical activity and body mass index (BMI) of female-employees.
Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental interventional study, 120 female-employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected randomly and assigned to a case or control group. Data were collected using a demographic and an international physical activity questionnaire. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were completed by the case and control subjects prior to, and 2 months after the final phase of, the intervention. The intervention included virtual education through short message service (SMS), email messages or messages via intanet, and educational films for a period of 16 weeks. SPSS-17 was used to analyze the data, the statistical tests being Chi-square, independent and paired-t, and
Fisher's exact tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 41 and 39 years in the case and control group, respectively. Most of them held a bachelor's degree and were married with 1 or 2 children. After the intervention, the mean score of physical activity in the intervention group increased significantly as compared with the control value (p<0.001). However, the intervention did not produce any change in the mean BMI of the case in comparison with the control group (p=0.119), although it brought about a statistically significant reduction in the initial BMI (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Web-based education, SMS and multi-media messages can increase physical activity in female-employees and might prevent illnesses caused by physical inativity.
Jalal Abdi, Hasan Eftekhar, Mahmood Mahmoodi, Davoud Shojayzadeh, Roya Sadeghi,
Volume 14, Issue 1 (6-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an intervention based on modern communication technologies and the social cognitive theory on the lifestyle of the government employees in the City of Hamadan, Iran in 2014.
Materials and Methods: A randomized control trial [IRCT2014083118989N1] was conducted including a total 435 employees with overweight or obesity. They were divided into a control group receiving no education and two intervention (experimental) groups (IG1 and IG2) receiving a 6-month education under the title of “lifestyle program”. The educational intervention was “telephone-assisted” in IG1 and “web-assisted” in IG2. Six and nine months after the intervention the lifestyle and changes in in the constructs of the social-cognitive theory were determined and compared between the experimental and control groups. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS-20.
Results: In both intervention groups, the lifestyle program resulted in promoting lifestyle status from “Good” to “Very good” (p=0.001). The intervention in the telephone-assisted group led to increases in the mean scores of the constructs of self-efficacy, environment, outcome expectations, and outcome expectancies, while in the web-assisted intervention group increases were observed only in the mean scores of the constructs of self-efficacy and outcome expectancies (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the present study confirm the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention based on modern communication technologies and the social-cognitive theory.
Rezvan Kakavand-Ghalehnoei, Zabihallah Shoja, Alireza Najafi, Mostafa Haji Mollahoseini, Somayeh Jalilvand,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (12-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the lack of information on the occurrence of the epidemic form of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and the high prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients (46%), it was decided to estimate the incidence of KS in this group. Based on the fact that active HHV-8 infection leads to KS development, it is essential to first assess the prevalence of active HHV-8 infection in these patients. Most of the Iranian HIV-infected patients are not aware that they are HIV-positive. If the prevalence of HHV-8 infection is high in these patients, they may spread HHV-8 in the community by high-risk sexual behaviors, which would lead to an increase in the incidence of classic Kaposi’s sarcoma. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HHV-8 among HIV-infected subjects.
Materials and Methods: One-hundred plasma samples from HIV-infected patients were collected. Genome was extracted and assessed by the nested PCR assay with specific primers for ORF26. Positive samples were amplified for the ORF K1 region by nested-PCR. Subsequently their products were sequenced and their phylogenic trees constructed.
Results: HHV-8 was detected in 8 of the patients (8%). No statistically significant associations were found between age and gender on the one hand and HHV-8 infection on the other (p > 0.05). Two genotypes, namely, A and C, were identified, the former in two patients and the latter in one.
Conclusion: Although the prevalence of HHV-8 infection is high among Iranian HIV-infected patients, active HHV-8 infection rate is low among them. Therefore, it seems that the incidence of epidemic KS is likely to be very low in this group. Certainly more research is needed in this area. As regards genotypes, genotypes A and C are found in the samples.
Zahra Farahmand, Davoud Shojaeizadeh, Azar Tol, Kamal Azam,
Volume 15, Issue 2 (9-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common public health problems worldwide. Diabetic foot as a late complication of DM imposes high physical and emotional costs to the patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an educational program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on diabetic foot care in type-2 DM patients.
Materials and Methods: Ninety seven (female=57, male=40) type-2 diabetes patients, randomly divided into two groups ̶ and intervention (n = 47) and a control group (n = 50) ̶ participated in this study. Using questionnaires data were collected, initially and 3 months after the educational intervention, on demographic characteristics, awareness and the HBM constructs. The intervention group participated in 3 educational sessions during the3-month period. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20, the statistical test being Shapiro-Wilk, Chi-Square, Wilcoxon, McNemar tests and paired T-Test.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences before the intervention between the experimental and control groups with respect to the mean scores of knowledge and HBM’s components (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers, as well as self-efficacy and self-care). The intervention improved the scores significantly in the experimental groups (p<0.05), while there were no significant changes in the control group scores (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This study shows that type-2 diabetic patients need to learn how to take care of their feet and that implementing educational programs based on the Health Belief Model can be effective in this regard.
Masoumeh Amiri Siavashani, Davoud Shojaeizadeh, Kamal Azam,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Observance of the principles of infection control in dentistry is the basis of preventing the transmission of dangerous diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis and preventing the spread of diseases in the community. In view of the importance of dentistry education in the field of observance of the principles of infection control, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational intervention on infection control among dental students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: The present study is a pre and post interventional study that the number of samples is 75 dental students referred to Endodontics Department of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences for endodontic treatment and radiotherapy of teeth during treatment in the academic year of 95-96 that were selected by available sampling method and after determining the sample size, a researcher-made questionnaire was prepared based on the Health Belief Model and verified in terms of validity and reliability, and completed in two stages before and after training with a 3 month interval. Three training sessions were conducted in this study for 15-30 minutes during the course of one month as group training and question and answer. During these meetings, students were given useful materials about infection control in dentistry, pathogenic microorganisms, transmission methods, and infection control guidelines in dentistry radiology. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire based on Health Belief Model. after data collection, spss21 software was used to analyze them. Non-parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, paired t-test and non-parametric Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis of the 0/05 significance level before and after the knowledge and structures of the health belief model.
Results: The results of statistical analysis showed that 62.7% of the participants were female students and 89.3% of single students, and the participants in the study were from 8,9,11 terms. The results of this study showed that the mean and standard deviation of knowledge and performance scores of students toward infection control before training were 11.48 ± 2.23 and 5.48 ± 0. 93, respectively, and after the training were increased to 14.75±0.57 and 9.36 ± 0.91. This difference was statistically significant by doing paired t-test (p the comparison of the mean and standard deviation of the scores of other aspects of the health belief model regarding infection control among dentistry students also showed a significant increase.
Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that education based on the health belief model has been effective in controlling infection in dentistry students.
Saeid Shojaee Barjoee , Hamid Reza Azimzadeh, Asghar Mosleh Arani,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI), as a criterion for assessing plants' resistance to air pollution, is one of the important tools for managing air quality around industrial complex buildings. The aim of this study was to determine air quality and the APTI of native plants grown around the Industrial Complex of Glass, Khak-e-chini, Tile and Ceramics and Glass in Ardakan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study. First, the concentration of air pollutants in the industrial area was assessed. Then, APTI was determined as follows: measuring the pH of leaf extracts, relative water content, total chlorophyll and ascorbic acid contents of leaves in samples of native plant leaves. In addition, the concentrations of lead, chromium and cadmium were measured in plants by atomic absorption using the dry digestion method. For statistical analysis of the data the SPSS software version 22 was used.
Results: The mean plant concentrations of Co, O3, NO2, SO2 and PM10 in the industrial are were 2.06 ppm, 7.75 ppm, 3.28 ppm, 33.94 ppb and 70.55 µg/m3, respectively; these concentrations were all below the respective standards, as were those of lead, cadmium and chromium. The tolerance index of plants around the Industrial Complex was measured in the floor/parts sensitive to air pollution, proportional to low air quality pollutant and heavy metal concentrations in plants. Among the rangeland, tree and shrubs species, the following had the highest air pollution tolerance index, respectively: Boiss.fortuynia (8.49), Punica granatum (16.80) and Albizia lebbeck (9.37).
Conclusion: Based on the Air Pollution Tolerance Index it is suggested that the nonproductive species Punica granatum be used as a more tolerant species and Artemisia species as a biomarker for the expansion of green space.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Tina Taherkhani, Shayan Shojaei, Matin Jafari, Sara Mohammadi, Alireza Emamzadeh, Shahrzad Akhavan,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Primary health care is a holistic approach that aims to maximize people's health and well-being as quickly as possible in their immediate living environment. The primary health care system is the first point of contact of the people with the health system. Therefore, increasing its resilience will play a significant role in controlling and managing pandemics. This research aimed to identify strategies to strengthen the resilience of the primary health care system in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using the scoping review method. Using appropriate keywords search was done on the subject of the study in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SID, Iranmedex and Magiran databases and Google and Google Scholar search engines. Finally, after screening and reviewing the titles, abstracts and texts of the retrieved documents, 36 articles were selected and strategies to strengthen the resilience of the primary health care system in the Covid-19 pandemic were extracted from them.
Results: A total of 48 strategies/solutions were extracted to strengthen the resilience of the primary health care system, categorized into 6 groups, namely, governance and leadership, financing, human resources, medicines and equipment, health information systems, and health service delivery. Among the most frequently solutions mentioned were the following: Dynamic and accountable leadership, using valid research evidence in policy-making, contingency planning, increasing inter-sectoral cooperation, advocacy for health policies, community involvement, sustainable financing, recruiting additional staff and training and supporting them, providing sufficient stocks of medicines and diagnostic kits, developing and modernizing public health information systems, facilitating people's access to health centers, continuing to provide health services, and increasing the community’s health literacy.
Conclusion: The structural and process components of the primary health care system including "governance and leadership", "financing", "staff", "equipment, vaccines and medicines", "information" and "health care delivery" should be strengthened in a coordinated manner in the primary health care system to be prepared for future epidemics.
Somayeh Jalilvand, Atefeh Kachooei, Tayebeh Latifi, Mahdieh Motamedi‐rad, Mohammad Farahmand, Nasir Mohajel, Zabihollah Shoja,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
1. Franco MA, Angel J, Greenberg HB. Immunity and correlates of protection for rotavirus vaccines. Vaccine. 2006; 24(15):2718-31.
2. Glass RI, Parashar UD, Bresee JS, Turcios R, Fischer TK, Widdowson M-A, et al. Rotavirus vaccines: current prospects and future challenges. The Lancet. 2006;368(9532):323-32.
3. Parashar UD, Gibson CJ, Bresee JS, Glass RI. Rotavirus and severe childhood diarrhea. Emerging infectious diseases. 2006;12(2):304.
4. Kargar M, Zare M, Najafi A. Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus strains circulating among children with gastroenteritis in Iran. Iranian journal of pediatrics. 2012;22(1):63.
5. Modares S, Rahbarimanesh AA, Karimi M, Modares S, Motamedirad M, Sohrabi A, et al. Electrophoretic RNA genomic profiles of rotavirus strains prevailing among hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran, Iran. 2008.
6. Shoja Z, Jalilvand S, Mokhtari-Azad T, Nategh R. Epidemiology of cocirculating human rotaviruses in Iran. The pediatric infectious disease journal. 2013;32(4):e178-e81.
7. Jalilvand S, Roohvand F, Arashkia A, Shoja Z. Update on Epidemiology and Circulating Genotypes of Rotavirus in Iranian Children With Severe Diarrhea: 1986-2015. Int J Travel Med Glob Health. 2018;6(1):7-10.
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Prevalence and Distribution of Common Rotavirus Genotypes in Iran and Comparing them with Vaccine Strains Before the Start of the National Vaccination Program
Somayeh Jalilvan1, Atefeh Kachooei2, Tayebeh Latifi3, Mahdieh Motamedi‐Rad4, Mohammad Farahmand3, Nasir Mohajel5, Zabihollah Shoja6*
1- Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Ph.D. Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Ph.D. Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- MSc. Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
5- Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
6- Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
* Corresponding author: zabihollahshoja@gmail.com, zshoja@alumnus.tums.ac.ir
Received: May 25, 2023 Accepted: Oct 11, 2023
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Since the discovery of rotaviruses in 1973, these viruses have been identified as one of the most important and common causes of diarrhea in infants and children all over the world. Before the introduction of rotavirus vaccination, this virus led to the death of more than 500,000 children in the world annually, which mainly occurs in developing countries. With the introduction of Rotarix and RotaTeq vaccines as well as ROTAVAC and ROTASIIL in the world, the death rate has decreased by 50%. Iran, like many countries, is in the period before rotavirus vaccination, and considering putting the rotavirus vaccine in the vaccination program is one of the priorities of the country's health system. Therefore, knowing the genotypes circulating in Iran in the past and recent years and their comparison with vaccine strains is very important. Our aim in the current study is to review the prevalence of rotavirus and its genotypes circulating in Iran and whether the existing vaccines based on the circulating strains in Iran can be effective.
Materials and Methods: Studies regard to the prevalence and genotypes of rotavirus in Iran were reviewed.
Results: G1P[8] genotype includes more than 50% of circulating genotypes. Non-G1P[8] genotypes, including G4P[8], G3P[8] and G9P[8], have also had a high frequency in some studies. In addition, in a recent study, it has been shown that the rare and uncommon genotype G9P[4] has been introduced as a common genotype.
Conclusion: Studies in Iran have shown that the country may face a change in the rotavirus genotype pattern in the future. This study can provide useful information to recommend appropriate policies for rotavirus vaccination before the start of the national vaccination program and may even change policies for the use of existing vaccines.
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.