Does watching a movie improve empathy? A cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: We studied if watching a movie about the patient physician encounter alone or in combination with a communication skills training workshop could improve empathy score of medical students. Methods: One hundred and thirty three medical students participated in one of the following four groups of the study. Group A: a three hour workshop (42 students); group B: watching the movie “The Doctor” (23 students); group C: watching the movie “The Doctor”, then, participating in a three hour workshop the next day (22 students); group D: control group with no intervention (46 students). Participants completed Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), Student Version to assess empathy score before and after the intervention, and one month later. A linear mixed effect model analyzed the effect of intervention across groups considering the effects of other significant variables. Results: All of the three interventions had an immediate improving effect on empathy scores compared to control group. However, the improvement effect remained significant only in groups A (p=.015) and C (p=.001) one month later. Conclusions: Watching selected movies has a significant but transient effect on empathy of students. Combining two methods of watching the movie and communication skills workshop, seems to add the beneficial effects

The study on the knowledge, attitude and practice of Tehran citizens about Health and Disease in 2011 (KAP): overview of methodology and primary results

Background: The study of their knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward health is an essential step for health planning. In the urban area, there are several concerns about environmental pollution, health status, the dangers of insecurity, and bad dietary habits. The aim of the study was the determination of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of Tehran citizens in order to plan better municipal services. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 13000 participants between 15-84 years in 22 districts of Tehran, Iran University of Medical Sciences, in August and September of 2011. Cluster sampling and self-administered reliable and valid questionnaire were used for data gathering. The inclusion criteria are all of citizens of Tehran. Age, sex, marital and job status, obesity, physical activity, hypertension, myocardial infarction, accidents, diabetes, nutrition, stroke, psychological behavior, smoking, addiction and drugs, musculoskeletal, sexual behavior, anemia, physical environment, fat blood, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dietary habits and socioeconomic status were measured under standard protocols and by using calibrated instruments.  Results: From 13000 participants in the study, 11753 (90%) was fulfilled the questioners. Nonresponse rate from 11753 participants was 8.6%. The proportion of obesity/overweight was 50% and 29.5% of people had appropriate physical exercise, 37.6% reported a tobacco consumer in their family and 4.5% reported an experience of substance misuse. Also, 29.2% and 24.8% from these had anomalistic consuming of salt and soft drink, respectively. Of the participants, 44.8%, 89.1% had a good knowledge and attitude, respectively. Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.82 and 0.79 for knowledge, attitude and behavior, respectively. In additional, the correlation coefficient between test and re-test questions was 0.91.  Conclusion: This study was a comprehensive study to measure the knowledge, attitude and practice of Tehran citizens using reliable and valid questionnaires about general health status. A considerable percentage of Tehran citizens suffering from overweight, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high blood lipids and smoking consuming and using anomalistic from TV and computer. The results can be used as a framework and guide to prioritize problems and planning health education interventions in Tehra

Quality of Life in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder: Is It Related to Disorder Outcome?

Bipolar I disorder (BID) and its treatments have shown to be associated with deep impacts on patients' subjective feelings and quality of life (QOL). There are also some comments about impact of these feelings on course and outcome of patients with BID. This study was aimed to evaluate quality of life in patients with BID and to assess its relationship with course of disorder. Fifty patients with BID were recruited based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) from May 2008 and followed for 12 months. Quality of life and mood disorder recurrence were assessed through World Health Organization Quality of Life and SCID-I tools respectively at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Repeated measures analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the independent effect of QOL and demographic factors on BID recurrence. Fifty patients (66% male; 48% never married; 48% in primary school level) with mean ± SE age and age of BID onset 33.8±1.5 and 26.6±1.1 years were studied. They had 3.4±0.6 episodes already. Twenty eight percent suffered from recurrences during the follow-up. The QOL scores at baseline, after 6 and 12 months were 70±1.8, 69.6±1.1 and 73±1.3 respectively. There were no significant change in QOL and its sub-domains during the follow-up (P=0.37). QOL showed no independent relationship with BID recurrences (P>0.1). No change in the QOL during the follow-up could denote lack of effectiveness of routine interventions on this factor. Also, short-term follow-up might be concerned as the possible reason. Of prime importance is to consider quality of life independently in treating patients with bipolar disorder