Application of Freire\u27s adult education model in modifying the psychological constructs of health belief model in self-medication behaviors of older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication by older adults has been always a public health concern. The present study aimed to modify the psychological constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM) in relation to self-medication behaviors using Freire\u27s Adult Education Model (FAEM) among older adults in Khorramabad, Iran, from 2017 to 2018. METHODS: The mean age of the older adults was 66.28 ± 7.18 years. This was a randomized controlled trial study conducted on 132 individuals older than 60 who were referred from different health care centers. The participants were selected using multistage sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire which was designed based on both HBM and self-medication behaviors questionnaire. The phase of adult education model (AEM) was used to modify the psychological constructs of HBM and self-medication behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 with a significant level of 0.05. Descriptive statistical tests, chi-squared test, paired t-test, independent t-test, and univariate modeling were employed for the purpose of analyzing data. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of self-medication. Unawareness of the effects of medicine were the most important reason for self-medication (p = 0.50). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of knowledge, HBM constructs, and self-medication behaviors (p \u3e 0.05). However, they came up to be considerably different for the above variables after the intervention was implemented (p \u3c  0.05). When the findings were adjusted for the effects of confounding variables, there were significant differences between the two groups in almost all constructs of HBM and their behaviors (p \u3c  0.05). However, the perceived barrier modality of HBM did not reach to a significant level of difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: The educational intervention, which was based on Freire\u27s AEM, had positive effects on the constructs of HBM and consequently on self-medication behaviors. The psychological constructs of HBM were affected at the phases of listening to problems. Self-medication was tempered at the action-reflection phase with shared creation and evaluation of the action plan geared toward the achievement of the behavioral objectives. The results might be of importance to healthcare professionals involved in care of older patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials IRCT2013091814512N2. Registered on January 2 - prospectively registered, the trial was registered in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry http://www.irct.ir

Preparation of Polyurethane/Pluronic F127 Nanofibers Containing Peppermint Extract Loaded Gelatin Nanoparticles for Diabetic Wounds Healing: Characterization, In Vitro, and In Vivo Studies

Diabetic ulcer is regarded as one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. The healing of these ulcers enhances with the use of herbal extracts containing wound dressings with high antibacterial property and creating a nano-sized controlled release system. In this study, new peppermint extract was incorporated in the polyurethane- (PU-) based nanofibers for diabetic wound healing. The peppermint extract was used as an herbal antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. The absorption ability of the wound dressing was enhanced by addition of F127 pluronic into the polymer matrix. The release of the extract was optimized by crosslinking the extract with gelatin nanoparticles (CGN) and their eventual incorporation into the nanofibers. The release of the extract was also controlled through direct addition of the extract into the PU matrix. The results showed that the release of extract from nanofibers was continued during 144 hours. The prepared wound dressing had a maximum absorption of 410.65% and an antibacterial property of 99.9% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. An in vivo study indicated on significant improving in wound healing after the use of the extract as an effective compound. On day 14, the average healing rate for samples covered by conventional gauze bandage, PU/F127, PU/F/15 (contained extract), and PU/F/15/10 (contained extract and CGN) prepared with different nanoparticle concentrations of 5 and 10 was 47.1 ± 0.2, 56.4 ± 0.4, 65.14 ± 0.2, and 90.55 ± 0.15%, respectively. Histopathological studies indicated that the wound treated with the extract containing nanofibers showed a considerable inflammation reduction at day 14. Additionally, this group showed more resemblance to normal skin with a thin epidermis presence of normal rete ridges and rejuvenation of skin appendages. Neovascularization and collagen deposition were higher in wounds treated with the extract containing nanofibrous wound dressing compared to the other groups

Pericardial tuberculosis with an emphasis on empiric therapy in endemic areas for tuberculosis (a case report)

Pericardial tuberculosis (TB) is rare, but has particularly severe complications and a high mortality rate when not treated. Prompt treatment of pericardial TB is important and can be life-saving. We report a 13-year-old girl with massive pericardial effusion and negative workup for TB, who was empirically treated with an excellent response

Poly(acrylic acid)-zeolite nanocomposites for dye removal from single and binary systems

<p>In this research, nanocomposites of zeolite/acrylic acid were synthesized with different amount of acrylic acid (AA) as monomer and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator to remove cationic dyes from wastewater in single and binary systems. Basic Red 46 (BR46) and Basic blue 41 (BB41) were used as the cationic dyes. The surface characteristics of nanocomposites were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope. FTIR results confirmed successful attachment of acrylic acid on the zeolite surface. The influence of different factors such as initial monomer concentration and amount of initiator on dye removal in single system, and adsorbent dosage, pH, and initial dye concentration in single and binary systems were evaluated. The dye adsorption isotherm and kinetics were studied. Results indicated that adsorption of BR46 and BB41 onto nanocomposites is well fitted with Langmuir isotherm and the rate of sorption was found to conform to pseudo-second-order kinetic with good correlation. The maximum dye adsorption capacity (<i>Q</i>₀) of composites for two different amounts of AA and APS in nanocomposite (0.17 mmol AA + 3.50 mmol APS and 0.26 mmol AA + 6.57 mmol APS) was 2,439.02 and 2,702.70 for BB41, 2,272.72 and 2,380.95 mg/g for BR46 in single system, 2,083.33 and 2,127.65 for BB41, 1,785.71 and 1,923.07 mg/g for BR46 in binary system. Results illustrated that zeolite/acrylic acid nanocomposites could be suggested as an efficient nanoadsorbent to remove cationic dyes from wastewaters.</p