The Knowledge, Self-efficacy, and Self-care Behaviors of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Referred to the Diabetes Clinic of Birjand, Iran

Background: One of the most important ways to control diabetes is through self-care behaviors and increased self-efficacy of patients. This study aimed to determine knowledge, self-care, and self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes in Birjand city. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 100 patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed in three parts including knowledge questions, self-efficacy questions, and questions about self-care behavior. Data were analyzed by SPSS20 software using descriptive analysis, one way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The mean score of knowledge was 16/47±5/67. Thirty-five percent of the subjects had appropriate, and 19% had inadequate knowledge. The mean scores of self-efficacy and self-care were 138.17±52.59 and 55.15±21.45, respectively. Correlation test results showed a significant relationship between self-efficacy and knowledge (P=0.007), self-care and knowledge (P=0.002), as well as self-efficacy and self-care behaviors (P≤0.001). The highest level of significance was observed between self-efficacy and self-care. Conclusion: In order to improve the health of diabetic patients, attention should be paid to patients' knowledge about diabetes, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors. It is also necessary to plan educational training in this field and to identify the barriers which prevent self-care

Knowledge, skill, and preventive behaviors regarding COVID-19 among the public in Shahrekord of Iran

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a serious and costly problem for communities. Observing health issues and performing preventive behaviors is influenced by their knowledge and skills of people toward COVID-19. Hence, this study investigated the knowledge, skill, and practice of the public of Shahrekord toward COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The present study was performed as a cross sectional. Data were collected using an online questionnaire from 540 Shahrekord residents who were selected via convenience sampling in 2020. Knowledge, skill, and practice toward COVID-19 were assessed using a prevalidated questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS-21 software (one-way analysis of variance, Pearson test, and regression test). RESULTS: In this study, 39.1% were male, and 60.9% were female and 46.3% were 20-25 years. The mean score of knowledge, skill, and preventive behaviors was 75.69 +/- 17.85, 53.87 +/- 27.40, and 59.97 +/- 23.79, respectively. There was a significant direct relationship between knowledge and skill (P = 0.05 and r = 081) so that public with more knowledge had a better skill as well. There was a significant association between age (P = 0.036), education level (P = 0.019) , and job (P = 0.014) with knowledge. In addition, a significant association between job (P = 0.027) and marital status (P = 0.014) with skill was observed. Knowledge, skill, and demographic variables predict 37.6% preventive behavior. CONCLUSION: The majority of the participants had good knowledge, moderate skill, and relatively enough practice. Government and policymakers must consider these knowledge levels, skill, and practices to implement productive interventions for preventing the COVID-19

Comparison of two methods of education (lecture and self learning) on knowledge and practice of mothers with under 3 year old children about growth monitoring and nutritional development stages

Introduction: Assessment of national children growth has shown children‘s growth failure in a large percentage of them in Iran. Growth failure is easily diagnosed by growth monitoring card .On the other hand, mothers’ Knowledge of Nutritional development stages can help them to modify their practice in this field .In this case, conducting educational and interventional programs play a key role in promotion of mothers’ knowledge and practice. This study has been designed and conducted to compare the effect of two educational methods of lecture and self learning on mothers’ knowledge and practice. Methods:This is a quasi-experimental study conducted on 100 mothers with under 3 year old children .Samples were selected through random sampling and were randomly divided into two groups of lecture and self learning. Educational content included growth monitoring card, nutrition and nutritional development stages. A 45 item questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed in previous studies was used to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results:There was a significant difference between mothers’ Knowledge about growth and nutritional development stages before and three months after intervention. Although, There was no significant difference between mean scores of mothers’ knowledge about children’s growth in two studied methods, there was a significant difference in nutritional development stages (p<0.001).There was a significant difference in mothers’ practice mean scores before and three months after educational intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion: Mothers ‘Knowledge and practice about children growth and nutritional development stages are not appropriate so that education by each method is effective .Promotion of mothers’ knowledge and practice about nutritional development stages and their trend is necessary and must be programmed

A Systematic Review about Educational Interventions based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) aimed to prevent and control diabetes in Iran

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases in the world and a serious health problem, that requires comprehensive interventions. This systematic review was conducted to summarize educational interventions based on the Health Belief Model aimed to prevent and control diabetes. Methods: Searches were done on May 30, 2019 in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, SID, Magiran, and IranMedex databases in English and Persian. The inclusion criteria included quantitative original interventional studies that aimed to control type 2 diabetes, and the intervention was based on the Health Belief Model. Studies done outside of Iran, interventions on other types of diabetes, non-interventional studies, and reviews were excluded. Results: Eventually, 13 studies (6 English and 7 Persian articles) entered this systematic review. The intervention durations were from 2 to 3 months. These studies fell into three broad categories: 1- Prevention of the disease 2- Improving Nutrition behaviors in patients 3-Prevention of disease complications or its progress. All of the educational interventions showed a positive effect for education on the prevention and control of diabetes. Conclusions: Interventions based on the HBM have shown an effective role in controlling and preventing diabetes

Health Literacy regarding Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Iran

Background and Objectives: Health literacy is a critical factor in the management of non-communicable and communicable diseases, such as COVID-19. The present study aimed to evaluate the status of health literacy concerning the prevention and control of COVID-19 among Iranian population in 2020. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted using a researcher-made online questionnaire (The questionnaire consisted of seven multiple-choice demographic items and 50 questions on the health literacy of respondents during the coronavirus epidemic.) to collect data from 1200 Iranian compatriots selected via convenience sampling in 2020. Collected data were analyzed by running T-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson test, and regression test using SPSS 25 software. Significance level was considered based <0.05. Results: The mean score of health literacy was 66.33±15.48 indicating higher rates in women, age group of 20-25 years, single people, urbanites, employees, healthy people, and individuals with academic education (p<0.001). Study variables could predict 42.5% health literacy concerning the prevention and control of COVID-19. Gender, residential area, health status, level of education, and occupation were significant predictors of health literacy (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, the health literacy of Iranian people was at a relatively desirable level. However, health authorities are required to design and implement purposeful and theory-based educational programs to raise the level of awareness in society. Paper Type: Research Article Paper Type: Research Articl

Investigating the effect of educational intervention based on the health belief model on beliefs related to the prevention of dyslipidemia in women

Background and Objective: Dyslipidemia is one of the most common modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. One of the most important strategies for controlling dyslipidemia is improving lifestyle. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of educational intervention on beliefs related to the prevention of dyslipidemia in women. Materials and Methods: The current study is a semi-experimental type that was conducted on 80 women who referred to comprehensive health service centers in Tabas city. Sampling was done in several stages. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that was completed before and one month after the intervention. The educational intervention based on the health belief model included two group training sessions and presentation of an educational booklet. Data was collected based on SPSS software version 21 and analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical tests. The significance level of the tests was considered less than 0. 05. Results: The average score of perceived intensity in the test group after the intervention has increased significantly compared to the control group and the average score has increased from 12.45 to 13.13(p=0.003). The average score of perceived barriers in the test group has also decreased from 29.62 to 27.44(p=0/011). The average perceived self-efficacy score in the test group increased from 30.18 to 32.16, which was a significant increase compared to the control group(p=0/019). Conclusion: Considering the effect of the intervention on improving some constructs such as perceived severity, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, it can be concluded that the educational intervention based on the health belief model can be effective in promoting beliefs related to preventive behaviors of dyslipidemia

Investigating the Effect of Anger and Stress Management Training in Adolescents

Background: Stress and anger are among the most common mental health problems in adolescents. The skill of coping with stress and controlling emotions is one of the vital skills in adolescence. This study aims to investigate the effect of educational intervention on anger and stress management skills in female adolescents based on social cognitive theory (SCT). Methods: The present pre-test post-test clinical trial was conducted among 12-14-year-old girls in Birjand City, Iran in 2019. One school was randomly selected as intervention and one school as control. The participants included 80 girls randomly selected and assigned to the intervention and control groups. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire investigating the effective factors on anger and stress control skills based on the SCT. The validity and reliability of this scale were confirmed by a panel of experts and Cronbach’s α was above 0.7. Questionnaires and informed consent forms were completed by participants in the pre-test stage and two months after the educational intervention. Seven training sessions were held in two months. The implementation of the project lasted for four months. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 22 and t-test. Results: The results showed that the mean scores of perceived social support (P=0.003), perceived reinforcement (P=0.03), and self-control (P<0.001) increased significantly in the intervention group after the intervention. Moreover, the mean score of self-efficacy (P=0.007) changed significantly in the control group after the intervention.  Conclusion: Parent training has been effective in promoting social support and perceived reinforcement. Paying attention to the role of parents, preparing a suitable training package, and using active training methods have played a role in the effectiveness of the intervention. Therefore, the application of this educational package is recommended in future related interventions and similar studies