Immediate and Six- Month Outcomes of a School-Based Substance Prevention Program (Project TND) for Iranian High School Students

AbstractThe main purpose of this study was to determine whether or not a school-based substance prevention program would provide any change in behaviors associated with substance abuse and aggression in Iranian high school students? This paper outlines the outcomes of immediate and six month follow-up of a 9-session version of Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND). A total number of 1180 students from 8 high schools (41 classrooms) of Zahedan in southeast of Iran were recruited and surveyed at a pre-test. The participants ranged from 15-18 years of age. Sample high schools were selected randomly and assigned to either intervention or control conditions. The students in interventional condition (21 classrooms) participated in project TND curriculum. Delivery of curricula took place over a period of 6-weeks. Results of first and second post-tests revealed noticeable changes in using illicit drugs, Truancy from schools, physical fighting and carrying weapon during past month among students in intervention condition. The findings confirmed that Project TND can be implemented effectively with students of Iranian high schools as well as high risk students in western countries

The Relationship between Non-financial Factors, Capital Structure and the Performance of the Listed Companies on the Stock Exchange

Capital structure is considered to be the most important parameter affecting the valuation of companies and their orientation in the capital markets. Companies in a similar industry are expected to employ fairly similar policies and strategies for financing and determining their own capital structure since they have the same activities as well as internal and external factors affecting them. Accordingly, the present study investigated the impact of the industry type and the company age on the capital structure and the impact of capital structure on the financial performance of 203 companies listed on the Stock Exchange. Finally, the financial ratios of 1007 institution-year in 27 industry codes were evaluated. The structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesis using PLS software. The results showed that there is no significant relationship between industry and the capital structure. However, there is a significant relationship between the age of the institution and the ratio of debt to equity at the level of P-Value = 0.05. Moreover, no significant relationship was seen between the capital structure and the performance at the level of P-Value = 0.05. Keywords: financial factors, non-financial factors, capital structure, company performance JEL Classifications: G2, G

Evaluation of the efficacy of low-level laser in improving the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome

Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is common condition that affects menopause women, patients suffer from sever burning sensation. Up to now there is no definitive treatment for this disease. Present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser (LLL) in improving t he symptoms of burning mouth syndrome. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with BMS were enrolled in this study; they were divided in two groups randomly. In the laser group, in each patient, 10 areas on the oral mucosa were selected and underwent LLL irradiation at a wavelength of 630 nm, and a power of 30 mW for 10 seconds twice a week for 4 weeks. In the placebo group, silent/off laser therapy was carried out during the same period in the same areas. Burning sensation and quality of life were evaluated. Results: Burning sensation severity and quality of life in the two groups after intervention were different significant statistically, ( P = 0.004, P = 0.01 respectively) .Patients in laser group had better results. Conclusions: It can be concluded that low level laser might decrease the intensity of burning mouth syndrom

The Effect of Stress Management Education Based on PRECEDE Model on Occupational Stress of Nurses in Hospitals of Iranshahr, Iran

Background & Objective: The phenomenon of occupational stress is an inevitable part of professional life that has negative effects on different areas of life. The purpose of this research was to identify the effects of PRECEDE model-based training on reduction of nurses’ occupational stress. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study on nurses. First, subjects with a medium to high stress level were chosen. Then, the nurses of Iran and Khatam-Ol-Anbia hospitals, Tehran, Iran, were randomly assigned as intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 41) groups. Data gathering tools included the Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) to determine nurses’ occupational stress and PRECEDE Model Structures Questionnaire to provide educational intervention. Training was carried out in two 4-hour sessions in two consecutive days. Subjects were monitored for 3 months. Statistical analysis was performed before, and 1 month and 3 months after training using SPSS software. Descriptive statistical tests, independent t-test, repeated measures one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used. Results: Mean NSS score of the intervention group reduced from 112.80 ± 17.46 to 93.15 ± 28.79 after the training. Moreover, after training, the variables of reinforcement, enabler, and manner showed a significant increase in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Results showed that the PRECEDE model for stress management education was effective in the reduction of nurses’ stress level. Key Words: Occupational stress, Nurses, PRECEDE model, Educatio

Health-related Quality of Life Assessment in People with M.S City of Iranshahr using the Second Version of the Questionnaire Sf- 36

One of the diseases this century. Unfortunately most young people, especially women to become infected patients with multiple sclerosis (M. S) is a world specialist physicians still cause is unknown. Loss or inability to work, in people with this disease the huge economic burden to society. Today, self-assessed health status using a standard set of epidemiological research-based society. Given the importance of quality of life relative improvement of life study, Reporting and Assessment of quality of life using the second version of the questionnaire 36sf in the life of these patients. This cross - sectional study that randomly among 70 patients with multiple sclerosis. in Iranshahr  area of Iran a questionnaire on items Physical function, physical problems, emotional problems, vitality, mental health, social functioning, bodily pain, general health was conducted. The obtained data were anlyazed by using statistical software spss 16, excel 2010. The findings showed that the mean scores of physical components (pcs) 5.7857 and total score that each component in M.S patients (67/0 = r, 01/0 = p) is positive and significant relationship. The results showed the importance of quality of life and social protection, which can be life satisfaction and hope in patients with multiple sclerosis . However, though the quality of life in various forms including financial, cultural, educational and supportive services can have on the well-being of patients with M.S contribute, However, due to the lack of definitive therapy for the treatment of this disease so overall quality of life can also have a significant relationship with partial recovery of patients. Design and implementation of intervention programs to enhance people's understanding of MS, Ways to prevent it and promoting protective behaviors is essential at the community level.

The Effect of education based on Awareness and Performance of hospitals service personnel about protective behaviors against the harmful effects of detergents and disinfectants

Background and objective: The individual protective behaviors have essential role in prevention or decrease the incidence of the harmful effects of detergents. This study aimed to determine the Effect of education based on Awareness on the harmful effects of detergents and disinfectants on hospital service personnel. Methods: This Quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 off hospital service personnel that randomly divided to control and Intervention groups. Data collection tool was a Multi-section questionnaire includes demographic, Awareness and practice, that its validity and reliability was confirmed by expert and Cronbakh Alpha test. After primary data collecting, educational intervention performed and two months later data in both groups was collected again and analyzed in spss16 soft-ware using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: Results showed that after intervention only in experimental group the mean scores of Awareness off 12/82±2/42 with 18/06±3/25 and preventive behaviors on hospital service personnel off 14/50± 3/41 with 20/06 ± 3/76 meaningful increased. Conclusion: The results showed that education intervention based on Health education was useful in increasing Awareness and promoting preventive behaviors of detergents and disinfectants on hospital service personnel Paper Type: Research Article

The efficacy of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in treating depressive and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of direct comparisons.

Although psychotherapy and antidepressant medication are efficacious in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders, it is not known whether they are equally efficacious for all types of disorders, and whether all types of psychotherapy and antidepressants are equally efficacious for each disorder. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies in which psychotherapy and antidepressant medication were directly compared in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders. Systematic searches in bibliographical databases resulted in 67 randomized trials, including 5,993 patients that met inclusion criteria, 40 studies focusing on depressive disorders and 27 focusing on anxiety disorders. The overall effect size indicating the difference between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy after treatment in all disorders was g=0.02 (95% CI: -0.07 to 0.10), which was not statistically significant. Pharmacotherapy was significantly more efficacious than psychotherapy in dysthymia (g=0.30), and psychotherapy was significantly more efficacious than pharmacotherapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (g=0.64). Furthermore, pharmacotherapy was significantly more efficacious than non-directive counseling (g=0.33), and psychotherapy was significantly more efficacious than pharmacotherapy with tricyclic antidepressants (g=0.21). These results remained significant when we controlled for other characteristics of the studies in multivariate meta-regression analysis, except for the differential effects in dysthymia, which were no longer statistically significant. Copyright © 2013 World Psychiatric Association

National guidelines for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of Iranian traumatic brain injury patients

Background: Individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have prolonged cognitive impairments, resulting in long-term problems with their real-life activities. Given the urgent need for evidence-based recommendations for neuropsychological management of Iranian TBI patients, the current work aimed to adapt eligible international guidelines for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of the TBI patients in Iran. Methods: The project was led by an executive committee, under the supervision of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME). Following a systematic literature search and selection process, four guidelines were included for adaptation. Clinical recommendations of the source guidelines were tabulated as possible clinical scenarios for 90 PICO clinical questions covering all relevant phases of care. After summing up the scenarios, our initial list of recommendations was drafted according to the Iranian patients� conditions. The final decision-making, with the contribution of a national interdisciplinary panel of 37 experts from across the country, was conducted in two rounds using online and offline survey forms (Round 1), and face-to-face and telephone meetings (Round 2). Results: A total of 63 recommendations in six sections were included in the final list of recommendations, among which 24 were considered as key recommendations. In addition, some of the recommendations were identified as fundamental, meaning that proper implementation of the other recommendations is largely dependent on their implementation. Conclusion: Iranian health policy makers and rehabilitation program managers are recommended to address some fundamental issues to provide the necessary infrastructure to set up an efficient cognitive rehabilitation service system. © 2020 Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved