Impact of preconception health education on health locus of control and self-efficacy in women Impact de l'éducation sanitaire avant la conception sur le lieu de contrôle de la santé et l'auto-efficacité chez les femmes

The preconception period is an ideal opportunity to optimize women's health. This study of women attending premarital clinics in the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed to evaluate the impact of a health education workshop on their health locus of control and self-efficacy in physical activity. The design was a randomized controlled trial with a questionnaire before and after the intervention. At post-intervention, there were significant increases in scores of internal health locus of control and self-efficacy in the experimental group (n = 109) compared to the control group (n = 101). It was concluded that a short-term health education may empower women to adopt healthy lifestyles

Social support and relationship with hope among mothers of a child with leukemia

زمینه و هدف: امروزه، بیماری لوسمی(leukemia) شایعترین نئوپلاسم دوران کودکی از یک بیماری کشنده به یک بیماری مزمن تبدیل شده است. لذا تمرکز بر مشکلات ناشی از درمان طولانی‌مدت در خانواده بخصوص مادران که مراقب اصلی کودک هستند، افزایش یافته است. حمایت اجتماعی و امید در توانایی مادران جهت اداره و مواجهه با تجربه بیماری و سازگاری با تنش موجود نقش مهمی را بازی می‌کنند. هدف از پژوهش حاضر بررسی ارتباط حمایت اجتماعی و امید در مادران کودکان مبتلا به لوسمی می‌باشد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی، تحلیلی 150 نفر بطور مستمر از میان مادران مراجعه‌کننده به مرکز خون مرکز آموزشی درمانی حضرت علی اصغر (ع) تهران، در مدت 3 ماه انتخاب شدند. ابزار گردآوری داده‌ها پرسشنامه‌های حمایت اجتماعی نورتوس (Northouse) و امید میلر (Miller hope scale) بود. برای تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌‌ها از آزمون کای اسکوئر، تی مستقل و آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه استفاده شد. یافته‌ها:میانگیر سنی مادران شرکت کننده 36/33 سال و 3/97آنان متأهل بودند. حدود 7/50 مادران مورد مطالعه از حمایت اجتماعی بالا و 3/45 آنها از امید بالا برخوردار بودند و بین میزان حمایت اجتماعی دریافت شده و میزان امید، همبستگی مثبت معنی‌دار (05/0P< و 443=r) وجود داشت. نتیجه‌گیری: بر مبنای یافته‌های پژوهش و ارتباط حمایت اجتماعی با امید و با توجه به اهمیت این متغیرها در مادران، بعنوان مهمترین گروه مراقبت‌دهنده به کودک مبتلا به لوسمی، برنامه‌ریزی در جهت آموزش و افزایش میزان حمایت اجتماعی و امید در این زنان ضروری بوده که نهایتاً می تواند بر کیفیت مراقبت از کودکان مبتلا به لوسمی موثر واقع شود

The use of complementary and alternative medicine among california adults with and without cancer.

This article examines the extent and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among a population-based sample of California adults that is highly diverse in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and health status. As a follow-up to a state-wide health survey of 55,428 people, 9187 respondents were interviewed by phone regarding their use of 11 different types of CAM providers, special diets, dietary supplements, mind-body interventions, self-prayer and support groups. The sample included all participants in the initial survey who reported a diagnosis of cancer, all the non-white respondents, as well as a random sample of all the white respondents. The relation of CAM use to the respondents' demographic characteristics and health status is assessed. CAM use among Californians is generally high, and the demographic factors associated with high rates of CAM use are the same in California as have been found in other studies. Those reporting a diagnosis of cancer and those who report other chronic health problems indicate a similar level of visits to CAM providers. However, those with cancer are less likely to report using special diets, and more likely to report using support groups and prayer. Health status, gender, ethnicity and education have an independent impact upon CAM use among those who are healthy as well as those who report suffering from chronic health problems, although the precise relation varies by the type of CAM used

The effect of educational- counseling program on general health of women as caregivers of patient, with Alzheimerdisease

زمینه و هدف: ارائه مراقبت طولانی مدت به بیماران مبتلا به آلزایمر، با افزایش خطرات ابتلا به بیماری جسمی و روانی برای مراقبین همراه است و فقدان تعلیمات لازم نیز مشکلات سلامتی آنها را دو چندان نموده است. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین تاثیر برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای بر سلامت عمومی زنان مراقبت کننده از سالمندان مبتلا به آلزایمر انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این پژوهش تجربی، 150 زن 18 تا 60 ساله که از وابستگان درجه یک سالمندان مبتلا به آلزایمر بوده و مراقبت مستقیم از آنها را به مدت حداقل 6 ماه به عهده داشتند، با روش نمونه گیری آسان انتخاب شدند و پس از انجام پیش آزمون شامل پرسشنامه اطلاعات دموگرافیک و سلامت عمومی گلدبرگ، با روش تصادفی بلوکه شده، به شکل تصادفی در دو گروه آزمون و کنترل قرار گرفتند. گروه آزمون در یک برنامه آموزشی – مشاوره ای شامل یک جلسه بحث گروهی، دریافت یک پمفلت آموزشی و دو مشاوره تلفنی شرکت نمودند. 6 هفته پس از مداخله، پس آزمون برای هر دو گروه انجام گرفت. برای مقایسه متغیرها از آزمون های آماری t زوجی، t مستقل، کای اسکوئر و آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه استفاده شد. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که قبل از برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای 3/17 از نمونه های مورد پژوهش سلامت عمومی نامطلوب داشتند. پس از انجام برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای میانگین سلامت عمومی در گروه آزمون از 3/15±68/39 به 03/10±09/19 تقلیل یافت (001/0

PENGARUH PERBEDAAN JENIS MATA ENTRES DAN KLON TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT KARET (Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg.)DI POLYBAG

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh perbedaan jenis mata entres dan klon terhadap pertumbuhan bibit karet di polybag. Pelaksanaan ini dilaksanakan di Desa Rejodadi, Kecamatan Sembawa, Kabupaten Banyuasin, Sumatera Selatan. Penelitian ini telah dilaksanakan dari bulan Agustus 2015  sampai dengan November 2015. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok ( RAK) dengan 6 (enam) perlakuan dan 4 (empat) ulangan. Perlakuan yang diteliti yaitu K1 : mata sisik, K2 : mata jarang, K3 : mata rapat (klon IRR 112), K4 : mata sisik, K5: mata jarang, K6 : mata rapat (klon PR 261). Peubah yang diamati yaitu kecepatan tumbuh tunas (hari), tinggi tunas (cm), diameter batang (mm), jumlah tangkai daun (helai), jumlah akar (helai), panjang akar (cm), berat kering akar (g), persentase bibit tanaman yang hidup (%). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan jenis mata entrs sisik dari klon IRR 112 memberikan hasil yang terbaik terhadap tinggi tunas yaitu 23.35 cm, jumlah akar 10.38 helai, panjang akar 20.50 cm, dan berat kering akar 1.78 g.Keywords : buds, clones, rubber seedlin

The relative frequency, clinical and laboratory findings of adult glomerulonephritidies in Tehran

Background: Renal diseases information is population-based and has great geographic variability. Due to the lack of national renal data registry system, there is no information on the prevalence rate, and clinical and laboratory features of various glomerulonephritidies (GNs) in Iran. Methods: In a retrospective cross sectional study, we analyzed 462 adult renal biopsies in Hashemi Nejad hospital, Tehran, Iran. We determined the prevalence rate and the frequency of different clinical and laboratory findings in patients with different GNs. We also compared our results with the reports from other countries. Results: There were 267(57.8) males and 195(42.2) females. The mean age (± SD) was 33.6 ± 15.7 (range, 13-75) years old. After exclusion of 55 biopsies with pathologies other than GNs and in the remaining 407 biopsies, membranous glomerulopathy (MGN) was the most common GN (23.6), followed by IgAN (13.5), membranoproliferative GN (11.5), systemic lupus nephritis (10.6), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (10.3), and minimal change disease (9.8). These 6 GNs comprised the majority (79.4) of all GNs. Conclusion: MGN is the most common form of GN, followed by IgAN, MPGN, SLE-GN, FSGS and MCD in adult patients in our study. The multi-center studies with a larger sample size are needed for more comprehensive data in Iranian population

Health literacy and medication adherence in psoriasis patients: a survey in Iran

Background: Medication adherence among Psoriasis patients is often inadequate identified as a significant problem in Psoriasis symptoms management. Poor medication adherence could necessitate stronger and more expensive medications, which could place a significant burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, the importance of health literacy assessment as a factor influencing adherence in psoriasis patients cannot be overstated. This study aimed to evaluate the medication adherence level of Iranian Psoriasis patients and its relationship with the patients' health literacy level and demographic conditions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among Iranian psoriasis patients conducted through a web-based questionnaire survey between 26 July 2020 and 5 January 2021 and a total of 575 samples were collected. The questionnaire consisted of 3 sections: First, demographic information and disease characteristics were evaluated. Second, the medication adherence was evaluated by using valid Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), and, finally, the health literacy was evaluated by using Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA). Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 22 with descriptive statistics; Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Stepwise multiple linear regression was also used to evaluate the impact of independent variables related on medication adherence score. Results: Results showed that the mean health literacy score in the study population was 74.3 ± 14.23, and the mean medication adherence score was 4.1 ± 2.18. Out of the total participants, 28.8% had high health literacy, 67.1% had adequate health literacy, and 4% had inadequate health literacy. The majority of the participants (70.7%) reported low adherence, while 24.1% reported moderate and 5.2% reported high adherence. The results of the Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between age, comorbidities, type of treatment, satisfaction with treatment, the experience of adverse effects, and health literacy with medication adherence (P < 0.05 for all). The final constructed model of stepwise multiple linear regression was highly statistically significant. The highest beta coefficient in the final model belonged to the total health literacy score. Conclusions: Based on the results, medication adherence among Iranian psoriasis patients is low. Health literacy correlates most strongly with medication adherence and is the best variable to determine it. Improving the access to the internet and the ICTs to enhance the patients` health literacy along with developing the patient education approaches and techniques should be considered by health policymakers

Estimating the relationship between economic growth and health expenditures in ECO countries using panel cointegration approach

Increasing knowledge of people about health leads to raising the share of health expenditures in government budget continuously; although governors do not like this rise because of budget limitations. This study aimed to find the association between health expenditures and economic growth in ECO countries. We added health capital in Solow model and used the panel cointegration approach to show the importance of health expenditures in economic growth. For estimating the model, first we used Pesaran cross-sectional dependency test, after that we used Pesaran CADF unit root test, and then we used Westerlund panel cointegration test to show if there is a long-term association between variables or not. After that, we used chaw test, Breusch-Pagan test and Hausman test to find the form of the model. Finally, we used OLS estimator for panel data. Findings showed that there is a positive, strong association between health expenditures and economic growth in ECO countries. If governments increase investing in health, the total production of the country will be increased, so health expenditures are considered as an investing good. The effects of health expenditures in developing countries must be higher than those in developed countries. Such studies can help policy makers to make long-term decisions. © 2015 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

The balanced scorecard as a strategic management tool in hospital pharmacies: an experimental study

Purpose: A balanced scorecard (BSC) is an applied tool for implementing strategic management in various organizations. Implementing strategic management using the BSC approach has not received much attention in pharmacy departments. This study aims to provide a model for the strategic management of pharmacy departments using the BSC framework. Design/methodology/approach: This experimental study was conducted from 2015 to 2018 in a 300-bed hospital and regional healthcare centers affiliated with the Petroleum Industry Health Organization in Tehran province, Iran. After carefully reviewing the organization's mission and vision, the strategic objectives were determined via the internal matrix and the external matrix (IE matrix), and the strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats matrix (SWOT matrix) were examined. Then, six BSC measures and interventions were identified, and each was examined from the perspectives of finance, patient satisfaction, internal processes and learning/growth. Finally, the proposed strategy was evaluated. Findings: Results showed significant increases in patient satisfaction and gross profit. The observed increase range, from 0.09 to 0.29, indicates more effective operational management for optimal resource utilization. In addition, the pharmacy department was able to save US $539,137 by implementing prepared protocols for expensive medications. Similarly, the pharmacy department saved$442,899 during the two years of our strategic management plan by implementing the standard mechanism for returning unused medications to the pharmacy department after patients were discharged from various treatment units. Originality/value: This study is among the first studies to demonstrate the simultaneous development, implementation and evaluation of the proposed strategy using the BSC in a pharmacy department in a public healthcare center. The BSC application improved the optimal use of resources and reduced costs while increasing patient satisfaction. It appears that the application of such an intervention may be as valuable to public pharmacies as it is to other private centers