Adherence challenges encountered in an intervention programme to combat chronic non-communicable diseases in an urban black community, Cape Town

Background: Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) have become the greatest contributor to the mortality rate worldwide. Despite attempts by Governments and various non-governmental organisations to prevent and control the epidemic with various intervention strategies, the number of people suffering from CNCD is increasing at an alarming rate in South Africa and worldwide. Objectives: Study's objectives were to explore perceived challenges with implementation of, and adherence to health messages disseminated as part of a CNCD intervention programme; to gain an understanding of participants' expectations of CNCD intervention programmes;, and to explore the acceptability and preference of health message dissemination methods. In addition, participants' awareness of, and willingness to participate in CNCDs intervention programmes in their community was explored. Methods: Participants were recruited from the existing urban Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study site in Langa, Cape Town. Focus group discussions were conducted with 47 participants using a question guide. Summative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Four themes emerged from the data analysis: practical aspects of implementation and adherence to intervention programmes; participants' expectations of intervention programmes; aspects influencing participants' acceptance of interventions; and their preferences for health message dissemination. The results of this study will be used to inform CNCDs intervention programmes. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that although participants found current methods of health message dissemination in CNCDs intervention acceptable, they faced real challenges with implementing and adhering to CNCDs to these messages.DHE

Prediction of Internet Addiction based on Perceived Parenting Style, Moral Values and Feelings of Loneliness in Teenagers

Background and Aim:   The purpose of this study was to predict Internet addiction based on perceived parenting style, moral values and loneliness. Methods:  The research method is descriptive-correlational. The population of the present study was high school students in Tehran in 2020. In order to distribute the sample evenly, 2 districts 2 and 6 were randomly selected from the education districts of Tehran. In each area, one school was selected for data collection and in each school, 60 students were randomly selected and surveyed. Therefore, 120 adolescents were finally selected as the sample group. The instruments used in this study were the Young Internet Addiction Test (1996), Bamrind Parenting Style Questionnaire (1972), the Hoyt and Graham (2007) Moral Values Questionnaire, and the Smith and Sermet (1982) Loneliness Questionnaire. Results: The results of statistical analysis showed that the factors of authoritarian style, free transition style and feeling of loneliness have a significant positive relationship with Interne (p<0.05). Also Ethical values also had a significant negative relationship with Internet addiction (p <0.05). Conclusion:    Therefore it could be stated that internet addiction is influenced by various factors among which the role of loneliness and moral values are noteworth

The Study of Electrocardiographic Findings in Patients with Organophosphate Poisoning

Background: Cardiac manifestations that occur in a majority of patients with organophosphate (OP) poisoning may range from innocuous electrocardiographic manifestations, such as sinus tachycardia, to life-threatening complications, including cardiogenic pulmonary edema and myocardial necrosis. In this study, we evaluated the various electrocardiographic manifestations in patients with OP poisoning. Methods: This retrospective-descriptive study was performed by reviewing the medical records from all patients poisoned with organophosphate admitted to Razi Educational Hospital, Rasht, Iran, from April 2008 to March 2011. Patients with incomplete records were excluded from the study. Histories of all patients were collected and ECG analysis was conducted including the rate, rhythm, ST-T abnormalities, conduction defects, and measurement of PR and QT intervals by a cardiologist. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS software version18. Results: Of the total 100 patients (75 were male) with OP poisoning that referred to the Emergency Ward of Razi Hospital, 63 patients presented ECG abnormalities. The mean age of the patients was 35.78 ± 12.91 years. The causes of poisoning were occupational in 71 patients, suicidal in 26 patients, and accidental in 3 patients. Sinus tachycardia (31%) was the most common ECG abnormality, followed by non-specific ST-T changes (24%). Overall, mortality rate was 5% and all of the deceased patients presented changes in ECG. Conclusion: OP poisoning is associated with significant ECG abnormalities, especially tachycardia and non-specific ST-T changes