Effect of educational intervention on self-efficacy for choosing delivery method among pregnant women in 2013

Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 130 pregnant women who attended urban health centers in Shahrekord city in 2013. Intervention was applied in the experimental group in three sessions in about 60-90 min while control group did not receive any intervention. Fear of childbirth and self-efficacy questionnaire was completed before and after training. Results: While mean scores of the fear of childbirth, expectations and childbirth self-efficacy before the intervention between the two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05), mean scores of childbirth in intervention group was reduced and expectation and childbirth self-efficacy had a significant increase after intervention (P 0.05) and self-efficacy (P < 0.001) than those who chose normal method. Conclusions: Our findings showed that training-based self-efficacy procedure has been effective in encouraging mothers to choose natural childbirth. Therefore, the design and implementation of curriculum-based strategies for increasing self-efficacy is suggested for pregnant women. Background: Nowadays, there has been a growing trend of caesarean sections in Iran. One reason would be the mother’s desire. Increased maternal self-efficacy can be an important step to reduce percentage of cesarean. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of training-based strategies to increase the self-efficacy for choosing delivery method among pregnant women in Shahrekord city. © 2014, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Improving Student’s Self-Efficacy and Perceived Susceptibility Toward Oral and Dental Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: We sought to assess the impact of educational intervention on female junior high school students’ perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy regarding oral and dental health. Methods: We recruited 100 female junior high school students (50 in intervention and 50 in control group) from Falavarjan city using multistage random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data about study variables. Students in the intervention group attended five 90-minute sessions designed to teach the students about dental hygiene. Results: We found no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the preintervention mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy (p > 0.050). The postintervention mean scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.050). Conclusions: Training plans with particular behavioral goals and good instructional strategies can be useful in empowering students toward dental health

Effects of Educating Mothers about the National Child Development Screening Plan on Detecting Abnormal Child Development

Introduction: The early diagnosis of developmental disorders and timely interventions profoundly affect the health of children and their families; however, the detection rate of these disorders is much lower than the actual one. The present study aimed to explore effects of educating mothers about the national child development screening plan on identifying children with abnormal development. Materials and Methods: This pretest-posttest experimental study was a randomized controlled trial. The sample size was 100 mothers with a one-year-old child having attended healthcare centers in Najafabad (one of Isfahan’s township). The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was used for gathering data. Three educational sessions were held for mothers of the experimental group. The questionnaires were completed both before and after the intervention. Data was analyzed using the SPSS program, version 20, frequency distribution, chi-square, Mann-Whitney and paired t-test. Results: The mean score of child development from the mothers’ perspective in all domains in the experimental group after the intervention was significantly lower than that before the intervention (p < 0.05). Thus, in the experimental group, after the intervention, the mothers could recognize their children’s problem better. Conclusion: In order that mothers could fill out the ASQ correctly and children with abnormal development could be detected, it is better to provide training in the importance of developmental screening and the early diagnosis of developmental disorders. Moreover, mothers with a one-year-old child should be educated about how to complete the questionnaire. It is also important to teach how a child is assessed

Preferred Learning Styles among Ophthalmology Residents: An Iranian Sample

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the learning styles of a sample of Iranian residents through Kolb’s and VARK questionnaires. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 45 ophthalmology residents of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences were enrolled. Kolb’s and VARK questionnaires were provided, and residents were oriented and guided on how to complete them. Results: Forty-three out of the forty-five ophthalmology residents completed the questionnaire (95.5% response rate). The preferred learning style among ophthalmology residents was assimilative (51.2%), followed by convergent (37.2%), accommodative (7.7%), and divergent (4.7%), based on Kolb’s questionnaire. According to the results of the VARK questionnaire, most ophthalmology residents were auditory learners (34.9%), followed by multimodal learners (30.2%). In addition, there was no significant relation between genders, stage of residency, and Kolb’s and VARK learning styles (P &gt; 0.05 for all). Conclusion: The most preferred learning styles of ophthalmology residents were assimilative and auditory. Considering the dominant learning styles of learners and incorporating various teaching methods are recommended to enhance the learning among residents

Pulmonary function tests in ulcerative colitis

Background: Pulmonary impairment in patients suffering ulcerative colitis (UC) has been suggested by several investigators using standard pulmonary function tests (PFTs). This changes in pulmonary function associated with minimal respiratory symptoms have been documented, especially in patients with active disease. The aim of this prospective study was to determine airway resistance and lung volumes in patients with UC who have no respiratory symptoms in comparisons to a healthy control group. Materials and Methods: We evaluated a total of 30 patients with UC by means of spirometry, body plethysmography, and impulse oscillometry. The patients were not complaining of any pulmonary symptoms and did not present any history of previous respiratory diseases. As controls we examined 30 healthy subjects matched for gender, age, and smoking status. The relationship between PFT, lung volume, and airway resistance; and the activity, localization, and duration of the UC disease were analyzed. Results: There was a significant difference between airway resistances (kPa/L/s) measured by body plethysmography in patients with UC and those of the controls (R5hz; 0.60 +/- 0.44 vs. 0.39 +/- 0.13; P 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the lack of pulmonary symptoms, increased airway resistance was found in UC patients. We also have not found correlation between PFT, lung volume and airway resistance values and scoring of UC activity

Manganese and Iron Binding to Human Transferrin

Abstract The characteristics of manganese and iron binding to human apotransferrin (apo-tf) have been investigated and compared in this study. Both metal ions were taken up by human apo-tf and formed complexes, with the maximum absorbances observed at 410 and 340 nm for manganese-transferrin (Mn-tf) and 465 nm for iron-transferrin (Fe-tf). Addition of manganese (1.5 µg/ml) to the reaction mixture containing iron and apo-tf, reduced Fe binding to apo-tf by 20 percent, in comparison to the control sample. The binding of both metals to apo-tf appears to be time and pH dependent processes. Using the equilibrium dialysis technique, the binding constant of manganese to apo-tf was also determined. The binding constatnt of Mn to apo-tf was calculated, using the Scatchard plot analysis. The calculated Ka was 3.1 × 10 9 M -1 . The binding of manganese and iron to human apo-tf has been discussed and compared in this work, using different biochemical techniques

Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Sporadic Colorectal Cancer in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Records from the cancer registry system of Iran indicate that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Iranian men and fourth most common among Iranian women. In this study we have investigated the environmental factors associated with colorectal cancer in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, we randomly selected 187 patients with colorectal cancer who had positive results by colonoscopy and pathology (case group) and 250 persons who had negative colonoscopy results (control group) from the Colonoscopy Unit of Al Zahra Hospital and Colorectal Cancer Center of Seyed Al Shohada Hospital from 2014 to mid-2015. This study aimed to find the risk factors for sporadic colorectal cancer; therefore, we excluded patients with positive family history. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that asked about sex, age, body mass index, smoking status, job-related physical activity, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug consumption. Results: This study enrolled 187 colorectal cancer patients (98 males and 89 females) and 250 individuals without colorectal cancer (107 males and 143 females). Multiple analysis demonstrated a significant association of age (odds ratio: 1.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.06) and body mass index (odds ratio: 1.09; 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 1.15) with colorectal cancer risk. Men had an almost two-fold risk compared with women (odds ratio: 1.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.14, 2.99). Subjects who did not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had an almost three-fold risk compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumers (odds ratio: 0.34; 95% confidence interval: 0.19, 0.62). Analysis for job-related physical activity, also indicated an association between the no/low active group with colorectal cancer (odds ratio no activity: 36.09; 95% confidence interval: 10.94, 119 and odds ratio low activity: 2.96; 95% confidence interval: 1.43, 6.13). Conclusion: Knowledge of the risk factors involved in colorectal cancer incidence makes it possible to identify people at risk and begin risk reduction strategies as well as screening programs