The effect of peer group training on self-care of elderly with diabetes mellitus

Background and aims: The prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, in elderly can be controlled with training self-control behaviors, especially in peer groups. Regarding to specific conditions and greater rate of complications in the elderly, the peer group self-care education is in specific importance among these patients. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of peer group training on the self-care of elderly with diabetes in selected health centers of Isfahan. Methods: The present clinical trial compared 21 elderly patients with diabetes higher than 65 years old trained by a peer educator and 23 elderly patients received training by none peer group (trained by a researcher) for 4 months. The samples were randomly divided into two groups. The self-care behaviors were assessed by a questionnaire in 4 dimensions of diet, sport, glucose test, and diabetic drugs and the results were compared between groups. T-independent for statistical tests and to compare three times in a group was used ANOVA with repeated observations. Results: The total score of self-care in the test group increased significantly from 31±5.61 before intervention, to 42±7.01 after intervention and 35.55±5.11 one month after intervention, while the control group had no significant change. Different dimensions of the questionnaire were not statistically with a significant difference between groups, except in the field of sports was significant a month later intervention (P=0.05). There was a direct relationship between level of education and self-care score. Conclusion: According to the findings, training the elderly patients with diabetes by a peer group can promote their self-care. Therefore, training with a peer group is advised as an efficient method for improving self-care of elderly diabetic patients

The effect of peer group training on self-care of elderly with diabetes mellitus

Background and aims: The prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, in elderly can be controlled with training self-control behaviors, especially in peer groups. Regarding to specific conditions and greater rate of complications in the elderly, the peer group self-care education is in specific importance among these patients. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of peer group training on the self-care of elderly with diabetes in selected health centers of Isfahan. Methods: The present clinical trial compared 21 elderly patients with diabetes higher than 65 years old trained by a peer educator and 23 elderly patients received training by none peer group (trained by a researcher) for 4 months. The samples were randomly divided into two groups. The self-care behaviors were assessed by a questionnaire in 4 dimensions of diet, sport, glucose test, and diabetic drugs and the results were compared between groups. T-independent for statistical tests and to compare three times in a group was used ANOVA with repeated observations. Results: The total score of self-care in the test group increased significantly from 31±5.61 before intervention, to 42±7.01 after intervention and 35.55±5.11 one month after intervention, while the control group had no significant change. Different dimensions of the questionnaire were not statistically with a significant difference between groups, except in the field of sports was significant a month later intervention (P=0.05). There was a direct relationship between level of education and self-care score. Conclusion: According to the findings, training the elderly patients with diabetes by a peer group can promote their self-care. Therefore, training with a peer group is advised as an efficient method for improving self-care of elderly diabetic patients

Changes of Left Ventricular Mass Index Among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients After Renal Transplantation

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine left ventricular (LV) mass index via echocardiography in end-stage renal disease patients (ESRD) before and after renal transplantation, and its association with one-year survival. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven patients with ESRD who were candidate for renal transplantation were evaluated with echocardiography before and 4 months after the operation. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), LV mass, and LV mass index were determined. All of the patients were followed up for 1 year.Results: Mean LVEF was 51.6% which increased to 53.7% after renal transplantation (P = .001). Mean LV mass was 209 gr before the operation which decreased to 189 gr after the operation (P = .001). Mean LV mass index before the operation was 120 gr/m2 which decreased to 110 gr/m2 following the operation (P = .002). All of the patients survived during 1-year follow-up, and no death was reported.Conclusion: Renal transplantation had beneficial effects in terms of LV function in young patients with ESRD

Needs assessment of entrepreneurship educational course and students and graduates' employment in universities of medical sciences in the south of Iran

Introduction:The objective of this study was to survey needs assessment for the required and proposed educational courses in order to promote entrepreneurship and job finding among the students and graduates in universities of South Iran.Material and Methods:The present descriptive–analytic research was conducted using a questionnaire containing 19 subjective questions for needs assessment. The sample size included 300 students and 200 graduates (and employed GPs) of Shiraz, Bushehr, Yasooj and Bandarabbas universities of medical sciences selected randomly. Questionnaires were filled by the participants. Results:The results showed that there was a significant difference between theoretical education and job requirements. Also, there was a significant difference between students and the employed graduates regarding learning a foreign language. The students group was more familiar with the global systems of the medical courses than the graduates; this could be attributed to the change in educational structure as well as technological revolution. Regarding innovation and creativity, the difference was significant between the two groups. Group A does more teamwork than group B; as to the introduction of the job, the difference was significant between the two groupsConclusion:The findings indicated that negligence and lack of needs assessment have kept the students away from practical work and encounter with the related problems. The students generally believe that employment could be gained through nepotism in the first place and based on practical and scientific capabilities in the second place. This problem could be solved through educational courses for teaching computer and language skills, management, etc. Moreover, by establishing an organization for monitoring the employment process, disappointment among the students and academic staff especially physicians could be eliminated

Antioxidant activity of citron peel (

Due to the unfavorable effects of synthetic antioxidants, the use of various sources of plant antioxidants to prevent foods oxidation, especially oil-based or fat-based varieties, has been recently got considerable attention. In this study, the antioxidant effect of essential oil and extract from the citron fruit (Citrus medica L.) was investigated on the thermal stability of sunflower oil. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts of citron peel (800 ppm), BHT synthetic antioxidant (200 ppm), and citron peel essential oil (800 ppm) were added to sunflower oil. The oil oxidation stability was evaluated during 5 days through analyzing the values of peroxide, anisidine, thiobarbituric acid, totox, and oxidative stability index (OSI). Results showed that the peroxide, anisidine, and totox value had an increasing trend over time. The effects of storage time, extract, and essential oil were statistically significant in reducing the oxidation rate of sunflower oil during storage. Ultrasonic-assisted ethanolic extract at 30 min showed the highest OSI. The results of this study demonstrated the positive effects of citron peel extract essential oil and on sunflower oil stability and its superiority over synthetic antioxidants

Analyzing healthy city indicators and their spatial distributions in Sahand new town

Introduction Public health and sanitation as an important and vital issue has always been considered by academicians and urban planners and managers. It has led to adopt policies and actions by governments and related organizations. Though, creating healthy cities is a long-standing idea that has been around for decades, but in recent months, as the Covid 19 epidemic, which usually spreads faster in crowded cities, has plagued every country in the world, it has received more attention again. One of the concerns of city planners and managers in the current situation is how to protect the living environment and create resilient cities against such diseases. One of the approaches that has been proposed in order to enhance health in human habitats is healthy city idea. The purpose of this study is to analyze the status of healthy city indicators and the spatial distribution of these indicators in the new city of Sahand. Data and Method             The study area of this research is the new city of Sahand, in the northwest of Iran, at a distance of 20 km from the city of Tabriz. The city has an area of 498 ha and a population of 80795 people. In the research, 38 indicators were selected as indicators of a healthy city and were classified into 4 dimensions. Part of the data was extracted from the GIS file of the 2016 Iranian Population and Housing Public Census and the other part was gathered through a survey using a questionnaire. Sample people including 378 household heads. The data was entered into the GIS to form a uniform shapefile. Then, by producing spatial distribution maps, spatial analysis was performed. Then, by transferring the data to SPSS software, a one-sample t-test was performed. Results and Discussion             T-test results showed that the mean of the 38 indicators is 2.99, which is slightly lower than the assumed mean (3). Among the four dimensions of the indicators, the physical one shows a better situation the others, so that the figure is 3.69, which is 0.69 higher than the assumed mean. As the city has constructed in recent decades in accordance to a pre-designed plan, the indicators have shown a better situation in this regard. After the physical dimension, the environmental one shows a higher value than the assumed mean and it was 3.33.In terms of environmental dimesion, relatively large distance from pollution resources, being enclosed in a valley and northwest winds, has removed air pollution from the city. The low density of cars on the roads has caused the residents to be satisfied with the lack of noise pollution. Connecting almost all the houses to the municipal sewage network, proper slope of lands, low density of population and the absence of worn buildings are some of the environmental advantages of the city. At the same time, poor waste management and non-observance of environmental cleanliness by citizens are low-scoring indicators in this dimension.The values of socio-cultural and economic dimensions are lower than the assumed mean.  Their values are 2.63 and 2.52 respectively. High value of the indicators of literacy, safety and security are the three indicators with higher values in this dimension. On the contrary, medical facilities, cultural services, leisure and sports facilities are indicators with a lower value in this dimension. In the economic dimension, except for employment, insurance coverage and job satisfaction, the other indicators show a very low value.In terms of spatial distribution, the indicators of a healthy city in Phase 1 of the city has a better situation. In this Phase, the average valueof the indicators is 3.08. In Phase 2, in the southern parts, it has a higher value, but the in phase 2, it is slightly lower than the assumed mean (2.97). At most areas of the Phases of 3 and 4, where construction is still ongoing and service coverage, infrastructure and facilities are not completed, the value of  indicators are low. In Phase 3, the average value of the indicators is 2.95 and in phase 4 it is 2.76.ConclusionAnalyzing healthy city indicators indicated that Sahand represents a medium situation of a complete healthy city. In this city, for reasons that are mostly originated from national economy, there are many shortcomings in the economic indicators of a healthy city. However, due to the existence of a proper labor market near the city, unemployment rate is lower and insurance coverage is higher than most cities in Iran. But due to inflation, the incomes of the urban community, most of which are salaried, have not been able to provide them with the goods and services they need to live healthily. Due to the government's financial inability in recent years, it has not been made sufficient investment in urban services, facilities and infrastructure.      The dormitory function of the city and the low financial capacity of its resident could not provide the municipality with the necessary financial resources to invest in  developing urban facilities and infrastructures . In terms of spatial distribution, in the zones and phases where the construction was done earlier (Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively), indicators values were higher than new constructed ones. In areas under construction or semi-residential, market conditions lead to less private sector activity

Development and initial psychometric evaluation of the hospitalization-related stressors questionnaire for elderly patients

Background: Various factors threaten the health and recovery of hospitalized elderly, including stressors in medical service centers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop and preliminary validate a measurement tool to assess hospitalization-related stressors (HRS) among the elderly. Materials and Methods: This methodological research was conducted in 2015. The study was performed in two main phases. In the first phase, which was to develop the questionnaire, the data were collected through literature review, interview with few elderly patients, and calculating content validity index with the participation of 16 experts. The second phase included preliminary validation of the questionnaire in which a convenient sample of 200 hospitalized elderly patients recruited from 4 educational medical centers of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were studied. Principal component analysis method was used to identify the factorial structure of the questionnaire. In order to evaluate validity, Cronbach′s alpha coefficient was calculated. Results: After evaluating the results and relocating and merging some of the items, a version of 26 items in 7 categories was prepared with acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach′s alpha coefficient from 0.67 to 0.78 for the components and 0.83 for the tool). Conclusions: In this study, we were able to identify a set of important components and indicators of HRS in elderly; so it can be used as a useful instrument. Future studies are recommended in order to develop and validate this tool in other communities

Non-structural & Functional Vulnerability of Rehabilitation Centers of Tehran Welfare Organization in Disaster

Background: The safety of rehabilitation centers is of great importance to ensure the well-being of patients. The present study aimed to determine non-structural and functional vulnerability of state rehabilitation centers of Tehran City welfare organization in disasters using national standard instruments in 2014. Materials and Methods: This study has a descriptive and cross-sectional design. A total of 17 rehabilitation centers affiliated with Tehran welfare organization are investigated. The vulnerability of centers was measured using 2 checklists of non-structural and functional vulnerability of the World Health Organization. The reliabilities of the non-structural and functional vulnerability instuments were 0.79 and 0.91, respectively, using the Cronbach α. The data were collected through observation and interview with authorities of centers and their staffs. The data analysis was performed through descriptive statistics and 1-sample t-test using SPSS 16. Results: Among 17 rehabilitation centers, the mean functional safety of 11 centers (64.7%) was high and showed low vulnerability and safety of 6 centers (35.3%) was average and showed average vulnerability. With regard to non-structural safety level, 9 centers (53% of centers) had high safety level and showed low vulnerability. Eight centers (47% of centers) had average safety level and showed average vulnerability. The results of 1-sample t test showed that at the significance level of 0.05, there was no significant difference between functional and non-structural safety of centers. Conclusion: The functional and non-structural safety of state rehabilitation centers of Tehran welfare organization was above average and vulnerability of centers to disaster was average, too. We suggest that the required planning be performed to improve non-structural and functional safety quality of centers and reduce their vulnerability

Assessment of Rice Genotypes Response to Drought Stress at the early Reproductive Stage Using Stress Tolerance Indices

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that limits rice productivity in the world. In this study 83 diverse rice genotypes were evaluated under reproductive-stage drought stress and non-stress conditions in a completely randomized design with three replications. Eleven well known stress tolerance and susceptibility indices were calculated based on the grain yield under stress and non-stress conditions. Also rank mean (RM) indices were calculated based on the ranks of genotypes for the former calculated indices. The highest seed yield under non-stress condition belonged to the genotypes Sangjo, Zenith, IR70445-146-3-3, Norin 22 and Ghasroldashti. Under stress condition, however, IR83750-131-1, IR74718-24-2-3, Sepidrood, TETEP and IR71739-24-3-5 genotypes showed the highest seed yield. STI, GMP, MRP and REI indices with positive and significant correlations with grain yield in stress and non-stress conditions were found to be the most suitable indices for selection of drought tolerant rice genotypes. According to these indices, IR83750-131-1, Sangjo, Sepidrood, Zenith and IR58 genotypes showed the highest ranks and had a higher tolerance to drought stress. Based on RM index, IR83750-131-1, IR74718-24-2-3, Sepidrod, TETEP and IR74720-13-1-2 obtained the highest ranks. Cluster analysis grouped the most drought tolerant genotypes in the second cluster