Application of Spinal Anesthesia for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

Introduction & Objective:: PCNL is the treatment of choice for renal calculi larger than 20-3o millimeter, staghorn stones and stones that are multiple or resistant to ESWL. The aim of this study was the evaluating of the impact of spinal anesthesia on intraoperative and postoperative outcome in patients undergoing PCNL. Material & Methods: The intraoperative and postoperative anesthetic and surgical variables were evaluated for hundred and twenty consecutive patients underwent PCNL. Anesthetic and surgical variables during and after operation in patient undergoing PCNL under spinal anesthesia were recorded and collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using chi square test. Results: Mean time of operation from the beginning of anesthesia to the end of operation was 98±45 minutes. Mean stone size was 3.1±1.8 cm. Mean time for return of sensory and motor activity were135±22.7 and 112±35.7 minutes respectively. Major intraoperative or postoperative complications such as visceral or vascular injury and unusual bleeding did not occur in any of patients. Five patients needed transfusion of 1 unit pack cell and four patients complain from mild to moderate headache and dizziness and also mild low back pain for 2-4 days after operation that improved with analgesics and bed rest. Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia is safe and effective and also comfortable for performing PCNL and is a good alternative for general anesthesia in adult patients

Particulate Air Pollution Concentration in the City of Gachsaran, 2005-2006

Introduction & Objective: Air pollution is a major environmental problem in urban areas. PM10 (Particulate Matters with a diameter less than 10 micrometer) is one of the most important pollutants in air, and an increase of 10 μgr/m3 in concentration may cause an increase of 1-3 percent in the mortality rate. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of the PM10 air pollution in the city of Gachsaran. Materials & Methods: This is an analytic-longitudinal study. 6936 air samples were collected during 334 days from April 2005 to March 2006 using a SM200 dust monitor sampler machine. The data were analyzed conducting oneway ANOVA, Tukey and t-student tests and then compared with the WHO standard rates. Results: The results revealed a direct linear correlation between air temperature and concentration of PM10 (p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the mean value of PM10 concentration (μgr/m3) in the seasons of summer (226.3), spring (167.8), autumn (111.6), and winter (85.7). In addition, the mean concentrations of PM10 in warmer months exceeded to the maximum permissible concentration. Conclusion: It can be concluded that some important variables such as air dryness, low rate of humidity and rainfall, high temperature along with the huge local oil industries are the potential factors of air pollution in Gachsaran

Processing and Testing the Quality of Life in Families with Mentally Retarded Children

Background & aim: Mentally retarded children need more care on quality of life, therefore the family plays an important role, but the results indicate low levels of quality of life for these children and their families. The present study aimed to measure the quality of life in mothers of educable mentally retarded daughter motivated provide a model to measure quality of life and understanding of issues affecting the design. An attempt to investigate and describe the factors affecting the quality of family life with a disability and the relationship between these indicators and how to measure them families with children with mental retardation. &nbsp; Methods: The research method was descriptive-analytic. The sample consisted of 75 mothers with a mentally retarded daughter who were participated in this study through census sampling. By studying literature, the related texts criteria of quality of life were extracted. All study information of participants was obtained by standard questionnaires. Using correlation analysis techniques, univariate regression, logistic regression analysis were analyzed through structural equations. &nbsp; Results: The results indicated that the performance of family (family interactions, parenting, mental health and physical) capabilities mother (resilience and aggression), personal beliefs and quality of life of families with disabled children influenced it. Personal beliefs are an important determinant of quality of life. &nbsp; Conclusion: The results of structural equation modeling and corresponding indexes indicated that the proposed model based on experimental data fitting was good and desirable product was in compliance with the conceptual model. &nbsp; &nbsp

Assessment of HIV/AIDS literacy in 15- 49 years old people in Yasuj and its related factors

Background & aim: Health literacy is the capacity of an individual to obtain, interpret, and understand basic health information and services and the competence to use such information and services in ways that are health enhancing. The aim of this study was to assess the HIV/AIDS health literacy in Yasuj and its related factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a 21-item valid and reliable questionnaire was used. Our sample included 250 individuals aged 15- 49 years that selected by two-stage cluster sampling method and completed the questionnaire. Results: Average of health literacy scores of participants was 10.30 ± 3.36 and only 16.4 percent of them had adequate HIV/AIDS literacy. In modified regression model, there was a significant association between education (B= 0.40, p<0.001), being governmental staff (B=1.54, p=0.02), and low economic status (B= - 0.52, p=0.02) with HIV/AIDS literacy scores. Conclusions: Most of the individuals in this study had not enough HIV/AIDS literacy level. It seems that lack of access to information and services relevant to the HIV/AIDS complexity and disproportion of information with audience and inappropriate form of presenting health messages, cause low health literacy. Keywords: health literacy, HIV/AIDS, Assessmen

The Effects of Education on Preventive Behaviors toward Osteoporosis Based on Behavior Intention Model (BIM) on Female Students

ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent diseases which leave noticeable effects on the health. Life style plays an important role in determining the level of the disease. According to the statistics, two women out of three over 50 years of age and one man out of two of the same age suffer from osteoporosis or have low bone compression. The present study was conducted on female students of Health School of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 1386 (2007) and aimed to view the effects of education on preventive behaviors from osteoporosis based ( BIM). Materials & Methods: This is a semi- experimental study and the population were all of the female students of the health school who attended in Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 1384 (2005). Eighty two respondents randomly placed in two groups of case & control (42 in case group and 40 in control group). Questionnaires were designed based on BIM. The samples were studied by educating program according to BIM and implemented in the form of lecture and group discussion over 3 months and 4 meetings in each month. Each meeting took an hour and half. The questionnaires were completed by both groups and analyzed by the SPSS software. Results: Based on the results, according to behavior intention model the average score of students above osteoporosis was 65.48 prior to intervention and it reached 90.24 after intervention which showed significant improvements. Conclusion: With regard to the results of the current study, special education based on behavior intention model is effective in improving the attitude and behavior intention of female students. Therefore it is highly recommended that BIM education be used for familiarizing osteoporosis to female students. Keywords: Behavior intention, Osteoporosis, Female student

Transtheoretical Model-based (TTM) Interventions to Improve Physical Activities in Elderly Men

ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Understanding and influencing the determinants of physical activity is an important public health challenge. This study examines the application of key constructs of the transtheoretical model to physical activity behaviors for aged people. Materials & Methods: This study is a field trial with census sampling. Sixty healthy adult men at Kahrizak nursing home in 1386 completed a questionnaire including demographics and self-reported levels of physical activity, constructed from the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), before and after two months of intervention. The interventional program included tailored counseling and focus group. The data were then analyzed with T test, X2, pair T test and Wilcoxon, using SPSS software. Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference for the effect of health education program on increasing stage of change, self-efficacy, decisional balance and physical activity behavior in elderly people (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Educational physical activity interventions can result in increased physical activity, thus, health education program based on TTM has had positive effect on promotion physical activity behavior. It can be recommended that health education be used on educational models

The Effect of Peer Assisted Learning on Clinical Reasoning in Students of Medicine in Clerkship and Internship Phases in Urology Ward of Yasuj Shahid Beheshti Hospital

Background & Aim: Peer assisted learning is a useful educational method in clinical teaching from which students benefit as teachers and learners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of peer assisted learning on clinical reasoning in students of medicine in clerkship and internship phases in urology ward. Methods: Six consecutive groups of clerkship students (N=42) and internship students (N=24) who had simultaneously entered the urology ward were assigned to control and case groups by alphabetical order in groups of four and seven. The first three groups were assigned as the control group and the second three groups were assigned as the case group. Some parts of teachers' duties were undertaken by Interns in the case group and data were collected from pre and posttests results. The data were analyzed using dependent t-test. Results: The mean difference of trainees' scores in domains of information gathering, hypothesis formation, and problem solving showed a statistically significant increase in the case group in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Peer assisted learning was effective in promoting clinical reasoning skill among training students. Training allows the integration of attitudes, skills and knowledge in teacher and solace in learners. The promotion of students' independence in learning can lead to the improvement of their clinical reasoning skills