Validity and reliability of the multidimensional health locus of control scale for college students

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of Form A of Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales in Iran. Health locus of control is one of the most widely measured parameters of health belief for the planning of health education programs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>496 university students participated in this study. The reliability coefficients were calculated in three different methods: test-retest, parallel forms and Cronbach alpha. In order to survey validity of the scale we used three methods including content validity, concurrent validity and construct validity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We established the content validity of the Persian translation by translating (and then back-translating) each item from the English version into the Persian version. The concurrent validity of the questionnaire, as measured by Levenson's IPC scale was .57 (P < .001), .49 (P < .01) and .53 (P < .001) for IPC, respectively. Exploratory principal components analysis supported a three-factor structure that items loading adequately on each factor. Moreover, the approximate orthogonal of the dimensions were obtained through correlation analyses. In addition, the reliability results were acceptable, too.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results showed that the reliability and validity of Persian Form A of MHLC was acceptable and respectable and is suggested as an applicable criterion for similar studies in Iran.</p

Effect of Foot Reflexology on Milk Production in Mothers with Premature Infants

Aims: Premature infants need breastfeeding milk in infancy in order to achieve optimal growth more than ever and not having enough milk in breast feeding, is a common problem for women who have premature infants. Reflexology massage is one of the proposed treatments to help with this issue. The current study is aimed to determine the effect of reflexology on milk production in mothers with premature infants. Materials & Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 30 mothers with premature infants admitted to Shohada Hospital in Quchan city, in 2016, were selected through convenient sampling and randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received foot reflexology massage for 3 consecutive days for 20 minutes and the control group received routine care only. The volume of milk was measured before and 30 minutes after massage on the first and third day of the study. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 using Chi-square, independent t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings: There was no significant difference in the mean volume of milk on the first day after reflex massage between the intervention group and the control group (p=0.79), but on the third day, there was a significant difference in the mean volume of milk after reflex massage between the intervention group and the control group (p=0.02). The difference in mean volume of milk on the third day, after intervention compared to before intervention was not significant (p=0.187). Conclusions: Reflexology massage is not effective on milk production in mothers with premature infants

Examining the Influential Factors in Adopting Lifestyle-promoting Behaviors in Adolescents Using Theory of Planned Behavior

Introduction: Unhealthy life style causes health risks as well as non-communicative diseases in the adulthood. Theory- based educational needs assessment before-intervention can be introduced as a basis among adolescents regarding education planning in lifestyle promotion. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the influential factors in adopting lifestyle-promoting behaviors in adolescents using theory of planned behavior. Methods: In this cross-sectional analytic study, a sample of 175 students, aged 12-15 years, were selected via multistage random sampling. In order to glean the study data, a questionnaire was utilized based on constructs of planned behavior theory with regard to adolescent's life style. The study data were analyzed using SPSS software (ver. 20) via Pearson correlation, independent t-test and multi factorial regression. Results: The students' mean age was reported 13.5, 0.9 years. Quality of life decreased with increasing age of the students and their fathers' education level. No association was found between intention and behavior in healthy eating (P= 0.438) as well as smoking and alcohol rejection (p= 0.256). Healthy eating behavior (B=0.638) and intention (B=0.268) were most predicted by attitude. Intention in physical activity was most predicted by perceived behavioral control (B=0.244) and behavior (B=0.424) was most predicted by the subjective norms. Regarding stress management, intention was most predicted by subjective norms (B=0.455) and behavior was most predicted by the perceived behavioral control (B=0.767). In smoking and alcohol rejection, attitude (B=0.829) showed a strong association with intention and perceived behavioral control (B=0.311) revealed a strong relationship in regard with behavior.&nbsp; Conclustion: Lack of association between intention and behavior demonstrated that demographic variables, except for intention, may affect behavior in adolescents. Educational interventions focusing on perceived behavioral control construct seem to be an important way to achieve the healthy behavior. Since physical activity behavior was directly affected by the subjective norms, promoting exercise behaviors in the age groups will be more successful with the family cooperation

Effectiveness of an Educational Program Based on Health Belief Model Regarding Safe Childbirth on Selected Delivery Mode Among Pregnant Women

Aims: This study aimed to assess the effect of educational program based on health belief model regarding safe childbirth on selected delivery mode among pregnant women. Material and methods: In this field trial 100 pregnant women had participated who were selected by cluster sampling method from several community health centers in Gonabad city. The subjects randomly allocated to one of intervention or control group. Intervention group received an educational program regarding safe childbirth based on health belief model. Control group received routine educations provided in community health centers. All subjects fulfilled the health belief, self-efficacy questionnaires and detected the mode of delivery before and one month after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 considering p<0.5 as statistically significant. Findings: Results showed that the mean and SD of age and gestational age of subjects were 27.38 ± 3.32 and 24.26± 4.35, respectively. One month after intervention two group were statically difference in term of Knowledge about modes of delivery (p<0.0001), perceived self-efficacy (p=0.047), perceived sensivity (p=0.001), perceived severity (p<0.0001), and perceived benefits (p=0.010). There was no difference between two groups in perceived barriers (p=0.404). Vaginal delivery were chosen more in intervention group (p=0.003). Conclusion: The educational programs based on health belief model improve the selection of vaginal delivery mode among pregnant women. We recommended using of health belief model for educational program in pregnant women

Effect of an educational program with self-esteem and health control beliefs on mental health promotion of university students

Background: Mental health refers to the feeling of well-being, self-confidence, self-trust and competition capacity or having the ability to cope with adversity, intergeneration attachment and fulfilling the emotional and potential abilities. Mental health is something beyond the absence of mental disorders. The present study describes a planned program to promote mental health status among university students using self-esteem and health control beliefs from 2004 to 2007 . Materials and Methods: The quasi experimental study was carried out on 144 students of Gonabad and Birjand Medical Universities. They were randomly divided into case (n=71) and control (n=73) groups. Data were collected through demographic questionnaires, multidimensional health locus of control (HLC) scales, Rosenberg's self-esteem and general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). The educational program was based on using the self-concept, self-confidence, health locus of control and self-esteem as a focus group in which discussion method was used for 11 sessions. The questionnaires were collected and evaluated before, immediately after and 3 months after the intervention. Results: The results showed significant differences between selected variables in the case group compared to those in the control one, before and after the intervention (p<0.05).The external components of HLC showed a significant decrease, while the internal HLC and self-esteem revealed a significant increase immediately after the intervention (P<0.0001). Besides, the students' mental health significantly increased three months after the intervention (P<0.0001). Conclusion: The findings emphasized on enforcing, participating and improving the HLC beliefs, self-esteem and the promotion of mental health in the students following the program