Predictive Factors of Stages of Change in Hookah Smoking Cessation Among Iranian Adults Based on the Transtheoretical Model

Background: Hookah, as a traditional method of smoking, is widely used in Iran, especially in Bushehr province. It is essential to identify the most important determinants of modifying hookah smoking behavior. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of the stages of change in quitting hookah smoking in 15-60-year-old individuals in Bushehr province, southern Iran, based on the transtheoretical model (TTM).   Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 1173 Hookah smokers in Bushehr province. The samples were selected by two-stage random sampling from 10 cities. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire consisting of 5 sections (demographic characteristics, stages of change, processes of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy). Data were analyzed by R version.3.3.1 using analysis of variance and ordinal logistic regression at a significant level of 0.05.  Findings: The data revealed 82% of the participants were in the preparatory phase (55.3% in pre-contemplation and 26.7% in contemplation stages). Marital status, family members smoking hookah, cigarette smoking, level of education, number of family members, number of quitting attempts, self-efficacy, self-reevaluation, counter-conditioning, reinforcement management, and stimulus control were predictors of quitting hookah smoking. Conclusion: Given that most study participants were in the inactive stages of quitting hookah smoking, it seems necessary to design and implement behavioral interventions based on the predictive TTM constructs in this population

DFNB59 Gene Mutations and its Association with Deafness in Schoolchildren in Kohgilooyeh & Boyerahmad Province

Introduction & Objective: Hearing loss is a common disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Hearing loss can be caused due to genetic or environmental factors or even both. The genetic of hearing defect is highly heterogeneous and more than 100 genes are predicted to cause this disorder in humans. A newly identified gene (DFNB59) has been shown to cause deafness in some populations. Here we report mutation analysis for DFNB59 gene in 88 genetic non-syndromic hearing loss subjects. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-lab based study which was conducted at the Cellular and Molecular Research Center of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples using standard phenol chloroform procedure. Mutation analysis for DFNB59 gene was performed using PCR-SSCP/HA protocol. The suspected DFNB59 which was detected as shifted bands on PAGE were then confirmed by direct sequencing strategy. Results: Two DFNB59 polymorphisms including c.793C>G and c.793C>T were detected in 8 and 1 deaf subjects respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that there is no association between DFNB59 mutations and deafness in the studied patients in the region

Screening of three common mtDNA mutations among subjects with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss in Sistan va Baluchestan province, Iran

Background: Non-syndromic hearing loss may be induced by mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Mutations in mtDNA are present in less than 1% of the children with pre-lingual deafness but are more prevalent later. Most of the molecular defects responsible for mitochondrial disorder, associated with hearing loss may be induced by mutations in the 12SrRNA and tRNA genes. This aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of three common mtDNA mutations including A1555G, A3243G and A7445G in a cohort of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) subjects in Sistan va Baluchestan province. Material and Methods: In this descriptive- experimental based study, a total of 110. ARNSHL subjects from Sistan va Baluchestan province were investigated for three common mtDNA mutations using PCR-RFLP procedure. The possible mutations were confirmed by direct sequencing. Results: None of the A1555G and A7445G mutations were detected in this study. However, we found one sample to carry A3243G mutation (0.9%). Moreover abolishing a MTTL1 restriction site close to A3243G mutation revealed a G3316A allelic variant in 0.9% of patients studied. Conclusion: This study showed that mtDNA mutations are responsible for less than 1% of pre-lingual ARNSHL associated subjects. The present study will improve the genetic counseling of hearing impaired patients in Sistan va Baluchestan province, Iran

Quantifying transport sustainability: development of an index

Quantifying sustainability of urban transport is important as evidenced by a growing number of studies working on measuring sustainability in transportation. This thesis first reviewed major initiatives reported in the current literature, which dealt with the challenge of measuring transport sustainability using long lists of indicators. To overcome the issue of using large number of indicators for evaluation, this thesis developed a method for obtaining a composite transport sustainability index based on three aspects: environmental, social and economic, each one defined by a set of indicators. Ten sustainability indicators relevant to urban transport were selected by assessing and reviewing the past research and based on available data for Melbourne. These indicators, which can be categorised as environmental, social and economic indicators, are depletion of non-renewable resources, GHG emissions, other air pollutants related to transport, land consumption by transport, accessibility, fatalities and injuries related to traffic accidents, mortality effects of air pollutants, car ownership costs and operation costs of public transport, vehicle and general costs of accidents and benefits of walking and cycling. To quantify selected indicators, land use/transport interaction model was developed to estimate car ownership, vehicle kilometre travelled (VKT) and modal split, and consequently transport energy consumption, emissions and its related social and economic impacts. In the next step, the indicators were integrated into transportation environmental impact index (TEII), transportation social impact index (TSII), transportation economic impact index (TCII) and then into transport sustainability index (ICST) in a way that overcomes the limitations of normalisation, weighting and aggregation methods. In the final step, transport sustainability indices were developed for three different urban planning scenarios (base-case scenario, activity-centres scenario, fringe-focus scenario) for 2030, to find the most appropriate approach for urban development in the future. Indices based on the method developed in this study could help organisations for better understanding of the measures and activities that influence the sustainability of urban transport

Local walkability index: assessing built environment influence on walking

Walking is a more sustainable transport mode, and governments around the world are trying to deliver highly walkable areas to their people. Due to its importance, walkability has been a research topic in recent years. Vast empirical studies have reported evidence related to the influence of built environment on walking as a major physical activity. Considering the recent literature, this study developed a framework to quantify walkability by applying a set of indicators related to built environment. The indicators were normalised, weighted and integrated into an overall walkability index. The research was conducted on Chaharbagh Street, which is a major and ancient street in the Isfahan metropolitan area, Iran. The proposed framework would be helpful in investigations of whether a specific area is an appropriate option for a car-free plan based on its built environment features. The outcome of the study could be applied to understand issues related to pedestrian infrastructure and to propose corrective actions

Investigating the impact of virtual stress management education on the occupational stress of healthcare providers in Bushehr City: An application of self-efficacy theory

Introduction: Healthcare workers, who work at the frontline of providing health services, are at risk of occupational stress due to several conditions. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of virtual training based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory on occupational stress of healthcare workers in Bushehr, Iran. Material & Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 63 healthcare workers in Bushehr city in 10 comprehensive healthcare centers randomly selected as intervention and control centers (n=5 each). The intervention group received four sessions of virtual training based on self-efficacy theory in the form of a webinar, while the control group received no training. The information of the studied subjects was collected using a questionnaire consisting of four sections, namely demographic information assessment, self-efficacy assessment, and occupational stress assessment before, two weeks, and one month after the educational intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24. Findings: In general, knowledge and self-efficacy increased in the intervention group after training, and changes in knowledge and self-efficacy were significantly different between the two groups during the study period (P<0.001). In the intervention group, occupational stress improved two weeks and one month after training, compared to the pre-training period, whereas in the control group, although the changes were significant, these changes manifested as an increase in stress intensity. There was a significant difference in occupational stress changes between the two groups during the study period (P<0.001), and the condition improved in the intervention group. Discussion & Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that virtual stress management education based on self-efficacy theory could increase knowledge levels and self-efficacy and improve occupational stress in healthcare workers

Transport Policy Measures for Climate Change as Drivers for Health in Cities

Climate change is an urgent challenge that requires action at the national, regional and local levels. However, a perception that impacts on human wellbeing and the economy will only be felt in the distant future, and a belief that climate action would require reducing attention towards a host of other environmental and societal issues, stand in the way of measures being taken. With cities emerging as key actors in fighting climate change as well as other societal and environmental issues, this chapter provides a review of the ways urban climate action provides direct and more immediate benefits —in climate terms, ‘co-benefits’— to public health. We focus on the impacts of five key transport policy measures which have been established to yield significant greenhouse gas reductions and substantial economic benefits. These are: (1) compact land use planning to reduce motorised passenger travel demand, (2) passenger modal shift and improving transit efficiency, (3) electrification and passenger vehicle efficiency, (4) freight logistics and (5) freight vehicle efficiency and electrification. We show that these measures have great potential to improve public health in urban areas whilst mitigating climate change, and provide arguments that in some cases these benefits may rival, or exceed, benefits to the economy and climate from these actions. We conclude that climate change action in the transport sector represents a great opportunity for policymakers to develop transport roadmaps that jointly achieve climate change objectives and improve public health in cities