Protective strategies among patients with cardiovascular diseases against dust phenomenon exposure in Ahvaz city based on the protection motivation theory

Background: Dust particles are one of the most important environmental problems that are threatening many countries, and patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a vulnerable group in this respect. The present study was conducted to examine the protective strategies among patients with CVDs against exposure to dust phenomenon based on the protection motivation theory (PMT). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 183 patients with CVDs who referred to health care centers in Ahvaz city, Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran. Participants were selected from patients with CVDs recruited for routine national Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease (IRA-PEN) through random cluster sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the PMT. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests such as Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regressions by SPSS version 22. Results: The mean scores of the constructs of perceived response efficacy (4.06 ± 20.06) and sensitivity (19.89 ± 4.30) were higher than those of other constructs. Correlation coefficient test showed a significant positive correlation between risk behaviors of exposure to dust phenomenon and self-efficacy, response efficacy and protection motivation, but negatively correlated with cost response. Also, self-efficacy variable, type of health insurance, and protection motivation were the predictive indicators of behavior. Conclusion: The constructs of the PMT explained the risk reduction behaviors of exposure to dust phenomenon in patients with CVDs. Therefore, this theory can be used as a framework for designing educational programs to increase the motivation of patients with CVDs to adopt risk reduction behaviors for exposure to dust. Keywords: Dust, Risk reduction behavior, Motivation, Self-efficacy, Ira

Preventive Behaviors of Female Elementary Students in regard to Pediculosis Infestation based on Health Belief Model (HBM)

Background: Pediculosis is considered as one of the most common parasitic infections among the students worldwide. Head lice infestation is observed in all parts of the world including Iran, especially in areas with high population density associated with poverty and poor personal hygiene. This study aimed to investigate the preventive behaviors in regard to pediculosis infestation based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) in students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 179 female 5th grade elementary school students in Gonabad, selected by cluster sampling. Data collection was done through a researcher-made questionnaire, which its validity and reliability had been confirmed. Data were analyzed by using descriptive and analytic tests including multiple linear regression. Results: Mean age of students was 11.24 ± 0.6 years. Mean score of perceived barriers was 15.80 ± 3.30 and mean self-efficacy score was 16.63 ± 2.76 that were higher compared to other items. Preventive behavior showed significant correlation with perceived barriers and self-efficacy. Moreover, hair combing and perceived barriers were determined as final behavior predicting variables. Conclusion: It seems that providing necessary trainings with an emphasis on perceived barriers and self-efficacy improves students’ performance in regard to preventing pediculosis infestation. Keywords: Pediculosis, Health Belief Model, Prevention, Behavior, Studen

A Survey on the Prevalence of Choking in Children under Two Years Old and Awareness of Mothers Referring to Health Centers in Ahvaz City

Introduction: Accidents are one of the most important health problems that always threaten children, and inability caused by them not only affects their health but also their education and other dimensions of their life and their families. Therefore, mothers' awareness of incident prevention methods, especially choking, is very important. Therefoe, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of choking in children less than 2 years old and to assess the awareness of mothers referring to health centers in Ahvaz city. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 mothers with at least one under two years old child who referred to Ahvaz health centers to receive routine mother and child care were selected during 2017. Four health centers were randomly selected as clusters from all listed centers and subsequently 53 mothers from west and 47 mothers from East of Ahvaz were recruited.  Mother’s awareness measured using a standardized researcher made questionnaire  . The groups difference was investigated by chi-square and one-way ANOVA as appropriate. Logistic regression was also used to investigate the association between history of chocking and mother’s awareness. Results: The present study showed that the prevalence of choking in children younger than 2 years old was 19%, and the mean level of awareness of mothers was 16.53 ± 3.51; corresponding for 60% of total awareness score. Despite the higher awareness score among mothers with a child with history of choking there was no significant relationship between the prevalence of choking and awareness of mothers. Conclusion: Although most of mothers had awareness about choking, the frequency of choking was considerable. Therefore, it is suggested to conduct more extensive studies using qualitative method to extract important and effective factors in the occurrence of such events among mothers with child choking experience and design effective interventions for preventative measures in mothers. &nbsp

The participants’ mean scores of knowledge, constructs of the Health Belief Model, and behaviors to prevent pediculosis.

<p>The participants’ mean scores of knowledge, constructs of the Health Belief Model, and behaviors to prevent pediculosis.</p

Frequency distribution of the students’ bathing and combing information in the intervention and control groups.

<p>Frequency distribution of the students’ bathing and combing information in the intervention and control groups.</p

Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial

<div><p>Background</p><p>Pediculosis is a common parasitic infestation in students worldwide, including Iran. This condition is more prevalent in populous and deprived communities with poor personal hygiene. This study sought to assess the efficacy of peer education for adopting preventive behaviors against pediculosis in female elementary school students based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).</p><p>Methods</p><p>A total of 179 female fifth grade students were selected using multistage random sampling and were randomly allocated to control and intervention groups. A standard questionnaire was designed and administered to collect baseline information. An educational intervention was then designed based on the conducted needs assessment. The educational program consisted of three sessions, held by peers for the intervention group. The questionnaire was re-administered one month after the intervention. Independent and paired t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and regression analysis were applied as appropriate.</p><p>Results</p><p>The two groups had no significant differences in the scores of knowledge, HBM constructs, or behavior before the intervention. After the intervention, however, the mean scores of all parameters significantly improved in the intervention group.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Peer education based on HBM is an effective strategy to promote preventive behaviors against pediculosis in among fifth grade female elementary school students in Iran.</p></div

Frequency distribution of the students’ demographic information in the intervention and control groups.

<p>Frequency distribution of the students’ demographic information in the intervention and control groups.</p

Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) between knowledge, constructs of the Health Belief Model, and behaviors to prevent pediculosis.

<p>Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) between knowledge, constructs of the Health Belief Model, and behaviors to prevent pediculosis.</p

Psychometric properties under EFA, CFA, measurement invariance, and IRT models for older adults\u27 first aids knowledge scale among Iranian grandparents

This research aims to create and evaluate an assessment tool termed Older Adults’ First Aid Knowledge Scale, which measures the knowledge and attitude of Iranian grandparents about first aid. In accordance with COSIM guidelines, 485 individuals in southern Iran completed the instrument as part of a psychometric investigation. Rasch partial credit model (PCM), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to analyze the results. The final version of OFAKS consisted of 18 items that were validated through EFA, CFA, and item response theory (IRT) analysis. All items showed measurement invariance and consecutive response groupings in the predictable order, and the instrument had strong internal consistency. Although Rasch’s analysis demonstrated the significance of OFAKS, further investigations and testing in different settings are required to confirm the validity of the tool