A New Behavioral Model (Health Belief Model Combined with Two Fear Models): Design, Evaluation and Path Analysis of the Role of Variables in Maintaining Behavior

With the increased pace of industrialization and higher life expectancy in the present century, lifestyles across the world have changed significantly. Some of these changes include changes in the pattern of diseases and prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes (Narayan et al., 2000). Diabetes is one of the most prevalent noninfectious diseases in the world that affects approximately 6% of the world population (Task Force on Community Preventive, 2002). The prevalence of this condition is at the epidemic level in ..

The Effect of Literacy Level on Health Related-Quality of Life, Self-Efficacy and Self-Management Behaviors in Diabetic Patients

Illiteracy in studies on quality of life (QOL) and self-efficacy (SE) of diabetic patients has been ignored. Illiteracy and diabetes have high rates in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of literacy level on health outcomes. To achieve this, we studied health outcomes such as SE, self-management behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out in an Iranian urban federally-funded diabetes clinic (with 1400 diabetes patients) in Bandar Abbas, a city located in south of Iran. 256 Non Insulin Dependent Diabetic Mellitus patients were chosen during June, July and August 2007. Patients were grouped as illiterates, low-literates and literates. SE and QOL were measured by standard questionnaires. HbA1C was measured by calorimetric method. Data was collected with interview. Data analysis was carried out with one way ANOVA Post Hoc, and bivariate analysis method. Literacy level among the three groups from the view points of age, physical domain, psychological domain, environmental domain and SE were significant. There was no significant difference for the level of HbA1C among three groups. Literacy level does not have any effects on glycemic control. There is a strong relationship between self-efficacy and QOL domains

Impact of Health Information Prescription on Self-care of Women with Breast Cancer

Background: Women with breast cancer experience various challenges. Prescription of health information provides appropriate information at appropriate time to the appropriate person and plays a role in empowering self-care and improving health. The current research aims to evaluate the effect of health information prescription on self-care power of women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental quantitative study was done using pretest and posttest method in one group of 61 women with breast cancer selected from the Women's Cancer Center of Khatamolanbia Hospital using purposive sampling method. Data were collected by an author-made self-care questionnaire and patients' self-care score was calculated at the first visit (before health information prescription) and the second visit (after health information prescription). Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 23 software and analysis of variance at a statistical significance level of P < 0.05. Results: Total mean score of self-care in women with breast cancer was 40.97 and 115.3 before and after health information prescription, respectively. Increase of mean was observed in all subscales of self-care score from pretest to posttest so that change in posttest was higher in subscales of effective implementation of treatment and prevention from disabilities and personal functioning regulation (39.44), specialized knowledge on breast cancer (30.46), searching medical services and cooperation with treatment group (28.59), and awareness and attention to impacts and results of breast cancer (16.81). Conclusion: Health information prescription improves self-care power of women with breast cancer, and it is necessary to provide health information services in order to support women's self-care by the health authorities

Using information sources by breast cancer women treated with mastectomy

BACKGROUND: Awareness of sources of information of mastectomy patients has an important role in accessibility of reliable health information sources, thus, when they get information, they can be effective in the treatment and self-care. The present study aimed to identify the sources of information used by women underwent mastectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current practical research methodology was qualitative, and research method was conventional qualitative content analysis was performed on 17 patients with breast cancer undergone mastectomy. The sample targeted two hospitals were selected based on criteria of Shaeid Mohammadi and the Persian Gulf and Omid Central chemotherapy in Babdar Abbas. Data were collected by face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in winter 2015. Qualitative content analysis of data was performed at the same time of data collection. RESULTS: Three themes were seemed (medical, interpersonal, and media) sources for explaining the sources of information searching. Subcategories derived from the content of medical (physicians, surgeons, and health workers of health facility centers), interpersonal sources (Family and friends, peers), and media sources (printed, electronic, and Internet). CONCLUSION: Given the importance of information on women underwent mastectomy, and their priority in the use of medical sources, necessitates more attention of health system managers and planners in providing essential information and their accessibility