The Ability of Healthcare Workers to Provide Patient Education: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: The success of training programs in health-treatment systems belongs to competent staff in the field of education. The aim of this study was to identify the experiences of staff employed in health centers in Khamir City, Hormozgan Province, Iran, to determine the skills needed to become a health educator from their viewpoints. Method: This qualitative study was conducted in 2015 in Khamir City. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 employees working in health centers with at least 3 years of experience chosen via purposive sampling method. Content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Results: Two main themes were extracted, “individual’s experience-based capability” and “learning-based capability”. The “use of communication skills and personal characteristics by health care staff”, “experience-based learning”, and “scientific-based learning” were the extracted subthemes. Conclusion: In training health personnel, health system managers and trainers should pay attention to the willingness and ability of healthcare workers in implementing health education, and also to update workers’ knowledge of health. Keywords: Employee health care, Ability, Qualitative researc

Barriers and Facilitators in Health Education for the People from Health Care Providers' Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Health education with the goal of providing and promoting community health is a complex and multidimensional process that several factors influence its effectiveness. This study aimed to explain the views of staff in the health centers of the Khamir County, Iran, about barriers and facilitators in health education for the people. Method: In this qualitative study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 employees in health centers with at least 3 years of work experience, who were selected through purposive sampling. The content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Contributors surveyed to ensure that the data were acceptable. Reviewers carried out confirmation of findings. Results: Two themes (human barriers, and inhuman barriers) extracted from the results of content analysis on barriers to health education for the people. The theme of human barriers consisted of three main categories (management of health care system, weakness of health care personnel, and factors related to service recipients in health centers). The management of health care system group was divided into two subgroups (managers' negative attitudes, and inadequate managers' performance). The theme of inhumane barriers included two main groups (factors related to physical environment, and factors related to working conditions). Two themes (motivational factors, and contributing factors) extracted from the results of content analysis on health promotion facilitators. The motivational factors included two main groups (health managers' support, and clients' support). The main contributory factors classified into three main groups (the conditions of clients' service in health centers, health managers' performance, and health care personnel's characteristics). Conclusion: Improvement of educational management in health systems by managers, in order to improve the quality and quantity of health education for the people in health centers is recommended. This can be reached via implementing such measures as proper monitoring and evaluation staff training activities, support for active educational staff, enough human supply, and conducting useful training classes. Keywords: Health Education, Barriers, Facilitators, Health Staff, Health Center

Relationship between Selected Socio-Demographic Factors and Cancer of Oral Cavity - A Case Control Study

The aim of this study was to recognize factors associated with cancer of oral cavity considering socio-demographic characteristics. The cases were 350 with squamous-cell carcinoma of oral cavity diagnosed between 2005 and 2006 in Morbai, Narandia, Budharani Cancer Institute, Pune, India. Similar number of controls match for age and sex selected from the background population. Cases and controls were interviewed for tobacco related habits and general characteristics; age, gender, education and possible socio-demographic factors. Chi-square test in uni-variate analysis and estimate for risk showed that education, occupation and monthly household income were significantly different between cases and controls (P < 0.001). Irrespective to gender, relative risk, here odds ratio, (OR) of low level of education (OR = 5.3, CI 3.7–7.6), working in field as a farmer (OR = 2.5, CI 1.7–3.7), and monthly household income less than 5000 Indian Rupees currency (OR = 1.7, CI 1.2–2.3) were significant risk factors for oral cancer. While, there was no significant relationship between religious and or marital status either in males or females

Pregnancy in the Sickle Cell Disease and Fetomaternal Outcomes in Different Sickle cell Genotypes: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a major concern among women with the sickle cell disease (SCD), and it is associated with increased adverse outcomes. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to report the fetomaternal outcomes in different sickle cell genotypes.METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a comprehensive search of databases and search engines such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, Science Direct and Google Scholar were performed. Any observational studies that had compared at least one outcome such as maternal outcomes, fetal outcomes, and morbidity between two groups of pregnant women with different types of sickle cell genotypes and pregnant women without SCD were evaluated.RESULTS: A total number of 9,827 pregnant women with SCD were examined. The results showed that pregnancy in SCD increased the risk of adverse outcomes for the mothers (including postpartum hemorrhage, prematurity, pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, cesarean section, lower segment cesareansection, maternal death), fetus (including live births, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, APGAR score at 5 min &lt;7, stillbirth, neonatal death, perinatal mortality, acute fetal distress, intrauterine fetal death) and morbidity among the SCD(severe anemia, urinary tract infection, blood transfusion, painful crisis, acute chest syndrome, vaso-occlusive crises).CONCLUSION: According to the results of this meta-analysis, pregnancy in the SCD is associated with an increased risk of maternal outcomes, fetal outcomes, and morbidity among SCD patients with different genotypes. Pregnancy in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies needs careful multidisciplinary management and cautious caring so as to decrease maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality

Pregnant Women’s Health Literacy in the South of Iran

Objective: Investigate the health literacy of pregnant women in the south of Iran. Materials and methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 775 pregnant women in the south of Iran (including Boushehr, Ahvaz, Zahedan and Bandar Abbas cities) through the clustering sample selection method. The data were collected through the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults: TOFHLA, and were analyzed statistically via SPSS 16 through independent-sample t-test and ANOVA. Results: The average age of the subjects was 31.89 ± 7.54 years. The results indicated that 15.5% of the subjects had an inadequate level of health literacy; 41.7% had a border-line level of health literacy, and 42.8% had an adequate level of literacy. Significant correlations were found between each of these variables and the subjects’ level of health literacy: education, age, occupation and care provision during pregnancy (p ˂ 0.05). The highest mean score of health literacy belonged to Ahvaz while the lowest belonged to Boushehr. Conclusion: According to the results, the health literacy level of pregnant women in the target geographical areas showed to be inadequate or on a border-line. Moreover, subjects’ education, age and occupation showed to be significantly correlated with health literacy. Therefore, promoting pregnant women’s health literacy through simplifying health-related information, use of audio-visual media, improving communicative skills among the health staff and mothers can be effective

Investigating Self-Reported Violations of the Drivers of Bandar Abbas City and Its Relation with Their Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Traffic Regulations

Objectives: Road traffic accidents are much higher than the global average in Iran. Since the main cause of road traffic accidents is attributed to driver's risky behaviors, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and violation of drivers toward traffic regulations in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Methods: The study was carried out among 562 drivers in Bandar Abbas using cluster sampling method. The data were collected through a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire that had four sections including items assessing the demographic, knowledge, attitude, and violation of drivers toward traffic regulations. Results: The mean score for drivers' knowledge, attitude, and violations were estimated to be 8.71 ± 2.5, 42.4 ± 7.6, and 56.7 ± 11.8, respectively. Drivers' knowledge and attitude levels were low; only 11.4 of men and 9 of women had good knowledge. The use of mobile phone (74.6) and drunk driving (9.4) were reported as the most frequent and the least frequent driving behaviors, respectively. There was a significant relationship between knowledge with attitude, knowledge with violations, and attitude with violations (P P Conclusions: It is recommended to reduce driving violations by implementing targeted and comprehensive plans to raising the level of knowledge and attitude of drivers toward driving regulations

Medical students' perceptions of the educational environment at an Iranian Medical Sciences University

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Students' perceptions of their educational environment have a significant impact on their behavior and academic progress. The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of medical students concerning their educational environment at Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences in Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to 210 medical students and 182 were analyzed (response rate = 86.6%); twenty-eight questionnaires were excluded because they were incomplete or unreturned for analysis. Data were collected using a DREEM questionnaire which comprised 50 items based on the Likert scale (scores could range from 0 to 200). There were five domains to the questionnaire including students' perceptions of learning, students' perceptions of teachers, students' academic self-perceptions, students' perceptions of atmosphere and students' social self-perceptions. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of the subjects was 21.7 years (SD = 2.7); 38.5% were male and 61.5% were female. Students' perceptions of learning, students' perceptions of teachers, students' academic self-perceptions, students' perceptions of atmosphere, students' social self-perceptions and total DREEM score were 21.2/48, 24.2/44, 15.8/32, 23.8/48, 14.5/28 and 99.6/200, respectively. There was no significant difference between male and female students in educational environment subscales, but there were significant differences between students enrolled on a basic sciences and pathophysiology course and those enrolled on a clinical course in terms of perceptions of learning, academic self-perceptions, perceptions of atmosphere and overall perceptions of educational environment (p < 0.05). The latter group rated each of the aforementioned aspects more highly than the students studying basic science and pathophysiology.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, respondents assessed the educational environment as average. Therefore, improvements are required across all five domains of the educational environment.</p

Quality gap of educational services in viewpoints of students in Hormozgan University of medical sciences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Higher education is growing fast and every day it becomes more and more exposed to globalization processes. The aim of this study was to determine the quality gap of educational services by using a modified SERVQUAL instrument among students in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was carried out at Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences in 2007. In this study, a total of 300 students were selected randomly and asked to complete a questionnaire that was designed according to SERVQUAL methods. This questionnaire measured students' perceptions and expectations in five dimensions of service that consists of assurance, responsiveness, empathy, reliability and tangibles. The quality gap of educational services was determined based on differences between students' perceptions and expectations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results demonstrated that in each of the five SERVQUAL dimensions, there was a negative quality gap. The least and the most negative quality gap means were in the reliability (-0.71) and responsiveness (-1.14) dimensions respectively. Also, there were significant differences between perceptions and expectations of students in all of the five SERVQUAL dimensions (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Negative quality gaps mean students' expectations exceed their perceptions. Thus, improvements are needed across all five dimensions.</p

Prediction of breast self-examination in a sample of Iranian women: an application of the Health Belief Model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Iranian women, many of whom live in small cities, have limited access to mammography and clinical breast examinations. Thus, breast self examination (BSE) becomes an important and necessary approach to detecting this disease in its early stages in order to limit its resultant morbidity and mortality. This study examined constructs arising from the Health Belief Model as predictors of breast self examination behavior in a sample of women living in Bandar Abbas, Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was conducted in eight health centers located in Bandar Abbas, Iran. The sample consisted of 240 eligible women who were selected from referrals to the centers. The inclusion criteria were as follows: aged 30 years and over; and able to read and write Farsi. Women with breast cancer, who were pregnant, or breast feeding, were excluded from the study. Data were collected by using a self administered questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. This instrument measures the concepts of disease susceptibility (3 items), seriousness (6 items), benefits (4 items), barriers (8 items) and self-efficacy (10 items).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The subjects' mean age was 37.2 (SD = 6.1) years. Just under a third of the subjects (31.7%) had performed BSE in the past and 7.1% of them performed it at least monthly. Perceived benefits and perceived self-efficacy of the women who performed BSE were significantly higher compared with women who did not practice BSE (p < 0.03). Furthermore, perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that women who perceived fewer barriers (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.63-0.77, p < 0.001) and had higher self-efficacy (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.13, p = 0.003) were more likely to perform BSE (R²= 0.52).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings from this study indicated that perceived barriers and perceived self-efficacy could be predictors of BSE behavior among the sample of women. Therefore, BSE training programs that emphasize self-efficacy and address perceived barriers are recommended.</p