Breast cancer-preventive behaviors: exploring Iranian women’s experiences

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-preventive behaviors are critical for community and women’s health. Although many studies have addressed women’s knowledge and attitudes toward breast cancer, little information is available about their experiences of breast cancer preventive behaviors. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian women regarding preventive behaviors. METHODS: This was a qualitative study. A sample of Iranian women aged 30 years and over was selected purposefully. Data collected through focus group and semi-structured audiotaped interviews and were analyzed by conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The following five main themes emerged from the analysis: attitude toward breast cancer and preventive behaviors, stress management, healthy lifestyle, perceived social support and individual/environmental barriers. The findings showed that women were highly motivated to preventive behaviors of breast cancer but faced considerable challenges. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that increased awareness, positive attitudes, stronger motivational factors, and fewer barriers toward preventive behaviors are most important parameters that might encourage women to practice breast cancer-preventive behaviors

Prevalence of Home Smoking Bans and its Determinants in Families with Infants

Background Exposure to cigarette smoke has numerous health risks for infants and children. Home smoking ban is a simple way to reduce the detrimental impacts of cigarette smoke. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking bans in homes as well as associated factors in families with infants in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods This study was a population-based cross-sectional survey on 1,112 families with infants, selected through stratified-cluster sampling. In this study, a researcher made questionnaire including four parts: sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, smoking restrictions, and parental awareness and belief, was completed. The multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between smoking bans in homes and associated factors. Results Complete smoking ban in homes was 37.3%. In the multivariable logistic regression, cigarette smoking ban in homes was significantly higher for employed mothers (odds ratio [OR] = 3.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-7.2, P<0.001), for those who did not have any smoker friends or relatives (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3-4.4, P<0.001), for those smoking a smaller number of cigarettes (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.3, P=0.003), and for parents who concurred with the impacts of thirdhand cigarette smoke on infant health (OR = 4.7, 95% CI: 1.4-14.9, P<0.001). Conclusion This study indicates that complete smoking ban is not established in many households with infants in Iran. Furthermore, it is necessary to perform health interventions for reducing infant exposure to cigarette smoke, while considering the factors associated with smoking ban. Keyword

Prevention and control of health care–associated infections in Iran: A qualitative study to explore challenges and barriers

Background: Globally, the health and economic burden posed by health care–associated infections (HAIs) remains wide and severe. To curb the burden associated with HAIs, countries, including Iran, aim at HAI prevention and control. This study explores the challenges faced by the Iranian health system in addressing the issues associated with the prevention and control of HAIs. Methods: A qualitative research method was adopted in exploring the phenomenon. We used the purposive sampling approach in reaching 24 key informants at the national and subnational levels. The thematic framework analysis was conducted for analyzing the interviews. Results: Five main themes emerged from our study demonstrating the obstacles toward the prevention and control of HAIs. They include governance and stewardship, resources, safety culture, monitoring and surveillance systems, and inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. Conclusions: Strengthening of reporting and surveillance systems for HAIs coupled with proper governance and stewardship are crucial in order to improve the health and safety of patients. However, the availability of resources, through an intersectoral approach, is essential to achieve sustained output. © 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Association for Professionals in Infection Control an

Nutritional supplement use among fitness club participants in Tehran, Iran

The aim of this study was to assess nutritional supplement use among fitness club participants in Tehran, Iran. A cross sectional study was conducted in 24 fitness clubs throughout the city of Tehran, Iran. A total of 1625 fitness club participants were recruited to participate in this study. They were asked to complete a self-administered pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were performed to determine the characteristics of participants, reasons for supplement use, sources of information and also the influential advisors regarding nutritional supplement use. A high prevalence rate of nutritional supplement use (66.7%) was reported. Overall, multivitamin–mineral (43.8%) and iron tablets (30.5%) were the common nutritional supplements used and only a small number of participants used illegal substances (0.5%). Younger participants were more likely to use ergogenic aids, whereas, older participants were more likely to use vitamin D. Males were more likely than females to use creatine and amino acids, whereas, iron tablets and mint water were more common among females. Also, males were more likely to use nutritional supplements for increasing energy, whereas, females were more likely to use nutritional supplements for nutritional deficiencies. In conclusion, a high prevalence rate of nutritional supplement use was seen among participants

Identification of cytotoxin-producing Klebsiella oxytoca strains isolated from clinical samples with cell culture assays

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella oxytoca is an opportunistic pathogen which damages intestinal epithelium through producing cytotoxin tilivalline. This toxin plays a role in the pathogenesis of bacteria and is the main virulence factor which leads to antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis progress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we collected a total of 75 K. oxytoca strains isolated from the stool, urine, blood, wounds, and sputum and evaluated them in terms of the production of toxins; we detected their cytotoxic effects on HEp-2 cells. RESULTS: Of all the isolates, five K. oxytoca strains isolated from the stool cultures, two strains isolated from the blood cultures, one strains isolated from the wound cultures, and one strains isolated from the urine cultures had cytotoxic effects on HEp-2 cells. The strains isolated from sputum cultures had no cytotoxic effects on HEp-2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, the majority of strains isolated from the stool of the patients included cytopathic effects on HEp-2 cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of audio-visual education on self-efficacy toward marriage in single people with type 1 diabetes

People with diabetes report that diabetes affects particular aspects of their marital life and leads to other problems in their lives. Moreover, the self-efficacy of diabetic patients is affected by their disease in various respects. There is a significant relationship between self-efficacy and health behaviors. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of audio-visual education on self-efficacy toward marriage in single people with type 1 diabetes. Methods: This randomized, controlled trial study was carried out on 100 unmarried patients with type 1 diabetes visiting Iran’s diabetes society in 2015 - 2016. The convenient sampling method was used in this study. Samples were divided into two groups (50 patients in each group) with a simple, randomized sampling method. The data collecting tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that patients completed before the intervention and eight weeks afterwards. The intervention was an educational CD about improving self-efficacy toward marriage in diabetics. Using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics (i.e., chi-square, t-test, paired t, Fisher, and co-variance tests), and SPSS software version 16, the self-efficacy toward marriage in both the intervention and control groups was compared. A significant level was considered less than 0.05. Results: The mean of the self-efficacy score improved significantly in the intervention group (84.14 ± 16.29 to 105.82 ± 5.49, P < 0.001). However, this score decreased in the control group (92.92 ± 12.33 to 86.48 ± 11.54, P < 0.001). In addition, the self-efficacy in the control group was higher than in the intervention group before the study (P = 0.003), although the score of the intervention group significantly increased after the study (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that audio-visual training can have a significant effect on the self-efficacy of people with type 1 diabetes. Providing audio-visual equipment to referral centers of type 1 diabetics, such as hospitals, health centers, and clinics, as well as informing related officials, can be of benefit to managers

Assessment of Female Student’s Satisfaction with the Quality of Food And Environmental Health at Food Services in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2013

ensure students are satisfied with the quantity and quality of food as well as hygienic condition in the university’s food services. For this reason, the present study was conducted to investigate female student’s satisfaction with the quality of food and environmental health at food services in Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A number of one hundred of female students, studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, were randomly selected. All the selected students were proved to be customers of food services located in one the Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy, paramedical Sciences, Dentistry, Rehabilitation and Nursing schools. A questioner was prepared as a tool for data collection and its validity and reliability was determined. Afterwards, data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 23). Results showed that 22% of female students expressed their satisfaction with the quantity of food as “excellent” and 47% as “moderate”. 28% of students rated the food diversity as “moderate” ok”. Seven percent of students reported at least on a case of food poisoning caused by the consumption of food at the university. On average, the overwhelming majority of students expressed their satisfaction as “good” or “medium” with environmental health in at food services in the university, respectively. All the students were aware of the importance of the presence of insects and animals outside the food services and 95%of students reported the presence of insects like beetle, housefly and mosquito and animals like cats, outside the food services. It was concluded that the majority of female students were satisfied with the quantity of food and ranked the quality of food as “medium”. However, they reported some problems regarding hygienic condition inside and outside the dining services and personal health of staff and stated that more attention should be paid by responsible authorities of the university. The student views can be used by these authorities to improve the quality and quantity of food and hygienic condition at food services in Universities

Risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus in Sanandaj, Iran

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance that is detected for the first time during the most recent pregnancy. It can lead to serious complications for mother and infant. The current study aimed to determine the important risk factors for GDM in Sanandaj, Iran during 2010-2011. METHODS: This was a case-control study in which 220 people were chosen for each group from referees to the healthcare centers and diabetes center in Sanandaj. Data were collected through interviews and review of medical records. Data analysis conducted using chi-square test and logistic regression. RESULTS: In the present study, diabetic mothers were older and more obese than non-diabetic mothers. In the logistic regression, variables such as familial history of diabetes in first-degree relatives, history of gestational diabetes, age ≥ 30 years, history of stillbirth, history of macrosomia, and body mass index above 30 were considered as the most important independent risk factors for gestational diabetes respectively. However variables such as smoking, blood pressure, and history of infant death showed no statistical significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The most important risk factors for developing GDM included history of diabetes among relatives (family history), mothers with a history of gestational diabetes, and history of macrosomia. Therefore, controlling these factors can reduce the incidence of diabetes during pregnancy.

The Importance of Blood Pressure Control in the Survival of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Using a Multistate Model

Since less attention has been paid to the effect of passing blood pressure states on the survival of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, this study aimed to inves­tigate the survival of PD patients with and without hypertension, estimate the probability of hypertension and determine the influential factors. In this retro­spective cohort study, the data of 700 patients visiting dialysis centers from all provinces of Iran from 1997-2009 were analyzed. For data analysis, the multistate survival model was used. The median survival time (months) and five-year survival were 75% and 56%, respectively. Males had a higher probability of hypertension (63%) than females (52%). The risk of death in normotensive patients increased with age and fast blood sugar (FBS) (age: HR = 1.02, p-va­lue \u3c0.001; FBS: HR = 1.03, p-value = 0.034) and decreased with increasing albumin (HR = 0.60, p-value = 0.015). When experiencing hypertension, the death risk increased with age (age: HR = 1.03, p-value\u3c0.001); also, higher serum albumin and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) had a protective effect against mortality (albumin: HR = 0.66, p-value = 0.038; BUN: HR = 0.99, p-value = 0.014). Paying attention to age, obesity, and blood sugar in PD patients seems necessary