عبدالله سعادت فر

Detecting and diagnosing it early can greatly reduce the mortality rate. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of the prostate cancer screening promotion program based on the health action process approach (HAPA) in men aged 50 to 69 years in Kermanshah using a Smartphone application.

The present study was a quasi-experimental study that was conducted in two intervention and control groups (40 people each) in 2023. Information was collected using a questionnaire. The obtained information was analyzed in SPSS software version 16.

After the program was implemented, a significant difference was seen in the average scores of action self-efficacy (P < 0.001), intention (P < 0.001), action planning (P = 0.005), coping planning (P = 0.042), coping self-efficacy (P = 0.012), recovery self-efficacy (P < 0.001) and self-monitoring (P = 0.016) between the intervention and control groups. The effect size for risk perception, outcome expectancies, action self-efficacy, intention, action planning, coping planning, coping self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy and self-monitoring are 0.44, 0.43, 0.97, 0.77, 1.12, 0.46, 0.58, 0.92 and 0.55 were estimated, respectively.

The use of Smartphone applications program based on the HAPA can provide valuable insights in enhancing the acceptance of prostate cancer screening tests. It is recommended to utilize these applications for the development and implementation of men's health promotion programs.

One of the most important strategies recommended to prevent the recurrence of kidney stones is to consume enough water (2 to 2.5 liters per day), which can prevent the recurrence of kidney stones in about 50 to 60 percent. The purpose of this study was to determine the cognitive determinants of water consumption among patients with kidney stones based on the PRECEDE model.

The present study was a descriptive analytical study that was conducted as an convenience sampling among 214 patients with kidney stones referred to Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah. The measurement tool was a written questionnaire based on the educational and ecological evaluation step of the PRECEDE model. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (prevalence, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and analytical statistics (independent t-test, Pearson correlation and logistic regression) in SPSS version 16 software.

The mean age of respondents was 46.6 years [SD: 14.01], ranged from 17 to 73 years. 13% of patients reported that they consume more than two liters of water per day. Perceived self-efficacy (OR=1.313) and perceived barriers (OR=0.715) regarding water consumption were stronger predictors for water consumption of more than 2 liters per day among patients.

Paying attention to improving patients' self-efficacy and also reducing their perceived barriers regarding water consumption in the design of educational interventions can lead to beneficial results in order to improve water consumption and consequently prevent and reduce the recurrence of kidney stones among these patients.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the urinary system. An important source of health disparities is related to early cancer detection strategies. The present study aimed to determine the inequality in bladder cancer screening uptake.

The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,760 subjects from the urban population over 30 in Kermanshah. The adjusted odds ratio was used to show the relationship between bladder cancer screening uptake and different subgroups. The concentration index and concentration curve were used to quantify and analyze inequality in bladder cancer screening uptake.

The history of bladder cancer screening uptake was 1.02% (1.18% in men and 0.88% in women). The mean age of bladder cancer screening uptake was 56.18 years (standard deviation 12.60 years). The highest percentage of bladder cancer diagnostic test uptake pertained to participants who had a positive family history of bladder cancer (23.33%). The concentration index for bladder cancer screening uptake was estimated at 0.238 (P<0.073). The adjusted odds ratio demonstrated that the wealthy group had 10.25 times as many bladder cancer screening uptake as the poor participants.

The odds ratio of bladder cancer screening uptake in the rich group was more than 10 times that of the participants in the poor group. Health resources should be directed to help reduce disparities and provide services to those most in need.

High blood pressure is one of the common main preventable risk factors for many diseases. This study aimed to psychometric properties of the cognitive determinants of hypertension self-management questionnaire among Iranian hypertensive patients based on the Intervention Mapping approach.

This psychometric study was conducted in Abadan in 2019. Content Validity Ratio and Content Validity Index of the questionnaire were calculated by ten hypertensive patients and 12 experts. Construct validity was investigated using Classical Item Analysis and Exploratory Factor Analysis by the participation of 315 hypertensive patients. The internal consistency was measured by using Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha of the various cognitive determinants of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16.

The mean age of patients was 57.53±11.30 years, ranging from 30 to 70 years. Five factors (attitude, outcome expectation, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and barriers) and behavior were confirmed. The Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test was generally satisfactory (calculated: 0.817). The factors explained 61.86% of the variance of the hypothesized model. Estimated reliability using alpha Cronbach coefficient for each cognitive determinants were as follows: attitude (α=0.75), outcome expectations (α=0.79), self-efficacy (α=0.80), subjective norms (α=0.85), barriers (α=0.88), behavior (α=0.82).

The application of the intervention mapping approach in questionnaire development offers a useful questionnaire to measurement self-management hypertension behaviors, and psychometric analysis shows that it could be useful for related planning programs.

Self-handicapping is a set of behaviors to externalize failures and internalize success. The present study aimed to determine the status of self-handicapping and its association with some academic variables among students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 296 students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. The participants were selected via random sampling and probability proportional to size sampling. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (Version 16) using descriptive and analytical tests at 95% confidence level.

The mean age of students was reported as 22.21±2.10 (age range of 18-years). The mean score of self-handicapping was 16.64±3.48, which indicated that the participants obtain 66.56% of the maximum score of self-handicapping. Dental students were engaged in more self-handicapping, compared to other students (P=0.011). Moreover, it was shown that married students self-handicapped more than single students (P=0.025), and older students obtained higher scores in self-handicapping (r=0.144; P= 0.025).

Due to the fact that students gained more than 50% of the maximum self-handicapping score, it is essential to plan relevant intervention programs and conduct further studies to identify the effective causes of self-handicapping.