azam honarmandpour

Health literacy is one of the most important indicators of health knowledge. This study aims to evaluate the relationship of health literacy with general health in Iranian patients with heart disease in Iran.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2022-2023 on 254 patients with heart disease hospitalized in the coronary care unit of Khatam Al-anbiya Hospital in Shoushtar County. The data collection tools included a demographic form, the health literacy instrument for adults (HELIA), and the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 20 and AMOS software, version 18 using independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation test, and structural equation modeling.

The mean age of the participants was 45.27±16.47 years. The health literacy of 101 patients (41%) was at a good and sufficient level, while 58 patients (23%) had low and insufficient literacy. The general health of 100 patients (39.37%) was at a moderate level, while 78 patients (30%) had low general health. With the increase in health literacy, the score of general health domains decreased (improved) (P<0.001). Older age and low educational level had a significant relationship with low health literacy (P<0.05).

The health literacy of the patients with heart diseases admitted to the study hospital is sufficient, and their general health is moderate. With the increase in health literacy, their general health can be improved. Understanding the relationship between health literacy and general health in cardiac patients can provide useful information to policymakers and health planners in Iran to promote the patient’s health literacy and general health.

The COVID-19 epidemic led to the country's education system being affected due to absenteeism in schools, universities, and colleges. Considering the various dimensions of virtual education such as educational content, teaching-learning activities, feedback, flexibility, and support, it seems that evaluating this educational system requires the knowledge and active participation of teachers and learners and the support of educational centers.

This descriptive-analytical study included 32 faculty members and 212 students from various educational groups of the Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences in 2021. Participants were selected by stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was completed by all participants. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. The Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between qualitative variables, and an independent t-test was used to compare the means. p<0.05 was considered significant.

According to the results, the average age for faculty members and students was 37.15 ± 5.56 and 23.75 ± 6.42, respectively. The study showed that the virtual education system of the Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences is at an average or above-average level from the point of view of students and faculty members. However, the teaching and learning component, from the perspective of students (2.80 ± 1.15) and faculty members (2.95 ± 0.07), was evaluated below the average level (unfavorable level).

To improve the quality of the virtual education system, attention should be paid to removing obstacles and improving virtual education in terms of teaching and learning activities, interaction, and feedback.

No evidence exists for the lowest effective dose of magnesium on menstrual pain.

To determine and compare the effects of two different doses of magnesium on pain intensity and menstrual blood loss in students with primary dysmenorrhea.

Sixty dysmenorrhea patients were randomly assigned to one of two therapeutic groups and one placebo group (receiving one tablet a day of 300 or 150 mg magnesium sulphate or placebo from the 15th cycle day until no pain existed on the following cycle). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Hjgham collected data for two cycles before and two cycles after the intervention. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA tests. 

No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of baseline characteristics. Both intervention groups outperformed the placebo group in terms of pain intensity (adjusted differences of -2.9, 95% confidence intervals of -3.3 to -2.4 and -1.9, -2.4 to -1.5, respectively) and menstrual bleeding (-20.0, -26.0 to -14.0, and -13.0, -19.0 to -7.0, respectively), as well as the secondary outcome, i.e. rest duration and ibuprofen consumption. In terms of pain alleviation and menstrual bleeding, participants in the 300 mg magnesium group outperformed those in the 150 mg magnesium group. No significant difference was observed between intervention groups regarding secondary outcomes.

Both magnesium levels are useful in alleviating pain and reducing menstrual bleeding, although 300 mg of magnesium was more effective.

 COVID-19 has become a serious health problem worldwide.

 The current study investigated the prognostic factors associated with demographical parameters, clinical and vital signs, and laboratory results for predicting severity and mortality in patients infected with COVID-19.

 This retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 372 COVID-19-positive patients hospitalized at the Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital, Shoushtar, Iran, from Sep 2020 to Sep 2021. The association of demographic parameters, clinical and vital signs, and laboratory results with severity and patients' outcomes (survival/mortality) was studied. The patients were divided into the non-severe group (n = 275) and the severe group (n = 97). COVID-19 disease severity was determined based on the severity of pulmonary involvement using CT chest images. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software for Windows (version 18). Logistic regression analysis was employed using the Forward LR method to predict COVID-19 severity and mortality.

 The rates of mortality and the severe form of the disease were 87.1% (n = 324) and 12.9% (n = 48), respectively. A prognostic value was observed in predicting COVID-19 severity and mortality for some clinical and vital signs (diabetes (P < 0.001, P = 0.019), hypertension (P = 0.024, P = 0.012), pulmonary diseases (P = 0.038, P < 0.001), and anosmia (P = 0.043, P = 0.044) and paraclinical parameters (FBS (P = 0.014, P = 0.045), BUN (P = 0.045, 0.001), Cr (P = 0.027, P = 0.047), Neut (P = 0.002, P = 0.005), and SpO2 (P = 0.014, P = 0.001)). Cardiovascular disorders (P = 0.037), fever (P = 0.008), and dyspnea (P = 0.020) were also effective at predicting disease-related mortality. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that diabetes disease, the place of residence, PCO2, and BUN with R2 = 0.18, and age, pulmonary diseases, and BUN with R2 = 0.21 were involved in predicting the severity and mortality, respectively.

 It seems that in addition to the BUN, diabetes and pulmonary diseases play a more significant role in predicting the severity and mortality due to COVID-19, respectively.

Although living in a children’s home provides physical security, nutrition, and shelter, it may lack psychological security. Therefore, attention needs to be focused on the quality of life of children and adolescents living in children’s homes. This descriptive-analytic study was conducted from April to January 2015 to compare the quality of life and happiness in adolescents and children in residential care and those in parental care in Ahvaz. This study, using an available multi-stage random sampling method, was performed on 150 children and adolescents aged 18 - 8 years old, the information of 75 children available in residential care, and 75 children and adolescents in parental care were gathered. The result showed the mean quality of life scores and happiness in children and adolescents in residential care (80.8 ± 9.08, 67.05 ± 13.59) was significantly lower than the mean score quality of life and the happiness of children and adolescents in parental care (103.61 ± 8.88, 83.24 ± 15.92) (P < 0.0001). Children and adolescents in residential care had a lower quality of life and happiness than children and adolescents in parental care.

 Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a common psychosomatic disorder linked to menstruation in women at gestational age and can lead to absence from work and academic failure. 

 This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of PMS, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and associated factors among the female high school students.

 This descriptive-analytical study was carried using randomized classification method on 368  female high school students in Shoushtar, Iran in 2016. Data were collected by a demographic form and Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Chi-squared test, binomial test, Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation test at a significance level of P<0.05.

 The Mean±SD age of participants was 16.3±0.87 years. The prevalence of PMS in students was 53.5% and for PMDD it was 12.22 %. The most prevalent symptoms were mood, behavioral and physical symptoms. The frequency of PMS was higher in students with a positive family history.

 The prevalence of PMS in high school female students was relatively high. Since this problem can interfere with one's personal, social and academic activities, an educational program at schools and informing students in this regard can be helpful and effective in promoting the health and young girls.

The most vulnerable time to develop mood disorders such as sadness, depression, and psychosis is the postpartum period. Postpartum blues is the most common mood disorder and can endanger the relationships between mother, child and family, and in case of lack of appropriate treatment can cause irreparable damages.
The current study aimed at investigating the effect of evening primrose oil on the intensity of postpartum blues among primiparous females.
The current double-blind randomized, controlled, clinical trial was conducted from December 2012 to November 2013 on 132 primigravida females referred to health centers of Ahvaz, Iran. They were randomly divided into 2 groups of 66 to receive a daily dose of 1 g of evening primrose oil capsules (intervention group) or similar placebo capsules (control group) from the beginning of the week 37 week of pregnancy up to 2 weeks postpartum. Females in both groups were asked to complete the Edinburg questionnaire on the days 4, 10, and 14 postpartum. Data were analyzed using t test, chi-square test, and repeated measures, and P There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001) between the 2 groups regarding the severity of the postpartum blues (the severity in the intervention group was less than that of the placebo group, P = 0.0001). The score of Edinburgh questionnaire was significantly less in the intervention group compared with that of the control group on the days 4, 10 (P = 0.0001), and 14of postpartum (P = 0.01) (P = 0.014). The averages of Edinburgh score in the intervention group was significantly less compared with those of the control group on the days 4 (10.5 ± 0.57 vs. 13.3 ± 3.28; P = 0.0001), 10 (11.2 ± 1.22 vs. 14.9 ± 3.6; P = 0.001), and 14 postpartum (11.7 ± 1.3 vs. 13.05 ± 2.6; P = 0.08).
The use of evening primrose oil effectively reduced the severity of postpartum blues.

Evening primrose is one of the medicinal herbs with good effects which has been used in the treatment of multiple physical and mental problems and no side effects of its oral consumption has not been reported so far; therefore this study was performed with aim to evaluate the effects of evening primrose oilon prevention of postpartum grief in primiparous women referred to Ahvaz health centers.
This clinical double-blind randomized trial was conducted on 132 primiparous women referred to Ahvaz health centers in 2012-2013. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 66 cases to receive a daily dose of 1 gr of evening primrose oil capsule or similar placebo gelatin capsule from the beginning of 37th weeks of pregnancy up to two weeks after delivery. The samples were assessed by Edinburg standard questionnaire on days of 4, 10 and 14 after delivery. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 20), and independent t-test, Chi-square and repeated measures analysis test. P There was statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the risk of the postpartum grief, so that the risk of postpartum grief was lower in the intervention group than the placebo group (P=0.0001). The mean score of Edinburgh test in intervention group was significantly less compared to the control group on postpartum 4th day (p = 0.0001), 10th day (p = 0.001), and 14th day (p = 0.08).
The use of evening primrose oil is effective to prevent postpartum grief.

Since pain management is an important concern in childbirth. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of nitrous oxide in comparison with lidocaine in terms of pain relief, during episiotomy repair in primiparous women.
In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 120 pregnant women were recruited. The intervention group received nitrous oxide 2 minutes before starting episiotomy repair, until the end of the procedure. The control group received 5 mL of lidocaine (2%) before starting the episiotomy. The results of 2 groups were compared with regard to the pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS). Mann-Whitney, student’s t test, and chi square test were used to analyze the data.
Sixty women were studied in each group. Nine participants (15%) in nitrous oxide group, as opposed to 23 (38.4%) in lidocaine group, had moderate, severe or extremely severe pain (P = 0.005). In terms of satisfaction level, there was no significant difference between 2 groups (P = 0.713).
The results of this study showed that pain intensity in the nitrous oxide group was significantly lower than that in the lidocaine infiltration group. Application of nitrous oxide at least 2 minutes before repair may be an effective method for pain management in episiotomy repair.

Since there are relationship between omega-3 and depressed mood in different studies, and Evening primrose oil is rich of omega, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil on duration of postpartum blues among primiparous women.
This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2012-2013 on 132 primiparous women referred to health centers of Ahvaz. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 66 cases to receive a daily dose of 1 gr of evening primrose oil capsule (intervention group) or similar oral gelatin capsule (control group) from the beginning of the 37th weeks of pregnancy up to two weeks postpartum. The samples were assessed by Edinburg standard test on days 4, 10 and 14th postpartum. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20), and statistical tests of independent t, Chi-square and repeated measures analysis tests. P
There was statistically significant difference between two groups regarding the duration of postpartum blues, so that the duration of postpartum blues in the intervention group was less than the placebo group (p=0.004). The mean of score Edinburgh test in the intervention group was significantly less compared to the control group on the 4th day (p = 0.0001), 10th day (p = 0.001) and 14th day postpartum (p = 0.08).
The use of evening primrose oil is effective in reducing the duration of postpartum blues.

Since pain reduction is an important concern in childbirth, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of nitrous oxide in comparison with lidocaine on pain relief, during episiotomy repair in primiparous women.
A prospective randomized controlled trial method was used in this study and 120 term pregnant women were recruited. The intervention group received nitrous oxide 2 minutes before starting episiotomy repair, until the end of the procedure. The control group received 5 mL of lidocaine (2%) before starting the episiotomy. The results of the 2 groups were compared with regard to pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Mann-Whitney, student’s t test and chi-square test were used to analyze the data.
Sixty women were studied in each group. Nine participants (15%) in nitrous oxide group, as opposed to 23 participants (38.4%) in lidocaine group had moderate, severe or extremely severe pain intensity (P value = 0.005). In terms of satisfaction level, there was no significant difference between 2 groups (P value = 0.713).
The results of this study showed that pain intensity in the nitrous oxide group was significantly lower than that in the lidocaine infiltration group. Application of nitrous oxide at least 2 minutes before repair may be an effective method for pain management in episiotomy repair.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common health problem and has a profound effect on the quality of life and psychosocial aspects of the affected women. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of UI in reproductive age women.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2000 reproductive age women from February to June 2015. The women were selected from all of the primary health care centers of Dezful, using easy access sampling method. Body mass index (BMI) was measured and data were collected by demographic, detailed information regarding obstetric and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- Urinary incontinence – Short Form(ICIQ-SF) ICIQ-SF questionnaires.
The women’s mean age was 33.6±8, and 57.7% (1154) of them reported UI. The prevalence of UI subtypes was recorded in 38.2% (441) stress UI (SUI), 44.9% (518) mixed UI, and 16.9% (195) urge UI. There was a significant association between the mean of pregnancies, mean of deliveries, mode ofdelivery, abortion, neonate>4 kg, irregular menstruation and UI (P The findings suggest that a significant proportion of reproductive age women were undiagnosed with UI and MUI was the most common type of UI in this age group. Regular menstruation was a protective factor but older age and vaginal delivery were risk factors for UI in this study.

Delivery is potentially a stressful event. The maternal stress and anxiety, especially in the need for episiotomy, stimulates sympathetic system and leads to changes in vital signs which can have undesirable effects on maternal and fetal health. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to investigate the effects of entonox in comparison with lidocaine on vital signs during episiotomy incision in nulliparous women.
This randomized clinical trial was performed on 120 nulliparous women in 215. Intervention group received entonox two minutes before starting episiotomy incision and its repair and was stopped at the end of the incision procedure. Control group as routine received 5 ml lidocaine 2% before starting incision episiotomy. Vital signs were evaluated and compared before and after incision and episiotomy by pulse oximeter. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) and Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests. PResuts: There was no significant difference between pulse, oxygen saturationbefore and after of incision and repair of episiotomy, respiratory rate after of incision and before of repair episiotomy and systole and diastole blood pressure before and after of incision and repair of episiotomy (P>0.05). There was significant difference between two groups in terms of respiratory rate before incision and after of episiotomy repair (P Eentonox gas same as lidocaine when is used correctly has no adverse effects on mother's vital sign.

Episiotomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in obstetrics, which requires analgesia. Entonox gas is known to have analgesic and sedative properties. However, no studies have been found on the analgesic effects of Entonox on episiotomy incision. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of Entonox and lidocaine on pain intensity during episiotomy incision in nulliparous women.
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 120 term nulliparous women, who met the inclusion criteria. Subjects were selected by randomized sampling and equally divided into two groups of intervention and control (n=60). In the intervention group, Entonox gas was applied two minutes before episiotomy incision until the end of the procedure. On the other hand, the control group received 5 ml of lidocaine 2% as routine care before episiotomy incision. Data were collected using visual analogue scale to compare the study groups in terms of pain intensity. In addition, patient satisfaction with pain management technique during episiotomy and side effects of Entonox were assessed. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests, and P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
In this study, no significant difference was observed between the intervention and control groups regarding pain intensity (P=0.52). Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the satisfaction level of the two groups (P=0.70).
According to the results of this study, Entonox could be used as an effective and noninvasive alternative to lidocaine to reduce pain during episiotomy incision without significant side effects.