mohammadi zeidi

As an essential element of health promotion programs، nutritional education improves the nutrition behaviors of students. The present study examined the impact of using the transtheoretical model to change breakfast and healthy snacks habits on education in elementary school students. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 300 students randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The data collection instrument an a standard questionnaire. Educational intervention was conducted in 4 sessions in groups of 10 students and one personal counselor. Data was collected before and 3 mo after training and was analyzed using SPSS 18. 0 software and chi square، McNemar، pooled t-test، pair t-test، and ANOVA with Scheffe statistical tests. The average age of students was 9. 36 ± 0. 45 yr with equal ratios of males and females. Before the educational program، no students reported that they were at the action and maintenance stage; after education، 40% of students in the experimental group reported being in the active stage of readiness (p<0. 001). Results indicate a significant increase in the prerequisites of behavior change for the experimental group (19. 02 ± 6. 19 to 41. 08 ± 4. 62)، process of change (53. 66 ± 13. 01 to 80. 96 ± 14. 71)، pros (43. 71 ± 8. 97 to 73. 01 ± 26. 89) and a decrease in cons (27. 03 ± 5. 89 to 16. 42 ± 3. 57) (p<0. 001). Breakfast consumption significantly increased and consumption of unhealthy snacks decreased significantly (p<0. 001). Educational intervention in the structure of the transtheoretical model created adequate changes in nutritional behavior of the students over a 3 mo period. Given the low cost and effectiveness of nutritional education-based change model، the need to generate such educational programs is crucial.

Measuring nursing student's competencies in spiritual care and their development is important and the application of a reliable and valid instrument is recommended in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Spiritual Care Competence Scale (SCCS) among nursing students. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 nursing students in Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Spiritual Care Competence Scale by Van Leeuwen et al, 2009 was translated into Persian and back-translated, then pilot study was performed to determine the cultural sensitivity. Construct validity was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency was estimated by Cronbach’s alpha and the average inter-item correlation. In addition, the test-retest reliability of the scale was determined in 20 subjects within two weeks. The order of the factors was entirely consistent with those extracted previously during the psychometric assessment of the English version of the scale. The cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.77 for the total scale and ranged from 0.65 to 0.85 for subscales. The inter-item correlations was statistically significant in all questions (P<0.05). The test-retest indicated that the translated scale and its subscales are reliable. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation yielded six factors with eigen values more than 1 that explained 63.18% of the variance. The subscales showed good homogeneity with average inter-item correlations more than 0.35 and a good test–retest reliability. The CFA of the six-factor model based on the EFA represented an acceptable fit. With regard to the results, the SCCS can be used for research, educational and practical purposes to assess paramedic's competency specially nurse's competencies qualified for spiritual care. The psychometric quality of the scale was satisfactory. Methodological limitations should be taken into account in any further development of the spiritual care competence scale.

Computer users are susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders. The association between musculoskeletal disorders especially low back pain and sitting posture in the occupational setting has been confirmed in available studies. The main aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on body posture modification and psychosocial mediating variables based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). In this quasi-experimental study، 75 computer users from Qazvin university of medical sciences who spent at least 20 hours per week at a VDT were selected to receive the ergonomic intervention، and the same number of students from Qazvin international university were assigned to a control group randomly. Both groups were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at a follow-up 3 and 6 months later. The following tools were used; the Rapid upper limp Assessment (RULA) method to assess upper-extremity work-related posture، self administrated questionnaire that evaluated TPB constructs and ergo – knowledge quiz. The tool’s internal consistency reliability، Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient، test–retest reliability، content and face validity were examined. The intervention included two program elements; theory-based brochure، and personalized preventive educational counseling. Data analyzed by χ2، independent t test، repeated measure ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis test. Total tools ’ psychometric value was acceptable. The intervention group had significantly higher scores than controls in ergo-knowledge، attitudes، perceived behavior control، intention، as well as nonneutral posture maintenance as goal behavior (P< 0. 05). At 3 and 6 months follow up، no significant differences were found between the two groups for subjective norms constructs. Intervention failed to improve RULA risk level to low and very low area (1، 2 level) and it only decreased the risk exposure to medium level. Our findings showed that the theory-based ergonomic interventions may improve work-related posture but this effect per se failed to decrease ergonomic risk factors to low level of risk exposure. The results suggest that preventive ergonomic activities would be more successful if educational intervention regarded as a part of multifaceted interventions that include at least two of the following aspects; analysis and elimination of risk factors، engineering and administrative controls.

Sexual problems in women are highly prevalent and frequently are associated with personal distress and impaired quality of life. The aim of the study was the validation of a translated and culturally adapted Iranian version of the FSFI - the IV-FSFI (Iranian Version of the Female Sexual Function Index).Subjects and In this cross-sectional study, 448 women (19 to 54 yr), after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria were eligible for this study. The instrument was translated into Persian, back-translated, and pilot tested to ascertain cultural sensitivity. Construct validity was evaluated by explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency was estimated with Cronbach’s alpha and the average inter-item correlation. In addition, the test-retest reliability of the measure was determined at a 4-week interval (n=362). Discriminant validity was assessed with between-groups analysis of varianceThe overall test-retest reliability coefficients were high for each domain of the IV-FSFI (r ranging from 0.73 to 0.86) and the internal consistencies within the acceptable range (αfrom 0.72 to 0.90). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed a best fitting five-factor structure similar to the original FSFI. CFA confirmed the underlying domain structure, supporting the factorial validity of the IV-FSFI. In conclusion, the newly developed IV-FSFI has demonstrated to be a reliable and valid instrument with good psychometric properties that allows a quick and accurate preliminary screening of women with unknown sexual health status in clinics and others medical settings.

Low level physical activity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases and evidences suggest that the level of physical activity is decreasing. Reversing this trend depends on a behavior change by most people. However, the associations between various psychosocial determinants and physical activity are not well understood. The aim of this study was to predict the stages of change in physical activity behavior of QUMS students by Pender’s model. This cross-sectional survey was carried out at Qazvin University of Medical Science in 2008. A total sample of 222 students completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of an exercise measure, constructs of health promotion model, and assessing the stages of exercise behavior change. A test-retest method was applied to determine the reliability while the Cronbach‘s Alpha used to confirm internal consistency. Face & content validity were confirmed in this study. Also, ANOVA and Path analysis were performed to determine the associations between these constructs and stage of physical activity behavior change. More than half of students were in inactive stage and exercised for 41.62 minutes a week on average. Exercise self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits were found to be significant predictors of the stage of exercise behavior change among medical students. Only Self-efficacy and stages of change (P<0.001) could directly predict the significant variance of physical activity while other constructs from Pander’s model indirectly influenced the physical activity behavior through mediating stages of change construct. Perceived benefits (P<0.001) directly and perceived barriers inversely (P<0.001) were predictor of stage of exercise behavior. Perceived health status could indirectly influence the stage of change via perceived benefit. Our results indicated that the change in stage of readiness for exercise is probably dependent on the student’s perceptions of exercise self-efficacy, benefits and barriers as well as the perceived health status to engage in physical activity. Furthermore, the results of this study made moderate support for the health promotion model constructs to predict physical activity and exercise stage of change.

Obviously, decreasing the work-related musculoskeletal disorders is well achieved through the application of ergonomic design principles however, there are occasions in which the existence of some barriers (technical and economical) can preclude ergonomic improvement and therefore, some organizations rely on correct task performance methods. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of educational intervention on worker’s knowledge increase, attitude change, and ergonomic habits promotion. In this interventional study, workers were randomly assigned to one of the two study groups: a case group receiving the ergonomic training (n=75), and a control group (n=75). Ergonomic training program composed of five sessions of 30–45 minutes duration containing issues such as ergonomic science, human body mechanic, upright and awkward postures, pros and cons of upright posture maintenance, and solutions for removal of obstacles, stretch exercise for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, and workstation adjustment. Data were gathered before and 3 months after intervention by self- reporting questionnaire and checklist. Reliability was assessed by test-retest method and the internal consistency evaluated by Cronbach's Alpha. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2 test, McNemar test, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Worker’s knowledge significantly increased from 7.97±2.91 to 14.07±1.98 and the attitude change from 14.29±6.5 to 21.63±4.7 three months after educational intervention (p> 0.05). No significant change was observed in control group. Regarding the ergonomic risk factors, our findings were indicative of significant change in general body and feet posture, trunk, neck, and wrist and hands postures while other ergonomic risk factors remained unchanged Results from this study emphasize on necessity of integrated educational-managerial and engineering approach to promote the workplace ergonomic condition as well as considering the substantial role of psychosocial factors such as knowledge and attitude and focusing on personal skills for improving ergonomic habits to achieve a higher level of health promotion among human power.