International Journal of Health Studies (IJHS - Shahroud University of Medical Sciences)
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Oral Manifestations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Rheumatology Clinic in Southeast Iran
Get PDFBackground: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as an autoimmune disease involving joints can cause oral manifestations in patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of oral manifestations in patients with RA referred to the rheumatology clinic of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2022.
Methods: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional observational study and included all patients with RA who were referred to Imam Ali Hospital, Zahedan Rheumatology Clinic for treatment in 2022. The method was non-probability convenience sampling and the obtained information was recorded in the information form made by the researcher. After collecting the data, the raw data was entered into the statistical software SPSS version 24 and analyzed using t-test and Fisher\u27s exact test.
Results: According to the findings of the present study, there is no significant difference between the frequency of oral manifestations of 55 patients with RA referred to the rheumatology clinic of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in the two groups of men and women (Pvalue=0.50). Also, the average age of people in the two groups of patients with oral manifestations and patients without oral manifestations is not statistically significant (Pvalue=0.50). The frequency distribution of oral manifestations of patients with RA showed that xerostomia was the most frequent among oral manifestations.
Conclusions: It seems that the frequency of oral mucosal lesions in people with RA is high and their importance can be emphasized as a possible complication of the disease
The Effectiveness of Family Therapy on Self-Forgiveness and Quality of Life in Self-Harming Adolescents
Get PDFBackground: The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of family therapy methods in enhancing self-forgiveness and overall quality of life among adolescents engaging in self-harm.
Methods: This study utilized a semi-experimental approach, employing a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design spanning over three months. There were three sets of participants, including two experimental groups made up of both girls and boys, as well as a comparison group. The data collection period for this research spans from July to November 2023. The sample for the study included 60 individuals who were chosen through purposeful sampling and assigned randomly to two experimental groups and a control group, with each group comprising 20 participants. The experimental groups consisted of a male group of 16 individuals and a female group of 14 individuals, who underwent seven sessions lasting 90 minutes twice a week. On the other hand, the control group, composed of 17 participants, did not receive any intervention. Research tools included the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) and the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). The method of data analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis H, ANOVA, MANCOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc tests and Tukey HSD at a significance level of 0.05 in SPSS.27 software.
Results: The results suggest that there was a notable difference in the levels of self-forgiveness observed during the post-test and follow-up stages(P<0.05). Moreover, there was no notable difference in terms of psychological health and social relationships between the two groups of self-harming girls and boys (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of the current research indicate that family therapy has a positive impact on self-forgiveness, mental well-being, and social connections.
The Association between Family Functioning and Aggressive Behaviors in Adolescents by the Role of Parental Mental Health as a Mediator
Get PDFBackground: Adolescents often experience changes in their hormones, psychology, and social environment, which can lead to the development of aggressive behaviors. This study aimed to examine how family dynamics are related to the aggressive behavior displayed by adolescents, with a particular focus on the role of parents\u27 mental health as a mediating factor.
Methods: In this descriptive-correlation study, the Path analysis was conducted to determine the associations of research variables. The statistical population included all female students of junior and senior high schools in Rasht in the 2017–18 academic year. The stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select 350 high school students. The research measurement tools included the Aggression Questionnaire, Family Assessment Device (FAD), and General Health Questionnaire–28 (GHQ-28). The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 27 software and the Smart PLS3 software as well as the structural equation modeling method. The significant level was set at 0.05.
Results: According to the research findings, all the Path coefficients in the research model were statistically significant. The results indicated that family performance had a negative and significant impact on aggression (β=-0.162, Pvalue<0.001), anxiety (β=-0.955, Pvalue<0.001), and depression (β=-0.904, Pvalue<0.001). Moreover, the family performance had a positive and significant effect on physical health (β=0.78, Pvalue<0.001) and social function (β=0.886, Pvalue<0.001), Physical health (β=-0.348, Pvalue<0.001) and social function (β=-0.073, Pvalue=0.024) also had a negative and significant impact on aggression as mediating variables. Additionally, anxiety (β=0.351, Pvalue<0.001) and depression (β=0.09, Pvalue=0.024) as mediating variables had a positive and significant effect on aggression.
Conclusions: Consequently, achievement motivation had a mediating role in associations of academic engagement with academic self-concept and academic support in gifted students. The findings can be used as an appropriate model for designing and developing certain programs to improve academic engagement and enhance the academic motivation of students.The findings of the current research demonstrated the impact of cognitive
The Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Improving Executive Functions, Performance and Attitude towards Reading in Children with Dyslexia
Get PDFBackground: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on improving executive actions, performance, and attitude toward reading in children with dyslexia.
Methods: In terms of nature, the research method is practical and semi-experimental. The research design was pre-test-post-test with the control group. The statistical population includes all male and female students between the ages of 8 and 12 who were dyslexic and referred to learning disabilities centers in Shahroud City in 2023, from which a sample of 30 people was selected purposefully. The data collection tool was the behavioral rating questionnaire of executive actions, the official test of reading and dyslexia (Karma Nouri and Moradi, 2017), and the attitude test toward reading (McKenna and Kerr, 1990). The experimental group underwent cognitive rehabilitation training for children with dyslexia using working memory software for 11 sessions of 60 minutes, and the control group did not receive training during this period. For data analysis, univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc test were used with the help of SPSS26 software.
Results: The results showed that cognitive rehabilitation training improved executive actions, reading performance, and attitude toward reading in dyslexic children. Therefore, it is suggested to use computer-aided cognitive rehabilitation due to its attractive environment and sound, image, and video for children with special needs who have a low threshold of patience and attention.
Conclusions: Because these children get tired and bored during training and need a strong stimulus to continue training, it is necessary to provide rewards at the time of success and by giving immediate feedback at the moment of failure
Using the Electronic Educational Package of the Stress Management Program for the Mental Health and Job Performance of Intensive Care Unit Nurses in the Face of Patients with COVID-19
Get PDFBackground: Due to nurses’ special job position, they are faced with a variety of illnesses and accidents in intensive care COVID-19 wards, which puts them in front of so many stresses that can cause anxiety and endanger their mental health. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the web-based stress management program on mental health and job performance of ICU nurses in the face of patients with COVID-19.
Methods: This study was a Quasi-experimental one, with pre-test, and post-test plan without control group using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the ACHIVE Job Performance Questionnaire. The stress management program was prepared as a multimedia product, the program consisted of eight parts and the duration of each part was ten minutes. The significant level was set at 0.05.
Results: Nurses\u27 job performance improved significantly after two weeks from the distribution of the web-based package to the participants and e-mail following the package use and completion of the tasks also 95.6% of nurses had symptoms of anxiety and depression, which became 58.8% after the intervention.
Conclusions: The web-based stress management program is useful for improving nurses\u27 mental health and job performance during and after the pandemic
Solving the Plastic Waste Crisis with the participation of People in Developing Countries, Case Study of Iran
Get PDFBackground: Iran is one of the top 10 countries in the world in terms of plastic consumption. This study aimed to solving the plastic waste crisis with the participation of people in Iran.
Methods: The study is a descriptive-analytical one that has been done from 2019 to 2022. The plastic waste produced in 9 provinces (out of 31 provinces) was sampled once a week for 12 months to determine the total weight and per capita per day. Also, the method of collecting and disposing of plastic waste was determined in different cities of the provinces. After that, a training program regarding the in-source separation of plastic and other municipal wastes was implemented in Semnan city to teach people how to reduce and separate their plastic wastes. Finally, a plastic recycling factory was designed and constructed in Semnan.
Results: The study indicates that the plastic waste per capita per day is about 56gr in the studied provinces. Also, currently, only 5% of the total plastic waste is collected separately and more than 95% of it is disposed of as mixed with other wastes. By carrying out an in-source separation and reduction program, the amount of plastic waste produced in this province decreased by 10% in two years, and also a plastic recycling plant with a capacity of 30 tons per day was constructed in Semnan city (the capital of Semnan province) which prevents disposing of 1050 Ton of plastic annually, resulting in environmental pollution preventing.
Conclusions: Based on the results, the implementation of a training program to reduce plastic production and the construction of plastic recycling factories can greatly decrease the plastic crisis in developing countries such as Iran
Community Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Practice for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Region, Northeastern Iran
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Background: Knowing the level of awareness, attitude, and performance of people is an important step in leishmaniasis prevention. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of people in Damghan district about cutaneous leishmaniasis in 2018-2020.
Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, for 500 people living in urban and rural areas, a semi-structured researcher-made questionnaire approved for content validity and reliability was randomly completed by a trained questionnaire and information was recorded and analyzed using SPSS21 software.
Results: The mean age of the subjects was 37.7, and 52.6% of them were in the age group of 20-40 years. 55% of people had poor knowledge, and 61% and 65% had moderate attitudes and performance, respectively. 97.2%, 72%, and 32.4% of the subjects did not know the agent, reservoir, and symptoms of the disease, respectively. To prevent the disease; 44.6% of people did not take any action, 54.2% installed nets on doors and windows, and also 28.5%, 40.2%, and 25.3%, respectively, always used mosquito nets, insecticide sprays, and insect repellent ointments.
Conclusions: Despite being the disease endemic in the region, the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of the people was weak to moderate. Therefore, raising the KAP levels of the county\u27s people about leishmaniasis is highly recommended.
Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Movement Therapy on Upper ExtremityFunctions and Cognitive Functions in Stroke Patients
Get PDFBackground: This controlled experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of immersive virtual reality-based movement therapy (IVRMT) on upper extremity functions (UEF), activities of daily living (ADL), and cognitive functions (CF) in chronic stroke patients.
Methods: Patients who met the inclusion criteria, were randomly assigned to the study (IVR) or control groups. Both of the groups received 60 minutes/day of conventional rehabilitation program and occupational therapy and the IVR group received 30 minutes/day of additional IVR-MT for six weeks. UEF was evaluated by the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), and the Box and Block Test (BBT), ADL was evaluated by the Barthel Index (BI), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and CF was evaluated with the Mini Mental Test (MMT).
Results: There were no differences between the IVR (n=15), and control (n=10) groups for demographic and clinical characteristics or baseline results of JTHFT, BBT, BI, SF-36, and MMT. At six weeks post-treatment there were significant improvements in the IVR group in scores for moving large light cans (Pvalue=0.001) and moving large heavy cans (Pvalue=0.003) in the JTHFT, in BBT scores (Pvalue=0.004), in MMT (Pvalue=0.033) and for physical functioning (Pvalue=0.008) in the SF-36. In addition, the change in score in the IVR group for moving large light cans (Pvalue=0.008) and moving large heavy cans (Pvalue=0.002) at week 6 was significantly larger than in the control group.
Conclusions: These results suggest that additional IVR-MT, in combination with conventional physiotherapy and occupational therapy might improve outcomes in UEF and CF in chronic stroke patients
Negative Spontaneous Thoughts and Depression in Adolescents with Suicidal Ideation: Mediating Role of Cognitive Distortion and Cognitive Flexibility
Get PDFBackground: This study aims to examine how cognitive distortion and cognitive flexibility contribute to the connection between negative spontaneous thoughts and depression among adolescents with thoughts of suicide.
Methods: This study constitutes a descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional research design, utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as the analytical approach. The target population for this research consists of all adolescents residing in Tehran from September to November 2023 who have previously attempted suicide. For this study, a sample of 214 adolescents with a history of suicide attempts was purposefully selected. The research instruments used in this study consisted of the BDI-II for measuring depression, the ICDS for assessing interpersonal cognitive distortions, the ATQ-30 for evaluating negative spontaneous thoughts, and the CFI questionnaire developed by Dennis and Vander Waal to measure cognitive flexibility. The research data was analyzed using the SPSS version 27 and SmartPLS version 4 software. The bootstrap method with a volume of 5000 was employed to examine the indirect relationships. In the same way, the significance of the mediator variable was examined using Sobel\u27s test.
Results: According to the findings, the helplessness component had a noticeable and adverse impact on the cognitive flexibility factor (β=-0.619, P<0.001). In addition, the cognitive flexibility variable was negatively and significantly influenced by the Individual incompatibility component (β=-0.225, P<0.001). Similarly, this particular component exhibited a significant effect on depression as well (β=0.159, p <0.001).
Conclusion: The findings of the current research demonstrated the impact of cognitive flexibility and cognitive distortion on mitigating individual incompatibility, negative self-concept expectations, and depression among adolescents with suicidal ideation.
The Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation in Improving Working Memory and Attention in Acute COVID-19 Survivors
Get PDFBackground: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in improving working memory and attention in acute COVID-19 survivors.
Methods: The current study utilized a quasi-experimental design with a Pre-test Post-test, and a control group. The target population consisted of all individuals suffering from acute COVID-19 in the city of Tehran. From this target population, 36 individuals were selected using purposive sampling. These 36 individuals were randomly assigned to two groups of 18, experimental and control. Assessments were conducted on the participants before and after the intervention. The experimental group received the RehaCom cognitive rehabilitation, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The data collection instruments were tests of working memory, selective attention, and divided attention from the RehaCom cognitive rehabilitation software. Data analysis was done using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS26 software. The significant level was set at 0.05.
Results: The findings showed that there was no significant difference in working memory between the experimental and control groups (P-value<0.05). Additionally, no significant difference was observed in the subscales of reaction speed and visual divided attention between the experimental and control groups. However, there was a significant difference in the subscales of auditory divided attention and reaction control between the experimental and control groups (P-value<0.05).
Conclusions: Considering the means of research variables in the Post-test stage, it can be concluded that cognitive rehabilitation can improve reaction control and auditory divided attention in acute COVID-19 survivors