Designing and evaluation of the teaching quality assessment form from the point of view of the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences students - 2010

INTRODUCTION

Education is basically one of the Universities' and faculties' leading missions and duties; its promoted quality will also lead to an elevated educational quality in the University. Teacher assessment can be mentioned as essential for the success of the quality promotion process. This article deals with the designing and evaluation of a teaching quality evaluation form for teachers, from the Lorestan University of Medical Science students' point of view.

METHODS

A two-stage, cross-sectional study was conducted on 290 Lorestan University of Medical Science students. First, evaluation priorities were extracted using the Delphi technique in the fifth section, including teaching skills, communication skills, principles of training, and skills assessment. In the second stage, as the priority and importance of each item was evaluated in the fourth Lickert option, sampling was done in few stages. The study instrument was a questionnaire, which included six areas. The first part of the questionnaire was made up of the demographic characteristics and the second part included five evaluation areas that were obtained from the student. The collected data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS-16 and chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

In the areas of teaching skills, mastery of the course, individual characteristics, self-confidence, communication skills, intimate relationship with students, educational principles, rules respecting the beginning and end time of class, skill assessment, and an accurate comprehensive examination at the end of the semester by the students, were chosen as the most important factors. There were significant differences in the majority of expressed comments between the genders and academic status (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Students can properly diagnose the essential factors in teachers' evaluation, but in item prioritizing they may be partly affected by some factors such as gender, academic status, semester, and academic course.

Healthy lifestyle in teachers

INTRODUCTION

The role of individual healthy behaviors like physical activity, nutrition and stress management on reduction of rate of disease mortality and morbidity is well known. The aim of this study is to determine healthy life style in teachers employed in district No.4 in Isfahan, Iran, in 2010.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The participants of this cross-sectional study were 96 teachers in district No. 4, selected via random sampling method. The data collection was performed using a questionnaire including demographic healthy lifestyle questions. Analysis of the data was performed through Software SPSS version 18.

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects was 40.26 ± 6.05 years and, BMI mean was 25.08 ± 3.20. 96.8% of them were married and 3.1% also were single. 1% of the teachers had a weak lifestyle, 13.5%had moderate, 85.4% had a good lifestyle. In terms of nutrition, 2% of the teachers had a weak lifestyle, 23% moderate, 74% good. 76% in terms of physical activity, 29.2% smoking and 21.9% stress had a weak lifestyle.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, planning for teachers in school for receiving information about healthy lifestyle is important.

Exploring practice of Isfahan University of Medical Science students regarding using ecstasy based on health belief model in 2011

INTRODUCTION

Ecstasy consumption has increased 70% worldwide, and its use is currently outweighed heroin and cocaine. Conducted survey found that students more than other groups used ecstasy pills. Ecstasy usage has recently augmented in students. Therefore, this study aims to determine practice of Isfahan University of Medical Science students about using ecstasy based on health belief model in 2011.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 267 students of Isfahan University of Medical Science. Data were collected by a validated and reliable questionnaire in 3 parts (demographic information, H.B.M constructs, and practice). To analyze, SPSS software (ver.18) and statistical test including T-Test and Kruskal-Wallis were used.

RESULTS

The mean score of age was 20.95 ± 1.61 years, and 39.3% of men and 90.6% of women were single. 2.2% of students have used ecstasy pills. The mean score of H.B.M constructs was perceived susceptibility (72.75 ± 19.68), perceived severity (84.58 ± 16.98), and perceived benefits (80.43 ± 23.49). The finding presented that there was significant differences between the using ecstasy and perceived severity and perceived benefits (P ≤ 0.001), but there was no significant statistical relationship between the using ecstasy and perceived susceptibility and perceived barriers (P = 0.076, P = 0.554). In terms of cues to action, students suggested that radio and TV are most significance cues.

CONCLUSION

According to results, to prevent ecstasy usage among Isfahan University of Medical Science students based on health belief model, we should improve perceived susceptibility. Besides, radio and TV rules as the most important cues should not also be denied. Moreover, newly identified susceptibility indicates the need for quantitative research and behavioral trials.

Effectiveness of breastfeeding education on the weight of child and self-efficacy of mothers - 2011

BACKGROUND

Breastfeeding is the most natural and essential way for feeding newborn babies. This is an ideal approach for physical and emotional development of babies, as well as for the recovery of mothers. This study was aimed to determine the effect of breastfeeding education based on the health belief model (HBM) toward primiparous women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a case-control group, quasi-experimental study, 88 subjects were allocated in control and experimental groups. Subjects who were assigned to the experimental group were provided a program consisting of group education based on HBM during their prenatal period. Instrument for data gathering was made by the researchers and standard questionnaire from Dennis and Faux for Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale (BSES). Baseline interviews were conducted before delivery and follow-up visits were conducted after 30 days and at the fourth month after delivery. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16) with c(2), independent sample t-tests, and paired t-test.

RESULTS

Mean age of pregnant women who participated in the study was 22 ± 3.29 years. After the program, the experimental group had significantly better scores in terms of self-efficacy, knowledge, and attitude scores statistically. In the fourth month, the mean of child weight in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P=0.001) and exclusive breastfeeding was significantly higher than in the control group (P=0.007).

CONCLUSION

Prenatal education in this study based on HBM was successful, and knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and related indicators improved. The necessity of producing standard education package and education of pregnant mothers, especially in their first pregnancy, by health professionals is perceived.

Evaluating risk factors for protein-energy malnutrition in children under the age of six years: a case-control study from Iran

INTRODUCTION

Protein-energy malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems in Iran. It not only accounts for more than half of child mortality but can also produce somatic and mental impairment in survivors. The main aim of this study was to identify risk factors for protein-energy malnutrition in children under 6 years of age in Namin city.

METHODS

This was a population-based, multicenter case-control study. Seventy-six children with malnutrition and 76 children without malnutrition were randomly recruited for case and control groups. The prevalence of risk factors in the two groups was compared. Data were gathered from a health center database and interviews with mothers and health workers. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and logistic regression were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Female gender, poverty, short maternal height, and use of unhygienic latrines in the home were significantly associated with childhood malnutrition (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate four main factors (poverty, small maternal height, female gender, and absence of hygienic latrines in the home) as underlying factors in malnutrition of children under the age of 6 years.

Prevalence and chemo-therapeutical investigations of gastrointestinal nematodes in domestic pigeons in Lahore, Pakistan

The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was studied in 143 (80 male and 63 female) domestic pigeons. Faecal samples were collected to determine the gastrointestinal nematodes of domestic pigeons through qualitative and quantitative faecal examinations. A total of 48 (male 33 and 25 female) naturally infected domestic pigeons were divided into G1 (albendzdole) and G2 (fenbendazole) treatment-groups along with one control group (C). The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was 40.5% (58/143) in domestic pigeons. Likewise, the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in males and females was found 41.3% (33/58) and 39.7% (25/58) respectively. The overall prevalence of Capillaria obsignata and Ascaridia columbae was found to be 67.2% and 32.8%, respectively. The prevalence of C. obsignata and A. columbae in males was 72.7% (24/33) and 27.8% (9/33) and in females was 60% (15/25) and 40% (10/25), respectively. There was no significant sex related difference seen in the prevalence of C. obsignata (p>0.56) and A. columbae (p>0.40) in domestic pigeons, respectively. The overall efficacy of albendazole and fenbendazole was calculated to be 66% and 71%. A remarkable significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in eggs per gram before and after treatment in both G1 and G2 treated-groups. The efficacy of fenbendazole was found to be more significant (p<0.02) than albendazole.

The effectiveness of nutritional education on the knowledge of diabetic patients using the health belief model

BACKGROUND

Patients have a major role in the control and treatment of type 2 diabetes. So, knowledge of different aspects of this disease especially diet therapy is very important for these patients. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Health Belief Model (HBM) on nutrition education in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHOD

Eighty eight type 2 diabetic patients attending Iranian Diabetes Association seminars were randomly selected to participate in the study (44 in intervention group and 44 in control group). The intervention was consisted of two educational sessions each one for 80 minutes. Data were collected by a validated and reliable questionnaire (58 questions) before intervention and one month after intervention.

RESULTS

AFTER INTERVENTION, KNOWLEDGE SCORES INCREASED IN THE INTERVENTION GROUP COMPARED TO THE CONTROL GROUP (MEAN DIFFERENCES IN THE INTERVENTION AND TEST GROUP: 22.68 ± 15.90 vs - 2.27 ± 17.30, P < 0.001). Perceived susceptibility increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (27.5 ± 18.5 vs 3.9 ± 17.2, P < 0.001). The result was the same for perceived severity, perceived threatened and perceived benefits (P < 0.001). In contrast perceived barriers reduced in the intervention group compared to the control diet (-14.7 ± 13.3 vs 0.9 ± 13.9, P < 0.001). In the intervention group, behavior grades increased more than control group (34.61 ± 14.93 vs -0.23 ± 8.52, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of the health belief model in nutritional education to the diabetic patients was confirmed in the present study.

Targeting higher ferritin concentrations with intravenous iron dextran lowers erythropoietin requirement in hemodialysis patients

INTRODUCTION

Although clinical use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) since 1989 has improved anemia in most end-stage renal disease patients, there are still many hemodialysis patients unable to maintain an adequate hematocrit (HCT) without large doses of rHuEPO. This suggests that anemia is not solely a consequence of rHuEPO deficiency, but may be due to other factors including functional iron deficiency. Since the optimal prescription for iron replacement is not yet known, we evaluated the effect of intravenous iron dextran (IVFe) infusion on serum ferritin (SFer) concentration and rHuEPO dose. Our objective was to raise and maintain serum ferritin concentrations to 2 different levels above the National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative standard of 100 ng/ml to determine whether, and by what degree rHuEPO dose could be lowered.

METHODS

HD patients on i.v. rHuEPO with a SFer concentration > or = 70 ng/ml and an HCT of < or = 33% were enrolled. Subjects were divided as follows: Group 1: target SFer of 200 ng/ml, Group 2: target SFer of 400 ng/ml. Each subject below the target level received IVFe in up to 10 divided doses during consecutive dialysis sessions as needed to reach the target. HCT was maintained between 32.5% and 36% by adjusting rHuEPO dosage.

RESULTS

Mean SFer concentration at the study conclusion in Group 1: 261 ng/ml; Group 2: 387 ng/ml. The mean decrease in rHuEPO dose for Group 1 was 31 U/kg body weight/week (250 - 219 U/kg bw/wk) while in Group 2 it was 154 U/kg body weight/week (312 - 158 U/kg bw/wk) (p < 0.001). There was no difference in HCT between groups. Our results suggest that higher target serum ferritin concentrations can be well tolerated and lower rHuEPO requirements.