Search

Older adults are a vulnerable group and face a series of problems that are preventable by changing their lifestyle, so it is necessary to understand the healthy lifestyle and its related factors in older adults. This study aimed to determine the relationship between healthy lifestyle, self-esteem, and subjective vitality in the older adults of Sirjan. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included 200 older adults referred to community health centers in Sirjan in 2021. Older adults with inclusion criteria were selected by two-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected by demographic information questionnaire, the healthy lifestyle questionnaire for elderly, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the subjective vitality scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS20 and descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis, post hoc tests, and Spearman correlation coefficient). A significance level <0.05 was considered. The study results showed that the mean scores of healthy lifestyle, self-esteem, and subjective vitality were 134.42 ± 13.78, 36.34 ± 4.62, and 21.80 ± 2.85, respectively. We observed a direct and significant relationship between healthy lifestyle, self-esteem, and subjective vitality (p < 0.001). Considering the relationship between healthy lifestyle, self-esteem, and subjective vitality in older adults, managers and planners can help older adults to promote their healthy lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hookah is addictive and hazardous for health, but it has become popular particularly among adolescence. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Health Communication Efforts (HCE) based on the KAP model to reduce hookah use among adolescents in Sirjan, Iran. Methods: This was a pre- and postintervention study. Participants were 280 male and female adolescences who were selected randomly from the schools of Sirjan. The educational campaign was conducted for 3 months and participants were trained through interpersonal, group, organizational, and community channels and mass media. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire (containing 35 questions) by the participants before the intervention and 3 months after. Data were analyzed by chi-square, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and paired t-test, through SPSS20 software. Results: The prevalence of hookah smoking was 43.9% among the adolescence. There was a significant change in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice after the HCE (p <.05). Also, the prevalence of hookah smoking among the target group for those who had ever consumed decreased from 8.9% to 4.3% and for those who used it occasionally decreased from 35% to 19.6%. The windshield survey before and 6 months after the intervention, conducted in two major parks in the city showed that the number of people smoking hookah decreased as well. Discussion: The HCE was effective in reducing hookah smoking, and raising knowledge, attitude, and practice among the adolescence of Sirjan. Hence, this KAP-based campaign can be used as an educational intervention for preventing hookah use among adolescents. Translation to Health Education Practice: This study supports the suitability of HCE as an intervention for reducing hookah use and changing the social norms against using hookah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hookah smoking is now a serious health threat especially for adolescents. Implementation of planned interventions can help reduce hookah smoking. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a campaign Hookah is the Enemy of Health Campaign (HEHC) based on the protection motivation theory to prevent hookah smoking among the youth in Sirjan city, in 2018. This was a pre- and post-intervention study. Participants were 280 male and female youth who were selected randomly through the health centers of Sirjan. The educational campaign was conducted during 3 months and participants were trained through interpersonal, group, organizational and community channels and mass media. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire (containing 64 questions) by the participant before the intervention and 3 months after. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage), chi-square and Wilcoxon signed-rank test by SPSS20 software. The prevalence of hookah smoking was 44.3% in the target group. There was a significant change in the mean scores of knowledge and perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, response efficiency, self-efficacy, rewards, fear and protection motivation after the HEHC (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the structure of perceived cost (p > 0.05). Also, the prevalence of hookah smoking among the target group for those who had ever consumed decreased from 8.9 to 4% and for those who used it occasionally decreased from 35 to 19.4%. The HEHC was effective in reducing hookah smoking, raising knowledge and improving the constructs of the protection motivation theory among the youth of Sirjan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for chronic diseases in the world and its use is growing rapidly among the adolescents and youth. Health literacy is one of the major personal abilities in order to acquire, interpret and understand health information to prevent and control health problems. This study aimed to determine the association between health literacy and smoking among the young men in Sirjan, Iran. Methods: The present study was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study done on 200 males aged 18–24 selected by stratified random sampling. Demographic and health literacy questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 and by chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 20.7 ± 2.4 years, 38% did not smoke, 16% used cigarettes and 46% used hookah. Only 16% of those who used hookah had adequate health literacy. All variables except father's occupation and residence showed a significant correlation with health literacy. Based on logistic regression, there was a significant association between smoking and health literacy and its constructs (accessing, reading skill, perception, evaluation, and usage). Conclusion: The findings indicate that young men in Sirjan have inadequate health literacy about the dangers of smoking. Therefore, proper education based on the health education model is recommended to enhance health literacy and promote healthy behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing health care services has always been considered as a hazardous job due to a number of reasons. The risk of blood-borne viruses and the importance of their prevention has led to the formulation of principles called standard precautions (SPs). The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of an educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model constructs on the behavior of nurses in emergency centers regarding observing SPs in Sirjan, Iran. This was a quasi-experimental study. The study population included 100 emergency personnel working in health centers in Sirjan city (of Iran), who were randomly divided into two intervention (n = 50) and control (n = 50) groups. The educational intervention was conducted over two sessions each lasting for 60 min. Information was collected by a questionnaire (with 64 questions), completed in an interview conducted directly before the intervention and 3 months later. Data were analyzed using the χ 2 test, t -test and paired t -test.The results showed nurses did not have enough information about SPs, but after the intervention, knowledge scores increased in both groups. In the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs, significant differences were observed in perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action and self-efficacy, after the intervention, in the intervention group (P < 0.001), but not in the control group (P > 0.05). HBM was effective in educating SPs among emergency personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Women comprise a small yet rising prison population whose health needs have been disregarded in most communities. Spiritual health represents a health aspect and therefore should be studied. The aim of the current study was to compare spiritual health between female prisoners and nonprisoners. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 300 women (150 prisoners and 150 nonprisoners). Paloutzian & Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale was used to measure spiritual health. Demographic characteristics were gathered using a researcher-developed demographic questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using independent t-test and ANOVA in SPSS 16. Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.42 (9.9) years. According to the findings, Physical health, religious, and spiritual health levels were significantly lower among the prisoners than the nonprisoners. One-way ANOVA results demonstrated that spiritual health was statistically significantly associated with marital status, economic status, and history of neurological diseases in both groups. Conclusion: Female prisoners represent one of the vulnerable populations of the community and have low levels of spiritual health that is the most important human aspect and helps achieve meaning and purpose in life. It is necessary to adopt evidence-based, gender specific policies to promote female prisoners' spiritual health so that other health aspects of this population can be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]