Findings from this study suggest marital conflict with the spouse and conflict with other members of the family are risk factors for self-immolation. Screening, identification, and education of at-risk individuals on problem solving and other aspects of coping skills, as well as interpersonal relationships, could be appropriate preventive actions and strategies to reduce self-immolation in Iran.

Background:Patients' understanding of heart diseases and their related experiences can affect education and prevention of coronary heart diseases. As the patients' beliefs play a crucial role in the development of effective therapeutic relationship, psychological adjustment, and compliance with treatment recommendations. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes toward psychological risk factors for cardiovascular disease among patients referred to a cardiac rehabilitation center in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional study was performed on 775 patients referred to a cardiac rehabilitation unit in Imam Ali hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. Data were collected using clinical interview, patients' medical records, and Millon clinical multiaxial inventory (MCMI-III), and analyzed by descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 18. Results: The patients believed that the main cause of their illness is behavioral risk factors (42.0%). Then, they referred to psychological (36.3%), biological (4.3%), and environmental (3.8%) factors, respectively. 10.4% of the patients were not aware of the cause of their illness. Also, stress is the most important factor among the psychological factors (27.5%). The results showed that there was a significant difference among the patients in term of four attitudes (χ 2 = 820.356; P < 0.01); and behavioral and psychological attitudes (χ 2 = 6.025; P < 0.05). In fact, the patients identified behavioral problems as the main cause of their illness. Conclusions: According to the patients' attitudes, after the behavioral factors, psychological factors are the second cause of heart diseases. Therefore, ignoring these factors by members of the medical teams may lead to a poor performance of the treatments. As these factors are controllable, learning to control and manage them can prevent the development of subsequent cardiovascular events.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of sociodemographic factors in failure to complete outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR).MethodsThis was a retrospective study that used information obtained from the database of the cardiac rehabilitation department of a cardiac hospital in Iran. Data from 1,050 CR patients treated at the hospital between January 2001 and January 2013 was analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsOnly 49% of the patients completed the CR program. After adjustment for baseline variables, it was found that the following were significantly associated with failure to complete the CR program: illiteracy (p<0.001), old age (p<0.001), being an employee or retired (p<0.05), having a low capacity for exercise (p<0.001), depression (p<0.001), low anxiety (p<0.001), and not currently being a smoker (p<0.001).ConclusionPaying more attention to older patients with low literacy levels and limited exercise capacity, who are employed or retired, and who are not current smokers, and taking therapeutic measures to control psychological complications such as depression, may be effective in ensuring that patients complete outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

ObjectiveTo investigate predictors of depressive symptom aggravation at the end of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program.MethodsThe design of the study was retrospective. The administrative data were obtained from the database of the CR department of a heart hospital in Iran. The demographic and clinical information of 615 CR patients between January 2000 and January 2010 was analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe results showed that 10.7% of the patients completed the CR program with aggravated depressive symptoms. After adjustment for gender, age, and pre-intervention depression score, lower education level (p<0.05) and smoking (p<0.01) were significant predictors of increased depressive symptoms at the end of the program. Our model variables could explain 6% to 13% of the dependent variable variance.ConclusionThe results suggest that targeting patients who are less literate or who smoke could allow for taking the required measures to prevent or control depression at the end of a CR program. It is suggested that future studies consider other variables.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a six-month pedometerbased workplace intervention on changes in resting blood pressure (BP) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Methods: A subsample of ASUKIStep participants (n= 355) were randomly selected to have changes in their BP and CRF monitored during the intervention. Pedometers were used to monitor steps taken with a goal of walking more than 10,000 steps/day. Systolic and diastolic BP were taken using an Omron automated BP cuff. Estimated VO 2 max was obtained using the Åstrand-Rhyming cycle ergometer test. A multi-level growth modeling approach, and a mixed model ANOVA were used to predict changes in systolic and diastolic BP, and estimated VO 2 max over time by steps, age, gender, and university site. Results:Steps/day averaged 12,256 (SD=3,180) during month 1 and steadily decreased to month 6. There were significant linear and quadratic trends in systolic and diastolic BP over time. Age was positively related to initial starting values for systolic and diastolic BP, and approached significance for systolic BP changes over time. Steps/day approached significance for linear changes in systolic BP. There was a significant difference between ASU and KI participants' estimated VO 2 max. There was a significant change over time in the estimated VO 2 max. The number of steps taken was significantly related to changes in estimated VO 2 max over time. Conclusions:The results of the present study indicate that healthy individuals who took part in a pedometer intervention improved several cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Background:Regular physical activity (PA) enhances health and is an important factor in disease prevention and longevity. The 2008 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommends that all healthy adults attain at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic PA (e.g., brisk walking) to maintain and promote PA.Objectives:This study determined the effects of a 6-month pedometer-based worksite walking intervention with participants focusing on a goal of achieving 10,000 steps per day, on body composition in adults with a wide range of body mass index (BMI) values and compares the changes with outcomes of similar studies.Materials and Methods:The design was a single group, quasi-experimental study. All participants received a pedometer and were asked to register the daily number of steps. Men and women (n = 142; age = 41 ± 11.5 years; BMI = 27.2 ± 7.25 kg.m-2) received body composition measures at 1, 3, and 6 months. A multilevel growth modeling approach was used to explore change over time and to predict change by steps, age, gender, and fat category categorized as normal and overweight/obese.Results:Significant individual differences in linear slopes and change over time were observed for waist circumference (WC) (-3.0 cm) only in unconditional model (t = -0.67, P = 0.02).Conclusions:A 3.0 cm loss in WC shows that a 10,000 step per day walking program has the potential to influence changes in body composition measures that are correlated with adverse health outcomes. While significant changes did occur there are some limitations. The analysis did not consider the data regarding completing of 10,000 steps per day and other potential factors that could influence the results. Compliance to the walking dose and initial physical activity and body composition levels are important to consider when studying body composition changes in such programs.

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Regular physical activity as an important health promotion behavior has many results in prevention or delay of chronic diseases and premature death. The aim of this study was to establish the determinants associated with regular physical activity among college students based on social cognitive theory (SCT). This study was a cross-sectional study carried out among 212 students in Abadan school of medical sciences, in the south west of Iran, during 2016. Data collection was self-report questionnaire in four parts including: demographic information, constructs of SCT, and standard international physical activity questionnaire-short form (IPAQ), social support. Data were analyzed by SPSS-16, and by using bivariate correlations and logistic regression at 95% significant level. About 61.7% (108/175) had low, 33.7 (59/175) moderate, and 4.6% (8/175) vigorous physical activity. Outcome expectation (OR=1.710), self-efficacy (OR=1.523), and friends' support (OR=1.149) was the best predictor for regular physical activity. It seems the planning and implementation of programs for physical activity promotion among college students is essential by emphasising on outcome expectation, selfefficacy, and social support.