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Background and Objectives: Health Literacy has been defined as the cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. People with inadequate health literacy have poorer health status. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the status of health literacy and its relationship with general health status, use of health services and preventive behaviors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 400 individuals aged 18 to 65 years in Balochestan, Iran. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used. Data were collected using Health Literacy for Iranian Adults )HELIA) questionnaires. Data analyses were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney, using SPSS )version 18). Results:The mean age of the studied population was 9.29 ± 28.7 years. Only %32 of adults were found to have adequate health literacy. Inadequate health literacy was more common in older people, ones with fewer years of schooling or lower household income, and females. The health literacy level was associated with outpatient visits, screening, and health status. Individuals with higher levels of health literacy had performed screening more than others. conclusions: Due to the low health literacy level in the target population, educational interventions are needed to develop health literacy skills in the community.

Background:Smoking among the youth is an important public health concern. Although several studies have investigated the correlates of smoking behavior, no theory-based study has particularly assessed this problem among medical students.Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict smoking behavior among a sample of Iranian medical students.Patients and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Ahvaz, Iran, 2014. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, which included items on demographics, smoking behavior, and components of the TPB model (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and intention), and an added construct on smoking refusal skill. Data were analyzed using descriptive correlation, and linear regression statistics by SPSS, version 16.Results:One hundred and seventy medical students with a mean age of 21.25 (SD = 2.9) years were enrolled in the study. Of them, 24 (13.5%) students were smokers. All components of the TPB model and smoking refusal skill were statistically significant as to intention to smoke (P < 0.001). The TPB constructs with and without smoking refusal skill accounted for 77% (adjusted R2) and 78% of the variance observed for intention to smoke, respectively. The results also revealed the highest weight for perceived behavior control (β= -0.40).Conclusions:The findings of this study indicated that all TPB variables are useful tools for prediction of the smoking behaviors among students. Particularly, students’ perceived behavioral control and attitudes towards smoking were found to be important determinants of smoking intentions. Thus, the findings could be used for planning effective tobacco control programs targeting University students.

Background: Diabetes as the most common metabolic disorder is an important global challenge. Diabetes needs self-care for one's entire life. Objectives: The aim of study was detecting the effect of health belief model program on decreasing blood sugar level in diabetic patients of Zahedan city in 2011. Patients and Methods: After choosing 138 diabetic type 2 patients from Zahedan diabetic center, they were divided into two random groups (case and control groups each of them 69 patients). Data was collected using a questionnaire based on the health belief model, and checklist related to patient practices. Reliability and validity of questionnaire was examined. Data collected before the intervention and three and six months after educational method intervention were analyzed by the SPSS software. Results: According to the results there is a significant statistical difference between average numbers of models before and after educational intervention (p < 0.001). Also HbA1c and FBS after educational intervention were lower (p < 0001). Conclusions: Applying the HBM Model proved is very effective in developing an educational program for diabetics, to control their blood sugar. Besides such programs, follow up education for controlling and monitoring are highly recommended.

Background Tooth decay is one of the diseases that is closely related to people’s behaviors and it can have adverse effects on their performance and their success in the future. Brushing twice a day is the simplest and most effective way to reduce tooth decay. The study aim was to determining the roles of correlational factors based on the Pender’s health promotion model in brushing behavior of ninth grade students at urban public schools of Guilan province during the academic year 2019. Methods The present study was cross-sectional and had a descriptive-analytical type. We performed the multi-stage random sampling on 761 ninth-grade students (374 girls and 387 boys) at urban public schools of six counties (ten cities) of Guilan province in 2019. The primary tool was a questionnaire on oral health behaviors focusing on brushing behavior. In the present study, which was conducted only on brushing behavior, we revised and changed the initial questionnaire during the sessions of the research team, and then confirmed its validity and reliability. The questionnaire consisted of three parts, demographic characteristics, constructs of health promotion model, and brushing behavior. We analyzed data in SPSS 21 using regression models. Results 20.1% of students brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Optimal behavior had a statistically significant relationship with parents’ education level, and gender. Based on the regression model, the health promotion model constructs described 58% of the variance of the commitment to plan of action. Perceived self-efficacy, situational influences, and perceived barriers of action had significantly stronger relationships with commitment to plan of action respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that one-unit increase in scores of commitment to plan of action and self-efficacy increased the chance of desired behavior by 12 and 14% respectively. Conclusion Due to the low rate of brushing behavior in the students and the predictive power of the health promotion model in brushing behavior, we suggest planning and implementation of educational interventions for this group with an emphasis on influencing the commitment to plan of action, self-efficacy, and also the level of knowledge.

BackgroundThe occurrence of occupational accidents is a serious public health issue in industrial workers and may impose life jeopardizing complications. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a training intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on helmet use of workers in cement factories in Khoy and Urmia, Northwest of Iran.Materials and methodsThis study was a controlled quasi-experimental investigation (before and after) which was conducted on 170 workers employed in Khoy and Urmia cement factories, Northwest of Iran. Eighty-five eligible subjects from Khoy (as intervention group) and 85 similar samples from Urmia (as control group) were selected and recruited. A valid and reliable four-part questionnaire was used to collect the data including socio demographic information, awareness, the theory constructs, and the behavior. After completing the study questionnaire and needs assessment, a specific educational program was implemented on the intervention group only. The effects of education were compared between the groups before and after intervention. The posttest was applied 1 month after educational intervention.ResultsThe mean age of workers in the intervention and control groups was 34.32 ± 8.19 and 33.62 ± 6.17 years, respectively. Before education, the mean score of awareness and helmet use behavior of intervention group was 6.15 ± 3.4 and 5.35 ± 2.8, but after education, those changed into 13.61 ± 3.10 and 9.15 ± 1.65, and the differences were significant (p < 0.01). In addition, before education, the mean score of attitude, subjective norm, behavioral control, and behavioral intention of intervention group was 27 ± 5.17, 37.74 ± 6.92, 29.56 ± 6.17, and 17.65 ± 4.90, respectively. After education, the mean score of those changed into 37.26 ± 4.76, 48.34 ± 5.64, 42 ± 8.07, and 24.79 ± 5.33, respectively, and changes were statistically significant (p < 0.01), while no statistically significant differences were observed in awareness, the behavior, and the theory constructs in the control group after the intervention.Conclusion and recommendationsThe TPB-based educational approach had a remarkable effect on helmet use of workers. Applying this theory to improve workers’ personal protective behaviors is recommended and emphasized.

OBJECTIVESThalassemia is a common genetic disease in Iran, especially in the north and south of Iran. The present study sought to determine the survival rate of patients with thalassemia in highly endemic regions of Iran and its variation in patients born before and after 1971.METHODSThe present historical cohort study extracted data from the health records of patients with beta-thalassemia major, beta-thalassemia intermedia, and sickle beta-thalassemia who had presented to thalassemia treatment centers in the past years. The collected data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier test, the log-rank test, and the chi-square test.RESULTSOf the total of 5,491 medical records (2,647 men and 2,634 women; mean age, 23.81±11.32 years), 3,936 belonged to patients with beta-thalassemia major, and 999 and 89 to patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia and sickle beta-thalassemia, respectively. In 467 cases, the type of thalassemia was not clear. The cumulative survival rate was calculated as 0.92, 0.83, 0.74, and 0.51 by ages 25, 35, 45, and 55, respectively. The hazard ratio of death was 4.22 (p<0.05) for beta-thalassemia major and 0.77 for beta-thalassemia intermedia (p=0.70). It was calculated as 1.45 for men patients and as 3.82 for single patients.CONCLUSIONSThe present study showed relatively high survival rates in patients with thalassemia. The survival of patients was unfavorable in poorer regions (Zahedan and Iranshahr). Factors including women gender, a higher level of education, being married, and living in metropolises decreased the risk of death at younger ages and improved survival.

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