Want a healthy life: A qualitative study on motivation to cease alcoholic drink addiction

Background: The alcoholic drink level of consumption is still high, particularly among adolescents and adults. Continuous consumption of alcoholic drinks can lead to addiction, making it difficult to cope with; however, some individuals with such a situation are could cease the habit. This study aims to explore the process of individuals breaking away from alcohol dependence. Methods: The research approach used qualitative with a phenomenological design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain in-depth data from eight subjects selected according to purposive sampling criteria. The data was analyzed using a descriptive phenomenological method. Results: The study results found four main themes for quitting alcoholic beverages: the influence of the experience of becoming an addict, a strong internal desire to quit, being threatened by biological impacts, internal and external driving factors to quit. Conclusion: Based on the findings, individuals who want to quit addiction must have a strong desire, consider the biological impact on health and have internal and external driving factors.

The Role of Contextual Factors in Cyberspace Harm, Anxiety, Aggression, and Students' Academic Performance

Background: Nowadays, cyberspace has presented both concerns and interests for the educational researchers. This study aimed to investigate the role of contextual factors in cyberspace harm, anxiety, aggression, and academic performance. Methods: A descriptive correlation research method was applied. The research population covered all high school students in Yazd (21,328 students). The number of 377 students were chosen as the sample through a stratified sampling based on the Cochran's formula. The research tools included the questionnaires of contextual factors, and the standard scales of cyberspace harm, anxiety, aggression, and academic performance. The validity and reliability of the scales were determined. Data were analyzed by variance, t-test, and Tukey post hoc test. Results: The findings showed that there are significant differences in cyberspace harm according to some contextual variables such as gender, educational and academic levels, educational district, type of school, field of study, and parents' occupation. More precisely, the harm of cyberspace was more high among the schools of District 2, non-public schools, and the academic field of humanities. Moreover, there was no relationship between the parents' education and the other variables. However, there was a significant relationship between the parents' occupation, regarding the employed mothers, as well as anxiety. Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that cyberspace could provide students some challenges as it is affected by various contextual factors. According to the findings, several practical suggestions were presented in the study.

Assessment of Knowledge on the Mode of Transmissions and Preventions of Hepatitis-B Among Undergraduate Students in Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis B, which is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a global health problem that has resulted in high morbidity and mortality with knowledge and awareness about the occurrence and mode of transmissions relatively low among the populace. Therefore, this study examined knowledge on the mode of transmission and preventions of hepatitis B among undergraduate students in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive research was used, and a multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select three hundred respondents which comprised male and female from three tertiary institutions in Lagos state in 2019. Hepatitis B Knowledge Questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.74 was used for data collection. The descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentages was used to analyse the demographic characteristics of respondents while the chi-square test was used to determine associations between categorical variables Results: The results revealed that a high proportion of the respondents had poor knowledge about the transmission and prevention of hepatitis B.. The result revealed that the p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically insignificant. Therefore, the study revealed that there is no significant relationship between gender and hepatitis B Conclusion: A critical level of public awareness and vaccination coverage, particularly among students, is essential to decrease Lagos' burden.

Role of Clergywomen in Promoting Preventive Breast Cancer Behaviors Among Muslim Women in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore Iranian women’s perceptions, behaviors, and beliefs related to breast cancer screening readiness, with a focus on the role of religion. Methods: Our sample consisted of 25 women, 35 to 65 years old, who resided in Tehran, Iran. It included 15 at-risk women (self-reported history of breast cancer before the age of 40 in their family) and 10 others with a history of breast cancer. All interviewees were Muslim who spoke Persian (Farsi). The women were chosen using purposive sampling. We used a qualitative content analysis design with a constant comparative analysis approach, which is appropriate for obtaining reliable and valid results from textual data. Results: The overarching theme apparent from transcript analysis was that of “Clergywoman Can Play a Role in Increasing Awareness”. Four categories, namely, (1) Lack of information regarding breast cancer screening, (2) Awareness can improve self-care, (3) Religious outlooks of participants can influence early detection behaviors, (4) Clergywoman can play a role in increasing awareness, were identified. However, we found that the majority of interviewees lacked information about breast cancer screening and prevention. This was often both the cause and the effect of fear and misunderstandings about the process. Furthermore, we found that religious authorities, particularly clergywomen, who speak from a religious perspective, could play a significant and effective role in convincing women to pursue prevention measures. Additionally, we found that many women emphasized that religious gatherings, or framing health messages in a religious narrative, could be a significant step forward in advocating early detection behaviors. Conclusion: Our study shows that religion is a motivating factor in breast cancer early detection behavior and offers new insight into women’s perceptions of self-care. It highlights a potentially significant role of clergywomen in encouraging women in Tehran, Iran to pursue breast cancer screening.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Dengue: A Study among the Inhabitants of Malibagh of Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Background: Dengue remains a major public health challenge causing death among many people in Bangladesh. The magnitude of dengue-related illness and death has significantly increased over recent years. Study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Dengue fever. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 193 males and females who consented to participate in the study. Respondents were included purposively from selected areas in Malibagh an area classified as a stable dengue-prone region of the capital city. The survey was carried out by face-to-face interview using a pre-tested standardized and structured questionnaire. Results: The results reveal that dengue infection occurred in 20.2% of residents. Only 27.5% had a good knowledge score (8 out of 11 items), and 83.9% had a positive attitude, while 34.2% had a good compliance practice. Knowledge was significantly associated with education, income, and age (p < 0.05). Misconceptions existed about the transmission of dengue – more than one-third (36.8%) reported that the Aedes aegypti mosquito could only breed in clean water, and 32.1% were aware of the biting time of the mosquito. Most participants (55.4%) strongly agreed that dengue is a serious illness, and over half (65.3%) reported that it could be prevented with coverage of vector control interventions. The majority (64.2%) used mosquito nets as a preventive measure, while over one-third (35.2%) reported they discarded waste, containers, and non-used bottles across their yards that hold water. Although the respondents had quite positive attitude of preventive measures regarding dengue (83.9%), a sizeable number (34.2%) did not put this attitude into practice. Conclusion: Poorly planned urbanization combined with an explosive urban population in the capital city has brought the mosquito and the human host into close proximity. The government should launch health education programs on dengue prevention to educate the community members, addressing misconceptions about their preventive measures and on how they could eliminate the risk factors related to practices.

Be Pouya! (Metaphor for Iranian Clients During Pandemic COVID-19)

The article's abstract is not available.

The Effectiveness of Buckroyd’s Group-Based Therapeutic Approach on Increasing Efficiency Life Style and Improving Body Self-Image

Background: Group teaching can create empathy in teaching sessions. Therefore the objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of team teaching based on Buckroyd’s Method on lifestyle, self-efficacy and body image structure of the women with obesity in the city of Isfahan. Methods: This study was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest and control group and follow-up. The statistical population of the study included all people with obesity referring to clinics in the city of Isfahan from whom 30 women with obesity were selected through purposive sampling from Sepahan Health clinic in 2014 and then they were put into two groups of fifteen (experimental and control). A therapeutic intervention based on Buckroyd Method was administered on the experimental group during 16 two-hour sessions twice a week. The measurement instruments in this study were BMI scale, demographic information form, life style self-efficacy questionnaire and body image questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (repeated measures variance) were used to test the hypotheses using SPSS software (version 23) at 0.05 level of error. Results: The results showed that team teaching based on Buckroyd Method has been effective on the increase of life style self-efficacy (p < 0.001) and the improvement of body image (p < 0.001) as the mean score of life style self-efficacy and body image structure have increased after team teaching at the post-test stage and it could maintain this increase in time (follow-up stage). Conclusion: Buckroyd Method can be employed in the increase of life style self-efficacy and body image structure in the obese women.

Social Support for Exercise and Its Effect on Physical Activity Level among Female Teachers

Background: Determining the level of physical activity and factors in female teachers can be effective in planning health promotion interventions. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the level of physical activity and social factors affecting female teachers in Rafsanjan. Methods: in this descriptive study, the level of physical activity and the social factors were examined in 198 female high school teachers in Rafsanjan City in 2019. The International Short Form Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine physical activity levels. Sallis's social support questionnaire for exercise was used to determine the level of social support. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 and chi-square and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: The level of physical activity in female teachers was lower than the recommended level so that only 34.3% had the minimum physical activity at the recommended level. In terms of intensity of physical activity, most physical activities were reported as walking. The physical activity of this group was not statistically significant based on age (p = 0.09), work experience (p = 0.70), level of education (p = 0.28), and income level (p = 0.082). Also, there was a significant correlation between all types of physical activity and social support in all aspects. Conclusion: Providing social support for exercise by family and friends has been identified as an effective physical activity factor. Therefore, it seems necessary to design educational programs to improve teachers' awareness and attitude, emphasizing the creation of a supportive environment by family, friends, and even related organizations.

Comparing the Lifestyle of Veteran and Non-Veteran Families

Background: Considering the role of lifestyle in promoting, maintaining, continuity health and the importance of paying attention to the veterans and their families who have suffered a lot in order to sacrifice for the homeland, the present study intends to compare the lifestyle among veterans and non-veterans in Mashhad city. Methods: This study was conducted using a survey method. The statistical population included the veteran and non-veteran families of Mashhad. A total of 360 questionnaires were filled out in this city. The research instruments were Lifestyle Questionnaire (LSQ) and All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS v.24. Results: There is not a significant difference between the mean scores of lifestyle in the two groups of veteran and non-veteran in Mashhad (p > 0.05). The comparison of mean lifestyle scores also showed that there was no significant difference between the lifestyle scores of men and women in the non-veteran group and the mean scores of the single and married lifestyle in the veteran and non-veteran group (p > 0.05). There is a significant relationship between education level and health literacy of veteran and non-veteran families with their lifestyle, age, and employment status. They are also related to the lifestyle of their life because of the status they provide for the sacrifices. Conclusion: Comparison of the two groups in terms of lifestyle indicates that the veterans are in a less favorable position than non-veterans in terms of some aspects of lifestyle such as physical health, exercise and health, disease prevention and mental health.

Effectiveness of Spiritual Therapy on Loneliness Feeling in the Seniors Present at Nursing Homes

Background: Moving away from family can cause psychological and emotional trauma for the elderly. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual therapy on loneliness feeling among the elderly in a nursing home in Isfahan. Methods: The method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The population of this study included all of the elderly in Sadeghieh nursing home in Isfahan in 2018. The sample of this study included 30 elderly people being selected by purposive sampling and then randomly included in the experimental and control groups (15 elderly people in each group). The experimental group received the therapeutic interventions related to spiritual therapy at eight sessions of 90 minutes every week for two months. Then, the subjects in both groups were re-tested. The used instruments included Russell’s loneliness questionnaire (1996). After collecting the questionnaires and extracting the raw data, the data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance by SPSS23 statistical software at 0.05 error level. Results: spiritual therapy had a significant effect on loneliness among the elderly in the nursing home (p < 0.001). In this regard, this therapy could reduce loneliness among the elderly in the nursing home. The effect of spiritual therapy on loneliness among the elderly in the nursing home was 53%. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, spiritual therapy can reduce loneliness among the elderly by the techniques such as taking responsibility, assigning cases to God, strengthening the intention, and deleting negative thoughts.