The strongest predictors of compliance with health protocols among marketers and guilds based on the transtheoretical model.

BACKGROUND: Global communication, an integral part of modern life, increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases to individuals. Based on the transtheoretical model (TTM), this study aimed to identify the most effective factors in adherence to health protocols among marketers and guilds. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 market sellers and guilds of Ardabil City, Iran, in 2023. The TTM questionnaire was distributed among the participants which included four sub-constructs: (1) stages of change, (2) process of change, (3) self-efficacy, and (4) decisional balance. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. One-way ANOVA and linear regression tests were employed to evaluate the prediction of effective factors of the stage transition. RESULTS: Most participants (63.5%) were between 21 and 40. Most participants (65.5%) were in the passive stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation). Pros (ß = 0.133, P < 0.001) and behavioral processes of change (ß = 0.058, P < 0.001) were the strongest predictors of the stage of change or improvement of stages of participants' willingness to follow health protocols. CONCLUSION: A correct understanding of the stages of behavior change can strengthen strategies for promoting healthy behaviors. Also, understanding the benefits of healthy behavior means compliance with health protocols and behavioral processes such as stimulus control, reinforcement management, counterconditioning, and self-liberation, along with high self-efficacy, have an impact on improving the stages of behavior change.

Components of hospital personnel preparedness to evacuate patients in disasters: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: During natural catastrophes, hospital staff members' readiness for crisis management-particularly concerning patient evacuation and improving their safety-becomes paramount. This study aimed to identify the components contributing to hospital staff members' preparedness to evacuate patients in an emergency. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted by searching databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and grey literature through May 2023. Studies that offered unique qualitative or quantitative data regarding hospital personnel readiness to evacuate patients in an emergency were included. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used to examine the extracted data points. RESULTS: In total, there were 274 scientific articles. The total number of unique studies decreased to 181 after removing duplicate articles. 28 papers that were deemed appropriate for additional study were found based on the titles and abstracts of these articles. Eighteen papers that met the inclusion criteria were selected for the systematic review after their entire texts were finally assessed. Hospital staff preparedness for patient evacuation was divided into four primary topics and nineteen sub-themes. The four primary themes that emerged were management, communication, individual issues, and training on the evacuation process. CONCLUSION: The implementation of proper disaster evacuation training programs can be achieved by elevating the perceived sensitivity and protective motive of personnel and considering the personnel's stages of change. Training hospital staff to properly evacuate patients during disasters is also significantly impacted by other factors, such as effective administration, leadership and prompt and efficient communication.

Pet Owners Risk Perception and Risk Communication in Disasters in Developing Countries.

Disasters can cause great physical and financial damage to pet owners in developing countries. These effects lead to severe psychological side effects on individuals and families. With the tendency of families to keep pets in these countries, many challenges have arisen regarding how to manage these pets before, during, and after disasters. Therefore, mitigation, prevention, and preparedness measures for these families should be prioritized in the disaster management cycle to minimize psychological effects such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after losing pets.

Predisposing factors of using cosmetics in Iranian female students: application of prototype willingness model.

Background and aim: The use of cosmetics among Iranian teenagers and youths has increased more than ever before. This study investigated the predisposing factors of cosmetic use in female students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences by using the prototype willingness model (PWM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 students, selected based on multistage sampling. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire that included demographic variables and PWM questions. Then multiple regression analysis was used in SPSS (version 20). Results: There was a significant difference in the frequency of daily cosmetic use based on the education levels (F = 3.845, p-value = 0.034). The average daily use of cosmetics was higher in students whose use of cosmetics was high in their family (p = 0.024) and friends (p-value = 0.023). Prototypes were the strongest predictor of using cosmetics (OR = 1.317, p-value <0.001), followed by attitude (OR = 1.241, p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Prototypes (social imagination) and attitudes were the main predictors of using cosmetics among female students. To be effective in targeting cosmetic use, interventions must target both social and individual paths.

Risk perception and preventive behaviors related to brucellosis among Iranian livestock farmers.

Background and Aims: Brucellosis is one of the zoonotic diseases that endanger the health of the population, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to assess risk perception and behaviors of livestock farmers on brucellosis based on PRECEDE model in a rural area in the northwest of Iran. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 365 livestock farmers in rural areas of Germi, Iran. Participants were selected random sampling method. Data were gathered using a PRECEDE model based questionnaire consisted of five sections including demographic characteristics, predisposing factors (knowledge and attitudes), reinforcing factors, enabling factors, and brucellosis preventive behaviors. Results: The mean ± SD of age of participants was 47.1 ± 14.7 years. The state of knowledge about preventive behaviors and ways of disease transmission was evaluated as appropriate (with 87% and 81% of the maximum score, respectively). Three aspects of attitude in participants were desirable. Predisposing factors including knowledge of prevention ways, knowledge of transmission ways, and attitudes toward prevention, reinforcing factors, as well as education were significant predictors of brucellosis preventive behaviors. R 2 and adjusted R 2 were 0.312 and 0.310, respectively, according to which, about 31% of the changes in the brucellosis preventive behaviors explained by significant dependent variables. Conclusions: Given that farmers are at particular high risk of exposing brucellosis, improving their knowledge and desirable attitudes of brucellosis is crucial to increasing control the disease.

Risk perception and avoidance of preventive behavior on the COVID-19 among cancer patients.

Background and Aims: Willingness to engage in preventive behaviors against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) depends on people's risk perception. This is especially important in cancer patients who are at risk of complications from the disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate avoidance of COVID-19 preventive behavior of in cancer patients. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was done with 200 cancer patients who were selected by convenience sampling method. The study was conducted in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ardabil, Iran from July to August 2020. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to investigate the risk perception of cancer patients towards COVID-19 with seven subscales according to the Extended Parallel Process Model. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 using Pearson correlation and linear regression tests. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age of 200 participants (including 109 men and 91 women) was 48 ± 17. Results showed that the response efficacy (12.6 ± 2.2) had the highest mean and defensive avoidance (8 ± 2.8) had the lowest mean score among EPPM constructs. Linear regression results showed that fear (ß = 0.242, p > 0.001), and perceived severity (ß = 0.191, p = 0.008) were significant predictors of defensive avoidance. Conclusion: Perceived severity and fear were significant predictors of defensive avoidance, and providing accurate and reliable news and information can be effective in reducing fear and promoting preventive behaviors.

Risk communication and risk perception along with its influencing factors in Covid-19 disease: Focusing on the Extended Parallel Process Model.

Introduction: Following the global spread of the Covid-19 infection, the Iranian government adopted measures to control the spread of the disease, but they were not applicable without the acceptance and interaction of the general population. This study used the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) components to attempt to determine risk communication and risk perception along with its influencing factors in Covid-19 disease among the population of northwestern Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of the province. Demographic characteristics and extended parallel process model questionnaires were used to collect data, which was then analyzed based on descriptive (frequency, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, analysis of variance, regression, chi-square) in SPSS-25 software. Results: This study showed that 63.8% of the participants continually followed Covid-19 news, and 34% of participants used social media to get the news and warnings related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the domains of participants' risk perception for Covid-19 disease, the three domains of self-efficacy, response effectiveness and intention had the highest means compared with other domains. Significant correlations were found between risk perception and the dimensions of age, gender, marriage status, number of family members, place of residence, underlying disease, history of Covid-19, and family history of Covid-19 disease (p < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, self-efficacy, fear, defensive avoidance, intention, and behaviors were independent predictors of response efficacy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: More than two years after the onset of the spread of Covid-19 disease, the risk perception of the disease among the study population was still insufficient in many areas. Risk of communication refers to the point of interaction between the government and the people, and the need to improve public trust in this issue is strongly felt.

Assessing readiness to change in regular breakfast consumption among elementary students.

BACKGROUND: Motivation and desire are the main psychological factors associated with regular breakfast consumption among elementary students. The purpose of this study was to assess the readiness of students to regular breakfast consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was cross-sectional study; 300 students participated who were selected based on cluster sampling from elementary schools in different parts of Ardabil and were interviewed using a motivational questionnaire according to SOC model. The acquired data was then analyzed by ANOVA and linear regression. RESULTS: Cognitive processes of change such as social liberation (ß = 0.31, α = 0.001) and self-reevaluation (ß = 0.13, α = 0.04) and self-efficacy (ß = 0.44, α = 0.001) played a significant role in motivating students to move from the inactive stage to preparation stage. CONCLUSION: By understanding the motivational factors of regular breakfast consumption, a regular program can be implemented to increase breakfast consumption and ensure the health of students and help them to grow in learning ability and abstract thinking.