Survival rate of patients with bladder cancer and its related factors in Kurdistan Province (2013-2018): a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is one of the most common urinary tract cancers. This study aims to estimate the survival rate of patients with bladder cancer according to the Cox proportional hazards model based on some key relevant variables. METHODS: In this retrospective population-based cohort study that explores the survival of patients with bladder cancer and its related factors, we first collected demographic information and medical records of 321 patients with bladder cancer through in-person and telephone interviews. Then, in the analysis phase, Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to draw the survival curve, compare the groups, and explore the effect of risk factors on the patient survival rate using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The median survival rate of patients was 63.2 (54.7-72) months and one, three and five-year survival rates were 87%, 68% and 54%, respectively. The results of multiple analyses using Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that variables of sex (male gender) (HR = 11.8, 95% CI: 0.4-100.7), more than 65 year of age (HR = 4.1, 95% CI: 0.4-11), occupation, income level, (HR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8), well differentiated tumor grade (HR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.7-6) and disease stage influenced the survival rate of patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The survival rate of patients with bladder cancer in Kurdistan province is relatively low. Given the impact of the disease stage on the survival rate, adequate access to appropriate diagnostic and treatment services as well as planning for screening and early diagnosis, especially in men, can increase the survival rate of patients.

Evaluation of screen time activities and their relationship with physical activity, overweight and socioeconomic status in children 10-12 years of age in Sanandaj, Iran: A cross-sectional study in 2015.

Background: Screen time (ST), including watching television and playing electronic games are the leading cause of a growing obesity epidemic. This study aimed to evaluate ST and its association with physical activity, overweight and socioeconomic status (SES) in children 10 to 12 years of age in Sanandaj. Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in Sanandaj in 2015. ST and physical activity data were collected using the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ). Overweight indices are defined based on BMI age- and gender-specific percentiles, as proposed by WHO criteria. Considering household assets data, SES was calculated using principal component analysis (PCA). The relationship between ST and different determinants was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Based on the results obtained in our study, 47.28% (95% CI: 45.33-49.24) of the participants spent more than two hours a day on television and video watching and electronic games playing. People who spend greater time on ST activities, independent of their physical activities, are more susceptible to overweight and obesity (p=0.002). People in higher socioeconomic groups spent more time on watching TV and video and playing electronic games (p=0.001). There was a direct relationship between the residential area and ST (P=0.052). ST in male was found to be greater (p=0.033). In addition, ST was also lower in school-aged children whose mothers had a greater education (p=0.56). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to increase the education level and knowledge of mothers and design interventions consistent with children gender and residential location so that to reduce ST and its associated outcomes in children.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of Social Capital Questionnaire in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of Social Capital Questionnaire ( SCQ) developed by Onyx and Bullen (2000) among a sample of medical science students in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran and to compare the factor analysis with findings from two previous studies in Australia and the United States. METHODS: Multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit 293 medical science students (Male: 95/Female: 198) from 7 faculties in Tehran University of Medical Sciences. After translating SCQ into Persian applying back-translation technique and three-stage consensus panel, the questionnaires administered to the respondents and they were asked to complete them. Statistical Analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0 for Windows. RESULTS: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted to evaluate factor structure of the Persian SCQ (PSCQ),which showed a moderate replicability, validity, and reliability (Cronbach alpha= .79) to those found in previous studies. Twelve factors extracted with eight values greater than 1 which altogether accounted for 76.23% of the total variance. Applying Cattell's scree test, it was indicated that between seven and eight factor sextracted. The correlations between factors were detected in the low (at the lowest 0.002) to modest (at the highest 0.614) range. CONCLUSION: The differences found in the factor analysis between the studies may be ascribed to the various types of populations studied. Despite the difference in populations studied, our findings support the meaningful nessof P-SCQ as an instrument that is worthy of further attention for use in social health researches, although more studies are recommended to help researchers in comparing its variety in dimensions of different communities.

Using Oaxaca Decomposition to Study Socioeconomic Inequity of Physical Activity among Children Aged 10-12 Years: A Study in West of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Low physical activity (PA) is increasing public health problem. The present study aimed to determine socioeconomic inequality in PA among children aged 10-12 years old in Kurdistan, west of Iran in 2015. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 2506 children aged 10-12 in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2015. Data on the children's level of PA were collected using the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire. The concentration index was used to measure inequality and the Oaxaca decomposition to examine the different determinants of the inequality. The data were analyzed in Stata 13 and SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 2506 participants, 40.90% (38.97-42.82) had insufficient PA. Girls had a lower level of PA than boys (odds ratio [OR] = 0.34; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.28-0.41) and it is directly related to maternal education (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.18-2.47), the family's Socioeconomic status (SES) (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.56-3.05), and the place of residence (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.16-2.44). The concentration index for insufficient PA was -0.25 (95 CI: -0.30 to -0.21), revealing an insufficient PA in the group with a low SES. The prevalence of insufficient PA is 51.38% (95% CI: 48.45-54.31) in poor group and 28.40% (95% CI: 22.80-33.99) in the wealthier group. The Oaxaca decomposition showed maternal education and the place of residence was the most important determinants of inequality. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings, most of the children especially in the poor groups didn't have sufficient PA and socioeconomic factors could have the important role.

Socioeconomic Inequality in Childhood Obesity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in obesity and overweight in children aged 10 to 12 yr old. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted on 2506 children aged 10 to 12 yr old in the city of Sanandaj, western Iran in 2015. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Considering household situation and assets, socioeconomic status (SES) of the subjects was determined using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Concentration Index was used to measure inequality and Oaxaca decomposition was used to determine the share of different determinants of inequality. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 24.1% (95% CI: 22.4, 25.7). 11.5% (95% CI: 10.0, 12.0) were obese. The concentration index for overweight and obesity, respectively, was 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.15), and 0.07 (95% CI:0.00, 0.14) which indicated inequality and a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight in higher SES. The results of Oaxaca decomposition suggested that socioeconomic factors accounted for 75.8% of existing inequalities. Residential area and mother education were the most important causes of inequality. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce inequalities in childhood obesity, mother education must be promoted and special attention must be paid to residential areas and children gender.

Estimation of Intravenous Drug Users' Population in Kermanshah City, West of Iran in 2016 using Capture-recapture Method.

BACKGROUND: Drug abuse, particularly intravenous drug use, is one of the most common challenges in human communities so that its negative impact on economic and cultural conditions of society and physical as well as mental health of individuals is evident. We aimed to estimate the IDUs' population in Kermanshah City, West of Iran using Capture-recapture method. STUDY DESIGN: A Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The data in this study were collected from three different sources: Drop in Centers (DICs), Out Reach Teams (ORTs) and Methadone Maintenance Treatment centers (MMTs) in Kermanshah City from Mar 2015 until Mar 2016, and then indirect Capture-recapture was used to estimate the IDUs' population. RESULTS: The number of IDUs registered in DICs, ORTs, and MMTs were 694, 731, and 156 cases, respectively. Having determined the commonalities and removing duplicates, the number of drug users registered were 1,375 cases, after analysis of data, the number of drug users not registered in any center was estimated as 2,042 (95% CI: 1708, 2444). By counting 1,375 cases recorded in these sources, the total number of injection drug users in the Kermanshah City was about 3,417 people, (95% CI: (3083, 3819). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IDUs in Kermanshah City is high, which could cause severe economic and social problems in the society. To reduce the negative effects of drug use, awareness and measuring of the drug users population, seem to be necessary overtime.