Nutrition literacy and its related demographic factors among workers of Taraz Steel company, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran.

Background: Nutrition is critical to prevent some chronic diseases. Nutrition literacy refers to ability to gain, understand and evaluate nutrition facts to choose appropriate foods. Nutrition literacy has recently drawn the attention of professionals with respect to health promotion. The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrition literacy and potentially related demographic factors among workers of a steel company in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, southwest Iran. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study in 141 workers of Taraz Steel company in 2021, participants were selected by convenience sampling and a self-report nutrition literacy scale nativized to Iranians was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: About 75% of workers had adequate nutrition literacy and around 24% inadequate nutrition literacy. The highest percentage of mean score was obtained for determination of food groups (85.4%) and the lowest for calculation of food units (47%). The mean score of nutrition literacy was significantly higher in people with higher education (P = 0.020). Also, people with adequate monthly salary attained a higher mean score on determination of food groups (P = 0.021) and higher overall nutrition literacy (P = 0.003) compared to other people. No relationship was observed between nutrition literacy and body mass index as well. Conclusion: Most workers have adequate nutrition literacy but their scores on calculation of food units are relatively low. It is essential for policymakers to collect information on the level of nutrition literacy in different populations, especially Iranian workers, to reduce the prevalence of nutrition-related chronic diseases.

Motivation System of Healthy and Safe Nutrition in Iranian Adolescent Girls: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: Motivation determines the possibility of an individual's intention to accept health-related behaviors. Despite the important role of the motivational system in conducting healthy and safe nutrition behavior, this issue has not been adequately addressed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explain the healthy and safe nutrition motivation system among Iranian adolescent girls. METHOD: In this qualitative study, conventional content analysis was used and participants were selected using the purposive sampling method. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 42 adolescent girls in Shiraz, Iran. The interviews continued until data saturation was obtained. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman qualitative content analysis by MAX-Q-DA (version 10) software. RESULTS: The data analysis resulted in three main categories for the participants' motivational factors for healthy and safe nutrition: (1) maintaining health and social functions, (2) maintaining the family's mental and economic health, and (3) achieving goals and success in life. The first category included two subcategories: "desire to have an appropriate look and appearance" and "fear of diseases and their complications." The second category included two subcategories of "maintaining the family's mental health" and "maintaining the family's economic health." The third category consisted of two subcategories: "desire to form a family and be successful in life" and "achieving the future career goals." CONCLUSION: The motivation to maintain health and social functions, to maintain the family's mental and economic health, and to achieve goals and be successful in life has a powerful impact on the decisions and behaviors of adolescent girls to have safe and healthy nutrition. Therefore, recognizing the motivational system, as a key and determinative factor in developing the adolescents' intention to adopt health-related behaviors, is an effective step to design and develop successful interventions in promoting nutritional behaviors.

Perceived Threats toward Esophageal Cancer among Immediate Relatives of Sufferers: a Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: Considering life-threatening nature of cancer and the problems that it causes for patients and families, recognizing their perspectives toward this issue is important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine perceived threats by immediate relatives of patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: Using content analysis approach, the present qualitative study was conducted in Golestan Province (north of Iran) in 2018. Through purposive sampling, 23 immediate relatives of patients with esophageal cancer were included in the study. The research techniques included semi-structured and deep interviews. We continued data collection to ensure data saturation was achieved. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed with Graneheim and Lundman's approach of conventional content analysis. The MAXQDA 11 software was applied to conduct the coding process. RESULTS: Following data analysis, two main categories including "perceived susceptibility" and "perceived severity" were identified for perceived threats. The main category of "perceived susceptibility" comprised of four subcategory, namely, perception of individual, environmental, psychological, and nutritional predisposing factors to the disease. Four subcategories were also extracted for the "perceived severity," including perception of physical, psychological, therapeutic, and social consequences of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate relatives of patients with esophagus cancer perceived high severity and susceptibility toward this disease and considered themselves vulnerable to this disease. Hence, they suffered from a lot of psychological stress. Development of appropriate interventions regarding the effects of disease-related individual and environmental factors and empowerment of individuals with regard to preventive disease behaviors can be an important step for improving the health of this group. REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT20180725040588N1, date registered: 2 October 2018.

Concerns and Fear of Esophageal Cancer in Relatives of Patients with Cancer: a Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Due to its complications and mortality, cancer is a vital public health problem and one of the most frightening diseases, and its development causes a sense of risk, problems, and discomforts for all, including family of patients. The aim of this study was to elaborate on the concerns and fear of esophageal cancer in relatives with cancer illness. METHODS: Using a content analysis approach, this qualitative study was carried out in Golestan, North of Iran, in 2018. Participants were one of the family members of a patient with esophageal cancer who were selected purposefully. Data were collected using semi-structured and deep interviews and continued until data saturation was achieved. Twenty-three participants were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed line by line and were coded and categorized, and concepts were extracted accordance with qualitative content analysis approach, using MAXQDA 11 software. RESULT: Following data analysis on the concerns and fear of cancer among relatives of patients, the main themes "fear of social consequences," "fear of treatment consequences," "fear of psychological consequences," "cancer phobia," "concern about lack of information on the disease," "fear of disease reactions," and "fear of disease-related changes" were extracted. CONCLUSIONS: Family of patients with esophageal cancer were afraid of disease-induced consequences and lack of knowledge about the disease. Through educating people about the symptoms of the disease, we can reduce their fears and empower them for self-caring and preventing cancer.

Prevention behaviours of oesophageal cancer: Protocol for a mixed-method study.

AIM: The aim was to implement an educational programme for the family members of patients with oesophageal cancer on prevention behaviours in Golestan province, north of Iran. DESIGN: In this mixed-method research, qualitative and quantitative studies will be conducted. METHODS: This study will be carried out using an exploratory mixed-method design in Golestan province, north of Iran in 2018-2019. The research will include three consecutive phases. At first, a qualitative study will be carried out to determine the preventive behaviour and measures of oesophageal cancer. In this phase, the participants will be selected using the purposive sampling method. Later, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with the relatives of patients with oesophageal cancer to collect the necessary qualitative data. The second phase will include a literature review based on the information collected from the first phase. Later, a researcher-made questionnaire will be designed based on the extended parallel process model. Furthermore, a comprehensive programme will be proposed about self-care of the patients with oesophageal cancer. In the third phase, a quantitative quasi-experimental research will be conducted over two groups of participants to measure the effectiveness of this programme. This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Iran in November 2017. DISCUSSION: Educational interventions should be designed purposefully according to the needs of the target group to improve their self-care behaviours. We also expect that this research can improve the individuals' access to high-quality preventive behaviours with regard to oesophageal cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The project was registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, (registration number: IRCT20180725040588N1, date registered: 2th October 2018).

Iranian Women's Breast Health-Seeking Behaviors: Husband's Role.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has become the most common cancer among Yazdi women in Iran. Thus, it is necessary to encourage these women to participate in breast health-seeking behaviors. In this regard, husbands can play an effective role. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore women's perceptions about the effect of their husband's role on breast health-seeking protection motivation. METHODS: This study used a directed qualitative content analysis approach based on the Protection Motivation Theory. Participants were selected using purposive sampling; in-depth semistructured interviews with 14 Yazdi women were completed. RESULTS: One major category named "motivator role of husband" emerged from the analysis. The following subcategories underlying this category were "indifference and a lack of support as long as the women can continue with expected duties," "what women want for support," "facilitating and restrictive factors of husband's supportive role," "public health education needed," and "husband's agreement with preventive actions." CONCLUSIONS: Voluntary participation in breast health-seeking behaviors is a culturally sensitive topic. The qualitative methodology allowed this sensitive topic and its different aspects to be explored. The findings indicated that the major source of support for women was their husband's behavior toward breast health-seeking actions. Family cohesion and love among couples were identified as strong determinant factors pertaining to husband's supportive behaviors. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The study findings provided deeper understanding about the effective factors related to a husband's role in motivating a wife to practice breast cancer prevention. These new findings are relevant for health educators and practitioners to develop culturally based interventions.

Response costs of mammography adherence: Iranian women's perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Mammography as the most common secondary prevention method has known to be helpful in detecting breast cancer at the early stages. Low level of participation among women toward mammography uptake due to cultural beliefs is a great concern. This study aimed at exploring the perceptions of women about response costs of mammography adherence (MA) in Yazd, Iran. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was performed. Fourteen women,one oncology nurse, and a breast cancer survivor were purposefully interviewed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by directed content analysis method based on protection motivation theory (PMT). RESULTS: One main theme was emerged from the analysis namely called "response costs".Two main categories were also emerged from the data; (1) psychological barriers with six subcategories including "embarrassment," "worry about being diagnosed with cancer," "preoccupation with underlying disease," "misconception about mammography," "need for an accompanying person," and "internalizing the experiences of the others," and (2) maladaptive coping modes which encompassed three subcategories: "religious faith," "fatalism," and"avoidance and denial." CONCLUSION: Useful information was provided about the response costs of mammography utilization based on the perceptions of women. Cognitive barriers may be decreased by conducting modifications in women's awareness and attitude toward MA as well as changing the national health system infrastructures. Incorporating religious and cultural belief systems into MA educational programs through motivational messages is recommended.

Psychosocial Predictors for Cancer Prevention Behaviors in Workplace Using Protection Motivation Theory.

Backgrounds. The aim of this study was to describe the preventive behaviors of industrial workers and factors influencing occupational cancer prevention behaviors using protection motivation theory. Methods. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 161 petrochemical workers in Iran in 2014 which consisted of three sections: background information, protection motivation theory measures, and occupational cancers preventive behaviors. Results. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between PM and self-efficacy, response efficacy, and the cancer preventive behaviors. Meanwhile, statistically significant negative correlations were found between PM, cost, and reward. Conclusions. Among available PMT constructs, only self-efficacy and cost were significant predictors of preventive behaviors. Protection motivation model based health promotion interventions with focus on self-efficacy and cost would be desirable in the case of occupational cancers prevention.

Determinants of Cancer Early Detection Behaviors:Application of Protection Motivation Theory.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is account for 13% of all deaths around the world and is the third cause of mortality in Iran. More than one third of these cases are pre-ventable and about 33% are curable with early detection. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of cancer early detection (CED) behaviors applying Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, cluster sampling method was employed to recruit 260 individuals of above 20 years old in Yazd, Iran and a researcher designed questionnaire was completed through interviews for each of the respondents. PMT theoretical variables and CED behaviors were the basis of data collection procedure. RESULTS: Participants acquired 64.47% of the protection motivation, 30.97% of the passive and 45.64% of the active behaviors? possible scores. Theory constructs predicted 19.8%, 15.6% and 9.6% of the variations for protection motivation, passive and active behavior respectively. Protection motivation was responsible for 3.6% of passive and 8% of active behaviors? variations. CONCLUSION: Considering the scarceness of CED behaviors and the applicability of PMT in predicting these behaviors, utilization of the PMT?s constructs in any interventional programs to accelerate CED behaviors could be an alternate methodological choice in the cancer control initiatives.

Occupational cancer risk perception in Iranian workers.

This cross-sectional study examined the occupational cancer risk perception among 269 Iranian industrial workers according to their knowledge, job titles hazard, and demographical properties. The structured questionnaire was used to measure participants' knowledge and perception toward occupational cancers (reliability of the perception questions = .72). There was significant difference in both knowledge and perception about occupational cancers in different age and educational groups. It was significant relation between knowledge and perception (p = .001). True answer to some questions was less than 20%. An optimistic bias was found in participants' perception. These findings prove that cancer risk perception in industrial workforces is affected by several factors. Further efforts should be placed in the training of workers to enhance their knowledge and subsequently their perception toward occupational cancers.

Prevalence and determinants of intimate partner violence against women in Kazeroon, Islamic Republic of Iran.

The aim of this study was to screen for and estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in Kazeroon, Iran. In November 2007, multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit 702 women to participate in the study. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. The prevalence of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse against women was 43.7%, 82.6%, and 30.9%, respectively, and there was a significant relationship between IPV and family income, education level, and level of religious commitment in both women and husbands. The study suggests that major strategies for prevention of IPV are empowering women and improving their status in the society by promoting of sexual equality in all rights, especially in employment and education.