ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dental students are at high risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during clinical activities. Therefore, preventive measures are essential after exposure to the HBV. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the concept map and the lecture methods on dental students' knowledge and performance regarding hepatitis B post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after possible exposure to the HBV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 70 dental students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects were categorized into two groups, each receiving either the concept map or the traditional lecture methods. After the interventions, dental students' knowledge and performance were measured by a researcher-made questionnaire. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed significantly higher knowledge and performance in the concept map group compared to the lecture group (P = 0.030 and P = 0.022, respectively). Although both groups' knowledge and performance decreased after the six-month intervention, the second group who received the lecture method showed more decline in knowledge and performance (P = 0.041 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Both the concept map and lecture methods have proved to be effective ways of improving the knowledge and performance of dental students. However, the present study revealed that the concept method was more effective on dental students' knowledge and performance regarding preventive measures after exposure to HBV. Thus, the concept map method is recommended for informative and educational purposes.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women all around the world. Today, in addition to factors including hormones and genetics that are involved in the occurrence of breast cancer, special attention is paid to the role of social and non-medical determinants of health. This study aims to explore the perception of Social Determinants of Health (SDH) in women with breast cancer. DESIGN: Qualitative study design with a conventional thematic analysis approach. SETTING: The study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, between December 2021 and February 2023. PARTICIPANTS: 19 women with breast cancer were selected through purposeful and snowball sampling with maximum variation. Sampling continued until data saturation was reached. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The study categorised the extracted codes from interviews into three main categories and 12 subcategories related to SDH in women with breast cancer. RESULTS: The study identified factors such as personal and family health records, health behaviours and lifestyles and medical screening and follow-up as key themes in the perception of SDH among women with breast cancer. The main categories were also categorised into 12 subcategories, 'including family history', 'environmental factors', 'hormonal and medicinal changes', 'metaphysical factors', 'traditional medicine-related factors', 'stress', 'body weight', 'physical activity', 'nutrition', 'smoking and tobacco use', 'screening', 'self-examination' and 'barriers to medical follow-up'. 'Near the telecommunications tower', 'Improper use of supplements', 'Being subjected to the evil eye regularly', 'Eating cold nature foods', 'Breast weight' and 'Being ashamed of the doctor' were some examples of the codes. CONCLUSIONS: Participants identified a number of environmental, personal and cultural factors as contributing to the disease. Woman's screening behaviours were influenced by factors such as fear of disease and death, disbelief in getting sick and shame, depending on cultural context. The study suggests the need for further research to explore the impact of these factors on screening behaviours and outcomes in different cultural contexts.