Women's Quality of Life in Iran: A Mixed Method Study.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life drives from the individuals' perceptions of their position in life long and allows holistic assessment of the effects of health conditions beyond the symptoms, signs, and complications. This study aimed to assess the quality of life and recognize females' point of view about the quality of life aspects. Hence, perhaps it could be a step toward improving women's health status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was an explanatory mixed method research one which was conducted in the two following steps. In the quantitative step, five hundred women aged 15-49 years were selected from varied zone of Tehran Province, using cluster random sampling method. In order to assess the quality of life, Short Form SF-36 instrument was used. In the qualitative step, forty women were selected by purposive sampling in a different range of quality of life based on the result of the first step. Data were collected through semistructured, in-depth individual interviews, which continued up to data saturation point. Data analysis was performed through conventional content analysis. RESULTS: Among different aspects of quality of life, the highest and the lowest means (SD) were related to physical functioning mean (SD) 70.58 (24.52) and general health 67.72 (27.66), and mental health 55.27 (30.22) and social functioning 57.02 (30.62), respectively. From the interviews, three main themes were extracted as the following: (i) financial support, (ii) informational support, and (iii) service-based social support. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that Tehranian women do not have high experience related to the quality of life; however, a sense of receiving support from different sources could help them to wrestle with a complicated condition in everyday life.

Exploring the concept of social support as a key factor in young women's quality of life.

BACKGROUND: According to the fact that women make up half the population of each community and are considered as a family health center, exploring the factors promoting their quality of life and health must be prioritized. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the meaning of social support in young women's life. METHODS: Participants were 40 Iranian youth women who were selected by purposive sampling from the capital of Iran, Tehran. Interviews were carefully recorded and concurrent with data collection, analysis was done using conventional content analysis method. After securing the data saturation, interviews were finished and data were categorized by eight stages of zhang technique. RESULTS: From the interviews three main themes were identified: (i) financial support; (ii) informational support, and (iii) service-based social support. DISCUSSION: Awareness about aspects of social support in women' life could help health care providers and politicians in Iran to provide more effective programs to promote QOL and as a result total health of women.

Prevalence and sensitivity of trigger points in lumbo-pelvic-hip muscles in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Changes in the activity of the lumbo-pelvic-hip muscles have been established as a major cause of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), a common orthopedic problem. The present study aimed to compare the prevalence and sensitivity of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in lumbo-pelvic-hip muscles in persons with and without PFPS. METHODS: Thirty women with PFPS and 30 healthy women 18-40 years old were recruited for this study. The prevalence of MTrPs was assessed by palpation, and pressure algometry was used to measure the pressure pain threshold. This study evaluated the areas where MTrPs are most commonly found in the lumbar muscles (internal oblique, erector spinae and quadratus lumborum), pelvic muscles (gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and piriformis), and hip muscles (hip adductor, quadriceps, hamstring, tensor fascia lata and sartorius). Independent t-tests were used to compare mean pressure pain thresholds between the two groups. Chi-squared tests were used to compare the prevalence of MTrPs. RESULTS: The prevalence of MTrPs was significantly higher in most of the lumbo-pelvic-hip muscles in patients with PFPS compared to healthy persons. However, there were no significant differences between groups in the prevalence of MTrPs in the gluteus minimus or adductor muscles. The pressure pain threshold in lumbo-pelvic-hip muscles was lower in patients with PFPS compared to healthy participants. CONCLUSION: In patients with PFPS the prevalence of MTrPs in the lumbo-pelvic-hip region was higher, and the pressure pain threshold was lower, than in healthy people. Thus therapy to treat PFPS should target the lumbo-pelvic-hip muscles.