Social stigma and its relationship with quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent disease of the central nervous system that affects the behavioral characteristics and lifestyle of patients. This study aimed to determine the social stigma and its relationship with quality of life in people with MS referring to the Jahrom MS Association. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted on MS patients who are members of the MS Association of Jahrom City in Fars province, southern Iran in 2022. The samples were selected by census method. The number of participants remain 223 people. The data was collected using a standard two-part demographic and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaire and a researcher-made 20-question Social stigma questionnaire which validity and reliability were measured. Data analysis was done in a descriptive way (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation), univariate regression and multivariable linear regression. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17 and at a significance level of less than 0.05. RESULT: Based on univariate regression, marriage [B = 0.2, p-value = 0.004], physical health [B = 0.4, p-value < 0.001], emotional well-being [B = 0.4, p-value = 0.001], cognitive functioning [B = 0.4, p-value < 0.001], health distress [B = 0.5, p-value < 0.001] had a positive and significant relationship with patients' quality of life. Duration of disease [B=-0.2, p-value < 0.001], physical role limitations [B=-0.4, p-value < 0.001], emotional role limitations [B=-0.5, p-value < 0.001], pain [B=-0.4, p-value < 0.001], energy [B=-0.3, p-value = 0.02], health perception [B=-0.3, p-value = 0.001], social functioning [B=-0.4, p-value < 0.001], sexual function [B=-0.3, p-value < 0.001], change in health [B=-0.3, p-value < 0.001], sexual function satisfaction [B=-0.3, p-value < 0.001] and social stigma [B=-0.3, p-value < 0.001] had a negative and significant relationship with patients' quality of life (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study has emphasized the relationship between the extent and severity of symptoms and disorders with the quality of life of people with MS. The results of the study showed factors such as marriage, physical health and health distress have a positive relationship and factors like duration of disease, physical role limitations, and social stigma have a negative relationship with the quality of life of people with MS. The quality of life of people with MS is more influenced by mental and psychological factors than the physical limitations of these patients.

The effect of educational intervention based on the self-efficacy theory of high school students in adopting preventive behaviors of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major problem for education systems. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the self-efficacy theory of high-school students in adopting preventive behaviors of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on Hazrat Zahra and Shahed high-school students in Jahrom (southern Iran) in 2021. In total, 160 students (80 each in the intervention group and the control group) were selected by multistage random sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire and self-efficacy in adopting preventive behaviors from COVID-19 researcher-made questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed by all participants before and 3 months after the educational intervention. The educational intervention was performed for 6 weeks by using an educational program based on Bandura self-efficacy theory. The intervention was performed during 12 sessions of face-to-face training in the classroom (two 1-h sessions per week), distributing educational packages and sending educational videos through cyberspace. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, independent t test, paired t test, and linear regression. RESULTS: After the educational intervention, a significant difference was observed in the intervention group before and after the educational intervention (P = 0.018) and between the intervention and the control groups (P = 0.001) in the self-efficacy in adopting preventive behaviors from COVID-19 score. Also, the average self-efficacy score of students increased with an increase in parental education level and a history of COVID-19 in family members. CONCLUSION: Educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory was shown as an effective method to improve students' self-efficacy in adopting preventive behaviors from COVID-19.