Action status and willingness to change health-promoting behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among elementary school children: a study based on Prochaska's stages of behavior change theory (TTM).

BACKGROUND & AIM: COVID-19 pandemic has significant effects on lifestyle and health-promoting behaviors and adolescence is a very critical period due to the importance of identity formation and individual behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the status of health- promoting behaviors in the sixth grade male students attending elementary schools in Ardabil city based on Prochaska 's stages of behavior change (TTM). MATERIALS & METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on the 619 sixth grade male students attending elementary schools during 2021. The data were collected using two instruments (a researcher-made questionnaire and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) questionnaire). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The majority of students in physical activity and healthy eating behaviors were in the pre-contemplation stage, 29.6% (183 people) and 33.1% (205 people), respectively. All dimensions of health-promoting behaviors were observed to have a significant relationship with the stages of Prochaska's theory behavior change in students, their decision-making balance and self-efficacy scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The health of students is under serious threat due to the poor state of health-promoting behaviors and the weak desire to change behavior. By planning in educating the students, significant changes can be made in changing their behavior and improving their health.

Exploring nursing students' perceptions from nursing role function (SP-NRF) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ardabil Province: a cross sectional study from Iran.

BACKGROUND: Perception of nursing roles among nursing students significantly influences their active engagement in nursing processes and care delivery. However, there is evidence to suggest that students' interest in and perceptions from the nursing profession at the undergraduate level are often insufficient. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess nursing students' perceptions of nursing role function and identify areas that require improvement. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among nursing students in the third- and fourth-years from three faculties in the Ardabil Province. The participants were selected through census sampling. The data were collected through interviews with the Standardized Professional Nursing Role Function (SP-NRF) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS-18 software at a significance level of less than 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 320 nursing students participated in this study. The mean score for nursing role perception was 223.1 ± 20.3 out of 255. The results indicated significant gender differences in the mean scores of perception of the nursing role function, particularly in the supportive, professional-moral care, and professional-educational dimensions. Women scored significantly higher than men did (P < .05). Additionally, students who obtained a mean score of 19 to 20 (A) had significantly higher total scores in perception of the nursing role function than other students. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between students' interest in nursing and their perceived ability with nursing role perception (r = .282, P < .01) and all its dimensions. CONCLUSION: Overall, nursing students demonstrated a favorable perception of nursing role function. However, their perception of mental and spiritual care was relatively weak. These findings highlight the need to review nursing education programs and incorporate the spiritual care dimension to enhance students' understanding of and preparation for their role as nurses.

Managing Back to School Anxiety During a COVID-19 Outbreak.

ABSTRACT: The outbreak of the coronavirus is becoming an international crisis these days, overshadowing everything. The outbreak of this disease in different countries, including Iran, has caused a lot of concern. In addition to the dangers it poses to human health, the spread of the virus has become a major challenge and a stressful test, putting additional pressure on these countries. Every step in the coming school year offers an opportunity for an ongoing two-way conversation with your child. Listen carefully to what they say and be careful not to burden them with your fears. Giving voice to concerns means sharing them so no one is holding their worries alone, and remember, kids' development is fluid and many kids can make up for lost time, academically and socially. Humans are resilient. Therefore, if schools do not open - or close their doors - it is important to be hopeful and positive about the future, despite everything that is currently being missed or delayed, whether academic or social.

Exploring nurses' experiences of psychological distress during care of patients with COVID-19: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection is a new disease that infects a large number of people, killing a ratio of whom every day in the world. Healthcare staff, especially nurses, experience a great deal of psychological distress during care of COVID-19 patients. Detecting factors that disturb nurses' mental health during care of these patients can help to reduce their psychological distress. Therefore, this study aimed to explore nurses' experiences of psychological distress during care of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: The present qualitative research was performed using the conventional content analysis method in Iran from March to May 2020. Participants in this study included the nurses caring for patients with COVID-19, and they were selected based on the purposeful sampling method. The data was collected through 20 phone call interviews and analyzed based on the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. RESULTS: Qualitative data analysis revealed 11 categories including death anxiety, anxiety due to the nature of the disease, anxiety caused by corpse burial, fear of infecting the family, distress about time wasting, emotional distress of delivering bad news, fear of being contaminated, the emergence of obsessive thoughts, the bad feeling of wearing personal protective equipment, conflict between fear and conscience, and the public ignorance of preventive measures. CONCLUSION: The data showed that the nurses experienced a variety of psychological distress during care of patients with COVID-19. Through proper planning by authorities, it is possible to manage the risk factors of mental health distress in nurses and improve their mental health status.

Exploring nurses' perception about the care needs of patients with COVID-19: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a new disease affecting and killing a large number of people across the world every day. One way to improve health care for these patients is to recognize their needs. Nurses, as a large population of health care staff, can be rich sources of information and experience on patients' care needs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore nurses' perception about the care needs of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: The present qualitative research was performed using the conventional content analysis approach in Iran from March to May 2020. The participants of this study included the nurses caring for patients with COVID-19, recruited by the purpose sampling method. The data was collected through 20 telephone interviews and analyzed based on the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. RESULTS: Qualitative data analysis revealed six main categories including need for psychological consulting, need for quality improvement of services, need for upgrading of information, need for improving of social support, need for spiritual care and need for social welfare. CONCLUSION: The data showed that patients with COVID-19 were psychologically, physically, socially, economically, and spiritually affected by the disease. Therefore, they should be comprehensively supported by health care staff and other supportive systems.

Skin cancer preventive behaviors among rural farmers: An intervention based on protection motivation theory.

Background: Skin cancer is a serious public health problem in the world. Its prevalence in many countries has been increased in recent years. This study aimed to assess the effects of a theory-based educational intervention to promote skin cancer preventive behaviors (SCPBs) among rural farmers in Chalderan County, Iran. Methods: This was a quasi-randomized controlled field trial study conducted on 238 rural farmers. The data were collected by a questionnaire containing the constructs of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as well as the items of SCPBs. The differences between the groups before and 3 months after the intervention were determined by independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square applying SPSS software. Results: Before the intervention, no significant difference was found in the scores of the PMT constructs between the two groups (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found between the scores of all the variables, as well as SCPBs, in the two groups after the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: The PMT was found to be an appropriate framework for designing educational interventions aiming at promoting SCPBs among rural farmers. It was concluded that designing an educational program with a focus on promoting perceived susceptibility increased the level of performing SCPBs among the rural farmers.

Sodium intake prediction with health promotion model constructs in rural hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease, and the growing epidemic is a serious warning to pay more attention to this disease. The aims of this study were to examine the relationships between the health promotion model (HPM) constructs and sodium intake, and to determine the predictive power of the HPM constructs as the possible mediators of sodium intake in rural Iranian hypertensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 671 hypertensive patients in Ardabil, Iran in 2013. The data were obtained during a 25-40 min face-to-face conversation by validated and reliable instruments. The nutritional data were assessed with Nutritionist version 4 (N4) software. Descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlations were calculated using SPSS Statistics version 18.0. Structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS version 18. RESULTS: Sodium intake was negatively correlated with perceived benefits (r = -0.707; P < 0.01), perceived self-efficacy (r = -0.719; P < 0.01), situational influences (r = -0.590; P < 0.01), interpersonal influences (r = -0.637; P < 0.01), commitment to action (r = -0.605; P < 0.01), affects related behavior (r = -0.499; P < 0.01), and positively associated with the perceived barriers score (r = 0.563; P < 0.01). The structural equation modeling showed that the model explained 63.0% of the variation in sodium intake. CONCLUSIONS: HPM constructs were significantly associated with sodium intake and dietary perceptions based on HPM constructs can predict acceptable rate of the variation of sodium intake. Therefore, we suggest using this model constructs to improve the effectiveness of nutritional interventions.

The Relationship between Professional Identity, Performance and Attitude to Medical Errors Self-reporting among Medical Students.

Introduction: Medical errors are a serious problem in providing medical care and ensuring the health of society, and discovering the causes of errors to minimize the possibility of their occurrence is one of the main challenges in the field of treating patients. This study aimed to determine the relationship between professional identity, performance and attitude to self-reported medical errors among medical interns of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 187 medical interns with census method in five Ardabil educational hospitals in the second semester of 2020-2021. Data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of 3 parts (demographic, self-reported attitude towards medical errors and professional identity). The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using Content validity index (CVI) and Content validity ratio (CVR). The reliability of the attitude section was 0.78 and 0.86 for professional identity section. Data analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21 by descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation and independent T-test, chi-square and one-way ANOVA. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The mean scores of students' attitudes towards self-report and professional identity were 55.6±8.8 and 60.4±9.8. Less than 50% of the students declared the possibility of reporting their medical errors. There were no significant differences in the mean scores of self-reported attitude, medical error and professional identity according to grade point average, type of faculty and students' gender (P>0.05). Conclusion: The attitude and performance of students regarding the self-disclosure of medical errors was not satisfactory, and it seems that the analysis of the educational programs in the education of medical errors and the legal and ethical aspects of errors needs serious attention.

The effect of a web-based lifestyle intervention on nutritional status and physical activity on prevention of COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial in women's empowerment.

Background: Healthy dietary intake and physical activity affect the immune systems. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a web-based lifestyle intervention on nutritional status, physical activity, and prevention of COVID-19. Methods: Three hundred-three women (30-60 years old), who did not have COVID-19 in the City of Ardabil, participated in this study. Participants were randomized into an intervention (n = 152) or control group (n = 151). The intervention group received eight online educational sessions focusing on a healthy diet and physical activity via the website. There was no educational session for the control group during the intervention, but they were placed on the waiting list to receive the intervention and given access to the website and educational content after the follow-up. Outcomes were nutritional status, physical activity, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (Ig M) antibody titers against the virus. They were evaluated at the baseline, after 4 and 12 weeks. Results: Significant improvements in weight (P < 0.001), BMI (P < 0.001), total energy (P = 0.006), carbohydrate (P = 0.001), protein (P = 0.001), and fat (P < 0.001) were found for the intervention group compared to the control group during the study. MET-min/week for moderate physical activity increased during the time for the intervention and control groups (P < 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively). MET-min/week for walking activity rose in the post-intervention and follow-up compared to that in the baseline in the groups (P < 0.001 for both groups). Total physical activity was increased during the study (P < 0.001) for both groups. The mean of serum IgG and IgM titers against the virus were increased during the study in both groups in time effect (P < 0.001). There was a significant time x group interaction for carbohydrate and fat intakes (P = 0.005 and P = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: The web-based lifestyle intervention may improve nutritional status and physical activity, and have the potential to reduce the risk of contracting a COVID-19 infection.

Examining the efficacy of intravenous ibuprofen and meperidine for preventing post-operative shivering after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with general anesthesia.

Postoperative shivering is a common complication that can lead to increased postoperative complications. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of intravenous ibuprofen and meperidine in preventing shivering following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A total of 120 patients, aged 20-70 and classified as ASA I-II, were enrolled in this triple-blind clinical trial. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: ibuprofen (800mg IV), meperidine (30 mg), or placebo (normal saline 2 ml), administered 30 minutes before the end of surgery. The occurrence of postoperative shivering was assessed and recorded at regular intervals (0, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after surgery). Additionally, postoperative pain levels were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS), sedation levels were evaluated using the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS), and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was documented. The prevalence and severity of postoperative shivering were not statistically significant between groups. The VAS was significantly lower in the meperidine group than the ibuprofen group throughout the study (p <0.001). The VAS was significantly lower in the ibuprofen group than the placebo group at 0 and 15 minutes after surgery. Although the incidence of nausea was slightly higher in the meperidine group, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.75). Sedation scores were consistently lower in the ibuprofen group and higher in the meperidine group compared to the other groups (p<0.0001) The meperidine group had a significantly higher sedation score indicative of deep sleepiness (score of 4) than the other groups. Intravenous ibuprofen demonstrated comparable efficacy to meperidine in controlling shivering. Additionally, the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and sleepiness was lower in the intravenous ibuprofen group, suggesting it is a potential alternative to meperidine.

Potential of macronutrients and probiotics to boost immunity in patients with SARS-COV-2: a narrative review.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) may cause inflammation and increased cytokine secretion. Dietary factors may play an important role in enhancing the immune responses against infectious diseases such as SARS-COV-2. This narrative review aims to determine the effectiveness of macronutrients and probiotics to improve immunity in SARS-COV-2 patients. Dietary proteins may boost pulmonary function in SARS-COV-2 patients through inhibitory effects on the Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and reduce Angiotensin (ANG-II). Moreover, omega-3 fatty acids may improve oxygenation, acidosis, and renal function. Dietary fiber may also produce anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the level of high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), Interleukin (IL-6), and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). In addition, some evidence indicates that probiotics significantly improve oxygen saturation which may enhance survival rate. In conclusion, the consumption of a healthy diet including adequate macronutrients and probiotic intake may decrease inflammation and oxidative stress. Following this dietary practice is likely to strengthen the immune system and have beneficial effects against SARS-COV-2.

Masking Ability of Bleach Shade Composite Resins in Different Thicknesses.

Introduction: In recent years, the use of bleach shade composite resins has increased due to the high esthetic demands. The aim of the present study was to investigate the masking ability and translucency of several bleach shade composite resins. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 180 discs from 9 bleach shade composite resins of 5 brands (G-aenial Anterior, Gradia Direct, Charisma Diamond, Estelite Sigma Quick, and Renamel Microfill) in thicknesses of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mm were prepared. The color parameters of the specimens were measured in a CIE l ∗ a ∗ b ∗ system using a spectrophotometer. Masking ability and translucency parameters were calculated, and the influence of thickness, shade, and composite resin brand on these variables was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Both masking ability and translucency differed significantly among groups (p < 0.001), but only MA was different between different brands (p < 0.001). Higher thicknesses showed lower translucency in all pairwise comparisons (p < 0.001). 0.5 mm-thick specimens had lower masking ability than 1.5 mm- (p=0.016) and 2 mm- (p=0.035) thick ones. However, masking ability of other thickness pairs did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05). G-aenial Anterior and Renamel Microfill had the highest and lowest masking ability. Bleach white shades had lower masking ability and higher translucency than extrawhite bleach shades. Conclusion: Translucency and masking ability of bleach shade composite resins differed in different thicknesses, composite resin brands, and shade groups.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in the Women Population Covered by Health Centers in Ardabil.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population of women aged 30 to 60 years covered by health centers in Ardabil. Methods: This retrospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 1006 women aged 30 to 60 years who were covered by Ardabil comprehensive urban health service centers, and they were selected by using the multistage random sampling method. In the first stage, health centers in Ardabil were divided into five geographical areas, and the population covered by each of the five areas was calculated. In the second stage, the number of samples was allocated as a quota in the regions, and in the third stage, in proportion to the population covered by each center in Ardabil, the samples were selected. Women with one of the conditions of pregnancy, lactation, history of kidney disease, known diabetes under medication, history of hepatitis, history of cardiovascular surgery, and history of cancer were excluded from the research process. Results: The average activity of individuals was 24.42 minutes per day. The mean intake of fruits and vegetables was 1.9 ± 0.9 and 2.1 ± 1.07 unit/day, respectively, and meat was 286.6 ± 174.6 grams per week. The mean of HDL, LDL, TG, cholesterol, and FBS were 43.6 ± 10.4, 101.28 ± 26.3, 159.89 ± 54.01, 185.99 ± 37.9, and 94.62 ± 13.3 mg/dl, respectively. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 108.14 and 68.26 mmHg, respectively. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity (waist above 88), obesity and overweight (high body mass index), high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and LDL and HDL outside the proper range were the most important and risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women.

Self-care behavior prevention of COVID-19 in the general population based on Pender Health Promotion Model: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Coronavirus with its sudden and widespread outbreak has obviously imposed devastating consequences in various aspects of human life. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) structures in self-care preventive behavior against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the general population of Ardabil, Iran. Methods: The present retrospective descriptive-correlational study was conducted on citizens of Ardabil aged 18 years and over in 2021. After dividing the city of Ardabil into four parts, 50 people from each area of the city and a total of 200 people were selected through the available sampling method through social media. Data collection tools included a demographic profile, perceived self-efficacy scale, perceived emotional questionnaire, perceived social support questionnaire, perceived benefits and barriers questionnaire, researcher-made COVID-19 self-care questionnaire, and commitment to action questionnaire based on Pender's HPM structures in an online manner. Data were analyzed by Amos 22 software and using structural equation modeling. Results: According to the results, direct path analysis to COVID-19 self-care behavior indicated that the variables of perceived self-efficacy (ß = 0.18, p < 0.01), interpersonal effects (ß = 0.19, p < 0.01), positive emotion (ß = 0.15, p < 0.05) and perceived benefits (ß = 0.20, p < 0.01) are able to significantly predict self-care behaviors. Moreover, the bootstrapping test results in the indirect path analysis demonstrated that the variables of perceived self-efficacy (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.012, 0.066), perceived social support (95% CI, 0.002, 0.026), and perceived barriers (95% CI, -0.019, -0.002) and benefits (95% CI, 0.001, 0. 015) through the mediator variable of commitment to action are able to significantly predict COVID-19 self-care behavior. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be claimed that the proposed model of COVID-19 self-care behavior has an acceptable fitness in the general population. This model can be used in developing educational programs and intervention techniques to modify people's attitudes and behaviors.

COVID-19 Has Made the Elderly Lonelier.

Loneliness is a major risk factor for the elderly and can double their problems. When COVID-19 started, things became more difficult for the elderly. The news that the elderly are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 than others made the elderly lonelier. This is a library type study that was conducted over 2 months using valid scientific sources and books. Based on the findings of this study, we believe that focusing on education and reminding people of the necessary dos and don'ts of illness, modifying their diet, emphasizing masking, and even familiarizing the elderly with social media and virtual activities will prevent them from suffering loneliness.

Epidemiology of Supernumerary Teeth in 5000 Radiography Films: Investigation of Patients Referring to the Clinics of Ardabil in 2015-2020.

BACKGROUND: Supernumerary tooth is defined as any extra tooth or odontogenic structure that is formed on normal dentition. Supernumerary teeth cause such problems as deficiency in tooth growth, ectopic growth, displacement, crowding, diastema, odontogenic cyst formation, decay of the adjacent tooth, malocclusion, and esthetic problems. This study was conducted aiming at determining epidemiology of supernumerary teeth in Ardabil city in 2020. Materials & Methods. In this retrospective descriptive analytical study, 5000 panoramic radiographs of patients referring to Rad and Baser Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Centers were selected through multistage sampling method during 2015-2020. The data were collected by checklist and analyzed with using SPSS-21 and chi-squared, Fisher, and one-way ANOVA tests with a significance level less than 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of supernumerary teeth was estimated as 1.06% (n = 53), and no significant difference between the males and females was seen. Most supernumerary teeth were found in the distomolar (44.1%) and parapremolar (29.4%) locations. The majority of supernumerary teeth were present in the maxilla (73.5%) and were impacted (77.9%) and unilateral (71.7%). The number of supernumerary teeth was 68 cases and majority of patients (86.8%) had one supernumerary tooth. CONCLUSION: Supernumerary tooth in this study had a high prevalence compared to similar studies, and unlike most previous studies, the most common type of supernumerary tooth was distomolar. Early diagnosis and proper medical planning are essential for managing supernumerary teeth.

Exploring nurses' perception of taking care of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19): A qualitative study.

Aim: Healthcare staff, especially nurses, who are in the frontline of caring of patients with COVID-19 have valuable experiences about taking care of these patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was exploring nurses' perception of taking care of patients with COVID-19. Design: This qualitative study was performed using the conventional content analysis method. Methods: 13 nurses who were taking care of patients with COVID-19 were selected using purposeful sampling in the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. The data were collected through telephone interviews and analysed based on the Lundman and Graneheim's approach. Results: Qualitative analysis of the data revealed 3 sub-categories, 8 categories and 3 main categories including care erosion, nursing professional growth and necessities. Relevance to clinical practice: Improve the work situation of the nurses during care of COVID-19 patients, which can directly or indirectly improve the quality of care of these patients.

Risk perception and adherence to preventive behaviours related to the COVID-19 pandemic: a community-based study applying the health belief model.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), now a global pandemic, is a new, highly contagious, and preventable disease that has caused many deaths across the world. Correct understanding of the risks and following health instructions are among the most important self-care parameters. AIMS: To assess people's perception of the risks and their adherence to recommended preventive behaviours regarding COVID-19 infection. METHOD: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with 1861 people residing in Ardabil province in 2020. The data were collected electronically and included four elements: demographic details; health belief model (HBM) constructs (perceived sensitivity, perceived severity and perceived benefits); beliefs about the effectiveness of disease prevention strategies; and complying with health behaviours. The data was analysed using SPSS-21 software. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the mean scores for beliefs about the effectiveness of preventative measures, the constructs of the health belief model, and compliance with preventive behaviours relating to the participants' gender, age, marital status and level of education. Beliefs and intention to stay at home, collectively predicted 54.7% of the variance in preventive behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Although a majority of participants had positive attitudes towards the effectiveness of preventive measures and adhered to them, some people who were not adherent with these healthy behaviours could be key participants in the next wave of the disease.