Psychometric measure beliefs and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19 based on Health Belief Model (HBM): Validation of a questionnaire.

Background: The COVID-19 epidemic is a newly emerging infectious disease. This study was conducted to design an appropriate psychometric questionnaire of cultural and social characteristics to evaluate beliefs and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19 among the Iranian's population according to change behavior theory as health belief model (HBM). Methods: The study population included all those who had access to social networks and answered the questionnaire voluntarily. The sample size in this study was 350 people. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was designed using scientific sources and based on the health belief model, and its face and content validity was determined by Content Validity Ratio (CVR), and reliability was determined by the internal consistency; Test-retest was applied to examine the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19. Cronbach's alpha and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were used for the assessment of the reliability of data. Results: Initially, the questionnaire was designed based on the literature reviews and expert's opinion in the field of health education with 79 items. After that, 2 of them were deleted and corrected qualitatively by performing the face and content validity of some items. Therefore, finally, a questionnaire with 77 questions was approved. Based on the constructs of the health belief model, the domains of the questionnaire included perceived sensitivity, severity, benefits barrier, self-efficacy, knowledge and behavior.The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed. The Cronbach's alpha and ICC for each domain were greater than 0.7. Conclusion: The Questionnaire of beliefs and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19 based on HBM is a valid and reliable instrument in the Iranian population that could be used in related research.

The effect of educational intervention based on theory of planned behavior and self-regulatory strategies on the social vitality of women employee.

BACKGROUND: Social vitality is one of the most important social indicators to develop a sense of public satisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on theory of planned behavior (TPB) and self-regulatory strategies on the social vitality of women employee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled field trial study, 66 women employees of Birjand University of Medical Sciences (Iran) were selected including intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 35). Data were collected by standard Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire based on TPB which its the validity and reliability were confirmed. The educational intervention consisted of 5 sessions based on the constructs of the TPB and self-regulatory strategies which were to the interventional group. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc test at a significance level of <0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of women in the intervention and control group was 37.1 ± 9.3 and 36.2 ± 7.6 years (P = 0.67). Model constructs and happiness scores were homogeneous (P > 0.05) before the intervention, in two group of study, but after attitude (P = 0.016), subjective norm (P = 0.029), perceived behavior control (P = 0.01), intention (P = 0.006), and happiness score (P < 0.001) had a significant increase in the intervention group. In the control group, only a significant difference occurred over time in the happiness rate (P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed the effectiveness of educational intervention on the social vitality of women employees. Therefore, TPB is recommended to use in interventions to promote social vitality.

Investigating Preventive Behaviors Toward COVID-19 Among Iranian People.

Background: Considering the importance of preventive behaviors in reducing the transmission of COVID-19, this study was conducted to determine the preventive behaviors toward the spread of COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed 7 weeks after the confirmation of the first case of Covid-19 by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran. Data were completed online using a researcher-made questionnaire, the validity and reliability of which were confirmed, for 1,200 Iranians from 8 April 2020 to 9 May 2020. Results: The mean age of study participants was 37.77 ± 11.20 years. The mean score of preventive behaviors was 62.67 ± 8.53. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the variables of gender, education, economic status, and preventive behaviors of COVID-19. The highest frequency is related to not using hookah and cigarettes and then avoiding losing and rubbing (78%) and the lowest percentage is related to exercising behavior (16%). Conclusion: Due to the low level of prevention behaviors during the outbreak of the disease, it is important to design educational and supportive interventions to improve and perform coronavirus prevention behaviors with more focus on men, illiterate people, and poor economic status.

Evaluation of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in meat and edible organs, Iran.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a more persistent and lipophilic group of insecticides. The present study aims to evaluate the residues of OCPs in meat, liver, and kidney of the cattle and sheep. A total of 54 samples were obtained from butcheries and local markets in Birjand, east of Iran. The residual contents of aldrin; dieldrin; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane; and its metabolites (DDTs), endosulfan isomers, endrin, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, chlordans, methoxychlor, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were analyzed in all samples. OCP residues were extracted by using the QuEChERS technique and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All of the analyzed OCPs were lower than the detection limit. The findings showed that meat and edible organs marketed in this region enjoyed a good status in terms of the residues of OCP. Monitoring of pesticide residues in meat and edible organs is necessary from the public health point of view.

Research self-efficacy and its relationship with academic performance in postgraduate students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2016.

BACKGROUND: Research self-efficacy is one of the main factors influencing the successful conduction of research and following it in students. This study was performed with the aim of determining the research self-efficacy and its relationship with academic performance in postgraduate students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 320 postgraduate students of TUMS in 2016. Proportional stratified sampling was done with simple random sampling from each school. The data were gathered with Phillips and Russell's research self-efficacy questionnaire, demographic questions, and grade point average (GPA) and were analyzed with independent t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regressions in SPSS 18. RESULTS: Out of 320 students participating in this study, 152 patients (47.5%) were male and 168 (52.5%) were female with the mean age of 27.83 ± 4.3 years. The mean of research self-efficacy score was 186.18 ± 59.5 which was significant depended on college degrees and was significantly higher in doctorate students (P = 0.0001). However, no significant difference was seen in research self-efficacy score of students due to gender (P = 0.754) and school (P = 0.364). There was a significant direct relationship between students' GPA and research self-efficacy score (r = 0.393, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study showed that the research self-efficacy score of TUMS postgraduate students is at an acceptable level, except the quantitative and computer skills that need appropriate educational interventions. As a direct and significant relationship existed between research self-efficacy score and student's academic performance, improving the research self-efficacy will also increase students' academic performance.

The effect of instruction on knowledge and attitude of couples attending pre-marriage counseling classes.

BACKGROUNDS: Marriages and establishing a family is one of the most important events in the life of each person. It has significant effects on personal and social health, if it occurs with sufficient knowledge in the proper conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of pre-marriage instruction on the knowledge and health attitudes of the couples attending the pre-marriage counseling classes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This pre and post quasi-experimental study was conducted on 250 couples attending the pre-marriage counseling classes. The required information was collected using an autonomous questionnaire designed based on the research objectives. The questionnaire included three parts: Demographic information, knowledge (27 questions) and attitude (18 questions. The questionnaire was filled out before and after the pre-marriage counseling program, which was presented as lectures. The effect of the instructional program was analyzed using a statistical test. RESULTS: The results showed that 83.2% of the couples had poor knowledge, 16% average, and 0.8% had good knowledge before the intervention. After the intervention, 60.4% of couples had poor knowledge, 31.6% average and 8% had good knowledge. The results also revealed that that the difference in mean scores of knowledge and attitudes regarding reproductive health, family planning, genetic diseases and disabilities was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the mean scores of knowledge and attitude of the couples had increased after the instructional intervention, the increase in knowledge level was not very high. So the knowledge score of the couples increased just 4.3%, and only 8% of the couples had good knowledge after the instructional intervention. Therefore, to achieve a relatively stable behavior change in individuals and improving the health level of the young couples, it is recommended that more attention pay to the quality of the instructional classes.

The effects of suburban villages' health volunteer plan on women's health knowledge and attitude.

BACKGROUND: To achieve stable social development, the cooperation of all members of a -community is basically required. Providing and improving the health standard is one of the most fundamental dimensions of human social evolution. This is more essential than the other aspects of development (public cooperation demands) and health volunteers are the forerunners of this cooperation, who have voluntarily set about having the public participate in providing and elevating the level of community health. The present study aimed to determine the effect of implementing "the health communication plan" by health volunteers in suburban villages regarding the health knowledge and attitude of rural women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, knowledge and attitude of 121 females (age 15-49 years), who were under the supervision of health centers in four suburban villages (the case group), before and after performing the health volunteer plan, were compared to those of 94 females (age 15-49 years) in another group of four suburban villages (the control group) lacking health volunteers under the care service of two rural health centers. Data gathering instrument was questionnaires and interviews. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 11.5) using statistical paired t-test and Sign test. P≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The study showed that the mean of rural women's health knowledge and attitude had increased and there was a significant difference between before intervention and after intervention values in the two groups (P<0.001). Comparing the averages of the two groups also revealed a significant difference (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings and the positive effects of performing suburban health volunteer plan on the health knowledge and attitude of rural women, it would therefore be important to suggest that suburban health volunteers are very helpful and effective in improving the knowledge and attitude level of rural women. In brief; as a direct result of their health performance, performing the plan all over rural health centers is recommended.