Search

Background and Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a recursive chronic disease with no definitive cure. This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of interventions that aimed to empower patients to improve the consequences of IBD. Materials and Methods: In a systematic review, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases, from 2000 to May 2021, using “self-care OR empower”, “self-efficacy OR self-management”, “self-control OR self-confidence OR self-determination”, “inflammatory bowel disease OR IBD OR Crohn disease OR ulcerative colitis” as keywords. Two reviewers separately performed the search, screening of the studies. Results: In total, 13 papers were finally included in the study. Most of the interventions aimed to increase patients’ awareness of the effects of the disease and how to prevent its recurrence, foster self-management, self-care, and stress management skills. The majority of interventions were made through consultation, lecture, textual educational material, telephone calls, and computer-based communication. The most prevalent positive effects of the interventions were reduced anxiety, fewer problems with the disease, fewer visits to the hospital, and increase the quality of life. Conclusion: the educational interventions based on empowerment can be effective in improving the adverse effects of IBD. These interventions can positively affect patients’ clinical and psychological health and can also increase the quality of life. The most prevalent strategies used were self-management skills and anxiety/ stress management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Due to the limited individual approach to behavior change, health promotion researchers use community-based initiatives to understand the factors affecting physical activity and promote the health of citizens. Urban open spaces can facilitate participation in physical activity and the health of citizens. The aim of this study is to identify the indicators, attributes, and dimensions of health promotion of citizens. Methods: This study was conducted in the first half of 2017 using the Cochran systematic review protocol. In order to search for studies related to public open areas and mobility and health of citizens, a search strategy was used in scientific directories and Web of Science databases to search for Latin articles and to use the SID for Persian studies. Through applying Meta synthesis, the extracted indices were classified in terms of the attributes and dimensions of the environment protecting the citizens' health. Results: The result of this research showed that 65 papers were eligible for analysis. After Meta synthesis studies, 62 indicators, 11 attributes and 4 main dimensions related to health protection and health promotion areas were identified. They include: physical, semantic, functional, and social individual. Conclusion: Urban open spaces can be a safe environment for citizens' health promotion activities. There should be aesthetics and green urban environments so that the citizens could safely and tranquilly carry out health promotion activities. These environments should be functionally and accessibly attractive and they should be a channel for citizens' socialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background an Aim: Community-based health promotion program encompasses actions aiming at enabling individuals, organizations and communities for enhancing behaviors and creating a healthier environment. Considerable experiences regarding community health promotion and community-based health promotion exists in Iran, but they have not been documented adequately. Materials and Methods: This paper reports some of the findings of a situation assessment project of community-based health promotion programs in Iran, including typology of community-based health promotion programs and critical analysis of challenges and threats, discussing potential opportunities to improve community-based health interventions. All the available reports, official documents, information and published papers related to community-based health promotion programs implemented in Iran were examined. Results: The majority of health-related interventions excluding three national programs, namely, the volunteers, community health workers (Behvarzes) and polio eradication programs, were categorized in three large groups – community-based initiatives, community-based participatory research, and community-based addiction prevention. Many of these programs were not community-based in the true sense of the word. Conclusion: The findings indicate that in Iran, unlike many other countries, the majority of the interventions are initiated and implemented at the national level with good organizational support. Although implementation of such programs is generally considered feasible in Iran, it seems that the available opportunities have not been adequately exploited for their implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-based initiatives including community-based health promotion (CBHP) programs have more than three decades of history in Iran. However, due to inadequate dissemination of the reports of such interventions, there is limited information or analysis of them accessible easily for health researchers and decision-makers at national or international level. This study, partially reported here, aimed to perform a situation analysis of community-based health promotion programs and interventions in Iran commissioned by WHO office in Tehran. Methods: Different data collection strategies were utilized to collect the relevant published and unpublished data such as the reports, papers, books and also electronic data available on the website of the funding organizations. Data were analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques such as thematic analysis to provide answer for research questions. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis conducted to identify the overall situation of community-based health promotion programs in Iran. Findings: There were hundreds of different types of community-based health promotion programs in different communities across the country which the researcher categorized them in 10 major groups. Little dissemination of the information regarding the process and the outcome of the programs, weak link between academia and the programs, and the lack of adequate evaluation of the majority of the programs, and also limited resources ad creation of unrealistic expectation of country participants were among the identified weaknesses and threats of community-based health promotion programs in Iran; while the strong organizational and political supports and developed structures due to these programs were identified to be among strengths and opportunities. Conclusion: Future community-based health promotion programs in Iran should benefit from a stronger scientific base and more effective participation of community members. Sharing the existing experiences should be paid attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: This paper reports on the predictors of high school students' oral health behaviors (OHBs) based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) in an attempt to identify effective factors that may be addressed through intervention efforts. Materials and Methods: A multistage cluster sample of 403 high school students were recruited from 8 high schools in Marivan County, Iran. The study was conducted between April and July, 2010. Appropriate instruments were used to measure the relevant variables. The statistical analysis of the data included bivariate correlations, t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression. Results: All HPM variables (perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits and barriers, activityrelated affects, interpersonal and situational influences and commitment to a plan of OHBs) were significantly related to OHBs among the respondents (p < 0.01), and a negative association was found between OHBs and perceived barriers (p < 0.01). All HPM variables were statistically significant predictors of OHBs and accounted for 42.2% of the variance. Conclusion: Promotion of interpersonal influences and the students' perceived self-efficacy and also commitment to a plan of action should be priorities of any program aimed at promoting OHBs among students. School health care providers should suggest strategies to overcome the barriers of performing OHBs, rather than noting the benefits of these behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]