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Introduction: This study aimed to develop a model for developing higher education management in educational centers affiliated with Iranian universities of medical sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an applied-descriptive survey with a mixed-method approach. Two hundred forty-two people were selected with cluster random sampling. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with two parts: the personal characteristics and the examination of the importance of higher education management indicators according to the indicators, dimensions, and components identified in the qualitative section and literature review. This questionnaire consists of 60 items, demonstrating a reliability coefficient 0.79, as assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. In terms of content validity, it achieved a score of 0.49. After determining the dimensions and components with SPSS MAXQDA 2023 and LISREL 2022, qualitative data were analyzed with factor analysis. Results: The qualitative part includes the technology development, the expansion of virtual education, increasing the learning quality, the efficiency of the educational system, the expansion of research and access to scientific resources, the expansion of international relations, capital optimization, the flexibility of education, monitoring, and evaluation. The KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of sampling) measure yielded a value greater than 0.7, indicating that the dataset is suitable for exploratory factor analysis. The most influential dimensions were the scientific development of educational content (β=0.770), the use of technology in empowerment (β=0.560), the explanation of the educational system (β=0.550), and educational monitoring and evaluation (β = 0.330). Conclusion: Explaining the educational system, monitoring, and evaluating higher education management were necessary to empower students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Emotional intelligence as the ability to understand emotions in self and others, is recognized as underlying success in various aspects. Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and sleep quality in female high school students. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 284 female high school students in Rasht in 2019- 2020, selected by cluster sampling. Demographic, the Bar-On emotional intelligence, and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaires were completed online by the participants. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS statistics software, version 22 using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The Mean age of participants was 13.94±0.95 years, and the mean previous grade point average (GPA) of participants was 19.61±0.89. The Mean total score of students’ emotional intelligence and sleep quality were 334.95±42.82 and 4.71±3.20, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the total score of emotional intelligence and sleep quality (r=-0.427 and P<0.001). Also, 31% of the subjects had poor sleep quality (95% CI, 25.7%-36.6%), and the multiple logistic regression showed an inverse relationship between poor sleep quality and emotional intelligence score (OR=0.98, P<0.001). There was no association between demographic variables and sleep quality (P>0.05). Conclusion About a third of female students had poor sleep quality. There was a significant relationship between sleep quality and emotional intelligence. Therefore, poor sleep quality was associated with lower emotional intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrition education is a key component of health promotion programs which leads to the improvement of students' nutritional behaviors. The transtheoretical model (TTM) is one of the models extensively used in changing people's behaviors. This study aimed to change the dairy consumption behavior based on the TTM in female students. Methods: A controlled trial was conducted with 159 female students (intervention group: 56; control group: 103) in the 10-11th grades from two public schools in Soumesara city located in the west of Gilan Province, Iran. Demographic characteristics, knowledge, TTM constructs and stage of change of dairy consumption were collected using a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire. Data were gathered before and one month after the educational intervention. Chi-square test, t-test and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty-two students from the intervention and 93 from the control group completed the study. Only 15% of the students were in the action or maintenance stages of dairy consumption. After the intervention, mean scores of behavioral processes of change, cognitive processes of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy improved in the intervention group (P < 0.05 for all). Also, 37% and 16% of the participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively, were in the action or maintenance phase (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that implementing an intervention based on the TTM would positively affect students' dairy consumption behaviors. Also, it is suggested that the TTM be assessed in terms of other daily nutritional needs in students to promote their nutritional behaviors. Trial Registration: The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (available online at https://en.irct.ir/trial/50003) on April 11, 2020 with the number IRCT20200718048132N1 and was approved by research ethics committee of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Improving people's resilience is one of the most influential factors in dealing with the Corona crisis. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the role of mindfulness and spiritual experiences in predicting students' resilience during COVID-19. Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlation, and 269 male and female undergraduate students of Farhangian University of Qazvin Province, Iran, were selected by the convenience sampling method in the academic year of 2019-2020 and answered the questionnaire on mindfulness, spiritual experiences, and resilience. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test and multiple regressions via SPSS software, version 24. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between mindfulness and spiritual experiences with resilience (P<0.01). And the components of mindfulness and spiritual experiences (58.5%) explain the variance of resilience. Conclusion: The results showed that mindfulness and spiritual experiences can predict students' resilience in the era of Corona, therefore, it is suggested that educational and counseling programs promote mindfulness and spiritual experiences to improve the resilience of fashion students--the opinion of those involved in the academic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the necessities of today's world that prepares nursing students for their future professional roles is the concept of individual innovation. However, there is no clear definition of individual innovation in nursing. This study was designed and implemented with the aim of investigating the concept of individual innovation from the perspective of nursing students using qualitative content analysis. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from September 2020 to May 2021 on 11 nursing students of one of the nursing schools in southern Iran. The participants were selected by purposive sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. Data analysis was done using conventional content analysis and MAXQDA 2018. Results: Following data analysis, 662 initial codes were extracted forming 9 categories and three main themes. The themes included personal and professional dynamism, professional inventiveness, and the integration of innovation drivers. Conclusions: The concept of individual innovation in the nursing student included personal and professional dynamics and professional inventiveness. Individual innovation occurred through combination of innovation drivers. Managers and policy makers of nursing education can use the results of this to get acquainted with this concept and develop policies and guidelines to develop nursing students' individual innovation. Through getting familiar with the concept of individual innovation, nursing students can try to flourish this characteristic in themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Teaching sexual issues to students is one of the topics that requires discussion and examination due to cultural sensitivities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the attitudes of students and counselors towards the necessity and content of sexual education. Materials and Methods: This research constitutes a qualitative investigation employing a phenomenological approach. The sampling process was guided by the objectives of study and continued until data saturation was reached. The samples included 15 female students and 9 female counselors from high schools in Qaemshahr cityIran. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews, and the Morse content analysis method was utilized for data analysis. Results: Throughout the study, six primary themes emerged, each encompassing both shared and unique subthemes. The main themes included: 1) The imperative of delivering sexual education, 2) The sexual education requirements of young women, 3) Challenges in providing and receiving sexual education at home and school, 4) Appropriate sources of sexual information, 5) The suitable age for initiating sexual education, and 6) The pedagogical approach to addressing sexual matters. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that both students and counselors assert that offering sexual education in a timely and appropriate manner can mitigate numerous potential harms and contribute to the well-being of adolescents. Taking into consideration the essential educational themes as perceived by students and counselors facilitates more effective planning in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eye care is crucial for maintaining healthy vision. This study aimed to design a determinants assessment instrument related to eye self-care in the student community and evaluate its psychometric properties. Materials and Methods: The present mixed-method cross-sectional study was conducted in two sections using Creswell and Plano Clark methods for instrument development. The study was conducted in Isfahan, Iran, in 2021. The first section (textual analysis and qualitative research) explained and developed the instrument's fundamental items. This section included in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 21 students and eight experts. In the second, the psychometric properties of the designed instrument have been evaluated. Twenty students assessed the instrument's qualitative and quantitative face validity. The instrument's content was measured by computing the content validity ratio and content validity index. In addition, exploratory factor analysis (performed on 251 students) was used to establish construct validity. Internal and test-retest reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. Results: During face and content validity assessment, a 39-item questionnaire was finalized. Exploratory factor analysis led to the extraction of seven factors, including "perceived self-efficacy and self-regulation," "outcome expectation," "perceived barriers," "motivation," "perceived susceptibility," "normative beliefs," and "perceived severity." The seven extracted factors explained 48.6% of the total variance. Cronbach"s alpha was obtained to be 0.780, indicating good internal consistency, and the ICC for the total score of the questionnaire was 0.892 (95% confidence interval: 0.822-0.944), indicating excellent test-retest reliability. Conclusion: Our developed questionnaire was a valid and reliable instrument for assessing eye care determinants among students, a vulnerable population afflicted with eye defects and disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postural abnormalities, such as forward head posture (FHP), posterior kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis, can lead to discomfort and health problems. This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of these abnormalities and their association with age, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity among male students of Tehran universities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 students of Tehran University of Medical Science to evaluate the relationship between postural abnormalities and associated factors. Participants’ demographic data and physical activity levels were collected using questionnaires, and spinal curvature was assessed using a spinal mouse device and photogrammetry. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software, version 22, and a Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between variables. Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of postural abnormalities, with FHP being the most prevalent (84.5%), followed by lumbar lordosis (79.8%), and posterior kyphosis (34.7%). Factors, such as age, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and physical activity were significantly associated with the occurrence of postural abnormalities. Conclusion: A study on male university students showed that FHP, posterior kyphosis, and lordosis are common postural abnormalities with varying degrees of occurrence. FHP was the most prevalent type of abnormality. Age and BMI were correlated with the prevalence of postural abnormalities, and kyphosis was more common among younger students. BMI was also significantly related to the prevalence of postural abnormalities, and physical activity was associated with the prevalence of FHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Object: Healthy children achieve better educational outcomes, which in turn is associated with improved health later in life. Health promotion schools The World Health Organization is a comprehensive research to promote health and academic achievement in schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of education provided in health promotion schools on various aspects of students› health. Materials and Methods: The present study was a systematic review. Four international databases, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and domestic Magi ran and SID databases, as well as the Google Scholar search engine, were searched using various keywords related to health-promoting schools. The risk of bias was reduced with the participation of two authors who assessed the quality of the study and the eligibility of the articles included. Results: After searching the databases, a total of 1213 articles were found. The age of the students ranged from 5 to 18 years, all studies reported the age and sex of the participants. No studies had long-term follow-up (more than 24 months). Among the studies, 6 studies received positive and significant results from the educational interventions provided in health promotion schools, and 2 studies from the educational intervention did not receive their expected results. Conclusion: According to the results of this systematic review, studies in the field of health promotion schools do not have the necessary quantity and quality. Considering the importance of health promotion schools, it is necessary to conduct more quality studies and support measures from related organizations in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neurodevelopmental disorders are group of neuropsychiatric disorders that occur in childhood and cause disruption in the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system in children. According to research results, children with neurodevelopmental disorders are weak in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills. This study aimed to develop a multimedia educational program with a neuropsychological approach and evaluate its effectiveness in the social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Material & Methods:In this study, initially, a multimedia educational program with neuropsychological approach was designed, and the content validity of the tool was confirmed by experts. The statistical population of this study included male students aged 7-11 years old with neurodevelopmental disorder in Tehran, Iran. Using the purposefully convenience sampling method, and after administering Stanford-Binet Test of Intelligence (Fifth Edition), 100 children with neurodevelopmental disorder and natural IQ level and above were selected and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was subjected to 90-min 24 multimedia educational sessions with neuropsychological approach. On the other hand, the control group received no intervention. They were then followed-up after one month and a half. The required data were collected using Social Skills Rating System (Gresham and Elliot, 1999) as pre-test, post-test, and the follow-up. Findings: The results of repeated measurement MANCOVA showed the effectiveness of the multimedia educational program with neuropsychological approach in the improvement of social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorder (P˂0.01; Effect Size 0.35). Furthermore, it was shown that the effect of this program with neuropsychological approach on the social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorder was constant even after one month and a half. Discussion & Conclusion: A multimedia educational program with neuropsychological approach can be used to increase and strengthen the social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The current study was conducted to investigate the balance performance of 7-12-year-old Iranian children based on functional reach tests. Methods. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 483 male and female students from the first to sixth grades. After measuring the height, weight, and length of the upper and lower limbs, the functional reach test was evaluated with the dominant limb, and the initial amount of the functional reach test was recorded by the examiner, and subsequently, the same protocol was used for the non-dominant limb, as well as two limbs. The final amount of functional reach was recorded, and the difference between the two was recorded in the test sheet. This process was repeated three times, and the average of these three attempts was recorded as the final score. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software version 23, and its descriptive and inferential statistics were extracted. Pearson's correlation coefficient was also calculated to measure the correlation of anthropometric characteristics of height, weight, and body length. Results. In this study, 483 elementary school students with an average age of 9.53 years (minimum of 7 years and maximum of 12 years) and the average height of 138.217, as well as an average body mass index of 17.43 in the first to sixth grades, were evaluated. The normative scores for right, left, and two-handed functional reach tests were 20.45±7.87 cm, 22.46±8.09 cm, and 18.60±7.89 cm, respectively. The right and left lateral reach test scores were 14.68±6.01 cm and 14.90±6.01 cm, respectively. These scores significantly correlated with each other (P<0.001) and anthropometric characteristics. Conclusion. The results of the current study revealed that on 483 students from the first to the sixth-grade evaluation of functional reach and lateral reach, tests is vital for clinical use and assessing the balance of Iranian children. Due to the lower balance functional level of Iranian children than their peers in some other countries, there is a need for planning to increase physical activity and sports in school programs and at the community level. Practical Implications. The data obtained from functional reach tests in this study can be used to measure the balance performance of Iranian school-age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a significant challenge to education systems worldwide, disrupting traditional teaching and learning methods. This study aims to explore the perceptions of medical students at Abadan University of Medical Sciences regarding electronic assessment methods during the pandemic. Methods: This qualitative study utilized conventional content analysis and involved medical students in their second semester of 2021 who had chosen a unit during the pandemic. Results: Through the analysis process, the participants' experiences were categorized into six main classes, which included the following: information technology infrastructure, teaching methods of teachers, design of virtual exam questions, monitoring of online exams, psychological issues, and types of virtual assessment. Conclusion: The medical students shared their experiences with virtual assessment during the pandemic, highlighting challenges related to internet infrastructure, communication issues between teachers and students, exam monitoring, psychological factors, reduced learning efficiency due to virtual summative assessment alone, and better learning efficiency through formative assessment alongside summative assessment. They also suggested improvements to online exams, such as increasing the number of questions on each page, allowing the possibility to return to previous questions, and ensuring non-randomness in clinical questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, computer games have taken a prominent place in the lives of children and teenagers, and statistics indicate that online gaming constitutes the majority of computer usage. Numerous studies have explored the detrimental effects of internet gaming on individuals. However, to date, no comprehensive research has been conducted specifically investigating the effect of online gaming on academic performance within a medical education context. To address this gap, we have conducted this study, focusing on the impact of online gaming on the academic performance of Iranian medical students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 185 medical students from four disciplines ((basic sciences, Physiopathology, extern, intern) were selected through a multi-stage sampling method at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) test as well as the grade point average (GPA) of the last academic semester, the average study hours on normal days and near the exam, the efficiency of study hours, the number of failed semesters, and academic satisfaction were assessed. Results: In this study, a total of 185 medical students participated, of which 62.2% (115 students) were females. The prevalence of IGD was found to be 3.8%. Interestingly, the prevalence of IGD was approximately four times higher in males than in females (7.1% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.106). Furthermore, both the overall daily study time (P < 0.001) and the daily study time on days near exams (P = 0.031) were found to be significantly higher in students without IGD compared to those with IGD. However, factors such as age, gender, being native to Mashhad, discipline level, last GPA, number of failed semesters, and satisfaction with education showed no correlation with IGD. Conclusion: These findings may serve as a cautionary signal for educational authorities within the Iranian medical education system. However, to obtain more robust results, further investigations are recommended, particularly in other academic majors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The face-to-face education was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. In such situations, online education method was used. In this study, we aim to assess the quality of online education for theoretical courses of audiology from the perspective of audiology students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 77 audiology students of the School of Rehabilitation at TUMS. Data collection were a demographic form and two quality and satisfaction assessment questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS version 17. Results: There was a significant difference in all subscales of Shourcheh questionnaire among students with different educational stages (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between age (except for social solidarity component) and gender (p>0.05) groups. The results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed a statistically significant difference in the quality scores among students with different educational stages (p=0.033), but there was no significant difference between age (p=0.300) and gender (p=0.630) groups. Conclusion: The quality of online education for theoretical courses of audiology at TUMS is high from the perspective of PhD students, while it is low according to BSc and MSc students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: The present study was conducted to determine the effect of motion-graphic video-based training on the performance of operating room nurse students in cataract surgery using phacoemulsification at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Methods: This was a randomized controlled study conducted among 36 students training to become operating room nurses. The control group only received routine training, and the intervention group received motion-graphic video-based training on the scrub nurse's performance in cataract surgery in addition to the educator's training. The performance of the students in both groups as scrub nurses was measured through a researcher-made checklist in a pre-test and a post-test. Results: The mean scores for performance in the pre-test and post-test were 17.83 and 26.44 in the control group and 18.33 and 50.94 in the intervention group, respectively, and a significant difference was identified between the mean scores of the pre- and post-test in both groups (P=0.001). The intervention also led to a significant increase in the mean performance score in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). Conclusion: Considering the significant difference in the performance score of the intervention group compared to the control group, motion- graphic video-based training had a positive effect on the performance of operating room nurse students, and such training can be used to improve clinical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate a smartphone-based online electronic logbook used to assess the clinical skills of nurse anesthesia students in Iran. Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted after tool development at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran from January 2022 to December 2022. The online electronic logbook involved in this study was an Android-compatible application used to evaluate the clinical skills of nurse anesthesia students. In the implementation phase, the online electronic logbook was piloted for 3 months in anesthesia training in comparison with a paper logbook. For this purpose, 49 second- and third-year anesthesia nursing students selected using the census method were assigned to intervention (online electronic logbook) and control (paper logbook) groups. The online electronic logbook and paper logbook were compared in terms of student satisfaction and learning outcomes. Results: A total of 39 students participated in the study. The mean satisfaction score of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P=0.027). The mean score of learning outcomes was also significantly higher for the intervention than the control group (P=0.028). Conclusion: Smartphone technology can provide a platform for improving the evaluation of the clinical skills of nursing anesthesia students, leading to increased satisfaction and improved learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing students are required to acquire the necessary clinical knowledge and skills to provide safe and quality care. The method of providing training, particularly for final-year nursing students, is of utmost importance. An internship is a program during which students work in shifts similar to nurses employed in a hospital; however, the number of their shifts and patients is less than nurses; a nurse and the faculty supervise the care they provide, and they are paid a monthly salary. This study was conducted to explore nursing faculty, managers, new graduates, and students' experiences of nursing internship program implementation. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from November 2021 to March 2022. The participants were selected from among nursing managers, newly graduated nurses, nursing internship students (final-year undergraduate), and faculty of Iran. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis approach was used for data analysis. Results: Participants in this study included 17 nursing internship students, 12 nursing managers, three faculty members, ten nursing preceptors, and five newly graduated nurses from the internship program, 47 participants in total. After analyzing the data, five themes, including 'facilitation of socialization process,' 'filling the gap between theory and practice,' 'improving self-confidence and independence,' 'an opportunity for clinical skill training,' and 'Achilles' heel of the clinical setting,' and nineteen subthemes were extracted from the participants' experiences. Conclusion: Implementation of an internship program for final-year nursing students plays a role in preparing them for better professional performance, enhancing clinical skills, increasing self-confidence and independence, inspiring the nursing profession, strengthening professional commitment, and improving the chances of employment after graduation. In order to alleviate the identified challenges of the internship program, holding a briefing meeting with managers, supervisors, and faculty to determine working hours, performance standards, and amenities such as lunch, dinner, and resting place is efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 30% of all deaths worldwide. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of education through online social media (WhatsApp) on the anxiety and satisfaction of candidates for coronary angiography. Materials & Methods In this study, participants were candidates for elective coronary angiography referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran from May to July 2021. They were assigned to the intervention (n=43) and control (n=43) groups. Data were collected using a demographic form, the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for measuring satisfaction. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 16 using independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Results Both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics at baseline, and there was no significant difference in BAI scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P=0.229). The results of independent t-test showed a significant difference in the mean BAI score before and after intervention in two groups (P<0.001), indicating the effect of intervention on reducing anxiety. The results of independent t-test showed that the satisfaction in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.001). The results of the paired t-test showed that in both intervention (P<0.001) and control (P=0.005) groups, the BAI score decreased significantly after the intervention compared to the pre-intervention phase. The effect size of education on anxiety was 0.9 and the effect size on satisfaction was 1.88, which shows the high effect of the educational intervention. Conclusion The use of mobile social networks for education is effective in reducing anxiety and improving satisfaction in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Therefore, this interventional method can be used by nurses as an effective method in medical centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Moral sensitivity is the ability to recognize moral conflicts and consequences in decisions, and anxiety sensitivity is a structure of individual differences, in which a person fears physical symptoms associated with anxiety arousal. Anxiety sensitivity is vital in the persistence of anxiety disorders. This study was done to determine the relationship between moral sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity in nursing students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This research was descriptive-correlational. The samples included 336 nursing students in all grades at Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences in 2020. Sampling was performed continuously using virtual space. In this research, the demographic information form, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ), and Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16 and analytical and descriptive tests, such as Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The score of moral sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity was obtained as 81 and 31.4, respectively. The correlation coefficient between moral sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity was not statistically significant (r=0.065; P=0.238). Also, the two components of fear of physical concerns had a significant relationship with the dimensions of benevolence and honesty. Conclusion: Considering that the lack of interest in the nursing field increases anxiety sensitivity, it is suggested to activities be done to improve interest in nursing among students. Despite the lack of a significant relationship between these two components, the importance of these two components should not be neglected and it is better to carry out studies to better understand the factors affecting moral sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity and to improve these two components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an explanatory model of assertiveness based on parenting styles mediated by anxiety and self-esteem. Methods: This study is descriptive-correlational modeling with partial least squares. The statistical population included singleton children of the sixth grade of the elementary school in the 3rd District of Tehran in the academic year 2017-18. The sampling method was multistage sampling; eight schools (four all-boys and four all-girls) were randomly selected from all primary schools in the 3rd District of Tehran, then, a sixth-grade class was randomly selected in each school. The singleton students of those classes participated in the present study as the study sample. The sample size was 118 students (81 girls and 37 boys). The instruments of this research included the Persian forms of adaptive and aggressive assertiveness scales (AAA-S), the Baumrind parenting scale, Beck anxiety inventory (BAI), and Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES). To analyze the data, the SPSS software, version 26. Results: The results indicated that authoritative and permissive parenting styles had a significant effect on assertiveness among the parenting styles. The total effects indicated that authoritative and permissive parenting styles explained 0.22 and 0.20 of the variances of assertiveness. The results also showed that the authoritarian parenting style had no significant effect on assertiveness. Discussion: The suggested model was acceptably fit, according to the results of the study. Permissive and authoritative parenting styles had impact on assertiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor menstrual health is a risk factor for genital infections and infertility and may affect family health and the community's future. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the PRECEDE model on improving menstrual health behaviors among female students. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 130 first-grade high school female students and their mothers randomly selected from six schools and divided into intervention and control groups. Three two-hour educational sessions were conducted for the students and their mothers in the intervention group based on the pretest results. Data were collected immediately and three months after the educational sessions using a questionnaire with confirmed validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 21 with repeated-measures ANOVA and t-test. The significance level was considered at 0.05. Results: The educational intervention based on the PRECEDE model increased the mean scores of predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors in the intervention group and finally increased the mean score of health behavior immediately (24.1 ± 4.62, P < 0.001) and three months after the intervention (22.84 ± 4.04, P = 0.02) compared to before intervention (19.68 ± 5.48). Conclusions: The results showed a change in factors affecting behavior (predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors). The PRECEDE model changed the menstrual health behaviors among the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Training dental and oral health behaviors by using appropriate training models and theories is an important issue in preventing dental and oral diseases. the present study aimed to investigate the effect of training based on the health belief model and behavioral intention on dental and oral health behaviors in female students aged 9–12 years old in the city of Rudsar, Guilan, Iran. Methods: This research is an interventional study conducted on 84 female students aged 9–12 years old, who lived in the city of Rudsar (n = 42 in the control group and n = 42 in the interventional group) in 2019. The data collection tools included questions on demographic variables, structures of the health belief model (perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived barriers and benefits, self-efficiency), behavioral intention, and performance. The questionnaire was completed before the intervention and 3 months after it by both groups. The intervention group received four 45-min sessions. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24, descriptive tests, independent sample t-test, pair sample t-test, and regression (P < 0.05). Results: The mean age of the intervention and control groups was 10.88 ± 1.01 and 10.80 ± 1.01, respectively. The results showed that the average scores of all structures of the health belief model and behavioral intention in the intervention group significantly changed compared to the average scores obtained before the intervention (P < 0.05). Moreover, the average scores of perceived sensitivity (p < 0.009), perceived barriers (p < 0.007), self-efficiency (p < 0.001), and behavioral intention (p < 0.001) significantly changed after the intervention in both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, the health belief model and the behavioral intention were effective in improving dental and oral health so that they can be applied to improving people's dental and oral health. It can also be used as a model to design, implement, and monitor medical health programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Understanding the cognitive-social factors that contribute to group success is crucial in creating and maintaining a group and its cohesion process. Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the persistent effect of problem-solving methods and create interpersonal relationships on the cognitive-social dimensions of the group environment of athletes. Method: This study was a semi-experimental type of research with a pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population was all female students of Islamic Azad University- Yadgar Imam Branch in the academic year 2017-2018. The statistical sample included 57 volunteer students who were randomly divided into three groups such as control, problem-solving exercises, and interpersonal relationship exercises. After the pre-test, all participants performed the desired exercises for 12 weeks and then took part in the post-test. The group Environment Questionnaire of Caron & et al (1987) was used to evaluate the cognitive-social dimensions of the group environment. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni's posthoc test using SPSS version 20 software. Results: The results showed a significant difference. The time and group effects showed that the interventions had a significant effect on the dimensions of individual attractions to the group–social and group integration (P<0.05). The results also showed that a significant difference was observed in the interaction effect of the time*group. The results of the Bonferroni post-hoc test also showed that the method based on interpersonal relationships has a significant effect on the cognitive-social components of the group environment (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be said that if the communication channels between the coach and team members are open so that each member can share the cognitive-social dimensions related to their behavior with others, it will lead to better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is critical to identify the factors affecting the academic success of students in the context of medical sciences. The research approaches in positive psychology have shown that the variables of hope and optimism play important roles in the academic achievement of college students. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare and evaluate the relationship between the academic achievement of medical and paramedical students with hope and optimism. Methods: A descriptive-correlative and cross-sectional research design was adopted in this study. The statistical population of the study consisted of all medical and paramedical students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. A total of 350 students were selected based on Cochran's sampling formula, out of who 306 ones completed and returned the questionnaires. In order to collect the required data, two valid and reliable scales, including the Adult Hope Scale (AHS) and the Academic Optimism Questionnaire, were used. Moreover, descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to analyze the data by using SPSS 21V software. Results: The findings showed that students' academic optimism (r= 0.16, P ≤ 0.01) and hope (r= 0.17, P ≤ 0.01) were positively and significantly associated with their academic achievement. The results also indicated that there was a considerable, positive correlation between student identification and their academic achievement (r = 0.197, P ≤ 0.01). Furthermore, a significantly positive relationship was detected between student hope dimensions in terms of agency thinking (r =-0.15, P ≤ 0.05), pathways thinking (r = -0.17, P ≤ 0.01), and academic achievement. The findings demonstrated that paramedical students were significantly more optimistic than medical students (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: It was concluded that hope and academic optimism may have increased and improved students' academic performance and, consequently, had a positive impact on their success and achievement in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing students face mental and emotional issues due to the nature of their profession. The role of protective factors such as psychological capital and spiritual well-being is vital in improving mental health. This study investigated the mediating role of psychological capital as a mediator in the relationships between spiritual well-being and mental health in Iran. Methods: The present study was descriptive, cross-sectional research conducted on 426 undergraduate nursing students within a four-year educational program in Iran from July to December 2021. The participants were selected via convenience sampling. This research used psychological capital scale, spiritual well-being, and general health questionnaire. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive tests, Pearson correlation, and a structural equation model. Results: Spiritual well-being positively affects mental health and psychological capital. Psychological capital also is positively related to mental health. Psychological capital partially mediated the effect of spiritual well-being on mental health. Conclusion: According to the results, High level of spiritual well-being can improve nursing students' mental health and the relationship is partially mediated Psychological capital. Therefore, psychological capital is an important factor in improving nursing students' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Nowadays, loneliness is one of the foremost common issues among university students that may negatively affect their physical and mental states and academic performance. Accordingly, this research project intended to investigate the incidence of loneliness and its related risk factors among students studying at universities of medical sciences. Method: The participants in this cross-sectional study were 538 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences students, selected using a simple random sampling method. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness questionnaire with 20 questions. Descriptive statistics, multiple logistic regression, and Chi-square were used to identify factors affecting loneliness. Results: The results showed that the mean loneliness score and the magnitude of the students' loneliness were 41.42 and 26.4%, respectively. The magnitude of loneliness was higher among female respondents (OR = 1.86, P = 0.005), cigarette smokers (OR = 0.39, P < 0.001), freshman students (OR = 2.76, P = 0.021), sophomore students (OR = 2.36, P = 0.040), those with low financial status (OR = 1.80, P = 0.037), and those residing in dormitories (OR = 1.73, P = 0.013). Conclusion: In general, loneliness was widespread among the students. Based on the findings, the magnitude of loneliness was higher among the first-year student group, female students, students with poor economic status, and those who smoked and lived in dormitories. Therefore, this study's findings underline the significance of making students aware of loneliness, investigating the circumstances and factors that exacerbate this sensation among first-year students (mainly between 18-21 years old), and devising intervention to alleviate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Happiness is an essential component in measuring quality of life. Today, rapid internet use proliferation has led to adverse effects on this behavior of individuals and family structures. Method: The statistical population consisted of 500 high school girls aged between 15 and 18 studying in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades at Shiraz, Iran, from February 2018 to March 2019. The data were collected using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The test and the questionnaire were translated into Persian. The validity and reliability were approved by earlier studies in Iran. Five hundred high school students participated in the study. Results: The mean age of the participants was 16.7 ± 0.97 years, and their grade point average (GPA) was 18.41 ± 7.92. Among the 500 participants, 55% (275) of fathers and 65.8% (329) of mothers had parents with a diploma degree, and 162 (32.4%) were affected by Internet Addiction (IA). The univariate analysis showed that participants' education field, parents' educational status, each parent's vocational status, participants' GPA, and their duration of Internet usage correlated with the IA (P ≤ 0.2). Furthermore, multiple logistic analyses showed that mothers' education (P < 0.055) and participants' minutes of Internet usage (P < 0.001) correlated with IA. Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between happiness score and internet addiction among high school female students in Shiraz, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Quality of life and responsibility are known as fundamental issues in contemporary psychology. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of problem solving training on quality of life and responsibility of paramedical students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design. The statistical population of the study consisted of all paramedical students (490 students) in the academic year 2020-2021 in one of the ranked universities. The available sample was randomly divided into an intervention (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36) and Gauff Responsibility Questionnaire were used to collect data. Problem-solving training, using scenario, was provided for the experimental group in the form of 2-hour sessions held twice a week for a period of 14 weeks. The data were analyzed, using co-variance analysis and SPSS 21 software. Results. The mean age of the participants was 20.61 in the intervention, and 21.21 in the control groups. The standard deviation calculated for the two groups were 1.14 and 1.62, respectively. The problem solving training seemed to enhance the scores on the quality of life [F(1,39)=1052.192, P<0.001, η²=0.966] and students' sense of responsibility [F(1,39)=126.111, P<0.001, η²=0.773] Conclusion. The results of testing the research hypotheses showed that problem solving training has a significant positive effect due to the knowledge of problem solving skills, reducing the incidence of mental illness in students. Therefore, it is recommended this approach be used to promote students' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quality of root canal treatment is considered as an important prognostic factor for endodontic therapy success. The aim of this study is to evaluate radiographic errors during the root canal treatment by 5th and 6th year undergraduate students of Islamic Azad university of Isfahan (Khorasgan) from 2015 to 2018. Materials & Methods: In this study records of 860 cases of endodontic treatment of patients referred to the General Endodontics Department and the Comprehensive Treatment Department of Isfahan Azad University (Khorasgan) during 2015-2018 including 1903 root canals that had received root canal treatment were examined. Periapical radiography was used to evaluate errors during access cavity preparation, canal preparation, and canal filling by two endodontic specialists and it was recorded in pre-prepared forms. In the access cavity preparation: furcation perforation, low access cavity expansion, high access cavity expansion were evaluated. During the canal preparation phase, errors such as missing of canal, ledge, transport, perforation types and broken instruments were investigated. Length and density of root filing were the criteria evaluated at the canal filling stage. The analysis was performed at both descriptive and inferential levels. Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-Square test and exact Fisher's test. Results: Frequency of acceptable root canal treatment (without errors) was 37.5%. Lower first molars showed the highest error rate (40.7%). Furcation perforation was reported with 9.4% highest error of access cavity preparation. The highest error rate was reported transport (7.8%) in the preparation phase. Inadequate density (gap) of 36.9% and under filling of 31.1% had the highest error in filling stage. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be stated that general endodontics department needs careful planning to increase the quality of root canal treatments performed by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quality of root canal treatment is considered as an important prognostic factor for endodontic therapy success. The aim of this study is to evaluate radiographic errors during the root canal treatment by 5th and 6th year undergraduate students of Islamic Azad university of Isfahan (Khorasgan) from 2015 to 2018. Materials & Methods: In this study records of 860 cases of endodontic treatment of patients referred to the General Endodontics Department and the Comprehensive Treatment Department of Isfahan Azad University (Khorasgan) during 2015-2018 including 1903 root canals that had received root canal treatment were examined. Periapical radiography was used to evaluate errors during access cavity preparation, canal preparation, and canal filling by two endodontic specialists and it was recorded in pre-prepared forms. In the access cavity preparation: furcation perforation, low access cavity expansion, high access cavity expansion were evaluated. During the canal preparation phase, errors such as missing of canal, ledge, transport, perforation types and broken instruments were investigated. Length and density of root filing were the criteria evaluated at the canal filling stage. The analysis was performed at both descriptive and inferential levels. Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-Square test and exact Fisher's test. Results: Frequency of acceptable root canal treatment (without errors) was 37.5%. Lower first molars showed the highest error rate (40.7%). Furcation perforation was reported with 9.4% highest error of access cavity preparation. The highest error rate was reported transport (7.8%) in the preparation phase. Inadequate density (gap) of 36.9% and under filling of 31.1% had the highest error in filling stage. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be stated that general endodontics department needs careful planning to increase the quality of root canal treatments performed by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems worldwide and has adverse effects on the physical as well as mental capacities of individuals, especially school-age children. This descriptive-analytical study aimed to investigate the nutritional status of primary-school students in urban and rural areas of Abadan. Methods: Multi-stage stratified-cluster and simple random sampling was performed on urban and rural primary school students in Abadan with the demographic information, height, and weight of 1133 students measured. Furthermore, the indices of short stature for age (stunting), low weight for age (underweight), and low weight for height (wasting) in children were calculated and compared with the National Center for Health Statistics standard. Results: The results revealed that the average age of malnourished children was 9.56 years and the average age of normal children was 8.97 years. The malnutrition prevalence among primary school children of Abadan was 8%, and there was a poor correlation between factors such as sex (P = 0/8), place of residence (P = 0/4), plus school place (P = 0/9), and malnutrition, while there was a positive relationship between with the parents' level of education and malnutrition (P = 0/02). Thus, the most influential factor seems to be the parents' level of education and awareness. Conclusion: Steps can be taken to promote the social and cultural level of families and prevent malnutrition as well as improve the nutritional status of society through collaboration among various institutions, holding educational classes with the presence of education departments, and encouraging families. The household economic status is also one of the important factors in the implementation of these educational classes that must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare providers are high-risk groups for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. Nursing students are an essential part of high-risk healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nursing and midwifery students at Golestan University of Medical Sciences (GOUMS) toward the prevention of COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 174 nursing and midwifery students of GOUMS (northeast of IRAN) in 2020. Data were gathered using an online questionnaire comprising three parts – Knowledge (8 questions), Attitude (10 questions), and Practice (8 questions) toward the prevention of COVID-19. The range of scores in each subscale (knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices) were 8–24, 10–50, and 8–24, respectively. Data were analyzed using the SPSS v.16 software. The Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for the analysis. Results: Overall, in this study, nursing and midwifery students had a good knowledge (mean score: 23.19 ± 2.56), a positive attitude (mean score: 45.48 ± 4.21), and appropriate practice (mean score: 23.30 ± 3.51) regarding COVID-19 prevention. Also, the results revealed a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.1, P = 0.18) and attitude and practice (r = 0.2, P = 0.01) among the students. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a good preventive knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19 among nursing and midwifery students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Spiritual health is a crucial aspect of health. Spiritual health is an internal and satisfying feeling combined with constructive communication with oneself and others. It is a transcendental existence in the specific cultural framework of each society, which makes life and death meaningful. Paying attention to spiritual health can improve nursing care by nurses. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate spiritual health and its related factors in Iranian nurses and nursing students. Methods: The present study was a systematic review (2022) that was conducted by searching for articles on the Web of Science, Science Direct, Scientific Information Database (SID), Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases without a time limit. The keywords were "spiritual wellbeing", "spiritual health", "spirituality", "nurse", "related factors", and "Iran" in Persian and English sources. The articles on spiritual health and its components of quantitative study that were performed on Iranian nurses and nursing students were examined. Results: In 48 studies, the level of spiritual health of nurses and nursing students was moderate (In the range of 20-120). Spiritual health in the religious dimension was more than the existential dimension. Several factors, such as demographic variables, job, education, job satisfaction, spiritual care, and so on improve the level of spiritual health, and reducing factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression improves the level of spiritual health of nurses. Conclusion: Paying attention to factors, such as age, gender, marriage, educational status, job conditions, level of satisfaction, personal characteristics and psychological conditions can lead to change in spiritual health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Internalizing disorders include disorders, such as major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and somatic disorders. In the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is recognized as a distinct group, but anxiety is a common symptom. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of play therapy programs based on social cognition in children with internalized behavioral disorders. Methods: This study was an experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and followup. The subjects were screened based on the inclusion criteria, then 20 children with internalized behavioral disorders were selected after the matching process, and they were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (10 persons in each group). The intervention program was implemented in 10 sessions over 3 months. In this research, the Achenbach questionnaire (teacher report form) was used to assess students' behavioral problems. Results: The results showed that play therapy with the social cognition method decreased the behavioral problems in children with the internalizing disorder (P≤0.05). Discussion: It suggested that this supportive program can be implemented in a community of children with internalizing behavioral disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Fear of missing out (FoMO) can increase loneliness and smartphone addiction and decrease academic performance in university students. Most studies investigated the relationship between FoMO and smartphone addiction in developed countries, and no studies were found to examine this association in Iran. The mediating role of loneliness and academic performance in the relationship between FoMO and smartphone addiction is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between FoMO and smartphone addiction and the mediating role of loneliness and academic performance in this relationship in Iranian university students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 447 students from Urmia University of Medical Sciences were investigated. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, Przybylski's FoMO scale, Pham and Taylor's academic performance questionnaire, Russell's loneliness scale, and Kwon's smartphone addiction scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 23 and SmartPLS ver. 2. Results: FoMO had a positive and direct association with smartphone addiction (β = 0.315, t-value = 5.152, p < 0.01). FoMO also had a positive and direct association with students' loneliness (β = 0.432, t-value = 9.059, p < 0.01) and a negative and direct association with students' academic performance (β = -0.2602, t-value = 4.201, p < 0.01). FoMO indirectly associated with smartphone addiction through students' loneliness (β = 0.311, t-value = 5.075, p < 0.01), but academic performance was not mediator of smartphone addiction (β = 0.110, t-value = 1.807, p > 0.05). FoMO also indirectly correlated with academic performance through students' loneliness (β =—0.368, t-value = 6.377, p < 0.01). Conclusions: FoMO can be positively associated with students' smartphone addiction, and loneliness is an important mediator of this association. Since smartphone addiction could harm students' academic performance, thus, healthcare administrators should reduce students' loneliness and improve their academic performance by adopting practical strategies to help students to manage their time and control their smartphone use. Holding self-management skills classes, keeping students on schedule, turning off smartphone notifications, encouraging students to engage in sports, and participating in group and family activities will help manage FoMO and loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to study the various dimensions of health and their affecting factors during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic to identify the necessary interventions. The study aims to determine the relationship between spiritual health and happiness in medical students during the COVID-19 outbreak. In this analytical cross-sectional design study, 409 medical students were examined for the state of happiness and spiritual health and the relationship between them. Student information was collected through Web-based sampling by using standard tools from 20 April to 20 June 2020. Medical students completed the demographic questionnaire as well as Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and Paloutzian and Ellison spiritual health questionnaire. The results showed that while the score of spiritual health and happiness was related to factors such as marriage, interest in a field of study, and socioeconomic status, the relationship between spiritual health and happiness was significant (r = 0.72). This study showed that students' happiness scores were not optimal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the strong relationship between spiritual health and happiness scores, spiritual health promotion, in conjunction with other interventions, can be used to improve happiness in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-medication in students, as educated people, is one of the most important health issues. It is known that inappropriate self-medication is harmful for individuals as it has potential risks, disrupts the drug market and increases the per capita financial drug consumption. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the habits related to drug use and the prevalence of self-medication practices among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 at Jahrom universities/Iran, using an electronic "self-medication practices and medication habits" questionnaire. A total of 848 students from four healthcare and non-healthcare universities participated in the study. Results: The prevalence of self-medication among students was 44.8%. The most common medicines used for self-medication included cold remedies and sedatives that were used by 33% of the students. About 47% of students stated that they have used antibiotics without a physician's prescription. The internet and social networks were the source of information on self-medication in about 40% of students. There was no significant difference in self-medication between medical and non-medical students (OR = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.659–1.134). Self-medication in students with underlying disease was higher than students without underlying disease (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.39–5.60). Conclusions: Self-medication had a high prevalence among students. The best strategy to reduce or eliminate self-medication is to raise students' awareness and knowledge about potential risk of self-medication practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality with an increasing prevalence in developing countries. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of smoking among college and high school students in Iran. Materials and Methods: Databases of Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SID, and MagIran were searched with no time limitation. Observational studies published in Persian or English were included in the analysis. Time frame of the searches was from inception until 1 January 2021. The data was analyzed using random effects model, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was examined using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistic. Results: A total of 63 articles with a sample size of 58742 were analyzed. The pooled smoking prevalence was found to be 13.56% (95% CI: 11.65-15.47). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of smoking among female students between 1998 and 2020. Regions 1 of Iran had the highest prevalence rates of smoking (Provinces of Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Mazandaran, Semnan, Golestan, and Qom). Smoking was more prevalent among college students (15.62%, 95% CI: 13.14-18.10) than in high school students (9.77%, 95% CI: 7.19-12.35). Conclusion: Given the relatively high prevalence of smoking among Iranian college and high school students, it is necessary to inform them about the harmful effects of smoking through training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Students have important talents whose flourishing is a necessary and basic condition for the success and development of today's societies. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates training on cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and students' hope for education. Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 30 male students in the sixth grade of elementary school, aged =11 years, were initially allocated to either a pilates group (n=15, who underwent a 16 week Pilates exercise program) or to a control group (n=15, who did not receive any intervention). The data collection tools were the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the questionnaire of academic hope by Campbell and Cowen (2001), and the short form of mental wellbeing questionnaire by Ryff and Singer (2006). We performed the analysis of covariance for data analysis using SPSS software, version 21 at a significant level of 0.05. Results: Results of the analysis of covariance showed between-group differences for cognitive function (F1, 27=3.8, P=0.01), mental wellbeing (F1, 27=232.46, P=0.001), and hope for education (F1, 27=29.26, P=0.001). Therefore, Pilates training increased cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and hope for education in students. Conclusion: Pilates training significantly increases cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and hope for students' education. Therefore, it is suggested to use Pilates training for school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of social anxiety disorder and the necessity of conducting etiological studies, the existing measures of social anxiety lack robust factor structure due to methodological flaws, leading to doubtful results. Aim: The present study is aimed to investigate the factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the Iranian version of the Social Phobia Inventory (I-SPIN). Method: This is a cross-sectional, psychometric study. Two large samples (N1=1210, N2=228) have been selected with the convenience sampling method from the student population of the three different universities in Zanjan city (i.e., University of Medical Sciences, Azad, and Payame Noor University) who were studying in those universities from February to July 2020. CAQ-GE, BAI, BDI-II, and IUS-12 were used in the present study. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted using Mplus-7.4 and SPSS-26 was used to perform internal consistency and validity analyses. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the two-factor model best fit the data. Besides, the results indicated that the I-SPIN has a positive and significant correlation with anxiety-related measures (p<0.01) and acceptable internal consistency (α=0.92). Conclusion: Considering the excellent psychometric properties and a robust factor structure of the I-SPIN in an Iranian college student sample, using this measure would improve the accuracy of future studies and help us broaden our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Hot beverage consumption (e.g., tea) may increase risks of several cancer types, especially esophageal cancer. Although people may be aware of the dangers of consuming hot beverages, they continue to drink these beverages. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Iranian medical university students regarding consumption of tea at high temperatures. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was carried out at Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 2017. Totally, 27 semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with college students. Participants were asked on their experiences on hot tea consumption. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis method. After the first interview, continuous analysis of data began and continued up to data saturation. Results: Three major categories, including decisional balance (with two sub-categories of pros and cons for hot tea consumption), environmental effects (with three sub-categories of culture, interpersonal influences and situational effects) and perceived barriers to drinking tea at normal temperatures (with two sub-categories of habitual and immediate competing demands and preferences) emerged as the experiences of the participants on consumption. Conclusions: The current findings suggest to decrease drinking of hot tea and hence prevention of oesophageal cancer in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The students’ self-confidence level is a key factor affecting the success of endodontics learning. This study aimed to determine the confidence level of dental students who performing root canal treatment at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire including demographic information, endodontic experience, attitude toward confidence in performing different stages of root canal treatment, and suggestions for improving the quality of endodontic education was distributed among 54 dentistry students from 5th and 6th-year during the last month of the academic semester. Data were analyzed using T-test, Pearson, and ANOVA tests (α = 0.05). Results: According to the results, of 49 dental students, 24.5% reported the first cases of root canal treatment to be tough. The lowest confidence was reported for finding all root canals in teeth with multiple root canals, preparing access cavity and understanding and managing root canal treatment risks. According to the results of chi-square analysis test, the total confidence score between 5th and 6th year students was not significantly different (p value = 0.648). Also, the relationship between general selfconfidence and students' self-confidence level was not seen (p value = 0.372). There was no significant relationship between the Confidence level and age, academic year, the difficulty level of the first endodontic treatment, and number of endodontic treatments (p value > 0.05). Conclusion: Students had lower self-confidence finding all the canals in multi-canal teeth, in properly handling the treatment risks, and preparing the access cavity. Endodontics training should also be improved by increasing clinical sessions and using recent advances in endodontics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of blindness simulation among a group of nursing students. Design: This qualitative study was conducted using an interpretive phenomenological method. Methods: Using purposeful sampling method, students were informed and invited to participate in the research through the Website of Tehran School of Nursing and Midwifery. We listed the candidates and until data saturation and compilation of the study, 8 students entered the study. They shared their experiences about blindness simulation through individual in‐depth and semi‐structured interviews. We continued the interviews until the data were saturated. The transcribed interviews were analysed by Colaizzi's approach. Results: The results of data analysis resulted in three major themes and nine sub‐themes, which were conceptually named based on their nature. The major themes included abandoned in the labyrinth puzzle, vision of heart and self‐alienation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone addiction is a public health problem and is increasing globally. It is important to know the latest status of this phenomenon in different region of the world. This study aimed to investigate smartphone addiction in an Iranian student population. The participants were a random sample of Shahroud Schoolchildren Eye Cohort study in 2018. Smartphone addiction was measured by the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-sv) questionnaire. The prevalence and mean estimates were reported with 95% confidence intervals. The analysis of variance, t-test and multiple logistic regression were used for analysis of data. The mean age of 2682 participating students was 13.5 year with an age range of 10 to 15 year, and 1197 (44.6%) of them were girls. The mean SAS-sv score was 27.96 (95% CI: 27.36-28.58) for boys and 26.10 (95% CI: 25.34-26.80) for girls. This score follows a U-shaped pattern with a lower mean score observed at age 8. The Prevalence of smartphone addiction was 29.8% (95% CI: 28.1-31.5) in studied population. Compared to 10 year old students, smartphone addiction was higher in 14 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7) and 15 (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.8) years old students. Smartphone addiction was higher in boys (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-3.0; P value < 0.001). Smartphone addiction was not different in urban and rural students after adjusting for age and gender (P = 0.089). Compared to European countries the prevalence of smartphone addiction in Iranian students is relatively high and need prompt intervention especially in boys and older adolescents., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The utilization of the Internet can lead to adverse outcomes in students' lives. Prolonged Internet usage may result in academic failure, an elevated risk of musculoskeletal problems, and the emergence of issues impacting the lives of students and their peers. This study aimed to explore the relationship between Internet addiction and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among students in the field of medical sciences., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 314 medical sciences students in Semnan, Iran, were assessed using the census sampling method. The participants' Internet addiction status and the presence of MSDs were determined through Young's Internet Addiction questionnaire and the Nordic self-report questionnaire, respectively. Data underwent analysis employing logistic regression test to ascertain the relationship between Internet addiction and MSDs., Results: Among the 314 participating students in this research, about 21% and 1.6% of the participants were lay open to and suffered from Internet addiction, respectively. Internet addiction was associated with the presence of pain, discomfort, burning, or numbness in the neck, wrist, upper back, hips, and thighs. For each unit increase in the Internet addiction score, the chance of neck and wrist pain rises by 3% compared to a 2% increase in upper back and hip/thigh pain., Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that excessive Internet use is linked to a heightened risk of MSDs in medical sciences students. Consequently, it is imperative to raise awareness about these complications and promote the adoption of proper posture when using the Internet. Further research is also warranted among diverse student populations to investigate the impact of Internet addiction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Although the need for justice and the elimination of injustice (or discrimination) is now a universally accepted principle, discrimination is still an unpleasant experience for many nursing students. This study aimed to explain the experiences of nursing students of educational discrimination and find out the main factors that cause this feeling. Methods: This is a qualitative study conducted in the nursing faculty of Shahr-e-Kord and the Iran university of medical science (IUMS) in Iran. Twelve nursing students were selected by purposeful sampling method and data were collected through face-to-face and in-depth interviews with semi-structured questions. All interviews were analyzed according to the content analysis method. Results: Three main themes and ten subcategories appeared. Extracted themes include: "inappropriate behavior of nursing professors (or instructors) " with 3 subcategories (1- discriminatory behavior by nursing professors (or instructors), 2- lack of sufficient self-confidence in nursing professors and transferring it to the student, and 3- the educator role in motivating or eliminating motivation); "Strict rules" with 3 subcategories (1- inequality in implementation of rights and rules among students of different disciplines, 2- differences in compliance with laws and regulations, and 3- nurses are being strictly monitored), and " Lack of nursing professional independence " with 4 subcategories (1- lack of authority, 2- lack of supportive organizations for nurses, 3- lack of proper social status of nursing in society, and 4- the high authority and power of physicians over other disciplines). Conclusions: In our study, it was shown that nursing students feel the most discrimination in front of medical students. Feelings of discrimination reduce self-confidence in nursing students. Therefore, nursing educators and professors must think of a solution, or at least they should not cause this feeling in them through inappropriate behavior and discriminatory speech and words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The three main elements of the home, study environment, and mass media have a fundamental role in the tendency and attitude of adolescents and young people to pray. This study was conducted to determine students' attitudes toward prayer, the causes of their tendency toward it, and its impact on various aspects of their lives. Methods: This descriptive study was performed among 192 students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan City, Iran. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire through the press line system. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 18 using an independent t-test and One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: A total of 60.9% of students reported that they perform daily prayers. The Mean±SD score of students' attitude about praying is 121.99±199.97 out of 165. A significant correlation was observed between the mean score of attitude and behavior. A significant relationship was also found between the mean score of students' attitudes and the variables of father's education, father's and mother's occupation (P<0.05). The students believed that prayer brings peace and vitality to the soul, order and discipline in life, good mood, family unity, and reduced anxiety and stress. Conclusion: Considering the role and impact of family and university environment on students' prayer and students' beliefs on the impact of prayer on various life issues, paying attention to the results of this type of research to institutionalize prayer among students can be useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Deviant behavior has become a global issue of great concern and requires immediate attention. This study aimed to investigate the course of life concept development in students inclined to deviant behavior. Methods: This experimental and empirical study was performed by a structural correlation as a quasi-experimental design in 2019-2020. The study setting was the Belgorod National State Research University, and the target population was the students aged 18 to 21 who tended toward deviant behavior. The samples were selected based on real groups' involvement and polar groups' isolation and comparison. The variables were the correction program aimed at developing personal notions about the life path in students and the qualities that make up the content of the "temporary" and "value-semantic" aspects of the subjects' notions about the life path. Data on deviant behavior were collected using the questionnaires of a tendency to deviant behavior and the deviant behavior questionnaire of Robinson and Bennett. The structural equation modeling, partial least squares method, and SmartPLS software were used to validate the original model and test the hypotheses. Results: Only 27% of students tended towards deviant behavior (group 1), and 73% were normal students (group 2). The students in group 1 had a higher tendency to nonconformism (P≤0.01), moderate inclination to addictive behavior (P≤0.01), and more aggressive tendencies (P≤0.01) compared to the students in group 2. Also, in the students in group 1, "present" and "past" times were described as joyful, light, real, close, calm, voluminous, bright, and active, but "future" time as passive, motionless, empty, little, flat, petty and narrow. In terms of valuesemantic measurement of students' life concepts, the students prone to deviant behavior did not have meaningful purposes in the future that give life meaningfulness and direction. Discussion: Based on the study findings, a higher tendency for nonconformism, addictive behavior, and aggressive tendencies was found in the students with a tendency to deviant behavior. Also, these students lack meaningful purposes in the future that give life meaning and direction, and they live for today or yesterday. It is suggested that the correctional and development work under a program aimed at the personal course of life concepts development reduce the students' inclination to deviant behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]