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This paper evaluates the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the transtheoretical model aimed at increasing physical activity (PA) participation among female employees in Bandar Abbas city (Iran) healthcare centers in December 2017 and August 2018. Using a semi-experimental interventional study design with a randomized and multi-stage method, 100 participants were included in both the intervention (n  = 50) and control groups (n  = 50). Data collection involved questionnaires assessing demographic information (age, gender, marital status and education), stages of change in PA behavior, Perceived Benefits, Barriers and Self-efficacy. The data were analyzed using SPSS-16, employing both descriptive (mean, SD, frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (t -tests, chi-squared tests, etc.). Prior to the educational intervention, 19 participants (0.38%) in the intervention group engaged consistently in PA (stages 4–5). After 3 and 6 months of intervention, these numbers increased to 29 (0.58%) and 25 (0.50%), respectively. This improvement was statistically significant compared to the pre-intervention stage (P  < 0.001). The findings highlight the importance of theory-based behavior change models and health education programs in promoting PA and combating sedentary lifestyles. Although focused on a specific population in Bandar Abbas, the intervention can serve as a model for similar programs targeting diverse social classes and populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: It is important to note that Oral Health Literacy (OHL) not only pertains to dental health but also has a broader impact on overall quality of life. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess the level of OHL in the adult population of Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: A sample of 700 Iranian adults (Tehran), aged 18-64 years, participated in this study (October 2021 and March 2022). A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic variables and OHL. The questionnaire consisted of four domains: cognitive, behavioral, media, and communication skills. The data was analyzed by software SPSS 19. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square tests, and multiple regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The average age of the subjects was 35.50±8.87 years, ranging from 18 to 61 years. The mean OHL score was 67.62±15.53, indicating a moderate level of OHL. Among the dimensions of the questionnaire, cognitive skills received the highest scores and Communicative skill lowest. The results revealed significant associations between OHL and demographic variables. Multiple regression analysis showed that income, education level (academic and below diploma), and marital status (married) significantly predicted OHL. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for improved OHL in the Iranian adult population. The findings suggest that educational interventions targeting loweducated individuals and specific demographic groups could help enhance OHL. Efforts should be directed towards improving communication skills in oral health settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present research aimed to explore the level of physical activity among the employees of Melli Bank in Tehran in the light of the trans-theoretical model in 2018. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study followed a multi-stratified sampling method and selected 612 employees from Melli Bank in Tehran. The data collection instrument was a tripartite questionnaire, the reliability and validity of which was statistically tested and confirmed within this research. SPSS16 was used to statistically analyze the data through independent-samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlation coefficient and multiple regressions. The significance level was set at p <.05. Results: In this study, 532 male and 78 female participants were included. Two hundred and ninety-five participants (48.4%) had inadequate physical activity. From among 610 employees, 111 were at the pre-contemplation stage, 164 in contemplation, 160 in preparation, 65 in action, and 110 in maintenance stage. The foremost predictor of performing physical activity was found to be self-efficacy (r =.682, p <.0001). Conclusion: As the results showed, self-efficacy played a major role in the rate of physical activity. To promote self-efficacy among employees, senior management of banks and related organizations such as physical education organization and universities need to support employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present research aimed to explore the association of self-efficacy and general health among nurses. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical. A total of 470 nurses were selected through the stratified sampling method. To collect the required data, GSE-10 and GHQ-28 were used. Independent-sample T-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Chi-squared test, and regression were also used to analyze the obtained data. Results: The results reveal a statistically significant correlation between general health and self-efficacy (t=-6.72, p <.001). Among general health parameters, social functioning has significantly predicted self-efficacy. Conclusions: As shown in the present findings, an acceptable level of self-efficacy can positively affect all aspects of nurses' general health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research is a descriptive analytical study which is conducted on 540 students. Multistage random sampling method was used. Data gathered by questionnaire consist of demographic factors and spirituality assessment questionnaire and self-efficacy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including t test, Chi-square, one-way ANOVA and correlation between variables through SPSS16 and EQS6.1 Software. Positive coefficients in regression equations showed positive relationship of spiritual capability (P < 0.001, r = 0.932) and spirituality with perceived self-efficacy (P < 0.001, r = 0.394) so that an increase in one of them will lead to increase in another one; this result is matched with research hypothesis. It is recommended to officials and managers of universities to create some mechanisms in order to improve and promote spirituality in university to promote self-efficacy of students and also to adopt a spiritual approach in curriculums of higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diseases induced by lifestyle account for a high rate of disabilities. Thus, the present research aimed to compare the lifestyles of women affected by blood hypertension and healthy women. Objective and Method: In this comparative study, 420 women referred to Bandar Abbas healthcare centers were selected through a mixed method (clustered and systematic randomized) and were divided into two groups including the healthy (n = 210) and hypertension groups (n = 210). The standardized Life-Style Questionnaire (LSQ) was used for data collection. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 19. Descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (chi-square test, independent-samples t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient) statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The significance level was set at p ˂ 0.05. The mean age of the hypertension group was 45.65 ± 9.61 years old, while for the healthy group it was 44.68 ± 8.70 years old. In the former group, the strongest correlation belonged to the mental health dimensions (r = 0.709, p ˂ 0.001) and spiritual health (r = 0.660, p ˂ 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that raising public awareness helps to recognize risk factors and correct lifestyles, and planning to educate people and instructing them on how to manage mental pressures can reduce the pressure induced by diseases such as hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present research aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention based on the health belief model in pregnant women visiting the healthcare centers in the west of Tehran in 2016. Materials and Methods: The present experimental research was conducted on 135 pregnant women visiting the healthcare centers in the west of Tehran. The subjects were selected through a randomized multistratified sampling and were divided into an experimental and a control group. The collected data were then statistically analyzed in SPSS ver.16. To do so, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used including the independent‐samples t‐test, repeated‐measures one‐way ANOVA and paired‐sample t‐test. Results: The present findings revealed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of immediate post‐test results including perceived sensitivity, severity, benefits, barriers, and self‐efficacy along with awareness and performance constructs (p ˂ 0.001). Moreover, two months after the intervention, except for the perceived sensitivity construct (p = 0.088), the two groups diverged significantly in terms of the other constructs (p ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: The educational intervention driven by the health belief theory showed to be effective on pregnant women and can help to promote preventive behaviors of tooth decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]