Search

Abstract Background Appropriate supervision, along with availability of an effective system for monitoring and evaluation, is a crucial requirement to guarantee sufficient coverage and quality of malaria vector control procedures. This study evaluated the efficacy of self-assessment practice as a possible innovative method towards achieving high coverage and excellent quality of larviciding operation in Iran. Methods The research was conducted on the randomly selected rural health centre of Kanmbel Soliman with 10 staff and 30 villages, in three main steps: (i) assessment of effectiveness of larviciding operations in the study areas before intervention through external assessment by a research team; (ii) self-assessment of larviciding operations (intervention) by staff every quarter for three rounds; and, (iii) determining the effectiveness of applying self-assessment of larviciding operations in the study areas. Two toolkits were used for self-assessment and external evaluation. The impact of self-assessment of larviciding operations was measured by two indicators: percentage of missed breeding habitats and cleaned breeding habitats among randomly selected breeding sites. Moreover, the correlation coefficients were measured between self-assessment measures and scores from external evaluation. The correlation coefficient and Mann Whitney test were used to analyse data. Results Following the utilization of self-assessment, the percentage of missed breeding habitats decreased significantly from 14.23% to 1.91% (P Before intervention, the results of self-assessment practice were compatible with external evaluation in 76.3% of 139 reviewed reports of self-assessment. After intervention, the findings of self-assessment and external evaluation were similar in the vast majority of reviewed reports (95%). Conclusion The self-assessment tool seems to be valid and reliable in improving effectiveness of larviciding operations. Furthermore, the result of self-assessment is more compatible with external evaluation results if it would be applied frequently. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative assessment technique in the evaluation of larviciding operations in addition to traditional assessment methods.

There are insufficient accurate data on the prevalence of substance use among children in Iran. WHO is conducting a survey to study the prevalence of substance use among children in Iran. This manuscript describes the method that was used for developing the tools for the aforementioned survey. A literature review was done on the risk factors, existing scales, and special considerations in conducting a substance use survey on children. The identified risk factors were then prioritized, and standard scales were selected for each. Based on the priority and the cultural and psychosocial properties of each age group, the methods of the survey were defined. Then, a qualitative assessment on content validity was done, and the tool was piloted among 90 participants. The tool contained 104 items for the 9- to 12-year-olds age group, and 168 items for each of the 12- to 15-year-olds and 15- to 18-year-olds age groups, respectively. The results of the Cronbach's Alpha analysis showed a coefficient of 0.754 for the 9- to 12-year-olds age group, 0.735 for 12- to 15-year-olds, and 0.889 for the 15- to 18-year-olds. The developed tool considered socio-cultural acceptability, cognitive, and ethical standards and showed high reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road traffic crashes are among the leading causes of death and disability in the world, particularly in low and middle-income countries. This study aimed at to conduct a social marketing formative research to inform the development of a campaign to manage driving speed on the intercity roads of Iran. Methods: To carry out the social marketing formative research, a qualitative and quantitative study were conducted. Also, a literature review of the speed management strategies was carried out and an analysis of traffic accident data and speeding violations was performed in selected provinces during 2019 and 2020. Results: Based on the findings of the qualitative study, perceived sense of lack of speed control, poor monitoring system, and law enforcement are the main reasons drivers exceed the speed limit. They mostly suggest using punitive levers and more stringent law enforcement practices for speed management. Literature reviews also confirm that to successfully develop an effective speed management plan a set of measures should be implemented together, including road safety engineering, raising awareness, social marketing strategies, and finally strict law enforcement. The overriding findings of the formative research revealed that to persuade Iranian drivers to respect the speed limit, the messages of the campaign should focus on strict law enforcement in the selected corridors. Conclusion: In the minds of the Iranian audience, strict law enforcement is of paramount importance for a speed management strategy to work; hence it should be taken into consideration when tailoring the campaign messages. From the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that to manage speed on intercity routes in Iran, a social marketing campaign is needed to encourage compliance with speed limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Organizational commitment is manifested in the forms of taking pride in organization, enhanced motivation for engaging in organizational duties, staying at organization for a longer time and knowing organization as a valuable organization. So decreased organizational commitment among medical staff led researchers to investigate the organizational commitment of CCUs in Mazandaran Heart Center. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical study carried out in teaching hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Heart Center. Allen and Meyer's organizational commitment questionnaire was used to collect data from 90 nurses selected by census from CCU nurses. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: Of studied cases, 19 (18.9%) were male and 73 (81.1%) were female with a mean age of 7.25±34.4. Among age, job experience and work hour variables, only age and job experience were considered to be significant. Conclusions: Supervisors and managers should promote nurses' organizational commitment through giving facilities and rewards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate different concentrations of deltamethrin combined with formulated piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist on various surfaces against the wild strain of Anopheles stephensi, the main malaria vector in Southern Iran under semi-field condition. Methods: Four concentrations of deltamethrin WG 25% (Tagros) and PBO 800EC-UV (Endura) were prepared and sprayed on the pre-designed surfaces in accordance with WHO alliance line of the IRS Micronair®. The WHO’s recommended bioassay kit and method was used during this study. Results: Comparing the mortality rate of mosquitoes, the results showed a significant difference between months after treatment of IRS (Indoor Residual Spraying) (P< 0.05) but didn't show any significant differences between days during the first and second months (P> 0.05). Statistical test revealed a significance difference between mortality rate of mosquitoes in exposing to concentrations of 1 and 4 (P< 0.05) which demonstrated effect of synergizing PBO on mortality rate. Conclusion: This research as the first semi-field trial on deltamethrin added to different concentrations of formulated PBO for IRS, indicates that deltamethrin+10X PBO is more effective than other concentrations. Therefore, using synergists can be suggested as a new tool for prevention of pyrethriod resistance, although more studies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The role of health system managers has always been emphasized in the efficient running of system of hygienic and remedial services and much attention is paid to the selection of the best persons to do that. The main purpose of this study was to design the managers' competency model of health sector and evaluate them from the standpoint of middle managers of health system. Material and methods: The study population included all the health system managers in Iran. The questionnaires were distributed among 385 people. The data were collected through the researcher's questionnaire which was used to assess the model proposed by applying library and field studies (interviewing with 30 person of health system managers of Iran). The questionnaire contains 8 main categories in competency criteria of managers and includes 63 questions. It was validated in terms of construct validity and Cronbach' alpha was used to ensure its internal consistency reliability. (more than 0.79 for each category). Inferential statistics (confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations model by specifying T-Value) and "LISREL" software was used to analyze the data collected from the questionnaire. Results: 280 filled out questionnaires of the participants (75.1%) were analyzed in this study. Based on the collected data, T. values for knowledge of and professional awareness competencies, behavioral and intellectual, personal traits, service, responsibility, and considering the ideological and moral (ethical) values equal 11.90, 11.06, 8.39, 10.68, 6.55, 9.31, 3.43, and 2.17 Conclusion: Considering and applying the presented criteria in proposed competency model of health system managers which are ranked by the middle managers can be one of the way of improving the quality of management in the health system of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main objective of this study was predicting student's mental health using social problem solving- ability. Methods: In this correlational- descriptive study, 369 (208 female and 161 male) from, Mazandaran University of Medical Science were selected through stratified random sampling method. In order to collect the data, the social problem solving inventory-revised and general health questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed through SPSS-19, Pearson's correlation, t test, and stepwise regression analysis. Results: Data analysis showed significant relationship between social problem solving ability and mental health (P < 0.01). Social problem solving ability was significantly associated with the somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated that there is a significant correlation between social problem solving ability and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Depression and social phobia are common psychiatric disorders. The main objective of this study was to study of relationship between social problem-solving and depression and social phobia among students. Materials and methods: In this correlational- descriptive study, 403 (245female and 158 male) from Islamic Azad university, Azadshahr branch were selected through stratified random sampling method. In order to collect the data, were used The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (Short Form), Beck Depression Inventory, and Social Phobia Inventory. Data were analyzed through SPSS-13, Pearson's correlation, t test and analysis of Variance (AN0VA). Results: Data analysis showed significant relationship between social problem solving ability and Social Phobia and depression (P<0.001). There was a significant difference among the students with low, medium and high social problem- solving ability. The students who had high ability in solving social problems had less depression and social phobia (P<0.001). Conclusion: Social problem solving ability can decrease the depression and social phobia among university students. Teaching this skill will lead to promoting the level of mental health of university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spiritual intelligence is an important factor for effective functioning of emotional intelligence. Objectives: The present study was conducted with the aim to determine the relationship between spiritual and emotional intelligence among Iranian medical students. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in 2015 on 324 students, who were selected through stratified random sampling from Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Data were collected using Bradberry-Greaves emotional intelligence and Eysenck spiritual intelligence questionnaires. Results: The participants included 94 males and 230 females. The mean total scores of emotional and spiritual intelligence were 110.52 and 89.37, respectively. The mean score of spiritual intelligence was higher among women in comparison with men, whereas the mean score of emotional intelligence was higher among men. A significant correlation was found between emotional and spiritual intelligence (r, 0.48; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the findings, students' emotional intelligence can be fostered by reinforcing their spiritual intelligence, and correct behaviors can be promoted in accordance with social values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]