فهرست مطالب

International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume:2 Issue: 4, Oct 2011

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1390/08/01
  • تعداد عناوین: 16
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  • Roya Kelishadi Page 201
    In spite of worldwide anti-tobacco policies, and increase in public awareness on harmful effects of tobacco, still smoking is one of the global public health problems. In addition to its negative impacts on public health and economy, smoking is considered as a disease, registered in the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10; F17), and deserves our attention and special care due to its harmful consequences. Different actions have been implemented for quitting smoking or putting health warnings on tobacco packaging. The recent report of the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the latter action as the greatest progress of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).1
  • Kerstin Roback, Koustuv Dalal, Per Carlsson Page 203
    Objectives
    The topic of this work is health research evaluation including basic and clinical medical research, as well as healthcare research. The main objects are to explore possible approaches for valuing research in economic terms and to prepare an analytical model for evaluation of health research using the Swedish context. The study also aims to identify potential effects and their significance, and to provide a basis for discussions about the effects of research investments.
    Methods
    The study has reviewed ten articles indicating positive effects, in the form of improved health and economic growth. The study also developed a model applied to Swedish health research.
    Results
    The review indicates that positive effects, in the form of improved health and economic growth, have a value that greatly exceeds the costs of the research investments. The tentative model applied to Swedish health research also indicates predominantly positive returns, but in a lower range than the review would imply. Methodological problems, however, entail major uncertainty in the cited results.
    Conclusions
    Accurate determination of the economic value of research would require significantly better basic data and better knowledge of relationships between research, implementation of new knowledge, and health effects. Information in support of decisions about future allocation of research resources is preferably produced by a combination of general analyses and strategically selected case studies.
  • Fatemeh Rezaei, Saharnaz Nedjat, Banafsheh Golestan, Reza Majdzadeh Page 216
    Objectives
    Identifying the underlying factors contributing to smoking among teenagers is important in establishing smoking control programs. The present study was designed to identify and compare factors revealed in a preceding qualitative study conducted on 13-15 year-old boys living in two different socio-economic districts in the Northern and Southern parts of Tehran.
    Methods
    Two completely similar case-control studies, each with 200 subjects, were conducted using a snowball sampling. The case and control subjects were matched based on the intimacy relations, i.e. six smokers were recruited in each of the Northern and Southern districts; they were then asked to introduce one of their smoker friends as a case and a non-smoker one as a control.
    Results
    Multi-variable conditional logistic regression revealed that having a smoker father is the single effective factor in the two districts. As for boys living in the Northern (wealthier) part of the city, social capital (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43-0.81) played a protective role against smoking, whereas quitting home after a quarrel (OR: 15.07, 95% CI: 1.54-147.25), monthly allowance (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.29-3.82) and hyperactivity (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 2.64-240.45) were associated with a higher risk of becoming a smoker.
    Conclusions
    The studied variables can be classified as personal, familial, and school-level factors. Familial intervention is effective for all the factors which revealed to be influential on the risk of becoming a smoker. It could be concluded that interventions on the family level should be used to prevent the cigarette use in Tehran.
  • Fatemeh Rezaei, Saharnaz Nedjat, Banafsheh Golestan, Reza Majdzadeh Page 224
    Objectives
    One of the main strategies to prevent smoking is delaying onset of smoking in adolescents. Thus, identifying the age of smoking and smoking pattern in adolescents gives important knowledge for planning the intervention programs on smoking.
    Methods
    Students aged 13-15 years old living in the Northern and the Southern Tehran were selected through two separate snowball samplings. In each area six smokers were considered as the seeds and were asked to introduce a smoker friend. The sampling continued until one hundred study subjects were recruited in each area.
    Results
    Although in the area with wealthier socioeconomic status the age at which smoking started was one year more, the number of days of smoking, number of consumed cigarettes, not willingness to quit smoking, ease of access to cigarettes, mother and siblings smoking were more frequent. In contrast, seeing anti-smoking advertisements, father smoking, teachers smoking and education about the adverse effects of smoking were lower than the area with poorer socioeconomic status.
    Conclusions
    The community level interventions such as not selling cigarettes to juniors, quit smoking help and support, and education of families must be revised. The role of families, through the supervision and control over their children, and parents’ avoidance of smoking should be emphasized.
  • Laila Ruwaida Mohd Zainuddin, Nur Firdaus Isa, Wan Manan Wan Muda, Hamid Jan Mohamed Page 229
    Objectives
    Metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed according to several different criteria such as the latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Program III (NCEP ATPIII), and World Health Organization (WHO). The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the concordance between the above mentioned definition, and hypertriglyceridemicwaist criteria.
    Methods
    This cross sectional study was done in Bachok, Malaysia and involved 298 respondents aged between 18 to 70 years. Multistage random sampling method was used to identify study locations while convenient random sampling method was applied to select individuals. Hypertriglyceridemic waist was defined from an internationally acceptable cut-off criterion. Kappa statistic (κ test) was used to determine the concordance between various definitions and hypertriglyceridemic-waist.
    Results
    The prevalence of metabolic syndrome based on different definitions was 32.2% (IDF), 28.5% (NCEP ATP III) and 12.4% (modified WHO). The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic-waist was 19.7% and based on the IDF criteria a total of 97.5% participants with hypertriglyceridemic-waist had metabolic syndrome. The IDF criteria showed the highest concordance with NCEP ATPIII criteria (κ = 0.63), followed by hypertriglyceridemic-waist criteria (κ = 0.62) and WHO criteria (κ = 0.26).
    Conclusions
    The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was highest using the IDF criteria compared to NCEP ATPIII, modified WHO and hypertriglyceridemic-waist. There was a good concordance of IDF criteria with NCEP ATP III and hypertriglyceridemic-waist criteria.
  • Zohreh Aminzadeh, Elham Parsa Page 238
    Objectives
    Total white blood cells (WBCs) decrease slightly in the elderly. In response to an acute infection, the number of WBCs increases and in sepsis, the increase is very dramatic. There are some reports about the effects of increased number of WBCs as a predisposing factor of bacteremia. An association between neutrophilia and leukopenia and increased mortality rate in the elderly has also been observed. We compared peripheral WBC counts in young and elderly patients with sepsis.
    Methods
    A case-control study was carried out on 130 admitted patients who were divided into two groups based on age, ≥ 65 years (case group) and < 65 years (control group). All patients were hospitalized with the diagnosis of sepsis in two teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran, 2001-2006.
    Results
    Mean WBC counts at admission time were 17061.5 ± 14240.2 /ml in the case group and 13567.7 ± 9888.0 /ml in the control group. There were statistically significant associations between age and history of infection and history of hospitalization during the last month in the case group and also between age and source of infection (P < 0.05).
    Conclusions
    The history of infection and the history of hospitalization during the last month with sepsis are important risk factors in elders.
  • Amir Abbas Momenan, Maryam Delshad, Parvin Mirmiran, Arash Ghanbarian, Fereidoun Azizi Page 243
    Objectives
    The aim of this study was to assess leisure time physical activity and its determinants among adults in Tehran.
    Methods
    This cross-sectional study comprised adults (n = 7285), aged 20 years and older. The subjects were participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study between 2002 and 2004. Information on the number of days spent on different activities during a week and the time devoted to each activity on a typical day was recorded. In addition, each activity, weighted by its relative intensity, was referred to as a metabolic equivalent.
    Results
    The prevalence of inactivity was 69.8% (95% CI: 68.7-70.8) in the whole population and 30.2% (95% CI: 27.2-33.1%) of men and 30.3% (95% CI: 27.7-32.8%) of women were considered as active. Leisure time physical activity less than 30 min/week was scored in 1590 (50.6%) men and 1803 (43.5%) women. The most frequent leisure time physical activity performed by men (96.1%) and women (95.2%) was walking. A negative association was observed in men between leisure time physical activity and increased work hours, older age, more cigarette smoking and higher body mass index (69.8% were overweight and 75.3% were obese; P < 0.05). Leisure time physical activity was more likely to be associated with high educational levels in men. In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between physical inactivity and occupation in both men and women.
    Conclusions
    The prevalence of physical inactivity among adults in Tehran was high. Leisure time physical inactivity was more likely to be associated with older age, more cigarette smoking, more working hours, and higher body mass index. Public health efforts are needed to improve people's participation in physical activities in Iran.
  • Sayed Abolfazl Mostafavi, Ali Mohammad Sabzghabaee, Parisa Mirmoghtadaee, Sayed Mahmoud Hosseini-Biuki Page 252
    Objectives
    Emergency contraception (EC) is a special contraception method that prevents pregnancy after an unsafe sexual contact. Pharmacists, as the most available member of medical team have a unique role in patient education for appropriate use of contraceptive methods. In this study, we assessed the pharmacist's knowledge about emergency contraception.
    Methods
    A researcher made questionnaire was developed and used according to national guide line and electronic databanks. A group of experts and pharmacists validated the questionnaire. Reliability was measured by Half–Split Test. The questionnaires were filled by pharmacists.
    Results
    Average knowledge score were 8.12 ± 0.28 for women and 7.83 ± 0.31 for men (from a maximum of 15) which showed no significant difference between men and women (P = 0.492). There was no significant difference between pharmacists who had precipitated in continuing education programs and that of those who had not (P = 0.286). Scores of pharmacists who graduated 13 years ago or more did not significantly differ from others (P = 0.287).
    Conclusions
    Because of low scores of pharmacist’s knowledge about EC and the importance of unintended pregnancy prevention, its improvement is an urgent need. Regular and frequent continuing education programs could be one of the recommended interventions.
  • Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Ibrahim Saud Al-Zakwani, Alya Al-Hasni, Nada Al-Sumri Page 256
    Objectives
    This study aimed to assess the impact of diabetes mellitus and hypertension as well as other demographic and clinical characteristics on perceived health status in primary health centers in Oman.
    Methods
    In a cross-sectional retrospective study, 450 patients (aged ≥ 18 years) seen at six primary health centers in Wilayat A' Seeb in the Muscat region, Oman, were selected. Perceived health status of the physical (PSCC) and mental (MSCC) components of quality-of-life were assessed using the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12). The analyses were performed using univariate statistical techniques.
    Results
    The mean age of the participants was 54 ± 12 years and they were mostly female (62%). The presence of both diabetes mellitus and hypertension was associated with lower physical scores compared to those with diabetes alone (p = 0.001) but only marginally lower than those with hypertension alone (p = 0.066). No significant differences were found across the disease groups in mental scores (P = 0.578). Age was negatively correlated (p < 0.001) but male gender (P < 0.001), married (p < 0.001), literate (p < 0.001) and higher income (p = 0.002) were all associated with higher physical scores. Moreover, longer disease duration was associated with lower physical scores (p < 0.001). With regards to the mental status, male (p = 0.005), marriage (P = 0.017) and higher income (p < 0.001) were associated with higher mental scores. Polypharmacy was associated with lower physical (p < 0.001) and mental (p = 0.005) scores.
    Conclusions
    The presence of both diseases was associated with lower physical scores of perceived health status. Health status was also affected by various demographic and clinical characteristics. However, the results should be interpreted in light of the study’s limitations.
  • Alaleh Gheissari, Hossein Attarzadeh, Hoda Sharif, Meraj Pourhossein, Alireza Merrikhi Page 264
    Objectives
    The aim of this study was to determine steroid dependent and independent ocular abnormalities in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Due to the relapsing nature of NS prolonged usage of corticosteroid puts the patients at the risk of ocular side effects of prednisolone. Since published data evaluating both steroid dependent and independent ophthalmic findings in children with NS is scarce, we evaluated ophthalmic findings in this group of patients according to the response to steroid.
    Methods
    The study population consisted of 35 patients with steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS) and 40 patients with steroid-resistant NS (SRNS). The patients who aged 2-18 years underwent ophthalmologic examination for steroid dependent and independent ocular abnormalities.
    Results
    The median age of patients was 7.2 years (ranged 1.2-19 years). Forty-seven subjects were men and 28 were women. Patients with SRNS had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than patients with SSNS (p < 0.05). Forty-five out of 75 patients (60%) had either steroid dependent or independent ophthalmic symptoms. Twenty percent of the patients had steroid dependent and 29% had steroid independent ocular abnormalities. Posterior subcapsular cataract and myopic astigmatism were the most common steroid dependent and independent ophthalmologic symptoms, respectively
    Conclusions
    Steroid independent eye involvements are not uncommon in NS children and should be considered especially in SRNS.
  • Azam Mosayebi, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard, Mohsen Mirmohamadsadeghi, Reza Rajabi, Samaneh Mostafavi, Marjan Mansourian Page 269
    Objectives
    Cardiac tertiary prevention programs intend to support the recovery course following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We investigated the effects of attendance at cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs following CABG on patients’ mortality, morbidity and health related quality of life.
    Methods
    Eighty patients who underwent CABG were selected in a way that half of them had attended a cardiac rehabilitation program and the other half had not. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire at a mean of 23.4 months postoperatively. Severity of cardiac symptoms on the basis of the New York Health Association (NYHA), the occurrence of any neurological symptoms, hospitalization and restoration of patients to their previous level of performance in social activities were assessed after CABG surgery.
    Results
    There were no deaths. There were no differences in postoperative NYHA scores, neurological symptoms, and hospitalization. Three of the eight health domains measured by SF-36, namely general health (P = 0.010), physical function (P = 0.002), and mental health (P < 0.001), showed significantly better values for attendants than non-attendants. Rehabilitation participants returned to their previous level of performance in social activities more than their control counterparts.
    Conclusions
    Higher general health scores (SF-36) were associated with attendance at CR programs. The findings of this study provide rationale to consider a broader scope of physiological and psychosocial parameters to predict outcomes of CABG surgery.
  • Hedayatollah Elyassi, Masoud Mousavinasab, Mehdi Rambod, Mohammad Reza Hashemian, Ali Dabbagh Page 275
    Objectives
    Throat pain is a common postoperative complaint. In this study, we aimed to determine its incidence of throat pain after rhinoplasty by general anesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation (CS).
    Methods
    We evaluated throat pain in postanesthesia care unit, 4, 12 and 24 hours after surgery using a numerical rating scale (NRS) in a clinical trial. A total number of 252 consecutive females aging over 18 years undergoing GA or CS for elective rhinoplasty entered the study after implementing inclusion and exclusion criteria. A logistic regression model was used to predict having throat pain.
    Results
    The incidence of throat pain after CS and GA in postanesthesia care unit, 4, 12 and 24 hours after rhinoplasty were 34.9% vs. 34.9% (P = 0.99), 27.0% vs. 33.3% (P = 0.27), 14.3% vs. 22.2% (P = 0.10), 10.3% vs. 15.9% (P = 0.19), respectively. The odds ratio for throat pain was statistically significant for nausea/vomiting in postanesthesia care unit (OR = 11.1, 95% CI: 5.7-21.8; P < 0.0001).
    Conclusions
    Method of anesthesia had no independent role in predicting throat pain. Although larynx of subjects undergoing general anesthesia is manipulated by tracheal intubation, sedation has its specific risks for promoting throat pain after surgery. Therefore, neither CS nor GA is superior in terms of throat pain.
  • Alireza Moafi, Soheila Rahgozar, Majid Ghias, Elham Vahdat Ahar, Amirbahador Borumand, Amirhosein Sabbaghi, Amirabass Sameti, Mostafa Hashemi Page 280
    Objectives
    Obesity and increased blood pressure are identified as risk factors for cardiac and pulmonary disorders. On the other hand, iron deficiency (another preventable disease) is common in adolescence and considered as associated with health impairment. The present study evaluates body mass index (BMI) and its association with blood pressure and hematological indices in freshman students entering the University of Isfahan in 2009.
    Methods
    All the 1675 students who entered the University of Isfahan in September 2009 were examined. Height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, hemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cell (RBC) indices of these students were measured. The prevalence of high blood pressure, its association with BMI and the relation between BMI and anemia, iron deficiency and educational achievement were assessed.
    Results
    All participants, including 514 males and 1161 females, went under clinical observations. The average age was 20.7 ± 3.8. year Among the students, 18.2% of males and 20% of females were underweight. High systolic blood pressure was more common in the students with BMI > 25 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). Anemia was seen in 8.7% of females. In males, however, a relation between anemia frequency and BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 was more distinct (p = 0.002). There was no association between anemia and students’ average test scores.
    Conclusions
    High incidence of abnormal BMI in the study population, and its association with systolic blood pressure indicate the importance of nutritional guidelines and counseling programs for freshman students. On the other hand, high incidence of anemia in this population ascertains the necessity of anemia screening programs before academic studies.
  • Majid Avijgan, Mohsen Meidani, Mansour Salesi, Farshid Rezaei Page 286
    Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. In this study, we report a case of SLE that was presented with persistent vomiting and liver involvement. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a patient with hepatic necrosis as the initial presentation of SLE in a previously healthy woman without any significant past medical history. In the literature, we found few cases of SLE with liver necrosis. In addition, all the cases found had a past medical history of a missed abortion or other complications of the disease. Therefore, if a young woman presents hepatic necrosis with a background of a previously missed abortion, it is better to perform anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anticardiolipin antibody tests as a preventive method for early diagnosis and early treatment.
  • Umran Sarwar, M. Nicolaou Khan, E. Tiernan Page 291
    Objectives
    We report a rare case of burns following the use of automated air-fresheners.
    Methods
    We present a case report with a brief overview of the literature relating to burns associated with air-fresheners. The mechanism and treatment of these types of injuries are also described.
    Results
    A 44 year-old female was admitted under the care of the burns team following burns secondary to an exploding air-freshener canister. The patient sustained burns to the face, thorax and arms resulting in a seven-day hospital admission. The burns were treated conservatively.
    Conclusions
    To our knowledge this is one of the few documented cases of burns as a result of air-fresheners. As they become more ubiquitous, we anticipate the incidence of such cases to increase. As such, they pose a potential public health concern on a massive scale.
  • Page 294
    The need for highly effective tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines has increased globally due to a variety of factors including climate, social, economic and demographic changes, which are thought to have promoted the expansion of the endemic region of TBE viruses. The first TBE vaccine, FSME-IMMUN(®) Inject, was introduced in the 1970s and has been continually improved since then to enhance both its safety and immunogenicity. The current formulation was established in 2001 and is marketed as FSME-IMMUN(®). This review summarizes findings of the clinical development programme since 2001 regarding determination of the optimal dose, conventional and rapid vaccination schedules, vaccination in adults, the elderly and special patient populations, safety, immunogenicity, and immunopersistence in adults and children, comparison of FSME-IMMUN(®) with another commercially available TBE vaccine as well as post-marketing vaccination outcome. This successful research programme demonstrated the strong immunogenicity and continued safety of the FSME-IMMUN(®) vaccine, which is further confirmed by the performance reported under field conditions.