Mean Awareness Score Research Articles

Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction literacy among Senior High School students in Sibagat Agusan del Sur

Abstract. The study aimed to determine the level of environmental and disaster risk reduction literacy among Senior High School students in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, Philippines. The study utilized a modified questionnaire to collect data from various Senior High School strands. The study found that social media was the most used source of information on environmental and disaster risk reduction. Earthquakes and floods were the most experienced hazards, with early evacuation as the most popular coping strategy. Students possessed high levels of awareness on environmental issues contributing to disaster risk and high level of practices towards disaster risk reduction. The study has significant differences in both awareness and practices among different senior high school strands. The level of practice strongly and positively correlates with the level of awareness. The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand had the highest mean score for awareness and the Agricultural crop production strand had the highest mean score for practices toward disaster risk reduction. The study found a negative correlation between awareness on environmental issues and Electrical Installation and maintenance (EIM) strand. Conversely, practices towards disaster risk reduction exhibited strong positive correlation with agricultural strand while demonstrating a strong negative correlation with EIM strand and both correlations were statistically significant. The study recommends prioritizing the promotion of environmental and disaster risk reduction literacy among secondary school students by incorporating the topic into the school curriculum, reinforcing related programs and activities, and institutionalizing eco-movement through student organizations.
 
 Keywords: Environmental literacy, Disaster Risk Reduction literacy, Sibagat Agusan del Sur, Philippines

Awareness of using chatbots and factors influencing usage intention among nursing students in South Korea: a descriptive study.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has had a profound impact on humanity; in particular, chatbots have been designed for interactivity and applied to many aspects of daily life. Chatbots are also regarded as an innovative modality in nursing education. This study aimed to identify nursing students' awareness of using chatbots and factors influencing their usage intention. This study, which employed a descriptive design using a self-reported questionnaire, was conducted at three university nursing schools located in Seoul, South Korea. The participants were 289 junior and senior nursing students. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires, both online via a Naver Form and offline. The total mean score of awareness of using chatbots was 3.49±0.61 points out of 5. The mean scores of the four dimensions of awareness of using chatbots were 3.37±0.60 for perceived value, 3.66±0.73 for perceived usefulness, 3.83±0.73 for perceived ease of use, and 3.36±0.87 for intention to use. Significant differences were observed in awareness of using chatbots according to satisfaction with nursing (p<.001), effectiveness of using various methods for nursing education (p<.001), and interest in chatbots (p<.001). The correlations among the four dimensions ranged from .52 to .80. In a hierarchical regression analysis, perceived value (β=.45) accounted for 60.2% of variance in intention to use. The results suggest that chatbots have the potential to be used in nursing education. Further research is needed to clarify the effectiveness of using chatbots in nursing education.

A survey of knowledge, attitude, and performance of Kerman residents on segregation and recycling of household solid wastes during COVID-19 period

Background: Awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards waste management, environmental factors of waste disposal sites and citizens’ as well as waste generators’ behaviors should be considered for implementing a waste segregation plan at the source. Methods: The statistical population of this cross-sectional study includes 150 000 households living in Kerman. The sample size is calculated as 444 individuals using a stratified sampling method considering a 15% withdrawal probability. The correlation between Kerman citizens’ demographic data (age, gender, mean income, and household head’s educational level) and behavioral patterns (knowledge and awareness, attitude and behavior) regarding waste management and environmental factors of waste disposal sites was evaluated using SPSS software. Results: Examining the variables indicates that attitude, environmental factors, behavior, awareness, and knowledge have the highest mean and standard deviation, respectively. The highest mean score of awareness and knowledge was observed among individuals who earned 40 million IRR and higher income (2.55±0.24) and those who had a PhD degree (2.63±0.27). The results show that one unit increase in the score of awareness and knowledge, attitude and environmental factors could increase the mean behavior score. Conclusion: Teaching the households waste-related environmental issues and how to properly separate recyclable waste as well as providing correct information regarding the current (COVID-19 period) and future plans and policies of the waste management organization, and developing suitable motivational mechanisms could improve the performance level of a society.

Awareness and Adaptation Responses on Climate Change in Malaysia

Being conscious of climate change is essential for emerging nations to attain sustainability. In developing countries, a major obstacle to adapting to climate change is a lack of awareness. This research, therefore, assesses the awareness of climate change impacts among Malaysians. The findings are based on an online survey conducted among citizens in Malaysia. The survey explores the level of awareness among Malaysians and their adaptation to face climate change. Based on the research, the highest mean score for awareness is 4.29 (agree–very agree), while the highest mean score for structure is 3.76 (neutral–agree). Even though the level of awareness is quite high among Malaysians, most of them believe that they and the government are not fully prepared to face climate change in Malaysia. It is recommended that the government strengthen the institutional setup to prepare and implement related climate change adaptation strategies in Malaysia.

Evaluation of awareness and factors determining satisfaction among tuberculosis patients regarding RNTCP services in a western district of Uttar Pradesh: a cross sectional study

Background: With the help of ‘Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program’ (RNTCP), India has envisioned to end Tuberculosis (TB) five years ahead of the targets set by SDG which was by 2030. Regular evaluation is necessary for every programme to keep the programme in track and to identify the existing lacunae. Therefore, this study was planned to assess the awareness of TB patients regarding RNTCP along with identifying the factors which determine satisfaction of TB patients. Methods: A community-based cross sectional study was conducted on patients seeking treatment at district tuberculosis centre and DOTs centres of district. The data were collected using a close-ended, pretested and pre-validated questionnaire. Results: The mean score for awareness regarding TB among 205 study participants was 5.76±1.88 with level of awareness being poor, average and good in 41%, 31% and 28% of the study participants respectively. The mean satisfaction score was 9.47±1.02 and the services were perceived as good, average and poor by 56%, 39% and 5% of the study population respectively. Majority of the participants were unsatisfied due to the untimely distribution of the money provided under Nikshay Poshan Yojna (31.7%). The reasons for satisfaction among majority of the participants was the availability of staff at DOTS Centre (87.3%). A significant correlation was observed between satisfaction score and awareness score (r2=0.033, p=0.01). Conclusions: The overall awareness and satisfaction about RNTCP services was good among TB patients with a greater satisfaction among people with high awareness.

Public Awareness and Attitudes towards Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Epilepsy is surrounded by stigma and unfavorable attitudes as a result of several inaccurate or insufficient knowledge linked to the disease, and individuals have negative views of the disorder. They must have up-to-date knowledge and an acceptable approach to epilepsy and antiepileptic medications. This study aimed to assess the public general awareness of epilepsy and attitude toward persons living with epilepsy and its associated factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in Taif, Saudi Arabia, targeting the general public with a self-administered validated Arabic questionnaire. The questionnaire, which comprised two sections and included the responder's demographic information, was distributed over social media platforms between March 18, 2022, and June 3, 2022. A total of 500 respondents who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The characteristics of the subjects were described using descriptive statistics, and differences were assessed using the independent sample t-test and 2-way ANOVA. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. A total of 500 individuals who met the inclusion criteria were included. The mean (standard deviation) score for general epilepsy awareness was 6.78(1.74), which is altogether considered as insufficient. Female participants had a substantially higher mean (SD) awareness score than male participants: 32.58(7.67); 95% CI: 31.34-33.68 versus 29.94(8.79); 95% CI: 28.93-30.95, P0.001. There were no significant differences in participants' awareness scores based on their nationality or occupation. Participants' attitudes towards PWE were mainly favorable, with 482 (96.4%) reporting that they would not be embarrassed if someone in their family had epilepsy, and that PWE should not hide their condition. According to this study, more people are aware of epilepsy and have a good attitude toward it. Furthermore, the study discovered a link between the three variables of interest and ...

Evaluation of drug treatment awareness among caregivers and patients of chronic kidney disease: unexplored determinant in patient care

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are prescribed multiple drugs to slow disease progression and prevent complications mandating adherence to therapy. Lack of awareness about drug treatment is one of the contributors to nonadherence. Hence the study was conducted to explore the awareness of patients and caregivers towards CKD treatment. Methods: The study was a cross sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among 300 CKD patients (150 dialysis/150 non-dialysis) and 100 caregivers (50 of dialysis / 50 of non-dialysis patients) attending nephrology OPD at a tertiary care hospital.Patient /caregiver awareness about drug treatment was assessed usinga prevalidated drug awareness questionnaire (8 items). The items were scored as correct response=2, no response=0 and incomplete response = -1, accounting the total awareness score as +20 to - 6 Results: The mean awareness score of patients / caregivers was 8.16±3.41 and 8.3±1.6 respectively. Majority (&gt;70%) patients/ caregivers gave accurate responses for the items -specifying number of medicines, medication frequency and regular intake of drugs but awareness regarding action plan for skipped (27% patients, 11% caregivers) or missed doses (22% patients, 15% caregivers) and adverse effects (17% patients, 5% caregivers) was poor. Patients/ caregivers belonging to dialysis group had statistically better awareness then non-dialysis group. Conclusions: Patient /caregiver awareness regarding drug treatment is less than 50% with strikingly low awareness about dose regimen, adverse effects, action plan for missed doses and co morbidities. Patient education programs to reinforce and retain this knowledge need to be implemented in CKD patients.

Effect of a Tabletop Program for Training Emerging Infectious Disease Responses in Nurses at Small- to Medium-Sized Hospitals in Areas with Poor Healthcare Access.

This study developed and evaluated a tabletop program for training nurses working in small- to medium-sized hospitals in areas with poor healthcare access for emerging a tabletop program for training emerging infectious disease responses in nurses working at small- to medium-sized hospitals in areas with poor healthcare access and evaluated infectious disease responses. A tabletop program for training responses to emerging infectious diseases was provided to 29 nurses at a general hospital with <300 beds in a region without a tertiary general hospital or healthcare institution with nationally designated inpatient wards for patients with infectious diseases. The 180 min program consisted of an online theoretical lecture (Phase 1), one-on-one drills (Phase 2), and a scenario-based tabletop exercise (Phase 3). To evaluate the program's effect, pre- and post-knowledge, awareness, and competencies related to responses to emerging infectious diseases were assessed. The mean knowledge score significantly improved from 11.41 ± 2.33 before the training to 16.69 ± 2.48 after the training (z = -4.529, p < 0.001). The mean awareness score significantly improved from 80.83 ± 11.94 before the training to 85.45 ± 7.08 after the training (z = -2.335, p = 0.020). The mean competence score significantly increased from 67.31 ± 14.75 before the training to 79.38 ± 10.39 after the training (t = -6.187, p < 0.001). The tabletop exercise program effectively enhanced the nurses' competencies in responding to emerging infectious diseases. The training program developed in this study may be utilized in addition to a simplified theoretical lecture to train nurses to improve their competency in responding to emerging infectious diseases.

Evaluation of awareness and performance towards COVID-related disinfectant use among the university communities in Lebanon.

The fast spread of COVID-19 reinforced the daily use of disinfectants around the world. However, the awareness gap of disinfectant use could lead to health risks during the prevention of the pandemic. This study aims to assess the level of awareness and performance towards COVID-related disinfectant use among various university communities (student, staff, and faculty) in Lebanon. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022 among 925 participants (males and females aged between 18 and 64 years old) from academic settings in Lebanese universities using convenience sampling. An online validated survey (score-based questionnaire) of personal disinfectants' utilization was conducted to evaluate the awareness and performance levels using SPSS (version 21). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to check significant differences in awareness and performance levels among gender, age, provinces, educational level, university status, and field of study. Friedman test was used to test for significant differences in performance level questions pre-and post-COVID-19. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the correlation between the awareness and performance of the respondents regarding the use of disinfectants. It was found that the majority of the respondents showed a weak level of awareness (70.8%) while their performance (61.9%) was moderate. Spearman's correlation analysis concluded a weak correlation between the awareness and performance levels (p < 0.01). The Mann-Whitney test indicated that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in awareness and performance levels between males and females. Another notable variable was the educational level of the respondents (p < 0.05) with postgraduate degrees holders recording higher mean scores of awareness than the ones with undergraduate and high school degrees as per Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant differences were shown in awareness scores among the age groups and in performance scores among the field of study (p < 0.05). The study findings highlighted the necessity of awareness campaigns and training programs addressing the technical handling of disinfectants among the communities in Lebanon. Lebanese governmental authorities (Ministry of Public Health,MoPH, and Ministry of Education and Higher Education, MEHE), and the healthcare professionals and public health researchers in Lebanon may utilize this new evidence to initiate public health interventions as a part of the United Nations (UN) sustainability goal of wellbeing (Sustainable Development Goal 3, SDG 3).

Dental curriculum reform in India: Undergraduate students' awareness and perception on the newly proposed choice based credit system

BackgroundDental education plays a crucial role in producing competent dental professionals who can cater to the diverse needs of patients. This study aimed to assess the awareness and perception of the newly proposed Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) by the Dental Council of India (DCI) among dental undergraduate students in Belagavi City, India. MethodsThe study adopted a cross-sectional design and was conducted among undergraduates and interns of two dental colleges in Belagavi, India. A pilot study was conducted, which was followed by sample size estimation. A total 480 participants were recruited by simple random sampling technique. The questionnaire used was self-administered and comprising 23 close-ended questions in English, for which the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.85, with an 84% score for face validity and a content validity ratio of 0.78. ResultsThe mean awareness and perception scores were highest among interns, while it was lowest among the first years. Majority of the study participants (62.7%) were unaware of this new curriculum whereas almost half (49%) of them found it to be student-friendly. A positive correlation was seen between the perception and awareness scores (r = +0.270, P ≤ 0.001). ConclusionThe findings of this study reveal that a significant proportion of dental undergraduates lacked awareness regarding the implementation of the new curriculum, however they had a positive outlook towards it. The adoption of this model appears to be a promising initiative towards enhancing the quality of dental education at a national level.

Assessment of the Knowledge and Management Method of Dentists in Yazd City about Ocular Complications after Injection of Local Anesthesia in Year 2021

Introduction: Local anesthesia is a routine part of all dental procedures that can cause complications. One of the most important side effects of intraoral anesthesia is ocular disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and proper management of dentists in Yazd City regarding ocular complications following local anesthesia injection.&#x0D; Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 193 dentists working in Yazd City were included in the study based on census sampling and they completed a questionnaire, which was consisted of two parts: demographic information and questions referring the knowledge and practice; data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software and ANOVA and T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient.&#x0D; Results: Mean knowledge score of the participantswas 1.21 ± 0. 6 with a variation range of 0 to 2. The mean awareness score of women was higher than of men, and a statistically significant difference was observed (P-value≤0.05). There was no significant relationship between awareness score and level of education, work experience and age (P-value≥0.05). Only 13.1% of general dentists and 25% of specialists had experienced ocular complications after intraoral anesthesia injection.&#x0D; Conclusion: Dentists of Yazd City had an average knowledge about ocular complications following local anesthesia injection and due to the great importance of prevention and management of ocular complications following local anesthetic injection, it seems necessary to hold retraining courses on this topic and how to manage it.

Awareness of Breast Self-Examination among Female Community Health Volunteers of Pokhara.

Breast self-examination is a simple, inexpensive and effective method of examining the breast by woman herself after 20 years of age in order to detect a breast lump in the early stage. Women should have this knowledge for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. So, the present study aimed to assess awareness of female community health volunteers regarding breast self-examination and the effect of a teaching program. One group pre-test post-test study was conducted among 145 female community health volunteers selected from eight wards of Pokhara Metropolitan using convenient sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 27 March to 23 April 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Before intervention, around two third of respondents (67.6%) had inadequate and only 1.4% had adequate level of awareness. But after the intervention, 68.3% had adequate level of awareness. The post-test mean awareness score (23.87 ± 4.7) was higher than pre-test mean awareness score (12.97 ± 3.93). Test of significance revealed that increment in the awareness due to a structured teaching program was highly significant (p <0 .001). This study also found that there was difference in the mean pretest awareness score according to educational level of the respondents only. Based on the mean score, the score was significantly higher among women with higher level of education (p=<.001). Around two thirds of female community health volunteers have inadequate level of awareness regarding breast self-examination before the intervention. Educational intervention program was found to be effective in improving their awareness.

Confirmatory factor analysis of cognitive ability and its psychosocial correlates

The present study was designed to find out the role of gender and age on cognitive abilities and confirmatory factor analysis of cognitive ability test (CAT)among school students. While employing descriptive survey method, the present study was conducted on a sample of 118 school students. The sample was selected by using random sampling techniques. Cognitive abilities test developed by Gupta and Lakhani, was used for data collection. ANOVA was used to find out the role of gender and age on cognitive abilities with the help of SPSS. Model fit was excellent in the sample for CAT (Chi-square test=4.871, df=5, p=0.511; Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.109; Standardized root mean square residual (SRMR)=0.073; Goodness of fit index (GFI)=0.947, McDonald fit index (MFI)=0.946). There was significant difference among the 13th, 14th and 15th age in mean score of memory. There were significant differences between male and female in mean score of awareness, memory and understanding. The CAT is suitable to measure the cognitive abilities in children of India. This study also contributes to the better understanding of the predictors like gender and age of cognitive abilities in a well-defined group of children.

Evaluation of public awareness and performance toward the safe use of household disinfectants-cleaners to prevent COVID-19 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Disinfection is one of the most effective hygienic practices that would limit the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) through deactivating the coronavirus on contaminated skin, supplies, and surfaces. However, the type and concentration of disinfectants should be carefully selected to avoid damaging surfaces and to limit the side effects of these chemicals on household members and users. The aim of this study is to assess the public levels of awareness and performance concerning the safe use of household cleaning products and disinfectants during the spread of COVID-19 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2021 among 750 residents of Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafrah, and Al-Ain regions. A google survey was distributed electronically for the online recruitment of the general population. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether significant differences exist in the levels of awareness and performance with regard to gender, region, education level, and diagnosis with COVID-19. Spearman correlation was used to test if any correlation existed between levels of awareness and performance. Kruskal-Wallis test was also used to check if significant differences exist in the mean score of performance with respect to irritation-to-poisoning symptoms. The study population recorded a lower mean score of awareness (5.37 out of 12) than performance (11.75 out of 16). The majority of the study population claimed a minimum of one irritation-to-poisoning symptom during the handling of household cleaners and disinfectants. Significant differences exist in the awareness and performance mean scores among various educational levels (P < 0.001). The level of awareness was statistically significant with regard to infection with SARS-CoV-2 (P < 0.05). Also, the level of performance was significantly different between males and females (P < 0.001). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the mean score of performance is statistically significant with all the studied irritation-to poisoning symptoms (P < 0.05). Awareness campaigns and training programs are recommended to address the safe use of household cleaning products and disinfectants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Compliance with health protocols in the banking sector facing Covid-19.

The spread of the coronavirus has become one of the current challenges in the world. Implementing health protocols in the workplace along with informing people who face them, has become a vital issue. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of compliance with health protocols and measure the level of awareness, attitude and performance of bank employees while facing Covid-19. The data collection tool included a checklist and two questionnaires (demographic information and the other on the awareness, attitude and performance of bank staff) regarding the coronavirus. A total of 199 bank employees from 25 bank branches participated in the study. The results showed that in 24% of the bank branches, the staff did not use face masks. And 100% of the studied bank branches lacked proper ventilation. The mean awareness scores of female employees (94.3) were significantly higher than those of male employees (87.7). Also, the performance of female employees (93.2) was significantly better than male employees (87.2). The results showed that to achieve proper performance in controlling and reducing the covid-19 disease among bank employees and other workers, these items are noteworthy: (1) Providing and training the correct use of protective equipment including face masks. (2) Monitoring for strict implementation of health protocols. Therefore, it is necessary to keep training and information up-to-date due to the new phenomena of this disease.

Evaluation of Awareness of General Practitioners Working in Yazd, Iran, Concerning Oral Diseases in 2015

Background: The incorporation of oral health promotion into general healthcare has been proposed by the World Health Organization. General practitioners (GPs) could play a vital role in the promotion of oral healthcare. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the awareness of oral and maxillofacial medicine specialty and its scope of practice among Iranian GPs. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Yazd, Iran. A total of 95 GPs randomly filled out a close-ended questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The self-administered questionnaire comprised 35 items and covered the demographical details and characteristics of participants, in addition to their awareness of oral and maxillofacial medicine and its scope of practice. Finally, awareness scores were classified as weak, intermediate, and good. The data were analyzed using a t-test and Pearson correlation. A P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all statistical analyses. Results: Only 24.2% of GPs had enough awareness. The mean score of total awareness about oral diseases was 11.82 ± 3. The mean scores of total awareness for the oral manifestations of systemic diseases, medical considerations in dentistry, and oral lesions were 3.59 ± 1.17, 3.96 ± 1.62, and 4.27 ± 1.65, respectively. Conclusions: According to this study, the awareness of GPs playing a key role regarding oral medicine and oral manifestations of systemic diseases was weak. It is recommended to revise the medical curriculum to incorporate related courses about common oral diseases into the medical curriculum. The aim will only be achieved by improving the coordination between dentists and GPs.

Determining Awareness of Vitamin D Necessity, Deficiency and its Appropriate Attainment among Medical undergraduate students of a private medical college: A Descriptive cross-sectional study

Aim: To assess the awareness of the necessity, deficiency of vitamin D, and knowledge about its appropriate attainment among the medical students at Combined Military Hospital Lahore Medical College (CMH LMC) Methods: The study undertaken was an observational cross-sectional one conducted among the medical students of CMH LMC. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the medical students from first-year to fifth-year levels. The questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part was based on socio-demographic information like age, sex, nationality, and the second half were based on questions regarding awareness of the benefits, deficiency and, attainment of Vitamin D. Results: The results were likely to highlight the mean awareness score with poor and good awareness identified among medical students. The questionnaire evaluated awareness regarding the main source and dietary source of vitamin D like milk, cheese, and fish; factors that affect vitamin D manufacture; the influence of vitamin D on health, and effects of its deficiency on body health; identifying high-risk groups; and significance of supplements in overcoming deficiency. Practical implication: The study would help increase and improve awareness of vitamin D necessity and deficiency issues among medical students. The awareness in the new generation of professionals can impact the evolution of future health education programs, policy development, the construction of social rules, and views about health and health-endorsing attitudes. Conclusion: The study concluded that the respondents were more aware of the necessity of vitamin D (M = -.05) and less aware of the deficiency and attainment level of vitamin D. (M = -.32; M = -.36) respectively. Keywords: Vitamin D, awareness, deficiency, attainment, medical students, health

Awareness and Preventive Practice on Kala-Azar among the Community People of Morang, Nepal

Background According to World Health Organization, an estimated 700000 to 1 million new cases and 26000 to 65000 deaths occur annually from Kala-azar. In the countries of South-East Asia region, Kala-azar occurs mainly in three countries- India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The disease occurs in agricultural villages where houses are frequently constructed with mud walls. Even people residing in endemic areas have poor practices for its prevention. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 community people of Katahari Gaupalika, Morang. Simple Random sampling technique was used for the selection of three wards among seven wards, probability proportionate was used for the selection of the population from the ward. The desired sample was selected purposively. Data were collected from face-to-face interview techniques using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 16 version. Results It is found that nearly two-thirds of the respondents (63.3%) had moderate awareness, more than one-fifth (22%) of the respondents had adequate awareness while (14.7%) of the respondents had inadequate awareness of Kala-azar. Similarly, more than half (55.3%) had moderate preventive practice, (25.3%) had inadequate preventive practice and nearly one-fifth (19.3%) had adequate preventive practice. The mean score for awareness and practice was 16.633 and 5.54 respectively. Conclusion The study was conducted to assess the level of awareness of Kala-azar. This concluded moderate awareness of respondents on Kala-azar which suggested that there is still a need to improve the awareness of the respondents particularly on its causative agent, preventive measures and complication. However, to improve their awareness to an adequate level, awareness-raising programs focusing on preventive practice should be conducted

The Efficacy of the Smart-Rehabilitation Program in Patients After the Correction of Valvular Heart Diseases

Aim Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of a new approach, "SMART rehabilitation of patients after heart valve replacement", which includes, in addition to face-to-face training, Internet technologies in the form of video conferencing, the mobile application "Calculation of the warfarin dose", and a traditional program for educating patients after correction of valvular defects.Material and methods The study included 190 patients with prosthetic heart valves. The main group consisted of 98 patients who completed a distance learning course. The control group included 92 patients participating in face-to-face training. Clinical and instrumental examinations (electrocardiography, echocardiography, determination of international normalized ratio (INR)), and surveys to evaluate awareness, compliance with treatment, and quality of life (QoL) were performed.Results At baseline, the awareness, compliance and QoL did not differ between the compared groups. After 6-month follow-up, the mean score of awareness increased by 53.6 % (р=0.0001). The compliance with treatment increased 3.3 times in the main group and 1.7 times in the control group (p=0.0247). Patients of the main group were more prone to self-management (p=0.0001), had better medical and social awareness (p=0.0335), medical and social communicability (p=0.0392), confidence in the therapeutic strategy of the attending physician (p=0.0001), and treatment effectiveness (p=0.0057). Analysis of QoL showed increases in living activity 2.1 times (р=0.0001), social functioning 1.6 times (р=0.0001), and mental health 1.9 times (р=0.0001).Conclusion The novel approach of distance learning, "SMART rehabilitation of patients after heart valve replacement", provides improvements in awareness, compliance with treatment and QoL.

Effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on nurses’ compliance with standard precautions in preventing needle stick injuries

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of needle stick injuries among nurses and the arising risks double the need to pay attention to improve their knowledge and change their behavior using effective educational models. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the health belief model on nurses’ compliance with standard precautions in preventing needle stick injuries.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted on 110 nurses working in medical training centers in Shiraz and Fasa in 2019. Subjects were selected using a simple sampling method and were randomly divided into two interventions (n = 55) and control (n = 55). The intervention included 7 sessions of 50–55 min. Before and 3 months after the intervention, the health belief model questionnaire was completed by both groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 through chi-square, independent, and paired t-tests (P < 0.05).ResultsBased on independent and paired t-tests, there was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups regarding the mean score of health belief model constructs before the intervention. However, there was a significant difference regarding the mentioned scores 3 months after the educational intervention. Based on the paired t-test, the mean score of awareness, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, cues to action, and behavioral performance in the intervention group significantly increased after the educational intervention (P < 0.05). Also, there was a significant decrease in perceived barriers (P < 0.05).ConclusionIt is recommended to apply the proposed model as an effective and cost-effective method along with other methods in training programs for nurses and other health workers exposed to invasive procedures, contaminated blood, and secretions.