Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field)

Background and Aims: As one of the most important physical detrimental factors, purple noise can be considered similar to sounds that a wide range of people are exposed to in their workplaces. Also, cochlear tissue samples are the best tissue samples to evaluate gene expression and pathologic studies following noise exposure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of purple noise on the expression of SLC26A4 gene in cochlear tissue.

Methods & material: Totally, 10 male Wistar rats were used in this experimental study. Both N₁ and N₂ exposure groups were exposed to purple noise with sound pressure level of 115-120 dB and frequency range of 4-20 kHz. Histological tests were performed for pathological studies. Finally, the relative expression of SLC26A4 gene was determined by qRT-PCR technique. All experiments were conducted according to ethical standards of working with laboratory animals.

Results: The results showed that the expression of SLC26A4 gene decreased significantly compared to the normal level in both N₁ and N₂ groups. The results of cochlear tissue pathology showed that the group exposed to purple noise for 6 days had more mechanical damage 7 days after cessation of exposure.

Conclusion: Significant decreased expression in SLC26A4 gene and permanent damage to the Reissner and Basal lamina membranes in the cochlear tissue and the auditory nerve ganglion leads to strengthening the incidence of advancing sensorineural hearing impairment and increases the likelihood of metastasis in cochlear tissue.

Background and Aims: Bioterrorism is a global problem and its threat is increasing daily. Nurses have an important role in the management of victims during such incidents. Accordingly, this study was conducted to examine the organizational preparedness of nurses in dealing with bioterrorism attacks.

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted among 90 nurses working in hospital through a cross-sectional census in 2020. A researcher-made questionnaire including five parts: demographics awareness, attitude, performance, and organizational readiness was used. The validity of questionnaire was confirmed by the faculty members of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha in four areas of knowledge, attitude, practice and organizational readiness. SPSS software version 21 was used for data analysis. Ethical considerations were observed in all stages of the study.

Results: The results showed that the desired level of bioterrorism awareness among participants was 51.1% (the highest share, related to the field of bioterrorism control, was 56.7%). Most of the respondents (62.2%) had a good and excellent attitude in dealing with bioterrorism attacks (the largest share related to the emotional domain was 67.7%) and finally 94.4% of participants reported good performance. Approximately, 64.4% of nurses are prepared to deal with bioterrorist attacks. There was a statistically significant relationship between surveyed interviewees performance and their education level (p = 0.038).

Conclusion: Findings of our study showed an average level of nurse’s knowledge in dealing with bioterrorist attacks, which requires better and more appropriate planning of health managers to improve their awareness about bioterrorist crises.

Background and Aims: Food hygiene and safety is considered as an important principle to prevent humans from contracting diseases and also to protect the environment from contamination. Because a large part of Iran's population is young and a high percentage of them are students, therefore, this study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences about food hygiene and safety.

Materials and Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 307 students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences through a convenience sampling method. A questionnaire including demographic characteristics and questions in three sections were used to assess students' knowledge, attitude and practice towards food health and safety. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Ethics  approval  and confidentiality  of  answers  were  given  on  the  first  page of  the questionnaire.

Results: The participants were mostly male and single, with the majority belonging to the medical school. Despite the fact that most of the students had good knowledge and attitude towards food hygiene and safety, but about 70.4% of respondents showed poor performance, from which the weakest performance was related to nursing and midwifery students. Students' knowledge and attitude had a statistically significant difference between different faculties. Functionally, a significant relationship was seen between gender and performance.

Conclusion: Given the poor performance of students in relation to the principles of food hygiene, it seems that holding workshops and adding courses can probably improve student performance.

Background and Aims: Nursing is a profession which necessitates very good mental health. Hence, identifying the factors affecting the mental health is highly important. Self-esteem and self-efficacy are addressed as the most important factors affecting mental health that play a very important role in promoting the mental health of individuals, especially nursing students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between self-esteem and self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted in 2020. Totally, 150 nursing students at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences were selected through a convenience sampling method. For data collection, a checklist for demographic and background variables, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Sherer Self-Efficacy Scale were used. All stages of the study were conducted according to moral standards. Data analysis was performed by SPSS v. 22 using descriptive tests and Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of the total scores of self-esteem and self-efficacy in students were 21.25±5.07 out of 30 and 62.66±7.31 out of 85, respectively. Also, a positive and significant relationship between the total scores of self-esteem and self-efficacy was observed (p < 0.001, r = 0.497).

Conclusion: It was concluded that the students had moderate level of self-esteem and good level of self-efficacy. Also, self-esteem was significantly higher in students with higher levels of self-efficacy. Further studies in this regard on other factors of mental health are recommended.

Background and Aims: Considering the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of first-line treatment staff, especially nurses, we aimed to compare fear of COVID-19, sleep disorders and sexual satisfaction of nurses working in COVID wards with nurses in non-hospitalized wards of these patients.

Materials and Methods: In this comparative study, Pittsburgh sleep disorders, Larson sexual satisfaction and Covid-19 fear questionnaires were completed by 160 nurses working in six hospitals in Tehran (80 nurses in Covid-19 and 80 nurses in non-Covid-19 wards). Data were analyzed by SPSS v. 25 software using Chi-square, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test and regression analyses. Ethics in research and confidentiality of information have been observed in this study.

Results: Among nurses working in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards, 83.8% and 76.3% had sleep disorders, respectively. Out of a total of 79 married participants in the control and case groups, 88.1% and 94.6% reported high sexual satisfaction, respectively. The mean fear score of COVID-19 in the two groups of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 nurses was 20.01 ± 5.91 and 19.55 ± 6.29, respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of sleep disorder, sexual satisfaction and fear of COVID-19 in the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The lack of significant differences between nurses working in COVID wards and nurses working in non- COVID wards shows that both groups of nurses are at high risk of sleep disorders and fear of COVID-19. Based on these findings, timely intervention is necessary to promote the nurses’ mental health and prevent their dysfunction during the pandemic.

Background and Aims: Vaginismus is one of the most common sexual disorders among women. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual function and self-esteem in women with vaginismus disorder.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 124 women with vaginismus referred to Family Health Clinic, and Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Tehran were studied by random sampling method. Data gathering tool included Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (MSSQ), Female Sexual Performance Index (FSFI), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire (RSE). Ethics and confidentiality of answers were observed and all stages of the present study were performed according to ethical standards.

Results: Findings revealed that some components of sexual self-concept including sexual anxiety, sexual self-efficacy, motivation to avoid high-risk sexual intercourse and sexual depression (at the level of a = 0.01) and sexual optimism, self-blame - sexual problem, sexual satisfaction (at the level of a = 0.05) were significantly correlated with sexual function. Indeed, sexual anxiety, sexual problem management, sexual self-esteem, sexual schemas, fear of sex (a = 0.01) and sexual self-efficacy, sexual motivation, sexual satisfaction, sexual depression (a = 0.05) were appreciably associated with self-esteem.

Conclusion: Findings indicate the relationship between some components of sexual self-concept and sexual function and self-esteem. Also components of sexual anxiety, sexual self-efficacy, sexual awareness, motivation to prevent high-risk sexual intercourse, sexual anxiety, sexual control, sexual motivation, sexual self-esteem, other sexual control power, and sexual problem prevention have the largest share in explaining sexual function. Also sexual anxiety has the largest role in explaining self-esteem.