Hossein Salmannezhad; Morteza Mojahedi; Abbas Ebadi; Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur; Abbas Alipoor; Roshanak Saghebi; Ali Montazeri
Volume 20, Issue 11 , 2018, Pages 1-9
Abstract
Background: Paying attention to individual differences in presenting health directives is the most important properties of Persian Medicine (PM). Accordingly, individuals in each society are divided into nine Mizaj groups. Access to the standard diagnostic scale is one of the research priorities of PM. ...
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Background: Paying attention to individual differences in presenting health directives is the most important properties of Persian Medicine (PM). Accordingly, individuals in each society are divided into nine Mizaj groups. Access to the standard diagnostic scale is one of the research priorities of PM. Objectives: The present study aimed at designing a preliminary self-administered Mizaj questionnaire, and assessed its reliability and validity. Materials and methods: For this exploratory sequential study, Mizaj identification indices were extracted using PM references, andpeople and PM experts’ interviews. The preliminary questionnaire was designed and the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were evaluated using weighted Kappa statistics (> 0.4), ICC and ROC curve, and determining the sensitivity and specificity of cut-off points. Results: Overall, 15 PM experts, and 221 volunteers participated in various stages of this study. Among 119 designed questions for 30 Mizaj identification indices, 60 items had acceptable reliability. The final questionnaire containing 20 items was extracted after the validity assessment. The sensitivity and specificity of this questionnaire at the specified cut-off points were 71% and 68% for warmness, 63% and 71% for temperance in warmness-coldness, 80% and 57% for coldness, 74% and 58% for wetness, 71% and 69% fortemperance in wetness-dryness, and 78% and 85% for dryness, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first standard Mizaj identification questionnaire, which includes more dimensions of Mizaj identification and can be used for individuals aged 20 to 60 years old. This questionnaire is recommended for Mizaj identification researches and as a supplementary diagnostic scale for clinical activities of Persian Medicine practitioners.
Leila Sadati; Abdolreza Pazouki; Zeinab Tamannaie; Mohadeseh Pishgahroudsari; Ehsan Golchini; Ali Montazeri
Volume 19, Issue 2 , February 2017, , Pages 1-8
Abstract
Background: Nowadays quality of life (QOL) is an important part of health and measuring health-related QOL after surgery is necessary for decision-making by patients and surgeons. To assess post cholecystectomy QOL, documentation of high quality care has been subjected to extended discussions, and the ...
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Background: Nowadays quality of life (QOL) is an important part of health and measuring health-related QOL after surgery is necessary for decision-making by patients and surgeons. To assess post cholecystectomy QOL, documentation of high quality care has been subjected to extended discussions, and the use of patient-reported outcome satisfaction for quality improvement has been advocated for several years.Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare quality of life after surgery in candidates of laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.Patients and Methods: This study was an optional part of a longitudinal study for comparison of quality of life in candidates of laparoscopic (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC). One hundred consecutive cases of hospitalized patients, aged 20 to 65 years, at two hospitals of Karaj, Iran (Imam Khomeini and Alborz), were recruited in the study from May to December 2011. Patients were divided to two groups based on the order of admission and the surgeons’ and patients’ preference. Patients were evaluated with the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). Quality of life was measured at three points of time (the baseline was two and four weeks after surgery) using this health questionnaire. Differences between baseline time periods of two and four weeks were compared by independent-samples t-test and within groups the time periods were compared by the paired-sample ttest.Results: Two weeks after the operation, in the LC group, the QOL scores decreased significantly in physical functioning, physical status, body pain and emotional status (for all of them P ≤ 0.01), whereas, in the OC group all the aspect of QOL decreased (for all of them P < 0.01), with the exception of body pain (P = 0.982) and social functioning (P = 0.502). Four weeks after the operation, the QOL scores of the LC group, in every aspect increased and became significantly higher than the preoperative baseline (P < 0.001 for all parameters); while in the OC group only in the aspects of body pain (P < 0.001), general health (P = 0.003), and social functioning (P < 0.001) exceeded the preoperative level. Between-group analysis indicated that the LC group had significantly better outcome scores after four weeks compared to the OC group, in all aspects (P < 0.05 for all of them) with the exception of general health (P = 0.052). The results of the repeated measures analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups during the three follow-up periods in the aspect of physical status (P = 0.008), vitality (P = 0.015), general health (P = 0.048) and emotionalstatus (P = 0.003).Conclusions: Quality of life is an important factor affecting medical and surgical treatment, as well as decision-making. Improvement of short-term quality of life after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in comparison to open cholecystectomy proves the obvious superiority of LC over OC.
Hesamedin Askari Majdabadi; Ali Montazeri; Davoud Shojaeizadeh; Saharnaz Nedjat; Farideh Khalajabadi Farahani; Abolghasem Djazayeri; Mohsen Asadi-Lari; Mahnaz Solhi
Volume 19, Issue 1 , January 2017, , Pages 1-9
Abstract
Background: Many people are concerned with the problems and side effects caused by increased levels of fast food (FF) consumption, especially among adolescents. Several studies have assessed the problems of FF consumption particularly weight gain and obesity. However, few address the methods, strategies, ...
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Background: Many people are concerned with the problems and side effects caused by increased levels of fast food (FF) consumption, especially among adolescents. Several studies have assessed the problems of FF consumption particularly weight gain and obesity. However, few address the methods, strategies, and policies needed to reduce this issue.Objectives: This study aims to explore parent and stakeholder views and perspectives on the means to reduce adolescent FF consumption. Patients and Methods: The present paper is based on original research conducted from June to December 2012. In this study, 19 participants were selected using purposive sampling. Their experiences and perspectives were explored using in-depth semistructured interviews; a thematic content analysis with a conventional approach was conducted to analyze the data. Using this approach, the transcripts were coded openly, and subcategories and categories were chosen based on similarities. Subsequently, themes were defined at a more abstract level.Results: Three main themes were identified as approaches and strategies suggested by parents and stakeholders to reduce FF consumption. These included culture building, supporting healthy eating styles, and controlling and supervising healthy eating styles.Conclusions: Based on the extracted themes, some interventions can be suggested to reduce FF consumption among young people. A holistic approach that incorporates a change of culture, social support, and supervision is promising. Further quantitative studies are also recommended.
