Assessing the impact of an educational intervention program based on the theory of planned behavior on the nutritional behaviors of adolescents and young adults with PCOS in Iran: a field trial study

The Role of Lifestyle Interventions in PCOS Management: A Systematic Review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders among reproductive-aged women. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Lifestyle changes are suggested as first-line interventions in managing PCOS. This systematic review aims to assess the scientific evidence regarding the role of lifestyle modifications (dietary changes, physical activity, and behavioral changes) in improving reproductive, anthropometric, metabolic, and psychological outcomes in women with PCOS. Dietary interventions such as foods with low glycemic index scores; caloric restrictions; high-fiber, omega three fatty acid-rich diets; ketogenic diets; Mediterranean diets; antioxidant-rich food; and anti-inflammatory diets improve insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance in women with PCOS. Physical activity, like aerobic and resistance exercise, enhances insulin sensitivity, helps weight loss, and improves metabolic and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS. Further, behavioral and education modules can also be used to improve awareness, adherence, and the effectiveness of conventional treatment and to manage mental health issues related to PCOS. Collectively, lifestyle modifications not only improve the biochemical, hormonal, and anthropometric parameters in PCOS patients but also reduce the long-term risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Influences of trans-theoretical model-based diet nursing intervention on sarcopenia and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients

OBJECTIVE

to explore the influences of a trans-theoretical model-based diet nursing intervention on sarcopenia and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

the clinical data of 243 patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. A 1:1 orientation score matching (PSM) method was adopted, and patients with different intervention methods were matched based on gender, age, education time, dialysis age, body mass index, underlying diseases, annual income, and whether they were malnourished. Finally, 82 cases were included in the control group (routine nursing and dietary guidance) and 80 cases in the intrevention group (dietary nursing intervention based on the trans-theoretical model), respectively.

RESULTS

After PSM, 82 cases in the control group and 80 cases in the intrevention group were included in the study. After the intervention, the incidence of sarcopenia, the extracellular water rate (ECF/TBF) value, and the malnutrition rate of the intrevention group were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05); the scores of self-care, facing difficulties, potassium intake management, salt intake management, fluid restriction management, the levels of serum albumin, prealbumin and transferrin were all higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05); the SF-36 Concise Health Scale score of the intrevention group was higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The 1-year survival rate in the intrevention group (95.00 %) was higher than that in the control group (85.37 %) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

a TTM-based diet nursing intervention can help improve the dietary management behavior of MHD patients, prevent malnutrition, reduce the incidence of sarcopenia, and improve their quality of life and survival rate.

Design, implementation and evaluation of an intervention based on a social cognitive theory of physical activity and nutritional behaviors in middle-aged people at the risk of coronary artery disease in Bandar Abbas: A study protocol

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the main cause of mortality in developed and developing countries. Physical activity and nutritional behaviors are modifiable factors in people at the risk of CAD and its risk factors; thus, the present study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an intervention based on the social cognitive theory for physical activity and nutritional behaviors in the middle-aged population at the risk of CAD residing in Bandar Abbas city.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study will be conducted in three phases: qualitative, cross-sectional, and community-based intervention. The middle-aged population with less than 150 minutes of physical activity a week with at least one other risk factor of CAD (hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, overweight and obesity, smoking) will be included in the study. In the qualitative phase of study, the participants will be selected with maximum diversity and with the aim of obtaining comprehensive information to clarify the nature and dimensions of the phenomenon in question. The cross-sectional phase aimed to determine the intensity of physical activity and nutritional behaviors. By analyzing the data obtained from the cross-sectional phase, the most important constructs of the social-cognitive theory in physical activity and nutritional behaviors will be determined, and accordingly, an effective intervention will be designed. The third phase of the pre-test-post-test intervention study will include a randomized control group. The interventions will be a combination of face-to-face meetings and the use of educational technologies. Individuals in the control group will not undergo the educational intervention. Those in the intervention group will be evaluated in two phases (before the implementation of the intervention, and 3 months after the intervention).

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study can be used as a strategic plan to help policy makers to strengthen CVD prevention and management alternatives to include physical activity and nutritional behavior as part of their preventive measures.

Intervention to Improve Menstrual Health Among Adolescent Girls Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Iran: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Poor menstrual health may lead to school absenteeism and adverse health outcomes for adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pubertal and menstrual health education on health and preventive behaviors among Iranian secondary school girls.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a health intervention program. A total of 578 students (including intervention and control participants) in 12 schools in Tehran Province, Iran were included by multistage random sampling. The program comprised seven 2-hour educational sessions. After confirming the reliability and validity of a researcher-made questionnaire, that questionnaire was used to collect the required data, and the groups were followed up with after 6 months.

RESULTS

After the educational intervention, the mean scores of menstrual health-related knowledge and constructs of the theory of planned behavior were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p&lt;0.001 for all dimensions).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study emphasize the effectiveness of menstrual health interventions in schools. These findings should also encourage health policy-makers to take committed action to improve performance in schools.

An Evaluation of a Virtual Food Safety Program for Low-Income Families: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior

Low-income families are reported to have a limited knowledge of food safety and resources to follow food safety practices compared with the rest of the population. This paper evaluated a virtual food safety educational program targeting food handlers in low-income families. Trained native speakers of English and Spanish delivered course materials in both languages. A total of 60 individuals participated in the program, with 30 participants in each language group. Most were female, and most had fewer than three children. After the program, participants’ food safety knowledge and self-reported safe food practice behavior scores increased significantly from 5.32 to 7.43 (out of 8.00) and from 24.78 to 29.30 (out of 35.00), respectively. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used to understand individuals’ behavior change intention of food safety practices. All the TPB constructs’ scores, including attitudes toward the behavior, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and behavior change intentions, were improved significantly; however, only the subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were significantly correlated with the behavior change intentions. This virtual educational program improved low-income individuals’ food safety knowledge and changed their food safety attitudes and behaviors, giving a path to develop and evaluate more virtual food safety educational programs in the future.

Application of BASNEF model in students training regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis prevention behaviors: a school-based quasi experimental study

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in 98 countries, and 350 million people are at risk of the disease worldwide. In endemic areas, conducting educational interventions is necessary to change preventive behaviors of CL. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention based on the BASNEF model on CL preventive behavior in students.

METHODS

The present quasi-experimental study examined 80 students living in endemic areas of leishmaniasis in Isfahan province, Iran based on the BASNEF model. The required data were collected twice before and two months after the educational intervention based on a questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been already proven in other studies. The intervention was performed in three educational sessions for the students in the intervention group and 1 educational session for teachers and parents. Data were analyzed by SPSS (VER26) using the chi-square test, independent t-test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Paired t-test.

RESULTS

After intervention, the mean scores of Knowledge (P < 0.001), attitude (P = 0.02), subjective norms (P = 0.04), behavioral intention (P < 0.001), and behavior (P = 0.02) indicated significant differences between the intervention and control groups, but an increase in mean scores of enabling factors was not significant (P = 0. 93).

CONCLUSIONS

Providing students with the educational intervention based on the BASNEF model improve their ability to the extent that they transmit these educations to their family members, which would be effective in preventing and controlling CL in leishmaniasis-prone areas.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Name: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials. Registration number: IRCT20201024049131N1. Registration date: 2020-11-20. Registration timing: prospective.