Background and Objective: Smoking and drug abuse are among the most important causes of mortality in both developing and developed countries. The aim of this study was to survey of eleventh grade student’s attitude, based on health belief model (HBM), toward smoking and its complications in Zahedan, Iran.

  Material and Methods : In this cross-sectional study, we selected 380 students through multi
stage clustered sampling. Data gathering was performed by using a valid and reliable researcher- made questionnaire designed on the basis of HBM.

  Results: The mean age of the subjects is 15.9 ± 7. The subjects experienced smoking at least once are 23.2% and regular smokers are 2.1% of them. The results of health belief constructs
are perceived susceptibility­ (74.8%), perceived severity­ (68.2%), perceived barriers­ (42.1%) and perceived benefits (72.1%). About cues to action construct, 61(16.1%) have at least one smoker in their family and 260(68.4%) mention that they have studied about smoking and its' disadvantages. The majority of them had high self- efficacy related to smoking temptation situations and its avoidance.

  Conclusion: The results show that most of the students have a favorite attitude toward smoking and its complication, based on health belief model. Hence, it is a necessity to maintain and reinforce this condition to prevent from smoking.

  Background and Objective: Hydrogenated vegetable oils consumption ­–­rich sources of both saturated ­fatty acids and trans fatty­ acids is one of the most important risk factor for Coronary Vascular Diseases(CVD) .The aim of the current ­study was to investigat the hydrogenated vegetable oil consumption based on Precede model among women who attained in Khomein and Mahallat health centers in 2008.

  Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic a study, 136 women who were covered ­by Khomein and Mahallat health centers selected through a systematic random sampling. Data gathering instrument was a researcher-­designed valid and reliable questionnaire bases on Precede constructs. The data was analyzed by using independent T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient(p<0.05).
Results: Three point five percent have appropriate knowledge, 60.3% have favorite attitude and 67.7% have­ incorrect practice. Hydrogenated vegetable oil consumption rate is 72%.The expensive ­of unhydrogenated oil 77.9% and­ subsiding­ distribution­ of hydrogenated oil 77% are the most important enabling­ factors.­ Meanwhile, husband unwelcoming 66.2% is the most reinforcing factor that impede as an appropriale practice. 

  Conclusion: The­ results­ indicated­ that the­ majority of subjects have inappropriale nutritional practice. Reinforcing and enabling factors­ are effective on unhydrogenated oil consumption. Decrease­ of unhydrogenated oil price and encouragement of the spouses are recommended.

  Background and Objective: Understanding and improving traffic behaviors, especially, the use of helmet is known as a strategy for preventing from road accidents. prevention of road accidents are caused Azsdma The aim of ­the present study was to assess the barriers to helmet use, based on health belief model in Khomein city.

  Material and Methods: ­ The subjects of this Cross-­sectional study were 384 drivers recruited via convenience sampling.­­The instrument was a research-made questionnaire based on HBM items.­The data related to performance, Perceived susceptibility, Perceived barriers, Perceived severity ­and Perceived benefits were analyzed by­ independent T-test,­Pearson, spearman correlation, chi square and wilcoxon (p≤0.05).

  Results: The barriers to helmet use are sweating, decreased hearing, expensiveness, heaviness, and visual limitation, ­chocking feeling, hairstyle, losing ­the helmet, shyness and time consuming, respectively. ­The rate of helmet use is 16.2%. ­According to the the subjects, ­education­(61.4%) paying fines (22.7%) and confining motorcycles (15.9%) are effective on wearing helmet.

  Conclusion:­ ­ According to the results, we recommend performing proper educational programs about wearing helmet, based­ on HBM,­­ designing new helmet by considering fore mentioned problems and modifying police treatments toward education.

  Background and Objective : Academic achievement is associated with the knowledge and application of effective study skills. The aim of the current study was to investigate the study skills of nursing and midwifery students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences.

  Material and Methods : In this descriptive study, 211 students were recruited through census in 2008-2009 academic years. The data was collected by using Cangas Study Skills Inventory (CSSI).Reading ability, note-taking, memory enhancement, readiness to exam , concentration and time managements were the subscales surveyed.­ the data derived from the instrument was analyzed by statistical tests, using SPSS software.

  Results: The mean standard deviation is 2.47±0.40 of four. The reported study skills are weak (43.6%), moderate­ (53.6%) ­and sufficient­ (2.8%).­The study skills of female students is significantly higher than males (p=0.017) and freshmen’s Study skills is better than that others (p<0.0001).

  Conclusion: The study skills of the majority of students are not sufficient. It seems that studying in university could not improve study skills and it is a necessity for the students to pass study skills workshop or even a course as a part of university curriculum.

  Keywords: Study skills, Students, Medical sciences

 Background and Objective : ­ Teachers’ evaluation is considered one of the important strategies for education quality enhancement in universities. The objective of the current study was to investigate the students’ viewpoints about the evaluation criteria of teacher’s performance in theoretical courses in Golestan University of Medical Sciences.

  Material and Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted, in 2008, on 330 students of various disciplines. They were recruited via stratified random sampling and asked to fill out a valid and reliable questionnaire including 63 closed questions, which are related to individual, scientific and professional fields. ­Using SPSS software, we analyzed the data by descriptive statistics, independent t­-test, and Anova and Pearson correlation.

 Results: Seventy-three-point-three (n=242) are females and 26.7% (n=88) males. ­The most important factors in teacher's evaluation are Professional characteristics (4.22±0.42).­­Their scientific ability (4.14) and individual characteristics (3.86%), respectively, are the other factors. In professional characteristics, ­“The verbal skills and teaching methods " with the mean of 4.64 in scientific ability, "the knowledge and scientific power" with the mean of 4.65 and in individual issue, “patience and good humor" with the mean of 4.61 are the most important issues. Sixty-two-point-four percent of students believe that they are honest about their evaluation and 59.4% of them claim that their evaluation is reliable.

  Conclusion : In spite of the importance of the scientific abilities, the verbal skills and teaching methods are considered the most prominent ones. ­The Students’ viewpoints can be used as an important part of teachers' evaluation for recognizing and eliminating the shortcomings.

Background and Objective:  Transtheoretical model (TTM) is one of the models applied to  assess the regular physical activity. The aim of the current study was to investigate the regular physical activity based on transtheoretical model constructs among Golestan University of Medical Sciences’ students.

Material and Methods: ­In this cross-sectional study, 295 students were recruited through convenience sampling. The instruments were Marcos et al. Stages of change and Nigg et al. Decisional balance questionnaires. Their validity was approved by content and face validity andtheir reliability by test re test method.­­ Data analysis was conducted by Chi-­square ,Logestic regression, and ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc tests.

Results:­ The mean age of the participants is 21.89±3.05.­Eighty nine point five percent are unmarried and 67.5% females .The results show that they are in precontemplation (60.3%) contemplation(8.8%), preparation(11.9%), action(9.5%)­ and maintanenec (9.5%)stages. There is a significant relationship between stage of change with cons and pros of physicalactivity(p<0.05) .Male gender, Bsc and lower educational levels along with cons are the best predictors of regular physical activity(p<0.05).

Conclusion: Since the majority of the students(81%) have a  sedentary life, It is a necessity to conduct some  planned interventions for their progress on maintenance stage. Increasing of pros and decreasing of cons could be useful.

  Background and Objective: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women worldwide. The objective of the current study was to assess the breast cancer screening behaviors adherence rate and its relation with perceived susceptibility and perceived severity in Gorgan, Iran.

  Material and Methods: In a cross sectional study, 300 women referring to two health centers were ­selected through cluster sampling .­Data gathering instrument was a questionnaire including demographic, knowledge and practice questions related to breast cancer screening behaviors. Perceived susceptibility and perceived severity measured by Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale .

  Results: ­ The subjects are 18 to 60 years (30.3 ± 7.3). ­In knowledge part, 88.3% could not answer any question. In practice section, they have breast self examination (33%), clinical breast examination (11.3%) and mammography (5%) in their past history. Four- point -seven percent have high level of susceptibility and 46.7% high level of severity. Higher susceptibility was significantly associated with mammography (p=0.042) performance and not associated with breast self examination and clinical breast examination.

  Conclusion: The participant's knowledge about breast cancer screening was inappropriate. Meanwhile, the majority of them have low level of perceived susceptibility. It is a necessity to improve the knowledge and perceived susceptibility for enhancing the breast cancer screening behaviors.

Background and Objective: Carpet industry is the most important handicrafts in rural areas of Iran. Iranian carpet weavers are exposed to the risk of carpet weaving diseases and the side effects. This study aimed at assessing the health behavior of Bandar Turkmen and Aqqala carpet weavers based on the HBM, 2013.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 female carpet weavers selected via census in Bandar Turkmen and Aqqala city, Golestan province. The data was collected by a Demographic checklist and HBM questionnaire and analyzed by using Pearson correlation coefficient, One-way ANOVA, post-hoc test and independent T test (&le0.05).

Results: the mean age was 35.63±11.64 years. The perceived susceptibility was significantly correlated with perceived threat and perceived benefits (P<0. 001). Preventive behavior related to carpet weaving job diseases was insufficient among majority of the participants (78%).

Conclusion: Given their high-perceived threat and perceived benefits regarding to diseases, carpet weavers less likely do preventive measures.  Further research is needed considering interpersonal and enabling factors.