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Background and purpose: Ëstimation of prevalence for the three stages of smoking in male students of grade-10 in Shiraz, Ïran.
Materials and methods : This article is the first phse of a comprehnsive study related to adolescents smoking and predictors of transition in the stages.1132 male students of grade-10 were randomly selected from 20 high schools. Ëach student completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questions aimed to obtain information on smoking, self-esteem, and attitude toward smoking as well as demographic information. Respondent were classified into three stages of smoking (never smoker, experimenter and regular smoker).
Results: Ôverall 19.4 percent of students had smoked. 80.6%, 16.9%, and 2.5% were never smoker, experimenter and regular smoker, respectively. Âge, major, self-esteem and attitude toward smoking were significantly associated with smoking stages.
Çonclusions : Smoking prevention should begin with adolesce even younger than age 12.

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Background and purpose: Ïnfants’ exposure to cigarette smoke is one of the most crucial public health concerns. Smoking ban in enclosed spaces are a simple way to reduce exposure to cigarette smoke and its harmful effects. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking, car smoking ban and the related factors in families with infants living in Tehran.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1112 families with infants referring to health centers in Tehran in 2010. These families were selected based on multi-level sampling. Â questionnaire containing demographic and social factors, cigarette smoking, and car smoking ban was completed through interviewing the parents.
Results: Ït was found that 0.4% of the mothers, 19.5% of the fathers and 9.7% of other family members were smokers and in 1.7% of the families both parents were smokers. Âmong the participants, 77% completely obeyed the smoking ban in the car. The prevalence of complete smoking ban in the car in smoker families was 42.3%, while it was 84.5% in nonsmoker families. Ânalysis of multiple logistic regression showed that odd ratio for the car smoking ban increased (ÔR= 3.3, ÇÏ95%: 1.2-8.7) and the number of cigarettes decreased (ÔR= 3.3, ÇÏ95%: 1.2-8.7) in educated fathers in comparison with less educated ones.
Çonclusion: This study suggests that complete smoking ban in the car in most of the smoker families is not obeyed. Regarding the factors related to car smoking ban, health interventions are essential for decreasing infant’s exposure to cigarette smoke.

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Background and purpose: Successful smoking cessation is an important approach in promoting healthy lifestyle. This study investigated the role of self-efficacy, mindfulness and demographic factors in successful smoking cessation. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive study 284 people attending 10 smoking cessation clinics in Tehran were selected based on convenience sampling. The subjects included 86 people with successful smoking cessation and 198 cases without successful smoking cessation. All participants completed the Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SEQ-12), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Demographic Factors Questionnaire. The data was analyzed using Chi Square, t-test and Binary Logistic Regression in SPSS V.16. Results: The variables that significantly predicted successful smoking cessation were self-efficacy (OR=9.816 CI: 3.122-17.282%), mindfulness (OR=5.664 CI: 1.226-11.258%), female gender (OR=4.009 CI: 1.655-14.556%), university education (OR=7.801 CI: 2.866-18.051%), and appropriate socio-economic status (OR=6.605 CI: 1.467-12.624%) (P<0.001). Age did predict success of smoking cessation (p>0/05). Conclusion: Enhancing self-efficacy and mindfulness are believed to be appropriate strategies for increasing probability of success in smoking cessation programs and could be used as therapeutic intervention for smokers. Furthermore, educational level, socio-economic status, and gender are variables that could influence such programs.

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Background and purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with smoking initiation and continuation in Isfahan. Material and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted based on Isfahan Healthy Heart Program. To calculate the crude and adjusted odds ratios uni- and multi-variable logistic regressions were used. The group with lowest rate of smoking was considered as the base group and Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval was reported. Results: The study population included 3164 individuals, of whom 12.3% (male 23.3%, female 01.4%) were current smokers. The odds ratio of smoking was 8.53 (CI: 4.37-16.57) in men, 1.17 (CI: 0.8-1.71) in rural areas and 4.52 (CI: 1.22-16.7) in illiterate people. Among the subjects the relative risk of smoking was seen higher in those aged 19-24 and 25-34 years of old. Home was found as the most common place for smoking (32.64%) and the most frequent condition for smoking was when the subjects were in angry moods (36.70%). The main cause of initiation or continuation of smoking was enjoyment (45.65%). Conclusion: Most consumers of cigarettes were men, individuals with low educational backgrounds, self-employed or unemployed and rural populations. Therefore, more training programs are needed to enhance the knowledge and attitude in these people and conducting efficient smoking cessation programs could be of great benefit in reducing the rate of smoking.

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Background and purpose: Previous studies have shown that smokers are deficient in social skills and it is possible that they have deficits in theory of mind. The aim of this study was to compare theory of mind and symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity between smokers and non-smokers.

Materials and methods: This study was conducted in 160 man (80 smokers and 80 non-smokers) who were selected by convenience sampling. Data was collected using the Persian version of Reading Mind from Voice (FVRMFV), Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale and a demographic questionnaire. Data was analysed in SPSS V. 16 applying multivariate analysis of variance and independent t-test.

Results: The findings showed higher scores of smokers in attention deficit (P<0.005), hyperactivity (P<0.006), impulsivity (P<0.007), problems in self-imagination (P<0.004), and whole range of ADHD symptoms (P<0.001) compared to non-smokers, but in mind reading test, smokers performed significantly weaker than non-smokers (P<0.001(.

Conclusion: Deficits in theory of mind is seen in smokers, therefore, deficits in social skills could be due to this reason in such groups.

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Background and purpose: Functional ovarian cysts are common in reproductive age female. According to high prevalence of functional ovarian cysts and costs for community-based diagnosis and treatment, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between fertility history and lifestyle factors with functional ovarian cysts.

Materials and methods: This case-control study was done in 280 women of reproductive age attending Imam Reza, Qaem, and Omolbanin hospitals in Masshad, Iran, 2014. Inclusion criteria were Iranian nationality and being 13-49 years of age. The exclusion criteria were pregnancy, history of infertility, menopausal, and women with acute gynecologic, hormonal and neoplastic situations. Data collection was done using a questionnaire consisting of demographic information, medical condition, and fertility history. To analyze the data t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, and logistic regression were applied in SPSS V16.

Results: The results showed that cigarette and alcohol consumption (P=0.02) and body mass index (P<0.001) were associated with functional ovarian cysts. Frequency of ovarian functional cyst was higher in female with higher BMI and cigarette and alcohol consumption. The results of regression test showed women who used dietary supplements, had a lower risk of developing functional ovarian cysts (OR=1.19).

Conclusion: This study proved a relationship between life style with ovarian cysts. According to this result, more training and lifestyle modification are recommended in women of reproductive age to prevent functional ovarian cysts formation.

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Background and purpose: The World Health Organization predicts more than 8 million deaths until 2030 as a result of tobacco use. Pictorial cigarette pack warnings have a major role on the cognitive and emotional reactions, and the first intention to smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pictorial cigarette pack warnings on smokers’ attitudes and behavior.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was done in 450 male smokers (>15 years of age) in Babol, Iran. They were selected using purposeful random sampling and data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was done in SPSS V19 applying one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results: The mean age of participants was 42.5 ± 14.7 years. Pictorial cigarette pack warnings caused changes in feelings towards smoking (11.3%), feeling of danger (17.65%), reduced consumption (16.25%), and thoughts of quitting smoking (11.15%). Pictorial cigarette pack warnings were significantly associated with the attitudes towards smoking (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Pictorial cigarette pack warnings play a role in changing the attitudes of smokers and reducing cigarette consumption, therefore, further attention is needed on creating more useful warnings.    
 
 

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Background and purpose: Smokers and their readiness to change behaviour varies accordingly. This study aimed to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model on smoking behaviour among male smokers in Qom.
Materials and methods: This interventional study was conducted among male smokers aged 30 to 60 years who attended comprehensive health service centers in Qom in 2023. Sampling was performed using the convenience sampling method. Considering a 10% dropout rate, a sample size of 55 participants was allocated to each of the intervention and control groups. Participants were randomly assigned to the two groups using permuted block randomization with a block size of 4. After completing the pre-test questionnaires, six 45-minute educational sessions were delivered using lecture, question-and-answer, and brainstorming methods. The post-test phase was conducted two months after the educational intervention. For quantitative data analysis, descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential tests (chi-square test, independent t-test, and paired t-test) were used. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The average age of participants was 39.6 ± 7.6 years. After the educational intervention, the mean score of smoking behaviour in the intervention group decreased significantly compared to before the intervention (P<0.001; before:9.4 ±1.9, after:8.04 ±1.3). The mean scores of the Stages of Change and Processes of Change constructs in the intervention group increased significantly after the training compared to baseline (P<0.001; after:73.05±7.3). The mean score of the Temptation construct also showed a statistically significant decrease after the intervention in the intervention group (P<0.001; after: 2.5±1.29).
Conclusion: Educational interventions based on the Transtheoretical Model, combined with coping skills training and individual counselling, can be effective in improving stages of change, decision-making, temptation management, and promoting smoking cessation.