Objective: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and mindfulness practices have been proposed as a potential approach to improve executive functions (EFs) and reduce craving in persons with substance use disorders. Based on the neural mechanisms of action of each of these interventions, the combination of both non-pharmacological interventions might have additive effects. In the current study, the effects of tDCS combined with mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment (MBSAT) to improve EFs and reduce craving were investigated in early abstinent methamphetamine abuse. Methods: Eighty (youths aged between 18 and 21) early-abstinent methamphetamine users were randomly assigned to the research groups (tDCS group [n = 20], mindfulness group [n = 20], combined mindfulness-tDCS group [n = 20], and sham group [n = 20]). Active tDCS (1.5 mA,20 min, 12 sessions) or sham tDCS was appliedover the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the MBSAT protocol was used over twelve 50-min sessions. Results: Both in the post-test phase (immediately after the intervention) and follow-up phase (one month after the intervention), performance in most EFs tasks significantly improved in the combination group which received real tDCS ＋ MBSAT, as compared to baseline values and sham stimulation group. Similarly, a significant reduction in craving was observed after intervention inall treatment groups, but not the sham stimulation group. Interestingly, the increase in EFs and the reduction in craving post versus pre tDCS ＋ MBSAT intervention were correlated. Conclusion: Findings from the current study provide initial support for the clinical effectiveness of combination tDCS ＋ MBSAT, possibly influencing cognitive/affective processes.

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Background and Purpose. Trauma is the leading cause of death for youth in developing countries. Given the prevalence of head trauma (HT) in society and its complication and burden, the epidemiologic study of head trauma is necessary and is the main aim of this study. Materials and Methods. This retrospective population-based survey describes the epidemiology of head injury in a defined population in Ardabil city. It includes all 204 patients with head injury referred to the University Hospital of Ardabil, Iran, during 2013-2014. Data were collected by a checklist and analyzed by statistical methods in SPSS.19. Significance level p < 0.05 was considered. Results. Of all registered cases, 146 (71.6%) were male and the rest of them were female. Most of HT patients lived in Ardabil city (60.8%). The mean age of patients was 22.6 ± 25.9 and most of victims were young. 24.5% of traumatic patients have injuries in severe to critical level (grade 3-4). The most cause of trauma was accidents (41.7%). Most of injuries occurred in night (55.9%) and in summer season (42.2%). Causes were traffic accident in 41.7%. Conclusion. Results showed that the leading cause of head trauma especially in the warm seasons is accidents and so, designing programs to reduce road accidents can dramatically reduce the rate of trauma in the future in Ardabil province.

BackgroundCoronavirus with sudden and widespread outbreak has obviously imposed devastating consequences in various aspects of human life. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of Pender's health promotion model (HPM) structures in self-care preventive behavior against COVID-19 among the general population of Ardabil, Iran. MethodsThe present retrospective descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 200 citizens of Ardabil aged 18 and over in 2020, who were selected by convenience sampling through social media. Data collection tools included demographic profile, perceived self-efficacy scale, perceived emotions questionnaire, perceived social support questionnaire, perceived benefits and barriers questionnaire, researcher-made COVID-19 self-care questionnaire and commitment to action questionnaire based on Pender's HPM structures in an online manner. Data were analyzed by Amos 22 software and using structural equation modeling (SEM). ResultsAccording to the results, direct path analysis to COVID-19 self-care behavior indicated that the variables of perceived self-efficacy, interpersonal effects, positive emotion and perceived benefits are able to significantly predict self-care behaviors. Moreover, the bootstrapping test results in the indirect path analysis demonstrated that the variables of perceived self-efficacy, perceived social support, and perceived barriers and benefits through the mediator variable of commitment to action are able to significantly predict COID-19 self-care behavior.ConclusionsBased on the findings of the present study, it can be claimed that the proposed model of COVID-19 self-care behavior has an acceptable fitness in the general population. It seems that this model can be employed in developing educational programs and intervention techniques to modify people's attitudes and behaviors.

Introduction Culture is an important determinant in providing appropriate and coordinated health care for people from different ethnicities. The present study aimed to evaluate the status of cultural care among nurses working in teaching hospitals affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. Methods In this descriptive-correlational study, 350 nurses completed the Persian version of Cultural Care Inventory (PCCI). This tool consists of 51 items and measures cultural care process in four domains including cultural preparation, cultural attitude, cultural awareness and cultural competence. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22. Results The grand item mean of cultural care was 2.60 ± 0.621, which is considered poor. The grand item mean was 2.64 ± 0.78 in the subscale of cultural preparation, 3.45 ± 0.559 in cultural attitude, 2.81 ± 0.736 in cultural awareness and 2.58 ± 0.834 in cultural competence. Cultural competence was significantly related to cultural preparation (r = 0.80), cultural attitude (r = 0.62) and cultural awareness (r = 0.87). Discussion Based on the present findings, cultural care and its dimensions (with the exception of cultural attitude) were at a poor level. It can also be claimed that there is a direct and strong relationship between the dimensions of cultural care including cultural preparation, awareness, attitude and competence, which indicates the interdependence of these dimensions on each other. Nurses need to improve their cultural competence to ensure of providing patient-centered and culturally coordinated care.