Research Output
Articles
Hashemikamangar, S.S.,
Afshari, A.,
Aghamir, Z.S.,
Kamali, F. Publication Date: 2023
International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture (23455802)10(3)
Background: High levels of stress and fear of COVID-19 infection in high-risk places negatively affect visiting hygiene professionals and receiving health services including dentistry. This study was conducted with the aim to determine the impact of COVID-19 induced anxiety and Oral Health Literacy (OHL) on dental services during COVID-19 pandemic in the general population in Iran. Methods: This online cross-sectional study was performed on 307 individuals ( 244 women and 63 men) using convenient sampling method, at the time of COVID-19 outbreak (October and November 2021) in Tehran city. A demographic characteristics form, the COVID-19 Induced Anxiety Scale (CIAS) (Riad et al., 2021), and the Oral Health Literacy Questionnaire (OHLQ) (Naghibi Sistani et al., 2013) were used to collect data with items related to the rate and reasons for visiting/not visiting dentists. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation test in SPSS software. Results: The results revealed no significant differences between those who had and those who had not had dental visits in terms of COVID-19 induced anxiety (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of OHL(P ≤ 0.05). In addition, no significant correlation was found between OHL and COVID-19 anxiety (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Notwithstanding the risk of Corona virus transmission in offices/clinics, higher levels of OHL caused more desire to use dentistry services in the public. © 2023, Vesnu Publications. All rights reserved.
Afshari, A.,
Hashemikamangar, S.,
Hashemikamangar, S.S. Publication Date: 2021
Dentistry 3000 (21678677)9(1)
Objec&ve: To evaluate the associa.on of perceived stress and dental work-related concerns regarding to COVID-19 by media.ng role of cogni.ve flexibility among den.sts during pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran. Methods: This study was a cross-sec.onal survey conducted by means of a confiden.al on-line survey on 174 Iranian den.sts. COVID-19 related ques.ons were divided into three parts: den.sts’ perspec.ve about their career future, virus contagion and concerns of geLng infected COVID-19 from pa.ents, and paucity of informa.on and facili.es to control the spread of the virus. Perceived stress and psychological flexibility were assessed by PSS (Cohen et al., 1983) and CFI (Dennis et al., 2010). To analyze the data path analysis method was used. Results: Perceived stress significantly predicted psychological flexibility (both alterna.ves and control subscales) and COVID-19 factors related to dental work. In addi.on, the control subscale significantly predicted den.sts’ concerns toward their career future and fear of COVID-19 contagion. Hence, control subscale of cogni.ve flexibility mediated the rela.onship of perceived stress and professional concerns of den.sts during COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Given these results, elevated stress during an infec.ous disease outbreak can affect (have an impact on) perceived stress and professional concerns among den.sts. Different aspects of den.sts’ lives can be affected by those concerns and stress. Interven.ons to enhance cogni.ve flexibility should be applied to reduce the psychological burden of the crisis for den.sts. Copyright: ©2020 Afshari A, et al.
Publication Date: 2014
Journal Of Research In Medical Sciences (17357136)19(3)pp. 221-227
Background: Emotion-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (ECBT) is a new form of CBT with emotion regulation components. Th is form of treatment is suggested to be employed to improve dysregulation of anxiety and other kind of emotions in anxious children. Th is study observed and compared the eff ectiveness of CBT and ECBT on anxiety symptoms; sadness and anger management; and cognitive emotion regulation strategies in children with separation anxiety disorder (SAD). Materials and Methods: Th is study is a randomized clinical trial. Subjects were 30 children from 9 to 13-years-old (15 girls and 15 boys) with diagnosis of SAD, being randomly assigned to CBT, ECBT, and control groups (five girls and five boys in each group). Subject children in CBT group participated in 10-h weekly sessions within Coping Cat manual; whereas, subject children in ECBT group contributed in 12-h weekly sessions within ECBT. Th e control group received no treatment. Th e Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED; child and parent forms), Children's Emotion Management Scale (CEMS; anger and sadness forms), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) tests administered to all subjects in pretest, posttest, and the follow-up measurement (3 months later). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) repeated measure and Kruskal-Wallis were applied to analyze data by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software package (v. 20). Results: CBT and ECBT; demonstrated no significant diff erence in reducing separation anxiety and total anxiety symptoms from parent and children's reports. ECBT eff ectively increased anger coping and decreased negative cognitive strategies and dysregulation of anger in children, both in posttest and follow-up. Also, ECBT reduced sadness dysregulation and increased sadness coping, though these significant advantages were lost in 3 months later follow-up. CBT reduced negative cognitive strategies in follow-up and increased sadness coping in posttest. None of treatments aff ected on anger and sadness inhibition and positive cognitive coping in separation anxious children. Conclusion: ECBT, in comparison with CBT; eff ectively improved emotion regulation strategies in children with separation anxiety.
