https://jjhs.ajums.ac.ir/ Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences en daily 1 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://jjhs.ajums.ac.ir/article_242698.html https://jjhs.ajums.ac.ir/article_238915.html Background and Objective: Research problem: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major driver of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It can be considered a serious threat to public health. Evidence from Iran indicates a growing prevalence that threatens both population health and economic stability. Methods: This policy brief is based on findings from a study titled “Socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome in Southwest Iran: Results from the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study (HCS)”. Findings: The overall prevalence of MetS in the participants was 39.1%. While skill level and the Townsend index were significantly and independently associated with MetS, no such associations were observed for educational level or wealth status. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that socioeconomic status (SES) is a significant factor in the prevalence of MetS. Among the four assessed SES indicators, skilled levels and Townsend score showed the strongest associations with MetS. Therefore, we recommend that interventional programs for MetS account for SES when being designed for similar communities.  https://jjhs.ajums.ac.ir/article_239314.html Background: Social accountability in medical education emphasizes aligning training, research, and service with the health needs of society. Despite its importance, faculty members’ awareness and perception of accountable education remain unclear in many contexts. The aim of the study to assess faculty members’ perceptions of social accountability across academic departments.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among faculty members at the Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Using stratified convenience sampling, 240 faculty members completed a validated social accountability questionnaire consisting of 25 items across 10 domains. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses, were performed using SPSS version 19.Results: Among participants, 67.1% were male, and the mean age was 47.15 ± 8.76 years. No significant differences in accountability scores were found by gender (p=0.603), academic rank (p=0.964), years of experience (p=0.071), or educational qualification (p=0.217). However, faculty members from basic science departments reported significantly higher social accountability scores than those from clinical departments (p = 0.023). The highest accountability scores were reported in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Radiation Oncology, English, and Bacteriology, while the lowest were in Public Health, Immunology, and Psychology.Conclusion: The study highlights variability in social accountability across departments, with better performance in basic sciences compared to clinical departments. These findings emphasize the need for targeted strategies, policy support, and faculty development programs to enhance accountability in medical education and better address community health needs. https://jjhs.ajums.ac.ir/article_240300.html Background and Objective: Depression poses a significant obstacle to academic success among high school students. It is characterized by diminished academic vitality and exacerbated by persistent cognitive distortions (maladaptive cognitive patterns). This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of self-healing intervention (SHI) and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) in reducing these impairments among female adolescents exhibiting depressive symptoms. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (registered at IRCT.ir as IRCT20250307064963N1) employed a pretest-posttest design with follow-up. Recruitment of participants was conducted in Ahvaz, Iran, from April through June 2025. A total of 45 female high school students diagnosed with depressive symptoms, confirmed via DSM‑5 clinical interviews and the Beck Depression Inventory, were selected through cluster random sampling and randomly allocated to three groups of 15: SHI intervention group, EFT intervention group, and waitlist control group. Assessments were done based on the Academic Vitality Questionnaire and the Cognitive Distortions Scale. Data were subjected to repeated-measures ANOVA for analysis. Findings: Findings revealed significant improvements in academic vitality and reduced cognitive distortions in both intervention groups compared to controls at posttest and three-month follow-up (P<0.001). Although SHI yielded greater gains in academic vitality than did EFT at posttest (P=0.038), no significant between-intervention differences were observed at follow-up or on cognitive distortions, with treatment effects sustained over time. Conclusion: SHI and EFT demonstrate comparable overall efficacy as therapeutic frameworks for bolstering psychological resilience and academic engagement in depressed female students. These results advocate for the incorporation of either cognitive-experiential or resource-focused strategies within educational mental health frameworks to foster enduring student well-being. https://jjhs.ajums.ac.ir/article_243309.html Background and Objective: Given the paramount importance of early diagnosis of breast cancer, this study investigated the process of implementing an early detection program of breast cancer in women working in Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) of Khuzestan, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among women working in ACECR. The women were divided into two groups: (1) women aged 40 years and older who were referred for mammography (n = 70), and (2) women under 40 years of age who were advised to seek midwifery care (n = 106). Based on the clinical findings, some women were subsequently referred for ultrasound to undergo further evaluation. Appropriate recommendations were provided according to the physician’s assessment and the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification. Findings: A total of 54.5% of the women participated in breast cancer screening. The mean age of participants was 39.29 ± 7.23 years. Of the women, 30% were single and 70% were married. The average body mass index (BMI) was 25.73 ± 4.00. The mean age at menarche was 13.01 ± 1.76 years. Based on ultrasound findings evaluated according to BI-RADS criteria, 5 women were classified as BI-RADS 1, 16 as BI-RADS 2, and 20 as BI-RADS 3. These women were referred to a general surgeon for further assessment. No participant showed strong evidence of breast cancer.Conclusion: Promoting breast cancer screening among women, particularly working women, and implementing targeted educational interventions to increase awareness of its importance are essential.   Keywords: Breast Cancer, Early Detection