Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

  Background :There is not any data available about the effect of high bar pressure condition on intracranial pressure. In this study, the effect of diving on the optic nerve and sheath diameters as non-invasive markers of intracranial pressure has been investigated.

  Methods : Twenty professional male divers from twenty one volunteers were chosen for this cross-sectional study. Only one person who had a history of barotraumas was excluded. Each diver then completed a questionnaire on demographic data, medical and diving history. Nineteen other volunteers were selected to represent a control group. A 10-MHz linear ultrasonic probe was used to measure the optic nerve sheath diameters of both eyes in closed and supine position and its relationship with diving history of divers was determined.

  Results : It was found that divers have a higher mean optic nerve sheath diameter compared to the normal population as previously reported by other studies. The mean diameter of the left and right optic nerve sheaths were 6.4±0.7, 6.5±0.9 mm respectively and a significant relationship between optic nerve sheath diameter and diving history was found.

  Conclusion : Results showed that divers have a higher optic nerve diameter than the general population. However, our result cannot yet be considered as a marker of intracranial pressure in divers as it was conducted on an limited number of subjects and so a bigger study should be undertaken for this purpose.

  Background: Outstanding leadership is one of the important and vital concepts in management and educational leadership debates especially in educational organizations such as universities. Thus, effective educational leadership and adopting an appropriate tool to assess leadership in education are crucial in these institutions. The present study was conducted to develop an instrument for measuring the leadership style in faculty members.

  Methods : In this descriptive cross-sectional study, content and face validity of Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was examined using the opinions of 10 experienced faculty members as a panel of experts. For construct validity, 210 questionnaires were administered to faculty members of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Confirmatory factor analysis was run using principal component analysis and Varimax rotation method. The reliability of the scale was measured through internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha formula. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the construct validity of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.16 and LISREL software.

  Results : Factor analysis and expert opinion resulted in a questionnaire with 18 items across six subscales including idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, contingent reward, and management by exception. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was acceptable (0.90). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale had appropriate goodness of fit.

  Conclusion : The 18-item Educational Leadership Questionnaire was found to have acceptable validity and reliability for measuring leadership style in the faculty. It is recommended that the questionnaire be administered to a larger sample.