Behavioral Health
Mojtaba Senmar; Mohammad Reza Mostafaei; Ali Razaghpoor; Fateme Yousefi; Razie Alipour; Hossein Rafiei
Abstract
Background: Euthanasia and its related factors are addressed as an important ethical issue in end-of-life care nursing. It's an illegal issue in Iran. This study aimed to examine the attitude towards euthanasia in nursing students, and its relationship with their personal beliefs’ level.Methods: ...
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Background: Euthanasia and its related factors are addressed as an important ethical issue in end-of-life care nursing. It's an illegal issue in Iran. This study aimed to examine the attitude towards euthanasia in nursing students, and its relationship with their personal beliefs’ level.Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted in Qazvin during the education year of 2017-2018. The samples of this study consisted of 121 nursing students who were studying at the Qazvin University of Medical Sciences for more than two semesters. The Euthanasia Attitude Scale and Palutzian and Ellison Spiritual Wellbeing Scale were used for the data collection.Results: The response rate was 73.3% (121 of 165 nursing students). All of nursing students in the present study were Muslim. The mean overall scores of attitudes towards euthanasia and spiritual wellbeing were 60.24±9.82 and 75.73±7.48, respectively. No significant relationship was found between attitude towards euthanasia and personal beliefs among them (p=0.204).Conclusion: Iranian nursing students reported a relatively neutral attitude towards euthanasia which is mainly related to its legal issue in Iran. Also, no significant relationship was observed between attitude towards euthanasia and personal beliefs among the participants. Further studies are needed in this regard.
Epidemiology
Itse Olaoye; Akinola Ayoola Fatiregun; Ekun Opeyemi; David Adeleke; Tsemaye Jacdonmi; Stephen Fagbemi; Famokun Gboyega; Abiona Samuel; Adefesoye Victor Akinpelumi; Onyibe Ifeoma Rosemary
Abstract
Background: The last case of the indigenous Wild Polio Virus in Ondo state was in 2008, and the last Polio compatible infection was in 2010. Poliovirus transmission was stopped thanks to the World Health Organization's (WHO) standards, which included acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance. We wanted ...
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Background: The last case of the indigenous Wild Polio Virus in Ondo state was in 2008, and the last Polio compatible infection was in 2010. Poliovirus transmission was stopped thanks to the World Health Organization's (WHO) standards, which included acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance. We wanted to describe the state's polio surveillance performance during the last five years, from 2016 to 2020, using WHO-recommended measures and find areas where it could improve.Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2020, AFP case-based surveillance data was used to undertake a retrospective examination of records. Microsoft Excel was used for data processing, and Quantum Geographic Information System was used for mapping (GIS).Results: From 2016 to 2020, a total of 1,096 AFP instances were recorded, none of which were confirmed as Poliomyelitis. The bulk of the cases (77.2 percent) were found in children under the age of five. Males made up more than half of the cases (53.4%). More than 89 percent of reported cases received three or more OPV doses. Between 2016 and 2020, there was a 79 percent decline in reported incidents. Between 2016 and 2020, the average Non-Polio AFP rate was 11.2 per 100,000, with a stool adequacy of 98.4%.Conclusion: AFP surveillance in Ondo state met the minimum WHO targets during the study period, according to the findings. However, because of the possibility of poliovirus being imported from endemic countries, which might threaten Nigeria's polio-free status, all surveillance actors' sensitization and active case search should be strengthened, particularly in underperforming local government areas (LGAs).
COVID-19
Zahra Karimi; Zahra Davoodi; Leila Rabiei; Mahnaz Jafari; Mansoureh Kiani Dehkordi; Roy Rillera Marzo; Masoud Lotfizadeh
Abstract
Objective: COVID-19 prevalence is a new and serious threat to public health. The disease has had an impact on nearly every important economic, political, social, and even military aspect of many countries around the world. As a result, the psychological effects of this viral disease on different levels ...
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Objective: COVID-19 prevalence is a new and serious threat to public health. The disease has had an impact on nearly every important economic, political, social, and even military aspect of many countries around the world. As a result, the psychological effects of this viral disease on different levels of society's psychological health are critical, necessitating scientific research. This study looked into the possible link between COVID-19 and psychological distress and anxiety in Iran.Methods: The first large-scale global study of psychological distress and anxiety in public society, this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was based on the participation of people from some Asian countries during the COVID-19 epidemic. Only the results from Iran were presented in this article. This study had 1480 participants and used a standard questionnaire called the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82.Results: It was discovered that 1171 (79%) of the participants were female, while 309 (21%) were male. The CPDI Questionnaire yielded a mean score of 54.16±6.13. There was a significant relationship (p=0.0002) between age group and total score of psychological distress and anxiety. The findings revealed a link between anxiety variables and education (p = 0.0001), monthly income (p = 0.008), and gender (p = 0.019).Conclusion: It can be concluded that the majority of study participants were in an unfavorable psychological distress and anxiety situation.
Epidemiology
Abubakar Abdallah Kheir
Abstract
Background: The study sought to better understand the severity and causes of hypertension and obesity in Mvita Sub County, Mombasa County, with the overarching goal of determining the impact knowledge/awareness had on developing either or both illnesses.Methods: The research was carried out in all five ...
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Background: The study sought to better understand the severity and causes of hypertension and obesity in Mvita Sub County, Mombasa County, with the overarching goal of determining the impact knowledge/awareness had on developing either or both illnesses.Methods: The research was carried out in all five wards of Mvita Sub County in 2019: Majengo, Tononoka, Old Town, Tudor, and Shimanzi. Furthermore, the study included 110 respondents who were chosen using probability stratified selection and included both young and elderly people of both genders. The findings were then descriptively examined using mean and percentages.Results: Increased knowledge/awareness reduced the likelihood of contracting either or both conditions, whereas drug abuse, poor nutrition, and poverty were the leading causes of hypertension/obesity in Mvita Sub County. Stakeholders' insignificant roles, a lack of local farming/agricultural practices, poor parental involvement, poor public health practices, and a lack of school involvement in health programs were all factors.Conclusion: Inaction in the face of the highlighted findings could lead to a spike in obesity and hypertension. As a result, immediate public health intervention is required. This intervention should involve raising health awareness among Mvita Sub County residents through media channels like local radio stations, assisting the county government in combating drug abuse (especially tobacco and khat), and enhancing nutritional services like relying on local farming and closely monitoring patients' nutritional needs.
Pharmacoepidemiology
Kourosh Zali
Abstract
The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the best interventional design to assess issues related to treatment and prevention. The RCTs can have different designs including superiority, equivalence, or non-inferiority design. A superiority trial aims to detect the potential superiority of new ...
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The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the best interventional design to assess issues related to treatment and prevention. The RCTs can have different designs including superiority, equivalence, or non-inferiority design. A superiority trial aims to detect the potential superiority of new therapy compared to an active comparator or a placebo, an equivalence trial tends to demonstrate that a new therapy is an equivalent (within margins) to its active comparator, and a non-inferiority trial (NIT) is going to show that the new therapy is not worse than the comparator, as a typical active drug. Increasingly, major trials are conducted to see if the efficacy of a new treatment is as good as a standard treatment. The new treatment usually has some other advantages (e.g., fewer side effects, ease of administration, lower cost), making it worthwhile to demonstrate non-inferiority in respect to efficacy. Thus, NIT is going to determine whether a new treatment is not worse than a reference treatment by more than an acceptable amount. Among the challenges of NITs compared with superiority, trials are the choices of the non-inferiority margin (NIM), the primary population for analysis, and the comparator treatment considering several choices for the comparator arm in an NIT. This article is going to review the current knowledge about NIM.
Behavioral Health
Kian Nourozi Tabrizi; Maedeh Mortezanasab; Farahnaz Mohammadi-Shahboulaghi; Mostafa Shokati Ahmad Abad; Mahdi Noroozi
Abstract
Background: Medical students must have sufficient expertise to provide health services to the old as the global population of the elderly grows. Few research, however, have looked into this issue among medical, health, and nursing students. As a result, the purpose of this study was to look into the ...
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Background: Medical students must have sufficient expertise to provide health services to the old as the global population of the elderly grows. Few research, however, have looked into this issue among medical, health, and nursing students. As a result, the purpose of this study was to look into the knowledge of medical, health, and nursing students on aging and related variables.Methods: In the year 2020, a cross-sectional study was done in Yazd, Iran. The research community was founded by Yazd University of Medical Sciences students. A total of 105 students from medical, health, and nursing were needed for the study. Two tools were used to collect data. a) A list of demographic characteristics Age, gender, level of education, and b) The Facts on Aging Quiz are among the items on this checklist (FAQI). FAQI is made up of 25 things in four dimensions, each of which can be answered with one of three options: "correct," "don't know," or "false." A higher score suggests a better position and a greater understanding of aging facts.Results: Students were 29 years old on average. Women made up almost 75% of those who took part. Only over a quarter of the attendees went to conferences and seminars on senior health. The majority of students in all three areas (medicine, health, and nursing) had never volunteered with the elderly before. Medical, nursing, and health students scored 11.093.4, 8.83.1, and 11.82.8 out of a possible 25 points on their understanding of aging facts, respectively. Only the area of study was statistically associated to the mean score of facts of aging among the demographic variables, indicating that the knowledge score of medicine and nursing students was lower than that of health students.Conclusion: The students that took part in this study lacked appropriate awareness of the facts of aging. Students' understanding in this area must be increased through the implementation of relevant educational programs.
Health Sciences
Shila Latifzadeh; Kourosh Zarea; Hossein Komaili-Sani; Malek Fereidooni-Moghadam
Abstract
Background: When there is betrayal and disloyalty in a family, the betrayed spouse suffers the most, resulting in mental health disorders and a loss of emotional and behavioral balance. The purpose of this study was to explain the divorce crisis in betrayed spouses.Method: This qualitative research was ...
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Background: When there is betrayal and disloyalty in a family, the betrayed spouse suffers the most, resulting in mental health disorders and a loss of emotional and behavioral balance. The purpose of this study was to explain the divorce crisis in betrayed spouses.Method: This qualitative research was conducted as a content analysis method in Ahvaz, Iran. Data was gathered through 18 semi-structured interviews with 14 betrayed participants chosen using purposeful sampling. The data was analyzed using the traditional content analysis method.Results: After analyzing the data, three main themes and seven subcategories were identified. Among the themes were divorce issues, with subcategories such as "fear of disclosure," "moving towards divorce," and "fear of consequences, lack of support, and parent household problems."Conclusion: According to the findings, some of the study participants had not forgiven their spouse after discovering their betrayal and had broken up, but others had to ignore their partner's flaws and carry on with their lives for a variety of reasons, including a fear of losing their children, loneliness, and a lack of support. More research in this area is recommended.
Health Sciences
Masoud Lotfizadeh; Zahra Karimi; Marjan Sadat Seghayat; Fatemeh Fatahian
Abstract
Background: The aging process begins at the age of 60 and is accompanied by several biochemical, physiological, anatomical, and metabolic changes. Transitioning into old age has serious medical, psychological, and social consequences. Given the significance of mental health in old age, the goal of this ...
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Background: The aging process begins at the age of 60 and is accompanied by several biochemical, physiological, anatomical, and metabolic changes. Transitioning into old age has serious medical, psychological, and social consequences. Given the significance of mental health in old age, the goal of this study was to compare stress, anxiety, and depression levels among nursing home residents and non-residents.Methods: A census approach was used to choose 264 older persons for this cross-sectional study. Data was gathered using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) questionnaire.Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age of the elderly participants in the study were 69.64 ± 9.35, with 202 (76.5%) females and 62 (23.5%) males. The study's findings revealed that the mean and standard deviation of stress in old people who are maintained at home were (11.28 ± 8.85), anxiety (10.45 ± 8.16), and depression (9.09 ± 8.25). The mean and standard deviation of stress, anxiety, and depression in nursing home residents are (17.18 ± 8.08), (18.08 ± 9.63), and (15.57 ± 10.97, respectively. There was a significant difference in stress, anxiety, and depression levels between senior individuals living at home and those living in nursing facilities (P < 0.001).Conclusion: According to the study findings, elderly people living in nursing homes had higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than those living in their own homes. As a result, long-term measures for lowering mental health difficulties in the senior population are critical.
Nursing
Parisa Fathizadeh; Haydeh Heidari; Reza Masoudi; Morteza Sedehi; Feridoun Khajeali
Abstract
Introduction: Tele-nursing is a modern way of promoting quality of nursing care, treatment outcome, reducing medical costs and the need for visits, patient and family involvement in decision making, and careful patient monitoring by using all kinds of technologies. The aim of this article was to determine ...
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Introduction: Tele-nursing is a modern way of promoting quality of nursing care, treatment outcome, reducing medical costs and the need for visits, patient and family involvement in decision making, and careful patient monitoring by using all kinds of technologies. The aim of this article was to determine the most popular methods and related reasons for their common use in Iran.Methods: In this narrative literature review, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, SID, and Nindex were searched for full texts of Iranian studies published in English or Persian by using the descriptors of Tele-nursing, MHealth, nursing care, Telecare, and follow-up with phone calls between 2010 and 2020. The search found 472 articles and after considering the eligibility of articles, 56 articles were included.Results: The review found that 74% of papers reported the telephone as the first common method for tele-nursing. The second popular method was short message service (SMS) followed by internet and smartphone software.Conclusion: Tele-nursing includes many methods that nurses can use for distance nursing care which is not limited to telephone or SMS. In Iran, about 68 million people have a smartphone and have access to the internet. Nurses can use this potential capacity to improve nursing care.
Clinical Epidemiology
F. Aliakbari; F. Safei; F. Deriss; S. Salehitali
Abstract
Introduction: Patients with chronic renal disease are at risk for dyspnea, which can have a negative impact on their quality of life. The current study aims to investigate the influence of breathing exercise on respiratory parameters in hemodialysis patients due to a lack of agreement on the efficacy ...
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Introduction: Patients with chronic renal disease are at risk for dyspnea, which can have a negative impact on their quality of life. The current study aims to investigate the influence of breathing exercise on respiratory parameters in hemodialysis patients due to a lack of agreement on the efficacy of breathing exercise in the respiratory status of hemodialysis patients.Method: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups in this single-blind clinical investigation (intervention and control). Under the supervision of a nurse, the intervention group practiced breathing interventions (deep and slow breathing) for eight sessions over the course of a month. Data was collected using two questionnaires (demographic and respiratory parameter checklist).Results: There was a significant change (P=0.000) between the pre- and post-scores of the respiratory score in the intervention and control groups.Conclusion: Because breathing intervention is beneficial in lowering dyspnea and improving respiratory parameters, nurses should consider using it as an appropriate therapy for these patients due to its simplicity and low cost.
Nursing
Shila latifzadeh; Alice khachian; Shaghayegh Sedigh; Sona Elyasi; Maedeh Mortezanasab; Ghazal Ghaderi
Abstract
Background and Objective: Leukemia is one of the top five cancers in Iran. Aside from physical issues, the disease causes a variety of social and psychological issues for patients. In this regard, one aspect that cancer may affect is quality of life, which can lead to anxiety. The collaborative care ...
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Background and Objective: Leukemia is one of the top five cancers in Iran. Aside from physical issues, the disease causes a variety of social and psychological issues for patients. In this regard, one aspect that cancer may affect is quality of life, which can lead to anxiety. The collaborative care model is a novel nursing model that improves treatment outcomes through collaboration. As a result, the purpose of this study is to look into the impact of a collaborative care model on quality of life and anxiety in leukemia patients.Methods: The current non-randomized clinical trial, which included a control group, was conducted on 60 leukemia patients at Firoozgar and Rasoul Akram hospitals in Tehran (affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences). The hospitals were randomly divided into two groups: control and intervention, and patients were chosen at random from each hospital using a convenience sampling method. The collaborative care model was implemented in the intervention group, while no specific measures were taken in the control group. Patients in both groups' quality of life was measured using the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire in Oncology Patients before, one, and two months after the intervention, and their anxiety was measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Both groups completed their questionnaires using a self-report method.Results: In terms of demographic characteristics, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Prior to the intervention, no statistically significant difference in mean anxiety, quality of life, and its dimensions was observed between the two groups (p>0.05). Following the intervention, a statistically significant difference in mean anxiety and quality of life scores was observed between the two groups (p<0.05), indicating a decrease in anxiety and an increase in quality of life among patients in the intervention group.Conclusion: Based on the findings, it appears that the collaborative care model has a positive effect on reducing anxiety and improving quality of life in leukemia patients, and it is preferable to use this model when caring for this group of patients.
Artificial Intelligence
Nagaraj B Kalburgi; Arati C Koregol; Swapna Shivasharan Gore; Hannahson Puladas; Kavya Sulakod; Kavita Patil
Abstract
Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of processes designed to complete a certain goal. Some applications of Artificial Intelligence in Periodontics include the localization of soft hard deposits, illness diagnosis and prognosis, and prediction of success rates in dental implant surgery.Methods: ...
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Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of processes designed to complete a certain goal. Some applications of Artificial Intelligence in Periodontics include the localization of soft hard deposits, illness diagnosis and prognosis, and prediction of success rates in dental implant surgery.Methods: Given the scarcity of data on the perspectives of postgraduates and dental interns on AI, the current study was designed to assess awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward AI among postgraduate students from the Department of Periodontics and dental interns from multiple centers. A cross-sectional survey using a self-designed questionnaire containing 26 closed-ended questions was distributed via Email and WhatsApp in Google forms to 139 postgraduate students from the Department of Periodontics and 127 dental interns from various dental colleges.Results: The questions were classified into four categories: demographic information, awareness, knowledge, and attitude. To examine the responses, the Chi-square test was used. 47.7% of the 266 respondents were dental interns, while 52.3% were postgraduate students. For dental interns and postgraduates, the average knowledge score was 7.93 and 13.04, respectively. Postgraduates' knowledge was highly significant (P < 0.01).Conclusion: It has been found that the postgraduate students were more aware and knowledgeable than the dental interns. As a result, incorporating AI into academic curricula is becoming increasingly important.
Molecular Epidemiology
Farshad Kakian; Mohammad hoseein Rezaei; Masoud Amiri; saeid janabadi; behnam zamanzad; Abolfazle gholipour; Kourosh Naderi
Abstract
Background and aim: Klebsiella is an opportunistic organism that is the cause of many nosocomial infections. The present study was designed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Imipenemase (IMP)-producing Klebsiella isolates in ...
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Background and aim: Klebsiella is an opportunistic organism that is the cause of many nosocomial infections. The present study was designed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Imipenemase (IMP)-producing Klebsiella isolates in patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) in an educational hospitalin Shahrekord, in the center of Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, from 234 urine samples, 80 isolates of Klebsiella were identified with biochemical tests. In order to determine the production of Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), Modified Hodge Test (MHT), EDTA Disc Synergy (EDS) test and AmpC disc test were performed. The frequency of VIM and IMP genes was determined after DNA-amplification with PCR by electrophoresis technique. Thereby, 16SrRNA was considered as an internal control in PCR.Results: Phenotypic tests showed that out of the 80 isolates, 18 (22. 5%), 18 (22. 5%) and 10 (12.5%) isolates were positive for MHT, EDS and AmpC disc test, respectively. Following DNA amplification by PCR, the genes of interest were analyzed by electrophoresis technique. The findings were as follows: 22 isolates (27.5%) carried the VIM gene, but the IMP gene was not found in any of the isolates. Conclusions: Expansion of Klebsiella strains that produce MBLs is a severe threat to health centers and public health. The findings of this study showed that Klebsiella may produce MBLs. These enzymes can in turn degrade carbapenem antibiotics, which are considered as a last resort in the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections.
Clinical Epidemiology
M.A. Bashir; A.I. Yahaya; Mukhtar Muhammad; Ashiru Hassan Yusuf
Abstract
Prehypertension is a borderline blood pressure status associated with both higher incidence of cardiovascular disease as well as higher risk of progression to hypertension. The rising burden of hypertension and prehyperension globally is a serious concern to all and sundry. This study aims to estimate ...
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Prehypertension is a borderline blood pressure status associated with both higher incidence of cardiovascular disease as well as higher risk of progression to hypertension. The rising burden of hypertension and prehyperension globally is a serious concern to all and sundry. This study aims to estimate the burden of prehypertension in Nigeria. Online searches of Google Scholar, PubMed and African Index Medicus were conducted and studies selected based on predefined criteria. 21 studies consisting of 25839 individuals conducted between 2011 and 2021 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of prehypertension in Nigeria was found to be 34%(95% CI: 30%-40%) translating to 41.4 million adult Nigerians. Males have higher prehypertension prevalence of 39.1% (95% CI: 30.9%-47.6%) than females with prevalence of 28.5% (95% CI: 21.2%-36.4%). Differences between sexes are not statistically significant. The region with the lowest prehypertension prevalence is North-East at 18%. The region with the highest prevalence of prehypertension is North-West at 43%. Differences between the regions are statistically significant. The pooled prevalence in rural settlements is 32% whereas the pooled prevalence for urban settlements is 37%. Differences rural and urban settlements were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the burden of prehypertension in Nigeria is high and represents a future burden of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases
COVID-19
Ram Prasad Sharma G; Kalpana Sharma; Niki Shrestha
Abstract
Background: When working in Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) wards and ICUs, Health Care Workers (HCWs) face numerous physical and psychosocial challenges. The purpose of this study was to look into the difficulties that HCWs face when caring for COVID-19 patients. Method: A qualitative phenomenological ...
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Background: When working in Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) wards and ICUs, Health Care Workers (HCWs) face numerous physical and psychosocial challenges. The purpose of this study was to look into the difficulties that HCWs face when caring for COVID-19 patients. Method: A qualitative phenomenological study was used, and the study sample included 12 HCWs (8 nurses and 4 doctors) who worked specifically with COVID-19 patients. A semi-structured interview guideline was used for data collection, and Giorgi's method was used for analysis. Results: During the pandemic, HCWs faced numerous challenges while caring for COVID-19 patients in a hospital. HCWs faced five major challenges: (i) increased workload and staff shortages, (ii) mental stress, (iii) social stigma and isolation, (iv) resource scarcity, and (v) a lack of specific skill training. Conclusion: While caring for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, health care workers faced numerous physical, psychological, and social challenges. As a result, these issues must be addressed in order to provide quality care in the hospital.
Epidemiology
Ahmed Shouman; Hala Samir Abou-ElWafa; Abdel-Hady El-Gilany
Abstract
AbstractIntroduction: Due to their destructive consequences on organisational productivity, mental health issues in workers are the subject of the most research worldwide. Workers' mental illnesses are linked to a number of issues at work. Some mentally ill employees frequently display anger and violence ...
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AbstractIntroduction: Due to their destructive consequences on organisational productivity, mental health issues in workers are the subject of the most research worldwide. Workers' mental illnesses are linked to a number of issues at work. Some mentally ill employees frequently display anger and violence at work, which might result in physical assault. The mentally ill employees lose motivation and morale, and they not only become a stigma for the company but also for themselves. The purpose of this narrative review was to highlight the magnitude, risk factors, and prevention and control of mental health problems at the workplace which is significant social issue and has a negative impact on occupational wellbeing and productivity. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, and Google using search terms “mental”, “health”, “work-related”, and “psychological” in different combinations. Results: People who face high job demands, limited job control, high effort-reward imbalance, or low organisational fairness are more likely to develop mental problems. Making a workplace safe and healthy requires recognising and fostering mental health. In creating a healthy work environment, one that won't cause or aggravate mental health issues and where employees with mental illness are adequately supported, managers and employees both have important roles to play. Conclusion: The creation and implementation of a workplace mental health strategy and programme would improve employee health, boost business productivity, and advance the general welfare of the community. The workplace is an ideal setting for educating people about and increasing their understanding of mental health issues.
Clinical Epidemiology
Hossein Rafiei
Abstract
The occurrence of pressure ulcers can be problematic for patients and health care systems. A medical device-related pressure ulcer (MDRPU) is considered as one of the important indicators of patient safety assessment as well as the quality of care provided to the patient. This case report concerns a ...
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The occurrence of pressure ulcers can be problematic for patients and health care systems. A medical device-related pressure ulcer (MDRPU) is considered as one of the important indicators of patient safety assessment as well as the quality of care provided to the patient. This case report concerns a 54-year-old male patient, who was admitted to the cardiac unit of a hospital. The patient developed stage II pressure ulcers due to the connection of a nonstandard probe of the electrocardiogram to its chest. Nurses had not taken any action to treat the patient’s ulcers. To improve this matter, necessary measures such as training courses should be considered by the officials and healthcare planners. Apart from this, to prevent the development of MDRPUs in the future, it is of great importance to pay special attention to the probes that are being used for the recording of an ECG.
Patient Care
Fatemeh Ghapanvari; Seyedehzahra Hosseinigolafshani
Abstract
Background: Recent studies on hemodialysis patients have focused more on the suffering caused by physical and psychological problems in them, and they have paid less attention to their caregivers. Since the caregivers of these patients are intensively affected by the physical and psychological problems ...
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Background: Recent studies on hemodialysis patients have focused more on the suffering caused by physical and psychological problems in them, and they have paid less attention to their caregivers. Since the caregivers of these patients are intensively affected by the physical and psychological problems caused by this method of treatment, it is necessary to pay more attention to the challenges as well as the problems that exist among them. This study aimed to describe the lived experiences of caregivers in caring for hemodialysis patients. Methods: The present study is a qualitative study with a phenomenological design. Sampling was first done through a purposive sampling method, and the snowball sampling method was then applied in order to select 21 caregivers for the hemodialysis patients from three hemodialysis centers in Qazvin, Iran. An audio recorder were used to collect the data of in-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's approach. The criteria of Lincoln and Guba was followed for trustworthiness. Results: Analysis of the interviews in response to the main question revealed 108 initial codes, 18 subcategories, and 3 main themes, including 1. Care: Growth experience, 2. Care: Living in solitary confinement, and 3. In silence: Seeking help. Conclusion: In situations where the caregivers of hemodialysis patients felt they did not have sufficient material and spiritual support from those around them, they reported two different and conflicted experiences. Some people experienced progress and excellence, while others felt stuck and had to make ideal sacrifices. More in-depth research is required to discover the factors that influence such diverse insights.
Nursing
Ghazal Ghaderi; Mahni Rahkar Farshi; Mahnaz Jabraeili
Abstract
Background: Provision of pediatric palliative care is of particular importance. Therefore, this study aims to assess knowledge and attitude of nurses working in pediatric wards about this matter.Methods: The current descriptive study was conducted in 3 hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The sample consisted ...
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Background: Provision of pediatric palliative care is of particular importance. Therefore, this study aims to assess knowledge and attitude of nurses working in pediatric wards about this matter.Methods: The current descriptive study was conducted in 3 hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The sample consisted of all nurses working in pediatric wards, who were selected through a convenience sampling method. For data collection, a checklist for demographic variables, Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing, and Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Patients were used. Collected data were then analysed using SPSS.Results: Of the total of 247 questionnaires distributed, 220 were returned completely. Most of the participants were female (96.3%). Their mean age was 32 years, and their mean work experience in clinical wards was 7.22 years. The results showed that the mean total scores of nurses’ knowledge and attitude about pediatric palliative care were 10.70±2.83 and 97.90±98.83, respectively.Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that nurses have a good attitude and poor knowledge about pediatric palliative care. Considering the findings of this study as well as the importance of pediatric palliative care, it is necessary to improve nurses’ knowledge about this matter. Further studies are also recommended in this regard.
COVID-19
Naglaa K Idriss; Andrew Blann
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic produced by SARS-CoV-2 was the single most important epidemic in the previous century, with unparalleled international scientific, clinical, and political cooperation. One distinguishing trait is its heterologous presentation in terms of illnesses and death in many countries. In ...
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The COVID-19 pandemic produced by SARS-CoV-2 was the single most important epidemic in the previous century, with unparalleled international scientific, clinical, and political cooperation. One distinguishing trait is its heterologous presentation in terms of illnesses and death in many countries. In this communication, we look at several of these characteristics in two countries: Egypt and the United Kingdom, which have quite different demographics and public health policies. We investigate alternative explanations for the far poorer outcome that happened in the United Kingdom, which had over ten times the number of deaths per million of the population as Egypt.
Psychoepidemiology
Hossein Tavangar; Farzan Madadizadeh; Zohre Kalani; Razie Beygi Rizi; Zakieh Tavakoli; Mostafa Shokati Ahmad Abad
Abstract
Background: The presence of pain and anxiety in a patient affects the results and, therefore, the process of healing, as well as the postoperative complications. Therefore, this study was performed to gauge the effect of individual education-supported needs assessment on anxiety among elderly patients ...
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Background: The presence of pain and anxiety in a patient affects the results and, therefore, the process of healing, as well as the postoperative complications. Therefore, this study was performed to gauge the effect of individual education-supported needs assessment on anxiety among elderly patients who were candidates for open-heart surgery.Method: This quasi-experimental study was carried out in Iran in 2019. Sixty-one patients, who were candidates for open-heart surgery and aged 60 years or older, were divided into two groups: experiment and control. The patients within the control group received routine care, and therefore, the patients with the intervention received education-supported needs assessment in addition to routine care. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to assess the patients’ anxiety levels. All analysis was performed in SPSS v19 with a significance level of 0.05.Results: The demographic variables were similar in both groups (p <0.05). The mean scores of both the state and the trait anxiety among the patients in the intervention group decreased significantly after the intervention (p <0.05). The mean scores of both the state and the trait anxiety among the patients in the control group were similar before and after the intervention (p>0.05).Conclusion: Individual education based on needs assessment among elderly patients is an effective strategy for reducing their anxiety before open-heart surgery.
Epidemiology
Hulera Usman Kabido; Joseph Fuh Nfongeh; Victor Kolawole Fadayomi; Onyemachi Ifeanyi Adibe; Abdullahi Shuaibu Kabiru; Nafisat Tijjani Dalhat; Yahuza Jibrin Abubakar
Abstract
Background: Due to its persistent nature, ulcers brought on by Helicobacter pylori have been a significant public health concern. This study looked at how specific risk factors affected the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among peptic ulcer patients visiting medical institutions in Lafia, ...
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Background: Due to its persistent nature, ulcers brought on by Helicobacter pylori have been a significant public health concern. This study looked at how specific risk factors affected the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among peptic ulcer patients visiting medical institutions in Lafia, Nigeria. Methods: The blood and stool samples of 180 individuals (71 men and 109 women) were collected randomly, checked for H. pylori using test strips for H. pylori antibodies and antigens (Azure Biotech Inc.), and the feces also were grown on Columbia blood agar base (TITAN Biotech Ltd). Using a standardized questionnaire, some participant risk data was also gathered.Results: A positive culture method (CM) test result was obtained from 14/71 (19.72%) of the 71 male patients and 37/109 (33.94%) of the 109 female subjects out of a total of 210 subjects. For CM alone, it was discovered that female participants had a considerably greater incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection than their male counterparts (p=0.038). Nevertheless, all analytical techniques discovered no evidence of a significant difference between age groups (p>0.05). Only the blood antibody (BAB) approach showed a substantially greater prevalence (p=0.021) in married patients, with 79/116 (68.10%) reactive instances. The presence of drinking water source (p < 0.001, 0.001, 0.002 using CM, BAB, and SAG, respectively) and number of occupants per room (p < 0.001, 0.001, 0.002 using CM, BAB, and SAG, respectively) as potential risk factors for H. pylori infection was also demonstrated.Conclusion: The majority of risk factors that were taken into consideration for this study demonstrated a strong correlation with Helicobacter pylori infection in Lafia, Nigeria.
Clinical Epidemiology
Cristiane Faria de Oliveira Scarponi; Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol; Dirceu Bartolomeu Greco
Abstract
Background: Brazilian therapeutic guidelines for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were created in 2011, however data on medical practice adherence is scarce.Methods: The application of these principles to patient records from the Central Laboratory of Minas Gerais was compared in this cross-sectional ...
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Background: Brazilian therapeutic guidelines for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were created in 2011, however data on medical practice adherence is scarce.Methods: The application of these principles to patient records from the Central Laboratory of Minas Gerais was compared in this cross-sectional study (January to June 2014).Results: 47 physicians from 33 localities assisted 90 HCV-infected patients. However, though 84.4% of naive treatment patients met the indication criteria to begin therapy, the therapeutic guidelines were only fully applied to two patients. In contrast, 12 individuals were treated, with seven of them receiving pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin (HCV-1 and three genotypes). Only two patients had therapeutic response monitoring (six months after the completion of therapy), and no retreatment was documented.Conclusion: Within the Public Health System, there was virtually little medical implementation of Brazilian therapeutic guidelines for HCV infection. These findings reinforce the notion that hepatitis C is still underdiagnosed and undertreated in Minas Gerais. There is a need to train clinicians to use the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for the Treatment of Viral Hepatitis C, with the goal of both timely treatment indication and laboratory follow-up of patients.
Patient Care
Razieh Akbari; Shayesteh Salehi; Nasrollah Alimohammadi
Abstract
Background: Most survivors of traumatic head injury, due to functional disorders, are dependent on their family members. In fact, these families are at the forefront of many challenges and stresses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a family-centered empowerment program ...
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Background: Most survivors of traumatic head injury, due to functional disorders, are dependent on their family members. In fact, these families are at the forefront of many challenges and stresses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a family-centered empowerment program on the care needs of the families of patients with traumatic head injuries discharged from Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan in 2019.Methods: The present study was a clinical trial conducted among 56 family members of patients with traumatic head injury. The samples were randomly allocated to two groups: experiment and control. The experimental group received an empowerment program based on the "family-centered empowerment model" through 3-5 sessions of 45-60 minutes, while the control group received routine education during discharge. Data was collected using a checklist for demographic information as well as the standardized Family Need Questionnaire (FNQ).Results: Based on the findings of the present study, the level that the care needs have been met regarding health information, emotional support, instrumental support, and professional support was statistically significant higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The average care needs related to health information, emotional care, and instrumental support were statistically significant lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). While considering community support network, the average care needs were statistically significant lower in the control group compared to the experimental group (p < 0.05); however, about involvement in care, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups of experiment and control (p > 0.05).Conclusion: To meet the care needs of the families of patients with traumatic head injuries discharged from medical centers, implementation of the family-centered empowerment program is effective, and it results in improvement and continuous providing of services at home and meeting families’ care needs. Therefore, the application of such programs is recommended for healthcare planners.
COVID-19
Jose Luis Turabian
Abstract
Background: Longitudinal data on SARS-CoV-2 re-infection are scarce. Objectives: 1) Characterize COVID-19 reinfection cases clinically and epidemiologically; 2) Determine whether the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection has altered over time in the context of the development of beta, delta, and omicron ...
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Background: Longitudinal data on SARS-CoV-2 re-infection are scarce. Objectives: 1) Characterize COVID-19 reinfection cases clinically and epidemiologically; 2) Determine whether the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection has altered over time in the context of the development of beta, delta, and omicron variants.Methods: From March 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022, an observational, longitudinal, and prospective investigation of Covid-19 re-infections was done in a general medical practice in Toledo, Spain.Results: There were 43 cases in total, including 45 reinfections (2 cases presented 2 reinfections). The average period between first infection and reinfection was 346 days (range: 95-813 days). The average age was 41 years (range: 17-70 years). 5% were over the age of 65. 56% were female. 14% belonged to an ethnic minority. 82% of reinfections occurred among individuals who had been vaccinated (19%, 28%, and 35% in those who had received one dose, two doses, and a booster, respectively). They were symptomatic in 96% of the cases. All cases of reinfection were minor, with nonspecific symptoms (discomfort, asthenia, myalgia, fever, arthralgia) predominating (39%). Chronic illnesses were present in 60% of reinfection cases, with the Genitourinary (19%), Endocrine (17%), and Respiratory (16%) systems predominately. Reinfections have been steadily growing since 2020, with 67% occurring in 2022.Conclusion: We discovered evidence of a continual increase in the incidence of reinfections in Toledo, Spain, primarily beginning in January 2022, which is temporally congruent with the introduction of the omicron variety, indicating its improved ability to infect previously infected persons.