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Background & Aim: It is possible for food-related staff to be involved in transmitting covid-19 by their contact such as coughing or sneezing. Therefore, the knowledge of food-related staff about the transmission modes and prevention of covid-19 is very important. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the awareness and performance of bakers working in Iranshahr city regarding the prevention of covid-19.
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive study, 47 bakeries in Iranshahr city were selected using stratified random sampling in 2020. Data were collected by a demographic characteristics form, a researcher-made questionnaire to measure the level of awareness (15 items), and the hygiene performance checklist (17 items). The data were analyzed by Friedman test using the SPSS software version 25 at the significance level of 0.05.
Results: Average age of the participants was 29.56±9.8. average work experience was 51.36±54, The highest percentage of education level was high school (36.2%), 64.9% were married), 89.4% were resident of Iranshahr city, and 46.8% were bread sellers. Average score of performance was 18.59±5.4 that was a little more than desirable amount (17). Average score of awareness was 25.48±2.9 that was much more than desirable amount (15).
Conclusion: Considering the importance of prevention and control of the epidemic and cutting the chain of transmission of the infection, appropriate educational interventions should be developed to improve the awareness and performance of each individual in the society, especially those who are involved in the preparation and distribution of the food products.
 

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Background & Aim: Considering the importance of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance to end the corona disease pandemic, the study was conducted to determine the factors affecting the vaccine acceptance based on the behavioral change wheel mode and its components (capability, opportunity, and motivation).
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 1102 adults aged 18 years and older living in Bushehr province were selected by multi-stage sampling method from February 16 to 28, 2021. To collect the data, a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, questions on the constructs related to the behavioral change wheel model components and questions on the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was completed on WhatsApp platform. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The results of the study showed that most participants tended to receive the Iranian vaccine (726 people or 65.9%). Among the demographic factors, only gender was associated with vaccination, and men were more likely to accept to be vaccinated (P=0.022). Among the model constructs, the most predictive construct was related to social support in the opportunity component (P<0.001, β=0.55 and B=0.183). In the motivation component, social role (P<0.001 and β=0.118 and B=0.162) and in the capability component, behavioral regulation (P<0.001 and β=0.152 and B=0.155) had the highest predictor of vaccine acceptance. In general, constructs of opportunity component had the greatest impact on vaccine acceptance.
Conclusion: In order to increase the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, opportunities should be provided through social support, vaccination should be introduced as a social role, and behavioral regulation, in other words, understanding of the ability to vaccinate to prevent the disease and break the disease transmission chain should be promoted.
 

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Background & Aim: Covid-19 is an emerging disease that has become a health crisis in the world and affected various aspects of human’s life. Understanding the experience of patients with this disease is essential for proper and comprehensive care. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of patients recovered from Covid-19.
Methods & Materials: The present study was a qualitative study with an interpretive phenomenological approach that was conducted in 2021. For this purpose, 13 patients recovered from Covid-19 were selected using the purposive sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. The interviews were recorded. Having transcribed the interviews, the transcripts were analyzed by a hermeneutic approach using the Van Manen method.
Results: Data analysis revealed four main themes: "fear of imminent death", "living in a fence", "family worries", and "the limitations suffering".
Conclusion: Patients’ experiences of being infected with Covid-19 showed that the disease affected the physical, psychological, economic, social and family dimensions of individuals. Therefore, understanding the challenges, experiences and concerns of patients about the disease, can help executive decision-makers, healthcare providers and mental health professionals to comprehensively understand the consequences of the disease.
 

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Background & Aim: COVID-19 as an emerging disease has many psychological effects, including anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of face-to-face awareness training on anxiety of patients with COVID-19.
Methods & Materials: In this study, 90 hospitalized patients in the hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2020 were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control (45 people in each group). The DASS-21 anxiety and demographic information questionnaire were completed by both groups before the intervention. The face to face awareness sessions were provided during two 30-minute sessions at 24-hour intervals for the intervention group and the DASS-21 questionnaire was completed again by the patients one day after the second session. The control group received the routine information of the ward and completed the questionnaire again. The SPSS software version 21 was used for the data analysis by descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: The results showed that before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean anxiety scores between the intervention (12.71±9.20) and control (14.71±7.08) groups. But after the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the mean scores between the intervention (5.68±5.64) and control (12.75±6.19) groups (P˂0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed that face-to-face awareness training can reduce anxiety in patients with COVID-19 and can be used in medical centers.

 

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Background & Aim: Nurses constitute the majority of the workforce in the healthcare system. The use of digital technologies, including mHealth applications, is essential and effective in improving the quality level of healthcare services provided by nursing staff. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the use of mHealth applications for professional purposes by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods & Materials: This is an applied study conducted using the descriptive, cross-sectional method in 2021. The study population was nurses in four public hospitals in Isfahan. The sampling method was a one-stage cluster sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability was assessed. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics on the SPSS software version 26.
Results: The data of 93 questionnaires were analyzed. About 63 percent of nurses answered (with a reason) that they did not use these applications. This study showed that the use of mHealth applications is not common among the nurses. They need the training to use the applications. There were concerns regarding the mHealth applications' quality. The nurses believed that using a mHealth application would help them perform their nursing duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion: Based on the study results, planning for the development of mHealth applications tailored to the nurses' needs and training nurses to use the applications in clinical settings are recommended. There is also a need to provide and develop specialized evaluation tools and working groups to review and report on the quality of mHealth applications.

 

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Background & Aim: Compliance with health behaviors during pregnancy plays an important role in the health of mothers and their neonates. The aim of the study was to determine factors predicting adherence to COVID-19 health protocols among pregnant women in Zanjan province in 2020.
Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on 2336 pregnant women referred to comprehensive health centers in Zanjan province in 2020. The samples were selected by the multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected by telephone using a researcher-designed questionnaire on health practices and overall perception of COVID-19 disease. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression model were used at the confidence level of 95% through the SPSS software version 16.
Results: Most women were in the second trimester of pregnancy and living in the urban areas. Considering the median score as a cutting point, the participants’ adherence level was 46.5% over the median score and at a desirable level. The handwashing adherence was 84.7% and mask use was 76.6%. Location, age, education, occupation, household income, and family history of COVID-19 disease were the most important predictors of compliance with COVID-19 health protocols (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Adherence to health protocols was at a relatively desirable level in almost half of the participants. It is suggested that education and support programs be designed and implemented for young and low-income groups living in rural areas.

 

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Background & Aim: The Covid‐19 pandemic has posed numerous ethical challenges to nurses and has exacerbated moral distress in clinical settings. Hence, due to the important role of nurses in pandemics, this study was conducted to investigate the severity and frequency of moral distress among nurses working in clinical settings at Maragheh teaching hospitals during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 174 nurses working in surgical-medical, intensive care, pediatric and emergency wards of Maragheh hospitals in 2020-2021. Data were collected using a demographic form and the Corley’s Moral Distress Scale.
Results: The median (Interquartile Range (IQR) = Q3 − Q1) of the severity and frequency of moral distress experienced were 54 (44-59) and 52 (43-58), respectively. The median of moral distress experienced in the intensive care and emergency wards were 56 (51-59) and 46 (43-51), which was more severe than that of in other wards. The median of frequency and severity of moral distress in men were 48 (41-59) and in women 50 (43-59), respectively, which was significantly higher than that of in women (P<0.001). The severity and frequency of moral distress had a statistically significant relationship with age, and work experience (P>0.05) so that with increasing age and work experience, the severity and frequency of moral distress decreased.
Conclusion: Given the high frequency of moral distress among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in specific clinical settings, the use of management strategies in order to improve working conditions and create a positive setting can be helpful. It seems that holding courses on coping with moral distress in nurses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is an appropriate practical solution.

 

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Background & Aim: Today, COVID-19 has become a serious threat to global health. Due to their certain conditions, hemodialysis patients are more at risk than others. Therefore, self-care in these patients is more necessary. We aimed to assess the self-care of hemodialysis patients against COVID-19 disease and the factors influencing self-care.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 219 patients referred to the dialysis ward of selected public hospitals in Lorestan province, were selected by the census method and examined. Patients' information was collected by a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire on self-care against COVID-19. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22, with the significance level of 0.05.
Results: The mean score of self-care against COVID-19 in patients was 186.33, and most patients had a good level of self-care. There was a significant relationship between the self-care score and place of residence (P<0.001), and comorbidity (P=0.044). Among the multiple sources of information, there was a significant difference in the self-care score between cyberspace (P=0.047), and family and relatives (P<0.001). Also, comorbidity, urban residence, and academic education level significantly predicted self-care.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, developing proper training programs is suggested considering the factors influencing self-care. Also, capacities such as cyberspace and patients' families should be used to make the training more effective.

 

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Background & Aim: The COVID-19 survivors are prone to psychological distress due to their experience of illness and severe conditions. Diseases can also affect patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between mental health and quality of life among the COVID-19 survivors one year after the infection.
Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study that was conducted from February, 2020 to July 2020. A total of 276 patients who survived from COVID-19 were included to the study through the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic and clinical information form, the 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the 36 item short form survey (SF-36). Data analysis was performed through the SPSS software version 16 using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression.
Results: The mean score of mental health and total score of quality of life were 6.26±2.75 and 59.2±18.30, respectively. There is a significant relationship between the score of mental health and the score of quality of life (P<0.001), so that with the increase of the mental health score, which indicated the worsening of the mental health status of the participants, their quality of life score decreased.
Conclusion: Paying attention to the mental health and quality of life of the survivors of COVID-19, as well as adopting supportive strategies for them are recommended. Providing psychological and psychiatric services can improve their mental health and quality of life.

 

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Background & Aim: Attempting to improve the quality is an important issue in the nursing service and care system. The COVID-19 pandemic has created great challenges for healthcare systems, especially for the intensive care units, which can affect the quality of nursing care provided to these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of nursing care in nurses working in the intensive care unit of COVID-19.
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive-cross-sectional conducted in 2021-22, 142 nurses from Valiasr, Amir Kabir, Amir al-Momenin and Khansari hospitals affiliated to Arak University of Medical Sciences were selected by the census method. The Martins’ nursing care quality questionnaire (including 25 items in 7 domains) was completed by the participants. The SPSS software version 16 and independent t-tests, analysis of variance and the Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for the data analysis.
Results: The result showed that the mean score of the nursing care quality was 83.83±7.74, which was considered favorable due to being higher than the median score of the tool (62.5). Among the individual characteristics of nurses, the nursing care quality had a statistically significant relationship with the type of employment (P=0.003), age, work experience and work experience in the intensive care unit (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Considering the significant relationship of the nursing care quality with the type of employment, age and work experience, it is recommended that health managers take an effective step in formulating the necessary policies to improve the quality of nursing care by taking into account the experience of skilled nurses in intensive care units.

 

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Background & Aim: COVID-19 is one of the crises that seriously threatens the individuals’ mental health, especially pregnant women. On the other hand, the COVID-19 quarantine can affect the occurrence of domestic violence in pregnant women. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence in pregnancy and the factors affecting it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods & Materials: This was a descriptive-correlational study conducted on 308 primiparous mothers referred to health centers in Isfahan in 2021. The participants were selected using the multi-stage sampling method. Data was collected using a demographic characteristics form and the domestic violence questionnaire. Data analysis was done through the SPSS software version 22 using the Spearman's correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: A total of 59 mothers (19.2%) experienced domestic violence during their pregnancy (a score of 60 and above from the domestic violence questionnaire). The most prevalent type of violence (including perceived) was psychological violence with 74.4% (229 people), followed by economic, sexual, and physical violence with 35.1% (108 people), 17.2% (53 people), and 14.9% (46 people) respectively. A significant relationship was found between domestic violence during pregnancy and the number of siblings, birth order, the educational level of mother and her husband, and husband’s occupation (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has made pregnant women more vulnerable to domestic violence. There are many individual and cultural factors contributing to domestic violence. Some factors were identified as the predictors of violent behavior such as the educational level of woman and her husband, and occupation. Identifying these factors and screening of domestic violence during pregnancy can prevent the occurrence of violent behavior by the spouse and the negative consequences of domestic violence on the mother and her fetus.

 

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The COVID-19 pandemic has damaged the lives of many people physically, psychologically, and socio-economically, and put a lot of pressure on the health system. COVID-19 infected 628.3 million people and killed 6.6 million people in the world until November 3, 2022 (1). The pandemic has exposed vast economic and social inequalities and widened the existing gap in providing services for the most vulnerable people, including women and girls. Preliminary studies show that COVID-19 disease affects men more than women. The death rate of men infected with COVID-19 is about 60 to 80% higher than that of women (2). However, as the prevalence and duration of the disease increases, its effects on women become increasingly severe. This disease undermined the fundamental rights of women and girls. They suffer disproportionately from discrimination, neglect and abuse. The World Economic Forum estimated in 2021 that the global gender gap would take about 36 years to close after the COVID-19 pandemic (3).
Women make up about 70% of healthcare workers (4). Therefore, they are at higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection. Also, quarantine measures have led to deficiencies in sexual, reproductive and maternal health care, increased domestic violence, the increased workload of girls and women at home and their withdrawal from schools, universities and the labor market. In other words, the secondary effects of COVID-19 threaten the health and lives of women and girls.
 

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Background & Aim: Eating disorders manifest numerous psychological and social consequences for both individuals and society. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in alleviating COVID-19-related anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and depression among women diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.
Methods & Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The research population consisted of women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in Tehran in 2022. Thirty participants were selected through convenience sampling from psychological clinics in the 6th and 8th districts of Tehran, and were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). Questionnaires assessing eating attitudes, COVID-19-related anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and depression were administered to both groups. The intervention group received a total of eight 90-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance through the SPSS software version 24.
Results: The results of the study showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy led to a significant reduction in mental anxiety related to COVID-19 (P<0.001, F=36.41), physical anxiety related to COVID-19 (P<0.001, F=39.15), fear of negative evaluation (P<0.001, F=41.92), and depression (P<0.001, F=47.48) in women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy demonstrated efficacy in alleviating psychological disorders among women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Given the potentially severe impairment of mental health experienced by numerous individuals with anorexia nervosa, it is imperative to implement measures for identifying and providing psychological interventions to vulnerable groups.

 

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Background & Aim: Social networks have become an integral part of most people's lives, exerting influence across all aspects of human existence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual networks played a significant role in informing, educating and disseminating news related to the disease. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explain the role of virtual networks in adhering to COVID-19 health protocols.
Methods & Materials: This is a qualitative study that was conducted using the content analysis method. Fourteen participants were included in the study by purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out via semi-structured interviews. The data analysis procedure adhered to the method outlined by Graneheim and Lundman (2004).
Results: From the analysis of the interviews, three main categories and eight subcategories were identified, including "facilitating knowledge sharing", "information screening" and "behavior shaping".
Conclusion: The study findings explained the role of virtual networks in adhering to health protocols. These findings can be used as a basis for designing preventive health programs.