Rezvan Rahimi, Akram Fathian, Batoul Khoundabi, Afsaneh Sadooghiasl,
Volume 28, Issue 1 (4-2022)
Abstract
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.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad ,
Volume 29, Issue 1 (4-2023)
Abstract
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.
