Showing 43 results for Mic
F Ebrahimzadeh, E Hajizadeh, M Birjandi, S Feli, Sh Ghazi,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (12-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Academic failure is of paramount importance for medical students because it might lead to a decline in scientific level of the community of physicians in the future. This study was conducted to investigate the predictors of academic failure in medical students of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences using classification tree.
Methods: In this cohort study, academic records of all medical students of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences during the academic years of 1999-2008 were selected by census and were followed up until September 2016. Academic failure was defined as having at least one of the components of appropriate grade point average, prolonged graduation, academic probation, dropout, expulsion, and any failure in ccomprehensive exams and the CART classification tree was adopted using the SPSS 22 software to predict it.
Results: The cumulative incidence of academic failure was 26.4% and the most prevalent components were prolonged graduation (21.7%) and academic probation (15.0%). The probability of academic failure was 0.449 in subjects taking guest courses, 0.220 in subjects with no history of guest courses admitted to courses with less than 40 students and admission quotas of zone 1 or 3, and 0.456 in subjects with no history of guest courses admitted to courses with more than 40 students and males.
Conclusion: With respect to identifying the predictors of academic failure, it is suggested that these students be referred to consulting centers of the university or educational supervisors’ moreover, the regulations of taking guest courses in other universities should be revised.
H Soori, M Heidari, A Razzaghi ,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Evidences show an increase in the occurrence of road crashes and causalities in early stages of economic growth. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the incidence of motorcyclists’ crashes and the level of development of the provinces of Iran in the year of 2015.
Methods: This was an ecological study of the motorcyclists’ crashes in all provinces of Iran. Motorcyclists’ injuries were obtained from the database of traffic police and the report of population census in 2011 was used. Given that more than 99% of motorcycle-related crashes occurred in male motorcyclists, the population of males was used to adjust the results. The Pearson correlation coefficient was also applied.
Results: Totally, 90,724 crashes occurred among motorcyclists. The highest rate was in the age group of 18 to 30 years with 46,944 crashes (51.7%). As for sex, men had 90363 crashes (99.6%). Among different provinces, Tehran and Ardabil had the highest and lowest incidence with 1129.84 and 77.37 per 100 thousand male populations, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the incidence of motorcycle crashes and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (P value: 0.601) and Human Development Index (HDI) (P value 0.497), respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Increased the incidence of motorcycle crashes is associated with the level of provincial economic development. In order to prevent the injuries and reducing its incidence, attention should be paid to the safety of roads and vehicles.
ُsm Hosseini Shokouh, M Arab, S Emamgholipour, M Meskarpour Amiri ,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Understanding and analyzing the socio-economic factors affecting mental health is important for mental health policy-making in metropolitan areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio-economic factors and mental health of households living in Tehran.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 650 households from 22 districts of Tehran using mixed sampling method. Mental health measures were collected using the standard SF-36 questionnaire and socioeconomic measures of the household were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The face validity of the questionnaire was measured by qualitative method and its content validity was confirmed by quantitative method. The test-retest method was used to test the questionnaire reliability. Regression models were estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) and weighted least squares (WLS) methods. The Stata software was used for data analysis.
Results: Among the socioeconomic variables, four variables including years of education, health behaviors (regular physical activity, healthy eating habits), not-smoking, and social capital had a positive and significant relationship with all mental health measures (social role, emotional role, mental health and vitality ). The relationship between not-smoking and all mental health measures was more than other socioeconomic variables (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Mental health policymakers should place extra emphasis on the development of social capital in metropolitan cities, promotion of the citizens' health behaviors, and particularly on tobacco use and the related behavioral disorders.
Y Salimi, T Paykani, S Ahmadi, M Shirazikhah, A Almasi, A Biglarian, N Rajabi Gilan, Z Jorjoran Shushtari ,
Volume 16, Issue 5 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Vaccine acceptance could seriously affect global efforts to control the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to estimate the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance and its related factors in Tehran and Kermanshah.
Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 850 participants in Tehran and Kermanshah using the random digit dialing method. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio of factors related to vaccine acceptance.
Results: The frequency of the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was 66.47% (95% confidence interval: 69.57%, 63.21%). Moreover, 86.02% of the participants stated that they would use any type of (Iranian / foreign) vaccine approved by the Iranian Ministry of Health. However, 13.98% of the participants stated that they only preferred foreign approved vaccines (if available). The variables of age, fatalism, and socioeconomic status had significant associations with the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was moderate. In order to achieve herd immunity by vaccination faster in our society, the strategy of prioritizing vaccination can be planned based on the related variables such as religious beliefs and fatalism, younger age groups, and people with higher socio-economic status that are willing to receive the vaccine.
H Tavakoli Ghouchani, A Delshad, Hr Shoraka, H Lashkardoost, A Afshari Safavi , J Rahimi,
Volume 16, Issue 5 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major health and socioeconomic problems worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the clinical features and health behaviors related to COVID-19 in patients presenting to selected COVID-19 centers of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out using stratified random sampling in 350 patients presenting to selected COVID-19 centers of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences in August and September 2020. Demographic and clinical features and the data related to COVID-19 disease were collected using a researcher-made checklist and analyzed with the SPSS 24 software using chi-square test and logistic regression.
Results: Of 350 patients, 200 (57.1%) were male and the rest were female. The PCR test was positive in 72% of the patients. The highest percentage of infection was seen in self-employed subjects and driver, people in the age group 30-50 years, and male subjects. The highest observance of masking, hand washing, and social distancing was related to healthcare staff and the lowest was seen in self-employed people, drivers, and military staff. A history of attending a gas station increased the chance of a positive test by 2.3 times (95% CI: 1.13-4.79).
Conclusion: According to the results, age, gender, occupation and history of presence in crowded places are important determinants of infection and adherence to protocols.
Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei Far, Taha Kushki, Mohammad Jamshidi, Sajad Delavari,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The health sector will face a shortage of manpower during crises. The sustainability and retention of human resources during these conditions are vital. The purpose of this study was to explain possible policies and strategies to strengthen health workers during the crisis and prevent them from leaving the organizations and hospitals.
Methods: This was a scoping review research to find strategies for retention of human resources during epidemics. English and Persian databases were searched and relevant studies were selected and reviewed. The key pieces of information obtained were then categorized. Finally, suggested efficient policies and strategies were summarized and reported.
Results: A total of 168 different articles were collected. After excluding irrelevant studies, 21 articles were selected and fully reviewed. The results were classified into six main categories of policy-making as well as strategies to implement them.
Conclusion: Considering the epidemic situations, in order to strengthen and support human resources in times of crisis, it is recommended that policymakers and decision-makers of the health sector focus their attention on six major topics including education reform, financial support, psychological support, social and welfare support, professional support, and development of infrastructures in deprived and crisis-stricken areas. The important point about suggested strategies is that they need to be in accordance with the ongoing situation of their target societies, as we know that underdeveloped, developing and developed countries have a different set of circumstances and therefore require different priorities and policies.
Sadegh Kargarian-Marvasti , Malihe Hasannezhad , Jamile Abolghasemi,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effective factors in the survival/hazard time of Covid-19 patients in three waves of epidemic.
Methods: All 880 Covid-19 patients were included in this prospective cohort study using the census method. Polymerase chain reaction was used to diagnose Covid-19. The survival status of these patients was followed up for 4 months. The analysis of this study was based on the time of infection in three epidemic waves in IRAN. To analyze the data, the Kaplan-Meier nonparametric approach and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used. Survival distributions were compared in three epidemic waves using the R software (version 3.6.2) (P<0.05).
Results: We diagnosed 880 positive case of Covid-19 using PCR test on 2269 susspected people who had respiratory symptomps. At the end of 1-year follow-up, cumulative incidence (risk) of Covid-19 was estimated 7%. Effective factors in the survival time of patients with Covid-19 based on Cox multivariate regression model were: 1- Age 2- Intensity of infection (Hospitalization) 3- Heart disease 4- Epidemic Wave and 5- Transmission mode of the disease (P <0.05). The Kaplan-Meier approach and log rank test (Mantel-Cox) showed a significant difference in the survival rate in three epidemic waves (P = 0.018).
Conclusion: Elderly patients, especially those with a history of heart disease, are at higher risk of death than other groups. In addition to regular screening, these patients will need active monitoring, especially at the time of hospitalization.
S Heidari, M Karami, Sm Zahraei, I Sedighi, F Azimian Zavareh,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Given the importance of the early detection of any outbreak or change in the trend of meningitis, this study was conducted to estimate the fixed and dynamic alarm threshold levels of meningitis and its outbreak in Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the data of all patients from 20¬ March 2016 to 20 March 2019 were extracted from the National Meningitis Disease Surveillance System. Alarm threshold levels were calculated separately for different seasons and provinces. To determine the alarm threshold levels, four methods of Upper Control Limit (UCL), relative increase, statistical cut off points, and recommendations provided by the World Health Organization were used.
Results: The alarm threshold levels for confirmed cases were determined for Iran according to the upper limits of cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm and the statistical cut off points based on the 90th percentile, 2 cases per day for Iran. The fixed amount was 3 to 5 cases per week in populations under 30,000 and 5 to 7 per week in populations between 30,000 and 100,000. According to the relative increase method, a 30% increase in one week compared to previous weeks was considered as the threshold level.
Conclusion: The use of alarm threshold levels reported in this study can be a basis for detecting meningitis outbreaks.
T Arian-Mehr, M Karami,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Timely dection of influenza outbreaks is very important for a better reponse to outbreaks. The aim of this study was to assess the moving epidemic method for determinating influenza outbreak threshold levels in Iran.
Methods: The moving epidemic method was applied to the WHO Flunet website data from January 2010 to December 2017 with the aim of determining outbreak alert thresholds. Therefore, the performance of the moving epidemic method in identifying the onset of the outbreak over eight periods was reported using sensitivity and specificity indices.
Results: A total of 69169 influenza-like illnesses were recorded in the Fluent website during the study period. The smallest number of influenza-like illnesses for the epidemic was 187 cases in the third period (2011-2012) and the maximum number was 1086 cases in the seventh period (2016-2015). The earliest epidemic occurred during the third and eighth periods of the 48th week, approximately in mid-February. The minimum duration of the epidemic was 8 weeks and the maximum was 13 weeks. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the moving epidemic method were 55% and 96%, respectively.
Conclusion: The moving epidemic method could be used as a complementary method to detection of influenza outbreks. It is recommended to apply the moving epidemic method on influenza and similar communicable diseses.
L Shams, Gh , T Nasiri, M Meskarpour Amiri,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors in one of the northern counties of Iran.
Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Langrud County in 2019. In this study, 906 rural and urban households were surveyed using mixed sampling. The data collection tool was the standard questionnaire of "NCD disease care system". Households’ exposure to NCD behavioral risk factors (including unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking) in different socio-economic groups was examined and compared with logistic regression models using the STATA software.
Results: The probability of smoking in illiterate subjects and those with unfinished high school education and high school diploma was 5.1, 7.5 and 4.2 times higher than those with university education (OR = 5.1,7.5,4.2; P <0.05). The probability of unhealthy diets in the first and second quartiles of income (very low and low income) was 3.4 and 2.6 times higher compared to the people in the fourth quartile of income (high income) (P <0.05; OR = 3.4, 2.6).
Conclusion: The micro-level socioeconomic inequalities (within the county) have a significant relationship with households’ exposure to NCD risk factors. Reducing socio-economic inequalities at the micro level should be considered as an appropriate tool to reduce health inequality at the macro level.
Aliakbar Haghdoost, Alireza Alikhani, Mostafa Hosseini Golkar, Reza Dehnavieh, Samira Seifi,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 epidemic and its subsequent effects have become a significant global challenge. In addition to being affected by this crisis, Iran is also facing many other problems, including sanctions and economic problems. So, there is a concern that it will suffer more severe consequences.
Methods: Scenario planning is one of the ways to recognize future changes and environmental uncertainties. This study used the so-called global business network (GBN) method, also known as the scenario matrix method. This method is based on two key uncertainties and six steps have been taken to examine variables related to health and socio-economic factors and use the opinions of relevant experts.
Results: To be expected, Iran's health system will be able to manage the epidemic in the face of various conditions with severity and weakness, and only in the pessimistic scenario or in Worst-case scenario with the default assumption of the continuation of sanctions and the spread of the epidemic. It leads to global restrictions, loss of foreign exchange reserves, loss of performance or collapse of the health system, increasing the number of deaths and diminishing the quality of life.
Conclusion: Regarding the COVID-19 epidemic and the existing background factors, scenarios of Iran’s health and economic conditions were narrated. Given the ability of the scenarios to understand the complexity and help in decision-making, it is considered a useful tool for policy makers to have a broader, comprehensive and reasonable look to achieve a correct consensus. This situation leads to the preservation and continuation of society health and conventional economic decisions.
Vajihe Armanmehr, Hossein Mirzaei, Abdoljavad Khajavi, Toktam Paykani, Reza Esmaili,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Faster than expected, the COVID-19 disease changed people's lives on an unprecedented scale. The present research aimed to shed light on the economic challenges of the pandemic and the efforts made concerning economic resilience. Thus, this study delved into the experience of families residing in a suburban town.
Methods: The present study was qualitative in type. It used a qualitative content analysis with a guided approach conducted through 17 in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with subjects over 15 years of age living in Tawheed Gonabad town. These subjects had lived in the area for at least three years. The interviews were held and audio-recorded in a purposive sampling method after gaining informed consent from the participants in the spring of 2021. In order to estimate the validity of the data, Lincoln and Goba's criteria were used.
Results: The economic resilience of families during the pandemic was marked by three main categories and nine sub-categories. The categories were:
1) changes to the economic dimension of the family (the sub-categories: employment, income, consumption and socioeconomic status),
2) solutions to the economic changes of the family (sub-categories: reliance on internal resources, family and receiving support from outside of the family), and
3) the effectiveness of economic resilience of families at higher levels (sub-categories: macroeconomics, family social capital and regional resilience).
As more detailed results showed, the pandemic has caused a decrease in the income and consumption of essential items in quantity and quality and imposed excessive costs on the target community. The dominant solution to economic problems has been changing consumer’s behavior and income diversification. The lack of supportive plans, poor social networks and the identity of the neighborhood are the significant barriers to the increase of economic resilience.
Conclusion: The families investigated in the present study were vulnerable in many ways and had low economic resilience. In order to improve the families' level of economic resilience, it is necessary to know the context and carry out interventions and support plans based on the families' internal and external capacities, including the neighborhood's empowering conditions.
Mohammad Meskarpour-Amiri, Sayyed-Morteza Hosseini-Shokouh,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The socioeconomic factors affecting health include various variables that are not clearly and consistently classified in the studies. This study aimed to identify and classify the main socioeconomic variables affecting household health.
Methods: This applied study was conducted with a quantitative approach and a systematic review method in 2019. A systematic review of the studies with PRISMA protocol was used to search and identify the main socioeconomic variables affecting household health in international and national scientific databases. The inclusion criteria included focusing on socioeconomic variables affecting health at the household level, providing a specific model for influencing socioeconomic variables on health, publishing in English or Persian, and accessing the full text of the study. The qualitative evaluation of the studies as well as their conformity with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were performed by peer review. All socioeconomic variables were extracted in researcher-made form, classified using MAXQDA 2018 software and finally synthesized narratively.
Results: Twenty-one conceptual models were identified to influence socioeconomic factors on household health. Researchers and international organizations provided all models, and no native models were found in Persian regarding socioeconomic factors affecting household health. Content analysis of the studies showed that the three main variables of education, income and employment in all models (100%) were used as socioeconomic factors affecting health. After that, household health behaviors (81%), age (71%), family support (71%), housing area per capita (67%), place of residence (67%), social capital (62%) and gender (57%) were the most commonly used socioeconomic variables affecting household health respectively.
Conclusion: In addition to vital socioeconomic variables (education, income, and employment), other contextual variables such as household health behaviors, family support, per capita housing area, and social capital need to be considered for policy interventions. In addition, it is suggested that a native model of socioeconomic factors affecting health be designed for Iranian households' socioeconomic conditions.
Javad Emami, Saeed Bokaie, Yousef Mohammadzadeh, Samad Lotofollahzadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the most significant livestock disease in the world and can cause great economic losses to the population of domestic ruminants. This study aims to investigate the economic impacts of FMD on dairy farms in West Azerbaijan province during the period of 2017-18.
Methods: Employing a questionnaire survey, this study covered all industrial dairy farms affected by the disease in eight units during the specified period. The results underwent descriptive analysis using Excel software version 2013 and SPSS version 18.
Results: Absolute (in million Rials) and relative (percent) losses attributable to FMD were categorized as follows: mortality losses amounted to 2,170 million Rials (60.6%), distress sale of livestock reached 713 million Rials (19.9%), treatment incurred 288.65 million Rials (8.1%), short-term reduction of milk production accounted for 193.35 million Rials (5.4%), extra labor costs totaled 152.4 million Rials (4.3%), abortion amounted to 35 million Rials (1%), and sampling costs were 32 million Rials (0.9%). The total losses from FMD in dairy industrial farms were estimated at 3584.4 million Rials, equivalent to 38,758 dollars at the average exchange rate of one dollar to 92,487 Rials in 2018.
Conclusion: The substantial investment in dairy farms amplifies the economic impact of FMD, resulting in prolonged recovery periods and contributing to a decline in livestock and dairy production in the province and the country.
Fatemeh Papiri, Sareh Shakerian,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Evidence suggests that one of the behaviors impacted by the quarantine measures enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic is sexual activity. This study aims to investigate this phenomenon.
Methods: A descriptive-analytical study with before-after measurement was conducted during both the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic periods in 2021-2022, utilizing the standard Sexual Performance Index questionnaire administered to 250 women in Ilam province. Inferential statistics including paired t tests, correlation and chi square analysis were performed by SPSS software.
Results: The findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on all six components of sexual function in women of reproductive age, including sexual desire, sexual stimulation, lubrication, pleasure, satisfaction and pain. The average overall sexual performance during the COVID-19 period (2.01±1.25) and in the post-COVID-19 period (2.94±1.2) was lower than the cutoff point (3.8), indicating poor performance across the entire scale of sexual function. The results showed that there is an inverse and significant (P<0.05) relationship between age, duration of marriage and number of pregnancies with sexual function index and its subscales.
Conclusion: The study findings suggest that research population experienced weaker sexual performance during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the post-pandemic period, highlighting the impact of the mental and physical burdens associated with the pandemic on sexual function.
Elahe Faghihifar, Marjan Ajami, Sareh Shakerian,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Childhood obesity has become a global challenge today. Many studies have shown the relationship between obesity and socioeconomic factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate socio-economic inequalities with nutritional patterns and obesity in children.
Methods: This study was conducted using the structural analysis methodology on 80 children from 6 to 13 years old, selected randomly from those referred to the health assessment centers of Sonqor and Kolyai, Iran. The body mass index was calculated using the standard method. Nutritional patterns were measured using the 24-hour food recall questionnaire, and socioeconomic status was assessed using related standard questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 24 software.
Results: The results showed that 28.75% of the subjects were obese or overweight. The structural analysis showed that the socioeconomic variable directly affected the nutritional pattern and body mass (-0.43) with an impact coefficient of as much as 0.65. The nutritional pattern variable affected BMI with an impact factor (-0.74). The bootstrap test results indicated that the significant effect of socio-economic status on BMI is mediated by nutritional pattern (-0.48). Prediction values show two economic-social and nutritional pattern variables predicted 0.16 and 0.29 BMI changes, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the effect of socioeconomic status on nutritional patterns and body mass index in the research community. Today, The issue of increasing body mass in the world and our country is one of the most important social challenges. Considering the heterogeneous effects of socioeconomic status on nutritional patterns and body mass index, it is necessary to formulate and implement preventive policies according to the conditions of the communities to achieve effective results.
Samaneh Dehghani, Masud Yunesian,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Microplastics refer to plastic particles and fragments smaller than 5 millimeters in various forms, derived from the breakdown of larger plastics or initially introduced into the environment from the primary constituent particles of plastic. The exact date of the emergence of microplastics in the environment is not precisely known, but it certainly predates the naming of these particles (2004). These particles can enter the bodies of living organisms, including humans, primarily through ingestion and inhalation. Their effects on the body depend on their size, chemical composition, and the composition of substances that later absorb these particles. In this article, we will first briefly examine the classification of these particles in terms of chemical composition and their origins, and then review some evidence of their presence in biological tissues and fluids. Given the increasing production and use of plastics in human life and the fact that most microplastics in nature derive from the breakdown of larger plastics, sometimes several years after their disposal, it is expected that even if plastic production decreases or stops, we will continue to see an increase in their presence in nature for years and decades, leading to human exposure to these compounds (whose effects and consequences of this exposure are not yet fully understood).
Kiumarss Nasseri,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Years of life lost (YLL) or “wasted life” is a measure based on early and untimely death based on the expectation of life at the time of birth. The objective of this study is to measure the YLL during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran and compare it with a similar antecedent period by age, sex, and province.
Methods: Daily reports of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education on COVID-19 cases and attributed death in the country; Weekly statistics of death and birth, by age, sex, and province reported by the National Organization for Civil Registration; and population data from the Statistical Center of Iran were used in this study.
Results: During the COVID-19 (Corona) epidemic a 27 percent increase in crude death rate was observed compared to similar period before epidemic. During the epidemic period, 319,136 extra deaths was recorded of which 45% was registered as COVID-19 death by Ministry of Health and Medical Education. During this period, a total of 4,897,995 years of life were prematurely lost.
Conclusion: Although this study lacks some detailed analysis due to the limitation of the available data and, it provides a clear picture of the health and demographic impacts of this epidemic in Iran and we can use Information presented in this report in planning and advance preparation for control and management of similar significant epidemics in the future.
Monireh Rahimkhani, Maryam Gilani,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has increased significantly in recent years. On the other hand, machine learning (ML) algorithms are increasingly used in medical research and healthcare and are gradually improving clinical performance.
Using ML to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most critical areas of interest among the various applications of these new methods. The rise of antibiotic resistance and managing multidrug-resistant infections that are difficult to treat are important challenges.
Both supervised and unsupervised machine learning tools have been successfully used to predict early antibiotic resistance and thus support clinicians in selecting the appropriate treatment. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting antimicrobial resistance are among today's sciences. Therefore, an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) should be implemented to optimize antibiotic prescribing and limit AMR.
Manoochehr Karami,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the process in which computers, rather than human intelligence, perform tasks, such as early warning of an epidemic. This editorial aimed to describe the potential applications of digital health and the challenges faced by the health system of Iran concerning the application of artificial intelligence and innovative technology in public health surveillance and early warning of epidemics. The use of new technologies at national and subnational levels for early warning of public health threats requires a suitable platform within the context of disease surveillance systems. The Iran health system currently utilizes a syndromic approach and event-based surveillance to monitor acute respiratory infections. However, the structure of Iran's national communicable disease surveillance system has faced challenges due to the inability to share and exchange data at the level of primary health care data sources. Accordingly, application and integration of AI should be considered as Iran’s health priority to promote infrastructure and technology requirements, including compatibility, interoperability, and strategies for ethical and responsible use by public health authorities. Since pandemics and epidemics have not been limited to the previous ones, such as COVID-19, influenza, SARS, dengue fever, and similar threats, operations planning is required for the integration of artificial intelligence tools to prepare and respond to biological threats promptly by the Iranian Ministry of Health, stakeholders, and other parties.
