Search published articles
Showing 270 results for Ali
Akram Hemmatipour, Ali Hatami, Azam Jahangirimehr, Foruzan Jelodari, Zahra Mehri,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: There is a correlation between disease and quality of life in patients with chronic disease and physical disorders have a direct effect on all aspects of quality of life. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of family-centered empowerment model based on multimedia education on the quality of life of children with thalassemia.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 120 patients along with their parents, who had medical records at the thalassemia center of Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital in Shoushtar, were selected according to the inclusion criteria and were divided into two groups of intervention and control (n=60) by random allocation. Subjects were matched in terms of age and gender. The data collection tools included Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Ped-SQL) and researcher-made questionnaires of awareness and self-efficacy in the area of thalassemia. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon statistical tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: Out of 120 children who were included in the study, 87 were girls (72.5%), the mean age of these children was 9.74±2.25 years and disease duration was 5.35±4.47 years. In this study, in terms of children’s quality of life and its dimensions, after the implementation of the educational model, a significant increase was observed compared to pre-test phase only in the intervention group (P<0.001). After implementing this model, the level of knowledge (P<0.001) and self-efficacy of parents (P=0.003) was faced with a significant increase, and this significance was also observed compared to the control group (P<0.001). The variables of age, gender, disease duration and parents’ education level had no effect on parents’ self-efficacy and knowledge as well as children’s quality of life (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the implementation of family-centered empowerment programs based on multimedia education among parents of children with thalassemia improved the quality of life of these children by increasing the knowledge and self-efficacy of their parents. It is suggested that this program be implemented on a wider scale with better facilities for parents and the family members.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 120 patients along with their parents, who had medical records at the thalassemia center of Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital in Shoushtar, were selected according to the inclusion criteria and were divided into two groups of intervention and control (n=60) by random allocation. Subjects were matched in terms of age and gender. The data collection tools included Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Ped-SQL) and researcher-made questionnaires of awareness and self-efficacy in the area of thalassemia. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon statistical tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: Out of 120 children who were included in the study, 87 were girls (72.5%), the mean age of these children was 9.74±2.25 years and disease duration was 5.35±4.47 years. In this study, in terms of children’s quality of life and its dimensions, after the implementation of the educational model, a significant increase was observed compared to pre-test phase only in the intervention group (P<0.001). After implementing this model, the level of knowledge (P<0.001) and self-efficacy of parents (P=0.003) was faced with a significant increase, and this significance was also observed compared to the control group (P<0.001). The variables of age, gender, disease duration and parents’ education level had no effect on parents’ self-efficacy and knowledge as well as children’s quality of life (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the implementation of family-centered empowerment programs based on multimedia education among parents of children with thalassemia improved the quality of life of these children by increasing the knowledge and self-efficacy of their parents. It is suggested that this program be implemented on a wider scale with better facilities for parents and the family members.
Mahdi Hadi, Ali Jahan, Lila Najafi, Mohamad Ali Shariat,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Parallel to the progress of services, organizational complexity levels in health care centers (HCCs) have increased. The influential factors in this regard include the variety of services, the non-uniformity of the centers’ management conditions, and the rising expectations from the health system. Therefore, considering many factors influenced and effective, improvement of health services requires development of a systematic approach to evaluate their efficiency and management system. The aim of this study was to develop a balanced scorecard (BSC) model suitable for HCCs using a hybrid approach that combines the Fuzzy Delphi and DNAP techniques.
Materials and Methods: This research was a combined qualitative-quantitative study that was conducted with the aim of developing a BSC model suitable for HCCs. The statistical population consisted of 15 experts in health and medicine, who were selected based on the targeted snowball sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire and a 20×20 matrix questionnaire were used to collect the data. The questionnaire validity was calculated based on the experts’ opinions and the reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha and consistency rate. The data was analyzed using Excel and MATLAB, and DNAP technique was used to determine the cause-and-effect relationship and the influence levels of the objectives.
Results: According to the results of the Fuzzy Delphi technique in the panel of experts, 5 viewpoints with 20 objectives of the BSC suitable for HCCs were identified and replaced the traditional viewpoints of the BSC. In addition, these results showed that the views of growth and development, intra-organizational processes, and social responsibility are considered as the influential factors due to the positive D-R values, while the views of patients and society, financial status, and performance are considered as the factors that are effective due to the negative D-R values.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that those points of view that are consistent with the goals of the HCCs should be used in the BSC in order to evaluate their performance. Also, prioritizing and determining the cause-and-effect relationship and considering the contribution of each point of view for achieving the goals of the HCCs can increase the performance.
Materials and Methods: This research was a combined qualitative-quantitative study that was conducted with the aim of developing a BSC model suitable for HCCs. The statistical population consisted of 15 experts in health and medicine, who were selected based on the targeted snowball sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire and a 20×20 matrix questionnaire were used to collect the data. The questionnaire validity was calculated based on the experts’ opinions and the reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha and consistency rate. The data was analyzed using Excel and MATLAB, and DNAP technique was used to determine the cause-and-effect relationship and the influence levels of the objectives.
Results: According to the results of the Fuzzy Delphi technique in the panel of experts, 5 viewpoints with 20 objectives of the BSC suitable for HCCs were identified and replaced the traditional viewpoints of the BSC. In addition, these results showed that the views of growth and development, intra-organizational processes, and social responsibility are considered as the influential factors due to the positive D-R values, while the views of patients and society, financial status, and performance are considered as the factors that are effective due to the negative D-R values.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that those points of view that are consistent with the goals of the HCCs should be used in the BSC in order to evaluate their performance. Also, prioritizing and determining the cause-and-effect relationship and considering the contribution of each point of view for achieving the goals of the HCCs can increase the performance.
Maryam Aghajarinezhad, Yahya Salimi, Shahab Rezaeian, Ghobad Moradi, Mehdi Moradinazar, Fatemeh Khosravi Shadmani, Roya Safari_ Faramani, Mitra Darbandi, Farid Najafi,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: All people living in a society are not equally at risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. The current study is aimed to determine the factors related to COVID-19 infection and hospitalization among participants of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted between 28th February, 2020 to 27th November, 2021. Data from the RaNCD study, morbidity and hospitalizations cases (extracted from the medical care monitoring system, SAMA system and the handwritten list of the health department) and positive serological results were used. For the case-cohort study, 626 confirmed and/or probable cases and 2107 randomly selected participants as sub-cohort were recruited. For the case-control study, 188 COVID-19 hospitalized patients from RaNCD (as cases) and 632 positive outpatients identified as controls. Data were analyzed using Cox and logistic regression, respectively.
Results: In case-cohort study, the hazard ratio of COVID-19 among people living in rural areas, in smokers and those in middle socioeconomic status was, 0.37 (0.24, 0.58), 1.50 (1.07, 2.11), as compared to the reference groups. While the hazard ratio of people aged 46-64 and those ≥65 years old, as compared to the reference group within the first year, was 3.47 (1.76, 6.86) and 6.45 (2.80, 14.85), the corresponding value after one year was 2.23 (1.13, 4.40) and 3.52 (1.53, 8.10), respectively. The hazard ratio among those with at least one comorbidity was 2.45 (1.53, 3.92) in the first year of study and after one year decreased to 1.82 (1.14, 2.92). In addition, moderate and vigorous physical activity decreased the hazard ratio. In case-control study the odds ratio of hospitalization increased by 0.03% (1.03(1.01, 1.05)) with an increase of one year in age and in people with at least three comorbidities was 2.43 (1.24, 4.73) times of those without comorbidity.
Conclusion: Overall, one year after starting the study the decrease in hazard ratio of COVID-19 was significant. Increase in age and having comorbidities are factors that increased the odds ratio of hospitalization. Such people can be considered for the next waves of COVID-19 prioritized for health care and booster vaccination.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted between 28th February, 2020 to 27th November, 2021. Data from the RaNCD study, morbidity and hospitalizations cases (extracted from the medical care monitoring system, SAMA system and the handwritten list of the health department) and positive serological results were used. For the case-cohort study, 626 confirmed and/or probable cases and 2107 randomly selected participants as sub-cohort were recruited. For the case-control study, 188 COVID-19 hospitalized patients from RaNCD (as cases) and 632 positive outpatients identified as controls. Data were analyzed using Cox and logistic regression, respectively.
Results: In case-cohort study, the hazard ratio of COVID-19 among people living in rural areas, in smokers and those in middle socioeconomic status was, 0.37 (0.24, 0.58), 1.50 (1.07, 2.11), as compared to the reference groups. While the hazard ratio of people aged 46-64 and those ≥65 years old, as compared to the reference group within the first year, was 3.47 (1.76, 6.86) and 6.45 (2.80, 14.85), the corresponding value after one year was 2.23 (1.13, 4.40) and 3.52 (1.53, 8.10), respectively. The hazard ratio among those with at least one comorbidity was 2.45 (1.53, 3.92) in the first year of study and after one year decreased to 1.82 (1.14, 2.92). In addition, moderate and vigorous physical activity decreased the hazard ratio. In case-control study the odds ratio of hospitalization increased by 0.03% (1.03(1.01, 1.05)) with an increase of one year in age and in people with at least three comorbidities was 2.43 (1.24, 4.73) times of those without comorbidity.
Conclusion: Overall, one year after starting the study the decrease in hazard ratio of COVID-19 was significant. Increase in age and having comorbidities are factors that increased the odds ratio of hospitalization. Such people can be considered for the next waves of COVID-19 prioritized for health care and booster vaccination.
Mouna Rafizadeh, Reza Safdari, Jaleh Shoshtarian Malak, Shaban Alizadeh,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Simulation-based Mobile Education is one of the necessities of the new era as well as an escalating field to meet the needs of different educational systems and levels. Considering the increasing application of simulation-based technologies, and the popularity of Augmented Reality (AR) in the field of education, the present research aims to facilitate the initial steps in understanding the technical requirements and software used in developing these types of apps.
Materials and Methods: The data required for this research was collected by searching in library resources to identify the commonly used platform/software in designing and developing AR-based educational apps. At the same time, the included studies’ app features/sections were also extracted, and the total of this information was presented in a table. After indicating the mainly used software in the development of these types of apps, a simple app architecture and a how-to-develop model using the most practical software were illustrated.
Results: “3D Model display” and “multiple-choice questions” were identified as the minimum (basic) features of an AR-based educational app. To identify the most commonly used software in creating AR-based educational apps, articles were reviewed, required information was extracted, and gathered in form of a table. The results of the review showed that Unity 3D and Vuforia have the highest usage statistics in creating these types of apps. Finally, a simple model of the process of developing AR-based educational app and a sample output of this type of app were presented based on this information.
Conclusions: Simulation-based education is one of the prominent and growing topics worldwide. Augmented Reality is one of the most renowned and widely used technologies in this field. The results of this study encompass a set of basic features of an AR-based educational app as well as the software that can be used to create such apps. Therefore, this study can assist researchers interested in this field in navigating the simplest path to developing an AR-based educational app by providing them with an initial technical understanding of AR-based education.
Materials and Methods: The data required for this research was collected by searching in library resources to identify the commonly used platform/software in designing and developing AR-based educational apps. At the same time, the included studies’ app features/sections were also extracted, and the total of this information was presented in a table. After indicating the mainly used software in the development of these types of apps, a simple app architecture and a how-to-develop model using the most practical software were illustrated.
Results: “3D Model display” and “multiple-choice questions” were identified as the minimum (basic) features of an AR-based educational app. To identify the most commonly used software in creating AR-based educational apps, articles were reviewed, required information was extracted, and gathered in form of a table. The results of the review showed that Unity 3D and Vuforia have the highest usage statistics in creating these types of apps. Finally, a simple model of the process of developing AR-based educational app and a sample output of this type of app were presented based on this information.
Conclusions: Simulation-based education is one of the prominent and growing topics worldwide. Augmented Reality is one of the most renowned and widely used technologies in this field. The results of this study encompass a set of basic features of an AR-based educational app as well as the software that can be used to create such apps. Therefore, this study can assist researchers interested in this field in navigating the simplest path to developing an AR-based educational app by providing them with an initial technical understanding of AR-based education.
Majid Babaei, Shila Hasanzadeh, Sadeq Rezaei, Davoud Alirezazadeh Sadaghiani, Mohammadreza Sheikhy-Chaman,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global and Iranian economies have been affected in various ways. The tax sector seems to have reacted relatively quickly to this pandemic. This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tax revenues in West Azerbaijan Province.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional study was conducted in the second half of 2021. Primary data for 17 cities of West Azerbaijan Province were provided by the General Administration of Tax Affairs of this province in the form of 9 variables in Excel Format. The data were related to 2019 (Before the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2020 (After the COVID-19 pandemic). The data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics (Frequency, Percentage, Median, Interquartile range) and analytical statistics (Wilcoxon signed rank test) at a 5% significance level.
Results: Based on the descriptive results, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in the tax revenues of West Azerbaijan province in the fields of government employees’ salary tax, stock transfer tax, inheritance tax and stamp duty tax and a decrease in these revenues in the areas of private employee’s salary tax, income tax on legal entities, business income tax, property transfer tax and value-added tax. Based on the analytical results, the impact of this pandemic on the private employee’s salary tax (P=0.003), income tax on legal entities (P=0.019), business income tax (P=0.013), property transfer tax (P=0.015) and value-added tax (P=0.001) was found to be negative and significant. Furthermore, the effect on stock transfer tax (P=0.030) and inheritance tax (P=0.001) was positive and significant. On the other hand, the impact of this pandemic on government employees’ salary tax (P=0.287) and stamp duty tax (P=0.356) was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic hurt most of the tax revenue sectors. To compensate for the decreased income in vulnerable sectors, the government must develop international trade with comprehensive support from the non-governmental sector while creating new tax lines. Also, stabilizing the financing cycle and designing mechanisms to prevent tax evasion, especially in high-paying jobs, can be fruitful.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional study was conducted in the second half of 2021. Primary data for 17 cities of West Azerbaijan Province were provided by the General Administration of Tax Affairs of this province in the form of 9 variables in Excel Format. The data were related to 2019 (Before the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2020 (After the COVID-19 pandemic). The data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics (Frequency, Percentage, Median, Interquartile range) and analytical statistics (Wilcoxon signed rank test) at a 5% significance level.
Results: Based on the descriptive results, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in the tax revenues of West Azerbaijan province in the fields of government employees’ salary tax, stock transfer tax, inheritance tax and stamp duty tax and a decrease in these revenues in the areas of private employee’s salary tax, income tax on legal entities, business income tax, property transfer tax and value-added tax. Based on the analytical results, the impact of this pandemic on the private employee’s salary tax (P=0.003), income tax on legal entities (P=0.019), business income tax (P=0.013), property transfer tax (P=0.015) and value-added tax (P=0.001) was found to be negative and significant. Furthermore, the effect on stock transfer tax (P=0.030) and inheritance tax (P=0.001) was positive and significant. On the other hand, the impact of this pandemic on government employees’ salary tax (P=0.287) and stamp duty tax (P=0.356) was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic hurt most of the tax revenue sectors. To compensate for the decreased income in vulnerable sectors, the government must develop international trade with comprehensive support from the non-governmental sector while creating new tax lines. Also, stabilizing the financing cycle and designing mechanisms to prevent tax evasion, especially in high-paying jobs, can be fruitful.
Zeynab Arbabi, Abdolali Banaiefar, Sajjad Arshadi, Hamid Tabatabaei,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Metabolic syndrome refers to a set of metabolic disorders related to obesity, such as abdominal obesity, increased body fat mass, lipid disorders, hypertension, increased blood glucose, and insulin resistance. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of 8 weeks of CXWORX exercises combined with inulin consumption on some indicators of oxidative stress in obese women with metabolic syndrome.
Materials and Methods: Forty eight obese women with metabolic syndrome in the age range of 30 to 40 years were randomly divided into Control, inulin, CX exercise and combined groups were included. Subjects were present in the laboratory environment and 5 cc of blood was taken from their brachial vein. Blood sample was taken to measure malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase (pre-test). Then the aforementioned interventions were performed on the studied groups for a period of 8 weeks. Finally, blood sampling was done again to measure the variables (post-test).
Results: The results of the correlated t-test revealed that in all three groups, the intervention led to a significant decrease in malondialdehyde compared to the pre-test; However, xanthine oxidase variable did not change significantly in the exercise group and significantly decreased in the inulin and combined groups compared to the pre-test. ANOVA results revealed that compared to the control group, the amount of malondialdehyde is significant only in the combined group (P≤0.05). The amount of this variable in the combined group decreased significantly compared to the exercise and inulin group (P≤0.05). No significant difference was observed between the exercise and inulin groups (P>0.05). Amount of xanthine oxidase, a significant difference had between the inulin and combination groups with the control group (P≤0.05). No significant difference was observed between the exercise and inulin groups (P>0.05). Despite this, a significant difference in xanthine oxidase levels was observed between the combined group with the exercise and inulin groups (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the available findings, it is concluded that the implementation of CX exercises combined with the use of inulin reduces the oxidative stress function more than the application of each of them alone in women with metabolic syndrome.
Materials and Methods: Forty eight obese women with metabolic syndrome in the age range of 30 to 40 years were randomly divided into Control, inulin, CX exercise and combined groups were included. Subjects were present in the laboratory environment and 5 cc of blood was taken from their brachial vein. Blood sample was taken to measure malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase (pre-test). Then the aforementioned interventions were performed on the studied groups for a period of 8 weeks. Finally, blood sampling was done again to measure the variables (post-test).
Results: The results of the correlated t-test revealed that in all three groups, the intervention led to a significant decrease in malondialdehyde compared to the pre-test; However, xanthine oxidase variable did not change significantly in the exercise group and significantly decreased in the inulin and combined groups compared to the pre-test. ANOVA results revealed that compared to the control group, the amount of malondialdehyde is significant only in the combined group (P≤0.05). The amount of this variable in the combined group decreased significantly compared to the exercise and inulin group (P≤0.05). No significant difference was observed between the exercise and inulin groups (P>0.05). Amount of xanthine oxidase, a significant difference had between the inulin and combination groups with the control group (P≤0.05). No significant difference was observed between the exercise and inulin groups (P>0.05). Despite this, a significant difference in xanthine oxidase levels was observed between the combined group with the exercise and inulin groups (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the available findings, it is concluded that the implementation of CX exercises combined with the use of inulin reduces the oxidative stress function more than the application of each of them alone in women with metabolic syndrome.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Parvaneh Isfahani,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (8-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 3 (8-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Induced demand is the provision of healthcare services to patients by the influence of healthcare providers. Induced demand causes excessive use of health services, increases the waiting time for receiving health services, increases the price of health services, increases the costs and reduces the efficiency of the health system. Policymakers and health managers should take measures to reduce induced demand. Hence, they should understand the reasons for induced demand in the health system. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the reasons for induced demand in the health system.
Materials and Methods: This research was carried out using the scoping review method. All published articles and documents about the reasons for induced demand in the health system until June 21, 2023 were searched in nine databases and Google Scholar search engine. Finally, 38 articles were selected and reviewed. The data were analyzed by thematic analysis method and using MAXQDA10 software.
Results: Thirty-eight studies about the reasons of induced demand in the health system were published between 1974 and 2021. The number of researches in this area has been growing since 2011. Overall, 32 reasons for induced demand in the health system were identified and grouped into three categories: macro (health system), meso (health care organization) and micro (provider and receiver of health services). The most frequent reasons for healthcare induced demand in the literature include inappropriate policies, insufficient monitoring, inappropriate payment system, large number of physicians, lack of attention to clinical guidelines, financial motivation of healthcare providers, patient insurance coverage, unreasonable patients’ expectations, inappropriate price of health services, the complexity of the health service and patients’ inadequate medical knowledge.
Conclusion: Induced demand has negative effects on the health system and will lead to an increase in health costs, waste of health resources, a decrease in the efficiency of the health system, and finally, a decrease in people’s access to essential health services. Several factors at different levels of the health system lead to induced demand for health services. Therefore, interventions should be systematically applied at three levels of the health system, healthcare organizations, and providers and recipients of health services to prevent and reduce healthcare induced demand.
Materials and Methods: This research was carried out using the scoping review method. All published articles and documents about the reasons for induced demand in the health system until June 21, 2023 were searched in nine databases and Google Scholar search engine. Finally, 38 articles were selected and reviewed. The data were analyzed by thematic analysis method and using MAXQDA10 software.
Results: Thirty-eight studies about the reasons of induced demand in the health system were published between 1974 and 2021. The number of researches in this area has been growing since 2011. Overall, 32 reasons for induced demand in the health system were identified and grouped into three categories: macro (health system), meso (health care organization) and micro (provider and receiver of health services). The most frequent reasons for healthcare induced demand in the literature include inappropriate policies, insufficient monitoring, inappropriate payment system, large number of physicians, lack of attention to clinical guidelines, financial motivation of healthcare providers, patient insurance coverage, unreasonable patients’ expectations, inappropriate price of health services, the complexity of the health service and patients’ inadequate medical knowledge.
Conclusion: Induced demand has negative effects on the health system and will lead to an increase in health costs, waste of health resources, a decrease in the efficiency of the health system, and finally, a decrease in people’s access to essential health services. Several factors at different levels of the health system lead to induced demand for health services. Therefore, interventions should be systematically applied at three levels of the health system, healthcare organizations, and providers and recipients of health services to prevent and reduce healthcare induced demand.
Roya Balaghiinaloo, Alireza Noruzi, Mohammadreza Esmaeili Givi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (8-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 3 (8-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: It is not possible to provide health information services in health crises without a comprehensive understanding of these services and how to provide them due to the health crisis. Based on this, the aim of the current research was to obtain comprehensive information about the components of providing health information services in health crises.
Materials and Methods: The current research was conducted with a qualitative approach and a meta-combined method, using the seven-step method of Sandelowski and Barroso. The statistical population consisted of articles and theses published in persian and international databases between 1991 to 2022 AD and 1370 to 1400 solar. Out of a total of 8363 resources identified based on the critical skills assessment program, 40 resources were approved. Extracted information was coded and coding reliability was measured and confirmed using Kappa coefficient.
Results: From the results of the research, 74 codes were extracted in 21 concepts and 6 categories in the field of providing health information services to patients. which categories and codes include health information needs assessment (disease, health, health information sources, patients); accessibility and dissemination of health information (health information, access ways); Awareness and notification of health information (information, tools); Education (patients, managers and staff of hospital libraries, methods); Planning (health crisis, resources, budget, infrastructure, patients, librarians and Medical Information Specialists) and obstacles and limitations (expert force, budget, facilities and infrastructure and resources) were categorized.
Conclusion: Dealing with the issue and components of providing health information services to patients in health Disasters in hospital libraries can cause policymakers in this field to know more about the dimensions, concepts, and consequences of providing these services in order to provide access to health information for everyone, especially patients. According to the identified components, efforts can be made to prepare the necessary infrastructure in order to plan to strengthen the strengths and eliminate the existing weaknesses and make appropriate policies in order to play the role of health counseling and launch the health information service department in hospital libraries.
Materials and Methods: The current research was conducted with a qualitative approach and a meta-combined method, using the seven-step method of Sandelowski and Barroso. The statistical population consisted of articles and theses published in persian and international databases between 1991 to 2022 AD and 1370 to 1400 solar. Out of a total of 8363 resources identified based on the critical skills assessment program, 40 resources were approved. Extracted information was coded and coding reliability was measured and confirmed using Kappa coefficient.
Results: From the results of the research, 74 codes were extracted in 21 concepts and 6 categories in the field of providing health information services to patients. which categories and codes include health information needs assessment (disease, health, health information sources, patients); accessibility and dissemination of health information (health information, access ways); Awareness and notification of health information (information, tools); Education (patients, managers and staff of hospital libraries, methods); Planning (health crisis, resources, budget, infrastructure, patients, librarians and Medical Information Specialists) and obstacles and limitations (expert force, budget, facilities and infrastructure and resources) were categorized.
Conclusion: Dealing with the issue and components of providing health information services to patients in health Disasters in hospital libraries can cause policymakers in this field to know more about the dimensions, concepts, and consequences of providing these services in order to provide access to health information for everyone, especially patients. According to the identified components, efforts can be made to prepare the necessary infrastructure in order to plan to strengthen the strengths and eliminate the existing weaknesses and make appropriate policies in order to play the role of health counseling and launch the health information service department in hospital libraries.
Ali Mawla Gawwam Al Meyyah, Hamid Jaddoa Abbas, Reza Afrisham, Nahid Einollahi,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by an elevated blood glucose level, resulting from impairments in insulin action, insulin secretion, or both; which causes abnormalities in the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and lipids. Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs. Adropin and irisin are newly described proteins that can be an essential component in the pathophysiological pathways of diabetes mellitus. The current study was designed to evaluate Irisin and Adropin biochemical markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their correlation with risk factors.
Materials and Methods: A case control study, that included 90 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus and 90 healthy individuals, who matched for both age and sex with patients. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, serum insulin, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), irisin and adropin were measured at the chemistry laboratory of AL-Faihaa teaching Hospital by standard methods.
Results: Serum irisin (8.154±1.642 vs. 14.06±3.916 ng/ml) and adropin (25.39±8.897 vs. 59.43±8.768 pg/ml) levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control cases, respectively (P.value<0.0001). Serum adropin levels were significantly and positively correlated with age (r=0.236, P=0.025) and negatively with BMI (r=-0.209, P=0.048). While, serum irisin levels were significantly and negatively correlated with TG (r=-0.248, P=0.018). Based on ROC analysis, the AUC for irisin was 0.937 (95% CI: 0.906-0.969), which showed a sensitivity of 91.1% and a specificity of 80.0% at the cut-off of 9.715 (P<0.0001). In addition, the AUC for adropin was 0.991 (95% CI: 0.980-1.00), which showed a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 91.1% for this biomarker at a cut-off of 37.945 (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Our findings showed that the serum levels of irisin and adropin were lower in the patient group than in the control group. Probably, the reduction of adropin and irisin may be used as a biomarker to predict the risk of T2DM, which requires more studies in this regard.
Maryam Bahrami, Somayeh Mohammadi, Mostafa Roshanzadeh, Samaneh Dehghan Abnavi, Ali Taj, Fatemeh Maraki,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Operating room students have experienced anxiety for various reasons that affect their educational process such as stitching. Due to the effective role of simulation in improving the education of students, this study was conducted with the aim of the effect of animal skin suturing simulation on the skill level and anxiety level of operating room students.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 people (75%) of the samples were aged 18-25 and 10 people (25%) of them were 26-35. 10 people (25%) were men and 30 people (75%) were women. Also, in terms of marriage, 7 people (17.5%) were married and 33 people (82.5%) were single. The present quasi-experimental study was performed with a two-group plan before and after with 40 operating room students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences (Shahrekord, Broujen) in 2020. The samples were randomly assigned to two test and control groups using the method based on the purpose of selection. Data were collected before and after the intervention by Spielberger Anxiety Tool and Suturing Skills Questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests (Chi-square test, t-test, paired t-test).
Results: The t-test test showed that the mean of obvious anxiety in the intervention group (36.35±10.22) and the control group (41.15±7.92) after the intervention was not significant (P=0.346). Also, the mean hidden anxiety in the intervention group (36.65±10.47) and the control group (38.65±6.13) had no significant difference (P=0.089). The t-test test showed that there was a significant difference in sewing skills after the intervention in the two intervention groups (28.2±58.22) and the control group (23.42±3.12) (P=0.04).
Conclusion: The texture of suture mannequins is very different from human skin in terms of consistency, and it does not convey the same feeling of sutures on natural skin to students. On the other hand, it is easier to enter and exit and move the needle and thread in the sheepskin, and this provides the students with the possibility of stitching more easily. Therefore, it is suggested to buy and prepare sheep skin for training students and teach them stitches on it.
Omid Ali Gholami, Jamil Sadeghifar, Bahareh Kabiri, Shabnam Ghasemyani, Sadegh Sarhadi, Reza Jorvand,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health literacy is recognized as a key determinant of health and is a central focus of public health policy strategies. The present study aimed to assess the health literacy level and identify the factors influencing it among the clients of comprehensive health service centers in Ilam city.
Materials and Methods: In 2022, a descriptive-analytical study was conducted to examine 429 clients aged 18-65 years who visited comprehensive selected health service centers in Ilam city. For adults the data collection tool used was the Helia health literacy questionnaire. Sampling was conducted in nine clusters, with each cluster consisting of 50 samples. The data was analyzed using SPSS software, which included descriptive statistical tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results: Based on the results, the average health literacy score was 80.16 ± 16.50. In terms of health literacy, 18.97% of people had inadequate or not very adequate health literacy, while 44.39% of the participants had excellent health literacy. The average health literacy scores across different dimensions are as follows: access to health information 65.74, comprehension of information 81/81, reading information skills 12.74, evaluation of information 05.75, and decision making and behavior based on information 61.92. A significant relationship was observed between job, education, and income variables and various dimensions of average health literacy (p-value≤0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between general health literacy and age, gender, and place of residence (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate that vulnerable groups have significantly lower literacy levels. Furthermore, given the impact of education on enhancing people’s health literacy, it is advisable to leverage mass media, social networks, and educational centers to enhance literacy levels as a potential factor in community health.
Alireza Hajizadeh, Reza Hafezi, Mrs Maryam Tajvar,
Volume 17, Issue 5 (12-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 5 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Futures studies are constantly evolving and help organizations and individuals for better identification of future events, opportunities, and threats. In the field of health, futures studies are also applied for better prediction of health issues in future, control of unpleasant condition and preparing for pleasant future in health system. The purpose of this study is to conduct a scoping review of the futures studies accomplished in the field of health in Iran,
Materials and Methods: This study is a scoping review, conducted based on the Arksey and O’Malley framework with 6 steps including research question identification, related study identification, study selection / screening, data segmentation, summarizing and reporting results and providing guidance and recommendations n. National and international databases and search engines including PubMed, Web Of Science (WOS), Scopus, ProQuest, SID, Magiran, IranDoc and Google Scholar were searched using related keywords. After removing duplicate articles, the remaining articles were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of the selected articles were finally categorized, summarized and reported based on the mentioned steps.
Results: Among of 6691 articles identified, 30 articles reached the final synthesis stage. The articles were classified into forecasting, foresighting, and mixed categories, with the scenario writing method being the most widely used and applied in 20 studies. Also, studies were classified in scope of nature based on quantitative or qualitative and time horizon. Types of futures studies methods in Iran, in the fields of public health, medicine, science and technology, financing, prescription, health tourism, diet, human resources, aging, Covid-19 epidemic, health policy, hospital and macro level of health system were used.
Conclusion: The use of futures studies methods in a targeted manner and on the issues of Iran’s health system can play an effective role in knowing the future for more informed decision-making and planning in order to build a desirable future. The results of this review showed that scattered studies have been conducted with futures studies methods in the field of health, among which the scenario writing method has received more attention.
Saeed Barzegari, Marjan Ghazi Saeedi, Roghieh Nazari, Seif Ali Mahdavi, Seyed Alireza Hasani,
Volume 17, Issue 5 (12-2023)
Volume 17, Issue 5 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The use of Mobile-Health is helpful in facilitating therapeutic communication between students and healthcare providers. Considering the benefits of the Mobile-Health, it is very important to have a tool that can check the motivation to use Mobile-Health. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of Psychometric properties of mHealth Technology Engagement Index.
Materials and Methods: The present study is psychometric research that was conducted in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 1401. The participants of this study were 450 students of medical sciences in Tehran in undergraduate, master’s and doctorate levels who were included in the study through convenience sampling. The psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire were examined through face, content and construct validity respectively. Principal component analysis was performed using varimax rotation in order to check the factorial structure of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was checked with the help of Cronbach’s alpha and intra- class correlation (ICC).
Results: The questionnaire’s content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were 0.91 and 0.86, respectively. In the formal validity check, minor changes were made in the words of most of the items. Based on the results of face validity, some minor changes were made to the vocabulary of most items. The ICC coefficient was more than 0.80 in all dimensions. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis extracted five factors, autonomy, competence, relatedness, goal setting and goal attainment, and their cumulative variance was %71.48. The fit of the five-factor model was optimal based on standard goodness of fit indices such as CFI=0.978, GFI=0.930, RMSEA=0.040, CMIN/DF=1.307. Convergent and divergent validity was accepted for all factors. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained using Cronbach’s alpha test of 0.71.
Conclusion: The five factor structure of the questionnaire of interaction with mobile health technology has good validity and reliability. Therefore, this questionnaire can be used to check the level of interaction of users of medical science students with mobile health technology.
Materials and Methods: The present study is psychometric research that was conducted in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 1401. The participants of this study were 450 students of medical sciences in Tehran in undergraduate, master’s and doctorate levels who were included in the study through convenience sampling. The psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire were examined through face, content and construct validity respectively. Principal component analysis was performed using varimax rotation in order to check the factorial structure of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was checked with the help of Cronbach’s alpha and intra- class correlation (ICC).
Results: The questionnaire’s content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were 0.91 and 0.86, respectively. In the formal validity check, minor changes were made in the words of most of the items. Based on the results of face validity, some minor changes were made to the vocabulary of most items. The ICC coefficient was more than 0.80 in all dimensions. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis extracted five factors, autonomy, competence, relatedness, goal setting and goal attainment, and their cumulative variance was %71.48. The fit of the five-factor model was optimal based on standard goodness of fit indices such as CFI=0.978, GFI=0.930, RMSEA=0.040, CMIN/DF=1.307. Convergent and divergent validity was accepted for all factors. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained using Cronbach’s alpha test of 0.71.
Conclusion: The five factor structure of the questionnaire of interaction with mobile health technology has good validity and reliability. Therefore, this questionnaire can be used to check the level of interaction of users of medical science students with mobile health technology.
Reza Dehkhodaei, Mazyar Karamali, Mohammad Mohammadian, Mohammadkarim Bahadori, Mohsen Abbasifarajzadeh,
Volume 17, Issue 6 (2-2024)
Volume 17, Issue 6 (2-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the importance of knowledge management in the current era and the emphasis on the implementation of knowledge management in the health system in the knowledge management system of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, and since it is one of the first steps in the implementation of knowledge management, Drawing the knowledge tree of the organization, the purpose of the current research is to review the process of publishing the knowledge tree and examine it in the field of health.
Materials and Methods: The current research is a type of applied and descriptive review study that was carried out with the method of scientometrics and co-occurrence analysis of keywords. For this purpose, the term “Knowledge tree” OR “knowledge trees” was searched in Scopus reference database. For data analysis, the analyzes provided by the database itself were used, and VOSviewer software was used to visualize the data.
Results: The growth of scientific productions related to the field of the tree of knowledge in general in the mentioned base has started since 1979 and has had a growing trend until 2023. In the field of knowledge tree, among the authors Yang, Y, among the organizations, machine intelligence institute, iona college, and among the countries, China, America, and England have been at the top of the most productive in this field. Among the subjects, the most related articles are primarily related to the field of computer science (32.2 percent) and then to the field of engineering (22.1 percent) and mathematics (10.1 percent), which is significant. that medicine is in the sixth place and this is a sign of the weakness of producing resources in this field and the clustering resulting from the co-occurrence of keywords led to the identification of five clusters respectively with the titles of data mining and information processing, artificial intelligence and expert systems. , knowledge structure and decision support systems, semantics and knowledge representation, and finally learning and teaching systems.
Conclusion: The study of the thematic structure of scientific productions in the field of Knowledge Tree showed that the field of health has a weakness in the production of resources in this field. Therefore, it is necessary for future researches to pay special attention to the development and explanation of this concept and modeling its drawing, especially in the health system, in order to identify and prevent diseases.
Maryam Andalib Kondori, Ahmadreza Varnaseri, Maryam Ghanbari Khoshnood, Seyed Abedin Hoseini Ahangari, Mohammad Karim Saberi, Hamid Bourghi,
Volume 17, Issue 6 (2-2024)
Volume 17, Issue 6 (2-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This research aimed to study the status of providing health information services in public libraries in Tehran, which was conducted based on the views of librarians working in these libraries.
Materials and Methods: The research method was applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive in terms of data collection, which was conducted as a survey. The statistical population was 150 librarians of public libraries in Tehran. The tool for collecting information was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical software..
Results: The status of health information resources available in public libraries of Tehran is low and very low in most sources. The level of familiarity of librarians with health and public health issues is %20. The level of familiarity of librarians with selective dissemination of health information services is low and very low with %77.4. The participation rate of librarians in medical information workshops is faced with the non-participation of %70 of librarians. The familiarity of librarians with the services of selective distribution of health information is low and very low. %60 of librarians are not familiar with medical information systems. The percentage of familiarity of librarians with internal medical websites is %60-78 weak. The percentage of familiarity of librarians with foreign international websites in the field of health is average. Librarians consider the main reason for providing selective health information services to improve the level of health literacy in the society. Also, the main obstacle to providing health information dissemination services is the librarian not having enough time to provide services.
Conclusion: The country’s public libraries should consider measures to familiarize librarians with the field of health information and implement policies in this field. Considering the appropriate technical facilities of public libraries in Tehran, it is possible to create and access internal and external health systems and websites. and expanded the sources and documents of librarians’ health information.
Parisa Moradimajd, Shahnam Sedighmaroufi, Shaqayeq Taghizadeh, Mr Jamileh Abolghasemi, Alireza Babajani,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the basic principles in the safety of drug therapy for patients is the correct registration and labeling of anesthetic drugs, which can lead to the reduction of drug errors, the increase of drug and patient safety, the reduction of drug consumption and the environment, and the optimization of hospital costs.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional research was conducted in February 2022 in the operating rooms of Iran University of Medical Sciences hospitals. The participants included 177 Anesthesia experts working in the hospitals’ operating rooms, who were included in the study by census method. The data was collected using the checklist for evaluating anesthetic drug registration and labeling guidelines and analyzed using SPSS software and one-way ANOVA, Fisher, and Pearson correlation coefficient statistical tests. The significance level was considered P value < 0.05.
Results: The average compliance with the guidelines for registration and labeling of anesthetic drugs in all hospitals was 3.559 out of the total score of 16. The average adherence to guidelines in 8 hospitals was significantly different from each other (P < 0.001). Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital had the highest compliance rate, averaging 10.333 out of 16. Firouzgar and Shahid Akbarabadi hospitals were in the next rank, averaging 10.11 and 6.65, respectively. There was a negative and significant correlation between the level of compliance with the guidelines and the average work experience and age of the experts (P=0/17); However, gender did not significantly correlate with the degree of adherence to the guidelines(P=0/596).
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, compliance with the guidelines for registration and labeling of anesthetic drugs in most hospitals was assessed as weak and at an unfavorable level. Considering the importance of this issue in reducing medication errors and increasing patient safety, it is necessary to use empowerment and retraining courses for Anesthesia experts according to the latest guidelines.
Mehdi Raadabadi, Zahra Tolideh, Zahra Shoara, Zahra Yeganeh, Jamil Sadeghifar, Khalil Momeni,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: There is limited evidence about the effect of the corona disease epidemic on the efficiency of hospitals in Iran. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of the Covid-19 epidemic on the productivity of public hospitals in Ilam province.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive research has investigated the performance of 9 hospitals in Ilam province during a four-year period(1397-1400) based on the Pabon Lasso graphic model. The desired data were extracted from the HIS system of the hospitals and the key performance indicators of BOR, BTR and ALOS were calculated. The Pabon Lasso diagram was drawn with Excel software.
Results: The results showed that the bed occupancy percentage in teaching hospitals is significantly higher than non-teaching hospitals (P<0.05). Based on the results, the percentage of bed occupancy and the rate of bed rotation after the covid 19 pandemic has decreased significantly (P<0.05). The average length of the stay of patients also increased after the pandemic (P<0.05). Overall evaluation of hospital efficiency based on the Pabén Lasso model shows that the frequency of hospitals located in Nakara district has decreased from 4 hospitals before the pandemic to 3 hospitals, although hospitals in Kara district have not changed during this period.
Conclusion: Most of the researched hospitals, especially non-teaching hospitals, have low bed occupancy. Weakness in the service delivery chain, especially diagnostic services and specialized and super-specialized services, is one of the main reasons for this situation. Moving towards a change in the way hospitals are managed and having more flexibility in the structure and implementation in the short term and prioritizing large hospitals with a complete chain of services can lead to a way out of the current inefficient situation.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive research has investigated the performance of 9 hospitals in Ilam province during a four-year period(1397-1400) based on the Pabon Lasso graphic model. The desired data were extracted from the HIS system of the hospitals and the key performance indicators of BOR, BTR and ALOS were calculated. The Pabon Lasso diagram was drawn with Excel software.
Results: The results showed that the bed occupancy percentage in teaching hospitals is significantly higher than non-teaching hospitals (P<0.05). Based on the results, the percentage of bed occupancy and the rate of bed rotation after the covid 19 pandemic has decreased significantly (P<0.05). The average length of the stay of patients also increased after the pandemic (P<0.05). Overall evaluation of hospital efficiency based on the Pabén Lasso model shows that the frequency of hospitals located in Nakara district has decreased from 4 hospitals before the pandemic to 3 hospitals, although hospitals in Kara district have not changed during this period.
Conclusion: Most of the researched hospitals, especially non-teaching hospitals, have low bed occupancy. Weakness in the service delivery chain, especially diagnostic services and specialized and super-specialized services, is one of the main reasons for this situation. Moving towards a change in the way hospitals are managed and having more flexibility in the structure and implementation in the short term and prioritizing large hospitals with a complete chain of services can lead to a way out of the current inefficient situation.
Seyedeh Nasim Mirbahari, Sina Salari, Shabnam Shahrokh, Mohammadreza Zali, Mehdi Totonchi,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Oncolytic viruses, as novel and advanced tools in the field of treating various types of cancer, have played a very important role in medical developments. The term “oncolytic” refers to the ability of these viruses to destroy and damage cancer cells while preserving the surrounding healthy cells.
Materials and Methods: To conduct this study, a total of 270 initial results were collected through searching in the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases from 2012 to 2024. The primary researcher reviewed 68 relevant articles, extracted and summarized the contents, and finally compiled the findings.
Results: The findings from this review study demonstrate that cancer cells possess distinct characteristics that differentiate them from normal cells, including continuous growth signaling, resistance to anti-growth signaling, evasion of apoptosis, increased angiogenesis, and invasion into other body parts. Oncolytic viruses utilize these distinctive features to selectively target and infect cancer cells. Most oncolytic viruses directly eliminate host tumor cells, resulting in viral replication and induction of host antiviral responses. Moreover, these viruses can destroy cancer cells through the production of specific proteins. The cytotoxic potential of oncolytic viruses depends on viral type, genetic manipulation, optimal virus dosage for injection, natural and induced viral tropism, and cancer cell sensitivity to various forms of cell death. The mechanism driving the selective replication of oncolytic viruses in cancer cells likely relates to defects in signaling pathways specific to tumor cells. Phase III clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvements in the treatment outcomes of various cancers, including head and neck cancer, melanoma, glioblastoma, and bladder cancer, through the use of H101 (Oncorine), T-Vec, ECHO-7, and Teserpaturev (Delytact) viruses.
Conclusion: Oncolytic viruses are constructed from various types of viruses and are currently being evaluated in laboratory, preclinical, and clinical stages. The use of these viruses for the treatment of cancer as a new and targeted approach has been proposed, which requires further investigation and achievement of more precise mechanisms for their better performance.
Materials and Methods: To conduct this study, a total of 270 initial results were collected through searching in the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases from 2012 to 2024. The primary researcher reviewed 68 relevant articles, extracted and summarized the contents, and finally compiled the findings.
Results: The findings from this review study demonstrate that cancer cells possess distinct characteristics that differentiate them from normal cells, including continuous growth signaling, resistance to anti-growth signaling, evasion of apoptosis, increased angiogenesis, and invasion into other body parts. Oncolytic viruses utilize these distinctive features to selectively target and infect cancer cells. Most oncolytic viruses directly eliminate host tumor cells, resulting in viral replication and induction of host antiviral responses. Moreover, these viruses can destroy cancer cells through the production of specific proteins. The cytotoxic potential of oncolytic viruses depends on viral type, genetic manipulation, optimal virus dosage for injection, natural and induced viral tropism, and cancer cell sensitivity to various forms of cell death. The mechanism driving the selective replication of oncolytic viruses in cancer cells likely relates to defects in signaling pathways specific to tumor cells. Phase III clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvements in the treatment outcomes of various cancers, including head and neck cancer, melanoma, glioblastoma, and bladder cancer, through the use of H101 (Oncorine), T-Vec, ECHO-7, and Teserpaturev (Delytact) viruses.
Conclusion: Oncolytic viruses are constructed from various types of viruses and are currently being evaluated in laboratory, preclinical, and clinical stages. The use of these viruses for the treatment of cancer as a new and targeted approach has been proposed, which requires further investigation and achievement of more precise mechanisms for their better performance.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Mahdiyeh Heydari, Mahya Abbasi, Mahdi Abbasi,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (5-2024)
Volume 18, Issue 2 (5-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health insurance organizations play an important role in increasing people’s access to health services and protecting them financially against catastrophic health costs. Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) is one of the largest public health insurance organizations in Iran, which faces many challenges. The purpose of this research is the strategic analysis of health financing performance of IHIO.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative research was conducted using interpretive phenomenology method through using semi-structured interviews with 25 managers and employees of IHIO. In addition, relevant documents and archival data of IHIO were collected and analyzed. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data.
Results: Overall, 19 strengths, 24 weaknesses, 14 opportunities, 37 threats and 43 solutions were identified for the health financing system of IHIO. Increasing the coverage of health services, correcting the information databases of the insured and electronic prescribing were the most important strengths, and inappropriate pooling of financial resources, incomplete risk pooling, high administrative costs, and inefficient control were the most important weaknesses of IHIO. The most important opportunities for IHIO include the government’s support for universal health coverage and emphasis on primary health care, legal support for consolidating health insurance funds and improving the health technology assessment system in the country. The main threats to IHIO include political and economic unstability, low health insurance premiums, decisions without scientific support and insufficient enforcement of laws. Finally, solutions such as modernizing the tax system, increasing the health literacy of the community, reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency and accountability, and reforming the monitoring and evaluation system were identified to strengthen the performance of the financing system of IHIO.
Conclusion: Iran’s health insurance organization is facing numerous structural, contexual and process challenges that have reduced its productivity. Decrease in revenues, increase in costs and decrease in efficiency have caused problems in the financing performance of this organization. Recognizing the weaknesses and challenges of financing performance and applying corrective interventions is the first step in strengthening the sustainability of health financing of IHIO.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative research was conducted using interpretive phenomenology method through using semi-structured interviews with 25 managers and employees of IHIO. In addition, relevant documents and archival data of IHIO were collected and analyzed. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data.
Results: Overall, 19 strengths, 24 weaknesses, 14 opportunities, 37 threats and 43 solutions were identified for the health financing system of IHIO. Increasing the coverage of health services, correcting the information databases of the insured and electronic prescribing were the most important strengths, and inappropriate pooling of financial resources, incomplete risk pooling, high administrative costs, and inefficient control were the most important weaknesses of IHIO. The most important opportunities for IHIO include the government’s support for universal health coverage and emphasis on primary health care, legal support for consolidating health insurance funds and improving the health technology assessment system in the country. The main threats to IHIO include political and economic unstability, low health insurance premiums, decisions without scientific support and insufficient enforcement of laws. Finally, solutions such as modernizing the tax system, increasing the health literacy of the community, reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency and accountability, and reforming the monitoring and evaluation system were identified to strengthen the performance of the financing system of IHIO.
Conclusion: Iran’s health insurance organization is facing numerous structural, contexual and process challenges that have reduced its productivity. Decrease in revenues, increase in costs and decrease in efficiency have caused problems in the financing performance of this organization. Recognizing the weaknesses and challenges of financing performance and applying corrective interventions is the first step in strengthening the sustainability of health financing of IHIO.
Hanie Pooshideh, Jalal Jafarzade, Ali Heidarpour, Mojtaba Taghizade Armaki, Saeid Mahdavi Omran, P.h.d Firoozeh Kermani, Mohsen Karami,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (5-2024)
Volume 18, Issue 2 (5-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Cockroaches are potential carriers of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms (fungi, bacteria and parasites). Considering the importance of these insects in the transmission of pathogenic fungi and their impact on the health of hospitalized people, the aim of this study was isolation and molecular identification of pathogenic fungi from the external and internal surfaces of cockroaches collected from three educational hospitals of Babol city, Mazandaran Province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: Cockroaches were caught by a sterile manual method and after washing to remove surface contamination with 70% ethyl alcohol for 2min, 100 µL of the solutions from the external and internal parts of cockroaches were cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar with 0.05% chloramphenicol and incubated at 30 °C for 3 weeks. The different yeast and filamentous colonies were distinguished using standard mycological methods. The PCR-RFLP method and the restriction enzymes Msp I and Bln I were used for the differentiation of Candida species, and the restriction enzyme Alw I for Aspergillus species.
Results: A total of 85 fungi species/genera were isolated from all 50 studied cockroaches, including German cockroaches 15 (30%), American cockroach 20 (40%) and brown 15 (30%), which included 52 isolates from external surfaces (61%) and 33 isolates from internal surfaces of cockroaches (39%). Of the total number of 49 filamentous fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus 16 (32.65%) and out of the total number of 36 yeasts identified, Candida albicans 14 (38.89%) were the most common fungi isolated in this study. Other filamentous fungi and yeasts isolated from cockroaches include Aspergillus niger 11 (22.45%), Aspergillus flavus 8 (16.32%), Penicillium 4 (8.2%), Rhizopus 3 (6.1%), Cladosporium 3 (6.1%), Mucor 2 (4%), Alternaria 2 (4%), Candida parapsilosis 6 (16.67%), Candida krusei 12 (33.33%), Candida glabrata 3 (8.33%), and Candida tropicalis 1 (2.78%) were isolated.
Conclusion: Considering the isolation of several fungal species from cockroaches and their importance in the possible mechanical transmission of common fungal infections in hospitals, these insects can be a source of continuous transmission of infection, if there is no regular preventive disinfection of the hospital environment.
Materials and Methods: Cockroaches were caught by a sterile manual method and after washing to remove surface contamination with 70% ethyl alcohol for 2min, 100 µL of the solutions from the external and internal parts of cockroaches were cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar with 0.05% chloramphenicol and incubated at 30 °C for 3 weeks. The different yeast and filamentous colonies were distinguished using standard mycological methods. The PCR-RFLP method and the restriction enzymes Msp I and Bln I were used for the differentiation of Candida species, and the restriction enzyme Alw I for Aspergillus species.
Results: A total of 85 fungi species/genera were isolated from all 50 studied cockroaches, including German cockroaches 15 (30%), American cockroach 20 (40%) and brown 15 (30%), which included 52 isolates from external surfaces (61%) and 33 isolates from internal surfaces of cockroaches (39%). Of the total number of 49 filamentous fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus 16 (32.65%) and out of the total number of 36 yeasts identified, Candida albicans 14 (38.89%) were the most common fungi isolated in this study. Other filamentous fungi and yeasts isolated from cockroaches include Aspergillus niger 11 (22.45%), Aspergillus flavus 8 (16.32%), Penicillium 4 (8.2%), Rhizopus 3 (6.1%), Cladosporium 3 (6.1%), Mucor 2 (4%), Alternaria 2 (4%), Candida parapsilosis 6 (16.67%), Candida krusei 12 (33.33%), Candida glabrata 3 (8.33%), and Candida tropicalis 1 (2.78%) were isolated.
Conclusion: Considering the isolation of several fungal species from cockroaches and their importance in the possible mechanical transmission of common fungal infections in hospitals, these insects can be a source of continuous transmission of infection, if there is no regular preventive disinfection of the hospital environment.
Related Websites
Site Keywords
Health Information Management, Health Care Management, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Library & Information Sciences, Radiation Biology (Radiobiology and Radiation Protection), Operating Room, Anesthesiology
Site Statistics- Registered users: 3370 users
- Online users: 1 users
- Guest users: 52 users
- All visits: 6721282 visits
- Visits in 24 Hours: 6793 visits
- Total articles: 3241 articles
- Published articles: 837 articles
© 2026 , Tehran University of Medical Sciences, CC BY-NC 4.0
Designed & Developed by: Yektaweb