Review Articles
Zahra Taghvaeikeshtkar; Leila Riahi; Leila Nazarimanesh; Kamran Hajinabi
Abstract
Introduction: Maintaining continuity of care for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is imperative during pandemics. This study evaluates NCD management strategies by conducting a comparative analysis between Iran and seven other nations.Methods: This comparative qualitative study, ...
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Introduction: Maintaining continuity of care for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is imperative during pandemics. This study evaluates NCD management strategies by conducting a comparative analysis between Iran and seven other nations.Methods: This comparative qualitative study, conducted in 2023, employed sampling to examine Iran against Germany, Canada, the United States, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. The study focused on five core components: health workforce, health information systems, medical products, health financing, and leadership and governance. Data were extracted from reputable scientific databases and analyzed using the four stage Adaptive Education Model (description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison).Results: The comparative analysis identified eleven key components influencing NCD management during pandemics. These included the presence of a comprehensive national strategy, effective inter sectoral collaboration and coordination across governmental levels, access to sufficient financial resources and appropriate allocation, the efficiency and effectiveness of the financial system, optimal workforce density and distribution, community resilience and welfare, availability and quality of essential products, medications and technologies, integration of COVID-19 related data, data quality and accuracy, and the utilization of telemedicine.Conclusion: The findings of this study, by pinpointing critical sub-components of NCD management during pandemics, can assist policymakers and health system managers in improving planning and enhancing NCD management in crises. By focusing on the gaps and international lessons learned, this research offers an opportunity to strengthen Iran’s healthcare system and reduce inequalities in access to health services.
Original Article
Duaa Saeed Obaid; Wafaa Ahmed Amin
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, and patients often face challenges during and after treatment. Perceived social support can reduce stress, enhance coping, and improve quality of life. To evaluate perceived social support, socio-demographic, and health-related ...
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Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, and patients often face challenges during and after treatment. Perceived social support can reduce stress, enhance coping, and improve quality of life. To evaluate perceived social support, socio-demographic, and health-related factors in women with breast cancer.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 200 purposively sampled breast cancer patients at Marjan Medical City/Oncology Center from October 11, 2023, to February 9, 2025. Data were collected via direct interviews using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23. Results: Perceived social support among participants was moderate (M=3.24±0.77 on the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) scale, with family support rated the highest (M=3.89±0.87) and friend support the lowest (M=2.73±0.94). Demographic factors (age, marital status, education, income) showed no significant association with support levels (all p-value>0.05). Health-related factors, such as time since diagnosis and treatment type, were significantly associated with perceived support (p-value<0.001).Conclusion: Targeted support interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations and those undergoing intensive treatments, should be integrated into multidisciplinary care to improve outcomes.
Original Article
Alireza Dehghani; Mozhgan Seif; Abbas Rezaianzadeh
Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are now among the most common chronic conditions and are the leading cause of disability, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. Also, sleep duration is considered a neglected modifiable risk factor for CVDs. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the ...
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Background: Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are now among the most common chronic conditions and are the leading cause of disability, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. Also, sleep duration is considered a neglected modifiable risk factor for CVDs. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between sleep duration and the prevalence of CVD in a large scale of the Iranian population.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, baseline data from 9,632 participants aged 40 to 70 years were collected between 2014 and 2016 and analyzed. Sleep duration was categorized into five groups (<6, 6–6.9, 7–7.9, 8–8.9, and ≥9 hours). The association between categorized sleep duration and the prevalence of CVD was assessed using both crude and adjusted multiple logistic regression models. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed.Results: In the crude analysis, both males and females who slept <6 hours showed similar odds ratios for CVD (males: OR=1.42, P=0.046; females: OR=1.44, P<0.001). In the adjusted model, both short (<6 hours) and long (≥9 hours) sleep durations were associated with increased odds of CVD for both genders, reaching statistical significance exclusively in females. A sensitivity analysis was then performed, which resulted in modest attenuation of the associations in both genders.Conclusion: Overall, our findings indicate that both short and long sleep duration are associated with an increased risk of CVD, particularly among females. These results emphasize the importance of maintaining a balanced sleep duration for cardiovascular health and support the potential benefit of sleep related interventions in reducing CVD risk.
Original Article
Salim Amir Yousef; Khamees Bandar Obaid
Abstract
Background: Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units NICU, especially for preterm infants. Nurses have a significant role and responsibility in managing RDS, and their competency directly influences patient outcomes. There is also ...
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Background: Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units NICU, especially for preterm infants. Nurses have a significant role and responsibility in managing RDS, and their competency directly influences patient outcomes. There is also some evidence of discrepancies in knowledge levels and application of practice. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a structured educational program on nurses’ practices related to the care of newborns with RDS in a NICU. To assess the impact of an educational intervention on the clinical practices of NICU nurses in managing neonatal RDS and to examine the association between nurses’ socio-demographic characteristics and their practices levels. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was completed from June to August 2025 at two children’s hospitals in Al-Hilla, Iraq, with a sample of 50 nurses (25 in the study group and 25 in the control group) selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated observational checklist to evaluate nursing practice before and after the educational program. The intervention consisted of both theoretical and practical educational sessions on the management of RDS. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and chi-square in SPSS version 23. A Shapiro-Wilk test was conducted to confirm normality (p=0.087). Results: Both groups had moderate levels of practice before the intervention. There was no significant difference in the mean practice score (study group: 1.59±0.14; control group: 1.64±0.12; p=0.17). After the educational program, the study group showed a significant increase in practice post intervention (mean score 1.76±0.08), with 80% of students in the good practice category compared to only 28% pre-intervention. The control group remained largely unchanged post intervention (mean score 1.65±0.10; p=0.006). There was no significant association between the nurses’ practice and age, educational level, previous education or training, and years of work experience (p>0.05). Conclusion: The organized educational intervention made a significant difference in nurses’ practices surrounding infants with RDS. The findings make a clear case for the value of education and practice to improve the practice of neonatal nursing beyond passive clinical experience or background qualities or characteristics.
Original Article
Leila Ghahramani; khadijeh jafarpour; masoud karimi; Zahra derakhshan
Abstract
Introduction: Waste management is a critical issue in urban planning, posing a significant challenge for modern societies. As populations grow and urbanization increases, the volume of waste generated also rises, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and ecosystems. Therefore, this research was ...
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Introduction: Waste management is a critical issue in urban planning, posing a significant challenge for modern societies. As populations grow and urbanization increases, the volume of waste generated also rises, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and ecosystems. Therefore, this research was designed and implemented to investigate the predictors of waste separation behavior among housewives based on the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on housewives living in Shoushtar city, Khuzestan province, Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire developed based on the Value-Belief-Norm Theory. The data were analyzed using SPSS 28 and AMOS 28 software at a significance level of p<0.05. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling were employed for data analysis. Ethical Consideration: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR.SUMS.SCHEANUT.REC.1402.119).Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.10±9.93 years. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed significant correlations between waste separation behavior and the constructs of the Value-Belief-Norm Theory. The strongest correlations were observed with altruistic values (r=0.344, p<0.001) and intention (r=0.435, p<0.001). However, egoistic values, biospheric altruism, the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP), and descriptive norms did not significantly affect behavior. The proposed model explained 37% of the variance in waste separation behaviors.Conclusion: The results suggest that the VBN theory framework is useful in predicting waste separation behaviors. Among the constructs, human altruism, awareness of consequences (AC), personal norms (PN), injunctive norms, and intention were identified as the most important predictors of adherence to waste separation behaviors.
Original Article
Maedeh Moradi Farahani; Seyed Jalil Masoumi; Mohebat Vali; Jafar Hassanzadeh; Alireza Mirahmadizadeh
Abstract
Background: Headache disorders significantly affect over half of the global population, notably healthcare workers through YLD and productivity loss. This study aimed to identify demographic and job-related disability disparities among health workers.Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed ...
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Background: Headache disorders significantly affect over half of the global population, notably healthcare workers through YLD and productivity loss. This study aimed to identify demographic and job-related disability disparities among health workers.Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline cohort data from 5,924 health workers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (2018). YLD calculations used GBD disability weights and comorbidity adjustments via multiplicative models. Nonparametric tests, including Kruskal–Wallis H and post hoc Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction, were used for group comparisons.Results: Our findings revealed a substantially higher prevalence based YLD for headache disorders (mean: 9,460±26,300 per 100,000) compared to the global age-standardized estimate of 588.4 per 100,000 reported by the GBD study. Women (0.135±0.31) had a higher mean YLD than men (0.042±0.18) though it was not statistically significant (p=0.84). Younger workers (0.102±0.30, p<0.001), university-educated (0.102±0.27), upper-middle-class (0.1195±0.293), and clinical/medical staff (0.113±0.29, p=0.002) showed the highest YLD. Depression (58.6%) was the most frequent comorbidity; adjusted models confirmed comorbidity impact.Conclusion: Headache disorders create significant disparities among health workers by age, education, socioeconomic status, and job type. Depression is a prevalent comorbidity. Adjusted YLD models improved burden estimation, underscoring the need for targeted occupational health interventions.
Original Article
Amany A Mousa; Atta A AL-Sarray; Ishraq A Chiad; Ahmed H Radhy
Abstract
Background: As a highly contagious systemic viral infection, measles has a significant fatality rate, mostly from subsequent infections. This study assesses patient-specific demographic and environmental profiles while calculating mortality rates over a five-year follow-up period.Methods: This is a retrospective, ...
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Background: As a highly contagious systemic viral infection, measles has a significant fatality rate, mostly from subsequent infections. This study assesses patient-specific demographic and environmental profiles while calculating mortality rates over a five-year follow-up period.Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study analyzing epidemiological data on measles from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. T The duration of data collection continued for the period from 2024/October/17th to 2025/February/28th. The data of the whole Iraq was collected from Iraqi Ministry of Health\Department of Public Health\Communicable Disease Control Center, from the section of epidemiological surveillance. Results: This study included 3,873 laboratory-confirmed measles cases out of over 20,000 suspected cases. Their mean age was 6.4 ± 8.4 years (ranging from 2 days to 79 years). The most affected age group was 1–4 years old (42. 5%). Males affected 52.34% of the cases, while females accounted for 47.66%. 77.35% of the patients were unvaccinated, 10.02% were vaccinated, and 12.63% had unknown vaccination status. The incidence rate in 2023 reached 32.3 per 100,000 populations, the highest during the study period. The highest number of cases was reported in Baghdad–Karkh (15. 32%). Conclusion: Measles incidence peaked in 2023, while the lowest rates were observed in 2021. Geographically, Baghdad reported the highest prevalence, whereas Sulaymaniyah recorded the lowest. Regarding diagnostic methods, more than 50% of cases were diagnosed clinically, while Epilink-based diagnosis was the least frequent. Ultimately, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy remain significant obstacles to measles eradication. This suggests a major outbreak in 2023, possibly due to declining vaccination rates or inadequate public health responses.
Original Article
Ahmed Riyadh Farhan; Hussein Mansour Ali Al-Tameemi
Abstract
Background: Industrial work environments, such as cement factories, present considerable occupational hazards. Occupational safety knowledge and first aid proficiency are essential for ensuring comprehensive workplace safety. Knowledge of safety mitigates the risks, whereas first aid offers prompt assistance. ...
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Background: Industrial work environments, such as cement factories, present considerable occupational hazards. Occupational safety knowledge and first aid proficiency are essential for ensuring comprehensive workplace safety. Knowledge of safety mitigates the risks, whereas first aid offers prompt assistance. Despite advancements, gaps remain in workers’ integrated knowledge of safety and emergency response. An integrated understanding is crucial for implementing effective safety practices. This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of cement factory workers in Iraq regarding occupational safety and first aid. More importantly, we sought to establish the relationship between their knowledge in these two areas and aimed to determine whether a correlation existed between the workers’ demographic characteristics and their knowledge.Methods: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between December 26, 2024, and February 28, 2025, using a convenience sampling technique. The study included 350 workers recruited from five cement factories in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire consisting of three main sections: socio-demographic characteristics, occupational safety knowledge, and first aid knowledge. The validity of the instrument was established through expert review, and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and the Kruskal–Walli’s test. Results: The study showed disparate degrees of expertise in both domains. The general proficiency in first aid was assessed as “Fair” (mean score 1.31), revealing deficiencies in areas such as burns and bone injuries. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the workers’ knowledge of first aid and their understanding of workplace safety. Moreover, substantial correlations were identified between their knowledge in both areas and their socio-demographic features (e.g., age, level of education, and years of service).Conclusion: The results demonstrated a significant association between occupational safety and workers’ first aid knowledge in the cement industry. Persistent gaps in first aid awareness emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive, practical training programs tailored to address these deficiencies. Such programs must be specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of the workforce to foster a robust safety culture, with special attention to employees with lower educational backgrounds or limited experience. Moreover, these findings demonstrate the value of implementing clear policies and strategies aligned with international safety standards, such as those advocated by the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, to institutionalize safety procedures effectively. Integrating recommendations for occupational safety into factory regulations will promote adherence and systematic risk management. Economically, improving first aid and safety knowledge can lead to reduced workplace injuries, minimizing lost workdays and associated costs, thereby enhancing overall productivity and operational efficiency. This underscores the value of investing in ongoing safety education to protect employees and optimize industrial performance.
Original Article
Pannawadee Singkaew; Prakasit Tonchoy; Phakinee Suta
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated non pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) significantly disrupted respiratory disease transmission worldwide. However, comparative evidence across time, geography, and seasonality in Southeast Asia remains limited. To examine changes in incidence, spatial ...
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated non pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) significantly disrupted respiratory disease transmission worldwide. However, comparative evidence across time, geography, and seasonality in Southeast Asia remains limited. To examine changes in incidence, spatial distribution, and seasonal patterns of pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), and influenza in Thailand across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using national surveillance data from all 77 Thai provinces (2014-2024). Monthly incidence rates were analyzed using negative binomial regression. Spatial patterns were visualized through choropleth maps and regional incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Seasonality was assessed using seasonal-trend decomposition (STL) and two-way ANOVA (Month×Period).Results: Influenza incidence dropped sharply during 2020–2021 and rebounded over 30-fold post-pandemic (IRR_PD2=34.36, 95% CI: 24.26–48.72). Pneumonia declined by 37% in 2021 (IRR_D2=0.63, 95% CI: 0.41–0.96), and then rose significantly post-pandemic (IRR_PD2=1.97, 95% CI: 1.39–2.78). TB remained relatively stable. Influenza suppression was spatially uniform, with rebounds clustered in urban provinces. Pneumonia showed uneven regional resurgence; TB patterns remained geographically consistent. Seasonal cycles for all diseases re-emerged after the pandemic. Influenza exhibited a new mid-year peak, pneumonia aligned with rainy and winter months, and TB maintained a January–May peak.Conclusions: The pandemic induced pathogen-specific shifts in respiratory disease dynamics in Thailand. Influenza and pneumonia showed marked suppression and atypical rebounds, while TB patterns remained steady. These findings underscore the need for adaptive surveillance, sustained TB services, and spatially responsive planning to strengthen future respiratory disease preparedness.
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