Review Articles
Reza Pourbabaki; Mojtaba Emkani; Zabiholah Damiri; Moslem Alimohammadlou; Mehdi Jahangiri
Abstract
Background: One of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among infectious diseases is acute respiratory infections. Masks are often recommended as proper personal protective equipment for preventing the spread of respiratory infections. This study aims to provide valuable insights into historical ...
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Background: One of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among infectious diseases is acute respiratory infections. Masks are often recommended as proper personal protective equipment for preventing the spread of respiratory infections. This study aims to provide valuable insights into historical and current trends in research on mask performance, with a particular focus on hotspots and trend studies.Methods: In this Systematic Review, relevant studies on face mask efficacy were retrieved from the Web of Science (data extracted on July 15, 2023). The selected articles were analyzed using VOSviewer, R (Bibliometrix package), and Tableau tovisualize geographic distributions, conduct bibliometric analyses, and map research trends across countries, institutions, keywords, and journals.Results: The number of articles published in 2020 and 2021 has increased significantly. Overall, 1193 papers were identified, published by authors from 88 countries. According to literature citations, the journal “PloS ONE” published the most research on the topic. Fabric mask filtration performance was evaluated in the two documents with the highest total link strength. With the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world, studies were more focused on fit tests and filtration of surgical, medical, and N95 masks, indicating that researchers are exploring the effectiveness of masks to ensure the effectiveness of face masks.Conclusion: This study suggests potential knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness of face masks, so future research should focus on challenges such as uncertain efficacy and fitness.
Review Articles
Shiva Ebrahimian Dehaghani; Adine Ranjbari; Ghazal Rostami Pour Fard; Mohebat Vali
Abstract
Background: One of the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is social communication deficits. Joint attention (JA) is broadly used as a main component in receptive and expressive language. Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment ( PACT) i s a JA t reatment for c hildren w ith A SD. ...
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Background: One of the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is social communication deficits. Joint attention (JA) is broadly used as a main component in receptive and expressive language. Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment ( PACT) i s a JA t reatment for c hildren w ith A SD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of the PACT method on improving receptive and expressive language in ASDs symptoms.Methods: A comprehensive search of databases was performed to find relevant studies published from 1990 to September 26, 2023. The researchers included only English randomized controlled trials of PACT for children with ASD (≥18 years old). Studies were excluded if they reported only qualified information and results on the efficacy or inefficacy of the intervention and did not include a control group.Results: The results of the Hedges g study showed that PACT had a very large effect (Hedges g=0.846 95%CI: 0.075, 1.616, P=0.031) on synchronous parent act, a small effect (Hedges g=0.186 95%CI: -0.082, 0.455, P=0.174) on adaptive behavior, a medium effect (Hedges g=0.505 95%CI: 0.288, 0.722, P<0.001) on child’s initiations,,a small effect (Hedges g=0.091 95%CI:- 0.097, 0.279, P=0.343) on expressive language and finally a small effect (Hedges g=0.079 P=0.410) on receptive language.Conclusion: These findings may lead clinicians to use PACT along with other intervention methods, which show promising impacts on the improvement of language. This approach may help children with ASD to develop a more efficient interaction with their parents and simultaneously a better language development.
Original Article
Ratna Dian Kurniawati; Martini Martini; Nur Endah Wahyuningsih; Dwi Sutiningsih
Abstract
Background: Dengue fever in Indonesia is still high, and Bandung ranked the highest in the 33rd week of 2023. Dengue fever is a neglected tropical disease transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti. The school environment is at risk of DHF transmission because the biting time of Aedes aegypti coincides ...
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Background: Dengue fever in Indonesia is still high, and Bandung ranked the highest in the 33rd week of 2023. Dengue fever is a neglected tropical disease transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti. The school environment is at risk of DHF transmission because the biting time of Aedes aegypti coincides with student learning hours. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Aedes aegypti larvae and their density in the elementary school environment.Methods: This study is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. The population of this study was all elementary schools in Bandung City, with 59 samples based on Slovin. The sample was determination using random number generation.Results: Environmental conditions of elementary schools are associated with the presence of larvae, with a P-value of 0.016. Observation results showed that 23 (39%) elementary schools found Aedes aegypti larvae. The House Index (HI) calculation was 39% and it was categorized at level 6 in the Fluke Index table. This indicates a high density of larvae. Breeding sites with larvae were in flower vases and water reservoirs in dispensers.Conclusion: Overall, our research findings indicate that the environment is a factor related to the discovery of Aedes aegypti larvae in elementary schools. With a high density of mosquito larvae, the school environment has the potential to spread dengue fever quickly.
Original Article
Athmar A. Shaheed; Khatam M. AL-Mousawi
Abstract
Background: Mothers play a crucial role in managing pain in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Nonpharmacological methods are essential in pain management, but mothers’ knowledge in this area is often limited. This study aimed to determine the effect of an educational intervention on ...
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Background: Mothers play a crucial role in managing pain in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Nonpharmacological methods are essential in pain management, but mothers’ knowledge in this area is often limited. This study aimed to determine the effect of an educational intervention on mothers’ knowledge regarding non pharmacological methods of pain management in children with T1DM in Merjan Medical City - Al Hillah in Iraq.Methods: A non-probability sample of 110 mothers was initially selected. However, 10 mothers were included in a pilot study, leaving 100 mothers for the main study. These 100 mothers were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (50 mothers) or the control group (50 mothers). The intervention group received a 6-session educational intervention, each lasting 50 minutes, focusing on T1DM management and non-pharmacological pain management strategies. A self-developed questionnaire assessed mothers’ knowledge at three distinct time points: before the intervention, immediately after, and three months post-intervention.Results: No significant differences were found between the groups before the intervention. However, the intervention group showed significant improvement in the knowledge of T1DM scores (P<0.001) and non-pharmacological pain management strategies scores (P<0.001) immediately and three months after the intervention, with a mean increase of 7.1 and 7.34 points, respectively. No significant change was observed in the control group.Conclusion: The study demonstrates the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving the mothers’ knowledge of non-pharmacological pain management strategies for children with T1DM. The findings highlight the need for healthcare providers to prioritize education and support for mothers, empowering them to manage their children’s pain effectively. Future studies should build on the findings of this study by exploring the long-term effects of educational interventions on mothers’ knowledge and skills as well as the impact on health outcomes for children with T1DM.
Original Article
Mohammad Amin Gorouhi; Abbas Aghaei Afshar; Godwin Nutifafa Gidiglo; Leila Shirani- Bidabadi; Fatemeh Seyedi-Marghaki; Saideh Yousefi; Ismaeil Alizadeh
Abstract
Background: Malaria is among the most important parasitic diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an important healthproblem in many countries, especially tropical and subtropical countries. This study aimed to design an educational software for malaria and evaluate the satisfaction level of the software ...
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Background: Malaria is among the most important parasitic diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an important healthproblem in many countries, especially tropical and subtropical countries. This study aimed to design an educational software for malaria and evaluate the satisfaction level of the software application among students of Vector Biology and Control of Disease in Kerman University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through the following two stages: 1. design and creation of educational software for Malaria and 2. Assessment of the level of satisfaction in the use of an electronic questionnaire among 75 students. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24.Results: In the present study, educational software for malaria was designed and created. The results of the study showed that 53 (70.7%) of the participants were females and 22 (29.3%) of them were males. According to the results, 100% of users considered the software installation, size, and working speed easy and appropriate. 93.3% of students stated that images in the software could convey the necessary content. Also, 100% of users found it easy to use the software and communicate with the software developers. According to the results, more than 80% of students in this study preferred using this educational software to reading texts.Conclusion: This educational software is recommended for use by the target community, experts in the healthcare sector, and students in medical universities, especially students of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases.
Original Article
Fahimeh Ahmadian; Saeed Rajabi; Abooalfazl Azhdarpoor
Abstract
Background: This study evaluates the seasonal and annual variations of PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and SO₂ concentrations in Tehran’s ambient air from 2019 to 2021 and assesses their associated health risks.Methods: Non-carcinogenic health risks were quantified using the U.S. Environmental Protection ...
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Background: This study evaluates the seasonal and annual variations of PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and SO₂ concentrations in Tehran’s ambient air from 2019 to 2021 and assesses their associated health risks.Methods: Non-carcinogenic health risks were quantified using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodology. Sobol sensitivity analysis was conducted in R (version 4.1.2), andArcGIS (version 10.8.1) was used to map the spatial distribution of pollutants.Results: The annual mean concentrations of PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and SO₂ ranged from 28.24–32.34 μg/m³, 69.57–82.22 μg/m³, and 14.94–17.98 μg/m³, respectively, exceeding WHO air quality guidelines. PM₂.₅ and SO₂ levels were highest in the west and southwest, while PM₁₀ was most prevalent in the east and northeast. The hazard quotient (HQ) for PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ exceeded 1 in 8- and 12-hour exposure scenarios, indicating significant health risks. However, the HQ for SO₂ remained below 1 across all exposure durations, suggesting no immediate health threat. At 3-hour exposures, the HQ for PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ was below 1, underscoring the role of exposure duration in health risks. Sobol sensitivity analysis identified PM₂.₅ concentration as the most influential factor affecting health risk.Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need for regulatory interventions to mitigate PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ pollution in Tehran, particularly in high-exposure regions. Effective control measures should prioritize reducing emissions to protect public health.
Original Article
Mohadeseh Lakzaei; Fatemeh Jafari; Mohammad Mohammadi Abnavi; Saeed Keshvari; Hamed Karami
Abstract
Background: Rabies is one of the important diseases and is usually transmitted by the bite of infected animals. This study investigated the epidemiological situation of animal bites in northeastern Iran from 2017 to 2021.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Sampling was done by census, and all animal ...
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Background: Rabies is one of the important diseases and is usually transmitted by the bite of infected animals. This study investigated the epidemiological situation of animal bites in northeastern Iran from 2017 to 2021.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Sampling was done by census, and all animal bite cases, including 3679 people, were enrolled in the study. Cases of animal bites registered at the rabies treatment centers by Esfarayen County in the North of Khorasan province, from 2017 to 2021, were analyzed. Thetool for collecting information was the portal of the Ministry of Health, and SPSS version 26.0 was used for data analysis.Results: The mean age of the subjects under study was 33.9±20.4 years; of them, 2636 (71.6) were men and 838 (22.8) were students. 1448 (97.6%) of those with upper body injuries referred to the health center for less than 48 hours. 2024 (94.3%) were bitten by a dog and most of the bites (N=1055, 28.7%) happened in spring. The incidence of animal bites was 25.54 per thousand people. The trend has increased since the beginning of the study from 476 per 100,000 in 2017 to 648 per 100,000 in 2021 (P<0.001).Conclusion: Considering the increase in animal bite cases in Esfarayen County and the loss of life and money caused by it, including the risk of rabies transmission and increasing costs of vaccination and serum therapy, the cooperation of related organizations and interventions is necessary to reduce animal bite cases.
Original Article
Fatemeh Rezaei; Mousa Ghelichi-Ghojogh; Farzaneh Mobasheri; Sanaz Amiri; Elahe Piraee; Seyed Sina Dehghani; Amir Hossein Hassani; Kimia Jokari; Alireza Mirahmadizadeh
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) became a public health threat to global public health in late 2019. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lifestyle factors and the COVID-19 epidemiological indicators, including cumulative incidence rate, the cumulative rate of death, ...
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Background: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) became a public health threat to global public health in late 2019. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lifestyle factors and the COVID-19 epidemiological indicators, including cumulative incidence rate, the cumulative rate of death, recovery rate, and case fatality rate.Methods: In this ecological study, aggregate data were used. Information about COVID-19 for each country was retrieved from https://www.worldometers.info/ from the date of the first report until November 30th, 2020. The information on the prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity in 2019 was collected from https://www.indexmundi.com/. Moreover, the information on the prevalence of physical inactivity was obtained from the WHO website. We drew scatter plots of lifestyle factors based on COVID-19 indices.Results: Results showed that the cumulative incidence rate and cumulative rate of death had significant direct correlations with the prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption (P<0.05). This means that the countries with a high prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption had increased indicators such as the cumulative incidence rate and cumulative rate of death (P<0.05). There were also significant inverse correlations between the recovery rate and the prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption (P<0.05).Conclusion: There are significant correlations between the cumulative incidence rate, the cumulative rate of death, and the recovery rate of COVID-19 with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop lifestyle modification strategies that can lead to reduction of the morbidity and mortality of this disease.
Original Article
Sahar Mohammadnabizadeh; Farshad Sharifi; Mehdi Varmaghani
Abstract
Background: Changes in health conditions can be influenced by different social variables. These components can modify and improve people’s overall health. This study aimed to explore the role of social capital, social isolation, social support, and life satisfaction in relation to university students’ ...
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Background: Changes in health conditions can be influenced by different social variables. These components can modify and improve people’s overall health. This study aimed to explore the role of social capital, social isolation, social support, and life satisfaction in relation to university students’ health-related quality of life.Methods: In the present cross-sectional investigation, 250 students of the Faculty of Health at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected using simple random sampling. The data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire, social capital, social isolation, social support, and life satisfaction, and 36-item short-form health survey questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. Moreover, the Structural Equation Model was applied using Amos.Results: Results showed several significant predictors which were displayed as values of standardized beta. Individuals’ health-related quality of life was associated significantly with higher social capital, social support, and life satisfaction, and lower social isolation. As shown in the model, social capital was the strongest health-related quality of life predictor.Conclusion: Considering these findings, it is crucial for public health policies to prioritize fostering social relationships between people, particularly among individuals who are at a higher social isolation. By addressing these issues, efforts can be made to reduce health inequalities and promote overall well-being, especially among university students.
Original Article
Mostafa Mohammadian; Reza Kazemi; Sina Mollahoseini; Andy Smith
Abstract
Background: In open-plan office environments, irrelevant speech noise (ISN) is a common complaint among employees, leading to reduced performance. This study aimed to assess the impact of music on the working memory performance of individuals exposed to ISN in simulated open-plan offices. Additionally, ...
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Background: In open-plan office environments, irrelevant speech noise (ISN) is a common complaint among employees, leading to reduced performance. This study aimed to assess the impact of music on the working memory performance of individuals exposed to ISN in simulated open-plan offices. Additionally, we sought to examine any differential effects of music between male and female participants.Methods: In this experimental study, participants were selected through convenient sampling. Their working memory performance was evaluated using n-back (n=1, 2) tests conducted with software while they were exposed to irrelevant speech noise (ISN) alone and a combination of ISN and music. Sampling took place over one month during the spring season in the acoustic laboratory of the Faculty of Health in Shiraz, Iran.Results: Thirty students, including 15 females, with an ags range of 18 to 38 (Mean=25.27, Standard Deviation=6.03), participated in the study. The results showed a significant increase in the accuracy of participants’ responses to both simple and difficult tasks of the n-back (n=1, 2) test when music was played compared to the ISNonly condition. However, there was no significant difference between the conditions regarding reaction times in the working memory test.Conclusion: In the present study, the inclusion of music, specifically “For Elise,” emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing working memory amidst the presence of open-plan office noise. This finding underscores the potential of utilizing music as an effective strategy for improving cognitive performance in such environments. Given its cost-effectiveness and simplicity of implementation, incorporating background music like “For Elise” can be recommended as a favorable method for mitigating the negative impacts of noise in open-plan offices.
Original Article
Taleb Andarz; Isa Mohammadi Zeidi; Saeed Shahsavari; Amin Pakpur
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to determine the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on self-control, self-efficacy, andrelapse rate in clients undergoing substance abuse treatment in Foman city, Iran.Methods: Using a multi-stage random sampling, 72 patients undergoing substance abuse treatment were ...
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Background: This study aimed to determine the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on self-control, self-efficacy, andrelapse rate in clients undergoing substance abuse treatment in Foman city, Iran.Methods: Using a multi-stage random sampling, 72 patients undergoing substance abuse treatment were equally divided into an experimental and control group and participated in this experimental study. Patients participated in eight 45-60- minute motivational interviewing sessions based on Miller’s recommendations. Data were collected before and 3 months after the MI using demographic questions, temptation questionnaire, Tangney’s self-control scale, general self-efficacy scale, and relapse prediction questionnaire (short form).Results: After controlling the effect of the pretest, the mean of temptation significantly decreased in the experimental group after the MI, and the mean of self-efficacy and self-control increased significantly in the experimental group after the MI (P<0.001). In addition, the mean intensity of desire and the probability of consumption improved significantly in the experimental group after MI, after controlling for the pre-test effect (P<0.001).Conclusion: MI is a promising approach to reduce the relapse rate in addicted patients receiving treatment. Therefore, it is suggested that the effectiveness of common drug therapy for successful substance abuse treatment can be increased by including MI in the treatment protocol.
Original Article
Zahra Arabkermani; Roxana Sharifian; Peivand Bastani; Azadeh Bashiri; Abbas Sheikhtaheri
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is a prevalent skin disorder that has significant biological and social consequences for the affected individuals. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to diagnose this disease and treat patients, and powerful information and monitoring systems, such as a registry, are ...
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Background: Vitiligo is a prevalent skin disorder that has significant biological and social consequences for the affected individuals. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to diagnose this disease and treat patients, and powerful information and monitoring systems, such as a registry, are required. This study aimed to identify the design requirements for vitiligo registry in Iran.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a content analysis approach in 2020. In total, 9 dermatologists and health information management and medical informatics specialists working in Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad universities of medical sciences were interviewed. The participants were selected by a non-random purposive sampling method. The data were analyzed manually using thematic analysis approach.Results: In this study, 7 major themes and 14 sub-themes were obtained regarding vitiligo registry design requirements. The major themes included registry objectives, structure, data sources, inclusion criteria, classification system, data quality control, and data reporting.Conclusion: In total, 7 major themes and 14 sub-themes were identified to design the vitiligo registry. Developing a vitiligo registry based on these requirements could provide a better understanding of this disease, deliver high-quality services to patients across the country, and facilitate research on this disease.
Letter to Editor
Batool Zeidabadi; Khadijeh Ahmadzadeh
Abstract
This article has no abstract.
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This article has no abstract.
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