Parisa Naseri; Bahman Ahadinejad; Mohammad Amerzadeh; Fariba Hashemi; Sima Rafiei
Abstract
Background: Ensuring equal utilization of health services has always been a priority in health systems globally. Iran implemented reforms such as the Health Transformation Plan (HTP), in which one objective was to reduce inequity in access to inpatient and outpatient services. These studies aimed to ...
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Background: Ensuring equal utilization of health services has always been a priority in health systems globally. Iran implemented reforms such as the Health Transformation Plan (HTP), in which one objective was to reduce inequity in access to inpatient and outpatient services. These studies aimed to measure inequality in health services utilization in Qazvin, Iran, and clarify inpatient and outpatient utilization patterns among socioeconomic subgroups of the population.Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 442 households living in Qazvin, Iran, in 2019. We collected data using a tool that included demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and health services utilization. We applied the concentration index to measure inequality and performed data analysis using STATA 15.Results: Based on our estimates, the utilization rates of outpatient and inpatient services in the study sample were 0.89±1.39 and 0.45±0.94, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the use of outpatient healthcare services in terms of gender and insurance coverage of the households, while literacy, age, and health condition had statistically significant effects on inpatient healthcare utilization (P<0.05). Furthermore, the marginal effects of age and literacy on the utilization of outpatient services were statistically significant (P<0.05), so that literacy and aging increased the outpatient HSU. Except for age, the marginal effects of other characteristics on the utilization of inpatient services were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion: Our findings indicated that inequality in healthcare utilization reduced over time, showing that in addition to reducing inequality in HSU, population groups with lower socio-economic status have benefited more from both inpatient and outpatient services.
Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan; Zahra Hoseinipalangi; Samira Raoofi; Sima Rafiei; Hossein Hosseinifard; Maryam Masoumi; Hooman Koohestan; Afsaneh Dehnad; Sepideh Aghalou; Faranak Rokhtabnak; Azadeh Laali; Saba Ahmadi; Niloofar Ahmadi; Ahmad Ghashghaee
Abstract
Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known as one of the most chronic conditions, having significant effects on physical and mental health status in infected individuals, and thus reducing their quality of life (QoL).Methods: I n t ...
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Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known as one of the most chronic conditions, having significant effects on physical and mental health status in infected individuals, and thus reducing their quality of life (QoL).Methods: I n t his s ystematic r eview, t he d ata w ere i nitially collected from the databases of Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from January 2000 to September 2020 based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The data were then analyzed by using the R software.Results: A total number of 25 research articles addressing the QoL in 5,952 HIV/AIDS patients were evaluated using three valid questionnaires, including the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life in HIV-Infected Persons (WHOQoL-HIV). Based on the MOS-HIV, the SF-36, and the WHOQoL-HIV questionnaires, the QoL mean scores in HIV/AIDS patients were 51.80 (49.4- 54.57), 54.81 (52.68-56.93), and 13.62 (11.97-15.26), respectively. In addition, the physical items gained a higher mean score than the mental ones in all the questionnaires. The QoL showed higher mean scores in the SF-36 and the WHOQoL-HIV questionnaires in Africa, except for the MOS-HIV questionnaire, which had the highest mean score in North America.Conclusion: Overall, the QoL in HIV/AIDS patients in this study was acceptable, even though further changes and studies are still required to support the findings.
Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan; Niloofar Ahmadi; Sima Rafiei; Maryam Masoumi; Omid Elahifar; Maryam Doustmehraban; Hajar Eshtod; Zahra Hosseinipalangi; Mobina Navidriahy; Zahra Nejatifar; Negin Gholamali; Farnaz Zarabi; Fatemeh Seyghalani Talab; Shayeste MohamadRahimi; Rana Soheylirad; Batool Sadat Hoseini; Mona Rajabi; Ahmad Ghashghaee
Abstract
Background: Strict adherence to safety precautions and, most importantly, social distancing and isolation of people infected with the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) virus have considerably affected the daily life activities of individuals and overshadowed their routine lifestyle. We conducted a systematic ...
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Background: Strict adherence to safety precautions and, most importantly, social distancing and isolation of people infected with the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) virus have considerably affected the daily life activities of individuals and overshadowed their routine lifestyle. We conducted a systematic review to provide evidence-based information for clinicians, health policymakers, and social workers in developing useful interventions to effectively mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic on people’s life and health condition.Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, studies assessing quality of life (QOL) among the population during the COVID-19 pandemic were searched in four main databases and Google Scholar from the onset of the epidemic to May 2021 with Mesh terms of quality of life and Covid-19.Results: We included 23058 people who participated in 33 studies; the total quality of life score was estimated at 59.45 (95% CI, 56.33-62.58). Based on the analysis, for each year added to participants’ age, their quality of life score was reduced by -0.3%. Furthermore, a significant association between gender and QOL was affirmed, indicating a more favorable condition among men. The highest score of QOL was reported in AMRO at 66.77 (95% CI, 60.55-73) and WPRO at 64.79 (95% CI, 59.30-70.28), respectively, while SEARO with 47.95 (95% CI, 47.67-48.23) got the lowest score.Conclusion: Our review robustly recommends the necessity for community health promotion programs to be implemented in vulnerable community segments and adds corresponding knowledge to the existing literature about the status of quality of life in people with different socio-demographic characteristics living in different regions worldwide.
Sima Rafiei; Ahad Alizadeh; Rohollah Kalhor; Aidin Aryankhesal; Ahmad Ghashghaee
Abstract
Background: The pandemic of COVID-19 affect all healthcare systems globally, and its effect on different hospital performance indicators has been debated. The study aimed to compare the impacts of COVID-19 on hospital performance indicators using pre-and post-pandemic data from training hospitals.Methods: ...
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Background: The pandemic of COVID-19 affect all healthcare systems globally, and its effect on different hospital performance indicators has been debated. The study aimed to compare the impacts of COVID-19 on hospital performance indicators using pre-and post-pandemic data from training hospitals.Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study of hospital performance indicators from two healthcare facilities affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in the north-west of Iran. The R statistical software was used to analyze monthly data on three basic performance indicators, including bed turnover, average length of stay (LOS), and bed occupancy rate before and during the outbreak of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).Results: The pandemic had a remarkable effect on the level of bed turnover, the average length of stay (LOS), and the bed occupancy rate after one month from the COVID-19 outbreak (P<0.05). Moreover, regression results showed that after the pandemic, the first two mentioned indicators increased monthly at 108.18 and 0.15, respectively, while LOS decreased by 0.09 monthly (P<0.05).Conclusion: Based on the study findings, a significant decline in hospital occupancy rate and bed turnover was observed after one month since the beginning of the outbreak. This reduction was associated with a longer LOS. Using ITS in pandemics such as COVID-19 can evaluate the effect of various policies on outcome measures and help policymakers make effective decisions.
Sima Rafiei; Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan; Samira Raoofi; Maryam Masoumi; Omid Elahifar; Maryam Doustmehraban; Zahra Hosseinipalangi; Sepideh Rezaei; Mahmoud Nasiri; Ahmad Ghashghaee
Abstract
Background: Depression and anxiety are the psychological problems that have intensified during Covid-19 and have affected the psychological well being of people. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Middle East countries.Methods: In this review, ...
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Background: Depression and anxiety are the psychological problems that have intensified during Covid-19 and have affected the psychological well being of people. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Middle East countries.Methods: In this review, we searched for studies aiming to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic among the general population in databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar from January 2020 to February 2021. We used the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis-2 software for data analyses and generated forest plots of the summary pooled prevalence.Results: In this systematic review, 55 articles with a total sample size of 28128 people were included. The pooled analysis of depression and anxiety amid the pandemic was estimated at 41% and 39%, respectively. Based on the study results, Iraq and Egypt had the highest prevalence rates of depression at 88% and 82%, respectively. Regarding anxiety, the highest and lowest prevalence rates were reported for Egypt with 91% and Qatar with 17%.Conclusion: To effectively provide mental health services for people, particularly the ones who are suspected of higher risk of depression and anxiety, it is necessary to identify individuals who are more likely to be suffered from psychological problems.