Search

Background: Each of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has its characteristics that can affect their effectiveness in preventing hospitalization and patient mortality. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including whole-virus, protein-based, and vector-based on COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality. Methods: The current cohort study was conducted using the data of all people who received at least two doses of each type of COVID-19 vaccine from March 2020 to August 2022 in Khorasan Rzavi province. Quantitative data were characterized using measures of central tendency and dispersion, while the risks of infection, hospitalization, and mortality were assessed for each type of vaccine. Logistic regression was employed to evaluate the effect of various vaccine types on infection rate, hospitalization, and mortality while adjusting for other independent variables. Results: In this study, over 2 million vaccinated individuals had received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Whole-virus vaccines, which had an infection rate of 3%, a hospitalization rate of 1.4%, and a mortality rate of 0.2%, were the most effective vaccines. The study also identified several factors associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality, including kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, respiratory issues, age, sex, diabetes, olfactory dysfunction, fever, chills, body mass index (BMI), and the type of vaccine. Conclusion: This study highlights the substantial impact of COVID-19 vaccination in reducing infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates in Iran. The results support the use of whole-virus and vector-based vaccines as more effective options for preventing COVID-19 outcomes. The study also emphasizes the importance of considering various factors, including medical history and side effects, when evaluating the effectiveness of different vaccine types. The findings of this study can inform public health policy and vaccination strategies in Iran and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human resources play a highly important role in providing health services. The aim of this study was to determine the human resources required for the linear accelerator sector at Reza Radiotherapy-Oncology Center. Methods: This applied analytical-descriptive study utilized human resources determination method based on workload indicator of staffing needs. Expert meetings were held to determine the components of workload and standard time. A survey was used to confirm the standard time of main activities, and interviews and personnel information system were used to determine the amount and factors related to available working time. Furthermore, management system and registries were used to determine the annual workload. The data were analyzed using the Excel and SPSS software version 19. Results: Seven factors related to the annually available working time of employees were identified. Annually available working time for employees was set at 806 hours. Patient preparation, treatment, surgery, and case completion were identified as the main activities. The results of workload index calculations showed that the accelerator sector had a shortage of three people. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Reza Radiotherapy- Oncology Center is experiencing a shortage of professional staff in the linear accelerator sector. It seems that using the workload indicator of staffing needs method to determine and distribute the required human recourses is a necessary step for the optimal management of human recourses in specialized sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease with regressive episodic symptoms. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma ever (lifetime prevalence of asthma) and the associated factors among newly entered students in public universities in Iran. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was part of the "Mental and Physical Health Assessment of University Students in Iran." The target population included all newly admitted students (N = 151,671) in 74 public universities in 28 provinces (out of the 31 provinces) in Iran. STATA version 12 was used for calculating the descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify relationships between asthma and socioeconomic variables. The level of significance was set at 95% confidence interval. Results: Of a total of 79,277 participants, 55.23% (n = 43,785) and 44.77% (n = 35,492) were female and male, respectively. The prevalence of ever asthma among studied student was 1.89%. Of all the participants with asthma, 88.43% (85.49%-90.84%) were nonsmokers. More than 20% of the subjects were physically inactive. The respondents who revealed smoking >10 cigarettes/week were about 1.22 (1.036-1.437) times more likely to suffer from asthma disease (0.017), as compared with those who were not smoking. Conclusions: Our study provides valuable information about the prevalence of asthma ever symptoms among university students in Iran. In fact, the results of this study can fill information gaps concerning the affected groups in Iran, and even worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Designing and implementing a model for estimation and distribution of required nurse is one of strategies to prevent unequal distribution of nurses within and between hospitals. The purpose of this research was to determine required features for hospital nursing staff estimation model. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using a Colaizzi analysis approach. We used semi-structure and in-depth interviews by purposive, quota, and snowball sampling of 32 participants (10 informed experts in area of policy making in human resources in Ministry of Health, 10 decisions making in employment and distribution of human resources in treatment and administrative chancellors of medical universities, and 12 process owners in hospitals). The data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti software version 6.0.15. Results: The ten following sub-themes emerged from data analysis: Skill mix and task shifting, work measurement, legal support, stakeholder involvement in designing a model, considering the ward activity, considering type and extent of care patients required, model development by experts predominate in nursing process, considering the nurses availability, considering the capabilities and professional merits of nurses, fitness with social, cultural, and belief of people. The main themes were occupation analysis, planning and policy making, real workload, acceptability, nurses' efficiency, and being a native. Conclusions: Given that standardization of nursing staff estimation is announced as one of the challenges in reaching Iran's 20-year vision plan. Hence, design and implementation of a nursing staff estimation model in regard to identified features could be part of priorities in Ministry of Health in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Family doctor is a medical specialization that provides families and people of all ages, genders and diseases with comprehensive ongoing health services.Objective: The present study wasconducted to describe challenges in the rural family physician program from the perspective of family physician program directors and family doctors in Iran using a qualitative approach.Methods: We conducted interviews with 13 family physician program directors and 8 family doctors selected through purposive snowball sampling. The initial in-depth unstructured interviews were reviewed and transformed into semi-structured ones. The data obtained were analyzed in ATLAS.ti using the conceptual framework method.Results: Nine main concepts (comprehensive planning, medical insurance system, compensation for services, performance evaluation, welfare facilities, recruiting and retaining a workforce, information system, culture-building and financing) and 27 subgroups emerged from the analysis of the data.Conclusion: The main challenges in the family physician program include cultural, economic and environmental factors and work conditions. The implementation of this program can be improved through building a community culture and exercising minor and major modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the important causes of medical errors and unintentional harm to patients is ineffective communication. The important part of this skill, in case it has been forgotten, is listening. The objective of this study was to determine whether managers in hospitals listen actively. Methods: This study was conducted between May and June 2014 among three levels of managers at teaching hospitals in Kerman, Iran. Active Listening skill among hospital managers was measured by self-made Active Listening Skill Scale (ALSS), which consists of the key elements of active listening and has five subscales, i.e., Avoiding Interruption, Maintaining Interest, Postponing Evaluation, Organizing Information, and Showing Interest. The data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS software, version 20, and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, the chi-squared test, and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean score of active listening in hospital managers was 2.32 out of 3.The highest score (2.27) was obtained by the first-level managers, and the top managers got the lowest score (2.16). Hospital mangers were best in showing interest and worst in avoiding interruptions. The area of employment was a significant predictor of avoiding interruption and the managers' gender was a strong predictor of skill in maintaining interest (p < 0.05). The type of management and education can predict postponing evaluation, and the length of employment can predict showing interest (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a necessity for the development of strategies to create more awareness among the hospital managers concerning their active listening skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: In medical organizations, nurses utilize evidence-based practice (EBP) in order to evaluate their skills, develop and implement policies and procedures, carry out effective clinical interventions, and prepare care plans to enhance positive outcomes for patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the nurses' understanding of EBP and its relevant barriers in the selected hospitals in Iran. Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical research that was conducted using a cross-sectional design in order to investigate the nurses' understanding of EBP and its barriers. In so doing, 260 nurses were randomly selected from 6 teaching hospitals in Qazvin, Iran. Upton Evidence-based Practice Questionnaire and Funk et al. Barriers Scale were employed to measure EBP dimensions and the relevant barriers, respectively. For analyze of collected data, frequency distribution tables, ANOVA, and linear regression coefficient were used. Results: According to the results of the present study, the level of the nurses' understanding of EBP was totally over the average (3.91 out of 7), and the mean practice, attitude, and knowledge/skill were respectively 4.14, 3.78, and 3.74. The total mean of the barriers was 3.07. The organizational and adopter dimensions had the maximum and minimum means, respectively. There were a significant relationships between adopter and communication with practice There were also significant relationship between the adopter and organization with Knowledge/Skills (p<0.05). Conclusion: Administering educational programs based on needs assessment obtained from the results of the present study can lead to an improvement in the level of the nurses' knowledge about EBP. In addition, since the existing barriers influence the effective conduction of EBP, removing such barriers by creating the necessary infrastructures and supplying human, physical, and financial resources can help with the achievement of its goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Family physician is the increasing efforts to promote physician and other human resources in the health care systems., Goal: Investigate Human resources situation of the family physician program in six pilot cities in Khuzestan province in the southwest of Iran., Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to examine the family physician program in 2011. In this study, 15 healthcare teams in six pilot cities in Iran were assessed. Data was compiled from family physician officer document in vice treatment of Ahwaz University of medical sciences. National instructions of family physician was used to identify current gaps., Results: The survey findings indicated that there is a doctor's shortage about 36% in the health team that deployed in the first level of referral system. Also on the team, the 34% shortage of nurses and 60% shortages of nutrition personnel are seen. Specialists with offices in cities of second referral level, there have not welcomed the program., Conclusions: It seems that to facilitate patient access to physicians under contract with family physician program and the referral system in level two and level three, adopting arrangements to attract specialists and improving their maintenance is necessary.