The effect of spaced E-Learning on knowledge of basic life support and satisfaction of nursing students: a quasi-experimental study.

AIM: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is essential for all students, especially nursing students. One of the educational approaches to creating long-term learning in inclusive is spaced learning. Spaced learning consists of three or more training sessions in which information is presented over time and at intervals. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of basic life support (BLS) training through spaced E-learning on the knowledge and satisfaction of nursing students. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study with two groups, 106 undergraduate nursing students of Alborz University of Medical Sciences in Iran participated. The control group (n = 47) received BLS training with massed E-learning in one three-hour session, and the intervention group (n = 59) received spaced E-learning in three one-hour sessions. An electronic questionnaire including demographic information and a pre-test of BLS knowledge were sent to both groups. Also, immediately after receiving the training, two weeks later and one month later, they completed a post-test of BLS knowledge. Students were asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with the provided education by completing the SLS-OLE. RESULTS: The post-test scores immediately after, two weeks later, and one month later of the intervention group were higher than the control group. The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that the score changes of knowledge are significant over time (p < 0.001), the number of sessions (p < 0.001), and the interactive effect of them (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the level of satisfaction with education in both groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, BLS training in both groups increased the knowledge of BLS. however, the increase in knowledge and its retention was higher in the intervention group that received the training in spaced learning.

The effect of micro-learning on trauma care knowledge and learning satisfaction in nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that there are few formal trauma training courses for nurses, they play an important role in the care of trauma patients. This study aims to investigate the effect of micro-learning on the knowledge of managing trauma patients and learning satisfaction in nursing students. METHODS: The convenience sampling method was used to enroll 30 final-year nursing students from Alborz University of Medical Sciences in this quasi experimental One-group pretest -posttest design. The educational content was created and repeated 4 times over the course of 36 days using a micro-learning approach through whiteboard animations, video casts, and live videos. MCQ scenario-based exam was used to assess participants' knowledge of trauma in three phases: pretest, immediately following the intervention, and one month after the end of the educational program. An e-learning satisfaction psychometric questionnaire was used to measure satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean knowledge score 1 month after the intervention did not differ significantly from the score immediately after the intervention (p = 1), but there was a significant relationship between the mean knowledge score immediately after the intervention and before that (p = 0.047). Demographic variables and knowledge of trauma management did not differ statistically significant. The majority of students were pleased with how the course was implemented (5.64). CONCLUSION: The use of micro-learning has a positive effect on the promotion and retention of knowledge of trauma care, as well as increasing nursing students' satisfaction. Micro-learning is proposed as a new educational approach that can be used as a complementary or as a stand-alone method to convey important educational concepts and increase learner satisfaction.

The association between diabetic complications and health-related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study from Iran.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of type 2 diabetic patients and its relationship with the complications of diabetes in Farashband County, Fars, Iran. METHODS: Data of this cross-sectional study were collected by a researcher-made demographic questionnaire, EuroQol-5 Dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and also from patient records. Multivariate regression model was used to investigate the net effect of diabetes complications on HRQoL after controlling for other independent variables. RESULTS: A total of 685 patients with a mean age of 58.36 and a disease duration of 7.64 years participated in the study. The mean EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores of all patients were 0.64 and 56.53, respectively. The HRQoL dimensions in which the largest portions of the population had problems were Pain/Discomfort (77.23%) and Anxiety/Depression (63.50%). Among the studied diabetic patients, women, divorcees, and widows were more likely to report problems in all dimensions of HRQoL, and people without complications, people with university degrees, and employed people were more likely to report fewer problems in these dimensions (P < 0.05). After controlling for the effect of all independent variables in the multivariate regression model, a significant negative relationship was found between diabetes complications and EQ-5D: ß = - 0.149 (95% CI - 0.186, - 0.112) and EQ-VAS: ß = - 6.697 (95% CI - 9.947, - 3.747). This indicates that for each additional diabetic complication, 0.149 and 6.697 units of EQ-5D Index and EQ-VAS were reduced, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that type 2 diabetic patients in the studied region, especially those with complications, suffer from poor HRQoL. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the main determinants of HRQoL when adopting policies for diabetes management in order to ultimately improve the HRQoL of these patients.

Contrasting socioeconomic inequality with noncommunicable diseases: Insights from a population-based survey using the concentration index in Kong cohort study.

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the major causes of mortality across the globe, which impose a substantial burden on health care systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The present study aimed to determine socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of NCDs using the concentration index (CI). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the baseline data of the Bandar Kong cohort. The principal component analysis was used to determine people's socioeconomic status (SES). The CI and Lorenz Curve were used for the assessment of socioeconomic inequality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between SES and the prevalence of NCDs. A p Value less than 0.05 is considered significant. Results: Frequency and prevalence of diabetes was 653 (16.22%), hypertension 848 (21.06%), chronic lung diseases 161 (4%), epilepsy 70 (1.74%), mental disorders 191 (4.74%), stillbirth 299 (13.94%), thyroid disorders 391 (9.71%) and depression 146 (3.63%). CI for the prevalence of diabetes was [-0.107, %95 CI: -0.146 to -0.068], hypertension [-0.122, %95 CI: -0.155 to -0.088], chronic lung disease [-0.116, %95 CI: -0.202 to -0.03], psychiatric disorders [-0.230, %95 CI: -0.304 to -0.155], depression [-0.132, %95 CI: -0.220 to-0.043] and stillbirth [-0.162, %95 CI: -0.220 to -0.105]. The Gini index was negative for all these diseases, indicating that these are significantly concentrated in people of poor SES. Conclusions: The findings suggest that selected NCDs were concentrated among the poor and the low-income. Particular attention may be necessary to address the problem of NCDs among these groups.

The Effect of Human Development Index on Obesity Prevalence at the Global Level: A Spatial Analysis.

Background: Obesity is one of the major public health concerns, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effect of human development index on the prevalence of obesity across 152 countries. Methods: Country-level data on obesity prevalence and its influencing variables related to 152 countries were obtained during 2000-2019 from several sources. A Spatial Bayesian Hierarchical model was employed in this research, and the analyses were performed using R statistical software (version 3.6.1). Results: We found a positive relation between HDI and obesity prevalence, in such a way if low HDI countries advance to high HDI countries, the obesity rate is expected to increase significantly by 7.45%. Moreover, the association between obesity prevalence and the percentage of people aged 40-59 (ß=0.07), urbanization rate (ß=0.11), percentage of internet users (ß=0.01), percentage of alcohol users (ß=0.16), milk consumption per capita (ß=0.15) and Percentage of depression (ß=0.58) was significantly positive. Conversely, per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables (ß=-0.15), and smoking rate (ß=-0.02) was negatively associated with obesity prevalence. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity is growing across all countries, especially in the countries with high and very high HDI. Therefore, policymakers must also pay attention to the negative effects of development when trying to improve the welfare of society.

The influencing factors of health-related quality of life of the general population of Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 is a global challenge that negatively affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the general population. The current study aimed to evaluate HRQoL and its associated factors among the Iranian general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected in 2021 using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) and EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS) questionnaires through an online survey. Participants were recruited via social media from the Fars province. The multiple binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors influencing participants' HRQoL. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, the t-test, ANOVA, and the chi-square test were used. All tests were conducted at a significance level of 5% using Stata 14.2 and SPSS 16. A total of 1,198 participants were involved in this cross-sectional study. The mean age of participants was 33.3 (SD:10.2), and more than half were women (55.6%). The mean EQ-5D-3L index value and EQ-VAS of the respondents were 0.80 and 77.53, respectively. The maximum scores of the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-VAS in the present study were 1 and 100, respectively. The most frequently reported problems were anxiety/depression (A/D) (53.7%), followed by pain/discomfort (P/D) (44.2%). Logistic regression models showed that the odds of reporting problems on the A/D dimension increased significantly with supplementary insurance, including concern about getting COVID-19, hypertension, and asthma, by 35% (OR = 1.35; P = 0.03), 2% (OR = 1.02; P = 0.02), 83% (OR = 1.83; P = 0.02), and 6.52 times (OR = 6.52; P = 0.01), respectively. The odds of having problems on the A/D dimension were significantly lower among male respondents, those in the housewives + students category, and employed individuals by 54% (OR = 0.46; P = 0.04), 38% (OR = 0.62; P = 0.02) and 41% (OR = 0.59; P = 0.03), respectively. Moreover, the odds of reporting a problem on the P/D dimension decreased significantly in those belonging in a lower age group and with people who were not worried about getting COVID-19 by 71% (OR = 0.29; P = 0.03) and 65% (OR = 0.35; P = 0.01), respectively. The findings of this study could be helpful for policy-making and economic evaluations. A significant percentage of participants (53.7%) experienced psychological problems during the pandemic. Therefore, effective interventions to improve the quality of life of these vulnerable groups in society are essential.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease in Iran: A prospective observational study.

This was a 1-year prospective observational study of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of moderate to severe crohn's disease (CD) patients in Iran. Patients' HRQoL were measured using the EQ-5D 3L, EQ-VAS, and IBDQ-9 tools. HRQoL among CD patients were compared using the T-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. To discover factors influencing patients' HRQoL, multivariate linear regression and multivariate logistic regression tests were utilized. The study included 222 CD patients, with a mean age of 34.67 and mean disease duration of 7.32 years. The dimensions with the worst reported "relatively or extreme problems" were P/D: 77.5% and A/D: 63.1%. Employment, having "other chronic diseases," and ADA consumption were the most important independent predictors of HRQoL in CD patients, [ß = 0.21 (EQ-5D index), ß = 19.61 (EQ-VAS), ß = 12.26 (IBDQ-9), OR: 0.09 (MO), OR: 0.12 (UA), OR: 0.21 (P/D), OR: 0.22 (A/D)], [ß = -0.15 (EQ-5D index), ß = -5.84 (IBDQ-9), ß = -11.06 (EQ-VAS), OR: 4.20 (MO), OR: 6.50 (UA)], and [OR: 2.29 (A/D)], respectively. Unemployment, presence of "other chronic conditions" had the greatest negative impact on HRQoL of CD patients. There were significant differences in the probability of reporting "relatively or extreme problems" in the SC and A/D dimensions between patients using adalimumab (ADA) and infliximab (IFX).

Antibacterial Effects of a 940 nm Diode Laser With/ Without Silver Nanoparticles Against Enterococcus faecalis.

Introduction: The final goal of root canal therapy is to remove of the most bacteria from the root canal. This study aimed at comparing the antibacterial effects of a diode laser with a wavelength of 940nm and silver nanoparticles and the synergic effects of both techniques on Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: Ninety single-rooted human teeth were decoronated and prepared with rotary files. The samples were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA17%. Then they were autoclaved and contaminated with E. faecalis suspension (1.5 × 108 CFU/mL) for 21 days. The samples were fixed in a microtube and were randomly divided into 4 experimental (n=20) groups and a negative control group (n=10) as follows: Group 1: hypochlorite sodium 5%, Group 2: silver nanoparticle, Group 3: diode laser, and Group 4: diode laser and silver nanoparticle. The samples were obtained from dentin chips before and after the intervention. The data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test. Furthermore, alterations in bacterial colonies were entered using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test (α=0.05). Results: There was a significant decrease in colony counts for all groups after interventions (P value<0.05). Also, all groups showed more reductions in colony counts compared with the negative control group (P value <0.004). There was a significant reduction for group 1 in comparison with other groups (P value <0.001) and this group had an extreme decrease of colony counts (RCC=100%). There was an important differential between silver nanoparticles and diode laser groups in bacterial counts (P value<0.001) and silver nanoparticles (RCC=83.15%) had more efficiency than the diode laser (RCC=41/33%). RCC of group 4 was 68/52%. Conclusion: Followed by sodium hypochlorite 5%, silver nanoparticles were the most effective antibacterial substances. The 940 nm laser diode had less antibacterial effect compared to its use with silver nanoparticles.

Communication Barriers Perceived by Nurses and Patients.

Communication, as a key element in providing high-quality health care services, leads to patient satisfaction and health. The present Cross sectional, descriptive analytic study was conducted on 70 nurses and 50 patients in two hospitals affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences, in 2012. Two separate questionnaires were used for nurses and patients, and the reliability and validity of the questionnaires were assessed. In both groups of nurses and patients, nurse-related factors (mean scores of 2.45 and 2.15, respectively) and common factors between nurses and patients (mean scores of 1.85 and 1.96, respectively) were considered the most and least significant factors, respectively. Also, a significant difference was observed between the mean scores of nurses and patients regarding patient-related (p=0.001), nurse-related (p=0.012), and environmental factors (p=0.019). Despite the attention of nurses and patients to communication, there are some barriers, which can be removed through raising the awareness of nurses and patients along with creating a desirable environment. We recommend that nurses be effectively trained in communication skills and be encouraged by constant monitoring of the obtained skills.