Medical faculty members' perspectives on the components of cross-cultural competence in the Islamic Republic of Iran: a qualitative study

Despite the importance of cultural competence in health care, there has been no research to develop a framework for cultural competence in the Iranian context. This qualitative study at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences aimed to elucidate the views of medical faculty staff on the components of cross-cultural competence and compare these with similar studies published in English. Using a combination of archival studies, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions among faculty members 3 major domains [knowledge, attitude and behaviour] and 21 components were identified to describe the cross-cultural competence of faculty members in medical schools. Participants expressed the importance of knowledge as a precursor to changing attitudes and the 6 knowledge components related to knowledge and awareness of values, beliefs and norms of different ethnic, racial and cultural groups. Experts mostly emphasized the importance of interaction between faculty members and clients [students and patients]

Medical faculty members' perspectives on the components of cross-cultural competence in the Islamic Republic of Iran: a qualitative study

Despite the importance of cultural competence in health care, there has been no research to develop a framework for cultural competence in the Iranian context. This qualitative study at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences aimed to elucidate the views of medical faculty staff on the components of cross-cultural competence and compare these with similar studies published in English. Using a combination of archival studies, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions among faculty members 3 major domains [knowledge, attitude and behaviour] and 21 components were identified to describe the cross-cultural competence of faculty members in medical schools. Participants expressed the importance of knowledge as a precursor to changing attitudes and the 6 knowledge components related to knowledge and awareness of values, beliefs and norms of different ethnic, racial and cultural groups. Experts mostly emphasized the importance of interaction between faculty members and clients [students and patients]

[Verbal and physical violence on nurses in hospitals of Babol university of medical sciences]

Violence in workplaces threatens safety of personnel. Among health care personnel, nurses are more exposed to verbal and physical violence. The aim of this study was to assess confrontation of nurses with verbal and physical violence in hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences. In this field study, all of nurses employed in hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences [n=302] were recruited to the study. Data were gathered using standardized questionnaire including four parts. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic [Chi square and Fisher's exact test] statistics. More that 70% of the nurses had an experience of violence during their work period. Male nurses were more exposed to violence than the female nurses. Most of the violence was done by patients' relatives [40.4%]. The results showed that most of the participants had the experience of violence done by patients' relatives. In order to minimize violence in hospitals, preventive strategies including proper management, proper protection, and public education should be considered

[Effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil on the behavior of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in salted fish]

Thyme [Zataria multiflora Boiss.] is one of the Iranian traditional spices and it has antimicrobial effect on the pathogenic bacteria which are agents for some current food borne intoxications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil on V. parahaemolyticus in salted [8% Nacl in tissue] silver carp. Effect of different concentrations of this Essential oil [0.0%, 0.045%, 0.135%, 0.405%, 0.810%] on behavior of V. parahaemolyticus in two temperatures [15, 25 C] was determined by evaluation of the bacterial growth in salted fish fillets. The essential oil in used concentrations had significant inhibitory effect on the growth of V. parahaemolyticus in salted fish compare with control treatment during the storage time [p<0.05]. There was no significant difference between all treatments. The results showed that Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil had inhibitory effect on V. parahaemolyticus, therefore it can be considered as a natural preservative in salted fish

Autism and celiac disease: failure to validate the hypothesis of a possible link

Autism is a heterogeneous condition and the possible pathogenic role of several different factors was postulated. Previous studies reported the existence of a linkage between autism and celiac disease [CD]. The aim of this study was to determine the association between autism and CD by anti-gliadin [AGA], anti-endomysial [AEA] and tissue transglutaminase [tTG] antibodies. Thirty four consecutive autistic children [18 boys and 16 girls] aging 9.2 +/- 4.1 years [range 4-16 years] and thirty four age- and sex- matched healthy anonymous blood donors [18 boys and 16 girls] aging 10.8 +/- 4.0 years [range 4-16 years] were included. None of the patients and controls had symptoms [or positive family history] suggestive of specific gastrointestinal diseases. AGA and AEA antibodies [lgG and IgA], and lgA-tTG were detected by ELISA. The individuals with positive serology were offered duodenal biopsies. lgG-AGA was found in 4 patients [11.8%] and 2 controls [5.9%], while IgA-AGA was found in none of the patients and controls. All patients presented normal values of lgG and lgA-AEA similar to the control group. There was no significant relationship between the levels of AGA and AEA antibodies and the severity of autism in the patient group. The levels of lgA-tTG in four patients [but no controls] were in the borderline range and two of them were found to have mild villous changes with chronic inflammatory cells. However, characteristic histological features of CD were absent. No evidence was found that children with autism were more likely to have celiac disease than children without autism

[Comparison of preanesthetic sedation after intranasal administration of fentanyle, ketamin and midazolam]

Induction of anesthesia in children can be a challenge for anesthetist. A stormy induction may increase the personality and behavioral changes. Therefore, it is desirable that they enter the operating room sedated. Many drugs are used for preanesthetic medication and there are many routes for administration. One route of administration is nasal mucous. In this study we compared the effect and side effect of three drugs [midazolam, ketamin and fentanyle] after intra nasal administration. This is a double blind clinical trial. In this study we selected 60 patients [20 patients for every group A, B or C.] We used 3 mg/kg ketamin or 3 microg/kg fentanyle or 0.3 mg/kg midazolam by intranasal spray. After administration and in 5, 10 and 15 minutes, we observed the SPO2, PR and RA. After 15 min's we separated children from parents and brought them to the operating room and controlled the acceptance of separation, depth of sedation with Ramsay score, acceptance of mask and tolerance of IV canulation. The data were then analyzed using K2 and kruskal-wallis test. In our study we found that in SPO2 fentanyle had the highest rate of reduction even though none of the children had SPO2 lower than 90%.There were no differences between drugs in RA. In fentanyle group, we had the lowest rate and in ketamin group the highest rate. Midazolamhad the medium rate. The rate of sedation for acceptance of separation from parents had no difference between the groups and all drugs with this dosage were effective for this aim. However, in Ramsay score, acceptance of mask and tolerance of IV canulation, the midazolam was more effective than the others. Intranasal administration of midazolam is a safe route for sedation in children in the pre-anesthetic time

[A study on prevalence of Pediculosis in the primary school students of Babol [2003-2004]]

Regarding the role of lice in the transmission of different diseases, and also as an important agent of determining the hygiene level in the society. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of pediculosis in primary school students of Babol in 2003-2004. In this study, from 15500 primary school students in Babol, 2300 ones [girl and boy] were assessed. Cluster sampling was done in girl and boy school. Data was collected by questionnaire containing personal and family characteristics. Findings showed that 51 students [%2.2] were infected to pediculosis [head lice or nit] and only in two samples live head lice were found. Prevalence of infestation was significantly higher in girls [%3.48] than boys [%0.96] [p<0.000]. Prevalence of pediculosis in students had a significant correlation with fathers' education [p<0.005] and number of children in family [p=0.018]. The results showed that the prevalence of pediculosis in students of Babol was almost low. Since the father's educational level of students who were infested to pediculosis was lower than other educational level of other students' fathers, so it is recommended that necessary actions be taken to promote public knowledge in order to control and prevent pediculosis