Epidemiology of substance and opium use among adult residents of Tehran; a comprehensive report from Tehran cohort study (TeCS).

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and burden of substance and opium use have increased worldwide over the past decades. In light of rapid population changes in Tehran, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of opium and other substance use among adult residents in Tehran, Iran. METHOD: From March 2016 to March 2019, we utilized data from 8 296 participants in the Tehran Cohort Study recruitment phase (TeCS). We calculated the age-sex-weighted prevalence of substance use and the geographic distribution of substance use in Tehran. We also used logistic regression analysis to determine possible determinants of opium use. RESULT: We analyzed data from 8 259 eligible participants with complete substance use data and the average age of participants was 53.7 ± 12.75 years. The prevalence of substance use was 5.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.6- 7.1%). Substance use was more common in males than females (Prevalence: 10.5% [95% CI: 8.6- 12.6%] vs. 0.5% [95% CI: 0.2- 1.2%], respectively). The age-sex weighted prevalence of substance use was 5.4% (95% CI: 4.6-7.1%). Moreover, opium was the most frequently used substance by 95.8% of substance users. Additionally, we found that male gender (Odds ratio [OR]: 12.1, P < 0.001), alcohol intake (OR: 1.3, P = 0.016), and smoking (OR: 8.5, P < 0.001) were independently associated with opium use. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the prevalence of substance use in Tehran was 5.6%, and opium was the most frequently used substance. In addition, male gender, lower levels of education, alcohol, and tobacco consumption are the main risk factors for substance use in Tehran. Healthcare providers and policymakers can utilize our results to implement preventive strategies to minimize substance use in Tehran.

Epidemiology and prevalence of tobacco use in Tehran; a report from the recruitment phase of Tehran cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is a major health concern worldwide, especially in low/middle-income countries. We aimed to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking, waterpipe, and pipe use in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: We used data from 8272 participants of the Tehran Cohort Study recruitment phase. Tobacco use was defined as a positive answer to using cigarettes, waterpipes, or pipes. Participants who did not report tobacco use during the interview but had a previous smoking history were categorized as former users. Age- and sex-weighted prevalence rates were calculated based on the national census data, and characteristics of current and former tobacco users were analyzed. RESULTS: Age- and sex-weighted prevalence of current tobacco users, cigarette smokers, waterpipe, and pipe users in Tehran was 19.8%, 14.9%, 6.1%, and 0.5%, respectively. Current tobacco use was higher in younger individuals (35-45 years: 23.4% vs. ≥ 75 years: 10.4%, P < 0.001) and men compared to women (32.9% vs. 7.7% P < 0.001). The prevalence of tobacco use increased with more years of education (> 12 years: 19.3% vs. illiterate: 9.7%, P < 0.001), lower body mass index (< 20 kg/m2: 31.3% vs. ≥ 35 kg/m2: 13.8%, P < 0.001), higher physical activity (high: 23.0% vs. low: 16.4%, P < 0.001), opium (user: 66.6% vs. non-user: 16.5%, P < 0.001), and alcohol use (drinker: 57.5% vs. non-drinker: 15.4%, P < 0.001). Waterpipe users were younger (46.1 vs. 53.2 years) and had a narrower gender gap in prevalence than cigarette smokers (male/female ratio in waterpipe users: 2.39 vs. cigarette smokers: 5.47). Opium (OR = 5.557, P < 0.001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 4.737, P < 0.001) were strongly associated with tobacco use. Hypertension was negatively associated with tobacco use (OR = 0.774, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The concerning prevalence of tobacco use in Tehran and its large gender gap for cigarette and waterpipe use warrant tailored preventive policies.

The impact of a mindfulness bracelet on emotional affect in medical students: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is concern that negative changes in emotional outlook among medical students may impair the behavior of students, diminish learning, and ultimately affect patient care. Although most medical students begin their professional education with idealism, enthusiasm, and attention to humanity, they often have difficulty balancing their happiness with social and professional responsibilities. The following study aimed to determine if a simple mindfulness reminder (in the form of a bracelet) will impact emotional affect in first-year medical students. The second aim is to better understand the changes in emotional affect as students start medical school. METHODS: First year medical students were invited to participate at the start of the academic year. Baseline survey data and demographic data were obtained prior to participants being given the mindfulness bracelet and a standardized presentation explaining its purpose. Follow-up surveys were obtained at one- and two-month intervals. Statistical analysis was based on sum score of the survey. Change of sum score over time was tested by using repeated measurement analysis. RESULTS: Data collection included 104 students at the initial distribution of the survey. Follow-up surveys were obtained from 78 and 69 students at the first- and second-month mark, respectively. No significant associations were detected between frequency of mindfulness bracelet usage and emotional affect. However, there was a significant decrease in positive affect over the first month of medical school (p < 0.01), followed by a significant recovery in positive affect in the second month of medical school (p < 0.01). Demographic data did not reveal statistically significant differences among demographic groups and progression of emotional affect. CONCLUSIONS: Although the mindfulness bracelet intervention did not yield significant improvement in emotional affect, our results are consistent with other studies demonstrating that the first year of medical school negatively impacts the emotional outlook of students. Future studies are needed to explore practical interventions and to better understand and address the negative effect that early medical school education has on student's emotional state.

Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial on Trigger Point Injections With 1% Lidocaine Versus Conventional Approaches for Myofascial Pain in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Myofascial neck and back pain is an increasingly common chief symptom in the emergency department. Currently, there are no widely accepted conventional therapies, and there is little evidence on the efficacy of interventions such as trigger point injections (TPIs). OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates whether TPIs with 1% lidocaine can improve myofascial back and neck pain compared with conventional therapies. Secondary outcomes include changes in length of stay and number of opioid prescriptions on discharge. METHODS: This single-center, prospective, randomized, pragmatic trial was carried out in patients clinically determined to have myofascial back or neck pain. Patients were randomized into the experimental arm (TPI with 1% lidocaine) or the control arm (standard conventional approach). Numeric Rating Scores (NRS) for pain and additional surveys were obtained prior to and 20 min after the intervention. RESULTS: The NRS for pain was lower in the TPI group compared with the control group after adjustment for initial pain (median difference -3.01; 95% confidence interval -4.20 to -1.83; p < 0.001). Median length of stay was 2.61 h for the TPI group and 4.63 h for the control group (p < 0.001). More patients in the control group (47.4%) were discharged home with an opioid compared with the TPI group (2.9%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TPI is an effective method for managing myofascial pain in the emergency department. This study indicates it may improve pain compared with conventional methods, reduce length of stay in the emergency department, and reduce opioid prescriptions on discharge.

Prevalence and Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Traumatic Patients in Iran: A Nationwide Population-based Study.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence, predictors and cost of CAM practitioner use among traumatic patients in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional household survey of a nationally representative sample of Iranians 15 to 64 yr old was conducted in 2011, using a three-stage cluster sampling. Short Form Injury Questionnaire 7 (SFIQ7) was utilized through face-to-face interviews and data on demographics, history of injuries, mechanism, site and type of injury, type and place of the treatment were attained. Via telephone calls, service use and costs of treatment were also collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM practitioner use in injured people and victims seeking medical care was 0.7% and 4.1%, respectively in 3-month interval in 2011. There were no significant sociodemographic differences between victims who seek unconventional settings and those who seek conventional treatment. The most common injury description treated by CAM providers was as follows: fracture (type of injury), upper limb (site of injury), fall (mechanism of injury) and cast, splint, and physiotherapy (type of treatment). The average medical cost of CAM practitioner was US$14.7 while this amount in the conventional setting was US$195.5. CONCLUSION: Use of CAM is not very common among injured people in Iran. However, due to lack of formal training, CAM usage has possible side effects.

Effects of neurofeedback on the short-term memory and continuous attention of patients with moderate traumatic brain injury: A preliminary randomized controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: There are some studies which showed neurofeedback therapy (NFT) can be effective in clients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) history. However, randomized controlled clinical trials are still needed for evaluation of this treatment as a standard option. This preliminary study was aimed to evaluate the effect of NFT on continuous attention (CA) and short-term memory (STM) of clients with moderate TBI using a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). METHODS: In this preliminary RCT, seventeen eligible patients with moderate TBI were randomly allocated in two intervention and control groups. All the patients were evaluated for CA and STM using the visual continuous attention test and Wechsler memory scale-4th edition (WMS-IV) test, respectively, both at the time of inclusion to the project and four weeks later. The intervention group participated in 20 sessions of NFT through the first four weeks. Conversely, the control group participated in the same NF sessions from the fifth week to eighth week of the project. RESULTS: Eight subjects in the intervention group and five subjects in the control group completed the study. The mean and standard deviation of participants' age were (26.75 ± 15.16) years and (27.60 ± 8.17) years in experiment and control groups, respectively. All of the subjects were male. No significant improvement was observed in any variables of the visual continuous attention test and WMS-IV test between two groups (p ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on our literature review, it seems that our study is the only study performed on the effect of NFT on TBI patients with control group. NFT has no effect on CA and STM in patients with moderate TBI. More RCTs with large sample sizes, more sessions of treatment, longer time of follow-up and different protocols are recommended.

Effect of Massage Therapy on Vital Signs and GCS Scores of ICU Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Unalleviated complications related to hospitalization, including stress, anxiety, and pain, can easily influence different structures, like the neural system, by enhancing the stimulation of sympathetic nervous pathways and causing unstable vital signs and deterioration in the level of consciousness. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of massage therapy by family members on vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale Score (GCS) of patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at the ICU of the Shariati Hospital during 2012; 45 ICU patients and 45 family members in the experimental group and the same number of patients and family members in the control group were consecutively selected . The data collection instrument consisted of two parts. The first part included demographic data (age, marital status and Body Mass Index) and the second part included a checklist to record the patient's vital signs (systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR)) and GCS. All measurements were done at the same time in both groups before the intervention (full body massage therapy), and 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours after intervention. The patients were provided with a 60-minute full body massage The massage protocol included static, surface tension, stretching, superficial lymph unload, transverse friction, and myofacial releasing techniques. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between experimental and control groups in the SBP at 1 hour, SBP 2 hours, and SBP 3 hours, and also in GCS at 1 hour to GCS at 4 hours (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant difference between experimental and control groups in SBP at all time points (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Massage via family members had several positive effects on the patients' clinical conditions, and therefore, it should be recognized as one of the most important clinical considerations in hospitalized patients.