Fear of the unknown, anxiety, and social isolation in Iranian patients with Covid-19, the grounded theory.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has incurred a health challenge. Patients suffer from many physical and mental disorders. To accurately identify the experience of patients with Covid-19 in the Iranian society. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted using the grounded theory. The data of this grounded theory study were collected using 32 semi-structured interviews with participants and field notes including the patients with Covid-19, nurses, physicians, and the patients' families. Data analysis was performed using Corbin and Strauss (2008) approach for concepts, context, process, and categories' integration. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis of data led to the extraction of 54 sub-categories and 7 final categories. "Isolation, fear of death, and fear of infection of relatives and family members" were identified as the main issue. The context to this concern was the "unfamiliarity with the virus due to its ambiguous nature that was obtained with a wide range of symptoms." Facing this issue, the patients used the strategy of "adherence to health protocol in the coronavirus infection process" that was recognized as the central variable. CONCLUSION: The ambiguous and complex nature of the emerging virus, the appearance of different symptoms in different people, and the fear of infecting others, death and anxiety due to unknown complications of the disease make patients go through the most difficult experience of their lives. That requires ongoing training on up-to-date prevention and treatment protocols, along with the emergence of mutated viruses and new symptoms.

Productivity Loss of Temporary Work Absenteeism Due to COVID-19 and Its Determinant Factors in Northeastern Iran.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the lost productivity cost of temporary work absenteeism due to COVID-19. METHODS: This study conducted on all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in northeastern Iran between February 2020 and March 2022 (10,406 cases). Data were collected from the Hospital Information System. Indirect costs were estimated using the human capital approach. Data were analyzed with the STATA version 17. RESULTS: The total indirect cost of work absenteeism due to COVID-19 was estimated at $513,688. There was a statistically significant relationship between the mean lost productivity cost and COVID-19 peak, sex, insurance type, age, and hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Because the absenteeism costs of COVID-19 had increased in the second peak, which coincided with the summer holidays, the country's crisis management headquarters should pay more attention to formulating and implementing appropriate preventive programs in future epidemics.

Perception risk, preventive behaviors and assessing the relationship between their various dimensions: A cross-sectional study in the Covid-19 peak period.

The Covid-19 epidemic is known as "the deadliest plague of the century" that has overshadowed various aspects of human life. Despite mutations in SARS-CoV-2, the development of new strains, and the escape of immunity, preventive health behaviors continue to play a key role in controlling this epidemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between risk perception and the performance of preventive behaviors of people in the Covid-19 peak period in society. This anonymous online survey was conducted with 1950 people in 30 provinces of Iran. The results showed that by increasing the score of cognitive, social and emotional structures of people's perception of risk, their performance in following health recommendations increases.

Setting research priorities to achieve long-term national road safety goals in Iran.

Background: Road traffic crashes (RTCs) and its associated injuries are one of the most important public health problems in the world. In Iran, RTCs rank second in terms of mortality. To address this issue, there is a need for research-based interventions. Prioritizing researches using a variety of approaches and frameworks to determine the most effective interventions is a key nodal point in the RTCs' research policy planning cycle. Thus, this study aims to generate and prioritize research questions in the field of RTCs in Iran. Methods: By adapting the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method, this study engaged 25 prominent Iranian academic leaders having role in setting Iran's long-term road safety goals, a group of research funders, and policymakers. The experts' proposed research questions were independently scored on a set of criteria: feasibility, impact on health, impact on the economy, capacity building, and equity. Following the prioritization of Research Questions (RQs), they were all classified using the 5 Pillar frameworks. Results: In total, 145 Research Questions were systematically scored by experts against five criteria. Iran's top 20 road traffic safety priorities were established. The RQs related to "road safety management" and "road and infrastructure" achieved a high frequency. Conclusions: The top 20 research questions in the area of RTCs in Iran were determined by experts. The majority of these RQs were related to "road safety management". The results of this study may contribute to the optimal use of resources in achieving long-term goals in the prevention and control of road traffic crashes and its related injuries. Considering these RQs as research investment options will improve the current status of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) at a national level and further advance toward compliance with international goals. If these research priorities are addressed, and their findings are implemented, we can anticipate a significant reduction in the number of crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Designing a comprehensive clinical competency test for operating room technology student: Using Delphi technique and CIPP model evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The ultimate goal in educating medical students is to train skilled workforce who by obtaining the required knowledge of the discipline, personal and professional skills, and attitudes to enter the national health-care system. This study was conducted with the goal of designing a comprehensive clinical competency test of operating room technology student using the Delphi technique, and then, the clinical skills of the operating room technology students of the paramedical school were assessed using the CIPP evaluation model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted in the University of Medical Sciences to evaluate clinical skills with Delphi technique and CIPP evaluation model. This was a mixed methods study. Purposive sampling method was employed in the qualitative stage, and a census was conducted in the quantitative part. A comprehensive clinical competency test was designed in this research using the Delphi technique and was conducted with 18 students. Then, clinical skills evaluation was performed by descriptive-analytical statistical tests and evaluator's observation using the CIPP model. RESULTS: The comprehensive clinical competencies test of the surgical technology students was designed in four sections: content, evaluation method, test conditions, and the criteria for passing the comprehensive test. The results in the implementation stage showed that the operating room technology students had a range of excellent to weak performances in exhibiting basic skills at different levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the comprehensive test, designed based on the Delphi technique of experts, and using the CIPP model can be a good criterion for the evaluation of the operating room technology students before entering the clerkship.

Evaluation of Risk Perception of COVID-19 Disease: A Community-Based Participatory Study.

OBJECTIVE: How people behave in a crisis depends on their understanding and evaluation of risk and vulnerability. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the Iranians' risk perception of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: An online survey was applied, which resulted in the collection of information on demographics, the 5 dimensions of risk perception (cognitive, political, social, cultural, and emotional), and trust in the government among the Iranian users of social networks. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical tests of SPSS (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) software, and confirmatory factor analysis of Amos software. RESULTS: A total of 364 persons from 20 provinces completed the questionnaire during February 25 to March 2, 2020. More than 80% of the participants believed that negligence and lack of close supervision of the authorities have led to the spread of COVID-19. The mean (SD) risk perception was 58.77 (± 10.11), indicating the medium level of risk perception of people. The second-order confirmatory factor analysis also indicated that cultural dimension had the highest positive correlation (0.96), emotional dimension had the highest negative correlation (-0.65), and social dimension had the least correlation with the risk perception model (0.08). CONCLUSION: Iranians' risk perception of the COVID-19 outbreak is not optimal, and it seems necessary to improve it.

Local Usage of Nigella sativa Oil as an Innovative Method to Attenuate Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the effect of topical application of Nigella sativa (black seed) oil, on the primary dysmenorrhea intensity. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical trial on 124 female students, 18-22 years old, living in the dormitories of Sabzevar Universities. After a primary assessment, participants were randomly divided into two groups. The first group rubbed two drops of N. sativa oil, and the second group rubbed liquid olive oil, as the placebo. Massage was performed on the fontanel lobe 3, at night, three days before menstruation, for eight consecutive days (about five days after menses). This procedure was repeated for three menstrual cycles. After three cycles, pain severity was measured by the visual analog scale. Data analysis was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: This study was conducted on 124 female students. The mean age of students, mean age of first menarche, body mass index, and pain severity were not significantly different in the two groups (p > 0.050). No adverse effects were observed during the study. The results of ANCOVA showed that pain intensity in N. sativa oil group was significantly decreased compared to that of the placebo group (0.6 score; p < 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: N. sativa could be a promising, safe, and easily available analgesic supplement in women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea.

Intervention strategies for improvement of disasters risk perception: Family-centered approach.

INTRODUCTION: Today, the role of people in crisis management plans is of particular importance due to the prepared community approach. It is difficult or impossible to attract public involvement due to the low level of public perception of risk. Therefore, it is necessary to discover the status of risk perception and its affecting factors. This study was conducted to investigate factors affecting the strategies of disaster risk perception improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review study was conducted in 2017 using extensive electronic and library literature searches in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed electronic databases. The preliminary findings included 1030 studies. Out of 941 retrieved references, 925 references were excluded because they did not meet the objectives of this review or did not focus directly on general population. Finally, 16 articles were selected for further investigation. RESULTS: The extracted variables were divided into four general domains: personal, psychological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. Personal characteristics included sex, age, marriage, level of education, personal knowledge, and disaster personal experience. Psychological factors comprised emotions (fear and insecurity), mental images (beliefs, attitudes), and internal and external control. Cultural factors such as, belief, values, norms, faith, religious, and protective spirit were effective in general perception of disasters risk. Socioeconomic factors such as, income, livelihood, insurance coverage, trust, and fair access to land and resources were also influential. The strategies to improve public disaster risk perception were educational, participatory, incentive, confidence building, supportive, managerial and cultural ones. A family-centered approach is recommended for the better implementation of strategies. CONCLUSION: The improvement of risk perception requires government planning in different fields such as education, research, health, and culture, with an emphasis on social groups especially family.