The effect of health literacy intervention on adherence to medication of uncontrolled hypertensive patients using the M-health.

BACKGROUND: Given that patients' medication adherence is regarded as the major part of disease control and improving health literacy can be effective in promoting adherence to healthy behaviors, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of health literacy intervention based on the medication adherence among uncontrolled hypertensive patients using mobile health (M-health). METHODS: An interventional study with a quasi-experimental design, was conducted on 118 uncontrolled hypertensive patients. Participants were randomly divided into the intervention (n = 59) and control (n = 59) groups using blocked randomization. In the intervention group, a mobile health (M-health) program was designed using programmed instruction to improve patients' health literacy over a period of 3 months. Data was collected by administering health literacy and medication adherence questionnaires to participants before and after the intervention. The analysis involved using the independent sample t-test to compare the variables before and after the study. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the total score of health literacy was 33.34 and 33.14 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the intervention, it increased to 40.36 and 34.20 in the intervention and control groups, respectively, which was statistically significant in the intervention group (p = 0.01). Moreover, the medication adherence score of the intervention group significantly increased after the intervention. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the intervention group. However, it should be noted that the decrease in systolic blood pressure by 148.98 was statistically significant, while the decrease observed in diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: The application of programmed instruction through M-Health has shown a positive effect on the health literacy of uncontrolled hypertensive patients. In addition to detecting and treating patients, it is important to prioritize the improvement of health literacy in terms of medication adherence and the adoption of healthy behaviors.

The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Quercus brantii and Artemisia aucheri Boiss Against Trichomonas vaginalis In vitro.

Objective: Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted protozoan infection worldwide. Metronidazole is widely considered as the drug of choice for treating of trichomoniasis but considering its potential side effects, we aimed to assess the therapeutic influences of hydro-alcoholic extracts of Quercus brantii and Artemisia aucheri Boiss as alternative medications against Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis). Methods: The trophozoites were cultured in TYI-S-33 medium at a density of 5x105 trophozoites/mL. Subsequently, they were incubated with varying concentrations of the plant extracts (32, 64, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL) and metronidazole (16, 32, 64, 125, 250, and 500 µg/mL), as the positive control. The number of trophozoites in each well plate was quantified after 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours using trypan blue staining. Finally, the viability of the parasite was assessed by vital methylene blue staining. Results: The hydro-alcoholic extracts of Q. brantii and A. aucheri Boiss at concentrations of 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL demonstrated significant efficacy against the parasite. Our findings indicated that the minimum effective concentrations were 125 µg/mL and hydro-alcoholic extracts of Q. brantii and A. aucheri Boiss have the ability to effectively eliminate T. vaginalis after 48 and 72 hours of treatment. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that hydro-alcoholic extract of Q. brantii and A. aucheri Boiss can induce death in T. vaginalis. However, further complementary in vivo studies are needed to assess the components of these plants in the treatment of T. vaginalis.

Caring ability and its related factors in the family caregivers of patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers of cancer patients experience a variety of challenges caused by the prolonged burden of care. Many of these caregivers do not have the necessary knowledge, skills and caring ability to fulfil their caring role. Therefore, healthcare providers should support them in learning to provide high-quality care. Evaluating caregivers' ability will be the first step of this supportive programme. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the caring ability of the caregivers of cancer patients and its related factors. METHODS: This descriptive correlational study was performed with 271 caregivers of cancer patients who were selected through convenience sampling conducted from July to December 2021 in selected hospitals in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. The data were collected using the caring ability of family caregivers of patients with cancer scale (CAFCPCS), which was developed by Nemati et al (2020). In addition, the stability reliability coefficient was calculated to be ICC=0.93. Data analysis was performed through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 26), using descriptive and inferential statistics and correlation coefficient tests at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The mean score for the caring ability of the family caregivers of cancer patients in this study was 91.86±7.59. The mean total score of caring ability scale had a statistically significant correlation with the type of cancer and the duration of patient care (P-value=0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study demonstrated that the family caregivers of cancer patients do not have the necessary knowledge and awareness to perform their caring role effectively. Therefore, it is recommended to empower caregivers and use strategies to improve their trust, especially in caregivers who oversee patient care for a significant period of time.

Visceral leishmaniasis-human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in a 52-year-old male in southwest Iran: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a rare infectious disease observed in subtropical and tropical areas. This disease that demonstrates different clinical characteristics is caused by intracellular Leishmania protozoan. One of the important countries facing the incidence of this infectious disease is Iran. Recently, human immunodeficiency virus-Leishmania coinfection has been indicated in Iran. CASE PRESENTATION: In the present case report, we show an atypical case of severe visceral leishmaniasis in a 52-year-old Iranian-Arab male with positive human immunodeficiency virus status. Leishmaniasis was detected by node biopsy and subsequently histopathology evaluations and confirmed by molecular methods. CONCLUSIONS: The current study was the first report of an atypical case of a patient with Leishmania-human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in southwestern Iran, which was not responsive to the treatment. Therefore, the health authorities should be aware of these reports, which require permanent clinical follow-up of the patients as well as effective treatments.

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical evaluation of SnFe2O4@MWCNTS nanocomposite as a potential hydrogen storage material.

The widespread use of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel has prompted us to develop a new nanocomposite by immobilizing of tin ferrite nanoparticles (SnFe2O4) on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (abbreviated as MWCNTS) for the first time. The prepared nanocomposite powder (SnFe2O4@MWCNTS) was investigated utilizing various microscopy and spectroscopy methods, such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and BET techniques. Moreover, the electrochemical property of SnFe2O4@MWCNTS nanocomposite was investigated by cyclic voltammogram (CV) and charge-discharge chronopotentiometry (CHP) techniques. A variety of factors on the hydrogen storage capacity, such as current density, surface area of the copper foam, and the influence of repeated hydrogen adsorption-desorption cycles were assessed. The electrochemical results indicated that the SnFe2O4@MWCNTS has high capability and excellent reversibility compared to SnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) for hydrogen storage. The highest hydrogen discharge capability of SnFe2O4@MWCNTs was achieved ∼ 365 mAh/g during the 1st cycle, and the storage capacity enhanced to ∼ 2350 mAh/g at the end of 20 cycles using a current of 2 mA. Consequently, the SnFe2O4@MWCNTS illustrated great capacity as a prospective active material for hydrogen storage systems.

Barriers to Applying Integrative Oncology from the Perspective of the Care Providers in Iran: A Mixed-Methods Study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to explain and determine the use of integrative oncology from the perspective of the care providers in Iran. DATA SOURCES: This mixed-methods study is a convergent type of study with quantitative and qualitative phases that have been performed simultaneously. The quantitative phase was a descriptive study that was conducted through convenience sampling. With the use of a psychometrically evaluated questionnaire with 10 items, 202 nurses and physicians were included in the study to assess their views on the integration of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) within supportive cancer care. The qualitative part of the study was conducted through semistructured interviews with 11 care providers. The interviews were analyzed through conventional content analysis and the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman with the use of MaxQDA software. CONCLUSION: After the quantitative and the qualitative data were combined, we identified four main categories as the important dimensions of using TCM: patients' main expectations of TCM services, reasons for using these services, existing challenges and barriers, and recommendations and strategies to improve the interaction between physicians and patients to facilitate the use of integrative oncology . IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Although cancer patients use TCM due to a wide range of expectations, there are many barriers to integrative oncology in Iran. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the benefits of conventional medical and TCM treatments, conceptualize integrative oncology, and try to meet the existing challenges.

Can Echinococcus granulosus-Derived MicroRNAs be Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Follow-up of Cystic Echinococcosis Patients?

INTRODUCTION: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs acting as mediators in host-parasite interaction. Recently, numerous studies have been conducted on miRNAs in infectious diseases; however, little data are available about the role of miRNAs in pathogenesis and early diagnosis of CE. METHODS: The current study evaluated the expression of four E. granulosus-derived miRNAs, including egr-miR-125,5p, egr-let-7,5p, egr-miR-2, and egr-miR-71 in fibrotic and healthy liver tissues of 31 CE patients with active and inactive hydatid cysts by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients, 48.4% had active cysts (CE1 and CE2), while the remainder had transitional (16.1%) and inactive (35.5%) CE types cysts. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed a significant increase of 11.2, 9.91, 6.2, and 13.1-fold in the fibrotic tissue group for egr-miR-125,5p, egr-let-7,5p, egr-miR-2, and egr-miR-71, respectively. Among these miRNAs, egr-miR-125-5p exhibited the highest area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.8050 for predicting liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide new data about the role of E. granulosus-derived miRNAs in pathogenesis of CE. The high AUC of egr-miR125,5p reflecting the possibility of using egr-miR125,5p as biomarker in CE diagnosis. Further studies on serum of CE patients are needed to confirm the potential role of circulating egr-miR-2a-3p and egr-miR-125-5p in the early diagnosis of CE.

Toxoplasma and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion: A Meta-Analysis in A Population of Iranian Women.

Toxoplasma gondii is found as an intracellular protozoan parasite in the Apicomplexa phylum that can be transmitted to the fetus and causes miscarriage, infection, and asymptomatic neonatal disease. In the present study, we characterized the seroprevalence rate of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a population of Iranian women with a recent a spontaneous abortion. We examined our national and international databases including Irandoc, Magiran, SID, Medlib, Scopus, PubMed, and the Science Direct. The search strategy was carried out by using keywords and MeSH terms. The statistical analysis was performed by STATA 14.2. By using the random effects model and the fixed effects model the statistical analysis was performed while the heterogeneity was ≥75 and ≤50%, respectively. We used the chi-squared test and I2 index to calculate heterogeneity among studies, and for evaluating publication bias, Funnel plots and Egger tests were used. The seroprevalence positive rate of IgG among women who had experienced abortion was observed 32% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20-45%] based on the random-effects model. The seroprevalence positive rate of IgM based on the fixed-effect model and positive IgG rate based on the random-effect model was evaluated 4% (95% CI: 3-6%) and 32% (9% CI: 3-42%) among women immediately after an abortion, respectively. According to the finding of our study, toxoplasmosis can be one of the most significant causes of abortion.

Comparison of Toxoplasmosis in Narcotic Drug-addicted and Healthy Persons in the Southwest of Iran; A Case-control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasmosis and narcotic drug addiction are endemic in various regions of Iran. These drugs can provide situations for infections by disrupting the immune system. The current case-control study was designed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in narcotic drugaddicted persons in comparison with healthy subjects using serology and molecular techniques in the southwest of Iran. METHODS: A total of 201 subjects (including 101 individuals with drug addiction and 100 control participants) were randomly selected. Chronic and acute toxoplasmosis was detected using the enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG avidity. T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were also determined by the ELISA. Moreover, the presence of T. gondii in blood samples was diagnosed using the nested-polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR). RESULTS: For T. gondii IgG, 17 (17.0%) of 100 and 39 (38.6%) of 101 cases were diagnosed in the control participants and drug-addicted people, respectively [P=0.001, OR=3.071, CI= (1.591-5.929)]. Moreover, 16 (15.8) and 5 (5.0%) cases were positive for the B1 gene in the drug-addicted patients and controls by the nested-PCR technique, respectively [P=0.019, OR=3.576, CI= (1.257-10.179)]. However, no significant differences were found between the opium (n=64) and crystal methamphetamine (n=37) groups in terms of T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and the presence of the parasite in the blood (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrated that the outbreak of the infection was more frequent in narcotic drug-addicted persons than the controls using serology and molecular techniques.

Serum Level of egr-miR-2a-3p as a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker for Cystic Echinococcosis.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic parasitic disease caused by the metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus senso lato (E. granulosus s.l.). The larval stages of this parasite, hydatid cyst, are usually diagnosed using imaging modalities and serological testing; however, several studies have recently suggested using the parasite-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) as novel diagnostic biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 31 CE patients who were older than 5 years and were admitted to the hospitals of Ahvaz, Iran for hydatid cyst removal surgery during 2019-2021. The egr-miR-125-5p and egr-miR-2a-3p levels were evaluated in the sera of the CE patients before and 6 months after the surgery using Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the results were compared with the serum samples from 15 healthy volunteers. Then, the intergroup comparisons were performed using the t test. RESULTS: The patients' age range was 6-72 years, with a mean age of 34.6 years. Moreover, based on the classification by the WHO-IWGE, one patient (3.2%) had CE1, 14 patients (45.2%) had CE2, 5 patients (16.1%) had CE3, 2 patients (6.5%) had CE4, and 9 patients (29%) had CE5. Also, 21 patients (67.74%) had a positive antigen test using the ELISA method, while 10 patients (32.26%) had a negative ELISA. The pre-operative expression level of egr-miR-2a-3p was 10.36 folds higher compared to 6 months after the surgery, with an AUC value of 0.8176. However, the expression levels of egr-miR-125-5p did not change significantly 6 months after the surgery compared to pre-operative levels. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present study results, the serum levels of egr-miR-2a-3p can be a promising non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing CE and monitoring its potential recurrence after cystectomy.

Neoadjuvant VS adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer; a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common challenges for women's health. Until now, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a standard approach in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC), as it increases the probability of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). This study aimed to compare the survival rate in neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups to suggest a better treatment strategy for locally advanced breast cancer. Methods: The study was conducted between 2009 and 2019 on 845 LABC patients at the Cancer Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran. All patients with LABC at stages 3A, 3B, and two were evaluated for treatment with adjuvants (n = 520 female patients) and neoadjuvant (n = 320 female patients) treatment strategies. Patients were followed up for at least 120 months. The Kaplan-Meier method calculated the survival rate using SPSS version 23 software. Result: The 5 and 10 years survival rates of neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups were 87 ± 0.04, 80 ± 0.07% and 87 ± 0.02, 83 ± 0.03%, respectively. Statistical analysis results with the mentioned treatment strategies did not show any significant difference in overall survival. Conclusion: The result of this study on LABC patients demonstrated that compared to surgery first following adjuvant chemotherapy, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy has several benefits, including downstaging and more BCS, with no statistically significant difference in the overall survival rate of the patients.

Synthesis and characterization of a lactose-based biosurfactant by a novel nanodendritic catalyst and evaluating its efficacy as an emulsifier in a food emulsion system.

Nonionic lactose fatty acid esters are a class of synthetic biosurfactants with various uses in the food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetic industries. The objective of this research was the preparation and full characterization of a series of novel metallic encapsulated magnetic core/dendrimer shell composites as catalysts (CoII/MnII G2.0L1/2@SCMBNP) and their use in the chemo- and regioselective synthesis of a biosurfactant for the first time. Surface-active properties (such as contact angle (CA), surface tension (SFT), interfacial tension (IFT), critical micelle concentration (CMC), hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), foamability (FA) & foam stability (FS), emulsion ability (EmA) & emulsion stability (EmS), surface excess (Γ) and free energy of adsorption (ΔG) were also determined for all synthesized biosurfactants. In comparison to other works, these results suggested that the synthesized lactose fatty acid esters have potential application as synthetic emulsifiers featuring surface properties and are comparable with Ryoto sugar ester L-1695 (sucrose laurate) & Tween-20 (polysorbate 20) as industrial emulsifiers. The optimized conditions for biosurfactant syntheses are 8 days at 2 : 1 molar ratio of lactose sugar to lauric acid at 50 °C. Lactose ester as a biosurfactant exhibited a decrease of SFT & IFT and was able to stabilize a 20% soybean O/W emulsion. Furthermore, high conversion & yield, excellent chemo- and regioselectivity, and high operational stability over 5 runs were achieved for CoII/MnII-G2.0L1/2@SCMBNP, indicating the suitable efficiency of the catalytic process.

Caregivers' Knowledge of and Attitude towards Palliative Care in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Addressing the palliative care needs requires clinicians to have sufficient knowledge of and positive attitudes toward palliative care. The study aimed to determine nurses' and physicians' knowledge of and attitudes towards palliative care in Iran. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 on 493 physicians and nurses, selected through convenience sampling. Three online questionnaires addressing caregivers' demographic and professional's questionnaire, Health Care Providers' Attitude toward PC Questionnaire, and Health Care Providers' Knowledge of PC Questionnaire were used. The data was analyzed in SPSS using correlational and descriptive statistics and regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean score of attitude towards palliative care was 142.03 ± 11.35 and the mean score of palliative care knowledge, 19.47 ± 2.62. Considering the regression coefficients between these two mean scores (P-value = 0.001, b = 1.304), it can be inferred that knowledge is a good predictor of attitude. In addition, the mean scores of knowledge and attitude have a significant relationship with age, female gender, holding a master's or PhD degree, the need for formal education in the field of palliative care and the need to take a palliative care course. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that Iranian nurses and physicians have a moderate level of knowledge and attitude towards palliative care. It is necessary to take measures in order to improve knowledge and attitude by holding retraining courses, theoretical and clinical training sessions and relevant seminars in short term, and also by integrating related topics into nursing and medical curriculums in long term.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Breast Cancer Surgery: Evidence Review and Tool Adaptation.

The objective of this scoping review was to review survey instruments for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and provide recommendations to construct a tool for PROMs specifically for breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery, to overcome the limitations of existing validated tools. A total of 924 articles were screened. Nine articles were selected based on the eligibility criteria. We found that PROMs' data collection along with advancements in the treatment of breast cancer and the resultant improved clinical outcomes, there is a growing appreciation and focus on improving patients' quality of life (QoL). Previous studies have shown that the assessment of PROMs is linked to a positive effect on patients' symptoms of distress, quality of life, acceptance, and satisfaction. Several PROMs tools have been validated for use in cancer survivors. However, it is unclear whether existing tools are appropriate for use in breast cancer patients who have undergone surgical treatment. Hence, we conducted a scoping review. Following a review of the current PROM related to breast cancer and the necessity to build specialized PROMs related to the outcomes of breast cancer surgery, we provide recommendations for the development of a comprehensive tool to overcome the limitations of existing PROMs tools.

Pediatric palliative care for children with cancer: a concept analysis using Rodgers' evolutionary approach.

BACKGROUND: Providing access to pediatric palliative care (PPC) for children living with a serious illness, such as cancer, is of critical importance, although this specialized intervention, as a novel concept, still seems vague and complicated. The present study analyzed the concept of PPC for children with cancer. METHODS: Rodgers' evolutionary method was employed for the concept analysis. Articles on PPC, particularly those for children suffering from cancer, published between 2010 and 2021 were searched in valid academic research databases. The inclusion criteria for the full-text articles were based on the characteristics, antecedents, and consequences of PPC for children with cancer. RESULTS: In total, 19 relevant articles were selected and then reviewed and analyzed after applying the inclusion criteria and the final sampling. The analysis of the concept of PPC for children affected with cancer revealed four characteristics, including "PPC as holistic and integrated care", "PPC as patient- and family-centered care", "PPC as early-start continuous care", and "PPC as interdisciplinary and team-based care". Some effective factors could also act as antecedents for this concept, i.e., health care providers' training and expertise as well as human resources and financing. Moreover, improved quality of life, symptom reduction, and coordination between patient care and family support were among the PPC consequences for such children. CONCLUSIONS: The study results demonstrated that delivering PPC to children with cancer demanded a comprehensive view of its various dimensions. Furthermore, numerous factors need to be delineated for its accurate and complete implementation.

Emotional upheaval, the essence of anticipatory grief in mothers of children with life threatening illnesses: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Life-threatening illnesses in childhood are considered a crisis for the whole family, especially for the mother, which leads to experiencing different degrees of grief and emotional-behavioral problems. OBJECTIVE: The present study is conducted with the aim of explaining the concept of anticipatory grief from the perspective of the mothers of the children with life-threatening illnesses. METHODS: This qualitative study is part of a sequential exploratory research for model development in the field of anticipatory grief, which was conducted using conventional content analysis method. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 19 mothers of the children with life-threatening illnesses living in Shiraz and Tehran, who were selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. When data saturation were achieved, the data were codified by MAXQDA-10 software and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's approach. FINDINGS: Data analysis resulted in the identification of 8 subcategories including shock, irritability, fear of losing, feeling guilty, uncertainty, hopelessness, loneliness and isolation, and mourning without a coffin, all forming the major theme emotional upheaval. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: As the result of being in a situation of imminent and possible loss of her child, the mother experiences different responses of sadness and sorrow and suffers the consequences the core of which is consisted of emotional upheaval. Therefore, by explaining the behaviors related to anticipatory grief, efficient and effective interventions can be designed to improve coping among this group of mothers.

Preferred place of death and end-of-life care for adult cancer patients in Iran: A cross-sectional study.

Background: More than 50,000 deaths in terms of cancer occur annually in Iranian hospitals. Determining the preferred place of end-of-life care and death for cancer patients in Iran is a quality marker for good end-of-life care and good death. The purpose of this study was to determine the preferred place of end-of-life care and death in cancer patients. Method: In 2021, the current descriptive cross-sectional investigation was carried out. Using the convenience sample approach, patients were chosen from three Tehran referral hospitals (the capital of Iran). A researcher-made questionnaire with three parts for demographic data, clinical features, and two questions on the choice of the desired location for end-of-life care and the death of cancer patients served as the data collecting instrument. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18. The relationship between the two variables preferred place for end-of-life care and death and other variables was investigated using chi-square, Fisher exact test, and multiple logistic regression. Result: The mean age of patients participating in the study was 50.21 ± 13.91. Three hundred ninety (69.6%) of the patients chose home, and 170 (30.4%) patients chose the hospital as the preferred place of end-of-life care. Choosing the home as a preferred place for end-of-life care had a significant relationship with type of care (OR = .613 [95% CI: 0.383-0.982], P = .042), level of education (OR = 2.61 [95% CI: 1.29-5.24], P = 0.007), type of cancer (OR = 1.70 [1.01-2.89], P = .049), and income level (Mediate: (OR: 3.27 (1.49, 7.14), P = .003) and Low: (OR: 3.38 (1.52-7.52), P = .003). Also, 415 (75.2%) patients chose home and 137 (24.8%) patients chose hospital as their preferred place of death. Choosing the home as a preferred place of death had a significant relationship with marriage (OR = 1.62 [95% CI: 1.02-2.57], P = .039) and time to diagnostic disease less than 6 months (OR = 1.62 [95% CI: 0.265-0.765], P = .002). Conclusion: The findings of the current research indicate that the majority of cancer patients selected their homes as the preferred location for end-of-life care and final disposition. Researchers advise paying more attention to patients' wishes near the end of life in light of the findings of the current study. This will be achieved by strengthening the home care system using creating appropriate infrastructure, insurance coverage, designing executive instructions, and integration of palliative care in home care services.

Intimate partner violence against pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of (intimate partner violence) IPV against pregnant women in the COVID-19 pandemic. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for observational studies regarding the prevalence of IPV against pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The search was performed with the following keywords: intimate partner violence, domestic violence, battered women, wife assault, partner assault, wife abuse, partner abuse, femicide, domestic homicide, pregnancy, gestation, pregnant women, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, 2019-nCoV, Coronavirus Disease-19, 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan Coronavirus, SARS Coronavirus 2, Wuhan Seafood Market Pneumonia Virus. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I2 index. In addition, a random-effects model was used to estimate the prevalence of IPV. Data analysis was performed in Stata software version 16. Six articles met our inclusion criteria, which were conducted on 2213 pregnant women. The pooled prevalence of total IPV was estimated at 22 percent (95 percent Confidence Interval [CI]: 4-40 percent). Moreover, the pooled prevalence of psychological, physical, and sexual violence was reported to be 24 percent (95 percent CI: 13-35 percent), 14 percent (95 percent CI: 7-20 percent), and 6 percent (95 percent CI: 4-9 percent), respectively. Publication bias was significant (P = .01). According to the results, IPV against pregnant women has been relatively prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, identifying the women who are at the risk of IPV is essential to preventing the consequences of maternal-fetal abuse and designing strategies to facilitate the reporting of violence during pandemics.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS) in Adult Patients With Cancer.

Background: Measuring the outcomes of palliative care plays an important role to improve the quality, efficiency, and availability of these services in patients with cancer. Using valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate tools has a considerable role to measure these outcomes. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the translated version of the Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS). Methods: This methodological study was conducted in two outpatient clinics related to Shohada Tajrish and Baqiyatallah hospitals in Tehran in 2019-2020. The translation was done using the Forward-Backward approach after gaining permission from the developer. Face validity was tested with 10 patients with cancer through cognitive interviewing, as well as content validity with four experts. Construct validity was performed by (n = 203) exploratory factor analysis and confirmation (N = 150). To assess the reliability, internal consistency was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and relative stability was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Furthermore, interpretability and ceiling and floor effects were assessed. Results: A total of 353 patients with cancer under palliative care were included in the study. Then, three psychological (30%), physical (12.25%), and social factors (12.08%) with a cumulative variance of 54.34% were extracted in exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model has a good fit of information. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for scale was 0.719. Furthermore, the ICC was 0.812. The scale was interpretable, and ceiling and floor effects were 0%. Conclusion: Persian version of the POS was evaluated as a valid and reliable tool. Therefore, it can be used by the clinician to monitor the consequences of palliative care in Iranian cancer patients.