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.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes complications and its association with diet knowledge and skills and self-care barriers in Tabriz, Iran: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Diabetes can lead to multiple complications that can reduce the quality of life, impose additional costs on the healthcare systems and ultimately lead to premature death. Proper self-care in diabetic patients can impede or delay the onset of diabetes complications. This study aimed to investigate diabetes complications and their association with diet knowledge, skills, and self-care barriers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 1139 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) referring to health centers in Tabriz, Iran, were included from January to July 2019. Data were collected using two questionnaires: (1) a sociodemographic questionnaire and (2) a Personal Diabetes Questionnaire (PDQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22. χ 2 test was used to examine the association between the socioeconomic and disease-related variables and the prevalence of diabetes complications. T-test was used to examine the association between diet knowledge and skills, self-care barriers, and the incidence of diabetes complications. Results: In this study, 76.1% of patients had at least one complication, and 30.2% had a history of hospitalization due to diabetes complications during the past year. Approximately 49% and 43% were diagnosed with high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia, respectively. Cardiovascular disease was the most common diabetes complication (15.9%) and the cause of hospitalization (11.01%) in patients with diabetes. Barriers to diet adherence, blood glucose monitoring, and exercise were significantly associated with self-reported diabetes complications (p < 0.001). Our results showed no significant association between the number of complications and diet knowledge and skills (p = 0.44). Conclusion: This study indicated that the prevalence of diabetes complications was higher among patients with more barriers to self-care. In light of these findings, taking appropriate measures to reduce barriers to self-care can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes complications.

Utilization of health services among the elderly in Iran during the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Elderly people are potentially vulnerable with a higher need for health services, and utilization of Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) among this group is of high importance. This study aimed to examine the utilization of health services among the elderly in Iran during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 21 public health centers in Sirjan, Southern Iran, from May to December 2020. A total of 420 elderly patients were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS v22.0. The binary logistic regression was used to examine the effect of demographic, socioeconomic and morbidity status on inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization. Results: Our results showed that 56% of the elderly had a history of hospitalization during the last year. Although 60% of the elderly reported they had a perceived need for outpatient services, only 49% of them reported that they utilized outpatient services. 51% and 35.5% of the elderly reported that their inpatient and outpatient costs were covered by health insurance, respectively. Others reported their health spending was financed through out-of-pocket payments. Male gender aged 80 and above, urban residents, higher socioeconomic and supplemental insurance coverage were associated with an increase in health services utilization. The elderly with Cancer, mental disorders, kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were more likely to be hospitalized. Conclusion: There were demographic and socioeconomic inequalities in health services utilization among the elderly. Therefore, appropriate interventions and strategies are needed to reduce these inequalities in health services utilization among the elderly. In addition, given that the hospitalization rate was significantly higher among the elderly with chronic diseases than those without, it is crucial and necessary to take interventions to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the future.

Investigating the burden of disease dimensions (time-dependent, developmental, physical, social and emotional) among family caregivers with COVID-19 patients in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The caregivers of patients with covid-19 face constant responsibilities such as providing personal, health, and social care to family, which can be physically, and emotionally exhausting resulting in a considerable stress burden. Therefore, given the importance of the subject, this study aimed to investigate the burden of disease dimensions (time-dependent, developmental, physical, social and emotional) among family caregivers with covid-19 patients in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted one year after the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in Iran. Family caregivers of Covid-19 patients discharged from the hospitals in Kerman city, Iran, were chosen by simple randomization (n = 1500). Data were collected utilizing a demographic characteristics inventory created by the researcher as well as the Novak and Guest Caregiver Burden Inventory. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviations, frequency, and percentages and analytical statistics such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov, T-test, ANOVA, and Multivariate Linear Regression were used for data analysis using the 20, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL Software at the level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the mean score of family caregiver burden was 2.61±0.6 and the severity of this burden was in a moderate range. The finding showed a statistical difference was seen between the family caregiver burden mean score of participants in terms of gender, duration of treatment, age and employed status. The multivariable linear regression model showed demographic variables of caregivers included (female, married, employed, elderly, low income and poor education) had a beneficial influence on family caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study can increase the awareness of health managers, about the level of burden of disease among family caregivers from the covid-19 patients and can help to provide economic, social and psychological support programs for improvement and reducing the burden of disease of caregivers during the covid-19 outbreaks.

Measuring the quality of provided services for patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: The healthcare organizations need to develop and implement quality improvement plans for their survival and success. Measuring quality in the healthcare competitive environment is an undeniable necessity for these organizations and will lead to improved patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure the quality of provided services for patients with chronic kidney disease in Kerman in 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytic study was performed from 23 January 2014 to 14 February 2014 in four hemodialysis centers in Kerman. All of the patients on chronic hemodialysis (n = 195) who were referred to these four centers were selected and studied using census method. The required data were collected using the SERVQUAL questionnaire, consisting of two parts: questions related to the patients' demographic characteristics, and 28 items to measure the patients' expectations and perceptions of the five dimensions of service quality, including tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 through some statistical tests, including independent-samples t test, one-way ANOVA, and paired-samples t test. RESULTS: The results showed that the means of patients' expectations were more than their perceptions of the quality of provided services in all dimensions, which indicated that there were gaps in all dimensions. The highest and lowest means of negative gaps were related to empathy (-0.52 ± 0.48) and tangibility (-0.29 ± 0.51). In addition, among the studied patients' demographic characteristics and the five dimensions of service quality, only the difference between the patients' income levels and the gap in assurance were statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results of the present study showed that the expectations of patients on hemodialysis were more than their perceptions of provided services. The healthcare providers and employees should pay more attention to the patients' opinions and comments and use their feedback to solve the workplace problems and improve the quality of provided services. In addition, training the health staff to meet the patients' emotional needs and expectations is suggested.