Impact of dyadic practice on the clinical self-efficacy and empathy of nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Dyadic practice of learners creates supportive learning. So far, few studies have investigated the impact of this approach on students' empathy and self-efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dyadic practice on nursing students' clinical self-efficacy and empathy. METHODS: This study was based on a pretest-posttest randomized group from September to December 2018. All the junior nursing students (n = 44) were divided into intervention (n = 22) and control groups (n = 22) using stratified random sampling. The intervention group was trained for 6 days as student dyads, while the control group was under the supervision of an instructor and worked individually. The students' levels of empathy and self-efficacy were evaluated on the first day (pretest) and the last day (post-test) by The Self-Efficacy in Clinical Performance Scale and Mehrabian and Epstein empathy scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software by Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney test, independent t-test paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and Analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Dyadic practice increased empathy in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The adjusted mean of total empathy in the intervention group was 21.1 degrees higher than the adjusted mean of total empathy in the control group. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in clinical self-efficacy (P = 0.762). CONCLUSIONS: The employment of this approach seems helpful in creating an empathic atmosphere. However, further studies are required to prove the effectiveness of this method on self-efficacy.

Effect of prone position on clinical outcomes of nonintubated patients with COVID-19: A randomised clinical trial.

Background: Prone positioning (PP) is a well-known respiratory support approach. Limited data are available for the use of PP in nonintubated patients with COVID-19. Aim: This study aims to investigate the effect of PP on the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: In this clinical trial, the participants in the PP group (n = 41) were asked to lie comfortably in a PP for 90 min. In the supine position (SP) group (n = 41), the participants were asked to lie comfortably in a SP for 90 min. Clinical data such as oxygen saturation, respiratory rate (RR), the severity of dyspnoea, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse rate were assessed at 0 (immediately before), 30, 60, and 90 min after the start of the intervention, and 30 min after resuming the SP. The participants in the PP group were then asked to intermittently stay in a PP for a total of 8 h per 24 h of hospitalisation. The participants in the control group were asked to remain in their usual positions during the hospital stay. Finally, the length of hospital stay, intubation rate, and survival were assessed. Findings: PP was associated with significant improvement in oxygen saturation (P = 0.001), RR (P = 0.004), the severity of dyspnoea (P = 0.014), and MAP (P = 0.027). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of pulse rate (P = 0.890), hospital stay (P = 0.994), intubation rate (P = 0.324), and survival (P = 0.091). Discussion: Our results demonstrated that PP showed marked improvement in some short-term clinical outcomes in nonintubated patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: PP can be considered an inexpensive, accessible, and simple measure in awake nonintubated patients with COVID-19.

Development and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique for rapid, accurate, and specific detection of Blastocystis spp. in AIDS patients.

BACKGROUND: Blastocystis spp. is one of the most prevalent intestinal parasites with worldwide distribution. Various diagnostic methods with different sensitivities and specificities have been used to detect Blastocystis in clinical samples. The present study aims to develop and evaluate a LAMP assay to detect Blastocystis spp. in AIDS patients for the first time. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 98 AIDS patients with an average CD4 + T lymphocyte count lower than 150 cells/mm3 participated in the study. The presence of Blastocystis spp. in the stool samples of AIDS patients was examined by parasitology (direct wet mount and concentration assays) and molecular (PCR and LAMP) methods. The 18 SSU rRNA genomic target was used to design the specific primers for the PCR and LAMP assays. The specificity of designed primers for the LAMP assay was evaluated using the sequencing of a conventional PCR product by the external LAMP primers. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software and chi-square test and Fischer's exact tests were used and Cohen's Kappa calculates the agreement of the molecular tests. Associations were tested using odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjustments. RESULTS: Out of 98 stool samples from patients with AIDS, 9 (9.18%), 13 (13.26%), and 15 (15.30%) samples were detected positive for Blastocystis spp. by parasitology, PCR, and LAMP techniques, respectively. PCR amplification and subsequent sequencing of the product sequences revealed that the obtained partial sequences were identical to the corresponding 18 SSU rRNA sequences reported in GenBank. The higher positivity rate for Blastocystis spp. among studied AIDS patients by LAMP technique compared to other diagnostic methods showed the higher potential and effectiveness of this relatively new described molecular assay for the detection of Blastocystis spp. in AIDS patients. CONCLUSION: The accurate and rapid detection of emerging intestinal protozoa such as Blastocystis is of clinical importance for better prevention and timely treatment of the disease, especially in immunocompromised patients. The results obtained for the first time showed that the sensitivity and accuracy of the LAMP technique in the diagnosis of Blastocystis spp. in AIDS patients is very high.

Investigate the relationship between cell-phone over-use scale with depression, anxiety and stress among university students.

BACKGROUND: Cell phones have increased dramatically as a new communication technology in the modern world. This study aimed to determine the relationship between cell phone over use scale with depression, anxiety and stress among university students in Khorramabad, Iran. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study, 212 students were randomly selected from the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences by a combination of stratified and clustered random sampling. Data were collected by two standard questionnaires including, Cell-phone Over-use Scale (COS) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) and were analyzed using SPSS V.22. RESULTS: Based on the results, 72.2% of the students were exclusively male, which a majority of them were in age of 21-23 years (46.2%), and 92.5% were single. Based on the multiple linear regression and after adjustment for the confounding effect, there was a significant relationship between cell phone over use scale on student's stress (t = 2.614, P = 0.010), and student's anxiety (t = 2.209, P = 0.028); however there was not a significant relationship between cell phone over use scale on student's depression (t = 1.790, P = 0.075). CONCLUSIONS: Harmful use of cell phones can aggravate psychological disorders such as anxiety, stress and depression and by controlling this factor can increase the level of mental health and improve the quality of life in students. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. ID: IR.LUMS.REC.1397-1-99-1253.

Predicting moral intelligence in nursing students and its relationships with self-compassion, and cultural competence: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In the recent era, nursing needs employees with moral intelligence, cultural competence, and self-compassion skills more than ever. This study aimed to determine the predictors of moral intelligence and its relationship with self-compassion and cultural competence in nursing students. METHODS: This cross-sectional and multi-center descriptive study was conducted in 2022. With convenience sampling, 250 nursing students from three Iranian universities participated in this study. Data gathering included the Moral Intelligence Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale (short form), and Cultural Competency Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the correlation between variables, and hierarchical regression. RESULTS: The results showed that nursing students had good moral intelligence (72.63 ± 11.38), moderate self-compassion (37.19 ± 5.02), and poor cultural competence (50.06 ± 13.15). No statistically significant relationship was observed between self-compassion and cultural competence (r = 0.11, p = 0.07). Moral intelligence with marital status (r = 0.16, p = 0.01), academic year (r = 0.14, p = 0.03) and self-compassion (r = 0.33, p < 0.001) had a significant relationship in such a way that these variables explained 15% of moral intelligence and self-compassion had the highest impact (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the moderate level of self-compassion and the poor level of cultural competence reported in the undergraduate nursing students, and also that self-compassion was known to be a predictive factor for moral intelligence, planners and educators must pay more attention to promoting self-compassion and cultural competency in the curriculum and conduct studies to find ways to improve them.

The role of the ICU liaison nurse services on anxiety in family caregivers of patients after ICU discharge during COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to maintain social distancing and changes in wards' structure, families no longer access the routine support they received during the hospitalization of their patients in the ICU. This study aimed to determine the effects of ICU liaison nurse services on the anxiety in patients' family caregivers after ICU discharge during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was performed in western Iran from February 2020, to March 2021. Sixty subjects were selected from the family caregivers of the patients transferred from the ICU and were randomly assigned to the control (n = 30) and the intervention groups (n = 30). The control group received routine transfer care. In the intervention group, liaison nurse services were offered in 4 dimensions: patient support, family support, training, support of the ward's staff, and the evaluation of the destination ward. The participants' anxiety was measured using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory immediately after the patient transfer and 6 h after admission to the general ward. Data analyzed with SPSS V16, descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon test, and Generalized Linear Model with cumulative logit link function. Results were reported at a 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in baseline anxiety levels (P = 0.035) and age group (P < 0.001) between the intervention and control groups. After moderating baseline anxiety levels, the age group, and marital status, the impact of the intervention was significant (X2 = 10.273, df = 1, P < 0.001), meaning that the intervention could reduce the relative chances of developing higher levels of anxiety by 92.1% (OR: 0.08, 95%CI: 0.017-0.373, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the positive impact of nursing services on reducing anxiety in family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended to use these services, especially during the COVID-19 condition, to facilitate the patient transfer, support the patient's family, and reduce the health care gap between the ICU and the ward.

Application of Freire's adult education model in modifying the psychological constructs of health belief model in self-medication behaviors of older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication by older adults has been always a public health concern. The present study aimed to modify the psychological constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM) in relation to self-medication behaviors using Freire's Adult Education Model (FAEM) among older adults in Khorramabad, Iran, from 2017 to 2018. METHODS: The mean age of the older adults was 66.28 ± 7.18 years. This was a randomized controlled trial study conducted on 132 individuals older than 60 who were referred from different health care centers. The participants were selected using multistage sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire which was designed based on both HBM and self-medication behaviors questionnaire. The phase of adult education model (AEM) was used to modify the psychological constructs of HBM and self-medication behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 with a significant level of 0.05. Descriptive statistical tests, chi-squared test, paired t-test, independent t-test, and univariate modeling were employed for the purpose of analyzing data. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of self-medication. Unawareness of the effects of medicine were the most important reason for self-medication (p = 0.50). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of knowledge, HBM constructs, and self-medication behaviors (p > 0.05). However, they came up to be considerably different for the above variables after the intervention was implemented (p <  0.05). When the findings were adjusted for the effects of confounding variables, there were significant differences between the two groups in almost all constructs of HBM and their behaviors (p <  0.05). However, the perceived barrier modality of HBM did not reach to a significant level of difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: The educational intervention, which was based on Freire's AEM, had positive effects on the constructs of HBM and consequently on self-medication behaviors. The psychological constructs of HBM were affected at the phases of listening to problems. Self-medication was tempered at the action-reflection phase with shared creation and evaluation of the action plan geared toward the achievement of the behavioral objectives. The results might be of importance to healthcare professionals involved in care of older patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials IRCT2013091814512N2. Registered on January 2 - prospectively registered, the trial was registered in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry http://www.irct.ir .

The effect of knowledge brokering on nurses' empathy with patients receiving cardiac care: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization could be an unpleasant experience for patients with cardiovascular disease leading to some negative emotional reactions. These emotions can be managed by nursing empathy. There are different methods for improving empathy, but some evidence indicates a dramatic drop in nurses' empathy. In this study, we aim to provide a protocol for investigating the effect of knowledge brokering on nurses' empathy with patients receiving cardiac care. METHODS: This study protocol is developed based on SPIRIT checklist with an experimental design. The study population are nurses working in cardiac wards of three educational hospitals in western Iran, Khorramabad. The quota sampling method is used. The sample size is 100 individuals. The samples will be assigned to two intervention and comparison groups using stratified random allocation method. Permuted block randomization is used in each stratum. To prevent contamination between participants; firstly, the measurements of the comparison group is done. Knowledge brokering intervention is performed in 7 stages based on Dobbins' knowledge translation framework 2009. Monica's Empathy Construct Self-Rating Scale is used for measuring empathy. Statistical analyses are performed using SPSS (SPPS Inc. Chicago, Il, version 21). P value below 0.05 is considered as statistically significant. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, there is no similar study using an experimental design to examine the efficacy of a knowledge brokering method to improve humanistic knowledge. It helps nurses to improve their empathy in caring relationships.

An investigation of the effects of infertility on Women's quality of life: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Human instinctively desire to have offspring. Infertility can cause painful emotional experiences throughout the life mainly known as quality of life impairment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of infertility on a woman's quality of life. METHODS: A number of 180 infertile and 540 fertile women participated in this matched case-control study. The cases were selected through a combination of multistage stratified and cluster sampling methods. For each infertile woman three fertile women were randomly selected. The data gathering instrument consisted of demographic variables and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Data collection was conducted through interview with participants. The multivariate marginal model and SPSS software 21 were used for data analyses with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The results of the multivariate modeling show infertility can potentially affect various aspects of women's quality of life such as physical health (p <  0.001), mental health (p <  0.001), social health (p <  0.001) and the total score of quality of life (p <  0.001) significantly. CONCLUSION: An infertile woman practice a relatively lower scores in QOL sub-scales of mental, physical and environmental health; while they experience a higher social health score than a fertile woman.

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in the first six months of life and its determinants in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first 6 months of life is the best and most complete option for an infant, in that supplies the vitamins and minerals the baby needs. Several studies in Iran have been conducted concerning the prevalence of EBF. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EBF in the first 6 months of life and associated factors in Iran synthesizing published studies. METHODS: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, ISI/Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Directory of Open Access Journals Directory (DOAJ) and Google Scholar as well as Iranian databases (Barakathns, MagIran and the Scientific Information Database or SID) up to November 2018. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies. Analyses were performed by pooling together studies using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model with 95% confidence interval. To test for heterogeneity, I2 test was used. The Egger's regression test and funnel plot were used to evaluate the publication bias. The strength of EBF determinants was assessed computing the Odds-ratios (OR) using the Mantel-Haenszel method. RESULTS: In the initial search 725 records were found. Finally, 32 studies were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The sample size of studies varied between 50 and 63,071 subjects. The overall prevalence of EBF in Iran was 53% (CI 95%; 44-62). The OR for breastfeeding education received before pregnancy was 1.13 (0.94-1.36), for mother's job 1.01 (0.81-1.27), for education level 1.12 (0.89-1.42), for type of delivery 1.16 (0.98-1.37), and for gender of child 1.03 (0.83-1.28). CONCLUSION: In Iran health policy- and decision-makers should try to take interventions that encourage mothers to use their milk to breastfeed the infants.

Factors associated with mental health of high-school students in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders of adulthood can be traced to childhood and adolescent disorders so attention to the mental health of young people is important. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the mental health status of high-school students in Khorramabad and the factors that may affect it. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1 202 high-school students in Khorramabad in the 2015-2016 academic year. Students were selected using stratified and multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics of the students, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used to assess symptoms of mental disorders. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the presence of symptoms of mental disorder and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 16.1 (SD 0.9) years and 52.7% were girls. Overall, 481 (40%) students (34% of males, 46% of females) had symptoms of mental disorders. Most had mild symptoms; 5% had severe symptoms. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and social impairment were seen in 40%, 33% and 32% of the students respectively; significantly more girls had these symptoms (P < 0.05). Female students, those in higher school grades, and those whose fathers were unemployed and mothers were housewives were significantly more likely to have symptoms of mental disorders (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a high prevalence of symptoms associated with mental disorders in the adolescents in Khorramabad. Counselling centres in schools are needed to offer psychiatric counselling services to students and to implement regular mental health training programmes.

Prediction of unwanted pregnancies using logistic regression, probit regression and discriminant analysis.

BACKGROUND: Unwanted pregnancy not intended by at least one of the parents has undesirable consequences for the family and the society. In the present study, three classification models were used and compared to predict unwanted pregnancies in an urban population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 887 pregnant mothers referring to health centers in Khorramabad, Iran, in 2012 were selected by the stratified and cluster sampling; relevant variables were measured and for prediction of unwanted pregnancy, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, and probit regression models and SPSS software version 21 were used. To compare these models, indicators such as sensitivity, specificity, the area under the ROC curve, and the percentage of correct predictions were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of unwanted pregnancies was 25.3%. The logistic and probit regression models indicated that parity and pregnancy spacing, contraceptive methods, household income and number of living male children were related to unwanted pregnancy. The performance of the models based on the area under the ROC curve was 0.735, 0.733, and 0.680 for logistic regression, probit regression, and linear discriminant analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Given the relatively high prevalence of unwanted pregnancies in Khorramabad, it seems necessary to revise family planning programs. Despite the similar accuracy of the models, if the researcher is interested in the interpretability of the results, the use of the logistic regression model is recommended.

The protective effects of alpha-pinene on high glucose-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in HepG2 cells.

Objectives: Hyperglycemia, a prevalent metabolic condition observed in diabetes, leads to oxidative damage, inflammatory responses, and other consequences. Natural compounds alleviate the adverse impacts of diabetes. We aimed to explore the effects of alpha-pinene (AP) as a monoterpene on oxidative damage and inflammation caused by high glucose (HG) in the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Materials and Methods: The HepG2 cells were subjected to non or HG concentration (50 mM) and treated with or without AP (8, 16, and 32 µg/ml) for 48 hr. The effect of treatments on cellular viability, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and activity of anti-oxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), was determined. The gene expression levels of nuclear factor-κß (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) were estimated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: HG exposure significantly increased cell death, MDA formation, and depletion of GSH content and GPx, CAT, and SOD activity (P<0.05). We have also seen a significant induction in NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and DPP-4 gene expression in hepatocytes under HG conditions (P<0.05). Interestingly, co-treatment with AP in a dose-dependent manner improved cell death and altered levels of MDA and GSH, and activity of GPx and CAT (P<0.05). AP could also modulate the gene expression of NF-κB and inflammatory biomarkers dose-dependently (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggested the protective effect of AP on hepatocytes under HG conditions through attenuating oxidative stress markers and suppression of inflammatory pathways.

Evaluation of the clinical educational environment based on the DREEM model from the viewpoint of the OR students.

BACKGROUND: The most important part of learning happens in the clinic. To determine the differences between the real educational environment and the desirable environment, the DREEM1 model is used. The present study was conducted to evaluate the clinical educational environment based on the DREEM model from the viewpoint of the OR2 students of the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study evaluated the viewpoint of 118 students of operation room (OR) technology using the DREEM (Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure) questionnaire in the hospitals affiliated with the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences during the second semester of 2020. The DREEM questionnaire has 50 statements and is divided into five sections, which are rated on a five-point Likert scale (0-4). The data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables, mean and standard deviation indices, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0. IBM Corp.; 2013. and the level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The total perception of the students of the clinical educational environment was good and excellent in 73.8% of the cases and of the subscales was also good (50.8%-63.2%). There was a significant relation between the total score of students' perception of the clinical educational environment and age (Z = 5.618, P < 0.001), semester (χ2= 43.929, df = 3, P < 0.001), internship hospital (χ2= 12.948, df = 6, P = 0.044) and also the mean score of the subscales (P < 0.001). As the GPA3 and interest in the major increased, the mean score of total perception and its subscales also increased except for perception from the educators (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results, the studied students had a positive perception of the clinical educational environment. It is recommended that the scientific foundation of the educators, the physical facilities of the operating rooms, and social communication should be strengthened to improve the care, treatment, and educational services. It will be useful to use the results to improve the accreditation level of medical centers.

The effect of saffron and corrective exercises on depression and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system which causes various complications such as reduced ability to do daily activities, depression and early death of patients. The present study aimed to compare the effect of saffron and corrective exercises on depression and quality of life in women with MS. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 MS women for 12 weeks. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and allocated into four study groups (three intervention groups and one control group) using the stratified block randomization. The Expanded Disability Status Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale were used to collect data at the start of the study and also at the end of the sixth and the twelfth weeks. At the end of the twelfth week, the depression mean scores in all experimental groups (saffron group, corrective exercises group, corrective exercises + saffron group) were significantly different compared to the control group (P < 0.05), and this difference in corrective exercises + saffron group was more than the others. Also, at the end of the twelfth week, the mean scores of the quality of life (both physical and mental dimensions) in all experimental groups were significantly different from the control group (P < 0.05). The saffron group in physical dimension and the corrective exercises + saffron group in psychological dimension showed a significant difference with other groups. Although each of the corrective exercises program and saffron consumption alone were effective in reducing depression and enhancing the quality of life in MS patients, the consequences will be more beneficial in case these two interventions are used together. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage MS patients to consume saffron supplement along with doing physical activities in caring and rehabilitation programs.

Molecular evaluation of Cryptosporidium spp. among breeding calves of Lorestan province Western Iran.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium spp. are opportunistic intestinal protozoans with global distribution and are of great importance as zoonotic protozoans are common to humans and domestic animals, including cattle and calves. Identification and detection of parasite species using precise methods including molecular methods can be an effective step in treating and controlling parasites. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium among breeding calves of Khorramabad city, Lorestan province, Western Iran, using PCR. METHODS: The faecal samples were taken from 181 healthy and diarrhoeal calves and after the Ziehl Neelsen Acid-fast staining and microscopic evaluation, the genomic DNA was extracted for molecular evaluations. To detect Cryptosporidium species, specific primers targeting the SAM-1 gene of Cryptosporidium and a commercial master mix were used for PCR. RESULTS: Out of 181 faecal samples of breeding calves in Khorramabad city, 9 samples (5%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. using the PCR method. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant statistical relationship between Cryptosporidium infection of the calves and variables of age, breed, type of water consumption, clinical signs of diarrhoea, and sampling location, while parasite infection had a significant relationship with calf gender so that all Cryptosporidium positive samples were from male calves (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the presence of Cryptosporidium infection, the region's traditional grazing system, and the close relationship between livestock and humans, there is a possibility of human infection in the region. So preventive measures such as periodic animal testing with sensitive and accurate diagnostic techniques including PCR, pharmacological treatment of livestock, water hygiene and the use of industrial grazing instead of traditional grazing to improve the hygiene of food consumed by livestock are recommended.

Determination of the causes of tendency toward red meat and meat products in the west of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Although meat constitutes an important part of many consumers' diet, its consumption has become a quiet controversial issue. Several factors are effective on tendency to red meat consumption. The 2007's report of the world Cancer Research Fund makes the recommendation to limit the consumption of red meat to less than 500 g per week. The aim of this study is to determine meat and meat products consumption and causes of tendency to red meat among people of Khorramabad city, Iran. METHODS: This cross- sectional study was carried out on 300 adults (178 women and 122 men; aged 19-70 years) of Khorramabad city, Iran. Red meat and processed meat intake (from a FFQ), demographic and causes of tendencies to red meat consumption (from a self-reported questionnaire) were evaluated. Statistical methods included independent t- test and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Consumption of red meat and meat products was 531.8 ± 543.5 g/w and 132.5 ± 251.1 g/w, respectively. The most important factors of tendencies toward red meat consumption were delectability, palatability, accessibility, cultural and traditional beliefs, and lack of food diversity in Lorestan province, animal husbandry, nomadic life, and hospitality. Red meat consumption was more common among men and lower in the income levels of $300. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that red meat consumption in adult people of the west of Iran was high. Since consumption of meat and meat products may create health concerns for people, it is necessary for policymakers to adopt effective strategies to advocate the use of fish and poultry.

Assessing the online search behavior for COVID-19 outbreak: Evidence from Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Google Trends (GT) is an important free tool for online search behavior analysis, which provides access to Internet search patterns in Google. In recent decades, this database has been used for predicting the outbreak of epidemics and pandemics in different regions of the world. The present study aimed to evaluate Iranian users' COVID-19-related online search behavior. METHODS: This longitudinal study was conducted in 2021. The data of Iranian users' COVID-19-related online search behavior (trend) were collected from the GT website, and the epidemiological data of the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran from 16 February 2020 to 2 January 2021 were sourced from the Iranian ministry of health and medical education, as well as the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: All the COVID-19-related search terms in Iran gained their highest popularity value (relative search volume = 100) in the first 8 weeks of the pandemic, and then this value assumed a decreasing trend over time. Based on factor analysis, relative search volume (RSV) of factor 1 terms (related to corona [in Persian] and corona) have a low significance relationship with COVID-19 epidemiological data in one-, two-, and three-week time lags. Although, RSV of factor 2 terms (related to COVID [in Persian], COVID-19, and coronavirus) correlated with the total weekly number of COVID-19 cases in mentioned time lags. CONCLUSION: COVID-19-related search terms were popular among Iranian users at the beginning of the pandemic. The online search queries and the key terms searched by Iranian users varied during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides evidence in favor of the adoption of GT as an epidemiological surveillance tool but, it is necessary to consider that mass media and other confounders can significantly influence RSVs.

The effect of patient-centered education in adherence to the treatment regimen in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study aimed to determine the effect of patient-centered education on adherence to the treatment regimen in patients with coronary artery disease. It was a parallel randomized controlled study with a 1:1 allocation ratio. 104 patients who met the inclusion criteria were chosen through non-probability consecutive sampling and divided into intervention and control groups. For the intervention group, along with the usual education, two sessions of 45-60 minute patient-centered education were performed. The control group received only the usual education. The primary outcome was adherence to the treatment regimen which was measured before and after the intervention. The findings indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of adherence to the treatment regimen in three dimensions of diet, physical activity, and medication at the beginning and end of the research in intervention and control groups. Patient-centered education is effective in improving adherence to the treatment regimen in patients with coronary artery disease. Consequently, patient-centered education applied in the current study can be recommended as a simple, low-cost, and efficient technique in increasing adherence to the treatment regimen in patients with coronary artery disease.

Development and psychometric properties of health care workers' concerns in infectious outbreaks scale.

Introduction: Healthcare workers are a crucial workforce; from a moral perspective, understanding their concerns and how to support them is crucial and makes it possible for health services to keep functioning. This study aimed to develop and validate Health Care Workers' Concerns in Infectious Outbreaks Scale (HCWCIOS). Methods: This exploratory sequential mix-method study was employed to design and validate the HCWCIOS. The initial tool was designed after searching similar studies and performing a qualitative phase under the semi-structured approach. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to evaluate the face and content validity. The content validity ratio, content validity index, and item-level content validity index were also calculated. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the construct validity. Using a convenient sampling method, 354 Iranian healthcare workers participated in the study. Computing Cronbach's alpha coefficient estimated the internal consistency for HCWCIOS and its subscales. Furthermore assessed was test-retest reliability. Results: The preliminary scale was designed with 57 items. By eliminating nine items in the content validity phase and 12 items during factor analysis, the final 36-item scale was developed on six factors: inadequate preparedness, lack of knowledge, risk perception, affected social relations, work pressure, and absenteeism. These six factors accounted for 46.507% of the total variance. The whole scale's Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.912, and the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.88. Conclusion: A 36-item HCWCIOS has good psychometric properties and is suitable for measuring healthcare workers' concerns during a pandemic.