Associated factors of sleep quality in HIV-positive individuals

Objective: In the present study, sleep quality and associated factors have been evaluated in HIV-positive individuals. Methods: 150 HIV-positive and 50 non-HIVpositive people were included. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, somatization subscale of Symptom Checklist-90 were used for evaluation of sleep quality, anxiety, depression and physiological factors respectively. Results: Statistically significant differences were found regarding sleep quality (p < 0.001) between the HIV-positive and control group. There was significant direct correlation between sleep quality and each of somatization subscale of Symptom Checklist-90, depression and anxiety scores in HIV-positive individuals. Conclusion: Depression, anxiety and physical morbidity were detected as main factors that affect sleep quality in the HIV-positive individuals

Associated Factors of Suicidal Thoughts in HIV-Positive Individuals

Objective: As a first study, suicidal ideation and its correlates have been evaluated in Iranian HIV positive population . Methods: One hundred and fifty HIV-positive individuals were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) and Somatization subscale of Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL 90) as self- reported questionnaires were used to assess the patients’ anxiety and depression status, suicidal thoughts, sleep quality and physiological factors, respectively . Results: Antiretroviral therapy and efavirenz intake did not show any significant effects on the patients’ suicidal ideation. Anxiety (p<0.001), depression (p<0.001), poor physical activity (P<0.001) and sleep quality (p<0.001) were significantly associated with the patients’ negative suicidal ideation. From the patients’ demographic data, unemployment (p = 0.04), living alone (p = 0.01), and lack of family support (p = 0.01) were correlated with the patients’ negative suicidal thoughts . Conclusion: Although hospitals are the main referral centers for providing care for HIV-positive individuals in Tehran, Iran, conducting a multi-center study with sufficient sample size from different areas of our country that include individuals with different behaviors and cultures is essential to confirm the results of this study

Medication Errors in an Emergency Department in a Large Teaching Hospital in Tehran

Medication errors have important effects on increased length of hospitalization, increased mortality and costs. We assessed the incidence of medication errors and characterize the error types in an emergency department in a large teaching hospital in Tehran. We also investigated the effect of Emergency Department pharmacists on patient safety with regard to recovery of potentially harmful medication errors. The study was conducted in the 24 bed emergency department from February to March, 2010 at a 600-bed teaching hospital. Two hospital pharmacists and two clinical pharmacy residents observed care provision and collected data on medication errors. Demographic data, type of medication error, the recorded stage of error, date and time of occurrence and report, who made the error, probability of error were recorded from medical records. We used chi-squared and independent sample t- tests for analyzing the data. We recorded 203 medication errors during 180 hours. The incidence of medication errors was 50.5% at various levels in the emergency department. Significant difference in age means was seen between the patients with and without medication errors. Seventy four point nine percent of errors were recorded as definitely an error. Most recorded errors were made by nurses (44.5%) and occurred in administrating stage (63.6%). Given that the rate of the errors was relatively high, it seems that the presence of clinical pharmacist can be beneficial

Benefits of Pharmacist’s Participation on Hospitalist Team

This study was performed to assess the incidence of medication errors and irrational use of human albumin in two wards of our hospital and also aimed to evaluate the ability of pharmaceutical care center and pharmacists in improving patient care. Albumin administration was evaluated for patients who received albumin during the study period, in gastroenterology and general surgery wards. The indications for Albumin administration were evaluated on the basis of reliable guidelines. The prescribing errors were simultaneously evaluated by reviewing patients’ medical records. Prescribing errors were defined as selecting improper drug (based on indications, contraindications, known allergies, drug-class duplications and drug-drug interactions), dose, dosage form, and route of administration. It was found that 465 containers of human albumin solution 20 % were used for 54 patients treated in gastroenterology and general surgery wards of our hospital. A total of 306 (65.81%) vials of the albumin administrations were in concordance with the reliable protocol. The cost of irrational use of this drug (159 vials) for patients is equivalent to $ 8215. From 609 reviewed cases, 81 prescribing errors were detected in 64 patients. This study showed that the pharmacists were effective in identifying irrational drug use and medication errors

Associated Factors of Suicidal Thoughts in HIV-Positive Individuals

   Objective: As a first study, suicidal ideation and its correlates have been evaluated in Iranian HIV positive population . Methods: One hundred and fifty HIV-positive individuals were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) and Somatization subscale of Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL 90) as self- reported questionnaires were used to assess the patients’ anxiety and depression status, suicidal thoughts, sleep quality and physiological factors, respectively . Results: Antiretroviral therapy and efavirenz intake did not show any significant effects on the patients’ suicidal ideation. Anxiety (p<0.001), depression (p<0.001), poor physical activity (P<0.001) and sleep quality (p<0.001) were significantly associated with the patients’ negative suicidal ideation. From the patients’ demographic data, unemployment (p = 0.04), living alone (p = 0.01), and lack of family support (p = 0.01) were correlated with the patients’ negative suicidal thoughts . Conclusion: Although hospitals are the main referral centers for providing care for HIV-positive individuals in Tehran, Iran, conducting a multi-center study with sufficient sample size from different areas of our country that include individuals with different behaviors and cultures is essential to confirm the results of this study