Comparison of Bibliographic Databases in Retrieving Information on Telemedicine

Abstract: Background & Aims: Some of the main questions which can be of importance for those researchers who intend to perform a systematic review in a field of science are: ‘What databases should I use for my review?’; ‘Do all these databases have the same value?’; and ‘Which sources retrieved the highest of relevant references?’. The main aim of this work was the identification of the best database for retrieving information on telemedicine by comparing the percentage of relevant references among the total literature available that can be retrieved from each database. Methods: Databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched on the topic of telemedicine and education, telemedicine and cost benefit, and also telemedicine and patient satisfaction. Results of analysis and accuracy coefficient, sensitivity, uniqueness, and the overlap of databases were calculated. Results: The number of studies retrieved from each database varied for each topic. PubMed with 50.7% in accuracy and 61.4% in sensitivity was the most effective database for retrieving information on the abovementioned topics. Databases with the highest proportion of unique records in retrieved relevant references varied between the 38% for PubMed to 3% for CINAHL. The largest overlap in the four databases was between PubMed and the Web of Science (18.6%). Few papers (0.7%) were indexed by all four databases. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that information scientists, librarians, and researchers who want to access the best references on telemedicine should start by searching PubMed. Searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, respectively, will provide about 90% of the relevant available literature. Keywords: Bibliographic databases, Telemedicine, Sensitivity, Precision, Information retrieva

تاثیر مداخله آموزشی از طریق موبایل برآگاهی و عملکرد در خودآزمایی پستان

Background and Aims: Information technologies are valuable tools in health education and promotion and are very useful for examining the level of awareness and function of society.The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of cell phone education on breast self-examination. Materials and Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted as an educational intervention in 2020 in 56 health centers of Kahnooj city with ethical considerations (approved by the ethics committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences). The study population consisted of 40 female health workers in health care centers who were selected by census. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire that included three sections: demographic information, awareness and performance. Questionnaires were sent via WhatsApp, answers were received using WhatsApp, then training files were sent via WhatsApp for samples. One month after the training, the questionnaires were distributed again and the answers were received. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 through descriptive (mean and frequency) and dependent t-test. Results: The results showed that there was a difference between the mean scores of knowledge of 3.5 and 5.87 and performance of 3.15 and 5.8 before and after training, respectively. Also a significant relationship between degree with knowledge and performance and between information sources with knowledge (P<0.001). However, no significant relationship was found between information sources and performance (p=0.1). Conclusion: Self-examination is the simplest screening method for early detection of breast cancer. Awareness and practice of individuals could reduce deaths due to this cancer and this behavior requires continuous education.زمینه و اهداف: فناوری‌های اطلاعات، ابزارهای با ارزشی در آموزش و ارتقاء سلامت هستند و برای بررسی سطح آگاهی و عملکرد جامعه بسیار سودمند می‌باشند. لذا هدف این تحقیق بررسی تاثیر آموزش از طریق موبایل بر نحوه انجام خودآزمایی پستان بود. مواد و روش‌ها: مطالعه شبه تجربی بود و به صورت مداخله آموزشی در سال1399 در 56 خانه‌ بهداشت شهرستان کهنوج با رعایت ملاحظات اخلاقی (تایید کمیته اخلاق دانشگاه علوم پزشکی کرمان) انجام شد. جامعه پژوهش 40 بهورز زن شاغل در خانه‌های بهداشت بودند که به صورت سرشماری انتخاب شدند. داده‌ها با استفاده از پرسشنامه محقق ساخته که شامل 3 بخش اطلاعات دموگرافیک، آگاهی و عملکرد بود، جمع‌آوری شدند. پرسشنامه‌ها از طریق واتساپ ارسال، پاسخ‌ها نیز با استفاده از واتساپ دریافت، سپس فایل‌های آموزشی نیز با واتساپ برای نمونه‌ها ارسال شدند. یک ماه بعد از آموزش مجدداً پرسشنامه‌ها توزیع و پاسخ‌ها دریافت گردیدند. داده‌ها با SPSS20 و آزمون‌های توصیفی (میانگین و فراوانی) و تحلیلی t وابسته انجام گردید. یافته‌ها : نتایج نشان داد بین میانگین نمرات آگاهی 5/3 و 87/5 و عملکرد 15/3 و 8/5 به ترتیب قبل و بعد از آموزش تفاوت وجود داشت. همچنین بین مدرک تحصیلی با آگاهی و عملکرد و بین منابع اطلاعاتی با آگاهی رابطه معناداری(P<0.0001) وجود دارد. اما بین منابع اطلاعاتی با عملکرد رابطه معناداری یافت نشد (P=0.1). نتیجه‌گیری : خودآزمایی، ساده‌ترین روش غربالگری در تشخیص زودرس سرطان پستان است. آگاهی و عملکرد افراد باعث کاهش مرگ ناشی از این سرطان می‌شود و لازمه این رفتار آموزش مستمر است

Comparing the Effect of Role-playing and Lecturing on Learning the Communication Skills Among Health Workers of Kerman Health Centers, Iran

Background: The proper health worker-patient communication is one of the main factors that affect patients’ satisfaction and improve healthcare outcomes. Objectives: The current study aimed at comparing the effect of the two widely used teaching methods, role-playing and lecturing, on learning the communication skills among health workers of Kerman health centers in Iran, 2018. Methods: The current interventional study included all health workers in Kerman City as the statistical population of whom 120 selected by the census method. Then, they were randomly assigned to three groups of 40 subjects. The first group was trained by role-playing, the second group by lecturing, and the third group, as control, received no training. All the subjects completed the Barton standard relationship communication skills questionnaire before and after the intervention. The data were then analyzed in SPSS software using Wilcoxon test. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 38.54±8.29 years, and 46.7% of them had a high school diploma; 86.7% were married, and 74.2% were females. Based on the findings, the mean score of communication skills in the role-playing group increased from 2.90 to 4.29 after the intervention, which was statistically significant (P <0.001). Conclusion: The score of communication skills (i e, verbal, listening, and feedback skills) in the role-playing group was higher than those of the lecturing and control groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that the role-playing method can be useful in teaching communication skills. Keywords: Role-playing, Lecturing, Communication Skills, Learning, Health Worke

Information Needs of Addicted Individuals: A Qualitative Case Study

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the information needs of addicts from the perspective of addicts. By identifying the experiences of the individuals involved in addiction and assessing the information they need, targeted educational interventions can be provided to meet their needs.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 addicts in two addiction outpatient clinics. Data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis approach proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.Findings: The information needs of the interviewees included recognizing types of addictive substances and the degree of dependence on them, awareness of the physical and psychological symptoms of addiction to various addictive substances, awareness of various pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, physical and psychological symptoms of quitting addiction, awareness of the length of treatment, knowledge about the dose and degree of dependence on drugs, recognizing the causes of failure in quitting addiction, awareness of governmental and non-governmental services, and awareness of the psychological measures and care services necessary after quitting addiction.Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the knowledge and awareness of addicted individuals in various fields of addiction is low and it is necessary to provide education based on the information needs of these individuals. This requires the cooperation and efforts of policy makers, the Ministry of Education, welfare managers, and specialists in camps and addiction treatment centers. Specialists in addiction treatment clinics can use the information needs of addicts determined in this study to enrich the education of addicts

Chapter 12: Urban architecture for well-being: a design canvas for inclusive green cities

Landscape and urban planners, designers, as well as architects, can take up inclusive planning and design processes that acknowledge human needs and dignity, and foster participation in shared decision-making. Underpinning these processes are values of empathy, placation, accessibility, and identity essential to imagining and creating inclusive green cities. This chapter provides a deeper understanding of the different dimensions of an inclusive green city and how social equity is an integral part of any design effort. We begin by exploring our vision and the values necessary for green urban design. A framework for three aspects of equity – recognitional equity, procedural equity, and distributional equity – is presented with selected case studies that serve as evolving good practices for equitable green urban design. From this framework and resulting values, we built on a value-inclusive design canvas and present design principles that planners, designers and architects can adopt as their own

Strategies in Development of Iranian Medical Sciences Universities for Dynamic Presence in the International Arena

Background & Objective: In compatibility with the progress of universities and expansion of knowledge and science around the world, Iran has also had significant academic progress in recent years. However, the vision of Iran for the following decades is very ambitious. Much has to be achieved to reach the highest position in the region in development, economy, science, and technology. This qualitative study was designed to explore the strengths and weaknesses of universities. Methods: This qualitative study had three phases. In the first phase, we explored the topic in brain storming sessions. Then, the themes raised in phase one were discussed deeply in unstructured interviews with selective experts around the country. In the last phase, we asked 30 selective academic staff from different medical sciences universities to categorize the issues based on their importance and their solutions using Delphi method. Results: Our findings showed that improvement of international affairs were frequently stressed by our respondents. In this domain, the English skills of academic staff and students, big revision in rules and regulations, and encouraging the establishment of close scientific communication with academic organizations around the world were highlighted. In addition, most respondents believed that problems were understandable, but our main conflicts were in finding applicable solutions and implementing decisions. Conclusion: Our results showed that for a better presentation of Iranian universities in the international environment a new approach to long term reform programs is necessary. In this plan, special attention must be paid to the educational and research infrastructures. Keywords University ranking University of Medical Sciences Development strategies International arena Critical thinking Skills Medical student

Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma.

BACKGROUND: Despite its proven efficacy in improving symptoms and reducing exacerbations, many patients with asthma are not fully adherent to their steroid inhaler. Suboptimal adherence leads to poorer clinical outcomes and increased health service utilisation, and has been identified as a contributing factor to a third of asthma deaths in the UK. Reasons for non-adherence vary, and a variety of interventions have been proposed to help people improve treatment adherence. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of interventions intended to improve adherence to inhaled corticosteroids among people with asthma. SEARCH METHODS: We identified trials from the Cochrane Airways Trials Register, which contains studies identified through multiple electronic searches and handsearches of other sources. We also searched trial registries and reference lists of primary studies. We conducted the most recent searches on 18 November 2016. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included parallel and cluster randomised controlled trials of any duration conducted in any setting. We included studies reported as full-text articles, those published as abstracts only and unpublished data. We included trials of adults and children with asthma and a current prescription for an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (as monotherapy or in combination with a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA)). Eligible trials compared an intervention primarily aimed at improving adherence to ICS versus usual care or an alternative intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors screened the searches, extracted study characteristics and outcome data from included studies and assessed risk of bias. Primary outcomes were adherence to ICS, exacerbations requiring at least oral corticosteroids and asthma control. We graded results and presented evidence in 'Summary of findings' tables for each comparison.We analysed dichotomous data as odds ratios, and continuous data as mean differences or standardised mean differences, all using a random-effects model. We described skewed data narratively. We made no a priori assumptions about how trials would be categorised but conducted meta-analyses only if treatments, participants and the underlying clinical question were similar enough for pooling to make sense. MAIN RESULTS: We included 39 parallel randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults and children with asthma, 28 of which (n = 16,303) contributed data to at least one meta-analysis. Follow-up ranged from two months to two years (median six months), and trials were conducted mainly in high-income countries. Most studies reported some measure of adherence to ICS and a variety of other outcomes such as quality of life and asthma control. Studies generally were at low or unclear risk of selection bias and at high risk of biases associated with blinding. We considered around half the studies to be at high risk for attrition bias and selective outcome reporting.We classified studies into four comparisons: adherence education versus control (20 studies); electronic trackers or reminders versus control (11 studies); simplified drug regimens versus usual drug regimens (four studies); and school-based directly observed therapy (three studies). Two studies are described separately.All pooled results for adherence education, electronic trackers or reminders and simplified regimens showed better adherence than controls. Analyses limited to studies using objective measures revealed that adherence education showed a benefit of 20 percentage points over control (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.52 to 32.74; five studies; low-quality evidence); electronic trackers or reminders led to better adherence of 19 percentage points (95% CI 14.47 to 25.26; six studies; moderate-quality evidence); and simplified regimens led to better adherence of 4 percentage points (95% CI 1.88 to 6.16; three studies; moderate-quality evidence). Our confidence in the evidence was reduced by risk of bias and inconsistency.Improvements in adherence were not consistently translated into observable benefit for clinical outcomes in our pooled analyses. None of the intervention types showed clear benefit for our primary clinical outcomes - exacerbations requiring an oral corticosteroid (OCS) (evidence of very low to low quality) and asthma control (evidence of low to moderate quality); nor for our secondary outcomes - unscheduled visits (evidence of very low to moderate quality) and quality of life (evidence of low to moderate quality). However, some individual studies reported observed benefits for OCS and use of healthcare services. Most school or work absence data were skewed and were difficult to interpret (evidence of low quality, when graded), and most studies did not specifically measure or report adverse events.Studies investigating the possible benefit of administering ICS at school did not measure adherence, exacerbations requiring OCS, asthma control or adverse events. One study showed fewer unscheduled visits, and another found no differences; data could not be combined. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Pooled results suggest that a variety of interventions can improve adherence. The clinical relevance of this improvement, highlighted by uncertain and inconsistent impact on clinical outcomes such as quality of life and asthma control, is less clear. We have low to moderate confidence in these findings owing to concerns about risk of bias and inconsistency. Future studies would benefit from predefining an evidence-based 'cut-off' for acceptable adherence and using objective adherence measures and validated tools and questionnaires. When possible, covert monitoring and some form of blinding or active control may help disentangle effects of the intervention from effects of inclusion in an adherence trial

Computer literacy of medical students in Kerman University of Medical Science in 2003 – 2004

Background : The rapidly expanding use of information technology (IT) in medicine and biomedicine has changed the medical education methods, So that information literacy , the ability to use computer, is an essential skill for students. Knowing about the computer literacy level of students and the level of their interest in learning information technology help make the students to use computers and information technology better. Objective : The aim of this study was to assess the level of computer literacy amongst three classes of Kerman University's medical students. (students accepted during 1998-2000) Methods: All students accepted during 1998-2000 (180 students) were studied in this cross – sectional research. The questionnaire was used before in similar research in America. Response rate was 74%. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was computed after the gathering and was 0.86. Results : 29.2 percent of the respondents were male and 70.8% were female. Most of them (65.6%) had personal computer, 20.8% of them had passed at least an educational class on hardware, 43.2% on software class, and 9.4% on system design and analysis before accepting to university. In total, the students got 56% of computer literacy score. The computer literacy of males was significantly higher than females (P<0.01) Conclusions: In order to increase the level of computer literacy among medical students, we would suggest formal inclusion of IT in undergraduate medical curriculum. Keywords: Computer literacy, medical students, Kerman medical university

The Rate of Using Internet and Full-text Databases by Academic Members referring to the IT Centre of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

The rate of using new information services such as Internet is an important criterion for the assessment of development. This study was designed to determine the rate of using internet and biomedical databases by academic staffs of Kerman Medical University (KMU), and their attitude towards the available services. Methods : In this cross-sectional study, 120 individuals referring to the KMU Information Center during a period of three months (the first semester of 2006) were selected by convenience sampling and examined by a self-reported questionnaire consisted of 4 sections related to the demographic features, subjects’ opinions about the availability of soft/hardware and subjects’ attitude and practice in regard to using Internet. Results : The response rate was 74%. About 64% of the subjects had personal computers at home of whom only 53.5% had internet connection. Only 35% of male respondents and 20% of female respondents had access to KMU Internet connection (P=0.12). Among 97% of subjects who had active e-mail addresses, only 21.3% used KMU e-mail service. About 73% of the subjects were using the subscribed full-text databases of KMU. Science direct, Ovid, Blackwell, Image MD and MD Consult were respectively the most used sources . According to the subjects, Internet connection at home had a significant positive effect on their professional communications and use of e-mail services (P<0.03). More than 95% of the subjects accepted the important role of Internet on improving their professional activities. According to the respondents, the main obstacles for optimal use of Internet in this center were slow-speed Internet and lack of access to the center at their favored times. Conclusion : In spite of positive attitude toward Internet advantages, the rate of using Internet (especially at homes) and Full-texts databases is low among KMU academic members and these facilities are available only for one fourth of the target population of KMU staffs and students. Keywords: Internet, e-mail, Information delivery, Full-text resources, Kerman