Regional COVID-19 registry in Khuzestan, Iran: A study protocol and lessons learned from a pilot implementation

Disease registry systems provide a strong information infrastructure for decision-making and research. The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation method and protocol of the COVID-19 registry in Khuzestan province, Iran. We established a steering committee and formulated the purposes of the registry. Then, based on reviewing the literature, and expert panels, the minimum data set, the data collection forms and the web-based software were developed. Data collection is done retrospectively through Hospital Information Systems, Medical Care Monitoring Center system (MCMC), Management of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control system (MCDPC) as well as, patients' records. For prospective data collection, the data collection forms are compiled with patients' medical records by the medical staff and are then entered into the registry system. We collect patients' administrative and demographic data, history and physical examinations, test and imaging results, disease progression, treatment, outcomes, and follow-ups of the confirmed and suspected inpatients and outpatients. From April 20 to December 5, 2020, the data of 4,812 confirmed cases and 7,113 suspected cases were collected from two COVID-19 referral hospitals. Based on our experience, recording information along with providing care for patients and putting patients' data registration in the medical staff's routine, structuring data, having a flexible technical team and rapid software development for multiple and continuous updates, automating data collection by connecting the registry to existing information systems and having different incentives, the registration process can be strengthened. © 2021 The Author

A treatment wetland park assessment model for evaluating urban ecosystem stability using analytical hierarchy process (AHP)

The increased impervious and built-up urban areas threat ecosystem stability through major environmental problems, such as surface runoff, flooding, and wildlife habitat resource depletion. Hence, urban ecologists and planners are attempting to enhance the capacities of wetlands parks in urban ecosystem stabilization. They need an assessment tool to evaluate and quantify the performance of wetland parks on these issues, hereof this study has developed the Urban Wetland Park (UWP) index assessment model. The research conducted three phases; the requirement study to identify the features of wetland park design, formulating index model using Analytical Hierarchy Process method, and model validation using expert input. The UWP model identified eighteen features clustered into three criteria and fifteen sub-criteria and then determined the weights of features. For model validation, the UWP model was applied in Putrajaya wetland park. The UWP resulted with grade B (Good) for Putrajaya wetland park. It means the Putrajaya wetland park performs well in ecosystem stabilization, although the experts recommended few minor improvements regarding site selection (WC1.1.= 0.588), multi-cell and multi-stage design (WC1.5.= 0.604), depth proportion (WC1.6.= 0.652), and biodiversity (WC2.1.= 0.691). Study proposed the UWP as a universal decision support tool to help urban authorities, urban planners and ecologists to assess the ecosystem stabilization of wetland parks.Scopu