The Quality of Websites Related to Hypertension in Iranian Internet Space

Background: Today physicians and other health-related service providers are trying to provide information and training through cyberspace to their patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality of the Persian websites related to hypertension.Methods: To identify Persian hypertension related websites in a descriptive cross-sectional study, we started our search in cyberspace using the key words. The keywords that were used are the same as the words that patients or their families use to obtain information about hypertension. The First 50 Google and Yahoo search results, all related links and related websites are listed in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education were examined. Then, the quality of these sites were evaluated based on the scale of Discern and Silberg instruments.Results: As a result, a total of 281 websites were retrieved. Analysis revealed that 62(22%) of these unique websites contained information relevant to hypertension. Seventy nine percent of health related websites had academic or governmental origin, however, only 9% of these websites contained information relevant to hypertension. “Heart center belonging to Tehran University of Medical Sciences” was ranked first based on the Silberg and DISCERN instruments, with scors 7 (from total 9) and 55 (from total 80), respectively.Conclusions: This study showed that, according to the data collecgted and analyzed via Silberg and DISCERN instruments, the quality of Persian websites related to HTN is “low”. According to evidence-based medicine, despite so many barriers to the internet information reaching its necessary to expand health-related Web sites

The Quality of Websites Related to Hypertension in Iranian Internet Space

Background: Today physicians and other health-related service providers are trying to provide information and training through cyberspace to their patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality of the Persian websites related to hypertension.Methods: To identify Persian hypertension related websites in a descriptive cross-sectional study, we started our search in cyberspace using the key words. The keywords that were used are the same as the words that patients or their families use to obtain information about hypertension. The First 50 Google and Yahoo search results, all related links and related websites are listed in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education were examined. Then, the quality of these sites were evaluated based on the scale of Discern and Silberg instruments.Results: As a result, a total of 281 websites were retrieved. Analysis revealed that 62(22%) of these unique websites contained information relevant to hypertension. Seventy nine percent of health related websites had academic or governmental origin, however, only 9% of these websites contained information relevant to hypertension. “Heart center belonging to Tehran University of Medical Sciences” was ranked first based on the Silberg and DISCERN instruments, with scors 7 (from total 9) and 55 (from total 80), respectively.Conclusions: This study showed that, according to the data collecgted and analyzed via Silberg and DISCERN instruments, the quality of Persian websites related to HTN is “low”. According to evidence-based medicine, despite so many barriers to the internet information reaching its necessary to expand health-related Web sites

Women's Blood Donation: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Reasons for Non-Donation of Blood among Female Staff at Tehran Blood Transfusion Center

Background: The blood donation proportion of women to men is 1 to 9 in Iran. Lack of time, fear of needling and difficult access to donation sites were main reasons for not donating blood in previous studies. The aim of this study was to assess barriers of blood donation by women working in Tehran blood transfusion center.Methods: To achieve the aim of this study we designed a qualitative research. The study population came from female personnel in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center (TBTC) they were recruited by qualitative purposeful sampling with no history of blood donation. Results: Twenty-seven female personnel of TBTC aged 21-55 years old were entered to two focus group discussions. In the focus group discussion, knowledge of participants about the needs and importance of blood donation and donor acceptance criteria was desirable. There were common fears and beliefs about blood donation, similar to the results of  previous study in general female population, including weakness, concerns of having or developing anemia, fear of needling, being in reproductive age, menstruation cycle, pregnancy and childbearing stage. Some of participants believed that working in TBTC, especially in technical units, acts as a deterrent  For few females who worked in TBTC, concern of a positive test result either true or false was another cause of not blood donation. A few donors mentioned that derived plasma from female bloods was not used and also some others experienced complicated blood donation in clients. So they did not attempt to donate blood.Conclusions: At first, it seemed that female staff working in TBTC might have different perceptions about blood donation because of greater awareness than women in the general community. However the results of this study showed that reasons of not donating blood in this group of women was not different from females in the general population

Women's Blood Donation: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Reasons for Non-Donation of Blood among Female Staff at Tehran Blood Transfusion Center

Background: The blood donation proportion of women to men is 1 to 9 in Iran. Lack of time, fear of needling and difficult access to donation sites were main reasons for not donating blood in previous studies. The aim of this study was to assess barriers of blood donation by women working in Tehran blood transfusion center.Methods: To achieve the aim of this study we designed a qualitative research. The study population came from female personnel in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center (TBTC) they were recruited by qualitative purposeful sampling with no history of blood donation. Results: Twenty-seven female personnel of TBTC aged 21-55 years old were entered to two focus group discussions. In the focus group discussion, knowledge of participants about the needs and importance of blood donation and donor acceptance criteria was desirable. There were common fears and beliefs about blood donation, similar to the results of  previous study in general female population, including weakness, concerns of having or developing anemia, fear of needling, being in reproductive age, menstruation cycle, pregnancy and childbearing stage. Some of participants believed that working in TBTC, especially in technical units, acts as a deterrent  For few females who worked in TBTC, concern of a positive test result either true or false was another cause of not blood donation. A few donors mentioned that derived plasma from female bloods was not used and also some others experienced complicated blood donation in clients. So they did not attempt to donate blood.Conclusions: At first, it seemed that female staff working in TBTC might have different perceptions about blood donation because of greater awareness than women in the general community. However the results of this study showed that reasons of not donating blood in this group of women was not different from females in the general population

Energy Drinks Consumption among Iranian University Students and Associated Factors

Background & Aims: There is no study in Iran about the Energy drinks (EDs) use by students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of EDs consumption and its related factors among the students. Methods:This cross-sectional study carried out among students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Using a standardized, pretested and self-administered questionnaire, the data were collected. The questionnaire consisted of 65 questions that asked the students' sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge and habits of ED consumptions. Results:Of all participants 66.3% were female, 63.1% of students live in dormitories and 6.9% and 19.9% of them live with friends and parents, respectively. Almost 11.5 percent of students are user of energy drinks. The most common reason to try an ED was ‘‘its special tastes’’ (36.2%), followed in order of frequency by ‘‘to stay awake for long hours’’.  Logistic regression modeling of EDs use indicated that, male gender, students who live alone and higher monthly costs for personal requirements were also positively and significantly associated with EDs use. Conclusions:Despite thelow prevalence of EDs consumption in our study samples,male students, living alone and higher monthly costs for personal requirements are factors associated with more EDs consumption. Key words: Energy Drink; Youths; University Students; Iran

Energy Drinks Consumption among Iranian University Students and Associated Factors

Background & Aims: There is no study in Iran about the Energy drinks (EDs) use by students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of EDs consumption and its related factors among the students. Methods:This cross-sectional study carried out among students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Using a standardized, pretested and self-administered questionnaire, the data were collected. The questionnaire consisted of 65 questions that asked the students' sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge and habits of ED consumptions. Results:Of all participants 66.3% were female, 63.1% of students live in dormitories and 6.9% and 19.9% of them live with friends and parents, respectively. Almost 11.5 percent of students are user of energy drinks. The most common reason to try an ED was ‘‘its special tastes’’ (36.2%), followed in order of frequency by ‘‘to stay awake for long hours’’.  Logistic regression modeling of EDs use indicated that, male gender, students who live alone and higher monthly costs for personal requirements were also positively and significantly associated with EDs use. Conclusions:Despite thelow prevalence of EDs consumption in our study samples,male students, living alone and higher monthly costs for personal requirements are factors associated with more EDs consumption. Key words: Energy Drink; Youths; University Students; Iran

Healthcare Workers Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection during an Early Phase of the Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Infection and death of health care workers (HCWs) with COVID-19 is an important health problem and will lead to inadequate care of patients, causes more damage and more spread of this pandemic. This study aimed to combine data on COVID-19 infection among HCWs through a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Methods: We searched PubMed via MEDLINE, the SCOPUS, and Web of Science (ISI) to identify the studies on the prevalence of HCWs infection among COVID-19 patients. We used an eight-item checklist critically appraised to assess the quality of publications on the COVID-19 infection among HCWs. Random-effect models and meta-regression were used for the meta-analysis of the results. Results: Overall, 98 articles were retrieved from the databases, of which, seven met the eligibility criteria published between December 2019 to March 2020. The total sample size of the included studies contained 72677 COVID-19 confirmed cases, of which 3131 were HCWs. The pooled COVID-19 infection prevalence among HCWs was 4% (95% CI: 3% to 5%). Conclusions: According to the results, COVID-19 infection in HCWs was 4% of all cases in the early phase of the pandemic. So HCWs need special care including regular screening and appropriate, adequate, and standard personal protective equipment (PPE). Keywords: Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health Care Workers, Medical Staff

Healthcare Workers Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection during an Early Phase of the Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Infection and death of health care workers (HCWs) with COVID-19 is an important health problem and will lead to inadequate care of patients, causes more damage and more spread of this pandemic. This study aimed to combine data on COVID-19 infection among HCWs through a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Methods: We searched PubMed via MEDLINE, the SCOPUS, and Web of Science (ISI) to identify the studies on the prevalence of HCWs infection among COVID-19 patients. We used an eight-item checklist critically appraised to assess the quality of publications on the COVID-19 infection among HCWs. Random-effect models and meta-regression were used for the meta-analysis of the results. Results: Overall, 98 articles were retrieved from the databases, of which, seven met the eligibility criteria published between December 2019 to March 2020. The total sample size of the included studies contained 72677 COVID-19 confirmed cases, of which 3131 were HCWs. The pooled COVID-19 infection prevalence among HCWs was 4% (95% CI: 3% to 5%). Conclusions: According to the results, COVID-19 infection in HCWs was 4% of all cases in the early phase of the pandemic. So HCWs need special care including regular screening and appropriate, adequate, and standard personal protective equipment (PPE). Keywords: Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health Care Workers, Medical Staff

Enhancing Blood Donation Intentions Using the Train-the-Trainer ( TTT ) Model: A Field Trial Study

Background: In Iran, despite various attempts to increase recruitment of female blood donors, women make up less than 10% of blood donors.Methods: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of face-toface education via the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model on people’s willingness to donate blood, especially women. A field trial study was designed based on a face-to-face educational plan for a population in 22 municipal regions of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The periods from March 2011 to February 2011 and from March 2010 to February 2010 were named as trial 2 and trial 1, respectively.Results: Total number of volunteers in trial 2 was 9,178 cases, including 2,785 females and 6,393 males, compared with 4,074 cases, including 454 females and 3,620 males, in trial 1. Female/male ratios in trials 1 and 2 were 0.13 and 0.44, respectively (p<0.001). Deferred donors made up 24% (981/4074) of 4,074 in trial 1, and of the 9,178 donors in trial 2, 29% (2693/9178) were deferred (p<0.001). The most common cause in trial 1 was erythrocytosis, 20%, and in trial 2 was anemia, 21.5%.Conclusions: Overall, face-to-face education is an appropriate method for enhancing safe blood donor motivation and recruitment

Enhancing Blood Donation Intentions Using the Train-the-Trainer ( TTT ) Model: A Field Trial Study

Background: In Iran, despite various attempts to increase recruitment of female blood donors, women make up less than 10% of blood donors.Methods: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of face-toface education via the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model on people’s willingness to donate blood, especially women. A field trial study was designed based on a face-to-face educational plan for a population in 22 municipal regions of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The periods from March 2011 to February 2011 and from March 2010 to February 2010 were named as trial 2 and trial 1, respectively.Results: Total number of volunteers in trial 2 was 9,178 cases, including 2,785 females and 6,393 males, compared with 4,074 cases, including 454 females and 3,620 males, in trial 1. Female/male ratios in trials 1 and 2 were 0.13 and 0.44, respectively (p<0.001). Deferred donors made up 24% (981/4074) of 4,074 in trial 1, and of the 9,178 donors in trial 2, 29% (2693/9178) were deferred (p<0.001). The most common cause in trial 1 was erythrocytosis, 20%, and in trial 2 was anemia, 21.5%.Conclusions: Overall, face-to-face education is an appropriate method for enhancing safe blood donor motivation and recruitment