Cure Rate Following Rejection in Bilateral Corneal Grafts for Keratoconus

Purpose: To estimate cure rate following graft rejection in bilateral corneal transplants in Iranian patients with keratoconus and to determine risk factors associated with rejection. Methods: In this retrospective study, data were compiled from records of patients who had undergone bilateral penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus between 1988 and 2007. In order to estimate cure rate in patients with and without corneal vascularization, we adopted the cure rate frailty model with a Bayesian approach. Results: Two hundred and thirty-eight eyes of 119 patients underwent bilateral corneal transplantion for keratoconus, of which 22.7% experienced graft rejections. Cure rates for patients with and without corneal vascularization were 41% and 79%, respectively. Cure rate decreased 12% per decade of increase in recipient age. The 1, 5, and 10-year survival of corneal transplants without any graft rejection episodes were 82%, 74%, and 70% respectively. Conclusion: The most important risk factor predisposing to rejection in patients undergoing bilateral PK for keratoconus was corneal vascularization. Cure rate for patients without vascularization was high in this data set, indicating that penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus patients without vascularization is an efficient and reliable procedure

Using Theory of Planned Behavior to Determine Consumer Intention in Choosing Cloth vs Plastic Bags

Plastics bags waste presets serious danger to human and animal health. A descriptive study was conducted on 250 consumers who were shopping in different stores of Kashan city in Iran in 2020 to investigate the consumers’ intention, attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control towards reducing the consumption of plastic bags and using cloth bags based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Stratified sampling was applied to select the consumers to filled out a questionnaire developed based on the TPB in Farsi. A path analysis was used to investigate whether attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control would have any relation with the intention to reduce the consumption of plastic bags and to use cloth bags and whether the pathway model was acceptable. Results showed that certain demographic characteristics such as age and gender affects the perceived behavioral control. Employed consumers had stronger intention in using cloth bags. The path analysis results showed positive correlations between intention and other components of TPB such as attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. There was a medium correlation between different dimensions of TPB. Weak correlation was observed between the attitude and perceived behavioral control and maximum correlation was observed between perceived behavioral control and intention. Employed and housewives consumers had strong intentions in using clothe bags. Attitude was not a strong determinant of intention and perceived behavioral control. Thus educational and awareness-raising programs should be accompanied by other reinforcing/ encouraging programs targeting at changing the intention directly. Employed individuals and housewives are more likely to change their behavior and benefit from such programs

Factors Affecting Pregnant Women's Intention for Exclusive Breastfeeding Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is an important factor for neonatal and maternal health and several factors affect it. The theory of planned behavior provides a suitable framework for study in this field. The purpose of this study was to determine the effective factors on the intention of exclusive breastfeeding in pregnant women based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 312 pregnant women covered by health centers of Karaj city through multistage sampling method. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire based on constructs of the theory of planned behavior. Data were analyzed through SPSS (version 19) and using Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression tests. Results: Mean score of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention of exclusive breastfeeding were 46.2, 31.1, 15.9 and 13.07 respectively. Linear regression showed that previous child feeding type, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control had a positive effect on the intention of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers and these variables were able to explain 22.3% of its variance. Conclusion: Theory of Planned Behavior had a good framework for explaining the intention of exclusive breastfeeding in pregnant women. Therefore, through improving attitudes and subjective norms, as well as increasing perceived behavioral control, increase of exclusive breastfeeding would be more promising

Short-term Survival Rates after Myocardial Infractions in Iran: Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract Background: Heart attacks are the cause of 40% of deaths in Iran and due to its upswing in Iran and the world, the determination of its short-term survival rate in order to assess treatment methods is of great importance. The purpose of this study is to estimate patients’ short-term survival rate after heart attacks by Meta-analysis method. Materials and Methods: This study is a systematic review. The analysis was based on data extracted from English and Persian data bases. To analyze the information obtained, including the average age of patients, and one-month and one-year short-term survival rates, the STATA 11.2 and the random effect model were used. Results: The results of the study on 18 studies entering the Meta-analysis including 62486 patients, demonstrated that one-month and one-year short-term survival rate in Iran are respectively 87.7 and 85.2 percent and no significant difference was observed between the two genders. The average age of patients was reported 62.43 years and no significant difference was observed between the two genders in the occurance of health attack. Conclusion: The results of this Meta-analysis showed that although the survival rate of an Iranian patient after a myocardial Infarction is the same as patients in developed countries, the average age of the patients in Iran is lower, which indicates that the load of disease in Iran is greater than in other countries regarding the years lost to the disease

Predictors of intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine using the theory of planned behavior and the health belief model among the health ambassadors of Kashan City in 2021

Aims: The purpose of the study was to examine the intention of the health ambassadors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and investigate predictors of intention using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and health belief model (HBM). Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on 500 health ambassadors. Simple randomized sampling was applied to select the participants. We called the participants and asked them to fill out our 28-item questionnaire. Univariate analyses were used to examine relationships between dependent and independent variables. We used the independent t-test to measure the relationship between quantitatively independent variables and the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test to measure the relationship between qualitative independent variables. Finally, significant independent variables were entered into a hierarchical logistic regression model and the results were interpreted. Results: Overall, 44.8% (224) of participants reported that they have the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The significant demographic predictors include age, having a chronic disease, Having COVID-19 in the last year, and perceived health status. According to the HBM, the dimensions of perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and cues to action. According to the TPB, the dimensions of the subject norm, perceived behavior control, and self-efficacy were significant predictors of vaccination. Conclusion: According to the low rate of COVID-19 vaccination, health educational programs together with encouraging/reinforcing programs may change perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived behavioral control, and intention. It is better to use various kinds of sources to implement the educational program

Prevalence of Depression in Diabetic Patients: Article Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Diabetes and depression are among diseases highly associated with life style, urbanism, and industrialization. The concomitance of the two of them costs the patients many years of their lives. Many researchers have been done on the outbreak of depression among diabetics in Iran. The principal purpose of this study is to determine the outbreak of depression among diabetics using the Meta-analysis method. Methods: This study is a systematic review. The prevalence rate of depression among diabetics estimation was determined using Meta-analysis method on the data extracted from English and Persian data bases. To analyze the information obtained, we used STATA 11.2 and the random effect model. Results: Among 32 eligible researches 7135 patients with type I and II diabetes were chosen for this study. Using Beck’s self-report scale 65% of the cases shown mild to severe symptoms of depression. 64% of the patients were female and the prevalence rate of depression was reported 71.3% in the female and 60.3% in the male cases. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of depression among Iranian diabetics is higher in comparison with other countries. Considering the fact that the concomitance of the two of these diseases results in a raise in medical costs, it is recommended to the doctors to check for depression symptoms in diabetics and recommend health solutions to the patient and the one accompanying them

Prevalence of Depression in Diabetic Patients: Article Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Diabetes and depression are among diseases highly associated with life style, urbanism, and industrialization. The concomitance of the two of them costs the patients many years of their lives. Many researchers have been done on the outbreak of depression among diabetics in Iran. The principal purpose of this study is to determine the outbreak of depression among diabetics using the Meta-analysis method. Methods: This study is a systematic review. The prevalence rate of depression among diabetics estimation was determined using Meta-analysis method on the data extracted from English and Persian data bases. To analyze the information obtained, we used STATA 11.2 and the random effect model. Results: Among 32 eligible researches 7135 patients with type I and II diabetes were chosen for this study. Using Beck’s self-report scale 65% of the cases shown mild to severe symptoms of depression. 64% of the patients were female and the prevalence rate of depression was reported 71.3% in the female and 60.3% in the male cases. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of depression among Iranian diabetics is higher in comparison with other countries. Considering the fact that the concomitance of the two of these diseases results in a raise in medical costs, it is recommended to the doctors to check for depression symptoms in diabetics and recommend health solutions to the patient and the one accompanying them

Survey of Medication Errors in Operating Rooms Staff with Some organizational and Demographic Characteristics

Introduction: Medication errors are the factors threatening the safety of patients. Medical errors led to increased mortality, prolonged hospital stay and increased healthcare costs is in the hospital. The aim of this study was to determine of medication errors in operating rooms staff with Some organizational and demographic characteristics Method: This is a descriptive-analytic study conducted on 201 operating rooms staff of selected hospitals of Alborz University of Medical Sciences. The study population members are staffs who working in the operating room of the Hospital of Alborz University of Medical Sciences. The sampling method wa census and its conducted in 2016. The data were collected using questionnaire. After collection, data analysis was performed by using descriptive- analytical statistical and SPSS version 19. Findings: The average number of medication errors as in three months per staff was 2.2 and the average of medication errors reported was 0.06. Medication errors (p=0.048) and errors reported (p=0.000) by the operating room staff were significantly correlated with working conditions. The demographic characteristics of employment in different sectors and work experience were associated with medication errors. Discussion: Regarding the relationship between working conditions with medication errors, Review and understanding of working conditions and adjusted them help reduce medication errors. It seems that health care authorities, in order to reduce these errors should identify the causes and apply strategies

Psychometric evaluation and localization of STEEM tool for surgical technologists in Iran

Introduction: Clinical education is one of the most important parts of medical and paramedical education that prepares students for practicing clinical skills. Evaluation of the clinical learning environment with a suitable instrument plays an important role in increasing student motivation and learning. This also applies to the assessment of the clinical environment of the operating room. In search of such a suitable instrument, this study aimed at investigating the psychometric properties of Surgical Theatre Educational Environment Measure (STEEM) among surgical technology students of Iran University of Medical Sciences and Alborz University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study conducted from July 2017 to July 2018. After translation and retranslation of the STEEM tool, its face validity and content validity were measured by the relevant experts panel. Then, it was distribute damong 201 surgical technology students. The construct validity of the instrument was investigated using exploratory factor analysis and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha and Pearson correlation coefficient. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19. Result: The study of face, content, and construct validity resulted in providing STEEM questionnaire with 5 subscales and 30 questions covering 55.6% of the total variance. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that the Persian and native versions of STEEM had appropriate validity and reliability, and could be used to measure the operating environment of the Iranian Operating Room from the standpoint of surgical technology students. Keywords: measurement, Educational environment, Operating room, Educational measurement, STEEM