Study of Effect of Household Parental Smoking on Development of Acute Otitis Media in Children Under 12 Years.

BACKGROUND & AIM High prevalence of acute otitis media (AOM) in children represents a combination of the factors developing eustachian tube dysfunction and higher susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections in children. This disease is relatively prevalent in Iran and much cost is spent annually to treat it. This study investigated the effect of household parental smoking on development of AOM in children under 12 years. METHODS In this case-control study all patients under the age of 12 years with AOM referring an ENT clinic in Shahrekord, southwest Iran between April 2014 and August 2014 were enrolled by convenience sampling. This study included two groups. Group 1 (G1) was exposed to parental smoking at home and group 2 (G2) was not. For the patients, a questionnaire of demographic data such as age and gender, the disease symptoms, parents' education level, history of respiratory diseases, allergy, surgery (adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and tympanostomy), and household smoking was filled out by a specialist through interview. RESULTS In this study, 250 children 1-12 years with AOM, 145 in G1 and 105 in G2, were investigated. Clinical symptoms including fever (p=0.001) and hearing loss (p=0.014) were significantly more frequent in the children of G1 than G2, and otalgia, discharge, and tinnitus were similarly frequent in the two groups (p>0.05). Also, eardrum inflammation was more frequent in G1 than G2, with no significant difference (p>0.05). AOM was reported 70.3% in G1, which was higher than 26.7% reported in G2 (p=0.001). Also, asthma, recurrent ear pain, enlargement of the tonsils, and respiratory problems were more frequent in G1 than G2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Parental smoking was a risk factor for AOM and respiratory problems and therefore the parents are recommended to avoid smoking near children to reduce the likelihood of AOM development and exacerbation in children

Study of drug wastage rate and knowledge of operating room employees toward drug wastage in Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in Shahrekord, 2012-2013

زمینه و هدف: امروزه به علت افزایش هزینه اثر بخشی مراقبت های بهداشتی توجه قابل ملاحظه ای به هزینه های داروها شده است. این پژوهش با هدف تعیین میزان دور ریز برخی داروهای رایج مصرفی در اتاق عمل چشم، گوش و حلق و بینی (ENT) و همچنین بررسی آگاهی کارکنان اتاق عمل بیمارستان آیت اله کاشانی شهرکرد در خصوص دور ریز داروها انجام گردید. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مقطعی، میزان دور ریز برخی داروهای رایج اتاق عمل بیمارستان آیت اله کاشانی شهرکرد طی یک دوره سه ماهه بصورت روزانه بررسی و هزینه مالی آن ها برآورد گردید. همچنین آگاهی 100 نفر از کارکنان شاغل در اتاق عمل این بیمارستان در خصوص دور ریز دارو با استفاده از پرسشنامه محقق ساخته بررسی گردید. یافته ها: در این مطالعه در دسته آمپول ها، قطره ها و سرم ها به ترتیب آمپول پروپوفول با 4/22، قطره پیلوکاربین با 9/94 و سرم مانیتول با 3/59 بالاترین درصد دور ریز را به خود اختصاص دادند. کمترین درصد دور ریز متعلق به آمپول آتروپین (9) بود. از نظر مالی بیشترین بار مالی به ازای هر بیمار متعلق به پروپوفول (21000 ریال) و کمترین متعلق به آتروپین (1066 ریال) بود. نمره آگاهی آزمودنی ها در خصوص دور ریز دارو 82 برآورد گردید. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به وجود دوزهای متفاوت داروئی و روش های مختلف مصرف، این میزان دور ریز گزارش شده در این مطالعه قابل توجیه نمی باشد، لذا مسئولین علاوه بر توجه به مقوله تولید و تهیه دارو می بایست به مقوله مصرف نیز توجه بیشتری نمایند

ASSESSMENT OF THE USERS' PERSPECTIVES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ELECTRONIC PATIENT'S DRUG CHART IN THE PHARMACY INFORMATION SYSTEM

Introduction: The targeted application of the technology for the record of the drug information may substantially assist the healthcare service providers supporting the drug-related decisions. This study intended to assess the performance of the electronic patient's drug chart integrated in the pharmacy information system PIS] by comparing the users' viewpoints before and after its administration. Methods: This study was conducted using applied and descriptive-analytical research method in 2016. Research population consisted of the nursing staff, pharmacy technicians as well as pharmacists from which a sample of 317 subjects was selected using purposive non-probability sampling method from Nour & Ali Asqar hospital of Isfahan city. Data collection tool was a self-designed questionnaire developed on the basis of American Society of Health System Pharmacists ASHP] the validity of which was confirmed by both pooling the ideas of the respective well-known professors and estimating cronbach's alpha that was found to be 82%. The study was conducted in the following three steps: 1] exploring the viewpoints of the users on the development of the electronic patient's drug chart, 2] converting the current drug chart to the electronic format 3] re-assessing the users' viewpoints on the performance of electronic patient's drug chart. The collected data were analyzed using pretest-posttest and paired sample ttest with Spss16 software. As for quantitative variables, the measures of mean score, standard deviation and 95% confidence interval were used. Results: As per the obtained results, there was a significant difference between the mean scores obtained for the viewpoints of the users on four domains in question including the rate of access to the patient drug's information p < 0.001], the patient's demographic information p< 0.005], the patient's complaints and signs information p< 0.001] and patient's medical information p< 0.001] before and after the implementation of electronic patient's drug chart. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that implementation of electronic patient's drug chart in the PIS would increase the users' access rate to the drug and medical information. This, in turn, has a positive effect on lowering the illegible handwriting errors, controlling the drug dosage administered and decreasing the medicine waste

Developing and validating questionnaires to assess knowledge, attitude, and performance toward obesity among Iranian adults and adolescents: TABASSOM study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The present study describes the methods of developing and validating two questionnaires that will be used to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of adults, children and adolescents regarding obesity

The effect of traditional music on mental status of chronic schizophrenic patients: a clinical trial study

Background and aims: Music therapy is a simple and inexpensive method for the treatment of some psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of traditional music on the mental state of hospitalized chronic schizophrenia patients. Methods: In this clinical trial, 30 schizophrenia patients in the intervention group received routine treatment and attended music therapy sessions and 30 patients in the control group received routine treatment alone. Group music therapy sessions with traditional music were conducted 5 times a week for 2 months. Demographic questionnaire and Andreasen’s positive and negative symptoms questionnaires were completed at baseline and after the completion of music therapy sessions. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS version 16.0 using independent and paired t tests. Results: The mean scores of delusion (P=0.001) and bizarre behavior (P=0.036) and the total score of the SAPS (P=0.001) significantly decreased after intervention in the music therapy group. However, in the control group, the differences in the total and individual domain scores of the SAPS were not significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the control and music therapy groups in the total and individual domain scores of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) before and after the intervention (P>0.05). Additionally, before and after the study, the mean score of avolition in the music therapy group was significantly lower compared to the control group (P=0.03). The mean score of alogia in the music therapy group was significantly lower compared to the control group (P=0.01). Conclusion: Music therapy is effective in improving most of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and some of its negative aspects, and therefore can be used as a complementary therapy along with drug therapy. Keywords: Schizophrenia, Positive symptoms, Negative symptoms, Music therap

Subacute dermal toxicity investigation of nanosilver on serum chemical biomarkers in male mice

Abstract Objective(s): Nanosilver is one of the most widely used nanomaterials due to its strong antimicrobial activity. Thus, because of increasing potential for exposure of human to nanosilver, there is an increasing concern about possible side effects of these nanoparticles. In this study, we tested the potential dermal toxicity of nanosilver bandage on serum chemical biomarkers in mice. Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 male BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into the treatment and control groups (n=10). After general anesthesia and shaving the back of all animals in near the vertebral column, in the nanosilver group, a volume of 50μl of 10 μg/ml of nanosilver solution (40 nm), and in the control group the same amount of distilled water was added to the sterile bandage of mice, then the bandages were fixed on the skin surface with cloth glue. After 3 and 7 days, the bandages were opened and serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured by using standard kits for two groups of mice. Results: In treatment group, a significant increase in ALT, AST and BUN levels were observed compared with control group during experiment periods (p0.05). Conclusion: The present results indicated that the dermal absorption of 10 μg/ml nanosilver (40 nm) can lead to hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity in mice

Evaluation of Dermal Absorption of Nanosilver Particles on the Renal Function Parameters in Male Mice

Background: Nanosilver is one of the most widely used nanomaterials in consumer products. However, little attention was paid to the dermal toxic of These particles on human health. This study aimed to examine the effect of nanosilver dermal absorption on renal function parameters. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 (nanosilver, positive control, sham control and negative control groups). After general anesthesia and shaving the back of all animals in near the vertebral column, the Bandage surface was treated in the nanosilver group, with a volume of 50 microliters of the nanosilver solution (100 &micro;g/ml) ,and in the positive control group with the same amount of silver nitrate solution (100 &micro;g/ml), and in the sham control group with the same amount of distilled water, then the Bandages were fixed in the skin surface, but the negative control group was without treatment and bandage. After 3 and 7 days, the bandages had opened, and the serum levels of Creatinine (Cr) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Results: On 3 and 7 days, in nanosilver group, creatinine did not change significantly(p>0.05), but BUN levels showed significant increase compared to other groups (p<0.05). In addition, there wasn&rsquo;t significant changes in the renal function parameters in 7-day compared to 3-day (p>0.05). Conclusion: In this study, a significant increase in BUN of nanosilver group can be indicate kidney dysfunction, therefore nanosilver dermal absorption can be have the toxic effects on the kidney function

Study on effect of surface stroking technique on pain severity in Arthroscopic knee surgery patients

Abstract: Pain as a main social problem has involved millions of people. Usually pharmaceutical methods use for treating pain but they have side effects which make them less effective. surface stroking technique is one of the effective ways for reducing pain after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface stroking technique on pain severity in in Arthroscopic knee surgery patients. This is a clinical trial study on 60 arthroscopic knee surgery patients who were hospitalized in men&apos;s orthopedic ward of Al-Zahra and Kashani hospitals. A two part questionnaire was used for collecting data. Samples were selected using easy continuity method and then they were randomly divided into two groups. In intervention group, besides routine treatments, patients were taking surface stroking technique by the researcher for 20 minutes each day and pain severity was evaluated before and after the surface stroking technique. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS software. Results showed that there was a meaningful different between mean score of pain severity before and after the surface stroking technique in intervention group (p &lt;0.001) but this difference wasn&apos;t meaningful in control group (p = 0.32). Also comparing the mean score of pain severity in both groups before any interventions showed that there were no meaningful differences (p=0.34) but this difference was meaningful after interventions (p = 0.001). Considering surface stroking technique as a safe and effective intervention, it could be used as an easy, cheap and executable method for treating pain in all medical health care centers and even at patient&apos;s home

A survey of the perspectives of the female nursing personnel regarding the prevention of low back pain and its appropriate medical treatments

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the perspectives of the female nurses regarding the prevention and treatment of low back pain (LBP). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 222 female nurses working in Borujen Hospital (situated in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province of Iran) in 2015 selected using simple random sampling. The data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire consisting of 29 items designed in terms of personal information, self-care, awareness, and prevention of LBP. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire was confirmed. Results: About 93.7% of the participants of this study suffered from LBP with a majority of them (21.6%) reporting the monthly episodes of LBP. In terms of actions taken by the nurses when experiencing LBP, it was found that 58.1% of them used to rest during the LBP episodes while 36.5% of them preferred to seek care from a physician, especially a general practitioner. In general, the best-reported ways to ease the LBP were as follows: resting (80.2%), going to doctor (32.4%), and physical exercises (32%), especially practice of back-strengthening exercises. Nearly 53.2% of the nurses proposed that when experiencing LBP, the analgesics should be taken while 44.6% and 1.4% of them believed the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants or drugs can be helpful, respectively. Conclusion: It is very important for the nursing personnel to equip themselves with some information regarding how to manage LBP properly as well as its respective preventive measures so that they can create a healthy work environment for themselves

Determination of preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 based on protection motivation theory among female high school students in Isfahan, Iran.

INTRODUCTION Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic has recently threatened the health of world's population more than ever. Non-pharmaceutical measures are important to prevent the spread of influenza A/H1N1 and to prevent a pandemic. Effective influenza pandemic management requires understanding of the factors influencing preventive behavioral. This study reports on predictors of students' preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 using variables based on the protection motivation theory (PMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS In a cross-sectional study, multiple-stage randomized sampling was used to select 300 female students in Isfahan who completed a questionnaire in December 2009. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire based on PMT. The statistical analysis of the data included bivariate correlations, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and linear regression. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 15.62 (SE = 1.1) years old. Majority of participants were aware regarding pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (87.3%, 262 out of 300). Results showed that, protection motivation was highly significant relationship with preventive behavior and predicted 34% of its variance. We found all of the variables with the exception of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and response cost were related with protection motivation and explained 22% of its variance. CONCLUSION Promotion of students' self-efficacy, and intention to protect themselves from a health threat should be priorities of any programs aimed at promoting preventive behaviors among students. It is also concluded that the protection motivation theory may be used in developing countries, like Iran, as a framework for prevention interventions in an attempt to improve the preventive behaviors of students