Socioeconomic status and catastrophic health expenditure evaluation in IR Iran: A comparative study in 2004 and 2011

Background: Health equity is a main principle of all healthcare systems in the world. Family Physician (FP) program, as a health sector reform (HSR) in Iran, was executed to reduce households’ health care cost and to achieve health equity in 2004. Meanwhile, catastrophic health expenditure is known as an accepted indicator in HSR evaluation. In this context, after determining and comparing socioeconomic status (SES) among different periods, we made an attempt to evaluate households’ health financial protection in different quintiles after implementation of FP program.  Methods: The current cross-sectional study was based on the data obtained from Household Income and Expenditure Survey in 2004 and 2011. The health expenditures, catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), and SES were determined by this data during these years. Descriptive analyses and comparisons using Chi-squared test were carried out via SPSS, version 20.  Results: A total of 1716 households were included in the survey during 2004 and 2011. The highest proportion of households was related to quintiles very poor and poor with respect to each year. Moreover, it was observed that SES in 2011 had the worse situation compared to that in 2004; this situation was worse in urban areas. In the present study, CHE is related to poorer quintiles, and in rural areas no household was faced with CHE in 2011.  Conclusions: Implementation of FP program in rural areas with more primary care has prevented hospitalization. This was considerable for poorer quintiles and has led to financial protection for rural households

The Effects of Using Organic and Biological Fertilizer Along with Lower Rate of Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizer on Quality and Quantity of Rice Yield

To investigate the possibility of increasing the quantity and quality rice yield (var. Tarom Hashemi) by application of organic and biologic fertilizers with lower rate of chemical nitrogen fertilizer, a field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications in Amol in 2014-2015. Experimental treatments were: T1: control or no fertilizer application, T2: nitrogen fertilizer application of 46 kg.ha-1, T3: azolla compost application of 10 ton.ha-1, T4: vermicompost application of 10 ton.ha-1, T5: nitrogen fertilizer of 23 kg.ha-1 + azolla compost of 5 ton.ha-1, T6: nitrogen fertilizer of 23 kg.ha-1 + vermicompost of 5 ton.ha-1, T7: azolla compost of 5 ton.ha-1 + vermicompost of 5 ton.ha-1 and T8: nitrogen fertilizer of 12 kg.ha-1 + azolla compost of 5 ton.ha-1 + vermicompost of 5 ton.ha-1. Results showed that the percent of sterile floret per panicle increased (13.95%) by not using fertilizer. The highest panicle length (25.47 cm), number of fertile tiller per hill (18.30) and filled grain number per panicle (136.1) belonged to treatment no. T8. Treatments of T3 and T4 resulted in highest 1000-grain weight. The highest grain yield (5295 kg.ha-1) was produced by combined application of nitrogen fertilizer, azolla compost and vermicompost. This was due to the increased panicle length and yield components such as number of fertile tiller per hill and filled grain number per panicle. Amylose content decreased under the combined treatments. The optimum range of gelatinization temperature (ranging between 3 to 5) were observed only in treatments containing chemical nitrogen fertilizer. According to the results of this research, the treatment no. T8, due to reduced nitrogen chemical fertilizer application and its lower environmental impacts was considered to be the best treatment for increasing the grain yield of rice. Although, the combined application of nitrogen with any of the biologic or organic fertilizers, especially azolla, had a significant effect on improvement of seed yield

Economic valuation of natural promenades in Iran using zonal travel costs method (Case study area: Gahar Lake in Lorestan Province in western Iran).

Gahar Lake is located within Oshtorankooh Protected Area (east of Lorestan Province in Iran), which has extensive potentials for the development of the tourism industry. The aim of the present research was to determine the economic value of the Gohar Lake resort using the zonal travel cost method. Therefore, at first, 380 questionnaires were distributed among the tourists by the simple random sampling method based on appropriate spatiotemporal distribution during the visiting seasons. The questionnaire items were categorized as economic, social, and miscellaneous parts. The calculation results revealed a value of USD 84.538 per visitor and a value of USD 1,986,657.163 per year, indicating the high value and importance of the region. The analysis showed that socio-economic variables have a significant role in the use or non-use of the resort. The obtained R2 coefficient was 0.82, indicating that around 82% of the changes in the number of visitors can be justified by the variables introduced in the model. The results also revealed the need to pay more attention to this region and formulate a tourism development plan

Intrauterine device survival in Iranian women: systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: The intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the modern contraception methods that is reversible, safe, effective, and with long-term efficacy. The problem of using this method is early discontinuation. The survival of the IUD use has been reported differently in different studies. In this meta-analysis, we estimated average time of surviving in Iranian women. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the incident of IUD removed in the Iranian women with a broad systematic review of the literature regarding MOOSES criteria. ISI, Scopus, Medline, WHO, Cochrane, Web of Science, Biological abstracts, Google Scholar and DARE and Iran Medex, SID, Magiran and IranDoc were searched. We defined inclusion and exclusion criteria for selection of articles. All chosen articles were appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. Data were extracted regarding prepared sheets. We used a Cochrane Q-test with a significance 75% as high heterogeneity. We applied both fix and random effect model by comprehensive meta-analysis software. Results: A total of 14 articles was included in the systematic review. These were obtained from screening 63 potentially relevant citations and reviewing 17 full-text study articles. One-year survival of IUD, for the random effects model was 78.4% (69.8-85.1%). Three-year survival for the random effects model was 69.4% (53.3-81.9%). Five years for the random effects model was 49.7% (36-63.4%). Conclusion: Above half of Iranian IUD users discontinued it within 5 years after insertion, it means half of IUD expected lifetime was used and make additional costs to the state and the consumer. To reduce these costs, it is recommended for Iranian women to use the IUD with 5-year survival, and they should be consulted before insertion

The effect of family-centered care on the family caregivers' burden of patients with epilepsy

Background and Aims Caring for patients with epilepsy, creates many challenges for their family caregivers. The implementation of family-based interventions can facilitate the caring duty of caregivers and increase the quality of care for patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of family-based care program on care burden in family caregivers of patients with epilepsy. Methods This clinical trial study was conducted in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals in Shahrekord City, Iran for 7 months in 2016. Samples were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned in the intervention (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. For the intervention group, a family-centered care program was implemented including self-efficacy, self-esteem and evaluation, through education, support, problem solving and group discussion during four sessions. Data were collected by using Persian version of Zarit's burden of care scale from the intervention and control groups in three stages; before, immediately, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical t-test and ANOVA with repeated measurement in the SPSS. Results The mean score of burden of care in the intervention and control groups were 37.42 and 34, respectively before the intervention (P<0.179). The mean score of care burden in the intervention and control groups immediately after the intervention was 21.36 and 28.7 , respectively and two months after the intervention was 15.78 and 27.92 respectively. Conclusion The results showed that a simple, low-cost and feasibility program of family-based care has significantly reduced the care burden of caregivers of epilepsy patients. This family centered program can help to play a better role for family caregivers with physical and psychological stress

The effect of family-centered care on the family caregivers\' burden of patients with epilepsy

Background and Aims Caring for patients with epilepsy, creates many challenges for their family caregivers. The implementation of family-based interventions can facilitate the caring duty of caregivers and increase the quality of care for patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of family-based care program on care burden in family caregivers of patients with epilepsy. Methods This clinical trial study was conducted in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals in Shahrekord City, Iran for 7 months in 2016. Samples were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned in the intervention (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. For the intervention group, a family-centered care program was implemented including self-efficacy, self-esteem and evaluation, through education, support, problem solving and group discussion during four sessions. Data were collected by using Persian version of Zaritchr('39')s burden of care scale from the intervention and control groups in three stages; before, immediately, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical t-test and ANOVA with repeated measurement in the SPSS. Results The mean score of burden of care in the intervention and control groups were 37.42 and 34, respectively before the intervention (P<0.179). The mean score of care burden in the intervention and control groups immediately after the intervention was 21.36 and 28.7 , respectively and two months after the intervention was 15.78 and 27.92 respectively. Conclusion The results showed that a simple, low-cost and feasibility program of family-based care has significantly reduced the care burden of caregivers of epilepsy patients. This family centered program can help to play a better role for family caregivers with physical and psychological stress

The effect of family-centered care on the family caregivers\' burden of patients with epilepsy

Background and Aims Caring for patients with epilepsy, creates many challenges for their family caregivers. The implementation of family-based interventions can facilitate the caring duty of caregivers and increase the quality of care for patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of family-based care program on care burden in family caregivers of patients with epilepsy. Methods This clinical trial study was conducted in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals in Shahrekord City, Iran for 7 months in 2016. Samples were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned in the intervention (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. For the intervention group, a family-centered care program was implemented including self-efficacy, self-esteem and evaluation, through education, support, problem solving and group discussion during four sessions. Data were collected by using Persian version of Zarit's burden of care scale from the intervention and control groups in three stages; before, immediately, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical t-test and ANOVA with repeated measurement in the SPSS. Results The mean score of burden of care in the intervention and control groups were 37.42 and 34, respectively before the intervention (P<0.179). The mean score of care burden in the intervention and control groups immediately after the intervention was 21.36 and 28.7 , respectively and two months after the intervention was 15.78 and 27.92 respectively. Conclusion The results showed that a simple, low-cost and feasibility program of family-based care has significantly reduced the care burden of caregivers of epilepsy patients. This family centered program can help to play a better role for family caregivers with physical and psychological stress. &nbsp