Self-Care Level in Diabetic Patients

Objective The present study was done with the objective of assessing the self-care practices among diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in hospital of Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 314 Iranian patients older than 18 years of age with type 2 diabetes were completed Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by ANOVA, t-test, correlation and liner regression. Results A significant association was found between the diabetes self-management sum scale and body mass index, Dietary control subscale and body mass index, Physical activity subscale and body mass index & job and Healthcare use subscale and diabetes treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion Due to the high BMI in respondents, Overweight and obese respondents need to be advised by health professionals on physical activities and proper diet to achieve healthy weights to avoid complications related to diabetes mellitus. Keywords Diabetes self-management, Type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/63-02 Publication date: January 31st 202

The prophylactic effect of hydroxychloroquine on the severity of COVID-19 infection in an asymptomatic population: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Laboratory and observational data suggest that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has biological activity against SARS-CoV-2, potentially permitting its use for disease prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the hydroxychloroquine effect as prophylaxis for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial,  1000  healthy people without any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 800 mg hydroxychloroquine or placebo (four 200 mg tablets in two divided doses on day 1 of the first week, followed by 200 mg (in a single dose) weekly for the next 6 weeks). Results: Among 871 participants who remained and followed within 10 weeks 97(11.1%) became SARS-CoV-2 positive. there were statistically significant differences between infected or non-infected in the hydroxychloroquine (36 of 97 [37.1%]) and placebo (61 of 97 [62.9 %]) groups with a risk ratio of 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 - 3.21; p = 0.005). The incidence of severe forms of COVID-19 ( hospitalized in the coronavirus ward or the ICU) was 2 of 97 (0.02 %) in participants who received a placebo compared to hydroxychloroquine. The proportion of non-infected people who received hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis was nearly twice higher than that of placebo users (1.87, 95% CI: 1.19 - 2.84, p = 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding side effects (1.1% vs. 0.9%), and no severe adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion: Pre-exposure therapy with hydroxychloroquine appears to prevent moderate and severe illness caused by COVID-19 in asymptomatic persons

Effect the pre-exposure prophylactic of hydroxychloroquine on severe COVID-19 disease: a randomized controlled trial

Background. In vitro studies have shown some effects for Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite effective vaccination program, relatively large proportion of population remains unvaccinated. So, there still remains a need for other prophylactic measures. The present study aims to evaluate whether HCQ can prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes among health-care workers. Materials and methods. In this randomized, double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial 334 healthcare workers aged 18–65 years old were included of whom 278 individuals completed the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the HCQ group (800 mg at day one, followed by 400 mg weekly for the next 7 weeks); or the placebo group. Participants were followed three weeks after the last dose of drug or placebo (10 weeks from the first dose of drug or placebo). The primary outcome was hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Results. Of 148 people who received HCQ, none were hospitalized or died from COIVD-19, while of 130 people who received the placebo, 2 (1.5%) were hospitalized for COIVD-19 (p-value: 0.26). And, 22 (14.9%) people in the HCQ group and 15 (11.6%) people in the placebo group contracted COVID-19 (p-value: 0.99). Adverse reactions were reported by 5 (3.4%) of participants in the HCQ group and 5 (3.9%) of participants in the placebo group (p-value: 0.99). Conclusion. We found that HCQ has no significant prevention effect on the incidence of mild COVID-19. However, the low rate of hospitalization (the primary outcome) in this trial like most of the other clinical trials with HCQ would have required increasing the sample size considerably to be able to comment on the effectiveness of HCQ in prevention of severe forms including death rate. This justifies systematic reviews to include similar studies to further investigate the issue

بررسی آگاهی، نگرش و عملکرد نسبت به مصرف خودسرانه آنتی‌بیوتیک در بین دانشجویان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی آزاد اسلامی تهران در سال 1400

Background and Aims: Self-medication among university students, as educated members of society, is a significant public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of students towards self-medication with antibiotics at Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, 2021. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted during the academic year 2021-2022 among 438 students at the Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. The participants were selected using a convenience sampling approach. Data was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire, the validity of which had been confirmed by an expert panel. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, which yielded values of 0.84 for the awareness items, 0.78 for the attitude items, and 0.80 for the performance items. For data analysis, both descriptive and analytical statistical methods were employed using SPSS software version 25. Ethical considerations were taken into account throughout the study design, data collection, and analysis stages. Results: The results of this study indicated that the level of awareness among the student participants regarding the self-administration of antibiotics was moderate in 82.4% of cases and good in 14.8%. Regarding their attitudes, 81.3% of the participants exhibited a moderate stance, while 57.8% of the students displayed a poor performance in relation to the self-administration of antibiotics. More than half (61%) of the participants had engaged in the self-administration of antibiotics, with the primary reasons being obtaining a satisfactory outcome from previous self-administration and lacking sufficient time to consult a physician. Conclusion: Given the relatively high rate of self-medication with antibiotics among the students, it is necessary to implement educational interventions and change their attitudes and habits regarding seeking medical attention when sick.زمینه و اهداف: خود‌‌درمانی در دانشجویان به عنوان افراد تحصیلکرده درجامعه یکی از مسائل مهم بهداشتی- اجتماعی به شمار می‌رود. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی آگاهی، نگرش و عملکرد دانشجویان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی آزاد اسلامی تهران در سال 1400 انجام شد. مواد و روش‌ها: یک مطالعه توصیفی مقطعی در سال 1401-1400 در بین 438 نفر از دانشجویان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی آزاد اسلامی تهران انجام گردید. نمونه‌ها به صورت نمونه‌گیری در دسترس وارد مطالعه شده‌اند و اطلاعات از طریق پرسشنامه محقق ساخته که روایی پرسشنامه توسط پنل خبرگان تایید شده بود و پایایی پرسشنامه با آلفای کرونباخ برای سوالات آگاهی 0/84، نگرش 0/78 و عملکرد 0/80 جمع‌آوری گردید. برای تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌ها از روش‌های آماری توصیفی و تحلیلی با استفاده از نرم‌افزار SPSS نسخه 25 استفاده گردید. رعایت ملاحظات اخلاقی در تمام مراحل اجرای مطالعه درنظر گرفته شد. یافته‌ها: یافته‌های این پژوهش نشان داد میزان آگاهی دانشجویان نسبت به مصرف خودسرانه آنتی‌بیوتیک در 82/4% از موارد متوسط و 14/8% خوب بوده است. از نظر نگرش 81/3% از شرکت‌کنندگان متوسط و 57/8% از دانشجویان عملکردی ضعیف نسبت به مصرف خودسرانه آنتی‌بیوتیک داشته‌اند. بیش از نیمی (61%) از شرکت کنندگان مصرف خودسرانه آنتی‌بیوتیک داشته و بیشترین علت آن " گرفتن نتیجه مطلوب از مصرف خودسرانه قبلی" و " نداشتن فرصت کافی جهت مراجعه به پزشک" می‌باشد. نتیجه‌گیری: با توجه به میزان بالاي مصرف خودسرانه آنتی‌بیوتیک در بین دانشجویان، لازم است تدابیري در راستاي آموزش و تغییر در نگرش ، عادات آنها در مراجعه به پزشک در هنگام بیماری صورت گیرد

Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Background: The Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran has recently announced an estimated figure of 200,000 injecting drug users (IDUs). The aim of this study was to pilot a national program using demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among IDUs.Methods: In order to elicit data on demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among IDUs, a questionnaire was designed in the Bureau of Mental-Social Health and Addiction in collaboration with Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters of the Police Department. Therapeutical alliance of addiction in Shafagh Center was based on Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT).Results: Among 402 reported IDUs most of them were male, single and in age range of 20 to 39 years old with 72.7% history of imprisonment. Most of them had elementary and high school education and a history of addiction treatment. The majority were current users of opioid, heroin and crack. The prevalence of blood-borne infections was 65.9% and 18.8% for HCV and HIV/AIDS infections, respectively.Conclusion: Prevention programs about harm reduction, treatment and counseling should include young IDUs as a core focus of their intervention structur