adaptation

One of the most important missions of universities is social responsibility and meeting the needs of society. This study aimed to evaluate the level of adaption of infectious diseases curriculum of medical students to their future career needs.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on all general practitioners working in South Khorasan province who were educated during the period from 2016 to 2020. The inclusion criteria included informed consent of the physicians as well as at least 6 months work experience. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with 19 items. The data analysis was conducted by SPSS v. 16 at the significance level of P <0.05.

106 individuals including 50 (47.2%) women and 56 (52.8%) men with a mean age of 28.79 ± 3.10 years were included. Based on the results, the curriculum contents of the infectious diseases department have been effective in improving and developing the knowledge, attitude, and practive of general practitioners. The mean score of adaptation of all of the headings of infectious diseases curriculum of medical students with their future career needs was high and statistically significant (P <0.05). The mean score of the heading "Common Parasitic Diseases" was close to 1.5, and the adaptation of this heading to the future career needs of general practitioners was average and not statistically significant (P=0.107).

The curriculum content of the subject under study are at an average level in terms of scientific awareness and theoretical knowledge, as well as applied knowledge in the field of determined needs, and it is necessary to provide conditions to transfer and generalize the necessary skills and abilities and theoretical knowledge in this field to practical and applied situations

Despite remarkable advancements in the use of embryo donation, concerns havearisen regarding its potential effects on the psychological well-being of children conceivedthrough this assisted reproductive technology and their parent-child relationships.   In a cross-sectional analytical study, the psychological adjustment of 31 children aged3 to 7 born through embryo donation was assessed and compared to 30 age-matched childrenfrom families who conceived naturally using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.Parenting styles within these families were also evaluated using the Baumrind Parenting StylesInventory through clinical interviews.   Although 8 out of 31 children born through embryo donation (25.8%) and 3 out of 30children from natural conception families exhibited psychological maladjustment, this differencewas not statistically significant. Furthermore, parenting styles did not significantly differbetween the two groups. The absence of genetic parent-child relationships does not appear to be a dominantfactor influencing the psychological adjustment of children or parenting styles.

The health of children is affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in their parents and various complications of it. Given this, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of a program based on Roy’s adaptation model on the coping skills of children of MS patients.

This study was performed on 78 children of 78 MS patients from Shahrekord Support Association of MS patients including around 1800 patient members in 2018 using a quasiexperimental method. Samples were selected by the convenience sampling method, and a researcher-made checklist was completed based on Roy’s adaptation model by them, and those who scored less than 80% on the checklist were included in the study and randomly allocated to control and intervention groups. The coping skills questionnaire was completed before, immediately, and 2 months after the intervention in two groups. In the intervention group, a supportive training program was developed and implemented based on Roy’s adaptation model in six sessions and followed up for 2 months. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 23 using statistical tests.

There was a significant difference in changes in mean coping skills scores during the intervention between control and intervention groups (p < 0.001) so that the coping skills scores showed a significant increase in the intervention group.

It is possible to increase the level of adaptation in children of MS patients and improve their coping skills by using educational and supportive programs based on Roy’s adaptation model.

Children with hearing loss often undergo considerable pain and distress due to their hearing impairment, leading to challenges in engaging constructively with others. Using games, mainly through play therapy, can significantly enhance interaction and adjustment in children, especially those with hearing impairments. This research seeks to evaluate the impact of play therapy on the adaptation and self-confidence of children dealing with hearing challenges.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted at a welfare center affiliated with the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in western Iran. Sixty-two children with hearing loss were selected from the welfare center. They were then assigned to the play therapy or control group using block random sampling. The pre- and post-intervention assessments included completing demographic information, an adaptability questionnaire for elementary school children, and a self-esteem inventory. 

The implementation of play therapy led to a significant increase in adaptability immediately after the intervention and one month later (P<0.001). Moreover, a notable difference was observed between the two groups at the end of the study (P<0.001). Throughout the research, play therapy consistently elevated the self-esteem of the children. After the study, a noticeable difference was observed between the two groups (P<0.001).

lay therapy effectively increased adaptability and improved self-esteem in children with hearing loss. So, caregivers can use play therapy as therapeutic care to increase social adaptation and self-confidence in these children.

Neonatal jaundice is highly predominant among preterm neonates and its effective management is essential to reducing hospital admission duration and the associated financial burden. Phototherapy remains the primary choice of management; however, the incorporation of developmental care and parental involvement has led to enhanced outcomes. 

This case report presents “Baby M,” a preterm female neonate born at 32+5 weeks gestation due to maternal complications, including anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension, who was admitted to a neonatal unit with prematurity, ventriculomegaly and bilateral talipes. Upon admission, she required high-flow oxygen therapy for mild respiratory distress and intravenous antibiotics for suspected sepsis. Her serum bilirubin levels reached 236 µmol/L, exceeding the treatment threshold defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, leading to the initiation of phototherapy. Initially placed on intravenous fluids due to respiratory challenges, Baby M was later transitioned to expressed breast milk from her mother. Her phototherapy treatment followed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, ensuring that parental involvement and neurodevelopmental support were prioritized to minimize stress and promote optimal outcomes. This report highlights the benefits of developmental care in care in reducing stress, promoting bonding and optimizing neurodevelopment in preterm neonates, underscoring its importance in improving therapeutic outcomes in neonatal jaundice.

The components of developmental care are effective and should therefore be incorporated into the management of neonatal jaundice, for improved therapeutic outcomes.

One of the effective factors in preventing the complications of diabetes is stress management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an intervention based on Lazarus’ Transactional Model on the level of stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted among 80 patients with type 2 diabetes. Stress levels, coping methods, and hemoglobin A1C were evaluated before the intervention and three months afterward. In the intervention group, five training sessions were held based on the strategies outlined in the model. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and analysis of covariance.

The perceived stress score in the intervention group decreased after the intervention. The results of the Pearson correlation test indicated a negative and significant relationship between the stress score and confrontive and optimistic coping strategies. Additionally, there was a positive and significant relationship between the stress score and methods of emotional adaptation and fatalism (p<0.001). Analysis of covariance revealed that, after adjusting for group effects, the intervention had a significant impact on the use of adaptive methods and stress levels (p<0.001).

Training and interventions aimed at utilizing coping approaches based on Lazarus’ Transactional Model of stress and adaptation is effective in controlling and reducing stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Adaptation to complications of hysterectomy is one of the topics of concern for women and health care providers. There is no instrument for evaluating adaptation to hysterectomy. This study aimed to design the Hysterectomy Adaptation Scale (HAS) and assess its psychometric properties.

This methodological study was conducted from 2018 to 2020 in Mashhad, Iran. To develop the item pool, qualitative data from directed content analysis and data from the review of adaptation and coping instruments were used. The face, content, construct validity, internal consistency, and stability were used to evaluate the psychometric properties of HAS.

The final version of the HAS consisted of 24 items with a reported content validity index of 0.9. Six factors were extracted from the principal component analysis, which explained 60.3 of the observed variance. Model fit indices in confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model was well fitted. The values of the alpha coefficient and intra‑class coefficient were 0.86 and 0.95, respectively.

The HAS is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating the adaptation level of hysterectomized Iranian women. HAS can distinguish between hysterectomized women who have adapted to hysterectomy and those who have not. It can be used to assess the adaptation of hysterectomized women in research and clinical practice.

The knee joint must adapt to the changes in walking speed to stabilize the stance phase and provide fluency in the swing phase. This study aimed to report a comparison of the gait patterns of transfemoral amputees using a novel mechanical prosthetic knee that can adapt automatically to different walking speeds with 3R60 and 3R15 knee prostheses. In this experimental study, biomechanical data were collected from six unilateral trans-femoral amputees walking with three knee prostheses. Gait data were gathered at slow, normal, and fast walking speeds across a 7-meter walkway using the Vicon motion system. The results revealed a significant difference in knee angular velocity during the swing phase between prosthetic knees across three walking speeds (P-value=0.002). Prosthetic knee flexion decreased significantly by increasing walking speed for the novel mechanical auto-adaptive prosthetic knee (P-value<0.001). A lower value of hip power during early swing was considered when amputees walked with novel knee prosthesis (P-value<0.00). The intact leg ankle plantar flexion angle or vaulting did not significantly change while walking speed increased in the novel knee prostheses compared to walking with the 3R60 and 3R15 knee prostheses (P-value=0.002 and P-value<0.06, respectively).  Based on the results, a novel mechanical auto-adaptive knee prosthesis has advantages compared to the other conventional designs for unilateral trans-femoral amputees walking at different speeds.

Emergency medical services (EMS) play a crucial role as the first line of defense during emergencies and disasters. Given the current impact of climate change, EMS will need to employ innovative strategies to cope with changing conditions. This scoping review investigates how EMS can adapt to climate change in pre-hospital emergencies.

In this study, peer-reviewed studies and texts on adaptive strategies of pre-hospital emergency systems published in 2023 were reviewed. Accordingly, online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar as a search engine were searched. The selected keywords were as follows: “Medical technician,” “paramedic,” “ambulance,” “climate change,” “global warming,” “adaptation,” “mitigation,” and “resiliency” (and synonyms).

No wide-ranging study has been conducted on the adaptation strategies of EMS against climate change and this is the first study in this field. In this study, elements and adaptation strategies against climate change were investigated. Extracting these cases and using them to improve the readiness and resilience of the pre-hospital emergency system will be effective against this phenomenon.

Freshmen have to face different requirements, such as deciding on a future job, establishing a relationship with the other gender, adapting to a new environment, building new relationships, being away from family, and experiencing different courses and teachers. These different demands might make this period one of the most stressful times and turn the adaptation process into a difficult stage. Therefore, it is necessary to provide appropriate tools to determine the levels and difficulties of adaptation in various fields.

This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of Baker and Siryk 67-Question Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) to provide an appropriate tool for diagnosing freshmen’s problems.

The current study is a methodological study with a descriptive cross-sectional design. Given the construct structure of the questionnaire, it was tried to select 445 freshmen across different undergraduate fields using a multi-stage sampling method. Then, SACQ, Brief Psychological Adjustment-6, the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults - Short Version, and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered. Then, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and divergent validity, and Cronbach’s alpha were calculated for data analysis.

The results showed that the internal consistency coefficient of this questionnaire for all components was higher than 0.70, and it indicated that the tool was a suitable one. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 4-factor model of original developers had a better fit than the one-factor and six-factor models in this sample.

Since the factor structure of this scale was approved, it could be used to measure adaptation to college to determine and identify troubled or at-risk freshmen.

This study explored the concept of ‘life balance’ during physical isolation due to COVID-19 in Iran in 2020.
In a cross-sectional design, 403 participants completed the internet-based "Life Balance Inventory (LBI)”, which includes five subscales: health, relationship, identity, challenging/interesting activity, and daily activities. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21, and a significant level of less than 0.05 was considered. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were utilized in the analysis.
The total mean score of LBI was 1.51+_0.38(unbalanced). The scores were distributed among the participants as follows: 52.6%  of participants scored between 0.6 and 1.5 (very unbalanced);  37.7% of participants scored between 1 and 1.5 (unbalanced); 8% of participants scored between 2 and 2.5 (moderately balanced); and finally, 1.7% of participants scored between 2.5 and 3 ( very balanced). Significant relationships were found between LBI and gender (P=0.001), chronic comorbidity (P-value =0.029), and Job (P-value=0.044). The health subscale showed no statistical difference according to the demographic factors. Males demonstrated more life balance in their daily activities, including driving and social transportation (p=0/001). Married participants and those older than 40 exhibited more balance in the relationship subscale (p-value=0/001). Teachers and faculty members showed more balance in identity (p=0.014) and relationship (p=0.001). Higher-income participants revealed more life balance in the challenge/interesting subscale (p=0.033).
The results suggested that participants experienced an unbalanced lifestyle during the early phase of COVID-19 isolation.

This research aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the voice symptom scale (VoiSS) questionnaire. We also sought to determine the best cut-off point to classify high-risk populations into controls (participants) and dysphonic patients. 

The study was conducted in 3 main steps. The translation process was carried out by a pair of Iranian bilingual speech-language pathologists along with an expert panel. For the validity study, the questionnaire was administered to 268 cases that were suspected of dysphonia. Finally, to assess the reliability, the questionnaire was completed twice in 2 weeks by 40 dysphonia patients. To normalize data generation 107 individuals without dysphonia completed the P-VoiSS, after that the cutoff value of the P-VoiSS was calculated.

Cronbach’s α was estimated at 0.914, and for impairment, emotional, and physical domains, it was 0.877, 0.926, and 0.725, respectively. We also estimated intra-cluster correlation (ICC) of 0.984 indicating high reproducibility of the Persian VoiSS questionnaire. The estimated intra-cluster correlation (ICC) for subscale was 0.962 for impairment, 0.989 for emotional, and 0.952 for physical domains. The Mean±SD score of the questionnaire for the healthy group was 10.1±5.9, while it was statistically higher in dysphonia patients (44.1±20.6). The statistical difference was observed in the subscales of the questionnaire between healthy and dysphonia groups (P<0.05). The exploratory factor analysis determined that the Persian VoiSS has three subtest/latent factors like the original form. We also estimate the best cut-point at 20.5. 

The Persian adaptation of VoiSS is a dependable and effective tool that can be utilized for screening high-risk populations.

Studies have indicated a considerable change in the trend of families’ adaptation to the hearing impairment of their children following the application of hearing screening programs in the past few years. This study was conducted in line with increased rehabilitation service quality and family-based intervention. It was performed to identify factors affecting the adaptation of mothers to hearing-impaired (HI) children with cochlear implants.

This qualitative-descriptive research was performed with a phenomenological approach and involved 16 mothers of two to seven-year-old HI children with cochlear implants. The research setting was the centers for speech therapy of HI children in Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the subjects, and data analysis was performed in MAXQDA (2018) using Colaizzi’s seven-step method.

The mean age of the subjects was 34 years, and the children of these parents were two to seven years old. The mean age of the earliest known diagnosis was 12 months. Moreover, the mean age at cochlear implantation was 2.5 years. Based on the subjects’ experiences, the researchers extracted factors affecting mothers’ adaptation, leading to four main themes. These factors facilitated mothers’ adaptation and included the quality of medical services, condition normalization, individual capabilities of mothers, and effective use of the environment.

Improving the quality of medical services, condition normalization, individual capabilities of mothers, and effective use of the environment led to an improvement in mothers’ adaptation to HI children with cochlear implants.

Individual qualities of posture control are crucial to success in many modern complex coordination sports disciplines. The data of the stabilometric test allows you to effectively monitor violations of the statokinetic stability appropriate adjustments to the individual training system.

The purpose of the study is to identify the relationship between the indicators of the statokinetic stability of athletes and their results.

The jumpers were divided into two groups, the participants of one group had personal achievements in the pole vault from 3.20 to 4.20 meters, and the participants of the second group from 4.60 to 6.00 meters. Postural control was evaluated using the stabilographic hardware and software complex MBN "Stabilo" (Russia).

In our study, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. However, we can observe a shift in the general center of pressure with the growth of sportsmanship in the frontal plane Х (to the right) and the sagittal plane Y (forward) with open and closed eyes.

The analysis of the indicators of statokinetic stability in athletes of various skill levels specializing in pole vaulting confirms that the speed of the general center of pressure of athletes of higher qualification is lower in all the positions considered, which indicates a better ability to maintain their postural stability and a more developed proprioceptive analyzer. In this study, we did not identify critical pathologies, and the results were within the normal range for healthy people.

The concept of adaptation has gained central importance in research on chronic diseases. However, this process is not clear in adult epileptic patients. This study aimed to explain the process of adaptation to disease in patients with epilepsy. This study was conducted using the grounded theory approach from December 2018 to January 2020 in Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 18 patients with epilepsy. Participants were selected by purposeful or theoretical sampling method. Data collection was performed by the first author through conducting semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed by Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) method. Four main categories with ten sub-themes were obtained from the data analysis. The main themes include “Perceived disorder,” “Scrimmage with the disease,” “Moving towards adaptation,” and “Balancing life.” The Core category achieved was “Trying to balance life.” Based on the results, the process of adapting to epilepsy has four stages: “Perceived disorder,” “Scrimmage with the disease,” “Moving towards adaptation,” and “Balancing life.” The health providers’ awareness of these stages can provide a framework that can be used to help epilepsy patients achieve positive adaptation. Achievement of adaptation can help epileptic patients control the disease and improve their quality of life.