مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قم
سال پانزدهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 111، تیر 1400)

Symptoms of heart failure and its complications over time cause limitations in the normal life process of patients and may affect their quality of life. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between health literacy and patientschr('39') quality of life with heart failure admitted to the intensive care units in selected hospitals in Tehran City, Iran.

In this study, 105 patients with heart failure were selected. They were admitted to the cardiac ICU in educational hospitals in Tehran. Data collection tools were demographic information, heart failure health literacy, and quality of life questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and statistical methods of correlation and regression were performed using SPSS v. 24.

The results showed a significant positive relationship (r= 0.40) between health literacy and quality of life scores in patients with heart failure. Also, health literacy significantly predicted the quality of life score in patients with heart failure (P<0.001). The results of bivariate regression analysis showed that health literacy scores significantly predict the quality of life of patients with heart failure (P<0.001, r2= 0.16).

The findings showed that health literacy could predict the quality of life in patients with heart failure. So, it is crucial to consider health literacy in health promotion programs and improve the quality of life of these patients.

In recent years, social networks have been considered by organizations active in the health sector. They have provided many opportunities for consulting, training, and information sharing and held promises to increase the quality and safety of health care and reduce costs. So it is necessary to study their dimensions and requirements. This study aims to identify the components of the health information social network from the perspective of experts.

This research is an analytical survey using the Delphi method. The statistical population included 28 experts in the field of health information technology in Iran. The data collection tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was 0.96 according to the Cronbach α coefficient. SPSS software version 19 was used for data analysis.

According to this research, the health information social network has 6 dimensions, each has several components (a total of 47 components). These dimensions include services, core users, requirements, information security, evaluation and monitoring, and technical features.

The dimensions of this network are based on the collective opinion of experts and are a framework for creating a social network of health information. Its use helps in planning and decision making and providing high-quality health services and leads to quality improvement of health indicators.

Self-perception burden is one of the most important aspects of chronic pain. The present study aims to determine the psychometric properties of the self-perception burden scale in a sample of Iranian patients with chronic pain.

In this study, 324 male and female patients with chronic pain in Tehran City, Iran, were selected by the available sampling method. To evaluate convergent validity, the DASS-21 questionnaire and chronic pain catastrophe questionnaire were used. To evaluate divergent validity, the chronic pain self-efficacy questionnaire and life satisfaction questionnaire were used. Also, to determine the reliability, the internal consistency method by the Cronbach α method and the test-retest reliability at 4 weeks interval was used. To determine the structural validity, confirmatory factor analysis was used using LISREL software version 8.8.

The Cronbach α coefficients were 87% for the total scale and 85% for test-retest reliability. DASS-21 and chronic pain catastrophe scales showed a positive and significant relationship with the SPB questionnaire. Also, chronic pain self-efficacy and life satisfaction scales had a significant and negative relationship with the SPB questionnaire. In addition, the results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that
the single-factor structure has a good fit.

The Iranian version of the self-perception burden scale reflects desirable validity and reliability
and can diagnose and screen patients with chronic pain.

Considering the adverse effects of obesity and job stress on the physical and mental health of medical staff and reducing the quality of care, the present study was conducted to assess the level of job stress in overweight and obese nurses and its relationship with demographic factors.

The study population of the present descriptive-correlational research included all nurses and paramedics working in Ghaem Hospital. The study sample was selected by census and convenience sampling method. The body mass index of nurses and nursing assistances was calculated, and people with overweight and obesity were selected. The standard OSIPOW job stress questionnaire was distributed among samples, consisting of two parts: demographic characteristics and occupational parameters such as workload, incompetence, duality, position range, responsibility, and physical environment. Based on the scores in each area, the level of job stress was determined and divided into four levels: low, normal, moderate, and severe. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using SPSS v. 21.

More than 57% of the samples had moderate to severe stress. Body mass index is significantly higher than the standard number (179.07 vs 149 kg/m2), which indicates the presence of overweight and obesity in these people. In general, there was no significant relationship between overweight/obesity with job stress (P>0.05). There was also no significant difference between the mean job stress and variables of gender, age, education, and work experience (P>0.05). The only difference was related to different job positions, so that the nursing assistance group had the lowest level of stress and the head nurse group had the highest level of job stress.

Because of the high level of job stress and overweight of nurses, it is suggested to take steps to reduce issues related to overweight and job stress with appropriate management measures and periodic planning.

The objectives of educational systems are missions, ideals, general goals, and behavior. Evaluation and judgment are essential for the training courses. Determining the effectiveness of the courses makes it possible to improve them. Numerous models evaluate training effectiveness, success, performance improvement, and desirability of training programs. Educational planners have always considered medical education and training of an efficient workforce. Because of the importance of education and the need for its continuous effectiveness in medical universities, we designed a tool to measure the effectiveness of medical education.

The study method is a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach. The qualitative part of the content analysis was prepared to design and validate a tool with the statistical community of faculty members using qualitative and quantitative purposeful sampling. In the qualitative phase, 30 people were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The components found were classified based on research methodology in 4 areas of course curriculum development, training course implementation, educational outcome and performance, and other accompanying factors. Then an effective measurement tool with good validity and reliability was designed. Regarding the face validity of the questionnaire, it was distributed among ten experts. To assess the reliability of the research tool, a questionnaire was distributed among 490 faculty members.

The results of measuring the reliability of the instrument by the Cronbach α values in the four domains were as follows: 0.875 in the area of curriculum development, 0.885 in the area of curriculum implementation, 0.890 in the curriculum outcome and performance, and 0.925 in other areas of the effective factors. These figures confirmed the validity of the tool. Also, using the agreement coefficient-test, the responses of faculty members and physicians and all stakeholders of medical universities showed more than 69% agreement.

The studychr('39')s findings showed that all the found components impact the effectiveness of education, and our designed tool was confirmed with appropriate and reliable validity and reliability.

Varicocele is the abnormal dilation and twisting of the veins of the pampiniform network, the spermatic cord of the testis. This event is associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant capacity. The consequence of varicocele is a reduction in the quality of sperm parameters and defects in spermatogenesis. Curcumin has been introduced as an antioxidant with multiple and modulating potentials in biological activities. This study investigates the effect of curcumin on sperm parameters and the histological status of testicular tissue in rats with varicocele.

For this study, 50 male Wistar rats were examined in 5 different groups: control, sham, varicocele, varicocele treated with curcumin 50 mg/kg, and varicocele treated with curcumin 100 mg/kg. Varicocele was induced through partial occlusion of the left renal vein. Then, sperm parameters and histological status of testicular tissue were assessed and analyzed using ANOVA test after 2 months of curcumin administration in varicocele rats.

This study showed that varicocele led to a significant decrease in motility percentage (P= 0.007), sperm concentration (P= 0.036), and a significant increase in abnormal sperm morphology (P≥0.05) compared to the control group. Although administration of curcumin in varicocele rats with concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg led to an improvement in sperm parameters, only in varicocele rats received 100 mg/kg curcumin, the concentration (P= 0.032) and total sperm motility (P= 0.04) significantly improved compared to varicocele group. In addition, curcumin improved the tissue damage caused by varicocele and increased the spermatogenesis index.

The present study showed that curcumin improves the low quality of sperm parameters and can be a treatment strategy for future male infertility.

Diabetics need to improve their lifestyle. They should control and prevent the complications of diabetes to improve their quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of health promotion support programs on the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The present study was a quasi-clinical trial. A total of 60 people were selected by convenience sampling method and then divided purposefully into intervention (n= 30) and control (n= 30) groups. The health promotion support program was implemented in three stages: review and recognition, support planning, and evaluation. The study data were collected by Demographic and Quality of Life Questionnaire of diabetic patients (DQOL-BCI) before and two months after the intervention in the experimental and control groups.

The difference between the two groups regarding gender, age, marriage, education, and the job was not significant. The Mean±SD score of quality of life in the intervention group before the intervention was 46.8±8.06 and increased after the intervention to 56.8±6.06 (P <0.001). The Mean±SD score of quality of life in the control group before the intervention was 46.9±6.7 and increased after the intervention to 49.7±5.6, and this difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The increase in the quality of life score of the intervention group was 10 units, but it was 2.87 units in the control group. Before the intervention, the difference in the quality of life scores of the two groups was not significant (the independent t-test, P=0.98), but after the intervention, this difference was significant (the independent t-test, P<0.001).

The results showed that implementing a health promotion support program effectively improved the quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, it is suggested to be used as an effective method in improving the quality of life of diabetic patients and other chronic diseases.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic, rare mucocutaneous autoimmune bullous disease characterized by flaccid blisters and or pustules, with secondary erosions of the mucous membranes or skin. PV threatens the patient life by forming splits within the epidermis, accompanied by acantholysis (separating keratinocytes from each other).

Our case is a term female neonate with PV, born of a 31-year-old mother. On initial examination by a pediatrician, several thin-walled flaccid blisters and burst blisters accompanied with open sores were observed on the skin of hands, feet, face, and mucosa of the oral cavity, tongue, and throat. A positive Nikolskychr('39')s sign confirmed her involvement with the disease.