Journal of Health Scope
Volume:11 Issue: 3, Aug 2022

Spiritual health is one of the important dimensions of health that causes the coherence and harmony of other dimensions of health in human beings. Due to the increasing number of elderly, considering the status of their health is important.

The present study was an attempt to design and evaluate a measurement instrument for spiritual health in the Iranian elderly, which is appropriate for the Iranian society.

This mixed methods study used a sequential exploratory strategy. In the first phase, spiritual health items were extracted based on a review of the previous studies and interviews with experts and the elderly using direct content analysis. In the second phase, the standardized questionnaire was assessed by performing validity and reliability tests on 400 elderly residents of Tehran. The participants were selected based on the purposive sampling method from the elderly referring to nursing homes. To analyze the collected data, qualitative content analysis was employed. In the first phase, 45 items of the questionnaire were extracted based on the interviews. After quantitatively determining the face and content validity, six items were removed, and the questionnaire items were reduced to 39 items.

Exploratory factor analysis on this questionnaire identified five factors that explained a total of 52.2% of the total variance of the test. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient obtained confirmed the high internal consistency of the questionnaire (0.925). Also, a high correlation was reported between the test and retest with a 10-day interval (r = 0.997). In addition, a high and significant correlation was reported in the simultaneous implementation of the designed instrument with Paloutzin and Ellison’s spiritual health instrument (r = 0.76).

In general, based on the present study’s findings, the designed questionnaire has an acceptable level of validity and reliability and is usable for the elderly.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between air pollution and epilepsy admission in Kerman, Iran.

In this ecological study, the concentrations of ambient air pollutants and meteorological data were obtained from Kerman Environmental Protection Agency and Kerman Meteorology Organization, respectively. Additionally, epilepsy admission data were obtained from Kerman’s Shafa hospital epilepsy registry. Generalized additive models with lags up to 7 days were used to estimate rate ratios (RRs).

Within 2008 to 2020, 894 epilepsy admissions occurred in Kerman, 498 cases (55.7%) of whom were male. The strongest relationships of epilepsy admission were observed in the over 59-year group for carbon monoxide (CO) in lag 0 (RR = 2.1455, 95% CI: 1.5823 - 2.9091), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in lag 0 (RR = 1.0409, 95% CI: 1.0282 - 1.0537), and particulate matter under 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in lag 5 (RR = 1.0157, 95% CI: 1.0062 - 1.0252). There were also significant associations for particulate matter under 10 microns (PM10) in the under 18-year group in lag 2 (RR = 1.0064, 95% CI: 1.0029 - 1.0098), ozone in lag 0 (RR = 0.9671, 95% CI: 0.9581 - 0.9761), and sulfur dioxide in lag 5 (RR = 0.9937, 95% CI: 0.9891 - 0.9983).

Exposure to CO, NO2, PM2.5, or PM10 air pollutants might be the risk factor for epilepsy admission in Kerman. Epilepsy patients had better stay away from exposure to polluted air. Staying at home on polluted days or residing in areas with less air pollution might be an option.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all sectors of life. The health system and healthcare workers also have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have faced major challenges in working in the hospitals due to COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to provide evidence regarding challenges to working during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in developing countries.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health professionals and the health system.

Ten studies conducted from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021were included in this review. Common search terms were impact, health, healthcare, providers, abuses, burden, and system. Different databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, were used. Data extraction was performed following the PRISMA recommendations.

The results of the systematic review showed that the hospitalization rate and numbers of out-patients have increased, leading to imposing a burden on the health system and healthcare workers (HCWs). A serious type of disease may need hospitalization and ventilatory support. The quality of healthcare institutions is unique and complex. HCWs, in their routine activities, face diverse challenges. The unexpected development of the COVID-19 pandemic was a great challenge faced by the health system and health professionals.

The pandemic has altered the healthcare system and healthcare practice with innovative workplaces and social challenges confronted by the HCWs.

The quality of sleep plays an important role in physical development, as well as maintaining physical and mental health. Approximately 20% of Iranian students suffer from Internet addiction, and 56% suffer from insomnia.

This study aimed to investigate the relevance of Internet addiction and sleep quality among Isfahan University of medical sciences students.

This cross-sectional study was conducted as a questionnaire at the Medical Sciences University of Isfahan. The collected data had three components: (1) Demographic information, (2) sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and (3) amount of internet use with a questionnaire of 20 Internet Addiction Tests (IAT). Logistic regression was used to find any association between Internet Addiction and Sleep quality.

A total of 562 female and male students participated in the study, with a mean age of 21.41 ± 1.87. Internet users with moderate and mild addiction had poorer sleep quality than those with normal and severe Internet addiction. Logistic regression analysis showed an association between Internet addiction scores and sleep quality (OR = 1.035: 1.02, 1.04, P < 0.001). In addition, poor sleep quality was also predicted by the subgroups "excessive internet use" and "anticipation".

The relationship between internet addiction and sleep quality was significantly negative. Universities and all educational institutions can use it to control the effects of Internet abuse and the quality of sleep of students.

Breast pain is one of the most common reasons for referral to breast imaging.

This study aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of mammography and sonomammography in women complaining of breast pain in a teaching hospital in Southeast Nigeria.

This descriptive study analyzed the mammographic/sonomammographic images and records of 241 consecutive adult women aged 18 - 81 years with breast pain who presented to the radiology department over three years. A non-random sampling method was employed to select the participants. The extracted variables were patient’s age, positive clinical history of breast pain, laterality of breast pain, type of imaging, presence or absence of lesion, type, and laterality of lesions if present, and Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) assignment of imaging findings on mammography and sonomammography. The descriptive analysis of continuous variables and inferential statistics of ordinal data were performed with Microsoft Excel and chi-squared test, respectively. In this study, P < 0.05 was set as the significance level.

Most women (20%) with a complaint of breast pain were in the 40 - 44-year age group. Moreover, 32.3%, 33.2%, and 34.4% of the participants had left-sided, right-sided, and bilateral breast pain, respectively. Among the participants, 118 and 123 women had mammography and sonomammography, respectively. Furthermore, 76.3% had normal findings on mammography or sonomammography, and only 23.7% had positive imaging findings on breast imaging. These lesions were mostly observed among the women in the age group of 45 - 49 years. Of those with lesions detected on imaging, 79.2% and 20.8% demonstrated benign and malignant attributes, respectively. Masses with definite benign attributes assigned BI-RADS II were mostly fibroadenomata and cysts. Inferential statistics indicated that unilateral mastalgia was more likely to be associated with a breast lesion, while bilateral mastalgia usually resulted in normal breast imaging findings.

Women referring to the Radiology Department with a complaint of breast pain alone are unlikely to have any significant breast imaging finding; hence, imaging serves as a tool for assuaging the anxiety of these patients and reassuring the referring physician. Unilateral but not bilateral mastalgia is likely to yield positive imaging findings, which are largely benign.

Today, wireless communication systems are destructive with increased lipid peroxidation and oxidation state and have adverse biological effects on human health.

In this study, we examined the effects of exposure to WiFi wireless frequency (2.4 GHz) on histopathological changes in the cardiovascular system of rats.

The experimental groups included 32 adult male rats divided into control (not exposed to heat and WiFi), WiFi (exposed to 2.45 GHz for 52 consecutive days (2 h/day)), heat (water bath of 43°C for 52 consecutive days (10 min/day)), and heat+WiFi groups (exposed to 2.45 GHz then water bath of 43°C). On the 52nd day, the heart was removed, and its total volume and weight were determined using stereological techniques. The number of cardiomyocytes nuclei and the volume of the myocardium were determined. Blood samples were collected to measure reduced glutathione (GSH) content, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde level (MDA). Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

The heart weight and volume density of the myocardium increased in the WiFi-irradiated group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, exposure to WiFi increased MDA levels and decreased TAC and GSH compared to the control group (P < 0.05).

This study indicated that RFW might cause structural changes and oxidative stress in the heart. Also, exposure to radiofrequency decreased total antioxidant activity in heart tissue with histological changes, including myocardium hypertrophy and decreased number of myocytes.

Quality Assessment Frameworks (QAFs) are essential in monitoring progress in the primary health care (PHC) system. Different QAFs are used in countries to assess PHC quality.

This study aimed to review and compare the QAFs and highlight the most frequent quality indicators and dimensions.

This state-of-the-art review was conducted on PHCQAFs. Required data were collected through search in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, World Health Organization and World Bank websites, and Ministry of Health websites up to January 2022. The main keywords were quality, “primary healthcare”, PHC, “primary care”, “primary health services”, “basic healthcare”, assessment, evaluation, monitoring, measurement, improvement, indicator, OR index, pattern, framework, and model. Comparative tables were used to compare the defined quality dimensions (QDs) and quality assessment indicators (QAIs).

Finally, 14 PHCQAFs were retrieved, containing 94 QDs and 785 QAIs. Three PHCQAFs were proposed at the international level and others at the national level. Accessibility, coordination, and safety were the most frequent QDs, and QAIs related to smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, diabetes care, vaccination, chronic heart disease care, respiratory/infectious disease care, hypertension care, population coverage, community participation, customer satisfaction, maternal and child health, adverse event, health information management, staff empowerment, referral system, and patient rights were the most frequent among PHCQAFs.

The current study illustrates the similarities and differences between PHCQAFs and highlights important QDs and QIs in PHC. Also, it provides a ready way for health policymakers to address key quality aspects that can help countries accelerate progress in the quality of PHC

The under-five mortality rate is one of the most important indicators of sustainable development, and accidents and injuries are the leading causes of child mortality.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting child mortality from road traffic accidents in Ardabil province, Iran.

This descriptive-analytical study investigated all mortalities of children under 5 years from road traffic accidents and injuries that occurred in Ardabil within 2013 and 2021. Standard questionnaires of the Child Health Department of the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education were used to collect data. Based on the Haddon matrix, the data were classified into three groups, namely Pre-event, Event, and Post-event. P-charts were used in statistical process control to control the care process in the system and identify specific and general causes. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24).

A total of 64 mortalities occurred in the period under review. According to the Haddon Matrix analysis, environmental factors had the greatest impact in the Pre-event phase (41.6%); nevertheless, human factors had the greatest impact in the Event phase (62%) and the Post-event phase (46.8%).

Given that road traffic accidents are the leading cause of accidents and unintentional injuries in Iran, with a rate of 38.3%, it is necessary to enhance safety-related knowledge and skills, develop safe streets and roads, ensure child safety in cars, and promote safe vehicle use. As for the regulatory bodies, enforcing strict driving rules and regulations, providing necessary monitoring and control, and facilitating access to emergency centers should be the top priorities.

The public health system is currently facing a shortage of resources, and the demand for healthcare has increased, indicating the need to use the capacities of other sectors through public-private partnership (PPP) strategies to improve the quantity and quality of health services.

The purpose is to identify PPPs’ role in providing primary healthcare worldwide.

This study was conducted in 2020. The Arksey O’Malley framework was used, along with a systematic literature search on five databases, including Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, Pubmed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Data were gathered from 2000 to 2020.

The findings presented in this study are reported based on 16 selected studies. The findings point to the positive impacts of cooperation between the public and private sectors in health care systems on matters of provision, coverage, and performance of services, as well as improvements in responsiveness to providers towards enhancing health referral systems. The provision of participatory services in countries varied according to their level of development, and further interactions between the government and the private sector resulted in better coverage and reduced inequality in service delivery.

Public-private partnership is an effective way to achieve sustainable development goals. Public-private partnerships can be strengthened by integrating public and private sector facilities and aligning the interests and motivations of service providers with public health goals. Also, awareness of the plans and capacity of public and private sectors, along with conscious and mutual interaction, can strengthen health on a larger scale. Scientific approaches and correct participation can also relieve the part of governmental responsibilities to focus on more primary measures so that it can carry out its core tasks, including stewardship, policy-making, and supervision, with greater focus and power to facilitate the achievement of goals.