Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Volume:27 Issue: 3, Sep 2023

Aging is often defined as a reduction in productivity, ability, and independence. A crucial step in combating ageism is to thoroughly categorize the scale of ageism through appropriate psychometric methods. Therefore,

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ageism scale of Vefikuluçay Yilmaz and Terzioglu.

This descriptive and psychometric study was conducted on 230 (13 - 63) individuals in the fall of 2021 in Tehran, Iran, who were selected by convenient method. Construct validity was performed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis after the face and content validity. The tool reliability was also examined by the internal consistency and reliability method.

Content validity indicators for the whole questionnaire were content validity ratio (CVR) = 0.72 and content validity index (CVI) = 0.64. The KMO test rate was 0.835, and Bartlett’s test was also significant (df = 253, P < 0.001). Four factors were extracted from the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, including "dignity of older adults in the family," "restriction of older adults," "social presence," and "characteristics of older adults," which explained 30.57% of the total variance of ageism. The tool’s reliability was obtained using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.72 and intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.94. In addition, the measurement model in confirmatory factor analysis had a moderate fit (root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.081, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.610, goodness of fit (GFI) = 0.850).

The Persian version of the ageism scale of Vefikuluçay Yilmaz and Terzioglu had acceptable validity and reliability in the Iranian population, and it is a tool for measuring people’s attitudes toward the phenomenon of aging.

Nosocomial infections are among the most common causes of hospital-associated mortality.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of nosocomial infections.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 66,691 patients hospitalized in Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah, Iran, during 2019 - 2020. The data collection tool was a researcher-made checklist, and the data were analyzed with SPSS software version 24 after obtaining permission.

The overall prevalence of nosocomial infectionswas 3.3% (2.9% and3.9% in 2019and2020, respectively). Amongpeople with hospital infections in 2019, 53.5% were men, 31.3% were under 45, and 42% were hospitalized in the intensive care unit. The highest hospital infection was urinary (38.5%), followed by surgical site infection (25.1%). In addition, 46.4% of women, 69.2% of people over 45 years old, and 45% of people in 2020 were hospitalized in the intensive care unit, who mostly suffered from urinary infections (39.7%) and blood infections (14.2%).

Based on the results, hospital infection was higher in men and people over 45. The special care department had the highest prevalence among the hospital infections, the frequency of urinary infections, and among the hospital departments. The prevalence of nosocomial infections in Imam Reza Hospital was higher than in other hospitals in Iran. The health protocol at Imam Reza Hospital should be prepared and adjusted under the low-prevalence hospitals in the province.

Deaths occur frequently in intensive care units (ICUs), especially in older adults, and healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) can increasemortality risk in this age range. Identifying the underlying factors that lead to HCAI is crucial for preventing and mitigating the risk of premature deaths.

This study aimed to identify predictors of in-ICU mortality among older adult patients with HCAI.

This prospective cohort study was conducted in two general hospitals in Tehran, Iran, where 461 individuals aged 60 years and older were meticulously observed over a 6-month in March 2021. Mortality was considered the outcome, and the Apache II questionnaire, the frailty index, and demographic information were completed. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression with a significance level of P < 0.05.

Older adult patients with HCAI had a 77% death rate out of 461 eligible individuals. Half of HCAIs were reported as ventilator-associated pneumonia. The most significant death percentages were observed in Klebsiella (37%) and Acinetobacter (21%). Ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR = 50.90, CI = 1.22 - 214.95), frailty status (OR = 45.94, CI = 17.51 - 120.52), COVID-19 (OR = 2.87, CI = 1.24 - 6.66), Apache-II (OR = 1.192, CI = 1.13 - 1.25) and length of hospital stays (OR = 1.05, CI = 1.02 - 1.07) significantly predicted mortality in older adult patients with HCAI.

The mortality of older adults with HCAI is affected by factors such as Ventilator-associated pneumonia, frailty, COVID-19, disease severity, and length of hospital stay. Identifying risk factors for mortality is helpful for treatment planning, resource allocation, and identifying at-risk patients.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the highest incidence of hospital-acquired infection (HAI), and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (HAUTI) are a common problem of critical illness.

This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of HAUTIs in medical intensive care units (ICUs) and hospitals in Kermanshah, Iran.

This cross-sectional and descriptive/analytical study was conducted in the ICUs of hospitals in Kermanshah from March 2018 to 2019. All the recognizedHAUTIs were recorded in the Iranian National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as t-tests and chi-square were used for data interpretation.

Atotal of 1136 patients were admitted to the twoICUs (61 missed out of 1197 patients). Thenumberof patients with UTIwas 51, and the overall HAI rate was 4.5%. The results showed a significant relationship between sex and HAUTI (P = 0.038), sowomentended to have more HAUTIs than men (6.3 and 3.6%, respectively). A significant relationship was observed between age, date (different seasons of the year), and HAUTI (P = 0.588, 0.115, respectively).

There are few studies on HAUTIs, especially on intensive care unit-acquired infections, and more studies are required to describe the epidemiology and management of these problems. Improving conditions for expanding any strategy to reduce infections associated with HAUTIs in ICUs is recommended.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can complicate pregnancy. Ultrasound examination of the fetal heart rate (FHR) is essential to routine pregnancy care. Several studies have reported the effect of GDM on FHR.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between FHR in the first trimester and GDM.

This cohort study was conducted on 214 pregnant women in the first trimester. The FHR of all fetuses was measured once in the first and second trimesters after a glucose challenge test (GCT). Based on the GCT, all pregnant women were divided into two groups (GDM and healthy). The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 to investigate the relationship betweenGDMand the first-trimester FHR.

The mean FHR of the first trimester in GDM and healthy pregnant women was 164.38 ± 7.20 and 164.25 ± 7.43, respectively (P = 0.930). After GCT, the mean FHR in GDM and healthy pregnant women was 144.97 ± 7.60 and 146.65 ± 8.71, respectively (P = 0.326). TheFHRin the first trimester and after GCT inGDMand healthy pregnantwomenwere not significantly different. The logistic regression results showed that FHR cannot predict GDM.

Based on the results, the fetus’s heart rate cannot be used to predict gestational diabetes.

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by severe difficulties with eating behavior and emotions, increasing among medical students.

Since social support can play a preventive role, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between these conditions considering COVID-19-related anxiety.

This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 at Alborz medical science university, Iran, on 282 medical students who were selected randomly. The Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire were used to collect data. The chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were utilized via SPSS software version 23. The level of significance is below 0.05.

In this study, 153 (51.1%) participants were men. The average age (SD) of respondents was 22.06 (1.65). The prevalence of medical students was 17% at risk for eating disorders. Logistic regression indicated that a low level of perceived social support (OR, 14.91; 95% CI, 3.49 – 63.64), a moderate level of COVID-19-related anxiety (OR, 6.36; 95% CI, 2.96 – 13.63), being obese (OR, 6.31; 95% CI, 1.75 – 22.68), and being female (OR, 5.58; 95% CI, 2.13 – 14.62) were significantly related to being at risk of EDs.

Based on the results, the high prevalence of tendency to eating disorders should be taken seriously among medical students. Strong evidence was provided regarding the need for screening and enhancing the perceived social support of medical students.

Identifying factors associated with willingness to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccinesandriskcommunication are essential to control the pandemic.

The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between risk communication and willingness to receive booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 746 over 18 years old adults in Kermanshah, Iran, on October 2022 using randomcluster samplingfrom396,000membersof the general populationwhohadnot received a COVID-19 booster dose. Required data were collected using an online questionnaire from people who met the study requirements and analyzed via SPSS software version 22.

A total of 746 participants were between the ages of 40 and 59, 374.0% had a history of underlying disease, and 61.9% received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. About 36.3% were willing to accept booster dosages, and men, older adults, and those with underlying diseases were more likely to receive booster vaccinations. The most influential sources of information were social networks and television. There was a positive and significant correlation between risk communication and willingness to receive booster vaccine doses (P > 0.05). The average risk communication scores were higher among those more likely to receive a booster dose.

Health policymakers should paymoreattention to risk communication in designing multi-component interventions and producing appropriate and authentic content in social networks to increase the general population’s acceptance of vaccine booster doses.