Shiraz Emedical Journal
Volume:25 Issue: 1, Jan 2024

 In medical education, determining the strengths, weaknesses, desirability, and success of training courses from the perspective of its stakeholders is of particular importance because it can be the basis for subsequent decisions.

 This cross-sectional research investigated the virtual summer semester from the perspectives of its many stakeholders.

 We conducted a multi-methods cross-sectional study. First, remote qualitative interviews were conducted with teachers and heads of departments to explain the features of the virtual summer semester course from their perspective. Twelve teachers and heads of departments participated in qualitative interviews using the intensity sampling method. A matrix was created in Microsoft Word according to the qualitative interview questions (web and telephone), and the answers were categorized based on thematic review. In the second phase, a mini literature review was conducted to develop the desirability and success indicators of online learning courses using questionnaires and checklists. In the third phase, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among students (82 people). In the last phase, a checklist-based survey was performed among various stakeholders (100 people). Quantitative and qualitative data about the virtual summer semester course have been collected from 194 individuals.

 Based on the thematic review of remote qualitative interviews and created matrix, strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improving this course were categorized. Based on descriptive statistics, the mean and SD of the age of teachers and heads of departments participating in the interview was (52.5 ± 8.68), and the mean and SD of the age of students participating in the questionnaire-based survey was (22.10 ± 2.78). In addition, the mean and SD of the age of students, teachers, heads of departments, and course executive team participating in the checklist-based survey were respectively (22.5 ± 3.5), (49.1 ± 7.5), (54.0 ± 2.8) and (34.3 ± 4.9). The findings of the questionnaire-based survey revealed that about 91% of the students have a positive attitude towards the course. In this regard, the average score of the students on all items about the desirability of the course was higher than the hypothetical average (P = 0.048). In addition, the quantitative findings indicated that all the stakeholders had evaluated the course as successful in terms of the organizational capacity of Smart University of Medical Sciences, pedagogy and educational effectiveness, and sufficient and capable human resources. In this regard, the average score of the course success factors differs from stakeholder to stakeholder for the organizational capacity (P = 0.004) and for the two components of pedagogy and educational effectiveness (P = 0.035) and sufficient and competent human resources (P = 0.043).

 According to the results and the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on medical education, these short-term and intensive structured virtual courses can be expanded and developed into regular semesters. The course's sustainability can be maintained by continual improvement.

 Cancer patients may face challenges in their regular treatments and their quality of life (QoL) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

 The purpose of this study was to assess the QoL of cancer patients in Iran during the COVID-19 crisis.

 We applied the EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) Core Quality of Life (QLQ-C30) questionnaire to measure the QoL of cancer patients in Rasoul Akram Hospital in 2021 in Tehran. Based on the inclusion criteria (a cancer diagnosis, being 18 years of age or older, and the ability to understand (but not necessarily read) the Persian language), 87 cancer patients were found to be eligible. Of these, 85 completed the questionnaire. We used SPSS to analyze the data with an independent t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

 According to the result of the analysis, the global health status (main Qol score) was 55.49 ± 21.27. We found no significant difference in the global health status scores based on any demographic variables. Regarding functional scales, the type of insurance had a significant effect on the average cognitive functioning score (P-value = 0.043), with the highest score (79.37 ± 21.02) for patients with Medical Service Insurance and the lowest score (54.76 ± 29.99) for patients without insurance. We also found that in symptom scales, age (P-value < 0.001) and the type of cancer (P-value < 0.001) had a significant impact on the average appetite loss score.

 The QoL of cancer patients has deteriorated during the coronavirus outbreak in terms of general health status, functional scales, and symptom scales. Cancer patients need to be supported by decision-makers and hospital managers, especially in epidemics, to cope with psychological issues related to epidemics, such as fear, anxiety, and worry, and to ensure that they receive adequate services.

 Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer affecting women's quality of life (QoL) in many ways. Identifying QoL-related factors in these patients can help improve their function and treatment.

 This study aimed to investigate factors related to the QoL of BC patients in Khuzestan province of Iran.

 This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 BC patients in Khuzestan province, Iran. The health-related QoL of patients was measured using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. In order to analyze the data and identify relevant factors in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in BC patients, descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were performed in SPSS version 22. The statistical significance level was 0.05.

 The mean QoL score in the patients was 59.58 ± 20.55. Among functional dimensions, the social dimension (80.74 ± 25.85) had the highest score, and sexual pleasure (10.27 ± 20.42) had the lowest score. In the dimension of symptoms, financial difficulties (60.37 ± 31.34) and diarrhea (6.23 ± 16.28) obtained the highest and lowest scores, respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean QoL score regarding different categories of education level (P = 0.01), residence (P = 0.02), supplemental insurance (P = 0.02), employment status (P = 0.02), and duration of illness (P = 0.02).

 The results of this study can provide many implications for the clinical outcomes and HRQOL of women with BC. Healthcare systems are advised to implement appropriate interventions and healthcare services to optimize QoL-related factors and boost the HRQOL of these patients.

 Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis experience psychological symptoms due to the stressful process and are likely to engage in fewer health-promoting behaviors.

 This study aimed to compare health-promoting behaviors and psychological distress in hemodialysis patients and healthy individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 This case-control study was conducted on 139 hemodialysis patients who visited the dialysis unit of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Iran County and 139 healthy controls between 2020 and 2021. A demographic form, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII), and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were used to collect data. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

 The mean age of the hemodialysis participants was 56.79 ± 13.97, and that of healthy participants was 56.89 ± 13.87 (P = 0.99). The mean score of health-promoting behaviors was significantly lower in hemodialysis patients than in healthy participants (120.53 ± 20.35 vs. 125.92 ± 6.76) (P = 0.005). Furthermore, hospital anxiety-depression (20.49 ± 5.20 vs. 15.28 ± 2.95) and coronavirus anxiety (22.83 ± 7.19 vs. 20.77 ± 4.71) were significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in healthy participants (P<0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively).

 Hemodialysis patients exhibited lower health-promoting behaviors and higher coronavirus anxiety and depression than healthy individuals.