Iranian Journal of Health Sciences
Volume:12 Issue: 1, Winter 2024

The main problem of cancer patients is the feeling of despair and hopelessness. Religious beliefs can boost the morale of cancer patients. This study aimed to determine the effect of religious interventions on life expectancy in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The present clinical trial study was conducted on 128 patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy referred to the oncology unit of a teaching hospital in Khorramabad, Iran. After selecting the sample size, the patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In addition to routine care, religious intervention sessions were performed for the intervention group, and the control group received only routine care. For the intervention group, training sessions focused on trust in God, good morals, patience, gratitude, and remembrance of God. After 3 weeks and 6 sessions (after finishing the sessions), the post-test was done. Data collection tools were the demographic and Miller’s standard life expectancy questionnaires. Analysis of covariance was used to compare life expectancy after the intervention. SPSS software, version 23 was employed for data analysis. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for all tests.

There were 64 men and 64 women in both groups. Also, 111 people were married in both groups. The most frequent cancer seen in both intervention and control groups was gastric cancer (n=37). The mean life expectancy scores of the experimental and control groups before the intervention were not statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in life expectancy scores before and after the intervention in the experimental group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in life expectancy scores after the intervention in the experimental and control groups (P=0.000).

Religious intervention increases the life expectancy of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Medical staff, especially nurses, can, along with other routine care, guide patients undergoing chemotherapy to spirituality and help them accept the disease and its complications better.

Low birth weight (LBW) neonates usually experience delays in developing gross and fine motor skills. Studies in Iran reveal a prevalence of growth retardation ranging from 7% to 26.3% among Iranian children. Recognizing the significance of complications associated with LBW, this study aims to scrutinize the developmental status of LBW infants at one year of age and juxtapose it with that of normal birth weight (NBW) neonates.

This retrospective cohort study involved 105 one-year-old children in Shirvan City, Iran. Participants were selected through a census, and their information was extracted from the SIB system (the integrated health record system). Data collection utilized the 12-month version of the ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ) and a demographic questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including the t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regression, were performed using SPSS software, version 26.

The ASQ questionnaire revealed that the dimensions of problem-solving and individual-social skills had the lowest and highest mean scores, respectively. A comparison of developmental domains between the two groups did not yield any significant differences. However, when considering gender, a noteworthy relationship emerged in both groups, particularly in communication and gross motor skills, as well as individual-social development and problem-solving.

Noteworthy disparities were identified between LBW and NBW infants at birth, encompassing factors such as breastfeeding and maternal educational levels. Consequently, public health policies should prioritize initiatives to enhance mothers’ and infants’ health and nutritional well-being before and during pregnancy and early childhood.

Sleep problems and aggression are common among healthcare workers due to shift work and constant interaction with patients and their relatives. The present study examined the associations between sleep problems, self-regulation, and interpersonal aggression among healthcare workers.

In this cross-sectional study, 400 healthcare workers were selected from four state-run hospitals in Kermanshah City, Iran, using a multi-stage random sampling between March 2021 and March 2022. The sample size was selected using the N>50+8m standard formula. The participants completed several standard scales, including the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, the Berlin questionnaire, the insomnia severity index, the self-regulation questionnaire, and the Buss-Perry aggression questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation, hierarchical multiple regression techniques, and standardized z scores.

The Mean±SD age of the participants was 32.5±8.8 years and 70% were female. All sleep problems, including poor sleep quality, sleep apnea, and insomnia severity, are significantly related to the total score of interpersonal aggression and all its subfactors (P<0.001). The results showed that adding self-regulation to sleep problems to predict aggression greatly reduces the effect of sleep problems, especially the insomnia severity (P<0.001).

The results showed that self-regulation is not only a protective factor for aggression but also indirectly protects against aggression by controlling the severity of insomnia. Because both sleep problems and self-dysregulation are modifiable risk factors for interpersonal aggression, psychological interventions can target these risk factors.

COVID-19 vaccine side effects predominantly affect public confidence in vaccination. Therefore, this study evaluated the rate and severity of adverse reactions associated with the COVID-19 Sputnik V vaccine among tertiary healthcare providers in an academic medical center.

This retrospective observational study was carried out from March 2021 to August 2021 among Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex healthcare workers, a tertiary referral healthcare center affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Participants provided demographic and clinical information through a validated questionnaire after being interviewed. The frequency, severity, and outcome of all reactions after vaccination were recorded. The study utilized SPSS software, version 24.0 to conduct descriptive statistics on baseline variables and inferential statistics to examine associations between vaccine side effects and gender, medical history, and COVID-19 history of the participants. Additionally, ordinal regression analysis was employed to identify factors predicting the severity of adverse effects after the first and second doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

A total of 372 participants (54.3% female) with a mean age of 36.5±9.18 years were recruited. The rate of at least one side effect was 77.15% and 57.8% after the first and second doses, respectively. The most common side effects among participants were myalgia (48.4% after the first and 28.2% after the second dose), injection site pain (26.3% after the first and 12.6% after the second dose), and fever (19.6% after the first and 12.9% after the second dose). The higher rate of fever and myalgia after the first dose was observed among subjects with a history of COVID-19. 

Among healthcare workers, the side effects following the first and second doses of the Sputnik V vaccine were primarily mild, with no cases requiring hospitalization. Further research is required to assess potential side effects in larger and diverse populations with varying demographic and social characteristics.

Identifying effective symptoms, demographic information, and underlying diseases to predict COVID-19 mortality is essential. We aimed to study the effective clinical and symptomatic characteristics of COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results.

For this study, we prospectively collected complete data on 26867 hospitalized individuals who tested PCR positive for COVID-19 from February 20, 2020, to September 12, 2021, in the Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. We analyzed the data using artificial neural networks (ANN) and logistic regression (LR) models.

The accuracy of the ANN model was higher than the LR (90.27% versus 90.15%). The ten most important predictors that contributed to the prediction of death were decreasing consciousness level, cough, PO2 level, age, chronic kidney disease, fever, headache, smoking status, chronic blood diseases, and diarrhea using the ANN model.

In conclusion, individuals suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney and blood diseases, as well as immunodeficiency are at a higher risk of mortality. This important finding can help decision-makers and medical professionals in their efforts to consider these conditions and provide effective preventative measures to reduce the risk of death.

After-discharge follow-up is one of the branches of managed care used for information exchange, health education, early diagnosis of symptoms, symptom management, and high-quality aftercare services. The present study aims to elucidate the managed care of COVID-19 patients after discharge from hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran Province, Iran.

The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. The study sample included all COVID-19 patients discharged from public, private, and social security hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The census method was used to recruit 14625 discharged patients. The data collection tool was based on the information registration form “Follow-up of the treatment process of discharged COVID-19 patients,” which was prepared in three sections (demographic, clinical characteristics, and follow-up of the treatment process) based on the opinions of 15 experts. Data analysis was carried out via the chi-square test in SPSS software, version 21.

The findings of the demographic section showed that 35.8% of COVID-19-related admissions were over 65 years old. Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were necessary for 13% of cases, with the highest ICU admission rates among those aged 65 and above. Based on the findings of the clinical characteristics section, the most common underlying disease (46.7%) was diabetes, and the most common symptom upon admission was fever (higher than 38°C) (44.8%). Also, according to the findings of the “treatment follow-up” section, 7.04% of the discharged patients were readmitted, and 14.5% of patients infected their family members with COVID-19. Also, 57.82% adhered to the health and safety protocols and self-quarantine at home, which varied in different months. 

Follow-up after the discharge of COVID-19 patients as one of the branches of managed care increased the compliance with health principles and decreased the rate of COVID-19 infection of the patient’s family members and the readmission of patients. Therefore, appropriate follow-up after discharge is suggested as a low-cost method to shorten the recovery period of patients, prevent other family members from contracting this disease, and detect the worsening of disease symptoms among discharged patients.

Considering that diabetic patients have low physical fitness and are prone to cardiovascular diseases, there is a need to conduct studies for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. The present study investigates the effect of concurrent training (CT) on some cardiovascular risk factors, serum estradiol, and physical fitness indicators in overweight women with type 2 diabetes. 

The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. A total of 30 women with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into CT and control (CON) groups. Concurrent training was performed for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The CT program included resistance training with elastic bands, running with an intensity of 70%-85% of the maximum heart rate, and skipping rope training with 40-45 jumps per minute. Forty-eight hours before and after the intervention, blood samples were collected from all participants in a fasting state to evaluate serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol levels, and estradiol. The VO2 max and upper body and lower body strength indicators were also assessed in all participants. The data was analyzed using the statistical method of ANOVA with repeated measures. 

The results showed a significant increase in VO2 max, serum estradiol, upper and lower body muscle strength, and a significant decrease in serum triglyceride and glucose in the CT group compared to the CON group (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio and total cholesterol (P>0.05). 

Eight weeks of concurrent training can improve physical fitness indicators and some cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with type 2 diabetes.

Chemotherapy is one of the main options in treating childhood cancers. Fatigue and pain are common symptoms of cancer and one of the major complications experienced during chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of foot reflexology and simple foot massage on fatigue and pain in children with leukemia.

This randomized clinical trial was performed on 99 children with leukemia aged 4-14 years, undergoing chemotherapy in the oncology departments of Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital and Children’s Medical Center, Tehran City, Iran, in 2019. The sampling was sequential, and participants were assigned into three groups by block randomization: Foot reflexology, simple foot massage, and control group. The foot reflexology and simple foot massage were performed for 5 consecutive days. Participants were asked to report the intensity of pain and fatigue over the past 48 hours using the pain visual and child fatigue scales. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS software, version 22. Quantitative variables were reported as the Mean±SD. The chi-square test, analysis of variance, and repeated measures tests were used for data analysis. 

Demographic characteristics in three groups were not significantly different except for gender (P=0.011). There was no significant difference in pain (P=0.67) and fatigue (P=0.45) before the intervention. The Mean±SD pain scores on the third day in foot reflexology, simple foot massage, and control group were 4.4±1.9, 5.2±1.79, and 6.3±1.76, respectively (P<0.001). The Mean±SD pain scores on the fifth day in foot reflexology, simple foot massage, and control group were 2.7±1.4, 3.9±1.83, and 6.7±1.5, respectively (P<0.001). The Mean±SD fatigue scores on the third day in foot reflexology, simple foot massage, and control group were 2.36±0.55, 2.95±0.6, and 3.65±0.32, respectively (P<0.0001). The Mean±SD fatigue scores on the fifth day in foot reflexology, simple foot massage, and control group were 2.14±0.42, 2.67±0.73, and 4.12±0.16, respectively (P<0.0001).

Our results showed that foot reflexology and simple foot massage can decrease pain and fatigue in children with leukemia. Performing foot reflexology could be recommended as a complementary intervention to reduce pain and fatigue in children with leukemia.