ABSTRACT
Assessing applied resources in a hospital as a health system will lead to identify organizational problems in this section and subsequently the necessary actions to resolve them. The aim of this study was to determine measurement of inappropriate admission and hospitalization [ISP: Inappropriateness Patient Stay] and associated reasons. One widely used tools to assess appropriate use of hospital recourse is Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol which include objective criteria related to clinical services provided to the patient. Survey of admission and hospitalization in a cross-sectional and prospective study for 246 patients in the Alinasab hospital affiliated insurance organization carried out in Tabriz. The total of 7 percent of admissions and 6.2 percent of hospitalized were diagnosed inappropriate manner. There was no significant association between inappropriate admissions and other variables. There was significant relationships between Inappropriate bed days with insurance [P=0/041] and duration of hospital stay [P=0/041]. However, there were no association between sex, disease diagnosis and hospital days per week with Inappropriate bed days. The reasons of inappropriate admission and hospitalization in Iran are similar to other countries. Upgrading strategies to referral system performance, creating standard protocols to evaluate criteria for medical personnel and increasing outpatient diagnostic institutions could be reduce inappropriate admissions and stay of patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Referral and Consultation , Hospitalization , Data Collection , Prospective Studies , Evaluation Studies as TopicABSTRACT
To determine the effect of occluding a normal eye on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereopsis in amblyopic school children. Amblyopic children from primary schools of region 2 in Mashhad were identified and referred to Optometry Clinics of Mashhad Medical University through a screening program. Informed consent was obtained from the parents. All subjects underwent an ophthalmologic examination including visual acuity, subjective refractive error, biomicroscopy and funduscopy. Best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA], contrast sensitivity and stereopsis were measured by Snellen E chart, Cambridge low contrast chart and Titmus stereotest, respectively. All tests were repeated 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after initial examination. Of 1,947 children, 289 [14.8%] were amblyopic of whom 62 subjects were eventually enrolled for the study. BCVA in the amblyopic eye was less than 3/10 in 25.8% of subjects before treatment however all children had BCVA of 3/10 or better afterwards. Mean BCVA in amblyopic eyes significantly increased from 0.53 +/- 0.26 logMAR to 0.24 +/- 0.23 logMAR after 2 months of treatment [P<0.001]. Mean contrast sensitivity in amblyopic eyes was 68.3 before treatment which improved to 152.5, 138.2 and 198 after 2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months of treatment, respectively [P<0.001]. Contrast sensitivity may provide better assessment of visual function as compared to visual acuity. Changes in contrast sensitivity are more sensitive to occlusion therapy as compared to visual acuity. Therefore, contrast sensitivity may yield better evaluation of subclinical changes not detectable by testing visual acuity
ABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence of refractive errors among elderly residents of Mashhad during 2006 based on age and gender. Through proportionate cluster random sampling, urban residents of Mashhad aged 55 years or more were invited to attend the Vision Clinic of Mashhad Medical University for an eye examination including autorefraction and subjective refraction. Of 1,540 invited persons, 1,440 persons [response rate= 92.5%] participated in the study of whom 1,367 individuals including 883 [64.6%] male and 484 [35.4%] female subjects with mean age of 63.7 +/- 7.1 [range 55-92] years were examined. The prevalence of myopia was 27.2% [95% confidence interval [CI], 24.8-29.5%] overall, 29.6% in men and 22.5% in women [P<0.001]. The rate of myopia showed an increase with age [P<0.001]. The prevalence of hyperopia was 51.6% [95%CI, 48.9%-54.3%] overall, 48.3% in men and 57.6 in women [P<0.001]. The rate of hyperopia showed a significant decrease with age [P=0.009]. The overall prevalence of astigmatism was 37.5% [95% CI, 34.9-40.0%]. Refractive errors are a major issue among the elderly and their prevalence rates varies greatly depending on age and gender
ABSTRACT
Cats and other felines act as definitive hosts for many intestinal parasites, some of which are responsible for several zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the type and prevalence of protozoa and gastrointestinal helminthes among stray cats. A cross sectional study was conducted. Digestive tracts of 100 stray cats in Zanjan Province, north-west of Iran were autopsied in order to recognize gastrointestinal helminthes and intestinal protozoan parasites. These cats were collected by baited cage trapped from October 2007 to September 2008. Gender and species of helminthes and protozoa were recognized using authentic diagnostic criteria. Statistical evaluation was performed by SPSS version 14. Forty-two percent of cats were infected with intestinal protozoan parasites, 33% were infected with cestodes and 39% infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Four species protozoan parasites and eight gastrointestinal helminthes were recovered from the animals, including Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium spp., Joyeuxiella pasqaulei, Toxocara cati, Phy-saloptera praeputialis, Rectalaria spp., Onicolla, Cystoisospora spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Sarcocystis spp. The high infection rate of Toxoplasma and some gastrointestinal helminthes in stray cats is considered to be critical from the viewpoint of public health importance