Determinants of social accountability in Iranian nursing and midwifery schools: a Delphi study

Background: Revising the medical education programs to meet the needs of society has become both a necessity and an important priority due to the considerable increase of population, changing patterns of diseases, and new health priorities. While this necessity has been highlighted in Iran's Fifth Development Plan as well as its National 2025 Vision Plan, the determinants of social accountability have not been explained yet. This study aimed to develop determinants of social accountability in the Iranian Nursing and Midwifery Schools

Methods: This classic Delphi study included thirty experts in Nursing and Midwifery Education, Research and Services selected based on purposive sampling and three rounds of Delphi technique and conducted in Nursing and Midwifery School of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The primary data were collected using an initial structured questionnaire prepared through extensive review of literature. SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data. The interquartile deviation and percentage of agreement were also used to study the consensus of opinion by experts

Results: Finding obtained from the rounds of Delphi resulted in selecting 69 determinants out of the initial pool of 128 primary determinants of social accountability. The items were selected based on experts' consensus and categorized under three main activities of Nursing and Midwifery School, namely education, research, and service.

Conclusion: Social accountability determinants were explained by 69 items for Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Iran. The proposed determinants can be used by managers and authorities of Nursing and Midwifery School, policy makers, and evaluating institutions associated with them to ensure realizing social accountability goals

[ frequency of metabolic syndrome among female patients admitted in psyciatry ward]

In recent years the metabolic syndrome has been highly common among psychiatric patients. Since many factors including genetic factors contribute to the prevalence of this syndrome, it seems necessary to look for metabolic syndrome among Iranian psychiatric patients. This cross-sectional study was performed on 130 female patients admitted to psychiatric ward of Mashhad 22 Bahman hospital since March 2009 until December 2009 to find whether they had metabolic syndrome. Questionnaires were completed for patients. Pregnant women and those who had had a delivery during the last 6 months were excluded. Data were analyzed through statistical tests such as t-test and chi square and SPSS software 17. P-value less than 0.05 was regarded as meaningful result. In this study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was, according to criteria of NCEP [ATP III], 39.8%, which is deemed as significantly more than expectable range for healthy Iranian population. Older age, higher waist circumference, BMI and weight, persistence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, low educational level and marriage status were proven to be associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome [p-value <0.05]. There were no meaningful relation between metabolic syndrome, duration of administration and type of drugs, and mental disorder. [p-value>0.05]. In the present study, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was examined. And it was proved that the rate of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is more than what is typically found in similar studies among Iranian psychiatric population. No relationship was detected between metabolic syndrome and any specific drug, however, more extensive studies are suggested

study of relation between plasma level of insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] and severity of coronary artery disease

Atherosclerosis and its related diseases are major causes of mortality in many countries. Our knowledge of its background is of much importance. In recent years, researches have been preformed on relation between atherosclerosis and IGF-I plasma levels and different results obtained. We decided to do this research, as few. Altogether One hundred and seven patients who were candidates for the coronary angiography were chosen for study. Blood samples were taken for measuring IGF-I, FBS, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL in plasma. Blood pressures of patients were recorded, and their BMIs accounted. It was also written in questionnaire if they had history of cigarette smoking. IGF-I plasma levels increased in relation to intensity of coronary artery stenosis; correlation coefficient between stenoses and IGF-I plasma levels was as follows: R= 0.204 p= 0.04. This suggested significant and meaningful relation between these variables. IGF-I plasma levels also showed rnild increase in relation to number of diseased coronary arteries. By using the analysis of spierman correlation coefficient, Rho= 0.189 and p= 0.058 were accounted. We concluded that IGF-I plasma levels were in direct and meaningful relation to stenosis values of coronary arteries, and in mild relation to number of diseased coronary arteries. These findings can explain the role of IGF-1 in process of atherosclerosis