ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study aimed to examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on the hospitalization rate, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient clinic visits in western Iran. @*Methods@#We collected data on the monthly hospitalization rate, rate of patients referred to the ED, and rate of patients referred to outpatient clinics for a period of 40 months (23 months before and 17 months after the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran) from all 7 public hospitals in the city of Kermanshah. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the outcome variables in this study. @*Results@#A statistically significant decrease of 38.11 hospitalizations per 10,000 population (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.93–51.29) was observed in the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak. The corresponding reductions in ED visits and outpatient visits per 10,000 population were 191.65 (95% CI, 166.63–216.66) and 168.57 (95% CI, 126.41–210.73), respectively. After the initial reduction, significant monthly increases in the hospitalization rate (an increase of 1.81 per 10,000 population), ED visits (an increase of 2.16 per 10,000 population), and outpatient clinic visits (an increase of 5.77 per 10,000 population) were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. @*Conclusion@#Our study showed that the utilization of outpatient and inpatient services in hospitals and clinics significantly declined after the COVID-19 outbreak, and use of these services did not return to pre-outbreak levels as of June 2021.
ABSTRACT
Background: Although the Pap smear is known as one of the effective methods to detect the cervical cancer, a large group of women are reluctant to do the test because of various reasons. Therefore, we carried out this study to determine the level of knowledge about cervical cancer and Pap smear and the factors influencing the Pap test screening among women
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 355 women referred to the health centers of Gilan-e gharb city were randomly recruited in 2015. The participants asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire including five parts [questions about: demographic factors, knowledge about cervical cancer and Pap smear, Pap smear performance, barriers and facilitators related to Pap smear and the sources of information]. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 19, using descriptive statistics, Independent T-test, and logistic regression
Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.08+/-7.81 years. Almost 50.4% of the subjects had a history of Pap smear test. Pap test performance was significantly higher in those who had higher knowledge [P<0.001]. Knowledge about cervical cancer, Pap smear and age was the most important predictors of the Pap test performance [P<0.001]. The most important barrier and facilitator to Pap smear test were inadequate knowledge and the recommendations received from family, friends and healthcare professionals [44.3% and 40.2%, respectively]
Conclusion: Knowledge about Pap smear and cervical cancer was important in predicting Pap test doing. In addition, inadequate knowledge was introduced as the most important barrier to screening test from the perspective of women. Therefore, we suggest that health education and health promotion studies as interdisciplinary and targeted interventions should be implemented to improve the women's knowledge
ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes is a chronic progressive disorder that imposes negative effects on various aspects of an individual's life. This study was conducted to compare the effect of video instructions in comparison with traditional training on glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients of Hamadan
Methods: In this experimental study, 120 patients with type 2 diabetes who referred to diabetes center of Hamadan were divided into two groups: intervention and control. Data collection tool was a questionnaire based on health belief model completed by interviewing before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. In addition, the serum levels of HbA1c were measured before and three months after the study. Intervention was conducted on three groups of 20 participants using video playback as well as question and answer sessions. Data were analyzed by SPSS21 using Friedman, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests
Results: This study revealed a significant difference in the median of knowledge, perceived threat, perceived benefits, and barriers in the intervention group immediately and three months after the intervention. HbA1c levels decreased after the intervention but this change was not significant. Three months after the intervention, in the intervention group both physicians and video were the most effective cues to action
Conclusion: Instructional videos for diabetes education can have a positive impact on healthy lifestyle in Patients with type 2 diabetes. It was concluded that decrease in HbA1c level needs longer intervention period; more than three months