Drug literacy in Iran: the experience of using "the single item health literacy screening [SILS] tool"

Drug and health literacy is a key determinant of health outcomes. There are several tools to assess drug and health literacy. The objective of this article is to determine drug literacy level and its relationships with other factors using a single item screening tool. A cross- sectional survey was conducted among 1104 people in Qazvin province, Iran. Based on the proportional-to-size method, participants over 15 years old with ability to read were recruited randomly from 6 counties in Qazvin province and were interviewed directly. To determine drug literacy relationship with other variables, Chi-Square and t-test were used. Also, logistic regression model was used to adjust the relationship between drug literacy and other relevant variables. Response rate in clusters was 100%. Findings showed that inadequate drug literacy in Qazvin province is 30.3% and it was in association with [1] age [p = .000], [2] marital status [p = .000], [3] educational attainment [p = .000], [4] home county [p = .000], [5] residing area [p = .000], [6] type of basic health insurance [p = .000], [7] complementary health insurance status [p = .000], and [8] family socioeconomic status [p = .000]. After adjusting for these variables using logistic regression model, the association between [1], [3], [4], [5] and [8] with drug literacy level was confirmed. The analysis also showed that this method can also be used in other health care settings in Iran for drug and health literacy rapid assessment

Evaluation of Iranian pediatric specialists' attitude and knowledge regarding approach to patients with acute otitis media

The ministry of health and medical education of Iran and many other countries advice physicians to use this guideline for diagnosis and treatment of acute otitis media [AOM], but there is not any evaluation of effectiveness and obedience of this guideline, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude of pediatricians, the most important group that interfere with these patients in treatment of acute otitis media. A total of 120 anonymous surveys were mailed to 120 pediatrician in Tehran [Iran] to evaluate pattern of diagnosis and treatment of AOM in these physicians. Age, gender, place of work, attitude of diagnosis and treatment were asked by anonymous survey. Sixty-two completed surveys were received, for a response rate of 51%. There was no significant difference between responders in these survey and scenarios, according to sex, age, practice setting, graduation year or the number of AOM patients visiting each month. Our study seems to add new insights to the previous literature on management of AOM according to guideline. We can assess the impact of guidelines on the usual practice of practitioners in evidenced-based management of AOM

Endoglin [CD105] positive microvessel density and its relationship with lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Neovascularization is an important factor for predicting tumor behavior. Evidence suggests that endoglin [CD105] is a powerful marker of neovascularization and determination of microvessel density in several malignancies, and can be used as an agent to predict lymph node metastasis. However, it is controversial, particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We studied CD105-MVD in tongue squamous cell carcinoma and evaluated its correlation with lymph node metastasis in relation to sex, age, and histopathologic grade. This study analyzed a total of 40 cases of tongue squamous cell carcinoma by dividing patients into two groups, a] with meta-static lymph nodes [N+] and b] without metastatic lymph nodes [N-]. By CD105 immunostaining, microvessel density was determined in three different areas [intratumoral, invasive front and adjacent normal tissue] of all cases. Statistically, we evaluated the relation between microvessel density and lymph node involvement, in addition to other clinicopathologic factors by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, f-test, and other analyses. CD105-MVD in the invasive front [P<0.001] and intratumoral [P<0.006] areas of the N+ group was significantly higher than in the N-group. In addition, there was a correlation between CD105-MVD and differentiation in the invasive front area [P< 0.013] No relation existed between CD105-MVD and other clinicopathologic features. CD105-MVD, as a prognostic factor, may be helpful for determining the possibility of lymph node metastasis of primary SCC of the tongue

Percutaneous exposure incidents in nurses: knowledge, practice and exposure to hepatitis B infection

Nurses are at risk of percutaneous exposure incidents [PEIs], which may lead to serious or even fatal blood-borne infections. To determine the prevalence of PEIs in the last year, among nurses and to assess their knowledge about and frequency of safe method of practice in exposure to blood-borne pathogens [especially, to HBV]. A cross-sectional study in 2008 was conducted on 138 nurses working in general surgery and obstetrics/gynecology services of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Central Iran. A questionnaire for assessment of risk factors for contracting HBV infection was completed by nurses. Overall, the prevalence of needle stick injury [NSI] and direct exposure to body fluids were 52.9% [95% CI: 44.5%-61.3%] and 65.4% [95% CI: 57.4% - 73.8%], respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two studied centers in terms of sharp injuries; however, the rate of repeated NSI [number per each year >/= 3] and mucocutaneous exposures were significantly higher in the general surgery ward. The overall coverage of vaccination in the two studied centers was 96.3%, but the rate of accurate answers to many questions pertaining to knowledge and practice were less than 50%. Nurses are still at significant risk for developing NSI and mucocutaneous exposure. Continuous educational programs [especially by highlighting the seriousness of the problem] are necessary for improving this situation because inadequate education might increase unsafely practice

[Designing a registration system for suicide in Iran]

The goal of the present study was to design a registration system for recording suicide in Iran, capable of designing identification pathways, registration, and report and follow-up of suicide cases and deaths due to suicide. Through library assessments and surveying suicide registration systems in other countries [Denmark, India and WHO], potential methods of suicide in Iran were identified; also, potential methods of identifying suicide cases in the country were designed and finalized subsequent to group consultation. Suicide registration forms were designed, using the collected data. In this system: 1- The Health and Treatment Network is considered to be the appropriate site for the collection of data related to suicide, 2- Instances of suicide deaths and suicide attempts will be completely registered, 3- Data will be gathered from treatment centers and other contributing centers in general monthly forms, 4- Mental health attendants will enter the data into the computer system each month, in the suicide registration center affiliated to the health and treatment center, 5- The system will be primarily executed in two universities, 6- Training of target group [managers and personnel] in the primary stages of execution is important. The launch of the system for recording suicidal behavior in the country is the first essential step in the control and prevention of suicide

Comparison of the effects of spinal anesthesia between pre-eclamptic patients and normal pregnant women during cesarean section

To compare the effects of spinal anesthesia between pre-eclamptic patients and normal pregnant women during cesarean section. The participants of this hospital-based cohort study consisted of 60 women. Their age range was between 18-40. Thirty patients were pre-eclamptic and the others were normal pregnant women. Spinal anesthesia was administered with 2ml lidocaine 5%. Hemodynamic changes, dose of ephedrine requirement, incidence of nausea and Apgar score were compared between two groups. Data were transformed to the SPSS software. Then Chi-square, T-student and Fischer exact tests were performed for statistical analysis. There was no significant statistical difference of age and weight between two groups. In regard to basic, post spinal and post ephedrine systolic and diastolic blood pressure, significant statistical differences were noted. Similarly as regards the number of patients who developed hypotension and the dose of ephedrine injection, there were meaningful statistical differences between two groups. Development of hypotension and dosage of ephedrine injection in pre-eclamptic patients were less than healthy pregnant women during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. As such spinal anesthesia is a safe method for cesarean section in pre-eclamptic patients

Prevalence and distribution study of sella turcica tumors in 20 years and more old cadavers dissected in the Legal Medicine Center of Tehran in 1383-1384

The tumors of sella turcica are among the common causes of pituitary enlargement. In selected autopsy series up to 25% of pituitaries have a small incidental micro adenoma. No comprehensive study concerning the prevalence of these tumors has been conducted in Iran previously. In this article the prevalence and distribution of sella turcica tumors in 20 years and more old cadavers dissected in the legal medicine center of Tehran in 1383-1384 have been studied. In this cross-sectional and descriptive observational study, 186 pituitary glands from cadavers dissected during the second half of1383 and throughout 1384 were studied with a view to presence of tumor, type of tumor and size of adenomas and in relation to the age and sex of cadavers. The overall prevalence of pituitary tumors was 10.2% [19 of 186 glands] among which was 4.3% adenoma [8 cases], 4.3% craniopharyngioma [8 cases], and 1.6% meningioma [3 cases]. Maximum prevalence of pituitary tumors [6 cases] was in 3rd decade and then in 8th decade afterwards [5 cases]. The prevalence of pituitary tumor was 11.26% [8 Cases] of 71 cadavers in females and 9.56% [11 Cases] of 115 codavers in males. Among 8 observed tumors in females 5 were craniopharngioma, and 3 adenoma.Among 11 observed tumors in males 5 were adenoma, 3 meningioma, and 3 craniopharyngioma. Among 8 observed adenoma, 7 were microadenoma [diameter less than 10mm] and 1 was macro adenoma [diameter more than I Omm]. In this study, no statistically significant relationship was observed between sex of the cadavers and the prevalence and type of tumors. The overall prevalence of adenoma and craniopharyngioma was equal .The relationship between tumor prevalence and age was statistically significant .Microadenoma was significantly more prevalent than macroadenoma