Experience of cyclone Gonu in the Islamic Republic of Iran: lessons learned

Gonu, the second tropical cyclone of the 2007 northern Indian ocean cyclone season, affected Oman, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This report examines the effects of cyclone Gonu in the Islamic Republic of Iran where it approached on its path on 6 June 2007 and reviews the actions taken before, during and after the cyclone. The incident highlighted the need for a special protocol to be prepared for all types of natural disasters. Responsible organizations should train their personnel according to the prepared protocols and service packages. Among the important lessons learned were the need for early warning, proper community involvement, access to essential data for risk analysis, special attention to safety of infrastructures, coordination and command integrity

Anxiety, depression and anger in breast cancer patients compared with the general population in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Breast cancer and its treatment have specific challenges for women due to changes in sexuality, femininity, body image and maternal issues which might lead to associated psychological morbidity. In the present study, our aim was to measure depression, anxiety and anger in breast cancer patients. Our study comprised 178 breast cancer patients, most of whom were diagnosed for 1 to 5 years, compared with 400 other women randomly selected from the general population referred to Shiraz medical clinics for non-therapeutic reasons. We used depression, anxiety and anger subscales of Symptom Checklist-90 Revised [SCL-90R] questionnaire. Depression and anxiety were not significantly different between the two groups and the mean scores of anger were significantly lower in breast cancer patients than those in the general population. Higher depression and anger mean scores were found among younger patients. Education and tumor size correlated significantly with anxiety. Most of our patients had been diagnosed for more than 1 year and no patient had distant metastasis. Qualitative data showed stable family condition, religious tenets and social supports which are all among the reasons for our results

Developing a national trauma management workshop in Iran applying an animal model

Traumas take a heavy toll throughout the world and Iran is increasingly involved in this problem. So, education and training of medical staff for successful handling of traumatic patients seem necessary. In this study, we tried to develop and evaluate a national training program on trauma management to use animal models through a trauma management workshop. After primary survey and designing an advanced trauma management workshop, 144 practitioners of one armed force were randomly selected to be trained. Participants could experience some practical and new aspects. For example, they handled high velocity traumas and were involved throughout the different phases of trauma management under the supervision of experienced leaders. To assess the program, participants completed open-ended [essay], multiple-choice question [MCQ], and skill exams before and after the workshop. A trauma training program was developed and evaluated. In essay exam, scores significantly increased from 26 to 58, MCQ scores significantly rose from 49 to 65, and the participant's practical competency significantly improved from 46 to 75. Immense attention is required to optimize doctors' training in trauma care to avoid fossilization of cognitive knowledge and skills

[Assessment of the role of prevention training and care in trauma patients in rural regions 2001-2005]

Trauma-related mortality [due to road accidents and gunshot and disaster...] is unexpectedly high in Iran. Short trauma care training course to rural health system and villager of Mehran, Eylam would improve the care for trauma victims. The objective of the present study is to describe the training and evaluate its effect using changes in physiological function of victims. Advanced trauma care course for physicians and nurses, complementary basic trauma care course for emergency technicians and health workers, basic trauma care for highly educated people and first aid short course for ordinary people were developed. After training, the region traumatic patients entered the system through two channels: to the local Mehran Emergency Clinic [some with primary treatment before the local emergency clinic] or directly to Ham University Hospital. Outcome indicator was the physiological change assessed with the physiologic severity score [PSS]. During courses period, 185 physicians and nurses, emergency technicians and health workers, 239 highly educated people and 4410 ordinary people were trained for trauma care. During 3 years leater 366 injured were transported to Mehran Emergency Clinic [226 received primary treatment before the local emergency clinic] and 245 were admitted directly to Ham University Hospital. Total mortality rate was 10.3 percent [66 out of 641 injured people] and the mine injured mortality rate was 20.7% [37 out of 179 mine injured]. In the injured who received trauma care at Mehran Emergency Clinic, PSS mean was 6.4 which improved to 7.5 in the hospital [P<0.001] in comparison with 6.79 in the other group. Rural health worker and general population could be upgraded to care for victims of injuries by using available resources. This system can improve the indicators and reduce trauma mortality rate

Avicenna's viewpoints on fever and it's comparison to modern medicine

In his book "Canon in Medicine [Al-Ghanoon]", Avicenna has specified a chapter containing two sections pertaining to fever. After defining fever and explaining it's different stages, he divides it into three types: hectic fever, infection-induced fever and daily fever. After accurate attention to the patient's history and key-points in examination, he focuses on fever signs and its treatment regarding each type of the three. In this article, we intend to discuss Avicenna's views on fever in comparison to those of modern medicine