Rehabilitation Educators′ Perceptions of Clinical Education Challenges in Iran: Is COVID-19 Having Redundant Effects?

Background: Clinical education is a core component of the curriculum of undergraduate rehabilitation students. Nevertheless, this field more than any other field of education has many shortcomings that should be addressed. Methods: The aim of this study was to explore the challenges of clinical education from the perspective of rehabilitation educators with particular focus on the new challenges created bythe COVID-19 outbreak. This qualitative study was conducted through purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 rehabilitation clinical educators of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data analysis was accomplished according to conventional content analysis. To prove the trustworthiness of the data, credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were assessed. Results: Through data analysis, 240 initial codes were extracted in three main categories and nine sub-categories, indicating redundant challenges imposed by COVID-19 comprising restricted clinical resources (inadequate patient number and diversity, inadequate equipment, limited clinical space, inadequate manpower), an inefficient clinical education system (poor management of clinical education programs, insufficient clinical evaluation), and personal and professional characteristics of the students (lack of students' practical knowledge, lack of motivation, fear). Conclusion: The results of this study provide deeper insight into the perceptions and experiences of rehabilitation educators regarding clinical education challenges. At present, an accidental and unexpected problematic event (COVID-19 pandemic) has inflicted detrimental effects on various aspects of clinical rehabilitation sciences. It is necessary to implement changes in future plans which include adaptations for COVID-19. 2022© The Authors. Published by JRSR. All rights reserved.

Identifying the Factors Affecting People's Participation in "Education by People for People" During Covid-19 Outbreak: A Qualitative Study

Background and Objective: Social mobilization and community partnerships are required for identification and solving health problems in the Corona epidemic. Community participation is a fundamental component of community health and development programs. A renewed emphasis on the importance of community participation improves global public health. The aim of the present study was to explore effect the community engagement component via educating the people for the people during the COVID-19 outbreak. Materials and Methods: In this qualitative study, data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews whit 18 participants including health system experts and involved in the field of public participation of Ahvaz city, who were selected through purposive sampling of the type of maximum variety. The content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. The analysis tool in this study was MAXQDA18 software. Contributors surveyed to ensure that the data were acceptable. Reviewers carried out confirmation of findings. The accuracy and robustness of the data were confirmed by Lincoln and Guba standards. Results: Data analysis resulted in the extraction of 336 primary codes, which were classified into six main subthemes: the concept of public knowledge sharing practices, the benefits of social participation in education, strategies to increase social participation, tactics for attracting social participation, problems and barriers to weakening social participation, and facilitators that influence social participation. Conclusion: The result of this study was the achievement of strategies and tactics to engage people in education, which can be used by decision-makers and other stakeholders. © 2022 Iranian Association of Health Education and Health Promotion. All rights reserved.

Social-Distancing Complicance among Pedestrians in Ahvaz, South-West Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Social distancing is a public health tool that seeks to reduce opportunities for an infectious agent to spread among individuals. The current study aimed at investigating the social-distancing compliance among pedestrians in Ahvaz city, South-west Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ahvaz, South-west Iran, from 2 to August 11, 2020. The data collection was performed based on observation of passers-by in the streets. Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Chi-square for trend, and logistic regression were used for the data analysis. Results: The overall compliance rate of social distancing was 16.3%. There was a statistically significant difference between age groups and social distancing (P < 0.001), but this relationship was not seen in gender (P = 0.12). The compliance rate of social distancing was significantly higher during morning hours than evening hours (P < 0.001). A significant inverse association was founded between the number of observed group members and the compliance rate of social distancing so that the odds of social distancing compliance among two members groups were 59% higher than the group of 6 and more members (odds ratio = 1.59;95% confidence interval, 1.47-1.72;P = 0.003). Conclusion: We found that the overall compliance rate of social distancing among the participants was very low and inefficient. This can make disease control difficult and leads the city to a critical situation in terms of coronavirus outbreaks. The findings can help health policymakers and health workers to plan and conduct preventive interventions.

Health-care staff beliefs and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations: A cross-sectional study from Iran

Introduction: Health-care worker desire to receive coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination can affect public perception and adoption of vaccination. The present study surveyed the health beliefs of health-care staff regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: In this cross-sectional online survey conducted in Iran between May and June 2021, 537 health-care staff (73.8% females) participated. Health-care staff were assessed on the following constructs: health locus of control, trust in the health-care system, subjective norms, fear of COVID-19, attitude and feelings toward vaccination, physical distancing, intention to engage in preventative behaviors, and perceived behavioral control. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the influence of demographic, clinical factors, fear of COVID-19, and health beliefs, in predicting openness toward vaccination. Results: About 67.5% of subjects received COVID-19 vaccination (first or second dose), with 57.2% reporting feeling confident in getting vaccinated and 32% expressing hesitancy in getting vaccinated. Trust in the health-care system, fear of COVID-19, and positive attitude toward vaccination were significantly higher in vaccinated participants than unvaccinated ones, P < 0.05. Conclusion: Being vaccinated and openness toward vaccination are influenced by health-care professionals' demographic and clinical characteristics, and health perceptions (i.e., fear of COVID-19). Whereas being overwhelmed with fear of COVID-19 is unadvisable, realistic concern balanced with appropriate action (e.g., vaccination) may be reasonable. © 2022 Medknow. All rights reserved.

Association between the fear induced by the COVID-19 and the level of depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students: A cross-sectional study

Aims Dentists are at high risk of occupational exposure to aerosols, droplets, and droplet/aerosol particles emitted from patients’ mouths during treatment. Therefore, it is natural for dentists to experience a level of fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between fear induced by the COVID-19 epidemic and stress and anxiety scores among dental students. Instrument & Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2020 among the dental students in Ahvaz, Iran. The standard questionnaire DASS-21 and fear of COVID-19 were used for assessment. The questionnaire was designed on the website https://survey.porsline.ir. A convenience sample of 229 dental students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences completed the questionnaire. ANCOVA analysis was used to compare the mean scores of four components in different groups, and MANCOVA analysis was used to measure the effect of fear induced by COVID-19 on stress, anxiety, and depression scores, simultaneously. Findings More than 70% of students were normal in stress, anxiety, and depression. Mental health disorders, social support, and media pressure caused by COVID-19 had a significant relationship with the level of depression and stress scores (p<0.05). Likewise, multivariate analysis showed that the level of fear caused by COVID-19 triggered a significant effect on the score of anxiety, depression, and stress (p=0.001). Conclusion The analysis showed that the scores of anxiety, depression, stress, and some other characteristics, including the COVID-19 induced media pressure, are directly associated with the degree of fear of COVID-19. Since fear of disease causes a psychological reaction and threatens mental health, and might make coping with the disease more difficult, promising fear-reduction strategies are recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic mental health for dental students. © 2021, the Authors ;Publishing Rights, ASPI.

The COVID-19 pandemic: Public knowledge, attitudes and practices in a central of Iran

Aims There is a rapid increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19 throughout the world. The present study aimed to determine people’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 in an Iranian sample. Instruments & Methods This was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted on people over 18 years of age in Saveh city, of Iran, in 2020. A multiple-stage sampling method was used. Participants (N=471) completed an anonymous and self-report questionnaire assessing socio-demographic variables and KAP. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and independent t-tests by SPSS 21. The significance level was considered to be ≤0.05. Findings Of participants, 74.5% did not have accurate knowledge of how the coronavirus is spread. In terms of attitudes, more than 63.2% considered COVID-19 to be a dangerous disease. About 59.6% of participants reported regular use of a mask in the past week. As compared to men, women reported attitudes and practices more aligned with recommended safety standards. Higher education level was significantly related to the mean KAP score (p<0.05). Conclusions Although the sample evidenced appropriate attitudes and some safety practices in general, a significant percentage of individuals did not engage in protective behaviors. Copyright© 2021, the Authors ;Publishing Rights, ASPI. This open-access article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License which permits Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and Adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) under the Attribution-NonCommercial terms.