Explaining the Challenges of Coping with Coronavirus Crisis in the Workplaces: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Workplaces play a highly important role in controlling or spreading the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, the lack of proper implementation of hygienic protocols in these environments might increase the risk of getting infected with the COVID-19 among the employees, following the increase of the COVID-19 at the family and community levels. This qualitative study aims to explain the challenges of coping with the coronavirus crisis in the workplaces. Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted with a conventional content analysis approach. We used purposeful sampling with maximum diversity in terms of working processes. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were performed to the point of information saturation. MAXQDA software version 10 was used for data management. Results: Through the content analysis of the interviews with the participants, we identified two main classes and nine sub-classes. The main classes included intra-organizational challenges (job nature, budget allocation problems, individual factors, disorganization, manpower and equipment, lack of commitment, and insufficient support of managers) and extra-organizational challenges (lack of accessibility to valid information, black market, and inter-sectorial coordination problems). Conclusion: The study findings indicated that organizations and industries face numerous internal and external challenges in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Paying attention to the mentioned limitations and attempting to eliminate them, especially by the governmental organizations, employers, and managers, could help in effectively confronting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Explaining the factors affecting women's life during COVID-19 lockdown: A qualitative study among women in Southern Iran.

Background: The long-term impact of COVID-19 on women's health can cause serious damage to the family and society. Aim: To explain the factors affecting women's life during COVID-19 lockdown in Southern Iran. Methods: In this qualitative study, 20 women who referred to Bandar Abbas health care centers were interviewed and semi-structured interviews continued until data saturation. Results: Data were extracted into seven categories as follows: socio-family influence, occupational challenges, financial concern, leisure time, access to services, psychological reactions, and physical problems. Conclusion: We conclude that, lockdown had effects on women's life in terms of psychological, social, economic, and family relationships. Learning risk management skills can help manage these effects.

Quality of life and its related psychological problems during coronavirus pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has endangered the psychological health of individuals. This study aimed to assess the quality of life and its related psychological problems during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 559 citizens above the age of 16 years, in Isfahan and Bandar Abbas cities in Iran were selected with a convenient sampling method. An online questionnaire was used to collect the data, which consisted of five sections: demographic information, short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), perceived stress scale (PSS), world health organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and Padua inventory. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including t-test, path analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) using SPSS 24 and Amos 21 statistical software. RESULTS: A total of 559 subjects with the mean age of 37.34 ± 11.19 years participated in this study. Most of the participants were female (78.5%), married (71.6%) and employed (40.9%). The majority of them also had a bachelor's degree (42.9%). There were significant negative correlations between perceived helplessness (r = -.597, p = .000), perceived stress (r = -.715, p = .000), risk of disease (r = -.302, p = .000), negative effect of disease (r = -.424, p = .000), health anxiety (r = -.366, p = .000), contamination obsessions (r = -.187, p = .000) and washing compulsions (r = -.193, p = .000) with quality of life. On other hand, significant positive correlation was found between perceived self-efficacy (r = .665, p = .000) and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, health anxiety, perceived stress and obsessive-compulsive disorder were negatively affected psychological health during COVID-19 which in turn decreased quality of life. Therefore, we suggest considering prevention and treatment of theses psychological problems to diminish the risk of reduced quality of life during COVID-19 global pandemic crisis.

Cardiovascular patients in COVID-19 era, a case series, an experience from a tertiary cardiovascular center in Tehran, Iran.

Different cardiovascular presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 can be seen because of the systemic involvement. Considering its new presentations, there is need for further studies regarding the mechanistic pathways involved.

Association of COVID-19 infection with large thrombi in left and right atrial appendages.

BACKGROUND: Multiple intra-atrial thrombi are found rarely except in the presence of prosthetic valves, intra-cardiac devices, structural connections like foramen ovale and thrombophilia. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported acute thrombosis formation in right and left atrial appendages of a 66-year old man admitted due to progressive dyspnea since 7 days earlier. He had a history of prior laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Infection with COVID-19 was confirmed thereafter. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) suggested the diagnosis of atrial clot superior to neoplasm. After surgical removal of the thrombi, symptoms as well as imaging features of pneumonia were resolved. CONCLUSIONS: We should focus on different presentations and complications of systemic inflammation especially in the setting of COVID-19 infection. Although risk factors of thrombosis are present in some of these patients, rapid progression as well as unusual types of involvement may indicate to a new trigger.

Persistent Complete Heart Block in a Patient with COVID-19 Infection: a Case Report.

The pandemic of COVID-19 as a global concern has emerged the need for data aggregation about various clinical pictures particularly cardiovascular complications. Although the incidence of advanced atrioventricular block (AVB) in these patients is not well established, few cases have been reported. We have reported a 48-year-old man with COVID-19 infection who presented with prodromal symptoms for 5 days preceding complete AVB found at the emergency department. Pulmonary involvement and PCR confirmed the diagnosis. The block persisted after recovery of the patient for more than 1 month. Pathophysiology of advanced AVB following COVID-19 infection is not well understood. Several factors including inflammatory response, immune system over activity, myocarditis, and medications have been underlined. Although conservative management may lead to spontaneous recovery of AVB, pacemaker implantation is reasonable in case of persistent conduction defect.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Management of Patients With ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction in a Tertiary Cardiovascular Center.

BACKGROUND: In the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the appropriate reperfusion strategy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study consecutively enrolled patients who presented with STEMI and scheduled for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) during the outbreak of COVID-19. Due to the delay in the reporting of the polymerase chain reaction test results, our postprocedural triage regarding COVID-19, followed by the isolation strategy, was based on lung computerized tomography scan results. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients with STEMI referred to our center. PPCI was done for 44 (91%) of these patients. The mean symptom-to-device time was 490.93 ± 454.608 minutes, and the mean first medical contact-to-device time was and 154.12 ± 36.27 minutes. Nine (18%) patients with STEMI were diagnosed as having typical/indeterminate features indicating COVID-19 involvement. During hospitalization, 1 (2.0%) patient died of cardiogenic shock. The study population was followed for 35.9 ± 12.7 days. Two patients expired in another centers due to COVID-19. No cardiac catheterization laboratory staff members were infected by COVID-19 during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our small report indicates that by taking the recommended safety measures and using appropriate PPE, we can continue PPCI as the main reperfusion strategy safely and effectively.