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Background & Objective: The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 affected the educational systems worldwide and highlighted the necessity of students' virtual education. Therefore, the present study aimed to compile, implement, and evaluate an introductory course on virtual learning for medical students. Materials & Methods: The present scholarly research was conducted in four stages: 1) needs assessment and establishment of objectives, 2) content determination, 3) implementation, and finally, 4) evaluation of the program at Arak University of Medical Sciences in the years 2020-2021. Needs assessment data were obtained via structured interviews and focus group meetings for 30 students and 12 professors. The content was produced for each purpose and uploaded on the Navid system for training. The first two levels of the Kirkpatrick model were used for evaluation. A researcher-made questionnaire was employed and electronically distributed to assess the level of students' satisfaction. Results: Based on the results, the mean scores of students' satisfaction and learning were 18.43±1.5 and 16.8±2.5 out of 20, respectively. Conclusion: The curriculum developed in this study for first-semester students can increase their knowledge of virtual education methods and satisfaction during the Covid-19 and Post-COVID-19 era. © 2021, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.
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—During COVID-19 and its resulting lockdown, the sudden closure of traditional offline classes resulted in the loss of education. Consequently, teaching pedagogies were unexpectedly changed, and a sudden shift towards online teaching was necessitated. The extensive availability of devices and applications made this shift easy. Nevertheless, all teachers were not equally equipped with the equivalent knowledge and resources, which could have affected their behavioral intention to continue online teaching in the future. This paper investigates the perception of university teachers to continue online teaching in higher education post-COVID. To accomplish this target, a mixed research approach was adopted. For quantitative data, 243 questionnaires were successfully collected from teachers of the top five central universities in India, using an online survey through Google forms by integrating the technology acceptance model (TAM). For qualitative data, online-focused group discussions (FGDs) with around seven teachers from different nations' universities were done. This study is cross-sectional, utilizing TAM factors for ascertaining teachers' behavioral intentions in India. All hypotheses were found significant by applying PLS-based SEM using smart-PLS software. This indicates that perceived usefulness and ease of use significantly impact attitude towards online teaching;further, perceived usefulness and attitude towards online teaching also significantly affect the behavioral intention of teachers to continue online teaching post-COVID era. The study helps educational institutions and respective national policymakers to define the future course of action in the education sector. © 2023 by the authors.
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Introduction: The centers for disease prevention and control advise wearing a cloth face covering in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, especially in situations when maintaining social distancing is challenging. As a result, the current study sought to identify the factors influencing mask behavior using constructs from the health belief model (HBM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 311 participants who were referred to the Health Centers of Arak, Iran, from November 2021 to December 2021. The participants were selected through multi-stage stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire and consisted of sociodemographic data, mask-wearing behavior, and structures of HBM regarding mask wearing. Results: The participants' mean (standard deviation) age was 37.9 (12) years (ranging from 18-81). The rate of "always " wearing a face mask was 57.9%. Multiple regression analysis revealed that mask-wearing behavior was associated with demographic variables (age and gender), perceived severity (beta = 0.17, P < 0.001), perceived benefits (beta = 0.24, P < 0.001), and self-efficacy (beta = 0.35, P < 0.001). The HBM constructs explained 46% of the variance of mask-wearing behavior (F [9,301] = 30, R = 0.68, [P < 0.001]). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, HBM constructs can be treated as a predictor of mask wearing. Based on this predictor (self-efficacy, perceived severity, and benefits), effective interventions and healthy messages can be designed to improve mask-wearing behavior.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused dramatic changes in our daily lives. Cyber-attacks have been increasing because of the shift from on-site to online studying and working. Many users have been victims of those attacks without knowing or did not know how to respond to them. Today, there are many cyber-security awareness initiatives;however, they do not seem impactful as victims increase. Unfortunately, these initiatives use traditional education methodology that is considered insufficient nowadays due to the significant growth in technology. Digital native students who came to the world having technology all around them find learning strategies unattractive and disengaging. Hence, staying connected with technology development and changing learning methodologies accordingly is essential. This paper gives an overview of the solution being developed. A cyber-security educational game that includes 11 levels, each level goes over a certain topic, in which players will not be able to pass the level unless they have a certain score of competence in the designated topic. Our project aims to provide a gamified interactive learning experience that educates, develops, enhances creativity and decision-making skills in the field of Information Security. © 2022 IEEE.
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Introduction: Human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging respiratory disease that has become pandemic worldwide. The patients have a range of mild to severe symptoms, such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, arrhythmia, shock, and other organs involvement. Clinical and hematological evidence can serve as a prognostic factor to detect severe cases of COVID-19. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate hematological parameters related to the severity of the disease in COVID-19 patients in Mashhad, Eastern Iran. Patients and Methods: All the individuals with positive real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results and the patients with clinical symptoms whose computed tomography scan results were matched with the diagnosis of viral pneumonia were included in the study. The hematological examinations and complete blood count of the patients were performed by the healthcare personnel through collecting blood samples at the time of admission and discharge from the hospital. Results: In total, 189 COVID-19 patients were included in the study, 47.6% and 58.73% of whom were over 60 years old and male, respectively. Investigation of the hematological parameters revealed that the number of white blood cells, mean value of corpuscular volume, number of platelets, and lymph count had significantly increased at the time of discharge (P < 0.01). On the other hand, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and red cell distribution width values were significantly higher at the time of admission in comparison to discharge (P < 0.01). Furthermore, it was found that male gender had a significant relationship with the development of lymphopenia in the patients (P=0.021). Conclusion: It can be concluded that hematological parameters and inflammatory biomarkers in COVID-19 patients could potentially act as the independent factors and affect the prognosis of the disease.
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Background: Long-Term and intensive physical exercise can change the function of different cells in the immune system in athletes, predisposing them to viral infections such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The purpose of this brief report was to provide protocols related to the immune system in athletes to prevent infectious diseases. Methods: To examine immune system responses to sports activities, articles were collected from all databases: Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer, Google Scholar, SID, and the most recent articles were selected. Results: High-intensity and long-Term physical exercise can be effective in suppressing immune responses. Therefore, moderate-intensity exercise can be an effective strategy. Maintaining the function of the immune system in athletes was dependent on nutritional strategies, sleep control, stress management, and strict adherence to proper exercise principles and health protocols. Athletes are more prone to viral infections in the early hours after strenuous, prolonged physical exercise;and they should be limited in contact with people who may increase their risk of infectious diseases. We should mention that moderate-intensity physical exercise can improve the function of immunoglobulins, antiinflammatory cytokines, neutrophils, natural killer cells, cytotoxic T cells, and immature B cells. Maintaining social distance, especially immediately after strenuous exercise, is also recommended for athletes due to the increased risk of infectious diseases. The immune system has been considered an effective part of sports activities in athletes in recent years. The prevalence of viral diseases such as COVID-19 has not been and will not be for the first and last time in life. Therefore, using questionnaires and initial monitoring (adherence to diets, corona testing, adherence to health protocols) can be the first step. Conclusion: Finally Due to the pandemic of coronary heart disease and its unknowingness, providing some health and nutrition guidelines for starting exercises and sports competitions to prevent the transmission of this disease is on the agenda of this article.
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Background and Aim: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a viral disease, has increasingly highlighted the need for lifelong exercise due to its immunological and physiological effects is necessary on health. In this review study, while examining the effects of moderate-intensity exercise on the physiological and immunological responses associated with COVID-19, appropriate exercise patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic are presented. Methods & Materials: In this study, the search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, ISC, PubMed, Google Scholar, MagIran, and Noor databases on related articles using the following keywords: coronavirus, COVID-19, exercise and coronavirus, exercise and immune system, high-intensity exercise and immune system. Ethical Considerations: All ethical principles in writing this article have been observed according to the instructions of the National Ethics Committee and the COPE regulations.
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OBJECTIVES: In this study, we will investigate the effect of hydroxychloroquine on the prevention of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in cancer patients being treated. TRIAL DESIGN: This is a two-arm, parallel-group, triple-blind, phase 2-3 randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: All patients over the age of 15 years from 5 types of cancer will be included in the study. Patients with acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemias in the first line treated with curative intent, patients with high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with leukemia regimens, and patients with non-metastatic breast and colon cancer in the first line of treatment will enter the study. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Patients are randomly assigned to two groups: one being given hydroxychloroquine and the other is given placebo. During 2 months of treatment, the two groups will be treated with hydroxychloroquine every other day with a single 200-mg tablet (Amin® Pharmaceutical Company, Isfahan, Iran) or placebo (identical in terms of shape, color, and smell). Patients will be monitored for COVID-19 symptoms during follow-up period. If any COVID-19-related signs or symptoms occur, they will be examined, thoroughly, investigated with a high resolution computerize tomography (CT) scan of the lungs and nasopharyngeal swab assessed by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study will be performed in five centers affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. MAIN OUTCOMES: The primary end point of this study is to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 in patients being treated for their cancer and receiving prophylactic Hydroxychloroquine. RANDOMIZATION: Randomization will be performed using random permuted blocks. By using online website ( www.randomization.com ), the randomization sequence will be produced by quadruple blocks. The allocation ratio in intervention and control groups is 1:1. BLINDING (MASKING): Participants and caregivers do not know whether the patient is in the intervention or the control group. Those assessing the outcomes and data analyzer are also blinded to group assignment. SAMPLE SIZE: The calculated total sample size is 60 patients, with 30 patients in each group.
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COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Neoplasms , Adolescent , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/adverse effects , Iran , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , SARS-CoV-2 , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
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.