ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aims to identify health workforce challenges at Iranian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This was a conventional content analysis study conducted in 2020. The population consisted of the managers (heads of hospitals, managers and matrons) and staff (nurses, physicians, etc.) of eligible hospitals. The participants were selected using purposive sampling, and data saturation was achieved after 28 interviews. The data were analyzed in MAXQDA10. Findings: In total, 28 interviews were conducted with 10 women and 18 men. The challenges of hospital human resources were categorized into five main themes and 15 sub-themes. The main themes were the shortage of human resources, burnout, the need to acquire new knowledge and skills, the employees’ health and safety and the reward system. Originality/value: Identification of challenges faced by human resources is the first step toward preventing human force shortage and psychological problems in the personnel. Implementing the recommendations of the present study would assist the proper management of hospitals’ human resources. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcome of confirmed and suspected hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Iran hospitals affiliated with the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on all confirmed and suspected hospitalized COVID-19 cases in hospitals affiliated with the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences between March and September 2020. Required data were obtained from the Hospital Intelligent Management System of hospitals. Independent t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for univariate analysis. Variables with P-value < 0.3 in univariate analysis were entered into the multivariate model, and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was calculated. RESULTS: Out of 9176 cases, 3210 cases (35.03%) were confirmed with COVID-19. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of age of the cases was 56.5 +or- 19.3 in the confirmed and 57.5 +or- 20.6 in the suspected cases. The confirmed and suspected cases' mortality rate was 15.0% and 10.2%, respectively. In both groups, the most common symptoms of admission to the hospital were respiratory distress, coughing, fever, and muscular pain. The variables of older age, male gender, being transferred to hospitals by ambulance, intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization, being intubated, blood oxygen saturation level less than 93, and having an underlying disease were statistically associated with an increased chance of death. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate among both confirmed and suspected hospitalized COVID-19 cases was significant, and this rate was higher for the confirmed cases. Death-related risk factors should be considered in resource allocation, management, and patient prioritization to reduce the outcome of death.
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose: The actual prevalence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can only be estimated by population-based serological examinations and individuals without clinical symptoms may not be identified or reported. In this sero-epidemiological study we aimed at exploring the serum prevalence of COVID-19 in highly exposed occupational groups in western Iran. Materials and methods: A total of 1106 people with jobs with a high potential for exposure to COVID-19 (excluding doctors) were selected in Sanandaj, Kermanshah, and Hamedan. Demographic information of all participants were recorded and venous blood samples (3 ml) were taken. IgG levels were measured to determine the serum prevalence of immunoglobulin using EUROIMMUN kit.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To derive the pooled estimate of chest computed tomography (CT) findings in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted according to the PRISMA checklist from January 2020 to September 2020 in electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus based on search terms in title and texts. Original descriptive studies with epidemiological parameters of interest were included into the systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: Totally 54 articles comprised of 4 879 patients with a mean age of 49.05 years were eligible for this study. The pooled prevalence for abnormal CT images was 86.0%. Pooled prevalence for ground-glass opacity was 68.0%, 71.0% for bilateral abnormalities, 47.0% for mixed ground-glass opacity and consolidation and 29.0% for consolidation. In addition, 64.0% of lesions were peripheral, and 12.0% were central while 28.0% were both central and peripheral. Furthermore, 61.0% of lower lungs were involved, and 7.0% and 5.0% of the cases presented with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion, respectively. Besides, 11% of the cases showed lymphadenopathy, and 37% had air broncho gram sign. The pooled prevalence of other chest CT findings ranged from 8.0% to 65.0%. Conclusions: Chest CT can be used as predictive tools for the detection of COVID-19 disease along with clinical manifestations and the RT-PCR method.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the perceived stigma among residents of Sanandaj, west of Iran, following COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from March to April 2020. The sample consisted of 1,000 participants who live in Sanandaj. The data collection tool was a self-report electronic questionnaire. ANOVA and T-test were used to analyze the data. Findings: The mean perceived stigma for COVID-19 was 5.50±2.24 (IQR: 3.75–6.87) out of 10-point scale. The highest point was seen for perceived external stigma (6.73±2.49, IQR: 5–8.75) followed by disclosure stigma (4.95±3.92, IQR: 0–10). Interestingly, self-employers were more concerned about disclosing their illness than those with governmental jobs (25±3.93 vs. 4.31±4.14, P<0.05), and also had an overall higher stigma score;5.72±2.23 vs. 5.19±2.37, P<0.05). Originality/value: COVID-19 stigma is high among Iranians and more common among men, youngsters and self-employers. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.