The prevalence of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) after the natural disasters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The failure to detect PDG and lack of providing essential interventions accordingly can disrupt the lives of survivors of natural disasters years after the death of their loved ones. The present study aims to investigate PGD after natural disasters using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Study design: This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Methods: With the focus on the prevalence of PGD after natural disasters, studies conducted until the end of 2021 were collected without a time limit. To do this, reputable databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were used. The random effects model was used to perform a meta-analysis of the studies. To check the heterogeneity between the studies, the I2 index was used. The publication bias of the study was evaluated using Begg's test. Data were analyzed using the STATA software. Results: Primarily, 2566 studies were collected based on the initial search, from which 12 final studies were entered into the analysis. The results showed that the prevalence of PGD after natural disasters was 38.81 % (95 % CI: 24.12-53.50, I2 = 99.7 %, p = 0 < 001). Conclusions: It is recommended that policies and plannings of the organizations responsible for disaster management be prepared to send specialized teams of psycho-spiritual counseling, quickly accommodate the injured, and reconstruct the damaged buildings in the shortest time possible.

Spiritual rehabilitation of affected people after natural disasters: a protocol for a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the spiritual rehabilitation of affected people after disasters is scare. The objective of the present study is to identify the factors affecting the spiritual rehabilitation of affected people after natural disasters employing a systematic review study. METHODS: The protocol of this review has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) with the code CRD42021228552. Using MEDLIN (PubMed), Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, ProQuest, Scopus and ISC database as well as studies related to the research topic till the end of 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was used to find articles related to the research objective. Thematic content analysis then was used for concepts extraction. RESULTS: This systematic review identifies factors affecting the spiritual rehabilitation of affected people after natural disasters. CONCLUSIONS: Both systematic review as well as qualitative study are essential in order to explore spiritual rehabilitation of affected people after natural disasters, while the current study was employed systematic review. It is expected that planners and policy-makers can use the extracted factors for improving the spiritual rehabilitation of people affected by natural disasters.

Deep Vein Thrombosis After Earthquake: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Among natural disasters, earthquake is associated with heavy fatalities and financial damages, causing considerable mortality. The complications resulting from getting trapped in rubble, secondary traumas, obligation to reside in temporary shelters, along with other factors such as limited mobility, stress, and dehydration, predispose earthquake survivors to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The aim of the present study is to investigate the rate of DVT after an earthquake using a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: To perform the present study, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used. The protocol of this review study has been registered in the International Perspective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) with the code of CRD42021290375. Credible data resources including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, SID, and Embase were used for extracting relevant studies. Random effect model was used to perform the meta-analysis. I2 was ritualized to investigate heterogeneity across the studies. Publication bias of studies was evaluated using the Begg test. RESULTS: In this study, 267 primary studies were identified and extracted. After removing the duplicate ones and the screening, eventually 12 final studies were chosen for the meta-analysis. Based on the meta-analysis results, the total rate of DVT was 9.07% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.32-10.81; I2 = 97.9%; P = 0<0.001). Analysis of DVT in the subgroups of the general population and patient survivors were 11.43% (95% CI: 9.06-13.79; I2 = 98%; P = 0<0.001) and 2.51% (95% CI: 0.04-4.63; I2 = 77.7%; P = 0.001). Also, based on the Begg test, the publication bias in the chosen studies was not considerable. CONCLUSIONS: DVT rate in earthquake survivors is higher compared with other disasters, and over time it finds a growing trend. After earthquake, the focus of rescue and health-care teams is on individuals with observable injuries and damages. Because DVT is first asymptomatic but has fatal consequences, including pulmonary embolism and sudden death, it should be incorporated in health's status assessment of earthquake-stricken people as well as screening and diagnostic programs of health-care providers.

Factors Challenging the Spiritual Rehabilitation of Iranian Men Affected by Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Study.

Spiritual health is one important dimension of human health. Natural disasters, however, can adversely affect human spiritual health. One of the undeniable requirements of disaster management is the spiritual rehabilitation of victims to help them recover to their pre-disaster health conditions. This study aimed to explore the factors challenging the spiritual rehabilitation of Iranian men suffering from natural disasters based on the experiences of key informants. The participants were 19 spiritual health experts in post-disaster spiritual rehabilitation. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling method until data saturation was reached. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Granheim and Lundman (2004) content analysis method. The factors challenging men's spiritual rehabilitation were classified into 6 main categories and 16 subcategories. The extracted categories included (i) correcting victims' perspectives, (ii) describing God's characteristics, (iii) seeking help from God, (iv) strengthening spiritual beliefs, (v) psychological factors, and (vi) tranquility factors. Our findings identified the important factors challenging the spiritual rehabilitation of the men victimized by natural disasters, which needed to be considered by responsible organizations and health sectors. Particularly, the organizations in charge of disaster management should take necessary measures and plans during the post-disaster phase to restore people's spiritual health. Spiritual health, currently a neglected dimension of health, should be considered people's in parallel with physical, psychological, and social health dimensions. Our results can be helpful in developing action plans for delivering a comprehensive spiritual rehabilitation service, which would help to lead to the full rehabilitation of victims after natural disasters.

Challenges and Barriers to the Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Flood Management: A Qualitative Study from Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Floods are one of Iran's most important natural hazards, which cause a lot of damage every year. Various organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), participate in flood management. The present study aimed to explore the challenges and barriers of NGOs' participation in the management of the flooding in Iran based on stakeholders' experiences. METHODS: This qualitative study is a case study that was conducted using the content analysis approach. Fifteen participants, including 3 national managers, 2 volunteers active in responding to recent floods, and 10 NGO managers/secretaries who had the knowledge or operational experience of participating in disaster management, were approached for interviews. Data were collected using a purposeful sampling method and continued until reaching data saturation. RESULTS: Challenges and barriers to NGOs' participation in flood management were categorized into 4 main categories and 14 subcategories, including policy-making challenges, managerial challenges, executive challenges, and socio-cultural challenges. CONCLUSIONS: As multiple NGOs take part in responding to disasters and performing relief operations, establishing a unified command and supervision system for effective coordination and collaborations among NGOs and other stakeholders is highly suggested. Further research is needed to develop a measurement tool for assessing the effectiveness of NGOs' activities during disasters.

Factors affecting management of corpses of the confirmed COVID-19 patients during pandemic: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The global spread of the COVID 19 disease and the concerning rise in the number of corpses of the patients dying of the disease has caused challenges in handling the corpses by the health system and relevant organizations in most countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate factors affecting the corpse management process of the patients dying of COVID 19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a systematic review of literature using the PRISMA guideline. Without time limit until the end of January 2021, the studies related to corpse management in patients with COVID 19 were extracted from the data resources of Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Google scholar, Embase, ProQuest, Scopus, Iranmedex, SID, and ISC, and also the reference lists of selected studies, as well as other systematic reviews, key journals, and proceedings of conferences and congresses. Finally, thematic analysis was used to analyze the obtained data. RESULTS: 190 studies were identified based on the initial search, and finally 21 studies were entered into analysis. Based on the systematic review and thematic content analysis, challenges in the process of managing the corpses of COVID-19 victims were divided into three main themes and eight sub-themes. The themes included psychosocial factors, environmental factors, and resources, and the sub-themes included supporting survivors, customs, values, infection control, corpse identification and burial, corpse transferring, equipment, and governments' capacity. CONCLUSION: Implementing psychological, social, and spiritual support programs for grieving families, the observance of customs and values governing the community at the time of funeral and burial, and planning to control infection and safety in the process of maintenance, transfer to the cemetery and safe burial are the most important strategies that can be used in the process of corpse management. Utilizing and aligning religious leaders with the health system in order to inform people about the ways of disease transmission from the bodies and to use alternative solutions for holding religious and cultural ceremonies (e.g., virtual mourning), as well as providing personal protective equipment to those in close contact with corpses, the development and implementation of health protocols for managing possibly a large number of bodies, capacity building, and anticipating necessary resources are highly recommended strategies.

The prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: An umbrella review of meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers, who are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, are particularly susceptible to physical and mental health consequences such as anxiety and depression. The aim of this umbrella review of meta-analyses is to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using relevant keywords, data resources including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Embase were searched to obtain systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting the prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning of January to the end of October 2020. The random effects model was used for meta-analysis, and the I2 index was employed to assess heterogeneity among studies. Data was analyzed using STATA 14 software. RESULTS: In the primary search, 103 studies were identified, and ultimately 7 studies were included in the umbrella review. The results showed that the overall prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic was 24.94% (95% CI: 21.83-28.05, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.804) and 24.83% (95% CI: 21.41-28.25, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.897), respectively. CONCLUSION: This umbrella review shows that the prevalence of anxiety and depression is relatively high among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers should be provided with resources to minimize this risk.

Factor selection for service quality evaluation: a hospital case study.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic approach to predict service quality dimension's influence on service quality using a novel analysis based on data envelopment and SERVQUAL. Design/methodology/approach To assess hospital service quality in Tehran, expectation and perception of those who received the services were evaluated using SERVQUAL. The hospital service quality dimensions were found by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). To compare customer expectation and perception, perceived service quality index (PSQI) was measured using a new method based on common weights. A novel sensitivity approach was used to test the service quality factor's impact on the PSQI. Findings A new service quality dimension named "trust in services" was found using EFA, which is not an original SERVQUAL factor. The approach was applied to assess the hospital's service quality. Since the PSQI value was 0.76 it showed that improvements are needed to meet customer expectations. The results showed the factor order that affect PSQI. "Trust in services" has the strongest influence on PSQI followed by "tangibles," "assurance," "empathy," and "responsiveness," respectively. Practical implications This work gives managers insight into service quality by following a systematic method; i.e., measuring perceived service quality from the customer viewpoint and service factors' impact on customer perception. Originality/value The procedure helps managers to select the required service quality dimensions which need improvement and predict their effects on customer perception.