Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences
Volume:14 Issue: 2, Apr 2022

This pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility of a large-scale randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of different weekly applications of kinesthesia, balance and agility (KBA) exercises for knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Eighteen knee OA patients were randomly assigned into three groups of six patients: Twice-weekly KBA, thrice-weekly KBA, and control (conventional physical therapy) for six weeks. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment rate, retention/dropout rate, report of adverse events, pain (Visual Analog Scale for pain), and physical function (Ibadan Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure). Descriptive statistics and a 3 × 2 (treatment group × time) mixed-model ANOVA were applied to analyze the data.

The recruitment rate was 66.6%. Retention rates for the three groups ranged from 90 – 100%. No serious adverse events were reported throughout the study. Pain and physical function significantly improved (P < 0.05) in all the groups post-intervention, except for the conventional physical therapy group, which showed no significant improvement in the physical function (P > 0.05). However, inter-group difference was not significant in all the clinical outcomes evaluated (all P > 0.05).

This study suggests the feasibility of a large-scale randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of different weekly applications of KBA exercises among knee OA individuals, with minor amendments.

Conflict is a continuous challenge in hospitals. Due to the nature of the treatment team, identifying conflicts in hospitals is one of the managers’ primary and essential tasks.

The current study examined the level and causes of conflicts between hospital employees and managers.

The current descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2018 - 2019 on a random sample of 320 hospital staff and managers. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, t test, and ANOVA were used in SPSS version 15 for data analysis.

The mean conflict scores showed that perceived conflict between staff and managers was the highest for nursing staff (4.17 ± 0.94), which was statistically significant. In contrast, paraclinical staff reported the least conflict with managers (2.94 ± 0.88). Nursing staff noted that the most critical cause of conflicts between employees and managers was “the unfair distribution of human resources”. In contrast, from managers’ perspective, “non-compliance with process/standards/regulations of the hospital” was the most important source of conflict. There were meaningful associations between marital status, job experience, and age, and conflict levels (P < 0.05).

Various reasons can cause conflicts in different parts of the hospital. The findings provide a clear vision for managers about the causes of conflicts, which must be addressed successfully.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection reduces its victims' quality of life (QoL). Generally, hepatitis-C patients seem to face decreased social, family, and friends support and a social phobia that lowers their QoL and emotional state. There is a need to pay special attention to hepatitis-C patients' emotional and social needs.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of social support, family, and education on the quality of life of hepatitis drug users.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 144 male drug users (72 people in each intervention and control group) with hepatitis C referring to two Drop-in Centers covered by the Welfare Organization in Isfahan, Iran, in 2017 - 2018. Convenience sampling was used in this study, and the sample size was determined to be 72 subjects in both groups, and through tossing a coin, drop-in-center no. 1 was selected as the intervention group and the drop-in-center no. 2 as the control group. Those in the intervention group were divided into six 12-person groups and were invited to participate in a supportive-educational program with a family member. A self-administered questionnaire measuring demographic characteristics, high-risk behaviors, the status of hepatitis C, and SF-36 for determining the QoL was completed by participants in both intervention and control groups before and after the intervention.

The mean QoL score and changes in this score during the three times of measurements were significantly different between the two groups. However, after the intervention, the mean total QoL score in the intervention group (71.32 (16.15)) was significantly higher than the control group (48.22 (25.81)) (P < 0.05).

Educational programs with a strong emphasis on family support and companionship can improve some dimensions of the QoL in patients with HCV.

The present study aimed to empower the community to identify and prioritize the needs for the health development of the Eskan neighborhood in Yazd province, Iran.

This community-based participatory research (CBPR) was conducted in the Eskan neighborhood, Yazd. The project ‘neighborhood health improvement plan (Tabasom)’ was conducted, which included five steps (i.e., area identification, organization, empowerment, needs assessment and prioritization, and intervention and action). In the present paper, two steps, namely empowerment and needs assessment, are described.

The results revealed 10 high-priority problems in the Eskan neighborhood. The first problem with the highest priority was associated with waste management.

According to the findings, empowering and educating individuals to detect the neighborhood problems led to the better identification of the problems, resulting in the further development of the neighborhood and the provision of more effective solutions by the authorities with the community participation.

Poor oral health is recognized as a silent epidemic. Numerous individual and structural barriers are related to oral health status. Oral health promotion is essential for the general health and well-being of health professionals.

This study aimed to assess oral health-related knowledge, attitude, behavior, and self-efficacy among healthcare professionals.

The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 404 participants from all health personnel (female = 234, male = 170) in Khuzestan, Iran, in 2021. The sample was obtained using the simple random sampling method. Data collection tools included a valid and reliable questionnaire, including items on demographics, knowledge, self-efficacy, attitude, and behavior regarding oral health. The questionnaire link was sent to employees via WhatsApp messenger. Data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, and SPSS version 24.

The mean age of the participants was 37.38 ± 6.75. About 91% of the respondents had bachelor’s degree, and 91% were office employees. The mean score of knowledge (P < 0.001), attitude (P = 0.004), behavior (P = 0.023), and self-efficacy (P < 0.001) of women was more than men. Regular dental visits were more observed in single employees compared to married (2.38 times) and employees with diploma qualifications compared to bachelor (10 times) and PhD degrees (10 times).

Demographic characteristics, oral health knowledge, attitude, and behavior of employees are intercorrelated with the frequency of dental clinic visits. Oral health promotion programs should be more focused on the improvement of oral health behaviors and practices, especially among males. Moreover, oral health programs should shift from focus on employees’ education to oral health practices and actions.

Currently, a clean environment and human health have been regarded as the most important challenges of humankind; therefore, the ability of carbon-based nanomaterials as a new type of adsorbents in the removal of various pollutants from aqueous solutions has caused the widespread attention of research groups.

Carbon nanosheet (CNS) and its amine-functionalized derivatives were considered to remove heavy metal ions (HMIs) (zinc(II) ion [Zn2+]/cadmium(II) ion [Cd2+]/mercury(II) ion [Hg2+]) from water.

This theoretical study in the framework of density-functional theory (DFT) was performed to gain insight into the HMIs (Zn2+/Cd2+/Hg2+) adsorption and removal by CNS and {(NH2)n-CNS (n = 1 - 2)}. The calculation level was hybrid DFT methods, such as wB97XD/lanl2dz.

Based on DFT calculations, more negative chemical potential value (-1.827 eV), high global softness (0.964 eV), low highest occupied molecular orbital (NH2)2-CNS lowest unoccupied molecular orbital-HMI gap, and more negative adsorption energy (range: -75 to -93 kJ mol-1) in (NH2)2-CNS demonstrated that this compound as a suitable adsorbent removed HMIs (Zn2+/Cd2+/Hg2+) from water than other nanosheets. The HMIs adsorption was confirmed by the natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules.

The CNS and amine-functionalized structures have a good ability for HMIs (Zn2+/Cd2+/Hg2+) removal due to high chemical potential, electrophilicity, and adsorption energy.