ناصر نصیری

Given the significant migration of educated individuals, particularly epidemiologists, throughout the country, it is crucial to investigate the underlying causes. This article presents the findings of an extensive study that sought to explore this issue by gathering insights from experts in the field.

The study was conducted using qualitative methods, employing content analysis. Data were collected between summer and autumn 2023 through semi-structured interviews with 32 epidemiologists in the country. Analysis followed the steps outlined by Lundman and Graneheim, with coding facilitated by MAXQDA software.

The main challenges of epidemiology in Iran were divided into six main categories. In the field of graduate students, problems in recruitment and employment due to the lack of suitable careers, infrastructure and structural problems of the system, research problems and insufficient knowledge about the performance of this field are the most important challenges, and in the field of students, education problems, structural and infrastructure problems were reported. Also, the main reasons for the migration of epidemiologists were the lack of meritocracy and specialization, inappropriate privileges (including the application of unconventional recruitment quotas), lack of a job market and opportunities for graduates, and inadequate compensation and benefits.

Based on the results of this study, it seems that the migration of epidemiologists as a valuable human resource abroad is a serious concern and problem. The lack of a suitable job position and ambiguity in the path to career advancement due to non-adherence to the meritocracy and skill-building system have increased the motivation to migrate in this group.

The influential role of epidemiologists in improving health outcomes and conducting pertinent research becomes apparent  when they are strategically positioned and available in sufficient numbers within a nation. This study aims to identify potential job positions in epidemiology within both governmental and non-governmental sectors while estimating the necessary workforce of epidemiologists in the country until 2027.

The present study was conducted as a combination in two quantitative and qualitative parts. In the qualitative part, interviews were conducted with experts, policy makers, graduates and students of this field in the field of job opportunities. In the quantitative part, the number of epidemiologists needed was estimated using modeling and parameters obtained from the review of the literature and the opinions of experts in this field. In this study, the current and near future needs up to 1406 have been considered.

Based on the interviewes, job opportunities for epidemiologists in the country encompass diverse domains, including problem management and analysis, conducting applied research, data analysis, dashboard development, teaching, training, and future-oriented work (forecasting). Acounting for lost job opportunities, the estimated number of epidemiologists required in the country until 2027 is 1122 individuals, that most of them contribute to the country's health system if job opportunities are created. The highest demand for epidemiologists was identidied in units of the Ministry of Health, medical universities, research centers, and hospitals.

Estimating the number of epidemiologists needed using modeling in the country and paying attention to the current number of graduates, reveals that the growth of this field and the increase in graduates can only occur if job opportunities are clearly defined, created, and implemented across proposed job levels.

Masks play a crucial role in preventing and controlling viral epidemics transmitted predominantly through the air. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool to measure people’s attitudes and behaviors related to mask usage during highly contagious viral epidemics.

In this psychometric study, the initial questionnaire was developed and face validity and content validity were assessed by 17 experts and three lay experts. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was measured using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with the principal component extraction method and Varimax rotation.

Based on a review of previous studies, an initial 27-item questionnaire was crafted. During the face validity stage, two items were excluded. Through calculating the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and the Content Validity Index (CVI), three and one items respectively removed. The average scale level content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) was 0.95. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.76 for attitude and 0.66 for practice sections; the ICC was equal to 0.873. EFA revealed two factors explaining 63.98% of the total variance.

This questionnaire demonstrated sound reliability and validity in Persian, providing an effective means to assess attitude and behavior related to mask usage during highly contagious viral epidemics. It stands as a valuable tool for use in Iran and other countries.

Screening for home contact with TB patients is essential to identify new infections. This study aimed to evaluate the tuberculosis status in family members of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Bam.

This cross-sectional study was conducted as a census of patients' family members whose records are registered during 2013-2019 in Bam Health Center. Patients' information was collected based on a checklist, and then sputum smear-positive patients were identified using tuberculin and sputum smear tests.

Ninety-seven of the patients had a positive sputum smear test result. Based on the records of these patients, 237 members of their families were examined as contact persons. Most of the patients were female and in the age group of 40-50 years; 76.8% of them had unprotected close contact, and 78.9% had a history of permanent contact with patients. Five (2.1%; 95% confidence intervals: 0.7-4.9) sputum-positive smear pulmonary tuberculosis cases were found in contacts of patients, most of them were over 50 years old and primarily women. 40% of these people had unprotected close contact, and 80% had a house with less than 70 square meters.

in this study, 2.0% of the family members of patients were sputum smear-positive. Identifying patients and following them up is essential to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in those people around them. Therefore, screening the patient's family members can significantly help ease the disease burden in Iran.

This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of residents in south of Kerman province in Iran regarding scorpion sting and the factors affecting its prevalence.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on 384 people living in south of Kerman province, Iran. A KAP questionnaire was used which surveyed the necessary information regarding the familiarity of residents with scorpions, the level of exposure to scorpions and effective factors, and knowledge of basic measures against scorpion stings. The questionnaire was completed through an interview. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The results showed the participants’ high knowledge of scorpion shelters (87.9%). Their most common measures in dealing with scorpion stings were hospitalization, use of cold compresses, moving away from the scene, covering the sting area with a cloth, washing the sting site, and applying pressure over the sting site. Most of participants (81.6%) suggested that spraying insecticides and the use of petroleum products were the main methods for getting rid of scorpions. About 31% had belief in traditional medicine. Most of them (73.5%) had found scorpions in their houses and 36.7% reported a history of scorpion sting in the family members. Most of them (64%) had got stung indoors. Moreover, 74.8% of them had houses with no walls or with unfavorable fencing, and for 78.3%, they were not safe in terms of scorpions entering.

The measures and training for prevention and control of scorpion stings in south of Kerman province are necessary due to the high exposure of residents to scorpions indoors, the unsafety of their houses, and lack of compliance to preventive measures.

Hospital triage is part of the structure of the emergency department, which is performed by nurses. Little information is available about the level of nurses' knowledge of triage. The present study was performed with the aim of evaluating the knowledge of nurses in the emergency department of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jiroft, Iran, on hospital triage.

This study was a cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study. Census method was used for sampling and 60 of the emergency personnel of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jiroft, Iran in 2019 were selected entered the study. Data were gathered using a valid and reliable questionnaire. After codifying and entering the data, they were analyzed using STATA statistical software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests.

60 of the emergency personnel of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft entered the study. The mean age of the staff was 30.43 ± 8.23 years, the minimum age of the participants was 23 years and the maximum was 51 years. The mean score of nurses' knowledge was 11.2 ± 3.84. Among the studied staff, 39 (65%) had poor scores, while only 21 (35%) had moderate scores. There was no significant correlation between demographic variables and knowledge score.

Nurses' poor knowledge on hospital triage can be due to the lack of formal specialized triage training courses and the lack of obligation for emergency departments to make evidence-based decisions. Considering that guidelines in this regard are very important and necessary and not adhering to them might put the life of the patients at risk, workshops need to be held for the personnel in this regard to improve the level of knowledge of nurses.

Distemper virus is a Morbillivirus (in the family Paramyxoviridae) that can cause contagious disease in dogs. The virus affects the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems after transmission. In this study, we reported a case of human infection and involvement with the Distemper virus.A 31-year-old man was diagnosed with clinical signs of Distemper in dogs. After serologic tests on saliva, blood samples were taken and RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesis was performed by PCR, and Sequencing was performed on the sample. The results of serological tests on individual saliva and PCR on cDNA from the whole blood sample of the patient and genetic sequencing revealed the results of rejection of viral interference in the tests and accuracy of Distemper virus detection. As the first cause of the disease was in humans. The results of this study revealed human infection and involvement with Distemper virus and the necessity of preventive measures such as specific vaccination against the Distemper virus in the wild and domestic animal community.

Nowadays due to the extensive use of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a global concern for the health of animals and humans. The consequences of antimicrobial resistance are resistance of zoonotic pathogenic factors and reductions in the effectiveness of treatment for many diseases.

The aims of this study are the monitoring and prevalence of antimicrobial residues of the poultry carcasses in Kerman poultry abattoirs.

A cross sectional study was conducted from June 2015 to October 2016. A total of 474 samples were collected from Kerman province poultry abattoirs and tested with four plate test (FPT) method. Data were analyzed  using Descriptive statistics for qualitative data with 95 % confidence interval.

A total of 38 samples were positive (8/02 %), Antibiotics isolates included: Fluoroquinolone, Macrolide, Cephalosporin, β-lactam, Tetracycline, Sulfonamide and Amino glycoside. The highest rate of antibiotics isolated in positive samples was Fluoroquinolone (36/1 %) and the lowest rate was cephalosporin (4/1 %). Half of the samples were positive for one type of antibiotic (Fluoroquinolone), 28/9 % for two types of antibiotics, 13/1 % for three types of antibiotics, 5/2%  for five kinds of antibiotics and 2/6 % for six kinds of antibiotics.

The results of the study showed that about 10 percent of the meat consumed in this province has antimicrobial residues. Therefore, it can be suggested that proper management strategies for controlling the veterinary drug usage in poultry farms be implemented.

Anxiety has multiple effects on heart performance; there are various pharmaceutical and non- pharmaceutical methods to reduce anxiety. Since different colors and ambient light have multiple effects on the patients’ anxiety, this study aimed to determine the impact of color and ambient light on the patients' anxiety in the coronary care unit of Jiroft Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2018.

This experimental study was conducted in the coronary care unit in Jiroft, 2018. Participants (240) were divided into four intervention groups and two control groups. The participants were asked for consent then they were randomly divided into groups of intervention and control to compare the effect of orange, purple (intervention groups) and dark blue with sunlight (control group) on anxiety. Data were collected using the Spielberger situational anxiety questionnaire in two stages of hospitalization and discharging for each patient. Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance.

According to the results of this study, there was a significant difference in the average score of hospitalized patients’ anxiety in the purple units (p=0.03) and purple units with sunlight (p=0.01).

The findings of this study showed that using purple and the integration of purple and sunlight in the coronary care unit can be useful in reducing patients' anxiety. Accordingly, it is better to consider the effect of purple and sunlight in the design of the coronary care unit.

Alcohol use and drug injection are prevalent among homeless youths. The aim of this study wasto identify the associated factors of alcohol consumption and drug injection among homeless youths aged18-29 years.

Data on 202 homeless youths (111 males and 91 females) were collected using a standardizedquestionnaire and face-to-face interview. Lasso logistic regression was applied to determine the impact ofassociated factors on alcohol consumption and drug injection.

The mean age of the participants was 26.30 ± 3.19 years. Also, the prevalence of alcoholconsumption and drug injection was 33.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 30-36] and 4.0% (95% CI: 0-8),respectively; 6 people (3.0%) consumed alcohol and injected drugs at the same time. Correlates of alcoholconsumption and drug injection were male sex [odds ratio (OR)Alc = 5.7], age (ORAlc = 0.96 and ORDI = 0.98),bachelor or higher education level (ORAlc = 1.34), non-Iranian nationality (ORAlc = 0.05 and ORDI = 0.18),food score (ORDI = 0.92), smoking (ORAlc = 2.05), substance use (ORAlc = 1.12), opposite sex relationship(ORAlc = 1.6), homosexual relationship (ORAlc = 3.56 and ORDI = 2.69), and mental disorder (ORAlc = 0.99).

Based on our findings, it seems that the homeless youth are more desired to use alcohol and druginjection, whereas the prevalence of alcohol consumption and drug injection in homeless youth was higherthan general youth population in Iran. Therefore, some suitable solutions are needed to prevent thehomelessness. Also, the effective variables that were identified in this study for alcohol use and drug injectioncan help design and implement beneficial interventions.

Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the reasons for mental retardation and premature death of infants. Since identification of the determinants of hypothyroidism plays a significant role in its prevention, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism and to investigate its determinants in newborn infants.

This study was a secondary analysis of the data of the neonatal congenital hypothyroidism screening program. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed based on the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level in the heel prick blood samples on the third to fifth day of life. The data of infants born in Jiroft hospitals were collected from Jiroft Health Center and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression test.

In this study, 4998 newborns (2450, 49.02% female, 2548, 98 / 50% male) were investigated. The study samples were newborns born from March to March 2016. The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was 1 in 135 live births. The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was higher in babies born by cesarean section (IRR = 2.2, 95% CI =1.1-4.1), newborns admitted to the NICU (IRR = 4.6, 95% CI=2.4-8.9), and babies with high birth weight (IRR = 5.3, 95% CI =3.5-8.1).

The prevalence of hypothyroidism was higher in this study compared to other studies. Its prevalence was higher in males than in females. Genetic and environmental differences may explain this difference. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was higher in infants born through cesarean section and newborns hospitalized in NICU.

The genus Tanacetum L. belongs to the family Asteraceae and tribe Anthemideae. According to the recent findings the number of Tanacetum species in Iran is 36, of which 12 are endemic. In this study the essential oil composition of Tanacetum chiliophyllum var. oligocephalum was investigated for the first time.   Experimental: The plant was collected during flowering stage from west Azerbaijan province of Iran, Naghadeh. The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS.

The oil with the yield of 0.5% (w/w) based on the dry weight of plant was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS and identified. Twenty-seven components were identified representing 99.7% of the total essential oil. 1,8-Cineole (28.8%), camphor (12.8%), santolina alcohol (11.7%) and linalool (7.1%) were determined as major compounds. Recommended applications/industries: Different members of the genus Tanacetum have compounds with high medicinal value. Essential oil of the studied species with respect to the high amount of 1,8-cineole, camphor and linalool can be considered as a natural source of these valuable medicinal compounds.