bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Sustainability via Critical Reflexivity
Authors: Hayes Catherine
Published: January 2024

Whilst individual efforts to achieve social sustainability are positive, the challenges it poses are such that without a collective, proactive, and collective approach, intergenerational success for the most significant critical global issues will become a lost and irretrievable opportunity. Gamification is one pedagogical approach to engaging the collective in issues pertaining to social sustainability, where collective learning and engagement will be central to the creativity and innovation that can ensue. Capacity for critical reflexivity, rather than a reflective stance on the past, is needed to drive the perspective lens of transformation forward for a sustainable and pragmatically implementable future. The process of empowerment and the active gift of agency across educational contexts can be used to frame and contextualise key contemporary issues such as social justice, global poverty, climate, and ecological crisis, within the context of a holistic and humanitarian approach to developmental change and societal progression.
Design Flowchart for Operational System Safety
Authors: Omar Tahiri , Brahim Herrou , Souhail Sekkat , Hassan Khadiri
Published: January 2024

Design is a predominant phase in the life cycle of any product. Referring to a number of reviews, this chapter cites design support tools, focusing in particular on security system and operational safety. It tried to define these two notions (safety, security) as well as the difference between them. It proposed a design aid model that can be adopted by designers in the design phases of new systems, or during their life cycle, based on the “Teorija Reshenija Izobretateliskih Zadatch” (TRIZ) and Failure Modes Vulnerabilities and Effect Analysis (FMVEA) methods. In the first instance, the authors' model enables newly-designed products to give impetus to production systems, for which they use the resolution matrix for technical contradictions. Secondly, it enables these systems to be improved, for which they suggested adopting the FMVEA method tables.
Tracking of COVID-19 Pandemic for Multi-Waves Using a Compartmental Model With Time-Dependent Parameters
Authors: Jdid Touria , Chana Idriss , Bouazi Aziz , Kabbaj Mohammed Nabil , Benbrahim Mohammed
Published: January 2024

Estimating and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to reduce the spread of the disease and help decision-making efforts in combating public health crises. However, the potential presence of multiple dynamic changes in the reported count data or the occurrence of another wave of the pandemic emerges as a challenge for simulating the evolution of the disease over a long period. In this chapter, to account for the dynamic changes in the COVID-19 curves, the authors propose a rate function based on multiple branches of a logistic function. They assumed in a compartmental model that the recovery and disease transmission rates are time-dependent, and they assign to each the rate function. Then, they apply the model to daily COVID-19 data on infection counts in Morocco between March 2, 2020 and December 31, 2021 using curve fitting through the Nelder-Mead optimization method. The simulation outcomes demonstrate the model's ability to replicate the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco over two waves, with the goodness of fit depending on the number of logistic branches composing the rate function.
Signatures of the Mode Symmetries in Sapphire PhoXonic Cavities
Authors: Bentarki Houda , Makhoute Abdelkader , Karoly Tőkési
Published: January 2024

The acousto-optic couplings mechanisms are investigated theoretically in photonic and phononic crystals with simultaneous band gaps. The authors have focused on the acousto-optic couplings inside a phoXonic cavity by taking into account two coupling mechanisms, the photo elastic effect and effect of movement of the interfaces. They discuss the symmetry of modes to distinguish those that don't interfere in an efficient way. They calculate the modulation of the frequency of the photonic mode during a period of acoustic oscillations with a finite element method (FE) (COMSOL®Multiphysics). The two mechanisms presented in the numerical calculations produce additive or subtractive effects in total acousto-optical coupling while depending on whether they are in phase or out of phase.
Blockchain-Based IoT for Precision Agriculture
Authors: Amraouy Okacha , Boukhali Yassine , Bouazi Aziz , Kabbaj Mohammed Nabil , Benbrahim Mohammed
Published: January 2024

In recent years, IoT has been increasingly applied in agriculture to transform traditional farming practices into smart and precision agriculture (PA) that are more efficient, productive, and sustainable. However, its implementation in agriculture faces several challenges, including network coverage, reliability, lack of flexibility, and scalability. To address these challenges, current research has focused on developing new communication protocols and technologies, along with several IoT architectural design patterns, especially those based on SOA, which play a crucial role in designing service-oriented solutions. This chapter presents comprehensive and impactful solutions for blockchain-based IoT applications in PA. It proposes novel models combining IoT, blockchain, fog and cloud computing for the development of decentralized applications with independent, autonomous, and interoperable functionalities and services based on the SOA approach. Also, technical challenges, research directions, and the recent advances towards an optimized blockchain-based IoT ecosystem for PA are presented.
Smart Marketing
Authors: Abdolvnad Neda , Tehrani Nasim Ghanbar
Published: January 2024

Smart marketing is a term that encompasses various forms of marketing that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) to deliver personalized, relevant, and engaging experiences to customers. This research aims to provide a comprehensive literature review on smart marketing, covering its definitions, applications, advantages, disadvantages, and implications on sustainability. The chapter also discusses the benefits and challenges of smart marketing for both marketers and customers, such as improved efficiency, effectiveness, creativity, customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention, as well as ethical, privacy, security, and social issues. Furthermore, the chapter examines the impact of smart marketing on sustainability, highlighting the potential opportunities and risks for environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The chapter concludes with some suggestions for future research directions and best practices for smart marketing.
Sustainable Advanced Techniques for Enhancing the Image Process
Authors: Das Pranjit , Ramapraba P. S. , Seethalakshmi K. , Anitha Mary M. , Karthick S. , Sampath Boopathi
Published: January 2024

This chapter discusses modern techniques for image improvement, including pixel editing, clarity enhancement, and minimal-size object recognition. An outline of photo enhancement and how deep learning could address its issues comes first. Both sophisticated techniques like cut-out and style transfer and frequently used ones like rotation and scaling are covered in this chapter. Additionally included are techniques for manipulating pixels, such as brightness adjustment, colour space conversion, and denoising algorithms. Assisting clarity issues like super-resolution, deblurring, and contrast amplification are also covered in this chapter. In order to address the issues with minimal-size object recognition, the chapter also looks into single-shot detectors and multi-scale networks. Through case studies and applications in medical imaging, autonomous driving, and surveillance systems, the value of these techniques is demonstrated. A discussion of prospective future study areas and how these techniques could affect computer vision and image processing brings the chapter to a close.
Automated Plant Disease Detection
Authors: Raza Aamir , Safdar Muhammad , Ali Hasnain , Iftikhar Mudassir , Ishfaqe Qandeel , Al Ansari Mohammed Saleh , Wang Peng , Khan Ali Shahroze
Published: January 2024

This chapter explores automated plant disease detection, a transformative approach in agriculture and technology. It discusses the types and causes of plant diseases, their economic and environmental consequences, and the need for early and accurate detection. The chapter details various types of automated disease detection systems, including image-based, sensor-based, and hybrid systems. It also covers the design and implementation aspects of automated plant disease detection, from data collection to model deployment. The chapter highlights the diverse applications of automated disease detection in agriculture, including crop disease, weed, pest, nutrient deficiency, and abiotic stress detection. It addresses challenges and opportunities in adopting these systems, including data quality, costs, scalability, and usability.
Automated Plant Disease Detection Systems for the Smart Farming Sector
Authors: Subbiah Priyanga , Krishnaraj N.
Published: January 2024

Global agriculture is affected by plant diseases. Plant diseases have hampered agricultural productivity and development worldwide, reducing food supplies. Systemic conditions can damage leaves. Several plant diseases were on the leaves. The infestation type must be identified to treat it. Farmers' diagnostic error and disease propagation are examined in this case study. Machine learning can benefit from CV DL methods. This research evaluates the dwarf mongoose optimization algorithm with deep learning for automated plant leaf disease detection. APLDD-DMOADL shows farmers photos to boost productivity and reduce crop losses. The APLDD-DMOADL method classifies leaf diseases exactly. APLDD-DMOADL uses Inception ResNet-v2 to extract features and stacked LLSTM to classify. CSA enhanced subject-level SLSTM hyperparameters. The APLDD-DMOADL approach was extensively tested using a reference database to demonstrate its benefits. Many categories showed that the APLDD-DMOADL algorithm outperformed others.
Dynamic Energy Model for Internet of Things (IoT)-Integrated Energy Consuming Sensors
Authors: Rekha Vutukuri Sarvani Duti , Nidhya M. S. , Gude Ramarao
Published: January 2024

IoT help devices to communicate together and monitor human unattained environment. Energy consumption of a node will be high. Due to its size and processing, sensors in IoT lost its energy quickly. In this chapter the authors analyzed number of smart energy system and comparative analysis of energy management with different architecture. IoT can be applied in many places like health monitoring, fire monitoring, as well as under water and terrestrial places. Depending on the requirement, we can use any type of sensor architecture. The authors proposed a dynamic energy model (DNM) which provide efficient amount of energy distribution to sensors which are scattered on the environment.
The Role of Value Co-Creation Towards Non-financial Performances: Mediating Effect of Customer Support Ticket in the Context of Life Insurance Sector in Sri Lanka
Authors: Ekanayake A. , Silva D.
Published: January 2024

Nowadays, value co-creation plays a vital role in acquiring new business and retaining customers in the competitive business world. Understanding customers and providing them with personalized experiences has become a trend. Value co-creation also plays a crucial role in brand development, as it contributes to brand equity, reputation, and credibility. These factors guide consumer decisions, determining whether they become loyal to a brand or switch to another. Despite its importance, the specific mechanisms through which value co-creation impacts non-financial performances in the life insurance sector in Sri Lanka have not been thoroughly explored. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to study the impact of value co-creation on the non-financial performances of life insurance policies in Sri Lanka. Dimensions of value co-creation, such as relational orientation, customer involvement, freedom of co-creation, and degree of collaboration, will be examined, along with the mediating effect of customer support tickets. A quantitative research strategy will be employed, utilizing data collected through surveys. The researcher has developed a scale based on previous literature to measure value co-creation and non-financial performances. Reliability and validity of the scales were tested using survey data. The study was conducted in a descriptive manner, allowing for natural settings and avoiding researcher interference. Primary data were collected from a convenient sample of 142 employees working in life top performing insurance companies residing in the Western Province. Regression and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships. The results revealed that all elements of value co-creation significantly impact the non-financial performances of life insurance policies, and the moderator and mediator effects supported the framework. Finally, the researcher presented several recommendations for marketing strategies based on the study's results. This research contributes to the existing literature and fills the practice gap, providing avenues for future researchers to explore potential areas. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of value co-creation in the life insurance sector, highlights its impact on non-financial performances, and offers valuable insights for marketing strategies in Sri Lanka.
The relationship between clinical education and nursing students' patient safety competencies
Authors: Puspita Sari Dyah Wiji , Arief Yuni Sufyanti , Ahsan Ahsan
Published: January 2024

Students play a crucial role in contributing to patient safety issues, a contribution that is significantly influenced by the implementation of clinical education. This study aimed to investigate the impact of clinical education on the achievement of patient safety goal competencies among nursing students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 students in a nursing professional program at Sultan Agung Hospital in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. A total sampling technique was employed for sample recruitment. Data for the dependent variable were collected using an observation sheet, while data for the independent variable were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bivariate data analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. The bivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between the implementation of clinical education and the achievement of patient safety goal competencies, with a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) and a correlation coefficient of 0.609. The achievement of patient safety goal competencies can be facilitated through the implementation of optimal clinical education. Therefore, the implementation of clinical education must include a clinical education model based on the community of practice, making it easier for students to implement patient safety goals.
The Pitfalls of NIHSS: Time for a New Clinical Acute Stroke Severity Scoring System in the Emergency?
Authors: Makharia Archita , Agarwal Ayush , Garg Divyani , Vishnu Venugopalan Y. , Srivastava M. V. Padma
Published: January 2024

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide. Stroke severity scales serve as reliable means to track a patient’s neurological deficit, predict outcome, and guide treatment decisions in clinical practice. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was introduced over 30 years ago, marking a significant milestone in the field of stroke. Over the years, there have been notable advancements in acute stroke care. Despite several modifications made to NIHSS, none has yet succeeded in effectively capturing all the complex effects of a stroke. This review focuses on the pitfalls of NIHSS and emphasizes the need for a quick and comprehensive clinical and upgraded version of the stroke severity rating scale.
The Role of IMP3 Immunohistochemistry Expression in Triple-negative Breast Cancer as a Prognostic Factor
Authors: Kamala K , Kalyani R , Sreeramulu PN , Das Subhashish
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 12%–18% of the breast malignancies. An insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) is linked to a number of aggressive malignancies like TNBC. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between IMP3 expression and histopathological parameters in TNBC.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective and retrospective study between January 2019 and June 2023 was done on 48 TNBC subjects with IMP3 expression. The Chi-square test is applied to investigate the correlations between categorical variables. The Kaplan–Meier (KM) method is applied for survival analysis.

Results:

Out of 48 subjects, 23 (47.9%) had negative staining, whereas 25 (52.1%) of them expressed strong staining to IMP3. The KM curve for disease-free survival showed that was almost same up to 35 months in both IMP3 negative and cases having strong staining features which was also found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion:

According to our findings, IMP3 can be employed as a risk predictor for TNBC. Focussing the IMP3 expression could be a viable strategy to managing TNBC with novel immune treatments that are currently unavailable.
Systematic Review on Morphometric Study of Suprascapular Notch
Authors: Daripelli Sushma , Uppuluri Sujatha , Vazir Deepika
Published: January 2024

Suprascapular notch roofed by STSL is located in the lateral part of the superior border of scapula and medial to the base of the coracoids process. The suprascapular nerve (SN) is entrapped due to anatomical variation of the notch. The SN injury is the main cause of shoulder pain and weakness. Detailed anatomical knowledge of the SSN is necessary to manage entrapment neuropathy and interventional techniques. Therefore, in this study, we will measure the anatomical knowledge of various types of SSNs and the morphology of these structures. We searched multiple computerised databases from 2012 to 2022. Morphometry-based studies of the SSN were included in this systematic review. Those studies have information on various dimensions of SSN. The SSN can be classified into six anatomical types. These include Type I (wide depression), Type II (wide blunted V shape), Type III (symmetric U shape), Type IV (small V shape), Type V (partial ossified STSL), and Type VI (fully ossified STSL). Throughout the review, SSN was categorised as stated by Rengachary classification. There were five types of SSNs in the present review, the most predominant being type III (41.43%). Type III notch has a higher superior transverse diameter (STD) and middle transverse diameter (MTD) than any other notches, while type V notch has the lowest STD and MTD. Based on the outcomes of our review, we can conclude that type III SSN accounted for the most prevalence, followed by the other types of SSN. Type III notch (U-shaped notch through symmetrical and parallel lateral borders) has a higher STD and MTD than any other notch. At the same time, the type V notch has been found to have the lowest STD and MTD.
Review on Causes and Management of Ganglion Cyst after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Almogbil Ismail H
Published: January 2024

The gelatinous fluid within a ganglion is rich in hyaluronic acid and other mucopolysaccharides, and the lesion itself is surrounded by a dense network of collagen fibres and fibrocytes. By restoring knee stability, the procedure aims to enhance the patient’s quality of life. Historically, individuals who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery were able to resume their prior level of athletic involvement in 75%–90% of cases. ACL ganglion cysts are associated with serious clinical symptoms. Some people’s discomfort and stiffness from immobility due to large ganglia prohibit them from fully extending. Such individuals should have an arthroscopy or a computed tomography (CT) scan to decompress the ganglion, which offers immediate relief. ACL surgeries are becoming more and more common, and ganglion cysts may be present in individuals who have pain at the extremes of both flexion and extension has a clinical history. Radiologists must be conversant with these therapies and the adverse effects that go with them. While arthroscopic treatment offers quick discomfort alleviation without compromising ligament integrity, when it comes to radiological diagnostics, nothing beats magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With an MRI, any other relevant intraarticular abnormalities may be ruled out. Safe CT scan-guided suction was used to successfully cure this patient’s ACL ganglion cyst symptoms.
A Clinico-epidemiological Study to Evaluate the Outcomes of Extensor Tendon Injury Repair of the Hand
Authors: Mehta Milind A , Ranjan Vikrant
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Extensor tendon injuries of the hand are more common in presentation than flexor tendon injuries. These wounds may leave the patient with significant, long-lasting damage if they are not appropriately treated when they first show. The result of extensor tendon injuries needing surgical repair at a tertiary health-care facility in Western India is being reported in the present research.

Materials and Methods:

Data were gathered prospectively for patients who presented to our hospital in a sequence without being randomly assigned from October 2019 to February 2022. The research comprised 38 individuals who had extensor tendon injuries in total. We are the only ones who can repair peripheral vessels (such as the radial and ulnar arteries), and we only accomplish this while using prolene 8-0/7-0 and under loupe magnification. Ethilon 4-0 is used as the core, while 5-0 is used for epitendinous repair in tendon repairs (interrupted). Most of the time, the modified Kassler approach is employed as a procedure. The figure-eight or mattress sutures were used on flat tendons. Plaster of Paris was used to apply the post-operative splint. A follow-up was conducted after 3 weeks, 6 weeks and finally after 3 months.

Results:

A total of 38 cases of tendon injuries were registered in the study over a period of 29 months, from October 2019 to February 2022. Most hand injuries were in Zone VI (15.8%) followed closely by Zones IV, VII and VIII. Zone I and II injuries were not encountered. The primary outcome was calculated using the total active range of movement, which was documented compared to a contralateral normal finger. Grade percentage range was poor, fair, good and excellent (0%–24%, 25%–49%, 50%–74% and 75%–100%, respectively). It was seen that Zones V, VI and VIII had better outcomes compared to Zone VII injuries.

Conclusion:

Although the incidences of extensor tendon injuries are more often encountered than flexor tendon injuries, more protocols and further studies are needed to achieve a complete range of motion in such cases.
A Comparative Study of Regular Dressing versus Negative Dressing in Management of Patients with Diabetic Foot
Authors: Mehta Vikram Pradipkumar , Suvariya Mayank , Singh Shubham , Makwana Chintankumar
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Diabetes is prevalent in 10% of the population worldwide. 2.5% of diabetic patients develop diabetic foot ulcers every year. Negative dressing therapy, foam dressing and conventional dressing are common modalities for managing diabetic foot. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of regular dressing vs. negative dressing in diabetic foot patients.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted with 100 patients between the age of 10 and 85 years as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fifty patients underwent regular dressing, and 50 patients underwent negative dressings.

Results:

In 82% of patients, complete coverage of the wound occurs by negative dressing, and 52% of patients reported that complete coverage of the wound occurs by regular dressing after 4 weeks. Major post-operative complications were significantly less in patients treated with negative dressing.

Conclusion:

Negative dressing outperforms conventional dressing regarding wound covering, post-operative complications and cost-effectiveness in diabetic diet therapy.
Comparison of two methods of complementary medicine on postoperative pain and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mousavi Fatemeh S. , Golmakani Nahid , Valiani Mahboubeh , Taghanaki Hamid Reza Bahrami , Rezaei Fatemeh
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Postoperative pain and anxiety are unpleasant situations that are often experienced by women undergoing cesarean section. Since the routine methods of pain relief after surgery is still inadequate, the need for complementary treatments is felt. Foot Reflexology (FR) and Auricular Acupressure (AA) are two of the most popular and safe procedures of complementary and alternative medicine therapies. So, this study aimed to determine and compare the effectiveness of reflexology and AA on postoperative pain and anxiety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This three-group randomized clinical trial study was performed on 101 pregnant women, admitted to Mashhad Omolbanin hospital, for a cesarean section, in 2015. In the intervention groups, 2–3 h after the operation, AA or FR was performed for 20 min. Routine care was provided for the control group. Pain and anxiety were evaluated by VAS and Spielberger anxiety questionnaire before and 1 and 2 h after the intervention.

RESULTS:

The results showed that immediately after the intervention, pain intensity was significantly lower in both AA and FR groups (P< 0.001) compared with the control group. In addition, 2 h after the interventions, pain intensity was significantly lower in the AA group compared with the control group (P= 0.006). However, no significant differences were observed between the FR and the control groups (P= 0.095). In addition, 1 and 2 h after the intervention, anxiety was significantly different between the three groups (P= 0.033 andP= 0.018), respectively. The results of the Tukey test showed that this difference was only between FR and control groups (P= 0.025 andP= 0.017), respectively.

CONCLUSION:

AA is more effective in reducing post-cesarean pain while FR effectively reduces post-cesarean anxiety.

Therefore, these complementary medicine treatments as easy and noninvasive methods are recommended to be used during labor for improving maternal outcomes.
Anatomy education during COVID-19 era: Evaluation of an anatomy blended course for medical students
Authors: Manteghinejad Amirreza , Sadeghi Hosein , Najimi Arash
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a need to change traditional teaching methods. This study was conducted to evaluate the educational quality of a blended anatomy course and measure student satisfaction and knowledge after completing the course.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Tyler's model was used to develop a new blended curriculum. The study guide for this curriculum was also developed using Association for Medical Education in Europe guide no. 16. A quasi-experimental study compared educational quality, students' satisfaction, and students' satisfaction using Students' Evaluations of Educational Quality (SEEQ), Borim Nejad's satisfaction survey, and multiple choice questions, respectively. Independent t-tests and Chi-square were used to compare the groups.

RESULTS:

A total of 122 students participated in this study, 62 and 60 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The satisfaction score was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (40.6 versus 38.6, P value = 0.03). The score of SEEQ was not significantly different (91.9 versus 91.08, P value = 0.52), but the subscales of learning (17.23 versus 16.32, P = 0.01), group interaction (16.87 versus 18.1, P = 0.01), and breadth (17.73 versus 16.65, P = 0.02) were significant. The knowledge score was also significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (18.13 versus 16.68, P value < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Using blended learning approaches for anatomy courses can increase students' satisfaction, improve the learning and breadth of educational quality subscales, but worsen group interaction. Although this study shows improvement in medical students' knowledge, further studies are needed because of the limitations of this study.
Factors affecting childbearing intention in women employees in Birjand: Application of the theory of planned behavior
Authors: Alizadeh Toktam , Moodi Mitra , Salmani Fatemeh , Moudi Asieh
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Childbearing is one of the most important determinants of population fluctuations. Identifying factors affecting childbearing is necessary for the proper implementation of population programs. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting childbearing intention among women employees in Birjand based on the theory of planned behavior.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In this descriptive-correlational study, 405 women employees in the offices of Birjand city in 2022 were selected by stratified random sampling and completed a two-part questionnaire including demographic information and questions related to the theory of planned behavior. The data were analyzed using SPSS v19 and Pearson's correlation, logistic regression, independent t-test, and ANOVA.

RESULTS:

The mean age of the participants in the study was 37.82 ± 6.39 years and the mean number of current children was 1.77 ± 0.92. The mean score of childbearing intention was 8.80 ± 3.06, the attitude was 66.04 ± 11.50, the subjective norm was 27.03 ± 6.95, and perceived behavioral control was 32.90 ± 7.80. Also, there was a significant negative and direct relationship between all the constructs of the theory of planned behavior and childbearing intention (P < 0.01). The variables of age, the number of current children, and the ideal number of children were predictors of childbearing intention. According to the standardized beta coefficients, the strongest predictor of intention was the number of current children (β = −0.464).

CONCLUSION:

The findings showed that various demographic factors are efficient in childbearing intention. The findings of this study can provide a picture of the current situation of factors affecting childbearing intention in society and be used as a guide for policymakers in fertility planning.
Physical and psychosocial burden experienced by women on maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: George Sheeba , Nalini M , Kumar Sarosh , D'Silva Fatima , Shenoy Pradeep
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease is growing at an alarming rate, and the number of patients progressing to kidney failure is increasing. A substantial number of patients are undergoing hemodialysis (HD), which improves health and lengthens life. However, it imposes multiple physical and psychological demands on the patients. With the intensity of symptoms being greater among women, a greater focus is needed to obtain empirical evidence regarding the health problems of females receiving HD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A descriptive qualitative design was used to explore the health problems of women undergoing maintenance HD. The sampling technique used was maximum variation purposive sampling. The data were collected through in-depth face-to-face interviews with 12 female patients attending the dialysis unit of a tertiary care hospital in northern Kerala, South India, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview was audiotaped, and the participant content was later converted verbatim into English. The content was imported to NVivo and coded. Thematic analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke's six-step approach.

RESULT:

During data analysis, six major themes and 20 subthemes emerged. The themes include (1) physical suffering, (2) mental agony, (3) restricted life, (4) sexual inactivity, (5) breakdown of social life, and (6) financial hardship.

CONCLUSION:

Females undergoing maintenance hemodialysis experience significant health-related issues in all major dimensions of health. They are physically vulnerable, psychologically defeated, and socially detached. The study highlights the need for detailed evaluation and consistently supportive and educational care.
Investigating the predictive role of spiritual health, social support, and quality of life in self-care behaviors among heart failure patients
Authors: Amini Mahboobeh , Gheibizadeh Mahin , Kalboland Mehrnaz Moradi , Sharhani Asaad
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Self-care behaviors, which have a vital role in the management of heart failure disease, are influenced by several factors that are of paramount importance. This study aimed to determine the predictive role of spiritual health, social support, and quality of life in self-care behaviors among heart failure patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted from July to September 2021 on 203 patients with heart failure. Samples were selected by convenience sampling method from six centers in Ahvaz city. Data were collected using a clinical-demographic information questionnaire, the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale (EHFScBs), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and Paloutzian and Ellison's Spiritual Well-being Scale. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 16 using descriptive and analytical statistical methods including Pearson's correlation coefficient, regression analysis, independent t-test, and analysis of variance.

RESULT:

The mean and standard deviation of the age of the female and male participants were 63.54 ± 14.03 and 62.34 ± 13.79, respectively. The majority of the participants (54.2%) were female, had primary education (23.2%), and were married (82.8%). Statistically significant relationships were observed between perceived social support and self-care (r = −0.22, P < 0.01), between spiritual health and self-care (r = −0.39, P < 0.01), and between the quality of life and self-care (r = 0.62, P < 0.01). However, no such relationship was found between demographic characteristics and self-care.

CONCLUSION:

Considering the predictive role of spiritual health, social support, and quality of life in self-care behaviors, it is necessary for planners to pay special attention to these factors when designing educational-supportive programs for these patients.
Factors and barriers influencing practice of health education among nursing students in Jordan
Authors: Khamaiseh Abdullah M. , Altarawneh Falah Z.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Health education or client teaching is an aspect of nursing care recognized as a vital and professional nursing role. As a part of the nursing community, nursing students learn the importance of health education during the study period and are trained to make use of the principles of health education during their encounters with clients and their families. Aim: This article aims to examine the factors and barriers influencing health education practices among third- and fourth-year nursing students in Southern Jordan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cross-sectional approach is used with a study sample of 286 nursing students enrolled in the undergraduate program. A self-reported questionnaire as an instrument to collate data. The questionnaire consists of two sections. The first section is related to the demographic data of the participants. The second section comprises the participant's responses to the items related to health education barriers. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, and frequencies are utilized to analyze the demographic characteristics and questionnaire items.

RESULTS:

The majority of nursing students report that they have not engaged in health education with patients. The first three factors identified by the students as barriers to health education are (Little time is given to patient health education due to paperwork and other assignments) (M = 4.22 and SD = 1.11), (Discharging patients from the hospital at a short time interrupts health education) (M = 4.15 and SD = 1.39), and (Evaluation of health education outcome is inapplicable due to intermittent days of training) (M = 4.05 and SD = 1.39).

CONCLUSION:

The findings indicate that various barriers are suggested to explain the disparity between the expectation and practice of student nurses in health education. Identifying these barriers undermining health education is a positive step toward furnishing better health education for nurses in the future. Nursing students shall be fully supported to be independent and responsible professionals working within the nursing professional practices.
The effect of communication using Peplau's theory on satisfaction with nursing care in hospitalized older adults in cardiac intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental study
Authors: Fathidokht Haddad , Mansour-Ghanaei Roya , Darvishpour Azar , Maroufizadeh Saman
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Patient satisfaction helps healthcare organizations to improve their quality level and nurse-patient relationship is effective in increasing satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of communication using Peplau's theory on satisfaction with nursing care in hospitalized older adults' patients in cardiac intensive care unit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This quasi-experimental study was conducted by available sampling method on 78 hospitalized older adults (39 interventions, 39 control) in cardiac intensive care unit of Guilan hospitals in north of Iran in 2021. In the intervention group, Peplau's communication theory (four stages of orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution) was implemented and the control group received routine care. At the time of discharge, patient satisfaction questionnaire of quality of nursing care was completed for both groups. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (independentttest, Chi-square test).

RESULTS:

The mean score of nursing satisfaction in the intervention group (5.4 ± 93.0) was significantly higher than the control group (6.8 ± 75.7) (t (64) = 11.54,P< 0.001, d = 2.84). In other words, the mean satisfaction scores of nursing care in the intervention group were 17.4 units (95% confidence interval: 14.4-20.4) more than the control group.

CONCLUSION:

Using Peplau's communication theory in the care of hospitalized older adults in cardiac intensive care unit can lead to improvement of satisfaction, so it is suggested to use this communication method in the care of these patients to improve the level of satisfaction, quality of care, and functional independence.
Health information-seeking behavior of nursing students in Isfahan city about COVID-19 disease
Authors: Musarezaie Amir , Ashrafi-rizi Hasan , Musarezaie Nasrin , Ghasemi Tahere Momeni-ghale
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

The proper planning to help the health information-seeking behavior (HISB), as well as promoting its quantitative and qualitative level among nursing students increases educational efficiency and enables provide appropriate services to patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the HISB of nursing students in the process of obtaining information about the emerging disease of COVID-19 in Isfahan city.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Isfahan´ s faculties of nursing and educational hospitals. The research sample included 448 students who met the inclusion criteria, using convenience sampling. Lenz's HISB questionnaire was used to collect information. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences statistical software version 20, using descriptive and inferential statistics, with confidence interval = 95%.

RESULTS:

The results indicate a statistically significant relationship between the age and marital status of students with the overall score of the HISB of nursing students (P < 0.05). Regarding the study, information was mostly obtained from “social media” (43.7%) although the participants more trusted in “health experts” (57.5%). The results of the present study indicated that the students often searched for “disease symptoms” (38.8%) and “epidemiological issues” (22.5%).

DISCUSSION:

“Internet sites and search engines” and “social media” provide quick access to information for users, which is one of the reasons for favoring these sources. However, they can be a platform for disseminating false and invalid information. Thus, other reliable sources such as the Ministry of Health and Medical Education should play a greater role in creating content on social media.
Applied distance learning methods in disaster preparedness: A systematic review
Authors: Bosak Somaieh , Namaky Ali , Aghababaeian Hamidreza , Bazyar Jafar , Rokhafroz Dariush , Ahmadi-Mazhin Sadegh
Published: January 2024

Nowadays, accidents and disasters are one of the most important issues facing humans. Training is an important feature in disasters and distance learning is a suitable method for education in every place and at every time. The aim of this study is to determine distance learning methods in disaster preparedness. This study was conducted to this question: what types of distance learning methods can use in disaster preparedness?”. In this study, all published English language papers, with no time limit, were extracted by the end of December 2021 through search in PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, ISI WOS (Web of Science), and Embase. The primary search used “distance learning”, “disaster” and their MeSH terms. Quality appraisal carried out with CASP. Information in the articles including study time, study population, e-learning methods, and type of disasters or emergencies were extracted. Based on the search, 46 studies were carried out between 2002 and 2021. The most studied target group in the studies was health professionals and the content of the courses was attributed to disaster preparedness as well as biological disasters. Regarding e-learning methods, the most used method was ‘simulation’. At the time of disasters, including pandemics, disruption in education may be long-term and may require overlapping response and recovery periods. And virtual education during a disaster may be rejected or endorsed by individuals or groups based on cultural, ideological, or prejudicial issues. Distance education can be used for effective disaster education in different phases of the disaster cycle, depending on the available facilities and infrastructure.
Frequency and influential factors on occurrence of medical errors: A three-year cross-sectional study
Authors: Aghighi Negar , Aryankhesal Aidin , Raeissi Pouran , Najafpour Zhila
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Despite efforts to improve patient safety, medical errors (MEs) continue to recur. Proper utilization of reported MEs can be effective in preventing their recurrence. This study investigated the errors reported in 3 years and examined the factors affecting them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This descriptive analytical study was conducted using the errors reported in 20 hospitals under the auspices of one of Iran's medical universities from 2018 to 2020. All reported errors were investigated by an expert panel.

RESULTS:

In total, 6584 reported errors were grouped into four main categories based on the type of error. The highest reported errors were related to the management and treatment procedures. Analyses of the factors influencing medical errors revealed that 15 factors affected the occurrence of errors. An increasing trend of error was found in 9 of the 15 identified factors. Incorrect documenting of the physician's order in the nursing Kardex and noncompliance with the patient identification guide were the highest with 16.03 and 15.47%, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The most identified factor was the incorrect registration of the physician's prescription on the nursing card; therefore, it seems that the use of computerized physician order entry should be considered. Furthermore, the mere existence and training of patient safety guides cannot help prevent errors. Not only should the underlying causes of errors be carefully identified and investigated but it also requires serious determination to follow the patient's safety instructions from the highest to the lowest levels of the health system.
Assessing the e-health literacy level and its predictors in heart patients: A Case Study in a Heart Hospital Center in Iran
Authors: Aslani Nasim , Garavand Ali , Lazem Mina , Davoodi Freshteh , Asadi Heshmatollah , Afsharifard Pooria
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

eHealth literacy has many benefits for patients and community members, including the direct impact on improving the quality of patient education and reducing direct and indirect healthcare costs. Benefiting from eHealth literacy in patients with cardiovascular diseases can effectively provide healthcare services and manage these patients. This study aimed to evaluate eHealth literacy level and its factors affecting patients with cardiovascular diseases in a Heart Center Hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. A valid and reliable questionnaire has been used for data gathering. From 147 distributed questionnaires among patients with cardiovascular diseases at Madani Heart Center Hospital in Khorramabad city, finally, 86 questionnaires have been collected completely. Data analyses were done using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22 descriptive and analytical tests such as one-way ANOVA, independent sample t-test, and Spearman correlation coefficient based on the study objectives.

RESULTS:

The study showed that heart patients' eHealth literacy status is moderate (3.38 out of 5). The awareness of the availability of resources on the Internet had the highest score (3.79). The importance of using the Internet to obtain health information (r = 0.62, P < 0.001) and the ability to use the Internet (r = 0.62, P < 0.001) had the most significant relationship with eHealth literacy among patients with cardiovascular diseases.

CONCLUSION:

It is suggested that by increasing the level of Internet skills, expanding the use of the Internet for health-related services, using the Internet to make accurate health decisions among patients, extending the use of the Internet to access health resources, and reducing the patient's level of concern about their health status to improve the level of eHealth literacy of cardiovascular patients.