BackgroundIn tuberculosis (TB) patients, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is significant in self-management, which in turn can be effective in therapeutic acceptance and prevention of treatment failure due to multi-drug resistant TB. This study was conducted to evaluate HRQoL and associated factors in TB patients referred to the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD).MethodsIn this study, patients were selected from TB clinics of the NRITLD in Tehran. In addition to an Iranian version of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), demographic and disease characteristic questionnaires were used for data collection. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software.ResultsTwo hundred five TB patients, with the average age of 42.33±17.64 years, participated in this study. The HRQoL scores in different domains ranged from 14.68±11.60 for role limitations due to emotional problems to 46.99±13.25 for general health perceptions. The variables of sex, marital status, education, job status, place of residence, and cigarette smoking, influenced the HRQoL scores in different dimensions.ConclusionAccording to the study findings are the important variables that influenced the HRQoL of TB patients. The consideration of its can improve the HRQoL of TB patients.

Identifying factors associated with self-care agency can help healthcare professionals to consider these factors in self-care planning.

Aims The aim of the study was to identify the predictors of contracting COVID‐19 among older people in nursing homes in Iran. Design A case–control study. Methods Four‐hundred‐nine nursing home residents aged 60 years and above, with a 1:2 ratio of those infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 to those not infected, from six nursing homes in Tehran between 25 March and 12 July 2021 were recruited. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising demographic and underlying disease questions, practice about prevention principles of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, probably predisposing factors of the infection, and environmental and staff characteristic of nursing homes. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with contracting COVID‐19. Results The mean age was 77.37 (±9.20) years; 54% were female. A logistic regression model showed that the most important predictors of becoming infected by SARS‐CoV‐2 included not using mask outside the room (odds ratio [OR]: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.74–6.53), longer staff shifts (OR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.68–5.43), using cloth mask or not wearing a mask (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.13–5.42) and not having glass barrier in visitors space (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.11–3.50). Conclusion The results indicate that an increase in older people becoming infected by SARS‐CoV‐2 in nursing homes is probably because of not wearing a mask in common places, use of a cloth mask, longer staff shift durations and not having a glass shield when interacting with visitors from outside of nursing homes. Impact The predictors identified in this study can assist in reducing SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in older people institutionalized in nursing homes. These data items can also inform the development of interventions to improve principles of infection prevention and control.

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important factor for self-management behaviors of diabetic patients. These behaviors have special importance in preventing complications of diabetes.ObjectivesThis study has been conducted to evaluate HRQoL of diabetic patients referred to Tehran hospitals.Patients and MethodsIn this descriptive study patients were selected from diabetes clinics of general hospitals in Tehran. A demographic and disease characteristics questionnaire and short-form of health survey (SF-36) were used for the data collection. The data were analyzed with SPSS software.Results140 diabetic patients with average age of 47.3 ± 12.7 years participated in this study. The range of HRQoL scores in different domains varied from 46.2 ± 13 for general health perceptions to 64.1 ± 26.6 for physical functioning. There were significant differences according to age, sex, educational level, type of diabetes, type of treatment, and different HRQoL dimensions.ConclusionsHRQoL of diabetic patients is related to several variables. Considering of variables will be important for improving HRQoL of diabetic patients.

Context:It had been demonstrated that chronic opium abusers have lower pain thresholds compared with than non-abusers.Aims:This study aimed to compare the required dose of lidocaine, a common local anesthetic drug, with regard to the onset of anesthesia in opium abusers with that in non-abusers undergoing similar suturing of minor hand lacerations.Materials and Methods:In this study, 109 opium abusers and 91 non-abusers underwent similar suturing for hand lacerations known as digital block. We explained the patients that their case records would remain confidential and admitting to any history of opioid abuse could assist in alleviating any pain associated with the procedure.Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to age, gender, and cause of injury (P > 0.05). We found a significantly longer duration of onset of analgesia in nonopioid abusers (5.42 ± 1.93 min) than that in abusers (10.30 ± 1.79 min) (P < 0.001). In addition, the lidocaine dose administered to abusers (6.67 ± 1.21 ml) was higher (4.07 ± 1.26) as well as statistically significant (P < 0.001) than that in non-abusers.Conclusion:The findings from this study suggest a longer duration of onset of anesthesia and requirement of a higher lidocaine dose in opium abusers compared with nonopioid abuser. Moreover, chronic opium abusers (4-5 years) experienced significantly higher time of onset of anesthesia compared with nonchronic abusers. This outcome may be useful in selecting a more suitable local anesthetic protocol in such patients.

The elderly are the fastest growing segment of the population globally. This is also the case in developing countries such as Iran. The fear of aging and the refusal to accept older adults into the mainstream of society affects the dignity of older people. This study was conducted to describe factors and dignity of older people in Tehran, Iran. This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on a sample of 215 older people above age 60 in 10 public parks in five regions of Tehran in 2020. A socio-demographic questionnaire and patient dignity inventory were used for data collection. Content validity and Cronbach’s alpha were used for evaluating the validity and reliability of questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS. 60% of subjects were male and 40% female with a mean age of 68(± 5.05) year. The mean scores for dignity domains ranged from 67.30 (±17.56) for symptom distress, to 93.01(± 10.90) for dependency on a 100-point scale. The scores of dignity domains were significantly associated with job status, housing status, income source, health insurance, chronic diseases, annual physician referral rates, and hospitalization in last year. The best predictors of dignity were health insurance and annual physician referral rates. The findings of this study showed that the dignity of older people is related to a number of factors. Monitoring modifiable factors such as health insurance and annual physician referral rates and non-modifiable factors such as chronic diseases will help us to preserve or improve the dignity of older people.

Background The population of people aged 60 and older is rapidly increasing in developing countries such as Iran due to declining birth rates and increased life expectancy. Old age is associated with increased risk for frailty and reduced dignity. Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized by depletion of physical reserves and multiple system disorders, reducing the individual’s ability to cope with stressful events. Dignity is an inherent characteristic of human beings and respecting dignity is an ethical principle. This study investigated the association of frailty with dignity among older people in Tehran, Iran. Methods This correlational study was conducted on 200 individuals aged 60 years and older. Data collection relied on the Demographic Questionnaire, Frailty Index for Elders (FIFE) and the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI). Data were analyzed with SPSS 25. Results The mean age of the participants was 68 ± 5.05 years; 62% of the participants were at risk for frailty, and 69% had few dignity-related problems. The multiple regression results showed that frailty was significantly associated with dignity (ß = 0.571, p < 0.001). The association was significant across all the dimensions of dignity measured by the PDI. The highest predictors of frailty included dependency (ß = 0.584, p < 0.001), followed by existential distress (ß = 0.560, p < 0.001), symptom distress (ß = 0.400, p = 0.400), social support (ß = 0.391, p < 0.001), and peace of mind (ß = 0.338, p < 0.001) in dignity. Conclusions The results show that higher levels of frailty in older people are associated with decreases in their dignity, and frailty was the leading predictor of dignity. Providers should develop programs to prevent and reduce frailty in those at risk and to enhance the dignity of the already frail.

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