Background Self-medication is one of the major health-related problems in the world, which causes many problems for people and health systems. No comprehensive qualitative meta-synthesis has been done to understand the perceptions and experiences of self-medication among people.Objectives This study aimed to analyze, re-interpret, and synthesize the existing qualitative studies on perceptions and experiences of self-medication among people around the world. Methods In this meta-synthesis, all published qualitative studies in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched in May 2018. A total of 543 articles were screened in the primary stage and finally five articles that met the inclusion criteria were included in the meta-synthesis. The included studies were analyzed using Noblit & Hare approach. Results Initially, 115 codes were identified. In the second stage, the codes were merged based on similarity and shared meanings. Finally, after checking by two authors, the following five themes were emerged: cost-effectiveness, affectivity, inefficiency of the healthcare system, previous experiences, and oversimplification. Conclusion The findings of this first meta-synthesis provided a comprehensive understanding of the perceptions and experiences of self-medication around the world. The findings showed that the experiences of self-medication could be classified into personal, social, organizational, and cultural categories. These findings could help policymakers address these perceptions and experiences in effective health planning.
Injuries caused by needles and sharp and cutting objects include wounds, cuts, or abrasions caused by medical devices that may have already been contaminated with blood or other body fluids. 1 In most studies on injuries caused by needles and sharp objects, the injuries are introduced as an important occupational hazard for healthcare workers. 2,3 There are about thirty-five million healthcare workers in the world who make up 12% of the world labor force. 4 The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 385 000 healthcare workers in America annually experience injuries caused by needles and sharp objects. 5 In some countries, including Iran, despite safety precautions, injuries caused by needles and sharp objects still occur, inflicting significant economic and human costs. 6 More than 90% of infections caused by sharp tools among healthcare workers occur in low-income countries where these injuries are preventable. 7,8 Given the necessity for a coherent review study regarding injuries caused by needles, sharp objects, blood and body fluids, the current study aimed to make an analytical review of previous research conducted in this regard to determine the prevalence of the phenomenon among Iranian healthcare workers. Methods This study was a systematic review of the research conducted in the field of injuries caused by needlestick, sharp objects, and exposure to blood and body fluids among Iranian healthcare workers.
Objective: The purpose of this review study was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and common cancers.
Methods: This study was conducted in English by February 2019 to include studies reporting alcohol consumption related cancer risks through a search in data bases of the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The search strategy included the keywords: "cancer", " alcohol consumption or Alcohol Drinking or Underage Drinking ". Articles that looked at the relationship between each type of cancer and consumption of alcoholic beverages were entered in to the study and summarized in review.
Results: alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of some types of cancers including: Renal cell carcinoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Also, alcohol is independent risk factor for oral and pharyngeal, laryngeal, Esophagus, Stomach, Colorectal, Breast and Liver cancer. However, further studies are required to confirm the association between alcohol consumption and Pancreas, Lung, Prostate, Endometrium, Brain tumour and Bladder cancer risks.
Conclusions: Given the role of excessive alcohol consumption in the occurrence of various types of cancers, there is a need for a comprehensive plan for alcohol abuse in the community
Keywords: cancer, alcohol consumption, Underage Drinking, Alcohol Drinking
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