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Background: There are various approaches in primary health care regarding the key role of nurses. This systematic review investigates the roles of nurses, as part of the family medicine team. Materials and Methods: All published articles related to the role of nurses in the family medicine team from January 2000 to March 2022 were the subjects of this study. The eligibility criteria included original articles published in English or Persian in the last two decades. International credible scholarly databases (PubMed, Scopus, Magiran, IranMedex, and SID) were searched using keywords and syntax. Some of the keywords included "Family Health Nurse," "Nurses in Primary Care," "Family Medicine," "Family Physician Care Program," "General Physician Program," "Role," and "Nurse." Data were extracted based on Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type (SPIDER) technique and reported based on the structure of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: Of 147 identified publications by the search strategy, eight eligible empirical studies were included. The results showed that besides providing nursing care, nurses play vital roles in communication and teamwork, assessment, securing health services relevant to communities' needs, education, empowerment, clinical practice, health promotion, prevention, reflective research practice, and counseling. Conclusions: This study identified different roles nurses could play in providing primary health care. These findings are helpful for the replanning or reform of primary health care in countries, which aimed to expand the Family Physician Program (FPP) in their countries, including Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The combination of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir has shown preliminary efficacy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in four open-label studies with small sample sizes. This larger trial aimed to assess if the addition of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir to standard care improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.Methods: This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 at 19 hospitals in Iran. Patients were randomized to oral sofosbuvir/daclatasvir 400/60 mg once-daily or placebo in addition to standard of care. Patients were included if they had positive PCR or diagnostic chest CT, O2 saturation <95% and compatible symptoms. The primary outcome was hospital discharge within 10 days of randomization. Secondary outcomes included mortality and time to clinical events. The trial is registered on the Iran Registry of Clinical Trials under IRCT20200624047908N1.Results: Between July and October 2020, 1083 patients were randomized to either the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir arm (n = 541) or the placebo arm (n = 542). No significant difference was observed in the primary outcome of hospital discharge within 10 days, which was achieved by 415/541 (77%) in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir arm and 411/542 (76%) in the placebo arm [risk ratio (RR) 1.01, 95% CI 0.95-1.08, P = 0.734]. In-hospital mortality was 60/541 (11%) in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir arm versus 55/542 (10%) in the placebo arm (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.77-1.54, P = 0.615). No differences were observed in time to hospital discharge or time to in-hospital mortality.Conclusions: We observed no significant effect of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir versus placebo on hospital discharge or survival in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advancement in science and technology is one of the axioms of the general policies stated by the S upreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Along with the Development and Innovation Program in Medical Education, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, as one of the country's higher education institutes in healthcare, has identified its peculiar potentials for the position of scientific authority in the 9th macro-region. Methods: This descriptive study was bas ed on the scientific hegemony model to collect data. The scientific activity of the faculty members was determined based on the number of published articles, citations, and the faculties' H-index. Subs equently, the faculty members of Birjand University of Medical Sciences with an H-index of 10 or higher in their respective specialty were compared with their counterparts on both national and macro-regional scales in terms of the H-index. The source of data extraction was the Ministry of Health scientometrics system available on the website isid.research.ac.ir. Results: At the macro regional level, Birjand University of Medical Sciences has attained the highest H-index in the five specialties of clinical toxicology, infectious diseases, molecular medicine, epidemiology, and parasitology. On the national scale, the university is ranked among the 8 to 9-percent top universities in the fields of clinical toxicology and poisoning, infectious diseases, and molecular medicine. Conclusion: In Birjand University of Medical Sciences, there is potential to assume scientific authority in c linical toxicology and poisoning, infectious diseases, and molecular medicine at the person level. The potential avails at the institutional level in case of support from officials. Given less than ten years of tenure of the faculties and the currently desirable recruitment policies, the university is capable of turning into a scientific pole in one or more of these specialties in case that the scientific staff are empowered further and organized into teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Evaluation is an effective factor to assure the quality of education. Evaluation of clinical education assessment methods, as the most important step in educating certified physicians, is essential in order to determine the strengths and eliminate the defects. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the evaluation methods of students by clinical education groups of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. Method: This is a descriptive-cross sectional study conducted in the academic year of 2016-2017. The statistical population consisted of interns in clinical departments of Birjand University of Medical Sciences who were selected by purposeful sampling. The tool for evaluating the researcher-made checklist was based on the ACGME model, whose content and formal validity were confirmed by experts. After collecting data, data were recorded and analyzed in Excel software. Results: The results of this study showed that most of the tests conducted in internship courses were in the fields of written method, key points and history (76.66% of the clinical groups); in the evaluation by the supervisor, oral exam (40 percent), and in the multi-source evaluation or 360-degree area, only from the work folder (0.33 percent), and in the field of clinical simulation, none of the tests have been used for evaluation. Conclusion: Considering that the tests evaluated only the knowledge and also evaluated the skills in limited cases, it is suggested that, while creating the ground for increasing the awareness of the professors about other tests, an instruction to necessitate the evaluation of all areas of learning in all clinical sections should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Iranian chronic HBV carrier's population has shown a unique pattern of genotype D distribution all around the country. The aim of this study was to explore more details of evolutionary history of carriers based on structural surface proteins from different provinces. Materials and Methods: Sera obtained from 360 isolates from 12 Different regions of country were used for amplification and sequencing of surface proteins. A detailed mutational analysis was undertaken. Results: The total ratio for Missense/Silent nucleotide substitutions was 0.96. Sistan and Kermanshah showed the lowest rate of evolution between provinces (P = 0.055). On the other hand, Khorasan Razavi and Khoozestan contained the highest ratio (P = 0.055). The rest of regions were laid between these two extremes. Azarbayjan and Guilan showed the highest proportion of immune epitope distribution (91.3% and 96%, respectively). Conversely, Sistan and Tehran harbored the least percentage (66.6% and 68.8%, respectively). Kermanshah province contained only 5.2%, whereas Isfahan had 54.5% of B cell epitope distribution. In terms of T helper epitopes, all provinces showed a somehow homogeneity: 22.58% (Fars) to 46.6% (Khuzestan). On the other hand, distribution of substitutions within the CTL epitopes showed a wide range of variation between 6.6% (Khuzestan) and 63% (Kermanshah). Conclusion: Further to low selection pressure found in Iranian population, the variations between different regions designate random genetic drift within the surface proteins. These finding would have some applications in terms of specific antiviral regimen, design of more efficient vaccine and public health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronically -Learning has created a new horizon in the world of education. The purpose of this is improving the quality of education and conserving (saving) time for teachers and students; this training can facilitate and strengthen the process of review. Since Mashhad University of Medical Sciences trains the applicants for family medicine as MPH virtually, we decided to study the efficiency of this method of trained students in this study. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on primary and secondary students of MPH family medicine in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The questionnaire contains personal information and factors related to the structure and content of education, training method and references page design, was set up. Then, validity of questioner using content validity method and its reliability using test to test were calculated. After collecting all the questionnaires, statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS-16 software. Results: A total of 53 students were enrolled MPH family medicine. 68% (36 people) of students had a record of participation in virtual learning courses. 45% (25 people) considered taking courses virtually has influenced choosing this major. 89% (47 people) out of all certifies the course content provides their expectations. Besides, 77.5% (41 people) confirms the course material covers the expected goals. 74.0% (39 people) considered the course structure desirable and 57% (31 people) wanted to have similar virtual educational materials. Conclusions: There wasn't any meaningful difference effect of virtual presentation between male and female students in their chosen field (p = 0/58). There wasn't any meaningful relationship between having the ICDL skills and choosing this major (p = 0.09, r = 0.07). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes 308000 deaths due to liver cancer and 758000 deaths due to cirrhosis every year. Almost 170 million people have HCV infection around the world. Information regarding this virus helps us to determine the prevalence of other hepatitis C genotypes in population, especially in intravenous drug users. It is assumed that some genotypes are more common in certain areas or groups of people. A recent study strongly confirms the central role of injecting network traits, not only as a transmission factor but also as a predictor of HCV genotype and phylogenetic determination in different communities. Hepatitis C genotypes and subtypes have different prevalence considering the country. Risk factors such as transfusion, hemodialysis, root of acquisition and etc, are detected in intravenous drug users. Several conducted studies have investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and predominance of HCV genotypes infection in different parts of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) is an ancient pathogen for human being but arising and recognized recently. The routes of transmission are vertical (mainly by breastfeeding), unsafe sexual contacts and through contaminated blood components specially in whom need frequent and repeated blood transfusions such as permanent anemia due to blood loss in hemophilia and major thalassemia. Patients who should undergo hemodialysis in their lifelong are another instance for increased risk of HTLV-1 exposure. The main HTLV-1-associated diseases are tropical spastic tetraparesis (HAM/TSP), an inflammatory myelopathy and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Although HTLV-1 is scattered around the world, only in endemic areas where prevalence rate is more than 1%, viral burden of infection have accumulated. Japan, Southern and Central parts of Africa, Caribbean basin and Iran are examples of endemic areas of HTLV-1. In this article, a rapid and brief review of HTLV-1 virology, immunology and pathogenesis have emerged. In addition, a short debate has driven about current statues of HTLV-1 in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been advocated as an effective tool against malaria transmission. However, success of this community based intervention largely depends on the knowledge and practice regarding malaria and its prevention. According to the national strategy plan on evaluation of LLINs (Olyset nets), this study was conducted to determine the perceptions and practices about malaria and to improve use of LLINs in Bashagard district, one of the important foci of malaria in southeast Iran. The study area comprised 14 villages that were randomized in two clusters and designated as LLINs and untreated nets. Each of households in both clusters received two bed nets by the free distribution and delivery. After one month quantitative data collection method was used to collect information regarding the objectives of the study. On the basis of this information, an educational program was carried out in both areas to increase motivation for use of bed nets. Community knowledge and practice regarding malaria and LLIN use assessed pre- and post-educational program. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver.16 software. At baseline, 77.5% of respondents in intervention and 69.4 % in control area mentioned mosquito bite as the cause of malaria, this awareness increased significantly in intervention (90.3%) and control areas (87.9%), following the educational program. A significant increase also was seen in the proportion of households who used LLINs the previous night (92.5%) compared with untreated nets (87.1%). Educational status was an important predictor of LLINs use. Regular use of LLIN was considerably higher than the targeted coverage (80%) which recommended by World Heaths Organization. About 81.1% and 85.3% of respondents from LLIN and control areas reported that mosquito nuisance and subsequent malaria transmission were the main determinants of bed net use. These findings highlight a need for educational intervention in implementation of long-lasting insecticidal nets; this should be considered in planning and decision-making in the national malaria control program during the next campaigns of LLINs in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AIDS and hepatitis are two of the most important health issues in the world. Adolescents and individuals in their reproductive years are important population for interventions in order to reduce high risk behaviors for transmission of sexually transmitted disease. However the prevalence of AIDS and hepatitis B and C is high in Bandar Abbas, no study is available about high risk behaviors related to these diseases in Bandar Abbas. The aim of the current study was to investigate high risk behaviors related to AIDS and hepatitis B and C among 15- to 45 year old individuals in Bandar Abbas, Southern Iran. Method: In this analytical study, 1938 participants between 15- and 45 years of age in Bandar Abbas in 2012 were selected to participate in this study. For each individual, the following information was sought: shared syringes, phlebotomy, tattoos, prisoning, drug abuse, amphetamine, alcohol, smoking, unsafe sexual contacts, as well as demographic information including age, sex, marital status, and education level. Data were analysed using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, United States) using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: A total of 8.4% reported having had tattoos; 10.3% reported previous phlebotomy. Individuals with prison history included 7.3% of our study population and their mean age was 31.4 years. Unsafe sexual contact was reported in 10.7% of the study sample. High risk behaviors were more common among individuals with a low educational level, and in alcohol users and amphetamine users (P<0.05). Conclusion: High risk behaviors are more common among individuals in their reproductive years. Increasing educational level and knowledge translation are effective in preventing AIDS and hepatitis high risk behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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