Iranian Community Research Articles

Distribution of Blood Groups in Patients with Angiographically Defined Coronary Artery Disease in Iranian Community

In the past, the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and been studied extensively. The ABO blood group has a significant effect on homeostasis and is therefore associated with adverse cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the distribution of ABO blood group and rhesus (Rh) status (ABO/Rh) in patients with different severity of CAD in Iranian community. A total of 1,236 CAD patients undergoing angiography were evaluated and their ABO/Rh blood type was determined in a study center between February 2005 and December 2010. Of the 1,236 records, only 1,046 medical documents recorded the number of involved vessels. The patients were classified according to the number of significantly affected stenotic vessels into single vessel (1VD), two vessels (2VD), and three vessels (3VD) disease subgroups. A substantially different ABO/Rh blood groups distribution was seen in the examined samples (O: 29.7%, A: 39.7%, B: 22.2%, AB: 8.3%, Rh positivity: 89.2%). The ABO/Rh blood group phenotype distribution in CAD patients with 1VD, 2VD, and 3VD was as follows: 37.5%, 41.3%, and 41.5%, respectively, for group A; 24.1%, 20.5%, and 20.6%, respectively, for group B; 31.2%, 26.8%, and 30.2%, respectively, for group O; 7.1%, 11.4% and 7.7%, respectively, for group AB (p = 0.26), and 88.7%, 90.5%, and 87.6%, respectively, for Rh positivity, (p = 0.47). In addition, no significant correlation was not found among the ABO/Rh blood group distribution and the number of vessels involved, however, according to the different distribution of ABO/Rh blood group in CAD patients and healthy population, ABO/Rh might have an unknown role in CAD patients.
 Keywords: Coronary artery disease, Blood group, Stenosis, Vessel, Rhesus.

Kakais with Religious Beliefs and Rituals

Today, Kakaî communities in Iran known as Ahl-e Haqq live in Iraqi provinces especially in settlements in Mosul, Kirkuk-Dakuk, Diyale-Hanekin, Tuzhurmatı, Suleymaniye-Kelar. They undertake to hide their beliefs because of security concerns. The Kakailik synchretic Islamic religious belief is heterodox. It finds Zoroastrianism, Mitraism, Brahmanism and Hinduism, early tenets of the Kakai belief being incarnation and reincarnation. An important Kakailik place of pilgrimage is the Sultan İshak Tomb. For the Kakaî, Sultan İshak, who founded their spiritual sultanate is considered to be second in rank only to ‘Alī. The Kakaî believe in both resurrection and reincarnation. While some Kakaî claim to be Turkmen, others consider themselves to be Kurdish. Scholars such as Al-Azzawi, Edmonds, Hawramani and Moosa come to mind regarding studies on the Kakaî in Iraq.

Dignity in Iranian cancer patients: a qualitative approach

ABSTRACT With some chronic illnesses, such as cancer, dignity can be damaged. Twenty consenting and volunteering males and females were chosen to take part in a study on dignity in Iranian cancer patients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using directed content analysis based on Chochinov's study on dignity. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The findings of the interviews were coded as open and axial and a constant comparison technique was used. The results showed four main components associated with Iranian patients’ dignity, including 1 – illness-related concerns, 2 – patients’ God-image, 3 – Social Dignity Inventory, 4 – family, and financial-related issues. Although similar findings in Chochinov's research have been identified, the results of this study suggest that cross-cultural differences require a culturally sensitive approach to Chochinov's dignity model for the Iranian community.

The trend of bladder cancer among Iranian military community from 2007 to 2019

Purpose: Cancers are one of the main causes of mortality in the world. The incidence of cancers in the world and mainly in developing countries is increasing. Due to the importance of this issue, the purpose of the current study was to assess the trend of incidence and death of Bladder Cancer among Iranian Military Community (MC) from 2007 to 2019. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using time series data. All registered bladder cancer in Iranian Military community from March 2007 to February 2017 entered in this study. The future trend predicted using ARIMA (p,d,q) model. All analyzes were performed using ITSM and Excel (2010) software. Results: According to ARIMA (2, 2, 1) model, the bladder cancer among the Iranian military community had an increasing trend. The AR (12, 2, 0) model showed an increasing trend of this cancer among males but it seems the trend of bladder cancer among females will have a constant trend AR (12, 2, 1). The death due to bladder cancer was showed a decreasing trend using AR (14, 2, 1) model. Conclusion: In spite of decreasing trend in death due to bladder cancer, the trend of incidence of the Bladder cancer among the Iranian Military Community was increasing. However, it is necessary to adjust the effect of many factors that may have an important role in this trend.

Queer English Language Teacher Identity: A Narrative Exploration in Iran

This qualitative study explores the narratives of a queer female English teacher to understand (a) how Iranian cultural, familial, and relational discourses influence feelings of “belonging” for queer Iranian women, and (b) how queer Iranian women cope with the challenges of being both LGBTQ and Iranian. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory analysis, revealing that queer Iranian women experience feelings of cultural isolation as a result of the homosexual identity delegitimization that is often perpetuated within the Iranian community. The Participant copes by creating cultural distance between herself and the Iranian community when she experiences this isolation.

Reproductive, Lifestyle, and Genetic Risk Factors in Breast Cancer Among Iranian Women- A Cross-sectional Study During the Breast Cancer Screening in a Community in Iran

Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. The present study is aimed to investigate the risk factors of this disease among the Iranian women of Arak city. Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Objective: To study the reproductive, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Arak city. The sampling was conducted in a clustering method in a way that 4 health centers (surveying cancer in the country; October 2018 to March 2019) were investigated. The women willing to fill up the breast cancer risk factors were entered into the research. 1000 women (above 18) were included. After filling the questionnaires, the data were analyzed by SPSS Ver. 21 using descriptive statistics such as percentage and mean values. Results: 4% of the participants (40) had a history of breast cancer among their first-degree relatives. Only 1.9% (19) of the women reported eating fast-food twice a day. 1.7% (16) of the studied women drank alcohol in the last month. 70.3% of the women (691) had children with an average age at first birth of 22.32±4.87. 1.3% (13) of the participants were under hormone-therapy during their menopause, with an average duration of 4±6.87 years. Conclusion: It seems that the risk factors of breast cancer are not low among Iranian women. Screening tests such as self-examination of the breasts and periodic examinations by the physicians or midwives as well as the mammography protocols are essential

Cost-benefit Analysis of IUI and IVF based on willingness to pay approach; case study: Iran.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are often considered luxury services by policy-makers and the general population, which are always susceptible of removal from public funding of health care. The analysis of the economic aspects of this scope seems essential due to the high prevalence of infertility in Iran and the high costs of infertility treatments. This study aimed to investigate the value put on IUI and IVF treatments by communities in Iran and the affordability of services based on community preferences. A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was performed based on the WTP approach, and the contingent valuation method (CVM) was used to estimate WTP for IUI and IVF using a researcher-made survey in two cities of Kerman and Isfahan, Iran, in 2016–17. The sample size was 604, and the study sample frame to estimate WTP included two groups of couples who were/were not aware of their fertility statuses. The costs of one cycle of IUI and IVF were calculated according to the treatment protocols, tariffs of 2016–17, and medical information records of patients. The mean direct and indirect medical costs of one cycle of IUI and IVF were equivalent to 19561140 and 60897610 IRR, respectively. Also, the mean WTP for IUI and IVF treatments were obtained of 15941061 and 28870833 IRR, respectively. The demand for IUI and IVF treatments was elastic and the community was sensitive to price changes of these treatment methods. IUI and IVF treatments brought no positive net benefits, and economic variables had the highest impact on the WTP and community preferences, indicating the significant role of financial constraints in the community's valuation for advanced infertility treatments in Iran.

Development of new predictive equations for basal metabolic rate in Iranian healthy adults: negligible effect of sex.

Some studies have reported inaccuracy of predicting basal metabolic rate (BMR) by using common equations for Asian people. Thus, this study was undertaken to develop new predictive equations for the Iranian community and also to compare their accuracy with the commonly used formulas. Anthropometric measures and thyroid function were evaluated for 267 healthy subjects (18-60 y). Indirect calorimetry (InCal) was performed only for those participants with normal thyroid function tests (n=252). Comparison of predicted RMR (both kcal/d and kcal.kg.wt-1.d-1) using current predictive formulas and measured RMR revealed that Harris-Benedict and FAO/WHO/UNU significantly over-estimated and Mifflin-St. Jeor significantly under-estimated RMR as compared to InCal measurements. In stepwise regression analysis for developing new equations, the highest r2 (=0.89) was from a model comprising sex, height and weight. However, further analyses revealed that unlike the subjects under 30 y, the association between age and the measured RMR in subjects 30 y and plus was negative (r=-0.241, p=0.001). As a result, two separate equations were developed for these two age groups. Over 80 percent of variations were covered by the new equations. In conclusion, there were statistical significant under- and over-estimation of RMR using common predictive equations in our subjects. Using the new equations, the accuracy of the calculated RMR increased remarkably.

Innovative scenario planning of petrochemical enterprises in the Iranian community

PurposeResearch studies on futures studies have recently gained significant attention to create a desirable future based on the environmental change. Futures studies follow discovery, invention, presentation, test and evolution of possible, feasible and desirable futures. The purpose of this study is to examine some important aspects of the relationship between futures studies and planning and to present a model where futures scenarios have been developed as an integral part of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the lens of dynamic capabilities theory and creative system theory.Design/methodology/approachBased on interpretive structural modeling and Delphi technique, the most important trends, proponents and uncertainties of the future of 10 Iranian petrochemical SMEs is identified and related innovative scenarios are presented.FindingsThe findings show four scenarios on the petrochemical industry including attracting investment, the presence of the private sector, attracting people's capital and sustainable development of the petrochemical industry.Originality/valueThe paper undertakes a first of its kind cross-disciplinary conceptual analysis to design Innovative Scenario Planning for SMEs. Despite the importance of scenario planning in SMEs, theories for understanding the nexus of entrepreneurial future studies remain underdeveloped. Therefore, there is still a theoretical gap and lack of research; hence, the current study tries to shed light on the topic and fill the gap in the entrepreneurship literature.

Designing and Psychometric Evaluation of Iranian Students’ Academic Stress Questionnaire (IAASQ)

Academic stress is one of the factors affecting the health of adolescents. The aim of present study was to design an academic stress questionnaire for Iranian adolescents with regard to the cultural and educational system of the country. After reviewing the literature and identifying available tools in 2018, Iranian adolescents' views on academic stress were extracted. Similar questions have been used in other tools. According to expert opinion, the results were overviewed and the initial version was designed. The steps of content validity and instrument reliability were carried out. Internal consistency was investigated with Cronbach's alpha (α) and repeatability with Intra Class Correlation (ICC). After dividing the data into two randomized samples, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with 899 subjects and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with 717 subjects were performed. The association between this tool and the Morgan and Jink's Self Efficacy Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire questionnaires was investigated. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Mplus softwares. The Iranian Adolescent Academic Stress Questionnaire (IAASQ) was designed with 57 questions. Relevancy and clarity of the whole tool were obtained as 0.81 and 0.83, respectively. In different domains, Cronbach's alpha was in the range (0.58-0.85) and ICC (0.80 (95% CI:0.66-0.90)). In the EFA, 9 factors were extracted. CFA confirmed the suitability of the model in another sample. Discriminant and convergent validity tool was approved. The IAASQ questionnaire has acceptable reliability and validity. This tool is recommended for use in related studies in the Iranian community.

Sanctions and the Scientific Community of Iran

Sanctions on the scientific community of Iran go back to the days following the victory of the 1979 revolution when the severe pressures on the country commenced. Although it is still difficult to estimate quantitatively the impacts of sanctions on the Iranian scientific community, the qualitative estimations and in situ observations bolster the idea that sanctions, particularly those in recent decades, have led to an obvious decrease in the quality of Iranian scientific production. It has led to further cosmopolitanism of the Iranian scientific community in diaspora, and has strengthened extremism and predomination of hardliner attitudes domestically. This paper demonstrates the impact of foreign sanctions on the scientific community of Iran in addition to the already deplorable pressure initiated by the post-revolutionary ruling system and its administration.

Psychometric evaluation of the Vancouver Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory (VOCI) and its adaptation based on the DSM-5 in Iranian patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

abstract The Vancouver Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory (VOCI) was validated in Iranian non-clinical individuals, but not in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Accordingly, this study aims to further evaluate the six-factor first-order and one-factor second-order structures, validity, and reliability of the scale and also to adapt this scale to the DSM-5 recommendations regarding hoarding behavior in Iranian OCD patients. Three hundred and sixty patients completed the VOCI, the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS), the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale checklist (Y-BOCS), the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R); the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ-SF), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results showed that the six-factor first-order model of the VOCI had acceptable fit, while the five-factor first-order model had more appropriate fit by deleting the hoarding subscale's items. Also, one-factor second-order structure of the scale has been found to have an adequate fit. In addition, reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of the VOCI have been found to be good. The findings indicate that although the VOCI with the six-factor first-order and one-factor second-order structures is a valid scale in Iranian OCD patients, the VOCI adapted to the DSM-5 is more reliable to be used in Iranian community.

Psychosocial challenges of social reintegration for people with spinal cord injury: a qualitative study.

Qualitative study, using in-depth, and semi-structured interviews. To identify the psychosocial challenges of social reintegration for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Iran. People with SCI living in the community in Iran. Eleven individuals with SCI with a median time since injury of 12 years (between 9 and 20 years), two family members, and three specialists (two social workers and one physiotherapist) were selected by purposive sampling with maximum variation. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted and finally the data analyzed through qualitative content methodology. The psychosocial challenges were categorized into four main categories and twelve subcategories: early crises (denial and disbelief; feelings of isolation and depression; dependency crisis; and a sudden change in the normal course of life), disabling society (stigma; discrimination; employment challenges; and educational restriction), environmental barriers to access (lack of barrier-free environments and transportation challenges), and inappropriate services delivery (incomprehensive rules and lack of specialized training). Providing various psychosocial services is essential for the social reintegration of people with SCI. This goal could be achieved by the provision of medical and physical rehabilitation services. The ultimate purpose of rehabilitation is to reintegrate individuals into society after injury or illness; thus, psychosocial issues must also be considered to ensure effective rehabilitation.

An introduction to the distribution of carbon stocks in temperate broadleaf forests of northern Iran

Northern forests of Iran are among the most important plant communities in Iran due to their dynamic and diverse vegetation composition and fertile soils. There is little information about carbon stocks of these forests. In the present study, above- and belowground carbon stocks of trees, litter, herbs and soil organic carbon stock at three selected sites of these forests were calculated using random plots and non-destructive sampling. The FAO method was used for carbon estimation of trees and Walkley-Black method was used for soil carbon stock and carbon coefficient was estimated directly. The results showed that both the tree carbon stocks and soil carbon stocks increased from east to west with increasing altitude, showing significant differences. The results also indicate that these forests have a high carbon sequestration potential as a green belt across the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains, when the contribution of the aboveground section was greater than that of the belowground section (soil and roots) at all sites.

Farm tourism as a driving force for socioeconomic development: a benefits viewpoint from Iran

ABSTRACT In recent years, the potential of farm tourism to generate socioeconomic benefits for farmers and suppliers has been established in a range of international contexts. This study aims to identify the main socioeconomic benefits of farm tourism for farming communities in Iran on a national scale. In order to cover agricultural potentiality, nine provinces were selected. Factor analysis of the data extracted nine social and economic factors, which were then analysed using stepwise regression analysis. The findings indicate that the diversification of Iran's farms into tourism businesses would introduce a new social and economic growth stimulus for local communities. The stepwise regression findings were employed to identify which farm tourism factors are required for socioeconomic development in Iran. Factors were divided into nine categories of socioeconomic development: learning and educational activities improvements, cultural development, community participation, thriving local economy, pursuit of personal values, income generation, quality of life improvement, building business competitiveness and modifying migration structure. Among these categories, farmers/suppliers in farming communities have primarily concentrated on the pursuit of personal values and income generation.

Contextualization and psychometrics of interprofessional collaboration checklist in Iranian community health-care setting.

INTRODUCTION:Assessment interprofessional collaboration (IPC), in community health-care setting usually has been neglected due to the lack of standard tools and assessors. In the present study, the IPC checklist extracted from CANMEDS collaborator toolkit for teaching and assessing the collaborator role is contextualized in Iranian community healthcare.MATERIALS AND METHODS:According to CANMEDS Toolkit, an instrument extracted for IPC assessment. Using Chavez' toolkit, face and content validity were studied through two rounds of Delphi by 12 experts of TUMS. Qualitative content validity including content validity index (CVI), and content validity ratio (CVR) were assessed following watching a standard video about IPC by them. Construct validity was studied by confirmatory factor analysis through LISREL software. To check reliability, Cronbach's alpha was calculated, and the other 12 experts completed checklists in test–retest process with a 2-week interval.RESULTS:Face and qualitative content validity were confirmed using the Delphi method. CVI and CVR were calculated as 0.61 and 0.86. In factor analysis, x2/df and RMSEA were calculated as 1.363 and 0.036; CFI, IFI, GFI, and AGFI were >0.7, and hence, the construct validity was confirmed. Cronbach's alpha was 0.953 for internal consistency. Test–retest was also calculated as 0.918 indicated to confirm reliability.CONCLUSION:CANMEDS framework as an assessment tool for evaluating IPC in community health setting is not only valid and reliable in the Iranian context but also it is easy to use for respondents resulted from the rational number of items in community.

Screening for elder abuse in geriatric outpatients: reliability and validity of the Iranian version Hwalek–Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S/EAST)

ABSTRACTThe present research seeks the notion of the appropriateness of “Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S/East)”, and psychometric properties to analyses cultural aspects of elder abuse in the Iranian community dwellers referred to clinics. In this cross-sectional validation study 364 participants, 60 years and over were selected from outpatient’ clinics. The SF-36, GDS-15, and AMT scores were used for concurrent validity. The Brief Abuse Screen for the Elderly (BASE) scale was examined to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Iranian version H-S/East. The elder abuse rate in participants was 29.4% based on cutoff ≥4, while a significant correlation was found in Iranian version H-S/EAST with depression and SF-36 subscale MCS at P < .01, and four factors observed. Optimal cutoff ≥4 obtained with 82.8% sensitivity and 84.5% specificity. It seems the Iranian version of H-S/East demonstrates concurrent validity and fair reliability in elderly outpatients, while construct validity should be carried out in the Iranian elder illiterate population and other languages/cultures.

A Reformist, a Diplomat, and a Benevolent Merchant: Hājī Mīrzā Sayyīd Muhammad-Taqī Shīrāzī (Afnān), the Shīrāzī Trading House and the Propagation of the Babi-Baha⁠ʾi Faith

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to offer a glimpse into the Baha⁠ʾi mercantile community in Iran during the second half of the nineteenth century and its reformist and modernist attitudes through the accounts of one of its leading merchants, Hājī Mīrzā Sayyīd Muhammad-Taqī Shīrāzī (Afnān).

Lived experience of Iranian bisexual women: a thematic analysis

Normative homo-sociality, physical sex-segregation and other oppressive gender politics in Iran raise questions about the development of bisexuality as an “identity” among Iranian women. This study examines the lived experience of Iranian bisexual women. Six self-identified bisexual women were recruited by two announcements in Iranian LGBTI community social media. After in-depth online interviews, data were coded and analyzed by inductive thematic analysis method. Seventeen themes in three broad patterns (identity, social structure and relationship) are found across and within the data. Themes such as biphobia, confusion and self-definition are in concordance with studies of the western bisexual population. Themes related to social structure are unique and reflect the particular socio-cultural condition of non-heterosexual women in Iran.

The Economic and Biological Benefits of Non-wood Forest Products to Local Communities in Iran

This study estimates the value per hectare of the Arasbaran deciduous forest based on returns from 17 fruit-providing species and mapping their economic value. We also studied the main influencing social drivers of collecting non-wood forest products (NWFPs). A biological inventory was carried out for all fruit-providing trees within the 6,484 hectares (ha) with registration of the geographical position of trees. Based on total fruit produced annually per hectare and the market price of each species, the economic value of each species in terms of the fruit produced was calculated and depicted. Results showed that the distribution area of fruit-providing species was about 10 percent (684 ha) of the studied forest area. In total, the annual sustainable production of all species was 52.6 thousand kilograms. The economic value varied from USD 6 to USD 983 per ha in different areas. The revenue of collected fruit-providing species varied from USD 0.9 to USD 14,903 per year for all involved households. The average contribution of NWFP income to household income was 21 percent. The collection of NWFPs had a negative correlation with the education of the household head, opportunity cost, and household wealth; on the other hand, NWFP collection had a positive relation with fruit price and yield. Forest management strategies can focus on the areas with the highest economic value. This research can help inform decision-makers regarding the selection of eligible forest areas for conservation and enforcement of regulations.