Hospitals In Ahvaz Research Articles

Frequency, Risk Factors, and Pregnancy Outcomes in Cases with Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is an important life-threatening problem. The purpose of the current study was to determine the frequency, risk factors, and pregnancy outcomes of PAS in our population. This is a case-control study using the data from a main tertiary referral university hospital in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. The sample included 187 cases diagnosed with placenta accreta spectrum from 2015 to 2019 and 552 controls without PAS. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to find independent risk factors with 95% confidence interval. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated using chi-square, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test and p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. The frequency of PAS during the study period was 3.7/1000 deliveries (0.37%). It was found that multiparity (≥3 deliveries, OR=2.05: 95%CI:1.21-3.47) and multigravidity (≥3 deliveries, OR=2.98: 95%CI:1.55-5.72), prior cesarean delivery (OR=52.55: 95%CI:19.73-139.96), and placenta previa (OR=27.48: 95%CI: 9.62-78.5) are the independent risk factors of PAS. Complications and morbidity associated with PAS included hysterectomy (60.4% vs. 0.7%, p<0.001), cystostomy (24.1% vs. 0.2%, p<0.001), the need for blood transfusion (73.7% vs. 1.4%, p<0.001), intensive care unit admission of mother (42.8% vs. 0.2%, p<0.001), duration of hospitalization (7.52±6.34 vs. 1.97±1.83, p<0.001), preterm birth <37 weeks (61.4% vs. 16.8%, p<0.001), and perinatal mortality (7.4% vs. 1.8%, p<0.001) which manifested statistically significant values. The frequency of PAS is similar to other populations. Prior cesarean delivery, placenta previa, multigravidity, and multiparity were independent risk factors and also perinatal hysterectomy and preterm birth were the most important complications.

Effectiveness of a mobile-based educational intervention on self-care activities and glycemic control among the elderly with type 2 diabetes in southwest of Iran in 2020

BackgroundThe elderly constitute a large fraction of patients with type 2 diabetes worldwide. It has been well documented that the elderly’s adherence to disease control is not adequate. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a mobile-based educational intervention on self-care behaviors and glycemic control among elderly with type 2 diabetes.MethodsThe present study was conducted on 118 older people (59 in the intervention group and 59 in the control group) with type 2 diabetes who referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran in 2020. Participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected at baseline and after a 3-month follow-up. At baseline, the participants completed a valid and reliable multi-section questionnaire including items on attitude, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), self-care constructs, and HBA1C. After analyzing the pre-test data, we designed a training program which was offered to the intervention group online via mobile phone in three online sessions. The control group, however, received no intervention except diabetes routine care. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15 at a significance level of 0.05.ResultsBefore the intervention, the mean scores of CSES, attitudes towards self-care, MSPSS, and self-care were not statistically significant between study groups (P > 0.05), but after intervention, the study found significant differences between the groups in terms of CSES, attitude, MSPSS, and self-care (P = 0.001). Furthermore, after implementation of the intervention, the mean value of HbA1C in the intervention group was significantly less than that of the control group (7.00 vs. 7.32%) (P = 0.001).ConclusionThe present results indicated that implementing an educational intervention via mobile phone can improve self-care practice and reduce HbA1C in the elderly with type 2 diabetes. The study also showed a moderate to large effect on the outcome variables. However, further studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended to confirm the results.

Population structure, susceptibility profile, phenotypic and mating properties of Candida tropicalis isolated from pediatric patients

Candida tropicalis is one of the most frequently isolated species and is commonly associated with nosocomial infections, hematological malignancy, neutropenia, and urinary tract infections. This study aims to genotype C. tropicalis strains isolated from pediatric patients admitted to two hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. We provide a vision of the genotypes, mating types, enzymatic activity, phenotypes, and antifungal susceptibility profile of these isolates. Candida tropicalis isolates were collected from various clinical (Oral, urine, wound, and bronchoalveolar lavage) and environmental sources between November 2020 and November 2021. Primitively, samples were cultured on CHROMagar Candida. All isolates were identified by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region for precise identification. Isolates were genotyped by six microsatellite markers specific for C. tropicalis. Antifungal susceptibility profiles were determined against eight antifungal agents according to CLSI M27 standards. The phenotype of each C. tropicalis isolate was assessed using yeast peptone dextrose agar supplemented with phloxine B. Mating types of C. tropicalis isolates were determined using MTLa1 and MTL2 specific primers. Species identification revealed 46 C. tropicalis strains. Among them, 39 different genotypes were detected that have split into 34 singletons and five clusters. Twenty isolates were the non-wild type for itraconazole and posaconazole. Four isolates were multidrug-resistant. The activity of hemolysin and esterase enzyme was very strong among all isolates. Mating type and phenotype were not significantly correlated with genotypes (p = 0.721 and p = 0.135, respectively). To conclude, tested populations were moderately differentiated with high gene flow. One cluster of isolates among different hospitals was identified, and three clusters were from different cities.

Determination of the Efficacy of Daclatasvir Plus Sofosbuvir in Patients with Acute ‎Respiratory Coronavirus Syndrome (SARS-COV-2): A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: To tackle the 2019 coronavirus infection (COVID-19) disease pandemic, effective antiviral therapy is critical. We assessed the efficacy of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir for treating patients with COVID-19.&#x0D; Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial in adults with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 disease admitted to Razi Teaching Hospital in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to the sofosbuvir and daclatasvir group (n=35, intervention group) and control group (n=35, standard care). The primary endpoint of this study was the length of hospital stay, clinical improvement, mechanical ventilation, mortality, and side effect.&#x0D; Results: We found that the combination of Daclatasvir and Sofosbuvir (DCV+SOF) did not make a statistically significant difference in terms of mortality. There was no significant difference in the duration of hospitalization between the two groups. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of the frequency of side effects. There were 2 cases of intubation and death in both groups.&#x0D; Conclusion: The medications used in this study, i.e, the combination of daclatasvir and sofosbuvir, failed to show a significant effect in patients, and despite promising laboratory studies, there were no improvements observed in vital signs and the indicators studied, including clinical signs. Hospitalization days, ventilator requirements and mortality did not make a significant difference. To confirm the results of this study, conducting researches with a larger sample size are needed.

Evaluation of mortality of COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in comparison to the non-AKI patients

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent in the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). There are little data on the relationship between renal dysfunction and COVID-19 prognosis. Objectives: The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of AKI in COVID-19 patients hospitalized to the Golestan and Razi hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 194 COVID-19 patients were included, consisting of 79 patients with AKI and 115 patients without AKI. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: According to the findings, mortality was significantly different between the two groups, and mortality was higher in the AKI group (P&lt; 0.001). The mean length of hospital stay was statistically significantly higher in the AKI group (P=0.024). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between intensive care unit (ICU) admission and the study group (P&lt;0.001). Staging of AKI group were seen as; stage I (49.37%), stage II (36.71%), and stage III (13.92%). No significant correlation was observed between outcome and the stages of AKI (P=0.496). Furthermore, 14 patients (17.72%) needed renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the AKI group. Conclusion: Although AKI is a common finding in COVID-19 patients, most patients were in stage I disease, which returned to normal after COVID-19 treatment. According to our research, COVID-19 rarely leads to serious and persistent kidney injury. However, the risk of death is increased in COVID-19 patients with AKI. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the renal function tests during the course of disease.

Effect of Family-Centered Empowerment Model on Knowledge and Caring Performance of Mothers of Children with Leukemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Today, cancer is one of the leading public health concerns worldwide. Being diagnosed with cancer is not necessarily a life-threatening event for children and their families. Objectives: In this view, this study was done to determine the impact of family empowerment programs on the knowledge and care performance of mothers with leukemia children. Methods: The present study is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 62 mothers of children with cancer who were referred to the oncology wards of some educational hospitals in Ahvaz. The subjects were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. The education was conducted in five sessions of 45 minutes (two sessions per week). Results: Comparison of the mean score of the knowledge of mothers of children with leukemia before education (3.09) and after education (6.29) was one of the interventions that were significant in the intervention group (P &lt; 0.001), but in the control group, no significant statistical difference was observed. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated that by educating the family through the family-centered empowerment model, it is possible to increase the caregiving knowledge of mothers and prevent chemotherapy complications in children

Investigation of the relationship between perceived social support and body image in women with breast cancer

BackgroundPatients with breast cancer have more body image disorders than healthy individuals. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and body image in women with breast cancer. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 192 women with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy or tumor resection with breast preservation referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz from February 2016 to May 2017. Data collection tools included Demographic Information, Perceived Social Support, and Multidimensional Body-Self Relationship Questionnaires (MBSRQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22 and Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe Pearson correlation test showed a positive and significant relationship between perceived social support from family, friends, and leading people and body image in mastectomy (r 0.81) and tumor resection groups with breast preservation (r 0.78) (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe results showed a direct relationship between perceived social support and body image in women with breast cancer. Accordingly, by educating patients and their families and medical staff about the importance of perceived social support, it is possible to help improve the dimensions of social support in these patients and improve the body image of these patients.

Factors Related to the Increase in Hospitalization Costs of the Elderly With Circulatory System Diseases in Ahvaz, Iran During 2015-2016 Using the Generalized Gamma Marginalized Two-part Model

Objectives One of the challenges facing societies today is the increased medical expenses of the elderly. Therefore, identifying the factors associated with this increase can help health policymakers control the costs imposed on the elderly and their families. This study aims to identify the factors related to the increase in hospitalization costs of the elderly with circulatory system diseases using the generalized gamma marginalized two-part model. Methods &amp; Materials In this retrospective cohort study, 335 samples were selected by a simple random sampling method from among the older patients of Imam Khomeini and Golestan hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran during 2015-2016 having circulatory system diseases and age ≥60 years. The relationship of age, gender, hospitalization status in intensive care unit (ICU), marital status, admission season, and number of hospitalization days with the increase in treatment costs of the elderly was examined using the generalized gamma marginalized two-part model in SAS 9.4 software. The response variable was the patients’ treatment costs. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 70.718.27 years, where 54% were female and 46% were male. The average medical costs in patients admitted to ICU was 3.70 times higher than that in patients who were not admitted to this unit. The odds ratio showed that, for each day of increase in hospital stay, the hospitalization costs of the patients increased by 1.11. The hospitalization costs for older men were 1.67 times higher than in older women. In single patients, it was 2 times higher than in married patients. Moreover, with each year of increase in age (after age 60), the hospitalization costs increased by 0.96. Using the marginalized two-part model, it was found that the variables of age, number of hospitalization days, marital status, gender, and admission to ICU had a significant relationship with the increase in the hospitalization costs of the elderly (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion The burden of hospitalization costs on younger elderly with circulatory system diseases is higher. Older men incur more hospital costs than older women, and single elderly people incur more hospital costs than married ones. The increase in the number of hospitalization days is another factor that can increase the hospitalization costs of the older patients, especially in those admitted to ICU.

The Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment on Hemoglobin Levels in Hemodialysis Patients: A Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The role of vitamin D deficiency and hemoglobin levels in renal anemia is well established. However, few studies with inconsistent findings have examined the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and the prevalence and severity of anemia in the chronic kidney disease. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D deficiency treatment on hemoglobin levels in hemodialysis patients. Methods: The present study was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial on 60 hemodialysis patients aged 18 - 83 years, who were undergoing maintenance dialysis and receiving erythropoietin. All patients with vitamin D (&lt; 30 ng/mL) referred to the dialysis wards of Imam Khomeini, Razi, and Sina hospitals in Ahvaz in 2019, were assigned into two groups. One group was treated with 500 mg oral calcium-D tablets three times a day, and another group was treated with 50,000 units of D-Pearls weekly. The two groups were treated for 12 weeks. Then they were re-evaluated in terms of response to treatment and the rate of improvement in hemoglobin levels and erythropoietin dose. Results: In each intervention group, vitamin D levels increased significantly (P &lt; 0.001). D-Pearls improved vitamin D deficiency; however, the difference was not statistically significant. This study also showed a significant increase in hemoglobin (&gt; 1 unit) in the calcium-D group; however, such a change was not observed in the D-Pearls group (P = 0.3824). Moreover, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of erythropoietin dose (P = 0.98), blood calcium level (P = 0.57), parathyroid level (P = 0.20), and phosphorus (P = 0.99). Conclusions: Despite its significant limitations,this study revealed vitamin D supplements improved vitamin D deficincy, and calcium-D tablets could improve hemoglobin levels in patient.

Effect of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine on Shivering in Cesarean Section under Intrathecal Anesthesia: Randomized Clinical Trial.

Shivering is one of the most common side effects after cesarean section (C-section) under spinal or epidural anesthesia. However, it is often not treated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous dexmedetomidine (DEX) in the prevention of shivering after intrathecal anesthesia in women undergoing C-sections. This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 women candidates for elective C-sections under intrathecal anesthesia who were referred to Imam Khomeini Governmental Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, during 2020 - 2021. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of intravenous DEX (group D; 0.5 µg/kg) and normal saline (control, group C) and received the medications after umbilical cord clamping. All patients were evaluated during and after surgery for hemodynamic changes, the incidence and severity of shivering based on Chu and Tsai, side effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting), and sedation level based on the Ramsey scale. The incidence of shivering in group C was significantly higher than in group D (P = 0.003). Moreover, the severity of shivering on minutes 20, 30, and 45 in group C was significantly higher than in group D (P < 0.05). The mean sedation score during minutes 10 - 30 in group D was significantly higher than in group C (P < 0.05). Heart rate was not significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in group D than in group C (P < 0.05). The administration of intravenous DEX effectively reduces the incidence and severity of shivering and provides appropriate sedation in patients undergoing C-sections, and it does not cause remarkable side effects.

Platelet counts and C-reactive protein in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus

Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common disorder in premature infants which causes heart failure. Platelets and C-reactive protein (CRP) play an important role in closure. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum CRP and plasma platelet count in preterm infants with PDA compared to infants without PDA. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on premature infants with PDA admitted to Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahvaz, Iran (2020-2021). A group of 120 infants with inclusion criteria was selected and divided into two groups of 60 subjects. The preterm infant with PDA and without PDA was defined as the case and control group, respectively. Platelet count, serum CRP, and an echocardiogram were assessed in all infants. The subjects were matched by gender, gestational age, and birth weight. Results: The mean platelet count was 194.67±74.03 (×103 /mm3 ) in the neonate with PDA, and it was significantly lower than in neonate without PDA (P=0.04). The mean of serum CRP was significantly different in neonates with PDA (11.62±5.96 mg/L) compared to neonates with closed arterial ducts (8.52±3.97 mg/L; P=0.002). Additionally, PDA was associated with high platelet distribution width (PDW). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that PDA is associated with a low-number of platelets and high serum levels of CRP in preterm neonates. It is suggested that further studies with a higher sample size on platelet count and/or function be performed in PDA patients to understanding more about the cause of PDA and to discover novel and beneficial aims in these cases

An evaluation of clinical and ultrasound results of Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the instability or dislocation of the hip joint at birth that may occur in utero, during infancy, and childhood. This condition was identified as an important challenge. This study aimed to determine the clinical and ultrasound results of Pavlik harness treatment for DDH in patients referred to the pediatric clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 100 newborns aged 15 to 30 days were included by the census method after obtaining parental consent. Follow-up of the infants was performed at 3 and 6 months after treatment. All analyzes were performed using SPSS version 22 at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that the mean age of the infants was 23.46±2.12 days, of which 33 infants were boys and 67 girls. The involvement on the right and left sides was 39% and 50%, respectively, and 11% of the infants had bilateral involvement. The mean value of acetabular index before placement was 25.48±6.509 and 26.38±3.866 on the right and left sides, which after 3 months of placement, was reduced to 21.62±2.578 and 21.57±2.839, respectively. Pavlik harness treatment was associated with acceptable radiological results in infants. This technique seems to be a suitable and applicable attempt to treat this problem and prevent serious and irreversible complications of late diagnosis.

Effect of end-of-life nursing education on the knowledge and performance of nurses in the intensive care unit: a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundEnd-of-life care education is required for nurses to acquire the clinical competence necessary for the improvement of the quality of end-of-life nursing care. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nursing care education based on End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) on the knowledge and performance of nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest–posttest design. From among nurses working in the ICU of Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran, 80 nurses were selected based on the inclusion criteria. They were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups (40 people in each group) using a table of random numbers. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the ELNEC Knowledge Assessment Test (ELNEC-KAT), and the Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice Questionnaire (German Revised Version; PCEP-GR).ResultsA significant difference was observed between the intervention and control groups in terms of the average knowledge score in all 9 modules including nursing care, pain management and control, disease symptom management, ethical/legal issues, culture, communication with the patient and his/her family, loss and grief, death, and quality of life (QOL) (P < 0.001). Moreover, the average performance score of nurses in the fields of preparation for providing palliative care, self-assessment of ability to communicate with dying patients and their relatives, self-assessment of knowledge and skills in palliative care increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001).ConclusionsEnd-of-life nursing education is recommended as an effective method for promoting knowledge, attitude, performance, and clinical competence among all nurses involved in end-of-life care.

Quality of Life of Parents of Children With Refractory Seizures Referred to a Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran

Background and Objectives Up to 25% of children with epilepsy experience resistance to treatment and recurrence of seizures and have low quality of life (QoL) in various dimensions. Limited evidence is available on the QoL of the parents of these patients in the south of Iran. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the QoL of parents with children having refractory epilepsy in Ahvaz, Iran Subjects and Methods Using a sequential sampling method, 157 parents of 113 children with refractory epilepsy who referred to the neurology clinic of Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz city during 2009-2016 were selected to participate in the study. The 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) was used to assess the QoL of parents. The significance level of statistical tests was set at 0.05. Results The mean age of parents was 35.2±8.5 years and the mean age of children was 7.1±2.6 years. Of 157 parents, 98 (62.4%) were mothers and the rest were fathers. The children had seizures for 3.1±1.6 years. The mean score of SF-36 was 62.6±21.4. In all domains of the SF-36, mothers had significantly lower scores than fathers (P&lt;0.000). Conclusion The QoL of parents with children having resistant epilepsy, especially their mothers, in Ahvaz is lower compared to the general population of Iranian

Preparation of Sepestan Anti-cough Syrup and Comparison of its Effectiveness With Diphenhydramine Syrup in Treating Cough in Children With Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Objectives Antihistamine drugs for acute upper respiratory tract infection treatment in children have many side effects. In this study, a anti-cough syrup was prepared from Cordia (Sepestan in Persian) extract and its effect was compared to that of diphenhydramine syrup on cough relief of children with upper respiratory tract infection. Subjects and Methods This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 124 children with upper respiratory tract infection aged 6-12 years referred to Abouzar Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran during 2019- 2021 in two treatment groups. The first group was given Sepestan syrup at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day and the second group received diphenhydramine syrup at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day in four dosages. For three days, the number and severity of day-time and night-time coughs were examined and the data were analyzed with independent t-test and chi-square test in SPSS software, version 24. Results The number and severity of day-time and night-time coughs in the group received Sepestan syrup significantly decreased compared to the diphenhydramine group, without any side effects (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion High polysaccharides, strong antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds of Sepestan can reduce throat irritation and soften the chest. The mucilage in the Sepestan extract can dissolve in water and produce a viscous substance such as gelatin that cause softening of the breast and expectoration.

Comparison of the prevalence of venous thromboembolism in patients treated with enoxaparin and heparin: A cross-sectional study in the intensive care unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz

Comparison of the prevalence of venous thromboembolism in patients treated with enoxaparin and heparin: A cross-sectional study in the intensive care unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz

The Effect of Family’s Scheduled Visitation on Vital Signs and Satisfaction Level of Patients Admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Visiting the family can have a great impact on hospitalized patients. Investigation of these effects is necessary to provide better care for patients admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU). Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was performed in the Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2021. Sixty-two CCU patients were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The scheduled family visit was performed twice a day, 60 minutes each time, for 3 days in the evening and night shifts for the intervention group. The routine family visit was used for the control group. Data were collected by a satisfaction questionnaire and a checklist on vital signs. Data were analyzed using the chi‑square, t-test, and generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: In the intervention group, unlike the control group, there was a significant difference between the mean heart rate and systolic blood pressure of patients during different times (P &lt; 0.000). Also, the level of satisfaction was higher in the intervention group than controls (P &lt; 0.000). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that scheduled family visits not only did not interfere with patients' vital signs but also increased their satisfaction. Therefore, it is necessary to design appropriate visitation policies for patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.

Effect of Perceived Social Support, Spiritual Well-being, Health Literacy, and Resilience on Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Structural Equation Model

Background: Spiritual well-being, social support, health literacy, and resilience may affect the quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of perceived social support, spiritual well-being, health literacy, and resilience on the QOL in patients under hemodialysis. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectioanl study randomly included 260 patients from three educational hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Data were collected using a 36-item QOL questionnaire, Spiritual Health Questionnaire (SHQ), Perceived Social Support (PSS) Questionnaire, Resilience Questionnaire, and Montazeri et al.’s Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) Questionnaire. Stata software version 14 was used for data analysis. The results were evaluated using descriptive statistics and a structural equation model (SEM). Results: In this study, a total of 260 patients (male: 138 vs. female: 122; mean age: 51.73 ± 15.32 years) undergoing hemodialysis were included. Most of the patients were married (76.9%) and had at least one comorbid disease (59.2%). Findings showed that health literacy, spiritual well-being, and social support had a significant correlation with the QOL (P &lt; 0.001). However, resilience was not significantly related to the patients’ QOL (P &gt; 0.58). Conclusions: To improve the QOL of patients undergoing hemodialysis, health care providers need to improve patients’ health literacy, social relationships, and spiritual well-being.

Investigating the Relationship between Maternal and Fetal Attachment and Spouses' Functional Health Literacy in Mothers

Background and Objective: Considering the inseparable component of maternal attachment to the fetus and the importance of mother and fetus care in this period and after and the special role of men as husband and father in caring for wife and child, the present study aims to determine The relationship between maternal attachment to the fetus and spouse's functional health literacy was performed in individuals referred to Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz in 2021. Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive correlational study on all pregnant women referred to Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz in 2021 and their spouses in the available method. The research instruments were demographic information self-report questionnaires, Montazeri et al.'s Health Literacy Questionnaire (2014) and the Cranley Fetal Attachment Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 12. Results: Findings show that the mean scores obtained for maternal attachment to the fetus and spouses 'functional health literacy were moderate and with 95% confidence, there is a significant correlation between the variables of maternal attachment to the fetus and spouses' functional health literacy (p &lt;0.05 and r =-0.796) Conclusion: Given the relationship between maternal attachment to the fetus and spouses 'functional health literacy, the importance of spouses' functional health literacy has been identified; therefore, it is necessary to take into account this point in macro-socio-economic planning and policies, so that we can see the promotion of health literacy more than all spouses.

Prevalence of Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases and Related Risk Factors Among Children Attending a Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran

Background and Objectives Primary immunodeficiency (PI) diseases are those occur because of a primary disorder in the immune system. Subjects and Methods This retrospective study was conducted on 70 children with PI diseases referred to the allergy and immunology department of Abuzar Children Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran from 2015 to 2018. Results The most common PI diseases in the majority of male children (56.92%) were severe combined immunodeficiency disease (21.42%) and chronic granulomatous disease (8.57%). Parents in most of patients (83%) were blood relatives. About 66.67% of all death cases (9.23%) was due to severe combined immunodeficiency disease; hypogammaglobulinemia and Griscelli syndrome accounted for about 16.67% of deaths. The most common manifestations were pneumonia, fever, diarrhea, and sepsis. Based on the family history, 33 children had allergies, 9 had malignancy, one had autoimmune disease, and 39 had mothers with a history of abortion. Most of children were under treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and prophylactic antibiotics, (99.88% and 88.99%, respectively), while 2.81% were under interferon-gamma therapy and transplantation, and 1.40% were receiving corticosteroids and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy. Conclusion The severe combined immunodeficiency disease, chronic granulomatous disease, and Bruton disease are the most common PI diseases in children living in Ahvaz.