Internet addiction is defined as mismanagement of internet use that causes mental, social and occupational problems. Thus, the assessment of prevalence of this disorder can lead to preventive measures and appropriate treatment to prevent its spread. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, prevalence of internet addiction disorder was assessed in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran in 2012. Stratified random sample was used to select 224 students. Demographic data were recorded and Internet Addiction test Test (IAT) questionnaire was administrated. Results: Out off 224 students participating in the study, 86 (38.4%) were males and 138 (61.6%) were female with a mean age of 21.05± 0.1 years. Most of the students (42.4%) were using the internet "under one hour" and the lowest (4%) "More than six hours". Mean test score of IAT was 24.81 ± 1.08 (mild addiction). In terms of internet addiction, 95 (42.4%) cases were normal users, 115 (51.3%) had mild addiction, 12 (5.4%) showed moderate addiction and 2 (0.9%) were cases of severe addiction which are lower compared to previous studies. Conclusion: The rate of internet addiction among students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in Iran is lower than the previous reports. It is still necessary to curb the spread of this problem due to its complications.

Background: Iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a major worldwide public health problem. Children and women of reproductive age are especially vulnerable to IDA, and it has been reported that these patients are more prone to infection. This study was done to evaluate alteration of lymphocyte subgroups in IDA. Methods: In this prospective study, we investigated lymphocyte subsets in pre-menopausal women with iron-deficiency anaemia; 50 normal subjects and 50 IDA (hypochromic microcytic) cases were enrolled. Experimental and control anticoagulated blood samples were evaluated using flow cytometry to determine the absolute and relative numbers of various lymphocyte subgroups. Finally, the results of the patient and control groups were compared. Results: Mean (SD) absolute counts of lymphocytes, CD3+ cells, CD3+/CD4+ subsets (T helper) and CD3+/CD8+ subsets (T cytotoxic) in the patient group were 2.08 (0.65) x 109/L, 1.53 (0.53) x 109/L, 0.87 (0.28) x 109/L, and 0.51 (0.24) x 109/L, respectively. The results showed significant differences between case and control groups in mean absolute counts of lymphocytes (P = 0.014), T lymphocytes (P = 0.009), helper T cells (P = 0.004), and cytotoxic T cells (P = 0.043). Conclusion: This study showed that absolute counts of peripheral blood T lymphocytes as a marker of cell-mediated immunity may be decreased in pre-menopausal women with iron-deficiency anaemia, and that these patients may be more prone to infection.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Some findings show increased frequencies of these diseases in individuals with type O blood and in secretors (expressing Leb antigen), but other studies have not found any relationship between blood groups and this infection. Given that H. pylori infection and gastric cancer are common in Iran, the assessment of the pathogenesis of this infection in relation to these blood groups could be valuable. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we determined the ABO and Lewis blood groups of participants using the tube method and evaluated the level of anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study included 171 Iranian blood donors from Mashhad, Iran, during 2010. The significance of the differences in the frequencies of the Lewis and ABO phenotypes between individuals infected with and without H. Pylori infection were tested using the chi-square test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: H. pylori infection was found in 76.6% of the study subjects (n = 131). The most common ABO blood group was O (33.9%), and the most common Lewis blood group was Le(a-b+) (54.7%). The frequencies of the ABO, Lewis, and secretion phenotypes were not significantly different between the infected and uninfected subjects. Conclusion: We did not find any significant relationship between the Lewis, ABO, and secretion phenotypes and H. pylori infection.

OBJECTIVES: A survival analysis of breast cancer patients in southern Iran according to age has yet to be conducted. This study aimed to quantify the factors contributing to a poor prognosis, using Cox and empirical Bayesian additive hazard (EBAH) models, among young (20-39 years), middle-aged (40-64 years), and elderly (≥ 65 years) women. METHODS: Data from 1,574 breast cancer patients diagnosed from 2002 to 2012 in the cancer registry of Fars Province (southern Iran) were stratified into 3 age groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival rates. Cox and EBAH models were applied to each age category, and the Akaike information criterion was used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the 2 hazard models. RESULTS: As of December 2012, 212 women (13.5%) in our study population had died, of whom 43 were young (15.3%), 134 middle-aged (11.8%), and 35 elderly (22.3%). The 5-year survival probability by age category was 0.83 (standard error [SE], 0.03), 0.88 (SE, 0.01), and 0.75 (SE, 0.04), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Nottingham Prognostic Index was the most effective prognostic factor. The model based on Bayesian methodology performed better with various sample sizes than the Cox model, which is the most widely used method of survival analysis.
Aged* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Iran* ; Methods ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models* ; Sample Size ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: A survival analysis of breast cancer patients in southern Iran according to age has yet to be conducted. This study aimed to quantify the factors contributing to a poor prognosis, using Cox and empirical Bayesian additive hazard (EBAH) models, among young (20-39 years), middle-aged (40-64 years), and elderly (≥ 65 years) women.METHODS: Data from 1,574 breast cancer patients diagnosed from 2002 to 2012 in the cancer registry of Fars Province (southern Iran) were stratified into 3 age groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival rates. Cox and EBAH models were applied to each age category, and the Akaike information criterion was used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the 2 hazard models.RESULTS: As of December 2012, 212 women (13.5%) in our study population had died, of whom 43 were young (15.3%), 134 middle-aged (11.8%), and 35 elderly (22.3%). The 5-year survival probability by age category was 0.83 (standard error [SE], 0.03), 0.88 (SE, 0.01), and 0.75 (SE, 0.04), respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The Nottingham Prognostic Index was the most effective prognostic factor. The model based on Bayesian methodology performed better with various sample sizes than the Cox model, which is the most widely used method of survival analysis.
Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; Methods ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sample Size ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: Genetic disorders are the main causes of many other diseases. Integrating genetic data into Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can facilitate the management of genetic information and care of patients in clinical practices. The aim of this study was to identify the main requirements for integrating genetic data into the EHR system from the medical geneticists' perspectives. METHODS: The research was completed in 2018 and consisted of two phases. In the first phase, the main requirements for integrating genetic data into the EHR system were identified by reviewing the literature. In the second phase, a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was developed based on the literature review and the results derived from the first phase. Then, the Delphi method was applied to reach a consensus about the integration requirements. RESULTS: The findings of the first phase showed that data elements, including patients' and healthcare providers' personal data, clinical and genetic data, technical infrastructure, security issues and functional requirements, should be taken into account before data integration. In the second phase, a consensus was reached for most of the items (mean ≥3.75). The items with a mean value of less than 2.5 did not achieve a consensus and were removed from the final list. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of genetic data into the EHRs can provide a ground for increasing accuracy and precision in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders. Such integration requires adequate investments to identify users' requirements as well as technical and non-technical issues.
Consensus ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Electronic Health Records ; Genetics ; Humans ; Investments ; Medical Informatics ; Methods

Objectives: Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by the repetition of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongation of sounds; and interruptions in speech. Telepractice allows speech services to be delivered to patients regardless of their location. This review investigated factors influencing the use of telepractice in stuttering treatment. Methods: Articles related to the application of telepractice in stuttering were searched using the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, and ProQuest databases without consideration of any time limit. Initially, 79 articles were found and after application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were selected for the review study. Data were analyzed by using the content analysis method and synthesized narratively. Results: Factors influencing the use of telepractice in stuttering treatment were categorized into individual, technical, clinical, and economic factors. Providing access to healthcare services, maintaining personal privacy, and allowing flexibility in arranging appointments were among individual factors. In terms of the technical factors, technical problems and Internet speed were addressed. Clinical factors were divided into positive and negative outcomes, and economic factors were mainly related to time and cost savings. Conclusions Although patients may benefit from using telepractice, the widespread adoption of this technology can be hindered by some technical and non-technical factors. Because telepractice can be employed as a complementary method to treat stuttering, more attention should be paid to the required infrastructure and factors that may negatively impact the use of this technology.

OBJECTIVES: A patient accounting system is a subsystem of a hospital information system. This system like other information systems should be carefully designed to be able to meet users' requirements. The main aim of this research was to investigate users' requirements and to determine whether current patient accounting systems meet users' needs or not. METHODS: This was a survey study, and the participants were the users of six patient accounting systems used in 24 teaching hospitals. A stratified sampling method was used to select the participants (n = 216). The research instruments were a questionnaire and a checklist. The mean value of > or =3 showed the importance of each data element and the capability of the system. RESULTS: Generally, the findings showed that the current patient accounting systems had some weaknesses and were able to meet between 70% and 80% of users' requirements. CONCLUSIONS: The current patient accounting systems need to be improved to be able to meet users' requirements. This approach can also help to provide hospitals with more usable and reliable financial information.
Checklist ; Hospital Information Systems ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Needs Assessment

BACKGROUND: Acute hyperglycemia in the perioperative period is associated with significantly increased complications. In few human studies the effects of propofol and inhalational anesthetic on the glucose metabolism were compared. In this study we evaluated the effect of propofol and isoflurane on blood glucose during abdominal hysterectomy in diabetic patients. METHODS: After approval by the Ethical Committee and written informed consent, thirty 35 to 65 years old diabetic women underwent for elective abdominal hysterectomy under general anesthesia were studied in this randomized single blind clinical trial study. The plasma glucose was maintained at 100 to 180 mg/dL during the operation. Anesthesia protocol was similar in two groups except maintenance of anesthesia that was with infusion of propofol in the propofol group and with isoflurane in the isoflurane group. Blood glucose level and the rate of insulin intake during surgery compared between two groups. RESULTS: Mean blood glucose before induction of anesthesia did not have significant difference between two groups, but 60 and 90 minutes after starting the operation blood glucose in the propofol group was significantly lower than isoflurane group. Also with using Repeated Measure test, two groups was significantly different according to blood glucose (P=0.045). Mean of administration of insulin during the surgery did not have significant difference between two groups by using repeated measure test and P=0.271. Also mean of bispectral index in different times during the surgery between two groups didn't have significant difference (P=0.35 repeated measure test). CONCLUSION: Blood glucose increased during maintenance of anesthesia with isoflurane compared to propofol during the surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Glucose* ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hysterectomy* ; Informed Consent ; Insulin ; Isoflurane* ; Metabolism ; Perioperative Period ; Propofol*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare nurses' satisfaction with, and expectations of, hospital information systems in two teaching hospitals. METHODS: This was a survey study, which was completed in 2014. The potential participants were 267 nurses who worked in two teaching hospitals and used the same hospital information system. Data were collected using two questionnaires. Both questionnaires were examined in terms of content validity and reliability. RESULTS: The results showed that, for a majority of nurses, their expectations of the system were not met in either hospital. Moreover, there was a significant association between the nurses' expectations and the perceived usefulness of the systems (p < 0.001), between the nurses' expectations and their satisfaction with the systems (p < 0.001), and between the perceived usefulness and nurses' satisfaction with the systems (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that, apart from the technical issues of implementing clinical information systems, non-technical factors should be taken into account. Among them, the nature of clinical tasks and the organizational culture require more attention to allow a successful system to be designed and implemented.
Hospital Information Systems* ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Information Systems ; Medical Informatics Applications ; Nursing* ; Organizational Culture ; Personal Satisfaction ; Reproducibility of Results