Context: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and premature mortality across Spain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of these premature deaths ...are preventable by controlling cardiovascular risk factors. Community pharmacists (CPs) are well situated to provide professional educational advice and implement interventions for the reduction of CVD. Aims: To analyze the impact of community pharmacists’ interventions on cardiovascular risk factors and CVD prevention in Spain. Methods: Two independent reviewers searched PubMed/MEDLINE; SCOPUS; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); EMBASE; National Regional Database (LILACS BIREME); CINAHL; Pharm-line; ClinicalTrials.gov; ISRCTN; DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), WHO ICTRP, SCIELO and opengrey.eu and Google Scholar and considered research published between January 2000 and August 2020. The Cochrane risk of bias (RoB2) and ROBINS-I tools were used to evaluate the randomised/quasi-randomised controlled trials and the nonrandomised studies of interventions (NRSI), respectively. Results: The database search resulted in 457 items from which fourteen met our inclusion criteria. A total of 4,250 participants, aged 18 to 85, were included in the pharmacists’ interventions offered in the form of medication reconciliation and patient education. Studies showed a beneficial effect of CPs intervention on medication reconciliation and the control of hypertension, dyslipidaemias, obesity, and diabetes. However, evidence on smoking cessation and alcohol advice services is meager. Conclusions: This study suggests that community pharmacist counselling and personalized intervention could contribute to improving cardiovascular outcomes in Spain.
Context: Spain was at the epicenter of the pandemic. Health centers across Spanish territory were not able to respond to non-emergency enquiries, leaving community pharmacies as the first point of ...patient’s contact. Aims: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental and physical health of community pharmacy teams across Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed with community pharmacy professionals throughout Spain. A questionnaire designed by our collaborator from the United Kingdom was adapted to the Spanish population and launched between October 2020 and February 2021. Results: A total of 98 participants responded to the questionnaire. The survey showed an 80% increase in workload. The pandemic had negatively impacted the well-being of community pharmacy professionals. The survey indicated a national shortage of medicines and personal protective equipment across Spain, particularly during the first peak. To adapt to this pandora’s box of COVID-19, 96% of the pharmacies changed their settings to improve patients and staff’s safety. Most of these changes were self-financed by the pharmacy owner. The pharmacists kept up to date with information released from the pharmacists’ college, General Pharmaceutical Council and the Spanish Society of Community Pharmacists. The Public domain purchased more (79%) immune booster supplements. Conclusions: Community pharmacy professionals have faced tremendous mental, physical and professional pressure in providing adequate personal protective equipment and medication supply to their communities. They have provided more pharmaceutical services during the crisis, although they have not been recognized as essential workers by the healthcare system.
BACKGROUNDAlthough nutritional status of children and adolescents is of great concern various interventions and modifications aiming at promotion of healthy eating behaviors have limited impact due ...to insufficient understanding of dietary habits between different age groups and genders. The aim of this study in not only evaluation of nutritional knowledge, practice, and dietary habits of primary school and junior high school students in Isfahan province, but also this research explore crucial differences regarding gender and living area of the above-mentioned population in Iran. METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 4700 primary school and junior high school pupils in Isfahan province. Data were collected through standard 24-h recall food frequency questionnaire and researcher-designed questionnaire. Independent t-test was applied for comparison of mean values of total units of consumed food materials. Qualitative variables were compared by using the Chi-square test. Data were analyzed by ACCESS 2010 and SPSS 18 software. RESULTSNutritional knowledge of female pupils and junior high school students was higher than their male and elementary school students respectively; still, theses superiorities did not lead to higher practice score. Bread and cereals group received daily intakes in accordance with food and drug administration (FDA) recommendations. Indeed, vegetables, milk, and dairy products, as well as meat daily intakes, were lower than the FDA recommendation, whereas fats, oils, and sugars intakes were higher. In comparison to females, male participants had significantly lower consumption of vegetables and fruits whilst they had a higher intake of carbohydrates, fats, and meats. CONCLUSIONSOur results showed that adolescents failed to meet sufficient nutritional requirements, and they had an imbalanced diet, which was considerably low in several essential nutrients and high in some food materials.
BACKGROUNDPresent study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of grades of nutritional status comprising underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity as well as other measurable anthropometric ...indicators of body mass index (BMI) in regard to gender, educational level, and living area among students settled in Isfahan province. METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 4700 individuals (2349 females and 2351 males) being from 9 to 15 years old, while they were students of either primary school or junior high school. Random cluster method was applied in both urban (84%) and rural (16%) areas of Isfahan province. BMI values were measured and then categorized using reference growth charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2000). Weight-for-age and stature-for-age indices were assessed as well in accordance with CDC growth charts. RESULTSThe overall prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity was 13.9, 10.4, and 5.7%, respectively. Boys and students of urban areas showed a higher tendency of obesity and overweight in comparison with girls and rural students respectively. Furthermore, rural students had poorer status in both weight-for-age and stature-for-age indices. In addition, educational level was the only statistically efficacious factor. CONCLUSIONSThis study and previous ones demonstrated that children and adolescents' nutritional status, which strongly affect general health status of individuals, should receive more exquisite attention.
Present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of grades of nutritional status comprising underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity as well as other measurable anthropometric indicators of ...body mass index (BMI) in regard to gender, educational level, and living area among students settled in Isfahan province.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 4700 individuals (2349 females and 2351 males) being from 9 to 15 years old, while they were students of either primary school or junior high school. Random cluster method was applied in both urban (84%) and rural (16%) areas of Isfahan province. BMI values were measured and then categorized using reference growth charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2000). Weight-for-age and stature-for-age indices were assessed as well in accordance with CDC growth charts.
The overall prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity was 13.9, 10.4, and 5.7%, respectively. Boys and students of urban areas showed a higher tendency of obesity and overweight in comparison with girls and rural students respectively. Furthermore, rural students had poorer status in both weight-for-age and stature-for-age indices. In addition, educational level was the only statistically efficacious factor.
This study and previous ones demonstrated that children and adolescents' nutritional status, which strongly affect general health status of individuals, should receive more exquisite attention.
Although nutritional status of children and adolescents is of great concern various interventions and modifications aiming at promotion of healthy eating behaviors have limited impact due to ...insufficient understanding of dietary habits between different age groups and genders. The aim of this study in not only evaluation of nutritional knowledge, practice, and dietary habits of primary school and junior high school students in Isfahan province, but also this research explore crucial differences regarding gender and living area of the above-mentioned population in Iran.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4700 primary school and junior high school pupils in Isfahan province. Data were collected through standard 24-h recall food frequency questionnaire and researcher-designed questionnaire. Independent t-test was applied for comparison of mean values of total units of consumed food materials. Qualitative variables were compared by using the Chi-square test. Data were analyzed by ACCESS 2010 and SPSS 18 software.
Nutritional knowledge of female pupils and junior high school students was higher than their male and elementary school students respectively; still, theses superiorities did not lead to higher practice score. Bread and cereals group received daily intakes in accordance with food and drug administration (FDA) recommendations. Indeed, vegetables, milk, and dairy products, as well as meat daily intakes, were lower than the FDA recommendation, whereas fats, oils, and sugars intakes were higher. In comparison to females, male participants had significantly lower consumption of vegetables and fruits whilst they had a higher intake of carbohydrates, fats, and meats.
Our results showed that adolescents failed to meet sufficient nutritional requirements, and they had an imbalanced diet, which was considerably low in several essential nutrients and high in some food materials.
Studies have provided evidence for the effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in treating medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This study aimed to examine the ...effectiveness of ISTDP on individuals living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in terms of, emotion regulation (ER) abilities, defense mechanisms, quality of life (QOL), and IBS symptoms. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with IBS were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention (
= 15) or control (
= 15) group. Pre- and post-treatment assessments were conducted, along with a follow-up assessment after ten weeks. Repeated measures analyses of variance were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that ISTDP led to significant improvements in ER, defense mechanisms, and QOL, as well as a reduction in the severity and frequency of IBS symptoms. These results provide further support for the efficacy of ISTDP as a treatment modality for individuals with IBS.
Objective (s): The Islamic Republic of Iran has experienced a dramatic decrease in fertility rates in the past three decades. Despite extensive research in the field of demography and fertility, many ...previous studies have been conducted based on quantitative methods and frequently criticized especially in the micro level. Since the qualitative research will provide a much deeper understanding of the decision-making processes, this study was conducted to understand and properly describe the decision-making process of childbearing in Kermanshah city.Methods: Adopting the grounded theory approach, this study was started with a purposive sampling and continued with theoretical sampling with maximum variation in terms of age, gender and number of children. In-depth interviews were carried out with 20 married women and 14 married men. The constant comparative method was used to analyze the data.Results: Individuals perceived certain needs in their lives. If a person believed that childbearing would reduce or fulfill these needs, then the childbearing demand will develop. Attitude to childbearing consequences and perceived norms were reasons for perceived childbearing needs. When the childbearing need was formed, a person plans to have or not have a child based on perception of capability in controlling current life conditions and in raising the child. If the person perceived that he/she could control the above conditions, “childbearing intention” was developed and if he/she considered the degree of control to be inappropriate, he/she would employ the strategy of childbearing avoidance and display the appropriate behavior according to this decision-making process. Conclusion: We found that child bearing is not an accidental phenomenon; rather, it is a rational choice. The childbearing decision-making is a process on the basis of satisfying some needs.
Central obesity is the basis of metabolic syndrome, which may lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Its screening is critical in childhood to prevent such problems in adulthood. We ...presented a computer-aided diagnosis system to classify children and adolescents into obese and non-obese groups based on input features obtained from the subject's nutritional behavior, physical activity, genetics, socioeconomic status, and family history of diseases (the CASPIAN IV study). A total of 13,386 subjects (49% female) with a central obesity prevalence of 19% participated. The categorical features were converted to interval features using the Logit function, and the XGBoost classifier with grid search was then used. Other linear and nonlinear classifiers were also used for comparison. Some selected features were family history of hypertension, weight at birth, number of close friends, breakfast, and screen time categories. The proposed screening system showed a high association between predicted and observed class labels (Matthews correlation coefficient =0.76), excellent balanced diagnosis accuracy (AU-ROC =0.90), and excellent class labeling agreement rate (Kappa = 0.75) using 4-fold cross-validation. It is thus a promising screening tool. Moreover, it significantly outperformed the other tested classifiers (adj. P-value<0.05). Although, as a cross-sectional study, no causality can be inferred.
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