Comparison of Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer Surgery in the Pandemic Era.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant challenges for oncology centers and cancer patients, necessitating the implementation of various preventive and restrictive protocols and postponing elective surgeries. We aimed to assess and compare tumor characteristics, including the size, metastasis, and duration of hospitalizations between the periods before and during COVID-19 in patients with thyroid cancer.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed at The Institute of Cancer, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, with 143 patients observed 2 years before the pandemic and 92 during March 2020 and March 2022.

Investigating the Effect of Topical Dexamethasone at the Site of Thyroid Surgery (on the Parathyroids) on Blood Calcium Levels after Surgery, Compared to the Control Group in Patients who Underwent Total Thyroidectomy.

Background: Considering the side effects of systemic injection of dexamethasone, we decided to investigate the effect of local spraying of dexamethasone in the thyroid site after thyroidectomy on postoperative calcium levels in patients who undergo total thyroidectomy.

Materials And Methods: The present investigation was a randomized clinical trial of dexamethasone on 60 patients undergoing thyroidectomy, who were assigned to two groups, namely the dexamethasone and control groups, each including 30 patients. Age, gender, type of underlying pathology was recorded in medicine.

Situational analysis of general practitioners using a forecasting approach until 2025 and a multi-state Markov model: A retrospective longitudinal study.

Introduction: Undesirable working conditions, insufficient professional development and other labour market pressures have significantly impacted the status of general practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to conduct a situational analysis of GPs in Iran using a forecasting approach until 2025.

Methods: Data were collected concurrently through direct contact, data matching among databases and tracking among graduates from four clusters of medical science universities over the past decade.

Price transparency in Iranian healthcare market.

Insufficient price transparency has emerged as a pivotal contributor to patient dissatisfaction, escalating costs, and diminished productivity within Iran's health system. This study aims to delineate and elucidate a definition of price transparency, identify suitable strategies, and present the outcomes associated with establishing a health system that embraces transparent pricing while also addressing the challenges ahead. Employing a quantitative-qualitative research design, data were extracted from a semi-structured interviews with stakeholders.

Thoracic duct identification with indocyanine green fluorescence to prevent chyle leaks during minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Introduction: Chylothorax (CT) is a rare yet serious complication after esophagectomy. Identification of the thoracic duct (TD) during esophagectomy is challenging due to its anatomical variation. Real-time identification of TD may help to prevent its injury.

Measuring Equity of Geographical Distribution of Specialist Physicians in Iran's Health System.

Background: Equitable distribution of health care sector resources is one of the most important goals of health systems in all countries. The purpose of this study is to measure equity of geographical distribution of active specialist physicians in Iran's health system.

Methods: The present study was a descriptive-cross-sectional.

Applying ethical theories to the Iranian health system governance: a critical empirical assessment.

The policies of health systems are inspired by ethical priorities. A critical review of policies can reveal the ethical theories/justice schools behind them. This study aimed to identify the ethical theory(ies) underpinning the Iranian health system governance over the past 50 years.

Resource Use and Costs Associated to the Initial Phase of Treatment for Patients with Colorectal Cancer Receiving Post-Surgery Chemotherapy: A Cost Analysis from a Healthcare Perspective.

Background: To estimate the resource use and costs associated to the initial phase of treatment for colorectal cancer in Iran.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using routinely collected data within Electronic Health Records System (SEPAS), a national database representing public hospitals in Iran between March 20, 2016 and March 19, 2017. Primary end points included healthcare resource use, direct medical and non-medical costs of care in the 12-month study period.

Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis Following Different Types of Neck Dissection.

Introduction: During functional neck dissection, the surgeon tries to preserve the internal jugular vein (IJV); however, the incidence of its narrowing or obstruction following modified radical neck dissection (MRND) or selective neck dissection (SND) varies between 0% and 29.6%. The most distressing complication of IJV thrombosis (IJVT) is pulmonary embolism.

How health transformation plan was designed and implemented in the Islamic Republic of Iran?

Following his inauguration in late 2013, President Rouhani aimed to boost quality and equity in the health care delivery system. To fulfill this aim, a set of interventions, called Health Transformation Plan (HTP), were implemented. So far, it has been a heated debate whether HTP breathes a spirit of a new reform.

An analysis of financial protection before and after the Iranian Health Transformation Plan.

Background: Protecting people against the financial consequences of health-care payments is a key objective of health systems.

Aims: We carried out a descriptive analysis of changes in health spending associated with the implementation of the latest health sector reform in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Health Transformation Plan (HTP).

Methods: The study relied on 2 rounds of data from the Household Expenditure and Income Survey (2014 and 2015).

Psychometric evaluation of Azeri version of the head and neck cancer specific quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-H&N43).

Background: Oral cancer surgery can have a deep effect on the quality of life in the patient both in terms of functional and psychological aspects. This study aimed to translate and validate the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer head and neck cancer specific quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-H&N43) in Azerbaijan.

Methods: Forward-backward translation was applied in order to translate the EORTC QLQ-H&N43 from English into Azeri.

Quality of life in patients with oral cancer treated by different reconstruction methods as measured by the EORTC QLQ-H&N43.

This was a prospective clinical study and the purpose was to assess the quality of life (QoL) as the primary endpoint for patients given prospective treatment for cancer of the oral cavity that required reconstruction using various reconstruction methods in Azerbaijan. All patients who were operated on during the year 2017 to 2018 were entered into the study. Quality of life was assessed six months postoperatively using the European Organization for Research and Cancer Treatment Core Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Head and Neck Specific Quality of Life (QLQ-H&NN43) questionnaires.

Expanding Fiscal Space for Healthcare System through Efficiency: A Qualitative Study from Iran.

Background: Healthcare systems are always facing increasing public demands to provide better services. Therefore, countries always need more resources and are constantly seeking more fiscal space for health. Freeing up resources through improving efficiency can be a practical option for all settings, particularly countries with low resources.

Association of physical activity, body mass index and reproductive history with breast cancer by menopausal status in Iranian women.

Background: The incidence rate of breast cancer (BC) is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Iran. We investigated the association between BC risk and physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and reproductive history among Iranian women.

Methods: We conducted a large hospital-based case-control study and compared 958 BC cases with 967 controls at the Cancer Institute of Iran during 2011-2016.

Health Status in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Middle East and North Africa Countries: Implications for Global Health.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health status of the Iranians following the sustainable development goals' (SDGs) introduction and the recent health reform implementation in Iran and to compare with those of the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) and global average.

Methods: This comparative study used secondary data to investigate socio-demographic and health status indicators. The sources included census, population-based surveys and death registries.

The Azeri Version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30): Translation and Validation.

Objective: Quality of life in cancer patients has become an important outcome measure. This study aimed to translate and validate the European Cancer Research and Treatment Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) in Azerbaijan.

Methods: Forward-backward procedure was applied to translate the EORTC QLQ-C30 from English into Azeri.

Evaluation of quality of life in patients with oral cancer after mandibular resection: Comparing no reconstruction, reconstruction with plate, and reconstruction with flap.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess and compare quality of life in patients with advanced oral cavity tumors after mandibular resection in 3 groups (no reconstruction, reconstruction with plate, and reconstruction with flap) at the Cancer Institute, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Quality of life was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core quality of life questionnaire and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer head and neck cancer-specific quality of life questionnaire-35 items. The comparison was tested using Kurskal-Wallis analysis.

Factors Associated with Dual Practice in Surgery Specialists: Application of Multi-Level Analysis on National Registry Data.

Background: Dual practice by surgery specialists is a widespread issue across health systems. This study aimed to determine the level of dual practice engagement and its related factors among Iran's surgery specialists.

Methods: A pre-structured form was developed to collect the data about surgery specialists worked in all 925 Iran hospitals in 2016.

The NCCN Criterion "Young Age at Onset" Alone is Not an Indicator of Hereditary Breast Cancer in Iranian Population.

Because the contribution of genetic factors to the burden of breast cancer is not well investigated in Iran, we aimed to examine the prevalence of mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes, and , and to investigate the predictive potential of hereditary breast cancer risk criteria for genetic testing in Iranian population. Next-generation sequencing was conducted on a population consisting of 299 and 125 patients with breast cancer, with and without hereditary cancer risk criteria for genetic testing, respectively. The pathogenic mutation frequency rate was 10.

The impact of provider payment reforms and associated care delivery models on cost and quality in cancer care: A systematic literature review.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of provider payment reforms and associated care delivery models on cost and quality in cancer care.

Methods: Data sources/study setting: Review of English-language literature published in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library (2007-2019). Study design: We performed a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the impact of cancer care reforms.

Factors influencing medical specialists' dual practice in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Background: Dual practice (DP) is performing several different jobs at the same time and has effects on healthcare services delivery.

Aims: To identify the causes of medical specialists' tendency towards DP in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Methods: We used a qualitative approach to identify the factors affecting DP in medical specialists in 2016.

Effect of dual practice on service delivery time by surgeons in the Islamic Republic of Iran: multi-level analysis of a national survey, 2016.

Background: One of the work patterns which affects the supply of specialists is the phenomenon of dual practice (DP), i.e., working simultaneously in the public and private sectors.