Differences in the Clinical Severity Scores of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients across Different Phases of an Epidemic Wave in Iran: a Secondary Analysis.

Background: To reduce the clinical burden of COVID-19, healthcare providers, and policymakers need a clear understanding of the illness severity during epidemic waves. This study aimed to identify the clinical severity of patients with COVID-19 during different stages of an epidemic wave (pre-peak, peak, post-peak) in four provinces in Iran.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the data on COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals (25,382 cases), which were recorded in the Medical Care Monitoring Center.

The impact of economic sanctions on cancer diagnosis and treatment in Iran: a qualitative study.

Background: The economic sanctions imposed on Iran have had a significant impact on the country's healthcare system. The sanctions have affected the availability and affordability of cancer diagnosis and treatment services, leading to a range of challenges for patients with cancer. This study aimed to explore these challenges and gain a deeper understanding of the impact of economic sanctions on cancer care in Iran.

Improving adverse drug event reporting by healthcare professionals.

Background: Adverse drug events, encompassing both adverse drug reactions and medication errors, pose a significant threat to health, leading to illness and, in severe cases, death. Timely and voluntary reporting of adverse drug events by healthcare professionals plays a crucial role in mitigating the morbidity and mortality linked to unexpected reactions and improper medication usage.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of different interventions aimed at healthcare professionals to improve the reporting of adverse drug events.

Identification of key factors affecting the future of knowledge translation in Iranian health policy-making.

Background: Production, publication, and effective of academic research in health policy-making are tools to strengthen interactions between policy-makers, the scientific community, and the public. The purpose of this study was to identify the key factors of knowledge translation in the policy-making of the health system in Iran using the structural analysis method.

Materials And Methods: This future study was conducted using the foresight structural analysis method for a 10-year horizon in Iran from 2022 to 2031.

Simulated Malaria Online Tool: an instrument for evaluating healthcare providers' practices and contributing to the evidence base for certifying malaria elimination and preventing its re-establishment.

Background: Healthcare providers (HCPs) practice and correct management of suspected malaria (CMSM) are central components of malaria elimination and prevention of re-establishment (POR) in countries in the elimination phase. However, knowledge of malaria surveillance systems and HCPs practices often wanes in countries aiming to eliminate malaria due to the low numbers of cases. The study aimed to implement a valid Simulated Malaria Online Tool (SMOT) for assessment HCP performance in CMSM and POR in a malaria-free area.

Academic knowledge brokers in Iran's health sector: Characteristics, skills, and qualifications.

Background: Knowledge brokers, as a bridge between producers and users of knowledge, need a set of skills and abilities to fulfill their role. The current study was carried out with the aim of identifying the characteristics, skills, and qualifications needed by knowledge brokers in Iran's health sector.

Materials And Methods: This qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants selected using social network analysis and snowball method from June to December 2022.

Adaptation of mental health first aid guidelines for eating disorders for Iran.

Background: This study aimed to adapt mental health first aid guidelines to support individuals with or at risk of developing eating disorders in Iran. This adaptation seeks to enhance the support available for the Iranian population dealing with these disorders.

Methods: We employed the Delphi expert consensus method, utilizing two panels: health professionals (n = 37 in the first round; n = 29 in the second) and individuals with lived experience (n = 20 in the first round; n = 18 in the second).

Challenges in institutionalizing evidence-informed priority setting for health service packages: a qualitative document and interview analysis from Iran.

Background: Setting and implementing evidence-informed health service packages (HSPs) is crucial for improving health and demonstrating the effective use of evidence in real-world settings. Despite extensive training for large groups on evidence generation and utilization and establishing structures such as evidence-generation entities in many countries, the institutionalization of setting and implementing evidence-informed HSPs remains unachieved. This study aims to review the actions taken to set the HSP in Iran and to identify the challenges of institutionalizing the evidence-informed priority-setting process.

Effectiveness of the Green Heart Smartphone Application as a Self-Management Intervention for Hypertension and Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health concern, the leading cause of death and disability. Thus, preventive interventions targeting modifiable risk factors are essential. Mobile-health technologies have emerged as promising tools for improving prevention by modifying risk factors.

Health burden and attributable economic damage of conflict and terrorism in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

This study aimed to vividly describe the direct and severe health impacts of conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). It also sought to quantify the staggering portion of economic damage attributable to the health burden of conflict and terrorism. From 1990 to 2019, the region endured the devastating effects of conflict and terrorism.

Effectiveness of Applying Green Heart, a Smartphone-Based Self-management Intervention to Control Smoking: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant global health concern and are the most common cause of death and disability, necessitating preventive interventions targeting modifiable risk factors. Recently, mobile-health technology has been developed to improve the delivery of cardiovascular prevention by risk factor modification. The "Green Heart" mobile application (app) was designed to aid in risk factor control among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

Faculty members as academic knowledge brokers in Iran's health sector: a social network analysis study.

Background: Interaction between researchers and policymakers is an essential factor to facilitate the evidence-informed policymaking. One of the effective ways to establish this relationship and promote evidence-informed policymaking is to employ people or organizations that can play the role of knowledge brokers. This study aims to analyze the communication network and interactions between researchers and policymakers in Iran's health sector and identify key people serving as academic knowledge brokers.

Peer interventions to improve HIV testing uptake among immigrants: A realist review.

Background: As a vulnerable group in HIV control programs, immigrants face various obstacles to HIV testing. Despite the effectiveness of peer interventions on health promotion in HIV testing, relatively little is known about how these interventions work. This realist review aims to understand why, how, and under what conditions peer interventions can improve immigrants' HIV testing uptake.

The effectiveness of green heart application to manage modifiable risk factors of coronary artery disease in Tehran Heart Center: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is diminishing in developed countries. However, in middle- and low-income countries the CVD death rates are growing. CVD is the most common cause of death and disability in Iran and accounts for nearly half of all mortalities in Iranians.

Establishing research impact assessment in Iran: The first report from a non-high-income country.

Background: This study presents the first report on research impact assessment (RIA) in non-high-income countries, undertaken as a pilot initiative in 2021. Within it, we aimed to explore the feasibility of employing the 'payback' model for evaluating the impact of health research and enhancing the accountability of universities. We focussed on three key impact domains: 'production of decision support documents and knowledge-based products,' 'implementation of research results,' and 'health and economic impact.

Safety and efficacy of RCP recombinant spike protein covid-19 vaccine compared to Sinopharm BBIBP: A phase III, non-inferiority trial.

Background: We conducted a phase III, non-inferiority trial comparing safety and efficacy of RCP recombinant spike protein Covid-19 vaccine to BBIBP (Sinopharm).

Methods: Adult Iranian population received RCP or BBIBP in a randomized, double blind and an additional non-randomized open labeled trial arms. Eligible participants signed a written informed consent and received two intramuscular injections three weeks apart.

The experiences and perceptions of people with chronic and rare diseases during political-economic sanctions in Iran: a qualitative study.

Background: Economic sanctions aim to exert pressure on political and economic foundations. Hypothesizing that sanctions might affect various aspects of population health, this study, as a component of a broader investigation to ascertain the trend effects of sanctions on selected health outcomes in Iran, seeks to explore the experiences of Iranian citizens associated with the imposed sanctions.

Methods: This is a qualitative study.

The Dilemma of Underutilized Health Insurance: A Matched Case-Control Study Investigating Reasons in Iran's Free Universal Health Insurance.

Background: In May 2014, the Iranian government announced it would cover all uninsured Iranians. Despite free-of-charge insurance, the studies found that the coverage still needed to be completed (93%). This study aimed to understand why certain population groups remain without insurance despite the accessibility of free-of-charge coverage.

Challenges facing international students at Iranian universities: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: This study examines the challenges faced by international students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) and provides insights into their experiences and needs.

Methodology: A self-developed structured questionnaire was administered to international students who completed their first year at TUMS. Data were collected from 165 participants (76% response rate) and analyzed using SPSS 22.

Respecting patients' rights in hospitals: patients' and health-care workers' perspectives.

Considering the importance of respecting and observing patients' rights, this study aimed to assess the level of observance of hospitalized patients' rights from both patients' and health-care workers' (HCWs) perspectives. This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study reports the responses of 486 patients and 887 HCWs in a public referral university hospital. The study illustrates that patients and HCWs think patients' rights are respected at a medium level; however, HCWs reported lower levels of respect for patients' rights than patients, and senior HCWs reported even lower levels than their younger colleagues.

Exploring nationwide policy interventions to control COVID-19 from the perspective of the rapid learning health system approach.

Introduction: The health systems needed to improve their learning capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Iran is one of the countries massively struck by the pandemic. This study aimed to explore whether and how the policy interventions made by Iran's policymakers at the national level to control COVID-19, could improve the rapid learning characteristics of the health system.

Investigating the Rate of the Use of Persian Traditional Medicine Services in Tehran.

Background: Despite all the advancements and publicity made in regard to classical medicine, every day more and more people are interested in complementary medicine. This study was designed and conducted to determine the relative frequency of the use of Persian traditional medicine services by the people of Tehran.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the telephone survey method in Tehran.

Phase II, Safety and Immunogenicity of RAZI Cov Pars (RCP) SARS Cov-2 Vaccine in Adults Aged 18-70 Years; A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Background: This study explores the safety and immunogenicity of the Razi-Cov-Pars (RCP) SARS Cov-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine.

Method: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults aged 18-70 were randomly allocated to receive selected 10 µg/200 µl vaccine strengths or placebo (adjuvant). It included two intramuscular injections at days 0 and 21, followed by an intranasal dose at day 51.