Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background Patients with multiple sclerosis face numerous problems during their lifetime. A self-report measurement of disease - specific problems is required to be developed for patients with multiple sclerosis based on different cultural factors. Accordingly, this can advance our understanding on the disease-specific problems for care planning as well as improving coping ways and quality of life. This study aimed to develop and validate the scale of disease-specific problems of Multiple Sclerosis. Methods This was an exploratory sequential mixed method study conducted in three phases. Correspondingly, in the first phase, the concept of disease-specific problems was defined using the content analysis approach in patients with MS. In the second phase, the item pool was generated from the findings of the first phase, and in the third phase, psychometric properties of the scale, including face, content, and construct validity and reliability, were evaluated. Results After examining both validity and reliability, 28 items were developed in the final questionnaire. As well, by performing the factor analysis, five factors were revealed as follows: physical problems, psychological problems, emotional problems, family problems, and socio-economic problems. Internal consistency and stability of the questionnaire were calculated as 0.82 and 0.90, respectively, indicating an excellent reliability. Conclusion The 28-item questionnaire is valid and reliable for measurement of level of disease - specific problems in Iranian people with MS.

Considering de Rham–Gabadadze–Tolley theory of massive gravity coupled with (ghost free) higher curvature terms arisen from the Lovelock Lagrangian, we obtain charged-AdS black hole solutions in diverse dimensions. We compute thermodynamic quantities in the extended phase space by considering the variations of the negative cosmological constant, Lovelock coefficients (\\[\\alpha _{i}\\]) and massive couplings (\\[c_{i}\\]). We also prove that such variations are necessary in order to satisfy the extended first law of thermodynamics as well as associated Smarr formula. In addition, by performing a comprehensive thermal stability analysis for the topological black hole solutions, we show that in which regions thermally stable phases exist. Calculations show the results are radically different from those in the Einstein gravity. We find that the phase structure and critical behavior of topological AdS black holes are drastically restricted by the geometry of the event horizon. We also show that the phase structure of AdS black holes with non-compact (hyperbolic) horizon could give birth to three critical points corresponds to a reverse van der Waals behavior for phase transition which is accompanied with two distinct van der Waals phase transitions. For black holes with the spherical horizon, the van der Waals, reentrant and analogue of solid/liquid/gas phase transitions are observed.

Background Hypertension, known as the silent killer, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Awareness and treatment of hypertension is not appropriate in the world, and this has led to an increase in mortality and morbidity caused by uncontrolled hypertension. This study aims to estimate awareness, treated, and controlled hypertensive and relevant predictors in an adult Iranian population. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 10,000 adults aged 20–69 years in Yazd, Iran. They were selected through multi-stage random cluster sampling in 2015–2016. Blood pressure was measured three-time with standard protocol by trained health workers. Those with a positive history of hypertension and using anti-hypertensive drugs, prescribed by a physician, were considered hypertensive. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of ≥90 mmHg. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined in accordance with recommended treatment targets by the Joint National Committee (JNC7). Logistic regression was used to assess the predictors of hypertension awareness, treatment and control. Results The prevalence of hypertension was 37.3%, and the prevalence of pre-hypertension was 46.4%. 49.7% of People with hypertension were aware of their disease, and 71.5% of them were using antihypertensive drugs prescribed by physicians. Blood pressure was controlled in 38.9% of the treated patients. In the adjusted model, older age, female sex, and history of diabetes mellitus were positively associated with higher awareness. High physical activity, tobacco smoking, and diabetes are the only predictors of treated high blood pressure. Younger age, female sex, and higher education were determinants of controlled hypertension. Having health insurance was significantly correlated with awareness and control of hypertension. Conclusion Hypertension is a public health problem in this population, which is not well controlled. Half of the patients were unaware. Intervention for increased screening coverage is needed. It should plan to raise public awareness about hypertension and improve hypertension control under the supervision of physicians. Implement a family physician program is recommended in the health system.

Abstract Introduction:Health literacy is one of the effective factors in health promotion of chronic patients. However, little attention has been paid to it; no exact and clear definition of health literacy has ever been accessible in chronic diseases. This study was conducted with aim of defining and clarifying attributes, antecedents, and consequences of health literacy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: Rodgers’ evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to clarify the concept of health literacy in MS patients. A literature review was conducted with key terms \"multiple sclerosis\", \"health literacy\", \"information literacy\", \"functional health\", \"health education\", \"health promotion\" and \"health behavior\". Eight hundred and sixty papers for the period 1980– 2019 were found and finally 23 articles and texts were selected for the analysis. Data analysis was carried out using a thematic analysis. Results: Health literacy in MS patients is a multidimensional concept with forth attributes: health information evaluation, understand disease and its related issues, reading skills and capacity to use knowledge. Ability to read and comprehend, interacting with health personnel, and interacting with peers as an antecedents and improved self-care, health promotion, medication adherence, and decreased use of health care services to be the consequences of these attributes were found. Conclusion: The findings can add knowledge about the concept of health literacy in MS patients. Also, health care professionals can use a deeper understanding of the concept of health literacy in providing care plan for MS patients.

Correction: BMC Health Services Research 25, 887 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13018-8 In this article, the author name Ali Dehghani was incorrectly written as Ali Dehghanie. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative Correction Open access Published:23 July 2025 Correction: Evaluation of the responsiveness of the Iranian health system to the needs of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: a community-based study Sepideh Niazie1, Heshmatolah Heydari 2,3, Hadi Hayati4 & … Ali Dehghani5 Show authors BMC Health Services Research volume 25, Article number: 972 (2025) Cite this article The Original Article was published on 02 July 2025 Correction: BMC Health Services Research 25, 887 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13018-8 In this article, the author name Ali Dehghani was incorrectly written as Ali Dehghanie.

At present, optimization algorithms are used extensively. One particular type of such algorithms includes random-based heuristic population optimization algorithms, which may be created by modeling scientific phenomena, like, for example, physical processes. The present article proposes a novel optimization algorithm based on Hooke’s law, called the spring search algorithm (SSA), which aims to solve single-objective constrained optimization problems. In the SSA, search agents are weights joined through springs, which, as Hooke’s law states, possess a force that corresponds to its length. The mathematics behind the algorithm are presented in the text. In order to test its functionality, it is executed on 38 established benchmark test functions and weighed against eight other optimization algorithms: a genetic algorithm (GA), a gravitational search algorithm (GSA), a grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO), a grey wolf optimizer (GWO), a spotted hyena optimizer (SHO), as well as an emperor penguin optimizer (EPO). To test the SSA’s usability, it is employed on five engineering optimization problems. The SSA delivered better fitting results than the other algorithms in unimodal objective function, multimodal objective functions, CEC 2015, in addition to the optimization problems in engineering.

Corrosion has caused significant annual costs for building construction and civil architectural designs. In this study, Monosodium glutamate (GLU) was proposed as a potential candidate for long-lasting corrosion inhibition to slow down the rate of corrosion in the concrete pore environment. In this regard, the electrochemical and morphological properties of the various GLU concentrated systems between 1 to 5 wt% in the simulated concrete pore solution media were investigated. According to the EIS results, adding 4 wt% of GLU could reduce the mild steel corrosion process by 86% through a mixed inhibition mechanism. Also, the polarization records represented that the samples’ corrosion current density was diminished to 0.169 µA cm −2 after the addition of 4 wt% GLU into the harsh environment. Using the FE-SEM method, the growth of the GLU layer over the metal substrate was demonstrated. The results of spectroscopic methods, i.e., Raman and GIXRD, demonstrated that GLU molecules were successfully adsorbed over the surface of the metal. Contact angle test outcomes showed that by increasing the GLU concentration to its optimum level (4 wt%), the surface hydrophobicity was dramatically raised to 62°.

Background Development of a self-report measure of antecedents affecting coping with multiple sclerosis lead to the identification of influential factors in the coping process and the provision of health cares with a focus on providing or modifying these factors. The current study aimed to develop and validate the antecedents affecting coping scale for multiple sclerosis patients. Methods This methodological study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the concept of coping antecedents was explained using qualitative content analysis approach through interview with 11 MS patients, then the initial items were extracted and the questionnaire was developed. In the second stage, reliability and validation of the questionnaire were evaluated including face, content and construct validity. The76 items in primary items pool reduced to 24 items after evaluating validity and reliability. Results Factor analyses revealed 5 factors: social support, awareness about disease, personal opinion and attitudes, spiritual - religious beliefs, and economic - environmental factors. Internal consistency and stability of the developed questionnaire as well as respectively confirmed with 0.92 and 0.95. Conclusion The 24 items developed questionnaires is valid and reliable for measurement of antecedents affecting coping among multiple sclerosis patients in Iran.

Background The elderly population is growing globally. As a vulnerable part of society, the elderly are exposed to more harm when facing pandemics of infectious diseases, so the quality of the health system’s response is critical for these individuals. Considering a paucity of studies in this area, this research assessed the responsiveness of the Iranian health system to the needs of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 259 elderly at the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences from April to September 2022. A combination of stratified multi-stage cluster systematic sampling, was used to recruit participants. The WHO Multi-country Survey Study on Health and Responsiveness was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by using SPSS v.24 software and descriptive/inferential statistics such as the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, independent t-test, ANOVA, and multivariate regression at the statistical significance level of P  <.05. Results The data analysis revealed that the overall responsiveness of Iran’s health system was average (79.99 ± 11.4). The best dimension of responsiveness was access to family support (10.17 ± 1.3), and autonomy was the weakest (7.46 ± 2.5). According to multiple linear regression analysis, the variables of age, gender, education level, medical history, number of children, marital status, and monthly income had a significant relationship with the total health responsiveness score ( P  <.005). According to the adjusted R 2 of 0.94, this regression model was able to explain 94% of variations in the mean total responsiveness score. Conclusion The results showed that the Iranian health system’s performance in responding to the needs of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic was acceptable. These findings can help the health system promote its responsiveness during future epidemics and pandemics and better fulfill the needs of the elderly. Since infrequent studies are available in this field, various dimensions of responsiveness are suggested to be investigated more deeply.

Background Nursing students face mental and emotional issues due to the nature of their profession. The role of protective factors such as psychological capital and spiritual well-being is vital in improving mental health. This study investigated the mediating role of psychological capital as a mediator in the relationships between spiritual well-being and mental health in Iran. Methods The present study was descriptive, cross-sectional research conducted on 426 undergraduate nursing students within a four-year educational program in Iran from July to December 2021. The participants were selected via convenience sampling. This research used psychological capital scale, spiritual well-being, and general health questionnaire. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive tests, Pearson correlation, and a structural equation model. Results Spiritual well-being positively affects mental health and psychological capital. Psychological capital also is positively related to mental health. Psychological capital partially mediated the effect of spiritual well-being on mental health. Conclusion According to the results, High level of spiritual well-being can improve nursing students' mental health and the relationship is partially mediated Psychological capital. Therefore, psychological capital is an important factor in improving nursing students’ mental health.