Journal of Occupational

Background: Hospitalization in the coronary care unit (CCU) is a concern for patients and their companions. Different studies have presented conflicting results about the effect of visitors on physiological parameters of patients. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in physiological parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) due to presence of visitors at the bedside of patients admitted to CCU at Ali-ibn Abi Talib Hospital of Rafsanjan, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 281 patients hospitalized in the CCU. Patients’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were obtained using a heart monitoring device 2 hours before, during, immediately, and 2 hours after the visit and were recorded in checklists by nurses. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: Mean and standard deviation of patients’ age was 62.96 ± 12.16 years (ranged between 29-93 years). Mean changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate of patients in studied time periods was statistically significant (P < 0.001), so that they increased during visit, and then, after 2 hours they returned to primary levels. Women’s physiological parameters were higher than men’s over all time periods (P < 0.050). Patients’ average systolic blood pressure did not differ across age groups (P > 0.050). Average diastolic blood pressure in patients older than 70 years was less than other age groups and average heart rate in patients older than 60 years was higher than younger patients (P < 0.050).

Conclusions: The average of physiological parameters increased during visits, but decreased to primary levels 2 hours after visits. These changes were not considered clinically important.

Background: One of the important aspects of the epidemiologic study of suicide and its related behaviors is the identification of suicide methods. This study aimed to investigate the geographical epidemiology of common methods of suicide and suicide attempts in Fars Province located in Southwestern Iran during the years 2010-2013.

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 17,342 suicide and suicide attempt cases in Fars Province. To collect the data, the monthly suicide prevention program checklist was used. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, R software, and ArcGIS software. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were prepared and calculated according to the common suicide and suicide attempt methods.

Results: On average, the suicide rate in Fars Province was 3.85 in one hundred thousand people per year. The geographic pattern of suicide in the mentioned province showed that the highest rates of hanging were reported in the cities of Firuzabad, Farashband, and Larestan, Iran, and the highest rates of self-immolation were reported in cities of Mamasani, Shiraz, and Firuzabad, Iran.

Conclusions: Despite the low rate of suicide in the cities of Fars Province, the rate of suicide-related behaviors, including suicide attempt and suicide by violent and deadly methods, was high in some areas of the province. Therefore, restricting access to lethal means and methods of suicide and planning to identify areas with high risk for suicide in the province is necessary.