According to rapid growth of innovation in use of technologies in education and learning, blended learning has become an effective method in the student's education. The purpose of this study was to extract the factors related to effective blended learning and compare the viewpoints of students and instructors in this regard. Methods: Mixed method model was used in this study. A content analysis approach was employed in the qualitative phase of the study. Seven faculty members and eight master's students of medical sciences selected through purposive sampling participated in the qualitative phase. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection. In the quantitative phase, appropriate and relevant items were designed based on the main concepts of theoretical and practical definitions that were extracted in the qualitative phase. Results: The results of the qualitative phase were 5 categories and 40 subcategories, including student's capabilities, teacher merits, technological aspects, pedagogic topics and supportive environment. Discussion: The results of the questionnaire analysis showed no significant difference in student capabilities and supportive environment between the viewpoints of students and faculty members while there were significant differences in other categories. Although new technologies have offered promising opportunities, they do not result in effective education. The results of the present study suggest that a major revision in student and instructor admission and provision of required technical facilities can promote the status of this type of education. On the other hand, instructor empowerment programs in this field can enhance the effectiveness of virtual education.

Background: Changes in the structure and nature of health care highlight the need for better collaboration between professions focusing on patient or health-care users. Interprofessional education (IPE) has attracted a lot of attention at the international level, and its positive consequences in different areas of health care have been investigated and approved. This study explored the opinions and viewpoints of professors and experts regarding the challenges to the implementation of interprofessional education in health profession education in Iran in 2018. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 15 IPE professors and experts using semi-structured interviews. We used an inductive approach to content analysis as developed by Elo et al. The interviews were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman method by MAXQDA software version 12. Results: The main challenges to the implementation of IPE were categorized into educational system, structural and cultural challenges. The educational challenges were the professors' lack of ability, a non-flexible and single-disciplined curriculum, and weaknesses in the current education. The professors and experts felt that the most important structural challenges included centralism, hierarchy of power, poor educational groundwork, and lack of support of organizations. Cultural challenges mainly related to the attitudes of managers, professors, and even students regarding IPE and the need for change. Conclusion: Designing and implementing IPE in Iran face major challenges. Cultural and attitude issues were the greatest challenges to be addressed in the context of implementing IPE in health-care education.

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Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious and costly complication in diabetes which affects approximately 15% of patients with diabetes and affects their quality of life (QOL). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with QOL in patients with DFU. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 60 patients (32 males and 28 females) hospitalized for DFU, performed through convenience sampling. Data related factors and the QOL questionnaire for patients with DFU were abridged. This questionnaire has 29 questions in six dimensions of enjoying life, physical health, daily activities dependence, negative emotions, concern about wound, and wound caring, which evaluate the QOL in patients with DFU. The scoring method for this tool is five optional Likert. Descriptive and analytic statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Results: Of the 60 patients with DFU, 53% were male and 47% female with an average age of 58.08 ± 11.95 years and average QOL of 41.1 ± 9.15. Statistical analysis showed that age (P = 0.002), employment (P ≤ 0001), socioeconomic status (P = 0.016), leg ulcer (P ≤ 0001), and the number of foot ulcer (P = 0.017) had a statistically significant relationship with QOL and its dimensions. Other variables did not have a significant relationship with QOL, but some of them such as smoking during negative emotions (P = 0.046) and marital status affecting the foot care difficulties (P = 0.03) had significant statistical relationships with QOL. Conclusions: Diabetic foot ulcer affects different aspects of life and can reduce patient's QOL. To improve the care behaviors and have a better control of foot ulcers and improve the QOL for these patients, taking into account factors such as age, occupation, marital status, number of wounds, and economic status is essential to plan for care and health needs in these patients.

Background: Diabetes mellitus, as a chronic disease, largely affects lifestyle and quality of life. Education could affect quality of life of diabetic patient, however the results of studies have shown traditional and modern methods of education have various effects. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of self-empowerment program through educational package and workshop on quality of life among diabetic patients. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial. Diabetic patients referring to the diabetes center, affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences, participated in this study. A sample of 40 subjects was selected and they were divided into two groups of 20. A two-part questionnaire was used to collect data. The first part related to demographic information and the second was to assess the quality of life of diabetic patients, using audit of diabetes -dependent quality of life questionnaire.