Scant evidence exists to support the association of opium use with head and neck cancer, limited to the larynx and oral cavity. In a multicenter case‐control study—Iran Opium and Cancer study, we recruited 633 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (254 lip and oral cavity, 54 pharynx, 327 larynx and 28 other subsites within the head and neck) and 3065 frequency‐matched controls from April 2016 to April 2019. Odds ratios (ORs) for opium use and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were obtained using mixed‐effects logistic regression because of heterogeneity among centers. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for regular opium use was 3.76 (2.96‐4.79) for all HNSCC combined. Strong dose‐response effects were observed by frequency or amount of use, and duration of use. Regular opium uses significantly increased the risk of HNSCC of the pharynx, larynx and other subsites within the head and neck with OR (95% CI) of 2.90 (1.40‐6.02), 6.55 (4.69‐9.13) and 5.95 (2.41‐14.71), respectively. The observed associations were significant even among never tobacco smokers (including cigarette and water‐pipe smoking). Moreover, by the multiplicative interaction scale, the effect of opium use could be varied by cigarette smoking on HNSCC, 8.16 (6.20‐10.74). For the first time, the current study showed opium users have an increased risk of several anatomic subsites of HNSCC.

This study aims to examine the relative contribution of religious identity, social support, social connectedness, and perceived discrimination on psychological well-being (PWB) among Middle Eastern (ME) migrants in Australia. This cross-sectional study was conducted within Queensland, Australia. A total of 382 first-generation young adult ME migrants, aged 20–39 years, filled out a self-administered questionnaire. The hypothesized model was tested using a 2-step process: measurement and structural model testing. First, confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the fitness of the measurement model, and reliability and validity indices were calculated. Structural equations modeling was then applied to test the structural model. The mediation analyses were tested using a bootstrapping method. Social support had the largest total effect on PWB through both a direct and an indirect effect via perceived discrimination and social connectedness with ethnic community (SCETH). Religious identity demonstrated both a direct and an indirect effect on PWB through social support, perceived discrimination, SCETH, and social connectedness with mainstream community (SCMN). Perceived discrimination showed a direct and an indirect effect on PWB, mediated by SCMN. The SCETH and SCMN had only direct effects on PWB. Developing interventions that assist religious institutions/networks in offering support and/or strategies to provide support to ME migrants through religious organizations could be helpful in increasing their PWB. Protecting ME migrants against discrimination based on their religious affiliation is a main area of action. Interventions that promote ME migrants’ interaction with others could result in their better mental health outcomes.

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BACKGROUND: In the event of an epidemic outbreak, the mental health of medical staff, including nurses who serve on the frontlines of hospitals, can be affected; thus, the identification of factors affecting nurses’ mental health is of importance. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between moral distress and the mental health of nurses working at four selected hospitals in Iran during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 296 nurses working at the selected hospitals in Bushehr and Shiraz (south of Iran) at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak. The collected data were analyzed via logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean scores for nurses’ moral distress were low (54.31±24.84). The results of this study indicated more symptoms of mental issues among nurses (73.60%). Moreover, a significant association was observed between mental health and moral distress. Among the examined demographic variables, only gender had a significant association with mental health (p-value = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that an increase in moral distress would lead to a significant increase in mental health issues of the examined nurses. Nurse managers and hospital policymakers should develop strategies to enhance nurses’ level of mental health, as well as providing adequate emotional and family support for nurses. Considering the intensifying role of gender in this association, timely interventions are necessary to reduce the negative effects of workplace pressure/stress on female nurses.