No abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has major consequences for public health worldwide, especially for mental health. Hope is a dynamic motivational system that empowers one to achieve goals. Social support similarly increases the feeling of well-being to cope with hopelessness. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between social support and hopelessness in students studying at the Iran University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic considering the importance of performance in medical sciences students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed continuously for five months, from January to May 2021, at the Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, where the Persian language is predominantly spoken. Participants were included if they could consent to participate in the study and internet access and membership in social networks. Those who did not fully engage with our data collection tools were excluded. A demographic information form, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS) were provided to students via social networks. After students (n=300) completed the questionnaires, data were analyzed through SPSS software version 21. Results: The mean age of participants was 23.46 (18-51) years. The mean score of hopelessness among the participants was 6.2. The majority of students (35%) had mild hopelessness, 34.7% had a minimum level of hopelessness, 26.7% had a moderate level of hopelessness, and 11% had a high level of hopelessness. The mean social support score was 59.49, with 52.3% of students having a high level of social support. The correlation coefficient between social support and hopelessness was - 0.401 (p < 0.001). Field of study, degree level, marital status and lifestyle were significantly correlated with hopelessness. Also, only marital status had a significant relationship with social support among students. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that out of the variables included in the model, only the variable of social support had a significant effect on the hopelessness score, so this variable predicted 18% of the hopelessness score. Conclusion: Given the inverse relationship between social support and hopelessness, it is suggested to increase the level of social support for students to improve their sense of hopelessness.

Background & Aims: As a chronic disease with many complications, diabetes requires adherence to treatment regimen. Despite the importance of adherence, it is not done completely in these patients. Non-adherence to treatment has many personal and social consequences. Adherence in diabetic patients can lead to mortality reduction and success in the treatment of diabetes. Considering that adherence to the treatment regimen is challenging among diabetic patients and less attention has been paid to it in Iran, the present study aims to identify the factors related to adherence to treatment regimen among diabetic patients in Sari, Iran. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 on 226 adults with Type 2 diabetes referred to Baghban clinic affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Sari, Iran who were selected using a continuous sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic form and the diabetes activities questionnaire. Questionnaires were prepared online using Google Forms. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 26. Results: The mean age of participants was 53.06±10.81 years. Most of them were female (61.9%) and married (85.8%) with a high school diploma (26.5%) and moderate economic status (69%). Economic status, age, and BMI had a significant relationship with adherence to treatment regimen (P<0.05); Economic status and age had a positive significant relationship while BMI had a negative significant relationship with adherence to treatment regimen. Diabetic patients with better economic status, higher age, and lower BMI had better adherence. Conclusion: This study provides a basis for expanding knowledge of adherence to treatment regimens in diabetic patients in Iran. It is necessary for healthcare providers, especially nurses, to pay attention to the factors related to adherence to treatment in diabetic patients in providing care and education to them to have better treatment.