Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the HRQoL of the general Iranian population across all provinces using the European QoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire.
Methods: Data were collected from a nationwide survey conducted in 2021 across all 31 provinces of Iran, involving 27,704 adults. The intended data included responses to EQ-5D-3L health states, EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale scores, and participants’ socioeconomic characteristics. Finally, descriptive analyses were conducted using Stata 14 and Microsoft Excel 2019.
Results: Pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were the most prevalent problems across all provinces. In addition, the mean EQ-5D utility score was 0.87 (±0.15), ranging from 0.80 in North Khorasan to 0.91 in Alborz, Kermanshah, and Zanjan. For women, the mean score was 0.84 (±0.20), with a range of 0.77–0.90, indicating notable variation. In contrast, men demonstrated a higher mean score with less variation, at 0.90 (±0.14), ranging from 0.84 to 0.93.
Conclusion: This study provided HRQoL scores for the general population across the provinces of Iran, revealing significant variations. These values can inform healthcare research and policymaking by identifying disparities in health status across regions. Given the relatively low HRQoL scores observed in certain provinces, it is imperative to plan and implement strategies to enhance health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable groups within those regions.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that substantially threatens public health due to its prevalence and severe adverse effects. Beyond its health consequences, T2D is associated with considerable financial burden. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the magnitude and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) incurred by patients with T2D.
Methods: Overall, 400 participants with T2D participated in this cross-sectional study in 2022, and a researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The allocation of at least 40% of non-food expenditures to healthcare (during the last year) was the basis for CHE calculation. The chi-square test was utilized to determine the statistical association between demographic and background variables and CHE occurrence.
Results: It was found that patients incur a mean annual cost of $1138, including 15.5%, 8.5%, and 76% spent on diagnostic expenses, medical visits, and treatment expenditures, respectively. Laboratory services, internist and endocrinologist visits, and medication accounted for the most considerable proportion of diagnostic, physician visits, and treatment costs. About 19.95% of direct medical costs were attributable to non-food costs, while 13.5% of patients experienced CHE. Educational status, employment status, indigenousness, residency in urban and rural areas, supplementary health insurance, disease treatment, the location of getting care, and the statistically significant link between the side effects and occurrence of CHE were among the demographic and
background variables.
Conclusion: Although the rate of CHE provided care to diabetic patients is reasonable, health policymakers still need to take steps to resolve the situation through promotion measures.

Introduction: Uranium has been known to pose a significant risk to human life, especially with increased serum concentrations. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between blood uranium concentration and tumor size.
Methods: This case-control study with a convenience sampling technique was conducted at Specialized Oncology Center in Nasiriyah, Iraq, involving 40 lung cancer patients and 40 healthy individuals from February to August 2024. Pregnant females, participants under 40 years of age, and those with indeterminate imaging findings or no available follow-up data were excluded from the study. Venous blood samples of 3 mL were collected from each subject. Two techniques were used for analyzing blood samples using solid-state Nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) named CR-39 detectors to determine serum uranium concentration in patients with lung cancer and healthy people. The serum isolation through centrifugation led to its deposition on CR-39 detectors before their subsequent drying. The samples were exposed to thermal neutrons for 6 days and an optical microscope was used to identify fission tracks. Computed Tomography (CT) was used for tumor staging and tumor size measurement. The materials used in the study included an Americium-Beryllium neutron source, etching solutions, a water bath, and an optical microscope. CT scans were performed on 40 lung cancer patients using a Siemens Somatom 64-slice CT Scanner. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 28.
Results: The results showed that patients with lung cancer were significantly older than healthy subjects, with males showing higher prevalence than females. The study shows that most of the patients with lung cancer were smokers. The study also found that patients with lung cancer had higher uranium concentrations in their blood than healthy subjects. The healthy subjects had higher uranium concentrations in Basrah than in Nasiriyah, and lung carcinoma patients had a higher concentration in blood serum in AlBasrah than in Nasiriyah. Moreover, a strong significant positive correlation was found between the uranium level and tumor size.
Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between tumor growth and serum uranium levels, suggesting that uranium may have a role in the advancement of cancer.

Introduction: A human resources analyst has a key role in organizations and is responsible for analyzing and evaluating data related to human resources. This study aimed to design a competency model for human resource (HR) analysts in the health insurance system.
Methods: A qualitative research method was used, with thematic analysis as the strategy. Participants were 12 decision-making managers in the field of the health insurance system, selected using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed through open and axial coding using MAXQDA 22.
Results: Our findings indicated that the competencies of a HR analyst include 5 overarching themes: technical competencies, professional competencies, analytical and strategic thinking competencies, communication competencies, and cultural competencies. they also contained 14 organizing themes: research methodology and statistical skills, data storytelling skills, technology skills, recruitment analysis, HR retention analysis, HR evaluation analysis, turnover analysis, critical thinking, problemsolving skills, strategic thinking skills, interpersonal skills, team-building skills, cultural awareness, and cultural sensitivity.
Conclusion: The HR analyst is one of the key roles in organizations, which is of great importance due to its direct impact on the

Context: Disaster management is one of Iran’s primary health care (PHC) areas, and it is becoming increasingly important due to continuous disasters.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a national accreditation model for disaster management in Iran’s PHC system. 

Methods: The primary model was developed by reviewing the literature/documents and organizing specialized interviews with the experts. Then, the Delphi technique was used to reach a consensus among experts on the developed model. The primary standards were assessed from the experts' perspective based on "importance" and "feasibility" criteria on a 9-degree scale. In two rounds of Delphi, 14 out of 16 experts completed the questionnaires.

Results: The final developed model emphasizes providing required resources, enhancing the preparedness of health centers and households, taking appropriate actions in three phases of disaster, and evaluating the disaster management program.

Conclusions: Considering the strong consensus among experts on the Delphi stage, this model can improve disaster management performance.

The future is something that people can design and shape with their purposeful actions, and it is the only opportunity we have to pursue our ideals, dreams, goals, strategies, and so on. The pulsating changes are the heart of the future, and our surrounding world is also a dynamic, uncontrollable world with extensive communications and full of uncertainty. The crises around us today are the result of not paying attention to them and not considering the speed of these changes. It should be noted that awareness of future changes requires future studies to reduce threats and increase opportunities that enable us to perform appropriately at future events. Considering the extensive history of changes in the healthcare system, it can be expected that we will see more changes in the future, which requires an understanding of future situations and alignment with future changes in healthcare.

The prevalence of informal payments in healthcare can be traced back to several systemic issues that create an environment conducive to such practices. One significant factor is the inadequacy of official tariffs for medical services. Often, these tariffs do not align with the actual costs and expertise required for providing quality care. As a result, both patients and healthcare providers may feel compelled to engage in unofficial transactions to bridge the gap between what is officially recognized and what is necessary for adequate care. Another underlying cause is that economic instability and inflation have profound impacts on healthcare systems and can lead to an increase in informal payments by healthcare providers. This relationship can be examined from several angles. Firstly, during periods of economic instability, the cost of living for doctors and other healthcare professionals rises. Inflation can directly affect their purchasing power, compelling them to seek additional sources of income. As a result, some healthcare providers may resort to accepting informal payments to meet their daily expenses and maintain their standard of living. Secondly, during inflationary periods, delays in insurance reimbursements and a decrease in real income can place additional pressure on physicians. These delays may lead them to seek informal ways to secure their finances, one of which is accepting informal payments. Ultimately, for these solutions to be effective, there must be a significant increase in the income of healthcare providers. Ensuring that providers are fairly compensated for their services is essential to maintaining the quality of care. By addressing the financial pressures that lead to informal payments, we can reduce the risk of compromised care, ultimately lowering mortality rates and improving health outcomes for all.

-