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Article History

Received: 10 March 2025

Accepted: 30 June 2025

First Online: 29 July 2025

Declarations

:

: The Ethics Committee of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences approved this study under the code (IR.SHMU.REC.1401.142). The research adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants. Informed consent, both verbal and written, was obtained from each participant and their families, who had the right to withdraw at any time. Participation was entirely voluntary, and strict measures were implemented to protect the confidentiality of personal information. Patients’ data were anonymized through coding to prevent identification. Additionally, the authors are committed to adhering to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines in the dissemination of their findings.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.