Tag: pubmed

Front Big Data. 2023 Oct 23;6:1239017. doi: 10.3389/fdata.2023.1239017. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The main goal of this study is to develop a methodology for the organization of experimental selection of operator personnel based on the analysis of their behavior under the influence of micro-stresses.

METHODS: A human-machine interface model has been developed, which considers the change in the functional state of the human operator. The presented concept of the difficulty of detecting the object of attention contributed to developing a particular sequence of ordinary test images with stressor images included in it and presented models of the flow of presenting test images to the recipient.

RESULTS: With the help of descriptive statistics, the parameters of individual box-plot diagrams were determined, and the recipient group was clustered.

DISCUSSION: Overall, the proposed approach based on the example of the conducted grouping makes it possible to ensure the objectivity and efficiency of the professional selection of applicants for operator specialties.

PMID:37937318 | PMC:PMC10626476 | DOI:10.3389/fdata.2023.1239017

Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2023 Nov 6;47:e152. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2023.152. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trend of tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates in Brazil between 2011 and 2019.

METHODS: This was an ecological time series study of tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates in Brazil between 2011 and 2019. Data were extracted from the Notifiable Disease Information System and the Mortality Information System, and population estimates were from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Trends were analyzed by Joinpoint regression, which recognizes inflection points for temporal analysis.

RESULTS: The average incidence rate of tuberculosis in Brazil in the period was 35.8 cases per 100 000 population. From 2011 to 2015, this coefficient had an annual percentage change of -1.9% (95% CI [-3.4, -0.5]) followed by an increase of 2.4% (95% CI [0.9, 3.9]) until 2019. The average mortality rate between 2011 and 2019 was 2.2 deaths per 100 000 population, with an average annual percentage change of -0.4% (95% CI [-1.0, 0.2]). Amazonas was the only state with an increase in the annual average percentage variation for the incidence rate (3.2%; 95% CI [1.3, 5.1]) and mortality rate (2.7%; 95% CI [1.0, 4.4]) over the years, while Rio de Janeiro state had an increasing inflection for incidence from 2014 to 2019 (2.4%; 95% CI [1.4, 3.5]) and annual average of decreasing percentage variation (-3.5%; 95% CI [-5.0, -1.9]).

CONCLUSIONS: During the period analyzed, a decreasing trend in incidence was observed between 2011 and 2015, and an increasing trend for the period from 2015 to 2019. On the other hand, no change in the trend for mortality was found in Brazil.

PMID:37937313 | PMC:PMC10627430 | DOI:10.26633/RPSP.2023.152

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2023 Nov 3;9(4):e001685. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001685. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Little is known about the relationship between personal factors and perception of hip-related function among patients with chronic hip-related groin pain (HRGP) seeking non-operative management. This analysis was performed to determine if depressive symptoms, central sensitisation, movement evoked pain (MEP), pressure hypersensitivity and activity level were associated with patients’ perception of hip-related function, represented by the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33).

METHODS: This cross-sectional study used baseline data from a pilot randomised clinical trial. Participants had anterior hip symptoms for at least 3 of the past 12 months reproduced on examination. Depressive symptoms, central sensitisation and activity level were quantified with self-report questionnaires. MEP was assessed during step down and squat. Pain pressure threshold (PPT) was used to assess pressure hypersensitivity. Statistical analysis was performed to assess bivariate association between variables and independent association of variables with iHOT-33.

RESULTS: Data from 33 participants (aged 18-40 years) with HRGP were analysed. Greater depressive symptoms (r_s=-0.48, p=0.005), higher MEP during step down (r_s=-0.36, p=0.040) and squat (r_s=-0.39, p=0.024), and greater central sensitisation (r_s=-0.33, p=0.058) were associated with lower (worse) iHOT-33 scores. Greater depressive symptoms (β=-0.47, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.17; p=0.003) and higher MEP during squat (β=-0.38, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.08; p=0.014) accounted for 37% of variability in iHOT-33. After adjusting for depressive symptoms and MEP, PPT, central sensitisation symptoms and activity level were not associated iHOT-33.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HRGP seeking non-operative management, greater depressive symptoms and MEP are independently associated with worse self-perceived hip function.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03959319.

PMID:37937305 | PMC:PMC10626773 | DOI:10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001685

Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2023 Nov 2;19:865-873. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S430523. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential relationship between the prone jackknife position during percutaneous nephroscopy and the occurrence of intraoperative hypotension.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 651 patients who underwent percutaneous nephroscopy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University. The primary focus was to investigate the occurrence of hypotension during the surgical procedure and assess the duration of hypotensive episodes. Patients were categorized into the prone jackknife position group and the lateral position group. To compare the incidence of intraoperative hypotension between the two groups, a 1:1 propensity match was performed. Following the matching process, intraoperative hypotension was assessed and compared between the two groups before and after the match. The binary logistic regression analysis determined the probability of intraoperative hypotension occurred in each group. Furthermore, linear regression analysis was used to analyze the duration of hypotensive episodes experienced by patients in both groups.

RESULTS: After propensity score matching, a total of 272 patients with similar characteristics were obtained (136 in each group). The prone jackknife group had a significantly higher incidence of intraoperative hypotension than the lateral group after the match, with an odds ratio of 2.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.595-4.605). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age and body position exhibited statistical significance as risk factors. Linear regression analysis before and after the match indicated that the duration of hypotension was associated with age, surgical time, and a history of hypertension.

CONCLUSION: The prone jackknife position syndrome after general anesthesia could occur in surgeries. The position could contribute to the development of hypotension during the percutaneous nephroscopy procedure.

PMID:37937277 | PMC:PMC10627167 | DOI:10.2147/TCRM.S430523

Clin Optom (Auckl). 2023 Nov 2;15:261-270. doi: 10.2147/OPTO.S437044. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine hospitalisation profiles related to postprocedural disorders of eye and adnexa in England and Wales.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an ecological study using publicly available data extracted from the “Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database” in England and the “Patient Episode Database for Wales (PEDW)” for the period between April 1999 and April 2020. Diagnostic code for postprocedural disorders of eye and adnexa (H59) was used to identify hospital admission. We used the chi-squared test to assess the difference between the hospital admission rates between 1999 and 2020.

RESULTS: Hospital admission rate decreased by 6.3% [from 4.98 (95% CI 4.79-5.17) in 1999 to 4.67 (95% CI 4.50-4.84) in 2020 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p<0.05]. The most common hospital admissions causes were other postprocedural disorders of eye and adnexa “Chorioretinal scars after surgery for detachment.” The age group 75 years and above accounted for 44.3% of the total number of admissions. Hospital admission rate among females decreased by 30.2% [from 5.90 (95% CI 5.61-6.19) in 1999 to 4.12 (95% CI 3.89-4.35) in 2020 per 100,000 persons]. Hospital admission rate among males increased by 30.2% [from 4.02 (95% CI 3.77-4.26) in 1999 to 5.23 (95% CI 4.97-5.49) in 2020 per 100,000 persons].

CONCLUSION: This study revealed that hospital admission rates for postprocedural disorders of the eye and adnexa decreased over the course of the study period. Eye and adnexa disorders accounted for the preponderance of hospital admissions among the elderly. Further research is required to identify risk factors that can be avoided.

PMID:37937276 | PMC:PMC10627053 | DOI:10.2147/OPTO.S437044

J Parasitol Res. 2023 Oct 10;2023:6687665. doi: 10.1155/2023/6687665. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Trematodes are chronic, debilitating diseases in livestock, causing significant economic losses worldwide. From mid-December 2021 to May 2022, a cross-sectional study was carried out in the Damot Sore District to estimate the prevalence of trematode infections in cattle and associated risk factors. Trematode eggs were found in 100 of the 384 faecal samples tested, with an overall prevalence of 26.04% (95% CI: 21.88-30.69%). The prevalence for Fasciola, Paramphistome, and Schistosoma species were 12.50%, 5.21%, and 0, respectively. Moreover, the infection rate with two parasites was 8.33%. The data were then examined further using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. As a result, age was the only potential predictor identified to influence trematode infections in cattle among the potential predictors considered. Furthermore, old cattle were more likely to be infected with trematodiasis nearly 12 times (OR = 11.5) that of young cattle, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05), whereas other risk factors considered were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). According to the findings of this study, cattle trematodiasis is a moderately common disease in the study area. As a result, additional research on the meteorological conditions of snail infection was forwarded, along with other points to reduce the disease problem in livestock production.

PMID:37937272 | PMC:PMC10627722 | DOI:10.1155/2023/6687665

BMC Urol. 2023 Nov 7;23(1):179. doi: 10.1186/s12894-023-01355-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Laser lithotripsy using a thulium fiber laser (TFL) has become an effective treatment option for small renal stones with low complication rates. TFL has a higher absorption coefficient, smaller fibers, and better pulse rate capability.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the published evidence regarding TFL’s lithotripsy performance in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), for which we primarily assessed the outcomes of stone-free rate, operation time, and complications. We searched different databases from inception to April 2023. We assessed the methodological quality and risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. We used a random-effects model for meta-analysis and assessed heterogeneity using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS: Twelve published studies evaluated the efficacy of RIRS using a TFL for treating renal and ureteral stones. The meta-analysis revealed a predicted stone-free rate of 89.37% (95% CI: 83.93% to 93.12%), indicating that, on average, approximately 89.37% of patients achieved a stone-free state after treatment. The substantial heterogeneity among the studies was evident, as shown by a Q-value of 33.1174 and a p-value of 0.0003. The I² value of 69.80% (95% CI: 25.91% to 92.02%) highlighted the proportion of variability attributed to genuine heterogeneity across the studies. Moreover, the H² value 3.31 (95% CI: 1.35 to 12.53) indicated significant heterogeneity beyond random chance. The estimated overall effect size (logit-transformed) of 2.1289 was highly statistically significant (z = 8.7648, p < 0.0001) with a confidence interval of 1.6528 to 2.6049. The reported complications varied across studies, encompassing Clavien grade I-II complications in most cases, with a subset experiencing more severe Clavien grade III-V complications. Additionally, other studies noted a range of complications, such as haematuria, fever, transient creatinine elevation, and postoperative issues like bleeding, pain, and sepsis.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that RIRS using TFL is an effective and safe treatment option for renal and ureteral stones, with high stone-free and low complication rates. The included studies exhibited a low risk of bias and were of high quality. However, more extensive randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up periods are needed to investigate this technique’s efficacy and safety.

PMID:37936133 | DOI:10.1186/s12894-023-01355-x

BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 Nov 7;23(1):1218. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-10213-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic represented a shock for healthcare systems. Italy was one of the first country to deal with a huge number of patients to be diagnosed, isolated, and treated with scarce evidence-based guidelines and resources. Several organizational and structural changes were needed to face the pandemic at local level. The article aims at studying the perceived impact of the newly implemented District Operation Centres (DOCs) of Local Health Authority (LHA) Roma 1 in managing active surveillance and home care of COVID-19 patients and their close contacts in cooperation with general practitioners (GPs).

METHODS: A questionnaire, developed according to Delphi methodology, was validated by 7 experts and administered to a randomized sample of GPs and family paediatricians (FPs). All medical doctors selected received a phone interview between December 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire investigated general characteristics of the sample, relations with DOC and its usefulness, and potential developments. A descriptive analysis was performed and inferential statistical tests were used to assess differences.

RESULTS: In April 2020 the LHA Roma 1 implemented one DOCs in each local health district. 215 medical doctors were interviewed, reaching the sample target for health districts (80% CL and 10% MOE) and the whole LHA (90% CL and 5% MOE). Several aspects in the management of COVID-19 cases and close contacts of COVID-19 cases, and of the support of DOCs to GPs/FPs were investigated. More than 55% of the GPs and FPs interviewed found the DOCs useful and more than 78% would recommend a service DOC-like to other LHAs. The medical professionals interviewed would use DOCs in the future as support in treating vulnerable patients, utilizing digital health tools, enlisting specialist doctors, establishing networks, and facilitating professional counselling by nurses.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is an attempt to evaluate an organizational change happened during COVID-19 pandemic. DOCs were created to support GPs and FPs as a link between primary healthcare and public health. Although several difficulties were disclosed, DOCs’ experience can help to overcome the fragmentation of the systems and the duality between primary care and public health and make the system more resilient.

PMID:37936132 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-023-10213-3

BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Nov 7;23(1):808. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05310-w.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patient satisfaction with mental health services has for several decades been considered an important component when evaluating service quality. It is often assessed in the context of monitoring quality of care, developing or evaluating newly implemented interventions or changes in practice. Because of this, patient satisfaction questionnaires are often added to longer questionnaire batteries, and shorter questionnaires are preferred to prevent respondent fatigue and non-compliance and to secure easy implementation. However, most studies use unvalidated patient satisfaction measures, making comparisons between studies difficult. Validation studies of short patient satisfaction measures are therefore warranted.

METHODS: The primary aim was to examine the construct validity and internal reliability of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-4 (CSQ-4) in a Norwegian outpatient mental health setting. A total of 467 patients were recruited from an outpatient psychiatric care clinic in Central Norway. The secondary aim was to examine an earlier proposed cutoff for classifying dissatisfied patients in this new population. A principal component analysis was conducted to evaluate factor structure, correlation analyses were conducted to test for predicted relationships, and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to examine internal reliability.

RESULTS: The CSQ-4 showed a clear unidimensional structure with one factor explaining 80% of its variance. Its internal reliability was very high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92. As hypothesised this study found no statistically significant sex differences in satisfaction and no statistically significant association between age and satisfaction. Positive changes in symptoms during treatment and higher post-treatment functional impairment were associated with higher patient-reported treatment satisfaction scores, which indicates good construct validity.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the CSQ-4 in a psychiatric population. The CSQ-4 demonstrated good structural validity and internal reliability and was correlated with outcome variables in terms of symptom change and post-treatment functioning. In sum, this indicates that the CSQ-4 is a good short alternative for evaluating patient satisfaction in routine outpatient mental health care.

PMID:37936112 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-023-05310-w

BMC Public Health. 2023 Nov 7;23(1):2185. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17023-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: One-fifth of the Sri Lankan population consists of adolescents, with 71% of them schooling. An extreme need exists in the country for the introduction of evidence-based interventions for the psychosocial well-being of adolescents. The present study assessed the effectiveness of an educational intervention to promote the psychosocial well-being of school-going adolescents in grade nine in Western Province, Sri Lanka.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among grade nine students in Western Province in 2019. Panadura Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area was selected as the interventional area (IA), and Kelaniya MOH area was identified as the control area (CA). Teachers at schools in the IA received training on psychosocial health promotion of adolescents. They delivered the activity-based educational intervention package to the grade nine students as 20-min classroom sessions for three months. Pre- and post-intervention assessments of attitudes and practices related to the psychosocial well-being of adolescents were conducted using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Categorical data were compared using Chi-Square or Fisher’s exact test. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine the difference between the medians of the pre-and post-intervention scores on attitude and practices for psychosocial well-being.

RESULTS: A total of 1040 grade nine students were enrolled. There was a statistically significant increase in median score on attitudes [81.8 (IQR:75.5-85.5) to 82.3(IQR:78.6-87.2] and practices [81.7(IQR: 76.1-85.7) to 83.1(IQR: 79.1-86.9)] in the IA while there was no significant difference in the CA. The proportion of bullied adolescents in the past 30 days reduced significantly from 14.8% (n = 38) to 7.9% (n = 20) in IA(p = .03), whereas there was a slight reduction from 17.1% (n = 44) to 11.3% (n = 26) in CA (p = .17).

CONCLUSIONS: The present psychosocial intervention is effective in improving the psychosocial well-being of school adolescents, though long-term effectiveness was not assessed. It is recommended to utilise study findings in deciding to introduce the present intervention to basic and in-service teacher training packages and school curricula with necessary modifications.

PMID:37936110 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-023-17023-6