Tag: pubmed

Work. 2023 Apr 26. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220360. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many studies have evaluated physical activity and fatigue. However, a causal relationship between physical activity, fatigue and balance in healthcare workers has not been established.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity levels, fatigue, and dynamic balance of health workers who work actively or in a desk job in many different units in the hospital.

METHODS: 72 Health workers from two different groups participated in the study, 37 were active workers (AW), and 35 were desk workers (DW) at the Diyarbakir Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital. Participants were given a Sociodemographic Information Form, an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a 30-s Chair Stand Test (30-s CST) with a Modified Borg Scale (MBS) before starting work in the morning and at the end of work.

RESULTS: 69.4% of the study participants were female, and 54.2% were between 20 and 30 years old. It was found that the values of moderate physical activity, walking, and total physical activity were significantly higher in active workers than desk workers (p = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between the means of work start and after work fatigue of both groups (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found when the starting and finishing work values of the dynamic balance tests of the groups were compared (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION: It was found that the level of physical activity and dynamic balance of individuals working at desk jobs was significantly lower than that of the active group.

PMID:37125601 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-220360

Work. 2023 Apr 25. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220238. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burnout syndrome has been extensively studied in different health science professions. It has been less studied in physiotherapy than in professions such as medicine. Moreover, it is not known how the working condition influences this syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to compare the burnout index between contract and freelance physiotherapists in the private sector in the Community of Madrid, Spain.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 174 participants divided into 2 groups; one group was composed of contract physiotherapists (n = 87) and the other group was composed of freelance physiotherapists (n = 87). A Mann-Whitney U test was performed for comparison between the groups. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlations between the burnout syndrome index and the secondary variables.

RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences when comparing the groups, with a large effect size for the burnout index with a higher rate among contract physiotherapists (78 [71-84.75]) than in freelance physiotherapists (61.5 [55-72.75]).There were also significant differences in the type of patients treated, number of patients treated per day, time spent per patient, and the annual salary range between the contract and freelance physiotherapists.

CONCLUSION: Contract physiotherapists who participated in this study had a significantly higher burnout syndrome index than freelance physiotherapists. Other socio-occupational variables were also found to be related to the burnout syndrome index in freelance physiotherapists and contract physiotherapists. The results of this study could be of interest for new occupational health strategies to reduce the burnout index in contract physiotherapists.

PMID:37125600 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-220238

Work. 2023 Apr 25. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220229. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The management and analysis of work ability risks is important to support well-being at work and requires multidimensional competence. Competence evaluation in Occupational Health Care professionals’ (OHCP) practice is essential for their professional development and promotion of quality of care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe OHCPs’ self-reported competence level to manage and analyze work ability risks.

METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was applied. The data were collected electronically from May to June 2018 using the Comp-WARMA instrument (scale 1 = poor – 4 = excellent) from Occupational Health Care professionals working in Finnish private medical centers (n = 169, response rate of 10%). The data were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS: The levels of knowledge and skills of OHCP in work ability risk management and analysis were mainly at good level (3.22 on average), but some deficient were still identified. The knowledge and skills of the work ability risk management and analysis were associated with the number of customer organizations they worked with, their attendance of supplementary training regarding work ability risk management and analysis, their amount of work experience, their type of employment, age, and gender.

CONCLUSION: OHCP self-reported competence levels in work ability risk management and analysis was at good level. There is a need for development in all areas of work ability risk management and analysis. OHCP could benefit from in-service education on work ability risk management and analysis. Further validation of the Comp-WARMA instrument in larger sample is needed.

PMID:37125599 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-220229

Technol Health Care. 2023 Apr 27. doi: 10.3233/THC-230300. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) could be more beneficial in clinical situations that involve the determination of root canal morphology.

AIM: The aim of the study was to ascertain the prevalence of radix molaris (paramolaris-RP and entomolaris-RE) in a subpopulation of Saudi Arabia using CBCT.

METHOD: A total of 700 CBCT scans of mandibular permanent first molars were included in this study. All CBCT scans were interpreted by two trained dentists and an endodontist. Mandibular permanent first molars with fully developed roots and closed apices were only included. Computed Tomography scans were obtained from the dental college record. The anatomic characteristics which were checked included: the prevalence of radix molaris in both RE and RP and the prevalence of radix molaris according to the patient’s gender and age. All CBCT images were processed and reconstructed using OnDemand3DTM imaging software.

RESULTS: Of the 700 patients included, 651 (93.0%) did not have radix molaris, 46 (6.6%) had radix entomolaris and 3 (0.4%) had radix paramolaris in the study group. There was no statistically significant difference between the genders and age in the incidence of RE and RP (P-value < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study showed that RE prevalence is more compared to RP in the first lower molars in the population studied. It is important to identify extra roots and associated canals to perform successful root canal treatment and avoid failure.

PMID:37125592 | DOI:10.3233/THC-230300

Technol Health Care. 2023 Apr 27. doi: 10.3233/THC-220908. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Research on the genetic mechanisms of hypertension has been a hot topic in the cardiovascular field.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between senile hypertension and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene polymorphism and to provide the theoretical basis for TCM prevention and treatment of hypertension.

METHODS: The elderly population in communities in Shanghai (hypertensive: 264 cases; non-hypertensive: 159 cases) was taken as the research object. Essential data and information on TCM constitution were collected. The LPL gene mutation was detected using the second-generation sequencing method. Statistical analysis was performed to clarify the relationship between hypertension and senile hypertension. The correlation of TCM constitution with risk factors and LPL gene polymorphisms was studied.

RESULTS: The primary TCM constitutions in the hypertension group were phlegm-dampness constitution (51.52%), yin-deficiency constitution (17.42%), balanced constitution (15.53%), and yin-deficiency (9.43%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the phlegm-dampness constitution (P< 0.05, OR = 2.587) and yin-deficiency constitution (P< 0.01, OR = 2.693) were the risk constitutions of hypertension in the elderly. A total of 37 LPL gene mutation loci (SNP: 22; new discovery: 15) were detected in the LPL gene, and the mutation rates of rs254, rs255, rs3208305, rs316, rs11570891, rs328, rs11570893, and rs13702 were relatively high, which were 26.24%, 26.24%, 16.08%, 14.66%, 13.24%, 12.06%, and 10.64%. In the phlegm-dampness group, the proportion of rs254 CC type, rs255 TT type, and rs13702 TT type in the hypertensive group (77.21%, 77.21%, and 93.38%) was higher than that in the non-hypertensive group (56.41%, 56.41%, and 82.05%), The difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The phlegm-dampness constitution and yin-deficiency constitution are the risk factors of hypertension in the elderly; in the phlegm-dampness population, rs254 CC type, rs255 TT type, and rs13702 TT type are the risk factors for elderly hypertension.

PMID:37125587 | DOI:10.3233/THC-220908

Technol Health Care. 2023 Apr 27. doi: 10.3233/THC-220700. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Internet-related technologies have rapidly developed and started to impact the traditional medical practices, which combined wireless communication technology as well as “cloud service” technology with electronic fetal heart monitoring have become a mainstream tendency.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical application value of remote fetal heart rate monitoring mode (RFHRM) on late pregnancy during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS: From March 2021 to February 2022, we recruited 800 cases of pregnant women received prenatal examination at the Anhui Province Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital. These pregnant women were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n= 400), which was given traditional management, and the observation group (n= 400), which received remote monitoring technology on this basis. The two groups were compared with neonatal asphyxia, pregnancy outcomes, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), prenatal examination expenses and total time consumption.

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in pregnancy outcome and neonatal outcome (P> 0.05). However, total EPDS score of 12.5% pregnant women in TPE group were higher than 12. The TPE group had significantly higher mean EPDS scores compared with the RFHRM group (7.79 ± 3.58 vs 5.10 ± 3.07; P< 0.05). The results showed a significant difference in maternity expenses (2949.83 ± 456.07 vs 2455.37 ± 506.67; P< 0.05) and total time consumption (42.81 ± 7.60 vs 20.43 ± 4.16; P< 0.05) between the groups.

CONCLUSION: Remote fetal heart rate monitoring via Internet served as an innovative, acceptable, safe and effective reduced-frequency prenatal examination model without affecting the outcome of perinatology of pregnant women with different risk factors.

PMID:37125583 | DOI:10.3233/THC-220700

Technol Health Care. 2023 Apr 27. doi: 10.3233/THC-220697. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The microsurgical treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms can be challenging due to the anatomical structures that surround them.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the clinical and angiographic outcomes of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms treated with Enterprise (EP) stents and low-profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS) stents.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical and radiological data from 133 patients with 139 unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms, who received an EP or an LVIS stent between January 2017 and June 2021 at Taizhou People’s Hospital, was performed. Immediate postoperative and follow-up angiographic results were analyzed retrospectively using the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC). Any complications following the procedure and the patients’ clinical outcomes were noted.

RESULTS: Enterprise stents were used for stent-assisted coiling in 64 patients with 68 aneurysms and LVIS stents were used in 69 patients with 71 aneurysms. Both groups exhibited an increase in the proportion of aneurysms meeting the criteria for RROC class I, but the LVIS group demonstrated a higher rate of aneurysms meeting the class I criteria compared with the EP group, both on immediate postoperative angiography (45.1% vs. 11.8%, p< 0.001) and on follow-up angiography (94.9% vs. 80.6%, p= 0.025). Procedure-related complications were experienced by 9.4% of patients in the EP group (one coil prolapse, two parent artery occlusions, and three thromboembolic events), and 8.7% of patients in the LVIS group (three stent-related thrombosis and three thromboembolic events). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in relation to perioperative complications (p= 0.746) or favorable clinical outcomes (p= 0.492).

CONCLUSION: A greater proportion of aneurysms in the LVIS group met the criteria for RROC class I compared with the EP group. There is no significant difference in procedural complications or clinical outcomes between EP and LVIS stents. Although no aneurysm recurrence was observed during the short follow-up period, continued monitoring is required.

PMID:37125582 | DOI:10.3233/THC-220697

Technol Health Care. 2023 Apr 27. doi: 10.3233/THC-220681. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Macular retinoschisis in patients with high myopia is one of the main reasons for a decline in visual function and the perceived deformation of visual objects.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of cataract phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation (FILI) combined with internal limiting membrane stripping (ILMS) in the treatment of macular retinoschisis in patients with high myopia.

METHODS: A total of 52 patients (55 eyes) who had been diagnosed with macular retinoschisis with high myopia between June 2019 and June 2020 were enrolled in the present study. Patients in the control group (25 eyes) received 23G vitreous surgery and macular ILMS and long-term inert gas (C3F8) filling of the vitreous cavity; patients in the research group (30 eyes) were additionally treated with cataract phacoemulsification and soft intraocular lens on the same treatment basis as the control group.

RESULTS: The difference in average BCVA between the control and the research groups was not statistically significant before the surgery (P> 0.05) but was statistically significant 12 months after the procedure (P< 0.05). The minimum foveal thickness was significantly decreased in the two groups after the surgery compared with before the procedure (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Cataract phacoemulsification and FILI further improved the therapeutic effect of ILMS in the treatment of macular retinoschisis in patients with high myopia.

PMID:37125580 | DOI:10.3233/THC-220681

Technol Health Care. 2023 Apr 27. doi: 10.3233/THC-220654. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Removable partial dentures (RPDs) are widely used as a repair means and have a wide application scope.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of using design software in the preclinical teaching of removable partial dentures (RPDs).

METHODS: Unreal Engine software was used to build the RPD framework design teaching and training software. All 131 undergraduate students majoring in stomatology in the class of 2018, Kunming Medical University, were randomly divided into three groups and received either traditional experiment teaching, flipped classroom teaching, or software teaching for RPD design. The application effect of the software in the preclinical teaching of RPD design was evaluated by analyzing the examination results and through the use of a questionnaire survey.

RESULTS: The differences in the theoretical examination scores among the traditional teaching group, the flipped classroom group, and the software teaching group were not statistically significant (P> 0.05), while the average design scores of upper Kennedy Class I and lower Kennedy Class II subclass II in the software teaching group were significantly higher than those in the traditional teaching group (P< 0.05). Overall, 75% of the students in the software teaching group reported that this teaching method could improve their learning initiative, a higher percentage than in the traditional teaching group (55.8%, P< 0.05). Meanwhile, 90.9% of the students in the software teaching group reported that the software could make RPD-related theoretical knowledge more visual and intuitive, and 93.2% of these students felt it was helpful for understanding the RPD three-dimensional (3D) spatial structure. These percentages were higher than those in the traditional teaching and flipped classroom groups (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION: In the preclinical teaching of RPD design, software training helped the students better understand the 3D structure of RPDs and establish clear design ideas, and it may also be valuable for in-depth research and promotion purposes.

PMID:37125579 | DOI:10.3233/THC-220654

J Alzheimers Dis. 2023 Apr 28. doi: 10.3233/JAD-221194. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Information technology can enhance timely and individual support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their informal carers.

OBJECTIVE: To review the effectiveness of technology-based counselling interventions for people with dementia and informal carers.

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of remote dementia counselling interventions were included. We searched CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science Core Collection (April 2021) in combination with citation tracking and free web searching (October to November 2021). We provide meta-analyses for caregiver depression, burden, and self-efficacy/mastery and structured reporting for other outcomes. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach and the Risk of Bias 2 tool were applied.

RESULTS: We included five randomized controlled trials involving 880 participants. Interventions were provided for carers (four studies) or dyads (one study). Carers were predominantly women and were the spouses or children of people with dementia. Counselling was delivered via telephone or videoconference with two to 23 sessions over 1 to 12 months. Control groups received educational and resource materials only, standard (helpline) services, non-directive support, or home visits. Meta-analysis for our primary outcome, depressive symptoms in carers, revealed no statistically significant effect (SMD -0.15; 95% CI -0.40 to 0.10). There were also no significant effects on burden and self-efficacy/mastery. We rated the certainty of evidence as low to very low and all outcomes at an overall high risk of bias.

CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of technology-based counselling interventions for people with dementia and informal carers remains uncertain. Theory-based approaches are needed for the development and evaluation of these interventions.

PMID:37125549 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-221194