scholarly journals Use of complementary and alternative therapies by patients with eye diseases: a hospital-based cross-sectional study from Palestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dania Jaber ◽  
Rafat Abu Ghannam ◽  
Waleed Rashed ◽  
Mohammad Shehadeh ◽  
Sa’ed H. Zyoud
Keyword(s):  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Alternative Therapies ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Therapies ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Abstract Background Generally, complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) are accepted methods of treatment by patients with various types of conditions. Their use is becoming especially prevalent among patients with eye problems even in developed countries. Thus, we aimed to determine the pattern of use of CAT in this patient population, to identify the patient characteristics associated with the use of CAT, and to assess the types of CAT used. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Palestine at An-Najah National University Hospital between the time periods of October 2019 to May 2020, using questionnaire-based face to face interviews. Data were collected through convenience sampling. Patients responded to the questionnaire, which was focused on information adapted from previous research in this area, covering socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, types of CAT, source of information, and side effects on CAT use. Results A total of 86 patients were interviewed for our study. Over two thirds, 67% reported using CAT for the specific purpose of improving their eye condition, and about one third (29.1%) received more than one therapy. The most common therapies reported were duea’ (i.e. supplication) (47.1%) and herbal therapies (24.1%). It was shown that patients with bilateral involvement of their eyes were almost twice more likely to describe using CAT than patients with unilateral eye pathology (p = 0.006). Also, patients who underwent surgery as their route of treatment were significantly less likely to use CAT (p = 0.043). Most of our study participants mentioned a non-physician source as their source of information regarding CAT with family members being the most frequently mentioned (30.2%) followed by the internet (25.6%) and friends (19.8%). Conclusions The prevalence of CAT use among patients with eye disease is somewhat high in our study population. Because CAT may trigger adverse reactions, influence the progression of the disease, and interfere with conventional treatment, the ophthalmologist should frequently be asked patients with such diagnostics regarding the use of these therapies. Further work is required to analyze the mechanisms of action and to establish realistic guidelines for the use of these modalities.

scholarly journals Opinion and Usage Regarding Complementary and Alternative Therapies among Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Khadeej Choudhry Ilyas ◽  
Naureen Omar
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Therapies ◽  
Spiritual Healers ◽  
Structured Questionnaire ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are widely used among the population in Pakistan either separately or in conjunction with convention medical therapies. CAM therapies are used for varying reasons and result in complications as conventional treatment is often delayed resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Objective of the study was to assess the opinions and usage regarding CAM therapies among patients in a tertiary care setup. Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore from April 2018 to June 2018. Sample size was calculated to be 186 which were equally divided between patients in OPD, ER and IPD. A structured questionnaire was administered. SPSS 20 was used for analysis. Results: In this study 112(60.2%) patients had used CAM for an illness whereas 74(39.8%) had never used CAM therapy. Most of the patients 165(88.7%) were able to differentiate between CAM and conventional therapies.  Most frequent source of knowledge cited was family and friends 139(74.7%), previous users of CAM 83(44.6%) and media/internet 69(37.1%). Spiritual Healers (Pirs) were the most used modality of CAM at 64(34.4%) followed by hakeem and homeopathy. Most common reasons for using CAM were advice from family and friends, personal will and religious/spiritual reasons. Conclusion: Use of CAM therapies is widely prevalent in our study with more than half the respondents having used a modality of CAM. Users of CAM were found to be generally satisfied with the treatment.

scholarly journals Use of complementary and alternative therapies for the treatment of dysmenorrhea among undergraduate pharmacy students in Malaysia: a cross sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Abubakar ◽  
Amni Izzati Zulkarnain ◽  
Fatihah Samri ◽  
Sabrina Ros Hisham ◽  
Anis Alias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Bed Rest ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Alternative Therapies ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Female Undergraduate ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Therapies

Abstract Background Dysmenorrhea is a common problem that affects female students’ quality of life and academic activities. Complementary and alternative therapies (CATs) are used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. This study investigated the practices and perceptions of female undergraduate students with dysmenorrhea towards CATs. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students in a public university in Malaysia using a validated and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted in November and December 2019. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results Of the 318 female undergraduate students invited, 219 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 68.9%) with 52% aged between 21 and 23 years. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 72.1%, and the prevalence of ever-use and current use of CATs was 70.3 and 54.4%, respectively. Bed rest (71.5%), hot compress/heating pad (47.5%) and massage (43.0%) were the most common CATs used by the respondents. The most common reasons for using CAT were to reduce the need for analgesics (61.4%), efficacy (37.3%) and recommendation by others (32.9%). About 23 and 9% of the respondents believed that CATs were equally “effective” and “more effective” than analgesics, respectively. Reducing the need for analgesics (AOR: 4.066, 95% CI: 2.136–7.739) and those who agreed that CATs are effective (AOR: 2.701, 95% CI: 1.337–5.457) were independently associated with the current use CATs for the treatment of menstrual pain. Conclusion The prevalence of ever-use and current use of CATs is high among female undergraduate pharmacy students. Bed rest and heat applications are the most common CATs used. Reducing the need for analgesics and efficacy are the factors associated with the current use of CATs. Students should be educated about the safe and effective use of CATs to reduce adverse effects and improve their quality of life.

Prevalence of Thyroid Diseases in an Occupationally Radiation Exposed Group: A Cross-Sectional Study in a University Hospital of Southern Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Vimercati ◽  
Luigi De Maria ◽  
Francesca Mansi ◽  
Antonio Caputi ◽  
Giovanni M. Ferri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Thyroid Diseases ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exposed Workers

Background: Thyroid diseases occur more frequently in people exposed to ionizing radiation, but the relationship between occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and thyroid pathologies still remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in healthcare workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation compared with a control group working at the University Hospital of Bari, Southern Italy, and living in the same geographical area, characterized by mild iodine deficiency. Methods: We ran a cross-sectional study to investigate whether healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation had a higher prevalence of thyroid diseases. Four hundred and forty-four exposed healthcare workers (241 more exposed, or “A Category”, and 203 less exposed, or “B Category”) and 614 nonexposed healthcare workers were enrolled during a routine examination at the Occupational Health Unit. They were asked to fill in an anamnestic questionnaire and undergo a physical examination, serum determination of fT3, fT4 and TSH, anti-TPO ab and anti-TG ab and ultrasound neck scan. Thyroid nodules were submitted to fine needle aspiration biopsy when indicated. Results: The prevalence of thyroid diseases was statistically higher in the exposed workers compared to controls (40% vs 29%, adPR 1.65; IC95% 1.34-2.07). In particular, the thyroid nodularity prevalence in the exposed group was approximately twice as high as that in the controls (29% vs 13%; adPR 2.83; IC95% 2.12-3.8). No statistically significant association was found between exposure to ionizing radiation and other thyroid diseases. Conclusion: In our study, mild ionizing radiation-exposed healthcare workers had a statistically higher prevalence of thyroid diseases than the control group. The results are likely due to a closer and more meticulous health surveillance programme carried out in the ionising radiation-exposed workers, allowing them to identify thyroid alterations earlier than non-exposed health staff.

Psychopathological Factors Associated With Burnout in Intensive Care Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 107839032199972
Author(s):  
Erman Yıldız
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have separately revealed that parameters such as anxiety, depression, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are associated with burnout, there is still a limited understanding of the relationship between anxiety, depression, and STS and burnout in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between levels of burnout, anxiety, depression, and STS in ICU nurses. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with ICU nurses ( N = 164) from a university hospital in eastern Turkey. The participants completed the anxiety, depression, STS, and burnout scales along with the descriptive characteristics form. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean scores for STS, anxiety, depression, and burnout were 40.60 ± 13.77, 17.14 ± 12.90, 13.28 ± 9.75 and 41.39 ± 14.87, respectively. The results showed that, in the ICU nurses, anxiety, depression, and STS components explained 61% of emotional exhaustion, 38% of depersonalization, and 13% of personal accomplishment. CONCLUSIONS: While the present findings supported the paradigm that burnout in ICU nurses is associated with STS, anxiety, and depression, they also revealed some details about the psychopathological factors associated with burnout. These details were as follows: (1) individuals who resorted to avoidance as a component of STS on a high level were more likely to experience emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, (2) individuals with severe depressive symptoms were more likely to experience a decrease in their personal accomplishment, and (3) individuals with anxiety symptoms were more likely to experience both emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment.

Malaria among migrants in a university hospital in Colombia during 2018: A case series

2020 ◽  
pp. 004947552098130
Author(s):  
Fabián R Carreño-Almánzar ◽  
Adán Coronado-Galán ◽  
Sonia A Cala-Gómez ◽  
Agustín Vega-Vera
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Imported Malaria ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinical Profiles

Imported malaria has increased in Colombia since 2015 and has been attributed to migrants coming from Venezuela. We present a series of malaria cases, nested in a retrospective cross-sectional study between 2017 and 2018, aimed at calculating the prevalence of medical diseases among immigrants in a University Hospital in Colombia. Among 154 immigrants admitted for medical causes between 2017 and 2018, 8 were diagnosed with malaria, all due to Plasmodium vivax. Of these, seven had uncomplicated malaria, five had a previous history of malaria, one was critically ill, but none died. We highlight that, similar to other case series of imported malaria, Latin American migrants were young, with similar clinical profiles, having a low proportion of severe cases, and P. vivax was the most frequent cause.

scholarly journals Analysis of quality of life among asthmatic individuals with obesity and its relationship with pulmonary function: cross-sectional study

2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Baltieri ◽  
Luiz Claudio Martins ◽  
Everton Cazzo ◽  
Débora Aparecida Oliveira Modena ◽  
Renata Cristina Gobato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Morbidly Obese ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Anthropometric Data ◽  
Cross Sectional

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The combined effect of obesity and asthma may lead to significant impairment of quality of life (QOL). The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma among obese individuals, characterize the severity of impairment of quality of life and measure its relationship with pulmonary function. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational cross-sectional study in public university hospital. METHODS: Morbidly obese individuals (body mass index > 40 kg/m2) seen in a bariatric surgery outpatient clinic and diagnosed with asthma, were included. Anthropometric data were collected, the Standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)) was applied and spirometry was performed. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the median of the score in the questionnaire (worse < 4 and better > 4) and were compared regarding anthropometric data and pulmonary function. RESULTS: Among the 4791 individuals evaluated, 219 were asthmatic; the prevalence of asthma was 4.57%. Of these, 91 individuals were called to start multidisciplinary follow-up during the study period, of whom 82 answered the questionnaire. The median score in the AQLQ(S) was 3.96 points and, thus, the individuals were classified as having moderate impairment of their overall QOL. When divided according to better or worse QOL, there was a statistically difference in forced expiratory flow (FEF) 25-75%, with higher values in the better QOL group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma was 4.57% and QOL was impaired among the asthmatic obese individuals. The worst QOL domain related to environmental stimuli and the best QOL domain to limitations of the activities. Worse QOL was correlated with poorer values for FEF 25-75%.

scholarly journals The effect of stone and patient characteristics in predicting extra-corporal shock wave lithotripsy success rate: A cross sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 102829
Author(s):  
Mohammad Al- zubi ◽  
Ammar Al Sleibi ◽  
Basel Mazen Elayan ◽  
Subhi Zahi Al-issawi ◽  
Morad Bani-hani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Shock Wave Lithotripsy ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Beijing: a 5-year cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e041917
Author(s):  
Fei Shao ◽  
Haibin Li ◽  
Shengkui Ma ◽  
Dou Li ◽  
Chunsheng Li
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Shockable Rhythm ◽  
Bystander Cpr ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the trends in outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Beijing over 5 years.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsAdult patients with OHCA of all aetiologies who were treated by the Beijing emergency medical service (EMS) between January 2013 and December 2017 were analysed. Data were collected using the Utstein Style. Cases were followed up for 1 year. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the sample and logistic regression was performed.ResultsOverall, 5016 patients with OHCA underwent attempted resuscitation by the EMS in urban areas of Beijing during the study period. Survival to hospital discharge was 1.2% in 2013 and 1.6% in 2017 (adjusted rate ratio=1.0, p for trend=0.60). Survival to admission and neurological outcome at discharge did not significantly improve from 2013 to 2017. Patient characteristics and the aetiology and location of cardiac arrest were consistent, but there was a decrease in the initial shockable rhythm (from 6.5% to 5.6%) over the 5 years. The rate of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increased steadily over the years (from 10.4% to 19.4%).ConclusionSurvival after OHCA in urban areas of Beijing did not improve significantly over 5 years, with long-term survival being unchanged, although the rate of bystander CPR increased steadily, which enhanced the outcomes of patients who underwent bystander CPR.

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