The Impact of Vitiligo on Patients' Psychological Status and Sexual Function: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study

Introduction: Vitiligo is a chronic pigmentary cutaneous disorder. Although vitiligo is not a life-threatening disease, it seriously affects patients' psychological status and Quality-of-Life (QoL). Moreover, the effect of vitiligo on genital image severely affects sexual function, especially in females. Patients & Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study had targeted patients with vitiligo of both genders. 173 patients who had responded to the given questionnaires were included and their responses were statistically analyzed. Patients’ files were revised for extraction of demographic and clinical data and the previous evaluation of the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) score. Results and Discussion: Median VIS-22 score was in the range of 21-49, but 109 patients had a median score of 28. Seventy-eight patients had mild and 15 patients had moderate depression. Regression analysis defined the sense of being unattractive, disappointed in self and discouragement about the future as the most significant underlying causes of depression. Ninety-two patients had sexual dysfunction and scoring of satisfaction by the sexual act was the highest while scoring for the desire was the lowest. Regression analysis revealed that female gender, high ASEX and VASI scores are the significant predictors for high BDI-II. ROC curve analysis defined a high ASEX score as a significant predictor for a high BDI-II score. Conclusion: The obtained results indicated a deleterious effect of vitiligo on patients’ psychological status that may progress to depression. The effects of the disease on body image, especially the genital area, induced sexual dissatisfaction with an impact on sexual function. Altogether, raise a suggested adjuvant role for psychotherapy in patients with vitiligo which might even indirectly lead to improvement of vitiligo.

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Understanding the Impact of Bullying in a Unionized U.S. Public Sector Workforce

Workplace Health & Safety ◽

10.1177/2165079919883286 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 68 (3) ◽

pp. 139-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mazen El Ghaziri ◽

Shellie Simons ◽

Jane Lipscomb ◽

Carla L. Storr ◽

Kathleen McPhaul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Organizational Climate ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Female Gender ◽

Bargaining Unit ◽

Organizational Level ◽

Organizational Impact ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Background: Workplace Bullying (WPB) can have a tremendous, negative impact on the victims and the organization as a whole. The purpose of this study was to examine individual and organizational impact associated with exposure to bullying in a large U.S. unionized public sector workforce. Methods: A cross-sectional Web-based survey was conducted among 16,492 U.S. state government workers. Survey domains included demographics, negative acts (NAs) and bullying, supportiveness of the organizational climate, and individual and organizational impacts of bullying. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the impact among respondents who reported exposure to bullying. Findings: A total of 72% participants responded to the survey (n = 11,874), with 43.7% (n = 5,181) reporting exposure to NAs and bullying. A total of 40% (n = 4,711) participants who experienced WPB reported individual impact(s) while 42% ( n = 4,969) reported organization impact(s). Regular NA was associated with high individual impact (negatively impacted them personally; odds ratio [OR] = 5.03) when controlling for other covariates including: female gender (OR =1.89) and job tenure of 6 to 10 years (OR = 1.95); working in a supportive organizational climate and membership in a supportive bargaining unit were protective of high impact (OR = 0.04 and OR = 0.59, respectively). High organizational impact (transferring to another position) was associated with regular NA and bullying (OR = 16.26), female gender (OR = 1.55), providing health care and field service (OR = 1.68), and protective effect of organizational climate (OR = 0.39). We found a dose-response relationship between bullying and both individual and organizational-level impact. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Understanding the impacts of WPB should serve to motivate more workplaces and unions to implement effective interventions to ameliorate the problem by enhancing the organizational climate, as well as management and employee training on the nature of WPB and guidance on reporting.

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How is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting the mental health of parents of school-age children in the UK? A cross-sectional online survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043397 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e043397

Author(s):

Austen El-Osta ◽

Aos Alaa ◽

Iman Webber ◽

Eva Riboli Sasco ◽

Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Female Gender ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.

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Impact of temperature and relative humidity on the transmission of COVID-19: a modelling study in China and the United States

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043863 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e043863

Author(s):

Jingyuan Wang ◽

Ke Tang ◽

Kai Feng ◽

Xin Lin ◽

Weifeng Lv ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Human Mobility ◽

The United States ◽

Reproductive Number ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Usa ◽

Higher Temperature ◽

Potential Impact ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesWe aim to assess the impact of temperature and relative humidity on the transmission of COVID-19 across communities after accounting for community-level factors such as demographics, socioeconomic status and human mobility status.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional regression analysis via the Fama-MacBeth procedure is adopted.SettingWe use the data for COVID-19 daily symptom-onset cases for 100 Chinese cities and COVID-19 daily confirmed cases for 1005 US counties.ParticipantsA total of 69 498 cases in China and 740 843 cases in the USA are used for calculating the effective reproductive numbers.Primary outcome measuresRegression analysis of the impact of temperature and relative humidity on the effective reproductive number (R value).ResultsStatistically significant negative correlations are found between temperature/relative humidity and the effective reproductive number (R value) in both China and the USA.ConclusionsHigher temperature and higher relative humidity potentially suppress the transmission of COVID-19. Specifically, an increase in temperature by 1°C is associated with a reduction in the R value of COVID-19 by 0.026 (95% CI (−0.0395 to −0.0125)) in China and by 0.020 (95% CI (−0.0311 to −0.0096)) in the USA; an increase in relative humidity by 1% is associated with a reduction in the R value by 0.0076 (95% CI (−0.0108 to −0.0045)) in China and by 0.0080 (95% CI (−0.0150 to −0.0010)) in the USA. Therefore, the potential impact of temperature/relative humidity on the effective reproductive number alone is not strong enough to stop the pandemic.

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Psychopathology and Somatic Complaints: A Cross-Sectional Study with Portuguese Adults

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9040478 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 478

Author(s):

Joana Proença Becker ◽

Rui Paixão ◽

Manuel João Quartilho

Keyword(s):

Early Detection ◽

Short Form ◽

Female Gender ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Brief Symptom Inventory ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychopathological Symptoms ◽

Patient Health ◽

The Impact

(1) Background: Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) are physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical diagnosis, injuries, and medication intake. More than the presence of unexplained symptoms, this condition is associated with functional disabilities, psychological distress, increased use of health services, and it has been linked to depressive and anxiety disorders. Recognizing the difficulty of diagnosing individuals with FSS and the impact on public health systems, this study aimed to verify the concomitant incidence of psychopathological symptoms and FSS in Portugal. (2) Methods: For this purpose, 93 psychosomatic outpatients (91.4% women with a mean age of 53.9 years old) and 101 subjects from the general population (74.3% women with 37.8 years old) were evaluated. The survey questionnaire included the 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the 20-Item Short Form Survey, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and questions on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. (3) Results: Increases in FSS severity were correlated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. The findings also suggest that increased rates of FSS are associated with lower educational level and female gender. (4) Conclusion: Being aware of the relationship between FSS and psychopathological symptoms and the need to explore psychosocial issues during clinical interviews may favor early detection of these cases. The early detection of mental disorders is essential for individuals’ adherence to treatments, reflecting on healthcare costs.

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Relationship between dental fluorosis and quality of life: a population based study

Brazilian Oral Research ◽

10.1590/s1806-83242005000200014 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 150-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Edgard Michel-Crosato ◽

Maria Gabriela Haye Biazevic ◽

Edgard Crosato

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Water Supply ◽

Dental Fluorosis ◽

Female Gender ◽

Population Based ◽

Daily Activities ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significance Level ◽

The Impact

The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of dental fluorosis in schoolchildren aged 6 to 15 and its possible association with the impacts on their daily activities. This study is observational, cross-sectional and analytical. A total of 513 schoolchildren from the city of Pinheiro Preto, SC, took part in this study. The children were examined by three calibrated dentists, after obtaining a kappa > 0.80. To assess the prevalence of fluorosis, clinical examinations were performed according to the methodology set forth by the 4th edition of the WHO. To assess the impact of fluorosis on their daily activities, a modified OIDP (Oral Impacts on Daily Performance) was adopted. The statistical analysis used was the Chi-squared test with a 5% significance level. Of the total number of children examined, 262 (51.1%) were of the female gender and 251 (48.9%) were of the male gender. In regard to the prevalence of fluorosis, 94 (18.3%) of the children presented this condition, while 419 children (81.7%) presented a normal condition. In regard to the severity of fluorosis, few children presented severe alterations. No association was found between dental fluorosis and gender (p = 0.646), between fluorosis and socioeconomic status (p = 0.848) or between fluorosis and access to public water supply system (p = 0.198). The activities that most affected children's daily performance were: oral hygiene (40.9%) and food intake or enjoying food (40.4%). None of the daily activities could be associated with the occurrence of dental fluorosis. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was consonant with the standards found for locations with optimum fluoride content in the water supply. The questionable and very slight levels of fluorosis were the most frequently found, without influence in the quality of life of the schoolchildren participating in the study.

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The impact of burnout and occupational stress on sexual function in both male and female individuals: a cross-sectional study

International Journal of Impotence Research ◽

10.1038/s41443-019-0170-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 510-519 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Efstathios Papaefstathiou ◽

Aikaterini Apostolopoulou ◽

Eirini Papaefstathiou ◽

Kyriakos Moysidis ◽

Konstantinos Hatzimouratidis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Function ◽

Occupational Stress ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Male And Female ◽

The Impact

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Sexual Dysfunction and Marital Relationship in Women With Schizophrenia in Comparison with Caregivers: A Hospital-based Study

Journal of Psychosexual Health ◽

10.1177/2631831820918133 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 87-92

Author(s):

Suvarna Jyothi Kantipudi ◽

Navina Suresh ◽

Poornima Ayyadurai ◽

Sathianathan Ramanathan

Keyword(s):

Sexual Dysfunction ◽

Sexual Function ◽

Sexual Functioning ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Women Caregivers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Relationship Assessment ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Background: Sexual dysfunction is common in females with schizophrenia and is attributed to multiple causes, including individual psychopathology and antipsychotics. Understanding the impact of relationship satisfaction on sexual functioning is not widely studied in schizophrenia. Women caregivers also experience sexual problems and were not studied in the past. Aim: To assess the nature and occurrence of sexual dysfunction in women with schizophrenia in comparison to caregivers of males without severe mental disorder. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 30 women with schizophrenia were recruited as cases and 26 age-matched controls were recruited from female caregivers. All subjects were assessed using standardized tools such as Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Relationship Assessment Scale along with sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: There was a significant difference in FSFI scores and relationship scores between women with schizophrenia and caregiver control subjects. The relationship quality was better in patients with schizophrenia when compared to caregivers unlike sexual functioning. Conclusion: Sexual functioning in women is a complex phenomenon. A holistic biopsychosocial approach is necessary to understand women’s sexual function.

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Factors Related to Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Independent Brazilian Elderly

International Journal of Dentistry ◽

10.1155/2013/705047 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Karla Giovana Bavaresco Ulinski ◽

Mariele Andrade do Nascimento ◽

Arinilson Moreira Chaves Lima ◽

Ana Raquel Benetti ◽

Regina Célia Poli-Frederico ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Oral Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Female Gender ◽

Lower Class ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Posterior Teeth ◽

The Impact

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the factors associated with the impact of oral health on the quality of life in a sample of 504 Brazilian independent elderly. Data collection included oral examinations and structured interviews. The simplified form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure OHRQoL. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, use of dental services, and subjective measures of health was collected. Poisson regression within a hierarchical model was used to data analyses. The following variables were associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL: female gender (PR = 1.40; CI 95%: 1.11–1.77); lower class (PR = 1.58; CI 95%: 1.13–2.20); up to 3 occluding pairs of posterior teeth (PR = 1.88; CI 95%: 1.13–3.14); at least one untreated caries (PR = 1.28; CI 95%: 1.06–1.54); curative reasons for the last dental appointment (PR = 1.52; CI 95%: 1.15–2.00); poor self-perception of oral health (PR = 2.49; CI 95%: 1.92–3.24); and poor perception of dental care provided (PR = 1.34; CI 95%: 1.12–1.59). The younger elderly also noticed this negative impact. These findings showed that the clinical, sociodemographic, and subjective factors evaluated exerted a negative impact on OHRQoL in elderly people. Health authorities must address all these factors when planning interventions on oral health for this population.

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Competency framework as an instrument of support to the continued professional development of pharmacists

PONS - medicinski casopis ◽

10.5937/pomc17-23600 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 64-69

Author(s):

Svetlana Stojkov ◽

Dušanka Krajnović

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Female Gender ◽

Competency Framework ◽

Future Application ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Respective Field ◽

Microsoft Office ◽

The Impact

Objective. Continued Professional Development (CPD) is one of the most significant precursors to increased competency. Appropriate instruments and support are required for its implementation. This paper demonstrates the attitudes held by pharmacists on the impact of the competency framework on CPD, its acceptance among Serbian pharmacists and potential future application. Furthermore, the motivational impact of the competency framework on CPD as well as the relationship between certain demographic indicators and motivators of CPD are provided. Method. Research on the cross-sectional method throughout 2015-16 included pharmacists working in publicly-owned pharmacies. The survey was anonymous and voluntary. The questionnaires generated for this research contain demographic data on those surveyed and open-ended questions with multiple choice answers and applied a Likert-type scale. Statistical analysis was conducted by applying Microsoft Office 2003 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Results. Among the respondents, the female gender dominated, respondents who had not completed a speciality within their respective field, with an average age of 42 years, and an average of approx. 15 years of service. 26.12% of the respondents had prior experience with the competency framework. Most respondents were of the opinion that these instruments motivated them to actively manage their own PD, to set concrete PD objectives and to review their own competency. Over half intend to apply competency frameworks in future. The statistical Chi-square test indicates it is not possible to determine with certainty that there are differences in terms of motivation in managing PD and in PD goal setting between the groups of variables. Conclusion. The research indicates a positive attitude/opinion of pharmacists towards the competency framework and in recognising these instruments as supportive to CPD.

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Status of Palestinian Adults in the West Bank, Palestine; A Cross-Sectional Study

The Open Psychology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874350102114010227 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 227-237

Author(s):

Imad T. Asmar ◽

Hani Naseef ◽

Nimeh Al-Shami ◽

Maram K. Jaghama ◽

Abdallah D. Abukhalil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

West Bank ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Psychological Status ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

The West ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapid manifestation and spread have disrupted world norms and affected people's daily activities and life. Many ministries chose mass lockdown protocol as a way to control the virus spread. Though this protocol has shown to be effective in limiting the Virus transmission, it might have a negative impact on the population's psychological status, such as boredom, confusion, psychological stress, anxiety, depression, and physical effects. Objective: This study aimed to find the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Palestinian adults' psychological status by assessing the participant's practices, reports of anxiety and depression during the pandemics Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Palestinian adults in the West Bank, at the occupied Palestinian territories, between July and September 2020. The questionnaire was structured into two domains: the first domain includes nine questions about sociodemographic data. The second consisted of 33 (yes and no) questions evaluating the participant's psychological status. Results: 739 participants with a mean age of 31.76, filled the online questionnaire. Around one-third of respondents revealed having many signs of anxiety, and around 42% of respondents expressed having many signs of depression. Females were significantly more likely to have signs of depression, whereas front-line COVID-19 health care workers were significantly the least likely to have signs of depression and no signs of depression were found among participants with high incomes. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has a negative effect on mental status; most participants have signs of anxiety and depression.

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