Stigmatization in Patients With Psoriasis: A Mini Review

Psoriasis is a chronic and recurrent immune-related skin disease that often causes disfigurement and disability. Due to the visibility of lesions in patients and inadequate understanding of dermatology knowledge in the general public, patients with psoriasis often suffer from stigma in their daily lives, which has adverse effects on their mental health, quality of life, and therapeutic responses. This review summarized the frequently used questionnaires and scales to evaluate stigmatization in patients with psoriasis, and recent advances on this topic. Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire, Questionnaire on Experience with Skin Complaints, and 6-item Stigmatization Scale have been commonly used. The relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, disease-related variables, psychiatric disorders, quality of life, and stigmatization in patients with psoriasis has been thoroughly investigated with these questionnaires. Managing the stigmatization in patients with psoriasis needs cooperation among policymakers, dermatologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, and patients. Further studies can concentrate more on these existing topics, as well as other topics, including predictors of perceived stigmatization, stigmatization from non-patient groups, influence of biologics on stigmatization, and methods of coping with stigmatization.

Examining the Psychological Health Quality of Life of Older People with Disability in Selected Districts in Ghana

Older people in Ghana suffer from a wide range of disabilities including visual, physical, and hearing with serious ramifications on their quality of life. Therefore, this paper examines the psychological health quality of life (PHQOL) of older people with disability in selected Districts in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Through a census survey, questionnaires were used to obtain data from 810 respondents.Independent-samples t-test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to examine their PHQOL. The results showed that mean scores in PHQOL were highest among those aged 60-69 and lowest for those aged 80 years and older with a significant difference [F (807) = 23.872 value, p = 0.000] in PHQOL of their ages. Those who were married had the highest PHQOL mean score compared with those who were separated / divorced and widowed with significant difference [F (807) = 42.690 value, p = 0.000] noticed in PHQOL across marital statuses. Also, those with physical disability had a higher mean score in PHQOL than those with visual disability. The study concludes that any geriatric policy interventions aimed at improving the PHQOL of older people with disability ought not to downplay their background characteristics as they underpin their PHQOL.

Automatic gait analysis during steady and unsteady walking using a smartphone

How people walk often reveals key insights into health, quality of life and independence. Here, we propose a smartphone-based gait monitoring system which is sensitive and accurate enough to measure temporal gait parameters during unsteady walking, differentiate between normal and impaired gait, and recognise changes in the impaired gait depending on the use of medication or walking aid.

Automatic gait analysis during steady and unsteady walking using a smartphone

How people walk often reveals key insights into health, quality of life and independence. Here, we propose a smartphone-based gait monitoring system which is sensitive and accurate enough to measure temporal gait parameters during unsteady walking, differentiate between normal and impaired gait, and recognise changes in the impaired gait depending on the use of medication or walking aid.