Authors:Bishwajit Ghose Abstract: BACKGROUND: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as an unprecedented challenge for public and private life, and healthcare systems worldwide. African, Caribbean, and Black communities (ACB) represent some of the most vulnerable populations in terms of their susceptibility to health hazards, difficulty receiving adequate health care and relatively lower chances of recovery. OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study is to improve the health system’s response during and after the COVID-19 pandemic by developing evidence-based models to inform policy and collaborative best practices to mitigate its spread and ameliorate related health consequences in vulnerable communities. METHODS: This is a mixed-method, multisite study based in Ottawa and Toronto that will involve in-depth qualitative interviews and surveys using a structured questionnaire. Data will be analyzed using NVivo for qualitative interviews, Stata 16 and IBM SPSS version 26 for statistical analyses. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study gained from highly professional health practitioners will produce strong evidence on current gaps in knowledge and practice in the healthcare system’s capacity to meet the health needs of ACB population. The distinct insights and perspectives will be disseminated with policymakers and researchers at all levels which will facilitate strategic policy making with the goal of addressing the unique challenges for health PubDate: Sat, 01 Jan 2022 09:42:26 +000
Abstract: It has been reported that refractive errors (RE) and binocular vision (BV) anomalies are common among university students. In this study we aimed to assess RE and BV status among university students in Saudi Arabia, and its relation to the academic performance. We recruited 109 participants (aged from 18 to 21 years). Visual acuity (VA) and objective refraction were used to assess the refractive status. Cover test, near-point convergence (NPC) and stereopsis tests were used to assess the BV status. Convergence insufficiency symptom survey (CISS) was applied to quantify near-work related symptoms. Mann-Whitney U test (p value was set as p < 0.05) was used to compare VA, CISS, NPC and the academic performance between the groups who had heterophoria versus orthophoria. We found that there was only 38% emmetrope, while the percentage of heterophoria was 45.8%. The academic performance was not statistically different among the two groups, but CISS and stereopsis scores were significantly different (p < 0.03). We concluded that RE and BV anomalies were common among university students in Saudi Arabia, but did not affect the academic performance. More studies are warranted to understand the low scores of CISS and stereoacuity, and their association with RE and BV anomalies. PubDate: Sat, 01 Jan 2022 09:41:54 +000
Authors:Setareh Ghahari Abstract: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with social skills, verbal and non-verbal communication, repetitive behaviours and atypical sensory processing. Individuals on the autism spectrum face a higher prevalence of health conditions and have a higher mortality rate than the general population. There is a critical need to understand adults’ experiences on the autism spectrum when accessing health care services to understand how to improve accessibility to health care for these individuals. The purpose of this scoping review was to investigate how adults on the autism spectrum access and experience health care services. Four databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycInfo, were systematically searched for literature exploring how individuals on the autism spectrum access and experience health care. Results were extracted and categorized into five determinants based on the accessibility framework described by Levesque et al. (2013). Results indicated adults on the autism spectrum experience numerous barriers when accessing health care services. The dimension of access most frequently cited was the appropriateness of care, followed by the acceptability of care. It is essential to explore access as it is often conceptualized as the availability and affordability of services; however, results of this study indicate the broader experience of quality care provision and acceptance of the individual are important in understanding the complex experience individuals on the autism spectrum face. Based on these findings, there is a need to provide comprehensive education and clinical practice guidelines for health care providers to help reduce barriers to providing appropriate care for adults on the autism spectrum. Efforts to destigmatize intrapersonal and extra-personal perceptions of individuals on the autism spectrum will help overcome the barriers that affect care acceptability. Further research must understand how to design and implement strategies to maximize health service access for adults on the autism spectrum. PubDate: Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:03:05 +000
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Wearing dentures helps rehabilitate the oral health status for the older people. Due to lack of previous data, this objective of this study was to determine the level of utilization and satisfaction of complete denture treatment at dental clinics in Fiji. MATERIALS & METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 85 edentulous patients and dentures at the Fiji National University (FNU) teaching dental clinic from 2010-2016.Patients who utilized the dentures fabricated at FNU and identified as complete denture patients from 2010-2016 were included in this study. Data was collected using the denture assessment form and Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT) questionnaire. Correlation test was done and p less than 0.05 was considered as level of significance. RESULTS: Participants were between the age range of 40-79 years with majority being male (54%). Greater level of satisfaction noted among 60-69 years male participants and those wearing the dentures for 3-4 years than other groups. Difficulty in chewing (40%) and food catching underneath the denture (33%) were common denture related complains. One thirds of participants reported of uncomfortable dentures while 24% had sore spots due to their dentures. More than two thirds of them, (71%) were unable to eat and enjoy food and for most patients, the vertical dimension (94%), esthetics assessment (94%), tooth selection (91%), boarder extension (78%), posterior seal (99%) and centric relation (99%) were acceptable. Patients with acceptable vertical dimension (46.1±7.6), acceptable esthetics (45.8±7.9) and boarder extension (48.0±7.2) showed greater satisfaction level compared to those with unacceptable denture characteristics. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted that satisfaction among recent denture wearers was low and majority participants portrayed poor understanding regarding denture aftercare and hygiene. It can be recommended for the teaching institutes and dental clinics to evaluate the quality of treatments and help to improve the quality of services being provided to the patients. Further study is needed to determine the in- depth perceptions of denture wearers. It also can be recommended for the patients to take heed of the post operative denture hygiene instructions being given. PubDate: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:46:04 +000
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Malnutrition among children not only affects their health consequences but also does it burden their households’ finance especially in developing countries. This study evaluates the household risk of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) due to malnutrition treatments among malnourished children in Nigeria, according to zones and wealth quintiles. We simulate the CHE risk among households with malnourished children who seek treatment. METHODS: The CHE risk due to malnutrition among treated was computed based on 1) the out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure and indirect costs associated with malnutrition treatment, and 2) household consumption expenditures. I derived the CHE risk associated with malnutrition across zones and wealth quintiles in Nigeria, using secondary data sources for healthcare utilization, OOP expenditures, and consumption expenditures. RESULTS: There was a large variation of CHE risk according to zones and wealth quintiles. Among the poorest households, those in northeast and northwest would have the highest risk of CHE, up to 59 and 47%, while those in southwest would have the lowest risk of 14%. For all zones, as the wealth increases, the CHE risk would decrease. There would be zero or very little CHE risk among the richest households in any zones.INTERPRETATION: Nutrition interventions will help malnourished children improve their health status. However, we should also be wary about the financial consequences of the treatment that households should bear. PubDate: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:39:14 +000
Authors:Parvaneh Heidari Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transition to, and experience of, telehealth in people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD).METHOD: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted in a specialist clinic for personality disorders in March-May 2020. RESULTS: Thirty-seven clients (48% response rate) completed the survey. Two participants (5.4%) were decided not to receive treatment via telehealth. Transitioning from in-person to telehealth, the majority of participants had few or no technical issues (51.4%). Telephone, video-conferencing and a mix of telephone and video-conferencing were used. Positive and negative experiences were endorsed asking about the effectiveness of telehealth. While some participants were whether unsure (32%) or not (19%) interested in telehealth following pandemic, half acknowledged the presence of telehealth (54.8%) and wanted to have the option of telehealth following pandemic (48.6%).CONCLUSIONS: Despite some shortcomings associated with telehealth, almost every client continued to attend appointments and half of the study participants wanted to have the option of telehealth in the future. Healthcare policymakers and mental health managers should consider the challenges described in this study while developing telehealth guidelines to best support people experiencing problems living with the psychiatric diagnoses of BPD. PubDate: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:37:14 +000
Authors:Laura Uusiku Abstract: Although, at the time of this study, the cardiotocograph machine was the acceptable monitoring tool to be used intrapartum, its appropriate use was a matter of concern for midwives globally. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study which investigated the perceptions of midwives, who were working in a labor ward in a public referral hospital in Namibia, regarding the use of the cardiotocograph machine. The objectives of the study included: to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives working in a labor ward in Namibia regarding the use of the cardiotocograph machine as a labor monitoring tool; and to explore and describe how midwives working in a labor ward in Namibia perceived informing women who were in labor about the use of the cardiotocograph machine as a labor monitoring tool. The study site was a public referral hospital which offered services to the five northern regions of Namibia. The requisite data was collected using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews which were conducted with seventeen (17) purposively selected participants. The interviews were recorded on an audio device. The spiral method of data analysis was adopted. The study findings revealed that the participants had varying perceptions on the use of the cardiotocograph machine intrapartum and, as such, perceived its use as a challenge. It was concluded that midwives need to be empowered via refresher courses with regard to the use of cardiotocograph machine to ensure optimum results. PubDate: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:36:24 +000
Authors:Eliza Miranda Ramos, Valter Aragão do Nascimento Abstract: COVID-19 in 2020 brought challenges to the Brazilian public health system with an emerging virus with respiratory contagion called SARS-CoV-2. There are few studies in Brazil and in some countries, on the increased incidence of certain viral respiratory infections, including H1N1 and coronavirus and their association with low levels of vitamin D, zinc and iron. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the deficit of vitamin D, zinc and iron has an impact on the infectious process of patients with COVID-19 and to establish new forms of prevention for the worsening of COVID-19 in the human body. Data were collected from medical records and test results from patients being followed up during the treatment period for COVID-19. Patients with low blood levels of vitamin D, zinc and iron during the treatment period of COVID-19 had a higher percentage of worsening and complications requiring hospitalization in intensive care beds. The ingestion of vitamin D, zinc and iron in the treatment period of patients with COVID-19 in addition to being an immunological protector against SARS-CoV-2 and alleviating the process of worsening the disease can also act as a biomarker in cases of this disease. PubDate: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:36:01 +000
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