Search Results (3,837)

Background: Globally, there is a growing demand for the adoption of electronic health systems and the transition toward digital processes within healthcare organizations. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) play a vital role in enhancing documentation accuracy, improving healthcare delivery, and minimizing medical errors. However, limited research has explored nurses’ perceptions of EMR effectiveness within Ministry of Health hospitals in Jeddah City. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in four governmental hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health in Jeddah. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 911 full-time registered nurses from inpatient and outpatient departments. Data was collected through an electronic self-administered questionnaire evaluating EMR use, system quality, and user satisfaction. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26. Results: The global EMR score (82%) reflected a high level of acceptance and integration of EMR systems among the nurses surveyed. The use of order entry received the highest mean score (84.8%), indicating that nurses find EMRs particularly effective in streamlining administrative and clinical tasks, such as medication orders and care plans. The strong correlation between system quality and user satisfaction (rs = 0.911) underscores the importance of well-designed EMRs in fostering trust and confidence among clinical users. Conclusions: The findings indicate that nurses perceive EMRs as effective tools for improving documentation, care coordination, and workflow efficiency. This study recommends the establishment of structured feedback mechanisms that enable nurses to report issues, suggest improvements, and share success stories—thereby fostering a culture of continuous system enhancement. Full article

Background and Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a significant public health problem across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations because of advancements in urbanization alongside behavioural lifestyle changes and genetic predispositions. Specific self-management methods are fundamental in T2DM management because they provide better glycaemic control and decrease complications. Achieving a synthesis of updated evidence about self-management strategies and patient perception within GCC nations represents the primary objective of this narrative review. Materials and Methods: The studies included in the present review were retrieved from the Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, Saudi Digital Library, and Embase. We included peer-reviewed studies that were published from January 2020 to March 2025. The selected studies measured the self-management practices of adult T2DM patients by examining medication adherence, dietary patterns, blood glucose monitoring, and treatment barriers. Results: Research data indicate that patients demonstrate different levels of self-care management behaviours, where medication compliance is fair, but dietary patterns and physical activities remain areas of concern. High levels of knowledge deficits, cultural elements, and economic background substantially impact patients’ self-management practices. Patients indicate their need for enhanced and personalized care, better connections with healthcare providers, and interventions that consider their cultural backgrounds. Conclusions: Patients throughout the GCC region encounter ongoing difficulties that prevent them from performing their best at self-management, even though advanced healthcare facilities exist in this region. Therefore, it is critical to develop culturally sensitive patient-centered care, individualized educational programs, and adopt supportive digital solutions to enhance diabetes-related self-care management. Full article

Colorectal cancer is a significant health concern that can often be prevented through early detection of precancerous polyps during routine screenings. Although artificial intelligence (AI) methods have shown potential in reducing polyp miss rates, clinical adoption remains limited due to concerns over patient privacy, limited access to annotated data, and the high cost of expert labeling. To address these challenges, we propose an unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) approach that leverages a fully synthetic colonoscopy dataset, SynthColon, and adapts it to real-world, unlabeled data. Our method builds on the DAFormer framework and integrates a Transformer-based hierarchical encoder, a context-aware feature fusion decoder, and a self-training strategy. We evaluate our approach on the Kvasir-SEG and CVC-ClinicDB datasets. Results show that our method achieves improved segmentation performance of 69% mIoU compared to the baseline approach from the original SynthColon study and remains competitive with models trained on enhanced versions of the dataset. Full article

Background: Caregivers of individuals with cognitive impairment face heightened emotional and psychological burdens, yet the interaction between caregiver well-being, patient characteristics, and socio-demographic factors still requires investigation. This study aimed to examine the psychological well-being of family caregivers in an urban Romanian context, focusing on the role of depressive and anxiety symptoms, education, and care-recipient cognition function. A cross-sectional study was conducted among family caregivers recruited from a neurology-psychiatry service in Bucharest. Caregivers completed Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the COVI Scale. Cognitive status of care recipients was obtained from medical records (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and separate linear regression models were performed for each well-being dimension. Results: Caregivers reported moderate to high well-being scores, with Environmental Mastery highest (M = 38.01, SD = 8.70) and Purpose in Life lowest (M = 33.14, SD = 6.72). Depression scores averaged 18.49 (SD = 6.55), indicating moderate depressive symptoms, and anxiety scores averaged 12.14 (SD = 2.23), consistent with severe anxiety. Cognitive impairment in care recipients was marked (MMSE M = 11.47, SD = 6.99). Bivariate analyses showed that lower MMSE scores were associated with higher caregiver anxiety (ρ = −0.287, p = 0.014). Regression models (R² = 0.08–0.25) indicated that higher education was positively associated with autonomy, personal growth, positive relations, and environmental mastery, whereas older age and female gender were linked to lower well-being in several domains. Depressive symptoms were unexpectedly associated with higher autonomy and self-acceptance. Conclusions: Caregiver psychological well-being was modestly associated with depressive symptoms, education, gender, and age, while care-recipient cognitive status showed only weak links to anxiety. Education emerged as a consistent protective factor, whereas female gender and older age were associated with lower well-being. Although the Bonferroni correction eliminated significance in separate models, a complementary multivariate multiple regression confirmed global effects of education, caregiver gender, and depression across well-being domains. These findings emphasize the need for systematic psychological support for caregivers and call for larger, longitudinal studies to clarify causal mechanisms and additional protective factors. Full article

Background: The postpartum period may predispose to a higher prevalence of mental health disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life in breastfeeding women in the maternity ward in relation to specific medical and social factors. Methods: The study group consisted of 304 female patients from the maternity ward of the Multispecialist District Hospital in Tarnowskie Góry, Poland. The research tool included four questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Euro-Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: The majority of women in the maternity ward reported good psychological well-being. Anxiety symptoms affected 11.9% of postpartum women, depressive symptoms—7.3%, and symptoms of postpartum depression—5.9%. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in anxiety and depressive disorders (relative differences-expressed as a percentage). Women who gave birth by cesarean section were more likely to declare problems that negatively impacted their quality of life and health than those who gave birth naturally (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.77–2.11). The risk of experiencing anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as postpartum depression symptoms decreased as self-rated health increased (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99; OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99; OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.98, respectively). Higher level of life satisfaction was associated with higher levels of education and economic status, attendance at childbirth classes, and a higher self-assessment of health (OR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.6–10.51; OR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.41–6.24; OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.13–3.49; OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04, respectively). Conclusions: Screening for mental disorders during the postpartum period enables the early identification of symptoms and the implementation of appropriate treatment. Women who give birth by cesarean section and have medical complaints should be given special follow-up care. Health policy should ensure wider access to psychological and psychiatric care during the postpartum period. Full article

Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix; they form by sticking to a surface, growing in number, spreading out, developing fully, and breaking apart. Biofilm represents a risk of infections linked to healthcare environments. It can be one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections, which can colonize the surface of medical equipment, including respirators, urinary and central venous catheters, prosthetic heart valves, and orthopaedic devices. Biofilm formation in urinary catheters is the most common and plays a role in multidrug resistance, especially in patients with catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The supply of antibiotics for the treatment of biofilm bacteria is still inadequate due to continued antibiotic resistance, and the search for a cure for biofilm bacteria in urinary catheters is still under development. Most research currently focuses on preventing biofilm bacteria from adhering to the urinary catheter. This review discusses biofilm bacteria that form with catheter-associated urinary tract infection mechanisms and pathogenesis. In addition, the factors affecting the biofilm development by catheter-associated urinary tract infections were explained. Full article

Self-medication is increasingly prevalent among healthcare students, raising concerns about the adequacy of current medical education in promoting safe medication practices. This study aimed to assess the frequency, motivations, and perceptions of self-medication among medical and pharmacy students and to identify educational gaps. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured, anonymous questionnaire distributed to medical and pharmacy students at a single academic institution. The questionnaire assessed self-medication frequency, substances used, motivations, perceived risks, confidence in knowledge, sources of information, and attitudes toward curriculum improvements. Over 50% of participants reported practicing self-medication at least once a month. The most commonly used substances were analgesics and dietary supplements. Main motivations included recognition of symptoms, confidence in personal knowledge, and avoidance of waiting times. Despite receiving university instruction on self-medication risks, students continued to self-medicate, with many relying on the internet as a primary source of information. Only 8% felt very confident in counseling patients on self-medication. A majority (over 70%) expressed a strong interest in integrating dedicated educational modules into the curriculum. There is a clear need for improved, practice-oriented education on self-medication. Future interventions should focus on interdisciplinary teaching, digital literacy, and simulation-based training to foster safer medication practices. Full article

Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for assessing anxiety-related disorders through immersive exposure and physiological monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate whether multimodal data, including heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance response (SCR), and self-reported anxiety, collected during VR exposure could classify patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia using machine learning models. Methods: Seventy-six participants (38 patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia, 38 healthy controls) completed 295 total VR exposure sessions. Each session involved two road and two supermarket scenarios designed to induce anxiety. Inside the sessions, self-reported anxiety was measured along with physiological signals recorded by photoplethysmography and SCR sensors. HRV measures of heart rate, standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, and low-frequency to high-frequency ratio were extracted along with SCR peak frequency and average amplitude. These features were analyzed using Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), Logistic Ridge Regression (LRR), C-Support Vector Machine (SVC), Random Forest (RF), and Stochastic Gradient Boosting (SGB) classifiers. Results: The best model achieved an accuracy of 0.83. Most models showed specificity and precision ≥0.80, while sensitivity varied across models, with several reaching ≥0.82. Performance was stable across major hyperparameters, VR-stimulus settings, and medication status. The patients reported higher subjective anxiety but exhibited blunted physiological responses, particularly in SCR amplitude. Self-reported anxiety demonstrated higher feature importance scores compared to other physiological properties. Conclusion: VR exposure with self-reported anxiety and physiological measures may serve as a feasible diagnostic aid for panic disorder and agoraphobia. Further refinement is needed to improve sensitivity and clinical applicability. Full article

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Telemedicine offers a potential strategy to support risk factor management in such groups with limited access to care. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of a telemedicine-supported intervention compared to usual care in improving cardiovascular risk parameters among adults from a socially deprived urban population. Materials and Methods: In this controlled intervention study, adult patients with one or more cardiovascular risk factors were recruited from a primary care center in a low-income urban neighborhood in Timişoara, Romania. Participants were allocated to either usual care or a six-month telemedicine-supported intervention group. The intervention consisted of regular phone calls by trained staff focusing on medication adherence, self-monitoring of blood pressure and glucose, smoking cessation, and lifestyle advice. No physical visits were delivered. Primary outcomes included changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid profile. Data were collected at baseline and at six months. Results: A total of 144 patients were allocated to the telemedicine group and 142 to the usual care group. After 6 months, diastolic blood pressure decreased by 3.9 mmHg in the telemedicine group compared to 0.3 mmHg in the standard care group (p < 0.001). LDL-cholesterol was reduced by 18.0 mg/dL with telemedicine versus 5.7 mg/dL with usual care (p < 0.001). In contrast, fasting glucose improved more in the standard care group (–10.9 mg/dL vs. –2.0 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction in the telemedicine group was high, with 84% rating the program as very useful. Conclusions: Basic telemedicine-supported interventions may represent a feasible and effective strategy for improving cardiovascular risk factors such as diastolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol in socially deprived populations. High satisfaction suggests strong acceptability; however, given the small sample size, short follow-up, and single-center design, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and confirmed in larger studies. Full article

Since the popularization of dating apps, the scientific literature developed in the last decade still has various limitations that concern both the populations studied and the variables evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the use of dating apps among adults (25–50 years) and the relationship between the use of these apps and mental, physical and sexual health and substance use. A total of 1004 adults of both sexes (M = 36.61, SD = 7.16; 50.7% women, 49.3% men) participated in the study, filling out a battery of online questionnaires. A 40% prevalence of dating apps use was found. Men, non-heterosexuals, and single people showed higher use of these apps. No relationship was found between the use of dating apps and mental health (self-esteem, anxiety, depression). On the other hand, a direct association was found between being a dating app user and the consumption of substances (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, mental health medication), concern about physical appearance, and the practice of physical exercise. In addition, app users showed better sexual functioning than non-users. The main finding of the study is that there are no differences in mental health (self-esteem, anxiety, depression) between adult users and non-users of dating apps. The results obtained have significant implications both a psychological and social viewpoint. Therefore, they must be considered when implementing prevention and promotion programs for sexual health. Full article

Background: The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is classified as a functional somatic syndrome and is characterized primarily by chronic pain in multiple body regions and physical and/or mental fatigue. The German S3-guideline recommends a multimodal therapy for severe forms. Since research on non-pharmacologic complementary, naturopathic, and integrative therapy approaches shows positive and promising effects, integrative methods are firmly anchored in the S3 guideline. Objective/Methods: Aim of the present study was to investigate whether a multimodal integrative treatment program can be effective in reducing the primary symptoms of FMS (pain and fatigue) and improving psychological aspects such as quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Another aim of the study is to explore whether potential effects appear only in the short term (immediately after discharge) or persist long term (six months after discharge). The treatment concept is based on mind–body medicine and elements of classical European naturopathy (including fasting interventions) and focusses on stress reduction and lifestyle modification. Results: Of N = 134 originally included longstanding fibromyalgia patients (mean time since diagnosis 9.2 ± 8.5 years), 101 data sets could be analyzed. Results show a significant improvement in both short-term and long-term pain and fatigue intensity (about 12% improvement). Long-term reductions in pain intensity appear to be supported by medical fasting interventions. Regarding psychological aspects and quality of life, there are long-lasting reductions regarding anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and helplessness and a long-lasting increase in self-efficacy, quality of life and current working ability. Conclusions: The two-weeks inpatient stay therefore leads to significant improvements in all mentioned aspects. Therefore, the concept may be a promising component for integration into medical guidelines and thus in the care of FMS patients. Future research including randomized controlled trials is necessary to further evaluate the program. Full article

Heartburn is a prevalent and frequently self-managed condition, with a myriad of over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options available for self-care. The potential for misinterpretation of drug labels and improper OTC medication selection may result in inadequate treatment, potential drug interactions, as well as medication overuse, misuse, or delay in seeking treatment for a more serious health condition. As highly accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacists play a crucial role in validating self-diagnoses, in guiding appropriate OTC medication selection and use, and in educating patients on both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management strategies for heartburn. It is essential for pharmacists to remain informed about the latest developments in disease management and treatment options. This narrative review provides an updated perspective on the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations associated with heartburn while underscoring the expanding role of pharmacists in patient care. This review includes a structured assessment framework and clinical management algorithm designed to enhance pharmacists’ ability to identify red flag symptoms, optimize OTC medication use, and facilitate timely referrals when necessary. By incorporating evidence-based guidance with patient-centered counseling, pharmacists can enhance treatment outcomes, optimize, medication use, promote adherence, and ensure safer self-care practices. As self-medication trends and the role of pharmacists evolves, this review offers a comprehensive resource to equip pharmacists with the latest knowledge and practical tools for optimizing heartburn management and promoting patient safety. Full article

This study evaluates the effect of incorporating behavioral variables, sleep quality (SQ) and stress level (SL), into neural network models for predicting weight loss. An artificial neural network (ANN) was trained using data from 100 adults aged 18 to 60, integrating demographic, physiological, and behavioral inputs. The findings emphasize that weight change is a multifactorial process influenced not only by caloric intake, basal metabolic rate, and physical activity, but also by psychological and behavioral factors such as sleep and stress. From a medical perspective, the inclusion of SQ and SL aligns with the biopsychosocial model of obesity, acknowledging the metabolic consequences of chronic stress and poor sleep. This integration allows for the development of low-cost, non-invasive, and personalized weight management tools based on self-reported data, especially valuable in resource-limited healthcare settings. Behavioral-aware AI systems such as the one proposed have the potential to support clinical decision-making, enable early risk detection, and guide the development of digital therapeutics. Quantitative results demonstrate that the best-performing architecture achieved a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.98%; when SQ was excluded, the RMSE increased to 4.39% (1.8-fold), when SL was excluded it rose to 4.69% (1.95-fold), and when both were removed, the error reached 6.02% (2.5-fold), confirming the substantial predictive contribution of these behavioral variables. Full article

Background: With the growing population requiring palliative care (PC), it is essential to enhance and expand the availability of this care in Portugal. Throughout both pre-graduate and post-graduate training for doctors, there are limited learning opportunities in this area, necessitating further training to improve the knowledge and skills needed to support patients at the end of their lives. Studies conducted on doctors and medical students have demonstrated a clear need for improved training. Additionally, others have noted significant benefits for residents who underwent post-graduate training in this field while caring for patients nearing the end of life. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a basic training program on improving palliative care knowledge among medical doctors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, carried out by sharing a questionnaire with the participants enrolled in the “Intensive Palliative Medicine Course” organized by a group of doctors in November 2021. The questionnaire was completed by participants at three moments of training (before, immediately after the course, and 6 months after the course), and it contained questions to assess the theoretical knowledge, skills, and abilities obtained. Results: In total, 93 out of 204 (45.58%) doctors responded before training, 80 (39.21%) immediately after training, and 36 (17.64%) six months after training. After training, an improvement in knowledge was observed (p = 0.014), which did not appear to persist six months after the course (p = 0.574). However, six months after training, an increase in doctors’ confidence in referring patients to Palliative Care Teams or Units (p = 0.009) and medicating patients who may be in the last months of their lives (p = 0.005) was observed. Conclusions: The results regarding theoretical medical knowledge did not seem to stabilize over time, so it may be necessary to create more specific training opportunities for the medical profession. An increase in doctors’ self-confidence in referring and medicating patients with palliative care needs was observed, which may be associated with better medical care provided. It is necessary to carry out more studies to evaluate the impact of combined theoretical and practical training on the knowledge and confidence of doctors in PC. Full article

Background and Objectives: Eating disorders are one of the most widespread health concerns, mainly among adolescents. Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have been reported to have a high prevalence of eating disorders. The aim of our study is to evaluate the risk of diabetes-specific eating disorders in children with T1DM using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), with real-time glycemic data from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Materials and Methods: Sixty-four patients (aged 7–18 years) completed the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R). The DEPS-R is a diabetes-specific self-report questionnaire to assess diabetes-specific compensatory behaviors. Auxological findings, sex, age, age at diagnosis, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, and all CGM data were obtained from their medical records. Results: Although the median DEPS-R score was higher in children and adolescents using CSII compared to those using multiple daily injections (MDIs) (14 vs. 11), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.302). The risk of diabetes-specific eating disorders was identified in six patients (30%) using CSII and in nine patients (20.4%) using multiple daily injections (p = 0.403). Interestingly, in the subgroup with poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 9%), DEPS-R scores were significantly lower among those using CSII compared to the MDI group. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated positive associations between DEPS-R scores and diabetes duration, weight SDS, body mass index (BMI), BMI SDS, HbA1c, mean glucose, Glucose Management Indicator (GMI), time above range (TAR) (very high), and coefficient of variation (CV), while a moderate negative correlation was observed with time in range (TIR). Conclusions: This study showed that the treatment of CSII had a beneficial effect on the risk of eating disorders in patients with poor glycemic control. As well, from this perspective, CSII maintains its status as a potentially beneficial therapeutic approach in diabetes management. Full article