Healthcare最新文献

Objectives: This study investigates the changing perceptions of Korean care workers regarding a robotic bed designed to assist with repositioning and prevent pressure ulcers. With the primary aim of assessing the technology acceptance among care workers using the robotic bed to solve the problem of a shortage of care workers in Korea, we sought to examine the possibility of applying care robots in the field.

Methods: A total of 20 long-term care workers participated in the experiment, and their attitudes were measured before and after using the robot. Frequency analysis and paired t-tests were conducted using Stata 17 to analyze the data.

Results: The results show significant changes in the perceived ease of use (PEOU), facilitating conditions (FCs), and gerontology anxiety (GA), with the PEOU increasing by 19.87%, FC increasing by 20.63%, and GA decreasing by 17.2%. However, there was no significant change in the perceived usefulness (PU) and intention to use (IU).

Conclusions: The results showing that the perception of technology acceptance changed significantly mean that the use of the care robot means that there is a high possibility of positive perceptions in Korean care settings when care robots are distributed in the field in the future, considering that the experimental environment was limited due to the early stage of development of care robots. This study highlights the need for practical demonstrations and thorough training to improve technology acceptance among care workers before the application of care technology in the long-term care environment in South Korea.

Background: In the COVID-19 pandemic, novel regional services and communication channels emerged across all sectors of the German healthcare system. To contribute to pandemic preparedness, this study aims to describe newly established services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic from a stakeholder perspective and to examine the interprofessional communication channels, applying a nationwide cross-sectional approach. Methods: A nationwide sample of German healthcare stakeholders comprising general practitioners, associations of statutory health insurance physicians, hospital medical directors, local health departments, rescue coordination centres, medical directors of emergency services, outpatient nursing services, nursing homes, community care access centres, and hospital nursing managers was surveyed. A web-based questionnaire asked for their level of participation in newly implemented regional COVID-19 services and communication channels. Stakeholders' level of recommendation was measured using the Net Promotor Score (NPS), a metric that assesses their satisfaction towards the services surveyed. Results: In total, 1312 healthcare stakeholders participated in the survey. Diagnostic centres (23.0-90.9%), COVID-19 wards in hospitals (40.5-92.1%), emergency medical vehicles designated solely for COVID-19 patients (16.5-68.4%), and crisis intervention teams (11.6-30.6%) exhibited the highest rates of engagement. The services receiving the highest recommendation for future use were COVID-19 focus practices (NPS: 33.4-43.7), COVID-19 wards in hospitals (NPS: 47.6-84.4), transportation of COVID-19 patients exclusively by predefined professional groups (NPS: 12.5-36.4), and newly implemented digitally supported nursing services (NPS: 58.3-100.0). Telephones emerged as the most frequently used communication channel (58.0-96.7%), while email was the primary digital channel (23.7-81.5%). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany experienced significant variation in the implementation of pandemic-related services across healthcare sectors, with stakeholders prioritising services built on existing healthcare structures. Developing a proactive digital infrastructure to connect healthcare professionals from different sectors is crucial for better future pandemic management.

Background/Objectives: Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia, affecting attention, memory, and executive function and contributing significantly to the burden of the disorder. These deficits often begin before the onset of psychotic symptoms and persist throughout life, making their treatment essential for improving outcomes and functionality. This work aims to explore the impact of these impairments at different life stages and the interventions that have been developed to mitigate their effects. Methods: This narrative review examined literature searching for different approaches to treat cognitive impairments in schizophrenia across the lifespan. Results: Cognitive alterations appear before psychosis onset, suggesting a window for primary prevention. Then, a period of relative stability with a slight decline gives the period to secondary and eventually tertiary prevention for more than two decades. Finally, another window for tertiary prevention occurs from the third decade of illness until the later stages of the illness, when a progression in cognitive decline could be accelerated in some cases. Cognitive remediation and physical exercise are evidence-based interventions that should be provided to all patients with disabilities. Conclusions: Treating cognition throughout the whole lifespan is crucial for improving functional outcomes. It is necessary to consider the need for personalized, stage-specific strategies to enhance cognitive function and functioning in patients.

Background: Changes in the speech and language of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been reported. Using machine learning to characterize these irregularities may contribute to the early, non-invasive diagnosis of AD.

Methods: We conducted cognitive function assessments, including the Mini-Mental State Examination, with 83 patients with AD and 75 healthy elderly participants, and recorded pre- and post-assessment conversations to evaluate participants' speech. We analyzed the characteristics of the spectrum, intensity, fundamental frequency, and minute temporal variation (∆) of the intensity and fundamental frequency of the speech and compared them between patients with AD and healthy participants. Additionally, we evaluated the performance of the speech features that differed between the two groups as single explanatory variables.

Results: We found significant differences in almost all elements of the speech spectrum between the two groups. Regarding the intensity, we found significant differences in all the factors except for the standard deviation between the two groups. In the performance evaluation, the areas under the curve revealed by logistic regression analysis were higher for the center of gravity (0.908 ± 0.036), mean skewness (0.904 ± 0.023), kurtosis (0.932 ± 0.023), and standard deviation (0.977 ± 0.012) of the spectra.

Conclusions: This study used machine learning to reveal speech features of patients diagnosed with AD in comparison with healthy elderly people. Significant differences were found between the two groups in all components of the spectrum, paving the way for early non-invasive diagnosis of AD in the future.

Background: Mental health challenges among university students are pervasive, with alexithymia posing a particularly significant yet understudied challenge. This condition significantly affects an individual's ability to cope with stress due to difficulties in recognizing, describing, and processing emotions. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate alexithymia prevalence and its associated factors among dental undergraduate students and interns enrolled at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Data were collected through a self-administered online survey that assessed alexithymia symptoms (using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale [TAS-20]), sociodemographic profiles, lifestyle-related factors, and health-related factors. The associations between participant factors and alexithymia were assessed using chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 421 eligible participants, 369 completed the survey (87.6% response rate), revealing a significant prevalence of alexithymia (37.9%). Female gender (AOR = 1.7, p = 0.04), depression (AOR = 5.6, p < 0.0001), chronic diseases (AOR = 3.5, p = 0.003), and childhood abuse (AOR = 2.2, p = 0.047) were independent factors significantly associated with alexithymia. Conclusions: These findings highlight the pressing need for mental health support within dental education. Early interventions targeting alexithymia could mitigate its adverse consequences, promoting better student well-being and academic success.

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global health crisis, impacting physical, and mental well-being, particularly among those who have recovered from the illness. This study aimed to assess the mental health status of patients recovered from COVID-19 in Macau, focusing on the impact of sequelae of COVID-19, and identifying demographic factors associated with poor mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted involving 494 adults who had recovered from COVID-19, with 426 participants included in the final analysis. Mental health was evaluated using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), with scores ≥3 indicating poor mental health. Results: This study revealed a high prevalence of poor mental health, affecting 71.8% of the respondents. Binary logistic regression identified experiencing COVID-19 sequelae (OR = 5.727, 95% CI: 2.973-11.031), being in the age groups of 26-45 (OR = 4.227, 95% CI: 1.754-10.185), or 61, and above (OR = 18.072, 95% CI: 3.590-90.962), being male (OR = 0.501, 95% CI: 0.257-0.979), being married (OR = 5.714, 95% CI: 1.919-17.016), and dissatisfaction with family relationships (OR = 2.957, 95% CI: 1.228-7.119) as significant risk factors for poor mental health. Conclusions: This study underscores the critical need for targeted psychological support for patients recovered from COVID-19 in Macau, particularly for those with sequelae, and those in vulnerable demographic groups. The findings suggest that specific age groups and individuals with sequelae may face higher mental health risks, indicating the necessity for prioritized interventions.

Background/objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between swallowing function and low serum albumin levels in older Japanese people (aged ≥ 75 years).

Methods: A total of 3258 participants (1325 males, 1933 females; mean age, 80.8 years) who had a dental checkup in Gifu City, Japan, between April 2020 and March 2021 were recruited. Swallowing function was assessed using the repetitive saliva swallow test, with poor swallowing function defined as swallowing fewer than three times in 30 s. A serum albumin level < 3.6 G/dL was considered low.

Results: In total, 78 participants (2%) had a low serum albumin level. Furthermore, after adjusting for age, gender, circulatory disease, support/care-need certification, number of present teeth, and tongue and lip function, a low serum albumin level was positively associated with older (odds ratio [OR]: 1.115; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.064-1.169), male (OR: 2.208; 95% CI: 1.360-3.584), circulatory disease (OR: 1.829; 95% CI: 1.079-3.099), support/care-need certification (OR: 2.087; 95% CI: 1.208-3.606), and poor swallowing function (OR: 2.379; CI: 1.377-4.112).

Conclusions: These results indicate that poor swallowing function was associated with a low serum albumin level in older Japanese people aged ≥ 75 years.

Background: Periodontitis has been associated with an increased risk of CRC, as well as a worse prognosis due to increased inflammation mediators and carcinogenic factors. Moreover, direct and indirect virulence factors from periodontal pathogens, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, could play a pivotal role in malignant transformation and progression. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the presence and the stage of periodontitis in a cohort of patients with CRC. The secondary aim is to assess the presence of F. nucleatum and its relationship with patients' general characteristics, concomitant pathologies, tumor characteristics, and drug therapy.

Materials and methods: Patients affected by CRC underwent dental examination and periodontal charting with the "North Carolina" probe to assess the presence and stage of periodontitis, according to the new classification of periodontal diseases of the World Workshop of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) 2017. F. nucleatum presence was assessed by a dorsal tongue swab and related to the patient's general characteristics, concomitant pathologies, tumor characteristics, and drug therapy.

Results: Periodontal disease was found in 94.3% of I/II CRC stage patients and 100% of III/IV CRC stage patients. Severe periodontitis was found in 76% of the advanced CRC stage and 87.9% of patients with initial CRC, while initial periodontitis was found in 12.1% of initial CRC and 24% of late CRC stages, respectively, without significant differences. F. nucleatum presence showed no correlation between the patient's and tumor's characteristics, comorbidities, and drug assumed.

Conclusions: Periodontal disease showed a high prevalence among CRC patients. Moreover, severe periodontitis has a higher prevalence in CRC patients compared to initial periodontitis. F. nucleatum presence was unrelated to CRC stage, site, other comorbidities, and drug therapies. With these data, it is not possible to admit a direct relationship between CRC and periodontal disease, but further case-control studies must be carried out to further prove this aspect. Preventive and operative targeted strategies to maintain a healthy oral status are suggested in CRC patients.