Journal of Public Health Research最新文献

Background: Approximately 50% of infertility cases are attributed to male factors. Acupuncture has long been employed as a complementary therapy to enhance male infertility treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the impact of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on sperm motility and TMSC in male infertility patients.

Design and methods: This randomized clinical trial involved 30 male infertility patients divided into 2 groups. Consecutive sampling was utilized among men diagnosed with infertility at the Fertility Clinic Sekar, Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta. Both groups underwent assessments of sperm motility and TMSC before and after the intervention. The first group received Coenzyme Q, while the second group received Coenzyme Q + EA.

Results: The Qoenzyme Q + EA group exhibited no significant difference in motility levels before treatment, with an average motility of 41.40% ± 13.33 and a TMSC level of 33.59 × 10⁶ ± 27.91. Post-treatment, motility remarkably increased by 56.40% ± 11.78, and the TMSC level rose by 78.63 × 10⁶ ± 58.38 in the Qoenzyme Q + EA group. Conversely, the Qoenzyme Q pre-treatment group had an average motility of 48.07% ± 15.77 and a TMSC level of 30.20 × 10⁶ ± 34.82. After Coenzyme Q treatment, a significant decrease in motility by 42.80% ± 18.03 and TMSC level by 28.22 × 10⁶ ± 15.16 was observed.

Conclusion: Combining Coenzyme Q + EA had a more significant impact on sperm motility and TMSC levels than Coenzyme Q alone. These findings underscore the differential effects of Coenzyme Q + EA and Coenzyme Q on sperm motility and TMSC levels, suggesting potential therapeutic implications for male reproductive health. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate and expand upon these results.

Background: Happiness is among the fundamental concepts in mental health that have an impact on different aspects of university students. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of happiness among university students in Vietnam and to identify the factors influencing happiness.

Design and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on undergraduate students in 8 universities and colleges in Hanoi, Vietnam. Happiness was measured using the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), and we used imputed Poisson regression to evaluate associations between happiness and associated factors.

Results: Among 9120 participants students (95.1% response rate), the prevalence of "happier group" was 80.9% (95% CI: 80.1-81.7). In the multivariable regression models, factors associated with being "less happy" on SHS were the perceived financial burden, year in university, academic motivation profile, and self-reported depression and anxiety.

Conclusions: University healthcare providers should pay attention to these associated factors while designing mental health care programs to promote happiness among university students.

Background: Dengue fever, a neglected tropical disease, exhibits a total seroprevalence of 27% in Sudan. During the recent outbreak, medical students actively participated in health education and community outreach programs. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of medical students regarding Dengue Fever (DF) during its current outbreak in Sudan.

Design and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving medical students from more than 15 Sudanese universities, encompassing 11 states. Data collection took place between October 23 and November 10, 2023, utilizing a Google Form questionnaire. A convenient sampling technique was employed to reach students due to its accessibility and feasibility during the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Correlation and regression analyses were used to identify predictors of KAP and establish associations between KAP domains and socio-demographic factors.

Results: Of 694 medical students, 11% reported a previous infection with DF. Among the participants, 58% demonstrated good knowledge, 74.1% exhibited a positive attitude, and less than half (46.7%) demonstrated good preventive practices. There was a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude levels with the practice level (p < 0.001). Gender, age, and previous DF infection emerged as significant predictors (p < 0.05) of the overall KAP level in multiple logistic regression.

Conclusions: Our study revealed a commendable level of knowledge and attitude but a suboptimal level of practice regarding DF among medical students. This inadequacy in practice, particularly among medical students who are expected to set an example, is concerning and warrants further investigation.

Dissemination and implementation science (D&I) can help bridge the gap between research and practice by addressing how to facilitate and maintain pre-existing evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in various contexts within different fields, including that of breast cancer screening and treatment. Yet, despite the availability of D&I frameworks and strategies, there is a lack of studies exploring knowledge transfer dissemination and implementation models, strategies, and frameworks in the setting of breast cancer care. There is a need for studies that create guidelines and roadmaps built on theoretical foundations of D&I research to scale up successful D&I of strategies, frameworks, and protocols proven to cater to the needs of all breast cancer patients when seeking screening and treatment services. The Arksey and O'Malley (2005) York methodology was used as guidance for this review: (1) identifying research questions; (2) searching for relevant studies; (3) selecting studies relevant to the research questions; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting results. Most cited barriers (n = 46) sorted into the category of "Recruitment, Measurement, and Delivery Challenges." The predominant ERIC strategy, featured in a noteworthy 84% of studies, was "Tailor strategies" (#16), which belongs to the "Adapt and tailor to context: culture, language, data analysis, collection" domain. This study can guide researchers, physicians, and community workers in improving accessibility, affordability, and quality of breast cancer screening and adequate follow-up opportunities through D&I strategies and models improving the reach and sustainability of evidence-based programs in at-risk female populations.

Background: social support is important for adaptation in chronic diseases, such as diabetes and depression, because it favors recovery and adherence to treatment. Introducing its evaluation in the follow-up of diabetic patients can reduce complications derived from secondary non-adherence. Aims: to establish social support in diabetic patients and its correlation with depressive symptoms. Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study nested in a cohort of 173 recently diagnosed diabetic patients (<6 months) in Colombia over 18 years of age, treated in a cardiovascular risk program in 2022. The Chronic Illness Social Support Inventory was used. Results: Most of the participants were women (77.5%); single(83.8%), age (mean = 62.6 years (SD 12.3)); glycemia (mean = 146.4 (SD 65.5)), glycosylated hemoglobin (mean = 7.6 (SD 1.7)). Cronbach's α coefficient for the general scale of the social support instrument was 0.9859. The mean social support was 168.5 (SD 37.4), range 38-228. The total social support score was normally distributed (Shapiro Wilk p > 0.05). The correlation between domains was statistically significant. The PHQ9 total score was significantly associated with the domains of Personal Interaction and Guide but did not significantly correlate with the overall social support score. The respondents who were at risk of developing depression were referred for treatment. Conclusions: findings suggest that perceived social support may play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of depression in diabetic patients. It is desirable that health professionals consider evaluating and enhancing social support to improve their mental health. More research is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of this relationship.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1177/22799036241246701.].

Background: Frailty predicts poorer outcomes in surgical patients. Recent studies have found socioeconomic status to be an important characteristic for surgical outcomes. We evaluated the association of Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), two geospatial atlases that provide a multidimensional evaluation of neighborhood deprivation, with frailty in a surgery population.

Design & methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing routine frailty screening was conducted 12/2020-8/2022. Frailty was measured using Fried's Frailty Phenotype (FFP) and the five-item Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5). ADI and SVI quartiles were determined using patient residence. Logistic regression models were used to evaluated associations of FFP (frail only vs not frail) and mFI-5 (≥2 vs 0-1) with ADI and SVI (α = 0.05).

Results: Of 372 screened patients, 41% (154) were women, median age was 68% (63-74), and 46% (170) identified as non-White. Across ADI and SVI quartiles, higher number of comorbidities, decreasing median income, and frailty were associated with increasing deprivation (p < 0.01). When controlling for age, sex, comorbidities, and BMI category, frailty by FFP was associated with the most deprived two quartiles of ADI (OR 2.61, CI: [1.35-5.03], p < 0.01) and the most deprived quartile of SVI (OR 2.33, [1.10-4.95], p < 0.05). These trends were also seen with mFI-5 scores ≥2 (ADI: OR 1.64, [1.02-2.63], p < 0.05; SVI: OR 1.71, [1.01-2.91], p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Surgical patients living in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods are more likely to be frail. Interventions may include screening of disadvantaged populations and resource allocation to vulnerable neighborhoods.

Background: Addressing the challenges of asthma has involved various approaches, including the examination of costs associated with hospitalization. However, there is a limited number of studies that have investigated the actual expenses incurred by hospital settings in caring for asthma patients. This study aims to describe the costs, predictors, and breakdown of expenditures in different categories.

Design and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving 314 hospital stays of patients over 12 years old who were admitted for asthma and classified under APR-DRG 141 (asthma). Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Results: The median cost, regardless of DRG severity, amounted to 2.314€ (1.550€-3.847€). Significant variations were observed when the sample was stratified based on the severity of DRG, revealing a cost gradient that increases with severity. The length of stay followed a similar trend. Six predictors were identified: age, admission to intensive care, asthma severity, severity level of the DRG, winter admission, and length of stay. The cost breakdown showed that 44% constituted direct costs, 25% were indirect costs, 26% were attributed to medical procedures performed outside the patient unit, and 5% were related to medication administration.

Conclusions: This study initiates a discussion on the role of reducing hospital costs in strategies aiming at controlling asthma-related costs. We argue that cost reduction cannot be achieved solely at the hospital level but must be approached from a public health perspective. This includes promoting high-quality outpatient care and addressing factors leading to poor adherence to the care plan.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1177/22799036221106580.].

Background: During the mumps outbreak in Japan in 2016, 159,031 cases were reported. In a survey conducted in 2015, mumps vaccination rates for the first dose were 30%-40%. However, the rates for two or more doses were not determined. We assessed the mumps vaccination rates and mumps infection prevalence according to vaccine doses received.

Design and methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. Students from three universities participated in 2019. Informed consent was obtained from the students and their guardians. The primary outcome was the prevalence of breakthrough mumps infection according to the number of doses of vaccine received. We collected data on past illnesses of vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccination history using a questionnaire, photocopies of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook from the guardians, and virus antibody titers from the universities' health centers.

Results: This study assessed 2004 eligible students and included 593 (29.6%); of these, 250 (42.7%) had a mumps infection history. Furthermore, 264 (44.6%), 31 (5.2%), and 2 (0.3%) students received the first, second, and third doses of mumps vaccine, respectively. The mumps seropositivity prevalence was 43.2% (n = 127), 36.7% (n = 97), 26.7% (n = 8), and 100% (n = 2) for the no-, first-, second-, and third-dose groups, respectively (p for trend = 0.09). The mumps infection prevalence rates were 69.8% (n = 203), 11.3% (n = 28), 3.9% (n = 1), and 0% for the no-, first-, second-, and third-dose groups, respectively.

Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 10 students who had received only one dose of mumps-containing vaccine had a breakthrough infection history.