Journal of rural medicine : JRM最新文献

[This corrects the article on p. 175 in vol. 18 PMC10336342.].

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to describe the social demographics and chief complaints of users of a free medical consultation application in Ibaraki Prefecture, where a free medical consultation application was released.

Methods: The present study included users of a telehealth application in Ibaraki Prefecture between April 9 and May 17, 2020, during the state of emergency. User background characteristics were descriptively analyzed to clarify individual factors with the potential to act as barriers to equally using innovative solutions. Additionally, the age and consultation time distribution by sex were examined for those who used the application for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 issues.

Results: Most of the participants were in their thirties. Moreover, 72% were female, with most being in their thirties (86%) and the least being in their sixties (45%). The number of consultations was concentrated between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., with the least between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The telehealth application users were mainly females in their thirties and forties.

Conclusions: To prevent the widening of health disparities due to the rapid introduction of telehealth, further research is required to identify why the use of the application did not spread beyond the aforementioned user groups.

Objective: The initial and operational costs of telemedicine are major barriers to its adoption. We aimed to investigate and identify the barriers to adopting a telemedicine system in a Japanese rural general hospital without incurring setup and operational costs.

Materials and methods: Our study was conducted between May and August 2018, and included six general practitioners working at a rural general hospital. We extracted data collected from messages (date and time, sender and recipient, and counts and contents of messages) and conducted semi-structured interviews, which were then analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Results: We quantitatively analyzed the total counted of the 179 messages. The total counts recorded for each physician were 56 (A), 20 (B), 3 (C), 74 (D), 5 (E), and 21 (F). The mean monthly counts were 2.17 (May), 8.50 (June), 11.50 (July), and 7.67 (August). Interview data from the six physicians yielded 13 codes that included various points of dissatisfaction acting as barriers to using our system, which we grouped into mental and physical barriers. Mental barriers included suspicion of carrying, feelings of isolation, and loss, whereas physical barriers included portability, user authentication, internet speed, group chat system, notice, search image, typing, chat system, print facility, and limited function.

Conclusion: The representative barriers to introducing a telemedicine system at a rural general hospital in Japan without initial and running costs could be classified as feelings of isolation and suspicion of carrying (mental barriers); and notice, portability, and user authentication (physical barriers). Continued investigation in this area is warranted, and solutions to these barriers could improve the shortage of medical staff in the context of declining birth rates and aging populations in Japan.

Objective: No nationwide reports have focused on patients with decompression illness (DCI) transported by doctor helicopter (DH) in Japan. We performed this retrospective study to examine this population using data from the Japan DH registry system (JDRS).

Patients and methods: Patients were initially selected from the JDRS database. They were divided into two groups: those transported by the Eastern Shizuoka DH (ES-DH) and those transported by other DHs. Variables were compared between the two groups.

Results: There were 44 patients who had DCI out of 41,592 patients in the JDRS. The majority of cases (70%) were transported by the ES-DH. In the ES-DH group, age, rate of request type using key words, and rate of instrumental intervention to secure an airway were significantly greater, and the median Glasgow Coma Scale score was significantly lower than that of the other DH group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of cases with fatal outcomes between the two groups.

Conclusions: This is the first report regarding the current status of patients with DCI transported by DH in Japan. Most patients were transported by ES-DH to the Izu Peninsula. In addition, the patients transported by ES-DH due to decompression illness tended to be severely ill; however, the outcomes of the ES-DH and other DH groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent and therefore effective recompression therapy could be successfully performed at suitable hospitals owing to timely transportation.

Objective: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Key Populations (KPs) include Female Sex Workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender (TG), and transsexual (TS) persons. This study assessed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine uptake among KPs for HIV in India, adverse events following immunization (AEFI), and breakthrough infections among the vaccinated.

Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted among 421 KPs enrolled in 41 Targeted Intervention (TI) clusters in 31 districts of the Tamil Nadu State Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Control Society (TANSACS), India, from June to September 2022. A semi-structured, bilingual (English and Tamil), interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination status, AEFIs, and breakthrough infections among the KPs under the TIs.

Results: Among the KPs, 45.4% were FSWs, 37.1% were MSM, 16.2% were TG, and 1.4% were TS persons. Among them, 4.3% had HIV, and 2.9% had syphilis or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The COVID-19 vaccine uptake rate was 96%. Among the KPs, TG/TS persons had the highest vaccine uptake (98.6%), followed by FSWs (96.3%) and MSM (94.2%). AEFIs were reported by 85.4% of the participants. HIV positive status was significantly associated with the incidence of AEFI. The breakthrough infection rate was 5.4% among the vaccinated participants.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 vaccine uptake among HIV KPs was high in Tamil Nadu. AEFIs and breakthrough infections among COVID-19 vaccinated HIV KPs may be low, with mild AEFIs.

Objective: Lymphedema developing in the lower extremities following gynecological cancer surgery (LE-GCS) produces various kinds of sufferings, including impacts on quality of life (QOL) and body image. This research will serve as a basic resource for the care of patients with this type of lymphedema (LE).

Patients and methods: A qualitative discursive research method: Thirteen patients suffering from LE-GCS were interviewed in a semi-organized manner. Analysis involved extracting and codifying from transcripts and expressions related to the suffering of LE. Next, these codes were arranged into categories and subcategories under the supervision of qualitative researchers. Furthermore, this study was conducted with the approval of the Research Ethics Review Specialist Committee, which targets individuals affiliated with the public university corporation of Shiga Prefectural University.

Results: Based on the interviews with 13 patients aged 47-79 (median age 62), two core categories were created: 1). Suffering of LE Developing in Lower Extremities (570 codes, seven categories, 23 subcategories); and 2). Supports that Allow Patients to Face Suffering of LE (254 codes, four categories, 14 subcategories).

Conclusion: Patients with LE-GCS live with the fear that LE exacerbation will produce adverse life changes, and this may exceed the fear of cancer itself. The aggravation of their condition results in immense pain as well as reduced mobility, change in appearance, and loss of self-worth. The symptoms fluctuate, and may lead to chronic misery, which does not manifest, but occasionally flares-up because of both, worsening physical disability as well as ordinary events. Additionally, every patient subjectively described the strength they found within themselves to face the suffering. They cited the support of family and friends, existence of compassionate therapists and doctors, acquisition of knowledge, and self-care.

Objectives: Most cases of caffeine intoxication result from the excessive intake of over-the-counter drugs and energy drinks. However, few cases of caffeine intoxication due to the excessive consumption of bottled coffee products have been reported. Herein, we present a case report of caffeine intoxication. Patient: A 39-year-old man experienced numbness and weakness in the extremities for three nights over five days. Results: Blood tests revealed hypophosphatemia and low 25-OH vitamin D concentration. The symptoms disappeared the next day without any additional treatment. A lifestyle interview revealed that he regularly consumed bottled coffee like it was water and had approximately 1 L of it from evening to night. He was diagnosed with weakness in the extremities due to hypophosphatemia caused by caffeine intoxication. Upon investigating some bottled coffee products, we found that only a few of them had labels disclosing caffeine content and warnings of the risks of excessive caffeine intake. Conclusion: We encountered a case of caffeine intoxication via coffee. Although rare in the past, caffeine intoxication might increase owing to the widespread use of bottled coffee products. The caffeine content of coffee products should be indicated on labels to warn consumers.

Objective: To assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers of pre-school children in urban and rural areas toward maintaining child oral health. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in a convenient sample of 400 mothers of pre-school children (aged 9 months to 3 years) visiting the outpatient department of the Department of Dentistry, Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa (M.P), India between February 1 and April 21, 2022. The study sample was divided into two groups based on whether they belonged to a rural area (Group A) or urban area (Group B). Group A included 236 participants, and Group B 186 participants. They were served a 24-item questionnaire to assess and compare their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward child oral health. The data were represented as mean and proportions, and a student t test and analysis of variance were performed. Results: In Group A and Group B, 93.64% and 98.17% mothers respectively had the knowledge of cariogenic food. While 66.10% of mothers in Group A and 73.78% in Group B were aware that regular cleaning of teeth protects against tooth decay, only 5.49% of mothers in Group B and none in Group A reported taking their children to routine dental visits; the majority (94.07% in Group A and 78.05% in Group B) had never taken their children to the dentist. Urban background was significantly associated with better knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Mother's' age and education level were significantly associated with better Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice scores in both groups. Conclusion: Mothers can play an important role in promoting positive attitudes and healthy practices toward oral health care in children. Knowledge, attitude, and practice score were found to be significantly low in mothers who belonged to the rural subgroup.

Bilateral shoulder joint disorders caused by rheumatoid arthritis significantly impair daily functioning owing to a lack of contralateral compensation. In Japan, reverse shoulder joint prostheses were approved in 2014. This was expected to improve the surgical outcomes of rheumatoid shoulder arthroplasty. We report two patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent bilateral reverse shoulder arthroplasty. This study aims to evaluate their postoperative clinical outcomes and activities of daily living. The patients were women in their 70s with stage III class 2 rheumatoid arthritis. Their treatment and postoperative activities of daily living were retrospectively reviewed. The first patient underwent the inlay type and experienced a residual limitation of external rotation postoperatively; therefore, she was restricted to dress with front-open clothes. However, she was able to undress after the lining of the garment was changed to a slippery material. The second patient underwent the onlay type and showed almost no limitations in postoperative activities of daily living. She was able to undress with an external rotation of 40-50°. Bilateral reverse shoulder arthroplasty improved range of motion, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association shoulder score, and functional outcomes. Only a few difficulties were encountered in the activities of daily living.