Awareness Of Symptoms Research Articles

Knowledge of Undergraduate Students About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Aims Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. This study assesses the level of knowledge about COPD among undergraduate students that makes it different from other respiratory illnesses. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). The Bristol Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ) was used to evaluate the knowledge about COPD, epidemiology, symptoms, exercise, smoking, and breathlessness domains. The questionnaire was distributed among the different male colleges. Results There were 304 respondents from five colleges. The overall BCKQ mean score was 15.16±4.52 (maximum 30). The mean score was highest for the Colleges of Pharmacy (18.89±2.17) and Medicine (18.00±3.84), and the College of Science and Health Professions had the lowest score (11.56±5.58). The highest overall means for the different domains (max=5) were for smoking (2.19±1.2), and epidemiology (2.83±1.27), while symptoms of COPD (2.23±1.06) and breathlessness (1.96±1.13) were the lowest among the domains. Conclusions There was a low level of understanding among undergraduate students in general, but the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy had better knowledge. On the other hand, the College of Science and Health Professions had a lower score. This indicates some areas for improvement in the education program. Appropriate development in the education program is recommended, such as increasing the awareness of symptoms of COPD and other aspects of the disease.

Awareness Regarding Cancer among People Residing in Kapilvastu District

INTRODUCTIONCancer is a second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimate 9.6 million deaths or one in six in 2018 according to WHO factsheet. This study aimed to assess the awareness regarding cancer and its associated factors among adults of Maharajgunj Municipality of Kapilvastu. MATERIAL AND METHODSCommunity based, cross-sectional study design was conducted to assess the awareness regarding cancer and its associated factors and warning signs from January 2023 to July 2023, on a total of 400 participants in the age range of 20-90 years. Participants were enrolled in the study using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire from consented participants. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used for further analysis. The level of significance was set at p-value <0.05. RESULTSThis study revealed that only 32.5% of participants were aware of symptoms and 32.8% of participants were aware of the risk factors associated with cancer. Significant associations were found between cancer awareness of risk factors and socio-demographic variables such as occupation (p=0.049), education (p-value=0.02), religion (p-value=0.033), and ethnicity (p-value=0.016). However, this study showed statistically significant association only between level of education and cancer awareness of symptoms. CONCLUSIONThe study findings indicate that approximately one-third of the participants had awareness regarding cancer risk factors and symptoms. These findings emphasize the urgent necessity for increased awareness of cancer among the community. Therefore, it is imperative to implement effective strategies to enhance community engagement in cancer-related health education programs.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Patients Attending Geriatric Clinic Over Five Years: A Retrospective, Hospital Based Study

Background: Population ageing is an inescapable and irreversible phenomenon, increasing the burden on the health care system. Mental illnesses in the geriatric population are unique and identification of the same amidst the co-morbidities is a challenging task. Objectives: To assess the difference in the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients attending Geriatric Clinic in a tertiary care centre over five years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients, who attended the Geriatric Clinic of a tertiary care centre in 2012 and 2016 was conducted. The psychiatric diagnoses were made according to the ICD-10 diagnostic guidelines. Sociodemographic variables and clinical variables including social support were assessed. Data were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 16 version and Microsoft Excel Version 2007. Results: The total number of patients attending Geriatric clinics were 31 and 147 in 2012 and 2016 respectively. The mean age of patients attending the geriatric clinic was 74.32±7.89 in 2012 and 71.88±6.76 in 2012. The difference between the study group was statistically significant with regard to religion, marital status, socio-economic status and location of residence.64.52% of the study population had average social support in 2012 and a statistically significant decline was noticed in 2016.The most common psychiatric diagnoses were organic mental disorders (93.55%) in 2012 and mood disorders (40.82%) in 2016. Cardiovascular diseases were most common medical co-morbidity seen among the geriatric patients in both the years. Conclusions: Psychiatric illness in geriatric population is often associated with medical co-morbidities. With the increase in longevity, awareness and identification of symptoms can decrease significant morbidity and improve the quality of life. Keywords: Ageing, psychiatric disorders, medical comorbidity

Abstract PO3-10-10: Are we adequately integrating patient reported outcomes in breast cancer clinical trials?

Abstract Background: Integrating patient reported outcomes (PROs) in cancer care enhances clinical outcomes and creates a paradigm shift in providing patient-centered care. Several studies performed in the past 15 years have demonstrated that systematic monitoring of patients using PROs through surveys improve patient-clinician communication, clinician awareness of symptoms, symptom management, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and overall survival. There has been uncertainty over the type of PRO system to implement in cancer care, how to evaluate PRO in clinical trials, and how to compare this to the clinician common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE). The PRO concept was first introduced in 1975 with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life (QoL) survey. In May 2018, the National Cancer Institute established the PRO-CTCAE to be utilized for cancer patients to report and grade their treatment related adverse events, like that of clinician reported CTCAE. The goal of our study was to evaluate frequency of PRO incorporation in phase III breast cancer clinical trials. Methods: New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Lancet were systematically searched to identify phase III breast cancer clinical trials published between January 2018 and June 2023. A total of 113 phase III studies were identified, 87 of which had reported protocols. Studies that did not demonstrate protocols on these search engines were not included in the review. Of these 87 clinical trials, 36 studies documented evaluation of PRO. These studies were segregated by year of publication. For each year, the number of total phase III breast cancer clinical trials that were published were compared to those that were published and evaluated PRO. A percentage was generated and allowed for a longitudinal trend to be analyzed over a 5-year period to assess if there was improved frequency of PRO integration into breast cancer clinical trials. Summary statistics were calculated using SAS 9.4. Results: 36 of 113 trials demonstrated PRO use and 26 utilized EORTC-QoL, 1 used PRO-CTCAE, and 9 used another measure of PRO assessment within their study protocol (such as FACT-B and PHQ-9. Additionally, in 2018, 33% of published breast cancer studies included PRO data. Since then, there have been fluctuations in breast cancer studies collecting PRO; 2019: 33%, 2020: 47%, 2021: 43%, 2022: 73%, and since the start of 2023: 9%. Conclusions: Our data suggests a trend towards improvement in frequency of PRO data collection in breast cancer clinical trials over the past 5 years, exemplified by the marked increase in 2022. There remains a need to incorporate PROs in clinical trials and routine care to improve patient experience and provide patient-centered care. Citation Format: Yadav Rina, Zhengyan Huang, Jessica Moss, Garima Gupta. Are we adequately integrating patient reported outcomes in breast cancer clinical trials? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-10-10.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex in a 20-year-old Female: Delayed Recognition and Life-threatening Outcomes

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare, autosomal dominant multisystem disorder affecting the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and skin leading to significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of TSC and highlight the need for prompt diagnosis and proper surveillance to minimize life-threatening complications. A 20-year-old female presented with facial and ungual papulonodular lesions 4 years after being diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of eight. No family history of genetic diseases was reported. Eight years later, the patient developed recurrent cough, shortness of breath, and blurring of vision. Biopsy of facial and digital nodule showed angiofibroma and ungual fibroma (Koenen tumor), respectively. Chest computed tomography scan revealed extensive cystic lesions diffusely scattered throughout the entire lung parenchyma suggestive of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Cranial MRI revealed cortical and subependymal tubers, compatible with TSC. The patient had multidisciplinary management. However, her symptoms progressed, and she eventually succumbed to death. Cutaneous lesions such as facial angiofibromas and ungual fibromas along with multisystemic manifestations should alarm the clinician to TSC. Given its highly variable expressivity, awareness of different TSC-associated signs and symptoms is essential for prompt diagnosis, proper treatment, disease monitoring, and early recognition of TSC complications.

Factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome and Helicobacter pylori infection: public knowledge and awareness of signs and symptoms.

To investigate factors related to the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Helicobacter pylori infection. This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study analysed the responses from participants that completed an online questionnaire, which asked about their knowledge of the causes and risk factors associated with IBS and H. pylori infection. The study analysed responses from 230 participants: 181 females (of 227 participants; 79.7%) and 190 aged 18-40 years (of 228; 83.3%). Of the 230 participants, 40 (17.4%) had been diagnosed by a physician with IBS and 57 (24.8%) had been diagnosed with H. pylori infection. Of 226 participants, 93 (41.2%) had self-medicated with antibiotics in the past 6 months for various reasons. The overall mean ± SD knowledge score about IBS and H. pylori infection for the study cohort (n = 230) was 35.8 ± 19.2%. Wald χ2-test analysis demonstrated that chronic diseases, antibiotic use and having an endoscopy were significantly associated with developing IBS. Male sex and chronic diseases were significantly associated with H. pylori infection. Logistic regression analysis showed no relationship between IBS and H. Pylori infection. Chronic diseases was the only risk factor common for IBS and H. pylori infection.

Transcultural Adaptation of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure in a Rural Border Area of Greece.

Breast cancer awareness is a concept suggesting that awareness of signs and symptoms and early seeking of medical advice may decrease mortality, especially in limited resource settings. A modified questionnaire based on the breastcancerawarenessmeasure (BCAM) by Cancer Research UK was translated into Greek and used for the first time. Participants were women residing in a rural border area in Greece. For statistical analysisthe χ2 goodness-of-fit and Cramer's V test for categorical comparisons were used and Cronbach's alpha for reliability analysis. In total, 110 women filled out and returned the questionnaire. Respondents appeared to be inappropriately informed regarding the less common warning signs of breast cancer, the most common age of breast cancer occurrence, the national screening program, and the less important risk factors of breast cancer. On the other hand, most women appeared to be confident in recognizing breast changes and seeking medical advice if needed. The translated modified BCAM tool can be used to evaluate breast cancer awareness in Greek women. Future campaigns developed by policymakers should focus on improving breast cancer awareness, especially in socioeconomically deprived areas.

Comparative Analysis of Women's Breast Cancer Survival Time at Three Selected Government Referral Hospitals in Ethiopia's Amhara Region Using Parametric Shared Frailty Models.

One in five people will eventually develop cancer, and one in eleven women will lose their lives to the disease. The main aim of this study is to determinants of survival time of women with breast cancer using appropriate Frailty models. A study involving 632 Ethiopian women with breast cancer was conducted between 2018 and 2020, utilizing medical records from Felege-Hiwot Referral Hospital, the University of Gondar, and Dessie Referral Hospital. To compare survival, the Kaplan-Meier plot (s) and Log rank test were employed; to assess mean survival, one-way analysis of variance and the t test were utilized. The factors influencing women's survival times from breast cancer were identified using the parametric shared frailty model and the accelerated failure time model. The median time to die for breast cancer patients treated at FHRH, UoGCSH, and DRH was 14.91 months, 11.14 months, and 12.32 months, respectively. The parametric model of shared frailty fit those who were statistically significant in univariate analysis. The results showed that survival of women with breast cancer was significantly influenced by age, tumor size, comorbidity, nodal status, stage, histologic grade, and type of primary treatment initiated. When comparing mean survival times between hospitals, the results showed a significant difference; patients who were treated in FHRH live significantly longer than patients treated in UoGCSH and DRH, whereas patients treated in UoGCSH have comparatively lower survival. Women with stage IV and comorbidities have 22.4% and 27.1% shorter expected survival, respectively. This finding suggests that improving the availability and accessibility of radiation therapy and surgery, eliminating disparities between hospitals, raising awareness of early signs and symptoms of breast cancer and encouraging women to seek clinical help, and highlighting women with comorbidities at diagnosis are important ways to increase survival time.

Revisiting the symptom iceberg based on the Danish symptom cohort – Symptom experiences and healthcare-seeking behaviour in the general Danish population in 2022

IntroductionHealthcare-seeking behaviour may change over time, and some groups are more likely to avoid relevant help seeking, which possibly contributes to social inequity in health. Thus, we developed an expansion of and follow-up to the Danish Symptom Cohort (DaSC) from 2012 and formed the DaSC II, which encompassed a population-based questionnaire study investigating symptoms and healthcare-seeking behaviour. In this paper, we describe the conceptual framework, development and content validity of the questionnaire and a responder analysis of the participants in the DaSC II. We present the symptom iceberg in the Danish general population by estimating the prevalence of symptoms and proportion of contacts to general practitioners (GPs) in 2022. Moreover, we discuss differences in healthcare-seeking behaviour with reference to the 2012 DaSC. Methods100,000 randomly selected Danish citizens aged ≥20 years, along with the 44,713 respondents from the 2012 cohort, were invited to participate in a survey. The questionnaire was pilot and field tested prior to distribution. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate symptom prevalence and proportion of GP contacts, and to execute the respondent analysis. ResultsNine out of ten respondents reported at least one symptom within the preceding four weeks and reported an average of 4.6 symptoms. One in four symptoms were presented to a GP. The highest proportion of GP contacts was found for haematuria (63.3 %) and shortness of breath (51.8 %). For several symptoms, differences between the sexes were found in relation to both prevalence and GP contacts. The proportion of GP contacts was higher in 2022 than in 2012 and was most pronounced for general, frequently experienced symptoms and to a lesser extent for cancer alarm symptoms. ConclusionMany symptoms go unreported, which may delay relevant diagnosis; more research on certain symptom categories and population subgroups is needed. Future studies based on the DaSC II form a basis for interventions targeting symptom awareness, healthcare-seeking behaviour and social equity in society and health.

Treatment seeking experiences of ACS patients in Yogyakarta, Indonesia during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

Delay in treatment seeking is recognized as a major contributor for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) mortality in Indonesia. Despite the significance of timely treatment, decline in admission and delay in presentation of patients with ACS were consistently reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. These suggested that treatment seeking performance of patients during the pandemic might be different from the previous period. This qualitative study aimed to explore treatment seeking behaviour, barriers in seeking medical treatment, and experiences of patients with ACS in Yogyakarta, Indonesia during COVID-19 pandemic. In depth-interviews were carried out with 30 patients, who were hospitalized with ACS at one of the three selected hospitals in Yogyakarta during the pandemic period. Thematic analysis was performed to create vital explanations for treatment seeking practices of patients with ACS during pandemic. Three significant themes were identified: treatment seeking decisions, barriers in seeking medical treatment during COVID-19, and experiencing both good and bad impression from entering and staying in the hospital. The intensity of ACS symptoms and fear of COVID-19 infection dominated the delay in seeking medical treatment. Strict safety measures, religious belief, and fear of ACS helped patients overcome barriers and seek medical treatment during pandemic. ACS patients also had convenient medical care during the pandemic and believed medical staff would provide excellent care to them. However, visit restriction policy could cause psychological discomfort. Increase awareness of ACS symptoms and the risk of delays ACS treatment are essential to support patients' decisions to seek medical helps in a timely manner at any situations including pandemic. Interventions aim at alleviating psychological distress should also be designed and implemented to improve treatment experiences of ACS patients, who sought medical treatment during the pandemic crisis.

What can hospital emergency admissions prior to cancer diagnosis tell us about socio-economic inequalities in cancer diagnosis? Evidence from population-based data in England

BackgroundMore deprived cancer patients are at higher risk of Emergency Presentation (EP) with most studies pointing to lower symptom awareness and increased comorbidities to explain those patterns. With the example of colon cancer, we examine patterns of hospital emergency admissions (HEAs) history in the most and least deprived patients as a potential precursor of EP.MethodsWe analysed the rates of hospital admissions and their admission codes (retrieved from Hospital Episode Statistics) in the two years preceding cancer diagnosis by sex, deprivation and route to diagnosis (EP, non-EP). To select the conditions (grouped admission codes) that best predict emergency admission, we adapted the purposeful variable selection to mixed-effects logistic regression.ResultsColon cancer patients diagnosed through EP had the highest number of HEAs than all the other routes to diagnosis, especially in the last 7 months before diagnosis. Most deprived patients had an overall higher rate and higher probability of HEA but fewer conditions associated with it.ConclusionsOur findings point to higher use of emergency services for non-specific symptoms and conditions in the most deprived patients, preceding colon cancer diagnosis. Health system barriers may be a shared factor of socio-economic inequalities in EP and HEAs.

Perceptions of Diagnosis of Diabetes among Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Patients – A Qualitative Study

This research aims to explore the contextual barriers and beliefs surrounding the recent diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II from the viewpoint of patients. Thirty-two individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus II were interviewed to understand the circumstances leading to their diagnosis and to identify any obstacles hindering early detection. Grounded theory qualitative methods were employed for the analysis of the interviews. The diabetes diagnosis in the interviewed patients commonly resulted from chance discovery, symptom recognition, or patient-driven initiatives. Despite having a familial predisposition to diabetes, many patients had limited awareness of diabetes symptoms before diagnosis. Frequently, symptoms were incorrectly attributed to other factors. Notably, concerns related to fear and trust were not prominent among these patients. There appears to be a lack of awareness among individuals with undiagnosed diabetes regarding the significance of reported symptoms. Clinicians need to remain alert to identify individuals at increased risk of diabetes, and the implementation of screening programs should be considered.

Time to care and factors influencing appropriate Sudan virus disease care among case patients in Uganda, September to November 2022

ObjectivesEarly isolation and care for Ebola disease patients at Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) curb outbreak spread. We evaluated time to ETU entry and associated factors during the 2022 Sudan virus disease (SVD) outbreak in Uganda. MethodsWe included persons with RT-PCR-confirmed SVD with onset September 20-November 30, 2022. We categorized days from symptom onset to ETU entry (“delays”) as short (≤2), moderate (3-5), and long (≥6); the latter two were “delayed isolation.” We categorized symptom onset timing as “earlier” or “later,” using October 15 as a cut-off. We assessed demographics, symptom onset timing, and awareness of contact status as predictors for delayed isolation. We explored reasons for early vs late isolation using key informant interviews. ResultsAmong 118 case-patients, 25 (21%) had short, 43 (36%) moderate, and 50 (43%) long delays. Seventy-five (64%) had symptom onset later in the outbreak. Earlier symptom onset increased risk of delayed isolation (crude risk ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (1.2-2.8]). Awareness of contact status and SVD symptoms, and belief that early treatment-seeking was lifesaving facilitated early care-seeking. Patients with long delays reported fear of ETUs and lack of transport as contributors. ConclusionDelayed isolation was common early in the outbreak. Strong contact tracing and community engagement could expedite presentation to ETUs.

The use of virtual reality as a perspective-taking manipulation to improve self-awareness in Alzheimer's disease.

Lack of awareness of symptoms or having a condition referred to as anosognosia is a common feature of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Previous literature on AD reported difficulties in evaluating self-abilities, often showing underestimation of limitations. There is increasing evidence that the perspective through which information is presented may moderate the performance appraisal and that anosognosia in AD might be a consequence of a deficit in assuming a third-person perspective. In this context, some studies showed that subjects may better recognize self-and other-difficulties when exposed to a third-person perspective. Considering the variety of approaches aiming to investigate the lack of awareness, there is still a scarcity of methods that provide great ecological validity and consider more than one facet of awareness, thus failing to offer more accurate evaluations of daily experiences. The present paper primarily addresses the theme of the multidimensional character of awareness of abilities in AD and the effect of perspective-taking on its trajectories. The focus turns to virtual reality as a promising tool for a greater evaluation of perspective-taking and self-awareness. Particularly, these systems offer the possibility to involve users in cognitive and sensorimotor tasks that simulate daily life conditions within immersive and realistic environments, and a great sense of embodiment. We propose that virtual reality might allow a great level of complexity, veracity, and safety that is needed for individuals with AD to behave according to their actual abilities and enable to explore the liaison between the subject's viewpoint, performance, and self-evaluation. In addition, we suggest promising clinical implications of virtual reality-based methods for individualized assessments, investigating specific impacts on subjects' life and possible improvements in their awareness.

EMAS position statement: Thyroid disease and menopause

IntroductionThyroid diseases are common in women in their late reproductive years; therefore, thyroid disease and menopause may co-exist. Both conditions may present with a wide range of symptoms, leading to diagnostic challenges and delayed diagnosis.AimTo construct the first European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) statement on thyroid diseases and menopause. Materials and methodsLiterature review and consensus of expert opinion (EMAS executive board members/experts on menopause and thyroid disease). Summary recommendationsThis position paper highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in managing women with thyroid disease during the menopausal transition, aiming to increase healthcare professionals' awareness of thyroid disorders and menopause-related symptoms. Clinical decisions regarding the treatment of both conditions should be made with caution and attention to the specific characteristics of this age group while adopting a personalized patient approach. The latter must include the family history, involvement of the woman in the decision-making, and respect for her preferences, to achieve overall well-being.

Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Mental Health and Substance Use

Aim: Traumatic stressor events disrupt the normal daily functioning of individuals and groups, and the consequences of collective trauma magnify psychopathology and mental health issues. One overlooked mental health implication of traumatic stress is loneliness. The current study examines loneliness as a result of traumatic stress and its psycho-social correlates, including substance abuse and changes in daily health behaviors. Design: Cross-sectional, nationwide, online survey. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, nationwide online survey that included 2,530 adults in the United States, 18-83 years old, and examined the associations between loneliness and psychosocial factors and substance use during the initial part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Increased loneliness was associated with younger age, single marital status, and lower levels of education. Mental health disorders, including major depression, generalized anxiety, and somatization, were also associated with high levels of loneliness. Further, individuals with high levels of loneliness were more likely to report increased substance use, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Discussion: The findings of this study indicate that during times of collective traumatic events, high levels of loneliness are a risk factor for mental health and substance use. Further initiatives are warranted to create awareness and institute routine screenings for symptoms of loneliness to mitigate mental health distress and increases in substance abuse.

Identifying potential cases of eating disorders in an acute medical hospital.

To identify patients presenting to an acute medical hospital with common signs and symptoms that occur in people with eating disorders (EDs), and determine by retrospective file audit if these are diagnosed cases of an ED. The investigators screened electronic medical records of people 16 years and older for common signs and symptoms of an ED such as hypokalemia, in patients presenting to an acute hospital in Sydney, Australia from 2018 to 2020. Cases where the clinical finding was unexplained had their file audited. Cases with a known ED diagnosis or coded with an ED were also retrieved to audit. Investigators identified 192 definite ED cases with a total of 598 episodes of care from 2018 to 2020 presenting to the hospital. Eighty-three cases were identified as possible EDs due to unexplained clinical signs consistent with an ED, but were not confirmed cases due to lack of clinical history in the file. Only 19.1% of presentations were diagnostically coded with an ED in the electronic medical record. Our study revealed a large number of definite ED cases presenting to an acute medical hospital via the emergency department, who were not recognized as having an ED. Greater awareness of clinical signs and symptoms of an ED, such as unexplained low body mass index and hypokalemia, is necessary among acute care clinicians. Correctly identifying EDs in those seeking somatic care should be a public health priority, to facilitate timely and equitable access to diagnostic assessment and evidence based treatment. People with eating disorders (EDs) present to acute care settings and have a relatively high utilization of generalist health services with nonspecific problems such as abdominal pain. An enhanced understanding of healthcare utilization by people with EDs, who may not disclose their symptoms, is crucial for improving access to treatment.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Among the General Population in Northern Saudi Arabia.

One of the most prevalent types of cancer is colorectal cancer (CRC). Increased consumption of foods derived from animals, smoking, and family history are all regarded as CRC risk factors. A significant obstacle to the use of screening programs for CRC is community unawareness. This study aimed to assess the awareness of symptoms, signs, and screening modalities of CRC among the adult population in Arar City, Northern Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among males and females living in Arar City who were 18 years of age or older. More than half (56.6%; 233) of the participants correctly identified that the colon is the large intestine, 61.7% (254) identified that the rectum is the distal part of it, and nearly a fifth stated that the function of the colon is water reabsorption. The majority stated abdominal pain (78.2%; 322) and change in bowel habits (76%; 313) are symptoms of CRC, but less than 60% (240) reported nausea and vomiting. Concerning participants' risk factor awareness of CRC, smoking is most frequently cited, followed by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fatty food, family history, and colon polyps. Although not perfect, the current analysis demonstrates that there is accepted public awareness about CRC. We recommend the adoption of education initiatives via mass media and at regular religious events like Jumma to increase community awareness and knowledge.

Awareness Regarding Risk Factors, Signs and Symptoms and Treatment of Stroke

Background: The awareness of risk factors, signs and symptoms and treatment of stroke is important to reduce morbidity and mortality in India and may lead to better functional outcome and quality of life for the patient. This study was conducted to assess the level of awareness of stroke in the general population of Pune. Materials and methods: Ethical committee clearance was taken. A sample of 201 participants from Pune and nearby regions, India participated in this cross sectional study. Data was collected via Google forms and further analyzed. Results: The average age of the study participants was 30.29 with SD OF 12.53 yrs, out of which 60.2% were males and 39.3% were females. Most commonly recognised risk factors in this study were hypertension and stress (71.6%). Only 4.2% participants were able to identify all the risk factors correctly. Most identified sign was chest pain (64.2%) followed by loss of balance (55.7%). 56.7% recognized the brain as the part affected. In terms of emergency response, there was a high level of awareness regarding the importance of calling an ambulance (76.1%). 86.57% knew at least two correct measures for prevention of stroke. Only 47.8% were aware about the achievable recovery post stroke Conclusion: There is significant lack of awareness about risk factors and signs and symptoms of stroke. Public awareness can be done by conducting seminars and via online social media platforms to target young age groups.

Impact of Awareness of Symptoms on Risk in Suicidality in Schizophrenia Patients

Impact of Awareness of Symptoms on Risk in Suicidality in Schizophrenia Patients