Consult Health Professionals Research Articles

Hypertension management: A comparative analysis of garlic, hibiscus, hawthorn, and olive leaf and a survey

Hypertension, a prevalent cardiovascular condition characterized by elevated blood pressure, poses a significant global health challenge. This paper reviews the potential of garlic, hibiscus, hawthorn, and olive leaf in reducing hypertension and improving one’s health. A survey was conducted among first year pharmacy students. The survey included 5 knowledge-based and 5 opinion-based questions, focusing on the four herbal remedies. The knowledge-based questions showed a correct answer rate of 61.1%, with the statement that garlic is generally safe to include in one’s diet, but excessive consumption can lead to adverse effects garnering a 91.1% correct response rate. 58.3% of the respondents failed to know the simple definition of hypertension. Opinion-based questions revealed a positive attitude towards herbal remedies with an average of 81% showing agreement on the potential benefits. Nearly 83% believed in consulting health professionals before integrating olive leaf extract, and about 89% agreed that garlic should be used as an approach to manage hypertension.

Inclusion of Long Covid patients in the care trajectory post-Covid-19: evidence from Belgium

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that 10-30% of COVID-19 infected people develop persistent symptoms that can be diagnosed as Long Covid. Most Long Covid cases are in patients with a mild acute COVID-19 infection and are mainly treated in primary health care. In July 2022, a care trajectory (CT) post-Covid-19 was launched in Belgium, in which Long Covid patients can benefit from reimbursement of treatment costs when consulting health professionals in primary health care for their rehabilitation. Patients are included in this CT mainly through their general practitioner (GP) and depending on patients’ care needs, treatment is organized in a monodisciplinary or multidisciplinary way. Methods A population-based study on data collected by the Belgian network of Sentinel General Practitioners (SGP) on all Long Covid patients consulting their GP during March-December 2023. Information on inclusion in the CT post-Covid-19 was also registered. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results End of 2023 in Belgium, GPs initiated the CT post-Covid-19 for more than 1000 patients, this mainly for monodisciplinary treatment, less than 10% of included patients received multidisciplinary follow-up. By the SGP, among the registered Long Covid sufferers (N = 14), a total of six cases were included in the CT post-Covid-19. Of these cases, the majority were female, of older age, higher educated and had one or two chronic conditions. Most had a mild or moderate prior COVID-19 infection and all were vaccinated multiple times against COVID-19. Symptoms lasted one year or more for 83.3% of included patients. Treatment focused mainly on self-management, energy management and physical exercise programs, mainly in collaboration with physiotherapists. Conclusions This study yields recent data on patients included in the CT post-COVID-19 in primary care in Belgium. It is important to focus on guidance, follow-up and rehabilitation of Long Covid sufferers by healthcare professionals in Belgium. Key messages • Long Covid patients included in the care trajectory post-Covid-19 in Belgium experience years of debilitating symptoms after their prior COVID-19 infection. • The establishment of the care trajectory post-Covid-19 for Long Covid patients in primary care since July 2022 stimulated collaboration between care givers in Belgian primary health care.

Prevalence of Self‐Medication Practice and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Who Attended Antenatal Care at Public Hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Background. Self‐medication practice is the use of medicine without consulting health professionals to treat self‐recognized illness by the general population including pregnant women. Inappropriate self‐medication practice during pregnancy may pose harmful consequences for the fetus as well as the mother. There is not given much attention on the practice of self‐medication among pregnant women in our setting. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of self‐medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women who attended antenatal care at North Shewa Zone public hospitals. Methods. An institution‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from June 01, 2022 to July 30, 2022, among 650 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at North Shewa Zone public hospitals. A multistage sampling technique was employed. The questionnaires were pretested. A structured interviewer‐administered questionnaire and reviewed medical records were used for data collection. Epi‐data version 4.6.2 and SPSS version 20 were utilized for data entry and analysis, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done to identify associated factors, and P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. The prevalence of self‐medication practice among pregnant women was 65.38%. Housewives (AOR = 0.097 95% CI 0.030, 0.310), farmers (AOR = 0.117, 95% CI 0.028, 0.493), people with health insurance (AOR = 0.507, 95% CI 0.300, 0.858), and people in preconception care (AOR = 0.038, 95% CI 0.011–0.135) were less likely to practice self‐medication, while people with primary education (AOR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.217, 7.435), income less than 3,000 birr (AOR = 5.46, 95% CI 1.41, 21.1), participants in the first (AOR = 4.183, 95% CI 2.12, 8.24) and second trimesters (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.18, 3.56), pregnant women who lived in rural areas (AOR = 1.579, 95% CI 1.103–2.260), and people who previously practiced self‐medication (AOR = 8.2, 95% CI 5.04, 13.3) were more likely to practice self‐medication. Conclusion. From the present finding, it can be concluded that self‐medication among pregnant women is high. Previous self‐medication practice, gestation period, educational status, monthly income, no preconception care, no health insurance, being a housewife, farmer, and place of residence were significantly associated with self‐medication practice. Therefore, preventive measures such as proper counseling during dispensing, awareness creation programs on preconception care, and enrolling in health insurance programs to minimize the practice of self‐medication are necessary.

Preferences, Acceptability and Usage of Mobile Health Applications Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Multisite, Cross-Sectional Survey.

Mobile health applications (mHealth) can bring revolutionary changes to health care by making it more accessible, cost-effective, and efficient. The successful adoption of mHealth is largely determined by its acceptance by providers and end users. The acceptance of mHealth among nursing students, who are the future nurses, needs to be understood. This study aimed to determine the preferences, acceptability, and usage of mHealth applications among undergraduate nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two selected universities in southern and northern India. A convenience sample of 567 undergraduate nursing students was recruited for the study. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire via Google Forms. mHealth applications were presently used by 32.9% of the students. The most common types of mHealth applications used were diet related (27.6%) and lifestyle related (23.4%). The majority of nursing students were willing to use mobile phones for consulting health professionals (78.8%) for prevention and management of health and disease. (83.1%), and for emergencies (73.3%). While more than half of the students were willing to recommend mHealth applications for patients, those students who were using two or more mHealth apps were more likely to recommend the same for the patients. The results of the study highlight about the usage of mobile health applications among the nursing students. The students consider mHealth applications to be useful for delivering health-related services to end users. The study underscores the need to sensitize students about the possible usage of mHealth in healthcare delivery.

Online information and availability of three doping substances (anabolic agents) in sports: role of pharmacies.

Background: The Internet has become an important source for easy access to doping substances, where people and athletes may acquire, outside pharmacies and without a (medical) prescription. These online websites do not always offer quality-assured products, and are outside the regular distribution channels of medicines. The aim of this study was to estimate the availability and accessible information on the Internet about the sale of three doping substances (oxandrolone, DHEA, androstenedione). Methods: Cross-sectional exploratory study, being an observation at a point in time of the online availability of these three doping substances (WADA S1 category: anabolic agents), purchased from Spain, Puerto Rico, Canada, United States, Ukraine and Russia. The characteristics of the websites, the countries the webs sold to, the pharmaceutical forms offered and the recommendations for its use were analyzed by using a computer tool designed ad hoc. Results: There were significant differences between countries in the number of webpages that sold the products (Chi-square test, p < 0.05). Oxandrolone was available for purchase mainly when buying from Spain (27.12%) and Ukraine (26.58%), in websites dedicated to sports (77.26%). For DHEA, most of the pages offered it if the search was done from Canada (23.34%) and Russia (21.44%). Products containing androstenedione or DHEA are claimed to enhance sports performance or for sports use without providing details. Compared to the total number of websites checked, the proportion of pharmacies offering these products was low, ranging from 4.86% for DHEA to 15.79% for androstenedione. Conclusion: The three substances selected are easily available without control through the Internet. Only a small number of websites offering them were online pharmacies, and requested a prescription. Most of the doping substances are purchased from the country where they are requested. Product information described benefits for sports performance, but did not do the same with their side effects. It would be advisable for these products to be sold through pharmacies, to guarantee their quality and provide evidence-based information on their safe use, benefits and risks, and only with a prescription. Athletes should be encouraged to consult health professionals about those supplements suitable for their type of training and sports objectives.

The Reliability and Quality of Orthognathic Surgery Videos on Tiktok: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: Thousands of videos about orthognathic surgery (OS) are shared on TikTok, one of the most popular social media platforms, and these videos receive millions of interactions. However, the quality and reliability of these videos has not been evaluated yet. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and quality of popular videos about OS on TikTok. Material and Methods: The hashtags #jawsurgery and #orthognathicsurgery were used as search terms, and the first 100 videos were watched for each hashtag. The reliability of the contents was determined by the DISCERN tool and the quality was determined by the Global Quality Scale (GQS). Results: After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 122 videos were included in the study. There was no correlation between the number of likes, views, and comments, and DISCERN scores and GQS scores. DISCERN scores and GQS scores increased as the length of the videos increased. 75.4% of the videos had low reliability, while 41.8% had low quality. Conclusion: TikTok videos offer low quality information about OS. Judging by the number of interactions, TikTok can be a useful resource for OS patients to learn. However, OS patients should consult health professionals to verify the accuracy and reliability of the information they obtain from social media platforms and should not accept single-source information.

The Relationship between Knowledge and the Occurrence of Vaginal Discharge

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between knowledge of vulva hygiene and the occurrence of vaginal discharge among female students in the female boarding high school in Indonesia. A total of 48 students were selected through purposive sampling and data was collected using a questionnaire. The results showed that 31.8% of unmarried women or adolescent girls aged 12-24 years experienced vaginal discharge. Lack of knowledge about vaginal discharge among adolescents and feeling embarrassed to consult health professionals were the reasons for not seeking treatment. This puts adolescent girls at a higher risk of experiencing vaginal discharge. The analysis using the Chi-square test showed a significant relationship (p&lt;0.05) between knowledge of vulva hygiene and the occurrence of vaginal discharge, with a correlation coefficient of 0.416, indicating a moderate relationship. Therefore, it is recommended that respondents increase their knowledge of vulva hygiene, and those experiencing pathological vaginal discharge should improve genital hygiene to avoid future health issues.

Hansenapp: Development of a mobile application to assist primary healthcare providers to control leprosy.

To describe the development and validation of a mobile application to assist health professionals in the management of patients with leprosy and surveillance of contacts in primary healthcare. A methodological and developmental study was conducted in three phases: integrative literature review, mobile application development and application validation by health professionals. The construction of the application was supported by the literature review, Nielsen's heuristics and expert validation. Five experts individually analysed the prototype draft and performed two rounds of iterations to refine their recommendations. The validation step was performed by consulting health professionals working in primary healthcare, who evaluated the application for relevance, clarity and usability using a questionnaire based on task-technology fit theory. The mobile app's content, navigation methods and interaction were refined based on the discussions with experts. Their recommendations were applied, and the mobile app was revised until the final version was approved. Content validity indexes of 0.94 (p= 0.007), 0.99 (p> 0.0001) and 0.93 (p= 0.01) were obtained. The developed application is a technological tool that could assist primary healthcare providers in dealing with leprosy patients and their contacts in terms of management, planning, monitoring, evaluation, treatment and follow-up, in addition to leprosy control actions.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavioural Practises, and Psychological Impact Relating to COVID-19 Among People Living With Spinal Cord Injury During In-Patient Rehabilitation in Bangladesh.

AimThe aim of this research is to focus on gaining an insight into the knowledge, attitudes, behavioural practises (KAP), and psychological impact relating to COVID-19 among the people living with spinal cord injury receiving in-patient rehabilitation.MethodsA prospective, cross-sectional survey of people with SCI (N = 207), who were in active in-patient rehabilitation from two tertiary SCI Rehabilitation Centres in Bangladesh. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews, after voluntary consent, using a pretested, language validated questionnaire on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavioural practises (KAP) and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21). Ethical approval and trial registration were obtained prospectively.ResultsA total of 207 people with SCI responded, among which 87% were men and 13% were women, with a mean age of 34.18 ± 12.9 years. Within the sample group, people living with tetraplegia comprised 33.8%, and people living with paraplegia comprised 66.2%. Overall, 63.8% of the participants were diagnosed with an SCI categorised as ASIA-A. Overall, the “knowledge score” was 8.59 ± 2.3 out of 12, “depression” was 11.18 ± 8, “anxiety” was 7.72 ± 5.1, and “stress” was 9.32 ± 6.7 from a total of 21 scores each category. The strong correlation was between knowledge, DASS scores, and age (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a strong correlation between knowledge, gender (p < 0.05) and education (p < 0.01). Binary logistic regression found a stronger association of knowledge and DASS scores with gender, young age, illiteracy (p < 0.01), and rural residence (p < 0.05). A positive relationship was found between depression and anxiety scores (p < 0.01) and a moderate positive relationship was found between depression and stress scores (p < 0.01). A positive attitude was reported by the majority of participants (p < 0.05). In terms of behavioural practises, participants reported both self and caregiver had followed health advice with regard to consulting health professionals (65.7%), implementing isolation (63.8%), taking droplet precaution care (87.4%), and hygiene care (90.3%).ConclusionParticipants in this study reported high levels of knowledge, adoption of positive attitudes, and the practise of positive health advisory behaviours related to COVID-19 prevention procedures. However, high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were also reported. Overall, women and younger participants were more likely to have high KAP, whereas those living in rural areas and with literacy challenges were less likely to report high knowledge scores.

Domestic abuse among female doctors: thematic analysis of qualitative interviews in the UK.

Doctors can be victim-survivors of domestic abuse (DA), but how this impacts their work and wellbeing, and whether they face barriers to seeking help is not well understood. To understand single doctor mothers' lived experience of DA, barriers to seeking help, and impact on their work. Individual qualitative interviews with female doctors in the UK who had left an abusive relationship. Interviews were conducted between August 2019 and March 2020. Participants were invited via a closed online forum for female doctors who are single parents. In total, 114 females expressed interest. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed. Transcripts were uploaded to NVivo and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. A total of 21 participants were interviewed. The internalised stigma of DA affected participants' sense of identity and belonging as a doctor, causing social and professional isolation. Many participants felt that the acute stress of DA had an impact on their work, yet often felt unable to take time off. Barriers to seeking help included lack of confidentiality, especially where the abusive partner was also a doctor (sometimes accusing the victim-survivor of mental illness or threatening to report them to the General Medical Council). Participants found peer support helpful, as well as consulting health professionals who were empathic towards them. After they had left the abusive relationship victim-survivors felt better equipped to support patients going through DA. Domestic abuse impacts on the work and wellbeing of female doctors, who face unique barriers to help seeking and reporting DA. An online peer support group can help to break the sense of isolation, but specialised confidential support services are also required to help doctors experiencing DA.

Health Information-Seeking Behavior of Students at Kuwait University

This study aimed to investigate the health information-seeking behavior of Kuwait University undergraduates. The study employed a cross-sectional design using a semi-structured, web-based questionnaire. Most students (68.8%) searched for health information. The most common topics that students searched, by search engines, were related to bones, joints, and muscles. Many of the students (34.9%) discussed the health information they obtained on the Internet with physicians/medical specialists to consult health professionals. The study concluded that patients search for medical information from the Internet and that the doctor-patient relationship is influenced by the presence of health information on the Internet.

Cosmetic Use-Related Adverse Events: Findings from Lay Public in Malaysia

Objectives: Although the occurrence of adverse cosmetic reactions is often underestimated by the consumers, the documentation of the incident might be helpful for the authority in regulating the cosmetic products. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and type of adverse cosmetic event (ACE), as well as the measures adopted by those experiencing the ACE. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire comprised of 11 questions. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: demographic profile and adverse cosmetic reaction. A total of 552 cosmetic users in Malaysia participated in this study. Data were entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and descriptive statistics was applied. Findings: A total of 29% respondents have experienced ACEs. Eczema was found to be the most frequent type of ACE. Facial area (n = 178) was reported to be the most frequent body site affected by ACEs. A mere 41% attempted to consult health professionals. Conclusions: Few respondents consulted health professionals for recommendations, indicating that they misjudge occurrences related to adverse outcomes. The high diversity and non-specificity of cosmetic adverse reactions reported in the current research highlighted the need for a vigorous cosmetovigilance system.

The Relationship Between Hopelessness and Sexual Problems in Spinal Cord Injury

This study aims to determine the sexual problems of the patients with spinal cord injury and to analyze the relationship between these problems and the hopelessness levels of the patients. This descriptive cross-sectional study, which employed a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) was conducted on 53 inpatients at a physical therapy and rehabilitation hospital in Turkey. Questionnaire on Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale and Semi-Structured Interview Form on Sexuality and Hopelessness were used for data collection. Statements of the participants on sexuality and hopelessness were grouped under five themes: perception of sexuality, factors increasing sexual satisfaction, sexual problems, future expectations and expectations from health personnel. Sexual problems and hopelessness levels of female participants were higher (p < .05). Hopelessness levels of male participants increased as their sexual drive and arousal increased (p < .05). Finally, patients that did not consult health professionals for sexual problems had lower expectations from the future (p < .05). Hopelessness levels of the male participants with spinal court injury was lower than their female counterparts. They had hopes for treatment and the possibility of walking. This may be related with the fact that health professionals prioritized treatment and rehabilitation over sexual life.

Pediatrik Kanser Hastalarının Ebeveynlerinin Sürekli Kaygı Düzeyleri ve Aşı Karşıtlığı

Çocuklarda kanser ve tedavisi,aşı antikorlarının azalmasına veya kaybolmasına yol açar.Kanserden sağ kalan çocukların hayatı tehdit edici enfeksiyonlardan korunmaları için tekrar aşılanmaları gerekir.Son yıllarda tüm dünyada aşı karşıtlığı yaygınlaşmıştır.Bu çalışmada,kanser tanılı çocukların ebeveynlerinde sürekli kaygı düzeyinin ve aşı karşıtlığının araştırılması amaçlandı. Kanser nedeniyle tedavi görmekte olan 66 çocuk hastanın annelerine tanımlayıcı anket ve Sürekli Kaygı Ölçeği uygulandı.Kanser tedavisi tamamlandıktan sonra çocuğunu tekrar aşılatma konusunda kararsız olanlar ve tekrar aşılamayı reddedenler ve/veya bir çocuğunda kanser olması nedeniyle diğer çocuğunu/çocuklarını aşılatmada kararsızlığı ve aşı reddi olanlar ve/veya bir bebek dünyaya getirmesi durumunda yenidoğan bebeğini aşılatmada kararsızlığı ve aşı reddi olanlar "aşı karşıtlığı olan grup" olarak tanımlandı. Hastaların %50’si lösemi,%12,2’si lenfoma,%10,6’sı beyin tümörü,%27,2’si solid tümör tanılıydı.Annelerin hem kanser hem aşılar hakkında en sık başvurdukları bilgi kaynağı sağlık çalışanlarıydı.Annelerin %15’i aşıların kansere yol açabileceğini,%3’ü çocuğunun kanser olmasında yapılmış olan aşıların rolü olduğunu düşünüyordu ve %22,7’si bu konuda kararsızdı.Kanser tedavisi tamamlandığında çocuğunu tekrar aşılatmada kararsızlığı olanlar %12,1;bir çocuğunda kanser olması nedeniyle diğer çocuğunu aşılatmada kararsızlığı veya aşı reddi olanlar %8,2;bir bebek dünyaya getirmesi durumunda yenidoğan bebeğini aşılatmada kararsızlığı veya aşı reddi olanlar %12,1 oranındaydı.Aşı karşıtlığı olan grupta 15 (%22,7) anne yer aldı.Aşı karşıtlığı olan grup ile aşı kabulü olan grup hasta yaşı,cinsiyeti,tanısı,anne-baba yaşı,anne-baba eğitim düzeyi,ailenin gelir durumu,ailedeki çocuk sayısı,kanser ve aşılar hakkında sağlık çalışanlarından bilgi alma sıklığı ve annenin Sürekli Kaygı Ölçeği puanı açısından benzerdi (p>0,05). Kanserden sağ kalan çocukların aşı karşıtlığı hareketinden korunması ve tekrar aşılanmalarının sağlanması için daha fazla sayıda ebeveynle yapılan, daha kapsamlı çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Medical Help-Seeking Strategies for Perinatal Women With Obstetric and Mental Health Problems and Changes in Medical Decision Making Based on Online Health Information: Path Analysis.

BackgroundPrevious studies have revealed that most pregnant women rarely discuss informal information found on the internet with health professionals and have frequently expressed concerns for medical experts’ reactions to the online information they shared, as well as the lack of time to consult the medical experts in general. To date, little information is available on the effect of individual differences in utilizing medical help-seeking strategies on their medical decisions during the perinatal period.ObjectiveThe objectives of this study were (1) to determine associations among perinatal women’s medical help-seeking strategies, changes in medical decision making, and online health information utilization with a focus on the mediating effect of self-efficacy in perinatal health literacy on the intent to consult health professionals, and (2) to clarify these associations in perinatal women with two different medical problems: obstetric and mental health.MethodsA total of 164 perinatal women aged 24 to 47 years (mean 34.64, SD 3.80) repeatedly completed the Problem Solving in Medicine and Online Health Information Utilization questionnaires to examine the moderating effect of two types of medical problems on their decision-making processes. To validate the hypothesized relationships in the proposed conceptual model encompassing obstetric and mental health problem-solving models, path analyses were performed.ResultsThis study found that some perinatal women, who use an online informal medical help-seeking (OIMH) strategy, would be more likely to change their medical decisions based only on internet-based information without consulting health professionals (P<.001), compared to other women using different medical help-seeking strategies. Particularly, this concern is significantly prevalent when encountering obstetric problems during the perinatal period (obstetric problem-solving: P<.001; mental health problem-solving: P=.02). Furthermore, perinatal women with mental health issues using the OIMH strategy showed a significant difference in intent to consult health professionals based on online health information when the medical problem they had to solve was different (obstetric problem-solving: P=.94; mental health problem-solving: P=.003).ConclusionsDespite the positive mediating effects of perinatal women’s enhanced health literacy on the intent to discuss personal medical issues with health professionals based on online health information, the strategy used is of fundamental importance for understanding their help-seeking and decision-making processes during the perinatal period. Beyond a short consultation to steer patients quickly and authoritatively towards an obstetric doctor’s choice of action, it is recommended in this study that obstetricians attempt to provide their patients with needed context for the information found online. To fully explain this information with an open mind, they should actively develop or support information and communications technology (ICT)-based health information services.

Sintomas musculoesqueléticos e características sociodemográficas em mulheres

Este é um estudo quantitativo realizado em 2014 com 1.486 mulheres e com o objetivo de investigar os sintomas musculoesquelético e sua associação com as características sociodemográficas em mulheres. Foram analisadas características sociodemográficas, presença de síndrome musculoesquelética, limitações nas atividades e necessidade de consultas a profissional de saúde devido aos mesmos. Foi identificado que 62,45% das mulheres relatou a síndrome musculoesquelética em pelo menos uma região do corpo. No entanto, 73,69% não apresentou limitações nas atividades e 66,35% não consultou profissional da saúde em função. Maior número de regiões com sintomas, limitações e consulta a profissional foi observado nas mais jovens e que não tinham união estável. A alta prevalência de síndrome musculoesquelética em mulheres é um desafio ao o sistema público de saúde.

Mental Health Awareness Phone Polling Survey: Focus on Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practice, Saudi Arabia

Background: Mental health awareness surveys that assess the broad knowledge of various stakeholders including public nationwide help in the development of relevant strategies to enhance their poor mental health literacy.&#x0D; Objective: The aim of this telephone polling survey was to measure mental health awareness of general public in Saudi Arabia.&#x0D; Method: The participants (n=1068) randomly selected from 13 regions of Saudi Arabia were contacted by 15 trained Saudi girl interviewers for conducting 30-minutes individual interview in Arabic language using a self-designed 15-item questionnaire.&#x0D; Results: About one fourth of responders (23%) reported either personal or family member having mental disorder, and depression and anxiety disorders were the commonest problems. Stigma against mental disorders and consulting health professionals, misperceptions towards psychotropics and social exclusion and shame were variably reported by the participants. Though the participants perceived barriers to have access to MH services, 55% of responders reported MH services were of good to excellent grade, and the two most common help-seeking modes were psychiatric and religious and spiritual service providers.&#x0D; Conclusion: Although this community participatory mental health polling survey is found to have encouraging mental health literacy of public participants, evidence based training programs and campaigns for further improving people mental health literacy are needed in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf countries.

Factors that influence treatment-seeking expectations in response to infectious intestinal disease: Original survey and multinomial regression

BackgroundInfectious intestinal disease affects 25% of the UK population annually; 1 in 50 affected people consult health professionals about their illness. AimsWe tested if anticipated treatment-seeking decisions for suspected infectious intestinal disease could be related to emotional response, tolerance of symptoms, or beliefs about the consequential benefits and harms of seeking treatment (or not). MethodsQuestionnaire survey of adults living in the UK with statistical analysis of responses. A vignette was presented about a hypothetical gastrointestinal illness. People stated their emotional reactions, expected actions in response and beliefs about possible benefits or harms from seeking treatment (or not getting treatment). Multinomial regression looked for predictors of anticipated behaviour. ResultsPeople were inclined to consult a GP when they believed that seeking treatment would be beneficial and that its absence would be harmful. Seeking treatment was less anticipated if the condition was expected to improve quickly. Respondents were also more likely to consult if they strongly disliked fever or headache, and/or if the illness made them feel anxious or angry. Treatment-seeking (or lack of it) was not linked to harms from treatment-seeking, other specific symptoms and emotional responses. ConclusionIt was possible to link anticipated treatment-seeking behaviour to specific factors: expected prognosis, perceived benefits of seeking treatment, some emotions and some specific symptoms.

Use of antibiotics for common illnesses among children aged under 5\u2009years in a rural community in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe incidence of antimicrobial resistance has been increasing worldwide in the past decades, which includes resistance to bacteria that cause common childhood illnesses, such as acute respiratory infections and diarrhea. Numerous children with those common illnesses are treated with antibiotics. However, in such cases, antibiotic treatment is not required. Community-based studies focusing on antibiotic use among children are still limited. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of antibiotic use for common childhood illnesses and to investigate factors associated with antibiotic use in children under 5 years old as well as female caregivers in a rural community in Indonesia.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 334 children in three villages of Banten Province, located in the western part of Java Island, was conducted in May 2018. Female caregivers who were responsible for providing medications to children were interviewed. We obtained information such as demographic data, any common clinical illness within the last 30 days, and antibiotic usage during an episode of illness. We excluded children with underlying disease that require a regular follow-up and children who were hospitalized in the last 30 days in the analysis. Antibiotic use answered by female caregivers was verified by checking its package or showing photos of various antibiotics to the female caregivers. Crushed antibiotics were confirmed with health professionals.ResultsA total of 203 children had clinical symptoms, and the most common symptom was fever and respiratory symptoms. In total, 49.3% received antibiotics, and 66% of them were prescribed by private health professionals. Only two children received antibiotics without a prescription. The most common antibiotic used among children was amoxicillin.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of antibiotic use was observed in children under 5 years of age, and the major source to obtain antibiotics was to consult health professionals. Training on appropriate antibiotic use must be conducted for health professionals in not only public but also private sectors.

Subjective theories about parental discipline in parenting literature.

Parental discipline is a topic frequently asked for advice by those who consult health professionals. It is related to parenting styles and has been scientifically studied regarding its effective ness and impact on children. To describe the subjective theories about parental discipline present in recommendations made by doctors and psychologists in books for parents in Spanish. Ma terial and Method: Thirteen books with advice for parents, written in Spanish by healthcare profes sionals published between 2000 and 2017 were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using Groun ded Theory procedures adapted for the study of subjective theories, through open and axial coding. In addition, thematic codification was made to describe the cases, identifying subjective mottos and subjective theories for each case, which at the same time were grouped into superordinate subjective theories. The data were grouped into three general subjective theories about parental dis cipline in the books analyzed. These subjective theories differ from one another in the importance attributed to authority, punishment, and the necessity of parental discipline. There are differences in parental discipline among the books. There is little scientific evidence on the subjective theories of the books. Results differ from historical analyses of these publications in other cultural and temporal contexts. The importance of developing practical guidelines on parental discipline ba sed on evidence to guide parents by health professionals is highlighted.