Counseling Psychology Research Articles

Combination of comprehensive thermal care and detail-oriented nursing care in the operating room for managing gestational diabetes mellitus.

As the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases, its impact on cesarean sections has attracted widespread attention. Omni-directional, insulated care and detailed care are of great significance in this patient population, as they can effectively improve the quality of care in the operating room. To explore the effect of the integrated use of comprehensive thermal insulation. Women with GDM who underwent cesarean sections at our hospital between April 2023 and February 2024 were included in this retrospective study. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: The observation and control groups. An all-around thermal insulation nursing strategy, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative temperature maintenance, was adopted. In addition, detailed nursing care measures, such as blood glucose monitoring, wound care, and psychological counseling, were implemented in the observation group. Comparative observation revealed that all-around thermal insulation care can effectively prevent the incidence of maternal hypothermia caused by surgery, reduce the risk of infection, and promote blood circulation. The implementation of detailed care improved maternal satisfaction and reduced the incidence of complications via the appropriate management of fluctuations in the blood glucose levels and optimization of the nursing process before and after surgery according to the patient's characteristics. The application of a combination of comprehensive thermal insulation and detailed nursing care improved the overall quality of perioperative care.

A Comparative Study to Appraise the Level of Behavioural Problems of Preschool Children with Employed and Unemployed Progenitor in the Selected Rural Area of Salem

Background: Preschool children exhibit deviated behavior from the normal behavior as expressed by mothers was assessed by using Modified Lenore Behar Preschool Behavioural rating scale, which will be categorized in to Temper tantrum, Speech disorder, Sleep disorder, eating habits, Pollex sucking, Onychophagia, Bed-wetting, Encopresis, Emotional stability, School refusal, Self-care activities and Social behavior.  Method: The study was applied descriptive research design. The researcher decided on 60 samples through convenience sampling technique, in which 30 were work in female parent and 30 samples were workless in female parent of nursery kid. Modified Lenore Behar Preschool Behavioural rating scale were used to gather the data. The appliances consist of two portion, division I: demographic variables of mother, division II: Modified Lenore Behar Prekindergarten Behavioural rating scale which include speech problem, sleep problem, eating habit, temper tantrum, thumb sucking, nail biting, self- help, encopresis, encopresis, school refusal, and social factor. Inferential statistics and descriptive statistics were utilized to assemble data.  Result: The findings stated that, the level of behavioural among 30 samples of employed mothers, 3(10%) had preschool children with Mild behavioural problems, 23(77%) had nipper with Moderate behavioural problems and 4(13%) of the samples had nipper with Severe behavioural problems and among. The 30 samples of unemployed mothers, 22(73%) had preschool children with Mild behavioural problems, 6(20%) had nursery school with Moderate habitual problems and 2(7%) of the samples had crèche with Severe habitual problems.  Conclusion: This study examined the prevalence of behavioral issues in nipper of work in female parent versus workless in female parent. The results indicated that preschoolers with employed mothers exhibited more behavioural problem compared to those with unemployed mothers. The research topic is important issue in the society for identifying the behavioral problem, the preschool children are the future wellbeing of the world So, it is necessary to aware the parent to prevent the behavioural problem of preschool children by treatment, psychological counseling and health education.

Assessing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Determinants Among COVID-19 Case-Contact Dyads in Household Settings.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).The COVID-19 outbreak raised several public and mental health concerns including tremendous psychological distress. To assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among COVID-19-positive patientsand household contacts and to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with PTSD in the study population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among COVID-19-positive patients and their family members in Ernakulam district. A daily list of COVID-19-positive patients was obtained from the district officials. Confirmed cases and their close contacts in households were contacted over telephone and were interviewed after obtaining consent. Post-traumatic stress was assessed by the PTSD Symptom Scale - Interview Version (PSS-I-5) questionnaire. There were 279 study participants, of whom 93 were COVID-19 positive and the remaining 186 were their contacts.More than a third (34, 36.6%) of cases suffered from PTSD while about a fifth (40, 21.5%) of contacts suffered from PTSD. Among cases, persons belonging to the below poverty line (BPL) had 2.9l (1.19, 7.24) times higher risk compared to those above poverty line (APL). Women also had a 2.8 (1.14, 7.01) higher odds compared to males. Among contacts, graduates had a 9.54 (95% CI: 1.84, 49.36) increased odds whereas homemakers were found to be protected (0.195 (0.06, 0.66)) against PTSD compared to the employed group. Psychological counselling and support are essential for addressing PTSD among women and those living with BPL, as these groups are disproportionately affected.

Counseling Psychologists Assist Post-Disaster Psychological Rescue Experience in Major Disasters

<p>近年國內多起重大災難事件造成個體與社會群體的影響與不安，諮商心理師身為專業醫事人員提供受災者災後心理救援，也衍生災難事件危機介入的實踐與困境。本研究以現象學的研究方法、半結構式訪談蒐集資料，受訪者為六位諮商心理師，其中三位具督導資格，研究結果包含二類與八個主題：（1）諮商心理師災後心理救援經驗，包含：（a）災後心理救援前的自我評估與專業知能；（b）災後心理救援時的角色與功能；（c）災後心理救援時的預備、初期、中期、中長期作為與督導者作為；（d）災後心理救援後的多重困境、身心壓力與文化民俗挑戰。（2）因應災後心理救援困境的實務規劃，包含（a）落實演練與心理教育；（b）持續增能與案例討論；（c）建立名單與督導關係；（d）熟悉雲端與資訊操作；（e）調整期待與服務心態。作者依研究結果提出災後心理救援「停、看、問」三個步驟與九項建議：（1）「停」—介入之前：（a）自評身心狀態與投身意圖；（b）具足所需專業知能與增能；（c）培育多元文化介入的能力。（2）「看」—介入當下：（a）理解角色功能適才適性；（b）調整不同階段介入作為；（c）理解困境挑戰正面因應。（3）「問」—介入之後：（a）身心自我調適與回歸原有平衡；（b）尋求督導協助重整介入經驗；（c）系所課程培育與繼續教育增能，最後提及未來研究建議。</p> <p> </p><p>Since the ""Taiwan Disaster Year"" began with the 921 earthquake, Taiwan has witnessed numerous significant disaster events in recent years, resulting in extensive financial losses and loss of life. These events have profoundly affected individuals’ trust and sense of security, leading to a widespread impact on social groups and cultures. As professional healthcare providers, counseling psychologists frequently engage in post-disaster psychological rescue and reconstruction efforts during major disasters or crises. This practice has raised challenges for crisis intervention during such events. Researchers thus aim to understand the landscape and challenges of psychological rescue efforts during domestic disasters. This study uses phenomenological research methods and semi-structured interviews to gather data. It includes interviews with six counseling psychologists, three of whom are certified supervisors who acted as supervisors during disaster events, while the other three provided crisis intervention services as psychologists. The study categorizes its findings into two main themes and eight sub-themes: Experiences of counseling psychologists in post-disaster psychological support: (1) Self-assessment and professional knowledge before providing post-disaster psychological support: This theme explores how psychologists evaluate their readiness and expertise before engaging in disaster relief efforts. (2) Roles and functions of post-disaster psychological support: This examines the specific responsibilities and activities undertaken by psychologists during the support process. (3) Preparatory, initial, mid-term, and long-term actions, including the role of supervisors: This delves into the different stages of psychological support and the crucial role of supervisors in guiding and supporting these efforts. (4) Multiple challenges, physical and mental stress, and cultural and folk challenges after providing post-disaster psychological support: This theme addresses the complex challenges psychologists face following their intervention, including stress and cultural issues. Practical planning to address the challenges of post-disaster psychological support: (1) Implementing drills and psychological education: Emphasizes the importance of preparedness through regular drills and education. (2) Continuous capacity building and case discussions: Highlights the need for ongoing training and discussion of cases to enhance skills and knowledge. (3) Establishing lists and supervisory relationships: Focuses on creating structured relationships and lists to streamline support efforts. (4) Familiarity with cloud and information operations: Stresses the need for proficiency in modern technology to facilitate efficient support. (5) Adjusting expectations and service mentality: Discusses the necessity of adapting expectations and maintaining a service-oriented mindset. Based on the research results, the researcher proposes a systematic approach comprising three steps (""Stop, Look, Ask"") and nine specific suggestions for post-disaster psychological support, serving as a practical reference for crisis intervention practice: ""Stop""—before intervention: (1) Self-assess physical and mental state and willingness to engage: Psychologists need to evaluate their readiness and motivation. (2) Equip with necessary professional knowledge and capacity building: Psychologists need to ensure that they have the required expertise and training. (3) Cultivate the ability for multicultural intervention: Develop skills to effectively engage with diverse cultural backgrounds. ""Look""—during intervention: (1) Understand the roles and functions and fit them appropriately: Matching roles and tasks to individuals’ strengths. (2) Adjust intervention actions at different stages: Modify approaches according to the phase of intervention. (3) Understand challenges and respond positively: Recognize and constructively address difficulties encountered. ""Ask""—after intervention: (1) Physical and mental selfadjustment and return to original balance: Focusing on recovery and well-being. (2) Seek supervisory assistance to reorganize intervention experiences: Utilizing supervision to reflect and improve.(3) Curriculum development and continued education for capacity building: Advocating for ongoing education and training in disaster psychology. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations for future research and suggests areas for further exploration to enhance the effectiveness of psychological support in disaster scenarios.</p> <p> </p>

The Relationships between Job Performance, Job Burnout, and Psychological Counselling: A Perspective on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Job burnout (as an independent variable) and job performance (as a dependent variable) are often correlated, and one of the main arguments is that psychological counseling can mitigate job burnout, which in turn influences job performance. This article aims to introduce a new perspective on the subject by establishing a new paradigm in the field. It also explores the role of psychological counseling as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, it aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 8, which seek to enhance public health, collective well-being, and decent work or at least equitable workplace conditions. Adopting a quantitative analysis method, this study used panel data from 2020 to 2023 and group regression to analyze these data. The instruments comprise job performance (KPI) and mental health records. This study revealed that job burnout as experienced by academics is regulated by their job performance (β = −0.013, p < 0.001. This study revealed that academics’ job performance remained unchanged despite the number of psychological counseling and interventions conducted, so consequently, psychological counseling and interventions do not affect performance directly. This research contributes to the literature by utilizing a novel measurement approach. It is concluded that competency is the key to having a decent work environment and staff experiencing collective well-being.

The Impact of Group Psychological Counseling on Counseling Self-Efficacy: A Mixed-Methods Study

This study aims to examine the impact of group counseling practice conducted with undergraduate psychological counseling and guidance (PCG) students on their counseling self-efficacy levels. The study group consisted of 36 third-year students enrolled in the Group Counseling Principles and Techniques course in the spring semester of 2019 at the Department of PCG at Atatürk University. Since the course content was theoretical and students needed to have fundamental knowledge related to the course, it was taught theoretically for the first 7 weeks (until the midterm exam). After the midterm, group counseling practice was conducted with students divided into three groups for the remaining 7 weeks. The researcher led the sessions, and the students participated as group members. The Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales was administered immediately before and one week after the practice. After the practice, students were also asked to fill out a semi-structured form to evaluate their group experiences. This study was designed using the explanatory sequential design, one of the mixed research methods. The quantitative aspect of the research was conducted as a single-group pretest-posttest design, one of the weak experimental designs. In analyzing the quantitative data, the Paired Samples t-Test was used for pretest-posttest comparisons. For the qualitative aspect, content analysis was performed on the forms filled out by the students. The study found that group counseling practice significantly increased the counseling self-efficacy of the counselor candidates, and the students’ qualitative responses supported this finding. Furthermore, students indicated that the practice contributed to their development in both professional skills and personal relationships. It is observed that individual counseling practices are generally emphasized in psychological counselor education. Considering the inadequacy of group counseling practices in counselor education and the lack of research addressing the contributions of these practices to the personal and professional development of psychological counselors, it is evaluated that the results of this research will contribute to the field.

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Slovenia: quality of life and costs from patient perspective

IntroductionLeber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is the most commonly diagnosed mitochondrial disorder, resulting in colour vision abnormalities and rapid but painless deterioration of central vision. While numerous studies have assessed the impact of LHON on the quality of life (QoL) of LHON patients, the financial impact of the disease remains unexplored. This study attempts to calculate both the direct non-medical costs and the indirect costs associated with productivity losses experienced by people with LHON and their unpaid caregivers in Slovenia, in addition to assessing their QoL. Due to the rarity of the disease, the study involved a small sample size, which is important to note for interpreting the results.MethodsThe analysis was conducted on nine adult participants diagnosed with LHON, representing one-third of the total number of known Slovenian patients with this condition. To thoroughly assess the economic and social impact of LHON, tailored questionnaires were designed to collect information on demographics, socioeconomic status, LHON severity, and associated non-medical and indirect costs.ResultsThe mean age of the study participants was 48.8 years (SD 13.3; n = 9). The annual productivity loss attributable to LHON, taking both absenteeism and relative presenteeism into account, was calculated to be EUR 11,608 per person affected. The mean VFQ-25 score, a measure of vision-related quality of life, for adult LHON patients was 30.4 (SD 12.9).ConclusionThe findings highlight the significant economic and social burden of LHON on patients and their families. Ensuring prompt, accurate diagnosis, access to treatment, financial support, and psychological counselling and services are critical to helping individuals cope with and mitigate the profound challenges of vision loss and living with LHON.

Optimizing Postpartum Depression Prevention in Primary Health Care Services

Post-partum depression (PPD) is a post-natal disorder that not only impacts the mental health of the mother but also has long-term effects on the development and well-being of the child and family. PPD is a preventable disorder, starting from interventions at primary health care facilities. As one of the developing countries with a PPD incidence of 22% per 100,000 births, PPD is considered an urgent public health issue in Indonesia. In practice, evaluation, and improvement of services at primary health care facilities are needed. This study aims to identify and adapt international intervention strategies to reduce post-partum depression prevalence in Indonesian primary health care. A scoping review analysis method was used, involving previous studies on activities from pregnancy to post-partum that can prevent and reduce post-partum depression. The reviewed articles employed Randomized Controlled Trials or Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT) methods with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected from relevant sources, and a synthesis was conducted on 16 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The results show that direct psychological support activities (through health professionals or groups) and indirect support using digital platforms and applications are effective in reducing depression. Strategies such as digital technology, direct support programs, physical therapy, pharmacological therapy, community involvement, and strengthening health services, particularly post-partum psychological counseling, are recommended to enhance prevention. This research supports the expansion of evidence-based strategies that can be implemented in primary healthcare facilities to address post-partum depression.

Investigating the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Authenticity and Alexithymia in University Students.

The aim of our study is to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between authenticity and alexithymia by examining the relationships between authenticity, alexithymia and self-compassion. The data collected via email by using three scales from the students of a foundation university in Istanbul/Turkey in the spring semester of 2022-2023. The data collection method was a descriptive cross-sectional study and the data were collected on a voluntary basis. Since it was thought that there would be a difference between the departments, data were collected from three different departments. The sample included 263 participants, 139 were English Language Teaching, 107 were Guidance and Psychological Counseling, and 17 were Elementary Mathematics Teaching students. The average age of the participants was 22.11 ± 3.59, 257 of them were single and 6 of them were married. The data were evaluated by using the SPSS 22.0 and LISREL 8.80 programs. While descriptive analyses were used in the evaluation, the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between authenticity and alexithymia was tested with Structural Equation Modeling. When the measurement model was examined, it was seen that there was a relationship between authenticity and alexithymia (r = -.40; p < .000), between self-compassion and alexithymia (r = - .85; p < .001) and between self-compassion and authenticity (r = .43; p < .001). When the structural equation model was examined, it was found that the relationship between authenticity and alexithymia in the measurement model (r = -.40) decreased to (β = - .05; p > .005) when the mediating role of self-compassion was examined and the relationship was found to be insignificant. When this path was removed from the model and the model was re-examined, the goodness of fit values of the model were χ2/df (71.12/51) ratio = 1.174; RMSEA = .039; SRMR = .050; CFI= .99; NFI = .96; NNFI = .98; IFI = .99; RFI = .95 and GFI = .96. In the study, it was found that self-compassion has a full mediating role in the relationship between authenticity and alexithymia in three departments. The relationship between authenticity and alexithymia goes through self-compassion.

Assessing Covi-19’s Effects on Mental Health in Nursing Students During E-Learning in Pandemic

Introduction: Covid-19 declared by WHO as a pandemic, from the time of experiencing it for the first time until now has caused many deaths all over the world. As a consequence of this pandemic, all public and private institutions tried to adapt life and work. Academic institutions in this period choose to continue with online platforms. This sudden switch from face to face to online learning has caused not only problems during lessons but also in mental and physical health of the students. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the level of anxiety among nursing students who study at public nursing faculty in Tirana, Albania. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed in April- May 2023 at Faculty of Technical Medical Science Tirana, Albania. The study involved nursing students in their third year of Bachelor and first year of Professional Master and Master of Science because only these students have taken online lessons. They were 278 in total. Results: The students responded (n = 278) to a questionnaire following GAD7 and HAM-A with some other basic information. Our findings showed that the level of moderate, severe and very severe anxiety range 30.53%, 3.38% and 1. 53% respectively. A significant relationship was found between gender, age and psychological impact (p=.057; p=.001). The most dominant symptoms were headache (192, 69.10%) and eye irritation (191, 68.70%). 137,49.30% of the respondents think that the lockdown had moderate impact on study. Conclusions: By applying different methods of assessing the level of anxiety, we found that our nursing students experienced anxiety caused on by the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation just like other nursing students around the world. Designing and consolidating strategies (mental health services or psychological counseling) by faculty members to face similar pandemic situations in the future, would help reduce anxiety among students because they will be professionals tomorrow, thus it is important to take care for their mental health.

Should Universities partner with NGOs? A Case Study of a University of Technology and a Coding School for Refugees

This paper explores the advantages of a University-NGO Partnership between the Faculty of Informatics at Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) and the NGO „refugees{code}―, a coding school for refugees in Vienna, Austria. The goal of this collaboration is twofold: Firstly, to help students apply coding skills practically and enhance their proficiency through teaching experiences with underrepresented groups; and secondly, to provide refugees with meaningful activities that match their profession, education, and personal interests, which might have been interrupted in their home countries. The study evaluates the perspectives of the stakeholders involved. To do so, written surveys and interviews with computer science students, refugees and team members of the NGO were conducted. The results indicate that meaningful educational benefits for computer science students can be created within such partnerships, such as enhanced teaching abilities, dispelled prejudices, insights into the factors affecting refugees' educational and career trajectories, as well as improved communication and empathy skills. However, challenges for such partnerships also exist, including giving student teachers more time for meetings and discussions, empowering them to make decisions, providing access to counseling psychologists and interpreters, and offering support in managing participants' expectations. The findings shed light on the potential benefits from participating in campus-community partnerships and suggest several measures to improve them, such as providing additional ECTS credits, intensifying promotional activities to encourage greater student participation, providing alumni support, and issuing official certificates.

Return to Work After Release From Prison.

Work preservation is crucial for the reintegration of ex-prisoners and the prevention of recidivism. We describe the application of an interdisciplinary diagnostic protocol (occupational health visit, psychiatric interview, psychological counselling and testing) in the case of a dairy industry worker (female, 45-year-old), released on half-freedom after approximately a year of detention in prison for attempted murder. This crime can seriously hamper job resumption. The evaluation revealed a slightly depressed mood (consistent with recent life events), in the absence of major psychiatric disorders or other disturbances that could compromise working abilities or represent a danger for the coworkers. The patient was, therefore, judged able to resume her job. At six months follow-up, she had fully served her sentence and had returned to her previous job, with good relations with her colleagues. However, she encountered hostility from her employer, which induced her to find a new job as a secretary. Her mental health status was improved. The interdisciplinary approach described here may allow ex-prisoners to return to work by helping the company physician to formulate the judgement of job fitness, offering at the same time suggestions for a rational occupational reintegration.

Effect of older adult health and age on psychology doctoral trainees’ expectations of clinical work with older adult clients

ABSTRACT This experimental, repeated-measures study investigated the effects of client health and client age on doctoral psychology students’ clinical expectations for their work with older adult clients. Doctoral clinical and counseling psychology trainees (N = 223) completed measures assessing clinical expectations for three older adult clients of varying health status (healthy, recent Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) diagnosis, heart disease) who all presented with depressive symptoms. Trainees were randomly assigned to the 71-year-old or 81-year-old condition. Trainees perceived a depressed client with a recent AD diagnosis as a less appropriate candidate for therapy, less motivated and less responsible for therapy, and less able to develop a therapeutic relationship. Additional health-based differences in prognosis, comfort, and competence were moderated by client age. Although age did have a small effect, the health of the older adult client had a stronger influence on trainees’ clinical expectations for work with older adults. Cognitive health concerns were perceived as a greater barrier to clinical work with older adults than were physical health concerns. Health biases for clinical work with older adults could impact the quality of mental healthcare provided.

The Role of Educational and Psychological Counseling in Improving the Educational Process

The study aimed to identify the role of educational and psychological counseling in improving the educational process in school education. Where the narrative critical approach was used, which is based on reviewing, scrutinizing and extracting theoretical literature well; The study was conducted in the second semester of the academic year (2022/2023); Where the study reached a set of results related to its research subject, which is the great importance of educational and psychological counseling in the school educational process by including some subjects with various topics related to educational and psychological counseling, or allocating a scientific subject for educational counseling similar to some other scientific subjects that are taught by experienced and competent; In addition, educational and psychological counseling represents an essential and essential aspect of the human life of the individual. The study also concluded that it is necessary for teachers, without exception, to carry out the process of educational and psychological counseling for students, as it is one of their basic academic tasks in practical life.

The Application of Psychological Therapies in Addressing Adolescent Disengagement from School.

The issue of adolescent aversion to school not only affects their academic performance but can also lead to psychological health problems. This article reviews the application of several psychological therapies in addressing the problem of adolescent aversion to school, including mindfulness therapy, sandplay therapy, life review method, adaptive psychological counseling, and humanistic therapy.

Multivariate analysis of psychological health among hospital infection prevention and control practitioners in Tianjin

Objective: To understand the occupational stress and mental health status of hospital infection prevention and control practitioner (HIPCPs) in medical institutions, and analyze their main influencing factors. Methods: In November 2021, 550 nosocomial infection managers in Tianjin were randomly selected to conduct a questionnaire survey using the Concise Occupational Stress Questionnaire, Depression Screening Scale (PHQ-9) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). 497 valid questionnaires were obtained, and the total recovery efficiency was 90.36%. Single factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression method were used to analyze the main influencing factors of occupational stress and mental health status of psychiatric managers. Results: The detection rate of anxiety and depression among 497 HIPCPs was 22.73% (113/497) and 58.95% (293/497), respectively. Gender and major were the influencing factors of depression (P=0.000, 0.001). Average working hours>52 hours per week and night shift days>1 days per week were the influencing factors of anxiety (P=0.035, 0.014). Average working hours>52 h per week, night shift days >1 d per week and different majors were the influencing factors of occupational stress (P=0.000, 0.025, 0.010). Multivariate logistic regression results showed that the risk of anxiety in those who worked more than 52 hours per week was 1.753 times that of those who worked less than 52 hours per week (P=0.038), and the risk of depression in women was 3.071 times that of men (P=0.006) . Conclusion: Working hours are an important influencing factor for occupational stress and anxiety among HIPCPs. In order to reduce the occurrence of occupational stress and mental health problems, it is necessary to strengthen psychological counseling for HIPCPs and balance work and rest.

Assessment of Prognostic Indicators and Survival-Based Impact of Holistic Approach in Oral Cancer Patients: An Observational Study.

Oral cancer is recognized as the sixth most common type of cancer globally. Instances have been recorded demonstrating an increase in its incidence, particularly in the territories of southern Asia, with a significant emphasis on India.Thus, the objectives of this investigation were to assess the efficacy of a holistic approach on the life expectancies of patients diagnosed with oral cancer, and to assess the prognostic indicators in such patients. A retrospective study was conducted on medical records of 60 clinically and histopathologically confirmed cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who received complete surgical intervention or radiation therapy or a combination of both modalities depending on stage of OSCC from January 2015 to December 2016. After completion of their treatment, 30 patients underwent Cancer Care program of Annabhai Chudamani Patil Memorial Medical College which consisted of yoga sessions, meditation, psychological counselling, nutritional counselling, emotional and social support (embracing a holistic approach, group 1) and 30 patients did not enroll in the Cancer Care initiative (not opting for holistic approach, group 2). The program was conducted for 21 days every six months for two years. Data pertaining to demographic characteristics, stage of OSCC, modalities of treatment administered, histopathological characteristics of the neoplasm, as well as the clinical outcome (Survival/Deceased) post a five-year duration subsequent to the primary diagnosis were extracted from the medical records to assess the role of holistic approach and various factors on the overall survival (OS) of the patients in both the groups. The data collected was subsequently subjected to a thorough statistical analysis. The mean age of the patients was 44.33±8.66 years (95% CI: 39.53-49.13) in group 1, and 51.20±9.99 years (95% CI: 39.53-49.13) in group 2. The mean survival time for group 1 was 81.60±5.02 months (95% CI: 78.817-84.383), and 66.00±20.29 months (95% CI: 54.761-77.239) in group 2 with statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.007). Group 2 showed a 1.31 relative risk of mortality to group 1. The probability of death in group 2 was 1.39 times more than in group 1. Cox regression analysis revealed group 2 was significantly associated with the risk of OSCC in this analysis. Other variables were not significantly associated with the risk of the OSCC in this analysis. The current research indicated that employing a holistic strategy proves to be a successful approach in increasing the OS of patients with OSCC.

Attitudes of university students towards people with mental health disorders: a survey-based study

BackgroundIraq and Iraqi Kurdistan face significant challenges regarding mental disorders. Individuals with mental health disorders often conceal their conditions, particularly in certain cultural contexts, due to the negative attitudes they face. This study aims to explore the attitudes of university students towards individuals with mental health disorders.MethodsA sample of 294 university students from five distinct colleges within a public university in the Kurdistan region of Iraq was selected to participate in an attitudinal survey. The participants were chosen using convenience sampling. The survey encompassed 34 items, which were categorized into six overarching conceptual sub-scales: benevolence, separatism, stereotyping, restrictiveness, pessimistic prediction, and stigmatization. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the gathered data.ResultsThe findings indicate that the majority of participants held negative attitudes towards individuals with mental health disorder. Furthermore, the study identified statistically significant associations between socio-demographic variables and students’ attitudes across most of the subscales.ConclusionThe study highlights the prevalence of negative attitudes towards individuals with mental health disorder among university students. It suggests the establishment of a psychological and guidance counseling center at the university to promote awareness about mental health disorder and provide guidance and training to mitigate its severity, similar to physical illnesses.

A Study on the Impact of Psychological Counseling for Minor Medical Students in Clinical Teaching and Learning

A Study on the Impact of Psychological Counseling for Minor Medical Students in Clinical Teaching and Learning

Research on the Innovative Integration of Psychological Counseling and Heart-to-Heart Conversations in Private College Party Branches

Research on the Innovative Integration of Psychological Counseling and Heart-to-Heart Conversations in Private College Party Branches