General Medicine Outpatient Clinic Research Articles

In-depth assessment of steatotic liver disease awareness in high-risk groups.

This study aims to determine the awareness levels and factors affecting it, along with prevalent misconceptions about Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) among participants with high-risk indicators. A questionnaire with open-ended questions was utilized. Participants were recruited from two general internal medicine outpatient clinics, focusing on those with high-risk indicators for SLD. Data collection involved a questionnaire covering demographic information, self-reported clinical conditions, and open-ended questions about SLD awareness. Key focus areas included misconceptions, thematic awareness, and the relationship between awareness and educational attainment. The study involved 228 participants, predominantly female (70.4%), with an average age of 53.8 years. Only 33.7% showed a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of SLD. However, 90.4% provided some accurate information, though often limited or incomplete. Higher education and awareness of SLD risks were key predictors of better understanding. The logistic regression model, with an accuracy of 0.76 and recall of 0.84, found higher education inversely related to low awareness. Common misconceptions highlighted included the belief that polypharmacy or certain medications cause SLD, fatigue as an effect, and increased water intake as a treatment. Notably, seven patients mentioned artichoke consumption as a potential treatment. The findings highlight the gap between comprehensive and partial awareness of SLD among high-risk individuals. Educational level and informed understanding of SLD risks are crucial for improving awareness, emphasizing the need for specialized educational efforts and risk communication to high-risk patients.

Diagnostic errors and characteristics of patients seen at a general internal medicine outpatient clinic with a referral for diagnosis.

Patients referred to general internal medicine (GIM) outpatient clinics may face a higher risk of diagnostic errors than non-referred patients. This difference in risk is assumed to be due to the differences in diseases and clinical presentations between referred and non-referred patients; however, clinical data regarding this issue are scarce. Thisstudy aimed to determine the frequency of diagnostic errorsand compare the characteristics of referred and non-referred patients visit GIM outpatient clinics. This study included consecutive outpatients who visited the GIM outpatient clinic at a university hospital, with or without referral. Data on age, sex, chief complaints, referral origin, and final diagnosis were collected from medical records. The Revised Safer Dx Instrument was used to detect diagnostic errors. Data from 534 referred and 599 non-referred patients were analyzed. The diagnostic error rate was higher in the referral group than that in the non-referral group (2.2 % vs. 0.5 %, p=0.01). The prevalence of abnormal test results and sensory disturbances was higher in the chief complaints, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal system disorders, connective tissue diseases, and neoplasms was higher in the final diagnoses of referred patients compared with non-referred patients. Among referred patients with diagnostic errors, abnormal test results and sensory disturbances were the two most common chief complaints, whereas neoplasia was the most common final diagnosis. Problems with data integration and interpretation were found to be the most common factors contributing to diagnostic errors. Paying more attention to patients with abnormal test results and sensory disturbances and considering a higher pre-test probability for neoplasms mayprevent diagnostic errors in patients referred to GIM outpatient clinics.

Weight Misperception is Prevalent Among Turkish Adults and Associated with Higher Age, Body Mass Index and Lower Education Status.

Weight misperception (WM) is common among adults, and it is associated with adverse health outcomes. Research has shown that various factors are associated with weight misperception. Turkish adult population data for weight misperception and related factors do not exist. We conducted a face-to-face cross-sectional descriptive survey in the general internal medicine outpatient clinics of two academic centers. Perception was analyzed both verbally and visually. Misperception was defined for both verbal and visual scales as being thinner than reality misperceptions (TTRM), fatter than reality misperceptions (FTRM), or either of them (ETFTRM). Demographics, anthropometrics, and social determinants of health were analyzed in different misperception groups. 250 patients participated in the study. The median (interquartile range) age was 55 (14), and the BMI was 28.2 (6.9) for females and 26.9 (4.4) for males. 81.2% had ETFTRM, 45.2% had TTRM, and 22.4% had FTRM. Age and BMI were higher in the ETFTRM and TTRM groups, while education level was lower in both. Multivariate logistic regression showed that higher age, higher BMI, and lower education levels were associated with higher TTRM. WM is common among the Turkish adult population. Similar to the previous studies, aging, high BMI, and low education levels are associated with weight misperception. However, in contrast to previous studies, gender, marital status, and employment were not associated with weight misperception in our cohort.

Assessment of Relationship between Lifestyle Behaviors and Severity of Perimenopausal Symptoms among Women

Menopause is a stage of transition from a reproductive to a non-reproductive state in the life of a woman. The perimenopause transition is defined as the period immediately before the menopause. The most common symptoms of menopause can be broken down into vasomotor, physical, emotional, or sexual complaints. Lifestyle behaviors play a significant role in women's experiencing menopausal symptoms during the perimenopause. Aims:It aims to assess the relationship between women's lifestyle behaviors and the severity of perimenopausal symptoms. Methods:Adescriptive correlational study of 120 perimenopausal women using a purposive sample was conducted at gynecology outpatient clinics and general medicine outpatient clinics at Assuit University hospitals from the first of January to the end of June 2023. Three tools were used for this study: a structured interview questionnaire, a modified menopausal rating scale, and a health promotion lifestyle profile. Results:This study reveals that 85.8% of perimenopausal women's lifestyle was poor. Also, 31.6% of perimenopausal women reported moderate perimenopausal symptoms. Somatic symptoms were the most prevalent symptoms on the menopausal rating scale, followed by psychological symptoms and, lastly, urogenital symptoms. There has been a highly statistically significant difference as regards the relationship between the severity of perimenopausal symptoms and women's lifestyle behaviors (p>0.001). Conclusion:There has been an intense negative correlation between women's lifestyle behaviors and the severity of perimenopausal symptoms. So, women need to get health education from the nurse specialists during perimenopause and nurses should plan and implement educational programs for the perimenopausal women about the healthy life style behaviors to reduce and manage their menopausal symptoms. Recommendation: Plan and implement a necessary educational program for perimenopausal women about healthy lifestyle behaviors to manage menopausal symptoms.

Ten-Year Cardiovascular Risk as Predicted by the QRISK®3 Calculator in Diabetic Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Central India and Its Application to Stratify Statin Over-Users and Under-Users.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. As such, risk stratification is essential to identify the risk factors of CVD and provide early intervention. The QRISK®3 tool, recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, has the option to choose the patient's ethnicity, which is not available in other tools. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the use of this tool in the Indian population. Therefore, this study was planned to predict 10-year CVD risk using the QRISK®3 tool and to determine statin eligibility in diabetic patients. We enrolled diabetic patients visiting our general medicine outpatient department and diabetic clinic in the study. We collected data from clinical and prescription records, as well as through patient interviews. We analyzed the data to determine the 10-year CVD risk using the QRISK®3 risk tool, which is available online. A cut-off QRISK score of 10%, as recommended by the NICE guidelines (2014), was used to stratify patients as "over-users" and "under-users." We also analyzed the data to determine any correlation between other risk factors and QRISK scores. Of the 134 diabetic patients recruited in this study, 43 (32.09%) had a CVD risk score of <10%, of which 16 (37.21%) were categorized as "over-users." Of the patients,91 had a CVD risk score of ≥10%, of which 17 (18.68%) were categorized as "under-users." Risk factors showing a positive correlation with QRISK score included duration of diabetes, age, blood pressure treatment, waist circumference, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. QRISK score can be useful to predict10-year CVD risk in the Indian population and to stratify patients as statin over-usersand under-users. This tool can be used in the Indian set-up to identify potential candidates for statin initiation.

The applicability of the “surprise question” as a prognostic tool in patients with severe chronic comorbidities in a university teaching outpatient setting

BackgroundLife expectancy in recent decades has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases in the population, requiring an approach to new health topics, such as discussions on quality of life and expectations about death and dying. The concept of advance directives (ADs) gives individuals the opportunity to make known their decisions about the treatments they would like to receive at the end of life. Despite the recognition of relevance in clinical practice, the applicability of the concept presents challenges, including establishing the appropriate prognosis for each patient and the ideal time to approach the patient. Some prognostic tools were developed, such as the surprise question (SQ): “Would you be surprised if your patient died in 12 months?”, which is used in some clinical settings to predict patient deaths and to make decisions regarding ADs. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of second-year resident physicians (PGY-2) when the SQ was applied.MethodIn our observational study, from July 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017, (PGY-2) in the Internal Medicine Residency Program (IMRP) applied SQ to all patients with multiple and varied chronic no communicable comorbidities, who were followed up at the general medicine outpatient clinic (GMOC) of a tertiary university hospital in São Paulo- Brazil. The frequency of the outcome (death or non-death within 12 months) was analyzed by correlating it with the clinical data (impact of the studied variables).ResultsEight hundred forty patients entered the study. Fitfty-two of them (6.2%) died within one year. PGY-2 predicted that two hundred and fourteen patients (25.5% of total) would die within a year (answer No to SQ), of which, 32 (14.9%) did so. The correct residents’ prognosis for the subgroup of 626 patients (answer “Yes” to SQ) was NPV = 96.8% (CI = 95.4%-98.2%) and PPV = 14.9% (CI 10.1%-19, 6%). Answering “Yes” to SQ correlated negatively to addressing AD while the outcomes death and the answer No to SQ were positively correlated, according to the number of comorbidities.ConclusionThe SQ, in addition to care, contributed to health education, communication and care planning shared by the doctor and patient.

The Role of NF-κB, PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ in Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome.

The etiopathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been fully understood yet, and chronic low-grade inflammation is thought to be associated with the development of complications related to MetS. We aimed to investigate the role of Nuclear factor Kappa B ( NF-κB ), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor- α and γ (PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ) which are the main markers of inflammation in older adults with MetS. A total of 269 patients aged≥18, 188 patients with MetS who met the diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation, and 81 controls who applied to geriatrics and general internal medicine outpatient clinics for various reasons were included in the study. Patients were separated into four groups: young with MetS (< 60, n=76), elderly with MetS (≥60, n=96), young control (< 60, n=31), elderly controls (≥60, n=38). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and NF-κB , PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ plasma levels were measured in all of the participants. Age and sex distribution were similar between MetS and control groups. C-reactive protein (CRP), NF-κB levels (p=0.001) and CIMT (p<0,001) of MetS group were significantly higher than in the control groups. On the other hand, the PPAR-γ (p=0.008) and PPAR-α (p=0.003) levels were significantly lower in MetS. ROC analysis revealed that the NF-κB, PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ could be used to indicate MetS in younger adults (AUC: 0.735, p<0.000; AUC: 0.653, p=0.003), whereas it could not be an indicator in older adults (AUC: 0.617, p=0.079; AUC:0.530, p=0.613). It seems that these markers have important roles in MetS-related inflammation. In our results, suggest that the indicator feature of NF-κB , PPAR-α and PPAR-γ in recognizing MetS in young individuals is lost in older adults with Mets.

Association between oral frailty and cystatin C-related indices-A questionnaire (OFI-8) study in general internal medicine practice.

Cystatin C-related indices such as the ratio of creatinine to cystatin C (Cr/CysC) and the ratio of estimated glomerular filtration rate by cystatin C (eGFRcys) to creatinine eGFRcre (eGFRcys/eGFRcre) levels have been shown to be associated with muscle mass and strength and can be markers of sarcopenia. Oral frailty is defined as an age-related gradual loss of oral functions, accompanied by a decline in cognitive and physical functions. It results in adverse health-related outcomes in older age, including mortality, physical frailty, functional disability, poor quality of life, and increased hospitalization and falls. Therefore, poor oral health among the elderly is an important health concern due to its association with the pathogenesis of systemic frailty, suggesting it to be a multidimensional geriatric syndrome. The Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8) is a questionnaire that can be used for easy screening of oral frailty. This study aimed to investigate whether cystatin C- related indices are different between patients with low to moderate risk of oral frailty and those at high risk of oral frailty, using the OFI-8 in attending a general internal medicine outpatient clinic. This is a cross-sectional study that included 251 patients with a mean age of 77.7±6.6 years and a median age of 77 years (128 men: mean age, 77.1±7.3 years; median age, 77 years and 123 women: mean age, 78.4±5.7 years; median age, 78 years) attending general internal medicine outpatient clinics. OFI-8 scores were tabulated by gender to determine whether there were differences between patients at low to moderate risk of oral frailty (OFI-8 score ≤3 points) and those at high risk (OFI-8 score ≥4 points) in Cr/CysC, eGFRcys/eGFRcre levels, height, weight, grip strength, etc. were examined. The OFI-8 score was higher in women than in men, suggesting that oral frailty is more common in women. Cr/CysC, eGFRcys/eGFRcre and grip strength were significantly lower in both men and women in the high-risk group for oral frailty (OFI-8 score ≥ 4). Height, hemoglobin level, red blood cell count, and serum albumin levels were significantly lower in men with an OFI-8 score ≥4. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis also showed that Cr/CysC and eGFRcys/eGFRcre were significantly associated with an OFI-8 score≥4 in both men and women. Cr/CysC and eGFRcys/eGFRcre were significantly lower in the high-risk group for oral frailty on the OFI-8in both men and women. A relationship exists among cystatin C-related indices, which can effectively screen systemic frailty. Similarly, the OFI-8 score can be used to effectively screen oral frailty. Thus, a collaboration that incorporates both systemic and oral frailty from medical and dental perspectives is required.

Patient impressions of the impact of comorbidities on lung cancer screening benefits and harms: A qualitative analysis

ObjectiveTo learn about the beliefs and preferences of lung cancer screening (LCS) among patients undergoing LCS decision making. Specifically, we investigated how their comorbidity influences their interest in screening. The goal was to inform shared-decision making discussions around the role of comorbidities and LCS. MethodsWe recruited English-speaking LCS-eligible individuals with comorbidities from general medicine outpatient clinics at an academic medical center in New York City. The interviewers followed a semi-structured interview guide and all interviews were professionally transcribed. Study investigators independently conducted thematic analysis of de-identified transcripts; after coding, investigators discussed and agreed upon identified themes (Jacobs et al., 1999 [3]). This study was IRB-approved. ResultsWe achieved thematic saturation after 15 interviews. We identified the following themes: 1) Comorbidities were perceived as unrelated to LCS decision-making, 2) Lung cancer knowledge is valuable and worth any risks, 3) No matter what the guidelines or my providers say, the LCS decision is up to me. Conclusion/practice implicationsImplications of these findings are that conversations where providers recommend against LCS may likely require time, patient education, and appreciation of the patient perspective.

Evaluation of patients with Parkinson' s disease in terms of psychiatric diseases and related clinical features

Objective: In this article, we aimed to evaluate patients with Parkinson’ s disease (PD) in terms of psychiatric diseases and related clinical features. Methods: 101 patients diagnosed with PD and 101 randomly selected control cases who applied to general internal medicine and endocrine outpatient clinics were included in the study. All subjects were administered a questionnaire including questions about their sociodemographic and clinical features, and were evaluated by the psychiatrist. Results: The rate of psychiatric disease (42.6%) in the PD group was significantly higher than the control group. Anxiety disorders and depression were the most common among these diseases. Also the use of antidepressant in the PD group was higher than the control group. Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders are seen more frequently in patients with PD than in patients with other physical diseases. Considering that quality of life in patients with PD is associated with psychiatric well-being, psychiatric symptoms in patients are of high clinical importance. The physician’ s awareness of psychiatric symptoms and taking necessary precautions will contribute positively to the treatment of the disease.

How do hospitals help patients prepare for and participate in outpatient clinics?

Patients attending general medicine outpatient clinics (GM OPC) at hospital face multiple healthcare demands in an environment that has evolved with the clinician at its centre. The ideas, knowledge and understanding that patients bring to their clinic appointments are not well studied in the New Zealand setting. To assess how hospitals prepare patients for their outpatient appointments and encourage people to participate actively in their own care. A prospective survey of 50 patients attending follow-up GM OPC was performed. Participants' understanding of the purpose of their appointment and knowledge of their prescription medications was explored using a nine-item questionnaire. Patient-directed hospital communication was then analysed to assess the information supplied to patients. Two-thirds (66%) of participants attending follow-up GM OPC recalled being informed of an appointment at the time of leaving hospital; only half (54%) felt they had been informed of the purpose of these appointments. Patient-directed communication was not completed in half (50%) of the analysed discharge letters. One-third (36%) of participants did not have specific questions for their clinic visits. Limited information and support is provided to patients attending follow-up GM OPC and is not tailored to individuals' health literacy. This practice assumes patients have comparable health literacy to clinicians, which may have downstream impacts on the usefulness of the clinic experience. The information that health users bring to clinic may be improved by increasing pre-clinic user engagement and deploying patient-centred tools within the healthcare environment.

Audit of enuresis referrals on the waiting list for a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic.

Enuresis, defined as intermittent incontinence occurring exclusively during sleep, affects 4-19% of children, but can be effectively treated using education and alarm-bell therapies. However, delays in treatment are likely to impact upon the quality of life of the child, parents and carers. Poor quality and incomplete referrals are thought to be a major driver of inefficiencies. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of enuresis referrals on the waiting list for a general medicine clinic at a tertiary paediatric hospital. An audit was conducted to examine all enuresis referrals on the general medicine outpatient clinic waiting list in February 2019 at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Enuresis referrals with an organic cause and those for children less than 5 years of age were excluded. Of the 2613 referrals on the general medicine waiting list, 486 of 2613 (19%) were related to enuresis. The median age of patients on the waiting list was 8 years and 65% (315/486) were male. Sufficient detail was provided to determine temporal and disease stratification in 45% (218/486) of referrals; primary versus secondary enuresis, and monosymptomatic versus non-monosymptomatic enuresis. The mean number of days on the waiting list calculated at the time of data extraction (13 February 2019) was 226 (±179) days. The findings from this study suggest that there are long waiting times for enuresis services and referrals often do not contain complete information.

Impact of tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist treatment on antibody titer of hepatitis B surface antigen

Aim: Tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists (anti-TNF-α) have recently been used successfully in various diseases. On the other hand, due to their potential immunogenic effects, they cause hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. The objective of this study is to examine the change in the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) in patients with negative HBsAg who were administered different anti-TNF-α drugs as well as the factors that influence this change. Methods: This research was designed as a retrospective cohort study. Patients with autoimmune diseases who were followed up at General Internal Medicine outpatient clinics between 2012 and 2019, screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prior to treatment, checked for serological markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, hepatitis B core antigen antibody (anti-HBc)), and treated with anti-TNF for at least a year were included. The inclusion criteria were as follows: Patients with negative HBsAg and whose liver function tests were within normal limits, and the exclusion criteria included patients with positive HBsAg and whose liver function tests were above the normal upper limit. Results: A total of 221 adult patients who were treated with anti-TNF-α were included in the study. The pretreatment anti-HBs levels of the patients were significantly higher than the posttreatment levels (P<0.001). Of the 211 patients with positive pretreatment anti-HBs levels, 17 patients had posttreatment anti-HBs levels below 10 IU/L. The anti-HBs levels of five patients with positive anti-HBc dropped below 10 IU/L. Conclusions: The anti-HBs levels of the patients who were administered anti-TNF-α agent decreased significantly, whereas there was no reactivation of HBV or de novo HBV infection in HBsAg-negative patients. It was observed in a small group of patients (8.0%) that the levels of anti-HBs decreased to a risky level.

Hypertension-related Knowledge and Its Relationship with Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients Visiting a Semi-private Tertiary-care Charity Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

IntroductionHypertension is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Fifty-four percent of strokes and forty-seven percent of cardiovascular deaths are caused by suboptimal control of blood pressure. Economically developing countries like Pakistan are heavily burdened with an ever-rising epidemic of cardiovascular disease and stroke morbidity and mortality. Therefore, urgent steps are required to treat, as well as modify, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension.PurposeThe objective of this study was to ascertain the knowledge of hypertension and other sociodemographic variables and their impact on controlling blood pressures in the hypertensive population belonging to the low socioeconomic strata.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in the general medicine and cardiology outpatient clinics of a tertiary care charity hospital. Three-hundred thirty-five hypertensive patients of age >24 years were selected and informed consent was obtained. Hypertension-related knowledge was assessed using the Modified "Hypertensive Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS)" via a 15-20 min interview. Secondary variables in the questionnaire included social demographics, medical history, and assessment of body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure average values, which were measured during the interview. Knowledge was recorded based on the 33-point modified HK-LS scale, whereas secondary variables were not counted toward the assessment of knowledge.ResultsThe frequencies of low, moderate, and high levels of hypertension-related knowledge were recorded as 2.1%, 79.4%, and 62%, respectively. Among 335 patients, (57.3%) were male, the mean age was 52.5 ± 11.5 years, and 63.6% were professionally active. Median systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in hypertensive patients were 140 and 86 mmHg, respectively. Sixty-nine percent of patients reported existing comorbidities, 54% had diabetes, 20.7% had cardiovascular disease, and 24% reported renal disease. No significant association was observed between the levels of knowledge of hypertension and gender, blood pressure (BP) status, professional activity, and age groups (p=0.877, p=0.863, p=0.125, and p=0.400, respectively).ConclusionThe majority had adequate knowledge of hypertension but only 64.8% had controlled BP status. This depicts not a lack of knowledge and awareness but rather a lack of prevention of risk factors related to hypertension. Thus, further studies are advised to look into the preventive strategies employed by patients to control their BP and assess their effectiveness.

Use of a web portal among adult clinic patients seen for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To determine the number of adult clinic patients seen for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at an academic medical center and to examine characteristics of those who had or had not registered for a web portal. Electronic records were reviewed to identify web portal registration by patients treated for T2DM by age, sex, race and Hispanic ethnicity, and service (General Internal Medicine, Endocrinology). A total of 1,401 patients with T2DM were seen in General Internal Medicine and Endocrinology outpatient clinics. Less than one third (32%) had registered for the web portal. Women were more likely to have registered for the web portal than men [odds ratio (OR) =1.25; 95% CI, 0.99-1.57; P<0.063]. Black patients were less likely to have registered than whites (OR =0.40; 95% CI, 0.31-0.51; P<0.001). Patients who were 18-25 years of age were less likely to have registered for the web portal, along with those who were 56 to 60 and >66 years of age. In multivariate analysis, a statistically significant association was observed between web portal registration and General Internal Medicine clinic vs. Endocrinology clinic (OR =2.96, P<0.001). Inverse associations were observed with age >18-25 years, male sex (adjusted OR =0.71, P=0.006), and Black race (OR =0.33, P<0.001). Additional research is needed to identify portal design features that improve glycemic control and interventions that will increase use of patient portals, especially among Black patients with T2DM and those with low health literacy or computer literacy.

Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis among patients with seizures in northern coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, India

ObjectiveTo report cases of neurocysticercosis (NCC) from three neighboring districts of Andhra Pradesh state in India where NCC burden was never explored before. MethodsA total of 160 patients presenting with recent onset seizures were recruited from neurology, general medicine, and pediatric outpatient clinics of a local major tertiary care teaching hospital serving above districts during the period 2011–2014. Brain imaging was performed in all the above cases. A commercial immunoglobulin G-ELISA kit (sensitivity = 85%; specificity = 94%) was employed for the serological diagnosis of NCC. ResultsThe recruited patients presented with generalized, simple partial, and complex partial seizures (55%, 31.25% and 13.75% respectively). NCC was diagnosed in 44 of 160 (27.5%) seizure cases based on imaging characteristics, and a positive serum antibody ELISA. No association was detected between seropositivity with the number and location of the lesion(s) in the brain. ConclusionsThe possible potentiality of NCC could be identified as an underlying cause of the recent onset of seizures in this region as explored in the present study. It is recommended that NCC should be suspected as one of the major differential in every recent onset seizure with or without a radio imaging supportive diagnosis, especially in areas endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis.

The most important question in family approach: the potential of the resolve item of the family APGAR in family medicine.

BackgroundWe aimed to clarify what aspects of family function are measured by the Family APGAR by examining its correlations with the fourth edition of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale at Kwansei Gakuin (FACESKG IV). Furthermore, we sought to confirm the usefulness of the Family APGAR in general practice.MethodsWe recruited 250 patients (aged 13–76 years) from the general medicine outpatient clinic in a Japanese hospital between July 1999 and February 2000. We employed a cross-sectional design and administered the Family APGAR and the FACESKG IV-16 (i.e., the short version). The scores on the questionnaires were compared using correlation and multiple regression analyses. We then analyzed relationships between the questionnaires and family issues measures using Chi square, Mann–Whitney U, and logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe Family APGAR partially evaluates the Cohesion dimension of family functioning as measured by the FACESKG IV-16. Furthermore, we could measure family disengagement using the resolve and partnership items of the Family APGAR. Family dysfunction (excessive or impoverished Adaptability or Cohesion) was not related to the presence of family issues. Nevertheless, there was a significant relationship between scores on the Resolve item and the family issues measure (χ2 = 6.305, p = 0.043).ConclusionsThe Family APGAR, especially the Resolve item, has the potential for use in treating patients with family issues. Interventions could be developed according to the simple Family APGAR responses.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12930-016-0028-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diyabetik Ayakta Eğitimin Etkisinin Araştırılması: Türkiye’den Bir Müdahale Çalışması

Introduction: Diabetic foot wounds are one of the most important causes of long duration hospitalizations regarding diabetic patients. Lower extremity amputation risk is 15 to 40 times higher in diabetics compared to normal population. Methods for preventing diabetic foot wounds are providing good blood glucose regulation, appropriate shoe wearing, foot care, toe-nail care, regular foot examinations and patient education. We aimed to investigate the effects of education level of the patients and the caregivers on the diabetic foot wound. Methods: 67 patients having diabetic foot wound applying to General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Diabetes outpatient clinics of Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital in 2009 and 57 caregiver caring for these patients were analyzed prospectively with a face to face questionnaire for a correlation between education levels of patients and caregivers and Wagner staging of patients’ diabetic foot wounds and foot examination findings. Results: It was found that education levels of patients and caregivers did not affect Wagner staging of the wounds (p=0.167), but patients with regular follow-up and previously educated for diabetic foot wounds had a lower stage of wound (p=0.021). Conclusion: Education level of patients and caregivers was not found to be effective on the stage of the wound, but regular clinical follow-up and patient education had an decreasing effect on the stage of wound. Whatever the patients’ education levels are, educations on diabetic foot care and providing regular follow up of patients at risk for diabetic foot will decrease the rates of extremity amputations.

Missed opportunities for Hepatitis B vaccination among diabetic patients

Many infectious diseases in adults can be prevented by a ‘life-long vaccination strategy’. Hepatitis B disease burden was shown to be higher in diabetic patients. American Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends to vaccinate diabetic patients against hepatitis B since 2011. In this study, we aimed to determine hepatitis B virus serology status to determine the rates of diabetic patients who have indications for hepatitis B vaccination. The electronic database of the hospital was searched to identify adult patients aged above 18 years and with hemoglobin A1C levels of 6.5% or above, who have been seen at General Medicine Outpatient Clinics of a university hospital during a 3-year period. A total of 5187 patients were included in the study. After exclusion of patients with an incomplete serological panel, 1358 patients were included for further analyses. Twenty-nine percent of the patients had indication for hepatitis B vaccination, whereas only 8% were vaccinated. This study showed that nearly one third of patients who had hepatitis B serological data had an indication for hepatitis B vaccination and this is a clear reflection of the need to keep a lifelong vaccination log and inquire vaccination data.

Satisfaction of Patients and Physicians with Outpatient Consultations at a University Hospital.

This study was performed to investigate the factors influencing the correlation between physician satisfaction and patient satisfaction in an outpatient setting. New patients attending the General Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Chiba University Hospital and their physicians were enrolled. After the initial consultation, both the patients and the physicians completed an anonymous questionnaire. There were 875 patients (381 men and 494 women; mean age: 54 years) and 10 physicians (4 men and 6 women; mean experience: 6 years). The satisfaction of the patients and the physicians was not correlated (r=0.14, p<0.001). A logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with greater physician satisfaction were "guidance/advice from senior colleagues" [odds ratio (OR)=2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.76-2.34] and "confidence in the diagnosis" (OR=1.52; 95%CI=1.37-1.69), while "a difficult patient" (OR=0.73; 95%CI=0.68-0.78) was associated with reduced satisfaction. The factors associated with greater patient satisfaction were "the doctor listened carefully" (OR=1.98; 95%CI=1.62-2.42) and "my diagnosis is correct" (OR=1.57; 95%CI=1.41-1.74). One item in the questionnaire for the physicians, "I diagnosed psychogenic illness" (OR=0.87; 95%CI=0.81-0.94), was associated with lower patient satisfaction. The satisfaction of the patients and the physicians was not correlated. If only the factors promoting the satisfaction of one party are targeted, the satisfaction of the other party will not increase. The satisfaction of the physicians may be increased by receiving advice from mentors and an improved diagnostic ability, while the patients wants a physician who listens carefully and makes the correct diagnosis.