Patients In Outpatient Clinic Research Articles

Evaluation of the Relation between Insulin- Like Growth Factor 2 and Ventricular Septal Defect in Outpatient Pediatric Cardiology Clinic Patients of Suez Canal University Hospitals: Review Article

Evaluation of the Relation between Insulin- Like Growth Factor 2 and Ventricular Septal Defect in Outpatient Pediatric Cardiology Clinic Patients of Suez Canal University Hospitals: Review Article

Assessing Health Technology Literacy and Attitudes of Patients in an Urban Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Digital health technologies are increasingly being integrated into mental health care. However, the adoption of these technologies can be influenced by patients' digital literacy and attitudes, which may vary based on sociodemographic factors. This variability necessitates a better understanding of patient digital literacy and attitudes to prevent a digital divide, which can worsen existing health care disparities. This study aimed to assess digital literacy and attitudes toward digital health technologies among a diverse psychiatric outpatient population. In addition, the study sought to identify clusters of patients based on their digital literacy and attitudes, and to compare sociodemographic characteristics among these clusters. A survey was distributed to adult psychiatric patients with various diagnoses in an urban outpatient psychiatry program. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, a digital literacy questionnaire, and a digital health attitudes questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of digital literacy and attitudes. Cluster analysis was performed to categorize patients based on their responses. Pairwise comparisons and one-way ANOVA were conducted to analyze differences between clusters. A total of 256 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age of participants was 32 (SD 12.6, range 16-70) years. The sample was racially and ethnically diverse: White (100/256, 38.9%), Black (39/256, 15.2%), Latinx (44/256, 17.2%), Asian (59/256, 23%), and other races and ethnicities (15/256, 5.7%). Digital literacy was high for technologies such as smartphones, videoconferencing, and social media (items with >75%, 193/256 of participants reporting at least some use) but lower for health apps, mental health apps, wearables, and virtual reality (items with <42%, 108/256 reporting at least some use). Attitudes toward using technology in clinical care were generally positive (9 out of 10 items received >75% positive score), particularly for communication with providers and health data sharing. Older age (P<.001) and lower educational attainment (P<.001) negatively predicted digital literacy scores, but no demographic variables predicted attitude scores. Cluster analysis identified 3 patient groups. Relative to the other clusters, cluster 1 (n=30) had lower digital literacy and intermediate acceptance of digital technology. Cluster 2 (n=50) had higher literacy and lower acceptance. Cluster 3 (n=176) displayed both higher literacy and acceptance. Significant between-cluster differences were observed in mean age and education level between clusters (P<.001), with cluster 1 participants being older and having lower levels of formal education. High digital literacy and acceptance of digital technologies were observed among our patients, indicating a generally positive outlook for digital health clinics. Our results also found that patients of older age and lower formal levels of educational attainment had lower digital literacy, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support those who may struggle with adopting digital health tools.

What do patients with lumbar spinal stenosis think is physical therapy’s best card? A survey of perceived message strength

ABSTRACT Objectives Rising surgical rates for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and underutilization of physical therapist services for this condition may increase patient risks and healthcare costs. Patient beliefs may also contribute to this problem. Therefore, our objective was to determine which messages about physical therapy were perceived as strongest by patients with LSS and whether those messages were influenced by patient factors. Methods The study used a cross-sectional survey design, and participants were patients of outpatient physical therapy clinics with imaging or clinical evidence of LSS. Participants completed an electronic survey containing different messages about physical therapist services for LSS. Messages were designed using the health belief model. Perceived message strength was scored using the perceived argument strength scale (PASS). Pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy were measured to determine whether they influenced participant perceptions. Occurrence of magnetic resonance imaging and surgical consultations were also measured. Results Of 189 potential participants, 101 were included in the study. The message perceived as strongest emphasized physical therapists as listeners who would customize a plan (PASS 36.1 [5.0]) Similar scores were seen for messages that emphasized benefits of education and self-management and de-emphasized severity. The message that emphasized research findings was rated the least strong. Participants who had high levels of pain catastrophizing were more likely to have had imaging and perceived arguments as less strong. Discussion/Conclusion Results of the current study suggested patients with LSS preferred a message that emphasized physical therapists as listeners who would customize a plan. The message about research outcomes was perceived as the least strong. Therefore, awareness campaigns intended to influence the beliefs or behavior of patients with LSS should emphasize the individualized nature of physical therapy more than research evidence.

Reliability of a portable toe pressure photoplethysmography device compared to a stationary laser doppler flowmeter.

The study aimed to investigate the reliability of a portable toe pressure (TP) photoplethysmography device (PPG) by comparing it to a stationary laser Doppler flowmeter (LD) used in the Helsinki University Hospital. The study evaluated if lower limb arterial circulation could be reliably evaluated with the portable PPG which is more affordable and mobile than the stationary LD. TPs were measured from 102 toes of 54 patients in the vascular surgery outpatient clinic, vascular surgery ward and interventional radiology recovery ward of Helsinki University Hospital. According to the study protocol TPs were measured twice with the PPG device. If the difference between the values was over 10 mmHg, a third measurement was done and two of the closest values were selected for the final analysis. The lowest value displayed by the PPG device was 30 mmHg. Lower than 30 mmHg values were reported as 25 mmHg in the analysis. The repeatability and reliability of the PPG measurements were compared to the LD with Bland Altman plots. Most patients had rest pain (n = 29) or claudication (n = 9). Prior to TP measurement, 24 patients had undergone lower limb revascularization through either a hybrid (n = 3), open (n = 10) or endovascular (n = 11) procedure. The mean absolute difference between PPG and LD measurement values was 15 mmHg (95% confidence interval 12-18 mmHg). 87.5% of lower limbs with significant arterial insufficiency (TP <60 mmHg with LD, n = 49) had a PPG measurement value of <60 mmHg. Conversely, 84.8% of lower limbs that did not exceed the ischemia criterion of TP ≥60 mmHg with LD had a PPG measurement value of ≥60 mmHg. Mean absolute difference of two consecutive PPG measurement values was 4 mmHg (95% CI 3-5 mmHg). The PPG device is a light and affordable option for the assessment of lower limb arterial circulation in primary health care. It is moderately reliable to exclude significant lower limb arterial insufficiency and may reduce unnecessary referrals to the vascular surgery clinic. The repeatability of the PPG device is satisfactory. However, it requires training to use, and the results must always be interpreted with consideration for the patient's clinical status.

Contribution of Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People (5P) Marketing Mix Strategy on Patients’ Interest To Revisit

In the National Health Insurance (JKN) era, hospitals in Indonesia rapidly grew in number and also developed. In order to stand out amongst the competition, hospitals often rely on marketing strategies through attractive advertisements, offering unique services, and also introducing their services to the public. One method often utilized in the 5P marketing mix consists of product, price, place, promotion, and people. This study aims to identify the impact of 5P marketing mix strategies on the patients’ interest in visiting Bandung Hospital in the city of Medan. Bandung Hospital in Medan conducted this quantitative study using a cross-sectional approach. This study involved 150 patients of Bandung Hospital’s inpatient unit, which is the whole outpatient clinic patient (total sampling) during the May 2023 period. Analysis was carried out using frequency distribution, chi-square, and binomial logistic regression analysis. This study found that the majority of patients visiting Bandung Hospital belong to the 30-39 years age group (62.0%), are female (58.7%), hold a bachelor's degree (48.0%), and are visiting Bandung Hospital for the first time (62.7%). Most of the patients in this study have a good perception toward all aspects of 5P marketing strategies in Bandung Hospital and are interested in visiting the hospital again in the future (p&lt;0.05), with place playing the biggest role in influencing patients’ interest (OR = 4.082). According to all findings in this study, it can be concluded that marketing strategies such as the 5P marketing mix strategy positively influence patients’ interest in visiting Bandung Hospital. It can also be inferred that this strategy would work in similar types of hospitals, not only in Bandung Hospital. Keywords: Marketing mix, Hospital, Product-Price-Place-Promotion-People (5P), Patients

Gender differences between parenting styles and personality traits in patients of psychological outpatient clinics of general hospitals

Gender differences between parenting styles and personality traits in patients of psychological outpatient clinics of general hospitals

The ability of changes in oct angiography values to predict visual field and retinal nerve layer tomography progression in patients with glaucoma progression: A prospective study

IntroductionTo investigate whether changes in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) values can predict progression in the visual field (VF) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with glaucoma progression. MethodsAll patients in the glaucoma outpatient clinic of SBU Gulhane Medicine Faculty between 2021 and 2023 underwent RNFL, 24:2 VF, and simultaneous peripapillary OCTA. 130 eyes that progressed were included in the study. Thinning of more than 5 μ in any quadrant in the RNFL or a decrease of more than 1 dB in the MD value in the visual field within 6 months was accepted as a progression criterion. The ability of changes in OCTA thickness values and OCTA radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) analysis to predict progression in RNFL and VF was prospectively investigated. ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 66.9 ± 11.8 years. There was progression in VF in 70 eyes and RNFL in 89 eyes between baseline and 6-month controls. The change in OCTA thickness values had insufficient ability to predict the progression of RNFL in the superior, inferior, nasal, temporal and total quadrants (p = 0.55, 0.40, 0.84, 0.91, 0.39, respectively). The changes in OCTA thickness values failed to predict VF MD progression in the superior, inferior,nasal,temporal,and total quadrants (p = 0.40, 0.11, 0.24, 0.44, 0.10, respectively). The changes in OCTA RPCP values ​​did not show superiority in the ability to predict RNFL progression in superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, and total quadrants (p = 0.21, 0.53, 0.39, 0.39, 0.29, respectively). The changes in OCTA RPCP values ​​did not show superiority in the ability to predict VF progression in superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, and total quadrants (p = 0.96, 0.29, 0.77, 0.42, 0.21, respectively). ConclusionAlthough OCTA is a non-invasive imaging test whose use and popularity have been increasing in recent years, our study could not show superiority compared to RNFL and VF tests in demonstrating glaucoma progression.

The association between falls and fall-risk-increasing drugs among older patients in out-patient clinics: A retrospective cohort, single center study

BackgroundFalls among older adults are considered a significant global health concern, often leading to severe injuries and increased healthcare costs. Fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), such as opioids and benzodiazepines, have been identified as contributing factors, yet the causal relationship remains unclear. This study examined the association between FRIDs, identified using the STOPP version 2 and STOPP Fall criteria, and falls among older outpatients. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 19,705 patients aged 65 and older who visited outpatient clinics at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand, in 2021. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographics, public health insurance schemes, diagnoses, and prescribed medications. FRIDs were identified using section K of STOPP version 2 and STOPPFall criteria. The association between FRIDs and falls was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. ResultsThe prevalence of FRIDs was 33 %, with Lorazepam being the most common. The overall incidence of falls was 1.48 %. An adjusted relative risks (ARR) of falls in the participants with FRIDs was 1.35 (95 % CI: 1.03–1.76) and 1.31 (95 % CI: 1.03–1.66) according to STOPP version 2 and STOPPFall criteria, respectively. Females, patients over 70, and those with polypharmacy or frequent outpatient visits also had increased fall risks. ConclusionFRIDs are associated with an increased risk of falls among older adults in outpatient settings. These findings highlight the need for careful prescribing and monitoring of FRIDs, particularly in older patients with other fall risk factors.

USE OF PAIN SCALE IN CHILDREN WITH CHEST PAIN: AN OBSERVATION IN TERMS OF CARDIAC ORIGIN

OBJECTIVE: Chest pain in children and adolescents is usually due to non-cardiac causes. The basic assumption in distinguishing the etiology is the cardiologic evaluation. The relationship between the severity of pain and its cardiologic etiology has not been investigated before. This study aimed to evaluate the pain scale, demographic-laboratory data, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in order to better define pain in children who were admitted to the pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic with chest pain, based on the hypothesis that there is a correlation between chest pain with cardiac origin and pain severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out with 131 patients in the pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic of the tertiary pediatric hospital. The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale was used to inquire about chest pain. RESULTS: 80 girls and 51 boys were included in the study. The mean age of the cases was 13.4±2.9 years. Echocardiographic findings: 87.8% were normal, 12.2% had pathological findings. The most common cardiac pathology was mitral valve regurgitation (4.6%). According to the Wong-Baker Faces pain scale, patients mostly showed 4 points (29%) and 6 points (47.3%) mimics. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography has limited diagnostic power in children with chest pain. This study failed to detect any significant relationship between pain scale and cardiac pathology. The evaluation with the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale was assessed to be insufficient.

The Clinical Impact of Urinalysis Screened by Automated Microscopy Compared to Reference Manual Analysis

Introduction: Clinical laboratories have replaced conventional manual urine microscopy with automated urinalysis; however, concerns persist regarding its validity in detecting specific elements of urinary sediment crucial for evaluating kidney diseases. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of urinary sediment analysis performed by a large hospital laboratory compared to a standardized microscopic review, focusing on patients both with and without kidney disease. Methods: Urine samples were randomly selected from routine laboratory specimens at a university hospital. Laboratory analysis was performed using LabUmat 2 and Urised 3 PRO equipment (Abbott Diagnostics). In the automated analysis for sediment examination, technicians have the option to reclassify urinary sediment elements as necessary and, if warranted, conduct manual microscopic evaluations to validate findings. The laboratory’s analysis was compared with a “reference” analysis, which was double-blinded and conducted by two experienced technicians using bright-field and phase-contrast microscopy. Results: 503 samples were selected, with 52.3% originating from nephrology outpatient clinic patients. Overall agreement between the laboratory results and the reference analysis was 42.1%. The sensitivity (SN) of the laboratory examination for detecting pathological casts, lipiduria, and renal tubular epithelial cells was low (<50%), while specificity (SP) was high (>98%). However, for hyaline casts (SN: 50.4%; SP: 80.9%) and dysmorphic red blood cells (SN: 62.3%; SP: 96.2%), accuracy was intermediate. Performance was better for hematuria (SN: 86.1%; SP: 82.3%; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.703; R: 0.828) and leukocyturia (SN: 84.9%; SP: 95.1%; ICC: 0.807; R: 0.861). In patients with kidney disease (N = 248) and in samples manually reviewed by the laboratory (N = 115), accuracy for each urinary element was comparable to the overall sample findings. However, when assessing the ability to identify elements suggestive of nephropathy, only samples manually reviewed by the laboratory showed statistically similar results to those obtained by the reference analysis (p = 0.503, McNemar’s test). Conclusion: Employing automated urinalysis seems to be accurate for detecting hematuria and leukocyturia, as well as for screening patients without kidney diseases. However, clinical laboratories attending complex patients should employ personalized strategies to help decide when to perform manual review, thus avoiding misleading urinalysis results.

Prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among adult cancer patients in outpatient clinic at cancer center: A cross-sectional study

Prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among adult cancer patients in outpatient clinic at cancer center: A cross-sectional study

Game Genres, Behavioural Difficulties and Internet Gaming Disorder among a Sample of Egyptian Adolescents

Abstract Background Decades of research shows a rise in the number of young people playing videogames, with the content of violent video games becoming increasingly realistic, interactive and unequivocal in depicting violent activity. The combination of these two factors: growing numbers of players in addition to progressively violent games appears to have important consequences. Aim of the Work Measure the Rate of Internet Gaming Disorder among a community sample of Egyptian adolescents. To Assess the most frequently played type of Game genres. Finding out the association between different game genres and behavioural dysregulation. Finding out the association between different game genres and sociodemographic correlates. Assess and Measure the association of Violent Video Game Use and Internet Gaming disorder with psychological correlates. Patients and Methods This study is a cross-sectional observational study. Study population A sample of Egyptian Adolescents aged 14-17 males and females randomly selected from study sites. relatives of patients in outpatient clinics. Relatives of fellow doctors and nursing staff. study started from September 2022 till October 2023. Results The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess the psychological well-being of children and adolescents, grouped into five subscales: Emotional difficulties, conduct symptoms, Hyperactivity, Peer Relationship problems, Prosocial Behaviour, and an Impact Supplement that assesses chronicity, distress, social impairment, and burden to others. The Rate of game addiction among the studied sample was 4%. Significant difference was found in game addiction scores between violent and nonviolent gamers. Our study results showed that violent games were more frequently played than nonviolent ones (64.5%) played violent games whereas (35.5%) played nonviolent games, with a higher preference of violent games among males. Conduct symptoms, and prosocial behaviour were more affected in subjects who played violent games than those who played nonviolent games. Conclusion The observed correlation between exposure to violent games and an increased likelihood of developing game addiction, prolonged gaming sessions, conduct symptoms, and diminished prosocial behavior highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to understanding and managing video game-related difficulties.

Role of Transcranial Duplex in Detection of Patent Foramen Ovale in Migraine Patients and its Correlation to White Matter Changes in the Brain

Abstract Background Many studies show increased prevalence of PFO among migraine patients. Is it a causation relationship or co-existence? That’s not clear yet. Migraine is a well-known independent risk factor for subclinical focal deep white matter lesions (WMLs), even in young and otherwise healthy individuals with no cardiovascular risk factors. The relationship between Right to Left Shunt (RLS) and WMLs is not known. Objective Several studies have shown significant relationship between PFO and migraine. We investigate the percentage of PFO in migraine patients in El-Demerdash outpatient headache clinic. Methods It’s a cross-sectional time interval study conducted between 9 September2022 to March 2023. we conducted our study on 31 patients at our outpatient headache clinic were diagnosed as migraine according to ICH-3rd edition. Each patient was investigated with TCD and TEE to diagnose PFO. Results The percentage of all RLS is 38.7% and the percentage of PFO is 32.6%, about 60% of them are small size PFO. Conclusion PFO was found over third of our patients 32.6% of the migraine patients.

The Impact Of Clients' Knowledge On Compliance With Anti-Tuberculosis Medication At Home

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, namely acid-fast bacteria. Successful treatment of patients with tuberculosis (TB) is a problem in today's society. One of the reasons for the increase in pulmonary TB cases is the low level of education of sufferers. One of the causes of failure of tuberculosis treatment therapy is the side effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs (OAT) which can affect the adherence to medication in tuberculosis patients. The success of TB treatment is compliance in taking anti-tuberculosis medication at the prescribed dose. The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between clients' knowledge of pulmonary tuberculosis and compliance with taking anti-pulmonary tuberculosis medication at Harapan Pematang Siantar Hospital. This research was conducted at Harapan Pematangsiantar Hospital in May 2023. This type of research is descriptive quantitative correlational with a cross-sectional approach. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire with the Gutman scale. The population of this study was all outpatient clinic patients at Harapan Pematang Siantar Hospital in October-December 2022. The sampling technique was accidental sampling, namely 58 respondents who came in May 2023. Statistical test results used the chi square test with a confidence level of 95% (α = 0.05) shows the p value = 0.001, meaning that there is a relationship between the level of knowledge of tuberculosis clients and compliance with taking anti-tuberculosis medication at Harapan Pematang Siantar Hospital in 2023

Prevalence and clinical correlates of nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease in a tertiary health-care center in Turkey.

The objective was to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients in movement disorders outpatient clinics. We enrolled all consecutive PD patients who visited our movement disorders outpatient clinics between January and December 2023; and agreed to participate in the study. In addition to the evaluation of demographic and clinical features, clinical scales, including the MDS-UPDRS, NMSS, and FOOGQ, were performed. Overall, we enrolled 163 PD subjects with a mean age of 63.9 ± 10.4 (F/M = 27/136). The disease duration was 3.5 (20) y [median (range)]. The median score of the NMSS was 41 points. The NMSs burden levels were severe in 25.2%, and very severe in 25.2% of the subjects. The subitems with the highest scores were sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, urinary, and miscellaneous. The analyses within the patient group with newly diagnosed PD also revealed high NMSS scores. Comparisons of the NMSS between distinct PD stages revealed greater NMSS scores in the severe stage than in the mild stage (p = 0.001). Correlation analyses between the clinical scores and the NMSS scores revealed positive correlations between the NMSS scores and the scores on all the clinical scales including the MDS-UPDRS 1-4, and FOGQ. We reported the first data regarding the NMS burden in PD patients from Turkey. We found a high prevalence and severity of various domains of NMSs, most of which were sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, urinary, and miscellaneous. More than half of the patients had severe to very severe NMS burden. Although NMSs were more common severe-stage disease, they were also prevalent in the subgroup with newly diagnosed patients.

Depression among general outpatient department attendees in selected hospitals in Somalia: magnitude and associated factors

BackgroundDepressive disorders are among the common mental health conditions in the general outpatient setting and affect patients’ load and treatment outcomes. People who suffer from depression frequently consult general practitioners and prefer to attribute their symptoms to physical illness rather than mental illness. Little is known about the magnitude and associated factors of depression among patients attending general outpatient services in Somalia. The study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated factors of depression among them.MethodsThis is an institution-based cross-sectional study among randomly selected 422 patients who attended general outpatient services of two hospitals in Mogadishu. We applied three standardized instruments, such as the Somali version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3), and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). We analyzed data using the statistical software SPSS version 29. We calculated prevalence and its 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and identified associated factors by bivariate and Multivariate analysis. We considered the association significant when p value is < 0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of depression symptoms was found to be 55% (95% CI 50–60%). The result also showed that 55.0% were females, 50.7% were aged between 26 and 44 years, 44.3% were single, 29.9% achieved tertiary education, and 44.3% were unemployed. Multivariate analysis established that age of between 26 and 44 years (aOR = 2.86, 95%CI:1.30–6.29, p = 0.009), being separated/divorced (aOR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.16–4.82, p = 0.018), income level of ≤$100 (aOR = 3.71, 95% CI:1.36–10.09, p = 0.010), and high stress levels (aOR = 20.06, 95%CI:7.33–54.94, p < 0.001) were independent factors that significantly associated with depressive symptoms.ConclusionThis study found high levels of depression among patients attending outpatient clinics, with age, marital status, education level, income level, family history of psychiatry disorder, and stress level being key predictors. Regular screening among patients in outpatient clinics and proper referral are crucial in ensuring that those at high risk of depression are managed effectively.

(255) “WHAT PUSHED IT FOR ME WAS THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE”: ASSESSING THE PATIENT-REPORTED INFLUENCE OF SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES ON POST-DOBBS VASECTOMY DECISIONS

Abstract Introduction Following the June 2022 US Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning the federal constitutional right to abortion recognized since Roe, high levels of vasectomy interest and confusion regarding male reproductive healthcare options have persisted despite no direct impact to male contraception. To the best of our knowledge, the patient-reported influence of sociopolitical issues on male patients’ vasectomy decisions has not been studied. Objective Our objective was to characterize the impact of sociopolitical issues, including the Dobbs reversal of the right to abortion recognized since 1973, on male patients’ vasectomy decisions and timing. Methods Patients of a men's reproductive health outpatient clinic within a large academic healthcare system in Southwestern Pennslyvania who had initiated a vasectomy consult from July 2022 – February 2024 were eligible to participate in a survey questionnaire. Patients were called retrospectively or approach prospectively in-person. Demographics, factors influencing vasectomy, and general economic and political interest data were collected via modified Likert and short free-text answers. Chi-square, logistic regression, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed as indicated. Results 311 patients completed the survey. Mean age of patients was 37 years of age (range: 21, 61); 11.7% (n = 30) were under 30 at time of appointment. Median number of biological children was two (IQR: 1, 3); 19.6% (n = 50) had no biological children. Patients spent on average 2.9 years (range: 0, 33) considering a vasectomy prior to deciding. Regarding factors influencing vasectomy, 31.3% (n = 80) of participants indicated sociopolitical issues as very influential in deciding to undergo a vasectomy, with 17 participants writing in the “reversal of Roe v Wade” or “abortion legislature” in response to a free-text question asking what prompted their vasectomy decision. Men with no children were seven times more likely than men with to cite sociopolitical issues as influencing their vasectomy (sociopolitical: OR = 7.3, p &amp;lt; 0.001). When asked how Roe would influence access to male reproductive healthcare options in their home state, 21.9% (n = 56) answered Roe would limit or prevent access to the listed options (ie, hormone replacement therapy, IVF, vasectomy, or sperm cryopreservation). Conclusions While recent sociopolitical and legislative issues may not directly impact male patients’ reproductive healthcare, our results demonstrate the influence broader events have on male patients’ contraceptive decisions and reproductive healthcare understanding. Furthermore, clinicians may need to proactively address uncertainty and confusion around the impact of reproductive healthcare legislature on male patients’ reproductive healthcare options. Disclosure No.

Erectile dysfunction among male patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment: focusing on anxiety-related symptoms.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a relatively neglected issue. In this study we sought to determine the actual prevalence of ED and risky sexual behaviors in patients receiving MMT and identify clinically relevant risk factors for ED, particularly mental health conditions, that may contribute to achieving holistic healthcare and improving treatment adherence in this patient population. A cross-sectional study of male Chinese MMT patients was conducted. Comprehensive demographic and clinical data regarding age, obesity, history of major mental and physical illness, HIV infection, other substance use, methadone dose/duration, and associated risky sexual behaviors were all collected. Assessment tools, including the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function, the Chinese Health Questionnaire, and the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire were administered. The relationship between mental health-related factors and ED was fully analyzed and elaborated. The prevalence of ED among male patients in a methadone maintenance therapy outpatient clinic was 55.7%. The prevalence rate of ED among the individuals treated for longer than 6months was 56.8%, whereas that for untreated individuals was 52.0%. Additionally, methadone-treated individuals were older and had a higher proportion of condom use and drug-assisted sexual activity than untreated individuals. Pearson correlation revealed that higher Chinese Health Questionnaire and Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire scores were negatively correlated with lower scores on the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function. In the multivariate regression model, anxiety and other psychosomatic symptoms were associated with more severe ED, whereas individuals who consumed alcohol within the past month had less severe ED after adjustment for other demographic and clinical variables. The findings of the present study revealed no association between ED and methadone treatment duration or dosage. Healthcare professionals should discuss mental health issues in patients on MMT with ED, especially anxiety symptoms and recent alcohol use. This study is one of the few reports within the limited body of research highlighting a significant association of ED with anxiety-related symptoms in patients undergoing MMT. Our study had some limitations. First, the sample size of HIV-infected individuals was insufficient. Second, the cross-sectional study design could not definitively demonstrate a causal mechanism. In patients undergoing MMT, individuals who reported less severe anxiety symptoms and alcohol consumption in the past month tended to have less severe ED, regardless of the MMT duration or dosage.

Physical activity as mediator between back pain and disability.

The objective was to explore the mediating role of leisure-time physical activity on the correlation between back pain and disability. A mediation analysis was conducted among the cross-sectional sample of 1330 patients in outpatient clinic. The average age was 47.6 years and 64% were women. For the entire sample, the mediating effect of physical activity remained below 10% of the total effect. The mediating effect was significantly greater among women comparing to men - up to 19.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.4-27.6%] versus 2.3% (95% CI 0.0-6.1%). The effect did not significantly differ based on age, BMI, or educational or professional status. Some insignificant trends, however, could be seen - the effect was possibly stronger among patients with higher educational level and those with higher BMI. The results suggested that while physical activity seems to be a weak mediator, its mediating role might vary across different groups of patients with back pain. This variation should be taken into account when planning rehabilitation measures for people with back pain.

Evaluation of Diet and Symptom Severity in Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction.

Background: Disorders of gut-brain interaction are chronic or recurrent symptoms originating in the gastrointestinal tract that cannot be substantiated by the results of standard clinical tests, such as radiologic studies, morphologies, or endoscopic examination. The diagnosis of these disorders is mainly based on symptoms and the standardized Rome IV criteria. These criteria classify functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract according to anatomical location and define each disorder according to a set of symptoms. Methods: This study was conducted between October 2021 and February 2022. Participants in the study were patients of a gastroenterology outpatient clinic with a functional disease diagnosed by a gastroenterologist. A questionnaire was used to conduct the study, with questions regarding perceived functional discomforts of the gastrointestinal tract, dietary changes to alleviate discomforts, and frequency of consumption of various food groups. Results: Based on the study, statistical significance was demonstrated between the gender of the respondents and the severity of gastrointestinal complaints after the consumption of legumes and alcohol. The analysis performed confirmed the correlation between the age of the respondents and the severity of complaints when consuming raw vegetables and fruits, brassica vegetables, legumes, fried products, and spicy products. There was also a significant correlation between the body mass index (BMI) of the respondents and the severity of complaints after alcohol consumption. Conclusions: The results identify abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation as the most commonly reported gastrointestinal symptoms among participants. The association between the consumption of certain foods, such as milk and dairy products, as well as fried and fatty foods, and the severity of disorders of gut-brain interaction symptoms was confirmed. Despite this, the majority of respondents did not eliminate any food products to alleviate the discomfort.