Perception In Patients Research Articles

Integrative Stress Perception Interventions for Leukemia Patients: A Multidisciplinary Approach

BACKGROUND: Leukemia patients often face significant psychological stress due to the uncertainty of their disease’s outcome, the side effects of treatment, and the profound changes to their lives. Effective stress management interventions are crucial for improving their quality of life and psychological well-being. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to explore and evaluate the theoretical frameworks and practical interventions for managing stress perception in leukemia patients, providing an integrated view of the current methodologies and their outcomes. METHODS: We review and synthesize the literature on stress perception interventions within leukemia care, focusing on mindfulness theory, cognitive behavioral theory, and the theory of uncertainty in illness. We assess the efficacy of various interventions, including mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, stress inoculation training, and graded interventions, alongside the utilization of measurement tools such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). RESULTS: The reviewed interventions demonstrate significant potential in reducing stress perception among leukemia patients. Mindfulness-based approaches help patients focus on the present and reduce rumination, cognitive behavioral interventions address negative thought patterns contributing to stress, and graded interventions tailor care to individual patient needs. Furthermore, the application of stress measurement tools provides a quantitative basis for evaluating intervention efficacy. CONCLUSION: Integrative stress management interventions, grounded in comprehensive theoretical frameworks, offer significant benefits for leukemia patients, contributing to lower stress levels and improved overall well-being. Healthcare providers are encouraged to incorporate these interventions into standard leukemia care, ensuring a holistic approach to patient treatment. Future research should aim to innovate and refine these interventions, ensuring they are accessible, feasible, and effective for the diverse leukemia patient population.

Blink rate during saccadic eye movements: insights from patients with chronic pain.

Chronic pain (CP) significantly impacts quality of life and poses an increasing economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. This study investigates the relationship between blink rate during saccadic eye movements and pain perception in patients with CP. Ninety-two patients with CP (24 men, 68 women) were assessed using eye-tracking technology during horizontal and vertical saccadic tasks. Pain perception was evaluated using the Central Sensitization Inventory - Part A and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and anxiety levels were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The results revealed a significant correlation between blink rates in horizontal and vertical tasks (ρ = 0.668, P < 0.001). However, there was no correlation between blink rate and age, pain perception, or anxiety scores. Conversely, measures of pain perception were positively correlated with each other and with anxiety scores. These findings suggest that while blink rate may reflect oculomotor function, it is not directly influenced by pain perception or anxiety in patients with CP. The present study highlights the potential of eye tracking for the comprehensive assessment and management of patients with CP.

Illness Perceptions in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in a Private Hospital in Malaysia

Illness Perceptions in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in a Private Hospital in Malaysia

Trajectories of illness perceptions in paediatric cancer patients and their parents and associations with health-related quality of life: Results of a prospective-longitudinal study.

In paediatric oncology, little is known about trajectories of illness perceptions and their longitudinal associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate changes in illness perceptions in children and parents over a one-year-period and to investigate predictive value of child's and parent's illness perceptions during acute treatment for child's HRQoL 1year later. N=65 child-parent-dyads participated in a longitudinal study (retention rate: 80.2%). Children were 4-18years of age and underwent acute cancer treatment at baseline. Children and parents reported on their own illness perceptions (Illness-Perception-Questionnaire-Revised), as well as on the child's HRQoL (KINDL-R) at baseline and one-year-follow-up. Paired-samples t-tests were calculated to investigate changes over time. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate predictive value of child's and parent's illness perceptions for child's HRQoL. Child's HRQoL t(63)=-6.73, p<0.001, their perceptions of coherence (i.e. understanding; t(54)=-2.36, p=0.022) and consequences of their illness (t(54)=2.86, p=0.006), and parent's perception of cyclical trajectory (t(61)=2.06, p=0.044) improved from baseline to 1-year-follow-up. All other illness perceptions remained stable. Exploratory post-hoc analyses showed differences in the pattern of change in age-, gender-, and diagnosis-specific subgroups. After controlling for baseline levels of HRQoL, child's perceptions of symptoms and consequences were independent predictors of their HRQoL 1year later (R2=0.396, F(2,52)=10.782, p<0.001), whereas no parent's illness perceptions added predictive value. In paediatrics, child's and parent's illness perceptions should be assessed. Our findings highlight the importance of illness perceptions as potential modifiable variables in interventions to improve child's HRQoL.

Relationships between disease severity, psychological stress, and health-related quality of life among patients with acute coronary syndrome: mediation of illness perception.

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) often experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which may be attributable to the disease severity and psychological stress. While illness perception is speculated to be a potential pathway underlying these relationships, evidence supporting this mechanism remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between disease severity, psychological stress, and HRQOL and whether these relationships are mediated by illness perception in patients with ACS. Data were collected from June to July 2019 and June to September 2020 in the cardiology departments of four public hospitals in China. Eligible patients completed measures of disease severity, psychological stress, illness perception, HRQOL, and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Data were analysed employing hierarchical multiple regression and structural equation modelling. This study included 405 participants (mean age 60.63 years, 67.4% male). After controlling for socio-demographic and clinical covariates, higher levels of disease severity (β = 0.115, P = 0.024) and psychological stress (β = -0.209, P＜0.001) were associated with poorer HRQOL; however, the relationships became non-significant after adding illness perception into the regression model. Structural equation modelling analysis suggested that illness perception played a mediating role between disease severity, psychological stress, and HRQOL, accounting for 45.95% and 65.79% of the total effects, respectively. This study found that illness perception mediated the relationships between disease severity, psychological stress, and HRQOL among patients with ACS. Improving patients' HRQOL should consider its important influencing factors with a focus on promoting positive illness perception.

Make me more comfortable: effects of a hypnosis session on pain perception in chronic pain patients.

Approximately one-quarter of Canadians experience chronic pain, a debilitating condition often necessitating opioid use, which raises concerns regarding dependency and overdose risks. As an alternative, we developed the HYlaDO program (Hypnose de la Douleur, hypnosis of Pain in French), a novel self-hypnosis approach for chronic pain management. The development of this program followed the ORBIT model, a comprehensive framework for designing interventions encompassing several phases ranging from design to efficacy assessment. In the present work, we conducted a preliminary evaluation of the HYlaDO program with 21 participants (18 of the 21 patients were included in the analysis). The primary objective was to determine one session of the program's effectiveness in altering pain, anxiety and relaxation via pre-post analysis. The secondary goal was to examine the long-term effects across the same measures, in addition to the overall quality of life. The results highlight the benefits of our approach, while participants reported short-term significant pain reduction, decreased anxiety, and increased relaxation. Additionally, preliminary trends suggest improvements in physical activity and quality of life metrics. These positive outcomes highlight HYlaDO's potential as an alternative to opioid therapy for chronic pain. Encouraged by these results, we aim to extend our research to a broader and more diverse cohort, paving the way for comprehensive randomized controlled trials. This expansion will further validate HYlaDO's efficacy and its role in transforming chronic pain management.

Comprehensive needs, social support, and disease perception in lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the comprehensive needs of lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and to explore the relationships between comprehensive needs and social support and disease perception, moreover, to analyse associated factors of comprehensive needs. The study was conducted in a teaching hospital in Jiaxing Province, China. A total of 141 patients with lung cancer completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, including the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool in Cancer for Patients (CNAT), Social Supportive Rating Scale (SSRS), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire. The level of comprehensive needs was highest in the domain "medical demand" (42.17 ± 26.57), and the item with the highest level of comprehensive needs was "I need information about the financial support for my medical expenses" (2.00 ± 1.07). Statistically significant correlations were identified between the comprehensive needs score, social support, and disease perception. The multiple regression analysis showed that immunotherapy course, whether irAEs occur, social support, and disease perception were factors influencing patients' comprehensive needs. The most prevalent needs in lung cancer patients were found in the "medical needs" domain. Additionally, immunotherapy course, whether irAEs occur, disease perception, and social support were associated with comprehensive needs among lung cancer patients. It is essential to combine the associated factors to accurately evaluate patient needs. We should pay more attention to proposing the comprehensive measures for these patients and providing more individualized supportive care during the lengthy treatment period.

Aversion to a High Salt Taste is Disturbed in Patients With CKD

IntroductionA reduced salt intake is a vital lifestyle modification in the management of hypertension. Initiatives aimed at decreasing the intake of salt are based on the preference by humans for a salt taste. Salt intake behavior appears to be affected by the balance between attraction to a low salt taste and aversion to a high salt taste. However, aversion to a high salt taste has not yet been quantitively investigated in both healthy individuals and CKD patients. MethodsAssessments of gustatory and aversion thresholds for salt, bitter, sour, and sweet tastes were performed using a stimulant-impregnated test strip in healthy subjects and CKD patients. ResultsIn a pilot taste test of 125 healthy subjects, the number of participants with an aversive reaction increased at higher salt concentrations. The threshold for normal taste perception was arbitrarily defined as 10% NaCl, with 47.2% of healthy subjects displaying an aversive reaction. In taste tests performed by 70 CKD patients, 10% were unable to recognize a salt taste, even at the highest concentration (20% NaCl), suggesting a significant impairment in taste perception in CKD patients. Only 15.7% of CKD patients exhibited a normal aversion to NaCl, while 78.6% showed the complete loss of aversion to salt. ConclusionThe present results confirmed the anticipated aversive response to a high salt taste in humans and demonstrated its impairment in CKD patients, implying that CKD patients have reduced resistance to a high salt intake.

Disease perception in patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria: a cross-sectional survey in Japan

The opinions of patients with allergic skin diseases often determine their attitudes to treatment. However, little is known about the viewpoints of patients and their concerns regarding their conditions. This novel study is the first to compare relationships between the opinions of patients and their concerns regarding the severity of atopic dermatitis or chronic spontaneous urticaria and the presence or absence of biologics. We also compared and clarified the characteristics of these diseases using a questionnaire that was completed by 359 patients treated at university and city hospitals, as well as dermatology clinics. Covariance analysis was performed to compare both diseases with different backgrounds. Patients with adult atopic dermatitis were more likely than those with chronic idiopathic urticaria to believe that treatment must be continued and that the disease will not spontaneously improve. Patients with severe or poorly controlled atopic dermatitis or chronic spontaneous urticaria often had psychosomatic symptoms and also believed that the disease required continued treatment. Social factors related to wait times and medication were not associated with disease severity. Patients receiving treatment had significantly less anxiety associated with biologics than those who did not receive treatment. Patients with atopic dermatitis had higher physical and mental burden than those with chronic spontaneous urticaria. Therefore, effective treatments must be prescribed. Consideration of these disease-specific characteristics regarding the opinions and concerns of patients can improve patient satisfaction and compliance with treatment, which results in favorable outcomes.

Correlation between symptom status, health perception, and spiritual well-being in heart failure patients: A structural equation modeling approach.

To explore predictors of spiritual well-being behaviors among heart failure patients based on Wilson and Cleary's conceptual model of health-related quality of life and to clarify the interrelationships among these variables. A descriptive and correlational study design was used. This study included 202 heart failure patients treated between October 2020 and July 2021. Data were collected using the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure, Perception of Health Scale, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Descriptive analysis, correlation, and structural equation modeling were performed. Characteristic factors positively affected spiritual well-being both directly (β = 0.19, p = 0.007) and indirectly (β = 0.19; CI (0.106; 0.311)). The direct relationship between health perception and spiritual well-being was significant (β = 0.83, p < 0.05). Symptom status acted as an essential mediator between model variables and spiritual well-being (β = -0.28; CI (-0.449; -0.133)). Comorbidity and symptom status also influence spiritual well-being through health perceptions. These variables explain 77% of the variance in spiritual well-being. The modified structural equation modeling based on Wilson and Cleary's conceptual model fits well in predicting spiritual well-being in patients with heart failure. Spiritual well-being was reported to be poor, and changes in spiritual well-being were predicted by age, educational level, marital status, comorbidity, symptom status, and health perception. The results can be applied to patients with heart failure and may serve as a guide for assessment and interventions for improving spiritual well-being. This study mainly concludes that symptom status and perceived health status affect spiritual well-being in heart failure patients. Symptom relief and improvement in perceived health status interventions may help enhance spiritual well-being in this population. Future studies are needed to investigate the different predictor's effects on spiritual well-being and examine whether symptom management and health status-enhancing interventions result in improved spiritual well-being in the heart failure population. This study was reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross-sectional studies. No patient or public contribution.

Impact of biological rhythms on perception of illness and cognitive flexibility in bipolar patients in remission

ABSTRACT Our study aims to examine the possible mediating effects of biological rhythms on the relationship between illness perception, cognitive flexibility, and functionality in bipolar patients in remission. A total of 150 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) were enrolled. The sociodemographic data form, Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), Young Mania Rating Scale, Montgomery and Asberg Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Short Functionality Assessment Scale were applied to the patients in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.10 ± 12.92 (SD). The participants were 48.7% (n = 73) female and 66.6% (n = 100) BD-I. There was a negative correlation between the total BRIAN score and favorable BIPQ scores and a positive correlation between the total BRIAN score and unfavorable BIPQ scores (except timeline). Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed that the total BRIAN score could predict favorable BIPQ (except treatment control) and unfavorable BIPQ (except timeline) scores (p < 0.05). The total CFS score also could predict favorable BIPQ (treatment control) and unfavorable BIPQ scores (except timeline). The second step mediation analysis showed that biological rhythm mediated the relationship between illness perception and cognitive flexibility. Our study found that biological rhythms played a full mediating role in the relationship between the perception of illness and cognitive flexibility. In addition, worsening in biological rhythms in bipolar patients could cause negative beliefs and attitudes towards their diseases with an unfavorable clinical course. Therefore, regularity in biological rhythms should be highly recommended for bipolar patients.

Perception Towards Illness and Health Care System: A Survey among Heart Disease Patients in Public Hospital in Yogyakarta Province

Introduction: Heart disease is still a major concern in the Indonesian health sector. Wrong perceptions of heart disease are a significant barrier to preventing and controlling heart disease. This study aims to determine the illness and health care system perception in heart disease patients at Government Hospital Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Method: This study was analytic observational with a cross-sectional design with sampling using a convenience sampling technique. Data collection used a questionnaire method with direct interviews with patients. Data analysis used Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Chi-Square tests. Result: The results obtained 108 patients consisting of 51 men and 57 women. Based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, 88.89% of patients had a good perception of illness, and 56.48% had a good perception of the healthcare system. Chi-Square test analysis showed sociodemographic variables associated with illness perception were total family income monthly (p=0.000) and duration of heart disease (p=0.021). In contrast, the perception of the health care system is related to the variables of age (p=0.001) and educational status (p=0.002). Conclusion: The heart disease patients in Government Hospital Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta have an excellent perception of illness and the healthcare system. Patients' perceptions will increase if patient knowledge and hospital service quality are improved.

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Use and Perceptions in Patients with Plasma Cell Disorders: A National Healthtree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma Survey

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Use and Perceptions in Patients with Plasma Cell Disorders: A National Healthtree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma Survey

Association between illness perception and adherence to inhaler therapy in elderly Chinese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Despite the fact that inhaled medications serve as the foundation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment, patient adherence to inhaler therapy remains low, significantly impacting health outcomes in disease management. The Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation suggests that illness perception plays a crucial role in individual behavior. Nevertheless, the relationship between illness perception and inhaler adherence, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remains unclear in the elderly Chinese COPD population. Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between dimensions of illness perception and adherence to inhaler therapy in elderly Chinese patients with COPD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting 305 participants (mean age: 70.96 years; 69.8% male) using convenience sampling from a tertiary hospital in Anhui, China. The Chinese versions of the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) were used to evaluate adherence to inhalation and perception of their illness in patients with COPD. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore the relationship between inhaler adherence and illness perception in patients with COPD. Results: 84.3% of participants showed poor adherence, and the mean (standard deviation) B-IPQ total score was 44.87 (6.36). The results indicated an essential correlation between illness perception and inhaler adherence. Specifically, personal control (AOR = 2.149, p < 0.001), treatment control (AOR = 1.743, p < 0.001), comprehension (AOR = 5.739, p < 0.001) and emotions (AOR = 1.946, p < 0.001) within illness perception emerged as significant positive predictors for inhaler adherence among patients with COPD. Conclusion: This study suggests that clinical practitioners should monitor the illness perception of patients with COPD and develop targeted intervention measures to improve patient adherence to inhaler therapy.

The Effects of Patient-Centered Communication on Patient Engagement, Health-Related Quality of Life, Service Quality Perception and Patient Satisfaction in Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in Türkiye.

Patient-centered communication is a type of communication that takes place between the provider and the patient. It is aimed to reveal the effects of patient-centered communication on patient engagement, health-related quality of life, perception of service quality and patient satisfaction. The study was conducted by applying multiple regression analysis to the data obtained from 312 patients with cancer treated in a training and research hospital affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Diyarbakır, Türkiye. More than half of the patients were female and had stage 4 cancer. Different types of cancer were detected (breast cancer, cancer of the digestive organs, lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer, cancer of the genital organs, cancer of the respiratory organs, etc.). It can be stated that the average values obtained by patients from patient-centered communication and its sub-dimensions are high. There are positive, moderate and low and significant relationships between the overall patient-centered communication and patient engagement, patient satisfaction, service quality perception and quality of life. It was statistically revealed that patient-centered communication positively affected patient engagement, health-related quality of life, service quality perception, and patient satisfaction. Patient-centered communication positively affects various short and medium-term health outcomes and this study offers suggestions for improving patient-provider communication.

Individual Factors Modifying Postoperative Pain Management in Elective Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Surgery.

Total hip and knee replacements are the most common orthopedic procedures performed due to osteoarthritis. Pain is an intrinsic symptom accompanying osteoarthritis, persisting long before surgery, and continuing during the preoperative and postoperative periods. Appropriate pain management after surgery determines the comfort, duration, and cost of hospitalization, as well as the effectiveness of postoperative rehabilitation. Individual differences in pain perception and tolerance in orthopedic patients remain an important research topic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of analgesic requirements (morphine, acetaminophen, and ketoprofen), including individual pain threshold and tolerance, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, and beliefs about pain control in patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty using a multilevel regression model (N = 147, 85 women, 62 men, 107 after hip replacement, and 40 after knee replacement). Results: Higher pain tolerance was associated with a lower dose of morphine per kg after surgery. Patients undergoing hip surgery received a lower dose of ketoprofen than patients undergoing knee surgery. The more the patient believed in personal pain control, the stronger the negative relationship between pain tolerance and morphine requirement. The lowest doses were given to patients with the highest pain tolerance and the greatest belief in personal control. Factors such as belief in pain control and pain tolerance should be considered in comprehensive postoperative pain management in orthopedic patients to reduce opioid doses and, thus, side effects.

Psychophysical and Electrophysiological Parameters of the Auditory Analyzer as Indicators of the Effectiveness of Cochlear Implantation in Children with Bilateral Deafness

Background. The results of rehabilitation of patients with deafness after cochlear implantation (CI) depends on many factors related on both the individual characteristics of the patient and the technical parameters of auditory nerve stimulation — fitting of the CI system processor. Article presents the results of a study of the relationship between psychophysical (subjective) auditory sensations and electrophysiological (objective) responses of the structures of the auditory analyzer to electrical stimulation. Aims — to evaluate the relationship between the electrophysiological responses of the auditory analyzer and the psychophysical parameters of the thresholds of sound perception and speech intelligibility in patients with deafness after CI. Methods. The study involved 88 patients with IV bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, borderline with deafness, aged 6 to 17 years 11 months, among whom 54.5% (n = 48) of girls and 45.5% (n = 40) of boys. Of the patients included in the follow-up, 40% (n = 35) underwent unilateral CI; 60% (n = 53) of children underwent bilateral sequential CI. In our study, slightly more than half of the patients (51.1%) had experience using the CI system for more than 5 years. At the first stage of the study, we studied the relationship between sound perception thresholds (tonal audiometry in a free field) and registered ASSR (auditory steady state response) thresholds in patients with deafness receiving rehabilitation after CI surgery. The relationship between behavioral and electrophysiological (objective) thresholds was assessed by comparing the results of tonal threshold audiometry and the responses received during ASSR registration to acoustic stimulation in a free field. At the second stage, patients with indications for processor fitting (decreased speech intelligibility, uncomfortable sensations) underwent speech audiometry, evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) registration, according to the results of which the parameters of the CI processor were changed. Results. Research data showed the effectiveness of the approach of including the ECAP registration test, followed by the creation of a fitting card and correction of the level of auditory nerve stimulation under the control of speech audiometry in the protocol of fitting the CI processor. Conclusions. The results of the conducted studies allow us to recommend the use of the developed method of objective recording of sound perception thresholds in patients with CI as one of the indicators of the effectiveness of CI in the early period of auditory-speech rehabilitation in patients with undeveloped speech skills and when it is impossible to conduct objective tests accompanied by supra-threshold stimulation of the auditory nerve.

Predictive Model of Anxiety and Depression Perception in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Possible Implications for Clinical Treatment.

To establish a predictive model for the presence of anxiety and depression in MS patients, based on variables such as psychological well-being, functional activity, and prefrontal symptoms. Additionally, this study aimed to propose non-pharmacological therapeutic alternatives based on this model. A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 64 diagnosed MS patients who underwent functional and cognitive assessments using the following questionnaires and scales: Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Prefrontal Symptoms Inventory (PSI). The model showed an excellent fit to the data and indicated that psychological well-being was the most significant predictor of the criteria (β = -0.83), followed by functional activity (β = -0.18) and prefrontal symptoms (β = 0.15). The latter two are negatively related to psychological well-being (β = -0.16 and β = -0.75, respectively). Low psychological well-being is the variable that most significantly predicts the presence of anxiety and depression in MS patients, followed by functional activity and prefrontal alterations. Interventions based on mindfulness and acceptance are recommended, along with nutritional interventions such as antioxidant-enriched ketogenic diets and moderate group physical exercise.

Vagus nerve stimulation: Potential for treating chronic wounds.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been approved as a treatment for various conditions, including drug-resistant epilepsy, migraines, chronic cluster headaches and treatment-resistant depression. It is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-adrenergic effects, and its therapeutic potential for diverse pathologies is being investigated. VNS can be achieved through invasive (iVNS) or non-invasive (niVNS) means, targeting different branches of the vagus nerve. iVNS devices require surgical implantation and have associated risks, while niVNS devices are generally better tolerated and have a better safety profile. Studies have shown that both iVNS and niVNS can reduce inflammation and pain perception in patients with acute and chronic conditions. VNS devices, such as the VNS Therapy System and MicroTransponder Vivistim, have received Food and Drug Administration approval for specific indications. Other niVNS devices, like NEMOS and gammaCore, have shown effectiveness in managing epilepsy, pain and migraines. VNS has also demonstrated potential in autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, as well as neurological disorders like epilepsy and migraines. In addition, VNS has been explored in cardiovascular disorders, including post-operative atrial fibrillation and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and has shown positive outcomes. The mechanisms behind VNS's effects include the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, modulation of cytokines and activation of specialised pro-resolving mediators. The modulation of inflammation by VNS presents a promising avenue for investigating its potential to improve the healing of chronic wounds. However, more research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms and optimise the use of VNS in wound healing. Ongoing clinical trials may support the use of this modality as an adjunct to improve healing.

Cognitive and Emotional Perceptions of Illness in Patients Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects a patient's physical, social, and mental well-being. Perceptions of the illness are linked to quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess illness perception in patients diagnosed with T2DM and to validate the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in the Slovenian language. A cross-sectional study involved 141 patients diagnosed with T2DM. We performed a content analysis of the questionnaire and estimated the S-CVI, I-CVI, kappa coefficient. We also used Cronbach's alpha to assess the reliability. Participants did not have a very threatening perception of T2DM, but being overweight and having cardiovascular disease were significant contributors to a more threatening perception. The most frequently indicated factors influencing the onset and development of T2DM were heredity and genetics, stress and other psychological distress, and poor and inadequate nutrition. I-CVI ranged from 0.833 to 1.00, while the kappa is greater than 0.74, confirming the excellent validity of the questions. The content validity assessment of the questionnaire further confirms that the questionnaire is suitable for use with the target population in Slovenia. The questionnaire proved to be a valid and reliable tool that can be used to assess the relationship between illness perception and self-management of T2DM.