Cross-sectional Questionnaire-based Study Research Articles

Digital impression perception among dental students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

The use of digital dentistry is rapidly increasing in prosthodontics. However, most dental students are not familiar with applying digital technologies in dental clinics. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess the perception of dental students at different educational years towards digital impressions in comparison to conventional impressions. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on various educational years of dental students in the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, between February and April 2023. The students had performed at least one intraoral scan (Trios 3shape) and another conventional polyether impression for phantom casts/patients. The questionnaire assessed students' perceptions of digital impressions using a 5-point scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare students' perceptions of digital impressions according to gender and educational year, respectively. The study included 122 students. About 55% were females with a mean (SD) age = 22.51 (3.36). Most students thought that digital impressions are faster and more user-friendly compared to conventional impressions. Significantly more female students thought that the handpiece was too big for intraoral use (p = 0.04) and that the process of the software was time-consuming and complicated. In general, higher educational year students were more satisfied with the digital impressions than lower educational year students. Digital impressions were perceived by most students as being faster and easier than conventional ones. However, male students and those with higher educational years showed better perception of digital impression.

Over-the-counter cosmeceuticals: Exploring usage patterns and attitudes among Indians

Objectives: The study’s objectives were to find the prevalence of over-the-counter (OTC) usage of skin, nail, and hair care products and to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of the Indian population presenting to a non-dermatology outpatient department (OPD) for various indications concerning this usage. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, conducted over a year, in which 668 consenting Indians aged 18–60 years, representing various socioeconomic backgrounds were surveyed through Google Forms regarding the OTC cosmeceutical usage in a non-dermatology OPD. Results: This KAP study was conducted on 668 participants, of whom the majority were middle-aged males (481 [72.01%]), with a diverse socioeconomic range, with the upper-middle class making up the largest segment (264 [39.52%]). Allopathy was the primary treatment choice for 347 (51.95%) of participants, with 566 (84.73%) preferring professional healthcare over self-medication. Social media was a significant source of skincare information, with Google Ads (279 [41.8%]) and Instagram (84 [12.6%]) being popular platforms. While doctors’ advice influenced 270 (40.4%) of participants in their skincare choices, word-of-mouth played a role, with 251 (37.57%) agreeing it was helpful. OTC usage was found to vary by socioeconomic class and treatment type. Oral OTC products were preferred for skin health, especially in the upper class, while fairness creams were more common among the lower class. Conclusion: Despite the growing reliance on social media for skincare information, traditional sources such as word-of-mouth and TV still hold sway, indicating a mix of modern and conventional influences. The frequency and type of OTC product usage varied across socioeconomic classes, with oral products like vitamin supplements leading in the upper class and fairness creams leading in the lower class, reflecting the societal pressure for a fair complexion in this subset.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE REGARDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND ITS USAGE IN DENTAL ACADEMICS CURRICULUM AMONG DENTAL UNDERGRADUATES AND POSTGRADUATES

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being recognized for its potential to revolutionize dental education and practice. However, the extent of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding AI among dental undergraduates and postgraduates remains underexplored. Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to AI and its integration into the dental academic curriculum among dental undergraduates and postgraduates. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 545 participants, including final-year dental undergraduates and postgraduate dental students . The structured questionnaire covered demographics, knowledge of AI, attitudes towards its integration into dental education, and current practices involving AI. Results: The study found significant variations in knowledge levels, with postgraduates demonstrating a more comprehensive understanding of AI applications in dentistry compared to undergraduates. Attitudes towards AI were generally positive across both groups, with participants recognizing its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and streamline administrative tasks. However, there were concerns about the reliability of AI systems and the potential for reduced human oversight. Practical application of AI was limited, particularly among undergraduates, highlighting a gap between theoretical knowledge and practical use. Conclusion: The study underscores the need for integrating comprehensive AI education into the dental curriculum, encompassing both theoretical knowledge and practical training. Continuous professional development and a balanced approach to AI use in dental practice are essential to prepare future dental professionals for an AI-driven healthcare landscape. Gender-wise, the survey reveals consistent support across male and female dental professionals for AI's potential in enhancing dental research, with minimal variation in beliefs. KEYWORDS: Artificial intelligence, dental education, knowledge, attitudes, practices, dental undergraduates, postgraduates.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG DIFFERENT DENTISTS REGARDING ORAL PIERCING DELETERIOUS EFFECT: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Background: Oral piercings, including tongue, lip, and cheek piercings, are popular forms of body modification. These piercings, while culturally significant and a means of self-expression, pose various health risks that necessitate informed management by dental professionals. Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to oral piercings among dental undergraduates, postgraduates, and practicing dentists. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 300 participants, comprising dental undergraduates, postgraduates, and practicing dentists. The questionnaire covered demographics, knowledge of oral piercings, attitudes towards these modifications, and clinical practices in managing complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, with descriptive statistics and comparative tests (Chi-square and ANOVA) applied to evaluate KAP differences among the groups. Results: Significant variations in knowledge levels were observed, with practicing dentists displaying the highest understanding of oral piercings and their complications. Postgraduates demonstrated a more comprehensive knowledge compared to undergraduates, who showed a basic understanding. Attitudes towards oral piercings varied, with undergraduates and postgraduates viewing them more favorably compared to the cautious stance of practicing dentists. Clinical practices also differed, with experienced dentists more proactive in patient education and management strategies. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for enhanced education on oral piercings across all levels of dental training. Integrating comprehensive curricula and continuous professional development programs can bridge knowledge gaps and improve clinical practices. Gender-wise analysis highlights that both male and female dental professionals show comparable levels of awareness and engagement regarding oral piercings, with responses indicating a shared commitment to patient education and proactive care practices in managing associated risks and complications KEYWORDS: Oral piercings, dental education, knowledge, attitudes, clinical practice, complications.

Awareness of cancer and its associated factors for parents of adolescents and young adults: A cross-sectional study.

Cancer is a common health problem worldwide. Early cancer education for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is important for the prevention or early detection of cancer. In this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, we examined the cancer awareness among parents of AYAs. Japanese adults with junior or senior high school children were included in this study. The cancer awareness measure (CAM) was used to assess cancer awareness, and the survey was conducted in December 2021. Warning signs, barriers to seeking help, and risk factors were surveyed using an online anonymous questionnaire. In addition, personal information, the presence of other cancer survivors, attendance at cancer seminars, conversations with children about cancer, interest in cancer education for children, and previous cancer screening were surveyed. A t-test or Spearman correlation coefficient was used to compare the total CAM scores for the individual factors. The relationship between cancer-screening behavior and individual factors was analyzed using the χ2 test. In addition, multiple regression analysis or logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing cancer awareness or cancer-screening behavior. Responses were obtained from the 612 participants. The mean CAM score was 3.7 for cancer warning signs, 4.3 for barriers to seeking help, and 6.5 for risk factors. Cancer warning signs were associated with gender and the presence of a spouse, family member, or friend who had experienced cancer. Barriers to seeking help were associated with age, gender, and education, while risk factors were associated with gender, education, and conversations about cancer with children. Moreover, these scores were associated with each cancer screening behavior. Cancer awareness among Japanese adults with AYAs was influenced by gender, academic background, occupation, the presence of cancer survivors around them, and whether they had conversations about cancer with their children, as well as their cancer screening behavior.

Perceptions and experiences of community pharmacists with off-label prescribing in the pediatric population.

This study aimed to investigate and provide insight into the prevalence and patterns of off-label drug use in the pediatric population from the perspective of community pharmacists, addressing the existing data gap in a developing setting. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Albanian community pharmacists in June 2021. The online administered survey explored the participants' demographic details, perceptions, and experiences with off-label prescriptions in pediatric patients. The statistical analysis conducted on the survey data comprised the construction of frequency tables and the application of the chi-square test for independence. Three hundred and thirty-six community pharmacists nationwide completed the survey, out of which 186 (55.3%) were practiced in Tirana, the capital of Albania. Over 80% of surveyed pharmacists (n = 275) had encountered off-label drug prescriptions in pediatric patients, yet only 40% of participants reported dispensing medicines for off-label use. Community pharmacists reported that general pediatricians tended to prescribe off-label medications more frequently than pediatric subspecialists or general practitioners. It was found that off-label prescriptions were more frequently observed among children aged between 2 and 11 years. Antibiotics were the most reported medicines for off-label use in this study mentioned in almost all off-label categories. Prescribing medicines for unapproved uses for the treatment of pediatric patients is present in community settings in Albania. This indicates the need for further data collection and analysis to understand off-label practices in our country's pediatric population comprehensively.

Prevalence of Dehydration in Egyptian Primary School Children and its Impact on their Cognitive performance

Abstract Background More than 75% of children do not meet the water intake recommendations by the Institute of medicine. In addition, more than 80% of children in many European countries do not achieve the water intake recommended by the guidelines of the European food safety authority. Studies have revealed a correlation between hydration status and cognitive achievements in visual attention, immediate memory span, semantic flexibility, and automatic application of arithmetic operations in school children living in hot climates. Aim of the Work Assessment of the hydration status in Egyptian primary school children and determining the relationship between hydration status and cognitive function. Patients and Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on 200 children, the age group was from 9 to 13 years old. Data collection included the governmental, private and international schools in Cairo. The questionnaire was fulfilled during school time. A child-friendly “fluids and liquid food” diary was designed to prospectively record the volume of total fluid intake including water, sugar sweetened beverages and fruit juices in the previous day and during school day. Hydration status was assessed by self-reported urine colour using eight-point colour scale. The students were asked to answer four cognitive function tests that were designed to test the cognitive skills which were known to be affected by dehydration (Visual attention, Visual memory, Visual search, Visuomotor performance). Results 54 children (27%) had “Satisfactory knowledge” i.e. the children who met the criteria in the self- answered questionnaire and 146 children (73%) of them had “Unsatisfactory knowledge of proper total fluid intake. 166 children (83%) reported low total fluid intake and 34 children (17%) had adequate total fluid intake (according to the guidelines of the European food safety authority), 118 children (59%) were dehydrated, and 34 children (17%) were severely dehydrated. There was a statistically significant higher total fluid intake in international school regarding the amount of total fluid intake during school time and the amount of total fluid intake per day. In our study, the most consumed fluids after water were sugar sweetened beverages and fruit juices. There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total fluid intake and cognitive function regarding visual attention, visual memory, visual search, visuomotor performance and total score of cognitive functions, with p-value (p < 0.001). Conclusion We concluded that there was a significant correlation between school students’ hydration status and total fluid intake and their cognitive functions regarding their Visual attention, Visual memory, Visual search, Visuomotor performance. That calls for the importance of corroboration of our study results with studies that further explore students’ awareness and perception about their daily need of water and benefits of proper hydration.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses regarding airway clearance in neurocritical illness patients: A cross-sectional study.

We aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding airway clearance among nurses and explore the factors affecting the knowledge, attitudes and practices. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Airway clearance is an important method of eliminating excess secretions. In neuroscience nursing, nurses are important executors of airway management, and their knowledge, attitudes and practices can influence the effectiveness of airway clearance. This study was conducted from July to September 2023 in four hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China. A structured questionnaire about airway clearance was designed and used to collect the data. The nurses used this questionnaire to self-rate. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed. The age, work experience, highest educational attainment and technical title of the nurses can significantly influence their knowledge. The age, highest educational attainment and technical title of the nurses can significantly impact their attitudes. Practice scores were significantly influenced by age, work experience, technical title, whether the nurses had received any training on airway clearance techniques, and whether the department developed procedures for implementing the airway clearance technology. Nurses' attitudes were significantly associated with knowledge and practice, and there was no significant correlation between knowledge and practice. This study showed that age, work experience, highest educational attainment and training were related to knowledge, attitudes and practices. These findings suggest that nursing managers can conduct airway clearance training according to age group, working experience and education level of the nurses. No patient or public contribution. The findings show that the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices related to airway clearance in neuroscience nursing among nurses were acceptable, which means that nurses can better perform airway management on patients. These findings serve as a significant reference for designing an airway clearance education for nurses and meet the needs of nurses in clinical nursing practice.

Appropriate Hand Drying - The Missed Step of Hand Hygiene: A Qualitative Evaluation of Hand Drying Practices among Indian Health Care Workers

Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective methods of preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hand drying is the end point of hand hygiene. Hand drying after hand hygiene is less explored, and the practice varies in different facilities. This explorative study was done to know the various hand-drying methods and practices of healthcare workers in Indian settings. This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational study initiated from a tertiary care setup in Uttarakhand. Healthcare workers over 18 years of age directly involved in patient care were enrolled. A semi-structured questionnaire with both open-ended and close-ended questions was used with snowballing sampling technique. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Out of the eligible 395 respondents, 62.8% were female. The mean age of the respondents was 31.34 ± 8.44 years and average working hours were 8.87 ± 2.97 (range 4–24) hours. Only 72.7% did hand hygiene always before touching a patient. Nurses were more compliant about hand hygiene than doctors (P < 0.0001). A total of 82.8% were aware of appropriate hand-drying methods. Staff in the Intensive care unit Intensive care unit (ICU) setup were more aware of hand drying practices (P = 0.033). A total of 21.8% wiped their hands on their clothing to dry their hands. This was more in staff from paraclinical departments (P = 0.001). A total of 35.7% used handkerchiefs to dry hands. Resident doctors used handkerchiefs more than senior doctors or nursing staff (P = 0.01). A total of 49.9% of respondents spent less than 10 seconds in hand drying. Hand-hygiene knowledge is high among healthcare workers in India, but the knowledge of appropriate hand-drying practices is lacking. There is wide variation in the practice of hand drying. Better hand drying guidelines and incorporating hand drying as the essential endpoint of the hand hygiene ritual are warranted.

Assessment of risk factors associated with epidemiology of Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats in Abia State, Nigeria

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and trans-boundary disease caused by the PPR virus belonging to the family; Paramyxoviridae and is closely related to the Rinderpest virus of cattle. Its implications on successful small ruminant farming cannot be over-emphasized. Its current status with respect to farmers' awareness and assessment of risk factors associated with the emergence and spread of the disease were investigated. A structured questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from purposively selected farms on randomly selected local government areas (LGAs) in the three agricultural zones in Abia State. The questionnaires (n=42) were distributed among small ruminant farmers to determine the knowledge, attitude and preventive measures adopted by farmers, with respect to PPR in the study area. Statistical analysis was performed at a 95% confidence level using Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The study highlighted high levels (78.6%) of awareness of PPR in the study area. Out of all respondents, 64.3% practiced intensive system of management and 57.1% had observed outbreaks on their farms. About 26.2% noticed the disease especially in young animals, with 64.3% observing these outbreaks at certain season of the year. Quarantine (26.2%) and control of stray sheep/goats (42.9%) were the major preventive measures adopted in the study area. Only a few respondents (33.3%) vaccinated their animals while the majority of respondents (54.7%) never practice vaccination as a preventive measure. There was significant association (p<0.05) between notice of disease, frequency of PPR occurrence, age of animals, seasons of occurrence and PPR outbreak. Limited use of veterinary services, seasons of the year, introduction of new or replacement animals into the flock without quarantine were identified risk factors associated with the emergence, spread and persistence of PPR in Abia State. Consequently, effective control measures such as mass vaccination especially at indicated peak seasons is recommended for the study area. Also, consistent extension programs for all stakeholders in the study area on the importance of PPR and economic benefits associated with curbing PPR in the area are pertinent.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice related to brucellosis among livestock farmers and meat handlers in Saudi Arabia.

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection that is endemic in Saudi Arabia and associated with clinical and economic impacts. Several studies from countries endemic for brucellosis evaluated the knowledge and attitude of livestock farmers regarding brucellosis. However, no such study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of livestock farmers and meat handlers in Saudi Arabia. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, where participants were interviewed in-person in Arabic in livestock markets between September-December 2023. Convenient sampling was utilized. The questionnaire included basic demographics and questions to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward personal protection and protection of the animals from brucellosis. The questionnaire was adapted from a previously validated survey and included 59 questions. Providing at least one correct answer to a certain question indicated a good knowledge about this item or a safe practice. The participants were divided into: farmers (shepherds working for the animal owners), commercial animal owners (those who rent a stockyard in the livestock market and employ farmers to sell their animals), and private animal owners (owners of private farms from which they sell their animals). 545 participants were interviewed (n = 291 farmers, n = 118 commercial animal owners, n = 113 private animal owners, and n = 23 animal slaughterhouse workers). >90% have heard of brucellosis. Lack of education and short experience (<5 years) of working with livestock were negatively associated with good knowledge of brucellosis symptoms and transmission (OR, 0.30; 95%CI, 0.10-0.94; p = 0.038 and OR, 0.23; 95%CI, 0.08-0.62; p = 0.004, respectively). Taking sick animals to the veterinarian was reported by 61.2%, whereas 36.4% follow safe practices when disposing of aborted fetuses. While 34% consume raw milk, only 10% consume rare/medium-rare meat. 51.2% acknowledged the need for more information on brucellosis. This study revealed the need to augment the knowledge of people working with animals, particularly those with no school education and those with short work experience, via providing educational visits or materials or through veterinarians. This should help them identify human and animal brucellosis symptoms and increase the knowledge on how to protect oneself and animals from this disease.

Limited Health Literacy Among Patients With Orthopedic Injuries: A Cross-sectional Survey of Patients Who Underwent Orthopedic Trauma Surgery in a County Hospital Setting.

Patients with limited health literacy have difficulty understanding their injuries and postoperative treatment, which can negatively affect their outcomes. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of 103 adult patients sought to quantify patients' health literacy at a single county hospital's orthopedic trauma clinic and to examine their ability to understand injuries and treatment plans. Demographics, Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy assessment, and knowledge scores were used to assess patients' comprehension of their injuries and treatment plan. Patients were grouped by NVS score (NVS <4: limited health literacy). Fisher's exact tests and t tests were used to compare demographic and comprehension scores. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association among low health literacy, sociodemographic variables, and knowledge scores. Of the 103 patients, 75% were determined to have limited health literacy. Patients younger than 30 years were more likely to have adequate literacy (50% vs 23%, P=.01). Patients who spoke Spanish as their primary language were 8.77 times more likely to have limited health literacy with respect to sociodemographic factors (odds ratio, 8.77; 95% CI, 1.03-76.92; P=.04). Low health literacy was 3.52 and 4.14 times more likely to predict discordance in answers to specific bone fractures and the narcotics prescribed (P=.04 and P=.02, respectively). Spanish-speaking patients have demonstrated limited health literacy and difficulty understanding their injuries and postoperative treatment plans compared with English-speaking patients. Patients with low health literacy are more likely to be unsure regarding which bone they fractured or their prescribed opiates. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx-xx.].

Dementia Knowledge Among Primary Healthcare Physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Dementia poses a significant healthcare challenge globally, and healthcare providers musthave adequate knowledge about its diagnosis, management, and support services. By assessing the knowledge level of primary care physicians in Riyadh, we can identify potential gaps and areas for improvement in dementia care, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life. This study holds promise in shedding light on the current state of dementia knowledge among primary healthcare physicians in Riyadh and offering insights into strategies to enhance dementia care in this region. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from the first of June 2023 to the end of December 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was used to assess physicians' knowledge, attitude, and practice toward dementia. A total of 151 physicians completed the questionnaires. The majority were male (55%), below 30 years of age (88.1%), and family medicine residents (84.8%). Most (74.8%) recognized old age as the most significant risk factor; an overwhelming majority of participants (98.7%) could not identify the minimum course of treatment to judge a medication's effectiveness. The average score of correct responses(7.74 ∓ 4.11) was equivalent to 38.7%. Furthermore, the average correct responses were significantly different among the different job levels of the participants. The findings of this study highlight a lack of knowledge among primary care physicians regarding dementia, emphasizing the crucial importance of physician education in this area. Additionally, the results strongly indicate the need foremphasis on dementia education within the undergraduate medical curriculum, family medicine curriculum, and physician training programs. By addressing these educational gaps, we can better equip physicians to provide optimal care and support for individuals with dementia, ultimately improving patient care and quality of life.

Knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19 among Indian medical undergraduates: a questionnaire-based study.

The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) has emerged as a recent pandemic, increasing the need for epidemiological studies and studies on public health. Only some studies have evaluated the awareness of medical undergraduates in India and other countries, leading to a lack of literature. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted in Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India, between June to August 2020. An online survey using Google Forms was circulated among undergraduate medical students in India by a convenient sampling method for data collection. Descriptive analysis was derived based on frequencies and percentages, and the association with age, gender, and year of undergraduate training medical course was derived using the chi-square test. Altogether, 630 students from India responded to the survey, with a maximum response from students studying in the second year (38.7%). Nearly 63.85% of responders identified themselves as females. Knowledge regarding the human-to-human transmission of the virus, symptoms, complications, definition of "close contact, quarantine, and its indications was adequate among the students, with more than 70% correct responses. However, one-fourth of the students needed to gain more knowledge about masks. Respiratory hygiene was poor among 24.8%. Nearly 40% of students were unaware of the management of patients with COVID-19. There is a need for regular quality training and institutional programs on infection control of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases across all Indian medical colleges to educate undergraduate medical students, who are future healthcare professionals, thus minimizing the risk of transmission and providing standardized care for patients.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Lifestyle Modifications Among Hypertensive Patients Visiting A Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

Background: Globally, hypertension is a major problem. The cornerstone of the strategy for preventing hypertension is making appropriate lifestyle modifications. The present study was carried out to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of lifestyle modifications among hypertensive patients.Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study carried out among 343 hypertensive patients visiting a tertiary care hospital.Results: We observed that although majority of hypertensive had good knowledge and attitude about lifestyle changes in hypertension, least were adherent to those. Conclusion: The treatment of hypertension is greatly aided by preventive medication. In order to lower the prevalence of hypertension in a nation, assessments of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding lifestyle change are fundamentally necessary.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 08 No. 02 Apr’24 Page: 140-146

Effects of Pain-Related Features, Maladaptive Cognitions, Depression, and Anxiety on Pain-Related Disability: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Effects of Pain-Related Features, Maladaptive Cognitions, Depression, and Anxiety on Pain-Related Disability: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study

A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE PATTERN OF SELF-MEDICATION USED FOR DIARRHEA AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL INDIA

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the drug usage pattern, personal hygiene, and sanitation practices among day scholars and hosteller medical students. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted at MGM Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore. Undergraduate and postgraduate medical students who experienced episodes of diarrhea in the past 6 months were included in the study. Diarrhea occurring due to organic causes was excluded. Data were collected using a Google or physical form and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 254 students who suffered from diarrhea in the past 6 months participated in the study, out of which 56% were hostellers. Commonly used drugs were ofloxacin, metronidazole, etc. 50.2% of them took self-medication; the majority of them were hostellers. Students were found to eat outside at least once a week. Personal hygiene and sanitation were more compromised among hostellers than day scholars. Conclusion: Personal hygiene and sanitation practices should be improved among medical students, especially hostel students. These students, despite being from medical backgrounds, still take irrational medication. Therefore, there is a need for increased awareness regarding drug usage, and self-medication should be discouraged.

Musculoskeletal disorders and risk indicators for pain chronification among German dentists: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MS) disorders in practicing German dentists and identify risk factors for pain chronification. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, quantitative, questionnaire-based study in which the validated German version of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire was sent out to practicing German dentists. ResultsOf the 8,072 questionnaires sent out, 576 dentists responded (60.2% men, 39.8% women; mean [SD] age, 50 [10.1] years; response rate, 7.1%). Overall, 344 dentists had current pain at 719 pain sites (point prevalence, 59.7%). The risk of chronic pain in dentists with current MS pain was high in 28.5% (n = 98), moderate in 30.5% (n = 105), and low in 41% (n = 141). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that specialization in restorative dentistry was associated with a significantly higher risk of experiencing pain chronification (odds ratio [OR], 3.94; P = .008), followed by specialization in pediatric dentistry (OR, 0.35; P = .048). A history of current pain, particularly current leg pain, was predictive of higher chronification risk (OR, 22.0; P < .001) and neck pain (OR, 4.51; P = .001). ConclusionsAlmost two-thirds of practicing German dentists have MS pain, and one-third of these have a moderate through high risk of developing pain chronification. These health problems have an adverse impact on their ability to successfully perform dental services, with the potential for prolonged sick leave, disability, and early retirement. Accordingly, these problems deserve greater attention from the scientific community (identification of risk factors), universities (sensitization and education), and policy makers (development and implementation of appropriate countermeasures for MS disorders in the dental profession). Practical ImplicationsKnowing the risk factors associated with acute and chronic MS pain may help dentists take preventive measures and thereby improve their physical well-being and work-related quality of life.

The prevalence of hand dermatitis among intensive care unit nurses.

Healthcare workers are at high risk of developing occupational hand dermatitis (HD) due to their frequent exposure to wet-work and use of gloves. Complaints of HD may interfere with work and cause loss of work productivity, or sick leave, and may have impact on job pleasure and performing daily activities. The prevalence of HD among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses is unknown. To investigate the point prevalence and the 1-year prevalence of HD among ICU nurses, and to determine the impact of HD on work and daily activities. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was performed among ICU nurses. Participants were recruited in the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. A symptom-based questionnaire was used to determine HD and atopic predisposition, and an additional questionnaire was used concerning the influence of HD. ICU nurses with an atopic predisposition or symptoms suiting HD were invited for the hand dermatitis consultation hour (HDCH). Data were analysed with logistic regression. A total of 184 ICU nurses were included. The point prevalence of HD was 9.8% (95% CI: 5.9-15.0) and the 1-year prevalence was 26.6% (95% CI: 20.4-33.6). Sick leave was reported by 0.5%. HD seemed to have more impact on job pleasure than on work productivity. The high prevalence rate of HD resulting from our study highlights the need for the prevention of occupational HD among healthcare workers.

Utilisation of the health belief model to study the behavioural intentions relating to obesity management among university students: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundOverweight and obesity are excessive fat accumulations linked with many health problems, including heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Multiple studies have demonstrated that beliefs about overweight, obesity and...