Sociodemographic Parameters Research Articles

Associations between Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Quality of Life, and Mental Health in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is well-known as a diet which may exert a protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, only a few clinical surveys have assessed the potential effects of the MD in patients with MS. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential effects of MD compliance on disease disability, quality of life, physical activity, depressive symptomatology, and blood biochemical parameters related to nutritional status in MS patients, considering several socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle characteristics. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 558 adults with MS aged 18-64 years. Relevant questionnaires were utilized to evaluate socio-demographic and anthropometric parameters, disease disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), multidimensional health-related quality (MS Quality of Life-54, MSQOL-54), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), depression (Beck Depression Inventory II, BDI-II), and MD adherence (MedDietScore), while several blood biochemical parameters were retrieved from the patients' medical records. Enhanced MD compliance was independently associated with a decreased frequency of overweight/obesity, as well as abdominal obesity, in patients suffering from MS. Elevated MD compliance was also independently associated with a decreased incidence of advanced disease disability, a higher prevalence of elevated physical activity, an improved quality of life, and lower depressive symptoms, as well as higher levels of certain blood biochemical parameters, which are effective indicators of iron deficiency and malnutrition. The present study found that higher MD adherence may slow down disease disability, promoting a better quality of life and mental health in adults with MS. Future prospective surveys are required to obtain conclusive results.

Patterns and predictors of female sexual dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Background Sexual complications of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) are often neglected by the patients as well as clinicians. The neglect is more in women due to the associated stigma and taboo. Indian studies are scanty, varied and inconsistent, regarding the impact of DM on sexual functioning in women. We studied the patterns and predictors of sexual dysfunction in women with DM. Methods We did a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study comprising 50 participants in both the study (women with DM1 and DM2) and control groups (relatives/caregivers of patients and the hospital staff), selected randomly from the medicine outpatient department from May to August 2016. Approval from the institutional ethics committee was obtained. Clinical anxiety and depression were screened using the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Sexual dysfunction was assessed through female sexual function index scale (FSFI), and predictors were assessed by correlating FSFI scores with sociodemographic and clinical parameters. Results We found that 44% of women with DM had sexual dysfunction compared with 20% in the control group (p<0.01). The pattern of sexual dysfunction was seen across the domains of desire, arousal, lubrication and orgasm. High body mass index, higher age, duration of DM, treatment with insulin and complications of DM predicted a greater degree of sexual dysfunction among women. Conclusion Sexual dysfunction is common in women with DM, irrespective of the type of DM and coexisting psychological factors such as depression and anxiety.

Digital health literacy and quality of life association with perceptions about the disease COVID-19 in public health services

&lt;b&gt;Background: &lt;/b&gt;Digital health literacy and quality of life association with perceptions about the disease COVID-19 in public health services&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;may have been little studied to date to examine socio-demographic parameters.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Materials &amp;amp; methods:&lt;/b&gt; This research was conducted using self-report about digital health literacy, and quality of life questionnaires to participants attending in the Hippocrates Hospital Athens Greece (n=167). Initially, participants were asked to answer questions regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data of the study were analyzed using SPSS 26 IBM.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Study’s findings from has to do with the role of age. People who are younger in age seem to be more likely to think that quality of life is just a flu-like illness and generally harmless. In addition, the stronger the perceived impact of the pandemic, the higher the digital health literacy of the participants.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; The findings of this study regarding the relationship between socio-demographic variables and the examined parameters are in line with previous literature. Moreover, this study highlights the central role of digital health literacy in relation to the perception of the severity of the situation during quality of life associated with pandemic.

Socio-demographic parameters of drug addiction in the southern cross river, Nigeria

Socio-demographic parameters of drug addiction in the southern cross river, Nigeria

Determinants of use of rehabilitation services before entering disability pension: Time series analysis of insured members of the German Pension Insurance Federation in Berlin and Brandenburg

The age-standardized application rate for medical rehabilitation services of the German Pension Insurance Association has been declining since 2009. Two of the most frequent reasons for applying for rehabilitation services represent musculoskeletal disorders and mental disorders. The aim of this analysis was to identify factors influencing the utilization of rehabilitation services in the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg. The explorative time series analysis is based on a research dataset of the German Pension Insurance Federation. Insured persons of the German Pension Insurance Federation from the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg with a diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders or mental disorders were included. Descriptive differences in targeted and prognostic parameters were calculated using chi-square and t-test statistics. Predictive parameters for the utilization of medical rehabilitation services were calculated using binary, logistic regression analyses. A total of 11,257 insured cases were examined. For the population of insured persons from Berlin, the use of medical rehabilitation services showed significant prognostic variables for gender, age at retirement, marital status, level of education, occupational requirement level, total accumulated earning points, gross pension level, status of a temporary pension, health insurance status, and diagnosis group. For Brandenburg, significant prognostic variables were found for age at retirement, marital status, nationality, education level, occupational requirement level, total accumulated earning points, status of a temporary pension, occupational sector, and diagnosis group. In Berlin and Brandenburg mental disorders and sociodemographic parameters are associated with an increased probability of not claiming medical rehabilitation services before the onset of reduced earning capacity. It remains to be investigated which mechanisms cause people with mental disorders to make no use of medical rehabilitation services. Future analyses should examine isolated interaction mechanisms for the utilization of medical rehabilitation services, especially in the case of existing F-diagnoses. In addition, explanations for different influencing variables between states remain to be explored.

Motives of patients presenting independently at the emergency department-aprospective monocentric observational study

In the ongoing professional, societal, and political discussion, the hypothesis is repeatedly put forward that alarge portion of patients who independently visit the emergency department could also be treated in other care settings such as by ageneral practitioner, the statutory medical on-call service, or in emergency clinics. Various reasons are cited for why these alternative care settings are not utilized in these cases. This study investigates the motives of patients who presented independently at the emergency department, as well as the socio-demographic parameters of this study cohort. The survey was carried out as part of aprospective monocentric observational study of internal medicine patients at auniversity emergency department. Atotal of 1086 patients were included in the study. In total, 33% of the study participants visited the emergency department based on aphysician's recommendation or referral instead of opting for an alternative care option. The main reason for visiting the emergency department was the subjectively assessed urgency of their symptoms. Among the patients who presented independently at the emergency department, 28% required further inpatient care during the course of treatment. Awareness of alternative care pathways, such as utilizing emergency medical services, seeking care from the statutory medical on-call service, or visiting an emergency clinic, was low. Emergency departments remain an important point of contact for patients who present there independently, without being brought by emergency medical services. The motives behind why patients choose avisit to the emergency department over treatment in an alternative care setting vary. If alternatives are to be used instead of emergency departments, structures first need to be established or expanded.

SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE DEAF PEOPLE: A STUDY ON PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING

Today, when various regulatory documents support sign language research, there is a lack of both teaching materials and research on deaf sign language and public understanding. The study aims to determine the public’s proficiency or competence in the Latvian sign language. The research revealed people’s basic knowledge of Latvian sign language grammar, their ability to communicate and understand deaf people, their attitudes and opinions about the process, and the necessity of learning sign language. Information was studied in four blocks of questions: society’s attitude towards deaf sign language, society’s knowledge of deaf sign language, communication skills with a deaf person, and opinion on the development of deaf sign language and its necessity. The sample of the study is 500 respondents, who represent the opinion of the population between the ages of 16 and 60, observing the socio-demographic parameters of the target group of the study. An empirical research method was used in the study; to collect data, an electronic survey was conducted. In general, the study confirms that society shows a positive attitude towards Latvian sign language as a means of communication for deaf people. At the same time, the data reveal poor knowledge of sign language and its grammar. It was concluded that not only sociological research is needed on public perceptions of deaf sign language, but also various educational events for the rest of society should be promoted, including seminars, courses, and conferences.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection in the Tiaret region (Algeria)

The Corona Virus disease has spread widely over the world with a high mortality rate. This spread has prompted people to look for other ways to treator minimize the negative impact of this out break. During the pandemic, the Algerian population used medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The present work was carried out to identify the medicinal plants used during COVID-19 by the population of Tiaret region (Algeria). An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to collect data on the medicinal plants used, including the socio demographic parameters of the users and floristic characteristics of the plants. Information was obtained from 428 participants, of which 67.05% were women, aged between 16 and 88 years old. Most plant users were between 41 and 64 years old. The majority of participants have a high level of education (55.14% university and 20.32% secondary). Quantitative indices, namely, Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Family Importance Value (FIV) were used to analyze the data. 27 species of medicinal plants belonging to 15 botanical families used during the COVID - 19 pandemic in our region. The most used species were Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale, Citrus limon and Aloysia citriodora.

Socio-Demographic and Eco-Epidemiological Parameters of Tick-Borne Infections Morbidity in Baikal Region

The aim of the work was to compare the main socio-demographic and eco-epidemiological parameters of tick-borne viral encephalitis, tick-borne borrelioses and tick-borne rickettsiosis.Materials and methods. The authors’ databases based on epidemiological investigation records were used for the study. All in all, 2974 cases (Irkutsk and the Irkutsk district) were analyzed during the periods of 1995–2022 for tick-borne viral encephalitis and tick-borne borrelioses, and 2001–2022 for tick-borne rickettsiosis.Results and discussion. The following parameters were assessed: the timing of epidemic season; the geography of prevalence; localization of tick bite on the human body; incubation time; gender and age structure of patients; social composition and exposure conditions. It was shown, that the parameters had their own features for each disease, and part of them are common to all Eurasian area of these infections. The shared characteristics include: the early epidemic season onset for tick-borne rickettsiosis; the shorter incubation time for tickborne rickettsiosis as compared to tick-borne viral encephalitis and tick-borne borrelioses; the increased frequency of tick-borne rickettsiosis vectors’ bites near the head and neck, and tick-borne borrelioses vectors – on the torso; large percentage of older persons among patients with tick-borne borrelioses and children under 14 years of age among patients with tick-borne rickettsiosis; prevalence of male population over female one as regards all surveyed pathogens. Low incidence of tick-borne diseases among professional contingent (the work associated with staying in natural foci of infection), an increased risk of tick-borne encephalitis and rickettsiosis among social group “unemployed”, and tick-borne borrelioses – among retirees, can be attributed to regional specificity.

Veza između sociodemografskih pokazatelja i CT-dijagnosticiranih uzroka napadaja u državi Katsina, Nigerija

Background: Seizure disorder is a global health concern which tends to be influenced by social and demographic factors. Objectives: This study assessed the influence of these factors on the various seizure aetiologies seen on a brain CT. Methods: Ethical clearance was obtained from the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina and then the retrospective study of 442 brain CT images with positive findings of seizure aetiologies from December 2019 to August 2021 was performed. The socio-demographic parameters of the patients were retrieved from the patients’ records. Results: The seizure aetiologies that dominated the study were ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral atrophy, skull fracture and traumatic brain injury with 81 (18 %), 60 (14 %), 55 (12 %), 41 (9 %) and 43 (10 %) respectively. The first decade of life recorded the highest frequency of seizure aetiologies, there was a decline in the second decade and then the frequency of etiologies increased with the increase in age. There was male gender preponderance with 65%. The Hausa ethnic group dominated the study with 93% of the total subjects. The frequency distributions of urban and rural dwellers were 60% and 40% respectively. Twenty per cent of the total subjects were housewives with stroke comprising 52% of their seizure aetiologies. Conclusion: Chi-square (at 95% CI) showed that there was a statistically significant dependence between the frequencies of brain CTdiagnosed seizure aetiologies with age, gender and occupation but not geographical location. Due to the high frequency of stroke, it is recommended that special attention should be given, especially among housewives.

The factor of emotional non-acceptance of the disease in patients addicted to synthetic cathinones

Recently, synthetic cathinone addiction has spread globally, particularly among youth, due to the popularity of “club” drugs and stimulants. The patient’s motivation to quit psychoactive substances is crucial for effective treatment and rehabilitation. However, motivation for treatment is hindered by anosognosia, the inability of addicts to recognize their condition. Among the aspects of anosognosia, emotional non-acceptance of the disease is significant. The aim of the study is to identify socio-demographic and clinical parameters that are associated with emotional nonacceptance of the disease in patients with addiction to synthetic cathinones to determine psychotherapeutic targets of significance in the construction of rehabilitation programs. Based on the “Emotional non-acceptance of the disease” scale from the drug anosognosia questionnaire developed in 2020, groups of individuals with high and low scores were formed. These groups of patients were compared according to several clinical and socio-demographic parameters. Based on the conducted study, the significance of such factors as: presence of children, service in the army, craniocerebral trauma in the anamnesis and others. Thus, a high level of family support, sufficient material condition of the family and positive attitude of parents to the patient, as well as consistency between the roles of “parent” and “drug addict” are factors that contribute to the emotional acceptance of the disease (drug addiction). At the same time, the influence of clinical characteristics, such as the severity of residual-organic mental changes, personality transformation due to addictive behavior, can hinder emotional acceptance of the disease.

СЕМЕЙНЫЕ РИТУАЛЫ КАК СТРЕССОРЫ: СОЦИАЛЬНО-ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ И МАРКЕТИНГОВЫЙ АНАЛИЗ

The article considers the main stages of the family’s life path and the boundary events separating them from each other, which, in turn, are accompanied by family stressors and rituals. Two events were selected for a more detailed analysis: the discharge of the mother and child from the maternity ward and the child’s baptism. Those events were described from the standpoint of the theory of family stress, as well as some socio-demographic parameters and socio-psychological attitudes of spouses who experienced the discharge of the mother and child from the maternity ward or the child’s baptism. The marketing aspect of the events is analyzed by using the results of interviews with representatives of the target audience (to clarify its features) and content analysis of social networks. Within the framework of the academic societal science on the family the prospects for studying a wider range of boundary events separating one stage of the family’s life path from another, and stressors and/ or rituals from the perspective of the theory of family stress, as well as factors of marriage success, are outlined. In addition, the information obtained can be used to more effectively promote the products accompanying those events.

Sindrom sagorijevanja zdravstvenih radnika zaposlenih u jedinicama intenzivnog liječenja - iskustva u tri jedinice intenzivnog lečenja iz tri velika zdravstvena centra sa Jugoistočnog Balkana - sindrom sagorijevanja zdravstvenih radnika jedinica intenzivnog liječenja Jugoistočnog Balkana

Summary Introduction: Burnout syndrome at work is a response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors associated with the workplace, and occurs in workers without previous psychopathological illnesses or organic diseases. Aim: The aim of the research was to examine the prevalence of stress and burnout syndrome, among physicians and nurses working in the intensive care units (MICU) of 3 regional centers (Banja Luka, Novi Sad and Ljubljana), and to determine the differences between the centers and the causes of these differences. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted during August and September 2020 (at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) by surveying healthcare workers (doctors and nurses/technicians) from three intensive care units of the former Yugoslavia. The participantsfulfilled the Questionnaire for self-assessment of stress levels and the Maslach burnout inventory, which were supplemented with sociodemographic parameters. The obtained data were statistically processed using the SPSS 21 program. Results: 91 participantsfrom all 3 regional centers were included in th study. A statistically significant difference was found in terms of age, degree of professional education, length of service, gender, marital and parental status, where respondents from Ljubljana show the greatest deviations comparedto subjects from the other two centers. The sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents only showed that gender had a statistically significant influence on the degree of personal achievement. Conclusion: The attributes of healthcare professionals who work in MICUs with the same level of life support (level III) may be influenced by the development level and length of tradition of intensive care units. Additionally, factors such as legislation and other external and internal elements unique to each organizational unit can also play a role.

The assessment of Dickkopf-1 and Dickkopf-2 protein concentration in different subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer subtypes.

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) and -2 (DKK-2) are important proteins for the regulated Wnt signalling pathway. Alternations in the Wnt pathway are associated with tumour progression. The aim of the study was to analyse the concentration of DKK-1 and DKK-2 in tumour and matched non-tumour (NT) samples of 65 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including 3 subtypes: adenocarcinoma (AC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and large cell carcinoma (LCC). The protein concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in homogenates. The difference between the level of DKK-1 in tumour and NT specimens was not significant for the whole NSCLC group and SCC and LCC subtype, while in AC samples they were significantly higher (p = 0.028). The highest concentration of DKK-1 was found in the advanced NSCLC samples, with the T4 parameter as well as stage III. Significantly decreased DKK-2 concentrations were detected in all NSCLC subtypes (p < 0.05). Moreover, the DKK-2 level was higher in non-smokers than in smokers. The results indicate that concentrations of DKKs were different in relation to subtypes as well as clinical and socio-demographic parameters. The concentration of DKKs could be associated with the progression of NSCLC. We suggest that DKK-1 could play an oncogenic role in AC, while DKK-2 could be a tumour suppressor in all NSCLC subtypes. Dickkopf-1 and DKK-2 proteins could have differential roles in the Wnt signalling pathway, which is important in many cellular processes, such as proliferation and apoptosis.

Comparison of the effectiveness of non-immunogenic staphylokinase and alteplase for intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke: analysis of hospital registry data

To compare the effectiveness and safety of the use of non-immunogenic staphylokinase (NS) and alteplase (AP) for intravenous thrombolysis (IT) for ischemic stroke (IS) in real clinical practice at a regional vascular center. Data from 100 patients with IS who received IT with NS and 100 patients who received IT with AP for the period 2022-2023 were analyzed. The groups were comparable on sociodemographic parameters, cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, and stroke characteristics. Door-to-needle time was 17 (13-22) min in the NS group and 38 (33-42) min in the AP group (p<0.001). During control neuroimaging, a cerebral infarction was detected in 46% of patients in the NS group and 61% of patients in the AP group (OR 0.479 [0.263; 0.875], p=0.035). When performing IT with NS, an NIHSS score of 0 points (no neurological deficit) was observed twice as often (OR 2.202 [1.079; 4.504], p=0.023). The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation, including symptomatic, as well as hospital mortality did not differ. IT with NS is associated with a lower probability of cerebral infarction and greater positive dynamics of the neurological status in comparison with the use of AP already within the first stage of treatment and rehabilitation.

Adherence to COVID appropriate behavior among medical students: A cross-sectional study

Background and Objectives: India has seen a steep rise in COVID-19 cases driven by infections caused by the Omicron variant. Thus, there is an urgent need to scale up preventive measures or COVID appropriate behavior (CAB). It is essential to assess the CAB practices among the medical students as they are exposed not only to the patients by being in the hospital environment but also because lapse in such practices on part of these students can lead to increased number of infections. Hence, this study was planned to be conducted among medical students to assess the CAB practices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted for the duration of 3 months at a Medical College in Chengalpet district, Tamil Nadu, among medical students using a semi-structured questionnaire in the Google form platform. It included various study variables, namely sociodemographic parameters and parameters related to CAB. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 364 students participated in the study. It was observed that most of the participants were satisfactorily practicing CAB, especially with regard to hand hygiene and use of face masks. Conclusion: The study revealed that the adherence to CAB among the medical students to be satisfactory in most areas of hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment. However, there is a lot of scope to improve in the domain of social distancing and safe disposal of used face masks.

Willingness to pay for colorectal cancer screening: A systematic review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is crucial to reduce the global economic burden related to CRC. The purpose of this study is to examine studies on assessing willingness to Pay (WTP) for CRC screening and to investigate any potential variables influencing WTP. A systematic review was conducted through databases in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. The study included 10 English-language studies that evaluated WTP for CRC screening. The study assessed how much participants were willing to pay for the assumed test cost by calculating the proportion of their WTP value. All values were converted to 2023 USD using a consumer price indices calculator and US Treasury converter. This study showed that the WTP value for CRC screening varied from USD 11.07 to USD 658.65. The co-payment rate ranged from 0.15 to 83.73. The factors influencing WTP value includes sociodemographic factors and the screening test attributes. Our study revealed the variative relationship between sociodemographic parameters and test features in influencing individuals’ decisions about CRC screenings. Understanding the importance of both demographic factors and test attributes is crucial for future research to develop targeted strategies for improving CRC screening uptake. Additionally, insights into WTP value aid in shaping public policies for CRC screening programs.

Using the Health Belief Model to Predict Self-Care Behaviors Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Post COVID-19 Pandemic: A Perspective From the United Arab Emirates.

Data on how the health belief model constructs might predict the self-care behavior of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 2019 pandemic are scarce. This study determines the predictors influencing patients' intention to adhere to self-care for CVD in the United Arab Emirates after the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A total of 222 patients with CVD were purposively selected. Three scales were used: Health Beliefs Related to Cardiovascular Disease, Physical Activity Measurement, and Behavioral Intention Measurement. Various socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and the participants' health belief components were considered potential factors in the multivariate analysis to identify the independent predictors of the intention of self-care behaviors. The participants had a high level of perceived CVD risk (M = 4.02, SD = 0.714) and high level of perceived benefits regarding adopting healthy behavior (M = 4.30, SD = 0.817). The multiple linear regression revealed that not performing regular sweating exercises (β = 0.230), not receiving smoking cessation instructions (β = 0.214, p = .005), being sufficiently active (β = 0.304), and having no history of heart surgery (β = 0.155) were the independent predictors of low intention scores. The perceived benefits and perceived cues to the action of the Health Belief Model (HBM) were significant independent predictors of behavior intention and were responsible for a 22% increase in the participants' intention variances. In a post-COVID CVD, this investigation delineated perceived benefits and cues to action derived from the HBM as the most robust prognosticators of behavioral intention (accounting for 47% of the variance), superseding sociodemographic and clinical parameters (explaining 25% of the variance). These results advocate for tailored interventions accentuating individual advantages and explicit prompts for behavioral modifications within this demographic.

Prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among patients attending medicine outpatient department in a tertiary care center: A cross-sectional study

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder is commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated in medical settings. Aim: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and correlates of generalized anxiety disorder among patients presenting to medicine outpatient department in a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the patients visiting the outpatient department of General Medicine in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical parameters were collected using a structured pro forma. All patients were administered Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to screen for the presence of generalized anxiety disorder. Patients who score 10 or more underwent a semi-structured evaluation using a generalized anxiety disorder module of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders. Results: Two hundred and fifty patients were recruited for the study. The mean age of the participants was 40.66 ± 12.8 years. More than one-fourth of them had diabetes mellitus and about one-fifth of the participants had systemic hypertension and hypothyroidism. Thirty five (14%) participants screened positive on GAD-7 scale. On detailed evaluation using SCID-I, 19 (7.6%) participants were confirmed to have a generalized anxiety disorder. Female gender was associated with the presence of GAD. Conclusion: One in thirteen patients presenting to the medicine outpatient department were found to have generalized anxiety disorder. Female patients had a greater prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder compared to male patients.

Sociodemographic and socioeconomic predictors of unmet healthcare needs of adolescents and young adults in Serbia: A part of the national research

Introduction/Objective. Recognizing the reasons for the unmet health needs of adolescents and young adults is important for identifying the barriers in solving certain health problems, as well as for monitoring the availability, level of use and implementation of healthcare. The aim of this study was to establish the socio-demographic and socio-economic parameters associated with unmet healthcare needs of adolescents and young adults in Serbia. Methods. This cross-sectional study is a part of the 2019 Population Health Survey of Serbia, carried out by Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, on a stratified two-stage sample. The survey included 1519 respondents, aged 15?24 years. The instruments and methodology of the European Health Survey ? third wave (EHIS-wave 3) were used. Factors associated to unmet healthcare needs were examined using logistic regression and the ?2 test. Results. Unfulfilled health needs were present in 4.1% of respondents, and the dominant reasons were finances (44.4%) and long waiting times (34.9%), distance from health institutions was recorded in 1.6% of respondents, while 19.5% of respondents stated several reasons. Multivariate analysis revealed that significant parameters of unmet healthcare needs include age, region, marital, and employment status. Conclusion. The results of this research can give a new direction in creating strategies and defining preventive programs to reduce inequality in the health of adolescents and young adults improve the health of future young generations.