Total Response Rate Research Articles

General dentists' readiness and barriers in intimate partner violence screening: a cross-sectional study in Jeddah City.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has varying prevalence rates and risk factors based on cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. However, it is common for IPV victims to be seen in dental settings on a regular basis. Identifying IPV victims in dental settings might help address this overlooked global dilemma. This study was conducted to evaluate general dentists' readiness and potential barriers to performing IPV screening in a dental setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Domestic Violence Healthcare Providers Survey (DVHPS). This validated and structured questionnaire was adopted, modified, and self-administered to evaluate general dentists' readiness and barriers to IPV screening. General dentists were recruited for the study population from 5 administrative territorial regions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consists of 7 domains that assess general dentists' readiness and barriers to performing IPV screening for all dental patients. Out of the 273 dentists approached, a total of 200 participated in the study, with a total response rate of 73.3%. The percentages of female and male dentists were 54% and 46%, respectively. Almost 73% of the study population believed they could identify IPV in a dental setting. The multiple linear regression model indicated a substantial decrease in general dentists' readiness to perform IPV screening due to fear of offending patients, an increased number of patients treated per day, and professional role resistance. The current study suggests the high readiness of general dentists to perform IPV screening for all patients. However, prominent barriers to implementing IPV screening for all patients include fear of offending patients, an increased number of patients treated per day, and professional role resistance. Postgraduate continuous education is encouraged to re-enforce the importance of IPV screening in dental settings.

Systematic review and sequential analysis of Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sodium Sulfonate Injection combined with enalapril in treatment of acute exacerbation of pulmonary heart disease

To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sodium Sulfonate Injection combined with enalapril in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of pulmonary heart disease. The randomized controlled trial(RCT) on Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sodium Sulfonate Injection combined with enalapril for acute exacerbation of pulmonary heart disease was screened from EMbase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, VIP, CNKI, and Wanfang from inception to March 20, 2022. Meta-analysis of each index was performed in RevMan 5.3 and TSA 0.9. Finally, 41 RCTs involving 3 865 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that the observation group had higher total response rate(RR=1.21, 95%CI[1.18, 1.24], P<0.000 01), lower plasma viscosity(MD=-0.25, 95%CI[-0.34,-0.16], P<0.000 01), lower whole blood viscosity(MD=-0.99, 95%CI[-1.14,-0.85], P<0.000 01), and lower hematokrit(MD=-9.03, 95%CI[-10.57,-7.50], P<0.000 01) than the control group. The incidence of adverse effects showed no significant difference between groups(RR=1.42, 95%CI[0.82, 2.45], P=0.21). Sequential analysis showed that Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sodium Sulfonate Injection combined with enalapril exerted definite efficacy in the treatment of acute exacerbation of pulmonary heart disease, and the possibility of false positives was excluded. Based on the existing evidence, Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sodium Sulfonate Injection combined with enalapril can improve the total response rate and reduce plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, and hematocrit, demonstrating good safety in patients with acute exacerbation of pulmonary heart disease. In the future, more RCT with large sample size, rigorous design, and in accordance with international norms are needed to further validate the results.

A retrospective study on effectiveness of combined recombinant human interferon-α-1b, interleukin-2, and thalidomide for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in various disease states.

Interferon-α-1b, interleukin-2 combined with thalidomide (ITI) improved the outcome and prognosis of some acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, but the cases was insufficient. This study observed the efficacy and safety of this regimen in the treatment of numbers of AML patients in various disease states. Starting in January 2014, patients with AML (n=188) were treated with ITI regimen, including 60 refractory/relapses patients in group A, 40 patients in group B remained minimal residual disease-positive (MRD) or changed from negative to positive again after consolidation therapy, and 88 patients in group C with initial complete remission of AML received the ITI treatment after routine consolidation therapy. Bone marrow, fusion gene and MRD were detected to judge the curative effect and the adverse reactions were observed. The remission rate, MRD status and long-term survival of three groups were analyzed. An AML mouse model was constructed to observe the anti-leukemia effect of the three drugs in vivo. Sixty patients with primary AML who were unable to receive chemotherapy, or with relapsed/refractory AML, showed a total response rate of 28.3% (17/60) after receiving the ITI regimen. Forty patients with morphologically complete remission and MRD-positive achieved a response rate of 77.5% (31/40); the MRD converted to negative in 19 patients and was mitigated in 12 patients. Among 88 patients with initial complete remission, 11 failed to maintain the negative MRD, and the relapse rate was 12.5%, which was significantly lower than that of the non-maintenance treatment group (54.3%). In the mouse model, interferon, interleukin-2, and thalidomide exerted an anti-leukemia effect, prolonged the survival time of the mice, and the anti-leukemia effect was further enhanced after administration of the combination ITI regimen. For suitable patients, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is still strong recommended. The ITI regimen may be an effective option for patients with AML who cannot tolerate conventional chemotherapy, including those with relapsed/refractory disease, those with a complete remission status but are MRD-positive, or those who require maintenance treatment after consolidation therapy. However, a rigorous clinical randomized controlled trial and more in-depth mechanism exploration are still needed to verify this conclusion.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: A dental environment possesses a serious ergonomic health issue on the dental team members which in turn contributes to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The present research is aimed at evaluating the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders and their associated sociodemographic and work environment risk factors among dentists in the United Arab Emirates. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a pretested and validated questionnaire was sent via email as well as on different social media platforms to a total of 497 dentists. A total of 179 dentists completed the study survey, with a total response rate of 36%. A binary logistic regression model was conducted to identify significant risk factors associated with WMSDs. Results: Dentists in the United Arab Emirates experience a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (90.4%) which were associated with high levels of stress in the work environment. Furthermore, dentists in the private sector worked more clinical hours per day (p = 0.000) and had more financial stress (p = 0.007) as compared to those in the governmental sector. Gender (p = 0.007), age (p = 0.01), monthly income (p = 0.073), work experience (p = 0.037), number of patients treated per day (p = 0.049), and the use of an ergonomic dental chair (p = 0.005) were all factors associated with a greater number of affected body regions by WMSDs. Multivariate binary logistic regression for the number of regions affected by WMSDs revealed that not using an ergonomic dental chair (OR 2.70, 95% CI, 1.14-6.36) and high stress in the work environment (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02 to1.67) were associated with more body regions being affected by WMSDs. Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence rate of WMSDs among dentists in the UAE. Future research should be directed towards reducing stress in the work environment, increasing awareness regarding the importance of an ergonomic dental chair, and reducing gaps between private and governmental practices.

Surveillance and risk assessment of health screening for vaccine-preventable diseases among international students in Japan: A cross-sectional study in 2020

ABSTRACT We conducted a cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire in three major Japanese cities from August 03 to 24, 2020 to clarify the current situation of health checkups, including vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), among international students at Japanese universities (JUs) and Japanese language schools (JLSs). The total response rate was 36%: 69 JUs (31%) and 137 JLSs (39%). Over 90% of these institutions conducted chest X-ray screening for tuberculosis among their students, whereas only 24.6% of JUs and 15.3% of JLSs performed general blood tests for health screening. Only 14.5% and 2.2% of the JUs and JLSs, respectively, required the submission of vaccination or antibody certificates for admission. The difficulties in requesting vaccination certificates from international students are due to poor legal requirements and concerns about rising costs for schools. From 2017 to 2019, 183 international students, principally from East Asia and Southeast Asia, were infected with VPDs, particularly tuberculosis (99 cases) and varicella (71 cases). Whereas the majority of Japanese educational institutions screen international students for tuberculosis (TB) at admission, only a few institutions request proof of antibody testing relating to other VPDs or of vaccination. These findings will help formulate guidelines for checkups related to vaccination for international students required to protect the educational institutions in Japan from the spread of VPDs. In addition, providing multifaceted social support, including financial compensation for institutions and enhanced international students’ health issues, would be helpful.

Keagamaan Sebagai Mediator Hubungan Pengetahuan, Sikap dan Persekitaran Pengguna Wanita Muslim Dengan Keputusan Pembelian Produk Kosmetik Halal

The halal cosmetics industry is an industry that is beginning to gain a place in the range of beauty products in the Malaysian market. The issue of cosmetic products categorized as timbang kilo beauty cosmetics with a percentage of scheduled poisons prompts cosmetic users in the market to look for safer products. This scenario provides an excellent opportunity for halal cosmetic products. This research found the increase in demand for halal cosmetic products is influenced by the knowledge, attitude, and environment of consumers. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze whether the religious factor is capable of being a mediator in the relationship between the factors of knowledge, attitude, and consumer environment with the decision to purchase halal cosmetic products. The questionnaire was conducted online using Google Forms. The total response rate that has been received is as much as 234 people, however, after carrying out the data screening process, 33 samples are invalid respondents and have been dropped. This reduced the total sample to 201 people. Therefore, this study focuses on 201 working Muslim women in Selangor. The results of the study found the coefficient value for the religious factor as a mediator of knowledge, attitude and environment factors are 0.145 while the standard error value is 0.027. For the effect of the mediator on consumer purchase decisions on halal cosmetic products, the coefficient value is 0.117 while the standard error value is 0.049. The researcher also conducted the Sobel test. The result of the Sobel test was 2.18, with an associated P value of 0.029 falling below the set alpha level of 0.05. This shows that there is a significant relationship between the mediator with the independent variable and the dependent variable. In other words, the religious factor is confirmed as a mediator in the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables. The results of this finding can be concluded that the application of religious values can influence the decision to purchase halal cosmetic products. The application of religious values in individuals encourages consumers to choose halal products as demanded in Islam.

The effect of chronoradiotherapy on cervical cancer patients: A multicenter randomized controlled study.

To investigate the short-term efficacy and radiotoxicity 3.543of chronoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer. We also examined the overall symptom score and quality of life (QOL) of patients who underwent morning radiotherapy and evening radiotherapy. We conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of morning radiotherapy (9:00-11:00 AM) with evening radiotherapy (7:00-9:00 PM) in cervical cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. From November 2021 to June 2022, 114 cervical cancer patients admitted to eight cancer center hospitals in Tianjin, Chongqing, Hubei, Shanxi, Shandong, Shaanxi, Hebei, and Cangzhou were randomly divided into the morning radiotherapy group (MG; N = 61) and the evening radiotherapy group (EG; N = 53). The short-term efficacy of radiotherapy on cervical cancer patients at different time points and the occurrence of radiotoxicity were explored after patients had undergone radiotherapy. The total effective response (partial remission [PR] + complete remission [CR]) rate was similar across the two groups (93.5% vs. 96.3%, p > 0.05). However, the incidence of bone marrow suppression and intestinal reaction in the two groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). The patients in the MG had significantly higher Anderson symptom scores than patients in the EG (21.64 ± 7.916 vs. 18.53 ± 4.098, p < 0.05). In terms of physical activity, functional status, and overall QOL, the MG had significantly lower scores than the EG (p < 0.05). No other measures showed a significant difference between the groups. The radiotherapy effect of the MG was consistent with that of the EG. The incidence of radiation enteritis and radiation diarrhea in the MG was significantly higher than that in the EG; however, bone marrow suppression and blood toxicity in the EG were more serious than in the MG. Because of the small sample size of the study, we only examined the short-term efficacy of radiotherapy. Therefore, further clinical trials are needed to verify the efficacy and side effects of chronoradiotherapy. http://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx, Registration Number: ChiCTR2100047140.

The Significance of Cognitive Distortions and Risk Factors Due to Android Games Addictions for Adults

Background: The primary purpose of this study is to find out the Significance of Cognitive Distortions and Risk Factors due to Android Game Addiction for Adults. Methods: The research population includes three main parameters Physical Effects, Mental Effects, and, Cognitive Effects each part containing 10 questions. The sample comprises 200 school students (male=150, females=50) between the ages of 8 to 20 years recruited from schools in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 200 copies of the Questionnaire are distributed among the students. Only 180 copies are received filled so the total response rate of the data collection was 90%. SPSS tool was used to analyze the results of the Questionnaire. It aims to einvestigate the impacts that Android Games have on adults. As most of the researchers have done Quantitative research in this area, so I decided to conduct both Quantitative and Qualitative research designs which can help us get a deeper understanding of Android Game Addiction. Findings: By going through the results, it is revealed that the all above-mentioned three main parameters are found positive in adults. According to the range of the frequency, it is concluded that all three factors are in the medium range not more harmful. There was a strong positive association between the addictions of students to Android mobile games and their physical and mental well-being in terms of physical, mental, and cognitive health.

Strengthening capacity-building in malaria and schistosomiasis control under China-Africa cooperation: Assessing a case study of Burkina Faso

Malaria and schistosomiasis are highly prevalent in Burkina Faso, whereas China has successfully eliminated malaria as well as schistosomiasis as a public health problem. To implement the China-Africa health cooperation initiative, a series of activities were launched since 2019 to enhance understanding and cooperation among malaria and schistosomiasis professionals in China and Burkina Faso. This study described the achievements of the First Virtual Symposium of China-Burkina Faso Cooperation on Schistosomiasis and Malaria Control. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were employed to study the knowledge changes of participants regarding malaria and schistosomiasis control and elimination, explore capacity-building priorities, and identify potential challenges. Chi-squared statistics were used to compare the differences between sub-groups, and p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants ranked their preferences for challenges and capacity-building priorities in future cooperation. The responses of participants from both China and Burkina Faso indicated effective improvement in their general knowledge about the diseases whereas the improvement in professional knowledge on malaria and schistosomiasis was limited. The total correct response rate increased from 54.08% to 66.78%. Chinese participants had better schistosomiasis knowledge than Burkina Faso participants did, but the same result was not found for malaria. Diseases control strategies, surveillance and response system, and diagnostics techniques were identified as the top three priorities for future capacity building. Participants from China and Burkina Faso shared almost the same views about challenges except with respect to pathogens, which the former saw as a major challenge and the latter did not. The study findings will help policymakers, health managers, and researchers to understand the future cooperation between Burkina Faso and China on malaria and schistosomiasis.

1MO The fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injection (PH FDC SC) in Chinese patients (pts) with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC): Primary analysis of the phase III, randomised FDChina study

PH FDC SC was shown to be non-inferior to intravenous (IV) P and H in cycle 7 serum trough concentrations (Ctrough), with comparable total pathological complete response (tpCR) rates and safety profiles, in pts with HER2-positive EBC (FeDeriCa; NCT03493854). It is also less invasive, preferred by pts and reduces pt chair time. FDChina (NCT04024462) assesses (neo)adjuvant PH FDC SC in Chinese pts.

Clinical Outcomes Following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Non-Spinal Bone Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> There is limited data available on clinical outcomes following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for non-spinal bone metastases. As such, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize local control (LC), overall survival (OS), pain control, and toxicity following SBRT. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> A PICOS/PRISMA/MOOSE selection criterion was utilized to identify studies. Primary outcomes were 1-year LC and incidences of acute and late Grade 3-5 toxicities. The secondary outcomes were 1-year OS and pain control at 3 months. Weighted random effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate effect sizes. Mixed effects weighted regression models were utilized to assess for correlations between median biologically effective dose (BED₁₀), LC, and toxicity incidence. <h3>Results</h3> We identified 460 patients with 580 non-spinal bone lesions across 9 studies treated with SBRT. The median age was 64 years (range: 36-91). The most common primaries were prostate (28.7%), lung (23.0%), renal cell carcinoma (16.5%), and breast (14.3%). For those on information with weight-bearing status, 424/571 lesions (74.3%) were weight-bearing. The median dose and fractionation were 35 Gy/5 fractions with a median BED₁₀ of 59.5 Gy (range: 26.4-81.6 Gy). The estimated 1-year OS rate was 71.0% (95% CI: 51.7-87.0%). The estimated 1-year LC rate was 94.6% (95% CI: 87.0-99.0%). The estimated combined acute and late Grade 3-5 toxicity rate was 0.5% (95% CI: 0-5.0%). The estimated 3-month combined partial and total pain response rate following SBRT was 87.7% (95% CI: 55.1-100.0%). We did not note a correlation between BED₁₀ and LC, toxicity indigence, or pain-response rates. <h3>Conclusion</h3> SBRT resulted in excellent LC as well and palliative outcomes with minimal related toxicity. Additional dose escalation was not found to be associated with either improved outcomes or additional toxicity. Prospective investigations are warranted to further examine the role of SBRT for patients with non-spinal bone metastases in order to inform the ideal dose/fractionation schema and approaches to planning.

High response rate and low cost of WeChat-based data collection of infant and young child feeding data in rural Qinghai Province, China.

BackgroundMeasuring the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators is key to effectively tracking the progress of child health programs and making evidence-based decisions. WeChat is the most popular mobile social media platform in China and has become a promising tool for collecting health data. This study aims to explore the response rate and costs of a WeChat-based questionnaire on IYCF information in rural China.MethodsWe conducted two cross-sectional surveys with caregivers of children aged 6-23 months in two rural counties in Qinghai Province (Menyuan and Datong County), China, from January to March 2022. Both surveys used the same WeChat IYCF questionnaire to collect household information, infant feeding practices, and caregivers’ feeding knowledge. Village doctors sent a quick response (QR) code to caregivers that was linked to the WeChat IYCF questionnaire. Participating caregivers scanned the QR code using their own WeChat account on their smartphone and filled in the questionnaire online. If they could not use WeChat themselves, village doctors administered the questionnaire. Once caregivers finished the questionnaires, they received a personalized report with infant feeding recommendations.ResultsWe recruited 1274 caregivers of children aged 6-23 months in Menyuan County and 1748 caregivers in Datong County. The total response rate in the two counties was 98.2%; 77.6% of questionnaires were self-administered by caregivers and 20.6% were interviewer-administered by village doctors. The questionnaires were filled in twice by 209 (6.9%) caregivers. The cost of these two WeChat IYCF surveys was much lower than the cost of a previously conducted face-to-face survey: 11.8 yuan (US$1.85) in Menyuan County and 7.5 yuan (US$1.18) in Datong County for the WeChat survey vs 112.7 yuan (US$17.70) for the face-to-face survey in Huzhu County.ConclusionsThis study showed that using WeChat for IYCF surveys can achieve a very high response rate at a low cost in rural China. Village doctors played a very important role in achieving this high response rate. Providing feedback to caregivers may improve their feeding practices and this intervention could be incorporated into the data collection process.

What GPs do to meet accreditation standards – implementation activities and perceived improvements attributed to general practice accreditation

BackgroundHealthcare accreditation is a widely implemented tool used to enhance the quality of care and underpin quality control. However, research is sparse on the accreditation process in general practice. The aim of this study was to explore how team-based implementation activities preceding accreditation were associated with self-perceived improvements in emergency preparedness (preparedness for urgent disease and cardiac arrest) and handling of prescription renewals in Danish general practice.MethodsGPs (general practitioners) completed a questionnaire exploring practice-team activities conducted to implement two specific accreditation standards and the related improvements as perceived by the GPs. The following implementation activities were selected, inspired by Normalization Process Theory: Common understanding (obtaining a common understanding of the purpose of implementing changes according to the accreditation standard), key person (assigning a key person responsible for working with the standard), and easy integration (finding it easy to integrate changes into existing working procedures). Data were analysed with logistic regression, and adjusted analyses included practice type, number of GP partners, number of staff, training site for junior GPs and administrative region.ResultsThe total response rate was 74% (n = 920). Around 80% of the clinics reported having conducted team-based implementation activities. Almost half of the clinics (48%) reported perceived improvements in the emergency preparedness, and 30% reported perceived improvements in the handling of prescription renewals. Obtaining a common understanding was found to have a strong, significant association with perceived improvements in the emergency preparedness (OR = 5.07 (3.06–8.40)) and handling of prescription renewals (OR = 3.66 (2.07–6.46)). Easy integration of changes was also significantly associated with improvements in both emergency preparedness (OR = 1.88 (1.24–2.85)) and handling of prescription renewals (OR = 2.34 (1.44–3.79)), whereas assigning a key person was only significantly associated with improved emergency preparedness (OR = 1.95 (1.19–3.19)).ConclusionClinical quality initiatives that involve collaboration within a practice team are more likely to cause improvements if specific team-based implementation activities are conducted. It is particularly important to facilitate a common understanding of the purpose of the initiative. Therefore, external support for quality initiatives aiming at the practice level in general practice should facilitate such team-based activities.

Understanding the near-peer relationship: resident perspectives around a novel on-call workplace-based assessment.

Workplace-based assessment (WBA) is a critical component of competency-based medical education (CBME), though literature on WBA for overnight call is limited. We evaluated a WBA tool completed by supervising subspecialty trainees on paediatric residents during subspecialty overnight call, for usefulness facilitating feedback/coaching in this setting. Web-based surveys were sent to residents pre- and post-WBA tool implementation monthly for four months (August-December 2018), exploring feedback frequency, Likert-scaled opinions of tool feasibility/usefulness facilitating feedback, and qualitative experiences. Assessor comments were categorized as actionable/non-actionable. Quantitative data was summarized using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was coded to identify themes. Total response rates averaged 41% (total 25 responses, average five respondents/12 residents on-call each month). Post-implementation (n = 16 responses), a non-sustained trend of increased Medical Expert feedback was observed. Residents were generally divided or disagreed on tool usefulness facilitating feedback and feasibility. Comments contained actionable feedback in < 10% of completed WBAs. Qualitative analysis revealed barriers to tool-facilitated coaching including: feedback quality and setting/environment, role of senior near-peer as assessor, interpersonal burden in encounters, and tool-specific issues. Increasing frequency of WBA tool completion is not sufficient to achieve CBME goals. Factors impacting feedback/coaching within the resident/near-peer dyad must be addressed.

The efficacy and safety of secondary focused ultrasound therapy for recurrence of non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva

Objective To investigate the efficacy, safety, and influencing factors of secondary focused ultrasound (FU) therapy for recurrence of non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva (NNEDV). Methods Patients with NNEDV who have relapsed after initial FU treatment were included in this study. They were treated with secondary FU therapy between July 2015 and July 2021. Outcome measures included the degree of symptom severity and operative complications. We further analyzed the relationships between age, course, time between relapse and initial treatment, menopause status, lesion size, pathological types, severity of symptoms, and curative rate. Results There were 98 patients enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 47.4 ± 11.4 years. All patients successfully underwent secondary FU therapy. Blisters developed among 16 (16.3%) patients, of whom 6 (6.1%) developed superficial skin ulcers. A curative response was observed among 46 (46.9%) patients, while an effective response was observed among 44 (44.9%) patients. Only 8 (8.2%) patients showed no improvement. The total response rate was 91.8%. A total of 12 (12.2%) cases recurred among all effective cases. Patients with a recurrence of NNEDV after more than 1.5 years following their first FU therapy demonstrated a higher response rate than those with a recurrence after less than 1.5 years. Conclusions A second FU therapy remains effective for patients with recurrent NNEDV with no obvious side effects. The response rate, however, is higher for patients who experience recurrence of NNDEDV after more than 1.5 years.

The relationship between maternal employment and stunting among 6-59 months old children in Gurage Zone Southern Nation Nationality People's region, Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

BackgroundMotivating proper nutrition during childhood is the basis for optimal health, learning, productivity, and social wellbeing throughout life. Stunting is among the major public health problems. According to the Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey, the prevalence of stunting among under five children was 37%. In addition, stunting has a trans-generational effect on a mother’s nutritional status. However, evidence on the causal contribution of maternal employment to stunting among under five children is not well understood in Ethiopia. This study aimed to compare the stunting status and associated factors among under five children of employed and unemployed mothers in the Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia, in 2021. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 671 (330 employed and 341 unemployed) randomly selected mother–child pairs in the Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A pretested semi-structured tool and validated anthropometric measurements were used to collect the data. The data were entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0 for analysis. Frequency, percent, mean, median, and SD were computed and presented by using tables and figures. A bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between factors and outcome variables.ResultsIn this study, a total of 671 mother–child pairs (330 (94.60%) employed and 341 (97.70%) unemployed) participated, with a total response rate of 96%. Among the total participants, about 70 (21.2%) [95% CI: (17.0, 25.5)] and 98 (28.8%) [95% CI: (23.0, 33.4)] of children of employed and unemployed mothers, respectively, were stunted. Mothers’ level of education, primary and secondary [AOR = 1.79, 95% CI: (0.8, 3.7), age between 25 and 29 years [AOR = 0.08, 95% CI: (0.006, 0.904)], monthly family income > 5,000 birr [AOR = 0.42, 95% CI: (0.00, 0.64)], and children aged between 6 and 23 months [AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: (1.48, 5.80)] were predictors of stunting among the children of employed mothers. Compared to the mothers who did not receive nutritional education [AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: (1.10, 5.60)], monthly family income of 2,000 ETB [AOR = 2.64; 95% CI: (1.34, 5.19)], sex of child (girl) [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: (1.30, 3.80), and mothers educational status of read-and-write only [AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: (1.40, 5.80)] were predictors of stunting among the children of unemployed mothers. The nutrition intervention should focus on encouraging women’s education as it increases the probability of being employed, improving the income of families by using different income-generating strategies, and strengthening the existing essential nutrition counseling strategy. Likewise, further research work on the difference between employed and unemployed mothers on stunting status is also recommended to researchers.

The retrospective acceptability of high intensity versus low intensity speech intervention in children with a cleft palate: A qualitative study from the parents' point of view using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

Increasing attention is paid to the effectiveness of high-intensity speech intervention in children with a cleft (lip and) palate (CP±L). It is, however, unknown if high-intensity intervention is acceptable to the intervention recipients. Parents have an integral role in supporting their children with intervention highlighting the importance of intervention acceptability to parents. To compare the retrospective acceptability of high-intensity speech intervention (10 1-hr speech therapy sessions divided over 2 weeks) with the retrospective acceptability of low-intensity speech intervention (10 1-hr speech therapy sessions divided over 10 weeks) for children with a CP±L from the parents' point of view. Twelve parents of 12 children, aged 6-0 years who received high-intensity speech intervention (n = 6) or low-intensity speech intervention (n = 6), were invited to participate in this study. Seven parents (n = 3 in the high-intensity group and n = 4 in the low-intensity group) agreed to participate (total response rate: 7/12, 58.33%). A qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was applied. To investigate the retrospective acceptability of the two intervention intensities, deductive coding according to the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) was used. With regard to the TFA construct 'affective attitude', results demonstrated that parents had positive feelings about the provided speech intervention regardless of the intensity. Parents of children who received high-intensity speech intervention reported two specific benefits related to the high intervention intensity: (1) it improved their relationship with the speech-language pathologist and (2) it improved their child's ability to make self-corrections in his/her speech. Even though both high-intensive and low-intensity speech intervention were considered burdensome (TFA construct 'burden'), parents were less likely to drop out of high-intensity intervention because the total intervention period was kept short. In conclusion, high-intensity speech intervention seemed acceptable to parents. More positive codes were identified for some of the TFA constructs in the high-intensity intervention group than in the low-intensity intervention group. Considering that some parents doubted their self-efficacy to participate in high-intensity speech intervention, speech-language pathologists need to counsel them so that they can adhere to the high intervention intensity. Future studies should investigate whether high-intensity speech intervention is also acceptable to the children who receive the intervention and to the speech-language pathologists who deliver the intervention. What is already known on this subject Increasing attention is paid to the effectiveness of high-intensity speech intervention in children with a cleft (lip and) palate (CP±L). Different quantitative studies have shown positive speech outcomes after high-intensity cleft speech intervention. Despite this increasing attention to high-intensity speech intervention, it is unknown whether high-intensity intervention is also acceptable to the intervention recipients. This study compared the retrospective acceptability of high-intensity speech intervention (10 1-hour speech therapy sessions divided over 2 weeks) with the retrospective acceptability of low-intensity speech intervention (10 1-hour speech therapy sessions divided over 10 weeks) in children with a CP±L from the parents' point of view. What this paper adds to existing knowledge More positive codes were identified for some of the TFA constructs in the high-intensity intervention group than in the low-intensity intervention group. Nevertheless, some parents doubted their self-efficacy to participate in high-intensity speech intervention. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The findings of this study forces us to reconsider the traditional cleft speech intervention delivery models which usually consist of low-intensity intervention. Speech-language pathologists need to counsel parents and so that they can adhere to the high intervention intensity.

Laboratory policies and practices for thyroid function tests in Croatia: survey on behalf of Working Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

IntroductionLaboratory plays important part in screening, diagnosis, and management of thyroid disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate current laboratory preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical practices and policies in Croatia.Materials and methodsWorking Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine designed a questionnaire with 27 questions and statements regarding practices and protocols in measuring thyroid function tests. The survey was sent to 111 medical biochemistry laboratories participating in external quality assurance scheme for thyroid hormones organized by Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine. Data is presented as absolute numbers and proportions.ResultsFifty-three participants returned the questionnaire. Response rate varied depending on question, yielding a total survey response rate of 46-48%. All respondents perform thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). From all other thyroid tests, most performed is free thyroxine (37/53) and least TSH-stimulating immunoglobulin (1/53). Laboratories are using nine different immunoassay methods. One tenth of laboratories is verifying manufacturer’s declared limit of quantification for TSH and one third is verifying implemented reference intervals for all performed tests. Most of laboratories (91%) adopt the manufacturer’s reference interval for adult population. Reference intervals for TSH are reported with different percentiles (90, 95 or 99 percentiles).ConclusionThis survey showed current practices and policies in Croatian laboratories regarding thyroid testing. The results identified some critical spots and will serve as a foundation in creating national guidelines in order to harmonize laboratory procedures in thyroid testing in Croatia.

Clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine powder in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds.

This study aimed to explore the clinical application and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) powder in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds. Eighty patients with a wound infection were randomly and equally divided into a control group and an observation group. Gauze padding containing furacilin was used to dress the infected wounds of the control group. TCM powder was used to treat the wounds of the observation group. The total response rate of the observation group was significantly higher than the control group (P= .017). The colour and exudate volume scores in the observation group were lower than the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P< .05). The time to the appearance of new epithelium and time to the wound healing of the burns in the observation group were shorter than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P< .05). The TCM powder absorbed a large amount of necrotic tissue and exudate from the wound surface, cleared heat and toxins, and activated blood circulation. It also resolved blood stasis, eliminated pus, and allowed for new skin growth, as well as regenerating muscle.

COVID-19 as an opportunity for minimally-invasive dentistry: a national cross-sectional survey

BackgroundDuring the COVID19 pandemic, the Latvian government issued first absolute restrictions (elective treatments prohibited, only emergency care) and later relative restrictions (preference for non-aerosol-generating procedures (AGP) and emergency care) on dental care. This study aims to assess the impact of these restrictions on the decision made by Latvian dentists about caries treatment.MethodsA Survey-based cross-sectional study was used. A minimum sample size of 174 dentists was estimated for national representativeness (N = 1524). The questionnaire was developed by experts and sent three times via email to Latvian dentists from July to September 2020 and was also delivered in printed form at two national conferences in September and October 2020. Descriptive statistics were calculated.ResultsWe received 373 completed questionnaires, with a total response rate of 24.5%. Under the recommendation to reduce AGP for the treatment of uncomplicated caries, 10% of the dentists stated that they would stop attending, 54% would only attend emergencies, and 36% would attend as usual. Under prohibition, the percentages are 15%, 74%, and 11%, respectively. Regarding the type of treatment, more than 75% would opt to proceed with selective caries removal for both primary and permanent teeth and 10% for extraction.ConclusionLatvian dentists are willing to treat patients with caries during the pandemic and state that they prefer to use non- or minimally invasive and less aerosol-generating methods for caries treatment.