Training Of Healthcare Professionals Research Articles

Profile of adverse drug reactions reported via the Continuum+ platform: Results from three-year regional follow-up

In 2017, the Continuum+ platform was launched to provide a monitoring solution to home-based cancer care patients: AKO@dom monitoring. This platform also offers the follow-up of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) via direct notification to regional centers of pharmacovigilance (RCPVs). According to previous studies, the AKO@dom monitoring has successfully maintained treatment at the maximum effective dosage, managing ADRs and patient satisfaction. However, on the pharmacovigilance side, opinions are more divided. Due to the launch of the AKO@dom-PICTO experimentation in December 2021, in which our RCPV takes part, and to provide more data on pharmacovigilance, we decided to conduct a descriptive analysis of cases reported to our RCPV via the Continuum+ platform between 2019 and 2022. During these three years, we analyzed 1070 events, corresponding to 37patients. Patients were primarily women (74.8%) aged around seventy with breast cancer. The most used drugs were tyrosine kinase inhibitors: palbociclib (29.7%), axitinib (16.2%), and cabozantinib (13.2%). Patients had an average of 8 ADRs, including one serious and/or unexpected ADR. Although the Continuum+ platform makes it possible to considerably limit under-reporting in pharmacovigilance, it has shortcomings. The lack of medical elements and context in notifications is a massive problem for analyzing pharmacovigilance reports. Improved access to the platform's medical information for RCPVs and pharmacovigilance training for healthcare professionals would make Continuum+ a helpful tool in pharmacovigilance.

TRACKING OF MICROORGANISMS ON THE SURFACE AND IN SERVERS A THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN PALMAS-TO

Hospital infection (HI) is a public health problem in Brazil. Resistant bacteria increase the risk of superinfections and raise the number of deaths, factors that may be associated with failures in antiseptic and environmental disinfection processes, favoring cross-contamination. This study investigated the presence of microorganisms on hospital surfaces, on employees' hands and nostrils, and analyzed retrospective infections suspected of hospital infection at a Public Hospital in Palmas, TO. The results revealed the predominant presence of microorganisms of the genus Staphylococcus. The analysis indicated shortcomings in antiseptic and disinfection procedures, highlighting the urgent need for more rigorous biosafety measures. The research emphasizes the importance of appropriate antimicrobial protocols to prevent and treat Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and underscores the need for awareness and training of healthcare professionals. The study also points to the growing antimicrobial resistance and frequent identification of multidrug-resistant strains. These findings have significant implications for improving patient safety in hospital settings and provide a solid foundation for the development of effective strategies for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections, aiming to reduce the incidence of HI and enhance the quality of healthcare.

Design of Intelligent Hybrid Energy Ambulatory Surgical Center Ship in Efficient Way

An Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC), also known as an outpatient surgery center, is a medical facility that provides same-day surgical procedures to patients who do not require an overnight stay in a hospital. ASCs are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and staffed by highly trained healthcare professionals, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists and nurses. There are many areas along the river where people do not have easy access to any surgery. They have to go far to get this service, for which they do not even take the service. This research is for them. This research will ensure their basic medical services. The contribution of this research, this world-class surgical ship goes to ensure the basic medical needs of poor people in remote areas where good healthcare is not available. Another great contribution that will surprise the world is that no conventional fuel is needed to ensure this healthcare service. So undoubtedly this research has a great contribution in the global energy crisis. To ensure efficient ambulatory surgical center (ASC) ship, conducting site assessment, sizing the hybrid system appropriately, selecting the right components, improving hybrid energy system design, implement intelligent system is important. And these are the scope of our research. A detailed analysis of all possible aspects has shown that using intelligent hybrid energy ships instead of conventional ships improves the quality of service. Long lasting service is achieved with low energy consumption, sustainability and no pollution even without compromising performance. In this research details of ASC will be critically discussed.

Pharmacovigilance in Nigeria: Addressing challenges in ensuring drug safety and monitoring adverse effects

This paper examines the specific challenges faced by Nigeria in implementing pharmacovigilance measures to ensure drug safety and monitor adverse effects. Despite the critical importance of pharmacovigilance in safeguarding public health, Nigeria grapples with several obstacles in its implementation. Through a nuanced exploration of literature and regulatory frameworks, this study sheds light on the unique hurdles encountered in pharmacovigilance practices within the Nigerian context. Challenges in Nigeria's pharmacovigilance landscape include limited awareness and understanding of pharmacovigilance principles among healthcare professionals and consumers, resulting in underreporting of adverse drug reactions. Additionally, there is a lack of robust infrastructure and resources for pharmacovigilance activities, including inadequate funding, shortage of trained personnel, and deficient pharmacovigilance databases. Regulatory enforcement and oversight are also hindered by issues such as weak regulatory frameworks, fragmented reporting systems, and suboptimal collaboration among regulatory agencies. Furthermore, Nigeria's pharmacovigilance efforts are compounded by factors such as the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard medicines, informal drug markets, and cultural beliefs influencing healthcare-seeking behaviors. These challenges pose significant barriers to effective pharmacovigilance implementation and compromise patient safety and public health outcomes in Nigeria. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach encompassing regulatory reforms, capacity building initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with international partners. Strengthening regulatory frameworks, enhancing healthcare professional training on pharmacovigilance, establishing robust reporting systems, and fostering partnerships between regulatory agencies, healthcare institutions, and pharmaceutical companies are essential steps toward improving pharmacovigilance practices in Nigeria. Through a thorough examination of the Nigerian context, this paper aims to raise awareness of the specific challenges hindering pharmacovigilance implementation in the country and stimulate dialogue on potential solutions to enhance drug safety and monitoring of adverse effects in Nigeria's healthcare system.

Comparative analysis of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0 in Taiwan's medical technologist certification: A study in artificial intelligence advancements.

This study examines the comparative effectiveness of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0, in the certification of medical technologists (MT) in Taiwan, exploring their adeptness in processing complex medical language and their contributory role in the educational and communicative aspects of professional healthcare training. This study used GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0 to test the medical laboratory technician professional college entrance examination questions. The questions in different fields, including six subjects, such as Clinical Physiology and Pathology, Hematology, and Blood Bank, among others were answered one-on-one using two generative pretrained transformer (GPT) versions, simulating the situations during exam preparation. A total of 480 questions were analyzed and the results showed that both versions of the GPT met the certification standards. Version 4.0 was better than version 3.5 for all subjects, particularly in Clinical Biochemistry (score = 96.25) and Microbiology (score = 91.25). Outstanding performance compared to version 3.5, which had an average score of 65.42 and a maximum score of 77.5. Overall, version 4.0, which was significantly better than version 3.5 in both median and average scores, reflects a significant improvement in professional knowledge processing capabilities. The GPT can provide valuable support for both the upstream and downstream processes of MT certification. Future research can further explore the application of GPT in different educational and certification contexts and improve the passing rate of medical personnel in the certification process. This study provides useful information for exploring the potential applications of GPT in certifying medical examiners. Furthermore, it provides new directions for future research in medical education.

Artificial intelligence in intensive care medicine

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into intensive care medicine has made considerable progress in recent studies, particularly in the areas of predictive analytics, early detection of complications, and the development of decision support systems. The main challenges remain availability and quality of data, reduction of bias and the need for explainable results from algorithms and models. Methods to explain these systems are essential to increase trust, understanding, and ethical considerations among healthcare professionals and patients. Proper training of healthcare professionals in AI principles, terminology, ethical considerations, and practical application is crucial for the successful use of AI. Careful assessment of the impact of AI on patient autonomy and data protection is essential for its responsible use in intensive care medicine. A balance between ethical and practical considerations must be maintained to ensure patient-centered care while complying with data protection regulations. Synergistic collaboration between clinicians, AI engineers, and regulators is critical to realizing the full potential of AI in intensive care medicine and maximizing its positive impact on patient care. Future research and development efforts should focus on improving AI models for real-time predictions, increasing the accuracy and utility of AI-based closed-loop systems, and overcoming ethical, technical, and regulatory challenges, especially in generative AI systems.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning in axial spondyloarthritis.

To evaluate the current applications and prospects of artificial intelligence and machine learning in diagnosing and managing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), focusing on their role in medical imaging, predictive modelling, and patient monitoring. Artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning, is showing promise in diagnosing axSpA assisting with X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and MRI analyses, with some models matching or outperforming radiologists in detecting sacroiliitis and markers. Moreover, it is increasingly being used in predictive modelling of disease progression and personalized treatment, and could aid risk assessment, treatment response and clinical subtype identification. Variable study designs, sample sizes and the predominance of retrospective, single-centre studies still limit the generalizability of results. Artificial intelligence technologies have significant potential to advance the diagnosis and treatment of axSpA, providing more accurate, efficient and personalized healthcare solutions. However, their integration into clinical practice requires rigorous validation, ethical and legal considerations, and comprehensive training for healthcare professionals. Future advances in artificial intelligence could complement clinical expertise and improve patient care through improved diagnostic accuracy and tailored therapeutic strategies, but the challenge remains to ensure that these technologies are validated in prospective multicentre trials and ethically integrated into patient care.

Co-creation of a health literate-sensitive training and conversation aid to support shared decision-making in maternity care

BackgroundMaternity care increasingly aims to achieve Shared Decision-making (SDM), yet seemingly not to the benefit of clients with low health literacy (HL). We developed an SDM training for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and a conversation aid to support HL-sensitive SDM in maternity care. MethodsThe training and conversation aid were based on previous needs assessments and expert consultation, and were developed in co-creation with clients (n = 15) and HCPs (n = 7). Usability, acceptability and comprehension of the conversation aid were tested among new clients (n = 14) and HCPs (n = 6). Acceptability of the training was tested among midwifery students (n = 5). ResultsIn the co-creation sessions, clients reported to expect that their midwife becomes acquainted with their general values, priorities and daily context. Clients also emphasized wanting to be supported in their preferred decisional role. User test interviews showed that clients and HCPs were positive towards using the conversation aid, but also apprehensive about the time it required. The user test of the training showed that more attention was needed for recognizing and adapting information provision to clients' HL level. Conclusion and innovationThe newly developed conversation aid and training have potential to support HCPs and clients in HL-sensitive SDM.

Training healthcare professionals to discriminate between examples and non‐examples of racial microaggressions

AbstractPresident Bill Clinton's Race Advisory Board (1998) discussed racism as being nearly invisible to Americans, and White Americans are often unaware of their role in perpetuating racism today. Microaggressions are a common type of racism that take the form of denigrating comments toward those of racial minority groups (Sue et al., 2007). While often unintentional or unconsciously used, microaggressions adversely affect today's society. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate a differential reinforcement with feedback intervention to facilitate discrimination between examples and non‐examples of microaggressions among healthcare workers employed by a tertiary hospital setting. We recruited 26 healthcare workers to complete three surveys via a Qualtrics survey. Baseline data showed moderately high, but variable, accuracy in discriminating examples and non‐examples of microaggressions. Following the reinforcement plus feedback intervention, participants' accurate discrimination between (non‐) examples of microaggressions increased. We will discuss these results in terms of using behavior‐analytic procedures to effectively teach what constitutes microaggressive acts that negatively impact people of color.

(PM-09) PIONEERING SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL: AN EXPERIENTIAL ACCOUNT

Abstract Introduction Sexual dysfunctions remain inadequately addressed in medical education, despite their prevalence and adverse impact on quality of life. In Brazil, there are scarce university-affiliated healthcare centers that focus on sexual health. These services play a critical role in diagnosing and managing sexual disorders and can be pivotal in the training of healthcare professionals, as well as in the advancement of research and outreach in sexual medicine. Objective To describe the experience of establishing two sexual health centers in university-affiliated hospitals in Northeastern Brazil. Method This is an experiential report detailing the establishment of two distinct sexual health services. Results Both sexual health services started in different general hospitals in 2021, founded by a male and a female psychiatrists, authors of this paper. The initiative was prompted by the lack of dedicated sexual health services and the awareness of substantial patient distress stemming from sexual issues. Activities include patient consultations, case discussions, sexology seminars, and research project development, involving medical students and resident physicians, integrated into the psychiatry residency curriculum Referrals come mainly from other hospital specialties, but external referrals are also accepted. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals occurs through the analysis of clinical cases. Conclusion The establishment of sexual health services within university-affiliated hospitals has a positive impact on patient care and contributes to the study of sexual medicine, an area often overlooked in medical education. Improvements are needed in patient recruitment, counter-referral procedures, and the systematic incorporation of medical student rotations. While these services hold promise, they require greater integration with other healthcare services and a closer collaboration with undergraduate medical education. Financing No conflict.

A Scoping Review of Breastfeeding Interventions and Programs Conducted Across Spanish-Speaking Countries.

Breastfeeding is vital to a child's lifelong health and has significant positive benefits to mother's health. World Health Organization recommends beginning exclusively breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and continuing during the first 6 months of infant's life. The purpose of this review is to identify and examine breastfeeding interventions conducted across the Spanish-speaking countries. A scoping review of the literature was conducted across 14 databases for relevant publications published through April 2023 to find studies in Spanish-speaking countries that involved breastfeeding as an intervention component. A total of 46 peer-reviewed articles were included in this review, across 12 Spanish-speaking countries. Participants ranged from pregnant women, mothers, mother-infant pair, and health care professionals. Intervention at the individual level in combination with support from trained health care professionals or peer counselors seemed to have higher improvements in breastfeeding rates. The greatest improvement in exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months was seen in interventions that included prenatal and postnatal intensive lactation education, for a period of 12 months. The most effective interventions that improved rates of any breastfeeding included promotional activities, educations workshop, and training of health care staff along with changes in hospital care. Breastfeeding promotion is an economical and effective intervention to increase breastfeeding behavior and thereby improving breastfeeding adherence across Spanish-speaking countries.

From couplepause to doublepause: the impact of midlife physical, psychological, and social changes on the sexual life of aging couples.

Midlife men and women are facing frequent sexual problems that affect not only individuals' sexual health but also the sexual health of aging couples. To review the main sexual life challenges faced by midlife couples, to present the concepts of couplepause and doublepause as 2 new paradigms to address the sexual health needs of aging couples, and to discuss key aspects in couple-focused care. An online meeting attended by 5 European experts in sexual health was carried out in June 2023 to discuss the topic. The conversation centered on their clinical experience and expert opinion. Additionally, the indexed literature was reviewed to endorse and complement the expert opinions obtained in the aforementioned meeting. Midlife men and women face physical, psychological, and sociocultural changes that affect their sexual activity. These changes may be experienced differently between genders. Both members of a couple may experience age-related changes concurrently or in an unsynchronized manner affecting their sexual health. Communication, sharing expectations, defining sexual dynamics, and couple goals are determinant for the sexual health of a midlife couple. Couplepause and doublepause are 2 new complementary paradigms that effectively address the sexual health needs of aging couples as a unit, considering physical, psychological, cultural, social, and dyadic-related factors. Couple-centered strategies should promote open communication about couple intimacy issues, understanding the diverse expectations according to gender and orientation, communication styles, and goals. The following are identified as crucial aspects to promote couple-focused care: education and training of health care professionals, the provision of information to aging couples, physician involvement in addressing sexual problems, the need for collaboration across medical specialties, and the development of effective tools and strategies. The sexual problems of aging couples should be managed following couple-centered strategies that effectively address their sexual health needs as a couple.

Co-design of an Escape Room for eMental Health training of Mental Healthcare Professionals: A Research through Design Study. (Preprint)

Co-design of an Escape Room for eMental Health training of Mental Healthcare Professionals: A Research through Design Study. (Preprint)

Abstract P324: Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Hypertension Control in Community Health Centers

Introduction: About 47% of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure (BP), a contributing factor to major adverse health conditions including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Hypertension has also been linked to worse outcomes from COVID-19 infection, resulting in higher rates of hospitalization and death. In 2021, the AHA launched the National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) in 350 community health centers (CHCs). The 3-year initiative aimed to improve BP control and COVID-19 outcomes through training and technical assistance (T/TA) in CHCs with systematic, multi-sector, culturally sensitive and evidence-based interventions, including self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring. We hypothesize that T/TA with guideline-directed and evidence-based systematic processes can improve BP control in CHCs. Methods: The initiative included complementary components: patient and public education, community outreach and integration, health care professional and organization training, and project management and evaluation. Year one focused on laying a foundation of BP control fundamentals to strengthen knowledge and skills with webinars, office hours, tools, and resources. Years two and three reinforced key concepts, introduced new resources, and provided 1:1 support to CHCs, informed by ongoing evaluation. The adoption of systematic processes with evidence-based and guideline-directed practices were encouraged in CHCs. Recognizing potential differences across CHCs, several T/TA methods were deployed during phases of the initiative in anticipation of evolving CHC needs and readiness. The methods for T/TA include providing a core educational curriculum, developing and distributing customized CHC reports with individualized data, using new and existing resources, including a BP measurement policy and procedure and a BP treatment algorithm, and evaluating methods and practice findings. Early Results: Based on UDS data, overall, BP control rates increased in NHCI CHCs from 51.3% to 57.6% (as defined by the performance measure <140/90 mm Hg), demonstrating a 6.3% absolute increase and a 12.3% relative increase from 2020 to 2022. This is compared to all HRSA CHCs, where BP control rates increased from 58.0% to 63.4%, demonstrating a 5.4% absolute increase and a 9.3% relative increase from 2020 to 2022. While all NHCI CHCs started with BP control rates less than 58.9%, some health centers have demonstrated control rates higher than 70%. Discussion: T/TA with guideline-directed and evidence-based systematic processes may have contributed to increased BP control rates in CHCs. The degree of CHC progress may have been influenced by challenges and limitations, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participation, clinical leadership engagement, CHC team staffing turnover, and technology interoperability.

Medication-Seeking Behaviors and Correlated Characteristics of Zolpidem Users in Taiwan-A Shared Patient Network Analysis.

Increasing insomnia signals a public health problem, alongside rising zolpidem use. This study investigates the factors behind the disproportionate rise in zolpidem prescriptions in Taiwan. It aims to identify the determinants of high-dose zolpidem users in Taiwan's Yilan County and employ an innovative approach to outline their medication-seeking patterns, using Taiwan's healthcare database. The associations between sociodemographic and clinical factors and low-dose and high-dose users were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Social network analysis was employed to explore medication-seeking behavior among these user groups across different healthcare institutions. Of our 5290 participants, 22.82% are high-dose users. This study found that males face a 1.33-fold higher risk and that having chronic diseases is a major risk factor, contributing to a more than four-times higher risk (adjusted OR = 4.27, 95% CI 1.55-11.70) of being a high-dose user of zolpidem. A social network analysis showed a higher density (0.52) for high-dose users, revealing their frequent visits, for zolpidem, to different healthcare institutions. Psychiatrists have a central role in both low-dose and high-dose user networks, with a greater influence on low-dose users (64.4) than high-dose users (32.2). In sum, patients seeking high doses of zolpidem are driven by personal factors. Future efforts should include regulated dispensing, public health education, and specialized training for healthcare professionals on drug addiction.

Operational disruption in healthcare associated with software functionality issue due to software security patching: a case report.

Despite many benefits, the extensive deployment of Health Information Technology (HIT) systems by healthcare organizations has encountered many challenges, particularly in the field of telemetry concerning patient monitoring and its operational workflow. These challenges can add more layers of complexity when an unplanned software security patching is performed, affecting patient monitoring and causing disruption in daily clinical operations. This study is a reflection on what happened associated with software security patching and why it happened through the lens of an incident report to develop potential preventive and corrective strategies using qualitative analyses-inductive and deductive approaches. There is a need for such analyses to identify the underlying mechanism behind such issues since very limited research has been conducted on the study of software patching. The incident was classified as a "software functionality" issue, and the consequence was an "incident with a noticeable consequence but no patient harm", and the contributing factor was a software update, i.e., software security patching. This report describes how insufficient planning of software patching, lack of training for healthcare professionals, contingency planning on unplanned system disruption, and HIT system configuration can compromise healthcare quality and cause risks to patient safety. We propose 15 preventive and corrective strategies grouped under four key areas based on the system approach and social-technical aspects of the patching process. The key areas are (i) preparing, developing, and deploying patches; (ii) training the frontline operators; (iii) ensuring contingency planning; and (iv) establishing configuration and communication between systems. These strategies are expected to minimize the risk of HIT-related incidents, enhance software security patch management in healthcare organizations, and improve patient safety. However, further discussion should be continued about general HIT problems connected to software security patching.

Investigating the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder among Jordanian adults with dermatologic and cosmetic concerns: a case–control study

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an underexplored psychiatric condition in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in patients with dermatologic concerns, where alterations in appearance may elevate the risk of BDD. We studied patients at Jordan University Hospital's general dermatology and cosmetic clinics from July to September 2022, comparing them to healthy controls. Patients with dermatologic conditions were evaluated per the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria by trained dermatologists. All participants completed the Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (DCQ), Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, General Anxiety Disorder Assessment tool-2. We assessed BDD prevalence using four DCQ cutoffs: 9, 11, 14, and 17, reporting effect sizes as odds ratios (OR). Our study involved 1500 participants, with an average age of 29.3 (± 14.8) years and a female-to-male ratio of 3.15-to-1. At the 9, 11, 14, and 17 DCQ cutoffs, BDD prevalence was 78.2%, 54.2%, 26.5%, and 11.7%, respectively. Patients with dermatologic concerns were more likely to exhibit clinical BDD symptoms than controls at the 11-cutoff (OR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.01–1.58; p < 0.05). Conversely, those with cosmetic concerns were more prone to clinical BDD than controls at cutoffs 9 (OR: 2.26; 95% CI 1.28–3.97; p < 0.05) and 11 (OR: 1.50; 95% CI 1.03–2.20; p < 0.05). Our logistic regression revealed consistent associations between higher DCQ scores and elevated anxiety, depression, perceived skin disease-related stigma, and reduced quality of life (p < 0.05). In conclusion, patients with dermatologic issues and those seeking cosmetic procedures are at significant risk of developing BDD, necessitating proactive screening and referrals for specialized care by dermatologists due to the associated psychological distress and unproductive consultations. Providing specialized training for healthcare professionals to establish an integrated care approach to address the needs of patients with BDD should be the focus of future research projects.

Barriers to implementing patient safety incident reporting and learning guidelines in specialised care units, KwaZulu-Natal: A qualitative study.

Globally, increased occurrences of patient safety incidents have become a public concern. The implementation of Patient safety incidents reporting and learning guidelines is fundamental to reducing preventable patient harm. To improve the implementation of these guidelines in specialised care units in KwaZulu-Natal, the views of healthcare professionals were unearthed. This study explores the healthcare professionals' views toward the implementation of Patient safety incident reporting and learning guidelines in specialised care units. A descriptive, explorative qualitative approach was used to collect qualitative data from healthcare professionals working in specialised care units. The study was conducted in specialised care units of three purposely selected public hospitals in two districts of KwaZulu-Natal. Group discussions and semi-structured interviews were conducted from August to October 2021. Content data analysis was performed using Tesch's method of analysis process. The main themes that emerged during data analysis were; ineffective reporting system affecting the communication of Patient safety incident guidelines, inadequate institutional and management support for the healthcare professionals, insufficient education and training of healthcare professionals, and poor human resources affecting the implementation of Patient Safety Incident guidelines. The findings highlighted that there were more major barriers to the implementation of the Patient safety incident reporting and learning guidelines. This study confirmed that the Patient safety incident reporting and learning guidelines are still not successfully implemented in the specialised care units and the barriers to implementation were highlighted. For rigorous implementation in South Africa, the study recommends revised Patient safety incident reporting and learning guidelines, designed in consultation with the frontline healthcare professionals. These must consist of standardised, simple- user-friendly reporting process as well as a better implementation strategy to guide the healthcare professionals. Continuous professional development programmes may play an important role in the facilitation of the implementation process.

The potential role of artificial intelligence in the clinical management of Hansen's disease (leprosy).

Missed and delayed diagnoses of Hansen's disease (HD) are making the battle against it even more complex, increasing its transmission and significantly impacting those affected and their families. This strains public health systems and raises the risk of lifelong impairments and disabilities. Worryingly, the three countries most affected by HD witnessed a growth in new cases in 2022, jeopardizing the World Health Organization's targets to interrupt transmission. Artificial intelligence (AI) can help address these challenges by offering the potential for rapid case detection, customized treatment, and solutions for accessibility challenges-especially in regions with a shortage of trained healthcare professionals. This perspective article explores how AI can significantly impact the clinical management of HD, focusing on therapeutic strategies. AI can help classify cases, ensure multidrug therapy compliance, monitor geographical treatment coverage, and detect adverse drug reactions and antimicrobial resistance. In addition, AI can assist in the early detection of nerve damage, which aids in disability prevention and planning rehabilitation. Incorporating AI into mental health counseling is also a promising contribution to combating the stigma associated with HD. By revolutionizing therapeutic approaches, AI offers a holistic solution to reduce the burden of HD and improve patient outcomes.

Women’s experiences of seeking healthcare for abdominal pain in Ireland: a qualitative study

BackgroundEvidence suggests that women’s abdominal pain is more likely to be minimised or dismissed by healthcare professionals than men’s. This can have a detrimental impact on health-related outcomes as well as quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore women’s experiences of seeking healthcare for abdominal pain in Ireland.MethodA qualitative design and opportunity sampling approach were employed in this study. Fourteen women living in Ireland with experience of seeking healthcare for abdominal pain took part in one-to-one semi-structured interviews via video-conferencing software. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were constructed from the data: [1] “Just Get on with It” – Normalisation and Invalidation; [2] “Bad Enough”? Costs of (Not) Seeking Help; [3] “Fight Your Case,” Fight for Care; and [4] “Out of the Loop” – Systemic Barriers to Care. Perceived invalidation of pain by healthcare professionals was common, as was internalised normalisation of pain. This created challenges when negotiating pain management solutions. Despite functional interference, participants felt their pain needed to reach an extreme level of severity before seeking help. Costs of private healthcare were implicated in delayed help-seeking. Participants felt the onus was on them to fight for care. Social support and information-seeking facilitated participants in this fight while systemic issues were identified as barriers to adequate care. Despite their frustrations, participants expressed empathy for healthcare professionals operating in a flawed system.ConclusionsParticipants described mostly negative experiences of seeking healthcare for abdominal pain, characterised by dismissal of symptoms and internalisation of normative views of women’s pain as less worthy of care. These experiences reinforced participants’ views that self-advocacy is essential to access care for their pain. There are systemic issues at play within the Irish healthcare system that limit women’s ability to access abdominal pain management support. Education and training for healthcare professionals on the Gender Pain Gap and its implications for patient care, as well as clear referral pathways for women presenting with abdominal pain, may help to ensure more equitable healthcare delivery for individuals with abdominal pain in Ireland.