International journal of health sciences
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Addressing inequities in medical care: A comprehensive examination of global health disparities
Get PDFBackground: Health disparities and inequities persist globally, significantly affecting marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Medical institutions and educators must address these issues to foster a more equitable healthcare system. Aim: This chapter aims to explore the definitions and implications of health disparities and inequities, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding in medical education to address these challenges effectively. Methods: The chapter reviews definitions from leading health organizations and examines case studies from various countries to highlight the impact of historical, structural, and social determinants of health (SDOH) on health outcomes. Methodologies for measuring these disparities, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, are discussed. Results: Health disparities often arise from systemic and institutional biases, with historical injustices like colonialism and slavery continuing to influence modern health outcomes. Case studies from the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands illustrate ongoing inequities in maternal mortality and other health outcomes. Conclusion: Addressing health disparities requires an understanding of historical contexts, structural factors, and SDOH. Medical education must evolve to incorporate these elements to equip future healthcare professionals with the skills to combat these disparities effectively
Effectiveness of saffron in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease with ADAS-cog score
Get PDFIntroduction: large levels of glucocorticoids and stress results structural and functional changes in brain and hippocampus, limbic system has a key role in cognitive functions including learning and memory. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease. Objective: the AIM of this study was to assess the efficacy of saffron in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: fifty-six patients of 55 years old were eligible to participate in this study. the study is a double-blind study of parallel groups of patients with AD. Results: saffron is effective similar to donepezil in the treatment of mild to moderate AD after 22 weeks. The safety of saffron is comparatively similar like donepezil. The side effects presented with saffron and donepezil groups likely same. The major parameter taken was Alzheimer’s disease assessment Scale-cognitive subscale score evaluated with baseline. The safety of saffron was also recorded systemically. Participators were given a capsule saffron 30 mg/day (15 mg twice daily) or donepezil 10 mg/day (5 mg twice per day). Conclusion: this study provides mainly suggests that possible therapeutic effect of saffron extract at least in short-term treatment of patients with mild-to0moderate Alzheimer’s disease
Understanding and treating pulmonary embolism in acute settings: Review article for pharmacists and emergency medical services
Get PDFBackground: High-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), encompassing a small but critical subset of cases, is associated with severe hemodynamic instability and high mortality rates. Representing 5–10% of all PE cases, high-risk PE is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, contributing to significant patient morbidity and mortality. Aim: This review aims to elucidate the management strategies and clinical approaches for high-risk PE, particularly in acute emergency settings. It seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on current guidelines. This review aimed to gain insights about treatment and management of PE via EMS and pharmacists. Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on high-risk pulmonary embolism from the inception of these databases until October 1, 2023. The review included 147 articles comprising case reports, clinical trials, and systematic reviews. The search emphasized high-quality studies and guidelines, including those from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Results: The review highlights the critical role of systemic thrombolytics (ST) in managing high-risk PE, despite their underutilization. It discusses the ESC and AHA guidelines for classifying PE risk and outlines the pathophysiology of right ventricular failure. 
Comparative analysis of patient trust in family doctors versus community nurses in the management of chronic diseases at the primary healthcare level
Get PDFChronic diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries where healthcare access is limited. This systematic review investigates the levels of patient trust in family doctors and community nurses in managing chronic diseases within primary healthcare settings. We employed a comprehensive search strategy across electronic databases, yielding six relevant studies after rigorous screening. Our findings indicate that trust is a critical determinant of treatment adherence and self-management, significantly impacting patient outcomes. While patients generally express moderate trust in community nurses, they tend to have higher trust in family doctors, particularly regarding medical tasks traditionally reserved for physicians. Factors influencing trust include communication skills, perceived competence, accessibility, and continuity of care, with variations observed between the two provider types. The review also highlights the role of multimorbidity in complicating trust dynamics and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to enhance trust levels, thereby improving adherence and overall health outcomes. Recommendations for healthcare practice and policy are provided to foster collaborative relationships between patients and providers
Determinants of pre-conception care awareness among young and middle-aged women in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh: A cross-section study
Get PDFPre-conception care pertains to any preventive, promotive, and curative interventions for improving the health outcomes of women. Contrary to the growing burden of intergenerational transmission of chronic diseases, women lacked awareness and access to services for pre-conception care. Considering this, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the awareness, perceptions, and practices of pre-conception care among women from young and middle-aged groups in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. It was a cross-sectional study conducted with 383 women of reproductive age group (15-40 years) using a structured and pre-validated quantitative questionnaire. Out of 383 women, 171 belonged to the younger age group (15-24 years) and 212 to the middle-aged group (25-40 years). More than 50% of women had not heard of pre-conception care, and more than 90% of women in both groups had low dietary diversity. Middle-aged women had higher pre-conception care compared to younger women (βeta coefficient (95% Confidence Interval); p-value: 0.49 (0.03, 0.95); 0.03)
Cervical Cancer: pathology, clinical records, and nursing contributions
Get PDFBackground: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide, with over 600,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths annually. The disease disproportionately affects populations in lower-resource settings, where access to screening and vaccination programs is limited. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiological agent responsible for most cervical cancers. Vaccination and screening efforts, particularly HPV testing, are central to reducing the global burden of cervical cancer. Aim: This article aims to explore the pathology, epidemiology, and clinical management of cervical cancer, focusing on the roles of HPV in its development, the importance of vaccination, and advancements in screening technologies. Additionally, the contributions of nursing care in managing patients diagnosed with cervical cancer are discussed. Methods: This review synthesizes data from global epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and updated cervical cancer screening guidelines, focusing on HPV testing and vaccination. The article also examines advancements in screening technologies, including dual-stain tests and self-sampling methods, and how they impact early detection. Results: HPV infection is responsible for over 95% of cervical cancers, with HPV-16 and HPV-18 being the most prevalent high-risk strains. Vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer, preventing up to 70% of cases globally
Advancements in hybrid imaging techniques: Enhancing diagnostic accuracy with PET/MRI and PET/CT
Get PDFBackground Hybrid imaging techniques, including PET/MRI and PET/CT, are transforming medical diagnostics by integrating metabolic data from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with the detailed anatomical resolution provided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT). This integration improves diagnostic accuracy, especially in oncology, where accurate tumor localization and characterization are essential for effective treatment planning. PET/CT is commonly utilized; however, PET/MRI presents benefits including enhanced soft tissue contrast and decreased radiation exposure, rendering it especially beneficial for pediatric patients or individuals needing multiple scans. Challenges persist in standardization, accessibility, and addressing the inherent physical limitations associated with the integration of these distinct imaging modalities. Aim This review seeks to evaluate the current status of hybrid imaging, specifically PET/MRI and PET/CT, by analyzing their diagnostic efficacy, integration challenges, and prospective developments. The review analyzed the benefits and drawbacks of each technique, compared their clinical applications, and investigated emerging hybrid modalities. Methods A thorough literature review was performed, including studies and articles on the applications of PET/MRI and PET/CT in diverse disease areas. The review examined current studies on diagnostic accuracy, technical integration challenges, and prospective developments in hybrid imaging technology. 
An innovative nutrition education intervention to improve nutrition knowledge in school children
Get PDFMalnutrition in school-going children may be attributed to non-communicable diseases, psychological distress, and inadequate living standards. To address this issue, it is imperative to implement an intervention program aimed at enhancing understanding of nutrition education. The study aims to introduce the Kolar Nutrition Education Intervention Programme (KNEIP) to children and assess their knowledge. A total of 418 schoolchildren from urban and rural areas participated in this study. The experimental group comprised of 237 participants, whereas 181 children who did not partake in the nutrition education package served as controls. The intervention program was conducted over five weeks, featuring five sessions that covered various topics related to nutrition. Teaching strategies and activities employed during the intervention included small group discussions and group work. Only 3.3 percent of the study participants achieved a fair score (50-75% of answers were correct) in the pre-intervention phase, which encompassed all sessions combined. However, this percentage rose to 50.6% following the implementation of the intervention (P<0.0001). The study also revealed that 17.0% of the participants were overweight, while 10.9% were obese. This research demonstrates that a school nutrition intervention program can yield positive outcomes in enhancing the nutrition knowledge of school children
The role of physicians in promoting preventive healthcare
Get PDFBackground: The current system of medicines has mainly adopted the disease oriented approach however with increase in the incidences of chronic diseases; there is need for a shift to disease prevention approach. In this context, physicians potentially have a vital role to play in the move toward person-focused, preventative health. Aim: The significance of the present study lies in the fact that it aims at identifying and analyzing the current experience of physicians in promoting preventive healthcare, their leadership within expectations of clinical practice, public health campaigns, and community plans. Methods: An explorative review of the published literature was exercised, focusing on cases and physicians’ interventions and evaluating their impacts on patient- and system-level preventive healthcare. Results: Physicians implant an important role in disease prevention by offering individualized therapeutic care, educating patients, and speaking as informed customers on behalf of advantageous health reforms. Due to their contribution in the prevention aspect, their various health related illnesses have been reduced with lower treatment costs. Conclusion: The physicians assume a key role in altering the nature of healthcare by centred on best practice and prevention
The importance of health information technicians in the transformation of digital health
Get PDFBackground: The "digital health" or "Healthcare 4.0 (H4.0)" movement has grown, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Digitalization promises better data processing and decision-making for efficiency, effectiveness, and patient care, yet research shows limitations. Many studies concentrate on individual digital technology or conceptual assessments, ignoring the larger influence of digital transformation on hospital administration and support workers. A few studies have examined the drivers and challenges to digital technology adoption in non-clinical professions like management and administration, which are essential for healthcare efficiency. This article aims to examine the impact of digital technologies on healthcare administration and highlight the essential role of health information. Methods: This literature review examined health information technicians in healthcare's digital revolution. Out of 150 papers found in PubMed, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore, 70 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Key data elements such study methodology, sample size, and noteworthy health information technician outcomes in digital health were extracted. Thematic analysis was used to discover themes and patterns in data management, patient information security, health information technicians in healthcare technology, and administrative efficiency. Results: Health information technicians are crucial to digital health's problems and prospects, according to the report.