Journal of Health Sciences
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The connection between chronic diseases and self-image and self-esteem
Get PDFIntroduction: With aging, the incidence of chronic diseases among elderly increases, as about 88% of them have at least one chronic condition, with 50% having at least two. The presence of these diseases influences their self-image and self-esteem. This study aimed to identify the effects of chronic diseases on self-esteem and self-image in the group of elderly people.
Methods: A quantitative research design using a structured questionnaire was employed, where Rosenberg questionnaire with an adapted measurement scale was used for evaluating self-esteem, while Marsh’s adjusted Multidimensional self-concept scale was used for assessing self-image.
Results: The survey involved 51 respondents: 25.5% were male, and 74.5% were female, the average age of the respondents was 77.0 years. 60.8 % of them reported high blood pressure, 31.4% rheumatism, 25.5% osteoporosis and 23.5% diabetes. “Rheumatism” was statistically significantly associated with two elements of self-esteem: the “athletic self-esteem” and “inclusion”, whereas the claim for self-assessment “I can do things as good the majority of other people” was associated to the incidence of “diabetes”.
Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that rheumatism, as a most common chronic disease among this population, has a significant impact on some elements of self-image and self-esteem. Further research should focus on the concepts of self-esteem and self-image of this population
Pilot Experimentation of the Accuracy of Accelerometer Activity Count-Derived Breaks in Sedentary Time
Get PDFIntroduction: The purpose of this study was toconduct a pilot experimentation of the accuracy of the ActiGraph GT9X model in detecting breaks from sedentary behavior.
Methods: Participants completed six transitional-based sedentary break activities while wearing an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer. Data were processed using both the default filter and low-frequency extension filter. Direct observation was used as the criterion to observe a break in sedentary behavior. Trial 1 included the transition from sitting to standing; trial 2, sitting to walking for 30 sec; trial 3, sitting to walking for 1 min; trial 4, standing to walking for 30 sec; trial 5, standing to walking for 1 min; and trial 6, standing to sitting. Results: For both the default and low-frequency filter, the accelerometer only detected a break 10% of the time for trial 1. Accuracy was also low (<40%) for trial 6. However, accuracy was perfect (100%) for trials 2-5. Conclusion: The ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer was inaccurate in detecting a sedentary break when transitioning from a sitting to standing position but was accurate for other transitional shifts
Relationship between reduced exposure to estrogen over a lifetime and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women
Get PDFIntroduction: The influence and interactions of various genetic, hormonal, environmental and nutritional factors and risks for decreased bone mineral density in older age are not yet clear. The aim of this study was to examine relationship between reduced exposure to estrogen over a lifetime (early age at menopause, shorter period between menarche and menopause) and bone mineral density in older women.
Methods: A total of 60 women, aged 60-75 years were included and assigned to osteoporosis group (n=30), or control group with normal bone mineral density or osteopenia (n=30). The values of bone mineral density were obtained by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and proximal femur.
Results: Women with osteoporosis entered the menopause at a younger age (43.03±3.18 years) compared to women without osteoporosis (51.93± 2.30 years) and the difference was statistically significant, p=0.0001. In addition, women with osteoporosis had shorter timespan between menarche and menopause (28.33±3.31 years), compared to women without osteoporosis (38.43±2.48 years), which was statistically significant, p=0.0001.
Conclusion: Reduced exposure to estrogen over a lifetime because of early menopause, and shorter timespan between menarche and menopause may be associated with decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Bilateral tunnel vision as the first presenting sign of levamisole-induced vasculitis
Get PDFLevamisole-contaminated cocaine is an increasingly reported cause of a syndrome characterized by vasculitic skin lesions and immunologic abnormalities. With approximately 70% of cocaine in the United States now contaminated with levamisole, the incidence of this syndrome is likely to increase. We report the case of a 42 years-old Caucasian woman who presented with fronto-temporal pulsating headache and progressive bilateral loss of vision. 
Burnout syndrome in primary healthcare professionals
Get PDFIntroduction: The aim of this study was to assess the level of burnout syndrome among primary healthcare professionals in Canton Sarajevo and whether there is a link between the levels of burnout syndrome and sociodemographic parameters.
Methods: We included a total of 300 primary healthcare professionals. The burnout syndrome level was measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory, consisting of 22 particles (3 subscales) measuring the level of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). We analyzed the correlation and difference between the level of burnout and sociodemographic parameters.
Results: The study revealed that in Canton Sarajevo 25.3% of healthcare professionals experience a high level of EE, 17.7% experience DP, and 19.0% experience a low level of PA. The subjects under 40 years experienced a higher level of EE than older subjects (p=0.000). There were significant differences in PA subscale between men and women (p=0.033), women having lower level of PA than males. Respondents who worked in shifts and respondents with indefinite period employment experience significantly a high level of EE. Subjects who drink alcohol had a higher level of DP.
Conclusion: Healthcare professionals are at increased risk of burnout. Factors which increase the burnout syndrome risk in health professionals in Sarajevo Canton were: age under 40 years old, female, working in shifts and drinking alcohol
The role of a dry needling technique in pain reduction
Get PDFIntroduction: Dry needling is a therapeutic procedure using the insertion of thin needles through the skin into myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), muscular or connective tissue with the aim to reduce pain intensity. The objective of this systematic review is to analyze the literature for the efficacy of the dry needle technique in pain reduction in conditions of musculoskeletal pain caused by MTrPs.
Reference Sources: Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCOhost database were searched for studies and e-books published from January 2010 to December 2018.
Studies Selection: We included randomized controlled studies, prospective and longitudinal studies, and case studies which analyzed the efficacy of dry needling for musculoskeletal pain reduction.
Data Extraction Method: The studies, which satisfied criteria for inclusion were further analyzed. The primary instrument of the evaluation was pain intensity analyses.
Results: Dry needling treatment is efficient in pain intensity reduction in patients who suffer musculoskeletal pain and is more efficient compared to sham dry needling treatment. In addition, different techniques of dry needling are efficient in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome.
Conclusion: Based on systematic review of the literature, dry needling, independently or as an addition to other intervention, is recommended for treatment of musculoskeletal pain conditions caused by myofascial trigger points. Various techniques of dry needling treatment are almost equally efficient in myofascial pain intensity reduction
Mild symptomatic Wernicke’s Encephalopathy: a case report
Get PDFWernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is an acute, neuropsychiatric syndrome which results from a deficiency in vitamin B1 (thiamine), which in its biologically active form, thiamine pyrophosphate, is an essential coenzyme in several biochemical pathways in the brain, often due to alcohol abuse (alcoholic WE). Non-alcoholic WE variant manifests in many different clinical settings, such as gastrointestinal tumors, hyperemesis gravidarum, chemotherapy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, prolonged therapeutic fasting, protracted parenteral nutrition and bariatric surgery, anorexia nervosa and can even be secondary to socioeconomic factors. The classic triad of encephalopathy, oculomotor dysfunction, and gait ataxia is only seen in approximately one-third of patients and is more common in alcoholics; only some of these symptoms are usually present. Here we describe a case of an occasional neuroradiological finding of Wernicke Encephalopathy not related to symptoms or signs
School bags and associated back pain
Get PDFIntroduction: The most common health problem associated with the negative effect of heavy school bags is back pain, and non-specific back pain is frequently observed in childhood. The prevalence of back pain in schoolchildren varies from 12% to 92%, depending on the age and affected region of the back. To prevent the occurrence of back pain in schoolchildren, the weight of school bag should not exceed 10% of the child’s body mass.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in April 2017. We included 79 students of the fifth and sixth grade from the elementary school in Sarajevo. Information on the weight and type of school bag, method of carrying a school bag, and feelings of pain and tiredness due to school bag were obtained by questionnaire.Results: In the total sample, the majority of the students (64.6%) reported occasional back pain while carrying the bag, 20.3% of students reported no back pain, and 11.4% of students experienced frequent back pain. The mean school bag weight in the fifth grade was 4.01 ± 0.57 kg, and it was significantly higher (4.61 ± 0.86 kg) in the sixth grade. About 48.5% of the students in the fifth and 50% in the sixth grade carried school bags weighing more than 10% of the body mass. A higher mean weight of school bag was significantly more frequent in students who reported always feeling tired (11.03 ± 2.74%) compared to those who did not feel tired while carrying the school bag (8.41 ± 2%).Conclusions: Overall, more frequent occurrence of back pain and tiredness in schoolchildren was associated with heavier school bags (>10% of the body mass), and the occurrence of back pain due to school bag was related to gender (i.e., back pain was more common in girls compared to boys)
Attachment style and family presence preference during invasive nursing procedures
Get PDFIntroduction: The attachment style and family presence preference are important during invasive medical procedures. We aimed to analyze the effects of adult attachment styles of the patients which prefer the presence of their family members during the invasive medical procedures in emergency departments.
Methods: We included 76 randomly selected patients who received invasive medical procedures in the emergency department of the University hospital. The Patient Information Form and Relationship Scales Questionnaire were used to collect data.
Results: About 57.9% of the patients said that they preferred their relatives to stand by them during invasive nursing procedures. 56.6% of participants stated that they favor their relatives to support them at the time of such interventions. Average scores of adult attachment styles were 3.02 ± 0.63 for fearful, 3.57 ±0.57 for dismissing, 2.87 ± 0.50 for preoccupied, and 2.79 ± 0.66 for secure attachment style. Adult attachment styles of participants were found to have no impact on preferring someone standing by them at the time of invasive nursing interventions (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Adult attachment styles do not affect the patients\u27 need to have a family member stand beside them during an invasive medical procedure
Effects of strength, stretching and balance home exercise program on quality of life of people with knee osteoarthritis
Get PDFIntroduction: The aim of this study was to assess effects of strength, stretching and balance home exercise program (moderate intensity, performed once a day, five times a week) on quality of life of people with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: Participants with knee osteoarthritis performed physical therapy for a period of two weeks at the Department for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The study group (n=30) continued to perform exercise program at home while the control group (n=30) did not continue the exercise program. The participants in the study group performed strength, stretching and balance exercises of moderate intensity, once a day, five times a week, for a total of eight weeks. The Short Form-36 Health Questionnaire (SF-36) was used to examine the effects of exercise program.
Results: There was no the difference between the average value of quality of life in all examined areas (physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality/energy, mental health, social functioning, physical pain, perception of general health) at the beginning of the study between the study group and control group (p>0.05 in all eight areas). The difference between the average value of quality of life at the beginning and end of the study was statistically significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (physical functioning p=0.0001; role limitations due to physical problems p=0.0001; role limitations due to emotional problems p=0.0001; vitality/energy p=0.0001; mental health p=0.0001; social functioning p=0.0001; bodily pain p=0.0001; perception of general health p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Home exercise program consisting of strength, stretching and balance exercises, of moderate intensity, performed once a day, five times a week is effective in improving quality of life of people with knee osteoarthritis