Comparative analysis of depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorders among working and nonworking women visiting community pharmacies in Lahore, Pakistan

Anxiety and depression are common worldwide and often occur together. Anxiety can alter appetite, causing women to consume more food than usual, leading to changes in eating behavior and obesity. This comparative cross-sectional study compared the severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorders among working and nonworking women visiting community pharmacies. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 244 working women and 267 nonworking women. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a chi-square test was conducted to evaluate differences in the severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorders between the two groups of participants. Most participants were literate; approximately half of the working (50.82%) and nonworking women (55.06%) had a normal body mass index. There were significant differences between the working and nonworking women in terms of their education and physical activity levels (p < 0.05). Both groups were identified as being at risk of developing bulimia, but their ability to control eating habits differed significantly (p = 0.008). Most participants reported never using laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics to control their weight. Moreover, they reported that they had never received treatment for eating disorders or experienced thoughts of suicide. The study found no significant difference in depression (p = 0.085) and anxiety levels (p = 0.207) between working and nonworking women. However, a significant difference was found in stress levels between working and nonworking women (p = 0.001). Our study highlights a significant prevalence of psychological issues among working and nonworking women in Pakistan, impacting their eating habits and contributing to developing eating disorders and obesity. Interestingly, working women display higher physical activity levels, while nonworking women demonstrate better oral control to prevent eating disorders. To improve women's mental and physical well-being, we recommend prioritizing mental health interventions for all women, promoting healthy eating habits, supporting physical activity, and investigating underlying factors influencing psychological well-being

Assessing nurses’ pain management competence using KASRP and organizational support in a public tertiary care hospital in Lahore

Effective pain management is a cornerstone of quality nursing care, yet knowledge gaps and systemic barriers often hinder optimal practice, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management, evaluate their self-reported pain practices, and explore the role of perceived organizational support in shaping pain management competence among nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 120 registered nurses using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP), a perceived organizational support scale, and a self-reported practice checklist. Descriptive statistics revealed that only 22.5% of nurses demonstrated good knowledge, while 45% had moderate and 32.5% poor knowledge levels. Perceived organizational support was moderate on average, and although self-reported practice scores were relatively high, they did not significantly correlate with knowledge levels. Independent samples t-tests showed no significant differences in knowledge or practice scores by gender. Pearson correlation indicated a significant positive association between organizational support and knowledge scores. Multiple linear regression identified organizational support as the only significant predictor of knowledge scores (p = 0.003). These findings highlight the critical role of organizational factors in fostering clinical competence and suggest the need for system-level interventions—such as regular training, managerial support, and access to protocols—to improve pain management outcomes in nursing practice

Assessing the effectiveness of digital media platforms on birth preparedness and complication readiness knowledge among healthcare professionals

The integration of modern technology in healthcare education, mainly through digital media platforms, is pivotal for enhancing healthcare professionals' proficiency in birth preparedness and complication readiness (BP/CR). This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital media interventions on BP/CR knowledge among healthcare providers, reflecting on broader implications for global healthcare delivery and patient education. In this quasi-experimental study, 70 healthcare professionals were recruited using a nonprobability convenience sampling method. The training protocol was developed after an in-depth literature review, while the evaluation questionnaire incorporated provider-level index indicators aligned with Johns Hopkins University's BP/CR guidelines to ensure a comprehensive assessment framework. The intervention utilized widely accessible digital platforms, i.e., WhatsApp and email, aimed to deliver educational content, with its effectiveness gauged through pre- and postintervention assessments analyzed using SPSS 25.00. The study findings demonstrated significant improvements in BP/CR knowledge postintervention across various care domains. The results showed significant increases in BP/CR knowledge postintervention: focused antenatal care knowledge improved from 34.00% to 69.00% (p < 0.001), and knowledge of third-stage labor management increased from 21.00% to 56.00% (p < 0.001). Furthermore, significant improvements were also observed in neonatal care and emergency obstetric and neonatal care management knowledge (p < 0.001). These results affirm the role of digital media in improving healthcare education, suggesting its integration into healthcare policies to reduce maternal mortality and support professionals in resource-limited settings

To breathe or not to breathe: implications of hazardous air quality

Climate change has affected all living beings and has become a global issue. Over the years, environmental pollution has increased drastically. Air pollution is one of the leading causes of many health issues, specifically respiratory problems. The disease spectrum, from allergies to cancers, is the cause of the economic burden that impacts the countries' welfare. Unhealthy living and ineffective pollution control policies need to be addressed. The role of the government and public health sector is to change their approach to ensure a healthy, clean environment and reduce carbon and other pollutants, thus improving the air quality for better living

Psychological distress among parents of children with obstetric brachial plexus injury visiting pediatric departments

Obstetrical brachial plexus injury (OBPI) is a severe nerve injury that is destructive with expected lifelong repercussions among affected children. A child with morbidity can affect a family in several ways, encompassing social, relational, financial, and emotional states. However, such effects on households remain mostly unrecognized, where the focus remains solely on the child’s health or his/her treatment endeavors, with little attention given to the parent's emotional state. Therefore, this study aimed to measure psychological distress among parents of children with OBPI. This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 100 parents with children aged between 18 months and 16 years under treatment for OBPI who visited different healthcare facilities using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by conducting face-to-face interviews. The study used the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) to assess parents’ psychological distress. The positive items were assigned scores from 0 to 3 (i.e., always to never), and the negative items were assigned scores from 3 to 0 (i.e., always to never). The outcome score ranged between 0 and 36, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of general psychological distress. Descriptive statistics were calculated to achieve the study objectives. Most children suffering from OBPI were male (64%) rather than female (36%). All positive items of the GHQ-12 questionnaire had an average low score, indicating parents were not feeling reasonably happy, less able to concentrate on their routine work, somewhat incapable of making decisions, and unable to enjoy day-to-day activities. In contrast, negative items had an average high score, indicating that parents constantly felt under strain, could not overcome difficulties, felt unhappy and depressed, and lost confidence. The average GHQ-12 score was 23.47 ± 2.54, depicting a high level of psychological distress among parents of children with OBPI. Our study concluded that parents of children with OBPI are at potential risk of various psychological problems. Therefore, health personnel should be aware of these parents’ psychological adjustment and refer them for psychological support when necessary

Assessment of musculoskeletal disorders and contributing factors in professional drivers

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading global cause of disability and pose a significant public health issue, particularly among professional drivers who are prone to such conditions due to prolonged sitting, poor posture, and exposure to whole-body vibrations. The objectives of this study are to assess the demographic, general, lifestyle, and wellness profiles of professional drivers, gauge their work environment characteristics, and measure the proportion of musculoskeletal symptoms using the modified Nordic questionnaire. This descriptive study collected data from 67 professional drivers at major bus stands in Lahore using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The results revealed that the drivers, predominantly middle-aged (average age 39.72 ± 9.53 years) and married (95.52%), reported limited formal education (average 7.56 ± 3.91 years). Lifestyle assessments indicated high rates of smoking (61.19%) and frequent consumption of soft drinks (88.06%). In their work environment, most drivers (68.66%) worked daytime shifts, and a significant proportion (56.72%) experienced vibration exposure. The most frequently reported musculoskeletal symptoms were in the lower back (58.21% in the past 12 months, 43.28% in the past 7 days) and hips/thighs (61.19% in the past 12 months), impacting their ability to work. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted ergonomic and lifestyle interventions to improve the occupational health and safety of drivers, potentially reducing musculoskeletal discomfort and enhancing overall well-being and productivity

Comparison of knowledge, attitude, and practice of physicians and pharmacists about migraine management

Migraine is a complicated genetically influenced disorder characterized by episodes of moderate-to-severe headache. It has a prevalence rate of 10% per year worldwide and accounts for 7% of all neurological disorders worldwide. This prevalence is 6% among males and 18% among females. Despite the high prevalence of the illness, it is misdiagnosed and mistreated by healthcare professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to compare physicians' and pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding migraine management. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in major public healthcare facilities and well-established community pharmacy chains in Lahore. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by calculating descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. The results showed that 61.67% of physicians were males and 60.00% of pharmacists were females with five years or less of working experience. Most healthcare professionals were well aware of the episode duration, definition of chronic migraine, and its types (physicians = 70.00%, 72.78%, 78.33%; pharmacists = 75.71%, 67.14%, 71.43%, respectively) and provided patients with information regarding migraine triggers, drugs causing migraine, side effects of drugs, and guidance to prevent side effects. Moreover, most healthcare providers considered prevention and acute treatments as a part of a broader approach to managing chronic migraine and considered prescribing preventive medicines at lower doses to minimize potential side effects. The knowledge of physicians and pharmacists was significantly different regarding migraine-associated symptoms, preference for nonpharmacological interventions to alleviate symptoms of chronic migraine, and consideration of prevention and acute treatments as part of the broader approaches to managing chronic migraine (p < 0.05). The study concluded that the physicians' and pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices were good. However, healthcare professionals' knowledge significantly differs regarding migraine-associated symptoms, preference for nonpharmacological interventions to alleviate symptoms of chronic migraine, and consideration of prevention and acute treatments as part of the broader approaches to managing chronic migraine

Assessment of the nutritional status of tuberculosis patients visiting public sector hospitals in Bhakkar district, Punjab, Pakistan

Nearly 1.7 billion people are exposed to tuberculosis (TB) globally, and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are the major contributors to the burden of TB. Malnutrition affects the severity of illness, the effectiveness of treatment regimens, and the recovery process. Moreover, TB is often referred to as a disease of a poor population. Therefore, this descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at DHQ Hospital in Bhakkar District and tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals in Mankera and Kaloor Kot to assess the nutritional status of TB patients. Data were collected from 329 adult TB patients via a purposive sampling technique with a semistructured questionnaire. Patients’ nutritional status was assessed via BMI and malnutrition indicators adopted from the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®). The associations between sociodemographic factors and BMI with malnutrition were analyzed via chi-square tests, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Among the 329 respondents, 55.6% were at high risk of malnutrition, and 36.5% were malnourished. A BMI of less than 19 was observed in 5.5% of patients, with a statistically significant association between BMI and malnutrition (p = 0.001). However, no significant associations were found between sex or marital status and malnutrition, with p values of 0.194 and 0.339, respectively. The study concluded that malnutrition is prevalent among TB patients, with 36.7% malnourished and 50.46% at risk of malnourishment. The findings revealed no significant associations between malnutrition and sex or marital status, but a significant relationship was observed between malnutrition and BMI, indicating the importance of addressing malnutrition as a critical component of TB management

Herbal cosmetics products and formulations on the market, from past to present: an opinion

Beauty and elegance are universally sought-after attributes that transcend gender boundaries, particularly in today’s society where both men and women are increasingly conscious of their appearance. The escalating demand for products containing organic herbs to enhance attractiveness and youthfulness reflects this trend and speaks to a deeper cultural shift toward natural and sustainable beauty solutions. Herbal cosmetics, defined as products that incorporate at least one herbal component, such as oils or extracts, not only offer benefits that enhance appearance but also provide protective, healing, and conditioning properties. Commonly found in a variety of forms, such as cleansers, shampoos, and sunscreens, these products utilize a blend of natural ingredients, including volatile oils, fixed oils, waxes, and plant-based pigments, making them an integral part of holistic beauty and health regimens

Investing in the future: prioritizing adolescent health in Pakistan

Adolescence is the stage of life between ages 10 and 19, marking the journey from childhood to adulthood, and is considered the most critical time of human development. During this time, many significant physical, psychological, sexual, reproductive, and social changes occur, making it a critical phase of life. Despite the fact that approximately 21% of Pakistan's population consists of adolescents, the country currently lacks almost any policies focused on promoting adolescent health. Adolescents in Pakistan face significant challenges due to the lack of access to physical, mental, and sexual health services and limited opportunities for physical activity and recreation. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize this population group's health and well-being to address these pressing concerns by employing a holistic approach so that young people can be empowered to make informed decisions