Unmet needs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A qualitative study on patients and doctors

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic disease with repeated exacerbations resulting in gradual debilitation. The quality of life has been shown to be poor in patients with COPD despite efforts to improve self-management. However, the evidence on the benefit of self-management in COPD is conflicting. Whether this could be due to other unmet needs of patients have not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to explore unmet needs of patients from both patients and doctors managing COPD. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study with doctors and patients in Malaysia. We used convenience sampling to recruit patients until data saturation. Eighteen patients and eighteen doctors consented and were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and checked by the interviewers. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. Results: The themes were similar for both the patients and doctors. Three main themes emerged: knowledge and awareness of COPD, psychosocial and physical impact of COPD and the utility of self-management. Knowledge about COPD was generally poor. Patients were not familiar with the term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. The word ‘asthma’ was used synonymously with COPD by both patients and doctors. Most patients experienced difficulties in their psychosocial and physical functions such as breathlessness, fear and helplessness. Most patients were not confident in self-managing their illness and prefer a more passive role with doctors directing their care. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study showed that knowledge of COPD is generally poor. There was mislabelling of COPD as asthma by both patients and physicians. This could have resulted in the lack of understanding of treatment options, outcomes, and prognosis of COPD. The misconception that cough due to COPD was contagious, and breathlessness that resulted from COPD, had important physical and psychosocial impact, and could lead to social isolation. Most patients and physicians did not favour self-management approaches, suggesting innovations based on self-management may be of limited benefit

Polymorphisms in genes of interleukin 12 and its receptors and their association with protection against severe malarial anaemia in children in western Kenya

Abstract Background: Malarial anaemia is characterized by destruction of malaria infected red blood cells and suppression of erythropoiesis. Interleukin 12 (IL12) significantly boosts erythropoietic responses in murine models of malarial anaemia and decreased IL12 levels are associated with severe malarial anaemia (SMA) in children. Based on the biological relevance of IL12 in malaria anaemia, the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of IL12 and its receptors and SMA was examined. Methods: Fifty-five tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms covering genes encoding two IL12 subunits, IL12A and IL12B, and its receptors, IL12RB1 and IL12RB2, were examined in a cohort of 913 children residing in Asembo Bay region of western Kenya. Results: An increasing copy number of minor variant (C) in IL12A (rs2243140) was significantly associated with a decreased risk of SMA (P = 0.006; risk ratio, 0.52 for carrying one copy of allele C and 0.28 for two copies). Individuals possessing two copies of a rare variant (C) in IL12RB1 (rs429774) also appeared to be strongly protective against SMA (P = 0.00005; risk ratio, 0.18). In addition, children homozygous for another rare allele (T) in IL12A (rs22431348) were associated with reduced risk of severe anaemia (SA) (P = 0.004; risk ratio, 0.69) and of severe anaemia with any parasitaemia (SAP) (P = 0.004; risk ratio, 0.66). In contrast, AG genotype for another variant in IL12RB1 (rs383483) was associated with susceptibility to high-density parasitaemia (HDP) (P = 0.003; risk ratio, 1.21). Conclusions: This study has shown strong associations between polymorphisms in the genes of IL12A and IL12RB1 and protection from SMA in Kenyan children, suggesting that human genetic variants of IL12 related genes may significantly contribute to the development of anaemia in malaria patients

Abstracts from the 20th International Symposium on Signal Transduction at the Blood-Brain Barriers

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138963/1/12987_2017_Article_71.pd

Colorectal cancer risk perceptions and screening intentions in a minority population.

This is a 2-year follow-up to a previously reported baseline paper. We focused on a predominantly low-income African-American population from a community health center and investigated the relationships among perceptions of perceived risks for colorectal cancer (CRC), concerns about getting CRC, screening intentions, and whether participants had a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) on schedule at follow-up. Baseline absolute risk did not predict screening intentions or being on schedule (15% of sample), nor did it predict follow-up perceived absolute risk, comparative risk, or CRC concerns. Participants who expressed greater perceived absolute risk, comparative risk, and concerns at follow-up were more likely to report thinking about or definitely planning to get an FOBT within the next 2 years (49% of the sample). In addition, baseline absolute risk and whether or not a person had an FOBT on schedule at baseline did not predict being on schedule at follow-up. A significant percentage of the population (20%) were not able to state whether their CRC risk was below average, average, or above average. In addition, 44% of the population viewed their risks as lower than their peers, and 58% reported being not at all or slightly concerned about getting CRC. These results suggest that educational efforts are needed especially for low-income minority populations to enhance knowledge and accuracy of risk perceptions for CRC and interventions that explicitly manipulate risk are needed to assess to what extent risk perceptions can be modified and subsequently affect screening

When the Data Does Not Match the Story: Do Trauma Histories and Addiction Issues Really Characterize Poor Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Manitoba First Nation Women Living On-Reserve?

First Nations women have historically used cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) screening services less than non-First Nations women, and have correspondingly higher rates of cervical cancer compared to non-Aboriginal women. It has been suggested that trauma/mental health histories and addiction behaviours may present barriers and result in less use of Pap screening. This study examined the potential influence of trauma/mental health histories and addiction on self-reports of Pap screening. Data from the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey 2002/2003 were used to explore the association of social demographic characteristics, trauma history, and addiction behaviours with Pap screening among a sample of 1,707 First Nations adult women living on-reserve in Manitoba, Canada. Women younger than 50 years, those who reported suicidal thoughts and/or attempts over their lifetime, and those with polysubstance addictions were more likely to have been screened in the three years prior to the survey. Contrary to the perceptions of some older First Nations women, women with a challenging past were indeed engaging in Pap screening. Trauma histories and addiction behaviours did not reduce the use of cervical screening for First Nations women in this study. Screening uptake, however, is still less than optimal for older women and women with less than high school education. Culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive communication and health service efforts are required to  undo existing misperceptions, and to encourage women, regardless of age or current or past circumstances, to participate in cancer screening for their own wellbeing

When the Data Does Not Match the Story: Do Trauma Histories and Addiction Issues Really Characterize Poor Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Manitoba First Nation Women Living On-Reserve?

First Nations women have historically used cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) screening services less than non-First Nations women, and have correspondingly higher rates of cervical cancer compared to non-Aboriginal women. It has been suggested that trauma/mental health histories and addiction behaviours may present barriers and result in less use of Pap screening. This study examined the potential influence of trauma/mental health histories and addiction on self-reports of Pap screening. Data from the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey 2002/2003 were used to explore the association of social demographic characteristics, trauma history, and addiction behaviours with Pap screening among a sample of 1,707 First Nations adult women living on-reserve in Manitoba, Canada. Women younger than 50 years, those who reported suicidal thoughts and/or attempts over their lifetime, and those with polysubstance addictions were more likely to have been screened in the three years prior to the survey. Contrary to the perceptions of some older First Nations women, women with a challenging past were indeed engaging in Pap screening. Trauma histories and addiction behaviours did not reduce the use of cervical screening for First Nations women in this study. Screening uptake, however, is still less than optimal for older women and women with less than high school education. Culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive communication and health service efforts are required to  undo existing misperceptions, and to encourage women, regardless of age or current or past circumstances, to participate in cancer screening for their own wellbeing