26 research outputs found
The Impact of Lower Extremity Venous Ulcers due to Chronic Venous Insufficiency on Quality of Life
Lower extremity venous ulcers comprise a complex medical and social issue. The conservative and/or surgical management of venous ulcers is often inadequate. In addition, the psychosocial aspect of the disease is often overlooked and most often undertreated. Common symptoms such as pain, low self-esteem and patient isolation are usually not recognized and therefore not adequately managed
Health related quality of life in patients with anogenital warts
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) instruments are an important tool for the evaluation of medical outcomes. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) influence the patients' life. We aimed to evaluate the HRQoL in patients with anogenital warts at the time of and 1 month after the diagnosis.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>We used the short-form (SF)-36 questionnaire to compare the HRQoL of 91 patients with anogenital warts to 53 control subjects with the same socioeconomic characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no statistical difference in the overall HRQoL measurement between the anogenital wart patients and controls. However, there was an improvement in the scales of vitality (65.22 ± 15.70 vs. 69.04 ± 14.11, respectively; p < 0.05) and mental health (65.00 ± 20.09 vs. 69.43 ± 18.08, respectively; p < 0.05) in anogenital warts patients between the time of diagnosis and 1 month later. Furthermore, there was a significant deterioration in the scale of social functioning (73.47 ± 22.18 vs. 72.89 ± 19.28, respectively; p < 0.05). The small sample size is a limitation of our study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HRQoL does not appear to be influenced in anogenital wart patients, as measured by the generic instrument SF-36. It is therefore important to develop specific instruments for the measurement of HRQoL in this group of patients.</p
Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study.
INTRODUCTION: There are few published empirical data on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, and until now, there is no large international study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire gathered data from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables. RESULTS: Probable depression was detected in 17.80% and distress in 16.71%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (31.82% vs. 13.07%). At least half of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop depression was associated with history of Bipolar disorder and self-harm/attempts (RR = 5.88). Suicidality was not increased in persons without a history of any mental disorder. Based on these results a model was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The final model revealed multiple vulnerabilities and an interplay leading from simple anxiety to probable depression and suicidality through distress. This could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable. Future research and interventions should specifically focus on them
Economic crisis and challenges for the Greek healthcare system: the emergent role of nursing management
Background Despite several reform efforts, the Greek health care system
still faces problems related to misdistribution of trained health staff
and finance between geographical areas.
Aim The objectives of the present study were to describe the current
situation of the delivery of the healthcare service in Greece, to
explore the basic implications of the economic crisis from a nursing
management perspective and to examine future practices opening a debate
in policy developments.
Key issue The principal finding of this study was the serious shortage
of trained nurses, the imbalances in nursing personnel, an excess of
doctors and the complete absence of a Primary Healthcare System in civil
areas provided by general doctors.
Conclusion It is important that health care policy makers become aware
and seriously consider rearranging the Health Care System to become more
effective and efficient for the population (client). Special attention
should be paid to strengthening areas such as primary health care,
public health and health promotion in the direction of minimizing the
demand of hospital services.
Implications for nursing management Any implementation of major health
care reforms should consider seriously the role of the nursing
management which formulates the substantial link between the health
services and the patient