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Nursing Reports (Pavia, Italy) May 2024The use of hydrotherapy during childbirth has gained relevance due to the demand for natural childbirth and greater respect for the woman's choice. Studies have shown...
UNLABELLED
The use of hydrotherapy during childbirth has gained relevance due to the demand for natural childbirth and greater respect for the woman's choice. Studies have shown benefits such as less use of epidural analgesia, increased ability to cope with pain, shorter labor, and a better overall birth experience.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study was to generate further evidence on maternal and birth outcomes associated with the use of hydrotherapy during labor, specifically aiming to describe the effects of water immersion during all stages of labor (first, second, and third) on women.
METHODOLOGY
A retrospective cohort study was carried out on a random sample of women who gave birth at the Costa del Sol Hospital between January 2010 and December 2020. The calculated sample size was 377 women and the data were extracted from their partograms. After data extraction, two groups were formed: one group used hydrotherapy during childbirth ( = 124), while the other group included women who did not use hydrotherapy during the childbirth process ( = 253).
RESULTS
The results highlight significant differences in pain perception, analgesia use, types of labor, and delivery times between the two groups. Women who did not use hydrotherapy reported higher pain perception, with a median (IQR) of 8 (7-9) on a numerical scale, compared to a median (IQR) of 6 (5-7) for the hydrotherapy group. Furthermore, the group without hydrotherapy required epidural analgesia in 40% of cases, while in the hydrotherapy group, it was only necessary in 20%. In terms of the type of delivery, the hydrotherapy group had more spontaneous vaginal deliveries compared to the non-hydrotherapy group, which had more operative vaginal deliveries. The overall duration of labor was longer in the hydrotherapy group, especially in women who arrived at the hospital late in labor.
CONCLUSIONS
Hydrotherapy is associated with a longer time to delivery. Women with a higher pain tolerance tend to opt for hydrotherapy instead of epidural analgesia.
PubMed: 38804428
DOI: 10.3390/nursrep14020095 -
Revista Medica de Chile Jun 2023The decision to study a medical specialty involves considering several personal, family, and professional factors, and currently, in Chile, there needs to be more...
BACKGROUND
The decision to study a medical specialty involves considering several personal, family, and professional factors, and currently, in Chile, there needs to be more information about this.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors that explain the intention to study a medical specialty in medical students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A survey of medical students was conducted with 266 valid responses (58.7% response rate). The instrument measured the intention, attitude, subjective norms, and self-perception of abilities toward studying a medical specialty. This instrument was verified for its reliability and validity. We used the Structural Equations Model (SEM) through partial least squares (SEM-PLS) to estimate the whole model.
RESULTS
Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, composite reliability, and Dijkstra-Hernseler's indicator of each item showed adequate values. Regarding the structural model, the size effect test indicated that two of the three constructs are relevant to explaining the intention. Bootstrapping tests showed the predictive relevance of the model. The overall fit of the model was adequate.
CONCLUSIONS
The factor that most influence students' intention to continue towards a medical specialty is personal attitude, followed by perceived control of behavior, and finally by expected future income.
Topics: Students, Medical; Humans; Chile; Intention; Female; Male; Career Choice; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Specialization; Reproducibility of Results; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies
PubMed: 38801387
DOI: 10.4067/s0034-98872023000600782 -
Heliyon May 2024Manual traction, a therapeutic technique frequently employed in healthcare, involves applying controlled pulling force by hand, usually to the spine, to stretch muscles...
BACKGROUND
Manual traction, a therapeutic technique frequently employed in healthcare, involves applying controlled pulling force by hand, usually to the spine, to stretch muscles and decompress joints, thereby alleviating pain. This method can be particularly beneficial for addressing lumbosacral spine pain exacerbated by radicular symptoms, characterized by pain radiating from the lower back due to compression or irritation of spinal nerves.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to compare the effects of manual traction against control group in alleviating the lumbosacral spine pain caused by radicular symptoms.
METHODS
A randomized controlled study design was utilized with a sample of 60 patients experiencing lumbosacral spine pain, evenly distributed between an experimental group (n = 30; receiving manual traction) and a control group (n = 30). Patients underwent assessments before and after six treatment sessions, which included the Straight Leg Raise test, modified Bragard's test, Kernig's test, and the visual analogue scale for pain perception.
RESULTS
Between-group significant differences were found at post-intervention, favoring the experimental group on SLR - Left (°) (p = 0.004; medium effect size), SLR - Right (°) (p = 0.004; medium effect size), Modified Bragard test - Left (°) (p = 0.024; small effect size), Modified Bragard test - Right (°) (p = 0.003; medium effect size), Kernig's Test - Left (°) (p = 0.013; medium effect size) and Kernig's Test - Right (°) (p = 0.010; medium effect size). Additionally, between-group significant differences were found at post-intervention, favoring the experimental group on VAS scores at SLR left (p < 0.001; medium effect size), and right (p < 0.001); medium effect size, Modified Bragard test left (p < 0.001; medium effect size) and right (p < 0.001; medium effect size) and at Kernig's Test left (p < 0.001; medium effect size) and right (p < 0.001; medium effect size).
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, manual traction is recommended as an effective approach for alleviating lumbosacral spine pain in patients experiencing symptoms resulting from irritation or compression of a spinal nerve root.
PubMed: 38799754
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31013 -
Archives of Dermatological Research May 2024Dyschromia is a top diagnosis among African Americans (AA). Sunscreen is an essential part of its management, but AA have low sunscreen use. We sought to examine the...
Dyschromia is a top diagnosis among African Americans (AA). Sunscreen is an essential part of its management, but AA have low sunscreen use. We sought to examine the perception of sunscreen utility in dyschromia and photoaging among patients who identify as AA or Black. This cross-sectional study recruited participants from the Case Western Reserve University Academic Dental Clinic. Participants completed an electronic survey that contained questions related to sunscreen use, knowledge of the sun's role in hyperpigmentation and photoaging, and whether sunscreen could be used for hyperpigmentation and photoaging. Of the 151 participants recruited, 63.6% (n = 96) were women and 36.4% (n = 57) were men. Consistent with previous reports, participants had lower sunscreen use (20.5%) than whites (43.5%). The majority of participants (80.1% and 58.3%, respectively) didn't attribute the sun to hyperpigmentation or photoaging. Participants with dark/brown spots were significantly more likely to not attribute the sun to hyperpigmentation than those without spots. (p = 0.003) Limitations for this study include its small sample size, recall and reporter bias, question misinterpretation, and lack of question neutrality. This study highlights the knowledge gap of a major contributing factor to dyschromia which in turn could be leading to their view of the decreased utility of sunscreen.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Black or African American; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hyperpigmentation; Skin Aging; Skin Pigmentation; Sunlight; Sunscreening Agents; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38795157
DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03144-4 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024The increase in practices related to enhancing penile size can be attributed to the belief that an improved genital appearance contributes to a man's virility, coupled... (Review)
Review
The increase in practices related to enhancing penile size can be attributed to the belief that an improved genital appearance contributes to a man's virility, coupled with an altered self-perception of his body. It is crucial to tailor interventions to meet the genuine needs of patients by thoroughly assessing their history, psychological state, and potential surgical benefits, all while considering the associated risks of complications. This systematic review aims to summarize the available evidence on outcomes, complications, and quality of life after penile augmentation surgery, examining both minimally invasive and more radical techniques. A search of the PubMed and Scopus databases, focusing on English-language papers published in the last 15 years, was performed in December 2023. Papers discussing surgery in animal models and case reports were excluded from the present study unless further evaluated in a follow-up case series. The primary outcomes were changes in penile dimensions, specifically in terms of length and girth, as well as the incidence of surgical complications and the impact on quality of life. A total of 1670 articles were retrieved from the search and 46 were included for analysis. Procedures for penile length perceived enhancements include lipoplasty, skin reconstruction plasty, V-Y and Z plasty, flap reconstruction, scrotoplasty, ventral phalloplasty, and suspensory ligament release; techniques for increasing corporal penile length include penile disassembly, total phalloplasty, and sliding elongation. Finally, penile girth enhancement may be performed using soft tissue fillers, grafting procedures, biodegradable scaffolds, and Penuma. In conclusion, while penile augmentation surgeries offer potential solutions for individuals concerned about genital size, the risks and complexities need to be accounted for.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Male; Penis; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Plastic Surgery Procedures
PubMed: 38792941
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60050758 -
Microorganisms May 2024Phytoplasmas are linked to diseases in hundreds of economically important crops, including carrots. In carrots, phytoplasmosis is associated with leaf chlorosis and...
Phytoplasmas are linked to diseases in hundreds of economically important crops, including carrots. In carrots, phytoplasmosis is associated with leaf chlorosis and necrosis, coupled with inhibited root system development, ultimately leading to significant economic losses. During a field study conducted in Baden-Württemberg (Germany), two strains of the provisional taxon ' Phytoplasma asteris' were identified within a carrot plot. For further analysis, strains M8 and M33 underwent shotgun sequencing, utilising single-molecule-real-time (SMRT) long-read sequencing and sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) paired-end short-read sequencing techniques. Hybrid assemblies resulted in complete de novo assemblies of two genomes harboring circular chromosomes and two plasmids. Analyses, including average nucleotide identity and sequence comparisons of established marker genes, confirmed the phylogenetic divergence of '. P. asteris' and a different assignment of strains to the 16S rRNA subgroup I-A for M33 and I-B for M8. These groups exhibited unique features, encompassing virulence factors and genes, associated with the mobilome. In contrast, pan-genome analysis revealed a highly conserved gene set related to metabolism across these strains. This analysis of the Aster Yellows (AY) group reaffirms the perception of phytoplasmas as bacteria that have undergone extensive genome reduction during their co-evolution with the host and an increase of genome size by mobilome.
PubMed: 38792845
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051016 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Graduate student wellbeing is a public health issue in the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated the mental health burden on graduate students worldwide....
BACKGROUND
Graduate student wellbeing is a public health issue in the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated the mental health burden on graduate students worldwide. Culture of Wellness (PH 104) is a 2-week wellbeing elective course that teaches evidence-based wellbeing strategies for graduate students at a university in the United States. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of this pilot wellbeing elective on Master of Public Health students' mental health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
Participants included 22 Master of Public Health students from the class of 2021 at a university in the United States. We provided a pre-course survey to students that assessed their perception of their own personal wellbeing, their knowledge about various wellbeing strategies, and their confidence in applying 13 wellbeing strategies before taking the course. Post-course students completed the same survey following course completion, as well as a matching evaluation and a five-month follow up survey.
RESULTS
Of the 13 strategies taught, students reported significant improvements in their ability to apply 10 strategies. There was a significant increase in self-reported emotional and physical wellbeing, as well as a significant decrease in burnout. Five months post-course, more than three quarters of respondents used strategies taught in the course on a weekly basis or more.
LIMITATIONS
This pilot study is limited by its small sample size, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings.
CONCLUSIONS
The PH 104 Culture of Wellness course was effective in improving graduate students' wellbeing and confidence in applying wellbeing strategies.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pilot Projects; Female; Male; Mental Health; Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics; United States; Students, Public Health; Health Promotion; Curriculum; Public Health; Surveys and Questionnaires; Education, Graduate
PubMed: 38791804
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050590 -
Animal Cognition May 2024Optical illusions have long been used in behavioural studies to investigate the perceptual mechanisms underlying vision in animals. So far, three studies have focused on...
Optical illusions have long been used in behavioural studies to investigate the perceptual mechanisms underlying vision in animals. So far, three studies have focused on ungulates, providing evidence that they may be susceptible to some optical illusions, in a way similar to humans. Here, we used two food-choice tasks to study susceptibility to the Müller-Lyer and Delboeuf illusions in 17 captive individuals belonging to four ungulate species (Lama guanicoe, Lama glama, Ovis aries, Capra hircus). At the group level, there was a significant preference for the longer/larger food over the shorter/smaller one in control trials. Additionally, the whole group significantly preferred the food stick between two inward arrowheads over an identical one between two outward arrowheads in experimental trials of the Müller-Lyer task, and also preferred the food on the smaller circle over an identical one on the larger circle in the experimental trials of the Delboeuf task. Group-level analyses further showed no significant differences across species, although at the individual level we found significant variation in performance. Our findings suggest that, in line with our predictions, ungulates are overall susceptible to the Müller-Lyer and the Delboeuf illusions, and indicate that the perceptual mechanisms underlying size estimation in artiodactyls might be similar to those of other species, including humans.
Topics: Animals; Camelids, New World; Optical Illusions; Female; Male; Goats; Size Perception; Sheep
PubMed: 38789595
DOI: 10.1007/s10071-024-01878-2 -
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing Jun 2024Conscience is a force capable of making judgments about one's own moral values during individual behaviour. Conscience in nursing is a concept that is perceived as...
Conscience is a force capable of making judgments about one's own moral values during individual behaviour. Conscience in nursing is a concept that is perceived as authority and an inner voice, and it positively affects nursing care. Today, according to many research results, conscience is an indicator of professionalism that affects our personal and professional lives. This research was carried out to determine the effect of nurses' perceptions of conscience on job satisfaction and care behaviours. A cross-sectional study was performed in a training and research hospital. The sample size of 338 nurses was determined by power analysis, and the participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. The data were collected between June and November 2020. A "Personal Information Form", the "Conscience Perception Scale (CPS)", the "Nurse Job Satisfaction Scale (NJSS)" and the "Caring Behaviours Scale-30 (CBS-30)" were used to collect the data. The nurses obtained a score of 63.36 ± 12.13 on the CPS, indicating a high level of conscience perception; a total of 3.41 ± 0.69 points on the NJSS, revealing a high level of job satisfaction; and a total of 150.42 ± 21.22 points on the CBS-30, implying that care perceptions were found to be high. It was determined that the nurses' perceptions of conscience had an effect on their job satisfaction and care behaviours (R = 0.398, Adjusted R = 0.158, p = 0.000). The nurses who participated in the study had a high perception of conscience, which positively affected their job satisfaction and care behaviours.
Topics: Humans; Job Satisfaction; Conscience; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Adult; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Attitude of Health Personnel; Perception; Nurses; Nursing Staff, Hospital
PubMed: 38789233
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2024.03.008 -
Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B Jul 2024To explore the barriers to physical activity and to identify the support needed to facilitate physical activity in adolescents with epilepsy (AWE).
OBJECTIVE
To explore the barriers to physical activity and to identify the support needed to facilitate physical activity in adolescents with epilepsy (AWE).
METHODS
AWE (aged 11-16 years) and their caregivers completed survey-based open questions regarding perceived barriers to, and facilitators of physical activity in young people with epilepsy. The responses were analysed using Thematic Analysis.
RESULTS
Themes concerning barriers to physical activity included concerns about seizure safety, general anxiety and anxiety related to seizures, stigma/negative attitudes associated with having epilepsy, tiredness, and perceived lack of physical competence. Themes regarding the support needed to facilitate physical activity included better education amongst staff/coaches about epilepsy (e.g., seizure management/prevention, associated fatigue/tiredness), improvements in societal attitudes towards epilepsy, flexibility/tailoring of activities to the child's needs (e.g., need for breaks), and peer support for young people with epilepsy to encourage engagement in physical activity.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a perception among AWE and caregivers, that significant barriers exist with regard to engaging in physical activity for young people with epilepsy. Barriers are related to concerns about seizure management but also wider safety and social issues. A number of facilitators were identified to promote physical activity engagement in AWE, including education for staff and caregivers, peer support, and tailoring activities to the adolescent's needs. There is a need to develop interventions to reduce barriers to physical activity in young people with epilepsy.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Epilepsy; Male; Female; Child; Surveys and Questionnaires; Exercise; Caregivers; Motor Activity
PubMed: 38788654
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109772