Current medical research and opinion
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To ensure effective patient engagement, patients' efforts, partnerships with healthcare professionals, and the organisation's role in providing safe healthcare settings must be emphasised. Perception gaps regarding patient engagement between the public and healthcare professionals could prevent healthy partnerships from forming and hinder patient engagement activities. This study examined healthcare professionals' perception of patient engagement and compared the findings with that determined for the public in a previous study. ⋯ The healthcare professionals' perception of patient engagement was more positive than that of the public. To narrow the perception gaps and enhance the public's perception, strategies involving changes in healthcare systems, promotional efforts, and educational initiatives should be developed. Additionally, strategies should be formulated for healthcare professionals to better engage as partners in patient care.
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Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) require a strict diet to maintain phenylalanine (Phe) levels within the desired range. However, the diet can be onerous, resulting in poor adherence. We carried out the first online national survey in Italy to better understand the perceptions, knowledge, and experiences of both patients with PKU and caregivers with the goal of improving patient outcomes. ⋯ Our data showed that patients with PKU and their caregivers reported difficulties in adherence to diet therapy and indicated interest in new therapeutic approaches. Apparent differences between patient and caregiver perspectives were identified. More informational resources on PKU are needed.
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Infection with the hepatitis delta virus (HDV), a unique RNA virus that requires hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens for its assembly, replication, and transmission, causes severe viral hepatitis. Compared to HBV monoinfection, HDV infection increases the risk of severe liver disease, necessity for liver transplant, and mortality. Global HDV prevalence estimates vary from 5% to 15% among persons with HBV, but screening guidelines for HDV are inconsistent; some recommend risk-based screening, while others recommend universal screening for all people with HBV. Among primary care providers (PCPs) in the US, there is a lack of awareness and/or insufficient adherence to current recommendations for the screening of HDV infection and management of chronic HDV. ⋯ PCPs can be a valuable point of care for patients to access HDV/HBV screening, HBV immunization, and education, and can comanage patients with HBV and/or HDV infection.
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This study investigates the association between Methamphetamine (MA) intoxication and suicidal ideation/behavior in patients presenting to emergency departments. Amidst rising MA use and co-use with opioids, this "twin epidemic" has manifested in increasing admissions for MA intoxication, often accompanied by psychiatric symptoms that can escalate to suicidal behaviors. ⋯ These results underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the complex interplay between MA use and suicidal risks in the emergency department setting, as well as broader public health strategies to combat the increasing prevalence of MA use.
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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a long-lasting metabolic non-communicable disease often characterized by an increase in the level of glucose in the blood or hyperglycemia. Approximately, 415 million people between the ages of 20 and 79 years had DM in 2015 and this figure will rise by 200 million by 2040. In a study conducted by CARRS, it's been found that in Delhi the prevalence of diabetes is around 27% and for prediabetic cases, it is more than 46%. ⋯ Early detection and diagnosis of diabetes also help the patient avoid expensive treatments later in their life with the help of IoT (internet of medical things) and machine learning models. These tools will help healthcare physicians to predict the disease early. Therefore, the Nano drug delivery system along with AI tools holds a very bright future in diabetes care.