Tanzania IR Initiative: Training the First Generation of Interventional Radiologists

Despite a population of nearly 60 million, there is currently not a single interventional radiologist in Tanzania. Based on an Interventional Radiology (IR) Readiness Assessment, the key obstacles to establishing IR in Tanzania are the lack of training opportunities and limited availability of disposable equipment. An IR training program was designed and initiated, which relies on US-based volunteer teams of IR physicians, nurses, and technologists to locally train radiology residents, nurses, and technologists. Preliminary results support this strategy for addressing the lack of training opportunities and provide a model for introducing IR to other resource-limited settings.     

Development of a Pilates Teaching Framework from an international survey of teacher practice

ObjectivePilates is used increasingly in a variety of clinical settings. However, there is lack of clarity in the literature as to what is meant by the term. Teachers incorporating apparatus based on the designs of Joseph Pilates (1883–1967) into their practice refer to themselves as Comprehensive Teachers, and this group divides itself further into Classical and Contemporary practice. The aim of this research was to explore the meanings of these terms with Comprehensive Teachers and to develop a framework that reflects current views and practice.MethodOnline international survey of Pilates Teachers through closed Facebook forums. Open questions were used to elicit views of the definition and practice of Pilates, and how standards should be set across the sector.ResultsOf 109 participants, 35% were based in the UK and 32% in the USA; 48% identified as Classical teachers, 32% as Contemporary, 5% as both and 15% as Matwork instructors. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed agreement on the scope and content of Classical and Contemporary Comprehensive Pilates, however the discourse indicated there might be stereotyping about each other's practice. Classical teachers, for example, spoke of their own practice as authentic while Contemporary teachers used terms such as strict and inflexible for Classical practice. However, members of either group may incorporate both Classical and Contemporary approaches within their practice. We have designed a Pilates Teaching Framework to take into account the types of apparatus, the types of exercises and the order in which the exercises are executed.ConclusionsA framework that emphasises Pilates teaching rather than teacher practice is proposed for consistency and clarity when describing Pilates in professional and public contexts.     

The Geriatrician: The Frontline Specialist in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients

On February 20, 2020, a man living in the north of Italy was admitted to the emergency room with an atypical pneumonia that later proved to be COVID-19. This was the trigger of one of the most serious clusters of COVID-19 in the world, outside of China. Despite aggressive restraint and inhibition efforts, COVID-19 continues to increase, and the total number of infected patients in Italy is growing daily. After 6 weeks, the total number of patients reached 128,948 cases (April 5, 2020), with the higher case-fatality rate (15,887 deaths) dominated by old and very old patients.This sudden health emergency severely challenged the Italian Health System, in particular acute care hospitals and intensive care units. In 1 hospital, geriatric observation units were created, the experience of which can be extremely useful for European countries, the United States, and all countries that in the coming days will face a similar situation.     

Medical masks’ and respirators’ pattern of use,adverse effects and errors among Portuguese health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundDuring COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of surgical masks (Mask) and respirators (Resp) was experienced worldwide. We aimed to assess its pattern of use, adverse effects and user errors by Portuguese health care professionals (HCP).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted through snowball convenience sample, collected by email/ social media to health care organizations. Participants answered an online anonymous survey in March 2021.ResultsMean age of 3052 respondents was 42.1 years old, 83.6% were female and 77.8% provided direct health care to COVID-19 patients. Mean time of use per shift was 6-8 hours in 40.8% of the participants. 28.0% reported never changing it during their shift. Resp use (vs Mask) was more associated with discomfort (58.2% vs 26.8%), affecting task performance (41.5 vs 18.9%) and communication (55.0 vs 40.9%), dyspnea (36.0 vs 14.4%), skin rash (37.5 vs 19.4%) and headache (37.5 vs 19.4%). Frequent user errors included touching the front while in use (70.1% Mask vs 66.3% Resp) and omitting hand hygiene before (61.8% Mask vs 55.0% Resp) or after use (61.3% Mask vs 57.0% Resp). Average number of errors was higher for Mask (4.3), than for Resp (3.2) (all: P < .001).ConclusionsMost HCP admitted an extended use of Mask/ Resp. Resp were more prone to adverse effects and Mask more prone to errors. Strategies to reinforce good practices should be considered.     

Exercise and Lifestyle Education program for Brazilians living with prediabetes and diabetes: A pilot randomized trial

AimsTo test the Diabetes College Brazil Study feasibility, the acceptability of study interventions and their preliminary effectiveness, and describe the study protocol modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSingle-center, double-blinded pilot randomized trial with two parallel groups, Exercise and Lifestyle Education (ExLE; 12-week exercise and educational interventions) and Exercise (Ex; 12-week exercise intervention only) involving patients with prediabetes or diabetes. Feasibility (eligibility, recruitment, retention, completeness of variables measures and participation rates), acceptability (satisfaction), and preliminary effectiveness of interventions (variables: functional capacity, physical activity (PA), exercise self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, health literacy, adherence to Mediterranean food pattern, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), anthropometric measures, cardiac autonomic control, depression, and quality of life (QofL)).ResultsEligibility, recruitment, retention, participation in exercise sessions, and education classes rates were 17%, 93%,82%, 76%, and 71%, respectively. Missing data in the post-intervention assessment (PA, HbA1c, cardiac autonomic control, anthropometric measures, depression, and QofL) were mainly related to research procedure modifications. The interventions were highly acceptable, and most variables improved farther in the ExLE, with moderate effect sizes for PA, diabetes knowledge, health literacy, cardiac autonomic control, and QofL.ConclusionsThe Diabetes College Brazil Study is feasible, and the ExLE may benefit Brazilians living with prediabetes and diabetes.     

Efectividad de un nuevo modelo de derivación telefónica compartida entre atención primaria y atención hospitalaria

Aim

The purpose of this study is to find out whether telephone referral from Primary Health Care to Internal Medicine Consult manages to reduce waiting days as compared to traditional referral. This study also aims to know how acceptable is the telephone referral to general practitioners and their patients.

Reticencia vacunal: análisis del discurso de madres y padres con rechazo total o parcial a las vacunas

Objective

To analyse and understand vaccination hesitancy discourses, particularly those of people who have decided not to vaccinate their sons and daughters.

论伍廷芳《延寿新法》的版本及其养生思想

近代著名外交家、法学家伍廷芳撰写了一部养生学著作《延寿新法》,其版本众多,以南京中医药大学图书馆馆藏抄本为善。《延寿新法》一书从生理、饮食、睡眠、阳光、衣着、气象、风俗、烟酒、运动等方面详论养生延年之法。在“西学东渐”的时代背景下,《延寿新法》的养生思想折射出中西医交流的历史痕迹。     

痛风患者的健康素养：一项关于东北地区中青年患者的质性研究

背景　痛风是一种代谢性疾病，可以并发肾、心脑血管等多器官疾病，目前痛风发病和预后的影响因素已经得到揭示，但鲜有通过质性研究方法全面评估痛风患者的疾病认知和健康素养状态。目的　探讨东北地区中青年痛风患者的健康素养，并了解痛风患者的一般感知能力及知识需求状况，为增强我国痛风患者的健康素养水平，改善其自身管理能力、提高痛风患者的生活质量提供理论依据。方法　招募2017年3月-2018年3月于大庆油田总医院、大庆市人民医院、大庆市第五医院3家医院确诊为痛风的中青年患者，信息饱和后停止招募，共招募13例患者。采用非结构式与半结构式访谈相结合的方式对患者资料进行收集，采用Colaizzi的现象学资料分析方法进行分析。结果　对访谈资料进行分析，提炼如下主题：痛风患者的疾病感知能力〔包括对痛风的认知及知晓情况较差；严重的疼痛可影响痛风患者的生活质量；自我感知导致疾病发作或加重的原因为饮食习惯及生活方式等〕、就诊状况及行为（包括首次发病对疾病认识缺乏；就医体验不良）、痛风药物管理计划（包括药物选择依从性低、治疗方案的知晓及应对差）、痛风非药物管理计划（包括生活方式的调整、社会资源互动、疾病信息挖掘）。结论　东北地区中青年痛风患者健康素养水平较低，对疾病相关信息获取途径单一，对疾病和治疗判断片面，因此不能有效进行疾病管理，阻碍医疗决策制定。提示根据需求状况、针对具体薄弱环节提升痛风患者的健康素养、提高知识水平对改善患者健康结局很有必要。