OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the accuracy of MEDAL in assessing the dietary intake of Malaysian school children, using photographs of the children's meals taken by their parents as an objective reference.
METHODS: A convenience sample of 46 children aged 10 to 11 years recorded their daily meals in MEDAL for 4 days (2 weekdays and 2 weekend days). Their parents took photographs of the meals and snacks of their children before and after consumption during the 4-day period and sent them along with a brief description of food and drinks consumed via an instant SMS text messaging app. The accuracy of the children's reports of the food they had consumed was determined by comparing their MEDAL reports to the photographs of the food sent by their parents.
RESULTS: Overall, the match, omission, and intrusion rates were 62% (IQR 46%-86%), 39% (IQR 16%-55%), and 20% (IQR 6%-44%), respectively. Carbohydrate-based items from the food categories "rice and porridge"; "breads, spreads, and cereals"; and "noodles, pasta, and potatoes" were reported most accurately (total match rates: 68%-76%). "Snack and dessert" items were omitted most often (omission rate: 54%). Furthermore, side dishes from "vegetables and mushrooms," "eggs and tofu," "meat and fish," and "curry" food groups were often omitted (omission rates: 42%-46%). Items from "milk, cheese, and yogurt"; "snacks and desserts"; and "drinks" food groups intruded most often (intrusion rates: 37%-46%). Compared to the items reported by the boys, those reported by the girls had higher match rates (69% vs 53%) and lesser omission rates (31% vs 49%; P=.03, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, children aged 10 to 11 years can self-report all their meals in MEDAL, although some items are omitted or intruded. Therefore, MEDAL is a tool that can be used to assess the dietary intake of Malaysian school children.
OBJECTIVES: This study was devised to evaluate the health-related quality of life of people living with diabetes in Hail region of Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: This cross-sectional research was carried out at eight locations in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia between 21st March-20th May 2022 using the adapted version of the Euro QoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire. A multistage random sample approach was used to choose the diabetes clinics, and data collectors approached the participants in the waiting areas to collect the information. The data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis, Mann-Whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis tests in IBM SPSS statistics 21.0.
RESULTS: The mean HRQoL score was 0.71±0.21 with a visual analog score of 68.4±16.2. Despite having much higher levels of quality of life in terms of self-care (85.8%), regular activity (73.8%) and anxiety (71.8%), nearly one half of the people reported moderate pain or discomfort, and more than one third reported having moderate mobility issues. In general, the quality of life for women was poorer than for men. Individuals with diabetes who were unmarried, young, educated, financially secure, and taking only oral medication had much improved HRQoL. The Euro QoL of people with diabetes patients were significantly influenced by gender, marital status, age, education, employment and treatment modality (p-values < 0.05), whereas only treatment modality had a significant impact on the patients' visual analogue measures (p-values < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The HRQoL of people with diabetes in Hail region was moderate in general, with pain and mobility issues being particularly prevalent. Gender, marital status, age, education, employment and type of medication therapy are significant predictors of HRQoL of patients with diabetes. Hence, planning and programs to enhance the HRQoL of people with diabetes, especially women is recommended.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tristar Trubalance aligner sheets were used to fabricate the CAs. Thirty-four resin models were 3D printed and 17 each, were bonded with ellipsoidal or rectangular attachments on maxillary right central incisors. Fuji Prescale pressure film was used to measure the force generated by the attachment of CA. The images of colour density produced on the films were processed using a calibrated pressure mapping system utilising image processing techniques and topographical force mapping to quantify the force. The force measurement process was repeated after the flash was removed from the attachment using tungsten-carbide bur on a slow-speed handpiece.
RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92-0.98). The average mean force exerted by ellipsoidal attachments with flash was 8.05 ± 0.16 N, while 8.11 ± 0.18 N was without flash. As for rectangular attachments, the average mean force with flash was 8.48 ± 0.27 N, while 8.53 ± 0.13 N was without flash. Paired t-test revealed no statistically significant difference in the mean force exerted by CA in the presence or absence of flash for both ellipsoidal (p = 0.07) and rectangular attachments (p = 0.41). Rectangular attachments generated statistically significantly (p 0.05).
METHODS: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-testing. It involved the training of course coordinators in implementing the SAR framework and its integration into the daily learning activities. Fourth-year medical students were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized measures of resilience, anxiety, depression, burnout, and academic stress. Data were analyzed using quantitative methods and thematic analysis for qualitative feedback.
RESULTS: Post-intervention, students demonstrated a significant increase in resilience scores (p 0.05). Qualitative feedback of the course coordinators highlighted an improved learning environment, increased coping strategies, and a more supportive academic culture.
CONCLUSION: The SAR framework significantly contributes to enhancing medical students' resilience and reducing psychological distress. Its implementation suggests a promising approach to fostering a supportive educational environment that not only addresses the psychological challenges faced by medical students but also enhances their academic performance and overall well-being. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term impacts of SAR across different medical education contexts.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 47 T2DM patients on metformin treatment for <3 years to assess the association of SLC22A1 (rs72552763) polymorphism with metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance. Accordingly, 24 metformin tolerant and 23 metformin intolerant individuals with T2DM were recruited. Genotyping of rs72552763 was performed using TaqMan® Drug Metabolism Enzyme Genotyping Assay and its association to metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance was assessed based on switching to a new class of glucose lowering agents or failure to up titrate dose due to metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance. Chi-square, logistic regression and Mann-Whitney statistical tests were used as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS: In our study, no significant association was observed between rs72552763 and metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance. We found that the female gender and physical inactivity were risk factors for metformin gastrointestinal intolerance.
CONCLUSION: Our study found that the Met420del variant of SLC22A1 (rs72552763) was not associated with metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance in Ethiopian patients with T2DM. This is the study first to investigate the association of rs72552763 with metformin intolerance in the Ethiopian population with T2DM. However, the findings need to be cautiously interpreted given the relatively small sample size. In addition, a more complete investigation of SLC22A1 variants would be required to fully assess the effect of the gene on metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance as several variants with a more severe loss of function have been described.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Benson's Relaxation Technique in reducing stress and pain among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. A systematic literature search was carried out from 2000 to 2023. Searched databases included EBSCO-Host "Academic Search, Cochrane, CINAHL, Health Business, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, SPORTDiscus", PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were conducted. RCTs were critically appraised using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool. Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria and included in this review since they were applicable to practice.
RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials were identified supporting the use of Benson's relaxation technique as a nursing treatment in managing stress and pain among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, as it achieved a significant decrease in stress and pain scores. The overall quality of the randomized controlled trials was judged to be low to relatively moderate.
CONCLUSIONS: Most of the randomized controlled trials lacked details on intervention adherence. It is recommended to conduct additional longitudinal randomized controlled trials in different countries with bigger sample sizes, to provide more evidence for generalizing outcomes.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the manufacturing industry of three states in Malaysia among manual lifting workers. A questionnaire was administered, which comprised the sociodemographic characteristics and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) assessing low back pain (LBP). The RNLE dataset includes a load constant and six manual lifting variables collected from observational ergonomic risk assessment. The RNLE was modified to ILE by incorporating age, gender, and BMI. The equations' Lifting Index (LI) computed provides an overall manual lifting risk estimate.
RESULTS: There were 165 participants, with a mean age of 28 years, and 108 (65.5%) were male. Most participants had a BMI within the normal range (60 (36.4%)) or were classified as overweight (54 (32.7%)). The lifting horizontal location showed the highest risk estimates, with the lowest mean multiplier value of 0.55. In contrast, age and BMI had the lowest risk estimates, with mean multiplier values of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. Among the participants, LI values of one or less, indicating very low risk, were observed in 58 (35.1%) for RNLE and 39 (23.6%) for ILE. Additionally, RNLE and ILE showed figures of 11 (6.7%) and 20 (12.1%), respectively, signifying a very high risk of LI exceeding three.
CONCLUSION: Studying the lifting factors and equation multipliers from RNLE is critical for evaluating the risk estimates of manual lifting. Exploring the ILE based on individual characteristics is appropriate to support the ergonomic program. Further study is needed to validate the ILE as an accurate screening tool for determining LBP risk estimates.
METHODS: Phenomenology is the most suitable qualitative method for investigating lived experiences. This study employed a transcendental phenomenological approach to investigate the experiences of student pianists, collecting data through one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions. Since phenomenological research emphasizes the homogeneity of research subjects, all 25 participants in this study are tertiary student pianists from seven Chinese higher education institutions.
RESULTS: Four themes and ten sub-themes were identified in this study. They are as follows: Theme one, Perceptions of PRMD, with sub-themes of body perceptions, negative thought, and emotional changes; Theme two, Complex Identity, with sub-themes of future pianists' identity, nuanced identity of student pianists, and the dual identity between student pianist and patient; Theme three, Coping Strategies, with sub-themes of self-regulation and actively seek help from social relations; Theme four, Influences and Meanings, with sub-themes of negative influences of PRMD and positive meanings of PRMD.
CONCLUSION: This study explores the experiences of tertiary student pianists with PRMD, including their subjective thoughts and feelings. It also highlights the importance of understanding tertiary student pianists' experiences in developing health education and healthcare measures tailored to them.