'We no longer experience the same pain': a cross-sectional study assessing the impact of Heart and Sole Africa's podoconiosis prevention education program.

IF 16.4 1区化学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Accounts of Chemical Research Pub Date : 2024-08-05 DOI:10.1093/trstmh/trae007

Agazi Fitsum Gebreselassie, Natnael Shimelash, Ahamed Kallon, George Mkondo, Tonya Huston, Janna M Schurer

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Podoconiosis is a non-infectious neglected tropical disease caused by long-term exposure to irritant volcanic soils. It results in severe physical, psychological and financial consequences. Heart and Sole Africa (HASA) is a non-governmental, community-based organization providing management to podoconiosis patients in Rwanda. We sought to analyze the impact of their program on the lives of patients.

Methods: Quantitative surveys recorded the participants' demographics, adherence to HASA's management recommendations and changes in quality of life (QOL). Qualitative questions were used to gather respondent perspectives on HASA programming.

Results: We interviewed 127 patients from HASA's Musanze (n=47) and Burera (n=80) clinics. Almost all participants (98.4%) reported statistically significant (p<0.01) improvements in their QOL, and more than one-half (51.2%) had a favorable adherence score of >80%. Qualitative feedback identified specific challenges to adherence and recognition of program success in symptom management.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the value of community-based podoconiosis programming in improving the lives of patients. Practices such as regular feet washing, emollient application, shoe wearing and limb raising can result in a marked reduction of morbidity. Our findings support the argument for scaling up these management practices across Rwanda.

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我们不再经历同样的痛苦"：一项横断面研究，评估非洲心与足的足癣预防教育计划的影响。

背景：足癣是一种被忽视的非传染性热带疾病，由长期暴露于刺激性火山土壤引起。这种疾病会导致严重的身体、心理和经济后果。Heart and Sole Africa（HASA）是一个非政府组织，以社区为基础，为卢旺达的足癣患者提供治疗。我们试图分析他们的项目对患者生活的影响：定量调查记录了参与者的人口统计学特征、对 HASA 管理建议的遵守情况以及生活质量（QOL）的变化。定性问题用于收集受访者对 HASA 计划的看法：我们对来自 HASA Musanze（47 人）和 Burera（80 人）诊所的 127 名患者进行了访谈。几乎所有参与者（98.4%）都报告说，在统计意义上（P80%），他们都能坚持治疗。定性反馈确定了在症状管理方面坚持和认可项目成功所面临的具体挑战：我们的研究证明了基于社区的足癣防治计划在改善患者生活方面的价值。定期洗脚、涂润肤剂、穿鞋和抬高肢体等做法可显著降低发病率。我们的研究结果支持在卢旺达全国推广这些管理方法的论点。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Accounts of Chemical Research 化学-化学综合

CiteScore

31.40

自引率

1.10%

发文量

312

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Accounts of Chemical Research presents short, concise and critical articles offering easy-to-read overviews of basic research and applications in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry. These short reviews focus on research from the author’s own laboratory and are designed to teach the reader about a research project. In addition, Accounts of Chemical Research publishes commentaries that give an informed opinion on a current research problem. Special Issues online are devoted to a single topic of unusual activity and significance. Accounts of Chemical Research replaces the traditional article abstract with an article "Conspectus." These entries synopsize the research affording the reader a closer look at the content and significance of an article. Through this provision of a more detailed description of the article contents, the Conspectus enhances the article's discoverability by search engines and the exposure for the research.