{"title":"Clinical features and treatment outcomes of Fournier's gangrene in a single tertiary emergency hospital: Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index score is a predictor for death.","authors":"Taichi Shiratori, Masaki Nakamura, Akihiro Naito, Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Okura, Jun Yamakawa, Haruki Kume, Motofumi Suzuki","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01051","DOIUrl":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To assess the predictive reliability of the Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index Score (SFGSI) for mortality in Japanese patients with Fournier's gangrene (FG), we compared the clinical features and outcomes of a patient sample with the SFGSI. The medical records of 36 patients diagnosed with FG at our hospital between October 2007 and September 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory variables, including SFGSI, were evaluated and predictive factors for fatality were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The median age and body mass index were 65 and 24.2, respectively. Eight patients had cooccurring chronic kidney disease and 23 had diabetes. None were taking sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. The causative organisms were diverse, and no specific trends in causative organisms were observed. 26 patients underwent debridement of necrotic tissue including eight colostomies, two orchiectomies, and one cystectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SFGSI alone was an independent predictor of case fatality, with an odds ratio of 20.167 (95% CI: 1.66-245.53). In conclusion, the fatality rate was 19.4%, which was comparable to that reported in other studies. The SFGSI was an independent predictor of mortality in this study.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 6","pages":"362-365"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10730922/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139073837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of an educational program for healthcare professionals who provide appearance care for patients with cancer: Feasibility study of an e-learning program.","authors":"Keiko Iino, Namiko Nagaoka, Shigeaki Watanuki, Chikako Shimizu, Keiko Nozawa, Shoko Toma, Ayako Mori, Taeko Shimazu, Tomoko Sato","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01035","DOIUrl":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and utility of an e-learning training program to improve healthcare professionals' knowledge about providing appearance care to patients with cancer. Healthcare professionals who provide appearance support were invited to participate voluntarily and complete a survey before and after the program. Participation request letters were distributed to 133 individuals, including 75 from four facilities invited via professional connections, and agreed to participate in the study and 58 participated in the National Cancer Center's appearance care training and indicated an interest in participating in the study. The 100 participants (75.2%) included 96 females, with an average age of 40.5 years. The participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program, where more than 90% responded \"satisfied\" or \"somewhat satisfied\" and eager to use the content they learned in the program when they returned to their workplaces. However, the participants identified several barriers to applying their newly acquired knowledge including lack of knowledge (about 80%). Participant knowledge scores about appearance support were significantly higher after program participation. The survey results indicated the high feasibility of the e-learning program through improved knowledge about appearance care and high satisfaction with the program. The program needs further improvements for its practical utility.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 6","pages":"354-361"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10730924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139072557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemiological trends of traveler's diarrhea in Japan: An analysis of imported infectious disease registry data from 2017-2022.","authors":"Taketomo Maruki, Kei Yamamoto, Masaya Yamato, Toshinori Sahara, Michinori Shirano, Naoya Sakamoto, Ryota Hase, Koh Shinohara, Yukihiro Yoshimura, Natsuko Imakita, Fumihiro Kodama, Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Kyoko Yokota, Yusuke Yoshimi, Chihiro Hasegawa, Satoshi Kutsuna, Norio Ohmagari","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01079","DOIUrl":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traveler's diarrhea (TD) is a global problem, and identifying the causative organisms of TD is important for adequate treatment. Therefore, this study retrospectively analyzed TD cases in patients who returned to Japan after traveling abroad to determine the causative organisms by travel region. We included patients with a final diagnosis of TD registered in the Japan Registry for Infectious Diseases from Abroad database from September 25, 2017, to September 1, 2022, from 14 medical institutions. A total of 919 patients were analyzed; the causative TD pathogen was identified in 188 cases (20%), of which 154 were caused by diarrheagenic bacteria, the most common being <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. (64%). A 2.2 mg/dL C-reactive protein concentration cutoff value had some predictive ability for bacterial TD (negative predictive value, 89%). Therefore, the C-reactive protein level may help rule out bacterial diarrhea and prevent unnecessary antimicrobial administration when patients cannot provide a stool specimen.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 6","pages":"372-376"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10730917/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139073838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevention of cuff injury of the intubation tube by blunt window opening in tracheostomy.","authors":"Kenshiro Taniguchi, Katsuhiro Tsutsumiuchi, Yukiko Sagara, Niro Tayama","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01003","DOIUrl":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>One of the intraoperative complications of tracheostomy under general anesthesia is cuff injury of the intubation tube. In the present study, we investigated whether a blunt tracheal opening is a useful method to avoid cuff injury. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine patients who underwent tracheostomy under general anesthesia at a single institution from January 1, 2017 to July 31, 2021. Electrocautery was used to thin the connective tissue between the tracheal rings, and bluntly open the trachea with mosquito forceps or similar instruments. Primary outcomes included cuff injury rate, number of surgeons involved, and career as otolaryngologist at the time of surgery. The secondary outcome was perioperative complications. Of the 64 cases, 3 had cuff injuries. 2 of the 3 had cuff injuries during the creation of an anteriorly based flap. 16 surgeons were involved ranging from the first to sixth year as an otolaryngologist, with the third year of otolaryngologist being the most common. The median physician year for instructors was 18 years. The most common postoperative complication was granulation in 9 cases. There were no cases of incorrect cannula insertion or difficulty in cannula insertion. A blunt tracheal opening was considered useful as a method to prevent cuff injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 6","pages":"381-384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10730918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139073839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An age-stratified cross-sectional study of antidiabetic and non-antidiabetic drugs prescribed to Japanese outpatients with diabetes.","authors":"Rena Kuribayashi, Shiori Hasebe, Daisuke Ishida, Shinichi Hirose, Seisuke Mimori, Tsuyoshi Takizawa, Yuki Yamasaki, Satoko Suzuki, Tetsuto Kanzaki","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35772/ghm.2023.01059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polypharmacy, common in patients with diabetes, may cause adverse drug reactions. The number of antidiabetic and non-antidiabetic drugs prescribed to patients in different age groups remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the number and class of antidiabetics and non-antidiabetics prescribed to Japanese patients with diabetes, stratified by age for reducing polypharmacy. This cross-sectional study examined all prescriptions of patients prescribed antidiabetics at 257 pharmacies of Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings in Japan from May 2018 to March 2019. Total prescription numbers including antidiabetic drugs were 263,915 in this study. Mean numbers of antidiabetic drugs per prescription were 1.71, 2.17, and 1.52 in the patient age groups of 10-19, 50-59, and 90-99 years, respectively. Count of antidiabetics was not related to age. However, the mean total number of drugs prescribed increased with age, which was 2.22 and 7.99 in the age groups of 10-19 and 90-99 years, respectively. The linear regression coefficient (b) according to age was 0.07 (<i>p</i> < 0.001) for 10-99 years. The mean non-antidiabetic number of agents prescribed increased with age among 10-99 years (b = 0.07, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Among outpatients treated for diabetes, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (29%) and antihypertensive, β-blocking and renin-angiotensin system blocking drugs (32%) were the most prescribed antidiabetics and non-antidiabetics in all ages, respectively. The number of prescribed antidiabetic agents did not increase with age, whereas the total and non-antidiabetic numbers of medications prescribed increased linearly. For reduction of polypharmacy in older people with diabetes, we need to focus on non-antidiabetics.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 5","pages":"294-300"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10615024/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71422729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Issues in enhancing continuing professional development for midwives in clinical practice in Mongolia.","authors":"Megumi Ikemoto, Nobuaki Inoue, Oyunbileg Yambii, Davaasuren Serdamba, Bayarmaa Demberel, Munkhuu Manlai, Battsooj Batchuluun, Dondogmaa Demchig, Narantsetseg Ulam-Orgikh, Erkhembayar Purvee, Mari Nagai","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35772/ghm.2023.01027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Midwives are professionals who fulfill maternal and child health needs. In Mongolia, midwives were unable to transfer their knowledge and skills to the next generation midwives last few decades. The details of their experiences and the comprehensive aspects of continuing professional development (CPD) are still unclear. This study aimed to assess the current status of midwives in clinical practice through an online symposium. Relevant information was collected from presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and questionnaires. It was found that CPD has unclear training plans, no specialized training, and with them having little experience with CPD. Newly graduated midwives do not have an educational program. As of the current status, midwifery services are not provided at the clinical site in the scope of midwifery job descriptions. This study also discusses the situation of low status and salary in midwifery. Strengthening the system of midwifery CPD like development of the educational program is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 5","pages":"311-315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10615021/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71422731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perceptions of protective shoes and recommendations from patients with diabetic foot ulcers.","authors":"Yiru Wang, Qing Cai, Jiaojiao Bai, Yue Ming, Wen Qin","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35772/ghm.2023.01029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Development of diabetic foot can cause serious harm to a patient's body and pose a heavy burden on family members and society. Protective shoes are of great significance to preventing diabetic foot. The aim of the current study was to understand patients' views and suggestions concerning the selection and promotion of protective shoes for diabetics in order to explore existing obstacles and to provide a reference for improving relevant public health care policies and clinical decision-making for patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). A total of 10 patients with DFUs were recruited. All participants completed a one-hour semi-structured interview, and results reflected the participants' choice of footwear, the patients' perceptions and acceptance of protective footwear, and factors influencing those processes. The use and promotion of protective shoes in China requires greater support, including improved medical insurance policies, promotion of multidisciplinary cooperation between medicine and industry in clinical practice, and better health education.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 5","pages":"306-310"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10615025/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71422734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Victoria Boydell, Rintaro Mori, Sadequa Shahrook, Stuart Gietel-Basten
{"title":"Low fertility and fertility policies in the Asia-Pacific region.","authors":"Victoria Boydell, Rintaro Mori, Sadequa Shahrook, Stuart Gietel-Basten","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35772/ghm.2023.01058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Declining fertility is an increasing global trend. In many low fertility contexts, people are having fewer children then they want, and these unfulfilled fertility desires have been associated with wider socio-economic changes in education and labour force participation and conflicting and often contradictory expectations of women at home and at work. The right to determine if, when and how one has children is enshrined in international law yet many policies responses to low fertility fail to meet these standards. This paper summarizes why people in the Asia-Pacific region are having fewer children than they desire, and the range of policy responses, particularly those that make life easier for working parents. This raises two important points. First, we need to contend to the gender dynamics that underpin this in the region, despite gradual changes in women's roles, they are still seen as \"caregivers\" and undertake a disproportionate amount of unpaid care work, often having to lean-out of their employment, and/or face gender discrimination in the workplace. Second, the \"emergency\" of low fertility arises from complex social and economic conditions that cannot be solved by population policies solely focused on making babies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 5","pages":"271-277"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10615026/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71422733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of the project on enhancement of teaching skills in gerontic nursing practice of Indonesian nursing lecturer and clinical nurse preceptor.","authors":"Kyoko Sudo, Shigeaki Watanuki, Hikaru Matsuoka, Eriko Otake, Yumiko Yatomi, Namiko Nagaoka, Keiko Iino","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35772/ghm.2023.01046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Indonesia health care services require knowledgeable and skilled nurses as professional service providers, especially in a gerontic nursing area. Moreover, widening the gap between academic and clinical practice is also an issue, which affects the care service quality. In these circumstances, the project to enhance the educational skills of nursing lecturers and clinical nurse preceptors in gerontic nursing practice was started in 2020. Japanese nursing education experts provided guidance on the principle theory of nursing practice in basic nursing education and conducted workshops to develop nursing practice materials for 10 Indonesian trainees. The project provided 3 webinars for more than 100 Indonesian nursing lecturers and preceptors each time, 18 workshops and developed 2 virtual reality (VR) materials, 8 supervisions of the trial class and 5 lectures onsite and online. This study aimed to clarify the effects of the project evaluated in the process and its impact using a questionnaire survey and interviews conducted. The results of the questionnaire survey for students showed that 20% of their knowledge and skills in gerontic nursing, increased and the extent of understanding and satisfaction was high. Lecurers and preceptors perceived improvement in their teaching skills, especially in theoretical thinking and evidence-based teaching methods. Notably, \"the evaluation from others\" would be a facilitating factor of the project. The project effects were clarified and achieved the goal and objectives of the project.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 5","pages":"285-293"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10615032/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71422730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Promoting healthy ageing in the Western Pacific: A mini review of good practices and policy responses.","authors":"Wenqian Xu, Siwon Lee, Hiromasa Okayasu","doi":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01005","DOIUrl":"10.35772/ghm.2023.01005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Western Pacific Region is experiencing rapid population ageing, which has implications for almost all areas of society. Countries will need to prepare for population ageing by investing in health and optimizing living environments. This requires a whole-of-society approach to healthy ageing. Countries in the Western Pacific Region have been making significant progress in healthy ageing. Since the endorsement of the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing, younger societies have also started preparing for population ageing, focusing on social and health systems transformation, community-based integrated care, social and technological innovations and research, monitoring and evaluation. As more countries are interested in healthy ageing and preparing for necessary social and health systems transformation, the case studies in this article can be an inspiration for Member States to transform their approaches to achieving a society where older adults are healthier and can participate fully.</p>","PeriodicalId":12556,"journal":{"name":"Global health & medicine","volume":"5 5","pages":"264-270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10615028/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71422735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}