Healthcare最新文献

{"title":"Exploring Anxiety and Depression Among Medical Undergraduates in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey.","authors":"Rajesh Vagiri, Kamogelo Mohlabe, Leny Mailula, Favian Nhubunga, Moitshegi Maepa, Mabitsela Mphasha, Mduduzi Mokoena, Nsovo Mayimele, Varsha Bangalee, Wandisile Grootboom, Letlhogonolo Makhele, Neelaveni Padayachee","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060649","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060649","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Globally, there has been an increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression among university students, and medical students are no exception. Medical students are especially susceptible to these mental health challenges, primarily due to multifaceted stressors, which can significantly impact their academic achievements and future career. There is a pressing need for comprehensive research that not only investigates the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students but also explores strategies for developing effective mental health interventions and support systems that can enhance the well-being of medical students. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression among medical students at a university in South Africa, evaluating the association of socio-demographic, student, and clinical variables with total general anxiety disorder (GAD-7) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores. <b>Methods:</b> A survey-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 208 medical undergraduate students at a South African university. Participants who provided written consent completed GAD-7 and PHQ-9 questionnaires together with socio-demographic, student, and clinical variable information. The relationship between socio-demographic, student, and clinical variables and total GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores was determined using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Correlation analysis was used to establish the relationship between total anxiety and depression scores. The threshold for statistical significance was set at <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05. <b>Results:</b> More than half of the participants were female (n = 130; 62.5%), single (n = 123; 59.1%), and belonged to the <i>Pedi</i> ethnic group. A majority of the students were Christian (n = 183; 88.0%), received a bursary (n = 183; 88.0%), and had a rural background (n = 155; 74.5%). However, a small percentage of students reported a history of psychiatric and chronic illnesses (n = 26; 12.5%) and previously received professional psychological support (n = 38; 18.3%). In this study, 38% (n = 79) of the participants reported GAD and 67.8% (n = 141) reported symptoms of depression. Significant associations (<i>p</i> <0.05) were observed between variables such as year of study, repeating a module, and history of psychiatric illness with total GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation (<i>r</i><sub>s</sub> = 0.400, <i>df</i> = 206, <i>p</i> < 0.001) between total GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study identified a high level of depression and anxiety among medical students and found a positive correlation between anxiety and depression scores. Addressing these mental health challenges is crucial not only for the well-being of the students but also for the future of healthcare, as the mental health of medical professionals directly impacts patie","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11941862/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patient Perspectives on Healthcare Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in People with Multiple Sclerosis-A Longitudinal Analysis.","authors":"Heidi Stölzer-Hutsch, Dirk Schriefer, Joachim Kugler, Tjalf Ziemssen","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060646","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems globally, altering the management of chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and interrupting the regular monitoring and support that people with MS (pwMS) typically need. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the utilization of MS healthcare resources over various periods during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, and to assess how these changes affected the perceptions of pwMSregarding their care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A longitudinal survey study was conducted at the MS Center at the University Hospital Dresden, Germany, involving four survey periods from April 2020 to December 2021. The study assessed the use of healthcare resources, including consultations with specialists, the use of rehabilitative therapy facilities, and unmet healthcare needs, across various phases of the pandemic, encompassing both lockdown and less restrictive periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At the onset of the pandemic in April 2020, during the first lockdown, 750 questionnaires were evaluated. While most pwMS reported consistent medical care compared with pre-pandemic levels, 19.2% had fewer general practitioner visits, and 10.6% fewer neurologist visits. During the follow-up survey periods, the use of medical care generally remained stable, although there were notable reductions reported by a subset of participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings suggest that medical and therapeutic care for pwMS in Germany remained largely accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. However, the study also reveals certain gaps in care that may be addressed by incorporating digital technologies into medical care and rehabilitation, potentially enhancing the management of healthcare during future pandemics or similar situations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11942241/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ChatGPT-4o and 4o1 Preview as Dietary Support Tools in a Real-World Medicated Obesity Program: A Prospective Comparative Analysis.","authors":"Louis Talay, Leif Lagesen, Adela Yip, Matt Vickers, Neera Ahuja","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060647","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060647","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Clinicians are becoming increasingly interested in the use of large language models (LLMs) in obesity services. While most experts agree that LLM integration would increase access to obesity care and its efficiency, many remain skeptical of their scientific accuracy and capacity to convey human empathy. Recent studies have shown that ChatGPT-3 models are capable of emulating human dietitian responses to a range of basic dietary questions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study compared responses of two ChatGPT-4o models to those from human dietitians across 10 complex questions (5 broad; 5 narrow) derived from patient-clinician interactions within a real-world medicated digital weight loss service.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Investigators found that neither ChatGPT-4o nor Chat GPT-4o1 preview were statistically outperformed (<i>p</i> < 0.05) by human dietitians on any of the study's 10 questions. The same finding was made when scores were aggregated from the ten questions across the following four individual study criteria: scientific correctness, comprehensibility, empathy/relatability, and actionability.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results provide preliminary evidence that advanced LLMs may be able to play a significant supporting role in medicated obesity services. Research in other obesity contexts is needed before any stronger conclusions are made about LLM lifestyle coaching and whether such initiatives increase care access.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11942132/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Food Delivery Riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia: An Ergonomic Risk Assessment.","authors":"Aziah Daud, Ijlal Syamim Mohd Basri, Elyas Ahmad, Suhaily Mohd Hairon, Nor Azali Azmir, Azlis Sani Md Jalil, Rusli Nordin","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060645","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060645","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have been found to be the leading factor in disabilities and absenteeism among workers. Despite their growing numbers, WMSD prevalence and risk factors among food delivery riders remain underexplored. Given the high WMSD prevalence among motorcyclists and the rising road traffic accidents (RTAs) among delivery riders in Malaysia, a cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the determinants of WMSDs among this neglected group. <b>Methods</b>: A self-reported questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic factors, work-related factors, and a validated Malay-translated Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (M-SNMQ) was used to evaluate the WMSD symptoms and related factors among 191 food delivery riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia. An ergonomic risk assessment using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method and whole-body vibration (WBV) measurement was also conducted to elicit the WMSD risk and vibration exposure among the riders. The determinants of WMSDs were analysed using multiple logistic regression using SPSS 20.4. <b>Results</b>: This study revealed a high prevalence of WMSDs (74.9%) among food delivery riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, three factors were found to be significantly associated with WMSDs among riders, namely the increasing average working days (aOR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.98; <i>p</i> = 0.001), whole-body vibration (WBV) above the exposure action value (EAV) limit (aOR = 2.71; 95% CI = 1.13, 6.53; <i>p</i> = 0.026), and not exercising before work (aOR = 21.63; 95% CI = 7.45, 62.79; <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Targeted interventions are essential to mitigate ergonomic risks and enhance rider safety. Occupational health policies should prioritise pre-work exercise and WBV exposure reduction to minimise musculoskeletal strain. Future longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the long-term impact of these risks on riders' health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11941894/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health Problems and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Lower Limb Ischemia-A Polish Population One-Centre-Based Study.","authors":"Grażyna Bączyk, Katarzyna Anna Kozłowska, Katarzyna Kubiak, Dorota Formanowicz","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060643","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Unhealthy lifestyle and genetic predisposition contribute to chronic lower limb ischemia. This study (conducted in phases I-III) aimed to identify health problems and assess patients' quality of life with chronic lower limb ischemia treated in one Polish clinical center.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Polish version of the Vascular Life Quality Questionnaire scale (consisting of five domains (subscales)) was used to assess quality of life. Phase I was conducted in the Outpatient Clinic and included 122 patients, 38 women and 84 men, aged 41 to 88 years, with chronic lower limb ischemia. Phase II was conducted only among those (n = 88) qualified for revascularization treatment (the study was conducted preoperatively), and phase III took place six months after the revascularization procedure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The primary health problem was lower limb pain and limited physical activity. With the age of the patients, the quality of life in the \"symptoms\" subscale deteriorated. Independent variables such as gender, marital status, level of education, and place of residence did not significantly affect the quality of life of the patients studied. Moreover, statistically significant differences in the quality of life were observed between the patients before and after revascularization treatment in the overall assessment and each area of the VascuQol scale.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on our results, we stated that there is still a need to educate these patients about proper health behaviors because a large group of patients still have modifiable risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. They require a multidisciplinary and individual approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11941947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of Cataract Surgery Among US Adults: NHANES 2007-2008.","authors":"Chisom N Iwundu, Teija Kohir, Julia E Heck","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060641","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060641","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Cataract, characterized by the clouding of the lens, is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. While cataract surgery is an effective treatment, it carries substantial costs, potential complications, and limited accessibility for those facing financial barriers. Hence, this study aimed to identify the sociodemographic, behavioral, medical, and occupational risk factors of cataract development among adults aged 40 and above.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 2866 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle from 2007 to 2008. We utilized a purposeful selection approach to identify the most suitable predictors for cataract surgery. We further used a multivariate logistic regression procedure that accounted for complex sampling design, to assess the main effect of each predictor, entered jointly into the model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Age, blood pressure, and diabetes were identified as predictors of cataract surgery. Each additional year of age increased the odds of undergoing cataract surgery by 15% (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.13-1.16). Participants with high blood pressure had a 38% higher likelihood of cataract surgery (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.11-1.73), while those with diabetes faced a 63% higher likelihood (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.27-2.09).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Managing diabetes and blood pressure, especially among older adults, may be crucial in delaying cataract progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11942076/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public Trust in Different Sources of Information: Gaps in Rural Residents and Cancer Patients.","authors":"Wei-Chen Lee, Emily M Kim, Elizabeth A Nemirovski, Sagar Kamprath, Meredith C Masel, Darpan I Patel","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060640","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060640","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Understanding health information-seeking behavior is critical in providing effective interventions and improving quality of life for patients, especially those facing complex diagnoses like cancer. The purpose of this study is to understand rural-urban differences in trust levels for various information sources and how trust may differ by cancer status (no cancer, newly diagnosed, survived for six and more years).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined 5775 responses from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey^®. Using the component analysis, eight sources of information were classified into three domains: structured (doctor, government, scientist, and charity), less structured (family and religion), and semi-structured (health system and social media). Respondents answered questions on a scale of 1-4. Weighted linear regression models were constructed to examine trust level in three domains by rural residency and cancer status, while adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Urban patients reported higher trust in more structured sources of information (2.999 > 2.873, <i>p</i> = 0.005) whereas rural counterparts reported higher trust in less structured sources of information (2.241 > 2.153, <i>p</i> = 0.012). After adjusting for covariates, urban respondents with cancer are more likely to trust doctors (Coeff. = 0.163, <i>p</i> < 0.001) than those without cancer. Rural respondents with cancer are less likely to trust charities (Coeff. = -0.357, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and scientists (Coeff. = -0.374, <i>p</i> < 0.05) than rural respondents without cancer.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Newly diagnosed cancer patients in rural areas are less likely to trust structured sources of information even after adjusting for all covariates. Additional studies about misinformation and disinformation being channeled through less structured sources of information are needed to prevent any delay in care among cancer patients, especially rural patients who are more likely to access these sources of information.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11942197/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"International Expert Consensus on Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization Precautions and Contraindications: A Modified Delphi Study.","authors":"Scott W Cheatham, Russell T Baker, M Terry Loghmani, Robert Schleip","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060642","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060642","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a popular myofascial intervention used by healthcare professionals. Despite the growing body of research evidence, there is still a gap in understanding what healthcare professionals consider as treatment precautions or contraindications. To date, no consensus on precautions and contraindications has been established among IASTM experts. The purpose of this modified Delphi survey was to determine IASTM precautions and contraindications among international IASTM experts. <b>Methods</b>: A three-round Delphi study of 24 international IASTM experts was conducted. In round 1, experts chose from a list of 81 medical conditions and treatment considerations that could be a concern for IASTM treatment. Consensus was considered if more than 70% of experts agreed on an item. Round 2 included the updated list of 39 items, and the experts decided if each item should be a precaution, contraindication, or both. The <i>strength of agreement grade scale</i> was used to rank the precautions and contraindications, by the level of expert agreement using grades A-D (e.g., A-strong, B-moderate, C-weak, D-both). Grade D conditions could potentially be both a precaution and contraindication. In round 3, the final list of categories and items was presented to the experts for final approval. Results: All recruited experts (<i>n</i> = 24) participated in the three rounds and the final list of items received 100% approval. Contraindications had the highest number of conditions (<i>n</i> = 16) across the strength of agreement grade categories A-C followed by category D (both) (<i>n</i> = 8). <b>Discussion</b>: This Delphi study was the first survey to document expert consensus on precautions and contraindications based upon the strength of agreement. This study offers a beginner's guide for clinicians to safely implement IASTM by establishing required precautions and contraindications through consensus agreement. <b>Conclusions</b>: This survey should be the first step in a series of planned IASTM studies on precautions and contraindications to establish the best-practice recommendations for the application of IASTM in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11941819/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Physical Exercise on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women in Climacteric: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Providencia Juana Trujillo-Muñoz, María Angustias Sánchez-Ojeda, Eva Carolina Rodríguez-Huamán, Karima Mezyani-Haddu, Irene Hoyo-Guillot, Silvia Navarro-Prado","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060644","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060644","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Climacteric is a period of hormonal changes in women characterised by physical, emotional, and interpersonal alterations. This period is divided into two phases: perimenopause (the period from the appearance of the first symptoms to the arrival of menopause) and postmenopause (up to approximately 64 years of age). The progression of symptoms varies for each woman and can negatively affect self-esteem and quality of life. One of the most commonly used tools to reduce these negative effects is the performance of different types of physical exercise. The objective of this review was to summarise the research on the effects of both aerobic and strength exercises in women during the transition from perimenopause to postmenopause. <b>Methods:</b> This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Initially, 1995 articles published in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science between January 2014 and June 2024 were identified. From these articles, two researchers separately selected eight randomised controlled trials and compared the effects of aerobic and strength exercises with no activity. The risk of bias in the included articles was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomised clinical trials. <b>Results:</b> Most of the trials reported that both types of exercise, when performed in a controlled and regular way, have beneficial effects on the vitality and mental health of women in climacteric, increasing their general quality of life. A meta-analysis revealed that aerobic exercise improved the symptoms of menopause, although studies that support the effect of aerobic exercise on vasomotor symptoms are lacking. Resistance exercise was shown to strengthen muscles, increase bone density, and protect against osteoporosis. <b>Conclusions:</b> Physical exercise is a safe and nonpharmacological option that has positive effects on the health of women in climacteric.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11942093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subjective Self-Assessment After Microneedling Radiofrequency or Platelet-Rich Plasma and Fibrin Treatments and Motivating Factors for Their Use.","authors":"Dajana Malarz, Łukasz Czyżewski, Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13060634","DOIUrl":"10.3390/healthcare13060634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Today, aesthetic medicine is becoming increasingly common, with the demand for rejuvenating treatments continuously growing. These procedures are gaining more interest from patients who struggle to accept their aesthetic imperfections. There is a need to understand patients' subjective evaluations of the effects of aesthetic medicine procedures and the factors that motivate them to undergo invasive treatments. Understanding these aspects allows for better tailoring of therapy to patients' needs, increasing their satisfaction and quality of life. Additionally, it enables the identification of psychological and social factors influencing their decisions, supporting a more conscious and responsible approach to aesthetic medicine. <b>Methods</b>: This study included 82 women who had undergone treatments with platelet-rich plasma and fibrin (50%) or microneedling radiofrequency (50%), with an average age of 44.3 years. The research questionnaire consisted of 12 original questions. This study was conducted from January to March 2024. Over 90% of the women had been undergoing treatments for at least several months. <b>Results</b>: Participants reported a significantly improved assessment of their appearance after the procedure, with an average increase of 2.72 points on a scale from 1 to 10 (M = 2.72; SD = 1.66) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Women from rural areas significantly more often (29.6%) cited appearance-related complexes as a reason for the procedure compared to women from cities (3.6%) and large cities (3.7%) (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Over 80% reported an increase in self-confidence due to the procedures they underwent. <b>Conclusions</b>: The analysis showed a significant difference in the assessment of appearance before and after the procedure; participants rated their appearance more favorably after the procedure. The motivating factors for women to undergo aesthetic medicine procedures include the desire to look younger and more attractive. The marital status of the respondents did not influence motivating factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11942286/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}