Healthcare最新文献

{"title":"Understanding Burnout in Forensic Medicine and the Interaction of Job Satisfaction and Unconditional Self-Acceptance: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Lilioara-Alexandra Oprinca-Muja, Adrian-Nicolae Cristian, Elena Topîrcean, Alina Cristian, Marius Florentin Popa, Horațiu Paul Domnariu, Diter Atasie, George-Călin Oprinca, Silviu Morar","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Burnout syndrome is increasingly recognized as a significant occupational hazard among forensic medicine professionals, a population exposed to intense psychological stress and complex work demands. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout, job satisfaction, and unconditional self-acceptance among forensic personnel in Romania and to explore potential predictors and mediators of burnout within this context.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 153 forensic medicine professionals from 31 counties across Romania. Participants completed a battery of standardized instruments, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ). Cut-off scores for burnout subscales were established using the 75th percentile. Data were analyzed to identify demographic, occupational, and psychological correlates of burnout. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics and burnout prevalence. Group comparisons were made across demographic and professional categories. A mediation model was tested to evaluate whether unconditional self-acceptance mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and burnout. We hypothesized that job satisfaction would be negatively associated with burnout symptoms and that unconditional self-acceptance would mediate this relationship, acting as a protective psychological factor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Approximately a quarter of respondents met the criteria for high total burnout, emotional exhaustion, and professional inefficacy, while cynicism was present in a fifth of participants. Burnout was more prevalent among younger workers, forensic medicine residents, and those working in the capital. Job satisfaction was generally high, but lower in women, younger individuals, and residents. Nearly half of the participants reported low or very low self-acceptance. Mediation analysis revealed that unconditional self-acceptance partially mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and burnout, suggesting a protective psychological mechanism.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights the considerable burden of burnout among forensic medicine professionals in Romania and identifies job dissatisfaction and low self-acceptance as key contributors. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing job satisfaction and emotional resilience, particularly in vulnerable subgroups. Institutional efforts that support mental well-being, foster emotional coping, and improve organizational dynamics are essential to reduce burnout in this high-risk population.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Scoping Review of Clinical Studies on Procedures of Ultrasound-Guided Injection to Ensure Hygiene and Safety.","authors":"Yujin Kweon, Goeun Jeong, Sungha Kim, Changsop Yang, Eunbyul Cho, Jungtae Leem","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Ultrasound guidance is widely used to enhance injection accuracy and safety. However, ultrasound-guided procedures require complex manipulation of both probe and needle. This simultaneous manipulation while maintaining sterility necessitates specific infection prevention protocols. This scoping review aimed to systematically investigate hygiene and safety procedures reported in clinical studies of ultrasound-guided injections. <b>Methods</b>: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute guideline, we conducted a systematic search of four databases (two English and two Korean) from inception to November 2023. Studies describing ultrasound-guided injection procedures with skin disinfection protocols were included. The extracted procedures were categorized and analyzed according to their timing (before, during, and after injection) and purpose. <b>Results</b>: Among 1728 studies identified, 86 met inclusion criteria. Notable variations were found in infection prevention practices, with only 5.81% reporting probe disinfection procedures and 27.91% documenting sterile probe cover use. Skin disinfection methods also varied, with iodophors (20.93%) and alcohol-based solutions (11.63%) being most common. Of studies describing ultrasound coupling agent procedures (26.74%), less than 20% specifically mentioned using sterile transmission agents. Documentation of temporal aspects of infection prevention was limited, with most studies not addressing precise timing of disinfection procedures or post-procedure probe reprocessing protocols. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our findings reveal considerable variation in infection prevention practices during ultrasound-guided injections and highlight gaps in documentation of hygiene protocols. These findings suggest the need for standardized, evidence-based protocols tailored to different anatomical sites and types of injections. Further research through expert consensus and real-world implementation is needed to develop and validate comprehensive guidelines for clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology of Falls Among Older Adults in Portugal: Analysis of Unintentional Injuries Reported by a National Emergency Surveillance System.","authors":"Tatiana Alves, Susana Silva, Paula Braz, Maria Papadakaki, Carlos Aniceto, Ricardo Mexia, Carlos Matias-Dias","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Falls occurring at home and during leisure time among elderly individuals represent a serious public health issue in Portugal and worldwide. These incidents have a significant impact on healthcare systems and social support structures, as well as the personal and family lives of the victims. There is also a recognized gap in awareness among older adults regarding fall prevention, particularly regarding environmental hazards, the need for home modifications, and the adoption of safety behaviors, including necessary adjustments in their home environments. The present study was developed to enhance our understanding of the circumstances in which falling occurs in elderly people. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out, analyzing data collected through the national emergency-based injury surveillance system in 2023. <b>Results</b>: The proportion of falls increased across age groups, with 34.9% of total falls occurring in the group aged 85 and over. These differences were statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In all age groups, falls were more frequent among women, representing between 63.6% and 69.0% of episodes. Approximately 65.9% of falls occurred at home. The likelihood of falling was higher among the oldest age group (85+) and in the home. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results of this study confirm that falls in elderly people tend to occur more frequently with advancing age, particularly in environments where the most time is spent. This study suggests that fall-prevention campaigns should be specifically targeted towards older females in the home environment, with particular consideration given to morning routines as part of the recommended interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Blood Pressure and Blood Pressure Variability in Relation to Chronic Low Back Pain Among Patients with Hypertension.","authors":"Maciej Skrzypek, Michał Słaboszewski, Rafał Kolec, Wiktoria Wojciechowska, Agnieszka Olszanecka, Piotr Wróbel, Maciej Polak, Katarzyna Stolarz-Skrzypek, Marek W Rajzer","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Chronic pain which tends to be localised particularly in the lower back and lower extremities is one of the risk factors for elevated blood pressure (BP). In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated whether chronic low back pain (cLBP) is associated with BP variability, which may be related to increased mortality and morbidity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included 85 consecutive hypertensive patients with a median age of 62 years (IQR, 55-67) with cLBP, for which intensity was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed to evaluate the values and variability of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) over 24 h, day- and nighttime BP variability assessed as BP standard deviation (SD).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the whole study population, the median ODI questionnaire score was 16 (IQR, 11-20). Patients with an equal/higher than median ODI score had lower nighttime DBP compared with other patients (<i>p</i> = 0.028). Equal/higher than median ODI score correlated with 24 h SD values for SBP and MAP (r = 0.263; <i>p</i> = 0.016, and r = 0.229; <i>p</i> = 0.036, respectively), as well as with day-night differences in SBP (r = 0.229; <i>p</i> = 0.035), DBP (r = 0.253; <i>p</i> = 0.019), and MAP (r = 0.263; <i>p</i> = 0.015). We performed a multivariate regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders, and equal/higher than median ODI score was predicted by age (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.006-1.14; <i>p</i> = 0.031) and day-night DBP difference (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.002-1.15; <i>p</i> = 0.044).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that more intense cLBP is associated with BP variability among patients with hypertension.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Relationships Between Healthcare Access, Gender, and Psychedelics and Their Effects on Distress.","authors":"Sean Matthew Viña","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Structural inequalities in healthcare access may influence how individuals experience the psychological effects of psychedelic substances, potentially limiting positive outcomes among vulnerable populations. <b>Objectives</b>: This study uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2019; N = 484,732) to examine how public and private health insurance moderate the association between psychedelic use and psychological distress. <b>Methods:</b> Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models indicate that private health insurance is associated with lower psychological distress, while public insurance is associated with higher distress. <b>Results:</b> Psychedelic use moderates these associations, reinforcing the protective pattern linked to private insurance and intensifying distress among those with public coverage. These patterns vary by gender: among men, psychedelic use does not significantly alter the association between insurance type and distress; among women, however, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use are associated with lower distress among those with private insurance, but with higher distress among those with public insurance. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings indicate that while psychedelics may interact with existing healthcare conditions, they do not mitigate structural inequalities and may, in some cases, exacerbate them.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers to Physical Activity in Low-Income Older Adults Living in Senior Housing.","authors":"Carolyn Kalata, Ramon Reyes, Kamal Kuhail, Janet L Larson, Weiyun Chen","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While a majority of older adults fail to engage in recommended levels of physical activity (PA), lower-income older adults face unique challenges. They are at greater risk for low levels of PA, but little is known about the barriers they face.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate self-reported PA and barriers to PA for older adult residents of subsidized low-income senior housing, comparing barriers for those with lower and higher levels of PA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety-two older adults (mean age 76.57 (SD = 7.50)) were recruited from low-income senior housing facilities. They completed a demographic questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which measures MET-minutes/week of engaging in vigorous, moderate, and light PA levels, and the 27-item Inventory of Physical Activity Barriers (IPAB), which measures multifaceted barriers to PA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The most common barrier for all residents was the PA priority. Independent <i>t</i>-tests revealed that the low-active group faced greater barriers than the high-active group in physical health barriers (<i>t</i> = 2.329, <i>p</i> = 0.022), PA priority of (<i>t</i> = 2.836, <i>p</i> = 0.006), environmental barriers (<i>t</i> = 2.072, <i>p</i> = 0.042), and total PA barriers (<i>t</i> = 2.281, <i>p</i> = 0.025). No significant differences were found between the low-active and high-active groups for emotional health barriers, skill barriers, external factor barriers, and social barriers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The low-active older adults were less likely to overcome barriers, such as physical health issues, PA priority, and environmental factors. Further research is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of these barriers and to develop effective strategies for addressing them. However, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small and convenient sample and potential bias from self-reported PA measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cervical Cancer Screening After Menopause.","authors":"Ho-Jui Tung, Gila Schwarzschild, Nenrot Gopep, Ming-Chin Yeh","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>About 14,000 women develop cervical cancer each year in the United States. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an effective primary prevention measure for HPV infections and cervical cancer among adolescents and young adults. For middle-aged and older women, they rely on secondary prevention (i.e., cancer screening) for early detection of cervical cancer. The average age at which women receive a cervical cancer diagnosis is around 50, when most women are in the middle of perimenopause. In this study, we use data from a longitudinal survey to examine whether going through menopause is associated with cervical cancer screening behavior four or eight years later.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were taken from 2012, 2016, and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal survey of middle-aged and older adults in America. Using the 2012 and 2016 waves as baselines, two four-year (<i>n</i> = 1011 and <i>n</i> = 1263) and one eight-year (<i>n</i> = 823) longitudinal analyses were conducted. The lost follow-ups and those who have had a hysterectomy were excluded. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to compare women who had gone through menopause to those who were premenopausal or perimenopausal at each of the baselines in terms of their likelihood of having a pap smear test four or eight years later.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results show that the women who had gone through menopause were less likely to have a pap smear test four or eight years later when compared to those who were still premenopausal or perimenopausal at baseline. Women who had gone through menopause at the baseline of 2016 were less likely to have a pap smear test by 2020 (Odds Ratio = 0.76, <i>p</i> < 0.05). A similar association was found among women who had gone through menopause at the baseline of 2012 after controlling for their previous pap smear behavior and other covariates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The American Cancer Society and other professional organizations recommend that women have cervical cancer screenings regularly until age 65. Our findings suggest that women seem less likely to have a pap smear test after menopause. More research is needed to have a comprehensive understanding of cervical screening behavior in this age group of women.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Healthcare Utilization Among United States Service Members with Combat-Related Lower Extremity Limb Salvage.","authors":"Susan L Eskridge, Aidan McQuade, Benjamin Huang, Stephen M Goldman, Christopher L Dearth","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction</b>: This study assessed healthcare utilization in the first year after combat-related lower extremity injuries in 4275 U.S. Service members. Varying injury severity was hypothesized to correlate with different utilization patterns, with the limb salvage with secondary amputation (LS-SA) group expected to have the highest resource use. <b>Methods</b>: Data on inpatient admissions and outpatient visits were analyzed across four injury groups: primary amputation (PA), LS-SA, limb salvage with no amputation (LS-NA), and non-threatened limb trauma (NTLT). The LS-SA group had the highest mean total bed days and intensive care unit (ICU) days, with over 40% requiring four or more hospitalizations. The sample averaged 208.9 outpatient visits. Physical therapy, orthopedics, and social work had the highest clinic engagement. <b>Result</b>: Initial engagement in therapy clinics was high for PA and LS-SA but decreased for LS-NA and NTLT after the first quarter, while primary care engagement was more consistent. Physical therapy had the highest mean clinic utilization. Most initial inpatient admissions were at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. PA and LS-SA received the majority of outpatient care at three Advanced Rehabilitation Centers, while care was more distributed for LS-NA and NTLT. This study underscores the substantial healthcare burden of combat-related lower extremity injuries, with the LS-SA group exhibiting the greatest resource utilization. <b>Conclusions</b>: The findings emphasize the need to optimize extremity trauma care across the Military Healthcare System as Service members with these injuries require significant healthcare resources, necessitating optimization of both care delivery and the military healthcare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) Therapy and Relaxation in Adults with Distress: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"M Graça Pereira, Ana Mónica Machado, Margarida Vilaça, Susana Faria, Isabela Monteiro, Martim Santos","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Somatic symptoms of stress are a major concern among the general population, given their severity and overall burden. <b>Objectives:</b> This pilot randomized controlled study (RCT) aimed to assess the effectiveness of frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM) therapy alone (experimental group 1 [EG1]) and combined with a relaxation intervention (experimental group 2 [EG2]), compared to a relaxation intervention alone (active control group [ACG]) and combined with placebo (passive control group [PCG]), to determine the need for a future definitive RCT. <b>Methods:</b> Participants with clinically significant levels of stress were recruited and assessed at three moments (i.e., baseline assessment [T0], at the end of six sessions [T1], and at the end of 12 sessions [T2]) on somatic symptoms and satisfaction with life (primary outcomes), perceived stress, emotional distress, emotional states, and emotion regulation (secondary outcomes). A total of 85 participants completed T0, of whom 58 were randomized into four groups. <b>Results:</b> Using linear mixed models, differences between groups revealed that the participants receiving FSM therapy reported fewer somatic symptoms and negative emotions than those who received relaxation, at T1. Within-group analysis showed that somatic symptoms and satisfaction with life significantly improved after six or twelve sessions of FSM therapy as well as after relaxation. There were also significant improvements in perceived stress, emotional distress, emotion regulation, and emotional states (negative emotions, self-efficacy, and serenity), after six and/or 12 sessions of FSM therapy or relaxation. <b>Conclusions:</b> The results suggest that FSM may be a promising treatment for addressing somatic complaints and negative emotional states, supporting the implementation of a definitive RCT.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144158163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injury Risk and Overall Well-Being During the Menstrual Cycle in Elite Adolescent Team Sports Athletes.","authors":"Azahara Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, Montse Pujol-Marzo, Rai Milà, Berta Campos, Oriol Nevot-Casas, Pep Casadevall-Sayeras, Javier Peña","doi":"10.3390/healthcare13101154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>The impact of the menstrual cycle on the well-being and injury risk of young elite female athletes is poorly understood. This study assessed how the menstrual cycle phase influences perceived well-being and injury risk among young elite female team athletes aged 14-18 throughout a season.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Wellness data, time-loss injuries, and menstrual cycle information were prospectively recorded for 59 young elite female team players throughout one season. The menstrual cycle was categorized into four phases using a standardized model: early follicular (menstruation), late follicular, early luteal, and late luteal (pre-menstrual) phases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences were observed in wellness data, especially in sleep and fatigue, with poorer sleep quality and greater fatigue reported during the early luteal and late luteal (pre-menstrual) phases (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Furthermore, the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle was significantly associated with a higher incidence of sports injuries, particularly for joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injuries (<i>p</i> = 0.024 and <i>p</i> = 0.040, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In elite female team athletes, poor sleep, increased fatigue, and elevated injury risk were significantly observed during the luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (early and pre-menstrual). These findings emphasize the importance of individualized monitoring and adaptive training strategies to mitigate the physiological effects of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance and injury risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":12977,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}