Health Science Reports最新文献

{"title":"Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Medicare Beneficiaries over the Last Decade: A Retrospective Observational Study.","authors":"Lidia Mvr Moura, Lawrence Zaborski, Aidan McDonald Wojciechowski, John Hsu, David C Grabowski, Sharon-Lise T Normand, Sahar F Zafar","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Older adults have higher rates of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) than other age groups, accounting for most TBI-related hospitalizations and mortality. However, there is no up-to-date data on annual trends and regional differences in older Medicare beneficiaries. Here we estimate the incidence of TBI-related hospitalizations and identify annual trends and regional differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective cohort analysis of fee-for-service Medicare claims data from 2010 to 2022. The study population consisted of beneficiaries with at least 1 year of continuous coverage including parts A and B. ICD codes were used to identify TBI-related hospitalizations. We estimated generalized linear mixed Poisson regression models of the aggregated TBI counts and included age group, sex, race/ethnicity, a sex by race/ethnicity interaction, period, and a random state effect as covariates. Geographic variability was summarized by the state random effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>704,409 total observations met eligibility with 684,869 unique beneficiaries. Majority of beneficiaries were in the age ranges of 81-85 (22%) and 86-90 (22%), and 56% (<i>n</i> = 394,024) were female. Majority of beneficiaries were White (<i>n</i> = 610,688, 87%) and 5% (<i>n</i> = 31,723) were Hispanic. Incidence of TBI hospitalizations increased with age and were higher in females, particularly in the oldest age groups of 86-90 (7.15 [CI 7.06-7.25] in females vs. 5.49 [CI 5.41-5.56] in males) and > 91 (8.39 [CI 8.27-8.51] in females vs. 6.97 [CI 6.8-7.07] in males). Higher incidence of TBI hospitalizations were seen in the South, Northeast and West, with lower rates in the Midwest.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We demonstrate that over the years TBI-related hospitalizations are consistently higher in the oldest-old adults, and in females. There is regional variation with highest TBI-related hospitalizations in the Northeast and South. Future studies aimed at identifying interactions between clinical and demographic factors are indicated to develop targeted public health interventions at mitigating TBI in older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 5","pages":"e72247"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144549/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843851","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":"Extended Reality in Rehabilitation Medicine: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Jie Hao, Yao Yao, Ka-Chun Siu","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72477","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on the application of extended reality (XR) technologies, comprising virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), in rehabilitation medicine, assessing their effects across diverse rehabilitation domains and clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search of three biomedical databases was conducted, yielding 58 randomized controlled trials that examined XR interventions in geriatric, neurological, orthopedic, and pediatric rehabilitation. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Results were qualitatively synthesized according to intervention characteristics and outcome measures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings indicate that XR technologies can enhance rehabilitation outcomes, including improvements in motor and cognitive function, pain management, psychological well-being, and quality of life. XR interventions were shown to improve balance, strength, and cognitive and psychological function in older adults; facilitate motor recovery and reduce neuropathic pain in neurological populations; support postoperative rehabilitation and conservative interventions in orthopedic patients; and enhance engagement and therapeutic goals attainment in pediatric patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>XR technologies present a promising and innovative approach to rehabilitation, offering personalized and engaging therapeutic experiences. Clinicians should leverage XR technologies to empower patients and optimize clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 ","pages":"e72477"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144748/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843932","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":"Vitamin D Status and Supplementation and the Functional Outcomes of Human Musculoskeletal Tissues: A Stratified Systematic Review.","authors":"Mohammad Soltani, Ali Fatahi, Fatemeh Heidari","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72407","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong>This systematic review examined associations between vitamin D status and/or supplementation and functional outcomes (e.g., strength, performance, falls), with secondary reporting of biomechanical endpoints of human muscle, tendon, and bone.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed human studies published from 1997 to 2024 that evaluated vitamin D supplementation/intake or serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status in relation to functional outcomes and reported at least one biomechanical endpoint (e.g., strength-related properties, stiffness/tensile characteristics, bone mineral density [BMD], tendon outcomes). Eligible studies were English or Persian, conducted in humans, and included a vitamin D exposure and functional outcomes with biomechanical reporting. We excluded non-human and in vitro studies, conference abstracts without peer-reviewed full text, reviews, and studies lacking either vitamin D exposure or relevant functional/biomechanical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across eligible studies, higher vitamin D status and/or supplementation was generally associated with better muscle-related functional outcomes in older or clinical populations, particularly when baseline deficiency was present. Findings in athletic populations were mixed, with many studies showing null or inconsistent effects on strength and performance. Evidence suggested potential benefits for tendon repair in select contexts, and fracture risk reduction in specific populations; however, effects varied by baseline vitamin D status, participant characteristics, and outcome definitions. Large contemporary trials in broadly vitamin D-replete adults commonly reported no benefit for BMD or fracture outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Vitamin D supplementation appears most beneficial in older/clinical groups with deficiency, with improvements observed in selected functional outcomes (notably balance/falls). In broadly replete adults, evidence does not support meaningful benefits for BMD or fractures, and in elite athletes, performance effects are inconsistent and often null. Overall, findings support correction of deficiency rather than universal supplementation for performance enhancement.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 ","pages":"e72407"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843872","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":"Beyond the Label: Psychometric Validation of the Persian Stigma and Self-Stigma Scales: A Methodological Study.","authors":"Hadi Tehrani, Alireza Jafari, Mahbobeh Nejatian, Maliheh Gholamzadeh, Fatemehzahra Naddafi","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72375","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Mental health disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, making early detection and intervention crucial. However, stigma remains a significant barrier to accessing mental healthcare services. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Persian version of the Stigma and Self-Stigma Scales (SASS) to assess public attitudes toward mental health issues.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This methodological study was conducted from August to December 2023 with a sample of 962 Iranian participants. The research evaluated the psychometric properties of the SASS. The assessment included content validity, face validity, and construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)) and reliability indices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Scale-Content Validity Index (S-CVI/Ave) for all SASS items was excellent at 0.963. Following psychometric evaluation, seven items were eliminated. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate model fit, with key indices including: χ²/df = 3.325, RMSEA = 0.049, CFI = 0.912, GFI = 0.920, IFI = 0.912, PNFI = 0.777, PGFI = 0.759, TLI = 0.901, and AGFI = 0.903. The final validated scale comprised 29 items organized into six distinct factors: Stigma toward others (4 items), Social distance (6 items), Anticipated stigma (6 items), Self-stigma (6 items), Avoidant coping (3 items), Help-seeking behaviors (4 items). The Persian SASS demonstrated overall acceptable reliability across its subscales (Cronbach's α = 0.911, McDonald's ω = 0.925) and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.677) except one of the subscales (help-seeking behaviours), which had inadequate reliability and is recommended not to be used.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Persian adaptation of the SASS was successfully validated as a 29-item instrument comprising six clinically relevant dimensions. This culturally adapted tool demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties for comprehensive stigma assessment in Persian-speaking populations. Its multidimensional structure makes it particularly valuable for: Baseline evaluation prior to anti-stigma interventions, Measuring specific stigma components in clinical and research settings and Tracking changes in public attitudes toward mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 5","pages":"e72375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843925","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":"Evaluation of the Complete Blood Count (CBC) Parameters in Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Their Correlation With Disease Severity: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Zeinab Aryanian, Shahin Hamzelou, Haseeb Bazaz, Zahra Saffarian, Abolfazl Zendedel, Fatemeh Saberi, Azadeh Khayyat, Parvaneh Hatami","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong>Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful, recurrent lesions most commonly affecting the axillary, groin, and inframammary areas. This study aimed to evaluate CBC parameters in HS patients and analyze their correlation with disease severity to identify potential biomarkers of systemic inflammation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The current cross-sectional study compared 75 diagnosed HS patients with 75 healthy individuals. CBC parameters included WBC count, RBC count, platelet count, and their respective derived ratios: NLR and PLR. The severity of HS was assessed by SAHS scores and staging of the disease. The various blood markers were compared across groups and analyzed for correlations among each other, the disease severity and stage, and demographic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As for the CBC parameters in HS patients as compared with healthy controls, the following were the levels expressed in the study: higher RBC, higher platelets and mean platelet volume or MPV, besides lowered parameters of red blood cell distribution width or RDW, mean corpuscular volume or MCV and mean corpuscular hemoglobin or MCH with corresponding <i>p</i>-values of <i>p</i> = 0.01, <i>p</i> = 0.001 and <i>p</i> = 0.002, along with <i>p</i> < 0.0001 in each. However, no significant differences were seen in NLR (<i>p</i> = 0.55) and PLR (<i>p</i> = 0.73). Curiously, higher levels of RBCs were associated with less severe forms of the disease (<i>r</i> = -0.26, <i>p</i> = 0.02), while male patients tended to have higher levels of RBCs and hemoglobin compared with females (<i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Specifically, the CBC parameters of RBC, RDW, MCV, and MCH were significantly different in HS patients and may thus represent more accessible markers of inflammation and activity. This study sets a promising role for CBC markers in the personalization of care in HS but confirmation of their value in larger populations is still needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 5","pages":"e72203"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843926","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":"Progressive Muscle Relaxation as an Alternative Therapy for Death Anxiety and Sleep Quality in End-Stage Cancer Patients: An Experimental Study.","authors":"Hadi Hasani, Majid Kazemi, Seyed-Mohammad-Ebrahim Pourhosseini","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a complementary therapy to reduce tension. The present research was conducted to assess the effect of the Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on death anxiety and sleep quality of cancer patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was an experimental study with pre-test and post-test design. 60 cancer patients were selected randomly and randomly assigned experiment or control group. Death anxiety and sleep quality of samples were assessed by Templar's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). PMR was trained to patients in eight sessions during 1 month. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-squared, Fisher's exact test, independent sample <i>t</i>-test, and analysis of covariance).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant decrease in death anxiety and sleep quality scores in the intervention group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The only sleep quality dimension that didn't change meaningfully in the intervention group was the use of sleep medications.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PMR is a method that can be used to reduce death anxiety and improve sleep quality in cancer patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 5","pages":"e72140"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144754/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843978","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":"Burden of Nutritional Deficiencies: A Systematic Analysis for the GBD 2021.","authors":"Shuxiong Nong, Rui Deng, Xiuhua Zhang","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Nutritional deficiencies (ND) remain a major global health challenge, significantly affecting population well-being. As part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to ND from 1990 to 2021.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study analyzed temporal trends in nutritional deficiencies by estimating the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) over the study period. We examined age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR), incidence rates (ASIR), death rates (ASDR), and DALYs (ASDALYs) across various demographic and geographic dimensions. Data were stratified by sex, 20 age groups, 21 GBD regions, 204 countries and territories, and five socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles. To project future trends, we applied the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2021, nutritional deficiencies continued to impose a substantial global health burden, with approximately 1.85 billion cases (95% UI: 1.81-1.88 billion) and an ASPR of 23,859 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 23,446-24,321). The ASIR was 7725 per 100,000 (95% UI: 7404-8109). The ASDR was 3.0 per 100,000 (95% UI: 2.7-3.4), and the ASDALY rate reached 657.6 per 100,000 (95% UI: 489.9-869.6). Marked regional disparities were observed: low SDI regions exhibited the highest ASPR, ASIR, ASDR, and ASDALYs, while high SDI regions had the lowest ASDR. Central Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest rates across most indicators, whereas Western Europe had the lowest ASDR. Projections indicate a significant decline in the global burden of nutritional deficiencies from 2021 to 2040.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted public health strategies to address the persistent and disproportionate burden of nutritional deficiencies in low SDI regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 5","pages":"e72273"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13140514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843860","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":"Gene Expression Levels of Ferroptosis Suppressor Protein (<i>FSP1</i>) and Ferroptosis Inducer (<i>ACSL4</i>) and Their Correlation With Clinicopathological Features in Colorectal Cancer Patients.","authors":"Afsaneh Fardsanei, Mohammad Taghi Goodarzi, Shahram Agah, Jafar Izadinia, Abolfazl Akbari","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong>Ferroptosis signaling pathway has been revealed to play a biological role in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Our aim was to evaluate the expression pattern and clinical potentials of two ferroptosis-related genes <i>FSP</i>1 and <i>ACSL4</i> in colorectal tumors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty colorectal tumor tissues and thirty adjacent healthy tissues were subjected to gene expression study. Total RNA extraction from all tissues was completed and cDNA was synthesized from RNA. A qPCR was used for the gene expression analysis. Expression data were evaluated by SPSS software and the clinical importance of the genes was evaluated by ROC test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on our results, the expression levels of <i>ACSL4</i> gene in the tumor tissues significantly down-regulated compared to the healthy tissues (<i>p</i> = 0.0005). However, the expression levels of <i>FSP1</i> did not show a significant difference in the tumor cancer tissues in comparison with the healthy tissues (<i>p</i> = 0.65). Furthermore, the expression levels of <i>ACSL4</i> in CRC patients were reversely correlated with the high grade poorly differentiated tumors (<i>p</i> = 0.0003, r = -0.54). Analysis of the diagnostic value of <i>ACSL4</i> using ROC test showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.6143-0.9229), with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 60% (95% CI: 0.4060-0.7734) and a cut-off of 1.3.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The expression levels of <i>ACSL4</i>, but not <i>FSP1</i>, increased significantly in colorectal tumor tissues in comparison with non-tumor healthy tissues. Based on clinical analysis, it was indicated that <i>ACSL4</i> has clinical potentials as a diagnostic biomarker in CRC.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 5","pages":"e72013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843869","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":"Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice and the Prevalence of Eye Conditions Among Commercial Fish Smokers in Abuesi, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Frank Adusei-Mensah, Charity Owusu, Albert Ofori, Samuel Kyei, Carl Halladay Abraham, Sunday Olaleye, Samson Oluwafemi Balogun, Richard Osei Agjei, David K Essumang","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72493","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Traditional fish smoking in Abuesi, Ghana, exposes workers, primarily women, to significant health risks due to prolonged smoke inhalation. This study evaluates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning safe smoking methods. It examines the prevalence of eye conditions among these fish smokers to assess their awareness of health risks and document the impact of extended exposure to smoke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional design was employed involving 320 fish smokers from Abuesi. Data collection was conducted through structured interviews and detailed eye examinations. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression models, were used to explore relationships between exposure duration and health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants were women, mostly between the ages of 30 and 65. While nearly 90% were aware of the health risks linked to smoke exposure, fewer than 30% followed recommended safety practices, which shows a significant gap between what they knew and what they did. Many self-reported health concerns, including mild vision problems (about 22%), moderate impairments (just under 2%), and even cases of blindness (around 3%) were reported. Other frequently mentioned symptoms included breathing difficulties (66%), persistent headaches (58%), and eye irritation (49%). Importantly, the analysis showed that participants with greater awareness were 21% more likely to take safety precautions and 13% less likely to suffer from eye conditions, suggesting that knowledge does have a protective effect when it is acted upon.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlights a critical disparity between knowledge and the implementation of safety measures among fish smokers in Abuesi. The results underscore the need for targeted educational programs and intervention strategies to reduce health risks among traditional fish smokers.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 ","pages":"e72493"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144757/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843896","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":"The Italian Validation of the Trust in Medical Researchers-Short Scale: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Stefano Ardenghi, Federico Zorzi, Laura Montelisciani, Marco Bani, Selena Russo, Giulia Rampoldi, Laura Antolini, Maria Grazia Strepparava","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.72480","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72480","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Trust in medical researchers plays a critical role in orienting health-related attitudes and behaviors, which profoundly influence healthcare outcomes, including research participation. This study aimed to contribute to the assessment of this construct by translating and validating the Italian version of the self-administered questionnaire, Trust in Medical Researchers-Short Scale (TMR-SS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In March 2022, we invited participants from an existing longitudinal cohort to complete an online survey, including socio-demographics, the General Trust Scale (GTS), the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS), the Edelman Trust in Pharmaceutics Barometer (ETPB), and the Italian back-translated version of the TMR-SS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Confirmatory Factor Analyses confirmed the unidimensional structure of the original questionnaire, with good to excellent fit indexes. All the items in the original version were retained in the Italian adaptation. Both Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega indicated acceptable reliability. The Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated that the model was fully invariant across gender. There were no significant associations between the TMR-SS and socio-demographic variables. TMR-SS inversely correlated with the VHS dimensions and positively correlated with the ETPB. There was no significant correlation between the TMR-SS and the GTS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Italian version of the TMR-SS proved to be a valid, reliable, and easy-to-administer self-report questionnaire of trust in medical researchers within the Italian context.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"9 ","pages":"e72480"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843917","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}