Health Science Reports最新文献

{"title":"Are Physicians' USMLE Scores Associated With Patient Mortality? A Multilevel Modeling Approach to USMLE Predictive Validity Evidence","authors":"Mohammed A. A. Abulela,&nbsp;Daniel P. Jurich,&nbsp;Alex J. Mechaber,&nbsp;Irina Grabovsky","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71237","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71237","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Validity evidence for high-stakes licensing examinations, particularly the association between exam scores and clinical practice outcomes, is essential for supporting valid score-based inferences. However, a gap existed in understanding how variability in patient in-hospital mortality is partitioned between physicians and hospitals and how physicians' USMLE composite scores are associated with patient mortality using multilevel modeling. Thus, we examined variability in patient in-hospital mortality between physicians and hospitals and investigated the association between physicians USMLE composite scores and patient mortality, controlling for patient, physician, and hospital characteristics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hospitalization data were sourced from the American Medical Association, USMLE program, and Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Deidentified data included 150,907 patients nested within 1744 physicians in 170 hospitals. Multilevel logistic regression, including a random intercept and six conditional hierarchical models, was used to account for the nested structure and control for covariates. The seven fitted models were compared descriptively and inferentially.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Approximately 5% and 12% of the variability in patient mortality was attributable to physicians and hospitals, respectively. A one standard deviation increase in the USMLE composite score significantly predicted a 6% reduction in patient mortality (odds ratio 0.94; 95% CI = 0.89, 0.99), controlling for patient, physician, and hospital covariates.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results highlight variability in mortality attributable to physicians and hospitals and underscore the predictive value of USMLE scores. Higher USMLE composite scores were associated with a lower likelihood of patient in-hospital mortality, providing additional validity evidence for the exam and supporting its use for licensure decisions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440804/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087609","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 Profile of Psoriasis and Linked Comorbidities in Chinese Population at Shenzhen: A Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Yanhua Liang,&nbsp;Ntawuyamara Epipode,&nbsp;Li Deng,&nbsp;Zhenyin Zhang,&nbsp;Fuxi Wang,&nbsp;Lin Dang,&nbsp;Zhengfeng Li,&nbsp;Jianglin Zhang,&nbsp;Hengan Yi,&nbsp;Hao Zhang,&nbsp;Shan Yang,&nbsp;Jialin Yan,&nbsp;Weishan Gan,&nbsp;Dejian Duan,&nbsp;Baoqing Deng","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71159","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71159","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Only 19% of countries have epidemiological data on psoriasis while an increasing trend in psoriasis prevalence has been consistently reported. The aim of this study is to assess psoriasis epidemiological profile and associated co-morbidities in the largest immigrant city of Shenzhen in China.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a multicenter population-based cross-sectional study of 1000 patients from 13 hospitals with dermatology department localized in Shenzhen. Diagnosis of psoriasis was confirmed by experienced dermatologist after physical examination and additional screening as needed. Data were filled in an online form which was completed after scan of a QR code by every patient. Analysis with Excel and SPSS software included patients diagnosed with psoriasis from March 2022 to January 2023.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In total, there were 626 males and 374 females with an average age of 36.39 years. The mean Body mass index (BMI) was 27.0 ± 9.8 SD and high in males (28.18 ± 9.6 SD) compared to females (25.2 ± 9.8 SD) with a statistically significant difference (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Psoriatic patients (51.3%) had BMI higher than the Chinese population's normal range; 24.5% of patients being obese. Only 171 patients had a psoriasis family history (17.1%). The age of onset was between 11 and 40 years old, accounting for 80% of the total patients. About 36.7%, 37.1% and 26.2% cases present mild, moderate, and severe cutaneous conditions, respectively. Among the patients, 64.7% presented at least one kind of comorbidities, predominantly rheumatic diseases (48.7%), endocrine system diseases (29.8%) and nervous system diseases (24.4%). The proportion of comorbidities in the mild, moderate and severe groups was 59.9%, 59.0%, and 79.3% respectively.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Psoriasis is more common in young and middle-aged people. BMI in psoriatic population was higher compared to Chinese common population. More patients presented with moderate to severe psoriasis. More severe psoriasis carries more comorbidities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12441203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087612","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 Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors on Diabetic Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Individuals on Antiretroviral Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol","authors":"Khanyisa Maswanganyi,&nbsp;Amogelang Sedibe,&nbsp;Nomusa Christina Mzimela,&nbsp;Mlindeli Gamede","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71274","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71274","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>People with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) have a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Previous studies have depicted that PLWHIV have these NCDs due to the predisposing risk factors of CVDs including dyslipidaemia, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension, obesity, and elevated glycated hemoglobin. Understanding the cumulative consequences of these disorders is critical in this population. Hence, the aim of this protocol is to narrate the methods and techniques that will be used to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of various CVD risk factors among diabetic individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, this review will explore the extent to which traditional and HIV-specific risk factors contribute to the beginning and progression of CVD in the HIV-positive population by merging available data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Literature search will be conducted using selected keywords on databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of science to identify eligible publications according to the eligibility criteria. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines will be used for reporting and risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I tool). Data synthesis and sensitivity analysis will be performed using RevMan software and strength of evidence will be assessed using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation approach (GRADE) pro tool.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Ethical Considerations and Registration</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This systematic review protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024524396) and it doesn't require any ethical clearance as it will use data from published reports.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440799/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087414","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":"Characterizing the Morphological Brain Network Topology in Patients With Migraine Using Wavelet Based Morphometry: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study","authors":"G.D.C.J. Prabhashana,&nbsp;R.L.T. Sirimanne,&nbsp;A.D.I. Amarasinghe,&nbsp;W.K.C. Sampath,&nbsp;P.P.C.R. Karunasekara,&nbsp;W.M. Ediri Arachchi","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71093","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71093","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There is compelling evidence that gray matter changes associated with migraine, which in turn may alter morphological network topology. The aim of this study is to characterize morphological network topology of the brains of migraineurs and non-migraine subjects using wavelet-based morphometry.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>3D, T1W brain images were obtained from 45 patients with migraine and 46 non-migraine subjects. Then, gray matter volume images were developed, and they were decomposed and reconstructed at a level of <i>n</i> = 3 using wavelet-based morphometry. 4D gray matter volumes were constructed for each subject and they were parcellated into 625 anatomical regions, and structural covariance matrices were developed. Each matrix was binarized by applying a series of sparsity thresholds, and global network topological metrics were computed. Finally, two sample <i>t</i>-tests were performed using area under curves of each metric for group-level comparisons of network topology.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Patients with migraine showed increased small worldness (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and global efficiency (<i>p</i> = 0.002) compared to non-migraine subjects. Local efficiency (<i>p</i> = 0.49) and assortativity (<i>p</i> = 0.70) have shown similar characteristics for both groups against network sparsity with no significant differences. Hierarchy (<i>p</i> = 0.41) was largely dispersed in the middle sparsity thresholds (0.15–0.35). The characteristics of synchronization (<i>p</i> = 0.32) between groups were almost the same from 0.05 to 0.4 of network sparsities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Patients with migraine exhibit better integration of information processing and wavelet-based morphometry in combining with graph theory provides valuable information on altered gray matter network topologies in migraineurs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087622","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":"Anemia and Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls in Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Schools Versus Non-Implemented Schools in Gog and Abobo Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Bang Chuol Nhial,&nbsp;Chekol Alemu","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71247","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71247","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Background&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Iron deficiency anemia is a significant public health concern for adolescent girls in Ethiopia, adversely affecting their health and development. While the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation program has been implemented to address this problem, its effectiveness for this group is still unclear. By implementing various preventive strategies, including support from family members, the likelihood of developing anemia can be notably reduced, leading to improved health outcomes. However, there is a lack of information regarding high school students' awareness of anemia prevention and their dietary diversity in Ethiopia, especially in the study area. This study aims to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among high school students in selected woredas of the Gambelia Region in Southwest Ethiopia.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among high school students in selected woredas of Gambella Region. A total of 359 students were randomly chosen using a simple random sampling method. Data was gathered through a structured, pretested questionnaire administered by interviewers. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out using SPSS version 23 to identify factors associated with the prevalence of anemia.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Result&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The overall proportion of anemia among high school students was 28.4%, with approximately 22.9% in implemented schools and approximately 33.9% in non-implemented schools, yielding a response rate of 97.09%. Had parasite infestation AOR = 3.622 (1.083, 12.113), father status AOR = 11.08 (1.47, 28.328), knowledge AOR = 7.566 (2.940, 19.47), health care access, AOR = 5.044 (1.806, 14.086) and body mass index AOR = 9.304 (3.000, 28.827) were significant factors associated with anemia among implemented schools. Number of family AOR = 6.216 (2.296, 16.824), health care access AOR = 4.022 (1.519, 9.10.646), food diversity AOR = 5.106 (2.309, 12.784), and body mass index AOR = 2.819 (1.046, 7.597) were also significant factors associated with anemia among non-implemented schools.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The proportion of anemia prevalence among female high school students was high. Health care access, parasite infestation, knowledge, body mass index, food diversity, and number of families were significantly associated with anemia. Increasing healthcare accessibility and creating awareness about information sources for high school students abou","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440806/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087576","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 and Psychometric Properties of the Mental Health Literacy Scale for Women of Reproductive Age: A Mixed Method Study","authors":"Atefeh Safaralinezhad,&nbsp;Minoor Lamyian,&nbsp;Fazlollah Ahmadi,&nbsp;Zahra Hosseinkhani,&nbsp;Ali Montazeri","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71227","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71227","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Gender is recognized as a critical determinant of mental health. Women's reproductive years are a period when they are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues. Enhancing mental health literacy can help reduce the burden of these disorders. This study aimed to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a Mental Health Literacy Scale specifically designed for women of reproductive age.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Women of reproductive ages mental health literacy scale (WoRA-MHL) was developed through qualitative studies, a literature review, and systematic item generation. The scale underwent content and face validity assessments, followed by item analysis. Structural validity was examined by employing preliminary factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability measures included Cronbach's alpha, split-half testing, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and metrics of absolute reliability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The final WoRA-MHL instrument consists of 30 items categorized under four themes: “Accessing and Obtaining Mental Health Information,” “Understanding Mental Health Information,” “Maintaining Mental Health,” and “Adapting to the Challenges of Women's Lives.” Together, these four themes accounted for 54.42% of the total variance. CFA validated a satisfactory model fit for the scale. The reliability assessment indicated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.889, an overall ICC of 0.966, and a standard error of measurement of 4.68.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study offered initial support for the construct validity and reliability of the WoRA-MHL as a tool for assessing mental health literacy (MHL) in reproductive-age women. It aims to identify gaps in knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to mental health and mental disorders, as well as to assist in planning promotional programs and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. Future research is needed to further validate this measure and conduct multicultural comparisons of MHL across diverse populations worldwide.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087602","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 Trends of Time to Recovery Pneumonia Hospitalized Patients in Northwestern Ethiopia During 2018–2020: Retrospective Study","authors":"Chekol Alemu,&nbsp;Habitamu Wudu,&nbsp;Gudi V. Chandra Sekhar,&nbsp;Asaye Alamneh Gebeyehu","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71253","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71253","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Background and Aims&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Pneumonia continues to be a leading cause of illness and death among children under five worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumonia is responsible for approximately 14% of all deaths among children under 5 years of age, resulting in over 740,000 fatalities annually. In Ethiopia, pneumonia represents the leading infectious cause of death within this demographic. The objective of this study was to determine factors that affect time to recovery pneumonia hospitalized outpatients.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;A retrospective study was conducted at a hospital, gathering data from patient records between September 2018 and September 2020. The data was analyzed using STATA version 14.2 and R 3.4.0 software. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank tests were utilized to assess survival times, while the assumptions and fit of the Cox proportional hazards model were evaluated.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Result&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;An accelerated factor (&lt;i&gt;γ&lt;/i&gt;) was utilized, accompanied by a 95% confidence interval, with a &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;-value of under 0.05 signifying a statistically significant association. The median recovery time overall was 5 days, with a 95% confidence interval of 4 to 6 days. Being insured (&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;math&gt;\u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;mi&gt;γ&lt;/mi&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;annotation&gt; $gamma $&lt;/annotation&gt;\u0000 &lt;/semantics&gt;&lt;/math&gt; = 0.904; 95% CI (0.845–0.967)) and treatment type taken at the time of diagnosis ceftriaxone, ampicillin and combined (&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;math&gt;\u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;mi&gt;γ&lt;/mi&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mo&gt;=&lt;/mo&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;annotation&gt; $gamma =$&lt;/annotation&gt;\u0000 &lt;/semantics&gt;&lt;/math&gt; 0.833; 95% CI (0.810–0.92), &lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;math&gt;\u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;mi&gt;γ&lt;/mi&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mo&gt;=&lt;/mo&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;annotation&gt; $gamma =$&lt;/annotation&gt;\u0000 &lt;/sem","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087434","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":"Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Cambodia: Barriers, Strategies, and Policy Recommendations","authors":"Virak Sorn","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71259","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71259","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cambodia's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) score in 2021 was 58—lower than neighboring countries like Vietnam (68) and Thailand (82)—highlighting persistent challenges in healthcare access. Key issues include healthcare disparities, urban–rural inequalities, rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and an overreliance on private healthcare services that increase out-of-pocket expenses. Therefore, this perspective article aims to discuss the challenges and strategies to address the issues of achieving UHC in Cambodia and the way forward.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A literature review was conducted throughout May 2025 by retrieving articles from Google Scholar, PubMed, and gray literature from national and international organizations' websites, including the World Health Organization, United Nations, World Bank, and GIZ Cambodia. Additionally, I employed UHC, barriers, challenges, efforts, and Cambodia as the keywords.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cambodia has made progress in healthcare access, including reductions in infant and maternal mortality and increased life expectancy. However, several systemic challenges hinder UHC advancement. These include significant healthcare quality and accessibility gaps between urban and rural areas, weak healthcare governance, and limited preventive measures for NCDs. The healthcare system is highly privatized, with only 20% of the population relying on public healthcare and 80% on private outpatient services—raising concerns about service quality and financial risk protection. Key barriers include socioeconomic inequality, inadequate infrastructure, and underdeveloped health financing mechanisms. To address these, strengthening the Health Equity Fund (HEF), improving infrastructure and human resources, investing in medicine storage, and establishing a “Cambodian Public Health Act” and “Public Health Commission” are recommended.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cambodia still has a long way to go to achieve UHC. Strengthening UHC will require policy reforms, strategies, and initiatives across a multisectoral approach. Cambodia's Public Health Commission could accelerate the country's journey toward UHC by utilizing best practices, information exchange, and collaborative approaches to maximize limited resources.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087657","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":"Risk Factors for Kidney Stone Disease in Nimroz, Afghanistan: A Retrospective Case–Control Study, 2021","authors":"Khwaja Mir Islam Saeed,&nbsp;Mir Salamuddin Hakim,&nbsp;Ajmal Zahed,&nbsp;Khatera Safi,&nbsp;Fatema Hasanzada,&nbsp;Mohammad Hafiz Rasooly,&nbsp;Sayed Attaullah Saeedzai","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71250","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hsr2.71250","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Kidney stone disease affects many people annually, impairing the quality of their life and health. Several risk factors such as family history, chronic diseases and diet have been reported to cause kidney stones. Reports and data show that there is an increasing pattern in the incidence of kidney stones.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with kidney stone disease in Nimroz province of Afghanistan.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods and Materials</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Red Crescent Hospital (RCH) in Nimroz province during June–August 2021. Case was any patient with kidney stone diagnosed by ultrasonography and the control was a patient without kidney stone. Both were attending outpatient department of the target hospital at the time of data collection. The nonprobability purposive sampling technique was used. A face-to-face interview was carried out using a structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multi-variate analysis using Chi-square test, t-test, and multiple logistic regressions were performed to calculate <i>p</i>-values and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 378 participants were interviewed (188 cases and 190 controls). The mean of age was 34.4 with 11.5 SD. The bivariate analysis in the study revealed a statistically significant association between kidney stones and occupation, BMI, family history, kidney disease, heart disease, blood pressure, and asthma. in addition, the multiple logistic regression results showed that daily use of salt and water, weekly use of eggs and diary, and age were also associated with kidney stones after adjustment of confounders.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The risk of kidney stones was found high among those with positive family history, &gt; 30 BMI, and chronic ill patients. Cases who used more eggs and diary on a weekly base, and drunk less water and consumed excessive salt on a daily base were also more likely to have developed kidney stones. Families and the community should be educated about the modifiable risk factors of kidney stones.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440809/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087444","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":"Cardiovascular Wellness—The Role of Lifestyle and Health Equity: A Perspective","authors":"Muhammad Umar Soomro,&nbsp;Shahtaj Adil Shah,&nbsp;Gaurav Raj Mishra,&nbsp;Shree Rath,&nbsp;Muhammad Rizwan","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71230","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health concern across the globe, its rising incidence is a result of the interplay of various risk factors. Lifestyle and health status plays a key role in influencing disease progression and outcome. In this perspective, we aim to elucidate the success of lifestyle interventions in decreasing the burden of the disease, while also highlighting the importance of health education and equity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methodology</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a literature search on PubMed using key terms such as “cardiovascular health,” “prevention,” “lifestyle interventions,” “exercise,” “health disparities,” and “digital health.” Our search strategy focused on identifying recent studies to ensure the inclusion of current evidence, we supplemented our search with manual citation tracking to ensure comprehensive coverage of the topic.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Diet and exercise significantly affect the pathogenesis of the disease. It was observed that the benefits of exercise were evident when practiced in moderation. Smoking and environmental pollutants are well known for their multiorgan hazardous effects; and the introduction of legislative laws in few countries have proven to be beneficial in reducing disease burden. Measures of health equity and education highlight the prevalent disparities in healthcare provision. These inequalities aren't only influenced by social and educational parameters; studies show that gender plays a massive role as well, and the major reason for this is the lack of diverse clinical trials.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Lifestyle interventions were shown to be highly effective in maintaining cardiovascular health. Fiber-rich low-fat meals, and weekly exercise of 2.5 to 5 h help maintain cardiovascular health. The widespread implementation of such interventions is still limited by lack of diverse trials, lacking health education and the prevalent disparity of equitable resource distribution. It is the need of the hour that physicians and policymakers collaborate to ensure a healthy heart among all.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hsr2.71230","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062687","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}