BMC Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Situational analysis of the quality of maternal, child, and adolescent health data in the health districts of Thiès, Mbour, Kédougou, and Saraya in Senegal.","authors":"Fatoumata Binetou Diongue, Adama Faye, Cheikh Loucoubar, Ndèye Marème Sougou, Ibrahima Sy, Adama Tall, Youssoupha Ndiaye, Samba Cor Sarr","doi":"10.1186/s12889-024-21241-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21241-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In Senegal, the Routine Health Information System (RHIS) captures the majority of data from the Ministry of Health and Social Action (MHSA) public structures and very little health data from the private sector and other ministerial departments. Quality data strengthens the validity and reliability of research results. Common areas of data quality include accuracy, completeness, consistency, credibility, and timeliness. The work aims to assess the quality of routine maternal, child, and adolescent health data in Senegal.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A mixed quantitative and qualitative design was chosen in four health districts, including Thiès, Mbour, Kédougou, and Saraya. The study included functional health structures that produce maternal, child, and adolescent health data. For the quantitative part, a descriptive and analytical study was carried out. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) was used as the sampling method. Data were collected using Performance of Routine Information Systems Management (PRISM) data collection tools and the ODK application and analyzed (univariate and bivariate) using R and Stata with an alpha risk of 5%. The following data quality indicators (accuracy, completeness, and promptness) were estimated. An exploratory case study and purposive sampling supported the qualitative part by implementing individual interviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study showed an accuracy ratio of 1 in the intervention districts, a difference in the control districts, and a disparity in the transmission of guidelines between districts (inter- and intra-region). The average level of completeness was 0.64 (+/- 0.44) for all regions combined, with no significant difference between districts. The promptness rate for Kédougou, Saraya, Thiès, and Mbour districts was 81%, 75.9%, 72.2%, and 86.7%, respectively. Between 40% and 60% of facilities in each district carried out self-assessments. Data collection tools were considered to be numerous. A large number of tools were easy to use. The recording space was appreciated. On the other hand, the length of the forms was little or not appreciated by the providers. Few of the providers in the 4 districts had been trained to record data in DHIS2.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Assessment of data quality in the districts studied shows shortcomings in terms of completeness and timeliness. Many factors influence the SMEA data quality situation, including knowledge or application of RHIS policies, standards, and protocols, perception of the importance of RHIS, ease of use of data collection tools, training of providers, and diversity of data production sources.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"337"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Teaching healthy lifestyle behaviors based on philosophical thinking to preschool children: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Zakieh Khoramaki, Mahin Nazari, Leila Ghahremani, Mohammad Hossein Kaveh, Abdolrahim Asadollahi","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21407-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21407-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The promotion of a healthy lifestyle among preschool children is essential for establishing their future habits. Evidence indicates that the incorporation of philosophical thinking-encompassing critical, creative, and compassionate thought-can significantly contribute to children's cognitive and moral growth, thereby positively affecting their health-related decisions. This research evaluated the effects of imparting healthy lifestyle practices through philosophical thinking to preschool children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial involved 120 preschoolers, who were randomly assigned to intervention groups for children, parents, and a control group. Educational sessions were conducted in the intervention groups of preschool children and parents using various educational tools such as films, narratives, and games. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and JAMOVI software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The present study provides evidence that instruction in healthy lifestyle behaviors grounded in philosophical thinking significantly enhances the healthy lifestyle practices of preschool children and their parents. The statistical analyses indicate that the improvements achieved are statistically significant, with both children and parents demonstrating enhancements in healthy lifestyle behavior scores two and four months following the intervention. While the effect sizes may be relatively small, the significance of the results underscores the potential for philosophical thinking interventions to foster positive behavior changes over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research showed that teaching healthy lifestyle practices through philosophical thinking improved healthy behaviors in preschool-aged children. The results were more pronounced in children than in their parents. Future studies should focus on longer interventions and explore the effects across different age groups.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The international trial code is IRCT20230703058651N1 (date of registration 03/07/2023).</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"333"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge and attitudes about human papillomavirus infection and prevention methods among medical science students in Novi Sad, Serbia: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nikola Denda, Nemanja Maletin, Aleksandar Rašković, Dušan Prodanović, Zoran Golušin, Biljana Vučković, Marko Nemet, Milica Paut Kusturica","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21593-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21593-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is estimated that more than 80% of people are infected with human papilloma virus (HPV) at some point in their lives. Knowledge about HPV infection and methods of its prevention is important for society as a whole. Medical students as future healthcare workers must be thoroughly informed about HPV infection in order to properly participate in the promotion of its prevention. The aim was to examine the knowledge and attitudes in relation to previous education about HPV infection and prevention methods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad (MFNS). The study covered all study programs and was conducted in the period from 1 to 30 November 2023, using a specially created survey questionnaire for the purposes of this research.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>1760 surveys were collected, representing 70.4% of the total number of MFNS students. In the past year, only 26% of respondents attended some kind of education about HPV infection/vaccine. Statistical significance was observed in the difference between the responses of students who attended education in comparison to those who did not attend education in the past year (75.5% versus 63.3%, p < 0.001). Students who stated that they plan to get vaccinated in the following period answered the questions correctly in a higher percentage (87.5% versus 80.1%, p = 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Students of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, as future healthcare workers, demonstrated certain knowledge and demonstrated right attitudes. Students who attended education about HPV infection and methods of prevention had more correct answers, as did students who plan to get vaccinated in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"332"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi.","authors":"Mengze Li, Yidi Wang, Bin Liu, Xiaoli Ni, Zhujing Ma, Fengzhan Li, Tifei Yuan, Hongyi Chen, Zhongying Wu, Qiannan Jia, Lei Song, Yinchuan Jin, Qun Yang","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21496-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21496-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Internet addiction has emerged as a significant mental health issue among university students. The study aimed to compare the network structures of Internet addiction and mental health symptoms among university students in China and Malawi, which provide insights into culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Network analysis was used on two datasets: Malawi (n = 688) and China (n = 975) using the Internet Addiction Test and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Network estimation, centrality, bridge estimation and network comparison, were conducted using R software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of internet addiction and mental health was significantly higher in China than Malawi. In Malawi, the strongest edges were \"school work\" - \"job performance\" and \"worthless\" - \"unable to play a useful part\". The central nodes were \"daily work suffering\", \"fantasize\" and \"lost interest\". In China, the strongest edges were \"neglect household\" - \"neglect partner\" and \"difficult to enjoy\" - \"daily work suffering\". The central nodes were \"trouble thinking\", \"unhappiness\", and \"unable to play a useful part\". Bridge symptoms varied between the countries, with functional impairments (school work, daily work suffering and difficult to make decision) being more prominent in Malawi and emotional disturbances (daily work suffering, act annoyed and difficult to enjoy) in China.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study highlights significant differences in the network structures of internet addiction and mental health between China and Malawi, which underscore the importance of culturally sensitive mental health interventions. In Malawi, addressing functional impairments related to academic and work performance is crucial, while in China, interventions should focus on emotional and relational aspects.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"320"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11762860/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A participatory needs assessment to map the system dynamics of overweight related behaviours of 10-14-year-old adolescents living in an underserved neighbourhood in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.","authors":"Helga Emke, Rabab Chrifou, Coosje Dijkstra, Wilma Waterlander, Karien Stronks, Stef Kremers, Mai Chinapaw, Teatske Altenburg","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21498-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21498-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Developing interventions along with the population of interest using systems thinking is a promising method to address the underlying system dynamics of overweight. The purpose of this study is twofold: to gain insight into the perspectives of adolescents regarding: (1) the system dynamics of energy balance-related behaviours (EBRBs) (physical activity, screen use, sleep behaviour and dietary behaviour); and (2) underlying mechanisms and overarching drivers of unhealthy EBRBs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted Participatory Action Research (PAR) to map the system dynamics of EBRBs together with adolescents aged 10-14 years old living in a lower socioeconomic, ethnically diverse neighbourhood in Amsterdam East, the Netherlands. For just over two years, we conducted weekly PAR sessions (45-120 min) with four dynamic groups - two in primary schools and two in secondary schools - each school year (n = 4-8 adolescents in each group (0-100% girls); n = 40-54 sessions in total per group). These adolescents acted as co-researchers and created Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) for each EBRB and explored important underlying mechanisms for unhealthy EBRBs. Based on the underlying mechanisms, three overarching drivers for unhealthy EBRBs were distinguished.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The three overarching drivers for unhealthy EBRBs are: (1) the physical environment, (2) social norms, and (3) unhealthy behaviours reinforcing each other. The adolescents explained that their physical environment fosters unhealthy behaviour by providing easy access to unhealthy food products while restricting physical activity. They explained the importance of social norms around EBRBs that are formed by their peers, friends, and family. The influence of their peers often led to unhealthier EBRBs, especially after the transition to secondary school. The adolescents explained that unhealthy behaviours reinforced each other, while healthy behaviour led to more healthy behaviour.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our novel approach combining PAR with systems thinking gained valuable insights into the system dynamics of EBRBs from the adolescent perspective. These insights can inform future interventions targeting systems change regarding EBRBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"324"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765934/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of triglyceride-glucose index on risk of cardiovascular disease among non-diabetic hypertension patients: a 10-year prospective cohort study.","authors":"Xin Chen, Jinyou Yang, Dan Wang, Jiali Liu, Hang Jin, Yongqing Zhang, Quanyong Xiang","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21522-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21522-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was regarded as a cost-efficient and reliable clinical surrogate marker for insulin resistance (IR), which was significantly correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the TyG index and incident CVD in non-diabetic hypertension patients remains uncertain. The aim of study was to explore the impact of TyG index level and variability on risk of CVD among non-diabetic hypertension patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 9313 hypertensive patients without diabetes aged 30-70 years in Jiangsu Province who participated in the baseline survey from January 2010 to December 2010 and were followed up to May 2020 were included in this study. The TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglyceride (TG) (mg/dl) × fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (mg/dl)/2] and variation degree was calculated as the TyG index at first year follow-up (2011) minus that at baseline (2010). Cox proportional analysis regression and restricted cubic spline were used to investigate the association between TyG index level as well as variability and CVD risk.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 9313 included participants, 5423(58.23%) were female. During a mean follow-up of 8.32 ± 1.43 years, 890(9.56%) CVD events was identified. Cox regression analysis showed that with the highest TyG index in Q4 group at baseline, the incidence of CVD risk increased by 33.6% after adjustment for multiple confounders compared to Q1 group. Compared with TyG index variation degree 0 ~ < 1, the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) respectively in < 0, 1 ~ < 2 and 2 ~ were 0.326(0.276, 0.384), 3.216(2.697,3.835) and 4.225(3.359,5.314). The restricted cubic spline indicated that there was a non-linear dose-response relationship between the change degree of TyG and risk of CVD. Similar results were obtained by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Elevated TyG index may be used as a surrogate for IR and help optimize risk stratification of CVD as well as prevention and management.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting bullying victimization among adolescents using the risk and protective factor framework: a large-scale machine learning approach.","authors":"Ethan Low, Joshua Monsen, Lindsay Schow, Rachel Roberts, Lucy Collins, Hayden Johnson, Carl L Hanson, Quinn Snell, E Shannon Tass","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21521-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21521-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bullying, encompassing physical, psychological, social, or educational harm, affects approximately 1 in 20 United States teens aged 12-18. The prevalence and impact of bullying, including online bullying, necessitate a deeper understanding of risk and protective factors to enhance prevention efforts. This study investigated the key risk and protective factors most highly associated with adolescent bullying victimization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from the Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey, collected from 345,506 student respondents in Utah from 2009 to 2021, were analyzed using a machine learning approach. The survey included 135 questions assessing demographics, health outcomes, and adolescent risk and protective factors. LightGBM was used to create the model, achieving 70% accuracy, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values were utilized to interpret model predictions and to identify risk and protective predictors most highly associated with bullying victimization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Younger grade levels, feeling left out, and family issues (severity and frequent arguments, family member insulting each other, and family drug use) are strongly associated with increased bullying victimization - whether in person or online. Gender analysis showed that for male and females, family issues and hating school were most highly predictive. Online bullying victimization was most highly associated with early onset of drinking.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides a risk and protective factor profile for adolescent bullying victimization. Key risk and protective factors were identified across demographics with findings underscoring the important role of family relationships, social inclusion, and demographic variables in bullying victimization. These resulting risk and protective factor profiles emphasize the need for prevention programming that addresses family dynamics and social support. Future research should expand to diverse geographical areas and include longitudinal data to better understand causal relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11762141/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic pain is a risk factor for all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in cancer survivors: a population-based cohort study.","authors":"Yeying Zhang, Yuna Guo","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21406-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21406-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Evidence is lacking on whether chronic pain is related to the risk of cancer mortality. This study seeks to unveil the association between chronic pain and all-cause, cancer, as well as non-cancer death in cancer patients based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cancer survivors aged at least 20 (n = 1369) from 3 NHANES (1999-2004) cycles were encompassed. Chronic pain and cancer were determined through self-report. We employed records from the National Death Index for the determination of death status and reason. All-cause, cancer, and non-cancer deaths were primary outcomes. We used time-dependent ROC curve assessment to evaluate the predictive value of chronic pain for death in cancer patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over a median 141-month follow-up (interquartile range: 61-201 months), 884 (64.57%) of 1,369 cancer sufferers died, of which 259 (18.91%) died from cancer, and 625 (45.65%) from other causes. Compared with non-chronic pain survivors, chronic pain correlated with elevated all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR), 1.40; 95% CI, 1.14-1.72, p = 0.001) and cancer death (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.16-2.64, p = 0.008), primarily in patients with pain lasting 3 months or more. Chronic pain was related to higher non-cancer mortality (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.04-1.82, p = 0.025), and no significant results were found in pain duration. Time-dependent ROC curves showed the area under the curve (AUC) for all-cause mortality at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20-year survival for chronic pain of 0.71, 0.78, 0.84, 0.89, and 0.96, respectively. The AUCs for cancer mortality at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20-year for chronic pain were 0.83, 0.87, 0.91, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively, and those for non-cancer mortality at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20-year for chronic pain were 0.82, 0.86, 0.90, 0.91, and 0.97, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Chronic pain is associated with heightened all-cause and cancer mortality in the cancer population. Clinical staff should focus on chronic pain in this patient population.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"325"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765894/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing healthcare utilization and reducing preventable hospitalizations: exploring the healthcare-seeking propensity of patients with non-communicable diseases in Rural China.","authors":"Yanqiu Hou, Wenyu Li, Shangai Li, Linxuan Chen, Jiayu An, Shan Lu","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21542-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21542-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Understanding healthcare-seeking propensity is crucial for optimizing healthcare utilization, especially for patients with chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes, given their substantial burden on healthcare systems globally. This study aims to evaluate hypertensive or diabetic patients' healthcare-seeking propensity based on the severity of symptoms, categorizing symptoms as either major or minor. It also explores factors influencing healthcare-seeking propensity and examines whether healthcare-seeking propensity affects healthcare utilization and preventable hospitalizations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 in rural areas of Dangyang city, Hubei province, and Xishui county, Guizhou province. A sample of 780 patients, including those with hypertension, diabetes, or both, was obtained using multistage stratified cluster sampling. Healthcare-seeking propensity was evaluated using a questionnaire with two subscales for major and minor symptoms, which were analyzed separately. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors influencing healthcare-seeking propensity, while logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between healthcare-seeking propensity and healthcare utilization, as well as preventable hospitalizations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Rural Chinese patients had an average healthcare-seeking propensity score of 5.43 ± 1.99 for major symptoms and 8.04 ± 1.66 for minor symptoms. Factors such as age, education level, income, accessibility to healthcare, and enrollment in family doctor services influenced healthcare-seeking propensity for both types of symptoms. Patients' self-rated health status and the type of disease affected their healthcare-seeking propensity for major symptoms, while primary healthcare service quality solely impacted the propensity for seeking care for minor symptoms. Logistic regression demonstrated that after accounting for confounding factors, a higher propensity for seeking care for minor symptoms was associated with increased healthcare service utilization (AOR = 1.402, 95% CI: 1.259-1.562), whereas a higher propensity for major symptoms remarkably reduced preventable hospitalizations (AOR = 0.501, 95% CI: 0.428-0.587).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Rural Chinese patients exhibited different healthcare-seeking propensity depending on the type of symptoms. The healthcare-seeking propensity in the western region was lower than that in the central region, highlighting regional disparities. Seeking care for minor symptoms results in more outpatient visits, whereas addressing major symptoms reduces preventable hospitalizations. Establishing a robust network of primary healthcare facilities and emphasizing the role of family doctors can boost patients' propensity to seek healthcare.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"323"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expansion of medical school admission quotas in Korea, is it really necessary?","authors":"Jeong Hun Park, Jungchan Lee, Kye-Hyun Kim, Yo Han Shin, Seog-Kyun Mun","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-21558-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-21558-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In 2024, the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare enforced a policy to increase the number of medical school students by 2,000 over the next 5 years, despite opposition from doctors. This study aims to predict the trend of excess or shortage of medical personnel in Korea due to the policy of increasing the number of medical school students by 2035.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from multiple sources, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Corporation, and the Korean Medical Association, were used to estimate supply and demand. The inflow-outflow method was used for supply estimation, and assumptions were made regarding national medical examination pass rates, clinical physician consultation rates, mortality rates, and overseas emigration rates. Per capita medical use by gender and age group in 2022 was calculated for demand estimation of future medical use, and the results of future population projections were applied. The numbers of working days examined were 265, 275, 285, and 289.5 days.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Korean government's prediction that there will be a shortage of 10,000 doctors in 2035 can be confirmed by the underestimation of the number of working days (265 days). However, if the actual number of working days, 289.5 days, is applied, not only will there be no shortage of doctors in 2035, but there could also be an oversupply of 3,000 doctors. If the number of medical school students has increased for five years and the public's medical use behavior and the number of working days for doctors are maintained at the current level, there is a possibility that there will be an oversupply of as many as 11,000 doctors by 2035.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Medical experts expressed concerns that the rapid increase in medical school enrollment would exacerbate the phenomenon of concentration, increase the cost of medical care, and collapse the medical system. In order to establish a reasonable plan for the supply and demand of medical personnel in the mid- to long-term, it is necessary to consider the future medical environment through discussions with medical providers and related organizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"322"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11763114/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}