Cureus最新文献

{"title":"Intestinal Tuberculosis With Recurrent Gluteal Abscesses and Perianal Fistulas: A Case Report and Literature Review.","authors":"Igor Takakazu Ribas Asato, Nayane Souza Novaes Asato, Fernanda Amariz Yamamoto, Ana Caroline Ferreira Siqueira, Anderson M Pereira da Silva","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76456","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76456","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case is relevant for describing a rare presentation of intestinal tuberculosis with perianal manifestations, complicated by abscesses and recurrent fistulas. The clinical manifestations mimicked Crohn's disease and other inflammatory conditions, making the diagnosis challenging and requiring a differentiated and meticulous diagnostic process. A 45-year-old male patient presented with a chronic abscess in the left buttock lasting for two years, characterized by spontaneous purulent drainage and multiple recurrences despite surgical and clinical treatments. Imaging findings revealed associated fistulous lesions, initially interpreted as possible inflammatory complications. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed as intestinal tuberculosis with perianal involvement through colonoscopy and biopsy, which revealed caseating granulomas. Treatment included a standard antituberculous regimen (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol), along with antibiotics and antifungal agents for secondary infections. Adherence to treatment was satisfactory, with progressive improvement in the fistulas. This case highlights the importance of a comprehensive differential diagnosis in extrapulmonary tuberculosis, especially with unusual manifestations. Multidisciplinary management was essential for therapeutic success and the prevention of recurrences.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76456"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11681949/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142904548","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":"Exploring the Nature and Challenges Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia Responding to an Inflight Medical Emergency: A Cross-Sectional Survey.","authors":"Adil Khalil Hussien, Saif Ali Aljaghwani, Ibrahim Mohammed Albarrak, Abdullah Rodaini Alanazi, Marwan Mohammed Althubaiti, Faisal Abdullah Alqahtani, Ibrahim Abdullah Alharthi, Hussain Abdullah Alqahtani, Khalid Saeed Alshalawi, Mohammed Faris Alanazi","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76420","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76420","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background  Inflight medical emergencies (IMEs) present a challenging situation due to the availability of limited medical resources and a complex cabin environment. The physicians have an ethical responsibility to aid in such situations. This study aims to assess the attitudes of Saudi physicians regarding IMEs. Methods  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical interns and postgraduate physicians in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via a structured online questionnaire distributed through professional networks and social media. The survey evaluated physicians' confidence, preparedness, and barriers to volunteering in an IME.  Results  A total of 368 respondents were included in the study, with a plurality (42.4%, n = 156) in the 30-39 years age group. The proportion of males was 55.2% (n = 203). Among participants, 67.1% (n = 247) had encountered an IME, and 62% (n = 228) had assisted in such a situation. Regarding the nature of IME, 17.9% (n = 66) of the respondents reported respiratory emergency (e.g., bronchospasm). Participants with prior medical emergency experience showed significantly higher scores than those without (54.64 ± 7.81 vs. 49.30 ± 7.10, p < 0.001). Younger physicians (<30 years) displayed the highest confidence scores (54.85 ± 7.03), while those ≥60 years reported the lowest (46.50 ± 4.94, p < 0.01). Physicians with less experience (less than five years) had higher scores compared to their more experienced counterparts (54.69 ± 7.16 vs. 52.25 ± 5.75, p = 0.039). Barriers to volunteering included lack of training (58.6%, n = 215) and legal concerns (61.1%, n = 227), while 67.6% (n = 249) highlighted the need for additional training as a potential motivator.  Conclusion  Overall, the majority of the participants included in our study were willing to aid in an IME. Furthermore, being younger, less experienced, and having prior emergency experience were significant factors in determining the decision to aid in an IME.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76420"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11670824/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901208","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":"Delayed-Onset White Matter Lesions on Brain MRI in Recurrent Non-cerebral Plasmodium falciparum Imported Malaria Without Neurological Symptoms.","authors":"Daniela S Rico, Aengela Jihyoun Kim, Yael Zoken, Suman Radhakrishna, Antonio K Liu","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76416","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> malaria affects millions of people in certain regions of the world, with neurological involvement and/or cerebral malaria as potential manifestations. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities have been well-documented in cerebral malaria. However, MRI abnormalities in non-cerebral malaria, especially in neurologically asymptomatic patients, are not well understood and have been less frequently reported, especially in non-endemic regions. Additionally, there are no known studies that observe and analyze the presence and progression of these radiological abnormalities over long periods. Here, we present the case of a patient with recurrent non-cerebral imported malaria infections spanning two decades. Despite a normal brain MRI three years prior, the patient was found to have extensive subcortical white matter fluid-attenuated inversion recovery abnormalities on MRI. This case highlights the possibility that even neurologically subclinical malaria infections can result in significant, long-standing brain changes, raising important questions about the pathophysiology of malaria's effects on the brain, the potential for cumulative neurological damage over time, and the clinical significance of such findings. In addition, the significance of the location of these lesions in non-cerebral cases remains unclear, particularly in terms of their clinical implications and reversibility. Our findings suggest the need for further studies to evaluate the long-term consequences of malaria infections on the brain, particularly in non-cerebral cases, and to explore whether these radiological abnormalities are reversible or lead to lasting neurological impairment.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76416"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11671792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142904422","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 of the Benefits and Risks of Oral Contraceptive Use Among Women of Reproductive Age in Western Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Anwar Salem, Nusaybah Shafi, Shajn S Alsaadi, Fatimah Klantan, Danah S Alhajjaji, Rojinah Allihyani, Mazen Daghestani","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76400","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>For women of reproductive age, oral contraceptives (OCs) are a well-liked and practical way to control pregnancy. OCs are also used to treat acne, irregular uterine bleeding, and premenstrual syndrome. However, there are false beliefs regarding their benefits and risks. The primary health benefits of OCs are the reduction of acne, the risk of colon, ovarian, and endometrial cancer, and the risk of osteoporosis. Other benefits include the reduction of the risk of endometriosis, fibroid tumors, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, benign breast illness, and ovarian cysts. The objective of this study was to assess the level of awareness among women of reproductive age in western Saudi Arabia regarding the benefits and risks of OCs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study was used to gather data from women aged 15-49 in western Saudi Arabia. The study used an online questionnaire designed using Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States) that was distributed electronically via social media apps in Arabic language. Data was collected in Excel sheets (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). After determining our study population, we calculated the sample size using OpenEpi version 3.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 588 Saudi women participated in the study and revealed that only 13.6% had an excellent understanding of OCs. The primary sources of information about oral contraceptives were friends and relatives (n=268, 45.6%), followed closely by physicians (n=255, 43.5%). Other sources included reading reliable materials, social media, and personal experience. The sources of information were strongly linked to the participants' knowledge levels. Among those who sourced their information from reading reliable sources, 25.1% (n=42) exhibited good overall knowledge, while 22% (n=27) of those who relied on social media, 16% (n=41) of those who were informed by their physician, and only 3.2% (n=1) of those without any information source demonstrated a similar level of understanding.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study highlights a lack of knowledge among reproductive-age women in western Saudi Arabia about the benefits and risks of OCs. It underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance awareness and understanding. By improving knowledge, healthcare providers can empower women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Ongoing research and advocacy are essential to ensure access to accurate information and support, ultimately aiming for better reproductive health outcomes in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76400"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11681925/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142904550","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":"Effects of Foot Somatosensory Training on Plantar Somatosensory Function.","authors":"Junichi Suganuma, Yumi Ikeda, Kazuhiro Chidori","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76399","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76399","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Declines in foot somatosensory function can negatively impact balance and daily activities, particularly in older adults and individuals with neurological conditions. Despite this, effective physical therapeutic interventions to improve foot sensory function are limited. This study assessed the effects of targeted foot somatosensory training on plantar sensory function in healthy young adults. Methods Thirty-three healthy young adults (mean age 21.2 ± 0.7 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) Discrimination group, (2) Attention group, or (3) Control group. The Discrimination group performed spatial attention tasks to identify weight positions on an instability board; the Attention group focused on timing tasks; and the Control group watched a video. Tactile pressure sensitivity and two-point discrimination of the plantar surface were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and two-way repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results No significant differences were found in tactile pressure sensitivity. However, two-point discrimination thresholds for the big toe and the ball of the little toe were significantly reduced in the Discrimination group, indicating enhanced sensitivity. Conclusion Foot sensory training, particularly through discrimination tasks, may effectively improve plantar sensory function, suggesting potential clinical applications in individuals with sensory impairments.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76399"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11671786/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142904510","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":"Armodafinil as Monotherapy in Treating Narcolepsy with Cataplexy.","authors":"Arshia Ahmed, Sara Tariq, Salman J Khan, Zia H Shah","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76437","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76437","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In narcolepsy with cataplexy, sodium oxybate and the recently FDA-approved drug pitolisant are preferred medications. Armodafinil, a longer-acting, non-amphetamine stimulant, is often used in patients who have narcolepsy without cataplexy. It enhances alertness by increasing presynaptic dopamine transmission presynaptically, amplifying serotonin in the cerebral cortex, activating glutamatergic circuits, which may contribute to its vigilance-enhancing properties, and stimulating orexin activity. Armodafinil alone is approved for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) symptoms. We report this case of narcolepsy with cataplexy, where armodafinil alone improved the symptoms of not only EDS but also cataplexy. It is known that sodium oxybate, through its gamma-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA-B) receptor agonist activity, helps in cataplexy and EDS. However, in some instances, like this patient, armodafinil alone improves the symptoms of cataplexy and maintains wakefulness.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76437"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11684410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142908158","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":"Assessment of Pregnant Women's Satisfaction With the Model of Care Initiative: Antenatal Care Services at Primary Health Care Centers in the Qassim Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Ghaday Almutairi, Layan S Alshmrani, Rahaf Mishal Alomairi, Mohammed S Alotaibi, Norah H Alhumaidi, Rayan Muslih Alotaibi, Shahad Mubarak Aljebeli, Suha Ali Alarfaj, Shaden Ali Alhenaki, Bashaer Abdulaziz Albedah, Tameem A Alhomaid","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76383","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76383","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Patient satisfaction is a critical indicator of healthcare quality, including high-quality antenatal care (ANC), and it directly impacts care continuity and health outcomes. This study assessed the satisfaction levels of pregnant women with ANC services provided at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) within the Qassim Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 646 pregnant women attending ANC services in the Qassim region. Participants completed a validated questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, healthcare interactions, and satisfaction levels across various ANC service aspects, including waiting times, healthcare provider communication, and healthcare service quality. Statistical analyses, including Pearson's chi-squared tests, Fisher's exact tests, and regression analyses, were performed to identify predictors of satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> The majority of participants (N=366, 90.6%) reported successfully booking their appointments, and 368 (91.1%) faced no challenges during the process. While 393 (97.3%) and 398 (98.5%) reported receiving weight and blood pressure measurements, respectively, only 312 (77.2%) were advised on diet, and 298 (73.8%) received explanations about alarming symptoms. Communication gaps were noted, with 71% (N=287) of participants indicating that physicians did not introduce themselves, and 307 (76%) reported that physicians did not disclose their specialties. Satisfaction levels were highest for maintaining privacy (273 (67.6%) highly satisfied) and healthcare staff attitudes (247 (61.1%) highly satisfied), with an overall satisfaction mean score of 4.31±0.869. Regression analyses identified healthcare service levels and years of marriage as significant predictors of satisfaction (p<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> While overall satisfaction with ANC services was high, areas such as physician communication and health education require improvement. Interventions focusing on enhancing patient-provider interactions, providing comprehensive health education, and optimizing service delivery could further improve satisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76383"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11669400/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901194","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":"Re-evaluating the Need of Postoperative Blood Testing in Low-Risk Patients After Primary Elective Arthroplasty: A Single-Centre Retrospective Analysis.","authors":"Reuben C Johnson, Inderpaul Samra, Nischay Keshava, Amit K Yadav, Janam Merchant, Vivek Thakker, Sunil Panchani","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76364","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction Increasing demand and financial burdens are placing significant strain on current health resources. To help ease pressures, there has been increased emphasis on improving patient flow and saving costs within the health service. Routine postoperative blood tests in otherwise healthy patients may add to delays and healthcare costs without influencing subsequent management. Recent studies suggest that routine postoperative blood tests may be unnecessary in fit and healthy patients undergoing elective arthroplasty. We aimed to assess this practice at our institution in the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade 1 and 2 patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 1595 consecutive elective hip and knee replacements in ASA 1 and ASA 2 patients at our institution over a one-year period from 2021 to 2022. Operation notes and electronic databases were analyzed to collect data regarding demographics, co-morbidities, treatment, pre and postoperative blood tests, and any documented interventions in these patients. Binomial logistic regression was employed to identify risk factors associated with postoperative abnormalities and the need for clinical intervention.  Results Postoperative blood abnormalities were identified in 75.4% of patients, primarily anaemia (69.2%) and hyponatremia (29.9%). Anaemia was similarly prevalent in both total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients, with 70.2% affected in each group, although the majority of cases were mild (83.8% in THA and 90.5% in TKA). Hyponatremia was significantly more common in TKA patients (40.3%) compared to THA patients (19.3%), although most cases were mild in severity. Only 5% of cases required any intervention, with higher rates observed in the TKA group compared to the THA group (p=0.008). Blood transfusion rates were low, occurring in 0.6% of cases. Factors associated with postoperative anaemia included higher BMI, preoperative antiplatelet use, and lower preoperative haemoglobin levels, while postoperative hyponatremia was linked to preoperative sodium levels, loop diuretic use, and PPI use. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) was identified in 2.2% of patients and was predominantly mild. Potassium abnormalities were infrequent, with hypokalemia occurring in 1.5% of patients and no cases of hyperkalemia in our series. Conclusions Although postoperative blood test abnormalities were common, the majority were mild and rarely influenced management in this low-risk cohort of patients, with overall low postoperative intervention rates. Selective blood testing may allow safe targeted testing in this low-risk cohort of patients, minimizing costs and saving valuable resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76364"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11669605/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901210","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":"Enhancing Anemia Detection With Non-invasive Anemia Detection With AI (NiADA): Insights From Clinical Validations and Physician Observations.","authors":"Vipul Sharma, Debjeet Das, Sagarika Sarkar, Suvraraj Das, Pasang Lahmu Sherpa, Arpan Ray, Farhad Ahamed, Jhuma Nandi, Mou Nandi, Krishanu Banerjee","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76369","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76369","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Anemia, a critical public health issue, affects nearly two billion people globally. Frequent monitoring of blood hemoglobin levels is essential for managing its burden. While point-of-care testing (POCT) devices facilitate hemoglobin testing in resource-limited settings, most are invasive and have inherent limitations. The Non-Invasive Anemia Detection App (NiADA) (Monere, UT) offers a non-invasive alternative, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate hemoglobin levels from images of the lower eyelid. This low-cost, real-time solution employs a custom computer vision deep-learning algorithm for hemoglobin levels, offering significant potential for early diagnosis and management of anemia. Methods This study evaluated NiADA in two phases. In the first phase, its performance was compared to laboratory measurements and the minimally invasive POCT device, Hemocue Hb 301. In this study, the current version of NiADA version 2 (V2) is also compared against the previous version of NiADA version 1 (V1) to show the improvement in the last six months. In the second phase, NiADA's results were compared against hemoglobin estimations made by a group of medical professionals, as well as against lab analyzers. For both phases, NiADA performance was evaluated using the Bland-Altman plot, regression coefficients, percentage of acceptable limit, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. Results The mean difference between NiADA-V2 and laboratory-estimated hemoglobin values was -0.11 g/dL, with limits of agreement (LOA) ranging from +2.86 to -2.64 g/dL, where the upper limit is comparable with HemoCue. The NiADA-V2-acceptable range (percentage of samples falling within ±1 g/dL absolute error) increased to 54% compared to 40% in NiADA-V1. Additionally, NiADA outperformed medical professionals, showing a mean difference of 0.07 g/dL compared to medical professionals' 0.42 g/dL. Conclusion NiADA, as a non-invasive application, exhibits performance comparable to minimally invasive tools and other POCT devices. Its accuracy exceeds that of medical professionals, making it a viable option for anemia screening and monitoring, particularly in community medicine and regions with limited healthcare resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76369"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11669323/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901205","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":"Advancing Patient-Centered Care: A Nationwide Analysis of Hospital Efficiency and Morbidity Using Innovative Propensity Score Techniques.","authors":"Samy Allam","doi":"10.7759/cureus.76370","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.76370","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Introduction The patient-centered care model emphasizes patient autonomy in recovery, acknowledging each individual's unique journey. Despite challenges in the healthcare system, this model has gained traction nationwide. Advances in healthcare technology have highlighted obstacles to independent decision-making. This study addresses these issues by emphasizing the need for consistent access to health information, which is crucial for empowering patients. We aim to proactively identify information gaps and propose new insights for better data precision and synchronization protocols. Our analysis of nationwide hospital length of stay (LOS) data demonstrates data-driven interventions tailored to patients' needs, aiming to improve the hospital experience and reduce care fragmentation. Methods We examined the complex nature of hospital LOS and various variables across nationwide healthcare settings using CMS data from 2011 to 2021. To enhance our national findings, we incorporated a local perspective by analyzing LOS data from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and its associated diagnosis-related groups (DRGs). We employed a propensity score to adjust for variables and proactively drive realistic predictions of hospital outcomes. This methodological approach emphasizes the importance of using tools that can be scaled from localized settings to a broader national context. Furthermore, our study highlights the critical need for continuous quality assessment of hospital LOS. This includes measuring LOS and developing innovative tools capable of predicting, analyzing, intervening, and prompting actions based on insights gained from data analysis. The study aims to achieve several core objectives by integrating these components: enhancing patient empowerment through improved communication, refining LOS assessment through innovative techniques, and developing predictive tools to inform clinical practice and policy. Ultimately, this research contributes to a more patient-centered approach to managing inpatient care, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. Results Our study aspires to transform three pivotal domains that can enhance patient autonomy, optimize hospital recovery, and elevate the overall experience. First, the cost of care reveals that prolonged hospital stays and escalating expenses are often linked to more severe health consequences. Second, our analysis uncovers the intricate relationship between hospital outcomes, such as mortality and readmissions, showing that shorter hospital stays can diminish patients' risk of complications. However, we must tread carefully, as this approach may lead to premature discharges. Lastly, providers can gain more precise insights into these interconnected outcomes by leveraging data tools such as propensity scores. We advocate for the dissolution of care fragmentation through robust health information exchange (HIE), and the adoption of innovative strategies such as blockchain and advanced m","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":"16 12","pages":"e76370"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11669325/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142900888","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}