Annals of medicine
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This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cochlear implantation (CI) recipients in Saudi Arabia. The impact was measured using the results of an online survey that investigated challenges related to access to re/habilitation and programming services, increased dependence on virtual interaction, and emotional impact. ⋯ Collectively, outcomes from this study highlight the importance of shifting towards a more patient -centered model that offers empowerment and self-advocacy. In addition, the outcomes also emphasize the importance of developing and adapting emergency protocols. This will ensure continuation of services provided to CI recipients during scenario disasters like a pandemic.Key messagesPediatric aural re/habilitation was subjected to a significantly greater interruption, compared to adult aural re/habilitation, duringthe COVID-19 shutdown.Cochlear Implant (CI) recipients expressed feelings of anxiety, social isolation, and fear. These feelings were related to sudden changes in their CI functioning, caused by interruption of support services during the pandemic.Patient -centered model can offer emergency protocols that ensure a smooth continuation of cochlear implant-related re/habilitation and services during disaster scenarios such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Interprofessional education (IPE) has been promoted as a breakthrough in healthcare because of the impact when professionals work as a team. However, despite its inception dating back to the 1960s, its science has taken a long time to advance. There is a need to theorize IPE to cultivate creative insights for a nuanced understanding of IPE. This study aims to propose a research agenda on social interaction by understanding the measurement scales used and guiding researchers to contribute to the discussion of social processes in IPE. ⋯ Our data provided support for the validity of the scales when used among healthcare students in Hong Kong. SIAS-6 and SPS-6 have sound psychometric properties based on students' data in Hong Kong. We identified quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research designs to guide researchers in getting involved in the discussion of students' social interactions in IPE.Key MessagesThe Social Anxiety Scale (SIAS-6) and Social Phobia Scale (SPS-6) scales have sound psychometric properties based on the large-scale healthcare students' data in IPE in Hong Kong.Social interaction anxiety and social phobia negatively predicted students' behavioural engagement with IPE and positively predicted behavioural disaffection. The scales are invariant in terms of gender, year level and discipline.Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies are proposed to aid researchers to contribute in healthcare education literature using the SIAS-6 and SPS-6.
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Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) implies high morbidity and mortality. The assessment of covert HE (CHE) [i.e. minimal HE (MHE) plus grade 1 HE] is often neglected in Taiwan. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the potential of the animal naming test (ANT1 and simplified ANT1 (S-ANT1)) for assessing CHE in Chinese-speaking regions, specifically Taiwan. ⋯ ANT1 shows promise as a tool for CHE detection, quantification, and follow-up in Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking regions.Key messagesThe animal naming test (ANT1) is a simple and valid semantic fluency test that can be easily performed in outpatient or bedside settings in one minute and can also be used as a tool for covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) detection, quantification, and follow-up in Taiwan, other Chinese-speaking regions, and many other countries.The diagnostic value of ANT1 and S-ANT1 for CHE were found to be significant, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values of 0.807 and 0.786 respectively, and cut-off scores of 18 and 19.ANT1 and S-ANT1 have prognostic value for the first breakthrough of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), number of hospitalization episodes for OHE, and OHE recurrence-free survival, independent of the MELD score.
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There is a dearth of comprehensive studies on the association between serum electrolyte and adverse short-term prognosis of Chinese patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). ⋯ http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=23139. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-POC-17014020.
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We sought to evaluate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in dry eyes treated with 0.05% cyclosporin A and 3.0% diquafosol tetrasodium. ⋯ MMP-9 expression and grade were lower after treatment with cyclosporin than after treatment with diquafosol in the dry eye disease. Anti-inflammatory treatment can decrease ocular MMP-9 levels in dry eye disease.