To assess the benefit of patients’ exposure to a preparatory video on anxiety, cooperation, and examination quality during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Data were collected using questionnaires addressing patient experience and examination outcomes. Anxiety was measured using a 0–10 visual analog scale (VAS) before and after video exposure only in the experimental group. We recorded cooperation, movement, and repeat acquisitions during the MRI exam. Within the experimental group, mean VAS anxiety scores decreased significantly from 6.66 ± 3.39 before video exposure to 2.93 ± 3.61 afterward, representing a mean reduction of 3.74 points (95
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, COVID-19 vaccination coverage among healthcare providers has resulted in one of the lowest vaccination coverage rates in the world. This exploratory cross-sectional analytical study aims to identify the determinants of COVID-19 persistent hesitancy among healthcare providers in the city of Lubumbashi. Among the 86 participants (male-to-female ratio: 3.1; 86.1
The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli producing NDM-type metallo-β-lactamases encoded by the blaNDM gene is a serious public health threat. This retrospective laboratory-based study investigated the frequency and molecular characteristics of the blaNDM gene among 179 archived, nonduplicate uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates originally recovered from urine samples of hospitalized patients with urinary tract infections in Babol, northern Iran. The blaNDM gene was detected in 6 out of 179 isolates (3.35
The purpose of the study was to investigate the determinants of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. Four (4) major themes which point to the determinants of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia, emerged from the study are presented hereunder. The participants highlighted underutilisation of health services as affecting the mother-baby pair. Barriers to utilisation of health services during pregnancy and delivery of babies were cited as inaccessibility and unaffordability of services due to economic position of the mother. Shortage of skilled health care providers compromised the quality of services and contributed to neonatal mortality. Similarly, essential equipment that enables provision of quality care was constrained. Absence of guides to inform implementation of the current strategies to provide quality services affected delivery of maternal and neonatal health services. Lack of disaggregated data on the existing strategy added to the problem. Poor socioeconomic conditions limited access to essential resources, including healthcare services, adequate nutrition, clean water, and a sanitary environment. Inadequate maternal education, poor attendance at antenatal and postnatal care services, and sub-optimal breastfeeding practices further increased the risk of neonatal mortality.
The association between β-thalassemia trait and myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain. Given the high prevalence of β-thalassemia in northern Iran, we investigated whether a β-thalassemia trait pattern identified by the Shine-Lal index is associated with MI in this population. This hospital-based case-control study included 497 participants (209 MI patients, 288 non-MI controls). Β-thalassemia trait was identified using the Shine-Lal index (< 1530), a validated CBC-based screening tool that does not replace confirmatory diagnostic methods. The trait was significantly less prevalent among MI patients than controls (9.1
