IntroductionThe holistic approach in medicine is a framework that considers and treats all aspects of a patient’s needs, as it relates to their health. The goal of such an approach is to prevent illness, and to maximise the well-being of individuals and families. Holistic medicine is also referred to as integrative, which has been interpreted by some professionals as the combination of evidence-based medicine and complementary medicine.The problemThe speciality of Family Medicine (FM) is often referred to as General Practice (GP), a terminology which emphasises the holistic nature of that discipline. Furthermore, GP/FM professional bodies in some countries have incorporated the holistic and integrative approach into curricula and guidelines for doctors in training, which reflects its acceptance as a component of medical training. However, despite this validation, and despite research showing the effectiveness of such strategies in enhancing the outcomes of surgery, a holistic framework or integrative approach has not been equally integrated into speciality training for would-be surgeons.ConclusionWe argue that it would be advisable to include holistic approaches into surgical training and help surgeons to recognise their role in the continuum of care.
Psoriasis is a multifaceted, chronic, inflammatory skin disease that impacts patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the disease severity and quality of life of psoriasis patients and their nutritional status. The study included 40 patients in the psoriasis group, compared with 40 healthy individuals in the control group. A questionnaire for determination of socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional intake, anthropometric measurements, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were used for the assessments. Daily food consumption details were recorded for three consecutive days to determine daily energy and nutrient intakes. Compared to the control group, the frequencies of single participants, primary school graduates, and housewives were higher in the psoriasis group (p < 0.05). The psoriasis patients weighed more and had an increased waist/hip ratio in comparison with the healthy individuals. The energy intake was lower in the psoriasis group (p < 0.01). There was not a significant statistical difference in the intake of proteins, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, Zn, Fe, and Mg supplements between the groups. However, there was an inverse correlation between the daily vitamin E intake and PASI scores (p < 0.05). There was a positive moderate correlation between the DLQI and PASI scores (p < 0.01). Our study indicated that lower daily vitamin E intake levels were associated with the severity of psoriasis. In addition to this, abdominal obesity seems to be another risk factor in psoriasis patients, even if they have a normal body mass index (BMI). An integrated healthcare approach with dermatologists, family physicians, and dietitians is essential to the management of psoriasis.
Objective: Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, often poses challenges in conventional medical treatment, leading patients to explore traditional and complementary medicine options including apitherapy. Bee venom, known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, has been considered as a potential therapy. This study investigates the short-term safety and effectiveness of applying live bee venom in knee osteoarthritis patients. Materials and Methods: Conducted at a university hospital's Apitherapy Clinic, this single-arm clinical trial enrolled individuals diagnosed with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (stage 2-3). A single session of live bee venom application was administered to acupuncture points ST35, EX-LE4, and ash-chi, specifically targeting the painful knee joint. Data collection involved the utilization of a Demographic Information Questionnaire and SF-12 Scale, along with a comparison of the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), 5 Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5xSST), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire before and after the treatment. Results: Before the treatment, the average NRS value stood at 7.14 ± 1.7, and following the intervention, it notably decreased to 3.06 ± 2.16 (p<0.05). Additionally, the mean value for the 5xSST decreased from 14.59 ± 3.36 before treatment to 11.75 ± 2.30 after treatment. The WOMAC scale also showed a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment (p<0.05), with the mean value decreasing from 41.91 ± 18.07 before treatment to 15.57 ± 15.14 after treatment. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate a significant improvement in the NRS, 5xSST, and WOMAC scales after the administration of live bee venom for knee osteoarthritis patients.
Background. The chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) result from a wide variety of effects of disease. The correlation between blood sugar level and chronic complications has been demonstrated in various studies. Patient education, risk factor management, and other preventative measures are critical elements in reducing the incidence of diabetes complications such as Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS). We purposed to evaluate knowledge and attitudes towards foot care amongst patients with diabetes mellitus; in addition, we investigated the correlation between glycemic control and DFS. Materials and methods. This was a descriptive cross-sectional evaluation of patients who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus seeking outpatient medical care with data being collected through patient surveys, clinical evaluation, specialty consultation, and biochemical analysis of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) serum levels. The population of the study was composed of 90 patients diagnosed with DM. Results. A total of 90 patients, 42 (46.7 %) females and 48 (53.3 %) males were included in the study. The rate of participants who reported completing daily self-evaluations for wounds, cracks, and discoloration on the feet was significantly higher (68.9 %) than those who reported not evaluating on a daily basis (31.1 %). Almost half of the participants were diagnosed with DFS (n = 43; 47.7 %) with the HbA1c levels of patients with DFS being significantly higher compared to the HbA1c levels of patients without DFS (p < 0.05). Conclusions. As a high incidence of DFS was found with a positive and statistically significant correlation between the HbA1c level and DFS presence, our study highlights the importance of close monitoring, education, and treatment given the risk of serious complications of DM such as DFS in setting of poorly controlled DM.
Nutrition is a public health issue. Amongst populations of refugees, unmet nutritional needs have been identified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of Syrian refugees living outside the refugee camps in Kayseri, Turkey. Socio-demographic data and anthropometric measurements of the refugees were collected. The relationship between diet quality, which was assessed through the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010), and factors (including the duration of time spent outside the refugee camp, income, obesity, and waist circumference) were measured. Four hundred refugees participated in this study. The majority of refugees (77.8%) reported a ‘poor’ diet, with the remaining filling into the ‘needs improvement’ based on HEI-2010 scores. The average consumption of fruits in the study group was 101.9 g per day (g/day), while the average consumption of vegetables was 142.2 g/day. When the relationships were examined between BMI, HEI-2010 score, the time spent as a refugee, and waist circumference, statistically significant relationships were found (p < 0.001). In the linear regression analysis based on these relationships, when the results were adjusted for age and gender factors, it was observed that for every year spent as a refugee, BMI score increased by 0.17 units, and waist circumference increased by 1.14 units (p < 0.05). As a result, this study showed that refugees have low-income-related nutritional risks. In conclusion, ensuring that refugees have access to adequate nutrient-rich food is essential; therefore, monitorization and improvement of nutritional standards for refugees are suggested to be part of the strategies of public health and primary health care.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.