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Background: Patients diagnosed with melanoma frequently search the internet for treatment

Most MPs expected their physician to advise them about IRs they could use in addition to medical consultations. Peer support services were quite underused by MPs. The various preferences of media by MPs should be considered when deve-loping and providing IRs.

LCH due to acute liver failure, presented with extensive diffuse crusted papulovesicles, which were most prominent on the scalp and trunk (Fig. 1i). Some patients presented with papules and nodules, with spontaneous resolution, leaving atrophic hypopigmented macules (Fig. 1j). Battistella et al ., 3 reported that resolution leaving hypopigmentation favoured limited disease, but this was not true in our cohort. Four children with MS-LCH had external otitis, 24 had liver and spleen involvement and lung and bone marrow involvement were present in 17 patients. No differences were observed in histologic features between SS-LCH and MS-LCH. Children with MS-LCH were treated with prednisolone in combination with chemotherapy. Patients with skin-limited disease were followed up carefully; however, no systemic treatment was used in this group and all are now in complete remission. Our data suggest earlier age of onset and isolated lesion favoured SS-LCH, while petechiae, external otitis and mucosal lesions favoured MS-LCH. Furthermore, groin involvement prone to indicate the MS-LCH. The partial retrospective design of single institution and predominant recruitment from the department of dermatology is limitations.

There is a scarcity of available data on unmet information needs (UINs) of melanoma patients (MPs) from Germany and of MPs with clinical stage IV. In a multicenter cross-sectional survey, we explored the UINs of 529 MPs by applying a standardized questionnaire. Subgroup differences in scope and contents of UINs were determined by univariate analyses. Predictors of the presence of UINs were identified by binary logistic regression. Overall, 55% of MPs reported UINs. Most MPs felt poorly or not informed about psychosocial support (24-31%). In MPs currently receiving medical treatment [odds ratio (OR): 1.9; P=0.017], MPs aging of at least 55 years (OR: 1.7; P=0.029), and in MPs who generally had a high need for information on their condition (OR: 2.4; P=0.001), the presence of UINs was significantly more likely than in post-treatment MPs, MPs more than 55 years of age, and those whose general information need was low. Most UINs concerned treatment-related information and were reported by MPs with tumor progression. Presence and scope of UINs did not differ significantly between metastatic and nonmetastatic MPs (57 vs. 53%; P=0.436). We highlighted differences in the presence, scope, and contents of UINs between MP subgroups, which should be considered when educating them in medical consultations and providing information via media. In particular, MPs felt insufficiently informed about psychosocial support and desired more treatment information.

Booklets are the preferably used form among patient education materials and are often handed out during medical consultations in dermatological oncology settings. However, little is known about how beneficial they are and whether they correspond to essential quality characteristics. To assess the quality, readability, and understandability of currently freely available booklets written in German addressing melanoma patients (MP). Melanoma booklets in accordance with predefined criteria were searched and analyzed. Three reviewers independently assessed their quality and understandability by applying the DISCERN tool and PEMAT-P. The Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) was calculated to determine readability. Nine booklets addressing MP were analyzed. The overall median DISCERN score was 3.6 (interquartile range (IQR) 2.9-4.1), median PEMAT-P score was 91% (IQR 83-94.5), and median FRES was 43 (IQR 33.5-47.5), indicating a medium quality, a high application of understandability elements, but low readability in at least half of the booklets. Incomplete reporting on treatments and insufficient meta-information caused the main quality deficits. There is a need of content and didactic revision of German booklets for MP to raise their quality and to make them beneficial and understandable for more patients. An adaption in accordance with evidence-based criteria and an even stronger involvement of MP in assessment and development of patient education material are considered to be the best approaches.

Objectives: Limited research on the health situation of teachers on long-term sick leave is available. The aim of this study has been to describe the health status of female teachers on long-term sick leave (LSFT) in comparison to working female teachers (WFT) and to determine predictors for their state of mental health (MH) and cardiovascular fitness (CF). Material and Methods: Twenty-eight LSFT and 300 WFT (average age: 53±5 years old) participated in a screening diagnostic inventory. Mental health, CF, blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), health behavior (smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity) and disease burden (DB -number of medical diagnoses) were analyzed for the purpose of characterization of the health status. The multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for the state of MH and CF. Results: Adverse values for the MH but also for CF, BFM and the DB (median of medical diagnoses: LSFT: 5; WFT: 2) among the LSFT in comparison to the WFT were confirmed. Additionally, the part of smokers among LSFT (25%) was higher (WFT: 8%). In contrast, the WFT (61%) were much more affected by an elevated BP (LSFT: 26%). Disease burden proved as the strongest predictor for MH of the female teachers. Age, BMI and DB proved as predictors for CF. Conclusions: Health-related differences between long-term sick leave and working teachers were particularized and a link between physical and mental health among teachers was quantified. Therefore, health-related concepts for teachers should equally focus on physical and psychological aspects. The relevance of regular well-structured occupational health check-ups should be brought to the attention of the profession to prevent diseases and early retirements. Funding: the data of the sample was collected as part of the project "In teaching profession healthy and motivated until retirement -ways of preventing and personnel development" ("Im Lehrerberuf gesund und motiviert bis zur Rente -Wege der Prävention und Personalentwicklung"), project manager: Reingard Seibt, D.Sc. The project was funded by the German Statutory Accident Insurance (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung -DGVU) within the series "My next occupation -personnel development for occupations with limited duration of work" ("Mein nächster Beruf -Personalentwicklung für Berufe mit begrenzter Tätigkeitsdauer") (code FP 314).

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