OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to conduct a psychometric evaluation of the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) among patients with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia.
METHODS: Psychometric analysis was conducted at 2 hospitals and 7 public health centers at the voluntary counseling and testing clinic. Content validity was measured by assessing the relevance and clarity of each ARMS item. Construct validity was also assessed. Reliability was evaluated using internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
RESULTS: This study involved 11 experts in the assessment of the content validity and 240 participants in the estimation of the construct validity. All ARMS items were generally considered easy to understand and relevant, with scale-level content validity index based on the average method (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.9 (>0.78) and item-level content validity index (I-CVI) in the range from 0.5 to 1 for the relevance level and S-CVI/Ave of 0.95 (>0.78) and I-CVI in the range from 0.8 to 1 for the clarity level. Two items (numbers 2 and 3) were revised based on experts\' suggestions to enhance comprehension. Confirmatory factor analysis supported 2 subscales: adherence to taking medications and adherence to refilling prescriptions. Good reliability was supported by internal consistency (Cronbach\'s α 0.793) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.722) for the overall adherence score.
CONCLUSIONS: The Indonesian version of ARMS is a valid and reliable medication adherence scale when used in Indonesian patients with HIV/AIDS.

UNASSIGNED: Precision Public Health (PPH) is a newly emerging field in public health medicine. The application of various types of data allows PPH to deliver more tailored interventions to a specific population within a specific timeframe. However, the application of PPH possesses several challenges and limitations that need to be addressed.
UNASSIGNED: We aim to provide evidence of the various use of PPH in outbreak management, the types of data that could be used in PPH application, and the limitations and barriers in the application of the PPH approach.
UNASSIGNED: Articles were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Our selection of articles was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for Scoping Review guidelines. The outcome of the evidence assessment was presented in narrative format instead of quantitative.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 27 articles were included in the scoping review. Most of the articles (74.1%) focused on PPH applications in performing disease surveillance and signal detection. Furthermore, the data type mostly used in the studies was surveillance (51.9%), environment (44.4), and Internet query data. Most of the articles emphasized data quality and availability (81.5%) as the main barriers in PPH applications followed by data integration and interoperability (29.6%).
UNASSIGNED: PPH applications in outbreak management utilize a wide range of data sources and analytical techniques to enhance disease surveillance, investigation, modeling, and prediction. By leveraging these tools and approaches, PPH contributes to more effective and efficient outbreak management, ultimately reducing the burden of infectious diseases on populations. The limitation and challenges in the application of PPH approaches in outbreak management emphasize the need to strengthen the surveillance systems, promote data sharing and collaboration among relevant stakeholders, and standardize data collection methods while upholding privacy and ethical principles.

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis, particularly B and C, is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, leading to about 1.4 million deaths annually. Alarmingly, less than 20% of those with hepatitis are aware of their status, with only 6.3% receiving treatment. School children can play a pivotal role in raising awareness and preventing the spread of infections. This intervention study focuses on understanding and enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Hepatitis B and C, among school children in Delhi NCR to foster dialogue and awareness.
METHODS: An intervention study was conducted in selected schools across Delhi NCR between September and October 2022 to assess baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Hepatitis B and C. Three of seven schools were randomly selected by probability sampling, representing 9-12 grade students, and 901 students participated. Following this, an educational interventional program was conducted using educational material, interactive sessions, and audiovisual aids. Post-intervention assessments were done to measure the impact on knowledge improvement.
RESULTS: The study is expected to provide insights into the current level of awareness regarding Hepatitis B and C. Furthermore, the intervention\'s effectiveness was analysed using the pre-formed questionnaire. The average pre-test knowledge score was 8.9 ± 3.2, while the post-test average was 15.6 ± 4.4, indicating a substantial increase of 6.7 ± 4.7 points (+ 75.2%). There was a positive correlation of 0.240 between pre and post-test scores. Attitude change before and after the session showed a positive percentage change of + 38.0% with a correlation of 0.351. The study indicated substantial improvements in knowledge about hepatitis B and C, notably regarding awareness about transmission methods and risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS: This interventional study seeks to bridge the knowledge gap among school children regarding Hepatitis B and C in Delhi NCR, fostering a proactive approach towards prevention, detection, and treatment. The considerable rise in awareness and favourable changes in perspectives post-intervention say that specific health education initiatives are pivotal in raising awareness and comprehension of infectious diseases, ultimately contributing to improving community health.

There is a rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), adding to the disease burden from communicable infectious diseases and thus increasing the burden on the healthcare system in a low-resource setting. The aim of this review was to identify health and nutrition promotion programs conducted in PNG and the enablers and barriers to these programs. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed screening and data extraction. This review included 23 papers evaluating 22 health and nutrition promotion programs, which focused on the Ottawa Charter action areas of developing personal skills (12 programs), reorienting health services (12 programs) and strengthening community action (6 programs). Nineteen programs targeted communicable diseases; two addressed NCDs, and one addressed health services. Enablers of health promotion programs in PNG included community involvement, cultural appropriateness, strong leadership, and the use of mobile health technologies for the decentralisation of health services. Barriers included limited resources and funding and a lack of central leadership to drive ongoing implementation. There is an urgent need for health and nutrition promotion programs targeting NCDs and their modifiable risk factors, as well as longitudinal study designs for the evaluation of long-term impact and program sustainability.

The development of natural substances derived from nature poses a significant challenge as technologies for the extraction and characterization of active principles advance. Hispolon has received a lot of attention in recent years, ascribable to its wide range of biological activities. It is a phenolic molecule that was extracted from several mushroom species such as Phellinus igniarius, Phellinus linteus, Phellinus lonicerinus, Phellinus merrillii, and Inonotus hispidus. To provide a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological activities of hispolon, this review highlights its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-diabetic activities. Several scientific research databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, SciFinder, SpringerLink, Science Direct, Scopus, and, Wiley Online were used to gather the data on hispolon until May 2024. The in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that hispolon exhibited significant anticancer properties through modifying several signaling pathways including cell apoptosis, cycle arrest, autophagy, and inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis. Hispolon\'s antimicrobial activity was proven against many bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, highlighting its potential use as a novel antimicrobial agent. Additionally, hispolon displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of key inflammatory mediators, such as inducible NO synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2), and the modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. The antioxidant potential of hispolon was attributed to its capacity to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, indicating a possible involvement in the prevention of oxidative stress-related illnesses. Hispolon\'s antidiabetic activity was associated with the inhibition of aldose reductase and α-glucosidase. Studies on hispolon emphasized its potential use as a promising scaffold for the development of novel therapeutic agents targeting various diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, and diabetes.

Communicable disease risk is high in refugee camps and reception centers. To better understand the risks for communicable disease diagnoses among refugees and asylum seekers, this study assesses individual- and camp-level risk factors among individuals utilizing Médecins du Monde clinics in four large refugee camps-Elliniko, Malakasa, Koutsochero, and Raidestos-on mainland Greece between July 2016 and May 2017. Descriptive statistics are reported for the demographic characteristics of the study population and for communicable disease burdens within the four camps-Elliniko, Malakasa, Raidestos, and Koutsochero. A hierarchical generalized linear model was used to assess risk factors for communicable disease diagnoses while accounting for individual-level clustering. This study shows marginal patterns in risk factors for communicable disease. Males had marginally higher risk of communicable disease diagnosis than females (OR = 1.12; 95% CI 0.97-1.29), and increased age was more protective against communicable disease for females (OR = 0.957; 95% CI 0.953-0.961) than for males (OR = 0.963; 95% CI 0.959-0.967). Communicable disease risk was significantly different between camps, with Elliniko (OR = 1.58; 95% CI 1.40-1.79) and Malakasa (OR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.25-1.63) having higher odds of communicable disease than Raidestos. The demographic and epidemiologic profiles of displaced populations differ across settings, and epidemiologic baselines for displaced populations are fundamental to evidence-informed provision of humanitarian aid. Further, while influences and risks for negative health outcomes in complex emergencies are broadly, the causal mechanisms that underpin these relationships are not as well understood. Both practitioners and researchers should engage with further research to elucidate the mechanisms through which these risks operate among displaced populations, including multilevel analyses.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the intricate relationship between the health literacy and the awareness of risks and prevention awareness of infection disease among prisoners.
METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 1350 prisoners at an L Type Closed Penal Execution Institution in Turkey, using comprehensive criteria to ensure the inclusion of a diverse participant pool.
METHODS: Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using the \"personal information form,\" \"health literacy scale (HLS),\" and \"communicable diseases risk awareness and protection Scale (CDRAPS).\" Both scales exhibited high reliability. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and linear regression, were conducted to evaluate the relationships between the dimensions of these scales.
RESULTS: The study was completed with 1031 prisoners. The participants\' mean age was 38.65 with a majority being single (69.2%) and high school graduates (46.3%). A weak positive correlation (r = 0.448, P = 0.000) was observed between the CDRAPS (mean score 135.98 ± 24.00) and the HLS (mean score 89.85 ± 22.30), indicating health literacy explained a 20% variance in communicable diseases risk awareness and prevention. Furthermore, a significant relationship was established considering multiple variables including age, marital and educational status, family health personnel presence, smoking and alcohol use, and comorbidities, showing a combined effect on disease risk awareness and prevention (R2 = 0.203, β = 0.458, P = 0.000).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance for governments and policy makers to implement preventive and educational programs that are focused on public health, aiming to increase prisoners\' health literacy and awareness of infectious diseases.

In 2021, a \'call to action\' was published to highlight the need for professional regulation of clinical exercise physiologists to be established within UK healthcare systems to ensure patient safety and align training and regulation with other health professions. This manuscript provides a progress report on the actions that Clinical Exercise Physiology UK (CEP-UK) has undertaken over the past 4 years, during which time clinical exercise physiologists have implemented regulation and gained formal recognition as healthcare professionals in the UK. An overview of the consultation process involved in creating a regulated health profession, notably the development of policies and procedures for both individual registration and institutional master\'s degree (MSc) accreditation is outlined. Additionally, the process for developing an industry-recognised scope of practice, a university MSc-level curriculum framework, the Academy for Healthcare Science Practitioner standards of proficiency and Continuing Professional Development opportunities is included. We outline the significant activities and milestones undertaken by CEP-UK and provide insight and clarity for other health professionals to understand the training and registration process for a clinical exercise physiologist in the UK. Finally, we include short, medium and long-term objectives for the future advocacy development of this workforce in the UK.

UNASSIGNED: Older adults (40-70 years) are the most susceptible age group for developing cardiovascular, and neuromuscular disorders due to a lack of physical activities. The engagement of older adults in physical activities such as badminton can improve their neuromuscular function. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of badminton on cardiovascular & neuromuscular function among older adults with and without non-communicable diseases in the United Arab Emirates.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 120 participants were recruited and divided into three groups: Two interventional groups which consisted of participants with non-communicable disease (WCN, N=40), and participants without the non-communicable disease (WICN, n=40), and one non-interventional group (NIC) as healthy control participants. Groups with and without non-communicable diseases engaged in badminton (45-60 minutes per session, thrice a week for two months) as per the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.
UNASSIGNED: The findings of the study indicated that there was a significant improvement in cardiovascular and many neuromuscular variables within and between the groups (p≤0.05) with maximum changes in participants with non-communicable diseases.
UNASSIGNED: Engagement in sports like badminton can help to overcome the non-communicable disease burden. The immediate impact can be seen with the introduction of such interventional sports activities on a larger scale. Since the improvement was seen to be much better in the participants with non- communicable diseases, it could help to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.
UNASSIGNED: REF/2022/02/051455 (08/02/2022).

UNASSIGNED: Hospital-based morbidity and mortality records reflect the health status of host communities. This helps policymakers and industry actors plan and allocate resources for health services, research, training, and development. This study aimed to determine the pattern and outcome of medical admissions in a Nigerian teaching hospital.
UNASSIGNED: This was a three-year retrospective review from 2019 to 2021.Data on morbidity and mortality were extracted from ward registers. The relevant data was analysed using the IBM SPSS software. Tests were considered significant at p values of less than 0.05.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 2544 patients were admitted during the study period. There were 1420 females (55.8%) and 1124 males (44.2%), and the majority (36.9%) of patients were middle-aged. The mean age was 53.81 ± 18.81 years, and the mean duration of hospital stay was 9.07 ± 8.41 days, with 97.2% of the patients spending less than 30 days on admission. Non-communicable diseases (70.6%) were the most common causes of admissions. The top disease-specific causes of admissions were diabetes mellitus with its complications (14.9%), renal failure (11.8%), heart failure (9.2%), hypertension and its emergencies (9.2%), stroke (7.8%) and tuberculosis (7.0%). Cardiology (15.5%), endocrinology (15.1%), nephrology (15.0%), pulmonology (14.8%), and neurology (13.3%) accounted for the majority (86.4%) of the admissions. The major causes of death were renal failure (16.2%), stroke (15.8%), diabetes mellitus and its complications (12.5%) and HIV/AIDS (8.7%). The majority (86.7%) of patients were discharged, 10.4% died, 2.2% were discharged against medical advice, and 0.7% were referred.
UNASSIGNED: The study found an increased burden of non-communicable diseases relative to communicable diseases. Effective health education and promotion initiatives must be implemented to combat the impact of the increasing prevalence of these diseases.