Perceptions of neighborhood disorder and gun carrying during adolescence: The indirect effect of exposure to violence.

Objective: As society strives to curb gun violence among adolescents, understanding the risk factors associated with gun carrying is of critical importance. The current study seeks to examine the relationship between perceived neighborhood disorder and adolescents' susceptibility to carrying a gun to school. More specifically, the aim of the current study was threefold: (1) to examine the direct relationship between perceived neighborhood disorder and exposure to violence, (2) to investigate the association between perceived neighborhood disorder and gun carrying, and (3) to test the mediating effect of exposure to violence on the relationship between perceived neighborhood disorder and gun carrying.

Patients and healthcare workers' preferences for using smart lockers in accessing and dispensing chronic disease medication in Nigeria: Findings from a descriptive cross-sectional study.

The use of smart locker technology has been beneficial for patients with chronic diseases who require regular medication and face challenges accessing healthcare facilities due to distance, time, or mobility issues. This study aimed to assess preferences for utilizing Smart Lockers in accessing and dispensing chronic disease medication among healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 8th and December 4th, 2021, across secondary healthcare facilities in five states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and Niger.

A Digital Therapeutic Application (ePAL) to Manage Pain in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Patients with advanced cancer often experience immense cancer pain that negatively impacts their quality of life. Interventions to address cancer-related pain are limited.

Methods: We conducted a randomized trial of a digital therapeutic app (ePAL) for patients with advanced cancer receiving care in a specialty palliative care clinic at a tertiary care hospital.

Acceptability of smart locker technology for dispensing chronic disease medication among patients and healthcare providers in Nigeria.

Smart lockers are automated delivery machines. They have been used in dispensing ARVs and Tuberculosis medication to chronically ill patients in South Africa, Kenya, and Eswatini. However, there is no evidence of smart lockers in dispensing chronic disease medication in Nigeria.

Uncovering the Burden of Diabetes in Ekiti State, Nigeria: Insights From a Statewide, Household-Based, Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important global public health challenge, and the burden of the disease is huge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the majority of people with this condition reside. Undiagnosed DM is more prevalent in LMICs. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and associated factors for DM in Ekiti State.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Determinants Among Hypertensive Patients in Rural Southwest Nigeria.

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with hypertension is of particular concern to stakeholders because hypertension is a chronic disease.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of HRQOL and its determinants among hypertensive patients in rural Southwestern Nigeria.

Subjects, Materials And Methods: Ahospital-based crosssectional survey was conducted between June and October 2019 on 390 consented adult patients with hypertension on follow-up using systematic sampling technique.

Effect of an Antidepressant on Medication Adherence among Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Depression Accessing Care in GOPC of FETHI.

Comorbid depression among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is on the increase. This has been linked with poor glycaemic control, greater risk of complications, high burden of medical cost and health care utilisation, and worsening prevalence of other comorbidities resulting in decreased life expectancy. This study determined the antidepressant effect of amitriptyline on depression and glycaemic control among the depressed type 2 DM patients attending Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI), Nigeria.

The Quality of Life of Medically Versus Surgically Treated Primary Open-angle Glaucoma Patients at a Nigerian Hospital.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the quality of life (QoL) of medically treated versus surgically treated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods: The study was a hospital-based, comparative cross-sectional study. Consecutive consenting POAG participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited until the sample size was achieved.

Pattern and awareness of complementary and alternative medicine usage for otorhinolaryngological problems among residents in Ekiti State.

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the treatment of various ailments globally has called for more research.

Aim: This study aimed to draw the attention of the stakeholders to the prevalence, pattern and awareness of CAM usage in otorhinolaryngological ailments and the need to safeguard the health of CAM users in Ekiti state, south - west Nigeria.

Patients And Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study carried out over a 12-month period (January to December, 2019) among consented patients that attended ear, nose, and Throat (ENT) clinics in two tertiary health institutions in Ekiti state.

Prevalence of Presbyopia, Near-spectacle Use and Near Vision Spectacle Coverage among Cosmetologists in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of presbyopia, near vision spectacle use, and near vision spectacle coverage among cosmetologists in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State with the view of creating awareness, improving productivity and quality of life.

Materials And Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among 251 cosmetologists aged ≥ 30 years. All participants had a standardized protocol including visual acuity assessment (distance and near), anterior and posterior segment examinations, and refraction.

The effect of an organic food intervention treatment on biomarkers of exposure to lead and cadmium in primary school children of Cyprus: A cluster-randomized crossover trial.

Background: Food contaminants, such as, pesticides and metals are ubiquitous in the food chain. Studies routinely report on the metals content of organic and conventional food crops. However, comparative human studies on the body burden of metals associated with organic food consumption are currently lacking.

Whey Protein Peptides Have Dual Functions: Bioactivity and Emulsifiers in Oil-In-Water Nanoemulsion.

Whey protein isolate (WPI)-derived bioactive peptide fractions (1−3, 3−5, 5−10, 1−10, and >10 kDa) were for the first time used as emulsifiers in nanoemulsions. The formation and storage stability of WPI bioactive peptide-stabilized nanoemulsions depended on the peptide size, enzyme type, peptide concentration, and storage temperature. The highly bioactive <10 kDa fractions were either poorly surface-active or weak stabilizers in nanoemulsions.

Family support and medication adherence among adult type 2 diabetes: Any meeting point?

Background: Serious disability diabetes mellitus (DM) cause for patients and their support system-family and friends are enormous. It remains an important public health challenge, despite effective medical therapies for its management; patients' poor adherence remains a global problem.

Objective: The study assessed the relationship between family support and medication adherence among adult Type 2 DM (T2DM) attending family medicine clinic of a rural tertiary hospital.

Assessment of eye drop instillation techniques among patients with primary open angle glaucoma in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Purpose: To assess the technique of eye drop instillation and its determinants among patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among 130 participants. Systematic sampling technique was used.

Glycemic control and its association with sociodemographics, comorbid conditions, and medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes in southwestern Nigeria.

Objective: We determined the prevalence of poor glycemic control and associations with sociodemographics, comorbid conditions, and medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study among 300 patients with T2DM using systematic random sampling. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect information on respondents' sociodemographic profile, lifestyle, comorbid conditions, and antidiabetic medications.

Neural Network-Based Algorithm for Adjusting Activity Targets to Sustain Exercise Engagement Among People Using Activity Trackers: Retrospective Observation and Algorithm Development Study.

Background: It is well established that lack of physical activity is detrimental to the overall health of an individual. Modern-day activity trackers enable individuals to monitor their daily activities to meet and maintain targets. This is expected to promote activity encouraging behavior, but the benefits of activity trackers attenuate over time due to waning adherence.

Attitude, practice orientation, benefits and barriers towards health research and publications among medical practitioners in Abia State, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Health research is an essential component of medical training, education, and practice and is fundamental in establishing the scientific basis of health care. Aim: The study was aimed at describing the attitude, practice, benefits, and barriers towards health research and publications in a cross-section of medical practitioners in Abia State, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out on 210 medical practitioners in Abia State.

Are formal self-care interventions for healthy people effective? A systematic review of the evidence.

Introduction: Preventative interventions are shown to be effective in reducing 40% of the mortality due to unhealthy behaviours and lifestyles. Health-promoting self-care has been recognised as a promising strategy in preventative health. However, self-care research is being done around the self-management of chronic illnesses and the promotion of self-care practices among healthy populations has been overlooked by many healthcare systems.

Provider- and Patient-Related Barriers to and Facilitators of Digital Health Technology Adoption for Hypertension Management: Scoping Review.

Background: The uptake of digital health technology (DHT) has been surprisingly low in clinical practice. Despite showing great promise to improve patient outcomes and disease management, there is limited information on the factors that contribute to the limited adoption of DHT, particularly for hypertension management.

Objective: This scoping review provides a comprehensive summary of barriers to and facilitators of DHT adoption for hypertension management reported in the published literature with a focus on provider- and patient-related barriers and facilitators.

Factors Influencing Exercise Engagement When Using Activity Trackers: Nonrandomized Pilot Study.

Background: It is well reported that tracking physical activity can lead to sustained exercise routines, which can decrease disease risk. However, most stop using trackers within a couple months of initial use. The reasons people stop using activity trackers can be varied and personal.

Assessing the Usability of an Automated Continuous Temperature Monitoring Device (iThermonitor) in Pediatric Patients: Non-Randomized Pilot Study.

Background: Fever is an important vital sign and often the first one to be assessed in a sick child. In acutely ill children, caregivers are expected to monitor a child's body temperature at home after an initial medical consult. Fever literacy of many caregivers is known to be poor, leading to fever phobia.

Health Care Cost Analyses for Exploring Cost Savings Opportunities in Older Patients: Longitudinal Retrospective Study.

Background: Half of Medicare reimbursement goes toward caring for the top 5% of the most expensive patients. However, little is known about these patients prior to reaching the top or how their costs change annually. To address these gaps, we analyzed patient flow and associated health care cost trends over 5 years.

A Reinforcement Learning-Based Method for Management of Type 1 Diabetes: Exploratory Study.

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by chronic insulin deficiency and consequent hyperglycemia. Patients with T1DM require long-term exogenous insulin therapy to regulate blood glucose levels and prevent the long-term complications of the disease. Currently, there are no effective algorithms that consider the unique characteristics of T1DM patients to automatically recommend personalized insulin dosage levels.

Learning to Identify Patients at Risk of Uncontrolled Hypertension Using Electronic Health Records Data.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease, and end-stage renal disease, and its prevalence is expected to rise dramatically. Effective hypertension management is thus critical. A particular priority is decreasing the incidence of uncontrolled hypertension.