Associated Event / Workshop Title | Social, Clinical, Ethical and Educational Aspects of Caring- different points of view by healthcare professionals
Main Organizer Institution | Research Centre of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Albania
Co-organizers | LUMEN Research Center in Social & Humanistic Sciences, Romania
Chair | Assoc. Prof. Fatjona Kamberi, Research Centre of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Albania
Overview |
This Workshop is designed to provide state-of-the-art information on the social, clinical ethical and educational aspects of caring to an international audience of academics, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
Titles of presentations |
- Anxiety prevalence among Albanian medical students during quarantine period of COVID-19
- Ethical issues in communicating positive diagnostic results for beta-thalassemia major
- Screening for prostate cancer and PSA, a topic under discussion and current guidelines about it- a review
- Healthy Eating and Student Self-Perception on Body Mass Index
- Assessment of Knowledge in the Community of the City of Vlora in Relation to Overweight and Obesity as Risk Factors in Cancer
- Skin manifestations of COVID-19
- Patient education as a dimension of nursing care in increasing the knowledge about self-management of hypertension
Abstracts and info about the authors |
- Esilda TRUSHAJ, University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Department of Care, Vlora, Albania
Anxiety prevalence among Albanian medical students during quarantine period of COVID-19
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine period have affected in the mental health of healthcare students at the Medical University of Tirana. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety among healthcare students at the Medical University of Tirana during quarantine in 2020 and the correlations between chronic diseases, information from medical doctors, and the media impact on the anxiety level. This cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey completed by 412 students studying for a healthcare-oriented degree at the Medical University of Tirana. Participants were recruited through e-mail. The Beck Anxiety Inventory questionnaire was used to assess students’ anxiety scores. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 The research champion consisted of 412 medical students, with the majority being females 85.9% (n=354) and 14.1% (n=58) males. The BAI assessment revealed that 31.31% (n=129) had a minimal anxiety level, 30.09% (n=124) had a mild anxiety level, and 25.48% (n=105) had a moderate anxiety level and 13.1% (n=54) had a severe anxiety level. Chronic diseases (r= .475, p< .05), information on COVID-19 from media (r= .385, p< .05), were positively associated with higher (worse) anxiety scores Primary care consultation (r= -.650, p<.01) was associated with low anxiety score. Anxiety levels amongst university healthcare students at the Medical University of Tirana were found to be high when assessed during the COVID-19 quarantine in march-may 2020. Implementing psychological interventions for healthcare students during pandemics is strongly recommended in order to optimize students’ mental health.
Keywords: Anxiety; healthcare students; quarantine; COVID-19.
- Dalila LLANAJ, University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Research Centre of Public Health, Vlora, Albania
Ethical issues in communicating positive diagnostic results for beta-thalassemia major
Abstract
Beta thalassemia major is a severe blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin characterized by the development of life-threatening anemia. In Albania the number of thalassemia carriers as a Mediterranean country, especially in the former swamp areas is high but most of them are not aware of this. Beta–thalassemia is hereditary because it depends on the genetic level for the normal or abnormal construction of the hemoglobin protein. Genetic testing is playing an important role in communicating hereditary diagnoses including thalassemia but due to the possibilities, it is not always possible by delaying the diagnosis. The people affected usually show signs and symptoms appear within the first 2 years of life. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is a routine analysis to confirm the diagnosis. In this study, the results of fifty patients who underwent hemoglobin electrophoresis were analyzed. Among the six patients resulted in beta-thalassemia with a higher prevalence in females. There are parents that face firstly the positive test results. The results of testing may require difficult choices regarding the current or future health of their children, health costs, and options that affect the quality of life of the whole family. Communication and an appropriate manner of respecting ethics are recommended for health personnel involved in this sensitive process.
Keywords: Ethical issues; positive results, communication; beta-thalassemia.
- Jerina JAHO University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Research Centre of Public Health, Vlora, Albania
Screening for prostate cancer and PSA, a topic under discussion and current guidelines about it- a review
Abstract
Prostate cancer presents a global public health problem. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Prostate cancer detection is mainly based on PSA serum levels and digital rectal examination. Currently, screening for this type of cancer and using of PSA is one of the most controversial topics in literature. The literature review was conducted based on a regular systemic electronic study on Pub-Med, Medline and Google Scholar databases, which included publications, with access to the subject in question, positively to the guidelines of applying PSA blood test in screening of prostate cancer. The PSA blood test has changed the landscape of prostate cancer, creating a dramatic rise in the incidence and helping to shift the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis to a much earlier and potentially more curable stage. However, testing for the early detection of prostate cancer remains a source of uncertainty and controversy. Prostate cancer screening guidelines vary widely between countries and between different medical organizations within individual countries. Moreover, screening was associated with minor and major harms such as over-diagnosis and over-treatment. Various conflicting guidelines and recommendations about prostate cancer screening and early detection have left both clinicians and their patients quite confused. It is necessary to adopt structured population-based PSA screening for prostate cancer at an early stage. The aim of future PSA screening programs should be focused on reducing over-diagnosis. Guideline recommendations about the age to start prostate-specific antigen screening could be discussed.
Keywords: Prostate cancer; PSA; screening guidelines; early detection; over diagnosis.
- Brunilda SUBASHI University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Research Centre of Public Health, Vlora, Albania
Healthy Eating and Student Self-Perception on Body Mass Index
Abstract
A healthy diet is a very important factor in maintaining healthy body weight. Maintaining a healthy weight can help control cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar, and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with being overweight, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and some types of cancer. Purpose: Evaluation of healthy eating habits and behaviors, and self-perception of students’ BMI. This is an exploratory study, carried out in April 2021, in a group of students (n = 82), through an online questionnaire, which was distributed through social media. 82 students participated in the study, 78% of whom were in the age group 20-39, while 81% were female. Regarding the healthy eating, it turned out that only 21% of the students believe that they always eat healthily; 43% consume 3 meals a day, and 25% 4 meals; 26% drink water every morning; 30% drink 3-4 glasses of water a day, and 25% drink 5-6 glasses; 66% consume tea; 52% have never followed any type of diet. From the self-perceived BMI, 59% feel that they are of normal weight, and 22% feel that they are overweight. After calculating the BMI, it turned out that in 76% of the cases the self-perception of the BMI of the students corresponded to the real result, and in 24% it did not. 28% consume 1 and 2 servings of fruit per day, 41% consume 2 servings of vegetables per day, and 30% 1 serving per day.
Keywords: Healthy eating, healthy weight, self-perception, students, BMI.
- Glodiana SINANAJ University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Research Centre of Public Health, Vlora, Albania
Assessment of Knowledge in the Community of the City of Vlora in Relation to Overweight and Obesity as Risk Factors in Cancer
Abstract
World Health Organization defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can harm health. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple weight-for-height index commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. Objectives were the assessment of knowledge in the community of the city of Vlora about overweight and obesity as risk factors in cancer. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted during the period January 10 – June 13, 2021, in the community of the city of Vlora, through a self-administered questionnaire which was distributed through the engagement of students of the Professional Master of Surgery of the Faculty of Health. The sample consists of 475 persons (280 females and 193 males). From the study data it is noticed that 68.2% of the population taken in the study report that being obese or overweight increases the risk for cancer. Most of the population in the study more than 42.3% consider genetic factors, lifestyle, physical activity, consumption of fast foods, rich in fats as risk factors for the development of obesity. Individual responsibility can have its full effect only when people have access to a healthy lifestyle.
Keywords: Knowledge assessment; overweight; obesity; risk factors; cancer diseases.
- Silda CAUSHAJ University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Research Centre of Public Health, Vlora, Albania
Skin manifestations of COVID-19
Abstract
Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic, which was isolated for the first time in Wuhan (China), in December 2019. Although this virus is most well known for causing respiratory pathologies, in medical practice, there are being reported more cases with heterogenous cutaneous presentations. These lesions manifest at various times in relation to COVID-19 symptoms, which may indicate whether the lesions are virus-induced or are delayed immunological responses to the infection. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the distribution, types, and highest skin manifestations of Covid-19. Finding the potential link between Covid-19 and cutaneous manifestations may help to understand the pathogenesis and best policies in disease control. The pathophysiology of these lesions remains under study and still unclear. To achieve this goal, a transversal study was conducted on the population, the period March 1, 2021, to July 16, 2021. Out of 205 suspected / laboratory-confirmed people, there were 13 people with cutaneous signs, of which 13 were female and 9 were male. The most common morphological form was morbilliform rash, chicken-pox-like vesicles, and urticarial rash.
Keywords: COVID-19, cutaneous manifestations, morbilliform rash, chicken-pox like vesicles, urticarial rash.
- Marjola MUHAJ University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Faculty of Health, Department of Nursing, Vlora, Albania
Patient education as a dimension of nursing care in increasing the knowledge about self-management of hypertension
Abstract
High blood pressure is a pathology that can lead to serious complications. These complications can include stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage. Worldwide, hypertension contributes to an increase in cardiovascular deaths. Healthy eating and physical activity are effective treatments for lowering blood pressure. Other lifestyle changes that can help include smoking cessation, stress reduction, and alcohol consumption. The nurse’s role takes on great importance in the management of hypertension, including all aspects of care, early detection of disease, referral and treatment; diagnosis and management of medicines; patient education, counseling, and patient involvement throughout the process. To measure the knowledge of care in patients with hypertension, the study included 80 patients in the district of Vlora, where 38.8% of those suffering from hypertension always receive health education from the primary care nurse for the disease and the care they should show. Patients who health center nurses have informed can calculate daily calories. The age group that is most regular in taking medication is over 55 years old. 51.2% of patients walk 30-60 minutes a day. 38.8% say that even though they have been smokers, they quit after learning about their illness. 41.3% of the sample states that after being diagnosed with hypertension, they quit alcohol. This study confirmed the importance of health education and its implication for the effective management of hypertensive diseases.
Keywords: Hypertension, education, nurse, training, health care.