Mental health status among COVID-19 patients survivors of critical illness in Saudi Arabia:A 6-month follow-up questionnaire study

BACKGROUND Psychological assessment after intensive care unit(ICU)discharge is increasingly used to assess patients'cognitive and psychological well-being.However,few studies have examined those who recovered from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).There is a paucity of data from the Middle East assessing the post-ICU discharge mental health status of patients who had COVID-19.AIM To evaluate anxiety and depression among patients who had severe COVID-19.METHODS This is a prospective single-center follow-up questionnaire-based study of adults who were admitted to the ICU or under ICU consultation for>24 h for COVID-19.Eligible patients were contacted via telephone.The patient’s anxiety and depression six months after ICU discharge were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS).The primary outcome was the mean HADS score.The secondary outcomes were risk factors of anxiety and/or depression.RESULTS Patients who were admitted to the ICU because of COVID-19 were screened(n=518).Of these,48 completed the questionnaires.The mean age was 56.3±17.2 years.Thirty patients(62.5%)were male.The main comorbidities were endocrine(n=24,50%)and cardiovascular(n=21,43.8%)diseases.The mean overall HADS score for anxiety and depression at 6 months post-ICU discharge was 11.4(SD±8.5).A HADS score of>7 for anxiety and depression was detected in 15 patients(30%)and 18 patients(36%),respectively.Results from the multivariable ordered logistic regression demonstrated that vasopressor use was associated with the development of anxiety and depression[odds ratio(OR)39.06,95% confidence interval:1.309-1165.8;P<0.05].CONCLUSION Six months after ICU discharge,30% of patients who had COVID-19 demonstrated a HADS score that confirmed anxiety and depression.To compare the psychological status of patients following an ICU admission(with vs without COVID-19),further studies are warranted.

日本新一代NACSIS-CAT/ILL联合目录系统框架构筑分析与启示

目前电子文献资源取代以往的纸质文献资源成为主要学术信息流通媒介。基于此,日本国立情报学研究所为了更好地为未来的学术研究提供支持,决定重新构建以NACSIS-CAT/ILL为基础的学术信息流通框架。文章在梳理新一代NACSIS-CAT/ILL联合目录系统构筑过程的基础上,考察其在2020年将发生的重大变革。研究表明,新一代NACSIS-CAT/ILL联合目录系统通过衔接外部数据及服务、自动识别聚类并列书目、自动创建责任者名称规范字段等措施优化编目流程,在大幅度减轻编目工作压力的同时为用户提供资源获取的最短路径。

Sport and exercise during viral acute respiratory illness——Time to revisit

Athletes are commonly advised not to compete or train during major symptoms of a viral acute respiratory illness(ARI),which most commonly is a common cold.It has been traditionally thought that heavy physical stress could induce the worsening of symptoms of ARI and possibly cause potentially severe complications like myocarditis or sudden cardiac death(SCD).In addition,viral ARI may decrease athlete's performance.1 These concerns have been recently stressed during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.2 However,it is anecdotally well-known that athletes commonly compete while experiencing common colds,most commonly due to picornaviral ARIs.In this perspective,we discuss what is known or not known regarding the risks of exercising during the viral ARI.

Injury and illness in short-course triathletes:A systematic review

Background:Determining the incidence and prevalence of injury and illness in short-course triathletes would improve understanding of their etiologies and therefore assist in the development and implementation of prevention strategies.This study synthesizes the existing evidence on the incidence and prevalence of injury and illness and summarizes reported injury or illness etiology and risk factors affecting short-course triathletes.Methods:This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Studies reporting health problems(injury and illness)in triathletes(all sexes,ages,and experience levels)training and/or competing in short-course distances were included.Six electronic databases(Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,MEDLINE,Embase,APA PsychINFO,Web of Science Core Collection,and SPORTDiscus)were searched.Risk of bias was independently assessed by 2 reviewers using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.Two authors independently completed data extraction.Results:The search yielded 7998 studies,with 42 studies eligible for inclusion.Twenty-three studies investigated injuries,24 studies investigated illnesses,and 5 studies investigated both injuries and illnesses.The injury incidence rate ranged 15.7-24.3 per 1000 athlete exposures,and the illness incidence rate ranged 1.8-13.1 per 1000 athlete days.Injury and illness prevalence ranged between 2%-15%and 6%-84%,respectively.Most injuries reported occurred during running(45%-92%),and the most frequently reported illnesses affected the gastrointestinal(7%-70%),cardiovascular(14%-59%),and respiratory systems(5%-60%).Conclusion:The most frequently reported health problems in short-course triathletes were:overuse and lower limb injuries associated with running;gastrointestinal illnesses and altered cardiac function,primarily attributable to environmental factors;and respiratory illness mostly caused by infection.

Deciphering the iron enigma: Navigating the complexities of iron metabolism in critical illness

Iron is a double-edged sword!Despite being essential for numerous physiological processes of the body,a dysregulated iron metabolism can result in tissue da-mage,exaggerated inflammatory response,and increased susceptibility to infection with certain pathogens that thrive in iron-rich environment.During sepsis,there is an alteration of iron metabolism,leading to increased transport and uptake into cells.This increase in labile iron may cause oxidative damage and cellular injury(ferroptosis)which progresses as the disease worsens.Critically ill patients are often complicated with systemic inflammation which may contribute to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome or sepsis,a common cause of mortality in intensive care unit.Originally,ferritin was known to play an important role in the hematopoietic system for its iron storage capacity.Recently,its role has emerged as a predictor of poor prognosis in chronic inflammation and critical illnesses.Apart from predicting the disease outcome,serum ferritin can poten-tially reflect disease activity as well.

Psychometric testing of the cross-culturally adapted Thai version of the Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale version 3.0 in individuals with chronic illnesses

Objective:To assess the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale version 3.0(SCSES-v3.0)in individuals with chronic illnesses.Although originally developed and tested in a Western context,its applicability in Asian populations,including Thailand,remains inadequately explored.Methods:Psychometric tests were guided by COSMIN principles.This included the translation of the English version into Thai based on the ISPOR framework.Nine nursing experts evaluated the content validity.Data were obtained from a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted between July and November 2022.This study included individuals with chronic conditions from 16 primary care centers in Thailand.We tested the structural validity using exploratory factor analysis(EFA)and confirmatory factor analysis(CFA),and concurrent validity in relation to the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory version 4.c(SC-CII-v4.c).We tested the scale’s reliability with McDonald’s u,Cronbach’s a,and the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC).Results:The Thai SCSES-v3.0 demonstrated excellent content validity(k¼1.00).Thefinal analysis included a total of 385 participants.The EFA with thefirst split-half subsample(n¼193)extracted a twofactor structure.One reflected SCSES for maintenance and monitoring behaviors and another captured SCSES for management behaviors(item 6e10).CFA with the second split-half subsample(n¼192)and the overall sample(n¼385)supported the scale’s two-factor model with high factor loadings.Each dimension and the overall SCSES-v3.0 positively correlated with each scale and the overall SC-CII-v4.c.McDonald’s u and Cronbach’s a(both ranged 0.91e0.94)and ICC(ranged 0.95e0.96),indicated excellent internal reliability and test-retest reliability,respectively.Conclusions:The identification of a valid and reliable two-factor model for the Thai SCSES-v3.0 renders it a valuable tool for clinicians and investigators,facilitating the assessment of self-efficacy in self-care across diverse contexts.

High-risk factors for delirium in severely ill patients and the application of emotional nursing combined with pain nursing

BACKGROUND Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by acute disturbances of consciousness with rapid onset,rapid progression,obvious fluctuations,and preventable,reversible,and other characteristics.Patients with delirium in the intensive care unit(ICU)are often missed or misdiagnosed and do not receive adequate attention.AIM To analyze the risk factors for delirium in ICU patients and explore the applica-tion of emotional nursing with pain nursing in the management of delirium.METHODS General data of 301 critically ill patients were retrospectively collected,including histories(cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,hypertension,smoking,alcoholism,and diabetes),age,sex,diagnosis,whether surgery was performed,and patient origin(emergency/clinic).Additionally,the duration of sedation,Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale score,combined emotional and pain care,ven-tilator use duration,vasoactive drug use,drainage tube retention,ICU stay du-ration,C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,white blood cell count,body tempe-rature,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II(APACHE II)score,and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score were recorded within 24 h after ICU admission.Patients were assessed for delirium according to confusion assessment method for the ICU,and univariate and multivariate logistic regre-ssion analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for delirium in the patients.RESULTS Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed on the 24 potential risk factors associated with delirium in ICU patients.The results showed that 16 risk factors were closely related to delirium,including combined emotional and pain care,history of diabetes,and patient origin.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that no combined emotional and pain care,history of diabetes,emergency source,surgery,long stay in the ICU,smoking history,and high APACHE II score were independent risk factors for de-lirium in ICU patients.CONCLUSION Patients with diabetes and/or smoking history,postoperative patients,patients with a high APACHE II score,and those with emergency ICU admission need emotional and pain care,flexible visiting modes,and early intervention to reduce delirium incidence.

Irrigation regimes modulate non-structural carbohydrate remobilization and improve grain filling in rice(Oryza sativa L.)by regulating starch metabolism

Recently developed ‘super’ rice cultivars with greater yield potentials often suffer from the problem of poor grain filling, especially in inferior spikelets. Here, we studied the activities of enzymes related to starch metabolism in rice stems and grains, and the microstructures related to carbohydrate accumulation and transportation to investigate the effects of different water regimes on grain filling. Two ‘super’ rice cultivars were grown under two irrigation regimes of well-watered(WW) and alternate wetting and moderate soil drying(AWMD). Compared with the WW treatment,the activities of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase(AGPase), starch synthase(StSase) and starch branching enzyme(SBE), and the accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates(NSCs) in the stems before heading were significantly improved, and more starch granules were stored in the stems in the AWMD treatment. After heading, the activities of α-amylase, β-amylase, sucrose phosphate synthase(SPS) and sucrose synthase in the synthetic direction(SSs)were increased in the stems to promote the remobilization of NSCs for grain filling under AWMD. During grain filling, the enzymatic activities of sucrose synthase in the cleavage direction(SSc), AGPase, StSase and SBE in the inferior spikelets were increased, which promoted grain filling, especially for the inferior spikelets under AWMD.However, there were no significant differences in vascular microstructures. The grain yield and grain weight could be improved by 13.1 and 7.5%, respectively, by optimizing of the irrigation regime. We concluded that the low activities of key enzymes in carbon metabolism is the key limitation for the poor grain filling, as opposed to the vascular microstructures, and AWMD can increase the amount of NSC accumulation in the stems before heading, improve the utilization rate of NSCs after heading, and increase the grain filling, especially in the inferior spikelets, by altering the activities of key enzymes in carbon metabolism.

Cytomegalovirus infection in non-immunocompromised critically ill patients:A management perspective

Critically ill patients are a vulnerable group at high risk of developing secondary infections.High disease severity,prolonged intensive care unit(ICU)stay,sepsis,and multiple drugs with immunosuppressive activity make these patients prone to immuneparesis and increase the risk of various opportunistic infections,including cytomegalovirus(CMV).CMV seroconversion has been reported in up to 33%of ICU patients,but its impact on patient outcomes remains a matter of debate.Even though there are guidelines regarding the management of CMV infection in immunosuppressive patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immuno deficiency syndrome,the need for treatment and therapeutic approaches in immunocompetent critically ill patients is still ambiguous.Even the diagnosis of CMV infection may be challenging in such patients due to non-specific symptoms and multiorgan involvement.Hence,a better understanding of the symptomatology,diagnostics,and treatment options may aid intensive care physicians in ensuring accurate diagnoses and instituting therapeutic interventions.

A Potential Role for GLUT4 in Predicting Sepsis in Critically Ill Children

Background: This study investigated serum Glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 levels and examined the relationship between serum GLUT4 levels and sepsis in critically ill children. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 77 critically ill children and 33 non-diabetic healthy children (controls) who were admitted between 07/2015 and 05/2016. Patient data, clinical information, and blood samples were collected on admission, alongside a large number of laboratory parameters that were routinely assessed. Critically ill patients were divided into sepsis and non-sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Serum GLUT4 was measured using western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Insulin resistance indexes, clinical data, laboratory parameters, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Results: GLUT4 serum levels were higher in critically ill children than in healthy children (90.5 vs. 30.3 μg/L, P 0.05). Compared to healthy children, hyperglycemic patients (n = 48) had elevated GLUT4 serum levels (30.3 vs. 103.7 g/L, P Conclusions: GLUT4 serum levels might be significantly increased in critically ill children compared with healthy children, particularly those in septic shock. Serum GLUT4 could predict disease severity.

A Robust Method of Bipolar Mental Illness Detection from Facial Micro Expressions Using Machine Learning Methods

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental condition that may be caused by any kind of stress or emotional upset experienced by the patient.It affects a large percentage of people globally,who fluctuate between depression and mania,or vice versa.A pleasant or unpleasant mood is more than a reflection of a state of mind.Normally,it is a difficult task to analyze through physical examination due to a large patient-psychiatrist ratio,so automated procedures are the best options to diagnose and verify the severity of bipolar.In this research work,facial microexpressions have been used for bipolar detection using the proposed Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)-based model.Facial Action Coding System(FACS)is used to extract micro-expressions called Action Units(AUs)connected with sad,happy,and angry emotions.Experiments have been conducted on a dataset collected from Bahawal Victoria Hospital,Bahawalpur,Pakistan,Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-15(PHQ-15)to infer a patient’s mental state.The experimental results showed a validation accuracy of 98.99%for the proposed CNN modelwhile classification through extracted featuresUsing SupportVectorMachines(SVM),K-NearestNeighbour(KNN),and Decision Tree(DT)obtained 99.9%,98.7%,and 98.9%accuracy,respectively.Overall,the outcomes demonstrated the stated method’s superiority over the current best practices.

Research on the Application of Evidence-Based Quality Control Circle to Improve the Implementation Rate of Airway Management Measures in Adult Critically Ill Patients

Objective: To explore the effect of evidence-based quality control circle (QCC) in improving the implementation rate of airway management measures in adult critically ill patients. Methods: Based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) evidence-based health care model, the best evidence of airway management in adult critically ill patients was obtained and applied to the clinic. Results: The total implementation rate of airway management measures in adult critically ill patients increased from 23.62% before the implementation of quality control circle to 88.82%, and the pulmonary infection rate in critically ill patients decreased from 42.31% to 21.74%, with statistical significance between the two groups (P 0.05). Conclusion: Evidence-based quality control circle activities can standardize the practice standards of airway management in critically ill patients, reduce the occurrence of patients’ airway related complications, and improve clinical outcomes.

Longitudinal Studies on Illness Perceptions in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review

Objective:To conduct a scoping review of longitudinal studies related to disease perception in cancer patients and to provide a reference for the improvement of disease perception in cancer patients.Methods:Using the scoping method,PubMed,Web of Science,The Cochrane Library,Medline,CNKI,Wanfang Database,VIP Chinese Scientific and Technical Journals Database,and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched up to July 2023 for analysis and discussion of the included literature.Results:A total of 19 articles were included,distributed across 9 countries including China,the Netherlands,and the United Kingdom,with 8 articles published in China.The study subjects included patients with breast cancer,colorectal cancer,laryngeal cancer,lung cancer,esophageal cancer,and bladder cancer.The content covered dynamic changes in disease perception,the impact of disease perception,and the influencing factors of disease perception.Conclusion:The number of longitudinal studies on disease perception in cancer patients is gradually increasing and becoming more diverse.However,issues such as a small total number of studies,single research methods,and short observation periods persist.In the future,it is necessary to conduct in-depth longitudinal research on disease perception in cancer patients,expand the scope of research fields,and provide more comprehensive theories to guide clinical treatment and nursing practices,ultimately improving the treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.

The Role of Grid-Style Nursing Management Model in Critically Ill Patients

Objective:This study aims to gain insight into the effects and potential advantages of the grid-style nursing management model in the care of critically ill patients.Methods:Eighty critically ill patients admitted to our hospital between May 2020 and May 2021 were selected and randomly divided into the control group and the grid group,each with 40 patients.The control group implemented traditional nursing management,while the grid group adopted a grid-style nursing management model.The quality of care,quality of life,nursing satisfaction,and treatment adherence of the two groups were compared.Results:Compared with the control group,the grid group had significantly higher quality of care and quality of life(P<0.001);in terms of nursing satisfaction,the score of the grid group was 8.26±0.85,which was significantly higher than that of the control group(6.65±0.77)(P<0.001);90.00%(36 patients)of the grid group showed good treatment adherence,significantly higher than 70.00%(28 patients)of the control group(P<0.001).Conclusion:The implementation of the grid-style nursing management model in critically ill patients can significantly improve the quality of care,quality of life,and satisfaction of patients,and effectively promote patients’treatment adherence.These positive results provide strong support for the promotion and application of this model in clinical care.

Study on the Accuracy of Serum Prealbumin Level in Predicting the Prognosis of Patients with Critical Respiratory Illness

Objective: To analyze the accuracy of serum prealbumin levels in predicting the prognosis of patients with critical respiratory illness. Methods: Fifty patients with critical respiratory illness admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to September 2023 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group after condition assessment, with 25 cases in each group. The results of cholinesterase (ChE), prealbumin (PALB), albumin (ALB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), and forced expiratory volume (FEV1)/Predicted (Pred) of the two groups were measured. Results: The ChE levels of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, while the PALB and ALB levels of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The AST, TP, and FEV1 /Pred levels of the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Serum PALB levels can be used as the main indicator for prognosis in critically ill respiratory patients.

Overcoming Adversity:The Severe COVID-19 Illness Experience

This viral outbreak of the novel SARS-CoV-2 has profoundly disrupted lives globally and has placed unparalleled burdens on individual physical and psychological health.It is imperative to comprehend the psychological journey of COVID-19 patients to provide them with effective care.This study aimed to explore the psychological illness experience of severe COVID-19 survivors from the first symptoms,to hospitalization,recovery,and post-discharge adjustment.Semi-structured interviews were conducted from November 2022 to April 2023,with 30 Romanian former COVID-19 patients.Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews identified four major themes:(1)a distant threat;(2)the tipping point;(3)the turning point;and(4)readjustment and growth.Some participants faced denial or uncertainty early on,misattributing symptoms and delaying seeking care.Hospitalization as a last resort brought anxiety,isolation,and closer confrontations with mortality perception.As symptoms improved,and participants received supportive care from both healthcare professionals and family members,hope and optimism appeared.Despite health improvements and feelings of safety,lingering anxiety persisted.Post-discharge adjustment involved managing lasting effects and selectively resuming activities.For some of the participants,reflection afterward prompted greater self-understanding,empathy and connection,and motivation for self-care.The results have implications for healthcare practitioners,policymakers,and researchers.

Nursing Experience of Early Application of Nasoenteric Tube for Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill ICU Patients

Objective:To investigate the effective nursing measures of early application of nasoenteric tube for enteral nutrition in critically ill patients in ICU,and to summarize the nursing experience.Methods:The study was carried out in June 2023–November 2023.62 samples of ICU critically ill patients were selected,all of whom used enteral nutrition by mesenteric tube and were grouped into an observation group(n=31)and a control group(n=31)by using the numerical table randomization method.The patients in the control group were basic nursing interventions,and the patients in the observation group were comprehensive quality care,comparing the nutritional indexes,complication rates,and nursing satisfaction between the two groups.Results:All nutritional indicators of the observation group were higher than those of the control group after nursing intervention(P<0.05);the complication rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05);the nursing satisfaction of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Comprehensive quality nursing care during the early application of a gastroenteric tube for enteral nutrition in critically ill patients in the ICU can improve nutritional indexes,reduce the incidence of complications and improve nursing satisfaction.

Evaluation of a protocol for rifaximin discontinuation in critically ill patients with liver disease receiving broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy

BACKGROUND Rifaximin is frequently administered to critically ill patients with liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy,but patients currently or recently treated with antibiotics were frequently excluded from studies of rifaximin efficacy.Due to overlapping spectrums of activity,combination therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics and rifaximin may be unnecessary.A pharmacist-driven protocol was piloted to reduce potentially overlapping therapy in critically ill patients with liver disease.It was hypothesized that withholding rifaximin during broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy would be safe and reduce healthcare costs.AIM To determine the clinical,safety,and financial impact of discontinuing rifaximin during broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in critically ill liver patients.METHODS This was a single-center,quasi-experimental,pre-post study based on a pilot pharmacist-driven protocol.Patients in the protocol group were prospectively identified via the medical intensive care unit(ICU)(MICU)protocol to have rifaximin withheld during broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment.These were compared to a historical cohort who received combination therapy with broadspectrum antibiotics and rifaximin.All data were collected retrospectively.The primary outcome was days alive and free of delirium and coma(DAFD)to 14 d.Safety outcomes included MICU length of stay,48-h change in vasopressor dose,and ICU mortality.Secondary outcomes characterized rifaximin cost savings and protocol adherence.Multivariable analysis was utilized to evaluate the association between group assignment and the primary outcome while controlling for potential confounding factors.RESULTS Each group included 32 patients.The median number of delirium-and coma-free days was similar in the control and protocol groups[3 interquartile range(IQR 0,8)vs 2(IQR 0,9.5),P=0.93].In multivariable analysis,group assignment was not associated with a reduced ratio of days alive and free of delirium or coma at 14 d.The protocol resulted in a reduced median duration of rifaximin use during broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy[6 d control(IQR 3,9.5)vs 1 d protocol(IQR 0,1);P<0.001].Rates of other secondary clinical and safety outcomes were similar including ICU mortality and 48-h change in vasopressor requirements.Overall adherence to the protocol was 91.4%.The median estimated total cost of rifaximin therapy per patient was reduced from$758.40(IQR$379.20,$1200.80)to$126.40(IQR$0,$126.40),P<0.01.CONCLUSION The novel pharmacist-driven protocol for rifaximin discontinuation was associated with significant cost savings and no differences in safety outcomes including DAFD.

Sleep during and following critical illness:A narrative review

Sleep is a complex process influenced by biological and environmental factors.Disturbances of sleep quantity and quality occur frequently in the critically ill and remain prevalent in survivors for at least 12 mo.Sleep disturbances are associated with adverse outcomes across multiple organ systems but are most strongly linked to delirium and cognitive impairment.This review will outline the predisposing and precipitating factors for sleep disturbance,categorised into patient,environmental and treatment-related factors.The objective and subjective methodologies used to quantify sleep during critical illness will be reviewed.While polysomnography remains the gold-standard,its use in the critical care setting still presents many barriers.Other methodologies are needed to better understand the pathophysiology,epidemiology and treatment of sleep disturbance in this population.Subjective outcome measures,including the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire,are still required for trials involving a greater number of patients and provide valuable insight into patients’experiences of disturbed sleep.Finally,sleep optimisation strategies are reviewed,including intervention bundles,ambient noise and light reduction,quiet time,and the use of ear plugs and eye masks.While drugs to improve sleep are frequently prescribed to patients in the ICU,evidence supporting their effectiveness is lacking.

Malaria Illness and Accessing Healthcare in an African Indigenous Population: A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experiences of Uganda’s Batwa in Kanungu District

Purpose: Malaria continues to be a public health threat, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. While Batwa Indigenous People (IPs) face a higher burden of malaria, there is limited understanding of their malaria-lived experiences. We assessed and characterized malaria illness and accessing healthcare lived experiences of the Batwa in Kanungu district to inform contextually and culturally appropriate public health interventions. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 5 Batwa settlements where 5 Focus Group Discussions (n = 36) and 13 Key Informant Interviews (n = 13) were held. Data were collected using printed guides and voice recorders in April 2018. Transcripts from the data that captured the lived experiences of the symptoms, prevention, treatment and barriers to accessing formal healthcare services were applied to Atlas.ti a qualitative data analysis software and condensed into codes, categories, and themes. Results: Many Batwa have experienced malaria in their households, and they know its causes and risk factors, like not sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), living near water bodies, prevention measures like the use of ITNs, and vector management. The lived experiences demonstrate malaria management by an Indigenous population in a rural setting and comprised detecting malaria symptoms, use of herbs as first line of treatment, buying medicines from drug shops, and village health teams (VHTs) treatment. For many Batwa accessing formal healthcare is normally a second option. Barriers for malaria treatment included: long distances to health facilities, geographically difficult terrain, economic constraints, irregular health outreaches, and stockouts of malaria medicines at health facilities. Conclusion: This study characterized Batwa’s malaria illness lived experiences and access to healthcare in rural remote settings. These experiences are essential in appreciating the ways in which Indigenous populations understand and manage common illnesses and how appropriate policies and interventions can be developed.