Adesão ao tratamento do diabetes mellitus em pacientes da atenção primária à saúde / Adherence to the treatment of diabetes mellitus in patients in primary health care / Adherencia al tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus en pacientes de atención primaria

O Diabetes Mellitus (DM) é uma doença crônica, que tem elevada prevalência na sociedade e representa um problema de saúde pública devido à natureza de suas complicações, acredita-se que a dificuldade na manutenção do tratamento, pode estar relacionada a deficiência ou falta de adesão. O estudo teve como objetivo relatar à adesão ao tratamento do Diabetes Mellitus na Atenção Primária a Saúde. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado com 30 pacientes diabéticos de uma Unidade de Atenção Primária à Saúde de Guaiúba-CE, no período de agosto a outubro de 2021. A coleta de dados deu-se por entrevista semiestruturada utilizando questões norteadoras sobre adesão ao tratamento, adoção de práticas promotoras de saúde e posteriormente sujeita a análise de conteúdo. Observou-se que a adesão ao tratamento do diabetes envolve inúmeros desafios, relacionados principalmente ao usuário e sistemas de saúde/profissionais. Os maiores desafios encontrados foram em relação a supervalorização do tratamento medicamentoso frente a adoção de hábitos saudáveis e de ações promotoras de autocuidado. Nesse cenário, nota-se a importância de conhecer os fatores que influenciam na adesão ao tratamento com o intuito de se lançar estratégias para aperfeiçoar o planejamento de ações e intervenções a esses pacientes.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that is highly prevalent in society and represents a public health problem due to the nature of its complications. The study aimed to report on the adherence to treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Health Care. This is a descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, conducted with 30 diabetic patients from a Primary Health Care Unit in Guaiúba-CE, in the period from August to October 2021. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using guiding questions about adherence to treatment, adoption of health-promoting practices and later subjected to content analysis. It was observed that diabetes treatment adherence involves numerous challenges, mainly related to the user and health systems/professionals. The biggest challenges found were related to the overvaluation of drug treatment against the adoption of healthy habits and self-care promoting actions. In this scenario, it is important to know the factors that influence treatment adherence in order to develop strategies to improve the planning of actions and interventions for these patients.

La diabetes mellitus (DM) es una enfermedad crónica, que tiene una alta prevalencia en la sociedad y representa un problema de salud pública debido a la naturaleza de sus complicaciones, se cree que la dificultad para mantener el tratamiento puede estar relacionada con la deficiencia o falta de adherencia. El estudio tenía como objetivo informar sobre la adherencia al tratamiento de la Diabetes Mellitus en Atención Primaria. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo, realizado con 30 pacientes diabéticos de una Unidad de Atención Primaria de Salud de Guaiúba-CE, en el período de agosto a octubre de 2021. La recogida de datos se llevó a cabo mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas en las que se utilizaron preguntas orientativas sobre la adherencia al tratamiento y la adopción de prácticas de promoción de la salud, y posteriormente se sometieron a un análisis de contenido. Se ha observado que el acceso al tratamiento de la diabetes conlleva numerosos desafíos, relacionados principalmente con el usuario y los sistemas de salud/profesionales. Los mayores retos encontrados estaban relacionados con la sobrevaloración del tratamiento farmacológico frente a la adopción de hábitos saludables y acciones de promoción del autocuidado. En este escenario, se constata la importancia de conocer los factores que influyen en la adherencia al tratamiento para poner en marcha estrategias que mejoren la planificación de las acciones e intervenciones para estos pacientes.

Evaluation of the Accuracy of Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement Devices: Challenges and Proposals.

Several novel cuffless wearable devices and smartphone applications claiming that they can measure blood pressure (BP) are appearing on the market. These technologies are very attractive and promising, with increasing interest among health care professionals for their potential use. Moreover, they are becoming popular among patients with hypertension and healthy people. However, at the present time, there are serious issues about BP measurement accuracy of cuffless devices and the 2021 European Society of Hypertension Guidelines on BP measurement do not recommend them for clinical use. Cuffless devices have special validation issues, which have been recently recognized. It is important to note that the 2018 Universal Standard for the validation of automated BP measurement devices developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, the European Society of Hypertension, and the International Organization for Standardization is inappropriate for the validation of cuffless devices. Unfortunately, there is an increasing number of publications presenting data on the accuracy of novel cuffless BP measurement devices, with inadequate methodology and potentially misleading conclusions. The objective of this review is to facilitate understanding of the capabilities and limitations of emerging cuffless BP measurement devices. First, the potential and the types of these devices are described. Then, the unique challenges in evaluating the BP measurement accuracy of cuffless devices are explained. Studies from the literature and computer simulations are employed to illustrate these challenges. Finally, proposals are given on how to evaluate cuffless devices including presenting and interpreting relevant study results.

Self-care tooling innovation in a disabled kea (Nestor notabilis).

Tooling is associated with complex cognitive abilities, occurring most regularly in large-brained mammals and birds. Among birds, self-care tooling is seemingly rare in the wild, despite several anecdotal reports of this behaviour in captive parrots. Here, we show that Bruce, a disabled parrot lacking his top mandible, deliberately uses pebbles to preen himself. Evidence for this behaviour comes from five lines of evidence: (i) in over 90% of instances where Bruce picked up a pebble, he then used it to preen; (ii) in 95% of instances where Bruce dropped a pebble, he retrieved this pebble, or replaced it, in order to resume preening; (iii) Bruce selected pebbles of a specific size for preening rather than randomly sampling available pebbles in his environment; (iv) no other kea in his environment used pebbles for preening; and (v) when other individuals did interact with stones, they used stones of different sizes to those Bruce preened with. Our study provides novel and empirical evidence for deliberate self-care tooling in a bird species where tooling is not a species-specific behaviour. It also supports claims that tooling can be innovated based on ecological necessity by species with sufficiently domain-general cognition.

Occupational health and safety in mining: Predictive probabilities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use among artisanal goldminers in Ghana.

Artisanal goldminers in Ghana are exposed to various levels and forms of health, safety and environmental threats. Without the required legislation and regulations, artisanal miners are responsible for their own health and safety at work. Consequently, understanding the probabilities of self-protection at work by artisanal goldminers is crucial. A cross-sectional survey of 500 artisanal goldminers was conducted to examine the probabilities of personal protective equipment use among artisanal goldminers in Ghana. The data was subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Initial findings showed that personal protective equipment use among artisanal miners was 77.4%. Overall, higher probabilities of personal protective equipment use was observed among artisanal goldminers who work in good health and safety conditions as compared to artisanal miners who work in poor health and safety conditions. Also, personal protective equipment use was more probable among the highly educated artisanal goldminers, miners who regularly go for medical screening and the most experienced miners. Additionally, personal protective equipment use was more probable among artisanal miners who work in non-production departments and miners who work in the medium scale subsector. Inversely, personal protective equipment use was less probable among female artisanal miners and miners who earn more monthly income ($174 and above). To increase self-care and safety consciousness in artisanal mining, there is the need for a national occupational health and safety legislation in Ghana. Also, interventions and health promotion campaigns for better occupational conditions in artisanal mining should target and revise the health and safety related workplace programs and conditions.

Sociodemographic Characteristics Predicting Digital Health Intervention Use After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Increasing evidence suggests that digital health interventions (DHIs) are an effective tool to reduce hospital readmissions by improving adherence to guideline-directed therapy. We investigated whether sociodemographic characteristics influence use of a DHI targeting 30-day readmission reduction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Covariates included age, sex, race, native versus loaner iPhone, access to a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure monitor, and disease severity as marked by treatment with CABG. Age, sex, and race were not significantly associated with DHI use before or after covariate adjustment (fully adjusted OR 0.98 (95%CI: 0.95-1.01), 0.6 (95%CI: 0.29-1.25), and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.60-2.48), respectively). Being married was associated with high DHI use (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.02-4.39). Our findings suggest that DHIs may have a role in achieving equity in cardiovascular health given similar use by age, sex, and race. The presence of a spouse, perhaps a proxy for enhanced caregiver support, may encourage DHI use.

The use of whole blood capillary samples to measure 15 analytes for a home-collect biochemistry service during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A proposed model from North West London Pathology.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the delivery of secondary care services. Self-collection of capillary blood at home can facilitate the monitoring of patients with chronic disease to support virtual clinics while mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the comparability of whole blood capillary and plasma venous samples for 15 routinely used biochemical analytes and to develop and pilot a user-friendly home-collection kit to support virtual outpatient clinical services. METHODS: To investigate the comparability of whole blood capillary and plasma venous samples for 15 routinely requested biochemical analytes, simultaneous samples of venous and capillary blood were collected in EDTA and lithium-heparin plasma separation tubes that were of 4-6 mL and 400-600 µL draw volume, respectively. Venous samples were analysed within 4 h of collection while capillary samples were kept at ambient temperature for three days until centrifugation and analysis. Analyte results that were comparable between the matrices were then piloted in a feasibility study in three outpatient clinical services. RESULTS: HbA1c, lipid profile and liver function tests were considered comparable and piloted in the patient feasibility study. The home-collect kit demonstrated good patient usability. CONCLUSION: Home collection of capillary blood could be a clinically-useful tool to deliver virtual care to patients with chronic disease.

Self-directed rehabilitation training intensity thresholds for efficient recovery of skilled forelimb function in rats with cervical spinal cord injury.

Task specific rehabilitation training is commonly used to treat motor dysfunction after neurological injures such as spinal cord injury (SCI), yet the use of task specific training in preclinical animal studies of SCI is not common. This is due in part to the difficulty in training animals to perform specific motor tasks, but also due to the lack of knowledge about optimal rehabilitation training parameters to maximize recovery. The single pellet reaching, grasping and retrieval (SPRGR) task (a.k.a. single pellet reaching task or Whishaw task) is a skilled forelimb motor task used to provide rehabilitation training and test motor recovery in rodents with cervical SCI. However, the relationships between the amount, duration, intensity, and timing of training remain poorly understood. In this study, using automated robots that allow rats with cervical SCI ad libitum access to self-directed SPRGR rehabilitation training, we show clear relationships between the total amount of rehabilitation training, the intensity of training (i.e., number of attempts/h), and performance in the task. Specifically, we found that rats naturally segregate into High and Low performance groups based on training strategy and performance in the task. Analysis of the different training strategies showed that more training (i.e., increased number of attempts in the SPRGR task throughout rehabilitation training) at higher intensities (i.e., number of attempts per hour) increased performance in the task, and that improved performance in the SPRGR task was linked to differences in corticospinal tract axon collateral densities in the injured spinal cords. Importantly, however, our data also indicate that rehabilitation training becomes progressively less efficient (i.e., less recovery for each attempt) as both the amount and intensity of rehabilitation training increases. Finally, we found that Low performing animals could increase their training intensity and transition to High performing animals in chronic SCI. These results highlight the rehabilitation training strategies that are most effective to regain skilled forelimb motor function after SCI, which will facilitate pre-clinical rehabilitation studies using animal models and could be beneficial in the development of more efficient clinical rehabilitation training strategies.

Lessons learned from the implementation of a video health coaching technology intervention to improve self-care of family caregivers of adults with heart failure.

Individuals with heart failure (HF) typically live in the community and are cared for at home by family caregivers. These caregivers often lack supportive services and the time to access those services when available. Technology can play a role in conveniently bringing needed support to these caregivers. The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation of a virtual health coaching intervention with caregivers of HF patients ("Virtual Caregiver Coach for You"-ViCCY). A randomized controlled trial is currently in progress to test the efficacy of the intervention to improve self-care. In this trial, 250 caregivers will be randomly assigned to receive health information via a tablet computer (hereafter, tablet) plus 10 live health coaching sessions delivered virtually (intervention group; n = 125) or health information via a tablet only (control group; n = 125). Each tablet has specific health information websites preloaded. To inform others embarking on similar technology projects, here we highlight the technology challenges encountered with the first 15 caregivers who received the ViCCY intervention and the solutions used to overcome those challenges. Several adaptations to the implementation of ViCCY were needed to address hardware, software, and network connectivity challenges. Even with a well-designed research implementation plan, it is important to re-examine strategies at every step to solve implementation barriers and maximize fidelity to the intervention. Researcher and interventionist flexibility in adapting to new strategies is essential when implementing a technology-based virtual health coaching intervention.

Systematic Evaluation of Canadian Diabetes Smartphone Applications for People With Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Our aims in this study were to: 1) review diabetes apps available in Canada using the Mobile App Rating Scale tool and generate usability scores for each, 2) characterize availability of features across all apps, 3) evaluate the clinical safety of bolus insulin calculators and 4) evaluate the quality of exportable blood glucose reports meant for use by health-care providers. METHODS: Two primary reviewers searched for, screened and evaluated diabetes apps from the Android Play Store and iOS App Store, resulting from the search terms "glucose" and "diabetes." RESULTS: Overall Mobile App Rating Scale quality rating score was 3.1 out of 5. The Functionality subsection scored the highest (3.9 out of 5) and Information scored the lowest (2.0 out of 5). The majority of apps have the ability to track carbohydrate intake (54 of 75, 72%), send reminders (46 of 75, 61%) and can generate blood glucose reports (53 of 75, 71%), but few have bolus insulin calculators (6 of 75, 9%) and remote diabetes support (10 of 75, 13%). CONCLUSION: Despite the widespread availability of many iOS and Android diabetes management apps, few are of high quality.

Eficácia dos protocolos de enfermagem direcionados ao paciente com complicações diabéticas / Effectiveness of patient-directed nursing protocols with diabetic complications / Eficacia de los protocolos de enfermería dirigidos al paciente con complicaciones diabéticas

Objetivo: Investigar na literatura científica a eficácia dos protocolos de enfermagem direcionados ao paciente com complicações diabéticas. Método: Revisão integrativa, realizada de agosto a setembro de 2019, seguindo as recomendações do PRISMA. As bases de dados utilizadas foram: Web of Science e Scopus, através dos cruzamentos: "Diabetes Mellitus AND Nursing AND Protocols" e "Amputation AND Nursing AND Protocols". Identificaram-se 672 artigos, sendo selecionados 17. Resultados: A maior parte dos estudos foram publicados em inglês e realizados nos Estados Unidos. Verificaram-se protocolos de controle glicêmico, da cetoacidose e do autocuidado, os quais apresentaram bons resultados para o que se propõem. Um artigo abordou superficialmente os cuidados de enfermagem direcionados a pessoas com amputação. Conclusão: Os protocolos de enfermagem direcionados ao paciente com complicações diabéticas apresentaram-se eficazes.

Objective: To investigate in the scientific literature the effectiveness of nursing protocols directed to patients with diabetic complications. Method: Integrative review, conducted from August to September 2019, following the recommendations of the PRISMA.The databases used were: Web of Science and Scopus, through the crossovers: "Diabetes Mellitus AND Nursing AND Protocols" and "Amputation AND Nursing AND Protocols". A total of 672 articles were identified and 17were selected. Results: Most studies were published in English and conducted in the United States. Glycemic control, ketoacidosis and self-care protocols were verified, which presented good results for their purpose. One article superficially addressed nursing care directed to people with amputation. Conclusion: Nursing protocols directed to patients with diabetic complications were effective

Objetivo: Investigar en la literatura científica la efectividad de los protocolos de enfermería dirigidos a pacientes con complicaciones diabéticas. Método: Revisión integradora, realizada de agosto a septiembre de 2019, siguiendo las recomendaciones de PRISMA. Las bases de datos utilizadas fueron: Web of Science y Scopus, a través de los crossovers: "Diabetes Mellitus AND Enfermería AND Protocolos" y "Amputación AND Enfermería AND Protocolos". Se identificaron un total de 672 artículos y se seleccionaron 17. Resultados: La mayoría de los estudios se publicaron en inglés y se realizaron en los Estados Unidos. Se verificaron los protocolos de control glucémico, cetoacidosis y autocuidado, que presentaron buenos resultados para su propósito. Un artículo abordó superficialmente la atención de enfermería dirigida a personas con amputación. Conclusión: Los protocolos de enfermería dirigidos a pacientes con complicaciones diabéticas fueron efectivos

Autocuidado de usuários com diabetes mellitus inseridos em um programa de automonitorização da glicemia capilar / Self-care of users with diabetes mellitus entered into a program of capillary blood glucose self-monitoring / Autocuidado de los usuarios con diabetes mellitus entrado en un programa de la sangre capilar automonitorización de la glucosa

Objetivo: Avaliar o desempenho das atividades de autocuidado de usuários com diabetes mellitus inseridos em um programa de automonitorização da glicemia capilar no domicílio. Método: estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado no domicílio de usuários com diabetes mellitus que realizam a automonitorização da glicemia capilar, totalizando uma amostra de 279 usuários. Na avaliação das atividades de autocuidado utilizou-se o Questionário de Atividades de Autocuidado com o Diabetes, e para coleta dos dados sociodemográficos e clínico foi aplicado um roteiro sistematizado. Resultados: os dados revelaram que as dimensões alimentação específica, atividade física e monitorização glicêmica demostra comportamento de autocuidado não desejável, enquanto adesão medicamentosa apresentou o melhor comportamento de autocuidado desejável. Conclusão: os usuários com diabetes mellitus que realizam a automonitorização da glicemia capilar no domicílio necessitam de um acompanhamento específico, acrescido de práticas educativas contínuas que estimulem a participação efetiva nas atividades de autocuidado

Objective:To evaluate the performance of self-care activities of users with diabetes mellitus entered into a program of capillary blood glucose self-monitoring at home. Method: cross-sectional study, descriptive, with a quantitative approach, held at the domicile of users with diabetes mellitus that perform capillary blood glucose self-monitoring, totaling a sample of 279 users. In the evaluation of the activities of self-care Questionnaire was used of Self-care activities with Diabetes, and to collect demographic and clinical data was applied a systematic roadmap. Results: the data revealed that the specific power supply dimensions, physical activity and monitoring Glycemic demonstrates behavior of self-care is not desirable, while drug membership presented the best self-care behavior desirable. Conclusión: users with diabetes mellitus that perform capillary blood glucose self-monitoring at home require a specific accompaniment, plus continuous educational practices that foster the effective participation in the activities of self-care

Objetivo: Evaluar el desempeño de las actividades de autocuidado de los usuarios con diabetes mellitus entró en un programa de sangre capilar glucosa autocontrol en casa. Método: estudio transversal descriptivo con enfoque cuantitativo, celebrada en el domicilio de los usuarios con diabetes mellitus que realizan sangre capilar Self-monitoring de la glucosa, por un total de una muestra de 279 usuarios. En la evaluación de las actividades de autocuidado se utilizó cuestionario de actividades de autocuidado con Diabetes, y recopilar datos demográficos y clínicos se aplicó un plan sistemático. Resultados:Los datos revelaron que la alimentación específicos dimensiones, actividad física y control glicémico demuestra comportamiento de autocuidado no es deseable, mientras que miembros de drogas presentaron el mejor comportamiento de autocuidado deseable. Conclusión: los usuarios con diabetes mellitus que realizan sangre capilar glucosa autocontrol en casa requieren de un acompañamiento específico, además de continuas prácticas educativas que fomentan la participación efectiva en las actividades de cuidados personales

Content Validation of Clinical Evidence Related to Self-Care Deficits of Patients With Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to develop the conceptual and operational definitions for the defining characteristics of each nursing diagnosis related to self-care deficits of patients with stroke and to validate these definitions with experts. METHODS: This was a methodological study. The definitions were evaluated by 32 specialists and analyzed using binomial testing. RESULTS: All the defining characteristics analyzed were statistically significant (p < .05); three indicators showed agreement at a level lower than the ideal (<0.85). CONCLUSION: The definitions achieved validity for measuring self-care deficit for bathing, toileting, dressing, and eating. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: These defining characteristics of each nursing diagnosis related to self-care deficits may enable more accurate assessment, driving relevant and individualized action plans in rehabilitation.

At-Home Transvaginal Device Following Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.

BACKGROUND: Device-based therapeutic approaches have been developed to treat women’s genitourinary post-menopausal symptoms. Fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing (FxCO2) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the treatment of GSM symptoms, however the results begin to wane by 12-months post-treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at assessing the application of an at-home transvaginal red and infrared light device as a maintenance treatment commencing 12 months following FxCO2 laser treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). STUDY DESIGN: Subjects completing 12-month follow-up after three fractional CO2 laser vulvovaginal treatments received an at-home device and monitored for GSM symptoms with long-term follow-up to 12 months (2 years post-laser). METHODS: 10 post-menopausal subjects completing 12-months follow-up after three FxCO2 vulvovaginal treatments for GSM were treated with an at-home red and infrared LED device. Treatment consisted of intravaginal application three times per week, and subjects were followed to 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Subjects completed the vaginal assessment scale subject satisfaction, and QUID to assess for vulvovaginal and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms. RESULTS: Vulvovaginal symptoms measured by VAS were mean 89% improved at 12-month follow-up after FxCO2 and maintained at 73% improved over baseline (2 years post-laser) following an additional 12 months of at-home transvaginal light therapy (P<0.05). VAS symptoms gradually increased over the 12 months maintenance period by a mean of 17% (P<0.05). Mean subject satisfaction was 0 at baseline, 1.86 at 1 year following FxCO2, and 1.00 after an additional 1 year of at-home light therapy. SUI symptoms as measured by QUID were mean 81% improved at 12-month follow-up after FxCO2and maintained at 38% improved over baseline (2 years post-laser) following an additional 12-months of at-home light therapy (P<0.05). SUI symptoms gradually increased by a mean of 43% over the 12-month maintenance period (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: At-home transvaginal red and near infrared light therapy commencing at 12 months post-FxCO2 vulvovaginal treatment in a post-menopausal population maintained statistically significant improvements in vulvovaginal and SUI symptoms over the additional12-month period (2 years post-laser); however, a gradual return of symptoms suggests that laser re-treatment or combination withhormone therapy may be necessary to maintain optimal outcomes.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(11):1076-1079. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.1012.

INYBI: A New Tool for Self-Myofascial Release of the Suboccipital Muscles in Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, single-blinded (the outcome assessor was unaware of participants' allocation group) controlled clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of myofascial release therapy (MRT) over the suboccipital muscles, compared with self-MRT using a novel device, the INYBI tool, on pain-related outcomes, active cervical mobility, and vertical mouth opening, in adults with chronic non-specific neck pain (NSNP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MRT is used to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, with purported positive effects. The efficacy of self-MRT, compared with MRT, has been scarcely evaluated. METHODS: Fifty-eight participants (mean age of 34.6 ±â€Š4.7 yrs; range 21-40 yrs; 77.6% females, 22.4% males) with persistent NSNP agreed to participate, and were equally distributed into an INYBI (n = 29) or a control group (n = 29). Both groups underwent a single 5-minutes intervention session. For participants in the control group, MRT of the suboccipital muscles was performed using the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique, while those in the INYBI group underwent a self-MRT intervention using the INYBI device. Primary measurements were taken of pain intensity (visual analogue scale), local pressure pain sensitivity, as assessed with an algometer, and active cervical range-of-movement. Secondary outcomes included pain-free vertical mouth opening. Outcomes were collected at baseline, immediately after intervention and 45 minutes later. RESULTS: The analysis of variance (ANOVAs) demonstrated no significant between-groups effect for any variable (all, P > 0.05). In the within-groups comparison, all participants significantly improved pain-related outcomes, and showed similar positive changes for mouth opening. Cervical range-of-movement- mainly increased after intervention for participants in the control group. CONCLUSION: Both, MRT and self-MRT using the INYBI, are equally effective to enhance self-reported pain intensity, and local pressure pain sensitivity in chronic NSNP patients. For cervical mobility, MRT appears to be slighlty superior, compared with the INYBI, to achieve improvements in this population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

The challenge of diabetes home control in COVID-19 times: Proof is in the pudding.

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had changed self-care in diabetes. The aim of this work is to analyze the effect of lockdown on glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes on multiple daily insulin injections using FGM. During lockdown no deleterious effect on glycemic control measured by FGM.

Feasibility and acceptability of a pilot, peer-led HIV self-testing intervention in a hyperendemic fishing community in rural Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Novel interventions are needed to reach young people and adult men with HIV services given the low HIV testing rates in these population sub-groups. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a peer-led oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention in Kasensero, a hyperendemic fishing community (HIV prevalence: 37-41%) in Rakai, Uganda. METHODS: This study was conducted among young people (15-24 years) and adult men (25+ years) between May and August 2019. The study entailed distribution of HIVST kits by trained "peer-leaders," who were selected from existing social networks and trained in HIVST distribution processes. Peer-leaders received up to 10 kits to distribute to eligible social network members (i.e. aged 15-24 years if young people or 25+ years if adult man, not tested in the past 3 months, and HIV-negative or of unknown HIV status at enrolment). The intervention was evaluated against the feasibility benchmark of 70% of peer-leaders distributing up to 70% of the kits that they received; and the acceptability benchmark of >80% of the respondents self-testing for HIV. RESULTS: Of 298 enrolled into the study at baseline, 56.4% (n = 168) were young people (15-24 years) and 43.6% (n = 130) were adult males (25+ years). Peer-leaders received 298 kits and distributed 296 (99.3%) kits to their social network members. Of the 282 interviewed at follow-up, 98.2% (n = 277) reported that they used the HIVST kits. HIV prevalence was 7.4% (n = 21). Of the 57.1% (n = 12) first-time HIV-positives, 100% sought confirmatory HIV testing and nine of the ten (90%) respondents who were confirmed as HIV-positive were linked to HIV care within 1 week of HIV diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that a social network-based, peer-led HIVST intervention in a hyperendemic fishing community is highly feasible and acceptable, and achieves high linkage to HIV care among newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals.

Long-term Cost-Effectiveness of Dexcom G6 Real-time Continuous Glucose Monitoring Versus Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes in the U.K.

OBJECTIVE: A long-term health economic analysis was performed to establish the cost-effectiveness of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) (Dexcom G6) versus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) alone in U.K.-based patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The analysis used the IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model. Clinical input data were sourced from the DIAMOND trial in adults with T1D. Simulations were performed separately in the overall population of patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.5% (58 mmol/mol), and a secondary analysis was performed in patients with baseline HbA1c ≥8.5% (69 mmol/mol). The analysis was performed from the National Health Service health care payer perspective over a lifetime time horizon. RESULTS: In the overall population, G6 RT-CGM was associated with a mean incremental gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy of 1.49 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) versus SMBG (mean [SD] 11.47 [2.04] QALYs versus 9.99 [1.84] QALYs). Total mean (SD) lifetime costs were also pounds sterling (GBP) 14,234 higher with RT-CGM (GBP 102,468 [35,681] versus GBP 88,234 [39,027]) resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of GBP 9,558 per QALY gained. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the findings were sensitive to changes in the quality-of-life benefit associated with reduced fear of hypoglycemia and avoidance of fingerstick testing as well as the HbA1c benefit associated with RT-CGM use. CONCLUSIONS: For U.K.-based T1D patients, the G6 RT-CGM device is associated with significant improvements in clinical outcomes and, over patient lifetimes, is a cost-effective disease management option relative to SMBG on the basis of a willingness-to-pay threshold of GBP 20,000 per QALY gained.