Medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes after disability onset: a difference-in-differences analysis using nationwide data.

BACKGROUND: Effectively managing the coexistence of both diabetes and disability necessitates substantial effort. Whether disability onset affects adherence to type 2 diabetes medication remains unclear. This study investigated whether disability onset reduces such adherence and whether any reduction varies by disability type. METHODS: This study used the National Disability Registry and National Health Insurance Research Database from Taiwan to identify patients with type 2 diabetes who subsequently developed a disability from 2013 to 2020; these patients were matched with patients with type 2 diabetes without disability onset during the study period. Type 2 diabetes medication adherence was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR). A difference-in-differences analysis was performed to determine the effect of disability onset on the MPR. RESULTS: The difference-in-differences analysis revealed that disability onset caused a reduction of 5.76% in the 1-year MPR (P < 0.001) and 13.21% in the 2-year MPR (P < 0.001). Among all disability types, organ disabilities, multiple disabilities, rare diseases, and a persistent vegetative state exhibited the largest reductions in 2-year MPR. CONCLUSIONS: Policies aimed at improving medication adherence in individuals with disabilities should consider not only the specific disability type but also the distinct challenges and barriers these patients encounter in maintaining medication adherence.

Risk and dose-response relationship of diabetes mellitus for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the risk of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and evaluate the dose-response relationship. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgeries from 2000 to 2017 in Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The endophthalmitis rates within 3 months after cataract surgery were compared between DM and non-DM cohorts using a generalised estimating equation. The diabetes complications severity index (DSCI) score was adopted to assess the dose-response effect on the endophthalmitis rate. RESULTS: A total of 883 398 patients (1 766 796 eyes) were included. Patients with DM had an increased risk of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery than patients without DM (0.261% vs. 0.242%, adjusted odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.16). The higher endophthalmitis rate in the DM group than in the non-DM group remains after excluding those with prior vitrectomy or intravitreal injection (IVI), and took IVI between the cataract surgery and endophthalmitis (p = 0.0156, 0.0048, and 0.0139). There was a significant dose-response relationship on the likelihood of endophthalmitis in DM patients when DCSI score >10. The endophthalmitis rate is highest among DM complications in patients with metabolic disorders (0.342%). CONCLUSION: DM was a risk factor for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery after adjusting for age, sex, common systemic disorders, and excluding those with prior vitrectomy or IVI and having IVI between cataract surgery and endophthalmitis. A dose-response relationship was noted in DM patients with a DCSI score >10.

Transforming stress program on medical students' stress mindset and coping strategies: a quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Stress is a significant concern in medical education, and identifying effective ways to deal with stress may help with students' mental health and professional development. This study aimed to examine the effects of the Transforming Stress Program (TSP) amongst first-year medical students on their stress mindset and coping strategies when confronted with stressors. METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental study at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A total of 409 first-year students at the Faculty of Medicine were divided into intervention group (205 students) and control group (204 students). The 10-week TSP was delivered as an extra-curricular course. The training adopts psychoeducation based on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with mindfulness as a fundamental practice incorporated into each component of the program. The intervention group received the training in the first semester; the control group received identical program in the second semester. Stress Mindset Measurement and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced were measured before the intervention (T0), immediately after intervention on Intervention group (T1), and six months after intervention on Intervention group (T2). RESULTS: At T1, the intervention group showed 65% improvements in stress mindset scores and increases in coping strategies scores in six domains (Problem solving, Social support, Humor, Religion, Venting, and Self-distraction) and decreases in three (Avoidance, Substance use, and Self-blame). The effect sizes were significant in all outcomes (Cohen's d > 0.2). Measurements of the control group did not change significantly in the same period. At T2, effects of the TSP were found decreased in some domains (Avoidance, Substance use, and Self-blame) compared to T1, but largely remained significantly better than T0. CONCLUSIONS: The TSP is a feasible and effective approach that significantly enhanced medical students' stress mindset and coping strategies. Some effects were still observable 6 months after the intervention. The relatively intensive intervention requires support of the school administration and staff.

Willingness to pay for private health insurance among workers with mandatory social health insurance in Mongolia.

BACKGROUND: High out-of-pocket health expenditure is a common problem in developing countries. The employed population, rather than the general population, can be considered the main contributor to healthcare financing in many developing countries. We investigated the feasibility of a parallel private health insurance package for the working population in Ulaanbaatar as a means toward universal health coverage in Mongolia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sampling method to collect primary data from workers in public and primary sectors in Ulaanbaatar. Willingness to pay (WTP) was evaluated using a contingent valuation method and a double-bounded dichotomous choice elicitation questionnaire. A final sample of 1657 workers was analyzed. Perceptions of current social health insurance were evaluated. To analyze WTP, we performed a 2-part model and computed the full marginal effects using both intensive and extensive margins. Disparities in WTP stratified by industry and gender were analyzed. RESULTS: Only < 40% of the participants were satisfied with the current mandatory social health insurance in Mongolia. Low quality of service was a major source of dissatisfaction. The predicted WTP for the parallel private health insurance for men and women was Mongolian Tugrik (₮)16,369 (p < 0.001) and ₮16,661 (p < 0.001), respectively, accounting for approximately 2.4% of the median or 1.7% of the average salary in the country. The highest predicted WTP was found for workers from the education industry (₮22,675, SE = 3346). Income and past or current medical expenditures were significantly associated with WTP. CONCLUSION: To reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure among the working population in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, supplementary parallel health insurance is feasible given the predicted WTP. However, given high variations among different industries and sectors, different incentives may be required for participation.

Effect of the time interval between cataract surgery for both eyes on mental health outcome: a cohort study of 585,422 patients.

BACKGROUND: Cataract surgeries can improve mental health outcomes. However, previous studies have not investigated whether the time interval between cataract surgeries for 2 eyes affects mental health outcomes. METHODS: We used the whole-population National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data from Taiwan to conduct a cohort study. Patients who received cataract surgeries for both eyes were identified (n = 585,422). The mental health inpatient and outpatient consultations received by these patients were analyzed, with different time intervals (< 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12, and > 12 months) between the surgeries. Negative binominal regression was performed to estimate the interaction of the first eye surgery with the time interval. RESULTS: The number of mental health consultations was lowest among patients with a time interval of < 3 months (1.783-1.743, P < .001), and a negative dose response effect was observed, such that a longer time interval corresponded to a lower reduction in the number of mental health consultations. For patients with a time interval of > 12 months, the predicted number of mental health consultations increased from 1.674 to 1.796 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Given a patient expected to receive surgeries for both eyes within 1 year, scheduling both surgeries within a short time interval may be beneficial for maximizing the effects of cataract surgery in reducing the number of mental health consultations.

Empowerment and use of modern contraceptive methods among married women in Burkina Faso: a multilevel analysis.

BACKGROUND: In Burkina Faso, gender inequality prevents women from meeting their reproductive needs, leading to high rates of unintended pregnancies, abortions and deaths. Evidence shows that empowering women may increase the proportion of demand for family planning satisfied using modern methods (mDFPS), but few studies have measured this process in multiple spheres of life. We investigated how empowerment influences the mDFPS among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in Burkina Faso. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2010 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) on 4714 MWRA with reproductive needs living in 573 communities. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and Cronbach's alpha test to explore and assess specific and consistently relevant components of women's agency in marital relationships. Aggregated measures at the cluster level were used to assess gender norms and relationships in communities. Descriptive statistics were performed and multilevel logistic regression models were carried out to concurrently gauge the effects of women's agency and community-level of gender equality on mDFPS, controlling for socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Overall, less than one-third (30.8%) of the demand for family planning among MWRA were satisfied with modern methods. Participation in household decision-making, freedom in accessing healthcare, and opposition to domestic violence were underlying components of women's agency in marital relationships. In the full model adjusted for socioeconomic status, freedom in accessing healthcare was significantly (aOR 1.27, CI 1.06-1.51) associated with mDFPS. For community-level variables, women's greater access to assets (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.13-2.61) and family planning messages (aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.64-4.36) increased mDFPS, while higher fertility expectations (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.87) reduced it. Unexpectedly, women in communities with higher rates of female genital mutilation were more likely (aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.52-3.99) to have mDFPS. CONCLUSIONS: Empowering women has the potential to reduce gender inequality, raise women's agency and increase mDFPS. This influence may occur through both balanced marital relationships and fair community gender norms and relationships. Progress toward universal access to reproductive services should integrate the promotion of women's rights. TRIAL REGISTRATION: No clinical trial has been performed in this study.

Resident burnout in Taiwan Hospitals-and its relation to physician felt trust from patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study hypothesized that low 'felt trust' from patients may induce resident burnout. The authors developed and validated a scale to measure physician felt trust from patients and surveyed residents in Taiwan to estimate the prevalence of burnout, and to verify the association between felt trust and burnout. METHODS: Residents in Taiwan were surveyed between November 2015 and May 2016. The Chinese version occupational burnout inventory and the four-item 'physician-felt-trust-from-patient' (PFTFP) scale were used to measure burnout and physician felt trust. Generalized linear model with generalized estimating equation with burnout as the dependent variable was employed to estimate the association between physician felt trust and burnout while adjusting other potential confounders. RESULTS: There were 1016 questionnaires returned (response rate 67.8%). The prevalence of personal burnout and client-related burnout were 44.0% and 14.8%. The PFTFP scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Chrobach's α 0.68) and favorable construct validity. Residents feeling less trusted from patients had significantly more burnout, especially client-related burnout, which showed a strong dose-response pattern. Residents having longer work hours or consecutive work hours and higher psychological job demands experienced more burnout, especially personal burnout. Residents with self-reported medical errors in recent 3 months had more client-related but not personal burnout. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of burnout among residents in Taiwan was high, especially personal burnout. The validity of the PFTFP scale is satisfactory. Strategies in improving wellbeing of residents shall not overlook the importance of positive social capital such as resident's feeling of patient trust.

Public Trust in Physicians-Health Care Commodification as a Possible Deteriorating Factor: Cross-sectional Analysis of 23 Countries.

Trust in physicians has declined, and surveys of public opinion show a poor level of public trust in physicians. Commodification of health care has been speculated as a plausible driving force. We used cross-national data of 23 countries from the International Social Survey Programme 2011 to quantify health care commodification and study its role in the trust that patients generally place in physicians. A modified health care index was used to quantify health care commodification. There were 34 968 respondents. A question about the level of general trust in physicians and a 4-item "general trust in physicians" scale were used as our major and minor outcomes. The results were that compared with those in the reference countries, the respondents in the health care-commodified countries were approximately half as likely to trust physicians (odds ratio: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-0.72) and scored 1.13 (95% CI: 1.89-0.37) less on the general trust scale. However, trust in physicians in the health care-decommodified countries did not differ from that in the reference countries. In conclusion, health care commodification may play a meaningful role in the deterioration of public trust in physicians.

Effect of Continuity of Care on Drug-Drug Interactions.

BACKGROUND: Drug-drug interaction (DDI) is a critical concern in health care systems because it is directly associated with patient outcomes and is generally preventable. However, few studies have been conducted on whether poor continuity of care (COC) is a determinant of DDIs and whether this effect varies by level of comorbidity. Patients with higher comorbidity normally require more complex treatment regimens than other patients, and hence their COC is more critical for ensuring the accuracy of their medication information. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between COC and DDI, with COC being measured as physician and site COC. The effect of comorbidities on DDI events was also analyzed. METHODS: The Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data of ∼1,000,000 randomly selected insurance beneficiaries were used. Each person was longitudinally followed from 2005 to 2013. Negative nominal regressions were estimated to determine the effect of COC on DDI. RESULTS: Higher COC was found to decrease the risk of DDI, and this risk reduction was even greater with physician COC and a higher Charlson comorbidity index. In the 1-year observation interval, patients exhibited a 3% reduction in DDIs for every 0.1 increment in their COC index. The ability of COC to reduce DDIs increased with the level of comorbidity. Similar results were observed when the observation interval was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Improving COC is critical for reducing DDIs. The effect of high-quality COC on the reduction of DDI is more significant for patients with higher levels of comorbidity; thus, they should be targeted to improve COC.

The Effect of Continuity of Care on Emergency Room Use for Diabetic Patients Varies by Disease Severity.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have reported that high-quality continuity of care (COC) is associated with improved patient outcomes for patients with diabetes, few studies have investigated whether this positive effect of COC depends on the level of diabetes severity. METHODS: A total of 3781 newly diagnosed diabetic patients selected from the 2005 National Health Insurance database were evaluated for the period 2005-2011. Generalized estimating equations combined with negative binomial estimation were used to determine the influence of COC on the overall emergency room (ER) use and diabetes mellitus (DM)-specific ER use. Analyses were stratified according to diabetes severity (measured using the Diabetes Complications Severity Index [DCSI]), comorbidities (measured using the Charlson comorbidity score), and age. RESULTS: COC effects varied according to diabetes severity. Stratified analysis showed that the positive effect of COC on DM-specific ER use was the highest for a DCSI of 0 (least severe), with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.41-0.59) in the high-COC group (reference group: low-COC group). Compared with the low-COC group, high-quality COC had a significant beneficial effect on overall ER use in younger patients (IRR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.39-0.66 for the youngest [18-40 years] group, and IRR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.76 for the oldest [>65 years] group) and those with a high number of comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: The positive effects of high-quality COC on the treatment outcomes of patient with diabetes, based on the overall and DM-specific ER use, depends on the level of disease severity. Therefore, providing health education to enhance high-quality COC when the disease severity is low may be critical for ensuring optimal positive effects during diabetes disease progression.

Willingness to participate and Pay for a proposed national health insurance in St. Vincent and the grenadines: a cross-sectional contingent valuation approach.

BACKGROUND: Numerous Caribbean countries are considering implementing National Health Insurance (NHI) and pooling resources to finance their health sectors. Based on this increased interest in health insurance, we investigated the willingness to participate and to pay for NHI in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an upper-middle-income Caribbean country. METHODS: Four hundred heads of household in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were interviewed in August 2012 and September 2012. The samples were selected through simple random sampling, including the stratification of rural, semiurban, and urban communities to ensure the representativeness of the sample. A contingent valuation method with a pretested interviewer-led questionnaire was used. Respondents were presented with a hypothetical NHI plan. Chi-squared analysis was performed to identify factors that are associated with the willingness to participate. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the factors that influence respondents' willingness to pay. RESULTS: In total, 69.5% (n = 278) of the respondents indicated that they were willing to participate in the proposed NHI plan, of whom 72.3% were willing to pay for the first bid (EC$50). When the bid was reduced to EC$25, all of the remaining respondents who indicated they were willing to participate were willing to pay this lowered bid. Overall, the respondents were willing to pay EC$77.83 (US$28.83) per month for each person to enroll in the NHI plan. Age, income, and having some form of health insurance were significantly associated with a willingness to participate in the plan. CONCLUSIONS: A higher socioeconomic status was the principal determinant factor for the willingness to participate. This is similar to studies on developing economies. The government can use these findings to guide the successful implementation of the proposed NHI program. People with a lower socioeconomic status must be engaged from the start of and throughout the development process to enhance their understanding of and participation in the plan.

Ophthalmic health care needs of children with disabilities.

BACKGROUNDS: Although vision care is crucial for pediatric eye health, research on vision care utilization by children with disabilities remains limited. Furthermore, no study has investigated the variations among various disability types and the interaction between disability status and age. METHODS: All children with disabilities listed in the Taiwan National Disability Registry during the study period (2015-2019) were matched by age and sex at a 1:4 ratio with children without disabilities. Vision care needs were measured on the basis of (1) the number of outpatient ophthalmology visits, (2) total medical costs associated with outpatient ophthalmology visits, and (3) whether ophthalmic care was provided. Generalized estimating equation models were estimated to determine the relationships between utilization, disability status, and age. RESULTS: Significant differences in needs between various disability types were identified. Other than children with visual disability, children with facial disability and balance abnormalities also had considerable needs. Children with intellectual disabilities, which constituted the most common disability type (29.4% in 2019), had fewer visits (mean = 1.38, SD = 2.12) and lower medical costs, compared with the averages for all children with disabilities. Care utilization shared an inverted U-shaped relationship with age. CONCLUSIONS: Children with disabilities have higher vision care needs, which vary by disability type and age. Such needs are greater at younger ages and decreases after the ages of 9-10 years. Policies should be specific to disability type and age to ensure vision care needs are met.

Medical care use and mortality rate after the onset of disability: A 6-year follow-up study based on national data in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The onset of disability is a major health challenge, and people with disability can be particularly underserved in the years immediately after the disability onset. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the excess mortality rate of people with recent-onset disability and their health-care utilization during the period after disability onset (1-6 years after onset). METHODS: We used whole-population claims data from 2015 to 2020 (for approximately 23 million individuals) from Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) system. These NHI claims data were linked to the National Death Records and National Disability Registry. Each individual with a disability was followed until their death or December 31, 2020. The age-standardized mortality rate and outpatient and inpatient utilization were compared between individuals with and without disability. Finally, Cox regressions were estimated to determine excess mortality for the individuals with disability. RESULTS: The age-standardized mortality rates for the people with disability and those without disability were 1020.35/10,000 and 463.83/10,000, respectively. The people with disability utilized significantly more medical care under the NHI system. Mortality rates differed substantially among disability types. The Cox regression revealed a hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI = 1.46, 1.48) for all-cause mortality for people with disability, and significant sex differences in mortality risk were observed for some causes of death. CONCLUSION: According to the excess mortality rates within 6 years of disability onset observed in this study, the NHI may not be sufficient to reduce health disparity between people with and without disabilities. In addition, specific characteristics of each type of disability should be considered.

Long-Term Effect of Systemic Comorbidity on Glaucoma Medication Adherence.

PURPOSE: To determine whether systemic comorbidity is associated with reduced adherence to glaucoma medication and whether this decrease varies according to the number of comorbidity and the time after glaucoma onset. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Setting: Population-based. STUDY POPULATION: All patients with confirmed newly diagnosed glaucoma in one or both eyes were identified using National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data from Taiwan. OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: Individuals with newly diagnosed glaucoma were followed up for 5 years from onset. The study period was from January 1, 2011, to December, 31, 2020. Patient comorbidities were identified using the Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index. Adherence was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR). The MPR was calculated by dividing the total number of days a patient had a supply of glaucoma medication by 365. Data for the MPR were extracted from NHI outpatient and drug records. RESULTS: This study included a total of 50 408 patients. Compared with patients without comorbidity, patients with at least 1 comorbidity exhibited higher MPR in the first 2 years following glaucoma onset. However, their MPR decreased in the long term, specifically in the fourth and fifth years after onset. Additionally, the degree of nonadherence increased with the number of comorbidities. Patients with ≥4 comorbidities had significantly lower glaucoma medication adherence, with reductions of 6.4% (P = .033) and 11.8% (P < .001) in the fourth and fifth years after glaucoma onset, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of comorbidity can reduce glaucoma medication adherence by up to 12% in the long term. More comorbidities may increase the burden of managing chronic diseases; as a result, treatment for glaucoma may not receive priority due to the absence of clear symptoms of the condition.

Decomposition of socioeconomic inequalities in glaucoma knowledge in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Glaucoma knowledge is strongly associated with medication adherence and preventive behavior. Studies have frequently reported socioeconomic inequalities in glaucoma knowledge. This study aimed to decompose such inequalities. Decomposition analysis enables the design of policies directly targeting the underlying causes of inequality. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019, at the departments of ophthalmology of 2 medical centers belonging to a hospital chain in northern Taiwan. Socioeconomic inequalities in glaucoma knowledge were ranked based on 3 aspects of socioeconomic status (SES): (1) education, (2) income, and (3) self-perceived financial status. The concentration index was calculated and decomposed using decomposition analysis. Elasticity and marginal effects were estimated for each decomposed factor. RESULTS: In total, 1,203 patients completed the survey. Both measures of glaucoma knowledge and overall glaucoma knowledge score significantly contributed to the progressivity of knowledge inequalities (pro-high-SES inequalities). The concentration index for overall knowledge score with respect to education was 0.166 (p<0.001). Both objective and subjective measures of SES were associated with pro-high-SES inequalities. Our decomposition analysis revealed that demographic factors and attitudinal factors such as the level of concern regarding developing glaucoma contributed significantly to SES-based inequalities in glaucoma knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Our decomposition analysis provided empirical evidence regarding the underlying causes of SES-based inequalities in glaucoma knowledge. Efforts to improve glaucoma knowledge should consider specific factors that drive SES-based inequalities, such as age, sex, and concern about vision health, to ultimately achieve low SES-based inequalities.

Health-related inequalities in out-of-pocket expenditure under universal health coverage in Taiwan: A cross-sectional decomposition analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Studies have investigated income-related inequality in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on health care but less is known about health-related inequality of OOPE distribution. This study analysed the relationship between health-related inequality and OOPE and the factors contributing to OOPE inequality in Taiwan. METHODS: We developed a household OOPE questionnaire and conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of households in Taiwan between January and August 2022, using two-stage probability proportional-to-size sampling based on a national address registry in Taiwan. We calculated a concentration index to determine OOPE inequality in health. We then identified factors contributing to OOPE inequality in health distribution by performing a decomposition analysis. RESULTS: A total of 657 people responded to the survey (81.4% response rate). The two largest categories of OOPE were spending on curative care and on medical goods and pharmaceuticals, with concentration indices of -0.265 (p < .001), -0.272 (p = .006) and -0.227 (p = .003), respectively, indicating that the OOPE burden fell disproportionately on people with poor health. Socioeconomic status explained significant proportions of inequality in total, curative and medical goods and pharmaceuticals OOPE. Utilisation of health care increased the OOPE burden among people with poor health while having private health insurance worked in the opposite direction. CONCLUSION: In Taiwan, people in poor health faced a disproportionately high OOPE burden, indicating that the National Health Insurance scheme may not meet their needs for health care. There is a need for policies to take account of the different factors affecting health inequalities in OOPE in order to enhance equity in Taiwan's universal health system.

Risk Factors for Developing Neovascular Glaucoma in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: Two-Year Real-World Study.

PURPOSE: To explore potential risk factors for the development of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) over a two-year intensive follow-up period. METHODS: This study reviewed 1545 patients with CRVO between 2005 and 2019 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Inclusion was restricted to (1) patients with acute CRVO within 3 months; (2) patients with ocular neovascularization at initial presentation (3) patients had not received any treatment at the time of CRVO; (4) at least bimonthly follow-up schedule over the course of 2 years. The included patients were screened for potential risk factors for developing NVG and assessed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression model. RESULTS: Among the included 123 patients, the cumulative probability of developing NVG was 26.8% (33/123 cases) in overall follow-up period. The mean interval between the onset of CRVO and NVG was 507 days. Neither macular edema nor central macular thickness at baseline was correlated with the development of NVG (p =.104 and .25, respectively). Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), older age, and poor vision independently played significant risk factors for developing NVG after controlling other covariates. (p =.034, .001, and .013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with CRVO who have comorbidities such as DM, older age, and worse VA warrant closer attention and intensive follow-up for the development of NVG. Additionally, the statistical analysis indicated that the presence of macular edema, increased central macular thickness, CV events, history of glaucoma, and early PRP within 3 months had no significant impact on the likelihood of developing NVG.

Sources of stress, coping strategies and associated factors among Vietnamese first-year medical students.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the sources of stress among first-year medical students; the frequency of their coping strategies; the factors associated with specific stressors and specific coping strategies adopted by the participants. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 409 first-year students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam. The Vietnamese versions of the Higher Education Stress Inventory (V_HESI) and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (V_Brief COPE) were validated and were used as measurement instruments for participants' sources of stress and coping strategies frequencies. The survey comprised questions of socioeconomic status, stress-related issues, the six sources of stress (using the V_HESI), and the nine coping strategies (using the V_Brief COPE). RESULTS: Among the six sources of stress, "Worries about future competence/endurance" had the highest mean score (3.02±0.64), while "Mismatch in professional role expectations" had the lowest score (1.60±0.53). "Financial concerns" and "Academic workloads" were also significant sources of stress. Regarding coping strategies, Self-distraction was most frequently adopted by the participants (2.80 ± 0.68). Problem-solving (2.72±0.53) and seeking Social support (2.62±0.70) were also common adaptive strategies. Avoidance (1.87±0.55) and substance-use (1.27±0.55) were the least frequent strategies. Students who experienced acute stress event were more likely to have financial concerns compared to others. Substance use was positively associated with stressors from "Mismatch in professional role expectations", "Non-supportive educational environment", "Having physical issues" and "Having part-time job". Self-blame was more frequent among students with "Worries about future competence/endurance", "Financial concerns", and "Academic workload". Male student tended to adopt humor strategy (ß = 0.19, p = 0.02), while less likely to utilize religious practices (ß = -0.21, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of the participants reported moderate to high levels of stress. "Worries about future competence/endurance" was the most concerned stressor, followed by "Academic workload", and "Financial concerns". The first-year medical students reported high frequency of utilization "Self-distraction", "Problem-solving" and "Social support" when confronting stress. The findings may help inform the school management to better support students' well-being.

The impact of self-rated health on medical care utilization for older people with depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis whether self-rated health alone can explain the relationship between depression and medical care utilization for the older people and to determine whether the explanatory power of self-rated health is greater than that of the explanatory power of a major disease and activities of daily living. METHODS: This study used the data from 1572 older people obtained from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan. The data from the National Health Interview Survey were linked to the 2005 computerized claims data from the National Health Insurance, and from that, the outpatient expenditures and number of outpatient episodes were identified. The contribution of self-rated health, activities of daily living, the presence of major diseases, and self-rated health were estimated using ordinary least squares regressions. RESULTS: Controlling for self-rated health alone almost eliminates the positive relationship between depressive symptoms and number of outpatient visits. After controlling for self-rated health, the utilization ratio of outpatient visits for older people with depressive symptoms reduced significantly to only 1.01 and became insignificant. A similar pattern was observed for total outpatient costs. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that self-rated health is an important factor in the depressive symptoms-outpatient utilization relationship. To reduce medical costs for older people with depressive symptoms, it is essential that the self-rated health for this group is improved. Future studies should test the mechanism through which self-rated health impacts on medical utilization for older people with depressive symptoms.