Cross-cultural adaptation, translation, and validation of the Arabic version of the short form of Neurogenic Bladder Symptoms Score.

BACKGROUND: The Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score-Short Form (NBSS-SF) evaluates the impact of disease-specific symptoms on the quality of life (QoL) in individuals with neurogenic bladder (NB). There is no data on the validity and reliability of the NBSS-SF questionnaire in the Arabic language, so this study aimed at providing the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Arabic NBSS-SF in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: The original English language version of the NBSS-SF was translated into Arabic according to the cultural and linguistic adaptation algorithm. People with SCI and MS completed the NBSS-SF, demographic and clinical information, and Qualiveen QoL questionnaire. Responses were recorded twice within a 14-day period. Psychometric properties such as content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were tested. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the NBSS-SF with the Qualiveen questionnaire. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with MS and 97 with SCI participated in the study. The internal consistency for the overall NBSS-SF score (Cronbach's α of 0.82) and for each subdomain was variable (urinary incontinence 0.82; storage/voiding 0.73; consequences 0.53). ICC was 0.93 for the overall score and 0.96 for the urinary incontinence subdomain, 0.74 for storage/voiding, and 0.91 for consequences. The correlation analysis showed a significantly strong correlation between the QoL item of NBSS-SF and the Qualiveen total score (r = 0.72, p < 0.000). There was a significant moderate positive correlation between the total scores on the Arabic version of the NBSS-SF and the subdomains of the Qualiveen, including limitations (r = 0.51, p = 0.04), fears (r = 0.57, p = 0.04), feelings (r = 0.46, p = 0.01), and constraints (r = 0.59, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the Arabic version of NBSS-SF is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction symptoms in the Arabic population suffering from SCI and MS.

A qualitative survey on factors affecting depression and anxiety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study in Syria.

Depression and anxiety often coexist with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and affect the course of the disease. These mental health conditions can be overlooked or underdiagnosed in people with RA. There is conflicting evidence in previous studies regarding this topic, indicating that further research is necessary to provide a thorough understanding of the relationship between anxiety, depression, and RA. This study aims to determine the factors correlated with depression and anxiety symptoms in RA patients by evaluating disease activity at the same time. This cross-sectional study was conducted at four outpatient rehabilitation centers in four Syrian provinces: Damascus, Homs, Hama, and Latakia. The study included RA patients who attended the RA department of rehabilitation centers from January 1 to June 31, 2023. RA patients who presented at a rheumatology clinic were selected consecutively. RA patients were included in the study in accordance with the ACR/EULAR classification criteria, disease activity was assessed by disease activity score based on the 28-joint count (DAS28), and patients with DAS28 > 2.6 were considered to have active RA. The demographic data, as well as disease duration, educational status, Disease Activity Score with 28-joint counts (DAS28), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), were the parameters used in the analysis. Two hundred and twelve patients (female, 75%) with a mean age of 49.3 ± 13.1 years and a mean disease duration of 8.3 ± 6.9 years were studied. Depression was diagnosed in 79 (37.3%) patients and anxiety in 36 (16.9%) patients. Patients with depression and/or anxiety had higher HAQ and DAS28 scores compared to other RA patients. Blue-collar workers exhibited a higher prevalence of anxiety, whereas females, housewives, and individuals with lower educational attainment demonstrated a higher prevalence of depression. The current study found high rates of anxiety and depression in RA patients, highlighting the significant burden of these mental health conditions compared to the general population. It is essential for healthcare providers not to overlook the importance of psychiatric evaluations, mental health assessments, and physical examinations of RA patients.

Acceptance of peer physical examination in medical students in Wuhan, China: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Peer physical examination (PPE) is an essential part of the education of medical students. This study aimed to assess the acceptance level of PPE in Chinese society as well as other related factors. While there have been numerous studies on PPE acceptance in Western societies, there have been relatively few studies on this topic in China. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed via social media to clinical-year medical students in China. With 1890 students participating overall, the response rate was 86.9%. The questionnaire collected demographic information and previous experience with PPE, and utilized a 5-point Likert scale to assess acceptance of PPE and factors influencing it. Results: One thousand six hundred and forty-four percent of Chinese medical students accepted PPE, with 13% rejecting it and 19% neutral. Males were more accepting of PPE than females, and females were less accepting of being examined by someone of the opposite gender. The groin/thigh and breast areas were the most rejected for examination. There were no significant differences in acceptance rates between universities or academic performance groups. However, society had a significant impact on the acceptance of PPE. Conclusions: With a 67% acceptance rate of PPE among Chinese medical students, it could be considered a viable alternative to absent life models in Chinses universities. However, implementing PPE may come with its own set of difficulties, so it is recommended that a supervisor is present and that single-gender groups are formed, with friends paired together if possible.

Predictive value of clinical risk factors for bladder dysfunction in Syrian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent disorder that affects the endocrine and metabolic systems. Among the various complications associated with DM, diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is the most frequently occurring genitourinary complication. The presence of DBD can lead to complications that affect the upper urinary tract, significantly impacting the quality of life for individuals with DM. Therefore, it is crucial to identify early risk factors for DBD and predict its onset. Given the absence of studies involving bladder dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Syria, this study aims to examine the risk factors associated with bladder dysfunction in T2DM patients and develop a predictive model to identify DBD early. Patients diagnosed with T2DM were enrolled in six endocrinology centers spread across four Syrian provinces between January 2018 and December 2023. Factors that showed an association with DBD in the bivariate analysis, with a significance level of p < 0.05, were included in a multiple logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors and develop a prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive performance of the identified risk factors and the prediction model for DBD. One hundred and eighty-four patients were included in this study, and they were divided into the DBD group (n = 88) and the non-DBD group (n = 96). Seven variables showed significance in the bivariate analysis. Furthermore, the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR [95% CI]: 0.981 [0.614 - 1.337]), p < 0.007; diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) (OR [95% CI]: 1.421 [1.027 - 3.308]), p = 0.03; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR [95% CI]: 0.942 [0.821 - 1.141]), p = 0.042; and percentage of monocyte (Mono%) (OR [95% CI]: 1.109 [0.812 - 1.258]), p = 0.031 were independent risk factors for DBD. Analysis of the ROC curve revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for age, DPN, HbA1c, and Mono were 0.703, 0.541, 0.613, and 0.836, respectively. Age, DPN, HbA1c, and Mono% were risk factors for DBD. The prediction model constructed based on the four risk factors had a good predictive value for predicting the occurrence of DBD.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life and accessing rehabilitation services among patients with spinal cord injury and their fear of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The unanticipated coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had a negative effect on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and made significant changes in their daily routine. Patients with SCI face additional health risks, especially mental, behavioral, and physical. Without regular physiotherapy sessions, patients' psychological and functional abilities can deteriorate, and complications can occur. There is little information available about the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of patients with SCI, and their access to rehabilitation services during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of patients with SCI and also their fear of COVID-19. The pandemic's impact on the accessibility of rehabilitation services and attendance at physiotherapy sessions in one Chinese hospital were also documented. DESIGN: An observational study based on an online survey. SETTING: Outpatients clinic at the rehabilitation department of Wuhan's Tongji Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: People who had been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and who were receiving regular medical monitoring as outpatients at the rehabilitation department were invited to participate in our study (n = 127). INTERVENTION: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) designed to measure participants' quality of life before and during the pandemic. Their fear of COVID-19 was quantified using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Demographic and medical status information was extracted from their medical records. Their use of rehabilitation services and attendance at physical therapy sessions was also documented. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients with SCI completed the SF-12 and FCV-19 scale. The mental and physical aspects of the participants' quality of life declined significantly, during the epidemic compared to the pre-epidemic period. More than half of the participants have experienced fear of COVID-19 based on FCV-19S. Most received only irregular physical therapy during routine checkups. Worry about virus transmission was the most common cause cited for not attending regular physical therapy sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of these Chinese patients with SCI declined during the pandemic. Most of the participants were shown a high level of fear of COVID-19 and were classified as having an intense fear of COVID-19, in addition to the impact of the pandemic on their access to rehabilitation services and attendance at physical therapy sessions.