Garba Dance Is Effective in Parkinson's Disease Patients: A Pilot Study.

Background: Dance as therapy is gaining attention as an adjuvant option for Parkinson's disease (PD). Assessing culturally popular dance forms is crucial for promoting the acceptance of dance therapy in a culturally sensitive context. Objectives: The pilot study evaluated the efficacy of Garba dance for alleviating motor symptoms, nonmotor symptoms, cognitive functions, and mood. Furthermore, this pilot study also assessed the tolerability and safety of this dance form using fatigue severity scale and assessing falls, respectively. Methods: Eligible participants with mild-to-moderate PD (H&Y stage 1 to 2.5) were sequentially randomized into the dance therapy, physical therapy, or control groups. Motor symptoms, nonmotor symptoms, cognitive functions, and mood were assessed using standard scales at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Tolerability was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale, and safety was assessed by monitoring falls. Results: In the Garba dance group, significant improvements in UPDRS scores were observed at week 6 (p=0.002) and week 12 (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. At week 12, UPDRS scores were better in the Garba dance group as compared to the control and physical therapy groups. Freezing of gait significantly improved at week 6 (p < 0.001) and week 12 (p < 0.001) in the Garba dance group. Garba dance also led to significant improvements in mood and sleep. Tolerability was favorable, with significantly better fatigue severity scores in the Garba dance group at week 12 compared to controls and physical therapy. About 6 patients in Garba dance group experienced near falls. Conclusion: Underscoring a cautious optimism, results of the current study indicate that Garba dance may be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated intervention for Indian patients with mild-to-moderate PD (H&Y stage 1 to 2.5).

Alcohol Misuse Screening Performance Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: A trauma registry review of our trauma center's alcohol misuse screening compliance noted inconsistent screening and data collection methods, putting our American College of Surgeons trauma center reverification at risk for a deficiency. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate an alcohol misuse screening improvement initiative on screening compliance in trauma patients. METHODS: This before and after analysis of a quality improvement initiative to improve alcohol misuse screening was conducted from 2019 to 2021 at a Southwestern U.S. Level II trauma center on admitted trauma patients aged 13 years and older. The multicomponent initiative included a change in the screening instrument and timing of application, implementing electronic medical record documentation screens, and educating staff. The primary outcome measure was screening adherence. RESULTS: A total of n = 4,734 patients were included in the study period. Alcohol misuse screening improved from 2.9% to 87.4% and remained sustained for over a year after the initiative's implementation. CONCLUSION: The performance improvement initiative improved the alcohol misuse screening process, resulting in consistent screenings exceeding the American College of Surgeons standards of 80% for verified trauma centers.

The buffering effect of social support on diabetes distress and depressive symptoms in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Social support may buffer or decrease the negative effects of diabetes distress (DD) and depressive symptoms on diabetes outcomes. We assessed the buffering role of social support in the relationship between DD and self-care and depressive symptoms and self-care in adults with Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 (T2D) diabetes. METHODS: Participants completed the Diabetes Distress Scale for T2D or T1D, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey and the Self-Care Inventory-Revised. We conducted hierarchical multiple regression models using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: A total of 325 adults (median age = 40.5 years, 62.2% women, 86.5% White; 59.7% T2D, A1C = 59 ± 6 mmol/mol or 7.5 ± 1.6%; median duration = 11.0 years) participated. Greater social support buffered the negative effects of DD on self-care (R2 Δ = 0.015, p = 0.024) as well as depressive symptoms on self-care (R2 Δ = 0.024, p = 0.004) in participants with T1D and T2D. Both regression models recorded medium effect sizes (F2  = 0.220, F2  = 0.234 respectively). Social support subscale analyses showed tangible support (R2 Δ = 0.016, p = 0.018) and affectionate support (R2 Δ = 0.016, p = 0.020) buffered DD and self-care, and emotional support (R2 Δ = 0.015, p = 0.022), tangible support (R2 Δ = 0.020, p = 0.009), affectionate support (R2 Δ = 0.025, p = 0.004) and positive interaction support (R2 Δ = 0.017, p = 0.018) buffered depressive symptoms and self-care. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that social support buffers the impact of DD and depressive symptoms on self-care in adults with T1D and T2D. Additional research is needed to confirm the buffering role of social support on DD and depressive symptoms. Greater understanding of these interactions may help improve clinical care and outcomes.