Evaluation of Patients' Knowledge Regarding Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

2024-04-12T08:57:12+00:00

Introduction: WHO reported that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the major cause of early deaths worldwide and remain one of the major health challenges globally public health threats. Understanding the risk for NCD is important to adopting a healthy lifestyle which can have a positive influence in the reduction of NCD. Primary Health Care physicians and nurses in the family play an important role in identifying, diagnosing, and preventing NCD in the family and community.
Objectives: this study aims to evaluate the individual’s perception, knowledge regarding NCD, and intentions to change their lifestyle in primary health care.
Methods: Our study is cross-sectional and has been conducted in the primary health care center Tirana, Albania from January - May 2023. The total number of participants was 360 (over 25 years old). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on demographic characteristics, information about the perception, and knowledge of NCD, the role of health care, and intentions to change lifestyle. We performed the statistical analysis through the IBM® SPSS® Statistics software.
Results: The results showed that (n= 302)83.9% of participants are from Tirana, (n= 194) 53.9% of them are male and the majority of them (n=106)29.4% are 35-44 years old. Regarding the education level, (n= 200)55.6% have studied secondary school and (= 100)27.8% high school, nearly (n=285)79.2% are employed. An association between employment status with the perception of NCD was shown, older ages, employed people, higher education level and women have better levels of knowledge about NCD p< 0.05.
Conclusions: This study informs about that the patient's knowledge about NCD was low but physician and family nursing have important roles in informing individuals and families of risk factors in NCD. People informed can lead to individual sensibilization for NCD, reduce the incidence, and grow patient satisfaction.

Aggressive Thoracic Spine Hemangioma Treated by Total En Bloc Spondylectomy: A Case Report

2024-04-12T08:57:17+00:00

Introduction: Vertebral hemangioma (VH) is the most widely faced tumor in the vertebral column. It is generally asymptomatic and slowly growing. Moreover, the appearance of extraosseous extensions in vertebral hemangiomas is locally aggressive, causing neurological deficits, and should be distinguished from other vertebral hemangiomas based on its prognosis and treatment. Here we present a rare case of vertebral hemangioma caused by thoracic cord compression and healed by total en block spondylectomy.
Objectives: We present a case of VH with extraskeletal expansion that caused the progressive neurologic deficit and was medicated by resection of the entire tumor.
Methods: A 33-year-old female came to the Soetomo General Hospital outpatient clinic with the main complaints of back pain and being unable to move her legs since September 2021. In July 2021, the patient felt tingling in her lower extremities. The patient was still able to walk, but she felt the weakness develop. She still can urinate, but she has a defecation problem. There is no history of a palpable mass in some places. The patient is a housewife and she has no previous history of any disease.
Results: The patient felt tingling in her lower limbs. She didn’t lose her to walk, but she felt the weakness develop. On the physical examination, there was a neurological deficit at the lower extremity. According to radiographic and histopathologic examination, the patient was diagnosed with VH at the T5 level. We then performed total en-block spondylectomy and posterior stabilization. As a result, the motoric part improved but sensory deficits still occurred. Neurological improvement happened during the follow-up in three months. An inevitable challenge awaits in terms of the medication of VH with extraskeletal expansion that causes neurologic deficits. Pre-operative diagnosis including radiologic and pathologic findings is essential for the strategy and decision for combative hemangioma. An unjustified diagnosis may lead to an inappropriate surgical strategy or the emergence of various complications.
Conclusions: Vertebral hemangiomas with extraosseous extension causing spinal cord compression should be considered an aggressive benign tumor, and total excision that includes a tumor margin is indicated.

South Eastern European Journal of Public Health

Evaluation of Patients' Knowledge Regarding Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

Aggressive Thoracic Spine Hemangioma Treated by Total En Bloc Spondylectomy: A Case Report