Introduction: Pharmacies serve not only as medication dispensing points but also as key sites for patient education. Despite this, there is growing concern regarding patients’ comprehension of the information provided during medication dispensing. Thus, this study aimed to assess patients’ comprehension of medicine information provided by pharmaceutical personnel at the compounding unit pharmacy of a tertiary hospital in northwestern Tanzania. Methods: This cros...

Public Health 

Depression is a global mental health issue that affects individuals in diverse ways, with cultural, economic, and healthcare contexts shaping both the management and perception of the condition. This paper presents a comparative SWOT analysis of depression in Canada and Yemen, examining how each country’s socio-economic environment influences mental health care. Canada, a high-income nation with a well-established healthcare system, contrasts sharply with Yemen, where ongoing conflict and econom...

Public Health 

The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex and diverse community of microorganisms, collectively referred to as the gut microbiota. This ecosystem, composed of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a critical role in host health by contributing to digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and metabolic regulation. In recent years, research has increasingly highlighted the link between gut microbiota composition and metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellit...

Public Health 

Despite Parkinson’s Disease (PD) typically being diagnosed after 80% of dopaminergic neurons are lost, evidence suggests that many patients exhibit early symptoms and frequently utilize emergency department (ED) services years before formal diagnosis. Here we examine the untapped potential of EDs in early PD recognition and intervention. Analysis of nearly 14,000 PD patients from two major healthcare systems revealed that 74% visited the ED or urgent care in the two years preceding diagnosis, ye...

Public Health  Emergency & Critical Care  Neurology 

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aids(HAs) on sound localization in noisy environment for individuals with unilateral hearing loss(UHL). Method: The study used an experimental approach with 43 participants (22 with UHL, 21 with normal hearing). Hearing thresholds were measured at 500 - 4000 Hz using pure-tone audiometry. Sound localization experiments were conducted in a 2 m × 2 m room with five loudspeakers arranged in a semi...

Public Health 

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the awareness and compliance of healthcare professionals to report notifiable diseases at the University Hospital of Casablanca. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the university hospital. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect data. It covers socio-demographic characteristics of participants and their knowledge about notifiable diseases, reporting procedures, and their attitudes towards MDR cases. Res...

Public Health  Epidemiology 

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between climate change concerns and sickle cell disease (SCD) screening intentions among 392 single individuals (aged 14 - 35) in Kinshasa, DRC. Data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from a previous study, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The study found that knowledge about SCD, heat stress, exposure to extreme weather events, and climate change anxiety were significantly associated with SCD sc...

Public Health  Environmental Sciences 

Lithium has long been established as a first-line mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression. In addition to its psychiatric applications, lithium has demonstrated neuroprotective properties through its influence on neurotransmitter regulation, neuroplasticity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Objective: This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of lithium’s role in mental health, focusing on its clinical efficacy, underlying n...

Neuroscience  Psychiatry & Psychology  Public Health 

Introduction: Self-medication is widespread throughout the world, especially in developing countries. It is at the root of very harmful health consequences. This study was therefore conducted to determine its prevalence and identify the factors that explain this practice among children under 5 years of age, with a view to finding appropriate solutions. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the City of Mwene-Ditu from July to August 2022. T...

Public Health 

Introduction: Alcohol misuse among university students remains a significant public health concern despite the existence of various interventions, policies, and laws aimed at addressing the issue. To better understand the situation, this scooping review aimed to assess the knowledge of alcohol consumption, perceived influencing factors, and prevalence of alcohol misuse among university students. Method: Meta-analysis was employed to synthesize data from several ...

Public Health