Gender differences in intimate partner violence: Risk factors and associations with suicide

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to provide updated estimates of the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the general adult population of Ireland and to better understand gender-specific profiles of IPV, their risk factors, and their relationship with suicidality.

METHOD

Data (N = 1,098) from Wave 4 of the Irish arm of the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) study were used.

RESULTS

32.1% of the sample experienced lifetime IPV, with IPV more common among females. Latent class analysis results showed that females had a more complex profile of IPV (four classes) than males (three classes). Risk factors for females included younger age, having children, lower income level, lower social support, and lower social contact, while risk factors for males were living in an urban environment, having children, and lower social support. All IPV exposure was found to be associated with a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing multiple suicide-related phenomena for males and females.

CONCLUSION

IPV is a major public social health issue affecting approximately one-in-three females and one-in-four males in Ireland and is strongly associated with suicide-related phenomena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Gender Differences in the Psychosocial Functioning of Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected family life, increasing parental stress around health, job losses, reduced salaries, and maintaining domestic life in lockdown and social isolation. The transition to home-schooling and remote work with school and workplace closures caused additional stressors as families began living, working, and educating in one place. This research aims to understand the relationship between the pandemic and parental stress, focusing on family well-being and established characteristics of the family unit that may cause some family members to experience the adverse consequences of the pandemic in more or less profound ways, especially mothers. Previous research shows that mothers carry more family responsibilities than fathers and can experience higher stress levels. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional online survey to extend our understanding of the interaction between home-schooling, work and home life, and stress levels in a group of 364 parents. In total, 232 mothers and 132 fathers completed the survey. Results revealed mothers were 10 times more likely to be responsible for home-schooling than fathers, and 44% of mothers felt they had no help with home-schooling and were generally more stressed than fathers. These results show that lack of support, managing home-schooling, and being a mother predicted increased stress. 10% of mothers reported leaving their jobs due to pressure added by home-schooling. This study broadens the understanding of the pandemic’s impact on gender imbalances in family responsibilities. It emphasises the need for extra consideration for the impact on mothers as we emerge from this pandemic.

The role of gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire in the Republic of Macedonia

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common disease with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Our aim was to analyse the role of the Gastroesophageal Disease Questionnaire in diagnosing reflux disease in the population of the Republic of Macedonia.

METHODS

The questionnaire on the severity of the symptoms related to GERD was used. An evaluation of the distal portion of the oesophagus was carried out in all patients with positive questionnaire results. All mucosal injury was classified by the Los Angeles criteria (LA).

RESULTS

642 patients were included. 58.73% females, with an average age of 37.5±8.2. Females had a higher BMI than males 26.8±4.1 vs. 24.9±3.8 p<0.001. Of the total number of examinees (642 patients), in those with erosive reflux disease and also in those with nonerosive reflux disease, as shown respectively in endoscopy, the sensitivity of the RDQ was 100%, and the specifity was 0%. The100 sensitivity means that the questionnaire verified/diagnosed patients with erosive reflux disease with 100% certainty.

CONCLUSIONS

RESULTS were found in some studies comparing the positive Reflux Disease Questionnaire and the level of erosive esophagitis (LA classification). This study provides evidence that the RDQ represents a viable instrument for assessing symptom severity and response to treatment in clinical trials of patients with GERD, but in patients with a high score, endoscopic evaluation should not be excluded.

Obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic head malignancies are there predictive factors for successful endoscopic biliary stenting?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography provides precise imaging of malignant biliopancreatic strictures and allows palliative treatment with endoscopic stenting. Initial successful biliary stenting can be achieved in about 69-100% of patients with pancreatic head malignancies. Preliminary data from our Clinic reported a much lower success rate of endoscopic biliary stenting in obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic head malignancies. These findings may be because patients are referred at more advanced stages, which could contribute to the lower success rate of biliary stenting. We aimed to determine the success rate of endoscopic biliary stenting prospectively in 50 patients with pancreatic head malignancies and to asses if clinical, laboratory and ultrasound findings can be predictive of success and safety in biliary stenting. Initial successful biliary stenting was achieved in 70% of our patients. No major complications (perforation, severe pancreatitis, massive bleeding, death) were noted. We were able to identify factors predictive of a lower success rate which were associated with a more advanced disease and a longer delay before treatment. Based on our results, we conclude that ERCP should be offered without delay as a primary treatment option for all patients with unresectable pancreatic head malignancy and as a possible treatment option in patients with resectable malignancy who are poor candidates for surgery.

Pre-operative staging of gastric carcinoma

This study is a prospective clinical investigation that includes 195 patients (pts), of whom 64 were diagnosed with gastric cancer and endosonographically determined operability. Endosonography is not used in the primary detection and diagnosis of gastric cancer, but as a supplementary method that, besides the basic detection of the presence or absence of a tumour, gives additional information about the extent of the neoplasm. For this investigation the patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group of 58 pts (30%) were those with benign gastric lesions, 18 pts with polyps and 40pts with gastric ulcers respectively. The second groups of 64 pts (32.5%) consisted of those with gastric cancer. According to the endosonographic findings this group consisted of 2 subgroups: 45 operable patients and 19 inoperable patients with gastric cancers. The third group consisted of 73 pts (37.5%) who were without any changes in the gastric wall. The endosonographic findings in the first subgroup that underwent surgery were correlated with the final intraoperative stage and pathohistology, and in the second subgroup they were compared with the operative finding during the palliation procedure and the final diagnosis of the additional investigation. All these qualities make this method useful for the diagnosis, control and follow-up of the findings in all of the stadiums of the disease including the post-operative period.

Endosonographic diagnosis in submucosal tumours of the stomach

This study is a prospective clinical investigation that includes 158 patients (pts.), of whom 64 were diagnosed with gastric cancer by EUS in which operability was determinate, and 94 pts. with gastric submucosal tumours. Endoscopy and pathohistological examination were used in the primary detection and diagnosis of the gastric cancer, and EUS was a supplementary method that revealed additional information about the extent of the neoplasms. According to the findings of the EUS, the patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group consisted of 94 pts (59.5%) with gastric submucosal lesions, and 64 pts (40.5%) with gastric cancer respectively. The first group consisted of 94 pts. with submucosal tumours of the stomach. There were 71 pts with Leiomyoma, 11 pts with Leiomyosarcoma, 7 with an aberrant pancreas, 3 with submucosal cysts, one lipoma and one varix at fundus. The second group consisted of 64 pts (40.5%) with gastric cancer. According to the EUS findings this group was divided into two subgroups: 45 operable patients and 19 inoperable patients with gastric cancer. EUS proved a useful method for the diagnosis and follow-up of the patients with gastric cancer, as well as the staging of the tumour and follow-up during the post-operative period, and with submucosal tumours.

Detection and staging of primary rectal cancer by transrectal sonography

This study is a prospective clinical investigation that includes 587 patients aged on average 55.3 years with symptoms such as perirectal pain, rectal bleeding, and change in bowel habit and tenesmus that had been investigated at the Clinic. Rectal cancer was diagnosed by endoscopy and pathohistologically confirmed in 377 cases. Demonstration of tumor, extension into perirectal fat and lymph node involment were evaluated. Tumors were successfully imaged by endorectal ultrasound. According to the endosonographical results patients were divided into 3 groups: operable, consisting of 168 pts (29%), inoperable group of 205 pts. (35%) and control group with 214 pts (36%). However, transrectal sonography as a usable supplementary method has to provide approximate sensitivity as the method to which it is supplementary, in fact to be able to detect the lesion that was proved beyond doubt in this study. The results suggest that transrectal sonography has an important role in the determination of the operability of rectal malignoma, following and predicting of the degree of infiltration and determining of the precise borders of the intramural infiltration.