Diabetes Distress Among the Roma Population From a Tertiary Care Center in Romania.

Background Distress in patients with diabetes is a condition that has received significant attention in recent years; however, data regarding the psychological assessment and the impact of the emotional burden of diabetes among the Roma population are still scarce in the medical literature. Material and methods We conducted an observational, transversal study that included 310 adult patients with diabetes mellitus, aged between 18 and 85 years old, of which the majority (61%) were women; patients were selected from a tertiary hospital providing diabetes care; diabetes distress was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire, the diabetes distress scale (DDS), validated on Romanian patients. Results In the study population, a great proportion of patients showed diabetes distress, with 24.8% (N=82) having moderate distress and 29.7% (N=121) having severe distress. In the Caucasian group, there were significantly more patients without distress than in the Roma patients,while on the contrary, more Roma patients experienced severe distress compared to the opposite group (64.5%, N=78 versus 35.5%, N=43). In the Caucasian group, a statistical significance was observed regarding interpersonal distress, with Caucasian women having a higher score than men. Concerning the Roma patients, total DDS and all subscales´ scores were statistically significant, with Roma women having higher scores than men. A statistical significance was observed between ethnicity and diabetes distress scores, with the Roma population having higher median values than Caucasian patients. It was also demonstrated that the lack of education, a higher diabetes evolution, and a higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level (above 8%) have influenced the risk of severe DDS in the Caucasian group, while in the Roma patients, employment status (being unemployed) represents a risk factor for severe DDS. Conclusion The Roma patients included in our study experienced higher distress scores compared to Caucasians. These results are substantial as they emphasize the need to include the evaluation of diabetes distress in clinical practice to facilitate the early initiation of intervention measures. There is nevertheless limited data regarding this particular ethnic group; therefore, further research is still needed.

Diabetes Patients' Acceptance of Injectable Treatment, a Scientometric Analysis.

Diabetes is a condition associated with multiple systemic secondary risk factors, besides pancreatic dysfunctions, affecting the population worldwide and with high costs impacting the healthcare systems. This paper aims to identify the major issues in patients' adherence to injectable diabetes treatment. After the interrogation of the Web of Science database, a scientometric map was generated, from which six directions of approach were identified as essential factors influencing the patient's adherence. These directions yielded clusters of related articles. Glycemic control with the endocrinology metabolic implications, lifestyle adjustments, the healthcare services, medication therapy algorithm, healthcare services digitalization and healthcare policies seem to have a major impact on injectable diabetes therapy and patient adherence. Further research on every one of the six directions is needed to identify the potential of increasing injectable treatment adherence in diabetes patients.

Analysis of Research Directions on the Rehabilitation of Patients with Stroke and Diabetes Using Scientometric Methods.

The multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of patients with stroke and diabetes has been followed in this article by a review of the literature published in the Web of Science in the last ten years. A review of the literature was performed using scientometric methods. VOS Viewer software was used to determine the research directions in this area. Scientometric analysis has extracted relevant published scientific output that treats diabetes and stroke. Studies based on qualitative research and the conclusions of these studies were analyzed. The clusters with the keywords used in the title and abstract by the authors who published in the Web of Science were reviewed and research directions in the field were formulated. The proper care of diabetes and its numerous consequences, including stroke and its neurologic complications, necessitates the fast identification of research findings in various types of medicines and their efficacy when applied to various patient groups, such as diabetic patients, whose recovery after a stroke is similar to that of a nondiabetic patient following hemodynamic stabilization, although it takes longer and has poorer outcomes. The limitations of the study refer to the fact that the data reviewed are from the Web of Science only.