Patient reported frailty score after stroke predicted higher mortality in a Swedish registry study

Nine self-reported items at three months formed a robust frailty scale that tracked survival over follow-up. A Swedish registry study built a frailty score from nine patient-reported items collected three months after stroke. The score fit best as a general frailty dimension with two related facets: physical functioning and well-being with mental health. Higher frailty […]
Psoriasis in Malaysia linked to major quality-of-life and mental strain

Patients described a daily mix of pain, stigma, treatment burden, and hard-won coping strategies. In a qualitative study of 30 adults in Malaysia, most reported psoriasis had a moderate-to-very high impact on quality of life. The strongest day-to-day hits were clothing choices and physical discomfort like itch and pain. Interviews showed the burden extended into […]
Less Pain, More Trust: How a Simpler Penicillin Shot Helps Māori and Pacific Families Stay Healthy

When Fewer Injections Mean More Life: Easing the Load for Māori and Pacific Families Acute rheumatic fever can leave a lifelong mark, especially when it leads to rheumatic heart disease. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori and Pacific Peoples carry a disproportionate share of this burden. Protecting the heart requires months to years of regular penicillin […]
When Mindfulness Meets Movement Online: What Lasts a Year Later for People Living With Chronic Pain

Why a Screen-Based Class Could Change Someone’s Pain Story Chronic pain doesn’t just hurt—it reshapes how people sleep, move, work, and connect. Many want help that fits into real life: something flexible, low-cost, and accessible from home. That is why online programs have grown, blending skills like mindfulness with gentle exercise to help people manage […]
Unveiling the Complex World of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Treatments: Insights from an All-Encompassing Study

— Introduction: The Silent Struggle Under the Skin Picture waking up each day to a chronic, painful skin condition that seems to defy treatment. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a lesser-known skin ailment, does just that for thousands of people. Characterized by small but excruciating lumps under the skin, usually in high-friction areas like the armpits and […]
Healing Through Stories: How Narrative Therapy Transforms Lives in Post-Genocide Rwanda

Introduction Imagine carrying the weight of unspeakable trauma, like a shadow, wherever you go. This is the reality for many survivors of the horrific 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. For these individuals, the horror of their past threatens to overshadow their present and future. Yet, in the heart of this darkness, a beacon […]
Exploring Virtual Reality: A New Dawn for Chronic Pain Management

Introduction Imagine the power to escape your pain and step into a world that can soothe what ails you, even if just for a while. Intriguing, right? Welcome to the incredible intersection of technology and health in the form of Virtual Reality (VR), a tool that is not just for gaming or entertainment anymore. This […]
Laughter as Medicine: Exploring the Impact of Clown Care in Hospitals

Introduction Imagine stepping into a hospital room where the air is thick with anxiety, uncertainty, and discomfort. Now, picture a brightly dressed clown, complete with red nose and all, waltzing into the room. Laughter bubbles up, piercing through the sterile silence, and tension seems to visibly melt away. Intrigued? You’re not alone. This scene might […]
Mind Over Matter: Exploring Smartphone-Based Interoceptive Training for Chronic Pain Relief**

Introduction: The Invisible Burden of Chronic Pain Imagine waking up every morning with a dull, persistent ache in your lower back that never seems to go away. For millions, chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a harsh reality, an invisible burden that impacts every aspect of their lives. While many resort to coping mechanisms like […]
The Unexpected Resilience in Chaos: Graduate Students’ Journey Through the Pandemic

Introduction In the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unexpected narrative emerged from the academic world. While the spotlight was cast on the overwhelming challenges facing everyone globally, a hidden story of resilience and personal growth began to take shape, particularly among graduate students. As campuses shuttered and moved the hum of intellectual discourse online, […]