Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology & Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 6670

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy, Polo Medicina Sperimentale e Sanità Pubblica "Stefania Scuri", Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Interests: diabetes public health; diabetes management; diabetes health management; diabetes health care; diabetes chronic care; diabetes nursing care
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Guest Editor Assistant
Units of Diabetology, ASUR Marche, Area Vasta 4, 63900 Fermo, Italy
Interests: public health; chronic disease; healthcare management; prevention; health management; lifestyle medicine; nursing practice

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Medicina will focus on the management of chronic diseases. Systematic/scoping/narrative reviews or protocols of reviews related to these issues are welcome. One of the primary focuses is to identify news model of care for different chronic diseases in Medical and Nursing practice. These approaches should promote an improving satisfaction for patients and the community. In chronic care, the personalized management of care improves clinical and psychosocial outcomes, and innovative models have been recommended in several areas of clinical practice, with significantly positive results in the quality of care and patient satisfaction, emphasizing the individual needs of each patient, and directing care in this same direction. This Special Issue aimed to demonstrated with our studies that it is necessary to place the patient in the center of care, to increase better results and health-related quality of life in general. Topics of interest include, but are not limited, to the following:

  • Investigation based on practice and personalized care approaches in chronic care;
  • New managed models in chronic diseases or other condition with long-term care;
  • Studies investigating promotion of care;
  • Nurse-led care;
  • Intervention for the management of chronic diseases;
  • New approaches of chronic care;
  • Health Economics evaluation.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Healthcare.

Prof. Dr. Fabio Petrelli
Guest Editor

Dr. Giovanni Cangelosi
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chronic diseases
  • long-term care 
  • nursing practice
  • public health
  • patient satisfaction
  • health economic

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2032 KiB  
Article
Five-Year Sales Trends of Osteoporosis Medications in Korea: A Market Analysis Based on IMS Health Sales Audit Data (2018–2023)
by Jung Yoon Park, Youn-Jee Chung, Mee-Ran Kim and Jae-Yen Song
Medicina 2025, 61(5), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61050805 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 226
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis is a common chronic condition after menopause that increases the risk of fractures. In South Korea, the prevalence of osteoporosis among adults aged 50 and older is 22.4%, with 94.4% of treated patients being women, highlighting its significant [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis is a common chronic condition after menopause that increases the risk of fractures. In South Korea, the prevalence of osteoporosis among adults aged 50 and older is 22.4%, with 94.4% of treated patients being women, highlighting its significant impact on postmenopausal health. In this study, we examine the sales trends of osteoporosis medications in Korea from 2018 to 2023 to understand current usage patterns and market dynamics. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis based on pre-recorded sales data from Intercontinental Marketing Services (IMS). Data covering a five-year period (2018–2023) were analyzed to examine the sales trends of osteoporosis medications, including bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), parathyroid hormone analogs, denosumab, romosozumab, and others. Romosozumab, approved in November 2019, was included in the analysis. Given the nature of this study, no direct patient data or clinical interventions were involved. Results: The total market size for osteoporosis medications in South Korea reached USD 285.42 million in 2023, reflecting a 15.3% increase from 2022. Bisphosphonates, previously the dominant therapy, experienced an 11% decline in market share over five years. Meanwhile, denosumab, a receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand inhibitor, showed a remarkable growth rate of 957.6% from 2018 to 2023, surpassing bisphosphonates in their market share. Romosozumab, a newly introduced anabolic agent, accounted for 7.4% of the market, with sales increasing by 59% in 2023. Conclusions: This analysis revealed major shifts in treatment preferences, with newer drugs like denosumab and romosozumab gaining prominence over traditional bisphosphonates. These trends highlight the increasing clinical adoption of anabolic agents for high-risk patients and the impact of expanded reimbursement policies on osteoporosis management. Given the increasing use of advanced therapies, it is essential to monitor treatment access, patient adherence, and long-term clinical outcomes. Understanding these sales trends can aid healthcare professionals and policymakers in optimizing osteoporosis treatment strategies and ensuring better patient care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care)
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16 pages, 516 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Standard Care Versus Intrinsic Relaxation at Home on Physiological Parameters in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Comparative Cohort Study from Romania
by Theodora Florica Borze (Ursu), Annamaria Pallag, Emilian Tarcău, Doriana Ioana Ciobanu, Felicia Liana Andronie-Cioară, Carmen Delia Nistor-Cseppento, Gabriela Ciavoi and Mariana Mureșan
Medicina 2025, 61(2), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61020285 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 633
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM), through the presence of widespread chronic pain, stiffens the musculoskeletal system and causes sleep disturbances and fatigue. Through this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two different recovery interventions for improving sleep quality: a standard, [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM), through the presence of widespread chronic pain, stiffens the musculoskeletal system and causes sleep disturbances and fatigue. Through this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two different recovery interventions for improving sleep quality: a standard, multidisciplinary intervention in a recovery hospital versus a therapy focused on intrinsic relaxation at home. Materials and Methods: This study included 60 adult patients who participated voluntarily and were diagnosed with FM by a rheumatologist, randomly divided into two groups. During this study, 30 patients out of the 60 were randomly assigned to experimental group 1 and underwent treatment at the Recovery Clinical Hospital in Băile Felix. The other 30 patients were assigned to experimental group 2 and underwent treatment at home. They were assessed on the first and last day of the recovery program using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: In experimental group 1, where by patients underwent hospital recovery (EG1), the results show that the severity of fatigue (FSS) was significantly reduced, with p = 0.00 and an effect size of 0.77, which suggests a general improvement in the state of fatigue, as well as in the quality of sleep evaluated with the PSQI (p = 0.00, effect size = 0.55). In experimental group 2 (EG2), no change was observed between assessments in terms of the FSS, but in terms of the quality of sleep, there was a small decrease in the PSQI score (p = 0.083), with a small effect size of 0.09. Conclusions: The results show that, from a clinical point of view, a complex treatment carried out daily improves sleep quality and reduces fatigue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care)
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12 pages, 306 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Hypertension-Related Knowledge, Medication Adherence, and Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients in the Aljouf Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Bashayer Farhan ALruwaili
Medicina 2024, 60(11), 1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60111822 - 6 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1869
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hypertensive patients’ knowledge and adherence to prescribed medicines are critical in managing their condition, as poor adherence may lead to adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. The present study assessed hypertension-related knowledge and medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending primary health [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Hypertensive patients’ knowledge and adherence to prescribed medicines are critical in managing their condition, as poor adherence may lead to adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. The present study assessed hypertension-related knowledge and medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending primary health centers (PHCs) in the Aljouf Province, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted this survey on 390 patients. Self-reported hypertension knowledge was assessed using the Hypertension Knowledge Level Scale (HK-LS), and medication adherence was determined using the Hill–Bone Medication Adherence Scale. We used binomial regression analysis (adjusted with other variables) to find the associated factors of medication adherence. Results: This study found that nearly half (49.2%) of the participants had inadequate knowledge, and poor medication adherence was noted in 40.8% of the participants. We found a positive correlation between HK-LS and the Hill–Bone Medication Adherence Scale scores (Spearman’s rho = 0.312, p = 0.002). Medication adherence was significantly associated with job status (private sector (ref: public sector, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.18–3.62, p = 0.005)), living in an urban region (ref: rural, AOR = 3.61, 95% CI = 1.85–5.72, p = 0.002), and duration since diagnosis of more than 5 years (ref: ≤1 year, AOR = 3.53, 95% CI = 2.36–4.95, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The present study findings indicate that there is still a critical gap in managing hypertension at the PHCs in this region, and this may lead to poor health outcomes among the patients and burden the healthcare system. Hence, continuous patient education and targeted counseling are recommended for those with poor medication adherence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care)
8 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Cancer and Intention to Leave Work among Older Workers: A Cross-Sectional Internet-Based Study
by Ryutaro Matsugaki, Shinya Matsuda and Akira Ogami
Medicina 2024, 60(9), 1506; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60091506 - 15 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1063
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Limited research has focused on the relationship between cancer, job loss, and factors associated with job loss among older workers. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between cancer and intention to leave and between physical-health-related [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Limited research has focused on the relationship between cancer, job loss, and factors associated with job loss among older workers. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between cancer and intention to leave and between physical-health-related issues, mental-health-related issues, and cancer-related symptoms and intention to leave among older workers with cancer. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional internet-based study included 4498 workers aged 60–75 years. Intention to leave was assessed based on whether individuals considered quitting their current jobs in the near future. Results: A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between cancer and intention to leave (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–2.00, p = 0.045). In addition, physical-health-related issues (aOR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.10–4.92, p = 0.026) and mental-health-related issues (aOR: 4.44, 95% CI: 1.80–10.98, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with the intention to leave. Conclusions: Healthcare providers and employers must address the physical- and mental-health-related issues facing older workers with cancer to help them secure their employment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care)

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13 pages, 2890 KiB  
Systematic Review
Vitamin D Deficiency in Kazakhstani Children: Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Indira Karibayeva, Galiya Bilibayeva, Assiya Iglikova, Aya Yerzhanova, Roza Alekesheva, Makhigul Maxudova and Neilya Ussebayeva
Medicina 2025, 61(3), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61030428 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 623
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Kazakhstan’s unique geographic, dietary, and cultural factors contribute to the widespread occurrence of vitamin D deficiency across the entire country population, particularly among children. This study aims to assess the mean prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children in [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Kazakhstan’s unique geographic, dietary, and cultural factors contribute to the widespread occurrence of vitamin D deficiency across the entire country population, particularly among children. This study aims to assess the mean prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children in Kazakhstan and determine whether it differs between healthy and non-healthy children, as well as between infants and older age groups. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed across five databases by two researchers. Studies were eligible if they were observational and provided the number of children with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL out of the total number of children assessed in Kazakhstan. Results: Eleven studies were included in the analysis, assessing 1396 children, of whom 714 had the outcome of interest. The pooled mean estimate of vitamin D deficiency among children was 56% (95% CI, 46–65%), with particularly concerning rates among infants at 65% (95% CI, 44–82%). No substantial differences were observed between healthy and non-healthy children. Conclusions: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children is alarmingly high. These results highlight the urgent necessity of tackling vitamin D deficiency as a public health priority. Incorporating vitamin D deficiency prevention into Kazakhstan’s national healthcare program is vital for improving child health outcomes and reducing the long-term burden of associated complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care)
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11 pages, 1847 KiB  
Systematic Review
Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Adults in Kazakhstan: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Indira Karibayeva, Galiya Bilibayeva, Aya Yerzhanova, Roza Alekesheva, Assiya Iglikova, Makhigul Maxudova and Neilya Ussebayeva
Medicina 2024, 60(12), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60122043 - 11 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1392
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Despite frequent references to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Kazakhstan, a comprehensive synthesis of existing research on this issue among adults is lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to address this gap by determining the [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Despite frequent references to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Kazakhstan, a comprehensive synthesis of existing research on this issue among adults is lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to address this gap by determining the mean prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adults in Kazakhstan. A secondary objective is to evaluate whether the prevalence differs between healthy adults and those with chronic conditions. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar by two independent researchers using the keywords: “vitamin D” AND “Kazakhstan”, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies were included if they reported the prevalence of vitamin D in adults in Kazakhstan, defined as a blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D below 20 ng/mL. Results: Seven studies were included in this review, encompassing 3616 individuals, of whom 2239 had vitamin D deficiency. Using a random-effects model, the pooled mean prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adults with chronic conditions was 60% (95% CI, 38–79%), with high heterogeneity. Similarly, the analysis of five studies involving healthy adults revealed a pooled mean prevalence of 55% (95% CI, 38–70%), also with high heterogeneity. Overall, the pooled mean prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the adult population was 57% (95% CI, 45–69%). Conclusions: This analysis indicates a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adults in Kazakhstan, with 57% of the population affected. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, including policy reforms that consider the impact of time zone changes on sunlight exposure and the active involvement of nurse practitioners in preventive strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Public Health and Healthcare Management for Chronic Care)
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