Background: Medical schools offer students the opportunity to perform international electives. This study aimed to assess health risks among medical students, to tailor institutional guidelines... Show moreBackground: Medical schools offer students the opportunity to perform international electives. This study aimed to assess health risks among medical students, to tailor institutional guidelines.Methods: Multicenter study at Dutch and Belgian universities, among medical students who visited low- or middle-income countries. Students completed four questionnaires: once before the elective and two weeks, three- and six months after return.Results: Data was complete for 479 students (follow-up rate 84%). Most traveled to Surinam (29%) and South-Africa (14%). Half of the students encountered difficulties in adapting to local culture. Almost 40% visited malaria endemic countries. Nearly all (87%) used chemoprophylaxis as prescribed. Definite needle-stick or splash injuries were reported by 7%. All were dealt with adequately in accordance with national guidelines. However, less than half of 24 possible incidents were handled adequately. Two-and-a-half percent had unprotected sex with a new partner. The incidence of travelers' diarrhea (TD) was 46%. In those with TD, the incidence of post-travel new-onset abdominal complaints was 3%. Three percent were involved in a minor traffic accident, 18% were injured during leisure activities, 5% were threatened or experienced physical violence. Only half of the students visiting a highly endemic country were screened for tuberculosis post-travel. For schistosomiasis this was 6%.Conclusions: Students abroad are exposed to medical and non-medical challenges, which should be addressed during pre-travel counseling. Contact details of a professional back home should be provided, so students can confer in case of problems while abroad. Lastly, we recommend a centrally organized post-travel health check. Show less
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is most commonly caused by lumbar herniated disc; emergency decompressive surgery is essential to increase chances of recovery. Even though micturition, defecation and... Show moreCauda equina syndrome (CES) is most commonly caused by lumbar herniated disc; emergency decompressive surgery is essential to increase chances of recovery. Even though micturition, defecation and/or sexual function are by definition affected in CES patients, little is known about the outcome of these functions after surgical intervention. This thesis provides a comprehensive overview on presentation and on short- and long term outcome of CES after surgical intervention focused on micturition, defecation and sexual function, demonstrating high prevalences of dysfunction even at long term follow up. In addition, this thesis provides insight into attitude and practice patterns of neurosurgeons regarding discussing sexual health and fertility with spinal patients and explores the relationship between presenting MRI features and clinical features (both at outcome and at presentation). Show less
Abstract BACKGROUND: The possible detrimental effects of spinal disease on sexual health are widely recognized; however, it is not known to what extent neurosurgeons discuss this topic with their... Show moreAbstract BACKGROUND: The possible detrimental effects of spinal disease on sexual health are widely recognized; however, it is not known to what extent neurosurgeons discuss this topic with their patients. The aim of this study is to identify knowledge, attitude and practice patterns of neurosurgeons counseling their patients about sexual health. METHODS: All members of the Dutch Association of Neurosurgery (neurosurgeons and residents) were sent a questionnaire addressing their attitudes, knowledge and practice patterns regarding discussing sexual health. RESULTS: Response rate was 62 % with 89 questionnaires suitable for analysis. The majority of participants (83 %) were male; mean age, 42.4 years. The mean experience in neurosurgical practice was 9 years. Respondents assumed that in 34 % of their patients, sexual health was affected due to spinal disease. The majority of respondents (64 %) stated that responsibility for discussing sexual health lies (partly) with the neurosurgeon; however, 73 % indicated to (almost) never do this. The main reasons for not discussing sexual health were patients' old age (42 %), lack of knowledge (38 %) and lack of patients' initiative to bring up the subject (36 %). Twenty-six percent indicated lack of time as a reason. There was no evidence for gender or doctor's age discordance as important barriers. Fifty percent of participants wished to gain more knowledge on discussing sexual health with patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that despite high prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) in spinal patients, counseling about sexual health is not often done in neurosurgical care. More training on sexual health counseling early in the residency program seems critical. By initiating the discussion, clinicians who deal with spinal patients have the potential to detect sexual dysfunction (SD) and to refer adequately when necessary, thereby improving overall quality of life of their patients. KEYWORDS: Cauda equina syndrome; Counseling; Patient care; Sexual dysfunction; Spinal cord injury Show less
Abstract PURPOSE: Due to advancing insights, discussing fertility in spinal care is an emerging topic. Studies among neurosurgeons to evaluate clinical practice about discussing fertility are non... Show moreAbstract PURPOSE: Due to advancing insights, discussing fertility in spinal care is an emerging topic. Studies among neurosurgeons to evaluate clinical practice about discussing fertility are non-existent. The aim of this study is to review knowledge, attitude and practice patterns regarding discussing fertility in spinal care. METHODS: Dutch neurosurgeons and residents were sent a mail-based questionnaire addressing attitude, knowledge and practice patterns regarding discussing fertility. RESULTS: Response rate was 62 % (compared to mean of 28 % in similar surveys) with 89 questionnaires suitable for analysis. Mean age was 42 years with 83 % of respondents being male. A quarter of respondents stated neurosurgeons are responsible to discuss fertility, with 12 % indicating to actually do this. Fertility is discussed more often with patients with cauda equina syndrome (70 %) and with men (p = 0.006). Merely 8 % of respondents stated to have adequate knowledge on fertility preservation (FP); this percentage was higher for doctors with spinal surgery as specialty (p = 0.015). In case of cauda equina syndrome, doctors with more knowledge discussed fertility more often (p = 0.002). Fifty-three percent of neurosurgeons wished to enhance their knowledge, in order to feel more comfortable to discuss fertility with their patients. Five percent indicated to have ever referred a patient to a fertility specialist. CONCLUSION: With the exception of cauda equina syndrome, fertility is not routinely discussed in spinal care. Fertility is discussed more often with men. Recent guidelines state that discussing fertility is an essential part of good practice in spinal care. Education on fertility and FP needs to be integrated in the neurosurgical training program to create more awareness, and to enable clinicians to provide adequate information and care to the patient. KEYWORDS: Education; Fertility; Practice patterns; Reproductive health; Spinal care Show less
Korse, N.S.; Elzevier, H.; Vleggeert-Lankamp, C. 2014
PURPOSE: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare complication of lumbar disk herniation. Although micturition, defecation and/or sexual function are by definition affected, little seems to be known... Show morePURPOSE: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare complication of lumbar disk herniation. Although micturition, defecation and/or sexual function are by definition affected, little seems to be known about long-term outcome. Aim of this study is to review current literature on outcome of micturition, defecation and sexual function in CES due to lumbar disk herniation. METHODS: A literature search was done in Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science using a sensitive search string combination. Studies were selected by predefined selection criteria and risk of bias was assessed using a Cochrane checklist adjusted for this purpose. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included. Risk of bias varied with six studies showing low risk. Mean minimal follow-up time was 17.0 months (range 3-24 months). All studies evaluated micturition and reported dysfunction at follow-up in 42.5 % (range 13.3-90.0 %). Defecation and sexual function were evaluated in eight and nine studies, respectively, and reported to be 49.6 (range 10.5-90.0 %) and 44.3 % (range 10.0-76.6 %), respectively. Only two studies assessed sexual function in all patients at follow-up. CONCLUSION: This review offers an insight into the extent of micturition dysfunction, defecation dysfunction and sexual dysfunction (SD) in CES after decompression. Our findings show that dysfunction is extremely common, even at long-term follow-up. A condition as invalidating as CES requires proper patient information and the outcomes presented here may help in providing those data. Bias in included studies, lack of universal definitions and incomplete follow-up results qualify these data as the best we momentarily have, but still subject to improvement. Since SD seems to be severely underreported, we recommend further research to explore the extent of this problem, as well as the use of questionnaires in future clinical (prospective) studies to accomplish a more patient-based approach. Show less
