https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/104022 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:38:29 GMT 2026-04-06T23:38:29Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105235 Title: The diabetic foot : saving limbs, saving lives Authors: Formosa, Cynthia Abstract: Every 30 seconds a limb is lost somewhere in the world due to diabetes! (International Diabetes Federation and International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot, 2005) Diabetic foot ulceration and amputations are a worldwide concern, including Malta where some 500 partial or full amputations of the foot are carried out annually. In the EU, 450,000 amputations cost €2.5 billion yearly (Raghav A et al., 2018), resulting in major economic consequences both for patients and healthcare systems alike. If managed timely, ulceration may be prevented in 80% of the cases. Diabetic foot infections are potentially disastrous complications that progress rapidly following minor traumas. For a long time, scientists have been fighting against infection and it is evident that wound infection is a challenging situation for all healthcare professionals. It has been suggested that infections present in diabetic foot ulcerations are the largest cause of lower extremity amputations, impacting the patient’s quality of life significantly (Camilleri Attard F., Gatt A., Formosa C. 2021). Our research leads us to believe that an increase in pressure on the sole of the foot, followed by a rise in temperature before ulceration, can also be key indicators that could detect those areas which are about to develop a wound, known as a diabetic ulcer (Perren et al 2021). Thus identifying and correcting increased plantar pressures and altered biomechanical factors are key to prevention amongst other risk factors. Diabetic foot amputation and hospitalization are still on the increase. This may suggest that current management of the diabetic foot is not effective, clearly demonstrating the need for the implementation of new and effective strategies aimed primarily at prevention of ulceration. Where the high-risk foot is concerned, “time is tissue” (Setacci C, 2012). One cannot simply afford to wait for complications such as infection to develop as this might mean limb loss and ultimately even death. [Excerpt] Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105235 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105234 Title: Hearing Loss and cognition : the perspective of healthcare professionals Authors: Cutajar, Kirby; Tabone, Nadine Abstract: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is one of the leading causes of hearing loss (HL) and among the most significant communication disorders present in the ageing population (National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, 2018; Saadi and Isildak, 2019). Untreated HL may increase the effect of auditory deprivation leading to increased cognitive decline (CD). This may result in reduced social participation, increased isolation and depression which may contribute towards reduced interest in hearing rehabilitation (Berrettini et al., 2016). The perspective of twenty-one healthcare professionals with respect to acquired HL and cognition within the local population was investigated. Audiologists, geriatricians, nurses and speech and language pathologists (SLP’s) were recruited. The methodology adopted involved online focus groups. A rigorous qualitative analysis outlined similarities and differences in the professionals’ viewpoint. The main findings suggested that adapted cognitive assessments which are suitable for clients experiencing HL are highly insubstantial. For this reason, yielding reliable test results may be compromised. In Malta, a lack of interdisciplinarity and the issue of an insufficient formed pathway for client management was raised. Stumbling blocks related to the implementation of hearing aids (HA’s) were also discussed as inhibiting intervention effectiveness within different local clinical settings. In Malta, professionals adopt strategies which facilitate communication when encountering individuals experiencing HL. However, optimal training with respect to HL and cognition was suggested to be poor within the local context. Consequently, compelling needs for healthcare professionals to increase their awareness in relation to how losses in relation to hearing and cognition are amalgamated to affect the life of the individual have been highlighted. The novelty of this study could inform future studies which may be conducted and examine the relationship between HL and cognition within the local context. Research gaps are dicussed and the research questions were formulated in a manner which provides information about HL and cognition in light of the local context as it was observed that local research in this regard is highly lacking. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105234 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105233 Title: Barriers and facilitators in providing quality end-of-life care to patients with haematologic malignancies : the nurses’ perceptions Authors: Grech, Antonia; Depares, Joanna; Scerri, Josianne Abstract: The ‘cure culture’ present in a haematology oncology unit in Malta poses a challenge to end-of-life care provision for patients with hematologic malignancies. Extant literature focuses on the perceptions of medical practitioners regarding the non-referral of these patients to palliative care and the avoidance of end-of-life discussions. Yet, although nurses provide twenty-four hour care to these patients, there is a dearth of research regarding their perceptions of barriers and facilitators in quality end-of-life care provision for these patients. The aim of this paper is to explore the perceptions of Maltese nurses regarding barriers and facilitators in quality endof- life care provision for adult patients with haematologic malignancies in a haematology oncology unit in Malta. Five female nurses were recruited by purposive sampling and each participant was interviewed twice using semi-structured interviews. The data were transcribed verbatim. Two themes “Addressing the unique needs of each patient’ and “Obstacles to providing quality end-oflife care” were extracted. The first theme represents the nurses’ perceptions of facilitators necessary to provide quality end-of-life care namely, keeping the patient physically comfortable, ensuring that their spiritual needs are met, and working with patient concerns to enable closure. Conversely, the barriers perceived as hindering the provision of quality end-of-life care include the lack of patient privacy in the ward, the non-inclusion of nurses in care plan decision making, the provision of false hopes to patients, and care provision within a cureoriented ward culture. The findings demonstrate how end-of-life care with these patients should not be task and cure-oriented, but rather, should adopt a palliative modus operandi, that prompts care practices utilising a holistic and person-centred approach, with a focus on quality of life as opposed to quantity. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105233 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105232 Title: Assessing the image quality of brain magnetic resonance images taken with 1.5T and 3T scanners Authors: Borg, Leanne; Zarb, Francis; Borg Grima, Karen Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the ideal modality for brain imaging, as high quality anatomical detail is provided while having a higher sensitivity and specificity over other imaging modalities such as Computed Tomography (CT) (Isalm & Munir, 2019; Khan et al., 2019). MRI does not make use of ionising radiation, but acquires images in multiple planes without repositioning the patient through the generation of powerful electromagnetic fields, and radiofrequency pulses. Depending on the gradient and the number of radiofrequency pulses set, different MRI sequences are created. An MRI sequence is a series of radio-frequency pulses used to obtain a signal from the patient to produce an image of the examined area with a particular appearance (weighting) (Liang et al., 2021). [Excerpt] Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105232 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z