Frontiers in Public Health最新文献

Introduction: COVID-19 has triggered significant disruptions globally, necessitating swift adaptations in individuals' health behaviors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during Phase Four of Malaysia's National Recovery Plan and examines how the pandemic has affected health behaviors among adult Malaysians. The study gathered data online using convenience sampling with 1,004 respondents aged 18 and above. The research focused on diverse health domains, including eating habits, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep patterns. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and descriptive statistics were employed to compare health behaviors before and after COVID-19.

Results: Findings indicate noteworthy shifts in eating behaviors, with increased water and fruit consumption (p < .001). The frequency of home-cooked meals stayed relatively stable despite declining dinner preference and increasing daily snacks. Physical activity declined, marked by increased sedentary behavior and screen time (p < .001). There were differences in the patterns of smoking and alcohol consumption; some had started these behaviors during the pandemic. Notably, intentions to quit smoking among respondents were more prominent than attempts to stop drinking. Respondents' sleep patterns also changed, with more sleeping fewer than seven hours daily (p < .001).

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for focused interventions to address new challenges by highlighting the impact on health behaviors. As Malaysia navigates the post-pandemic landscape, understanding and mitigating the persisting effects on health behaviors are crucial for promoting overall well-being.

Background: This study aimed to explore the effect of household solid fuel usage on the multimorbidity trajectories among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Based on the 2011-2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, the group-based trajectory modeling and the multinomial logistic regression model were used to explore the relationship between multimorbidity trajectories of older adults with different fuel types, duration of solid fuel usage, and potential interaction with PM_2.5. Three multimorbidity trajectory patterns were identified by group-based trajectory modeling and labeled as "non-chronic morbidity" (no disease increase), "newly developing multimorbidity" (diseases grew from 0 to 2), and "multi-chronic multimorbidity" (diseases grew from 2 to 4).

Results: Compared to "Non-chronic morbidity," solid fuel was significantly associated with adverse multimorbidity trajectories, with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.33 (1.11, 1.60) and 1.35 (1.18, 1.55) for newly developing and multi-chronic group, respectively. An adverse multimorbidity trajectory tended to be established with longer durations of solid fuel usage than "Non-chronic morbidity." For "Newly-developing multimorbidity," the ORs (95% CI) for 1-7 years and ≥ 8 years of solid fuel usage were 1.16 (0.94, 1.42) and 1.41 (1.12, 1.76), respectively, with P trend=0.001, while in "Multi-chronic multimorbidity," those were 1.25 (1.07, 1.47) and 1.68 (1.41, 2.00), respectively, with P trend <0.001. In the interaction analysis, the association between solid fuel usage and trajectories was significant only in areas where PM_2.5 was lower than 50 μg/m³.

Conclusion: For the middle-aged and older Chinese population, a higher risk of multimorbidity trajectory is associated with household solid fuel usage, especially in the areas with lower PM_2.5.

Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses frequently confront significant psychological challenges, including compassion fatigue, moral distress, and diminished moral resilience. These issues not only affect their well-being but also impact the quality of care provided to patients. The interplay of these factors is complex and not fully understood, particularly how compassion fatigue influences the relationship between moral resilience and moral distress.

Objectives: To explore the complex interplay between compassion fatigue and moral distress among ICU nurses, and to elucidate how compassion fatigue influences the protective role of moral resilience against moral distress.

Research design: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a nationwide random sample of ICU nurses in China. Latent profile analysis identified subgroups based on levels of compassion fatigue. Moderation analysis examined whether compassion fatigue moderated the association between moral resilience and moral distress.

Results: Among 612 ICU nurses, latent profile analysis revealed three distinct groups with high, moderate, and low levels of compassion fatigue. Being female was protective against high compassion fatigue, while ages 30-49 yrs., lack of bachelor's degree, and dissatisfaction with salary increased compassion fatigue risk. Moderation analysis showed compassion fatigue significantly moderated the relationship between moral resilience and moral distress. Nurses with higher compassion fatigue exhibited a stronger association between low moral resilience and high moral distress.

Conclusion: Compassion fatigue and moral distress are interconnected phenomena among ICU nurses. Demographic factors like gender, age, education, and income satisfaction impact compassion fatigue risk. High compassion fatigue impairs moral resilience, exacerbating moral distress. Comprehensive interventions targeting both compassion fatigue and moral resilience, tailored to nurses' demographic profiles, are needed to support this workforce.

Introduction: Nigeria has one of the highest measles burdens and the lowest vaccination coverage in the world. Geographical disparity in the coverage has also been persistent. Between 2019 and 2021, the Nigerian government introduced the second Measles vaccine (MCV2) into routine immunization (RI). This study evaluated the trends of the MCV2 coverage over time across geographical zones.

Methods: The monthly data on the MCV2 coverage from District Health Information Software (DHIS2) for all the health facilities in Nigeria were aggregated by the geopolitical zone, and the trend of the MCV2 coverage was analyzed over time.

Results: The MCV2 coverage in each zone was approximately 20% when the MCV2 program was launched. The MCV2 coverage was higher in the northern zones (35-42%) than in the southern zones (22-31%) 1 year after the launch. Similarly, at 2.5 years, the MCV2 coverage ranged from 38 to 46% in northern zones, while in southern zones, it ranged from 23 to 37%.

Discussion and conclusion: The introduction of MCV2 as part of the RI schedule potentially narrows down the health inequity in Nigeria.

Introduction: The unsafe work of construction workers directly contributes to frequent accidents in workplaces. However, the factors influencing the safety behavior of Chinese construction workers are not yet clear.

Methods: Data from 381 construction workers were analyzed to test our hypotheses.This study aimed to investigate the impact of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) on safety behavior through a cross-level model, focusing on the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating effect of safety-related stress.

Results: The results indicated that (1) PSC was positively associated with psychological resilience and safety behavior; (2) psychological resilience mediated the relationship between PSC and safety behavior; (3) the link between PSC and safety behavior was negatively influenced by safety-related stress; and (4) all three sub-dimensions of safety-related stress moderated the effect of PSC on safety participation.

Discussion: These findings elucidate the mechanisms underlying the connection between PSC, psychological resilience, safety-related stress, and safety behavior from a multi-level perspective. Additionally, strategies for enhancing the safety behavior of construction workers were discussed.

Objectives: To study the relationship between the occupational stress model, specifically the Job Demand-Control Model of Karasek, physical activity level and sedentary behavior.

Method: This is a cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 100 volunteers working at Clermont Auvergne University. The questionnaire included the Karasek questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Results: The results reveal that occupational characteristics play a significant role, with individuals exhibiting high job control showing reduced sitting time and increased physical activity compared to those with low job control. Job strain was associated with increased sitting time and decreased physical activity. Further analysis revealed that being in a state of job strain significantly predicted sitting for more than 7 h per day. Similarly, job strain and isostrain were explanatory factors for having a low to moderate physical activity level. Logistic regression quantified the risks, indicating that sitting for more than 7 h per day increased the risk of job strain by 4.80 times, while high physical activity levels and being male reduced the risk by 79 and 84%, respectively. Job strain also increased the risk of prolonged sitting by 5.06 times and low to moderate physical activity levels by 5.15 times. Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that a substantial portion of the association between sitting time and job strain was mediated by physical activity, and vice versa, emphasizing the interconnected nature of sedentary behavior and physical activity in influencing occupational stress.

Conclusion: The study highlights the impact of sedentary behavior on occupational stress, assessed using Karasek's Job-Demand-Control Model. Despite being less studied, sedentary behavior appears to be a relevant contributor to occupational stress. Furthermore, the results emphasize the significant role of physical activity levels, suggesting that it plays a substantial part in the relationship between sedentary behavior and occupational stress.

Introduction: The literature establishes a clear social gradient in health for transmissible respiratory diseases. However, this gradient's extent remains largely unexplored in the context of COVID-19, and it is uncertain whether the pandemic has exacerbated this gradient. The study aims to compare the socio-economic profiles and comorbidities during the COVID-19 pandemic with a control population affected by viral pneumonia/respiratory disease in 2019.

Methods: This case-control study analyzed linked data from all patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020 (n = 22,087) and for respiratory diseases in 2019 (n = 7,586). Socio-economic data from the social security database were linked to clinical data from the hospital registry. We analyzed the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with COVID-19 hospitalization (control group, wave 1, and wave 2) using multinomial regressions and logistic regression models and the length of stay during hospitalization using binomial negative regressions.

Results: A social health gradient was observed in both the COVID-19 and control groups, with a significant increase across waves for COVID-19 (p-trend < 0.0001). Men, people over the age of 45, those with comorbidities, high population density, lower income, lower socio-economic status, and people living in Brussels capital were at higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and longer length of stay compared to the control group. Except for sub-Saharan Africans, all patients of foreign nationality had a significantly increased risk of hospitalization (p < 0.001), but a shorter length of stay compared to Belgians.

Conclusion: The socio-health gradient for COVID-19 followed the same pattern as that observed in pre-pandemic respiratory diseases, intensifying in the second wave and among the most deprived groups. This study emphasizes the importance of collecting social data alongside clinical data for a better understanding of social health inequalities and for tailoring health prevention policies.

Introduction: Norway's healthcare system needs a diversified work force to meet societal demands for improved cultural competence. However, many migrants in Norway who were educated as health professions in their home countries are not practicing these professions. This may negatively affect their physical and mental health and hinder their personal social integration. Though good health is often seen as a precondition for work, relevant working activities can also improve health. However, including health professionals with foreign education in academic institutions prior to receiving necessary accreditation is a complex task. This study will pilot an intervention aiming to improve health through meaningful integration of these professionals in academic environments.

Materials and methods: This paper is a protocol for a non-randomized pilot intervention study targeting migrants who are waiting for their health education accreditation in Norway. To test the benefits of meaningful activity on health and explore possibilities for implementing such activity, we have designed a six-month long intervention consisting of including nurses, doctors, and other highly educated migrants with healthcare backgrounds between 20 and 67 years of age, into health-related working tasks, at two higher education institutions in Bergen, Norway. The intervention will be tailored according to the participant's expertise. This hybrid type 2 pilot protocol paper will present how feasibility, fidelity, dose received (satisfaction), and dose of exposure (participation), will be assessed and whether the intervention is experienced as beneficial for the participants' health as primary outcome utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Conclusion: We present a complex, personalized intervention that has the potential for large scale implementation in the future. By thoroughly presenting our designed intervention and assessment methods, this protocol will add to the study's transparency and facilitate replicability and comparison with future studies. This study will be of benefit to the migrants themselves, policy makers, government agencies and academia at large as it can point to a unique and sustainable way of speeding up the integration of highly educated migrants in their respective fields in a new host country.

Introduction: Volunteering represents an opportunity for social transformation and social cohesion. Portugal is one of the European countries with fewer volunteering initiatives. Generally, society distances itself from individuals with mental illness and prison inmates, therefore, stigma becomes one of the barriers to social reintegration. However, volunteering can be a beneficial intervention helping individuals in their reintegration.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the differences and similarities in the attitudes of volunteers toward volunteering with people with mental illness and prisoners.

Methods: A supplementary qualitative secondary analysis was conducted using transcripts from 39 semi-structured individual interviews with volunteers regarding support of inmates in prison and two focus groups with volunteers regarding support of people with mental illness. Data analysis was conducted through an inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis: 'Volunteer motivation and characteristics', 'Volunteer's role', 'Volunteering relationship and its impact', and 'Challenges faced by volunteers'. There were several similarities between the perspectives toward volunteering in prisons and in mental health care, including the need for specific training in the area and the positive attitudes and behaviors of both groups of volunteers toward volunteering with the individuals supported. The differences were related to the characteristics necessary to be a volunteer, the activities carried out with the individuals supported and the difficulties faced by volunteers.

Conclusion: These findings show overall positive attitudes toward volunteering in mental health and in prisons.

Background: Loneliness is the distressing feeling that arises when a person's network of social relations is perceived as being inadequate in some way. Research has linked loneliness to a number of detrimental health outcomes. There is also some evidence that lonely individuals are more likely to engage in poorer health behaviors. However, as yet, there has been comparatively little attention paid to the relation between loneliness and dietary behavior. In particular, there has been little focus on the association between loneliness and fruit and vegetable intake.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between loneliness and low fruit and vegetable consumption in the Japanese general population.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 3,410 Japanese adults collected in an online survey in early 2023. Information was obtained on past-week fruit and vegetable consumption with a single-item measure, while loneliness was assessed with the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Information was also collected on sociodemographic characteristics, physical health status, health-risk behaviors and depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was used to assess associations.

Results: One in twenty (5.3%) adults reported low fruit and vegetable consumption. In a fully adjusted analysis loneliness was associated with higher odds for low fruit and vegetable consumption (OR: 1.14, 95%CI: 1.04-1.26). In sex- and age-stratified analyses loneliness was significantly associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption in both women and middle-aged adults, although confidence intervals overlapped for this association across all of the sex and age groups in the fully adjusted analyses.

Conclusions: Loneliness is associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in Japan. As loneliness and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake have both been linked to poorer health outcomes, the results of this study underscore the potential importance and public health benefits of reducing loneliness in Japan.