Frontiers in Public Health最新文献

Aim: To inspect the quality, reliability, and transparency of YouTube videos on spiritual palliative care by employing systematic scoring benchmarks, such as JAMA and Modified DISCERN.

Background: Spiritual care is vital in palliative care, and YouTube is a popular platform for health information, though the quality of such content remains unexplored. The present study is the first analysis of spiritual palliative care videos on YouTube, revealing the types of creators (e.g., educational institutions, healthcare providers, etc.), dominant video formats (documentaries, testimonials, lectures, etc.), and overall quality and transparency of the content.

Methods: On 19th April 2024, a sample of 50 spiritual palliative care YouTube videos was compiled and examined for quality, reliability, and transparency assessment. JAMA and Modified DISCERN scoring systems were used to score the sample videos. The first step in data analysis was determining the variables' normality. For this, the Shapiro-Wilk test was employed. The data was not normally distributed, so group-wise comparisons and correlation analysis were conducted using non-parametric methods. Correlation analysis was done using the Spearman's test. The quantitative data of the groups/categories were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results: The current study's findings showcase that the quality, reliability, and transparency of the spiritual palliative care YouTube videos are moderate. The mean JAMA score for transparency was slightly better than the mean Modified DISCERN score for the quality/reliability of the sample videos.

Impact: The current study addresses the ambiguity about the quality, reliability, and transparency of spiritual palliative care videos on YouTube. The results highlight the lack of superior quality, reliability, and transparency of the available video content related to the subject. Concerned authorities must recognize the risk of contact with substandard quality health-related YouTube content. To promote public health, initiatives are needed to increase patients' chances of access to high-quality YouTube information about the spiritual facet of palliative care.

Objective: The use of proton beam therapy (PBT) for treating ocular conjunctival malignancies is on the rise across numerous medical centers. This study conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness and safety of PBT in treating malignant conjunctival tumors.

Methods: We searched for studies on PBT for ocular conjunctival malignancies in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (WoS) databases up to November 25, 2023. Studies were selected and data were extracted by two independent reviewers based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE method. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA version 16.0.

Results: An initial search yielded 586 articles, from which six retrospective case series studies were selected involving 291 patients with ocular conjunctival malignancies, including 240 cases of conjunctival melanoma and 51 cases of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Meta-analysis with a random-effects model showed that PBT is effective and relatively safe, with 2-, 4-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of 98% (95% CI 95-102%), 87% (95% CI 69-104%), and 78% (95% CI 70-87%) respectively. Reported toxicity rates included 19% for cataracts, 10% for glaucoma, 5% for lacrimal stenosis, 52% for sicca symptoms, and 11% for limbal stem cell deficiency. The GRADE assessment yielded a low certainty of evidence.

Conclusions: Proton therapy offers a viable alternative treatment for patients with conjunctival malignancies, with acceptable treatment-related toxicity rates.

Introduction: Parents' negative parenting style is an important cause of anxiety, depression, and suicide among university students. Given the widespread use of social media, microblogs offer a new and promising way for non-invasive, large-scale assessment of parenting styles of students' parents.

Methods: In this study, we have two main objectives: (1) investigating the correlation between students' microblog discourses and parents' parenting styles and (2) devising a method to predict students' parenting styles from their microblog discourses. We analyzed 111,258 posts from 575 university students using frequency analysis to examine differences in the usage of topical and emotional word across different parenting styles. Informed by these insights, we developed an effective parenting style assessment method, including a correlation injection module.

Results: Experimental results on the 575 students show that our method outperforms all the baseline NLP methods (including ChatGPT-4), achieving good assessment performance by reducing MSE by 14% to 0.12.

Discussion: Our study provides a pioneering microblog-based parenting style assessment tool and constructs a dataset, merging insights from psychology and computational science. On the one hand, our study advances the understanding of how parenting styles are reflected in the linguistic and emotional expressions of students on microblogs. On the other hand, our study provides an assisting tool that could be used by healthcare institutions to identify students' parenting styles. It facilitates the identification of suicide risk factors among microblog student users, and enables timely interventions to prevent suicides, which enhances human wellbeing and saves lives.

Background: UNISCREEN is a general population study aiming at evaluating feasibility and acceptability of universal screening for chronic autoimmune (type 1 diabetes and celiac disease) and metabolic/cardiovascular diseases (dysglycemia, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension) across all age groups using capillary blood sampling by fingerprick to measure disease risk markers.

Methods: UNISCREEN was conducted in the Cantalupo fraction, Cerro Maggiore, Milan, Italy, counting 3,061 inhabitants between 1 and 100 years of age. Participation was voluntary, following a public call. Participants were invited to respond to feasibility and acceptability questionnaires immediately before and after the screening procedures, which included the following: capillary blood drawing for immediate measurement of metabolic parameters (glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total-, HDL- and calculated LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides) and late autoantibody assays; blood pressure measurement; brief consultation with a physician providing feed-back on immediate results and health recommendations. The study was registered as ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05841719.

Results: The study included 1,535 participants (50.1% of local population). A single fingerprick was sufficient for all measurements in 47.1% of cases, while up to two were necessary in 86.9% of cases. Complete glucose and lipid panels were obtained in 1382 participants (90.0%). Sufficient serum for late autoantibody testing was obtained in 99.7% of participants. The questionnaires showed overall satisfaction, with over 90% of participants considering capillary sampling simple and practical, and preferring it to venous sampling. Before screening, 24.0% adults and 31.7% children's parents were worried about the possibility of being diagnosed or identified as being at risk; worries decreased to 21.3 and 23.4%, respectively, after medical consultation. The immediacy of some result communication possibly contributed to reducing the anticipatory anxiety.

Conclusion: The UNISCREEN study shows that universal screening for chronic autoimmune, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the general population using capillary blood testing is feasible and acceptable.

Background: The associations of only-child status and household pet ownership with the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are inconclusive, and the joint effects of only-child status and household pet ownership on ADHD have not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: A population-based study was conducted in 2021 involving preschool children aged 3-6 years attending kindergartens in Longhua District, Shenzhen, China. Parents were invited to complete questionnaires providing information on socio-demographic and family-environmental factors. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the 26-item Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale as reported by parents.

Results: This study included 63,282 children (mean age: 4.86 ± 0.85 years, 53.6% boys), representing 72.6% of all preschool children in this district in 2021. Among them, 34.4% were only-child and 9.6% were identified as having ADHD. Only-child status was associated with an increased risk of ADHD [adjusted odds ratio: 1.30 (95%CI: 1.23-1.38). Compared to children without a pet (cats or dogs) at ages 0-3 years, pet ownership at ages only 0-1 year, only 1-3 years, and both ages were associated with increased odds of ADHD: 1.59 (1.30-1.95), 1.58 (1.28-1.93), and 1.66 (1.42-1.92), respectively, after controlling for potential confounders. A significant interaction between pet ownership at only 1-3 years and only-child status was observed (adjusted P for interaction = 0.028). Similar findings were observed when the analyses were performed separately for boys and girls.

Conclusion: Both only-child status and household pet ownership are associated with an increased risk of ADHD; however, the detrimental effect of pet ownership appears to be mitigated among only children when pet exposure occurs at ages 1-3 years, providing new insight into reducing family-related risk factors of ADHD.

Background: Weather can independently affect the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in urban areas. Built environments of cities could further modify exposure to weather and consequently the risk of RTIs, but their combined effects on infections are not known.

Objectives: Our aim was to synthesize evidence of the influence of weather on RTIs in urban areas and to examine whether urban built environments are associated with both weather and RTIs.

Methods: A systematic search of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted on 9th of August 2022 following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included in the review based on predefined criteria by screening 5,789 articles and reviewing reference lists of relevant studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using the AXIS appraisal tool, and the results analyzed by narrative synthesis.

Results: Twenty-one eligible studies focusing on COVID-19 and influenza transmissions, were included in the review. All studies were register based ecological studies by design. Low temperature (11/19 studies) was most often associated with increased risk of RTI. Humidity showed either negative (5/14 studies), positive (3/14 studies) or no (6/14 studies) relation with RTIs. The association between wind and solar radiation on infections was inconclusive. Population density was positively associated with RTIs (14/15 studies).

Conclusions: Our review shows that exposure to low temperature increases the occurrence of RTIs in urban areas, and where also high population density increases the infection risk. The study highlights the need to further assess the relationship between built environment characteristics, weather, and RTIs.

Background and objective: Approximately 16% of the global population, or 1.3 billion individuals, live with disabilities, facing increased health risks. Despite international and national policies affirming the rights of persons with disabilities, healthcare disparities persist, with studies revealing higher rates of unmet medical needs, avoidable deaths, and dissatisfaction with healthcare services among this population. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of health inequities experienced by individuals with disabilities globally.

Methods: A rapid scoping review methodology was employed to systematically search and analyze quantitative evidence on health inequities. Electronic searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases, supplemented by manual searches of reference lists. The selection criteria for articles in this study were as follows: (a) publication between 2011 and 2022, (b) written in English, (c) published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, and (d) a quantitative comparison of health inequities between persons with and without disabilities.

Results: A total of 363 scholarly works were initially identified, with 51 meeting the inclusion criteria after rigorous screening. In the course of our review, our team identified three overarching themes of health inequity, encompassing (a) access to healthcare and resources, (b) morbidity, mortality, & risk factors, and (c) social determinants of health. These studies collectively reveal disparities in healthcare access, utilization, and outcomes among persons with disabilities, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to address systemic barriers and promote equitable healthcare provision.

Conclusion: This review underscores the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing quality healthcare and imperative for concerted efforts to advance health equity.

Background: Work-related complaints are often caused by stress and increased mental strain. Support from your immediate boss and colleagues is crucial to buffer against the negative health effects of the psychosocial working environment.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if support from the immediate boss and colleagues was associated with biological stress levels, unsafety at work, and other work-related conditions.

Methods: Data derives from a subsample of the SCAPIS study, a major Swedish prospective population-based study. In this subsample, a total of N = 5 058 middle-aged persons (50-64 years) from the general population participated; of these, 68.4% (N = 3 462 individuals) provided hair samples. Questionnaires included socio-demographic and self-reports of occupation, stress, and health status. The demand and control questionnaires were used. A biomarker of long-term stress, hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), was also applied.

Results: In this studied cohort, 9.1 % reported a lack of support from their immediate boss, while 90.9% reported that they did get support at work. Significantly more women (p < 0.001) reported non-support. Those with support or not did not differ in terms of age, education, civil status, smoking, or ethnicity. Those with non-support reported a higher extent (p < 0.001) of lower perceived health. The risk for hypertension and high cholesterol was increased by 28 %, respectively, 13 % being in the non-support group. The main findings were associations between lack of support and feelings of unsafety at work (p < 0.001), higher long-term cortisol levels (p < 0.009), lack of support from colleagues (p < 0.001), and feelings of dejected/sad (p < 0.001) and high work pace (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Individuals who did not have the necessary support from their immediate boss and colleagues reported they felt more insecure at work and had higher biological long-term stress. In workplace health promotion, an awareness of the link between social support at work and health could be an important component.

Background: The rise in linguistically diverse patient populations has introduced significant challenges in healthcare due to language barriers. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) has emerged as a cost-effective solution in healthcare settings. However, its impact on interpreters, particularly the specific enabling and hindering factors from their point of view remains underexplored. For example, in some studies, VRI interpreters report higher stress and job dissatisfaction. We hypothesize that interpreters' work experience and supervision attendance mitigate negative effects. We tested this hypothesis using a quantitative approach. Additionally, we analyzed qualitative data to uncover more enabling and hindering factors.

Methods: A sample of 87 interpreters working in Austria and Germany was included in this multi-methods study. Stress, job dissatisfaction, work experience, and supervision were analyzed using correlations and group comparisons. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify enabling and hindering factors, with network analysis exploring their interconnections.

Results: Longer work experience correlated with lower stress. Supervision had no significant effect on stress or job satisfaction. Thematic content analysis identified 21 factors affecting VRI: While VRI enhances efficiency and emotional distance, interpreters face technical problems and difficulties arising from the lack of physical presence. Network analysis confirmed that VRI settings are characterized by a close interplay between these enabling and hindering factors.

Discussion: Strategies for using VRI can be derived from these data. VRI is an efficient alternative to in-person interpreting, with challenges that can be mitigated. Training healthcare personnel in handling VRI and optimizing VRI conditions can contribute to better healthcare outcomes.

Objective: This study examined associations between serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and gout risk in the U.S. adult population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018 data. And assessing the potential intermediary effect of uric acid.

Methods: The study included 8,494 participants, with 385 having gout. Four PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA) were measured. PFOS is the most prevalent PFAS in the environment, biota, and human tissues. It is rapidly absorbed and accumulates in the liver, kidneys, and blood, binding to serum albumin and low-density lipoprotein. PFOA is highly persistent in the body, mainly accumulating in the kidneys and liver through enterohepatic circulation, posing risks due to its difficulty in metabolism and excretion. PFHxS has the longest metabolic half-life in humans (7.3 years) and bioaccumulates in the endocrine, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems. PFNA is the second most detected PFAS in human serum after PFOS. It is more likely to accumulate and express toxicity in the reproductive organs, liver, and immune system compared to PFOS and PFOA. Multivariate logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression were used to assess individual and mixture effects. Mediation analysis was conducted to estimate effect of uric acid.

Results: In fully adjusted model, the associations were nonsignificant, with PFOA showing a marginally positive association. Mixture analysis revealed a significant positive association with gout risk across all models. PFOS was the largest contributor to the mixture effect. Stronger associations were observed in old people and females. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Mediation analysis indicated significant intermediary effect of uric acid in the associations of PFAS with risk of gout, with the mediated proportion ranging from 48 to 77%.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence for a potential link between PFAS exposure and gout risk, particularly when considering mixtures. While associations with individual PFASs are largely explained by demographic and lifestyle factors, the persistent association of mixtures with gout risk highlights the importance of considering combined exposures in environmental health research. Uric acid level plays a crucial intermediary effect.