Nancy Fiedler, Pamela Ohman-Strickland, Jialin Doris Shen, Kathleen Black, Daniel B. Horton, Reynold Panettieri, Martin J. Blaser, Jeffrey Carson, Kestutis Bendinskas, Hana Cheng, Emily S. Barrett
Chronic psychosocial stress is known to adversely impact immune function. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, occupational stress among workers in healthcare was at an unprecedented level due to risks of infection and work demands. We performed a nested case–control study to investigate the associations between chronic stress and the risks of contracting SARS-CoV-2. We collected 3 cm of hair from employees at an academic medical center who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (N = 49) and controls who tested negative (N = 49), matched for age, race, and sex. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was based on polymerase chain reaction or antibody tests. As a proxy for chronic stress, we segmented hair into 1 cm sections each representing one month and measured cortisol levels using a cortisol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For cases, we used cortisol concentrations measured in hair segments from the month prior to a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and for controls, we used time-matched hair segments. We fitted conditional logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age, race, body mass index, and healthcare worker status, and stratified models by older vs. younger age (cutoff = 41 years). African Americans had higher hair cortisol levels relative to participants of other races and ethnicities. In adjusted models, higher hair cortisol concentrations were associated with an increased odds of infection with SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 1.84; CI: 1.10–3.07) among older, but not younger, participants. The results suggest that psychosocial stress may be a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection; stress management may be an important part of a comprehensive approach to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
{"title":"Age and Hair Cortisol Levels as Predictors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection","authors":"Nancy Fiedler, Pamela Ohman-Strickland, Jialin Doris Shen, Kathleen Black, Daniel B. Horton, Reynold Panettieri, Martin J. Blaser, Jeffrey Carson, Kestutis Bendinskas, Hana Cheng, Emily S. Barrett","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091166","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic psychosocial stress is known to adversely impact immune function. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, occupational stress among workers in healthcare was at an unprecedented level due to risks of infection and work demands. We performed a nested case–control study to investigate the associations between chronic stress and the risks of contracting SARS-CoV-2. We collected 3 cm of hair from employees at an academic medical center who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (N = 49) and controls who tested negative (N = 49), matched for age, race, and sex. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was based on polymerase chain reaction or antibody tests. As a proxy for chronic stress, we segmented hair into 1 cm sections each representing one month and measured cortisol levels using a cortisol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For cases, we used cortisol concentrations measured in hair segments from the month prior to a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and for controls, we used time-matched hair segments. We fitted conditional logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age, race, body mass index, and healthcare worker status, and stratified models by older vs. younger age (cutoff = 41 years). African Americans had higher hair cortisol levels relative to participants of other races and ethnicities. In adjusted models, higher hair cortisol concentrations were associated with an increased odds of infection with SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 1.84; CI: 1.10–3.07) among older, but not younger, participants. The results suggest that psychosocial stress may be a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection; stress management may be an important part of a comprehensive approach to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julliana Gonçalves Marques, Bruno Motta de Carvalho, Luiz Affonso Guedes, Márjory Da Costa-Abreu
The efficient recognition of symptoms in viral infections holds promise for swift and precise diagnosis, thus mitigating health implications and the potential recurrence of infections. COVID-19 presents unique challenges due to various factors influencing diagnosis, especially regarding disease symptoms that closely resemble those of other viral diseases, including other strains of SARS, thus impacting the identification of useful and meaningful symptom patterns as they emerge in infections. Therefore, this study proposes an association rule mining approach, utilising the Apriori algorithm to analyse the similarities between individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and those with unspecified SARS diagnosis. The objective is to investigate, through symptom rules, the presence of COVID-19 patterns among individuals initially not diagnosed with the disease. Experiments were conducted using cases from Brazilian SARS datasets for São Paulo State. Initially, reporting percentage similarities of symptoms in both groups were analysed. Subsequently, the top ten rules from each group were compared. Finally, a search for the top five most frequently occurring positive rules among the unspecified ones, and vice versa, was conducted to identify identical rules, with a particular focus on the presence of positive rules among the rules of individuals initially diagnosed with unspecified SARS.
{"title":"Using Association Rules to Obtain Sets of Prevalent Symptoms Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Similarities Between Cases of COVID-19 and Unspecified SARS in São Paulo-Brazil","authors":"Julliana Gonçalves Marques, Bruno Motta de Carvalho, Luiz Affonso Guedes, Márjory Da Costa-Abreu","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091164","url":null,"abstract":"The efficient recognition of symptoms in viral infections holds promise for swift and precise diagnosis, thus mitigating health implications and the potential recurrence of infections. COVID-19 presents unique challenges due to various factors influencing diagnosis, especially regarding disease symptoms that closely resemble those of other viral diseases, including other strains of SARS, thus impacting the identification of useful and meaningful symptom patterns as they emerge in infections. Therefore, this study proposes an association rule mining approach, utilising the Apriori algorithm to analyse the similarities between individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and those with unspecified SARS diagnosis. The objective is to investigate, through symptom rules, the presence of COVID-19 patterns among individuals initially not diagnosed with the disease. Experiments were conducted using cases from Brazilian SARS datasets for São Paulo State. Initially, reporting percentage similarities of symptoms in both groups were analysed. Subsequently, the top ten rules from each group were compared. Finally, a search for the top five most frequently occurring positive rules among the unspecified ones, and vice versa, was conducted to identify identical rules, with a particular focus on the presence of positive rules among the rules of individuals initially diagnosed with unspecified SARS.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Melissa K. Thomas, Abolfazl (Abel) Jarrahi, Lauren Dennie, Sam Scott, Ted Lau, Annika Johnson
Virtual reality (VR) technology has evolved from entertainment to significant applications in healthcare and education. Despite its potential, there is limited research on the role of VR in cancer care. This study investigates VR’s ability to simulate the chemotherapy process, aiming to enhance patients’ knowledge and mitigate anxiety associated with chemotherapy. Utilizing a two-arm, mixed-methods pre/post-survey design, the study measured changes in patients’ anxiety and knowledge before and after exposure to a VR simulation. Participants (n = 267) engaged with VR simulations or interactive 360-degree videos depicting the chemotherapy process. Data analyses revealed a significant median increase in chemotherapy knowledge post-exposure to the VR content (z = 12.511, p < 0.001). Demographic factSors significantly influenced perceptions of VR realism and usefulness (p < 0.05). Additionally, VR exposure was correlated with reduced anxiety levels and improved treatment expectations (p < 0.05). Participants with higher post-understanding chemotherapy scores considered VR a useful tool for managing anxiety about chemotherapy and recommended VR for other medical procedures (p < 0.001). These findings underscore VR technology’s potential as a valuable tool in cancer treatment, suggesting it can enhance patient education and reduce anxiety, thereby improving patient outcomes during cancer therapy.
{"title":"Virtual Reality in Cancer Care: Enhancing Knowledge and Reducing Anxiety about Chemotherapy among Patients and Caregivers","authors":"Melissa K. Thomas, Abolfazl (Abel) Jarrahi, Lauren Dennie, Sam Scott, Ted Lau, Annika Johnson","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091163","url":null,"abstract":"Virtual reality (VR) technology has evolved from entertainment to significant applications in healthcare and education. Despite its potential, there is limited research on the role of VR in cancer care. This study investigates VR’s ability to simulate the chemotherapy process, aiming to enhance patients’ knowledge and mitigate anxiety associated with chemotherapy. Utilizing a two-arm, mixed-methods pre/post-survey design, the study measured changes in patients’ anxiety and knowledge before and after exposure to a VR simulation. Participants (n = 267) engaged with VR simulations or interactive 360-degree videos depicting the chemotherapy process. Data analyses revealed a significant median increase in chemotherapy knowledge post-exposure to the VR content (z = 12.511, p < 0.001). Demographic factSors significantly influenced perceptions of VR realism and usefulness (p < 0.05). Additionally, VR exposure was correlated with reduced anxiety levels and improved treatment expectations (p < 0.05). Participants with higher post-understanding chemotherapy scores considered VR a useful tool for managing anxiety about chemotherapy and recommended VR for other medical procedures (p < 0.001). These findings underscore VR technology’s potential as a valuable tool in cancer treatment, suggesting it can enhance patient education and reduce anxiety, thereby improving patient outcomes during cancer therapy.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
After the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, a large-scale ultrasound examination of childhood thyroid cancer for all Fukushima residents aged 18 years old or younger was initiated. Fukushima was divided into four areas according to the external radioactivity released by the accident: the highest (A), high-intermediate (B), low-intermediate (C), and the lowest (D). Five rounds of surveys were carried out from October 2011 to March 2023. The annual incidence rates of the “Common Case” not affected by the accident were able to be estimated. The difference between the incidence rate of whole patients and the “Common Case” is that of the “Radiation-induced Case”. The annual incidence rate of the “Radiation-induced Case” began to increase immediately after the accident, where the highest level was seen in A area, and the order was A > B > C > D. It showed that the development of childhood thyroid cancer was affected by the radiation released by the accident. The effect of the radiation consisted of two phases: the first phase may have been due to the damage to the immune system, and the second phase may have been due to the genetic mutation in the children who were youngest at the time of the accident.
2011 年 3 月福岛核电站事故发生后，开始对所有 18 岁及以下的福岛居民进行大规模的儿童甲状腺癌超声波检查。福岛根据事故释放的外部放射性分为四个区域：最高（A）、中高（B）、中低（C）和最低（D）。从 2011 年 10 月至 2023 年 3 月共进行了五轮调查。可以估算出未受事故影响的 "普通案例 "的年发病率。整个患者的发病率与 "普通病例 "的发病率之间的差额就是 "辐射诱发病例 "的发病率。辐射诱发病例 "的年发病率在事故发生后立即开始上升，其中 A 地区的发病率最高，其顺序为 A > B > C > D。辐射的影响包括两个阶段：第一阶段可能是由于免疫系统受损，第二阶段可能是由于事故发生时年龄最小的儿童的基因突变。
{"title":"Radiation-Induced Childhood Thyroid Cancer after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident","authors":"Yoshihiro Sokawa","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091162","url":null,"abstract":"After the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, a large-scale ultrasound examination of childhood thyroid cancer for all Fukushima residents aged 18 years old or younger was initiated. Fukushima was divided into four areas according to the external radioactivity released by the accident: the highest (A), high-intermediate (B), low-intermediate (C), and the lowest (D). Five rounds of surveys were carried out from October 2011 to March 2023. The annual incidence rates of the “Common Case” not affected by the accident were able to be estimated. The difference between the incidence rate of whole patients and the “Common Case” is that of the “Radiation-induced Case”. The annual incidence rate of the “Radiation-induced Case” began to increase immediately after the accident, where the highest level was seen in A area, and the order was A > B > C > D. It showed that the development of childhood thyroid cancer was affected by the radiation released by the accident. The effect of the radiation consisted of two phases: the first phase may have been due to the damage to the immune system, and the second phase may have been due to the genetic mutation in the children who were youngest at the time of the accident.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Inês Alves, Orlando Fernandes, Maria António Castro, Sofia Tavares
Background: Adults with achondroplasia face physical and psychosocial challenges that may impact their health-related quality of life and mental health. This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to investigate relationships between health-related quality of life, mental health, and physical activity levels in adults with achondroplasia, focusing on potential gender differences. Methods: Sixteen adults with achondroplasia (10 women, 6 men; age 37.2 ± 13.5 years) completed the Short Form Health survey, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the International Physical Activity questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric group comparisons, correlational analyses, and linear regressions were conducted. Results: Moderate physical activity showed strong positive correlations with general health (rs = 0.79, 95% CI [0.50, 0.92]), vitality (rs = 0.60, 95% CI [0.15, 0.85]), and physical functioning (rs = 0.62, 95% CI [0.18, 0.86]), on SF-36. Women reported lower quality of life scores than men across most SF-36 dimensions. Significant gender difference was observed in vitality (r = 0.61) and pain (r = 0.55). Physically active participants presented better outcomes in general health (r = 0.63) and vitality (r = 0.55) compared to inactive participants. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting potential benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity on health-related quality of life and mental health among adults with achondroplasia, with notable gender differences. While limited by sample size and study design, the findings highlight the need for larger, longitudinal studies to further explore the role of physical activity in enhancing well-being in this population.
背景：患有软骨发育不全症的成年人面临着身体和心理方面的挑战，这些挑战可能会影响他们与健康相关的生活质量和心理健康。这项探索性横断面研究旨在调查软骨发育不全成人的健康相关生活质量、心理健康和体育锻炼水平之间的关系，重点关注潜在的性别差异。研究方法16名患有软骨发育不全症的成年人（10名女性，6名男性；年龄为37.2 ± 13.5岁）完成了简表健康调查、简明症状量表和国际体力活动调查问卷。研究人员进行了描述性统计、非参数组比较、相关分析和线性回归。结果显示在 SF-36 数据中，适度体育锻炼与一般健康（rs = 0.79，95% CI [0.50，0.92]）、活力（rs = 0.60，95% CI [0.15，0.85]）和身体机能（rs = 0.62，95% CI [0.18，0.86]）呈很强的正相关。在 SF-36 的大多数维度上，女性的生活质量得分均低于男性。在活力（r = 0.61）和疼痛（r = 0.55）方面观察到显著的性别差异。与不运动的参与者相比，运动量大的参与者在一般健康（r = 0.63）和活力（r = 0.55）方面表现更好。结论：这项研究提供了初步证据，表明中等强度的体育锻炼对患有软骨发育不全症的成年人与健康相关的生活质量和心理健康具有潜在的益处，其中存在明显的性别差异。虽然受到样本量和研究设计的限制，但研究结果突出表明，有必要进行更大规模的纵向研究，以进一步探讨体育锻炼在提高该人群幸福感方面的作用。
{"title":"Physical Activity and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adults with Achondroplasia: An Exploratory Study","authors":"Inês Alves, Orlando Fernandes, Maria António Castro, Sofia Tavares","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091160","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Adults with achondroplasia face physical and psychosocial challenges that may impact their health-related quality of life and mental health. This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to investigate relationships between health-related quality of life, mental health, and physical activity levels in adults with achondroplasia, focusing on potential gender differences. Methods: Sixteen adults with achondroplasia (10 women, 6 men; age 37.2 ± 13.5 years) completed the Short Form Health survey, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the International Physical Activity questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric group comparisons, correlational analyses, and linear regressions were conducted. Results: Moderate physical activity showed strong positive correlations with general health (rs = 0.79, 95% CI [0.50, 0.92]), vitality (rs = 0.60, 95% CI [0.15, 0.85]), and physical functioning (rs = 0.62, 95% CI [0.18, 0.86]), on SF-36. Women reported lower quality of life scores than men across most SF-36 dimensions. Significant gender difference was observed in vitality (r = 0.61) and pain (r = 0.55). Physically active participants presented better outcomes in general health (r = 0.63) and vitality (r = 0.55) compared to inactive participants. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting potential benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity on health-related quality of life and mental health among adults with achondroplasia, with notable gender differences. While limited by sample size and study design, the findings highlight the need for larger, longitudinal studies to further explore the role of physical activity in enhancing well-being in this population.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142224873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marilene Ghiraldi de Souza Marques, Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco, Déborah Cristina de Souza Marques, Marielle Priscila de Paula Silva Lalucci, Victor Augusto Santos Perli, José Roberto Andrade do Nascimento, Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira
With COVID-19, evidence indicates that the elderly will have worse biochemical markers related to health in social isolation. The objective was to analyze the impacts on physical fitness and biochemical parameters of older adults’ health during COVID-19 social isolation. Quantitative, longitudinal, and observational study was conducted between 2020, 2021, and 2022. Thirty-three older adults of both sexes were evaluated. A sociodemographic questionnaire, biomarkers, and health-related physical fitness were used. Significant differences were observed for the sum of maximum isometric right and left handgrip strength, with a reduction in 2022 (p = 0.009); getting up and walking (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05); elbow flexion and extension (p = 0.004), reduction in 2021 (p = 0.006); and sitting and standing (p = 0.002), reduction in 2022 (p = 0.003) and peak oxygen consumption (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05). Differences were observed in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride–glucose index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride–glucose index with waist circumference (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001); and triglyceride–glucose index with body mass index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001). However, no differences were observed between anthropometric and body composition (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Older people had changes in biochemical and physical fitness parameters related to health during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
{"title":"Health-Related Physical Fitness and Biochemical Parameters in Overweight Older People during Social Isolation Imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal and Observational Study","authors":"Marilene Ghiraldi de Souza Marques, Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco, Déborah Cristina de Souza Marques, Marielle Priscila de Paula Silva Lalucci, Victor Augusto Santos Perli, José Roberto Andrade do Nascimento, Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091161","url":null,"abstract":"With COVID-19, evidence indicates that the elderly will have worse biochemical markers related to health in social isolation. The objective was to analyze the impacts on physical fitness and biochemical parameters of older adults’ health during COVID-19 social isolation. Quantitative, longitudinal, and observational study was conducted between 2020, 2021, and 2022. Thirty-three older adults of both sexes were evaluated. A sociodemographic questionnaire, biomarkers, and health-related physical fitness were used. Significant differences were observed for the sum of maximum isometric right and left handgrip strength, with a reduction in 2022 (p = 0.009); getting up and walking (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05); elbow flexion and extension (p = 0.004), reduction in 2021 (p = 0.006); and sitting and standing (p = 0.002), reduction in 2022 (p = 0.003) and peak oxygen consumption (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05). Differences were observed in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride–glucose index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride–glucose index with waist circumference (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001); and triglyceride–glucose index with body mass index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001). However, no differences were observed between anthropometric and body composition (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Older people had changes in biochemical and physical fitness parameters related to health during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hamed Sidwaya Ouedraogo, Abdoul-Guaniyi Sawadogo, Ahmed Kabore, Badra Ali Traore, Mamadou Traore, Massoudou Harouna Maiga, Marcella Valerie Zombre Sanon, Maxime Koine Drabo
Background: Since 2010, Burkina Faso has developed and initiated community-based management of childhood illnesses. Following the increased presence of community health workers and the adoption of free community health care, this study aims to assess community satisfaction with curative care administered by community health workers. Methodology: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. Data were collected in the health districts of Boussé and Boussouma from 20 February to 30 March 2023 for quantitative data and from 12 to 30 January 2024 for qualitative data using a questionnaire (household survey) and an interview grid (focus groups). Analyses were conducted using SPSS IBM 25 and Nvivo 14. Results: Households benefit from oral curative care when using Community health workers, but are not satisfied with the temporal accessibility of these community health workers. Temporal accessibility and awareness during care have a significant influence on household satisfaction. Conclusions: Curative care by community health workers is effective, but its use could be improved by addressing the unavailability of community health workers, inputs and better communication during care.
{"title":"Factors Associated with Communities’ Satisfaction with Receiving Curative Care Administered by Community Health Workers in the Health Districts of Bousse and Boussouma in Burkina Faso, 2024","authors":"Hamed Sidwaya Ouedraogo, Abdoul-Guaniyi Sawadogo, Ahmed Kabore, Badra Ali Traore, Mamadou Traore, Massoudou Harouna Maiga, Marcella Valerie Zombre Sanon, Maxime Koine Drabo","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091151","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Since 2010, Burkina Faso has developed and initiated community-based management of childhood illnesses. Following the increased presence of community health workers and the adoption of free community health care, this study aims to assess community satisfaction with curative care administered by community health workers. Methodology: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. Data were collected in the health districts of Boussé and Boussouma from 20 February to 30 March 2023 for quantitative data and from 12 to 30 January 2024 for qualitative data using a questionnaire (household survey) and an interview grid (focus groups). Analyses were conducted using SPSS IBM 25 and Nvivo 14. Results: Households benefit from oral curative care when using Community health workers, but are not satisfied with the temporal accessibility of these community health workers. Temporal accessibility and awareness during care have a significant influence on household satisfaction. Conclusions: Curative care by community health workers is effective, but its use could be improved by addressing the unavailability of community health workers, inputs and better communication during care.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drowsy driving among college students is a critical public health issue due to its significant impact on road safety. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the determinants of stopping drowsy driving behavior among college students using the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data for this study were collected from September to October 2023 via a 42-item psychometric valid, web-based survey disseminated via Qualtrics, involving 725 students from a large southwestern university. Nearly half of the participants (49.38%) reported drowsy driving in the past month. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that participatory dialogue (p = 0.0008) and behavioral confidence (p < 0.0001) significantly predicted the initiation of refraining from drowsy driving, with the final model explaining 36.4% of the variance. Similarly, emotional transformation (p < 0.0001) and practice for change (p = 0.0202) significantly predicted the sustenance of behavior change, with the final model accounting for 40.6% of the variance. These findings underscore the importance of targeted MTM-based interventions focusing on enhancing students’ awareness and confidence in managing drowsiness to mitigate drowsy driving, ultimately improving road safety and student well-being.
{"title":"Theory-Based Determinants of Stopping Drowsy Driving Behavior in College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Md Sohail Akhter, Sidath Kapukotuwa, Chia-Liang Dai, Asma Awan, Omolola A. Odejimi, Manoj Sharma","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091157","url":null,"abstract":"Drowsy driving among college students is a critical public health issue due to its significant impact on road safety. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the determinants of stopping drowsy driving behavior among college students using the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data for this study were collected from September to October 2023 via a 42-item psychometric valid, web-based survey disseminated via Qualtrics, involving 725 students from a large southwestern university. Nearly half of the participants (49.38%) reported drowsy driving in the past month. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that participatory dialogue (p = 0.0008) and behavioral confidence (p < 0.0001) significantly predicted the initiation of refraining from drowsy driving, with the final model explaining 36.4% of the variance. Similarly, emotional transformation (p < 0.0001) and practice for change (p = 0.0202) significantly predicted the sustenance of behavior change, with the final model accounting for 40.6% of the variance. These findings underscore the importance of targeted MTM-based interventions focusing on enhancing students’ awareness and confidence in managing drowsiness to mitigate drowsy driving, ultimately improving road safety and student well-being.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lainey E. Hunnicutt, Makenzie Corgan, Sarah R. Brown, Alyssa Nygaard, George Lesley Meares, Scott R. Collier
It has been shown that the firefighter occupation leads to poor sleep quality and sleep architecture. Disturbed sleep in these occupations can lead to deleterious outcomes including a series of chronic diseases and illnesses such as CVD. Purpose: The aims were (1) to quantify firefighters’ sleep via polysomnography, (2) to identify differences between sleeping in the barracks versus sleeping at home, and (3) to compare firefighter data to age-matched normative data. We expected significant differences between both the home and the barrack conditions as well as significant differences when both conditions were compared to normative data. Methods: 10 male firefighters completed 3 nights of polysomnography recordings (SleepProfilerTM (Advanced Brain Monitoring, Carlsbad, CA, USA)) counterbalanced in both their own beds or barracks. A one-way rmANOVA statistical analysis was used to determine differences in sleep values with a Bonferroni correction if a significant difference was found with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Three important variables, cortical arousals (p < 0.05), autonomic activations (p < 0.01), and spindle duration (p < 0.01), had differences that were statistically significant between sleep at home or in the barracks, with sleep in the barracks being more disturbed. Clinical differences were also observed between the home and barrack conditions and all sleep results were more deleterious when compared to normative data. Conclusions: The data demonstrates that firefighters show poor sleep quality and heavily impacted sleep architecture. This may be due to the effects of rotating shifts and occupational stress on the sleep–wake cycle. These results, when compared to age-matched normative data, show clinical manifestations of disturbed sleep in the firefighter population.
{"title":"Sleep Differences in Firefighters: Barracks vs. Home","authors":"Lainey E. Hunnicutt, Makenzie Corgan, Sarah R. Brown, Alyssa Nygaard, George Lesley Meares, Scott R. Collier","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091155","url":null,"abstract":"It has been shown that the firefighter occupation leads to poor sleep quality and sleep architecture. Disturbed sleep in these occupations can lead to deleterious outcomes including a series of chronic diseases and illnesses such as CVD. Purpose: The aims were (1) to quantify firefighters’ sleep via polysomnography, (2) to identify differences between sleeping in the barracks versus sleeping at home, and (3) to compare firefighter data to age-matched normative data. We expected significant differences between both the home and the barrack conditions as well as significant differences when both conditions were compared to normative data. Methods: 10 male firefighters completed 3 nights of polysomnography recordings (SleepProfilerTM (Advanced Brain Monitoring, Carlsbad, CA, USA)) counterbalanced in both their own beds or barracks. A one-way rmANOVA statistical analysis was used to determine differences in sleep values with a Bonferroni correction if a significant difference was found with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Three important variables, cortical arousals (p < 0.05), autonomic activations (p < 0.01), and spindle duration (p < 0.01), had differences that were statistically significant between sleep at home or in the barracks, with sleep in the barracks being more disturbed. Clinical differences were also observed between the home and barrack conditions and all sleep results were more deleterious when compared to normative data. Conclusions: The data demonstrates that firefighters show poor sleep quality and heavily impacted sleep architecture. This may be due to the effects of rotating shifts and occupational stress on the sleep–wake cycle. These results, when compared to age-matched normative data, show clinical manifestations of disturbed sleep in the firefighter population.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: Peers in the alcohol and other drug sectors possess lived–living experience (LLE) crucial for shaping community care. However, genuine consumer collaboration is often confounded by stigma. This study examined peers’ perceptions, exploring their experiences regarding workforce dynamics, policy implications, and impacts on health equity. In presenting the research, we sought to synthesise the research methods and illustrate the methodological innovation and knowledge production in substance use research through authentic collaboration. Methods: We purposively sampled peer networks and community organisations, involving peer-researchers in planning, design, and analysis. We conducted semi-structured digital interviews with 18 peers and applied iterative coding to analyse the data. Results: This collaborative process provided nuanced insights into sectoral challenges. Peers expressed emotional strain revisiting personal substance use experiences, blurring personal and professional boundaries. Tokenistic peer involvement critiques underscored the need for genuine leadership and organisational support. Conclusion: We advocate for a shift towards equitable and inclusive policy development through both organisational and systemic restructuring. However, these changes are hamstrung by broader policy frameworks, which require a shift to peer-led principles, ensuring the expertise of peers is genuinely valued. Policymakers should invest in expanding peer frameworks, acknowledging the diversity within communities of people who use drugs to improve health equity and public health outcomes. This innovative approach to substance use research emphasises the transformative impact of integrating LLE into research.
导言：酗酒和其他毒品行业的同龄人拥有生活经验（LLE），这对形成社区护理至关重要。然而，真正的消费者合作往往受到污名化的影响。本研究考察了同行的看法，探讨了他们在劳动力动态、政策影响以及对健康公平的影响方面的经验。在介绍这项研究时，我们试图对研究方法进行综合，并说明通过真正的合作进行药物使用研究的方法创新和知识创造。研究方法我们有目的地对同伴网络和社区组织进行取样，让同伴研究者参与规划、设计和分析。我们对 18 名同伴进行了半结构化数字访谈，并采用迭代编码法对数据进行分析。结果：这一合作过程提供了对部门挑战的细微洞察。同行们在重温个人使用药物的经历时表示情绪紧张，模糊了个人与职业的界限。对同伴参与的不置可否的批评强调了真正的领导力和组织支持的必要性。结论：我们主张通过组织和系统重组，转向公平、包容的政策制定。然而，这些变革受到更广泛的政策框架的制约，需要转向同行主导原则，确保同行的专业知识得到真正的重视。政策制定者应投资扩大同侪框架，承认吸毒者社区的多样性，以改善健康公平和公共卫生成果。这种药物使用研究的创新方法强调了将 LLE 纳入研究的变革性影响。
{"title":"A Collaborative Approach to Understanding the Intersections of Practice and Policy for Peers in the Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector","authors":"Timothy Piatkowski, Emma Kill","doi":"10.3390/ijerph21091152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091152","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Peers in the alcohol and other drug sectors possess lived–living experience (LLE) crucial for shaping community care. However, genuine consumer collaboration is often confounded by stigma. This study examined peers’ perceptions, exploring their experiences regarding workforce dynamics, policy implications, and impacts on health equity. In presenting the research, we sought to synthesise the research methods and illustrate the methodological innovation and knowledge production in substance use research through authentic collaboration. Methods: We purposively sampled peer networks and community organisations, involving peer-researchers in planning, design, and analysis. We conducted semi-structured digital interviews with 18 peers and applied iterative coding to analyse the data. Results: This collaborative process provided nuanced insights into sectoral challenges. Peers expressed emotional strain revisiting personal substance use experiences, blurring personal and professional boundaries. Tokenistic peer involvement critiques underscored the need for genuine leadership and organisational support. Conclusion: We advocate for a shift towards equitable and inclusive policy development through both organisational and systemic restructuring. However, these changes are hamstrung by broader policy frameworks, which require a shift to peer-led principles, ensuring the expertise of peers is genuinely valued. Policymakers should invest in expanding peer frameworks, acknowledging the diversity within communities of people who use drugs to improve health equity and public health outcomes. This innovative approach to substance use research emphasises the transformative impact of integrating LLE into research.","PeriodicalId":14044,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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