AIMS Public Health最新文献

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is a crucial skill in the healthcare industry, closely related to empathy, communication, and stress tolerance. Although EI has been well researched among healthcare workers, there is little information comparing organizational structures.

Objective: Our purpose of this study was to examine the EI of medical staff employed by the Armed Forces (military) and National Health System (NHS) hospitals in Athens, Greece, and investigate the connection between EI and professional or demographic traits.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to July 2023 involving 1108 healthcare professionals (nurses and physicians) recruited through convenience sampling. Participants worked in ICUs, surgical, and medical departments of four military and three NHS hospitals in Attica EI was measured using the Greek-validated Wong and Law EI Scale (WLEIS). Bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were carried out. Analyses of bivariate and multivariable linear regression were performed.

Results: Healthcare professionals in NHS hospitals demonstrated significantly higher EI scores across all dimensions compared to those in military hospitals (p < 0.001). Contrary to several earlier findings, male professionals showed higher values in emotional regulation and overall, EI. Higher EI is related to greater professional experience and permanent work status. Healthcare professionals who were working on rotated shifts reported higher scores for EI compared with those who were working morning shifts.

Conclusions: The EI of medical and nursing staff is influenced by work experience, employment stability, and organizational structure. Military hospitals and the hierarchical structures of such hospitals may pose an obstacle to emotional growth and expression. This underscores the necessity of specialized EI training in these settings. Finally, these results highlight the necessity of the development of EI to enhance patient care and teamwork.

Introduction: Cancer is a global health problem; the presence of secondary symptoms such as sarcopenia in cancer patients is relatively common. Physical activity (PA) is notable for its protective role against sarcopenia; however, there is currently no bibliometric analysis of research related to cancer, sarcopenia, and physical activity.

Methods: A search on the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database was performed on this topic, and a bibliometric analysis of the identified publications was performed using traditional bibliometric laws.

Results: 121 publications were found. Annual publications presented an exponentially growing trend from 2012 to 2023 (R² = 91%). The United States of America was the country with the most documents worldwide. Newton, R. U. and Galvao, D. A. were highlighted as the most prolific and prominent co-authors. The Cancers and Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle were the journals with the highest number of published documents. 36 papers, having 37 or more citations, were the most cited papers. The author keywords and keywords Plus® identified thematic clusters related to research on this topic, such as cancer, physical activity, aging, muscle, skeletal muscle, osteoporosis, malnutrition, body composition, cachexia, survival, and frailty.

Conclusion: Research on cancer, sarcopenia, and physical activity has followed an exponential growth trend, which reveals growing interest in the topic. Significant authors and collaborative groups in the field were identified, as well as the journals and countries with the highest number of publications and the research trends most followed by researchers.

Background: The aged care sector faces significant challenges due to rising demand from aging populations and chronic diseases, in addition to workforce shortages, contributing to staff stress, burnout, and poor mental wellbeing. In this review, we synthesized quantitative studies on factors and interventions to improve the mental wellbeing of the aged care workforce across indicators and system levels.

Methods: Five academic databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus, PsycInfo, and CINAHL) were searched from January 2014 to May 2024, using keywords related to aged care, care workers, and mental wellbeing. Quantitative studies examining factors or outcomes of interventions related to staff wellbeing were included. Identified factors were classified as micro-, meso-, and macro-level using a combined inductive and deductive approach.

Results: Eighty-nine studies were included: 64 (72%) identified significant factors, and 25 (28%) evaluated interventions aiming to improve workers' mental wellbeing. Almost half concentrated on nursing staff (n = 38, 43%), with others addressing direct care workers (n = 25, 28%) or aged care workers more broadly (n = 19, 21%). From the synthesis, a multi-level model of factors affecting aged care worker wellbeing was developed, comprising 11 themes and 39 sub-themes; 3 micro-level themes (1. personal factors, 2. work engagement, and 3. skills and abilities), 6 meso-level themes (4. job demands, 5. professional relations, 6. job control, 7. leadership, 8. professional development, and 9. workplace resources), and 2 macro-level themes (10. policy and regulation and 11. structure and governance). Among the 25 intervention studies, most entailed micro-level changes (n = 24, 96%), including relaxation, emotion regulation, and behavioral management education training.

Conclusions: Understanding system-level factors is a key to designing comprehensive improvement approaches. Our new model can help guide organizations in developing targeted strategies to promote mental wellbeing and strengthen care delivery. While individual-focused interventions have shown benefits, organizational and broader system-level strategies to improve mental wellbeing are pivotal for achieving sustainable change.

Background: This global cross-sectional study analyzed data from 266 "countries" and territories to evaluate the relationship between the nursing and midwifery workforce size (NMWS) and maternal mortality ratios (MMR). Drawing from five major United Nations and World Bank databases, the study offers robust and generalizable insights across diverse health systems and economic settings.

Methods: The study examined the association between the NMWS and MMR using scatterplots, bivariate and partial Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple and stepwise linear regression models. Key confounding variables, including economic affluence measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity, total fertility rate, and urbanization, were included to isolate the independent contribution of the NMWS to maternal health outcomes at the global and regional levels.

Results: The NMWS accounted for 49.13 percent of the global variation in maternal mortality ratios, which indicates a strong inverse relationship. After adjusting for economic and demographic variables, the NMWS remained a significant independent predictor and explained 11.09 percent of the variance. A stepwise regression identified the NMWS as the second most influential predictor of maternal mortality after economic affluence and the fertility rate. The association was strongest in low- and middle-income countries, where workforce shortages and the maternal mortality rates are highest.

Conclusions: This study identifies the NMWS as a critical and measurable factor in reducing maternal mortality worldwide. This study's findings provide compelling evidence for a strategic investment in the nursing and midwifery workforce. Expanding this workforce is essential to improve the maternal health outcomes, especially in countries with limited resources, and should be prioritized in global maternal health and workforce planning strategies.

Understanding the impact of work attitudes on occupational stress is essential to promote employee wellbeing and productivity. This study investigates the associations between different work attitudes (work annoyance, individual social capital, overcommitment, and work engagement) and the perceived stress. A cross-sectional survey conducted among 1290 employees from various occupational sectors assessed their attitudes and stress levels using validated psychometric scales. Statistical analyses, including a hierarchical regression and a moderation analysis, examined the predictive value of each attitude and the potential buffering role of social capital. The results indicate that work annoyance and overcommitment are positively associated with stress, which suggests that perceiving job conditions as frustrating and investing excessive effort without the appropriate rewards contribute to psychological strain. Conversely, social capital and work engagement exhibit a protective effect, with workplace relationships and a positive approach to work mitigating stress levels. Moreover, social capital moderates the relationship between overcommitment and stress, thus highlighting its buffering effect. These findings emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive work environment that reduces negative attitudes while promoting engagement and social cohesion. Organizational interventions aimed at improving workplace relationships, recognizing employees' contributions, and encouraging a balanced work culture could be effective strategies to enhance the workers' wellbeing and mitigate occupational stress.

Background: As an effort in aligning with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, this paper reflects the methods and population characteristics from a comprehensive health and nutrition study among older Filipino adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults aged ≥60 years (n = 562) across the country. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-tests were performed by sex and age.

Results: The overall mean age was (69.4 ± 6.3) years. The Body Mass Index was significantly higher among those 60-69 years old compared to those >70. The lifestyle and health information varied in terms of significance between the sex and age groups.

Discussion: This comprehensive study presented the profile of participants and a detailed methodology. Utilizing the data is highly encouraged to develop evidence-based policies relevant to the country driven by the demographic shift.

Physical education (PE) is often considered an ideal setting for the promotion of physical activity (PA) among adolescents and for the encouragement of an active lifestyle in adulthood. In order to achieve this goal, however, it is necessary to foster a positive attitude towards PE. The present study examined attitudes towards and the perceived importance of PE among Austrian adolescents. A total of 3011 adolescents (47.5% female) between 10 and 17 years of age completed a standardized questionnaire during regular school hours. In addition, body weight and height were measured. Overall, 78.5% stated that PE is important to them and 84.3% believed that PE positively affects their health and well-being. PE also motivated 68.4% of the participants to engage in leisure time PA, and 69.9% would like to have daily PE. Further, 91.0% reported a good relationship with their PE teacher while 68.6% considered themselves to be good at sports. Nevertheless, there was a significant decline in the perceived value of PE with increasing age, and among girls, as well as those with excess body weight, perceived PE to be less important. As these groups are particularly vulnerable for low PA levels, it is important to provide challenging and enjoyable experiences that foster a positive attitude towards PE. Ensuring positive experiences throughout students' school careers could play a key role in promoting an active lifestyle later in life.

Background: TikTok is a significant part of social media usage, since 25.6% of the total global population has a TikTok account, and, thus, scholars should pay attention to its association with users' mental health.

Objective: To synthesize and evaluate the association between problematic TikTok use and mental health.

Methods: We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines in our review. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024582054). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and CINAHL until September 02, 2024.

Results: We identified 16 studies with 15,821 individuals. All studies were cross-sectional and were conducted after 2019. Quality was moderate in 10 studies, good in three studies, and poor in three studies. Our random effects models showed a positive association between TikTok use and depression (β = 0.321, 95% confidence interval: 0.261 to 0.381, p < 0.001, I² = 78.0%, n = 6 studies), and anxiety (β = 0.406, 95% confidence interval: 0.279 to 0.533, p < 0.001, I² = 94.8%, n = 4 studies). Data to perform meta-analysis with the other mental health variables were limited. However, our descriptive data showed a positive association between TikTok use and body image issues, poor sleep, anger, distress intolerance, narcissism, and stress.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that problematic TikTok use has a negative association with several mental health issues. Given the high levels of TikTok use, especially among young adults, our findings are essential to further enhance our understanding of the association between TikTok use and mental health. Finally, there is a need for further studies of better quality to assess the association between problematic TikTok use and mental health in a more valid way.

Burnout among oncology healthcare providers (HCPs) poses significant challenges to both personal well-being and patient care quality. To inform targeted interventions, this study assessed burnout prevalence and its predictors among HCPs in a tertiary cancer center in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 10, 2023, to April 14, 2024, using an online questionnaire available in both English and Arabic. The survey, distributed via email and social media, included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and sociodemographic items. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic, and group comparisons analyzed the relationships between demographic/work characteristics, depression, and burnout. Of 996 respondents, 692 (69.4%) completed the survey. Most participants were male (54.6%) and Muslim (98.3%), with 41.6% aged under 30. Respondents included physicians (17.1%), nurses (28.0%), and other healthcare roles (54.9%). Burnout levels were high, with 75.7% reporting high emotional exhaustion (EE), 35.3% experiencing high depersonalization (DP), and 27.2% showing low personal accomplishment (PA). Binary logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors of high EE, including lower income (<500 JD ≈ 705 USD, p = 0.004), thoughts of quitting (p = 0.000), and lack of burnout training (p = 0.007). High DP was associated with a lack of hobbies (p = 0.003) and thoughts of quitting (p = 0.000), while low PA was linked to a higher patient caseload (p = 0.000). Elevated PHQ-9 scores, indicative of depression, were significantly correlated with increased burnout across all dimensions (p < 0.001). In conclusion, burnout is highly prevalent among oncology HCPs in Jordan, with strong associations between burnout and specific demographic and work-related factors. Targeted interventions emphasizing stress management, organizational support, and effective coping mechanisms are crucial to mitigate burnout and enhance job satisfaction among oncology staff.

Background: Assuming the care of a dependent family member can constitute a health risk factor that significantly reduces the productivity of family caregivers, compromising their future and quality of life.

Objective: Our purpose of this study was to investigate the productivity activities that are altered in the caregivers of a dependent family member and the impact this has on their satisfaction and quality of life.

Methods: An analytical observational study was conducted for 500 caregivers of dependent family members. Sociodemographic data were collected for caregivers and their dependent family members. Carers' occupational performance and satisfaction were assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization - Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref). Comparison between groups was performed using the Chi-square test for qualitative variables. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the strength and direction of linear associations between numerical variables.

Results: Most caregivers were women (72.3%, n = 364), with an average age of 60.3 ± 13.64 years. These individuals were providing care for a family member with severe dependency (69.7%, n = 348), classified as Grade III. Up to 38.2% (n = 191) of caregivers struggled with maintaining punctuality and consistency in their paid employment, and 25.6% (n = 128) of caregivers stopped or had difficulty working. In addition, 28.4% (n = 142) of caregivers had problems with household cleaning and tidying, 20.4% (n = 102) perceived that they neglected their other family members, and 18.6% (n = 93) of caregivers encountered problems attending courses and furthering their education. Women were more affected in terms of productivity. Moreover, performance and quality of life worsened as the number of productivity activities affected increased.

Conclusions: Caring for a dependent family member has a considerable impact on the caregiver's productive activities, affecting their work performance, household management, and professional development, with a particularly marked impact on women. This caregiving role is also associated with a decrease in quality of life, which highlights the need for interventions to support caregivers in these areas.