Journal of prevention (2022)最新文献

Introduction: Prevention science is interdisciplinary, drawing upon multiple fields of research and practice to develop integrated knowledge. A challenge facing the field is the proliferation of different terms with the same meaning, and of terms with different meanings. This can create confusion in communication, affect evaluation standards, and ultimately also affect the implementation of preventive interventions. Contributing to the development of evidence standards for preventive interventions, this article describes the process and results of interdisciplinary prevention terminology development in Estonia.

Methods: Following the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, different co-design tools were used during a four-year process to help understand terminological needs, generate ideas, draw concept maps, and test examples of definitions in different target groups.

Results: Thirty-five terms were tested, refined, and published. Six of these represent the main concepts relevant to prevention and intervention evaluation: vulnerability, prevention, preventive intervention, well-being, process evaluation, and impact evaluation. Several candidate terms were omitted for being confusing, ambiguous, or misunderstood in terms of the type or mechanism of intervention, the quality of evidence, or the quality of practice.

Discussion: Collaborative and participatory methods can be used to bridge the divide in language and to help pursue consensus definitions. Shared understanding is needed both nationally and internationally between disciplines, sectors, implementation levels, and professions, as the involved parties include policymakers, researchers, innovators, and practitioners in the domains of healthcare and public health, education, safety, social work and welfare, justice, and culture. The development of an interdisciplinary prevention glossary described in this paper was novel in its approach and has the potential to support successful continuing interdisciplinary collaboration in the prevention field.

Alcohol use remains a prevalent issue on college campuses, with approximately 15% of students drinking at levels indicative of an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), yet help-seeking rates remain low. The Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) provides a framework for understanding psychosocial drivers of help-seeking intentions. This study assessed associations between college students' drinking behaviors, the RAA, and their intentions to seek professional help for alcohol use if they thought or knew they had an AUD. Cross-sectional survey data from 2,110 college students were analyzed to examine alcohol use, psychosocial risk factors, and help-seeking behaviors. Participants met inclusion criteria if they were 18 to 24 years old, enrolled full-time in a college or university, reported past-year alcohol consumption, and passed data quality checks. Measures included demographics, RAA constructs (attitudes toward, norms regarding, perceived control over, and intention to seek professional help), and alcohol use behaviors assessed via the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with help-seeking intentions. The average AUDIT score was 10.91, indicating hazardous alcohol use. Nearly one-third of participants had an AUDIT score ≥ 15, suggesting an increased likelihood of an AUD. Regression results showed that higher AUDIT scores (p < .001) were negatively associated with the intention to seek professional help for alcohol use. All RAA constructs were statistically significant predictors of intention to seek help (p < .001), with the full model explaining nearly 40% of the variance in help-seeking intentions. This study provides new insights into the complex interplay between personal beliefs and drinking behaviors in help-seeking intentions. Leveraging constructs of the RAA, specifically, positive attitudes toward professional help, greater social acceptance of help-seeking, and higher perceived autonomy over seeking help, was associated with stronger intentions to seek support. The psychosocial elements of these frameworks, combined with informing students of their risks, offer a nuanced approach to encouraging the shift from help-seeking hesitancy to help-seeking acceptance.

The road traffic crashes (RTCs) are one of the significant public health challenges. According to the latest WHO data, about 1.2 million people die as a result of RTCs, making RTCs the main cause of death in many countries. This study assesses road traffic crash (RTC) fatalities in Belgrade, Serbia from 2010 to 2021, utilizing data from the Belgrade Police Department and employing joinpoint regression analysis. Over the period, 1,264 fatalities were recorded with a peak in 2011 (136 deaths) and a reduction to 76 by 2021, indicating a significant annual decrease of -4.4% in mortality rates. Men made up 72.7% of the deaths, with pedestrians being the most affected group (41.0%). There was a notable decline in fatalities among most demographic groups, particularly pedestrians and young adults aged 26-35. The findings highlight a downward trend in RTC mortality, yet the numbers remain concerning. Enhanced enforcement of existing road safety regulations, such as mandatory seat belt use, and targeted measures for vulnerable groups like pedestrians and seniors are recommended to further reduce fatalities.

Peer bullying in youth sports presents significant challenges to athletes' psychological well-being and overall performance. Addressing this issue requires a systematic understanding of how coaches implement strategies to prevent bullying and create a positive team culture. This study employs Q methodology, integrating both qualitative and quantitative analyses to explore coaches' perspectives on bullying prevention. Data were collected from 30 coaches working with athletes aged 6-14 using snowball sampling. Principal component analysis and Z-score calculations were applied to identify key viewpoints, while qualitative interviews provided additional depth to the findings. The analysis revealed five key themes in bullying prevention strategies: education and awareness, disciplinary measures, team cohesion, leadership development, and active monitoring with positive reinforcement. Coaches emphasize training programs to instill respect, sportsmanship, and sensitivity, while implementing behavioral boundaries to reinforce team norms. Parental involvement and fostering positive peer relationships contribute to team cohesion, whereas empowering athletes as leaders strengthens accountability. Finally, rewarding constructive behavior through active monitoring helps mitigate bullying incidents. This study provides valuable insights into how coaches address peer bullying in youth sports. By identifying and categorizing diverse intervention strategies, it contributes to broader discussions on athlete protection and well-being. Future research should evaluate the long-term effectiveness of these approaches across various age groups, genders, and sports disciplines to establish comprehensive anti-bullying frameworks.

Physical activity and social support are recognized as contributing to preventing depression. Community-based group exercises are activities that combines both functions. Fewer studies have examined the association between community-based group exercises and the depression severity of middle-aged and older adults. In this study, we were trying to estimate such correlation and explore the potential mechanisms. Data from the China Longitudinal Study of Health and Retirement was analyzed (N = 17,481). Participation in community-based group exercises and depression severity were self-reported by the surveyed middle-aged and older adults. The ordered probit model was used to analyze the association between participation in community-based group exercises and depression severity. Compared with middle-aged and older adults who did not participate in community-based group exercises, those who engaged in such activities exhibited improved depression severity in the current year (coefficient = 0.229, p < 0.01) and two years later (coefficient = 0.199, p < 0.01). The relationship was more pronounced among women. Improved physical fitness and more frequent visits to neighbors and relatives for social support are potential mechanisms. In addition to medical interventions, social support and physical fitness are effective strategies for depression prevention. Policymakers could enhance the mental health of middle-aged and older adults, particularly among women, by encouraging participation in community-based group exercises. This is particularly important in rapidly ageing societies.

This article reports on the effectiveness of the drug use prevention program Mantente REAL (MREAL) with elementary school students in Uruguay. MREAL is the Spanish language version of Original Program, an internationally validated program recognized as an efficacious universal intervention for youth drug use prevention. In partnership with selected elementary schools, a binational team of investigators implemented and evaluated a linguistically and culturally adapted version of MREAL in Montevideo, Uruguay. The sample included 223 sixth-grade students from six public schools located in low-income neighborhoods. The students' regular classroom teachers implemented the intervention after receiving a two-day training. Schools were randomly assigned into experimental and control conditions and all consented students, regardless of condition, completed a pre- and post-test survey. Compared to control school students, those receiving MREAL reported significant desired effects for cigarette use, marijuana/hard drug use, drug use personal norms, and drug offers from peers. Findings indicated that MREAL is a promising program for preventing drug use in Uruguay elementary schools with similar socioeconomic characteristics. The article concludes with a set of policy, practice and future research implications and recommendations for the further advancement of evidence-based universal prevention in Uruguay.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the motivational climate and older adults' basic psychological needs (BPNs), subjective wellbeing, and exercise commitment in group fitness classes. Members of fitness centers offering older adult programming (N = 284) completed a survey about their group fitness experiences. A caring, task-involving climate was positively (and an ego-involving climate negatively) associated with BPNs, wellbeing, and commitment. Wellbeing and commitment were positively correlated, and both were predicted by BPNs. The structural equation model indicated that BPNs mediated the relationship between a caring, task-involving climate and wellbeing/commitment. The motivational climate may improve older adults' exercise experiences as exercise leaders who foster a caring, task-involving climate have opportunity to enhance wellbeing and commitment, promoting healthy aging. These results align with the idea that physical activity supports overall wellbeing in later years. Fitness programs tailored to the unique needs of older adults can support resilient, health-focused communities, ensuring opportunities for physical activity across generations.

Health anxiety (HA) is a growing concern among medical students due to their continuous exposure to illness-related content, academic stress, and self-monitoring tendencies. While some studies suggest an association between HA and health-related behaviors, findings remain inconclusive, especially particularly among Chinese medical students. This study aimed to examine the relationship between HA and health-related behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,283 Chinese medical students. Participants completed standardized self-report measures assessing demographic characteristics, HA (via the Chinese Short Health Anxiety Inventory, CSHAI), body mass index (BMI), smoking status, dietary patterns, and physical activity levels (via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, IPAQ-SF). Group differences were examined using independent-samples t-tests and chi-square tests. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with HA. Approximately one-third of the students reported clinically HA. Among participants, 46.3% were classified as physically inactive and 40.3% were overweight or obese. Additionally, 9.55% were current smokers, and 36.4% reported an unhealthy diet pattern. No significant differences were observed between students with and without HA in terms of BMI, smoking status, or dietary habits (p > 0.05). However, weekly physical activity level was significantly lower among students with HA compared to those without HA (p < 0.001). In regression analysis, physical activity was negatively associated with HA (p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of physical activity were related to lower HA scores (β= - 0.343). Lower physical activity was associated with higher HA, suggesting that promoting physical activity may be a relevant in efforts to reduce HA among medical students.

Emergency situations range from everyday traffic accidents to incidents of mass gun violence and require individuals to be prepared and willing to act in times of crisis. To encourage people to help one another during such emergencies, the American College of Surgeons developed the Stop the Bleed (STB), a public health program based on the premise that bystanders who are properly trained to treat a victim's bleed injuries have greater chance of preventing hemorrhagic death rather than waiting for first responders to arrive. This study examined the uptake of STB among 117 urban university students located in the Midwestern United States who often feel the pressures of public safety as participants in surrounding city life. Guided by protection motivation theory (PMT), we explored how students' fear of potential mass casualty incidents, threat appraisals, and efficacy appraisals related to their bleed control knowledge acquisition immediately after completing STB training, as well as retention 12 weeks after the training concluded. Results indicated that participation in STB raised students' fears of mass casualty events and self-efficacy. Both factors significantly correlated with bleed control learning outcomes assessed immediately after the STB class; however, they did not predict later retention. We discuss our study's contributions to fear appeals research and PMT theory, before offering recommendations for future hemorrhage control programs, public safety, and prevention research.