BMC Public Health最新文献

Background: Childhood myopia has emerged as a growing public health concern, adversely affecting both visual function and vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL). This study examined the relationships among parent engagement, primary school children's eye care behaviors, and vision-related quality of life based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Methods: In 2022, a total of 2,139 parent-child dyads were recruited from six primary schools in Hangzhou City, China, using stratified cluster sampling. Both children and their parents completed validated, self-administered questionnaires assessing eye care behaviors, engagement efficacy, and HBM variables. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations among parent and child health beliefs, parent engagement practices, children's eye care behaviors, and VR-QoL.

Results: The participated children were aged from 9.24 to 10.19 years old. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, parents with greater eye care knowledge, fewer perceived barriers, and stronger engagement efficacy were more likely to support their children's eye care behaviors. Among children, higher levels of eye care knowledge, perceived severity of myopia, and perceived benefits of protective practices were significantly associated with more frequent engagement in eye care behaviors. Children with stronger perceptions of severity and benefits, lower susceptibility, fewer barriers, and better eye care behavior reported higher VR-QoL.

Conclusions: Health belief variables were significantly associated with parent engagement, children's eye care behaviors, and VR-QoL. These findings highlight the importance of considering both parent- and child-level cognitive and behavioral factors when examining childhood eye health. Theory-informed assessments can inform the development of contextually appropriate vision health promotion strategies.

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency remains a major global public health concern. This study aimed to assess vitamin D levels measured in individuals aged 18 years and older between 2016 and 2025 in a tertiary care hospital and to examine the association of these levels with seasonal, annual, and demographic variables.

Patients and methods: This retrospective observational study included patients who presented to Duzce University Hospital for any reason between 2016 and 2025 and had serum 25(OH)D levels measured. In total, data from 85,892 individuals were analyzed. Vitamin D status was categorized as sufficient (> 30 ng/mL), insufficient (20-30 ng/mL), or deficient (< 20 ng/mL).

Results: Among the participants, 70.2% (n = 60,309) were women and 29.8% (n = 25,583) were men. The mean age was 47.16 ± 17.62 years. The overall mean serum 25(OH)D level was 17.90 ± 12.08 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) was identified in 68.6% of women and 61.3% of men. Overall, 66.4% (n = 57,051) of participants had Vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL), 21.7% (n = 18,635) had Vitamin D insufficiency (20-30 ng/mL), and 11.9% (n = 10,206) had sufficient Vitamin D levels (> 30 ng/mL). The mean 25(OH)D level was 19.16 ± 10.74 ng/mL in men and 17.37 ± 12.56 ng/mL in women, with significantly higher levels observed in men (p < 0.001). Participants aged 65 years and older had significantly higher vitamin D levels compared with those under 65 years (p < 0.001). Seasonally, the highest mean vitamin D levels were recorded in summer, whereas the lowest levels were found in winter.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency continues to pose a substantial public health challenge in Turkey. Addressing this issue should be considered a priority, and further comprehensive studies are urgently needed to support the development of effective strategies aimed at reducing deficiency rates.

Background: Academic performance is often highly prioritized among college students, sometimes at the expense of their health. Despite growing interest in this relationship, limited research with college students has explored how diet quality (DQ) varies by gender, first-generation status, and grade-point average (GPA). The purpose of this paper was to: (1) examine the relationship between DQ and academic performance in college students and (2) identify potential differences based on gender, first-generation status, and varying GPAs.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, undergraduate students (n = 301), mean age 21.2 (SD ± 2.49), completed the validated Short Healthy Eating Index (sHEI) based on the USDA's Healthy Eating Index (HEI) per 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, to examine DQ. Academic performance was assessed using self-reported GPA. Students were predominantly non-Hispanic White (63%), Female (61%), and 75% had at least one parent graduate college. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and one-way ANOVAs were used to analyze the data using SPSS V.29. GPA was categorized into 3 groups: high, mid, and low GPA groups. Results were significant when p < 0.05.

Results: DQ scores ranged from 21% to 68%, with a mean of 44% (SD: ±2.494). There were no significant associations between GPA and total DQ. However, significant associations were found between gender and specific dietary components. Further, total protein scores were greater among students with a high GPA compared to low and mid-GPA groups (F = 5.214, p = 0.006). Plant-based protein was greater among students who had at least one parent graduate college compared to first-generation students (F = 3.435, p = 0.034). Students living independently had lower total protein scores compared to those living with family (F = 4.841, p = 0.029). Additionally, students without a current job had higher dairy scores than those employed (F = 4.280, p = 0.039).

Conclusion: Overall, college students reported poor DQ; however, personal (e.g., gender) and environmental factors (e.g., living arrangements) were associated with one's DQ. Further investigation is needed to facilitate the development of effective interventions that encourage healthier dietary habits among college students to improve their overall health and wellness.