Evaluating the content validity of the EQ-5D-Y for Chinese children and adolescents

Information about mental health systems is essential for mental health planning to reduce the burden of neuropsychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, many low- and middle-income countries lack systematic information on their mental health systems. The objectives, scope, structure, and contents of mental health assessment and monitoring instruments commonly used in high-income countries may not be appropriate for use in middle- and low-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently developed the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS), a comprehensive assessment tool for mental health systems designed for middle- and low-income countries. WHO-AIMS was developed through an iterative process that included input from in-country and international experts on the clarity, content, validity, and feasibility of the instrument, as well as a pilot trial. The resulting instrument, WHO-AIMS 2.2, consists of six domains: policy and legislative framework, mental health services, mental health in primary care, human resources, public information and links with other sectors, and monitoring and research. These domains address the ten recommendations of the World Health Report 2001 through 28 facets and 155 items. All six domains need to be assessed to form a basic, yet broad, picture of a mental health system, with a focus on health sector activities. WHO-AIMS provides essential information for mental health policy and service delivery. Countries will be able to develop information-based mental health policy and plans with clear baseline information and targets. Moreover, they will be able to monitor progress in implementing reform policies, providing community services, and involving consumers, families, and other stakeholders in mental health promotion, prevention, care and rehabilitation. This article provides an overview of the rationale, development process, and potential uses and benefits of WHO-AIMS.

Introduction: The proper nutrition and adequacy of the diet plan are necessary conditions for maintaining the health of children, especially in the school age, due to their greater vulnerability, forming a high percentage of the population, and higher effectiveness of health-treatment interventions. Not paying attention to such important issue can endanger the physical and mental health as well as the development of students, the treatment of which is difficult and sometimes impossible (Soheili, 2006, p. 344; Jacobson, 1977, p. 1051-1053; Walker, 1991, p. 1596-1579; and Pasdar et al., 2014, p. 541). In addition to being associated with the growth and development, diet can reduce or exacerbate some of the health problems associated with this age group such as bone health, tooth decay, eating disorders, obesity, constipation, malnutrition, and iron deficiency anemia (Soheili, 2007, p. 41-36; and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Materials and Methods: The research method was correlational. The statistical population of this study included all mothers who lived in Raz and Jirgalan (North Khorasan) and had a high-school student (1139 people). The statistical sample size of this study was 290 individuals using Morgan Table. They were randomly selected using a classified sampling method with a certain volume. The information required in the present study was collected through the use of the nutrition questionnaire, the standard questionnaire of social and mental health as well as the interview technique and the use of secondary data. To process the data collected from the interviews and completed questionnaires, SPSS23 and LISREL8.01 statistical software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests such as Spearman correlation test, multivariate regression test, and one-way analysis of variance were used. Discussion of Results and Conclusions: The results of the study showed a significant relationship between the maternal nutrition at home and the level of mental health, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression, participation, cohesion, acceptance and flourishing, and social adaptation of children. It was shown that 19 percent of changes in mental health and 25 percent of changes in social health can be explained by nutrition. In the structural equation model, the effect of nutritional variables on mental and social health components was confirmed. It can be concluded that the choice of food basket by the mother of the family has played an important role in reducing psychological and social disorders in the study population. To explain the research findings, it can be said that the health of people in the society is determined by a range of personal, economic, social, and environmental factors. Therefore, a correct understanding of the factors affecting this dimension can play an effective role in the growth of the society. The World Health Organization defines health in a broader sense than the physical health by defining a healthy person as a person who is physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually healthy. Therefore, by considering man as an organized and multidimensional whole, it can be said that all dimensions of human existence are related to each other and the change in one dimension of his existence may affect other dimensions. Since nutrition is the main factor affecting the health of the body, the type and style of nutrition are also important. In the dimensions of social health, since human beings are multidimensional beings, all the dimensions of our existence affect each other and are affected. As the nutrition style could affect the physical and mental health, so it can affect other dimensions of this system. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, social health is one of the components of health and considering a systematic and general perspective of human beings, it can be said that people with physical and mental health can also have social health.

Background and Aim: Physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health by reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Regular exercise also improves mental well-being, boosts immunity, and enhances overall quality of life. This study examines the relationship between physical activity levels and health status among older adults attending a senior university in Mianyang, Sichuan Province, China. With China's aging population increasing, understanding the impact of physical activity on health is crucial for improving the quality of life among the elderly. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 282 participants aged 60 and above, using stratified random sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire covering demographics, physical activity levels, and health status. Validity (0.85) and reliability (0.88) were ensured. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and Pearson correlation. Results: Most participants were male (46.81%), aged 61-70 years (46.81%), married (46.10%), and had primary education (73.76%). Moderate-to-high levels of physical activity significantly improved physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. A positive correlation was found among different health dimensions, highlighting the interrelated nature of health. Conclusion: This study examines the relationship between physical activity levels and health outcomes in older adults. The results show that moderate and vigorous physical activity has a significant positive impact on physical, mental, social, and psychological health. Specifically, compared to inactive participants, those engaging in moderate or vigorous physical activity experience significant reductions in physical frailty, psychological decline, and social health deterioration. Ordered multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals that both vigorous physical activity (PhyA=1) and moderate physical activity (PhyA=2) have negative regression coefficients for all health statuses with significant p-values, indicating a positive effect on health outcomes. In terms of correlations, physical health, mental health, social health, and psychological health are significantly positively correlated, with correlation coefficients of 0.657 between physical and mental health, 0.606 between physical and social health, and 0.588 between physical and psychological health. However, these correlations vary by activity level. At inactive levels, no significant correlations were found between health statuses. At moderate intensity levels, a significant positive correlation between mental and social health was observed, while at vigorous activity levels, no significant correlations between health statuses were found. Additionally, the study examines how various factors such as gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, income, BMI, caregiver status, and participation in senior clubs relate to physical activity levels. The results show that retirees (59.93%) engage more in vigorous physical activity, while farmers (a higher proportion) participate more in moderate-intensity physical activity.

Home visiting: A lifeline for families during the COVID-19 pandemic

Policy Recommendations to Promote Integrated Mental Health Care for Children and Youth.

This publication seeks to assist organizations in understanding the risks of RFID technology and security measures to mitigate those risks. It provides practical, real-world advice on how to initiate, design, implement and operate RFID systems in a manner that mitigates security and privacy risks. The document also provides background information on RFID applications, standards, and system components to assist in the understanding of RFID security risks and controls. This document presents information that is independent of particular hardware platforms, operating systems, and applications. The emphasis is on RFID systems that are based on industry and international standards, although the existence of proprietary approaches is noted when they offer relevant security features not found in current standards.

Positive Epidemiology?

Global pandemic perspectives: public health, mental health, and lessons for the future

BackgroundAssociations of dietary patterns in Chinese adolescents and children with later obesity have not previously been investigated. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the associations between dietary patterns and the risk of obesity in Chinese adolescents and children by using a longitudinal design.MethodsData from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a nationally representative survey, were used for our analysis. 489 participants 6–14 years of age were followed from 2006 to 2011. Factor analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns in Chinese adolescents and children. Ordered logistic regression models were used to examine the association between dietary patterns and later obesity.ResultsTwo dietary patterns were revealed by factor analysis, the traditional Chinese dietary pattern (with high intake of rice, vegetables, poultry, pork and fish and the modern dietary pattern (with high intake of wheat, processed meat and fast food). Children in the highest quartile and the second-highest quartile of the traditional Chinese dietary pattern was inversely associated with later obesity compared with children in the lowest quartile over 5 years (OR = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.09, 0.40 for Q4; OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.33, 0.67 for Q3); Children in the highest quartile of the modern dietary pattern was positively associated with later obesity compared with children in the lowest quartile over 5 years (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.17, 3.48).ConclusionsDietary patterns in Chinese adolescents and children are associated with later obesity. These findings further confirm the importance of children’s dietary patterns in later obesity and lay groundwork for dietary culture-specific interventions targeted at reducing rates of obesity in children and adolescents.

Many countries have national suicide prevention strategies, all of which aim to reduce suicide and many of which also address self-harm more generally (World Health Organization, 2018).In this editorial, we argue that national strategies could be strengthened through an increased focus on the social determinants associated with suicide and self-harm.We present a public health model that articulates how these social determinants might operate and how they might interact with individual-level risk factors.We then describe how these social determinants might be addressed by a whole-of-government approach involving cross-sectoral action and genuine social participation and empowerment of people with lived experience of suicide and self-harm.

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Clinicians exhibited significant differences in physical health, mental health, social health, and overall health scores, with mental health scores being the lowest, particularly among younger physicians.Age, years of practice, professional title, health status, sleep duration, and exercise duration are significantly associated with the health of clinical physicians.Physical health serves as the foundation, influencing both physiological and social well-being, which together are related to a physician’s overall health status.What are the implications of the main findings?The health status of clinical physicians, particularly their mental health, warrants special attention.Improving physicians’ health requires equal attention to physical, mental, and social well-being—all three are essential.Objectives: This study employs structural equation modeling to investigate the health status of clinicians in tertiary medical institutions and its influencing factors. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 743 clinicians from five hospitals selected through random sampling, collecting data on their physical health, mental health, social health, and overall health. The analysis examined influencing factors and their interrelationships. Results: The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) in physicians’ scores across physical, mental, social, and overall health, with mental health scoring the lowest (58.85). Factors such as age, years of service, professional title, medical conditions, sleep duration, and exercise duration were significantly associated with clinicians’ health status. Among the 108 physicians (14.5%) diagnosed with medical conditions, mental health scores were significantly lower (p < 0.05). Clinicians aged 25~45 years, with 4~10 years of experience, and holding the title of Associate Chief Physician generally scored lower. Physicians with longer sleep duration and exercise duration scored higher in mental and social health. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that physical health is significantly and positively related to social health (p < 0.001). Good physical health is positively related to positive emotions and negatively related to negative emotions. Social support is positively correlated with cognitive function and negatively correlated with negative emotions; meanwhile, enhanced social adaptation shows a significant positive association with both cognitive function and emotional state. Conclusions: This study recommends paying particular attention to the health status of clinicians, especially the mental health of young physicians. It is suggested that comprehensive interventions be implemented across the three dimensions of physical, social, and psychological to enhance psychological resilience and perceptions of well-being.

An international group of clinicians and researchers formed a consortium to advance mental and social health among people seeking musculoskeletal specialty care: The International Consortium for Mental and Social Health in Musculoskeletal Care (I-MESH). As a first step to organize the work of the consortium, we sought to identify important, appropriate, and feasible interventions to address mental and social health. Members of I-MESH responded to a list of 10 queries intended to elicit mental and social health priorities. Open text answers were analyzed by 2 researchers to elicit individual themes. A modified RAND/UCLA Delphi Appropriateness process was conducted of 32 candidate social and mental health priorities using a 15-person panel of I-MESH members, using 2 rounds of independent voting with intervening discussion via surveys and video teleconferences. Panelists rated each potential priority for importance, feasibility, and appropriateness on a 9-point Likert scale. Top level priorities scored both mean and median greater than 7 in all 3 categories. Second level priorities scored a median 7 or greater on the final scoring in all 3 categories. Candidate priorities were organized into 9 themes: viable business model, coordination of specialty and non-specialty care, actionable measurement, public health/cultural interventions, research, adequate and timely access, incorporating assessment in care, strategies to develop the patient-clinician relationship, communication strategies that can directly enhance health, and support for mental and social health. Twelve top level (met mean and median criteria) and 17s level priorities (met median criterion) were identified. Implementing evidence-based strategies to efficiently diagnose, prioritize, and begin addressing mental and social health opportunities has the potential for notable impact on both musculoskeletal and overall health. It is our hope that the results of this Delphi panel will generate enthusiasm and collaboration for implementing the mounting evidence that social and mental health are integral to musculoskeletal health.

Standard information about the physical, mental, and social status of older people is needed to promote their health. The aim of this study was to determine the physical, mental and social health status of older people in Mazandaran, taking into account the specific climatic conditions and public culture, and to adapt it to the indicators of the "Aging and Health Program" of the World Health Organization (WHO) to localize and better use this index. In this cross-sectional study, 390 elderly aged ≥65 years in Mazandaran were selected by the quota method. Their physical, mental, and social health status and demographic information were collected using a questionnaire (a 36-itemshort-form health survey (SF-36)) and face-to-face interviews. Physical and mental health status was classified into five levels based on the score obtained. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26. The average age of the elderly was 71.48 years. In terms of physical performance, 40.7% of the elderly were below and 30.8% above the average of international standards. In terms of mental health, 18.9 and 41.5% of the elderly were below and above the average, respectively, and 17 and 51.8% of the elderly had low and high social performance, respectively. The Pearson correlation test showed a significant relationship between physical health (0.176), mental health (0.16), and social health (0.178) and quality of life at the 0.01 level. The physical, mental and social health status of the elderly in Mazandaran is far from the indicators of health in old age established by WHO, and their condition is unfavorable (at least in terms of physical and mental health).

An Opportunity for Parity: Health Care Reform Vis-à-Vis Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

The present study examines the efficacy of expressive writing among Chinese undergraduates. The sample comprised of 74 undergraduates enrolled in a 9-week intervention (35 in experimental class vs. 39 in control class). The writing exercises were well-embedded in an elective course for the two classes. The 46-item simplified Chinese Self-Rated Health Measurement Scale, which assesses psychological, physical and social health, was adopted to measure the outcome of this study. Baseline (second week) and post-test (ninth week) scores were obtained during the classes. After the intervention on the eighth week, the self-reported psychological, social and physical health of the experimental class improved. Psychological health obtained the maximum degree of improvement, followed by social and physical health. Furthermore, female participants gained more psychological improvement than males. These results demonstrated that the expressive writing approach could improve the physical, social and psychological health of Chinese undergraduates, and the method can be applied in university psychological consulting settings in Mainland China.