Health Characteristics Research Articles

“We’re a Disease to Someone”: Embodying Safety and Freedom in a State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization

ABSTRACT Public health and safety experts have advocated mandatory helmet laws as an important means to increase motorcyclists’ safety and public health for over 50 years. Despite these recommendations, some motorcyclists have successfully organized to challenge such laws. This is an ethnographic study of the largest state motorcyclists’ rights organization (SMRO) in the United States and its institutionalized opposition to mandatory helmet laws. I argue that in addition to its focus on individual freedom, the motorcyclists’ rights movement has characteristics of an embodied health movement in the sense that activists challenge expert understandings of health issues based on their personal experiences. Motorcyclists’ rights activists oppose mandatory helmet laws advocated by experts because they interfere with their understanding of freedom but also do not work to increase safety as they understand it. Exploring the embodied health characteristics of the motorcyclists’ rights movement helps us understand how the movement has been able to grow and maintain itself and the boundaries of embodied health movements. Other movements that combine a focus on both freedom and health and safety may exist and provide fruitful opportunities for future research.

We are not the problem, cars are: effect of different human activities in an urban area on opossums health and population size

AbstractUnderstanding the health of urban animals is key for preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases. To achieve this goal, it’s necessary to understand what factors could have an impact on those animals’ health. Therefore, the aim of this article is to compare some health characteristics of opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in urban environments with and without human presence. For this, we trapped opossums in two urbanized areas: one dominated by buildings and one by roads and parking lots (plus two control locations in natural areas). During two periods: normal activities and under lockdown due to COVID-19 conditions (when the presence of people was minimal). We found that in the building area, human presence has almost no effect on the opossums’ health (with only minor changes in erythrocyte counts and tar coverage); however, in the parking lot, the opossum population dropped drastically because of human activities (use of vehicles). This suggests that human presence is not harmful for those animals, but cars are. Therefore, the use of vehicles has a negative impact on opossums’ health and could increase the spreading of zoonotic diseases.

Mental and physical health characteristics of older and younger adults receiving medication for opioid use disorder

BackgroundMethadone is an effective and widely used medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Within in the United States (US), older adults represent an increasing proportion of those receiving MOUD, yet little is known about characteristics of older individuals in these programs.ObjectivesTo evaluate mental and physical health characteristics of younger and older adults receiving MOUD and test whether age moderates the relation between physical and mental health variables.MethodsData for this secondary analysis are drawn from a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of individuals seeking methadone dosing as part of MOUD at four opioid treatment programs in two regions of the US. Descriptive statistics and correlational and moderation analyses examined outcomes of pain severity, pain interference, self-rated health, physical activity, depression, and anxiety across younger (18-49) and older (50+ years) participants.ResultsAnalyses included 469 participants (mean [range] age, 41.01 [20–70] years). Older participants reported higher pain severity and interference, less physical activity, and worse self-rated health than those in the younger age group (ps < 0.05). Associations between mental and physical health variables were generally weak-to-moderate in the older age group (r = 0.26 to r = 0.44, p < 0.01), and weak in the younger age group, although age did not moderate associations.ConclusionClinically significant mental and physical health variables are associated among individuals receiving methadone for MOUD, with older adults facing unique challenges.Clinical implicationsOpioid use treatment should include not only pain management but also assessment and treatment of depression and anxiety and optimization of other health behaviors (e.g., physical activity) across age groups. Pain management and health promotion are particularly relevant targets for aging individuals receiving MOUD.

Spatiotemporal Evolution, Driving Mechanisms, and Zoning Optimization Pathways of Ecosystem Health in China

The health status of ecosystems is an important prerequisite for ensuring regional ecological security. Exploring the spatiotemporal patterns, driving mechanisms, and zoning regulation pathways of ecosystem health is of great significance for achieving co-ordinated and sustainable regional ecosystems. This study uses China as a case area and applies the InVEST model to measure integrated ecosystem services and incorporates it into an evaluation framework for ecosystem health based on the “Vigor-Organization-Resilience-Ecosystem Services” (VORS) model. It reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ecosystem health in China from 2000 to 2020 and employs the geodetector and spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression model to analyze the main influencing factors and spatial differentiation characteristics, thereby exploring ecological management zoning and optimization pathways. The study results show that (1) during the study period, the overall ecosystem health level in China showed a declining trend, dropping from 0.397 in 2000 to 0.377 in 2020. (2) Overall, China’s ecosystem health exhibits strong spatial positive correlation and spatial clustering characteristics, with a basic pattern of lower values in the northwest and higher values in the southeast. (3) Vegetation coverage, population density, density of road network, and per capita GDP are the main influencing factors of ecosystem health in China. (4) China is divided into five types of Ecological Management Zones: Ecological Conservation Zone, Ecological Enhancement Zone, Ecological Buffer Zone, Ecological Remediation Zone, and Ecological Reshaping Zone, with differentiated strategies proposed for optimizing ecosystem health in each zone.

Analysis on the Enlightenment Effect of Sesame Street on Children's Personality Exploration and Self-identity

Abstract: In recent years, with the progress of social economy and the development of education, children's mental health has increasingly become the focus of attention. As an important medium of children's education, TV programs are very popular with children, and have a profound significance in the shaping of children's health. American television program Sesame Street as a popular children's program, from the plot content, role setting, theme selection, present form, etc., conforms to the preschool childrens acceptance preferences, and successfully utilizes the medium for the key period of childrens mental development, accurately grasps the mental health characteristics of preschool childrens love of imitation. The program plays a good enlightening role in guiding children to discover their own personality and construct the self identity. The concept of "personality exploration and self-identity" is related to "self". In the pursuit of personality and self-positioning, children are guided to establish self-awareness, cultivate self-management ability and self-respect feelings. This paper mainly analyzes the enlightenment effect of Sesame Street on children's personality exploration and self-identity. The program promotes children to establish confidence, form self-identity, constitute the supporting conditions of mental health, for children to lay a solid foundation, and promote the formation of children's mental health and sound personality. At the same time, as a successful TV program that is deeply loved by children and has the significance of health education, it provides examples and references for creating more high-quality children's TV programs.

Proportional Contribution of the Women, Infant and Children's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program on Pregnant Women's Diet Quality

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the proportional contribution of the special Women’s Infant and Children Food Package V for pregnant women (WIC) supplementation on pregnant women’s diet quality. Methods: Image-based diet data collection using FoodFoto™ from 63 primigravid women with singleton pregnancies in Baltimore, Maryland receiving the special WIC Food Package V for pregnant women was converted to Healthy Eating Index - 2015 (HEI-2015) total and component diet quality scores. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the total and component HEI diet quality scores. Independent t-tests and linear regression models were used to assess the contributions that the percent of WIC food in the diet and sociodemographic and health characteristics had on the components and the overall HEI score. Results: The data showed a 1% rise in WIC approved foods in the diet was associated with a significant increase in the on the HEI-2015 score (b=0.77, t=6.35, p<0.001). Higher diet quality scores were accounted for by increased consumption of four HEI components representing healthy foods and significantly lower sodium intake. Furthermore, the healthy food component scores and fatty acids ratio were at or above the 50th percentile. Conclusion: Small increases in consumption of WIC approved foods significantly improved diet quality among pregnant women in the program.

A perceived community typology in older Korean Americans: implications for mental health.

The aims of this study were to identify a community typology in older Korean Americans and to examine how the typology is associated with feelings of loneliness and mental distress. We hypothesized that distinct community groups would be identified and that they would be differentially associated with mental health and background characteristics. Data were drawn from a survey with older Korean Americans aged 60 and older, collected during 2017-2018 in diverse locations (n = 2138). To identify a community typology, a series of latent profile analyses (LPA) were conducted using 15 community-related variables in three domains (neighbourhood characteristics, social cohesion, ethnic attachment). Based on model evaluation criteria, an LPA model with five community groups was identified as the best fit. The five groups were identified as "safe/integrated" (10%), "safe/distant" (10%), "moderate integration" (38%), "marginal" (31%), and "vulnerable" (11%). After examining descriptive characteristics of the identified groups, regression models of loneliness and mental distress were estimated. Using the safe/integrated group as reference, the marginal and vulnerable groups were consistently associated with elevated feelings of loneliness and mental distress. The results suggest the need to understand community profiles and their relationships with health/well-being among older immigrants.

Volunteering and Its Association with Depression, Loneliness, and Lifestyle of Older Adults: Insights from a Japanese Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/Objectives: Volunteering has been widely recognized as beneficial to the well-being of older adults, providing health benefits, increased social engagement, and a sense of purpose. This study aimed to explore the associations between volunteering and physical and mental health measures among older adults in Japan. Methods: Using an online survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, 500 participants aged 65 and older were divided into volunteer and non-volunteer groups. Demographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics were comprehensively assessed using a series of reliable and validated instruments. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associations between volunteering and health outcomes. Results: The findings revealed that while there were no significant differences in physical health indicators and undertreatment of most diseases (with the exception of cataracts), volunteers reported significantly lower levels of depression and loneliness compared to non-volunteers. The volunteer group also showed greater engagement in social activities and hobbies, which may have contributed to their improved mental health outcomes. Conclusions: The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that volunteering may be an effective, low-cost intervention for promoting mental health and social engagement among older adults.

An Observational Study: Correlation Between Self-Perceived Readiness and Physical Performance in Healthy Individuals

IntroductionIn complex environments, individuals need to anticipate and react to stimuli by integrating complex systems and skills. Identifying the perceptual-cognitive, physical, and health characteristics that afford effective performance is necessary for developing training and readiness strategies. Measuring readiness by establishing a relationship between the Acute Readiness Monitoring Scale (ARMS) and performance during perceptual-cognitive tasks is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between self-perceived readiness, physical performance, and perceptual-cognitive performance in healthy young adults. Materials and MethodsCross-sectional design with healthy and physically active young adults (n=35). Participants completed a measure of self-perceived readiness (the ARMS), physical performance (i.e., Vertical Jump (VJ) and Ballistic Push-Up), and perceptual-cognitive exercises (i.e., Single Leg Memory Hop (SLMH), Reactive VJ, Reactive Ballistic Push-Up, Reactive Agility Run Decide, and Upper and Lower Extremity Reaction Tests). Data was analyzed using Pearson’s r (r) correlation to identify associations. ResultsStatistically significant moderate correlations were detected between ARMS Total and VJ (Peak Power Normalized and Flight Time) (r=0.434, p=0.010) and (r=0.420, p=0.013), and SLMH Distance Normalized (r=0.409, p=0.016). Moderate negative correlations between the ARMS Total and Reactive VJ Reaction Time (r=-0.473, p=0.005). ConclusionThe ARMS can be an effective tool for measuring acute self-perceived readiness. This suggests that individuals who work in dynamic environments may benefit from training that targets perceptual-cognitive skills. Although moderate, self-perceived readiness was associated with better resilience, health, and performance exercises. Results highlight the importance of protocols targeting populations who work in complex environments for increased performance.

Sleep health characteristics and positive mental health in Canadian youth: A cross-sectional analysis of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study

ObjectivesThis study investigated the associations between specific sleep health characteristics and indicators of positive mental health among Canadian youth in grades 6-10. MethodsWe used cross-sectional data from the Canadian 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, a nationally representative sample of Canadian students. Our analyses included 14,868 participants (53.1% girls). We assessed the following self-reported characteristics of sleep health: nighttime insomnia symptoms, sleep duration, problems with daytime wakefulness, and weekend catch-up sleep. Positive mental health measures included self-reported life satisfaction, positive affect, self-efficacy, and self-confidence. Logistic regression models were used to assess associations while controlling for confounders. ResultsParticipants who had no or little nighttime insomnia symptoms, who met sleep duration recommendations, who had no or rare daytime wakefulness problems, and who had no or little weekend catch-up sleep were more likely to report high life satisfaction (range of adjusted odds ratios=1.29-2.50), high positive affect (range of adjusted odds ratios=1.35-3.60), high self-efficacy (range of adjusted odds ratios=1.22-2.54), and high self-confidence (range of adjusted odds ratios=1.28-2.31). Almost all of the associations remained significant in the gender- and age-stratified analyses. ConclusionThe findings suggest that good sleep health is associated with higher odds of positive mental health among Canadian youth in grades 6-10. Further research is needed to understand the temporality of the associations and the underlying mechanisms.

Obesity is highly associated with a non-home discharge following total ankle arthroplasty

Studies have shown that non-home discharge following orthopedic procedures is associated with a higher risk of 30-day complications and significantly increases medical costs. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for being discharged to a non-home destination following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA).We included patients undergoing TAA from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (NSQIP) between 2014 and 2019. TAA was identified using CPT codes 27702, 27703 and 27704. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between discharge location (home versus non-home) and a series of exposure variables (e.g., patient demographics, patient health characteristics, and operative factors).A total of 1,704 patients were included, experiencing a 3.6% short term complication rate (61/1,704). 8.5% of the population were discharged to a non-home destination. In the final adjusted model, patients who were older [OR 1.11; 95%CI 1.08, 1.13], female [OR 2.94; 95%CI 2.04, 4.34], obese [OR 1.93; 95%CI 1.29, 2.89], had surgery in an inpatient setting [OR 5.73; 95%CI 1.78, 18.46], and ASA class IV [OR 10.65; 95%CI 1.03, 110.61] were at greater risk for a non-home discharge.People living with obesity experienced a nearly 2x greater likelihood of being discharged to a non-home destination after TAA despite their preoperative functional (e.g., ASA class) and metabolic status (i.e., diabetes). Opportunities to mitigate this risk will be needed to lessen the financial burden of TAA surgery as a growing number of obese patients become eligible for TAA in the US.

Spatial patterns of hydroecological health in the semi-arid yellow river basin: Revelations from machine learning models

The ecosystem of semi-arid watersheds is influenced by a combination of natural climate factors, rainfall, and habitat destruction, resulting in complex mechanisms of spatial differentiation and evolution of water ecological health. Indicator selection in mainstream water ecological health assessment methods, such as the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), often relies on subjective reference point choices. This approach tends to overlook the comprehensive impacts and interactions among various environmental stressors. For watersheds significantly influenced by natural climatic factors, considerable uncertainties arise, leading to a lack of scientific justification for establishing water ecological health protection goals. In this study, the nonlinear capabilities of the random forest (RF) model were applied to reduce subjectivity in traditional water ecological health assessments and to more accurately reveal the emerging spatial differentiation patterns and underlying causes of water ecological health in the Wei River Basin (WRB), the largest typical semi-arid watershed of the Yellow River in China. Our findings indicate: (1) Traditional evaluation indices indicate that the overall water ecological health of the WRB is classified as sub-healthy (60 %). The core indicators include dominant species, total algal density, and the percentage of diatom density, with no significant spatial differentiation observed. (2) An improved water ecological health assessment method for semi-arid watersheds, based on the RF model, has been developed to replace traditional subjective judgment steps. This method establishes a complex multi-input–output response relationship (R2 > 0.85) between environmental stress indicators and the biological integrity index for the WRB. (3) The model results identify key driving factors affecting changes in water ecological health in semi-arid watersheds, with the sensitivity of the new model increasing nearly 11-fold compared to traditional IBI methods. (4) Following improvements, the water ecological health characteristics of the WRB exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity, with a higher dispersion coefficient (1.21), and demonstrate enhanced nonlinear response trends to climatic factors. The application of machine learning models indicates that traditional methods may underestimate the extent of ecological health degradation in watersheds and tend to oversimplify spatial heterogeneity characteristics.

Vote choice in the context of lethal police violence: A research note

Do police-caused deaths predict presidential vote choice in the US? This study explores the relationship between lethal police violence and vote choice in the 2020 presidential election using individual-level data from Harvard University's Cooperative Election Study (CES), which has been linked with aggregate-level data on police killings, civilian homicide rates, and socioeconomic, political, and public health characteristics. Consistent with the issue ownership theory of voting, this study finds that voters living in areas characterized by lethal police violence are significantly more likely to vote for the Democratic Party above and beyond their individual-level attributes and other contextual conditions. These findings and supplemental analyses raise critical questions concerning the political salience of fatal force in presidential races in the post-2020 era. Findings also support the need for further criminological inquiry into the effects of different forms of violence on American political behavior.

MENEBAR BENIH PENCEGAHAN GANGGUAN MENTAL: PEMBINAAN GENERASI MUDA HINDU DALAM PENGUATAN KESEHATAN MENTAL DI PURA BHUANA PUJA

The young generation of Hindus is faced with various challenges and complexities in life that can have an impact on mental health. Problems often faced by Hindu teenagers include academic demands, social pressure, cyberbullying, and identity crises. There are still many gaps in access to mental health services, especially in the pasraman environment. Starting from this problem, activities were held to develop the Hindu Young Generation in Strengthening Mental Health at Pura Bhuana Puja to increase awareness of Hindu teenagers about the importance of mental health and provide a basic understanding of mental health so that teenagers can be aware of their mental condition and what to do when they are indicated to be experiencing problems. mentally. This socialization uses lecture, discussion and game methods. The material presented includes understanding mental health, characteristics of healthy and unhealthy mental health, factors that cause psychological disorders, how to cultivate love within yourself, and how to overcome mental disorders. The results of this socialization are that participants gain an understanding of mental health and how to maintain it, are able to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy mental health, know the factors that can cause psychological disorders, get tips for cultivating self-love, and get tips for overcoming mental disorders.

The Effect of Digital Problem Solving Therapy on Quality of Life in Pregnant Women Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence

Aim: This study aims to determine the effect of digital problem-solving therapy (DPST) on the quality of life (QOL) of pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence. Methods: The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with two groups: an intervention group receiving digital problem-solving therapy and a control group receiving standard care. The study took place over three months at the National Commission on Violence Against Women service centers and referral hospitals in Bekasi City, West Java. The intervention involved four sessions per month focusing on psychological well-being and QOL. A total of 100 pregnant women participated, meeting the criteria of being over three months pregnant, having experienced domestic violence, owning a smartphone, and living with their husbands. Results: The results showed a statistically significant increase in QOL scores within the intervention group after the therapy, with a t-score of 13.76 and a p-value of 0.001. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited a larger improvement in QOL at post-test compared to the control group (ß = 8.20, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Digital problem-solving therapy significantly improves the quality of life of pregnant women experiencing domestic violence. Future studies should explore the effectiveness of this intervention among more diverse research groups, focusing on participants with varied mental health and psychological characteristics.

Use of a Health Fair to Promote Health Equity of the Hispanic Community in Metro Detroit

This study analyzes the demographics, general health characteristics, and barriers to healthcare of the Metro Detroit Hispanic community through a health fair survey. Data was collected using a descriptive, 25-question self-reported survey in English and Spanish administered to 19 health fair attendees. Of total respondents, 92% identified as Hispanic and 76% Spanish-speaking. Descriptive analysis was conducted on several variables, including prevalence of medical conditions, health behaviors, and barriers to care. Participants reported a high prevalence of serious chronic conditions including diabetes (29%) and hypertension (29%). Significant barriers included a lack of medical insurance (72%), no primary care physician (67%), and language (24%). Other notable barriers were medication and food insecurity (50% and 67%, respectively). Our findings illustrate the power of a health fair in reaching a local, underserved Hispanic population, and underscore the need for targeted efforts in improving Hispanic health equity and access in Metro Detroit.

State of Health Estimation Method for Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Multifeature Fusion and BO-BiGRU Model

Abstract The state of health (SOH) of lithium-ion batteries is a crucial parameter for assessing battery degradation. The aim of this study is to solve the problems of single extraction of health features (HFs) and redundancy of information between features in the SOH estimation. This article develops an SOH estimation method for lithium-ion batteries based on multifeature fusion and Bayesian optimization (BO)-bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) model. First, a total of eight HFs in three categories, namely, time, energy, and probability, can be extracted from the charging data to accurately describe the aging mechanism of the battery. The Pearson and Spearman analysis method verified the strong correlation between HFs and SOH. Second, the multiple principal components obtained by kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) can eliminate the redundancy of information between HFs. The principal component with the highest correlation with SOH is selected by bicorrelation analysis to be defined as the fused HF. Finally, to improve SOH estimation accuracy, the BO-BiGRU model is proposed. The proposed method is validated using battery datasets from NASA. The results show that the SOH estimation accuracy of the BO-BiGRU model proposed in this article is high, while mean absolute error (MAE) is lower than 1.2%. In addition, the SOH of the lithium battery is estimated using different proportions of test sets, and the results show that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the SOH remain within 3%, with high estimation accuracy and robustness.

Assessing the change in prevalence and characteristics of canadians utilizing chiropractic services across two time periods 2001–2010 and 2015–2018: a population-based repeated cross-sectional study

BackgroundDespite increases in musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in Canada, evidence suggests utilization of chiropractic services has remained relatively stable over time. Understanding the extent to which chiropractors are consulted and factors associated with their utilization may suggest factors related to accessing care. We assessed the change in prevalence and characteristics of Canadians seeking chiropractic care across two time periods 2001–2010 and 2015–2018.MethodsWe used national cross-sectional data from seven cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey between 2001 and 2018. The survey included Canadians aged 12 years and older living in private dwellings in all provinces and territories. National annual weighted prevalence and age-standardized weighted prevalence (and 95% confidence intervals) of chiropractic utilization were calculated. We calculated prevalence of chiropractic utilization stratified by demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and health-related variables. Crude linear trends and change in prevalence from 2001 to 2010 were assessed using linear regression models.ResultsThe national annual prevalence of Canadians consulting a chiropractor in the previous 12 months slightly increased from 11.0% (95% CI 10.8, 11.3) in 2001 to 11.4% (95%CI 11.1, 11.7) in 2010, and in those reporting receiving regular health care from a chiropractor from 7.5% (95%CI 7.2, 7.7) in 2015 to 7.9% (95%CI 7.7, 8.2) in 2018. Prevalence of utilization varied by province, highest in the Western provinces but lowest in Atlantic provinces. The age-specific prevalence of chiropractic utilization was highest in those aged 35–49 years and remained stable over time, except for slight increase in those aged 65–79 years. A higher percentage of Canadians identifying as white, Canadian-born, in the highest quintile of household income, overweight, physically active and in excellent health reported seeking chiropractic services. The most common reported chronic conditions measured in the survey among Canadians consulting chiropractors were chronic back problems, arthritis, fibromyalgia and headaches.ConclusionThe national prevalence of utilization of chiropractic services among Canadians slightly increased over time but varied by province and respondents’ socioeconomic and health characteristics. Chronic back problems were the most common reported chronic condition. This comprehensive population-based study on chiropractic utilization in Canada can be used to inform decisions concerning health human resources and access to rehabilitation care for MSD.

Factors related to oral health and subjective health among Korean adolescents: the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS)

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate factors related to oral health and subjective health in Korean adolescents, a total of 51,850 people. Methods: Subjective health by general characteristics, subjective health by oral health characteristics, and subjective health by oral health symptoms were analyzed by a cross-analysis. Factors influencing subjective health were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: As a factor influencing subjective health, the number of times teeth were brushed 0.62 times lower (p<0.001) for 0 times, and 0.91 times lower (p<0.05) for 1-2 times. The risk was 1.33 times higher (p<0.001) if teeth were brushed before going to bed, and 1.10 times higher (p<0.05) if an intrdental brush was used, In cases where oral health education was not received, subjective health was 0.86 times lower (p<0.001). In cases where there was no pain subjective health was 1.44 times higher (p<0.001), gingival bleeding was 1.51 times higher (p<0.001), or malodor was 1.53 times higher (p<0.001). Conclusions: Based on the above results, the relationship between oral health and subjective health was confirmed, and it is thought that opportunities to develop preventive programs to promote youth health should be expanded.

Utilization of big data analytics to identify population health trends and optimize healthcare delivery system efficiency

Big data analytics has emerged as an incredibly valuable tool in understanding population health trends and improving the effectiveness of healthcare delivery systems. By leveraging big data sources from various domains, including the patients’ electronic health records, claims data, wearables, and social media accounts, healthcare organizations can obtain novel and rich insights regarding population health characteristics, predisposing factors, and disease progression. The arrival of big data has transformed healthcare organizations by providing a scientific population health management and health system enhancement tool. Using superior analytical tools, healthcare entrepreneurs and policymakers can discover relations, rates, and patterns that are concealed in large data sets. Such knowledge can be used for early detection of possible interventions, management of resources, and prevention measures, thus leading to better health and less spending on health issues. Moreover, big data analytics helps in early diagnostics and the development of management strategies for high-risk groups, which in turn improves the functioning and effectiveness of healthcare systems. It is also important to note that big data solutions in healthcare are not limited to population health management, but also include functional aspects of healthcare organizations. Additionally, using data about patient movements, resource consumption, and clinical activity, it is possible to determine inefficiencies and opportunities to improve processes in healthcare organizations. This approach of collecting and analyzing data helps in decision making thus reducing time and improving patient flow and experience. However, incorporating real-time data into the clinical decision support systems can improve diagnostic capabilities, treatments offered, and patient tracking resulting in improved quality of services delivered.