Communities In Beijing Research Articles

Evaluation of Resettled Residents’ Engagement in Community Gardens and Preferences for Garden Development Factors in Beijing

Resettlement communities arising from China’s urbanization process accommodate both landless resettled villagers and non-resettled villagers who migrate to cities for work. Community gardens help increase interactions in resettlement communities and facilitate the integration of resettled residents into the community. This paper, based on the differing characteristics of resettled and non-resettled villagers in China’s resettlement communities and the scarcity of outdoor public space, studies the participation willingness of resettled residents and their preferences for the construction of community gardens. Firstly, this study establishes a system of community garden construction elements for resettlement communities and conducts a Likert scale survey of residents in 30 resettlement communities in Beijing (n = 832). Secondly, variance analysis is used to explore the impact of demographic characteristics on garden preferences. Finally, a multiple linear regression model is employed to study the correlation between resettled residents’ willingness to participate in community gardens and the construction elements. The results show that (1) both resettled villagers and non-villagers have a willingness to participate in community gardens, and the spatial enhancement, facility supplementation, economic compensation, community integration, and identity recognition of garden construction elements are positively correlated with residents’ willingness to participate, with spatial enhancement having the strongest effect; (2) community gardens help achieve integration between resettled and non-resettled villagers; (3) gardens help enhance the identity recognition of resettled villagers. In summary, integrating community gardens into resettlement communities helps increase residents’ social interactions, enhances their sense of belonging, and assists resettled residents in integrating into urban society.

How does geographical environment affect residents' perception of social justice: An empirical study from low-income communities in Beijing

With the transition to a market-oriented economic system and the transformation of social structure, urban society has undergone significant spatial differentiation, leading to a deepening divide between the rich and the poor. This has caused issues like social exclusion and spatial isolation to become increasingly prominent, which in turn, limit the harmonious and orderly development of cities. As Beijing's goal to become a “world-class harmonious and livable city” accelerates, there has been a growing focus on ensuring social justice satisfaction for residents in low-income communities. This focus has translated into more attention being paid to spatial equity in residents' living environments. Employing a mixed-methods approach with multi-level regressions to understand the nuanced interplay between urban geography and social equity, where depend variable was subjective questionary from low-income communities in Beijing (2017), the independent variables were geographical factors. Using research data from typical low-income communities in Beijing (2017), our study integrated theories from geography and sociology to examine the spatial equity of the living environment. We then empirically analyzed the impact of geographical environment and objective conditions on residents' perception of social equity in low-income communities. Our findings indicate that there are significant differences in the level of social justice perception among residents across different types of communities. The upscale community with better community environment is not consistent with the evaluation of higher perceived justice. Furthermore, service facilities, employment accessibility, and built environment all influence individual satisfaction with social justice to varying degrees. There is also a moderating effect of living environment satisfaction on social justice perception in low-income communities, with residents' socioeconomic attributes influencing their level of social justice satisfaction. This research contributes to the broader understanding of spatial equity in urban development, highlighting the pivotal role of geographical factors in shaping perceptions of social justice. These insights are crucial for policymakers and urban planners striving for more equitable urban development in rapidly growing cities.

Fine-scale monitoring of catkins reveals an association between catkin concentration and plant community characteristics and microclimate

Catkins, as a significant source of plant-caused pollution, disrupts daily human activities and industrial processes. Despite their impact, catkins have not been included in official environmental quality monitoring indicators, leading to a deficiency in scientifically rigorous collection and monitoring methodologies, as well as a lack of ecological prevention and management strategies. In this study, we introduced a fine-scale monitoring approach for catkins. Qualitative and quantitative relationships between catkin concentrations, plant community characteristics and microclimate factors were elucidated by analyzing on-site catkin concentration data from 33 representative plant communities in Beijing. Furthermore, we summarized the ecological strategies for the prevention and management of these catkins. The results indicated that (1) TS (three-dimensional green volume of trees in the catkin source layer), SB (three-dimensional green volume of shrubs in the catkin barrier layer), GB (three-dimensional green volume of ground cover plants in the catkin barrier layer), T (three-dimensional green volume of trees in the whole plant community), W (three-dimensional green volume of the whole plant community), species diversity, and relative air humidity were key plant community characteristics and microclimate factors influencing catkin concentration. Among these factors, TS, T, W, and relative air humidity showed a significant positive correlation with catkin concentration, while SB, GB, and species diversity exhibited a significant negative correlation with catkin concentration. (2) All seven key factors exhibited nonlinear relationships with catkin concentration. (3) TS served as the primary deciding factor for catkin concentration within the plant community. When TS > 744.0755 m3, the secondary decision factor for catkin concentration was GB. Otherwise, the determinants were SB and species diversity. The results showed that enhancing tree species diversity, enhancing the three-dimensional green volume of shrubs and ground cover plants, and increasing air humidity were practical means to facilitate the sedimentation of catkins. The measures used to obstruct catkins vary depending on the TS. When catkin source plants are abundant within a plant community, it is advisable to prioritize increasing ground cover plants. Conversely, when fewer sources of such plants exist, emphasis can be placed on augmenting mid-layer shrubs and diversifying plant species. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the planting design and stock optimization of communities containing catkin source plants.

Risk Assessment of Community-Scale High-Temperature and Rainstorm Waterlogging Disasters: A Case Study of the Dongsi Community in Beijing

With the advancement of urbanization and acceleration of global warming, extreme weather and climate events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, and climate risk continues to rise. Each community is irreplaceable and important in coping with extreme climate risk and improving urban resilience. In this study, the Dongsi Community in the functional core area of Beijing was explored, and the risk assessment of high temperatures and rainstorm waterlogging was implemented at the community scale. Local navigation observations were integrated into a theoretical framework for traditional disaster risk assessment. The risk assessment indicator system for community-scale high-temperature and rainstorm waterlogging disasters was established and improved from a microscopic perspective (a total of 22 indicators were selected from the three dimensions of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology was used to integrate geographic information, meteorological, planning, municipal, socioeconomic and other multisource information layers, thus enabling more detailed spatial distribution characteristics of the hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk levels of community-scale high temperatures and rainstorm waterlogging to be obtained. The results revealed that the high-risk area and slightly high-risk area of high-temperature disasters accounted for 13.5% and 15.1%, respectively. The high-risk area and slightly high-risk area of rainstorm waterlogging disasters accounted for 9.8% and 31.6%, respectively. The high-risk areas common to high temperatures and waterlogging accounted for 3.9%. In general, the risk of high-temperature and rainstorm waterlogging disasters at the community scale showed obvious spatial imbalances; that is, the risk in the area around the middle section of Dongsi Santiao was the lowest, while a degree of high temperatures or rainstorm waterlogging was found in other areas. In particular, the risk of high-temperature and rainstorm waterlogging disasters along Dongsi North Street, the surrounding areas of Dongsi Liutiao, and some areas along the Dongsi Jiutiao route was relatively high. These spatial differences were affected to a greater extent by land cover (buildings, vegetation, etc.) and population density within the community. This study is a useful exploration of climate risk research for resilient community construction, and provides scientific support for the planning of climate-adaptive communities, as well as the proposal of overall adaptation goals, action frameworks, and specific planning strategies at the community level.

Quantitative relationship between grip strength and quality of life in the older adult based on a restricted cubic spline model.

Grip strength have been showed diverse associations with quality of life for the older adult population in the literature, still there is lack of evidence of the threshold value of grip strength for maintaining good quality of life in older adults. The purpose of this study was to study the dose-effect relationship between grip strength and quality of life in the older adult, and to explore the factors affecting quality of life in the older adult, so as to provide effective theoretical basis for realizing healthy aging. A total of 105 older adult people over 60 years old were selected from 3 communities in Beijing. Grip strength was measured by hand dynamometer apparatus and quality of life was assessed by 36-item Short-Form (SF-36). On the basis of controlling confounding factors, the dose-effect relationship between grip strength and quality of life was analyzed with the restricted cubic spline model. The results showed that there was a dose-effect relationship between grip strength and physical component summary (PCS) (p < 0.01). However, grip strength was not significantly associated with mental component summary (MCS) (p > 0.05). The threshold value of grip strength for male and female is 34.75 and 23.2 kg, for normal weight group and overweight and obesity group is 24.82 and 29.00 kg, for 60-69, 70-79, 80+ years group is 24.88, 23.37, and 22.97 kg, respectively. When the grip strength value is lower than the threshold value, the increase of grip strength was related to significant improvement of quality of life of the older adult, and when the grip strength value is higher than the threshold value, the quality of life can be maintained in good condition. A dose-effect relationship was found between grip strength and physical health in quality of life. Results of our study indicated that the grip strength of the older adults needed to be greater than certain threshold values to maintain good quality of life.

Runoff Control Performance of Three Typical Low-Impact Development Facilities: A Case Study of a Community in Beijing

The development of sponge cities advocates for sustainable urban rainwater management, effectively alleviating urban flood disasters, reducing non-point-source pollution, and promoting the recycling of rainwater resources. Low-Impact Development (LID) serves as a key strategy in this context, providing essential support for urban rainwater control and pollution reduction. To investigate the runoff control effects of LID measures and to reveal the relationship between facility runoff control performance and installation scale, this study focuses on a sponge community in Beijing. A SWMM model was constructed to analyze the rainwater flood control and pollutant load reduction effects of different LID facilities, including bio-retention cells, green roofs, and permeable pavements. Using evaluation indicators such as surface runoff, node overflow, and pollutant control rates, this study examined how facility performance varies with installation scale under different rainfall conditions. The combination scheme of LID equipment optimal configuration is designed by using multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and cost–benefit theory. The results indicate significant differences in performance among the various LID facilities across different rainfall scenarios. Specifically, the optimal installation proportion for runoff and overflow control of permeable pavements were found to be between 30% and 70%. Green roofs demonstrate superior performance in handling extreme rainfall events, while bio-retention cells exhibit significant effectiveness in controlling Total Suspended Solids (TSSs). Through comprehensive performance evaluation, this study identified the optimal combination scale under a 3-year rainfall recurrence interval as 30% permeable pavements, 20% green roof, and 60% bio-retention cells. This combination effectively leverages the strengths of each facility, ensuring system stability and efficiency while also demonstrating optimal management efficiency in cost–benefit analyses. The findings of this research provide valuable insights for future urban water management and infrastructure development.

The acceptability and effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbot for hypertensive patients in community: protocol for a mixed-methods study

BackgroundChatbots can provide immediate assistance tailored to patients’ needs, making them suitable for sustained accompanying interventions. Nevertheless, there is currently no evidence regarding their acceptability by hypertensive patients and the factors influencing the acceptability in the real-world. Existing evaluation scales often focus solely on the technology itself, overlooking the patients’ perspective. Utilizing mixed methods can offer a more comprehensive exploration of influencing factors, laying the groundwork for the future integration of artificial intelligence in chronic disease management practices.MethodsThe mixed methods will provide a holistic view to understand the effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. Participants will either receive the standard primary health care or obtain a chatbot speaker. The speaker can provide timely reminders, on-demand consultations, personalized data recording, knowledge broadcasts, as well as entertainment features such as telling jokes. The quantitative part will be conducted as a quasi-randomized controlled trial in community in Beijing. And the convergent design will be adopted. When patients use the speaker for 1 month, scales will be used to measure patients’ intention to use the speaker. At the same time, semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore patients’ feelings and influencing factors of using speakers. Data on socio-demography, physical examination, blood pressure, acceptability and self-management behavior will be collected at baseline, as well as 1,3,6, and 12 months later. Furthermore, the cloud database will continuously collect patients’ interactions with the speaker. The primary outcome is the efficacy of the chatbot on blood pressure control. The secondary outcome includes the acceptability of the chatbot speaker and the changes of self-management behavior.DiscussionArtificial intelligence-based chatbot speaker not only caters to patients’ self-management needs at home but also effectively organizes intricate and detailed knowledge system for patients with hypertension through a knowledge graph. Patients can promptly access information that aligns with their specific requirements, promoting proactive self-management and playing a crucial role in disease management. This study will serve as a foundation for the application of artificial intelligence technology in chronic disease management, paving the way for further exploration on enhancing the communicative impact of artificial intelligence technology.Trial registrationBiomedical Ethics Committee of Peking University: IRB00001052-21106, 2021/10/14; Clinical Trials: ChiCTR2100050578, 2021/08/29.

Prevalence of chronic diarrhea and its association with obesity in a Chinese community-based population.

Epidemiological data on chronic diarrhea in the Chinese population are lacking, and the association between obesity and chronic diarrhea in East Asian populations remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of chronic diarrhea and its association with obesity in a representative community-dwelling Chinese population. This cross-sectional study was based on a multistage, randomized cluster sampling involving 3503 residents aged 20-69years from representative urban and rural communities in Beijing. Chronic diarrhea was assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and obesity was determined based on body mass index (BMI). Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the relationship between obesity and chronic diarrhea. The standardized prevalence of chronic diarrhea in the study population was 12.88%. The average BMI was 24.67kg/m2. Of all the participants, 35.17% (1232/3503) of participants were classified as overweight and 16.13% (565/3503) as obese. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals with obesity had an increased risk of chronic diarrhea as compared to normal weight individuals (odds ratio=1.58, 95% confidence interval: 1.20-2.06). A nonlinear association between BMI and the risk of chronic diarrhea was observed in community residents of males and the overall participant group (P=0.026 and 0.017, respectively). This study presents initial findings on the prevalence of chronic diarrhea among residents of Chinese communities while offering substantiated evidence regarding the significant association between obesity and chronic diarrhea. These findings offer a novel perspective on gastrointestinal health management.

Research on Post-Use Evaluation of Community Green Space Rectification Based on a Multi-Dimensional Perception System: A Case Study of Jiayuan Sanli Community in Beijing

Community green spaces (CGSs) constitute a crucial element of urban land use, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the stability of urban ecosystems and enhancing the overall quality of the urban environment. Through the post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of green spaces, we can gain insights into residents’ actual needs and usage habits, providing scientific evidence for the planning, design, and management of green spaces. This ensures that CGSs better meet residents’ needs and improve their quality of life. The POE of CGSs relies heavily on high-precision data support. However, the current POE system for CGSs faces challenges, such as limited data collection methods, incomplete indicator systems, and excessive manual involvement. To address these limitations in data collection, this study proposes a comprehensive, dynamically monitored, objective, and sustainable POE system for CGSs. This system incorporates a multi-dimensional perception system that integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors to collect data from various sources. It establishes an evaluation framework from the perspectives of policy guidance and usage needs for CGSs, utilizing neural network systems and artificial intelligence techniques to compute the evaluation results. Using the Jiayuan Sanli Community in Beijing as a case study, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed system. A comparison between the POE results obtained using the multi-dimensional perception technique and those obtained manually reveals an 87% improvement in the accuracy of the evaluation results based on the multi-dimensional perception system. This system bridges the gap between planning perspectives and user experiences, contributing significantly to future urban land planning and land policy formulation.

Physics-inspired and data-driven two-stage deep learning approach for wind field reconstruction with experimental validation

Accurate and reliable wind forecasts for urban blocks play a pivotal role in the construction of zero-energy communities by guiding the selection and placement of wind turbines and the aerodynamic design optimization of ducted openings. While relatively accurate wind fields are available based on numerical methods, their heavy computational cost and discontinuity make it necessary to explore an interactive and end-to-end method. In this study, we develop a physics-inspired and data-driven two-stage deep learning approach that can reconstruct complex wind fields precisely. The proposed method integrates a physical feature extraction model of the flow field with a sparse measurement data-driven error correction approach. In particular, a well-designed and well-trained flow field feature extraction model (original model) can preserve salient features of CFD modelling, while data-driven error correction techniques may harvest the uncertainty features and fill the remaining gaps between the original model predictions and the measured data. The proposed method is verified by a measured dataset from a community in Beijing. Experimental validation illustrates that the proposed algorithm successfully accomplishes wind field reconstruction in complex terrains using sparse datasets. We show that the proposed two-stage strategy exhibits significantly improved prediction results over the purely original method, with an average accuracy improvement of 47.17% and a maximum accuracy improvement of 72.59%. Overall, the proposed method delivers the potential in accurate wind field construction and urban wind energy forecasting.

Association of advanced glycation end products with ear lobe crease: A cross-sectional study.

Several studies have demonstrated a significant association between the presence of the ear lobe crease (ELC) and cardiovascular disease. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) can affect the structures and functions of proteins and contribute to the development of diabetic complications. However, few studies have reported the relationship between AGEs and ELC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of skin autofluorescence (SAF)-AGEage (SAF-AGEs × age/100) with ELC. This cross-sectional study enrolled 6500 eligible participants from two communities in Beijing. Skin autofluorescence (SAF) was used to measure skin AGEs (SAF-AGEs). SAF-AGEage was defined as AGEs × age/100. Binary logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis nested in logistic models were applied to test outcomes. The overall prevalence of ELC with an average age of 62.7 years participants was 57.1% (n = 3714). Age, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, and lipoprotein cholesterol were all greater in participants with ELC. ELC-positive participants had higher prevalence of coronary heart disease. Logistic analysis showed a significantly positive relationship between quartiles of SAF-AGEage and ELC (odds ratio [OR] 1.526, 95% CI 1.324-1.759; OR 2.072, CI 1.791-2.396; and OR 2.983, CI 2.551-3.489) for the multivariate-adjusted models, respectively. Stratified research revealed that those with a history of diabetes, hypertension, or coronary heart disease experienced the connection between SAF-AGEage and ELC. ELC is associated with coronary heart disease, and the SAF-AGE has a potential role in ELC development in elder people.

A higher TyG index level is more likely to have enhanced incidence of T2DM and HTN comorbidity in elderly Chinese people: a prospective observational study from the reaction study

BackgroundTriglyceride glucose index (TyG index) was related with both type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN). Prospective studies linking the TyG index to the incidence of T2DM and HTN comorbidity remain unclear. This study aimed to to explore the longitudinal association between TyG and new-onset T2DM with HTN.Methods4,434 subjects (1249 males and 3185 females) without initial T2DM and HTN were followed up for 7 years. This study was conducted from November 2011 to August 2018 in the Gucheng, Laoshan and Jinding communities of Beijing. The incidence of T2DM with HTN during the 7-year follow-up was identified as the endpoint. The TyG index was divided into four quartiles: the < 25% level, the 25–50% level, the 50–75% level and the ≥ 75% level. The relationships between the TyG index and T2DM with HTN were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression models.ResultsDuring 7 years, the augmented trend of T2DM with HTN was observed in the participants. After adjusting for all confounding factors, compared with those in the lowest quartile of TyG index, the population in the highest quartile of TyG index had a higher risk of T2DM with HTN (hazard ratio (HR), 2.878; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), 1.230–6.731, P = 0.015), however, the association remained significant only in the female population (HR 2.753, 95% CI, 1.061–7.139, p = 0.037). The TyG had superior predictive ability of increased risk of T2DM with HTN for the populations of older age (≥ 65 years) (HR 2.694, 95% CI 1.212–5.989, p = 0.015), higher eGFR (≥ 90 mL/(min·1.73 m2)) (HR 2.603, 95% CI 1.164–5.818, p = 0.020) or obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) (HR 2.547, 95% CI 1.001–6.478, p = 0.020).ConclusionA population with a higher TyG index level was more likely to have an enhanced incidence of T2DM and HTN comorbidity. TyG index could have the significance of clinical in early protection against T2DM with HTN.

Community Governance of “Diverse Subjects” in the Context of Aging Population Based on Cultural Embeddedness Theory: Evidence from Beijing in China

The global aging problem is increasing, which makes the issue of “multi-body governance” of aging communities increasingly important. Using cultural embeddedness theory as the theoretical basis, this paper examines the current situation of pluralistic governance in aging communities and its problems using fieldwork and case study methods, taking communities in Beijing, China, as a case study. This paper finds that for the new commercial housing communities, most of the elderly come from foreign countries, and there are difficulties in endogenous cultural embedding due to different cultural backgrounds and ideologies. In the old central enterprise family home-type community, most elderly people have lived here since childhood and formed a consistent ideology. Still, due to the path dependence in the era of the central enterprise management community, the elderly have difficulties in exogenous cultural embeddedness, such as promulgating new policies and collecting fees. Based on this, this paper draws the following three conclusions: firstly, the multi-body governance of aging communities in many countries is currently in its infancy and needs some time to be perfected. Second, the ideology of the elderly greatly influences the cultural embedding of community governance. Third, aging community governance requires a large amount of financial and personnel investment, which is a considerable burden for many developing countries.

The impact of care-recipient relationship type on mental health burden of caregivers for schizophrenia patients: evidence from Beijing, China.

To examine the impact of care-recipient relationship type on mental health burden of caregivers for schizophrenia patients in China, elucidating the underlying mechanisms. A cross-sectional study was conducted using face-to-face surveys administered to caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in selected communities in Beijing, China. 1,853 samples' data was used. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression models and Sheaf coefficient method were employed to analyze the data. The mental health burden experienced by caregivers of schizophrenia patients has reached a high level, with 66.9% reporting a moderate or severe impact from their caregiving responsibilities. Parents and spouses were the primary providers of care for schizophrenia patients in China. Parent caregivers experienced greater suffering in their caregiving role compared to spouse caregivers, whereas the difference between child caregivers and spouse caregivers was not significant. The factors influencing caregiver's mental health burden vary according to the type of relationship with the care-recipient. For parent caregivers, the mental health burden primarily stems from personal conditions of schizophrenia patients, while for spouse or child caregivers, it mainly arises from family economic conditions. This study reveals that caregivers having different types of care-recipient relationship with schizophrenia patients experience significantly different mental health burdens in Beijing, China, and major influencing factors are distinct according to different care-recipient relationship types.

Revealing Gender Disparities in Urban Green Space Utilization Using Mobile Phone Data

Urban green spaces (UGSs), such as parks and gardens, are vital for the health and well-being of city residents. However, unequal access to and utilization of UGS can impede social cohesion and sustainable development of cities. While many studies have investigated inequalities in accessibility to UGSs across various demographic groups, gender inequality in actual utilization of UGSs has received little attention largely due to the lack of data to reliably track UGS utilization by urban residents. Here, we leveraged the capacity of mobile phone data to track the movement of a large population and assessed the gender disparities in the utilization of UGSs among more than 77,000 residents residing in 2 populous communities in Beijing. We found that men spent 11% more time in UGSs and visited them 6% more frequently than women. This gender disparity varied across different socioeconomic groups. The middle-aged group exhibited an up to 46.4% greater disparity than other age groups, while the higher-income group showed a 12.4% larger disparity than the lower-income group. Additionally, the resident group with normal commuting distances had a 52.8% higher gender disparity, and the resident group with regular working hours had a 110% greater disparity compared to their respective counterpart groups. These findings contributed to environmental justice research by revealing the complex gender disparity in UGS utilization. The approach developed in the study provides an efficient way for identifying disparities in the utilization of UGS and designing effective strategies accordingly to alleviate inequalities in our study area and beyond.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength in middle-aged and elderly individuals: a retrospective, propensity score-matched study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the muscle strength of the elderly. This retrospective, propensity score-matched study included 160 middle-aged and elderly individuals from a community in Beijing, China. The control group (n=110) received health education and lifestyle guidance, while the intervention group (n=50) was given oral vitamin D supplementation in addition to health education and lifestyle guidance. All participants underwent laboratory tests, muscle function, and physical function at baseline and follow-up. In the propensity score-matched cohort of 41 patients per group, the levels of serum calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in both groups were improved significantly by the end of the study (p<0.05), with the intervention group showing a more significant improvement. The muscle strength of the left lower limb in the intervention group significantly increased after the intervention (p<0.05). The results also showed that the grip strength and pinch strength of the patients in both groups increased after the intervention, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The findings of this study suggest that vitamin D supplementation, in conjunction with lifestyle guidance and health education, is beneficial for enhancing the upper and lower limb strength of patients.

Gender disparities in the mediating role of symptom knowledge level in reducing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) decision delay: Findings from a community-based study in China

BackgroundImplementing training programs to educate patients on the prodromal symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may assist patients in accurately recognizing these symptoms, and ultimately decrease their time delay in seeking emergency medical services (EMS). However, the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain, particularly among the Chinese population.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted within 22 communities in Beijing, China between 2015 and 2018, with a total of 1099 participants recruited. The study utilized a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the presence of intentional decision delay in turning to EMS under a hypothetical chest pain, the participants’ knowledge of ACS prodromal symptoms, and whether they had ever received any training programs aimed at increasing their symptom knowledge. Mediation analysis was performed with regression models and bootstrapping methods, and gender difference was further analyzed through moderated mediation analysis.ResultsA total of 1099 participants (58.2% female, median [IQR] age 34 [20]) were included in the study. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that training programs were associated with a decrease risk in decision delay, with increased knowledge playing a mediating role (mediation effect/total effect = 36.59%, P < 0.0001). Gender modified this mediation effect, with it being observed only in the male group. Specifically, training programs were not found to significantly decrease decision delay among females (P > 0.05), even though they did improve women’s knowledge of ACS prodromal symptoms (β = 0.57, P = 0.012).ConclusionThe results suggested a relationship between prior training programs and reduced decision delay, with increased knowledge of prodromal symptoms of ACS serving as a mediator. However, the effect was only observed in male participants and not in female participants. This highlights the notion that mere transfer of knowledge regarding ACS prodromal symptoms may not be sufficient to mitigate decision delay in the female population. Further research is needed to corroborate these results and to gain deeper insights into the gender-specific barriers encountered in this study.

Exploring the needs and coping strategies of family caregivers taking care of dying patients at home: a field study

BackgroundMost Chinese patients chose to die at home, therefore there is a reliance on the family caregivers to be involved in their palliative care. The needs and coping strategies of family caregivers in home-based palliative care are rooted in culture. Little is known about the needs and coping strategies of family caregivers taking care of dying patients at home.MethodsA field study using semi-structured interview, participant observation, documents and records collection was employed. The study was conducted in two palliative care outpatient departments in tertiary hospitals and four communities in Beijing, China from March 2021 to July 2022. Using purposive sampling, twenty-five family caregivers were recruited. All collected data were analyzed using content analysis approach.ResultsFive themes emerged, including three care needs and two coping strategies. Family caregivers need to learn care skills and acquire care resources, including (i) decision-making about home-based palliative care, (ii) improving patient’s quality of life, and (iii) signs of final hours and funeral procedures. In facing the care burden, family caregivers coped by (iv) balancing the roles of caregivers and individuals: giving priority to patient care while maintaining their own normal life. In facing the death of a loved one, family caregivers responded by (v) making room for coming death by facing death indirectly and “rescuing” patients for consolation while preparing for the coming death.ConclusionFamily caregivers strive to balance the roles of being caregivers and being themselves. As caregivers, they actively prepare patients for good death with no regrets. As individuals, they preserve themselves from being hurt to maintain normal life. The needs of family caregivers focus on caregiver role and are manifested in care skills and resources.Trial registrationNot registered.

The association of triglyceride-glucose index and related parameters with hypertension and cardiovascular risk: a cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and related parameters (TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHR, and TyG-WHtR) with hypertension and cardiovascular risk. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the performance of these parameters in identifying patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk and determine appropriate indicators for the prediction of cardiovascular risk. Residents from a community in Beijing, China, who underwent health examinations at a regional hospital between December 2011 and August 2012, were recruited. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between each parameter with hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the predictive ability of each parameter in identifying people with hypertension or high cardiovascular risk. A total of 16,834 participants were included. After adjusting for confounders, the highest quartile groups of TyG and related parameters showed a significantly increased risk of hypertension compared to the lowest quartile groups. Among the parameters, TyG-WC exhibited the highest diagnostic efficacy for hypertension [area under the curve (AUC): 0.665, 95% CI: 0.656-0.673] followed by TyG-WHtR, TyG-BMI, TyG-WHR, and TyG index. Similarly, the highest quartile groups of each parameter demonstrated significantly increased risks of high cardiovascular risk compared to the lowest quartile groups. TyG-WHR performed best in distinguishing participants with high cardiovascular risk (AUC: 0.718, 95% CI: 0.710-0.726) followed by TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, TyG-BMI, and TyG index. In conclusion, TyG-related parameters had independent associations with hypertension and cardiovascular risk. TyG-WHR exhibited the highest efficacy in distinguishing participants with high cardiovascular risk, which might contribute to the primary prevention of CVD.

Social participation in older people with hearing impairment in Chinese community: A latent profile analysis

ObjectivesHearing impairment may lead to increased communication difficulties for older people, making their social participation less optimistic. However, there is little research on the social participation of older people with hearing impairment, especially based on the characteristics of their social participation. This study aimed to identify different social participation profiles in older people with hearing impairment and to explore sociodemographic characteristics, disease-related characteristics and psychosocial factors with different social participation profiles. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 300 older people with hearing impairment using the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire, the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 from May to August 2023 in a community of Beijing, China. Latent profile analysis was used to analyse the latent profiles of social participation in elderly with hearing impairment. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the predictors of different profiles. ResultsThe social participation of older people with hearing impairment in the community can be classified into three potential profiles: Profile 1 - high social participation group (76.05 %), Profile 2 - moderate social participation group (17.34 %), Profile 3 - low social participation group (6.61 %). Age, types of chronic diseases, self-reported health, severity of hearing impairment, social network, social support and depression were predictors of different profiles. ConclusionsNurses should pay attention to the characteristics, depression, social network and support of older people with different hearing impairment to improve social participation in different profiles. Implications and recommendationsThis was the first study exploring latent profiles of social participation in older people with hearing impairment. Insights from this study are useful for gerontological nursing to distinguish different profiles and further identify the characteristics of different profiles in older people with hearing impairment by characterizing the level of social participation in the community and better implement interventions according to profiles.