Cross-sectional Self-report Study Research Articles

A cross-sectional study of perception toward university social responsibility and environmental sustainability practices in medical university students under promotion of sustainable thinking within the university.

This study aims to assess the associations among students' perceptions of climate change, university social responsibility (USR), and environmental sustainability practices at a medical university. It also aims to identify the factors associated with these elements. A cross-sectional self-report study was conducted with a total sample of 416 undergraduate students from a medical university in Taiwan during October 2019. Data gathered comprised sociodemographic characteristics, perceptions of climate change issues, environmental sustainability practices, measure for perception toward USR, and transportation modes. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, two-sample t test, and multiple linear regression models were used. Results of multiple linear regression demonstrated that the level of certainty in climate change existence (extremely and mostly certain vs somewhat or not certain at all, 1.45 [0.68]), score for usage of nonpublic transportation (per 1-point increase, 0.52 [0.25]), and students' perception toward USR (per 1-point increase, 0.14 [0.04]) were associated with the total score of environmental sustainability practice (R-square = 11.47%). In addition, school year (non-freshmen vs freshmen, -1.64 [0.65]) and environmental sustainability practices (per 1-point increase, 0.23 [0.06]) were associated with the total score of students' perception of USR (R-square = 6.57%). Promoting environmental sustainability among university students can be achieved by implementing USR-oriented courses or activities. Our research is pioneering in investigating and discussing the perceived USR and environmental sustainability practices among university students in Taiwan.

Wellness and Stress Management Practices Among Healthcare Professionals and Health Professional Students.

Healthcare professionals experience stressors that begin during training and persist into their careers that adversely impact their well-being. This study aims to identify students' and professionals' stress levels, satisfaction with wellness domains, barriers to wellness, and stress management practices. This study was a cross-sectional self-reported survey study. The study included students (N = 242) and professionals (N = 237) from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, social work, and counseling/psychology. The Managing Health & Wellness in Health Professions Training and Practice survey was used to capture wellness practices and barriers among participants. Results: Students reported significantly higher perceived stress compared to professionals (P < 0.001). Total wellness is significantly higher among professionals compared to students (P < 0.001). A higher stress rate is significantly related to being female, having a lower wellness score, and facing more barriers (P < 0.001). Intellectual health is the most valuable wellness domain for providers (M = 3.71, SD = 0.9) and students (M = 3.43, SD = 0.85), followed by spiritual health for providers (M = 3.4, SD = 1.1), and work/learning environment for students (M = 3.33, SD = 0.93). Professionals and students are least satisfied with their physical and financial health. Barriers include fatigue, workload/productivity in clinical practice, work hours, and burnout. Healthcare professionals exhibit a variety of stress management practices, encounter barriers, and prioritize different wellness domains. Healthcare systems should incorporate self-care education into their curricula and implement systemic changes to foster a thriving healthcare workforce.

Moral foundations, moral emotions, and moral distress in NICU nurses.

Background: Moral distress is common in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between NICU nurses' moral foundations, moral emotions, and moral distress. Research design and method: This is an observational cross-sectional self-report questionnaire study. Participants and research context: One hundred and forty-two (24%) of 585 Level 3-4 NICU nurses completed pen-and-paper self-report measures of moral foundations (harm, fairness, ingroup, authority, and purity) (Moral Foundations Questionnaire-20), proneness to self-conscious moral emotions (guilt and shame) (modified Personal Feelings Questionnaire-2), and moral distress (futile care, compromised care, and untruthful care) (modified Revised Moral Distress Scale). Ethical considerations: Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The ethics committees of the participating hospitals approved the study protocol (HREC Reference: LNR/18/SCHN/316). Results: Non-parametric statistical analyses showed medium to large correlations between moral foundations and moral emotions. Moral foundations and moral emotions had trivial to small correlations with moral distress. Using a liberal p-value of <.10 for statistical significance because of the small sample size, harm (rs = 0.22) and fairness (rs = 0.16) predicted futile care, ingroup predicted compromised care (rs = 0.19) and untruthful care (rs = 0.15), and purity predicted untruthful care (rs = 0.15). Guilt-proneness predicted futile care (rs = 0.15). Shame-proneness did not predict moral distress. Conclusion: The correlations between moral foundations and moral emotions were significant. Moral foundations and guilt-proneness predicted one or more dimensions of moral distress. The smaller than expected effect sizes may have been owing to how moral foundations, moral emotions, and moral distress were conceptualized and measured, or to moral disengagement, including NICU nurses' possible reluctance to countenance aversive but morally warranted feelings of guilt and especially shame. Understanding the nature of these relationships may complement the efforts of NICU administrators, educators, counsellors, and nurses themselves to mitigate moral distress.

Identifying victimization clusters across people with intellectual disabilities: A latent class analysis

BackgroundResearch has shown high rates of victimization among people with intellectual disabilities (ID), but victimization clusters have been barely explored. ObjectiveWe address the gap by examining how reported victimization experiences are grouped into different classes and identifying differences in the characteristics of the individuals in each class. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional self-report study with a sample of adults with an ID diagnosis (n = 260). We gathered data about the participants’ victimization experiences and socio-demographics, and then subjected the data to latent class analysis (LCA). ResultsThree different classes were detected: High victimization (n = 27, 10.4 %); medium victimization, low sexual (n = 97, 37.3 %); and low victimization (n = 136, 52.3 %). The results highlight the experiences of sexual and physical victimization among the high-victimization class, in which women are overrepresented, and physical victimization among the medium-victimization class. The study also found that experiences of assault and bias attacks occur to a varying extent across all three classes. The LCA and poly-victimization methods showed substantial agreement but also differences when identifying the most victimized participants. In addition, we detected significant differences between classes in gender, type of school attended, place of residence, legal incapacity, type of support needed, secondary disability and poly-victimization status. ConclusionWe identified distinct underlying ingroup patterns of victimization and sociodemographic inter-class differences that contribute to a better understanding of victimization within the population in question. The results have prevention and intervention implications for caregivers and providers of services for people with ID.

Risk factors of disordered eating in adolescent girls from a community sample: a multidimensional approach.

Eating disorders (ED) are severe, chronic, and complex in nature mental illnesses that are difficult to treat. One of the ways to stave off EDs is by screening among adolescents to preempt the development of clinical forms of ED in risk groups. 1) to investigate the prevalence of ED risk among adolescent girls and compare subgroups at high and low risk of ED; 2) to investigate using a multidimensional approach those variables that can interact with temperament and character traits to predict ED symptomatology. The cross-sectional observational self-report study of a community sample of adolescent girls 1217 years old (n=298; M=14.771.13) was carried out in the city of Ryazan, Russia. The Russian versions of Eating Attitudes Test and Cloningers Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised were used. In addition, an original questionnaire (Risk Factors of Eating Disorders) was developed. Regression models (to test for significant moderation) and path analysis (to test for significant mediations) were used. Girls at risk of developing EDs are characterized by a heightened level of concern about weight and dissatisfaction with their body, tend to suffer from low self-directedness, higher novelty seeking and tendency to higher harm avoidance, display high alexithymia, experience self-distrust, negative emotionality and are dissatisfied with family relationships. They also suffer from low self-esteem and tend to be perfectionism and engage in risk behavior. Significant moderating effects were uncovered between the following ED risk factors: (1) self-distrust/risk behavior and BMI; (2) alexithymia/negative emotionality/self-esteem and cooperativeness; and (3) negative emotionality/risk behavior and self-transcendence. Family relationship dissatisfaction mediates the association between self-directedness/cooperativeness/self-transcendence and disordered eating. There are various mutual influences between the numerous ED risk and prevention factors, which all together determine the paths between the predictors and final outcome.

Quality of life and prosocial or antisocial coping with resource deprivation: A cross-sectional study of people at risk of social exclusion.

(1) BackgroundThis paper presents a study based on Stevan Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory and deals specifically with resources and coping as predictors of the quality of life of persons threatened by social exclusion. They have no access to public psychosocial resources, the acquisition and accumulation of which are closely linked to the perceived quality of life.(2) MethodA cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire study. A sample of 1,074 individuals from various groups at risk of exclusion was surveyed using the Conservation of Resources-Evaluation Questionnaire, the Strategic Approach to Coping Scale, and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire. The research was done among people supported by Polish non-governmental organizations operating nationwide. Structural equation modeling was used to test mediational hypotheses in the analysis.(3) ResultsThe significant variables that determined the relationship between resource gains and losses and the quality of life included active–passive and prosocial–antisocial coping strategies. The results were generally robust, but the level of education moderated the relationship between active antisocial coping and quality of life.(4) ConclusionsThe obtained dependencies are consistent with Hobfoll’s approach, confirming its usefulness. Prosocial coping mediates the effect of resource gain on the increase in quality of life and the effect of resource loss on the decline in quality of life, strengthening the former and weakening the latter.

The meaning in grandiose delusions: measure development and cohort studies in clinical psychosis and non-clinical general population groups in the UK and Ireland

The content of grandiose delusions-inaccurate beliefs that one has special powers, wealth, mission, or identity-is likely to be highly meaningful. The meaning, for example providing a sense of purpose, could prove to be a key factor in the delusion taking hold. We aimed to empirically define and develop measures of the experience of meaning in grandiose delusions and the sources of this meaning, and to test whether severity of grandiosity in clinical and non-clinical populations is associated with level of meaning. We did a cross-sectional self-report questionnaire study in two cohorts: non-clinical participants aged 18 years and older, with UK or Irish nationality or residence; and patients with affective or non-affective psychosis diagnoses, aged 16 years and older, and accessing secondary care mental health services in 39 National Health Service providers in England and Wales. Participants with high grandiosity completed two large item pools: one assessing the experience of meaning in grandiose delusions (Grandiosity Meaning Measure [termed gram]) and one assessing the sources of meaning (Grandiosity Meaning Measure-Sources [termed grams]). The Grandiosity Meaning Measure and Grandiosity Meaning Measure-Sources were developed using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modelling was used to test the associations of meaning with the severity of grandiosity. The primary outcome measure for grandiosity was the Specific Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire (grandiosity subscale) and associations were tested with the Grandiosity Meaning Measure and the Grandiosity Meaning Measure-Sources. From Aug 30, 2019, to Nov 21, 2020, 13 323 non-clinical participants were enrolled. 2821 (21%) were men and 10 134 (76%) were women, 11 974 (90%) were White, and the mean age was 39·5 years (SD 18·6 [range 18-93]). From March 22, 2021, to March 3, 2022, 798 patients with psychosis were enrolled. 475 (60%) were men and 313 (39%) were women, 614 (77%) were White, and the mean age was 43·4 years (SD 13·8 [range 16-81]). The experience of meaning in relation to grandiose delusions had three components: coherence, purpose, and significance. The sources of meaning had seven components: positive social perceptions, spirituality, overcoming adversity, confidence in self among others, greater good, supporting loved ones, and happiness. The measurement of meaning was invariant across clinical and non-clinical populations. In the clinical population, each person typically endorsed multiple meanings and sources of meaning for the grandiose delusion. Meaning in grandiose delusions was strongly associated with severity of grandiosity, explaining 53·5% of variance, and with grandiose delusion conviction explaining 27·4% of variance. Grandiosity was especially associated with sense of purpose, and grandiose delusion conviction with coherence. Similar findings were found for the non-clinical population. Meaning is inherently tied to grandiose delusions. This study provides a framework for research and clinical practice to understand the different types of meaning of grandiosity. The framework is likely to have clinical use in psychological therapy to help guide patients to find sources of equivalent meaning from other areas of their lives and thereby reduce the extent to which the grandiose delusion is needed. Health Education England and National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of disability among adults living with HIV accessing routine outpatient HIV care in London, United Kingdom (UK): A cross-sectional self-report study.

The study objectives were to measure disability prevalence and severity, and examine disability risk factors, among adults living with HIV in London, United Kingdom (UK). Self-reported questionnaires were administered: World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS), HIV Disability Questionnaire (HDQ), Equality Act disability definition (EADD), and demographic questionnaire. We calculated proportion (95% Confidence Interval; CI) of "severe" and "moderate" disability measured using EADD and WHODAS scores ≥2 respectively. We measured disability severity with HDQ domain severity scores. We used demographic questionnaire responses to assess risk factors of "severe" and "moderate" disability using logistic regression analysis, and HDQ severity domain scores using linear regression analysis. Of 201 participants, 176 (87.6%) identified as men, median age 47 years, and 194 (96.5%) virologically suppressed. Severe disability prevalence was 39.5% (n = 79/201), 95% CI [32.5%, 46.4%]. Moderate disability prevalence was 70.5% (n = 141/200), 95% CI [64.2%, 76.8%]. Uncertainty was the most severe HDQ disability domain. Late HIV diagnosis was a risk factor for severe disability [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.71; CI 1.25, 5.87]. Social determinants of health, economic inactivity [OR 2.79; CI 1.08, 7.21] and receiving benefits [OR 2.87; CI 1.05, 7.83], were risk factors for "severe" disability. Economic inactivity [OR 3.14; CI 1.00, 9.98] was a risk factor for "moderate" disability. Economic inactivity, receiving benefits, and having no fixed abode were risk factors (P≤0.05) for higher HDQ severity scores in physical, mental and emotional, difficulty with day-to-day activities, and challenges to social participation domains. Personal factors, identifying as a woman and being aged <50 years, were risk factors (P≤0.05) for higher HDQ severity scores in mental and emotional, uncertainty, and challenges with social participation domains. People living with well-controlled HIV in London UK experienced multi-dimensional and episodic disability. Results help to better understand the prevalence, severity, and risk factors of disability experienced by adults living with HIV, identify areas to target interventions, and optimise health and functioning.

Factors associated with patient decision time in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, in early and late responders-an observational cross-sectional survey study.

A short time span from symptom onset to reperfusion is imperative in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with patient decision time for seeking care in STEMI, particularly how symptoms were experienced and affected patient response. A multicentre cross-sectional self-report survey study was completed at five Swedish hospitals representing geographic diversity. The 521 patients were divided into three groups based on their time to respond to symptoms: early (&lt;20 min), intermediate (20-90 min), and late responders (&gt;90 min). Only one out of five patients both responded early and called an ambulance within 20 min. Believing symptoms were cardiac in origin [odds ratio (OR) 2.60], male sex (OR 2.40), left anterior descending artery as culprit artery (OR 1.77), and bystanders calling an ambulance (OR 4.32) were factors associated with early response and correct action. Associated symptoms such as dyspnoea (OR 1.67) and weakness (OR 1.65) were associated with an early action (&lt;20 min), while chest pain was not independently associated with response time. Cold sweat (OR 0.61) prevented late care-seeking behaviour as did a high symptom burden (OR 0.86). Misinterpretation of symptoms delays correct care-seeking behaviour because patient expectations may not be aligned with the experience when stricken by Myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is imperative to continuously enhance public awareness in correct symptom recognition and appropriate care-seeking behaviour and to make efforts to educate individuals at risk for STEMI as well as their next of kin.

Survey on Oral Health and History of Muscle Injury in Professional Athletes of Brazilian Women's Soccer: A Cross-Sectional Self-Reported Study

Survey on Oral Health and History of Muscle Injury in Professional Athletes of Brazilian Women's Soccer: A Cross-Sectional Self-Reported Study

Pain Medication Beliefs Mediate the Relationship Between Pain Catastrophizing and Opioid Prescription Use in Patients With Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

Little is known about the mechanisms by which pain catastrophizing may be associated with opioid use outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of beliefs about the appropriateness of pain medicines for pain treatment on the association between pain catastrophizing and prescription opioid use in a community chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) sample. Individuals (N = 420) diagnosed with CNCP participated in a cross-sectional online self-report study with validated measures of pain medication beliefs, pain catastrophizing, and current prescription opioid use. Two parallel multiple mediator analyses with percentile-based bootstrapping examined pathways to both prescription opioid use and high-dose use (≥ 100mg oral morphine equivalents/day), while controlling for pain intensity and other relevant covariates. Pain medication beliefs significantly mediated the association between pain catastrophizing and prescription opioid use (CI = 0.011, 0.033). A similar pattern of findings was found for high-dose opioid use, with pain medication beliefs significantly mediating the pain catastrophizing-high-dose use association (CI = 0.006, 0.050). Pain medication beliefs are a potentially modifiable psychological mechanism by which pain catastrophizing is associated with opioid use, including high-dose use. These findings have important implications for personalizing prevention and treatment programs.

Investigating the role of psychological inflexibility, mindfulness, and self-compassion in PTSD

Psychological inflexibility has been linked to a variety of mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this cross-sectional self-report study was to examine how psychological inflexibility, along with closely related concepts such as mindfulness and self-compassion, are associated with PTSD among a clinical sample using PTSD DSM-5 criteria. A sample of 200 veterans (mean age = 54.6; 71.0% male, 25.5% female) were recruited from mental health clinics within a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Controlling for mindfulness and self-compassion, veterans with PTSD had significantly higher levels of psychological inflexibility compared to those without PTSD. In addition, psychological inflexibility was associated with overall PTSD severity, even after controlling for mindfulness, self-compassion, depression, alcohol and substance use, and demographic variables. The observing facet of mindfulness was significantly associated with higher levels of PTSD, while the describing facet was related to lower overall PTSD symptoms. Self-compassion was no longer associated with PTSD symptoms when controlling for other variables. These findings support the relationship between psychological inflexibility and DSM-5 PTSD. Targeting psychological inflexibility may be a key focal point in improving PTSD-related treatment outcomes.

A Corporate Purpose as an Antecedent to Employee Motivation and Work Engagement.

It is generally assumed that a corporate purpose aiming to benefit all stakeholders has a positive effect on employee motivation and engagement, but no empirical studies into these specific effects were found. To examine this assumption, a corporate mission and vision matching the definition of a higher purpose were tested in two subsequent studies. The first study (N = 270) was a cross-sectional self-report study. The second study included a longitudinal design (N = 56) modeling purpose, motivation, and engagement in a cross-lagged panel model over three time-points. The results associated purpose with motivation and engagement. The subsequent longitudinal analysis confirmed the presumed directionality from purpose to engagement, but not to motivation. Hence, while a corporate purpose can be added to the list of antecedents to work engagement, the relationship with motivation, despite the significant association with purpose in the cross-sectional study, remains more complicated. The present study adds to the knowledge of the beneficial effects of a broader purpose and responds to the current surge of interest in purpose as an instrument for sustainable business.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on professional practices of audiologists and speech-language pathologists in India: A knowledge, attitude and practices survey

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread throughout the world and become a global pandemic. This has hampered and led to drastic changes in the functioning of healthcare services, forcing the professionals to adapt and work efficiently. The present study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the professional practices of audiologists and speech-language pathologists in India using a cross-sectional knowledge, attitude and practices survey. Material and methodsThe study was conducted in two phases; phase one involved development and validation of the questionnaire, while phase II involved data collection. A cross-sectional self-reported internet-based study using convenience sampling was carried out. ResultsTwo hundred and eleven audiologists and speech-language pathologists responded to the survey. Overall, the professionals exhibited good knowledge levels regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. However, there were differences in their attitudes towards service delivery in the midst of the pandemic. Further, poor practices towards infection control measures especially in terms of hand washing was noted. ConclusionThe findings of the present study are useful in highlighting the need to create better awareness among these professionals about appropriate and standard infection control measures. There is a need to have in place standard operating protocols for hand wash and infection control as well as inclusion in curriculum.

Barriers to addressing mental health issues in childbearing women in Ghana.

AimThe aim of the study is to investigate factors hampering the provision of mental health services by nurses and midwives to childbearing women to assist in the prioritization and distribution of limited mental health resources.DesignThis is a cross‐sectional self‐report study.MethodsData collected from 309 nurses and midwives were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistic, namely chi‐square and analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe barriers reported by the participants include unavailability of mental health services (77%), lack of knowledge of mental health in women from different tribes (75.7%), lack of a clear mental healthcare pathway (75.1%), heavy workload (74.1%) and lack of knowledge of mental health issue (74.1%). These barriers are less likely to be reported by participants who are males, old and who have practiced for a long time.ConclusionsSystematic effort to restructure the healthcare delivery system, including equipping healthcare professionals with requisite knowledge, skills and competencies in maternal mental health, is highly recommended.

Coping strategies and burnout in staff working with students with special educational needs and disabilities

Research on special educator burnout has predominantly focused on demographic, environmental and situational factors, with few studies exploring individual characteristics. This cross-sectional self-report study focused on coping strategies as predictors of burnout among Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) staff. The survey results from 169 participants showed that emotional coping predicted greater levels of burnout. In addition, avoidance coping predicted higher levels of disengagement, whereas rational coping predicted lower levels of disengagement. These results emphasize the importance of examining individual characteristics in SEND staff burnout. This would have implications for monitoring and addressing the psychological wellbeing of SEND staff.

2200Predictors of patient decision time in ST elevation myocardial infarction data from an observational cross sectional survey study

Abstract Background Short time from symptom onset until reperfusion is imperative in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). System delay has been successfully shortened but patients delay has had less favorable development. The aim of this study was to find out clinical, contextual, behavioral and cognitive factors associated with decision time in STEMI. Method SymTime was a multicenter observational cross-sectional self-reported survey study performed at five Swedish hospitals representing geographic diversity. Early and late action was defined as decision to seek care &lt;20 min and &gt;90 min, respectively. Results 532 patients were included. Among those 19.5% called Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as first medical contact (FMC) within 20 min, whereas 10.7% acted within 20 min, but did not call EMS as FMC. Twenty-eight % called EMS as FMC, but delayed &gt;20 min and 41.7% neither acted promptly, nor called EMS as FMC. Predictors associated with decision time OR 95% CI Factors associated with decision time &lt;20 min Previous AF 0.43 0.19–0.94 Believing the symptoms originated from the heart 3.10 1.93–4.96 Symptoms waxing and waning 0.58 0.36–0.94 Getting STEMI off hours 0.66 0.45–0.97 Bystanders calling or recommending EMS (Emergency Medical Services) contact 1.67 1.07–2.59 Bystanders calling or recommending SHD (Swedish healthcare Direct) contact 0.56 0.37–0.85 Factors associated with decision time &gt;90 min Female gender 1.67 1.06–2.62 Diaphoresis 0.67 0.46–0.998 Nausea 0.60 0.36–0.998 Stomach pain 0.46 0.23–0.91 Believing the symptoms originated from the heart 0.46 0.32–0.68 Getting STEMI off hours 1.68 1.16–2.14 Low educational level 0.58 0.40–0.86 Bystanders calling or recommending EMS contact 0.45 0.30–0.67 Variable significant at the p 0.05 presented. Conclusion Surprisingly, no specific symptom or severity of symptom were associated with early action, neither age, nor gender. Instead correct interpretation of symptoms and bystanders assisting were factors associated with early action. Frightening symptoms such as diaphoresis was negatively associated, whereas female gender and getting MI off hours were positively associated with late action.

Physicians advice, parental practice and adherence to doctor\u2019s advice: an original survey on infant feeding

Background: Despite several years of guidance on infant feeding, there has been only a slight change in consumer compliance. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse parents feeding practices, explore physicians’ advice about infant feeding and subsequent parent’s adherence to advice.MethodsA multicentric cross-sectional qualitative and descriptive self-report online study was conducted in volunteers to participate in the study.ResultsFifty-four physicians (paediatricians and general practitioners) and 600 parents of infants were recruited. Of the infants, 20.2% presented at inclusion with at least one type of functional gastrointestinal disorder. The breastfeeding prevalence was quite low (37.3%). The main initial deviance from guidelines said they observed in infant feeding was the early use of cow’s milk. More than two-thirds of infants older than 8 months were drinking cow’s milk. The introduction of solid foods was globally in line with recommendations. Most physicians gave advice about the different aspects of infant feeding but were seeking more information, as did the parents. A discrepancy between the physicians’ statements and the parents’ perceptions was observed. However the majority (95.4%) of parents reported that they followed totally or partially the advice received, especially by abandoning subsequently the use of cow’s milk in favour of a formula. The main reason for not adhering to the advice was that they did not consider it suitable for their infant and they preferred to rely on their feelings or recommendations from familiars.ConclusionsThis survey provides good insights into parents’ infant feeding practices together with the advice given by their doctor. The gap between practices and current guidelines is notable only for breast-feeding and use of formula. Despite several guidelines professionals and parents seek nutrition information. It highlights the need to deliver consistent, relevant, and less confusing messages about infant feeding.

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the HIV Disability Questionnaire among adults living with HIV in the United Kingdom: A cross-sectional self-report measurement study.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the HIV Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in London, United Kingdom (UK).MethodsThis is a cross-sectional measurement study. We recruited and administered the self-reported HDQ, seven criterion measures, and a demographic questionnaire with adults living with HIV accessing HIV care. We determined median and interquartile ranges (IQR) for disability presence, severity and episodic scores (range 0–100). We calculated Cronbach’s alpha (α) Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20) statistics for disability and episodic scores respectively (internal consistency reliability), smallest detectable change (SDC) for each HDQ severity item and domain (precision), and tested 36 a priori hypotheses assessing correlations between HDQ and criterion scores (construct validity).ResultsOf N = 243 participants, all were male, median age 40 years, 94% currently taking antiretroviral therapy, and 22% living with ≥2 concurrent health conditions. Median HDQ domain scores ranged from 0 (IQR: 0,7) (difficulties with day-to-day activities domain) to 27 (IQR: 14, 41) (uncertainty domain). Cronbach’s alpha for the HDQ severity scale ranged from 0.85 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.80–0.90) in the cognitive domain to 0.93 (95%CI: 0.91–0.94) in the mental-emotional domain. The KR-20 statistic for the HDQ episodic scale ranged from 0.74 (95%CI: 0.66–0.83) in the cognitive domain to 0.91 (95%CI: 0.89–0.94) in the uncertainty domain. SDC ranged from 7.3–15.0 points on the HDQ severity scale for difficulties with day-to-day activities and cognitive symptoms domains, respectively. The majority of the construct validity hypotheses (n = 30/36, 83%) were confirmed.ConclusionsThe HDQ possesses internal consistency reliability and construct validity with varied precision when administered to males living with HIV in London, UK. Clinicians and researchers may use the HDQ to measure the nature and extent of disability experienced by PLHIV in the UK, and to inform HIV service provision to address the health-related challenges among PLHIV.

Unmet supportive care needs of rural men with cancer: a qualitative study

Background A cross-sectional medical record audit and self-report questionnaire study of a rural supportive care cancer program found that when compared with women, men were more likely to be older; perceive health care information to be unhelpful; receive fewer referrals to services; were reluctant to join support groups and experienced a poorer quality of life. Aim The aim was to explore unmet supportive care needs of rural men with cancer to inform improvements in service delivery. Method Twenty-two men were invited to attend a focus group. The focus group was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and field notes were taken. Data were analysed thematically. Results Ten men participated. Six key themes describe how these rural men perceive deficits in the cancer care support. Conclusion There are unmet supportive care needs experienced by rural men with cancer. Gender-informed support is important when individualising care for men.