Decrease In Stress Levels Research Articles

EFEKTIVITAS BERMAIN MEWARNAI TERHADAP PENURUNAN TINGKAT STRES PADA MURID FULL DAY SCHOOL

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of playing coloring pictures against reducing stress levels in full day school students of SD Islam Roushon Fikr Jombang. The hypothesis proposed is that there is an effect of playing coloring pictures on decreasing stress levels in full day school pupils. The population in this study was grade VI students of Roushon Fikr Islamic Elementary School aged 11-12 years. The sample taken was a sixth-grader of 52 students with purposive random sampling technique, consisting of 26 students as a control group, and 26 students as an experimental group. The free variable in this study is playing coloring images, while the dependent variable is the level of stress revealed with the scale. Data analysis used T-test analysis between groups. The results of the t-test between A1-A2 found that t = 9.664 with p = 0.000 (p < 0.01), this shows that there is a very significant difference in terms of stress between students who do not participate in drawing coloring games and students who follow drawing coloring games. The stress of pupils who follow coloring games (A2) is lower than that of pupils who do not participate in coloring games (A1). These results suggest that the hypothesis proposed in the study is accepted.

Trailblazers in Medicine: First-Generation Students' Sense of Belonging at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Purpose: As medical schools work to diversify the field, it is important to understand the experience of First Generation (First Gen) students. The majority of medical students have a parent with a college degree, and many have a physician parent. This creates an uneven playing field for First Gen students, who make up to 20% of the medical student population; half of these students are also underrepresented in medicine. 1 As the first in their family to graduate from college, these students often do not have access to the same social capital as their peers. Compared with the general population, First Gen students have increased levels of stress, fatigue, financial worries, and a lower quality of life and social support ratings. 2 When medical students feel supported by their medical school, they report higher engagement in self-care and decreased stress levels. 3 This study evaluated the level of support experienced by First Gen students at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) and their sense of belonging. IUSM currently has a First Gen student group and annual programs and this study was developed to determine tangible solutions to provide better support for first-generation students in medical school. Given the dearth of research on First Gen medical students, this study can provide insight to other professionals on factors to be reviewed when developing a holistic approach to First Gen student support. Method: Our research questions were: How are first-generation students in medical school supported or not supported at IUSM, and where are there areas for improvement at IUSM? Which factors, if any, contribute to first-generation students in medical school’s sense of belonging at IUSM? We conducted 16 qualitative Zoom interviews with each interview ranging between 15 and 45 minutes with First Generation medical students at IUSM. Interviews consisted of 6 structured questions and 1 question for additional information. Results: We discovered that students found a sense of belonging through pre-matriculation programs, peer mentors, lead advisors, and through the First Generation Committee. Students did not feel a sense of belonging due to a lack of resources curated specifically for First Generation students, an increased need for specialized training for staff and faculty to better support first-generation students, and more in-person community building events with those who share the first-generation identity. Discussion: To cultivate a diverse workforce, medical schools should provide an increased focus on specialized support services and advising strategies for staff and faculty as they work with First Gen students. To develop a sense of community, schools should collaborate to create more intentional social programming for this subpopulation of students to contribute to greater levels of sense of belonging and support. A registry of First Gen students, faculty, and staff can aid in community building. Schools should consider developing an intentional mentorship through family clusters and peer mentorship pairings with other First Gen community members. Finally, resources explaining the “hidden curriculum” must be developed. Significance: First Gen students are a strength to the profession, often possessing resiliency and an ability to connect with diverse patients. Yet, topics that educators assume students understand—such as Step exams, health care systems, what is an ICU, how much they should expect to pay for study materials—must instead be taught. To support First Gen student wellness and academic performance, new structures must become embedded within undergraduate medical education. Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank the first-generation medical students at Indiana University for sharing their time and experiences with us.

DETERMINING STRESS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC USING THE COVID STRESS SCALE

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people worldwide, both physically and mentally. Stress is one of the burdens being faced, especially in the working class. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and compare associated stress factors during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown among adults in a rural community in Thailand using the COVID stress scale. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to March 2022 in Chachoengsao Province. It included adults aged 20 to 60 years old. The questionnaire included demographic data and the Thai COVID stress scale (T-CSS) version. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews. Associated factors of stress were assessed using linear regression. Results: Data were compared with their counterparts, illiteracy (adjusted β=18.4, 95% CI 5.9-30.1) and agriculturists (adjusted β=13.2, 95% CI 3.1-23.4). At the same time, age 51-60 (adjusted β=-11.1, 95% CI 3.9-27.3) and vaccination with ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine (adjusted β=-8.9, 95% CI -16.4 to -1.5) were associated with decreased stress level. Discussion: Illiteracy and agriculturists were associated with higher stress scores. COVID-19 vaccination doses might affect stress levels due to the efficacy of preventing infection and severe illness. Older people had less stress due to better experience in stress management. Limitations included that T-CSS cannot determine the cut-off point of stress and nonstress in the population due to multiple factors. However, it might be possible to imply that outlier scores from a normal distribution are likely to be most stressful during the COVD-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in degenerative rotator cuff tears.

Oxidative stress occurs as a result of the disruption of the balance between the formations of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense mechanisms during the conversion of nutrients into energy. Increased body oxidative stress has been reported to be involved in the etiology of several degenerative and chronic diseases. We hypothesized that the body oxidative stress level is higher in patients with atraumatic degenerative rotator cuff tear than that in healthy individuals. The patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for atraumatic, degenerative rotator cuff tear were prospectively evaluated. A total of 30 patients (group 1, 19 females and 11 males; mean age: 57.33±6.96years; range: 50-77years) and 30 healthy individuals (group 2, 18 females and 12 males; mean age: 56.77±6years; range: 51-72years) were included in the study. The Constant and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scoring systems were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Serum oxidative stress parameters of the patients and the control group were biochemically evaluated. Accordingly, thiol/disulfide (DS) balance (DS/native thiol [NT], DS/total thiol [TT]), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), oxidative stress index, and nuclear factor erythroid-2-associated factor-2 values were used as the biochemical parameters indicating an increase in the serum oxidative stress level. Total antioxidant status and NT/TT values served as the biochemical parameters indicating a decrease in the serum oxidative stress level. The study follow-up duration was 12months. A statistically significant increase was observed in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Constant scores of patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair relative to that during the preoperative period (P=.01). The values of biochemical parameters (DS/NT, DS/TT, TOS, oxidative stress index, and nuclear factor erythroid-2-associated factor-2), which indicated an increase in the serum oxidative stress, were significantly higher in preoperative patients than those in postoperative patients, albeit the control group values were significantly lower than those of the postoperative patients. The biochemical parameters (NT/TT and total antioxidant status) indicating a decrease in the serum oxidative stress levels were significantly higher in the postoperative patients than those in the preoperative patients and significantly lower than those in the control group. High levels of markers indicating an increase in the serum oxidative stress in patients with degenerative rotator cuff rupture suggested that TOS may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of rotator cuff degeneration. Although the oxidative load decreases during the postoperative period, the fact that it is still higher than that in healthy individuals supports this claim.

The Impact of a Mindfulness App on Postnatal Distress

ObjectivesThe present study investigated the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness mobile phone app on women’s depression, anxiety, stress and mindful attention/awareness in the postnatal period.MethodsThe study enrolled 99 mothers of a child under 1 year old, and randomly assigned them to intervention (n = 49, mean age = 31.11, SD = 4.30, years) and control (n = 50, mean age = 31.35, SD = 5.29, years) groups. Multiple regression examined intervention effects on depression, anxiety, stress and mindful attention/awareness measured post-intervention and at 4-week follow-up, controlling for the baseline and post-intervention measurement of the specific outcome, respectively.ResultsThe intervention group showed significant decreases in depression, anxiety and stress levels and an increase of mindful attention/awareness post-intervention compared to the control group, with medium to large effect sizes after controlling for effects of corresponding variables at baseline. The intervention group showed further decrease in depression and stress levels and an increase in mindful attention/awareness at 4 weeks post-intervention compared to the control group, with small to medium effect sizes, after controlling for effects of corresponding variables at post-intervention.ConclusionsThe outcomes of the study suggest that delivery of mindfulness via smartphones could be a viable and affordable resource for reducing postnatal depression, anxiety and stress.

Reducing the hemodialysis patient stress level through progressive relaxation

Background: Hemodialysis is an effective treatment carried out for patientswith chronic kidney failure to improve the quality of life. 80% of hemodialysis patients experience physical stress disorder and psychosocial stress related to treatment. When faced with stress, the body muscles become tense as the abdomen becomes tense and cramped, the chest feels tight, which impacts physical and psychosocial health, so it is necessary to have stress management training through relaxation techniques. This study aimed to determine the effect of progressive relaxation on stress levels in patients with hemodialysis. Method: A quasi-experimental pre-test and posttest study with control group design was used in this study. is a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study with a control group design. There were 58 respondents divided into two groups (intervention and control), and each group consisted of 29 people selected by random sampling. Measurement of stress levels using questionnaire Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 42 (DASS 42). Results: The Mann Whitney U Test showed a difference in the decrease instress levels which was statistically significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: The audio-visual progressive relaxation training conducted at least two times a week for three weeks effectively reduces stress levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy for at least one month. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 04 October’22 Page : 842-847

Effects of Photoperiod on the Performance, Blood Profile, Welfare Parameters, and Carcass Characteristics in Broiler Chickens.

Simple SummaryThe physiology and behavior of birds, including poultry, are greatly affected by light. The poultry industry uses lighting regimens with long lighting periods to maximize the growth of broiler chickens. Rapid growth not only adversely affects the health of the birds, but also causes great stress. As animal welfare issues have become increasingly important, concerns regarding the current photoperiods in broiler production have increased. In this study, the effects of the photoperiod on the productivity and various welfare indicators on broiler rearing were investigated. Generally, the productivity and stress of broilers were both positively and negatively correlated with the photoperiod. The results showed that a photoperiod of 18L:6D was appropriate, when considering the growth and stress of broilers. The optimum photoperiod for broilers may vary in different feeding phases, with respect to performance and welfare. Therefore, continuous research is needed to establish the ideal light regimens under the consideration of the productivity and welfare of broilers.We studied the effects of photoperiods on the growth performance, blood profile, welfare parameters, and carcass characteristics of broilers. A total of 336 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 4 treatments (84 birds per treatment with 4 replicates), based on the following lighting regimen: 24 h continuous light (24L), 18 h continuous light (18L:6D), 8 h continuous light (8L:16D), and intermittent light (4L:2D). Body weight and feed intake of 7- and 35-day-old broilers were measured. At 5 weeks of age, 12 birds per treatment were selected for blood collection and carcass analysis. Body weight, body weight gain, and feed intake were the lowest in the 8L:16D treatment (p < 0.05). The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, interleukin-6, and corticosterone levels in the 24L treatment increased significantly when compared to that in the 18L:6D treatment (p < 0.05). The footpad dermatitis score was significantly lower in the 18L:6D and 8L:16D treatments than in the 24L and 4L:2D treatments (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the carcass and meat characteristics, except for the shear force of breast meat (Pectoralis major), which was the lowest in the 8L:16D treatment (p < 0.05). These results indicate that a photoperiod of 18 h resulted in an improvement in the performance and welfare of birds and a simultaneous decrease in stress level. However, further research is needed to establish a lighting regimen that satisfies both the productivity and welfare requirements of broilers in different feeding phases.

Estratégias de Prevenção do Burnout nos Enfermeiros- Revisão da Literatura

Introduction Nursing is one of the professions with high Burnout levels, taking into account that it is subjected to constant situations of emotional exhaustion and stress. It is essential to invest in Burnout prevention strategies for Nurses, since high levels of stress jeopardize the quality and effectiveness of their work, and consequently have a strong impact on patients’ health and in their own quality of life. Occupational Health plays an important role in the prevention, identification and control of Burnout levels in Nurses. Objectives and Methodology To this end, we conducted a review using the B-on and SciELO databases, including articles published between january 2015 and march 2022, in portuguese and english, which addressed Burnout prevention strategies among Nurses. The following descriptors/terms were used: Burnout, Prevention Strategies and Nurses, which were combined with the boolean operator AND. Seven articles were selected for further analysis of evidence. Results The prevention of Burnout syndrome in Nurses requires the adoption of strategies, both at the individual and organizational levels. Nurses should develop the ability to self-monitor stress and self-recognize the signs and symptoms of Burnout, with a view to promoting their mental health and well-being. The organization has the possibility to create the necessary conditions for a healthier and less stress-promoting workplace. Strategies such as resilience training, frequent yoga practice, promotion of self-care, engagement and encouragement of mental health promotion were identified, and it was found that Nursing teams with mental health empowered members are able to perform higher quality and more effective functions. Conclusions It is crucial to study this topic more, since with the appropriate strategies focused on the prevention of Burnout syndrome, there is a noticeable decrease in stress levels among Nursing team members, and consequently an improvement in the quality of care provided. KEYWORDS: Burnout; Nurses; Prevention Strategies; Occupational Health.

Positive thinking training in reducing stress for people with hypertension

One of the causes of hypertension is stress, and non-pharmacological interventions can be given to decrease stress levels so that blood pressure could also be reduced. The intervention provided in this study was positive thinking training. This study aimed to find out the influence of positive thinking training in reducing the stress levels of people with hypertension, by using a pretest-posttest randomized control group design with three meausurement points. The subjects of the study consisted of 10 people with hypertension who are in moderate to severe scores (based on the Indonesian version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales), and analyzed with the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test. The results indicated a significant difference (p0.05) in positive thinking training in reducing stress between the experimental group and control group. Next, a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied. Results indicated a significant difference Z = -2,032 (p0,050) in the stress levels of people with hypertension before and after positive thinking training. This study has implications for positive thinking training applications in reducing the stress of people with hypertension. It was concluded that positive thinking training can reduce the stress of people with hypertension.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE: Evaluation of an NCCN and ASCO guideline-based virtual weight loss and healthy lifestyle intervention on providers and staff members at a comprehensive cancer center.

e24045 Background: Obesity is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The incidence of most obesity associated malignancies are increasing. Novel interventions to combat the obesity epidemic are greatly needed. Here we investigate the effect of a virtual clinical intervention on medical providers &amp; other medical staff at a comprehensive cancer center. Methods: Physicians (MD), nurses (RN), &amp; other medical staff (MS) were enrolled in an IRB approved, prospective single arm clinical trial. We assessed the effect of NCCN &amp; ASCO guideline recommendations for weight loss &amp; healthy lifestyle on overweight (OW) &amp; obese (OB) providers &amp; medical staff. Primary outcome: to assess change in body mass index (BMI) over a 3-month (mo.) intervention. Secondary outcomes: To assess changes in nutrition and exercise habits over time b) evaluate other lifestyle factors over time: stress, self-image, barriers to weight loss. Participants (Pts) filled out two 16 question (Q) pre &amp; post survey (at 1, 90 days) relating to study outcomes. The virtual intervention consisted of giving information &amp; advice over 3 months: A comprehensive handout e-mailed on day 1 + Motivational/info e-mails q 2 weeks/3 mo. Statistical analysis: students' paired T test used to compare changes in weight &amp; survey responses day 0-90. P- value α = 0.05. Inclusions: age &gt; 18 yo males &amp; females, MD, RN, ARNP, &amp; MS who are OW (BMI &gt; 25Kg/m2) or OB (BMI &gt; 30Kg/m2). Exclusions: non-OW/OB, Pts with uncontrolled cardiovascular, pulmonary, orthopedic, or cerebrovascular disease, pregnancy. Results: 106 participants enrolled; 26 subjects completed study. Demographics: 6/26 = 23% (MD/ARNP), 12/26 = 46% (RN), 8/26 = 31% (MS). 4/26 = 15% male, 22/26 = 85% female, µ age 45 (25-67). 3/26 = 12% Asian, 5/26 = 19% Black, 18/26 = 69% White. 100% not Hispanic. µ BMI = 33.9 kg/m2 (25.1-44.5). Intervention: 26/26 (100%) Pts lost weight/3 mo., µ Δ kg = -5.2kg (p &lt; 0.0001), µ Δ BMI = - 1.67 kg/m2 (p = 0.002). Survey results: Significant improvements were seen in: self-image (p = 0.0012), physical activity (p &lt; 0.0001), healthy diet (p &lt; 0.0001), days/week exercise (p = 0.0008), µ Δ minutes exercise/week = +65 min/week (p = 0.0046), decreased stress levels (p &lt; 0.0001). Limitations: significant participant drop out seen. Conclusions: All participants who completed the study lost weight &amp; improved healthy lifestyle parameters. To our knowledge this is the first all virtual clinical weight loss &amp; lifestyle intervention executed. Also, this is the first weight loss &amp; lifestyle intervention executed in providers. Our intervention was cost effective, easy to execute, &amp; warrants further study in both medical staff &amp; patient populations. Last, this novel virtual intervention is highly relevant during the covid 19 pandemic due to social distancing requirements.

Brain Gym Exercise Give Benefit to Improve Cognitive Function among Elderly: A Systematic Review

Being elderly is potentially risk for the emerging of progressive neurodegenerative syndrome, including cognitive impairment. Various efforts have been made to minimize the negative impact. Brain gym is an alternative intervention that is widely used. A series of motion between the legs and hands employed to stimulate the brain to remain optimal. This study aims to determine whether brain gym exercise is beneficial for cognitive improvement among elderly in Indonesia. The systematic literature review was carried out from 28 May 2020 – 05 June 2020 at Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar, Garba Rujukan Digital (Garuda). Searching process employed keywords compiled using PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes) method and applied a filtering of articles using clinical trial or randomized controlled trial design, published in the last five years, and free/open access literature. There are 5 articles that meet the inclusion criteria: sample age 60 years and over, type of brain gym intervention, and focus on assessing cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Indonesian Version (MoCA-Ina. Overall, the result shows in participants (n=211) experienced a significant increase in cognitive function (p&lt;0.05). Indeed, additional outcomes were found, namely a decrease in stress levels and an increase in physical activity function.

Reducing the hemodialysis patient stress level through progressive relaxation

Background: Hemodialysis is an effective treatment carried out for patientswith chronic kidney failure to improve the quality of life. 80% of hemodialysis patients experience physical stress disorder and psychosocial stress related to treatment. When faced with stress, the body muscles become tense as the abdomen becomes tense and cramped, the chest feels tight, which impacts physical and psychosocial health, so it is necessary to have stress management training through relaxation techniques. This study aimed to determine the effect of progressive relaxation on stress levels in patients with hemodialysis. Method: This quasi-experimental pre-test and posttest study with a control group design. There were 58 respondents divided into two groups (intervention and control), and each group consisted of 29 people selected by random sampling. Measurement of stress levels using questionnaire Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 42 (DASS 42). Results: The Mann Whitney U Test showed a difference in the decrease instress levels which was statistically significant (p &lt;0.05). Conclusion: The audio-visual progressive relaxation training conducted at least two times a week for three weeks effectively reduces stress levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy for at least one month. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 03 July’22 Page: 540-546

The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on mindfulness and stress levels of nursing students during first clinical experience.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on stress levels and mindfulness of nursing students. The study was quasi-experimental and included pretest-posttest control groups. No differences were detected between the pretest scores of the scales of the students of both groups. Students in the intervention group demonstrated increased mindfulness and decreased stress levels (p < 0.05). MBSR applied in the present study effectively reduced the stress of nursing students and increased their mindfulness.

Difference in Lairage Time Before Slaughtering on Malondialdehyde (MDA) Levels in Landrace Pig Blood Serum

Lairage time before slaughtering a pig can recover the stress caused by transportation from the farm to the abattoir. Stress conditions can overcome the imbalance between Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the ability of the system to be easily detoxified. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a specific product of lipid peroxidation, it is often used as a biomarker in research. A total of 18 pigs were divided into two groups, pigs with a lairage time of 6-8 hours and a rest period of 12-24 hours, MDA levels were tested using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) method and then analyzed. There was a significant difference (p&lt;0.05) between the group lairage time length of 6-8 hours (18.10 ± 11.616) with a rest period of 12-24 hours (6,80 ± 4,852), there was a decrease in stress levels and was marked by a decreased in levels of MDA in pigs that were rested for 12-24 hours before being slaughtered.

Can an Emergency Surgery Scheduling Software Improve Residents’ Time Management and Quality of Life?

Background: Operating room efficiency is invaluable. Particularly in public health systems, where resources are limited and patient loads are high, efficient systems underpin the continued delivery of high quality care. In addition to impacting patients, the implementation of efficient healthcare tools has the potential to improve staff quality of life. In the face of growing surgical resident attrition and healthcare worker burnout, developments in standard practice, such as the implementation of the 80-hour work week, are necessary to improve quality of life. Materials and methods: A new online scheduling software (ORNET.CA) was created, installed, and piloted in a Level I Trauma Center after instructing users (physicians and nurses) on its use. A 20-item survey was then distributed to all users to assess the effect implementation of the software had on their quality of life. Results: ORnet was shown to improve communication between hospital staff and physicians, reduce workflow interruptions, and improve the quality of the working environment. The survey showed that 60% of residents and 50% of attending staff believed that ORNET.CA improved their quality of life. Conclusions: We present data from a novel emergency operating room scheduling system that allowed surgical residents and attending physicians to better plan their on-call shifts. Staff (resident and physician) reported survey results suggest that implementation of this system resulted in an improved quality of life and a decrease in stress and anxiety levels.

The Effect of Coffee Aromatherapy on Reducing Fatigue and Stress Levels of Female Caregivers Caring for the Elderly in Hospitals

Background. The exploration of coffee as an aromatherapy in the health service has not been widely carried out. In many cases, aromatherapy has been shown to reduce stress and fatigue.&#x0D; Purpose. To analyzes the effect of coffee aromatherapy on the fatigue and stress levels of female caregivers caring for the elderly at the University of Sumatera Utara Hospital (USU Hospital), in Medan.&#x0D; Methods. This is a quasi-experiment one group pretest posttest design. The research involved 16 caregivers were given a treatment of coffee oil by inhalation for 15 minutes for three consecutive days, without coffee oil inhalation and 10% of coffee oil concentration on the first day, 20% on the second day, and 30% on the third day. Each sample received a pretest and posttest in the form of stress and fatigue instruments. The data analysis performed was univariate in order to describe the properties of each variable examined and analyze the mean score. Similarly, bivariate analysis with the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical test was used to determine the effect of coffee aromatherapy on reducing the fatigue and stress level.&#x0D; Results. The result showed that most caregivers were elderly children with an average age of 38 years, 81.3% assisted in caring for the elderly, and actively working outside the home. Based on the ANOVA test, the data showed that the administration of coffee aromatherapy for three consecutive days has no effect on female caregivers’ fatigue and stress level. However, the mean score showed a decrease in fatique and stress level before and after coffee oil inhalation in three days. &#x0D; Conclusion. It is necessary to provide coffee oil aromatherapy intervention with a longer duration to have an effect on reducing caregiver fatique and stress in the future, so the results are expected to form the basic data for the design of nursing interventions based on complementary therapies in order to reduce the fatigue and stress of caregivers while providing care to the hospitalized elderly.

Understanding Caregiver Perspective on Social Determinants of Health Interventions in Pediatric Primary Care.

Comprehensive social risk screening has become standard practice in primary care. Evidence is lacking, however, on whether and how interventions provided for positive screens are being utilized. This study aimed to create a standardized follow-up process to evaluate caregiver perspective and usage of community resources provided during well-child visits. Follow-up calls were made to families with positive screens for food insecurity (FI) and/or utility insecurity (UI) (n = 347). Phone interviews assessed resource usage, effectiveness, influence on stress level, and current insecurity status. Caregiver responses regarding barriers to resource usage were inductively analyzed and developed into major themes. The sample included 228 (65.7%) families with positive screens for FI and 166 (47.8%) families screening positive for UI. Of those who completed interviews (n = 108), 77 (71.3%) caregivers recalled being provided resources during their child's visit with only 33 (42.9%) reporting use of those resources. Twelve (36.4%) of those caregivers who used the resources confirmed that their insecurity was still a concern. Five major themes for barriers to resource usage emerged: (1) improved situation, (2) perception, (3) access barriers, (4) conflicting priorities, and (5) too busy/overwhelmed. The majority of caregivers (95.7% of asked) noted that their insecurity caused increased stress with 70.5% acknowledging decreased stress levels after discussion with a provider. Integrating caregiver input through a standardized follow-up protocol into provided interventions for screened social risks can improve not only the quality and effectiveness of provided resources, but also provide insight into the impact of those interventions on insecurity from the caregiver perspective.

Alone but not always lonely: Social cues alleviate isolation induced behavioural stress in wild zebrafish

Social isolation has been routinely used for experimental studies on many animal model systems. Additionally, considering the recent increase in the prevalence of isolation in the human population, it has become even more imperative to understand social isolation and measures that might alleviate its effects. Using wild-caught zebrafish, our study aims to elucidate the effect of social cues on reducing behavioural stress caused due to acute social isolation in a socially aggregating species. Fish were kept in groups or individually, with either visual and olfactory cues, only visual cues or no social cues, and tested for behavioural stress every alternate day in a commonly used open tank test. Experimental observations measured a range of behavioural indicators of stress such as geotaxis (ratio of time spent in top half of the tank to time spent in the bottom half of the tank), thigmotaxis (average duration of visit to wall of tanks), activity (homogeneity and extent) and freezing (average duration of freezing bout) among individuals that were kept in differing levels of social isolation. We found that the presence of both visual and olfactory cues from conspecifics significantly decreased stress in individuals as compared to only visual cues being present. Fish that were completely isolated showed significant increase in stress levels, as indicated by all observed indicators of behavioural stress. Over trials, except for completely isolated individuals, fish showed an eventual decrease in stress levels, indicating acclimatisation. Males and females showed differences in behavioural stress, with females exhibiting a lower baseline stress level, as well as less response to isolation. Our findings not only demonstrate the importance of social cues in managing stress when social isolation is unavoidable, but also add to the knowledge about behavioural stress response measures in zebrafish, which is an important vertebrate model used to extrapolate information about stress and anxiety in humans as well.

Emotional management and self-efficacy associated with low stress levels in Spanish university teachers

INTRODUCTION. Stress is defined as a state of physical and mental exhaustion, derived from a demanding context. Several national reports indicate that six out of ten teachers present medium to high levels of stress, affecting the quality of their professional activity. This perspective is extremely common in Higher Education. The aim of this research was to better understand the relationships between emotional management, stress and self-efficacy, alongside the effect of other academic and professional variables in Higher Education teachers. METHOD. The present study was descriptive, ex post-facto and cross-sectional and was performed with a sample of 798 Higher Education teachers from 15 Spanish universities, using IBM SPSS v.23.0 software for data analysis. RESULTS. Better emotional regulation was observed in males, those with a stable job and those working in the field of Science. Stress was higher amongst non-academic staff, whilst teaching staff perceived themselves to have greater self-efficacy when they reported family responsibilities and other obligations. Along these lines, teaching experience was determined to favour cognitive re-evaluation and self-efficacy, whilst also decreasing stress levels. This was especially the case amongst permanent teaching staff. Further, emotional regulation favoured a decrease in stress and the development of self-efficacy. DISCUSSION. In conclusion, the need is established to conduct actions for the development of emotional regulation techniques within university teaching staff. This will allow one self to manage stressful situations and inoculate anxiety and stress derived from professional activity. Ultimately, it will result in an improvement in teaching activity, favouring the achievement of the proposed teaching objectives and the academic performance of students.

Effect of xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine during laparoscopic SCNT embryo transfer on pregnancy rate and some physiological variables in goats

BackgroundThe present study was conducted to determine if using α2-adrenergic agonists results in decreased stress levels (lower cortisol levels) in goats used for laparoscopic embryo [somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)] transfer; and there is an effect on pregnancy rate when stress levels are lessened. Sixty healthy does aged 24 ± 4 months and weighing 30 ± 3 kg were used in experimental, prospective, randomized and blinded study. In this study, embryos were obtained by the Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) method. Animals were randomly assigned to five groups: control (normal saline); xylazine (100 μg kg− 1); detomidine (50 μg kg− 1); medetomidine (20 μg kg− 1); and dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg− 1). Embryo transfer (through laparoscopic technique) began at 15 min and continued till 45 min post-treatment. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), and ruminal motility were performed before (baseline) and after drug administration. Pregnancy detection was performed 38 days after embryo transfer.ResultsCompared to control, HR, RR and ruminal motility were significantly lower in α2-adrenergic agonists groups at 5–90, 15–60, and 5–120 min, respectively. Serum cortisol values significantly increased from baseline in the control group 45 min after drug administration (p = 0.001). At time points 45 and 60 min, serum cortisol concentration was significantly lower in α2-adrenergic agonists groups compared with the control. The pregnancy rate in control group (n = 4/12, 33.3%) was significantly lower than xylazine (n = 9/12, 75%; p = 0.041), detomidine (n = 10/12, 83.3%; p = 0.013), medetomidine (n = 9/12, 75%; p = 0.041) and dexmedetomidine (n = 10/12, 83.3%; p = 0.013); but no significant differences were observed among different α2-adrenergic agonists groups.ConclusionAlph2-adrenergic agonists were effective on increasing the pregnancy rate of recipient goats receiving cloned embryos. No significant differences were detected among different α2-adrenergic agonists.