Demographic Information Research Articles

Autonomy and Respect in Pregnancy Care for LGBTQIA+ Families: Evaluation of a Home Visiting Program.

The purpose of this program evaluation was to gather information on proportions of LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, their needs, and care experiences in a county health department's home visiting programs for perinatal clients and to make recommendations for improving culturally competent care for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families. In this engaged scholarship partnership, home visiting nurses administered a questionnaire to perinatal clients including demographic information on sexual orientation and gender identity. Differences between LBGTQIA+ identifying individuals' perception of the perinatal care received and those of heterosexual, cisgender individuals were assessed. On the basis of these data, 10% of the 52 respondents identified as LGBTQIA+ and 4% identified with a gender other than "woman." Clients who identified as straight had similar mean scores to those who listed an LGBTQIA+ sexual orientation. Clients who chose a gender identity other than "woman" had scores that fell within the 50th to 75th percentile of the overall mean. Qualitative interviews with 2 respondents provided additional in-depth information on their experiences. Overall, clients served by these perinatal programs reported similar diversity in terms of gender identity and sexual orientation as compared with national averages. This project provided evidence of the diversity among the clientele served by this agency and the importance of expanding the focus on inclusionary language and practices.

Workplace Violence and Burnout among Health Workers Two Years after the COVID-19 Outbreak in Wuhan, China: The Chain Mediation Effect of Sleep Disturbance and Work Ability.

Health workers (HWs) faced considerable psychosocial hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic, which profoundly affected their occupational health and job performance. The potential indirect relationship between workplace violence (WPV) and burnout among HWs needs to be further explored. The purpose of this study is to examine the chain mediating effects of sleep disturbance and work ability in the relationship between WPV and burnout among HWs. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a secondary hospital two years after the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. A sample of 571 HWs was recruited using a cluster sampling method, achieving a response rate of 80.06%. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that included demographic information and measures of WPV, burnout, sleep disturbance, and work ability. The prevalence rates of burnout and WPV among HWs two years after the COVID-19 outbreak were 37.30% and 31.52%, respectively. WPV was significantly associated with burnout (β = 0.446, p < 0.001). Sleep disturbance was identified as a mediator in the relationship between WPV and burnout (β = 0.063, 95% CI: 0.027-0.105), accounting for 14.13% of the total effect. Similarly, work ability also played a mediating role in this relationship (β = 0.142, 95% CI: 0.065-0.225), accounting for 31.84%. Additionally, both sleep disturbance and work ability exhibited a chain mediation effect on the association between WPV and burnout (β = 0.020, 95% CI: 0.008-0.036), and the total indirect effect accounted for 50.67%. Among Chinese HWs, WPV exerts significant direct and indirect effects on burnout symptoms, mediated by sleep disturbance and work ability. This finding provides valuable empirical insights for designing interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of psychosocial factors such as WPV and burnout among HWs. After exposure to WPV, measures focused on reducing sleep disturbance and enhancing work ability may prove effective in alleviating burnout in subsequent interventions.

Insomnia moderates the association between positive symptoms and suicidal ideation: A large-scale cross-sectional study in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia

ObjectiveBoth insomnia and positive symptoms are linked to suicidal ideation (SI) in schizophrenia, yet their interaction remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate whether insomnia moderates the relationship between positive symptoms and SI in a large sample of Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia. MethodWe recruited 1407 patients and assessed them using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). We also collected demographic information and lifetime history of suicide attempts (SA). Positive symptoms were evaluated using the PANSS positive factor. Multivariate logistic regression and moderation analysis were performed. ResultsThe prevalence of insomnia and SI was 13.5 % and 9.7 %, respectively. ISI scores (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.06; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.10, p = 0.011), PANSS positive factor (AOR: 1.05; 95 % CI: 1.01–1.09, p = 0.008), PANSS mood factor (AOR: 1.16; 95 % CI: 1.10–1.22, p < 0.001), and lifetime SA (AOR: 4.35; 95 % CI: 2.86–6.61, p < 0.001) were independently associated with SI. Moderation analysis revealed that insomnia amplified the association between positive symptoms and SI. Specifically, higher levels of insomnia significantly strengthened this relationship (b = 0.086, 95 % CI = 0.048–0.124, p < 0.001), while the association was negligible in patients with low levels of insomnia (b = −0.003, 95 % CI = -0.042–0.036, p = 0.870). ConclusionBoth insomnia and positive symptoms were independently related to SI in schizophrenia, with insomnia moderating the relationship between positive symptoms and SI. Further studies are needed to test whether interventions against insomnia and positive symptoms would be effective at reducing SI in this population.

Attitudes on affirmative action targeted to help Black and Hispanic individuals: The roles of knowledge, race, and perceived discrimination

AbstractThis study explored factors affecting affirmative action attitudes. Undergraduates at a Hispanic‐Serving Institution completed measures assessing support for Black‐targeted and Hispanic‐targeted affirmative action, perceived discrimination against Blacks and Hispanics, and demographic information. Prior to completing these measures, some participants were randomly assigned to read 10 facts about current racial inequities. An ANOVA revealed a marginally significant effect of condition (with greater affirmative action support by participants who read facts about racial inequities vs. the control condition), a significant effect of participant race (with greater affirmative action support by Black and Hispanic vs. White participants), and a significant interaction between participant and target race (with greater support of Hispanic‐targeted vs. Black‐targeted affirmative action by White and Hispanic participants, but no difference in support for Hispanic‐targeted vs. Black‐targeted affirmative action by Black participants). Regression analyses revealed that affirmative action support was significantly associated with a Democrat affiliation, a Black or Hispanic race, and perceived discrimination against Blacks and Hispanics. These findings are consistent with social dominance theory (whereby group status threat may influence Hispanic affirmative action support) and the altruism‐born‐of‐suffering theory (whereby adverse discriminatory experiences of Blacks may lead to greater empathy and support for affirmative action).

Mobbing Exposed by Deck Cadets at Onboard Training during the Internship Period

The aim of this study is to determine whether oceangoing officer candidates encounter mobbing “psychological terror in the workplace” during their onboard training period and analyze whether there is a dimensional difference between the mobbing behaviors experienced by the deck cadets. The attendees of the study are a total 212 oceangoing officer candidates who have sea experience and are studying for a BSc degree in maritime transportation engineering. The demographic information of cadets, along with the details about the internship process and the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror (LIPT) items was analyzed using statistical tests by SPSS and association rule mining methods with the SPSS modeler. The study results demonstrate that, regardless of the ship type or internship duration, the cadets were subjected to mobbing in the sub-dimension of Self-expression and communication and Occupational situation and quality of life. The cadets who reported experiencing occupational stress indicated that their career expectations changed after the internship. The presence of “only one cadet on board” was identified as a significant antecedent factor affecting not only Self-expression and communication and Occupational situation and quality of life but also occupational stress and changes in work expectations after internship.

The Effectiveness of Spiritual Group Therapy on Psychological Well-Being and Self-Efficacy of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Tehran in 2023

Introduction: Diabetes, as one of the common causes of mortality worldwide, extends beyond physical aspects and can impact psychological and emotional dimensions as well. Therefore, the present research aimed to determine the effectiveness of spiritual therapy on the psychological well-being and self-efficacy of patients with type 2 diabetes in Tehran. Methods: This study was a semi-experimental research with a pretest-posttest and a three-month follow-up design with a control group. The study population consisted of all the patients with type 2 diabetes who attended treatment centers in Tehran (Masih Daneshvari, Nikan, and the Iranian Diabetes Association) from August to November 2023. Among the patients, 37 were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (N=18) and the control group (N=19). The data collection tools included a demographic information form, the standardized Ryff's scale of psychological well-being– short form (Cronbach's alpha= 0/72), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Cronbach's alpha= 0/83). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-21 software. Additionally, given the different stages of measurement (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up), repeated measures ANOVA was used for data analysis. Results: The results indicated that spiritual therapy led to an increase in psychological well-being (F=132/56, P&lt;0/001) and self-efficacy (F=15/51, P&lt;0/001) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the effect size of spiritual therapy on psychological well-being was 79%, and self-efficacy was 31%, and the sustainability of its effects was observed up to three months after treatment. Conclusion: The findings suggest the impact of spiritual therapy on enhancing psychological well-being and self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended that, in addition to the routine treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, spiritual therapy be utilized to enhance the psychological well-being of the patients.

Determining the Metaphorical Perceptions of German Teacher Candidates Regarding the Concept of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract Considering the importance of individualised learning, artificial intelligence tools can effectively create an environment where students can learn by using them both in lessons and on their own, and enable students to learn a foreign language more effectively and permanently. The aim of this study is to examine the thinking worlds and thought patterns of prospective German teachers about the role of artificial intelligence in language teaching and learning and their views on the concept of artificial intelligence. The starting point of this study is the question of which metaphors prospective teachers use when talking about the concept of artificial intelligence. The questions of the study are as follows: 1. with which metaphors do pre-service German teachers express artificial intelligence? 2. How do pre-service German teachers define their metaphors related to the concept of artificial intelligence? 3. Under which conceptual categories are these metaphors categorised in terms of common characteristics? The participants of the study consisted of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year prospective teachers studying at the Department of German Language Teaching, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Foreign Languages Education, Trakya University. The data were collected by qualitative data analysis method. Firstly, Student Information Form was given to the students and what is metaphor was explained by giving examples of metaphor. Then, the students filled out an opinion form consisting of semi-structured questions. This form consists of two parts, in which short demographic information about the students is asked and the open-ended question ‘artificial intelligence is like ...., because...’ is asked. Metaphor analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The data obtained were interpreted by categorising the metaphors used by the prospective German teachers.

Abstract B150: Social determinants of health and comorbidities increasing inflammation cytokines related to breast cancer in African American and Latinx women

Abstract Introduction: Comorbidities such as obesity, Type-2 diabetes (T2D), and hypertension (HTN) are highly prevalent among under-resourced African Americans (AA) and Latinx, and they are associated with breast cancer (BC) risks and outcomes. Social determinants of health (SDOH) also have been found related to BC incidence, stage, and survival. In addition, elevated inflammatory cytokines may be an underlying factor in comorbidities that contribute to tumorigenesis and adverse cancer outcomes. Limited research has been conducted to explore the process and associations among SDOH, comorbidities, and inflammation cytokines related to BC. The purpose of this study was to fill this research gap using a sample recruited from AA and Latinx communities. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in South LA. A total of 570 AA and Latinx women with or without BC were recruited. A panel of 19 cytokines from serum samples were measured by Luminex assay. Demographic information, body mass index, comorbidities, and diagnosis/stage of BC were collected from patients’ medical records. SDOH factors were selected from the social vulnerability index (e.g., percentage of persons in poverty, unemployed, with no high school diploma) obtained through Geographic Information Systems. Chi-square tests, independent sample Mann-Whitney U tests, and Cox regression were employed to examine the associations between BC diagnosis/stages, comorbidities, and cytokines. Path analyses were adopted to further explore the associations between SDOH, comorbidities, and cytokines. Results: Among the 570 women, 45.79% had a diagnosis of BC. Over half (50.97%) had ER/PR+, HER2-, and 27.80% had triple negative BC. Results from Chi-square tests showed that a higher percentage of women with obesity (p=.001), HTN (p&amp;lt;.0001), and T2D (p=.024) had a BC diagnosis than those without the comorbidity. Women with obesity had significantly higher levels of Leptin, VEGFα, and MIP1b; women with HTN had significantly higher levels of VEGFα and MIP1b; and women with T2D had significantly higher levels of Leptin and TGFβ1/β2. Leptin was found significantly higher in ER/PR+ BC (p&amp;lt;.0001) and VEGFα was significantly higher in triple negative BC (p=.001). Increasing VEGFα and TGFβ1/β2 reduced BC disease-free survival significantly. The path model showed community poverty and education level did not affect TGFβ1/β2 directly but were indirectly associated with them through obesity and T2D status (p&amp;lt;.01). Community poverty level was indirectly associated with the level of MIP1b through HTN status (p&amp;lt;.01). Conclusions: To eliminate breast cancer disparities, effective interventions are needed that account for the social and community contexts in which women live and are treated. Interventions that target comorbidities of T2D, HTN, and obesity are important to reduce the disparities. Citation Format: Weizhou Tang, Yanyuan Wu, Jaydutt Vadgama. Social determinants of health and comorbidities increasing inflammation cytokines related to breast cancer in African American and Latinx women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B150.

The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and functional capacity after chemotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life during the survival period in individuals with small cell lung cancer. Thirty-six patients with a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), who completed chemotherapy treatment and were in the survival period, were included in the study. A pulmonary rehabilitation program was applied to individuals at 40-70% of submaximal heart rate, 3days a week for 8weeks. The pulmonary rehabilitation program will consist of warm up, breathing exercises, gait training, aerobic exercises, and cool down exercises. Demographic information, walking distance, and presence of dyspnea were questioned. Inspiration/expiration difference was evaluated. Vital signs were evaluated before each session. Quality of life was assessed with the Cancer-Specific Developed Quality of Life Scale (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Of the patients, 80% (36 people) completed the entire 8-week program. The mean age of the individuals was 51.78 ± 10.23. In the evaluation made at the end of the rehabilitation program, it was observed that the walking distance of the individuals increased significantly. Inspiration of individuals' expiratory difference increased by an average of 2.01 ± 0.40cm. Improvement was found in the sub-parameters of quality of life (p < 0.05). The participants with small cell lung cancer had decreased quality of life due to long-term immobilization, surgery, hospitalization times, side effects of chemotherapy treatment, and other problems. Regular exercise programs can provide an increase in the individual's pulmonary functions. Individual-specific pulmonary rehabilitation programs have important contributions to the quality of life in SCLC on the survival period, and it has shown that this study can guide physiotherapists and physicians working in oncological rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Abstract A030: Racial Disparities in Cancer Beliefs among Oregon Residents

Abstract Introduction: Beliefs and perceptions about cancer risks significantly influences a person’s cancer screening and overall health behaviors. To better understand the factors associated with perceptions surrounding cancer in Oregon, this study examined racial differences in cancer risk beliefs among Oregon adults as part of the Population Health Assessment in Cancer Center Catchment Areas effort. Methods: This study utilizes data from the Understanding Cancer in Oregon (UCanOR) project, which included a 47-item cross-sectional survey capturing demographic and behavioral information. The survey was administered to participants selected through an area-based sampling strategy (51.8%) and a convenience sample (48.2%). Cancer beliefs and perceptions were assessed through five questions: 1) “There are so many different recommendations about preventing cancer, it's hard to know which ones to follow;” 2) “Cancer is most often caused by a person's behavior or lifestyle;” 3) “It seems like everything causes cancer; 4) When I think about cancer, I automatically think about death;” 5) “There is not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer.” Multivariable generalized linear regression and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between race/ethnicity and cancer beliefs either as a summed continuous variable or five specific binary variables with Agree vs. Disagree as the outcome, adjusting for confounders (age, sex, employment status, marital status, BMI, cancer history, insurance status). Results: The study included 1,357 respondents aged over 18 years old with a mean age of 50.0 (SD = 17.8), with the majority being Non-Hispanic White (87.3%), followed by Asian/Pacific Islanders (8.4%), Hispanic White (3.5%), and Black (0.8%). Asian/Pacific Islanders were significantly more likely than individuals of other racial backgrounds to have negative beliefs about cancer. Specifically, compared to Non-Hispanic White, Asian/Pacific Islanders were 2.5 times as likely to agree that “cancer is most often caused by a person’s behavior or lifestyle” [OR (95% CI) = 2.48 (1.64-3.75)] and that “there is not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer” [OR (95% CI) = 2.80 (1.70-4.62))], and 1.5 times as likely to agree that “when I think about cancer, I automatically think about death” [OR (95% CI) = 1.61 (1.07-2.41)]. Conclusion: This study found that Asians/Pacific Islanders in Oregon had significantly more negative cancer beliefs. In terms of future directions, interventions aimed at promoting healthy cancer prevention behaviors should particularly target Asian/Pacific Islander communities. This study enhances our ability to effectively plan and implement outreach, tailor interventions, engage patients, and recruit for clinical trials. Citation Format: Sophie Feng, Jian Li, Paige E. Farris, Jessica Currier, Zhenzhen Zhang, Jackilen Shannon. Racial Disparities in Cancer Beliefs among Oregon Residents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A030.

The Impact of Social Media and Socio-Cultural Attitudes toward Body Image on the Risk of Orthorexia among Female Football Players of Different Nationalities.

Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is an emerging behavioral pattern characterized by an obsessive focus on healthy eating. Despite its prevalence, ON lacks formal diagnostic criteria in major classification systems like the DSM-5 and the ICD-10. This study aims to investigate the impact of socio-cultural attitudes towards body image and the role of social media on the risk of ON among female football players from Poland, Turkey, and India. This study hypothesizes that socio-cultural pressures and media usage significantly influence the risk of developing ON, particularly in cultures more exposed to Western beauty ideals. The study was conducted from May to August 2024, employing the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method. A total of 142 female football players aged 16-36 from Poland, Turkey, and India participated. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included demographic information and health metrics, the Socio-Cultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire, and the Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale. Statistical analyses included an ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the chi-square test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The study found that nearly half of the participants were at risk of or presented with ON, with the highest prevalence being among Indian athletes. Statistically significant relationships were observed between the risk of ON and factors such as age, dietary exclusions, social media usage, and sources of nutritional information. However, no significant correlation was found between socio-cultural attitudes and the risk of ON, suggesting that other factors may play a more critical role. While socio-cultural pressures and media use are contributing factors to the risk of ON, psychological factors and individual behaviors appear to be equally, if not more, significant. This study highlights the importance of targeted educational programs and psychological support for young athletes, with a focus on promoting healthy dietary practices and positive body image perceptions across varying cultural contexts. Additionally, the results suggest the need for further research into the specific psychological and behavioral mechanisms underlying ON.

Prevalence, causes and factors associated with vision impairment in Limpopo province

Background: Epidemiological data on the prevalence, causes and risk factors associated with vision impairment (VI) is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of eye care services.Aim: To determine the prevalence, causes and factors associated with VI among patients presenting to public hospitals of Limpopo province, South Africa.Setting: This study was conducted in public hospitals.Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients seen from April 2019 to March 2022 in 29 public hospitals was conducted. The following information was extracted: demographic information, medical history, visual acuity (VA), refractive and ophthalmoscopy findings.Results: Of the 1140 participants, 56.1% were women. Participants’ ages ranged from 5 to 94 years. The prevalence of VI was 61.5%. Most had moderate-severe VI (57.3%), followed by blindness (22.7%) and mild VI (20.0%). The leading causes of VI were uncorrected refractive error (URE) (28.1%), cataract (26.0%) and glaucoma (25.0%). The main causes of blindness were glaucoma (42.8%) and cataract (32.1%); while URE (7.5%), retinal anomalies (7.5%) and corneal anomalies (6.9%) accounted for almost equal proportions of blindness. Participants aged 50–64 years (odds ratio [OR]: 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–2.6); 65 years and older (OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 4.3–10.2); and those diagnosed with systemic hypertension (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.9–3.2) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.9–4.4) had increased risk of VI.Conclusion: The prevalence of VI in this population is relatively high. The main causes of VI are correctable, suggesting the need for improved measures to prevent avoidable VI.Contribution: The study addresses the gap in the province’s current prevalence, causes and factors related to VI.

Educational differences in years lived with disability due to mental and substance use disorders: a cohort study using nationwide Norwegian and Danish registries

BackgroundFindings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study have shown that the burden of mental and substance use disorders is considerable, and unevenly distributed across demographic groups in the population. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how this burden differs by socioeconomic position. The aim of this study was to examine educational differences in years lived with disability (YLDs) from mental and substance use disorders among males and females in two high-income countries, taking comorbidity with other diseases into account.MethodsThe study included all registered residents in Denmark and Norway from 2011 to 2021. Diagnostic information was retrieved from records in the Norwegian National Patient Registry (NPR) and the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register (PCRR) and used as proxy measures for disorder prevalence. Demographical and educational information was taken from administrative registries. The YLD is a measure of the non-fatal health loss in the population and was calculated by multiplying the duration of a disorder with a disability weight (DW), scaled between 0 and 1. Information on remission and DWs were retrieved from the GBD study and other sources, and disorder specific DWs were averaged by severity levels and adjusted for comorbidity.ResultsEducational gradients in YLD rates were found for mental and substance disorders overall, and for most of the specific disorders. The educational gradient was more pronounced for schizophrenia, intellectual disability and substance use disorders than for eating, anxiety, and affective disorders. Both higher YLD rates, and a larger attributed proportion of the total YLDs, were found for schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders in the groups with low versus high education. YLD rates for eating, anxiety, and affective disorders were more equal across educational levels, but constituted a smaller proportion of the total YLDs among the groups with low versus the groups with high educational level.ConclusionMost of the disease burden related to mental and substance use disorders falls on those with the fewest years of education. This should be taken into consideration when public health targets aimed at improving mental health and reducing social inequalities in health are developed and implemented.

Impact of dry eye disease on psychological symptoms among Chinese doctoral students studying abroad.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dry eye disease (DED) on depression, anxiety, and stress among Chinese doctoral students studying abroad. This is a cross-sectional study. This study enrolled 185 Chinese doctoral students pursuing education in the Philippines. DED was assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index, while psychological symptoms were evaluated using the abbreviated version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 questionnaire. A survey encompassing demographic information, potential DED risk factors, and individual habits was also administered. Of the 185 students, 129 completed the survey, of which 40 (31.0%) were male and 89 (69.0%) were female. The average age was 36.3 ± 7.0 (mean ± SD; range, 22-57) years. The prevalence of DED, depression, anxiety, and stress was 73.6% (95/129), 43.4% (56/129), 50.4% (65/129), and 22.5% (29/129), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that aging (P < .001), prolonged visual display terminal (VDT) use (P = .004), extended paperwork time (P < .001), higher depression score (P = .006), higher anxiety score (P < .001), and higher stress score (P < .001) were associated with increased influence of DED. After adjusting for age, duration of VDT use, duration of paperwork, and depression score, age (P = .030) had significant association with DED. Additionally, after adjusting for age, duration of VDT use, duration of paperwork, and anxiety score, age (P = .026) and anxiety score (P = .047) were significantly associated with DED. Moreover, after adjusting for age, duration of VDT use, duration of paperwork, and stress score, age (P = .035) and stress score (P = .028) showed significant associations with DED. In the multivariate analysis of variance, there was a significant impact of DED severity classification on psychological distress (V = 0.19, F(9, 375) = 2.83, P = .003). Univariate analysis of variances indicated that DED severity had a significant impact on anxiety F(3, 125) = 6.06, P = .001 and stress F(3, 125) = 3.00, P = .033. A higher influence of DED was related to stress and anxiety. Anxiety and stress levels increase with the severity of DED.

Prevalence of Neck and Shoulder Pain in Sewing Machine Operators of Rahim Yar Khan

Background: Neck and shoulder pain are prevalent among sewing machine operators due to prolonged static postures and repetitive movements, leading to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs).Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators in Rahim Yar Khan City.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2019. A total of 100 sewing machine operators were selected using a convenient sampling technique. Participants with at least four years of work experience and daily work of 8 hours in a sitting posture were included. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire covering demographic information, work hours, pain characteristics, and medication usage. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis, with descriptive statistics and p-values for significance.Results: The mean age was 31 ± 11.56 years. Forty-three percent of operators reported shoulder pain, and 8% had both neck and shoulder pain. Pain was bilateral in 43%, with 35% suffering for over 2 years. Thirty percent used medication for pain relief (p = 0.001).Conclusion: A significant prevalence of neck and shoulder pain exists among sewing machine operators, emphasizing the need for ergonomic interventions and health education.

The impact of the behavior and lifestyle of physical and mental workers on their depressive symptoms

Objective: To analyze the depressive symptoms of physical and mental workers and the impact of their behavior and lifestyle on their depressive symptoms. Methods: In August 2022, a cross-sectional study design was adopted to select 553 workers as research subjects using cluster sampling. General demographic information, health-related behaviors and lifestyles were collected, and their depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The differences in general demographic information, health-related behaviors and lifestyles between physical and mental workers were analyzed, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of depressive symptoms in occupational populations. Results: Among the 553 subjects, 317 were physical workers (57.32%) and 236 were mental workers (42.68%). Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of education level, monthly income, smoking rate, regular physical exercise rate and appropriate sleep time rate (P<0.05). The score and the detection rate of depression symptoms among physical workers were (9.67±2.75) points and 20.82% (66/317), respectively, which were higher than those of mental workers [(8.34±2.18) points, 12.71% (30/236) ] (t=6.13, χ(2)=6.20, P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that smoking, regular physical exercise, appropriate sleep time and mental work were influencing factors of depressive symptoms among the occupational population (OR=1.592, 95%CI: 1.316-1.825; OR=0.659, 95%CI: 0.416-0.830; OR=0.502, 95%CI: 0.257-0.717; OR=0.839, 95%CI: 0.522-0.967; P<0.05) . Conclusion: The depressive symptoms of physical workers are more serious than those of mental workers. Low education level, not frequently participating in physical exercise, smoking and sleep disorder are potential risk factors that affect the depressive symptoms of the occupational population.

Semaglutide for the management of diabesity: The real-world experience.

Diabesity (diabetes as a consequence of obesity) has emerged as a huge healthcare challenge across the globe due to the obesity pandemic. Judicious use of antidiabetic medications including semaglutide is important for optimal management of diabesity as proven by multiple randomized controlled trials. However, more real-world data is needed to further improve the clinical practice. To study the real-world benefits and side effects of using semaglutide to manage patients with diabesity. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide use in managing patients with diabesity in a large academic hospital in the United States. Several parameters were analyzed including demographic information, the data on improvement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight reduction and insulin dose adjustments at 6 and 12 months, as well as at the latest follow up period. The data was obtained from the electronic patient records between January 2019 to May 2023. 106 patients (56 males) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), mean age 60.8 ± 11.2 years, mean durations of T2DM 12.4 ± 7.2 years and mean semaglutide treatment for 2.6 ± 1.1 years were included. Semaglutide treatment was associated with significant improvement in diabesity outcomes such as mean weight reductions from baseline 110.4 ± 24.6 kg to 99.9 ± 24.9 kg at 12 months and 96.8 ± 22.9 kg at latest follow up and HbA1c improvement from baseline of 82 ± 21 mmol/mol to 67 ± 20 at 12 months and 71 ± 23 mmol/mol at the latest follow up. An insulin dose reduction from mean baseline of 95 ± 74 units to 76.5 ± 56.2 units was also observed at the latest follow up. Side effects were mild and mainly gastrointestinal like bloating and nausea improving with prolonged use of semaglutide. Semaglutide treatment is associated with significant improvement in diabesity outcomes such as reduction in body weight, HbA1c and insulin doses without major adverse effects. Reviews of largescale real-world data are expected to inform better clinical practice decision making to improve the care of patients with diabesity.

EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 health utilities scores of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients in China

BackgroundThis study evaluates the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by using EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 and compares the measurement properties of the two instruments.MethodDLBCL patients were identified via a patient group and were surveyed using web-based questionnaires. Demographic information, socioeconomic status (SES), clinical characteristics, and EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 responses were collected and statistically described. The association between the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 dimensions were analyzed using the Spearman's correlation coefficient, whereas the correlation of the utility scores was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The agreement between the responses of the two instruments were examined using a Bland–Altman (B-A) plot. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare the utility scores across subgroups in different clinical states (a t-test was used if there were two subgroups). In addition, the graded response model (GRM) was used to describe the discrimination ability and difficulty characteristics of the dimensions in the two instruments.ResultsIn total, 582 valid responses were collected, among which 477 respondents were associated with initial-treatment and 105 respondents were relapsed/refractory (RR) patients. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 utility scores of the DLBCL patients were 0.828 (0.222) and 0.641 (0.220), respectively. The correlation between the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 dimensions ranged from 0.299 to 0.680, and the correlation between their utility scores was 0.787. The B-A plot demonstrated an acceptable but not strong agreement between EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 utility scores. The GRM model results indicated that all dimensions of each instrument were highly discriminating overall, but EQ-5D-5L had suboptimal discriminative power among patients with good health.ConclusionBoth the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 showed valid properties to assess the HRQoL of DLBCL patients. However, utility scores derived from the two instruments had substantial difference, thereby prohibiting the interchangeable use of utilities from the two instruments.

Reliability and validity of a Hindi version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-EDENT-H) for edentulous subjects: A Cross-Sectional study

AimThe study aimed to translate the OHIP-EDENT into Hindi and assess its validity and reliability. MethodsThe study included 150 participants whose demographic information was collected using the Modified Kuppuswamy Socio-economic Scale. The Oral Health Impact Profile in Edentulous (OHIP-EDENT) was translated into Hindi using the standard forward-backward method. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett's test of sphericity coefficient were used to conduct Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and confirm the Construct validity. To establish Convergent validity, the relationship between the global question and the OHIP-EDENT-H subscale scores was observed. ResultsThe data was analyzed with a confidence level of 95 %, and statistical significance was interpreted as a p-value of less than 0.05. The Cronbach's alpha score for OHIP-EDENT-H was 1.00, indicating high internal consistency. The corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.665 to 0.923, and the total ICC score was 0.763, demonstrating good reliability. The subscales' intra-class correlation coefficient values ranged from 0.968 to 0.997, indicating high reliability. However, items 4, 6, 13, 17, 18, and 19 had factor loadings below the acceptable threshold of 0.40 in the factor analysis. Additionally, the total and subscale scores of the OHIP-EDENT-H showed significant correlations with global question, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.665 to 0.923. ConclusionThe Hindi version of OHIP-EDENT is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the OHRQoL of Hindi-speaking edentulous individuals.

Ciliated foregut cysts involving the hepatopancreaticobiliary system: a clinicopathological evaluation with focus on atypical features

AimsForegut cystic malformations are rare developmental abnormalities, which may involve the hepatopancreaticobiliary tract (HPBT). These cysts are composed of inner ciliated epithelium; subepithelial connective tissue layer; smooth muscle layer; and...