Distinct Sociodemographic Characteristics Research Articles

Assessment of psychological resilience in a large cohort of the general population: Validation and norm values of the RS-5.

Psychological resilience is known as a protective factor against mental health disorders for which valid measures are indispensable. The present work aims to evaluate the Resilience Scale-5 (RS-5) psychometrically, and provide norm values. Data from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), encompassing 7,496 participants aged 25 to 86, spanning the years 2017 to 2022, was used. Selectivity, item difficulty, internal consistency, construct and factor validity, as well as factorial invariance were tested. Additionally, correlations and associations with depression, anxiety, and sociodemographic factors were determined. Furthermore, norm values were provided. The RS-5 displayed robust psychometric properties. Participants reported an average resilience score of 28.94 (SD = 5.53, median = 30, IQR = 6, range = 5-35), with those aged ≥75 exhibiting the highest resilience levels (M = 30.21, SD = 5.75, median = 32, IQR = 7). The RS-5 displayed a very good model fit, affirming measurement invariance across sex and age decades. Construct validity found support through anticipated intercorrelations with related psychological constructs. Significant correlations (p < .001) linked higher resilience with female gender, advanced age, higher education, elevated household income, and diminished psychological distress. The RS-5 emerged as a reliable and economic instrument for assessing psychological resilience in individuals aged 25 to 86. The study unraveled distinct sociodemographic characteristics significantly tied to resilience levels within this cohort. In contributing recent norm values tailored to the German population, this research enhances the practical applicability of the RS-5 across diverse contexts and enriches our comprehension of the demographic nuances associated with psychological resilience.

Heterogeneity in sociodemographic characteristics of people who use different ENDS devices

BackgroundThe electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) market is heterogeneous with a wide variety of devices and liquids available to consumers. People with distinct sociodemographic characteristics may have different ENDS device and liquid preferences. Methods1290 U.S. adults (21 + ) using ENDS 5 + days/week completed the Wave 5 (February-April 2023) VAPER study survey and submitted photos of their most used ENDS device and liquid. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed based on sociodemographic characteristics and cigarette smoking status to identify groups among respondents. We examined the association between identified groups and the device (disposable device/disposable pod/refillable pod/tank, power/airflow/coil modifiability)/liquid (nicotine salt/freebase) groupings found by exploratory factor analysis. ResultsAmong our sample, there were three groups of adults frequently using ENDS: (1) group of women who are older, heterosexual, and have smoked cigarettes (62 % of the sample); (2) group of men who are higher-income and heterosexual (23 % of the sample); and (3) group of women who are younger and LGBTQ+ (16 % of the sample). The third group was more likely to use non-adjustable disposable devices with a nicotine salt liquid and less likely to use adjustable tanks with a freebase liquid than the other two groups (p < 0.001). ConclusionsWe found three distinct groups of adults frequently using ENDS. The group of younger LGBTQ + women was different from the other two groups in use of device and liquid characteristics. Our findings can enhance understanding of people using ENDS and inform the expected impacts of ENDS regulatory efforts to protect public health.

Trajectories of drug treatment and illicit opioid use in the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience cohort, 2014-2019.

Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is an effective intervention to combat opioid use disorder and overdose, yet there is limited understanding of engagement in treatment over time in the community, contextualized by ongoing substance use. We aimed to identify concurrent trajectories of methadone prescriptions, buprenorphine prescriptions, and illicit opioid use among older adults with a history of injection drug use. We used data on 887 participants from the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience cohort, who were engaged in the study in 2013 and attended ≥1 visit during follow-up (2014-2019). Outcomes were self-reported MOUD prescription and illicit opioid use in the last 6 months. To identify concurrent trajectories in all 3 outcomes, we used group-based multi-trajectory modeling. We examined participant characteristics, including sociodemographics, HIV status, and other substance use, overall and by cluster. We identified 4 trajectory clusters: (1) no MOUD and no illicit opioid use (43%); (2) buprenorphine and some illicit opioid use (11%); (3) methadone and no illicit opioid use (28%); and (4) some methadone and illicit opioid use (18%). While prevalence of each outcome was stable across time, transitions on/off treatment or on/off illicit opioid use occurred, with the rate of transition varying by cluster. The rate of transition was highest in Cluster 3 (0.74/person-year) and lowest in Cluster 1 (0.18/person-year). We saw differences in participant characteristics by cluster, including that the buprenorphine cluster had the highest proportion of people with HIV and participants who identified as non-Hispanic Black. Most participants had discontinued illicit opioid use and were also not accessing MOUD. Trajectories defined by engagement with buprenorphine or methadone had distinct sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, indicating that tailored interventions to expand access to both types of treatment are likely needed to reduce harms associated with untreated opioid use disorder.

The heterogeneity of the homebound: A latent class analysis of a national sample of homebound older adults.

Homebound status is a final common pathway for people with a variety of diseases and conditions. There are 7 million homebound older adults in the United States. Despite concerns regarding their high healthcare costs and utilization and limited access to care, the unique subsets within the homebound population are understudied. Better understanding of distinct homebound groups may enable more targeted and tailored approaches to care delivery. Therefore, in a nationally representative sample of homebound older adults we used latent class analysis (LCA) to examine distinct homebound subgroups based on clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) 2011-2019, we identified 901 newly homebound persons (defined as never/rarely leaving home or leaving home only with assistance and/or difficulty). Sociodemographic, caregiving context, health and function, and geographic covariates were derived from NHATS via self-report. LCA was used to identify the existence of distinct subgroups within the homebound population. Indices of model fit were compared for models testing 1-5 latent classes. Association between latent class membership and 1 year mortality was examined using a logistic regression. We identified four classes of homebound individuals differentiated by their health, function, sociodemographic characteristics, and caregiving context: (i) Resource constrained (n=264); (ii) Multimorbid/high symptom burden (n=216); (iii) Dementia/functionally impaired (n=307); (iv) Older/assisted living (n=114). One year mortality was highest among the older/assisted living subgroup (32.4%) and lowest among the resource constrained (8.2%). This study identifies subgroups of homebound older adults characterized by distinct sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. These findings will support policymakers, payers, and providers in targeting and tailoring care to the needs of this growing population.

Psychological Impact of Anti-Asian Violence on Asian Americans under COVID-19 in Rural South Alabama

This study analyzed the effect of anti-Asian American violence on Asian Americans’ daily lives because the hate crimes or sentiment was not salient in the early stage of the pandemic in rural Alabama. The survey was conducted from April to May 2020. A total of 234 Laotians and 119 Cambodians participated, and multiple regression models were employed. Two communities demonstrated distinctive sociodemographic characteristics. The younger Cambodians were more concerned about anti-Asian violence, which made sense considering that Cambodians gained new community members through international marriage brides from Cambodia. They were more likely to obtain limited information due to the language barrier and depend on advice from leaders they could trust. These results explained the higher worry about the infection for younger Cambodians, the significant influence of community leaders’ recommendations, and the higher fear by the educated. Laotians showed an overall moderating effect of age. Laotian fifties demonstrated that older adults handled better on the perceived disruption of COVID-19. They utilized various media sources to reduce their worry and help more appropriate damage-avoiding behavior for community members.

Deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil

This paper aims to assess the magnitude and profile of deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil. Descriptive study based on preliminary data from the 2021 Mortality Information System. Records with ICD code B94.8 as the Basic Cause and with code U09 in some lines of part I or II of the declaration were considered for analysis. The distribution of deaths by geographic region, semester of occurrence, sex, age group, ethnicity/skin color, schooling, and place of occurrence was evaluated. We identified 2,948 deaths from conditions subsequent to COVID-19 were recorded, ranging from 0.5 deaths per 1,000 records in the Northeast Region to 3.6/1,000 in the Midwest Region. More than half occurred among males (58.0%), those aged 60 years or older (66.9%), and whites (51.8%). Conclusion: Deaths from post-COVID conditions had distinct sociodemographic characteristics between regions.

Óbitos por condições de saúde posteriores à COVID-19 no Brasil

Abstract This paper aims to assess the magnitude and profile of deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil. Descriptive study based on preliminary data from the 2021 Mortality Information System. Records with ICD code B94.8 as the Basic Cause and with code U09 in some lines of part I or II of the declaration were considered for analysis. The distribution of deaths by geographic region, semester of occurrence, sex, age group, ethnicity/skin color, schooling, and place of occurrence was evaluated. We identified 2,948 deaths from conditions subsequent to COVID-19 were recorded, ranging from 0.5 deaths per 1,000 records in the Northeast Region to 3.6/1,000 in the Midwest Region. More than half occurred among males (58.0%), those aged 60 years or older (66.9%), and whites (51.8%). Conclusion: Deaths from post-COVID conditions had distinct sociodemographic characteristics between regions.

Impact of Japanese travelers’ psychographics on domestic travel intention during the COVID-19 pandemic

To develop tourism products and campaigns that will not only help the tourism industry to survive, but also revive and sustain it in the future, it is imperative to understand the behavioral intentions of leisure travelers during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to explore how Japanese traveler segments are characterized by their attitudes and feelings toward domestic travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. A market research study was conducted on Japanese nationals, using 1353 questionnaires in the analysis. A factor analysis was generated in six attitude dimensions: 1) COVID-19 Anxiety, 2) Government Mistrust, 3) Psychological Impact, 4) Optimistic Outlook, 5) Financial Impact, and 6) Social Anxiety; through K-means cluster analysis, the segmentation produced three distinct tourist segments: Confident Travelers, Anxious Travelers, and Social Travelers. Each segment is clearly described in terms of attitudes, considering distinct socio-demographic characteristics. Practical suggestions on how to manage and target these segments include implementing travel packages with minimal face-to-face contact for anxious travelers, travel subsidies through national campaigns for confident travelers, or conventional marketing campaigns for social travelers.

Can Senior Travelers Save Japanese Hot Springs? A Psychographic Segmentation of Visitors and Their Intention to Visit Onsen Establishments during COVID-19

To develop tourism products and campaigns that will not just help Japanese hot springs survive but revive and sustain them in the future, it is imperative to understand the behavioral intentions of its visitors during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to investigate how the important market of senior Japanese visitors is characterized by their attitudes and feelings toward visiting hot springs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it explores whether external travel incentives can increase seniors’ intention to visit. A market research study was conducted on Japanese nationals, using 507 questionnaires. A factor analysis generated five attitude dimensions: (1) response efficacy, (2) perceived COVID-19 infectability, (3) self-efficacy, (4) crowding perception and feeling, and (5) perceived threat severity. Through k-means cluster analysis, the segmentation produced three distinct tourist segments: trusting seniors, concerned seniors, and indifferent seniors. Each segment is clearly described in terms of attitudes, considering distinct sociodemographic characteristics. Practical suggestions on managing and targeting these segments are also discussed.

결혼이주여성의 공적 지원서비스 초기 이용 유형과 관련 요인

This study adopted a person-centered approach using latent class analysis to construct typologies of public service use among 2,455 migrant women, examining migrant women’s distinct socio-demographic characteristics and whether there are differences according to their patterns of service use. Data were drawn from the National Survey on Multi-Cultural Families in 2018. Five classes were identified and were labeled Active Use in Individual Empowerment Service (10.4%), Active Use in All Services (6.7%), Passive Use in All Services (51.2%), Active Use in Child Related Services (13.3%), and Active Use in Early Adaptation Support Services (18.3%). The patterns of public service use differed depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of migrant women such as age, place of residence, employment status, presence of children under age five, household income, marriage duration, and residency period. The results suggest that service delivery agencies should provide customized services in consideration of the characteristics of service users in the future.

What are the drivers of high-cost HIV patients?

We aimed to identify "high-cost" patients with HIV (PWH) and determine drivers behind higher costs. All PWH at the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic, Canada, and active in 2017 were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, and healthcare utilization data were collected. The direct care costs from the payers' perspective including antiretroviral drugs (ARV), outpatient visits, and hospital admissions were determined for 2017. Patients' annual total costs were grouped into top 5% (i.e., high-cost), top 20%, middle 60%, and bottom 20%. High-cost patients were older, Caucasian or indigenous Canadian, and more likely acquired HIV from intravenous drug use (all p < 0.05). High-cost patients had lower nadir CD4, more comorbidities, missed more clinic appointments, had more ARV interruptions, and developed more ARV resistance (p < 0.01). The overall median cost of HIV care was US$14,064 [IQR US$13,121-US$17,883] (2017 Cdn$). High-cost patients had a median cost of US$29,902 [IQR US$27,229-US$37,891] and accounted for 14% of total costs and 84% of all inpatient costs. Hospitalizations constituted 58% of costs for high-cost patients. Although heterogeneous, high-cost patients have distinct sociodemographic and clinical characteristics driving their healthcare utilization. Addressing these social determinants of health and using novel ARV administration approaches may preserve health and save costs.

Sociodemographic, personality and symptomatologic profiles associated with an increased likelihood of suicidal risk in patients hospitalized for recurrent depressive disorders

IntroductionAccording to WHO statistics, 800,000 suicides occur annually, representing the second leading cause of death in people aged 15 to 29. The contributing factors for suicidal risk are multifactorial and multileveled.ObjectivesWe aimed to analyze the predictive value of distinct sociodemographic, personality and symptomatology characteristics in predicting the presence of suicidal risk in patients hospitalized for the analyzed mood disorder.MethodsA longitudinal retrospective case-control study was performed on medical data records of 90 patients admitted in the Timisoara Psychiatric Clinic during 2018 – 2020. Besides the parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses, logistic binary regression analyses were done.ResultsPatients with suicide risk tended to be younger (p = 0.039), without intimate partnership (p &lt; 0.001), current smoker (p = 0.038) and to present psychotic symptoms at some moments during the psychiatric disorder. 51 (56.7%) of the total patients have presented different degrees of suicidal risk (from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt). Patients with suicide risk tended to be younger (p = 0.039), without intimate partnership (p &lt; 0.001), current smoker (p = 0.038) and to present psychotic symptoms at some moments during the psychiatric disorder. Personality traits has not influenced suicidal risk. Presence of intimate partner (OR = 0.135; p &lt; 0.001) and the presence of psychotic symptoms during recurrent depression (OR = 7.309; p = 0.004) have presented predictive value on suicide risk.ConclusionsPsychiatrist practitioners should be aware of the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics that put recurrent depressive patients at risk of suicidal behaviors.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of Human Value Priorities and Associations with Subjective Well-Being, Subjective General Health, Social Life, and Depression across Europe

Human values are a central component in understanding individuals’ choices. Using the Schwartz’s Values instrument, this study aimed to identify patterns of human value priorities of 35,936 participants across 20 European countries and analyse their relations with subjective well-being (SWB), subjective general health (SGH), social life, and depression indices in Europe. A hierarchical cluster analysis of data from the seventh European Social Survey (ESS) round 7, based on the higher order dimensions of the Schwartz values model, allowed identifying four European groups with distinct indicators. Indices of SWB, SGH, social life, and depression showed statistically significant differences among the four different sociodemographic groups. The graphical representation of the monotonic correlations of each of these indices with the value priorities attributed to the ten basic human values was ordered according to the Schwartz circumplex model, yielding quasi-sinusoidal patterns. The differences among the four groups can be explained by their distinct sociodemographic characteristics: social focus, growth focus, strong social focus, and weak growth focus. The results of this study suggest a rehabilitation of the notion of hedonism, raising the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, with the former contributing more to well-being than the latter.

Proceso de adaptación en pacientes diabéticos

Objetivo: determinar las características sociodemográficas y los modos adaptativos afectados en pacientes diabéticos atendidos en centros de salud del Distrito Chambo-Riobamba. Método: estudio con enfoque mixto, descriptivo–transversal, en población constituida por 157 pacientes con ECNT, de los centros del Distrito Chambo-Riobamba, Ecuador; seleccionando 40 mayores de 19 años, salud mental apta para llenar los instrumentos, con diagnóstico de diabetes Mellitus tipo II, residencia regular en los sectores mencionados y que estén de acuerdo con participar, durante el período abril-agosto 2017. Resultados: se observó que el 67,5% son de sexo femenino, mayores de 65 años, el 75% con instrucción básica y el 52,5% ama de casa. Tuvieron un 90% en el nivel medio y poca adaptación a las limitaciones por la enfermedad y el 82,5% pocas veces o nunca realiza actividad física. El 77,5% manifestó cambios emocionales y en relación con el apoyo familiar se evidenció que el 80% no lo recibió. Conclusiones: las características sociodemográficas distintivas en la población de estudio fueron: predominio del género femenino, adultos mayores, amas de casa, de instrucción básica. Tomando en cuenta los modos adaptativos en el fisiológico los pacientes manifiestan poca adaptación a la enfermedad. Mientras que de forma mayoritaria a veces o nunca realizaban actividad física. En el modo psicosocial, el auto-concepto se encuentra alterado; así como en el de interdependencia la mayoría de los individuos a veces o nunca recibían soporte familiar, relacionando con un déficit de búsqueda de sistemas de apoyo y el régimen terapéutico.

Clinical Differences Between Single and Multiple Suicide Attempters, Suicide Ideators, and Non-suicidal Inpatients.

Single suicide attempters (SSAs) and multiple suicide attempters (MSAs) represent distinct subgroups of individuals with specific risk factors and clinical characteristics. This retrospective study on a sample of 397 adult psychiatric inpatients analyzed the main sociodemographic and clinical differences between SSAs and MSAs and the possible differences between SSAs, MSAs, and psychiatric patients with and without suicidal ideation (SI). Clinical variables collected included psychiatric diagnoses (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), presence of substance use, current suicide risk status (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), Clinical Global Impression at admission, Global Assessment of Functioning improvement between admission and discharge, age at onset of psychiatric illness, duration of untreated illness in years, number of hospitalizations in psychiatric settings, and lethality of the most severe suicide attempt. A multinomial logistic regression model with groups showed that MSAs had a higher lethality of their last suicide attempt as compared to SSAs. In addition, MSAs had distinct sociodemographic characteristics compared to both SSAs and patients with SI. Although the study was limited by the relatively small sample size and retrospective nature, the present results suggest that identifying MSAs could be useful in predicting suicide risk and designing ad hoc prevention strategies.

Farmers’ health and social insurance perceptions – A case study from a remote rural region in Greece

Abstract The agricultural sector, an important economic sector in Greece, is inextricably faced with health and safety risks, with farmers encountering various health and safety risks in their farming activities. A quantitative survey on a random sample of 263 farmers in a remote Greek region was conducted to achieve the threefold objectives of this work: First, to assess the health and safety hazards associated with the agricultural profession, along with exploring the distinct socio-demographic characteristics of farmers that express job satisfaction and prefer the public health and insurance system; second, to investigate the effectiveness of social policies on health and safety issues confronted by farmers; third, to assess any correlation between job satisfaction and perception of social policy practices. Results indicate that women, younger and highly educated farmers are more optimistic about the agricultural profession and take individual protective measures. Women in their 30s, highly educated and with lower incomes prefer the public health insurance system, whereas the private health and insurance system is the choice of male farmers with high family incomes and large farms. Most farmers have mainly experienced respiratory, ophthalmic and otalgia problems and had more working accidents in comparison to other economic activities.

Can pro-equity hybrid governance shape an egalitarian city? Lessons from post-Katrina New Orleans

ABSTRACT This paper examines how different housing actors (social resilience cells and their partners, institutional structures, neighbourhood communities) in post-Katrina New Orleans have activated their social capital into institutional capital. It uses a critical up-to-date synthesis of social capital enriched by governance theories to investigate how new governance hybridities can be shaped in order to guide the city’s housing redevelopment. Furthermore, the paper seeks to evaluate the potential these governance hybridities have in redeveloping the city toward an egalitarian post-disaster city. By this is meant a city in which all affected neighbourhoods are recognized for their unique housing and social needs as well as for their distinct sociodemographic and physical characteristics, and where different social resilience cells are responsive to the needs of specific communities. The paper examines the unique rebuilding footprint and governance formation potential of eight social resilience cells in New Orleans. The results show that governance-improving fermentations were mostly brought to life by pro-equity and pro-comaterializing social resilience cells and their alliances at the local level during the late recovery years. Nonetheless, the new forms of governance are dominated by the pro-profit political economy paradigm. As such, the potential of the improved governance hybridities in facilitating egalitarian socio-spatial effects has remained moderate.

Characterizing the US Population by Patterns of Mobile Health Use for Health and Behavioral Tracking: Analysis of the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey Data.

BackgroundMultiple types of mobile health (mHealth) technologies are available, such as smartphone health apps, fitness trackers, and digital medical devices. However, despite their availability, some individuals do not own, do not realize they own, or own but do not use these technologies. Others may use mHealth devices, but their use varies in tracking health, behaviors, and goals. Examining patterns of mHealth use at the population level can advance our understanding of technology use for health and behavioral tracking. Moreover, investigating sociodemographic and health-related correlates of these patterns can provide direction to researchers about how to target mHealth interventions for diverse audiences.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify patterns of mHealth use for health and behavioral tracking in the US adult population and to characterize the population according to those patterns.MethodsWe combined data from the 2017 and 2018 National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (N=6789) to characterize respondents according to 5 mutually exclusive reported patterns of mHealth use for health and behavioral tracking: (1) mHealth nonowners and nonusers report not owning or using devices to track health, behaviors, or goals; (2) supertrackers track health or behaviors and goals using a smartphone or tablet plus other devices (eg, Fitbit); (3) app trackers use only a smartphone or tablet; (4) device trackers use only nonsmartphone or nontablet devices and do not track goals; and (5) nontrackers report having smartphone or tablet health apps but do not track health, behaviors, or goals.ResultsBeing in the mHealth nonowners and nonusers category (vs all mHealth owners and users) is associated with males, older age, lower income, and not being a health information seeker. Among mHealth owners and users, characteristics of device trackers and supertrackers were most distinctive. Compared with supertrackers, device trackers have higher odds of being male (odds ratio [OR] 2.22, 95% CI 1.55-3.19), older age (vs 18-34 years; 50-64 years: OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.52-5.30; 65+ years: OR 6.28, 95% CI 3.35-11.79), have an annual household income of US $20,000 to US $49,999 (vs US $75,000+: OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.36-3.91), and have a chronic condition (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.14-2.49). Device trackers also have higher odds of not being health information seekers than supertrackers (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.66-5.33).ConclusionsFindings revealed distinctive sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of the population by pattern of mHealth use, with notable contrasts between those who do and do not use devices to track goals. Several characteristics of individuals who track health or behaviors but not goals (device trackers) are similar to those of mHealth nonowners and nonusers. Our results suggest patterns of mHealth use may inform how to target mHealth interventions to enhance reach and facilitate healthy behaviors.

BEHAVIOR OF DIVERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS CONCERNING DIVING: PILOT STUDY

The aim of the study is to estimate the possible risky behavior of Lithuanian divers and its relation to ear damage as well as identify the opinions of Lithuanian otolaryngologists concerning contraindications and recommendations in the diving field. Material and methods. The authors compiled two separate questionnaires for Lithuanian divers and otolaryngologists; in total, 84 questionnaires were completed. Statistical tests were used to detect the difference among answers of respondents who have distinct sociodemographic characteristics or different diving/consulting experience. Results. It was revealed that 47.5% of divers experienced difficulties while equalizing the air pressure. More than half of the divers (57.9%) ignored this embarrassment and continued diving. Ear pain was felt by 37.5% of the respondents during their diving session. Half of the divers consulted a doctor because of the pain, others did not pay attention and proceeded the diving. The third of the interviewed divers were diving though they had rhinitis. Most of them were diving without any medications. Only 13% of those who experienced dizziness consulted a doctor. Absolute contraindications to dive are a tympanic membrane perforation (90.9%), myringotomy tube inserted into a tympanic membrane (79.5%), and Eustachian tube dysfunction (61.4%); these disorders are most often reported by the interviewed otolaryngologists. In this survey, 61.3% of the otolaryngologists declared they would allow diving if there were no symptoms of vertigo in the past 3–6 months. The opinion of otolaryngologists on diving in the case of acute rhinitis, as well as on the returning to diving after the stapedoplasty, is different; 15% of the interviewed doctors would recommend stopping diving for a definite period. Despite the recommendations of doctors, 17.9% of divers continued to dive. Conclusions. This study shows that the behavior of divers regarding the hearing health is often quite risky. Lithuanian otolaryngologists are lacking consensus of opinion on contraindications for diving.

Variability in Insight Before and After Treatment in Patients with Schizophrenia

Introduction: An important component in the management of schizophrenia is insight. Schizophrenia patients that lack insight have poor clinical outcomes. Chronic patients of chronic schizophrenia lacking insight more often require hospitalisation than those recognising their illness. Poor insight is a good indicator of poor compliance and can predict the prognosis of any psychiatric patient including schizophrenia. Aim: This study was aimed at contrasting the gain in insight after treatment among various sub-groups of patients with schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital, Wradha, Maharashtra. The sample size was collected for a period of 1 year, during which all the patients admitted to the psychiatry ward were screened, of which 100 eligible patients with schizophrenia were identified using prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients of both sexes aged above 18 years and attendants that provided consent were included in the study. The Schedule for Assessment of Insight Scale (SAI) was used to determine the patient’s level of insight. The proportion of patients with distinct socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profile, psychiatric diagnosis and SAI scores were calculated. A paired t-test was used for elaborating the results. The p-value &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: The changes in insight scores from the time of admission (4.15) to the time of discharge (9.28) were statistically significant and similar in both males and females and also results are statistically significant according to marital status. Significant improvement was seen in patients irrespective of their employment status or their educational status. Conclusion: This study showed that the insight changes as the patient improves during the hospital stay. This study highlights that poor insight is commonly seen in psychotic patients and the treatment considerably improves their insight.