Health Education Research Articles

Prevalence of Varicose Veins among Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Study

Abstract Introduction Millions of individuals worldwide spend significant portions of their workdays standing or in static positions, which can pose health risks such as varicose veins. Globally, varicose vein prevalence ranges from 20 to 60%, with women being at two to three times higher risk compared to men. Varicose veins are characterized by dilated, palpable veins with a diameter larger than 3 mm. Nurses face a 16% risk of developing varicose veins, highlighting the importance of health care professionals' well-being for the effective functioning of the health care system. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the prevalence of varicose vein symptoms among nurses. Methods A descriptive prospective study was conducted among 210 nurses with more than 1 year of experience, using purposive sampling. Demographic information and varicose vein symptoms were collected through a self-designed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis. Results The study found that 8.6% of nurses were diagnosed with varicose veins. The majority of participants were female (97.6%) with a normal body mass index (86.7%). Prevalent symptoms included worsened leg pain (77.6%), night cramps (62.4%), and throbbing in lower legs (37.6%). Visible spider veins (19.5%) and other symptoms were reported less frequently. Conclusion A lower prevalence of varicose veins among nurses was identified, possibly due to demographic factors of the study population. It is recommended to conduct health education campaigns tailored for health care professionals, particularly nurses, and implement regular health checkups to screen for varicose veins. These proactive measures are essential for promoting occupational health and ensuring the well-being of the nursing workforce.

Intervention for the Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms to Reduce Caregiver Stress: Protocol for the Mindful and Self-Compassion Care Intervention for Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia.

Stress related to Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) is common, particularly among those who care for persons with challenging behaviors and personality or mood changes. Mindfulness and self-compassion programs are efficacious for managing stress. The skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, however, must be integrated with behavioral management skills in order to effectively improve caregiver stress. In this study, we aimed to describe the development of the Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care (MASC) program, the first program that combines mindfulness and self-compassion with behavioral management skills to decrease caregiver stress, and its evaluation in the Supporting Our Caregivers in ADRD Learning (SOCIAL) study. Using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stage model, we describe 3 phases of work encompassing NIH Stages 1A and 1B. In phase 1, we conducted 5 focus groups (N=28) of stressed individuals caring for persons with ADRD and challenging behaviors. Rapid data analysis informed the development of a 6-week online intervention. Phase 2 (NIH stage 1A) includes an open pilot (N>10) with optional exit interviews. Phase 3 (NIH stage 1B) is a feasibility randomized controlled trial of the intervention versus the Health Education Program control. Primary outcomes focus on feasibility with secondary outcomes encompassing acceptability, credibility, fidelity, and signals of preliminary efficacy. Phase 1 follows traditional recommendations for qualitative analyses (at the point of thematic saturation) which was achieved after 5 focus groups (N=28). For the phase 2 open pilot, up to 12 participants will be recruited. For the phase 3 feasibility study, recruitment of 80 caregivers will allow the assessment of feasibility benchmarks. Data for phase 1 included 5 focus groups. In phases 2 and 3, data collection will occur through REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture; Vanderbilt University) surveys and an optional qualitative exit interview. Analyses will include hybrid inductive-deductive analyses for qualitative data and assessment of changes in our intervention targets and outcomes using t tests and correlation analyses. In phase 1, caregivers reported interest in a brief, online stress management program. Participants held misconceptions about mindfulness and self-compassion, but after detailed explanation thoughts, these skills could be helpful when directly linked to implementation during caregiving routines. Phases 2 and 3 will be completed by the end of 2025. We describe the protocol for the Supporting Our Caregivers in ADRD Learning study, as well as the development and feasibility testing of the Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care intervention. Future work will include a fully powered efficacy-effectiveness randomized controlled trial. ClinicalTrials NCT05847153; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05847153; and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06276023; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06276023. DERR1-10.2196/58356.

Overcoming Barriers to Childhood and Adolescent Vaccination: Opportunities in Precision Health Promotion

Abstract Background Vaccination remains one of the greatest success stories in public health as cost-effective interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases at the population level. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges to the immunization sector. Uptake of routine childhood and adolescent vaccinations was forestalled by challenges related to pandemic lockdowns/quarantine, reduced patient-provider interactions, parental reluctance to seek preventative services, poor access to health services, and loss of income and/or health insurance. Compared to pre-pandemic estimations, the pandemic era brought a consequential decline in coverage of all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This study sought to address suboptimal adolescent vaccine delivery systems and bolster uptake in the post-pandemic era with the introduction of precision health promotion strategies centered around the use of Personal Health Libraries (PHL). Methods Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and semantic web technologies to integrate contextual knowledge (i.e., clinical, biomedical, and SDoH data) with patient preferences, proposed PHL platforms could aid in generating personalized evidence-based recommendations useful to both care provider promotion of vaccination and mitigating patient and caregiver hesitancy. The proposed application stands to provide customized digital health interventions by 1) facilitating remote knowledge acquisition, exchange, and visualization of the benefits of on-time vaccination, 2) improving health information-seeking behaviors to reduce hesitancy, 3) bolstering patient reminder and recall systems for follow-up and series completion, and 4) learning usage patterns to incorporate end-user preferences to empower patients, promote best practices, and enable them to make informed health decisions. Results The proposed PHL would serve as an ecosystem to manage and deliver tailored vaccine-related information to inform health decision-making regarding ACIP-recommended immunizations. Such a resource could administer health education and promotion that addresses common misconceptions regarding vaccination, alleviate safety, efficacy, and side effect concerns, and deliver evidence-based support of vaccines as primary protective measures (i.e., cancer prevention). Conclusion The use of PHL would enable rapid and real-time collection and interpretation of patient data beyond the traditional clinical setting, supplying care providers with tools for optimal vaccination recommendation to bolster uptake in the post-pandemic era. Moreover, the application would enable patients and caregivers to readily access vital health information and play a crucial role in addressing the obstacles encountered when seeking accurate and dependable vaccine-related information.

Connecting the Dots on Female Digital Health Education: A Systematic Review.

Identified barriers to care for common, chronic conditions that impact millions of females suggest that patient education is critical to improving the care experience, expediting a diagnosis, and elevating outcomes. This article aims to understand the efficacy of digital patient education interventions on patient outcomes, specifically those addressing common causes of chronic abnormal uterine bleeding, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and endometriosis. We queried MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for articles published in English between January 1, 2014, and May 1, 2024, on digital patient education and urogenital diseases. The search identified 260 articles, 247 of which were retrieved for title and abstract review, 27 of which were retrieved for full-text review, and 25 of which were excluded. Two studies were included in this review. Both studies were individual-/community-level interventions involving digitally delivered patient education. Participants had received a diagnosis and were engaged in accessing care when enrolled, and each study was conducted at a single site. Both interventions produced positive results. Despite the potential of digital health education to improve patient outcomes, limited research in this field underscores the need for further studies to validate interventions and address gaps in knowledge.

Full title: Video-based approaches in health education: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study evaluates the impact of video-based approaches on health education. PUBMED, Web of Science, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and LILACS databases were searched from their inception until November 2022. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies on interventions were included in this review. Studies were grouped according to their reported learning outcomes. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. Meta-regression analyses were used to explore the effects of confounding variables on the overall estimates. Forty studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that video-based learning (VBL) has a significant effect on ‘knowledge acquisition’ in dentistry (Cohen’s d = 2.18), moderate effect in medicine (Cohen’s d = 0.67); moderate effect on ‘skills development’ in medicine (Cohen’s d = 0.76) and nursing (Cohen’s d = 0.59); overall moderate effect on ‘attitude’ (Cohen’s d = 0.74). Egger’s test was performed to assess potential publication bias. VBL offers a valuable educational tool for knowledge acquisition, skill development, and attitude changes in health education. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are also discussed. To strengthen the evidence base, future research should address the limitations found, such as the high risk of bias (RoB), and employ rigorous study designs when investigating the role of multimedia learning in various academic disciplines.

Understanding health needs of professional truck drivers to inform health services: a pre-implementation qualitative study in a Canadian Province

ObjectivesLong-haul truck drivers experience multiple challenges, including increased health risks. A large percentage of professional truck drivers (PTDs) suffer from numerous chronic physical health conditions such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, sleep disorders, etc.) as well as poor mental health and social challenges. Furthermore, this population experiences numerous barriers related to accessing health care services including primary care and resources to improve their health. PTDs living in rural and remote areas are at higher risk. The objective of this study is to understand the views of PTDs and the trucking industry on health and personalized healthcare interventions and services.MethodsIn-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-six individuals with contextual knowledge and experience in the trucking ecosystem, to better understand the needs, expectations, and preferences of PTDs based in New Brunswick (Canada), related to their health (physical, mental, and social). Analysis of the audiotape recording was conducted using thematic content analysis.ResultsThree major themes emerged from the qualitative analysis describing PTDs’ health needs, existing health and preventive services, as well as recommendations for personalized healthcare interventions and services to be implemented: (1) “My life as a trucker!” Understanding needs and challenges, (2) “Taking care of myself, do you think it is easy while you’re on the road?” Describing drivers and motivators for better health, and (3) “Can you hear what we need?” Translating needs into recommendations for tailored health services and preventative services.ConclusionA highly demanding work environment and lack of timely access to integrated primary care negatively affect PTDs’ health. Results of this study shed light on how to tailor primary care to improve its responsiveness and adequacy to PTDs’ needs and realities. PTDs-sensitive integrated services, including multicomponent interventions (health education, coaching for lifestyle changes, and social support), are still lacking within the New Brunswick health system.

Implementation of Genetic Carrier Screening at Gynecologic-Related Visits

ObjectiveTo increase patients’ knowledge and access to genetic carrier screening (GCS) in a gynecologic setting by implementing a protocol to universally offer GCS education and screening to reproductive-age women during the preconception period at gynecologic-related visits. DesignThe model for improvement quality improvement process model was used to guide this initiative. Local Problem/SettingScreening for genetic disease has been a part of preconception and genetic care for the past 50 years. Despite its longstanding presence and better accessibility and affordability of testing, there are no established protocols to universally offer screening to reproductive-age women during preconception care in the United States. The project was implemented at an outpatient gynecology clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. ParticipantsFifty-one women ages 18 to 51 years. Intervention/MeasurementsA protocol was implemented to universally offer expanded GCS and health education to reproductive-age women during the preconception period at gynecologic-related visits. Women’s responses to being offered GCS and the rationale for their response was documented on a spreadsheet. ResultsAll 51 participants were offered GCS during their visit. None of those 51 participants had any previous knowledge of GCS. All 51 participants declined GCS; reasons included the following: would consider it once closer to childbearing (53%), did not have any childbearing plans (31.3%), did not have any further childbearing plans (9.8%), or were not worried about the possibility of genetic disease (5.8%). None cited cost as a reason for declining GCS. After project completion, 3 of the 51 participants returned to the clinic to undergo GCS, and the clinic has adopted the intervention described here as its standard of care for patients who meet criteria for GCS. ConclusionIt is imperative to provide health education about GCS to women during preconception care so that they can make informed choices about family planning.

Training on producing eucalyptus and betel leaf oil for dengue fever prevention

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) remains a significant public health issue in Indonesia and is endemic in nearly all provinces. The mortality rate from DHF continues to rise each year. To address this, health education on dengue fever prevention is essential. One preventive measure involves the use of natural ingredients. Betel leaves, in particular, can kill mosquito larvae due to the toxic substances they contain, which are especially harmful to mosquito larvae. Therefore, community service activities are necessary to raise awareness and provide practical solutions. This activity was conducted in Jetis Village, Sukoharjo, targeting 30 women in the Family Welfare Program (PKK) from the local community. The implementation included the preparation of pre-tests and post-tests, as well as training sessions. The questionnaire used in this activity assessed participants' skills through a pretest, followed by training in making eucalyptus and betel leaf oil, and concluded with a post-test. The results showed a significant improvement in the participants' skills, with most moving from "moderately competent" to "competent," as indicated by a P-value of 0.001. It can be concluded that the oil-making training effectively improved the skills of the PKK women.

Barriers and enablers to utilisation of postpartum long-acting reversible contraception in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study

IntroductionIn Uganda, although most women wish to delay or prevent future pregnancies, uptake of postpartum family planning (PPFP) is low. We explored behavioural factors influencing the utilisation of postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) in Eastern Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study in two districts of Eastern Uganda. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions with postpartum women, male partners, midwives, and village health team members. We analysed transcripts using framework analysis, based on the COM-B framework.ResultsThe use of immediate postpartum LARC was affected by the capabilities of women in terms of their knowledge and misconceptions. Limited capabilities of health workers to provide counselling and insert IUDs, as well as shortages of implants, reduced the physical opportunites for women to access PPFP. Social opportunities for women were limited because men wanted to be involved in the decision but rarely had time to accompany their partners to health facilities, and health workers often appeared too stressed. Men also feared that PPFP would enable their partners to be unfaithful. Motivation to take up immediate postpartum LARC included the desire to space births, preference for contraceptive implants over intra uterine devices (IUD) at the 6-week postpartum period, resumption of sex and menses, partner support, and perceived effectiveness of postpartum contraception. Participants thought that uptake of immediate postpartum LARC could be improved by health education and outreach visits, male involvement and couples’ counselling in antenatal clinic appointments, and enabling switching between family planning methods (in case of side-effects) .ConclusionLow uptake of PPFP was caused by inadequate knowledge and misconceptions about LARC by women and their partners, insufficient numbers of midwives trained to provide PPFP, stock-outs of PPFP methods, and few social opportunities for couples to be counselled together. These factors could be addressed by scaling up effective, low cost and innovative ways to provide health education (such as films), involving men in decision-making, as well as training more midwives to provide PPFP services, and ensuring that they have sufficient time and supplies.

Meningkatkan Motivasi Belajar Melalui Problem Based Learning Pada Materi Perkelahian Pelajar, Narkoba Dan Khomar Kelas Xi Akl Smk Negeri 3 Seluma

This study aims to improve student learning outcomes on the topics of fighting, drugs, and khamr at SMK Negeri 3 Seluma by applying the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. PBL was chosen for its ability to encourage active student engagement and the application of knowledge in real-life contexts. The research uses a classroom action research design involving two cycles, with each cycle consisting of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection.The subjects of the study are tenth-grade students at SMK Negeri 3 Seluma, with a focus on teaching materials related to fighting, drugs, and khamr. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and pre- and post-implementation learning tests. The results indicate that the implementation of the PBL method significantly improved students' understanding of the taught material. Students showed improvements in their ability to analyze real-life cases, make better decisions, and increase their awareness of the impacts of fighting, drugs, and khamr.Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the Problem-Based Learning method is effective in enhancing student learning outcomes on social and health-related topics. The study recommends a broader application of the PBL method across various teaching materials to improve students' critical thinking skills and awareness in the context of health and social education.

Commentary: The integration of sleep health education into diabetes care for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

Commentary: The integration of sleep health education into diabetes care for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

The women's cardiovascular disease risk perception after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A qualitative meta-synthesis

BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, but studies suggest that women with previous hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are not aware of this. Little is known about how these women perceive the condition and the associated long-term risks. ObjectivesThis study aims to examine and synthesize qualitative evidence on the perceptions and awareness of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy following perceived cardiovascular disease risk. MethodsComputer searches of Pub Med, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, Wanfang database, Vip and SinoMed for all qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. The time frame for the search was from the establishment of the database to April 2024. Literature quality was assessed using the Australian Joanna Briggs Institute Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care Qualitative Research quality assessment criteria, and results were summarised and integrated using a pooled integration approach. ResultsEleven studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and quality assessment were included in the meta synthesis. Three themes were identified during the analysis: (1)Factors affecting perceived cardiovascular risk in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; (2)Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy use different strategies to cope with cardiovascular risk; (3)Needs and expectations for coping with cardiovascular disease risk. ConclusionsBoth women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and healthcare providers lack knowledge of the link between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular risk. Healthcare professionals should establish a multidimensional support model, pay timely attention to postpartum women's psycho-emotional and risk awareness, and give individualised health education to promote health behaviour change. At the same time, professionals should be given standardised training and personalised follow-up services to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the future.

Risk factors of foodborne parasitic diseases still remain in China: a WeChat-based knowledge, attitudes, and practices study

ObjectiveWith the progress of economic globalization and food diversification, foodborne parasitic diseases pose a significant public health challenge in China. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding foodborne parasitic diseases among the Chinese population via WeChat, which is a promising tool for disease surveillance and health education.MethodsUsing a questionnaire, this cross-sectional study was conducted on September 25, 2023. Participants completed a structured questionnaire by scanning a QR code provided in a tweet from the WeChat official account of the Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Disease. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to explore potential independent determinants of adequate knowledge of foodborne parasitic diseases, and the positive attitude and good practice rates of the participants were calculated.ResultsIn total, 5,675 valid questionnaires were collected via the WeChat official account. Most participants (79.91%) fell within the age range of 20–40 years, with a higher representation of males (53.18%), and 89.80% were of Han Chinese ethnicity. It was found that 76.65% of the participants had adequate level of knowledge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals of Hui nationality (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40–0.81, p = 0.002), clinicians (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.19, p < 0.001), teachers (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34–0.69, p < 0.001), and government staff (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.30–0.53, p < 0.001) had significantly higher levels of knowledge. Among the participants, 33.9% reported consuming raw fish or drunken shrimp, 10.6% would still try to consume raw fish despite the risk of parasitic infection, and 84.1% did not use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods in their kitchens.ConclusionsAlthough majority of the Chinese public (76.65%) demonstrates adequate level of knowledge on foodborne parasitic diseases, there is a need to enhance personal hygiene practices and dietary habits, particularly the utilization of distinct cutting boards and the consumption of raw fish. A WeChat official account is an accessible tool for spreading foodborne parasitic diseases related health information to the public. WeChat-based health education should be implemented to enhance public awareness regarding the prevention and control of foodborne parasitic diseases.

Effectiveness of community-based Baduanjin exercise intervention for older adults with varying frailty status: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDue to poorer exercise tolerance, it may be challenging for frail older adults to engage in moderate- or vigorous-intensity exercise. While low-intensity exercise interventions may be more feasible, its effectiveness for such population group remains unclear. We examined the effectiveness and implementation of community-based Baduanjin Qigong, a low-intensity exercise program in older adults with varying frailty status.MethodsA two-arm, multicenter assessor-blind parallel group randomized controlled trial was conducted at three local senior activity centers. Fifty-six community-dwelling older adults with low handgrip strength were randomly allocated to either the intervention (IG) or wait-list control (CG) group. The IG underwent a supervised 16-week Baduanjin exercise program at a frequency of 2–3 × 60 min sessions/week. The CG was instructed to maintain their usual activity and received a monthly health education talk. The primary outcome measures were knee extension strength, vital exhaustion, and fear of falling. Secondary outcome measures include physiological falls risk, handgrip strength, gait speed, timed up and go test, 30-second sit-to-stand, quality of life, depression, and frailty. All outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 4-month follow-up.ResultsOverall, there were no statistically significant differences in all outcome measures between CG and IG at 4-month follow-up. However, in exploratory compliance analysis, a statistically significant group x time interaction was found for vital exhaustion (B = -3.65, 95% CI [-7.13, -0.16], p = .047) among participants with at least 75% attendance. In post-hoc within-group comparisons, IG showed improved vital exhaustion by 4.31 points (95% CI [1.41, 7.20], d = 0.60). The average participant attendance rate was 81.3%. No major adverse events occurred, and all participants reported positive experiences with the exercise intervention.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that Baduanjin is a safe, feasible, and acceptable exercise program that can be successfully implemented in community settings for older adults with varying frailty status. With good adherence, Baduanjin exercise could potentially be effective in alleviating vital exhaustion. However, the effectiveness of Baduanjin on physical performance, psychological measures and frailty in community-dwelling older adults remains equivocal.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04549103. Registered September 16, 2020.

A multisite feasibility study of integrated cognitive-behavioral treatment for co-existing nocturia and chronic insomnia.

Nocturia (waking from sleep at night to void) and chronic insomnia frequently co-exist in older adults, contributing synergistically to sleep disturbance. Treatments typically target either nocturia or insomnia rather than simultaneously addressing shared mechanisms for these disorders. We conducted a multisite feasibility study to: (1) test and refine a protocol for recruitment, randomization, and assessment of older adults with co-existing nocturia and insomnia; and (2) examine preliminary changes in outcome measures to inform a future larger, multisite clinical trial. Participants were men and women aged 60 years and older recruited from outpatient clinics, reporting an average of two or more nocturia episodes per night over the past 4 weeks and meeting diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia disorder. Participants were randomized to receive either integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia and nocturia or a health education control program involving five weekly visits with a trained nurse practitioner interventionist. Outcomes (e.g., nocturia episodes) were measured 1-week post-treatment and 4-month post-randomization. Descriptive statistics examined the feasibility of outcomes to guide preparations for a future efficacy trial. Of 245 adults screened, 55% were ineligible and 25% declined to participate. Sixty-one percent of 49 participants who provided informed consent were randomized. Of the 30 participants randomized (mean age = 70.6 years, 60% White), 14 were assigned to integrated cognitive-behavioral treatment and 16 to the control group. All randomized participants provided 4-month follow-up data. At 4 months, mean nightly nocturia episodes decreased by 0.9 (SD 1.0) in the integrated treatment group and by 0.2 (SD 1.2) in the control group compared with baseline. Findings demonstrate the feasibility of recruiting, randomizing, and collecting outcome data from older adults (predominantly male) assigned to an integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for coexisting insomnia and nocturia or a health education control program.

Decreased prevalence of alcohol use and related sociodemographic factors in an urban district of Shanghai, China: Evidence from three cross-sectional surveys (2010–2021)

BackgroundAlcohol use contributes considerably to the global impact of disease. However, limited research has been conducted recently to explore the changes in the prevalence of alcohol use, especially in urban Shanghai, China. ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence changes of alcohol use and explore related sociodemographic factors among urban residents of Xuhui district, Shanghai, China. MethodsUsing a multistage probability proportionate-to-size sampling method, three waves of household investigations via a structured questionnaire were conducted in Xuhui district, Shanghai, China, between 2010 and 2021. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews among residents aged 15 or older who responded to the 2010, 2015, and 2021 Health Status and Health Service Utilization Survey. Age and sex standardized prevalence of alcohol use was calculated, and the linear trend was tested using logistic regression models. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models with robust covariance matrix estimators were used to estimate related factors of alcohol use. ResultsA total of 24 552 participants aged 15–109 years were included. The standardized overall prevalence of current regular alcohol use statistically declined from 8.8 % in 2010 to 5.5 % in 2021. This decreasing trend was statistically significant, especially among men aged 30–59 and ≥ 75 years old. However, the prevalence of overall alcohol use, regardless of frequency, increased from 19.6 % in 2015 to 24.0 % in 2021. Multivariate regression analysis showed that men had a significantly higher likelihood of regular alcohol use than women. Also, age was positively related to regular alcohol use, while education level was negatively related to this behavior. ConclusionsAlcohol use was still common, although a significant decreasing trend in the prevalence of regular alcohol use was observed overall, in this study population. The findings call for strengthened health education and alcohol control in the context of the harmful effects of alcohol use at any level.

RePAIRing the student nurse journey: empowering interrupted students through innovative support strategies.

This article reports on a study that evaluated an innovative 6-week summer returners' programme, part of the Health Education England RePAIR project, designed to support nursing students who have interrupted their studies. Held from May to July 2022, the programme addressed diverse needs through academic guidance, mental health and resilience workshops, creative arts, professional identity development, and practical nursing skills training. The programme ran alongside support from the programme team, student engagement services, and ongoing communication via phone and email. Despite non-mandatory sessions leading to varying attendance, the combined efforts facilitated the return of 67 out of 135 interrupted students. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: anticipation and fear, making contact and reaching out, preparing for return, and psychological wellbeing. The programme's effectiveness underscores the necessity of tailored support strategies to enhance retention and wellbeing. This innovative approach highlights the importance of personalised support in aiding nursing students' return to education and addressing nursing workforce shortages.

Exploring Research Trends on Digital Health in Nursing Science in Korea: A Topic Modeling Approach.

Digital health technology is utilized in contemporary nursing practice and education. This review explored the scope of digital health applications and major trends in nursing research involving digital health in Korea using topic modeling. Our analysis of data using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model identified four distinct research topics: nursing education using digital technologies (35.17%), hospital-based nursing practice using digital technologies (19.88%), digital technologies for health education (25.75%), and development of digital technologies to support self-management of chronic conditions (19.20%). Our findings reveal trends, current issues, and gaps in digital health nursing research.

Learning About Mental Health Lived Experience in Social Work Education

ABSTRACT Lived experience education occupies an increasingly important space in mental health education for social workers. Despite being plagued by practices that continue to be discriminating and exclusionary, the mental health policy and practice context demand robust attention to the meaningful inclusion of service users and their families to achieve genuine partnership, reciprocity, and equality in mental health service provision. For social work educators, lived experience education is now an indispensable component of a critically informed mental health curriculum and pedagogy. Framed within an appeal for epistemic justice, this article reports on qualitative survey data from social work students who experienced teaching from people with lived experience. Findings show that students greatly valued lived experience education, as it created opportunities for authentic and more diverse understandings of mental health that fostered critical reflection. A curriculum that supports epistemic equality and a social justice agenda would help scaffold lived experience expertise for student learning. IMPLICATIONS Mental health lived experience education positively impacts social work students’ values and attitudes towards mental health service users. Lived experience education supports social work students to expand their understandings of mental health and recovery beyond dominant biomedical perspectives. Genuine valuing of lived experience knowledge and expertise in social work education helps address epistemic injustice.

The Effect of Occupational Safety and Health Counseling on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at the Special UPTD of the Medan Hajj Hospital

The development of occupational safety and health science in the work environment can be seen with the development of advanced science and technology as well as the emergence of new innovations in the work environment and encouraging companies to improve the knowledge and skills of their human resources. The purpose of this study is to determine the Influence of Occupational Safety and Health Education (K3) on the Behavior of Using Personal Protective Equipment at the Special UPTD of Haji Medan Hospital. This research includes quasi-experimental research. This study uses a one group pretest and pottest design. The population in this study is emergency room nurses at the Special UPTD of Haji Medan Hospital which totals 50 nurses in June-August 2024. The sampling technique in this study is total sampling. The measuring tool in this study uses a univariate and bivariate distribution of non-parametric data with the Wilcoxon test. The results of the Wilcoxon statistical test of both knowledge and attitude obtained a P-value of 0.000. This means that at alpha 5% there is a significant difference in median score between before and after counseling. Meanwhile, in the aspect of action, there was an increase in the number of PPE users between before and after counseling. Because the results of Asymp.Sig of knowledge, attitudes and actions are less than 0.05, H0 is rejected so that there is an influence of occupational health and safety counseling (K3) on the behavior of using PPE. In conclusion, there is an influence of Occupational Safety and Health Counseling (K3) on the behavior of using personal protective equipment at the Special UPTD of Haji Medan Hospital. The suggestions are expected to increase the frequency of counseling and provide information on the importance of using personal protective equipment in the workplace, provide strict sanctions against nurses who do not use personal protective equipment at work, increase the frequency.