Environmental Domains Research Articles

Morally charged: Why people prefer to compare themselves with others who are less environmentally friendly than themselves

In daily life, individuals compare their environmental behavior with specific others (e.g., friends, coworkers). We hypothesized that these moment-to-moment environmental social comparisons tend to be predominantly downward due to the moral nature of this domain. Three studies, including an experience sampling study, supported this hypothesis. Participants predominantly compared downward (vs. upward, Study 1, and vs. other common domains, Studies 2 and 3). This downward comparison tendency was partially explained by morality. Delving deeper into the emotional and motivational consequences of this tendency, in Study 3, participants reported more pride and (in part) more guilt regarding their environmental behavior compared with other domains. The motivational picture was mixed, with participants reporting more coasting but also more self-improvement motivation in the environmental domain, thus potentially still recognizing the importance of changing to a more pro-environmental lifestyle. Therefore, emphasizing upward comparisons in intervention studies could motivate environmental actions beyond people's satisfaction with their achievements.

Environmental Accounting and Sustainability: Bibliometric Analysis and Documentary Review of Scientific Production, Period 2015-2024

The purpose was to describe global scientific and literary outputs, on different aspects around environmental accounting (EA) and sustainability in environmental, business and policy domains, between 2015 and 2024. This was achieved through a quantitative characterization of publications. The methodology used took as referent aspects for the analysis: focus, units, topics, country, authorship, citations and journals, these a descriptive and reflexive documentary study of the scientific literature, based on the collection of papers in Scopus and the use of VOSviewer. The materials were selected according to various criteria, including keywords such as "environmental accounting" and "sustainability", limited to fields such as: business, management and accounting, during the period from 2015 to 2024. The result included the identification of 54 texts, with the years with the highest number of publications being 2015 with 25.8% and 2018 with 19.7% of the total number of documents. Regarding the approaches, a predominant orientation towards the qualitative paradigm was observed, with 70%, compared to the quantitative one, with 32%. The most common types were exploratory (65%), descriptive (20%) and correlational (3%). As for the units, the majority focused on inquiries in companies with 52%, divided between large companies (57%) and MSMEs (11%). In turn, the sectors most frequently observed were tertiary (48%), followed by secondary (34%) and primary (2%). The origin of most of the studies was the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Italy. Finally, the limitations found were mainly related to the methodological approach, the inclusion of only one database, which could have excluded relevant studies not indexed in this one.

Association of categorical diagnoses and psychopathologies with quality of life in patients with depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveMajor depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders, and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) are associated with quality of life (QoL) reduction. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between these conditions as categorical diagnoses and related psychopathologies with QoL, recognizing their frequent overlap. MethodsWe recruited a total of 403 clinical patients and healthy individuals, administering diagnostic interviews based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. QoL and psychopathologies were assessed using the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and several self-administered questionnaires, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses examined the associations between psychiatric diagnoses, psychopathologies, and QoL. ResultsSSD and MDD were independently associated with impaired global (β = −0.318 and − 0.287) and all QoL domains (β = −0.307, −0.150, −0.125, and − 0.133, in physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains respectively for SSD; β = −0.278, −0.344, −0.275, and − 0.268 for MDD). The Beck Depression Inventory-II score showed pervasive associations with QoL (β = −0.390, −0.408, −0.685, −0.463, and − 0.420, in global, physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains). The Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and Health Anxiety Questionnaire scores were associated with global (β = −0.168 and − 0.181) and physical (β = −0.293 and − 0.121) QoL domain, while the Cognitions About Body and Health Questionnaire score was only associated with environmental QoL domain (β = −0.157). ConclusionSSD and MDD were independently associated with QoL impairment. Depressive symptoms were associated with all QoL domains, whereas somatic symptom burden and health anxiety primarily affected the physical QoL domain. Clinicians should consider concomitant psychopathologies when managing patients with depression, anxiety, or somatic symptoms.

HydroRTC: A web-based data transfer and communication library for collaborative data processing and sharing in the hydrological domain

The exponential growth in data generated by satellites, radars, sensors, and analysis and reanalysis from model outputs for the hydrological domain requires efficient real-time data management and distribution mechanisms. This paper introduces HydroRTC, a web-based data transfer and communication library designed to accelerate large-scale data sharing and analysis. Leveraging next-generation web technologies like WebSockets, WebRTC and Node.js, the library enables seamless peer-to-peer sharing, smart data transmission, and large dataset streaming. Three primary scenarios are presented as use cases, demonstrating the potential of HydroRTC as server-to-peer with intelligent data scheduling and large data streaming, peer-to-peer data sharing, and peer-to-server for data exchange. HydroRTC offers a promising solution for collaborative infrastructures in the hydrological and environmental domain, allowing real-time and high-throughput data sharing and transfer for enhancing research efficiency and collaboration capabilities.

Understanding the factors that influence CT utilization for mild traumatic brain injury in a low resource setting - a qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework

IntroductionIn low resource settings (LRS), utilization of Computed Tomography scan (CTS) for mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) presents unique challenges and considerations given the limited infrastructure, financial resources, and trained personnel. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) offers a comprehensive theoretical lens to explore factors influencing the decision-making to order CTS for mTBI by imaging referrers (IRs). ObjectivesThe primary objective was to explore IRs’ beliefs about factors influencing CT utilization in mTBIs using TDF in Uganda.Differences in the factors influencing CTS ordering behavior across specialties, levels of experience, and hospital category were also explored. Materials and MethodsIn-depth semi-structured interviews guided by TDF were conducted among purposively selected IRs from 6 tertiary public and private hospitals with functional CTS services. A thematic analysis was performed with codes and emerging themes developed based on the TDF. ResultsEleven IRs including medical officers, non-neurosurgeon specialists and neurosurgeons aged on average 42 years (SD+/-12.3 years) participated.Identified factors within skills domain involved IRs’ clinical assessment and decision-making abilities, while beliefs about capabilities and consequences encompassed their confidence in diagnostic abilities and perceptions of CTS risks and benefits. The environmental context and resources domain addressed the availability of CT scanners and financial constraints. The knowledge domain elicited IRs’ understanding of clinical guidelines and evidence-based practices while social influences considered peer influence and institutional culture. For memory, attention & decision processes domain, IRs adherence to guidelines and intentions to order CT scans were cited. ConclusionUsing TDF, IRs identified several factors believed to influence decision making to order CTS in mTBI in a LRS. The findings can inform stakeholders to develop targeted strategies and evidence-based interventions to optimize CT utilization in mTBI such as; educational programs, workflow modifications, decision support tools, and infrastructure improvements, among others.

Decoding the impact of night/day shiftwork on well-being among healthcare workers

This study delved into the complex effects of work schedules on the well-being of healthcare professionals, spotlighting Nigeria’s medical landscape. A diverse cohort of 387 participants, spanning doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians or scientists, formed the research base, with the majority being women (67.7%), with a mean age of 34.67 years. Professionals self-reported their predominant schedules to gauge work patterns, classifying them as day or night shifts. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) tool assessed the quality of life across the physical, psychological, social relationship, and environmental domains. Psychological distress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS), and perceived social support was evaluated via the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). A cross-sectional design was adopted, and the study employed moderated mediation analysis using SmartPLS 4.0. The results underscored the significant ramifications of night shifts on environmental and physical well-being. Psychological health and social relationships were better among day shift than night shift workers. There was a pronounced correlation between night shifts and heightened levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. The mediating role of psychological distress and the moderating influence of social support in these relationships were evident. This study offers invaluable insights into the role of work schedules in shaping the well-being of healthcare professionals, emphasising the protective role of social support and the unique challenges faced by migrant health workers.

The role of taxation in an integrated economic-environmental model: a dynamical analysis

AbstractWe propose a model with economic and environmental domains that interact with each other. The economic sphere is described by a Solow growth model, in which productivity is not exogenous but negatively affected by the stock of pollution that stems from the production process. A regulator can charge a tax on production, and the resources collected from taxation are used to reduce pollution. The resulting model consists of a two dimensional discrete dynamical system, and we study the role of taxation from both a static and a dynamical point of view. The focus is on the determination of the conditions under which taxation has a positive effect on the environment and leads to economic growth. Moreover, we show that a suitable environmental policy can allow recovering both local and global stability of the steady states. On the contrary, we show that, if the policy is not adequate, the system can exhibit endogenous oscillating and chaotic behavior and multistability phenomena.

Exploring the Quality of Life (QOL) of medical students in Karachi, Pakistan

BackgroundThe pursuit of medical and dental education is challenging and can affect the overall quality of life of medical students. Assessing the quality of life of medical students is the first step in the preparation of efficient future health care professionals. This study used the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) to evaluate the quality of life of medical and dental students in Karachi, Pakistan.ObjectivesThe study objectives include: assessing the QoL of medical and dental students and their general health satisfaction and self-satisfaction.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 medical and dental students from different medical and dental schools in Karachi, Pakistan. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess QOL, which included 26 items covering four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. All scores for the domains ranged from 4 to 20. Scoring was done according to the WHOQOL-BREF procedure manual. The questionnaire was disseminated to medical students using Google Forms. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Cronbach’s alpha and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test were used to evaluate the reliability and sampling adequacy of the data for factor analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed for each variable and QoL domain, including frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviations. Domain scores were compared using a t-test and one-way ANOVA, with p-values less than 0.05, indicating statistical significance.ResultsAmong the 344 medical students, 56.7% (n = 195) were female and 43.3% (n = 149) were male. The WHOQOL-BREF demonstrated excellent reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.918. Most medical students rated their overall QOL (62.2%) and health satisfaction (46.8%) as good, and were able to get around well (71.3%). No significant sex differences were found across the various QOL domains. Marital status significantly affected QOL scores (p < 0.005). Single students had significantly higher QOL scores than married/separated/divorced students did. Overall, the environmental domain had the highest mean score (26.81 ± 6.17), while social relationships had the lowest mean score (9.68 ± 2.93).ConclusionThe findings of this study provide valuable insights into the QoL of medical and dental students. Most participants reported moderate satisfaction with their physical health and lower satisfaction with the psychological, social, and environmental components of QoL. Marital status was found to significantly impact the QoL as compared to single students with greater QoL. These findings can help form targeted interventions to enhance medical students’ quality of life and prepare efficient future healthcare professionals.

Sexual Harassment Among Chinese Psychiatrists and Its Impact on Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Sexual harassment (SH) is a prevalent issue in various professional fields worldwide. The current study aims to investigate the incidence of SH targeting psychiatrists in China and explore its impact on quality of life (QOL). A consecutive recruitment of 1093 psychiatrists was conducted from 6 hospitals in China. The recorded data included participants' socio-demographic characteristics, experiences of workplace SH within the previous year, and their QOL. SH comprised verbal harassment, physical harassment, and displaying of sexual organs. The Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was employed to assess QOL. We compared the demographic characteristics and QOL between the SH group and the non-SH group. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent demographic correlates of SH. In total, 13.8% (n = 151) of the psychiatrists reported SH, with 5.8% reporting it once, 4.4% reporting it twice, and 3.6% reporting it three times or more. Psychiatrists who had encountered SH exhibited lower QOL across social, psychological, physical, and environmental domains. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that young physicians and those with shorter work experience had a higher likelihood of experiencing SH. The high prevalence of SH among Chinese psychiatrists is of concern. Given its detrimental effects on the well-being of physicians and the quality of medical care they provide, it is crucial to develop specialized employee training programs for this population to effectively manage workplace SH.

Respectful maternity care during childbirth: Experiences and observation among mothers in a tertiary-care institute in Manipur.

Respectful maternity care (RMC) refers to the humane and dignified treatment of a childbearing woman throughout her pregnancy, childbirth and immediate postpartum period. Disrespect and abuse of women during labour, childbirth and immediate postpartum period in health facilities is one of the reasons which deter them from further utilizing maternal healthcare services. The present study was thus undertaken to determine to what extent RMC practices are being followed in a health facility in Manipur. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to August 2022 in a Health facility among women coming for institutional delivery along with direct observations of the labour room. The study tool comprises a semistructured questionnaire related to respectful maternity care which was adapted from the Person-Centered Maternity Care Scale, a validated instrument. The direct observation method was carried out using a checklist adapted from a standardized tool developed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Descriptive statistics were generated and approval of the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. A total of 336 (99.1%) women reported at least one form of disrespect or abuse during childbirth. Maximum abuse (91.4%) was reported in the facility and environment domain. Direct observation done on 22 deliveries in the labour room found that 72.7% of the women experienced at least one form of disrespect and abuse. Two (9.1%) women were observed to face physical force or abusive behaviour. Almost all the women reported at least one form of disrespect or abuse during childbirth. There is a need to improve the health facilities and women need to be treated with dignity and respect as it is being violated according to the findings in many studies as with ours.

Exploring indicators of system-of-systems resilience: outcomes of a health systems design workshop at an international conference

AbstractThis contribution departs from an existing model, the Design Framework for Systems-of-Systems Resilience, to explore systems resilience issues across the health, environmental, and economic domains. The reported research activities include 1) a rapid review to collect a set of systems indicators and 2) a design workshop employing causal loop diagramming to map expected causal influences between indicators. Through this exercise, we examine key themes in this research domain and outline directions for further enquiry, while involving members of the design research community in an open dialogue.

Quality-of-Life Instruments and Nutrition Screening Tools

Background Quality of life (QoL) is critical for healthy aging—both for older adults and for healthcare providers/health systems. Eating and nutritious food are essential for older adults to remain healthy/independent and maintain good nutrition status and also provide pleasure and enhance QoL. However, research on nutrition and QoL is limited, including for building understanding of the relationship between nutrition and QoL and of the instruments and tools used to help develop a research framework and evaluate the impact of United States community nutrition programs/services on QoL. Objectives The first objective is to review overlaps/gaps in previously identified/validated QoL instruments and nutrition screening tools used in research with community-living older adults and then, second, to use these findings to suggest opportunities for further research and implications for developing US health and nutrition policies/programs supporting healthy aging. Methods Twenty validated QoL instruments were reviewed to determine if they included nutrition-related items that corresponded to 8 QoL domains (physical health, emotional state, mental health, social connection, environment, personhood, autonomy, and spiritual feeling). Sixteen validated nutrition screening tools were reviewed to determine if any of their nutrition items corresponded with these same 8 QoL domains. Results Of the 20 QoL instruments reviewed, 75% included at least 1 nutrition-related item, most commonly fitting into the autonomy (n = 11), physical health (n = 7), social connection (n = 3), environment (n = 3), emotional state (n = 2), mental health (n = 2), and personhood (n = 1) domains, with none in the spiritual feeling domain. All 16 nutrition screening tools included at least 1 nutrition-related item corresponding to a QoL domain, most commonly the physical health (n = 16) domain. Other QoL domains represented by nutrition items in nutrition screening tools were autonomy (n = 9), emotional state (n = 5), social connection (n = 5), environment (n = 4), and mental health (n = 3). Commonalities existed between QoL instruments and nutrition screening tools in types of nutrition-related items included, but there were many inconsistencies/gaps. Conclusions Nutrition items corresponding to different QoL domains are found inconsistently among validated QoL instruments and nutrition screening tools. Nutrition can be potentially modified to benefit healthy aging and QoL outcomes; findings present opportunities for further research to help increase understanding of the relationship between QoL and nutrition and the effectiveness of nutrition interventions, as well as to help advance US policy development and programs supporting healthy aging.

Exploring factors influencing the health-related quality of life of tuberculosis patients: a WHOQOL-BREF-based study

As a chronic illness, tuberculosis is known to negatively affect patients' day-to-day functioning. Therefore, evaluating all aspects of their health is imperative to improve their quality of life. The current study was conducted to assess the quality of life of patients receiving tuberculosis therapy and to identify the associated risk factors. A prospective, cross-sectional study of six months was planned and conducted in 66 Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected patients who justified the pre-defined inclusion criteria. All pertinent data about the patients were collected in a precisely created data collection form. Further, the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients’ quality of life. Of the 66 patients who were enrolled, 42 (63.6%) were male, and 14 (21.2%) belonged to the age group of 61-70 years. The domains of physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment had mean scores of 46.76±20.15 standard deviation (SD), 55.02±16.12 SD, 54.83±13.91 SD, and 64.92±14.59 SD, respectively. All four quality-of-life domains were found to have statistically significant associations with a variety of sociodemographic and treatment-related variables. This study gives healthcare practitioners an insight into the need to evaluate patients' health-related quality of life, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses.

노화불안의 척도 개발 및 타당화

This study aimed to analyze the actual contents of elderly people's anxiety about aging, develop a tool to measure aging anxiety based on this analysis, and validate it. Based on the factors of aging anxiety obtained through the analysis of existing scales for aging anxiety, the analysis of literature related to aging and aging anxiety, and in-depth interviews with 15 elderly participants in the "Senior Culture Leisure Total Service Program," 45 preliminary items consisting of 5 domains and 11 factors were selected. As a result of conducting face-to-face and online surveys targeting 50 to 59-year-old pre-elderly individuals and 216 elderly individuals aged 60 and older living in D, G, and I cities, the final sample of 200 respondents was selected. To validate the obtained data, a series of exploratory factor analyses, confirmatory factor analyses, and a concurrent validity analysis were conducted. As a result of the analyses, 10 aging anxiety factors corresponding to physical, psychological, social, environmental, and existential domains were identified, including health loss, attractiveness loss, cognitive function loss, emotional changes, material loss, relationship loss, role loss, loss of meaning in life, death anxiety, and contextual maladjustment. Furthermore, these aging anxiety factors showed relatively high positive correlations with the factors of "life stress" selected as criteria for concurrent validity verification. It is expected that the aging anxiety assessment developed and validated in this study will help to diagnose the factors of psychological anxiety in the elderly more precisely and contribute to providing adaptive counseling support for the elderly.

Measuring the effects of nurse-led frailty intervention on community-dwelling older people in Ethiopia: a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundDespite the critical need, interventions aimed at frailty in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce, attributed to factors such as insufficient healthcare infrastructure, the pressing need to address infectious diseases, maternal and child health issues, and a general lack of awareness. Hence, the aim of this research was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effect of a nurse-led program on frailty and associated health outcomes in community-dwelling older individuals in Ethiopia.MethodsThis study utilised a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up single-group quasi-experimental design. The main outcome measure was to determine changes in the frailty levels of older individuals living in communities at three different intervals: initially (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and 12 weeks following the intervention (T2). Secondary outcomes were the observed changes in daily living activities, nutritional status, depression levels, and quality of life (QOL), evaluated at each of these data collection points. To analyse changes in frailty and response variables over these periods, Friedman’s ANOVA and Cochran’s Q test were employed, setting the threshold for statistical significance at P < 0.05.ResultsSixty-six older people with a high adherence rate of 97% completed the intervention and the follow-up measurements. Participants had an average age of 66.7 ± 7.9 years, with females comprising 79.4% of the group. Notably, 12 weeks post-intervention, there was a marked decrease in frailty (χ2(2) = 101.05, p < 0.001) and depression scores (χ2(2) = 9.55, p = 0.008) compared to the baseline. However, the changes in depression, physical, mental, and environmental domains of QOL were not sustained for 12 weeks post-intervention. Study participants showed an improvement in nutritional status (χ2(2) = 25.68, p < 0.001), activity of daily living (χ2(2) = 6.00, p = 0.05), and global quality of life (χ2(2) = 20.64, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe nurse-led intervention notably, 12 weeks post-intervention reduced frailty and depression. The intervention improved the nutritional status and some components of the quality of life of the participants. There is a need for further studies, especially with larger participant groups and stronger research designs such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05754398 (03/03/2023).

Psychometric properties of the Arabic Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-A)

Background Occupational balance (OB) is a desirable outcome of rehabilitation because it is related to various health indices. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) is a self-report measure of occupational balance. Aims/Objectives To examine the test-retest reliability, participant-level content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity of an Arabic occupational balance questionnaire (OBQ11-A). Materials and Methods A total of 103 participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Test-retest reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients, participant-level content validity using percentage of agreement in survey questions, construct validity using factor analysis, internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha, and convergent validity by examining associations with quality-of-life. Results Intraclass Correlation Coefficient values for the total OBQ11-A scores and individual items were greater than 0.7 between the test and retest. The majority of respondents endorsed the relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility of the OBQ11-A. Cronbach’s alpha for the OBQ11-A total score was 0.899. Nine of the 11 OBQ11-A items had factor loadings greater than 0.7. Moderate associations were found between the total OBQ11-A scores and physical health (n = 101; ρ = .52, p < .001), psychological health (n = 101; ρ = .49, p < .001), social relationships (n = 101; ρ = .36, p < .001), and environmental domains (n = 101; ρ = .57, p < .001) of the quality-of-life measure. Conclusions OBQ11-A demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties for research purposes.

The quality of nursing care from the perspective of hospitalized school-age children

PurposeHospitalized children’s satisfaction with the care they receive is the main indicator for evaluating the way nurses should provide services and the quality of these services. The current study aimed to examine school-aged children's perceptions of nursing care quality. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 144 children aged 7–11 years were selected through a convenience sampling method. The data collection tool included The Child Care Quality at Hospital Questionnaire, and the personal- and family-related and disease-related factors questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression test were used for data analysis. ResultsBased on the findings, the highest score of nursing care quality was related to characteristics domain (13 ± 1.7). In addition, the children's age, father's education and history of hospitalization were related to nurses' characteristics domain; mother's education and length of hospital stay were related to nursing activities domain; and mother's education, father's occupation and length of hospital stay were related to nursing environment domain. ConclusionThe results of the present study showed that children's nurses can provide better quality care to children by paying attention to nurses' characteristics and then the scope of activities and care environment. Practice implicationsConsidering the factors affecting the nursing care quality, a conscious step should also be taken for strategic planning of care.

Exploring the Nexus: Economics of Happiness and Quality of Life in College Students

A happy person will have a more active lifestyle, better career opportunities, and promote a more productive, cohesive, and lasting sustainable society. India is noted for having one of the world’s youngest populations. India has more than fifty percent of the population under 25. The primary objective of this study is to explore the levels of happiness and quality of life among college students in rural and urban areas of Karnataka. The sample comprises college students aged 18 to 25, drawn from different rural and urban colleges in Karnataka using a stratified random sampling method: the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for data collection. The collected data underwent analysis using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. It was observed in the present study that there was no significant difference between rural and urban students in Physical and Psychological quality of life. Results also indicate that in Social and Environmental domains urban students are better than rural students. The study revealed a significant relationship between happiness and different quality of life domains among urban and rural college students

Principles and practices of antimicrobial stewardship programs in Korea.

This review addresses the escalating challenge posed by antibiotic resistance, highlighting its profound impact on global public health, including increased mortality rates and healthcare expenditures. The review focuses on the need to adopt the One Health approach to effectively manage antibiotic usage across human, animal, and environmental domains. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are considered as comprehensive strategies that encompass both core and supplementary initiatives aimed at enhancing prudent antibiotic use. The 2021 "Guidelines on Implementing ASP in Korea" introduced such strategies, with a strong emphasis on fostering multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts. Furthermore, the "Core Elements for Implementing ASPs in Korean General Hospitals," established in 2022, provide a structured framework for ASPs, delineating leadership responsibilities, the composition of interdisciplinary ASP teams, a range of interventions, and continuous monitoring and reporting mechanisms. In addition, this review examines patient-centric campaigns such as "Speak Up, Get Smart" and emphasizes the pivotal role of a multidisciplinary approach and international cooperation in addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with antibiotic resistance.

The Prediction of Quality of Life by Frailty and Disability among Dutch Community-Dwelling People Aged 75 Years or Older.

The present study aimed to examine the prediction of quality of life by frailty and disability in a baseline sample of 479 Dutch community-dwelling people aged 75 years or older using a follow-up period of 8 years. Regarding frailty, we distinguish between physical, psychological, and social frailty. Concerning physical disability, we distinguish between limitations in performing activities in daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities in daily living (IADL). The Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS) were used to assess frailty domains and types of disability, respectively. Quality of life was determined by the WHOQOL-BREF containing physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. In our study, 53.9% of participants were woman, and the mean age was 80.3 years (range 75-93). The study showed that psychological frailty predicted four domains of quality of life and physical frailty three. Social frailty was only found to be a significant predictor of social quality of life and environmental quality of life. ADL and IADL disability proved to be the worst predictors. It is recommended that primary healthcare professionals (e.g., general practitioners, district nurses) focus their interventions primarily on factors that can prevent or delay psychological and physical frailty, thereby ensuring that people's quality of life does not deteriorate.