Final Month Of Study Research Articles

Trait gratitude and job search: the mediating role of perceived employability

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of trait gratitude on job search behaviour (preparatory and active) for job seekers approaching graduation. The mediating role of perceived employability is examined.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from job seekers (n = 143) in their final month of study in two waves with a one-month time lag between first and second data collection.FindingsStructural equation modelling analyses revealed that trait gratitude was significantly and positively associated with perceived employability. Perceived employability mediated the relationship between trait gratitude and preparatory job search, but not active job search.Research limitations/implicationsThis study extends research on job search by highlighting the applicability of trait gratitude to the job search process.Practical implicationsCareer counsellors should consider trait gratitude as relevant for program development to address the self-regulation of personal resources during job search.Originality/valueThis study is the first step towards connecting trait gratitude to the job search literature. The study identifies trait gratitude as a distal personal resource important for self-regulation of a proximal personal resource (i.e. perceived employability) and subsequent job search behaviour.

Evaluation of management and factors associated with hypertension control in hemodialysis patients at a tertiary-care hospital in Pakistan

Hypertension is highly prevalent and poorly controlled among hemodialysis patients. However, published information regarding the management and control of hypertension among Pakistani hemodialysis patients is scarce. Our objective was to evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic management and control of hypertension and associated factors in hemodialysis patients at a tertiary-care hospital. Eligible hypertensive hemodialysis patients enrolled at the Balochistan Institute of Nephrology-Urology Quetta, Pakistan, between 1 July 2017 and 30 November 2019 were retrospectively followed for 6 months after the baseline hemodialysis session. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Patients with mean pre-dialysis blood pressure (BP) < 140/90 and post-dialysis BP < 130/80 mmHg in the final month of study were classified as being at target BP. A total of 237 hypertensive hemodialysis patients were included in the analysis. The mean age of patients was 42.8 ± 13.2 years, and most (78.9%) had at least one comorbidity. In the final month of the study, only 68 patients (28.7%) were at target BP. Patients were treated with a median of two antihypertensive drugs (range 1–5). Calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) were the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive (54.4%), followed by angiotensin-receptor blockers (53.2%) and diuretics (42.2%). In multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, the use of diuretics (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.27–0.95), CCBs (OR 2.90; 95% CI 1.35–6.20), β-blockers (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.30–6.73), and α/β-blockers (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.26–5.98) was significantly associated with hypertension control. Hypertension control was suboptimal at the study site. A notable proportion of patients were receiving diuretics despite guidelines discouraging their use. The use of β-blockers, α-β-blockers, and CCBs was associated with hypertension control.

Initial Evaluation of a Scalable Lifestyle Program for Sustained Weight Loss

The growing prevalence of obesity and associated morbidity indicates the need for effective programs for sustainable lifestyle changes to achieve and maintain meaningful weight loss. The Practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction (POWER) trial found that a scalable, remotely-delivered intervention achieved significant and meaningful weight loss over 24 months compared to a usual care control group, with results that were statistically comparable to an in-person-based intervention also tested in the study and designed with the same principles. Given that results from clinical trials in research settings do not necessarily translate to larger scaled delivery of interventions, the objective of this study is to evaluate a pilot-implementation of Innergy, a weight loss program designed to replicate the remote-arm of the POWER trial that provided online support and regular telephonic coaching. An intention-totreat retrospective design evaluates weight loss within 6-months among 265 participants offered the program through their employer. The mean change in weight from baseline for the study group was -6.8 lbs. (P<0.0001) and 23% of participants lost 5.0% or more of their initial starting weight. Greater weight loss was associated with greater levels of participation. Specifically, members who utilized a broader range of program support components, took more coaching calls, regularly used the website, and tracked their weight, food and exercise lost significantly more weight. Similarly, longer duration of active participation was associated with greater weight loss. Participants who interacted with the program into the final month of study lost an average of 11.5 lbs, 5.0% of their starting weight. Study results show that Innergy is an effective weight loss program that can be delivered at scale, and thus can have a broad-spanning impact on obesity.