Large-scale Community Survey Research Articles

The Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (NCPHS)

Abstract Effective public health initiatives should be based upon a thorough understanding of important health-related factors. The purpose of The Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (NCPHS) is to gain insights from the adult population on topics relevant for planning of public health policy, interventions, and action at the county and municipality levels. The survey includes a core questionnaire on public health-related topics such as health behaviour, subjective quality of life, distress, subjective health, social support, social capital, community contexts, and demographics, including indicators of socio-economy, with additional optional questions and scales varying across data collections. Samples are drawn from the Norwegian National Population Register. NCPHS was piloted in three counties in 2015 and in one county in 2018. After some revision of instruments and sampling procedures, surveys have been carried out in most Norwegian counties since 2019. The total number of participants has now passed 400 000. Expedient data analysis and reporting has enabled the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to present comprehensive reports within six weeks after completed data collections. In these, outcome variables are analysed against district (within counties), gender, age, educational attainment, and assessment of household economy. Tables are also made available at the municipality level. The NCPHS represent a valuable addition to existing health registries and regional health surveys, providing critical information for planning purposes for local and regional public health authorities, for assessing trends over time, comparisons across counties and regions, and for evaluation of policies and interventions. The value of such a system during times of crises was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Lisbon 2024 European Public Health conference, a few selected examples of use of data from the NCPHS system will be presented. Key messages • Large-scale community surveys provide important insights for planning of public health policies and action. • Strong involvement and collaboration with regional and local public health personnell as well as with media and local people is a prerequisite for succeeding.

Caregiver Burden Associated With Pediatric Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Study Using the Pediatric Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration Database.

This retrospective, cross-sectional study investigated the nature and extent of burden experienced by caregivers of children and adolescents with chronic pain, and factors associated with increased caregiver burden. The Pediatric Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration database provided prospectively collected data from 1929 families attending 9 pediatric chronic pain services across Australia and New Zealand. Data included demographic information, responses to child pain and functioning measures, caregiver work impairment, and psychosocial functioning. Caregivers of children with chronic pain reported work impairment associated with their child's pain (mean: 15% ± SD 25 absenteeism; 38% ± SD 29 productivity lost), significantly worse than published international population norms (large-scale community survey data), most other caregiver samples of adults and children with other chronic conditions, and adult samples with various pain conditions. Caregivers reported considerable burden in multiple psychosocial functioning domains, particularly leisure functioning, pain-related catastrophizing, and adverse parenting behaviors (with greater pain-related avoidance). Caregiver psychosocial burden was significantly associated with child psychosocial functioning (β = -0.308, P < 0.01), school absenteeism (β = 0.161, P < 0.01), physical disability (β = 0.096, P < 0.05), and pain duration (β = 0.084, P < 0.05), but not pain intensity. Caregiver work productivity loss was significantly associated with school absenteeism (β = 0.290, P < 0.01), child physical disability (β = 0.148, P < 0.01), child health care utilization (β = 0.118, P < 0.05), and worst pain intensity (β = 0.101, P < 0.05). These results highlight the significant and varied impacts experienced by caregivers of children with chronic pain. This work is novel in reporting significant work impairment and confirms psychosocial burden in a larger sample than previous studies.

The COPD Foundation's COPD360Net Initiative Approach to Patient-Centric Drug Development: A Case Study in Using Patient Surveys to Inform New Treatments for Viral Respiratory Infections.

Patient-centric drug development is crucial to creating treatments that address unmet patient needs but is often ignored. The COPD Foundation's COPD360Net® includes a multistakeholder approach for operationalizing patient-centric development of treatments where patients, caregivers, scientists, and clinicians review opportunities based on scientific merit, potential to address an unmet need, and feasibility of adoption. COPD360Net deploys large-scale online community surveys to review profiles of potential therapies based on those criteria. This approach was implemented to inform the development of an intranasal spray to prevent viral respiratory infections (VRIs), a major cause of exacerbations in people with chronic lung diseases. Insights included: Of the 376 respondents with COPD surveyed, frequent exacerbators reported strong interest in a new type of antiviral nasal spray to prevent VRI.Patient survey and advisory committee insights demonstrated that a pan antiviral nasal spray has potential high value to both clinicians and patients and informed the COPD360Net decision to partner on its development.Including patient perspectives from the outset can be conducted efficiently by mobilizing an engaged online patient community.

Individual Social Capital and Community Participation: An Empirical Analysis of Guangzhou, China

A social capital framework has been widely adopted to interpret participatory behaviors. While there is substantial literature regarding the effects of community-based social capital on grassroots participation, less attention has been paid to the relationship between different sources of social capital and community participation. This is particularly relevant for understanding community development undergone restructuring of individual social capital, such as China. To address this deficiency in the literature, this paper integrates both individual and social capital that is accessed within and outside a community to analyze their relation to different forms of community participation. Multilevel analysis is based on a large-scale community survey conducted in Guangzhou at the end of 2012. The results reveal a shift in social relations such that personal social resources are now mainly accessed outside the community. They further reveal that social resources outside communities are consistently and significantly related to all forms of participation. This implies that although residents’ personal networks have gradually diffused out of their communities, this has not only not reduced their enthusiasm toward the communities themselves but also facilitated participation in community affairs.

What drives clearing of old-growth forest over secondary forests in tropical shifting cultivation systems? Evidence from the Peruvian Amazon

A key issue in understanding tropical forest disturbance is what drives farmers practicing customary shifting cultivation to clear crop fields in old-growth forest over secondary forest fallows. These farmers typically hold a stock of secondary forest fallows that can be used for cropping in rotation, built up over time in part through initial clearing of old-growth forest. In this paper we examine the most recent field cleared by 2046 indigenous and folk peasant households in 138 communities along three major rivers of the Peruvian Amazon to identify the factors that influence their choice of field location (upland or lowland forests) and type of forest cleared (old-growth or secondary). Data are drawn from a large-scale household and community surveys and remote sensing analysis of Landsat and ArcGIS Worldview imagery. We find that rates of old-growth forest clearing are low and that such land quickly returns to secondary forest cover: about 31% of households cleared forest on the upland (terra firme) but only 8% of households cleared upland old-growth forest. Regression modeling results identify the contextual, historical and household factors that influence the choice to clear upland forest (old-growth or secondary). Access to lowland for floodplain agriculture is associated with lower rates of old-growth forest clearing and higher educational attainment of household heads with increased clearing. Analysis of household land portfolios points to the importance of the size of land holdings, the degree of upland orientation, and the number and age of fallows held at the time of the forest clearing decision in clearing old-growth forest on the upland. Measures to reduce old-growth forest loss around Amazonian communities are discussed.

Endoscopic Evaluation of Dyspeptic Patients

Background: Dyspepsia is a common gastrointestinal problems affecting all age groups &amp; social classes.&#x0D; Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine the endoscopic findings of dyspeptic patients &amp; to observe the demographic characteristics (age, sex, residence, education, socioeconomic condition) of the patients presented with dyspepsia.&#x0D; Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Medicine, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Rangpur over a period of 1 year from 1st June 2010 to 31st May 2011. 150 dyspeptic patients of 18 or &gt; 18 years old irrespective of sexes and suffering from one or more of the five symptoms (flatulence, food intolerance, epigastric pain, heartburn and aerophagia) for at least 6 months duration were recruited for the study from outpatient and inpatient department who were met the inclusion &amp; exclusion criteria. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire after taking written consent &amp; upper GI Endocopy were done following meticulous history &amp; through physical examination.&#x0D; Result: Over one-third (36%) of the patients were below 30 years, 17% between 30 – 40 years old, predominantly were rural residents, having primary to secondary level of education with monthly income below Taka 10000. Males to females ratio were 2:1. More than half (50.6%) of the patients was smoker, 32.7% had habit of taking tea, 10% were tobacco chewing and rest 6.7% used to take spicy meal.. Epigastric discomfort, flatulence and heartburn were the common complaints in both male and females but vomiting were proportionately higher in male dyspeptics compared to the female dyspeptics. Common associated symptoms like constipation and weight loss were equally in both sexes. Upper GI endoscopy revealed 17.3% of male and 11.5% of female with abnormal findings.Others abnormal findings included gastric ulcer, gastritis and duodenal ulcers (17.6 vs. 33.3%; 23.6 vs. 50% and 17.6 vs. 16.7% in male and female respectively). Majority (nearly 90% in either sex) of patients does not show any lesions on endoscopic examination and hence can be considered as non-ulcer dyspepsia.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study concludes that majority of patients with complaints of dyspepsia have no lesion on the gastric or duodenal mucosa and can be considered non-ulcer dyspepsia. The study findings also suggest that dyspepsia is a disease of young and early middle aged people with males being more likely to develop the disease than the females. However, large-scale community survey is recommended for further evaluation of dyspepsia.&#x0D; J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, December 2020, Vol.12(1); 9-14

Impoverishment of local wild resources in western Amazonia: a large-scale community survey of local ecological knowledge

A growing number of studies point to the depletion of flora and fauna along rivers of the Brazilian Amazon but the status of wild resources over large areas in Western Amazonia remains poorly known. In this paper we report on findings from the Peruvian Amazon based on the first large-scale community survey that uses local ecological knowledge to assess the presence of indicator species and expected harvest yields of game, fish and timber along four major rivers. Our findings from nearly 700 communities suggest that the forest and lakes near riverine communities have been impoverished over the past 50 years, especially of vulnerable species of high commercial value. A zone of species depletion is detected around the two major regional cities of Iquitos and Pucallpa as well as around an important oil town. Local extirpations are common though some recovery is noted for specific fish and timber species. Expected yields are falling and evidence is found for harvesting of previously non-preferred species. Newer communities face lower initial availability of wild resources and forest impoverishment is driven by market demand over subsistence needs. Our findings illustrate the value of drawing on local ecological knowledge and the importance of considering historical baseline conditions in assessments of the fate of wild resources in tropical forests.

There is more to chronotypes than evening and morning types: Results of a large-scale community survey provide evidence for high prevalence of two further types

Evidence is accumulating for the possibility to distinguish more than two distinct chronotypes, i.e., people would be neither morning nor intermediate nor evening types. We tried to establish four-type division into distinct chronotypes without implying any chronotypological questionnaire. A community-based online survey (n = 1305) included a visuo-verbal judgment task for evaluating how sleepy a survey participant thinks he/she would be at different randomly presented times. We predicted that principal component (PC) analysis of 24-h sleepiness curves would yield more than one PC. Consequently, only two types based on PC score would be sleepy in the evening but not in the morning (morning type) and in the morning but not in the evening (evening type), while two other types would be sleepy both in the morning and in the evening and neither in the morning nor in the evening. Results of PC analysis yielded four PCs with the predicted loading patterns. Four distinct patterns of sleepiness curves were identified by dividing participants in accord with scores PC > 1, −1 < PC < 1, and PC < −1. Only 396 participants were of intermediate chronotype (−1 < PC1–PC4 < 1) with a similar to the sample-averaged sleepiness curve, while, like morning and evening types, two further types (named “afternoon” and “napper”) were not uncommon.

O04 Findings from the men who have sex with men (MSM) internet survey ireland (MISI): estimated proportion of MISI respondents eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP)

IntroductionIn Ireland, HIV infection predominantly occurs among men who have sex with men (MSM). Combination prevention approaches, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), are recommended to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. We used the 2015 MSM Internet Survey Ireland (MISI), a large-scale community survey among adult MSM in Ireland, to estimate the proportion of MISI respondents eligible for PrEP.MethodsWe applied PrEP eligibility criteria from France to MISI variables. Where exact criteria could not be applied, the most similar form was used. French PrEP eligibility criteria include HIV negative MSM or transgender adults who had at least one of the following: condomless anal sex (CAI) with ≥2 different partners in the past six months; episodes of STIs in the past 12 months; used multiple post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment(s) or used drugs during sex.ResultsMISI included 3,045 MSM aged 18–64 years; 2,870(94%) were HIV negative or never HIV tested. In the past 12 months, 370(12%) reported CAI with ≥2 non-steady partners; 243(8%) reported an STI diagnosis and 181(6%) used drugs associated with chemsex. Four percent (n=119) were treated with PEP. Overall, 23% [95%CI(22–25)] of MISI respondents are eligible for PrEP.DiscussionAn estimated one in four MISI respondents met French PrEP eligibility criteria. Applying this estimate to the MSM population in Ireland, taking study limitations, those engaged in services and assumed PrEP uptake into account, would enable calculation of the number of MSM eligible for PrEP. This estimate will be useful for informing PrEP policy in Ireland.

Risks and Cough-Aggravating Factors in Prolonged Cough. Epidemiological Observations from the Nagahama Cohort Study.

Chronic cough hypersensitivity, a potentially important concept of chronic or prolonged cough, is featured by heightened cough response to low-intensity stimuli, which may be generated in the absence of airflow limitations or allergic conditions. However, there is little epidemiological evidence to support this. In this large-scale community survey, we aimed to determine risks and cough-aggravating factors of prolonged cough while focusing on serum IgE levels. Prevalence of prolonged cough, defined as cough lasting 3 weeks or longer, was determined in 9,804 residents from a baseline measurement of the Nagahama Cohort Study, conducted from 2008 to 2010. Risk assessment of prolonged cough was confined to subjects without asthma (n = 9,402). A follow-up measurement of the Nagahama Study was successively conducted from 2013 to 2015, recruiting the same residents living in Nagahama City, Japan (n = 8,292). Validation analysis was performed in the follow-up measurement. In a baseline measurement, prolonged cough was reported by 9.5% of subjects without asthma and 32.3% of subjects with asthma. In subjects without asthma, various cough-aggravating factors were associated with prolonged cough. On the multivariate analysis, several cough-aggravating factors, including nighttime or early morning, weather, pollen season, and common cold, were associated with prolonged cough, independent of female sex, younger age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, postnasal drip, daytime sputum, and lower serum total IgE. Serum-specific IgE levels against Japanese cedar pollen were significantly higher in subjects who responded "yes" to "cough in the pollen season" than in those who did not respond, whereas, among subjects who responded "yes" to "cough in the pollen season," prolonged coughers showed lower serum IgE levels against Japanese cedar pollen than temporal coughers. Validation analysis in a follow-up measurement confirmed the associations between prolonged cough and cough-aggravating factors observed in the baseline measurement. The presence of several cough-aggravating factors in the absence of severe allergic conditions may support the presence of cough hypersensitivity.

Nymphister kronaueri von Beeren & Tishechkin sp. nov., an army ant-associated beetle species (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Haeteriinae) with an exceptional mechanism of phoresy

BackgroundFor more than a century we have known that a high diversity of arthropod species lives in close relationship with army ant colonies. For instance, several hundred guest species have been described to be associated with the Neotropical army ant Eciton burchellii Westwood, 1842. Despite ongoing efforts to survey army ant guest diversity, it is evident that many more species await scientific discovery.ResultsWe conducted a large-scale community survey of Eciton-associated symbionts, combined with extensive DNA barcoding, which led to the discovery of numerous new species, among them a highly specialized histerid beetle, which is formally described here. Analyses of genitalic morphology with support of molecular characters revealed that the new species is a member of the genus Nymphister. We provide a literature review of host records and host-following mechanisms of Eciton-associated Haeteriinae demonstrating that the new species uses an unusual way of phoretic transport to track the nomadic habit of host ants. Using its long mandibles as gripping pliers, the beetle attaches between the ants’ petiole and postpetiole. The beetles specifically attach to medium-sized ant workers, thus participating as hitchhikers in the regular colony emigrations of the single host species Eciton mexicanum Roger, 1863.ConclusionBy providing tools for reliable species identification via morphology and DNA barcodes for hitherto unknown army ant guest species, we set the baseline for studies targeting the ecological and evolutionary dynamics in these species-rich host-symbiont communities.

Validity of Estimation of Haemoglobin Content in Dried Blood Spot Samples.

The ability to use indirect cyanmethemoglobin method using 20µl of dried blood spots (DBSs) on filter paper for the analysis of haemoglobin (Hb) levels could be an important diagnostic tool for areas that have limited access to laboratory facilities. We assessed the validity of a method for Hb estimation in which a single drop of whole blood was directly taken on the filter paper. We collected 124 DBSs containing 20µlof blood(filter paper A) and single drop of wholeblood (filter paper B) from subjects living in Nainital, Uttrakhand. Estimation of Hb was done by indirect cyanmethemoglobin method in both the filter papers. A correction factor for predicting value of Hb from DBSs of single drop ofwhole blood was established. The Bland-Altman plot suggested that the difference in Hb values obtained by the single drop of blood and 20µl of DBSs was within the 1.5 SD limits, suggesting high validity of the correction factor. The estimation of Hb using single drop of wholeblood on filter paper after applying the correction factor provides results similar to indirect cyanmethemoglobin method using 20µl of blood. Hence, single drop of whole blood on filter papercan be used as an alternate method for estimation of Hb in large scale community surveys.

Transitioning from Microbiome Composition to Microbial Community Interactions: The Potential of the Metaorganism Hydra as an Experimental Model.

Animals are home to complex microbial communities, which are shaped through interactions within the community, interactions with the host, and through environmental factors. The advent of high-throughput sequencing methods has led to novel insights in changing patterns of community composition and structure. However, deciphering the different types of interactions among community members, with their hosts and their interplay with their environment is still a challenge of major proportion. The emerging fields of synthetic microbial ecology and community systems biology have the potential to decrypt these complex relationships. Studying host-associated microbiota across multiple spatial and temporal scales will bridge the gap between individual microorganism studies and large-scale whole community surveys. Here, we discuss the unique potential of Hydra as an emerging experimental model in microbiome research. Through in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches the interaction structure of host-associated microbial communities and the effects of the host on the microbiota and its interactions can be disentangled. Research in the model system Hydra can unify disciplines from molecular genetics to ecology, opening up the opportunity to discover fundamental rules that govern microbiome community stability.

PS 18-01 RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION IN EAST INDONESIA COMMUNITIES

Objective: Indonesia, although is generally enjoying relatively steady progress in development, some parts of the country is said to have undergone unequal development. Many people agreed that eastern part of Indonesia is still underdeveloped compared to its western counterpart. It is interesting to see how the inequality have affected a health outcome. This study examines risk factors associated with hypertension among communities in Eastern Indonesia. Design and Method: This study uses data collected from Indonesia Family Life Survey East 2012. The IFLS East is a large-scale multi topic household and community survey of living conditions that covers Eastern provinces in Indonesia, namely: Nusa Tenggara Timur, Kalimantan Timur, Sulawesi Tenggara, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Papua Barat and Papua. It interviewed around 10.000 individuals in 2.500 households. Social, economic, education and health information are collected through structured questionnaires, alongside with health measurements that include health, wealth, waist and hip circumference measurements as well as blood pressure measurement using digital sphygmomanometer. Results: The study found that 5.950 people who were measured for hypertension, 24% of them had higher blood pressure. Age, sex, body mass index, marital status, and education are among characteristics associated with the hypertension. Conclusions: East Indonesia specific information is very important to fill information gap about East Indonesia, and hopefully this will provide strong evidence for improvement of design and provision of health service.

PS 03-24] HYPERTENSION PREVALENCE, AWARENESS AND CONTROL IN CAMEROON

Objective: The public health impact of hypertension in Cameroon is known. However, the exact future burden and the degree of awareness have not been quantified. We aimed to study the trend in the prevalence rates, awareness, treatment and associated risk factors of hypertension in Cameroon. Design and method: We systematically searched PubMed, Google Scholar and grey literature for large scale community surveys of hypertension and its related risk factors up to 2015. Studies considered were those on adults aged ≥ 15 years of both sexes, residing in both urban and rural settings, which used the cutoff “≥140/90 mmHg” to define hypertension. Regression models were used to estimate the prevalence rates of hypertension for the years 2025 and 2035. Results: Forty-four (44) surveys were identified, of which 16 (with pooled population of 65,500 participants) carried out between 1993 and 2013 were considered for analysis. The estimated crude prevalence rate of hypertension for 2025 is 35.5% (95% CI: 35.48 – 35.52, [≈6.3 million people]), and 37.3% (95% CI: 37.18 – 37.22, [≈8.7 million people]) for 2035. The age-adjusted prevalence rate of hypertension for 2025 is 31.9% (95% CI: 31.88 – 31.92, [≈5.6 million people]), and 33.5% (95% CI: 33.48 – 33.52, [≈7.8 million people]) for 2035. This represents a 40% increase by 2025 and a 95% increase by 2035 compared to the estimated 3.99 million hypertensive patients in 2015. This was coupled with a decreasing trend in the awareness rate, and an increased rate of associated risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the prevalence of hypertension is increasing in Cameroon at an alarming rate, and many hypertensive patients will be underdiagnosed, untreated or poorly treated. Further research efforts to investigate road blocks to hypertension control, and enhance specific interventions for improving blood pressure control are advocated.

Factors associated with risk for assisted living among community-dwelling older Japanese

ObjectivesTo clarify the factors associated with risk for assisted living among community-dwelling older people, we conducted a large-scale survey in an urban city in Japan. DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional study. SettingA mid-sized urban city in western Japan with a population of approximately 410,000. ParticipantsNondisabled and nondemented community-dwelling older people (≥65 years). MeasurementsA self-administered postal questionnaire, including a health checklist for the screening of older people at high risk for assisted living, as well as demographic/sociodemographic questions on sex, age, present illness, living alone, duration of residence within the current city, community participation, and employment status, was distributed. ResultsThere were 41,796 returned questionnaires (response rate: 73.8%, average age: 72.0). Participants who were at high risk for assisted living accounted for 25.2%. The independent factors associated with risk for men and women were higher age, present illness, lack of community participation, unemployment, and<20years of residence. Living alone was a significant factor for men, whereas it was insignificant among women. The types of illnesses among people at risk were different between men and women. ConclusionHigher age, present illness, and several social factors were independently associated with high-risk status for assisted living in the large-scale whole community survey, and there was a sex difference. Our results may provide basic information for the further application of effective preventive intervention in the community.

Online health information seeking behaviors of Hispanics in New York City: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundThe emergence of the Internet has increased access to health information and can facilitate active individual engagement in health care decision making. Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States and are also the most underserved in terms of access to online health information. A growing body of literature has examined correlates of online health information seeking behaviors (HISBs), but few studies have included Hispanics.ObjectiveThe specific aim of this descriptive, correlational study was to examine factors associated with HISBs of Hispanics.MethodsThe study sample (N=4070) was recruited from five postal zip codes in northern Manhattan for the Washington Heights Inwood Informatics Infrastructure for Comparative Effectiveness Research project. Survey data were collected via interview by bilingual community health workers in a community center, households, and other community settings. Data were analyzed using bivariate analyses and logistic regression.ResultsAmong individual respondents, online HISBs were significantly associated with higher education (OR 3.03, 95% CI 2.15-4.29, P<.001), worse health status (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.31-0.57, P<.001), and having no hypertension (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.84, P=.003). Online HISBs of other household members were significantly associated with respondent factors: female gender (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.22-2.10, P=.001), being younger (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62-0.90, P=.002), being married (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09-1.71, P=.007), having higher education (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.404-2.316, P<.001), being in worse health (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.77, P<.001), and having serious health problems increased the odds of their household members’ online HISBs (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.29-2.60, P=.001).ConclusionsThis large-scale community survey identified factors associated with online HISBs among Hispanics that merit closer examination. To enhance online HISBs among Hispanics, health care providers and policy makers need to understand the cultural context of the Hispanic population. Results of this study can provide a foundation for the development of informatics-based interventions to improve the health of Hispanics in the United States.

Cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Japanese version of Revised Conflict Tactics Scales Short Form among Japanese men and women.

The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales Short Form (CTS2SF) is an instrument used to measure intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization over the past 12 months. The CTS2SF was translated into Japanese, and the reliability (internal consistency and 4-week test-retest reliability) and the concurrent and factor-based validity were examined using two waves of Internet surveys over an interval of 4 weeks. Participants of the survey were 393 Japanese men and women who were registrants of an Internet survey company. Cronbach's α was greater than 0.5 for most scales, while it was low (α = 0.18) for sexual coercion by partner. The test-retest reliability of the binary variable for the presence or absence of IPV was high (Yule's Q, 0.79-1.00), and moderate between the scores (Spearman's rank correlation, 0.38:0.70). Concordance with the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Violence Against Women Screen, and Kessler 6 generally indicated good concurrent validity. The results of the exploratory factor analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of the Japanese version of the CTS2SF. Although the internal consistency reliability was limited for some sub-scales, its moderate internal consistency and test-retest reliability and good factor-based validity highlighted the benefit of using the Japanese version of the CTS2SF in a large-scale community survey where a shorter scale is required to assess IPV.

Crime victims and attitudes towards the police: the Israeli case

Crime victims are a critical component of the criminal justice system. Their evaluations of the police have been studied through victimization and public attitude surveys mainly in the US and the UK. This study, which utilizes data from a large scale community survey conducted in Israel in 2008, finds that victims’ attitudes towards the police are significantly more negative than those of non-victims regarding police treatment, performance, and trust in the police. This study is the first to compare the views of victims and non-victims in Israel, while focusing on a wider array of attitudes than previously examined.

Public speaking fears and their correlates among 17,615 Japanese adolescents

Public speaking fears (PSF) are highly prevalent in the general population. They are also among the most common symptoms of social anxiety disorder, which typically has an adolescent onset and has recently been increasingly recognized as a persistent and impairing disorder across various cultures in the world. This study examined PSF and their associated factors among 17,615 adolescents, aged 12-18, in a large-scale school-based community survey in Japan. PSF was noted in 7.3% of the students. The prevalence was higher among girls than among boys, and it had a tendency to decrease with age. Across the gender and age groups, PSF was associated with psychopathology, including depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, deliberate self-harm, violence towards objects and people, and increased difficulties at school. We should no longer make light of public speaking fears among adolescents as transient, common-sense phenomena.