Negative Perception Of Health Research Articles

Influence of Sociodemographic and Social Variables on the Relationship between Formal Years of Education and Time Spent on the Internet

This study aims to validate the impact of sociodemographic factors and differentiate the influence of social variables on the correlation between the number of years of formal education an individual has and the time they allocate to internet usage. To achieve this, we utilized a publicly available database, extracting relevant indicators for our investigation. Subsequently, we conducted analyses involving associations, regressions, and moderations among the variables under scrutiny. The results revealed statistically significant variations in daily internet usage time across different countries, residences, age groups, educational levels, and marital statuses. Factors such as living in an urban or suburban environment, being in the youth demographic, possessing a higher education, maintaining single status, having an extensive social network, holding a negative perception of health, lacking home internet access but having access at work and on the go, along with the facilitation of online communication and remote work, collectively explain the variance in daily internet usage time. The relationship between the number of years of education and the duration of internet usage is moderated by sociodemographic variables (gender, age, and marital status) as well as social variables (locations of internet usage and social contacts). These findings enable us to identify a user profile at a higher risk of developing problematic behavior in relation to internet usage, as indicated by the time invested.

Influence of Sociodemographic and Social Variables on the Relationship between Formal Years of Education and Time Spent on the Internet

This study aims to validate the impact of sociodemographic factors and differentiate the influence of social variables on the correlation between the number of years of formal education an individual has and the time they allocate to internet usage. To achieve this, we utilized a publicly available database, extracting relevant indicators for our investigation. Subsequently, we conducted analyses involving associations, regressions, and moderations among the variables under scrutiny. The results revealed statistically significant variations in daily internet usage time across different countries, residences, age groups, educational levels, and marital statuses. Factors such as living in an urban or suburban environment, being in the youth demographic, possessing a higher education, maintaining single status, having an extensive social network, holding a negative perception of health, lacking home internet access but having access at work and on the go, along with the facilitation of online communication and remote work, collectively explain the variance in daily internet usage time. The relationship between the number of years of education and the duration of internet usage is moderated by sociodemographic variables (gender, age, and marital status) as well as social variables (locations of internet usage and social contacts). These findings enable us to identify a user profile at a higher risk of developing problematic behavior in relation to internet usage, as indicated by the time invested.

Mental health and professional outcomes in parents of children with chronic kidney disease.

This study evaluated parenting stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and their associated factors in parents of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This cross-sectional study compared parents of patients with CKD (0-18years) with a matched control group of parents of healthy children. Both groups completed the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The study group consisted of 45 parents (median age 39; 32 mothers) of CKD patients (median age 8; 36% female). Nearly 75% of children had CKD stages 2, 3, or 4, and 44.5% had congenital anomaly of the kidney and urinary tract. Five children (11%) were on dialysis, and 4 (9%) had a functioning kidney graft. Compared with parents of healthy children, more stress and anxiety symptoms were reported. Since the CKD diagnosis, 47% of parents perceived a deterioration of their own health, and 40% reduced work on a structural basis. Higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms were associated with a more negative perception of own health, and more child medical comorbidities and school absence. This study showed higher levels of parenting stress and anxiety symptoms in parents of children with CKD compared with parents of healthy children. This was associated with a less positive perception of their own health, especially if the child had more medical comorbidities or more absence from school. Psychosocial interventions to reduce the parental burden should be integrated in the standard care of pediatric nephrology departments.

Self-assessment of dental health status, behaviours and oral health risk factors among adolescents from public schools in Maputo City-Mozambique

Self-assessment of dental health status may have an impact on the oral health behaviour of adolescents which could impact their oral health. Oral health has been linked to various medical health conditions, thus eliminating oral health diseases can improve general health. The present study aimed to assess the association between behaviours and risk factors (oral hygiene habits, sugar intake, urban/rural status) and negative self-perception of dental health status among adolescents attending public schools in Maputo City.Method An analytic cross-sectional study, conducted in three Primary public schools from urban and peri-urban areas in Maputo City selected by convenience due to their geographic location was included. The size of the sample was 236 12-year-olds. Data was collected using a self-completion questionnaire designed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Chi-square tests or Fishers’ Exact tests were used for associations. A simple and multiple logistic regression was used to determine the strength of these associations using backward elimination (p < 0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 221 adolescents, with 114 (51.6%) residing in urban areas and 107 (48.4%) in peri-urban areas. More than half of the participants (111 individuals) reported having a negative perception of their dental health. In the urban location, a higher percentage of participants had a “negative” perception of dental health (57.9%, n = 66), while in the peri-urban location, more participants perceived their dental health as “positive” (57.9%, n = 62). Participants residing in an urban setting were 82% more likely to have a negative perception of dental health (AOR = 1.82 [95% C.I.: 1.05 to 3.14]). Those who had experienced dental pain tended to report a higher proportion of negative dental perception (57.2%, n = 91), with 2.7 times more likely to report a negative perception of dental health (AOR = 2.72 [95% C.I.: 1.46 to 5.08]). The majority (n = 139; 63.2%) claimed to clean their teeth twice a day.Conclusion There was a higher negative perception of dental health in urban areas. The need to strengthen oral health promotion in urban schools is high since schools play such a significant role in oral health promotion.

Barreiras para a prática de atividade física e fatores associados em pacientes com hipertensão arterial

Abstract The identification of barriers to regular physical activity (PA) is a form of an initial and effective strategy to encourage behavior modification and adherence to a more active lifestyle in hypertensive patients. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the barriers to PA practice in patients with hypertension classified as physically inactive and to analyze the association of the number of these barriers with sociodemographic factors and health indicators. Two hundred one hypertensive patients of both sexes (61.7±12.7 years) answered an anamnesis with health information and sociodemographic data, a PA level questionnaire, and a barrier questionnaire for the practice of PA. Regarding the level of PA of the participants, 48.8% were classified as physically inactive and reported, on average, 6.1 (±3.8) barriers to PA practice, with the barrier “fear of falling or getting hurt” the most commonly reported. Furthermore, women and patients with low education, negative perception of health, and a greater presence of comorbidities reported a greater number of barriers to PA practice. PA practice as a non-pharmacological tool for the treatment of hypertension should focus on women and patients with low education, negative perception of health, and a greater presence of associated comorbidities.

Equilíbrio postural e fatores associados ao risco de quedas em idosos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2

Abstract Objective Identify clinical-functional factors associated to the risk of falls, assessed by Mini-BESTest in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method This cross-sectional study. A total of 145 older adults aged ≥60 years were evaluated through sociodemographic variables (sex, age group, married, education level, general health status hearing and vision), Mini-BESTest, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and dual-task Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) Multiple logistic regression model was used. Results The sensory orientation domain presented the highest average score, followed by the gait stability, anticipatory postural adjustments and postural responses domains. Factors associated to the risk of falls in older adults are: poor/very poor visual perception OR 3.40 (1.50-7.72); have respiratory diseases OR 8.00 (1.32-48.46); feeling dizzy OR 2.53 (1.10-5.80); and TUGT (dual task) time equal to or greater than 13.5 seconds OR 3.31 (1.03-10.64). Conclusion Older adults in this study presented impaired postural balance, mainly in the postural responses domain. The knowledge of the factors associated with the risk of falls in older adults with T2DM allows for better guidance in prevention, assessment and intervention, in order to minimize the occurrence of falls and maintain or optimize postural balance. Several factors influenced this outcome, such as overweight, low physical activity and education, several comorbidities, polypharmacy, T2DM diagnosis for more than ten years, negative perception of general health and vision, and depressive symptoms.

Factors associated with halitosis reported by parents/caregivers in individuals with Down syndrome.

Data on halitosis among individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are scarce. The aim was to evaluate factors associated with the occurrence of halitosis reported by parents/caregivers (P/Cs) in individuals with DS. A cross-sectional study was conducted in non-governmental assistance institutions in the State of Minas Gerais-Brazil. P/Cs have answered an electronic questionnaire with sociodemographic, behavioral and oral health data. Factors associated with halitosis were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. The sample comprised 227 P/Cs (age 48.8±13.2 years; 82.9% mothers) of individuals with DS (age 20.8±13.5 years). The prevalence of halitosis in the total sample was 34.4% (n=78) and its occurrence was associated: 1) in individuals with DS ≤18 years old (26.2%; n=27)-negative perception of oral health (OR=3.91); 2) in individuals with DS>18 years (41.1%; n=51)-gingival bleeding (OR=4.53), absence of tongue brushing (OR=4.50), negative perception of oral health (OR=2.72). The occurrence of halitosis in individuals with DS reported by P/Cs was relevant and associated with dental factors, having a negative impact on the perception of oral health. Oral hygiene practices, especially tongue brushing, should be reinforced to prevent and control halitosis.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on depression and suicidal ideation in Korean community dwelling elderly

IntroductionThe impacts of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health have been relatively severe.ObjectivesThis study examined the influence of the COVID-19 especially on depression and suicidal ideation in community-dwelling elderly in Korea.MethodsData were employed from a survey on elderly mental health in Jeollanam-do (southwest province in Korea). A total of 2,423 elderlies were recruited from 22 counties in Jeollanam-do between April and October 2021. We used self-reported questionnaires, including sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 related stress, suicidal ideation, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form Korean Version (GDS-SF). Logistic regression was performed to examine the factors on depression and suicidal ideationResultsOf the 2423 subjects, 622 (25.7%) reported depressive symptoms and 518 (21.4%) reported suicidal ideation. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living alone, poor perceived health status, the worry of COVID-19 infection and restriction of daily activity due to COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with depression. Male sex, poor perceived health status, disability in house chores and depressive symptom are risk factors for suicidal ideation.Image:Image 2:Image 3:ConclusionsThese findings showed that increased risk factor for depression and suicidal ideation in community dwelling elderly during COVID-19 pandemic. We confirmed that feelings of isolation and negative perception of health were risk factors on depression in community dwelling elderly in the context of the COVID –19 pandemic. Also male, poor self-perceived health status, difficulty of independent living and worry and depression are increased the risk of suicidal ideation among the elderly.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Cluster of modifiable risk factors and its association with negative perception of health in the elderly

Resumo Introdução A exposição a múltiplos fatores de riscos de forma simultânea podem repercutir negativamente no estado de saúde de pessoas idosas. Objetivo Identificar a presença simultânea de fatores de risco modificáveis e sua associação com a autopercepção negativa de saúde de idosos. Método Trata-se de estudo transversal com 310 idosos do município de Ibicuí-BA. Foram coletadas informações sobre fatores de riscos – consumo regular de álcool, tabagismo, inatividade física no lazer (IFL), consumo inadequado de frutas, verduras e legumes (CIFVL) – por meio de entrevistas. Na análise dos dados foram utilizados procedimentos da estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados Maiores escores de cluster foram observados na combinação do consumo regular de álcool e CIFVL em homens e a combinação de tabagismo e IFL entre as mulheres. A presença cumulativa de fatores de risco incrementou a probabilidade de autopercepção negativa do estado de saúde. Contudo, não houve associação entre as variáveis. Conclusão Houve diferença entre as principais combinações de cluster entre homens e mulheres. As combinações de fatores de riscos relacionadas à percepção negativa de saúde podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de ações de promoção da saúde para a população idosa.

Oral health-related quality of life in portuguese pre-school children: a cross-sectional study.

To study Oral Health related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of pre-school children and its associated factors. Cross-sectional study with sample data collected through an on-line questionnaire to a non-probabilistic sample. The questionnaire included the Portuguese version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and questions about sociodemographic characteristics, oral health behaviours, and reported oral health of the child. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests and Linear regression (α = 0.05). The sample consisted of 1475 parents of pre-school children (3-5years-old), residing in Portugal. The mean ECOHIS total score was 1.5 (sd = 3.4). In the bivariate analysis the child's age, starting toothbrushing after one year of age, frequent intake of sugary food and drinks, previous appointment with an oral health professional, all reported of oral health problems, and a negative perception of oral health were negatively associated with OHRQoL (p < 0,05). In the regression model the factors that most contributed to a worse quality of life were dental caries and abscess, contributing to an ECOHIS average increase of 2.56 and 3.34, respectively. The studied population presented a good OHRQoL, with the item related to pain being the most relevant for the ECOHIS score. Worst OHRQoL was found in older children, whose parents negatively rated the children's oral health and with reported dental caries, trauma, and abscess.

Socioeconomic inequalities related to maternal perception of children's oral health at age 4: Results of a birth cohort.

To estimate socioeconomic inequalities in the maternal perception of children's oral health from a birth cohort study in Brazil. The data from this study were collected through perinatal interviews and at the 48-month follow-up from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. The main outcome was the maternal perception of children's oral health, dichotomized into positive (good/very good) and negative (fair/bad/very bad). The secondary outcome was untreated dental caries (absence and presence, according to the ICDAS index - International Caries Detection and Assessment System). For the statistical analysis, the absolute inequality index (Slope Index of Inequality - SII) and the relative concentration index (Concentration Index - CIX) were used. Analyses were stratified by maternal educational level, family income and wealth index. The prevalence of outcomes was 19.4% (95% CI 18.2; 20.7) for the negative maternal perception of children's oral health and 15.6% (95% CI 14.4; 16.8) for untreated dental caries. Socioeconomics inequalities were observed in negative maternal perception of children's oral health in both absolute and relative terms. A SII of -16.6 (95% CI -20.8; -12.5) was observed for family income, with higher prevalence in poor families. A higher prevalence of the negative maternal perception of children's oral health was observed in mothers without any educational level or a few years of study (CIX -21.1 [95% CI -24.5; -17.7]). This study demonstrates socioeconomics disparities in the maternal perception of children's oral health and in the prevalence of untreated caries in children. A higher concentration of negative maternal perception of children's oral health was identified among the most socioeconomically vulnerable individuals. The findings reinforce the presence of socioeconomic inequalities in subjective measures about children's oral health.

Factors associated with common mental disorders: a study based on clusters of women.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE to identify factors associated with common mental disorders (CMD) in a sample of adult women in Southern Brazil.METHODS This population-based study, composed of 1,128 women, investigated socioeconomic, behavioral and health/disease explanatory demographic variables. Five response groups were explored: one group with common mental disorders – cut-off point 6/7 in the Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20) – and four others corresponding to the different clusters found using the latent class clustering technique, also from the SRQ-20. These four clusters (low, medium-depressive, medium-digestive and high) were named (denominated) based on the mean scores in the SRQ-20 in each group and on the response patterns of the variables and factorial characteristics. The “low” cluster comprised women with lower SRQ-20 scores and, therefore less likely to present CMD. The “high” cluster, with high mean values in the SRQ-20, was related to higher psychiatric morbidity. We used the Poisson regression technique to compare the findings of the different groups.RESULTS We identified ten variables as factors associated with CMD. Age, education, smoking, physical activity, perception of health and number of medical appointments were the common variables for the cut-off point and cluster-based analyses. Heavy alcohol use was associated only when the sample was evaluated as a cut-off point. Social class, work situation and existence of chronic diseases were associated only when the sample was analyzed by clusters. There was a significant association in the “high” cluster with lower classes (D or E), smoking, physical inactivity, existence of chronic diseases and negative perception of health.CONCLUSION We identified different associated factors according to the response groups considered. New approaches allowing identification of subgroups of individuals with specific characteristics and associated factors may contribute for a more accurate understanding of CMD and provide the basis for health interventions.

Review: Unaccompanied refugee minors' perception of mental health services and professionals: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

Unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) are a population at risk of mental health problems and a population with whom the therapeutic alliance can be difficult to set up. The therapeutic alliance's quality can impact the result and effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions. The aim of the present study was to gather URMs' points of view about mental health services and mental health professionals (MHP) in the host country. A summary of interviews conducted with URMs will allow a better understanding of their perception and expectations. Seven databases were searched with English and French keywords. In the end, nine studies were selected. The review of the interviews shows that URMs do not have a clear perception of MHP - it seems difficult for them to trust MHP, but also to understand the value of sharing past painful experiences to reduce current symptoms. They can have a negative perception of mental health and consider that this is not a priority. URMs prefer to focus on day-to-day problems, do activity-based interventions and do group sessions to value social interactions. Clinical and methodological implications are discussed. The development of an instrument to evaluate therapeutic care for URMs could be interesting for future research and for clinicians.

&lt;br/&gt; AS REDES SOCIAIS E A PERCEÇÃO EM SAÚDE DOS IDOSOS QUE RESIDEM EM CIDADES DO INTERIOR DE PORTUGAL&lt;br/&gt;

Introduction: During the aging process, the elders experience changes in their social net-works, in their physical conditions with implications for their health, whose perception may not correspond to their real state. Our objective was to evaluate the dimension and frequency of contacts on social networks, as well as an analysis of the health perception of elderly people living in the community, in an urban environment in the interior of Portugal. Methods: The data were collected from 202 individuals aged 65 or over, through a questionnaire, applied by face-to-face interview, proceeding to an analysis of the data using descriptive statistical methods (frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion). Results: Most respondents live alone, with 87.1% reporting they have help in facing a future disability, but 54.0% are not satisfied with the frequency of family relationships. Self--perceived health is more negative for the past 12 months and more positive when assessed at present. They report that 68.8% of respondents did not integrate social and recreational activities in the last 6 months. Conclusion: The urban elderly people have small social networks and a more negative or positive perception of health, not only being dependent on the experienced limitation. In-vestment in activities that promote higher levels of social participation is essential, aiming at maintaining social networks and a more positive self-assessment in health. Keywords: Aging; Health Perception; Social Network; Social Participation.

Patterns of non-medical use of benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs among adolescents and young adults: gender differences and related factors

ABSTRACT Background: We aimed to report the prevalence and factors associated with non-medical use of BZD and Z-Drugs in adolescents and young adults residing in Spain from a gender perspective. Nationwide, cross-sectional study on the misuse of BZD and Z-Drugs by young adult population of both sexes. Method: We used individualized secondary data retrieved from the 2015–2016 Household Survey on Alcohol and Drugs in Spain. A total of 10,824 survey respondents aged 15 to 34 years. Results: Prevalence of non-medical use of BZD and Z-Drugs was.42%, 1% in men vs. 1.84% in women, p = .00. Zolpidem presents the highest misuse rate in young males (45.8%), females showing a greater misuse prevalence for Lormetazepam (35.8%). The variables associated with a greater probability of misuse were, smoking habit, consumption of an illicit drug other than marijuana during last year. Low-perceived risk for BZD and Z-Drug consumption, was the variable showing the greatest value in young population (aOR = 3.88, 95% CI 2.53–5.93). Conclusions: Spanish young women are more likely to misuse BZD and Z-Drugs than men. Differentiated consumption is observed for these substances. A low perception of consumption risk and negative perception of health are strongly associated with non-medical use of BZD and Z-Drug among young Spanish population.

Tracking societal concerns on pesticides – a Google Trends analysis

We analyze public interest in pesticides and plant protection products over time utilizing Google Trends data for Switzerland from 2011 until 2019. We find that the aggregated public interest in pesticides and plant protection products has increased substantially in recent years, especially since 2017. This trend can be attributed to search terms related to pesticides, while the interest in search terms related to plant protection products remained stable. Since the term ‘pesticides’ has a more negative connotation than ‘plant protection products’, the increased public interest might be linked to a higher negative perception of environment and human health impacts of pesticides. We also find evidence which supports the hypothesis that growing public concerns on pesticide use contributed to the launches of two popular initiatives aiming to restrict pesticide use in Switzerland. At the same time, our results support that the launch of these initiatives amplified public concerns regarding pesticides. We conclude that Google Trends is a useful tool for the timely detection of ongoing environmental and agricultural discussions, which might otherwise be unobserved. Therefore, it can generate helpful insights and contribute to agricultural policy problem framing.

Factors associated with oral health-related quality of life among Lebanese community-dwelling elderly.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between sociodemographic factors, health-related characteristics, functional status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among a representative sample of the community-dwelling Lebanese elderly. The study sample included 905 randomly selected community-dwelling elderly Lebanese aged 65 or older living in Greater Beirut. The sample was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed a comprehensive multi-component questionnaire, administrated by trained interviewers, including sociodemographic factors, health characteristics, eating behaviours and functional characteristics. OHRQoL was assessed through the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) questionnaire. Among the participants, 51.6% reported poor OHRQoL. The following variables were significantly associated with poor OHRQoL: lack of health insurance (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.05-2.81); poor or average self-rated general health (OR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.23-5.41 and OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.24-4.16, respectively); monotony of diet (OR=1.69, 95%CI: 1.02-2.79); absence of dentures (OR=13.78, 95% CI: 5.02-37.84); insufficient dentures (OR=18.19, 95%CI: 4.43-74.68); presence of dentures (OR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.16-4.09); and depression (OR=2.21, 95%CI: 1.26-3.89). The present study revealed that a lack of health insurance, negative perception of general health, monotony of diet, denture use and depression were significantly correlated with poor OHRQoL among community-dwelling Lebanese elderly.

Examining multi-layer constraints on activity engagement among older adults

Abstract Background Social and cognitive activities motivate the older adults to develop individual aspirations, newfound sources of pleasure, and engagement in later life. The current study aimed to examine a wide range of factors that might impede older adults’ participation in activities, and to provide strategies to manipulate the constraints in the promotion of active ageing. Methods We used data drawn from a sample of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) wave 7.0. The study sample comprised 48,742 European elderly, aged between 65 and 105 years (54% female). Multiple questionnaire items were used to assess various constraints including socio-demographic factors, personality, social supports, health and psychological indicators. Activities included social and cognitive activities and also moderate physical activities. A series of regression analysis was performed to examine the hypothesized relationships between study variables. Results Those older adults who reported negative perception of neighborhood environment (p &amp;lt; .001), poor health (p &amp;lt; .001), chronic diseases (p &amp;lt; .001), and frequent loneliness and depression (p &amp;lt; .001) were less likely to participate in social and cognitive activities. Moderate-level of physical activities were strongly related to the health variables (p &amp;lt; .001) and social supports (p &amp;lt; .001). Among the demographic variables, age was highlighted as the most predictable factor for the decreased participation in activities. Conclusions In order to promote diverse forms of activities in later life, we should be better-informed about different nature and variability of the constraints among the older adults. Improving accessibility to the activities such as ageing-friendly facilities and home-oriented social service and recreation programs can help older adults more engage in daily activities. Key messages Older adults experience varied constraints on social, cognitive and physical activities. Public health should improve accessibility to diverse forms of activities in later life.

Impact psychologique du suivi post-professionnel amiante à long terme. Quelles conséquences après la déclaration suivie de la reconnaissance d’une maladie professionnelle chez des sujets de la cohorte SPP-A ?

In France, long-term follow-up after occupational exposure to asbestos is recommended. This study looked at the psychological consequences in the longer term following a CT-scan, in particular the impact of having received compensation for an occupational disease. As part of an asbestos post-exposure survey study (APExS), volunteers from Normandy were asked to complete self-assessment questionnaires about their psychological condition at different points during follow-up, including a psychological questionnaire before, then 6 months, and finally 18 to 24 months after their chest CT-scan. Information collected from 622 individuals were analyzed based on information provided as to the result of the screening and whether they had received compensation for having an occupational disease. The identification of an occupational disease eligible for compensation is associated with a long term increase in psychological distress. The impact of psychological state during follow-up is greater in men who reported receiving occupational disease compensation. The discovery of an asbestos-related disease during the screening is associated with a negative perception of general health and an increase in psychological distress. The receipt of compensation of an occupational disease does not seem to compensate for the negative psychological impact related to the discovery of a disease during the asbestos post-exposure follow-up.

Determinants of exercise behaviour in persons with Parkinson’s disease

Background Exercise shows promise for improving physical and cognitive functioning, quality of life, and mood in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Structured interviews have suggested potential factors influencing participation in exercise in this population, but no studies have examined if they predict exercise behaviour. Methods Thirty persons with PD completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Time spent exercising was calculated by summing responses for recreation, sport, and leisure-time physical activity. Predictors of exercise were assessed via interview. In addition, participants were asked about what types of exercise they engaged in and what types of exercise they would be interested in trying. Regression analyses were used to identify the factors that predicted time spent exercising, as well as determining factors in low vs. high exercisers (≥150 min per week). Results Positive predictors of exercise were being male (β= −0.52, p = 0.01; χ 2 = 4.84, p = 0.03), married (β = 0.32, p = 0.03; χ 2 = 5.60, p = 0.02), and enjoyment of exercise (β = 0.36, p = 0.02). Fear of falling (β = −0.41, p = 0.01; χ 2 = 4.29, p = 0.04), negative perception of health (β = −0.41, p = 0.02), perception of PD symptoms (χ 2 = 12.45, p < 0.001), bad weather (χ 2 = 5.06, p = 0.02), and lack of an exercise partner (χ 2 = 13.39, p < 0.001) were negative predictors of exercise. Conclusions Results from this study suggest that exercise programmes should work to make activities enjoyable, safe, and adaptable to the abilities of the individual. Programmes should also include social engagement. Implications for rehabilitation Parkinson’s exercise programmes should be enjoyable. Parkinson’s exercise programmes should include both social engagement and social support. Parkinson’s exercise programmes should be safe and adaptable to the abilities of the participants. Parkinson’s exercise programmes should aim to improve balance and reduce fear of falling. Individual exercise programmes can also be successful, many people with PD exercise alone with the most common form being walking.