Number Of Persons In Household Research Articles

Older Adults' Preventive Behaviors During COVID-19 Outbreak: Application of Multiple Disadvantage Model.

This study explored older adults’ preventive behaviors during the pandemic. A sample of 2982 community-dwelling older adults was extracted from the United States National Health and Aging Trends Study. Results showed that number of preventive behaviors was decreased with rundown neighborhood and age; but increased with Blacks, Hispanics, other ethnic minorities, income, female, number of persons in household, social cohesion, social network, family/peer support, severity of COVID-19 symptoms, and anxiety during COVID-19 outbreak. The study results imply that joint effort of government and ethnic minority advocacy groups in public health education should focus on preventive measures as well as racial disparities in health, and that rejuvenating rundown neighborhoods, promoting neighboring, providing stimulus checks and unemployment insurance, and maintaining connection with family and friends will promote preventive behaviors.

RISK FACTORS OF IDIOPATHIC PULMOANRY FIBROSIS IN PAKISTANI POPULATION: A MATCHED CASE-CONTROL STUDY

TOPIC: Diffuse Lung Disease TYPE: Original Investigations PURPOSE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is considered a disease of unknown etiology with varying incidence among populations and geographies. This study aimed to assess the risk factors of IPF among Pakistani population. METHODS: A gender and age matched case-control study was conducted. Adult cases of IPF, were defined on criteria by Indian Chest Registry, and miscellany of diagnosis other than IPF as controls, were recruited from pulmonology departments of two large tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Conditional logistic regression analysis was done to assess the risk factors of IPF adjusting for socio-economic, environmental and behavioral factors and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 154 cases and 305 controls were included in the study. Ethnicity, type of house, number of persons per room were significantly associated with IPF in unadjusted analysis. In mutually adjusted variable model, Punjabi [matched odds ratio (mOR) (95% confidence interval) 5.67 (1.67 – 19.29)], Pakhtoon [mOR 4.30 (1.18 – 15.74)], Urdu-speaking [mOR 5.51 (1.71 – 17.81)], and other ethnicities [mOR 4.93 (1.47 – 16.50)] were at higher risk of IPF compared to Sindhi ethnicity. Risk was significantly increased with number of persons in the household per room [mOR 1.18 (1.06 – 1.31)]. No significant association was observed with other variables such as smoking, occupation, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. CONCLUSIONS: Except for ethnicity and number of persons in household per room several factors identified in previous studies were not significant predictors of IPF among Pakistani population. Larger studies with in-depth assessments of environmental and occupational risk factors along with genetics are required to establish epidemiological profile of IPF in local population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Except for ethnicity and number of persons in household per room several factors identified in previous studies were not significant predictors of IPF among Pakistani population. Larger studies with in-depth assessments of environmental and occupational risk factors along with genetics are required to establish epidemiological profile of IPF in local population. DISCLOSURES: no disclosure on file for Naseem Ahmed; No relevant relationships by Zafar Fatmi, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Maryam Hassan, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Unaib Rabbani, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Nadeem Rizvi, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Akbar Shoukat, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Ali Zubairi, source=Web Response

Being useful among persons aged over 65: social representations from a cross-sectional European study

BackgroundThere is a compelling need to prepare our societies and healthcare systems to deal with the oncoming wave of population ageing. The majority of older persons maintain a desire to be valued and useful members of society and of their social networks.AimsWe sought to investigate the perception of usefulness among persons aged 65 years and over in four European countries.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of individuals aged 65 years or older from the population of retired persons (including recently retired persons and oldest-old individuals) from 4 European countries selected using quota sampling. In February 2016, an internet questionnaire was sent to all selected individuals. The characteristics used for the quota sampling method were sex, age, socio-professional category, region, city size, number of persons in household, autonomy, marital status, place of residence, income and educational status. The questionnaire contained 57 questions. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. Responses were analysed with principal components analysis (PCA).ResultsA total of 4025 persons participated; 51% were males, and 70% were aged 65–75 years. PCA identified six classes of individuals, of which two classes (Classes 2 and 3) were characterized by more socially isolated individuals with little or no sense of usefulness, low self-esteem and a poor sense of well-being. These two classes accounted for almost 20% of the population. Younger and more autonomous classes reported a more salient sense of usefulness.ConclusionsThe loss of the sense of usefulness is associated with dissatisfaction with life and a loss of pleasure, and persons with profiles corresponding to Classes 2 and 3 should, therefore, be targeted for interventions aimed at restoring social links.

How long do respondents think online surveys should be? New evidence from two online panels in Germany

In recent years, the number of surveys, especially online surveys, has increased dramatically. Due to the absence of interviewers in this survey mode (who can motivate the respondents to continue answering), some researchers and practitioners argue that online surveys should not be longer than 20 min. However, so far, there has been little research investigating how long respondents think that online surveys should or could be. In this study, we therefore asked respondents of two online panels in Germany (one probability-based panel and one nonprobability panel) about their opinions on the ideal and maximum lengths of surveys. We also investigated whether socio-demographic, personality-related, and survey-related variables were associated with the ideal and maximum lengths reported by respondents. Finally, we compared the stated and observed survey lengths to evaluate the extent to which respondents are able to accurately estimate survey length. Our results suggest that the ideal length of an online survey is between 10 and 15 min and the maximum length is between 20 and 28 min, depending on the measure of central tendency (mean or median) used and the panel. Moreover, we found significant effects of socio-demographics (gender, age, education, and number of persons in household), of personality traits, and survey-related questions (whether the respondents liked the survey, found it easy, and answered from a PC) on at least one of the dependent variables (ideal or maximum lengths). Finally, we found only small differences (less than two min) between stated and observed lengths.

Dietary intake of working women with children does not appear to be influenced by hours of employment: A secondary analysis of the Australian Health Survey (2011–2013)

Women with children often fulfil multiple roles of running a household, raising a family and working outside the home. Good nutrition during this time is important to optimise their performance and prevent lifestyle diseases. Women also act as nutritional gatekeepers for their family. The dual burden of paid employment and unpaid family work may be associated with time scarcity in mothers which can impact food preparation and therefore nutritional adequacy. The aim of this study was to examine the diet of women who lived with children by comparison of hours worked. MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of the Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2011–12. Subjects were women aged 18–65 years who resided with ≥1 child (<18 years). Women were grouped according to hours of employment: not working; working <25 h a week; and working ≥25 hours a week. Data from two 24-h dietary recalls were used to compare differences between groups in nutrient intake and proportion of energy from discretionary foods. Covariates included were age, education, smoker status, Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), number of persons in household, week or weekend day of the survey and the sequence of recalls. ResultsAnalyses included 1869 women. Dietary intakes varied minimally between groups with intakes of fibre, vitamin C, and calcium lowest in the group not working. Overall diet quality was poor with >30% of energy coming from discretionary foods in all groups. ConclusionsUsual hours of employment per week have a minimal effect on diet quality in women with children. It is likely that different factors specific to each group contribute to the poor dietary intakes and should be further investigated.

Common Mental Disorders at the Time of Deportation: A Survey at the Mexico-United States Border.

Deportations from the Unites States (US) to Mexico increased substantially during the last decade. Considering deportation as a stressful event with potential consequences on mental health, we aimed to (1) estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among deported migrants; and (2) explore the association between migratory experience, social support and psychological variables, and CMD in this group. In repatriation points along the border, a probability sample of deportees responded to the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). The prevalence of CMD was 16.0% (95% CI 12.3, 20.6). There was a U-shaped association between time in the US and SRQ score. Times returned to Mexico, having a spouse in the US, number of persons in household, less social support, anxiety as a personality trait, and avoidant coping style were directly associated with SRQ score. Public health policies should address the need for mental health care among deported migrants.

Differences between patients with chronic widespread pain and local chronic low back pain in primary care - a comparative cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundChronic pain is a common reason for consultation in general practice. Current research distinguishes between chronic localized pain (CLP) and chronic widespread pain (CWP). The aim of this study was to identify differences between CWP and chronic low back pain (CLBP), a common type of CLP, in primary care settings.MethodsFifty-eight German general practitioners (GPs) consecutively recruited all eligible patients who consulted for chronic low back pain during a 5-month period. All patients received a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, pain characteristics, comorbidities, psychosomatic symptoms, and previous therapies.ResultsGPs recruited 647 eligible patients where of a quarter (n = 163, 25.2%) met the CWP criteria according to the American College of Rheumatology. CWP patients had significantly more comorbidities and psychosomatic symptoms, showed longer pain duration, and suffered predominantly from permanent pain instead of distinguishable pain attacks. CWP patients were more often females, are less working and reported a current pension application or a state-approved grade of disability more frequently. We found no other differences in demographic parameters such as age, nationality, marital status, number of persons in household, education, health insurance status, or in health care utilization data.ConclusionsThis project is the largest study performed to date which analyzes differences between CLBP and CWP in primary care settings. Our results showed that CWP is a frequent and particularly severe pain syndrome.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trial Register, DRKS00003123.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis andMycobacterium bovis,Uganda

To the Editor: In 2005, prevalence of human tuberculosis (TB) in Uganda was 559 cases/100,000 population (1). In 2002, the average number of extrapulmonary TB cases in humans, considered a crude indicator of the level of bovine TB, was 7.5% of TB cases for Uganda and 6% for Mbarara district, the main Ugandan milk basin (2). Worldwide, the proportion of human cases caused by Mycobacterium bovis has accounted for 3.1% of all forms of TB (3). Although zoonotic TB is more often reported as an extrapulmonary disease, recent publications report that 0.4%–10% of sputum isolates from patients in African countries are M. bovis (3). These studies, however, give little information about the cattle environment. A 2002 survey of dairy cattle in Mbarara district reported that 74% of herds and 6% of individual animals were reactive to the single tuberculin test (4). However, this test does not differentiate between Mycobacterium species involved. We therefore explored whether M. bovis might be a major threat to human health in this region. From September 2004 through January 2005, we surveyed 658 patients who had been admitted to the Mbarara University Teaching Hospital TB ward after positive bacterial findings for at least 3 sputum smears or positive chest radiographs for smear-negative patients. Of 90 randomly selected patients, only 70 samples were available for analysis to differentiate the species in the M. tuberculosis complex; the other samples were excluded because of contamination, lack of mycobacteria growth on culture, or postal delay in transportation of sample. The questionnaire asked about patients’ demographic data (including occupation), association with cattle, and milk consumption habits. Genomic DNA was extracted from the pellet culture of Middlebrook 7H9 broth (Difco; Cergy, France) as described previously (5). DNA samples were used to carry out PCRs and hybridization processes; we used the GenoType MTBC kit (Hain Lifescience GmbH; Nehren, Germany) for differentiation in the M. tuberculosis complex, especially between M. tuberculosis and M. bovis species (6). Questionnaire responses showed that 27/64 (42.2%; 6 did not answer) patients had a history of raw milk consumption; nevertheless, 20/24 (83%; 3 did not answer) reported that they boiled fresh milk before consuming it, as did 54/60 (90% of all patients; 10 did not answer). Eating undercooked or raw meat was reported by 91% of the patients. Most patients were adult males (ratio 2.14:0.97 male:female for the district population); 8.6% were <18 years old (56% in the district); and average number of persons in household was 5.7 vs. 4.8 for the district (7). Of the samples, 8.6% were from extrapulmonary sites. After amplification and hybridization of sample DNA, 69 samples were found to be M. tuberculosis, and 1 was not a Mycobacterium species. Our sampling method would detect at least 1 case of M. bovis in n patient specimens if the prevalence of bovine TB was > p(0.033%) according to the formula in which a is the first order error (5%): Because of the change in sample size, the limit prevalence was redetermined by using the inverse of the formula above: If at least 1 sample was positive for M. bovis, the prevalence of bovine TB among patients would be >4.2%. However, the prevalence of M. bovis was <4.2% and confirmed the low-level involvement of M. bovis in human TB in Mbarara district. These findings are consistent with previous work in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and in other African or Asian countries (2,8,9). The estimation of extrapulmonary cases among all TB cases (95% confidence interval 2%–15.2%) did not differ from the official estimate. We can add, using the second formula shown above, that among the 6 extrapulmonary TB cases, the prevalence of M. bovis is <39.3%. Our results come from a population in a highly rural area (91.5% of the population in Mbarara district) (7), where the high prevalence of animal TB has been reported. These results could be explained by the patients’ consumption habits, which reduce the risk for contamination. Even if bovine TB could also be found in other farm or wild animals, it seems to have a minor effect on public health. Zoonotic TB appeared to not be a major public health problem in Mbarara district. However, this finding could also result from underdiagnosis of extrapulmonary TB, from prevalence of M. tuberculosis being so high that in proportion M. bovis is a minor problem, or from rural populations’ difficult access to TB diagnosis (directly observed therapy case detection rate in Uganda in 2005 was 37%) (1).

Socio-demographic variables influence outcome in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group head and neck trials

6043 Background: The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic factors on local-regional (LR) control and survival of patients treated on RTOG head and neck cancer clinical trials. Methods:Patients treated on RTOG 9003, RTOG 9111 and RTOG 9703 were utilized. The model was stratified by protocol and a step-up procedure using a 0.05 significance level was initially used to build the model. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine if any tumor or socio-demographic variables (age, gender, race, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), T-stage, N-stage, marital status, number of persons in household, education level, household income prior to cancer diagnosis, and tobacco use) are independent prognostic variables for LR control and/or survival. Results:A total of 1901 patients were entered onto the 3 RTOG trials of which 1822 were analyzable. Fifty-nine percent of the analyzable patients were from 9003, 28% from 9111 and 13% from 9703. In multivariate analyses T and N-Stage, and KPS were significant for both survival and LR control. Variables found to have prognostic value independent of disease related variables were gender, age, marital status and income for survival and marital status and race for LR control. A significant interaction between marital status and gender existed for both endpoints. Male patients currently married or a live-in partner, did significantly better than the other male patients, while no such effect was seen in the female patients. Tobacco use at protocol entry was evaluated in the multivariate model with only RTOG 9003 and 9111, and was significant for both endpoints. Conclusions: The socio-demographic variables race and marital status were found to have independent prognostic value for predicting LR control. Income and marital status were found to have independent prognostic value for predicting survival. These variables may identify patients requiring additional support and early interventions during the course of treatment to improve outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Socio-demographic variables influence outcome in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group head and neck trials

6043 Background: The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic factors on local-regional (LR) control and survival of patients treated on RTOG head and neck cancer clinical trials. Methods:Patients treated on RTOG 9003, RTOG 9111 and RTOG 9703 were utilized. The model was stratified by protocol and a step-up procedure using a 0.05 significance level was initially used to build the model. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine if any tumor or socio-demographic variables (age, gender, race, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), T-stage, N-stage, marital status, number of persons in household, education level, household income prior to cancer diagnosis, and tobacco use) are independent prognostic variables for LR control and/or survival. Results:A total of 1901 patients were entered onto the 3 RTOG trials of which 1822 were analyzable. Fifty-nine percent of the analyzable patients were from 9003, 28% from 9111 and 13% from 9703. In multivariate analyses T and N-Stage, and KPS were significant for both survival and LR control. Variables found to have prognostic value independent of disease related variables were gender, age, marital status and income for survival and marital status and race for LR control. A significant interaction between marital status and gender existed for both endpoints. Male patients currently married or a live-in partner, did significantly better than the other male patients, while no such effect was seen in the female patients. Tobacco use at protocol entry was evaluated in the multivariate model with only RTOG 9003 and 9111, and was significant for both endpoints. Conclusions: The socio-demographic variables race and marital status were found to have independent prognostic value for predicting LR control. Income and marital status were found to have independent prognostic value for predicting survival. These variables may identify patients requiring additional support and early interventions during the course of treatment to improve outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

U. S. Householder survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders

Our objective was to obtain national data of the estimated prevalence, sociodemographic relationships, and health impact of persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders. We surveyed a stratified probability random sample of U.S. householders selected from a data base of a national market firm (National Family Opinion, Inc.). Questions were asked about bowel symptoms, sociodemographic associations, work absenteeism, and physician visits. The sampling frame was constructed to be demographically similar to the U.S. householder population based on geographic region, age of householder, population density, household income, and household size. Of 8250 mailings, 5430 were returned suitable for analysis (66% response). The survey assessed the prevalence of 20 functional gastrointestinal syndromes based on fulfillment of multinational diagnostic (Rome) criteria. Additional variables studied included: demographic status, work absenteeism, health care use, employment status, family income, geographic area of residence, population density, and number of persons in household. For this sample, 69% reported having at least one of 20 functional gastrointestinal syndromes in the previous three months. The symptoms were attributed to four major anatomic regions: esophageal (42%), gastroduodenal (26%), bowel (44%), and anorectal (26%), with considerable overlap. Females reported greater frequencies of globus, functional dysphagia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, functional abdominal pain, functional biliary pain and dyschezia; males reported greater frequencies of aerophagia and functional bloating. Symptom reporting, except for incontinence, declines with age, and low income is associated with greater symptom reporting. The rate of work/school absenteeism and physician visits is increased for those having a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Furthermore, the greatest rates are associated with those having gross fecal incontinence and certain more painful functional gastrointestinal disorders such as chronic abdominal pain, biliary pain, functional dyspepsia and IBS. Preliminary information on the prevalence, socio-demographic features and health impact is provided for persons who fulfill diagnostic criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders.

ANALYSIS OF RESIDENTIAL WATER DEMAND IN THE ASHIDA RIVER BASIN, JAPAN

Though the need for demand management is emphasized for solving the water supplydemand problems in Japan, there is little detailed information about actual conditions of water use. The objective of the present study is to clarify the residential water demand structure in the Ashida river basin, located in the eastern part of Hiroshima prefecture, with a drainage area of 900 km2 (Fig. 1), by using individual data. Water demands for municipal and industrial sectors have been rapidly increased with urbanization and industrialization since 1960. In 1975, Fukuyama city had a total population of 330, 000 and a total amount of water use of 1.3 ×108m3. A questionnaire survey of 3, 200 households is conducted to obtain information on the factors which have any effects on residential water use. The monthly or bi-monthly water use series of individual households are transcribed from meter books of each municipality for the 1975, 1976 and 1977 fiscal years. In the present study, the following three types of residential water demand models are tested using linear equations. Model A with income variable is used for all of the households which offer the available sets of data (Sample f) . Models B and C, which contain dummy variables on water-saving, and income and price variables, are used for the households utilizing their water only for residential purposes (Samples pi and V). _??_ where Rw is the amount of municipal water use in m3/household/year, Np the number of persons in household, Nb the number of babies (less than two years old) in household, In the income in million yen/household/year, Pr the average price of water in yen/m3, and others are dummy variables except of regression coefficients, ai, bi, and ci (Table 1). Regression coefficients of a3, b2, b3, b4, c2 and c6 are expected to be negative, and all of other regression coefficients with the exception of constant termsa0, b0, and c0 are expected to be positive. The results of a sample survey are summarized as follows ; 1. The mean values of Pw (public water supply), Gw (ground water use), and Tl (flushtoilet use) show the wide regional differences, but there are no remarkable differences in the mean values of other variables (Table 3). The seasonal variations for residential water use show a minimum of 78% to 87% in winter and a maximum of 114% to 130% in summer. 2. The regression analyses using Models A, B and C are listed in Tables 4, 5, and 6. Each equation is the “best” one that yields the expected signs of regression coefficients and no longer explains a significant amount of the remaining unexplained variation by adding another variable, among all equations having every possible combination of explanatory variables. A significant portion of the variation in residential water use can be explained by the variables of the number of persons in household (Np), and the presences or absences of ground water use (Gw), of flush-toilet use (Tl), and of non-domestic water uses around the house (Nr and Ot). The obtained results agree entirely with the previous study of Tachikawa city (Shimmi, 1977). Table 7 shows the household-size, income, and price elasticities evaluated at the mean of respective variables by using individual data. The household-size elasticities are in the ranges of 0.41 to 0.45 for Sample i, of 0.30 to 0.73 for Sample JV, and of 0.38 to 0.51 for Sample V. These ranges are consistent with the previous estimates. The income elasticities range from 0.01 to 0.22 for Sample III, and from 0. 01 to 0. 11 for Sample V.