Perceived Health Benefits Research Articles

Attitudes and concerns regarding booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among Egyptian patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases: a cross-sectional survey study

BackgroundCOVID-19 booster dose vaccination acceptance and actual vaccination behavior is not known among Egyptian individuals with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (ARDs). The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptability of booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the factors that drive and inhibit that acceptance among Egyptian patients diagnosed with ARDs.MethodsThis interview-based, cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on ARD patients from 20 July to 20 November 2022. A questionnaire was created to assess sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as COVID-19 vaccination status and the intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, perception of health benefits of it in addition to the perceived barriers and/or concerns.ResultsA total of 248 ARD patients were included, with a mean age of 39.8 years (SD = 13.2), and 92.3% were females. Among them, 53.6% were resistant to the COVID-19 booster dose, whereas 31.9% were acceptant and 14.5% were hesitant. Those who were administering corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine shown significantly greater booster hesitancy and resistance (p = 0.010 and 0.004, respectively). The primary motivation for taking a booster dose among the acceptant group was own volition (92%). Most acceptants believed that booster dose can prevent serious infection (98.7%) and community spread (96.2%). Among the hesitant and resistant groups, the main concerns for booster dose were fear about its major adverse effects (57.4%) and long-term impact (45.6%).ConclusionsThere is a low acceptability rate of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among Egyptian patients with ARD diseases. Public health workers and policymakers need to make sure that all ARD patients get clear messages about accepting the COVID-19 booster dose.

Exploring the factors that influence customers’ willingness to switch from traditional hotels to green hotels

ABSTRACT This research is designed to illustrate the process of customers’ switching behavior from a traditional hotel to a green hotel by applying a pull-push-mooring theory and an exploratory mixed methods design. The push factors, including environmental policy, social media effects, and social norms, drive customers away from traditional hotels, while the pull factors, including personal norms, perceived health benefits, and emotional well-being, attract customers to green hotels. The mooring factors, including inertia and switching cost, show a vital moderating effect. This study provides a conceptual mechanism that clarifies factors that drive customers’ green behavior in the hotel industry.

Public perceptions of the health benefits of green spaces in urban Ghana

ABSTRACT Recent years have witnessed a growth in research on urban green spaces given their significance to human wellbeing and environmental management. This paper explores the perceived health benefits of urban green areas by drawing on the experiences of 95 participants sampled from three urban communities in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. It is a qualitative study employing a cross-sectional design. The paper argues that participants’ perceptions straddle physical and non-physical dimensions of health. From the physical perspective, the participants revealed that green spaces improved physical activity and reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. The non-physical health benefits included improved attention, reduced stress and positive emotions such as happiness. The findings of this paper call for broad-based multi-sectoral approach to managing green spaces in urban Ghana.

Enteral nutrition product formulations: A review of available products and indications for use.

When oral nutrition is not feasible, enteral nutrition (EN) therapy is often considered the preferred route of nutrition support to meet the nutrient needs of individuals with a functional gastrointestinal tract across multiple levels of care (critical care, acute care, and home care). Enteral formulations have progressively evolved over the last 50 years from the simple blending of hospital food thin enough to run through a feeding tube, to the development of commercial standard formulas, followed by specialized formulas with immune-modulating and disease-specific qualities, to the most recent shift to food-based or blenderized EN composed of natural, whole foods with perceived health benefits. With the vast number of enteral formulations on the market, clinicians may be overwhelmed trying to determine proven vs theoretical benefits. This review is intended to explore differences in enteral formulations, identify implications for clinical practice, and review evidenced-based clinical guidelines to assist clinicians in enteral formula selection.

The contribution of fishing to human well-being in Brazilian coastal communities

Artisanal fishing is the main economic and cultural livelihood on the Brazilian coast, strongly contributing to the well-being of fishing communities. However, access to these benefits depends on both local governance and the availability of resources. Here, we investigate Brazilian artisanal fishers’ perceptions of cultural, economic, governance, health and social contributions that artisanal fishing makes to their well-being. We also investigate the influence of geographic (e.g., level of protection) and socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., gender, income and amount of experience) on these perceptions. To do this we conducted 230 structured interviews with fishers from three different areas, two that fish inside protected areas and one that fishes in an urbanized, unprotected area. Our results demonstrate that fishers recognize a wide range of potential well-being benefits from artisanal fishing. Nevertheless, fishers from different areas had significantly different perceptions of cultural, economic, health, and social benefits from artisanal fishing. Perceptions of economic and social benefits seem to be influenced by income while cultural benefits were more influenced by income and gender. Perception of the health benefits of fishing was most influenced by the amount of fishing experience. In contrast to other studies, that primarily focus on the economic benefits of fishing, our research provides a multidimensional perspective of the benefits generated by the practice of artisanal fishing in Brazil. These data can support political decisions that strengthen the management and governance of artisanal fishing, contributing to increasing the well-being of fishing communities and the conservation of limited fisheries resources.

Application of different hydrocolloids as fat replacer in low-fat dairy products: Ice cream, yogurt and cheese

It is becoming increasingly obvious that low-fat dairy product is gaining its popularity due to the perception of health benefits. However, fat plays a significant influence on the structure stability, texture, sensory attributes and appearance. So low-fat dairy products present texture and flavor issues due to the removal of fat, which reduced consumer acceptability. To overcome these shortcomings, hydrocolloid-based fat replacer has been investigated and used in low-fat dairy products. Many proteins, polysaccharides and their blends have been successfully applied to mimic some of the organoleptic and physical characteristics of fat molecules in ice cream, yogurt and cheese. Consequently, in this review, we firstly introduce the roles of fat in dairy products, and the associated defects because of the reduction of fat. After that different types of hydrocolloid-based fat replacers and their influences on the texture and sensory attributes of low-fat dairy products are discussed and compared for a comprehensive understanding.

Barriers and enablers associated with participation in a home-based pragmatic exercise snacking program in older adults delivered and monitored by Amazon Alexa: a qualitative study

Background‘Exercise snacking’, which is characterised by shorter and more frequent exercise bouts compared with traditional exercise guidelines, may be an acceptable strategy for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour in older adults.AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the enablers and barriers for older adults associated with participation in a home-based exercise snacking program delivered and monitored using an Amazon Echo Show 5 device (Alexa).MethodsThis study used an interpretive description qualitative design to conduct semi-structured interviews following a 12-week pilot study in 15 adults aged 60–89 years with at least one chronic condition. All participants were prescribed a home based, individualised, lower limb focussed ‘exercise snacking’ program (involving ≤ 10 min of bodyweight exercises 2–4 times per day) delivered and monitored by an Alexa. Qualitative interview data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsAll 15 participants (mean age 70.3 years) attended the semi-structured interview. Themes including time efficiency, flexibility, perceived health benefits, and motivation were enablers for participation in the ‘exercise snacking’ program. A lack of upper body exercises and omission of exercise equipment in the program, as well as a lack of time and motivation for performing exercise snacks three or more times per day, were barriers to participation.ConclusionWhile ‘exercise snacking’ is acceptable for older adults, future trials should provide equipment (e.g. adjustable dumbbells, exercise bands), prescribe whole-body exercise programs, and establish strategies to support participation in more than three exercise snacks per day.

Microencapsulation by a Spray Drying Approach to Produce Innovative Probiotics-Based Products Extending the Shelf-Life in Non-Refrigerated Conditions

Recently, there has been a growing interest in producing functional foods containing encapsulated probiotic bacteria due to their positive effects on human health. According to their perceived health benefits, probiotics have been incorporated into a range of dairy products, but the current major challenge is to market new, multicomponent probiotic foods and supplements. Nevertheless, only a few products containing encapsulated probiotic cells can be found as non-refrigerated products. In this work, spray drying technology was investigated in order to produce an innovative nutraceutical formulation based on lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and was able to ensure a good storage stability of probiotics (no less than 109 CFU/cps) in non-refrigerated conditions. Probiotic-loaded microparticles from spray drying experiments were produced under different conditions and compared by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the enumeration of the number of viable cells in order to identify the formulation exhibiting the most promising characteristics. Results from the dissolution test revealed that the optimized formulation provides a suitable amount of living cells after digestion of microparticles stored for 12 months at room temperature and confirmed that the microencapsulation process by spray drying ensures a good protection of probiotics for nutraceutical purposes.

Impact of tourists’ environmental preferences and place attachment on their perceived health benefits at Langya Mountain

Impact of tourists’ environmental preferences and place attachment on their perceived health benefits at Langya Mountain

Gender Differences and Perceived Quality Influence on Organic Food Consumption in Indonesia

This study aimed to investigate consumer behavior concerning organic food consumption in Indonesia in the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using a questionnaire survey, we collected data from 296 respondents and employed descriptive research alongside Spearman Rank Correlation analysis for assessment. The results revealed that female consumers exhibited a stronger intention to consume organic food consistently compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, Indonesian organic food consumers hold a favorable perception of the quality of organic products, especially emphasizing the perceived health benefits. A moderate correlation was identified between the perceived quality of organic food and ongoing buying interest. These findings underscore the importance of understanding consumer demographics and perception in promoting sustainable consumption patterns in developing nations.

COMPARISON AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF TRACE METAL CONTENT IN FACTORY-FARMED BROILER AND FREE-RANGE CHICKEN MEAT SOLD IN LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES

Chicken meat consumption remains high in the Philippines, and consequently, annual chicken production has risen steadily over the years. Although most of the chicken meat available in the market are sourced from factory farms, there has been growing popularity of free-range chicken production, largely driven by its perceived health benefits and sanitation concerns in factory farms, among others. In this work, we aimed at comparing the trace metal (copper, iron, lead, manganese, and zinc) content of free-range and factory-farmed broiler chicken meat that are being sold in Laguna, Philippines. The samples were subjected to acid digestion and analysis was done using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed an average concentration between 0.17 – 0.24 mg/kg, 2.22 – 2.34 mg/kg, 0.12 – 0.15 mg/kg, 0.95 – 1.32 mg/kg, and 1.81 – 1.96 mg/kg for copper, iron, lead, manganese, and zinc, respectively. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test (p < 0.05) showed no significant differences in the trace metal content of free-range and factory-farmed chicken meats, suggesting that in terms of the levels of these trace metals, not much differentiates the two varieties. Analysis of the health hazards, reported as target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazardous index (HI), associated with the consumption of the said chicken breast meat indicated no potential health risks.

Ethnic spice use and perceived health benefits among women in a Suburb of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

Spices have a long history of both culinary use and health benefits. Ethnic spices are spices specific to a particular geographic location. In Ghana, there are varying perceptions and uses of ethnic spices which are mostly not documented. To assess the use and perceived health benefits of ethnic spices among women in Accra, Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 women in randomly selected churches in Accra, Ghana. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic data and information on ethnic spice use. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics of participants and perceived health benefits of ethnic spice usage. The most commonly consumed spices out of the 19 spices explored in this study were onion (98.4%), garlic (97.6%), ginger (96.8%) and chili pepper (84.1%). Majority of the participants perceived ginger (74.6%) and garlic (73.8%) as having health benefits. Age (p=.001) and self-reported health status (p=0.010) were significantly associated with perceived health benefits of the spices. Onion, garlic, ginger and chili pepper were the four most commonly consumed ethnic spices. Age and self-reported health status of participants influenced perceived health benefits of ethnic spice usage.

The Flourishing Camel Milk Market and Concerns about Animal Welfare and Legislation

The worldwide dromedary milk production has increased sharply since the beginning of this century due to prolonged shelf life, improved food-safety and perceived health benefits. Scientific confirmation of health claims will expand the market of dromedary milk further. As a result, more and more dromedaries will be bred for one purpose only: the highest possible milk production. However, intensive dromedary farming systems have consequences for animal welfare and may lead to genetic changes. Tighter regulations will be implemented to restrict commercialization of raw milk. Protocols controlling welfare of dromedaries and gene databases of milk-dromedaries will prevent negative consequences of intensive farming. In countries where dromedaries have only recently been introduced as production animal, legislators have limited expertise on this species. This is exemplified by an assessment on behalf of the Dutch government, recommending prohibiting keeping this species from 2024 onwards because the dromedary was deemed to be insufficiently domesticated. Implementation of this recommendation in Dutch law would have devastating effects on existing dromedary farms and could also pave the way for adopting similar measures in other European countries. In this paper it is shown that the Dutch assessment lacks scientific rigor. Awareness of breeders and legislators for the increasing knowledge about dromedaries and their products would strengthen the position of dromedaries as one of the most adapted and sustainable animals.

Human Health Benefits of Non-Conventional Companion Animals: A Narrative Review.

Research investigating health benefits from household human-animal bonds has focused mostly on bonds with companion dogs, cats, and horses. Wellbeing benefits associated with other companion animal species such as birds, fish, and reptiles are described and anecdotally reported, but there is little empirical literature supporting this. The literature suggests that health benefits of companion animals are predicated on human perceptions of the animal rather than the animal's species. Therefore, relationships with non-conventional companion animals of diverse species may benefit the health of their human guardians as do dogs, cats, and horses. This narrative review summarizes the current literature exploring perceived health benefits gained from non-conventional companion animals. Searches were conducted for published literature and grey literature up to October 2022 across PsycINFO and PubMed databases, and Newsbank media database for commercial media publications. Nineteen studies and 10 media articles were included in the review. Gaps in the literature include a lack of rigorous research to investigate the health benefits of non-conventional companion animals. Non-conventional companion animals may benefit their guardians by providing social support through acting as attachment figures, facilitating social opportunities and daily routines, fulfilling cognitive needs, and recreating restorative capacities of mindfully observing natural landscapes. Further high-quality research into the human-non-conventional companion animal bond is warranted.

Participatory design of a sleep intervention with correctional supervisors using a root causes approach.

After a Design Team (DT) conducted a workforce health assessment of correctional supervisors, they selected sleep as an intervention priority, given its numerous health and work consequences. Existing workplace sleep interventions are designed with little worker input, but participatory solutions that incorporate workers' lived experiences and root causes of poor sleep may be more relevant, appropriate, and acceptable to end-users, resulting in better uptake. The DT met bi-monthly to complete the Intervention Design and Analysis Scorecard (IDEAS) tool to brainstorm interventions that address root causes of poor sleep,and evaluate, rank, and select interventions for implementation. We conducted a qualitative review of meeting notes and worksheets from each IDEAS step, and present our findings on root causes and prioritized solutions. The DT consisted of two university researchers and seven members of a correctional supervisors' union, with 5-9 participants attending each meeting. IDEAS Steps 1-5 were completed in eight meetings over six months. Root causes of poor sleep included mind/body and environmental disruptions, and insufficient time. Three solutions were proposed: training on sleep hygiene, meditation, and sleep debt management; a sleep-tracking smartphone app; and a shared overtime policy based on splitting one 8-hour shift between two supervisors. This is the first known application of IDEAS to address sleep, and targeting root causes may result in more efficacious interventions for sleep improvement. Moreover, because IDEAS guides DTs in selecting solutions with the greatest perceived health benefits, reach, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility, it may result in more successful implementation.

Preferences for dietary oils and fats in cooking and food preparation methods: a cross-sectional analysis of Australian adults.

Dietary oils and fats contain different fatty acid compositions that are associated with cardiometabolic disease risk. Despite their influence on disease outcomes, the types of dietary oils and fats predominately used in Australian households remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of dietary oils and fats in cooking and food preparation in Australia. Adults living in Australia completed a cross-sectional online survey outlining their current household oil and fat use from July to December 2021. The survey was disseminated via social media platforms and included questions about the types of dietary oils and fats used for different cooking methods and the perceived motivators for choosing the main household oil. A total of 1248 participants responded to the survey. Participants were mostly female (91·6 %) aged between 25 and 44 years (56·7 %). The majority of participants (84·5 %) reported using some form of olive oil as their main source of oil for cooking and food preparation. Almost two-thirds of the sample (65·4 %) reported using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), mainly in raw food preparation (71·5 %) or savoury baking and roasting (58 %). Fewer households reported using rice bran oil (4·6 %), canola oil (4·3 %) and vegetable oil (1·8 %). Almost half of all participants (49·6 %) identified perceived health benefits as the primary motivating factor for their main choice of oil, followed by sensory preference (46·7 %), versatility (10·2 %) and convenience (8·8 %). Australian adults frequently use olive oil, specifically EVOO, as the main oil for cooking and food preparation in the household.

Do smokers' harm perceptions of cigarillos differ by modified use of the tobacco product? Findings from waves 3 and 4 of the PATH study.

The harm perceptions of individuals who smoke either blunts or the Black & Mild (B&M) brand, which is often "freaked," have seldom been investigated. Since these practices could affect users' perceived health risks of the cigarillo, this study was intended to compare such risks among cigarillo users by modified use of the tobacco product. Adult cigarillo and blunt smokers were selected from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study for cross-sectional (Wave 4; n = 3,331) and longitudinal (Waves 3-4; n = 1,898) analyses of predictors of general and relative harm perceptions of cigarillos. Ordinal and multinomial logistic regression methods were employed for testing whether adjusted odds of perceiving cigarillo harms were greater in blunt versus cigarillo smokers. In a separate model (n = 1,258), preference for B&M cigarillos was examined as a correlate of harm perception due to the perceived health benefits of removing the inner tobacco liner. Cross-sectional estimates indicated that blunt smokers, mixed cigarillo/blunt smokers, and those who preferred B&M brand perceived significantly more risk than conventional cigarillo smokers. Longitudinal estimates indicated that among those who underwent a transition in use, former blunt and former cigarillo smokers had significantly greater odds of reporting an increase in perceived harm compared to new users. The change in blunt smokers' harm perceptions upon transitioning in blunt use suggests acknowledgment of the harm of using cigarillos in some form. Given their high perceived risk of cigarillos, blunt smokers might be receptive to replacing the tobacco product with a nontobacco wrap. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparative Evaluation of Physicochemical, Antioxidant, and Sensory Properties of Red Wine as Markers of Its Quality and Authenticity.

The consumption of red wine by most wine drinkers has increased significantly because of the perceived health benefits which are linked to its inherent quality characteristics. In the quest to determine the conformity of Nigeria's domestic red wine quality with their international counterparts, the quality characteristics of domestic red wines produced in Nigeria were evaluated using foreign red wines as markers of wine quality and authenticity. Foreign and domestic red wines obtained in Nigeria were analyzed for physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory properties using standard methods. Results showed that the domestic wines had significantly (p < 0.05) higher pH (4.03–4.16) and total sugar content (8.60–9.27%) while the foreign wines had significantly (p < 0.05) higher total titratable acidity (0.76–0.83%), Brix (6.98–8.04 g/100 g), alcohol (14.44–15.21% ABV), and polyphenol content (385.13–412.75 mg/L). Additionally, the domestic wines exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower antioxidant capacity compared to the foreign wines. Although the wines' hue angle (27.68°–41.46°) indicated a red colour spectrum in the visible region of the opponent colour chart, the total colour difference (ΔE) between foreign and domestic wines was significant. The sensory characteristics of the wines differed significantly as the panelist rating for overall acceptance ranged from 5.58 to 7.33. This research has provided valuable insight that the domestic wines studied showed a considerable level of authenticity and different levels of quality according to their varying concentration of organic acids, residual sugars, and phenolic compounds.

Czech Consumers' Preference for Organic Products in Online Grocery Stores during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

A major advantage of online organic produce shopping is the fact that it saves energy and reduces emissions otherwise generated by customers during their time spent on the road and while shopping. Organic products in general positively impact sustainability, the environment, and the regions of their origin along with the social changes in these regions and further rural development. Moreover, these products positively impact the perceived health benefits and quality of food labeled as organic. The Czech Republic has currently seen a rise in organic food purchasing and supply trends. This study maps the factors possibly influencing consumers’ decision to go shopping for organic food online. Observed factors include the following demographic characteristics of consumers (respondents): gender, age, education, household income, number of children in the household and number of household members. A total of 757 respondents from the Czech Republic from September 2020 to December 2020 took part in the research. Logistic regression, used for data processing, identified the statistically significant effects of education, income and number of household members on online purchases. These conclusions were confirmed by a detailed contingency tables analysis, including the almost monotonous trend of the dependencies, with only minor deviations in a maximum of one category. The strongest influence of some categories on the emergence of partial dependencies was found by residue analysis. The research confirmed that the frequency of online grocery shopping increases significantly with increasing education and income of respondents and decreases with increasing the number of household members. Most respondents apparently shop for groceries online because of time savings, better product choice and more convenient and easier search.

Exploring Saudi Individuals' Perspectives and Needs to Design a Hypertension Management Mobile Technology Solution: Qualitative Study.

Hypertension is a chronic condition caused by a poor lifestyle that affects patients’ lives. Adherence to self-management programs increases hypertension self-monitoring, and allows greater prevention and disease management. Patient compliance with hypertension self-management is low in general; therefore, mobile health applications (mHealth-Apps) are becoming a daily necessity and provide opportunities to improve the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, including hypertension. This research aims to explore Saudi individuals’ perspectives and needs regarding designing a hypertension management mobile app to be used by hypertension patients to better manage their illnesses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Saudi participants to explore their perspectives and views about the needs and requirements in designing a hypertension mobile technology solution, as well as usability and culture in the Saudi context. The study used NVivo to analyze data and divided the themes into four main themes: the app’s perceived health benefits, features and usability, suggestions for the app’s content, and security and privacy. The results showed that there are many suggestions for improvements in mobile health apps that developers should take into consideration when designing apps. The mobile health apps should include physical activity tracking, related diet information, and reminders, which are promising, and could increase adherence to healthy lifestyles and consequently improve the self-management of hypertension patients. Mobile health apps provide opportunities to improve hypertension patients’ self-management and self-monitoring. However, this study asserts that mobile health apps should not share users’ data, and that adequate privacy disclosures should be implemented.