Poor Health Perception Research Articles

Exploring Sleep Quality and Attitudes in Ageing Portuguese Population

Sleep disturbances are prevalent among older adults, often due to natural physiological aging or various mental health factors, including beliefs and attitudes toward sleep. Despite this, the relationship between sleep quality and mental well-being in older populations remains underexplored. This study aims to examine the role of dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep as predictors of poor sleep quality in Portuguese adults aged 50 and above. The study included 125 Portuguese participants, aged 50 to 80 (M = 58.07, SD = 6.15). Data were collected using the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (DBAS-16), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Work Health Questionnaire (WHQ), along with sociodemographic information. A self-report online survey was disseminated through social media between March and May 2024. Findings indicate a significant association between negative beliefs about sleep, poor perceptions of health, and decreased sleep quality in adults over 50. These relationships intensify with age, suggesting that negative attitudes toward sleep may exacerbate sleep disturbances. The results highlight the need to better understand the interplay between sleep beliefs, functional health, and sleep quality in older populations. Such understanding can inform the development of interventions to improve sleep literacy and overall well-being among older adults.

Association between financial anxiety and subjective health and physical fatigue perceptions among mothers of 18-month-old infants

Objective Poverty is a factor that affects children's health through its role in parental depression and stress. While the association between financial status and depression or quality of life scores of mothers has been previously reported in Japan, no study has focused on mothers' subjective health and physical fatigue perceptions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between mothers' financial anxiety and subjective health and physical fatigue perceptions.Methods We conducted a survey in parents attending routine health checkups for their 18-month-old infant in a single area of City A between November 2017 and October 2019. After excluding those for whom the required analysis data were missing, we analyzed data from 779 parents who responded to the survey and consented to the use of their children's health checkup data. The response variables were maternal subjective health and physical fatigue perceptions, and the explanatory variables were the presence of financial anxiety in mothers at their child's 3- or 18-month health checkups and financial anxiety situation in both periods. Financial anxiety was classified into four groups according to status at the 3- and 18-month time points. The independence of the qualitative variables among these four groups was verified using Fisher's exact test, and the relationship between financial anxiety and maternal subjective health and physical fatigue perceptions was evaluated using logistic regression analysis.Results Financial anxiety was present in 54 mothers (6.9%) and 46 mothers (5.9%) at the 3- and 18-month checkup, respectively. Analysis of financial anxiety in both periods showed that 695 mothers (89.2%) had no financial anxiety at either time point, 30 (3.9%) had financial anxiety only at the 18-month checkup, 38 (4.9%) had financial anxiety only at the 3-month checkup, and 16 (2.1%) had financial anxiety at both time points. At the 18-month checkup, the odds ratios of poor subjective health and severe physical fatigue perceptions were 3.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.34-11.05) and 6.58 (95% CI; 2.18-19.85), respectively, among the mothers who had financial anxiety at both time points compared to those who had no financial anxiety at either time point.Conclusion Financial anxiety may affect mothers' health. Therefore, mothers should be provided with solution-oriented support geared toward mitigating financial anxiety, in coordination with affiliated organizations, if financial anxiety is detected.

Difficulties Faced by Vietnamese Migrants in Japan in Accessing Healthcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Self-Reported Health Perceptions.

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected migrant populations in Japan, including Vietnamese migrants, who faced distinct challenges in accessing healthcare compared to native Japanese citizens. These challenges, exacerbated by the structural complexities of Japan's healthcare system during the pandemic, likely influenced their subjective health perceptions. Nevertheless, studies on Vietnamese migrants' difficulties in healthcare access during the pandemic and their perceived health perceptions are lacking. To address this gap, the present study aimed to clarify the relationship between healthcare access difficulties and subjective health perceptions among this migrant group in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A repeated cross-sectional design was employed, targeting Vietnamese migrants aged 18 years and older living in Japan. From 2021 to 2023, annual online surveys were conducted to assess demographics, COVID-19 history, healthcare access difficulties, and subjective health perceptions. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between healthcare access difficulties when suspected of contracting COVID-19 infection and subjective health perceptions. The number of survey participants totaled 631 in 2021, 214 in 2022, and 176 in 2023. The findings showed that in 2021, 26.1% of the respondents faced difficultiesaccessing healthcare when suspected of contracting COVID-19 infection. This was significantly associated with poor subjective health perception (odds ratio {OR}: 2.35; 95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.15-4.79). In 2022, 13.6% of the respondents reported difficulties accessing healthcare, also significantly associated with poor subjective health perception (OR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.02-7.45). In 2023, 10.2% of the respondents faced difficulties, but no significant association with subjective health perception was observed (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 0.72-6.63). Difficulties in accessing healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the subjective health perceptions of Vietnamese migrants residing in Japan, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic. Therefore, to improve and ensure equitable access to healthcare services for migrant populations during public health crises, there is a need to implement targeted interventions that reduce the barriers for these vulnerable groups.

Assessing the Relationship Between Self-Rated General Health and Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake.

Colorectal cancer screening has been shown to be effective in reducing the burden of colorectal cancer.However, the screening rate has been suboptimal, and mortality due to colorectal cancer remains high. With the presence of proactiveprevention strategies, low screening rates could still be due to individual factors. Following the health-belief model, this study examined the relationship between self-rated general health perception and colorectal cancer screening. The study utilized the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Annual Survey dataset. The sample size was 177,889 and included individuals aged 45-75 years. The outcome variable was a categorical variable with binary responses of screened or not screened. The main predictor variable was an ordinal variable with five responses of poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent in the assessment of self-rated general health. Other covariates were age, sex, marital status, race, insurance status, level of education, annual income, and poor physical and mental health durations. The weighting variable of the dataset was used to adjust the sample to a weighted sample size. After obtaining descriptive statistics, simple and multivariate logistic regressions were fitted to analyze the relationship between the main predictor and the outcome variables. Statistical significance was set at a 95% confidence level. The weighted sample size was 83,303,438. Of these, 70.09% were screened and 29.91% were not screened for colorectal cancer. Excellent general health was reported by 14.80%, 34.32% very good, 32.1% good, 13.91% fair, and 4.87% had poor general health. Individuals with excellent general health perception were 25% less likely (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.75; 95% CI=0.65, 0.88; p<0.0001) to be screened for colorectal cancer compared to those with poor general health perception. This study identifies the individual's excellent health perception as a possible contributing factor to the deficiency towards the realization of the goal in the rate of screening uptake and the need for revised and improved awareness programs.

Self-Perceived Health, Mood, and Substance Use Among Adolescents: An Analysis to Enhance Family, Community, and Mental Health Care.

Adolescence is a critical period for developing self-perception, emotional well-being, and health behaviors. Mental health disorders represent a substantial burden for adolescents worldwide. This study examines self-perceived health, mood, and substance use among adolescents, identifying associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 121 adolescents aged from 14 to 18 from a secondary school in Baix Llobregat, Catalonia. Data were collected through questionnaires, and descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Poor self-perceived health and negative mood were associated with higher alcohol and tobacco use. Girls exhibited better emotional regulation than boys. Poor health perception and negative mood are linked to increased substance use. Early intervention should focus on emotional well-being and prevention, involving both families and schools.

Assessment of body mass index, lifestyle and health perception among female university students in Morocco.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), dietary habits, physical activity, and health perception among female university students in Morocco. The study was conducted at a Moroccan university among female students from the Faculty of Sciences Ain-Chock in Casablanca. Participants were given a self-administered questionnaire that evaluated sociodemographic factors, dietary habits, food group consumption, physical activity, and self-assessed health status. Data collection took place from February 2023 through the end of April 2023. A total of 335 students aged 18 to 29 years participated in the survey. The study revealed that 72.5% of the participants were within the normal weight range (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²), while 15.9% were classified as overweight and 3.9% as obese. Additionally, 47.9% of the participants engaged in physical activity, with 30.2% dedicating more than 45 minutes to their activities. The health perception was found to be related to weight classification, with poor health perception most commonly associated with the "18.5-25" BMI range (57.8%). The study sheds light on the intricate interaction between weight, health, and lifestyle in Morocco. The frequency of normal-weight persons and active participation indicates university students' health awareness. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, on the other hand, need ongoing health measures. These findings help to build focused methods for promoting healthier lives in Morocco, utilizing educational institutions as health promotion platforms.

Unveiling loneliness: health determinants of feeling alone in the older urban residents

Abstract In older people health condition contributes to the feeling of being alone (loneliness). We aimed to assess which chronic health conditions are the strongest determinants of loneliness in older urban residents. Participants of the Polish part of the HAPIEE Study (Health Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe) examined in 2019-20 were included to the analysis. Trained nurses interviewed respondents in their homes. Loneliness was assessed using 3-item UCLA scale (range: 3-9, cuf-off≥ 6 points). Socioeconomic data, self-rated health (SRH) and the history of 18 diseases diagnosed by the doctor was assessed using standardized questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used; odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals are presented (OR (95%CI)). There were 461 participants (48% males) of mean age 72 years (SD = 6.3). In 34 participants (7%) UCLA score was 6 or more. The majority (63%) of respondents were married or cohabiting. Nearly 90% declared having children. After adjustment for marital status and having children, poor distance vision 3.84 (1.31-6.12), hearing problems 2.20 (1.07-4.53), acute back pain syndrome 2.21 (1.06-4.59) and cancer 2.36 (1.03-5.41) were determinants of loneliness. Further adjustment for age weakened the association with distance vision 2.74 (1.26-5.94) and waved the relationship with hearing problems 2.06 (0.99-4.29). The estimates for remaining health conditions remained almost unchanged. The strongest predictor of loneliness was SRH. After adjustment for age, marital status, having children and objective burden of chronic diseases, compared to good SRH, participants with moderate and poor SRH were more likely to report loneliness by over 3 and 6 times: 3.41 (1.29-9.05) and 6.60 (2.16-20.18), respectively. The perception of poor health and diagnosis of cancer strongly determined loneliness in older people, but other important predictors of loneliness were conditions that objectively hinder maintaining social contacts. Key messages • In older people health condition is related to the feeling of being alone, and the strongest objective health determinant of loneliness was diagnosis of cancer. • Independently of objective burden of chronic diseases, self-rated health was a significant predictor of loneliness in older urban residents.

Gabapentin for Seizures

What Is the Issue? Gabapentin is 1 of many antiseizure medications available for the treatment of epilepsy in adults; however, there are potential risks associated with its use. Therefore, it is important to determine the place of therapy of gabapentin in the treatment of epilepsy. What Did We Do? To help determine the potential place in therapy for gabapentin in the treatment of epilepsy in adults, we sought to identify and summarize studies of the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of gabapentin as well as recommendations from evidence-based guidelines. We searched key resources, including journal citation databases, and conducted a focused internet search for relevant evidence published since 2014. One reviewer screened articles for inclusion based on predefined criteria, critically appraised the included publications, and narratively summarized the findings. What Did We Find? We identified 1 systematic review and 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) that evaluated the efficacy of gabapentin in adults with epilepsy. We identified 5 evidence-based guidelines that included recommendations on the use of gabapentin for epilepsy. We did not identify any studies that evaluated its cost-effectiveness. Seizure-free retention at 3 months may be better in adults with epilepsy who were treated with lamotrigine than gabapentin or carbamazepine. There were no differences in other seizure outcomes (such as time to seizure, seizure freedom, or seizure-free retention) for adults with epilepsy treated with gabapentin versus lamotrigine or carbamazepine. Adults with epilepsy treated with gabapentin were more likely to experience fair or poor health perception than those treated with oxcarbazepine. There were no differences in other quality of life outcomes (such as anxiety, depression, or worry about seizures) between those treated with gabapentin versus lamotrigine, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, or topiramate. Withdrawals because of adverse events were similar between adults with epilepsy treated with gabapentin and lamotrigine. There were more systemic toxicities in adults treated with gabapentin than carbamazepine or lamotrigine but there were no differences in neurotoxicities between groups. One guideline recommends against the use of gabapentin in people with myoclonic seizures or people with epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures. One guideline states that there is insufficient evidence to consider gabapentin instead of carbamazepine in patients with new-onset focal epilepsy or unclassified generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Three guidelines recommend the use of gabapentin in older adults with epilepsy. One guideline recommends the use of gabapentin in people with intellectual disability and epilepsy, if the benefits outweigh the risks or as a second-line option. What Does It Mean? There were few differences in outcomes between adults with epilepsy treated with gabapentin versus other active comparators in the studies we identified. The included guidelines recommended for or against the use of gabapentin depending on patient factors such as age and type of epilepsy or seizures. Decision-makers may wish to consider individual patient factors such as age and type of epilepsy or seizures as well as the availability of other treatment options when making decisions on the use of gabapentin for the treatment of epilepsy.

The Effect of Health Literacy in Women on Their Level Of Knowledge About Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Their Risk of Diabetes

Background: Health literacy is important not only for reading efficiency but also for early diagnosis of diseases and risk awareness. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of health literacy on the level of knowledge of women regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors and their risk of developing diabetes. Method: The study employs a cross-sectional design. The research sample consists of 300 women. The data was collected by face-to-face survey method between January and July 2021. A Personal Information Form, the Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32), the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL) Scale and the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) Questionnaire were used in the study. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to evaluate the data. Results: It was determined that one third of the women had inadequate THLS-32 scores and that their mean CARRF-KL and FINDRISC scores were moderate. The mean THLS-32 scale scores of those with a low education level and poor health perception were found to be lower (p

USE OF PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ANALYSIS OF THEIR EFFICIENCY AMONG PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

It is well known that the effectiveness of preventive and curative measures is influenced by the awareness of patients about the disease, its causes, problems and possibilities of their elimination, blood pressure measurement and control, basic principles of non-drug and drug treatment, issues of care or self-care, preventive measures. Poor perception of good health and irregular visits to the doctor are among the most important factors of ignorance, untreated and uncontrolled hypertension. Studying the awareness of patients regarding preventive technologies of hypertension is appropriate, because such data is the basis for their development, improvement and implementation.The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the training of patients with hypertension.Material and methods. 120 patients with hypertension were included in the study, who were divided into 2 groups: Group I (main) – 68 people who participated in the educational program on prevention of hypertension; II group (control group) – 52 people who did not participate in the training program.Results. It was established that the patients who participated in the training program significantly (p&lt;0.05) improved their knowledge about hypertension (by 47.07%) and FR (by 50.88%), possible complications (by 58.82%), blood pressure indicators are normal (by 32.35%) compared to the control group.All patients of the main group mastered the skills of self-measuring blood pressure and heart rate counting (100%, (p&lt;0.05), and also improved blood pressure control skills (by 41.18%) and keeping a self-monitoring diary, which made it possible to improve the quality of blood pressure control and contributed to an increase in adherence to drug therapy and an improvement in the relationship between the doctor, nurse and patient. While in the control group, blood pressure measurement and control skills did not change significantly (increased by only 3.84%, 5.77% and 7.68%, respectively), the majority of patients who underwent training showed a positive trend in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.Conclusion. Patients' participation in the Hypertension Prevention Education Program not only provided them with the necessary knowledge, but also provided them with social support from both medical professionals and other patients.

Elucidating the influences of social determinants of health on perceived overall health among African American/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors using the NIH All of Us Research Program

ObjectivesTo evaluate the influences of social determinants of health (SDOH) on perceived health and well-being among African American (AA)/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using overall health and SDOH survey data collected by the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program from May 2017 to September 2023. ResultsWhile 1250 enrolled participants with ovarian cancer met the inclusion criteria, 414 (33%) completed SDOH surveys: 29 (7%) AA/Black, 33 (8%) Hispanic, and 352 (85%) White. In the ordinal logistic regression models, for every unit increase in the SDOH neighborhood characteristics score, the odds of having a poor perception of general health decreased by 0.96 times. For every unit increase in the SDOH day-to-day discrimination score, the odds of having a poor perception of general health, general mental health, social satisfaction decreased by 0.95, 0.94 and 0.93 times respectively. For every unit increase in the SDOH food and housing security score, the odds of having a poor perception of general health decreased by 0.57 times. Compared to White ovarian cancer survivors, AA/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors were significantly more likely to have a poor perception of general health, general mental health, and social satisfaction even when adjusting for these SDOH. ConclusionsUnfavorable SDOH conditions negatively influence the overall perception of health. These findings signal an urgency for healthcare professionals and scientists to partner together with local communities in designing feasible and imaginative interventions to overcome cancer care disparities in an equitable manner.

Work engagement and sense of coherence as predictors of psychological distress during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between sense of coherence, work engagement, and work environment variables as predictors of the level of psychological distress during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. MethodsCross-sectional descriptive study collected between April 22 and December 16, 2020, using non-probabilistic snowball sampling. The study variables and instruments were socio-demographic variables, work engagement (UWES-9 scale), sense of coherence (Antonovsky SOC-13 scale), and psychological distress (GHQ-12 scale). Multivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were performed including the scores of the three questionnaires and other variables such as effectiveness, safety, stress, health perception, and sex. Finally, the CHAID technique was applied to create a segmentation tree. Results72.7 % of participants had high levels of psychological distress, more predominantly among women, with work stress and low sense of coherence acting as the most influential mediators in generating psychological distress, and even more so when both were combined. Low work engagement and the availability of safe and effective means to prevent infection were predictors of psychological distress among workers. ConclusionDuring the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, factors that contributed to psychological distress in the Chilean population were identified. These included a fair or poor perception of health, being a woman, work-related stress, availability of safety measures, low level of work engagement, and low level of sense of coherence. Identifying these factors may help prevent similar effects in future phases of the current pandemic or in future pandemics.

Factors influencing attitudes toward distance education in a sample of students learning in a disadvantaged area

AbstractInvestigating disadvantaged children is a priority area concerning education and health. However, little attention has been paid to pandemic-specific research in recent years. In the present study, we aim to explore the attitudes toward distance education in a sample (N = 305) of 7–8th grade students studying in disadvantaged settlements concerning the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Attitudes towards distance education were measured using a 16-item tool. Factor analysis was applied to detect the factors of attitudes towards distance education. Variables influencing these factors were measured by linear regression analysis including well-being, perceived stress and support, academic achievement, and sociodemographic background. The results indicate that four factors (learning difficulties, poor health, time saving and safety, and distance learning preference) can be distinguished. The effects of gender, type of settlement, deprivation and objective financial status is significant regarding distance learning preference and perceptions of poor health. Regarding health indicators, a protective role of support from teachers and a hindering role of stress indicators were found. The role academic performance was insignificant. Overall, the factors influencing attitudes towards distance education partly follow the trends of the factors influencing perceptions of traditional education. However, it is necessary to stress the crisis nature of the pandemic.

The relationship of depressive symptoms with pain and analgesic use in Turkish adolescents.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms, pain (headache, abdominal pain, back pain) and analgesic use among Turkish adolescents. Additionally, it aimed to examine the association between depressive symptoms and pain and analgesic use in adolescents. This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted in Izmir, Turkey with 954 adolescents aged 11-19 years. Data were collected with the "socio-demographic questionnaires" and the "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children". Analyzes were performed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis. Of the adolescents, 632 (66.2%) showed depressive symptoms. Of the adolescents, 424 (44.4%) experienced headache, 256 (26.8%) experienced abdominal pain, and 343 (36.0%) experienced back pain. A total of 309 (32.4%) adolescents used analgesics for headaches, 132 (13.8%) abdominal pain, and 47 (4.9%) for back pain. Female gender, high level maternal education, bad economic status, poor health perception, bad school success, pain and analgesic use were the correlated variables with adolescent depression. The depressive symptoms, headache and back pain, and use of analgesics especially for headaches were common among adolescents. The results showed depression in adolescent correlated with pain (headache, abdominal pain, and back pain) and analgesic use. Regular screening is needed to assure early intervention of depression among adolescents.

The Effect of Menopause Symptoms on Female Genital Self-Perception in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of menopausal symptoms on Female Genital Self-Perception (FGSP) in postmenopausal women.&#x0D; Methods: This descriptive and relationship-seeking study was conducted with women aged 40 and above who applied to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital between June and December 2022, who have not had a menstrual period for at least 12 months, and who met the inclusion criteria. The Patient Information Form, The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire (VSQ), and the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS) were used to obtain the data.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of 203 women included in the study was 57.53±6.70. The total mean scores obtained from the scales was 15.40±7.7 for MRS, 3.75±3.96 for VSQ, and 18.99 ±4.34 for FGSIS. An inverse and statistically significant relationship were found between MRS and VSQ total and sub-dimension scores and FGSIS scores (p:0.001 for all). A significant relationship was found between FGSIS score and body mass index and parity (r:-0.154, p:0.028 and r:-0.258, p:0.001). University graduates, those who had regular gynecological examinations, and people with a very good perception of general health status had significantly higher FGSIS scores (p:0.001 for all).&#x0D; Conclusion: According to the scale scores, the FGSP of postmenopausal women was moderate and negatively affected by the increase in menopausal symptoms. Obesity, an increase in the number of parities, low education level, and poor health perception were the factors that negatively affected FGSP.

Impact of COVID-19-related concerns and depression on hand-washing practice among community-dwelling older adults: a secondary analysis of the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey

Purpose: This study investigated hand-washing practice among community-dwelling older adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and aimed to identify the impact of COVID-19-related concerns and depression on hand-washing practice. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data extracted from the 2020 Community Health Survey. The primary data were collected through self-reporting from August 10 to September 8, 2020 in a cross-sectional study. The subjects consisted of 1,350 adults aged 65 or older living in J Province who participated in the 2020 Community Health Survey. Results: The factors affecting hand-washing practice among older adults were male gender (β = –.18, p &lt; .001), age (β = –.07, p = .001), no education (β = –.20, p &lt; .001) and elementary, middle, and high school graduation (β = –.15, p &lt; .001) compared to a college or higher education, poor health perception (β = –.13, p &lt; .001), COVID-19-related concerns (β = .08, p = .005), and depression (β = –.07, p = .001). To summarize, the factors negatively affecting hand-washing practice included male gender, lower education level, poor health perception, and depression, while the factors positively associated with hand-washing practice included COVID-19-related concerns. Conclusion: These findings show the importance of considering these multifaceted determinants when designing targeted interventions and educational programs aimed at promoting hand-washing among older adults. Additionally, based on the relationship between hand-washing practice and COVID-19-related concerns and depression, interventions that can alleviate mental problems along with providing proper education are required.

Risk factors for neurocognitive impairment, emotional distress, and poor quality of life in survivors of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

Prevalence and risk of poor psychological outcomes following rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are not well-established. Participants in this cross-sectional, case-control study (n=713 survivors, 42.5% female; mean [SD] age, 30.5 [6.6] years; n=706 siblings, 57.2% female; mean age, 32.8,[7.9] years) completed measures of neurocognition, emotional distress, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Multivariable logistic regression models identified treatments, health behaviors, and chronic conditions associated with impairment. Relative to siblings, more survivors reported neurocognitive impairment (task efficiency: 21.1% vs. 13.7%, emotional regulation: 16.7% vs. 11.0%, memory: 19.3% vs. 15.1%), elevated emotional distress (somatic distress: 12.9% vs. 4.7%, anxiety: 11.7% vs. 5.9%, depression: 22.8% vs. 16.9%) and poorer HRQOL (physical functioning: 11.1% vs. 2.8%, role functioning due to physical problems: 16.8% vs. 8.2%, pain: 17.5% vs. 10.0%, vitality: 22.3% vs. 13.8%, social functioning: 14.4% vs. 6.8%, emotional functioning: 17.1% vs. 10.6%). Cranial radiation increased risk for impaired task efficiency (odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-4.63), whereas chest and pelvic radiation predicted increased risk of physical functioning (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.16-6.21 and OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.70-6.95, respectively). Smoking was associated with impaired task efficiency (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.14-3.70), memory (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.26-3.95), anxiety (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.36-5.41) and depression (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.01-3.11). Neurologic conditions increased risk of anxiety (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.04-5.10), and hearing conditions increased risk of depression (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05-3.03). Neurologic and hearing conditions, respectively, were associated with impaired memory (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.20-4.95 and OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.05-3.35) and poor health perception (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.62-1.28 and OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.34-4.06). RMS survivors are at significant risk for poor psychological outcomes. Advancing therapies for local control, smoking cessation, and managing chronic medical conditions may mitigate poor outcomes following RMS.

Does childhood parental death impact late life health directly and indirectly? Evidence from a National Survey in China

Despite growing interest in understanding the impact of childhood parental death, less is known about its long-term effects on older adults. We investigated the mediating role of poor health perception in the relationship between childhood parental loss and late life health. A cross-sectional study using data from the 2016 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey was conducted. Our final sample featured 8,547 older adults. The prevalence of childhood parental death was 9.8%. Results indicated a significant direct impact of childhood parental death on depression and cognitive function. Mediating effects were observed, with older adults who experienced childhood parental loss perceiving their health status as significantly worse. This, in turn, predicted higher levels of objective physical impairment, greater depression, and lower levels of cognitive function. Our study offers the first empirical evidence of the enduring negative effects of childhood parental death as well as the pivotal mediating role of poor health perception.

Factors associated with sedentary behaviour in adults during the covid-19 pandemic

In recent decades, sedentary behavior (SB) has come to be understood as an important public health problem. The confinement imposed by the COVID-19 has modified people’s lifestyle, including increased time in SB, which is a risk factor for several health problems. In this context, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between sociodemographic, behavioral and health conditions factors with SB in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an observational and cross-sectional study that analyzed 510 Brazilians aged ≥ 18 years. Participants answered an online questionnaire containing sociodemographic, behavioral and health status information. Individuals with high SB had a lower level of physical activity (PA), higher scores of anxiety, depression and stress, perception of poor health and health problems. In Logistic Regression, model 1 showed that being insufficientlyactive(OR 1.96; 95% CI: 1.31 – 2.93), having poor health perception (OR 1.67; 95% CI: 1.09 - 2.57) and having a health problem (OR 1.79; 95% CI: 1.19 - 2.68) was associated with high SB. However, for model 2,only insufficient levels of PA (OR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.15 – 2.75) and health problem (OR 1.83; 95% CI: 1.10 - 3.05) remained associated with SB. These findings highlight the importance of staying physically active and reducing SB as a strategy for health promotion.

Exercise Preferences and Barriers Among Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction or Myocardial Infarction.

Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is highly recommended in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), participation in CR is low mainly due to access barriers. Home-based CR (HBCR) has been recommended to overcome access barriers. Exercise is a core component of CR and should be developed and implemented based on individual characteristics. We aimed to assess physical activity behaviors, exercise preferences, and exercise barriers to understand physical activity characteristics of CVD patients. Participants were patients between the ages 19 to 75 years with a history of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or myocardial infarction (MI). They completed a cross-sectional survey at a tertiary hospital's outpatient clinic from April to June 2021. Survey data included physical activity levels, patterns, preference, and barriers of exercise. Participants (n=189; 143 males, 46 females, 62.1±12.0 years) were diagnosed as either HFrEF (n=160, 84.7%) or a history of MI (n=97, 51.3%). Only 26.5% of patients engaged in moderate to vigorous exercise for more than 150 minutes per week. Participants preferred exercising alone or with families. Walking (65.6%) and resistance exercises (35.4%) were favored, with outdoor (37%) and home-based (30.2%) settings preferred over fitness centers (10.6%) and hospitals (0.5%). Barriers to exercise included fatigue (34.4%), poor health perception (31.7%), and low fitness levels (30.7%). The results of this study can be used to develop tailored HBCR programs that consider individual preferences and address specific barriers, facilitating adequate physical activity engagement.