Personal Health Behaviors Research Articles

Wearing face masks in public during the influenza season may reflect other positive hygiene practices in Japan

BackgroundAlthough the wearing of face masks in public has not been recommended for preventing influenza, these devices are often worn in many Asian countries during the influenza season. In Japan, it is thought that such behavior may be an indicator of other positive hygiene practices. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine if wearing a face mask in public is associated with other positive hygiene practices and health behaviors among Japanese adults.MethodsWe initially recruited around 3,000 Japanese individuals ranging from 20 to 69 years of age who were registered with a web survey company. Participants were asked to recall their personal hygiene practices during the influenza season of the previous year. Logistic regression analysis was then used to examine the associations between wearing a face mask in public and personal hygiene practices and health behaviors.ResultsA total of 3,129 persons responded to the survey, among whom 38% reported that they had worn a face mask in public during the previous influenza season. Wearing a face mask in public was associated with various self-reported hygiene practices including: frequent hand washing (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.67; 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI]: 1.34-1.96), occasional hand washing (OR: 1.43; 95%CI: 1.10-1.75), frequently avoiding crowds (OR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.70-1.98), occasionally avoiding crowds (OR: 1.65; 95%CI: 1.53-1.76), frequent gargling (OR: 1.68; 95%CI: 1.51-1.84), occasional gargling (OR: 1.46; 95%CI: 1.29-1.62), regularly avoiding close contact with an infected person (OR: 1.50; 95%CI: 1.33-1.67), occasionally avoiding close contact with an infected person (OR: 1.31; 95%CI: 1.16-1.46), and being vaccinated of influenza in the last season (OR: 1.31; 95%CI: 1.17-1.45).ConclusionsOverall, this study suggests that wearing a face mask in public may be associated with other personal hygiene practices and health behaviors among Japanese adults. Rather than preventing influenza itself, face mask use might instead be a marker of additional, positive hygiene practices and other favorable health behaviors in the same individuals.

Narratives and images used by public communication campaigns addressing social determinants of health and health disparities.

Researchers have increasingly focused on how social determinants of health (SDH) influence health outcomes and disparities. They have also explored strategies for raising public awareness and mobilizing support for policies to address SDH, with particular attention to narrative and image-based information. These efforts will need to overcome low public awareness and concern about SDH; few organized campaigns; and limited descriptions of existing message content. To begin addressing these challenges, we analyzed characteristics of 58 narratives and 135 visual images disseminated by two national SDH awareness initiatives: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America and the PBS-produced documentary film Unnatural Causes. Certain types of SDH, including income/wealth and one’s home and workplace environment, were emphasized more heavily than others. Solutions for addressing SDH often involved combinations of self-driven motivation (such as changes in personal health behaviors) along with externally-driven factors such as government policy related to urban revitilization. Images, especially graphs and charts, drew connections among SDH, health outcomes, and other variables, such as the relationship between mother’s education and infant mortality as well as the link between heart disease and education levels within communities. We discuss implications of these findings for raising awareness of SDH and health disparities in the US through narrative and visual means.

The business cycle and health behaviors

While it is well documented that economic expansions provide widespread and immediate financial benefits, the evidence on how an economic downturn affects individual's health behaviors is surprisingly mixed. In this paper, we take a structural approach to investigate the effects of wages and working hours on health behaviors of low-educated persons using variations in wages and hours caused by changes in local economic activity. In the empirical analysis, we adopt a two-sample instrumental variables approach to combine the data on individual health behaviors from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) with the data on individual employment from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The total sample size of the combined CPS-BRFSS data for the time period of 1984–2005 is 967,594, while that of the combined CPS-NHIS data for the time period of 1976–2001 is 364,078. We find that increases in wages caused by economic expansions are associated with greater consumption of cigarettes in the United States. We also find that increases in hours of work caused by economic expansions are associated with more cigarette consumption, but less physical activity and physician visits. More importantly, the evidence suggests that most of such effects associated with changes in hours of work can be attributed to the changes at the extensive margin of employment, meaning the changes in employment status, rather than the changes at the intensive margin, meaning changes in hours of work conditional on being employed. These findings imply that changes in employment may have heterogeneous impacts on time-intensive and less time-intensive health behaviors and also provide additional evidence on the importance of time in health production, particularly for time-intensive activities.

Pola Tinggal, Perawatan Kebersihan Dan Kesehatan Lanjut Usia Dalam Rumah Tangga pada Komunitas Etnis Tionghoa di Pegunungan Saliung Singkawang Kalimantan Barat (Suatu Kajian Sosial Budaya)

Background: The increasing number of elderly becomes the main problem related with physical, economy and social conditions. Elderly who lives in isolated area will aggravate their living process. Community of Tionghoa ethnic who live in the Saliung mountain is a group of community who have ever been eliminated socially or politically. Objective: This research was aimed to find out problems that related with way of living, hygiene and health codition of elderly in the household of Tionghoa ethnics community. Method: This was a qualitative research that used social culture approach and intrinsic case study (participatory) design. This research was implemented in Saliung mountain range in the village of Sedau, sub district of South Singkawang, West Kalimantan. The sought variable was way of living, knowledge, attitude and personal hygiene and health behavior. Information was obtained from elderly, community, health officer, village officials, tradition and culture institution that oriented on triangulation. Data was presented in the form of diagram, documentation, direct reference and description. Result: This research was succeed in exploring knowledge, attitude and behavior of elderly in the household and various aspects that were related with the living of elderly and community of Tionghoa ethnic generally, including personal hygiene as the effect of high work productivity so that time and opportunity is very limited for for personal care. Conclusion: Problems of way of living, personal hygiene and health condition of Tionghoa ethnic community in Saliung mountain were related with perspectives in order health intervention to succeed.

Parent and Child Self-Reports of Dietary Behaviors, Physical Activity, and Screen Time

To determine differences between children and their parents' perceptions regarding dietary behaviors, physical activity (PA), and screen time. This study included 292 children in the 3rd and 4th grades (mean age 8.48 years) and their parents/guardians. Eighty-eight parent/guardian-child pairs completed a modified version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey that specifically asked parents about their child's health behaviors. Asimilar version of the survey was also given to their children to answer questions regarding their personal health behaviors. A paired t test was performed to assess the difference in parent-child responses. An independent t test was performed to assess the sex and age difference in nutritional habits, amount of screen time, and PA among children. Of 88 parent-child dyads, there was no single dyad that provided the same answers to all the questions. There are differences between children's and parent's perception of average food consumption, amount of screen time, and PA. Fourth graders reported higher number of PA days than did 3rd graders (4.65 vs 5.57, P<.05). The discrepancies found between parents and their children concerning food choices, juice and soft drinks, screen time, and PA are all troubling, particularly in a community where obesity risk is high. The findings indicate a continued need for information about parent and child perceptions of diet behaviors and PA.

Homophily and Health Behavior in Social Networks of Older Adults

A common network phenomenon, homophily, involves developing relationships with others who are similar to you. The intent of this study was to determine if older adults' health behaviors were shared within social networks. We interviewed older adults from low-income senior housing (egos) on egocentric social network characteristics and key health behaviors for themselves and for named social ties (alters). Findings suggest strong effects for homophily, especially for those who smoked and were physically inactive. Public health interventions for older adults should consider the influence that social relationships have on personal health behaviors. Network-based interventions may be required.

Life Habits and Personal Behaviour of Physicians Working in Government Service and Private Practice in Croatia- a Pilot Study

The goal of this research was to compare the life habits and personal health behaviour of 182 physicians in government services and in private services and to gain better insight in life habits and personal health behaviour of physicians in general. Methods: Using the 20 statements regarding life habits and personal health behaviour. Results: There are no differences between life habits of physicians regarding the type of service they work except that almost all physicians working in government services stated that they had at least a one close confidential friend while only 2/3 of physicians practice in private services did so. Although 2/3 of doctors from both groups consider themselves “in good health”, more than half of them stated that they were an inappropriate weight for their height and most of them did not exercise regularly. More than 1/3 always drinks more than five alcoholic drinks a week and 1/3 always smoke more than half a pack of cigarettes a day. Conclusion: The type of service that physicians work in makes no difference on their life habits and personal behaviour except that physicians in private services have significantly less confidential friends. The better insight in life habits and personal behaviour of Croatian physicians was gained from the study and “target” spots for interventions are found: attitudes and behaviour considering unhealthy nutritional regimen, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and lack of physical activity. The benefit of this study is that it emphasizes the need for further research on the subject, since there is a need for improvement of physician’s attitudes, life habits and behaviour. Changing attitudes towards unhealthy nutritional regimen, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and lack of physical activity could also be, for physicians, a beneficent way to improve the health of their patients serving as a “good model”.

Personal Health Behaviors and Role-Modeling Attitudes of Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Physical therapists have been encouraged to engage in health promotion practice. Health professionals who engage in healthy behaviors themselves are more apt to recommend those behaviors, and patients are more motivated to change their behaviors when their health care provider is a credible role model. The purpose of this study was to describe the health behaviors and role-modeling attitudes of physical therapists and physical therapist students. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A national sample of 405 physical therapists and 329 physical therapist students participated in the survey. Participants' attitudes toward role modeling and behaviors related to physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, abstention from smoking, and maintenance of a healthy weight were measured. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to examine differences in attitudes and behaviors between physical therapists and physical therapist students. A majority of the participants reported that they engage in regular physical activity (80.8%), eat fruits and vegetables (60.3%), do not smoke (99.4%), and maintain a healthy weight (78.7%). Although there were no differences in behaviors, physical therapist students were more likely to believe that role modeling is a powerful teaching tool, physical therapist professionals should "practice what they preach," physical activity is a desirable behavior, and physical therapist professionals should be role models for nonsmoking and maintaining a healthy weight. Limitations of this study include the potential for response bias and social desirability bias. Physical therapists and physical therapist students engage in health-promoting behaviors at similarly high rates but differ in role-modeling attitudes.

Stress Ratings and Health Promotion Practices Among RNs

: The objective of this study was to investigate associations between RN perceptions of their stress levels, health-promoting behaviors, and associated demographic variables. : Stress and burnout are occupational hazards resulting in absenteeism, illness, and staff turnover, factors important to nurse administrators. Personal health behaviors among nurses have been linked to less stress and the delivery of health-promotion teaching. : An electronic survey with 2 standardized measures and demographic questions was completed by 2,247 staff nurses from a large Midwestern academic medical center. : Stress levels were inversely correlated with overall health-promoting behavior scores. Outside caregiver responsibilities were associated with higher stress and lower health-promoting behaviors scores. : Findings support work-site interventions that promote nurses' health and wellness, reduce work and home stress, and influence positive patient care and outcomes.

Association between low functional health literacy and mortality in older adults: longitudinal cohort study

Objective To investigate the association between low functional health literacy (ability to read and understand basic health related information) and mortality in older adults.Design Population based longitudinal cohort study based...

Effects of a Worksite Physical Activity Intervention for Hospital Nurses Who are Working Mothers

Hospital nurses who are working mothers are challenged to maintain their personal health and model healthy behaviors for their children. This study aimed to develop and test an innovative 10-week worksite physical activity intervention integrated into the work flow of hospital-based nurses who were mothers. Three volunteer adult medical-surgical nursing units participated as intervention units. Fifty-eight nurses (30 intervention and 28 control) provided baseline and post-intervention repeated measurements of physical activity (steps) and body composition. Intervention participants provided post-intervention focus group feedback. For both groups, daily steps averaged more than 12,400 at baseline and post-intervention. No significant effects were found for physical activity; significant effects were found for fat mass, fat index, and percent fat ( p &lt; .03). Focus group findings supported the intervention and other data collected. The worksite holds promise for targeting the health of working mothers. Future research is warranted with a larger sample, longer intervention, and additional measures.

Family history of coronary heart disease, health care and health behaviors

IntroductionPrevious studies on health care and health behaviors in individuals with a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) have produced contradictory results, and there is still no evidence that these individuals are more aware of their risk and have improved health behaviors and heath care. This study aims to evaluate health care and health behaviors according to family history of CHD. MethodsIndividuals randomly selected from the general population living in Porto, Portugal, aged ≥18 years (evaluation period: 1999–2003), and without prior history of chronic diseases (n=764), were evaluated by questionnaires on family and personal disease history, health care and health behaviors. A family history of CHD was defined as the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction or sudden death in at least one first-degree relative. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression after stratification for age (18–39 vs. ≥40 years) and education (≤6 vs. >6 years schooling). ResultsAmong men, 20% reported a family history of CHD, approximately the same proportion as in women (19.4%) (p=0.900). The proportion of subjects with a family history of CHD was significantly higher in older (≥40 vs. 18–39 years: 25.0% vs. 12.0%, p<0.001) and less educated individuals (>6 vs. ≤6 years: 27.0% vs. 17.1%, p=0.004). Overall, no significant associations were found between health care and behaviors and CHD family history. Only in younger individuals, after adjustment for education, was a significant positive association found between 1–2 dental visits and CHD family history (OR=2.92; 95% CI: 1.27–6.70). Younger subjects who smoked and consumed alcohol and caffeine also presented a higher probability of having CHD family history, but the associations were not statistically significant. Discussion and conclusionsIn this population without disease requiring regular medical care, individuals with CHD family history had similar care-seeking patterns and health behaviors to those without. These results suggest a lack of awareness of their increased risk and highlight the importance of developing measures to promote sustained and effective changes in risk factors in individuals with genetic susceptibility to CHD.

Family history of coronary heart disease, health care and health behaviors

Introduction Previous studies on health care and health behaviors in individuals with a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) have produced contradictory results, and there is still no evidence that these individuals are more aware of their risk and have improved health behaviors and heath care. This study aims to evaluate health care and health behaviors according to family history of CHD. Methods Individuals randomly selected from the general population living in Porto, Portugal, aged ≥18 years (evaluation period: 1999–2003), and without prior history of chronic diseases (n = 764), were evaluated by questionnaires on family and personal disease history, health care and health behaviors. A family history of CHD was defined as the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction or sudden death in at least one first-degree relative. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression after stratification for age (18–39 vs. ≥40 years) and education (≤6 vs. >6 years schooling). Results Among men, 20% reported a family history of CHD, approximately the same proportion as in women (19.4%) (p = 0.900). The proportion of subjects with a family history of CHD was significantly higher in older (≥40 vs. 18–39 years: 25.0% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001) and less educated individuals (>6 vs. ≤6 years: 27.0% vs. 17.1%, p = 0.004). Overall, no significant associations were found between health care and behaviors and CHD family history. Only in younger individuals, after adjustment for education, was a significant positive association found between 1–2 dental visits and CHD family history (OR=2.92; 95% CI: 1.27–6.70). Younger subjects who smoked and consumed alcohol and caffeine also presented a higher probability of having CHD family history, but the associations were not statistically significant. Discussion and conclusions In this population without disease requiring regular medical care, individuals with CHD family history had similar care-seeking patterns and health behaviors to those without. These results suggest a lack of awareness of their increased risk and highlight the importance of developing measures to promote sustained and effective changes in risk factors in individuals with genetic susceptibility to CHD.

Effects of a Worksite Physical Activity Intervention for Hospital Nurses Who Are Working Mothers

Hospital nurses who are working mothers are challenged to maintain their personal health and model healthy behaviors for their children. This study aimed to develop and test an innovative 10-week worksite physical activity intervention integrated into the work flow of hospital-based nurses who were mothers. Three volunteer adult medical-surgical nursing units participated as intervention units. Fifty-eight nurses (30 intervention and 28 control) provided baseline and post-intervention repeated measurements of physical activity (steps) and body composition. Intervention participants provided post-intervention focus group feedback. For both groups, daily steps averaged more than 12,400 at baseline and post-intervention. No significant effects were found for physical activity; significant effects were found for fat mass, fat index, and percent fat (p < .03). Focus group findings supported the intervention and other data collected. The worksite holds promise for targeting the health of working mothers. Future research is warranted with a larger sample, longer intervention, and additional measures.

Primary Care Clinician Expectations Regarding Aging

Expectations regarding aging (ERA) in community-dwelling older adults are associated with personal health behaviors and health resource usage. Clinicians' age expectations likely influence patients' expectations and care delivery patterns; yet, limited research has explored clinicians' age expectations. The Expectations Regarding Aging Survey (ERA-12) was used to assess (a) age expectations in a sample of primary care clinicians practicing in the United States and (b) clinician characteristics associated with ERA-12 scores. This study was a cross-sectional survey of primary care clinicians affiliated with 5 practice-based research networks, October 2008 to June 2009. A total of 374 of the 1,510 distributed surveys were returned (24.8% response rate); 357 analyzed. Mean respondent age was 48.6 years (SD = 11.6; range 23-87 years); 88.0% physicians, 96.0% family medicine, 94.9% White, and 61.9% male. Female clinicians reported higher ERA-12 scores; clinicians' age expectations decreased with greater years in practice. Among the clinicians, higher ERA-12 scores were associated with higher clinician ratings of the importance of and personal skill in administering preventive counseling and the importance of delivering preventive services. Agreement with individual ERA-12 items varied widely. Unrealistically high or low ERA could negatively influence the quality of care provided to patients and patients' own age expectations. Research should examine the etiology of clinicians' age expectations and their association with older adult diagnoses and treatment. Medical education must incorporate strategies to promote clinician attitudes that facilitate successful patient aging.

The Potential Role of a Self-Management Intervention for Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory illnesses marked by unpredictable disease flares, which occur spontaneously and/or in response to external triggers, especially personal health behaviors. Behavioral triggers of flare may be responsive to disease self-management programs. We report on interim findings of a randomized controlled trial of gut-directed hypnotherapy (HYP, n = 19) versus active attention control (CON, n = 17) for quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC). To date, 43 participants have enrolled; after 5 discontinuations (1 in HYP) and 2 exclusions due to excessive missing data, 36 were included in this preliminary analysis. Aim 1 was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of HYP in UC. This was achieved, demonstrated by a reasonable recruitment rate at our outpatient tertiary care clinic (20%), high retention rate (88% total), and our representative IBD sample, which is reflected by an equal distribution of gender, an age range between 21 and 69, recruitment of ethnic minorities (∽20%), and disease duration ranging from 1.5 to 35 years. Aim 2 was to estimate effect sizes on key clinical outcomes for use in future trials. Effect sizes (group × time at 20 weeks) were small to medium for IBD self-efficacy (.34), Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) total score (.41), IBDQ bowel (.50), and systemic health (.48). Between-group effects were observed for the IBDQ bowel health subscale (HYP > CON; p = .05) at 20 weeks and the Short Form 12 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2) physical component (HYP > CON; p < .05) at posttreatment and 20 weeks. This study supports future clinical trials testing gut-directed HYP as a relapse prevention tool for IBD.

The Relationships Among Health Behaviors in Older Persons

To examine the relationships among health behaviors in older persons and whether they form related groups of behaviors. Health behaviors (physical activity, alcohol use, nutrition, weight stability, and smoking) were analyzed using factor analysis in two representative samples of two cohorts of Israeli older persons aged 75 to 94. Data collection was conducted during 1989-1992 for the first cohort (N = 1,200) and during 2000-2002 for the second (N = 421). Four factors of health behaviors were found mostly unrelated: (a) physical activity and weight stability, (b) alcohol use, (c) smoking, and (d) nutrition. The analysis enables identification of underlying health-behavior dimensions in an understudied population. Furthermore, the findings have important implications for health-promotion policy, indicating that prevention and health-promotion programs for older persons should target each health behavior, and not assume that the practice of any health behavior implies a healthy overall lifestyle in this population.

Some demographic variables and personal health behaviors of teachers

There is substantial evidence that personal health behaviors are associated with some demographic variables. The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the association of demographic variables and personal health behaviors. A sample of 372 teachers (male=207, female=165) answered a self-questionnaire including socio-demographics and personal health behaviors variables. Gender was significantly associated with smoking and drinking. Socio-economic status was significantly associated with smoking and stress. In addition, marital status were related to daily consumption of breakfast, appropriate daily duration of sleep, appropriate daily duration of work, regular physical activity, stress and nutritionally balanced diet.

Flu Shots and the Characteristics of Unvaccinated Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries

Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, 2009. • Overall, 73% of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older reported receiving a flu shot for the 2008 flu season, but vaccination rates varied by socio-demographic characteristics. Flu vaccination was lowest for beneficiaries aged 65-74 years old, who were non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics, were not married, had less than a high school education, or who were eligible for Medicaid (i.e., dual eligibles). • Healthcare utilization and personal health behavior were also related to vaccination rates, with current smokers and those with no hospitalizations or physician visits being less likely to be vaccinated. • Among those beneficiaries who reported receiving a flu shot, 59% received it in a physician's office or clinic, with the next most common setting being in the community (21%); e.g., grocery store, shopping mall, library, or church. • Among those beneficiaries who did not receive a flu shot, the most common reasons were beliefs that the shot could cause side effects or disease (20%), that they didn't think the shot could prevent the flu (17%), or that the shot wasn't needed (16%). Less than 1% reported that they didn't get the flu shot because of cost. Elderly persons (aged 65 years and older) are at increased risk of complications from influenza, with the majority of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths occurring among the elderly (Fiore et al., 2010). Most physicians recommend their elderly patients get a flu shot each year, and many hospitals inquire about elderly patient's immunization status upon admission, providing a vaccination if requested. The importance of getting a flu shot is underscored by the Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People initiative, which has set a vaccination goal of 90% for the Nation's elderly by the year 2020 (Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 2011). Although all costs related to flu shots are covered by Medicare, requiring no co-pay on the part of the beneficiary (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2011), for the 2008 flu season, only 73% of non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 years and older, reported receiving one. This report presents the most recent data on flu vaccination rates among non-institutionalized elderly Medicare beneficiaries and their association with socio-demographic and personal health characteristics. The report also describes the places beneficiaries received their flu shot and, for those not getting vaccinated, the reasons reported for not doing so.

Study of sense of coherence health promoting behavior in north Indian students

Background & objectives:With advances in knowledge about health promotion, public health professionals are in search for the determinants of personal health behaviours. This study was carried out to explore the level of engagement of north Indian students in health promoting behaviours; to determine their sense of coherence scores; and to ascertain the determinants of health promoting behaviours of these students.Methods:A cross-sectional study was done in four randomly selected colleges of Chandigarh during 2007-2008 in 200 students (100 male, 100 female). Their health promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) and sense of coherence (SOC) scores were estimated using interviews. The data were analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation, and also stepwise linear regression analysis.Results:Mean HPLP and SOC scores of the students were 138.69 and 130.87, respectively. Females cared more about their health than males. Male students were more involved in physical activities. There was a linear correlation between the total SOC and HPLP scores (r=0.3). Female students (63%) consulted doctors more than males (50%) and washed their hands more regularly (P<0.05). Only 13 per cent students practiced yoga regularly. Female students had more meaningful relationships with friends and had more faith in God. Regression equation revealed that the two independent variables (SOC and age) accounted for 10.8 per cent of the variance in HPLP.Interpretation & conclusion:Students with higher SOC scores had higher HPLP scores. Female students were more health conscious than male students. In general, college students in Chandigarh had a good health promoting lifestyle and good sense of coherence.