Symptoms Of Physical Discomfort Research Articles

Associations between Greenspaces and Individual Health: A Longitudinal Study in China.

Using a longitudinal survey in China, this study identifies the effect of greenspaces on individual health in the aspects of self-rated health, mental health, feeling physical discomfort, and being hospitalized. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to measure the greenery cover of each city, and findings show that higher NDVI leads to the improvement of personal self-rated health status, and it also decreases the probability of being hospitalized, having symptoms of physical discomfort, and being lost in bad mood. The positive health effect of NDVI in the city is much more significant and larger for the middle-aged, the elderly, and the low-educated. The evidence of the three possible channels through which the NDVI of each city shows a positive correlation with individual physical and mental health is found. The increased NDVI in the city encourages residents to foster healthier habits (e.g., decreasing smoking or drinking, increasing sleeping hours), improves air quality and reduces air pollution in each city, and promotes the social cohesion of people, and so the health status of residents is enhanced. This study implies that increasing greenspaces in the city is an effective strategy to improve social welfare and residents’ health.

Prevalence of vocal fatigue and associated risk factors in university teachers

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vocal fatigue symptoms among university teachers using the Vocal Fatigue Index and to identify the potential risk factors associated with vocal fatigue symptoms. Two fifty-two University teachers (122 male and 130 female) between the age range of 24 to 60 years participated in the present study. The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire addressing demographic, occupational, health and lifestyle factors and the English version of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI). Out of 252, 14% (n = 36) of the university teachers reported tiredness of voice and avoidance of voice use (factor 1 of VFI), whereas 23.8% (n = 60) reported physical discomfort symptoms (factor 2 of VFI). Dry mouth, need to raise voice while teaching, frequent cold, excessive stress and acid reflux had a significant association with reporting of vocal fatigue symptoms. University teachers experience a higher prevalence of vocal fatigue when measured using VFI. Health and environmental-related factors had a significant association with vocal fatigue symptoms than occupational-related factors.

The Association between Using Personal Protective Equipment and Headache among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It is mandatory that healthcare workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while caring for COVID-19 patients. Studies have shown that wearing PPE for a prolonged time may lead to symptoms of physical discomfort including headache. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and association between prolonged use of PPE and headaches. This was a cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of healthcare workers who worked with COVID-19 patients in clinical settings was recruited. The data were collected through an electronic survey shared as a link through social media. This study included 1060 participants, 753 (71%) female and 307 (29%) male. Participants were divided into two groups. Group A had 628 (60%) participants who did not have chronic headache before the COVID-19 pandemic, while Group B contained 432 (40%) participants who had a previous chronic headache. Headaches differed significantly between Groups A and B in frequency, type, location, and quality during the COVID-19 period. The analysis found a significant relationship between duration of PPE use and headache occurrence. The significant relationship between the duration of PPE usage and headache occurrence among healthcare workers should be considered when refining policies and procedures regarding prolonged PPE use.

Psychological experience of patients with aortic sissection facing rescue of follow patients:a qualitative study

Objective To explore the psychological experience of patients with aortic dissection facing rescue of follow patients in CCU, so as to provide evidences for proposing appropriate nursing countermeasures and responding measures. Methods A qualitative study was used on 16 patients with aortic dissection within 24 hours when the rescue of follow patients was in CCU through semi-structured in-depth interviews and the interview data were collected and analyzed by Colaizzi content analysis. Results The enlargement of somatic discomfort symptoms. The various emotional. The different coping strategies. The inner needs. Conclusions When rescuing patients with other aortic dissection in CCU, medical staffs should pay more attention to the distress of physical discomfort symptoms such as pain, promote their benign mood during rescue and encourage patients to adopt positive coping styles. At the same time, constructing a reasonable social and family support ways to help patients recover physically and mentally, ensure the quality of nursing services and patient safety, and improve their hospitalization comfort. Key words: Aortic dissection; Psychological experience; Qualitative study; Rescue

Adaptation and Validation of Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) to Malayalam Language

The purpose of the present study was to translate and validate the English version of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) in to Malayalam language. The English version of the VFI was translated into Malayalam language using parallel back translation. The translated version was content validated by three qualified Speech Language Pathologists. The final Malayalam version of the VFI was administered on 528 primary school teachers with and without self-reporting of voice problems. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were determined using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients. Independent sample t test was used to assess the difference in means. Receiver operating characteristic curves with sensitivity and specificity were calculated to set cut-off scores for three domains of Malayalam VFI. The results revealed that the Malayalam version of VFI has an excellent internal consistency across all the three factors of VFI; tiredness of voice and avoidance of voice use (α = 0.922), physical discomfort symptoms (α = 0.923), and improvement of symptoms with voice rest (α = 0.925). Independent sample t test revealed a significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) for total scores of three domains [tiredness and avoidance of voice use (factor 1), physical discomfort symptoms (factor 2), improvement in symptoms with voice rest (factor 3)] between teachers reporting voice problems and teachers not reporting voice problems. Cut-off scores for three different domains of the Malayalam VFI were set at ≥ 16.5 (80% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity) for factor 1, ≥ 6.5 (71.1% sensitivity and 70.1% specificity) for factor 2 and ≤ 7.5 (71.1% sensitivity and 69.9% specificity) for factor 3. The Malayalam VFI was found to have good internal consistency and reliability. Hence, it can be considered as a valid and reliable tool for identifying vocal fatigue symptoms and its severity among the Malayalam speaking community who report voice disorders.

PP009 Quality Assessment In A Clinical Setting: A Look Upstream From Health Technology Assessment

INTRODUCTION:Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has various areas of application, one of which is quality improvement activities in clinical settings. Using patients' satisfaction as indicator of quality of care can inform the ‘needs assessment’ of a clinical deparment.The principal aim of this study is to quantify patients’ satisfaction with the anesthesia services received perioperatively at our hospital, including physical discomfort and anesthesia care. To this end, we asked the following question: “In adult patients who undergo day surgery at our hospital, what is the level of satisfaction with the anesthesia services received perioperatively?" A second aim is to discuss how quality assessment and HTA can intertwine.METHODS:This is a quality assessment study, using a patient self-administered survey method.We included all patients who had a day-surgery at our hospital and we excluded those who cannot understand English or French, who present cognitive barriers, and those who were admitted the same day.Patients were recruited postoperatively in phase II of recovery, using a nonprobability convenience sampling method. We used a validated questionnaire which addresses the two dimensions of anesthesia care related our research question: (i) physical discomfort and (ii) satisfaction with anesthesia care. We added to this questionnaire, a supplemental question to measure satisfaction with preoperative anesthetic care. Parallel to this, we also gathered the data routinely collected by the recovery nurses during a 24 hour postoperative patient follow-up.RESULTS:We collected data from November 2015 to February 2016. A total of 156 questionnaires was completed. Two respondents (1.3 percent) said they were ‘unsatisfied’ or ‘very unsatisfied’ with the anesthesia care they received in general and thirty-six (23 percent) said they were ‘satisfied’. The most frequently reported physical discomfort symptoms were: thirst (78 percent), pain (72 percent), drowsiness (68 percent), cold (58 percent), and sore throat (54 percent).CONCLUSIONS:Our study suggests that, while reporting patients' level of satisfaction regarding various aspects of the anesthesia care they received, such quality assessment study can identify gaps in the use of existing methods and technologies and help in acquisition prioritizing.

Gender Differences in the Association of Cardiovascular Symptoms and Somatosensory Amplification to Mortality

Symptoms of angina and dyspnea predict coronary artery disease and death less well in women than in men. Greater somatosensory amplification, a psychosocial propensity to report symptoms of physical discomfort, may lead women to report relatively high levels of angina and dyspnea for reasons unrelated to coronary disease, reducing their associations with mortality. We assessed this hypothesis in a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults. When stratified by gender, angina and dyspnea significantly predicted mortality among men but predicted it less well among women. After adjusting for amplification, cardiovascular symptoms did not predict mortality among women, but amplification was positively associated with mortality among older women.

Evaluation sensitivity and physical sensations of stress as components of public speaking state anxiety

According to Gray's (1991) reinforcement sensitivity theory, state anxiety is triggered by situations involving threat or punishment and involves sensations in the body often described as discomfort in the chest or stomach. In this study, physical sensations of speaker discomfort experienced during public speaking and a measure of punishment sensitivity (fear of negative evaluation) served as predictors of state anxiety during speaking. Participants presented five‐minute informative speeches to classmates. Immediately following these presentations, speakers completed the Spielberger STAI (A‐State) and the Body Sensations Questionnaire. Fear of negative evaluation and symptoms of physical discomfort accounted for 57% of the variance in public speaking state anxiety. These findings are consistent with the reinforcement sensitivity model of state anxiety. Suggestions for future research and pedagogical implications are presented.

Increased training load and the beta-adrenergic-receptor system on human lymphocytes.

The influence of increased training on the sympathoadrenergic system was investigated. Moderately trained male subjects (n = 15) increased their training within 10 wk by 60%; eight of the subjects increased their training volume, and seven increased their training intensity. Before and after the training, an exhaustive treadmill exercise was carried out. Acute treadmill exercise increased beta-adrenergic receptor number on mononuclear lymphocytes, isoproternol-stimulated cAMP production, and plasma catecholamine concentration. The increase of receptor number can at least partially be explained by a changed lymphocyte composition at rest and after exercise. After training, the exercise-induced increase of beta-adrenergic receptor number was significantly blunted, and the exercise-induced increase of the isoproternol-stimulated cAMP production per beta-receptor was enhanced. Subjects who experienced increased symptoms of physical discomfort and/or mood changes showed an enhanced cAMP production after training. These findings point to an altered regulation of the receptor and postreceptor mechanisms as an effect of a 10-wk period of hard training.

Voice problems among teachers: Differences by gender and teaching characteristics

This study describes the effects of teaching activities on voice problems in male (n = 274) and female teachers (n = 280). Over 38% of the teachers studied complained that teaching had an adverse impact on their voice and 39% of those had cut back teaching activities as a result. Compared to males, female teachers more frequently reported a voice problem (38% vs. 26%, p<.05), acute (p<.05), and chronic (p<.05) voice problems, six specific voice symptoms, and five symptoms of physical discomfort. However, there were no gender differences in the perception that a voice problem adversely affected their current or future teaching career. For every type of course taught, women had a higher probability of reporting voice problems compared to men: odds ratio (OR) = 1.7-2.1. Compared with other courses, the teaching of physical education also was associated with an increased risk of developing a voice problem (OR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.4-9.4) independent of gender, age, hours/day, or years taught. This is the first study to show that in the same occupation, females report a higher frequency of vocal symptoms than males even when teaching characteristics and years employment are similar.

Frequency of voice problems among teachers and other occupations.

This study describes the frequency of reporting vocal problems among a random sample of elementary and high school teachers (n = 554) compared to individuals working in other occupations (n = 220). Teachers were more likely to define themselves as ever having a voice problem (32% versus. 1%, p < .05); having a tired, weak, or effortful voice (p < .05 each); and having a higher frequency of symptoms of physical discomfort with speaking (p < .05). They also were more likely to perceive that their voice problem negatively affected current job performance (p < .05) and limited options regarding change in work (p < .05). About 20% of teachers but only 4% of nonteachers had missed work due to their voice. These findings suggest that teachers are at high-risk for disability from voice disorders and that this health problem may have significant work-related and economic effects.

Frequency and effects of teachers' voice problems

This study compared the frequency and effects of voice symptoms in teachers to a group of individuals employed in other occupations. Teachers were more likely to report having a voice problem (15 vs. 6%), having 10 specific voice symptoms, and having 5 symptoms of physical discomfort. They averaged almost 2 symptoms compared with none for nonteachers. Likewise, teachers were more likely to perceive that a voice problem would adversely affect their future career options, had done so in the past, and was limiting their current job performance. Over 20% of teachers but none of the nonteachers had missed any days of work due to a voice problem. These findings suggest that teaching is a high-risk occupation for voice disorders and that this health problem may have significant work-related and economic effects.

A scale for assessing the physical complaints of recovering alcoholics.

SUMMARY, A panel-selected 60-item questionnaire given to 46 recovering alcoholics and 32 nonalcoholics discriminated between groups oJ long-term and short-term recovering alcoholics and nonalcoholics. Abstinence from alcohol by the alcohol-addicted person often leads to a period of physical discomfort that may for as long as two or three years after the last drink. Since these physical complaints may result from a combination of tissue destruction in organs, endocrine imbalances, and other effects of alcohol unique to the individual, standard biochemical tests lack the specificity required to mark the progress of physical recovery of the individual alcoholic. The lack of a means to assess physical recovery makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of various therapies aimed at enhancing physical recovery. A scale which assesses the quantity of physical complaints associated with recovery from alcoholism of groups of individuals may be useful in assessing such ameliorative treatments as nutritional therapies, exercise, and medications. Although scales measuring severity of alcoholism (1, 2) have been developed and tested, little attention has been given to the abstaining alcoholic. The present report describes the initial steps in the development of a physical-complaints scale for abstaining alcoholics as a research tool. The original objective of the scale was to assess the effect of high sugar intake on physical complaints of recovering alcoholics (3). METHOD Questionnaire Development. A questionnaire containing 106 phrases describing physical complaints, feelings or symptoms of physical discomfort reported to be experienced by recovering alcoholics or persons with hypoglycemia (4-6) was submitted to 14 counselors at 3 different alcoholism treatment centers in the Washington, D.C. area. The counselors were asked to rate each phrase from 1 (rarely) to 5 (frequently) according to how often they had heard or observed abstaining alcoholics express or exhibit each of the items listed. Twelve of the questionnaires were returned and questions that received a mean score of 3 or more were included in the physical-complaints questionnaire to be given to