Preventive Health Measures Research Articles

MANAGEMENT AND PROGNOSIS OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCY AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL-PR BOCAR SIDI SALL DE KATI

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy is the implantation and development of the egg outside the uterine cavity. The epidemiological and therapeutic profiles of ectopic pregnancy differ from one country to another and from one health facility to another. This study, which is a first at the University Hospital PrBocarSidySall of Kati, aims to study ectopic pregnancy in the context of our daily practice. Methods and Patients : Our study was retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive. It took place from January 2014 to December 2019 in the obstetrics gynecology department of theUniversity Hospital PrBocarSidySall of Kati. The data were collected using a survey form and obtained from the patients medical record, the hospitalization register, the delivery register and the registers of surgical reports. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20.0 software. Results: A total of 99 records were collected during the study period, representing a frequency of 0.53% of emergency visits and 1.88% of deliveries. A history of genital infection was found in 78% of cases. In our series, women with low parity were more numerous with 77.8% of cases. We found more right-sided and ruptured Ectopic pregnancies. The treatment was surgical in 92.2% of cases and the procedure performed was essentially a total salpingectomy. Conclusion : The improvement of the technical platform of our health care facilities and preventive measures against the risk factors of the Ectopic pregnancy could reduce the burden of this pathology.

The Use of Herbal Health Products and Home-Based Remedies for Protection Against Covid-19

Natural medicinal products and home-based remedies have been in use for centuries by people across the world. Tradition, belief, cultural practice, and previous experience are associated with the use of herbal products. The trend is observed to be on the increase since covid-19 Pandemic hit the global stage. In the early days of the Pandemic, people protected themselves by practicing measures that would safeguard them from getting infected with the deadly virus. This study evaluated prevalence, risks, harms, benefits, and other issues associated with using herbs and home-based remedies to prevent and treat Covid-19. It highlights various measures of prevention and treatment practiced by employees and customers of a Regional Corporation by capturing the demographic characteristics, reasons, and associated factors for using alternative medical products. A descriptive cross-sectional survey in a hybrid online was carried out from February 2022 to April 2022. Data of independent and dependent variables was collected using a well-structured hybrid (online and paper and pencil) questionnaire. Prevalence of steam inhalation was 51%, essential oils, including menthol crystal vapour inhalation, was 61%, herbal supplements was 20.6%, and natural health products was 100% (n = 286). Non-allopathic medicinal products, home-based remedies, and other preventive health measures were on the increase in prevalence during covid-19 Pandemic. Large studies are required to assess the efficacy and safety of herbal supplements and home-based remedies to protect users from unnecessary dangers inherent in their use. Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, Herbal health supplements, Home-based remedies, Infection, Prevalence, Natural products, Regional corporation.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and access among people experiencing homelessness in Germany: A qualitative interview study.

People experiencing homelessness face lower life expectancy, higher prevalence of somatic and mental diseases and a more difficult access to healthcare compared to people in secure living. During the COVID-19 pandemic transmission rates were higher among people experiencing homelessness and preventive public health measures were not properly adapted to the specific needs of people experiencing homelessness. Thus, goal of our study was understanding the determinants of acceptability and access of the COVID-19 vaccine. We conducted a qualitative interview study with twenty guideline interviews with adult people currently experiencing homelessness in Berlin, Germany (August 2021 - April 2022). Participants were approached in a purposive sampling strategy. The interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Acceptance and attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine is influenced by confidence in the vaccine as well as in the political and healthcare system, the individual COVID-19 risk perception and sense of collective responsibility. Overall, the acceptance of the vaccine was high among our participants. Facilities offering low threshold COVID-19 vaccines for people experiencing homelessness were perceived as helpful. Language barriers and the need for identity documents were major barriers to access the COVID 19 vaccine. People experiencing homelessness are a marginalized and vulnerable group often underrepresented in the public and scientific discourse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, preventive public health measures, including the COVID-19 vaccine, failed to consider specific needs of people experiencing homelessness. Multidimensional strategy to enhance inclusive healthcare are needed to improve access and to reduce discrimination and stigmatization.

Mental health trajectories of Brazilian health workers during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021).

This study aimed to: (a) monitor the progression of symptoms of mental health burden among frontline workers caring for COVID-19 patients in Brazil during the two waves of the pandemic, considering the number of new cases and deaths, and; (b) to verify the different mental health outcomes and potential associations with current burnout symptoms. A non-probabilistic sample of health professionals was assessed as the pandemic progressed in Brazil (May/2020 August/2021). Standardized instruments focusing on anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, and burnout symptoms were applied online. The results indicate a decrease in anxiety levels, what was related to when the number of new cases declined (end 1th-wave); symptoms returned to higher levels later. Emotional exhaustion increased when there was a higher incidence of cases, returning to the baseline levels at the end of the second wave. Depersonalization symptoms increased in this phase, characterized by a further decrease in new cases, while professional accomplishment decreased during the follow-up. The highest number of new cases was associated with a higher frequency of anxiety (OR = 1.467;95%CI = 1.109-1.941; p = 0.007) and professional accomplishment (OR = 1.490;95%CI = 1.098-2.023; p = 0.011). The subjects with trajectory of resilience against anxiety presented the lowest level of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p < 0.05). The conclusion is that the pressure experienced by healthcare professionals throughout the pandemic caused different impacts on their mental health, emphasizing the dynamic nature of this condition and the need for constant monitoring and care. This finding directly affects mental health prevention and intervention measures, which remain a priority and require continuous reinforcement, especially among the most vulnerable groups.

Changes in the Epidemiological Features of Influenza After the COVID-19 Pandemic in China, the United States, and Australia: Updated Surveillance Data for Influenza Activity.

There has been a global decrease in seasonal influenza activity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to describe influenza activity during the 2021/2022 season and compare it to the trends from 2012 to 2023. We also explored the influence of social and public health prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic on influenza activity. We obtained influenza data from January 1, 2012, to February 5, 2023, from publicly available platforms for China, the United States, and Australia. Mitigation measures were evaluated per the stringency index, a composite index with 9 measures. A general additive model was used to assess the stringency index and the influenza positivity rate correlation, and the deviance explained was calculated. We used over 200,000 influenza surveillance data. Influenza activity remained low in the United States and Australia during the 2021/2022 season. However, it increased in the United States with a positive rate of 26.2% in the 49th week of 2022. During the 2021/2022 season, influenza activity significantly increased compared with the previous year in southern and northern China, with peak positivity rates of 28.1% and 35.1% in the second week of 2022, respectively. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the dominant influenza virus genotype in China was type B/Victoria, during the 2021/2022 season, and accounted for >98% (24,541/24,908 in the South and 20,543/20,634 in the North) of all cases. Influenza virus type B/Yamagata was not detected in all these areas after the COVID-19 pandemic. Several measures individually significantly influence local influenza activity, except for influenza type B in Australia. When combined with all the measures, the deviance explained values for influenza A and B were 87.4% (P<.05 for measures of close public transport and restrictions on international travel) and 77.6% in southern China and 83.4% (P<.05 for measures of school closing and close public transport) and 81.4% in northern China, respectively. In the United States, the association was relatively stronger, with deviance-explained values of 98.6% for influenza A and 99.1% (P<.05 for measures of restrictions on international travel and public information campaign) for influenza B. There were no discernible effects on influenza B activity in Australia between 2020 and 2022 due to the incredibly low positive rate of influenza B. Additionally, the deviance explained values were 95.8% (P<.05 for measures of restrictions on gathering size and restrictions on international travel) for influenza A and 72.7% for influenza B. Influenza activity has increased gradually since 2021. Mitigation measures for COVID-19 showed correlations with influenza activity, mainly driven by the early stage of the pandemic. During late 2021 and 2022, the influence of mitigation management for COVID-19 seemingly decreased gradually, as the activity of influenza increased compared to the 2020/2021 season.

Metabolic surgery and oral health: A register-based study.

The impact of weight loss surgery on oral health is not clear. The aim of the present study was to investigate its impact on the risk for dental interventions. All adults who underwent metabolic surgery in Sweden between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018 were identified in the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (SOReg; n=53,643). A control cohort from the general population was created, matched 10:1 on sex, age and place of residence (n=536,430). All individuals were followed in the Swedish Dental Register regarding event rates for four types of dental intervention: restorative, endodontic and periodontal interventions, and tooth extractions. The surgical cohort had increased interventional rates postoperatively regarding all studied outcomes except periodontal interventions. Dental interventions were more common in the surgical cohort both pre- and postoperatively. The difference between the groups increased markedly in the postoperative period. The between-group comparison postoperatively showed increased event rates for restorations (IRR 1.8; 95% CI 1.7-1.8), extractions (1.9; 95% CI 1.9-2.0) and endodontics (2.1; 95% CI 2.0-2.1). The surgical intervention might cause a substantial negative impact on oral health. These results imply an important role for counselling metabolic surgery patients regarding preventive oral health measures.

Perspektive Prävention: Psychische Gesundheit von Schülerinnen und Schülern in Deutschland

ZusammenfassungHintergrundDie COVID-19-Pandemie hat das Lernen und die Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen beeinflusst. Ziel des Beitrags ist, psychische Auffälligkeiten von SchülerInnen im Pandemieverlauf, familiäre Belastungen sowie Unterstützungsbedarf in Abhängigkeit von der Schulform zu untersuchen. Ansätze schulischer Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung werden diskutiert.MethodikDatengrundlage sind die bevölkerungsbezogene COPSY(COrona und PSYche)-Studie (T1: 05/2020 – T4: 02/2022) und die BELLA-Studie (T0, präpandemischer Vergleich). Je Messzeitpunkt (T) wurden etwa 1600 Familien mit Schulkindern im Alter von 7 bis 19 Jahren befragt. Psychische Auffälligkeiten wurden mittels SDQ erfasst, familiäre Belastungen und Unterstützungsbedarfe mittels Einzelitems im Elternbericht.ErgebnissePsychische Auffälligkeiten haben bei SchülerInnen aller Schulformen zugenommen und stabilisieren sich seither auf hohem Niveau. Besonders betroffen sind GrundschülerInnen (Anstieg von 16,9 % präpandemisch auf 40,0 % zu T2), v. a. bei Verhaltensauffälligkeiten (11,7 % auf 24,6 %) und Hyperaktivität (13,9 % auf 34,0 %). SchülerInnen der Haupt‑/Real‑/Gesamtschule zeigen ebenfalls verstärkte psychische Auffälligkeiten (21,4 % auf 30,4 %). Pandemiebedingte Belastungen sind durchgehend hoch, ebenso der Unterstützungsbedarf von Familien, der sich v. a. an Schule/Lehrende sowie ExpertInnen richtet.DiskussionEs besteht ein hoher Bedarf an Maßnahmen der psychischen Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention im Setting Schule. Diese sollten ab dem Grundschulalter im Sinne eines Whole School Approach auf verschiedenen Ebenen ansetzen und außerschulische Akteure einbeziehen. Es bedarf verbindlicher gesetzlicher Vorgaben in allen Bundesländern, um Rahmbedingungen und Strukturen der schulischen Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention, einschließlich der dafür benötigten Ressourcen, zu schaffen.

Occupational Health Hazards among Workers in Hospital Laundry Department at Benha City

Background: Workers in hospital laundry have exhausting duties and are exposed to various environmental and work related problems. The aim of the study: was to assess the occupational health hazards among workers in Hospital Laundry Department at Benha City. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the laundry departments of Governmental and Non-Governmental Hospitals at Benha City. Sampling: A Convenience sample of all Hospital Laundry Workers 110 divided into 55 in Governmental Hospitals and 55 in Non-Governmental Hospitals was involved in this study. Tools: Two tools were used. Tool I: A structured interviewing questionnaire it consist of four items: A: socio-demographic characteristics of the studied laundry workers. B: Job characteristics of the studied laundry workers. C: It was concerned with health problems among studied laundry workers. D: It was concerned with studied laundry workers knowledge about occupational health hazards and safety measures. Tool II: Observational checklist which consisted of two parts A: assess laundry workers practices regarding safety measures. B: Assess the workplace environment safety and sanitation condition. Results: 34.5%of the studied laundry workers in Non-Governmental Hospitals had poor knowledge about occupational health hazards. 69.1 % of the studied laundry workers in Non-Governmental Hospitals had satisfactory regarding their total practices. Conclusion: the current study revealed that the majority of the studied laundry workers had health problems. Recommendation: perform health education program for laundry workers about occupational health hazards and preventive measures.

Smallpox and monkeypox: Looking back and looking ahead.

The monkeypox (mpox) epidemic was declared a global health emergency in July 2022. The mpox virus belongs to the same virus family as the smallpox, or variola virus, but the infection is a less lethal threat than smallpox. Nevertheless, its relationship to smallpox is a worldwide concern, as is the discontinuation of universal smallpox vaccinations since the 1980s. Newer therapies and vaccines are available for both infections, including 2 antiviral drugs that can be used under certain conditions. Two vaccines have been developed for mpox prevention, but clarity is needed on when and how to use them. Preventive public health measures and prioritization of resources for managing infectious disease are concerns.

Tooth loss and associated factors in adults and the elderly in Southeastern Brazil

Aim: The high number of Brazilians with tooth loss, the difficulties to control this aggravation, and the negative impacts on affected people’s lives challenge public health to minimize such problems. The present study sought to analyze the relationship between tooth loss and sociodemographic, behavioral, and self-perception conditions in adults and the elderly in southeastern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with data from the SB Brasil Project (2010), which presented a sample of 2,895 subjects using Poisson Regression (RP) for statistical analyses between the outcome of tooth loss and independent variables: family income, years of study, last dental appointment, reason for the last appointment, toothache in the last 6 months, place of the last dental appointment, satisfaction with teeth and mouth, difficulty in speaking, embarrassment when smiling, and need for dental treatment. Results: The results showed a relation between tooth loss and economic, behavioral, and self-perception factors both in adults and the elderly. Conclusion: Sociodemographic and behavioral variables seem to be linked to tooth loss in both adults and the elderly, suggesting that the public policies that are equitable and seek to improve access to treatment and prevention must meet both age groups through health promotion and prevention measures. Uniterms: Oral health. Tooth loss. Aged. Adults.

Bioactive Oxylipins Profile in Marine Microalgae

Microalgae are photosynthetic microscopic organisms that serve as the primary food source in aquatic environments. Microalgae can synthesize a wide variety of molecules, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the omega-3 and omega-6 series. Oxidative degradation of PUFA due to radical and/or enzymatic conversion leads to the formation of oxylipins, which are compounds known for their bioactive properties. In the present study, we aim to profile oxylipins from five microalgae species grown in 10-L photo-bioreactors under optimal conditions. During their exponential phase, microalgae were harvested, extracted and analyzed by LC-MS/MS to determine the qualitative and quantitative profile of oxylipins for each species. The five different selected microalgae revealed a high diversity of metabolites, up to 33 non-enzymatic and 24 enzymatic oxylipins present in different concentrations. Taken together, these findings highlight an interesting role of marine microalgae as a source of bioactive lipids mediators, which we hypothesize have an important function in preventive health measures such as amelioration of inflammation. The rich mixture of oxylipins may display advantages to biological organisms, especially by providing for human health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective or immunomodulator activities. Some oxylipins are also well known for their cardiovascular properties.

Transient Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR without Induction of Systemic Immune Responses.

SARS-CoV-2 testing is dominated by PCR to guide treatment and individual as well as public health preventive measures. Among 1700 football (soccer) players and staff of the German Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 who were regularly tested by PCR twice weekly, 98 individuals had a positive PCR (May 2020 to mid-January 2021). A subset of these were retested shortly after the initial positive result. Among those, 11 subjects were identified who only had a transient single positive PCR of low viral load. All individuals were asymptomatic and none developed long COVID. We tested SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA as well as SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4 und CD8 positive T cells, and showed that only one out of 11 individuals developed SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular and humoral immunity after the positive PCR, whereas a specific immunity was undetectable in all other individuals. Thus, a single positive PCR might indicate that transient colonization of the upper respiratory tract with SARS-CoV-2 may occur without systemic induction of specific adaptive immunity. Together with test artifacts as another potential reason for a transiently positive test, this finding may favor cautious interpretation of positive PCR results or retesting before initiating intervening treatment or infection control measures in some cases.

Undiagnosed hypertension in Croatia

To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Croatia, and to assess its association with various demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health care usage factors. We used the data from European Health Interview Survey wave 3, conducted in Croatia in 2019. The representative sample consisted of 5461 individuals aged 15 years and older. The association of undiagnosed hypertension with various factors was assessed with simple and multiple logistic regression models. The factors that contribute to undiagnosed hypertension were identified by comparing undiagnosed hypertension with normotension in the first model and with diagnosed hypertension in the second model. In the multiple logistic regression model, women and older age groups had lower adjusted odds ratio (OR) for undiagnosed hypertension than men and the youngest age group. Respondents living in the Adriatic region had a higher adjusted OR for undiagnosed hypertension than those living in the Continental region. Respondents who did not consult their family doctor in the previous 12 months and those who did not have their blood pressure measured by a health professional in the previous 12 months had a higher adjusted OR for undiagnosed hypertension. Undiagnosed hypertension was significantly associated with male sex, age from 35 to 74, overweight, lack of consultation with a family doctor, and living in the Adriatic region. The results of this study should be used to inform preventive public health measures and activities.

Nutrigenomics: SNPs correlated to physical activity, response to chiropractic treatment, mood and sleep.

Nutrigenomics, a rapidly evolving field that bridges genetics and nutrition, explores the intricate interactions between an individual's genetic makeup and how they respond to nutrients. At its core, this discipline focuses on investigating Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), the most common genetic variations, which significantly influence a person's physiological status, mood regulation, and sleep patterns, thus playing a pivotal role in a wide range of health out-comes. Through decoding their functional implications, researchers are able to uncover genetic factors that impact physical fitness, pain perception, and susceptibility to mood disorders and sleep disruptions. The integration of nutrigenomics into healthcare holds the promise of transformative interventions that cater to individual well-being. Notable studies shed light on the connection between SNPs and personalized responses to exercise, as well as vulnerability to mood disorders and sleep disturbances. Understanding the intricate interplay between genetics and nutrition informs targeted dietary approaches, molding individual health trajectories. As research advances, the convergence of genetics and nourishment is on the brink of reshaping healthcare, ushering in an era of personalized health management that enhances overall life quality. Nutrigenomics charts a path toward tailored nutritional strategies, fundamentally reshaping our approach to health preservation and preventive measures.

Modelling COVID-19 vaccination status and adherence to public health and social measures, Eastern Mediterranean Region and Algeria.

To study the link between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination status and adherence to public health and social measures in Members of the Eastern Mediterranean Region and Algeria. We analysed two rounds of a large, cross-country, repeated cross-sectional mobile phone survey in June-July 2021 and October-November 2021. The rounds included 14 287 and 14 131 respondents, respectively, from 23 countries and territories. Questions covered knowledge, attitudes and practices around COVID-19, and demographic, employment, health and vaccination status. We used logit modelling to analyse the link between self-reported vaccination status and individuals' practice of mask wearing, physical distancing and handwashing. We used propensity score matching as a robustness check. Overall, vaccinated respondents (8766 respondents in round 2) were significantly more likely to adhere to preventive measures than those who were unvaccinated (5297 respondents in round 2). Odds ratios were 1.5 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.3-1.8) for mask wearing; 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.7) for physical distancing; and 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0-1.4) for handwashing. Similar results were found on analysing subsamples of low- and middle-income countries. However, in high-income countries, where vaccination coverage is high, there was no significant link between vaccination and preventive practices. The association between vaccination status and adherence to public health advice was sustained over time, even though self-reported vaccination coverage tripled over 5months (19.4% to 62.3%; weighted percentages). Individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 maintained their adherence to preventive health measures. Nevertheless, reinforcement of public health messages is important for the public's continued compliance with preventive measures.

Seeing the pandemic through children's eyes: Exploring Turkish children's views on COVID-19 pandemic by focus-group discussions.

The direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and youth people are well documented. Little is known about children's experiences of the pandemic in their own words. We aimed to explore Turkish children's experiences and views about the pandemic, across private and public educational systems. Six focus group discussions were conducted online with 30 children aged between 7 to 18 years in 2021. Children were enrolled through snowball sampling technique according to developmental age groups. A thematic analysis was conducted. We identified five themes: Compliance with public health measures about preventing the spread of COVID-19, changes in daily routines, emotional responses to the pandemic, distance education, and adaptive responses. Overall, children were well informed and receptive to the public health preventive measures with the exception of older children's tendency to disregard physical distancing with friends. They reported frustration with those who did not comply with measures and believed that the authorities should strictly enforce public health requirements. Emotional responses comprised fear of family members and themselves being infected, anxiety produced by the uncertainty of the virus, and the loss of social support. There was a perceived disparity between students from public and private schools regarding academic self-competence. Positive aspects of the pandemic included positive interactions with family members and the acquisition of new hobbies. Although most children acknowledged the support of their parents to deal with challenges, children of health workers were particularly isolated in terms of emotional support. Our findings offer additional insights and validate previous research on the negative and positive effects of COVID-19 from the child's perspective across private and public educational systems. This study contributes to global advocacy efforts aimed at understanding the impact of the pandemic on children.

Primary care of Ukrainian refugees

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, more than 7.6million people from Ukraine have been registered as refugees in European countries. In Germany, the number is estimated to be more than 1million. These refugees may have different health needs than German patients due to differences in the health care system, disease prevalence, preventive measures, health behavior, and experiences of flight. However, general practitioners (GPs) have hardly been prepared for the contact. For the first time, challenges in the treatment of Ukrainian refugees and support needs of German GPs were determined. In July and August 2022, across-sectional study among GPs in Germany was conducted using an online survey. A total of 82GPs participated with aresponse rate of 16.0%; 52of the participating GPs had treated Ukrainian refugees in the previous 2weeks. In all, 75.0% of them reported difficulties or peculiarities in care, especially in communication (61.5%), due to lack of information about previous illnesses (34.6%), and expectations of services to be provided (30.8%). Of the 82participants, 59.8% reported aneed for multilingual information for patients, especially about the German health care system, help with mental health problems, contact points, and differences in the use of medications. Information for the practice team is needed in 37.8% of cases, especially on possibilities in case of language barriers, vaccination coverage in Ukraine, and dealing with missing vaccination records as well as drug lists. Due to the new situation of Ukrainian refugees in Germany and the mentioned barriers, GPs should be supported in care. Information for practice teams as well as their networking with psychotherapeutic offers, contact points, drug databases, and regional interpreter services are urgently needed. However, multilingual information for Ukrainian patients should be disseminated in order to relieve the burden on practices, which have been under great strain, and to ensure continuity and quality of care.

Recovery and stress of control center dispatchers in the first waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Control center dispatchers (CCDs) are exposed to high levels of work-related mental stress, which are exacerbated by the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. The aim of this study was to comparatively analyze the recovery and stress state of CCDs during the first and second waves of the SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic. A total of 490 CCDs (n = 440, t1 and n = 50, t2) with amean age of 42.26 ± 8.79years participated directly at the end of the first wave from June to August 2020 (t1) and during the second wave between January and February 2021 (t2) of the SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic. The short form (EBF-24/A; test form S2) of the Kallus recovery-stress questionnaire (EBF) was applied. Over the course of the two survey phases, the dimensions strain significantly increased (t1: 2.47 ± 1.08 vs. t2: 3.12 ± 0.93points, p < 0.001) and recovery significantly decreased (t1: 3.03 ± 0.94 vs. t2: 2.50 ± 0.81points, p < 0.001). Significant to highly significant differences were present in the EBF dimensions of the two waves in the majority of cases, even when taking the waves into account. For the variable "recovery in the social field", amedium effect was noticeable in the corrected model (η2 = 0.064). The SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic illustrates that the stress experience increased from the first to the second waves, and the recovery of CCDs decreased. These data provide adirectional trend as the pandemic is ongoing, and stress and strain situations in control centers may continue to worsen. Immediate health promotion and prevention measures are essential.

Really just a little prick? A meta-analysis on adverse events in placebo control groups of seasonal influenza vaccination RCTs.

The Corona pandemic and ongoing mass vaccinations raise the question of the nocebo mechanisms involved. Since immunization is usually administered to healthy people as a preventive health measure, adverse events (AE) following immunization are less accepted and could contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Assuming that vaccinees experience nocebo responses, the aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effect sizes of solicited adverse events (or assumed reactogenicity) reported in placebo groups in RCTs on seasonal influenza vaccination. Literature search via PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL was conducted considering gray literature. Only RCTs with placebo groups using pharmacologically inert substances (like saline) were included. Quality was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool. Effect sizes were estimated using a random mixed effects model based on k=31 studies covering 14,326 participants in placebo groups. Reported solicited AEs in placebo groups showed significant effect sizes of proportions (ESp). In k=13 analyzed placebo groups, 35% of the participants reported at least one solicited systemic AE (p=0.007). The most common particular solicited systemic AEs were headache (k=27; 17%; p=0.001), malaise (k=13; 12%; p=0.004), and hyperhidrosis (k=4; 12%; p<0.001) within one week after vaccination. The results show significant solicited AEs in placebo groups, indicating substantial nocebo responses after vaccination. Based on the fact that most vaccination programs include similar groups of healthy people, we expect that comparable nocebo effects occur during other campaigns. Health care professionals should be aware of the nocebo response and take action to prevent or decrease the burden of adverse events following immunization. Fear of side effects must be addressed early in order to diminish vaccine hesitancy. Prospero identifier: CRD42020156287, October 2019.

Work-Related Stress as a Risk Factor for Farm Injuries in the Central United States

Highlights Operators reporting stress had 1.9 times as many injuries per year compared to those who did not report stress. Stress, sleep deprivation, and fatigue showed a similar positive association with injuries. Hearing loss and exposure to animal and/or chemical-based allergens were also risk factors for injury. Musculoskeletal pain/discomfort was strongly associated with injuries, making it a potential risk factor or a consequence. Abstract. This study evaluated the association of self-reported occupational stress and injury among farm and ranch operators in the central United States. Randomly sampled operators received mail surveys with questions related to injuries, chronic health conditions, work exposures, and preventive measures in 2018 and 2020. Injury risk factors were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis. Out of 6,744 participants, 836 (12%) reported at least one injury in the past 12 months and 1,766 (26%) reported work-related stress. The percentage of those reporting stress was 24% among those with no injuries, 36% among those with one injury, and 66% among those with two or more injuries. Similar percentages across the three injury categories were found for sleep deprivation (21%, 30%, and 51%) and fatigue (25%, 39%, and 66%). A high perceived stress level was a risk factor for injury in the final adjusted model (adjusted Rate Ratio (aRR): 1.93, 95% CI: 1.65 to 2.25) when controlling for hearing loss (aRR: 1.25, CI: 1.25 to 1.75) and exposure to animal and/or chemical based allergens (aRR: 1.49, CI: 1.17 to 1.91). With musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) in the model, the association of stress and injuries was attenuated (aRR: 1.54, CI: 1.32 to 1.79) while MSS had a strong association with injuries (aRR: 3.79, CI: 3.00 to 4.78). Stress, sleep deprivation, and fatigue were associated with injuries in a dose-response manner. Preventing injuries among farmers and ranchers requires a focus on stress reduction and related health conditions. Keywords: Agriculture, Fatigue, Hearing Loss, Injury, Musculoskeletal discomfort, Stress.