Receiving Health Information Research Articles

Dog and cat owners' use of online Facebook groups for pet health information.

Facebook is a frequently used social media platform and is often used for human health information, yet little research has been conducted on how pet owners use Facebook pet groups to obtain and share pet health information. This study was designed to assess how pet owners use dog and cat Facebook groups to provide and receive pet health advice and their perception of these groups' trustworthiness. Two comparable questionnaires (dog and cat owners) were developed and distributed through an online survey platform. Results suggest that Facebook groups are a common source of pet health information, with 56.2% of dog owners and 51.8% of cat owners reporting receiving health information through Facebook groups. Similar numbers report giving health information through Facebook groups: 55.0% of dog owners and 57.9% of cat owners. Dog health information most commonly exchanged related to dermatology, gastroenterology and orthopaedics and the most common cat health information focused on gastroenterology, renal and urinary-related issues. While the majority of Facebook users report feeling that Facebook groups are not a trustworthy source of pet health information, a substantial minority of users do appear to be influenced by these groups. Approximately 50% of cat and dog owning respondents either give or receive pet health advice through Facebook groups. These results suggest that many owners deem Facebook groups as useful, but not entirely trustworthy, sources of information.

Interest in Receiving Nutrition Information Through Social Media Among Food-Security Program Participants in Washington, DC.

IntroductionEffective communication approaches are necessary to reach food-security program participants. Accessing food-security programs has been especially challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media can play an important role in reducing some communication barriers. We examined interest in receiving nutrition information via social media among adults participating in food-security programs in Washington, DC.MethodsWe developed and administered a 22-item survey to adults participating in food-security programs (N = 375). Participants were recruited at Martha’s Table, in Washington, DC, from January through March 2020. We performed bivariate analyses and multinomial logistic regressions to examine predictors of interest in receiving nutrition information via social media.ResultsSixty-nine percent of participants reported using social media, and 49% expressed interest in receiving nutrition information via social media. Higher levels of self-efficacy and belief in the value of digital technology were associated with greater likelihood of interest in receiving nutrition information via social media (χ2 6 = 139.0; Nagelkerke R 2 = 0.35; P < .001). We found no differences by sex or digital technology access in interest in receiving nutrition information via social media.ConclusionSocial media is a widely used and a feasible method to reach food-security program participants. Understanding program participants’ interest in receiving health information via social media may help food-security programs plan effective communication strategies to improve food security, especially when in-person participation is limited, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of Mobile Applications by Pregnant Women and Levels of Pregnancy Distress During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic.

ObjectivePregnancy and postpartum periods require continuity in care and counseling. During the pandemic process, telemedicine and telenursing applications have been used to meet the need for healthcare throughout the world, and skills in this area have been developed. This study aimed to identify the use of mobile applications by pregnant women in receiving health information, counseling, and healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and their distress levels during pregnancy.MethodsThis research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was designed as an online survey administered between August 2020 and November 2020 via a questionnaire and the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS). A total of 376 women agreed to participate in the study. Women were included if they were literate, had a gestational age of ≥ 12th weeks, and accommodated within the Republic of Turkey's boundaries.ResultsA total of 77.9% of participants reported using pregnancy-related mobile applications during the pandemic. The mean total Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale score was 24.09, and 37.2% of the participants were found to be at risk for high distress according to the cut-off point. There was a significant difference between the change in receiving health services and the anxiety about coronavirus transmission and the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale total score. (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsThis study helped understand the pandemic's impact on pregnancy distress and usage of mobile health applications by pregnant women during the pandemic. Also, our results indicate that a decrease in pregnant women receiving health services during this period. Mobile health applications appear to be usable for prenatal follow-ups because mobile applications are common among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Deaf Community's Experiences Navigating COVID-19 Pandemic Information.

Background:Users of American Sign Language (ASL) who are deaf often face barriers receiving health information, contributing to significant gaps in health knowledge and health literacy. To reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its risk to the public, the government and health care providers have encouraged social distancing, use of face masks, hand hygiene, and quarantines. Unfortunately, COVID-19 information has rarely been available in ASL, which puts the deaf community at a disadvantage for accessing reliable COVID-19 information.Objective:This study's primary objective was to compare COVID-19–related information access between participants who are deaf and participants who are hearing.Methods:The study included 104 adults who are deaf and 74 adults who are hearing who had participated in a prior health literacy study. Surveys were conducted between April and July 2020 via video conference, smartphone apps, or phone calls. COVID-19 data were linked with preexisting data on demographic and health literacy data as measured by the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and the ASL-NVS.Key Results:Neither group of participants differed in their ability to identify COVID-19 symptoms. Adults who are deaf were 4.7 times more likely to report difficulty accessing COVID-19 information (p = .011), yet reported using more preventive strategies overall. Simultaneously, adults who are deaf had 60% lower odds of staying home and calling their doctor versus seeking health care immediately or doing something else compared with participants who are hearing if they suspected that they had COVID-19 (p = .020).Conclusions:Additional education on recommended COVID-19 management and guidance on accessible health care navigation strategies are needed for the deaf community and health care providers. Public health officials should ensure that public service announcements are accessible to all audiences and should connect with trusted agents within the deaf community to help disseminate health information online in ASL through their social media channels. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(2):e162–e170.]Plain Language Summary:Compared to participants who are hearing, a higher portion of participants who are deaf reported challenges with accessing, understanding, and trusting COVID-19 information. Although respondents who are deaf had similar knowledge of symptoms compared to participants who are hearing, they used more prevention strategies and were more likely to plan immediate care for suspected symptoms. Improved guidance on COVID-19 management and health care navigation accessible to the deaf community is needed.

Mental Health of the General Population during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Tale of Two Developing Countries

Background: This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological impact, anxiety and depression between people from two developing countries, Iran and China, and to correlate mental health parameters with variables relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although China and Iran are developing countries based on the World Bank’s criteria, these two countries are different in access to resources and health care systems. We hypothesized that Iranians would show higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress as compared to Chinese. Methods: This study collected information related to the COVID-19 pandemic including physical health, precautionary measures and knowledge about the pandemic. We also used validated questionnaires such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the mental health status. Results: There were a total of 1411 respondents (550 from Iran; 861 from China). The mean IES-R scores of respondents from both countries were above the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression (p &lt; 0.01). Significantly more Iranians believed COVID-19 was transmitted via contact, practised hand hygiene, were unsatisfied with health information and expressed less confidence in their doctors, but were less likely to wear a facemask (p &lt; 0.001). Significantly more Iranians received health information related to COVID-19 via television while Chinese preferred the Internet (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: This cross-country study found that Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression as compared to Chinese. The difference in reported measures between respondents from Iran and China were due to differences in access to healthcare services and governments’ responses to the pandemic.

Parental Cancer-related Information Seeking, Health Communication and Satisfaction with Medical Providers of Childhood Cancer Survivors: Differences by Race/Ethnicity and Language Preference

For childhood cancer survivors (CCS), parents play an important role in communicating with providers and conveying patient’s needs. This exploratory study examined the prevalence of cancer-related information-seeking among parents of CCS and investigated the association between parents’ race/ethnicity and language preference with health communication and satisfaction with child’s medical providers. One hundred and sixty CCS and their parents from two hospitals in Los Angeles County were recruited from the SEER registry. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed associations between parents’ race/ethnicity and language preference and their health communication with their child and with their child’s medical care providers. Among the parents, 29% were Spanish-speaking Hispanics, 27% English-speaking Hispanics, and 43% English-speaking non-Hispanics. Regardless of language preference, Hispanic parents were more likely than non-Hispanic parents to receive health information about their CCS’s cancer from hospital sources versus the internet. There was no difference by ethnicity/language in parent satisfaction with their CCS’s medical provider. Spanish-speaking Hispanic parents were more likely to report talking to their CCS about the need for cancer-related follow-up care compared to non-Hispanic English-speaking parents. These findings point to the potential importance of parents’ ethnicity and language for sources of health information and frequency of communication with their CCS about their cancer care.

The Health and Well-Being of Transgender Australians: A National Community Survey.

Purpose: Transgender, including gender diverse and nonbinary (trans), people experience significant health disparities. We aimed to better understand the health status and needs of Australian trans people to guide resources and health and well-being programs.Methods: This anonymous, cross-sectional online survey utilized nonprobability snowball sampling of Australian adults (18 years and over) who self-identified as trans between September 2017 and January 2018. This descriptive study assessed demographic data, community views on access to health care, health burden, access to health resources, and priorities for government funding in transgender health.Results: Of 928 participants, 37% reported female, 36% reported male, and 27% reported nonbinary gender identities. Despite 47% having tertiary qualifications, the unemployment rate was 19%, with 33% reporting discrimination in employment due to being trans. Discrimination in accessing health care was reported by 26% and verbal abuse and physical assault were reported by 63% and 22%, respectively. Lifetime diagnosis of depression was reported by 73% and anxiety by 67%. Sixty-three percent reported previous self-harm and 43% had attempted suicide. Autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were reported by 15% and 11%, respectively. The most preferred method of receiving health information was through online resources, with the most popular source being Reddit, an online peer discussion board. Better training for doctors in trans health issues was the top priority for government funding.Conclusions: Barriers, including widespread discrimination and unemployment, contribute to health inequity and prevalent mental health conditions. Better training for health professionals in the provision of safe, gender-affirming and general health care for trans people is urgently required.

Willingness to participate in adapted pain and disease self-management programs: evaluating preferences of Black men

Background and objective: The health of Black men continues to be a discussion of public health concern. To address this concern, this exploratory study aimed to assess Black men's willingness and preferences for participating in tailored pain and/or disease self-management programs. Materials and Methods: Three program designs were presented, with varying delivery modalities. Participants responded to a series of questions regarding the content and form of program implementation. A total of 75 Black men, with an average age of 57 (SD = 14.8) years, were included for study participation. Results: Responses to a set of closed- and open-ended questions showed that less than one-third (29.3%) had never heard of chronic disease self-management programs, with another 77.3% never participating in a self-management program. Overall, the majority of the men preferred receiving health information from books (73.3%) or brochures (74.7%). Few (15.0%) preferred receiving health advice from family. More than one-third however, preferred receiving information from friends (38.7%) or a religious leader (33.3%). Conclusion: Results from this study contribute to our understanding of how more effective programming and systems tailored to the health needs of this gendered population is needed in order to promote safe and cost-effective approaches to prevention and treatment efforts.

Association of Social Media Use With Mental Health Conditions of Nonpatients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Insights from a National Survey Study.

BackgroundConsiderable research has been devoted to examining the mental health conditions of patients with COVID-19 and medical staff attending to these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are few insights concerning how the pandemic may take a toll on the mental health of the general population, and especially of nonpatients (ie, individuals who have not contracted COVID-19).ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between social media use and mental health conditions in the general population based on a national representative sample during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in China.MethodsWe formed a national representative sample (N=2185) comprising participants from 30 provinces across China, who were the first to experience the COVID-19 outbreak in the world. We administered a web-based survey to these participants to analyze social media use, health information support received via social media, and possible psychiatric disorders, including secondary traumatic stress (STS) and vicarious trauma (VT).ResultsSocial media use did not cause mental health issues, but it mediated the levels of traumatic emotions among nonpatients. Participants received health information support via social media, but excessive social media use led to elevated levels of stress (β=.175; P<.001), anxiety (β=.224; P<.001), depression (β=.201; P<.001), STS (β=.307; P<.001), and VT (β=.688; P<.001). Geographic location (or geolocation) and lockdown conditions also contributed to more instances of traumatic disorders. Participants living in big cities were more stressed than those living in rural areas (P=.02). Furthermore, participants from small cities or towns were more anxious (P=.01), stressed (P<.001), and depressed (P=.008) than those from rural areas. Obtaining more informational support (β=.165; P<.001) and emotional support (β=.144; P<.001) via social media increased their VT levels. Peer support received via social media increased both VT (β=.332; P<.001) and STS (β=.130; P<.001) levels. Moreover, geolocation moderated the relationships between emotional support on social media and VT (F2=3.549; P=.029) and the association between peer support and STS (F2=5.059; P=.006). Geolocation also interacted with health information support in predicting STS (F2=5.093; P=.006).ConclusionsCOVID-19 has taken a severe toll on the mental health of the general population, including individuals who have no history of psychiatric disorders or coronavirus infection. This study contributes to the literature by establishing the association between social media use and psychiatric disorders among the general public during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study findings suggest that the causes of such psychiatric disorders are complex and multifactorial, and social media use is a potential factor. The findings also highlight the experiences of people in China and can help global citizens and health policymakers to mitigate the effects of psychiatric disorders during this and other public health crises, which should be regarded as a key component of a global pandemic response.

Challenges to Health Information Dissemination in Tanzania and the Opportunities Provided by Chatbot in Swahili Language

To examine challenges to health-literacy with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tanzania and to develop a Chatbot for NCDs in Swahili language. Objective: To examine the challenges of health information dissemination in Tanzania; to analyse the opportunities offered by Chatbot to address the challenges of health information dissemination in Tanzania; to assess the readiness of users on the acceptance of an interactive Chatbot for NCDs in Swahili Language. Method: Survey was conducted amongst a sample of 100 participants at Wazo ward, Dares-Salam; Chatbot was designed in Swahili and integrated into Facebook Messenger to eliminate the cost of the internet from the end-users. Results: Challenges to health-literacy includes: inaccurate, inconsistent, untrustworthy, unreliable, untimely, contradictory, and confusing information; popular media such as TV programs and the Internet presents no opportunity for feedback, requests, or clarifications. Others are language barrier; high cost of internet, poor connectivity, the ratio of healthcare providers to patients, poverty, and traditional beliefs. There is a general acceptance of receiving health information through messaging apps. Conclusions: Chatbot for NCDs in Swahili language ‘afyaBot' could be strategic in affording Tanzanians access to adequate and timely information on NCDs, improve health-literacy, and promoting good health. Stakeholders and public policymakers in the health sector will find the study useful.

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin E-Sağlık Okuryazarlık Düzeylerinin Karşılaştırılması: Sağlık Bilimleri Lisans ve Lisansüstü Öğrencileri Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Amaç: İnternet, genç bireyler arasında kullanımı yaygın bir araçtır. Bu araştırmada interneti yoğun olarak kullanan üniversite öğrencilerinin bu alanda geliştirmiş oldukları yetkinliklerin demografik veriler kapsamında incelenmesi ve farklılıkların tespit edilerek nereden kaynaklandığının ortaya koyulması amacı ile planlanmıştır. Gereç-Yöntem: Bu çalışmada tabakalı örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak 260 sağlık bilimleri fakültesi öğrencisi ve 69 sağlık bilimleri enstitüsü öğrencinden veri toplanmıştır. Veri toplama iki bölümden oluşmaktadır. İlk bölümde katılımcıların tanıtıcı özelliklerini belirlemek amacıyla 8 soru ikinci bölümde ise Norman ve Skinner (2006) tarafından geliştirilen ve Coşkun ve Bebiş (2015) tarafından Türkçe geçerlilik ve güvenilirliği yapılan 8 maddelik e-Sağlık okuryazarlık ölçeği yer almaktadır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların; %74,5’i kadın, %79,9’u 18-24 yaş aralığında, %79’unun öğrenim düzeyi lisans ve %48’i günlük 4 saat ve üstü internet kullandığı saptanmıştır. Katılımcıların %80,9’u en az bir kez internetten sağlık bilgisi aldığı saptanmıştır. Ölçeğin ortalama puanı en düşük 8 ve en yüksek 40 puan iken, çalışmamızda 29,17 olarak bulunmuştur. Lisans öğrencilerinin %76,9'u, lisansüstü öğrencilerinin %95,7'si internetten sağlık bilgisi aldığı tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Çalışma üniversite öğrencilerinin kendi sağlıkları hakkında bilgi toplama, işleme ve değerlendirme aşamalarında internet tabanlı kaynaklardan önemli ölçüde faydalandığını ortaya koymuştur.

Lessons learned from the implementation of a video health coaching technology intervention to improve self-care of family caregivers of adults with heart failure.

Individuals with heart failure (HF) typically live in the community and are cared for at home by family caregivers. These caregivers often lack supportive services and the time to access those services when available. Technology can play a role in conveniently bringing needed support to these caregivers. The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation of a virtual health coaching intervention with caregivers of HF patients ("Virtual Caregiver Coach for You"-ViCCY). A randomized controlled trial is currently in progress to test the efficacy of the intervention to improve self-care. In this trial, 250 caregivers will be randomly assigned to receive health information via a tablet computer (hereafter, tablet) plus 10 live health coaching sessions delivered virtually (intervention group; n = 125) or health information via a tablet only (control group; n = 125). Each tablet has specific health information websites preloaded. To inform others embarking on similar technology projects, here we highlight the technology challenges encountered with the first 15 caregivers who received the ViCCY intervention and the solutions used to overcome those challenges. Several adaptations to the implementation of ViCCY were needed to address hardware, software, and network connectivity challenges. Even with a well-designed research implementation plan, it is important to re-examine strategies at every step to solve implementation barriers and maximize fidelity to the intervention. Researcher and interventionist flexibility in adapting to new strategies is essential when implementing a technology-based virtual health coaching intervention.

Challenges Using Technology in a Health Coaching Intervention, Early Lessons Learned

Technology provides opportunities to engage with those who are too busy, overwhelmed, or distant for face-to-face interventions, such as lay caregivers of adults with heart failure. While testing the efficacy of virtual health coaching for caregivers on stress and self-care we have encountered challenges in implementing the intervention and learned early lessons. Caregivers (n=250) enrolled into a randomized controlled trial receive a Samsung Galaxy tablet with Internet access. Half receive health information by tablet (control) and half receive 10 live virtual health coaching sessions plus health information all by tablet (intervention). Tablets are configured to allow access to preselected websites and a Vidyo conference room for the intervention group. Completing the first 6 months of enrollment, 36 caregivers have enrolled (34% black, all female, 74% spouses, mean age 56.4 years, 40% employed full-time, mean 9.3 hours spent caregiving daily), with 18 randomized to intervention. Only 2 of the 79 assessed for eligibility reported discomfort with technology. Yet, one early challenge is difficulty connecting with the health coach via Vidyo. Another is the uncertain nature of the patient’s condition, which frequently precludes the caregivers’ attendance at prescheduled sessions. Although tablets were anticipated to facilitate the intervention, in some cases, these two challenges interact to further accentuate caregiver stress. Alternatives such as FaceTime and plain old telephone contact suffice. We found that flexibility in intervention delivery is essential for such a real-world intervention. Contributing factors and implications of these challenges for future caregiving research and practice will be discussed.

Effectiveness of structured teaching programme on genital tuberculosis among adolescent girls

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially fatal contagious disease that can affect almost any part of the body. Genital tuberculosis remains a major health problem in many developing countries, and responsible for a significant proportion of females presenting with infertility. A greater awareness of causes, clinical features and improved diagnostic methods are more helpful to identify genital tuberculosis at earliest. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on genital tuberculosis among adolescent girls. An evaluative approach was adopted. Using a simple random sampling technique 60 adolescent girls who meet the sampling criteria was selected for the study. Study findings revealed that 78.33 % of the girls not received health information regarding genital tuberculosis. The pre-test knowledge score was 42.67% (12.61±2.26) and post test knowledge score was 82.44% (24.25±1.348) showing an effectiveness of 39.77% (11.64±2.47). Significance of difference between pre-test and post-test score was found highly significant (t=36.49, p no association between pre-test knowledge score and demographic variables. The findings of the study revealed that the knowledge has significantly improved after the structured teaching programme. Conclusion: It is concluded that STP is highly effective in improving the knowledge of the adolescent girls regarding genital tuberculosis. Keywords: Effectiveness, Genital tuberculosis, Structured teaching programme, Adolescent girls.

Mobile Phone Apps in Australia for Improving Pregnancy Outcomes: Systematic Search on App Stores.

BackgroundWomen are increasingly turning to mobile health platforms to receive health information and support in pregnancy, yet the content of these platforms vary. Although there is great potential to influence health behaviors, little research has assessed the quality of these platforms or their ability to change behavior. In recent years, validated tools to assess app quality have become available.ObjectiveTo identify and assess the quality and ongoing popularity of the top 10 freely available pregnancy apps in Australia using validated tools.MethodsA systematic search on app stores to identify apps was performed. A Google Play search used subject terms pregnancy, parenting, and childbirth; the iTunes search used alternative categories medical and health and fitness. The top 250 apps from each store were cross-referenced, and the top 100 found in both Google Play and iTunes were screened for eligibility. Apps that provided health information or advice for pregnancy were included. Excluded apps focused on nonhealth information (eg, baby names). The top 10 pregnancy apps were assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). A comparative analysis was conducted at 2 time points over 2 years to assess the ongoing popularity of the apps. The MARS score was compared to the download and star rating data collected from iTunes and Google Play in 2017 and 2019. Health behaviors including breastfeeding, healthy pregnancy weight, and maternal awareness of fetal movements were reviewed for apparent impact on the user’s knowledge, attitudes, and behavior change intentions using the MARS perceived impact section and the Coventry, Aberdeen, and London—Refined (CALO-RE) taxonomy.ResultsA total of 2052 free apps were screened for eligibility, 1397 were excluded, and 655 were reviewed and scored. The top 10 apps were selected using download numbers and star ratings. All 10 apps were suboptimal in quality, practicality, and functionality. It was not possible to identify a primary purpose for all apps, and there was overlap in purpose for many. The mean overall MARS app quality score across all 10 apps was 3.01 (range 1.97-4.40) in 2017 and 3.40 (range 2.27-4.44) in 2019. A minority of apps scored well for perceived impact on health behavior using the MARS tool. Using the CALO-RE 40 item taxonomy, the number of behavior change techniques used was low. The mean number of behavior change techniques for breastfeeding was 5 (range 2-11), for pregnancy weight was 4 (range 2-12), and for maternal awareness of fetal movements was 5 (range 2-8).ConclusionsThis review provides valuable information to clinicians and consumers about the quality of apps currently available for pregnancy in Australia. Consideration is needed regarding the regulation of information and the potential opportunity to incorporate behavior change techniques to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Qualitative Investigation of Health Information Seeking Behavior Utilizing Social Media in a College Population

The main purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to understand undergraduate college student use of social media to seek out health information. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with undergraduate males and females in 2014. Open coding was employed and five themes were chosen as representative: social connection, social pressure, representation of self, critical consumerism, and passive engagement. All participants reported receiving health information passively, while the majority reported actively seeking health information on social media. However, issues of misrepresentation and reliability of information were explored. Social media is a feasible health promotion tool to reach college-aged individuals.

“Paper, face-to-face and on my mobile please”: A survey of women’s preferred methods of receiving antenatal education

BackgroundAntenatal education prepares women for childbirth and can be delivered face-to-face, in hard-copy and electronically. Smartphones allow access to online learning and internet searching is common among pregnant women. It is unclear which mode of health information delivery women prefer. AimThis study aimed to investigate how women at one Local Health District (LHD) preferred to receive health information during pregnancy and the early postnatal period. MethodsWe developed a survey to gather data on women’s preferences for educational information. Women who were discharged from one LHD, in NSW Australia, were invited, in 2019, to participate in a simple 14 question survey, either online or in hard copy format. FindingsIn total, 685 women completed the survey which represented a 40% response rate over a period of two months. The survey revealed women commonly used smart phones, or other devices, to source information. Despite this, most women preferred to receive antenatal education via non-electronic methods. Of note many participants felt underprepared for the post-birth period. The method of survey completion, whether hardcopy or online, aligned with individuals’ preferences for information delivery. ConclusionNon-electronic methods of education delivery were the preferred method for most women, and this was consistent across all educational, cultural and socioeconomic levels. Women sought information online, or through apps, but these options did not always meet their knowledge needs, especially regarding the postnatal period. We recommend that hospitals continue to provide information in a variety of modes, as exclusively electronic methods may marginalise groups of women.

Predictors of Resilience Among Parents of Children with Cancer: Cross-Sectional Study.

PurposeResilience is an ability to overcome adversities in response to a potentially traumatic event. It relieves parents’ discomfort and builds personal capacity when facing a stressful situation like childhood cancer. Therefore, the study’s objective is to assess the magnitude of resilience and its predictors among the parents of children with cancer at Jimma medical center, Ethiopia, 2020.MethodsThe institutional-based cross-sectional design was employed on 126 parents of children with cancer at Jimma Medical Center. All study populations who attend the hospital from February 25 to April 25, 2020, and fulfill the inclusion criteria were included. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.6.0.2 and analyzed by SPSS version 25. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the study variables. Furthermore, linear regression analysis was calculated to assess predictors of resilience.ResultsThe level of resilience among parents’ children with cancer were a mean scored 51.41±12.02. In this study, factors associated with resilience were receiving support from friends (β=5.67, 95% CI=1.58, 9.77; P=0.007), attend recreational activities (β=13.8, 95% CI=5.32, 22.37; P=0.03) and receiving health information from health care professionals (β=6.37; 95% CI= (1.75, 11.00), P=0.007), parents depression (β= −0.827, 95% CI= (−1.619,-0.034), P=0.041) and parents stress (β =−0.88,95% CI (−1.54,-0.23), P=0.031).ConclusionThe magnitude of resilience among parents of children with cancer was low relative to other studies. Support from friends, attending recreational activities, and receiving health information from health care professionals were positively associated with resilience. In contrast, parents’ depression and stress were negatively associated with resilience.

Sleep and Safety Decision-Making Among Truck Drivers.

Restorative sleep is essential for the level of cognitive performance required of truckers to drive safely. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe and explore sleep-related and safety decision-making among truck drivers. Flyers and snowball sampling were used to recruit truck drivers into the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine personal and professional influences on sleep and safety decision-making and preferences for receiving health information. Thematic analysis was conducted to generate descriptions of participants' experiences. The sample consisted of 10 White males with a mean of 22 years of truck-driving experience. Weather conditions and drowsiness were the most commonly described conditions that required sleep decision-making by the participants. Four themes impacting sleep- and safety-related decision-making emerged including sentinel events, evolving driver characteristics, relationships, and company-level factors. Findings from this study suggest that there are both internal and external factors influencing sleep and safety decision-making among truck drivers. Personal relationships with important others, such as family members, and professional relationships with company dispatchers were important influences among participants. During encounters with truck drivers, occupational health nurses should assess sleep quality and quantity and review healthy sleep hygiene strategies with them and their family members, if they are available. Future larger studies are necessary to inform the development of interventions and company policies to promote healthy sleep among truck drivers.

Influencing Factors of Continuous Use of Web-Based Diagnosis and Treatment by Patients With Diabetes: Model Development and Data Analysis

BackgroundThe internet has become a major source of health care information for patients and has enabled them to obtain continuous diagnosis and treatment services. However, the quality of web-based health care information is mixed, which raises concerns about the credibility of physician advice obtained on the internet and markedly affects patients’ choices and decision-making behavior with regard to web-based diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is important to identify the influencing factors of continuous use of web-based diagnosis and treatment from the perspective of trust.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to investigate the influencing factors of patients’ continuous use of web-based diagnosis and treatment based on the elaboration likelihood model and on trust theory in the face of a decline in physiological conditions and the lack of convenient long-term professional guidance.MethodsData on patients with diabetes in China who used an online health community twice or more from January 2018 to June 2019 were collected by developing a web crawler. A total of 2437 valid data records were obtained and then analyzed using correlation factor analysis and regression analysis to validate our research model and hypotheses.ResultsThe timely response rate (under the central route), the reference group (under the peripheral route), and the number of thank-you letters and patients’ ratings that measure physicians’ electronic word of mouth are all positively related with the continuous use of web-based diagnosis and treatment by patients with diabetes. Moreover, the physician’s professional title and hospital’s ranking level had weak effects on the continuous use of web-based diagnosis and treatment by patients with diabetes, and the effect size of the physician’s professional title was greater than that of the hospital’s ranking level.ConclusionsFrom the patient's perspective, among all indicators that measure physicians’ service quality, the effect size of a timely response rate is much greater than those of effect satisfaction and attitude satisfaction; thus, the former plays an essential role in influencing the patients’ behavior of continuous use of web-based diagnosis and treatment services. In addition, the effect size of electronic word of mouth was greater than that of the physician’s offline reputation. Physicians who provide web-based services should seek clues to patients’ needs and preferences for receiving health information during web-based physician-patient interactions and make full use of their professionalism and service reliability to communicate effectively with patients. Furthermore, the platform should improve its electronic word of mouth mechanism to realize its full potential in trust transmission and motivation, ultimately promoting the patient’s information-sharing behavior and continuous use of web-based diagnosis and treatment.