Regular Medical Check-ups Research Articles

Are our nurses healthy? Cardiorespiratory fitness in a very exhausting profession

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is related to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, increase in all-cause mortality and higher risk of different tumors. The reverse is also true; improvement in CRF is related to decrease in mortality. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a standard and also the most precise test for determination of CRF - the best possibility is the maximal test measuring different parameters including maximal oxygen consumption. Healthcare professionals throughout the developed world have markedly high rates of sickness absence, burnout, and distress compared to other sectors and this leads to higher risk factors. The study aimed to assess CRF in a group of nurses in a big hospital and compare it with population norms and available published results. Nurses over 50 years of age working in one faculty hospital were gradually included in the study from the beginning of 2018. These nurses work in physically demanding positions. A CPET was carried out following the Bruce protocol. 90 nurses (84 females and 6 males), mean age 55.7 years, were evaluated by CPET. The resting blood pressure was within the norm in 58 persons (64.44%), maximal oxygen consumption in 61 persons (67.8%), W/kg in 25 persons (46.2%). We detected a hypertension reaction in 28 persons (31.1%), some types of arrhythmia in 17 persons (18.9%) and signs of ischaemia in 8 persons (8.9%). The result of CPET led to further examination in 42 persons (46.6%). Detailed examination resulted in change of medication in 21 nurses (23.3%). New diseases were diagnosed in 15 nurses (hypertension, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve prolapse indicated for cardiac surgery, coronary artery stenosis, and lipid disorders). It was concluded that the usage of CPET during the regular medical check-ups significantly increases detection of hidden diseases and thus improves the care for nurses.

IMPROVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACHES TO REGULAR MEDICAL CHECKUP SERVICE IN THE METROPOLITAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

An adequate response to the challenges people face in the context of continuing urbanization, increasing life expectancy and, at the same time, falling birth rates, is to maximize the containment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by high level of healthcare organization and medical services provided to the patients with such pathologies. Global economic losses caused by NCDs result in disability and early mortality among working population as well as in significant treatment costs increasing with the advancement of the disease. That is why outpatient care for NCD patients which includes behaviour factors monitoring is an urgent task for the world and Russian healthcare. In this regard, the goal of this study is to find organizational solutions to improve regular medical checkup service for NCD patients in the metropolitan healthcare system, relying on the data provided by medical organizations in the form of statistical observations. Thus, the results of correlation analysis have revealed a connection between the increased number of individuals in the second and third health groups and individuals scheduled for a regular medical checkup at the end of the year and its absence between the clinical examination results and the number of firstly diagnosed patients. It is also reported that the number of diseases registered for a regular medical checkup at the end of the reporting period (year) has increased, so patients with polymorbid conditions are supposed to prevail among the others on these days and require a special approach to their management. Taking into account the results obtained, possible ways for optimizing the organizational model of a regular medical checkup are the following: special hours (days) for such patients admission, permanent cooperation of a doctor (local general practitioner, GP, family doctor) and a health worker with a secondary medical education (to deal with organizational issues), etc.

The parents evaluation of accessibility of out-patient ophthalmologic care in Chelyabinsk

Every year number of eye diseases among children and adolescents is steadily increasing. The most possible causes of this process are sedentary life-style, computerization of society and school curriculum characteristics. The survey of 209 parents of children and adolescents was organized and carried out. The study established that modern children spend much more time at screens than it is recommended by regulatory documents. The pathology of eye was diagnosed in 46.9% of children, 39.2% of children are regularly observed by ophthalmologist. 53.6% of children are regularly observed by an ophthalmologist. Among parents whose children are monitored by ophthalmologist, 55.3% mentioned inaccessibility of medical appointments, that makes impossible regular corresponding medical check-ups and results in progressing of diseases present and development of new ones. The ophthalmologist plays key role in maintaining visual analyzer health. To effectively prevent visual organ pathology, it is necessary to achieve comprehensive interaction of ophthalmologist, teachers (preschool teachers), parents and children themselves.

Experiences of discrimination among people living with HIV in Serbia

Abstract Background Anti-discrimination regulation is a condition for reaching UNAIDS's “zero discrimination” target. In Serbia, there are laws that forbid discrimination and guarantee the confidentiality of health status. However, about 24% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) had experienced discrimination and most do not report the discrimination to the proper institutions. Methods We conducted qualitative research among PLHIV from December 2018-May 2019. We reached 43 persons, with five focus groups in the four cities where there were centers for HIV treatment. We transcribed and coded the interviews in Serbian and used thematic analysis to explore experiences of discrimination among PLHIV. Results PLHIV are aware of laws protecting the confidentiality of their HIV status and against discrimination. However, PLHIV do not believe implementation of those laws are appropriate. Most participants experienced discrimination in the health system and described that medical doctors demand to know their HIV status. This demand led to unequal treatment of PLHIV patients, and sometimes to non-consensual disclosure of one's HIV status to others. For employed PLHIV regular medical check-ups and eventual hospitalizations introduce an additional risk of discrimination. For sick leave requests by the law they have to submit documents with medical information to their employer and participants feared that HIV status will be a part of the documentation. Some participants described the loss of employment because of this disclosure. Majority of PLHIV fear further disclosure of their HIV status and additional discrimination if they follow complaint procedures. Conclusions Contradictory regulations increase the risk of discrimination of PLHIV. Anticipated stigma and fear of discrimination hinder the full attainment and respect for human rights by PHLIV. Harmonization of regulation and procedures of the anti-discrimination legislation is the first step to the “zero discrimination” target.

The Results of Studying Anthropometric Status Indicators in School-Aged Children and Their Parents

Introduction: Physical development is one of the important health criteria of children and adolescents. The objective of our study was to evaluate anthropometric status indicators of school-aged children and their parents using the results of a questionnaire-based survey conducted in the Sverdlovsk Region. Materials and methods: The survey was carried out in accordance with method recommendations and practical guidelines developed by the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology and involved 3,369 schoolchildren and 5,303 parents. When parents specified body height and weight of their children in questionnaires, we also made use of the results of regular medical checkups provided by medical workers. Results: We established that the majority children had normal height and weight, a third of them were overweight, which was more typical for children living in rural areas, and every fifth child was underweight. Overweight was more prevalent among primary and secondary school boys whereas underweight was more common among high school girls. The average body mass index of parents was slightly above the healthy weight range and equaled 25.6 kg/m2 , overweight being more frequent in men. We noticed that most overweight parents of both genders lived in rural areas. The odds of overweight in children of mothers and fathers with a body mass excess were 1.9 and 1.4 times higher, respectively. Relative risk values indicate an immediate relationship between overweight in parents, especially mothers, and their children. Conclusions: The risk of childhood overweight and obesity is higher in children of overweight parents.

Health seeking behaviour of geriatric population in rural area of Puducherry: a community based cross sectional study

Background: Population ageing is a great concern for the health sector. The health-seeking behaviour of elderly individuals can help in ascertaining their needs and priorities to develop appropriate policies for their care and avert disease progression. Objective was to assess health seeking behaviour of the elderly residing in rural Puducherry.Methods: A community based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among the geriatric population residing in selected areas of rural Puducherry. Interviews using semi-structured pretested proforma were conducted for capturing information on health seeking behaviour.Results: Out of the total study participants, 403 (64.8%) were suffering from chronic illness. Around 81.1% of them were seeking treatment. Majority of the elders (97.9%) preferred Allopathy system for their chronic illness.Conclusions: Awareness among the elderly population is imperative and can be done by regular medical check-ups by ensuring early detection of the chronic diseases and curtail complications.

The role of local and regional authorities in prevention and control of NCDs: the case of Poland

BackgroundFreedom from noncommunicable diseases is a component of the human right to health. The obligation to reduce the pandemic of civilisation diseases should result from the provisions of the constitution, national law and local regulations. This means that representatives of local and regional communities also take responsibility for limiting the pandemic of civilisation diseases.Main bodyThe goal of this debate is to examine the effectiveness of the decentralised polish model for dividing the competences of preventing and combating non-communicable diseases into three levels: local, regional and central. The representatives of regional and local communities are responsible for encouraging the inhabitants of their communities to change their lifestyle: eating habits, increase physical activity, remain outdoors more frequently, reduce stimulants, and apply prevention, namely undergo regular medical check-ups and provide the body with all the necessary nutrients. Limiting the proliferation of noncommunicable diseases also requires, in vertical terms, sound financial efforts on the part of local authorities. In the example of Poland, the claim about the effectiveness of the multi-level governance model which is presented in the literature will be verified.ConclusionThe excessive division of competences and the dispersion of resources between regional and local authorities may hamper the effective treatment and prevention of NCDs. A lack of cooperation between the central government, which carries out an independent policy on public health, and local authorities, which use only a portion of the public funds allocated to health, obstructs the debate on priorities at the societal level and does not encourage residents to take a stand on how to allocate extra funds.

A Case of Temporal Bone Cholesterol Granuloma Extending to Posterior Cranial Fossa without Middle Ear Involvement

Cholesterol granulomas of the temporal bone can occur in the petrous apex, middle ear, and mastoid cavity. Although cholesterol granulomas in the petrous apex often extend to the middle cranial fossa, cholesterol granulomas in the middle ear and mastoids rarely invade the cranial cavity with bony erosion. We report a case of a large cholesterol granuloma involving the posterior cranial fossa with pneumatic mastoid and not affecting the middle ear. The patient had no otologic or neurologic symptoms, and the mass was found incidentally on a brain MRI included in a regular medical checkup. The mass was removed via a combined transmastoid and suboccipital approach without complications, and characteristic pathology findings demonstrated a cholesterol granuloma.

State of Comorbidity in Patients with Hypertension under Conditions of Industrial Production

Comorbid conditions in patients with hypertension on the background of occupational hazards create additional problems in the treatment of hypertension. An analysis of working conditions in 76 workers of the Ivano-Frankivsk armature factory who underwent regular medical check-ups regarding first-/second-degree hypertension (the main group) showed that they were exposed to occupational hazards of chemical (acrolein carbon, iron oxide, chromium, fluorine compounds, sulfuric acid) and physical (high temperature, noise, vibration, electromagnetic radiation, dust) nature for a long period of time (from 4 to 11 years). Comorbid conditions were most often observed among the patients of the main group as compared to the patients of the control group (n = 17), who were not exposed to occupational hazards - 82.06% and 73.34% of cases, respectively. In the patients of the main group, chronic bronchitis was detected in 26.56% of cases and coronary artery disease was diagnosed in 25.09% of cases as compared to 8.33% and 18.34% of cases in the control group. At the same time, 38.89% of hypertensive patients of the main group were diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and concomitant coronary artery disease, which were not observed in the patients of the control group. The patients of the main group were more likely to have dyslipidemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, aortic fibrosis, hypertensive retinopathy as compared to the patients of the control group. In the control group, patients with overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus prevailed. Quality of life assessment using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey among the patients of the main group revealed a significant decrease in the indicators of physical and vital activity, fulfillment of daily professional duties. In the control group, a worsening emotional state prevailed.

THE DYNAMICS STUDY OF PATIENTS STATE WITH MUSCLE AND JOINT DYSFUNCTION OF TMJ, WHICH DECIDED TO COMPLETE THE TREATMENT AFTER ELIMINATION OF THEIR DISEASE SYMPTOMS ACHIEVED BY USING THE OCCLUSION EQUIPMENT

Abstract. The article is concerned with the most relevant and insufficiently studied problems of modern orthopedic dentistry.
 Objective. To study the dynamics of patients state with muscle and joint dysfunction of TMJ, which decided to complete the treatment after elimination of their disease symptoms achieved by using the occlusion equipment and not go through the finish the treatment.
 Materials and Methods. 25 patients were involved in the study: 8 (32.0%) men and 17 (68.0%) women aged from 35 to 60 years (average age 46.16 ± 1.47 years), which among 360 patients were diagnosed a muscle and joint dysfunction of TMJ and successfully underwent treatment in 2015-2019 in a multi-field dental clinic (Kharkiv, Ukraine). Methods of general clinical examination of the state of the dento maxillofacial complex were used.
 These patients underwent examination before treatment, then after eliminating the symptoms of the disease and restoring the normal masticatory process using occlusal splints, and then 1 month after stopping wearing the splint, and 1 and 1.5 years after the end of treatment.
 Conclusions. The examination confirmed the diagnosis in all 25 patients: "muscle and joint dysfunction of TMJ of occlusal origin." All 25 (100%) patients had occlusion disorders due to an edentulous space in the lateral parts of the lower and / or upper jaw.
 An individual treatment plan was developed for each patient in accordance with the algorithm considered in the article using the author's modified method of percutaneous electroneurostimulation and the proposed occlusal splint structure.
 Because of the treatment carried out during 3.5 ± 0.7 months, all 25 patients haven’t had any clinical aspects of muscle and joint dysfunction of the TMJ and all of them have had normal physiological functioning of the masticatory muscles and TMJ, which was confirmed by objective examination methods, including special ones.
 These 25 patients refused to complete the final stage of treatment (the manufacture of temporary and permanent prostheses), but agreed to remain at the regular or periodical medical check-up.
 In two weeks after the stop of wearing the equipment, 17 of 25 patients (68.0%) gradually began to fill certain symptoms of dysfunction: severity and discomfort in the TMJ, tightness and tenderness of the masticatory muscles.
 4 weeks after examination determined that 24 out of 25 patients (96.0%) had a disease recurrence, their condition almost returned to the primary state, and was confirmed by objective methods of examination. However, after 4 weeks of wearing the newly manufactured medical occlusal splint, all the symptoms of dysfunction in all patients disappeared, the electromyograms and arthrophonorgamm values returned to normal. The patients underwent the final stage of treatment - temporary and then permanent prostheses were made.
 Examinations conducted in one and one and a half years after the fixation of permanent prostheses showed that disease recurrence was not observed, there were no complaints from patients.
 Conclusions. In patients with muscle and joint dysfunction of TMJ of occlusal origin, it is unacceptable to stop treatment at the stage of eliminating only the clinical symptoms of the disease, since in 96% of cases it leads to a disease recurrence within the first month after the termination of wearing the occlusal splint. A prerequisite for ensuring long-term stable results of treatment of TMJ dysfunction of occlusal origin in patients with edentulous spaces is a full treatment cycle, an integral component of which is rational prosthetics, which is confirmed by control examinations carried out in 1 and 1.5 years after the end of treatment.

On the state of child health in Ekaterinburg based on results of prophylactic medical examinations

Morbidity parameters in children aged 0–17 years have been analyzed based on results of prophylactic medical examinations conducted in Ekaterinburg between 2013 and 2019. The prophylactic medical examination coverage of pediatric population, distribution among the health status groups and frequency of regular medical check-ups have been studied. In 2019 versus 2013, children aged 0–17 years demonstrated a 1.6-fold increase in overall morbidity, and 2.3-fold increase in primary-care morbidity. In 2013–2017, a higher level of overall morbidity was found in children aged 15–17 years compared to children 0–4 years of age, owing to the emergence of newly diagnosed diseases. It was noted than the most frequently diagnosed diseases included diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, diseases of the eye and eye appendages, diseases of nervous system, digestive system, endocrine system, nutritional disorders and metabolic disorders. Each year, based on results of prophylactic medical examinations, the proportion of children for whom the outpatient examination has been recommended amounts to 9.5%, outpatient treatment to 35.0%, and outpatient medical rehabilitation to 9.3%. The fraction of healthy children as of 2019 was 23.1% of all examined children. In 2019 the coverage for medical check-ups at the health facilities was 605.6 per 1000 children, that is 1.8 times higher than that in 2013 (334,0 per 1000 children).

On the state of child health in Ekaterinburg based on results of prophylactic medical examinations

Morbidity parameters in children aged 0–17 years have been analyzed based on results of prophylactic medical examinations conducted in Ekaterinburg between 2013 and 2019. The prophylactic medical examination coverage of pediatric population, distribution among the health status groups and frequency of regular medical check-ups have been studied. In 2019 versus 2013, children aged 0–17 years demonstrated a 1.6-fold increase in overall morbidity, and 2.3-fold increase in primary-care morbidity. In 2013–2017, a higher level of overall morbidity was found in children aged 15–17 years compared to children 0–4 years of age, owing to the emergence of newly diagnosed diseases. It was noted than the most frequently diagnosed diseases included diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, diseases of the eye and eye appendages, diseases of nervous system, digestive system, endocrine system, nutritional disorders and metabolic disorders. Each year, based on results of prophylactic medical examinations, the proportion of children for whom the outpatient examination has been recommended amounts to 9.5%, outpatient treatment to 35.0%, and outpatient medical rehabilitation to 9.3%. The fraction of healthy children as of 2019 was 23.1% of all examined children. In 2019 the coverage for medical check-ups at the health facilities was 605.6 per 1000 children, that is 1.8 times higher than that in 2013 (334,0 per 1000 children).

On the state of child health in Ekaterinburg based on results of prophylactic medical examinations

Morbidity parameters in children aged 0–17 years have been analyzed based on results of prophylactic medical examinations conducted in Ekaterinburg between 2013 and 2019. The prophylactic medical examination coverage of pediatric population, distribution among the health status groups and frequency of regular medical check-ups have been studied. In 2019 versus 2013, children aged 0–17 years demonstrated a 1.6-fold increase in overall morbidity, and 2.3-fold increase in primary-care morbidity. In 2013–2017, a higher level of overall morbidity was found in children aged 15–17 years compared to children 0–4 years of age, owing to the emergence of newly diagnosed diseases. It was noted than the most frequently diagnosed diseases included diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, diseases of the eye and eye appendages, diseases of nervous system, digestive system, endocrine system, nutritional disorders and metabolic disorders. Each year, based on results of prophylactic medical examinations, the proportion of children for whom the outpatient examination has been recommended amounts to 9.5%, outpatient treatment to 35.0%, and outpatient medical rehabilitation to 9.3%. The fraction of healthy children as of 2019 was 23.1% of all examined children. In 2019 the coverage for medical check-ups at the health facilities was 605.6 per 1000 children, that is 1.8 times higher than that in 2013 (334,0 per 1000 children).

Preulcerous Risk Situation in Diabetic Foot Syndrome: Proposal for a Simple Ulcer Prevention Score.

Preulcerous risk situations in patients with diabetes are often undiagnosed and care administered too late. Even with regular medical check-ups and status documentation, foot examinations have not been given enough attention. Diagnosing an individual patients' risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers may increase vigilance for diabetic foot syndrome (DFS), and the appropriate prevention measures matching the risk involved may prevent the emergence of diabetic ulcers. The classical DFS risk factors are well established and have been extensively covered in the literature; however, there is a lack of efficient screening tools that could be used for a rapid assessment of diabetic foot ulcer risk. A methodical literature search was conducted to assess relevant publications for the preparation of a simple risk score for amputation related to diabetic foot ulcer. We then analyzed the risk factors for predictive value as odds ratios in foot ulcers and/or amputation. We used the available data to deduce a mean value to reflect the authors' consensus. In view of the current literature on the matter, we have developed a semi-quantitative scoring system using just a few items to allow rapid and visual risk assessment for diabetic foot ulcers alongside recommendations for prevention and a sensible follow-up strategy to match the risk. This relatively simple score enables rapid risk classification for patients that can ease the way for both physicians and patients in gaining an insight into individual risk situations. The score provides more effective preventative measures for high-risk patients against future complications.

CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN OBESE AND NORMAL WEIGHT PEOPLE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Introduction: Obesity can be classified as generalized obesity (GO) and abdominal obesity (AO) and obese population have higher rates of mortality and morbidity compared to non-obese individuals. World Health Organization (WHO) has defined overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A commonly used simple measure to classify overweight and obesity in adults is body mass index (BMI). BMI is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2). WHO defines overweight when BMI is greater than or equal to 25; and obesity when BMI is greater or equal to 30 but in Asians, the cut-offs for overweight (≥23.0kg/m2) and obesity (≥25.0kg/m2) are lower than WHO criteria due to risk factors and morbidities MATERIAL AND methods: A sample of 50 male and 50 female obese patients with body Mass Index > 30 kg/m2 and also 50 male and 50 female non obese patients with body Mass Index of 18.50 – 24.99 kg/m2 were selected. Sample was randomly selected. A pilot study was carried out on 20 patients to ensure feasibility, and time needed for completing the study.
 Results: A total of 200 participants were included in the study of which 100 were obese and 100 were non obese subject. Comparison of cardiac paramenters between obese and non obese individual was done like hrart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure. Demographic variables were also compared. Conclusion: The strong association of obesity with cardiovascular disease necessitates the importance of prevention and control of obesity and it should begin in early child hood also proper diet and regular medical check-up should be carried out to cope up with the problem of obesity.

Unobtrusive Health Monitoring in Private Spaces: The Smart Vehicle.

Unobtrusive in-vehicle health monitoring has the potential to use the driving time to perform regular medical check-ups. This work intends to provide a guide to currently proposed sensor systems for in-vehicle monitoring and to answer, in particular, the questions: (1) Which sensors are suitable for in-vehicle data collection? (2) Where should the sensors be placed? (3) Which biosignals or vital signs can be monitored in the vehicle? (4) Which purposes can be supported with the health data? We reviewed retrospective literature systematically and summarized the up-to-date research on leveraging sensor technology for unobtrusive in-vehicle health monitoring. PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Scopus delivered 959 articles. We firstly screened titles and abstracts for relevance. Thereafter, we assessed the entire articles. Finally, 46 papers were included and analyzed. A guide is provided to the currently proposed sensor systems. Through this guide, potential sensor information can be derived from the biomedical data needed for respective purposes. The suggested locations for the corresponding sensors are also linked. Fifteen types of sensors were found. Driver-centered locations, such as steering wheel, car seat, and windscreen, are frequently used for mounting unobtrusive sensors, through which some typical biosignals like heart rate and respiration rate are measured. To date, most research focuses on sensor technology development, and most application-driven research aims at driving safety. Health-oriented research on the medical use of sensor-derived physiological parameters is still of interest.

Transfigurations of aging

To date, most social anthropological studies on aging in African contexts focus on care for poor older people provided by related others. The focus of this article is different as it focuses on older people with better financial means than the average: civil servants belonging to Dar es Salaam’s middle class. Furthermore, this contribution shifts the focus from care provided through related others to practices of everyday self-care, the care that these older people provide for themselves with the help of relatives in Tanzania and the USA. In order to stay healthy and cope with diagnosed chronic conditions, older participants in this study engage in physical exercises, eat ‘good food’, and go for regular medical check-ups. This article argues that these health-promoting self-care practices of older urban dwellers reflect changing experiences of aging, health, and care, and point to transfigurations of the social imaginary of aging in Dar es Salaam’s middle class.

Impact of mobile health in diabetic retinopathy awareness and eye care behavior among Indigenous women.

Diabetes is increasingly widespread among Indigenous people, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a diabetes eye complication and a common cause of vision loss among adults in Canada. Indigenous women have a high risk of diabetes which increases their risk for DR. This study explored utilizing mobile health (mHealth) via text messages to provide DR awareness and improve diabetic-eye care behavior. This study identified the changes in DR awareness and eye care behavior due to a mHealth education intervention among Indigenous women with or at risk of diabetes. A pre-post study which adopted an embedded concurrent mixed methods approach guided by self-determination theory and the medicine wheel. Study participants were First Nations and Métis women living with or at risk of diabetes in Saskatoon, Canada. Data was collected via sharing circles and a DR knowledge, attitude, and practice survey. Pre-intervention participants' baseline information on DR knowledge and behavior were obtained from participants. After that, participants received daily text messages on diabetes-eye related information for 12 weeks. Post-intervention, the impact of the mHealth intervention on DR awareness and eye care behavior was assessed. Following the intervention, the DR knowledge, attitude, and practice scores significantly improved. Individuals living with diabetes had increased DR attitude and practice post-scores compared to those at risk of diabetes. Older women had a lower pre-post change in practice scores compared to younger women. The mHealth intervention provided a holistic approach to support diabetes-eye care and empowered the study participants to eat healthily, take medication as prescribed, and have regular medical and eye check-ups. The mHealth education intervention increased DR awareness and fostered a change in diabetes-eye care behavior. Health information via text messaging can motivate, provide support, and empower individuals as well as prevent and manage chronic conditions and reduce the risk of complications.

Prevalence and Associated Lifestyle Factors of Suboptimal Health Status among Chinese Children Using a Multi-Level Model.

Chinese children are facing health challenges brought by chronic non-communicable diseases, such as physical problems and psychological related health problems. Childhood represents a critical life period when the long-term dietary and lifestyle behaviors are formed. It is necessary to survey the prevalence of suboptimal health status (SHS) among Chinese children and to research the relationship between SHS and lifestyles. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of SHS among Chinese children using a large-scale population survey sample covering school students and nonstudent children, and clarified the relationships between SHS and lifestyle factors using multi-level models controlled for the cluster effect of location and the confounding effect of demographics. Multi-level generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the relationships between SHS and lifestyle factors. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess the strength of these relationships. Of the 29,560 children, 14,393 reported one or more SHS symptoms, giving a SHS prevalence of 48.69%. The prevalence of SHS for boys (46.07%) was lower than that for girls (51.05%). After controlling for the cluster effect of living areas and confounding effect of demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors associated with SHS were: less sleep duration, current smokers (PR = 1.085, 95%CI: 1.027–1.147), current drinkers (PR = 1.072, 95%CI: 1.016–1.131), children’ parents suffering from chronic diseases (PR = 1.294, 95%CI: 1.179–1.421), poor sleep quality (PR = 1.470, 95%CI: 1.394–1.550), stress (PR = 1.545, 95%CI: 1.398–1.707), negative life events (PR = 1.237, 95%CI: 1.088–1.406), hypertension (PR = 1.046, 95%CI: 1.009–1.084), unhealthy diet choice (PR = 1.091, 95%CI: 1.051–1.133) and irregular meal time (PR = 1.210, 95%CI: 1.163–1.259). Children who could exercise regularly (PR = 0.897, 95%CI: 0.868–0.927) and those with regular medical checkup (PR = 0.891, 95%CI: 0.854–0.929) were associated with lower prevalence probability of SHS. SHS has become a serious public health challenge for Chinese children. Unhealthy lifestyles were closely associated with SHS. Implementation of preventative strategies are needed to reduce the potential SHS burden associated with these widespread high-risk unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.

Prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers working at higher public University student’s cafeterias and public food establishments in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIntestinal infection is still an important public health problem in low-income countries. Food handlers may be infected by a wide range of enteropathogens and have been implicated in the transmission of many infections to the public. Therefore, the aim of this review was to produce the pooled prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers working at higher public University student’s cafeterias and public food establishments in Ethiopia.MethodsArticles published in PubMed/Medline, Hinari, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used using a search strategy. Observational studies (cross-sectional) revealing the prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections at higher public University student’s cafeterias and public food establishments were incorporated. Meta-analysis was computed using STATA version 14 statistical software. Heterogeneity of the study was assessed using Cochrane Q test statistics and I2 test. The pooled prevalence of the intestinal parasitic infection and associated factors among food handlers was calculated by the random-effect model.ResultsOut of 138 reviewed studies, 18 studies were included to estimate the pooled prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Ethiopia. All the eighteen articles were included in the analysis. This study revealed that the pooled prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 28.5% (95% CI: 27.4, 29.7). E. hystolitica /E. dispar complex 6.38 (95% Cl: 5.73, 7.04), A.lumbricodes 4.12 (95% Cl: 3.56, 4.67), and G. lamblia 3.12(95% Cl: 2.65, 3.60) were the most common intestinal parasitic infections in this study. Untrimmed fingernail 3.04 (95% CI: 2.19, 4.22), do not washing hands after defecation 2.71 (95% CI: 1.93, 3.82), do not washing hands after touching any body parts 2.41 (95% CI: 1.64, 3.56), do not made medical checkup 2.26 (95% CI: 1.57, 3.25), and do not receive food safety training 1.79 (95% CI: 1.30, 2.45) were factors significantly and positively associated with intestinal parasitic infections.ConclusionParasitic infections among food handlers were significantly high. Untrimmed fingernail, do not washing hands after defecation, do not washing hands after touching any body parts, do not made regular medical checkup and do not receive food safety training were factors that increase the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections.