Self-assessed Health Research Articles

Psychological stress and influence factors in elderly patients with mild coronary heart disease: a longitudinal follow-up study in Shanghai, China

IntroductionEffective health management is crucial for elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This study applied a Psycho-Cardiology model to CHD management, aiming to assess psychological stress among patients with mild CHD and identify potential influencing factors to provide substantiating evidence.MethodsThis longitudinal study was based on a 9-year follow-up program of a community population in Shanghai, China. A total of 44,552 elderly people were included, with the average age being 74.9 (±10.35) years, and the proportion of female participants being 56.5%. To evaluate and compare the effect of the disease, individuals were categorized into four groups based on their medical records from the past 6 months, these being (I) a CHD with other chronic diseases group, (II) a CHD only group, (III) non-CHD patients with one (or more) chronic disease group, and (IV) non-patient group. Demographic characteristics, sleep quality and health status of each participants were collected using the Unified Needs Assessment Form for Elderly Care Questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was used for statistic analysis.ResultsDemographic characteristics differed significantly between the three chronic disease groups (Groups I, II and III) and the non-patient group. Participants in the CHD group reported poorer sleep quality, worse health status, and a more rapid health decline when compared to those with other chronic diseases. Factors such as age, gender, education level, disease duration, and family support were identified as potential influences on the self-reported subjective sleep quality in patients with mild CHD. While age, education level, living status and family support were potential factors influencing the self-assessed health status in participants without CHD (Groups III and IV).ConclusionPatients with mild CHD may experience lower subjective sleep quality, health status scores, and a faster health-sleep decline, indicating elevated psychological stress. Higher education levels offer a protective effect against this stress, highlighting the importance of psycho-emotional interventions and educational strategies. Additionally, it is important to prioritize early intervention for newly diagnosed cases to aid in illness acceptance. These findings provide crucial insights for managing patients with mild CHD and inform the efficient allocation of healthcare resources.

Self-assessment of health and lifestyle of medical university students

Objective. To study the peculiarities of lifestyle and identify risk factors for disease development among students of a medical university. Material and methods. 320 second-year students of the Medical Faculty of the Siberian State University (78 males and 242 females) took part in the study. An anonymous online questionnaire with the use of Yandex Forms was conducted among the participants. Results. Girls had lower self-assessment of health. Among the respondents, 24.5% constantly take care of their health, 19.9% monitor their health only in case of illness, and 55.6% take care of their health periodically. Most students spend 2–3 hours (44.5% of girls and 61.4% of boys) or 4–5 hours (39.6% of girls and 30.0% of boys) to prepare for exercise. 30.9% of students do physical exercises and sports in their free time, 69.1% prefer other activities. 29.5% of surveyed boys and 27.0% of girls smoke. 49.3% of boys and 53.3% of girls use alcohol not more than once a month, 2–4 times a month - approximately equal number of respondents. More than half of the surveyed students noted that they do not use energy drinks. Among the respondents, 52.2% of girls and 49.3% of boys would like to get rid of bad habits, 26.1% of boys and 21.7% of girls do not see the need for this, the rest found it difficult to answer. Conclusion. Despite the fact that students have sufficient awareness of the components of a healthy lifestyle and express the desire to follow its principles, there are significant violations in the lifestyle of the study contingent. The obtained data confirm the need to develop comprehensive programs aimed at preserving the health of students, taking into account the identified characteristics of lifestyle and health risk factors.

Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Rapid Rehabilitation Surgical Nursing in Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common cause of lower back pain and radiculopathy. In recent years, the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept has been increasingly applied in orthopedics and gastrointestinal surgery. Purpose: To investigate the effect of using rapid rehabilitation surgical care for lumbar disc herniation by meta-analysis. Data source: Google Scholar, PubMed Medical, Cochrane and Embase databases were used for the analysis. Research selection: An initial search yielded a total of 322 relevant articles. Duplicate pieces of literature were screened using Endnote. In addition, non-randomized controlled trials and studies with a sample size of less than 30 were excluded. A total of seven papers were included in this study. Main outcomes: The Rapid Rehabilitation Surgical Nursing (RRSN) group showed significantly higher patient satisfaction (RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.26; p < 0.01) and self-assessed health (Total MD = 5.67; 95% CI: 4.27, 7.06; p < 0.01) compared to the Normal Nursing (NN) group. Pain levels (MD = -0.66; 95% CI: -0.97, -0.36; p < 0.01), disability levels (MD = -18.64; 95% CI: -32.53, -4.76; p < 0.01), anxiety risk (SAS-MD = -4.33; 95% CI: -6.23, -2.44; p < 0.01), and depression risk (SDS-MD = -4.29; 95% CI: -7.50, -1.07; p < 0.01) were significantly lower in the RRSN group compared to the NN group. According to the GRADE classification, the certainty for patient satisfaction is high, while the certainty for post-care pain, functional capacity, risk of psychological disorders, and self-assessed health status is moderate. Conclusions: Rapid recovery surgical nursing can significantly improve postoperative recovery of lumbar disc herniation, increase patient satisfaction, reduce the risk of psychological disorders, improve lumbar function, and alleviate patient pain.

Abstract 4137805: Loss to Follow-Up Among Adults with Congenital Heart Defects: A Report from Congenital Heart Disease Project to Understand Lifelong Survivor Experience (CHD PULSE)

Background: Many of the 1.4 million adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are lost to follow up (LTF). We aimed to identify factors associated with LTF and compare to those who remained in care. Methods: In the Congenital Heart Disease Project to Understand Lifelong Survivor Experience (CHD PULSE), we performed a cross-sectional survey in 2021-2023 of CHD survivors with a history of intervention at 11 centers in the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium, a large US-based registry of CHD procedures. Participants reported their cardiac history, general health, education, income, health insurance, healthcare utilization, and marital status. LTF was defined as having seen a cardiologist three or more years ago. Results: Among the 3109 respondents with CHD (median age 33) there were 1157 (37%) LTF and 1952 (63%) in care. Age, sex, marital status, and household income were not risk factors for LTF; but lack of health insurance, lower severity of CHD, and increasing time since last heart surgery were. Notably, respondents who reported being told in adolescence about the lifelong need for a cardiologist were almost three times as likely to report being in care (79% vs 28%, p&lt;0.0001). Among women, most reported no LTF if counseled about concerns with pregnancy or told to avoid pregnancy. The most common reasons for being LTF for 5 years or more (N=857) included feeling well (60%), not thinking there was a need for lifelong care (49%), and a doctor told them they no longer needed to see a cardiologist (47%). Those LTF were more likely to report excellent or very good general health, physical health, and quality of life than those not LTF. There were no differences in self-assessment of mental health between groups. Conclusion: Adults with CHD and LTF were more likely to report less severe heart defects, a younger age at last surgery and a lack of counseling about the need for lifelong care.

A preliminary investigation into the relationship between municipal debt and the financial viability of waterboards in South Africa

ABSTRACT The provision of water and sanitation services in South Africa is complex due to historical apartheid spatial planning whose remnants are still evident in the democratic country. The rural areas which are mostly occupied by black Africans still, on average, have water services backlog compared to urban areas. At a national level for South Africa to achieve the Sustainable Developmental Goal 6, the country must decisively deal with the backlog and a staggering more than R14 billion debt that the municipalities owe to the waterboards. The current study used the Municipal Strategic Self-Assessment and financial health (FH) check-up tools to determine if there is a causal relationship between the vulnerability of municipalities and the financial viability of waterboards. A linear regression was computed using the SPSS statistical programme to assess the relationship between the FH of the waterboards and the vulnerability index (VI) of the municipalities. It was found that a high VI was more prevalent in the rural municipalities than in the urban municipalities, pointing to a need to develop a differentiated financial framework for these rural municipalities. The study recommended that municipalities should implement remedial actions waterboards should perform FH check-ups, and there must be consequence management.

Assessment of body mass index, lifestyle and health perception among female university students in Morocco.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), dietary habits, physical activity, and health perception among female university students in Morocco. The study was conducted at a Moroccan university among female students from the Faculty of Sciences Ain-Chock in Casablanca. Participants were given a self-administered questionnaire that evaluated sociodemographic factors, dietary habits, food group consumption, physical activity, and self-assessed health status. Data collection took place from February 2023 through the end of April 2023. A total of 335 students aged 18 to 29 years participated in the survey. The study revealed that 72.5% of the participants were within the normal weight range (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²), while 15.9% were classified as overweight and 3.9% as obese. Additionally, 47.9% of the participants engaged in physical activity, with 30.2% dedicating more than 45 minutes to their activities. The health perception was found to be related to weight classification, with poor health perception most commonly associated with the "18.5-25" BMI range (57.8%). The study sheds light on the intricate interaction between weight, health, and lifestyle in Morocco. The frequency of normal-weight persons and active participation indicates university students' health awareness. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, on the other hand, need ongoing health measures. These findings help to build focused methods for promoting healthier lives in Morocco, utilizing educational institutions as health promotion platforms.

Family care and predictors of the disabled elderly in China: A cross-sectional study based on the Anderson model.

In light of China's progressively aging population, family care with the "warmth of affection" has always been an irreplaceable form of care that meets the wishes of the majority of disabled elderly to enjoy their twilight years comfortably. Data from a follow-up survey on the influencing factors of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 2018 and the Anderson Model was used as a theoretical framework to analyze the influencing factors using a binary logistic regression model. Children were the main providers of care services among disabled elderly in family care. Family care for disabled elderly was influenced by the combined effects of age (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.05), marital status (P < 0.01), number of children (P < 0.01), housing ownership (P < 0.05), primary carer preference (P < 0.05), and self-assessed health (P < 0.01) were jointly affected. As a result, it's critical to set up a strong social support network that is focused on family caregiving and includes tailored interventions based on the requirements of disabled elderly and family caregivers.

Changes in perceived neighborhood social cohesion and self-assessed health: 17-year follow-up of the Dutch GLOBE study.

Prior research has indicated that residents who perceive their neighborhood as more cohesive have better mental and physical health than those with lower perceived neighborhood social cohesion. However, because most studies are based on cross-sectional data, it remains unclear whether improving the perceptions of social cohesion leads to better health over time. This study applied random effects within-between models to examine the within-individual and between-individual associations of perceived neighborhood social cohesion and poor self-assessed health (SAH) in a cohort of Dutch adults with 17-year follow-up. We also tested whether such associations varied by age, educational level, and gender. The results of pooled analyses indicated that higher perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with better SAH [odds ratio (OR): 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65, 0.80], but did not find conclusive evidence that within-individual changes in perceived neighborhood social cohesion were associated with SAH (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.89, 1.04). We also did not observe any moderating effects for age, educational level, or gender. This study provides some evidence that improving social cohesion in neighborhoods may be a beneficial health promotion strategy.

The Effect of the Mamanet Cachibol League on Psychosomatic Symptoms, Healthy Eating, and Social Support Among Arab Women: A Mixed-Methods Study.

The Mamanet Cachibol League (MCL), a community-based model developed in Israel, promotes physical activity and amateur team sports among women. Women in the Arab society have traditionally played few sports, especially team sports. The study aimed to assess the differences in health indicators and well-being, including psychosomatic symptoms, self-reported health, healthy eating habits, and social support, by comparing Arab women MCL participants and nonparticipants and examines benefits and motivations of community-based team sports for participants. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach included a cross-sectional study with intervention and control groups of Israeli Arab women aged 25-59years. Two-way analyses of covariance and multiple regression models evaluated demographics, well-being, healthy eating, and social support. Quality in-depth interviews with 30 MCL participants further explained the quantitative findings. MCL participants reported higher self-assessed health (P < .001) and decreased psychosomatic symptoms (P < .001) than nonparticipants. Healthier eating and well-being were also linked to MCL participation. The women sense of belonging improved social interactions, personal and professional happiness, and group dedication. MCL attendees felt empowered because the group advocated equality and valued women. Women said their involvement helped their families. Findings on the MCL community-based model suggest that team sports may serve as an effective tool for promoting health and well-being of Arab women and foster positive community relationships. The sense of belonging and personal empowerment derived from being part of a sports team may also contribute to positive mental health outcomes.

Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study.

Ultraviolet rays are known to have positive effect on psoriasis, but the cold climate and latitude in Northern Europe reduce access to the sun. Climatotherapy is a treatment modality where the patient is relocated to a warmer region with a high ultraviolet (UV) index. Young patients with psoriasis can be particularly burdened by the disease, and studies have shown an association between psoriasis and mood disorders. Patients who have undergone climatotherapy often report beneficial psychological effects after treatment, but this has not yet been studied. To explore the psychosocial impact of climatotherapy, an observational study was designed. Thirty-four participants (median age of 24 years) underwent 3 weeks of treatment in Gran Canaria (Spain) and responded to questionnaires assessing the psychosocial aspects of the disease. Climatotherapy was associated with significantly reduced scores of HADS, PSS-10, PSQ, EQ-VAS, DLQI, and itch intensity at the end of and at 3 months after the end of treatment compared to before treatment onset. The results suggest that climatotherapy not only exerts effects on psoriasis skin disease but also improves symptoms of anxiety, depression, perceived stigmatization, stress, quality of life, self-assessed overall health perception, and itch intensity. The results can be of use in the decision-making process when choosing a suitable treatment for young patients with psoriasis.

Self-rated health in preadolescents as a predictor for prescription redemption and hospital contacts

Abstract Background The decline in self-rated health among children and adolescents raises concerns for their overall well-being and future health outcomes. We examined whether self-rated health in preadolescence predicts both psychiatric and somatic prescription redemption and hospital contacts in later adolescence. Methods This cohort study is part of the Danish National Birth Cohort and focuses on children born between 1996 and 2003. A survey was distributed to 96,382 preadolescents aged 11, who were then followed from 2010 to 2018 (average follow-up of 6.9 years). Data on prescriptions and hospital contacts were obtained from Danish registries. Negative binomial regression was employed to calculate the incidence rate ratio (IRR), comparing preadolescent children who rated their health as poor (‘Not So Good’/’Poor’) to those who rated it as good (‘Excellent’/’Good’). Results Of the 47,365 (49.1%) 11-year-old preadolescents who participated in this study, 5.3% reported experiencing poor self-rated health. Overall, adjusted analyses revealed higher rates of prescription redemptions (IRR 1.63 [95% CI: 1.53; 1.73]) and hospital contacts (IRR 1.86 [95% CI: 1.74; 1.99]) in these children. Poor self-rated health in preadolescence was associated with more somatic (IRR 1.51 [95% CI: 1.40; 1.62]) and psychiatric (IRR 3.04 [95% CI: 2.59; 3.57]) prescriptions, as well as somatic (IRR 1.61 [95% CI: 1.51; 1.72]) and psychiatric (IRR 2.80 [95% CI: 2.42; 3.25]) hospital contacts in adolescence, with similar associations across sexes. Conclusions Poor self-rated health in preadolescence is associated with higher rates of prescription redemption and hospital visits in adolescence, suggesting that perceptions of health in early life influence long-term well-being, especially regarding psychiatric health. This straightforward self-rated health measure offers healthcare professionals valuable insights for identifying children who may require support and early intervention. Key messages • Poor self-rated health in preadolescence predicts higher prescription redemption and hospital visits in adolescence, especially regarding psychiatric health. • Simple self-assessment of health in childhood may have the potential to help identify those needing support and early intervention for long-term well-being.

The interplay of technology anxiety and digital health literacy in determining e-health readiness

Abstract Background The assessment of e-health readiness (eHR) is used to assess the ability of selected groups of citizens and patients, as well as society as a whole, to adopt e-health support. This study aimed to understand the main determinants of eHR in adult Internet users in Poland. Methods The analysis was conducted using data from a computer-based web-based interviewing (CAWI) survey carried out in June 2023 in a representative sample of 1661 Polish Internet users. The eHR score was established based on the e-Health Readiness Scale. Uni- (ULRM) and multivariable (MLRM) models were developed for eHR. Independent variables included technology anxiety (TA), digital health literacy (DHL), Internet (IU) and social media use (SMU), self-assessed health status, and sociodemographic variables. Results ULRMs revealed that TA, DHL, IU, SMU, an array of sociodemographic variables, and self-assessed health status (SAHS) were significant predictors of eHL. ULRMs with TA and DHL explained, respectively, 30.1% and 23.9% of the eHR variability. In MLRM developed with all predictors confirmed in ULRMs, only TA, DHL SMU, age, and income level maintained their significant effect on eHR. MLRM explained 42.8% of TA variability. Higher TA was associated with lower eHR (B, 95% confidentiality interval (95%CI): -0.30, -0.33 - -0.27). Respondents with higher DHL demonstrated higher eHR (B, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.37 - 0.48). Older persons were more likely to accept e-health solutions (B, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.003 - 0.05). More frequent SMU was associated with higher eHR (B, 95%CI: 1.87, 0.94 - 2.80). Finally, those who refused to reveal their level of income showed significantly lower eHR than those who revealed it (B, 95%CI: -0.84, -1.58 - -0.10). Conclusions TA and DHL are the main predictors of eHR. SMU also accounts for eHR. Unexpectedly, older age is a positive predictor of eHR. Finally, variables reflecting health status do not exert a significant effect on eHR. Key messages • Technology anxiety should be treated as an important determinant of the successful implementation of e health solutions. • The development of society’s digital health literacy may be a countermeasure to the unfavorable effect of technology anxiety on e-health readiness.

Satisfactory self-rated health is associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract Background It is well known that health status is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but its specific impact on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction remains unclear. Purpose This study was aimed to investigate the impact of varying health self-evaluation on the long-term outcomes of patients diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods Data for this study were obtained from a retrospective cohort of patients admitted to and discharged from 72 secondary and tertiary hospital from 2010 to 2023. Patients were divided into satisfied group and dissatisfied group based on their responses to a self-assessment health questionnaire. Baseline data of the two groups were compared, and the relationship between health status and major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events (MACCE) was analyzed using multivariate cox regression. MACCE, defined as the composite endpoint of cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke and revascularization, was the primary endpoint, with each component considered a secondary endpoint. Results Among STEMI patients, 25214 patients reported satisfaction with their health, while 375 patients expressed dissatisfaction. The satisfied group exhibited a younger age, fewer females, a higher rate of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and PCI during hospitalization, a better Killips classification and a lower prevalence of concomitant disease such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and cerebrovascular disease. After a median follow-up of 1626 days, the satisfied group demonstrated significantly lower proportions of total death, cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction and stroke compared to dissatisfied group. Multivariate COX regression showed that satisfactory health self-rating was associated with a decreased risk of MACCE (HR 0.813, 95%CI 0.704-0.939, P=0.005), stroke (HR 0.670, 95%CI 0.511-0.878, P=0.003), and recurrent myocardial infarction (HR 0.732, 95%CI 0.548-0.979, P=0.035). Conclusions Satisfactory self-rated health is associated with better clinical outcomes in STEMI patients.

Characteristics predisposing to the utilization of Internet websites offering e-prescriptions

Abstract Background The introduction of e-prescriptions in the Polish healthcare system was accompanied by the emergence of websites offering easy access to medication without adequate medical assessment. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of Polish users of such services. Methods The analysis presented here is based on the online survey conducted in June 2023 among 1661 adult Internet users. The multivariable logistic regression model (MLRM) was developed for the variable reflecting the use of e-prescribing web services (EPWS). Sociodemographic variables, self-assessed health status, the presence of chronic disease (CHR) and disabilities (DIS), the frequency of Internet (IU) and social media use (SMU), and finally, digital health literacy (DHL) were included in MLRM as independent variables. Results The percentage of respondents who used EPWS was equal to 18.2% (n = 303). MLRM revealed that age, vocational and income status, CHR, SMU, and DHL were significant predictors of EPWS use. Older respondents were less likely than younger ones to use EPWS (odds ratio (OR), 95% confidentiality interval (95%CI): 0.97, 0.97-0.99. Persons suffering from the chronic disease, when compared to those without such disease, used EPWS less frequently (OR, 95CI: 0.59, 0.43-0.80) and unemployed when compared to employees (OR, 95%CI: 0.53, 0.32-0.88). A higher likelihood of using EPWS was observed among respondents with the highest income in comparison to those from the group with the lowest income (OR, 95%CI: 1.52, 1.02-2.52) and among more frequent social media users (OR, 95%CI: 3.88, 1.90-7.93). Finally, the increase of DHL score by 1 unit was associated with the increase of the likelihood of EPWS use by 9% (OR, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.05-1.12). Conclusions A significant number of adult Internet users utilize EPWS in Poland. Lower age, unemployment, and chronic diseases are negative predictors of EPWS use. More intense SMU and unexpectedly higher DHL predispose to the use of such services. Key messages • Even persons with high e health literacy are inclined to use web portals offering e-prescriptions. • The high prevalence of the utilization of e-prescribing websites requires awareness campaigns warning about related potential risks.

A study of intergenerational support and the health relationship of the elderly population: Evidence from CHARLS

BackgroundCurrently, the relationship of intergenerational support on health is mainly focused on physical health and mental health, and there are fewer studies on the relationship of intergenerational support on self-assessed health. Therefore, this paper discusses and analyzes the possible relationship of intergenerational support on the self-assessed health of older adults in terms of the bidirectional support of various forms of support between older parents and their adult children in terms of financial, living, and emotional support(CHARLS). MethodsThis study was conducted on participants aged 65 and over, using the CHARLS 2020 survey, involving 6359 (3069 men and 3290 women) elderly people.Health was measured in three dimensions: physical, psychological, and self-assessment; intergenerational support was measured in three dimensions: financial, life care, and spiritual comfort; and regression models analysed the relationship between intergenerational support and the health of the elderly population. ResultsChildren's life care support (p < 0.05) had a significant positive association on physiological health, but a significant negative association on the elderly's psychological and self-assessed health, children's spiritual comfort support (p < 0.05) had a positive association on the elderly's physiological health, psychological health, and self-assessed health, and children's financial support (p < 0.05) was positively correlated with the elderly's psychological, and children's financial support had a positive association, but not related to physical health and self-rated health of the elderly. ConclusionsThe relationship between intergenerational support and the health of the older population is complex, with life-care support significantly contributing to physical health but negatively affecting mental health and self-assessed health; spiritual comfort support positively affecting physical, mental and self-assessed health; and financial support having a primarily positive effect on mental health. Therefore, children should fully respect and utilise the ‘autonomy’ of the elderly when providing intergenerational support to the elderly in their families. It is also important to improve intergenerational communication abilities and skills, which will help to better understand and fulfil the needs of older people, thereby promoting their physical and mental health.

Associations of Wearable Activity Tracker Use With Physical Activity and Health Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: Findings from a Population-Based Survey Study.

Physical inactivity is a global issue for cancer survivors. Wearable activity trackers are promising to address physical inactivity by providing real-time feedback on physical activity and offering opportunities for self-monitoring and goal setting. Meta-analysis has reported the effects of interventions that incorporate wearable activity trackers on improved physical inactivity and related health outcomes (eg, BMI, anxiety and depression, and self-rated health status). However, wearable activity trackers were often used as an adjunct to physical activity interventions, and the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers alone is unknown. This study aims to determine the association of wearable activity trackers with physical activity and health outcomes in patients with cancer. Data from 957 cancer survivors from the Health Information National Trends Survey-Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (HINTS-SEER) were analyzed. The outcome variables examined were time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity, weekly frequency of strength training, BMI, anxiety and depression levels, and self-assessed health status. The primary independent variable was whether cancer survivors had used wearable activity trackers within the past 12 months. Design-based linear regression for continuous outcome variables and ordinal logistic regression for ordinal outcome variables were conducted to determine the associations after controlling for sociodemographic, cancer-related, and health-related factors. All data analyses accounted for the complex survey design and sample weights. Only 29% of cancer survivors reported wearable activity tracker use. Bivariate analyses showed that younger age (P<.001), higher education (P=.04), higher income (P<.001), and an employed status (P<.001) were significantly associated with wearable activity tracker use. Wearable activity tracker use was significantly associated with higher time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (adjusted =37.94, 95% CI 8.38-67.5; P=.01), more frequent strength training per week (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% CI 1.09-2.06; P=.01), and better self-rated health status (adjusted OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.09-2.29; P=.01), but not with BMI or anxiety and depression. This study suggests that the uptake of wearable activity trackers is low and highlights the digital divide among patients with cancer. This study has confirmed the associations of wearable activity tracker use with physical activity and self-rated health, supporting using wearable activity trackers as a promising tool to facilitate physical activity promotion.

Online Mental Health Assessment in a psychiatry emergency department in adults using touchscreen mobile devices: A randomised controlled trial.

To determine whether completion of an online mental health self-assessment by patients who are waiting in the emergency department can save clinician time taken to complete clinical assessment and documentation. Patients presenting to a psychiatric emergency department for a period of 6 months were allocated by week of presentation to either the intervention arm (online mental health self-assessment, followed by a clinical interview) or the control arm (usual assessment) arm on a random basis. Time at the beginning and end of the interview was recorded and used to derive interview time. Similarly, time at the beginning and end of the clinical documentation was recorded and used to derive the time to complete clinical documentation. Of 168 patients who presented during the study period, 69 (38.55%) agreed to participate, 33 completed the usual assessment and 30 completed the online mental health self-assessment followed by a clinical interview. Patients receiving usual care had a statistically significant, t(61) = 2.15, p = 0.035, longer interview duration (M = 48.7 minutes, SD = 19.8) compared with those in the online mental health self-assessment arm (M = 38.9 minutes, SD = 15.9). There was no statistically significant difference between groups for documentation time, t(61) = -0.64, p = 0.52. Online mental health self-assessment was associated with a statistically significant reduction in interview time by approximately 10 minutes without increasing documentation time. While online mental health self-assessment is not appropriate for all patients in the emergency department setting, it is likely to yield greater benefits in less acute settings.

Validity and Reliability of the Persian Translation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Self-assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents

Background: Regularly assessing the oral health of children and adolescents is crucial. Researchers seek valid and reliable questionnaires to obtain comparable global data, enabling oral health evaluation in large populations, remote regions, or even during an epidemic like COVID-19, while saving time and money. Objectives: The present study was conducted to translate and validate the Persian version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Self-assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents. Methods: In 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman, Iran. The Persian questionnaire was tested on 20 individuals to assess the fluency and clarity of the Persian translation. The questionnaire was then filled out by 40 individuals, and reliability was evaluated using the test-retest method. The final questionnaire was completed by 878 randomly selected participants aged 7 - 18 years online. To establish concurrent validity, the researchers added three questions related to the presence of toothache without dental visits, filled teeth, and teeth with endodontic treatment. Internal consistency was checked by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results: A total of 290 students aged 7 to 12 and 588 students aged 13 to 18 participated in the study. Cronbach’s alpha for the entire questionnaire was 0.656 for students under 12 years old and 0.643 for those over 12 years old. The intra-cluster correlation coefficient for both age groups was between 0.81 and 0.87. Examining the concurrent validity of this questionnaire showed that the three additional questions added by the researchers have a significant relationship with the questions describing the health of teeth and gums (oral health), the number of times participants felt toothache in the last 12 months, and the problem of biting and chewing. However, they had no significant relationship with the risk factor related to nutrition. Moreover, the questionnaire is multifactorial. Conclusions: The Persian version of the WHO Oral Health Self-assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents is reliable over time. If the questionnaire is repeated and the responses of people in the same population are collected, it yields similar results. It has internal consistency, but it is a multi-factor questionnaire.

Examining the relationships between pain, activities of daily living, and perceptions of overall health in older adults with breast cancer: Results from a brief geriatric screening.

273 Background: Geriatric assessment has been identified as an essential component to caring for patients with cancer who are over 65 years old. Prior research suggests that physical pain and illness perceptions each impact important health behaviors. This retrospective study utilized a brief geriatric screen to examine the relationships between pain levels, activities of daily living (ADLs), and perceptions of overall health for older adults with breast cancer. Implications for methods to improve the patient experience for this population are considered. Methods: The Senior Adult Oncology Program (SAOP) screening tool was administered to 429 patients age 65 or older at a breast oncology clinic. A total ADL score was computed by summing patient-reported responses to 13 ADL items, such as ability to dress oneself, feed oneself, and remember to take medications. A higher ADL score indicates greater difficulty with these responsibilities. Pain was assessed using a 10-point scale; scores were dichotomized to form a low-pain group (scores 0-4) and high-pain group (scores 5-10). Overall Health was assessed on a 1-10 scale, with higher scores indicating perceptions of greater health. Demographic and medical information was abstracted from patients’ electronic health records. Independent samples t-tests examined differences between the high-pain and low-pain groups in total ADL score and self-assessed Overall Health. Results: The average age of the sample was 76 years old (range = 65-89 years). Approximately half of the sample identified as White (48%); 20% identified as Black. In comparing the high-pain and low-pain groups, the high-pain group reported significantly greater difficulty with ADLs (M score = 3.25, 1.41, respectively; p=.026). Additionally, patients endorsing high pain levels reported significantly worse Overall Health as compared to patients endorsing low levels of pain (M= 7.50, 6.11, respectively; p=.001). Conclusions: Older adults with breast cancer experiencing high levels of pain demonstrated greater difficulty with ADLs and worse perceptions of overall health. It is critical that pain is assessed early and often for older adults with breast cancer. Early identification of high pain levels in this population could allow those in need to receive pharmacological and/or behavioral treatments for pain, which may maintain stability or promote improvement in ADLs and perceptions of one’s health. Incorporating brief pain assessments into future geriatric screening tools could improve the process of aging during and after breast cancer.

Self-Assessed Social and Health Determinants of Working Life Expectancy in Agricultural Mechanics

Self-Assessed Social and Health Determinants of Working Life Expectancy in Agricultural Mechanics