Self-assessment Questionnaire Research Articles

Efficacy study of facial products enriched with probiotics/prebiotics & cannabinoids

With the increase in interest for natural innovative skin care products, an effort was made in our laboratory to study the beneficial effects of cannabinoids and prebiotics/probiotics on the skin. Through efficacy studies, the contribution of the specific active substances to improving the health and appearance of the skin was investigated. The present research offers important data creating new perspectives for the improvement of skin care with natural ingredients. The research was carried out on 13 healthy volunteers from the ages of 24 - 53. Two products (Cream and Serum) with the active substances under study and placebo ones were used. The cosmetic products were applied externally to the skin, twice a day for 30 days. The methods used were: a) self-assessment questionnaire, and b) non-intrusive biophysical parameters. Specifically, skin elasticity (Cutometer dual MPA 580), skin microtopography (Skin Visioscan VC 98), transepidermal water loss (MPA5-Tewameter) and hydration of the keratin layer (MPA5-Corneometer CM) were measured 825). Based on the findings, the main conclusions of the research are summarized, highlighting the effectiveness of the products in improving the quality of the skin.

Anti-hair loss effect of a shampoo containing caffeine and adenosine.

Hair loss is a widespread health problem that affects numerous individuals and is associated with age, lack of sleep, stress, endocrine problems, and other problems. Caffeine exerts various pharmacological effects, particularly after ingestion. The caffeine-induced inhibition of phosphodiesterases can increase intracellular cAMP concentrations, ultimately resulting in stimulatory effects on cell metabolism and proliferation. Hence, caffeine has been confirmed to inhibit hair loss caused by premature termination of the hair growth phase. Adenosine also improves hair loss by stimulating hair growth and thickening hair shafts. However, further empirical evidence is required to comprehensively assess the efficacy of hair loss treatment and prevention using a formulation of caffeine and adenosine in specific proportions in shampoos. This study aimed to evaluate a shampoo with caffeine and adenosine as a daily scalp care product for hair loss in 77 subjects aged 18-60 years. The overall and local hair densities were assessed using professional cameras and dermoscopes at different magnifications and distances. Five hairs that came off the participant's head were randomly selected to measure hair diameter. The self-assessment questionnaires were filled on third month of product use. The combination of caffeine and adenosine in the shampoo significantly enhanced hair density compared to that of the baseline. The results revealed a significant reduction in hair loss. The hair diameters of the subjects did not change significantly. Most of the participants (71.05%) were satisfied with their hair after using the product. Shampoos containing caffeine and adenosine have been demonstrated to exert therapeutic benefits for reducing hair loss.

Do Acoustic Characteristics of Dysarthria in People With Parkinson's Disease Differ Across Languages?

Cross-language studies suggest more similarities than differences in how dysarthria affects the speech of people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) who speak different languages. In this study, we aimed to identify the relative contribution of acoustic variables to distinguish PwPD from controls who spoke varieties of two Romance languages, French and Portuguese. This bi-national, cross-sectional, and case-controlled study included 129 PwPD and 124 healthy controls who spoke French or Portuguese. All participants underwent the same clinical examinations, voice/speech recordings, and self-assessment questionnaires. PwPD were evaluated off and on optimal medication. Inferential analyses included Disease (controls vs. PwPD) and Language (French vs. Portuguese) as factors, and random decision forest algorithms identified relevant acoustic variables able to distinguish participants: (a) by language (French vs. Portuguese) and (b) by clinical status (PwPD on and off medication vs. controls). French-speaking and Portuguese-speaking individuals were distinguished from each other with over 90% accuracy by five acoustic variables (the mean fundamental frequency and the shimmer of the sustained vowel /a/ production, the oral diadochokinesis performance index, the relative sound level pressure and the relative sound pressure level standard deviation of the text reading). A distinct set of parameters discriminated between controls and PwPD: for men, maximum phonation time and the oral diadochokinesis speech proportion were the most significant variables; for women, variables calculated from the oral diadochokinesis were the most discriminative. Acoustic variables related to phonation and voice quality distinguished between speakers of the two languages. Variables related to pneumophonic coordination and articulation rate were the more effective in distinguishing PwPD from controls. Thus, our research findings support that respiration and diadochokinesis tasks appear to be the most appropriate to pinpoint signs of dysarthria, which are largely homogeneous and language-universal. In contrast, identifying language-specific variables with the speech tasks and acoustic variables studied was less conclusive.

A Critical Review of Mindfulness Measures.

Background and Purpose: Mindfulness has been associated with many positive psychological benefits. It is usually measured by self-report, and there are numerous questionnaires available to measure mindfulness in this way. The purpose of this review is to offer a summary of the available self-assessment questionnaires for measuring mindfulness, their appropriate uses, and psychometrics. Methods: CINAHL, PubMed, and PsychINFO databases were queried along with hand searching reference lists based on the indicated criteria, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction-related mindfulness measurement tools, based on self-report and designed for use in adults. Results: Fourteen tools, published between 2001 and 2021, were included in this review. The tools varied in their orientation and have been created to measure mindfulness as a state, trait, and process. Conclusions: There is a wide variety of available tools, and each conceptualizes mindfulness in a distinct way. Understanding these details is crucial to choosing the proper tool.

Work stress and caring intention among health care workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Healthcare workers may feel stress when caring for patients suspected as having a highly infectious and novel disease, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives This study aimed to identify the psychological responses and factors affecting these responses among healthcare workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Healthcare workers regardless of their experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in our hospital voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study in April 2021. We used a self-assessment questionnaire with 70 items to identify the psychological responses and affecting factors. Results The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with eight stressors, including “frequent modification of infection control procedures,” “worrying about being negligent and endangering coworkers,” “worrying about lack of manpower,” “being without a properly fitted environment,” “protective gears being a drag in providing quality care,” “protective gears causing physical discomfort,” “worrying about inflicting COVID-19 on family” and “worrying about nosocomial spread.” Using multivariate logistic regression, “switching thoughts and facing the situation with positive attitudes” (odds ratio: 2.974, P = 0.011), “ever caring COVID-19 patients” (odds ratio: 1.990, P = 0.018), “I felt scared” (odds ratio: 0.180, P < 0.001), and “I thought it is unlucky” (odds ratio: 0.492, P = 0.029) were identified as independent factors for the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases. Conclusion The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with several stressors related to psychological, practical, and environmental aspects, but not with immediate reactions to the mission. Experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients and positive attitudes could increase the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases, and feeling scared and unlucky can reduce this willingness.

Reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the brief version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders.

An accessible self-assessment questionnaire is needed to evaluate quality of life in olfactory dysfunction. The need to address this gap led to the development of the brief version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (brief QOD), which holds particular value in the context of telemedicine. The aim of this study is to examine the reliability and validity of the Arabic brief QOD. This study included 307 patients suffering from olfactory dysfunction as well as a control group filled a questionnaire including demographic information, the olfaction Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Sino-nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire, and the Arabic version of the brief QOD. The Arabic brief QOD's reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α to measure internal consistency. To evaluate test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was employed. The discriminative ability: score differences between the two groups were analyzed. The validity Arabic brief QOD was evaluated by comparing it to the olfaction VAS. The Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.757 for Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Parosmia (QOD-P), 0.832 Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-quality of life (QOD-QoL), and 0.817 Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-visual analog scale (QOD-VAS). The reliability of the overall brief QOD was 0.93. The ICC exceeded the acceptable threshold of 0.7, indicating strong test-retest reliability. The highest correlation was observed between the SNOT-22 and QOD total scores (r = 0.552 and p < .001) as well as between SNOT-22 and QOD VAS (r = 0.512 and p < .001). Excellent validity and reliability have been shown for the Arabic brief QOD as a self-assessment tool assessing quality of life among olfactory dysfunction patients. NA.

The design and operationalization of the teacher competence management framework: The method and practical tools to identify and close teacher competence gaps for the teaching of 21st century skills

The aim of the Framework for Teacher Competence Management is to provide school leadership with an empirically tested protocol on how to determine teachers’ professional development needs for teaching 21st century skills. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were applied to collect and analyze data through three cycles of design-based implementation research over a period of three years, from 2017 to 2019, and by collaborating with staff from 15 schools. The Framework for Teacher Competence Management was developed through adapting a competence management model from the business environment to the school setting. The framework includes three steps: Competence identification, assessment and development; school developmental goals and education reform priorities; and the action and information flows between teachers and school leadership team members. The Framework for Teacher Competence Management has been operationalized through the design and validation of a method to identify teachers’ professional development needs and competence assessment tools, such as performance level descriptors, knowledge tests, and self-assessment questionnaires. The research outlines significant differences in teacher performance within a single school, emphasizing the necessity of gathering school-based evidence for planning more personalized professional development solutions to address professional development needs for different teacher groups.

Haemorrhoidal disease in pregnancy: results from a self-assessment questionnaire administered by means of a social network

BackgroundThe anal symptoms occurring during pregnancy and post-partum, mainly related to Haemorrhoidal Disease (HD), have been reported with in a wide range of incidence in the literature. Although in many cases the course of the disease is mild and self-limiting, sometimes it is severe enough to affect quality of life.MethodsOur study has been conducted through a questionnaire administered via social media with the aim of obtaining epidemiologic data on the incidence of the symptoms of HD in an unselected population of pregnant women. In addition, we looked for the presence of those factors notoriously predisposing or associated to HD (constipation, straining on the toilet, low dietary fibres and fluid intake).ResultsOut of 133 patients 51% reported symptoms of HD during pregnancy, mainly in the second and third trimester. Constipation, straining on the toilet, low dietary fibres and fluid intake were not significantly related to incidence of HD. Only a previous history of HD was correlated to onset of symptoms of HD in pregnancy and reached a statistical significance (odds ratio = 5.2, p < 0.001).ConclusionAlthough with the limitations posed by the nature of our retrospective study via a self-assessment interview, our results suggest that the occurrence of HD in pregnancy seems not sustained by the classical risk factors observed in the general population. At the moment, specific therapeutic measures are lacking and treatment relies on empiric suggestions concerning diet, fluid intake, bowel care, local ointment. Further studies are needed in order to identify a targeted etiologic treatment.

Depression and Smartphone Addiction Among College Students: The Mediating Effect of Emotional Exhaustion.

Multiple studies claim that depression was a triggering factor for smartphone addiction among college students. But we still know very little about the underlying mechanisms of smartphone addiction. The aim was to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of smartphone addiction from the perspective of depression and emotional exhaustion, to provide alternative paths for university administrators to address smartphone addiction among college students. A total of 2764 Chinese college students participated in the survey. They independently filled out self-assessment questionnaires including the Cell Phone Addiction Scale, Beck Depression Inventory II, and Emotional Exhaustion Scale. Subsequently, mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro developed by Hayes (v 4.0; Model 4). Statistical analysis showed that depression was positively correlated with emotional exhaustion and smartphone addiction, emotional exhaustion was positively correlated with smartphone addiction, all of which were statistically significant. In addition, the effect of depression on smartphone addiction among college students was partially mediated by emotional exhaustion. The impact of depression and emotional exhaustion on smartphone addiction had been preliminarily explored, which had certain value for further understanding of smartphone addiction among college students. This study could provide references for universities to develop intervention measures for smartphone addiction.

Comparing Self-Report Fatigue Assessment Tools for Adults with Cerebral Palsy in a Danish Context

ABSTRACT Purpose: Many youth and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) experience high levels of fatigue. This study aimed to compare three fatigue self-report questionnaires to guide clinicians. Method: Thirty youth and adults (age range 17–64) with CP were assessed with Danish versions of the Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment questionnaire, the Modified Mental Fatigue Scale, and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Psychometric properties were investigated. Rank order and classification models were compared across questionnaires. Results: The Reduced Motivation and Physical Fatigue subscales of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory showed inadequate internal consistency. Participants were frequently ranked differently with the questionnaires. There were issues related to the conceptualization of physical fatigue. Conclusion: The choice of assessment tool should be based on assessment purpose as the questionnaires assess different aspects of fatigue severity, impact, and management. Also, test selection can have important implications on the conclusions that are made about fatigue type and severity.

Educational game as a practice for developing students' critical thinking skills regarding manipulations on the Internet

Introduction. Expanded digitalization widens the gap between the increasing immersion of young people in the digital space and their ability to identify, manage and resist the destructive potential of the information flow of the Internet environment. Increasing threats to personal security and improved technologies for manipulating public opinion and consciousness makes developed critical thinking skills and increased resistance to manipulative and destructive online content particularly relevant for the young generation The paper aims to determine the potential of an educational game in developing critical thinking skills among students in relation to manipulations on the Internet. Materials and methods. 147 students of Tomsk State University (Russian Federation) took part in the pilot study. Research methods were: 1) a questionnaire for self-assessment of the ability to identify manipulative techniques and assess the impact of information on own psycho-emotional state; 2) a test task for forming skills in recognizing manipulative techniques. Statistical data was processed using the Mann Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon t-test. Research results. A pilot experimental study revealed the following: 1) respondents tend to overestimate their ability to determine the manipulative potential of Internet content, as well as their ability to resist it and realize its impact on their psycho-emotional state; 2) after the game, the experimental group demonstrates increased skills in identifying all the five manipulation techniques (the number of respondents able to recognize a conspiracy theory increased by 6.8 times, emotional speech by 1.4 times; scapegoating by 7.6 times; attacking by 1.3 times, and a false dichotomy by 10.7 times); 3) in recognizing three manipulation techniques, the experimental and control groups show significant differences (p &lt;0.001). After the game, the participants demonstrate the skills of accurately recognizing conspiracy theory, scapegoating, and false dichotomy. Conclusion. The suggested gaming practice has a high potential for developing critical thinking skills in relation to manipulation techniques on the Internet (in the context of digital interaction and information impact).

Effect of authentic leadership on Nurses’ psychological distress and turnover intention

BackgroundAt healthcare institutions, authentic leadership style has a crucial role in creating a positive work environment where nurses show higher levels of engagement and less intent to leave their jobs in environments where authentic leadership has been exhibited. AimThisstudysoughttoinvestigate authentic leadership effects on nurses’ psychological distress and their turnover intention. DesignA cross-sectional descriptive study. SettingsThe study was conducted at Kafr Elsheikh University hospitals in Egypt. ParticipantsNurses working at Kafr Elsheikh University hospitals in Egypt were enrolled (N = 285). MethodsAuthentic leadership self-assessment questionnaire, Kessler psychological distress scale, and Michaels and Spector’s (1982) 3-item scale to measure turnover intentions were used. ResultsAuthentic leadership style has a statistically significant negative relationship with psychological distress (r = -0.28), and turnover intention was found (r = -0.18) retrospectively. Whereas the results indicated that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between psychological distress and turnover intention (r = 0.52). ConclusionThis study provided additional knowledge about authentic leadership behaviors’ role in promoting psychological well-being, decreased level of nurses’ psychological distress, and their intention to leave their work

Relationship between oral health literacy and changes in self-assessment of oral health during COVID-19

Background/purposeHealth literacy is thought to play a major role in implementing health behaviors, such as preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between oral health literacy (OHL), dietary literacy (DL), and changes in oral health and eating habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methodsThe self-assessment questionnaire, including questions on oral and dietary conditions for each period of the COVID-19 pandemic, sources of information, OHL, DL, and frequency of COVID-19 prevention measures, was administered using a web research company. All participants were divided into low- and high-literacy groups based on the median scores: those who scored above the median in the high group and those who scored at or below the median in the low group. Comparisons were conducted between the two groups. ResultsThe median OHL and DL scores were 16 and 17 for the 344 participants included in the study (168 males and 176 females); 160 (46.5%) participants had high OHL scores, and 157 (45.6%) had high DL scores. The group with high OHL or DL tended to collect information sent by medical professionals compared to the group with low OHL or DL, had significantly higher scores on self-assessment of oral and dietary conditions, and tended to implement infection control actions more frequently in eating situations. ConclusionThe high OHL and DL groups gathered information from professionals to have attain oral and dietary conditions regardless of COVID-19 and tended to implement infection prevention measures in oral health and diet.

Association between sleep quality and habits of electronic media use among young adults with different circadian typology

Background: Circadian preference refers to individual differences for mental and physical activity in the morning and evening. We hypothesized, that inadvertent use of electronic media can cause circadian misalignment that influences sleeping habits and sleep quality of young adults. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of circadian preferences on sleeping habits and the association of electronic media use with sleep quality and sleep disturbances. Materials and Methods: A total of 188 subjects were enrolled and divided into three groups: Evening, intermediate, and morning chronotype based on the Morningness-Eveningness score. Electronic media use at bedtime and duration of use were assessed subjectively. Sleep quality and subjective sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness, and chronotype were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Score, and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire Self-assessment version, respectively. Results: The majority of subjects with the evening chronotypes suffered from poor sleep quality compared to other chronotypes and the difference was statistically significant. In evening-type subjects, electronic media use at bedtime, long sleep latency, short sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness were significantly associated with poor sleep quality with odds ratios of 2.34 (1.08–5.08), 11.42 (4.98–26.19), 8.54 (1.01–68.24), and 1.68 (1.03–2.73), respectively. Conclusion: The majority of evening-type subjects had poor sleep quality, altered sleeping habits, and electronic media use at bedtime is significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Hence, history regarding sleep habits and lifestyle, especially electronic media use, should be taken from young adults, who are coming to the outpatient department for other than sleep disorders, to prevent the development of health-related problems.

Multidisciplinary analysis of cancer-related fatigue at the time of diagnosis: preliminary results of the BIOCARE FActory cohort.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment that significantly impairs the quality of life and can persist for years after treatment completion. Although fatigue is often associated with cancer treatment, it is also a result of the disease itself, even before intervention. CRF at the time of diagnosis may affect treatment timing or completion and is a consistent predictor of post-treatment fatigue at any time. The mechanisms underlying CRF are multidimensional and not well understood, particularly at the time of diagnosis. Sixty-five breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis were included. The participants completed self-assessment questionnaires about CRF, sleep disturbances, and emotional symptoms and wore an accelerometer to assess levels of spontaneous physical activity and sleep quality. During the experimental session, the participants underwent cognitive, neuromuscular, and exercise metabolism evaluations. Using augmented backward elimination regression, this study found that emotional symptoms and perceived sleep disturbances were the strongest predictors of CRF (adjusted r2 = 0.51). Neuromuscular fatigability and sleep disturbance were also associated with physical dimensions, whereas cognitive performance was associated with cognitive dimensions. At the time of diagnosis, emotional and cognitive dimensions are over-represented compared to the general population, and specific subdimensions have specific predictors that support the idea of distinct mechanisms. Evaluating CRF subdimensions and their potential mechanisms at the time of diagnosis would be particularly relevant for identifying high-risk patients and offering them appropriate interventions. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04391543) in May, 2020.

Patient satisfaction with nursing care in infertility patients: A questionnaire survey.

Infertility remains a persistent global reproductive health challenge, with causative factors encompassing abnormalities in both the male and female reproductive systems. Typically, female partners seek initial consultations for infertility concerns, often within the context of routine annual well-woman check-ups. Nurses providing preventive care play a crucial role, conducting initial diagnostic assessments, and addressing certain causes of infertility. Patient satisfaction serves as a vital indicator of care quality. Identifying factors contributing to patient satisfaction with nursing services is crucial, yet research in this area has been limited. This study aimed to compare infertility patients' assessments of nurse quality and satisfaction with hospital services. The findings could offer valuable insights for healthcare providers, hospitals, and policymakers, guiding improvements in nursing care delivery and enhancing patient satisfaction in China's infertility treatment sector. By understanding patients' perspectives and experiences, healthcare providers can make necessary adjustments to improve care quality and patient outcomes. The sample included 1200 patients, and data collection utilized a self-assessment questionnaire, with percentages employed for analysis. Nurses are integral to caring for infertility patients during visits and conducting research to advance fertility care practices.

Perceived draught and odors: The key to SBS and indoor environment in hospital administrative offices - The AIRMED project

BackgroundIndoor air quality (IAQ) is a growing concern, yet the link between IAQ perception, sick building syndromes (SBS), and actual IAQ parameters remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between perceived IAQ, SBS, and chemical parameters. MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in the hospital administrative offices using a standardized self-assessment questionnaire for working conditions, and IAQ perception, with SBS. Formaldehyde and CO2 levels were measured, and compared to international standards. Statistical analysis, including multivariable logistic and linear regression (p < 0.05), explored relationships between perception, SBS, and chemical parameters. ResultsOf 261 participants (90 % response rate), the most common SBS symptoms were mucosal membrane irritations. The common working environmental complaints included dust and dirt, varying room temperature, and draught, respectively. The general and mucosal SBS symptoms were significantly associated with often perceived draught (aOR 5.99, 95 % CI 1.31 to 27.49 and aOR 3.38, 95 % CI 1.07 to 10.71, respectively). Formaldehyde levels in most offices exceeded limits, while CO2 did not. Frequent unpleasant odor perception correlated with dermal SBS symptoms and formaldehyde levels, reporting “often” perceived unpleasant odor when formaldehyde levels were 0.28 ppm or higher (95 % CI 0.01 to 0.57). Draught perception positively correlated with CO2 concentration. ConclusionsThis study showed connections between workplace perception and SBS, along with an association of workplace perception with IAQ chemical parameters. Self-perception questionnaires are valuable for investigating formaldehyde, CO2, and SBS, especially regarding draughts and odors. Further research should explore specific dimensions of actual IAQ and IAQ perception for a comprehensive understanding.

Voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in COVID-19 patients

ObjectivesIdentifying voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in patients presenting pulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection, comparing pulmonary parameters between these patients and individuals in the control group, as well as correlating pulmonary parameters to self-assessment questionnaires (IDV-10 and QVV). MethodsThirty-five (35) patients presenting pulmonary impairment with COVID-19 infection were herein selected and compared to 35 individuals who were not affected by COVID-19 infection. Two self-assessment questionnaires were applied (vocal handicap index and voice quality of life protocol). Maximum phonation time Forced Expiratory Pressure (PEF) and Forced Inspiratory Pressure (PIF) were measured and videolaryngoscopy was performed. ResultsThere was statistically significant difference in scores recorded in voice self-assessment questionnaires (IDV-10 and QVV), Expiratory Pressure (PEF) and Forced Inspiratory Pressure (PIF) between patients with pulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection and those in the control group. Correlation between PEF/PIF and scores recorded in voice self-assessment questionnaires was also observed. ConclusionPulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection has worsened voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in the assessed patients, as well as reduced their forced expiratory and inspiratory pressure in comparison to the control group. Level of evidence4.

Association between sugar-sweetened beverages and duration of physical exercise with psychological symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitude.

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and duration of physical exercise are strongly associated with physical health. Unfortunately, there are few studies focused on the association with psychological symptoms, let alone Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to include 8,268 Tibetan university students aged 19-22 years in Qinghai and Tibet, both of which are high-altitude regions of China. Self-assessment questionnaires on SSBs, duration of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms were administered. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the associations among them. The detection rate of psychological symptoms among Tibetan university students in high-altitude areas of China was 16.7%, with in girls (18.2%) higher than that in boys (14.8%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 11.73, p < 0.01). The proportion of SSBs for university students ≤1 time/week, 2-5 times/week, and ≥ 6 times/week were 54.2, 24.3, and 21.5%, respectively. The proportion of duration of physical exercise for >60 min/d was only 5.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the SSBs ≤1 time/week group of university students, SSBs 2-5 times/week (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24-1.70) and ≥ 6 times/week (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 2.62-3.57) had an increased risk of psychological symptoms (p < 0.001). In the reference group, the risk of psychological symptoms was also significantly increased in the group of university students with duration of physical exercise >60 min/d (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.48-2.93), and the risk of psychological symptoms was also significantly increased in the group with duration of physical exercise <30 min/d (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.48-2.93). The risk of psychological symptoms was also significantly increased in the university students with the duration of physical exercise <30 min/d (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.48 ~ 2.93) group. SSBs and exercise time may be important influences on the psychological symptoms of Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China. This study has important implications for mental health planning in universities in highland areas and may also provide guidance for mental health interventions for Tibetan university students.

MEDINA Catalogue of Cloud Security controls and metrics: Towards Continuous Cloud Security compliance

In order to address current challenges on security certification of European ICT products, processes and services, the European Comission, through ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity), has developed the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services (EUCS). This paper presents the overview of the H2020 MEDINA project approach and tools to support the adoption of EUCS and offers a detailed description of one of the core components of the framework, the MEDINA Catalogue of Controls and Metrics. The main objective of the MEDINA Catalogue is to provide automated functionalities for CSPs’ compliance managers and auditors to ease the certification process towards EUCS, through the provision of all information and guidance related to the scheme, namely categories, controls, security requirements, assurance levels, etc. The tool has been enhanced with all the research and implementation works performed in MEDINA, such as definition of compliance metrics, suggestion of related implementation guidelines, alignment of similar controls in other schemes, and a set of self-assessment questionnaires, which are presented and discussed in this paper.