Self-completed Questionnaire Research Articles

Perceived values of luxury fashion brands—evidence from Indonesian Millennials

Consumers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries represent rapid growth, and they are anticipated to become next wave of important markets for luxury fashion sector. This empirical study aims to examine millennials’ perceptions towards luxury fashion brand values and how these influence their purchase intentions in Indonesia, the biggest market in the ASEAN. Through quantitative research, the primary data was collected from 301 self-completed online questionnaires. It is revealed that Indonesian millennials regard the consumption of luxury fashion brands as an investment. Meanwhile, ethical and sustainability issues have become increasingly important in consumers’ decisions to purchase luxury fashion brands. Based upon the value-based segmentation of luxury consumption, the present study recognizes that Indonesian millennials prioritize symbolic and financial values and seek conspicuousness in line with self-identity.

The relationship between nocturia and suicidal ideation: A study on The National Health and Nutrition Survey data.

The focus of this research was to explore any potential link between nocturia and the risk of suicidal ideation. Drawing from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, data relating to 25 241 participants was scrutinized. This included 13 421 individuals identifying as male and 11 820 individuals identifying as female. Participants provided information on nocturia and suicidal ideation via self-completed questionnaires. To determine if nocturia was independently related to suicidal ideation, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed. Analyses were also undertaken separately for adult males and females. It was found that around 3.5% of participants had experienced suicidal ideation. The results indicated that nocturia increased the risk for suicidal ideation in all adult groups (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.37-2.03, p < 0.0001), including both males (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.38-2.65, p < 0.001) and females (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.158-1.90, p = 0.002). The risk for suicidal ideation increased with the severity of nocturia, with significant trends observed in adult males (p for trend = 0.04) and adult females (p for trend = 0.01). Additionally, subgroup examination showed a significant interaction between nocturia and educational level in adult males (p for interaction = 0.03). Among adult females, a noteworthy interaction was observed between nocturia and body mass index (p for interaction = 0.02). The research uncovered a connection between nocturia and an elevated risk of suicidal ideation.

To Assess The Prevalence Of Dental Anxiety Among Patients Visiting A Department Of Conservative Dentistry In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra

Background - Anxiety before dental treatment is well recognized problem in the population avoiding dental care. Tense and anxious patients disrupt scheduling, make treatment difficult and arouse uncomfortable feelings in the dentist. The extent of needle phobia and its effect on the patients in the community is the topic which still remains largely unexplored. Thus, the present study was planned to check the nature of the anxiety among dental college patients by using Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is a brief, selfcomplete questionnaire consisting of five questions and summed together to produce a total score ranging from 5 to 25. It has reasonable psychometric properties, low instrumental effects and can be integrated into everyday dental practice as a clinical aid and screen for dental anxiety. Materials and methods – The study was carried with the help of questionnaires specially formulated for the study. The study included 200 patients came to the outpatient department of the dental college, observation was recorded and analyzed. Most of the male and female participants had experience of Dental phobia due to experience shared by parents or relatives. The purpose of this study is to determine the assessment of changing levels of Dental anxiety with the help of (MDAS)i.e. modified dental anxiety scale.

Adult orthodontic consultations in private dental practice: How much information do patients remember when they leave the surgery?

OBJECTIVE: With good communication and information retention being key aspects of valid consent, this study aimed to assess adult patient information recall immediately after an orthodontic consultation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults interested in bracket-based or clear aligners were invited to take part at a single private dental practice. A 45-minute consultation with one of three general dental practitioners (GDPs) primarily providing orthodontics took place. A participant self-completed questionnaire tested recall of 20 items from the consultation. Demographics such as gender, age, level of English, education level, previous orthodontic experience and having a close family member or friend who had orthodontic treatment were also recorded. RESULTS: Forty-two participants completed the questionnaire, and the information recall rate was 75% (mean score = 15). Three of the 42 participants recalled all 20 items. No statistically significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) were found between information recall and any demographic variable, however, older participants (36 years and over) scored less (mean = 13.83) than participants 18-25 years (mean = 15.6). CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of information provided during an orthodontic consultation with a GDP in a private dental practice cannot be recalled immediately afterwards by patients and so it is recommended that any verbal or visual information is always supplemented with written information.

Perceived accessibility matters: Unveiling key urban parameters through traditional and technology-driven participation methods

The demand for innovative solutions to address urban complexities, with accessibility being crucial for sustainable environments, is growing globally. As demographic shifts and disability prevalence evolve, understanding spatial dynamics affecting accessibility becomes urgent. The research hypothesis suggests that investigating both physical and perceived accessibility realms reveals critical insights into challenges individuals face in public spaces. This study explores public participation methods of different nature to evaluate their effectiveness and complementarity in portraying perceived accessibility in urban spaces. A multi-method approach, integrating participant observation tools like self-completion questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with non-participant technology-driven data sources like Foursquare, Twitter, and Google Places, was employed. The analysis focused on two areas in Alicante, Spain. Findings emerge in four phases: (1) identifying perceived accessible public spaces via questionnaires, (2) discerning influential parameters from interviews, (3) conducting a comprehensive analysis incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods, and (4) establishing correlations between parameters gathered through the methods. The results underscore the importance of diverse public participation methods in urban planning, offering a comprehensive framework for future research to improve accessibility and inclusivity in urban environments. Understanding the relationship between physical urban features and citizens' perceptions advocates targeted interventions for improved accessibility and socially inclusive environments.

Knowledge, opinions and experiences of nurses and nursing students in Portugal regarding the use of medical Cannabis

BackgroundThe opening up of the laws to medicinal cannabis in recent years is a key factor in the growth of this therapy, but there is little information about what nurses know and think about it. The present paper seeks to analyze the knowledge, opinions, and experiences of nurses and nursing students in Portugal regarding the use of cannabis and to understand gender differences.MethodsA self-completion questionnaire was drawn up and published online. It received face and content validity and was approved by the Ethics Committee. The instrument includes socio-demographic data, questions about knowledge, opinions, experiences, and training in cannabis. The data was collected and processed by applying descriptive and inferential statistics using the chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test on the SPSS platform.ResultsThe majority of the 610 participants were women. The therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis were appreciated by 79,6% of nurses and 84,3% of students. When asked about the functions of the endocannabinoid system, 71,7% of nurses and 79,5% of students had never heard of it. There is a statistically significant gender difference concerning personal experience of cannabis use to treat symptoms or illnesses.ConclusionsAs the levels of knowledge were low and a minority had education on medical cannabis, there is a need for further education of nurses and for this emerging area to be included in the curricula.

Knowledge and perspectives about medicinal cannabis in nurses and nursing students in Portugal

Abstract Background The opening up of legislation on medicinal cannabis in recent years has been a determining factor in the growth of this therapy. In Europe, regulation of medicinal use is a reality in several countries. Nurses can play a leading role in its administration, helping to ensure that it is carried out more effectively and assuming a fundamental role in the success of the therapy. It is therefore pertinent to analyze the knowledge of nurses and nursing students in Portugal about medicinal cannabis. Methods Quantitative descriptive study. A self-completion questionnaire was drawn up and made available on the google forms platform. It was face-validated, content-validated and approved by the Ethics Committee. The instrument included sociodemographic data, questions about cannabis knowledge and perspectives. Descriptive statistics were analyzed. Results Out of a total of 610 responses, 318 were nurses and 292 nursing students. Medical cannabis is considered legitimate by 79.6% of nurses and 84.3% of students. When asked about the functions of the endocannabinoid system, 71.7% of nurses and 79.5% of students said they had no knowledge. 88.7% of nurses and 79.5% of students disagreed that they had sufficient knowledge to advise users on the use of medicinal cannabis. Also, 38.4% believe that their patients use cannabis illegally to manage the symptoms of illnesses. Conclusions There is a need for continuing training for nurses and for the undergraduate and postgraduate nursing curricula to include this emerging area. Key messages • The results show that this issue is a public health problem. It reinforces the need to formulate public policies in this area and to implement training for nurses and nursing students. • These measures will be fundamental in preventing the use of illegal cannabis and promoting the safe use of medicinal cannabis.

Caffeine intake, chronotype, and student sleep quality at Polytechnic of Leiria

Abstract Introduction Higher education students ingest very high doses of caffeine, on average twice the recommended safe dose. This excessive consumption can become problematic, ultimately affecting sleep quality and, consequently, academic performance. The aim of this work is to describe caffeine consumption, sleep quality and to characterize the chronotype and academic performance of students at Polytechnic of Leiria. Methods An online self-completion questionnaire was developed, consisting of several instruments: The Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire; Horne and Ostberg morningness-eveningness Questionnaire; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), to describe caffeine consumption, characterize chronotype and assess sleep quality, respectively. The mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values were calculated for the quantitative variables. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for the qualitative variables. Parametric tests were used to compare groups; when this was not possible, non-parametric tests were used. P &amp;lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of the 261 students (mean age: 23.26 ± 6.60 years), 64.2% had poor sleep quality and 45.3% reported an afternoon chronotype. It was found that men consumed more coffee and energy drinks than women, although women consumed more caffeine-containing food products. The average academic score was 14.56 ± 1.61. There was a statistically significant association (p &amp;lt; 0.01) between the afternoon chronotype and poor sleep quality and between the consumption of coffee and chocolate drinks and poor sleep quality. Conclusions Students at Polytechnic of Leiria tend to have poor sleep quality and an intermediate chronotype. Those with an afternoon chronotype or who drink coffee and chocolate drinks have poor sleep quality. Key messages • Accurately assessing the situation is essential for crafting suitable solutions. • Higher students should adjust their coffee consumption to achieve better sleep quality.

Mental health and resilience of students with a refugee background in Greece.RaRE project findings

Abstract Background Research highlights the mental health challenges faced by children and adolescents from refugee backgrounds due to various risk factors encountered during migration, including exposure to violence, family disruptions, insecure legal status, and educational interruptions. These factors increase the risk of psychological issues and academic difficulties. This study investigates the relationship between mental health and resilience in refugee adolescents in Greece. Methods The study focuses on refugee adolescents aged 12-18 from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Ukraine, the countries with the highest numbers of school-age refugees in Greece. Data were collected from 37 refugee children, 37 teachers, 4 parents, and 19 guardians using Poisson sampling. Results are based on responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Child Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM), with triangulation of self-completed questionnaires from students, parents/legal guardians, and teachers. Pearson correlation coefficient was employed for analysis. Results We present the pairwise Pearson correlation coefficients of students’ responses to psychometric tests in relation to those of teachers, along with the corresponding p-values for a two-tailed test of significance. Specifically, cor(SDQst,SDQt)=0.443 (p-value=0.006), cor(SDQst,CYRMt)=-0.341 (p-value=0.039), cor(CYRMst,SDQt)=-0.333, (p-value=0.006), cor(CYRMst,CYRMt)=0.323 (p-value=0.051). All p-values are below 0.05 or very close to it, so we reject (or we are close to) the null hypothesis of no association at 5% significance level for every case. On the contrary, we note that the corresponding coefficients between students and parents/legal guardians are all statistically non-different from 0 at 5% significance level. Conclusions Educators exhibit a solid understanding of students’ challenges and resilience compared to parents and guardians. These promising findings support further research.

Risk of eating disorders and body image in adolescents in Belgium: is migration status a modifier?

Abstract Background The risk of eating disorders (ED) has been linked to body image (BI) dissatisfaction in adolescents. In addition, the origin and host country culture may influence BI dissatisfaction. Our objective was to assess the modifying effect of migratory status on the association between BI and risk of ED in Belgium, a setting characterized by a large proportion of migrant adolescents. Methods In the 2022 cross-sectional “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children” (HBSC) study in French-speaking schools, 7,267 adolescents aged 12 to 20 self-completed questionnaires. Risk of ED was determined by an Eating Attitude Test (EAT-7), score ≥5. BI was categorised into 3 groups: “too thin”, “about the right size” and “too fat”. Migratory status was divided into “native”, “2nd generation” and “1st generation” migrants. The association between BI and ED was estimated using logistic regressions adjusted for socioeconomic and psychosocial characteristics. After the inclusion of the “migration*BI” interaction term, migration-stratified logistic regressions were conducted. Results Overall, 13.0% of students were at risk of ED. Percentages of ED were 15.7% among those who perceived themselves as “too fat” (vs. “about the right size”: aOR=1.67 [95%CI: 1.34-2.08]) and 19.4% in the “too thin” group (aOR=3.36 [2.54-4.45]). Despite non-significant interaction terms, perceiving themselves as “too fat” (vs. “about the right size”) was not associated with the risk of ED in 1st generation migrants (aOR: 1.24 [0.67-2.29]). Compared with the overall estimation, it was lower in 2nd generation migrants (aOR: 1.43 [1.00-2.03]) while it was slightly higher in natives (aOR: 1.95 [1.45-2.62]). Conclusions These findings suggest complex interrelations between BI and risk of ED according to migratory status in adolescents with potential underlying mechanisms involving cultural norms. Promoting positive BI as a possible way for preventing the development of eating disorders need to be further investigated. Key messages • This study shows differences of body image dissatisfaction according to the migratory status in adolescents, inducing potential impacts on the risk of eating disorders. • Better understanding differences in body perception related to cultural background could help prevent risk of eating disorders in adolescents, by promoting positive body image for example.

Personality Traits and Drug Use: A Longitudinal Study Using Data from the British Cohort Study

Plain Language SummaryDrug use presents significant concerns for health, economics, and society globally. Research highlights the pivotal role of personality traits in understanding drug use. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by exploring how personality traits at age 10 correlate with drug use at age 30. Utilizing data from the British Cohort Study 1970, we obtained five personality traits from both teacher-completed and self-completion questionnaires when participants were 10 years old. The relationship between personality traits and drug use was examined by employing a probit model. Children exhibiting lower levels of conscientiousness/agreeableness or higher levels of extraversion/internal locus of control at age 10 were more inclined to engage in drug use in adulthood. Moreover, significant differences based on gender and the types of drugs used were observed. These findings might be valuable to policymakers, as they could introduce interventions tailored to specific personality traits to mitigate their adverse effects. For instance, they could offer emotional regulation training for children with low levels of conscientiousness or engage children with high extraversion in stimulating activities such as sports, creative arts, or music.

The association of mental health with physical activity and its dimensions in Chinese adults: A cross-sectional study.

Selecting the most efficient type of physical activity that improves mental health can assist in choosing appropriate interventions. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between physical activity and its various aspects, including weekly physical activity, weekly walking and exercise sessions, and the frequency of walking and exercise per week, with the mental health of Chinese adults. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Hangzhou (2023) involving 512 adults aged 18 and 64. Each participant received a self-completed questionnaire comprising three sections. The initial section focused on gathering basic information about the participants, such as gender, age, annual income, and marital status. The second section consisted of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), which aimed to evaluate the mental health status of the participants. Lastly, the third section included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Version (IPAQ-SV), which assessed the metabolic equivalent (MET) of activities like walking, moderate-intensity exercises, and high-intensity exercises. The study found that mental health problems affected 25.74% of adults, while physical inactivity was prevalent in 49.63% of adults. The statistical model was highly significant (F = 25.143, p < 0.001), suggesting that at least one predictor has a significant impact on mental health. The model accounted for 39% of the variance in mental health, with all variables showing predictive value. Notably, the number of walking days per week emerged as the most influential predictor of mental health (β = -0.392), followed by level of weekly physical activity in MET, the number of exercise training sessions per week, weekly exercise training in MET, and weekly walking in MET (β = -0.312, -0.301, -0.212, and -0.202, respectively). Adults can allocate more days per week to walking and their usual physical activity to improve their mental health.

Revisiting the Person-relative-to-Event (PrE) model of coping with threat: a study in the Azores (Portugal)

BackgroundApproximately 20 years have passed since the Person-relative-to-Event (PrE) Model of Coping with Threat was conceptualized. Despite its familiar name, this model has been under-researched. This study investigates the main assumptions of the PrE, identifies predictors of actual household earthquake adjustments in the absence of fear appeals using a non-experimental design, and proposes an alternative model: the Sequential Person-relative-to-Event Model of Coping with Threat (SPrE).MethodsA survey methodology was employed with self-completed questionnaires from 822 residents of the Azores, an earthquake-vulnerable location. The associations between variables were examined. Structural Equation Modeling was applied to test the PrE and SPrE models.ResultsActual household earthquake adjustment was associated with person, event, and person-relative-to-event appraisals, responsibility attributions, age, and educational level. There was a non-significant association with gender. Person-relative-to-event appraisal was a non-significant predictor of actual household earthquake adjustments and responsibility attributions did not moderate this relationship. We found that event appraisal predicted person appraisal and that its relationship with actual household earthquake adjustments was moderated by the responsibility attributions. Thus, a new hypothesis is proposed regarding the relationship between risk perception (equivalent to event appraisal) and actual household earthquake adjustments.ConclusionsThese results contribute to the literature, practice and cumulative scientific knowledge.

Prevalence of Eating Disorders among Competitive Rowers.

Internationally, few studies have been written on the prevalence of eating disorders among rowers, and there is no research on the subject in Hungary. This is particularly important in weight-related sports such as rowing. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of eating disorders among rowers. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer of 2023. In a non-random convenience sampling, our target population consisted of certified competitive rowers (n = 222). In addition to socio-demographic, performance-related questions, the anonymous, self-completed questionnaire used the validated The Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Results were considered significant when p < 0.05. A total of 57 lightweight (25.67%) and 165 openweight (74.33%) rowers participated in the study. On the perfectionism subscale and the interoceptive awareness subscale, rowers competing in the lightweight category scored significantly higher (p = 0.03; p = 0.05). Scores on the EDI subscales, gender and BMI data did not show significant relationships. Overall, rowers in the openweight group scored higher on the bulimia subscale, but no rowers who met all criteria and could be identified as having eating disorders. Rowers who have only competed in national championships and not in international competitions were more likely to reduce stress levels by eating. The study showed that the prevalence of eating disorders among rowers is no higher than in the general population. However, continued assessment, further extensive research and education of rowers is essential in this area, as weight-related sports will always be a risk group for eating disorders.

Unmet menstrual needs and psychosocial well-being among schoolgirls in Northern Tanzania: baseline results from the PASS MHW study

IntroductionImproving menstrual health among schoolgirls is essential to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of good health and wellbeing (SDG 03), quality education (SDG 04), and gender equality (SDG 05). School participation and wellbeing among girls in low and middle-income countries are impacted by inadequate access to quality menstrual materials and WASH facilities, taboos around menstruation, and poor knowledge. Comprehensive evidence is needed to address these challenges and guide policy and practice.MethodsAn assisted self-completed questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information, menstrual-related data, and school climate data from 486 girls in four mixed-gender government secondary schools in Mwanza, Tanzania. The mean (SD) of three Menstrual Practices and Needs Scale (MPNS-36) sub-scores were calculated. Specifically, the extent to which girls perceived needs for carrying and changing menstrual material in school (transport and school environment); washing and drying menstrual material (reuse needs); and privacy and drying menstrual material in school (reuse insecurity) were met. An ANOVA test compared MPNS scores for groups, and logistic regression examined the association between menstrual health and wellbeing outcomes (self-efficacy, menstrual anxiety, school attendance, and participation) and MPNS subscale scores.ResultsThe mean age of the 486 participants was 15.6 years (SD 1.3); 87% had started menstruating; the mean age at menarche was 14.2 years (SD 1.15). The majority (75%) of girls experienced pain during the last menstrual period, 39% had menstrual-related anxiety, and 16% missed at least one day of school due to menstruation. The mean MPNS subscale score (out of 3) for the reuse needs ranged from 1.0 to 2.1 across schools; 1.6 to 2.1 for reuse insecurity; and 0.9 to 1.8 for transport and school environment needs. The MPNS subscales had sufficient reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.74 to 0.9). The subscales also had good construct validity with menstrual-related self-efficacy: higher scores for transport and school environment were associated with confidence to seek menstrual support, participate in class, and predict when periods were about to start.ConclusionsSchoolgirls have unmet needs related to transporting and using menstrual material in school, and these needs differed across schools in northern Tanzania. Menstrual-related pain remains a major reason for poor school attendance and participation. Interventions to address menstrual practice needs in schools are required and should include a strong pain management component.

Knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship and the Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics among frontline healthcare professionals in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAntimicrobial stewardship (AMS) aims to improve antibiotic use while reducing resistance and its consequences. There is a paucity of data on the availability of AMS programmes in southern Nigeria. Further, there is no data on Nigerian healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the WHO ‘Access, Watch and Reserve’ (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics. This study sought to assess knowledge of AMS and the AWaRe classification of antibiotics among frontline healthcare professionals in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey of 417 healthcare professionals, comprising medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses, across 17 public hospitals in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A paper-based self-completion questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants during working hours between September and November 2023. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.ResultsFour hundred and seventeen out of the 500 healthcare professionals approached agreed to participate, giving an 83.4% response rate. Most of the participants were female (62.1%) and nurses (46.3%). Approximately 57% of participants were familiar with the term antibiotic/antimicrobial stewardship, however, only 46.5% selected the correct description of AMS. Majority (53.0%) did not know if AMS programme was available in their hospitals. 79% of participants did not know about AWaRe classification of antibiotics. Among the 87 (20.9%) who knew, 28.7% correctly identified antibiotics into the AWaRe groups from a given list. Only profession significantly predicted knowledge of AMS and awareness of the AWaRe classification of antibiotics (p < 0.001). Pharmacists were more likely to define AMS correctly than medical doctors (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16–3.52, p = 0.012), whereas nurses were less likely to be aware of the WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics than medical doctors (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.18–0.72, p = 0.004).ConclusionsThere was a notable knowledge deficit in both AMS and the AWaRe classification of antibiotics among participants in this study. This highlights the need for educational interventions targeted at the different cadres of healthcare professionals on the role of AMS programmes in reducing antimicrobial resistance and its consequences.

Validation in the Greek Language of the Patients' Perception of the Surgical Safety Questionnaire.

Introduction Adverse events in the operating room are considered unintended injuries or harm caused by healthcare rather than the patient's disease, leading to death, disability, or prolonged hospital stays. Methods A cross-sectional design was conducted following the random sampling method, on 200 surgical patients. A self-completed questionnaire was used, translated, and adapted into the Greek language. Results Most of the sample (57%) was male. The mean age was 67 years, and52% were elementary school graduates. Uponanalysis, significant correlations were observed between the two-administration (p<0.001) facts (intraclass correlation coefficient= 0.567), which reveal that the scale is stable through time.In addition, Cronbach's alpha had a value of 0.824 suggesting good internal consistency of the scale. Regarding the subscale, the first factor "safety regarding surgical procedure" was found 0.847, the second factor "effective communication and understanding" was 0.792, and finally the third factor "emotional security" was 0.506. A statistically significant difference found between the dimensions of safety in the operating room and the age of the patients was in the factor of emotional security, revealing that patients aged more than 70 were feeling more secure compared to younger patients (198) = 2.374, p=0.019. Conclusions The internal consistency of the Patients' Perspectives of Surgical Safety Scale (PPSS), weighted in a sample of the Greek population, is deemed satisfactory. The safety perceptions of surgical patients are at high levels.

Cohort profile: DNA methylation in the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) – recruitment and participant characteristics

PurposeEpigenetic modifications including DNA methylation (DNAm) are proposed mechanisms by which social or environmental exposures may influence health and behaviours as we age. The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal...

Exploring patient and staff member views on a 'consent for contact' system for sexual health research: A mixed methods study.

Recruitment in sexual health research is challenging. This study explores the potential of a Consent for Contact system (C4C) - generic consent for research contact - to improve participant recruitment and engagement in sexual health research. Our objectives were to understand patient and staff understanding of research, their views on a separate C4C system, and their preferences for its acceptability in a sexual health clinic setting. A two-stage study was conducted at a large urban UK sexual health clinic from November 2021 to July 2022. Stage one involved a self-completed questionnaire administered to all patients and staff. In Stage 2, semi-structured interviews (SSIs) further explored patient concerns and preferences. Survey data were analysed using chi-square and Fisher's exact test and thematic analysis was applied to free-text responses and SSIs. A total of 205/300 patient (68%) and 41/280 staff questionnaires (15%) were completed. Motivations for research participation included altruism and personal interest. Statistically significant differences were found between patients' and staff members' concerns on confidentiality and anticipated feeling of pressure to participate. The majority of staff (n = 38, 93%) and half of patients (n = 100, 49%) supported implementation of a sexual health C4C system. Participants recognised the potential benefits of a sexual health C4C system, including enhanced privacy and increased research opportunities. Concerns were raised about stigma, terminology, and signing-up methods. This study found the C4C system has the potential to enhance participant recruitment and engagement in sexual health research, but implementation support is narrowly divided with concerns around privacy and sign-up processes. These insights call for a patient-centred design approach, emphasising clear communication and privacy. Future research should focus on implementing and evaluating a sexual health C4C system to further explore their effectiveness and acceptability in different contexts.

The Effect of Systemic Racism and Homophobia on Police Enforcement and Sexual and Emotional Violence among Sex Workers in East London: Findings from a Cohort Study

There is extensive qualitative evidence of violence and enforcement impacting sex workers who are ethnically or racially minoritized, and gender or sexual minority sex workers, but there is little quantitative evidence. Baseline and follow-up data were collected among 288 sex workers of diverse genders (cis/transgender women and men and non-binary people) in London (2018–2019). Interviewer-administered and self-completed questionnaires included reports of rape, emotional violence, and (un)lawful police encounters. We used generalized estimating equation models (Stata vs 16.1) to measure associations between (i) ethnic/racial identity (Black, Asian, mixed or multiple vs White) and recent (6 months) or past police enforcement and (ii) ethnic/racial and sexual identity (lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) vs. heterosexual) with recent rape and emotional violence (there was insufficient data to examine the association with transgender/non-binary identities). Ethnically/racially minoritized sex workers (26.4%) reported more police encounters partly due to increased representation in street settings (51.4% vs 30.7% off-street, p &amp;#x003D; 0.002). After accounting for street setting, ethnically/racially minoritized sex workers had higher odds of recent arrest (adjusted odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–5.8), past imprisonment (aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–5.0), police extortion (aOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4–7.8), and rape (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.1–11.5). LGB-identifying sex workers (55.4%) were more vulnerable to rape (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.2) and emotional violence. Sex workers identifying as ethnically/racially minoritized (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0–4.5), LGB (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0–4.0), or who use drugs (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.8) were more likely to have experienced emotional violence than white-identifying, heterosexual or those who did not use drugs. Experience of any recent police enforcement was associated with increased odds of rape (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3–8.4) and emotional violence (aOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.8–13.0). Findings show how police enforcement disproportionately targets ethnically/racially minoritized sex workers and contributes to increased risk of rape and emotional violence, which is elevated among sexual and ethnically/racially minoritized workers.