Study Participation Rate Research Articles

Wiidookaage'win: Beta-test of a Facebook group intervention for Native women to support opioid use recovery

IntroductionThe ongoing opioid misuse epidemic has had a marked impact on American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Culture- and gender-specific barriers to medically assisted recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) have been identified, exacerbating its impact for AI/AN women. Wiidookaage’win is a community-based participatory research study that aims to develop a culturally tailored, moderated, private Facebook group intervention to support Minnesotan AI/AN women in medically assisted recovery from OUD. The current study assessed the preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a beta-test to inform refinements before conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). MethodsThe intervention was beta-tested for 30 days. Moderators were trained prior to delivering the intervention. Study assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention. The post-intervention assessments included substance use (self-report and urine drug screen), treatment acceptability, mental health, and spirituality outcomes. We examined intervention engagement patterns using Facebook metrics and qualitatively explored common topics that emerged in participant posts and comments. ResultsTen AI/AN women taking medication for OUD (MOUD) were accrued (age range 25–62 years). Participants had been in opioid recovery a mean of 15.2 months (SD = 16.1; range = 3–60). The study participation rate (accrued/eligible) was 91 %. Nine participants completed the post-intervention survey assessment and eight completed a UDS. Acceptability was high based on the mean treatment satisfaction score (M = 4.8, SD = 0.2 out of a possible 5.0), Facebook group engagement, and positive qualitative feedback. All participants retained at post-intervention continued their MOUD treatment, and none had returned to opioid use. ConclusionsThe beta-test indicated that the Facebook platform and study procedures generally worked as intended and that the intervention was largely acceptable to study participants. The results of this study phase provided valuable insights to inform refinements prior to conducting a pilot RCT to further assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the intervention.

Long-term follow-up of participants in ketamine clinical trials for mood disorders

BackgroundParticipants who received ketamine at the NIMH were among the first to receive ketamine for depression in controlled clinical trials, providing a unique opportunity to assess long-term outcomes. This analysis evaluated the relationship between participating in a ketamine clinical trial and subsequent ketamine/esketamine use after leaving the research setting. MethodsParticipants seen within the NIMH Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch from 2002 to 2022 (n = 1000) were contacted for follow-up assessment. Participants reported whether they had used ketamine/esketamine, sought non-prescribed ketamine, attempted suicide, or been psychiatrically hospitalized since discharge. Information regarding their recent depressive symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and hallucinations was also collected. ResultsOf the 203 participants in follow-up assessments (55 % female, average time since leaving NIMH = 9.04 years), 52 (25.6 %) had originally received ketamine at the NIMH, and the rest had participated in non-ketamine studies. Individuals who had received ketamine at the NIMH were more likely to have received ketamine/esketamine post-discharge than those who did not receive ketamine at the NIMH (OR = 0.25, p < .001). Participants who reported using ketamine/esketamine post-discharge reported more depressive symptoms than those who had not (p < .001). Receiving ketamine at the NIMH was not associated with differences in suicide attempts, psychiatric hospitalizations, dissociation, hallucinations, or attempt to obtain non-prescribed ketamine. LimitationsLow follow-up study participation rate; varying time since discharge. ConclusionsParticipants who received ketamine in an NIMH clinical trial were more likely to receive ketamine/esketamine post-discharge, but none reported symptoms indicating abuse. Results underscore the critical need for long-term follow-up of individuals receiving these and other rapid-acting antidepressants. Clinical Trials identifierNCT04877977.

Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: New Perspectives in Postoperative Care Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Using an External Motion Sensor and a Smartphone Application for Remote Monitoring.

The number of total knee replacements performed annually is steadily increasing. Parallel options for postoperative care are decreasing, which reduces patient satisfaction. External devices to support physical rehabilitation and health monitoring will improve patient satisfaction and postoperative care. In a prospective, international multicenter study, patients were asked to use an external motion sensor and a smartphone application during the postoperative course of primary total knee arthroplasty. The collected data were transferred to a data platform, allowing for the real-time evaluation of patient data. In three participating centers, 98 patients were included. The general acceptance of using the sensor and app was high, with an overall compliance in study participation rate of up to 76%. The early results showed a significant improvement in the overall quality of life (p < 0.001) and significant reductions in pain (p < 0.01) and depression (p < 0.001). The early results of this clinical and multicenter study emphasize that there is a high interest in and acceptance of digital solutions in patients' treatment pathways. Motion sensor and smartphone applications support patients in early rehabilitation.

90 Feasibility of Repeated Remote Memory Assessment with Mobile Devices to Detect Subtle Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Objective:Frequent and remote cognitive assessment may improve sensitivity to subtle cognitive decline associated with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of repeated remote memory assessment in late middle-aged and older adults.Participants and Methods:We recruited participants from a longitudinal aging cohort to complete three medial temporal lobe-based memory paradigms (Object-In-Room Recall [ORR], Mnemonic Discrimination for Objects and Scenes [MDT-OS], Complex Scene Recognition [CSR]) using the neotiv application at repeated intervals over one year. We conducted initial telephone calls to perform screening, consent, and download instructions. Participants were assigned 24 remote sessions on a smartphone or tablet and were alerted via push notification when an assignment was ready to complete. Participants were randomly assigned to: (1) complete memory tests every other week or (2) complete memory tests for multiple days within one week every other month. Each remote session lasts approximately 10 minutes and includes one memory paradigm and brief usability/acceptability questionnaires followed by a delayed retrieval session 90 minutes later. Feasibility metrics examined included participation, retention, compliance, and usability/acceptability.Results:Of 150 participants recruited, 113 consented and were enrolled into the study (participation rate = 75%). Current retention rate is 75%, with 85/113 currently active (n=73) or completed (n=12). Of the 85 active or completed participants, the mean age is 68.7 (range = 4882), 64% are women, 70% used a smartphone (30% tablet), 84 are cognitively unimpaired and 1 has mild cognitive impairment. The primary threat to retention was participants consenting into the study but never registering in the app or completing their first scheduled assignment. After enrollment, 130 telephone calls were made by study staff to facilitate registration into the app or to remind participants to complete tasks. 74-80% of participants completed delayed retrieval tasks within 30 minutes of push notification, but average retrieval time was 125137 minutes post-learning trials. Regarding acceptability/usability, 94% agreed the application was easy to use, 56% enjoyed completing the mobile memory tests (36% felt neutral), 40% prefer remote mobile memory tests to standard in-person paper and pencil tests, and 50% understood the test instructions. 87% felt the frequency of tests assigned was “just right” (13% “too often”) and 90% felt the test length was “just right” (7% too short, 3% too long). Participants who completed all 24 sessions to date (n=12) all endorsed being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the platform and visit schedule, as well as recommended continued use of this type of cognitive testing.Conclusions:Remote memory assessment using smartphones and tablets is feasible and acceptable for cognitively unimpaired late middle-aged and older adults. Follow-up by study staff was needed to ensure adequate retention. Comprehension of instructions and compliance with completing delayed retrieval tasks within the expected timeframe was lower than expected. These feedback will be incorporated into an updated version of the app to improve compliance and retention. Longitudinal data collection is ongoing and results will be updated with a larger sample. Results will be compared across frequency schedule groups.

Use and perceived effectiveness of non-pharmacological home remedies for digestive symptoms: a questionnaire-based survey among primary care patients.

Patients frequently visit their primary care physician (PCP) for digestive symptoms. We aimed to compile a list of non-pharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) that patients frequently use and find effective so that PCPs can then propose them to their patients with various digestive symptoms. In this questionnaire-based survey on the use and perceived effectiveness of NPHRs for digestive symptoms, 50 randomly selected Swiss or French PCPs consecutively recruited 20-25 patients between March 2020 and July 2021. These patients were given a list of 53 NPHRs previously developed by our research team. They were asked whether they used them (Y/N) and whether they considered them to be ineffective, not very effective, moderately effective, or very effective in treating abdominal pain (14 NPHRs), bloating (2), constipation (5), diarrhoea (10), digestion trouble (12), nausea/vomiting (2) and stomach pain (8). We considered NPHRs to be perceived as effective if patients reported that they were moderately or very effective. A total of 1,012 patients agreed to participate in the study (participation rate = 84.5%, median age = 52 years, women = 61%). The two most frequently used NPHRs were rice cooking water for diarrhoea (29% of patients) and prunes for constipation (22%). The perceived effectiveness of the NPHRs ranged from 82% (fennel infusions for abdominal pain) to 95% (bicarbonate for stomach pain). Our data could be useful to PCPs interested in proposing NPHRs to their patients suffering from digestive disorders, and more generally to all PCPs interested in learning more about patients' use of NPHRs in primary care.

Prevalence of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Its Determinants in a Deprived Rural Population of Iran: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

To investigate the prevalence of Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and its relationship with some determinants in underserved villages of Iran. This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 3850 subjects that were randomly selected from the villages of two underserved districts in the north and southwest of Iran using multistage cluster sampling. All participants underwent complete ophthalmic examinations, including visual acuity and refraction measurement. Then, slit-lamp biomicroscopy was done by an ophthalmologist to investigate MGD. Of 3850 subjects that were invited, 3314 participated in the study (participation rate=86.07%), of whom 1834 (55.34%) were women. The mean age of the participants was 37.7±21.4 years (range=2-93 years). The prevalence (95% CI) of MGD in at least one eye was 29.20% (27.35 to 31.06). According to the results of multiple regression analysis, MGD had a positive association with the male sex (OR: 1.75; CI 95%: 1.44 to 2.13), age 61-70 years (OR: 7.15; CI 95%: 3.65 to 14.01), and living in southern villages (OR: 1.82; CI 95%: 1.48 to 2.22) and an inverse association with education level (OR: 0.89; CI 95%: 0.80 to 0.98). The results of this study showed a lower prevalence of MGD even in Iranian rural regions compared to other Asian countries. This study found that older age, male sex, and low education level served as MGD risk factors. It seems that improved health conditions are an important factor in preventing MGD.

Motivators and Barriers to COVID-19 Research Participation at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Black Communities in the USA: an Exploratory Study.

Black individuals in the USA continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials with low participation rates in COVID-19 research studies. Identifying participation barriers is necessary as we develop more vaccines and other treatments to address SARS-CoV-2 and associated sequelae. The purpose of this explorative, qualitative study is to apply the theory of planned behavior to understand motivators and barriers to COVID-19 research participation at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding these factors is important to ultimately lead to increased vaccination rates among Black individuals, especially in strategies that increase preparedness in response to public health emergencies. A phenomenological qualitative study design was conducted between May and September 2020 among 62 Black participants. The participants were purposefully selected from vulnerable subgroups of the Black population: essential workers, young adults, parents, and individuals with underlying medical conditions. An inductive-deductive content analysis approach was used to analyze the interview data. Majority (54.8%) reported willingness to participate in COVID-19 research. The following themes emerged from the interviews: (1) positivity toward research exists yet fear and distrust remain; (2) views toward COVID-19 research vary; (3) motivators to COVID-19 research participation; (4) barriers to COVID-19 research participation; and (5) potential strategies to increase COVID-19 research participation. Based on our findings, majority of the participants reported willingness to participate in research with observational research being the most commonly cited type of research. Providing data on the attitudes and perspectives of Black individuals and their intentions for COVID-19 research participation using TPB informs intervention targets for healthcare providers and policy makers for an equitable emergency response. Our results suggest improved communication on the research process, research opportunities, and participant testimonial through trusted sources could increase the likelihood of participation. This is especially important as we continue through the pandemic and new treatments for COVID-19 vaccines become readily available.

Loss of participation among evacuees aged 20–37 years in the disaster cohort study after the Great East Japan Earthquake

The present study aimed to clarify the characteristics of young evacuees who had missed the Comprehensive Health Check of the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS) after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The FHMS has been conducted as a prospective cohort study to evaluate the health status of evacuees annually after the great earthquake in 2011. This study focused on the annual participation rate in the Comprehensive Health Check of evacuees aged between 20 and 37 years in 2011 who evacuated due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The characteristics of subjects who did not participate after the second survey year were identified with a multivariate logistic regression model. The participation rate was estimated at 26.6% (9720 among 36,502 residents) and 15.6% (5691 residents) in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The logistic regression model revealed the following characteristics at baseline as independent predictors of non-participation after the second year of the survey: age ≤ 24 years (adjusted odds ratio 2.11, 95% CI 1.84–2.42), 25–29 years of age (1.28, 1.13–1.45), men (1.52, 1.38–1.69), evacuation outside the municipality but within Fukushima prefecture (1.54, 1.40–1.70), evacuation outside the Fukushima prefecture (1.40, 1.21–1.63), anemia (1.23, 1.06–1.43), smoking habit (1.34, 1.21–1.48), and drinking habit (1.20, 1.09–1.32). A medical history of heart disease showed opposite odds ratios, which indicate the association with continuous participation (0.43, 0.26–0.72, respectively). We observed deteriorated participation in the prospective study of the Comprehensive Health Check of the FHMS among evacuees of a younger age group, men, those evacuated outside their municipalities, and those with history of anemia, smoking and drinking habits. Hence, the cohort study may have missed certain population groups with worse health behaviors. Thus, it is necessary to consider various measures to increase the participation rate in the disaster cohort study to understand the long-term health effects of disasters on younger residents in evacuation zones.

Identifying complex patients in family medicine for potential benefit from a case manager: a short questionnaire derived from the INTERMED Self-Assessment (IMSA) questionnaire

PurposeTo investigate how useful the Intermed-Self Assessment (IMSA) questionnaire and its components were for identifying which patient candidates would benefit most from case management (CM) in general practice.MethodsThe study was carried out in a group family medicine practice in Lausanne comprising seven GPs and four medical assistants, from February to April 2019. All the patients attending the practice between February and April 2019 were invited to complete the IMSA questionnaire. Additionally, their GPs were asked for their opinions on the potential benefits of each patient being assigned a case manager. Each IMSA item’s value has been assessed as a predictor of GPs’ opinions by using multivariate logistic models. A score including items retained as predictor was built.ResultsThree hundred and thirty one patients participated in the study (participation rate: 62%). Three items from the 20 item IMSA were sufficient to predict GPs’ opinions about whether their patients could be expected to benefit if assigned a case manager. Those items addressed the patient’s existing chronic diseases (item1), quality of life in relation to existing diseases (item 3), and their social situation (item 9). Using these three items as a score, a cut-off at 4 gave a sensitivity of 70% (ability to correctly identify patients who could benefit from a CM) and specificity of 73% (ability to correctly identify patients who should not benefit from a CM) and concerned about one patient in two.ConclusionIdentifying complex patients suitable for case management remains a challenge for primary care professionals. This paper describes a novel approach using a structured process of combining the results of standardized tools such as the one defined in this study, and the experience of the primary care team.

P01.15.A Longitudinal assessment of neurocognition and quality of life in low-grade glioma patients receiving first-line Temozolomide

Abstract Background While maximal safe resection is the first therapeutic option in patients with newly-diagnosed diffuse low-grade glioma (DLGG), the timing and choice of further treatments (chemotherapy, radiation therapy or combinations of both) remain controversial. Because the expected survival is long in these young patients, the oncological impact of treatments must be balanced with the possible side effects, in particular regarding neurocognitive functioning and quality of life (QoL). Temozolomide (TMZ), an alkylating agent, is widely used in this setting. Here we aimed at evaluating the feasibility of a longitudinal neurocognitive and QoL assessment in DLGG patients receiving TMZ. Material and Methods We conducted a prospective study including adult DLGG patients receiving TMZ as first-line treatment after surgical resection(s) or biopsy. Neurocognition and QoL were evaluated longitudinally until progression. The feasibility was evaluated in terms of participation and compliance of a complete neurocognitive and QoL assessment (defined as the completion of these assessments at baseline, 6 months and 12 months). Secondary objectives were the description of the proportion of patients with changes in neurocognitive or QoL scores on TMZ. Results Of 29 eligible patients, 26 accepted to enter the study (participation rate 86.7%): 57.7% men, median age 45y. Tumor type was distributed as follows: astrocytoma, IDH-mutant 13/26, astrocytoma, IDH wild-type 1/26 and oligodendroglioma, IDH mutant and 1p19q codeleted 12/26. The compliance rate was 95.6% (evaluable in 23 patients as 3 patients had tumor progression within the first 12 months of TMZ). After TMZ, 13.6% of patients experienced a decline of the MoCA score as compared to baseline (from normal to abnormal). Cognitive complaints according to the FACT-COG assessment were stable for 90.9%. The complete cognitive and QoL evaluations (baseline and after 12 months of TMZ) will be presented. Conclusion Our data shows that a longitudinal evaluation of cognition and QoL is feasible in low-grade glioma patients. It suggests that first-line TMZ does not negatively affect neurocognition and QoL. These results must be evaluated in the long-term setting (evaluations ongoing) and confirmed in a larger, multicenter cohort.

Which factors play a role in the decision of mothers to participate in child follow-up examinations after participation in an RCT?: a semi-quantitative study

ObjectivesTo determine which factors contribute to the decision of mothers to participate with their child in follow-up (FU) examinations after participation in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) prior to conception.DesignA...

Experiences of patients with multimorbidity with primary care and the association with patient activation: a cross-sectional study in Germany

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the association between patient activation and patients’ experience of care among an elderly multimorbid population in Germany.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPrimary care practices in two German settings.Participants346 patients...

Mental health and working constraints of first-year PhD students in health and science in a French university: a cross-sectional study in the context of occupational health monitoring

ObjectivesTo assess the mental health and working constraints perception of first-year PhD in France.DesignIt is a cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted by the team of the Lyon 1 University’s Occupational...

Determining the knowledge, attitude and practice about the environment and recycling of individuals living in a public housing compound: A quantitative, qualitative mixed method study

Background: The environment is the physical, biological, social, economic and cultural environment in which people and other living things maintain their relationships and interact throughout their lives. In this study, it was aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of individuals residing in a public housing estate towards the environment and recycling. Methods: The research was designed as cross-sectional and conducted with a mixed method including both quantitative and qualitative methods. 330 of 437 residents participated in the qualitative part of the study (participation rate 75.5%) in January 2021. The quantitative part of the study was attended by 10 apartment workers. Results: 51.5% of the participants (n=170) believe that they have sufficient knowledge about recycling. However, only 38.8% of the participants (n=128) stated that they collect recyclable waste separately. The environment-emotion level of men was found to be higher (Z=-2.242, p=0.025). A statistically significant difference was found between the general level average scores in terms of marital status. In terms of “knowledge sub-levels”, the mean environmental knowledge level scores of health workers were found to be significantly higher than other occupational groups (Z=-2,460, p=0.014). Apartment workers stated 202 flats (46.2%) collect recyclable waste separately. Conclusion: To prevent the climate crisis, it is important to recycle domestic waste to protect the environment. Individuals’ recycling behavior levels can be increased with practices that aim to inform, direct and encourage recycling. In parallel with all these practices, it is important for governments to be politically determined and implement legal regulations on waste recycling.

Primary care patients' perspectives on the use of non-pharmacological home remedies in Geneva: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundHome remedies are anchored in patients’ everyday life, but their use in Western cultures remains scarcely explored. Our objectives were to investigate primary care patients’ perspectives and use of non-pharmacological home remedies in Geneva (Switzerland).MethodsIn spring 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among adult primary care patients in randomly selected general practices (N = 15). Patients were recruited in the waiting rooms and asked to complete a questionnaire about their sociodemographic characteristics, their home remedy use, and their expectations and reasons for using (or not using) home remedies. We employed descriptive statistics to summarise the data and logistic regression adjusted for clustering within practices to explore associations between home remedy use and participants’ sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsThree hundred fourteen of three hundred ninety patients agreed to participate in the study (participation rate 80.5%). Home remedies were used by 64.4% of patients. The main reasons given were for preventive purposes (55.3%), self-care (41.0%), as an alternative to conventional medicine (40.5%) and to avoid or delay a medical consultation (38.5%). One-third of patients considered that it was the GP’s role to spontaneously inform them about home remedies (36.4%), another third considered that it was the GP’s role to inform them, but only upon specific request (32.3%), and the last third of patients declared that it was not the GP’s role to provide information about home remedies (30.3%). Patients living in an urban zone (adjusted OR 2.1; 95%CI 1.0–4.4; p 0.05) and those with a tertiary education background (adjusted OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.0–3.6; p 0.05) believed that it was their GP’s role to inform them about home remedies.ConclusionsHome remedies are used by a majority of primary care patients in Geneva. For a comprehensive and safe healthcare management in the context of patient-oriented medicine, more evidence-based research on efficacy and safety of home remedies as well as their place in primary care consultation is required.

Opening up a tailored tutor qualification program for medical students to other healthcare students \u2013 a mixed-method study

BackgroundPeer-led tutorials are widely used in medical education to promote practical skills acquisition and support faculty staff. Typically, student tutors are custom trained for this specific task. We investigated whether opening up an existing medical tutor qualification program to other degree programs is successful in terms of acceptance among students, acquisition of tutor-specific and interprofessional competencies, and which factors contribute to success or failure.MethodsWe developed a two-day tutor qualification program and conducted it annually from 2016 to 2020 with medical and other healthcare students. At the end of each course, we administered a written survey in which the participants rated the following items: their attitudes towards interprofessional learning (using the UWE-IP-D Interprofessional Learning Scale), the interprofessional learning setting, the teaching approach, and their competency acquisition (each on a five-point Likert scale; 1 = strongly agree, 5 = strongly disagree). Furthermore, we assessed participants’ qualitative feedback in free-text fields and performed inductive content analyses.ResultsThe study participation rate was high (response rate 97%; medical students: n = 75; healthcare students: n = 22). Participants stated high levels of competency acquisition (total M = 1.59, individual items’ M’s ranging from 1.20 to 2.05) and even higher satisfaction with the teaching approach (total M = 1.28, individual items’ M’s ranging from 1.43 to 1.05). Overall satisfaction with the training was M = 1.22; SD = 0.58. No significant differences in ratings were found between the student groups. The qualitative results showed that students appreciated the interprofessional setting and experienced it as enriching. The most positive feedback was found in didactics/teaching methods on role-plays and group work; most suggestions for improvement were found in the area of structure and organisation on breaks and time management.ConclusionsOpening up an existing medical tutor qualification program to other student groups can be seen as fruitful to teach not only tutor-related aspects but also interprofessional competencies. The results demonstrate the importance of detailed planning that considers group composition and contextual conditions and provides interactive teaching methods to promote interprofessional experiences. This study offers important information about prerequisites and methodological implementation that could be important for the interprofessional redesign of existing training programs.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health assessment of seafarers working on ocean-going vessels during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThere are increasing concerns about mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among seafarers. This study aims to assess the effects of the current global health pandemic on life satisfaction and adverse psychological outcomes among seafarers.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 470 multinational seafarers working on board ships of two international shipping companies were assessed. Mental health outcomes were assessed by the general anxiety disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD-8) questionnaire, and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) depressive severity score. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of demographic and work-related variables with mental health outcomes.ResultsOverall, 439 out of 470 invited seafarers with a mean age of 34.5 (SD: 8.05) years participated in this study (participation rate: 93.4%). The prevalence of anxiety, depressive, and post-traumatic stress symptoms was 12.4, 14.1, and 37.3%, respectively. In the multivariate model, the current vessel’s signing duration was directly associated with the odds of depressive and intrusion symptoms. Moreover, the duration of work per week was inversely associated with hyper-vigilance and avoidance. Also, non-officers, compared to officers, experienced significantly lower anxiety and depressive symptoms, hyper-vigilance, and avoidance.ConclusionThe present study revealed a high prevalence of mental health problems among seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend that more evidence is generated regarding psychosocial health issues for this vulnerable occupation.

Alarm of non-communicable disease in Iran: Kavar cohort profile, baseline and 18-month follow up results from a prospective population-based study in urban area.

The PERSIAN Kavar cohort study (PKCS) aims to investigate the prevalence, trends, and relevant prognostic risk factors of non-communicable diseases in participants aged 35–70 years living in the urban area of Kavar County. Kavar County is located at the center of Fars province in the southwest of Iran. Overall, 5236 adults aged 35–70 years old were invited to participate in the PKCS. From whom, 4997 people comprising 2419 men and 2578 women met the inclusion criteria and were recruited in the study (participation rate: 95.4%). This study is aimed to follow participants for at least 10 years; it is designed to perform all procedures similar to the primary phase including biological sampling, laboratory tests, physical examinations, and collecting general, nutritional, and medical data at the 5th and 10th years of follow-up. In addition, participants are annually followed-up by phone to acquire data on the history of hospitalization, any major diagnosis or death. At the enrollment phase, trained interviewers were responsible for obtaining general, nutritional, and medical data utilizing a 482-item questionnaire. The results of the baseline phase of this study show that the overweight category was the most prevalent BMI category among the registered participants (n = 2005, 40.14%). Also, almost one-third of Kavar adult population suffered from metabolic syndrome at the baseline phase (n = 1664, 33.30%). The rate of eighteen-month follow-up response was 100% in the PKCS. Hypertension (n = 116, 2.32%), cardiovascular outcomes (n = 33, 0.66%), and diabetes (n = 32, 0.64%) were the most prevalent new-onset NCDs during eighteen months of follow-up in the participants.

Surveillance system for Healthcare-associated endophthalmitis at state level in a middle-income country: preliminary results.

To describe the implementation pro cess and the preliminary results of a surveillance system for healthcare-associated endophthalmitis. This is a case study of the implementation of a surveillance system for healthcare-associated endophthalmitis. The system for healthcare-associated endophthalmitis is a structured system that enables surveillance of cases of healthcare-associated endophthalmitis after intraocular procedures, developed and coordinated by the Division of Hospital Infection at the State Health Department, São Paulo, Brazil. The implementation process included a pilot phase, followed by a scaling-up phase. Data were reported monthly to the Division of Hospital Infection by participating healthcare facilities that performed intraocular procedures in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from September 2017 to December 2019. Among the 1,483 eligible healthcare facilities, 175 engaged in the study (participation rate of 11.8%), reporting 222,728 intraocular procedures performed, of which 164,207 were cataract surgery and 58,521 were intravitreal injections. The overall incidence rate of endophthalmitis was reported to be 0.05% (n=105; 80 cases after cataract surgery and 25 cases after intravitreal injections). The incidence rates for healthcare facilities ranged from 0.02% to 4.55%. Most cases were caused by gram-positive bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus spp. In 36 (46.2%) of the cases, there was no bacterial growth; no sample was collected in 28 (26.7%) cases. This system for healthcare-associated endophthalmitis enabled the identification of an outbreak of four cases of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injections. The system for healthcare-associated endophthalmitis proved to be operationally viable and efficient for monitoring cases of endophthalmitis at the state level.

Self-perceived neighborhood factors and OHRQoL among adolescents: a population-based study in southern Brazil.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between self-perceived neighborhood factors and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among adolescents from southern Brazil. A representative sample of 15-19-year-old students from Santa Maria, Brazil, was included. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to assess the OHRQoL. Self-perceived neighborhood factors were assessed through a structured questionnaire and included characteristics of the neighborhood where the adolescents lived, such as the presence of paved streets, tap water, community social networks, and availability of dental services and the Family Health Strategy (FHS). In addition, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical variables (dental caries and malocclusion) were also evaluated. Multilevel Poisson regression analysis with a hierarchical approach was used to assess the association between predictors and OHIP-14. The rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. A total of 1,197 adolescents were included in this study (participation rate: 72.3%). The mean OHIP-14 score was 8.4 (standard error = 0.2), ranging from 0 to 49. Living in residences with unpaved streets (RR = 1.11, 95%CI:1.06-1.17), no tap water (RR = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.02-1.20), absence of the FHS services (RR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.09-1.20), and the availability of dental services (RR = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.03-1.14) were associated with higher OHIP-14 scores, indicating a poorer OHRQoL. In addition, lower socioeconomic status, visiting the dentist for curative reasons, lower frequency of brushing teeth, and higher sugar consumption were also associated with higher OHIP-14 scores. In conclusion, self-perceived neighborhood characteristics were associated with OHRQoL in adolescents. Adolescents who perceived their neighborhood as deprived had poorer OHRQoL.