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  • Boyer Junker posted an update 1 month ago

    Background Creating a holistic approach in healthcare services is the ultimate aim for the integrated healthcare system. Theoretically, healthcare policy makers constantly expected optimal operations within the hospitals through capitalizing the maximum potential of healthcare expertise, professionals, practitioners, and supporting staff. The objective of this study is to explore the role of healthcare individuals to sustain effective palliative care programs in a safe environment with high-quality of care. Methods This study employed a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) to accomplish the set objective. For this purpose, a balanced sampling technique was adopted and 28 healthcare professionals were selected in two stages (last week of January and the 1st week of February, 2020). These respondents were playing significant role in palliative care policy making process. In the first stage, respondents were classified into three parallel groups to document the major factors affecting palliative care refothen 0.01 and P less then 0.05). Conclusions This study explored and identified the significant factors that healthcare professional might consider to make their role more productive and effective in palliative care centers. The key findings also indicated the need of comprehensive periodic assessment especially from the perspective of managerial implications and quality of care.Background Research on rehabilitation for falls after stroke is warranted. However, published evidence on fall interventions with stroke survivors is limited and these are mainly international studies that may be less relevant for Southeast Asia. Objective This review aims to systematically identify literature related to stroke rehabilitation for falls and risk of falls in Southeast Asia. Methods A scoping review with stakeholders’ consultation was implemented. An electronic search was conducted up to December 2020 on 4 databases (Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, ASEAN Citation Index). Only original studies conducted in Southeast Asia were selected. Results The initial search yielded 3,112 articles, however, only 26 were selected in the final analysis. Most of the articles focused on physical rehabilitation and implemented conventional therapies. While the literature may reflect practice in Southeast Asia, stakeholders perceived that the literature was inadequate to show true practice, was not informative and missed several aspects such as functional, cognitive, and psychological interventions in managing falls. Individual-centric interventions dominated the review while community-based and environmental-focused studies were limited. Majority of the articles were written by physiotherapists while others were from physicians, occupational therapists, and an engineer but few from other healthcare practitioners (i.e., speech therapists, psychologists) or disciplines interested in falls. Conclusions Falls prevention among stroke survivors has received a lack of attention and is perceived as an indirect goal in stroke rehabilitation in Southeast Asia. More innovative research adopted from falls research with older people is needed to advance falls prevention and intervention practice with stroke survivors.Background Most employees in urban China have experienced a heavy commuting burden, which has become an urgent issue that should be solved in the new urbanization strategy process. However, the exploration of the relationship between the commute duration and sickness absence remains scant in China, and no direct discussion has been done to analyze the mechanism linking commute duration and sickness absence. Methods Using a unique dataset of the 2013 China Matched Employer-Employee Survey, the present study applies a two-level random-intercept Poisson model to explore this association. Results A long commute is significantly related with increased sickness absence. A longer commute is associated with poorer self-rated health status and a higher degree of psychological depression, and it is also highly related with a decrease in sleeping time. Moreover, an increased commuting duration is associated with lower work effort (working hours). Conclusion Longer commute duration induces lower productivity through increased sickness absence, and the potential link of commute duration and sickness absence is mainly transmitted through health-related outcomes and work effort.Evidence regarding screen use and outdoor activity during very early childhood (i. e., from aged 1 to 3 years) and their potential combined links to the later preschool myopia is limited. This information is needed to release effective public health messages and propose intervention strategies against preschool myopia. We collected information regarding very early childhood screen use, outdoor activity and the kindergartens vision screenings of 26,611 preschoolers from Longhua Child Cohort Study by questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between reported outdoor activity, screen use from 1 to 3 years of age, and preschool myopia. Throughout very early childhood, from 1 to 3 years, the proportion of children exposed to screens increased (from 35.8 to 68.4%, p less then 0.001), whereas the proportion of children who went outdoors ≥7 times/week (67.4-62.1%, p less then 0.001) and who went outdoors for ≥60 min/time (53.3-38.0%, p less then 0.001) declined. Exposure to fixed screen devices [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.09-3.44], mobile screen devices (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI = 2.15-3.58), and limited outdoor activity (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.42-2.51) during early childhood were associated with preschool myopia. Among children whose parents were myopic, the interactions between outdoor activity and fixed or mobile screen use on later preschool myopia were significant; the ORs and 95% CI were 3.34 (1.19-9.98) and 3.04 (1.06-9.21), respectively. Our findings suggest the possibility that the impact of screen exposure during early childhood on preschool myopia could be diminished by outdoor activity for children whose parents have myopia.Native American populations face considerable health disparities, especially among those who live on reservations, where access to healthcare, education, and safe housing can be limited. Previous research on tribal housing has raised concerns about housing construction, damage, and possible linkage to adverse health effects (e.g., asthma). This community-based participatory research (CBPR) project investigated indoor air quality issues on two Rocky Mountain west reservations. At the onset of the project, the research team formed a partnership with community advisory boards (CABs) consisting of representatives from tribal councils and community members. Research design, implementation, and dissemination all took place in full collaboration with the CABs following approval through official tribal resolutions. Residential homes were monitored for particulate matter with diameter less then 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and radon concentrations. Low-cost air quality sensors and activated charcoal radon test kits were placed in tribal households for 6-8 days. A large amount of data were below the sensor limit of quantification (LOQ), but several homes had daily averages that exceeded suggested PM2.5 guidelines, suggestive of the potential for high exposure. Additionally, nearly half of all homes sampled had radon levels above the EPA action level, with mitigation activities initiated for the most concerning homes. Findings from this study indicate the need for future community-wide assessments to determine the magnitude and patterns of indoor air quality issues.Background Since the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare workers were responsible for the critical infected patients. However, few studies focused on the mental health of ICU healthcare workers. This study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on ICU healthcare workers in China. Methods We distributed the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and seven-item General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) online to ICU healthcare workers in China. Respondents were divided into frontline and second-line according to whether they have contact with COVID-19 patients. Depressive and anxiety symptoms of all respondents were evaluated based on their questionnaire scores. Results There were 731 ICU healthcare workers finally enrolled in our study, including 303 (41.5%) male, 383 (52.4%) doctors, and 617 (84.4%) aged 26-45 years. All in all, 482 (65.9%) ICU healthcare workers reported symptoms of depression, while 429 (58.7%) reported anxiety. There was no significant difference between frontline (n = 325) and second-line (n = 406) respondents in depression (P = 0.15) and anxiety severity (P = 0.56). Logistic regression analysis showed that being female, ICU work time >5 years, and night duty number ≥10 were risk factors of developing depressive and anxiety symptoms. Income reduction was separately identified as risk of anxiety. Additionally, ICU work time >5 years was also identified as risk of developing moderate-severe depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions Frontline ICU work was not associated with higher risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic remission period in China. Actions like controlling night duty number, ensuring vacation, and increasing income should be taken to relieve mental health problem. Furthermore, we should pay close attention to those who had worked long years in ICU.Introduction Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) incidence is increasing, and occupational solar exposure contributes greatly to the overall lifetime ultraviolet radiation (UVR) dose. This is reflected in an excess risk of NMSC showing up to three-fold increase in outdoor workers. Risk of NMSC can be reduced if appropriate measures to reduce UVR-exposure are taken. Regular use of sunscreens showed reduced risk of NMSC. However, sun-safety behavior in outdoor workers is poor. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention aiming at increasing sunscreen use by construction workers. Methods This non-randomized controlled intervention study is comprised of two intervention and two control groups recruited at four different construction sites in the Netherlands. The study population comprises ~200 construction workers, aged 18 years or older, followed during 12 weeks. The intervention consists of providing dispensers with sunscreens (SPF 50+) at construction sites and regular feedbaess of a technology-driven intervention to increase sunscreen use in outdoor construction workers. Furthermore, it will increase insight in the UV-protective behavior, external and internal UV-exposure, and the prevalence of NMSC, including AK, in construction workers. Trial Registration The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR) NL8462 Registered on March 19, 2020.Background There is a global disaster since WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic. With the increase in cases & mortality rate, various health issues viz., stress, mental disorders and altered health-related quality of life have been noted as a result of pandemic and lockdowns. selleck chemical This study aimed to assess the association of COVID-19 pandemic stress with health-related quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methodology It was a cross-sectional analytical study. Subjects included 878 citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia aged 18 years and above. Convenience, non-probability sampling technique was used. A web-based, self-administered, electronic questionnaire in Arabic language having three sections; Sociodemographic & clinical profile, Standard PSS-10, and Standard SF-12 was used as the study tool and distributed through various social media means. The study period was of 2 months. Data were analyzed using SPS version 25. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed for suitable statistical analysis.