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Frontiers in Public Health 2024There is a paucity of studies that compare older adults' attitudes toward Euthanasia in two different terminal illnesses. Moreover, these studies did not relate to...
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of studies that compare older adults' attitudes toward Euthanasia in two different terminal illnesses. Moreover, these studies did not relate to potentially influencing psycho-social factors. The current study aimed to examine the impact of a diverse range of variables on attitudes among older adults toward Euthanasia in two medical conditions: cancer and Parkinson's disease.
METHODS
A total of 501 individuals aged 75 and above participated in the study. Attitudes toward Euthanasia were measured using vignettes which described two conditions: an 80-year-old man with metastatic cancer and another man in an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease. The questionnaire included measures of relevant experience (with a close family member or a friend dying from a terminal illness), self-efficacy, will to live, satisfaction with life, will to prolong life, fear of death and dying, social support, and psycho-social characteristics. The data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression models.
RESULTS
A more positive attitude toward Euthanasia was found in the case of cancer compared to Parkinson's disease. Being a woman, having more years of education, lower level of religiosity, greater fear of death and dying and higher self-efficacy contributes to more favorable attitudes toward Euthanasia in both end-of life conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
The finding that attitudes toward Euthanasia are statistically significantly more positive in the case of cancer compared to Parkinson's disease can be attributed to the greater prevalence of cancer in the population, and to the public's awareness of the suffering associated with each of these medical conditions. Beyond the important role of the socio-demographic characteristics of gender, education, and religiosity, it appears that fear of death and dying and self-efficacy are important psychological factors in explaining attitudes toward Euthanasia in both illnesses among older people. These findings shed light on older adults' attitudes toward Euthanasia in debilitating illnesses.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Parkinson Disease; Aged, 80 and over; Aged; Attitude to Death; Neoplasms; Euthanasia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Self Efficacy; Terminal Care
PubMed: 38947343
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1393535 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jun 2024This study employed a phenomenological research approach within qualitative research to explore the challenges encountered by elderly individuals with temporary...
BACKGROUND
This study employed a phenomenological research approach within qualitative research to explore the challenges encountered by elderly individuals with temporary colostomies in managing their daily lives and care needs. Protecting the anus surgery combined with temporary colostomy has emerged as a prevalent treatment modality for low rectal cancer. However, the ileostomy is susceptible to peri-stoma skin complications, as well as fluid, electrolyte, and nutritional imbalances, posing challenges to effective management. The successful self-management of patients is intricately linked to their adjustment to temporary colostomy; nonetheless, there remains a dearth of research examining the factors influencing self-care among temporary colostomy patients and the obstacles they confront.
AIM
To investigate the lived experiences, perceptions, and care requirements of temporary colostomy patients within their home environment, with the ultimate goal of formulating a standardized management protocol.
METHODS
Over the period of June to August 2023, a purposive sampling technique was utilized to select 12 patients with temporary intestinal stomas from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. Employing a phenomenological research approach, a semi-structured interview guide was developed, and qualitative interviews were conducted using in-depth interview techniques. The acquired data underwent coding, analysis, organization, and summarization following Colaizzi's seven-step method.
RESULTS
The findings of this study revealed that the experiences and needs of patients with temporary intestinal stomas can be delineated into four principal themes: Firstly, Temporary colostomy patients bear various burdens and concerns about the uncertainty of disease progression; secondly, patients exhibit limited self-care capabilities and face information deficits, resulting in heightened reliance on healthcare professionals; thirdly, patients demonstrate the potential for internal motivation through proactive self-adjustment; and finally, patients express a significant need for emotional and social support.
CONCLUSION
Home-living patients with temporary intestinal stomas confront multifaceted challenges encompassing burdens, inadequate self-care abilities, informational deficits, and emotional needs. Identifying factors influencing patients' self-care at home and proposing strategies to mitigate barriers can serve as a foundational framework for developing and implementing nursing interventions tailored to the needs of patients with temporary intestinal stomas.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Male; Qualitative Research; Colostomy; Self Care; China; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ileostomy; Quality of Life; Interviews as Topic; Rectal Neoplasms; Adaptation, Psychological
PubMed: 38947295
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i22.2893 -
Psychologica Belgica 2024Building on conservation of resources (COR) theory and following recent recommendations, this study investigates the mediating role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in...
Building on conservation of resources (COR) theory and following recent recommendations, this study investigates the mediating role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in the relationships between networking behaviors and attitudinal outcomes (i.e., work engagement and work satisfaction). We propose that networking, as an investment of personal resources to gain access to other resources, contributes to the prediction of attitudinal outcomes. We surveyed 254 employees from a public Belgian administrative company. We use structural equation modelling and the bootstrapping method. PsyCap totally mediates the relationships between networking and both attitudinal outcomes. This study contributes to theoretical development by integrating Networking and PsyCap literatures into COR theory literature, and demonstrates the legitimacy of COR theory to explain these complex variables and their relationships.
PubMed: 38947284
DOI: 10.5334/pb.1264 -
Psychologica Belgica 2024Profile similarity measures are used to quantify the similarity of two sets of ratings on multiple variables. Yet, it remains unclear how different measures are distinct...
Profile similarity measures are used to quantify the similarity of two sets of ratings on multiple variables. Yet, it remains unclear how different measures are distinct or overlap and what type of information they precisely convey, making it unclear what measures are best applied under varying circumstances. With this study, we aim to provide clarity with respect to how existing measures interrelate and provide recommendations for their use by comparing a wide range of profile similarity measures. We have taken four steps. First, we reviewed 88 similarity measures by applying them to multiple cross-sectional and intensive longitudinal data sets on emotional experience and retained 43 useful profile similarity measures after eliminating duplicates, complements, or measures that were unsuitable for the intended purpose. Second, we have clustered these 43 measures into similarly behaving groups, and found three general clusters: one cluster with difference measures, one cluster with product measures that could be split into four more nuanced groups and one miscellaneous cluster that could be split into two more nuanced groups. Third, we have interpreted what unifies these groups and their subgroups and what information they convey based on theory and formulas. Last, based on our findings, we discuss recommendations with respect to the choice of measure, propose to avoid using the Pearson correlation, and suggest to center profile items when stereotypical patterns threaten to confound the computation of similarity.
PubMed: 38947283
DOI: 10.5334/pb.1297 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Forensic psychiatric patients receive treatment to address their violent and aggressive behavior with the aim of facilitating their safe reintegration into society. On...
INTRODUCTION
Forensic psychiatric patients receive treatment to address their violent and aggressive behavior with the aim of facilitating their safe reintegration into society. On average, these treatments are effective, but the magnitude of effect sizes tends to be small, even when considering more recent advancements in digital mental health innovations. Recent research indicates that wearable technology has positive effects on the physical and mental health of the general population, and may thus also be of use in forensic psychiatry, both for patients and staff members. Several applications and use cases of wearable technology hold promise, particularly for patients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning, as these devices are thought to be user-friendly and provide continuous daily feedback.
METHOD
In the current randomized crossover trial, we addressed several limitations from previous research and compared the (continuous) usability and acceptance of four selected wearable devices. Each device was worn for one week by staff members and patients, amounting to a total of four weeks. Two of the devices were general purpose fitness trackers, while the other two devices used custom made applications designed for bio-cueing and for providing insights into physiological reactivity to daily stressors and events.
RESULTS
Our findings indicated significant differences in usability, acceptance and continuous use between devices. The highest usability scores were obtained for the two fitness trackers (Fitbit and Garmin) compared to the two devices employing custom made applications (Sense-IT and E4 dashboard). The results showed similar outcomes for patients and staff members.
DISCUSSION
None of the devices obtained usability scores that would justify recommendation for future use considering international standards; a finding that raises concerns about the adaptation and uptake of wearable technology in the context of forensic psychiatry. We suggest that improvements in gamification and motivational aspects of wearable technology might be helpful to tackle several challenges related to wearable technology.
PubMed: 38947186
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1330993 -
MedRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Auditory processing disorder (APD) has been studied in both research and clinic settings, but the relation between the two has not been addressed. In a longitudinal...
PURPOSE
Auditory processing disorder (APD) has been studied in both research and clinic settings, but the relation between the two has not been addressed. In a longitudinal research study (SICLiD), we found that children with clinically normal audiometry who had caregiver-reported listening difficulties (LiD), with or without clinically assessed APD, performed poorly on both listening and cognitive tests. Specific questions asked here were, for the children with LiD, what other neurodevelopmental clinical conditions were identified, what interventions were used by different clinical providers, and how clinical practice was predicted by research results.
METHODS
Study setting was a large, research-led, tertiary pediatric hospital. Electronic medical records of 74 children aged 6-13 years, recruited into SICLiD and assigned to an LiD group based on a validated and reliable caregiver report (ECLiPS), were independently reviewed. Focus was on clinical assessments and interventions following appointments provided in the Hospital Divisions of Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Psychology (Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics), and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), prior to participation in SICLiD. Descriptive statistics on clinical encounters, identified conditions, and interventions were compared with quantitative, standardized performance on SICLiD assessments of listening and cognitive function. SICLiD z-scores were compared for participants with and without each clinical condition using univariate and logistic prediction analyses.
RESULTS
Most (86%) of the children with LiD had been evaluated by at least one clinical service. Overall, 24 assessment categories related to LiD, including APD, were identified. Most common conditions were attention (32%), language (28%), hearing (18%), anxiety (16%), and autism spectrum (6%) disorders. Performance on SICLiD measures varied significantly between providers, conditions, and interventions. Significant relationships between SICLiD and clinical conditions were mostly caregiver-reported items from the ECLiPS or the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC-2). Other significant correlations were scarce, but included the SCAN composite score, which predicted clinical language and attention, but not other auditory abilities or APD. SICLiD data combined with caregiver reports provided reliable predictions of all clinical conditions except APD.
CONCLUSIONS
The variety of disciplines, assessments, conditions and interventions revealed here supports previous studies showing that LiD and APD are multifaceted problems of neurodevelopment. Comparisons between clinical- and research-based assessments suggest a diagnostic path that prioritizes caregiver reports and selected psychometric tests for screening and diagnostic purposes.
PubMed: 38946985
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.24308837 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024Environmental sustainability is characterized by a conflict between short-term self-interest and longer-term collective interests. Self-control capacity has been...
Environmental sustainability is characterized by a conflict between short-term self-interest and longer-term collective interests. Self-control capacity has been proposed to be a crucial determinant of people's ability to overcome this conflict. Yet, causal evidence is lacking, and previous research is dominated by the use of self-report measures. Here, we modulated self-control capacity by applying inhibitory high-definition transcranial current stimulation (HD-tDCS) above the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) while participants engaged in an environmentally consequential decision-making task. The task includes conflicting and low conflicting trade-offs between short-term personal interests and long-term environmental benefits. Contrary to our preregistered expectation, inhibitory HD-tDCS above the left dlPFC, presumably by reducing self-control capacity, led to more, and not less, pro-environmental behavior in conflicting decisions. We speculate that in our exceptionally environmentally friendly sample, deviating from an environmentally sustainable default required self-control capacity, and that inhibiting the left dlPFC might have reduced participants' ability to do so.
PubMed: 38946792
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1395426 -
Frontiers in Digital Health 2024Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a well-studied intervention known for its positive effects on emotional, cognitive, and physiological well-being, including...
INTRODUCTION
Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a well-studied intervention known for its positive effects on emotional, cognitive, and physiological well-being, including relief from depressive symptoms. However, its practical use is hampered by high costs and a lack of trained professionals. Smartphone-based HRVB, which eliminates the need for external devices, offers a promising alternative, albeit with limited research. Additionally, premenstrual symptoms are highly prevalent among menstruating individuals, and there is a need for low-cost, accessible interventions with minimal side effects. With this pilot study, we aim to test, for the first time, the influence of smartphone-based HRVB on depressive and premenstrual symptoms, as well as anxiety/stress symptoms and attentional control.
METHODS
Twenty-seven participants with above-average premenstrual or depressive symptoms underwent a 4-week photoplethysmography smartphone-based HRVB intervention using a waitlist-control design. Laboratory sessions were conducted before and after the intervention, spaced exactly 4 weeks apart. Assessments included resting vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), attentional control via the revised attention network test (ANT-R), depressive symptoms assessed with the BDI-II questionnaire, and stress/anxiety symptoms measured using the DASS questionnaire. Premenstrual symptomatology was recorded through the PAF questionnaire if applicable. Data analysis employed linear mixed models.
RESULTS
We observed improvements in premenstrual, depressive, and anxiety/stress symptoms, as well as the Executive Functioning Score of the ANT-R during the intervention period but not during the waitlist phase. However, we did not find significant changes in vmHRV or the Orienting Score of the ANT-R.
DISCUSSION
These findings are promising, both in terms of the effectiveness of smartphone-based HRVB and its potential to alleviate premenstrual symptoms. Nevertheless, to provide a solid recommendation regarding the use of HRVB for improving premenstrual symptoms, further research with a larger sample size is needed to replicate these effects.
PubMed: 38946728
DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1337667 -
Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society Jul 2024Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise ailments involving the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and its associated anatomical structures. The complexity involved... (Review)
Review
AIM
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise ailments involving the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and its associated anatomical structures. The complexity involved in TMD is primarily due to its broad spectrum of conditions, clinical signs and symptoms variability, and multifactorial etiology. Considering the above, the present study was performed to help understand the prevailing knowledge and awareness of TMD among Indian dentists in the context of the new specialty "orofacial pain".
SETTINGS AND DESIGN
Questinnaire study and review.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The questionnaire was distributed using a web-based portal nationwide among Indian dentists. Dentists were invited to participate, clearly stating that the intent and purpose of the questionnaire was to record the existing knowledge and awareness concerning temporomandibular disorders among Indian dentists. The questionnaire was segregated into three sections: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of TMDs. The questions were recorded using a Likert three-point scale (1=agree; 2=disagree; 3=not aware). 310 dentists participated in the survey, among which 105 were general dentists (BDS [Bachelor of Dental Surgery] graduates), and 205 were dentists with specialist training (MDS [Masters of Dental Surgery] graduates).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED
The results obtained from the study participants was used to calculate the percentage and frequency, following which tabulations were made based on graduate type and clinical experience. The values obtained from all three sections were recorded, and the responses were analysed using Pearson's Chi-Square test with statistical significance kept at P < 0.05.
RESULTS
Results of the study disclosed that only 58.1% of general dentists and 46.8% of specialists were confident in handling temporomandibular disorder patients. Splint therapy was the preferred treatment modality for general dentists, whereas dentists with specialist training preferred occlusal rehabilitation.
CONCLUSION
The results of the current survey indicate that Indian dentists lack sufficient training in dental schools on all three sections and face difficulty diagnosing and treating TMDs.
Topics: Humans; Dentists; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; India; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Surveys and Questionnaires; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
PubMed: 38946513
DOI: 10.4103/jips.jips_573_23 -
Acta Oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden) Jun 2024The study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients' perceptions of the quality of their oncological treatment and care.
AIM
The study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients' perceptions of the quality of their oncological treatment and care.
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery and oncological resources were repurposed, potentially leading to prolonged treatment and reduced access to innovative therapies and clinical trials. Still, little is known about how patients perceived the quality of their treatment.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the spring of 2020 among cancer patients at the Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital and Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Patients were invited to complete an online questionnaire on clinical, socioeconomic, emotional, behavioural, and quality-related aspects of oncological cancer care. Patients who experienced reduced treatment quality and those who reported no or slight reductions were compared using multiple logistic regression, exploring the associations with patient characteristics, behaviours, and fear of cancer progression or recurrence.
RESULTS
A total of 2,040/5,372 patients experienced changes in their treatment plans during the pandemic, and 1,570/5,372 patients experienced reduced treatment quality, with 236 reporting a high degree of reduction. Patients with breast, head and neck, and upper gastrointestinal cancers were more likely to experience reduced treatment quality. Altered interactions with healthcare providers, along with isolation, lack of social support, and heightened fear of cancer progression, were significant risk factors for experiencing reduced cancer care quality.
INTERPRETATION
We identified subgroups of cancer patients needing targeted communication and care during health crises affecting cancer treatment. The findings underscore the importance of safeguarding the needs of vulnerable patient populations in future healthcare emergencies.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Male; Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Aged; Denmark; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Quality of Health Care; Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires; Medical Oncology; Pandemics
PubMed: 38946287
DOI: 10.2340/1651-226X.2024.40141