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PloS One 2024Insufficient exercise affects the health of patients who have implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the...
BACKGROUND
Insufficient exercise affects the health of patients who have implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between exercise self-efficacy (ESE) and its associated psychological factors in ICD recipients.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study included individuals who had undergone ICD implantation at the cardiology department of a medical centre in Taiwan. A face-to-face survey was conducted. The survey questionnaire included questions regarding the participants' demographics, perceived health (PH), ICD shock-related anxiety (ICD-SRA), self-care self-efficacy (SSE), perceived exercise benefit (PE-benefit), perceived exercise barrier (PE-barrier), and ESE. Data were analysed using SPSS 20.0 Software. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were also performed to evaluate the predictive effects of the aforementioned factors on ESE.
RESULTS
A total of 52 ICD recipients were enrolled. ESE was negatively correlated with ICD-SRA (r = -0.511; p < 0.01) and PE-barrier (r = -0.563; p < 0.01), but positively correlated with SSE (r = 0.339; p < 0.05) and PE-benefit (r = 0.464; p < 0.01). The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that PE-barrier, PE-benefit, and ICD-SRA effectively predicted ESE in the participants.
CONCLUSIONS
ESE may be improved by overcoming PE-barrier, ICD-SRA and enhancing PE-benefit. Consequently, improving ESE may enhance the health benefits of exercise.
Topics: Humans; Defibrillators, Implantable; Self Efficacy; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Exercise; Cross-Sectional Studies; Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult; Anxiety; Taiwan; Self Care
PubMed: 38917145
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305606 -
PloS One 2024This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between metacognition and mood symptoms four years post-stroke and examined fatigue as a potential moderator for...
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between metacognition and mood symptoms four years post-stroke and examined fatigue as a potential moderator for this relationship.
METHODS
A number of 143 participants completed a survey that included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) (functional status) four years after stroke. Multiple regression analyses adjusting for demographic and stroke-specific covariates were performed with anxiety and depression as dependent variables and fatigue as a moderator.
RESULTS
The proportions of participants satisfying the caseness criteria for anxiety and depression were 20% and 19%, respectively, and 35% reported severe fatigue. Analysed separately, all MCQ-30 subscales contributed significantly to anxiety, whereas only three MCQ-30 subscales contributed significantly to depression. In the adjusted analyses, the MCQ-30 subscales 'positive beliefs' (p < 0.05) and 'uncontrollability and danger' (p < 0.001), as well as fatigue (p < 0.001) and functional status at four years (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Similarly, the MCQ-30 subscales 'cognitive confidence' (p < 0.05) and 'self-consciousness' (p < 0.05), as well as fatigue (p < 0.001), stroke severity at baseline (p < 0.01), and functional status at four years (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Fatigue did not significantly moderate the relationship between any MCQ-30 subscale and HADS scores.
CONCLUSION
Maladaptive metacognitions were associated with the mood symptoms of anxiety and depression, independent of fatigue, even after controlling for demographic and stroke-specific factors. Future studies should implement longitudinal designs to determine whether metacognitions precede anxiety or depression after a stroke, and more strongly indicate the potential of metacognitive therapy for improving the mental health of individuals after a stroke.
Topics: Humans; Fatigue; Male; Female; Stroke; Middle Aged; Aged; Depression; Metacognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Anxiety; Affect; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult
PubMed: 38917133
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305896 -
PloS One 2024Antibiotic self-medication is one of the common causes of antibiotic resistance of bacterial organisms. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a new paradigm shift and...
BACKGROUND
Antibiotic self-medication is one of the common causes of antibiotic resistance of bacterial organisms. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a new paradigm shift and significantly influenced healthcare behaviors, including an increase in antibiotic self-medication, which contributes to antibiotic resistance. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and the possible associated factors during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic among adult residents of Tema in Ghana from April to July 2021.
METHODS
Using a cross-sectional design, 400 adults were randomly selected and surveyed using a researcher-assisted questionnaire. Data were analyzed with IBM® SPSS® Statistics Version 22.0, considering associations significant at a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05).
RESULTS
Of the 400 respondents, (76%) 304 had practiced antibiotic self-medication within the previous 12 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant factors associated with antibiotic self-medication included gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, and National Health Insurance Scheme subscription. Convenience and avoiding long hospital queues were primary non-medical reasons for antibiotic self-medication, while previous successful experience, easy access to antibiotics, treating symptoms, prophylaxis, and fear of hospital infection were the medical reasons for antibiotic self-medication. Commonly self-administered antibiotics were azithromycin (34%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (22%), and metronidazole (16%) for perceived respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract infections.
CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of antibiotic self-medication observed during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for enhanced public education and stricter enforcement of regulations governing antibiotic sales. The non-medical and medical factors of convenience, avoiding long hospital queues, previous successful experience, easy access to antibiotics, treating symptoms, prophylaxis, and fear of hospital infection which motivated antibiotic self-medication practices require the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Topics: Humans; Self Medication; Male; Female; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; COVID-19; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Middle Aged; Ghana; Young Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pandemics; Aged; Adolescent
PubMed: 38917123
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305602 -
PloS One 2024To evaluate the association between psoriasis (PSO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and periodontitis (PE), and the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) impacts on...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between psoriasis (PSO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and periodontitis (PE), and the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) impacts on individuals with psoriatic disease's daily activities compared to the non-psoriatic ones.
MATERIALS & METHODS
296 individuals with psoriatic disease (PSO n = 210, APS n = 86) (cases) and 359 without these diseases (controls) were included. Complete periodontal examinations and collection of variables of interest were performed. The Brazilian version of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) instrument was applied.
RESULTS
The prevalence of PE was higher in PsA (57.0%; OR = 2.67 95%CI 1.65-4.32; p<0.001) than in PSO (34.3%; OR = 1.05 95% CI 0.73-1.51; p<0.001) compared to controls (33.1%). Both PsA and PSO groups showed more sites and teeth with 4-6mm probing depth (PD) and had higher OIDP scores than controls (p<0.001), thus indicating worse self-reported quality of life. PE, PSO+PE and consumption of alcohol/anxiolytics significantly influenced OHRQoL (p<0.05). The influence of periodontal parameters on OHRQoL was observed for the presence of PE; PD >6 mm; clinical attachment level >6 mm; higher plaque index, % sites and teeth with bleeding on probing (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Negative impacts of PE on the OHRQoL were demonstrated. The ones having PSO and especially PsA and PE presented significantly worse indicators.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Arthritis, Psoriatic; Oral Health; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Psoriasis; Adult; Periodontitis; Brazil; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 38917108
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301158 -
PloS One 2024The mental health challenges among Chinese college students have become a pressing social concern. This study examined the relationship between parental support for...
The mental health challenges among Chinese college students have become a pressing social concern. This study examined the relationship between parental support for exercise and depression among freshmen and also explored the mediating role of physical exercise and physical self-esteem. Utilizing the Parental Exercise Support Scale, Depression Self-Rating Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale, and Physical Self-Esteem Scale, a questionnaire survey was conducted. Convenient samples from two universities were recruited by university teachers, which included 766 university freshmen. Correlation and linear regression analyses were employed to assess the overall associations while bootstrapping method was used to test mediation effects. Results indicated significant correlations between parental support for exercise and physical exercise, physical self-esteem, and depression. Physical exercise and physical self-esteem were found to mediate the relationship between parental support for exercise and depression, both individually and sequentially. These findings highlight the potential association between parental support for exercise and the mental health of college freshmen and also offer a mechanism to understand this association.
Topics: Humans; Exercise; Female; Male; Depression; Self Concept; Young Adult; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult; Parents; Universities; Adolescent; Social Support
PubMed: 38917082
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304977 -
PloS One 2024Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mission statements continue to be adopted by academic institutions in general, and by dental schools around the globe in...
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mission statements continue to be adopted by academic institutions in general, and by dental schools around the globe in particular. But DEI content seems to be under-developed in dental education. The objectives of this study were two-fold: to extract information from all the PBL cases at University of British Columbia's Faculty of Dentistry curriculum in terms of the diversity, equitable representation, and inclusion of patient and provider characteristics, context, and treatment outcomes; and; to compare these findings with the composition of the British Columbia census population, dental practice contextual factors, and the evidence on treatment outcomes within patient care. Information from all the 58 PBL cases was extracted between January and March 2023, focusing on patient and provider characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity), context (e.g., type of insurance), and treatment outcomes (e.g., successful/unsuccessful). This information was compared with the available literature. From all the 58 PBL cases, 0.4% included non-straight patients, while at least 4% of BC residents self-identify as non-straight; there were no cases involving First Nations patients although they make up 6% of the British Columbia population. Less than 10% of the cases involved older adults who make up almost 20% of the population. Only Treatments involving patients without a disability were 5.74 times more likely to be successful compared to those involving patients with a disability (p<0.05). The characteristics of the patients, practice context, and treatment outcomes portrayed in the existing PBL cases seem to differ from what is known about the composition of the British Columbia population, treatment outcome success, and practice context; a curriculum disconnect seems to exist. The PBL cases should be revised to better represent the population within which most students will practice.
Topics: Humans; Curriculum; Problem-Based Learning; British Columbia; Male; Female; Cultural Diversity; Education, Dental; Adult
PubMed: 38917078
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298843 -
PloS One 2024This paper investigates the association between several mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness) and the overall tendency to follow...
This paper investigates the association between several mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness) and the overall tendency to follow official recommendations regarding self-protection against COVID-19 (i.e., overall compliance). We employ panel data from the COME-HERE survey, collected over four waves, on 7,766 individuals (22,878 observations) from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. Employing a flexible specification that allows the association to be non-monotonic, we find a U-shaped relationship, in which transitions to low and high levels of mental health are associated with higher overall compliance, while transitions to medium levels of mental health are associated with less overall compliance. Moreover, anxiety, stress, and loneliness levels at baseline (i.e., at wave 1) also have a U-shaped effect on overall compliance later (i.e., recommendations are followed best by those with lowest and highest levels of anxiety, stress, and loneliness at baseline, while following the recommendations is lowest for those with moderate levels of these variables). These U shapes, which are robust to several specifications, may explain some of the ambiguous results reported in the previous literature. Additionally, we observe a U-shaped association between the mental health indicators and a number of specific health behaviours (including washing hands and mask wearing). Importantly, most of these specific behaviours play a role in overall compliance. Finally, we uncover the role of gender composition effects in some of the results. While variations in depression and stress are negatively associated with variations in overall compliance for men, the association is positive for women. The U-shaped relation in the full sample (composed of males and females) will reflect first the negative slope for males and then the positive slope for females.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Male; Female; Mental Health; Anxiety; Middle Aged; Adult; Depression; Loneliness; Stress, Psychological; SARS-CoV-2; Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Behavior; Young Adult
PubMed: 38917072
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305833 -
PloS One 2024Social media data provide unprecedented access to discussions of active, naturalistic, and often real-time cannabis use in an era of cannabis policy liberalization. The...
The Reddit cannabis subjective highness rating scale: Applying computational social science to explore psychological and environmental correlates of naturalistic cannabis use.
Social media data provide unprecedented access to discussions of active, naturalistic, and often real-time cannabis use in an era of cannabis policy liberalization. The aim of this study was to explore psychological and environmental correlates of cannabis effects by applying computational social science approaches to a large dataset of unprompted reports of naturalistic cannabis use with corresponding self-reported numerical ratings of subjective highness. Post title text was extracted via the Pushshift dataset from N = 328,865 posts to the r/trees Reddit community, where posters self-assess and disclose how high they feel on a scale from 1 to 10 (M = 6.9, SD = 1.8). Structural topic modelling and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) dictionary-based approaches were applied to identify (1) frequently discussed topics and (2) text indicative of 5 psychological processes (affective, social, cognitive, perceptual, biological), respectively, as well as to examine relationships between subjective highness and (1) topic prevalence and (2) psychological process word counts. A 40-topic model was selected for interpretation based on semantic coherence and exclusivity. The most discussed topics in a 40-topic model were characterized by references to smoking places, social contexts, positive affect, cognitive states, as well as food and media consumed. In LIWC dictionary analyses, words mentioning affective, social, and cognitive processes were referenced more often than perceptual or body processes. Posters reported greater subjective highness when using language that referred to in-person social environments and lower subjective highness when using language that referred to online social environments and positive affect psychological states. This examination of unprompted online reports of naturalistic cannabis use identified textual content referring to affect and to other people as being associated with perceived effects of cannabis. These affective and social aspects of the cannabis use experience were salient to active posters in this online community and should be integrated into experience sampling methods and behavioral pharmacology research, as well as public health messaging.
Topics: Humans; Social Media; Cannabis; Social Sciences; Marijuana Use; Male; Self Report; Female
PubMed: 38917066
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300290 -
JMIR Formative Research Jun 2024Large-scale crisis events such as COVID-19 often have secondary impacts on individuals' mental well-being. University students are particularly vulnerable to such...
BACKGROUND
Large-scale crisis events such as COVID-19 often have secondary impacts on individuals' mental well-being. University students are particularly vulnerable to such impacts. Traditional survey-based methods to identify those in need of support do not scale over large populations and they do not provide timely insights. We pursue an alternative approach through social media data and machine learning. Our models aim to complement surveys and provide early, precise, and objective predictions of students disrupted by COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of language on private social media as an indicator of crisis-induced disruption to mental well-being.
METHODS
We modeled 4124 Facebook posts provided by 43 undergraduate students, spanning over 2 years. We extracted temporal trends in the psycholinguistic attributes of their posts and comments. These trends were used as features to predict how COVID-19 disrupted their mental well-being.
RESULTS
The social media-enabled model had an F1-score of 0.79, which was a 39% improvement over a model trained on the self-reported mental state of the participant. The features we used showed promise in predicting other mental states such as anxiety, depression, social, isolation, and suicidal behavior (F1-scores varied between 0.85 and 0.93). We also found that selecting the windows of time 7 months after the COVID-19-induced lockdown presented better results, therefore, paving the way for data minimization.
CONCLUSIONS
We predicted COVID-19-induced disruptions to mental well-being by developing a machine learning model that leveraged language on private social media. The language in these posts described psycholinguistic trends in students' online behavior. These longitudinal trends helped predict mental well-being disruption better than models trained on correlated mental health questionnaires. Our work inspires further research into the potential applications of early, precise, and automatic warnings for individuals concerned about their mental health in times of crisis.
PubMed: 38916951
DOI: 10.2196/52316 -
JMIR Formative Research Jun 2024Measurement-based care in behavioral health uses patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to screen for mental health symptoms and substance use and to assess symptom...
BACKGROUND
Measurement-based care in behavioral health uses patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to screen for mental health symptoms and substance use and to assess symptom change over time. While PROMs are increasingly being integrated into electronic health record systems and administered electronically, paper-based PROMs continue to be used. It is unclear if it is feasible to administer a PROM on paper when the PROM was initially developed for electronic administration.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine the feasibility of patient self-administration of a 2-part substance use screener-the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medications, and other Substances (TAPS)-on paper. This screener was originally developed for electronic administration. It begins with a limited number of questions and branches to either skip or reflex to additional questions based on an individual's responses. In this study, the TAPS was adapted for paper use due to barriers to electronic administration within an urgent care behavioral health clinic at an urban health safety net hospital.
METHODS
From August 2021 to March 2022, research staff collected deidentified paper TAPS responses and tracked TAPS completion rates and adherence to questionnaire instructions. A retrospective chart review was subsequently conducted to obtain demographic information for the patients who presented to the clinic between August 2021 and March 2022. Since the initial information collected from TAPS responses was deidentified, demographic information was not linked to the individual TAPS screeners that were tracked by research staff.
RESULTS
A total of 507 new patients were seen in the clinic with a mean age of 38.7 (SD 16.6) years. In all, 258 (50.9%) patients were male. They were predominantly Black (n=212, 41.8%), White (n=152, 30%), and non-Hispanic or non-Latino (n=403, 79.5%). Most of the patients were publicly insured (n=411, 81.1%). Among these 507 patients, 313 (61.7%) completed the TAPS screener. Of these 313 patients, 76 (24.3%) adhered to the instructions and 237 (75.7%) did not follow the instructions correctly. Of the 237 respondents who did not follow the instructions correctly, 166 (70%) answered more questions and 71 (30%) answered fewer questions than required in TAPS part 2. Among the 237 patients who did not adhere to questionnaire instructions, 44 (18.6%) responded in a way that contradicted their response in part 1 of the screener and ultimately affected their overall TAPS score.
CONCLUSIONS
It was challenging for patients to adhere to questionnaire instructions when completing a substance use screener on paper that was originally developed for electronic use. When selecting PROMs for measurement-based care, it is important to consider the structure of the questionnaire and how the PROM will be administered to determine if additional support for PROM self-administration needs to be implemented.
PubMed: 38916950
DOI: 10.2196/52801