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COVID-19 exacerbated burnout and mental health concerns among the healthcare workforce. Due to high work stress, demanding schedules made attuned eating behaviors a particularly challenging aspect of self-care for healthcare workers. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) mobile app for improving well-being among healthcare workers reporting elevated disordered eating during COVID-19. We conducted a mixed methods pre-mid-post single-arm pilot feasibility trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04921228). Deductive content analysis of participants' commentary generated qualitative themes. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in pre- mid- to post-assessment scores on well-being outcomes. We consented 28 healthcare workers (25/89% female; 23/82% Non-Hispanic White; 22/79% nurses) to use and evaluate an HRVB mobile app. Of these, 25/89% fully enrolled by attending the app and device training; 23/82% were engaged in all elements of the protocol. Thirteen (52%) completed at least 10 min of HRVB on two-thirds or more study days. Most participants (18/75%) reported being likely or extremely likely to continue HRVB. Common barriers to engagement were busy schedules, fatigue, and technology difficulties. However, participants felt that HRVB helped them relax and connect better to their body's signals and experiences. Results suggested preliminary evidence of efficacy for improving interoceptive sensibility, mindful self-care, body appreciation, intuitive eating, stress, resilience, and disordered eating. HRVB has potential as a low-cost adjunct tool for enhancing well-being in healthcare workers through positively connecting to the body, especially during times of increased stress when attuned eating behavior becomes difficult to uphold., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Self-reported symptom causes of mobility difficulty that contribute to  fear of falling (FOF) in older adults has not been fully explored as an area for intervention., Aims: Identify the prevalence of self-reported symptoms causing mobility difficulties and to examine the difference in FOF by symptom category., Methods: Conduct a secondary data analysis of a population-based cohort of community-dwelling older adults, ≥ 70 years, enrolled in the MOBILIZE Boston study. The analysis included 242 older adults reported difficulty walking ¼ mile (0.4 km) and/or climbing one flight of stairs. Participants identified the main symptom cause of the mobility difficulty from a list of 32 symptoms, grouped into five categories. FOF was measured using the Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale., Results: Pain was the primary symptom causing mobility difficulty (38%), followed by endurance (21%), weakness (13%), balance (9%), and other (3%). Although a greater proportion of participants who identified balance as the primary symptom category had significantly higher FOF compared to others, there was a greater number overall who reported pain as their main symptom who also had FOF. Therefore, pain contributed to a higher relative burden of FOF in the population than did balance symptoms., Discussion: Various symptoms affect mobility and are associated with FOF, a known fall risk factor. Many older adults identify pain as the main cause of their mobility difficulty and report FOF., Conclusions: Improving pain symptoms for older adults may improve mobility and reduce fear of falling, potentially averting further decline in mobility and independence., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Breastfeeding is associated with improved developmental and social outcomes for an infant. Despite these health benefits, only 54% of women breastfeed in the early postpartum period. Although an understanding of socio-demographic characteristics, breastfeeding intent, and breastfeeding attitudes can facilitate breastfeeding initiatives, these factors have not been characterized particularly for urban and immigrant mothers. The objectives of this study are to provide a descriptive analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics, breastfeeding intent, and breastfeeding attitudes of primiparas presenting to an inner city prenatal clinic and determine if breastfeeding attitudes are associated with breastfeeding intent and socio-demographic variables. Of 100 primiparas, 79 reported the intent to breastfeed. Breastfeeding intent was associated with 1) positive breastfeeding attitudes, 2) higher household incomes, 3) being born outside the US, 4) being Afro-Caribbean as opposed to African American, 5) having family, peer, and partner support for breastfeeding, 6) attending breastfeeding classes, and 7) greater years of education. These findings suggest that targeting breastfeeding initiatives towards low-income, less educated, US born mothers who lack breastfeeding support from their loved ones may improve breastfeeding rates among urban primiparas.