Search

Background: There is growing evidence that the social blockade brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected college students' physical activity; however, their weight management behaviors and mental health have not been fully explored, especially among healthcare students. This study aimed to assess physical activity, weight management behaviors, and mental health among healthcare students during the campus lockdown and to analyze the factors influencing physical activity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1,216 healthcare students from March 24, 2022, to April 11, 2022. To collect information about students' physical activity, weight management behaviors, and mental health, they were asked to complete the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), 11 issues related to weight management behavior, and the World Health Organization 5-Item Well-Being Index (WHO-5) questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the factors influencing physical activity. Results: Almost half of the participants had low levels of physical activity (45%), the mean score for weight management behavior was 39.55±6.26, and 54.6% had low levels of well-being. Healthcare students without exercise habits during the non-epidemic period reported lower levels of physical activity (OR = 1.81; 95%CI = 1.41–2.34, P<0.001). Participants with poor weight management behavior were more likely than other participants to report lower levels of physical activity (OR = 0.92; 95%CI = 0.90–0.94, P < 0.001). Likewise, the odds of being physically inactive were higher among the happier participants (OR = 0.98; 95%CI = 0.96–0.99, P = 0.031). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 lockdown, most healthcare students in Gansu province lack physical exercise and have a low health level. Significant correlation factors for low physical activity levels were grade level, non-lockout exercise habits, weight management level, and well-being. These findings demonstrate the importance of developing targeted policies and programs encouraging physical activity among medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The adverse effects of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on physical, emotional, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remain primarily unrecognized, especially in resource-limited settings. Objectives: This study aims to characterize the HRQoL of patients with PAH in this area and also identify the potential role of clinically relevant characteristics, including the 6-min walk distance test (6MWD), WHO-Functional Classification (WHO-FC), and mental health in the occurrence of lowering quality of life. Design: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Methods: Inpatients with PAH were chosen from a tertiary hospital located in Gansu province, China. All participants were interviewed face-by-face by using questionnaires, including items from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the self-rating anxiety scale, and the self-rating depression scale. Data on demographic and clinically relevant characteristics, including WHO-FC and 6MWD, were also collected by tracing medical recorders. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between demographic, clinically relevant characteristics data, and physical component summary (PCS) or mental component summary (MCS) in SF-36. Results: Of the 152 participants, SF-36 differed significantly from Chinese norms in all eight domains, with role-physical (21.55 ± 9.87) less than one-third of the norm (88.79 ± 28.49). Multiple linear regression results showed that the factors with the greatest impact on PCS were anxiety scores (β = −0.22, p = 0.001), followed by WHO-FC (β = −0.16, p = 0.014) and 6MWD (β = 0.15, p = 0.036). The factors with the greatest impact on MCS were WHO-FC (β = −0.30, p < 0.001), followed by anxiety (β = −0.23, p = 0.001) and depression scores (β = −0.16, p = 0.013). Conclusion: HRQoL was substantially reduced among PAH patients in the resource-limited area, mainly the physiological functions. WHO-FC and anxiety scores were independently associated with both PCS and MCS in SF-36. Clinicians should make reasonable rehabilitation programs and plans for patients according to their cardiac function grade and the severity of clinical symptoms. In addition, psychological interventions should also be taken, especially for those with anxiety symptoms, so as to improve their HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe critical thinking dispositions among newly graduated nurses with different educational background in China and to explore related factors. Design: A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey. Methods: The data were collected using the Chinese Version of Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CTDI‐CV). Overall, 588 newly graduated nurses finally completed the survey. Spearman and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to examine the correlation between the CDTI‐CV and nurses' general characteristics. Results: In terms of open‐mindedness, analysis and inquisitiveness subscales, significant differences were found among nurses based on three educational level. When dichotomizing total CTDI scores into high and low, nearly 80% of the respondents fell into low score group. Pressure from workplace was high for 68.4% of them. Significant correlation was found among the new graduated nurses' critical thinking ability and their age, education level, reading habit and attitude towards nursing profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The goal of the study was to investigate the patterns of needs in older individuals with mild‐to‐moderate dementia living at home using the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly questionnaire. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study. A total of 378 home‐living residents served as the sample. The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly questionnaire was used to analyze the needs of those receiving adequate interventions (met needs) and those without appropriate supports (unmet needs). Thereafter, the factors that correlated with total needs were determined using demographic characteristics. Results: Persons with dementia (PWD) had a mean care needs of 18.5 ± 5.4 (range 5–35). Unmet needs were most common in caring for someone (65.1%), looking after the home (63.5%), self‐care (58.7%) and intimate relationships (44.4%) domains. Higher needs were significantly related to living with others than a spouse, longer length of diagnosis, older age and higher cognitive function. Conclusion: Unmet needs are common in home‐living PWD. Home‐based dementia care can identify and address PWD's unmet needs by focusing on care recipients and caregivers to enable PWD to remain safely at home and improve their quality of life. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 102–107. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study aims to examine the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) on cognitive decline among the Chinese elderly with a 3-year follow-up.This study is divided into two waves: wave-1 January 2019 to June 2019 (n = 2313); wave-2 January 2022 to March 2022 (n = 1648). MeDi scores were calculated from the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), with the scoring of low compliance (0–6 points) and high compliance (7–14 points). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function. An MMSE score dropping ≥ 2 points from baseline was defined as cognitive decline. The relationships between MeDi score and cognitive decline were analyzed by linear regression models or Binary logistic regression.During the 3-year follow-up, 23.8% of patients exhibited cognitive decline. The study revealed a significant difference in MMSE score changes between low and high MeDi adherence groups (p < 0.001). MeDi score was negatively correlated with cognitive deterioration (β = −0.020, p = 0.026). MeDi score was only negatively associated with cognitive decline in the female subgroup aged ≥65 years (β = −0.034, p = 0.033). The food beans (OR = 0.65, 95%CI:0.51, 0.84), fish (OR = 0.72, 95%CI:0.54, 0.97), and cooked vegetables (OR = 0.68, 95%CI:0.53, 0.84) were protective factors for cognitive decline.This study suggests that greater adherence to the MeDi is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline in elderly people. However, this is found only in women who are 65 years old or older. It also found long-term adherence to beans, fish, and vegetables are more effective in improving cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The quality of meta-analyses (MAs) on nutrition intervention in mainland China remains uninvestigated. To assess the quality of the evidence regarding nutrition intervention in mainland China, we used vitamin intervention as an example to assess the overall methodological and reporting qualities of MAs on nutrition interventions published in Chinese journals.Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study on MAs of vitamin interventions was performed. Four Chinese databases were searched from inception through September 2016 for all MAs of vitamin intervention. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements were used to assess methodological and reporting qualities, respectively.Results: A total of 43 MAs of vitamin interventions were included, but none of the studies had been updated. These reviews mainly focused on the effects of interventions involving vitamin D, B vitamins and vitamin E, and the most studied condition was "Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic diseases," such as diabetes, obesity, and nutritional rickets. The median AMSTAR score was 6 (0-7), and median PRISMA score was 18 (3-24). No study provided an 'a priori' design, a list of excluded studies, or a statement on conflict of interest, and less than 50.0% of included MAs stated the publication status and performed an adequate structure summary.Conclusions: The quality of the included MAs was disappointing regarding some items, and some lower quality reviews should be updated. Future MAs should improve on reporting conflicts of interest, harm, and publication bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]