Journal of Public Health Research (PAGEPress Publications)
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Family social support and the self-esteem of breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Full text linkBackground: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the first step in breast cancer treatment. However, the medical procedure causes stressors on the self-concept of patients, especially low self-esteem, due to the decrease in the function of their limbs. This research aims to investigate the correlation between family social support and the self-esteem of breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. It was conducted using a cross-sectional approach.Design and Methods: A sample of 56 people was selected by a simple random sampling technique, using a family social support questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.Results: Based on the Spearman Rho statistical test, it was found that the value of p was 0.000 with a correlation coefficient value of 0.762. This indicated that there was a strong positive correlation between family social support and patient self-esteem.Conclusions: Families are the closest systems to patients that play an important role as a coping strategy and in disease management. Therefore, it is suggested that family community groups should be developed among families that have breast cancer patients through social networking
What helps the unemployed to stay healthy? A qualitative study of coping with the negative effects of job loss
Full text linkIntroduction: A variety of empirical studies have shown the negative effects of unemployment on health. A research gap exists regarding salutogenic factors and successful coping strategies to master involuntary job loss and unemployment with the least damage to health. Hence, this study aims at generating a deeper understanding of coping with unemployment and maintaining health.Design and Methods: We conducted problem-centered guideline interviews with 21 unemployed people. For the analysis of the interviews, we followed the qualitative content analysis.Results: The study identified that five themes were particularly relevant in coping with unemployment: (1) the financial situation, (2) social support and psychosocial strains due family obligations, (3) health problems, (4) time structure and (5) coping strategies. The respondents expressed their financial situation as a major strain in unemployment. They emphasized the importance of social support by their families, but reported also stressful psychosocial demands due their family members. Furhter, our respondents mentioned their health problems as a barrier for re-integration into the labour market. In connection with social role demands, a rudimentary time structure was reported by the participants The common reported coping strategy in unemployment is seeking for social support.Conclusions: In summary, our results show – besides health problems and a deteriorated financial situation in unemployment – the great importance of social support and time structure for maintaining mental health in unemployment. Consequently, health promotion approaches for the unemployed should especially target social support and time structure
Simulation of COVID-19 outbreaks via Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Full text linkBackground: This research aimed to model the outbreak of COVID-19 in Malaysia and develop a GUI-based model. Design and Methods: The model is an improvement of the susceptible, infected, recovery, and death (SIRD) compartmental model. The epidemiological parameters of the infection, recovery, and death rates were formulated as time dependent piecewise functions by incorporating the control measures of lockdown, social distancing, quarantine, lockdown lifting time and the percentage of people who abide by the rules. An improved SIRD model was solved via the 4th order Runge-Kutta (RK4) method and 14 unknown parameters were estimated by using Nelder-Mead algorithm and pattern-search technique. The publicly available data for COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia was used to validate the performance of the model. The GUI-based SIRD model was developed to simulate the number of active cases of COVID-19 over time by considering movement control order (MCO) lifted date and the percentage of people who abide the rules. Results: The simulator showed that the improved SIRD model adequately fitted Malaysia COVID-19 data indicated by low values of root mean square error (RMSE) as compared to other existing models. The higher the percentage of people following the SOP, the lower the spread of disease. Another key point is that the later the lifting time after the lockdown, the lower the spread of disease. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of the society to obey the intervention measures in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 disease
What is a social determinant of health? Back to basics
Full text linkThe objective of this essay is to clarify the understanding and use of Social Determinants of Health by exploring basic characteristics of ‘determinants’ and ‘fundamental causes,’ the ‘social,’ ‘structure,’ and ‘modifiability,’ and to consider theoretical and practical implications of this reconceptualization for public health. The analysis distinguishes SDOH from other determinants of health. Social determinants of health are defined as mutable societal systems, their components, and the social resources and hazards for health that societal systems control and distribute, allocate and withhold, and that, in turn, cause health consequences, including changes in the demographic distributions and trends of health. A systems conceptualization holds concepts such as “race” as the creations of social systems and as having negative consequences, such as racism, when part of a racist system, but potentially ameliorative consequences when part of an anti-racist system. The integration of SDOH into public health theory and practice may substantially expand the benefits of public health, but will require new theorizing, intervention research, education, collaboration, policy, and practice
Glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels among junior high school students induced by indoor particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure
Full text linkBackground: Indoor air pollution has globally known as the risk factor of acute respiratory infection in young children. The exposure to indoor particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at house or school can be a potential risk to children’s health. This study aimed to examine the association between indoor PM2.5 and NO2 with oxidative stress markers in junior high school students.Design and Method: This study was conducted using a cross sectional study with 75 students collected randomly from four junior high schools in Jakarta. PM2.5 and NO2 were measured in classrooms and school yards. The schools were categorized based on the exposure level of PM2.5 and NO2 in classrooms. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were examined from the blood sample. All students were interviewed with questionnaires to determine upper respiratory tract infection, smoking family members, mosquito repellent usage, and dietary supplement consumption.Results: Mean concentration of indoor PM2.5 and NO2 were 0.125±0.036 mg m-3 and 36.37±22.33 µg m-3, respectively. The schools which located near to highway showed lower PM2.5 and higher NO2 level indicated the emission of traffic activity. Mean activity of SOD was 96.36±50.94 U mL-1 and mean concentration of GSH was of 0.62±0.09 µg mL-1. Most of the students reported upper respiratory tract infection history, smoking family member, use mosquito repellent at home, and do not consume dietary supplement.Conclusion: The level of oxidative stress markers and the exposure categories of classroom PM2.5 and NO2 was not significantly different, however there were significant correlation with cigarette smoke and mosquito repellent at home. Nevertheless, the exposure of indoor PM2.5 and NO2 increased the risk of the exposure to cigarette smoke and mosquito repellent at home. Further study on the air pollution at school and home is needed to affirm association towards student’s health and to design strategic control efforts
Metabolomic analysis of plasma from breast tumour patients. A pilot study
Full text linkBackground: Patients at risk of breast cancer are submitted to mammography, resulting in a classification of the lesions following the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®). Due to BI-RADS 3 classification problems and the great uncertainty of the possible evolution of this kind of tumours, the integration of mammographic imaging with other techniques and markers of pathology, as metabolic information, may be advisable.Design and Methods: Our study aims to evaluate the possibility to quantify by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) specific metabolites in the plasma of patients with mammograms classified from BI-RADS 3 to BI-RADS 5, to find similarities or differences in their metabolome. Samples from BI-RADS 3 to 5 patients were compared with samples from a healthy control group. This pilot project aimed at establishing the sensitivity of the metabolomic classification of blood samples of patients undergoing breast radiological analysis and to support a better classification of mammographic cases.Results: Metabolomic analysis revealed a panel of metabolites more abundant in healthy controls, as 3-aminoisobutyric acid, cholesterol, cysteine, stearic, linoleic and palmitic fatty acids. The comparison between samples from BI-RADS 3 and BI-RADS 5 patients, revealed the importance of 4-hydroxyproline, found in higher amount in BI-RADS 3 subjects.Conclusion: Although the low sample number did not allow the attainment of high validated statistical models, some interesting data were obtained, revealing the potential of metabolomics for an improvement in the classification of different mammographic lesions
Nurses’ team communication in hospitals: A quasi-experimental study using a modified TeamSTEPPS
Full text linkBackground: Communication is a bridge of transaction between the health team, patients, and families that applies in the service units of hospitals, which are closely related to the patient safety culture. TeamSTEPPS is a team strategies and tools to enhance performance and patient safety. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of modified TeamSTEPPS training on the team communication of nurses in hospitals.Design and Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental pre-posttest control group design and a purposive sampling technique.Results: About 28 nurses participated and were distributed into control and intervention groups. The results of the Wilcoxon test on communication perception obtained a p-value greater than α (0.980>0.050), while on communication attitudes the p-value was greater than α (0.517>0.050). Furthermore, the spearman rho test showed that there was no difference between the team perception (p=0.624; α=0.050) and communication attitudes (p = 0.320; α = 0.050). This means that the implementation of this training towards nurses’ Team communication in the hospital did not have a significant effect.Conclusions: Hospitals need to carry out the implementation of TeamSTEPPS in a sustainable manner and develop good teamwork and effective team communication
Parenting functioning in stunting management: A concept analysis
Full text linkStunting, a global issue, is the retarded growth and development of children resulting from inadequate nutrition, frequent infection, and insufficient psychosocial stimulation. It is usually an indicator of poor parenting. The role of parents is important for children’s growth, development and learning. Parenting functioning is a concept health care professionals use to describe parenting activities for the purpose of intervention. But, the health professionals and patients have different understanding on parental functioning. There is a need to have a consistent definition of parenting functioning, and therefore this study aims to analyze the concept. Walker and Avant’s method of concept analysis was used to study parenting functioning for the purpose of improving management of stunting. The attributes of parenting functioning are knowledge, competency, effort, responsibility, partnership, caring, teaching and communicating. Antecedents for parenting functioning are relationship, children’s characteristics, careful observation and vicarious experiences. The consequences are positive child-rearing practice, less psychological stress and children’s wellness. The empirical referents for parenting functioning are Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS) and Parenting Interaction with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO). In conclusion, this analytical concept can provide insights into nursing and public health colleagues to improve understanding of parenting functioning and to facilitate development of instrument to improve to an advance stage and to improve the stunting management
Artificial neural network to predict the effect of obesity on the risk of tuberculosis infection
Full text linkBackground: Body weight has been implicated as a risk factor for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the active disease.Design and Methods: This study aimed to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models for predicting LTBI from body weight and other host-related disease risk factors. We used datasets from participants of the US-National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2012; n=5,156; 514 with LTBI and 4,642 controls) to develop three ANNs employing body mass index (BMI, Network I), BMI and HbA1C (as a proxy for diabetes; Network II) and BMI, HbA1C and education (as a proxy for socioeconomic status; Network III). The models were trained on n=1018 age- and sex-matched subjects equally distributed between the control and LTBI groups. The endpoint was the prediction of LTBI.Results: When data was adjusted for age, sex, diabetes and level of education, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of LTBI with increased BMI was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.77 – 0.96, p=0.01). The three ANNs had a predictive accuracy varied from 75 to 80% with sensitivities ranged from 85% to 94% and specificities of approximately 70%. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were between 0.82 and 0.87. Optimal ANN performance was noted using BMI as a risk indicator.Conclusion: Body weight can be employed in developing artificial intelligence-based tool to predict LTBI. This can be useful in precise decision making in clinical and public health practices aiming to curb the burden of tuberculosis, e.g., in the management and monitoring of the tuberculosis prevention programs and to evaluate the impact of healthy weight on tuberculosis risk and burden
Burnout and presenteeism among healthcare workers in Nigeria: Implications for patient care, occupational health and workforce productivity
Full text linkBackground: Burnout and presenteeism are two emerging occupational health challenges which share same locus among healthcare workers, and the trend is rising. We aim to define the magnitude of burnout and presenteeism among frontline members of the health workforce and explore any correlation between the two in order to provide empirical data from our socioeconomic and geographical background. Design and Methods: We used self-administered questionnaire to conduct a cross-sectional study among the physicians and nurses in a regional trauma centre in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria; with the respondents selected by stratified random sampling. The Oldenburg burnout inventory and Stanford presenteeism scale were used to measure burnout and presenteeism respectively, while the 2-item patient-health questionnaire (PHQ-2) was used to screen for depression. The level of statistical significance was determined by a p value of <0.05.Results: Among the healthcare workers surveyed (n=155); 34 (21.9%) were physicians, while 121 (78.1%) were nurses. Burnout prevalence was 69%. Burnout was associated with self-rated health status and length of years in professional service but not the occupation or depression screen status of the worker. Sixty-two healthcare workers (40%) screened positive for depression. A positive screen for depression was the only factor that had significant association with lower presenteeism scores (p=0.002). The mean presenteeism scores had strong negative correlation with both the exhaustion (p<0.001) and disengagement (p<0.001) domains of burnout.Conclusion: Burnout is high among the healthcare workers and correlates with presenteeism scores. The mental health of the workforce greatly impaired their productivity