Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene (JPMH)
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Impact of an Educational Intervention Video in HPV Prevention among Tunisian Female Students: A before-and-after Study
Full text linkBackground: Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer in Tunisia. The HPV vaccine is a crucial tool for preventing and controlling this disease. Training healthcare providers and equipping them with adequate knowledge is essential.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention video (EIV) on the knowledge and perceptions of HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine among Tunisian female students.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study involving a single interventional group was conducted among 158 female students. Participants were interviewed before and after watching the EIV. The chi-square test using McNemar\u27s method assessed variations between pre- and post-intervention responses. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The average age of participants was 19.74±1.7 years. The EIV had a positive impact on the scores for knowledge and perceptions related to HPV and cervical cancer. A significant association was observed between the intention to receive the HPV vaccine and perceived severity of HPV, perceived benefits of vaccination, and perceived barriers. Notably, 50.6% of female students believed the HPV vaccine should be available upon request and covered by health insurance, while 46.2% thought it should be included in the Tunisian vaccination schedule.
Conclusion: The EIV improved students’ knowledge and perceptions about HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine. Tailored educational strategies may enhance vaccine acceptance, especially when integrated early in academic training
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the Philippine general public towards human mpox (hMPX): a cross-sectional study
Full text linkIntroduction.
In the Philippines, research on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding human mpox (hMPX) remains limited, despite rising case numbers. While hMPX vaccines are unavailable locally, enhancing community awareness and promoting non-pharmaceutical interventions are crucial for reducing transmission risks.
Methods.
This cross-sectional study utilized an anonymized online data collection tool to explore the general public’s hMPX KAP and their relationships, and identify sociodemographic groups linked to low hMPX knowledge; 502 respondents were included in the analysis.
Results.
Knowledge about hMPX was evenly distributed across low, moderate, and high levels. Higher knowledge was associated with being female (b = 0.130, p = 0.004), having higher education (b = 0.134, p = 0.006), and smaller household size (b = –0.098, p = 0.028). Knowledge was not significantly associated with perceived disease susceptibility or severity; however, it strongly predicted perceived effectiveness of preventive measures, which in turn emerged as the most consistent and influential predictor of preventive practices. Full mediation of the effect of knowledge by perceived effectiveness was observed with protective sexual practices and avoiding crowded places, but only partial with proper hand hygiene and disinfection of fomites/high-touch surfaces.
Conclusion.
This study highlights the complex interplay between knowledge, attitudes, and practices in shaping public health behavior toward hMPX in the Philippines. Significant knowledge gaps and the mediating role of attitudes in influencing preventive practices underscore the need for targeted, stigma-free health communication strategies. Strengthening public understanding and perception through tailored interventions will be critical in mitigating hMPX transmission
Burden attributable to Iodine deficiency in Iran from 1990 to 2019: findings from Global Burden of Disease study
Full text linkAbstract
Introduction: Iodine is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones which rely on sufficient levels of iodine. Iodine deficiency (ID) gives rise to various diseases. This is the first study presenting the epidemiology of ID in the Iranian population from 1992 to 2019.
Methods: This study was performed based on the analysis of global burden of disease (GBD) study data. Epidemiological indices including prevalence, incidence, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were compared in all provinces located in Iran between 1992 and 2019.
Results: The studies\u27 collective conclusions showed that Iran\u27s age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) for iodine deficiency dropped from 14.76 to 5.92. Additionally, the ASDR for Iodine Deficiency is clearly trending lower for all provinces. The ASDR for iodine deficiency peaked in 1990 in middle-aged people of both sexes. But later in the year, the pattern changed, with males and older age groups in particular reporting a larger ASDR of iodine deficiency.
Conclusion: The findings of this study show that the burden of iodine deficiency disorder has decreased in different provinces, all age and, males, but some provinces and groups still need more regulations to reduce the burden of iodine deficiency.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Iodine, Iodine deficiency, micronutrient deficiency, age-standardized disability-adjusted life years, Iran
Statements and Declarations
Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing Interests: The author declares no financial or ethical conflicts of interest for any of the studies described in this manuscript
Awareness of breast self-examination and understanding of breast cancer treatment options among female patients of Lahore, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study
Full text linkIntroduction. Breast cancer is a major worldwide health concern that affects women in both developed and developing nations. The purpose of the study is to assess Pakistani women with breast cancer’s present understanding of breast self-examination (BSE) as well as their choices for traditional and non-conventional breast cancer treatment options.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two hospitals’ cancer departments as well as homoeopathic and nutritional clinics in Lahore, Pakistan. The data for the present study was collected from January to June 2023.
Results. A total of 296 responses were obtained. The study findings showed that most participants had little knowledge about BSE and were using multiple treatment options without informing their healthcare provider.
Conclusion. Breast cancer awareness is crucial for early detection, education about risk factors, and proactive fitness management. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) might cause problems when used with allopathic medicines, especially if healthcare professionals are not adequately informed about its concomitant use
The Crucial Role of the Project Manager: Comparing Healthcare Experiences: The role of the Project Manager in Healthcare
No full textBarriers to Breast Cancer Screening tools in a Cohort of Urban Indian Women: Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening
No full textIntroduction: Breast cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rate in India. Early detection of Breast cancer has better survival chances and reduces treatment costs. Breast cancer screening involves Breast Self-Examination (BSE), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), and Mammography. The highest burden of breast cancer has been observed in metropolitan cities. So it becomes crucial to assess breast cancer awareness and screening practices among urban women. Moreover, currently, there is a significant gap in the literature concerning the barriers that affect screening practices amongst Indian women.
Methods: We conducted a survey-based, cross-sectional study on urban Indian women living in Uttar Pradesh. Women for this study were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire which included the socio-demographic variables (address, age, occupation, education level, marital status) of the participants and cancer and cancer screening-related questions.
Results: 612 urban women in Uttar Pradesh, India participated in our study. Most were married (96%) and unemployed (59%). Approximately 76% had received education at the high school level or higher, while only 19% had health insurance. The participants\u27 ages ranged from 30 to 70 years, with a mean age of 41 years ± 8.25 years).
Conclusions: Our study revealed high breast cancer awareness among participants but disparities in screening awareness based on age, marital status, insurance, and education. Most women have a positive attitude towards breast cancer screening, recognizing its importance for early detection. This attitude can drive participation if barriers are addressed, including knowledge gaps, symptom ignorance, shyness, financial constraints, and a lack of female doctors
Why Do Middle-Aged Adults Use Or Avoid Health Services? A Study Of Social And Demographic Determinants
Full text linkIntroduction: Middle-aged adults experience distinctive health issues, yet underutilize preventive care despite Iran’s strong primary healthcare (PHC) system. This research investigates social and demographic determinants of healthcare services utilization among middle-aged adults in Qom, Iran, to support evidence-based focused interventions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in underprivileged suburbs of Qom (June–September 2024) among 697 adults aged 30–59, randomly sampled by cluster sampling. Awareness about available health services, utilization, and satisfaction with PHC service information were collected via phone interviews. Multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of service utilization.
Results: Only 11.8% of the participants were aware of middle-aged health services, and 24.2% had utilized them in the past year. Women used services 2.5 times more than men (35.3% vs. 13.9%, p<0.001), and utilization increased with age (31.1% among 50–59-year-olds vs. 19.6% in 30–39-year-olds, p=0.023).The strongest predictor was awareness: aware adults had 22.4-fold higher odds of use (95% CI: 11.60–43.29, *p*<0.001). Dissatisfaction (by 7.7% of users) was linked to gaps in staff communication (38%), overcrowding (38%), and perceived incompetence (30%). Work and education lost significance in multivariate analysis, suggesting indirect impacts.
Conclusions: PHC utilization among middle-aged population is handicapped by low awareness and gender/age disparities. Interventions should prioritize health literacy programs, staff training to improve patient-provider communication, and systemic modifications to reduce overcrowding. Increased outreach to men and younger adults are necessary to ensure equitable preventive care
The effects of social isolation and problematic social media use on well-being in a sample of young Italian gamblers
Full text linkBackground: Gambling especially when problematic, has been observed to have a significant impact on mental health, social relationships, and well-being in general. Social isolation and problematic social media use (PSMU) have also been identified as risk factors affecting psychological well-being, with a potential link to gambling that may intensify the impact on well-being, especially among adolescents. However, the interaction between these factors remains poorly explored, especially in younger populations.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of social isolation and problematic social media use on psychological well-being in a sample of adolescents, focusing on how these factors interact and influence well-being according to different engagement in gambling.
Methods: We analyzed data from the 2021/2022 Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study in Tuscany Region. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,265 Tuscan adolescents aged 15-17 years, divided into three groups according to gambling behavior: non-gamblers, occasional gamblers and problem gamblers. Participants completed self-report questionnaires to assess well-being, social isolation, and PSMU. Data were analyzed using clustering methods, descriptive statistics, and path analysis to explore the relationships among these variables.
Results: The study identified three distinct groups of gamblers: non-gamblers (74.5%), casual gamblers (14.9%) and problem gamblers (10.6%). Contrary to expectations, problem gamblers reported the highest well-being scores, suggesting potential compensatory mechanisms or subjective perceptions masking underlying vulnerabilities. Social isolation had a negative impact on well-being in all groups, with the strongest effects observed in casual gamers. Problematic social media use did not show significant differences between groups, but was associated with lower well-being in all groups. An unexpected positive interaction between social isolation and PSMU was found in problem gamblers, indicating a unique reinforcing relationship in this group.
Conclusions: The results highlight the complex interaction between gambling behavior, social isolation, and problematic social media use in influencing adolescents\u27 well-being. While social isolation consistently reduced well-being, problematic gamblers showed higher well-being scores, potentially due to developmental factors or maladaptive coping mechanisms. The study emphasizes the need for further research to better understand these relationships, particularly in the context of online gambling and social media use, to provide targeted interventions for at-risk adolescent
Attitudes and knowledge of the adult population on arboviral diseases
Full text linkBackground: Climate change and globalization have heightened the risk of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in Europe, including Italy. VBDs cause over 1 billion cases and 1 million deaths annually, accounting for 17% of all communicable diseases worldwide. With competent vectors present, effective control measures and surveillance are vital. This study assessed adults\u27 knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Arbovirus infections.
Methods: An 11-question survey targeting individuals aged 18 and over at the LHU Roma 1 vaccination clinic evaluated knowledge and experiences with Arbovirus diseases. Data were coded and analyzed.
Results: Of 308 participants, 58.1% were female, 63.65% had no children, and 84.1% held a degree or higher. Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) was the most recognized disease (65.9%), followed by Zika (52.3%), while West Nile virus risk in Italy was underestimated (20%). Dengue awareness was high (91.6%), but Usutu awareness was low (47.4%). Vaccination was supported by 93.8%, with the 41-50 age group most willing to vaccinate children. Overall, knowledge of Arbovirus diseases was limited.
Conclusions: Public awareness of VBDs and preventive measures must improve to support effective risk prevention strategies. Education campaigns are essential to address gaps in knowledge and promote informed decision-making
Virtual Reality as a Tool for Wellbeing in Public Healthcare: Analysis of a Clinical Case
Full text linkBackground:Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that enables the creation of immersive, interactive, and collaborative environments, with extensive applications in the realm of e-Health. Methods: This study aimed to reduce stress and anxiety in hospitalised patients by employing guided virtual scenarios and non-invasive biosensors. Results: During the initial experimental phase, conducted on 33 patients in a cardiac rehabilitation ward, improvements were observed in stress levels (-11.3%), depression (-4.2%), and anxiety (-3.2%) [1]. Supporting these results, a specific clinical case analysis revealed significant improvements in an 82-year-old woman with moderate depression and severe social isolation. Following the VR intervention, the patient experienced a substantial reduction in isolation, heightened motivation for daily activities, and enhanced social interaction quality, with a 35% increase in perceived quality of life. Physiological improvements included reduced sympathetic nervous system arousal and greater heart rate variability stability. Conclusions: These findings underscore VR\u27s potential to promote psychophysical wellbeing and improve healthcare service quality, advocating innovative preventive and therapeutic methods