10957 research outputs found
Sort by
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the short acculturation scale
Full text linkBackground
Acculturation plays a crucial role in shaping the health and social outcomes of migrant populations. Despite being one of the largest labour migrant groups in Malaysia, Indonesian migrant workers’ acculturation experiences remain understudied, particularly through culturally appropriate instruments. This study cross-culturally adapted and validated the Short Acculturation Scale for use among Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.
Methods
The adaptation and validation of the Short Acculturation Scale involved expert review for content relevance and clarity, forward-backward translation by qualified translators, pilot testing with a sample of the target population, and psychometric evaluation, comprising construct validity and reliability analysis.
Results
Eight of the original 12 items demonstrated excellent content validity, and was successfully translated into Indonesian with semantic and conceptual equivalence. A total of 135 Indonesian migrant workers participated in the pilot testing. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure, and internal consistency across subscales was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.679–0.816; Spearman-Brown = 0.732). Test-retest reliability showed excellent stability (ICC = 0.991-1.000, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The adapted 8-item Indonesian version of the Short Acculturation Scale demonstrated acceptable construct validity and reliability, supporting its application among Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia
Facilitators to strengthening vaccine uptake post-pandemic amongst underserved populations considering social norms and health beliefs: a global systematic review
Full text linkUNLABELLED: Reasons for low vaccine uptake include personal, physical, and societal barriers, which are not well understood for specific underserved communities, particularly ethnic minority and migrant groups. We reviewed gaps to understanding low vaccination uptake in underserved populations globally and summarise key determinants associated with vaccination uptake considering social norms and health beliefs. METHODS: Published literature was searched using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE; PSYCHINFO and Web of Science from 2020 to 2024 for primary research, with no restrictions on language; to understand uptake of COVID-19 and other vaccinations considering social norms and health beliefs in underserved groups. 55, 925 papers were screened, and 37 studies included from regions including Europe, USA, UK, African, South-Asian, and South-East Asian regions. FINDINGS: A total of 37 studies were included. Four themes pertinent to behavioural outcomes were identified in relation to vaccine uptake across ethnic groups, ethnic minority, and underserved groups, including: Influences of Health Belief Systems, Behaviours and Vaccine Uptake; Role of Social and Cultural norms, and Vaccine Uptake; Provision of Information and Vaccine Uptake; and Trust and Vaccine Uptake. We found vaccine uptake was linked with socio-demographic factors, particularly age, gender and ethnicity. There were similarities between first generation migrants and ethnic minority groups from USA or UK, and those from other regions. Younger, male and individuals from rural regions from their own native countries were also less likely to take up vaccination. Societal influences and norms were found to be significant predictors of vaccine uptake. DISCUSSION: We reviewed, how social norms and health beliefs interplay with vaccine uptake in underserved groups and report facilitators to overcome vaccine hesitancy across these population groups. There is a need to provide adequate, tailored information to combat misinformation, through trusted messengers or gatekeepers to overcome the misconceptions around vaccine, by gaining the trust of underserved groups. DISCUSSION: This review provides an overview of how social norms and health beliefs interplay with vaccine uptake in underserved and ethnic groups. It reports facilitators to overcome the barriers associated with vaccine hesitancy across these population groups. There is a need to provide and spread adequate and tailored information to combat misinformation, through trusted messengers or gatekeepers, which in turn could overcome misconceptions around vaccination, by gaining the trust of underserved groups, through support programmes facilitating vaccine uptake
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) Across Two London Boroughs: A Service-Based Analysis
Full text linkThis paper examines the clinical effectiveness of Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) in two London mental health service areas: Carshalton & Wallington (C&W) and Sutton & Cheam (S&C). Using patient data from May 2025, it evaluates the impact of CTOs on medication adherence, crisis readmission, and risk management. Findings indicate that CTOs contribute to greater stability, reduced hospitalisation, and improved engagement, though outcomes differ by population complexity. In C&W, CTOs supported adherence and relapse prevention
among a stable psychosis cohort, while in S&C they were crucial for managing dual-diagnosis and forensic patients, underscoring their context-dependent value in community psychiatry
Acute Kidney Injury in Acute Heart Failure - When to worry and when not to worry?
Full text linkAcute kidney injury is common in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. It is more common in patients with acute heart failure who suffer from chronic kidney disease. Worsening renal function is often defined as a rise in serum creatinine of more than 0.3 milligrams per deciliter (26.5 µmol/L), which by definition, is acute kidney injury stage one. Perhaps the term acute kidney injury is more appropriate than worsening renal function as it is used universally by nephrologists, internists, and other medical practitioners. In health, the heart and the kidney support each other to maintain body's homeostasis. In disease, the heart and the kidney can adversely affect each other's function causing further clinical deterioration. In patients presenting with acute heart failure and fluid overload, therapy with diuretics for decongestion often causes a rise in serum creatinine and acute kidney injury. However, in the longer term the decongestion improves survival and prevents hospital admissions despite rising serum creatinine and acute kidney injury. It is important to realize that renal venous congestion due to increased right sided heart pressures in acute heart failure is a major cause of kidney dysfunction and hence decongestion therapy improves kidney function in the longer term. This review provides a perspective on the acceptable acute kidney injury with decongestion therapy which is associated with improved survival; as opposed to acute kidney injury due to tubular injury related to sepsis or nephrotoxic drugs, which is associated with poor survival
The Impact of Coronary Ischemia Assessment on Outcomes in Those With Scar-Dependent Ventricular Tachycardia.
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Guidance and outcomes of coronary ischemia assessment (IA) in those with structural heart disease (SHD), presenting with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MMVT) is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of IA on arrhythmic and non-arrhythmic outcomes in those with SHD. METHODS: Patients presenting with MMVT over a 6-year period to a tertiary center were retrospectively analyzed. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed comparing those undergoing IA to those who did not. The primary endpoint was a composite of VT recurrence, appropriate ICD therapy, heart failure hospitalization, and death. Secondary analysis of the individual components of the composite was performed. Kaplan-Meier, univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to compare the two groups and derive predictors of poor outcomes. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventeen patients (57.6% ICM) were analyzed. 55.8% underwent IA. Following propensity score-matching, 120 patients remained. At 12 months, freedom from the primary endpoint was 68.3% of those undergoing IA versus 43.3% who did not, p < 0.001, multivariate HR 0.56 (0.34-0.92). This was driven by a reduction in all-cause mortality, with a 12-month survival of 98.3% in those undergoing IA versus 86.5% in those not undergoing IA (p < 0.01). Coronary intervention was associated with a significantly higher event-free 12-month survival compared to those who did not undergo intervention (82.4% vs 51.5%, respectively, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SHD presenting MMVT who undergo an IA have significantly improved freedom from VT recurrence, appropriate ICD therapies, HF hospitalization, and death compared to those who do not, driven by a reduction in mortality
Psychosocial interventions for smoking cessation in people with coronary heart disease.
Full text linkThis is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objective To examine the benefits and harms of different types of psychosocial interventions for smoking cessation in people with CHD. Secondary objectives To examine the benefits and harms of psychosocial interventions aimed solely at smoking cessation compared with multi-risk factor interventions for smoking cessation in people with CHD. To examine the benefits and harms of brief (duration of < one month) compared to extended (duration of ≥ one month) psychosocial interventions for smoking cessation in people with CHD. To explore whether using a validated biochemical assessment versus a self-report of abstinence moderates the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions in people with CHD. To assess the equity of psychosocial interventions for smoking cessation in people with CHD
Implementation of guideline-recommended medical therapy for patients with heart failure in Europe
Full text linkPhysicians' adherence to guideline-recommended heart failure (HF) treatment remains suboptimal, especially regarding the target doses. In particular, there is evidence that non-cardiologists are less compliant with HF guideline recommendations. This is likely to have a detrimental impact on patients' survival, readmissions and quality of life. Thus, the present document aims to address the reasons underlying low implementation and under-dosing of guideline-directed medical therapy in HF and to update a guidance for the initiation and rapid titration of HF drugs. In particular, aim of this document is to provide practical indications for drug implementation, to be applied not only by cardiologists but also by GPs and internal medicine doctors
Rurality and relative poverty drive acquisition of a stable and diverse gut microbiome in early childhood in a non-industrialized setting.
Full text linkThere are limited longitudinal data from non-industrialized settings on patterns and determinants of gut bacterial microbiota development in early childhood. We analysed epidemiological data and stool samples collected from 60 children followed from early infancy to 5 years of age in a rural tropical district in coastal Ecuador. Data were collected longitudinally on a wide variety of individual, maternal, and household exposures. Extracted DNA from stool samples were analysed for bacterial microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Both alpha and beta diversity indices suggested stable profiles towards 5 years of age. Greater alpha diversity and lower beta diversity were associated with factors typical of rural poverty including low household incomes, overcrowding, and greater agricultural and animal exposures. Consumption of unpasteurized milk was consistently associated with greater alpha diversity indices. Delivery method and antibiotic exposures during pregnancy and early childhood appeared to have limited effects on developmental trajectories of gut microbiota. Infants living in a non-industrialized setting in conditions of greater poverty and typically rural exposures appeared to acquire more rapidly a stable and diverse gut bacterial microbiome during childhood
Association between timing of motherhood and prospective cardiovascular biomarker risk factors: a twin study
Full text linkBackground:
Evidence suggests that transitioning to motherhood at a younger age is associated with higher levels of cardiovascular biomarker risk factors later in life. While early-life confounding factors alongside social and behavioural pathways contribute to this association, residual confounding may remain.
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between age at first childbirth and later life cardiovascular biomarker risk factors (BMI, android/gynoid fat ratio, blood pressure, lipid profile), and environmental and genetic confounding in female twins.
Participants and setting:
Participants were 2,204 mothers from the TwinsUK cohort (549 di-, 553 monozygotic twin pairs) who were 50 years or older and had data on age at first birth, at least one outcome, and selected covariates.
Methods:
Generalised estimation equations were used to analyse (1) individual-level crude associations of age at first birth with the outcomes, (2) di- and monozygotic between and within-family estimates, and (3) covariate-adjusted associations.
Results:
Individual-level analyses suggest that women with age at first birth <20 years (compared to 25–29 years) had higher mean BMI, android/gynoid fat ratio, and triglyceride levels after age 50. However, confidence intervals were wide. Considering within-family estimates, effect size reductions suggest partial confounding by early environmental factors, with associations for android/gynoid fat ratio persisting.
Conclusion:
Family-level confounding plays a role in the link between age at first birth and cardiovascular biomarker risk factors. Age at first birth <20 may be associated with increased cardiovascular biomarker risk. Larger representative and/or twin studies are needed to assess these findings’ significance, robustness to confounding, and specific pathways
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇