International journal of environmental research and public health
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jan 2018
Economic Conditions May Contribute to Increased Violence toward Children: A Nationwide Population-Based Analysis of Pediatric Injuries in Taiwanese Emergency Departments.
Childhood injuries are unfortunately common. Analysis procedures may assist professionals who work with children with developing preventive measures for protecting children's wellness. This study explores the causes of pediatric injuries presenting to an emergency department in Taiwan. ⋯ Unfortunately, the incidence of homicide increased over the course of the study. Ongoing financial crises may have contributed to this increase. Multidisciplinary efforts are required to reduce homicide and reinforce the importance of measures that protect children against violence.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jan 2018
The Association between Air Pollution and Outpatient and Inpatient Visits in Shenzhen, China.
Nowadays, air pollution is a severe environmental problem in China. To investigate the effects of ambient air pollution on health, a time series analysis of daily outpatient and inpatient visits in 2015 were conducted in Shenzhen (China). Generalized additive model was employed to analyze associations between six air pollutants (namely SO₂, CO, NO₂, O₃, PM10, and PM2.5) and daily outpatient and inpatient visits after adjusting confounding meteorological factors, time and day of the week effects. ⋯ The estimated increase in overall outpatient visits associated with each 10 µg/m³ increase in air pollutant concentration ranged from 0.48% (O₃ at lag 2) to 11.48% (SO₂ with 2-day moving average); for overall inpatient visits ranged from 0.73% (O₃ at lag 7) to 17.13% (SO₂ with 8-day moving average). Our results also suggested a heterogeneity of the health effects across different outcomes and in different populations. The findings in present study indicate that even in Shenzhen, a less polluted area in China, significant associations exist between air pollution and daily number of overall outpatient and inpatient visits.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jan 2018
Organizational and Occupational Stressors, Their Consequences and Coping Strategies: A Questionnaire Survey among Italian Patrol Police Officers.
Background: Traditionally, workers employed in police forces have been found to be exposed to a high risk of distress. Several studies reported that the main stressors were associated more with organizational aspects, whilst other researchers underlined that the main stressor were associated more with operational issues. The aim of this research was to investigate operational and organizational stressors, their consequences also in terms of anxiety and the coping strategies adopted. ⋯ This allows Outdoor Patrol Officers to explore new responses and approaches to deal with situations which-owing to the type of work-it is impossible to change. Outdoor Patrol Officers appeared better equipped to change their attitude to work than Indoor Patrol Officers. Conclusion: Interventions on both organizational and operational stressors would improve the quality of Patrol Police Officers' working life and have positive repercussions on the service offered to the general public.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jan 2018
Predictors of a Change and Correlation in Activities of Daily Living after Hip Fracture in Elderly Patients in a Community Hospital in Poland: A Six-Month Prospective Cohort Study.
The consequences of hip fractures (HFs) in elderly persons include a deterioration in functional capacity to perform activities that enable independent living. Since prior research into this issue in Central Europe is rather scant, this study sought to assess the change in activities and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL) after HF surgery among Polish patients, to study predictors of regaining pre-fracture functional status three and six months later, and to evaluate the correlation between ADL and IADL limitations over time. ⋯ Impairment in functional performance is common after HF surgery. ADL and IADL were strongly correlated in these patients, with this increasing over time. Functional outcomes after HF were more dependent on patient characteristics than treatment-related factors. Therefore, more emphasis should be directed towards the pre-fracture period and, in particular, maintaining cognitive function and preserving functional capacity in older persons at high risk of HF.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jan 2018
Annual Direct Medical Costs of Diabetic Foot Disease in Brazil: A Cost of Illness Study.
The aim of this study was to estimate the annual costs for the treatment of diabetic foot disease (DFD) in Brazil. We conducted a cost-of-illness study of DFD in 2014, while considering the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (SUS) perspective. Direct medical costs of outpatient management and inpatient care were considered. ⋯ Despite using different methodologies to estimate outpatient and inpatient costs related to DFD, this is the first study to assess the overall economic burden of DFD in Brazil, while considering all of its syndromes and both outpatients and inpatients. Although we have various reasons to believe that the hospital costs are underestimated, the estimated DFD burden is significant. As such, public health preventive strategies to reduce DFD related morbidity and mortality and costs are of utmost importance.