International journal of environmental research and public health
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · May 2018
Do Physical Activity Friendly Neighborhoods Affect Community Members Equally? A Cross-Sectional Study.
An activity-friendly environment may increase physical activity (PA) levels and decrease sedentary behavior (SB). This study investigated associations between socio-demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), perceived environment and objectively measured PA outcomes. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed using a questionnaire and HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D. ⋯ Interactions between personal and environmental characteristics showed that the absence of PA-hindering characteristics (e.g., heavy traffic) was associated with less SB and more MVPA, but only for residents with problems regarding pain and usual activities. The presence of PA-facilitating characteristics (e.g., aesthetics and destinations) was associated with less SB, more LPA and more MVPA but only for the more advantaged people in society. Results suggest that to reduce health inequalities, it would be more helpful to remove barriers rather than introduce PA facilitating characteristics.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · May 2018
Mental Health Status and Associated Contributing Factors among Gay Men in China.
Chinese gay men are preferentially vulnerable to mental health problems because of deep-rooted, traditional social influence that overemphasizes heterosexual marriage, fertility, and filial piety. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2017 using the Chinese version of the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) to assess the status of, and factors associated with the mental health of Chinese gay men. Unadjusted associations between demographic factors and the total score of SCL-90-R were examined using t/F tests or person correlation analysis. ⋯ A gay man who is the only child in his family was more likely to obtain a higher total score of SCL-90-R in China (B = 59.321, SE = 7.798, p < 0.001). Our study reveals the worrying mental health status of Chinese gay men. Shifts in familial, governmental, and societal normas are suggested to improve the current social acceptance towards sexual minority men, as well as to reduce detrimental health effects.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · May 2018
Nursing Intervention Practices for Smoking Cessation: A Large Survey in Hong Kong.
Previous studies have shown that nursing interventions are effective in helping people to stop smoking, but that the participation of nurses in tobacco control activities has been far from satisfactory. The primary objective of this study is to identify factors that encourage or discourage nurses from participating in providing smoking-cessation interventions to their clients, based on the 5 A's (ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange) framework. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 4413 nurses in Hong Kong from different clinical specialties. ⋯ The regression model also showed that attitude towards smoking cessation was positively associated with all of the 5 A's. The results indicate a need to encourage and provide nurses with opportunities to receive training on smoking-cessation interventions. Strategies to persuade nurses to provide smoking-cessation interventions are also important, since nurses are motivated to perform smoking-cessation interventions when they feel a stronger sense of mission to control tobacco use.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · May 2018
Eating Alone is Differentially Associated with the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men and Women.
Few studies have examined overall patterns of eating alone in relation to the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean populations. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between patterns of eating alone and the risk of MetS in Korean adults. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for 2013⁻2015 were used, with 8988 Korean adult participants, including 3624 men and 5364 women, aged 18 to 64 years. ⋯ Women who had breakfast alone compared with those who ate with others had a significantly lower risk of MetS (AOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53⁻0.94). In conclusion, patterns of eating alone are differentially associated with the risk of MetS in a representative sample of Korean adults. Future studies are warranted to identify dietary patterns across the different eating alone patterns in relation to various health outcomes in Korean adult populations.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · May 2018
Stress-Induced and Diabetic Hyperglycemia Associated with Higher Mortality among Intensive Care Unit Trauma Patients: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Propensity Score-Matched Population.
This study was designed to measure the effect of stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) and diabetic hyperglycemia (DH) versus non-diabetic normoglycemia (NDN) on the outcomes of trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ This study revealed significantly worse outcomes in terms of mortality among patients with SIH and DH who were admitted to the ICU after controlling for sex and age, preexisting comorbidities and ISS. In addition, patients who had SIH presented significantly higher adjusted odds for mortality than those DH patients. These results suggest that hyperglycemia is detrimental in patients with or without DM who were admitted to the ICU, and there is a different pathophysiological mechanisms behind the SIH and DH.