International journal of environmental research and public health
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2019
Assessing the Retail Food Environment in Madrid: An Evaluation of Administrative Data against Ground Truthing.
Previous studies have suggested that European settings face unique food environment issues; however, retail food environments (RFE) outside Anglo-Saxon contexts remain understudied. We assessed the completeness and accuracy of an administrative dataset against ground truthing, using the example of Madrid (Spain). Further, we tested whether its completeness differed by its area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and population density. ⋯ Accuracy was slightly higher using location/name matching (k = 0.71 vs 0.62). We found some evidence for systematic differences in PPV by area-level SES using location matching, and in both sensitivity and PPV by population density using location/name matching. Administrative datasets may offer a reliable and cost-effective source to measure retail food access; however, their accuracy needs to be evaluated before using them for research purposes.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2019
Hospitalization Costs and Financial Burden on Families with Children with Depression: A Cross-Section Study in Shandong Province, China.
Depression, one of the most frequent mental disorders, affects more than 350 million people of all ages worldwide, with China facing an increased prevalence of depression. Childhood depression is on the rise; globally, and in China. This study estimates the hospitalization costs and the financial burden on families with children suffering from depression and recommends strategies both to improve the health care of children with depression and to reduce their families' financial burden. ⋯ Children suffering from depression with medical insurance had higher hospitalization costs and longer hospitalization stays than children without medical insurance. While uninsured inpatients experienced larger out-of-pocket costs than insured patients, out-of-pocket hospital expenses strained all family budgets, pushing many, especially low-income, families into poverty-insured or uninsured. The different hospital cost structures for drugs, treatment, bed fees, nursing and other costs, between insured and uninsured children with depression, suggest the need for further investigations of treatment regimes, including over-demand by parents for treatment of their children, over-supply of treatment by medical staff and under-treatment of uninsured patients. We recommend more careful attention paid to diagnosing depression in girls and further reform to China's health insurance schemes-especially to allow migrant families to gain basic medical insurance.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2019
Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Referendums on the Suicidal Ideation Rate among Nonheterosexual People in Taiwan.
: Taiwan held voter-initiated referendums to determine same-sex marriage legalization on 24 November 2018. This study aims to compare suicidal ideation rates in heterosexual and nonheterosexual participants of a first-wave survey (Wave 1, 23 months before the same-sex marriage referendums) and a second-wave survey (Wave 2, one week after the same-sex marriage referendums) in Taiwan and to examine the influence of gender, age, and sexual orientation on the change in suicidal ideation rates in nonheterosexual participants. In total, 3286 participants in Wave 1 and 1370 participants in Wave 2 were recruited through a Facebook advertisement. ⋯ Nonheterosexual participants who were female, younger, gay, lesbian, and bisexual in Wave 2 had a higher suicidal ideation rate than those in Wave 1. The suicidal ideation rate significantly increased in nonheterosexual participants experiencing the same-sex marriage referendums in Taiwan. Whether civil rights of sexual minority individuals can be determined through referendums should be evaluated.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2019
Observational StudyThe Pros and Cons of the Prediction Game: The Never-ending Debate of Mortality in the Intensive Care Unit.
The Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scales are scoring systems used in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. We aimed to investigate their usefulness in predicting short- and long-term prognosis in the local ICU. ⋯ Although APACHE II and SAPS II are good predictors of ICU mortality, they failed to predict survival after discharge. Surgical patients had a better prognosis than medical ICU patients.
-
Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2019
Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome in Older Adults.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus type 2 which may be reduced by practicing regular physical activity. ⋯ MetS is associated with physical inactivity and unhealthy diet. To increase LTPA recommendations and raise awareness in the population about the health benefits of PA and high adherence to MD is highly recommended.