International journal of environmental research and public health
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Nov 2020
Examining the Associations between Psychological Flexibility, Mindfulness, Psychosomatic Functioning, and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis.
Social distancing plays a leading role in controlling the spread of coronavirus. However, prolonged lockdown can lead to negative consequences in terms of mental health. The goal of the research is to examine the relationship between anxiety and general psychosomatic functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of psychological flexibility and mindfulness is also considered. ⋯ Path analysis revealed that mindfulness had a direct negative impact on and decreased the level of state anxiety (b = -0.22, p = 0.002), whereas psychological flexibility influenced the variable indirectly (b = 0.23, p = 0.002) by enhancing psychosomatic functioning (b = -0.64, p < 0.001). Psychological flexibility and mindfulness may mediate the development of mental disorders and facilitate achieving overall wellbeing. The study points to the usefulness of mindfulness practice as a form of self-help with anxiety symptoms; this is crucial during the pandemic because contact with clients is restricted.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Nov 2020
Causes of Needlestick and Sharps Injuries When Using Devices with and without Safety Features.
Safety-engineered devices (SEDs) have been developed to protect healthcare personnel (HCP) from needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs). The aim of this study was to analyze NSIs associated with SEDs and non-SEDs among HCP in hospitals, medical offices and care facilities. Records from online questionnaires on NSIs were used. ⋯ Frequent reasons for SED-associated NSIs were technical problems, unexpected patient movement and problems during disposal. Our analysis shows that many NSIs are associated with SEDs. Continuous training is necessary in the handling and disposal of SEDs.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Nov 2020
The Effect of Pain Catastrophizing on Depression among Older Korean Adults with Chronic Pain: The Mediating Role of Chronic Pain Interference and Sleep Quality.
Pain catastrophizing is a notable concept associated with change in chronic pain interference and depression. Sleep quality is also one of the important factors affecting geriatric depression. This study examined the mediating effects of chronic pain interference and sleep quality on the relationship between pain catastrophizing and depression. ⋯ In the management of depression in the elderly, persistent complaints of pain should not be disregarded, irrespective of the intensity of their chronic pain. Psychological intervention is needed to alleviate negative thoughts about chronic pain and to increase the ability to cope with chronic pain. In addition, it is important to assess sleep patterns and to develop interventions to improve sleep quality, because depression in the elderly could appear as a symptom of a sleep problems.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Nov 2020
Whites' County-Level Racial Bias, COVID-19 Rates, and Racial Inequities in the United States.
Mounting evidence reveals considerable racial inequities in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes in the United States (US). Area-level racial bias has been associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, but its association with COVID-19 is yet unexplored. Combining county-level data from Project Implicit on implicit and explicit anti-Black bias among non-Hispanic Whites, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, and The New York Times, we used adjusted linear regressions to estimate overall COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates through 01 July 2020, Black and White incidence rates through 28 May 2020, and Black-White incidence rate gaps on average area-level implicit and explicit racial bias. ⋯ In 957 counties with race-specific data, higher racial bias predicted higher White and Black incidence rates, and larger Black-White incidence rate gaps. Anti-Black bias among Whites predicts worse COVID-19 outcomes and greater inequities. Area-level interventions may ameliorate health inequities.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Nov 2020
ReviewThe Causes of Insulin Resistance in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Is There a Place for Quaternary Prevention?
Diabetes mellitus was the first non-communicable disease that was recognized by the United Nations as a 21st-century pandemic problem. Recent scientific reports suggest that people with type 1 diabetes mellitus also develop insulin resistance, which is generally considered to be a distinctive feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus. ⋯ Toward this end, the present review is an attempt to combine the previous reports on the causes of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes mellitus and a brief review of quaternary prevention. The destructive effect of insulin resistance on many physiological processes that predisposes the individual to chronic diabetes complications creates an urgent need to introduce effective therapeutic methods for preventing the development and progression of this pathology.