Factors influencing parent satisfaction with preventive health services for the early detection of speech and language delay in preschool children

The aim of this study was to identify parent and child characteristics which could influence parent satisfaction with preventive health services designed to detect preschool children with speech and language (SL) delay. This study was conducted on 101 children aged 18 to 36 months who participated in an organized SL delay early detection program. Validated instruments were used to assess children’s and parents’ characteristics. Satisfaction was evaluated using the client satisfaction questionnaire for the three activities of the program: 1) a public information session about SL development, 2) parent training sessions for parents concerned by their child SL development, and 3) a child’s SL assessment. Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify all independent factors (p < 0.05) associated with satisfaction and to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for satisfaction. Economically disadvantaged parents were less prone to participate in the first two activities of the early detection program. Older parents were more satisfied with the public information session (OR = 1.33 for 1 year increment;p = 0.001). Distressed parents were less satisfied with both the parent training sessions (OR = 0.28;p = 0.009) and the SL assessment (OR = 0.43;p = 0.046). Parents whose child had health problems at birth were less satisfied with the public information session (OR = 0.14, p = 0.03) and the SL assessment (OR = 0.33, p = 0.036). There is a need to better adapt the delivery of preventive services for the early detection of SL delay, especially for disadvantaged and distressed parents and for those whose child had suffered from health problems at birth.

Effect of Health Management in Raising Awareness Rate of Disease Prevention and Treatment in Patients with Prehypertension

Objective: To analyze the effect of health management on improving the awareness rate of disease prevention and treatment in patients with prehypertension, so as to provide guidance for clinical management of patients with prehypertension. Methods: 108 patients diagnosed with prehypertension in our hospital were divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group was not given management measures, while the experimental group was given health management. The incidence of hypertension and cognition level of hypertension knowledge were compared between the two groups after management. Results: The incidence of hypertension in the experimental group was 7.41% lower than that in the control group 29.63%. The cognitive level of hypertension in the patients (66.54 ± 1.25) was significantly higher than that in the patients without health management (41.45 ± 2.45), and P < 0.05;Conclusion: For patients with prehypertension, the implementation of health management is helpful to improve their cognition of hypertension, master related prevention knowledge, and reduce the incidence of hypertension.

Pandemic prevention and personality psychology: Gender differences in preventive health behaviors during COVID-19 and the roles of agreeableness and conscientiousness

One of the greatest public health crises in recent times,the COVID-19 pandemic,has come with a myriad of challenges in terms of health communication and public cooperation to prevent the spread of the disease.Un-derstanding which are the key determinants that make certain individuals more cooperative is key in effectively tackling pandemics and similar future challenges.In the present study(N=800),we investigated whether gen-der differences in compliance with preventive health behaviors(PHB)at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic could be established,and,if so,whether the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness could help explain this presumed relationship.Consistent with our theorizing,we found women to score higher than men on agreeableness and conscientiousness,and to be more willing to comply with a set of PHB.Importantly,both per-sonality traits were found to mediate the gender-compliance link.This means that women’s greater compliance levels with PHB could,at least in part,be attributed to their higher agreeableness and conscientiousness scores.A greater understanding of the determinants of PHB in terms of gender and associated personality traits may help identify options for developing more effective communication campaigns,both in terms of communication channel selection and message content.

Health Awareness: A Significant Factor in Chronic Diseases Prevention and Access to Care

Health literacy and awareness are essential strategies in promoting global health and improving access to care. While seen as an essential tool for promoting population health awareness to improve early detection and treatment of chronic diseases, it is yet to be emphasized in most African countries. Health literacy is an essential practice to promote chronic disease prevention and reduce the growing threat to population health. Incidences and mortalities from chronic diseases commonly arise from limited knowledge of the causative risk factors and access to health facilities. Without knowledge about causes, health impacts, and available health services, people continue to indulge in the habits that worsen their health conditions and fail to access care timely. By using health literacy and awareness as a tool for chronic disease prevention, healthcare professionals will develop strategic health awareness programs that fit the socio-demographics of the population they serve. This article explored the significant role health awareness occupies in individual and community health prevention through health promotion and education. It reviewed the concept and dimensions of chronic disease prevention, cultural beliefs and impact on chronic diseases, gaps created by low health literacy, and the significance of health literacy in disease prevention and health promotion. Furthermore, it recommends that health systems and local communities form partnerships to address common and emerging health problems, and health systems should be properly funded.

INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND ENGINEERING CHINESE ACADEMY OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

The Institute of Environmental Health and Engineering,consisting of the previousDepartment of Environmental Health and the Department of Sanitary andEnvironmental Engineering of the Institute of Health founded in 1954,was establishedin1986.This Institute has around 220 staff in total and 11 departments,namely,theDepartment of Environmental Epidemiology;Department of EnvironmentalChemistry;Department of Environmental Toxicology;Department of EnvironmentalMicrobiology;Department of Soil Hygiene;Department of Water Treatment;

Enhancing diabetic retinopathy screening:Non-mydriatic fundus photography-assisted telemedicine for improved clinical management

The utilization of non-mydriatic fundus photography-assisted telemedicine to screen patients with diabetes mellitus for diabetic retinopathy provides an accurate,efficient,and cost-effective method to improve early detection of disease.It has also been shown to correlate with increased participation of patients in other aspects of diabetes care.In particular,patients who undergo teleretinal imaging are more likely to meet Comprehensive Diabetes Care Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set metrics,which are linked to preservation of quality-adjusted life years and additional downstream healthcare savings.

Vibrio vulnificus Disease Prevalence

Vibrio vulnificus is a deadly disease that has been increasing in prevalence. In this study, we review both primary and secondary data to discuss the factors that are contributing to the increase of vibrio disease, causing a 41% increase between 1996 and 2005. It has also been shown that public health campaigns to limit vibrio infections have focused on raw seafood consumption. However, an estimated 42% of infections are now being caused by wound infection, rather than through contaminated seafood. This shows the disparities in addressing vibrio contamination through contaminated seawater and open wounds. This is particularly stressing as global warming is causing an increase in risk of contaminated seawater. Reasons for this increase are discussed, and also possible solutions are presented for public health interventions to help mitigate this rise in vibrio infections.

Individual factors related to chronic condition in Portuguese adolescents: Highlights from the HBSC/WHO study

Background: Adolescence includes a period (10 to 19 years) of profound biopsychosocial changes, constituting potentially difficult challenges, which may become more pronounced in the presence of a chronic condition and its limitations. Responses are not homogeneous and can be quite variable, depending on various specific individual factors. Research comparing adolescents with or without chronic illness, or comparing across different conditions, has been contradictory, not confirming a direct relationship between the degree of suffering and the chronic condition. Objective: To characterize and assess the impact of 1) having a chronic condition (CC) and 2) how CC affects school participation;and its association with life satisfaction and perception of wellness, controlling for demographic factors: age, gender and family socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: 5050 Portuguese adolescents with an average age of 14 years participated in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children/WHO (HBSC). Results: The majority of the adolescents with CC reported that their conditions did not affect school participation. Adolescents with CC who indicated that CC affected school participation felt more frequently unwell and presented lower life satisfaction. Being a boy, younger and having high family socio economic status (SES) were identified as predictors of higher life satisfaction;on the other hand, being a girl, older, having lower SES, living with CC and feeling that CC affects school participation are predictors for feeling more frequently unwell. Conclusions: These adolescents showed an increased vulnerability, presenting internalized symptoms and lower life satisfaction. Furthermore, when there was simultaneous occurrence of living with CC and that CC affected school participation, the impact was even higher. Thus, it is crucial that future interventions should include the identified predictors, combined with “listen to the voice” of adolescents, throughout the adaptation process.