Self-Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions in Iraqi Hospitals: Patient’s Perspectives

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represent the important cause of morbidity and mortality that affect patients using drugs. Previous studies have clarified the knowledge and attitude toward ADRs reporting among healthcare providers, while studies toward awareness of patients are limited. Aim and Objective: To evaluate knowledge and attitude toward ADRs reporting among patients visiting general hospitals in Baghdad City. Methods: This observational study was conducted on randomly selected 300 patients at the out-patient setting of general hospitals in Baghdad. Demographic characteristics of participants were documented and questionnaire regarding knowledge and perceptions was given to fill up, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Demographic analysis showed that 55% of patients were males, 62% of them were from rural areas, and only 34% were college graduates. Regarding knowledge about ADRs, 73.3% patients were aware about ADRs and 37% had experienced ADRs in past. None of the respondents were aware of ADR reporting center. Regarding perceptions toward ADR, 84.2% agreed to report ADR in future and 90% respondents believed that ADR reporting may strengthen the patient safety. According to 61% of patients, patient education program is the best way to educate them regarding ADR. Conclusion: Educational interventions are highly recommended to improve awareness among patients regarding the validity of ADRs reporting.

Differences in insomnia-related self-reported outcomes among elderly hospitalized patients

Insomnia is among the most common sleep disorders worldwide.Insomnia in older adults is a social and public health problem.Insomnia affects the physical and mental health of elderly hospitalized patients and can aggravate or induce physical illnesses.Understanding subjective feelings and providing reasonable and standardized care for elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia are urgent issues.AIM To explore the differences in self-reported outcomes associated with insomnia among elderly hospitalized patients.METHODS One hundred patients admitted to the geriatric unit of our hospital between June 2021 and December 2021 were included in this study.Self-reported symptoms were assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7(GAD-7),Geriatric Depression Scale-15(GDS-15),Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness(MUNSH),Barthel Index Evaluation(BI),Morse Fall Scale(MFS),Mini-Mental State Examination,and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire(SF-36).Correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between sleep quality and self-reported symptoms.Effects of insomnia was analyzed using Logistic regression analysis.RESULTS Nineteen patients with AIS≥6 were included in the insomnia group,and the incidence of insomnia was 19%(19/100).The remaining 81 patients were assigned to the non-insomnia group.There were significant differences between the two groups in the GDA-7,GDS-15,MUNSH,BI,MFS,and SF-36 items(P<0.05).Patients in the insomnia group were more likely to experience anxiety,depression,and other mental illnesses,as well as difficulties with everyday tasks and a greater risk of falling(P<0.05).Subjective well-being and quality of life were poorer in the insomnia group than in the control group.The AIS scores positively correlated with the GAD-7,GDS-15,and MFS scores in elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that GDS-15≥5 was an independent risk factor for insomnia in elderly hospitalized patients(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The number of self-reported symptoms was higher among elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia.Therefore,we should focus on the main complaints of patients to meet their care needs.

Covalently Cross-Linked and Mechanochemiluminescent Polyolefins Capable of Self-Healing and Self-Reporting

Compared with non-cross-linked and dynamically covalent polymers,covalently cross-linked networks are irreplaceableinmany areas;however,they aredifficult to repair once fractured,due to limited polymer chain diffusion after cross-linking.Herein,the authors have reported a newkind of permanently cross-linked polyolefin,which when attached with amide side groups,yieldmechanically robust yet readily repairablematerials.A key is to use low cross-linking density,which enables satisfactory elasticity and chain mobility for thermodynamically favored healing.Another key is to incorporate dense hydrogen bonds that can undergo reversible associations.These factors jointly promise polyolefin networks with good mechanical properties and self-healing performance(recovered spontaneously up to 96%of its original tensile strength).More importantly,by means of mechanochemiluminescence from 1,2-dioxetane,which serves as the cross-linker and built-in self-reporting stress probe,a microscopic evaluation of how the chain entanglement proceeds upon healing and how failure occurs in the network can be obtained.

Correlation between self-reported recovery and central sensitization in whiplash patients

Central sensitization has been associated with chronic pain in whiplash patients.Methods:Consecutive whiplash patients were assessed at 3 months post-whiplash injury with the brachial plexus provocation test(BPPT)as a sign of central sensitization.Self-reported recovery was assessed by the response to the question ‘Do you feel you have recovered fully from your accident injuries?'Results:Sixty-nine subjects(32 males,37 females,age 37.5±13.0 years(mean±SD),range 18-71)were included.Of these,34 reported a lack of recovery,and 35 reported recovery at 3 months post-injury.The mean BPPT elbow extension(from 180°)was 41.5±23.0°,and the mean VAS score for the BPPT was 2.2 ± 1.2(out of 10).Those who reported recovery had a mean BPPT elbow extension angle of 25.1±15.8 while those who did not report recovery had a mean BPPT angle of 58.4 ± 15.9(P＜0.05).The visual analogue scale(VAS)score for recovered subjects was 1.8 ± 1.1 and 2.7 ± 1.1(P＜0.05)for non-recovered.There was a moderate correlation between self-reported recovery and BPPT elbow extension angle(-0.44)and a lower correlation between self-reported recovery and VAS score(-0.30).Conclusion:Self-reported recovery correlates well with a lower likelihood of signs of central sensitization.Copyright(c)2012,Shanghai University of Sport.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.

What Is the Role of Work-Related Factors in Self-Reported Health Inequalities among Employed Individuals? A Longitudinal Study in Luxembourg

Objectives: We measured health inequalities among employed Luxembourg residents over time and the socio-economic and work-related determinants. Design and Setting: Longitudinal data were obtained from the Socio-economic Liewen zu L&#235;tzebuerg/European Union Survey on Income and Living Conditions, which has been conducted each year since 2003 in Luxembourg. Participants: Participants comprised 727 Luxembourg residents (58% men), aged between 21 and 55 years in 2003, who were employed between 2003 and 2012. Primary and Secondary Outcomes Measured: The variable of interest was self-reported health. We used transition indicators on work-related factors to consider changes that individuals may have experienced in their job over this period. Results: People who moved from a part-time to a full-time contract (odds ratio (OR): 5.52, confidence interval (CI): 1.55 - 19.73), and those who moved from the 3rd or 4th quartile of earnings to the 1st or 2nd quartile (OR: 2.48, CI: 1.02 - 6.05) between 2003 and 2012, had a higher risk of being in poor health in 2012. The risk of deterioration in self-reported health in 2012 among people who were healthy in 2003 was associated with the type of contract, economic activity, and occupation. Conclusion: Health inequalities occur among employed people in Luxembourg. Their importance varies according to work-related characteristics and economic activity. Our findings showed that declined health status was associated with contract type, profession, and economic activity. This suggests that measures should be taken to maintain good health for people working in these specific occupations or economic sectors (e.g. preventive action, reduction of risk exposure, change of occupation in the same company, and so on).

Technology Usage among Elderly with Self-Reported Hearing Disability: Results from InveCe.Ab

Background: Awareness of hearing disability in the elderly has adverse cognitive and functional consequences over time, in a longitudinal population-based study. Aim: To analyze the hypothesis that over time old people aware of hearing disability make less use of technology and lose more instrumental activities of daily living than peers with other self-reported hearing conditions. Methods: We analyzed 1171 healthy participants in the longitudinal population-based InveCe.Ab study. The consistency between self-reported hearing loss with clinician-evaluated hearing status (Whispered Voice Test;WVT), was categorized by consistency as: unaware of hearing loss (UHL), aware of hearing loss (AHL), only subjective hearing loss (OSHL), without hearing loss (noHL). Results: At baseline (2010), hearing loss was found in 159 [13.6% (95% CI: 11.7 - 15.7)] of the participants [28 = 17.6% (95% CI: 12.0 - 24.4) AHL;131 = 82.4% (95% CI: 75.6 - 88) UHL], while 23 [2.3% (95% CI: 1.4 - 3.4)] of the subjects with normal WVT had OSHL. Mobile phone usage was significantly associated with different consistency categories (p i.e. executive, memory and visuo-spatial) were independently associated with maintaining mobile phone usage and instrumental activities of daily living. Conclusion: Self-reported hearing disability is linked to subsequent loss of mobile phone usage and functional dependency. As cognitive performances independently influence technology usage and functional impairment, targeted preventive interventions should address functional impact of perceived hearing loss, but also encourage social participation and improve mobile phone usage. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01345110;registered on April 29, 2011.

Knowledge Level and Self-Reported Attitudes of Food Handlers: Case Study of a University Campus

This study was performed conducting surveys to assess the Knowledge Level (KL) and Self-Reported Attitudes (SRA) of Food Handlers (FH) in order to evaluate their food safety perception. Food handlers working in 5 cafes and 6 canteens in a university campus responded to a questionnaire about food hygiene. The knowledge level about food hygiene was obtained by answering five question groups (G): Agents involved in food borne diseases (G1), Food handling hygiene (G2), Cross contamination (G3), Heat treatment/cooling techniques (G4), Reduced temperatures (G5). The SRA level was obtained through seven questions with multiple choice options on behaviors of health and safety applied to the work routine, which were considered as percentage of hits. The hygiene’s knowledge average was 75%, ranging from 63.3% (G4) to 94.5% (G3). Significant associations between establishment type and G1 (p = 0.027), professional experience and G5 (p = 0.020), training and G5 (p = 0.037) were found. Food handlers knowledge did not have effect in FH attitude (p = 0.371). From 25 FH (46.0%) who had high KL, 17 had reported incorrect attitudes. The level of hits is, in general, more than 75%, except for matters relating to the use of different cutting tables (44.4%) and knives (51.9%). Significant differences of values and odds for handlers’ knowledge were observed between cafes’ and canteens’ FH. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed in FH SRA scores according to the type of establishment. The results reveal a reduced application of knowledge acquired by food handlers, evidenced by the low level of attitudes considered correct. This clearly justifies the implementation of additional measures, including on job training as part of an effective strategy to control establishment’s food safety.

Accuracy of self-reported medicines use compared to pharmaceutical claims data amongst a national sample of older Australian women

This study assessed agreement between two measures of medicine use, self-report by mail and pharmaceutical claims data, for a national sample (N = 4687) of older women aged 79 to84 in2005, from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Medicines used for common chronic diseases in older people were selected, with pharmaceutical claims data retrieval periods of three and six months. For six month retrieval, Kappa’s ranged between 0.44 (nervous system medicines) and 0.94 (glucose lowering medicines). For three month retrieval, aspirin (Kappa: 0.35) and folic acid (Kappa = 0.48) had lowest agreement. Women were least able to accurately report use of nervous system medicines (sensitivity 80%). Specificity was consistently high across all classes, suggesting women could accurately report using a medicine. Pharmaceutical claims data can assist evaluation of judicious medicines use, changes to availability and uptake of medicines, and track medicine expenditure for chronic conditions. Over-the-counter medicines, medicines not covered by pharmaceutical subsidies and those used on an as needed basis may be best measured by self-report, as use may be underestimated using pharmaceutical claims data.

Self-reported cigarette smoking status imprecisely quantifies exposure in pregnancy

Objective: We sought to determine the validity of self-reported smoking activity versus two quantitative measurements of tobacco exposure in pregnancy. We hypothesized that pregnant women would under-report their daily smoking amounts, due to the negative social stigmas associated with such a behavior. Methods: Cigarette-smoking and non-smoking pregnant women were recruited as part of a larger research study. Pregnant women with a singleton baby (>24 weeks) were recruited at a clinical appointment or prior to an elective caesarian section. Self-reported smoking status, including time since last cigarette, was recorded. End-tidal breath carbon monoxide (ETCO) levels and urine cotinine levels were measured and compared. Results: Both normotensive non-smoking (NTN) (n = 44) and normotensive smoking (NTS) (n = 24) pregnant women were recruited. A strong correlation was found between ETCO levels and urine cotinine measurements (r = 0.6566, p 0.05). Conclusion: Self-reported smoking status accurately identifies women who smoke in pregnancy, but not their level of tobacco exposure. Urine cotinine or ETCO are much better quantitative measurements of nicotine and carbon monoxide, respectively, and should be measured for a more precise indicator of smoking activity. These devices will allow for better counseling and monitoring of women who are trying to quit smoking and/or who enter into smoking cessation programs.

The Influence of Social Desirability on Self-Reported Sexual Behavior in HIV Survey in Rural Ethiopia

Objective: It is in order to examine associations between social desirability (SD) and self-reports of abstinence among youths in rural Ethiopia. Methods: Youths of ages 15-24 (114 participants) were administered questionnaire to assess HIV knowledge and primary abstinence and a modified Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale to assess SD bias. The relationships between SD groups (dichotomized into high and low) and abstinence by various characteristics were assessed by using Fisher’s exact p-values. Results: The odds of individuals reporting abstinence were 13.2 times greater in the high SD group compared to the low SD group (p-value 0.002) when adjusted for education, gender, age group, and HIV knowledge. The differences in abstinence between the high and low SD score groups were also examined for selected variables. Conclusions: Individuals who exhibited more SD bias were more likely to report primary abstinence. SD bias should be considered when conducting self-reported surveys to measure the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs.

Correlates of self-reported colorectal cancer screening accuracy in a multi-specialty medical group practice

Purpose: We assessed whether accuracy of self-reported screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) varied by respondent characteristics or healthcare utilization. Methods: From 2005 to 2007, 857 respondents aged 51 - 74 were recruited from a multi-specialty medical group practice to answer a questionnaire about their CRC screening (CRCS) behaviors. Self-reports were compared with administrative and medical records to assess concordance, sensitivity, specificity, and report-to-records ratios for overall CRCS (fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, and/or colonoscopy). Results: Concordance was good (30.8 to 30.7 to 5 visits outside the clinic had poor (30.9) or good but poor for respondents whose healthcare provider did not advise a specific CRCS test. Specificity was poor for the following respondents: 65+ years, males, college graduates, family history of CRC, >5 visits outside of the clinic, or whose healthcare provider advised a specific CRCS test. Respondents 65+ years and with >5 outside visits over-reported CRCS. Conclusions: With few exceptions, self-reports of CRCS in an insured population is reasonably accurate across subgroups. More work is needed to replicate these findings in diverse settings and populations to better understand subgroup differences and improve measures of CRCS.

Acne Vulgaris in Jeddah Medical Students: Prevalence, Severity, Self-Report, and Treatment Practices

Acne is a common skin disorder of teenagers and continues into adulthood. Research has been limited regarding acne prevalence, perception and health care utilization in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to assess acne prevalence in final year female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia using the global acne grading system (GAGS) compared with student’s self-report of their acne. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 151 students during 2016, in which students were interviewed subjectively and examined objectively by a trained physician. This study showed that acne was reported subjectively by 83.4% of female students compared to 98% of students assessed objectively by the global acne grading system. 14.6% of students claimed having no acne while it was objectively present, which was statistically significant (Χ2 = 15.4, P 2 months in 39.1% of students. Acne was present in 41.1% of the students parents compared to 83.4% in their siblings. A total of 41.7% of student had trunk acne. 60.9% of students had scarring and 72.8% of them had pigmentation. Moderate to severe acne students had higher siblings acne history of 95.2% (Χ2 = 5.85, P 2 = 4.05, P 2 = 4.87, P < 0.05) which was statistically significant. Our study confirms that acne is very common in female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with a prevalence rate of 98%. Knowledge regarding acne treatment was inadequate demonstrating the need for educational and awareness programs about early treatment that will prevent suffering from acne scarring or pigmentation.

Functionalized carbon dots for corrosion protection:Recent advances and future perspectives

Metal corrosion causes significant economic losses,safety issues,and environmental pollution.Hence,its prevention is of immense research interest.Carbon dots(CDs)are a new class of zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials,which have been considered for corrosion protection applications in recent years due to their corrosion inhibition effect,fluorescence,low toxicity,facile chemical modification,and cost-effectiveness.This study provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis,physical and chemical properties,and anticorrosion mechanisms of functionalized CDs.First,the corrosion inhibition performance of different types of CDs is introduced,followed by discussion on their application in the development of smart protective coatings with self-healing and/or self-reporting properties.The effective barrier formed by CDs in the coatings can inhibit the spread of local damage and achieve self-healing behavior.In addition,diverse functional groups on CDs can interact with Fe^(3+)and H^(+)ions generated during the corrosion process;this interaction changes their fluorescence,thereby demonstrating self-reporting behavior.Moreover,challenges and prospects for the development of CD-based corrosion protection systems are also presented.

Depression among Health Care Workers in Khartoum State, Sudan, 2022

Introduction: Depression is a serious issue affecting healthcare workers and is a leading cause of disability for both genders. Furthermore, it is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, responsible for 4.4 percent of global disability. An estimated 350 million people are currently living with depression worldwide. Objectives: to estimate the prevalence of depression among healthcare workers in Khartoum State in 2022 and determine the associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers in Khartoum State, Sudan, in 2022 using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. Depression was screened using the self-reporting questionnaire (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages were used to display the data. Odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval were estimated using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine associations between depression and related factors. Results: A total of 341 valid responses were received, with a mean age of 33.91. The overall prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 > 8) was 258 (75.6%). The prevalence was significantly associated with marital status (single and divorced), occupation (psychologist), and working department (Emergency Department), showing a p-value of Conclusion: Depression is a serious mental health disorder that affects all people, including healthcare workers, and is a growing problem in Sudan. To address this, healthcare organizations must implement policies and strategies to reduce inequality and protect healthcare workers. A multidisciplinary approach that includes mental health professionals, the Ministry of Health, and universities is needed to prioritize mental health issues and ensure quality care and the overall well-being of both healthcare workers and patients.

Importance of methodological considerations in documenting psychological trauma

The documentation of psychological trauma is obviously a challenge to clinicians while they are diving deep into remote events related to their clients or patients.The potential role of psychological trauma in the early developmental stages,and even the existence of adverse childhood experiences,is important to prove,yet it is difficult to do so.A diverse range of methods have been applied,all of which presumably benchmark a big therapeutic step;however,these enthusiastic methods frequently do not last for long.While hypnosis supporters,Freudian and Neo-Freudian disciples can be acute enough to enhance and uncover suppressed memories,modern psychiatry relies mostly on diversely structured interviews.Functional magnetic resonance and its related subtleties might help,but the questions that remain unanswered are numerous and confusing.Connecting early experiences with long-term memory while identifying psychological trauma its importance for the individual’s growth trajectory;thus,it remains an intriguing issue.

Heart-on-chips screening based on photonic crystals

Recently,organ-on-chips have become a fast-growing research field with the widespread development of microfluidic chips and synthetic materials in tissue engineering.Due to the existing cardiotoxicity of many cardiovascular drugs,heart-onchips which are promising to replace traditional animal models have been extensively researched and developed to mimic human organ functions in vitro.The heart-on-chips mainly focus on cardiac mechanics,which is regarded as the central indicator of in vitro heart models and drug testing.Traditional methods for the detection of myocardial mechanics have been demonstrated complex and inefficient in heart-on-chips.Therefore,photonic crystal materials with unique optical properties have attracted interests and have been introduced into the heart-on-chips,developing a visualized self-reporting system for cardiomyocytes activity monitoring.In this review,photonic crystal-based heart-on-chips for biosensing are introduced,as well as the fabricationmethods and design criteria of them.The characterizations of the photonic crystal materials are classified into optical properties and structural properties,and their applications in cell culture and biosensing are further discussed.Then,several representative examples and developments of the integration of photonic crystal materials into microfluidic chips are described in detail.Finally,potentials and limitations are put forward to promote the development of the photonic crystal-based intelligent heart-on-chips.

Association of symptoms with gastrointestinal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome

AIM:To investigate the correlations between selfreported symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) and the gastrointestinal(GI) microbiota composition.METHODS:Fecal samples were collected from a total of 44 subjects diagnosed with IBS.Their symptoms were monitored with a validated inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire adjusted for IBS patients.Thirteen quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were applied to evaluate the GI microbiota composition.Eubacteria and GI bacterial genera(Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus and Veillonella),groups(Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale,Desulfovibrio desulfuricans) and distinct bacterial phylotypes [closest 16S rDNA sequence resemblance to species Bifidobacterium catenulatum,Clostridium cocleatum,Collinsella aerofaciens(C.aerofaciens),Coprococcus eutactus(C.eutactus),Ruminococcus torques and Streptococcus bovis ] with a suspected association with IBS were quantified.Correlations between quantities or presence/absence data of selected bacterial groups or phylotypes and various IBSrelated symptoms were investigated.RESULTS:Associations were observed between subjects' self-reported symptoms and the presence or quantities of certain GI bacteria.A Ruminococcus torques(R.torques)-like(94% similarity in 16S rRNA gene sequence) phylotype was associated with severity of bowel symptoms.Furthermore,among IBS subjects with R.torques 94% detected,the amounts of C.cocleatum 88%,C.aerofaciens-like and C.eutactus 97% phylotypes were significantly reduced.Interesting observations were also made concerning the effect of a subject's weight on GI microbiota with regard to C.aerofaciens like phylotype,Bifidobacterium spp.and Lactobacillus spp.CONCLUSION:Bacteria seemingly affecting the symptom scores are unlikely to be the underlying cause or cure of IBS,but they may serve as biomarkers of the condition.

Epidemiological Features of Allergic Rhinitis in Four Major Cities in Western China

Allergic rhinitis（AR）,with an increasing uptrend of the prevalence in many developed and developing countries,is a global health problem that affects people of all ages and ethnic groups.However,data on the prevalence of self-reported AR in western China are rare.This study investigated the epidemiological features of self-reported AR in western China.In the cross-sectional,population-based study,a validated questionnaire survey on self-reported AR was carried out in 4 major cities in western China by multistage,stratified and cluster sampling,from January to December 2008.The total prevalence rate was 34.3%,with 32.3%（Chongqing）,34.3%（Chengdu）,37.9%（Urumqi）,30.3%（Nanning）,respectively.The prevalence presented to increase with age before 30 years old while decrease with age after 30 years old,and the highest prevalence was in 19-30 years group in Chongqing,Chengdu and Nanning which significantly showed ＂persistent and moderate-severe＂ type（P0.0001）;In Urumqi,there wasn＇t a significant increasing or decreasing trend of prevalence rate with age but with an ＂intermittent and mild＂predominance（P0.0001）.There were no distinct sexual differences in prevalence rates in the 4 cities.The morbidity was positively related to monthly average temperature and sunshine（r=0.76645,P=0.0036;r=0.67303,P=0.0165）,but negatively associated with relative humidity（r=-0.64391,P=0.0238） in Urumqi.Interestingly,the monthly morbidity was negatively associate with average temperature,sunshine and precipitation in Nanning（r=-0.81997,P=0.0011;r=-0.60787,P=0.0360;r=-0.59443,P=0.0415）.Self-reported AR is becoming common in western China with a rapid development in recent years,affecting about three persons out of ten.The climatic factors may have an indirect impact on the prevalence rate through the effects on the local allergens.

Perceived ill-health and health seeking behavior in two communities in the nam theun 2 hydroelectric project area in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic

Objective:To compare perceived ill-health and health seeking behavior between two communities affected by the large Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project in central Lao People’s Democratic Republic(PDR).Methods: Two different affected areas;Nakai plateaubeing remote,sparcely populated and mountainous,and Xe Bang Fai lowland plains,more densely populated and comparatively affluent were included.Data were obtained from two cross-sectional household-based health and socio-economic surveys.Results:We found pronounced differences in the frequency of self-reported fever,cough,headache and myalgia according to location.On the Nakai plateau,45.1%of the individuals with ill-health report(recall period;2 weeks) went to a local health volunteer compared to only 7.2%in the Xe Bang Fai area(P 【 0.001 ).In Nakai,there were disproportionately more illiterates seeking help from local health volunteers when compared to those who attended at least primary schooling(49.2%versus 17.5%,P 【0.01 ).Self-medication with antimalarials was more common in Xe Bang Fai than on Nakai(32.3%versus 7.0%,P 【 0.001).The mean amount of money spent per health consultation was US $ 1.7 in Nakai and US $ 7.2 in Xe Bang Fai.Conclusion:The observed differences in self-reported ill-health and health seeking behavior among these two Lao communities need to be considered when implementing setting-specific mitigation measures as part of the public health action plan of the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project.

Validity of long-term and short-term recall of occupational sitting time in Finnish and Chinese office workers

Background:As sedentary behavior is a global health issue,there is a need for methods of self-reported sitting assessment.The accuracy and reliability of these methods should also be tested in various populations and different cultural contexts.This study examined the validity of longterm and short-term recall of occupational sitting time in Finnish and Chinese subgroups.Methods:Two cohort groups of office-based workers(58.6%female,age range 22
67 years)participated:a Finnish group(FIN,n=34)and a Chinese group(CHI,n=36).Long-term(past 3-month sitting)and short-term(daily sitting assessed on 5 consecutive days)single-item measures were used to assess self-reported occupational sitting time.Values from each participant were compared to objectively measured occupational sitting time assessed via thigh-mounted accelerometers,with Spearman’s rho(r)used to assess validity and the Bland-Altman method used to evaluate agreement.Coefficients of variation depicted day-to-day variability of time spent on sitting at work.Results:In the total study sample,the results showed that both long-term and short-term recall correlated with accelerometer-derived sitting time(r=0.532,95%confidence intervals(CI):0.336
0.684,p<0.001;r=0.533,95%CI:0.449
0.607,p<0.001,respectively).Compared to objectively measured sitting time,self-reported occupational sitting time was 2.4%(95%CI:
0.5%to 5.3%,p=0.091)and 2.2%(95%CI:0.7%
3.6%,p=0.005)greater for long-term and short-term recall,respectively.The agreement level was within the range
21.2%to 25.9%for long-term recall,and
24.2%to 28.5%for short-term recall.During a 5-day work week,day-to-day variation of sitting time was 9.4%§11.4%according to short-term recall and 10.4%§8.4%according to accelerometry-derived occupational sitting time.Conclusion:Overall,both long-term and short-term self-reported instruments provide acceptable measures of occupational sitting time in an office-based workplace,but their utility at the individual level is limited due to large variability.