Authors:Sachiko Kubo Abstract: PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the differences between stress levels in day shift workers and night shift workers by measurements of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and by using self-administered questionnaires. METHODS: HCC was measured by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The subjective stress level was evaluated by a brief job stress questionnaire, stress response scale-18 (SRS-18), and visual analog scale (VAS).RESULTS: Mean (± standard deviation: SD) HCC in the 16 subjects was 17.28 ± 7.39 pg/mg. There was no significant difference between HCCs in day shift workers (17.98 ± 3.03 pg/mg) and rotating night shift workers (16.37 ± 1.86 pg/mg). There were also no significant differences in SRS-18 scores, job-related stress scale scores, and VAS scores between day shift workers and rotating night shift workers. There was a significant difference in HCC between the group in which the stress condition was weak or normal and the group in which the stress condition was slightly strong or definitely strong according to the SRS-18 level (p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Day shift workers and rotating night shift workers have similar HCCs and similar degrees of job-related stress. In rotating shift workers who feel strong stress, acquirement of resilience due to stress coping for medium- to long-term stress may be involved in low HCC. PubDate: Tue, 20 Dec 2022 04:58:33 +000
Authors:Mónica Ruiz-Casares Abstract: During the first COVID-19 lockdown in Namibia (March-September 2020), the Ministry of Health and Social Services reported there were an estimated 14,983 teenage pregnancies in 2020, an increase from the prior year’s estimated 13,552. The regions of Kavango East and West were particularly impacted. In response to these figures, the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO), a youth-focused Namibian non-governmental organization, facilitated an after-school intervention in 2021 to discuss key sexual and reproductive health knowledge. An identical questionnaire was administered at both pre- and post-test, in order to provide baseline information for assessing the effectiveness of a school-based intervention to promote safe sexual behaviours. A total of 18 schools in the regions of Kavango East and West participated in the intervention between May-September 2021, and 638 learners aged 13-25 were included in data analysis after completing both the pre- and post-tests. Prior to the intervention, knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, including safe sexual behaviours and accessing contraceptives was limited. Results obtained at post-test indicate there were significant increases in participants’ level of knowledge between pre- and post-test, suggesting that school-based interventions (such as the OYO program) may be effective in disseminating this crucial information to at-risk populations. PubDate: Tue, 13 Dec 2022 01:33:37 +000
Abstract: The phenomenological approach is a science that has its roots in the tradition of psychiatric science (Binswanger et al., 1896). Phenomenology intuits the content of consciousness precisely and distinguishes between concepts so that it can provide knowledge about the nature of consciousness. As the basis for scientific psychology and psychiatry, the phenomenological approach allows for a clearer understanding of the nature of mental disorders. This essay argues that phenomenology is not abstract to psychiatry is the foundation of psychiatry and has a distinguished role in psychiatry. The essay begins with an introduction to the origins and history of phenomenology and describes the psychiatric relevance of phenomenology. It then presents several arguments against Karl Jaspers’ phenomenology. It concludes by suggesting the role of phenomenology in understanding the lifeworld of people with schizophrenia. PubDate: Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:12:37 +000
Authors:Joonwoo Moon Abstract: This exploratory study examines COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy among African American college students at a four-year Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland. Although limited in scope, this research has implications for students at other HBCUs because of the shared history and culture of the “Black experience” in the United States. The study was conducted using focus groups. Key findings lie in the areas of self-efficacy, gender, and health status couched in the context of African Americans’ generational distrust of government and science to serve their best interests. In terms of self-efficacy, the students stated by taking the initial vaccines, they had done enough to ward off severe COVID-19. A concern by gender was voiced about purported side effects of the vaccine experienced from the initial doses. Certainly, as with many young adults of all races, the students in the study had a sense of invincibility regarding their health. Overall, the findings indicate that government and health organizations need to work more purposively by listening to the young African Americans they seek to serve. This in turn could lead to the creation of more effective health messages to reach demographics and communities who view themselves as outliers from the larger society. PubDate: Fri, 09 Dec 2022 03:01:35 +000
Authors:Chander Kumar Lohana Abstract: Exercise is a crucial strategy for diabetes management. However, the majority of patients with Type 2 diabetes seem reluctant to do physical activity. It increases the need of investigating the factors that are responsible for their non-exercising routine. This study aims to recognize the psychological and social barriers that prevent patients with diabetes mellitus to do exercise. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 275 patients with type 2 diabetes attending family medicine outpatient clinics for the last six months. The questionnaire has been designed to collect data regarding psychological and social barriers to exercise. A comparison of social and psychological barriers with general characteristics was performed. The findings of the study reveal that all the general characteristics were significantly associated with psychological and social barriers. The patients reported that lack of interest, no willpower, a feeling of depression, unaffordability, and time barriers were the most frequent barriers among social and psychological barriers to exercise. PubDate: Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:34:01 +000
Authors:Keresi Rokorua Bako Abstract: BACKGROUND: Individuals with type 2 diabetes play a pivotal role in their health. Enhancing the self-management of diabetes can improve blood glucose control, and quality of life, and reduce diabetes-related complications. We have identified factors influencing the self-management of type 2 diabetes to inform strategies that may be applied in the long-term management of blood glucose control.METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review of recent studies published between January 2010 to December 2020 to identify the available evidence on effective self-management strategies for type 2 diabetes. The databases used for the searchers were Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. We assessed English language publications only. The screening of titles was duplicated by two researchers. We then conducted a thematic analysis of the key findings from eligible publications to identify reoccurring messages that may augment or abate self-management strategies.RESULTS: We identified 49 relevant publications involving 90,857 participants. Four key themes were identified from these publications: Individual drive, social capital, Knowledge base, and Insufficient health care. High motivation and self-efficacy enabled greater self-management. The importance of family, friends, and the health care professional was salient, as were the negative effects of stigma and labelling. Enablers to good self-management were the level of support provided and its affordability. Finally, the accessibility and adequacy of the health care services emerged as fundamental to permit diabetes self-management.CONCLUSIONS: Self-management of type 2 diabetes is an essential strategy given its global presence and impact, and the current resource constraints in health care. Individuals with type 2 diabetes should be empowered and supported to self-manage. This includes awareness raising on their role in self-health, engaging broader support networks, and the pivotal role of health care professionals to inform and support. Further research is needed into the capacity assessment of healthcare systems in diabetes medicine, targeted low-cost resources for self-management, and the financial requirements that enable self-management advice to be enacted. PubDate: Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:42:58 +000
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