Global contact lens prescribing 2000-2020

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Contact lens prescribing data serve as a benchmark for eye care clinicians in assessing their own prescribing patterns and provide useful contextual information for researchers and the contact lens industry.

PURPOSE

To document global trends in contact lens prescribing during the first two decades of this century.

METHODS

A longitudinal survey of contact lens prescribing was conducted by asking contact lens practitioners to provide 11 items of information from 10 consecutive contact lens fits between January and March each year from 1996 to 2020, inclusive.

RESULTS

Data relating to 406,859 contact lens fits were collected from 71 countries between 1996 and 2020, generating 4.5 million data points. Demographic analysis for 61 nations returning ≥100 fits demonstrated that a majority of lenses (65-70%) were fitted to females. The average age of lens wearers was 30.8 ± 13.9 years for males and 32.5 ± 14.3 years for females. Trend analysis of 20 countries returning prescribing data for ≥13 years between 2000 and 2020 revealed the following: increase in the age of lens wearers; dramatic rise in the extent of fitting silicone hydrogel and daily disposable lenses; increased fitting of soft toric and multifocal lenses; increasing proportion of rigid lens fits in specialist (non-spherical) designs; incomplete provision of near contact lens corrections for contact lens wearing presbyopes; ongoing low levels of extended wear fits; and almost exclusive use of multi-purpose care systems. Daily disposable lenses were used for both full-time and part-time wear, whereas rigid and soft reusable lenses were primarily worn full time.

CONCLUSIONS

The evolution of international contact lens fitting over the first two decades of this century is documented. The data presented here may assist all stakeholders in advancing contact lens clinical practice, informing contact lens research, and guiding contact lens manufacturers.

The collaborative outcomes study on health and functioning during infection times in adults (COH-FIT-Adults): Design and methods of an international online survey targeting physical and mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

. High-quality comprehensive data on short-/long-term physical/mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.

METHODS

. The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT) is an international, multi-language (n=30) project involving >230 investigators from 49 countries/territories/regions, endorsed by national/international professional associations. COH-FIT is a multi-wave, on-line anonymous, cross-sectional survey [wave 1: 04/2020 until the end of the pandemic, 12 months waves 2/3 starting 6/24 months threreafter] for adults, adolescents (14-17), and children (6-13), utilizing non-probability/snowball and representative sampling. COH-FIT aims to identify non-modifiable/modifiable risk factors/treatment targets to inform prevention/intervention programs to improve social/health outcomes in the general population/vulnerable subgrous during/after COVID-19. In adults, co-primary outcomes are change from pre-COVID-19 to intra-COVID-19 in well-being (WHO-5) and a composite psychopathology P-Score. Key secondary outcomes are a P-extended score, global mental and physical health. Secondary outcomes include health-service utilization/functioning, treatment adherence, functioning, symptoms/behaviors/emotions, substance use, violence, among others.

RESULTS

. Starting 04/26/2020, up to 14/07/2021 >151,000 people from 155 countries/territories/regions and six continents have participated. Representative samples of ≥1,000 adults have been collected in 15 countries. Overall, 43.0% had prior physical disorders, 16.3% had prior mental disorders, 26.5% were health care workers, 8.2% were aged ≥65 years, 19.3% were exposed to someone infected with COVID-19, 76.1% had been in quarantine, and 2.1% had been COVID 19-positive.

LIMITATIONS

. Cross-sectional survey, preponderance of non-representative participants.

CONCLUSIONS

. Results from COH-FIT will comprehensively quantify the impact of COVID-19, seeking to identify high-risk groups in need for acute and long-term intervention, and inform evidence-based health policies/strategies during this/future pandemics.

Boosting Whole-Grain Utilization in the Consumer Market: A Case Study of the Oldways Whole Grains Council's Stamped Product Database

Whole grains are a vital part of a healthy diet, yet there are insufficient data on the whole-grain content of commercial food products. The purpose of this research is to examine the long-term change in (1) measured whole grains in food products, (2) Whole Grain Stamp usage and (3) the prominence of whole-grain ingredients and product categories, across the United States and Latin America. These changes were quantified by analyzing the Oldways Whole Grains Council’s (WGC) Stamped Product Database from 2007 to 2020. Mean whole grains increased 36–76%, from 19 grams to 25.8 grams per serving in the U.S. and 18.1 grams to 31.9 grams per serving in Latin America. Whole Grain Stamp usage worldwide has increased from 250 products in 2005 to more than 13,000 products in 2020. These findings suggest that manufacturers are increasing the percentage of the grain that is whole in their products and developing more whole-grain products for consumers, thus providing an opportunity for consumers to meet national-level whole-grain recommendations.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population-based cancer registry

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to national health systems and impacted health outcomes worldwide. However, the extent to which surveillance systems, such as population-based cancer registration, have been affected was not reported. Here we sought to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on registry operations across different areas and development levels worldwide. We investigated the impact of COVID-19 on three main areas of cancer registry operations: staffing, financing and data collection. An online survey was administered to 750 member registries of the International Association for Cancer Registries. Among 212 responding registries from 90 countries, 65.6% reported a disruption in operations, ranging between 45% in south-eastern Asia and 87% in the Latin America and Caribbean. Active data collection was disrupted more than case notifications or hybrid methods. In countries categorized with low Human Development Index (HDI), a greater number of registries reported a negative impact (81.3%) than in very high HDI countries (57.8%). This contrast was highest in term of impact on financing: 9/16 (56%) registries in low HDI countries reported a current or an expected decline in funding, compared to 7/108 (7%) in very high HDI countries. With many cancer registries worldwide reporting disruption to their operations during the early COVID-19 pandemic, urgent actions are needed to ensure their continuity. Governmental commitment to support future registry operations as an asset to disease control, alongside a move toward electronic reporting systems will help to ensure the sustainability of cancer surveillance worldwide.

Comparing International Experiences With Electronic Health Records Among Emergency Medicine Physicians in the United States and Norway: Semistructured Interview Study

Background

The variability in physicians’ attitudes regarding electronic health records (EHRs) is widely recognized. Both human and technological factors contribute to user satisfaction. This exploratory study considers these variables by comparing emergency medicine physician experiences with EHRs in the United States and Norway.

Objective

This study is unique as it aims to compare individual experiences with EHRs. It creates an opportunity to expand perspective, challenge the unknown, and explore how this technology affects clinicians globally. Research often highlights the challenge that health information technology has created for users: Are the negative consequences of this technology shared among countries? Does it affect medical practice? What determines user satisfaction? Can this be measured internationally? Do specific factors account for similarities or differences? This study begins by investigating these questions by comparing cohort experiences. Fundamental differences between nations will also be addressed.

Methods

We used semistructured, participant-driven, in-depth interviews (N=12) for data collection in conjunction with ethnographic observations. The conversations were recorded and transcribed. Texts were then analyzed using NVivo software (QSR International) to develop codes for direct comparison among countries. Comprehensive understanding of the data required triangulation, specifically using thematic and interpretive phenomenological analysis. Narrative analysis ensured appropriate context of the NVivo (QSR International) query results.

Results

Each interview resulted in mixed discussions regarding the benefits and disadvantages of EHRs. All the physicians recognized health care’s dependence on this technology. In Norway, physicians perceived more benefits compared with those based in the United States. Americans reported fewer benefits and disproportionally high disadvantages. Both cohorts believed that EHRs have increased user workload. However, this was mentioned 2.6 times more frequently by Americans (United States [n=40] vs Norway [n=15]). Financial influences regarding health information technology use were of great concern for American physicians but rarely mentioned among Norwegian physicians (United States [n=37] vs Norway [n=6]). Technology dysfunctions were the most common complaint from Norwegian physicians. Participants from each country noted increased frustration among older colleagues.

Conclusions

Despite differences spanning geographical, organizational, and cultural boundaries, much is to be learned by comparing individual experiences. Both cohorts experienced EHR-related frustrations, although etiology differed. The overall number of complaints was significantly higher among American physicians. This study augments the idea that policy, regulation, and administration have compelling influence on user experience. Global EHR optimization requires additional investigation, and these results help to establish a foundation for future research.

In-season head-coach changes have positive short- and long-term effects on team perfor-mance in men's soccer-evidence from the Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga

The study investigated effects of in-season head-coach changes (HCC) on the subsequent team performance in men's English, German, and Spanish premier soccer leagues. A pre-post matched-controls design involved 149 HCC-teams and 3,960 games in 2010-19. Analyses (paired t-test, repeated-measurement ANOVA) revealed five central findings. 1. An HCC was preceded by a spell of under-performance, with a particular performance collapse in the two last pre-HCC rounds. 2. Performance showed an instant, strong improvement in the first post-HCC game. 3. The performance remained increased up to 16 post-HCC rounds. 4. Post-HCC performance also exceeded teams' initial baseline performance earlier before the HCC. Accordingly, the summed performance through 8, 12, and 16 post-HCC rounds exceeded the performance through 8, 12, and 16 pre-HCC rounds (0.92 < Cohen's d < 1.17). 5. HCC-teams' pre-post performance development differed from matched non-HCC control teams. In sum, the present evidence suggests positive short, medium, and long-term HCC effects at the highest professional soccer level. Theoretical hypotheses discussed in the literature - the "common-sense," "ritual-scapegoating," "vicious-circle," and "mean-reversion" hypotheses - are partly inconsistent with the present evidence. However, the evidence is fully consistent with a new hypothesis introduced here: the hypothesis of relief from a coach's performance-suppressing factor (RCPSF).

Pediatric spinal cord injury rehabilitation: A protocol for an international multicenter project (SINpedSCI)

PURPOSE

Children and adolescents (<18 years old) who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI) should ideally be managed in specialized rehabilitation services. This project aims to describe the organization of pediatric SCI in ten rehabilitation units in seven countries and to qualitatively explore psychosocial aspects of adolescents living with SCI.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional project is planned, using quantitative (web survey) and qualitative (interview) methods in ten rehabilitation units from Norway, Sweden, United States, Israel, PR China, Russia and Palestine. Individual interviews will be conducted with ≥20 adolescents aged 13-17 years at least 6 months' post rehabilitation.

RESULTS

Units involved will be described and compared, according to funding, attachment to an acute SCI unit, catchment area, number of beds, admittance and discharge procedures, availability of services, staff/patient ratio, content and intensity of rehabilitation programs, length of stay, measurement methods, follow-up services, health promotion services, and pediatric SCI prevention acts. The semi-structured interview guide will include experiences from acute care and primary rehabilitation, daily life, school, contact with friends, leisure time activities, peers, physical and psychological health, and the adolescents' plans for the future.

CONCLUSION

Based on the present protocol, this project is likely to provide new insight and knowledge on pediatric SCI rehabilitation and increase the understanding of pediatric SCI in adolescents and their families internationally.

Comparison of the Canadian vs. the international risk scoring tool for respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis in moderate-to-late preterm infants

AIM

The study objective was to compare the Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada risk scoring tool (CRST) that determines need for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis in infants 33-35 weeks gestational age during the RSV season, with the newly developed international risk scoring tool (IRST).

METHODS

Children 33-35 weeks gestational age born during the 2018-2021 RSV seasons were prospectively identified following birth and scored with the validated CRST and IRST, that comprises seven and three variables respectively, into low- moderate- and high-risk groups that predict RSV-related hospitalization. Correlations between total scores on the two tools, and cut-off scores for the low-, moderate- and high-risk categories were conducted using the Spearman rank correlation.

RESULTS

Over a period of 3 RSV seasons, 556 infants were scored. Total risk scores on the CRST and the IRST were moderately correlated (r_s  = 0.64, p < 0.001). A significant relationship between the risk category rank on the CRST and the risk category rank on the IRST (r_s= 0.53; p < 0.001) was found. The proportion of infants categorized as moderate risk for RSV hospitalization by the CRST and IRST were 19.6% (n = 109) and 28.1% (n = 156), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The IRST may provide a time-efficient scoring alternative to the CRST with three vs. seven variables, and it selects a larger number of infants who are at moderate risk for RSV hospitalization for prophylaxis. A cost-utility analysis is necessary to justify country-specific use of the IRST, while in Canada a cost comparison is necessary between the IRST vs. the currently approved CRST prior to adoption.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Physicians in Practice - A Training Model for Specialty Specific and Clinically Relevant Skill Development

Point-of-care Ultrasound (POCUS) skills are required competencies for emergency medicine and paediatric emergency medicine training [1,2,3,4]. Over time, more specialties will require these skills of their graduates. Experienced physicians who completed their training before POCUS requirements may ask: How can I gain POCUS skills training and competency? In this perspective piece we describe in-person and asynchronous training programs available to these clinicians in practice. We highlight these programs due to their person-centred design: they maximise the needs of the learner, provide personalised education, and expose them to respected and established POCUS faculty and training centers.

Socio-Demographic and Attitudinal Correlates of Problematic Social Media Use: Analysis of Ithra's 30-Nation Digital Wellbeing Survey

Time spent on social media continues to rise globally. For some individuals, social media use can become maladaptive and associated with clinically significant social and occupational impairments. This problematic social media use (PSMU) is also linked with poorer health and wellbeing. Much of our existing PSMU knowledge comes from single nation studies, heavily focused on adolescent and college-age samples. This study uses data from Ithra's 2021 global digital wellbeing survey to explore rates of PSMU and identify socio-demographic and attitudinal correlates. Participants (N = 15,000) were representative adult samples (N = 500) drawn from 30 nations. All participants provided socio-demographic data and completed a measure of PSMU, along with questions assessing attitudes toward social media and general usage patterns. PSMU prevalence was 6.82%, varying from 1.7 to 18.4% between nations. Multivariate logistical regression identified several correlates, including national culture, age, parenthood and frequency of use. These findings can help inform public policy and public health initiatives to reduce PSMU prevalence.

Types of Childhood Exposure to Violence and Association With Caregiver Trauma in Peru

This study examined typologies of childhood polyvictimization and the associations of profiles with demographic characteristics at the levels of child, household, and primary caregiver. This study evaluated a sample of children aged 4 to 17 years residing in San Juan de Lurigancho District, an urban setting on the edge of Lima, Peru (n = 384). An in-person interview of the primary caregiver of each child was conducted in June 2018, assessing the victimization of the child, the caregiver's exposure to trauma and abuse, and general socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the household. Latent class analysis was used to identify typologies of child victimization. Follow-up analysis was conducted to quantify differences between the classes which emerged, in terms of the child, caregiver, and household. Five classes emerged: High Peer victimization, Moderate Community victimization; High Community victimization; Verbal Abuse; High victimization across domains; and Low victimization across domains. Caregiver exposure to trauma was positively associated with membership in the high-exposure classes. This study offers a unique opportunity to more deeply understand childhood exposure to violence in Latin America, specifically in an urban setting in Peru, and to further understand how childhood victimization is associated with various characteristics of the child, caregiver, and household. These findings could inform interventions supporting children and families at risk of exposure to violence in Peru or globally.

Comparison of Content and Quality of Caribbean, International, and High-Income Country-Specific Clinical Guidelines for Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is poorly managed in the Caribbean region; therefore, conducting an assessment on the content and quality of clinical guidelines could assist guideline developers in detecting and addressing information gaps. Hence, this study aimed to benchmark and compare the clinical guidelines for T2DM management from the Caribbean to guidelines developed internationally and by high-income countries.

METHODS

Seven T2DM management clinical guidelines were a priori selected from international and high-income country-specific clinical guidelines and then compared to the country-specific T2DM management clinical guidelines of the Caribbean region. Two reviewers independently assessed content (using a previously piloted data extraction form) and quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool.

RESULTS

The Caribbean clinical guideline was found to contain similar levels of T2DM management topics when compared to international and high-income country-specific clinical guidelines; however, one country-specific clinical guideline from New Zealand was found to have substantially lower levels of content. The clinical guideline from the Caribbean was found to be of low quality and could not be used in practice; however, only three comparator clinical guidelines were found to be of high quality and could be recommended for use in clinical practice. A further three comparator clinical guidelines could be used in practice with minor modifications.

CONCLUSION

Although the T2DM management clinical guidelines from the Caribbean region contained high levels of content with regards to relevant topics, it was of insufficient quality to be used in clinical practice. Therefore, an alternative high-quality clinical guideline, as identified within this study, should be adopted and used within the Caribbean region to manage T2DM until a high-quality region-specific clinical guideline can be developed.

Culture and Social Change in Mothers' and Fathers' Individualism, Collectivism and Parenting Attitudes

Cultures and families are not static over time but evolve in response to social transformations, such as changing gender roles, urbanization, globalization, and technology uptake. Historically, individualism and collectivism have been widely used heuristics guiding cross-cultural comparisons, yet these orientations may evolve over time, and individuals within cultures and cultures themselves can have both individualist and collectivist orientations. Historical shifts in parents' attitudes also have occurred within families in several cultures. As a way of understanding mothers' and fathers' individualism, collectivism, and parenting attitudes at this point in history, we examined parents in nine countries that varied widely in country-level individualism rankings. Data included mothers' and fathers' reports (N = 1338 families) at three time points in China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States. More variance was accounted for by within-culture than between-culture factors for parents' individualism, collectivism, progressive parenting attitudes, and authoritarian parenting attitudes, which were predicted by a range of sociodemographic factors that were largely similar for mothers and fathers and across cultural groups. Social changes from the 20th to the 21st century may have contributed to some of the similarities between mothers and fathers and across the nine countries.

Validation of the AO Spine Sacral Classification System: Reliability Among Surgeons Worldwide

OBJECTIVES

To (1) demonstrate that the AO Spine Sacral Classification System can be reliably applied by general orthopaedic surgeons and subspecialists universally around the world and (2) delineate those injury subtypes that are most difficult to classify reliably to refine the classification before evaluating clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

Agreement study.

SETTING

All-level trauma centers, worldwide.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred seventy-two members of the AO Trauma and AO Spine community.

INTERVENTION

The AO Sacral Classification System was applied by each surgeon to 26 cases in 2 independent assessments performed 3 weeks apart.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility.

RESULTS

A total of 8097 case assessments were performed. The kappa coefficient for interobserver agreement for all cases was 0.72/0.75 (assessment 1/assessment 2), representing substantial reliability. When comparing classification grading (A/B/C) regardless of subtype, the kappa coefficient was 0.84/0.85, corresponding to excellent reliability. The kappa coefficients for interobserver reliability were 0.95/0.93 for type A fractures, 0.78/0.79 for type B fractures, and 0.80/0.83 for type C fractures. The overall kappa statistic for intraobserver reliability was 0.82 (range 0.18-1.00), representing excellent reproducibility. When only evaluating morphology type (A/B/C), the average kappa value was 0.87 (range 0.18-1.00), representing excellent reproducibility.

CONCLUSION

The AO Spine Sacral Classification System is universally reliable among general orthopaedic surgeons and subspecialists worldwide, with substantial interobserver and excellent intraobserver reliability.

The Context of Caring and Concern for Falling Differentiate Which Mobile Fall Technology Features Chinese Family Caregivers Find Most Important

Falls are not only a leading cause of death and disability, but also a strain on the capacity for caregivers to provide care. This study examined how the context of caregiving relates to the importance of caregiver-defined mobile fall prevention feature sets. A sample of 266 family caregivers, recruited from a Chinese social media platform, reported care for an older adult and interest in mobile fall prevention technology features. Factor analysis identified three caregiver-defined feature sets: automatic fall response, digitized fall prevention tools, and social features. Multiple regression showed caregivers' concern about falling was the most robust predictor of a feature set's importance. Poisson regression revealed that caregiver concern and assistance with instrumental activities of daily living were associated with rating more features as important. Our findings suggest that caregivers are interested in mobile fall prevention technologies that support older adults' independence while also alleviating concerns about falling.

The experience of the nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic: A global meta-synthesis in the year of the nurse

Purpose

From its beginnings in China in December of 2019, the novel coronavirus COVID‐19 spread and quickly became the center of nursing care and conversation across the globe (WHO, 2020). This meta‐ethnographic study was conducted in order to provide the profession of nursing interpretative explanations of a common experience during the care of patients with COVID‐19.

Design and method

A literature review focused on the experience of the nurse during the COVID‐19 pandemic revealed a total of 13 qualitative studies conducted in China, Spain, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, and the United States. A meta‐ethnographic review of these qualitative works, using the method of Noblit and Hare, was then conducted which revealed the experience of the nurse across the globe during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Findings

The review revealed strong similarities between the experiences of the nurse across the 13 studies. Given this reciprocal relationship, translations were constructed and synthesized until four new themes emerged outlining the global experience of the nurse during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Conclusions

Despite the differences between the structures of healthcare and government of the six countries represented in this meta‐ethnography, the experience of the nurse emerged into a narrative shared by those represented in this study. As the profession of nursing continues to work through ongoing waves of COVID‐19, these results will help guide the resources and training provided to nurses on the frontline of care.

Clinical relevance

Despite great personal risk, nurses across the globe stepped up to the challenge of upholding and improving the health of the world's people during the COVID‐19 pandemic. As health policy, education, and system leaders, we must listen to the common experience revealed in this meta‐synthesis and respond by providing the resources needed to improve nursing practice and care.

Advancing Equity and Inclusion in Microbiome Research and Training

This article proposes ways to improve inclusion and training in microbiome science and advocates for resource expansion to improve scientific capacity across institutions and countries. Specifically, we urge mentors, collaborators, and decision-makers to commit to inclusive and accessible research and training that improves the quality of microbiome science and begins to rectify long-standing inequities imposed by wealth disparities and racism that stall scientific progress.

Family Function and Child Adjustment Difficulties in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study

To estimate specific proximal and distal effects of COVID-19-related restrictions on families on children's adjustment problems, we conducted a six-site international study. In total, 2516 parents from Australia, China, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America living with a young child (Mage = 5.77, SD = 1.10, range = 3 to 8 years, 47.9% female) completed an online survey between April and July 2020. The survey included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and family risk factors (parent distress, parent-child conflict, couple conflict, and household chaos) as well as a scale to index COVID-19-related family disruption. Our analyses also included public data on the stringency of national restrictions. Across the six sites, parental responses indicated elevated levels of hyperactivity, conduct, and emotion problems in children from families characterized by heightened levels of parent distress, parent-child conflict, and household chaos. In contrast, increased peer problems were more strongly related to COVID-19-related social disruption and stringency measures. Mediation models demonstrated that associations between COVID-19 social disruption and child difficulties could be explained by parental distress. Taken together, these results suggest that although the experience of the pandemic differed across countries, associations between COVID-19-related family experiences and child adjustment difficulties were similar in their nature and magnitude across six different contexts. Programs to support family resilience could help buffer the impact of the pandemic for two generations.

Attitudes About COVID-19 and Health (ATTACH): Online Survey and Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Behavioral mitigation strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in sweeping lifestyle changes, with short- and long-term psychological, well-being, and quality of life implications. The Attitudes About COVID-19 and Health (ATTACH) study focuses on understanding attitudes and beliefs while considering the impact on mental and physical health and the influence of broader demographic and geographic factors on attitudes, beliefs, and mental health burden.

OBJECTIVE

In this assessment of our first wave of data collection, we provide baseline cohort description of the ATTACH study participants in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Mexico. Additionally, we assess responses to daily poll questions related to COVID-19 and conduct a cross-sectional analysis of baseline assessments collected in the UK between June 26 and October 31, 2020.

METHODS

The ATTACH study uses smartphone app technology and online survey data collection. Participants completed poll questions related to COVID-19 2 times daily and a monthly survey assessing mental health, social isolation, physical health, and quality of life. Poll question responses were graphed using 95% Clopper-Pearson (exact) tests with 95% CIs. Pearson correlations, hierarchical linear regression analyses, and generalized linear models assessed relationships, predictors of self-reported outcomes, and group differences, respectively.

RESULTS

By October 31, 2020, 1405, 80, and 90 participants had consented to participate in the UK, United States, and Mexico, respectively. Descriptive data for the UK daily poll questions indicated that participants generally followed social distancing measures, but worry and negative impacts on families increased as the pandemic progressed. Although participants generally reported feeling that the reasons for current measures had been made clear, there was low trust that the government was doing everything in its power to meet public needs. In the UK, 1282 participants also completed a monthly survey (94.99% [1326/1396] White, 72.22% [1014/1404] female, and 20.12% [277/1377] key or essential workers); 18.88% (242/1282) of UK participants reported a preexisting mental health disorder, 31.36% (402/1282) reported a preexisting chronic medical illness, and 35.11% (493/1404) were aged over 65; 57.72% (740/1282) of participants reported being more sedentary since the pandemic began, and 41.89% (537/1282) reported reduced access to medical care. Those with poorer mental health outcomes lived in more deprived neighborhoods, in larger households (Ps<.05), had more preexisting mental health disorders and medical conditions, and were younger than 65 years (all Ps<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Communities who have been exposed to additional harm during the COVID-19 pandemic were experiencing worse mental outcomes. Factors including having a medical condition, or living in a deprived neighborhood or larger household were associated with heightened risk. Future longitudinal studies should investigate the link between COVID-19 exposure, mental health, and sociodemographic and residential characteristics.

COVID-19 and the ageing workforce: global perspectives on needs and solutions across 15 countries

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has a direct impact on the employment of older people. This adds to the challenge of ageism. The World Health Organization has started a worldwide campaign to combat ageism and has called for more research and evidence-based strategies that have the potential to be scaled up. This study specifically aims to identify solutions to combat the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the global ageing workforce.

METHODS

We present 15 case studies from different countries and report on what those countries are doing or not doing to address the impact of COVID-19 on ageing workers.

RESULTS

We provide examples of how COVID-19 influences older people's ability to work and stay healthy, and offer case studies of what governments, organizations or individuals can do to help ensure older people can obtain, maintain and, potentially, expand their current work. Case studies come from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). Across the countries, the impact of COVID-19 on older workers is shown as widening inequalities. A particular challenge has arisen because of a large proportion of older people, often with limited education and working in the informal sector within rural areas, e.g. in Nigeria, Thailand and China. Remedies to the particular disadvantage experienced by older workers in the context of COVID are presented. These range from funding support to encouraging business continuity, innovative product and service developments, community action, new business models and localized, national and international actions. The case studies can be seen as frequently fitting within strategies that have been proven to work in reducing ageism within the workplace. They include policy and laws that have increased benefits to workers during lockdowns (most countries); educational activities such as coaching seniorpreneurship (e,g, Australia); intergenerational contact interventions such as younger Thai people who moved back to rural areas and sharing their digital knowledge with older people and where older people reciprocate by teaching the younger people farming knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Global sharing of this knowledge among international, national and local governments and organizations, businesses, policy makers and health and human resources experts will further understanding of the issues that are faced by older workers. This will facilitate the replication or scalability of solutions as called for in the WHO call to combat ageism in 2021. We suggest that policy makers, business owners, researchers and international organisations build on the case studies by investing in evidence-based strategies to create inclusive workplaces. Such action will thus help to challenge ageism, reduce inequity, improve business continuity and add to the quality of life of older workers.

Prevalence and correlates of weight gain attempts across five countries

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and correlates of weight gain attempts in a pooled sample of adults aged 18 and older from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Mexico.

METHOD

Data collected during 2 years (2018 and 2019) of the International Food Policy Study (N = 42,108) were analyzed. Unadjusted 12-month prevalence of weight gain attempts was estimated based on body mass index (BMI; kg/m² ), weight perception, country, survey year, and sex. Logistic regression analyses were estimated to determine the sociodemographic correlates (age, race/ethnicity, education, BMI, weight perception, weight perception accuracy, and self-rated mental health) of weight gain attempts among the pooled sample stratified by sex.

RESULTS

Men (10.4%) were significantly more likely than women (5.4%) to report weight gain attempts (p < .001). Nearly one in five (17.1%) men with a BMI in the "normal" range (≥18.5 to <25.0) reported weight gain attempts. Among both men and women, minority group identity was associated with higher odds, while older age and higher BMI category were associated with lower odds, of reporting weight gain attempts. Country differences over the two survey years showed the prevalence of weight gain attempts in 2019 (vs. 2018) was higher among women in Australia (p < .05) and men in the United States (p < .01).

DISCUSSION

Weight gain attempts are more common among men, compared to women, across five countries, potentially reflecting the global salience of the pursuit of a muscular body.

Increasing evidence-based substance use interventions globally: The National Institute on Drug Abuse postdoctoral fellowships

As of April 2020, 121 individuals from 47 nations had completed 124 NIDA International Program INVEST Drug Abuse Research Fellowships. This is the first comprehensive effort to assess the fellowships from the combined perspectives of career outcomes, migration patterns, publications, cost per publication, and funding. We searched electronic sources such as university websites, ResearchGate, LinkedIn, PubMed, and NIH databases to find current curriculum vitae, journal articles published in 2018 and 2019, and funding records. We found electronic records for 94.2% of former NIDA INVEST fellows (n = 114); 55.5% were male (n = 67). The majority are at least partially involved in addiction research, prevention, or treatment (85.9%; n = 98), primarily at academic institutions (73.7%, n = 84) as faculty members (65.8%, n = 75) conducting research (86%, n = 98). Nearly three-fourths (74.6%, n = 85) are still working in their home countries; and 74.6% (n = 85) coauthored at least one research article indexed in PubMed during 2018 or 2019. Of the 656 unique research articles, 52.4% (n = 344) were published by multinational groups. The average cost to NIDA for each peer-reviewed publication was $19,677. More than half (53.5%, n = 61) of the fellows received funding through 431 unique grants-led by NIDA (55), other NIH Institutes and Centers (57) and other U.S. funders (55). Using the measures of career outcomes, migration patterns, publications, cost per publication, and funding INVEST fellowships are cost-effective mechanisms to advance scientific knowledge, build addiction research capacity, foster international cooperation, and promote adoption of evidence-based addiction policies and interventions around the world.