Impact of headaches on university students in Durban, South Africa

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction among University Students in China: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Resilience

(1) Background: Universities play a crucial role in nurturing healthy habits, and physical activity has emerged as a valuable tool for enhancing the life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and resilience of college students. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between life satisfaction and self-efficacy as well as resilience among Chinese university students. (2) Method: This study used the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Self-Efficacy Scale (CGES), the Mental Toughness Scale (CD-RISC), and the Life Satisfaction Scale (CSLSS) to administer questionnaires to 353 university students from two universities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Using a random simple sampling method, the data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Excel software. (3) Results: (1) Physical activity exhibited a significant positive correlation with self-efficacy, resilience, and life satisfaction; self-efficacy was significantly and positively related to resilience and life satisfaction; and resilience was significantly and positively related to life satisfaction. (2) Physical activity had a positive predictive effect on life satisfaction (β = 0.2771; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1905, 0.3637, 55.51%). (3) Self-efficacy (β = 0.0368; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0087, 0.0692, 7.37%) and resilience (β = 0.137; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0919, 0.1894, 27.44%) mediated the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction. Also, the chain-mediating effect of self-efficacy and resilience between physical activity and life satisfaction reached significant levels (β = 0.0483; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0279, 0.0745, 9.68%). (4) Conclusion: Active participation in physical activity not only enhanced the life satisfaction of college students but also indirectly impacted their life satisfaction by improving their self-efficacy and resilience. Consequently, this led to an overall improvement in the life satisfaction of college students.

The physical impact of migraines on female chiropractic patients: A qualitative study

Background

Migraines are highly prevalent among the female population and have a significant burden on one's quality of life and physical functioning.

Aim

The study explored the physical impact and contributory factors of migraines on women and their experience of chiropractic treatment for migraine pain management.

Setting

The study was conducted in the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods

The study used a qualitative descriptive design and adopted purposive sampling. The data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews, between March and September 2021, and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The first theme that emerged focused on the physical effects of migraines. The second theme related to the factors that contributed to migraines. The third theme that emerged focused on chiropractic treatment for migraines.

Conclusion

The majority of the participants experienced chronic migraines and migraines without aura. The participants felt incapacitated and experienced debilitating physical effects with their migraines. The study highlighted that chiropractic treatment was favourable among the female population in improving the quality of life and reducing the severity, disability, duration of suffering and frequency of migraines. It was revealed that chiropractic was the preferred non-pharmacological approach for migraine treatment, as it proved to be a beneficial and effective treatment for migraine pain management.

Contribution

The findings contribute to a greater awareness of chiropractic as an effective evidence-based treatment approach for migraine pain management, which may be beneficial to migraineurs and healthcare practitioners.

The psychosocial impact of migraines on women and alternative therapies for migraine management

Background

Migraines are one of the leading causes of disability globally and in South Africa. There is a paucity of local empirical literature regarding the psychosocial impact of migraines on women. Although there are a variety of treatment approaches, many women prefer alternative and holistic treatment for their migraines.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of migraines on women and their use of complementary and alternative therapies for migraine pain management.

Setting

The study was conducted in the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods

The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants for the study. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews and subsequently analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Theme 1 related to the psychological and cognitive effects experienced by the participants. Theme 2 focused on the effects migraines had on personal, family and social relationships. Theme 3 discussed the self-management of migraines.

Conclusion

The pertinent psychological effects of migraines were depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and withdrawal, fear-avoidance behaviour, lifestyle changes, and acceptance of migraines. The participants experienced a lack of understanding about their migraine severity from co-workers, family and social networks. The alternative therapies that were sought to alleviate migraine symptoms included chiropractic, massage, meditation, reflexology, yoga, cupping and acupuncture.

Contribution

The awareness of the effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies for women may be beneficial for healthcare providers seeking a multidisciplinary approach to migraine management.

Evaluation of Headache Trends among Undergraduate First Responders for Medical Emergencies at Saudi University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background and objective: Headache is more common among students and may be a crucial indication of mental health; it can have a detrimental impact if left untreated, especially on students, and may affect their academic performance. Thus, this study aimed to assess the headache trends among undergraduate first responders for medical emergencies at Saudi University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken over three months in 2023 to analyze headache patterns among emergency medical services (EMS) students using prevalidated questionnaires. The data were collected via convenience sampling and processed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 program (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The current findings show that the majority 90.6% (n = 164) of the participants had at least one episode of headache in the last week. With regard to the number of days students had a headache during the last week, 21.5% (n = 39) of them reported 2 days, while 18.8% (n = 34) reported 1 day only. About slightly less than half (48.6% (n = 88)) of students reported that the usual site of the headache was frontal, followed by temporal 27.1% (n = 49), and 23.3% (n = 42) reported orbital. When students were asked whether a headache aggravates their routine activity, 40.3% agreed with this statement, and 44.2% of students reported that a headache causes them to avoid their routine activity (reading writing, attending college). The majority of the students considered taking analgesics (60.8%), followed by sleeping (26.5%), caffeine (14.4%), and herbal and alternative remedies (7.7%) for the relief of headaches. Although headache episodes were significantly associated with routine activities (reading writing, attending college) (p = 0.018, t = 2.282) daily activities (walking, running) (p = 0.022, t = 2.307). The findings showed that fourth-year EMS students were found to have higher headache pain intensity scores compared to other students (p = 0.046). Similarly, the pain intensity was significantly higher among the students between 1-3 and >7 episodes of headaches (p = 0.001) Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that Saudi emergency medical services students suffer from headaches. However, the current findings revealed variation in the headache pain intensity scores concerning the year of study.

Headache-a challenge across medical students' life: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Headache is a disabling disease that affects psychosocial factors. Medical students are recognized to be more susceptible to psychological stress than other. Quantitative summaries of prevalence studies on this subject are limited. The aim of this study was to quantify and comprehend the variance in prevalence at the global and regional levels.

METHODS

We used a comprehensive search approach to find studies on headaches prevalence in the medical literature published between November 1990 and May 5, 2022. Database searched were PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Studies that reported headaches (unspecified, migraine, or tension-type headache (TTH)) in medical students were included. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were applied to investigate heterogeneity, with the risk of bias tool employed to assess study quality. PROSPERO number CRD42022321556 was assigned to the study protocol.

RESULTS

Out of 1561 studies, 79 were included. The pooled prevalence estimates of unspecified headache, migraine, and TTH were 70.44% (95% CI: 63.32-77.57), 18.9% (95% CI: 15.7-22.0), and 39.53% (95% CI: 31.17-47.90), respectively. TTH and migraine were more prevalent in Eastern Mediterranean and American region. TTH and migraine were less prevalent in higher income countries.

CONCLUSION

Although the prevalence of headaches among medical students varies in different countries, it is higher than the general population of the same age. Higher stressors and overwork in these students may contribute to this condition. The well-being of medical students should be a priority for the relevant authorities.

The impact of headache symptoms in a population of Italian university students during the COVID period: an observational study based on 4926 cases

We conducted an observational study of 4926 university students from all over Italy and different university courses, including health areas. Students were contacted through the most popular social networks and some student’s course representatives also acted as intermediaries, from June 1 to August 31, 2021. A questionnaire has been carried out using “Google Forms” and MIDAS. The study confirmed how the headache was widespreaded among the student population and how much it was underestimated (only one-fifth of the interviewees had been to a specialist/headache center). The negative impact of habitual headache on school performance was confirmed by the attendance on courses and the overall study performance. The clinical phenomenon might have been impacted by the pandemic period and its changes in lifestyle, in the study methodology, and due to the stress increase. Finally, the means used in the study were very satisfactory: the use of peers of the interviewees and the social networks, obtaining a broad acceptance of the study and possibly offering a method which is likely to be used in the future. Students presenting habitual headaches must be aware of their condition and the need to search for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

The profile of headaches and migraine amongst medical students and its association to stress level, disability and self-management practices

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is the most common headache affecting young people that impairs their functional ability. This study aimed to determine the frequency of migraines among Malaysian medical students, the association between migraines, stress level, and functional disability among these students, and describe their self-management practices.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in a private medical school in Penang state. All medical students in the study site were screened for the presence of headache symptoms and the diagnosis of migraine using a self-administered questionnaire comprising International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria. Other domains that were assessed were perceived stress level and functional disability, which were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), respectively. The students' selfmanagement practices for their headaches were determined using a descriptive survey.

RESULTS

A total of 374 medical students participated in this study and 157 (42%) students reported experiencing headaches. More than half (n=97, 61.8%) of those with headaches fulfilled the IHS criteria for migraines. Migraines were significantly associated with functional disability compared with non-migraine headaches (p<0.001); however, no significant difference in stress levels were reported between the two groups. During migraine attacks, sleep (n=73, 60.33%) and self-medication (n=56, 69.14%) were the most common self-management practices. Only 11.46% of the 157 students with headaches consulted a doctor.

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of medical students suffered from headaches and more than half of them had migraines. Migraine headaches were associated with significant functional disability. Very few students sought medical consultation and most students chose to self-manage their headaches.

Prevalence of migraine headaches and their impact on the academic performance of Sudanese medical students using ID-Migraine test as a screening tool: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Migraine-and episodic headache-is one of the most common types of primary headache. Migraine is considered a serious health problem that affects the quality of life. During university life, students often report increased levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and irregular sleep, all of which are associated with migraines. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of migraine headaches among medical campus students at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. Based on available data, migraine is on the rise in both general populations as well as in university students.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. The study population was composed of students registered to the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy at Khartoum University in the academic years of 2020-2021. Out of these, 318 of them accepted to participate. Participants who had two or more headaches in the last 3 months formed the headache group. Afterwards, two preliminary questions were applied to the headache group and participants with at least one affirmative response were asked to perform the validated ID-Migraine™ test.

RESULTS

The mean age of 318 students participating in the study was 19.23 ± 1.84 (17-39 years), with adolescents:adult ratio being 2.5:1. A total of 1613 students (43.7%) had at least two headaches in the last 3 months. Migraine-type headache was detected in 266 subjects (7.2%) based on the ID-Migraine™ test. Of the migraine group, 72 were male (27.1%) and 194 were female (72.9%). There was no significant difference in migraine prevalence between adolescent and adult age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

With prevalence similar to adults, primary care physicians should be aware of the probability of migraine headaches in university students in order to maintain a successful school performance.

The online learning experience and reported headaches associated with screen exposure time among Saudi health sciences students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health issue and has significantly impacted university education. As a result, learning methods have been shifted to be delivered through online learning. Online learning has increased reliance on computer screens, which can cause visual discomfort and may cause or exacerbate headaches due to prolonged screen exposure. However, time spent using electronic devices has not yet been examined in relation to the online learning experience.

PURPOSE

This study assessed the online learning experiences and reported headaches associated with screen exposure time among health sciences university students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 353 students at Saudi University. Online learning experiences, screen time exposure, and reported headache questionnaires were used to collect the data.

RESULTS

Students were moderately satisfied with the online learning experience. Nevertheless, they faced many challenges with online learning that affected their communication efficacy, and they preferred that blended learning be continued. In addition, this study found a high prevalence of headache (65.72%) and a high screen exposure time among the studied students (52.69%). Increased screen time exposure is linked with increased headache and migraine reporting among students (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Headache is a common health issue among health professional students, and it can harm their academic performance and quality of life, especially related to online learning. Greater awareness of headaches, stress reduction and prevention programs, and ergonomic practices to deal with headaches are essential. Blended learning approaches can improve student learning and performance in health science courses.

Smartphone Use and Sleep Quality in Chinese College Students: A Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND

Chinese college students are at high risk of sleep problems, and smartphone use is common among this population. However, the relationship between smartphone use characteristics and sleep problems in Chinese college students has been inadequately studied. In this preliminary study, we examined the association of poor sleep quality with smartphone use in a sample of Chinese college students from a health vocational college in Changsha, China.

METHODS

A total of 439 college students completed a self-report questionnaire containing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and questions regarding demographic information, psychosocial factors, physical health, smartphone use characteristics, and mobile phone addiction (MPA).

RESULTS

The results showed that the prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQI > 7) in Chinese college students was 9.8%. In multiple logistic regression analysis, poor sleep quality was significantly associated with male gender (OR: 2.80, P: 0.022), not having good physical health (OR: 2.61, P: 0.020), headache (OR: 2.47, P: 0.014), more severe depressive symptoms (OR: 2.17, P: 0.049), > four years of smartphone use (OR: 3.38, P: 0.001), > five hours of daily smartphone use (OR: 2.19, P: 0.049), and more severe inability to control MPA craving (OR: 2.04, P: 0.040).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that excessive smartphone use and MPA are associated with poor sleep quality in a sample of Chinese college students from a health vocational college. Because of the limited sample representativeness and cross-sectional design of this study, large-scale prospective representative studies are warranted to confirm these associations.