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Syndicus M, Wiese BS. Decision made, good feelings fade? How noise and multitasking affect decision confidence and well-being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2024; 30:471-479. [PMID: 38351569 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2024.2318941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Objectives. This study aimed to examine the influence of office noise and multitasking on decision confidence, overconfidence, satisfaction, calibration and affective well-being. Detrimental effects of noise and multitasking on perceived annoyance and concentration are well documented. Little is known about whether decision confidence and well-being during decisions are also affected. Methods. The study was a between-subjects laboratory experiment (n = 109) involving a noise condition with office noise presented through headphones (A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level of LAeq = 60 dB), a multitasking condition with an email-sorting task as the primary task and a control condition. Results. Compared to the control condition, subjects in the noise and multitasking conditions exhibited overestimation of confidence. There was also a significant decrease in well-being for people in the noise condition. Calibration was not affected. Conclusion. In the case of noise, well-being is affected even before the thresholds of workplace legislation are reached. Undue overconfidence can have detrimental effects upon subsequent decisions and risk-taking. Findings suggest that there should be greater consideration of environmental influences during decision-making in work environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Syndicus
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building, RWTH University, Germany
| | - Bettina S Wiese
- Personnel and Organizational Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
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2
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Zanini L, Picano C, Spitoni GF. The Iowa Gambling Task: Men and Women Perform Differently. A Meta-analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s11065-024-09637-3. [PMID: 38462590 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-024-09637-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was designed to assess decision-making under conditions of complexity and uncertainty; it is currently one of the most widely used tests to assess decision-making in both experimental and clinical settings. In the original version of the task, participants are given a loan of play money and four decks of cards and are asked to maximize profits. Although any single card unpredictably yields wins/losses, variations in frequency and size of gains/losses ultimately make two decks more advantageous in the long term. Several studies have previously suggested that there may be a sex-related difference in IGT performance. Thus, the present study aimed to explore and quantify sex differences in IGT performance by pooling the results of 110 studies. The meta-analysis revealed that males tend to perform better than females on the classic 100-trial IGT (UMD = 3.381; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the significant heterogeneity observed suggests high variability in the results obtained by individual studies. Results were not affected by publication bias or other moderators. Factors that may contribute to differences in male and female performance are discussed, such as functional sex-related asymmetries in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, as well as differences in sensitivity to wins/losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Zanini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Picano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Fernanda Spitoni
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Strauss M, Mičetić Turk D, Lorber M, Pogačar MŠ, Koželj A, Tušek Bunc K, Fijan S. The Multi-Strain Probiotic OMNi-BiOTiC ® Active Reduces the Duration of Acute Upper Respiratory Disease in Older People: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1760. [PMID: 37512932 PMCID: PMC10385525 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence is the adverse change in the human immune function during aging, leaving older people more prone to an increased risk of infections and morbidity. Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are very common among older people, often resulting in continued morbidity and mortality. Therefore, approaches, such as consuming probiotics, that shorten the duration or even reduce the incidence of URTIs in older people are being studied. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a multi-strain probiotic OMNi-BiOTiC® Active, which contains 11 live probiotic strains, on the incidence, duration, and severity of URTIs in older people. In this randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study, 95 participants, with an average age of 70.9 years in the probiotic group and 69.6 years in the placebo group, were randomly allocated to two groups: 1010 cfu per day of the multi-strain probiotic intervention OMNi-BiOTiC® Active (49) or placebo (46). The incidence of URTIs in older people after 12 weeks supplementation with OMNi-BiOTiC® showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.5244). However, the duration of the URTI infections was statistically significantly different between the groups (p = 0.011). The participants that consumed the probiotic had an average duration of illness of 3.1 ± 1.6 days, whilst participants that received the placebo had symptoms for an average of 6.0 ± 3.8 days (p = 0.011). Statistically significant differences in lymphocyte counts in both groups after supplementation (p = 0.035 for the probiotic group and p = 0.029 for the placebo group) and between both groups were found (p = 0.009). Statistically significant differences in eosinophil (p = 0.002) and basophil counts (p = 0.001) in the probiotic groups before and after supplementation with probiotics were also found. Supplementation with the multi-strain probiotic OMNi-BiOTiC® Active may benefit older people with URTIs. Larger randomised controlled clinical trials are warranted. Clinical Trial Registration; identifier NCT05879393.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Strauss
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Dušanka Mičetić Turk
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Lorber
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Maja Šikić Pogačar
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Anton Koželj
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Ksenija Tušek Bunc
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Community Healthcare Center dr. Adolf Drolc Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Sabina Fijan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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Zivi P, Sdoia S, Alfonsi V, Gorgoni M, Mari E, Quaglieri A, De Gennaro L, Giannini AM, Ferlazzo F. Decision-Making and Risk-Propensity Changes during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050793. [PMID: 37239265 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The imposition of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic placed individuals under conditions of environmental stress, threatening individual and collective wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate the temporal effects of isolation and confinement during and after the Italian lockdown on decision-making, risk propensity, and cognitive control processes. The present study covered almost the entire Italian lockdown period (each week from the end of March to mid-May 2020), plus a follow-up measure (September 2020). At each time-point, respondents completed online behavioral tasks, which involved measuring risk-propensity (Balloon Analogue Risk Task), decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task), and cognitive flexibility (Category Switch Task). They also filled in questionnaires regarding subjective stress and anxiety. The main findings showed that the decision-making abilities of the respondents were affected as the confinement progressed. Furthermore, individuals who were more subjectively impacted by the lockdown/isolation experience exhibited impaired decision-making, especially during the lockdown. The results of the study highlight that prolonged confinement may affect human decision making, and help understand individuals' misbehaviors during emergencies and develop effective countermeasures aimed at reducing the burden of the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Zivi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Sdoia
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Alfonsi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gorgoni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mari
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Quaglieri
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Giannini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Ferlazzo
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Verster JC, Kraneveld AD, Garssen J. The Assessment of Immune Fitness. J Clin Med 2022; 12:jcm12010022. [PMID: 36614822 PMCID: PMC9821524 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune fitness (i.e., adequate functioning of the immune system) is essential to maintain health, prevent and resolve disease, and improve quality of life. This article provides an overview of how to assess immune fitness. It discusses how a single-item rating scale can be used to assess immune fitness. The scale can be used in conjunction with a single "yes" or "no" question asking whether the individual is experiencing reduced immune fitness. Retrospective assessments can be complemented with the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ) to provide more insight into the type and frequency of experiencing specific immune-related complaints. Momentary assessments of immune fitness can be complemented with biomarker measurements in body fluids. As individuals may be unaware of systemic inflammation (e.g., biomarker concentrations outside the normal range), it remains critical to combine immune fitness assessments with biomarker measurements of immune functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris C. Verster
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-302-536-909
| | - Aletta D. Kraneveld
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Garssen
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Global Centre of Excellence Immunology, Nutricia Danone Research, 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Okeke SR. “Compared to COVID, HIV Is Nothing”: Exploring How Onshore East Asian and Sub-Saharan African International Students in Sydney Navigate COVID-19 versus BBVs/STIs Risk Spectrum. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19106264. [PMID: 35627800 PMCID: PMC9141421 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: While a large body of evidence indicates changes in alcohol and other drug use among young people as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lack of evidence around changes in sexual practices and how the pandemic may be impacting the potential spread of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections (BBVs/STIs). Most of what we know about sex during COVID-19 lockdowns is largely based on solitary sexual practices, which may not answer the critical question around how the pandemic may be shaping sexual practices among young people. Against this backdrop, this study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic may be shaping BBVs/STIs risk and protective practices among a sample of onshore African and Asian international students in Sydney, Australia. Methods: This phenomenological qualitative study involved semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews with 16 international university students in Sydney, between September 2020–March 2021. Generated data were coded using NVivo and analysis was guided by reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Participants reported elevated mental health distress because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some participants reported engaging in casual sexual hook-ups as a strategy to mitigate the mental health distress they were experiencing. Some of these sexual hook-ups were condomless partly because COVID-related disruptions impacted condom accessibility. Additionally, the preventive practices of some participants who were sexually active during the lockdowns were focused on preventing COVID-19, while the risk of BBVs/STIs were downplayed. Conclusions: This study indicates a need for a comprehensive public health response to the evolving and near-endemic COVID-19 situation. Such a comprehensive approach should focus on empowering young people to prevent both SARS-CoV-2 and BBVs/STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Reuben Okeke
- Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
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Braun N, Cormi C, Van Rechem M, Chrusciel J, Sanchez S. Experience of Primary Care Physicians in the Aube Department, France, Regarding the COVID-19 Crisis. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:852. [PMID: 35627989 PMCID: PMC9140395 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10050852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) played a decisive role during the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in the identification and care of patients at home. This study aimed to describe the primary care physicians' perceptions of the COVID-19 crisis and to guide future decisions regarding measures to prolong, abrogate, or improve upon methods for crisis management. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study based on a 30-item questionnaire aiming to investigate how primary care physicians (GPs) working in the rural Aube Department experienced the COVID-19 crisis. RESULTS Among the 152 respondents, 60.5% were not satisfied with the level of information from authorities during the crisis. By multivariate analysis, a feeling of having been adequately informed (OR 21.87, 95%CI 4.14-115.53) and a feeling that non-COVID-19-related diseases were adequately managed (OR 6.42, 95%CI 1.07-38.51) were both significantly associated with an overall satisfaction with the management of the crisis. CONCLUSION This study about rural primary care physicians in Eastern France highlights some of the weaknesses of the French healthcare system in terms of the provision of primary care during the epidemic. A leading cause of dissatisfaction was that the information relayed by the health authorities about the disease and its management largely overlooked the primary care providers, many of whom had to rely on traditional media to obtain information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Braun
- Pôle Territorial Santé Publique et Performance des Hôpitaux Champagne Sud, Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 10000 Troyes, France; (N.B.); (J.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Clément Cormi
- Pôle Territorial Santé Publique et Performance des Hôpitaux Champagne Sud, Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 10000 Troyes, France; (N.B.); (J.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Michel Van Rechem
- Service des Urgences, Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 10000 Troyes, France;
| | - Jan Chrusciel
- Pôle Territorial Santé Publique et Performance des Hôpitaux Champagne Sud, Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 10000 Troyes, France; (N.B.); (J.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Stéphane Sanchez
- Pôle Territorial Santé Publique et Performance des Hôpitaux Champagne Sud, Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 10000 Troyes, France; (N.B.); (J.C.); (S.S.)
- University Committee of Resources for Research in Health (CURRS), University of Reims, Champagne-Ardenne, CEDEX, 51095 Reims, France
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