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Laubach L, Sharma V, Alsumait A, Chiang B, Kuester V. Socioeconomic Factors Correlation With Idiopathic Scoliosis Curve Type and Cobb Angle Severity. Cureus 2023; 15:e34993. [PMID: 36938294 PMCID: PMC10019979 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.34993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Race and socioeconomic status correlate with disease outcomes and treatment in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) to varying degrees, although there is no clear association with Cobb angle and curve type. The purpose of this study was to assess socioeconomic factors and their association with Cobb angles in patients with IS. METHODS A retrospective chart review was completed with the radiographic analysis of 89 patients diagnosed with IS and spinal curves >10° between the ages of six and 18. Associations between the Cobb angles and socioeconomic categorical variables were analyzed using a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test and continuous variables using a Spearman Rank correlation. Results: There were no significant associations between proximal thoracic, main thoracic, or thoracolumbar/lumbar Cobb angles and sex, insurance type, race, access to healthy food, financial difficulty, or income. BMI and proximal thoracic Cobb angle (ρ = 0.2375, p=0.0268) had a significant positive correlation, and BMI and income (ρ = -0.2468, p=0.0228) shared a significant negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS The severity of IS proximal thoracic Cobb angles was positively associated with BMI and income. Other socioeconomic factors such as age, race, sex, access to food, insurance, and financial difficulties related to scoliosis treatment were not correlated with Cobb angle severity. The data presented suggest that patients with IS have varying degrees of curve type and severity that overall do not correlate with various socioeconomic factors. Validating which factors are predictive of curve severity could lead to early intervention preventing further morbidity of IS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Laubach
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, USA
| | - Viraj Sharma
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, USA
| | - Abdulaziz Alsumait
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, USA
| | - Benjamin Chiang
- General Surgery, Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Riverside, USA
| | - Victoria Kuester
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, USA
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Atwiine B, Busingye I, Kyarisiima R, Baluku E, Mbabazi R, Bamwine B, Ankunda S, Libes J, Weinstein H, Schwartz K, Kiwanuka G. "Money was the problem": Caregivers' self-reported reasons for abandoning their children's cancer treatment in southwest Uganda. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e29311. [PMID: 34459106 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Treatment abandonment contributes significantly to poor survival of children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In order to inform an approach to this problem, we investigated why caregivers withdraw their children from treatment. METHODS In a qualitative study, carried out in October and November 2020, in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of children who had abandoned cancer treatment at the Pediatric Cancer Unit of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in south-western Uganda. Recorded in-depth interviews were transcribed and analyzed to identify themes of caregivers' self-reported reasons for treatment abandonment. The study was approved by the Review and Ethics Committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology. RESULTS Seventy-seven out of 343 (22.4%) children diagnosed with cancer abandoned treatment during the study period; 20 contactable and consenting caregivers participated in the study. The median age of the caregivers was 37 years and most (65%) were mothers. At the time of this study, eight (40%) children were alive and five (62.5%) were males; with a median age of 6.5 years. Financial difficulty, other obligations, the child falsely appearing cured, preference for alternative treatments, belief that cancer was incurable, fear that the child's death was imminent and chemotherapy side effects were the caregivers' reasons for treatment abandonment. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION Seeking cancer treatment for children in Uganda is an expensive venture and treatment abandonment is mainly caused by caregivers' difficult socio-economic circumstances. This problem needs to be approached with empathy and support rather than blame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas Atwiine
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.,Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Imelda Busingye
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Rose Kyarisiima
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Emmanuel Baluku
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Ruth Mbabazi
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Brian Bamwine
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Siyadora Ankunda
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.,Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Jaime Libes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, Illinois, USA
| | - Howard Weinstein
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin Schwartz
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gertrude Kiwanuka
- Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
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Simone M, Emery RL, Hazzard VM, Eisenberg ME, Larson N, Neumark‐Sztainer D. Disordered eating in a population-based sample of young adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Int J Eat Disord 2021; 54:1189-1201. [PMID: 33720460 PMCID: PMC8250323 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to describe the experience of, and factors associated with, disordered eating in a population-based sample of emerging adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHOD Participants in the EAT 2010-2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study were invited to complete the C-EAT (COVID-19 EAT) survey in April-May 2020. There were 720 respondents to the survey (age: 24.7 ± 2.0 years). Psychological distress, stress, stress management, financial difficulties, and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined as cross-sectional correlates of disordered eating in 2020. Open-ended questions assessed the perceived impact of the pandemic on eating behaviors. RESULTS Low stress management was significantly associated with a higher count of extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs). Food insecurity, higher depressive symptoms, and financial difficulties were significantly associated with a higher count of less extreme UWCBs. Higher stress and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with greater odds of binge eating. Six themes pertaining to disordered eating during the pandemic emerged: (a) mindless eating and snacking; (b) increased food consumption; (c) generalized decrease in appetite or dietary intake; (d) eating to cope; (e) pandemic-related reductions in dietary intake; and (f) re-emergence or marked increase in eating disorder symptoms. DISCUSSION Psychological distress, stress management, financial difficulties, and abrupt schedule changes may have contributed to disordered eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions that target stress management, depressive symptoms, and financial strain and provide tools to develop a routine may be particularly effective for emerging adults at risk of developing disordered eating during public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Simone
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Minnesota Medical SchoolMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA,Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public HealthUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Rebecca L. Emery
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public HealthUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Marla E. Eisenberg
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Minnesota Medical SchoolMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Nicole Larson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public HealthUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Dianne Neumark‐Sztainer
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public HealthUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
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Astell-Burt T, Feng X. Time for 'Green' during COVID-19? Inequities in Green and Blue Space Access, Visitation and Felt Benefits. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:2757. [PMID: 33803166 PMCID: PMC7967263 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesized that visits to green and blue spaces may have enabled respite, connection and exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic, but such benefits might have been inequitably distributed due to differences in financial difficulties, opportunities to work from home, and localized restrictions in spatial mobility generated by 'lockdowns'. A nationally representative online and telephone survey conducted in 12-26 October on the Social Research Centre's Life in AustraliaTM panel (aged ≥ 18 y, 78.8% response, N = 3043) asked about access, visitation, and felt benefits from green and/or blue spaces. Increasing financial difficulty was associated with less time in and fewer visits to green and/or blue spaces, as well as fewer different types visited. Financial difficulty was also associated with feelings that visits to green and/or blue space had less benefit for maintaining social connection. Working from home was associated with more frequent and longer visitation to green and/or blue spaces, as well as discovery of ones previously unvisited. Working from home was also associated with increased levels of exercise and respite resulting from visits to green and/or blue spaces. Residents of Melbourne, a city of 4.9 million who were in 'lockdown' at the time of the survey, appeared more likely to benefit from visits to green and/or blue spaces than residents of Sydney, Australia's largest city at 5.2 million, who were not in lockdown. Residents of Melbourne compared with Sydney reported consistently increased visitation of, discovery of, and greater levels of various felt benefits derived from green and/or blue spaces, including more respite, connection, and exercise. Comparatively shorter distances to preferred green and/or blue spaces and closure of alternative settings at the time of the survey completion in Melbourne compared with Sydney may provide partial explanation, though more acute responses to experiencing green and/or blue spaces within highly cognitively demanding antecedent conditions posed by lockdown are also plausible and warrant further investigation with other health indicators. These results were robust to adjustment for a range of covariates including preferences for natural settings, which were consistently associated with greater levels of green and/or blue space visitation and felt benefits. Collectively, these results indicate that parallel efforts to generate (or renew) felt connection to natural settings, to increase working from home opportunities, and to mitigate financial difficulties may be important to help maximize the population health benefits of urban planning strategies intended to improve the availability of, and to reduce inequities in access to, green and blue spaces. Benefits felt more commonly by people living through lockdown underlines the role previous investments in green and blue space have played in enabling coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Astell-Burt
- Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Peking Union Medical College, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Xiaoqi Feng
- Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Assari S, Cobb S, Saqib M, Bazargan M. Economic Strain Deteriorates While Education Fails to Protect Black Older Adults Against Depressive Symptoms, Pain, Self-rated Health, Chronic Disease, and Sick Days. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:49-62. [PMID: 32724902 DOI: 10.29245/2578-2959/2020/2.1203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Background A large body of empirical evidence on Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) suggests that educational attainment shows smaller health effects for Blacks compared to Whites. At the same time, economic strain may operate as a risk factor for a wide range of undesired mental and physical health outcomes in Black communities. Aim The current study investigated the combined effects of education and economic strain on the following five health outcomes in Black older adults in underserved areas of South Los Angeles: depressive symptoms, number of chronic diseases, pain intensity, self-rated health, and sick days. Methods This cross-sectional study included 619 Black older adults residing in South Los Angeles. Data on demographic factors (age and gender), socioeconomic characteristics, economic strain, health insurance, living arrangement, marital status, health behaviors, depressive symptoms, pain intensity, number of chronic diseases, sick days, and self-rated health were collected. Five linear regressions were used to analyze the data. Results Although high education was associated with less economic strain, it was the economic strain, not educational attainment, which was universally associated with depressive symptoms, pain intensity, self-rated health, chronic diseases, and sick days, independent of covariates. Similar patterns emerged for all health outcomes suggesting that the risk associated with economic strain and lack of health gain due to educational attainment are both robust and independent of type of health outcome. Conclusion In economically constrained urban environments, economic strain is a more salient social determinant of health of Black older adults than educational attainment. While education loses some of its protective effects, economic strain deteriorates health of Black population across domains. There is a need for bold economic and social policies that increase access of Black communities to cash at times of emergency. There is also a need to improve the education quality in the Black communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- Departments of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
| | - Sharon Cobb
- School of Nursing, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mohammed Saqib
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Mohsen Bazargan
- Departments of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science.,Departments of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Nishioka D, Ueno K, Funakoshi M, Saito M, Kondo N. [Development of livelihood difficulties assessment scales for clinicians]. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi 2020; 67:461-470. [PMID: 32741877 DOI: 10.11236/jph.67.7_461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Poverty is a well-known major social determinant of health. Poverty has been conceptualized as multidimensional livelihood difficulties that include material deprivation, financial difficulties, and social isolation. Through their clinical practice, some health care institutions have tried to address social risks among patients. However, standardized assessment tools that can detect patients' livelihood difficulties are not well established. The aims of this study were to develop brief screening tools to assess patients' livelihood difficulties, and to examine the validity and reliability of these tools in Japanese health care institutes.Methods We used secondary data from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. The respondents of the survey were adult patients from five hospitals belonging to Japan Health Promoting Hospitals and Service Networks. The questionnaire included 25 questions that assessed patients' poverty. An iterated principal factor analysis with Promax rotation was performed and scales to assess patients' livelihood difficulties were developed. This was followed by an examination of the scales' validity and internal consistency using standardized Cronbach's alpha. Further, we built brief assessment tools by selecting questions that showed high factor loading.Results A total of 265 participants were included in the study. The response rate was 75.1%. The results of factor analysis suggested that data was affected by patients' financial difficulties and social isolation. Eight questions on the financial difficulty scale and five questions on the social isolation scale showed factor loadings greater than 0.40. The standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.88 for the financial difficulty scales and 0.74 for the social isolation scales. Finally, a brief assessment tools that included two questions from each scale was developed.Conclusion This tool may be used as a screening tool for patients' livelihood difficulties in the health records of each clinic/hospital, and may help patients effectively receive integrated medical and social care. In order to use this scale in practice, under a well-established community-based integrated care system, it may be necessary to establish a standardized scoring system and diagnostic threshold to verify the generalizability of the scale at healthcare institutes with different characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Nishioka
- Department of Health Education and Health Sociology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
| | - Keiko Ueno
- Department of Health Education and Health Sociology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
| | | | - Masashige Saito
- Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Social Welfare, Nihon Fukushi University
| | - Naoki Kondo
- Department of Health Education and Health Sociology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
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Duh-Leong C, Jo Messito M, Katzow MW, Tomopoulos S, Nagpal N, Fierman AH, Gross RS. Material Hardships and Infant and Toddler Sleep Duration in Low-Income Hispanic Families. Acad Pediatr 2020; 20:1184-1191. [PMID: 32650047 PMCID: PMC9286002 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess relationships between material hardships, shortened sleep duration, and suboptimal sleep practices across infancy and toddlerhood in low-income Hispanic families. METHODS We analyzed longitudinal data of 451 low-income Hispanic mother-child pairs from a child obesity prevention trial. During infancy and toddlerhood, we used adjusted linear regression to assess associations between material hardship (financial difficulty, food insecurity, housing disrepair, and multiple hardships), sleep duration (24-hour, night), and the number of suboptimal sleep practices (eg, later bedtime, co-sleeping). We used adjusted linear regression to assess the longitudinal association between the number of suboptimal sleep practices in infancy and toddlerhood, and tested whether specific or multiple hardships moderated this association. RESULTS In infants, financial difficulty and multiple hardships were associated with decreased night sleep (B = -0.59 hours, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.04, -0.14; and B = -0.54 hours, 95% CI: -1.00, -0.08). Housing disrepair was associated with decreased 24-hour sleep (B = -0.64 hours, 95% CI: -1.29, -0.01). In toddlers, each additional suboptimal sleep practice was associated with a decrease in night sleep (B = -0.19 hours, 95% CI: -0.29, -0.09). Each additional suboptimal sleep practice in infancy was associated with a 0.30 increase in the number of suboptimal sleep practices in toddlerhood (P < .001), with greater increases for those with food insecurity or multiple hardships. CONCLUSION Specific and multiple hardships shortened sleep duration during infancy, and moderated the increase of suboptimal sleep behaviors between infancy and toddlerhood. Future studies should consider these early critically sensitive periods for interventions to mitigate material hardships and establish healthy sleep practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Duh-Leong
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (C Duh-Leong, MJ Messito, S Tomopoulos, N Nagpal, AH Fierman, and RS Gross).
| | - Mary Jo Messito
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Michelle W. Katzow
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at, Hofstra/Northwell, 269-01 76th Ave, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 USA
| | - Suzy Tomopoulos
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Nikita Nagpal
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Arthur H. Fierman
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Rachel S. Gross
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
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Assari S, Smith J, Mistry R, Farokhnia M, Bazargan M. Substance Use among Economically Disadvantaged African American Older Adults; Objective and Subjective Socioeconomic Status. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E1826. [PMID: 31126049 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16101826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose. This study investigated the effects of objective and subjective socioeconomic status (SES) indicators on two health behaviors, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking, among African American older adults. Methods. This community-based study recruited 619 economically disadvantaged African American older adults (age ≥ 65 years) residing in South Los Angeles. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data. Data on demographic factors (age and gender), subjective SES (financial difficulties), objective SES (educational attainment), living arrangement, marital status, healthcare access (insurance), and health (number of chronic medical conditions, self-rated health, sick days, depression, and chronic pain) and health behaviors (cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking) were collected from participants. Logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Results. High financial difficulties were associated with higher odds of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, independent of covariates. Educational attainment did not correlate with our outcomes. Similar patterns emerged for cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking. Conclusion. Subjective SES indicators such as financial difficulties may be more relevant than objective SES indicators such as educational attainment to health risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking among African American older adults in economically constrain urban environments. Smoking and drinking may serve as coping mechanisms with financial difficulty, especially among African American older adults. In line with the minorities' diminished returns (MDR) theory, and probably due to discrimination against racial minorities, educational attainment has a smaller protective effect among economically disadvantaged African American individuals against health risk behaviors.
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Cheng X, Wei S, Zhang H, Xue S, Wang W, Zhang K. Nurse-led interventions on quality of life for patients with cancer: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e12037. [PMID: 30142854 PMCID: PMC6112931 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000012037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To compare the quality of life outcome between nurse-led and non-nurse-led interventions for patients with cancer using a meta-analysis. METHODS A systematic literature review was performed by searching randomized controlled trials about nurse-led interventions in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases until June 2017. Pooled summary estimates for quality of life outcome was calculated as standardized mean difference (SMD) either on a fixed- or random-effect model via Stata 13.0 software. RESULTS Seven literatures involving 1110 patients (554 in the nurse-led group and 556 in the control group) were included. Pooled analysis showed there were no differences in the global quality of life, cognitive, emotional, role, social and physical functions, appetite loss, diarrhea, and dyspnea scales of Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 version 3.0 core (QLQ-C30) questionnaires between the nurse-led and control groups. However, the nurse-led management program significantly decreased the occurrence of constipation (SMD = -0.36, 95% CI = -0.71 to -0.00; P = .001) and insomnia (SMD = -0.33, 95% CI = -0.99 to 0.32; P = .011) and reduced the financial difficulty (SMD = -0.34, 95% CI = -0.65 to -0.03; P = .033) for patients with cancer. CONCLUSION The nurse-led disease management strategy seemed to be effective to improve constipation, insomnia, and financial impacts for patients with cancer in quality of life assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kaikai Zhang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Qingzhou City, Shandong, China
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10
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Evans J, Fitch C, Collard S, Henderson C. Mental health and debt collection: a story of progress? Exploring changes in debt collectors' attitudes and practices when working with customers with mental health problems, 2010-2016. J Ment Health 2018; 27:496-503. [PMID: 29701492 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2018.1466040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the UK debt collection industry has taken steps to improve its policies and practices in relation to customers with mental health problems. Little data, however, have been collected to evidence change. AIMS This paper examines whether the reported attitudes and practices of debt collection staff when working with customers with mental health problems have changed between 2010 and 2016. METHOD This paper draws on descriptive and regression analyses of two cross-sectional surveys of debt collection staff: one conducted in 2010 and one conducted in 2016. RESULTS All variables analysed show statistically significant changes between 2010 and 2016 indicative of improved reported attitudes and practices. CONCLUSIONS While results suggest an improvement in attitudes and practice may have occurred between 2010 and 2016, research is required to understand this potential shift, its likely causes, and concrete impact on customers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Evans
- a Personal Finance Research Centre , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
| | - Christopher Fitch
- a Personal Finance Research Centre , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK.,b Money Advice Trust , London , UK and
| | - Sharon Collard
- a Personal Finance Research Centre , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
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11
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Assari S, Preiser B, Lankarani MM, Caldwell CH. Subjective Socioeconomic Status Moderates the Association between Discrimination and Depression in African American Youth. Brain Sci 2018; 8:E71. [PMID: 29677115 PMCID: PMC5924407 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8040071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Most of the literature on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and health is focused on the protective effects of SES. However, a growing literature suggests that high SES may also operate as a vulnerability factor. Aims: Using a national sample of African American youth, this study compared the effects of perceived discrimination on major depressive disorder (MDD) based on SES. Methods: The current cross-sectional study included 810 African American youth who participated in the National Survey of American Life-Adolescent supplement. The independent variable was perceived discrimination. Lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day MDD were the dependent variables. Age and gender were covariates. Three SES indicators (subjective SES, income, and poverty index) were moderators. We used logistic regressions for data analysis. Results: Perceived discrimination was associated with higher risk of lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day MDD. Interactions were found between subjective SES and perceived discrimination on lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day MDD, suggesting a stronger effect of perceived discrimination in youth with high subjective SES. Objective measures of SES (income and poverty index) did not interact with perceived discrimination on MDD. Conclusion: While perceived discrimination is a universally harmful risk factor for MDD, its effect may depend on the SES of the individual. Findings suggest that high subjective SES may operate as a vulnerability factor for African American youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Brianna Preiser
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | | | - Cleopatra H Caldwell
- Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Assari S, Caldwell CH. Social Determinants of Perceived Discrimination among Black Youth: Intersection of Ethnicity and Gender. Children (Basel) 2018; 5:E24. [PMID: 29462893 PMCID: PMC5835993 DOI: 10.3390/children5020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Most of the existing sociological and epidemiological literature has focused on the protective effects of high socioeconomic status (SES) on population health through reducing exposure to risk factors and increasing human and material resources that can mitigate adversities. Recent studies, however, have documented poor mental health of high SES Blacks, particularly African American males and Caribbean Black females. The literature also shows a link between perceived discrimination and poor mental health. To better understand the extra costs of upward social mobility for minority populations, this study explored ethnic by gender variations in the associations between SES indicators and perceived discrimination in an ethnically diverse national sample of Black youth. This study included 810 African American and 360 Caribbean Black youth who were sampled in the National Survey of American Life-Adolescent supplement (NSAL-A). Three SES indicators (financial hardship, family income, and income to needs ratio) were the independent variables. The dependent variable was perceived (daily) discrimination. Age was the covariate. Ethnicity and gender were the focal moderators. Linear regressions were used for data analysis in the pooled sample and also based on the intersection of ethnicity and gender. Considerable gender by ethnicity variations were found in the patterns of the associations between SES indicators and perceived discrimination. Financial hardship was a risk factor for perceived discrimination in African American males only. High family income and income to needs ratio were associated with high (but not low) perceived discrimination in African American males and Caribbean Black females. SES indicators were not associated with perceived discrimination for African American females or Caribbean Black males. When it comes to Black youth, high SES is not always protective. Whether SES reduces or increases perceived discrimination among Black youth depends on the intersection of ethnicity by gender. Additional research is needed to understand why and how high SES increases exposure and vulnerability to discrimination for some groups of Black youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.
- Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.
| | - Cleopatra Howard Caldwell
- Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.
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Abstract
Although most mental disorders have their first onset by young adulthood, there are few longitudinal studies of these problems and related help-seeking behavior. The present study examined some early and current predictors of the use of mental health services among African-American and Puerto Rican participants in their mid-30s. The 674 participants (52.8 % African Americans, 47.2 % Puerto Ricans; 60.1 % women) in this study were first seen in 1990 when the participants attended schools serving the East Harlem area of New York City. A structural equation model controlling for the participants' gender, educational level in emerging adulthood, and age at the most recent data collection showed significant standardized pathways from both ethnicity (β = -0.28; z = -4.82; p < 0.001) and psychological symptoms (β = 0.15; z = 2.41; p < 0.05), both measured in emerging adulthood, to smoking in the early 30s. That, in turn, was associated with certain physical diseases and symptoms (i.e., respiratory) in the mid-30s (β = 0.16; z = 2.59; p < 0.05). These physical diseases and symptoms had a cross-sectional association with family financial difficulty in the mid-30s (β = 0.21; z = 4.53; p < 0.001), which in turn also had a cross-sectional association with psychiatric disorders (β = 0.30; z = 5.30; p < 0.001). Psychiatric disorders had a cross-sectional association with mental health services utilization (β = 0.65; z = 13.25; p < 0.001). Additional pathways from the other domains to mental health services utilization in the mid-30s were also supported by the mediating role of psychiatric disorders. Results obtained from this research offer theoretical and practical information regarding the processes leading to the use of mental health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith S Brook
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 215 Lexington Ave., 15th Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA,
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