Awareness, attitudes, and beliefs of dementia in Indonesia

INTRODUCTION

Tackling dementia stigma is a policy priority. In Indonesia, we have little insight into the general public's knowledge and attitudes about dementia.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 4430 Indonesian adults recruited from Jakarta and North Sumatra, Indonesia. Measures included dementia knowledge and attitudes.

RESULTS

A total of 86.3% (n = 3,803) of adults had not heard of the terms dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and commonly viewed dementia as a normal part of aging. Being older, incorrect knowledge about etiology, not having heard of the terms dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease, having less than primary education, and being from North Sumatra were associated with more negative attitudes (p-values < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Misconceptions and lack of awareness about dementia are common in Indonesia. Attitudes tended not to be negative, but our research highlights factors associated with dementia attitudes. Future research should use this information to better tailor and target potential anti-stigma strategies.

Highlights

Most Indonesians had not heard of the terms dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease and thought it was caused by normal aging.The majority of participants held mixed or positive attitudes towards dementia.A series of demographic factors alongside poor awareness were associated with negative attitudes towards dementia.

Top Tips for Designing and Managing a Public Engagement Laboratory

Public engagement with science is a core facet of the broader science ecosystem, in particular the science research and science education sectors. In this article we demarcate the benefits of dedicated laboratories along with practitioner advice pertaining to the design and running of a public engagement learning environment. A practicing public engagement laboratory and one that is currently being developed are used as illustrative cases to provide real-world insights to public engagement practitioners.

Factors That Affect the Likelihood of Undergoing Cosmetic Procedures Among the General Population of Western Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cosmetic procedures are surgical and non-surgical procedures that improve and reshape body or facial structures to improve someone's appearance, self-esteem, and confidence. In recent years, these procedures have gained more popularity, and both the number of procedures performed and the cosmetic procedure market are growing dramatically worldwide. The objective of our research is to carry out a cross-sectional investigation to assess the factors that affect the likelihood of undergoing cosmetic surgery in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

In this study, a descriptive, cross-sectional methodology was employed. The intended sample includes residents of Makkah, Medina, Jeddah, and Al-taif cities who are 18 years of age or older, representing the general population. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire created using Google Forms, which was disseminated electronically via social media platforms. The questionnaire gathered demographic information and questions that evaluate the time spent on social media, likelihood of having cosmetic surgery, cosmetic surgery experience, social media exposure, personal experience, and self-rating of attractiveness.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 507 participants, with 389 (76.7%) being female and 118 (23.3%) being male. In our sample, there was a significant correlation between the likelihood of undergoing cosmetic surgery in women who have a longer exposure to media and lower self-rating of attractiveness. For men, media exposure and previous cosmetic procedures were significantly affecting their likelihood of undergoing cosmetic procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Females who had a lower self-rating of attractiveness and a longer exposure to social media were more likely to undergo a cosmetic procedure. However, to gain a more comprehensive understanding, further research should be conducted.

Physical activity as a modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which contribute significantly to global morbidity, are largely preventable through behavioral changes. As with other NCDs, periodontitis is associated with modifiable risk factors such as smoking and stress and is linked to multiple adverse health outcomes through a shared pathway of chronic systemic inflammation. While the health benefits of physical activity have been widely promoted in public health and extensively studied for other systemic conditions, its impact on periodontal health has only recently started to gain attention. This article critically evaluates the current literature on the relationship between physical activity and periodontitis. While cross-sectional studies have shown an inverse association between physical activity levels and periodontitis risk in the general population, clinical oral health surveys of elite athletes with high levels of physical activity have nonetheless revealed poor periodontal conditions. Although causality has not been determined, physical activity could positively impact periodontitis directly, by reducing inflammatory biomarkers, and indirectly, through its modulatory effects on insulin sensitivity, obesity, bone density, stress, and other health promoting behaviors. Given the importance of risk factor control during initial periodontal therapy, understanding the role of physical activity as a potential behavioral risk modifier is paramount. The findings of this review provide an evidence-based overview of how physical activity could influence periodontitis. There is a need for longitudinal cohort studies to verify the temporality of the reported associations and exclude confounders, while interventions are needed to assess the efficacy of physical activity on periodontal treatment outcomes.

Dealing with Dust Entrained in the Nitrogen Plume Demonstration

Water condensation plumes produced by the addition of iron powder to liquid nitrogen can be contaminated with small quantities of particulate matter. Variations on the plume demonstration, including those using noisemakers, are described to help minimize the release of particulates into the air.

Assessment of Dental Patients' Awareness of the Correlation Between Systemic and Periodontal Diseases: A Questionnaire-Based Study

AIM

The correlation between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases has been proven. Considering the high prevalence of periodontitis, as well as the high prevalence of systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and anemia, in Saudi Arabia, patients visiting dental clinics need to be educated about this correlation. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness levels of dental patients on the correlation between periodontal and systemic diseases and compare the awareness levels of the population based on their gender, educational level, and age group specifications.

METHODOLOGY

 The awareness level of patients was assessed using a questionnaire consisting of 18 questions about the correlation between periodontal and systemic health, along with demographic data (gender, age, and educational level). The questionnaire was distributed to randomly chosen patients who were attending Qassim University dental clinics. Patients could select their responses from three options: "yes," "no," and "no idea." The awareness level of patients was categorized based on their educational qualifications, age, and gender.

RESULTS

 A total of 252 patients participated in the study. Out of the 252 patients, 116 (46%) were male, and the remaining 136 (54%) were female. Females were found to be more aware of the correlation between pregnancy and anemia, independently, and periodontal diseases. Additionally, younger age groups were found to be more aware of the interaction between periodontal diseases and hyperparathyroidism. However, the awareness level based on educational qualification was almost equivalent between high school and college graduates.

CONCLUSION

 The general public of the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia needs to be educated further on the correlation between systemic and periodontal disease. Being part of the community, we wish to contribute to improving the level of awareness about the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases, as our study has concluded that more efforts are required to achieve higher health standards.

Assessment of Awareness and Practices Related to Burn Injury First Aid Among the General Public: Cross-Sectional Study in Taif, Saudi Arabia

Background Burn injuries can be highly traumatic and harmful, leading to significant mortality rates, extended hospital stays, deformity, and incapacity. In the long term, they may also result in rejection, social stigma, and psychiatric issues. This study aimed to estimate the awareness and practices related to burn injury first aid among the general public in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Methods This is an online cross-sectional survey in Taif, Saudi Arabia. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the adult population, comprising individuals aged 18 years and older, of both genders, from June 2023 to August 2023. The questionnaire consisted of 24 questions divided into demographics and first aid for burns. The Scientific Research Ethics Committee at Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia, obtained the ethical approval for the study. Results A total of 531 individuals were included in the study. About half were male (58.4%) and in the age group of 22-29 years (52%). Out of that number, 24.1% were medical field students. About one-third of the respondents had participated in a burn training course (33.7%), and 73.8% reported experiencing a burn injury before, either to themselves or their family. Most respondents chose to treat the burn area using honey, and only 15.6% knew that they should administer water to a burn injury for 10 to 15 or >15 minutes. Most of the participants reported an excellent knowledge level (62.9%). Only 8.7% had an excellent practice level. The total knowledge and practice score was significantly associated with participation in the burn training course (P-value < 0.001 and 0.015, respectively). The work nature and prior experience with a burn injury were significantly associated with the knowledge scores (P-value=0.003, for both). Monthly income and the work nature also correlated with the practice total score (P-value=0.023 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion Most participants had an excellent knowledge level, however, most of them reported poor or acceptable practice scores. It highlights the need for training sessions, awareness campaigns, and dissemination of evidence-based information to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.

Acceptance and Attitude Toward Cosmetic Surgeries in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Cosmetic surgery refers to any surgical intervention that alters normal bodily characteristics in order to attain a more appealing appearance as perceived by the patient. Data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) indicates a consistent rise in plastic surgery procedures over time. The objective of our research is to carry out a cross-sectional investigation to assess the perceptions and attitudes toward cosmetic surgery among individuals residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia. This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional methodology. The intended sample includes residents of Makkah and Medina Regions who are 18 years of age or older, representing the general population. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire created using Google Forms, which was disseminated electronically via social media platforms. The questionnaire gathered demographic information and assessed participants' attitudes and acceptance towards cosmetic surgery. The study included a total of 1249 participants, with 1064 (85%) being female and 185 (15%) being male. In our sample, the overall acceptance rate for cosmetic surgery was 54.2%. There was a significant correlation between the acceptance level and factors such as gender, age, marital status, and occupational status (P value <0.001) for all the aforementioned factors. However, the level of education and financial status were not significantly associated. The majority of the participants in our study were accepting of cosmetic surgery. However, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the acceptance of aesthetic surgery in Saudi Arabia, further research should be conducted across the country to assess the attitudes of the wider population.

Public Knowledge, Awareness, and Vaccination Rates for Hepatitis B in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a considerable public health concern in India, characterized by a significant number of chronically infected individuals. India falls into the category of an intermediate HBV endemic country, with approximately 40 million people chronically infected. Public awareness and knowledge about HBV are crucial for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and vaccination status of the general public regarding hepatitis B in India.

METHODS

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with 3,545 participants, excluding healthcare workers and individuals below 18 years old. The survey evaluated knowledge in four domains: cause and spread of the disease (Domain A), organ affected and consequences (Domain B), treatment (Domain C), and vaccination (Domain D). The survey used a scoring scale from -20 to +22 points. Vaccination status was also assessed.

RESULTS

The mean knowledge score of the respondents was 6.89 (±5.88). Only 25% of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge (score ≥12), while 31% had fair knowledge (score 6-11), 40% had poor knowledge (score 0-5), and 4% had incorrect knowledge (score <0). Males, individuals aged 18-60 years, respondents with higher education levels, and urban residents had significantly higher mean knowledge scores (p < 0.01). In the domain-specific analysis, 47% of the respondents had good knowledge in Domain B, while 43% of the respondents had good knowledge in Domains C and D. Only 17% of the respondents had good knowledge in Domain A. Overall, 22.7% of the respondents had received all three doses of the HBV vaccine, with higher vaccination rates among males, individuals aged 18-60 years, those with higher education levels, and urban residents.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed limited knowledge about HBV among the general public in India. Vaccination rates were also suboptimal. Public health interventions, including educational campaigns and targeted vaccination programs, are needed to improve awareness and vaccination coverage, ultimately reducing the burden of HBV infection.

Green Chemistry Teacher Professional Development in New York State High Schools: A Model for Advancing Green Chemistry

Teaching green chemistry within the K-12 classroom has a positive impact on attitudes and perceptions of chemistry in society for future scientists and professionals, resulting in safer, less hazardous chemistry experiments and demonstrations. The state of New York has taken advantage of the benefits that green chemistry provide in the classroom and is a leader in professional development for high school teachers throughout the state. Between 2011 and 2016, Beyond Benign and Siena College implemented 14 workshops across the state as part of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation goal of reducing hazardous chemicals in schools. At these workshops, 224 teachers were introduced to green chemistry principles and practices and provided resources for replacing traditional laboratory experiments with alternatives that used safer materials. Two professional development models were implemented, a one-day introductory workshop and a three-day train-the-trainer style in-depth workshop, using collaborative, hands-on, intensive, and peer-learning techniques. In response to a 2021 follow-up survey, participants shared that they continue to use skills from the professional development they received and reported sharing about green chemistry with peers, parents, and administrators. The long-term engagement of the participants indicates that successful models were implemented to provide a path to develop teacher leaders. Professional development models are presented herein for sharing best practices and approaches for training high school teachers on green chemistry, providing numerous benefits to both teachers and students in high school classrooms.

App-Free Method for Visualization of Polymers in 3D and Augmented Reality

The rise of virtual and online education in recent years has led to the development and popularization of many online tools, notably three-dimensional (3D) models and augmented reality (AR), for visualizing various structures in chemical sciences. The majority of the developed tools focus on either small molecules or biological systems, as information regarding their structure can be easily accessed from online databases or obtained through relatively quick calculations. As such, due to a lack of crystallographic and theoretical data available for nonbiological macromolecules, there is a noticeable lack of accessible online tools for the visualization of polymers in 3D. Herein, using a few sample polymers, we showcase a workflow for the generation of 3D models using molecular dynamics and Blender. The 3D structures can then be hosted on p3d.in, where AR models can be generated automatically. Furthermore, the hosted 3D models can then be shared via quick response (QR) codes and used in various settings without the need to download any applications.

Assessment of Public's Awareness Regarding Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by altered bowel habits, abdominal pain, or discomfort. It is a highly prevalent disorder that affects patients' quality of life. A workup is usually required to diagnose IBS, as its differential diagnosis includes some serious conditions such as carcinoma of the colon. The present study aimed to assess the awareness and beliefs of the general population regarding IBS. This study was conducted in the Aseer Region, in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. It followed a cross-sectional research design that was conducted during the period from January to March 2021 using a structured self-administered questionnaire to assess the demographic variables in addition to questions to assess participants' awareness and beliefs related to IBS. Following a convenience sample, the study included 779 participants, with 43.3% being male, mostly in the age group 21-30 years (36.7%), and 68.7% being university graduates. Most participants (70.5%) were aware of IBS, and had the correct knowledge about its etiology, symptoms, risk factors, prognosis, and management. It is recommended to conduct various awareness-raising programs regarding IBS to improve the public's knowledge and to decrease functional disabilities and their impact on life.

Plumes from Using Iron to Boil Liquid Nitrogen to Illustrate the Importance of Surface Area

The relationship between surface area and dynamics of processes can be demonstrated by adding iron at room temperature to liquid nitrogen. The rate at which the liquid nitrogen boils to produce gas is related to the surface area of the iron. Adding iron in the form of consistent units that have measurable sizes can be readily connected to observable differences in rates of nitrogen gas production. For example, samples of smaller iron spheres with their greater surface area transfer heat more quickly than do larger spheres of the same volume to liquid nitrogen causing it to boil faster, but more briefly, and produce larger plumes of nitrogen gas from a container vent. The plumes are essentially comprised of nitrogen and water, which make them potentially safer than plumes from other demonstrations such as the "genie in a bottle", based on hydrogen peroxide decomposition. These simple activities can be used as stand-alone demonstrations or as the basis of laboratory activities.

Dementia education and training for the general public: A scoping review

The lack of public awareness and understanding of dementia affects the experiences of people living with dementia and their families. Dementia education and training for the general public have been gradually disseminated. We conducted a systematic scoping review guided by PRISMA-ScR to map existing evidence and identify dementia education and training available to the general public. From the four electronic databases, 41 articles were identified. Dementia education has three main purposes: dementia friendliness (n = 25), early diagnosis/help-seeking (n = 10), and prevention (n = 6). Education aimed at dementia friendliness was delivered in the community (n = 6), schools/universities (n =14), workplaces (n = 2), and online (n = 3). Interventions aimed at early diagnosis and prevention were often conducted in communities with middle-aged and older people or specific ethnic groups. Eleven dementia-friendliness studies reported on the interaction with people living with dementia to reduce stigma. Dementia knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors were assessed as outcomes. Though randomized controlled trials were conducted in early diagnosis and prevention studies via e-learning, they were not performed in dementia-friendliness studies. Therefore, there is a need to further accumulate evidence of dementia education for each of these purposes.

Large Interactive Touchscreens as an Opportunity for Synchronous Hybrid Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

The year 2020 will be remembered as the year of COVID-19 and its subsequent lockdowns. The time to return to face-to-face teaching has arrived, but the shadow of the disease still hangs over teachers, students, and society. Disruption in teaching can still occur for students, or even teachers, if they are either diagnosed as COVID-19 positive or as a contact case and forced to self-isolate. In order to limit the impact of self-isolation on learning, synchronous hybrid teaching (i.e., teaching face to face to students in a classroom and to students online at the same time) was successfully implemented owing to the combination of video conference software and a large interactive touchscreen. The setup presented in this paper allows courses to be broadcast to students at home (i.e., voice, visual pedagogic support, and, more interestingly, indications handwritten by the teacher) as well as simultaneously teaching to students in the classroom face-to-face. It also allows self-isolated teachers to teach tutorials from their home to students in the classroom. This paper focuses on the use of large interactive touchscreens for synchronous hybrid teaching and its evaluation by students using a questionnaire. The key findings of this study are that students prefer synchronous hybrid teaching rather than missing a course and that synchronous hybrid teaching should only be used in case of absolute necessity.

What Constitutes a "Good Death"?-A Representative Cross-Sectional Survey Among the General Public in Croatia

Understanding the attitudes of a particular society on a "good death" is important when it comes to end-of-life decision-making and palliative care. In the Republic of Croatia no systematic research has been done on the attitudes of the general population about the concept of a "good death". This cross sectional survey was conducted on a three-stage random sample, stratified by regions, counties and locations within those counties (N = 1203) during November and December, 2019. ANOVA, to determine differences, factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used. The most important characteristics of a good death outlined by the respondents were: the absence of pain, the presence and unencumberedness of family and loved ones, the importance of a sense of fulfilment and meaning in life in this regard, reconciliation with God, the presence of awareness and sobriety, and the possibility of treatment.

Knowledge gaps in food allergy among the general public in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Insights based on the Chicago food allergy research survey

Background

Food allergy is an increasing health concern. Studies have shown that food allergy knowledge is lacking among people, especially in areas related to distinction between food allergy and intolerance, symptoms recognition, and current means of management. This knowledge gap puts allergic patients at more risk of getting fatal anaphylactic reactions, which occur mostly in public areas. Locally, Public's knowledge and attitudes of food allergy was not sufficiently investigated. Therefore, we aim to assess food allergy knowledge and attitudes among Jeddah population in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

We adopted The Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey for the General Public (CFARS-GP) and used it as a data collection tool. We hosted the questionnaire on Google Forms and distributed the link through social media outlets targeting individuals of Jeddah population who are 18 years old and above.

Results

A total of 510 individuals completed the survey. The respondents answered 56% of the knowledge-based items correctly. Knowledge was strongest in symptoms/severity and definition/diagnosis, while it was weakest in susceptibility and prevalence, distinction between food allergy and intolerance, and food allergy management. Higher knowledge was significantly associated with prior training in food allergy, food-allergic acquaintance (i.e., having food allergy or knowing an allergic patient), and being a relative of a health care worker. For the attitudes, respondents thought that food allergy negatively affects patients' quality of life, and that schools should establish policies to protect allergic children; however, they downplayed stigma associated with food allergy.

Conclusion

Increased food allergy knowledge among the general public is needed especially in areas related to susceptibility and prevalence, distinction between food allergy and intolerance, triggers and environmental risks, and the management of food allergy. Prior experience with food allergy through (1) training, (2) food-allergic acquaintance, or (3) being a relative of a health care worker increases food allergy knowledge significantly. Thus, targeted educational interventions might have a significant effect in improving food allergy knowledge among the general population.

Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect Among the General Public in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Child abuse represents a serious problem worldwide. In Arab countries, the problem is complicated because abuse may be perceived as a method of discipline. This review aimed to describe awareness of the public in Saudi Arabia regarding child abuse. A search was performed in the databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost), and Web of Science for articles published in English from the 1^st of January, 2000, to the 14^th of November, 2022. The search was conducted during the period from the 7^th to the 14^th of November 2022. The used search words were {"Child Abuse"} AND {"Saudi Arabia"} AND {"awareness"}. The risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using the Risk of Bias Instrument for Cross-Sectional Surveys of Attitudes and Practices. Six studies were included in this review. Most studies had high ROB in recruiting the participants, designing the questionnaires, and stating the rate of response. The awareness regarding physical abuse seemed fair in most studies, but the awareness about shaken baby syndrome was poor. Also, there was a misconception about the parent's right to discipline their children through corporal punishment. Most participants did not perceive a need for establishing protective laws or programs. Public awareness about emotional abuse and neglect was lower than in cases of physical abuse. The overall knowledge about child abuse seems to be fair, but poor knowledge was observed in some forms, such as shaken baby syndrome. The public concepts about physical punishment and the need for protective laws and programs are also negative and require more efforts to alter them.

Level and determinants of willingness to donate organs among the general public: A cross-sectional survey in China

This study aims to assess the level and determinants of the general public's willingness to organ donation. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of 4261 participants in China. The primary outcome was the willingness to donate organs. Logistic regression modelling was used to determine the factors that affect willingness to donate organs. Overall, the proportion of participants who showed a willingness to donate organs was 47.45% (95%CI: 0.46, 0.49) in this study. Logistic regression modelling showed participants from Western (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.11-1.59) and Eastern China (OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.19-1.65) were more willing to donate organs compared with those from Central China. The odds of being willing to donate organs was higher in females than males (OR = 1.35, 95%CI = 1.17-1.55); and was higher in those participants with experience of organ donation (OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.13-2.21), experience of caring for organ transplant patients (OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.01-2.07), and those undertaking related voluntary activities (OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.45-1.94), than those without. The general public's level of willingness to organ donation was not high in this study. Geographical region, gender, experience of organ donation related activities, taking care of organ transplant patients and volunteering in related activities were independently associated with participants' willingness to donate organs.

Psychological impact on healthcare workers, general population and affected individuals of SARS and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Any infectious disease outbreak may lead to a negative detrimental psychological impact on individuals and the community at large, however; there was no systematic review nor meta-analysis that examined the relationship between the psychological/mental health impact of SARS and COVID-19 outbreak in Asia.

Methods and design

A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases from 1/1/2000 to 1/6/2020. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we analyzed the psychological impact on confirmed/suspected cases, healthcare workers and the general public during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak and Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemics. Primary outcomes included prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, aggression, sleeping problems and psychological symptoms.

Result

Twenty-three eligible studies (N = 27,325) were included. Random effect model was used to analyze the data using STATA. Of these studies, 11 were related to the SARS outbreak and 12 related to COVID-19 outbreaks. The overall prevalence rate of anxiety during SARS and COVID-19 was 37.8% (95% CI: 21.1-54.5, P < 0.001, I2 = 96.9%) and 34.8% (95% CI: 29.1-40.4), respectively. For depression, the overall prevalence rate during SARS and COVID-19 was 30.9% (95% CI: 18.6-43.1, P < 0.001, I2 = 97.3%) and 32.4% (95% CI: 19.8-45.0, P < 0.001, I2 = 99.8%), respectively. The overall prevalence rate of stress was 9.4% (95% CI: -0.4 -19.2, P = 0.015, I2 = 83.3%) and 54.1% (95% CI: 35.7-72.6, P < 0.001, I2 = 98.8%) during SARS and COVID-19, respectively. The overall prevalence of PTSD was 15.1% (95% CI: 8.2-22.0, P < 0.001) during SARS epidemic, calculated by random-effects model (P < 0.05), with significant between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 93.5%).

Conclusion

The SARS and COVID-19 epidemics have brought about high levels of psychological distress to individuals. Psychological interventions and contingent digital mental health platform should be promptly established nationwide for continuous surveillance of the increasing prevalence of negative psychological symptoms. Health policymakers and mental health experts should jointly collaborate to provide timely, contingent mental health treatment and psychological support to those in need to reduce the global disease burden.

Systematic review registration

CRD42020182787, identifier PROSPER.

Awareness and knowledge of oral manifestations in cardiovascular diseases among the general public

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels. Periodontal problems, bleeding gums, dry mouth, and gingival hyperplasia are common oral manifestations seen in cardiovascular-related problems. To assess the extent of awareness and knowledge, the general public has toward the oral manifestation related to that of CVDs. A questionnaire was distributed among the general public in relation to that of the extent of awareness and knowledge of oral manifestations with regard to CVD. A total of 161 responses were collected from the survey. The collected data were compiled and analyzed by the SPSS software; the Pearson Chi-square test was done where P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study showed that 65.22% of the population is aware of the types of CVD. About 59.63% of the population do not know that periodontal problems lead to cardiovascular problems. About 39.75% have vague knowledge about the maintenance of poor oral health causing cardiovascular problems. The study concluded that the general public is not much aware of the oral manifestations related to that of CVDs.

An Assessment of the Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness to Use Telepharmacy Services Among the General Public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background and objective At the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous strategies were introduced by the authorities to contain the spread of the virus, which significantly affected people's lives and impeded their mobility. As the general public was unable to leave their dwellings, many digitalized pharmacist-led services were initiated to meet the public's needs for pharmaceutical care. The aim of this study was to ascertain the knowledge, perception, and willingness to utilize telepharmacy services and the determinants associated with these services among the general public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methodology A cross-sectional survey involving participants recruited from the Saudi general public was conducted by using a validated questionnaire. We collected information regarding participants' demographics, as well as knowledge, perception, and willingness toward telepharmacy. The results were analyzed via descriptive statistics. The Mann-Whitney U Test was applied to assess the associations between knowledge, perception, willingness, and demographic variables regarding the utilization of telepharmacy services. Results A total of 273 Saudi citizens participated in the study; 71% (n=193) of them were aware of telepharmacy services. Many respondents showed a positive perception towards telepharmacy services and 83% (n=227) of the total participants showed their willingness to use telepharmacy services in the future. A significant association was identified between education, gender, and the knowledge of the participants regarding telepharmacy services. The demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and education, were not associated with the participants' perception regarding telepharmacy services. However, gender was significantly associated with the willingness to use telepharmacy services in the future. Conclusions Many participants had a fair knowledge and positive perception of telepharmacy services. More than two-thirds of the participants showed their willingness to utilize telepharmacy services in the future. However, further measures should be implemented involving strategies to increase the knowledge about telepharmacy by targeting the less educated among the Saudi population and those with limited access to technology.

The Development and Preliminary Application of the Chinese Version of the COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale

(1) Background: Vaccine literacy (VL) of the public is crucial to deal with anti-vaccination rhetoric. This study aims to (1) develop a Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale and examine the factor structure and psychometric characteristics, and (2) explore the association between COVID-19 VL and sociodemographic characteristics and other variables; (2) Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 362 Chinese residents from 23 May 2022 to 31 May 2022 using snowball sampling; (3) Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the scale of 15 items, consisting of three factors, functional, interactive and critical vaccine literacy, explained 63.3% of the total variance. Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.885 for the overall scale: 0.838, 0.891, and 0.857 for three subscales, respectively. The results showed a medium level of vaccine literacy (M = 3.71, SD = 0.72) and significant differences among functional, interactive, and critical vaccine literacy (p < 0.001). The level of vaccine literacy grew with the level of education (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.049). Men, participants who were single, or those living in rural areas had a lower level of vaccine literacy; (4) Conclusions: The Chinese COVID-19 VL Scale has adequate validity and reliability for assessing vaccine literacy among Chinese residents. A deep understanding of the factors that affect vaccine literacy is needed.

Electrochromic Device Demonstrator from Household Materials

Electrochromism encompasses reversible changes of material's optical properties (color, opacity) under the influence of an external electric current or applied voltage. The effect has been known for decades, but its importance continues to grow due to the rapid development of smart systems and the accompanying demand to build devices that consume less power. Most commercial electrochromic devices (ECDs) require sophisticated chemicals and advanced material preparation techniques. Also, the demonstration of electrochromism in chemistry classes mainly uses expensive WO₃ films, intrinsically conductive polymers, and/or optically transparent electrodes (OTEs). The aim of this article is to present a simple and fast educational method to build ECDs from household materials without the need for OTEs: unsharpened kitchen knives are used as electrodes, curcumin from turmeric is used as the electrochromic dye, and baking soda is used as the electrolyte. The laboratory experiments presented will help students gain a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of electrochemistry (electrolysis, pH change) and electrochromism (in our case, color changes due to pH-induced keto-enol tautomerism of curcumin).

Primary Investigation of Low Back Pain among Saudi Arabians: A Cross-Sectional Study

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent disease that affects all ages and is a symptom that induces immobility. Patients' beliefs may influence LBP management, and adjusting detrimental beliefs is required to improve treatment outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of LBP within the Saudi population and beliefs regarding LBP, physical activity, rest, imaging, and medication. People with LBP were targeted with a questionnaire containing sections on demographic information and the validated Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ), in addition to questions regarding imaging, physical activity, rest and medication. A total of 651 responses were received, 559 of them (86%) experienced LBP. The most common age group was those aged 18-21 (n = 221), 80% from females. The average BBQ score was 27.8 (SD = 5.58). The majority of the respondents held the following beliefs, which are contrary to the best available evidence: back pain must be rested (77.1%) and X-rays or scans are required to gain the best medical care for LBP (73.2%). The Saudi population holds unhelpful beliefs that may affect their quality of life. Healthcare professionals working with patients with LBP have an important role in changing detrimental beliefs and behaviors about the condition.

Perceptions of community dementia friendliness: A cross-sectional study of people with dementia, family caregivers, service providers, and the general public in Taiwan

Promoting dementia-friendly communities is an important strategy for improving quality of life for people with dementia and dementia-family caregivers. The process of building dementia-friendly communities should include all people living in the community. The objective of this study was to compare perceived dementia friendliness in the community among people with dementia, family caregivers, service providers, and the general public. In Taiwan, we surveyed 60 people with dementia, 140 family caregivers, and 200 members of the general public face to face, with 200 service providers surveyed by mail. Participants completed the Perceived Community Dementia Friendliness measure, consisting of seven subscales: care services, community members, community environment, community interactions, transportation, hospitals, and stores and organisations. This measure has acceptable convergent validity, construct validity, and internal consistency reliability for use in Taiwan. Differences in perceived dementia friendliness were examined by chi-square tests/analysis of variance. Among the seven subscales, hospitals were rated with good dementia friendliness by 70% of people with dementia (n = 42); however, care services were rated poor by 23.3% of people with dementia (n = 14). Hospitals were also rated with good dementia friendliness by 39.2% of family caregivers (n = 54). Care services were rated as having good dementia friendliness by 43.5% of service providers (n = 87) and 47% of the general public (n = 86). Furthermore, community interactions were rated as good by small percentages of family caregivers (11.4%, n = 16), service providers (22.2%, n = 44), and the general public (30.9%, n = 58). Family caregivers, service providers, and the general public rated hospitals with the highest mean dementia-friendliness score and community interactions with the lowest. Perceived community-dementia friendliness among participants with dementia differed from that of participants without. People with dementia prioritised improving care services, while people without dementia rated facilitating community interactions as more vital. These differences provide vital insights into understanding the policies and administration of dementia-friendly communities.

Conference report: the Festival of Genetics and Personalized Medicine

Implementation of personalized medicine in the clinic is a lengthy and multifaceted approach that is also dependent on the raising of the general public's awareness of genomics. The Festival of Genetics and Personalized Medicine aims to familiarize the general public with the principles and applications of genetics and personalized medicine using numerous approaches - namely, a theatrical performance; a roundtable discussion of emerging topics in the field, such as pharmacogenomics, clinical genetics, bioinformatics, bioethics and health economics; the 'Genome: Unlocking Life's Code' exhibition, with its do-it-yourself format; and a live demonstration of 2MoBiL, a portable molecular biology laboratory. This festival attracted more than 900 participants and helped disseminate to a broader audience the principles of genetics and personalized medicine.

Change the medium, change the message: creativity is key to battle misinformation

Marshall McLuhan's groundbreaking work regarding the role of context and medium in communication is very relevant today. By limiting the medium of science communication to dense, jargon-rich academic journals, we restrict the impact of discovery to the scientific community. We are also allowing the propagation of misinformation, as the nonexpert is forced to resource unreliable media to answer their scientific queries. To compete with pseudoscience, we need to improve science literacy and make science accessible through the same media on which pseudoscience thrives. As scientists and educators, we believe it is our responsibility to reconceptualize science literacy as a lifelong process and take greater accountability over the future of science communication. We hypothesize that increasing the accessibility of scientific literature to the public through adopting mainstream media forms and increasing access to informal science education (ISE) opportunities will decrease the proliferation of pseudoscience. To accomplish this, we propose eight recommendations housed under three action areas: 1) modify undergraduate science education by increasing opportunities for informal science communication, 2) increase accessibility to informal science education, and 3) bridge the gap between formal and informal science learning opportunities.

Twitter Conversations About Pancreatic Cancer by Health Care Providers and the General Public: Thematic Analysis

Background

 There is a growing interest in the pattern of consumption of health-related information on social media platforms.

Objective

We evaluated the content of discussions around pancreatic cancer on Twitter to identify subtopics of greatest interest to health care providers and the general public. 

Methods

 We used an online analytical tool (Creation Pinpoint) to quantify Twitter mentions (tweets and retweets) related to pancreatic cancer between January 2018 and December 2019. Keywords, hashtags, word combinations, and phrases were used to identify mentions. Health care provider profiles were identified using machine learning and then verified by a human analyst. Remaining user profiles were classified as belonging to the general public. Data from conversations were stratified qualitatively into 5 domains: (1) prevention, (2) survivorship, (3) treatment, (4) research, and (5) policy. We compared the themes of conversations initiated by health care providers and the general public and analyzed the impact of the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and announcements by public figures of pancreatic cancer diagnoses on the overall volume of conversations. 

Results

 Out of 1,258,028 mentions of pancreatic cancer, 313,668 unique mentions were classified into the 5 domains. We found that health care providers most commonly discussed pancreatic cancer research (10,640/27,031 mentions, 39.4%), while the general public most commonly discussed treatment (154,484/307,449 mentions, 50.2%). Health care providers were found to be more likely to initiate conversations related to research (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% CI 1.70-1.79, P<.001) and prevention (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.41-1.57, P<.001) whereas the general public took the lead in the domains of treatment (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.58-1.69, P<.001) and survivorship (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.13-1.21, P<.001). Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month did not increase the number of mentions by health care providers in any of the 5 domains, but general public mentions increased temporarily in all domains except prevention and policy. Health care provider mentions did not increase with announcements by public figures of pancreatic cancer diagnoses. After Alex Trebek, host of the television show Jeopardy, received his diagnosis, general public mentions of survivorship increased, while Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s diagnosis increased conversations on treatment. 

Conclusions

Health care provider conversations on Twitter are not aligned with the general public. Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month temporarily increased general public conversations about treatment, research, and survivorship, but not prevention or policy. Future studies are needed to understand how conversations on social media platforms can be leveraged to increase health care awareness among the general public.

Medicine Maker: An Outreach Activity for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Health Literacy

Public engagement in medicine has become more important in promoting population health management and literacy. Medicine is a topic of great societal importance, and many public engagement activities have been developed to promote this area. However, they often narrowly focus on patient groups, diseases, a singular pharmaceutical drug or analytical technique. Despite the importance of these activities, general audiences are still heavily reliant on doctors and pharmacists for information about their medicine and lack basic knowledge around medication use and personal safety. Given this, a broader engagement approach is warranted to target health literacy among the wider public. "Medicine Maker" is a hands-on public engagement workshop that provides audiences with the opportunity to "manufacture" and inspect the quality of proxy or "dummy" medicine through guided inquiry. Here, we detail the development of the Medicine Maker workshop from its origins in the teaching of Irish third-level pharmacy students, to its initial application with a variety of lay audiences. Formal and informal feedback from participants indicates that the workshop can help foster a more critical understanding of medicine manufacturing, quality control, and personal health.

Assessment of fear among the general public of Kerala, India, following a surge of COVID-19 cases

During the initial stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the community spread of the virus had efficiently been prevented in Kerala, India. The present study aimed to assess fear and its predictors among the general public following the unforeseen surge of COVID-19 cases in July, 2020 using a reliable and validated tool, the 'Fear of COVID-19 Scale', administered through social media. Of 1,100 responses, 1,046 responses were included in the analysis. The majority of the respondents expressed mild fear 44.6%; moderate fear was found in 39.4% of the respondents, severe fear in 13.6% and very severe fear in 2.4% of the respondents. The mean fear score was found to be 15.93±5.81. Statistically significant (P≤0.05) associations were found between fear and sociodemographic variables, such as age, sex, education and occupation, along with predictors, such as the district of residence, healthcare stakeholders in the family, and the presence of an infected individual in the family. Women and students were found to be the most affected. On the whole, the present study provides sufficient insight into the fear associated with COVID-19. The findings presented herein may enable authorities to take adequate measures to prevent the aftermath.

Awareness and Attitudes of the Pakistani Population With Regard to Physician-Pharmaceutical Company Interaction: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To determine the awareness and attitudes of the Pakistani population regarding physician-pharmaceutical company interactions. Methods: The data were collected from primary health care clinics and pharmacy outlets located within cities of six randomly selected districts of the Punjab Province. Those individuals (age ≥18 years) who have just completed their visit to the physician and well understand Urdu language were approached. Descriptive analysis was performed for all variables by using SPSS (IBM version 26). Results: A total of 3,852 participants fully completed the study out of 4,301 (response rate 89.5%). Of those, 30.9% were female; two-thirds (66.7%) were aware of drug representatives' visits to clinics. The majority were aware of pharmaceutical company material presence (or absence) in the physicians' rooms (56.6%), company items with logos (66.8%), patient education materials (73.4%), and 60.8% thought that receiving gifts from companies was "wrong/unethical" practice for physicians, which was lower in comparison to other professions such as judges to accept gifts from lawyers (65.6%) and professional sports umpires to acknowledge gifts (64.3%). A minority said that they have lower trust on physicians for using drug company notepads or pens (16.7%), going on trips sponsored by the company (16.7%), accepting gifts <15,000 PKR (90.3 US$) (26.7%), and accepting gifts >15,000 PKR (90.3 US$) (40.0%). Conclusion: Survey participants were well aware of physician-pharmaceutical company interactions. Participants were more knowledgeable regarding the pharmaceutical company presence (or absence) in physicians' offices than about gift-related practices of physicians. Trust on the physician was not affected by small gifts but by the large gifts.

Human Salivary α-Amylase and Starch Digestion: A Simple and Inexpensive At-Home Laboratory Experience in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 in Colombia was detected on March 6, 2020. Subsequently, schools, colleges, and universities were closed on March 26, which forced a massive migration to virtual education and impacted laboratory-based teaching courses. The teaching of biochemistry requires an experimental component that virtual laboratories cannot emulate. To address this concern, the article describes an at-home biochemistry laboratory experience that explores the hydrolysis of starch by α-amylase as a function of enzyme concentration, reaction time, and pH. The general success of the experience was assessed through the quality of information submitted through laboratory reports and feedback from students. A total of 19 laboratory reports were reviewed, and 50 students were surveyed. The analysis indicated that approximately 90% of students expressed favorable opinions about the experience. They understood the objective of the practice, identified the function of each material, and explained the relationship between the obtained results and concepts of enzyme activity presented in theoretical classes. Finally, the study concluded that the at-home laboratory experience is inexpensive and easy to perform outside the traditional laboratory. Furthermore, it enables a genuine practical experience with observations, data collection, analysis, and discussion of results, which meets the expectations for pharmaceutical chemistry students at the Universidad El Bosque in Bogotá, Colombia.

Evaluation of the Practicability of Biosynex Antigen Self-Test COVID-19 AG+ for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein from Self-Collected Nasal Mid-Turbinate Secretions in the General Public in France

Due to their ease-of-use, lateral flow assay SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests could be suitable candidates for antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic self-test (Ag-RDST). We evaluated the practicability of the Ag-RDST BIOSYNEX Antigen Self-Test COVID-19 Ag+ (Biosynex Swiss SA, Freiburg, Switzerland), using self-collected nasal secretions from the turbinate medium (NMT), in 106 prospectively included adult volunteers living in Paris, France. The majority of the participants correctly understood the instructions for use (94.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 88.3-97.4), showing a great ability to perform the entire self-test procedure to obtain a valid and interpretable result (100%; 95% CI: 96.5-100), and demonstrated the ability to correctly interpret test results (96.2%; 95% CI: 94.2-97.5) with a high level of general satisfaction. About one in eight participants (# 15%) needed verbal help to perform or interpret the test, and only 3.8% of test results were misinterpreted. By reference to multiplex real-time RT-PCR, the Ag-RDST showed 90.9% and 100% sensitivity and specificity, respectively, and high agreement (98.1%), reliability (0.94), and accuracy (90.9%) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Taken together, our study demonstrates the high usability and accuracy of BIOSYNEX Antigen Self-Test COVID-19 Ag+ for supervised self-collected NMT sampling in an unselected adult population living in France.

Knowledge and Expectations on Antibiotic Use Among the General Public in Malaysia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND

Identifying knowledge gaps regarding antibiotic use and resistance is important for future interventional strategies. There is limited information on Malaysia's general public's knowledge and expectations on antibiotic use.

PURPOSE

To assess the knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance, expectations from antibiotic prescription, and identify inappropriate practices related to antibiotic use among Malaysia's general public.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among Malaysians aged 18 years and above from each state, from May to November 2019. Participants were recruited via quota sampling, followed by convenient sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.

RESULTS

Of the 1971 respondents recruited, 56.6% had engaged in at least one inappropriate practice; particularly, not completing the antibiotic course (48.8%). The mean total knowledge score was 8.57±4.24 (total 20). The majority incorrectly believed that antibiotics work on viral infections (79.1%) and colds and coughs (77.0%). Less than half of them believed that antibiotics could be stopped when symptoms improved (42.8%). Most respondents incorrectly perceived that antibiotic resistance occurs when the body becomes resistant to antibiotics (90.2%) and antibiotic resistance is not an issue in the country (62.9%). More than half the participants expected antibiotics to be prescribed for self-limiting symptoms (fever: 62.9%, sore throat: 57.2%, cold or flu: 50.9%). Respondents with better knowledge were less likely to engage in inappropriate antibiotic use (never engaged: 9.26±4.40 versus had engaged: 8.11±4.00, p<0.001), and expect doctors to discuss with them the need for antibiotics (agree/strongly agree: 9.03±4.25 versus neutral: 6.62±3.91 versus disagree/strongly disagree: 8.29±4.00, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge gaps in the role of antibiotics and understanding of antibiotic resistance should be considered whtpen designing future educational strategies for the general public.

What Makes Chinese Adult Children Behave Differently during Parents' End of Life: A Discriminant Analysis of Macao Chinese

The daily practice of filial piety (FP) is well prescribed under the traditional filial norms in the Chinese community. However, exploration of FP practices at the end of parents' lives is limited. The current study explored the FP representation and good death preferences of Macao Chinese. A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted and discriminant analysis was used to identify possible predictors of FP representation in the context of parents' end of life. Results showed that Macao Chinese were inclined to perform most of the filial duties in the last journey of their parents. Among 705 participants, 150 (21.3%) tended to practice authoritarian FP, and 555 (78.7%) tended to practice reciprocal FP. Age, education, religion, and good death preferences were identified as predictors of different FP representation groups. The findings could help clinicians to obtain a preliminary perception of FP representation of Chinese patients and to determine the appropriate approach for end-of-life care from a family perspective.

Students' Perspectives and Achievements toward Online Teaching of Medicinal Chemistry Courses at Pharmacy School in Thailand During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This communication was to share the efforts made in developing the fully online courses in medicinal chemistry during the educational disruption due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In the academic year 2020, the online course was implemented for the first time at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Thailand. Various online teaching strategies were integrated, raising the question of whether the developed online courses would deliver similar learning outcomes to the traditional classroom. At the end of each semester, the teaching assessment report was conducted and evaluated in 4 parts: part 1, evaluation of lecturer; part 2, student's self-evaluation; part 3, learning outcome development after studying the course; part 4, appropriateness of class environment and equipment. Overall, student responses toward parts 1-3 in the online class were as satisfactory as those in the previous on-site class. Lower scores toward part 4 were observed in the online class. In addition, student performance in terms of grade distributions between the on-site and online classes was different. On-site students earned the highest proportion of A grades, whereas online students earned a higher proportion of B+'s to F's. While the pandemic persists and the need for online courses remains, we hope that this communication will provide some educational insight and strategies to help in the ongoing efforts to adapt and establish more successful online courses.

As Similar As Possible, As Different As Necessary - On-Site Laboratory Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Most of the available information on studying under the challenging conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes a variety of aspects on how to digitalize the whole teaching process. Thus, several useful and potentially game-changing strategies have been reported recently. In contrast to the digitalization of teaching, in this article, we focus on the reverse process: transitioning back to offline teaching, which is unavoidable especially for the acquisition of practical skills during chemistry studies. In this work, we describe our own experience acquired during the Organic Chemistry practical course at the University of Vienna, which was held in June 2020 and onwards. The article contains descriptions of precautions and measures that were taken, additional materials, and necessary changes made in order to safely continue on-site course teaching. We anticipate that this set of precautions can be used in an adapted fashion for any type of laboratory course. Further, we offer a critical analysis of students' and instructors' opinions concerning the changes and well-being during the course. Those opinions were collected via a detailed survey. From our experience, with careful planning and responsible behavior, a return to on-site education is possible and warmly welcomed by all involved participants. The detailed description of our course may also be useful for those who need to start a new organic laboratory course or want to improve an existing one.

Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Review of Prevalence Meta-Analyses

Background: Mental health burden has been massively reported during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Aiming to summarise these data, we present a meta-review of meta-analyses that evaluated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety, depressive and stress symptoms, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder/symptoms (PTSD), and sleep disturbance, reporting its prevalence on general public (GP) and health care workers (HCW). Methods: A search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science. Sleep disturbances, psychological distress, stress, and burnout were grouped as "Psychophysiological stress," and anxiety, depression, and PTSD were grouped as "Psychopathology." A random-effects model, calculating the pooled prevalence together with 95% confidence interval was performed for each domain. Subgroup analyses were performed for each population type (GP and HCW) and for each mental health outcome. For anxiety and depression, subgroup analysis for population type was performed. Heterogeneity is reported as I 2. Publication bias was assessed through visual inspection of the funnel plot, and further tested by Egger's test and trim and fill analyses. Results: A total of 18 meta-analyses were included. The prevalence of psychophysiological stress was 31.99% (CI: 26.88-37.58, I 2 = 99.9%). HCW showed a higher prevalence (37.74%, CI: 33.26-42.45, I 2 = 99.7%) than the GP (20.67%, 15.07-27.66, I 2 = 99.9%). The overall prevalence of insomnia, psychological distress, and stress were, respectively, 32.34% (CI: 25.65-39.84), 28.25% (CI: 18.12-41.20), and 36% (CI: 29.31-43.54). Psychopathology was present at 26.45% (CI: 24.22-28.79, I 2 = 99.9%) of the sample, with similar estimates for population (HCW 26.14%, CI: 23.37-29.12, I 2 = 99.9%; GP: 26.99%, CI: 23.41-30.9, I 2 = 99.9%). The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD was 27.77% (CI: 24.47-31.32), 26.93% (CI: 23.92-30.17), and 20% (CI: 15.54-24.37), respectively. Similar proportions between populations were found for anxiety (HCW = 27.5%, CI: 23.78-31.55; GP = 28.33%, CI: 22.1-35.5) and depression (HCW = 27.05%, CI: 23.14-31.36; GP = 26.7%, CI: 22.32-31.59). Asymmetry in the funnel plot was found, and a slight increase in the estimate of overall psychopathology (29.08%, CI: 26.42-31.89) was found after the trim and fill analysis. Conclusions: The prevalence of mental health problems ranged from 20 to 36%. HCW presented a higher prevalence of psychophysiological stress than the general population. Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=252221, identifier: CRD42021252221.

Knowledge mediates attitude in autism spectrum disorders? Data from Malaysia

Limited efforts have been made in middle- and low-income countries to raise public awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over the past ten years. We report data from a general population survey exploring the relationship between awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding autism in Malaysia. A questionnaire consisting of items related to awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding ASD was distributed. The scores of knowledge of ASD and attitude towards ASD were 6.87 (SD = 4.17; with a total possible score of 12) and 6.39 (SD = 2.77; with a total possible score of 9), respectively, indicating that, on average, the participants had moderate levels of knowledge and attitude. Structural equation modeling showed that improving awareness and knowledge about ASD will enhance more positive attitudes towards ASD. Efforts should be geared towards disseminating information about ASD, in order to increase acceptance of the disorder.

COVID-19-related post-traumatic growth in the general public: a cross-sectional study from Yunnan, China

To investigate post-traumatic growth induced by COVID-19 pandemic in certain Yunnan residents and to analyze its influencing factors. A total of 581 permanent residents of Yunnan province completed the electronic questionnaire from 18 April 2020 to 26 April 2020. Logistic regression analysis showed that the educational levels, self-perceived health status, family history of infectious diseases, family history of infectious diseases, personality and frequency of going through COVID-19 related news were influencing factors of PTG (P < 0.05). As a traumatic event, the threat of COVID-19 may enable some people to gain positive psychological development in adversity. This will provide reference for public psychological crisis intervention following the COVID-19 pandemic.

LAB Theory, HLAB Pedagogy, and Review of Laboratory Learning in Chemistry during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The role and efficacy of the laboratory in chemical education have recently been a subject of renewed discussion as researchers are called upon to address the question of whether laboratory education lives up to expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic, which forced most of the global student population to temporarily adopt remote learning, offers an unparalleled case study to investigate types of outcomes resulting from a variety of adjustments made to laboratory education. This scoping review article focuses on the reports of laboratory learning in chemistry and closely related disciplines during COVID-19 to analyze the types of adjustments made to laboratory curricula and the immediate effect of these adjustments on students. The aggregated findings suggest that a lack of hands-on laboratory experience was detrimental to certain types of learning and engagement but that other types of learning were successfully achieved remotely. For researchers, departments, and university administrators, the differentiation in these findings could help inform the ongoing discussion about the future of laboratory education. For instructors and student support staff, the findings indicate potential areas of deficiency and strength for the COVID-19 student cohort going forward. Finally, a laboratory learning theory and pedagogy are proposed to guide the use of the laboratory in chemical education and potentially in other laboratory-based sciences as well.

Creating an amateur press corps of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to cover breaking science and improve lay-writing skills

The Science Writing Initiative for Trainees is a science communications internship program for biomedical graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the Medical University of South Carolina. Interns serve as an amateur press corps, writing news stories and press releases about recent high-impact research articles. Since 2016, 25 interns have written more than 100 EurekAlert! press releases that have received more than a half million views. Interns learn to explain science across the translational spectrum and to convey findings in plain language to a lay audience, serving as ambassadors for science.

Prevalence and Predictors of Willingness to Make Advance Directives among Macao Chinese

While advance directives (ADs) are considered to be part of government’s healthcare agenda, there has not been any public consultation for legislation, nor investigation regarding the public’s views about ADs in the Chinese culture of Macao. The current study explored the Macao Chinese people’s willingness to make ADs. Data were collected from 724 residents aged 18 years and above. Results showed that 533 respondents (73.6%) claimed that they were willing to complete an AD if the document was recognized legally. The experience of caring for relatives or friends with terminal illnesses, palliative care as the preferred end-of-life treatment option, and scoring higher in the Hospice Care Attitude Scale were the predictors of willingness to make ADs. Results of the study suggested that there was a relatively high number of people who would consider setting up ADs. Our study recommends that healthcare professionals should equip themselves to raise ADs-related discussions with patients. Moreover, the Macao Government is responsible for facilitating the introduction and implementation of ADs in order to improve overall end-of-life care quality in Macao.

A beginner's guideline for low-cost 3D printing of macromolecules usable for teaching and demonstration

The structure and function of biomolecules relationship is the hallmark of biochemistry, molecular biology, and life sciences in general. Physical models of macromolecules give students the possibility to manipulate these structures in three dimensions, developing a sense of spatiality and a better understanding of key aspects such as atom size and shape, bond lengths and symmetry. Several molecular model systems were developed specifically to represent particular classes or groups of molecules and hence lack the flexibility of a universal solution. Three-dimensional printing could nevertheless provide such a universal solution, as it can be used to create physical models of biomolecular structures based on the teacher's or demonstrator's needs and requirements. Here, insulin was used as a model molecule and several depiction and printing parameters were tested in order to highlight the technical limitations of the approach. In the end, a set of settings that worked is provided which could serve as a starting point for anyone wishing to print his or her own custom macromolecular model on the cheap.

A National Survey to Assess the COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Conspiracy Beliefs, Acceptability, Preference, and Willingness to Pay among the General Population of Pakistan

The current study aims to assess the beliefs of the general public in Pakistan towards conspiracy theories, acceptance, willingness to pay, and preference for the COVID-19 vaccine. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online self-administered questionnaire during January 2021. The Chi-square test or Fisher exact test was utilized for statistical data analysis. A total of 2158 respondents completed the questionnaire, among them 1192 (55.2%) were male with 23.87 (SD: ±6.23) years as mean age. The conspiracy beliefs circulating regarding the COVID-19 vaccine were believed by 9.3% to 28.4% of the study participants. Among them, 1040 (48.2%) agreed to vaccinate on its availability while 934 (43.3%) reported the Chinese vaccine as their preference. The conspiracy beliefs of the participants were significantly associated with acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. The existence of conspiracy beliefs and low vaccine acceptance among the general population is a serious threat to successful COVID-19 vaccination.

An Evaluation of the Hand Hygiene Behaviour and Compliance of the General Public When Using Public Restrooms in Northern Ireland (NI) during the Initial Weeks of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has resulted in significant levels of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among the elderly and immuno-suppressed groups. Although adequate hand hygiene (HH) behaviour and compliance is widely accepted as being the most effective self-protective measure in preventing the spread of diseases like COVID-19, previous research suggests that normal hand hygiene compliance is poor, but generally improves during a disease pandemic. This research aimed to evaluate the hand hygiene behaviour and compliance of the general public in the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (NI).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved the use of infrared-imaging cameras to observe the hand hygiene behaviour and compliance of the general public when using one set of male and female public restrooms.

RESULTS

The findings of this study indicated that the level of hand hygiene compliance of the general public was poor in the initial weeks, with 82.93% overall not washing their hands adequately.

CONCLUSIONS

Inadequate HH behaviour and compliance may have added significantly to the rapid rate of spread of COVID-19 in the initial weeks of the pandemic in NI. Current public health campaigns do not appear, based on this study, to have the desired impact and may need to be reviewed or re-enforced in order to achieve the levels of hand hygiene compliance required to slow the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases in the future.

Public Perceptions of General Surgery Residency Training

OBJECTIVE

Patients are integral to surgical training. Understanding our patients' perceptions of surgical training, resident involvement and autonomy is crucial to optimizing surgical education and thus patient care. In the modern, connected world many factors extrinsic to a patient's experience of healthcare may influence their opinion of our training systems (i.e., social media, television shows, and internet searches). The purpose of this article is to contextualize the literature investigating public perceptions of general surgery training to allow us to effect patient education initiatives to optimize both surgical training and patient safety.

DESIGN

This is a perspective including a literature review summarizing the current knowledge of public perceptions of general surgery training.

CONCLUSIONS

Little is published regarding patient and public perceptions of general surgery residency training and the role of residents within this. Current literature demonstrates that the majority of patients are willing to have residents participate in their care. Patients' attitude toward resident involvement in their operation is improved by utilizing educational materials and by ensuring a supervising attending is present within the operating room. These observations, coupled with future work to delve deeper into factors affecting public perceptions of surgical training and resident involvement within this, can guide strategies to improve surgical education.

Self-medication Behavior with antibiotics: a national cross-sectional survey in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic self-medication is common in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public's knowledge about and attitudes toward antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication.

METHODS

A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N = 1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotic self-medication.

RESULTS

A response rate of ninety-one percent (n = 998) responded. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean = 12.5; SD = 3.5; (scale 0-27)). Half had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p< 0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p= 0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p= 0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for antibiotics (p= 0.004).

CONCLUSION

There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics.Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education campaigns, and policy changes.