scholarly journals 4437 The Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among University of Utah Medical Students: Documenting the Need for Supportive Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
Alyssa Thorman ◽  
Harneet Kaur Dhillon
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
University Of Utah ◽  
Study Results ◽  
And Gender

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Undergraduates experience food insecurity at rates 21% higher than the general population. Because professional students have been omitted from these studies, the goal of this project is to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among medical students at one academic institution. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A cross-sectional research design was used to quantify the food insecurity status of medical students at the University of Utah. The USDA’s validated 6-item Food Security Survey Module was distributed via email to all currently matriculated medical students. Student’s responses were anonymous but questions about gender and age were included. Respondents (N = 200) were scored per the module as food secure, food insecure, or very low food security. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Statistical analysis included frequencies and chi-square tests. Medical students (N = 166) showed 50.6% of respondents experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, 16.3% experienced very low food security.While there were no significant relationships between food security status and gender or age, general trends did show divorced and separated students had higher food insecurity risk 82%. A similar study in 2014 surveyed undergraduates at the same location; 51% of respondents (N = 221) experienced food insecurity. While medical students experience food insecurity at rates much higher than the national average, prevalence is lower than undergraduates at the same institution. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Burnout and suicide in medical training are at an all-time high; professional and academic pursuits are limited when physiological needs of food security are not being met. Study results suggest, 50% of respondents are food insecure. This should inform the development of supportive programs.

scholarly journals Elderly Perception of Distance to the Grocery Store as a Reason for Feeling Food Insecurity—Can Food Policy Limit This?

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3191
Author(s):  
Robert Gajda ◽  
Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Purchase

The sense of food insecurity in a group of elderly people may be determined by the perception of distance to food outlets. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the perception of food insecurity by the elderly and their perception of the distance between the places of residence and food purchase. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was carried out in 2019–2020 amongst 762 Polish elderly living in Świętokrzyskie and Śląskie Voivodeship. The assessment of the relationships between the perceived food insecurity due to living too far away from the grocery shops and socio-demographic features was performed using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), chi-square tests, and Phi and Cramér’s V coefficients. Too great a distance to the place of food purchase was the cause of a lack of a sense of food security in 20.5% of the study sample, especially in men, people aged 75 and more, people living in a rural environment and people living alone. People reporting a lack of food due to the distance to the place of purchase showed socio-demographic characteristics similar to those of people declaring a lack of a sense of food security. Reduced food consumption due to the distance from the place of sale, including of fish (24.8%), some fruits (18.9%) and vegetables (15.4%) and beef (17.3%), may contribute to the deterioration of the diet and, as a result, health conditions. Including access to places of the sale of food in food policy as a factor contributing to ensuring the food security of older people can help to maintain a better quality of life and avoid exclusion. Especially in a situation of limited independence, food insecurity in elders due to causes other than financial limitations should be a focus of food policy.

Psychiatry as a specialization: influential factors and gender differences among medical students in a low- to middle-income country

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. I. O. Agyapong ◽  
R. Owusu-Antwi ◽  
A. Ritchie ◽  
G. Agyapong-Opoku ◽  
H. Khinda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Career Interest ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Training Institutions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Policies And Programs

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the perception of Ghanaian medical students about factors influencing their career interest in psychiatry and to explore gender differences in these perceptions.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 5th and 6th year medical students in four public medical schools in Ghana. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 20.ResultsResponses were obtained from 545 medical students (response rate of 52%). Significantly, more male medical students expressed that stigma is an important consideration for them to choose or not to choose a career in psychiatry compared to their female counterparts (42.7% v. 29.7%, respectively). Over two-thirds of the medical students perceived that psychiatrists were at risk of being attacked by their patients, with just a little over a third expressing that risk was an important consideration for them to choose a career in psychiatry. There were no gender differences regarding perceptions about risk. Around 3 to 4 out of 10 medical students will consider careers in psychiatry if offered various incentives with no gender differences in responses provided.ConclusionOur study presents important and novel findings in the Ghanaian context, which can assist health policy planners and medical training institutions in Ghana to formulate policies and programs that will increase the number of psychiatry residents and thereby increase the psychiatrist-to-patient ratio in Ghana.

scholarly journals Is COVID-19 a Disease of Poverty: The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and the Likelihood of Hospitalization in Patients with COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
mohammad ariya ◽  
Jalal Karimi ◽  
Somayeh Abolghasemi ◽  
Zeinab Hematdar ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Corona pandemic as a public health emergency. This pandemic affects the main pillars of food security. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and the probability of hospitalization and the length of the recovery period after getting COVID-19.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed through the census on COVID-19 patients diagnosed in Fasa, Iran. Informed consent, demographic, and food security questionnaire were completed over the phone. Then, all patients were followed up until recovery. Data were analyzed using SPSS26 and Chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression (P> 0.05).Results: In this study, 219 COVID-19 patients [100 (54.7%) male and 119 female (54.3%)] with a mean age of 40.05±15.54 years old were examined. Possibility of hospitalization and the length of the recovery period of more than one month was significantly longer in the food insecure group (P = 0.001) and (P = 0.76), respectively, but the mean length of hospital stay in the two groups was not significantly different (P = 0.76). After adjusting for all confounding variables, people with food insecurity were 3.9 times more likely to be hospitalized than those with food security. Conclusions: We observed that food-insecure people were significantly more likely to be hospitalized than the secure group.

scholarly journals Food insecurity arises the likelihood of hospitalization in patients with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ariya ◽  
Jalal Karimi ◽  
Somayeh Abolghasemi ◽  
Zeinab Hematdar ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractThe World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Corona pandemic as a public health emergency. This pandemic affects the main pillars of food security. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and the probability of hospitalization and the length of the recovery period after getting COVID-19. The cross-sectional study was performed through the census on COVID-19 patients diagnosed in Fasa, Iran. Informed consent, demographic, and food security questionnaire were completed over the phone. Then, all patients were followed up until recovery. Data were analyzed using SPSS26 and Chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression (P < 0.05). In this study, 219 COVID-19 patients [100 (54.7%) male and 119 (54.3%) female] with a mean age of 40.05 ± 15.54 years old were examined. Possibility of hospitalization and the length of the recovery period of more than one month was significantly longer in the food-insecure group (P = 0.001) and (P = 0.37), respectively, but the mean length of hospital stay in the two groups was not significantly different (P = 0.76). After adjusting for all confounding variables, people with food insecurity were 3.9 times more likely to be hospitalized than those with food security. Overall, we observed that food-insecure people were significantly more likely to be hospitalized than the secure group.

scholarly journals Alcohol Use among Medical Students: Linking Knowledge as a Social Capital Defining Norms in Learning Institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-200
Author(s):  
Patrick N. Njagi ◽  
Ronnie Midigo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Study Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

College alcohol use continues to be a national public health issue. World Health Organization approximates that 53% of people at the age of 15 years and above, have at one time used alcohol. Alcohol is recognized and acts as ‘entrance’ to the use of other substances. The study was carried out in Kenya Medical Training College, Embu Campus. The study presents an argument that knowledge about alcohol is a social capital defining use and non-use of alcohol among medical students at Kenya Medical Training College. A Cross-sectional analytical approach was adopted for the study design. A sample of 270 students was included in the study. Data was analyzed using both descriptive (Frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (chi square tests and regression analysis). For objective one, the study finds a 75% prevalence rate of alcohol use among students of Embu MTC. Demographic factors influencing alcohol use include, religion (p=0.002205), program undertaken (p<0.0001) and with whom the respondent is living with (p<0.0001). The study recommends development and implementation of policies and programs aimed at addressing the widespread use of alcohol in the study site.

scholarly journals Household Food Security and Nutritional Status of Under-Five-Year Children: A Case Study of Nepal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajaya Paudel ◽  
Tulsi Ram Bhandari ◽  
Nim Bahadur Dangi
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Household Food

Background: Food security refers to accessing to desirable, nutritious, and healthy foods to live a healthy and productive life. Household food insecurity is an underlying cause of malnutrition in children. In this study, the household food security and its influence on the nutritional status of under-five year children were investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from August to November 2019 in Syangja district of Nepal. Of six rural municipalities of the district, Phedikhola Rural Municipality was selected using the lottery method. We found 905 eligible households that have an under-five year child. A total of 289 children entered the study after considering the 40% overall prevalence rate of malnutrition among children under five years of age.  Data were collected proportionately from each ward considering the health status and anthropometric measurements of children and household food security using a structured interview schedule and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied to assess the situation and determine the association. Results: Food insecurity was observed in more than half (52.3%) of the households. Food insecurity was associated (P < 0.001) with the socioeconomic status of the family. Prevalence of stunting (height-for-age), underweight, and wasting (weight-for-height) in children were 28.7%, 20.0%, and 13.9%, respectively. Food security, exclusive breastfeeding, and initiation time of complementary feeding were significantly associated with wasting and underweight (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Food insecurity and under-five year malnutrition were highly frequent in the study areas. The improvement of educational, occupational, and economic conditions of the households may be a solution to this problem.

Perceptions of Final Year Medical Students about Family Medicine as A Career Choice in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dur-e- Nishat
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Family Medicine ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Chi Square Test

Background: Family medicine is a field in which complete and detailed set of healthcare services are provided to the patients and their families. In developed countries, freshly graduated students choose family medicine as a priority for their career. However, in Pakistan it is not the case. The present study is undertaken to determine the perceptions of final year medical students’ about Family Medicine as a viable career. Methods: A total number of 504 students participated in the study. This was a cross-sectional study. The study participants were in their final year of medical college. Data was collected using a preapproved questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed via SPSS version 17 and Chi-Square test was used post-stratification. Results: Only 14.3% (n=72) medical students had heard about Family Medicine. Only 18% (n=92) would select family medicine as a profession. The most frequent rationale for choosing the field of Family Medicine was the variety of patients seen in general practice (55.4% n=51). Conclusion: There is a dire need to focus on increasing awareness about the field of family medicine among medical students. The students should be counseled on the advantages along with the disadvantages of choosing this field as a medical profession.

scholarly journals Characteristics associated with changes in food security status among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Hazael Andrew ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Security Module ◽  
Adult Food

Abstract The prevalence of food insecurity in the USA has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, past studies have not examined how the food security status of college students has been impacted. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of food insecurity; determine the proportion of students experiencing a change in food security status; and identify characteristics associated with changes in food security status from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of college students. We administered a cross-sectional online survey to students from a large public university in the Southeastern USA. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Module was used to assess food security status during the spring 2020 semester both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students self-reported a variety of individual characteristics. The overall prevalence of food insecurity increased by approximately one-third during the spring 2020 semester from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. When examining the types of changes in food security status experienced by students, 12% improved, 68% stayed the same, and 20% worsened. A variety of characteristics were associated with an improvement or worsening of food security status category from before to during the pandemic. Similar to what is seen in other reports, we found that the overall proportion of college students in our sample experiencing food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some students showed improvements in food security status. Approaches for addressing food insecurity during and beyond the pandemic are needed.

A cross sectional study: The association between sleeping quality and stress among second and third medical students at the University of Jordan

2021 ◽  
pp. 009121742110112
Author(s):  
AA Toubasi ◽  
BR Khraisat ◽  
RB AbuAnzeh ◽  
HM Kalbouneh
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Mean ◽  
University Of Jordan ◽  
The University

Objective Medicine is considered one if not the most stressful educational field. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of stress and poor sleeping quality among medical students and the association between them. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Jordan on second- and third-year medical students. The questionnaire consisted of: 1) Demographics; 2) The assessment tools which were Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) and Kessler Psychological Distress Status (K10). Binary logistic regression, chi-square and linear regression were used to investigate the association between PSQI, K10, and their determinants. Results The mean for PSQI score was 6.76 ± 3.32. PSQI scores interpretation revealed that 61.7% of the 282 participants of this study were poor sleepers. Logistic regression results showed that only the category of not napping at all from the napping hours variable was significantly associated with sleeping quality. Furthermore, the mean of K10 scores was 24.5 ± 8.5. K10 scores revealed that 66.3% of the participants were stressed. Logistic regression results showed that gender and regular exercise were significantly associated with psychological distress. Additionally, chi-square test, logistic regression and linear regression showed that PSQI was significantly associated with K10 (P <0.01). Conclusions Stress and poor sleeping quality in medical students at the University of Jordan were highly prevalent and strongly associated. What determined PSQI was daytime napping, and for K10 were regular exercise and gender. Further investigations into stress and sleep quality in the Arabian region are needed.

scholarly journals Eating rough: food sources and acquisition practices of homeless young people in Adelaide, South Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Booth
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Homeless Youth ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Food Acquisition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Services ◽  
City Agencies

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the food sources and acquisition practices used by homeless youth in Adelaide. This work is part of a larger study that aimed to examine the extent and nature of food insecurity among homeless youth.DesignCross-sectional design involving quantitative and qualitative methods.SettingFour health and welfare inner-city agencies serving homeless youth in Adelaide, South Australia.SubjectsA sample of 150 homeless youth aged between 15 and 24 years recruited from these agencies. Fifteen were selected via snowball sampling for interview.ResultsUse of welfare food sources was high (63%). Food from welfare agencies was supplemented by unorthodox food acquisition methods such as theft (65%), begging for money for food (61%), begging for food items (44%) and asking for help from friends and relatives (34%). Reasons given for non-usage of welfare food services included affordability, access, being too busy, shame or embarrassment.ConclusionsFood insecurity is a salient issue for some homeless youth in Adelaide. Clarifying food acquisition practices of food-insecure homeless youth is essential for rational planning and improvement of food-related services to meet their needs. Such an understanding also underpins the development of broader public policy responses that improve individual and household skills and resources to acquire food and ensure food security. Nutrition professionals, welfare professionals and policy-makers need to work sensitively with welfare food agencies and others to improve food access and food security for homeless youth.

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