Barriers to and facilitators and perceptions of nut consumption among the general population in New Zealand

AbstractObjectiveDespite considerable evidence supporting the health benefits of regular nut consumption, nut intakes remain lower than recommended among many populations. Understanding how the general population perceives nuts could inform strategies to promote regular nut consumption and increase intakes among the general public.DesignCross-sectional study. Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire which included information on nut consumption and knowledge and perceptions of nuts.SettingThe study was set in New Zealand (NZ).SubjectsParticipants (n 1600), aged 18 years or over, were randomly selected from the NZ electoral roll.ResultsA total of 710 participants completed the questionnaire (response rate 44 %). More than half of the respondents believed that nuts are healthy, filling, high in protein and high in fat. The most common reason cited by consumers for eating nuts was taste (86 % for nuts, 85 % for nut butters), while dental issues was the most frequent reason for avoidance. About 40 % of respondents were not aware of the effects of nut consumption on lowering blood cholesterol and CVD risk.ConclusionsDespite overall basic knowledge of the nutritional value of nuts, a substantial proportion of the general population was unaware of the cardioprotective effects of nuts. The present study identified common motivations for eating and avoiding nuts, as well as perceptions of nuts which could affect intake. These should guide the content and direction of public health messages to increase regular nut consumption. The public’s knowledge gaps should also be addressed.

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Edinburgh Vein Study: Methods and Response in a Survey of Venous Disease in the General Population

Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease ◽

10.1177/026835559701200403 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 127-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

C J. Evans ◽

F. G. R. Fowkes ◽

C. V. Ruckley ◽

P. L. Allan ◽

M. N. Carson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Response Rate ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Disease Status ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Ethnic Origin ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Venous Disease ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Study Participants

Objective: To describe the methods required to conduct a large epidemiological study of venous disease in the general population, and the resulting response. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University of Edinburgh. Participants: Men and women aged 18–64 years, randomly selected from general practice registers. Methods: Subjects were invited for the following procedures: questionnaire, height and weight measurement, classification of varices and chronic venous insufficiency, duplex measurement of duration of venous reflux and venous blood sampling. A questionnaire survey of non-responders was carried out. Results of response: A total of 1566 subjects attended, a final response rate of 53.8%. The response rate increased with age. The distribution of ethnic origin and social class of attenders was similar to that of the general Edinburgh population. Study participants were generally older, from more affluent areas and more often female than non-responders ( p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Large epidemiological studies of venous disease in the community are feasible but the level of response illustrates the importance of obtaining information on the disease status of non-responders.

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Population's Knowledge About COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Study in Brazil (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24756 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Vinícius Henrique Almeida Guimarães ◽

Maisa De Oliveira Leandro ◽

Carolina Cassiano ◽

Anna Laura Piantino Marques ◽

Clara Motta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Drug Repositioning ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Questionnaire Response ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Distancing

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly transmissible illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease has affected more than 200 countries and the measures that have been implemented to combat its spread, as there is still no vaccine or definitive medication, have been based on supportive interventions and drug repositioning. Brazil, the largest country in South America, has had more than 140,000 recorded deaths and is one of the most affected countries. Despite the extensive quantity of scientifically recognized information, there are still conflicting discussions on how best to face the disease and the virus, especially with regard to social distancing, preventive methods, and the use of medications. OBJECTIVE Thus, the main purpose of this work was to evaluate the Brazilian population’s basic knowledge about COVID-19 to demonstrate how Brazilians are managing to identify only scientifically proven information. METHODS A cross-sectional study design was used. An original online questionnaire survey was administered from June 16 to August 21, 2020 across all five different geopolitical regions of the country (i.e., the North, Northeast, Center-West, Southeast, and South). The questionnaire was comprised of questions about basic aspects of COVID-19, such as the related symptoms, conduct that should be followed when suspected of infection, risk groups, prevention, transmission, and social distancing. The wrong questionnaire response alternatives were taken from the fake news combat website of Brazilian Ministry of Health. Participants (aged ≥18 years) were recruited through social network platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. The mean distribution, frequencies and (dis) similarity between the responses for the different variables of the study were evaluated. Significance levels in all statistical tests were less than 0.05. RESULTS A total of 4,180 valid responses representative of all the states and regions of Brazil were recorded. Most respondents had good knowledge about COVID-19, getting an average of 86.59% of the total score, with regard to the basic aspects of the disease. Region, educational level, age, sex, and social condition had a significant association (p < 0.0001) with knowledge about the disease, which meant that women, the young, those with higher educational levels, non-recipients of social assistance, and more economically and socially developed regions had more correct answers. CONCLUSIONS Overall, Brazilians with social media access can be said to have a good level of basic knowledge about COVID-19, but with differences depending on the analyzed subgroup. Due to the limitation of the platform used in carrying out the study, care should be taken when generalizing the study findings to populations unschooled or who are not used to accessing social network platforms. CLINICALTRIAL

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

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9070720 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 720

Author(s):

Muhammad Subhan Arshad ◽

Iltaf Hussain ◽

Tahir Mahmood ◽

Khezar Hayat ◽

Abdul Majeed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Fisher Exact Test ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Exact Test ◽

Conspiracy Beliefs ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Study Participants

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.

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“Mental health status of the general population, healthcare professionals, and university students during 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak in Jordan: a cross-sectional study”

10.1101/2020.04.09.20056374 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Abdallah Y Naser ◽

Eman Zmaily Dahmash ◽

Rabaa Al-Rousan ◽

Hassan Alwafi ◽

Hamzeh Mohammad Alrawashdeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

University Students ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

History Of ◽

Study Participants

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe emergence of COVID-19 global pandemic coupled with high transmission rate and mortality has created an unprecedented state of emergency worldwide. This global situation may have a negative impact on the psychological well-being of individuals which in turn impacts individuals’ performance.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted in Jordan between 22nd and 28th of March 2020 to explore the mental health status (depression and anxiety) of the general population, healthcare professionals, and university students during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety among the study participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of depression and anxiety.ResultsThe prevalence of depression and anxiety among the entire study participants was 23.8% and 13.1%, respectively. Anxiety was most prevalent across university students 21.5%, followed by healthcare professionals 11.3%, and general population 8.8%. Females among healthcare professionals and university students, divorced healthcare professionals, pulmonologists, and university students with history of chronic disease were at higher risk of developing depression. Females, divorced participants among the general population, and university students with history of chronic disease and those with high income (≥1500 JD) were at higher risk of developing anxiety.ConclusionsDuring outbreaks, individuals are put under extreme stressful condition resulting in higher risk of developing anxiety and depression particularly for students and healthcare professionals. Policymakers and mental healthcare providers are advised to provide further mental support to these vulnerable groups during this pandemic.

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Prevalence and Severity of Hand Eczema in the Dutch General Population: A Cross-sectional, Questionnaire Study within the Lifelines Cohort Study

Acta Dermato Venereologica ◽

10.2340/actadv.v101.432 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Angelique N. Voorberg ◽

Laura Loman ◽

Marie L. A. Schuttelaar

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

General Population ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hand Eczema ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chronic Hand Eczema ◽

Study Participants

Data on chronic hand eczema and severity of hand eczema in the general population is scarce. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was sent to 135,950 Lifelines Cohort Study participants, in order to investigate the prevalence and severity of hand eczema in the Dutch general population. In total, 57,798 subjects were included. The lifetime prevalence of hand eczema was 15.0% (95% confidence interval 14.7–15.3), the 1-year prevalence 7.3% (95% confidence interval 7.1–7.6), and the self-reported physician-diagnosed prevalence 6.1% (95% confidence interval 5.9–6.3). The 1-year prevalence of chronic hand eczema was 4.7% (95% confidence interval 4.5–4.9). The majority (56.9%) of the subjects with hand eczema had almost cleared at worst ever and the prevalence of severe to very severe hand eczema at worst ever in the general population was 1.9% (95% confidence interval 1.8–2.1). Future epidemiological studies in the general population should include data about chronic hand eczema and severity of hand eczema, as this can provide perspective on the burden of hand eczema.

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A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY (PREVELANCE OF ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS IN MEDICAL STAFF IN KSA)

International Journal of Advanced Research ◽

10.21474/ijar01/13279 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (08) ◽

pp. 385-391

Author(s):

Masoud Ahmad Al-Ghamdi ◽

◽

Tariq Abdullah Aldugman ◽

Alaa Rashad Hassanein ◽

Hoda Jehad Abousada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

General Population ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Age Groups ◽

Work Conditions ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Educational Levels ◽

Study Participants

Among most Medical staff the orthopaedic complaint is very common and, in this research, we focused on the overall Prevalence of orthopaedic disorders among Medical workers, orthopaedic conditions differences between genders and educational levels. Then we overviewed the rates of orthopaedic diseases in different age groups in the general population. This study participants were Medical workers from Saudi Arabia and the results may not be applied to different sittings due to differences in facilities and work conditions.

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Current nut recommendation practices differ between health professionals in New Zealand

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980017003469 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1065-1074 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rachel C Brown ◽

Andrew R Gray ◽

Lee Ching Yong ◽

Alex Chisholm ◽

Sook Ling Leong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Population Level ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Study Participants

AbstractObjectiveDespite evidence linking regular nut consumption with reduced chronic disease risk, population-level intakes remain low. Research suggests nut-promoting advice from doctors facilitates regular nut consumption. However, there is no information on current nut recommendation practices of health professionals. The aim of the present study was to examine the advice provided by health professionals regarding nut consumption.DesignIn this cross-sectional study, participants were invited to complete a survey including questions about their nut recommendation practices.SettingNew Zealand (NZ).SubjectsThe NZ Electoral Roll was used to identify dietitians, general practitioners and practice nurses.ResultsIn total 318 dietitians, 292 general practitioners and 149 practice nurses responded. Dietitians were more likely (82·7 %) to recommend patients increase consumption of nuts than general practitioners (55·5 %) and practice nurses (63·1 %; both P<0·001). The most popular nuts recommended were almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts, with most health professionals recommending raw nuts. The most common recommendation for frequency of consumption by dietitians and practice nurses was to eat nuts every day, while general practitioners most frequently recommended 2–4 times weekly, although not statistically significantly different between professions. Dietitians recommended a significantly greater amount of nuts (median 30 g/d) than both general practitioners and practice nurses (20 g/d; both P<0·001).ConclusionsDietitians were most likely to recommend consumption of nuts in accordance with current guidelines, but there are opportunities to improve the adoption of nut consumption recommendations for all professions. This may be a viable strategy for increasing population-level nut intakes to reduce chronic disease.

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Alexithymia and Self-Efficacy With Pain Perception in Women with Migraines: A Cross-sectional Study

Caspian Journal of Health Research ◽

10.32598/cjhr.6.4.383.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 121-128

Author(s):

Sholeh Gharibi ◽

◽

Abbas Sadeghi ◽

Keyword(s):

Linear Regression ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Pain Perception ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Mcgill Pain Questionnaire ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Questionnaire Response ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Study Participants

Background: Pain perception in individuals with migraine is very important and is influenced by various factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of alexithymia and self-efficacy with pain perception in women with migraine. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in women with migraine referred to medical centers in Rasht in 2021. Using convenience sampling method, 160 women with migraines participated in the study and answered the demographic information questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression model. Results: Of total, 152 women responded to the questionnaire (response rate= 95%). The mean age of study participants was 32.86±8.5 years. Pain perception was negatively associated with selfefficacy (r=-0.28; P=0.001) and positively associated with alexithymia (r= 0.20; P=0.001). The results of linear regression also showed that self-efficacy and Externally-Oriented Thinking (EOT) subscale explained 13% of the variance in pain perception. Conclusion: Self-efficacy and externally-oriented thinking were significant contributors of pain perception in women with migraine. These variables can be considered for adopting coping strategies in patients experiencing migraine pain.

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Two tales of cardiovascular risks—middle-aged women living in Sweden and Scotland: a cross-sectional comparative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016527 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. e016527

Author(s):

Carina Wennerholm ◽

Catherine Bromley ◽

AnnaKarin Johansson ◽

Staffan Nilsson ◽

John Frank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cardiovascular Risks ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Cross Sectional

ObjectivesTo compare cardiovascular risk factors as well as rates of cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged women from urban areas in Scotland and Sweden.DesignComparative cross-sectional study.SettingData from the general population in urban areas of Scotland and the general population in two major Swedish cities in southeast Sweden, south of Stockholm.ParticipantsComparable data of middle-aged women (40–65 years) from the Scottish Health Survey (n=6250) and the Swedish QWIN study (n=741) were merged together into a new dataset (n=6991 participants).Main outcome measureWe compared middle-aged women in urban areas in Sweden and Scotland regarding risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD diagnosis, anthropometrics, psychological distress and lifestyle.ResultsIn almost all measurements, there were significant differences between the countries, favouring the Swedish women. Scottish women demonstrated a higher frequency of alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, low vegetable consumption, a sedentary lifestyle and also more psychological distress. For doctor-diagnosed coronary heart disease, there were also significant differences, with a higher prevalence among the Scottish women.ConclusionsThis is one of the first studies that clearly shows that Scottish middle-aged women are particularly affected by a worse profile of CVD risks. The profound differences in CVD risk and outcome frequency in the two populations are likely to have arisen from differences in the two groups of women's social, cultural, political and economic environments.

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Abstract P015: Serum Thrombospondin-2 Of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Is Strongly Associated With Liver Fibrosis In A General Population

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.143.suppl_1.p015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Nagisa Morikawa ◽

Hisashi Adachi ◽

Mika Enomoto ◽

Ako Fukami ◽

Akiko Sakaue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

General Population ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

High Serum ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Log Odds ◽

Restricted Cubic Splines

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is increasing in decades and has been recently reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the underlying pathophysiology has not been elucidated. Thrombospondin(TSP)-2 is a cardio-protective extracellular matrix, while some clinical studies showed that high serum TSP-2 is a good predictor for adverse events in patients with heart failure. We previously found that in healthy people, serum TSP-2 was associated with insulin resistance, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and atrial fibrillation, which suggested a potential CVD risk factor. Therefore, serum thrombospondin-2 can affect on the association between liver fibrosis and CVD. Hypotheses: Serum TSP-2 levels were associated with liver fibrosis in a general population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study with a health-check up in 224 participants (mean age: 69.0±7.8 years, men: 42.0%) in Uku, Japan in 2019. Serum TSP was measured by ELISA. Liver fibrosis was defined by the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index ≥2.67, where FIB-4 was calculated as {(ageхaspartate aminotransferase)/(plateletх(alanine aminotransferase) 0.5 )}/10. Continuous serum TSP-2 was modeled using restricted cubic splines with 3 knots (5 th , 50 th , 95th) to allow a nonlinear association with the log odds ratio of liver fibrosis. Results: Mean FIB-4 was 1.92±0.89 and 14.3% of total had liver fibrosis. Age and sex adjusted log odds ratios (ORs) for liver fibrosis was associated with serum TSP-2 non-linearly and the risk accelerate when serum TSP-2 ≥29.5ng/mL(Figure 1). ORs(95% CI) for 29.5 and 31.0 of serum TSP-2 compared to 23.0(median) were 1.57(1.11-2.21) and 1.86(1.25-2.78), respectively. Conclusion: Serum TSP-2, which is a CVD biomarker, was strongly associated with liver fibrosis in the pathological range in a general population. This finding provides a new insight into the pathology in the link between liver fibrosis and CVD.

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