scholarly journals Citizens’ perceptions of the health-related neighbourhood environment in Limassol, Cyprus

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Kleopa ◽  
A Panayiotou ◽  
C Kouta ◽  
N Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Census Data ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Neighbourhood Environment ◽  
Middle Point ◽  
Standard Tool ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Differential Expectations

Abstract Background “Place” can impact on health and quality of life. There is a growing interest in neighbourhood audits. In the context of developing the CyNOTes audit tool, a residents’ perception of the neighbourhood environment survey was performed. Methods A systematic random sample of ten adult residents (N = 150) across a stratified sample of fifteen neighbourhoods according to educational attainment as per census data responded to the “Place Standard” tool which assesses 14 aspects of the physical, built and social neighbourhood environment. Neighbourhoods were also audited using the 126-item CyNOTes. Results Three in four participants were home owners and lived in the neighbourhood for over 10 years. With the exception of “identity and sense of belonging” (M = 5.8, SD = 2.0) and “opportunities for social interaction” (M = 5.3, SD = 2.1), physical and built aspects of the environment were rated close to the middle point on a scale 1: large to 7: little room for improvement. “Parks, playgrounds and green space” and “garbage, animal droppings and other physical disorder” were the most commonly mentioned priorities for action in the free text by one in three participants. The lowest score was recorded for “influence and sense of control” (M = 3.4, SD = 2.4). While on a 1-10 subjective perception of neighbourhood position, residents in lower education neighbourhoods gave a rating of 6.6 on average compared to 8.1 in the higher group, they tended to rate aspects of their neighbourhood more favourably. Even though the audit revealed a systematic pattern of less favourable conditions along the socio-economic continuum, the perception survey revealed a U-pattern with residents in the middle category more likely to give less favourable ratings. Conclusions The extent to which perceptions surveys may be affected by differential expectations across social groups is not clear. Neighborhood audits provide supplementary profiles of “place” independent of the perceptions of residents. Key messages Based on the Place Standard tool, Limassol residents’ rate social aspects of their neighbourhood environment more favourably than aspects of the built and physical environment. Neighbourhood observed-based audits, independent of residents’ perceptions surveys can supplement each other in city health profiling.

scholarly journals Life with Parkinson’s Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Pressure Is “OFF”

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Trine HØrmann Thomsen ◽  
Susanna M. Wallerstedt ◽  
Kristian Winge ◽  
Filip Bergquist
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Symptom Scores ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Swedish Cohort

People with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) have been suggested to be more vulnerable to negative psychological and psycho-social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to assess the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in PwP. A Danish/Swedish cohort of 67 PwP was analysed. Health-related quality of life (HRQL), depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep and motor symptom-scores were included in the analysis. Additionally, the Danish participants provided free-text descriptions of life during the pandemic. Overall, the participants reported significantly better HRQL during the COVID-19 period compared with before. Reduced social pressure may be part of the explanation. Despite worsened anxiety, night sleep improved.

scholarly journals 16.D. Workshop: The Place Standard Tool around the world – experience on impact, equity aspects and transferability

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Place Making ◽  
Qualitative Response ◽  
Health And Place ◽  
Standard Tool ◽  
Full Picture ◽  
Inclusive Approach

Abstract The relationships that exist between the fundamental drivers of our physical, social and economic environments and the immediate or eventual impacts these environments or “places” have on population health and inequalities are well documented. Successfully empowering communities to positively influence and help shape the decisions that impact on current and future living environments is a fundamental driver of health and well-being. The Place Standard Tool is a flexible product that translates complex public health and place making theory into a simple tool that supports communities, organisations and businesses to work together and identify both the assets of a place and areas deemed priority for improvement albeit within places that are well-established, undergoing change, or still being planned. The tool consists of 14 easy to understand questions or dimensions which cover both the physical and social elements of a place. On completion the tool is designed to provide both a quantitative (a score of 1-7 for each theme) and qualitative response through free text. The quantitative scores are displayed on a compass diagram and allow at a glance an immediate understanding of what dimensions of place work well (a score of 7 is the highest) and what areas require improving (a score of 1 is the lowest). Critical to establishing this full picture is ensuring that all ages and populations successfully contribute to the process. International developments continue to proceed at pace. The European Network for WHO Healthy Cities takes interest in spreading the tool to its members, and adaptations of the tool are already available in 14 European countries. These countries include the Netherlands, Denmark, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Greece, Germany and Spain. This workshop aims to bring together current international experience and developments with the tool, and to reflect on transferability, replicability, possible health impacts and equity aspects in terms of participation and data analysis. Another aim is promote availability of the tool more widely and to allow increased awareness and application to assist with the creation of healthy places. The objectives of the workshop are: To outline the connection between place, health and health inequalitiesTo introduce and explain how, where and when to use the Place Standard Tool to support the design of healthy and equitable placesTo enable participants through a variety of case studies explore whether the Place Standard is a suitable tool to use in their particular context which might be at a national, city and or neighbourhood delivery level. This will be achieved through an introduction to the tool and case studies from the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. Time will be provided at the end for discussion. Key messages Knowledge and awareness of a free and practical product to engage with partners, communities and politicians in taking forward an evidence based, and inclusive approach to healthy place design. An opportunity to contribute to and learn from a growing community of experience and expertise in healthy place making.

scholarly journals Distinguishing between enamel fluorosis and other enamel defects in permanent teeth of children

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aira Sabokseir ◽  
Ali Golkari ◽  
Aubrey Sheiham
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Dental Fluorosis ◽  
Permanent Teeth ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Fars Province ◽  
Enamel Defects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Anterior Teeth ◽  
Health Related

Background.The inconsistent prevalence of fluorosis for a given level of fluoride in drinking water suggests developmental defects of enamel (DDEs) other than fluorosis were being misdiagnosed as fluorosis. The imprecise definition and subjective perception of fluorosis indices could result in misdiagnosis of dental fluorosis. This study was conducted to distinguish genuine fluorosis from fluorosis-resembling defects that could have adverse health-related events as a cause using Early Childhood Events Life-grid method (ECEL).Methods.A study was conducted on 400 9-year-old children from areas with high, optimal and low levels of fluoride in the drinking water of Fars province, Iran. Fluorosis cases were diagnosed on the standardized one view photographs of the anterior teeth using Dean’s and TF (Thylstrup and Fejerskov) Indices by calibrated dentists. Agreements between examiners were tested. Early childhood health-related data collected retrospectively by ECEL method were matched with the position of enamel defects.Results.Using both Dean and TF indices three out of four dentists diagnosed that 31.3% (115) children had fluorosis, 58.0%, 29.1%, and 10.0% in high (2.12–2.85 ppm), optimal (0.62–1.22 ppm), and low (0.24–0.29 ppm) fluoride areas respectively (p< 0.001). After matching health-related events in the 115 (31.3%) of children diagnosed with fluorosis, 31 (8.4%) of children had fluorosis which could be matched with their adverse health-related events. This suggests that what was diagnosed as fluorosis were non-fluoride related DDEs that resemble fluorosis.Discussion.The frequently used measures of fluorosis appear to overscore fluorosis. Use of ECEL method to consider health related events relevant to DDEs could help to differentiate between genuine fluorosis and fluorosis-resembling defects.

Consumer-Level Perceived Access to Health Services and Its Effects on Vulnerability and Health Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C. Tanner ◽  
Richard J. Vann ◽  
Elvira Kizilova
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Close Link ◽  
Perceived Vulnerability ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Perceived Access ◽  
The Relationship

Access to health services affects the well-being of millions of consumers. Although the topic of health-related access is regularly featured in popular and academic conversations, these conversations primarily concentrate on objective or situational access factors. This research focuses instead on consumers’ subjective perception of access to better appreciate how personally experienced service availability and ease of access jointly determine consumers’ access perceptions. The authors find that perceived access to health services (PAHS) offers insight into the relationships between access, perceived health vulnerability, and overall health. Through scale development and a series of three theory-testing studies, this work demonstrates the close link between PAHS and perceived vulnerability (Study 1), connects this relationship to overall health (Studies 1–3), and establishes behavioral changes associated with access-vulnerability concerns (Study 2). Moreover, Study 3 finds evidence for a “muting” effect of health system distrust on the relationship between PAHS and perceived vulnerability as well as an “amplifying” effect of health motivation on the relationship between perceived vulnerability and overall health. Together, these studies illustrate PAHS’s relevance for explaining consumer vulnerability and overall health.

Canadian men’s health stigma, masculine role norms and lifestyle behaviors

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-543
Author(s):  
Donald R McCreary ◽  
John L Oliffe ◽  
Nick Black ◽  
Ryan Flannigan ◽  
Joe Rachert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Masculine Role ◽  
Role Norms

AbstractMen are at high risk for both morbidity and premature mortality from several of the most common serious diseases. Although numerous factors have been identified to explain men’s risk, this study focused on the relationship between lifestyle behaviors, health-related self-stigma and masculine role norms. An age and location stratified sample of 2000 Canadian men completed measures assessing five lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, sleep, diet and exercise), a screen for depression, and measures of self-stigma and masculine role norms. The results showed that elements of both health-related self-stigma and masculine role norms were associated with increased risk for being above the clinical threshold for four of the lifestyle behaviors and depression. The most frequent and largest relationships were associated with exercise and depression. The total number of lifestyle behaviors for which participants were above the clinical cut-points was also associated with self-stigma and masculine role norms. These findings demonstrate the importance of health-related self-stigma and masculine role norms as potential barriers to men’s health and well-being.

scholarly journals Diet Quality and Neighborhood Environment in the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health Project

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3217
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Gilham ◽  
Qianqian Gu ◽  
Trevor J. B. Dummer ◽  
John J. Spinelli ◽  
Rachel A. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Neighbourhood Environment ◽  
Deprived Neighbourhoods ◽  
Intermediate Density

An understanding of relationships between different constructs of the neighbourhood environment and diet quality is needed to inform public health interventions. This study investigated associations between material deprivation, social deprivation and population density with diet quality in a cohort of 19,973 Canadian adults aged 35 to 69 years within the Atlantic PATH cohort study. Diet quality, a metric of how well diet conforms to recommendations was determined from a 24-item food frequency questionnaire. Neighbourhood environment data were derived from dissemination area level Census data. Two deprivation indices were evaluated: material and social deprivation, which reflect access to goods and amenities and social relationships. Multi-level models were used to estimate relationships (mean differences and 95% CI) between neighbourhood environment and diet quality, adjusting for covariates. Mean diet quality was lower in the most socially deprived neighbourhoods compared to the least socially deprived: −0.56, 95% CI (−0.88, −0.25). Relationships between diet quality and population density differed between urban and rural areas (p-interaction < 0.0001). In rural areas, diet quality was higher in intermediate-density neighbourhoods: 0.54, 95% CI (0.05, 1.03). In urban areas, diet quality was lower in intermediate-density and the most-dense neighbourhoods: −0.84, 95% CI (−1.28, −0.40) and −0.72, 95% CI (−1.20, −0.25). Our findings suggest socially deprived and high-density neighbourhoods are associated with lower diet quality and possible urban-rural differences in neighbourhood environment-diet quality relationships. Additional studies are needed to determine the temporal nature of relationships and whether differences in diet quality are meaningful.

Health-enhancing Architectural Features of Modern Hanok, Experienced in and Desired by Korean Residents

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeunsook Lee ◽  
Yeakoo Lee ◽  
Miseon Jang ◽  
Myunghee Jang
Keyword(s):  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Objective Health ◽  
Architectural Features ◽  
Holistic Concept ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Interactive Relationship ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Health And Well Being

One of the essential functions of the modern residential buildings should be to support health and well-being of occupants in a holistic way. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the health-friendly features of a Modern Hanok (Korean urban traditional house), much valued by residents of these types of homes. In this research, the factors related to ‘‘health and well-being’’ were considered as parts of a holistic concept including assessment of physical/physiological, psychological/ emotional and social health dimensions. The health friendly architectural characteristics of Modern Hanok were identified based on literature survey and classified according to the Murtha and Lee’s U.B.C Theory of three health dimensions. A questionnaire study involving 300 residents of Modern Hanok and apartment homes was conducted to analyse the various ‘‘health supportabilities’’ of Modern Hanok. The similarities and dissimilarities of the two sets of residents were analysed, together with the perceived health-related features. The study has provided a new perspective of the interactive relationship, both systematically and empirically, between objective health-related architectural features and subjective perception of occupants, to inform architects to design homes that would encompass the healthy features of Modern Hanok for modern contemporary healthy living of Korean residents.

Telephone Recruitment of a Random Stratified Youth Sample for a Physical Activity Study

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C. Duncan ◽  
Lisa A. Strycker ◽  
Terry E. Duncan ◽  
Nigel R. Chaumeton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Average Cost ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Youth Health ◽  
Recruitment Method ◽  
Recruitment Methods ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Large Representative ◽  
Representative Samples

It is important that studies on youth health behavior obtain sufficiently large representative samples so that power is adequate and results are generalizable. However, few researchers have documented procedures and methods for recruitment of a random stratified youth sample for studies on health-related behavior, specifically physical activity. This study describes the recruitment methods used to attain a stratified sample of 360 target youth (boys and girls from 10-, 12-, and 14-year-old cohorts), and a parent of each child, representing families in 58 neighborhoods. A peer of each target youth was also invited to participate. Recruitment was conducted primarily by telephone, using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) software. Approximately 38% of calls resulted in person contact, of which about 98% of families did not qualify. Of those qualified, about 68% agreed to participate. The telephone recruitment was supplemented by door-to-door recruitment in selected neighborhoods. The average cost of recruitment was approximately $99 per family by telephone and $64 door to door. Advantages and limitations of the recruitment method are discussed.

scholarly journals NEIGHBOURHOOD SATISFACTION AND QOUL IN MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY, MALAYSIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abdul Mohit ◽  
Mohamed Sajid Ali
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Neighbourhood Environment ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Neighbourhood Satisfaction ◽  
Quality Of Urban Life ◽  
Socio Economic Variables

This paper is based on the subjective perception of the residents about the neighbourhood environment and their quality of urban life. The neighbourhood satisfaction provides a generalized view into the well-being of the residents, and it has been viewed as a significant aspect of the quality of urban life (QOUL). As a contributor to life satisfaction, neighbourhood satisfaction is influenced by individual and household socio-economic variables, along with the neighbourhood characteristics. However, there is limited understanding of how neighbourhood environments influence neighbourhood satisfaction and the quality of urban life. This paper intends to examine the relationship between residents’ neighbourhood satisfaction and their quality of urban life in a middle-income housing area in Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia, by using 100 sample respondents that fulfilled a confidence level of 90% of the population. The findings of the study indicate that the residents are satisfied with their existing QOUL, but if no actions are taken it will deteriorate. Therefore, several recommendations are made for improving the residents’ QOUL.

scholarly journals Analysis of the effect of weight loss through bariatric surgery on depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 98-103
Author(s):  
Krishna Mohandas ◽  
Prema Lalitha ◽  
S Krishna Kumar ◽  
K P Haridas
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Post Surgery ◽  
Depression Status ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Standard Tool ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Bariatric surgery results in significant improvement in health related quality of life and depressive symptoms irrespective of the wide range of weight change. This experiment was planned to assess the incidence of depression in obese respondents and to analyse the change in depression after weight loss through bariatric surgery.To analyse the incidence of depression in obese individuals undergoing bariatric surgery and the significance of change in depression status after weight loss.The study was conducted in a multispecialty hospital having obesity clinic and bariatric surgery unit. The depression level before the study and at six months post surgery was assessed using a standard tool named Beck’s inventory. Study period was from 2015 to 2017.Respondents having BMI of 33-50 Kg/m belonging to both the genders in the age range of 18-65 years. The respondents having BMI more than 50Kg/m were excluded in this study.18 respondents who underwent bariatric surgery were included in the study. Percentage distribution, Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA, and Paired t test were the tools utilised in statistical analysis of the data.Schedule to assess change in nutritional status using a structured questionnaire considering anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary parameters, and standard tool named Beck’s Depression Inventory, which is a tool for depression status. The surgery patients had initial Beck Score ranging from 1 to 14 indicating mild depression which on follow up reduced to 0 to 7. The weight loss in both genders were similar to each other. The change in intake of nutrients and the scores of depression were more prominent in men than that of women. Respondents pre operatively had mild mood disturbances which after weight loss, became a normal mood.Thus it can be concluded that weight loss through bariatric surgery is effective in reducing depression.

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