A decade of sun protection in Australian early-childhood services: analysis of cross-sectional and repeated-measures data

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-109
Author(s):  
Hugh Hunkin ◽  
Julia�N Morris
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
New Members ◽  
Protection Strategies ◽  
Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection Practices ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Limiting ultraviolet radiation exposure during early childhood can significantly reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, making early childhood a critical time for sun protection strategies. This study aimed to measure sun protection practices utilized in Australian early-childhood services over the past decade and evaluate the impact of Cancer Council Australia’s SunSmart Early-Childhood Program. Results are presented from cross-sectional and repeated-measures survey data, completed by directors or other staff at randomly sampled early-childhood services in 2008, 2013 and 2018 (N�=�3243). Most sun protection practices were used by a significantly greater proportion of services in 2018 relative to earlier years, such as requiring the use of sunscreen (98.4%), and sun-protective hats (99.7%) and clothing (88.8%). However, only a small and declining proportion of services (16.3%–22.4%) required the use of specific items of sun-protective clothing. SunSmart program members reported enacting significantly more sun protection practices compared to non-members, while new members showed an increase in the use of those practices relative to services whose status did not change (d�=�0.48). The results demonstrate improvements in sun protection in Australian early-childhood settings, and highlight the benefits and limitations of the SunSmart program.

Skin cancer and sun protection practices in Fanconi anemia patients: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna L. Ruggiero ◽  
Rebecca Freese ◽  
Kristen P. Hook ◽  
Ingrid C. Polcari ◽  
Sheilagh M. Maguiness ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Fanconi Anemia ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sun Protection Practices

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on Eating Environments and Activity in Early Childhood Education and Care in Alberta, Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4247
Author(s):  
Lynne M. Z. Lafave ◽  
Alexis D. Webster ◽  
Ceilidh McConnell ◽  
Nadine Van Wyk ◽  
Mark R. Lafave
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
The Impact

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments influence children’s early development and habits that track across a lifespan. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 government-mandated guidelines on physical activity (PA) and eating environments in ECEC settings. This cross-sectional study involved the recruitment of 19 ECEC centers pre-COVID (2019) and 15 ECEC centers during COVID (2020) in Alberta, Canada (n = 34 ECEC centers; n = 83 educators; n = 361 preschoolers). Educators completed the CHEERS (Creating Healthy Eating and activity Environments Survey) and MEQ (Mindful Eating Questionnaire) self-audit tools while GT3X+ ActiGraph accelerometers measured preschooler PA. The CHEERS healthy eating environment subscale was greater during COVID-19 (5.97 ± 0.52; 5.80 ± 0.62; p = 0.02) and the overall score positively correlated with the MEQ score (r = 0.20; p = 0.002). Preschoolers exhibited greater hourly step counts (800 ± 189; 649 ± 185), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (9.3 ± 3.0 min/h; 7.9 ± 3.2 min/h) and lower sedentary times (42.4 ± 3.9 min/h; 44.1 ± 4.9 min/h) during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID, respectively (p < 0.05). These findings suggest the eating environment and indices of child physical activity were better in 2020, which could possibly be attributed to a change in government-mandated COVID-19 guideline policy.

scholarly journals Association between cognitive phenotype in unaffected siblings and prospective 3- and 6-year clinical outcome in their proband affected by psychosis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Thijs J. Burger ◽  
Frederike Schirmbeck ◽  
Jentien M. Vermeulen ◽  
Piotr J. Quee ◽  
Mariken B. de Koning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Vulnerability ◽  
Familial Risk ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cognitive Alterations ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Cognitive alterations are a central and heterogeneous trait in psychotic disorders, driven by environmental, familial and illness-related factors. In this study, we aimed to prospectively investigate the impact of high familial risk for cognitive alterations, unconfounded by illness-related factors, on symptomatic outcomes in patients. Methods In total, 629 probands with non-affective psychosis and their sibling not affected by psychosis were assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-year follow-up. Familial cognitive risk was modeled by three cognitive subtypes (‘normal’, ‘mixed’ and ‘impaired’) in the unaffected siblings. Generalized linear mixed models assessed multi-cross-sectional associations between the sibling cognitive subtype and repeated measures of proband symptoms across all assessments. Between-group differences over time were assessed by adding an interaction effect of time and sibling cognitive subtype. Results Probands affected by psychosis with a sibling of the impaired cognitive subtype were less likely to be in symptomatic remission and showed more disorganization across all time points. When assessing differences over time, probands of siblings with the impaired cognitive subtype showed less remission and less improvement of disorganization after 3 and 6 years relative to the other subtypes. They also showed less reduction of positive, negative and excitement symptoms at 6-year follow-up compared to probands with a sibling of the normal cognitive subtype. Conclusions Cross-sibling pathways from higher levels of familial cognitive vulnerability to worse long-term outcomes may be informative in identifying cognition-related environmental and genetic risks that impact psychotic illness heterogeneity over time.

scholarly journals Dietary patterns in early childhood and child cognitive and psychomotor development: the Rhea mother–child cohort study in Crete

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (8) ◽  
pp. 1431-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Leventakou ◽  
Theano Roumeliotaki ◽  
Katerina Sarri ◽  
Katerina Koutra ◽  
Mariza Kampouri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Verbal Ability ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Psychomotor Development ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Posterior Cortex ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

AbstractEarly-life nutrition is critical for optimal brain development; however, few studies have evaluated the impact of diet as a whole in early childhood on neurological development with inconsistent results. The present analysis is a cross-sectional study nested within an ongoing prospective birth cohort, the Rhea study, and aims to examine the association of dietary patterns with cognitive and psychomotor development in 804 preschool (mean age 4·2 years) children. Parents completed a validated FFQ, and dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Child cognitive and psychomotor development was assessed by the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities (MSCA). Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of dietary patterns with the MSCA scales. After adjustment for a large number of confounding factors, the ‘Snacky’ pattern (potatoes and other starchy roots, salty snacks, sugar products and eggs) was negatively associated with the scales of verbal ability (β=−1·31; 95 % CI −2·47, −0·16), general cognitive ability (β=−1·13; 95 % CI −2·25, −0·02) and cognitive functions of the posterior cortex (β=−1·20; 95 % CI −2·34, −0·07). Further adjustment for maternal intelligence, folic acid supplementation and alcohol use during pregnancy attenuated the observed associations, but effect estimates remained at the same direction. The ‘Western’ and the ‘Mediterranean’ patterns were not associated with child neurodevelopmental scales. The present findings suggest that poorer food choices at preschool age characterised by foods high in fat, salt and sugar are associated with reduced scores in verbal and cognitive ability.

scholarly journals Social interaction game to promote empathy among first year medical students: a pilot study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 3096
Author(s):  
Liaquat R. Johnson ◽  
Ramiz Raja
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Interaction Game

Background: Empathy is integral to professionalism, but is lacking in medical students. There are few interventions that promote empathy. This pilot study describes the first use of a novel intervention to promote empathy.Methods: A novel social interaction game was developed and administered to first MBBS students. It provided an experiential simulation of persons belonging to lower socioeconomic strata over 4 simulated ‘days’. This cross-sectional study assessed the impact of the intervention on empathy using a 5-point Likert scale to score self-perceptions across several domains. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA).Results: There was a statistically significant decline in scale scores on all days following Day 1 (p<0.05). This was true across all domains. Cronbach’s alpha for internal reliability was 0.91 for Day 1; and 0.97 for Day 1 through Day 4. Open ended comments indicated empathic feelings were generated due to the intervention.Conclusions: A simulation experience like the social interaction game described here, may be used to improve the attitudes and empathy of medical students towards persons from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

scholarly journals The Effect of Parental Migration on Early Childhood Nutrition of Left-Behind Children in Rural China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huifeng Shi ◽  
Jingxu Zhang ◽  
Yufeng Du ◽  
Chunxia Zhao ◽  
Xiaona Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Nutrition ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Early Childhood Nutrition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Migrant Parents

Abstract Background: More than one-third of children under 3 years old are left behind at home due to parental migration in rural China, and we know very little about early childhood nutrition of left-behind children (LBC) because of the dearth of research. This study examined the impact of parental migration on early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Methods: We used repeat cross-sectional data of rural children aged 6–35 months in six counties of northern and southern China, who participated in two surveys in 2013 and 2016 respectively. The length, weight, and hemoglobin concentration were measured by trained health‑care workers blinded to parental migration status. Generalized linear regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to explore the association between parental migration and child nutritional outcomes at each time point. Results: 2,336 and 2,210 children aged 6–35 months were enrolled in 2013 and 2016 surveys, respectively. The risk of stunting, underweight, and wasting among the children decreased from 2013 to 2016. Children of migrant fathers performed as well as or better than children of non-migrants on these indicators. Children of migrant parents performed slightly worse in 2013, but equal or slightly better in 2016 on these indicators compared with children of non-migrants and migrant fathers. Children aged 6–17 months of migrant parents had a significantly lower risk of anemia than those living with their mothers or with both parents. Conclusions: Parental migration is not detrimental and even beneficial to early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Programs for LBC are recommended to continue to focus on nutrition but pay more attention to other important health issues.

Factors Associated with Skin Cancer Prevention Practices in a Multiethnic Population

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Glanz ◽  
Robert A. Lew ◽  
Valerie Song ◽  
Valerie Ah Cook
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Skin Cancer Prevention ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Multiethnic Population ◽  
Sun Protection Practices ◽  
Multiethnic Sample

A better understanding of factors influencing sun protection practices can improve the design and evaluation of skin cancer prevention programs. These data are from a cross-sectional survey of 756 parents with children in Grades 1 through 3, and 176 recreation program staff members in a multiethnic population in Hawaii. Questionnaires asked about skin cancer prevention practices (sunscreen use, covering up, shade seeking), knowledge, benefits and barriers, policies, and staff norms for prevention. The most important correlates of children’s prevention practices were their parents’ sun protection habits. Multiple regression models—which included knowledge, beliefs, program policies, and covariates related to sun protection—explained a total of between 38% and 41% of the variance in children’s sun safety habits, 22% to 25% of parents’habits, and 24% of recreation staff members’sun safety habits. The models were less successful at predicting the use of hats, shirts, and shade seeking and a composite sun protection habits index. Parents and caregivers’knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, as well as recreation program policies, are strong predictors of sun protection practices among children in Grades 1 to 3 in a multiethnic sample.

scholarly journals The elections and campaign styles influence the spread of COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned from Kerala, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 5441
Author(s):  
Praveenlal Kuttichira ◽  
Pulikkottil Rapheal Varghese ◽  
Presthiena Lofi E. L. ◽  
Prasad A. B.
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Daily Number ◽  
Indian State ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Wave

Background: The pandemic caused by SARS-Cov-2 and its variants whack the world with overlapping waves. Kerala is the Indian state which successfully curbed the first wave of COVID-19, getting noticed when daunted by the second wave. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of two elections held in Kerala on the transmission of COVID-19 from October 1st, 2020 to May 5th, 2021.Methods: The study employed a retrospective cross-sectional design with publicly available data. The test positivity (TPR) and daily number of cases (DNC) collected from governmental websites of Kerala, India and COVID-19 dashboards entered in MS Excel 2007 and analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Biweekly average of TPR and DNC was analysed in descriptive statistics and DNC at different periods in the context of elections were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser correction and post hoc test of Bonferroni correction.Results: The findings showed that the daily number of COVID-19 cases increased after both local body and assembly elections, but a statistically significant increase was found after the assembly election [mean difference= 1069 (357.047-1782.419) at p=0.002 from the pre-election period].Conclusions: The study revealed that the conduct of elections in stages and organizing campaigns limiting to the local area following COVID protocols had a demonstrable positive effect against the potential of pandemic spread.

scholarly journals The impact of pandemic-related worry on cognitive functioning and risk-taking

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260061
Author(s):  
Kevin da Silva Castanheira ◽  
Madeleine Sharp ◽  
A. Ross Otto
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Economic Risk ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Speed Of Information Processing ◽  
The Impact

Here, we sought to quantify the effects of experienced fear and worry, engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, on both cognitive abilities—speed of information processing, task-set shifting, and proactive control—as well as economic risk-taking. Leveraging a repeated-measures cross-sectional design, we examined the performance of 1517 participants, collected during the early phase of the pandemic in the US (April–June 2020), finding that self-reported pandemic-related worry predicted deficits in information processing speed and maintenance of goal-related contextual information. In a classic economic risk-taking task, we observed that worried individuals’ choices were more sensitive to the described outcome probabilities of risky actions. Overall, these results elucidate the cognitive consequences of a large-scale, unpredictable, and uncontrollable stressor, which may in turn play an important role in individuals’ understanding of, and adherence to safety directives both in the current crisis and future public health emergencies.

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