scholarly journals Analysis of related factors of optical quality in healthy Chinese adults: a community-based population study

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (19) ◽  
pp. 2308-2314
Author(s):  
Xi-Fang Zhang ◽  
Li-Ya Qiao ◽  
Xiao-Gu Cai ◽  
Xiao-Xia Li ◽  
Jia-Xuan Tan ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 107327482110110
Author(s):  
Grace X. Ma ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Timmy R. Lin ◽  
Yin Tan ◽  
Phuong Do

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) disproportionately affects Vietnamese Americans, especially those with low income and were born outside of the United States. CRC screening tests are crucial for prevention and early detection. Despite the availability of noninvasive, simple-to-conduct tests, CRC screening rates in Asian Americans, particularly Vietnamese Americans, remain suboptimal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interplay of multilevel factors – individual, interpersonal, and community – on CRC screening behaviors among low-income Vietnamese Americans with limited English proficiency. Methods: This study is based on the Sociocultural Health Behavior Model, a research-based model that incorporates 6 factors associated with decision-making and health-seeking behaviors that result in health care utilization. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we recruited 801 Vietnamese Americans from community-based organizations. We administered a survey to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and CRC screening-related factors. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify direct and indirect predictors of lifetime CRC screening. Results: Bivariate analysis revealed that a greater number of respondents who never screened for CRC reported limited English proficiency, fewer years of US residency, and lower self-efficacy related to CRC screening. The SEM model identified self-efficacy (coefficient = 0.092, P < .01) as the only direct predictor of lifetime CRC screening. Educational attainment (coefficient = 0.13, P < .01) and health beliefs (coefficient = 0.040, P < .001) had a modest significant positive relationship with self-efficacy. Health beliefs (coefficient = 0.13, P < .001) and educational attainment (coefficient = 0.16, P < .01) had significant positive relationships with CRC knowledge. Conclusions: To increase CRC screening uptake in medically underserved Vietnamese American populations, public health interventions should aim to increase community members’ confidence in their abilities to screen for CRC and to navigate associated processes, including screening preparation, discussions with doctors, and emotional complications.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Ye ◽  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Siyuan Chen ◽  
Xuefeng Shi ◽  
Rui Gong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hearing loss is quite prevalent and can be related to people’s quality of life. To our knowledge, there are limited studies assessing the efficacy of hearing interventions on quality of life in adults. Therefore, we aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine the impact and cost-effectiveness of community-based hearing rehabilitation on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. Methods/design In this two-arm feasibility study, participants aged 16 and above with some degree of hearing loss (n = 464) will be recruited from Linyi City, Shandong Province. They are randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group. Those in the treatment group are prescribed with hearing aids, while those in the control group receive no intervention. Reinstruction in use of devices is provided for the treatment group during booster visits held 12 months post-randomization or unscheduled interim visits when necessary. Data are collected at baseline and the follow-up 20 months later. The primary outcome is changes in quality of life over a 20-month study period. Secondary outcomes include sub-dimensions in quality of life, physical functioning, chronic diseases, cognitive function, depression, social support, hospitalizations, falls, and healthcare costs. Finally, we will evaluate whether hearing aids intervention is cost-effective to apply in a large scale. Discussion The trial is designed to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of a community-based rehabilitation intervention on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. We hope that it would help improve the well-being for Chinese adults and provide references in policy and practice for China and other countries. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024739. Registered on 26 July 2019.


Author(s):  
Pierre-Julien Coulaud ◽  
Camélia Protopopescu ◽  
Khadim Ndiaye ◽  
Maël Baudoin ◽  
Gwenaëlle Maradan ◽  
...  

Abstract Increasing demand for antiretroviral treatment (ART) together with a reduction in international funding during the last decade may jeopardize access to ART. Using data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2014 in 19 HIV services in the Centre and Littoral regions in Cameroon, we investigated the role of healthcare supply-related factors in time to ART initiation in HIV-positive patients eligible for ART at HIV diagnosis. HIV service profiles were built using cluster analysis. Factors associated with time to ART initiation were identified using a multilevel Cox model. The study population included 847 HIV-positive patients (women 72%, median age: 39 years). Median (interquartile range) time to ART initiation was 1.6 (0.5–4.3) months. Four HIV service profiles were identified: (1) small services with a limited staff practising partial task-shifting (n = 4); (2) experienced and well-equipped services practising task-shifting and involving HIV community-based organizations (n = 5); (3) small services with limited resources and activities (n = 6); (4) small services providing a large range of activities using task-shifting and involving HIV community-based organizations (n = 4). The multivariable model showed that HIV-positive patients over 39 years old [hazard ratio: 1.26 (95% confidence interval) (1.09–1.45), P = 0.002], those with disease symptoms [1.21 (1.04–1.41), P = 0.015] and those with hepatitis B co-infection [2.31 (1.15–4.66), P = 0.019] were all more likely to initiate ART early. However, patients in the first profile were less likely to initiate ART early [0.80 (0.65–0.99), P = 0.049] than those in the second profile, as were patients in the third profile [association only significant at the 10% level; 0.86 (0.72–1.02), P = 0.090]. Our findings provide a better understanding of the role played by healthcare supply-related factors in ART initiation. In HIV services with limited capacity, task-shifting and support from community-based organizations may improve treatment access. Additional funding is required to relieve healthcare supply-related barriers and achieve the goal of universal ART access.


Author(s):  
Denteh Raphael ◽  
Samuel Dontoh ◽  
Augustine Adjei ◽  
Francis Kyei Badu

The study was to explore the factors that account for low enrolments in senior high schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that account for low enrolments in the community-based senior high school in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate socio-economic factors, school related factors, geographical factors and individual characteristics that influence enrolments, participation, retention, attendance, progression and dropout in community-based senior high schools in Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purposive and quota sampling were used to select a sample size of 120 respondent make up of 10 heads, 10 Districts Directors of Education, 10 PTA chairmen and 90 parents of sampled schools. The instruments used to collect data from the respondents were the questionnaire for heads, structured interview guide for parents. PTA Chairmen and the District Directors of GES and observation guide on school building and furniture. The reliability co-efficient of the study was 0.82. The co-efficient is high enough and hence the items were deemed reliable for the study. Data were analysed by the use of frequencies, percentages and apparent cohort method. The finding of the study indicated that most of the sampled senior high schools do not have school bus to convey day students to and from schools. The sample senior high schools do not have workshops for all programmes, classrooms and standard science laboratories and science equipment to enhance academic work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110633
Author(s):  
Almaw Genet ◽  
Achenef Motbainor ◽  
Tsion Samuel ◽  
Muluken Azage

Introduction: Different interventions have been done to reduce the burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STH). The available evidences in Ethiopia in either school or community-based school-aged children (SAC) have limitation in wetland areas. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of STH infection among SAC in wetland and non-wetland areas of Blue Nile Basins, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia. Method: A community-based comparative study was conducted from October to November, 2019. Multistage stratified random sampling technique used to select 716 SAC. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Stool samples were collected from children using tight-fitting plastic cups following the standard procedures. Data were coded and entered into Epi data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 20 software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with STH. Results: The overall prevalence of STH was 30.30% (95% CI: 26.90, 33.90) and did not show significant variation between wetland (33.60% (95% CI: 28.80, 39.60%)) and non-wetland (27.0% (95% CI: (21.90, 31.60)) areas. Presence of human feces near the house and certain habits such as nail trimming and playing with mud/soil was not different between wetland and non-wetlands. Nonetheless, the presence of human feces near the house of respondents was found to be significantly associated with STH infection (p value < 0.001). Moreover, other factors significantly associated with STH infection were lack of nail trimming (p value < 0.001) and playing with mud/soil (p value < 0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of STH was high and did not show significant variation between the two areas. Emphasis needs to be given for hygiene and lifestyle-related factors.


1970 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Grimby ◽  
L. Wilhelmsen ◽  
Barbro Ekström-Jodal ◽  
M. Aurell ◽  
J. Bjure ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Wenwen Wu ◽  
Wenru Wang ◽  
Zhuangzhuang Dong ◽  
Yaofei Xie ◽  
Yaohua Gu ◽  
...  

Background: There is limited population-based research focusing on sleep quality among low-income Chinese adults in rural areas. This study aimed to assess sleep quality among low-income adults in a rural area in China and identify the association between sleep quality and sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors. Methods: The study was conducted from September to November in 2017 using a cross-sectional survey questionnaire. A total of 6905 participants were recruited via multistage, stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Chinese versions of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Food Frequency Questionnaire, while we also determined the sociodemographic profiles of the participants. Results: The mean age of the sample was 58.71 ± 14.50 years, with 59.7% being male, while the mean duration of daily sleep was 5.95 ± 1.31 h, with 56.7% reportedly experiencing poor sleep quality. Multiple regression analysis revealed that older age, unemployment, lower income, disability and chronic disease comorbidities were significant factors associated with an increased risk of poor sleep quality for both genders. Moreover, married and higher education level were associated with decreased risk of poor sleep quality for females, while a meat-heavy diet and illness during the past two weeks increased the risk of poor sleep quality for males. Conclusions: Sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors had an impact on the frequently poor sleep quality of low-income Chinese adults in rural areas. Thus, comprehensive measures must be developed to address the modifiable predictive factors that can possibly enhance sleep quality.


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