The Personal Sociability and Connections Scale (PeSCS): Development and initial assessment at a primary care facility

Purpose: An individual’s lack of social connections and social isolation is often associated with feelings of loneliness which is regarded as having a negative effect on health. This paper describes the development and assessment of a 10 item ‘Personal Sociability and Connections Scale’ (PeSCS) to measure individual’s disposition and accompanying skills to seek out companionship and engage in interpersonal relations. Methods: The study was conducted at a rural primary care unit in Northern Greece. A total of 199 attenders were recruited over a 6-week period in 2020 and questionnaires completed. This informed the 10-items PeSCS that comprises Social, Behavioral, and Emotional components focusing on the expression of social comfort, willingness to share experiences, stories and concepts, and feelings of similarity at first contact. Reliability of the PeSC scale was assessed and the relationship with scale scores examined as an indicator of convergent validity. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship of PeSC scale score with the characteristics of participants. Results: Assessment of reliability of PeSC scale produced a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.809. The relationship between components and the total PeSCS scores identified significant correlations ( p < .001). At a multivariate level, male gender was the sample characteristic with a significant association with scale levels ( p < .05) and higher annual income with Social component ( p < .05). Otherwise the distribution of sociability dispositions was similar across population groups. Conclusion: The 10-item PeSC scale forms a simple and quick to complete measure whose overall reliability was rated as ‘meritorious’. The PeSC instrument may be a useful tool for assessing the causes and appropriate responses to the negative health effects of loneliness and social isolation.

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Sources of psychological distress among primary care physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave in Spain: a cross-sectional study

Primary Health Care Research & Development ◽

10.1017/s1463423621000566 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Author(s):

Ana Cebrián-Cuenca ◽

José Joaquín Mira ◽

Elena Caride-Miana ◽

Antonio Fernández-Jiménez ◽

Domingo Orozco-Beltrán

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Protective Measures

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people worldwide. In Spain, the first wave was especially severe. Objectives: This study aimed to identify sources and levels of distress among Spanish primary care physicians (PCPs) during the first wave of the pandemic (April 2020). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey that included sociodemographic data, a description of working conditions related to distress [such as gaps in training in protective measures, cleaning, and hygiene procedures in work setting, unavailability of personal protective equipments (PPEs) and COVID-19 RT-PCR test, and lack of staff due to be infected] and a validated scale, the ‘Self-applied Acute Stress Scale’ (EASE). The survey was answered by a non-probability sampling of PCPs working in family healthcare centres from different regions of Spain. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed. Results: In all, out of 518 PCP participants, 123 (23.7%) obtained high psychological distress scores. Only half of them had received information about the appropriate use of PPE. PCP characteristics associated with higher levels of distress include female gender [1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54, 2.84]; lack of training in protective measures (1.96; 95% CI 0.94, 2.99); unavailable COVID-19 RT-PCR for health care workers after quarantine or COVID-19 treatment (−0.77 (−1.52, −0.02). Reinforcing disinfection of the work environment (P < 0.05), availability of PPEs (P < 0.05), and no healthcare professional was infected (P < 0.05) were related to the lowest distress score. Conclusions: A better understanding of the sources of distress among PCPs could prevent its effect on future outbreaks.

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Selfie Behaviors and Personality Traits: More than Meets the Eye

The Open Psychology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874350102013010223 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 223-231

Author(s):

Alexandra M. Mihailescu

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Digital Media ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

The Relationship

Background: Selfies are a rising phenomenon associated with the widespread use of smartphones and social media. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between different personality traits and selfie behaviors. Methods: Undergraduate psychology students were asked to complete a questionnaire about their frequency of selfie taking, selfie posting to social media, and selfie sharing through private messaging. They were also asked to complete the Rosenberg 10-item self-esteem scale and the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP)-50 item scale to evaluate the Big Five personality traits. Results: A total of 96 participants were included in this study (mean age ± standard deviation of 26.4 ± 9.0 years, 81.3% women). On univariate analysis there was a significant negative correlation between the frequency of selfie taking (Spearman r = -0.228, p = 0.025) or posting (Spearman r = -0.238, p = 0.025) and emotional stability. However, on multivariate linear regression analysis adjusting for age among other factors, only self-esteem was independently and negatively correlated with the frequency of selfie taking (beta = -0.206, p = 0.020) or posting (beta = -0.233, p = 0.020), with the effect most notable in young (<25 years) individuals for selfie taking. Extraversion was independently and positively correlated with the frequency of selfie sharing (beta = 0.264, p = 0.005), with the effect most notable in young (<25 years) women. Conclusion: Findings from this study further expand our knowledge of the relationship between different personality traits and rising digital media phenomena.

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Unobtrusive Estimation of Cardiovascular Parameters with Limb Ballistocardiography

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19132922 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (13) ◽

pp. 2922 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yang Yao ◽

Sungtae Shin ◽

Azin Mousavi ◽

Chang-Sei Kim ◽

Lisheng Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Peripheral Resistance ◽

Physiological Mechanism ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Processing Procedure ◽

Characteristic Features ◽

The Relationship

This study investigates the potential of the limb ballistocardiogram (BCG) for unobtrusive estimation of cardiovascular (CV) parameters. In conjunction with the reference CV parameters (including diastolic, pulse, and systolic pressures, stroke volume, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance), an upper-limb BCG based on an accelerometer embedded in a wearable armband and a lower-limb BCG based on a strain gauge embedded in a weighing scale were instrumented simultaneously with a finger photoplethysmogram (PPG). To standardize the analysis, the more convenient yet unconventional armband BCG was transformed into the more conventional weighing scale BCG (called the synthetic weighing scale BCG) using a signal processing procedure. The characteristic features were extracted from these BCG and PPG waveforms in the form of wave-to-wave time intervals, wave amplitudes, and wave-to-wave amplitudes. Then, the relationship between the characteristic features associated with (i) the weighing scale BCG-PPG pair and (ii) the synthetic weighing scale BCG-PPG pair versus the CV parameters, was analyzed using the multivariate linear regression analysis. The results indicated that each of the CV parameters of interest may be accurately estimated by a combination of as few as two characteristic features in the upper-limb or lower-limb BCG, and also that the characteristic features recruited for the CV parameters were to a large extent relevant according to the physiological mechanism underlying the BCG.

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The Relationship between Serum Oxalic Acid, Central Hemodynamic Parameters and Colonization by Oxalobacter formigenes in Hemodialysis Patients

Cardiorenal Medicine ◽

10.1159/000381219 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 164-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Baris Gulhan ◽

Kultigin Turkmen ◽

Merve Aydin ◽

Murat Gunay ◽

Aytekin Cıkman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxalic Acid ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Hemodynamic Parameters ◽

Oxalobacter Formigenes ◽

Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Central Hemodynamic ◽

Blood Pressures ◽

The Relationship

Background/Objective: Elevated pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central aortic blood pressures are independent predictors of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Oxalic acid is a uremic retention molecule that is extensively studied in the pathogenesis of calcium oxalate stones. Oxalobacter formigenes, a member of the colon microbiota, has important roles in oxalate homeostasis. Data regarding the colonization by and the exact role of O. formigenes in the pathogenesis of oxalic acid metabolism in HD patients are scant. Hence, we aimed to determine the relationship between fecal O. formigenes colonization, serum oxalic acid and hemodynamic parameters in HD patients with regard to the colo-reno-cardiac axis. Methods: Fifty HD patients were enrolled in this study. PWV and central aortic systolic (cASBP) and diastolic blood pressures (cADBP) were measured with a Mobil-O-Graph (I.E.M. GmbH, Stolberg, Germany). Serum oxalic acid levels were assessed by ELISA, and fecal O. formigenes DNA levels were isolated and measured by real-time PCR. Results: Isolation of fecal O. formigenes was found in only 2 HD patients. One of them had 113,609 copies/ml, the other one had 1,056 copies/ml. Serum oxalic acid levels were found to be positively correlated with PWV (r = 0.29, p = 0.03), cASBP (r = 0.33, p = 0.001) and cADBP (r = 0.42, p = 0.002) and negatively correlated with LDL (r = -0.30, p = 0.03). In multivariate linear regression analysis, PWV was independently predicted by oxalic acid, glucose and triglyceride. Conclusions: This is the first study that demonstrates the absence of O. formigenes as well as a relation between serum oxalic acid and cASBP, cADBP and PWV in HD patients. Replacement of O. formigenes with pre- and probiotics might decrease serum oxalic acid levels and improve cardiovascular outcomes in HD patients.

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The value of red blood cell distribution width in subclinical hypothyroidism

Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia ◽

10.1590/0004-2730000002836 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 30-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hea Min Yu ◽

Kang Seo Park ◽

Jae Min Lee

Keyword(s):

Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Cell Distribution ◽

Distribution Width ◽

Beta Coefficient ◽

The Relationship ◽

Tsh Levels

Objective : Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between the subclinical hypothyroidism and red cell distribution width (RDW) levels in a healthy population. Subjects and methods : The medical records of 23,343 consecutive health subjects were reviewed. Subjects were classified into four thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) groups to determine the correlation between TSH and other variables in detail (0.3 to < 2.5 mU/L, 2.5 to < 5 mU/L, 5 to < 7.5 mU/L, and ≥ 7.5 mU/L). Results : In the multivariate linear regression analysis, RDW was associated with TSH levels, and e-GFR was inversely associated with TSH levels, respectively (standardized beta coefficient = 0.102, -0.019; p < 0.001, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age and sex, in the four groups, TSH levels were significantly correlated with RDW, estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR), and free thyroxine (fT4) levels in all groups. Furthermore in the 4 th group, RDW levels were more strongly associated with TSH levels than in the other groups (p = 0.006). Conclusions : RDW levels are correlated with euthyroid and subclinical thyroid status. Notably, RDW is more correlated with subclinical hypothyroidism than the euthyroid status. This study presents the relationship between the RDW levels and thyroid function using TSH level in a large healthy population.

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Association Between Bone Mineral Density And Serum Creatinine In People < 46 Years Old

10.21203/rs.3.rs-634897/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yanru Guo ◽

Xianyang Zhu

Keyword(s):

Bone Mineral Density ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Serum Creatinine ◽

Bone Mineral ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Lumbar Bone Mineral Density ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Mineral Density ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Purpose: To research the relationship between serum creatinine and lumbar bone mineral density in people aged <46 years. Methods: A total of 10,968 subjects from the American Nhanes database were included in this cross-sectional study, including 5,744 males (mean age 26.2 years) and 5224 females (mean age 26.7 years). The exposure factor is the serum creatinine value, and the outcome indicator is the lumbar bone mineral density. This study mainly used multivariate linear regression analysis to test the relationship between lumbar bone mineral density and serum creatinine. Results: In the multivariate linear regression analysis, serum creatinine was positively correlated with lumbar bone mineral density (β = 0.122, 95%CI: 0.047-0.198), but in the subgroup analysis stratified by sex, this positive correlation only exists in the female population (Β = 0.186, 95%CI: 0.070-0.301).Conclusions: Our study found that in women aged <46 years with normal renal function, there is a positive correlation between serum creatinine and lumbar BMD. And in those people, the determination of serum creatinine can provide a sensitive biomarker for the early identification and treatment of Osteopenia or osteoporosis.

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Relationship Between Selected Performance Tests and Non-contact Sports Injuries in Male Wushu Players

Physical Treatments - Specific Physical Therapy ◽

10.32598/ptj.10.4.459.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 239-249

Author(s):

Abbas Ghafouri ◽

◽

Fariba Mohammadi ◽

Behnaz Ganji ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Lower Extremities ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Balance Test ◽

Limb Injuries ◽

The Relationship

Purpose: Several tests have been proposed as injury predictor inventories in various sports; however, it is important to recognize which test is more appropriate to predict the injuries of a particular sport. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between selected functional tests and lower limb injuries in elite male wushu athletes. Methods: In total, 40 wushu player were recruited from the national league (Mean±SD age: 25.1±4.9 y, weight: 67.3±7.7 kg, height: 175.3±4.7 cm). Functional Movement Screening (FMS), Tuck jump, single and double leg squats, Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and Stork balance tests were performed in this research. All of the study variables were measured before the national competition, and after the competition, the rate of the injuries were assessed. The correlation between them was evaluated, subsequently. Descriptive data were used to describe the collected results. Besides, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between the study variables. Results: Multivariate linear regression analysis data suggested that LESS, stroke balance test, single-leg squat, and SEBT failed to predict lower extremities injuries; however, Tuck jump, FMS, and double leg squat could predict lower extremities injuries. Conclusion: Based on the collected results, among the studied tests, trainers and researchers are suggested to employ the Tuck jump, FMS, and double leg squat tests to predict injuries in wushu male players; this test can also be used to prevent injuries in players.

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The Relationship between Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury in South Korea

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17124423 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 4423

Author(s):

Dong-il Kim ◽

Jeongmin Lee ◽

Hyuna Park ◽

Justin Y. Jeon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Physically Active ◽

Cord Injury ◽

The Relationship

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between physical activity (PA) levels and mental health in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Three hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area were invited to recruit patients with SCI (n = 103). PA levels were measured by the Leisure Score Index of the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to assess mental health. Results: Compared to the least physically active participants (1st tertile, 44.09 ± 52.74 min/week), the most physically active participants (3rd tertile, 670.86 ± 354.97 min/week) scored significantly lower on PHQ-9 (17.03 ± 5.70 vs. 12.49 ± 4.01, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (13.24 ± 4.78 vs. 9.86 ± 3.15, p < 0.001), while significantly higher MSPSS (51.24 ± 10.17 vs. 61.37 ± 11.90, p < 0.001) after the results were adjusted for age, gender, American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale, and impaired spinal cord levels. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the PA was a significant predictor of depression (β = −1.50, p = 0.01), anxiety (β = −1.12, p = 0.02), and social support (β = 4.04, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Higher PA participation was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and higher social support scores.

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A Clinical Prediction Formula for Apnea-Hypopnea Index

International Journal of Otolaryngology ◽

10.1155/2014/438376 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mustafa Sahin ◽

Cem Bilgen ◽

M. Sezai Tasbakan ◽

Rasit Midilli ◽

Ozen K. Basoglu

Keyword(s):

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Sleep Apnea Syndrome ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Clinical Prediction ◽

Prediction Formula ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Apnea Syndrome ◽

The Relationship

Objectives. There are many studies regarding unnecessary polysomnography (PSG) when obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is suspected. In order to reduce unnecessary PSG, this study aims to predict the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) via simple clinical data for patients who complain of OSAS symptoms.Method. Demographic, anthropometric, physical examination and laboratory data of a total of 390 patients (290 men, average age 50 ± 11) who were subject to diagnostic PSG were obtained and evaluated retrospectively. The relationship between these data and the PSG results was analyzed. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed step by step to identify independent AHI predictors.Results. Useful parameters were found in this analysis in terms of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), neck circumference (NC), oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2), and tonsil size (TS) to predict the AHI. The formula derived from these parameters was the predicted AHI = (0.797 × BMI) + (2.286 × NC) − (1.272 × SpO2) + (5.114 × TS) + (0.314 × WC).Conclusion. This study showed a strong correlation between AHI score and indicators of obesity. This formula, in terms of predicting the AHI for patients who complain about snoring, witnessed apneas, and excessive daytime sleepiness, may be used to predict OSAS prior to PSG and prevent unnecessary PSG.

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The relationship between demographic features, anthropometric parameters, sleep duration, and physical activity with ECG parameters in Fasa Persian cohort study

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12872-021-02394-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alireza Mirahmadizadeh ◽

Mojtaba Farjam ◽

Mehdi Sharafi ◽

Hossein Fatemian ◽

Maryam Kazemi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Previous History ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Mean Values ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Backgrounds Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are the first leading cause of death worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between demographics, anthropometrics, sleep duration, physical activity, and ECG parameters in the Fasa Persian cohort study. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the basic information of 10,000 participants aged 35–70 years in the Fasa cohort study was used. The data used in this study included demographic data, main Electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, anthropometric data, sleep duration, and physical activity. Data analysis was performed using t-test, chi-square, and linear regression model. Results Based on multivariate linear regression analysis results, increased age was significantly associated with all study parameters. Nevertheless, gender and body mass index showed no significant relationship with SV3 and PR. Wrist circumference, hip circumference and waist circumference significantly increased the mean values of the ECG parameters. However, sleep duration was not significantly associated with the ECG parameters. In addition, hypertension was major comorbidity, which was shown to increase the mean values of the ECG parameters. Conclusion Several factors affected the ECG parameters. Thus, to interpret ECGs, in addition to age and gender, anthropometric indices, physical activity, and previous history of comorbidities, such as hypertension and ischemic heart disease, should be taken into consideration.

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