Evaluating the Association Between Artificial Sweetener Intake and Indicators of Stress and Anxiety

Author(s):  
Benjamin Miller ◽  
Paul Branscum

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) consumption and stress and anxiety, among a sample of college students. Two-hundred and twenty-seven students from a large mid-western university participated in this cross-sectional study. Students completed an online survey that evaluated NNS using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Stress and anxiety were evaluated using previously validated instruments. Most students reported very low/low/average concern for stress (63.9%), and had low/moderate anxiety (82.3%). Participants experiencing high and very high levels of stress had significantly higher NNS consumption compared to those with a very low and low risk, and concern for stress ( p < .046; d = 0.28). There was no difference however for NNS intake and anxiety. Reduction of artificial sweetener intake may be associated with stress levels among college students. However, more research is needed to examine any causal relationship between artificial sweetener intake and stress.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyan Cheng ◽  
Ping Shuai ◽  
Qichuan Qiao ◽  
Tingxin Li

Abstract Background In China, many people are apt to participate in regular physical examination as a precaution. Some simplified food frequency questionnaire have been designed and used. However, the effectiveness of questionnaire is absent. This study was conducted to examine the reliability and validity of simplified food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) used among physical examination adults in southwest region of China. Methods This study was a cross sectional study among physical health examination adults in Southwest region of China. A total of 239 participants aged 20-65 were conducted during February to June in 2019. The performance of the SFFQ was evaluated by the mean of three-day 24-hour dietary recalls (3R24). The relative validity and agreement was assessed by the Pearson`s correlation and intra-class correlation coefficients(ICC) respectively. Results The median energy-adjusted ICC of food groups between SFFQ2 and SFFQ1 was 0.59 (range: 0.49-0.73) and the ICC of nutrients was 0.47(range: 0.39-0.76). The Pearson correlation showed the validity between the SFFQ1 and 3R24, which ranged from -0.086 to 0.93 for food and and 0.21 to 0.71 for nutritions, respectively. Energy-adjustment slightly increased the correlation coefficients. Conclusions The reliability and validity of the SFFQ was acceptable. It could be an appropriate dietary assessment tool for future epidemiological studies in physical health examination adults among Chinese in southwest China.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAUD Alsahali

BACKGROUND : Digital health technologies and applications are rapidly advancing and have gained attention in recent years. It is expected to have more roles and functions to transform the healthcare system in this era of digital consumers and services. However, limited research is available regarding delivering digital health education and training in pharmacy education and the pharmacy students’ perspectives on digital health. OBJECTIVE To assess pharmacy interns’ awareness of digital health applications in Saudi Arabia and their views regarding the coverage of digital health in the education of pharmacists. We will also assess the interns’ perceptions and beliefs about the concepts, benefits, and implementation of digital health in the practice settings METHODS A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted among pharmacy interns at Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. An invitation with the link to the online survey was sent to all interns registered at the College during the period of January to March 2021 RESULTS A total of 68 out of 77 interns registered in the internship year participated in the study, giving a response rate of 88.31%. The mean total score for pharmacy interns’ awareness of digital health applications in Saudi Arabia was 5.66 ± 1.74 (the maximum attainable score = 7). The awareness with different applications ranged from 97% for the Tawakkalna app to 64.7% for the Ministry of Health 937 call center. The mean total score for attitude and beliefs toward concepts and benefits of telehealth and telemedicine applications was 58.25 ± 10.44 (Maximum attainable score = 75). In this regard, 83.8% of the interns believed that telehealth could enhance the quality of care, 72% believed that it could enable pharmacists to accomplish tasks more quickly, and 70.6% believed that it could help effectively provide patient counseling, and 69.1% believed it could improve patients’ adherence to therapy. In this study, 40.6% believed that the current coverage of telehealth and telemedicine in the curriculum was average, while only 17.6% believed it was high/very high coverage. Moreover, only 38.2% attended additional educational activities related to digital health. Consequently, the majority (63.2%) were of the opinion that there is a high/very high need to educate and train pharmacists in the field of digital health CONCLUSIONS Overall, the interns showed good awareness of the common digital health applications in Saudi Arabia. In addition, majority of the interns had positive perceptions and beliefs towards the concepts, benefits, and implementation of digital health. However, the findings showed there is still further scope for improvement in some areas. Moreover, most interns indicated that there is a need for more education and training in the field of digital health and pharmacy informatics. Consequently, early exposure to content related to digital health and pharmacy informatics is an important step to help in the wide use and application of these technologies in the graduates’ future careers and practice CLINICALTRIAL Ethical approval was obtained from Health Research Ethics Committee at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia (reference number 20-06-12).


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ningsi Hadji Ali ◽  
Billy J. Kepel ◽  
Widdhi Bodhi

Abstract: High purine intake can result in hyperuricemia which leads to gouthy arthritis and formation of kidney stone. High purine concentration is mainly contained in animal protein. Minahasa ethnic people have a habit of holding events where there is feast party and the majority of Minahasa signature dishes are animal product. This study aims to describe the purine intake in adolescents in Minahasa Regency. This research design is a descriptive cross-sectional study with 40 study subjects. Sample is students of SMKN 2 and SMKN 3 Tondano in Minahasa Regency. Purine intake is measured by using Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The average of purine intake among adolescents in Minahasa Regency is 91,89 to 1028,44 mg/day, 40% adolescents consume purine rich foods, that consist of 35% boys and 5% girls. There are 52,5% adolescents consume foods with moderate purine content in high frequency and 40% adolescents consume foods with high purine content in high frequency. The conclusion of this study is the average of purine intake among adolescents in Minahasa Regency is quite high. It requires dietary knowledge of purine containing foods in order to reduce purine intake to prevent the increasing of hyperuricemia incidence and its impacts. Keywords: purine intake, adolescent, Minahasa Regency     Abstrak: Asupan purin yang tinggi dapat menyebabkan terjadinya hiperurisemia yang dapat berakhir dengan gout arthritis dan batu ginjal. Kadar purin yang tinggi terutama terkandung dalam protein hewani. Masyarakat etnis Minahasa memiliki kebiasaan menggelar acara syukuran yang diikuti dengan pesta makan dan makan makanan khas Minahasa yang sebagian besar berasal dari hewani. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran asupan purin pada remaja di Kabupaten Minahasa. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain deskriptif cross-sectional dengan jumlah subjek 40 orang. Subjek dari penelitian ini yaitu siswa-siswi SMK Negeri 2 Tondano dan SMK Negeri 3 Tondano di Kabupaten Minahasa. Data asupan purin diukur dengan Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Rata-rata asupan purin remaja di Kabupaten Minahasa sebesar 91,89-1028,44 mg/hari, dengan 40% remaja mengkonsumsi purin dalam jumlah yang tinggi, yang terdiri dari 35% remaja pria dan 5% remaja wanita. Remaja yang mengkonsumsi makanan yang mengandung purin sedang dengan frekuensi tinggi sebanyak 52,5% dan remaja yang mengkonsumsi makanan yang mengandung purin tinggi dengan frekuensi tinggi sebanyak 40%. Kesimpulan penelitian ini yaitu rata-rata asupan purin remaja di Kabupaten Minahasa cukup tinggi. Hal ini membutuhkan peningkatan pengetahuan tentang kandungan purin dalam makanan sehingga dapat membatasi jumlah asupan purin untuk mencegah meningkatnya kejadian hiperurisemia dan penyakit yang ditimbulkannya. Kata kunci: asupan purin, remaja, Kabupaten Minahasa


2012 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Thi Lan Tran ◽  
Thi Huong Le ◽  
Xuan Ninh Nguyen

Objectives: Assess the nutritional status, worm infection status and some related factors among children aged 12-36 months of Dakrong district, Quang Tri province. Subject and method: A cross sectional study was carried out in 2010, in 680 children aged 12-36 months in 4 communes of Dakrong district, Quang Tri province. Results: The malnutrition rate was 55.0% for underweight, 66.5% for stunting and 16.2% for wasting. The prevalence of malnutrition increases by age group. The prevalence of worm infection was 31.6%, the highest prevalence was belong to Ascaris infection (24.6%), followed by Hookworm and Trichuris (6.5% and 6.2%, respectively). The prevalence of worm infection among children under two is very high (27.0%). The prevalence of worm infection was distributed quite equally between the malnutrition children group and normal children group. Recommendation: Early deworming forchildren from 12 months should be considered as important strategy against the malnutrition of children in Dakrong district, Quang Tri province


Author(s):  
Christina Brogårdh ◽  
Catharina Sjödahl Hammarlund ◽  
Frida Eek ◽  
Kjerstin Stigmar ◽  
Ingrid Lindgren ◽  
...  

Currently, there is limited knowledge on how the Swedish strategy with more lenient public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced people’s life satisfaction. Here, we investigated self-reported life satisfaction during the first wave of the pandemic in Sweden, and perceived changes in life satisfaction in relation to various sociodemographic factors. A total of 1082 people (mean age 48 (SD 12.2); 82% women) responded to an online survey during autumn 2020 including the “Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11”. A majority (69%) were satisfied with life as a whole, and with other important life domains, with the exception of contact with friends and sexual life. An equal share reported that life as a whole had either deteriorated (28%) or improved (29%). Of those that perceived a deterioration, 95% considered it to be due to the pandemic. Regarding deteriorated satisfaction with life as a whole, higher odds were found in the following groups: having no children living at home; being middle aged; having other sources of income than being employed; and having a chronic disease. The Swedish strategy might have contributed to the high proportion of satisfied people. Those who perceived a deterioration in life satisfaction may, however, need attention from Swedish Welfare Authorities.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e046694
Author(s):  
Jiani Mao ◽  
Feng Chen ◽  
Dianguo Xing ◽  
Huixian Zhou ◽  
Ling Jia ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among Chinese college students and their attitude towards participating in CPR training and willingness to perform bystander CPR.DesignA cross-sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 1128 college students were selected through a multistage stratified random sampling method from 12 universities in Chongqing, China.Primary and secondary outcomesPrimary outcomes included CPR knowledge and willingness to participate in training and perform bystander CPR; secondary outcomes included CPR training experience and obstacles to training and performing CPR.ResultsThe average score on CPR knowledge was 2.078 (±1.342). Only 45.5% of the respondents were willing to participate in CPR training. Women, respondents who were postgraduate or above, with liberal arts as major and with high CPR knowledge level were more willing to participate in CPR training. A total of 47.2% of the respondents were willing to provide simple assistance, such as checking the consciousness and breathing of the patient and dialling 120 (medical emergency call). Only 34.1% indicated their willingness to perform bystander CPR on strangers. Perceived behavioural control, behavioural attitudes and subjective norms are positive predictors of willingness to provide bystander CPR.ConclusionsCPR knowledge and training rate were low among Chongqing college students. Willingness to participate in training and perform bystander CPR was also low. Improving legislation, strengthening training programmes, incorporating CPR training into the school curriculum and reshaping the social and public culture of offering timely help to those in need are recommended strategies to improve bystander CPR performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabuktagin Rahman ◽  
Patricia Lee ◽  
Santhia Ireen ◽  
Moudud ur-Rahman Khan ◽  
Faruk Ahmed

Abstract A validation study of an interviewer-administered, seven-day semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (7-d SQFFQ) was conducted in Bangladeshi rural preschool age children. Using a cross-sectional study design, 105 children from 103 households were randomly selected. For the SQFFQ, a list of commonly consumed foods was adapted from the Bangladesh national micronutrient survey 2011–12. The data on the actual number of times and the amount of the children's consumption of the foods in the preceding 1 week were collected by interviewing the mothers. The intake was compared with two non-consecutive days 24-h dietary recalls conducted within 2 weeks after the SQFFQ. Validity was assessed by the standard statistical tests. After adjusting for the energy intake and de-attenuation for within-subject variation, the food groups (cereals, animal source foods, milk and the processed foods) had ‘good’ correlations between the methods (rho 0⋅65–0⋅93; P < 0⋅001). Similarly, the macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fats) had ‘good’ correlations (rho 0⋅50–0⋅75; P < 0⋅001) and the key micronutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, etc.) demonstrated ‘good’ correlations (rho 0⋅46–0⋅85; P < 0⋅001). The variation in classifying the two extreme quintiles by the SQFFQ and the 24-h recalls was <10 %. The results from Lin's concordance coefficients showed a ‘moderate’ to ‘excellent’ absolute agreement between the two methods for food groups, and nutrients (0⋅21–0⋅90; P < 0⋅001). This interviewer-administered, 7-d SQFFQ with an open-ended intake frequency demonstrated adequate validity to assess the dietary intake for most nutrients and suitable for dietary assessments of young children in Bangladesh.


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