Development of Environmental Health Literature Models in Keeping Sustainable Peatland Ecosystems

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 926
Author(s):  
Dessyka FEBRIA ◽  
Gusman VIRGO ◽  
Riski Novera YENITA ◽  
INDRAWATI INDRAWATI
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Functional Literacy ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Environmental Health Literacy

This article discusses the development of a model of environmental health literacy to maintain a sustainable ecosystem on peatlands. In maintaining the sustainable peatland ecosystem, an environmental health literacy model is needed so that the community can follow up on the health of the surrounding environment. To make informed decisions, communities must have the ability to obtain, process and understand health and environmental information. The approaches used in environmental health literacy are 1 - basic, and functional literacy with efforts to evaluate environmental health information, 2 - communicative interactive and awareness literacy in reducing health and environmental risks and 3 - improving quality of life and protecting the environment with provide education so as to change people's behavior. Ultimately, efforts to develop this model of environmental health literacy are intended to prevent the occurrence of peatland ecosystem damage and can empower communities through an increased understanding of health risks and environmental risks that affect health and the environment.

scholarly journals Media Reporting on Air Pollution: Health risk and precautionary measures in national and regional newspapers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Ramondt ◽  
A. Susana Ramirez
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
News Media ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Local Newspapers ◽  
Environmental Health Literacy ◽  
Precautionary Measures

Abstract Background Exposure to air pollution is one of the primary global health risk factors, yet individuals lack the knowledge to engage in individual risk mitigation and the skills to mobilize for change necessary to reduce such risks. The news media are an important tool for influencing individual actions and support for public policies to reduce environmental threats; thus, a lack of news coverage of such issues may exacerbate knowledge deficits. This study examines the reporting of health risk and precautionary measures regarding air pollution in national and regional print news using an environmental health literacy perspective.Methods We conducted a content analysis of two national (New York Times and Washington Post) and two local newspapers (Fresno Bee and Bakersfield Californian) newspapers covering the country’s most polluted region, California’s San Joaquin Valley, during a 5-year period (2011-2015). Using a constructed week sampling approach, 276 newspaper articles were coded for information on threat, efficacy information, and information sources.Results News coverage of air pollution mostly failed to mention human health risks. Moreover, fewer than 10 percent of news stories about air pollution provided information on the precautionary measures necessary for individuals to take action to mitigate their risk. Despite being located in one of the most polluted areas in the US, local newspapers did not report significantly more threat and efficacy information. News coverage of air pollution consistently missed opportunities to raise environmental health literacy.Conclusions Although air pollution levels are high and continue to rise at alarming rates, our findings suggest that news media reporting is not conducive to raising environmental health literacy. Public health advocates and health promotion experts must develop more effective strategies for disseminating information about the health risks of air pollution, balancing the need for recognizing the structural causes of poor air quality and the actions individuals and communities can take to reduce air pollution related morbidity and mortality. National and local news media may be useful partners for such dissemination.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a Mobile Phone App for Patients With Pollen-Related Allergic Rhinitis: Prospective Longitudinal Field Study

10.2196/15514 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e15514
Author(s):  
Manuela Glattacker ◽  
Martin Boeker ◽  
Robin Anger ◽  
Frank Reichenbach ◽  
Adrian Tassoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Background Mobile health apps have great potential to support the self-management of chronic conditions such as allergic diseases, which constitute significant challenges in health care. However, the health app market is confusing for users, as it is vast, dynamic, and lacks scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of the apps on offer. To our knowledge, no health app for pollen-related allergic rhinitis has been evaluated. Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the Husteblume mobile phone health app, developed in Germany to facilitate the self-management of pollen-related allergic rhinitis. Methods We evaluated usability and changes in quality of life, health literacy, and self-efficacy for managing one’s chronic disease. We conducted 2 online surveys of registered users of the app, 1 before and 1 after the 2017 pollen season, allowing for the analysis of both cross-sectional and longitudinal data in a field setting. Results The sample comprised 661 app users at the first measurement point and 143 users at follow-up. The subgroup of study participants at follow-up rated the usability of the app as good or very good. There were no significant changes in patient-reported outcomes such as quality of life, health literacy, and self-efficacy between the 2 measurement points (P>.05). However, those reached at follow-up perceived subjective improvements due to the app: 55.9% (80/143) reported being subjectively better informed about their allergy, 27.3% (39/143) noted improved quality of life, 33.6% (48/143) reported subjectively better coping with their allergy, and 28.0% (40/143) felt better prepared for the consultation with their physician. Finally, 90.9% (130/143) users did not identify any adverse effects of the app. Conclusions Despite some methodological caveats, the results of the evaluation of the Husteblume app are encouraging for the subgroup using the app in the long term. However, further studies evaluating the effectiveness of the app are needed. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00011897; https://tinyurl.com/yxxrg9av

scholarly journals The Patient Navigation Project for Socially Vulnerable Cancer Patients Improves Quality of Life and Health Literacy

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 110s-110s
Author(s):  
S. Scheuer
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Patient Navigation ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Distress Level

Background: Social inequality in cancer survival and rehabilitation is a major problem. Patient navigation has shown to empower cancer patients to take part in their health care and help them navigate through an increasingly complex health care system. These promising results makes it relevant to explore whether patient navigation can improve the lives of vulnerable cancer patients. Aim: The aim of this study is to examine whether the Danish Cancer Society's nation-wide Patient Navigation Project improves quality of life and health literacy among socially vulnerable cancer patients. Methods: Socially vulnerable cancer patients were included in the project and matched with a navigator (volunteer). The navigators, who had a background in social welfare or health care, supported the patients during a 6-month period. The navigators participated in health care visits, helped the patients to keep track of their disease and treatment, and gave the patients emotional support. The support was based on the patients' needs and the navigators focused on empowering the patients. The patients completed a baseline questionnaire and a 6-month follow-up questionnaire. The questionnaires focused on quality of life (WHO-5 Well-being Index and distress thermometer) and health literacy. Results: Of the 268 participants enrolled in the project, 45 were still enrolled when data were collected and 110 did not complete the 6-month navigation period, due to death or disease worsening. Of the 113 participants who completed the 6-month navigation period, 97 participants filled out the 6-month follow-up questionnaire (86%). The participants were predominantly on retirement benefit (61%), 19% were unemployed and 56% had no or a short education. At baseline, the mean distress level was 8.1, and 64% had a low well-being score and were therefore at risk for depression/long term stress. 6 month after enrolment, the distress level had decreased to 6.7 ( P < 0.001) and 28% had a low well-being score ( P < 0.001). When it comes to health literacy, 60% of the participants stated that they had become better at finding information about their disease 6 month after enrolment, and 74% had become better at asking questions at meetings at the hospital. Conclusion: The socially vulnerable cancer patients enrolled in the Patient Navigation Project experienced increased well-being, a lower distress level and improved health literacy 6 months after enrollment. The findings of the study suggests that patient navigation can improve quality of life and health literacy for socially vulnerable cancer patients.

Cathartic Effect of Suicide Attempts Not Limited to Depression

Crisis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Sarfati ◽  
Blandine Bouchaud ◽  
Marie-Christine Hardy-Baylé
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Short Term

Summary: The cathartic effect of suicide is traditionally defined as the existence of a rapid, significant, and spontaneous decrease in the depressive symptoms of suicide attempters after the act. This study was designed to investigate short-term variations, following a suicide attempt by self-poisoning, of a number of other variables identified as suicidal risk factors: hopelessness, impulsivity, personality traits, and quality of life. Patients hospitalized less than 24 hours after a deliberate (moderate) overdose were presented with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression and Impulsivity Rating Scales, Hopelessness scale, MMPI and World Health Organization's Quality of Life questionnaire (abbreviated versions). They were also asked to complete the same scales and questionnaires 8 days after discharge. The study involved 39 patients, the average interval between initial and follow-up assessment being 13.5 days. All the scores improved significantly, with the exception of quality of life and three out of the eight personality traits. This finding emphasizes the fact that improvement is not limited to depressive symptoms and enables us to identify the relative importance of each studied variable as a risk factor for attempted suicide. The limitations of the study are discussed as well as in particular the nongeneralizability of the sample and setting.

Quality of life bei 22 Patienten mit schwerem allergischen Asthma und atopischem Ekzem unter Omalizumab-Therapie: 1-Jahr follow-up

Pneumologie ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 64 (S 03) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Velling ◽  
D Skowasch ◽  
S Pabst ◽  
E Jansen ◽  
I Tuleta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life
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