scholarly journals Anxiety is associated with undesirable eating behaviors in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E Coakley ◽  
Huyen Le ◽  
Spirit Rae Silva ◽  
Aspen Wilks
Keyword(s):  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Eating Attitudes ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
The Past ◽  
Severe Anxiety ◽  
Satiety Responsiveness ◽  
Food Fussiness

Abstract Background COVID-19 has impacted mental health globally, however, relationships between anxiety and eating behaviors during the pandemic have not been explored. This study evaluated anxiety, eating attitudes and behaviors, and associations between anxiety and eating behaviors in students at a large public University in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Current undergraduate and graduate/professional students completed a cross-sectional survey in fall 2020. Demographic information, indicators of anxiety in the past two weeks assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7), and eating behaviors assessed by the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) were evaluated. A score ≥ 10 on the GAD-7 indicated anxiety (≥ 15 indicated severe anxiety). Eating behaviors were reported via Likert scale and combined into eight AEBQ subscales; subscale mean and standard deviation were reported. Differences in mean AEBQ subscale scores were examined between participants with and without anxiety via Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariate linear regression was utilized to examine associations between GAD-7 score and individual AEBQ subscale scores, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and student status. Results The final sample included 1243 students (57% undergraduates). In the full sample, 51.9% experienced anxiety in the past two weeks; 24.6% had severe anxiety. Subgroups with the highest prevalence of anxiety included non-cisgender participants (73.6%), the youngest age group [18–20 years of age (62%)], undergraduate students (60.7%), and Hispanic/Latino participants (57.5%). Participants with anxiety had significantly lower AEBQ scores for enjoyment of food and significantly higher scores for emotional over and under-eating, food fussiness, food and satiety responsiveness, and hunger than those with no anxiety (p < 0.01). In adjusted analyses, GAD-7 score was significantly and positively associated with hunger, food responsiveness, emotional over-eating, satiety responsiveness, and food fussiness and negatively associated with enjoyment of food. Conclusions The prevalence of anxiety is overwhelming in undergraduate and graduate/professional students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Eating behaviors differ significantly in those with anxiety; increasing anxiety severity was associated with undesirable eating behaviors including hunger and emotional over-eating. Universities and health professionals must consider strategies to address anxiety, particularly in younger students, non-cis-gender students, and across race/ethnicities keeping in mind associations between anxiety and eating behaviors.

scholarly journals Anxiety is associated with appetitive traits in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Coakley ◽  
Huyen Le ◽  
Spirit Rae Silva ◽  
Aspen Wilks
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Severe Anxiety ◽  
Satiety Responsiveness

Abstract Background COVID-19 has impacted mental health globally, however, associations between anxiety and appetitive traits during the pandemic are unreported. This study evaluated anxiety symptom severity and associations with appetitive traits in students at a large public University in the U.S. during the pandemic. Methods Current undergraduate and graduate/professional students completed a cross-sectional survey in fall 2020. Demographic information, anxiety symptoms in the past 2 weeks assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and appetitive traits assessed by the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) were evaluated. Mean scores for eight AEBQ scales (four food approach and four food avoidance traits) were calculated. Differences in mean scores were examined between participants with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score ≥ 10) and those with mild to no anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score < 10) via independent samples t-tests and effect sizes. Associations between GAD-7 score and individual appetitive traits were also examined, adjusting for age and gender. Results Of the 1243 students who completed the survey (57% undergraduates; mean age = 26.5 years), 51.9% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Groups experiencing the highest degree of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms included transgender, gender fluid, and other-gendered participants (73.6%); the youngest age group [18–20 years (62%)]; undergraduate students (60.7%); and Hispanic/Latinx participants (57.7%). Participants with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms had higher scores for most food approach and avoidance traits but lower scores for enjoyment of food than those with mild to no anxiety symptoms. Effect sizes were largest for hunger and emotional over-eating (Cohen’s d = 0.31 and 0.30, respectively). Adjusting for age and gender, GAD-7 score was significantly and positively associated with hunger, emotional over-eating, food and satiety responsiveness, and food fussiness and negatively associated with enjoyment of food. Conclusions Over half of students at a U.S. University reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms during COVID-19. More severe anxiety symptoms were associated with increased hunger, emotional over-eating, and food and satiety responsiveness and decreased enjoyment of food. Universities must consider strategies to address anxiety, particularly in younger students; transgender, gender fluid, and students of other genders; and across race/ethnicities keeping in mind associations with appetitive traits.

E-Cigarette Advice to Patients From Physicians and Dentists in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1228-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Drouin ◽  
Robert C. McMillen ◽  
Jonathan D. Klein ◽  
Jonathan P. Winickoff
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
The Past ◽  
Random Digit Dialing ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Nationally Representative

Purpose: To report on adults’ recall of discussion by physicians and dentists about e-cigarettes. Design: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey (Internet and random digit dialing) in the United States. Participants: Adults who ever used e-cigarettes. Measures: Participant-reported discussion about the potential benefits and harms of e-cigarettes with their doctor, dentist, or child’s doctor in the past 12 months. Analysis: Fisher exact test for the analysis between benefits and harms for each type of provider and for rates of advice between provider types. Results: Among the 3030 adults who completed the survey, 523 (17.2%) had ever used e-cigarettes. Of those who had seen their doctor, dentist, or child’s doctor in the last year, 7.3%, 1.7%, and 10.1%, respectively, reported discussing potential harms of e-cigarettes. Conversely, 5.8%, 1.7%, and 9.3% of patients who had seen their doctor, dentist, or child’s doctor in the last year reported that the clinician discussed the potential benefits of e-cigarettes. Each clinician type was as likely to discuss harms as benefits. Rates of advice were similar between doctors and child’s doctors but lower for dentists. Rates were comparable when the analysis was limited to current e-cigarette users, participants with children, or those who reported using both e-cigarettes and combusted tobacco. Conclusions: Few physicians and dentists discuss either the harms or benefits of e-cigarettes with their patients. These data suggest an opportunity to educate, train, and provide resources for physicians and dentists about e-cigarettes and their use.

scholarly journals Racial Discrimination and Uptake of Dental Services among American Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wael Sabbah ◽  
Aswathikutty Gireesh ◽  
Malini Chari ◽  
Elsa K. Delgado-Angulo ◽  
Eduardo Bernabé
Keyword(s):  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past

This study examined the relationship between racial discrimination and use of dental services among American adults. We used data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a health-related telephone cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Racial discrimination was indicated by two items, namely perception of discrimination while seeking healthcare within the past 12 months and emotional impact of discrimination within the past 30 days. Their association with dental visits in the past year was tested in logistic regression models adjusting for predisposing (age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, education, smoking status), enabling (health insurance), and need (missing teeth) factors. Approximately 3% of participants reported being discriminated when seeking healthcare in the past year, whereas 5% of participants reported the emotional impact of discrimination in the past month. Participants who experienced emotional impact of discrimination were less likely to have visited the dentist during the past year (Odds Ratios (OR): 0.57; 95% CI 0.44–0.73) than those who reported no emotional impact in a crude model. The association was attenuated but remained significant after adjustments for confounders (OR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.58–0.99). There was no association between healthcare discrimination and last year dental visit in the fully adjusted model. Emotional impact of racial discrimination was an important predictor of use of dental services. The provision of dental health services should be carefully assessed after taking account of racial discrimination and its emotional impacts within the larger context of social inequalities.

scholarly journals E-cigarette use frequency by smoking status among youth in the United States, 2014-2019

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Tam
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Former Smokers ◽  
Never Smokers

AbstractAimsTo report annual 2014-2019 youth estimates of past 30-day e-cigarette use frequency by smoking status in the United States (US).DesignWeighted prevalence estimates of student’s e-cigarette use using the 2014-2019 National Youth Tobacco Surveys (NYTS). For each year, t-tests for significance were used to compare estimates with those from the preceding year; t-tests were not performed on data for 2019 due to the change in survey format from paper to electronic.SettingThe NYTS is an annual school-based cross-sectional survey of US middle school (MS) and high school (HS) students.Participants117,472 students.MeasurementsSelf-report of past 30 day e-cigarette use based on students’ smoking status. Smoking status is assessed by asking if students have ever tried smoking, “even one or two puffs”, with never smokers responding “no”. Former smokers respond “yes” but have not smoked at all in the past 30 days. Current smokers used cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days. Frequent e-cigarette use is defined as use on ≥20 days in the past month.FindingsPast 30-day and frequent e-cigarette use increased among never, former, and current smoker youth from 2014-2019. In 2019, a greater proportion of current smokers used e-cigarettes frequently (HS = 46.1%, 95% CI: 39.1, 53.2; MS = 27.4%, 95% CI: 21.1, 33.6) compared to former smokers (HS = 23.2%, 95% CI: 18.1, 28.2; MS = 10.9%, 95% CI: 6.1, 15.7) and never smokers (HS = 3.7%, 95% CI: 3.0, 4.3; MS = 0.7%, 95% CI: 0.4, 0.9). From 2018 to 2019, the total number of youth using e-cigarettes frequently who were never smokers (2018: 180,000; 2019: 490,000) or former smokers (2018: 260,000; 2019: 640,000) surpassed that of current smokers (2018: 420,000; 2019: 460,000).ConclusionsThe proportion and number of never smoker youth using e-cigarettes frequently increased greatly since 2014.

scholarly journals Analyzing Predictors of Control Measures and Psychosocial Problems Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Eight Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Sheikh Saifur Rahman Jony ◽  
Ubydul Haque ◽  
Nathaniel J. Webb ◽  
Emily Spence ◽  
Md. Siddikur Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Determinant

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that greater encouragement from government health authorities and the promotion of health education and policies are essential in the dissemination of COVID-19-awareness and increased control of the spread of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Burnout of Healthcare Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2434
Author(s):  
Yoshito Nishimura ◽  
Tomoko Miyoshi ◽  
Hideharu Hagiya ◽  
Yoshinori Kosaki ◽  
Fumio Otsuka
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has drastically changed how we live and work. Amid the prolonged pandemic, burnout of the frontline healthcare professionals has become a significant concern. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study to provide data about the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of burnout in healthcare professionals in Japan. Healthcare workers in a single Japanese national university hospital participated in the survey, including basic demographics, whether a participant engaged in care of COVID-19 patients in the past 2 weeks and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Of those, 25.4% fully answered the survey; 33.3% were doctors and 63.6% were nurses, and 36.3% engaged in care of COVID-19 patients in the past 2 weeks. Compared to those belonging to General Medicine, those in Emergency Intensive Care Unit were at higher risk of burnout (odds ratio (OR), 6.7; 95% CI, 1.1–42.1; p = 0.031). Of those who engaged in care of COVID-19 patients, 50% reported burnout while 6.1% did not (OR 8.5, 95% CI; 1.3–54.1; p = 0.014). The burnout of healthcare workers is a significant concern amid the pandemic, which needs to be addressed for sustainable healthcare delivery.

scholarly journals Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Training among Medical Schools in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110287
Author(s):  
Robert L. Cooper ◽  
Mohammad Tabatabai ◽  
Paul D. Juarez ◽  
Aramandla Ramesh ◽  
Matthew C. Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Injection Drug Users ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be an effective method of HIV prevention for men who have sex with-men (MSM) and -transgender women (MSTGWs), serodiscordant couples, and injection drug users; however fewer than 50 000 individuals currently take this regimen. Knowledge of PrEP is low among healthcare providers and much of this lack of knowledge stems from the lack or exposure to PrEP in medical school. We conducted a cross sectional survey of medical schools in the United States to assess the degree to which PrEP for HIV prevention is taught. The survey consisted Likert scale questions assessing how well the students were prepared to perform each skill associated with PrEP delivery, as well as how PrEP education was delivered to students. We contacted 141 medical schools and 71 responded to the survey (50.4%). PrEP education was only reported to be offered at 38% of schools, and only 15.4% reported specific training for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patients. The most common delivery methods of PrEP content were didactic sessions with 11 schools reporting this method followed by problem-based learning, direct patient contact, workshops, and small group discussions. Students were more prepared to provide PrEP to MSM compared to other high-risk patients. Few medical schools are preparing their students to prescribe PrEP upon graduation. Further, there is a need to increase the number of direct patient contacts or simulations for students to be better prepared.

Are Future Doctors Prepared to Address Patients’ Nutritional Needs? Cooking and Nutritional Knowledge and Habits in Medical Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 155982762110181
Author(s):  
Sam Sugimoto ◽  
Drew Recker ◽  
Elizabeth E. Halvorson ◽  
Joseph A. Skelton
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
The United States ◽  
First Year ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutritional Needs ◽  
Second Year ◽  
First Year Medical Students

Background. Many diseases are linked to lifestyle in the United States, yet physicians receive little training in nutrition. Medical students’ prior knowledge of nutrition and cooking is unknown. Objective. To determine incoming medical students’ prior nutrition knowledge, culinary skills, and nutrition habits. Methods. A dual-methods study of first-year medical students. Cross-sectional survey assessing prior knowledge, self-efficacy, and previous education of cooking and nutrition. Interviews of second-year medical students explored cooking and nutrition in greater depth. Results. A total of 142 first-year medical students participated; 16% had taken a nutrition course, with majority (66%) learning outside classroom settings. Students had a mean score of 87% on the Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire versus comparison group (64.9%). Mean cooking and food skills score were lower than comparison scores. Overall, students did not meet guidelines for fiber, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Interviews with second-year students revealed most learned to cook from their families; all believed it important for physicians to have this knowledge. Conclusions. Medical students were knowledgeable about nutrition, but typically self-taught. They were not as confident or skilled in cooking, and mostly learned from their family. They expressed interest in learning more about nutrition and cooking.

scholarly journals Danish Health Professional Students' Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 100323
Author(s):  
Helle Gerbild ◽  
Camilla Marie Larsen ◽  
Tina Junge ◽  
Birgitte Schantz Laursen ◽  
Kristina Areskoug-Josefsson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
Danish Health ◽  
Health Professional Students ◽  
Students Attitudes

Strategic Planning in Emergency Management: Evaluating the Impacts on Local Program Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Robert Manning
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Program Quality ◽  
County Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Local Program

AbstractThis study examined the strategic planning practices of county-level emergency management agencies (EMAs), with a specific focus on strategic planning adoption and its relationship to local program quality. The study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design to collect planning- and program-related data from more than 300 county-level EMAs across the United States. The study findings revealed that most of the county EMAs included in the final sample had previously engaged in strategic planning activities, with nearly all of them continuing to use strategic planning as part of their general management practice. The study findings further revealed that strategic planning had a direct and significant impact on the overall quality of local emergency management programs, and that the strategic planning EMAs had significantly higher mean quality scores across all program dimensions when compared to the non-strategic planning EMAs.

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