scholarly journals Environmental Degradation due to Tobacco Cultivation in Northern Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Md Tareq Bin Salam ◽  
SM Shahriar Zaman ◽  
SM Tanzim Hossen ◽  
Md Asaduzzaman Nur
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Support ◽  
Health Hazards ◽  
Contributory Factor ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Tobacco Marketing ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Tobacco Cultivation ◽  
High Benefit ◽  
The Impact

A field study was conducted in Northern Bangladesh, Rangpur district to observe the impact of tobacco cultivation on the environment as well as to characterize contributing factors motivating tobacco cultivation. Information was collected from the tobacco cultivators by a questionnaire survey that was conducted in four mostly tobacco cultivated upazilas, namely Badargonj, Taragonj, Rangpur Sadar, Gangachara of Rangpur district. Information from non-tobacco cultivators was also collected from Mithapukur Upazila. Survey findings revealed that 62.16% of respondents believed that soil productivity is decreasing in the tobacco field and 70.27% of tobacco farmers were using more chemical fertilizer per year than the previous years. More than half (54.05%) of respondents reported that tobacco is replacing native food crops. Moreover, 51.30% of tobacco farmers were facing various health hazards due to tobacco cultivation. The present study also investigated that 97.14% of farmers got a high benefit along with 89.19% of respondent’s availed organizational support from tobacco marketing companies. The overall satisfaction rate with the price was 80.56%, which was the main contributory factor for tobacco cultivation in the study area. The survey results also identified that farmers from Mithapukur Upazila gave up tobacco cultivation due to health hazards and unnecessarily underestimating the grade of tobacco leaf by the buyer company. The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 9(2), 2020, P 19-26

Efficacy of Crisis Intervention

Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Reisch ◽  
Petra Schlatter ◽  
Wolfgang Tschacher
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Step Therapy ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
The Impact

This study assesses the efficacy of the treatment approach implemented in the Bern Crisis Intervention Program, where particular emphasis is placed on the remediation of suicide ideation and suicidal behavior, and depression, fear, and phobia are generally considered to be contributing factors. Four questionnaires addressing psychopathology, emotional well-being, social anxiety, and personality were administered prior to and after the treatment of 51 patients over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. The reduction of symptoms contributing to suicidal ideation and behavior was interpreted as indirect evidence of an antisuicidal effect of the program. Significant improvements were found in the psychopathology ratings, with depression and anxiety showing the largest reductions. The impact on personality and social phobia, however, was only moderate, and on average patients still exhibited symptoms after attending the program. This residual symptomatology points to the necessity of introducing a two-step therapy approach of intensive intervention targeted at the precipitating causes of the crisis, augmented by long-term therapy to treat underlying problems.

Predictors of Positive Psychological Capital: An Attempt Among the Teacher Communities in Rural Jharkhand, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 0258042X2199101
Author(s):  
Mukti Clarence ◽  
Viju P. D. ◽  
Lalatendu Kesari Jena ◽  
Tony Sam George
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Positive Psychological Capital ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

In the recent times, researchers have shown an increased interest in positive psychological capital (PsyCap). However, it is acknowledged that due to the limited number of studies conducted on the antecedents of psychological capital, there is a lack of sufficient data for conclusively proving the antecedents of PsyCap. Consequently, this article aims to explore the potential antecedents of PsyCap as a reliable source of data in the context of rural school teachers. The focus is to investigate both the individual differences and the contextual factors as desirable variables that constitute PsyCap among the school teachers of rural Jharkhand, India. Samples of 1,120 respondents from different rural schools were collected and analysed with Structural Equation Modeling (AMOS 20.0). The findings of the study explained that both the individual differences ( proactive personality and emotional intelligence) and the contextual factors ( perceived organizational support, servant leadership and meaningful work) have a positive relationship with PsyCap. The impact of PsyCap on teacher performance can form the basis for further research on the subject. JEL Codes: M12, M53

scholarly journals Feedback of patient survey on medication improves the management of polypharmacy: a pilot trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuta Hirose ◽  
Kiyoshi Shikino ◽  
Yoshiyuki Ohira ◽  
Sumihide Matsuoka ◽  
Chihiro Mikami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Patient Survey ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Oral Medications ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Survey Results

Abstract Background Patient awareness surveys on polypharmacy have been reported previously, but no previous study has examined the effects of sending feedback to health professionals on reducing medication use. Our study aimed to conduct a patient survey to examine factors contributing to polypharmacy, feedback the results to health professionals, and analyze the resulting changes in the number of polypharmacy patients and prescribed medications. Methods After conducting a questionnaire survey of patients in Study 1, we provided its results to the healthcare professionals, and then surveyed the number of polypharmacy patients and oral medications using a before-after comparative study design in Study 2. In Study 1, we examined polypharmacy and its contributing factors by performing logistic regression analysis. In Study 2, we performed a t-test and a chi-square test. Results In the questionnaire survey, significant differences were found in the following 3 items: age (odds ratio (OR) = 3.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.01–4.91), number of medical institutions (OR = 2.34; 95%CI = 1.50–3.64), and patients’ difficulty with asking their doctors to deprescribe their medications (OR = 2.21; 95%CI = 1.25–3.90). After the feedback, the number of polypharmacy patients decreased from 175 to 159 individuals and the mean number of prescribed medications per patient decreased from 8.2 to 7.7 (p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Providing feedback to health professionals on polypharmacy survey results may lead to a decrease in the number of polypharmacy patients. Factors contributing to polypharmacy included age (75 years or older), the number of medical institutions (2 or more institutions), and patients’ difficulty with asking their physicians to deprescribe their medications. Feedback to health professionals reduced the percentage of polypharmacy patients and the number of prescribed medications. Trial registration UMIN. Registered 21 June 2020 - Retrospectively registered, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm

scholarly journals Parkinson’s Disease and the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Conor Fearon ◽  
Alfonso Fasano
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Scientific Rigor ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms ◽  
Convincing Data

Studies focusing on the relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and Parkinson’s disease (PD) have provided conflicting results. We review the literature to investigate: 1) Are PD patients at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and are there specific contributing factors to that risk? 2) How does COVID-19 affect PD symptoms? 3) How does COVID-19 present in PD patients? 4) What are the outcomes in PD patients who contract COVID-19? 5) What is the impact of COVID-19 on PD care? 6) Does COVID-19 increase the risk of developing PD? A literature search was performed from 1979 to 2020 using the terms: ‘Parkinson’s disease’ and ‘parkinsonism’ combined with: ‘COVID-19’; ‘SARS-CoV-2’ and ‘coronavirus’. It does not appear that PD is a specific risk factor for COVID-19. There is evidence for direct/indirect effects of SARS-CoV-2 on motor/non-motor symptoms of PD. Although many PD patients present with typical COVID-19 symptoms, some present atypically with isolated worsening of parkinsonian symptoms, requiring increased anti-PD therapy and having worse outcomes. Mortality data on PD patients with COVID-19 is inconclusive (ranging from 5.2%to 100%). Patients with advanced PD appear to be particularly vulnerable. Single cases of acute hypokinetic-rigid syndrome have been described but no other convincing data has been reported. The rapidity with which COVID-19 has swept across the globe has favored the proliferation of studies which lack scientific rigor and the PD literature has not been immune. A coordinated effort is required to assimilate data and answer these questions in larger PD cohorts.

School or Guidance Counselor: How the Title Influences Public Perception

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 2156759X2098103
Author(s):  
Emily Baker ◽  
Brett Zyromski ◽  
Darcy Haag Granello
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
School Counselors ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Original Study ◽  
Guidance Counselor ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Professional Title ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Perceptions Of School

School counselors are one of the few professions that remain split on their professional title. We replicated a previous study to determine whether the results of the original study measuring the impact of language on perceptions of school counselors’ competency were replicable by surveying a sample of the general population. Participants who completed the surveys with the term “guidance counselor” were statistically less likely to believe that school counselors were able to perform the 25 tasks assessed on the survey. Results suggest that the title impacted participants’ perceptions of the competence of school counselors.

scholarly journals The Impact of an Educational Program on Medical Students’ Knowledge and Awareness of Elder Abuse

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 238212052110164
Author(s):  
Abbie West ◽  
Cara Cawley ◽  
Elizabeth Crow ◽  
Alexis M. Stoner ◽  
Natalie M. Fadel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
P Value ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Second Year ◽  
College Of Osteopathic Medicine ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Approximately 1 in 6 adults 60 and older have experienced a form of abuse in the past year. Many cases remain under-reported due to lack of knowledge and awareness. This study created an educational program on elder abuse for medical students to determine if participation would increase knowledge and awareness of elder abuse. Methods: This study used a pre and post survey methodology to evaluate students’ knowledge and awareness of elder abuse before and after participating in this educational program. Sixty first and second year osteopathic medical students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus participated in this study. Students were emailed a pre-survey to evaluate their pre-existing knowledge and awareness. The survey was, previously created by the Student Training on Preventing Domestic Violence (STOP-DV) team using validated measures. Participants then attended educational events about various forms of elder abuse and recognizing its associated signs, and afterward completed the post-survey. The results were compared using t-tests to determine if there was a significant difference. Results: First and second year students differed significantly in pre-survey results of knowledge but not post-survey results. The results showed a significant difference in overall mean knowledge ( P-value < .001) and awareness scores ( P-value < .001) in all students. Conclusion: These results suggest education on elder abuse can enable future physicians to better recognize, understand, and support older adults regarding elder maltreatment.

scholarly journals Increased Construct Stiffness With Meniscal Repair Sutures and Devices Increases the Risk of Cheese-Wiring During Biomechanical Load-to-Failure Testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 232596712110156
Author(s):  
Sebastian Müller ◽  
Tanja Schwenk ◽  
Michael de Wild ◽  
Dimitris Dimitriou ◽  
Claudio Rosso
Keyword(s):  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Meniscal Repair ◽  
Suture Fixation ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Mode Of Failure ◽  
Load To Failure ◽  
Pull Through ◽  
Optimal Stiffness ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Inside Out

Background: Cheese-wiring, the suture that cuts through the meniscus, is a well-known issue in meniscal repair. So far, contributing factors are neither fully understood nor sufficiently studied. Hypothesis/Purpose: To investigate whether the construct stiffness of repair sutures and devices correlates with suture cut-through (cheese-wiring) during load-to-failure testing. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: In 131 porcine menisci, longitudinal bucket-handle tears were repaired using either inside-out sutures (n = 66; No. 0 Ultrabraid, 2-0 Orthocord, 2-0 FiberWire, and 2-0 Ethibond) or all-inside devices (n = 65; FastFix360, Omnispan, and Meniscal Cinch). After cyclic loading, load-to-failure testing was performed. The mode of failure and construct stiffness were recorded. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to define the optimal stiffness threshold for predicting meniscal repair failure by cheese-wiring. The 2-tailed t test and analysis of variance were used to test significance. Results: Loss of suture fixation was the most common mode of failure in all specimens (58%), except for the Omnispan, which failed most commonly because of anchor pull-through. The Omnispan demonstrated the highest construct stiffness (30.8 ± 3.5 N/mm), whereas the Meniscal Cinch (18.0 ± 8.8 N/mm) and Ethibond (19.4 ± 7.8 N/mm) demonstrated the lowest construct stiffness. The Omnispan showed significantly higher stiffness compared with the Meniscal Cinch ( P < .001) and Ethibond ( P = .02), whereas the stiffness of the Meniscal Cinch was significantly lower compared with that of the FiberWire ( P = .01), Ultrabraid ( P = .04), and FastFix360 ( P = .03). While meniscal repair with a high construct stiffness more often failed by cheese-wiring, meniscal repair with a lower stiffness failed by loss of suture fixation, knot slippage, or anchor pull-through. Meniscal repair with a stiffness >26.5 N/mm had a 3.6 times higher risk of failure due to cheese-wiring during load-to-failure testing (95% CI, 1.4-8.2; P < .0001). Conclusion: Meniscal repair using inside-out sutures and all-inside devices with a higher construct stiffness (>26.5 N/mm) was more likely to fail through suture cut-through (cheese-wiring) than that with a lower stiffness (≤26.5 N/mm). Clinical Relevance: This is the first study investigating the impact of construct stiffness on meniscal repair failure by suture cut-through (cheese-wiring).

scholarly journals Contributing Factors to Perinatal Outcome in Pregnancies with Gestational Diabetes—What Matters Most? A Retrospective Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Friederike Weschenfelder ◽  
Friederike Hein ◽  
Thomas Lehmann ◽  
Ekkehard Schleußner ◽  
Tanja Groten
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Perinatal Outcome ◽  
Perinatal Outcomes ◽  
Large For Gestational Age ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Patient Counseling ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Prepregnancy Bmi ◽  
The Impact

The aim of diabetes care of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is to attain pregnancy outcomes including rates of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns, pre-eclampsia, C-sections (CS) and other neonatal outcomes similar to those of the non-GDM pregnant population. Obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy have been shown to also impact perinatal outcome. Since GDM is frequently associated with elevated body mass index (BMI), we evaluated the impact of maternal prepregnancy BMI, development of GDM and gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy on perinatal outcome. We compared 614 GDM patients with 5175 non-diabetic term deliveries who gave birth between 2012 and 2016. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent contribution of each factor on selected perinatal outcome variables. Additionally, subgroup analysis for obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and non-obese women (BMI < 30 kg/m2) was performed. LGA was significantly influenced by BMI, GWG and GDM, while Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission was solely impacted by GDM. Maternal outcomes were not dependent on GDM but on GWG and prepregnancy BMI. These results remained significant in the non-obese subgroup only. Thus, GDM still affects perinatal outcomes and requires further improvement in diabetic care and patient counseling.

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