scholarly journals Stress and Pain Before, During and After the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gabrielle Pagé ◽  
Lise Dassieu ◽  
Élise Develay ◽  
Mathieu Roy ◽  
Étienne Vachon-Presseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
Pain Status ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

Aims: This study explores the association between subjective feeling of stress and pain experience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on characteristics known to trigger a physiological stress response [sense of low control, threat to ego, unpredictability and novelty (STUN)].Methods: This exploratory longitudinal convergent mixed methods design consisted of online questionnaires over three time points (before, during and after the 1st wave of the COVID-19 pandemic) (N = 49) and qualitative interviews (N = 27) during the 1st wave of the pandemic on distinct samples of individuals living with chronic pain (CP). Both types of data sources were mixed upon integration using joint display.Results: Mean pain intensity scores remained stable across time points, while pain unpleasantness and pain interference scores significantly improved. Global impression of change scores measured during the first wave of the pandemic do not entirely concord with pain scores evolution. Two thirds of participants reported a global deterioration of their pain condition at the beginning of the pandemic. Stress and pain catastrophizing before the pandemic were associated with pain scores throughout the pandemic; while most specific measures of stress due to the novel, uncontrollable, unpredictable and threatening nature of the pandemic were not. Qualitative data demonstrated that the deterioration reported in pain status reflected additional dimensions, including spatial expansion of the painful area, reduced access to treatments and challenges in adapting pain management strategies.Conclusions: Helping individuals to negotiate stressful aspects of the pandemic might help offset the negative impacts of stress on pain status in this context or other important life events.

Short-term voluntary exercise in the rat causes bone modeling without initiating a physiological stress response

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (4) ◽  
pp. R1037-R1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brielle V. Rosa ◽  
Elwyn C. Firth ◽  
Hugh T. Blair ◽  
Mark H. Vickers ◽  
Patrick C. H. Morel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Quantitative Computed Tomography ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Bone Modeling ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Early Exercise ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

Recent research has revealed a neuroendocrine connection between the skeleton and metabolism. Exercise alters both bone modeling and energy balance and may be useful in further developing our understanding of this complex interplay. However, research in this field requires an animal model of exercise that does not cause a physiological stress response in the exercised subjects. In this study, we develop a model of short-term voluntary exercise in the female rat that causes bone modeling without causing stress. Rats were randomly assigned to one of three age-matched groups: control, tower climbing, and squat exercise (rising to an erect bipedal stance). Exercise for 21 days resulted in bone modeling as assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Fecal corticosterone output was used to assess physiological stress at three time points during the study (preexercise, early exercise, and late in the exercise period). There were no differences in fecal corticosterone levels between groups or time points. This model of voluntary exercise in the rat will be useful for future studies of the influence of exercise on the relationship between skeletal and metabolic health and may be appropriate for investigation of the developmental origins of those effects.

A Mixed Methods Examination of Sleep Throughout the Alcohol Recovery Process Grounded in the Social Cognitive Theory: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Craving

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa T. Brooks ◽  
Michael Krumlauf ◽  
Kenneth H. Beck ◽  
Craig S. Fryer ◽  
Li Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Time Points

Sleep disturbances can accompany alcohol use disorders during various phases of the disease. This analysis utilized a mixed methods approach to assess whether sleep-related beliefs and/or behavior of individuals who are alcohol dependent were associated with sleep quality both pre- and postdischarge from a clinical research facility providing inpatient alcohol rehabilitation treatment. Individuals with higher self-efficacy for sleep (SE-S) reported better sleep quality at both time points. Individuals with fewer dysfunctional beliefs about sleep had poorer sleep quality at both time points. Individuals with higher unhealthy sleep-related safety behaviors had poorer sleep quality at both time points. In a linear regression model, only the difference in SE-S scores from pre- to postdischarge (β = −.396, p = .01) and the postdischarge Penn Alcohol Craving Score (β = .283, p = .019) significantly predicted the change in sleep quality. Thus, those whose SE-S scores increased and those with lower postdischarge craving scores were more likely to experience a decrease on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores from pre- to postdischarge even after controlling for covariates. References to behavior or personal factors were often discussed during the qualitative interviews in tandem with the environment. Participants reported both (1) self-medicating anxiety with alcohol and (2) self-medicating the inability to fall asleep with alcohol. Given the success of behavioral sleep interventions in various populations and the unique potential contributions of mixed methods approaches to examine sleep and alcohol use, assessing sleep-related cognitions and behaviors of individuals with severe alcohol use disorders may be important in understanding sleep quality and subsequent relapse.

scholarly journals Barriers-enablers-ownership approach: a mixed methods analysis of a social intervention to improve surgical antibiotic prescribing in hospitals

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e046685
Author(s):  
Jennifer Broom ◽  
Alex Broom ◽  
Chris Anstey ◽  
Katherine Kenny ◽  
Sharon Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Antibiotic Prophylaxis ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Guideline Compliance ◽  
Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Surgical Teams

ObjectivesTo assess an intervention for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) improvement within surgical teams focused on addressing barriers and fostering enablers and ownership of guideline compliance.DesignThe Queensland Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (QSAP) study was a multicentre, mixed methods study designed to address barriers and enablers to SAP compliance and facilitate engagement in self-directed audit/feedback and assess the efficacy of the intervention in improving compliance with SAP guidelines. The implementation was assessed using a 24-month interrupted time series design coupled with a qualitative evaluation.SettingThe study was undertaken at three hospitals (one regional, two metropolitan) in Australia.ParticipantsSAP-prescribing decisions for 1757 patients undergoing general surgical procedures from three health services were included. Six bimonthly time points, pre-implementation and post implementation of the intervention, were measured. Qualitative interviews were performed with 29 clinical team members. SAP improvements varied across site and time periods.InterventionQSAP embedded ownership of quality improvement in SAP within surgical teams and used known social influences to address barriers to and enablers of optimal SAP prescribing.ResultsThe site that reported senior surgeon engagement showed steady and consistent improvement in prescribing over 24 months (prestudy and poststudy). Multiple factors, including resource issues, influenced engagement and sites/time points where these were present had no improvement in guideline compliance.ConclusionsThe barriers-enablers-ownership model shows promise in its ability to facilitate prescribing improvements and could be expanded into other areas of antimicrobial stewardship. Senior ownership was a predictor of success (or failure) of the intervention across sites and time periods. The key role of senior leaders in change leadership indicates the critical need to engage other specialties in the stewardship agenda. The influence of contextual factors in limiting engagement clearly identifies issues of resource distributions/inequalities within health systems as limiting antimicrobial optimisation potential.

Management of e-resources in academic libraries in Ghana: Copyright implications

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522110271
Author(s):  
Theresa L Adu ◽  
Thomas B van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Digital Resources ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Sequential Mixed Methods ◽  
Library Staff

This study investigated the copyright issues surrounding the management of e-resources in academic libraries in Ghana. Forty-seven library staff and head librarians from four academic libraries were engaged using questionnaires and qualitative interviews in a sequential mixed-methods approach to generate data for this study. The findings indicate that in all four institutions copyright issues arose with the provision of distance learning, online courses and e-reserves services. All the respondents stated that they or their colleagues had had faculty ask questions on copyright issues. However, the professional librarians indicated that the library was not consulted and the instructors for online courses or distance education programmes did not cooperate with librarians; rather, the department posting the materials made the decisions on copyright regarding the usage of digital resources for distance learning, online courses or e-reserves. This does not augur well for the management of copyright of e-resources in academic libraries in Ghana.

Associations between multisystem stress reactivity and peer nominated aggression in early childhood vary by sex

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1888-1898
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Hagan ◽  
Danielle S. Roubinov ◽  
W. Thomas Boyce ◽  
Nicole R. Bush
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Relational Aggression ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Peer Ratings ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

AbstractThere is emerging evidence that the development of problematic aggression in childhood may be associated with specific physiological stress response patterns, with both biological overactivation and underactivation implicated. This study tested associations between sex-specific patterns of stress responses across the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and peer nominations of aggression among 271 kindergarten children (Mean age = 5.32 years; 52% Female; 44% White). Upon entry to kindergarten, children participated in a multidomain standardized stress paradigm. Changes in pre-ejection period (PEP) and salivary cortisol were assessed. On a separate day, children provided peer ratings of physical and relational aggression in a standardized interview. As expected, there was a significant three-way interaction between PEP, cortisol reactivity, and sex, but only for physical aggression. Among boys, cortisol reactivity was positively associated with physical aggression only for those with higher SNS reactivity. Findings suggest that for boys, asymmetrical and symmetrical HPA/SNS reactivity may be associated with lower and higher risk for peer-directed physical aggression, respectively. Understanding the complex associations between multisystem physiology, child sex and peer-directed aggression in early childhood may offer insight into individual differences underlying the emergence of behavioral dysregulation in early peer contexts.

scholarly journals Advancing engagement and capacity for rural cancer control: a mixed-methods case study of a Community-Academic Advisory Board in the Appalachia region of Southwest Virginia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie M. Zoellner ◽  
Kathleen J. Porter ◽  
Donna-Jean P. Brock ◽  
Emma Mc Kim Mitchell ◽  
Howard Chapman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Advisory Board ◽  
Comprehensive Cancer Control ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽  
Time Points

Abstract Background The objectives are to: 1) describe engagement processes used to prioritize and address regional comprehensive cancer control needs among a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) in the medically-underserved, rural Appalachian region, and 2) detail longitudinal CAB evaluation findings. Methods This three-year case study (2017–2020) used a convergent parallel, mixed-methods design. The approach was guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation process, and Nine Habits of Successful Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions. Meeting artifacts were tracked and evaluated. CAB members completed quantitative surveys at three time points and semi-structured interviews at two time points. Quantitative data were analyzed using analysis of variance tests. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via an inductive-deductive process. Results Through 13 meetings, Prevention and Early Detection Action Teams created causal models and prioritized four cancer control needs: human papillomavirus vaccination, tobacco control, colorectal cancer screening, and lung cancer screening. These sub-groups also began advancing into planning and intervention proposal development phases. As rated by 49 involved CAB members, all habits significantly improved from Time 1 to Time 2 (i.e., communication, priority work plans, roles/accountability, shared decision making, value-added collaboration, empowered leadership, diversified funding, trust, satisfaction; all p < .05), and most remained significantly higher at Time 3. CAB members also identified specific challenges (e.g., fully utilizing member expertise), strengths (e.g., diverse membership), and recommendations across habits. Conclusion This project’s equity-based CBPR approach used a CPPE process in conjunction with internal evaluation of cancer coalition best practices to advance CAB efforts to address cancer disparities in rural Appalachia. This approach encouraged CAB buy-in and identified key strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that will lay the foundation for continued involvement in cancer control projects. These engagement processes may serve as a template for similar coalitions in rural, underserved areas.

Reflex impairment and physiological stress response in the Neotropical wolf fish Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) exposed to catch-and-release angling

2021 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 105940
Author(s):  
Laura Simões Andrade ◽  
Domingos Garrone-Neto ◽  
Manuela Alves Nobre Sales ◽  
Luciana Rodrigues de Souza-Bastos ◽  
Ursulla Pereira Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Hoplias Malabaricus ◽  
Catch And Release ◽  
Physiological Stress Response
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