scholarly journals The Potential Impact of Adjunct Digital Tools and Technology to Help Distressed and Suicidal Men: An Integrative Review

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Balcombe ◽  
Diego De Leo
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
State Psychiatric ◽  
Downward Spiral ◽  
Telephone Calls ◽  
Potential Impact

Suicidal men feel the need to be self-reliant and that they cannot find another way out of relationship or socioeconomic issues. Suicide prevention is of crucial importance worldwide. The much higher rate of suicide in men engenders action. The prelude is a subjective experience that can be very isolating and severely distressing. Men may not realize a change in their thinking and behaviors, which makes it more difficult to seek and get help, thereby interrupting a “downward spiral”. Stoicism often prevents men from admitting to their personal struggle. The lack of “quality” connections and “non-tailored” therapies has led to a high number of men “walking out” on traditional clinical approaches. But there are complicated relationships in motivations and formative behaviors of suicide with regards to emotional state, psychiatric disorders, interpersonal life events and suicidal behavior method selection. Middle-aged and older men have alternated as the most at-risk of suicide. There is no one solution that applies to all men, but digital tools may be of assistance (e.g., video conferences, social networks, telephone calls, and emails). Digital interventions require higher levels of effectiveness for distress and suicidality but self-guided approaches may be the most suitable for men especially where linked with an integrated online suicide prevention platform (e.g., quick response with online chats, phone calls, and emails). Furthermore, technology-enabled models of care offer promise to advance appropriate linking to mental health services through better and faster understanding of the specific needs of individuals (e.g., socio-cultural) and the type and level of suicidality experienced. Long-term evidence for suicidality and its evaluation may benefit from progressing human computer-interaction and providing impetus for an eminent integrated digital platform.

Crisis Phones - Suicide Prevention Versus Suggestion/Contagion Effects

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Stack
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Contagion Effects ◽  
Long Term Impact

Abstract. Background: There has been no systematic work on the short- or long-term impact of the installation of crisis phones on suicides from bridges. The present study addresses this issue. Method: Data refer to 219 suicides from 1954 through 2013 on the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. Six crisis phones with signs were installed in July 1999. Results: In the first decade after installation, the phones were used by 27 suicidal persons and credited with preventing 26 or 2.6 suicides a year. However, the net suicide count increased from 48 in the 13 years before installation of phones to 106 the following 13 years or by 4.5 additional suicides/year (t =3.512, p < .001). Conclusion: Although the phones prevented some suicides, there was a net increase after installation. The findings are interpreted with reference to suggestion/contagion effects including the emergence of a controversial bridge suicide blog.

Measuring patient engagement among cancer patients in eHealth and mHealth interventions on symptom management: an integrated review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juqing Zhao ◽  
Pei Chen ◽  
Guangming Wan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Patient Engagement ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Participation Rate ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Mhealth Intervention

BACKGROUND There has been an increase number of eHealth and mHealth interventions aimed to support symptoms among cancer survivors. However, patient engagement has not been guaranteed and standardized in these interventions. OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to address how patient engagement has been defined and measured in eHealth and mHealth interventions designed to improve symptoms and quality of life for cancer patients. METHODS Searches were performed in MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify eHealth and mHealth interventions designed specifically to improve symptom management for cancer patients. Definition and measurement of engagement and engagement related outcomes of each intervention were synthesized. This integrated review was conducted using Critical Interpretive Synthesis to ensure the quality of data synthesis. RESULTS A total of 792 intervention studies were identified through the searches; 10 research papers met the inclusion criteria. Most of them (6/10) were randomized trial, 2 were one group trail, 1 was qualitative design, and 1 paper used mixed method. Majority of identified papers defined patient engagement as the usage of an eHealth and mHealth intervention by using different variables (e.g., usage time, log in times, participation rate). Engagement has also been described as subjective experience about the interaction with the intervention. The measurement of engagement is in accordance with the definition of engagement and can be categorized as objective and subjective measures. Among identified papers, 5 used system usage data, 2 used self-reported questionnaire, 1 used sensor data and 3 used qualitative method. Almost all studies reported engagement at a moment to moment level, but there is a lack of measurement of engagement for the long term. CONCLUSIONS There have been calls to develop standard definition and measurement of patient engagement in eHealth and mHealth interventions. Besides, it is important to provide cancer patients with more tailored and engaging eHealth and mHealth interventions for long term engagement.

A Downward Spiral? A Panel Study of Misinformation and Media Trust in Chile

2021 ◽  
pp. 194016122110252
Author(s):  
Sebastián Valenzuela ◽  
Daniel Halpern ◽  
Felipe Araneda
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Panel Survey ◽  
Downward Spiral ◽  
The Media ◽  
Media Trust ◽  
People’S Attitudes ◽  
Over Time

Despite widespread concern, research on the consequences of misinformation on people's attitudes is surprisingly scant. To fill in this gap, the current study examines the long-term relationship between misinformation and trust in the news media. Based on the reinforcing spirals model, we analyzed data from a three-wave panel survey collected in Chile between 2017 and 2019. We found a weak, over-time relationship between misinformation and media skepticism. Specifically, initial beliefs on factually dubious information were negatively correlated with subsequent levels of trust in the news media. Lower trust in the media, in turn, was related over time to higher levels of misinformation. However, we found no evidence of a reverse, parallel process where media trust shielded users against misinformation, further reinforcing trust in the news media. The lack of evidence of a downward spiral suggests that the corrosive effects of misinformation on attitudes toward the news media are less serious than originally suggested. We close with a discussion of directions for future research.

Patient Education and Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Randomized Comparative Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 001857872199980
Author(s):  
Christopher Giuliano ◽  
Bradley St. Pierre ◽  
Jamie George
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Comparative Trial ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Video Education ◽  
Pharmacist Education

Objective: To compare video to pharmacist education for patients taking sacubitril/valsartan. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing video to pharmacist education with a second randomized intervention of education delivered through text or phone call at 14 days. The primary outcome compared the change in short term knowledge between groups and the secondary outcome was long term knowledge at 1 month. Results: Forty-three patients were included. Scores improved significantly ( P < .05) in the pharmacist group from 54.1% to 85.9% and from 64.3% to 86.1% in the video education group, although there was no difference between groups (31.8% vs 22.9%, P = .13). At 30 days, scores were significantly higher than baseline (difference 16.5%, P < .05) although did decrease from the posttest (difference 7.4%, P < .05). There was no difference at 30 days between those that received text messages versus phone calls (−10% vs −5.5%, respectively; P = .36). Conclusion: We saw improvements in both short term and long term knowledge for patients receiving education through pharmacist or video education. Neither approach was more effective than the other. Clinicians can use either approach based on patient preference.

scholarly journals An Integrated Investigation of Atmospheric Gaseous Elemental Mercury Transport and Dispersion Around a Chlor-Alkali Plant in the Ossola Valley (Italian Central Alps)

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Laura Fantozzi ◽  
Nicoletta Guerrieri ◽  
Giovanni Manca ◽  
Arianna Orrù ◽  
Laura Marziali
Keyword(s):  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Dispersion Pattern ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mercury Transport ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Hg Accumulation

We present the first assessment of atmospheric pollution by mercury (Hg) in an industrialized area located in the Ossola Valley (Italian Central Alps), in close proximity to the Toce River. The study area suffers from a level of Hg contamination due to a Hg cell chlor-alkali plant operating from 1915 to the end of 2017. We measured gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) levels by means of a portable Hg analyzer during car surveys between autumn 2018 and summer 2020. Moreover, we assessed the long-term dispersion pattern of atmospheric Hg by analyzing the total Hg concentration in samples of lichens collected in the Ossola Valley. High values of GEM concentrations (1112 ng m−3) up to three orders of magnitude higher than the typical terrestrial background concentration in the northern hemisphere were measured in the proximity of the chlor-alkali plant. Hg concentrations in lichens ranged from 142 ng g−1 at sampling sites located north of the chlor-alkali plant to 624 ng g−1 in lichens collected south of the chlor-alkali plant. A north-south gradient of Hg accumulation in lichens along the Ossola Valley channel was observed, highlighting that the area located south of the chlor-alkali plant is more exposed to the dispersion of Hg emitted into the atmosphere from the industrial site. Long-term studies on Hg emission and dispersion in the Ossola Valley are needed to better assess potential impact on ecosystems and human health.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a perspective from industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_P) ◽  
pp. P56-P59
Author(s):  
Nick E J West ◽  
Wai-Fung Cheong ◽  
Els Boone ◽  
Neil E Moat
Keyword(s):  
Care Delivery ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Change Models ◽  
New Device ◽  
Supply Chain Logistics ◽  
Cardiovascular Patients ◽  
Medical Crisis ◽  
Device Industry

Abstract The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented change throughout society.1 As the articles in this supplement outline, all segments of the broader cardiovascular community have been forced to adapt, to change models of care delivery, and to evolve and innovate in order to deliver optimal management for cardiovascular patients. The medtech/device industry has not been exempt from such change and has been forced to navigate direct and indirect COVID-associated disruption, with effects felt from supply chain logistics to the entire product lifecycle, from the running of clinical trials to new device approvals and managing training, proctoring and congresses in an increasingly-online world. This sea-change in circumstances itself has enforced the industry, in effect, to disrupt its own processes, models and activities. Whilst some of these changes may be temporary, many will endure for some time and some will doubtless become permanent; one thing is for sure: the healthcare ecosystem, including the medical device industry, will never look quite the same again. Although the pandemic has brought a short- to medium-term medical crisis to many countries, its role as a powerful disruptor cannot be underestimated, and may indeed prove to be a force for long-term good, given the accelerated innovation and rapid adaptation that it has cultivated.

Manipulating Environmental Commitment: A Replication and Extension

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110126
Author(s):  
Eric D. Wesselmann ◽  
Shane W. Boyd ◽  
Jordan A. Arellanes ◽  
Alexander Driskell ◽  
Matthew S. Hesson-McInnis
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Environmental Commitment

Environmental commitment, the subjective experience of dependence on the natural environment, is marked by a long-term orientation and psychological attachment towards the natural environment. The current research replicates and extends previous research on temporarily increasing environmental commitment ( Davis et al., 2009 ). We employed Davis et al.’s manipulation in two experimental studies (one laboratory, one online): we asked participants to spend time writing either about ways in which they are interdependent with the natural environment (high commitment manipulation) or unconnected with the environment (low commitment manipulation). In both studies we replicated the key finding that reflecting on one’s interdependence with the environment increases commitment. We extended the previous research by finding evidence that this commitment effect was mediated by satisfaction with one’s relationship to the environment. We did not replicate the original findings that the interdependence manipulation influences environmental behavioral intentions.

scholarly journals Body dysmorphic disorder in children and young people

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-164
Author(s):  
Chloe Watson ◽  
Sasha Ban
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Young People ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Adolescent Development ◽  
Body Dysmorphic Disorder ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Positive Body Image

The incidence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in young people is increasing. Causes of BDD are related to the prevalence of social media and adolescent development, especially the role that brain neuroplasticity has on influencing perception. There are long-term impacts of BDD, including depression and suicide. Prevention and promotion of positive body image are part of the nurse's role; treatment can prevent unnecessary aesthetic surgical interventions.

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