scholarly journals Greater Engagement with Health Information Is Associated with Adoption and Maintenance of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours in People with MS

Author(s):  
Xin Lin ◽  
Maggie Yu ◽  
George A. Jelinek ◽  
Steve Simpson-Yap ◽  
Sandra Neate ◽  
...  

Health communication offers an important means for patients to make informed decisions for illness self-management. We assessed how the level of engagement with selected health information at baseline is associated with the adoption and maintenance of lifestyle behaviours at a 5-year follow-up in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Non-engagers were compared to engagers of information delivered online and print (medium), and with engagers who additionally attended a live-in workshop (high). Engagement was assessed against lifestyle behaviours by log-binomial regression. Information engagers had higher education, and were less likely to have severe disability, clinically significant fatigue, or obesity. Medium and high baseline engagement was associated with adopting healthy behaviours for omega 3 supplementation (RR = 1.70; 95%CI: 1.02–2.84), physical activity (RR = 2.16; 95%CI: 1.03–4.55), and dairy non-consumption (RR = 3.98; 95%CI: 1.85–8.56) at 5 years; associations were stronger among high engagers. Only high baseline engagement was associated with maintaining behaviours from baseline to 5 years, specifically for omega-3 (RR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.06–1.49) and vitamin D supplementation (RR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.04–1.54) and dairy non-consumption (RR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.03–2.10). Health communication that includes face-to-face information delivery and practical tools for implementation in daily living may be optimal for adopting and maintaining lifestyle behaviours in people with MS.

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (10) ◽  
pp. 634-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Larson ◽  
Joseph H. Ashmore ◽  
Kristina A. Harris ◽  
Jessica L. Vogelaar ◽  
James V. Pottala ◽  
...  

SummaryOmega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) from oily fish are clinically useful for lowering triglycerides and reducing risk of heart attacks. Accordingly, patients at risk are often advised to take both aspirin and n-3 FA. However, both of these agents can increase bleeding times, and the extent to which the combination inhibits platelet function is unknown. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effects of a prescription omega-3 FA product (P-OM3) and aspirin, alone and in combination, on platelet aggregation assessed by whole blood impedance aggregometry (WBA). Ten healthy volunteers provided blood samples on four separate occasions: Day 1, baseline; Day 2, one day after taking aspirin (2 x 325 mg tablets); Day 29, after 28 days of P-OM3 (4 capsules/day); and Day 30, after one day of combined P-OM3 and aspirin. WBA was tested with two concentrations of collagen, with ADP and with a thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP). Compared to baseline, aspirin alone inhibited aggregation only with low-dose collagen stimulation;P-OM3 alone did not inhibit aggregation with any agonist; and combined therapy inhibited aggregation with all agonists butTRAP. Significant interactions between interventions were not observed in response to any agonist. In conclusion, P-OM3 alone did not inhibit platelet aggregation, but did (with two agonists) when combined with aspirin. Since previous studies have not reported a clinically significant risk for bleeding in subjects on combined therapy, P-OM3 may safely enhance the anti-platelet effect of aspirin.


Author(s):  
Christian Koeder ◽  
A. Hahn ◽  
H. Englert

Abstract Objectives The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (ccIMT) is an established risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether lifestyle interventions can easily demonstrate an improvement in ccIMT. The objective was to test if our intervention would beneficially affect ccIMT (among other CVD markers). Design Non-randomized controlled trial Setting Rural northwest Germany Participants Middle-aged and elderly participants from the general population (intervention: n = 114; control: n = 87) Intervention A community-based, 6-month controlled lifestyle intervention focusing on four areas of lifestyle change: a plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, and an improved social life. A strong emphasis was on dietary change. Measurements We tested whether ccIMT change from baseline to 6 months was different between groups. Results With all participants included, no significant difference in mean ccIMT change between groups was observed (p = 0.708). However, in a subgroup analysis with participants with high baseline mean ccIMT (≥0.800 mm) a significant difference in mean ccIMT change between intervention (−0.023 [95% CI −0.052, 0.007] mm; n = 22; baseline mean ccIMT: 0.884 ± 0.015 mm) and control (0.041 [95% CI 0.009, 0.073] mm; n = 13; baseline mean ccIMT: 0.881 ± 0.022 mm) was observed (p = 0.004). Adjusting for potential confounders did not substantially alter the results. Conclusion The results indicate that healthy lifestyle changes can beneficially affect ccIMT within 6 months and that such a beneficial effect may be more easily demonstrated if participants with high baseline ccIMT are recruited. The observed effect is of relevance for the prevention of CVD events, including myocardial infarction and stroke.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingzhong Xie ◽  
Jun Lai ◽  
Dongying Zhang

BACKGROUND Social media has become an important tool to implement risk communication in COVID-19 pandemic, and made health information can gain more exposure by re-posting. OBJECTIVE This paper attempts to identify the factors associated with re-posting of social media messages about health information METHODS Content analysis was applied to scrutinize 4396 Weibo posts that were posted by national and provincial public health agencies Weibo accounts and identified features of information sources and information features, and adopted Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model to analyze the association between these features and the frequency of message being re-posted. RESULTS Results showed that the followers and the governmental level of information sources are correlated with increased message reposting. The information features, such as hashtags#, picture, video, emotional(!), and the usage of severity, reassurance, efficacy and action frame were associated with increased message reposting behaviors, while hyperlink and usage of uncertainty frame correlated with reduced message reposting behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The features of health information sources, structures , style and content should be paid close attention by health organizations and medical professionals to satisfy the public’s information needs and preferences, promote the public's health engagement. Suitable information systems designing, and health communication strategies making during different stages of the pandemic may improve public awareness of the COVID-19, alleviate negative emotions, promote preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiping Sun ◽  
Lin Qian ◽  
Mengxin Xue ◽  
Ting Zhou ◽  
Jiling Qu ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND With the popularization of the Internet, it has become possible to widely disseminate health information via social media. Medical staff’s health communication through social media can improve the public’s health literacy, and improving the intention of health communication among nursing undergraduates is of great significance for them to actively carry out health communication after entering clinical practice. OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship among eHealth literacy, social media self-efficacy, and health communication intention and to determine the mediating role of social media self-efficacy in the relationship between eHealth literacy and health communication intention. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive correlation design was used in this study.Stratified cluster sampling was used to select 958 nursing students from four nursing colleges in Jiangsu Province, China, from June to July 2021.Data were collected using the eHealth Literacy Scale, the Social Media Self-efficacy Scale, and the Health Communication Intention Questionnaire. Sociodemographic data were also collected. Correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between eHealth literacy, social media self-efficacy, and health communication intention. RESULTS Health communication intention is positively correlated with eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy. eHealth literacy directly affects the intention of health communication significantly (p < 0.001), and social media self-efficacy played a mediating role in the influence of eHealth literacy on health communication intention (the mediating effect accounted for 37.2% of the total effect). CONCLUSIONS Improving the eHealth literacy of nursing undergraduates can directly affect or promote health communication intention and can also indirectly improve health communication intention through improving social media self-efficacy. In view of these results, targeted educational programs must be developed to improve eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy among nursing undergraduates, thereby promoting their health information transmission.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327481984144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhai Huo ◽  
Raj Desai ◽  
Young-Rock Hong ◽  
Kea Turner ◽  
Arch G. Mainous ◽  
...  

The number of social media users has increased substantially in the past decade, creating an opportunity for health-care professionals and patients to leverage social media for health communication. This study examines the recent use and predictors of social media for health communication in a nationally representative sample of US adults over time. We used 2013, 2014, and 2017 National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey to identify respondents’ use of social media for sharing health information or exchanging medical information with a health-care professional. We conducted bivariate analysis using the Pearson χ2 test to assess the association of respondents’ basic demographic characteristics as well as health status and the use of social media for health communication. We performed multivariable logistic regression models to examine factors associated with the use of social media for health communication. We identified 4242 respondents (weighted sample size: 343 465 241 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for sharing health information and 4834 respondents (weighted sample size: 354 419 489 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for exchanging medical information. Multivariable analyses indicated the proportion of respondents who used social media for sharing health information has decreased (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.85, P = .002), while the use of social media for exchanging medical information with a health-care professional has increased (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.09-3.26, P = .025). The younger population had significantly higher odds of using social media for health communication. The study found no racial/ethnic disparities in the use of social media for health communication. Use of social media for sharing health information has declined, while exchanging medical information with health-care professionals has increased. Future research is needed to determine how to engage the population in social media–based health interventions, particularly for older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 707-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esi E. Thompson

Media are an indispensable partner in health communication, but there is often concern about how the media cover health and science issues. These critiques tend to be based on analyses of news content that don’t consider the production process of the content. Using a media sociology framework, the article examines the news production process of the Ebola outbreak from the perspective of Ghanaian journalists. The study finds that existing and new routines influenced what the media produced. This study reiterates the call for public health to work closely with the media and to provide translated health information in multilingual low-literate societies.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Lucinda Bell ◽  
Sandra Mortimer ◽  
Louisa Matwiejczyk ◽  
Carly J. Moores ◽  
Ivanka Prichard ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1722
Author(s):  
Junwen Yang-Huang ◽  
Amy van Grieken ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Wilma Jansen ◽  
Hein Raat

This study examined the clustering of lifestyle behaviours in children aged six years from a prospective cohort study in the Netherlands. Additionally, we analysed the associations between socioeconomic status and the lifestyle behaviour clusters that we identified. Data of 4059 children from the Generation R Study were analysed. Socioeconomic status was measured by maternal educational level and net household income. Lifestyle behaviours including screen time, physical activity, calorie-rich snack consumption and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption were measured via a parental questionnaire. Hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses were applied. The associations between socioeconomic status and lifestyle behaviour clusters were assessed using logistic regression models. Three lifestyle clusters were identified: “relatively healthy lifestyle” cluster (n = 1444), “high screen time and physically inactive” cluster (n = 1217), and “physically active, high snacks and sugary drinks” cluster (n = 1398). Children from high educated mothers or high-income households were more likely to be allocated to the “relatively healthy lifestyle” cluster, while children from low educated mothers or from low-income households were more likely to be allocated in the “high screen time and physically inactive” cluster. Intervention development and prevention strategies may use this information to further target programs promoting healthy behaviours of children and their families.


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