Impact of an Online Sleep and Circadian Education Program on University Students’ Sleep Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours

University students consistently report poor sleep. We conducted a before-and-after study to evaluate the impact of an online 10-week course on undergraduate students’ sleep knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours at 6-month follow-up. Data were collected via baseline course surveys (August–September 2020) and follow-up surveys distributed via email (February–March 2021). n = 212 students completed baseline surveys and n = 75 (35%) completed follow-up. Students retained to follow-up possessed higher baseline sleep knowledge and received higher course grades. At the 6-month follow-up, sleep knowledge had increased (mean score out of 5: 3.0 vs. 4.2, p < 0.001). At baseline, 85% of students aimed to increase their sleep knowledge and 83% aimed to improve their sleep. At follow-up, 91% reported being more knowledgeable and 37% reported improved sleep. A novel Stages of Change item revealed that 53% of students’ attitudes towards their sleep behaviours had changed from baseline. There was a reduction in sleep latency at follow-up (mean 33.3 vs. 25.6 min, p = 0.015), but no change in the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score. In summary, completion of an online course led to increased sleep and circadian knowledge and changed sleep attitudes, with no meaningful change in sleep behaviours. Future interventions should consider components of behavioural change that go beyond the knowledge–attitudes–behaviour continuum.

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P131 The impact of an online sleep education program on university students’ sleep knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours

SLEEP Advances ◽

10.1093/sleepadvances/zpab014.172 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A64-A64

Author(s):

C Semsarian ◽

G Rigney ◽

P Cistulli ◽

Y Bin

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Sleep Education ◽

Before And After ◽

Students Attitudes ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Sleep is essential for optimising health and academic performance, yet university students consistently report poor sleep quality. We conducted a before-and-after study to determine if an interactive, online sleep course improved sleep (1) knowledge, (2) attitudes, and (3) behaviours among university students. Methods Undergraduate students completed the course from August-November 2020. The course involved activities that encouraged students to reflect on their own sleep behaviours and goals. Baseline data was collected through course surveys and students were invited to complete a 6-month follow-up survey via email. Results N=212 students completed the baseline questionnaires and n=75 (35%) completed the follow-up survey. Students retained at follow-up possessed higher baseline sleep knowledge and received higher grades. At 6-months follow-up, sleep knowledge increased from baseline (mean quiz score: 60 vs 84%, p<0.001). 85% of students aimed to increase their sleep knowledge at baseline and 91% reported that they were more knowledgeable at follow-up. 83% of students aimed to improve their sleep at baseline and 37% reported improvement at follow-up. 53% of students’ attitudes towards their sleep behaviours had changed from baseline. There was reduction in sleep latency (mean 33.3 vs 25.6min, p=0.015), but no change in total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score at follow-up. Discussion Completion of an interactive sleep education course led to increased sleep knowledge and changes in sleep attitudes, with no meaningful change in sleep behaviours. Future interventions require careful design and evaluation, and should consider components of behavioural change (e.g. motivation, triggers) that go beyond the knowledge-attitudes-behaviour continuum.

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The Impact of TimeSlips on Undergraduate Students in Service Learning With Older Adults

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00171 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sabine Heuer

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Service Learning ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽

Students Attitudes ◽

Attitude Shift ◽

The Impact ◽

Journal Entries

Purpose Future speech-language pathologists are often unprepared in their academic training to serve the communicative and cognitive needs of older adults with dementia. While negative attitudes toward older adults are prevalent among undergraduate students, service learning has been shown to positively affect students' attitudes toward older adults. TimeSlips is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to improve health care students' attitudes toward older adults. The purpose of this study is to explore the change in attitudes in speech-language pathology students toward older adults using TimeSlips in service learning. Method Fifty-one students participated in TimeSlips service learning with older adults and completed the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) before and after service learning. In addition, students completed a reflection journal. The DAS data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics, and journal entries were analyzed using a qualitative analysis approach. Results The service learners exhibited a significant increase in positive attitude as indexed on the DAS. The reflective journal entries supported the positive change in attitudes. Conclusions A noticeable attitude shift was indexed in reflective journals and on the DAS. TimeSlips is an evidence-based, patient-centered approach well suited to address challenges in the preparation of Communication Sciences and Disorders students to work with the growing population of older adults.

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A prospective, observational clinical trial on the impact of COVID-19-related national lockdown on thyroid hormone in young males

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-86670-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Giulia Brigante ◽

Giorgia Spaggiari ◽

Barbara Rossi ◽

Antonio Granata ◽

Manuela Simoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Stressful Event ◽

Italian Population ◽

Reference Ranges ◽

Endocrine Regulation ◽

Before And After ◽

Hpt Axis ◽

The Impact

AbstractTrying to manage the dramatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection spread, many countries imposed national lockdown, radically changing the routinely life of humans worldwide. We hypothesized that both the pandemic per se and the consequent socio-psychological sequelae could constitute stressors for Italian population, potentially affecting the endocrine system. This study was designed to describe the effect of lockdown-related stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in a cohort of young men. A prospective, observational clinical trial was carried out, including patients attending the male infertility outpatient clinic before and after the national lockdown for COVID-19 pandemic. The study provided a baseline visit performed before and a follow-up visit after the lockdown in 2020. During the follow-up visit, hormonal measurements, lifestyle habits and work management were recorded. Thirty-one male subjects were enrolled (mean age: 31.6 ± 6.0 years). TSH significantly decreased after lockdown (p = 0.015), whereas no significant changes were observed in the testosterone, luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol and prolactin serum levels. No patient showed TSH serum levels above or below reference ranges, neither before nor after lockdown. Interestingly, TSH variation after lockdown was dependent on the working habit change during lockdown (p = 0.042). We described for the first time a TSH reduction after a stressful event in a prospective way, evaluating the HPT axis in the same population, before and after the national lockdown. This result reinforces the possible interconnection between psychological consequences of a stressful event and the endocrine regulation.

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A Qualitative Study of COVID-19 Distress in University Students

Emerging Adulthood ◽

10.1177/21676968211025128 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 216769682110251

Author(s):

Samantha G. Farris ◽

Mindy M. Kibbey ◽

Erick J. Fedorenko ◽

Angelo M. DiBello

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Financial Strain ◽

Public Response ◽

Viral Spread ◽

Future Work ◽

The Impact ◽

Viral Outbreak ◽

Selection Of

The psychological effect of the pandemic and measures taken in response to control viral spread are not yet well understood in university students; in-depth qualitative analysis can provide nuanced information about the young adult distress experience. Undergraduate students ( N = 624) in an early US outbreak “hotspot” completed an online narrative writing about the impact and distress experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected April-May 2020. A random selection of 50 cases were sampled for thematic analysis. Nine themes were identified: viral outbreak distress, fear of virus contraction/transmission, proximity to virus, dissatisfaction with public response, physical distancing distress, social distancing distress, academic and school-related distress, disruptive changes in health behavior and routines, financial strain and unemployment, worsening of pre-existing mental health problems, and social referencing that minimizes distress. Future work is needed to understand the persistence of the distress, in addition to developing methods for assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of the distress.

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Aortic endograft and bridging stent-graft remodeling after branched endovascular aortic repair

Vascular ◽

10.1177/1708538120983698 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 170853812098369

Author(s):

Stefano Fazzini ◽

Giovanni Torsello ◽

Martin Austermann ◽

Efthymios Beropoulis ◽

Roberta Munaò ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stent Graft ◽

Endovascular Repair ◽

Main Body ◽

Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm ◽

Before And After ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Instability Rate ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

Objectives The results of branched endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms are mainly dependent on durability of the graft used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative aortic main body and bridging stent-graft remodeling, and their impact on bridging stent-graft instability at one year. Methods Computed tomoangiographies of 43 patients (43 aortic main body mated with 171 bridging stent-grafts) were analyzed before and after branched endovascular repair as well as after a follow-up of 12 months. Primary endpoint was aortic main body remodeling (migration >5 mm, shortening >5 mm, scoliosis >5° or lordosis >5°). Shortening was defined as a reduced length in the long axis, scoliosis as left-right curvature, and lordosis as antero-posterior curvature. Aortic main body remodeling, aneurysm sac changes, and bridging stent-graft tortuosity were evaluated to study their correlations and the impact on the bridging stent-graft instability. Results At 12 months, aortic main body remodeling was observed in 72% of the cases, migration in 39.5% (mean 5.21 mm), shortening in 41.9% (mean 5.79 mm), scoliosis in 58.1%, (mean 10.10°), lordosis in 44.2% (mean 5.78°). Migration, shortening, and scoliosis were more frequent in patients with larger aneurysms ( p = .005), while scoliosis was significantly more frequent in type II thoracoabdominal aneurysm ( p = .019). Aortic main body remodeling was significantly associated to bridging stent-graft remodeling (r: 0.3–0.48). The bridging stent-graft instability rate was 9.3%. Despite a trend toward significance ( p = .07), none of the evaluated aortic main body and bridging stent-graft changes were associated with bridging stent-graft instability at 12 months. Conclusions Aortic main body remodeling is frequent especially in large and extended thoracoabdominal aneurysm aneurysms. Aortic main body and bridging stent-graft remodeling was significantly correlated. While these geometric changes had no significant impact on bridging stent-graft instability at one year, a close long-term follow-up after branched endovascular repair could predict bridging stent-graft failures.

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Effects of choral singing on salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress in university students

Music and Medicine ◽

10.47513/mmd.v13i4.794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Gunnar Glauco De Cunto Carelli Taets ◽

Ramon Werner Heringer Gutierrez ◽

Leila Brito Bergold ◽

Luana Silva Monteiro

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Health Issues ◽

Group Approach ◽

Choral Singing ◽

Before And After ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Potential Impact ◽

Cortisol Levels

Although mental disorders are common among university students, the majority of students with mental health issues do not seek out treatment during their academic life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel group approach- choir singing, and its potential impact on stress, via salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress levels in university students during 4 sessions of choir singing. It was based on a quasi-experimental research conducted with 25 Brazilian university students. Each choir singing session lasted 60 minutes. A question was asked before and after the intervention: what is the level of your stress? Salivary cortisol was collected before and after the intervention. After the choir singing intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in self-reported stress (p<0.0001) and salivary cortisol levels (p<0.0001). This research suggests that choir singing can reduce the self-reported stress of university students after 4 weeks of follow-up with ∆= 45.83% and salivary cortisol levels in the first week with ∆= 3.57%.

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SP9.1.1 The Impact of Anaesthetic Use on Healing in Sub-cutaneous Abscess Management: A Retrospective Before and After Cohort Study

British Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1093/bjs/znab361.165 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽

Author(s):

Hannah Elkadi ◽

Eleanor Dodd ◽

Theodore Poulton ◽

William Bolton ◽

Joshua Burke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Local Anaesthetic ◽

Surrogate Endpoints ◽

Incision And Drainage ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Abstract Aims Despite being the most common surgical procedure, there is wide variation that exists in the management of simple subcutaneous abscesses with no national guideline describing best practice. During the COVID-19 Pandemic national guidelines promoted the use of regional or local anaesthetic (LA) instead of general anaesthesia (GA) to avoid aerosol generating intubation associated with GA. This study aimed to assess the impact of anaesthetic choice in outcomes following incision and drainage of subcutaneous abscesses. Methods Two cohorts of patients undergoing abscess incision and drainage at St. James’ University Hospital Leeds were retrospectively identified over a 14-week period before and after the introduction of the new COVID-19 anaesthetic guidelines. Wound healing surrogate endpoints were used: i) total number of follow up appointments and ii) attendance to healthcare services after 30 days from I&D. Result 133 patients were included. Significantly more procedures were performed under LA after the intervention (84.1% vs 5.7%; p < 0.0001) with a significant reduction in wound packing (68.3% vs 87.1%. p=0.00473). Follow up data found no significant difference in the average number of follow-up appointments (7.46 vs 5.11; p = 0.0731) and the number of patients who required ongoing treatment after 30 days (n = 14 vs n = 14, p = 0.921). Conclusion Drainage of simple subcutaneous abscess under 5 cm is safe under local anaesthetic with no significant difference in surrogate endpoints of wound healing observed in this patient cohort. Recurrent packing may not be required. Future work should explore patient reported measures such as pain management and the health economics of this intervention.

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Controlled Study of the Impact of a Virtual Program to Reduce Stigma Among University Students Toward People With Mental Disorders

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.632252 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas ◽

Adolfo J. Cangas ◽

Daniela Fuentes-Olavarría

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

University Students ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Project Based Learning ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Global Score ◽

Stigma Reduction ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Stigma toward mental disorders is one of today's most pressing global issues. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the barriers to social inclusion faced by individuals with mental disorders. Concurrently, stigma reduction interventions, especially those aimed at university students, have been more difficult to implement given social distancing and campus closures. As a result, alternative delivery for programs contributing to stigma reduction is required, such as online implementation. This paper reports the results of a controlled study focused on an online multi-component program on reducing stigma toward mental illness that included project-based learning, clinical simulations with standardized patients and E-Contact with real patients. A total of 40 undergraduate students from the Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, participated in the study. They were randomly divided between an intervention and control group. The intervention group participated in the online multi-component program, while the control group participated in an online educational program on cardiovascular health. We assessed the impact of the program by using the validated Spanish-language versions of the Attribution Questionnaire AQ-27 and the Questionnaire on Student Attitudes toward Schizophrenia with both groups, before and after the intervention. In addition, an ad hoc Likert scale ranging from 0 to 5 was used with the intervention group in order to assess the learning strategies implemented. Following the intervention, the participants belonging to the intervention group displayed significantly lower levels of stereotypes, perception of dangerousness, and global score toward people with schizophrenia (p < 0.001). In addition, participants presented lower levels of dangerousness-fear, avoidance, coercion, lack of solidarity, and global score (p < 0.001). The control group displayed no statistically significant differences in the level of stigma before and after the evaluation, for all of the items assessed. Finally, the overall assessment of each of the components of the program was highly positive. In conclusion, the study shows that online programs can contribute to reducing stigma toward mental disorders. The program assessed in this study had a positive impact on all the dimensions of stigma and all of the components of the program itself were positively evaluated by the participants.

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Applying a Modified Version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Reactive Physical Aggression Between Undergraduate Students

10.32920/ryerson.14664018 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer E. Newman

Keyword(s):

Executive Functioning ◽

University Students ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Physical Aggression ◽

Aggressive Behaviour ◽

Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽

Implicit Attitudes ◽

Planned Behaviour ◽

Tpb Model ◽

The Impact

The current dissertation applied a modified version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to predict reactive physical aggression between university students. In addition to examining the primary constructs of the traditional TPB model (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions), this dissertation extended the traditional model by also examining the impact of implicit attitudes toward aggression as well as executive functioning in the prediction of reactive physical aggression. Results provided support for the application of the traditional TPB model in the prediction of reactive physical aggression, although implicit attitudes and executive functioning did not significantly contribute to the prediction of aggressive behaviour in this sample. Gaining a better understanding of the predictors of reactive physical aggression between university students may lead to the identification of early intervention strategies for individual aggressors. This may in turn help to prevent the possible escalation of aggressive behaviour and create a safer and less threatening campus environment for all students.

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Evaluating the Impact of a brief Health at Every Size-Based activity on body positivity and internal weight-based oppression

University of the Future: Re-Imagining Research and Higher Education ◽

10.29117/quarfe.2020.0188 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hanaa Ahmed ◽

Sana Elashie ◽

Lily O'Hara

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

The Body ◽

Body Image Disturbance ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Body Appreciation ◽

Self Reflection ◽

Missing Responses ◽

Health At Every Size ◽

The Impact

Introduction: Internal weight-based oppression WBO is the internalized negative attitudes, values and beliefs people hold about body weight, and is associated with depression, anxiety, body image disturbance, disordered eating, avoidance of physical activity, and increased calorie consumption. Conversely, body positivity encompasses body acceptance, body appreciation, and body love, and adaptive approaches protective of health and wellbeing. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of the brief activity on body positivity and internal WBO in female students at Qatar University. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental pre-post evaluation design, with quantitative assessment of body positivity and internal weight-based oppression before a brief activity (pre), immediately afterwards (post), and 10 weeks later (follow up), and qualitative assessment at the 10-week follow up. Love your Body, a Health at Every Size-based activity, was developed and delivered by public health students as part of the Mental Health Festival. The 10- minute activity involved Yay scales, positive affirmation stickers, photography, postcards, and gratitude writing. Evaluation measures used were the Body Appreciation Scale 2 (BAS-2), Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (M-WBIS), Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit Size Acceptance (FAAT-SA) and Self Reflection (FAAT-SR) subscales, and an open-ended questionnaire. Results: A total of 35 female undergraduate students completed assessments at all time points. Self-reflection and body appreciation increased significantly after the activity. All measures showed a trend towards improvement from pre to post assessment, but a return to baseline or near baseline status after 10 weeks. Qualitative results suggested that improvements were sustained at follow up. Conclusion: The activity had a positive effect on participants’ body appreciation and self-reflection in the short term, but these improvements were not sustained over the longer term. The high number of missing responses compromised the potential to determine findings that are more robust.

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