Can exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke be harmful?

General Public ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Age Groups ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Chest Tightness ◽

The Government ◽

Recreational Use

Background: Canada legalized the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in October 2018. To ensure public health and safety, the Cannabis Act was also introduced by the Government of Canada in 2018. This Act does not permit smoking cannabis in restricted areas. However, people still smoke in public places, thus, exposing the general public to second-hand cannabis smoke (SHCS). As cannabis is an emerging topic and the legalization of cannabis for recreational use is still recent, the long-term health effects of SHCS is unknown. However, the perceived immediate health impacts of SHCS can be examined to better understand its long-term health effects on human body. Methods: An online survey was conducted, targeting residents of British Columbia (Canada) with differing smoking status, gender, education level and age groups, to determine the differences in perceived immediate health impacts and/or concerns from exposure to SHCS. The survey consisted of sixteen questions divided into three sections, covering demographic information, exposure to SHCS and perceived immediate health impacts and/or concerns about SHCS. The data was analyzed using Chi-square tests. Results: A total of 159 participants took part in this survey. The results showed no associations between exposure to SCHS and perceived immediate health impacts. This could be due to the legalization of cannabis for recreational use being so recent. However, headaches, coughing, chest tightness and irritation to eyes are a few perceived immediate health impacts experienced by 41 out of 139 participants (30%) after exposure to SHCS. This study also found that age and place of exposure may not affect the likelihood of experiencing perceived immediate health impacts. However, females and cannabis non-users are more likely to experience perceived immediate health impacts compared to males and cannabis users, with p = 0.01 and 000003, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study identified a few perceived immediate health impacts associated with SHCS such as headaches, coughing, chest tightness and eye irritation. However, the study indicates that there is an inadequate scientific knowledge regarding the long-term health effects from exposure to SHCS as well as the variation in health effects among different age groups, gender, smoking status and place of exposure. As a result, precautionary steps should be taken now to minimize its ill-effects in future. The government should provide tools to aide researchers and health care professionals to conduct in-depth research on SHCS and its health effects. Moreover, initiatives should be taken to educate general public about cannabis smoke, its composition, associated health effects and legislation.

The perceived health effects of e-cigarette use among adult smokers

BCIT Environmental Public Health Journal ◽

10.47339/ephj.2020.32 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joey Cheng ◽

BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽

Dale Chen

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Target Population ◽

Small Sample ◽

Multiple Choice Questions ◽

Chi Square ◽

Objective Health ◽

Background: Vaping and e-cigarettes have been an epidemic among youths in recent years. In addition, as of April 2020, there has been hundreds of vaping related illnesses causing fatalities. As such there has been increased coverage by media and the government in regard to reporting vaping-related dangers and implementing regulatory changes such as bans. These actions could deter the target population from engaging in vaping – tobacco users. Research has shown that e-cigarettes are significantly less toxic relative to tobacco and that it could be more effective as a cessation treatment relative to nicotine gums or patches. This study surveyed current perceptions of Canadians with regards to vaping in order to determine if certain groups (i.e. varying ages, smoking status) hold different opinions in terms of harm, health benefits, and support for stricter e-cigarette regulations. Methods: Self-administered online surveys created on Survey Monkey were distributed to Canadians via online platforms Reddit and Facebook. The survey assessed opinions and perceptions of Canadians through multiple choice questions and were collected over a three week period. Results: This study received 157 respondents the majority of which were under 35 (73.08%) and from British Columbia (65.38%). Thirteen chi-square tests were performed comparing group variables (age, smoking status, and awareness of vaping related news) to perception variables (perceived harm, health benefits, safety). There was no association found between age and the tested perception variables. Several associations were found where e-cigarette users viewed e-cigarettes more favourably relative to tobacco users and non-users based on chi-square results. Chi-square associations between media awareness and harm perceptions could not be established due to a small sample size (n< 30). Conclusion: The results indicated that there are associations with e-cigarette perceptions and a person’s smoking status. This may be an indication that there is possible misinformation between groups when it comes to evaluating objective health effects of e-cigarettes. Non-users and a percentage of tobacco users seem to overstate

Epidemiological Evaluation of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Asian Journal of Research in Computer Science ◽

10.9734/ajrcos/2020/v6i430165 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 27-34

Author(s):

Nwafor E. Odumegwu ◽

Umeh M. Ngozi ◽

Ebere U. Chidi

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

General Public ◽

Death Rate ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Patient Response ◽

Epidemiological Evaluation ◽

The Government ◽

And Control

This research presents the epidemiological evaluation and statistical analysis COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria after three months of its first incidence. The aim is to assess the performance of the medical professionals, Nigerian Center for Disease and Control (NCDC), the Governments and the general public respectively in the fight against COVID-19 in the last three months of the first incidence case. This was done using the data collected from the NCDC and analyzed using the Microsoft BI analyzer. From the evaluation, it was observed that after three months, a total number of 8077 cases have been recorded. Of this, 68.5% are active cases, receiving treatment in the hospital, 28.6% have recovered while 2.9% have died with majority of them over 50 years in age and have cardiac related cases before the virus struck. The implication of this result shows that the health care professionals and NCDC are doing their best having recorded a very low death rate so far compared to the total recorded cases. However the government needs to support and properly equip the hospitals with enough health care resources to help optimize patient response to treatment. Finally it was observed that despite the low death rate recorded, that the rate of increased new cases is alarming. The implication is that the general public is not very supportive in this fight of COVID-19. Hence more public awareness and recommended to educate the public on the safety measures required to prevent the spread of this virus and ensure public safety.

Annoyance in Response to Vibrations from Railways

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15091887 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1887 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Laura Maclachlan ◽

Mikael Ögren ◽

Elise van Kempen ◽

Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽

Kerstin Persson Waye

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

Epidemiological Study ◽

Positive Association ◽

Type A ◽

Rail Transport ◽

Transport Policy ◽

Environmental Stressors ◽

Health Impacts ◽

First Results

Rail transport is a key stepping stone in the EU’s transport policy and is pinpointed for investment and growth over the coming decades. This expanding infrastructure implies increased exposure to environmental stressors, such as noise and ground-borne vibrations. Little is known about the health impacts of exposure to these vibrations. The aim of this paper is to examine the association between annoyance from rail vibrations and the distance of residential dwelling from the railway. It reports the first results of a large epidemiological study, EpiVib, which was designed to investigate the long-term health effects of exposure to rail vibrations. The first part of this study examines a self-reported questionnaire. In total, 6894 individuals aged between 18 and 80 living within 1 km of a railway in west Sweden participated. Results presented here examine the association between distance to the railway and annoyance from vibrations and are stratified by train type. A positive association between closer distance and increased annoyance is seen. After adjustment for important modifiers, results showed that vibrations from freight trains and maintenance operations are reported to be moderately and highly annoying at distances of up to 400 m from the railway and diesel up to 300 m. Vibration from passenger and fast trains are significantly annoying up to 200 m from the track. Vibration from freight trains and maintenance operations were considered highly annoying up to 300 m from the track, diesel up to 400 m. Vibration from passenger and fast trains are not reported to be highly annoying after adjustment. Heavier, slower moving locomotives, in the form of diesel and freight trains, appear to be the source of annoyance at distances further from the railway compared to passenger and fast trains. This has implications in terms of property, transport, and infrastructure planning.

COVID-19 related concerns of people with long-term respiratory conditions: a qualitative study

BMC Pulmonary Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12890-020-01363-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Keir E. J. Philip ◽

Bradley Lonergan ◽

Andrew Cumella ◽

Joe Farrington-Douglas ◽

Michael Laffan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Subjective Experience ◽

Age Groups ◽

Free Text ◽

Negative Experience ◽

Wide Range ◽

Psychological Impacts ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact ◽

Respiratory Conditions

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts on populations globally, with increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, especially in people with pre-existing medical conditions who appear to be particularly vulnerable. There are limited data on the specific concerns people have about COVID-19 and what these are based on. Methods The aim of this study was to identify and explore the concerns of people with long-term respiratory conditions in the UK regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these concerns were affecting them. We conducted a thematic analysis of free text responses to the question “What are your main concerns about getting coronavirus?”, which was included in the British Lung Foundation/Asthma UK (BLF-AUK) partnership COVID-19 survey, conducted between the 1st and 8th of April 2020. This was during the 3rd week of the UK’s initial ‘social distancing measures’ which included advice to stay at home and only go outside for specific limited reasons. Results 7039 responses were analysed, with respondents from a wide range of age groups (under 17 to over 80), gender, and all UK nations. Respondents reported having asthma (85%), COPD (9%), bronchiectasis (4%), interstitial lung disease (2%), or ‘other’ lung diseases (e.g. lung cancer) (1%). Four main themes were identified: (1) vulnerability to COVID-19; (2) anticipated experience of contracting COVID-19; (3) pervasive uncertainty; and (4) inadequate national response. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts. The concerns we identified largely reflect contextual factors, as well as their subjective experience of the current situation. Hence, key approaches to reducing these concerns require changes to the reality of their situation, and are likely to include (1) helping people optimise their health, limit risk of infection, and access necessities; (2) minimising the negative experience of disease where possible, (3) providing up-to-date, accurate and consistent information, (4) improving the government and healthcare response.

Association of Job Strain With Cortisol and Alpha-Amylase Among Shift-Working Health Care Professionals in Laboratory and Field

Biological Research For Nursing ◽

10.1177/1099800415577801 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 101-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kati Karhula ◽

Mikko Härmä ◽

Mikael Sallinen ◽

Harri Lindholm ◽

Ari Hirvonen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Effects ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Social Stress ◽

Job Strain ◽

Stress Test ◽

Trier Social Stress Test ◽

Stress Biomarkers

Although the prevalence of work-related stress has increased, knowledge on the contributions of that stress to long-term adverse health effects is still lacking. Stress biomarkers can reveal early signs of negative health effects, but no previous studies have measured both acute stress reactions and long-term exposure to job strain using both salivary cortisol and α-amylase (AA). The present study examines the association between job strain and these biomarkers among shift-working female health care professionals in the laboratory and the field. The 95 participants were recruited from hospital wards categorized in either the top (high job strain [HJS] group, n = 42) or the bottom quartile of job strain (low job strain [LJS] group, n = 53), as rated by survey responses. Participants’ self-perceived job strain was at least as high or low as the ward’s average estimation. Saliva samples were collected during the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), preselected morning and night shifts, and a day off. There was a larger increase in the cortisol concentration of participants in the HJS than in the LJS group (2.27- vs. 1.48-fold, respectively, nonsignificant) during the TSST. Participants in the HJS group also had higher salivary AA levels 30 min after awakening on the morning-shift day than those in the LJS group ( p = .02), whereas the salivary cortisol awakening response on the day off was higher in the LJS group ( p = .05, education as a covariate). The remaining stress-biomarker results did not differ significantly between groups. These data suggest that HJS in shift-working health care professionals is weakly associated with changes in stress biomarkers.

Private and Government Partnership Yayasan Lengis Hijau and Denpasar City Government - Recycling used-cooking-oil into Bio-diesel for Gensets and School Buses

10.31219/osf.io/nh27e ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Core UDAYANA ◽

Satya Kumara

Keyword(s):

City Government ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Deep Frying ◽

School Buses ◽

Cooking Oil ◽

Used Cooking Oil ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Carcinogenic Effects ◽

Deep frying is a common way of food preparation in Indonesia, both at home and in hotels or restaurants. In Bali, it is estimated that around four million liters of used cooking-oil (UCO) is produced by households alone and between 80 to 120-kilo liter of UCO produced by hotels and restaurants. No figure on the volume of UCOproduced by food stalls (streets stalls or warung) but the number is expected to be high due to a large number of street food stalls in the community. In short, a huge volume of UCO is produced by our kitchen activities. Allegedly, many street traders (pedagang kaki lima) also re-use UCO as cooking oil for preparing their foods. The health impacts of the repetitive use of used-cooking-oil are well understood within the medical world but less on the general public due to long-term or slow effects onpeople’s life and little efforts of the government to create or improve awareness among people. Excessive heating of foods lead to the production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and free radicals which have carcinogenic effects that destroy food nutrients and potentially damaging our health.

Public awareness of Coronavirus (COVID-2019) in Qassim Region Saudi Arabia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-34512/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mabrouk AL-Rasheedi ◽

Yasir Alhazmi ◽

ALreshidi Mateq Ali ◽

Maha ALrajhi ◽

Nayef Samah Alharbi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

General Public ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Age Groups ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reliable Source ◽

Source Of Information

Abstract Background The rapid and extensive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has become a major cause of concern for both general public and healthcare profession. Aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate the awareness of both the general public and healthcare providers in Qassim region in Saudi Arabia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted randomly in different shopping malls in the Qassim region from 10th of February to 10th of March, 2020. The structured questionnaire was used to gather information from participants.Result130 participants have answered the designed questionnaire, out of which 67participants were males(58.5% ) and 54 were females(41.5% ).Overall, 129 (99%) out of the 130 participants are aware of COVID-19, and 116 (90%) have recognize it as a respiratory disease and all of them (100 %) have recognized it as a contagious disease. Participants of the age group 20-40 showed higher awareness level than other age groups (P = 0.005). Significant positive correlation between high risk groups recognition, reliable source of information, infection symptoms, disease spread prevention and COVID_19 available treatments. While the reliable source of information awareness was positively correlated with all other questions, except for the long-term complications.ConclusionGeneral public and health care professionals from Qassim Region showed adequate awareness of COVID-19. However, there is a strong need to implement periodic educational interventions and training programs on infection control practices.

The implications of providing patient-friendly letters in the outpatient clinic

Bulletin of The Royal College of Surgeons of England ◽

10.1308/147363507x169945 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 66-67

Author(s):

MJ Hall ◽

TJ Edwards ◽

S Ashley ◽

AJ Walker ◽

C Cosgrove ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Outpatient Clinic ◽

General Public ◽

Patient Involvement ◽

Health Care Provision ◽

Care Provision ◽

The Past ◽

During the past decade the government has implemented several schemes to modernise health care provision to the general public. One such initiative has been to increase patient involvement in the health care they receive. The NHS Plan in 2000 demonstrated a commitment to empower patients through increased communication with the health care professionals, stating that 'letters between clinicians about an individual patient's care will be copied to the patient as of right' from April 2004.

Public Awareness of Coronavirus (COVID-2019) in Qassim Region Saudi Arabia.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-32372/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mabrouk AL-Rasheedi ◽

Yasir Alhazmi ◽

ALreshidi Mateq Ali ◽

Maha ALrajhi ◽

Nayef Samah Alharbi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

General Public ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Age Groups ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reliable Source ◽

Source Of Information

Abstract Background The rapid and extensive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has become a major cause of concern for both general public and healthcare profession. Aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate the awareness of both the general public and healthcare providers in Qassim region in Saudi Arabia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted randomly in different shopping malls in the Qassim region from 10th of February to 10th of March, 2020. The structured questionnaire was used to gather information from participants.Result 130 participants have answered the designed questionnaire, out of which 67participants were males(58.5% ) and 54 were females(41.5% ).Overall, 129 (99%) out of the 130 participants are aware of COVID-19, and 116 (90%) have recognize it as a respiratory disease and all of them (100 %) have recognized it as a contagious disease. Participants of the age group 20-40 showed higher awareness level than other age groups (P = 0.005). Significant positive correlation between high risk groups recognition, reliable source of information, infection symptoms, disease spread prevention and COVID_19 available treatments. While the reliable source of information awareness was positively correlated with all other questions, except for the long-term complications..Conclusion General public and health care professionals from Qassim Region showed adequate awareness of COVID-19. However, there is a strong need to implement periodic educational interventions and training programs on infection control practices .

COVID-19 will have devastating impact on Ecuador

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db251834 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Latin America ◽

Health System ◽

Foreign Debt ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Fiscal Consolidation ◽

Content Type ◽

Coastal Province ◽

Subject COVID-19 crisis. Significance Ecuador has been one of the countries worst affected by coronavirus in Latin America, with 3,747 cases and 191 fatalities confirmed to date. Unrecorded deaths and lack of testing mean the actual figures are almost certainly significantly higher. The health system is under enormous strain, especially in the coastal province of Guayas where the crisis has been particularly acute. The government has introduced measures to control contagion, closing borders, limiting domestic travel and ordering people to stay at home. Infections and deaths are nevertheless likely to continue rising well into April. Impacts The crisis will derail government efforts to stick to the fiscal consolidation programme agreed with the IMF. Demands will grow for the government to default on tranches of its foreign debt in order to invest in the health system. The mental health impacts of long-term lockdown, particularly in severely affected areas, could be incalculable.