The Effect of Building Closures due to COVID 19 on the Perceptions and  Practices of School Counselors

With school buildings shuttering due to COVID-19, school counselors’ work needed to shift to virtual environments. The shift in operations led us to wonder about school counselors’ perceptions and practices in these new and unfamiliar conditions. In our mixed-methods cross-sectional study, we gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 89 school counselors. Our findings include evidence of the counselors feeling disconnected from their students, lack of technology and student access, privacy issues, limited preparation to counsel in virtual environments, and work and life balance. We follow our results with a discussion, related implications, and directions for future research.

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Women’s perceptions of factors influencing their food shopping choices and how supermarkets can support them to make healthier choices

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11112-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Preeti Dhuria ◽

Wendy Lawrence ◽

Sarah Crozier ◽

Cyrus Cooper ◽

Janis Baird ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Eating ◽

Personal Responsibility ◽

Food Preferences ◽

Food Choices ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Food Shopping ◽

Women’S Perceptions

Abstract Objectives To examine women’s perceptions of factors that influence their food shopping choices, particularly in relation to store layout, and their views on ways that supermarkets could support healthier choices. Design This qualitative cross-sectional study used semi-structured telephone interviews to ask participants the reasons for their choice of supermarket and factors in-store that prompted their food selections. The actions supermarkets, governments and customers could take to encourage healthier food choices were explored with women. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. Setting Six supermarkets across England. Participants Twenty women customers aged 18–45 years. Results Participants had a median age of 39.5 years (IQR: 35.1, 42.3), a median weekly grocery spend of £70 (IQR: 50, 88), and 44% had left school aged 16 years. Women reported that achieving value for money, feeling hungry, tired, or stressed, and meeting family members’ food preferences influenced their food shopping choices. The physical environment was important, including product quality and variety, plus ease of accessing the store or products in-store. Many participants described how they made unintended food selections as a result of prominent placement of unhealthy products in supermarkets, even if they adopted more conscious approaches to food shopping (i.e. written or mental lists). Participants described healthy eating as a personal responsibility, but some stated that governments and supermarkets could be more supportive. Conclusions This study highlighted that in-store environments can undermine intentions to purchase and consume healthy foods. Creating healthier supermarket environments could reduce the burden of personal responsibility for healthy eating, by making healthier choices easier. Future research could explore the interplay of personal, societal and commercial responsibility for food choices and health status.

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Self-rated health among undocumented and newly regularized migrants in Geneva: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11239-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julien Fakhoury ◽

Claudine Burton-Jeangros ◽

Idris Guessous ◽

Liala Consoli ◽

Aline Duvoisin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Networks ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Undocumented Migrants ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Residence Permit ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Self Rated Health

Abstract Background In Europe, knowledge about the social determinants of health among undocumented migrants is scarce. The canton of Geneva, Switzerland, implemented in 2017–2018 a pilot public policy aiming at regularizing undocumented migrants. We sought to test for associations between self-rated health, proven eligibility for residence status regularization and social and economic integration. Methods This paper reports data from the first wave of the Parchemins Study, a prospective study whose aim is to investigate the effect of residence status regularization on undocumented migrants’ living conditions and health. The convenience sample included undocumented migrants living in Geneva for at least 3 years. We categorized them into those who were in the process of receiving or had just been granted a residence permit (eligible or newly regularized) and those who had not applied or were ineligible for regularization (undocumented). We conducted multivariate regression analyses to determine factors associated with better self-rated health, i.e., with excellent/very good vs. good/fair/poor self-rated health. Among these factors, measures of integration, social support and economic resources were included. Results Of the 437 participants, 202 (46%) belonged to the eligible or newly regularized group. This group reported better health more frequently than the undocumented group (44.6% versus 28.9%, p-value < .001), but the association was no longer significant after adjustment for social support and economic factors (odds ratio (OR): 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67–1.87). Overall, better health was associated with larger social networks (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.04–2.64). This association remained significant even after adjusting for health-related variables. Conclusion At the onset of the regularization program, access to regularization was not associated with better self-rated health. Policies aiming at favouring undocumented migrants’ inclusion and engagement in social networks may promote better health. Future research should investigate long-term effects of residence status regularization on self-rated health.

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Media consumption and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown: a UK cross-sectional study across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1007/s10389-021-01506-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ruth D Neill ◽

Carolyn Blair ◽

Paul Best ◽

Emily McGlinchey ◽

Cherie Armour

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Media Exposure ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Future Research ◽

Media Consumption ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Longitudinal Data Collection

Abstract Aim As individuals adjust to new ‘norms’ and ways of living during the COVID-19 lockdown, there is a continuing need for up-to-date information and guidance. Evidence suggests that frequent media exposure is related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine whether COVID-19 related media consumption is associated with changes in mental health outcomes. Methods This paper presents baseline data from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study. The cross-sectional study data was collected using an online survey following the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with some other basic information collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of socio-demographic and media specific factors on anxiety and depression. Results The study suggested that media usage is statistically significantly associated with anxiety and depression on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales with excessive media exposure related to higher anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion This study indicated that higher media consumption was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Worldwide it should be acknowledged that excessive media consumption, particularly social media relating to COVID-19, can have an effect on mental health. However, as this was a cross-sectional study we cannot infer any directionality as we cannot infer cause and effect; therefore, future research involving longitudinal data collection and analyses of variables over time is warranted.

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Outdoor Air Pollution and Depression in Canada: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study from 2011 to 2016

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052450 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2450

Author(s):

Ashley K. Dores ◽

Gordon H. Fick ◽

Frank P. MacMaster ◽

Jeanne V. A. Williams ◽

Andrew G. M. Bulloch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Outdoor Air ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Outdoor Air Pollution ◽

Environmental Health Research

To assess whether exposure to increased levels of outdoor air pollution is associated with psychological depression, six annual iterations of the Canadian Community Health Survey (n ≈ 127,050) were used to estimate the prevalence of a major depressive episode (2011–2014) or severity of depressive symptoms (2015–2016). Survey data were linked with outdoor air pollution data obtained from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, with outdoor air pollution represented by fine particulate matter ≤2.5 micrometers (μm) in diameter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Log-binomial models were used to estimate the association between outdoor air pollution and depression, and included adjustment for age, sex, marital status, income, education, employment status, urban versus rural households, cigarette smoking, and chronic illness. No evidence of associations for either depression outcomes were found. Given the generally low levels of outdoor air pollution in Canada, these findings should be generalized with caution. It is possible that a meaningful association with major depression may be observed in regions of the world where the levels of outdoor air pollution are greater, or during high pollution events over brief time intervals. Future research is needed to replicate these findings and to further investigate these associations in other regions and populations.

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Patients’ Perspectives about Lifestyle Behaviors and Health in the Context of Family Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18062981 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 2981

Author(s):

Rosália Páscoa ◽

Andreia Teixeira ◽

Micaela Gregório ◽

Rosa Carvalho ◽

Carlos Martins

Keyword(s):

Family Medicine ◽

Family Doctor ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Future Research ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Family

Lifestyle interventions are recognized as essential in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Previous studies have shown that Portuguese patients tend to give more importance to diagnostic and laboratory tests than to lifestyle measures, and seem unaware that behavioral risks are the main modifiable risk factors. The study aimed to analyze patients’ perspectives about lifestyle behaviors and health in the context of family medicine in Portugal. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Portugal (the mainland). A total of 900 Portuguese patients aged ≥20 years, representative of the population, were surveyed using face-to-face questionnaires. Participants were selected by the random route method. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate differences between the personal beliefs and the personal behavior self-assessment, as well as between the level of importance given to the family doctor to address health behaviors and the reported approach implemented by the family doctor, and its association with bio-demographic variables. The results indicate that the vast majority of this Portuguese cohort has informed beliefs regarding lifestyle behaviors, tends to overestimate their own behavior self-assessment, and strongly agrees that it is important that their family doctor asks/advises on these lifestyle behaviors, although the proportion of those who totally agree that their family doctor usually does this is significantly lower. Differences concerning bio-demographic variables were found. Future research directions should focus on the politics, economics, and policy aspects that may have an impact in this area. It will also be important to understand more broadly the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and clinical, physical, and sociodemographic variables.

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Predictors of Psychiatric Morbidity in Cancer Patients

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.165.5.593 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 165 (5) ◽

pp. 593-598 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Judy Harrison ◽

Peter Maguire

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Psychiatric Morbidity ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Appropriate Treatment ◽

Study Designs ◽

Patients Experience

BackgroundA significant proportion of cancer patients experience psychiatric morbidity in association with diagnosis and treatment. If this morbidity is to be reduced, a better understanding is needed of the factors which influence adjustment to cancer.MethodA review of the literature was carried out to explore those factors associated with poor psychological adjustment to cancer. These are described under four headings: characteristics of the patient; disease and treatment variables; the interaction between patient and illness; and environmental factors.ResultsA number of risk factors for psychiatric morbidity can be identified from each of the four areas. Methodological limitations are highlighted, in particular the preponderance of cross-sectional study designs.ConclusionsIncreased awareness of the risk factors for psychiatric morbidity should lead to earlier detection and more appropriate treatment. Future research should focus on those risk factors which are potentially modifiable.

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Workplace hazards in forensic mortuaries in Saudi Arabia: A survey of forensic mortuary personnel

Medicine Science and the Law ◽

10.1177/00258024211019604 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002580242110196

Author(s):

Mohammed Madadin ◽

Ibtisam M Alkhattaf ◽

Fatima H Abutaki ◽

Mohammed A Almarzooq ◽

Fahad A Alzahrani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Forensic Medicine ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Potential Threat ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Workplace Hazards ◽

Hazard Exposure ◽

Work Related

Forensic mortuaries have always presented a potential threat to workers who come into contact with dead bodies. This research aims to identify hazards faced by forensic mortuary personnel, including forensic pathologists and technicians working in forensic mortuaries in forensic medicine centres throughout Saudi Arabia, to recognise the prevalence of exposure to workplace hazards and to discover the degree of awareness and use of safety practices. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 20 forensic medicine centres, using an online questionnaire distributed among forensic mortuary personnel. A total of 113 participants responded to the questionnaire. Just over half (53%) of workplaces always provided personal protective equipment, and 75% of participants always used them. The most common hazards were needle-prick wounds and accidental slips or falls. Almost two thirds (64%) of participants witnessed or experienced a work-related accident in the forensic mortuary. The lack of previous studies concerning hazard exposure among forensic mortuary personnel in Saudi Arabia means that this study provides foundational evidence for future research concerning forensic autopsy-related work accidents in Saudi Arabia.

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Diagnosis Based on Detection of CXCL10 in Urine as Biomarker for The Determining Diagnosis of Active Lung Tuberculosis

Indonesian Journal of Tropical and Infectious Disease ◽

10.20473/ijtid.v9i1.22160 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 57

Author(s):

Ni Made Mertaniasih ◽

I Gede Yogi Prema Ananda ◽

Soedarsono Soedarsono ◽

Deby Kusumaningrum

Keyword(s):

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Urine Samples ◽

Laboratory Research ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Pulmonary Tb ◽

Lung Tuberculosis ◽

History Of ◽

Tuberculosis Diagnosis

Tuberculosis diagnosis is an important component in decreasing TB incidence and prevalence. Because of the difficulty to collect sputum in some cases, urine specimens are used as it is easier to garner. One of the biomarkers in urine that can be used to diagnose pulmonary TB is IP-10, which can be represented by the CXCL10 gene. The study aims to determine the accuracy of diagnosis based on detection of the CXCL10 gene in urine as a biomarker for the patients with suspected pulmonary TB in Dr. Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya from November 2019 until March 2020. Thus, this is an observative laboratory research with a cross-sectional study. CXCL10 gene was examined using PCR for 36 urine samples, and then, the data, together with the medical records of clinical manifestations of pulmonary TB, GeneXpert MTB /RIF, blood count, and thorax radiograph, were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. The results of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF and thorax radiograph criteria show positive results of pulmonary TB, which were 44.4% and 69.4% respectively. CXCL10 gene was not found in all urine of healthy people (negative), while 2.8% (1/36 samples) positive CXCL10 gene was found in a patient with positive GeneXpert, also with negative clinical manifestations and urine culture. In this study, the accuracy of diagnosis based on detection of the CXCL10 gene in urine for diagnosis of active pulmonary TB was 2.8%. Future research is needed to improve the methods, among them are bigger size of urine samples and clearer medical history of patients.

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Virtual Environments, Online Racial Discrimination, and Adjustment among a Diverse, School-Based Sample of Adolescents

Psychology and Mental Health ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-0159-6.ch045 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1077-1093

Author(s):

Brendesha M. Tynes ◽

Chad A. Rose ◽

Sophia Hiss ◽

Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor ◽

Kimberly Mitchell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Environments ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Externalizing Behaviors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Adolescent Adjustment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Twelfth Graders ◽

Race And Gender ◽

Educational Professionals ◽

And Gender

Given the recent rise in online hate activity and the increased amount of time adolescents spend with media, more research is needed on their experiences with racial discrimination in virtual environments. This cross-sectional study examines the association between amount of time spent online, traditional and online racial discrimination and adolescent adjustment, including depressive symptoms, anxiety and externalizing behaviors. The study also explores the role that social identities, including race and gender, play in these associations. Online surveys were administered to 627 sixth through twelfth graders in K-8, middle and high schools. Multiple regression results revealed that discrimination online was associated with all three outcome variables. Additionally, a significant interaction between online discrimination by time online was found for externalizing behaviors indicating that increased time online and higher levels of online discrimination are associated with more problem behavior. This study highlights the need for clinicians, educational professionals and researchers to attend to race-related experiences online as well as in traditional environments.

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