The Role of Education in Sustainable Dietary Patterns in Slovenia

The most sustainable dietary patterns involve the consumption of plant-based (vegan) foods, excluding or reducing animal products, including meat, fish, and dairy, yet there is a lack of research on determinants of sustainable dietary patterns in central European countries. The present article aimed to examine the prevalence of sustainable dietary practices and attitudes among the Slovenian public and to investigate the role of education in fostering sustainable dietary patterns. We analyzed a representative national sample of Slovenians, with data gathered in 2019 (ISSP/Slovenian Public Opinion; N = 1079; 51.2% females). The results indicate that most Slovenians do not have sustainable dietary practices or attitudes with regard to health, the environment, animals, and dietary minorities. One in four Slovenians consume meat at least once per day and one in two consume meat three to six times per week. In addition, 78.2% of Slovenians consume milk at least three times per week; more than half consume milk daily or more often. Fish consumption is the least frequent among the three food groups. At least two-thirds of Slovenians also hold attitudes that are low in sustainability. Results also show that, after controlling for confounding variables, higher educational level emerged as an independent predictor of lower meat consumption, but not of lower fish or milk consumption. Furthermore, those in the lowest educational group are significantly less likely to hold sustainable attitudes than those in the higher educational group. Finally, current student status only decreases meat consumption. Since our results show an educational gradient in meat consumption and attitudes, public health and environmental campaigns should focus on the less-educated groups, encouraging them to reduce meat intake and fostering more sustainable attitudes.

Germany's low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence confirms effective containment in 2020: Results of the nationwide RKI-SOEP study

Pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence data from Germany are scarce outside hotspots, and socioeconomic disparities remained largely unexplored. The nationwide RKI-SOEP study with 15,122 adult participants investigated seroprevalence and testing in a supplementary wave of the Socio-Economic-Panel conducted predominantly in October-November 2020. Self-collected oral-nasal swabs were PCR-positive in 0.4% and Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2-S1-IgG ELISA from dry capillary blood in 1.3% (95% CI 0.9-1.7%, population-weighted, corrected for sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.997). Seroprevalence was 1.7% (95% CI 1.2-2.3%) when additionally adjusting for antibody decay. Overall infection prevalence including self-reports was 2.1%. We estimate 45% (95% CI 21-60%) undetected cases and analyses suggest lower detection in socioeconomically deprived districts. Prior SARS-CoV-2 testing was reported by 18% from the lower educational group compared to 25% and 26% from the medium and high educational group (p<0.0001). Symptom-triggered test frequency was similar across educational groups. However, routine testing was more common in low-educated adults, whereas travel-related testing and testing after contact with an infected person was more common in highly educated groups. In conclusion, pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2-seroprevalence in Germany was very low. Notified cases appear to capture more than half of infections but may underestimate infections in lower socioeconomic groups. These data confirm the successful containment strategy of Germany until winter 2020.

Psycho-educational Groups for People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Their Caregiver: a Qualitative Study

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that strongly impacts both patients’ and caregivers’ lives. Only few previous studies investigated the psychosocial impact of group’s interventions on ALS patients and their caregivers as well as needs they can answer.The aim was to identify the needs of both ALS patients and caregivers who attended a psycho-educational group program, the prominent aspects of their experience, perceptions, and satisfaction. Methods: Five patients and thirteen caregivers attended eight psycho-educational group meetings at the Respiratory Rehabilitation Unit of Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan (Italy) and underwent semi-structured interviews once the group meetings ended. Data obtained by group sessions’ transcripts have been analysed using the Grounded Theory Paradigm (GT), while those obtained by interviews have been analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).Results: The analysis of the meetings, allowed to identify seven themes and 21 sub-themes: practical advices, explanation of the pathology, recognition of emotions, adaptation, family and relationships, being caregiver of oneself and sharing. The analysis of the interviews allowed to deduce the main reasons to participate (i.e. to have information and to be able to share experiences), the positive and negative aspects of the experiences. Conclusions: These results suggested the usefulness of psycho-educational groups into the regular clinical practice to allow patients and caregivers comparison with others in the same situation.

Factors associated with knowledge of the disease in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective. To identify factors associated with the level of knowledge of the disease in people with type 2 Diabetes. Methods. A cross-sectional study carried out with 412 people with diabetes registered in the Primary Health Care network of a Brazil Northeast municipality. For data collection, we used a questionnaire with sociodemographic and clinical variables and to identify the level of knowledge, we used the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire. Results. Insufficient knowledge prevailed in 54.7% of the participants, associated in significant bivariate analysis (p<0.05) with the sociodemographic variables: age (≥ 60 years old), marital status (without a partner), education (up to complete / incomplete elementary school), family income (≤ 1 minimum wage). For clinical variables, the level of insufficient knowledge was significantly associated with not participating in an educational group, not using insulin, and not practicing physical activity. In logistic regression, we observed that the factors that increase the risk for insufficient knowledge were: never having participated in an educational group (OR=2.0), age ≥ 60 years old (OR=2.2), illiterate and primary education (OR=8.3) and income less than or equal to 1 minimum wage (OR = 2.4). Conclusion. The level of knowledge of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus about their disease is insufficient, with socioeconomic and educational characteristics being the factors that increase the odds of having this level of knowledge.

P23: ENHANCED RECOVERY PROGRAMME – DOES PREOPERATIVE EDUCATION REDUCE LENGTH OF HOSPITAL STAY (LOS) IN PRIMARY HIP & KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Introduction Total knee and hip arthroplasty significantly improve quality of life in people suffering from end-stage hip & knee arthritides. Enhanced recovery programs have shown improved outcomes following elective arthroplasty by decreasing patients anxiety, postoperative pain and reducing the length of hospital stay (LOS). The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of preoperative education programs on length of hospital stay in patients undergoing hip & knee arthroplasty. Method Retrospective data was collected from a consecutive series of 520 patients' charts and Irish National Orthopedic Register (INOR) who underwent Hip or Knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, in Our Lady Hospital, Navan. The length of stay study compared two hundred and twenty-six patients in the Educational Group (EG) who attended the Hip & Knee School (Preoperative Education Class) with 294 patients in the Conventional Group (CG) who did not attend the hip and knee educational programme. Result We identified that Length of Hospital Stay decreased to 5.2 days in Educational Group from 5.5 days in Conventional Group (P-value equals to 0.26, statistically insignificant, t = 1.1093 df = 518), with a mean difference of only 0.3 days (95% confidence interval). Conclusion Preoperative education does not reduce the length of hospital stay in primary hip & knee arthroplasty. Take-home message Preoperative education has no role in reducing hospital stay in Arthroplasty patients.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Short Video-Based Educational Program for Improving Mental Health Literacy Among Schoolteachers

Background: Mental illness-related stigma represents a barrier to seeking and receiving appropriate mental health care. Mental health literacy (MHL) can improve mental health knowledge, decrease stigmatizing attitudes, and enhance help-seeking behavior. Starting from 2022, mental illness-related education is due to be introduced in high schools in Japan. For this current situation, we conducted a parallel group, randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of MHL educational program for teachers.Methods: The educational program described in this study comprised a 50-min video lesson designed to improve teachers' MHL. All participants were schoolteachers and were assigned either to an educational group or a waitlist control group. The assessment was conducted for both groups twice: first at baseline and then at 1-h post-intervention. The outcome measures for this trial were changes in knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors.Results: The educational group showed a greater improvement in knowledge regarding mental health than did the control group. The program was not effective for decreasing stigma toward mental illness. However, the educational group showed an increased intention to assist students with depression.Limitations: No long-term follow-up was implemented, which means the persistence of the educational program's effect could not be determined. Further, we could not report whether the program induced a change in teachers' behaviors regarding providing support for their students.Conclusions: The short video-based MHL educational program could improve schoolteachers' MHL and increase their intention to assist students. These findings can help in the development of similar educational programs in countries/regions experiencing similar issues regarding mental health.