Evaluating Behavioral Changes Prevalence Among Primary and Preschool Children Due to COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent changes in the community lifestyle can be associated with problems and complications. It seems very important to identify the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic accurately. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate behavioral changes in children due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Khorasan in 2021. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 312 children were studied. Inclusion criteria included all children under 12 years of age without apparent mental disorders and chronic diseases affecting behavioral changes. Exclusion criteria were parental separation, experiencing natural disasters in the last two years, losing a first-degree family member in the last two years, and any underlying disease in the child and first-degree family members. The questionnaires included a demographic questionnaire and the Ruther Children's Behavior Questionnaire, completed by parents online due to the COVID-19 epidemic and the new situation. Results: The results showed that the behavioral disorder prevalence was 37.2% (n = 116). The mean scores were 3.10 ± 2.23 for aggression-hyperactivity, 3.11 ± 3.08 for anxiety-depression, 2.65 ± 1.79 for social maladaptation, 2.34 ± 1.83 for antisocial behavior, and 1.59 ± 1.29 for attention deficit. There was no significant relationship between demographic indicators and behavioral disorders (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicated an increase in the prevalence of behavioral disorders in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it seems necessary to identify influencing factors and find appropriate solutions to prevent such disorders.

Factors associated with presenteeism in nursing workers

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze factors associated with presenteeism in nursing workers with sociodemographic variables, health and work conditions, productivity and musculoskeletal symptoms. Methods: this is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, with 306 nursing workers from a hospital and municipal emergency room in a Brazilian capital. The Stanford Presenteeism Scale, the Work Limitations Questionnaire, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire on nursing professionals’ working conditions and health were used. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed, respecting a significance level of 5%. Results: presenteeism was found in 43.8% of professionals and significant associations with CLT work (p=0.002), workplace - Intensive Care Units (p=0.008), physical exercise twice a week (p=0.008), presence of musculoskeletal symptoms, with low back pain being representative (p=0.001). The productivity loss was 8.8. Conclusions: the study confirms a high rate of presenteeism among nursing workers.

Correlation of Anxiety with Pregnancy Symptoms and Maternal-fetal Attachment

Background: Anxiety during pregnancy may affect maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) and the prevalence of pregnancy symptoms. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the correlation of anxiety with pregnancy symptoms and MFA. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 pregnant women in the health centers of Tabriz, Iran, in 2020. Samples were selected by the cluster sampling method. Data were collected using the socio-demographic questionnaire, Pregnancy-related Anxiety Questionnaire-revised 2 (PRAQ-R2), MFA Scale (MFAS), and Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory (PSI), all of which were completed as self-administered in the second half of pregnancy. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient and adjusted general linear model were used for data analysis. Results: The results of Pearson’s correlation showed no correlation between anxiety during pregnancy and MFA among nulliparous (r = -0.003, P = 0.976) and multiparous (r = -0.003, P = 0.712) pregnant women. However, anxiety and pregnancy symptoms were significantly correlated among nulliparous (r = 0.424, P < 0.001) and multiparous (r = 0.227, P = 0.028) pregnant women. According to the general linear model, after adjusting the socio-demographic variables, a significant correlation was observed between anxiety and pregnancy symptoms (P < 0.001), while no relationship was found between anxiety and MFA (P = 0.705). Conclusions: Given the significant correlation between anxiety and pregnancy symptoms, pregnant women with anxiety symptoms need to be screened and treated by an expert psychological team if their disorder is confirmed.

Overview of Nurses Perception about Caring Based on Technology in the ICU and ER of Jember Region Hospital

Caring in acute and critical care rooms has a more complex and dynamic nature due to unstable patient conditions and requires more attention from nurses. Nurses' technological competence represents their caring based on nursing science practice. This study aimed to find out how nurses’perception of caring based on technology in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room in Jember Region. This study used a quantitative method based on a descriptive survey. This study used a total sampling, with a total of 47 nurses as respondents. The researcher used a demographic questionnaire and modification of caring attribute, professional self-concept, and technological influence scale to collect data. In this study, univariate analysis was applied to analyze the data. The median score was 68, as the scores approach the maximum score of 76. This study demonstrates that nurses have a good perception toward caring based on technology. The conclusion on this study is nurses perception of caring based on technology are generally positive. To further improve nurses' perceptions of caring expressed through technological competence, the researcher advises the managerial department to facilitate education and training on technological competence in order to provide better care and caring to patients. Keywords: Caring Based on Technology; Nurses; Perception

Characteristics of Work Accident to Tobacco Farmers in Indonesia

Tobacco farmers are individuals who are members of farming groups engaged in the cultivation of the agricultural sector in the form of tobacco. When carrying out tobacco cultivation activities, farmers are vulnerable to work accidents. The purpose of this research was to describe the characteristics of work accidents on tobacco farmers in Kalisat District, Jember Regency. The research design used descriptive quantitative. This research employed a purposive sampling technique, with a total of 97 tobacco farmers as respondents. The research data were collected through a demographic questionnaire and a work accident accident questionnaire. In the type indicator, it was found that 43.3% farmers often experienced incidents of being hit by immovable objects. In the object indicator, 36.1% farmers often experience accidents due to work equipment. In the indicator of the nature of the wound 26.8% farmers often experienced minor injuries and 9.3% stated that they always experienced these incidents. In the indicator of the location of the wound, farmers often experienced injuries on the hands, namely 36.1%. In the cause indicator, 66.0% farmers stated that they rarely use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). According to the results of this study, work accidents among tobacco farmers in Kalisat District are still highly prevalent. This research will be utilized as a preventative and assessment tool for public health center in the application of UKK and for PPL to develop outreach activities in order to reduce the number of work accidents. Keywords: agricultural; tobacco farmer; work accidents; descriptive

Mediating Role of Social Interaction Anxiety between Fear of COVID-19 and Psychological Distress

Youth is the backbone of any society. Their mental health is worsening in these terrible times of pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, and whether this relationship was mediated by social interaction anxiety. A cross-sectional research design was used to recruit online 200 university students of Lahore, Pakistan through Google docs via purposive sampling technique by introducing them to a demographic questionnaire consisting of fear of COVID-19, social interaction anxiety and psychological distress scales respectively. The sample included both male and female students (men =53%, women =46%) whose age ranged from 17-24 years (M = 21.04, SD = 2.52). Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 25. Pearson Product moment correlation and mediation analysis were used to analyze data. It was found that there was a significant positive association between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress. The findings also revealed that social interaction anxiety fully mediated the association between psychological distress and fear of COVID-19. It is recommended that counselors and psychologists develop social support programs that can assist students to manage themselves well in the present pandemic environment.

Mercy Procedure or a Nightmare? Attitude towards Pregnancy Termination among Polish University Students

Worldwide, there are about 121 million unintended pregnancies per year. The aim of the study was to assess the attitudes in different groups of students from 40 Polish universities towards pregnancy termination. In total, 9686 university students (20.1% male and 79.9% female) took part in our research. Questions about attitudes towards abortion in all possible circumstances were involved in the survey, which also included a socio-demographic questionnaire. Overall, 94.5% of women and 90.7% of men consider that abortion should be legal in the situation of a threat to the mother’s life, while only 52% of women and 38.7% of men accept it in the case of a hard financial situation for the mother. Most students stand for abortion in the situation of a threat to the mother’s life, in the case of rape, or in the case of a mortal fetus defect. Less than half of the students interviewed consider that abortion should be legal in the case of a hard financial situation for the mother or on the mother’s demand. People who declare a religious affiliation more often disagree with abortion, even in the hardest cases such as a danger to the mother’s life or a mortal fetus defect. The factor that influences the strongest on attitudes towards abortion is being an active Roman Catholic. The majority of students have a pro-choice attitude in respect of pregnancy termination.

Experiences matter: Educators’ attitudes toward disability in higher education

This study investigated 128 post-secondary educators’ attitudes toward disability at a college and a university in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The participants completed the Educators’ Attitudes toward Disability Scale (EADS) and a demographic questionnaire that included questions about their experiences with disability. There were three research questions at the heart of this study: (1) What are post-secondary educators’ overall attitudes toward disability? (2) Do demographic factors predict post-secondary educators’ attitudes toward disability? (3) Does exposure to people with disability predict post-secondary educators’ attitudes toward disability? The findings of this study suggest post-secondary educators hold overallpositive attitudes toward disability and there were very few differences observed between groups (e.g., based on age, gender, discipline, etc.). Educators’ experiences with people who have a disability, however, were positively associated with their attitudes. This factor included personal experiences (e.g., friends, family, etc.), but also professional experiences (e.g., students in their classes).

Prediction of Self-care Behaviors in COVID-19 Prevention Based on Persuasion Techniques

Background: Persuasion is a method used to correct and modify the attitude and behaviors of community members to protect collective benefits, especially during crises. Objectives: The present study aimed to predict COVID-19 preventive behaviors based on persuasion techniques in five countries. Methods: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on the population aged more than 18 years in Iran, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Canada. The sample size determined by Morgan’s table was 498 individuals who were selected via convenience sampling in the spring of 2020. Data were collected online using a Demographic Questionnaire, a Persuasion Scale (2020), and the Questionnaire of Healthy Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 (2020). The inclusion criteria were the age of more than 18 years and basic literacy, and the exclusion criterion was incomplete questionnaires. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using Pearson’s correlation-coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: A positive significant correlation was observed between persuasion techniques and healthy preventive behaviors for COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Among the components of persuasion, fear, interest in the messenger, frequency of the message, and reliability of the messenger could most significantly predict healthy behaviors (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, the mass media and authorities could enhance the effectiveness of their agenda by identifying the influential factors in the success of persuasion techniques. These findings could be beneficial to social psychiatrists, authorities, and the mass media.

Lapse and Relapse Rates in Narcotics Anonymous Versus Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A 12-Month Prospective Study

Objective: The present study aimed to compare lapse and relapse-free survival between patients treated in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) groups and Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) centers and to determine the relationship between social support scale and treatment outcome. Method: This study was a prospective, 12-month cohort study using the random sampling method to select 100 newcomer patients treated by the NA Association as well as 100 patients in MMT centers. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Social Support Appraisals (SSA) scale at the onset of the study along with follow-up phone calls every other week. Results: All participants were male, aged between 18 and 65 with a mean (SD) age of 38.98 (± 10.85) years. Prevalence of relapse in 12 months was 60.5%. The lapses in the MMT group and relapses in the NA group were significantly higher (P < 0.001). The younger patients with lower levels of education are at greater risk of lapse/relapse. The mean score of SSA was significantly higher in the MMT group than the NA group in all subscales, including friends, family, and the others' support (P < 0.001). The mean scores of SSA subscales for the participants without relapse in the NA group was significantly higher in comparison to the MMT group. Conclusion: Detection of factors related to drug abuse relapse/lapse may help addiction therapists to identify drug abuse patients with lapse/relapse and to develop treatment and policy guidelines to prevent relapse in addiction recovery.