An Ecological Model of Risk Factors in Older Adults With Repeated Exposure to Elder Mistreatment

Limited empirical studies examined the factors related to repeated EM exposures among Chinese older immigrants. Guided by the ecological model, this study aims to explore what are the risk factors leading to recurrence of EM. Data were drawn from the two-wave PINE Study with 725 participants having EM at baseline and 191 reported repeated EM after two years. EM was evaluated by a 66-item instrument, including psychological, physical, and sexual mistreatment, financial exploitation, and caregiver neglect. Logistic regression was used. Increasing financial independence was associated with lower possibility of repeated EM (OR: 0.72, 95%CI 0.56-0.92). Every one unit increase in ADL impairment (OR: 1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.18), IADL impairment (OR: 1.09, 95%CI 1.05-1.13) and increase frequency of alcohol consumption (OR: 1.33, 95%CI 1.06-1.66) were associated with higher possibility of repeated EM. Social service could improve physical function, provide financial support, and reduce health-risk behavior to prevent the recurrence of EM.

Factors that Facilitate and Hinder the Comprehension of Patient Information Leaflets (PILs): A Brief Scoping Review

Introduction: Patient information leaflets (PILs) of medicinal products are informative documents that accompany medicines and explain their components, modes of use, interactions with other medicines, and other relevant issues. When patients do not adequately understand the information in the leaflets, they may engage in behaviors that affect their health (e.g., self-medication).Objective: To identify patient-related factors and characteristics of PILs that can promote cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes that lead to appropriate drug use practices. Additionally, we aimed to determine strategies that could be implemented to design leaflets that convey adequate information and are easier to understand.Method and Results: We evaluated scientific articles published in databases and containing information on PILs suitability to be used in a patient population. A total of 51 articles were selected as the sample. Certain leaflet factors that favored or hindered understanding were identified (e.g., format in which the leaflets are presented, their structure, their adaptation to the sociodemographic and linguistic characteristics of the population, their wording…). Similarly, we also identified patient factors, such as previous experience taking the drugs referred to in the leaflet; the type of emotions experienced when reading the leaflets; the emphasis on the adverse effects of the medications; sociodemographic variables (i.e., age or educational level); and degree of interest in their own healthcare.Conclusion: Patient and leaflet factors influence the comprehension of information in the PIL; hence, emphasis should be placed on these factors to increase treatment and medication adherence and to reduce health-risk behaviors.

Participatory Research on Environmental Health: Exploring the perceptions of family health strategy professionals

The increasing environmental degradation and the diversity of environmental issues affecting public health in Brazil have required changing the routines and norms of primary healthcare services. The aim of the current study was to explore the perceptions of family health strategy professionals about priority environmental issues associated with risks to the health of local communities. Participatory action research based on the photovoice and focal group techniques and conducted with 28 professionals from two family health strategies in the Casimiro de Abreu County, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Although participants were sensitive to health risk situations associated with inadequate environmental sanitation conditions, they showed limited perception about these risks and about possible actions to be taken in order to change local issues. Professionals of the two localities did not perceive themselves as co-responsible actors for improving the environmental conditions of the territory. There is need of taking contextualized environmental education actions focused on empowering and engaging health professionals, and the investigated community, to reduce health risk conditions through the equal access to sanitation services.

USING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE HEALTH RISK AND RESTORE TRAVELERS’ CONFIDENCE

During last year tourism and hospitality industry recorded significant losses due to the Covid-19 pandemics. One of the reasons is that indoor activities have been recognized as one of the main contributor to virus spread. Innovative technologies can play a key role in reducing indoor interaction between guests and staff, keeping social distancing, and providing a high level of cleaning standards. This research aimed to examine whether the implementation of innovative technologies may influence customers’ perception of health risk and whether their implementation in hotels may lead to greater travelers’ confidence in the COVID-19 era. An experimental study was conducted using online customer samples. The purposed questionnaire was developed based on preventive measures taken by leading hotels and hotel chains. The sample includes 180 examinees between 20 and 54 years of age. The results indicate that the implementation of innovative technologies in reducing contact and enhancing cleanliness have a significant impact on customers’ perceived health risk and restoring travelers’ confidence.

Development of Well-Being Network of Buddhist-Integrated Manner of Five Precepts Village Communities to Reduce Health Risk Behaviors of Youth in Ratchaburi Province

This research aimed to analyze health conditions and trends, develop a creative media model, and develop a well-being network of Buddhist-integrated manner of five precepts village communities to reduce health risk behaviors of youth in Ratchaburi Province. The research methodology is action research based on the research and development (R&D) model. Research tools include in-depth questionnaires, impact factor analysis form, a specific group chat, and performance evaluation form by indicators. The research results were found that 1. Situation and trends of well-being network of Buddhist-integrated manner of the youth of five precepts village communities in Ratchaburi Province, found that the process position in good execution and is likely to be in the right position, take steps to improve, correct, rehabilitate (VW-0) and find ways to further progress. 2. The model of creative media for the well-being of Buddhist-integrated manner in order to reduce health risk behaviors of youth in Ratchaburi province are "creative media, campaign for not smoking, drinking, taking" by the cooperation of the partners. " well-being network of Buddhist-integrated manner of the youth of five precepts village communities in Ratchaburi Province” 3. well-being network of Buddhist-integrated manner of the youth of five precepts village communities in Ratchaburi Province by focusing on the participation process of social institution. It was found that performance evaluation form by indicator “well-being network of Buddhist-integrated manner of youth in the model area, village communities of the well-being of Buddhist-integrated manner, at the village of keeping five precepts, Tao Poon Community, Ratchaburi Province. The overall level was at a high level, when considering each indicator, it was found that the context, inputs, processes, and productivity were at a high level in all indicators.

Adapting the reverse pyramid airplane boarding method for social distancing in times of COVID-19

Social distancing resulting from the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) has disrupted the airplane boarding process. Social distancing norms reduce airplane capacity by keeping the middle seats unoccupied, while an imposed aisle social distance between boarding passengers slows the boarding. Recent literature suggests the Reverse Pyramid boarding method is a promising way to reduce health risk and keep boarding times low when 10 apron buses (essentially 10 boarding groups) are used to transport passengers from the airport terminal to a two-door airplane. We adapt the Reverse Pyramid method for social distancing when an airplane is boarded using a jet bridge that connects the terminal the airplane’s front door. We vary the number of boarding groups from two to six and use stochastic simulation and agent-based modelling to show the resulting impact on four performance evaluation metrics. Increasing the number of boarding groups from two to six reduces boarding time only up to four groups but continues to reduce infection risk up to six groups. If the passengers carry fewer luggage aboard the airplane, health risks (as well as boarding times) decrease. One adaptation of the Reverse Pyramid (RP) method (RP-Spread) provides slightly faster boarding times than the other (RP-Steep), when luggage volumes are high, while RP-Steep results in less risk to window seat passengers from later-boarding passengers walking by their row. Increasing the minimum aisle social distance from 1 m to 2 m increases boarding times but results in lower health risks to passengers walking down the aisle and to the previously seated passengers they pass.

ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF TIGER NUT FIBRE FOR STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS

In this work, the properties of the composite produced from waste carton with various tiger nut fibre contents having cassava starch slurry as binder were investigated. The results obtained showed the ranges of the mean thermal conductivity, bulk density, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, thermal absorptivity, nailability, flexural strength and compressive strength values to be (0.0447 – 0.0603) Wm-1K-1, (683.62 – 746.32) kgm-3, (1439.811 – 1840.554) J/kg/K, (5.612 - 3.553) 10-8 m2s-1, (25.456 – 31.993) m-1, (23.9 – 100)%, (1.58 – 1.86) MPa and (2.16 – 2.78) MPa respectively between 8.3% and 43.1% of the fibre content. It was generally observed that with a choice variation in the fibre content, the performance of the developed board can be optimized for structural applications. Hence, instead of discarding the fibre as waste, recycling it can help to provide raw material for the production of cost effective and environmentally friendly materials. This will in turn reduce health risk caused by environmental pollution due to improper waste disposal practice of such material.