Health care seeking behavior of adolescents: Comparative study of two service delivery models

Objectives. To assess the perceived health problems and help seeking behaviour and utilization pattern of adolescent health clinics   Methods. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 360 school going adolescents who were selected by stratified random sampling from two sectors of Chandigarh where services were being provided by a school-based and dispensary-based adolescent health clinic   Result. Majority (81%) of the adolescents reported having some health problem during last three months prior to the survey; predominant (60%) problems were psychological and behavioural in nature. To resolve these problems boys consulted mainly friends/peers (48%) while girls consulted their mothers (63%). Compared to the dispensary-based adolescent health clinic, utilisation was significantly higher in a school-based clinic where proportion of psychological or behavioural problems reported was also significantly higher (p<0.01)   Conclusion. Adolescents have greater counselling needs for psychosocial problems than for medical problems. Schoolbased adolescent health clinic was utilized more often than the dispensary-based clinic particularly for psychosocial problems       

Risk indicators for depressed mood in youth: Limited association with Aboriginal cultural status

INTRODUCTION

There have been too few studies on urban Aboriginal youth to permit inferences about depressed mood in this subgroup. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether Aboriginal cultural status is independently associated with moderate or severe depressed mood in youth after controlling for other covariates, including socioeconomic status.

METHODS

Every student between grades 5 and 8 in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was asked to complete a questionnaire in February of 2007. Depressed mood was measured with a 12-question depression scale derivative of the 20-question Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Four thousand ninety-three youth participated in the school health survey. For Aboriginal youth, the prevalence rate of moderate or severe depressed mood was 21.6% in comparison with 8.9% for Caucasian youth (rate ratio 2.43; 95% CI 1.92 to 3.08). Aboriginal cultural status was not associated with depressed mood after adjustment for other covariates in the final multivariate model (OR 1.132; 95% CI 0.682 to 1.881). Parental educational status and sex were confounders to the association between Aboriginal cultural status and depressed mood.

CONCLUSIONS

The recognition that Aboriginal cultural status is not independently associated with moderate or severe depressed mood in youth after full multivariate adjustment allows policy makers to acknowledge that mental health disparity prevention is possible because the determinants of health (ie, education) are modifiable (in comparison with Aboriginal cultural status).     

哮喘儿童及家长心理健康状况调查

目的 了解哮喘儿童及其家长的心理健康状况.方法 采用艾森克人格问卷(儿童)、Rutter's儿童行为量表(父母问卷)对36例6～14岁哮喘儿童进行个性、行为心理测试.采用90项症状自评量表(SCL-90)对其家长进行心理卫生状况调查.结果 哮喘儿童E、N值均高于正常对照组(P<0.05),行为问题发生率为33.3%,哮喘家长SCL-90各项因子分均高于对照组,以抑郁、焦虑、躯体诉述及恐怖因子得分最明显(P<0.05).结论 哮喘儿童及家长的心理问题均较健康对照人群高,应引起高度重视,积极进行心理干预.     

Emotional quality-of-life and outcomes in adolescents with asthma

OBJECTIVE: Examine the association between emotional quality-of-life (QOL) and asthma morbidity in adolescents with asthma. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of 185 adolescents with asthma 11 to 17 years of age cared for in three managed care organizations (MCOs) in the United States. The asthma-specific Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and a short version of the generic Child Health and Illness Profile-Adolescent Edition (CHIP-AE) were used to assess emotional QOL. Asthma morbidity measures were: asthma control, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, doctor visits for worsening asthma, and missed school because of asthma. RESULTS: Of the adolescents surveyed, 45% reported feeling depressed, 41% had ED visits, and 30% missed >or=1 day of school because of asthma. Poorer asthma-specific emotional QOL was associated with poorer control of asthma symptoms ( P < .0001), missed school (OR 7.1, P < .05), and doctor visits for worsened asthma (OR = 7.0, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Emotional symptoms related to asthma are common in adolescents with persistent asthma and asthma-specific QOL is related to increased asthma morbidity, healthcare use, and school absenteeism. Adolescents with high morbidity from asthma exhibit poorer QOL. Therefore, the evaluation of asthma-specific emotional QOL should be included in the assessment of adolescents with asthma.     

Association of food allergy with asthma severity and atopic diseases in Jewish and Arab adolescents

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of reported food allergy and its association with atopic diseases and asthma severity among Jewish and Arab adolescents. Subjects and methods: The self‐report questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was administered to adolescents aged 13–14 years from randomly selected junior high schools in Israel. Questions regarding food allergy were added. Results: A total of 11 171 questionnaires were available for analysis. Food allergy was reported by 3.6% of participants: 1.9% milk, 0.6% egg, 0.6% peanut and 0.4% sesame. On multivariate analysis, food allergy was strongly associated with current asthma (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8–3.3), atopic eczema (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.4–4.3) and allergic rhinitis (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8–3.1). Arabs were significantly more allergic to peanut (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5–4.1), egg (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.1–5.9) and sesame (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2–4.5) than Jews, and less allergic to milk (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4–0.9). Asthmatic subjects with food allergy had significantly more parameters of severe asthma than those without food allergy (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of allergy to specific foods differs between Jews and Arabs. Asthmatic adolescents with food allergy report more severe asthma than those without food allergy.     

不同控制水平哮喘患儿临床特征比较

目的 比较不同控制水平哮喘患儿的临床特征,探讨哮喘控制不良的状态以及影响哮喘控制水平的相关因素.方法 收集2013年10月至2014年2月确诊为哮喘的患儿115例进行横断面研究,依据《儿童支气管哮喘防治指南》(2008版)和哮喘测试量表结果将患儿分为完全控制组(n=65)和未完全控制组(n=50),比较两组患儿的临床特征差异;采用哮喘相关健康生命质量量表对两组患儿生命质量进行评分;Logistic回归分析影响哮喘控制水平的相关因素.结果 两组患儿在最近3个月内呼吸道感染次数、哮喘急性发作次数以及因急性发作而计划外就诊次数比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);2~<7岁哮喘达完全控制患儿生命质量得分显著低于未完全控制组,7~16岁哮喘达完全控制患儿生命质量得分显著高于未完全控制组(P<0.05);Logistic回归分析示未规律随诊(OR=7.715)和患有变应性鼻炎(OR=5.531)是哮喘控制不佳的危险因素,而伴发其他过敏性疾病(OR=0.299)可能是哮喘控制良好的保护因素(P<0.05).结论 某些临床特征的出现提示患儿哮喘可能控制不佳,需要积极干预;哮喘未完全控制时,患儿的生命质量下降;为降低哮喘控制不良水平,应降低哮喘患儿变应性鼻炎发生率并行规律随诊.     

ERICA: smoking is associated with more severe asthma in Brazilian adolescents

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between smoking and asthma, and possible associated factors in Brazilian adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional, national, school-based study with adolescents aged 12–17 years, participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes – ERICA). A total of 66,394 participants answered a self-administered questionnaire with questions about asthma, smoking, lifestyle and sociodemographic variables. Bivariate analysis between Current Asthma (CA) and Severe Asthma (SA) and the other study variables were performed using Chi-squared. Then, the crude and adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PR), and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) of current asthma/severe asthma and smoking variables, corrected for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, were estimated using generalized linear models with Poisson regression, logit link, and robust variance.ResultsThe prevalence of current asthma and severe asthma were significantly higher in adolescents who were exposed to: experimentation (current asthma: PR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.51–2.09; severe asthma: PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.35–2.98); current smoking (current asthma: PR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.65–2.64; severe asthma: PR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.38–3.82); regular smoking (current asthma: PR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.64–3.07; severe asthma: PR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.23–4.73); and passive smoking (current asthma: PR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.27–1.67; severe asthma: PR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.19–2.32); these associations remained significant after adjustment.ConclusionsAsthma and smoking were significantly associated in Brazilian adolescents, regardless of the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, notably in those with more severe disease.     

212例儿童哮喘预后的5年随访研究

目的：探讨儿童哮喘转归和影响发病与预后的因素。方法：对随访5年以上的212例哮喘儿童资料进行回顾性分析。 结果：5年随访中,哮喘停止发作121例（57.1%）,哮喘持续91例（42.9%）。哮喘急性发作的主要诱因为呼吸道感染（71.7%）,其次是过敏原吸入（17.0%）。由呼吸道感染诱发的哮喘患儿（61.2%）较由过敏原（41.7%)或运动（26.3%）诱发者缓解率高（P＜0.05）。湿疹合并过敏性鼻炎、父母哮喘、过敏原诱发的喘息是发展成持续性哮喘的3个危险因素。结论：5年以上的随访中大部分哮喘患儿停止发作。呼吸道感染是儿童哮喘急性发作的主要诱因。由呼吸道感染诱发的哮喘转归较好。特应质及有特应质遗传背景的患儿更有可能发展成持续性哮喘。     

Fifteen,female and stressed: changing patterns of psychological distress over time

BACKGROUND: Despite a widespread view that the mental health of young people has deteriorated, the evidence base is limited by the lack of comparable datasets over time, and their capacity to test specific hypotheses about the causes of such change, in this case those particularly affecting young females. METHOD: Two cohorts of 15-year-olds in the West of Scotland, surveyed in 1987 and 1999, were compared, using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire to measure psychological distress (GHQ caseness, cut-off 2/3), together with items and indices of personal and performance worries. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 1999, GHQ caseness increased significantly for females (from 19% to 33%), but not males (13% to 15%), a change particularly experienced by females from non-manual and skilled manual backgrounds. With one notable exception (unemployment), most worries also increased for both sexes, a gender gap emerging in respect of worries about school performance, females worrying more. While the effect of personal worries (e.g., looks and weight) on GHQ caseness persisted over time in both sexes, that of performance worries only emerged for females in 1999. Using survey date as an indicator, a relationship between proximity to exams and GHQ caseness was also only found among females in 1999. CONCLUSION: The increase in levels of psychological distress among young females over this period may be explained by an increase in educational expectations, which together with more traditional concerns about personal identity, appear to have elevated levels of stress, with adverse consequences for mental health.     

Specific instruments to assess quality of life in children and adolescents with asthma

ObjectiveTo identify and describe specific instruments to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents with asthma.Data sourceSearches were performed in the PubMed, Ovid, and LILACS databases using different combinations of key words (MeSH terms), selecting original articles on the development of specific HRQoL questionnaires, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, between 1990 and 2012.Data synthesisA total of 15 instruments that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Most studies assessed reliability through internal consistency, reproducibility, and/or sensitivity to changes. Validity was assessed by comparison with healthy controls (discordant validity) or factorial analysis.ConclusionsOf the 15 instruments, three are the most frequently used: Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL-Asthma), and Disability Kids (DISABKIDS). In general, these three tools have adequate psychometric characteristics and are practical to implement, but only PAQLQ has been culturally adapted to Brazil.     

10岁以上儿童青少年急性淋巴细胞白血病的临床特点及预后分析

目的研究10岁以上儿童青少年初诊急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)患儿的临床特点及预后。方法对86例10岁以上ALL患儿(B-ALL 62例,T-ALL 24例)的临床特点、治疗疗效及预后因素进行回顾性分析,采用Kaplan-Meier分析评估患儿无事件生存率(EFS)和总生存率(OS),COX回归模型评估EFS、OS的影响因素。结果 86例患儿中,中危组和高危组患儿分别为62例和24例。首诊表现为肝肿大的53例(62%),脾肿大50例(58%),淋巴结肿大46例(54%)。初诊时外周血WBC≥50×109/L者29例(34%)。78例进行了染色体核型分析,21例(27%)染色体数目异常,其中15例为超二倍体(19%)、4例(5%)为亚二倍体,2例(3%)为假二倍体;11例(14%)染色体结构异常,其中Ph染色体阳性1例,t(1;19)1例。TEL-AML1融合基因3例(4%),E2A-PBX1融合基因3例(4%),BCR-ABL融合基因6例(7%),SIL-TAL1融合基因4例(5%)。1疗程完全缓解率为99%(85/86)。5年EFS率、OS率分别为64%±6%和75%±5%。中危组的5年EFS率、OS率均高于高危组(P0.05)。B-ALL患儿5年EFS率优于T-ALL组(P0.05)。COX多因素回归分析显示,初诊时白细胞计数、诱导缓解末微小残留病是EFS、OS的独立影响因素。结论 10岁以上ALL患儿具有不利预后的临床特征,初诊时白细胞计数、诱导缓解末MRD是决定远期疗效的重要因素。     

麻疹患儿并发急性呼吸窘迫综合征的危险因素

目的 探讨麻疹患儿并发急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)的危险因素。方法 回顾性分析PICU救治的55 例麻疹患儿的临床资料,其中11 例并发ARDS。采用单因素分析和非条件logistic 多因素回归分析筛选ARDS 发病的危险因素。结果 单因素分析显示,ARDS 组和非ARDS 组患儿入院时吸氧方式(鼻导管/面罩)、合并脓毒症比例、血C 反应蛋白(CRP)水平及淋巴细胞计数差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示合并脓毒症和血CRP 水平增高是麻疹并发ARDS 的主要危险因素(OR 分别为116.444、1.050,P<0.05)。结论 合并脓毒症及血CRP 水平增高的麻疹患儿并发ARDS 的风险增加。     

父母冲突与儿童青少年心理健康:自我概念的中介作用

目的探讨儿童青少年自我概念在父母冲突与心理健康之间的中介作用。方法采用方便抽样的方法调查某县689名中小学生的心理问题、自我概念水平和父母冲突情况。研究工具包括一般情况调查表、长处和困难问卷、自我描述问卷和儿童对婚姻冲突感知量表,采用结构方程模型建立中介作用模型,并进行多群组结构方程模型分析,采用Bootstrap法对中介效应的显著性进行检验。结果父母冲突与儿童青少年心理问题呈正相关(P0.05),父母冲突与自我概念呈负相关(P0.01),自我概念与心理问题呈负相关(P0.01)。儿童青少年自我概念在父母冲突和心理问题之间起部分中介作用,中介效应占总效应值的60%。学业阶段在父母冲突、心理问题、自我概念三者关系中起调节作用,性别无调节作用。结论自我概念在父母冲突与心理健康之间发挥重要作用,对于暴露于父母冲突环境下的儿童青少年,应注重提高其自我概念水平。     

The clinical benefit of evaluating health-related quality-of-life in children with problematic severe asthma

Aim: To evaluate health‐related quality‐of‐life (HR‐QoL) and the asthma control test (ACT) in children with problematic severe asthma and those with controlled asthma and to identify whether clinical characteristics show correlations with these measurements. Methods: This multicentre cross‐sectional study included 93 children in total, 54 with problematic severe asthma and 39 age‐matched with controlled asthma. Subjects completed the Paediatric Asthma Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire as well as a standardized health questionnaire and the ACT. Objective measurements of exhaled nitric oxide, specific sensitization, pulmonary function and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness to methacholine were also taken. Results: HR‐QoL was reduced in children with problematic severe asthma (5.4 vs. 6.7, p < 0.001), particularly for girls (5.1 vs. 5.6 for boys, p = 0.02), and their ACT scores were also lower (17 vs. 23, p < 0.001) compared with those of subjects with controlled asthma. A HR‐QoL score <6.2 discriminated problematic severe asthma from controlled asthma with 85% sensitivity and 97% specificity, as did the ACT score <20 (79% sensitivity and 94% specificity). Objective measures and other clinical characteristics were weakly associated with HR‐QoL or ACT score. Conclusion: Subjective measurements of HR‐QoL and asthma control are both equally useful in differentiating children with problematic severe asthma from those with controlled asthma.