Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on digital device-related ocular health

Purpose:Since the declaration of the lockdown due to COVID-19, the usage of digital devices has gone up across the globe, resulting in a challenge for the visual systems of all ages. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the lockdown on digital device usage, and consequently, the ocular surface health implications and circadian rhythm abnormalities related to digital eye strain.Methods:An open online survey was sent through various social media platforms and was open for a period of 2 weeks.Results:A total of 407 usable responses were obtained; the average age of respondents was 27.4 years. Typically, 93.6% of respondents reported an increase in their screen time since the lockdown was declared. The average increase in digital device usage was calculated at about 4.8 ± 2.8 h per day. The total usage per day was found to be 8.65 ± 3.74 hours. Sleep disturbances have been reported by 62.4% of people. Typically, 95.8% of respondents had experienced at least one symptom related to digital device usage, and 56.5% said that the frequency and intensity of these symptoms increased since the lockdown was declared.Conclusion:The study highlighted the drastic increase in use of digital devices after the initiation of the COVID-19 lockdown, and along with it, the slow deterioration of ocular health across all age groups. Awareness about prevention of digital eye strain should be stressed, and going forward, measures to bring these adverse effects to a minimum should be explored.     

The Strength of a Loosely Defined Movement: Eugenics and Medicine in Imperial Russia

This essay examines the ‘infiltration’ of eugenics into Russian medical discourse during the formation of the eugenics movement in western Europe and North America in 1900–17. It describes the efforts of two Russian physicians, the bacteriologist and hygienist Nikolai Gamaleia (1859–1949) and the psychiatrist Tikhon Iudin (1879–1949), to introduce eugenics to the Russian medical community, analysing in detail what attracted these representatives of two different medical specialties to eugenic ideas, ideals, and policies advocated by their western colleagues. On the basis of a close examination of the similarities and differences in Gamaleia’s and Iudin’s attitudes to eugenics, the essay argues that lack of cohesiveness gave the early eugenics movement a unique strength. The loose mix of widely varying ideas, ideals, methods, policies, activities and proposals covered by the umbrella of eugenics offered to a variety of educated professionals in Russia and elsewhere the possibility of choosing, adopting and adapting particular elements to their own national, professional, institutional and disciplinary contexts, interests and agendas.     

The curvilinear relationship of early-life adversity and successful aging: the mediating role of mental health

Objectives: The steeling effect suggests that early-life adversity can have a beneficial impact later in life. However, little is known about its underlying mechanisms and long-term outcomes . The study aimed to examine the role of early-life adversity (ELA) on successful aging, and whether this relationship can be explained by mental and physical health.

Method: Socio-demographics, early-life adversity (ELA), individual quality of life (iQoL), and mental and physical health of 270 individuals (M_age = 66.82 years, 71.5% female) were assessed. Polynomial regressions and mediation analyses were conducted.

Results: Significant inverse U-shaped associations were found between ELA and iQoL (β = ?.59, p = .005) and between ELA and mental health (β = ?.64, p = .002), but not between ELA and physical health. Furthermore, mental health significantly mediated the relationship between ELA and iQoL (b = ?.84, BCa CI [?1.66, ?.27]).

Conclusion: Highest level of individual quality of life (i.e. successful aging) was related to a moderate amount of ELA. Additionally, mental health significantly mediated this relationship. These findings suggest that some amount of ELA could be beneficial for successful aging. Resource-focused interventions are needed to improve health and promote successful aging for an underdetected, at-risk subgroup with low early-life adversity.     

子宫腺肌症对患者的心理影响及心理护理效果观察

目的 分析子宫腺肌症可能对患者造成的心理影响,探讨子宫腺肌症患者的心理护理方法,观察护理效果。方法 将62例子宫腺肌症患者随机分配为常规护理干预组和心理护理干预组,每组31例。对常规护理干预组患者,实施常规护理干预措施。对心理护理干预组患者,在常规护理干预措施的基础上,进一步对其实施针对性的心理护理干预措施。结果 心理护理干预组患者的焦虑自评量表(SAS)评分、抑郁自评量表(SDS)评分,以及睡眠质量自评量表(SRSS)各维度评分,都明显低于常规护理干预组,差异具有统计学意义。心理护理干预组患者的生活质量综合评定量表(GQOLI-74)各维度评分,要显著的高于常规护理干预组,差异同样具有统计学意义。结论 应重视并切实做好对子宫腺肌症患者的心理护理工作,这能够有效缓解患者的焦虑、抑郁情绪,提高患者的心理健康水平,改善患者的水平及生活质量。     

Communication practices in conversations about sexual health in medical healthcare settings: A systematic review

ObjectiveMany healthcare professionals experience difficulties in discussing sexual health with their patients. The aim of this review was to synthesize results of studies on communication practices in interactions about sexual health in medical settings, to offer healthcare professionals suggestions on how to communicate about this topic.MethodsWe searched for studies using five databases. Reference lists and specialist bibliographies were searched to identify additional studies. We included discourse analytic studies that used recordings of medical consultations.ResultsWe identified five studies that met the inclusion criteria. Findings were synthesized into seven categories of practices deployed by patients and healthcare professionals when talking about sexual health: avoiding delicate terms (1), delaying potentially delicate words and issues (2), using assumptive talk (3), generalized advice-giving (4), deploying patients’ talk (5), depersonalization (6), and patient-initiated advice (7).ConclusionPractices indicate the delicacy associated with discussing sexual health issues, but results also shed light on practices that can help professionals to deal with this delicacy, and to be responsive to patients’ needs and concerns.Practice implicationsFindings will assist healthcare professionals in broaching topics related to sexual health so they can help patients deal with challenges that affect their sexual health and overall well-being.     

The influence of environmental and health indicators on premature mortality: An empirical analysis of the City of Toronto's 140 neighborhoods

The objective of this paper was to assess the link between premature mortality and a combination of neighbourhood contextual (environmental and health) and compositional (socioeconomic and demographic) characteristics. We statistically and spatially examined six environmental variables (ultrafine particles, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic pollutants, pollution released to air, tree cover, and walkability index), six health service indicators (number health providers, breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening uptake rates, student nutrition program uptake rates, and healthy food index), and eight socioeconomic indicators (total income, Gini coefficient, two age categories – below and above 40 years, proportion of females to males, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, education, less than grade 9) among 140 neighbourhoods of the City of Toronto in Ontario (Canada). We applied principal component analysis to identify patterns and to reduce the number of explanatory variables into combined component axes that represent unique variation in these confounded and overlapping factors. We then applied regression analysis to model the relationship between the indices of enviro-health and socioeconomics and their potential relationship with premature mortality. Residual spatial analysis was used to investigate any remaining spatial structure (such as neighbourhoods with higher residual premature mortality rates). Neighbourhood Equity Index was correlated with our enviro-health and socioeconomic indices. Premature mortality within neighbourhoods was predicted by poor cancer screenings, pollution, lack of tree canopy, increased uptake of student nutrition programs and high walkability index. A negative association between premature mortality and pollution was associated low walkability index and presence of visible minorities within neighbourhoods. There was some unexplained residual spatial variation in our model of premature mortality - especially along the shores of Lake Ontario and in neighbourhoods with major highways or road corridors: premature mortality in Toronto neighbourhoods was higher than expected along highway-corridor neighbourhoods and shorelines. Our analysis revealed a significant relationship between neighbourhood contextual features – both environmental and health – and premature mortality, suggesting that these contextual components of neighbourhoods can predict rates of urban premature mortality in Toronto.     

Insufficient knowledge and inapproriate physiotherapy management of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in lightweight rowers

ObjectiveTo investigate the knowledge and management of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), from the perspective of lightweight rowers and physiotherapists.DesignSemi-structured individual qualitative interviews.MethodsPhysiotherapists who had worked with lightweight rowers, and current and former lightweight rowers (who had experienced at least one symptom of RED-S), undertook audio-recorded semi-structured telephone interviews. An inductive thematic analysis was performed, facilitated by NVivo software.ResultsTwelve physiotherapists (n = 6 females, 1–20 years of experience managing lightweight rowers) and twelve lightweight rowers (n = 8 females, 1–8 years lightweight rowing experience, intermediate to elite/international level) were interviewed. Five key themes were identified: insufficient knowledge of RED-S, inadequate RED-S education, inappropriate management of RED-S, referral to other health professionals, prioritising performance over health. Participants provided suggestions for improving knowledge and management of RED-S in lightweight rowers, including formal physiotherapy education and training, and targeted education for athletes and coaches.ConclusionsThere was a significant lack of awareness of RED-S amongst physiotherapists and lightweight rowers. Most physiotherapists were not confident discussing or managing RED-S in athletes, and lightweight rowers were dissatisfied with the management they received. Improving RED-S education for physiotherapists and athletes may have important health implications for lightweight rowers.