Recognition and comprehension of breast awareness among hospital staff: a questionnaire survey using the explanatory leaflet in Japan.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the recognition and understanding of breast awareness (BA) among hospital staff, a group considered influential in disseminating information about health. Compared to the traditional approach of breast self-examination (BSE), BA has gained prominence as a concept focused on early detection. The study also explored the effectiveness of an informational leaflet in conveying BA concepts. METHODS: We conducted an online, voluntary, and anonymous questionnaire survey at St. Luke's International Hospital in Japan, where approximately 1,000 breast cancer surgeries are performed annually. The survey comprised three sections: pre-leaflet questions, the informational leaflet, and post-leaflet questions. RESULTS: From a pool of 500 completed questionnaires, 499 were deemed suitable for the analysis. Notably, 78% of respondents were unfamiliar with "BA" before the survey. However, 89.1% expressed interest in adopting daily practices for early breast cancer detection. Following the leaflet exposure, 98.4% of respondents claimed to have understood BA, either completely or partially. The leaflet aided 93.2% of these individuals in differentiating between BA and the traditional BSE method. These outcomes remained consistent across various demographic segments such as occupation, age, and experience with breast cancer care. CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores a concerning lack of awareness regarding BA among hospital staff within the surveyed institution. This highlights the need to engage medical professionals in promoting BA within the community. The informational leaflet proved effective in enhancing comprehension of BA across diverse groups, indicating its potential as a widely applicable educational tool. The leaflet facilitated the comprehension of BA among respondents across all demographic groups, indicating its potential for widespread utility.

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patient Families in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), if left untreated, can have major negative effects on health, such as an elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Increasing people's knowledge of this illness might lessen the stigma associated with sleep problems and motivate them to get treatment if they think they might have OSA. Aim of the Study: This study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of OSA among patients' families in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A phenomenological-oriented study with in-depth interviews was used to collect data from 28 participants. Results: Two themes and subthemes emerged from the interviews, revealing significant knowledge gaps, especially regarding the health risks and management of OSA. Only a few participants were aware of the serious health implications of untreated OSA. Furthermore, many did not know about effective management strategies for OSA. Conclusion: The level of awareness and knowledge among participants was poor, with participants' lifestyles significantly affected by having relatives with OSA. They expressed concerns about challenges with CPAP adherence and recommended various coping techniques to support affected individuals.

Validation of the French version of the Body Awareness Questionnaire: toward a way to assess alexisomia.

Background: Awareness of one's own states is a particularly important part of cognition and emotion regulation. Recently, the concept of alexisomia has been used to refer to lack of awareness and expression of somatic sensations. Developing self-reported questionnaires to evaluate alexisomia represents a challenge for clinical psychology and medicine. In this context, we suggested to adapt the Body Awareness Questionnaire in French to measure alexisomia and its relation to alexithymia. In fact, we carried out a backtranslation and studied the validity of the construct in relation to proximal constructs around emotional awareness. Methods: For this study, 610 university students completed questionnaires measuring a three dimensions alexithymia concept [with The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)] or the five dimensions alexithymia concept [with The Bermond-Vorts Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ-B)] and alexisomia (with the BAQ). Results: Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the BAQ can be envisaged through 4 factors as well as a unidimensional model to refer to alexisomia. We also found that body awareness was negatively related to scores of alexithymia. Conclusion: Results are discussed in light of the construct of alexisomia and its clinical implications in somatic as well as mental disorders. We suggest that the BAQ, which assesses interoception, can contribute, in part, to the assessment of alexisomia. Like alexithymia, this is a key concept to take into consideration when designing treatment and prevention programs.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the training on "Home care of COVID-19 positive/suspicious patients" given to nursing students: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the effects of education on home care of infected or suspected COVID-19 patients on the levels of knowledge, anxiety, and awareness of nursing students in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is in quasi-experimental design. A sample of 158 volunteer students studying nursing at a private university in Turkey was formed. Data were collected using, descriptive information form, "Coronavirus Anxiety Scale," "COVID-19 Awareness Scale," and the "Knowledge of COVID-19 Home Care Test." Pre-test was performed before the participants received education. Post-test was performed seven days after the intervention. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis. "TREND checklist" was used for quasi-experimental/non-randomized evaluations to report the findings of the study. RESULTS: Anxiety levels decreased and the levels of awareness and knowledge on COVID-19 increased after receiving education on home care of infected or suspected COVID-19 patients (p < 0.001), indicating the effectiveness of the education. Education on home care of infected or suspected COVID-19 patients was an effective method to reduce anxiety and increase knowledge and awareness in nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: To contribute to community health, home care training can be given to nursing students, other people receiving home care, or providing home care to COVID-19 patients, infected or suspected COVID-19 patients.

Awareness and Knowledge of Medical Interns in the Diagnosis and Management of Anaphylaxis in Medina Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background Anaphylaxis is a severe hypersensitivity reaction caused by IgE-mediated mechanisms. This life-threatening condition affects multiple body systems. Global lifetime prevalence estimates for anaphylaxis range from 0.3% to 5.1%, with increasing incidence noted, particularly among young individuals. Symptoms range from mild skin manifestations like urticaria and pruritus to severe respiratory distress and hypotension. Objectives This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of medical interns in the Medina region, Saudi Arabia, regarding the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis. Method A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals in Saudi Arabia by delivering a questionnaire designed to assess the level of awareness and knowledge (including signs, symptoms, and management of anaphylaxis) among medical interns in the Medina region. The data collected were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0 (released 2013, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The study involved 291 interns from the universities in the Medina region. Most participants (275, 94.5%) correctly defined anaphylaxis and identified food allergies or insect stings as the main triggers (254, 87.3%). The participants demonstrated good knowledge of health education practices and anaphylaxis symptoms, such as the importance of carrying an adrenaline auto-injector (269, 92.4%) and recognizing syncope as a cardiovascular symptom (196, 67.4%). Regarding management, most correctly identified the initial step as removing the allergen (226, 77.7%) and epinephrine as the preferred medication (256, 88.0%). Significant gender differences were observed in the knowledge of management aspects (P = 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.049, P = 0.004, P = 0.001). Conclusion The study found that most participants had a good understanding of the definition of anaphylaxis and its most common triggers. The participants also demonstrated knowledge of symptoms and signs associated with anaphylaxis and the appropriate management of anaphylaxis. However, there were some differences in knowledge between females and males, suggesting that further education and awareness campaigns may be needed to ensure an accurate and consistent understanding of anaphylaxis among both genders. Overall, the study highlights the importance of education and awareness in effectively managing anaphylaxis and preventing its complications.

Incidence of Kawasaki disease among children in Chandigarh, India during 2015-2019: a trend analysis.

Background: Only limited information exists regarding the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) in low-income and middle-income countries. The present study provides the incidence of KD during 2015-2019 in Chandigarh, north India. Our centre follows the largest KD cohort in India. Methods: Children with KD at Chandigarh diagnosed during January 2015-December 2019 were enrolled in the study. Annual incidence rates were determined using decadal growth rates of the National Census 2011. We computed the incidence of KD in children aged <5, and <15 years. We also undertook linear trend analysis using our incidence data from 1994 to 2019. Findings: During 2015-2019, 83 patients (66 males, 17 females) were diagnosed with KD in Chandigarh. Incidence rates during these 5 years were 5.64, 9.25, 9.11, 9.87, and 9.72/100,000 in children aged <5 years, and 2.65, 4.44, 3.86, 5.07, 4.74/100,000 in children aged <15 years. The median age at diagnosis was 48 months (range: 12 days to 15 years). Compared to previous data (2009-2014), there was a 53.1% increase in annual incidence of KD in children aged <5 years, and a 53.7% increase in children aged <15 years. Coronary artery abnormalities during acute phase were noted in 16.9%, and in 7.2% of patients at 6 weeks of follow-up. The trend analysis indicated a monthly rise of 0.002 cases per 100,000 children aged <5 years, and 0.0165 cases per 100,000 children aged <15 years. Interpretation: The incidence of KD has continued to show an upward trend in Chandigarh over the period 2015-2019. This may indicate a true rise in the occurrence of KD or may reflect better disease ascertainment as a result of greater awareness about KD amongst healthcare professionals. Funding: None.

Improvement in Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Knowledge: A Pre- and Post-video Intervention Study Among Doctors.

Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represent a significant public health concern, contributing to mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs worldwide. Healthcare practitioners especially doctors play a vital role in identifying and reporting ADR. This study investigates the prevalence of knowledge regarding ADR among doctors and enhances it with educational intervention. It also explores the association between demographic factors and baseline ADR awareness. Methods A prospective cross-sectional interventional study was conducted among doctors in Ahmedabad, India, to evaluate their knowledge of ADR reporting and the effectiveness of an educational video intervention. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were administered to assess knowledge improvement. Statistical analysis, including paired t-tests and chi-square tests, was performed to evaluate the intervention's impact and explore associations between demographic factors and ADR awareness. Results Analysis of pre- and post-intervention questionnaires revealed a significant increase in correct response rates post-intervention, indicating the effectiveness of the educational video intervention. Demographic factors, particularly age, were associated with ADR awareness. Following the intervention, participants demonstrated an improved understanding of ADR definitions, WHO causality assessment, reporting mechanisms, and challenges faced by pharmacovigilance programs. All participants found the video helpful and expressed intent to share their knowledge post-intervention. Conclusion The results of the study suggest that educational video intervention can serve as an effective tool for understanding ADR concepts and pharmacovigilance practices. Moreover, the association of demographic factors, particularly age, with ADR awareness further emphasizes the importance of educational interventions in addressing specific population needs.

Academic Ethical Awareness among Undergraduate Nursing Students of a Private University in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Introduction: Academic ethical awareness is a crucial prerequisite for practice, serving as the cornerstone for a professional demeanor in clinical settings and ensuring future adherence to nursing ethics. Objectives: This study assessed academic ethical awareness as well as its related characteristics among undergraduate Nursing students of a private university in Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilized. The study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students of a private university in Nigeria. A convenience sample of 158 nursing students from 300 level to 500 level voluntarily participated in this study. Data were collected using the Academic Ethical Awareness Questionnaire and descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation were employed to analysis the data collected. Results: The mean age of nursing students was 21.1. Majority of the respondents were females, Christians and claimed average financial status with 87%, 94%, and 68%, respectively. Nursing students demonstrated moderate academic ethical awareness (69.5%), a mean score of 3.68 ± 0.81. They knew that revealing patient information in public places of the hospital, disregarding, slandering, or making fun of patients in face-to-face interaction, and having someone else attend class as a substitute were unethical behaviors with mean scores of 3.96, 3.90, 3.88, and 3.88, respectively. Academic ethical awareness was low for submitting cut and paste report, not paying attention in class and being late to class, with mean scores 1.81, 2.05, and 2.80, respectively. Gender, level of study, and satisfaction with Nursing as a course of choice are significant determinant of ethical academic awareness with P value of .018, .005, and .011, respectively. Conclusion: Nursing students assessed demonstrated moderate academic ethical awareness. Improved instruction is required regarding the value of appropriate classroom behavior and emphasis on the implications of plagiarism in practice.

Socioeconomic Moderators of the Association Between Delayed Breastfeeding Initiation and Place of Delivery: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is a crucial and irreplaceable method of feeding infants. Despite the well-established advantages of early breastfeeding initiation, its progress remains constrained. Over half of Indian mothers witness delayed breastfeeding initiation. Various factors have been implicated to influence breastfeeding initiation, with institutional deliveries emerging as a crucial factor among them. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesized association between institutional delivery and initiation delays and identified how various socioeconomic variables moderate (weaken, strengthen, or reverse) the association between breastfeeding initiation delays and place of delivery. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyses data of 106,569 breastfeeding mothers from the NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey, 2019-21). Missing data were managed by using a complete case analysis approach. The outcome variable was the timing of breastfeeding initiation for the most recent child, with the place of delivery being the explanatory variable. Socioeconomic factors including age, education level, marital status, place of residence, and wealth index were considered moderating variables. Logistic regression-based moderation analysis explored how these variables influence the relationship between breastfeeding initiation delays and place of delivery. Separate binary logistic regression models analyzed the effect of each moderating variable. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. RESULTS: The highest occurrence of delayed breastfeeding initiation was observed among mothers aged ≥36 years (58.3%), lacking formal education (60.9%), belonging to lower wealth groups (58.1%), residing in rural areas (57.4%), and having home births (64.1%). Results confirmed the primary hypothesis that institutional delivery significantly and negatively affects delayed breastfeeding initiation (odds ratio [OR] 0.705, 95% CI 0.676-0.735, P<.001). Age as a moderating variable significantly affected this association (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.757, 95% CI 0.696-1.307, P=.02 for the 15-25 age group). Notably, education level (aOR 0.616, 95% CI 0.429-1.930, P=.005 for no education and aOR 0.510, 95% CI 0.429-1.772, P=.04 for primary education) and poor wealth index (aOR 0.672, 95% CI 0.528-1.432, P=.004) as moderating factors significantly strengthened the negative effect of institutional delivery on delayed initiation. Poor mothers and those without education or a lower level of education (primary) when delivering the child at the health institution further reduced the chances of witnessing delayed initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Institutional delivery significantly lowers the likelihood of delayed breastfeeding initiation, and this negative effect is significantly strengthened when uneducated women or lesser-educated women and those with lower wealth deliver their children at the institutional facilities, underscoring the significance of these moderating factors. Developing strategies targeting these socioeconomic moderating factors is crucial. Tailored awareness programs crafted to address the needs of uneducated mothers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can enhance coverage. Outreach initiatives aimed at promoting health care service use during pregnancy and delivery, as well as raising awareness about breastfeeding practices, are warranted for the adoption and implementation of early breastfeeding initiation.

Comparison of postural assessment and awareness in individuals receiving posture training using the digital AI posture assessment and correction system.

Objectives. This study aimed to compare postural assessment and postural awareness using the artificial intelligence posture evaluation and correction system (APECS) in individuals receiving posture training. Methods. Participants' physical characteristics were recorded. The participants' posture was evaluated with APECS and the New York posture rating chart test (NYPR), and their body and postural awareness was evaluated with the body awareness questionnaire (BAQ), postural awareness form (PAF) and postural habits and awareness scale (PHAS). Results. In the study, results of the PAF (p = 0.000), BAQ (p = 0.013) and PHAS (p = 0.033) were found to be different between the groups. While the groups were similar in the PHAS sub-dimension of postural habit (p = 0.331), there was a significant difference between the groups in postural awareness (p = 0.04). NYPR results of the participants in the group receiving posture training were similar to those in the group not receiving posture training (p = 0.45). Conclusion. Postural deviations measured by digital posture assessment in individuals receiving posture training were significantly different in the group receiving posture training. Postural awareness and body awareness were better in individuals who received posture training than in individuals who did not receive posture training.

Prevalence and Awareness of Medication Overuse Headache among Undergraduate Students at the University of Belgrade.

BACKGROUND: Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a prevalent and potentially preventable secondary headache disorder linked to the excessive use of medications intended for primary headache management, particularly migraine. AIM: The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of MOH among undergraduate students and explore their awareness. METHODOLOGY: This observational cross-sectional study included 401 active undergraduate students from the University of Belgrade. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire which was distributed among student groups and via social media. The questionnaire specially designed for this study was developed in accordance with established guidelines for headache epidemiological research. RESULTS: Among the surveyed students, 10 of them (2.5%) met the criteria for the diagnosis of MOH. Awareness of MOH was noted in 149 (37.2%) students, with higher awareness among medical students and those aged 22-25 years. Despite this awareness, there was no significant difference in MOH occurrence between those aware and unaware of the condition (aware 2.7% vs. unaware 2.4%, p = 1.000). Additionally, significant gaps in education and communication about MOH were evident. LIMITATIONS: Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from a single university at one time point. The questionnaire was not specifically validated in the student population, and the data relied on self-reporting. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlighted a notable prevalence of MOH among undergraduate students, with a substantial portion exhibiting awareness of its risks. Despite this awareness, our findings suggest ongoing gaps in education and communication regarding MOH, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

Patients' Perspectives on the Acceptability and Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker-Led Intervention to Increase Chronic Kidney Disease Knowledge and Screening among Underserved Latine Adults: The CARE 2.0 Study.

In the United States, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects approximately 1 in 7 adults. Despite its significant impact, CKD awareness, education, and screening are often lacking among underserved Latine populations, leading to poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates. Various studies highlight the crucial role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in improving health outcomes within minority communities both domestically and globally. However, there remains a gap in research on the acceptance and effectiveness of CHW-led interventions targeting CKD. This prospective intervention study employed a pre-post quasi-experimental design to evaluate a CHW-led educational program aimed at enhancing CKD knowledge, screening, and monitoring among Latines with low health literacy and English proficiency. CHWs utilized a culturally tailored CKD Flipchart, and 100 underserved patients received the intervention. Feedback from 85 participants who completed post-intervention surveys indicated high satisfaction with the program's relevance and the professionalism of the CHWs. Importantly, 85% expressed a positive intention to seek kidney care following the intervention. Preliminary analysis of medical records before and after the intervention showed improvements in glycemic control (median change = -18.0, p = 0.014) and triglyceride levels (median change = -29.0, p = 0.035), suggesting the program's effectiveness in managing CKD risk factors. These findings highlight the potential of CHW-led interventions to reduce kidney health disparities among underserved communities.

Parental Knowledge and Its Impact on Nutrition and Oral Health Habits in Children: A Cognitive Investigation.

Background: The correlation between the intake of certain nutrients and the development of oral pathologies has been demonstrated by several studies. The objective of this epidemiological investigation was to evaluate parents' knowledge and awareness of children's nutrition starting from the early stages of childhood. Methods: A questionnaire with 35 questions was handed over to 120 parents of infants aged 4 to 24 months. Among these, 20 questionnaires were excluded because they were incomplete; hence, the final sample analyzed consisted of 100 questionnaires. The outcome of this study revealed that the parents are well aware of many common topics, but their knowledge regarding specific prevention measures, i.e., the use of systemic fluoride as per the international guidelines, needs proper attention. Results: and Conclusions: After analyzing all the collected data, it is possible to conclude that prevention is the best investment to avoid the onset of the carious pathology, which can be possible through parental education, for example, by raising awareness among expectant mothers, through different actions in the territory. However, further research is needed as this study has some limitations and the convenience sample is hospital-based and not effectively representative of the whole population.

Assessment of General Population Understanding and Awareness of Drug Addiction before and after a Health Educational Campaign in Taif City, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: An awareness campaign was carried out in Taif City to increase awareness about substance abuse and its dangers. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign in enhancing the study participants' awareness and knowledge about drug addiction. METHODS: Using pre- and post-campaign surveys, we assessed the campaign's impact on participants' understanding of drug addiction. The survey included demographic items, followed by 12 items for awareness, rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with the total scores ranging up to 60. RESULTS: A total of 146 visitors, with a mean age of 33.4 years (SD = 9.2), completed both the pre- and post-questionnaires. Notably, in the post-campaign, 47.3% of the participants acknowledged the risk of IV drug-related infections, a substantial increase from 28.1% from the pre-campaign. Overall, the mean total awareness score increased significantly, from 47.4 (SD = 6.6) pre-campaign to 50.4 (SD = 6.4) post-campaign (paired t = -4.052, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the potential of such campaigns to significantly improve understanding and awareness of drug addiction.

Awareness and Underlying Factors for Total Knee Arthroplasty Reluctance in Saudi Arabia.

Background Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a successful surgical intervention for advanced knee arthritis. The efficacy of TKA in reducing pain and restoring joint function has been well documented. Despite the rewarding outcomes of TKA for knee osteoarthritis patients, their willingness to consider the procedure is limited. Aim This study aimed to assess patients' awareness and knowledge of total knee arthroplasty benefits and complications. Further, the reasons and factors contributing to reluctance among orthopedic patients in Saudi Arabia should be determined. Methods An online, structured, and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from adult orthopedic patients of both genders who were reluctant to undergo total knee arthroplasty despite surgeons' recommendations. The online questionnaire link was shared across multiple platforms, orthopedic forums, and healthcare social media channels. Qualitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages, while continuous data were reported as the mean (standard deviation [SD]). The statistical package for the social sciences software program was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 629 participants were involved. The awareness of the expected benefits score, on a scale from 7 to 35, showed a mean (SD) of 20.9 (5.6). The score of the attitude towards expected complications, on a scale from 5 to 25, had a mean (SD) of 15.2 (3.6). The attitude towards the expected complications showed a significantly higher mean (SD) score in the older group aged >60 years than the younger one aged <40 years (15.7 (4.1) vs. 14.9 (3.5), respectively). Likewise, overweight and obese participants showed a significantly higher mean (SD) expected complications score compared to the healthy and underweight ones (15.4 (3.7) vs. 14.8 (3.5), respectively). The recorded reasons for refusal to undergo TKA were fear of anesthesia complications (317, 50.4%), followed by financial limitations (245, 39.0%), the unavailability of experienced surgeons (232, 36.9%), and fear of unfavorable outcomes (189, 30.0%). Conclusion There was a gap in knowledge and awareness of total knee arthroplasty among orthopedic patients in Saudi Arabia. Perceptions of benefits were inadequate, and there were misconceptions about the expected complications. The level of expected complications was higher among elderly and obese patients. Furthermore, fear of anesthesia complications and unfavorable outcomes, in addition to economic and financial problems, constituted major barriers to undergoing the procedure.

Disaster Risk Perception and Sustainable Earthquake Awareness Among Public and Private University Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: This research was conducted in descriptive type to determine the disaster risk perception and sustainable earthquake awareness of nursing students studying at public and private universities. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 400 nursing students studying at one public and one private university. The research was conducted between April and May 2023. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Form, University Students Disaster Risk Perception Scale (USDRPS), and Sustainable Earthquake Awareness Scale (SEAS). Data were collected online using a questionnaire created on Google Forms. Analyses included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation values, independent groups t-test, post-hoc Tukey test, LSD, and ANOVA test. RESULTS: Of the students, 61.8% had a disaster experience, 17.4% had lost a relative in the disaster, and 76.8% did not consider themselves prepared for a possible disaster. In the study, the exposure sub-dimension score of the disaster risk perception scale was found to be higher in students who had disaster experience than in those who did not (p = 0.032). Nursing students from the private university had higher sustainable earthquake awareness scores than those studying at the state university (p = 0.001). The mean scores of female students on the earthquake preparedness and preparation application sub-dimensions showed a significant difference compared to the scores of male students (p = 0.016). In the study, sustainable earthquake awareness total and earthquake preparedness sub-dimension scores were higher in second-year nursing students than in students of other years (p = 0.042; 0.015). Those who had received disaster training had low scores on the uncontrollable sub-dimension of the disaster risk perception scale, and high scores on the total SEAS and earthquake-structure relationship, earthquake preparedness, and earthquake preparation application sub-dimensions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the study, three out of four students did not find themselves prepared for disasters. Those who had disaster experience had higher disaster risk perceptions. Students who had received disaster-related training had more positive earthquake preparedness, earthquake-structure relationship, and earthquake preparation applications than those who had not. Students who were female and were in the second year had higher earthquake awareness. Studies can be carried out to inform people about the pre-disaster and preparation stages to raise awareness about disasters at universities. Education on disaster management can be integrated into courses from the first years of university.

Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: In 2020, the WHO proposed the global strategic goal of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer (CC). One of the key strategies is that, by 2030, 90% of girls will complete HPV vaccination by age 15. In 2017, HPV vaccines were first marketed in China. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the changes in parents' knowledge about CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and acceptance of HPV vaccination 5 years after the introduction of HPV vaccines into China. Associated factors and reasons for refusal by parents were also explored. METHODS: A school-based follow-up study was conducted among parents in China from May 2018 to May 2023. Comparison using Chi-square tests was performed to measure the changes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore factors associated with HPV vaccination among teenage girls. RESULTS: The overall cognitive level in terms of CC- and HPV-related knowledge among parents increased, and they expressed more willingness to vaccinate their daughter (35.4% in 2018 vs. 56.6% in 2023). The HPV vaccination rate among teenage girls remained at a low level (4.4% in 2018, 9.8% in 2023). The main obstacles reported by parents were limited knowledge (42.0%), scarcity of the HPV vaccine (29.2%), waiting until their daughter was older (27.5%), safety concerns (14.7%), high cost (9.0%), and effectiveness concerns (4.6%). Parents who are elderly, local residents, have received HPV vaccines themselves, have had experience of vaccinating their children with influenza vaccines, and have a higher knowledge level of CC, HPV and HPV vaccines are more likely to vaccinate their children with HPV vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Although we observed an increment in parents' knowledge level in terms of CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and HPV vaccine uptake over the past 5 years, the HPV vaccine coverage among girls still falls short of the WHO's 2030 target. Comprehensive intervention strategies, including tailored health education among adolescents and their parents, doctor recommendations, and providing financial subsidies or free HPV vaccines are needed in China.

Enhancing the Minimum Awareness Failure Distance in V2X Communications: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach.

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication is pivotal in enhancing cooperative awareness in vehicular networks. Typically, awareness is viewed as a vehicle's ability to perceive and share real-time kinematic information. We present a novel definition of awareness in V2X communications, conceptualizing it as a multi-faceted concept involving vehicle detection, tracking, and maintaining their safety distances. To enhance this awareness, we propose a deep reinforcement learning framework for the joint control of beacon rate and transmit power (DRL-JCBRTP). Our DRL-JCBRTP framework integrates LSTM-based actor networks and MLP-based critic networks within the Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) algorithm to effectively learn optimal policies. Leveraging local state information, the DRL-JCBRTP scheme uses an innovative reward function to increase the minimum awareness failure distance. Our SLMLab-Gym-VEINS simulations show that the DRL-JCBRTP scheme outperforms existing beaconing schemes in minimizing awareness failure probability and maximizing awareness distance, ultimately improving driving safety.

A novel analysis of interoceptive underpinnings of anxious psychopathology in COVID-19 survivors.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 affects brain, body, and their interchange. We investigated interoceptive mechanisms in COVID-19 survivors focusing on their potential link with psychopathology and inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS: We assessed interoceptive accuracy (IAc) and time-perceiving (TA) skills of 57 COVID-19 survivors one month after hospital discharge through, respectively, a heartbeats perception task and a time duration task. Each participant was assessed about his interoceptive awareness (IAw) through Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire (MAIA) and then, screened for post-traumatic (Impact of Events Scale - IES-R), anxious (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI-Y1) and depressive (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale - ZSDS; Beck Depression Inventory - BDI-13) symptoms. Biomarkers of inflammation (platelet count, PC; mean platelet volume, MPV and systemic immune-inflammation index, SII) were obtained in a subsample of 40 survivors by a blood sampling conducted at admission and discharge time from the hospital. Correlational, GLM, GLMZ, and mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS: IAc did not correlate with TA confirming the reliability of interoceptive measure. IAc positively predicts MAIA's Trusting subscale and negatively predicts anxious psychopathology which fully mediates the effect of IAc on Trusting.PC at hospital admission predicts anxiety at one month after recovery. Again, a higher decrease of SII during hospitalization predicts higher IAc skill and lower anxiety state at one month. The link between SII change and anxiety is fully mediated by IAc. CONCLUSIONS: Our results unveil a potential key role of interoception and brain-body interchange in the exacerbation and maintenance of anxiety psychopathology in COVID-19 survivors.

Socialization causes long-lasting behavioral changes.

In modern human societies, social isolation acts as a negative factor for health and life quality. On the other hand, social interaction also has profound effects on animal and human, impacting aggressiveness, feeding and sleep, among many other behaviors. Here, we observe that in the fly Drosophila melanogaster these behavioral changes long-last even after social interaction has ceased, suggesting that the socialization experience triggers behavioral plasticity. These modified behaviors maintain similar levels for 24 h and persist up to 72 h, although showing a progressive decay. We also find that impairing long-term memory mechanisms either genetically or by anesthesia abolishes the expected behavioral changes in response to social interaction. Furthermore, we show that socialization increases CREB-dependent neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity in the mushroom body, the main insect memory center analogous to mammalian hippocampus. We propose that social interaction triggers socialization awareness, understood as long-lasting changes in behavior caused by experience with mechanistic similarities to long-term memory formation.