Promoção da saúde do trabalhador e humanização no trabalho: relato das atividades realizadas na atenção primária e secundária / Promotion of worker's health and humanization at work: report of activities performed in primary and secondary care

Os objetivos deste estudo são: relatar a experiência do desenvolvimento das atividades de sensibilização dos trabalhadores relacionadas à promoção da saúde no ambiente laboral e à humanização no trabalho realizadas em dois serviços de saúde de um município do estado de Minas Gerais e avaliar junto à equipe a realização dessas atividades. As atividades de alongamento, massagens, escalda-pés, dinâmica de grupo e oficina da beleza foram realizadas na atenção primária e secundária. Utilizou-se um questionário e as respostas foram apresentadas por estatística simples. Os trabalhadores avaliaram as atividades como "excelentes"; referiram melhorar o dia de trabalho; sentiram-se valorizados e mais dispostos para o trabalho, além de solicitarem a continuidade de ações de promoção da saúde e humanização no trabalho. Por mais simples que sejam, essas atividades proporcionaram momentos de reflexões e a pausa laboral, tendo em vista a saúde do trabalhador e melhor qualidade de vida no trabalho.

The objectives of this study are: to report the experience of developing awareness activities for workers related to health promotion and humanization at work, carried out in two health services in a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais; and assess with the team these activities. Stretching activities, group dynamics, massages, foot baths, beauty workshop and health promotion were carried out in primary and secondary care. A questionnaire was used and the answers were presented by simple statistics. The workers rated the activities as "excellent"; reported improving their working day; they felt valued and more willing to work, in addition to requesting the continuity of actions to promote health and humanization at work. As simple as they are, these activities provided moments of reflection and a break from work, with a view to the worker's health and better quality of life at work.

Patient and professional perspectives on physical activity promotion in routine cancer care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUNDS: Physical activity is associated with many benefits in reducing cancer symptoms and treatments side effects. Yet, studies consistently show that knowledge about physical activity is under-promoted among people diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, we aimed to contribute to filling this gap by ascertaining patient and professional perspectives regarding physical activity promotion. METHODS: This study took place in Montreal, Canada. We conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with cancer patients who participated in a physical activity program and professionals working in the healthcare system. Participants had to be aged over 18 years, be able to communicate verbally in either English or French, and consent to an audio-recorded interview. A hybrid deductive-inductive approach to content analysis was applied to analyze interview transcripts using Dedoose and Microsoft Excel software. RESULTS: Our sample comprised 21 patients (76.2% women) and 20 professionals (80% women). We identified 24 factors (barriers, facilitators, and improvement suggestions) influencing physical activity promotion across organizational, community, and social levels. Results suggest that to improve physical activity promotion in cancer care, it is necessary to showcase exercise specialists as a healthcare resource, to champion for this change within health organizations, to develop partnerships between public and private sectors of the health and fitness industries, and to reassess social norms concerning cancer survivorship and treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings shed light on the gaps and the bright lights in physical activity promotion for people diagnosed with cancer across numerous levels.

National implementation trial of BeUpstanding™: an online initiative for workers to sit less and move more.

BACKGROUND: The online BeUpstanding™ program is an eight-week workplace-delivered intervention for desk-based workers to raise awareness of the benefits of sitting less and moving more and build a supportive culture for change. A workplace representative (the "champion") delivers the program, which includes a workshop where teams collectively choose their sit less/move more strategies. A toolkit provides the champion with a step-by-step guide and associated resources to support program uptake, delivery, and evaluation. Here we report on the main findings from the Australian national implementation trial of BeUpstanding. METHODS: Recruitment (12/06/2019 to 30/09/2021) was supported by five policy and practice partners, with desk-based work teams from across Australia targeted. Effectiveness was measured via a single arm, repeated-measures trial. Data were collected via online surveys, toolkit analytics, and telephone calls with champions. The RE-AIM framework guided evaluation, with adoption/reach (number and characteristics); effectiveness (primary: self-reported workplace sitting time); implementation (completion of core components; costs); and, maintenance intentions reported here. Linear mixed models, correcting for cluster, were used for effectiveness, with reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance outcomes described. RESULTS: Of the 1640 website users who signed-up to BeUpstanding during the recruitment period, 233 were eligible, 198 (85%) provided preliminary consent, and 118 (50.6%) champions consented and started the trial, with 94% (n = 111 champions) completing. Trial participation was from across Australia and across industries, and reached 2,761 staff, with 2,248 participating in the staff survey(s): 65% female; 64% university educated; 17% from a non-English speaking background. The program effectively changed workplace sitting (-38.5 [95%CI -46.0 to -28.7] minutes/8-hour workday) and all outcomes targeted by BeUpstanding (behaviours and culture), with small-to-moderate statistically-significant effects observed. All participating teams (n = 94) completed at least 5/7 core steps; 72.4% completed all seven. Most champions spent $0 (72%) or >$0-$5 (10%) per team member; most (67/70 96%) intended to continue or repeat the program. CONCLUSIONS: BeUpstanding can be adopted and successfully implemented by a range of workplaces, reach a diversity of staff, and be effective at creating a supportive culture for teams of desk-based workers to sit less and move more. Learnings will inform optimisation of the program for longer-term sustainability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12617000682347.

Bowel preparation experiences and needs before follow-up colonoscopy in older adult postoperative colorectal cancer patients: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The bowel preparation process prior to colonoscopy determines the quality of the bowel preparation, which in turn affects the quality of the colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is an essential procedure for postoperative follow-up monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Previous studies have shown that advanced age and a history of colorectal resection are both risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation. However, little attention has been paid to the bowel preparation experiences and needs of predominantly older adult postoperative CRC patients. AIM: To explore the experiences and needs of older adult postoperative CRC patients during bowel preparation for follow-up colonoscopy. METHODS: Fifteen older adult postoperative CRC patients who underwent follow-up colonoscopy at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai were selected using purposive sampling from August 2023 to November 2023. The phenomenological method in qualitative research was employed to construct an interview outline and conduct semi-structured interviews with the patients. Colaizzi's seven-step analysis was utilized to organize, code, categorize, summarize, and verify the interview data. RESULTS: The results of this study were summarized into four themes and eight sub-themes: (1) Inadequate knowledge about bowel preparation; (2) Decreased physiological comfort during bowel preparation (gastrointestinal discomfort and sleep deprivation caused by bowel cleansing agents, and hunger caused by dietary restrictions; (3) Psychological changes during different stages of bowel preparation (pre-preparation: Fear and resistance due to previous experiences; during preparation: Irritation and helplessness caused by taking bowel cleansing agents, and post-preparation: Anxiety and worry while waiting for the colonoscopy); and (4) Needs related to bowel preparation (detailed instructions from healthcare professionals; more ideal bowel cleansing agents; and shortened waiting times for colonoscopy). CONCLUSION: Older adult postoperative CRC patients' knowledge of bowel preparation is not adequate, and they may encounter numerous difficulties and challenges during the process. Healthcare professionals should place great emphasis on providing instruction for their bowel preparation.

Exploring the dichotomy of the mesenchymal stem cell secretome: Implications for tumor modulation via cell-signaling pathways.

Current cancer therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer are often unsuccessful due to unwanted side effects and drug resistance. Therefore, the design and development of potent, new anticancer platforms, such as stem-cell treatments, have attracted much attention. Distinctive biological properties of stem cells include their capacity to secrete bioactive factors, their limited immunogenicity, and their capacity for renewing themselves. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are one of several kinds of stem cells that are conveniently extracted and are able to be cultivated in vitro utilizing various sources. The secretome of stem cells contains many trophic factors, including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and microRNA molecules that can either promote or inhibit the formation of tumors, based on the cell environment. In the current review, we focused on the secretome of mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells act as a double-edged sword in the regulation of cell signal transduction pathways in that they can either suppress or promote tumors.

Prevalence and predictors of annual asthma reviews in Scottish primary care data.

BACKGROUND: People with asthma are recommended to have regular reviews in primary care, with assessment of symptoms, adjustment of treatment and self-management processes, and the delivery of a written action plan for emergencies. AIM: Our study aimed to investigate the incidence and factors associated with attendance of annual reviews. DESIGN & SETTING: electronic health records for approximately 50 000 Scottish asthma patients, between 2008 and 2016. METHOD: Multivariable logistic regression using linked primary care prescription data and primary care registration demographic data. RESULTS: There was a median of 381 days between subsequent reviews. Reviews in the index year were strongly associated with reviews in the following year (odds ratio 1.76 [1.68-1.84]). In contrast, asthma consultations (excluding reviews) in the index year were associated with a lower odds of having a review in the following year (0.48 [0.46-0.51]). Those aged 18-35 in the index year, or with missing address in the practice registration data, were the least likely age group to have an asthma review in the following year. CONCLUSION: Reviewing the delivery of asthma care identifies patients who may be slipping through the gaps by receiving only reactive asthma care rather than the structured, preventative care which can be delivered through annual reviews. Understanding the risk factors for not receiving an annual review can be leveraged to create more effective review invitations, such as explaining the specific content of reviews, introducing new contact methods to improve health equity, and reviewing the algorithm used to determine who is invited.

Spinoza, Liberation From Causation, and Community Health Promotion.

What sense does it make to say that a new program implemented in a community with roots as old as evolution caused an observed health benefit? Evaluation of community approaches has often sought to isolate the causal roles of interventions. Central to this is the assumption that there are causes to be proven and isolated. Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677) dismissed the concept of cause, arguing that all things, "substances," are not caused but simply are. Actions of things in nature can influence each other, e.g., erosion of a mountain, but their substance, the mountains simply are. For Spinoza, satisfaction in life comes from realizing and acting in accord with our substance, but this requires communities that support such realization and action. Thus, communities and the vast influences they contain are central to human welfare. Interventions within them do not cause benefits but join with the history, culture, and numerous other features of the community in becoming part of how the community influences its members. Implications include a) expanding the social ecological model fully to embrace multiple influences - including innovative programs - and interactions among them, and c) varied research methods to identify practical lessons about how communities may adopt and incorporate innovations to engender change, rather than a catalogue of interventions that are supposed to change them.

Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Positive Mental Health Program for Adults: Study Protocol.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a positive mental health program for adults (PMHP) in the community. BACKGROUND: Positive mental health (PMH) can be seen as a construct represented by six factors (personal satisfaction, prosocial attitude, self-control, autonomy, problem resolution, and self-actualization, and interpersonal relationship skills) according to the Multifactorial Model for PMH. Although there are several interventions in promoting mental health, research on effective promotion of PMH for adults in the community with structured and validated programs of PMH is scarce. METHODS: This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) following a wait-list control design, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a PMHP in the community. This study was approved in June 2019 by the Ethics Committee. Participants will be recruited from the school community of teachers. Participants aged ≥ 18 years. The participants will be randomized 1:1 to either (a) an intervention group, which will integrate the PMHP, or (b) the standby control group. Three assessment moments for both groups will take place initial, after the intervention, and a follow-up of 3-6 months. The evaluation instruments will include a sociodemographic questionnaire, a PMH questionnaire, and a psychological vulnerability scale. CONCLUSION: The current study provides an innovative approach to PMH. Further, the study may demonstrate new interventions in PMH in the community, based on a program with systematized guidelines and sessions structured according to individual needs. It is expected that at the end of the program, the experimental group will increase the level of PMH. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To allow future official implementation of the PMH program and the replication of the study in other professional groups as a promotion tool. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: There was no funding to remunerate a participant for this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04600401. Registered on May 15, 2020.

Evaluation of Confidence and Knowledge Regarding Chest Compression Training Among Children at a Health Promotion Event.

Introduction Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly increases out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates. Early CPR implementation and public education are essential for everyone, including children. Despite challenges such as ensuring proper chest compression depth in children, early CPR training at school is beneficial and supported by various studies. However, few studies demonstrate the effectiveness of CPR training for children in environments outside of school, such as health festivals. We conducted chest compression training for children under 15 years who attended a hospital festival and evaluated the changes in their confidence and knowledge of the training. Methods This study evaluated chest compression training in children under 15 years old at a hospital festival. Participants included preschoolers to junior high school students. Training effectiveness was assessed using pre- and post-training questionnaires to measure confidence in and knowledge of chest compressions. Data were analyzed using the χ² test to compare responses before and after training, with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. The training involved a 10-minute hands-only session using CPR mannequins conducted by paramedics, doctors, and nursing students. Results The study included 180 children (51% male, 49% female). Only 14% had prior CPR training. After CPR training, significant improvements in confidence and knowledge regarding chest compressions were observed among preschool and elementary school students. The overall correct response rate increased from 51% to 97% for the location and from 59% to 92% for the depth of chest compressions. Discussion This study evaluated CPR training for children at a hospital festival and showed that few children have experience with CPR training. Our CPR training improved children's confidence and knowledge of chest compressions. Despite concerns about the strength of younger children in effective chest compressions, preschool, and elementary school children showed high motivation and capability. This study highlights the importance of early CPR education supported by both school and health festival initiatives. The limitations include the short training duration and lack of automated external defibrillator instructions. Conclusion We confirmed that CPR training at a hospital festival improves children's knowledge and confidence. Future large-scale studies are needed to evaluate long-term retention and broader age ranges.

How influencers motivate inactive adolescents to be more physically active: a mixed methods study.

Introduction: Regular physical activity offers numerous health benefits, particularly for adolescents. However, only 14% of school-aged children in Switzerland achieve the World Health Organization's recommendation of 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Changing health behaviors is a complex process in which understanding behavioral and communication patterns is crucial. Because adolescents spend substantial time on social media channels and obtain information from them, these are potential channels for accessing health-related content. This study explores the questions of which influencers and what content motivate adolescents to be more physically active and whether influencers can impact enjoyment and the intention to engage in physical activity. Methods: The study employed a convergent mixed methods approach, combining self-assessment questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Ninety-three adolescents aged 14-20 years who exercised < 1 h per day participated. They followed one of the six participating influencers on Instagram. Over 6 weeks, the questionnaires collected quantitative data, measuring enjoyment, stages of change, and physical activity levels. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 adolescents and six influencers to gain in-depth insights. Results: The quantitative findings indicate that adolescent followers enjoyed physical activity more after the social media intervention and at follow-up than at the beginning of the study. The followers' stages of change progressed over time. Compared with those following more athletic influencers, followers of nonathletic influencers (that is, a singer, a journalist, and an eFootballer) showed increased physical activity over time. Qualitative analysis highlighted Instagram factors influencing physical activity, including resonance with influencers' lifestyles and preference for simple, relatable activities. Authentic content was positively associated with increased exercise, particularly among already motivated followers. Discussion: Unexpectedly, nonathletic influencers, such as a singer, a journalist, and an eFootballer, motivated adolescents best despite their nontraditional focus on physical activity. Their success stems from relatable lifestyles and simple activities that are easily incorporated into their daily routines. Conversely, athletic influencers demonstrated challenging exercises that were fascinating but difficult to adopt. This finding suggests the potential for utilizing nonathletic influencers in future campaigns targeting inactive adolescents.

Precision prevention in occupational health: a conceptual analysis and development of a unified understanding and an integrative framework.

Introduction: Precision prevention implements highly precise, tailored health interventions for individuals by directly addressing personal and environmental determinants of health. However, precision prevention does not yet appear to be fully established in occupational health. There are numerous understandings and conceptual approaches, but these have not yet been systematically presented or synthesized. Therefore, this conceptual analysis aims to propose a unified understanding and develop an integrative conceptual framework for precision prevention in occupational health. Methods: Firstly, to systematically present definitions and frameworks of precision prevention in occupational health, six international databases were searched for studies published between January 2010 and January 2024 that used the term precision prevention or its synonyms in the context of occupational health. Secondly, a qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze the existing definitions and propose a unified understanding. Thirdly, based on the identified frameworks, a multi-stage exploratory development process was applied to develop and propose an integrative conceptual framework for precision prevention in occupational health. Results: After screening 3,681 articles, 154 publications were reviewed, wherein 29 definitions of precision prevention and 64 different frameworks were found, which can be summarized in eight higher-order categories. The qualitative content analysis revealed seven themes and illustrated many different wordings. The proposed unified understanding of precision prevention in occupational health takes up the identified themes. It includes, among other things, a contrast to a "one-size-fits-all approach" with a risk- and resource-oriented data collection and innovative data analytics with profiling to provide and improve tailored interventions. The developed and proposed integrative conceptual framework comprises three overarching stages: (1) data generation, (2) data management lifecycle and (3) interventions (development, implementation and adaptation). Discussion: Although there are already numerous studies on precision prevention in occupational health, this conceptual analysis offers, for the first time, a proposal for a unified understanding and an integrative conceptual framework. However, the proposed unified understanding and the developed integrative conceptual framework should only be seen as an initial proposal that should be critically discussed and further developed to expand and strengthen both research on precision prevention in occupational health and its practical application in the workplace.

Providing Survivorship Care for a Young Adult With a History of Blood Cancer.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with a history of cancer are at an increased risk for late effects from their cancer treatment and have higher rates of long-term morbidity and mortality compared to their age-matched peers. As a result, this vulnerable population needs attentive follow-up care, end-organ surveillance, and secondary cancer screening; however, a history of cancer can often become buried on a problem list or not addressed at all. This case report illustrates an AYA survivor of classic Hodgkin lymphoma who relocates to a new city and establishes care with a new primary care provider (PCP). The PCP's awareness of a prior cancer diagnosis and the previous treatment regimen is a critical component in providing comprehensive care. In this case, the PCP's first step is to reach out and collaborate with oncology providers to gather an accurate treatment summary and then consult evidence-based guidelines to develop a plan of care. Based on the patient's previous treatment with chemotherapy adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine, the PCP orders recommended testing, reviews results, and provides subsequent counseling on health promotion and psychosocial wellness. This case illustrates strategies healthcare providers can use to provide coordinated, evidence-based care for AYA cancer survivors.

Development of new sustainable pyridinium ionic liquids: From reactivity studies to mechanism-based activity predictions.

CONTEXT: This study addresses the development of sustainable pyridinium ionic liquids (ILs) because of their potential applications in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Pyridinium-based ILs are known for their low melting points, high thermal stability, and moderate solvation properties. We synthesized three novel pyridinium-based ILs: 1-(2-(isopentyloxy)-2-oxoethyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride, 1-(2-(hexyloxy)-2-oxoethyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride, and 1-(2-(benzyloxy)-2-oxoethyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride. The biological activities of these compounds were evaluated through plant growth promotion, herbicidal, and insecticidal assays. Our results show that the benzyloxy derivative significantly enhances wheat and cucumber growth, whereas the isopentyloxy compound has potent herbicidal effects. Computational methods, including DFT calculations and molecular docking, were applied to understand the structure‒activity relationships (SARs) and mechanisms of action. METHODS: The computational techniques involved dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional and the 6-311G** basis set. Grimme's D3 corrections were included to account for dispersion interactions. The calculations were performed via GAMESS-US software. Quantum descriptors of reactivity, such as ionization potential, electron affinity, chemical potential, and electrophilicity index, were derived from the HOMO and LUMO energies. Molecular docking studies were conducted via the CB-Dock server via AutoDock Vina software to predict binding affinities to cancer-related proteins. Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration (POM) analysis was used to predict the drug likeness and other pharmaceutical properties of the synthesized ILs.

Promoting mental health in higher education: towards a model of well-being factors in emerging adulthood.

PURPOSE: This study aims to contribute to the development of a theoretical model that is useful for enhancing well-being/positive mental health with pedagogical resources that enable the acquisition of skills and knowledge, particularly during Emerging Adulthood. METHODS: This paper enquires into the role of well-being promotion in higher education following the dual-factor model of mental health difficulties and wellbeing. The study narratively reviews the main well-being models and presents a compared theoretical synthesis examining the dimensions that promote or facilitate the presence of well-being using a promotion approach. RESULTS: The study identifies 14 dimensions involved in wellbeing-emotional, psychological and social factors-that can be potentially improved through learning processes. Drawing on empirical and theoretical studies on emerging adult population, a factorial model is proposed. Preliminary factor interactions are examined paying close attention to the cognitive processes that explain or affect their relationship with well-being, the possible correlations between them and particularities of emerging adults. CONCLUSION: Wellbeing factors can be particularly targeted by educational promotion, as they can be developed through learning processes. An integrative model that provides a broad perspective can assist in pedagogical design and defining educational goals for these learning processes involved in wellbeing promotion.

Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Health Promotion Program for Family Caregivers of Chronic Mental Disorders: A Mixed Methods Study.

Family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders who are responsible for taking care of the patient face many problems that can endanger the psychosocial health of these people. This study was conducted to develop, implement, and evaluate a psychosocial health promotion program for family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders. This research is an exploratory sequential mixed-method study conducted using a qualitative-quantitative design. A qualitative study was conducted to explain the needs and psychosocial problems and the solution to improve the psychosocial health of family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders in two psychiatric care centers in Isfahan were conducted. Then the program was written based on Kern's programming development approach. In the quantitative stage, a part of the developed program was implemented as virtual group psychoeducation for 67 caregivers, and its impact on caregivers' burden of care was evaluated. The findings from the qualitative phase of the study led to the emergence of 3 main categories and the findings from the quantitative phase of the study indicated that the implementation of the compiled program causes a significant reduction in the burden of care in family caregivers of chronically mentally ill patients (p<0.05). The current program was prepared and developed using an evidence-based approach. Policymakers and members of the mental health team can take a valuable step toward reducing the care burden of family caregivers of chronic mental patients by using the content of the developed mental health promotion program.

Effects of a 12-week training program in outdoor gym equipment in morphological and functional parameters, quality of life, and physical activity levels in older adults.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a supervised physical training program with controlled cadence on functional fitness parameters, quality of life perception, and physical activity level in older adults. Methods: Sixty physically independent older adults were randomly divided into three groups: Supervised Training (ST, n = 20), Unsupervised Training (UT, n = 20), and a Control Group (C, n = 20). The ST and UT groups participated in a 12-week program, performing exercises three times a week for 30 min. The ST group had structured weekly sessions consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (walking at 60% of max heart rate), 20 sets of 30 s at a moderate pace controlled by a metronome with 30 s of passive recovery, and a 5-minute cool-down on non-consecutive days. The UT group trained spontaneously using senior gym equipment, including elliptical machines, rowing machines, air skiers, and leg press machines. The control group maintained their usual daily routines throughout the study. Parameters evaluated included body mass, body mass index (BMI), muscle thickness (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and vastus lateralis), and functional capacity tests (walking 10 m [W10 m], rising from a sitting position [RSP], rising from the prone position [RVDP], sitting and rising from a chair and moving around the house [SRCW]). Quality of life was assessed across physical, psychological, environmental, and social domains, and physical activity levels were also measured. Results: No significant changes (p > 0.05) in body mass, BMI, or muscle thickness were observed between groups before and after the intervention. However, significant time effects in functional fitness tests were found only in the ST group for W10 m (p = 0.0469), RVDP (p < 0.0004), RSP (p < 0.0001), and SRCW (p < 0.0001). Quality of life improved significantly over time in the ST and UT groups across all domains (p < 0.0001). Both ST and UT groups also showed significant increases in weekly physical activity time (p > 0.0001). Conclusion: 12 weeks of training improved quality of life perception and physical activity levels in older adults.

Telehealth Lifestyle Pilot Study for Improving Occupational Performance in Older Adults.

Occupation-centered lifestyle interventions improve health and delay age-related declines in older adults; however, little is known about the impact of a brief telehealth lifestyle program delivered individually. This pilot investigated the Holistic Occupational Performance Empowerment (HOPE) program on occupational performance and health-related quality of life. Twelve community-dwelling older adults completed six weekly lifestyle sessions to enhance behavior change toward individualized health goals. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) and the Short Form 20-Item Survey (SF-20) were administered preintervention and postintervention to measure program outcomes. Among 36 health-related goals, 69.4% achieved or exceeded the expected level of attainment. A paired samples t-test revealed statistically higher posttest GAS scores compared with pretest scores, indicating significant improvements in occupational performance. SF-20 mental health scores increased postintervention, although not significantly. Preliminary findings suggest that HOPE could positively impact occupational performance in community-dwelling older adults warranting a future large-scale randomized controlled trial.

Virtual Program for Improving Healthy Lifestyles in SeniorsPrevious occupational therapy (OT) programs focusing on lifestyle (e.g., physical activity, stress management) have been successful in improving the health of seniors living independently in the community; however, little is known about lifestyle programs delivered virtually (i.e., videoconferencing over the computer). This article examines the meaningful daily activities of seniors before and after participation in a 6-week virtual OT lifestyle program. Twelve seniors participated in the program which included goal setting, problem-solving, health education, and reflection. Each participant focused on three personalized goals for a healthier lifestyle throughout the program. Nearly 70% of goals achieved or exceeded the expectations of the seniors. This initial finding shows that the virtual OT lifestyle program can positively impact seniors and support healthy aging. More research is needed to determine if the results can be replicated with other seniors, including those from diverse backgrounds and living situations.

Adoption of green production technologies by farmers through traditional and digital agro-technology promotion-An example of physical versus biological control technologies.

Traditional and digital agro-technology promotion are two critical methods for disseminating agricultural technology information, which effectively encourages farmers to employ green production technologies. This paper empirically examines the effects of traditional and digital agro-technology promotion on the adoption of green production technologies by 619 apple producers in the primary apple production area of Guanzhong Plain, China, using micro-survey data. The study's findings suggest that both promotion models significantly influence the adoption of green production technologies by farmers. This conclusion remains valid after the instrumental variables approach and a series of robustness tests are implemented to address endogeneity concerns. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that the impact of the two promotion modes on the adoption behavior of green production technologies by farmers varied by scale. Specifically, digital agro-technology promotion had a greater impact on the adoption of physical control technologies by small-scale farmers, while traditional agro-technology promotion had a greater impact on the adoption of biological control technologies by large-scale households. In addition, the technological differences between traditional agrotechnology promotion and digital agrotechnology promotion result in clear complementary and substitution effects. The two modes of promotion have evident complementary effects for biological control technologies. The two modalities of promotion for physical control technologies exhibit complementary effects between social communication-type promotions and traditional agro-technology promotions, as well as substitution effects between short-video promotions and traditional agro-technology promotions.