Underlying motivators for anti-vaccination attitudes amongst regional Sunshine Coast parents in Australia.

BACKGROUND: The Immunisation Register of Australia reports that childhood vaccination rates in some regional areas are below herd immunity levels. This is a concern for the health and well-being of society, as regions with low vaccination rates have an increased risk of disease outbreaks. OBJECTIVE: This study explored psychological motivators as predictors of anti-vaccination attitudes amongst parents living on the Sunshine Coast (Queensland), Australia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design explored anti-vaccination attitudes, conspiratorial thinking, psychological reactance, trust in government and magical beliefs about health in 1050 parents (968 mothers). RESULTS: The predictor variables significantly accounted for 42% of the variance in parental anti-vaccination attitudes. The strongest predictor of anti-vaccination attitudes was lower levels of trust in government. CONCLUSION: The findings contribute to understanding of psychological factors motivating anti-vaccine attitudes in Australian parents. The findings may help inform health communication campaign effectiveness in their alignment with individual underlying motivations.

The effect of dietary interventions or patterns on the cardiometabolic health of individuals treated with androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: A systematic review.

Prostate cancer survivors treated with androgen deprivation therapy may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary recommendations for the prevention and/or management of cardiovascular disease for these individuals are lacking. This review synthesizes the evidence on the effect of dietary interventions on cardiometabolic biomarkers and cardiovascular disease risk in prostate cancer survivors receiving androgen deprivation therapy. A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Intervention or observational cohort studies evaluating diets, nutrients, or nutraceuticals with or without concurrent exercise interventions on cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular events, or cardiovascular disease biomarkers in those treated with androgen deprivation therapy were included. Confidence in the body of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. Twelve studies reported across fifteen papers were included. Interventions were heterogenous, with most studies including an exercise co-intervention (n = 8). Few significant findings for the effects of diet on cardiometabolic markers were likely due to weak methodology and sample sizes. Strongest evidence was for the effect of a healthy Western dietary pattern with exercise on improved blood pressure (Confidence: moderate). The healthy Western dietary pattern with exercise may improve high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Confidence: Low) and flow-mediated dilation. Soy may improve total cholesterol (Confidence: Very low). A low-carbohydrate diet with physical activity may improve high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, incidence of metabolic syndrome, and Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score. Evidence of the effect of dietary interventions on cardiometabolic biomarkers and cardiovascular disease risk of prostate cancer survivors receiving androgen deprivation therapy is insufficient to inform practice. Well-designed dietary interventions aimed at improving cardiometabolic outcomes of this population are warranted to inform future dietary recommendations.

COVID-19's impact on learning processes in Australian university students.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has accentuated the role and interplay of numerous educational factors, inviting pedagogical research concerning online education. Using self-determination theory's basic psychological needs and fundamental learning theories, identified educational factors were integrated into three pathways: (1) autonomy, technology acceptance, and self-regulation of learning; (2) relatedness, authentic happiness, and a classroom community; and (3) competency, harmonious passion, and trait conscientiousness. This study extends educational research by elucidating the relationships between psychological need fulfilment, educational factors, and students' expectations of their future grades during the impact of COVID-19. Australian university students (N = 226, 77% female) completed questionnaires assessing their experience of home isolation, factors of each hypothesised pathway, and their expected grades. Structural equation modelling revealed that higher need fulfilment significantly predicted engagement in educational factors and that educational factors are complexly interrelated, providing resilience, motivation, and the mechanisms that facilitate learning. Most importantly, relatedness between academics and students positively influenced all learning pathways. Reciprocal determinism demonstrated the most substantial association with expected grades, and new insight was gained into the interrelationships of passion, trait conscientiousness, and self-regulation of learning.