RESUMO
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the globe have been exposed to large amounts of statistical data. Previous studies have shown that individuals' mathematical understanding of health-related information affects their attitudes and behaviours. Here, we investigate the relation between (i) basic numeracy, (ii) COVID-19 health numeracy, and (iii) COVID-19 health-related attitudes and behaviours. An online survey measuring these three variables was distributed in Canada, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) (n = 2032). In line with predictions, basic numeracy was positively related to COVID-19 health numeracy. However, predictions, neither basic numeracy nor COVID-19 health numeracy was related to COVID-19 health-related attitudes and behaviours (e.g. follow experts' recommendations on social distancing, wearing masks etc.). Multi-group analysis was used to investigate mean differences and differences in the strength of the correlation across countries. Results indicate there were no between-country differences in the correlations between the main constructs but there were between-country differences in latent means. Overall, results suggest that while basic numeracy is related to one's understanding of data about COVID-19, better numeracy alone is not enough to influence a population's health-related attitudes about disease severity and to increase the likelihood of following public health advice.
RESUMO
El declinar de la función testicular propia del envejecimiento ha adquirido relevancia en los últimos años, sin embargo aún no se conoce su prevalencia, ni existe uniformidad para el diagnóstico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con el objetivo de determinar la prevalencia y características clínico-hormonales del déficit androgénico en varones de 60 años y más. Se incluyeron 70 sujetos de un área de salud, seleccionados mediante muestreo aleatorio estratificado polietápico, a los cuales se interrogó sobre la presencia de síntomas de deficiencia androgénica, se les realizó examen físico general y genital y determinaciones de testosterona total, hormona luteinizante y hormona folículo estimulante en sangre periférica. De acuerdo con las concentraciones de la testosterona se dividieron en 2 grupos: a) sujetos con deficiencia androgénica y b) sujetos sin deficiencia androgénica. Los que presentaron déficit androgénico tenían un peso significativamente superior, una proporción mayor de obesidad y una talla significativamente inferior. Los síntomas de déficit androgénico fueron frecuentes, los refirieron indistintamente los integrantes de ambos grupos y se presentaron independientemente de las concentraciones de las hormonas sexuales. En general, las gonadotropinas estaban aumentadas fundamentalmente a expensas de hormona folículo estimulante y su comportamiento fue independiente de las concentraciones de testosterona(AU)
Decline of testicular function typical of aging has acquired relevance in past years, however yet it is unknown its prevalence and there is not evenness for its diagnosis. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was made to determine the prevalence and clinical-hormonal features of androgen deficit in males aged 60 or more. Included are 70 subjects from a health area selected by multistage stratified randomized sampling that were interrogated about presence of androgen deficiency syndrome and underwent a physical and genital examination and total testosterone determinations, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in peripheral blood. According the testosterone concentrations they were divided into two groups: a) subjects presenting with androgen deficiency and b) subjects without this type of deficiency. Those with androgen deficit had a higher weight, a higher obesity ratio, and a significantly lower height. The symptoms of androgen deficit were frequent, recounted indiscriminately by both groups and independently of sexual hormone concentrations. Generally, gonadotropins were increased mainly at the expense of follicle-stimulating hormone and its behavior was independent of the testosterone concentrations(AU)