A cross-cultural study of different facets of dissociation: Validity and relationship with childhood trauma.

BACKGROUND: Dissociative symptoms are often conceptualized as a response to childhood trauma. However, most previous studies did not consider dissociation as a multidimensional phenomenon and only focused on English-speaking samples. OBJECTIVES: To establish the cross-cultural validity of dissociation and examine the relationship of childhood trauma with different specific dissociative symptoms across two different samples. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data from two surveys were analyzed (N = 781 Chinese-speaking adults and N = 468 English-speaking adults). METHODS: Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Subsection of the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey and the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI) in their respective languages. We first established the measurement invariance of the MDI across the samples. Then, we examined the correlations between childhood trauma and different dimensions of dissociation. RESULTS: The six-factor structure of MDI achieved configural, metric and scalar invariance across the samples. In both samples, childhood trauma was significantly correlated with all facets of dissociation (rs = 0.227 to 0.450, p < .001), after controlling for age and gender. While depersonalization (r = 0.450) had the strongest correlation with childhood trauma in the Chinese-speaking sample, memory disturbance (r = 0.333) had the strongest correlation with childhood trauma in the English-speaking sample. CONCLUSIONS: Dissociation is a valid, multidimensional construct associated with childhood trauma across cultures. Yet, social and cultural factors might influence this relationship. Further studies on the complex relationship between childhood trauma and different specific dissociative symptoms, as well as possible moderators, are needed.

DSM-5 BPD and ICD-11 complex PTSD: Co-occurrence and associated factors among treatment seekers in Hong Kong.

There is an ongoing debate regarding whether ICD-11 complex PTSD and DSM-5 borderline personality disorder (BPD) are the same syndrome. Little is known about the extent to which these two conditions overlap and whether they exhibit distinct clinical correlates in Asian cultures. This study examined the co-occurrence of ICD-11 complex PTSD and DSM-5 BPD in a sample of treatment seekers in Hong Kong (N = 220). Participants completed validated self-report measures which assessed if they met the respective diagnostic criteria. In this sample, 30.9 % met the ICD-11 criteria for complex PTSD only, 10.0 % met the DSM-5 criteria for BPD only, and 28.2 % met the criteria for both conditions. Complex PTSD symptoms were most strongly associated with depressive symptoms (ß =.347, p <.001) and trauma-related maladaptive beliefs (ß =.337, p <.001), while BPD symptoms were most strongly associated with dissociative symptoms (ß =.281, p <.001). This study is the first to show that ICD-11 complex PTSD and DSM-5 BPD commonly co-occurred but were not the same construct in the Asian context, and their symptoms were associated with different sets of demographic and clinical factors. Future editions of DSM and ICD should not merge the two conditions into a single diagnosis.

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy: To screen or not to screen?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy emerges as a compelling and urgent concern within the domain of public health, casting a long shadow over a substantial cohort of women. Its pernicious consequences extend beyond the individual, enveloping the well-being of both the mother and the fetus, giving rise to an elevated risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, fetal harm, and maternal psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and, tragically, maternal mortality. Despite the prevalence of IPV being comparable to other conditions like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, a universal screening protocol for IPV remains absent globally. We reviewed the clinical guidelines and practices concerning IPV screening, painstakingly scrutinizing their contextual nuances across diverse nations. Our study unveils multifaceted challenges of implementing universal screening. These hurdles encompass impediments to victim awareness and disclosure, limitations in healthcare providers' knowledge and training, and the formidable structural barriers entrenched within healthcare systems. Concurrently, we delve into the potential biomarkers intricately entwined with IPV. These promising markers encompass inflammatory indicators, epigenetic and genetic influences, and a diverse array of chemical compounds and proteins. Lastly, we discussed various criteria for universal screening including (1) valid and reliable screening tool; (2) target population as pregnant women; (3) scientific evidence of screening programme; and (4) integration of education, testing, clinical services, and programme management to minimise the challenges, which are paramount. With the advancement of digital technology and various biomarkers identification, screening and detecting IPV in clinical settings can be conducted systemically. A systems-level interventions with academia-community-indutrial partnerships can help connect pregnant women to desire support services to avoid adverse maternal and child health outcomes.

South Asian women's views on and experiences of maternity care services in Hong Kong: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Health disparities among ethnic minority and migrant women can lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study explores the maternity care experiences of South Asian women in Hong Kong, providing insights for woman-centred and culturally responsive care in the East Asia. OBJECTIVE: To understand South Asian women's views and experiences regarding maternity care services in Hong Kong. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 20 English-speaking South Asian women who had used maternity care services in Hong Kong within the past 5 years. Data were analysed by thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Four themes were identified: 1) Comparing maternity care services in their home country versus Hong Kong; birth location, mode of birth and care. 2) Navigating Hong Kong maternal medical care system; including private public dual care and learning information from other South Asians. 3) The discrepancy in perception of optimum care; including a preferring for assistance with daily tasks, epidural anaesthesia, doctor-led care, and priority to infants' health. 4) The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity care experiences, including the cancellation of translation services and limited visiting hours. DISCUSSION: South Asian appreciate Hong Kong's public maternity services due to its perceived greater cost-effectiveness. The major incongruence between expectations and services provided being women-staff communication. CONCLUSION: The quality of healthcare in Hong Kong is appreciated. Individualized care should be offered to cater to diverse needs. Improvements in staff attitude and provision of detailed information should help alleviate feelings of differential treatment.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of dissociative symptoms in people with complex PTSD: Is complex PTSD a dissociative disorder?

The extent to which complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) can be conceptualized as a dissociative disorder remains an ongoing debate. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of dissociative symptoms in people with C-PTSD. We analyzed baseline data from an international randomized controlled trial. A total of 165 intervention seekers who met the ICD-11 criteria for C-PTSD completed standardized self-report measures of trauma, C-PTSD symptoms, dissociative symptoms, depressive symptoms, and work and social impairments. In this sample, only 42.3 % of participants exhibited clinically significant dissociative symptoms. Dissociative symptoms had a unique association with depressive symptoms and work and social impairments in our participants with C-PTSD, even after controlling for trauma exposure and C-PTSD symptoms. The data does not support the theory that C-PTSD is a dissociative disorder. However, the findings highlight the importance of recognizing dissociation in people with C-PTSD.

Trauma-related mental health problems among mothers in Taiwan and their relationship with children's emotional and behavioral problems.

ABSTRACTBackground: Trauma can give rise to mental health problems and emotional and interpersonal difficulties, which in turn can perpetuate the cycle of trauma and adversity for future generations. However, little is known about the prevalence and potential effects of trauma and trauma-related mental health problems among parents.Objective: The primary goal of this study was to examine childhood and adulthood trauma and trauma-related symptoms among mothers of children aged between 6 and 18. We also conducted exploratory analyses of their potential relationship with children's emotional and behavioural problems.Method: A total of 817 mothers living with a child aged between 6 and 18 in Taiwan completed standardized self-report assessments of trauma exposure, trauma-related symptoms, and children's emotional and behavioural problems. A subsample (n = 256) also provided follow-up data after six months.Results: Most surveyed mothers reported at least one childhood traumatic event (74.79%) and one adulthood traumatic event (78.70%); 4.4% met the ICD-11 criteria for PTSD, and 12.1% for complex PTSD; 11.4% reported clinically significant dissociative symptoms. Mothers' complex PTSD and dissociative symptoms were cross-sectionally correlated with children's emotional and behavioural problem (rs = .186 to .239, p < .001). After controlling for possible confounding variables and baseline scores, mothers' childhood non-betrayal trauma reported at baseline was found to be a predictor of children's emotional and behavioural problems reported at follow up.Conclusion: This study is the first to provide data regarding childhood and adulthood trauma and trauma-related disorders, including ICD-11 complex PTSD, among mothers in the community. It calls for more studies to understand the potential effects of intergenerational trauma.

Trauma-related symptoms are common among mothers.Mothers' childhood non-betrayal trauma predicted children's problems.Intergenerational trauma warrants recognition as a public health concern.

Fear in general populations: A cross-sectional study on perceived fear of common diseases, COVID-19, life events, and environmental threats in 30 countries.

Background: In this study, we assessed the general population's fears towards various diseases and events, aiming to inform public health strategies that balance health-seeking behaviours. Methods: We surveyed adults from 30 countries across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions between July 2020 and August 2021. Participants rated their fear of 11 factors on an 11-point Likert scale. We stratified the data by age and gender and examined variations across countries and regions through multidimensional preference analysis. Results: Of the 16 512 adult participants, 62.7% (n = 10 351) were women. The most feared factor was the loss of family members, reported by 4232 participants (25.9%), followed by cancer (n = 2248, 13.7%) and stroke (n = 1416, 8.7%). The highest weighted fear scores were for loss of family members (mean (x̄) = 7.46, standard deviation (SD) = 3.04), cancer (x̄ = 7.00, SD = 3.09), and stroke (x̄ = 6.61, SD = 3.24). The least feared factors included animals/insects (x̄ = 3.72, SD = 2.96), loss of a mobile phone (x̄ = 4.27, SD = 2.98), and social isolation (x̄ = 4.83, SD = 3.13). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was the sixth most feared factor (x̄ = 6.23, SD = 2.92). Multidimensional preference analyses showed distinct fears of COVID-19 and job loss in Australia and Burundi. The other countries primarily feared loss of family members, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks; this ranking was consistent across WHO regions, economic levels, and COVID-19 severity levels. Conclusions: Fear of family loss can improve public health messaging, highlighting the need for bereavement support and the prevention of early death-causing diseases. Addressing cancer fears is crucial to encouraging the use of preventive services. Fear of non-communicable diseases remains high during health emergencies. Top fears require more resources and countries with similar concerns should collaborate internationally for effective fear management.

Building a baby-friendly community: Development, strategy, implementation and evaluation of a BFCI program.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the use of baby-friendly community initiative (BFCI) model on various stakeholders in the community. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental research design. METHOD: The study was conducted in public premises and online workshops from April 2019 to September 2022. Participants were followed up for a period of 1 month, except for those employed at public premises. The program involved training based on an accredited BFCI framework to cultivate a breastfeeding-friendly attitude and knowledge. A paired sample t-test was used to examine breastfeeding attitude and knowledge scores before and after BFCI training among staff employed from public premises. An analysis of variance was conducted to examine the breastfeeding self-efficacy and attitude scores, measured repeatedly at different timepoints over 1-month timepoint (T0, T1 and T2) among pregnant and postpartum women. RESULTS: A total of 2340 perinatal women and 1339 staff from public premises were recruited. For staff, there was an increase in the mean score of breastfeeding knowledge and attitude by 5.8 and 6.1, respectively, at T1. Similarly, for perinatal women, there was an increase in the mean score of breastfeeding self-efficacy and attitude by 6.6 and 3.3, respectively, at T1. CONCLUSION: In summary, a BFCI model, with active community participation, accreditation and an award system, has been effective in promoting breastfeeding. Adapting the baby-friendly hospital initiative to local contexts and employing a social theory model can enhance breastfeeding promotion and improve infant health outcomes. Prioritizing culturally sensitive breastfeeding education is crucial for successful BFCI implementation. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Healthcare professionals should consider clients' culture and socio-economic backgrounds when providing breastfeeding education to maximize effectiveness. The target audience for breastfeeding education should be expanded to include various community stakeholders beyond families. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? This study addressed the problem of knowledge gaps among stakeholders in building a breastfeeding-friendly community, particularly in implementing a baby-friendly community initiative (BFCI) as part of a baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI). The research filled a service gap by providing effective interventions targeting community stakeholders and assessing the impact of a BFCI program on their knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding. What were the main findings? The findings highlighted the effectiveness of a BFCI program in enhancing breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among frontline staff and increasing breastfeeding confidence among mothers. These findings contribute to the understanding of the program's impact on different stakeholders in the community. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? It impacts on global policymakers by providing insights for developing comprehensive guidelines for future BFCI implementations. It also contributes to the creation of a more baby-friendly community, benefiting breastfeeding families and their infants by promoting and supporting breastfeeding families. REPORTING METHOD: This study has adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines using the TREND reporting guideline. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL CLINICAL COMMUNITY?: This study provides an overview of the establishment of a localized BFCI program. It also opens up a new direction for the community to investigate BFCI strategies for community stakeholders. It also provides evidence to support other countries in following a similar process, as each country approaches becoming breastfeeding-friendly in its own unique way. TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: No protocol.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Willingness to Sustain Pandemic-Induced Digital Work in the General Population and Moderating Effects of Screen Hours: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic has accelerated digital work transformation, yet little is known about individuals' willingness to sustain such digital modes and its associated factors. A better understanding of this willingness and its drivers is crucial for guiding the development of future digital work infrastructure, training programs, and strategies to monitor and prevent related health issues. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to quantify the general population's willingness to sustain pandemic-induced digital work, identify its associated factors, and examine how screen time moderates these relationships. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting Hong Kong residents aged ≥18 years who have increased engagement in digital work since the pandemic. Data were collected through self-reported, web-based surveys. Descriptive statistics determined prevalence rates, while structured multiphase logistic regression identified associated factors and explored the moderating effects of screen hour levels. RESULTS: This unfunded study enrolled 1014 participants from May 2 to June 24, 2022, and completed data analysis within 3 months after data collection. A total of 391 (38.6%; 95% CI 35.6%-41.6%) participants expressed willingness to sustain digital work. Positive factors associated with this willingness included being an employee (odds ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% CI 1.59-6.45; P=.001), being health professionals (OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.49-7.82; P=.004), longer screen hours (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15; P=.002), and higher depression levels (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.44; P=.04). Conversely, negatively associated factors included older age (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.94; P=.001), extroversion (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.86; P=.002), higher eHealth literacy (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.98; P<.001), perceived greater susceptibility to COVID-19 (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74-0.96; P=.009), residence in a high-severity COVID-19 community (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63-0.84; P<.001), having infected individuals in the immediate social circle (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46-0.88; P=.006), higher BMI (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.99; P=.02), feelings of being out of control (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.98; P=.002), and higher fear of COVID-19 (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98; P=.001). In addition, a moderating effect of screen hour level (high: >8 h/d; low: ≤8 h/d) influenced the association among 10 factors related to willingness to sustain pandemic-induced digital work, including age, education level, household size, needs for regular medical care, BMI, frequency of both vigorous and moderate physical activities, perceived COVID-19 severity, immediate social circle COVID-19 presence, and fear of COVID-19 (all P values for interaction <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The substantial willingness of the general population to sustain digital work after the pandemic highlights the need for robust telework infrastructure, thorough monitoring of adverse health outcomes, and the potential to expand telehealth services among this group. The identification of factors influencing this willingness and the moderating role of screen hours inform the development of personalized strategies to enhance digital work acceptance where needed.

Key lifestyles and health outcomes across 16 prevalent chronic diseases: A network analysis of an international observational study.

Background: Central and bridge nodes can drive significant overall improvements within their respective networks. We aimed to identify them in 16 prevalent chronic diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to guide effective intervention strategies and appropriate resource allocation for most significant holistic lifestyle and health improvements. Methods: We surveyed 16 512 adults from July 2020 to August 2021 in 30 territories. Participants self-reported their medical histories and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes. For each disease subgroup, we generated lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks. Variables with the highest centrality indices in each were identified central or bridge. We validated these networks using nonparametric and case-dropping subset bootstrapping and confirmed central and bridge variables' significantly higher indices through a centrality difference test. Findings: Among the 48 networks, 44 were validated (all correlation-stability coefficients >0.25). Six central lifestyle factors were identified: less consumption of snacks (for the chronic disease: anxiety), less sugary drinks (cancer, gastric ulcer, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes), less smoking tobacco (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), frequency of exercise (depression and fatty liver disease), duration of exercise (irritable bowel syndrome), and overall amount of exercise (autoimmune disease, diabetes, eczema, heart attack, and high cholesterol). Two central health outcomes emerged: less emotional distress (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eczema, fatty liver disease, gastric ulcer, heart attack, high cholesterol, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes) and quality of life (anxiety, autoimmune disease, cancer, depression, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome). Four bridge lifestyles were identified: consumption of fruits and vegetables (diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and insomnia), less duration of sitting (eczema, fatty liver disease, and heart attack), frequency of exercise (autoimmune disease, depression, and heart attack), and overall amount of exercise (anxiety, gastric ulcer, and insomnia). The centrality difference test showed the central and bridge variables had significantly higher centrality indices than others in their networks (P < 0.05). Conclusion: To effectively manage chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced interventions and optimised resource allocation toward central lifestyle factors, health outcomes, and bridge lifestyles are paramount. The key variables shared across chronic diseases emphasise the importance of coordinated intervention strategies.

Nurse-Led Brief Intervention for Enhancing Safe Sex Practice Among Emerging Adults in Hong Kong Using Instant Messaging: Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of sexually transmitted infections has been increasing throughout the world. Additionally, substantial changes in emerging adults' attitudes toward sex and the popularization of premarital sex could further affect the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. With the high acceptability and effectiveness of instant messaging (IM) interventions for health promotion, there is potential for such interventions to improve condom use knowledge and promote safer sex practice. OBJECTIVE: The study evaluates the feasibility of a nurse-led IM intervention to promote safer sex practices in emerging adults. METHODS: A 30-minute adaptive IM intervention and a 5-day booster dose of daily messages after 2 weeks through WhatsApp (Meta Platforms, Inc) were conducted with emerging adults in local universities in Hong Kong aged between 18 and 29 years with previous sexual experience. A questionnaire was distributed 1 week after the intervention that measured the consistency in condom use, the change in condom use knowledge and attitudes, and the acceptability of the intervention. The feasibility of the intervention was assessed by Bowen's feasibility framework. RESULTS: A total of 20 participants completed the intervention and questionnaire. Results showed (1) high satisfaction level (mean satisfaction score: 9.10/10), (2) high demand of the intervention (retention rate: 95%), (3) smooth implementation of the intervention, (4) high practicality (13/20, 65% of the participants viewed IM to be an effective means of intervention), (5) potential integration of the intervention, and (6) significant mean increase in condom use knowledge and attitudes (mean increase 9.05; t19=3.727; 95% CI 3.97-14.13; P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: The IM intervention was feasible, acceptable, and had potential impacts on improving safer sex practices. These findings will support the future development of IM interventions in the arena of sexual health promotion.

Effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of delivery by different healthcare professionals.

This study addresses the gap in understanding the varied effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy (gCBT) delivered by different professionals. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluate gCBT and compare it to inactive controls in adults with a clinical diagnosis of depression. A total of 33 RCTs were included for analysis. In the overall analysis, 'profession of gCBT deliverer' was not a significant moderator in the meta-regression model (p = 0.57). For people without comorbidity, the overall effect size estimate was -0.69 (95% CI, -1.01. to -0.37, p = 0.03). Among gCBT deliverers, psychologists and nurses/psychiatric nurses demonstrated significant effectiveness, with psychologists showing a large effect size of -0.78 (95% CI, -1.25 to -0.30, p < 0.01) and nurses/psychiatric nurses showing a medium effect size of -0.45 (95% CI, -0.85 to -0.05, p = 0.03). The certainty of evidence for both professionals was moderate. These results have significant implications for the delivery of mental healthcare, as nurses/psychiatric nurses may be more accessible and cost-effective than psychologists in some settings. However, further research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of gCBT delivered by a broader range of healthcare professionals for patients with depression and other comorbidities.

Text messaging interventions for breastfeeding outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Given the health benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers, breastfeeding has become a significant public health issue. The global growth of mobile phone usage has created new options for breastfeeding promotion, including text messaging. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of text messaging interventions on breastfeeding outcomes and to identify the efficacy moderators of such interventions. METHODS: Ten electronic databases were searched from the inception of the databases to 5 July 2023. Studies were included if they used randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs to evaluate the effect of text messaging interventions on breastfeeding outcomes. Two reviewers screened the included studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted the data. Pooled results were obtained by the random-effects model, and subgroup analyses were conducted on intervention characteristics to identify potential moderators. The protocol of this study was registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022371311). RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Text messaging interventions could improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate (at <3 months: OR = 2.04; 95 % CI: 1.60-2.60, P < 0.001; at 3-6 months: OR = 1.66; 95 % CI: 1.18-2.33, P = 0.004; at ≥6 months: OR = 2.13; 95 % CI: 1.47-3.08, P < 0.001), and the breastfeeding self-efficacy (SMD = 0.30, 95 % CI: 0.14-0.45, P < 0.001). Text messaging interventions that covered antenatal and postnatal periods, delivered weekly were most effective in improving the exclusive breastfeeding rate. CONCLUSIONS: Text messaging interventions may improve breastfeeding practice compared with no or general health information. We suggest text messaging conducted from the pre- to postnatal periods in a weekly manner can effectively increase exclusive breastfeeding rates and breastfeeding self-efficacy. Further studies should investigate the relation between new theories (such as the health action process approach and the theory of message-framing) and efficacy of breastfeeding interventions, using text components.

Health and economic burden of low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis attributable to smoking in 192 countries and territories in 2019.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Smoking is a risk factor for low back pain (LBP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to estimate the global health and economic burden of LBP and RA attributable to smoking. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was conducted in 192 countries and territories. CASES: Prevalent cases of LBP and RA were used, extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study 2019 data repositories. MEASUREMENTS: Smoking-attributable health and economic burden was estimated with the population-attributable fraction method. Smoking-attributable prevalence of LBP and RA and health-care costs were estimated for patients of all ages, whereas years lived with disability (YLDs) and productivity losses due to morbidity were estimated for patients aged 15-84 years. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) of the results were obtained by repeating the analysis with the lower and upper bounds of all input variables. FINDINGS: Globally, smoking accounted for 84.5 million (UI = 56.7-120.2 million) prevalent cases of LBP, 1.8 million (UI = 0.5-3.4 million) prevalent cases of RA and 11.3 million (UI = 6.2-18.5 million) YLDs, which represented 1.5% of all-cause YLDs in the working-age population aged 15-84 years in 2019. Health-care costs and productivity losses of smoking-attributable LBP and RA cost the global economy purchasing-power parity $326.0 billion (UI = $184.0-521.4 billion), representing 0.2% of the global gross domestic product. Specifically, smoking accounted for $65.8 billion (UI = $38.0-101.2 billion) in health-care costs world-wide, with more than half [$39.8 billion (UI = $23.1-61.3 billion), 60.6%] borne by the public sector. Smoking also contributed to $260.3 billion (UI = $146.0-420.3 billion) in productivity losses globally. Approximately 60.0% of the global YLDs were observed in middle-income countries, whereas 84.4% of health-care costs and 72.7% of productivity losses were borne by high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, in 2019, smoking accounted for more than 11.0 million years lived with disability and purchasing-power parity $326.0 billion in economic losses due to low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis. Middle-income countries suffered more morbidity, whereas high-income countries experienced larger economic losses.

Associations of eHealth literacy and knowledge with preventive behaviours and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based online survey.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the associations of COVID-19 preventive behaviours and depressive and anxiety symptoms with eHealth literacy and COVID-19 knowledge among Korean adults. DESIGN: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2020. SETTING: Seoul metropolitan area in South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: 1057 Korean adults were recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between eHealth literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, COVID-19 preventive behaviours and psychological distress were computed using Pearson's correlation and logistic regression analyses. eHealth literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, COVID-19 preventive behaviours and psychological distress were weighted by sex and age distribution of the general population in Seoul Metropolitan area. RESULTS: 68.40% (n=723) perceived high eHealth literacy level (eHEALS ≥26), while 57.43% (n=605) had high levels of COVID-19 knowledge (score ≥25). No significant association between eHealth literacy and COVID-19 knowledge was identified (r=0.05, p=0.09). eHealth literacy and COVID-19 knowledge were significantly associated with COVID-19 preventive behaviours (aOR=1.99, 95% CI 1.51 to 2.62 L; aOR=1.81, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.34, respectively). High eHealth literacy was significantly associated with anxiety symptom (aOR=1.71, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.47) and depressive symptom (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.30). COVID-19 knowledge had negative and no associations with the symptoms (aOR=0.62, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.86; aOR=0.79, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.03, respectively). High eHealth literacy with low COVID-19 knowledge was positively and significantly associated with COVID-19 preventive behaviours (aOR=2.30, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.43), and anxiety (aOR=1.81, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.01) and depressive symptoms (aOR=2.24, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.55). High eHealth literacy with high COVID-19 knowledge were significantly associated with more preventive behaviours (aOR=3.66, 95% CI 2.47 to 5.42) but no significant associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: We identified that eHealth literacy and COVID-19 knowledge were not associated each other, and differently associated with individuals' COVID-19 preventive behaviours and psychological well-being. Public health strategies should pay attention to enhancing both eHealth literacy and COVID-19 knowledge levels in the public to maximise their COVID-19 preventive behaviours and mitigate their psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic.

Post-traumatic responses to workplace violence among nursing professionals: a collaborative and comparative study in South Korea and Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence has had a significant and negative psychological impact on nursing professionals worldwide. Concerted worldwide efforts to improve work environments have not yet removed nursing professionals from the threat of violence. It is highly essential to conduct comparative research in various working environments where the nurses of each country have unique experiences of workplace violence. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the rate, associated factors, and post-traumatic responses to workplace violence between South Korean and Chinese nurses in Hong Kong among East Asian countries. METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational study design recruited a total of 471 registered nurses (319 South Korean nurses and 152 Chinese nurses in Hong Kong; overall response rate = 78.5%) at online communities in South Korea and Hong Kong. The data were collected by conducting a Qualtrics survey from January 15, 2020, to July 24, 2021. A structured questionnaire was administered for data collection, including rate of workplace violence, perception of workplace violence, attitudes toward workplace violence, coping styles, post-traumatic cognitions, post-traumatic stress disorder, post-traumatic growth, and mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and stress). T-test, chi-squared, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: In our sample, 30.7% South Korean nurses and 31.6% Chinese nurses in Hong Kong had experienced workplace violence. South Korean and Chinese nurses in Hong Kong with experience of workplace violence had lower perceptions of it. Nurses with experience of workplace violence reported lower levels of mental health, and this trend was more prominent among South Korean nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings showed a positive association between workplace violence and post-traumatic responses in both settings. We found that the close monitoring of post-traumatic responses associated with workplace violence could be improved by enhancing nurses' perception of workplace violence.

Key lifestyles and interim health outcomes for effective interventions in general populations: A network analysis of a large international observational study.

Background: The interconnected nature of lifestyles and interim health outcomes implies the presence of the central lifestyle, central interim health outcome and bridge lifestyle, which are yet to be determined. Modifying these factors holds immense potential for substantial positive changes across all aspects of health and lifestyles. We aimed to identify these factors from a pool of 18 lifestyle factors and 13 interim health outcomes while investigating potential gender and occupation differences. Methods: An international cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 countries across six World Health Organization regions from July 2020 to August 2021, with 16 512 adults self-reporting changes in 18 lifestyle factors and 13 interim health outcomes since the pandemic. Results: Three networks were computed and tested. The central variables decided by the expected influence centrality were consumption of fruits and vegetables (centrality = 0.98) jointly with less sugary drinks (centrality = 0.93) in the lifestyles network; and quality of life (centrality = 1.00) co-dominant (centrality = 1.00) with less emotional distress in the interim health outcomes network. The overall amount of exercise had the highest bridge expected influence centrality in the bridge network (centrality = 0.51). No significant differences were found in the network global strength or the centrality of the aforementioned key variables within each network between males and females or health workers and non-health workers (all P-values >0.05 after Holm-Bonferroni correction). Conclusions: Consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugary drinks, quality of life, emotional distress, and the overall amount of exercise are key intervention components for improving overall lifestyle, overall health and overall health via lifestyle in the general population, respectively. Although modifications are needed for all aspects of lifestyle and interim health outcomes, a larger allocation of resources and more intensive interventions were recommended for these key variables to produce the most cost-effective improvements in lifestyles and health, regardless of gender or occupation.

The global health and economic impact of low-back pain attributable to occupational ergonomic factors in the working-age population by age, sex, geography in 2019.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational ergonomic factors (OEF) include physical exertion, demanding posture, repetitive work, hand-arm vibration, kneeling or squatting, rising, and climbing, which are risk factors for low-back pain (LBP). This study aimed to examine the prevalence, years lived with disability (YLD), healthcare costs, and productivity losses of LBP attributable to OEF by age, sex, World Health Organization region, and country in 2019. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, prevalence and YLD were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Employment statistics were obtained from the International Labor Organization websites. Health and economic impact was estimated for 192 countries and territories using the population attributable fraction method. RESULTS: Globally, OEF were responsible for 126.1 million prevalent cases of LBP and 15.1 million YLD in the working-age population (aged 15-84 years) in 2019, with the Western Pacific region suffering most. OEF-attributable LBP led to $216.1 billion of economic losses worldwide. Of these, $47.0 billion were paid in healthcare costs, with the public sector serving as the largest contributor (59.2%). High-income countries bore >70% of global economic burden, whereas middle-income countries experienced >70% of global YLD. Generally, more prevalent cases and healthcare costs were found among females, whereas more YLD, productivity losses, and total costs were found among males. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, OEF-attributable LBP presented a heavy burden on health and economic systems. Exercise together with education, active monitoring, evidence-based medical practices, alternative cost-effective solutions, and prioritizing health policies are needed.

Oral care knowledge, attitude and practice among nursing staff in acute hospital settings in Hong Kong.

Investigating the oral care delivered by nursing staff in acute hospital setting is having a remarkable shortage within the current literature. This was provoked due to lack of previous performed investigation in the acute hospital setting besides inconsistent existence of a standardized and comprehensive oral care knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) instrumentation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the oral care KAP level for inpatients among nursing staff; to identify possible barriers to the provision of oral care; and to identify training preferences to improve the oral care of inpatients, in acute hospital settings in Hong Kong; and to provide standardized comprehensive KAP based assessment tool that would benefit and guide other future studies. In this study, a cross-sectional survey was conducted after a 55-item self-administered structured questionnaire was developed. A modified KAP tool was developed. The tool includes 4 domains: oral care knowledge, attitude, practice, and experience. Nursing staff was recruited from July 2018 to April 2019 via convenience sampling. Either online or printed questionnaires were completed. Proportions of nursing staff with good KAP, as defined by having 60% of the total score in the respective domain, were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Analysis of covariance was used to compare the mean scores of KAP among different independent variables and identify the factors associated with good KAP. 404 nursing staff were recruited. Approximately 29.5%, 33.7% and 14.9% of the respondents had good oral care knowledge, attitude and practice, respectively, and 53.2% of the respondents had unpleasant oral care experience. Better oral care practice was associated with higher levels of oral care knowledge (ß = 0.1) and oral care attitude (ß = 0.3). To conclude: nursing staff in acute hospital settings reported low levels of oral care KAP with variations between the RN, EN and HCA. This study adds to the literature the association between oral care unpleasant experiences and the oral care practice, as well as oral care knowledge and attitude which also in turns associated with practice. The developed standardised tool could be applied for future studies. Recommendations on the future research, training and practices were made.