[Utilization of remote psychosocial intervention with men: What is the state of knowledge?] / L'utilisation de l'intervention psychosociale à distance auprès des hommes : quel est l'état des connaissances ?

Background Remote psychosocial intervention has been used by most health care organizations since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rapid introduction of this type of practice generates new methods of intervention that raise many questions, particularly about men who, in general, use face-to-face psychosocial intervention less than women. This documentary research aims to report on current knowledge on remote psychosocial intervention with men. Methods PICO technique was used to find relevant documents to achieve the objective of this research. In accord with our criteria, 62 documents were selected in several databases and search engines. The selected texts were subject to an analysis process consisting of two stages: the creation of reading sheets followed by a content analysis. Results The results underline the lack of scientific data on the men's experience when they initiate a request for help, the commitment process, and the effectiveness of the remote intervention. Several elements seem potentially promising, including patients' perceptions of having more power and freedom which could favorize engagement of men who have a traditional vision of masculinity. Conclusions It appears that gender-related variables are not commonly used when it comes to analyze the effects of distance psychosocial intervention. Other studies will be needed to have a holistic vision of the realities experienced by men towards the offer of remote psychosocial intervention.

[Comparative study on the predictive factors of anxiety among Quebec university students during the pandemic (COVID-19)]. / Étude comparative sur les facteurs prédictifs de l'anxiété d'étudiant(e)s québécois(-es) universitaires durant la pandémie (COVID-19).

Objective In this study, we present the results of a comparative research carried out on three cohorts of university students in the context of a pandemic. Several research indicate that the anxiety level of populations has increased significantly. Method In this article, we present the results of a comparative study of three cohorts study conducted on 1674 Quebec students. Participants were recruited at three separate time points, in the summer of 2020 (cohort 1; N = 398), in the fall of 2020 (cohort 2; N = 621) and in the winter of 2021 (cohort 3; N = 655). Anxiety was measured using Beck's anxiety inventory and several sociodemographic variables were tested. Results Results from cohort 1 indicate that being younger and having a mental health diagnosis may be vulnerability factors for anxiety. For cohort 2, the interaction of gender x diagnosis x program of study had a significant effect. Age and family income were predictive of significant anxiety in cohort 3. Limitations and perspectives of the study are explored. Conclusion The study recommends that the results be considered in developing preventive and intervention programs in the post-pandemic period.

Psychological, Physical and Behavioral Health of Adults, 3 Years After Exposure to a Train Derailment.

In July 2013, a train derailment profoundly disrupted the tranquility of the population of Lac-Mégantic for months and even years. In 2016, we conducted a representative population-based survey among 387 people from Lac-Mégantic and 413 from other municipalities with the aim to document psychological and physical health of adults exposed to the disaster. This article examines differences between 3 groups of respondents: those who were highly, moderately or not exposed to the train accident. Khi Square analyses, odds ratios and logistic regressions were used to examine differences between the 3 groups of respondents (high, moderate and no exposure). Results show that the level of exposure to this technological disaster is strongly associated with psychological suffering, post-traumatic growth, physical heath, drinking patterns, and use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs. We can explain these results by the nature and cause of the event as well as its consequences.

The Overall Health of Men Who Do Fly-in Fly-Out Work in the Mining Sector.

Fly-in fly-out (FIFO) continues to be a fact of life for many men working in the mining industry. The goal of this article is to gain a better understanding of the impacts of FIFO on the overall health of men working in the mining sector and the relationship these men have to seeking help. A qualitative study of 22 men was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide modeled after Torkington et al. Results indicate that men present poor health as a result of workplace-specific performance requirements (long workdays, difficult environmental conditions), being physically far away from their family, and the fact that they do not often seek mental health help. Additional studies with a much larger sample of men are necessary.

Epitope-Analyzer: A structure-based webtool to analyze broadly neutralizing epitopes.

The antigenic epitope regions of pathogens (e.g., viruses) are recognized by antibodies (Abs) and subsequently cleared by the host immune system, thereby protecting us from disease. Some of these epitopes are conserved among different variants or subgroups of pathogens (e.g., Influenza (FLU) viruses, Coronaviruses), hence can be targeted for potential broad-neutralization. Here we report a web-based tool, Epitope Analyzer (EA), that rapidly identifies conformational epitope and paratope residues in an antigen-antibody complex structure. Furthermore, the tool provides the ways and means to analyze broadly neutralizing epitopes by comparing the equivalent epitope residues in similar antigen structures. The similarity in the epitope residues between (multiple) pairs of similar antigen molecules suggest the presence of conserved epitopes that can be targeted by broadly neutralizing antibodies. These details can be used as a guide in developing effective treatments, such as the design of novel vaccines and formulation of cocktail of broadly neutralizing antibodies, against multiple variants or subgroups of viruses. The web application can be freely accessed from the URL, http://viperdb.scripps.edu/ea.php.

Predictive Factors of Spiritual Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multivariate Analysis.

COVID-19 has led to the implementation of various social and sanitary measures, impacting populations' quality of life. Aims: Documenting the spiritual quality of life (SQoL) of university employees and students in Quebec, Canada. A survey of 2,202 employees and students was conducted using health measurement tools, including the short version of the WHOQoL-SRPB. We ran a multiple linear regression to determine which variables promote the SQoL. SQoL was very low (2.92/5). Positive mental health, religion, and age are the main predictors of the SQoL. Some dimensions of spirituality contribute more than others to the respondents' quality of life and health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impacts of Environmental Changes on Well-Being in Indigenous Communities in Eastern Canada.

Climate change and natural resource exploitation can affect Indigenous people's well-being by reducing access to ecosystem services, in turn impeding transmission of traditional knowledge and causing mental health problems. We used a questionnaire based on the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) to examine the impacts of environmental changes on 251 members of four Indigenous communities in the eastern Canadian boreal forest. We also considered the potential mitigating effects of sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, parenthood, and time spent on the land) and protective factors (i.e., health, quality of life, resilience, life on the land, life in the community, and support from family and friends). Using linear regression, model selection, and multi-model inference, we show that the felt impacts of environmental changes increased with age but were lower for participants with higher quality of life. The effect of resilience was opposite to expectations: more resilient participants felt more impacts. This could be because less resilient individuals ceased to go on the land when environmental changes exceeded a given threshold; thus, only the most resilient participants could testify to the impacts of acute changes. Further research will be needed to test this hypothesis.

Medium-Term Effects of a Train Derailment on the Physical and Psychological Health of Men.

In July 2013, the derailment of a train caused the death of 47 people and the destruction of Lac-Mégantic's downtown area (Canada). Three years after this event, a population survey was conducted among a representative sample of 800 adults, including 282 men. Several significant differences were observed among respondents of a survey based on their level of exposure to this tragedy, including their physical (changes in physical health) and psychological health (post-traumatic stress disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, psychological distress, signs of depression, consultation of social workers and psychologists) as well as their use of prescribed (anxiolytics and antidepressants) and nonprescribed drugs. Such results can be explained by the nature, magnitude, and cause of the event.

Seniors Who Experienced the Lac-Mégantic Train Derailment Tragedy: What Are the Consequences on Physical and Mental Health?

Introduction: In July 2013, a train derailment caused the death of 47 people and destroyed the downtown area in the city of Lac-Mégantic (Quebec, Canada). This tragedy had several impacts on this small community. Method: Three years after this disaster, we used a representative population-based survey conducted among 800 adults (including 265 seniors aged 65 or above) to assess the physical and mental health of seniors. Results: Several differences were observed in seniors' physical and mental health based on their level of exposure to the tragedy. Nearly half of seniors highly exposed to the train derailment (41.7%) believe that their health has deteriorated in the past 3 years. The majority of seniors highly exposed to the train derailment (68.7%) also show symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorders. Seniors highly or moderately exposed to the tragedy were also more likely to have found positive changes in their personal and social life as compared with nonexposed seniors. Discussion: A technological disaster such as a train derailment still had negative impacts on seniors' physical and mental health 3 years later. Conclusion: Public health authorities must tailor prevention and promotion programs to restore health and well-being in this population.

Men's Help-Seeking Attitudes in Rural Communities Affected by a Natural Disaster.

The article describes a mixed methods study of help-seeking in men living in the Chilean Central Valley, following exposure to a major earthquake event in 2010. The results identify that, within the sample, positive attitudes toward help-seeking correlated with younger age, higher education levels, above-average incomes, and stable personal relationships. It appears that education plays a significant role in shaping such positive attitudes, particularly by influencing views of gender roles and help-seeking. Conversely, older men's reticence toward seeking help appeared linked to negative perceptions of available services and the influence of traditional notions of masculinity. The study concludes that adapting interventions and service offers to men's needs in rural contexts must include an ecosystemic analysis of their reality and incorporate an understanding of masculinity socialization processes.

Medium-Term Health of Seniors Following Exposure to a Natural Disaster.

The article aims to describe the medium-term impacts of a major earthquake event (Chile, February 27, 2010) on 26 seniors. The authors adopted a qualitative study approach. Data obtained using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) show the presence of manifestations of posttraumatic stress in the majority of respondents. In addition, data collected in interviews demonstrated a progressive deterioration of the health of respondents over a period of 4 years following the disaster. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the effects of material loss, emotional stress, and postdisaster health complications. These impacts are exacerbated by low economic status. Furthermore, broader research is necessary involving elderly living in poverty who have survived natural disasters and others without such experiences, in order to better identify and differentiate between health complications associated with exposure to disaster events and those linked more strictly with natural aging processes.

Review of chronic non-cancer pain research among Aboriginal people in Canada.

PURPOSE: Aboriginal people in Canada are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses, compared to non-Aboriginal Canadians. The purpose of this review was to determine whether differences exist between the two groups with respect to chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) in order to better inform clinical practice and to identify research gaps. DATA SOURCES: Four electronic databases were searched for the period of 1990-2015. STUDY SELECTION: Only English and French language original studies that examined CNCP prevalence, assessment tools and beliefs among Aboriginal people in Canada were considered. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extracted included Aboriginal group, geographic location, study setting and pain definition (for prevalence studies only). RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 11 studies matched the selection criteria: 10 reported estimates of chronic pain prevalence among Aboriginal people in Canada, 1 was about a culturally adapted pain assessment tool, and no study was found about CNCP beliefs within Aboriginal people. CONCLUSION: CNCP among Aboriginal people is still a largely unexplored research field. The limited evidence available so far does not allow us to conclude that CNCP affects a higher proportion of Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal people in Canada. However, arthritis, a specific condition associated with chronic pain, is more prevalent in Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal people. Additional research is needed on other CNCP types and conditions. Furthermore, pain assessment tools are not culturally adapted and clinicians should inquire more about the beliefs of Aboriginal patients to make them feel safer and to better target interventions.

Chilean Men Exposed to the Major Earthquake in 2010.

The article presents the results of a study involving 18 men, 4 years after one of South America's most powerful natural disasters: An earthquake occurring off the coast of Chile in February 2010. Participants reported having developed new psychological health problems in the months following the catastrophe. The manifestations most frequently reported by participants were the presence of depressive and stress symptoms, as well as sleep disorders. The majority of participants registered scores of 33 and above on the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, indicating that they were suffering from posttraumatic stress. Furthermore, although the majority of interviewed men reported having suffered psychological or physical health problems following the disaster, only a small minority had sought help from professional health services. The article develops insights into the men's social interactions and underlines the importance of supporting further research on red health topics, in particular the help-seeking behavior of men following exposure to natural disasters.