Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Employees' Workplace Health Promotion Preferences.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to profound changes in the workplace as well as increases in stress, missed preventive care, and other health concerns. There is limited research since the onset of the pandemic on employees' primary health concerns and their willingness to engage with workplace health promotion (WHP) programs to address these needs. We conducted this survey about employees' current health priorities as a first step to exploring whether WHP programs need to evolve to be responsive to employees' needs at this stage of the pandemic. DESIGN: National cross-sectional survey. SETTING: United States, April 29-May 5, 2022. SUBJECTS: 2053 Americans employed part or full time. MEASURES: 17-item online survey assessing demographics, health priorities, and impact of the pandemic on health. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics, SPSS Version 19. RESULTS: Employees' most common health concerns included work/life balance and stress (each cited by 55%). Nearly half (46%) said their health or well-being was affected by the pandemic; within this group, the most common concerns were stress (66%), anxiety (61%), sleep (49%), and depression (48%). Almost all (94%) indicated they would be open to receiving support from their employers. CONCLUSION: This research is a first step in learning about employees' current health priorities and how they may have changed. WHP researchers and practitioners can determine how their programs align with current priorities. Our future research will explore employees' preferences, heath behaviors, and their current workplace environments in more depth.

Evaluación de la capacidad discriminativa de los indicadores antropométricos y su relación predictiva de diabetes en trabajadores de salud del Hospital Universitario de Guayaquil - Ecuador / Evaluation of the discriminative capacity of anthropometric indicators and their predictive relationship of diabetes in health workers of the University Hospital of Guayaquil - Ecuador

Objetivo: Evaluar la capacidad discriminativa de predicción de diabetes con indicadores antropométricos, bioquímicos y antecedentes. Métodos: Se utilizaron dos modelos, el análisis de las curvas ROC y regresión logística binaria. Resultados: Mediante el análisis de las curvas ROC, el perímetro abdominal obtuvo mayor poder discriminativo de predicción (AUC=0,747; p<0,001; IC: 0,624-0,870), en comparación a la glicemia (AUC=0,749; p<0,001; IC: 0,645-0,852) y el índice de cintura-talla (AUC=0,737; p=0,001; IC: 0,638-0,836). Los antecedentes patológicos personales se incluyen en la ecuación de regresión logística P(Y=1) = (1+e0,693+1,897APP)-1 para predecir el riesgo de tener diabetes en el futuro. Conclusiones: El perímetro abdominal obtuvo mayor poder discriminativo, seguido de los antecedentes patológicos personales.

Objective: To evaluate the discriminative ability to predict diabetes with anthropometric and biochemical indicators and medical history. Methods: The sampling carried out was census and the sample consisted of 104 workers. A longitudinal study was carried out to evaluate the discriminative ability to predict diabetes with the anthropometric, biochemical, and antecedent indicators, using two models, the analysis of the ROC curves and binary logistic regression. Results: By analyzing the ROC curves, the abdominal circumference obtained greater predictive discriminative power (AUC = 0.747; p <0.001; CI: 0.624-0.870), compared to glycemia (AUC=0.749; p <0.001; CI: 0.645-0.852) and the waist-height index (AUC=0.737; p=0.001; CI: 0.638-0.836). Personal medical history is included in the logistic regression equation P(Y=1)=(1+e0,693+1,897APP)-1 to predict the risk of developing diabetes in the future. Conclusions: The abdominal circumference obtained the highest discriminative power, followed by the pathological history.

Evidencias sobre la inequidad en la distribución de recursos humanos en salud / Evidence on inequality in the distribution of human health resources / Preuves sur l'inégalité dans la distribution des ressources humaines pour la santé / Evidências sobre a desigualdade na distribuição dos recursos humanos para a saúde

Resumen Objetivo: Identificar evidencias sobre el estudio de inequidad en la distribución de recursos humanos en salud y sus herramientas metodológicas. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de tipo descriptivo, se identificaron investigaciones sobre la equidad en la distribución de recursos humanos en salud. La consulta se realizó con cuatro motores de búsqueda en internet en idiomas español e inglés, utilizando los términos: equidad en salud, distribución, recursos humanos en salud y personal de salud. El período para la revisión fue del 12 de abril al 29 de mayo del 2017, haciendo una clasificación de los estudios encontrados con base en la perspectiva de distribución de los recursos humanos en salud. Resultados: Países como Australia, Alemania, Francia y Suecia han estudiado la equidad en términos de la distribución poblacional entre zonas rurales y urbanas. Uno de los métodos empleados es la densidad poblacional, por ejemplo, en México la tasa de médicos por 1,000 habitantes a nivel nacional es de 2.2, inferior al promedio de los países miembros de la OCDE, que es de 3.2. Otra de las formas de inequidad en la distribución de recursos humanos, se presenta por niveles de atención donde se tiende a concentrar recursos humanos en nivel hospitalario. En México en 2015, solo el 32.7% del total de médicos y el 29.9% del total de enfermeras de la Secretaría de Salud se ubicaba en unidades de primer nivel de atención, ambos porcentajes se encuentran por debajo de la cifra recomendada por la OMS (40%). Conclusiones: El estudio de la inequidad en salud requiere de la comprensión de conceptos de igualdad y equidad. Las diferencias en la distribución de recursos humanos se presentan en términos poblacionales y por niveles de atención. Los indicadores para su estudio son útiles, ya que permiten señalar las deficiencias en la asignación y la distribución.

Abstract Objective: To identify some evidence on the study of equity in the distribution of human health resources and its methodological tools. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was carried out to identify inequity in the distribution of human resources in health. The search was conducted in Spanish and English, using the terms: health equity, distribution, human resources in health and health personnel. The period for the review was from April 12th to May 29th, 2017. A classification of the studies found was based on the perspective of distribution of human health resources. Results: Countries such as Australia, Germany, France and Sweden have studied equity in terms of population distribution between rural and urban areas. To estimate it one of the most used indicators is the Gini Index. Another method used is that based on the criterion of population density, based on population-based rates, for example, in Mexico the rate of doctors per 1,000 inhabitants nationwide is 2.2, lower than the average of the Member countries of the OECD, which is 3.2. Another form of inequality in the distribution of human resources is presented by levels of care where human resources tend to be concentrated at the hospital level. In Mexico in 2015, only 32.7% of the total number of physicians and 29.9% of the total number of nurses in the Ministry of Health were located in primary care units, both of which are below the WHO recommended figure (40 %). Conclusions: The study of inequity in health requires the understanding of concepts of equality and equity. Indicators for the study of equity are useful as they point to deficiencies in the allocation and concentrations of human resources in certain áreas.

Resumo Objetivo: Identificar as evidências sobre o estudo da desigualdade na distribuição de recursos humanos de saúde, e as ferramentas metodológicas. Materiais e métodos: Realizou-se um estudo descritivo onde foram identificados estudos que abordam a desigualdade na distribuição dos recursos humanos em saúde. A busca foi realizada em Espanhol e Inglês, usando os termos: equidade em saúde, distribuyo, recursos humanos em saúde e pessoal de saúde. O prazo para a revisáo era do 12 de abril ao 29 de maio 2017, fazendo-se uma classificação dos estudos encontrados a partir da perspectiva da distribuição dos recursos humanos em saúde. Resultados: Países como a Austrália, a Alemanha, a França e a Suécia estudaram a equidade em termos de distribuyo da população entre as zonas rurais e urbanas, o índice de Gini é um dos indicadores mais utilizado para estimá-la. Outro método utilizado baseia-se no critério da densidade de popuyáo; baseando-se nessa taxa com base populacional, por exemplo no México, a taxa de médicos por 1000 habitantes pelo país todo é 2,2, menor do que a média em países membros da OCDE, que é de 3,2. Outra forma de desigualdade na distribuição de recursos humanos, é apresentado por nivel de atenção onde tende a concentrar-se recursos humanos no nivel hospitalar. No México, em 2015 apenas 32,7% dos médicos e 29,9% dos enfermeiros do Ministério da Saúde foram localizados em unidades de cuidados primários, ambas porcentagens sáo inferiores as recomendadas pela OMS (40 %). Conclusões: O estudo da desigualdade na saúde exige a compreensão de conceitos de igualdade e equidade. Indicadores para o estudo da equidade são úteis porque permitem identificar as deficiencias na alocação de recursos humanos e concentrações de recursos humanos em determinadas áreas.

Résumé Objectif: Identifier des évidences dans des études sur finiquité de la distribution des ressources humaines pour la santé et les outils méthodologiques utilisés. Matériel et méthodes: L'étude est descriptive. Des études sur finiquité dans la distribution des ressources humaines pour la santé ont été identifiées au moyen de quatre moteurs de recherche Internet, en espagnol et en anglais. Les termes utilisés ont été les suivants: équité en santé, distribution, ressources humaines pour la santé et personnel de santé. La révision a porté sur la période du 12 avril au 29 mai 2017. Une classification des études trouvées d'apres la perspective de la distribution des ressources humaines pour la santé a été menée. Résultats: Des pays comme l'Australie, l'Allemagne, la France et la Suede ont étudié l'équité dans la distribution de la population entre les zones rurales et urbaines. L'un de l'indicateur utilisé est la densité de population; par exemple, au Mexique, le taux national de médecins pour 1000 habitants est de 2,2, en dessous de la moyenne des pays membres de l'OCDE qui est de 3,2. Une autre forme d'iniquité dans la distribution des ressources humaines se situe dans les niveaux de soins ou il existe une tendance a la concentration en milieu hospitalier. Au Mexique, en 2015, seulement 32,7 % des médecins et 29,9 % du personnel infirmier de la «Secretaría de Salud¼ (équivalent au Ministere de la Santé) se trouvent dans les unités de soins primaires. Ces deux pourcentages sont inférieurs au chiffre recommandé par la OMS (40 %). Conclusions: L'étude de l'iniquité en santé requiert la compréhension des concepts d'égalité et d'équité. Les différences dans la distribution des ressources humaines se situent en termes de population et dans les niveaux de soins. Les indicateurs sont utiles pour étude de l'équité car ils permettent d'identifier les lacunes dans l'affectation y la distribution

Neuroinflammation and brain atrophy in former NFL players: An in vivo multimodal imaging pilot study.

There are growing concerns about potential delayed, neuropsychiatric consequences (e.g, cognitive decline, mood or anxiety disorders) of sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). Autopsy studies of brains from a limited number of former athletes have described characteristic, pathologic changes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) leading to questions about the relationship between these pathologic and the neuropsychiatric disturbances seen in former athletes. Research in this area will depend on in vivo methods that characterize molecular changes in the brain, linking CTE and other sports-related pathologies with delayed emergence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. In this pilot project we studied former National Football League (NFL) players using new neuroimaging techniques and clinical measures of cognitive functioning. We hypothesized that former NFL players would show molecular and structural changes in medial temporal and parietal lobe structures as well as specific cognitive deficits, namely those of verbal learning and memory. We observed a significant increase in binding of [(11)C]DPA-713 to the translocator protein (TSPO), a marker of brain injury and repair, in several brain regions, such as the supramarginal gyrus and right amygdala, in 9 former NFL players compared to 9 age-matched, healthy controls. We also observed significant atrophy of the right hippocampus. Finally, we report that these same former players had varied performance on a test of verbal learning and memory, suggesting that these molecular and pathologic changes may play a role in cognitive decline. These results suggest that localized brain injury and repair, indicated by increased [(11)C]DPA-713 binding to TSPO, may be linked to history of NFL play. [(11)C]DPA-713 PET is a promising new tool that can be used in future study design to examine further the relationship between TSPO expression in brain injury and repair, selective regional brain atrophy, and the potential link to deficits in verbal learning and memory after NFL play.