48 research outputs found
Comparison of quality of life in a group of Lebanese type 1 diabetics on insulin pump and those on multiple daily injections
Get PDFAim: The aim of the study is to investigate the differences in the quality of life (QOL) in Lebanese youths with type 1 diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and those using multiple daily injections (MDI) treatment modalities.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative matched design was used. The sample included 36 adolescents and young adults on one of two treatment modalities (CSII or MDI) and matched for age, gender, and level of education. QOL was measured with the Indiana Diabetes Quality of Life for Youth and latest HbA1C level was recorded.Results: The CSII group had significantly lower HbA1C levels (p < 0.001), and reported better health perception (p = 0.029), more satisfaction with life (p = 0.002), less impact of the disease (p = 0.002), and fewer worries about their disease (p = 0.029), compared to the MDI group. The overall quality of life score was also significantly better in the CSII group than in the MDI group (p = 0.001).Conclusions: Findings suggest that CSII is associated with better glycemic control and QOL in the Lebanese youth population with type 1 diabetes
Healthy-Eater Self-Schema and Dietary Intake
Full text linkThe types and amounts of foods consumed have been shown to influence the health risks of individuals. Empirical evidence has documented a link between high dietary fat and low fiber intake and the risks for cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer, and obesity. Dietary surveys of Americans show higher fat and lower fiber intake than stipulated in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, despite the noted increase in public awareness regarding the importance of adopting healthy eating habits. The lack of congruence between the availability of dietary knowledge and behavioral adherence to dietary recommendations suggests a need to further understand the predictors of dietary intake. In this study, the authors used the schema model of the self-concept to explore the role of self-beliefs in predicting dietary intake in community-dwelling, working-class, middle-aged adults.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66463/1/Healthy-Eater Self-Schema and Dietary Intake.pd
Experiences and Health Outcomes of Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Study
Get PDFBackground Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes are at risk of poorer diabetes-related health outcomes than other age groups. Several factors affecting the health and experiences of the emerging adults are culture and healthcare specific.Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the experience of emerging adults living with type 1 diabetes in Lebanon, describe their diabetes self-care and diabetes-related health outcomes (HbA1c and diabetes distress), and identify the predictors of these outcomes.Methods A convergent mixed methods design was used with 90 participants aged 18-29 years. Sociodemographic, clinical data, and measures of diabetes distress, social support, and self-care were collected. Fifteen emerging adults participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Multiple linear regression was used to determine predictors of diabetes outcomes. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Data integration was used to present the mixed methods findings.Results The study sample had a mean HbA1c of 7.7% (SD = 1.36) and 81.1 % reported moderate to severe diabetes distress levels. The participants had good levels of diabetes self-care and high levels of social support. HbA1c was predicted by insulin treatment type, age at diagnosis, and diabetes self-care; while diabetes distress was predicted by diabetes knowledge, blood glucose monitoring approach, and diabetes self-care. “Living with type 1 diabetes during emerging adulthood: the complex balance of a chemical reaction” was the overarching theme of the qualitative data, with three underlying themes: “Breaking of bonds: changes and taking ownership of their diabetes”, “The reactants: factors affecting the diabetes experience”, and “Aiming for equilibrium”. The integrated mixed methods results revealed one divergence between the qualitative and quantitative findings related to the complexity of the effect of received social support.Discussion The suboptimal health of the emerging adults despite good self-care highlights the importance of addressing cultural and healthcare specific factors such as diabetes knowledge and public awareness, social support, and availability of technology to improve diabetes health. Findings of this study can guide future research, practice, and policy development
The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance
Get PDFINTRODUCTION
Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic.
RATIONALE
We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs).
RESULTS
Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants.
CONCLUSION
Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century
Self cognitions as motivational predictors of healthy eating.
Full text linkDietary fat and fiber intakes are acknowledged as risk factors for heart disease and some cancers, the leading causes of mortality in the U.S. Thus dietary behavior is targeted in interventions to prevent diet related illnesses. Building on value expectancy theories and the self concept framework, a conceptual model was developed to predict dietary behavior. This study explored the relationships between self thoughts about future health, eating styles, self efficacy, body weight, personality traits and social identities, in addition to nutrition knowledge and demographic variables, and their predictive power over dietary intention and behavior. New measures were developed for self cognitions related to eating and personality, and intention. Pilot testing was done and revisions made, then acceptable reliabilities were achieved in the main study (alpha > .7). A mailed survey was sent to a sample of 401 middle-aged working adults, with 78 questionnaires returned (response rate = 19.5%). Hierarchical regression with moderation and mediation testing were used to test the cognitive model, explaining 65% of the variance in intention and 58% of variance in dietary intake. Self-efficacy and being on a special diet were the most significant predictors of intention (beta values .67 and .24, respectively), and both moderated the effect of self-knowledge as 'healthy eater' on intention. Health related fears had indirect effects on intention mediated through self-efficacy, whereas diet health association knowledge had indirect effects through self-knowledge as healthy eater. Intention and being on a special diet were the most significant predictors of behavior (beta values .53 and .22, respectively), with intention mediating the effect of self-knowledge as healthy eater, and the latter variable mediating the effect of education on behavior. Logistic regression of self knowledge as healthy eater showed self efficacy, diet health association knowledge, enjoyment of food and self perception as overweight to be significant predictors, classifying correctly 76% of cases. The findings suggest that when counseling individuals about diet, nurses need to start by assessing how their clients view themselves in relation to their eating habits, body weight and health. Intervention then must be tailored to those self-beliefs.Ph.D.Health and Environmental SciencesNursingNutritionUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/123724/2/3001020.pd
Do health-related feared possible selves motivate healthy eating?
No full textThe question of what motivates individuals to assume healthy eating habits remains unanswered. The purpose of this descriptive survey is to explore health-related feared possible selves in relation to dietary beliefs and behavior in adults. A convenience sample of 74 middle-aged employees of a health maintenance organization completed self-administered questionnaires. Health-related feared selves, current health perception, knowledge of diet-health association, dietary self-efficacy, dietary intention and intake were measured. Health-related fears were the most frequently reported feared selves, but very few of those represented illnesses and none were related to dietary intake. The number of health and body weight related fears was significantly associated with lower dietary self-efficacy and weaker intention to eat in a healthy manner. Multivariate analysis showed self-efficacy to be the only significant predictor of dietary intention. These adults may not have perceived being at risk for diet-associated illnesses, and so their feared selves did not motivate them to eat in a healthy manner. Research on the effect of hoped for health related possible selves and the perceived effectiveness of diet in reducing health risk are recommended
