Search Results (11,458)

Objectives: This study examines the recommendation behaviors and influencing factors for the 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) among 3579 Chinese healthcare workers (HCWs), including 1775 pediatric care providers (Peds-PCPs) and 1804 primary care providers (PCPs). Data were collected from May to July 2023 through a national cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire, distributed across hospitals providing pediatric services in five provincial-level administrative divisions. Methods: The sociodemographic data, vaccine knowledge, and recommendation practices were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test, Wilcoxson rank-sum test, and multivariate logistic regression. Results show that while PCPs are more likely to recommend PCV13, vaccine hesitancy persists among Peds-PCPs. Logistic regression revealed that higher influenza vaccination intention, salary, vaccine consultation frequency, familiarity with immunization, work ethic, and flexible schedules positively impacted HCWs’ recommendation behavior. Results: Factors influencing Peds-PCPs’ recommendations include vaccine training (OR: 1.470, CI: 1.049–2.509), safety recognition (OR: 1.986, CI: 1.163–3.391), concern over rejection (OR = 1.274, CI: 1.076–1.508) and vaccine cost (OR = 1.203, CI: 1.023–1.414). For PCPs, influencing factors were the perceived susceptibility of children to pneumonia (OR = 2.185, CI: 1.074–4.445), acceptance of herd immunity (OR: 1.717, CI: 1.101–2.677), and belief that parents with better family conditions are more likely to accept vaccine recommendations (OR = 1.229, CI: 1.024–1.477).  Conclusion: This survey underscores the need for tailored interventions to address differing perceptions and enhance confidence in the safety and efficacy of vaccines among HCWs, particularly Peds-PCPs. Full article

Background: Numerous risk factors have been identified as significantly influencing outdoor workers’ risk for heat stress and heat-related conditions, impacting their health, well-being, and productivity. However, the specific effects of these factors on construction workers’ safety, health, and well-being remain under-researched. With climate change increasing temperatures, assessing heat stress among construction workers is imperative. Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators influencing the safety of natural gas construction workers and evaluate an implemented heat stress intervention. Methods: In the summer of 2023, two semi-structured interviews and six focus groups were conducted with twenty-one stakeholders at a Texas natural gas construction site. Results: Key facilitators include employee preparedness, use of employer-provided resources, hydration logs, and real-time communication tools. Contrarily, the barriers include daily work schedules, access to dehydrating beverages, and generational differences with the non-implementation of mandatory rest breaks. The heat stress program was perceived as effective, surpassing recommended guidelines. Conclusion: To advance construction workers’ safety, health, and well-being, both employee involvement and employer management are needed, along with no-cost accessible resources. Additionally, implementing a required routine rest break and comprehensive heat stress education, particularly for older workers, will significantly promote safety and safe work practices in hot environments. Note: in this study, the terms ‘worker’ and ‘employee’ are used interchangeably. Full article

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is high among older adults worldwide, significantly affecting their quality of life and overall health. Understanding the prevalence of MSDs and their associated factors is crucial to developing effective preventive and management strategies in Thailand. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and their associated factors among older patients at Walailak University Physical Therapy Clinic. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the medical records of 396 older patients. Data on demographics, underlying diseases, career types, and treatments were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics chi-squared tests, and logistic regression analysis to determine their associations with MSD prevalence. The overall prevalence of MSDs was 89.90%. MSD prevalence was higher among female patients than among male patients (p < 0.001). The most commonly affected body regions were the lower back, shoulders, and knees. Career type (p < 0.001) had the highest impact on the presence of MSDs after controlling for sex, age, and underlying diseases as covariates in a logistic regression model. Manual labor and heavy industry workers as well as pensioners showed an increased risk of MSDs. While older age was associated with a higher MSD prevalence using chi-squared statistics, it was removed from the logistic regression models. Pensioners were the most likely to receive treatment, indicating the need for targeted interventions for individuals with physically demanding occupations. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and further research on socioeconomic factors, lifestyle behaviors, and comorbidities to manage MSDs among older adults in Thailand. Full article

TikTok has more than 1.5 billion users globally. Health and wellness content on the application increased by more than 600% in 2021. This systematic review seeks to summarize which fields within medicine have embraced researching health communication on the TikTok platform and the most common measures reported within this literature. Research questions include what categories of health topics on TikTok are investigated in the literature, trends in topics by year, and types of outcomes reported. Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE databases were searched in March 2024. Eligible studies met four criteria: (1) investigated human health topics on TikTok; (2) conducted in the United States; (3) published in English; and (4) published in a peer-reviewed journal. Of the 101 included studies, 50.5% (N = 51) discussed non-surgical specialties, 9.9% (N = 10) discussed topics within surgery, and 11.9% (N = 12) discussed COVID-19. The number of papers referencing non-surgical topics spiked in 2023, and no increase was seen in the number of COVID-19 papers over time. Most papers reported a number of interactions, and papers about mental health were least likely to report accuracy. Our findings highlight several health topics with a wide breadth of research dedicated to them, such as dermatology and COVID-19, and highlight areas for future research, such as the intersection of cancer and TikTok. Findings may be influential in the fields of medicine and healthcare research by informing health policy and targeted prevention efforts. This review reveals the need for future policies that focus on the role and expectations of the healthcare worker in health communication on social media. Implications for clinical practice include the need for providers to consider an individual’s perception of health and illness, given the wide variety of information available on social media applications such as TikTok. This review was pre-registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024529182). Full article

The work and life routine of long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs) involve the use of truck stops and rest areas to meet their basic human needs. These extensions of their workspaces on the road do not always offer adequate physical structures and services that drivers need for optimal health. This study aimed to evaluate long-haul truck drivers’ perceptions of food services, safety, physical activity, rest, and personal hygiene offered at truck stops and rest areas, as well as the correlation between these perceptions and sociodemographic, health, and work conditions variables. A cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study was conducted with long-haul truck drivers from the southern region of Brazil. For data collection, a sociodemographic questionnaire and a Likert scale on food, rest, personal hygiene, safety, and physical activity services offered at truck stops and rest areas along Brazilian roads from March to August 2023 were used. The data were analyzed with simple frequency descriptive statistics. The sample consisted of 175 long-haul truck drivers. Out of these, 70.29% declared that the services of the truck stops and rest areas were charged; more than half (53.59%) of the professionals evaluated the rest service as “good” or “excellent”; the food services were “good” or “excellent” for 42.24% of the drivers. The spaces for physical activities were the worst evaluated as “bad” or “terrible” by 41.61%, followed by bathroom services (28.42%) and safety (34.24%). Rest and feeding services had better evaluations, while the services of bathroom, safety, and physical activity presented worse evaluations. Variables such as nationality, weekly working days, and marital status presented positive significance and influenced drivers’ perceptions of the services offered at truck stops and rest areas. Drivers who were Brazilian and worked more than five days a week negatively evaluated the services of rest (p = 0.018), safety [0.020], physical activity (0.003), and bathrooms (0.020). In addition, the physical activity services were better evaluated by single drivers than married drivers. These findings suggest that the work conditions and nationality may influence LHTDs’ perceptions of services and structures of truck stops and rest areas. These findings may reflect a lack of investments and support efforts to improve basic services such as personal hygiene, a safe environment, and physical exercises, which are fundamental to the health of the workers and aimed at reducing vulnerability and a sedentary lifestyle and meeting the basic human needs of LHTDs. Full article

Agriculture is the largest water user of all sectors. In arid regions in particular, achieving efficient water use in agriculture is an important way to solve water scarcity. However, the difference in water use efficiency between arid and humid regions has long been a focus of academic debate. Many studies consider water use efficiency to be higher in humid areas due to the abundance of water resources. This view is based on the fact that less irrigation in humid areas may lead to higher crop yields and better conditions for agricultural production; however, it ignores the efforts of researchers and agricultural workers in arid zones who have attempted to develop efficient water-saving technologies, as well as the effect of natural conditions on agricultural production. Correctly evaluating the efficiency of agricultural water use in arid zones is important for achieving efficient use of water resources, as well as for water management decisions. This study calculates the yield structure and water productivity of typical crops in both arid and humid regions in China based on the footprint theory and other methodologies. This approach allows for an accurate assessment of irrigation water benefits in various regions, providing a scientific basis for improving agricultural water use efficiency under different climatic conditions. The study results indicate that the average reliance on blue water for wheat and cotton gradually increases from 49.9% to 93.6% as regional aridity intensifies, ranging from the Central China Humid Region to the Northwest China Arid Region. Similarly, the average contribution of blue water to crop yield rises from 31.0% to 100%, while irrigation water productivity increases from 0.27 kg·m⁻³ to 0.53 kg·m⁻³. Finally, this study concludes that, in arid zones with lower precipitation and more hours of sunshine, a higher dependence on blue water for crop growth and development leads to a higher productivity of irrigation water. In addition, in arid zones, the focus should be on optimizing the use of irrigation water and improving irrigation technology and efficiency, while, in humid zones, there should be more use of natural precipitation to efficiently reduce dependence on irrigation water. Full article

Hygiene practices are crucial for the production of fermented products, as they affect both product quality and safety. Fermented products, including dairy-based such as kefir, kombucha, and traditional ethnic drinks, rely on beneficial microbes. However, poor cleanliness might introduce dangerous microorganisms, jeopardizing customer health and product stability. This study aims to discuss the key hygiene measures required for safe and high-quality drinkable dairy-based and plant-based fermented product production and to avoid cross-contamination, fermentation vessels, utensils, and storage containers should be cleaned and sterilized regularly. Personal hygiene for workers is also critical, including adequate handwashing, the use of protective equipment, and hygiene protocol training. Another key part of industrial facility management is environmental control and furthermore, adopting Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems allows for the systematic identification and mitigation of production-related risks. Regular microbiological examination of items and surfaces helps to ensure that hygiene methods are effective and that the products fulfill safety requirements. Therefore, strict hygiene measures must be followed when creating fermented drinks to provide safe, high-quality products. Such procedures not only protect consumer health, but also improve product shelf life and sensory properties, increasing consumer trust and satisfaction. Full article

This study investigated the effectiveness of a five-session virtual professional development program designed to increase the knowledge of inclusive education practices among school-based professionals from 26 schools on a topic of their choice. Participants, including administrators, general and special education teachers, child study team members (i.e., school psychologists, school counselors, and social workers), and others, demonstrated statistically significant increases in content knowledge on Accommodations and Modifications, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Co-teaching, and Differentiation, as measured by pre- and post-assessments. Utilizing multilevel modeling and dependent samples t-tests, the results confirm the usefulness of virtual professional development in building knowledge of inclusive education practices. The findings provide empirical support for virtual training and offer insights into best practices for delivering professional development in inclusive education, suggesting future research should investigate the long-term impacts on classroom practices and student outcomes. Full article

Although rapid economic growth can produce various positive outcomes, the fast-paced society that inevitably accompanies it often results in longer working hours and higher stress levels, leading to reduced participation in sport activities among employees. To better understand this phenomenon, we aimed to explore the constraints and experiences of adult workers. We collected data from adult workers in Singapore who desired to participate in sport activities but were unable to do so due to various constraints. A total of 10 individuals were purposefully selected for interviews. This study identified four key themes: (a) factors causing the reduction of sport participation opportunities, (b) changes in sport activities and satisfaction, (c) nostalgic feelings associated with sport activities, and (d) the role of nostalgia in enhancing sport involvement. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of adapting the conceptual model of nostalgia to sport activities, as well as identifying four factors that hinder employees from engaging in sport activities. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) has transitioned from a rare condition in 1817 to the fastest-growing neurological disorder globally. The significant increase in cases from 2.5 million in 1990 to 6.1 million in 2016, coupled with predictions of a further doubling by 2040, underscores an impending healthcare challenge. This escalation aligns with global demographic shifts, including rising life expectancy and a growing global population. The economic impact, notably in the U.S., reached $51.9 billion in 2017, with projections suggesting a 46% increase by 2037, emphasizing the substantial socio-economic implications for both patients and caregivers. Coupled with a worldwide demand for health workers that is expected to rise to 80 million by 2030, we have fertile ground for a pandemic. Methods: Our transdisciplinary research focused on early PD detection through running speech and continuous handwriting analysis, incorporating medical, biomedical engineering, AI, and linguistic expertise. The cohort comprised 30 participants, including 20 PD patients at stages 1–4 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale and 10 healthy controls. We employed advanced AI techniques to analyze correlation plots generated from speech and handwriting features, aiming to identify prodromal PD biomarkers. Results: The study revealed distinct speech and handwriting patterns in PD patients compared to controls. Our ParkinsonNet model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with F1 scores of 95.74% for speech and 96.72% for handwriting analyses. These findings highlight the potential of speech and handwriting as effective early biomarkers for PD. Conclusions: The integration of AI as a decision support system in analyzing speech and handwriting presents a promising approach for early PD detection. This methodology not only offers a novel diagnostic tool but also contributes to the broader understanding of PD’s early manifestations. Further research is required to validate these findings in larger, diverse cohorts and to integrate these tools into clinical practice for timely PD pre-diagnosis and management. Full article

Scholarship has described Deir el-Medina as a sophisticated community composed of highly trained and educated individuals, at least compared to most ancient Egyptian villages that were primarily focused on agrarian labor. The tombs at Deir el-Medina indicate that some community members were well-off financially and may have aspired to reach elite levels in ancient Egypt’s social hierarchy. However, this understanding of Deir el-Medina’s community lacks the nuance of the hierarchical structure that defines success and status among the workers, artists, and craftspeople living in the community. This paper will investigate how one’s status within the community might dictate the allocation of artistic roles in the execution of painted royal tomb scenes. It will explore who within the community would have the privilege of depicting the primary motifs of a tomb and who would be responsible for less noticeable areas of the tomb. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the main public health global burdens of the 21st century, responsible for over a million deaths every year. Hospital programs aimed at improving antibiotic use, referred to as antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs), can both optimize the treatment of infections and minimize adverse antibiotics events including the development and spread of AMR. The challenge of AMR is closely linked to the development and spread of healthcare-associated infection (HAIs). In fact, the management of patients with HAIs frequently requires the administration of broader-spectrum antibiotic regimens due to the higher risk of acquiring multidrug-resistant organisms, which, in turn, promotes resistance. For this reason, even before using antibiotics correctly, it is necessary to prevent and control the spread of HAIs in our hospitals. In this narrative review, we present seven measures that healthcare workers, even if not directly involved in the tasks of infection prevention and control, must know, support, and embrace. We hope that this review may raise awareness among all healthcare professionals about the issues with the increasing rate of AMR and the ongoing efforts towards minimizing its rise. Full article

Urban resilience and water resilience are both increasingly relying on urban non-potable water reuse under the context of the Climate Emergency, but sound risk assessment is lacking. Compared to the state of art, the proposed framework for health risk assessment and management of urban non-potable water reuse includes (i) an additional step for establishing the context and (ii) the risk identification step being extended to introduce a description of the activities from which the hazard exposure scenarios may be built. This novel scenario-building process allows for a clear and comprehensive risk description, assessment, and treatment. The model of risk management is structured around three primary components: the decision-makers, i.e., the municipal services and the population at risk (users and workers); data elements relevant for the risk management process (reclaimed water quality, hazards, hazardous events, sites where exposure can happen, exposure routes, and activities developed by the population at risk and their vulnerabilities); and the links between the decision-makers and these elements and between the elements themselves. Its application in a representative case study shows that the framework comprehensively guides decision-making and communication to relevant stakeholders. From this practical exercise, the main recommendations were derived for risk mitigation by the municipal risk manager and the park users. Full article

Ants are a highly adaptable group of insects that have globally established themselves in diverse climates and habitats. This study investigates the influence of climate and habitat on the morphological traits of Camponotus japonicus across 22 sites in mainland China. These sites span three climate zones (mid-temperate, warm temperate, and subtropical) and three habitat types (urban parks, farmlands, and sparse woodlands). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the principal axis of morphological variation, while hypervolume analysis and centroid distance calculation were used to verify the environmental filtering hypothesis and the optimal transfer hypothesis. The results support both hypotheses showing that climate and habitat significantly affect the morphological space of C. japonicus workers. In particular, the morphological space is more constrained in mid-temperate farmlands, while workers in sparse woodlands exhibit greater morphological variation. In contrast, urban parks are characterized by higher stability and reduced morphological differences. Additionally, robust regression analysis reveals that environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and altitude are closely linked to the morphological traits of the workers. Understanding how ant morphology responds to external environmental changes enhances our understanding of their adaptability and their essential ecological roles across various ecosystems. Full article

Leaf recycling, a crucial component of urban environmental protection, aims to systematically collect and reuse fallen leaves on streets. At present, fallen leaves are usually cleaned manually by sanitation workers, and environmental protection departments then use special cars to transport fallen leaves to treatment stations for incineration. This not only requires a significant amount of labor and material resources but also causes air pollution and wastes fallen leaves. In this study, a collecting, crushing, and recycling vehicle was designed to solve this problem. The proposed device significantly improves the efficiency of collecting fallen leaves and facilitates their secondary utilization. The design process is described in detail, including the working design of the entire device, static analysis, and transmission system design. The entire vehicle model was 3D printed to verify that the initial design concept satisfies the assembly and production requirements of the device. Full article