The impact of cataract surgey on vision-related quality of life for bilateral cataract patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: To determine the impact of cataract surgery on vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) and examine the association between objective visual measures and change in VRQOL after surgery among bilateral cataract patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. METHODS: A cohort of older patients with bilateral cataract was assessed one week before and one to three months after first eye or both eye cataract surgery. Visual measures including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereopsis were obtained. Vision-related quality of life was assessed using the NEI VFQ-25. Descriptive analyses and a generalized linear estimating equation (GEE) analysis were undertaken to measure change in VRQOL after surgery. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirteen patients were assessed before cataract surgery and 247 completed the follow-up assessment one to three months after first or both eye cataract surgery. Overall, VRQOL significantly improved after cataract surgery (p < 0.001) particularly after both eye surgeries. Binocular contrast sensitivity (p < 0.001) and stereopsis (p < 0.001) were also associated with change in VRQOL after cataract surgery. Visual acuity was not associated with VRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery significantly improved VRQOL among bilateral cataract patients in Vietnam. Contrast sensitivity as well as stereopsis, rather than visual acuity significantly affected VRQOL after cataract surgery

Psychological resilience in New Zealand registered nurses: The role of workplace characteristics

Mcallister, MM ORCiD: 0000-0003-1181-1610; To, GQ ORCiD: 0000-0002-3355-6326Aim: To investigate the impact of workplace factors on psychological resilience in registered nurses. Background: Nursing is characterized by persistent workplace adversity. Psychological resilience has been postulated as a means to mitigate the effects of workplace adversity. There is little research that examines the role of workplace factors (i.e., practice environment and bullying) in shaping resilience. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 480 registered New Zealand nurses. Psychological resilience was self-reported using the CD-RISC-10, while practice environment and workplace bullying were self-reported using PES-NWI and NAQ-R, respectively. Results: For every point increase in PES-NWI and NAQ-R, there was an increase of 2.84 points (95%CI = 1.79, 3.89; p-value = <0.001) and a decrease of 0.07 points (95% CI = −0.12, −0.03; p-value = 0.002) in resilience, after controlling for demographic and job-related characteristics. These two factors explained for 12.6% of the variation in resilience. About 25.8% of registered nurses experienced bullying. Conclusion: Workplace factors are associated with psychological resilience in registered nurses. Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse managers are key to transforming health care work environments to promote positive outcomes for nurses, the organisation and patient outcomes. Future efforts to promote psychological resilience in registered nurses need to enhance the practice environment and reduce workplace bullying. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Lt

Eating and physical activity behaviours among ethnic groups in Queensland, Australia

To, GQ ORCiD: 0000-0002-3355-6326© Objective: To examine differences in eating and physical activity behaviours among ethnic groups in Queensland, Australia, and differences in those behaviours due to the duration of residency in Australia.Design: Cross-sectional study using baseline data collected for the Living Well Multicultural-Lifestyle Modification Program between October 2014 and June 2017.Setting: Culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD), including Afghani, Somali, Burmese, Pacific and South Sea Islander, Sri Lankan, Sudanese and Vietnamese, living in Queensland, Australia.Participants: People were recruited if they were =18 years old and living in the targeted CALD communities.Results: Burmese/Vietnamese, on average, had better eating scores in line with Australian dietary guidelines, compared with Afghani/Arabic-speaking (difference = 2·05 points, 95 % CI 1·39, 2·72), Somali/Sudanese (difference = 1·53 points, 95 % CI 0·79, 2·28) and Pacific Islander (difference = 1·46 points, 95 % CI 0·79, 2·13). Association between ethnicity and meeting the physical activity guideline was not significant. Those who stayed in Australia longer than a year were less likely to meet the physical activity guideline than those staying <1 year (OR = 0·51, 95 % CI 0·31, 0·84). There was no significant association between duration of residency in Australia and eating scores.Conclusions: Eating behaviours were significantly different among the ethnic groups in Queensland with Burmese/Vietnamese and Sri Lankan/Bhutanese having the healthiest diets. All ethnic groups were less likely to meet the physical activity guideline compared with the general Australian population. People with duration of residency of at least 1 year in Australia were less likely to meet the physical activity guideline compared with those who had shorter stays

Correlates of physical activity in fifth-grade students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

To, GQ ORCiD: 0000-0002-3355-6326Studies investigating correlates of physical activity (PA) using objective PA measurements among primary school-aged children are limited in Asia, particularly Vietnam. This study examined psychosocial and environmental factors associated with PA among fifth-grade students in eight primary schools in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. Bivariate analyses showed that for every month increase in students’ age, an increase of 66 steps/day (p<0.05) was found; boys had 1442 more steps/day than girls (p<0.001); and students from lower income households had 1169 steps/day less than those from higher income households (p<0.01). For every unit increase in self-efficacy, perceived social influences, intention to be physically active, and parental support for PA, an increase of 220, 200, 522, and 117 steps/day (p<0.01) was found respectively. In multivariable analysis, only intention and parental support for PA remained significant (p<0.01). About 21% of variation in daily steps was explained by demographic characteristics and an additional 13% by psychosocial influences. In conclusion, intention to be physically active and parental support are important factors and should be considered when designing PA interventions in school/community-based settings

Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: Associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in Australian adults

Alley, SJ ORCiD: 0000-0001-9666-5071; Khalesi, S ORCiD: 0000-0002-8208-2518; Stanton, R ORCiD: 0000-0002-6684-5087; To, GQ ORCiD: 0000-0002-3355-6326; Vandelanotte, CL ORCiD: 0000-0002-4445-8094; Williams, SL ORCiD: 0000-0003-4289-9248The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has enforced dramatic changes to daily living including economic and health impacts. Evidence for the impact of these changes on our physical and mental health and health behaviors is limited. We examined the associations between psychological distress and changes in selected health behaviors since the onset of COVID-19 in Australia. An online survey was distributed in April 2020 and included measures of depression, anxiety, stress, physical activity, sleep, alcohol intake and cigarette smoking. The survey was completed by 1491 adults (mean age 50.5 ± 14.9 years, 67% female). Negative change was reported for physical activity (48.9%), sleep (40.7%), alcohol (26.6%) and smoking (6.9%) since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Significantly higher scores in one or more psychological distress states were found for females, and those not in a relationship, in the lowest income category, aged 18–45 years, or with a chronic illness. Negative changes in physical activity, sleep, smoking and alcohol intake were associated with higher depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Health-promotion strategies directed at adopting or maintaining positive health-related behaviors should be utilized to address increases in psychological distress during the pandemic. Ongoing evaluation of the impact of lifestyle changes associated with the pandemic is needed. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland