Introducing an Integrated Model of Adults’ Wearable Activity Tracker Use and Obesity Information–Seeking Behaviors From a National Quota Sample Survey

Background: Research from multiple perspectives to investigate adults’ use of wearable activity-tracking devices is limited. We offer a multiperspective model and provide empirical evidence of what leads to frequent usage of wearable health technologies from a large, nationally representative survey sample. Objective: This study aims to explore factors affecting the use of wearable activity-tracking devices among health consumers from the perspectives of individual health beliefs (perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy) and information-seeking behaviors. Methods: Our Integrated Model of Wearable Activity Tracker (IMWAT) use and proposed hypotheses were validated and tested with data collected from a telephone survey with a national quota sample. The data were analyzed using a variety of statistical techniques, including structural equation analysis. Results: The sample comprised 2006 participants. Our results showed that the perceived benefits of physical activity, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy toward obesity were significant predictors of information-seeking behaviors, which, in turn, mediated their effects on the use of wearable activity trackers. Perceptions of obesity severity directly promoted wearable device usage. Conclusions: This study provided a new and powerful theoretical model that combined the health beliefs and information-seeking behaviors behind the use of wearable activity trackers in the adult population. The findings provide meaningful implications for developers and designers of wearable health technology products and will assist health informatics practitioners and obesity prevention communicators

Effects of CSR initiative type on consumer responses, in relations to company-cause fit and stigmatized industry

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of company-cause fit, industry type, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative type on consumer responses to the company engaging in CSR. Also, it examined how the perceived level of company involvement in the given CSR initiative influences the way consumers view the company engaging in CSR. A 2 (high vs. low fit) x 2 (more stigmatized vs. less stigmatized industry) x 6 (CSR initiative type) experimental survey was performed. Consumer responses were shown differently across the six CSR initiative types; corporate social marketing (encouraging individuals’ behavior change) and cause-related marketing (donating a certain percentage of revenues) generated the least positive consumer responses, while corporate philanthropy (direct charitable giving), community volunteerism (community service of employees), and socially responsible business practices (modification of business operation to be more socially responsible) led to the most positive consumer responses. Regarding the role of company involvement, a series of mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between CSR initiative type and consumer responses was mediated by the perceived company involvement in the given CSR initiative; corporate philanthropy, community volunteerism, and socially responsible business practices were perceived as having more company involvement than corporate social marketing and cause-related marketing, and in turn yielded to more positive consumer responses to the company. This study’s findings provide companies varied in corporate reputation with practical guidelines on choosing the right implemental approaches to CSR. Other theoretical and practical implications are discussed.Doctor of Philosoph

Vécu des étudiants en médecine mis en quarantaine à la suite d'une exposition à la COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted medical education systems worldwide. Between March 2020 and December 2021, 111 MD students at the University of Toronto completed two-week quarantines due to hospital or community exposures and experienced disrupted clinical instruction. We explored the experiences, barriers, and supports of these quarantined medical students to identify program development opportunities and improve student supports.  Methods: We used a qualitative descriptive approach to explore experiences of clerkship students quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure. Methods included an online survey with open-ended questions and an audio-recorded interview. We analysed the demographic survey responses using descriptive statistics. Subsequently, we conducted descriptive thematic analysis of the narrative survey responses and transcribed interview recordings. Results: Concerns reported in surveys (n = 23, response rate 20.7%) and interviews (n = 5) included themes of illness uncertainty, racial tensions, confidentiality of COVID-19 status, unclear academic expectations, and financial burden. Supports included friends, family, and MD program administration. Recommendations related to communication, administration, equity considerations, supports, confidentiality/privacy, and academics.  Conclusion: Supporting student wellbeing and learning is at the core of medical training. Enhanced understanding of health profession trainee needs during COVID can improve institutional supportive responses to students routinely and during times of crisis.Contexte : La pandémie de la COVID-19 a eu des répercussions importantes sur les systèmes d'éducation médicale dans le monde entier. Entre mars 2020 et décembre 2021, 111 étudiants en médecine de l'Université de Toronto ont été contraints à l’auto-isolement pour une période de deux semaines après une exposition au virus à l'hôpital ou dans la collectivité, voyant du même coup leur apprentissage clinique perturbé. Nous avons exploré les expériences, les obstacles et les types de soutien que ces étudiants ont eus alors qu’ils étaient en quarantaine pour en tirer des leçons afin d’améliorer notre programme et de mieux soutenir nos étudiants. Méthodes : Nous avons utilisé une approche qualitative descriptive pour explorer le vécu des étudiants à l’externat mis en quarantaine en raison d'une exposition à la COVID-19. Les méthodes comprenaient une enquête en ligne avec des questions ouvertes et une interview enregistrée. Nous avons analysé les données démographiques à l'aide de méthodes statistiques descriptives. Par la suite, nous avons effectué une analyse thématique descriptive des réponses narratives à l’enquête en ligne et des transcriptions des entretiens. Résultats : Les préoccupations signalées dans les réponses à l’enquête en ligne (n=23, taux de réponse de 20,7 %) et les entretiens (n=5) touchaient à l'incertitude face à la maladie, aux tensions raciales, à la confidentialité du fait d’avoir été infecté , au manque de clarté quant aux attentes académiques, et au fardeau financier. Les sources de soutien citées comprenaient les amis, la famille et l'administration du programme d’études. Les recommandations concernaient la communication, l'administration, les considérations d'équité, le soutien, la confidentialité et les études. Conclusion : Le soutien au bien-être et à l'apprentissage des étudiants est au cœur de la formation médicale. Une meilleure compréhension des besoins des stagiaires des professions de la santé à l’occasion d’une infection par la COVID-19 peut améliorer le soutien institutionnel qui leur est offert en temps normal et en temps de crise

Are they still determining? Analysis of associations among ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, neighborhood factors, and COVID-19 vaccination

IntroductionThis study explores associations among adult vaccination, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic variables such as educational attainment and income, as well as neighborhood factors.MethodsA telephone quota sample of New Jersey adults (N = 1,984) was used to text associations among proposed predictors of vaccination behaviors.ResultsOur multivariate logistic regression analyses found that certain races/ethnicity, respondents' household income, and perceived safety of one's community were the strongest predictors of COVID-19 vaccination. The odds of COVID-19 vaccination were 52% lower for Black/African American respondents compared to white/Caucasian respondents (p = 0.001) and 44% lower for Hispanic/Latino respondents compared to white/Caucasian respondents (p = 0.001).DiscussionThe results add new insights to public health communication research and suggest careful interventions across racial groups, considering existing racial disparities in vaccination

Long-Term Health Effects of Work Trajectories Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Work, Material, and Social Environments

Using data from 14 waves (2003–2016) of the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS) (N = 1,627 individuals aged 45–64; 22778 observations), in this study, we conducted sequence analysis and a multi-categorical variable mediation analysis (1) to examine to what extent long-term work histories exhibit varying degrees of de-standardization and precariousness using sequence analysis (2) to explore the potential mediating effects of work, material, and social environments in the association between multiple work sequences and self-rated health. We found the coexistence of a relatively stable long-term employment pattern and a high prevalence of precariousness. The health and economic risks of precarious work fall disproportionately on older workers. Future researchers should continue to analyze whether the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to long-term changes in the workforce to improve our understanding of and response to working in later life and its health effects

Tumor hypoxia and reoxygenation: the yin and yang for radiotherapy.

Tumor hypoxia, a common feature occurring in nearly all human solid tumors is a major contributing factor for failures of anticancer therapies. Because ionizing radiation depends heavily on the presence of molecular oxygen to produce cytotoxic effect, the negative impact of tumor hypoxia had long been recognized. In this review, we will highlight some of the past attempts to overcome tumor hypoxia including hypoxic radiosensitizers and hypoxia-selective cytotoxin. Although they were (still are) a very clever idea, they lacked clinical efficacy largely because of ‘reoxygenation’ phenomenon occurring in the conventional low dose hyperfractionation radiotherapy prevented proper activation of these compounds. Recent meta-analysis and imaging studies do however indicate that there may be a significant clinical benefit in lowering the locoregional failures by using these compounds. Latest technological advancement in radiotherapy has allowed to deliver high doses of radiation conformally to the tumor volume. Although this technology has brought superb clinical responses for many types of cancer, recent modeling studies have predicted that tumor hypoxia is even more serious because ‘reoxygenation’ is low thereby leaving a large portion of hypoxic tumor cells behind. Wouldn’t it be then reasonable to combine hypoxic radiosensitizers and/or hypoxia-selective cytotoxin with the latest radiotherapy? We will provide some preclinical and clinical evidence to support this idea hoping to revamp an enthusiasm for hypoxic radiosensitizers or hypoxia-selective cytotoxins as an adjunct therapy for radiotherapy. © 2016. The Korean Society for Radiation Oncology.11Yscopu