Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Reduction of Distress of Patients Infected by Breast Cancer

AbstractThe cancer involves its infected people in all mental pressures; the pressures that affect their life, job and social relationships and if they are not solved, complicate the patient's status. Cognition therapy based on mindfulness is a method to reduce the distress. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness training on reduction of distress of patients infected by breast cancer. For this purpose, 30 women infected by breast cancer hospitalized in Shohada Hospital of Tehran were selected through convenient method and processed randomly in two test and control groups. Before and after mindfulness training, the groups were tested with respect to the distress level. Mindfulness was trained to the test group during 8 sessions each 1 hour. The summary of ANCOVA between two groups of distress scores of testees in both pretest and posttest stages indicated that training the mindfulness has been effective on reduction of distress scores of trained patients. Thus, applying cognition therapy method based on mindfulness reduces the distress and defective thinking pattern of patients infected by cancer and this intervention method may be used independently or along with other treatment methods such as pharmacotherapy to reduce the distress of these sufferers

The Father's Role in Parenting: a Comparison of Different Cultures and Psychological Perspectives

Background: Despite the increasing attention to the role of the father and its importance in child development, little research has been done in this area compared to the mother's role. Methods: In this article, the father's role in child development was systematically reviewed from the perspective of different theoretical approaches as well as different cultures. Results: The findings showed that the role of men as fathers is changing and evolving from a mere breadwinner to a supporter. Most new generation fathers seek to participate in their children's lives and are more caregiving and emotionally responsive than the previous generation. Fathers have a unique role in raising children, which is different from the mothers’ role. The role of the father varies under the influence of culture and social structure. In Asia economic problems have changed the clear definition of the role of father. In the Middle East, Islamic beliefs determine the role of the father as the head of the family. In Europe, the role of the father as a participant and responsible person is improving. The modernization of society in Africa has complicated gaining a coherent and clear image of the father’s role for children. In North American countries, parents play an almost equal role in raising children. Expectations from fathers are vague in South America, but these expectations seem to be changing more rapidly. Conclusion: Studies confirm the important role of fathers in parenting from different psychological approaches and the change in men's definition of fatherhood. However, the father's roles are different in different cultural and social contexts

Effectiveness of Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) on Internalizing and Externalizing Emotional and Behavioral Problems and Academic Performance of Male Elementary School Students

The present study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of collaboration for academic, social and emotional learning on internalized and externalized emotional and behavioral problems and academic performance of male elementary school students. The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test and follow-up with control group. The statistical population includes all fifth grade elementary school students who were educated in the city of Pishva during the 2017-2018 school year. Students were assessed using the Achenbach Checklist (CBCL) (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). Students with a T-score greater than 63 were classified into a clinical area and randomly divided into an experimental and a control group of 24 members. The experimental group participated in 12 sessions of collaborative social and emotional learning. Post-tests were conducted after the training sessions and a follow-up test was conducted after 3 months to assess the stability of the training. The Aachenbach Emotional Behavioral Problems Questionnaire (CBCL & TRF) and the Academic Performance Test (APT) were used to collect data. Data analysis was performed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using SPSS software version 24. The results of the data analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the mean scores of internalized and externalized behavioral problems and academic performance (P = 0.001). Thus, collaborative for academic, social and emotional learning (CASEL) with activities and engaging students with various exercises in the educational process resulted in improved academic performance and reduced emotional and behavioral problems. It is recommended that educational agencies utilize these skills due to the impact of CASEL on reducing internalized and externalized emotional and behavioral problems and improving academic achievement of elementary students

Spiritual Interventions and Distress in Mothers of Children with Cancer

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual interventions in reducing distress in mothers of children with cancer. In a quasi-experimental study 12 mothers of children with cancer aged between 19 to 50 years old were selected and studied within six 90-minute group sessions in a spiritual intervention based program. Participants in a program based on repeated measures were tested in the first, third, sixth sessions and then 3 weeks after the last session (follow-up) with a Scale of Subjective Units of Distress (SUD). The results of repeated measures show that spiritual intervention improves distress of mothers of children with cancer in post-test phase and this increase remains sustained until follow-up

The Effectiveness of Integrative Group Therapy on the Sexual Function of Women with Systemic Scleroderma

Aims: Systemic scleroderma is a multiple chronic autoimmune disease that has important clinical and psychological consequences, including sexual dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of integrated treatment group on sexual function and its domains in women with scleroderma. Materials & Methods: This research was a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with the experimental and control groups. The statistical population included women with scleroderma referred to Shariati Hospital in Tehran and Iran's Rheumatism Center in the second half of 2017. Of these, 30 patients were selected as available samples and randomly were placed in the control and the experimental groups. The experimental group was subjected to an integrated approach intervention in 9 sessions of 90-minutes, where as the control group did not receive such an intervention. The instrument of this study was the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS24 software and repeated measures ANOVA. Findings: Unilateral psychotherapy intervention significantly increased the mean post-test of sexual function and its six sub-components in both control and experimental groups (p<0.01, F=19.59). The satisfaction component with 0.82 (p<0.01, F=125.35) and psychological stimulation with 0.74 (F=77.9, p<0.01) had the most effect on intervention, and the component of orgasm with 0.33 (F=13.54, p<0.01) had the least effect among the components. After three months, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-test and the follow-up of the experimental group, which indicated the stability of intervention effects. Conclusion: Unified psychotherapy is effective in increasing the sexual function of patients with systemic sclerosis and can play a significant role in improving the quality of life of these people

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden