Use of smartphones, mobile apps and wearables for health promotion by people with anxiety or depression:An analysis of a nationally representative survey data

People with mental illness have increased cardiovascular risk factors, which contributes significantly to mortality in this population. Digital interventions have emerged as promising models to promote physical health, although their potential for use in mental health populations is relatively unexplored. We examined the potential for using digital tools for health promotion by people with common mental disorders like anxiety or depression. Using data from the 2019 edition of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5), we evaluated differences between individuals with self-reported history of diagnosed depression/anxiety and the general population with respect to ownership, usage, and perceived usefulness of digital tools for managing their health. Overall, individuals with anxiety or depression were as likely as the general population to use digital devices for their care. Those with anxiety or depression who had health apps were more likely to report intentions to lose weight than those without health apps. Significant sociodemographic predictors of digital tools usage included gender, age, income, and education level. People with anxiety or depression own and use digital health tools at similarly high rates to the general population, suggesting that these tools present a novel opportunity for health promotion among people with these disorders

Barriers to the Assessment and Recommendation of HPV Vaccination Among Healthcare Providers in Texas

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers (HCPs) recommendations for HPV vaccination plays a critical role in increasing vaccination uptake. This study assesses the prevalence of reported barriers to HPV vaccination assessment and recommendation among HCPs in Texas. METHODS: Study data were obtained from a population-based survey of HCPs currently practicing in Texas. Participants were asked about their HPV vaccination assessment and recommendation practices and the reasons for not assessing or recommending the vaccine. Barriers were stratified by HCP characteristics including age, sex, race/ethnicity, location of practice, provider type, and type of facility. RESULTS: Among the 826 HCPs included in this study, 47.3 % never, 49.6 % sometimes, and 3.0 % often/always assessed a patient\u27s HPV vaccination status. Similarly, 36.0 % never, 36.2 % sometimes, and 27.9 % often/always recommended HPV vaccination. The most frequently reported barriers to assessment and recommendation of HPV vaccination were time constraints (22.9 %), delegating the task to others (15.0 %), lack of effective tools and information to give patients (12.0 %), and requiring additional training (9.2 %). HCPs who were female, less than 35 years old, non-Hispanic black, and nonphysician HCPs (Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) most frequently reported lacking effective tools and information and a need for additional training. CONCLUSION: The assessment and recommendation for HPV vaccination among HCPs in Texas is suboptimal. Barriers reported varied based on the provider\u27s characteristics. Addressing these barriers, such as by providing more effective tools and information and offering additional training to HCPs, could potentially increase HPV vaccination rates in Texas. The findings also suggest that interventions should be tailored to specific demographic groups

Age at First Alcohol Use and Weapon Carrying among Adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Background Although studies have investigated the association between alcohol use and violent behaviors such as weapon carrying, few studies have examined the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon-carrying among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents. Methods Data for this study came from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 13,442 adolescents aged 14–18 years old (51% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was weapon carrying during the past 30 days, and the main explanatory variable investigated was age at first alcohol use. Results Of the 13,442 adolescents, 13.5% carried a weapon during the past 30 days, and 15.4% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13. In the multivariable logistic regression, adolescents who reported having alcohol before age 13 had more than double the odds of carrying a weapon when compared to those who never had alcohol before age 13 (AOR = 2.32, p \u3c .001, 95% CI = 1.87-2.89). Other significant factors associated with weapon carrying include male gender, victim of bullying, teen dating violence, sexual violence, suicidal ideation, and history of substance use. Adolescents who self-identified as Black/African American or Hispanic were significantly less likely to carry a weapon when compared to adolescents who self-identified as non-Hispanic White. Conclusion The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing age appropriate intervention strategies to curb early initiation of alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents

Change in Trust in US Government Health Agencies for Cancer Information in the COVID-19 Era

No abstrac

Comorbid Depression and Psychosis in Parkinson's Disease: A Report of 62,783 Hospitalizations in the United States

Background Depression and psychosis are common comorbidities that significantly affects the quality of life and disease outcomes in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze and discern the differences in the hospitalization outcomes, comorbidities, and utilization of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in PD patients with comorbid depression and comorbid psychosis. Methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2010-2014) and identified PD as a primary diagnosis (N = 62,783), and depression (N = 11,358) and psychosis (N = 2,475) as co-diagnosis using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. Pearson's chi-square test and independent-sample t-test were used for categorical data and continuous data, respectively. Results White male, older age, and comorbid psychosis were significantly associated with higher odds of having major severity of illness in PD inpatients. The mean length of stay (LOS) was higher in PD patients with psychosis compared to PD with depression (7.32 days vs. 4.23 days; P < 0.001), though the mean total charges of hospitalization were lower in psychosis ($31,240 vs.$38,581; P < 0.001). Utilization of DBS was lower in PD patients with psychosis versus with depression (3.9% vs. 24.3%; P < 0.001). Conclusion Psychiatric comorbidities are prevalent in PD patients and are associated with more disease severity, impaired quality of life, and increased use of healthcare resources (higher LOS and cost). They should be considered an integral part of the disease, and a multidisciplinary approach to managing this disease is crucial to improve the health-related quality of life of PD patients

Toward a Resilient Future: The Promise of Microbial Bioeconomy

Naturally occurring resources, such as water, energy, minerals, and rare earth elements, are limited in availability, yet they are essential components for the survival and development of all life. The pressure on these finite resources is anthropogenic, arising from misuse, overuse, and overdependence, which causes a loss of biodiversity and climate change and poses great challenges to sustainable development. The focal points and principles of the bioeconomy border around ensuring the constant availability of these natural resources for both present and future generations. The rapid growth of the microbial bioeconomy is promising for the purpose of fostering a resilient and sustainable future. This highlights the economic opportunity of using microbial-based resources to substitute fossil fuels in novel products, processes, and services. The subsequent discussion delves into the essential principles required for implementing the microbial bioeconomy. There is a further exploration into the latest developments and innovations in this sub-field. The multi-sectoral applications include use in bio-based food and feed products, energy recovery, waste management, recycling, and cascading. In multi-output production chains, enhanced microbes can simultaneously produce multiple valuable and sustainable products. The review also examines the barriers and facilitators of bio-based approaches for a sustainable economy. Despite limited resources, microbial-based strategies demonstrate human ingenuity for sustaining the planet and economy. This review highlights the existing research and knowledge and paves the way for a further exploration of advancements in microbial knowledge and its potential applications in manufacturing, energy production, reduction in waste, hastened degradation of waste, and environmental conservation

The influence of political ideology on awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine among adults in the United States

This study aimed to investigate the association between political ideology and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine among US adults. Study data were derived from Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 4, a 2020 cross-sectional survey of US adults. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine the association between political ideology with HPV and HPV vaccine awareness. A total of 3418 adults participated in the study, with the majority being non-Hispanic White individuals and women. The results showed that 66.1% and 62.3% of the participants were aware of HPV and HPV vaccine, respectively. A total of 36.9%, 29.7% and 33.4% of the population reported moderate, liberal and conservative political ideologies respectively. Awareness levels were highest among liberals, with 77.1% and 72.7% reporting awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that liberal participants were more likely to be aware of HPV (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.25–3.00), and HPV vaccines (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.37–2.74) compared to moderates. Also, liberals had higher odds of HPV (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.65–3.51), and HPV vaccine awareness (aOR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.29–2.83) compared to conservatives. However, there was no significant difference in awareness between moderates and conservatives. Study findings point to an association between individuals’ political ideology and HPV awareness. Further research is needed to understand the intricacies on how political ideology impacts HPV awareness. Overall, results highlight the need to incorporate individuals’ political ideologies in interventions geared toward increasing the awareness and uptake of HPV vaccination

Age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Background: Although studies have investigated the association between alcohol use and violent behaviors such as weapon carrying, few studies have examined the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon-carrying among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents. Methods: Data for this study came from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 13,442 adolescents aged 14–18 years old (51% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was weapon carrying during the past 30 days, and the main explanatory variable investigated was age at first alcohol use. Results: Of the 13,442 adolescents, 13.5% carried a weapon during the past 30 days, and 15.4% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13. In the multivariable logistic regression, adolescents who reported having alcohol before age 13 had more than double the odds of carrying a weapon when compared to those who never had alcohol before age 13 (AOR = 2.32, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.87-2.89). Other significant factors associated with weapon carrying include male gender, victim of bullying, teen dating violence, sexual violence, suicidal ideation, and history of substance use. Adolescents who self-identified as Black/African American or Hispanic were significantly less likely to carry a weapon when compared to adolescents who self-identified as non-Hispanic White. Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing age appropriate intervention strategies to curb early initiation of alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents