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A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Factors and Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 17007

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Chung-Yi Li

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Guest Editor

Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 704, Taiwan
Interests: epidemiology; biostatistics; health risk assessment; health care research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Acknowledging the key roles of equity and diversity in science as well as recent rapid transitions in our living environment mostly due to climate changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific community has a mission to publish high-quality epidemiologic research and methodologically sound innovations, with emphasis on human health related to climate change and the social, ambient, and built environment.

Given the increased complexity of our living environment, exposure assessment that includes a solid exposure analysis component and related disciplines that advance the exposure assessment method and technology in the context of health effects is very essential to epidemiological research. This Special Issue of Healthcare seeks commentaries, original research, short reports, and reviews on human health associated with exposure to the social, ambient, and build environment. This Special Issue aims to stimulate communication between environmental epidemiologists, social scientists, exposure experts, and public health policy makers, as well as to promote methodological advances and strengthen environmental and public health policies. Papers published in this Special Issue are expected to educate and inform readers, influence policy, and improve public health.

Prof. Dr. Chung-Yi Li
Guest Editor

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Keywords

epidemiology
social environment
ambient environment
built environment
exposure science
public health policy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationships between Community Festival Participation, Social Capital, and Subjective Well-Being in a Cross-Cultural Context

by Young-joo Ahn, Eunice Minjoo Kang, Kiattipoom Kiatkawsin and Seweryn Zielinski

Healthcare 2023, 11(16), 2361; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162361 - 21 Aug 2023

Viewed by 3618

Abstract

This study explores the relationships among social capital, community festival participation, and subjective well-being (SWB). It examines the mediating role of festival participation between social capital and SWB. The dataset Social Well-being Survey in Asia from the Philippines and Thailand was collected using nationwide surveys in 2016. The total number of respondents was 1057 in the Philippines and 982 in Thailand. The results affirm several determinants related to SWB, which is composed of happiness and overall life satisfaction. The models show significant relationships among festival participation, social capital, and SWB. The results indicate strong associations among social capital with family and relatives, festival participation, and SWB. The interaction effects between the two countries are included. Structural and cognitive social capital with kinship groups were important determinants in facilitating festival participation, and positively associated with SWB. Moreover, the results identify the mediating effect of festival participation between social capital with family and relatives and SWB. The results can provide similarities and differences in the relationships among social capital and kinship groups, community festival participation, and SWB between the Philippines and Thailand. This study offers important empirical evidence of a cross-cultural study in the context of the Philippines and Thailand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health Related to Social, Ambient and Built Environment)

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15 pages, 312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationships between Physical Activity, Screen Time and Sleep Time According to the Adolescents’ Sex and the Day of the Week

by Daniel Sanz-Martín, José Luis Ubago-Jiménez, Germán Ruiz-Tendero, Félix Zurita-Ortega, Eduardo Melguizo-Ibáñez and Pilar Puertas-Molero

Healthcare 2022, 10(10), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101955 - 6 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2377

Abstract

This study had two aims: (1) to identify the levels of physical activity, screen time and sleep time of adolescents according to the sex of the participant and the day of the week; (2) to find out the relationships between physical activity, screen time and sleep time according to the sex of the participant and the day of the week. The study design was non-experimental, descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 694 adolescents in Compulsory Secondary Education from Soria (Spain). Four by One-Day Physical Activity Questionnaires were used to measure levels of physical activity, screen time and sleep time. Levene’s test and Student’s t-test were used to calculate the difference between the means of the variables. Pearson’s test was used to calculate bivariate correlations between variables. Results showed higher levels of screen time in males (136.93 min/day ± 81.548). Screen time, sleep time and moderate–vigorous physical activity are higher during the weekend. Positive relationships were found between screen time and light physical activity (r_males = 0.274; p ≤ 0.01; r_females = 0.065; p > 0.05). The correlations between moderate–vigorous physical activity and screen time were negative (r_males = −0.282; p ≤ 0.01; r_females = −0.187; p ≤ 0.05). The relationship between screen time and sleep time was negative in males (r = −0.135; p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, the levels of physical activity, screen time and sleep time vary according to the sex of the participants and the day of the week. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health Related to Social, Ambient and Built Environment)

11 pages, 570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tuberculosis Predictive Index for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Based on Biological, Social, Housing Environment, and Psychological Well-Being Factors

by Muhammad Atoillah Isfandiari, Chatarina Umbul Wahyuni and Agung Pranoto

Healthcare 2022, 10(5), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10050872 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1891

Abstract

Indonesia is currently undergoing an epidemiological transition, with the double burden of disease due to increasing industrialization and urbanization leading to an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes. On the other hand, the prevalence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis remains high. Several factors were considered as risk factors in tuberculosis coincidence with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive index for tuberculosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients based on their biological, social, and environmental factors, and their psychological well-being as well. This case-control study involved 492 respondents consisting of 246 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients The variables studied were biological and social factors, the quality of their housing, and psychological well-being. Data analysis was conducted using a logistic regression test. The results showed that the predictive index formula was as follows: −3.218 + 0.867 × age + 1.339 × sex + 1.493 × history of contact with previous patient + 1.089 × glycemic control + 1.622 × tuberculosis clinical symptoms + 1.183 × body mass index + 0.891 × duration of diabetes mellitus + 0.454 × area of ventilation + 0.583 × psychological well-being. It is suggested that health workers, especially in primary health care facilities, will be able to increase the awareness of the risk of the coincidence of diabetes mellitus with tuberculosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health Related to Social, Ambient and Built Environment)

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11 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organizational Factors Are Key Predictors of Physicians’ Confidence in Handling Workplace Violence

by Fu-Li Chen, Wen-Hsuan Hou, Jin-Hua Chen, Tao-Hsin Tung and Jeng-Cheng Wu

Healthcare 2022, 10(4), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10040637 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2103

Abstract

Many studies have investigated health-care workers’ confidence in handling workplace violence with the aim of preventing negative outcomes and fear of such events. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the predictors of physicians’ confidence in handling workplace violence. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on various factors related to workplace violence against physicians in four regional teaching hospitals in northern Taiwan. Of the 180 respondents, 78 (43.3%) had experienced workplace violence in the 3 months preceding the study; they were assigned to the “victim group”. The others (102 respondents) were assigned to the “nonvictim group”. According to multiple linear regression analysis, the factors significantly associated with physicians’ confidence in handling workplace violence in the victim group were perceived organizational support and workplace violence-related training courses. In the nonvictim group, affiliated department and perceived safety climate were key factors. Organizational factors are key predictors of physicians’ confidence in handling workplace violence. Therefore, hospital managers should strive to bolster physicians’ confidence in handling workplace violence. For victims of workplace violence, team-based trainings may improve their interpersonal skills and perceived support from colleagues, both of which can prevent workplace violence events and the repetition of such events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health Related to Social, Ambient and Built Environment)

14 pages, 631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanisms of Social Interaction and Virtual Connections as Strong Predictors of Wellbeing of Older Adults

by Keya Sen, Victor Prybutok, Gayle Prybutok and William Senn

Healthcare 2022, 10(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030553 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3616

Abstract

Socially engaged older adults are less likely to decline in health and happiness and have a higher quality of life. Building upon this premise, examination was conducted on the domains of social determinants of health, specifically the social and community context per Healthy People 2030 objectives. These mechanisms of social interaction, in the form of group activities, community engagement, and virtual interactions via email or text message, were assessed using hierarchical regression analysis to find out their association with wellbeing, depression symptoms, and cognition of older adults. The data included a total of 4623 sample of older adults from the National Health and Aging Trend Study (NHATS) Round 8. The results showed that social support explained a 40.3% unique variance on wellbeing. The use of text message and email had a moderating effect on community engagement and self-reported depression level in older adults. Findings suggest that community programs, shared group activities, or technology training workshops can improve social interaction and support cognition and reduce depression in older adults. Directions for future research include examining human behaviors and perceptions and increasing technology training sessions to promote independence of older adults and increase their social connections. In addition, participant involvement in interventions would enhance the possibility of success of such endeavors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health Related to Social, Ambient and Built Environment)

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8 pages, 635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Fall Risk Screening Scale Is Suitable for Evaluating Adult Patient Fall

by Li-Chen Chen, Yung-Chao Shen, Lun-Hui Ho and Whei-Mei Shih

Healthcare 2022, 10(3), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030510 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2431

Abstract

(1) Background: This study aimed to test the feasibility of utilizing the screening tool for fall risk assessment in adult inpatient and verify its accuracy in a medical center in Taiwan. (2) Methods: This study retrospectively collected all adult fall cases among inpatients occurring in the general wards of a medical center between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015. This inpatient fall risk screening scale was measured by the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. (3) Results: There were 1331 (0.4%) falls among a total of 357,395 inpatients during this period. Factors predictive of falling risk included: age, consciousness, body shift assistance, use of fall risk medications, fall history, dizziness or weakness, toileting, and impaired mobility. Using the eight-factor assessment, two was the best cutoff point for identifying the fall risk group, with area under Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) = 0.817, sensitivity = 80.93%, specificity = 73.0%, accuracy = 73.03%, and likelihood ratio = 11.48. (4) Conclusions: The accuracy of the eight-item fall risk assessment tool created for this study was validated. These results can serve as a reference for institutions to develop more effective fall risk assessment scale for inpatients, enabling clinical nurses to identify and more comprehensively assess the groups at highest risk for falling during their hospital stay. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health Related to Social, Ambient and Built Environment)

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