The Contraception Policy Atlas and its latest 2024 study shows that the availability of contraception in Poland is a meagre 33.5%, the lowest of all European countries. The aim of the research, therefore, was to assess and compare the knowledge of women, living in rural and urban areas of Poland, about the modern methods of the hormonal contraception (HC) they use, includes all hormonal methods (pill, implant, patch, etc.). The study involved 239 women. The research was conducted using an online survey distributed to the public via community forums. The most commonly used method of HC was the combined pill, with 62.27% of the women surveyed using this type of contraception. None of the women surveyed used the emergency contraceptive pill. This finding is concerning given the broader context of contraceptive use in Poland. There were differences in the reasons for contraceptive use according to the place of residence. Women living in rural areas were less likely to use HC to relieve menstrual pain (28.81%) than those living in small and medium-sized towns (47.87%), and also less likely to use HC to regulate their menstrual cycle (27.12%) than those living in small and medium-sized towns (42.55%). Despite the fact that all the women who participated in this study were using HC, 13.39% stated that they did not know how this type of medication affects the female body. There was a tendency for women living in rural areas (20.34%) to be more likely to say 'don't know' than the women from large towns (9.20%). The most commonly indicated side effect of contraceptives on the female body was an increased risk of thromboembolic events (70.71%).

Limited social networks in older adults are linked with increased dementia risk. However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether socially-based behavioural interventions (i.e., programs designed to increase individual's social opportunities, engagement or networks) can improve cognitive function, as well as the role of applied behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in effective interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (i) quantify the effectiveness of social-based behavioural interventions in improving cognition in older adults, and (ii) identify which BCTs increase social activity behaviour of older adults.

Six electronic databases were searched with restrictions for age (>65 years) and English language from inception to July 2023 (PROSPERO:CRD42021283382) for articles reporting social-based behavioural randomised controlled trials and using a measured outcome of cognitive function. Behaviour change techniques were mapped to the BCT V1 model and risk of bias was assessed. Pooled effect sizes from eligible studies were synthesised using RevMan.

We identified 9528 records and included 15 studies (N=1785 participants). Meta-analyses showed that social-based interventions had a medium effect on global cognition (d=0.80, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.02, p<0.01), but not executive function. The most frequently used intervention components were social-based communication (e.g., chatting, boosting social engagement), group arts-based tasks (e.g., knitting, music, craft) and guided reminiscence. The BCT demonstration of behaviour predicted significant cognitive effects and explained 94.6% of inter-study variation.

Findings carry implications for developing comprehensive strategies to promote social initiatives supporting cognitive health, particularly in addressing the challenges faced by older adults.

Oropouche fever is an increasingly significant health concern in tropical and subtropical areas of South and Central America, and is primarily spread by midge vectors. The Oropouche virus (OROV) was first identified in 1955 and has been responsible for numerous outbreaks, particularly in urban environments. Despite its prevalence, the disease is often under-reported, making it difficult to fully understand its impact. OROV typically causes febrile illness characterized by symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, and, occasionally, neurological issues such as meningitis. The ability of the virus to thrive in both forested and urban areas has raised concerns regarding its potential spread to new regions, particularly in the context of climate change. This paper delves into the epidemiology, clinical features, and transmission patterns of OROV, shedding light on the difficulties in diagnosing and managing the disease. The absence of specific treatments and vaccines highlights the urgent need for continued research and development of targeted public health strategies. Advancements in molecular diagnostics and vector control strategies can mitigate Oropouche fever's impact. However, a comprehensive public health approach involving increased surveillance, public education, and cross-border collaboration is needed, especially as the global climate crisis may expand vector habitats, posing risks to previously unaffected regions.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant health burden in India, with preventable risk factors contributing to their prevalence. In rural populations, inequalities may be reinforced by health risks passed down through generations. Taking a life course perspective, this multigenerational cohort study aims to investigate behavioural, socioecological, and socioeconomic determinants of growth and NCD risk, as well as healthcare access and utilisation among preadolescents and their parents.

The study is being implemented by the Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute (HCJMRI) using a prospective, multigenerational cohort design to investigate NCD risk over 15 years. Data are being collected from 14 villages around Pune, Maharashtra, India. The target population is asymptomatic (ie, healthy) children aged 8-10 years and their parents. The study commenced on 13 September 2022. Participants (children and their parents) are being enrolled through household visits, and by arranging subsequent visits to the primary health facility of HCJMRI. After obtaining informed consent from participants (parents and their children), comprehensive data are being collected from both children and parents, including clinical, behavioural, healthcare access and utilisation, as well as socioeconomic determinants of health. Clinical assessments include anthropometric measurements, blood samples for a wide range of NCD indicators, bone health and muscle function. The long-term data analysis plan includes longitudinal modelling, time-series analyses, structural equation modelling, multilevel modelling and sex-based analyses to investigate growth trajectories and intergenerational patterns of health risks. As of November 2024, 1070 families from 14 villages have been enrolled (1264 preadolescents and 2140 parents). Given the double burden of malnutrition, with undernutrition and overweight/obesity coexisting among children and parents in India, the study findings will contribute to the development of focused interventions aimed at lowering NCDs, addressing the generational transmission of health risks, and improving health outcomes for rural communities.

Ethics approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee, Ethics Committee Jehangir Clinical Development Centre, No: JCDC/BHR/24/047.

NCT05603793.

The transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP) in community settings is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of recruitment and estimate the transition and continuation of chronic LBP. We also explored characteristics associated with this transition to chronic LBP. We enrolled n = 131 participants, of which n = 118 (90 %) completed 3-month outcomes and n = 111 (85 %) completed 6-month outcomes. Acute LBP was defined by a duration of < 4 weeks and a 30-day LBP-free period before the current acute episode. Chronic LBP was defined as pain most or every day over the past 3 months. The transition from acute to chronic LBP at 3 months was 32.2 % (38/118), and at 6 months, 80.6 % (25/31) of participants who transitioned at 3 months continued to have chronic LBP at 6 months. Participants with more frequent acute LBP and at an intensity of 30/100 were more likely to transition to chronic LBP (Risk Ratio (RR)= 3.13, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) 1.84, 5.30) and continue to have chronic LBP at 6-months (RR=3.10, 95 % CI 1.48, 6.08). Higher risk on the STarT Back Screening Tool was associated with the transition to chronic LBP at 3 months (RR=1.73, 95 % CI 1.28, 2.35) and continuation of chronic LBP at 6 months (RR=1.26, 95 % CI 1.10, 1.45). The recruitment of acute LBP was feasible in a community setting. Acute LBP is a common condition in the community and frequently transitions to chronic LBP, suggesting the potential for substantial burden in the community. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents the feasibility of conducting a community-based study to describe the transition, continuation, and psychosocial predictors of acute to chronic low back pain. These findings could help identify community participants at high risk of incident and continued chronic low back pain.

This study aimed to adapt and validate the Occupational Health Literacy Scale (OHLS) for the Italian workforce, assessing its psychometric properties and ensuring its relevance and applicability within this specific cultural setting.

Validation process by observational and descriptive study.

Initially, two members of the research team independently translated the original OHLS into Italian. Subsequent comparisons and syntheses of these translations produced a unified Italian document. To ensure translation accuracy, this document was then retranslated back into English. An expert committee with specialized knowledge in occupational safety and health evaluated the retranslations to finalize the Italian version. This version underwent a preliminary test using a pilot group, followed by anonymous administration to a sample of 398 workers.

The adaptation of the OHLS into Italian demonstrated outstanding psychometric characteristics. The scale exhibited an excellent model fit and strong internal consistency. Furthermore, the factorial structures were congruent with theoretical expectations, underscoring the scale's robust construct validity.

The Italian version of the OHLS has been validated as a reliable and effective instrument for quantifying occupational health literacy among Italian workers. This tool's demonstrated validity and reliability suggest its potential for broader application in promoting occupational health awareness and interventions within Italian-speaking populations.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an epidemic that continues to increase the burden of care among caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans. Research has confirmed that HIV/AIDS orphans' caregivers perform their duties in an unconducive environment. Consequently, this negatively impacts their health leading to inability to discharge caregiving duties effectively. After carefully considering the caregivers' predicament, the researchers found it imperative to develop a conceptual framework for the North West Province as this province lacks a conceptual framework that addresses the health and well-being of caregivers for orphaned children.

An exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used in the study. The population for this study were HIV/AIDS orphans' caregivers and ward-based professional nurses who also served as outreach team leaders. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select participants for this study. Data was collected using individual semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and field notes. Six steps of thematic analysis were adopted to analyze collected data. The practice-orientated theory by Dickoff, James, and Wiedenbach guided the development of the conceptual framework. These six steps include the agent, recipient, context, procedure, dynamics, and terminus.

The study findings include home visits, health education, support during disclosure, routine monitoring of blood and growth, mobilization of support systems and resources, and utilization of government services.

The conceptual framework seeks to improve the health and well-being of HIV/AIDS orphans caregivers so that they may provide high-quality care to the orphans. The framework guides outreach team leaders and nurses registered in primary health care institutions on the procedure to follow to improve and preserve the health of caregivers of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Health literacy is a vital asset needed to empower individuals to take control of their health. An individual's health literacy is the ability to find, use and apply health information and services to manage their health. They interact with the health services and members of their community who can offer additional support. Creating the role of a health literacy mediator (HLM) may help to improve health literacy outcomes for all. For this role to be accepted by individuals within a community, the community itself should be involved in the development of the roles and associated responsibilities. The aim of this study was to engage with community members to acquire their perspectives on the potential of this role. Qualitative semi-structured online interviews were used to engage in discussions with local community members. This study implemented a constructivist epistemology with qualitative research design. Data were thematically analysed to identify evolving themes that were important to the HLM role. The analysis identified three main themes that need to be considered when adopting an HLM role: (i) health empowerment of individuals, organizations and communities, (ii) meeting the needs of the community and (iii) addressing the existing barriers in navigating and accessing the healthcare system. Those working in the health promotion space must adopt novel and innovative ways to improve HL on both a local and an international scale. This study concluded that for the role of a HLM to be accepted, it would need to encompass these attributes.

The human hand has constant contact with the environment, hence requires regular hand hygiene. Hand hygiene has gained recognition because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is a largely effective, affordable preventive measure against infectious diseases. This study used both national and sub-national analyses to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 handwashing guidelines on instances of diarrhea in Ghana.

Data on diarrhea cases spanning February 2018 and March 2022 were retrieved from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS 2) using a data extraction guide. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The difference in diarrhea cases between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods was measured using a two-sample t-test across Ghana's 16 administrative areas. Causal Impact package in R statistical software was employed to determine the impact of the introduction of COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols on diarrheal disease.

A total of 5,645,533 diarrheal cases reported between February 2018 and March 2022 through the routine MIS (DHIMS2) were examined. Fifty-three percent of the cases occurred before the introduction of the hand hygiene protocol. Descriptive statistics indicated a statistically significant decrease in average diarrheal cases during the hand hygiene implementation era (13,463 cases reduction, p<0.001). Sub-national analyses revealed significant reductions in various regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and Volta (p<0.05). Causal impact analysis confirmed 11.0% nationwide reduction in diarrheal cases attributed to the COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols (p<0.001).

This study underscores the effectiveness of COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols in reducing diarrheal morbidity in Ghana, with varying regional impacts. These findings advocate for the sustenance of investments and commitments made at the COVID hand hygiene protocols, particularly in this era where the pandemic appears controlled.

The Pender's Health Promotion Model is a comprehensive solution to improve health and reduce the risk of chronic conditions. This study aimed to determine the effect of a care program based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model on the caregiving burden of family caregivers of patients with chronic heart failure.

This semi-experimental study with a control group was conducted at the Imam Khomeini Heart Clinic in Saqqez in 2022-2023. In this study, 90 family caregivers from patients with chronic heart failure were randomized to intervention and control groups. Data were collected through a demographic information questionnaire and the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) prior to and 50 days after the intervention. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square, and paired t-test in SPSS V 25. A significance level of 5% was considered.

The results of this study indicated that the control and intervention groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics (P = 0.643). The findings also showed a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of all dimensions of caregiving burden between the two groups after the intervention, such that the overall mean score of caregiving burden in the intervention group had a significant reduction (P < 0.0001).

The present study demonstrated that a care program based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model can reduce the caregiving burden of family caregivers of patients suffering from chronic heart failure. Additionally based on health policies, this program can play an effective role in improving the quality of life of families with chronic heart failure patients and reducing their medical costs as a comprehensive solution for improving health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

Reading nutritional labelling helps consumers select healthier food, thereby benefitting their oral health. The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of parents and carers of children and preteens, associated with reading nutritional labelling, selecting sweetened ultra-processed foods, and their impact on oral health.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a validated questionnaire was administered to 298 parents and caregivers of children aged 1-12 years from different districts in Villavicencio, Colombia. Participants' scores, based on the number of correct answers, were used to classify their level of KAP as low, medium, or high. In addition, the frequency of responses, the KAP levels, and the median scores were analysed. Finally, associations were determined using the chi-square test.

Most participants reached a medium level in terms of knowledge (41.6%) and attitudes (49.3%) and a low level in terms of practices (43.3%). An association was found between participants' level of KAPs and their socioeconomic and educational level (p < 0.05).

The study findings reveal inadequate KAPs associated with nutritional labelling, adequate food selection, and the importance of oral health.

Diets, but also overall food environments, comprise a variety of significant factors with direct and indirect impacts on human health. Eco-Regions are geographical areas with a territorial approach to rural development, utilizing organic food and farming practices, and principles and promoting sustainable communities and food systems. However, so far, little attention has been given to quantifying aspects of the health of citizens living in these sustainable transition territories. The project "Indicators for Assessment of Health Effects of Consumption of Sustainable, Organic School Meals in Eco-Regions" (INSUM) aims to identify and discuss research approaches and indicators that could be applied to effectively measure the somatic, mental, and social health dimensions of citizens in Eco-Regions, linked to the intake of organic foods in their diets. In this paper, we focus on the somatic (physical) health dimension. A two-day workshop was held to discuss suitable methodology with an interdisciplinary, international group of experts. The results showed the limitations of commonly used tools for measuring dietary intake (e.g., relying on the memory of participants), and nutritional biomarkers (e.g., variations in correlations with specific intakes) for research understanding dietary intake and the health effects of diets. To investigate the complexity of this issue, the most suitable approach seems to be the combination of traditional markers of physical and mental health alongside emerging indicators such as the microbiome, nutrigenomics, metabolomics, or inflammatory biomarkers. Using new, digital, non-invasive, and wearable technologies to monitor indicators could complement future research. We conclude that future studies should adopt systemic, multidisciplinary approaches by combining not only indicators of somatic and mental health and social wellbeing (MHSW) but also considering the potential benefits of organic diets for health as well as aspects of sustainability connected to food environments.

Background Community medicine plays a vital role in public health, yet research on medical students' career choices in this field is limited, especially in underserved areas like South Punjab, Pakistan. This study explores the factors that influence undergraduate medical students' interest in pursuing a career in community medicine. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 305 fourth- and final-year undergraduate medical students from various colleges in South Punjab. Data were collected via a structured online questionnaire, focusing on students' interests, motivations, barriers, and perceptions related to community medicine. Results The survey found that 40% of students showed interest in community medicine, with higher interest among females. Key motivators included preventive healthcare and public health initiatives, while financial constraints and unclear career progression were significant barriers. A gap was noted between students' interest and their perceived preparedness to address public health challenges. Conclusion Female students showed greater interest in community medicine and were more likely to recommend it. Bridging the gap between interest and perceived preparedness requires enhancing practical experiences, increasing the visibility of community medicine successes, and addressing financial and career progression concerns. Implementing these strategies can help attract and retain students in community medicine and improve public health outcomes.

Health promoting university is a holistic approach to health that uses higher education settings to create a learning environment that improves the health and well-being of the campus community in a sustainable manner. The utilization of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) could be one of the main success factors in the implementation of health-promoting universities to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of all stages of activities carried out in health promotion and prevention efforts. Integrated monitoring with the utilization of AI in this program is conducted to evaluate the health status of the students. The Syiah Kuala Integrated Medical Monitoring (SKIMM) has three components of continuous health status evaluation: vital signs, nutritional status, and burnout status. Health status monitoring was conducted continuously for three months among medical students at the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. This system uses the WhatsApp application as a platform to monitor health status. Student health monitoring in this program consists of two main activities: the health measurement phase and the health monitoring phase. The use of the SKIMM system to monitor students' vital signs, nutritional status and burnout status through the use of AI significantly raises students' awareness to conduct timely self-examination and enables sustainable healthy lifestyle behavior change. The adoption of AI technology allows for continuous health promotion to the entire academic community, including students in implementing the health promoting university.

Testicular cancer is among the most common malignancies in men under the age of 50 years. Most testicular symptoms are linked to benign diseases. Men's awareness of testicular diseases and testicular self-examination behaviours are suboptimal. In this pilot feasibility study and process evaluation we examine the feasibility of conducting a future definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the effect of the Enhancing Men's Awareness of Testicular Diseases using Virtual Reality intervention (E-MATVR) compared to the Enhancing Men's Awareness of Testicular Diseases using Electric information control (E-MATE). The study protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05146466).

Male athletes, engaged in Gaelic games, and aged 18 to 50 years were included. Recruitment was via FacebookTM, XTM (formerly TwitterTM), and posters. Participants were individually randomised to either E-MATVR or E-MATE. Data were collected at baseline (T0), immediately post-test (T1), and three months post-test (T2) using surveys. Qualitative interviews were conducted with participants and researchers.

Data were collected from 74 participants. Of those, 66 were retained. All E-MATVR participants and most E-MATE participants (n = 33, 89.2%) agreed/strongly agreed that the device was easy to use and that they were engaged to learn by the device. Most E-MATVR participants (n = 34, 91.9%) and all E-MATE participants agreed/strongly agreed that the time it took them to complete the intervention was reasonable. All 74 participants were extremely satisfied/somewhat satisfied with their overall participation in the study. E-MATVR was described as interactive, easy, fun, and close to real life. Initial difficulty using VR equipment, nausea, and technical issues were identified as challenges to engaging with E-MATVR. Recommendations were made to make VR more accessible, shorten the survey, and incorporate more interactivity. Across all participants, mean testicular knowledge scores (range 0-1) increased from 0.4 (SD 0.2) at T0 to 0.8 (SD 0.2) at T1. At T2, overall mean scores for participants were 0.7 (SD 0.2). Mean knowledge scores did not differ by trial arm at any timepoint. At T2, all E-MATVR participants and 29/32 E-MATE participants (90.6%) reported purposefully examining their testes within the past three months.

Findings are promising, highlighting the feasibility of using VR to promote young athletes' awareness of testicular diseases. Considering the strengths, limitations, and lessons learned from this study, some modifications are required prior to conducing an RCT. These include but are not limited to shortening survey questions, incorporating more interactivity and visual content, and targeting more heterogenous male-dominated environments.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) scale in Colombian university students.

This was a methodological study to verify reliability and construct validity. A total of 763 undergraduate university students in Cali, Colombia, agreed to participate in the study by filling out a form that included information on sociodemographic characteristics and the HPLP-II scale Spanish version. Data were collected between February and June 2021. To determine construct validity, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and internal consistency was determined through Cronbach's alpha.

The confirmatory factor analysis of the proposed theoretical model showed that the goodness-of-fit indices of the scale demonstrated an acceptable level of validity nearing an excellent level of fit (χ2 = 7168.98; gl = 1268; p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08; normed fit index, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.95). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.94, and the subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.89.

The HPLP-II Spanish version is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the health-promoting lifestyle profile of university students.

Intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence experienced by women. It has detrimental consequences. A range of determinants cause intimate partner violence and to reduce it, effective interventions are required to address the determinants. Health promotion interventions have been recommended as effective to enable people to control over the determinants and to improve health. Hence, a community based participatory health promotion intervention was developed and tested in a selected study setting. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in terms of addressing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence.

A quasi-experimental study was conducted by recruiting ninety women aged 15 to 49 years separately from two health administrative areas identified as the intervention area and the control area from the Kandy district of Sri Lanka. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used in both pre- and post-assessments. Selected groups of women from the intervention area were facilitated with a health promotion intervention to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention descriptive summaries and bivariate analysis were used.

The response rate was 90.9% (N = 90) during the pre-assessment and 87.9% (n = 87) and 82.8% (n = 82) from the intervention and control areas, respectively, during the post-assessment. Statistically significant improvement was reported in the total mean score comprising knowledge, attitudes, practices and identification of determinants from 59.6 to 80.8 in the intervention area [Pre-assessment: Mean = 59.6 (standard deviation-SD) = 17.5; Post-assessment: Mean = 80.8, SD = 19.0; p < 0.001) compared to the improvement in the control area from 62.2 to 63.0 (Pre-assessment: Mean = 62.2, SD = 17.3; Post-assessment: Mean = 63.0, SD = 18.9; p = 0.654).

The intervention was effective to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence. Hence, the present approach can be used in similar contexts to address the knowledge, attitudes and certain practices related to intimate partner violence.

Passive smoking, the involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke, poses significant health risks; however, its prevalence and impact on medical and dental students in Karachi, Pakistan, remain understudied. Therefore, this research aims to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding passive smoking among medical and dental students and will help shed light on their awareness, perceptions, and behaviours regarding this public health concern.

A cross-sectional study was conducted over 3 months, involving 378 medical and dental students (303 medical and 75 dental students)from various universities in Karachi. Participants completed a questionnaire to gather information on demographics, awareness of passive smoking, perceptions of its health effects, and actions taken in response to exposure.

The majority of participants demonstrated awareness of passive smoking 320 (84.7%) and believed that it was essentially linked to active smoking 320 (84.7%). Cigarette smoke was identified as the primary contributor to passive smoking 345 (91.3%). A significant proportion of participants believed that children and pregnant women exposed to passive smoking had elevated health risks. In areas where smoking is not permissible, less than half of the participants 173 (45.8%) reminded smokers about the smoking regulations, and a few even referred smokers for counselling 141 (37.3%). Males are usually indifferent to smokers around them, whereas females are found uncomfortable with smoking in their surroundings.

In conclusion, our study highlights the persistent prevalence of passive smoking among medical and dental students in Pakistan. Enforcing strict tobacco control policies, integrating passive smoking education into medical curricula, and improving communication strategies for smoking cessation interventions are crucial steps towards creating smoke-free environments and healthier lifestyles nationwide. Despite awareness among medical and dental students about the dangers of cigarette smoking, their reluctance to urge regular smokers to quit underscores the need for improved communication between smokers and non-smokers to foster a cleaner and hazard-free environment.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in a high socioeconomic burden. Growing evidence has shown a link between oral diseases and several chronic conditions including CVDs. The focus of this review is to investigate and summaries the evidence surrounding oral health interventions and their potential impact on reducing both the risk and/or severity of CVDs.

A scoping review was conducted to examine oral health interventions for managing CVD outcomes and risks. The review adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework for evidence synthesis and followed the reporting standards outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis- extension to Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). A systematic search across EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Scopus databases from 2012 to 2024 was utilized to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria focused on English language articles with a sample size of at least 50, evaluating the impact of oral health interventions on CVD outcomes.

Out of the initial 2,154 studies identified in the search, 12 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Overall, the studies revealed that along with surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy, regular oral hygiene care practices, including toothbrushing, tongue brushing, and flossing, significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. These interventions in patients with or without CVD baseline have shown a decrease in CVD risk markers as well as a reduction in bacterial colonization. Similarly, consistent oral hygiene routines, combined with regular dental visits, were associated with a lower risk of heart failure and CVD risk mortality.

The evidence extracted from this review suggests that periodontal therapy, regular dental cleaning, and re-enforcing of oral health regimes can stabilize oral health conditions and subsequently improve CVD progression/risks. However, limited to no evidence exists regarding the therapeutic effects of oral health promotion in managing CVD markers and its direct impact on disease outcomes, warranting further investigation.

Twin registries and cohorts face numerous challenges, including significant resource allocation, twins' recruitment and retention. This study aimed to assess expert feedback on a proposed pragmatic idea for launching a continuous health promotion and prevention programme (HPPP) to establish and maintain twin cohorts.

A qualitative study incorporating an inductive thematic analysis.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Researchers with expertise in twin studies participated in our study.

Expert opinions were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the findings and develop a model for designing a comprehensive, long-term health promotion programme using ATLAS.ti software. Additionally, a standardised framework was developed to represent the conceptual model of the twin HPPP.

Eight FGDs were conducted, involving 16 experts. Thematic analysis identified eight themes and seven subthemes that encompassed the critical aspects of a continuous monitoring programme for twin health. Based on these identified themes, a conceptual framework was developed for the implementation of an HPPP tailored for twins.

This study presented the initial endeavour to establish a comprehensive and practical solution in the form of a continuous HPPP designed to tackle the obstacles of twins' cohorts.

The transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP) in community settings has yet to be well understood. We recruited n=131 participants with acute LBP from the community and followed them for 3 and 6-month outcomes. Acute LBP was defined by a duration of < 4 weeks, and participants must have reported a 30-day LBP-free period before the current acute episode. Chronic LBP was defined as pain most or every day over the past 3 months. Baseline psychological, social, and demographic factors were examined as predictors of transition to chronic LBP at 3 months or continuation of chronic LBP at 6 months. The transition from acute to chronic LBP at 3 months was 32.2% ( 38/118). At 6 months, 80.7% (25/111) of participants who transitioned at 3 months continued to have chronic LBP. At 6 months, participants who identified as Black or African American were more likely than white participants to transition to chronic LBP (RR=1.76, 95% CI 1.05, 2.95) and more likely to continue to have chronic LBP (RR=2.19, 95% CI 1.14, 4.21). Those classified at baseline by both LBP most or every day and intensity of at least 30/100 were more likely to transition to chronic LBP (RR=3.13, 95% CI 1.84, 5.30) and continue to have chronic LBP at 6 months (RR=2.58, 95% CI 1.43, 4.16). The STarT Back Screening Tool and the OSPRO-YF were associated with the transition to chronic LBP at 3 months and continuation at 6 months. Participants with higher PROMIS General Health and PROMIS Physical Health scores were less likely to transition to chronic LBP or continue to have chronic LBP at 6 months. These findings identify factors of acute LBP in the community that may predict the transition to chronic LBP. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and better understand the mechanisms driving the transition to chronic LBP.

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common prevalent benign tumor among women of reproductive age, disproportionately affecting women of color. This paper introduces an innovative management strategy for UFs, emphasizing the curbing of disease prevention and progression. Traditionally, medical intervention is deferred until advanced stages, necessitating invasive surgeries such as hysterectomy or myomectomy, leading to high recurrence rates and increased healthcare costs. The strategy, outlined in this review, emphasizes UF disease management and is named LIFE UP awareness-standing for Lifestyle Interventions, Food Modifications, and Environmental Practices for UF Prevention. These cost-effective, safe, and accessible measures hold the potential to prevent UFs, improve overall reproductive health, reduce the need for invasive procedures, and generate substantial cost savings for both individuals and healthcare systems. This review underscores the importance of a proactive UF management method, paving the way for future research and policy initiatives in this domain.

Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) plays a critical role in improving behavior and health outcomes across the continuum of healthcare. Failing to implement tailored SBCC strategies continues to pose a risk of ill health, increase disease burden, and impact the quality life of people. In Ethiopia, front-line healthcare system actors' knowledge and skills about SBCC have not been rigorously assessed. Thus, the current study aimed to assess healthcare system actors' competencies in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating SBCC interventions in Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between 01 August and 31 October, 2020. Five hundred twenty-eight frontline healthcare system actors in SBCC in Ethiopia were included using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire adopted from Communication for Change; SBCC capacity assessment tool. Descriptive analysis frequencies, percentages, mean, median, standard deviation (SD), interquartile range (IQR) were employed. Besides correlations and linear regression with robust standard errors were carried out. A 95% confidence interval and a p-value of less than 0.05 were used to declare significant statistical association.

A total of 488 frontline workers participated in the study, with a response rate of 92.4%. The mean SBCC knowledge score was 13.2 ± standard deviation (SD) 3.99 and 59.2% scored below 60% of the expected maximum score. The standard mean score of overall skill in SBCC intervention was 2.36 (SD ± 0.98) and 52.6% of them scored below mean score. The SBCC knowledge was significantly predicted by the service year and the regional variation. On the other hand, SBCC skills was significantly predicted by sex, service year, profession, regional variation, and SBCC knowledge. The regional variation was the main predictor of both knowledge and skill on SBCC. The regression models explained 23.1% and 50.2% of the variance in knowledge and skill of SBCC, respectively.

Front-line healthcare system actors in Ethiopia has low knowledge and skills in SBCC. Variations in SBCC knowledge and skill were observed based on demographic and professionals experience related characteristics. Hence, continuous capacity building activities need to be given to frontline healthcare system actors to enhance their knowledge and skill on SBCC program and achieve the intended health results.

This study examined the role of perceived discrimination as a mediator between cultural identity and mental health symptoms among adults from racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States.

Data were gathered from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 6, a nationally representative survey. The mediating role of perceived discrimination was investigated using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis.

The study found significant associations between demographic and lifestyle factors and mental health symptoms. Non-Hispanic Blacks or African Americans and Hispanics were less likely than Non-Hispanic Whites to have mental health symptoms. Individuals between the ages of 35 and 49, 50 to 64, 65 to 74, and 75 and older had lower odds of mental health symptoms. Gender differences revealed that females had a higher risk of mental health issues than males. Socioeconomic factors, such as household income and employment status, played a significant role, with higher household income and employment status being associated with a decreased likelihood of mental health symptoms. The study emphasizes the role of perceived discrimination as a mediator, suggesting that it fully mediated the association between cultural identity and mental health symptoms. These findings highlight the significance of addressing discrimination experiences in fostering the mental health of adults from diverse backgrounds.

The findings highlight the need to take racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities, as well as cultural identity and prejudice, into account in mental health research and interventions. The identified risk and protective factors can guide interventions and policies to enhance this population's mental health.

Many recent societal trends have led to the need for fertility education, including the age at which individuals become parents, the development of new reproductive technologies, and family diversity. Fertility awareness has emerged as a concept very recently and is increasingly gaining recognition. However, fertility education is often neglected as there is no consensus on the appropriate content, target populations, or on who should provide it. This article attempts to provide an overview of the use of interventions to improve fertility education. We emphasize the importance of delivering evidence-based information on fertility and reproductive health through various methods while providing guidelines for their standardization and systematization. Recommendations are provided to aid the development and implementation of fertility education tools, including: the establishment of a comprehensive understanding of the target populations; the incorporation of theories of behavioural change; the inclusion of the users' perspectives and the use of participatory research; and the use of specific guidelines for increasing engagement. By following these recommendations, it is expected that fertility education resources can contribute to improving fertility literacy, empowering individuals and couples to make informed reproductive decisions, and ultimately reducing the incidence of infertility and need for fertility treatment.

To examine socioeconomic and ethnic variations in the provision of health advice by dental professionals.

Data were from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) (2015-2018). Socioeconomic position (Poverty-income ratio and education) and ethnicity were the main exposures. The outcome variable of interest was whether participants received health advice regarding the "benefits of quitting cigarettes," "benefits of monitoring blood sugar levels," and "importance of oral cancer screening". Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors/ethnicity, and health advice after adjusting for covariates.

The analysis included a total of 5524 people aged eighteen and above who had complete data. Black and Hispanic individuals had higher odds of receiving advice on smoking (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04-2.12 and OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.05-2.07, respectively) and glucose monitoring (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 2.03-4.43 and OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 2.04-4.82, respectively), but no significant difference for cancer screening advice.Higher poverty-income ratios (PIR) were associated with lower odds of receiving smoking advice (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-0.98), but no significant associations were observed for glucose monitoring or cancer screening advice. The study's findings reveal a social gradient in the provision of cancer advice, with individuals having higher education levels, particularly university education (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.24-2.31), showing significantly higher odds of receiving cancer screening advice CONCLUSION: The study highlights significant variations in health advice provision in dental settings, with education level, ethnicity, and smoking status playing prominent roles, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to promote equity and cultural competence in delivering health advice in dental settings.

The results emphasize the importance of strong policies and ongoing education for dental professionals to ensure optimal treatment and prevention.

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) is sexual violence against women by a current or former sexual partner. Sexual violence among pregnant women is higher in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which has numerous negative impacts for both the mother and the growing fetus. There is no recent and distinct information on the magnitude and factors associated with IPSV among pregnant women in SSA.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IPSV and its determinants among pregnant women in SSA.

A cross-sectional study design using demographic health survey data from 2015 to 2022 in 20 sub-Saharan African countries was used.

The analysis was conducted using a weighted sample of 10,775 women who were pregnant during the survey period (2015-2022). A multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of IPSV among pregnant women. The adjusted odds ratio at 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was computed to assess the strength and significance of the association between explanatory and outcome variables. Factors with a p-value of <0.05 are declared statistically significant.

In this study, the pooled prevalence of IPSV among pregnant women in SSA was 11.06% (95% CI: 10.48-11.67). Respondents currently working, male-headed households, presence of justified beating, respondent mother's history of abuse, respondent having no media access, respondent having self-reported sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), partner alcohol use, and residing in East Africa had increased odds of IPSV during pregnancy. On the other hand, nulliparous respondents, respondents involved in healthcare decision-making, households with a high wealth index, and residents of West Africa had decreased odds of IPSV among pregnant women.

This study revealed that a significant proportion (11%) of pregnant women experienced intimate partner sexual violence during pregnancy in SSA. Hence, the government, policymakers, and other relevant authorities should give special attention to women's at-risk of sexual violence, including women who live in households with justified beatings, women with STIs, working women's, women with drunken partners, and non-autonomous women's. Prioritization of the east African region, increasing media access, and promoting a healthy lifestyle in the community shall be done to reduce the burden of the problem.

Cancer education raises disease awareness, the value of early identification and importantly the need for prompt screening and treatment when diagnosed. In this study, an effort was made to understand how well a unique cancer education program, "Cancer Education on Wheels," transfers knowledge in general public in society. The community was shown prerecorded cancer awareness videos using a TV monitor, CD player, and speaker system mounted on an eight-seat Toyota Innova. Before and after seeing the video presentation, consenting volunteers filled out questionnaires asking about demographics and understanding of cancer. Frequency and percentage calculations were done on the demographic information and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was run on the overall subject score. Data was stratified based on demographic information and compared by applying Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test. p values under 0.05 were regarded as significant. A total of 584 people completed the pre-test and post-test questionnaires. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a difference between the pre-test and post-test (3.29 ± 2.48 vs. 6.78 ± 3.52; P = 0.0001). The pre-test results showed that volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30; men; students; urban residents; single volunteers; graduates; people who had known a person/or family member with cancer; and people who were aware of the suffering cancer causes had a high baseline knowledge of cancer (p = 0.015 to 0.001). The post-test results show that participants who had less baseline scores like housewives and unemployed people performed better (p = 0.006 to 0.0001). The findings unambiguously demonstrated that "Cancer Education on Wheels" was successful in raising participants' awareness of cancer signs and screening. Additionally, the findings showed that volunteers who were aged, married, housewives, and unemployed had higher scores. Most importantly, this approach to cancer education is simple to organize and carry out in a local setting. It is also affordable and simple to execute using readily available technological equipment and manageable logistics. According to the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to use "Cancer Education on Wheels" to spread awareness of cancer throughout the neighborhood especially in budget constrained areas.

The changes that retirees experience during their retirement years will challenge their ability to cope, potentially endangering their health and quality of life. This study aims to design and evaluate a theory-based health promotion programme to improve retirees' psychological well-being and quality of life.

This mixed-method, non-blinded study uses an embedded design. The purposive sampling method will be employed for the qualitative aspect of the study. Qualitative data will be collected at baseline, focusing on retirement adjustment, through semistructured, in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. The data will be analysed using Graneheim and Lundman's qualitative content analysis method. A pre-post test controlled group design will be conducted for the quantitative part of the study. A sample size of 80 is estimated for both the intervention and control groups. Systematic sampling and the block randomisation method will be employed for sampling. The training programme in the intervention group will consist of eight 60 min sessions and environmental support, implemented after assessing the research environment and obtaining approval from the relevant officials. A brief training programme unrelated to the intervention group's focus (home safety) will be implemented for the control group. Quantitative measures will be collected in both groups at baseline, 3 months and 6 months after the intervention. These measures will include self-administered questionnaires covering demographic variables, retirement adjustment, retirement resources, quality of life, coping methods, spiritual well-being and psychological well-being. Analytical statistics will be performed using the generalised linear model, with p values≤0.05 considered significant.

This protocol has received approval from the ethics committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentation in abstracts at National and International Scientific Conferences, and data sharing among researchers.

IRCT20180516039690N2.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a global epidemic intricately linked to the rising tide of obesity and metabolic syndrome. This comprehensive review delves into the complex web of relationships between NAFLD, liver fibrosis, and subclinical atherosclerosis, shedding light on their interplay, shared risk factors, and clinical implications. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of liver conditions, from the benign non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to the more severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by inflammation and hepatocellular injury. Central to the discussion is the insidious development of liver fibrosis, the ominous harbinger of progressive liver damage, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD, now affecting a quarter of the global population, poses a significant public health challenge. Its association with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome highlights the multifactorial nature of this disease. However, NAFLD's repercussions extend beyond the liver. This review unveils a potent connection between NAFLD and subclinical atherosclerosis, the early precursor to cardiovascular disease. Individuals with NAFLD face an elevated risk of atherosclerosis, even without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The intricate link between these two conditions is illuminated through shared pathophysiological pathways, including systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Understanding the interplay between liver fibrosis and subclinical atherosclerosis has profound clinical implications. Patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis are not only at risk of liver-related complications but also of cardiovascular events. This necessitates a holistic approach to patient care, with lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions simultaneously managing both conditions. Physicians must prioritize early detection and collaborate across disciplines to provide comprehensive care. Looking ahead, the future holds promising avenues of research. Emerging areas include genetics and precision medicine, microbiome research, and epigenetics, which may unveil new therapeutic targets. Innovations in diagnostics and therapeutics, such as non-invasive biomarkers and combination therapies, offer hope for more effective management. Long-term outcomes and survivorship research will provide insights into the lasting impact of interventions. In conclusion, this review underscores the imperative of addressing liver fibrosis and atherosclerosis in the context of NAFLD. It is a call to action for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers to work collaboratively, promote early detection, and advance our understanding of these interconnected conditions. By doing so, we can enhance patient outcomes and chart a course toward a healthier future for those grappling with NAFLD and its intricate web of consequences.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing public health challenge in Ghana. Health promotion can provide useful avenues to reduce the incidence of NCDs in the country. We used the Ottawa Framework to assess health promotion efforts for the prevention and control of NCDs in Ghana. Data were collected using key informant interviews and documentary sources. A content analysis approach was adopted for data analysis using Nvivo 11 Software. We found a strong policy framework for NCD prevention in Ghana with the ratification of several international protocols and resolutions and the development of national and specific NCD-related policies. Implementation of these policies, however, remains achallenge due to limited resources and the overconcentration on communicable diseases. Attempts have been made to create a supportive environment through increased access to NCD services but there are serious challenges. Respondents believe the current environment does not support healthy eating and promotes unhealthy use of alcohol. The Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) program engenders community participation in health but has been affected by inadequate resources. Personal skills and education programs on NCDs are erratic and confined to a few municipalities. We also found that NCD services in Ghana continue to be clinical and less preventative. These findings have far-reaching implications for practice and require health planners in Ghana to pay equal attention in terms of budgetary allocations and other resources to both NCDs and communicable diseases.

Assess whether engagement in a range of cultural activities, both 'passive' and 'active' (ie, receptive and creative) participation, is associated with later demand for general practitioner (GP) consultations.

Longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Data from the population-based the third Survey of Trøndelag Health Study (2006-2008) in Norway was linked to an administrative register including service information from all GP offices nationwide.

This study included 17 396 (54.6%) women and 14 451 (45.4%) men aged 30-79 years.

Multilevel negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between cultural engagement and GP consultations, and reported as rate ratios.

A mean of 3.57 GP visits per patient was recorded during the 7 years of follow-up. Participation in creative activities and a combination of both receptive and creative activities was associated with lower number of GP consultation. Gender-specific analyses suggest that these effects were attributable to men. The rate ratio of GP consultations among men taking part in creative activities less than once, twice and more than twice (<9 times) per week is 0.90, 0.89 and 0.87 times lower, respectively, compared with non-participants. Whereas weekly frequency of receptive and creative activity engagement showed a 0.92, 0.87 and 0.83 times lower rate ratio among engaged men. The variety of activities shows a similar pattern and participation in creative activities lowers the rate ratio among men. Engagement in a wide range/variety of activities, compared with non-engagement, was associated with lower numbers of GP consultations in men, but not women.

Engagement in creative or combined receptive and creative cultural activities was associated with lower numbers of GP consultations among men. Thus, facilitating and promoting a culturally engaged lifestyle, particularly in men, may affect primary healthcare use. However, this study design gives no evidence of a causal relationship between cultural engagement and use of GP consultations.

The deterioration of the environment, shortage of resources, and frequent occurrence of food safety issues have made people increasingly concerned about themselves while maintaining their health and protecting the environment through food. Organic food, as a healthy and eco-friendly option, is gradually gaining attention. Based on the value-belief-norm theory, this study explores why individuals consume organic food and the range of factors that lead to this consumer behavior. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from conveniently selected 300 youth participants in Bangladesh using an online survey. The findings revealed that health values and motivation have a significant positive effect on healthy eating beliefs, which, together with the awareness of the consequences, affect personal norms toward organic food consumption. Personal norms also have a significant positive effect on organic food consumption behavior among Bangladeshi youth. Finally, trust on organic food positively moderates the effect of personal norms on organic food consumption. The findings of this study are expected to foster the development of a comprehensive framework to promote programs and policies focused on organic and healthy food consumption culture among youth in developing nations.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) developed and implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy to facilitate vaccine acceptance and vaccination among universities' staff and students. However, little is known about influences of the mandatory vaccination policy on health science students at a university and they tend to result in vaccine hesitancy.

To explore the influences of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy on health sciences students' vaccine acceptance at HEIs in South Africa.

The study was conducted in one of the universities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

An interpretive qualitative exploratory-descriptive research was conducted with 10 participants who were selected using the purposive sampling method to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.

Two themes and 12 sub-themes were identified during the data analysis, namely individual and group influencing factors, as well as contextual influencing factors.

This study revealed that the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory policy influenced the students' quality of life, academic performance and well-being. The findings from this study indicate that there were perceived barriers related to personal and contextual influencing factors than benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

The understanding of and insight into the influences of the mandatory vaccination policy provided a basis for further strategies that may be developed to address COVID-19 vaccine infodemic, vaccine hesitancy and its risk effects. This can be done through collaboration with different stakeholders to educate health science students about the perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Multisectoral actions (MSAs) on health are key to implementation of primary health care (PHC) and achieving the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 3. However, there is limited understanding and interpretation of how MSAs on health articulate and mediate health outcomes. This realist review explored how MSAs influence on implementing PHC towards universal health coverage (UHC) in the context of multilevel health systems.

We reviewed published evidence that reported the MSAs, PHC and UHC. The keywords used in the search strategy were built on these three key concepts. We employed Pawson and Tilley's realist review approach to synthesize data following Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards publication standards for realist synthesis. We explained findings using a multilevel lens: MSAs at the strategic level (macro-level), coordination and partnerships at the operational level (meso-level) and MSAs employing to modify behaviours and provide services at the local level (micro-level).

A total of 40 studies were included in the final review. The analysis identified six themes of MSAs contributing to the implementation of PHC towards UHC. At the macro-level, themes included influence on the policy rules and regulations for governance, and health in all policies for collaborative decision makings. The meso-level themes were spillover effects of the non-health sector, and the role of community health organizations on health. Finally, the micro-level themes were community engagement for health services/activities of health promotion and addressing individuals' social determinants of health.

Multisectoral actions enable policy and actions of other sectors in health involving multiple stakeholders and processes. Multisectoral actions at the macro-level provide strategic policy directions; and operationalise non-health sector policies to mitigate their spillover effects on health at the meso-level. At micro-level, MSAs support service provision and utilisation, and lifestyle and behaviour modification of people leading to equity and universality of health outcomes. Proper functional institutional mechanisms are warranted at all levels of health systems to implement MSAs on health.

Health promotions among the adolescent population have a significant role in achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals of the World Health Organization. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several devastating impacts on the health, economic, social, and healthcare systems, and adolescents' health promotions are no exception. We assessed health promotion behaviors and associated factors among the adolescent population of northern Saudi Arabia (KSA).

We used the Arabic version of the adolescent health promotion scale (AHPS-40) among the 400-adolescent population. The AHPS-40 assessed six domains of adolescent health behavior: nutrition, social support, health responsibility, life appreciation, exercise, and stress management. We applied the Chi-square test to identify the associated factors of adolescent health promotion activities and the logistic regression test to find the predictors for overall health promotion categories.

Of the studied participants, the mean ± SD of the total AHPS-40 was 103.31 ± 18.78. The nutrition domain of the AHPS-40 was significantly associated with the age group (p = 0.002), and the social support domain was significantly related to fathers' (p = 0.022) and mothers' education (p = 0.006). The exercise domain of AHPS-40 was significantly associated with age group (p = 0.018) and school level (p = 0.026). Gender was significantly associated with most of the six domains. Furthermore, more than half (52.7%) of them had a low health promotion behavior, which was significantly associated with gender (adjusted odds ratio = 1.59, 95% CI of AOR = 1.04 -2.45, p = 0.032).

Our study results suggest improving health promotion behaviors by instituting awareness-raising and health promotion intervention programs for adolescent groups. Furthermore, we recommend a focused, exploratory, mixed-method survey among the adolescents of other regions of KSA to identify the region-specific adolescent's health promotion behaviors.

Maintaining or acquiring healthier health-oriented behaviours and promoting physical and mental health amongst the Spanish population is a significant challenge for Primary Health Care. Although the role of personal aptitudes (characteristics of each individual) in influencing health behaviours is not yet clear, these factors, in conjunction with social determinants such as gender and social class, can create axes of social inequity that affect individuals' opportunities to engage in health-oriented behaviours. Additionally, lack of access to health-related resources and opportunities can further exacerbate the issue for individuals with healthy personal aptitudes. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between personal aptitudes and health behaviours, as well as their impact on health equity.

This paper outlines the development, design and rationale of a descriptive qualitative study that explores in a novel way the views and experiences on the relationship between personal aptitudes (activation, health literacy and personality traits) and their perception of health, health-oriented behaviours, quality of life and current health status.

This qualitative research is carried out from a phenomenological perspective. Participants will be between 35 and 74 years of age, will be recruited in Primary Health Care Centres throughout Spain from a more extensive study called DESVELA Cohort. Theoretical sampling will be carried out. Data will be collected through video and audio recording of 16 focus groups in total, which are planned to be held in 8 different Autonomous Communities, and finally transcribed for a triangulated thematic analysis supported by the Atlas-ti program.

We consider it essential to understand the interaction between health-related behaviours as predictors of lifestyles in the population, so this study will delve into a subset of issues related to personality traits, activation and health literacy.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04386135.

Preventive approaches to oral health diseases, mainly dental caries, require individual and collective policies. Thus, this review was conducted to identify the primary prevention methods of dental caries in adults to improve oral health at the clinical and community levels.

This review followed the PICO strategy with the research question: "What are the methods of primary prevention of dental caries, in adults, for improving and maintaining oral health integrating clinical and community-based strategies?" Electronic screening was carried out by two independent reviewers in five databases (MedLine/PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and LILACS) to find relevant publications between 2015-2022. We applied eligibility criteria for selection of the articles. The following MeSH terms were used: "Primary Prevention"; "Adult"; "Oral Health"; "Dental Caries"; "Fluorides, Topical"; "Fluoride Varnishes"; "Pit and Fissure Sealants"; "Preventive Dentistry". Although the term "Prevention strategy" is not a MeSH descriptor, several correlated terms appeared and were used in the search engines: "Preventative Care", "Disease Prevention, Primary", and "Prevention, Primary". The tool provided by the JBI organization (Joanna Briggs Institute) was used to assess the quality of the included studies.

Nine studies were included. Overall, it was found that the main primary prevention methods applied in dentistry in adults are the application of pit and fissure sealants, topical application of fluoride performed in the dental clinic, use of fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash with chlorhexidine at home, use of xylitol, the recommendation for regular appointments with the dentist, and the need to inform patients about the saliva buffer capacity and adoption of a non-cariogenic diet. For that purpose, preventive policies should be taken to prevent dental caries. These include three major challenges: providing the adult population with more knowledge regarding their oral health, empowering patients through adopting healthy lifestyles, and developing new preventive strategies and awareness campaigns aimed at the adult population to promote proper oral health habits.

A small number of studies were found whose participants were adult patients. There was some consistency regarding primary prevention methods in our studies. However, good quality randomized control studies are still required to define the best intervention strategies for adult caries prevention.

The silent epidemic of chronic illness has become a significant public health challenge worldwide. The prevention and management of these deadliest health conditions primarily require empowering the individual to make healthy choices every day, e.g., healthy eating, physical exercise, etc., The first step in designing an intervention for this comprises measuring the health empowerment-related factor. However, severe scarcity of practical tools is noted.

The present study aimed at the evaluation of psychometric properties of a healthy lifestyle and personal control questionnaire (HLPCQ)'s English Version in the Indian population.

For this, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 618 people enlisted from the Northern state of India with the help of convenience sampling strategy. Data is collected by sharing the google form of HLPCQ through various online platforms.

The value of Cronbach alpha and MacDonald's Omega, was >.70, suggesting HLPCQ has good reliability in the Indian population. While confirmatory factor analysis result shows that the final model with 24 items has a good fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.03) which implies that HLPCQ has acceptable structural and cultural validity. While the value of average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR) for each factor were found to be more than .50 and .70 respectively, indicating the presence of convergent and discriminant validity for HLPCQ.

These findings indicate that the HLPCQ has sound psychometric properties and can be used in the Indian population.

Objective: Student loan debt has become a growing crisis. Considering that women are more likely than men to take on student loans and more likely to take on larger amounts, we examine whether the effects of student loans on young adults' mental health and substance use differ by gender. Participants: We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) data collected from 1997 to 2015. The NLSY97 consists of a nationally representative sample of American youths born between 1980 and 1984. Participants included 2,607 men and 3,004 women who reported college enrollment. Methods: We analyzed data using hybrid regression models. Results: Student loans have more negative effects on young men than young women, in terms of mental health problems, smoking, and heavy drinking. Particularly, young men tend to increase substance use in response to cumulative loan amounts. Conclusions: Borrowing patterns and the health consequences of student loans are gendered.