Consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity are associated with sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors: A nationwide study with Brazilian Schoolchildren

by Giovanna Angela Leonel Oliveira, Vivian Siqueira Santos Gonçalves, Eduardo Yoshio Nakano, Natacha Toral

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity are risk factors for chronic diseases.

To evaluate the association between food consumption and sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors of Brazilian schoolchildren between 6 and 11 years old.

Cross-sectional study. A prevalence sample was calculated considering the number of children enrolled in elementary school. This sample was distributed proportionally to Brazil’s macro-regions and the type of school (public or private). The questionnaire was developed in Google Forms and disseminated through the snowball technique. The questionnaire was filled in by the children’s parents, with information about the child’s identification and health. Afterward, the child completed a questionnaire by her/himself. We used the previously validated Illustrated Questionnaire on Food Consumption for Brazilian Schoolchildren and the Illustrated Questionnaire on Eating and Sedentary Behaviors. Food consumption was analyzed using the NOVA score and the dietary diversity score. Poisson’s regression with robust variance was performed (p Results

The study included 2,021 dyads. Of these, 27.6% of children reported eating five or more ultra-processed foods and 39.0% four or fewer natural or staple foods the previous day. Using screens, proxy of sedentary behavior (Prevalence Ratio–PR = 1.8, Confidence Interval–CI_95%1.2–2.8) and eating at irregular hours (PR = 1.6, CI_95%1.2–2.2) were risk factors for high consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity in schoolchildren. In addition, eating the three main meals on the previous day (PR = 0.6, CI_95%0.4–0.8) was identified as protective factors against the consumption of ultra-processed foods and in favor of dietary diversity among schoolchildren.

Sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors were associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity in Brazilian schoolchildren.

Perceived quality of life and associated factors in long COVID syndrome among older Brazilians: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aims and objectives

This paper aims to: (a) determine the personal, sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and social characteristics of older Brazilians with clinical evidence of long COVID; (b) evaluate perceived quality of life and determine its association with personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and social variables; and (c) assess significant predictors of high perceived QoL.

Background

Given the inherent vulnerabilities of the ageing process, the older people are an at-risk group for both contagion of SARS-CoV-2 and the perpetuation of residual symptoms after infection, the so-called long COVID or post-COVID syndrome.

Design

A cross-sectional survey design using the STROBE checklist.

Methods

Brazilian older people with long COVID syndrome (n = 403) completed a phone survey measuring personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, and social characteristics, and perceived Quality of Life (QoL). Data were collected from June 2021–March 2022. A multiple linear regression model was performed to identify salient variables associated with high perceived QoL.

Results

The mean age of participants was 67.7 ± 6.6 years old. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that race, home ownership, daily screen time, musculoskeletal and anxiety symptoms, and work situation were the significant predictors of QoL among COVID-19 survivors.

Conclusions

Knowledge about the persistence of physical, emotional, and social symptoms of COVID-19 can help nurses and other healthcare providers to improve the management of survivors, bringing benefits to the whole society.

Relevance to clinical practice

Given the novelty of long-COVID and its heterogeneous trajectory, interventions focusing on the repercussions and requirements unique to more vulnerable older persons should be developed and these aspects should be included in public health recommendations and policymakers' concerns.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was required to design, to outcome measures or undertake this research. Patients/members of the public contributed only to the data collection.

Assessment of psychological terror and its impact on mental health and quality of life in medical residents at a reference medical center in Mexico: A cross-sectional study

by Víctor Manuel Enriquez Estrada, Neftali Eduardo Antonio-Villa, Omar Yaxhemen Bello-Chavolla, Carlos Fredy Cuevas-García, Pedro Luis Vargas Gutiérrez, Irma Sau-Yen Corlay Noriega, Luis Rey García-Cortés

Mobbing, particularly in medical residencies, can lead to psychological terror with lasting mental and physical health consequences. Its impact on Mexican residents, however, remains underexplored.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of psychological terror among medical residents at a medical center in Mexico City.

In a cross-sectional study, medical residents from various specialties were assessed for mobbing domains, quality of life, and anxiety/depression using the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror (LIPT), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Psychological terror was defined as a LIPT score ≥ p80. Linear and binomial logistic regression models were used to explore independent predictors of mobbing and psychological terror.

Of the 349 participants included (median age: 28; IQR: 27–30 years), 19.5% (95% CI: 15.5%-24.0%) were identified with psychological terror. Furthermore, 39% reported higher-degree trainees as mobbing perpetrators. Women in surgical residencies in their second or fifth year were found to experience higher levels of mobbing. Manifested bullying, workplace stigma, and inappropriate tasks were the most impacted mobbing domains. Anxiety, diminished mental health quality of life, and higher degree of medical specialization were independent predictors of mobbing. Meanwhile, increased anxiety, affiliation to surgical specialties, and being in the second or fifth year of training were identified as predictors of psychological terror.

Mobbing and psychological terror are prevalent conditions among medical residents in Mexico. Identification of occupational conditions and adverse psychological stressors can help to improve quality of life and training of medical residents.

Sexual orientation disclosure and depression among Thai gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: The roles of social support and intimate partner violence

by Eduardo Encina, Worawalan Waratworawan, Yamol Kongjareon, Mayur M. Desai, Thomas E. Guadamuz

Among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), sexual orientation disclosure to social groups can act as a significant risk for depression. The primary goal of this research is to understand the association between disclosure and depression, the association of social support and intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences, depression, and disclosure.

This project uses a secondary dataset of Thailand from a larger cross-sectional study distributed in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. This study utilized web-based answers from 1468 Thai GBM respondents between the ages of 15–24 years.

Prevalence of depression was over 50%. Across the social groups of interest, those who disclosed to everyone had the lowest depression prevalence. This association was statistically significant for all groups (pp = 0.052). There was a statistically significant association illustrated between full disclosure to social groups and increased social support. Most respondents (43.9%) had low social support, and additionally this group had the highest level of depression, compared to those with high social support. There was a statistically significant association for lowered depression outcomes and increased social support. IPV experiences that occurred within the last six months had a statistically significant relationship with depression (p = 0.002). There was a notable association between those with experiences of being a victim of IPV, alone and in conjunction with experience of being a perpetrator of IPV, which was associated with increased odds of depression. However, the type of IPV experiences an individual had did not differ based on disclosure status.

This study provides strengthened evidence of the impact that differences in supportive networks can have on mental health outcomes. In addition, they provided a wider consideration for how people may have different IPV experiences, either as a perpetrator, victim, or both, and how those shapes health outcomes of depression. GBM communities still face adversity and challenges that affect their long-term health outcomes, even if they do live in what is considered an accepting country.

El juicio clínico de las enfermeras sobre el empoderamiento del cuidador

Objetivo principal: Identificar los factores que subyacen al juicio clínico de las enfermeras sobre el empoderamiento del cuidador. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo y exploratorio. Los participantes fueron 10 enfermeras expertas que pertenecían a un grupo que apoya a sus colegas en el diseño de los cuidados apoyados en modelos teóricos y enfermeras expertas en el empoderamiento de los cuidadores, en un hospital universitario. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con grabación de audio. Los datos se analizaron mediante la técnica de análisis de contenido. Resultados principales: Emergieron tres temas, las enfermeras, los cuidadores y las dificultades y limitaciones, que se subdividieron en ocho subtemas. Se identificaron factores facilitadores, así como limitaciones y dificultades asociadas a la asunción y gestión del rol de cuidador. Conclusión principal: El empoderamiento del cuidador es un proceso complejo, en el que los cuidados de enfermería se centran más en la persona dependiente y menos en el cuidador, lo que demuestra que es un área que requiere mayor atención y conceptualización por parte de las enfermeras.

Percepción del proceso de trabajo de los técnicos de enfermería titulados

Objetive: analizar las percepciones, motivaciones y dificultades de los técnicos de enfermería titulados en enfermería. Metodología: Me-todología: Se trata de una investigación cualitativa, exploratoria descriptiva, la recolección de datos se realizó en un Hospital Municipal del Noroeste de Paraná, durante el primer semestre de 2020, mediante la aplicación de un guión semiestructurado con preguntas orien-tadoras y un cuestionario sociodemográfico. Resultados: El conocimiento adquirido en la graduación de enfermería fue uno de los facto-res facilitadores que contribuyó a una mejor ejecución de la atención brindada, y la mayor dificultad está relacionada con la aceptación de los colegas y supervisores, en relación a las opiniones y sugerencias sobre los procedimientos u organización de la Servicio. Las razones que llevaron a los técnicos de enfermería a cursar una carrera en el área en la que trabajan se deben a la necesidad de cono-cimientos y la búsqueda de un mejor futuro financiero. Conclusión: cuando el profesional tiene un título, se desarrolla con mayor destreza y eficacia en la asistencia proporcionada.