bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of meaning in activities during Covid-19 lockdown and association with low mental health in Belgian adults 50+
Authors: Vriendt P De , Cruyt E , Van de Velde D 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Engagement in meaningful activities (MA) is significantly associated with morbidity, mental health and mortality, regardless age. However, it is known that a gender difference occurs in daily activities: men choose significantly more for leisure activities, work or study, while women opt more for domestic work and social activities. During the covid-19 lockdown, it can be expected that men and women experience the severe restrictions differently. In this study we wanted to identify differences regarding restriction in MA and mental health in particular for men and women 50 y and older.

Methods
In Belgium, strict measures were imposed between March 13 and May 4th. During this lockdown, a large-scale web-survey with more than 2000 Belgian respondents, has been carried out. In total, 420 people 50+ participated (237 women/183 men).

Results
The lockdown had a major impact on the daily activities and mental health of everyone, but slightly more on those of women 50+. They scored significantly lower in engaging in MA as measured by the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Scale (EMAS) (31.36; sd 7.09 versus 33.78; sd 6.35; p.001) and experienced worse mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (13.80; sd 6.70 versus 11.59; sd 5.87; p&lt;.000) than men 50+. The correlation between EMAS en GHQ was respectively .510 and .540 (p &lt;.000). The MA women attach more importance to could no longer be continued while the typical male activities still could be practiced (even more). Moreover, the daily caring activities, in which women are already more active anyway, interfered much more with the other activities than usual.

Conclusions
The extent to which activities remained meaningful during the lockdown was crucial. It was obvious that 50-+ women found less meaning in their activities during corona and experienced less mental health. Subsequently, women 50+ turned out to be slightly more vulnerable than men 50+ during the Covid-19 crisis.
Linking Dutch national public services data to estimate the prevalence of intellectual disabilities
Authors: Cuypers M , Tobi H , Naaldenberg J , Leusink GL 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
While people with ID depend on public (health) services more than others, they are difficult to identify within population data. This limits the opportunities to accurately estimate ID prevalence, monitor trends, or to tailor public health interventions according to the needs and characteristics of this groups. By linking relevant databases, this study estimated the prevalence of ID based on public service use, and explored methods to monitor other developments in the ID population. Starting point was the Dutch population register, containing all Dutch adults alive at January 1, 2015. From databases of public services (long-term care, and social benefits) we retrieved information of those individuals who accessed these services with an ID as primary reason. Through this method, 187,149 unique Dutch adults with an ID were identified within a population of almost 12.7 million Dutch adults, giving an ID prevalence estimate of 1.45%. Prevalence of ID was higher among males (1.7%) than among females (1.2%). Most individuals with ID were identified through use of residential care services (n = 91,064; 0.7%). Non-residential ID-related care was utilized by 27,007 individuals (0.2%). Social, employment, or income support due to a (mild) ID was received by 69,078 individuals (0.5%). Mean age in these ID-groups was between 8 and 10 years younger than in the general Dutch population. ID prevalence declined with increasing age across all ID-groups. The ID prevalence in The Netherlands as determined in this study aligned with international estimates. This suggests that national supportive services are well accessible for people with ID. Moreover, it demonstrated that databases from national supportive services can be a useful source to identify individuals with ID at the population level, and it enables structural monitoring of the ID population through linking national databases.
Experiences with acute hospital health care: a cross-sectional study among adult patients in Slovenia
Authors: Murko E , Kralj M , Poldrugovac M , Ropret N 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Patient-reported experience measures assess patients' experiences with processes in healthcare and hence support a patient-centred orientation of care. The aim of the study was to measure patients' experiences in Slovenian acute hospitals in the fields of internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, oncology and orthopaedics.

Methods
The survey was based on a 2006 questionnaire already in use in Slovenia, which was updated after a literature and documentary review. The questionnaire included the following domains: admission to the hospital, time from arrival to the hospital to the bed on the ward, attitude of doctors, attitude of nurses, treatment, privacy, hospital environment and discharge from hospital. Mixed-mode study design was used, which involved a combination of traditional paper-and-pencil method and a web survey.

Results
The national survey was conducted in autumn 2019 and included 22 acute hospitals with 49 hospital wards. The questionnaire was validly completed by 3,684 patients, with 91.8% paper and 8.2% online questionnaires. The response rate was estimated to be 32.1%. The mean value for the general assessment of hospital treatment on a scale from 0 to 10 was 9.07. The worst rated indicators were related to hospital food (only 56.9% of patients were satisfied) and doctors' explaining the possible side effects of the newly prescribed medications (65.0% of patients agreed on obtaining such explanation). Qualitative analysis of open questions revealed that patient paid considerable attention to poor infrastructure and needs for hospital renovations.

Conclusions
The surveyed patients in our study rate highly the treatment in acute care hospitals. However, there is room for improvement. Increased attention to hospital environment and infrastructure is warranted in the future, including the amendments of the questionnaire.

Key messages
In autumn 2019, a national survey on patient’s experiences in acute care hospitals in Slovenia was conducted. 76.5% of the surveyed patients rated the medical treatment with a score of 9 or 10. Qualitative analysis of open questions revealed poor infrastructure and needed renovation of the hospitals.
Socio-economic disparities in self-reported, tested, and diagnosed COVID-19 status
Authors: Zhu Y , Duan M , Dijk HH , Freriks RD , Dekker LH , Mierau JO 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Backgrounds
Studies in clinical settings showed a potential relationship between Socio-Economic Status (SES) and lifestyle factors with COVID-19, but it is still unknown whether this holds in the general population. In this study we investigated the associations of SES with self-reported, tested, and diagnosed COVID-19 status in the general population.

Methods
Participants were 49,474 men and women (46 ± 12 yrs) residing in the Northern Netherlands from the Lifelines cohort study. SES indicators and lifestyle factors (i.e., smoking status, physical activity, alcohol intake, diet quality, sleep time, and TV watching time) were assessed by questionnaire from the Lifelines Biobank. Self-reported, tested, and diagnosed COVID-19 status were obtained from the Lifelines COVID-19 questionnaire.

Results
There were 4,711 participants who self-reported having had a COVID-19 infection, 2,883 participants tested for COVID-19, and 123 positive cases diagnosed in this study population. After adjustment for age, sex, lifestyle factors, BMI, and ethnicity, we found that participants with low education or low income were less likely to self-report a COVID-19 infection (OR [95%CI]: low education 0.78 [0.71-0.86]; low income 0.86 [0.79-0.93]), and be tested for COVID-19 (OR [95%CI]: low education 0.58 [0.52-0.66]; low income 0.86 [0.78-0.95]) compared with high education or high income groups, respectively.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that the low SES group was the most vulnerable population to COVID-19 infection and self-reported and tested COVID-19 status in the general population was better predicted by SES than by lifestyle factors.

Key messages
This study innovatively included a broader range of COVID-19 status, including self-reported and tested COVID-19 status, to better understand COVID-19 related socio-economic factors. This study added evidence to the socio-economically patterned COVID-19 status in a general population instead of in clinical settings.
Maximising Social Value and Health Impact – what is the role of PHIs?
Authors: Ashton K , Green L , Dyakova M , Bellis M 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Issue
Public health Institutes (PHIs) need to build on traditional approaches to capture and measure their value and impact. As we transfer into the COVID-19 recovery phase, it is important to maximise the value of the health impact but also the social, economic and environmental impact of PHIs. Exploration is required to understand how the social value and impact of PHIs is, or can be, captured and measured. Existing research has illustrated the potential link between Health Impact Assessment (HIA) which assesses health and well-being through the lens of the determinants of health, and economic methods such as Social Return on Investment (SROI). This research aims to understand the current role which PHIs have, in order to strengthen advocacy for investment in public health and prevention in order to protect and improve population health.

Description of the problem
A scoping survey was designed and distributed digitally to national and regional PHIs via international networks. Semi-structured interviews were also used to add a qualitative value to the research to allow for triangulation of results. The survey data was analysed descriptively and interview data analysed thematically and coded.

Results
The results of the research present an understanding of the meaning of investment, social value and health impact within PHIs including how it is measured using SROI and HIA. It also highlights whether PHIs have considered how capturing social value and health impact can contribute to the recovery from COVID-19, and whether they believe that SROI and HIA have a role in achieving this.

Lessons
This innovative work aims to develop a picture of how PHIs are capturing and measuring the wider social, economic and environmental value of their programmes and services. Survey results will be used to help develop a framework for capturing the wider impact and value of public health at an international level, with an aim to achieving sustainable investment in future public health.

Key messages
Making the case for investing in public health by illustrating its social, economic and environmental value is vital. Understanding how to capture and measure the wider value of public health is imperative to aid the recovery from COVID-19.
Back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic: Does students’ stress differ by socioeconomic status?
Authors: García-Moya I , Díez M , Paniagua C , Prieto-Torrero I 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
With COVID-19 disrupting school life, there is a need to examine whether COVID-related changes in our schools may be creating or exacerbating inequalities among students. The aim of this poster is to examine potential differences associated to socioeconomic status (SES) both in different facets of school stress, and in the overall impact of COVID and specific school COVID-related measures.

Methods
Sample consisted of 2,523 secondary school students (52.3% girls, M age = 13.78) from Spain who had participated in Project EASE from November 2020 to mid-January 2021, i.e. shortly after schools reopened for the new academic year. Using ANOVA and Chi-square analyses, differences associated to SES were examined in: (1) school stress, for which we used 3 subscales of the ASQ-S (school performance, future uncertainty, and school-leisure conflict), and (2) the perceived impact of COVID and specific school COVID-related measures (e.g. hygiene measures, social distancing, increased ICTs use) on stress levels.

Results
We found no significant differences associated to SES in stress of school performance or stress of school-leisure conflict, but low SES was associated with higher stress due to future uncertainty. Regardless of SES, the majority of students reported that their levels of school stress had increased due to COVID-19. As for specific measures, the percentage of students that reported an increase in their level of stress due to the more frequent use of ICTs was higher among low-SES students, who also reported lower levels of stress associated to reduced contact with classmates due to COVID.

Conclusions
Although most students reported an increase in school stress due to COVID-19, low-SES students experienced significantly higher stress due to future uncertainty. Potential differences in the role of specific school COVID-related measures would also deserve further examination.

Key messages
Low-SES students experienced higher levels of stress due to future uncertainty. The majority of students, regardless of SES, reported increases in their stress levels due to COVID-19.
Well-being and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jericek Klanscek H , Hočevar Grom A , Rehberger M , Lavtar D , Klančič M 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the lives of everyone. Some studies suggest that the incidence of mental health problems increased during the pandemic. The purpose of the study was to investigate the characteristics of mental well-being and the risk of developing depression among different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia.

Methods
Data from eight waves of the Slovenian panel web survey SI PANDA was used, namely the 1st wave: from 4th to 6th December 2020 (n = 1001); 8th wave: from 12th to 15th March 2021 (n = 1002). The sample included adults aged 18 to 74 years. In all eight waves, we used The World Health Organisation-Five Well Being Index (WHO 5), which is a short self-reported scale of current mental well-being and also has appropriate validity for screening for depression. Data were analyzed using the SPSS25, we applied the Mantel Haenszel linear trend test and the chi square test.

Results
The results show that from the 1st to the 8th wave of the study (from December 4th 2020 to March 15th 2021), mental well being in the whole sample improved slightly (M H test for trend, p &lt; 0,001), both in men and women, across all age groups. In addition, there was a declining trend in the risk of developing depression among the population aged between 30 and 64 years. However, this decrease was not observed in the 65-74 and 18-29 age groups in the mentioned time frame. In the youngest age group we could observe substantial fluctuations in the risk for depression between research waves, whereas in the eldest population a favourable decline in the risk for depression was not observed.

Conclusions
Risk of developing depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia is different among different age groups. Studies suggest that the occurrence of mental health problems increased during the pandemic, but not necessarily in parallel with the level of mental well being experienced by adults, which was also shown in the Slovenian sample.

Key messages
From December 4th 2020 to March 15th 2021 there was a declining trend in the risk of developing depression among the population aged between 30 and 64 years. The most vulnerable groups for depression symptoms in COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia were 65–74 and 18-29 age groups.
Life during a pandemic in Australia: wellbeing and social determinants of health
Authors: Lord H , Fernandez R , MacPhail C 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has had effects on populations worldwide. The social determinants of health affect an individual's capacity to cope during a crisis which could potentially impact on their wellbeing. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between wellbeing and the social determinants of health among Australian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
A cross-sectional study of adults residing in Australia was conducted using SurveyMonkey (an online survey) between August - October 2020. Participants were recruited via social media. Wellbeing was measured using the 10-item Multicultural Quality of Life Index and social determinants of health were measured using validated tools and investigator developed questions. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Inferential statistics, including independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were undertaken. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the predictors of wellbeing.

Results
In total, 1211 responses were received. Females accounted for 80.7% of the responses, men 16.7% and transgender/non-binary 2.6%. The mean age of the respondents was 43 years (SD 14.5). The mean score for total wellbeing was 62.58 (SD 21.22). Housing insecurity (p = 0.000), food insecurity (p = 0.000, social support (p = 0.000) and access to health care (p = 0.000) were all predictors of poor total wellbeing. Being a male (p = .0380) was the only predictor of higher wellbeing.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates that adults in Australia who had poor social support, had difficultly accessing health care, had insecure housing and food insecurity had significantly poorer wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study exposes the social determinants of health that are responsible for health and social inequalities. It shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the social vulnerabilities and highlights the need take action on the social determinants of health and inequalities.

Key messages
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the longstanding health and social inequalities that exist in Australia. Action on social determinants of health is required in a post COVID-19 world to rebuild social protection and safeguard populations from any future public health emergencies.
Mental Health, Wellbeing and Preventive Behaviors in 10 Western Pacific Countries during COVID-19
Authors: Chen DT-H , Wang YJ 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
COVID-19 has shown varying impacts on different populations. In the Western Pacific (WP) Region with a relatively low COVID-19 burden, the variabilities of its impact on mental health, wellbeing and preventive behaviors across countries are unclear.

Methods
We analyzed repeated national-representative, cross-sectional data of 87,787 adults collected via the Imperial College London YouGov COVID-19 behavior tracker in ten WP countries-Australia, China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kong during the pandemic (April-September 2020). Main outcomes were severe depression/anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 score≥9), wellbeing (Cantril Ladder Scale 0-10), worries of contracting COVID-19 and prevalence of preventive behaviors. Monthly temporal trends were examined.

Results
Percentages of severe depression/anxiety were higher in Australia (12.9%), Hong Kong (11.8%) and lowest in Vietnam (6.8%); increasing trends were noted in the Philippines (5.9% to 12.3%, p &lt; 0.0001) and Malaysia (8.2% to 10.7%, p = 0.019). South Korea, China and Taiwan had the lowest levels of wellbeing (5.0-5.5) compared with their highest counterparts in the Philippines, Australia and Vietnam (6.2-6.5). Worries of COVID-19 remained high in Asia countries (Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines: 79.2%-81.6%), compared to that in Australia (41%). 83.5%-97.2% of the Asian respondents persistently wore face masks outside home, while the mean percentages were low in Australia (32.2%) despite the increasing trend observed (24.1% to 48.6%, p &lt; 0.000). Over half of the WP countries have significant decreasing trends (p &lt; 0.000) for avoid going out; Taiwan showed the lowest prevalence (45.7%).

Conclusions
Psychological and behavioral responses to COVID-19 in the WP region varied widely. COVID-19-related negative impact on mental health and wellbeing was universal. A Global effort to tackle the aftermath of the pandemic is crucial.

Key messages
The psychological and behavioral responses to COVID-19 in Western Pacific countries varied widely. Severe depression/anxiety and low levels of wellbeing were prevalent in Western Pacific Region.
Older people’s aspirations for the aftermath of COVID-19: Findings from the WISE study
Authors: Guzman V , Pertl M , Doyle F , Foley R 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
For many older people around the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted accessibility issues and pervasive inequalities across multiple social, economic and health dimensions. The aim of the present study is to explore older people's perspectives about what we should learn from this pandemic and how to build a better future.

Methods
The Well-being, Interventions and Support during Epidemics (WISE) study is an exploratory qualitative project that has collected information from 46 individuals aged 65+, who live in Irish community settings. Data collection included in-depth interviews over the phone or videoconference platforms. Analysis is ongoing utilizing NVivo12 to identify themes and linkages within a socio-ecological framework.

Preliminary Results
Findings indicate that at the macrosystems level, several participants expect policymakers and researchers to commit to challenging ageist misconceptions of a homogeneous aging experience- such as the notion that older people are merely recipients of care with a high degree of needs. Upon reflection of their experiences with shelter-in-place restrictions and its consequences, at the exosystem level, many respondents called for older voices to be consulted in public health decisions and included in decision-making bodies. Concerning the microsystem, participants referred policymakers should further develop natural and built environments that enable physical, mental and social well-being for all. Cutting across all levels, participants advised for stronger political will and accountability, as they recognized some of their concerns had been addressed in past policies but were not being implemented.

Conclusions
Our preliminary findings are applicable to the Irish context but also provide relevant insights for those interested in creating inclusive age-friendly societies across the globe. Embracing this shared vision would provide significant opportunities to address present and future public health challenges.

Key messages
Older people are very diverse, so it is necessary to move on from one size fits all approaches. Age-friendly societies are multifaceted endeavours that must include older voices at their core and build upon intergenerational solidarity.