International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Examining Community Engagement Strategies Used in the Climate Impact on Lung Cancer via Exposure to Radon (CLOVER) Study.","authors":"Mary Srivastava, Andrea Thoumi, Yadurshini Raveendran, Phillip Gibson, Jules Iradukunda, Ashwini Joshi, Suur D Ayangeakaa, Jeffrey M Clarke, Amie Koch, Junfeng Jim Zhang, Tomi Akinyemiju","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081072","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Residential radon exposure is a leading risk factor for lung cancer, and climate change may exacerbate this risk by increasing radon entry into homes. In North Carolina (NC), disparities in lung cancer outcomes and low radon awareness disproportionately affect racially and ethnically diverse and low-income populations. However, little is known about how use of conventional address-based sampling (ABS) compares with community-engaged recruitment strategies for enrolling historically underrepresented populations into such research. Community-engaged approaches are used to improve participation in environmental health research, yet few studies compare their effectiveness with traditional approaches in NC. This manuscript compares recruitment outcomes between ABS and community-engaged approaches within the CLOVER study to address this gap.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The Climate Impact on Lung Cancer via Exposure to Radon (CLOVER) study is a cross-sectional study examining climate-impacted radon exposure and lung cancer risk in NC. Participants were recruited using either ABS through a commercial address database or targeted community-engaged approaches implemented through partnerships with community organizations and culturally responsive, in-person outreach events. After providing informed consent, participants completed a household survey and a 7-day home radon test. Recruitment outcomes-consent, survey completion, and radon test return-were stratified by race and ethnicity and compared across strategies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 236 consented participants, community-engaged recruitment enrolled a higher proportion of Non-Hispanic (NH) Black, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian participants than ABS (57.3% vs. 41.9%). Community-engaged recruitment also had a higher consent rate than ABS (10.2% vs. 1.3%). Of the 145 participants who completed the survey, ABS participants completed surveys at a higher rate than community-engaged participants (73.3% vs. 54.7%), while of the 86 who returned the radon test kits, community-engaged participants did so at twice the rate of ABS participants (44.7% vs. 22.1%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Community-engaged recruitment enrolled a more racially and ethnically diverse sample and achieved higher consent and return rates than ABS, though ABS participants completed surveys at a higher rate. These findings highlight the importance of community partnerships and in-person recruitment strategies to improve participation of historically underrepresented populations in environmental health research and support equitable approaches to radon mitigation and lung cancer prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513679/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Service Coverage and Financial Hardship Under Universal Health Coverage: Uneven Associations Across 159 Countries (2000-2023).","authors":"Anderson Díaz-Pérez, Wendy Acuña Pérez","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081069","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Universal health coverage requires simultaneous progress in service coverage and financial protection, yet these dimensions are commonly assessed separately. We conducted a secondary ecological panel analysis using official World Health Organization/World Bank indicators. A document-oriented workflow preserved irregular subgroup structures before conversion to an unbalanced country-year panel comprising 981 observations from 159 countries/economies between 2000 and 2023. The primary inferential specification was a two-way fixed-effects model with country and year effects and country-clustered standard errors; a country fixed-effects model with a linear time trend, a random-intercept model, and generalized estimating equations were complementary robustness analyses. We also examined service domains, wealth- and rural-urban inequalities, beta convergence, and exploratory country typologies. Mean service coverage rose from 58.9 in 2000 to 74.0 in 2023, whereas mean financial hardship fell from 24.0% to 17.3%. In the primary model, each one-point increase in service coverage was associated with a 0.441-percentage-point reduction in hardship (95% confidence interval, -0.707 to -0.175; <i>p</i> = 0.001). Mean poorest-richest and rural-urban hardship gaps were 53.7 and 12.5 percentage points, respectively. The inverse association was largest in low-income settings, where socioeconomic gradients were also steepest. Service coverage gains should therefore not be interpreted as sufficient evidence of equitable universal health coverage; monitoring systems and financing reforms should jointly target access, financial protection, and distributional gaps.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13512504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Recent Air Pollution Exposure on Children's Neurocognitive Functions and the Possible Link with Endothelial Function.","authors":"Hanne Hendrickx, Annelies Van Eyck, Kristien Wouters, Julie Degraeve, Kevin Lamote, Roeland Samson, Stijn Verhulst","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081070","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Air pollution poses a major health risk, particularly in children, who spend considerable time in school. We monitored air pollution in school environments and investigated its impact on cardiovascular and neurocognitive outcomes. Seven elementary schools in Antwerp, Belgium, including one open-air school, participated in a longitudinal study. Indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM) and outdoor NO₂ concentrations were measured. Endothelial function and attentional outcomes were assessed repeatedly (<i>n</i> = 3) in 138 healthy children (mean age of 10.3 ± 0.5 years, 55.8% male). Mixed effect models were used to investigate the association between PM and NO₂ exposure and endothelial and attentional outcomes. This study considered median PM concentrations during the 4 h of the study visits (direct exposure), those during the 24 h (acute exposure) and 1 week preceding the study visits (recent exposure), and monthly NO₂ concentrations. Models were adjusted for sex, age, BMI-z, and visit. Increased direct (4 h) indoor PM exposure was associated with reduced microvascular dilatation, while selective and sustained attention improved with direct and recent PM exposure, respectively. No associations were found with NO₂. Exclusion of the open-air school slightly altered the findings. Larger longitudinal studies with improved exposure assessment are needed to clarify the effects of PM exposure and the influence of (open-air) school environments on children's learning and development.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513395/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breast Cancer Knowledge and Screening Barriers Among Female University Students of Pakistan.","authors":"Sehar Iqbal, Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad, Zoha Imtiaz Malik, Muhammad Irfan, Taima Qudah, Michael Kundi","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081068","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer is a leading public health concern among low- and middle-income countries, primarily due to inadequate knowledge and lack of early detection practices. This study aimed to assess knowledge about the signs and symptoms, risk factors, and screening procedures for breast cancer, and barriers and perceptions of screening, among female university students of Pakistan to explore the relationship between socio-demographic variables and levels of knowledge about breast cancer. A total of 413 participants took part in a cross-sectional survey and completed a self-administrative online questionnaire. The results reflected an overall poor knowledge among female students, with only 3.9% demonstrating adequate knowledge about risk factors and 7.7% correctly recognizing 80% or more relevant signs and symptoms. Embarrassment (58.8%) and lack of confidence in communicating symptoms with healthcare providers (50.6%) were the most commonly reported barriers for breast cancer screening. Young age and income status below PKR 50,000 per month (OR = 3.47, 95%CI: 1.20-10.07 rel. to highest income) were significantly associated with poor breast cancer knowledge. In conclusion, this study reports sub-optimal breast cancer awareness levels in the target population, indicating the need for awareness programs and policy-driven interventions to reduce barriers, improve knowledge, and improve adherence to screening recommendations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated Education Models for Addressing Substance Use Among Schoolchildren: A Scoping Review of School-Based Educational Interventions.","authors":"Deeksha Bajpai Tewari, Upma Gautam, Vaishnavi Jaiswal, Pooja, Ankita Mishra, Priya Das","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081073","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early and comprehensive interventions are crucial for preventing substance use in adolescents. In school settings, such interventions can be easily integrated into the curricular and co-curricular activities with the active involvement of school administration, teachers, trained staff, parents, and community members. This review aimed to comprehensively examine preventive, protective, and corrective school-based intervention models for substance use to suggest an evidence-based and effective educational model for preventing substance use in children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this scoping review, online databases, including SCOPUS and Web of Science, were searched to identify and collect articles evaluating the effectiveness of school-based prevention models. The PRISMA approach for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) was employed to assess the scope of relevant literature and synthesise existing school-based intervention models. Two independent reviewers independently screened records (κ = 0.75). Due to heterogeneity, findings were synthesised narratively using a socio-ecological framework. Study quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-three studies, mostly from the United States, were included in the review. All school-based interventions examined were preventive or protective in their approaches. There was no school-based intervention model that was corrective in its approach. Increased knowledge, negative attitudes towards substance use, and reduced substance use in the intervention groups were key outcomes. Effective interventions involved a multi-pronged approach wherein teacher training, student education, and the involvement of parents, senior citizens, police officials, experts, and the community were key components. Additionally, culturally tailored interventions have shown promising results.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among school children, tobacco and alcohol use are most prevalent, and schools can play a crucial role in addressing this issue. Apart from preventive and protective intervention models, the focus needs to shift towards developing integrated school-based corrective models to address the concerns of substance use among school students.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513616/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148834173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond the Leash: Exploring the Public Health Dimension of Facility Dog Handler Experiences in Military Graduate Education.","authors":"Katherine Selby, Paula Bellini, Daryl Thorne","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081071","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Facility dogs are increasingly incorporated throughout higher-education institutions as integrative conduits for supporting students by reducing stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. While these programs are designed to enhance student well-being, little is known about the experiences of the handlers who train, care for, and work with these dogs-specifically within military-affiliated programs. The handlers' role necessitates a unique dynamic of caregiving, emotional labor, and professional responsibility and management that can create role conflict and additional stress among those graduate students who dedicate their time to the working dogs. Despite the growing presence of animal-assisted interventions in university settings, handler experiences in military graduate contexts are largely unexplored. In an effort to establish ethical and sustainable animal-assisted interventions and facility dog programs that contribute to population-level mental-health resilience and institutional public health, there must be greater understanding of the demands and implications of the handler's workload to develop sustainability. Therefore, this paper highlights the need for qualitative inquiry to explore the intersection of handler experience and educational responsibilities, as integrated into the military environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13512763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148834034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk Factors, Distribution Patterns, and Their Implications for Environmentally Based Tuberculosis Transmission Risk Control Strategies.","authors":"Rapitos Sidiq, Indang Dewata, Heldi, Nurhasan Syah, Linda Handayuni, Al Asyary","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081063","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081063","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most burdensome infectious diseases in Indonesia. One contributing factor is the environment, particularly issues related to household ventilation and lighting. TB control efforts do not solely rely on medical interventions but also require a community-based approach that emphasizes active community involvement in preventing and controlling environmental risks to TB transmission. This study aims to analyze risk factors, distribution patterns, and their implications for environmentally based TB transmission risk control strategies. A mixed-methods design was conducted in two stages: first, risk factor analysis (with a case-control approach) and disease distribution pattern determination on environmental variables were performed, followed by a multidimensional scaling model (by using the Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries (RAPFISH) method) according to sustainability dimensions (ecological, economic, social, institutional, and technological) based on the resulting significant variables/indicators. This research was conducted in 2024, in four villages/nagari in West Sumatra of Indonesia. For quantitative analysis, data were collected through interviews, physical measurements of the environment, and determination of the coordinates of the residences of people with TB. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. For the distribution pattern, Nearest Neighbor Analysis (NNA) in the ArcView program version 3.1 was used. Meanwhile, for qualitative data collection, focus group discussion (FGD) was performed. This study found that poor ventilation, minimal lighting, and a lack of stigma competency significantly increased the risk of TB transmission. Varied distribution patterns between regions demand adaptive and locally based strategies. The community-triggering approach is key to building community awareness and participation in creating a healthy and TB-free home environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13512747/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Body Composition, Strength, Mobility, and Posture Associated with Shoulder Pain and Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Yarin Gohar, Ella Been, Leonid Kalichman","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081065","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shoulder pain ranks among the leading causes of functional decline in older adults, affecting approximately one in five community-dwelling individuals and contributing to loss of independence and reduced quality of life. Despite its prevalence, shoulder pain in this population is frequently underreported and poorly understood beyond structural pathology, limiting early identification and targeted intervention. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the associations between four interrelated physical domains, body composition, grip and shoulder muscle strength, cervical-shoulder range of motion (ROM), and postural alignment, with particular emphasis on forward head posture and shoulder pain and disability in community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older. A structured search of major electronic databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, was conducted using predefined eligibility criteria and keyword combinations linking shoulder pain and disability with each physical domain. Additional primary studies were identified through manual reference screening of key articles and citation tracking. Evidence was synthesized thematically, highlighting patterns of association, methodological inconsistencies, and contradictions across studies. Findings indicate that higher adiposity, reduced lean mass, shoulder and grip strength deficits, restricted glenohumeral and cervical ROM, and postural deviations are each associated with greater shoulder pain and disability. However, the evidence is not uniformly consistent: associations between Body Mass Index and shoulder ROM are largely absent at moderate adiposity levels, resting postural deviation does not reliably distinguish individuals with shoulder pain from those without, and the causal direction between strength deficits and postural deterioration remains debated. Despite these contradictions, emerging evidence suggests that these domains may interact with one another, and the literature collectively supports an integrated, multifactor assessment framework over single-variable approaches for the evaluation and management of shoulder dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults. Evidence quality was not formally assessed, and evidence for forward head posture specifically in older adults remains limited and largely indirect, drawn mainly from younger populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513864/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148834037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patient Safety Culture: Current Status and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers at Kien An Hospital-Hai Phong, Vietnam-A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Nguyen Ba Phuoc, Vu Tuan Anh, Nguyen Thi Ly, Nguyen Duc Son, Nguyen Thi Chin, Lam Thi Hanh, Trinh Thi My, Nguyen Thi Nhan, Le Van Mang, Luu Xuan Quy, Ha Thi Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Duc Thanh","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081064","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective</b>: Patient safety culture (PSC) is a critical determinant of healthcare quality. This study aimed to assess the current status of PSC among healthcare workers at Kien An Hospital, Hai Phong, Vietnam, and identify associated factors. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the 12-dimension hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC). A total of 324 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and allied staff) participated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. <b>Results</b>: The positive response rate (PRR) across the 12 dimensions of patient safety culture (PSC) varied widely. The highest positive perceptions were observed in \"Teamwork within units\" (98.5%) and \"Teamwork across units\" (98.1%). Conversely, severe vulnerabilities in psychological safety were identified, with \"Communication Openness\" recording the absolute lowest PRR at 25.9%, closely followed by \"Non-punitive response to error\" at 29.0%. Comparative analysis between professional strata revealed broad alignment across 11 dimensions, with the sole significant divergence occurring in \"Feedback and communication about error\", where physicians reported a significantly higher PRR than nurses & allied staff (85.8% vs. 75.2%; <i>p</i> = 0.04). In the multivariable logistic regression model, age emerged as the single independent predictor of overall positive PSC; compared to early-career staff (<30 years), healthcare workers aged 30-40 years (AOR = 4.17, <i>p</i> = 0.02) and 40-50 years (AOR = 5.03, <i>p</i> = 0.02) had significantly higher odds of favorable safety perceptions. <b>Conclusions</b>: Healthcare workers at the study hospital exhibit exceptionally strong collaborative teamwork, yet low communication openness and the fear of a punitive environment remain critical systemic barriers to safety. Because safety culture challenges are macro-institutional and disproportionately impact junior personnel, interventions should shift away from role-specific policies. Instead, hospital leadership must prioritize establishing non-punitive reporting mechanisms, enhancing open dialogue, and designing targeted safety culture onboarding initiatives tailored specifically to the needs of early-career healthcare workers to foster continuous organizational learning.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13512513/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148834109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effects of Guided Imagery on Women's Health: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies.","authors":"Şehma Şen, Duygu Gözen","doi":"10.3390/ijerph23081066","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijerph23081066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Guided imagery (GI) is a mind-body intervention that uses sensory visualizations to promote relaxation and healing. While being utilized in various clinical settings, its specific cumulative impact on women's health across different life stages remains to be comprehensively synthesized. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of GI on psychological and physiological outcomes in women's health, including gynecologic/breast cancer, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases for studies published between 2014 and 2024. The search terms included keywords related to \"guided imagery,\" \"women's health,\" and \"experimental studies\". We included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies focusing on GI interventions in women. Data were extracted on study characteristics, participant demographics, intervention details, and outcomes. The methodological quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 29 studies (27 RCTs, 2 quasi-experimental) involving 1939 women were included. GI was found to significantly reduce anxiety, stress, depression, pain, and fatigue. It also improved quality of life and the overall labor experience during childbirth. The synthesis revealed that GI has evolved from a simple relaxation tool to a holistic mind-body intervention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Guided imagery is an effective, non-invasive, and low-cost complementary intervention that improves various psychological and physiological health outcomes in women. It should be integrated into clinical practice as part of patient-centered, holistic nursing care.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"23 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13512446/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148834124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}