International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Hearing Loss and Social Isolation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Role of Neighborhood Disorder and Perceived Social Cohesion.","authors":"Sol Baik, Kyeongmo Kim","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory impairments acquired with aging. This condition causes communication difficulties, leading to social isolation, dependence on others, and a reduced quality of life. However, less is known about the influence of environmental factors on the experiences of older adults with hearing loss. This study utilized three waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2011-2013), analyzing data from 3950 community-dwelling older adults. Survey-weighted random intercept models were used to investigate whether hearing loss is associated with social isolation over the three waves and whether this relationship is moderated by neighborhood disorder and perceived neighborhood social cohesion. The study found that older adults with hearing loss were significantly less socially isolated, while the perceived social cohesion significantly moderated the effect of hearing loss on social isolation. Given that hearing function deteriorates with age and hearing aids or other devices are rarely covered by third-party payers, except for some state Medicaid plans or rehabilitation services for veterans, addressing modifiable neighborhood factors may be the most effective way to help individuals remain socially engaged and avoid isolation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12027265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144038982","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":"Australian Women Veterans' Experiences of Gendered Disempowerment and Abuse Within Military Service and Transition.","authors":"Sharon Lawn, Elaine Waddell, Louise Roberts, Pilar Rioseco, Tiffany Beks, Liz McNeill, David Everitt, Tiffany Sharp, Dylan Mordaunt, Amanda Tarrant, Miranda Van Hooff, Jon Lane, Ben Wadham","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040584","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Disempowering experiences of military service and transition for women veterans exist within an established, dominant, masculinised culture, in which their presence is highly visible, challenged, and often subject to institutional prejudice. Sexual abuse of women in the military, in particular, is a persistent finding in contemporary international research and national inquiries into military culture in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and Canada. This study sought to understand military service, transition to civilian life, and post-military experiences of Australian women veterans, specifically their experiences of discrimination, military sexual harassment and assault, and consequent military sexual trauma (MST). In-depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with 22 Australian women veterans that examined how women veterans manage their identity as women in the military. Issues included gender-based challenges in conforming to a masculinised culture, experiences of misogyny, sexual harassment and assault, systemic failures to recognize women's specific health needs, and experiences of separation from the military and transition, including help-seeking and engagement with services to address their experiences of MST. Women veterans' adverse experiences largely stemmed from an entrenched masculinised military culture, in which military sexual assault was enabled, ignored, and condoned. Military and veteran support services have been slow to recognize, acknowledge, and address this significant issue.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12026488/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144051524","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":"Improving Access to Radiotherapy: Exploring Structural Quality Indicators for Radiotherapy in Gauteng Province, South Africa.","authors":"Portia N Ramashia, Pauline B Nkosi, Thokozani P Mbonane","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Radiotherapy is a critical component of effective cancer treatment, yet access remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. This study explores structural quality indicators influencing radiotherapy access in Gauteng province, a region with a dual public-private healthcare system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A concurrent triangulation mixed-methods approach using a descriptive cross-sectional study was employed; for the quantitative phase, data from public and private radiotherapy facilities was analysed, and for the qualitative phase, insights were obtained from interviews with the heads of departments and members of three multidisciplinary professions in radiation oncology, namely radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, and medical physicists.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings reveal stark disparities in radiotherapy access. Gauteng province has only two major public radiotherapy facilities serving a large population, while multiple private facilities exist. The data indicate substantial differences in resource distribution, equipment accessibility, and personnel levels between public and private institutions. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, personnel shortages, and operational limitations in the public sector have surfaced as significant barriers to prompt equitable access to radiotherapy. This research shows the urgent need for focused strategies to address these systemic issues in order to improve access to radiation treatment in Gauteng province. The study's findings will inform the development of a comprehensive framework to enhance radiotherapy access and contribute to more equitable cancer care delivery in South Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12026607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144065077","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":"Correction: Yau et al. Cardiac and Mental Benefits of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diet plus Forest Bathing (FB) versus MIND Diet among Older Chinese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. <i>Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health</i> 2022, <i>19</i>, 14665.","authors":"Ka-Yin Yau, Pui-Sze Law, Chung-Ngok Wong","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040582","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the original publication [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11984491/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144004197","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":"\"You Have to Make It Normal, That's What We Do\": Construction Managers' Experiences of Help-Offering.","authors":"Emilie Roche, Shane O'Donnell, Noel Richardson","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Men have a higher risk of suicide compared to women, with those in male-dominated industries such as construction being particularly vulnerable. These industries are typically characterised as 'macho' environments, endorsing traditional masculine norms that reinforce mental health stigma and delay help-seeking. The workplace is a promising setting for engaging men with issues around their mental health. Although managers can play a key role by connecting workers in distress with mental health supports, research exploring their experiences of this is limited. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the barriers to and the facilitators of help-offering behaviour among managers in the construction industry in Ireland. Five focus groups were conducted with construction industry managers (<i>n</i> = 33) to explore their perspectives on supporting and offering help to workers in distress. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings indicated three key themes: (1) creating the right environment with sub-themes focused on fostering an open culture around mental health on-site and overcoming systemic challenges; (2) navigating the practice of help-offering; and (3) using the right tools for the job. The findings highlight the need for manager training tailored to the construction industry as part of a multi-faceted approach to help-offering within the industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12027290/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143989290","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 Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Practice Education in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Kuemju Park","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040577","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to investigate and analyze the remote teaching methods implemented in nursing education and clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of developing post-pandemic educational strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A structured questionnaire was administered to 92 full-time nursing professors nationwide, who were responsible for clinical courses in adult nursing. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The majority (96.7%) of the participants implemented remote clinical practice during COVID-19. The primary teaching methods included virtual simulation programs (76.1%) and online nursing skills programs (75%). The clinical scenarios were primarily instructor-developed (63%) or drawn from virtual simulation cases (54.3%). Most professors (69.6%) modified their evaluation methods, and 85.9% reported changes in their assignment structures compared to their pre-pandemic practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides valuable insights into the effective remote clinical practice in nursing education, identifying specific programs and implementation considerations suitable for post-pandemic educational environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12027363/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054078","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":"Family Functioning and Pubertal Maturation in Hispanic/Latino Children from the HCHS/SOL Youth.","authors":"Ayana K April-Sanders, Parisa Tehranifar, Mary Beth Terry, Danielle M Crookes, Carmen R Isasi, Linda C Gallo, Lindsay Fernandez-Rhodes, Krista M Perreira, Martha L Daviglus, Shakira F Suglia","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040576","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040576","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous studies have examined the association between family dysfunction and pubertal timing in adolescent girls. However, the evidence is lacking on the role of family dysfunction during sensitive developmental periods in both boys and girls from racial and ethnic minority groups. This study aimed to determine the effect of family dysfunction on the timing of pubertal maturation among US Hispanic/Latino children and adolescents. Participants were 1466 youths (50% female; ages 8-16 years) from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth). Pubertal maturation was measured using self-administered Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) items for boys and girls. Family dysfunction included measures of single-parent family structure, unhealthy family functioning, low parental closeness, and neglectful parenting style. We used multivariable ordinal logistic and linear regression analyses to examine the associations between family dysfunction and pubertal maturation (individual and cumulative measures), with adjustment for childhood BMI and socioeconomic factors, design effects (strata and clustering), and sample weights. Multivariable models of individual PDS items showed that family dysfunction was negatively associated with growth in height (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.99) in girls; no associations were found in boys. In the assessment of cumulative PDS scores, family dysfunction was associated with a lower average pubertal maturation score (b = -0.63, 95% CI: -1.21, -0.05) in boys, while no associations were found in girls. Pubertal timing lies at the intersection of associations between childhood adversity and adult health and warrants further investigation to understand the factors affecting timing and differences across sex and sociocultural background.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12027471/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144041324","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":"Determinants of Quality of Life in Thai Caregivers of Dependent Older Adults: The Role of Health Promotion and Occupational Risks.","authors":"Sasithorn Thanapop, Bussarawadee Saengsuwan, Irniza Rasdi, Chamnong Thanapop","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Caregiving for dependent older adults presents significant health and occupational challenges, particularly in rural Thailand. This study examines predictors of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among in-home caregivers, focusing on health promotion, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prevention, and occupational health practices. An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among 701 caregivers across 23 districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing socio-demographics, health behaviors, working conditions, and HR-QOL using the Thai SF-36V2. Stepwise regression analysis identified key predictors of HR-QOL. Our findings indicate that most caregivers were female (81.5%), middle-aged (mean age: 47.7 years), and had moderate education levels. Over half experienced moderate exposure to occupational hazards, including physical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks, contributing to job strain, inadequate rest, and strained relationships. HR-QOL scores suggested that a significant proportion of caregivers had moderate to poor quality of life, particularly in physical health domains. Stepwise regression analysis showed that better self-reported health promotion behaviors and occupational hazard prevention practices were positively associated with HR-QOL, whereas the presence of NCDs had a negative impact. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance caregivers' well-being and inform public health strategies for strengthening community-based care systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12026542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144055225","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":"Parental Death and Premature Mortality in Individuals with Out-of-Home Care Experience in Sweden: A Nationwide Cohort Study.","authors":"Sandra Rogne, Ylva B Almquist, Lars Brännström","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Experiences of out-of-home care (placement in foster-family care or residential care) and parental death in childhood are known risk factors for premature all-cause mortality. However, it remains unclear whether parental death during placement moderates the association between out-of-home care and mortality, particularly when considering the timing and duration of placement. Longitudinal register data from 10 Swedish birth cohorts (<i>n</i> = 948,483) were analyzed. Around 2.5% (<i>n</i> = 23,628) had out-of-home care experience during ages 0-19. Sex-specific Cox proportional hazard regression models assessed associations between experience of out-of-home care (categorized by timing and duration), parental death, and premature all-cause mortality (ages 20-47). Both men and women with out-of-home care experience displayed increased risk of premature all-cause mortality, as did those who experienced parental death before age 20. However, statistical interaction analyses revealed no moderating effect of parental death on the association between placement and premature all-cause mortality. Compared to non-placed individuals, parental death during placement in out-of-home care did not further increase the risk of premature mortality across placement groups. Possible reasons include strong attachments within the out-of-home care setting or reduced stress towards biological parents. Further research is needed to explore the complex dynamics of parental loss within out-of-home care populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12027392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144052925","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":"Five-Step Forest Bathing Protocol as a Nature-Based Solution for Student Wellbeing in Higher Education: A Research Brief on Insights and Lessons from a Pilot Study.","authors":"Adriano Bressane, Líliam César de Castro Medeiros, Yasmim Cardoso Damasceno Lima","doi":"10.3390/ijerph22040579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040579","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>. Students often face high levels of mental distress, which can adversely affect their academic performance and overall wellbeing. While forest bathing, as a nature-based solution (NBS), has recognized benefits for mental wellbeing, its specific impact on undergraduate students remains understudied. <i>Purpose</i>. This research brief aims to present the insights and lessons learned from a pilot study utilizing a five-step forest bathing protocol applied to higher education students. <i>Method</i>. A semester-long intervention study was conducted in natural urban parks in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. Thirty-six newly enrolled university students participated in three NBS sessions, with data collected before and after each intervention using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. The interventions were spaced approximately one month apart. For the paired comparison between repeated measurements, one-tailed tests were used based on Student's <i>t</i>-test, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <i>Results</i>: The protocol had significant and substantial effects on reducing anxiety (48.4%, <i>d_Cohen</i> = 0.415), depression (35.4%, <i>d_Cohen</i> = 0.431), and stress (33.5%, <i>d_Cohen</i> = 0.479) in participants, particularly after visiting parks with a higher degree of naturalness. <i>Insights and Lessons Learned</i>. The pilot study highlighted the critical role of naturalness in the effectiveness of forest bathing interventions. Parks with more natural elements provided greater reductions in mental distress, supporting theories such as attention restoration theory. Additionally, the findings suggest that integrating NBS programs into university settings can significantly enhance student mental wellbeing and emotional stability. The nuanced responses to different environmental settings underscore the need for well-designed green spaces in academic environments. These insights can inform the design and implementation of green spaces within universities, contributing to improved mental health outcomes for students.</p>","PeriodicalId":49056,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","volume":"22 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12026909/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144038977","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}