Environmental Health Risk Perception: Adaptation of a Population-Based Questionnaire from Latin America

Modeling Predictors of Medication Waste Reduction Intention in Algeria: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior

COVID-19 caused an increase in the demand for medications, which led to an increase in pharmaceutical waste and there is no doubt that this contributes to environmental pollution. Hence, it became necessary to search for how to protect and improve the environment by encouraging the behavior of medication waste reduction. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the factors affecting intentions to reduce medication waste. Considering this, we develop an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework by incorporating the constructs of moral obligation, environmental awareness, and medication waste risk perception. Using the convenience sampling method and based on a self-administered questionnaire, a total of 225 usable responses were collected in five Algerian cities. The results showed that positive attitudes (β = 0.316, p < 0.001), moral obligation (β = 0.291, p < 0.001), environmental awareness (β = 0.227, p < 0.001), perceived behavior control (PBC) (β = 0.151, p = 0.001), greater perceived risks (β = 0.127, p < 0.001), and subjective norm (β = 0.096, p < 0.05) significantly and positively influence the medication waste minimization intention. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that the extended TPB model explained 73.40% of the intention variance. In conclusion, we have explored the intentions, and there may be a gap between intent and actual behavior. Therefore, we recommend future studies to examine the factors affecting the actual behavior of medication waste reduction and to investigate environmental ethics and religious commitment as predictors of waste reduction intentions.

Biomarkers as proxies for cognitive reserve: The role of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in first episode of psychosis

INTRODUCTION

The proxies used to compose cognitive reserve (CR) for patients of a first episode of psychosis (FEP) have varied in the literature. The development of FEP is linked to peripheral pathways of the central nervous system, yet despite this knowledge, no research has considered the introduction of biomarkers as proxies for CR. Meanwhile, schizophrenia has been linked to the metabolic system, indicating that alterations in the levels of biological parameters, in particular high-density lipoproteins (HDL), cause worse global functioning and cognitive impairment. For these reasons, the present study aimed to create a quantifiable and objective CR index that adjusts for the multifactorial nature of FEP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included 668 FEP patients and 217 healthy controls. Participants were assessed for sociodemographic information, years of education, employment status, premorbid IQ and biological parameters: waist circumference, hypertension, and levels of HDL, triglycerides, and glucose.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that the years of education proxy showed correlational and higher relationship with HDL levels for both FEP patients (r=0.23, b=0.185) and controls (r=0.31, b=0.342). We found that the CR index composed of years of education and HDL levels showed a higher explanatory power for the phenomenon than the classic CR index composed of years of education, employment status and premorbid IQ.

CONCLUSIONS

This article proposes an objective and quantifiable method to measure CR that is more the multifactorial nature of FEP.

The Environmental Health Literacy of Italian General Population: The SPeRA Cross-Sectional Study

Environmental health literacy (EHL) includes knowledge of health effects due to environmental exposure and skills to protect health from environmental risks. This study investigated some aspects about EHL of the Italian adult population. Data were collected through questionnaires (n = 672) and analysed through multivariable logistic regression models. Results showed that participants with incomplete/insufficient self-perceived knowledge of health effects due to environmental risks verified less information about this topic (adjOR = 0.38 (CI95% 0.25-0.59)/0.09 (0.04-0.21); p < 0.001/<0.001), potentially spreading fake news. The self-perceived exposure to pollution was higher in participants living in towns than in rural areas (small, medium, big towns adjOR = 2.37 (1.41-3.97), 2.10 (1.11-3.96), 3.11 (1.53-6.31); p = 0.001, 0.022, 0.002) and lower in participants with incomplete/insufficient knowledge about pollution effects (adjOR = 0.54 (0.32-0.92)/0.30 (0.13-0.67); p = 0.022/0.004), confirming that knowledge is essential to achieve awareness. Since insufficient self-perceived knowledge of pollution effects was negatively associated with the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours (adjOR = 0.37 (0.15-0.90); p = 0.028), EHL was proven to be a virtuous behaviour promoter. Finally, a lack of institutional support, time and cost were identified as barriers to pro-environmental behaviours. This study provided useful data to design prevention programmes, underlined some barriers to pro-environmental behaviours and highlighted the need to promote attitudes and behaviours aimed at contrasting environmental pollution, thus protecting human health.

Understanding perceptions of neighborhood health and non-communicable disease risk in urban contexts in Ghana

Global health surveillance reports show Africa's epidemiologic transition from one dominated by higher burdens of nutritional, maternal, and communicable diseases to one increasingly dominated by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Debates on the increasing cases of NCDs in the African context have focused on individualistic risk factors to the neglect of other similar important determinants such as the living environment. Drawing on theoretical tenets of the protection motivation theory and using cross-sectional data, we examined neighborhood risk perceptions and self-rated risk of developing NCDs in Ghana. The dependent variable 'self-rated risk of developing NCDs' was measured as a binary outcome and the focal independent variable - perceived neighborhood health risk - as an index. We fitted multivariate multilevel regression models to a sample of 1376 individuals across 9 neighborhoods. Results show that respondents who perceived their neighborhoods as risky were more likely to rate their risk of developing NCDs high. A unit increase in neighborhood violence was associated with 8% likelihood of self-rated risk of developing NCDs. However, a unit increase in the aesthetic quality of respondent's neighborhood was associated with lower likelihood of self-rated risk of developing NCDs. Engaging in regular physical activity, and non-tobacco use were associated with a lower likelihood of perceived NCDs risk. We suggest policy agendas intended for reducing the burden of NCDs in Ghana and other LMICs could incorporate programs that target improving environmental characteristics to minimize risks and offer people the opportunity to make healthy choices.

The Differences in Risk Perception between Practitioners in the Non-Coal-Mining Industry: Miners, Managers and Experts

Non-coal-mining accidents occur frequently in China, and individual unsafe behaviors are the direct cause. The cognitive diversity of practitioners in the non-coal-mining industry leads to various behaviors in work and hinders communication between groups. The aim of this study is to analyze the differences in risk perception (accidents and occupational diseases) between non-coal-mining practitioners (experts, miners, and managers) and to explore the contributing factors. The questionnaire survey method was used to collect the data on risk perception and influencing factors from 402 respondents working in non-coal mines and universities in China. Project analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used for preprocessing. A t-test and linear regression analysis were used to test the significance of the differences and assess the function of the factors, respectively. Regarding risk perception, two risks both have significant differences between the three groups. With the perceptions of accidents and occupational diseases ranked from high to low, the order of the practitioners is as follows: managers (3.88), experts (3.71), miners (3.55) and experts (4.14), miners (3.90), and managers (3.88). Regarding the influencing factors, risk attitude, risk communication, educational level, enterprise trust, and occupational satisfaction have great effects on the three groups. More precisely, three groups have different important predictors. Risk attitude has the greatest impact on miners (0.290) and experts (0.369), but sensibility preference has the greatest impact on managers (0.518). In summary, cognitive discrepancies are common among non-coal-mining practitioners, but the degree of deviation varies with the type and dimension of the risk. There are six factors that have a significant impact on all practitioners, but the effect is limited by specific risks and groups.