COVID-19 related stigma, empathy and intention for testing in Jordan

Stigmatization of COVID-19 disease has been speculated due to misinformation about the disease, fearing of contracting the infection, absence of available cure, and holding responsibility for infecting others. We aimed to establish the prevalence of COVID-19 related stigma and its association with empathic responding, in addition to exploring predictors of stigma and testing intention among Jordanian people. A quantitative, descriptive and predictive design was used and data were collected using a web-based survey from 1074 adults. Findings showed that participants had high stigmatization against COVID-19 infection. Higher empathic responding (both cognitive and affective), being a female participant, and older age resulted in higher stigmatization. Only stigmatization of COVID-19 negatively predicted individuals’ intention for testing. These findings warrant intensive efforts from the Jordanian government on a local and national level to provide ongoing public education related to several aspects of COVID-19 disease, in order to reduce or prevent the associated stigma and increase people’s intention for testing.

Understanding Social Determinants of Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in Rural Women

Women living in rural America experience significant disparities in cardiometabolic diseases warranting research to aid in understanding the contextual factors that underlie the rural and urban disparity and in planning effective primary prevention interventions. While research has established a general understanding of cardiometabolic risks individually, the combination or bundling of these risk behaviors is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the association of social determinants of health on obesity and adiposity related cardiometabolic disease risk among rural women. Data were from the multi-state Rural Families Speak about Health Study. A total of 399 women were included in the analyses. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on women's demographics, economic stability, education, and health and healthcare. Food insecurity, education, healthcare access and comprehension health literacy were associated with higher obesity and adiposity-related cardiometabolic risk. Health behaviors, tobacco use and physical activity were not associated with higher cardiometabolic risk in this sample of rural women. This is one of the first studies to focus on multiple social determinants of health and cardiometabolic risk in rural American women. Understanding combinations of risk behaviors can assist health care providers and community health professionals in tailoring multiple health behavior change interventions to prevent cardiometabolic disease among rural women. The findings support a focus on community and societal level factors may be more beneficial for improving the cardiometabolic health of rural women.

Cardioprotective medication adherence among patients with coronary heart disease in China: a systematic review

In China, poor cardioprotective medication adherence is a key reason for the high mortality rate of coronary heart disease (CHD). The aims of this systematic review are to (1) describe and synthesise factors that influence medication adherence among Chinese people with CHD, (2) evaluate the current status of intervention studies, and (3) discuss directions of future research to improve medication adherence. A comprehensive search using PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Scopus, Global Health and PsycINFO was undertaken to describe poor adherence in China. Thirty-three eligible articles were included in the study. The review shows that there are multiple contributing factors to poor medication adherence, including patients' sociodemographic characteristics, health status and medication characteristics. In addition, from patients' perspective, lack of medication-related knowledge, such as the name, function, dosage and frequency, contributes to poor adherence. From physicians' perspective, a gap exists between CHD secondary prevention guidelines and clinical practice in China. Follow-up phone calls, educational lectures, booklets and reminder cards were common methods found to be effective in improving medication adherence. This systematic review indicates that cardioprotective medications were commonly prescribed as secondary prevention medication to patients with CHD in China, but adherence to these medications gradually decreased during a follow-up period. Therefore, more research should be conducted on how to establish high-quality health educational programmes aimed at increasing patients' medication adherence.

Understanding Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors for Cancer in Rural Women

OBJECTIVES

To examine the demographic and health-related factors associated with risk behaviors that have been linked to cancer including smoking, high BMI, and low physical activity.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE

A secondary analysis was conducted using data from Rural Families Speak about Health, a multistate, epidemiologic study of rural American women and their families (N = 444).

MEASURES

Validated measures for various demographic and health-related items including tobacco use, BMI, physical activity, and depression were used.

RESULTS

Of the total sample with complete data (n = 399), the mean age was 32 years and the majority were White (64%), married (67%), had a high school education or higher (73%), and had an annual household income of less than $40,000 (90%). Regarding cancer risk behaviors, 36% of the sample were smokers, 39% reported low levels of physical activity, and 45% had a calculated BMI over 30. Thirty-five percent of participants reported engaging in two or more risk behaviors. There were significant differences in income, perceived health status, and depression depending on the number of risk behaviors reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding combinations of risk behaviors can assist nurses and other health professionals in tailoring multiple health behavior change interventions to prevent cancer among rural women.

Colorectal cancer in Jordan: prevention and care

The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward colorectal cancer prevention and care in Jordan. A survey was designed to produce reliable estimates for the population's knowledge, attitudes, and practices in all 12 governorates of Jordan by using stratified random sampling. A representative sample of the adult population in Jordan completed a comprehensive tool which explored participants' knowledge about the risk factors associated with colorectal cancer, cancer prevention through lifestyle changes, and early cancer diagnosis and screening. According to the participants (n = 3196), colorectal cancer had the second highest percentage of screening recommendation (12.6%) after breast cancer (57.3%). Only 340 individuals (11%) reported ever screening for cancer. About 20% of the participants had heard of one of the screening tests for colorectal cancer. In fact, only 290 (9.1%) participants had performed the colorectal cancer screening tests. This study provides data that will help colorectal cancer prevention and treatment programs and may enhance the efficiency of colorectal cancer-controlling programs. The findings confirm the necessity of starting colorectal screening intervention that targets the most vulnerable individuals.