In the current climate of the world regarding social media use, adolescents are a group that this phenomenon disproportionately effects. Upon reading, with great interest, the article authored by Scott, Biello, & Woods (2019), I found this study’s results and findings very interesting and provocative. This type of study is especially stimulating given the current social climate of the world, in which social media-use has become an integral part of everyday life. Before this study, there had been little empricial evidence to show that sleep is disrupted by social media use. Most previous studies focused on “screentime” use of adolescents as a opposed to singling out social media use for study. The authors point out the need for this due to the UK’s lack of evidence-based decision making. The problem statement of this study highlights that in paediatric nursing practice, there is a lack of solutions brought forth to address adolescents’ lack of sleep (Hamilton et al., 2020). Thé findings of this study can now be used to address the current issue of adolescents sleeping patterns in public health policy which is usually neglected according to the authors. The culturally based aspect of this problem delineates the need to target this amongst adolescents specifically as opposed to the general public. The data analyses help ensure that the results are valid since they give an accurate depiction of the probability of occurrence for sleep loss due to social media use. The analy...
In the current climate of the world regarding social media use, adolescents are a group that this phenomenon disproportionately effects. Upon reading, with great interest, the article authored by Scott, Biello, & Woods (2019), I found this study’s results and findings very interesting and provocative. This type of study is especially stimulating given the current social climate of the world, in which social media-use has become an integral part of everyday life. Before this study, there had been little empricial evidence to show that sleep is disrupted by social media use. Most previous studies focused on “screentime” use of adolescents as a opposed to singling out social media use for study. The authors point out the need for this due to the UK’s lack of evidence-based decision making. The problem statement of this study highlights that in paediatric nursing practice, there is a lack of solutions brought forth to address adolescents’ lack of sleep (Hamilton et al., 2020). Thé findings of this study can now be used to address the current issue of adolescents sleeping patterns in public health policy which is usually neglected according to the authors. The culturally based aspect of this problem delineates the need to target this amongst adolescents specifically as opposed to the general public. The data analyses help ensure that the results are valid since they give an accurate depiction of the probability of occurrence for sleep loss due to social media use. The analyses processes, using separate binomial logistic regression models, increases the precision of the results as opposed to a simple correlation test.
While I agree with the study’s findings and dissemination of results, I believe that it is necessary to continue to do further studies in other regions where social media is popular amongst adolescents. Some studies, show that there is concern for adolescents’ social media use, however, there should be a distinction between social media use and social media stress when investigating the effects on adolescents (Schuur, Baumgarter, & Sumter, 2019). However, there are similar studies which confirm that social media use is a direct factor in causing adolescents to lose more sleep and even find a link to depression based on their family’s status (Hamilton, et al., 2020). Further, previous studies confirm the aforementioned study, indicating that adolescents’ sleep is indeed disrupted by both social media use and psychological problems which include depression (Woods & Scott, 2016). These results all correlate with the negative effects which parents wish to avoid their children being made privy to in the current social climate of the world. Therefore, this study gave important awareness for research and understanding of a current issue which is being faced worldwide along with the significant effects which the world cannot ignore.
References
Hamilton, J. L., Chand, S., Reinhardt, L., Ladouceur, C. D., Silk, J. S., Moreno, M., . . . Bylsma, L. M. (2020, August). Social media use predicts later sleep timing and greater sleep variability: An ecological momentary assessment study of youth at high and low familial risk for depression. Journal of Adolescence, 83, 112-130. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.07.009
Schuur, W., Baumgarter, S. E., & Sumter, S. R. (2019). Social Media Use, Social Media Stress, and Sleep: Examining Cross-Sectional and. Health Communication, 34(5), 552-559. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2017.1422101
Scott, H., Biello, S. M., & Woods, H. C. (2019). Social media use and adolescent sleep. BMJ Open, 9, 1-9. doi: doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031161
Woods, H. C., & Scott, H. (2016, August ). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Journal of Adolescence, 51, 41-49. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008
Dear Editor: This response is in reference to the article The influence of time pressure on adherence to guidelines in primary care: an experimental study, published on April 11th 2013. Health professionals' adherence to clinical guidelines has a direct impact on the quality of service delivery. I find the current research highly informative since it offers insights into an area that has limited research. Most of the studies on clinical guidelines and quality care focus on aspects such as training and employee morale. The authors argue that time pressure impacts the professionals' decisions, which can influence their adherence to clinical guidelines (Tsiga et al. 2013). I find the research findings practical in clinical settings; they will help alleviate some of the healthcare issues such as an increase in nosocomial infections. The hospital-acquired infections result mainly from professionals' non-adherence to clinical guidelines such as hand hygiene recommendations. I believe that the quality of findings depends significantly on the nature of the methodology that researchers employ. The experimental design in the study makes the conclusions highly reliable.
Experimental designs enhance the validity of findings since the researchers can control some variables while manipulating others. Moreover, the high control that the researchers have in experimental techniques allows them to obtain conclusive results. I believe that the experimental design in the...
Dear Editor: This response is in reference to the article The influence of time pressure on adherence to guidelines in primary care: an experimental study, published on April 11th 2013. Health professionals' adherence to clinical guidelines has a direct impact on the quality of service delivery. I find the current research highly informative since it offers insights into an area that has limited research. Most of the studies on clinical guidelines and quality care focus on aspects such as training and employee morale. The authors argue that time pressure impacts the professionals' decisions, which can influence their adherence to clinical guidelines (Tsiga et al. 2013). I find the research findings practical in clinical settings; they will help alleviate some of the healthcare issues such as an increase in nosocomial infections. The hospital-acquired infections result mainly from professionals' non-adherence to clinical guidelines such as hand hygiene recommendations. I believe that the quality of findings depends significantly on the nature of the methodology that researchers employ. The experimental design in the study makes the conclusions highly reliable.
Experimental designs enhance the validity of findings since the researchers can control some variables while manipulating others. Moreover, the high control that the researchers have in experimental techniques allows them to obtain conclusive results. I believe that the experimental design in the current research enhanced the accuracy of findings. However, I agree with the researchers on the use of simulated patients; the technique would have created the results' ecological validity. Although the study is highly informative, I have noted the need for further research. The aspect of time pressure as a determinant of adherence to clinical guidelines has not been adequately researched; thus, there is expansive room for further studies. I believe that the application of Hersey and Blanchard's level of readiness theory would be essential in formulating solutions for the current research problem.
Reference
Tsiga, E., Panagopoulou, E., Sevdalis, N., Montgomery, A., & Benos, A. (2013). The influence of time pressure on adherence to guidelines in primary care: an experimental study. BMJ open, 3(4).
Dear Editor: This response is in reference to the article Duration of gargling and rinsing among frequent mouthwash users: a cross-sectional study, published on September 29 2020. This study is awakening and shows how vital education, awareness and research is. This study not only presents new evidence but also creates a new pathway for health care professionals to promote oral hygiene. As mentioned in the discussion there is a need for education on this topic especially with those at risk. If more persons were aware that mouthwash, if used correctly can reduce the detection of N. gonorrhoeae and prevent spreading then maybe they would use the mouthwash for the recommended time. Incidence of gonorrhoeae can then be potentially reduced at a population level with the increase in use of mouthwash which then can reduce the potential for resistant strains to develop (Chow et al., 2019). It's interesting to know a common STI can be removed from the tonsils and throat with just a few minutes of gargling and rinsing with mouthwash.
It would be interesting to see how persons who are at a higher risk for contracting gonorrhea use this information if it is provided to them. A suggestion for future studies could be for participants to be tested longer to identify if the bacteria came back or to find out how long it goes undetected. Being that the participants only consisted of those who use mouthwash four or more times per week in the future a comparison can be done with p...
Dear Editor: This response is in reference to the article Duration of gargling and rinsing among frequent mouthwash users: a cross-sectional study, published on September 29 2020. This study is awakening and shows how vital education, awareness and research is. This study not only presents new evidence but also creates a new pathway for health care professionals to promote oral hygiene. As mentioned in the discussion there is a need for education on this topic especially with those at risk. If more persons were aware that mouthwash, if used correctly can reduce the detection of N. gonorrhoeae and prevent spreading then maybe they would use the mouthwash for the recommended time. Incidence of gonorrhoeae can then be potentially reduced at a population level with the increase in use of mouthwash which then can reduce the potential for resistant strains to develop (Chow et al., 2019). It's interesting to know a common STI can be removed from the tonsils and throat with just a few minutes of gargling and rinsing with mouthwash.
It would be interesting to see how persons who are at a higher risk for contracting gonorrhea use this information if it is provided to them. A suggestion for future studies could be for participants to be tested longer to identify if the bacteria came back or to find out how long it goes undetected. Being that the participants only consisted of those who use mouthwash four or more times per week in the future a comparison can be done with persons who use mouth wash less than four times a week. This will enable us to know if there is a different effect between common and non-common mouthwash users.
Reference
Chow, E. P. F., Maddaford, K., Trumpour, S., & Fairley, C. K. (2019). Translating mouthwash use for gonorrhoea prevention into a public health campaign: identifying current knowledge and research gaps. Sexual Health (14485028), 16(5), 433–441. https://doi-org.cob.idm.oclc.org/10.1071/SH18237
Dear Sir,
Special Constables (SC) are not given a fair opportunity in order to have sufficient confidence with responsibility to first aid. First aid is defined as medical assistance provided to a person who has suffered a medical emergency (Webster, 2020). These SC are not medically trained to meet the needs of providing such a challenging task. Most first responders undergo rigorous hands on and theoretical training over a course of six to eighteen months. Your article states that this team of constables are volunteers who hold the prestige of local police officers. With respect to this, they are only trained for a mere 23 days before partaking a probationary period until they are deemed competent. In order to become confident in something, one must continuously be placed into the environment. Only then, will he gain the proficiency to answer even the most challenging emergency as a law enforcement officer. Another point to consider is the job prepares you for the performance but almost often the psychological health of each official and scenario will be diverse. As law enforcement officers, these men also have a duty to uphold in regards to protecting the individual. So in light of this, they may often consider which role plays greatest significance; first aid response or police officer? Based on these findings, I do not feel that they are adequately prepared to meet their first aid responsibilities.
Sincerely, Ta-Keisha
This reply is in response to the above published article on July 21, 2017. The article was very captivating due to the focus on religious aspects associated with healthcare professionals’ personality. In reading this study, I understood that professional’s personal belief influences whether they are for or against euthanasia. Additionally, the predominant barrier that hinders the healthcare professionals from making end of life decisions.
The research eludes to the healthcare professional's fear of litigation; however, information about the patient’s diagnosis was withheld from the patient’s family. Although the healthcare professionals are aware of the numerous ethical principles, failure to inform the patient’s family is an issue. The research also speaks to how religion plays a factor in determining whether euthanasia is ethically right.
Consequently, in The Bahamas, euthanasia is against the law. This is due to The Bahamas being a predominantly Christian nation which views euthanasia as wrong in the eyes of God. As a result, there is a focus on palliative care for persons with terminal illness without the option of euthanasia.
As it relates to the point on religion within the study, Sharp (2019) had similar points which states that, religion greatly influence the decision of whether to withhold or withdraw life sustaining measures. Hence, this concludes to the attitudes of the Greek healthcare professionals mentioned in the study due to the predo...
This reply is in response to the above published article on July 21, 2017. The article was very captivating due to the focus on religious aspects associated with healthcare professionals’ personality. In reading this study, I understood that professional’s personal belief influences whether they are for or against euthanasia. Additionally, the predominant barrier that hinders the healthcare professionals from making end of life decisions.
The research eludes to the healthcare professional's fear of litigation; however, information about the patient’s diagnosis was withheld from the patient’s family. Although the healthcare professionals are aware of the numerous ethical principles, failure to inform the patient’s family is an issue. The research also speaks to how religion plays a factor in determining whether euthanasia is ethically right.
Consequently, in The Bahamas, euthanasia is against the law. This is due to The Bahamas being a predominantly Christian nation which views euthanasia as wrong in the eyes of God. As a result, there is a focus on palliative care for persons with terminal illness without the option of euthanasia.
As it relates to the point on religion within the study, Sharp (2019) had similar points which states that, religion greatly influence the decision of whether to withhold or withdraw life sustaining measures. Hence, this concludes to the attitudes of the Greek healthcare professionals mentioned in the study due to the predominant religion being orthodox Christians. Moreover, a study was done in Iran examining the attitudes of nurses on euthanasia. In Iran, the predominant religion is Islamism and most nurses had a negative attitude due to their belief system (Naseh et al., 2015). There was also mention about the pressure of societal correctness that influences a person’s belief on decision to forego life-sustaining treatments (Ryynänen et al., 2002, p. 327). Subsequently, societal correctness does not change the individual’s attitude but it prompts them to make a decision. Hence, in this instance, the healthcare professionals sought to not partake in euthanasia to avoid negative criticism from the society.
Accordingly, I would recommend further exploring cultural backgrounds. Since it is evident that religion and society are factors in the attitudes toward euthanasia. Additionally, the ethical values should be explored to further understand the justification of attitudes toward euthanasia.
References
Naseh, L., Rafiei, H., & Heidari, M. (2015). Nurses' attitudes towards euthanasia: A cross-sectional study in Iran. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 21(1), 43-48. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2015.21.1.43
Ryynänen, O.-P., Myllykangas, M., Viren, M., & Heino, H. (2002). Attitudes towards euthanasia among physicians, nurses and the general public in Finland. Public Health (Nature), 116(6), 322.
Sharp, S. (2019). The bible and attitudes toward voluntary euthanasia. Death Studies, 43(4), 240–247. https://doi-org.cob.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/07481187.2018.1450793
Dear Editor,
I found your article very informative. I completely agree that most weight loss programs today and, in the past, have tend to focus mostly on eating healthy and exercise, which may be important when it comes to short term weight loss goals and maintenance. However some health and fitness programs have started to integrate the social aspect of weight loss into their programs.
Outland (2010) agrees that weight loss and maintenance should focus less on counting calories and exercising and approach the process of weight loss holistically. Outland adds that giving more attention to achieving and maintaining and individual’s homeostasis would lead to a successful weight loss journey. From a holistic perspective “best health” can be achieved only when homeostasis is maintained (Outland, 2010).
As your research pointed out, obesity can be influenced by physical, emotional and social components of an individual’s everyday life. Therefore, weight loss and weight maintenance should be approached holistically. A 2018 study carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank found that overweight and obesity is rising among all age groups in The Bahamas. With obesity being a growing problem here in the Bahamas, approaching wellness and weight loss holistically, giving more attention to social relationships and meaningful activities, may lead to better successful completion of weight loss programs and overall wellness.
Dear Editor,
I found your article very informative. I completely agree that most weight loss programs today and, in the past, have tend to focus mostly on eating healthy and exercise, which may be important when it comes to short term weight loss goals and maintenance. However some health and fitness programs have started to integrate the social aspect of weight loss into their programs.
Outland (2010) agrees that weight loss and maintenance should focus less on counting calories and exercising and approach the process of weight loss holistically. Outland adds that giving more attention to achieving and maintaining and individual’s homeostasis would lead to a successful weight loss journey. From a holistic perspective “best health” can be achieved only when homeostasis is maintained (Outland, 2010).
As your research pointed out, obesity can be influenced by physical, emotional and social components of an individual’s everyday life. Therefore, weight loss and weight maintenance should be approached holistically. A 2018 study carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank found that overweight and obesity is rising among all age groups in The Bahamas. With obesity being a growing problem here in the Bahamas, approaching wellness and weight loss holistically, giving more attention to social relationships and meaningful activities, may lead to better successful completion of weight loss programs and overall wellness.
References
Jessen-Winge, C., Ilvig, P. M., Thilsing, T., Lee, K., Fritz, H., & Christensen, J. R. (2020). Health professionals’ perceptions of weight loss programmes and recommendations for future implementation: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 10(11), e039667. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039667
Cleo, G., Hersch, J., & Thomas, R. (2018). Participant experiences of two successful habit-based weight-loss interventions in Australia: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 8(5), e020146. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020146
This response is in relation to the captured article above published on April 2, 2019. I would like to firstly express how your research is very detailed and informative. While reading the study, I understood the importance and effectiveness of providing community-based Hypertension improvement projects to assist in controlling high blood pressure. Over the years there has been a rapid increase in the number of persons diagnosed with Hypertension and as a result, it has become a major public health burden. The statistical evidence presented in this study about blood pressure in Ghana indicates the need for innovative methods for hypertension management.
The main outcome of the research which is concerned with hypertension control and alterations in diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure was accomplished. The research revealed there was a decrease in blood pressure as well as an increase in hypertension management from patients who remained in the program for 6 or 12 months. However, similar to other studies the main challenge with community-based improvement projects is poor levels of follow-up or adherence to clinic appointments. In a study conducted by Aje and Olamide (2017) it revealed that 16.7% of hypertensive patients missed more than 30% of scheduled medical appointments. According to the authors, some of the causes for missed clinical appointments were due to forgetfulness, insufficient funds for transportation, and overlapping obligations. It i...
This response is in relation to the captured article above published on April 2, 2019. I would like to firstly express how your research is very detailed and informative. While reading the study, I understood the importance and effectiveness of providing community-based Hypertension improvement projects to assist in controlling high blood pressure. Over the years there has been a rapid increase in the number of persons diagnosed with Hypertension and as a result, it has become a major public health burden. The statistical evidence presented in this study about blood pressure in Ghana indicates the need for innovative methods for hypertension management.
The main outcome of the research which is concerned with hypertension control and alterations in diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure was accomplished. The research revealed there was a decrease in blood pressure as well as an increase in hypertension management from patients who remained in the program for 6 or 12 months. However, similar to other studies the main challenge with community-based improvement projects is poor levels of follow-up or adherence to clinic appointments. In a study conducted by Aje and Olamide (2017) it revealed that 16.7% of hypertensive patients missed more than 30% of scheduled medical appointments. According to the authors, some of the causes for missed clinical appointments were due to forgetfulness, insufficient funds for transportation, and overlapping obligations. It is important that community-based improvement projects for Hypertension management take into consideration the follow-up rate to ensure effective public health impact in blood pressure control.
I agree with the study regarding appropriate incentives should be put in place to keep program staff fully engaged and avoid program fatigue. Incentives are powerful levers that can be utilized by companies to recruit, maintain, inspire, satisfy, and optimize employee efficiency (Guidelines: Incentives for health professionals, 2008). Community health programs rely heavily on public involvement if nurses and other members of the team are actively working to motivate and encourage persons to engage in the program it can become draining resulting in fatigue. Program coordinators should consider financial or non-financial incentives in order to boost performance outcomes and keep the staff motivated.
This timely research gave insight into the effectiveness of community-based improvement projects and also identified challenges and ways to improve them so that they can bring about the most impact on public health.
References
Aje, A., & Olamide, O. (n.d.). Missed medical appointment among hypertensive and diabetic outpatients in a tertiary healthcare facility in Ibadan, Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 16(6), 1417-1424. doi:10.4314/tjpr.v16i6.28
Guidelines: Incentives for health professionals. (2008). https://www.who.int/workforceallia nce/document s/Incentives_Guidelines%20EN.pdf.
Ashara McQueen, Nursing Student, The University of The Bahamas
As it relates to the above mentioned article that was published on March 29th 2020 in Volume10, Issue 3 on BMJ Open. I found that this was a very interesting article as it relates to age related changes of older adults, that will most definitely spark the interest of those involved in gerontology and geriatric research. As I read this article, it is evident that frailty can be associated with disability among dwelling older adults. I agree with the author that although frailty and disability may intertwine thus their concepts are absolutely different. This judgement can simply be gathered based on the definitions that were provided and stated explicitly as it relates to the term’s frailty and disability. However, there are factors that are strongly associated with frailty and disability such as socioeconomic status, ethnicity and life style.
Furthermore, the results from this study shows the prevalence of more than half of the percentage of older frail adults displayed greater instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) while the remaining smaller percentage displayed greater basic activities of daily living (BADL). In addition, high count of IADL limitations were associated with being frail.
Other authors conducted a study on prevalence of frailty among dwelling older adults and their sociodemographic factors associated with frailty. Kendhapedi and Devasenapathy (2019), found a high sign...
Ashara McQueen, Nursing Student, The University of The Bahamas
As it relates to the above mentioned article that was published on March 29th 2020 in Volume10, Issue 3 on BMJ Open. I found that this was a very interesting article as it relates to age related changes of older adults, that will most definitely spark the interest of those involved in gerontology and geriatric research. As I read this article, it is evident that frailty can be associated with disability among dwelling older adults. I agree with the author that although frailty and disability may intertwine thus their concepts are absolutely different. This judgement can simply be gathered based on the definitions that were provided and stated explicitly as it relates to the term’s frailty and disability. However, there are factors that are strongly associated with frailty and disability such as socioeconomic status, ethnicity and life style.
Furthermore, the results from this study shows the prevalence of more than half of the percentage of older frail adults displayed greater instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) while the remaining smaller percentage displayed greater basic activities of daily living (BADL). In addition, high count of IADL limitations were associated with being frail.
Other authors conducted a study on prevalence of frailty among dwelling older adults and their sociodemographic factors associated with frailty. Kendhapedi and Devasenapathy (2019), found a high significant rate of fear of falling and falling associated with frailty among older people. Furthermore, South India prevalence of frailty among older people were high when compared to low-income and middle-income countries. The authors in this article also investigated the prevalence of frailty and prefrailty among community-dwelling older adults in low-income and middle-income countries. Siriwardhana et al. (2018), found that prevalence of frailty and prefrailty were higher in community-dwelling older adults in upper middle-income countries in comparison with high income countries among dwelling older people.
Overall, I found this study to be profound as it focuses on the association of frailty and disability on dwelling older people as mentioned. It provides information that is useful pertaining to age related changes and those factors that are associated with it. Also noting, that older adults either experience both frailty and disability or one or the other. Since older adults are of a vulnerable group, effective measures should be in place to protect the physical and mental health of older adults. Thus allowing for future prevention and intervention as it relates to frailty and disability. In addition, efficient and effective interventions can delay frailty among older people that can reduce the mortality and morbidity rate.
References
Kendhapedi KK & Devasenapathy N. (2019). Prevalence and factors associated with frailty among community-dwelling older people in rural Thanjavur district of South India: a cross-sectional study. British Medical Journal, 9 (10), 1-9. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e032904
Siriwardhana DD, Hardoon S, Rait G, et al. (2018). Prevalence of frailty and prefrailty among community-dwelling older adults in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal, 8(3), 1-17. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/3/e018195
1. thank you for your interest in the study and the findings of this study and your recommendation that it should influence countries to enact smoke-free air laws to aid in the reduction of health effects of secondhand smoke cases as these laws are conclusively effective.
2 . Just wanted to let you know that all the exemptions in the law were not added by public health authorities. The public health department and advocates are working so hard to remove these exemptions. Now and because of COVID19 casinos were closed, and it was recommended that when they open back should open smoke free.
3. I totally agree with you that chefs specifically those who work in a grilling like environment should wear a protective masks to reduce the amount of particulate matter inhaled from that environment.
This response is in relation to the above captioned article published on May 4, 2017. Firstly, I must express how intriguing the research is. As I read the article, I became more aware of some of the negative effects that alopecia has on persons living with this autoimmune disease.
This study revealed that even though persons living with alopecia may chose to wear wigs to prevent negative reactions from others and boost their confidence, wearing wigs also causes negative reactions. With the socially constructed notion of beauty standards, I understand why persons may feel uncomfortable in social settings without a wig. Moreover, the study also shows that living with alopecia can cause depression, anxiety, and social anxiety.
This research shows the correlation between hair and self-esteem. Like mentioned in the study other research shows that wearing wigs as a form of the treatment modalities in severe alopecia areata, can improve quality of life in patients with alopecia areata by enhancing their self-esteem and social adjustment (Park, Kim, Park, Yun, & Kim, 2018). Additionally, the results of this study show the correlation of persons diagnosed with alopecia and the psychological effects associated with the autoimmune disease.
While I do agree that the need for psychological interventions is needed, it should be noted that many persons living with alopecia may not want therapy but rather a cure. As (De Zoya, 2013) states the...
This response is in relation to the above captioned article published on May 4, 2017. Firstly, I must express how intriguing the research is. As I read the article, I became more aware of some of the negative effects that alopecia has on persons living with this autoimmune disease.
This study revealed that even though persons living with alopecia may chose to wear wigs to prevent negative reactions from others and boost their confidence, wearing wigs also causes negative reactions. With the socially constructed notion of beauty standards, I understand why persons may feel uncomfortable in social settings without a wig. Moreover, the study also shows that living with alopecia can cause depression, anxiety, and social anxiety.
This research shows the correlation between hair and self-esteem. Like mentioned in the study other research shows that wearing wigs as a form of the treatment modalities in severe alopecia areata, can improve quality of life in patients with alopecia areata by enhancing their self-esteem and social adjustment (Park, Kim, Park, Yun, & Kim, 2018). Additionally, the results of this study show the correlation of persons diagnosed with alopecia and the psychological effects associated with the autoimmune disease.
While I do agree that the need for psychological interventions is needed, it should be noted that many persons living with alopecia may not want therapy but rather a cure. As (De Zoya, 2013) states the extent to which a person may engage in psychotherapy may depend on the convincing ability of the dermatologist. A cure would provide a permanent solution to their problems and may deter the feelings of anxiety and depression as it was stated in your research that the wearing of wigs can increase or cause these feelings regardless. You also mentioned in your results that wearing a wig increased the likelihood of the participants constantly worrying if others noticed it was a wig or the wig coming off which further proves that a cure would be much preferred over psychological interventions. With the stigma surrounded with hair and the effects it can have on those suffering from hair loss, this intriguing study offers an insight of the negative effects hair loss has on persons. Additionally, it should be noted that since there is no known cause for alopecia a notable recommendation would be to explore the exact causes of alopecia which may help to produce a cure. This intriguing study may help to increase further research regarding the topic.
In the current climate of the world regarding social media use, adolescents are a group that this phenomenon disproportionately effects. Upon reading, with great interest, the article authored by Scott, Biello, & Woods (2019), I found this study’s results and findings very interesting and provocative. This type of study is especially stimulating given the current social climate of the world, in which social media-use has become an integral part of everyday life. Before this study, there had been little empricial evidence to show that sleep is disrupted by social media use. Most previous studies focused on “screentime” use of adolescents as a opposed to singling out social media use for study. The authors point out the need for this due to the UK’s lack of evidence-based decision making. The problem statement of this study highlights that in paediatric nursing practice, there is a lack of solutions brought forth to address adolescents’ lack of sleep (Hamilton et al., 2020). Thé findings of this study can now be used to address the current issue of adolescents sleeping patterns in public health policy which is usually neglected according to the authors. The culturally based aspect of this problem delineates the need to target this amongst adolescents specifically as opposed to the general public. The data analyses help ensure that the results are valid since they give an accurate depiction of the probability of occurrence for sleep loss due to social media use. The analy...
Show MoreDear Editor: This response is in reference to the article The influence of time pressure on adherence to guidelines in primary care: an experimental study, published on April 11th 2013. Health professionals' adherence to clinical guidelines has a direct impact on the quality of service delivery. I find the current research highly informative since it offers insights into an area that has limited research. Most of the studies on clinical guidelines and quality care focus on aspects such as training and employee morale. The authors argue that time pressure impacts the professionals' decisions, which can influence their adherence to clinical guidelines (Tsiga et al. 2013). I find the research findings practical in clinical settings; they will help alleviate some of the healthcare issues such as an increase in nosocomial infections. The hospital-acquired infections result mainly from professionals' non-adherence to clinical guidelines such as hand hygiene recommendations. I believe that the quality of findings depends significantly on the nature of the methodology that researchers employ. The experimental design in the study makes the conclusions highly reliable.
Experimental designs enhance the validity of findings since the researchers can control some variables while manipulating others. Moreover, the high control that the researchers have in experimental techniques allows them to obtain conclusive results. I believe that the experimental design in the...
Show MoreDear Editor: This response is in reference to the article Duration of gargling and rinsing among frequent mouthwash users: a cross-sectional study, published on September 29 2020. This study is awakening and shows how vital education, awareness and research is. This study not only presents new evidence but also creates a new pathway for health care professionals to promote oral hygiene. As mentioned in the discussion there is a need for education on this topic especially with those at risk. If more persons were aware that mouthwash, if used correctly can reduce the detection of N. gonorrhoeae and prevent spreading then maybe they would use the mouthwash for the recommended time. Incidence of gonorrhoeae can then be potentially reduced at a population level with the increase in use of mouthwash which then can reduce the potential for resistant strains to develop (Chow et al., 2019). It's interesting to know a common STI can be removed from the tonsils and throat with just a few minutes of gargling and rinsing with mouthwash.
It would be interesting to see how persons who are at a higher risk for contracting gonorrhea use this information if it is provided to them. A suggestion for future studies could be for participants to be tested longer to identify if the bacteria came back or to find out how long it goes undetected. Being that the participants only consisted of those who use mouthwash four or more times per week in the future a comparison can be done with p...
Show MoreDear Sir,
Special Constables (SC) are not given a fair opportunity in order to have sufficient confidence with responsibility to first aid. First aid is defined as medical assistance provided to a person who has suffered a medical emergency (Webster, 2020). These SC are not medically trained to meet the needs of providing such a challenging task. Most first responders undergo rigorous hands on and theoretical training over a course of six to eighteen months. Your article states that this team of constables are volunteers who hold the prestige of local police officers. With respect to this, they are only trained for a mere 23 days before partaking a probationary period until they are deemed competent. In order to become confident in something, one must continuously be placed into the environment. Only then, will he gain the proficiency to answer even the most challenging emergency as a law enforcement officer. Another point to consider is the job prepares you for the performance but almost often the psychological health of each official and scenario will be diverse. As law enforcement officers, these men also have a duty to uphold in regards to protecting the individual. So in light of this, they may often consider which role plays greatest significance; first aid response or police officer? Based on these findings, I do not feel that they are adequately prepared to meet their first aid responsibilities.
Sincerely, Ta-Keisha
This reply is in response to the above published article on July 21, 2017. The article was very captivating due to the focus on religious aspects associated with healthcare professionals’ personality. In reading this study, I understood that professional’s personal belief influences whether they are for or against euthanasia. Additionally, the predominant barrier that hinders the healthcare professionals from making end of life decisions.
Show MoreThe research eludes to the healthcare professional's fear of litigation; however, information about the patient’s diagnosis was withheld from the patient’s family. Although the healthcare professionals are aware of the numerous ethical principles, failure to inform the patient’s family is an issue. The research also speaks to how religion plays a factor in determining whether euthanasia is ethically right.
Consequently, in The Bahamas, euthanasia is against the law. This is due to The Bahamas being a predominantly Christian nation which views euthanasia as wrong in the eyes of God. As a result, there is a focus on palliative care for persons with terminal illness without the option of euthanasia.
As it relates to the point on religion within the study, Sharp (2019) had similar points which states that, religion greatly influence the decision of whether to withhold or withdraw life sustaining measures. Hence, this concludes to the attitudes of the Greek healthcare professionals mentioned in the study due to the predo...
Dear Editor,
I found your article very informative. I completely agree that most weight loss programs today and, in the past, have tend to focus mostly on eating healthy and exercise, which may be important when it comes to short term weight loss goals and maintenance. However some health and fitness programs have started to integrate the social aspect of weight loss into their programs.
Outland (2010) agrees that weight loss and maintenance should focus less on counting calories and exercising and approach the process of weight loss holistically. Outland adds that giving more attention to achieving and maintaining and individual’s homeostasis would lead to a successful weight loss journey. From a holistic perspective “best health” can be achieved only when homeostasis is maintained (Outland, 2010).
As your research pointed out, obesity can be influenced by physical, emotional and social components of an individual’s everyday life. Therefore, weight loss and weight maintenance should be approached holistically. A 2018 study carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank found that overweight and obesity is rising among all age groups in The Bahamas. With obesity being a growing problem here in the Bahamas, approaching wellness and weight loss holistically, giving more attention to social relationships and meaningful activities, may lead to better successful completion of weight loss programs and overall wellness.
References
Jessen-Wing...
Show MoreThis response is in relation to the captured article above published on April 2, 2019. I would like to firstly express how your research is very detailed and informative. While reading the study, I understood the importance and effectiveness of providing community-based Hypertension improvement projects to assist in controlling high blood pressure. Over the years there has been a rapid increase in the number of persons diagnosed with Hypertension and as a result, it has become a major public health burden. The statistical evidence presented in this study about blood pressure in Ghana indicates the need for innovative methods for hypertension management.
Show MoreThe main outcome of the research which is concerned with hypertension control and alterations in diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure was accomplished. The research revealed there was a decrease in blood pressure as well as an increase in hypertension management from patients who remained in the program for 6 or 12 months. However, similar to other studies the main challenge with community-based improvement projects is poor levels of follow-up or adherence to clinic appointments. In a study conducted by Aje and Olamide (2017) it revealed that 16.7% of hypertensive patients missed more than 30% of scheduled medical appointments. According to the authors, some of the causes for missed clinical appointments were due to forgetfulness, insufficient funds for transportation, and overlapping obligations. It i...
Ashara McQueen, Nursing Student, The University of The Bahamas
Show MoreAs it relates to the above mentioned article that was published on March 29th 2020 in Volume10, Issue 3 on BMJ Open. I found that this was a very interesting article as it relates to age related changes of older adults, that will most definitely spark the interest of those involved in gerontology and geriatric research. As I read this article, it is evident that frailty can be associated with disability among dwelling older adults. I agree with the author that although frailty and disability may intertwine thus their concepts are absolutely different. This judgement can simply be gathered based on the definitions that were provided and stated explicitly as it relates to the term’s frailty and disability. However, there are factors that are strongly associated with frailty and disability such as socioeconomic status, ethnicity and life style.
Furthermore, the results from this study shows the prevalence of more than half of the percentage of older frail adults displayed greater instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) while the remaining smaller percentage displayed greater basic activities of daily living (BADL). In addition, high count of IADL limitations were associated with being frail.
Other authors conducted a study on prevalence of frailty among dwelling older adults and their sociodemographic factors associated with frailty. Kendhapedi and Devasenapathy (2019), found a high sign...
1. thank you for your interest in the study and the findings of this study and your recommendation that it should influence countries to enact smoke-free air laws to aid in the reduction of health effects of secondhand smoke cases as these laws are conclusively effective.
2 . Just wanted to let you know that all the exemptions in the law were not added by public health authorities. The public health department and advocates are working so hard to remove these exemptions. Now and because of COVID19 casinos were closed, and it was recommended that when they open back should open smoke free.
3. I totally agree with you that chefs specifically those who work in a grilling like environment should wear a protective masks to reduce the amount of particulate matter inhaled from that environment.
Dear Editor:
This response is in relation to the above captioned article published on May 4, 2017. Firstly, I must express how intriguing the research is. As I read the article, I became more aware of some of the negative effects that alopecia has on persons living with this autoimmune disease.
This study revealed that even though persons living with alopecia may chose to wear wigs to prevent negative reactions from others and boost their confidence, wearing wigs also causes negative reactions. With the socially constructed notion of beauty standards, I understand why persons may feel uncomfortable in social settings without a wig. Moreover, the study also shows that living with alopecia can cause depression, anxiety, and social anxiety.
This research shows the correlation between hair and self-esteem. Like mentioned in the study other research shows that wearing wigs as a form of the treatment modalities in severe alopecia areata, can improve quality of life in patients with alopecia areata by enhancing their self-esteem and social adjustment (Park, Kim, Park, Yun, & Kim, 2018). Additionally, the results of this study show the correlation of persons diagnosed with alopecia and the psychological effects associated with the autoimmune disease.
While I do agree that the need for psychological interventions is needed, it should be noted that many persons living with alopecia may not want therapy but rather a cure. As (De Zoya, 2013) states the...
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