Solo dining in Chinese restaurants: A mixed-method study in Macao.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Choi SH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7387937 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundObesity among young children in Hong Kong has become a public health problem. This study explored associations between Chinese parent reported children's quality of life (QoL), socio-demographics and young children's weight status from 27 preschool settings.MethodsA mixed-method approach, including quantitative and qualitative tools, was employed for this cross-sectional study. Quantitative data were collected from 336 Chinese parents of children aged 2-7 years. Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL, v 4.0) and a questionnaire about parents' socio-demographics were used. In-depth interviews with mothers, teachers and children from a larger sample were the basis of 10 case studies. Quantitative data were analysed using chi-square analysis, one-way ANOVA and logistic regression. Qualitative data were analysed according to a multi-level framework that established linkages with quantitative data.ResultsThe children's Body Mass Index (BMI) ranged from 11.3 to 28.0 kg/m(2) and was classified into four weight groups. ANOVAs showed that the normal-weight children had significantly higher PedsQL scores in Physical Functioning than obese children (mean difference = 14.19, p < .0083) and significantly higher scores in School Functioning than overweight children (mean difference = 10.15, p < .0083). Results of logistic regression showed that relative to normal-weight children, obese children had a 2-5 times higher odds of showing problems in Physical, Social Functioning and School Performance. Overweight children had 2 times higher odds of problems in Social Functioning, and underweight children had a 2 times higher odds of problems in Physical Functioning. Children's age (?(2) = 21.71, df = 3, p < 0.01), and housing (?(2) = 33.00, df = 9, p < 0.01) were associated with their weight. The case studies further act as a supplement to the quantitative data that children showed emotional problems across different abnormal weight statues; and the association between children's weight status and well-being might be affected by multiple childcare arrangements and familial immigration status.ConclusionsThis study is one of only a few studies that have examined parents', teachers' and young children's own perceptions of the children's quality of life across different weight statuses. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention.
| S-EPMC3605313 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo assess the aging burden of hospitalization for heart failure in Chinese populations in Macao.MethodsThe Macao Heart Failure Study consists of patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) at Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário (the only public hospital that provides medical care for the approximately 600, 000 residents of Macao) from January 2014 to December 2016. First, we investigated the relationship between socioeconomic development and epidemiological characteristics of HF in Macao. Then we assessed the patientso clinical features and outcomes according to the age groups.ResultsA total of 967 patients were included in the final analysis. The median age at admission was 82 years old. The advanced age at the admission of HF in Macao was significantly associated with a high-income level and the aging population structure. Marked heterogeneity existed in the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, utilization of evidence-based therapies, short- and long-term outcomes, and prognostic utility of clinical variables among the different age groups.ConclusionRapid economic development and significantly aging populations have produced a profound impact on the epidemiological characteristics of HF in Chinese populations. Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is predominantly a disease of the elderly in Macao, and a significant heterogeneity exists in the clinical features, managements, and outcomes among different age groups. Age-based risk stratification models and multidisciplinary HF teams are urgently needed to improve the management and outcomes of hospitalized heart failure (HHF) patients.
| S-EPMC7568047 | biostudies-literature
Project description:INTRODUCTION:Psychological insulin resistance (PIR) is common among type II diabetes (DM) patients. Although interventions to reduce PIR have been suggested, there is no standardized intervention to reduce PIR. This trial aimed to assess the preliminary effectiveness of a well-structured interventional patient group (for sample size calculation for larger trials), as well as the acceptability and feasibility of this intervention group. METHODS:This study used a quasi-experimental, mixed-method approach. Fifty-three patients with DM were recruited to an interventional group that included a general education of DM and insulin, an insulin pen demonstration, and an insulin-using peer sharing session. Each group consisted of around 15 participants and lasted for 2 h each. The validated Chinese version of the insulin treatment appraisal scale (C-ITAS) was administered before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention to measure any changes in the participants' PIR. Patients were interviewed to assess the acceptability of the intervention until data saturation. RESULTS:Repeated measures ANOVA showed that the post-intervention C-ITAS scores (immediately post group and at 1 month) were lower than the pre-intervention C-ITAS scores (p < 0.001). Changes in multiple attitudes toward insulin were detected before and after the group intervention. Ten patient interviews were conducted and found that the intervention was welcomed by all interviewees; no discomfort or adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSION:Preliminary results showed that patient intervention groups with general education, insulin pen demonstration, and peer sharing appeared to be safe, acceptable, and effective in reducing PIR. Larger multicenter trials are needed to generalize these findings.
| S-EPMC5801233 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe modern hospice movement is often recognised as a social movement. However, such understanding is primarily based on historic reflection and this approach has lacked theoretical exploration. There is a lack of systematic examination of the modern hospice movement by way of social movement theories.AimFocusing on the Chinese socio-cultural context of Macao, this study aimed to understand the EoLC movement by applying the social movement theory, the Framing Perspective, as proposed by Snow and Benford in 1988.MethodsA case study approach was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were held between 2012 and 2013, with pioneers (n = 11) of the EoLC in Macao. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the interviews.ResultsThe Framing Perspective analysis illuminated that there was both growth and stagnation of the EoLC movement. Three themes emerged: 1) the suffering of people at the end of their lives was considered as a social problem needed to be addressed urgently, 2) the incoherent EoLC strategies developed by pioneers indicated the lack of internal ideological cohesion within the movement, 3) external constraints contributed to the stagnation of the movement.ConclusionsThe EoLC development in Macao can be understood as a social movement. The Framing Perspective provided a theoretical way to understand the emergence of EoLC; offering a novel perspective to conceptualise the modern hospice movement. This sociological and theoretical lens opened up new ways for future research to study the emergence of EoLC in different socio-cultural contexts.
| S-EPMC8272259 | biostudies-literature
Project description:High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of antibody amplicon libraries has become a powerful method in the emerging field of systems immunology. However, numerous sources of bias in HTS workflows may affect antibody repertoire data. A crucial step in antibody amplicon library preparation is the addition of adapter sequences, which are platform-specific short nucleotide sequences. In addition to conventional ligation-based adapter addition, it is also possible to use PCR-based methods such as Direct Addition (one-step adapter addition, DA) and Primer Extension (two-step adapter addition, PE), which have led to the lack of a consensus method and uncertainty regarding the impact of adapter addition on repertoire HTS data. Therefore, we compared all three methods by performing HTS with the Illumina MiSeq platform using total RNA originating from mouse antibody-secreting cells. We used technical replicate-based validation and clonal overlap and rank statistics to demonstrate that the two PCR-based methods produced HTS repertoires equivalent to ligation. Specifically: Nine BALB/c mice (8-10 weeks old, Charles River, specific-pathogen free) were immunized with 50 ug alum-precipitated chicken gamma globulin (CGG) conjugated to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl (NP, NP-CGG, BioCat). Mice were sacrificed 14 days post-immunization (dpi) and their spleens and bone marrow (from femurs and tibia) were harvested. Antibody-secreting CD138-positive cells were enriched from spleen and bone marrow 14 dpi as previously described (Reddy, 2010, Nat Biotech).
2014-02-20 | E-MTAB-2226 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Background: The mental health of international students studying abroad has been neglected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This mixed-method study examined perceived public attitudes, personal beliefs, practice and stress toward facemask wearing as a preventive measure against COVID-19 among international University students from Hong Kong studying in the United Kingdom (UK) in the early stage (January-March 2020) of the pandemic. Methods: Our study included 2 parts: (i) an exponential, non-discriminative snowball sampling strategy was used to recruit 91 Chinese students studying in the UK to complete an online questionnaire survey, and (ii) online Zoom focus group interviews were conducted with 16 students who completed the online survey to gain an in-depth understanding of their experiences and coping methods during the pandemic. Results: Of the 91 students, 92.3% reported the UK public did not view facemask wearing as a preventive measure. 98.9% believed facemask wearing was an effective preventive measure, but 56% wore facemasks more than half of the time when out in public. 50.5% had internal conflicts of stress both when wearing and not wearing facemasks, which was more common in females than males [(62.5 vs. 31.5%), P = 0.004, Relative Risk (RR): 1.99 (1.17, 3.38)]. 61.5% reported public prejudiced attitudes against facemask wearing, also more common in females than males (71.4 vs. 45.7%), P = 0.02, RR: 1.56 (1.05, 2.32). The qualitative findings corroborated with the quantitative findings and reported that peer and family support were important for them to face such difficulties, and positive thinking and adaptability were effective methods on stress management. Conclusions: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Chinese international students have been faced with a difficult, confusing, and sensitive situation. Owing to the ongoing pandemic, rising xenophobia and racist behaviors and the resumption of students' studies studies in the U.K., support from global communities are needed in their pursuit of quality education overseas. Our findings have significant implications on the proactive roles that governments should have, and the need for clear and accurate public health messaging to change public attitudes and mitigate prejudice. Academic institutions and mental health professionals need to proactively provide additional support to Chinese international students.
| S-EPMC8242177 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:The Dutch Ministry of Health has formulated ambitious goals concerning the use of telehealth, leading to subsequent changes compared with the current health care situation, in which 93% of care is delivered face-to-face. Since most care is delivered to older people, the prospect of telehealth raises the question of whether this population is ready for this new way of receiving care. To study this, we created a theoretical framework consisting of 6 factors associated with older people's intention to use technology. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to understand community-dwelling older people's readiness for receiving telehealth by studying their intention to use videoconferencing and capacities for using digital technology in daily life as indicators. METHODS:A mixed-method triangulation design was used. First, a cross-sectional survey study was performed to investigate older people's intention to use videoconferencing, by testing our theoretical framework with a multilevel path analysis (phase 1). Second, for deeper understanding of older people's actual use of digital technology, qualitative observations of older people executing technological tasks (eg, on a computer, cell phone) were conducted at their homes (phase 2). RESULTS:In phase 1, a total of 256 people aged 65 years or older participated in the survey study (50.0% male; median age, 70 years; Q1-Q3: 67-76). Using a significance level of .05, we found seven significant associations regarding older people's perception of videoconferencing. Older people's (1) intention to use videoconferencing was predicted by their performance expectancy (odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% CI 1.13-1.39), effort expectancy (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.39), and perceived privacy and security (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.17-1.43); (2) their performance expectancy was predicted by their effort expectancy (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.24-1.52); and (3) their effort expectancy was predicted by their self-efficacy (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.42-1.68). In phase 2, a total of 6 men and 9 women aged between 65 and 87 years participated in the qualitative observation study. Of the primary themes, 5 themes were identified that could provide greater understanding of older people's capacities and incapacities in using digital technology: (1) "self-efficacy and digital literacy," (2) "obstacles to using technology," (3) "prior experience and frequency of use," (4) "sources of support and facilitating conditions," and (5) "performance expectancy." These 5 themes recurred in all 15 observations. CONCLUSIONS:Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and perceived privacy and security are direct predictors of older people's intention to use videoconferencing. Self-efficacy appeared to play a role in both older people's intention to use, as well as their actual use of technology. The path analysis revealed that self-efficacy was significantly associated with older people's effort expectancy. Furthermore, self-efficacy and digital literacy appeared to play a major role in older people's capacities to make use of digital technology.
| S-EPMC5910535 | biostudies-other
Project description:Pharyngeal microbiome comparison between newly-arrived and long-term Chinese immigrants to Australia
| PRJEB19740 | ENA
Project description:BackgroundPreoperative hypnosis has shown promising effects in controlling side effects from breast cancer surgery, but the feasibility and effects are largely unknown outside the US.MethodsA mixed-methods approach was applied involving a large-scale population survey and a small-scale pilot study. The survey assessed attitudes toward hypnosis in a representative sample from the general population (n = 1049), while the pilot study involved interviews with 5 women who received hypnosis prior to mastectomy/lumpectomy.ResultsIn the survey, 8% reported to have previous experience with hypnosis, and 67% reported willingness to accept hypnosis in a medical setting. Increasing age was associated with more skepticism, while previous experience was associated with less skepticism. In the pilot study, 4 themes were identified: (1) caretaking, (2) experiences related to hypnosis, (3) thoughts and feelings related to diagnosis, and (4) surgery. All participants reported positive experiences related to hypnosis, and none described unpleasant side effects or postoperative pain (pain intensity > 3) after surgery.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the general public is positive toward clinical hypnosis as a supplement to medical treatment and that preoperative hypnosis is feasible in Norwegian breast cancer patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04300283.
| S-EPMC8646199 | biostudies-literature