Dataset Information

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Psychological distress is a problem strongly associated with socio-economic conditions. This study aims to assess rates of psychological distress and 'poor' self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who constitute 21% of the population and nearly 50% live in poverty, and compare their psychological distress scores with those of the general Israeli population.

Design

The Health and Environment Survey among Palestinian citizens of Israel (HESPI-2015), included a representative sample of this minority; 2018 individuals aged ?18 were interviewed. The questionnaire included socio-demographic and health-related information, the General Health Questionnaire-12, (GHQ-12) and Self-rating of health (SRH).

Results

Subjects with GHQ-12 global scores of ?17 were considered to have high distress. Low education, female gender, obesity and the presence of chronic diseases were significantly associated with high psychological distress over and above the effect of the other variables. Poor SRH was strongly associated with having a chronic disease and additional risk factors were older age group, low education and high psychological distress. Comparing psychological distress scores of Arabs in Israel with those of the general population showed that 30% of the former were classified as asymptomatic, as compared to 75% in the general population while the proportion of symptomatic or highly symptomatic was 14% in the latter as compared with 45% in the former.

Conclusions

It appears that the burden of poverty, chronic disease and low education in this population, which suffers from multiple stressors, is disproportionate and should be addressed by the authorities, together with concrete plans to improve the education of the younger generations. Clearly, the association between discriminating policies and deprivation with psychological distress is not unique to the case of the Palestinian minority in Israel and therefore this study will allow for the examination and generalization of the current findings to other discriminated and disadvantaged minorities.

SUBMITTER: Khatib M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7818903 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

Khatib Mohammad M Mansbach-Kleinfeld Ivonne I Abu-Kaf Sarah S Ifrah Anneke A Sheikh-Muhammad Ahmad A

Israel journal of health policy research 20210120 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>Psychological distress is a problem strongly associated with socio-economic conditions. This study aims to assess rates of psychological distress and 'poor' self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who constitute 21% of the population and nearly 50% live in poverty, and compare their psychological distress scores with those of the general Israeli population.<h4>Design</h4>The Health and Environment Survey among Palestinian citizens of Israel (HESPI-2015), includ ...[more]

PMID: 33472691

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Project description:BackgroundPsychological distress post lumbar spine surgery is associated with poorer outcomes. There is a scarcity of studies devoted to analyzing the risk factors associated with psychological distress in patients who have undergone lumbar fusion surgery. The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the time course and severity of psychological distress using the STarT Back Tool (SBT) and (2) determine the demographic and clinical predictors of SBT score post lumbar spine fusion surgery.MethodsThis retrospective longitudinal study analyzed 227 subjects with 1- and 2-level lumbar fusion surgery who underwent standardized assessment preoperatively and at 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Preoperative variables collected were demographic, clinical, and psychological variables. Postoperative psychological distress was measured by self-reported SBT. Risk factors for SBT over time were identified using ordinal and mixed-effects modelling.ResultsAlthough the trajectory of SBT levels declined postoperatively over time, at week-12, 20% of patients had moderate to high SBT. Postoperative SBT scores at week-4 time point was significantly greater than SBT scores at week-8 (OR = 2.7, 95% credible interval [CrI]; 1.8-3.9). Greater SBT scores at week-4 were strongly associated with greater SBT scores throughout 12 weeks of follow-up (OR = 7.3, [95% CrI; 1.2-31.4]). Greater postoperative SBT levels over time were associated with being male (OR = 2.2, 95% CrI; 1.0-3.9), greater preoperative back or leg pain intensity (OR = 2.2; 95% CrI: 1.0-4.4), greater preoperative leg weakness (OR = 4.2, 95% CrI: 1.7-7.5) and higher preoperative depression levels (OR = 4.8; 95% CrI: 1.6-10.4).ConclusionPostoperative SBT levels declined nonlinearly over time. However, a sizable proportion of patients had moderate to high psychological distress at week-12 postsurgery. Greater preoperative back or leg pain intensity, leg weakness and depression levels, and male gender were risk factors of greater psychological distress postsurgery. Although requiring validation, our study has identified potential modifiable risk factors which may give an opportunity to provide early (preoperative) and targeted strategies to optimize postoperative psychosocial outcomes in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgeries.

Dataset Information

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

Objectives

Design

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

Similar Datasets

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