Suchergebnisse

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine reference physical performance values in older aging workers. Background: Cross-sectional physical performance measures were collected for 736 manufacturing workers to assess effects of work and nonwork factors on age-related changes in musculoskeletal function and health. Method: Participants underwent surveys and physical testing that included bioelectrical impedance analysis, range-of-motion measures, exercise testing, and dynamic assessment. Results: Physical characteristics, such as blood pressure and body fat percentage, were comparable to published values. Dynamic and range-of-motion measurements differed from published normative results. Women had age-related decreases in cervical extension and lateral rotation. Older men had better spinal flexion than expected. Predicted age-related decline in lower-extremity strength and shoulder strength in women was not seen. Men declined in handgrip, lower-extremity strength, and knee extension strength, but not trunk strength, across age groups. There was no appreciable decline in muscle fatigue at the trunk, shoulder, and knee with aging for either gender, except for the youngest age group of women. Conclusion: Normative values may underestimate physical performance in "healthy" older workers, thereby underappreciating declines in less healthy older workers. Work may be preservative of function for a large group of selected individuals. A "healthy worker effect" may be greater for musculoskeletal disease and function than for heart disease and mortality. Application: Clinicians and researchers studying musculoskeletal function in older workers can use a more specific set of reference values.

OBJECTIVE: Symptom checkers are potentially beneficial tools during pandemics. To increase the use of the platform, perspectives of end users must be gathered. Our objectives were to understand the perspectives and experiences of young adults related to the use of symptom checkers for assessing COVID-19-related symptoms and to identify areas for improvement. METHODS: We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 22 young adults (18–34 years of age) at a university in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We identified six main themes related to the decision of using a symptom checker for COVID-19 symptoms: (1) presence of symptoms or a combination of symptoms, (2) knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, (3) fear of seeking in-person healthcare services, (4) awareness about symptom checkers, (5) paranoia and (6) curiosity. Participants who used symptom checkers shared by governmental entities reported an overall positive experience. Individuals who used non-credible sources reported suboptimal experiences due to lack of perceived credibility. Five main areas for improvement were identified: (1) information about the creators of the platform, (2) explanation of symptoms, (3) personalised experience, (4) language options, and (5) option to get tested. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an increased acceptance of symptom checkers due to the perceived risks of infection associated with seeking in-person healthcare services. Symptom checkers have the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems and health professionals, especially during pandemics; however, these platforms could be improved to increase use.

Objective and ApproachUnderstanding vaccine hesitancy among distinct communities is crucial to ensuring equitable uptake of vaccination. The objective was to examine the influence of psychological antecedents of vaccine uptake, known as the "5Cs", on COVID-19 vaccination among Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizens. The Métis people are one of three Indigenous peoples in Canada. A population-based online survey was implemented by the MNO, including the short version of the "5C" (confidence, complacency, constraint, calculation, collective responsibility) psychological antecedents of vaccination scale. Census sampling achieved a 39% response rate and respondents were linked to the COVID-19 vaccine database (COVAX) in Ontario (n=4,012). Analyses included logistic regression models (adjusted for sociodemographics) and exploratory latent class analyses.
ResultsIn logistic regression models, MNO citizens who were less confident that COVID-19 vaccines were safe (OR=0.04; 95% CI=0.03-0.06) and did not agree vaccination was a collective action to prevent the spread of disease (OR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.07-0.17) had lower odds of being vaccinated. MNO citizens who disagreed the risk of COVID-19 was small (OR=14.87, 95% CI: 9.99-22.13) had a higher odds of being vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy profiles with (i) lower confidence in availability/safety of COVID-19 vaccines, (ii) lower perceptions about severity of COVID-19 and (iii) higher everyday life constraints/stressors were associated with lower vaccination rates (males, OR: 4.69; CI: 3.18–6.92; females, OR: 4.77, CI: 3.03–7.51) in latent class analyses.
Conclusions and ImplicationsMétis-specific analyses enabled a community-driven response, resulting in low vaccine hesitancy and high uptake.