A comparative study on health risks, lifestyle behaviors, health perceptions, and health seeking patterns between older and younger Filipinos in the rural areas

BACKGROUND@#Worldwide trends in health risks, lifestyle behaviors, health perceptions, and health-seeking patterns suggest alarming disparities among individuals from low- and middle-income countries. Such international comparisons are particularly troubling for older individuals (≥60 years).@*OBJECTIVES@#This study aims to compare health risks, lifestyle behaviors, health perceptions, and health-seeking patterns between younger (<60) and older (≥60) Filipinos from rural communities in the Philippines.@*METHODS@# A comparative cross-sectional study was employed with 863 younger and 427 older Filipinos. Data were analyzed using frequencies, chi-squares, and T-tests.@*RESULTS@#Older participants were more likely to be single/widowed, ≤ high school education and had higher rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and depression. They reported poorer health status and went to the village health center when sick. Furthermore, they were less likely to drink alcohol and see a physician.@*CONCLUSION@#There were significant differences in modifiable health risks and lifestyle behaviors and differences in health perceptions between younger and older cohorts of Filipinos living in rural areas in the Philippines. Our findings suggest the need to design separate health promotion interventions that target older and younger Filipinos' unique needs from rural communities.

Blood pressure measurement training program and adherence of public health nurses to BP measurement guidelines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To compare the level of adherence of public health nurses to BP measurement guidelines based on their knowledge of the guidelines and skills in BP measurement before and after Blood Pressure Measurement Training Program (BPMTP).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> An experimental pre- and post-test design using twostaged cluster randomization was conducted. 118 PHNs (mean age ± 38.45 years, mean years of experience ± 13.45 years; 84.1% women) from six districts in Manila were equally assigned to either the BPMTP group or control group. Structured instruments were used.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Demographic characteristics, current BP measurement practices, and level of adherence to BP measurement guidelines based on knowledge of the guidelines and skills in BP measurement were equivalent in both groups at baseline.Nurses in the BPMTP group showed improved adherence (p=<0.05) compared to nurses in the control group. Both groups did not show significant change in their skill on recording, interpretation, and referral (p=1.000).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> This study showed that Blood Pressure Measurement Training Package is feasible in improving adherence of nurses based on their increased knowledge of the BP measurement guidelines and skills in BP measurement. A larger-scale study is warranted to show that BPMTP can potentially improve clinical management of hypertension in public health clinics globally.</p>

Effect of second-hand smoke exposure on lung function among non-smoking Korean women

Previous literature has implicated that there might be an individual susceptibility difference in terms of race/ethnicity and gender in response to second hand smoke [SHS] exposure. This study was done to examine the effect of SHS exposure on lung function in non-smoking Korean women. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [KNHANES] from 2008-2011. A total of 2,513 female participants, age 40 yr and older, with no respiratory symptoms or prior lung diseases, were included in this study. Participants' smoking status was examined using both self-reported history and measurement of urinary cotinine level. Lung function was assessed using spirometry data, including FVC and FEV1. T-test and Chi-square tests were performed to compare diverse variables between groups. Analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] adjusted for age, height, alcohol consumption, and level of exercise was used to see any statistical differences in lung function parameters between non-SHS exposed and SHS-exposed groups. Among 2,513 non-smoking females, 767 [30.5%] were SHS-exposed. The urinary cotinine levels clearly distinguished SHS exposure, and the mean urinary cotinine levels were 7.1 +/- 0.4 and 11 +/- 0.7 in non-SHS exposed group vs. SHS-exposed group, respectively [P < 0.001]. Urinary cotinine levels were correlated with duration of SHS exposure. However, both groups had normal lung function and there was no significant difference between the two groups in lung function. Urinary cotinine is a valuable marker of SHS exposure. Korean women may have higher tolerance for SHS exposure-induced lung function decline