Correlates of Cognitive Impairment of Rheumatic Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to synthesis the results of research on relationships of cognitive impairment with multi-dimensional correlates of rheumatic disease through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. METHODS: For the study purpose, 23 studies were selected through a systematic process of searching the literature. RESULTS: The study results showed that among general characteristics, age and education were the variables having a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. Among health risk factors, obesity appeared to have a significant positive relationship with cognitive impairment. For past history, diabetes and hypertension were shown to have a significant positive relationship with cognitive impairment. It was noted also that aPL, one of the physiological factor, had significant association with cognitive impairment. None of the medication related factors had a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. Results showed that among disease related factors, disease activity had the highest relationship with cognitive impairment. Depression, among psychological factors, was the only variable having a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the variables strongly impacting on cognitive impairment in rheumatic disease are depression and disease activity.

Integrative Smoking Cessation Stage Model for Chinese Students Studying in Korea

PURPOSE: The present study aimed at developing an integrative stage model of smoking cessation behavior by combining highly predictable constructs extracted from previously verified health behavior models. The fitness of the hypothetical model was also tested. METHODS: The study participants were 214 Chinese students studying in Korea, presenting high smoking rates. Perceived severity, benefit, barrier, self-efficacy, and social support were measured using the modified AttitudeseSocial InfluenceseSelf Efficacy Questionnaire. Demographic and smoking-related characteristics were also evaluated. RESULTS: Results showed that the hypothetical model provides a good fit. Significant psychosocial predictors of smoking cessation stage were perceived benefit (p = .050), barrier (p = .003), and social support (p = .003). Among demographic and smoking-related characteristics, gender (p = .030), duration of smoking (p = .010), and previous smoking cessation experience (p = .020) were found to influence smoking cessation stage. In addition, gender, age, number of cigarettes smoked, previous smoking cessation experience, smoking-related symptoms, and smoking cessation education needs were found to influence psychosocial constructs significantly. CONCLUSION: The significant psychosocial predictors and demographic and smoking-related characteristics defined in the present study appear to be potent and promising predictors of smoking cessation behavior stages for a cohort of Chinese students studying in Korea.