Smoking cessation services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: highlights and findings from the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019

The report aimed to review and assess the status of tobacco cessation services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Nearly 70% of people in the Region have legal access to nicotine-replacement therapy but for 77% of these people the costs of the treatment are not covered. Bupropion and Varenicline are legally available in 10 and 11 EMR countries respectively. Just under 50% of people in the Region have access to at least some cessation support in primary health care facilities. Around 32% of people have access to a national toll-free quit line. Costs for cessation services are fully covered in few EMR countries; however, cessation services in the Region must be improved. Member States should aim to increase the availability of, and financial support for, cessation treatments and support, which should be prioritized in primary health care facilities

Relationship of self-efficacy with self-management behaviors of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between self-efficacy and self-management behaviors of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods A total of 350 COPD patients form 5 residents' committees in shanghai were recruited by using a convenient sampling method and were scored using Chinese Self-efficacy Scale (CSES)and the self-management behaviors scale.Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to detect the relation of self-efficacy with self-management behaviors.Results Three hundred and twenty adults were included in this investigation,and their average FEV1/FVC was (57.86 ± 7.06)％,average score of self-efficacy was 74.2 ± 9.5.In self-management behaviors,time spent on physical exercise was (16.2 ± 33.9) minutes per week,and endurance exercises accounted for (109.0±49.0) minutes per week.The score of cognitive symptom management practice was 0.9 ± 1.0 and communication with physicians was 0.7 ± 0.8.Total score of self-efficacy was positively correlated with self-management behavior in each dimension (r values were 0.522,0.407,0.330 and 0.044,respectively ; all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Self-efficacy and self-management behaviors of COPD patients need to be improved,and self-efficacy may be related to self-management behaviors.

Influencing factors of self-efficacy among community-based patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To investigate the self-efficacy levels and its influencing factors of community-based patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).Methods From October 2008 to March 2009,320 community COPD patients were recruited from a Shanghai community.They undertook questionnaires,scale survey and pulmonary function testing so as to investigate the influencing factors of self-efficacy.Results The total scale of self-efficacy was 74.24 ± 9.50 and the level of selfefficacy in 286 cases( 89.4％ )was intermediate.The knowledge of COPD,social supports,forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and self-management level were entered into regression equation and could explain 57.1％ of the total variance of independent variables.Conclusions The knowledge of COPD,social supports,FEV1/FVC and self-management level are the major influencing factors of self-efficacy in the COPD patients.We should improve the knowledge of disease and strengthen the psychological care and social supports so as to improve their quality of life.

Qualitative evaluation of Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP) in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) on participants' perception of their behavior, health status and quality of life and how the program achieve its benefits, and to collect suggestions for future improvement and dissemination. METHODS: Qualitative data were obtained from 57 participants attending all sessions of the CDSMP course using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The interviewees perceived that CDSMP improved their knowledge, self-management skills, positive health behavior, increased self-confidence, health status and quality of life. Behavior change and self-efficacy were the two main transmitters of the effectiveness of CDSMP in Shanghai. The identified deficiencies focused on language, size and style of helpbook and the lack of Chinese relaxing exercises. CONCLUSION: CDSMP was perceived to be effective to participants mainly through behavior change and self-efficacy development, though it had a few deficiencies to be modified. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: CDSMP in Shanghai needs further work and research on the content and delivery modification for future improvement and dissemination.

Discussion on necessity of introduction of qualitative research into clinical research of traditional Chinese medicine / 中西医结合学报

Currently, the model of the research evaluation system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is set up through imitating that of western medicine. The application of quantitative research to TCM does promote the advance of modernization of TCM, which explore the part of TCM that can be measured in quantitative method. However, TCM has a background of profound philosophy and culture. The priority of TCM can not be expressed through quantitative research alone. On the contrary, qualitative research is more suitable to most research area of TCM. In TCM clinical research, the priority of TCM should be fully explored. It is very significant to set up the effectiveness evaluation system of TCM, especially by applying qualitative research to the diagnosis and the evaluation of treatment results and combining quantitative research.