Understanding Self-Care Behaviours among Type II Diabetes Patients: A Behaviour Change Models' Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Self-care behaviours among diabetes patients is often hindered because of various psycho-social factors which become obstacles to their better diabetes management and its proper outcome. The current study aims to find out these psycho-social factors that influence the execution of self-care behaviours among Type II diabetes patients from the perspective of various behaviour change models. METHODS: The study adopted a correlational research design. A total of 266 participants above the age group of 18 years and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were selected using purposive sampling from the Indian state of Karnataka. The data were collected using The Health Belief Questionnaire, Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire (TPBQ), Socio-Ecological Model Questionnaire, and Diabetic Self-Care Activities Revised (SDSCA-R). The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression. RESULTS: From the findings, it was observed that the domains of perceived susceptibility, cues to action and subjective norms are positively correlated with self-care behaviours significantly at p<0.05 levels, while the domains of socio-ecological theory, personal, interpersonal, media and policy and community organizations are significantly positively correlated with self-care behaviour at p<0.01 levels. The linear regression of the domains of health belief model, theory of planned behaviour and socio-ecological theory on self-care behaviour showed that the statistically significant final model explained 14.9% (R2 =.149), F (3,262) =15.337, p< 0.000. The significant predictors are community at p<0.000 level, self-efficacy and perceived severity at p<0.05 levels. CONCLUSION: The study results ascertain the necessity of a psychosocial approach or the sociocognitive perspective to understand the factors that actually enable a diabetes patient to engage in more self-care behaviours. In the Indian scenario, where health literacy is very minimum, the findings of the study can be used to implement better strategies for diabetes management both at the level of medical/mental health professionals and at the level of media and policy.

Cognitive style and working memory among adolescents with specific learning disability.

BACKGROUND: In a world where education directly influences the quality of life of an individual, educational handicaps are a grave issue that plagues the lives of those affected. The current study aims to find out whether there is a difference in the cognitive style and working memory capacity among adolescents with specific learning disability (SLD) in comparison to their age-matched equivalent group without SLD. The study also targets to find out if there exists any relationship between cognitive style and working memory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of sixty participants were selected (thirty adolescents with learning disability and thirty age-matched adolescents without learning disability) from Bangalore district of Karnataka and Thrissur district of Kerala using purposive sampling method. The tools used were the Indian adaptation of Embedded Figures Test by Nigam (1997) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition by Wechsler (2003). RESULTS: The results showed that there exists a significant difference in cognitive style dimensions of field dependence and independence between adolescents with learning disability (M = 11.6, standard deviation [SD] = 6.52) and adolescents without learning disability (M = 25.2, SD = 7.33) as well as in the working memory capacity between adolescents with learning disability (M = 66.7, SD = 19.26) and adolescents without learning disability (M = 102, SD = 14.93) groups under study (p < 0.01). The results also indicate that there exists no significant relationship between cognitive style and working memory. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with SLD was found to be field dependent and has low working memory capacity than adolescents without learning disability. The results reflect the need for developing cognitive interventions to enhance working memory capacity and cognitive style for helping adolescents with learning disability in all areas of their functioning, such that the society benefits as a whole.

Emotional Self-Care: Exploring the Influencing Factors Among Individuals With Cancer.

Cancer is a leading source of distress and fatality worldwide. Cancer-related aberrant cell proliferation causes excruciating pain and impairment. To cope with pain and manage symptoms and illness, pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological options are available. Self-care behaviors are recognized as a key source in symptom management and improving quality adherence to treatment among the current non-pharmacological strategies. The intervention measures to improve self-care were hardly impacted because of the narrow focus on physical self-care. Bringing in emotional self-care and addressing the individual's emotional health can enhance the effectiveness of interventions on a holistic level. Hence, this study has attempted to explore the factors that influence emotional self-care among individuals with cancer. Following an exploratory research design, the data were collected from 15 participants (4 men and 11 women) using purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews. Through thematic analysis, eight major themes were identified: physiological factors, social factors, family factors, psychological factors, individual factors, socioeconomic factors, cultural factors, and spiritual factors. The findings explained the emotional self-care among patients with cancer and how different identified factors influence their emotional self-care practices.

The psychological impact of quarantine due to COVID-19: A systematic review of risk, protective factors and interventions using socio-ecological model framework.

Background: Though quarantine is a pertinent control measure for the spread of COVID-19, it is equally important to consider its negative impacts, as it causes severe psychological, emotional, and financial problems not only for those who are quarantined but also for many others who are directly or indirectly connected to those who are quarantined. There appears to be a need to synthesise the available literature evidence on the psychological impact of quarantine experience, especially the multilevel risk factors that make individuals vulnerable to psychological impact and the protective factors to deal with the negative effects of quarantine. Objective: This systematic review attempted to identify the various psychological impacts associated with the experience of quarantine, the risk and protective factors and list out various psycho-social interventions that can minimise the risks and facilitate the protective factors associated with the experience of quarantine. Methods: A systematic search adhering to the PRISMA guidelines was performed in four databases PubMed, Scopus, PsycNet, Web of Science and 10518 articles related to COVID-19 and quarantine were obtained. After screening processes and quality assessment using standard checklist 74 articles that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were chosen for the final review. Findings: Individuals subjected to quarantine had anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, sleep problems, and somatic difficulties. Some of the key risk factors during quarantine are young age, female gender, low money, fear of infection, poor sleep quality, reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behaviours, and a lack of social support. Financial difficulties and stigma remained risk factors even after the quarantine period had ended. Key protective factors were coping skills, home based exercise, leisure, recreational activities, maintaining relationships using social media and availability of mental health services. The findings also highlight the necessity for tele mental health interventions to address the psychological effects of quarantine. Conclusion: Multilevel interventions are required to minimise the impact of risk factors and enhance protective factors.

Determinants of quality of life in individuals with chronic low back pain: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prominent medical condition that can affect an individual at some point in their life time which could lead to poor quality of life (QOL). Low back pain has affected approximately 577 million individuals globally by 2017. The aim of the current systematic review is to synthesise the existing evidence on the factors influencing the QOL in individuals with CLBP and to identify strategies to improve their QOL. METHOD: PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsychNet and Google Scholar were used to extract studies reporting quantitative relationships between QOL and its possible determinants in individuals having CLBP and the intervention strategies to improve QOL. RESULTS: 10,851 studies were initially identified and twenty-six studies which met the inclusion criteria were selected for the review. 21 studies reported relationship between QOL and potential determinants and five studies assessed the influence of interventions on QOL. Determinants were classified as kinesiophobia, fear avoidance belief, or pain belief; occupation-related factors; pain and disability; activity; personal factors including age, gender, employment status; and other psychological factors including anxiety, quality of sleep, and health locus of control. Intervention strategies including MBSR, Pilates method and Back School Programme improved QOL in individuals with CLBP. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial factors as well as the physical status of the individual contributed to the QOL in individuals having CLBP.

Factors influencing self-care behavior of socio-economically disadvantaged diabetic patients: A systematic review.

Diabetes mellitus and its complications carry broad financial misfortune to the diabetic patients and their family, to the well-being frameworks, and to the public economies through direct clinical expenses and decreased work efficiency. The present study systematically reviewed the possible factors that are influencing self-care behavior of disadvantaged diabetic patients that contribute heavily to the management of this chronic illness. Structured searches were conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and manual searches on Google Scholar for articles published between the years 2000 and 2020. The review was limited to a particular time frame due to the change in WHO criteria for diagnosis and classification of abnormal glucose tolerance. Initially, 96858 articles were identified, and following the screening and full-text reading, 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria were chosen for systematic review. Seven studies had reported the factors influencing self-care behavior among disadvantaged diabetic population. Three studies had reported the importance of intervention strategies and its impact on self-care behavior among them. Findings show that self-care management of socio-economically disadvantaged people entails dimensions including diabetes knowledge, lack of physical activities, social support, lack of access to services, life disruptions, denial of illness, societal attitudes, responsibilities, and treatment costs. It was additionally discovered that diabetes self-management support mediations are successful in drawing in lower economy patients, tending to contending life needs and hindrances to self-care, and encouraging behavior change. Taken together, future methodologically efficacious studies that establish health promoting behaviors and explorations of the factors influencing self-care behaviors of disadvantaged diabetic patients are needed.

Family violence during COVID-19 and its impact on mental health of children: A systematic review.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unanticipated challenges that could impact how the family system operates across the world. Restrictions imposed to control the rapid spread of the virus substantially increased violence in families. The current study aims to review violence in the family and its impact on the mental health of children during the pandemic.Method: A systematic search was conducted using keywords in the electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, and a manual search was conducted on Google Scholar for articles from January 2020 to January 2021. Of the 50 records identified, seven studies that met eligibility criteria were selected for final analysis.Results: Results revealed that family violence during the pandemic has escalated the mental health problems of children, including aggressive and self-harming behaviours. Lockdown restrictions, social detachment, financial instability, fear of infection, and unemployment led to increased parental stress. Parents with a higher level of stress were more likely to maltreat their children.Conclusions: Exposure to short and long-term family violence can adversely impact the mental health of children and can negatively affect a child's present and future life. Recommendations for researchers, mental health practitioners, public health authorities, and other service providers are also outlined.

Resilience and impact of children's intellectual disability on Indian parents.

Resilience of parents in the context of raising a child with intellectual disability is gaining attention as a mechanism that addresses their inherent strengths to withstand the potential associated strain. Understanding its underlying factors has applications in fostering their resilience. The present study explored the resilience of parents and its relationship with the impact of child's disability. A total of 121 parents were assessed using Connor Davidson Resilience Scale and National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped Disability Impact Scale. The results revealed that parenting a child with intellectual disability posed them with both positive and negative experiences. Their evaluations about the condition of the child significantly influenced their resilience. The positive perceptions about the child's disability operated as a protective element, whereas their negative evaluations acted as a risk element of resilience. The findings have specific importance in designing interventions for families of persons with intellectual disability.