There is growing evidence to suggest the importance of self-regulatory practices amongst older adults to sustain mobility. However, the decision to self-regulate driving is a complex interplay ...between an individual's preference and the influence of their social networks including spouse. To our best knowledge, the influence of an older adult's spouse on their decisions during driving transition has not been explored.
This qualitative descriptive study was conducted amongst married older adults aged 60 years and above. All interview responses were transcribed verbatim and examined using thematic approach and interpretative description method.
A total of 11 married couples were interviewed. Three major themes emerged: 1 Our roles in driving; 2 Challenges to continue driving; and, 3 Our driving strategies to ensure continued driving. Older couples adopted driving strategies and regulated their driving patterns to ensure they continued to drive safely. Male partners often took the active driving role as the principal drivers, while the females adopted a more passive role, including being the passenger to accompany the principal drivers or becoming the co-driver to help in navigation. Other coping strategies include sharing the driving duties as well as using public transportation or mixed mode transportation.
Our findings suggest spouse play a significant role in their partners' decision to self-regulate driving. This underscores a need to recognise the importance of interdependency amongst couples and its impact on their driving decisions and outcomes.
Suicide is a preventable cause of death. Examining suicide rates and trends are important in shaping national suicide prevention strategies. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze ...age-standardized suicide trends of Malaysia between 2000 and 2019 using the WHO Global Health Estimates data, and to compare the 2019 rate with countries from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Muslim majority countries, and the Group of Seven (G7).
The age-standardized suicide rates data were extracted from the WHO Global Health Estimates. We calculated the average age-standardized suicide rates of the last 3 years from 2017 to 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis was conducted to calculate the average annual percentage change (APC) of the age-standardized suicide rates in Malaysia from 2000 to 2019.
Between 2000 and 2019, the minimum and maximum suicide rates for both sexes in Malaysia were 4.9 and 6.1 per 100,000 population respectively, whilst the past 3-year (2017-2019) average rates were 5.6, 8.8, and 2.4 for both sexes, males, and females, respectively. The suicide rates decreased significantly for both sexes between 2000 and 2013. Between 2014 and 2019, the suicide rates increased significantly for males. In 2019, Malaysia recorded the rate of 5.8 per 100,000 population, with an estimated 1,841 suicide deaths, i.e., ~5 deaths per day. The Malaysian suicide rate was the second highest amongst selected Muslim majority countries, in the middle range amongst ASEAN countries, and lower than all G7 countries except Italy.
There is a need to further explore factors contributing to the higher suicide rates among Malaysian males. In light of the rising suicide rates in Malaysia, national mental health and suicide prevention initiatives are discussed and the importance of high-quality suicide surveillance data is emphasized.
Immersive virtual reality (IVR) technology has demonstrated positive educational outcomes related to its use and is gaining traction in educational and training settings; IVR is expected to have ...widespread adoption within the classroom in the upcoming years. However, the educational potential of IVR with children has not been thoroughly investigated, especially as a tool for problem-solving skills. Therefore, this study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Is IVR a useful tool to learn and practice problem-solving skills? More specifically, do children using IVR solve a game better than those using a tablet application or a board game? (2) Does IVR provide a more engaging experience for children to practice problem-solving skills than on a tablet or a board game? (3) Do problem-solving skills learned with IVR technology transfer to real-life (physical game)? Children (n = 120) aged 7–9.9 years were randomly assigned to a problem-solving game in one of three conditions: board game, tablet, or IVR. The results showed that, overall, the percentage of children who completed the problem-solving game was higher in the IVR condition (77.5%), compared with those in the tablet (32.5%) or board game (30%) conditions. We also found that the interest and enjoyment scores of participants using IVR were significantly higher than participants in the other two conditions, and that the children in the IVR condition were able to learn how to solve the problem and transfer their learning to the physical game. IVR is a technology capable of engaging interest and motivating the user, as well as having the potential to assist in cognitive processing and knowledge transfer.
•IVR technology is a useful tool to learn and practice problem-solving skills.•Children were more engaged by the IVR technology than traditional teaching methods.•IVR has the potential to assist with cognitive processing and knowledge transfer.•The natural feeling that IVR offers to the user could reduce their cognitive load.
•This paper experimentally studies the seismic performance of the timber building.•The artificial damage simulation method was used to simulate the decayed joints.•This study discusses the ...microscopic characteristics of fungal rot.•The hysteretic features and the damage depth of mortise are analyzed.
This paper focuses on the effect of the decay damage of the ancient timber building (ATB) with the one-way straight mortise-tenon (OWSMT) joints on the seismic performance of the wood frame (WF). The artificial damage simulation method was used to consider the varying degrees of damage to OWSMT joints considering the damage depth and surface damage of the mortise. Three damaged WFs with three different joints damage and a non-damaged WF were made according to the Song Dynasty's Construction Formula. The scale of reduction was 1:3.52.
Moreover, they have carried out low-cycle loading tests on the four WFs, compared and analyzed the strain variation characteristics at the edge of the OWSMT joints. Besides, the study discussed the hysteretic features, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation capacity of the WF. The results show that the damage depth of mortise has a more significant impact on the seismic performance of the WF.
This study aimed to investigate, using Andersen's model of health care utilization, factors associated with COVID-19 testing among adults in nine low- and middle- income countries.
In between 10 ...December 2020 and 9 February 2021, an online survey was organized in nine low- and middle-income countries. In total 10,183 adults (median age 45 years, interquartile range 33-57 years, range 18-93 years), including 6470 from Brazil, 1738 Malaysia, 1124 Thailand, 230 Bangladesh, 219 DR Congo, 159 Benin, 107 Uganda, 81 Malawi and 55 from Mali participated in the study. COVID-19 testing/infection status was assessed by self-report.
Of the 10,183 participants, 40.3% had ever tested for COVID-19, 7.3% tested positive, and 33.0% tested negative. In an adjusted logistic regression model, predisposing factors (residing in Brazil, postgraduate education), enabling/disabling factors (urban residence, higher perceived economic status, being a student or worker in the health care sector, and moderate or severe psychological distress), and need factors (having at least one chronic condition) increased the odds of COVID-19 testing. Among those who were tested, participants residing in Bangladesh, those who had moderate to severe psychological distress were positively associated with COVID-19 positive diagnosis. Participants who are residing in Malaysia and Thailand, and those who had higher education were negatively associated with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis. Considering all participants, higher perceived economic status, being a student or worker in the health sector, and moderate or severe psychological distress were positively associated with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis, and residing in Malaysia, Thailand or five African countries was negatively associated with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis.
A high rate of COVID-19 testing among adults was reported in nine low-and middle-income countries. However, access to testing needs to be increased in Africa. Moreover, COVID-19 testing programmes need to target persons of lower economic status and education level who are less tested but most at risk for COVID-19 infection.
Since emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged between 12 and 15 years old was recently obtained in the United States and Europe, we aimed to assess the willingness to vaccinate ...children with a COVID-19 vaccine in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, we launched an online cross-sectional survey in several LMICs. Questions relating to socio-demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19, level of fear/worry of being infected with COVID-19, and willingness to vaccinate children with the COVID-19 vaccine at 50%, 75% and 95% effectiveness levels, were asked. Of the 6571 participants (mean age = 39 ± 14 years), 64.0%, 72.6%, and 92.9% were willing to vaccinate children at 50%, 75%, and 95% effectiveness levels, respectively. Respondents who were undergraduates, who were more worried/fearful about COVID-19, had higher knowledge scores regarding COVID-19, and a higher belief that COVID-19 vaccination is important to protect others, were more willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination of children. COVID-19 vaccination of children will limit the spread of the virus, especially in schools; it may decrease the need for school closures which has a negative effect on child development. Findings from this study are useful for health promotion strategies during COVID-19 vaccination implementation among children in LMICs.
•In-vehicle telematics has been used to monitor driving behaviour and insurer risk.•Machine learning is the dominant method for analysis of in-vehicle telematics data.•Speeding, braking, and distance ...variables are the most useful telematics variables.•Currently the effects of telematics feedback on driving behaviour are unknown.•Future research should consider individual trip differences and driver differences.
Road traffic deaths are increasing globally, and preventable driving behaviours are a significant cause of these deaths. In-vehicle telematics has been seen as technology that can improve driving behaviour. The technology has been adopted by many insurance companies to track the behaviours of their consumers. This systematic review presents a summary of the ways that in-vehicle telematics has been modelled and analysed.
Electronic searches were conducted on Scopus and Web of Science. Studies were only included if they had a sample size of 10 or more participants, collected their data over at least multiple days, and were published during or after 2010. 45 relevant papers were included in the review. 27 of these articles received a rating of “good” in the quality assessment.
We found a divide in the literature regarding the use of in-vehicle telematics. Some articles were interested in the utility of in-vehicle telematics for insurance purposes, while others were interested in determining the influence that in-vehicle telematics has on driving behaviour. Machine learning analyses were the most common forms of analysis seen throughout the review, being especially common in articles with insurance-based outcomes. Acceleration, braking, and speed were the most common variables identified in the review.
We recommend that future studies provide the demographical information of their sample so that the influence of in-vehicle telematics on the driving behaviours of different groups can be understood. It is also recommended that future studies use multi-level models to account for the hierarchical structure of the telematics data. This hierarchical structure refers to the individual trips for each driver.
Purpose
The objective of this study was to compare the effects of 12 weeks of resistance training combined with either 5:2 intermittent fasting or continuous energy restriction on body composition, ...muscle size and quality, and upper and lower body strength.
Methods
Untrained individuals undertook 12 weeks of resistance training plus either continuous energy restriction 20% daily energy restriction (CERT) or 5:2 intermittent fasting ~ 70% energy restriction 2 days/week, euenergetic consumption 5 days/week (IFT), with both groups prescribed a mean of ≥ 1.4 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Participants completed 2 supervised resistance and 1 unsupervised aerobic/resistance training combination session per week. Changes in lean body mass (LBM), thigh muscle size and quality, strength and dietary intake were assessed.
Results
Thirty-four participants completed the study (CERT = 17, IFT = 17). LBM was significantly increased (+ 3.7%,
p
< 0.001) and body weight (− 4.6%,
p
< 0.001) and fat (− 24.1%,
p
< 0.001) were significantly reduced with no significant difference between groups, though results differed by sex. Both groups showed improvements in thigh muscle size and quality, and reduced intramuscular and subcutaneous fat assessed by ultrasonography and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), respectively. The CERT group demonstrated a significant increase in muscle surface area assessed by pQCT compared to the IFT group. Similar gains in upper and lower body strength and muscular endurance were observed between groups.
Conclusion
When combined with resistance training and moderate protein intake, continuous energy restriction and 5:2 intermittent fasting resulted in similar improvements in body composition, muscle quality, and strength. ACTRN: ACTRN12620000920998, September 2020, retrospectively registered.
To investigate psychosocial factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
This online cross-sectional survey included 10,183 adults ...(median age 45 years) from nine LMICs. Participants were asked about adhering to four COVID-19 preventive measures (physical distancing, wearing a face mask, hand, and cough hygiene); a composite adherence score was calculated, ranging from 0-4 positive responses. Psychosocial measures included worry, anxiety, depression, social and demographic, and COVID-19 related factors.
Factors associated with adherence to more preventive measures included being a participant from Malaysia or Bangladesh, older age, higher education, belonging to the healthcare sector (either as or worker), having health personnel as a trusted source of COVID-19 information/advice, possessing correct COVID-19 knowledge, worry or fear about being (re)infected with COVID-19, and screening negative for general anxiety symptoms.
Moderate to high adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures was found, with significant variations across countries. Psychosocial factors (worry, anxiety, knowledge, education, age, and country) seemed determinant in predicting the number of measures to which participants adhered.
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