BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that married couples often share similar lifestyles, as well as lifestyle-associated conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. This study aims to prospectively investigate the association between an individual's development of a non-communicable disease and the subsequent development of the same condition in their spouse. METHODS: This population-based cohort study utilized 12 waves of annual prospective surveys from 2005 onwards in Japan, with a discrete-time design. A total of 9,417 middle-aged couples (18,834 participants; discrete-time observations = 118,876) were included. Each participant whose spouse had developed one of six conditions was propensity score-matched with five controls whose spouses had not been diagnosed with the condition: diabetes [n = 1374 vs n = 6870], hypertension [n = 2657 vs n = 13285], hypercholesterolemia [n = 3321 vs n = 16605], stroke [n = 567 vs n = 2835], coronary heart disease (CHD) [n = 1093 vs n = 5465] or cancer [n = 923 vs n = 4615]. Using conditional logistic regression, we assessed participants' development of the same condition within three years following their spouse's diagnosis. RESULTS: Participants whose spouses had developed diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or CHD were more likely to develop the same condition within three years. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were: 1.96 (1.53-2.50), 1.20 (1.06-1.36), 1.63 (1.47-1.81) and 1.43 (1.05-1.95), respectively. No significant associations were observed in stroke [1.69 (0.80-3.58)] or cancer [1.08 (0.75-1.54)]. CONCLUSION Spouses of individuals recently diagnosed with certain metabolic conditions are at a higher risk of developing those conditions themselves. These findings may provide valuable guidance for targeting and personalizing chronic disease screening and prevention efforts.
Humans ; Spouses/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adult ; Hypertension/epidemiology*

Objective: To understand the current status of fertility safety cognition among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years and to provide evidence for fertility safety intervention in HIV-infected families. Methods: Six districts in Chongqing and Zigong City in Sichuan Province were selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years who were followed up from November 2021 to April 2022 to collect their general demographic characteristics, histories of sex experience, fertility intention, and knowledge of birth safety. Unconditional logistic regression and Poisson regression were used to analyze the factors affecting the cognition of birth safety. Results: A total of 266 HIV-infected people were included in the study; 58.3% (155/266) were women, and 48.9% (130/266) had fertility desire. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety was 59.4% (158/266). The cognition rate of women's knowledge of birth safety was 2.14 (95%CI: 1.25-3.66) times that of men's. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety among HIV-infected persons with a high school education level or above was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.08-3.27) times that of those with a low education level. The cognition rate of knowledge of reproductive safety among HIV-infected people with fertility intention was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.10-3.22) times that of those without fertility intention. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety among HIV-infected persons who received AIDS knowledge promotion and education was 9.06 (95%CI: 2.46-33.32) times that of those who did not. The cognition rate of measures of birth safety was 5.3% (14/266). The Poisson regression analysis showed no significant difference in the cognition rate of specific measures among gender, age, education and other factors. Conclusions: HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years and married with a spouse have a low awareness of birth safety, and there are risks of HIV transmission between couples and mother-to-child in the family. Targeted birth safety education and intervention should be strengthened to reduce HIV transmission.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; HIV Infections ; Spouses ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Fertility ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Cognition

This descriptive cross-sectional study presents the health-seeking behaviors among older adults in Central Aurora, Philippines. Using a survey questionnaire, 179 older adults from 4 municipalities were interviewed. Participants were mostly 60-64-year-old married females, living with spouse, children, and grandchildren, with an average monthly income of 1001-5000 pesos, working as farmers, were self-employed, were Roman Catholics, and with an elementary level of education. The health-seeking behaviors were described in terms of physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions, with the spiritual dimension garnering the highest average mean of 4.01 (scale of 1 or never to 5 or always), and physical and mental dimensions the lowest average means of 3.58 and 3.31, respectively. These results attest to the Filipino value for the spiritual realm as an important dimension of health seeking behaviors and the physical and the mental dimensions of lesser concern. Recommendations include creating a wellness program to enhance health-seeking behaviors in all dimensions.
Humans ; Female ; Child ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Spouses ; Catholicism ; Farmers ; Cities ; Philippines ; Marriage ; Health Behavior ; Family ; Health Promotion ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Educational Status

OBJECTIVE: To carry out preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a couple where the husband was affected by osteogenesis imperfecta combined with balanced translocation using the karyomapping technique. METHODS: Blastocysts were detected using karyomapping, the carrier status of COL1A1 c.760G>A (p.Gly254Arg) variant and the carrier status of the translocated chromosome were analyzed simultaneously. RESULTS: For a total of 10 blastocysts, two euploid blastocysts were found to not carry the COL1A1 c.760G>A (p.Gly254Arg) variant but a balanced translocation. After transplanting one of the blastocysts, clinical pregnancy was achieved. Amniocentesis at 18th gestational week and prenatal genetic testing was in keeping with the result of PGT.A healthy female was born at 40+4 weeks gestation. CONCLUSION For patients simultaneously carrying genetic variant and balanced chromosomal translocation, PGT can be performed with efficiency by the use of karyomapping method.
Blastocyst ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta/genetics* ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Spouses ; Translocation, Genetic

This descriptive correlational study determined the level of hope and spiritual wellbeing among Filipino caregivers of terminally-ill cancer patients, and the relationship of hope and spiritual wellbeing to various patient and caregiver characteristics. The study involved 50 caregivers of terminally-ill-cancer patients, mostly belonging to 51-60 age group (42%) with mean age of 44 years (SD=15), mostly females (72%), married (62%), Roman Catholic (90%), high school graduates (50%), spouses of patients (28%), with an average of 18.36 hours of caregiving in a day for an average duration of 21.4 months. The hope and spirituality scores of caregivers were 3.24 (SD=0.28) and 3.25 (SD=0.46) respectively. Caregivers had high self-efficacy (3.29) but low social support (1.72). Patient's age was moderately correlated with caregiver's hope (r=0.3; p=0.03). Caregiver's educational attainment was significantly associated with hope (p<0.01) and spiritual wellbeing (p<0.01). Caregiver's self-efficacy was moderately correlated with their spiritual wellbeing (r=0.46, p<0.01). Caregiver's hopes were (1) for their patients to get well and recover from their illness, (2) to have strong spiritual faith and be healed with God's help (3) to be hopeful and positive, (4) hope for longer life, (5) resumption of family relations, and (6) free of pain and other discomforts. Caregivers' thoughts on spiritual wellbeing were to have: (1) stronger faith, (2) being prayerful, and (3) being positive. Compared to other studies, Filipino caregivers had lower hope scores, but higher spiritual wellbeing scores. Nursing interventions promoting hope and spiritual wellbeing should be conducted in patients' room, clinic appointments, or during home visits. Nursing care promoting hope and spiritual wellbeing should be part of patients' activities for daily living.
Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Caregivers ; Spirituality ; Family Relations ; Spouses ; Self Efficacy ; Catholicism ; Patients' ; Rooms ; House Calls ; Terminally Ill ; Hope ; Marriage ; Spiritual Therapies ; Social Support ; Neoplasms ; Pain ; Schools

PURPOSE: This study aimed to use a web-based survey to investigate the correlation between job satisfaction and marital quality and to identify the association of demographics with job satisfaction and marital quality. METHODS: Married nurses (N = 2,296) completed the questionnaires. Correlations and linear regression analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Both marital quality and job satisfaction were relatively low. Additionally, marital quality was positively correlated with job satisfaction. Age, marital status (in years) and average daily hours spent with spouse had positive impact on job satisfaction. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age, monthly income, average daily hours spent with spouse and marital quality were positively associated with job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Because of the shifts nurses working, there is little time for nurses to spend with their spouses and family. It is recommended that hospital leaders could provide more flexibility with nurses' shift choices so nurses can arrange their work-life balance better. Other considerations like reducing workload and reducing working hours should be promoted as options. Nurse managers could offer counseling services including strategies to cope with the balance between work and life. This effort could improve job satisfaction and reduce the rate of turnover of nurses.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Counseling ; Demography ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Linear Models ; Marital Status ; Nurse Administrators ; Pliability ; Spouses

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the trend in functional changes over time and factors associated with the number of areas showing functional decline in older adults who had been discharged from acute care hospitals. METHODS: This longitudinal study involved 156 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted to one tertiary hospital in Seoul and discharged home. Authors investigated patient demographic and health-care characteristics and the number of areas showing functional decline at 1 and 3 months after discharge. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The number of areas showing functional decline increased between admission and 1 month after discharge and had declined slightly at 3 months after discharge. The factors associated with the number of areas showing functional decline at 3 months after discharge were age, education level, and length of hospitalization (p < .05); the factors associated at 1 month after discharge were medical department and caregiver relationship (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that older patients with no spouse or those with their elderly spouse as their caregiver are at risk of functional decline in a greater number of areas after discharge. Therefore, a comprehensive health-care policy to ensure care continuity is required for functional health maintenance for older adults after hospital discharge.
Adult ; Aged ; Caregivers ; Continuity of Patient Care ; Education ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Seoul ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Spouses ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an exhausting process that impacts both the patient and caregiver. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, HSCT survivor-spouse caregiver matching study to determine quality of life (QoL) and depression among HSCT survivors and their caregivers. QoL and depression were measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life: Brief Version (26 items) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. Data from 97 married couples were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in overall QoL and psychological, social, and environmental health between survivors and spouse caregivers (P=0.345, 0.424, 0.415, and 0.253); however, physical QoL was better in the spouse caregiver group (P=0.011). There was no difference in mean depression scale scores (5.3 vs. 5.1, P=0.812) or proportion of severe depression (15.6% vs. 13.7%, P=0.270) between the two groups. We found that family income had a significant impact on overall QoL and environmental health among spouse caregivers (P=0.013 and 0.023), and female gender, co-morbidities, and family income were the important factors associated with depression among spouse caregivers (P=0.007, 0.017 and 0.049). CONCLUSION: This study found that there were no significant differences in QoL or level of depression between HSCT survivors and their spouse caregivers. Family income, gender, and co-morbidities showed significant association with spouse caregiver distress.
Caregivers ; Depression ; Environmental Health ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Spouses ; Survivors ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effect of spouses participating in health coaching on stage of the change, health behaviors, and physiological indicators among male office workers with cardiocerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and compare the findings with trainers who provided health coaching only to workers.METHODS: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from a manufacturing research and development company in the city of Gyeonggi province. The health coaching program for the experimental group (n=26) included individual counseling sessions according to workers' stage of change, and provision of customized health information materials on CVD prevention to workers and their spouses for 12 weeks through mobile phone and email.RESULTS: After 12 weeks of intervention, the total score for health behavior, and scores on the sub-areas of exercise and health checkups significantly improved in the experimental group, but there were no significant differences in the scores of stage of the change and physical indicators. The results of a paired t-test showed a significant decrease in the body mass index, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride values, and a significant increase in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value in the experimental group after the intervention.CONCLUSION: To improve the health of male workers with CVD risk factors in the workplace, sharing health information with their spouses has proven to be more effective than health coaching for only workers. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies to encourage spousal participation when planning workplace health education for changing health-related behaviors.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Phones ; Cholesterol ; Counseling ; Electronic Mail ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate relationships of depression, hopelessness, self-esteem, and social support with suicide ideation and to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation of elderly people.METHODS: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 100 elderly people residing in a community setting. Data were collected in September 2019 through structured questionnaires to assess depression, hopelessness, self-esteem, social support, and suicide ideation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA with Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analyses.RESULTS: Presence of spouse (t=−3.32, p < .001), satisfaction in children relationships (F=3.56, p=.032), overall life assessment (F=3.94, p=.023), and pain/ill-being (t=−2.04, p=.043) showed significant differences in suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation and self-esteem were negatively correlated (r=−.49, p < .001). Depression and suicidal ideation(r=.56, p < .001) and hopelessness and suicidal ideation (r=.49, p < .001) were positively correlated. Factors of suicidal ideation of elderly people were depression (β=.36, p=.017) and self-esteem (β=−.21, p=.046), that explained 30.1% of the total variance in the proposed model.CONCLUSION: A community intervention programs for preventing suicide among elderly people should include nursing strategies about depression and self-esteem. In addition, partnership with elder's spouse could be helpful to reduce suicidal ideation.
Aged ; Child ; Depression ; Humans ; Nursing ; Self Concept ; Spouses ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide