This study deals with the public health effects of a natural disaster and some public health principles that can be applied to disaster risk reduction and management, focusing on earthquake preparedness for Barangay San Jose - Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines. The study showed that the urban poor community has a weak history of engagement, and it explores whether facilitated community interventions can empower and develop community preparedness. It followed a participatory approach involving community leaders and members. The study indicated that enhancing and modifying interventions that match community needs will develop community preparedness in the community, potentially increasing the chances of surviving an earthquake and minimizing its deleterious and damaging impact. Community preparedness will require continuous involvement and a cooperative approach to working with communities to support equal and harmonized development.
Public health ; Capacity Building ; Risk Reduction Behavior

PURPOSE: According to Lazarus & Folkman (1984), appraising a stressor as a threat is associated with negative psychological and physical adjustment, whereas appraising a stressor as a challenge is positive psychological and physical adjustment. This study examined how cognitive appraisal of PTCA(heart disease threat and treatment appraisal) related to the cardiac risk reduction behaviors(smoking cessation, low salt and low cholesterol diet, regular exercise and stress management) 6 weeks following discharge. METHOD: Data were collected from 50 subjects with successful primary PTCA. RESULT: Heart disease threat was negative related to treatment appraisal (r=-0.240, p=0.046). Psychological well-being was negative related to heart disease threat (r=-0.317, p=0.012) and positive related to treatment appraisal(r=0.402, p=0.002). The cardiac risk reduction behaviors score was negative related to heart disease threat(r= -0.296, p=0.018) and positive related to treatment appraisal(r=-0.291, p=0.020). CONCLUSION: More negative appraisal was related to lower the cardiac risk reduction behaviors score. But more positive appraisal was related to higher the cardiac risk reduction behaviors score. So, there is a need to develop the cognitive-behavioral intevention that increase the coping strategy to replace with positive appraisal.
Angioplasty* ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Heart Diseases ; Risk Reduction Behavior*

BACKGROUND: Goal-oriented communication of risk of hazards is necessary in order to reduce risk of workers' exposure to chemicals. Adequate training of workers and enterprise priority setting are essential elements. Cleaning enterprises have many challenges and the existing paradigms influence the risk levels of these enterprises. METHODS: Information on organization and enterprises' prioritization in training programs was gathered from cleaning enterprises. A measure of enterprises' conceptual level of importance of chemical health hazards and a model for working out the risk index (RI) indicating enterprises' conceptual risk level was established and used to categorize the enterprises. RESULTS: In 72.3% of cases, training takes place concurrently with task performances and in 67.4% experienced workers conduct the trainings. There is disparity between employers' opinion on competence level of the workers and reality. Lower conceptual level of importance was observed for cleaning enterprises of different sizes compared with regional safety delegates and occupational hygienists. Risk index values show no difference in risk level between small and large enterprises. CONCLUSION: Training of cleaning workers lacks the prerequisite for suitability and effectiveness to counter risks of chemical health hazards. There is dereliction of duty by management in the sector resulting in a lack of competence among the cleaning workers. Instituting acceptable easily attainable safety competence level for cleaners will conduce to risk reduction, and enforcement of attainment of the competence level would be a positive step.
Education ; Mental Competency ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Task Performance and Analysis

OBJECTIVES: This study examined variations in the perceptions of dioxin risk among social groups defined by geographical living location, environmental education, and occupation. Dioxin risk perceptions were analyzed according to values, risk awareness, knowledge, and behavioral preferences. METHODS: A quasi-experimental survey was designed and conducted on individuals from seven experimental groups in Jeonju city, South Korea, including: people living near incineration facilities; people living far from incineration facilities; governmental experts; nongovernmental organization members; office workers in developmental institutes or banks; students who were enrolled in environmental-related classes; and students who were enrolled in business-related classes. RESULTS: The results show variations among groups in values, awareness and behavioral preferences. Particular attention should be given to the result that groups with higher connectedness- to-nature values show higher willingness-to-act (WTA) for risk reduction. Result s can be summarized as follows. First, awareness is associated with one's geographical setting. Second, values and WTA behaviors are related to one's environmental-related education and occupation. Third, values are significantly related to WTA behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Different cultures, in terms of values or worldview, among groups influence their perceptions of dioxin risk and choices of risk reduction behaviors. It is important to consider values in communicating complicated long-term risk management involving public participation. Further research should be continuously conducted on the effects of multiple dimensions of values on one's WTA for risk reduction behaviors.
Academies and Institutes ; Consumer Participation ; Education ; Humans ; Incineration ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Occupations ; Risk Management ; Risk Reduction Behavior

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke and the benefit of BP lowering therapy on the stroke risk reduction is well established. The optimal BP target for preventing stroke and other vascular events have been controversial, but the evidences from epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support intensive BP lowering for greater vascular protection, particularly for stroke prevention. For secondary stroke prevention, the evidence of intensive BP lowering benefit is limited since only a single RCT for patients with lacunar infarctions was conducted and most data were driven by exploratory analyses. In acute intracerebral hemorrhage, immediate BP lowering targeting systolic BP<140 mm Hg is recommended by guidelines based on the results from RCTs. In contrast, in acute ischemic stroke, early BP lowering is not usually recommended because of no benefit on functional outcome and future vascular events and potential harm of stroke progression. This review aims to summarize the updated evidence for optimal BP management for primary and secondary stroke prevention and in patients with acute stroke.
Blood Pressure* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar

Adverse events after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are not uncommon and can be associated with tragic outcomes. Bleeding, perforation, and post-ERCP pancreatitis are the most common complications. Some events are unavoidable; others are associated with well described risk factors so that they can be either anticipated and/or measures can be taken for prevention or at least risk reduction. This review will focus on the more common complications after ERCP, their risk factors, and potential strategies for risk reduction. Additionally, recommendations for management of ERCP complications will be presented.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Hemorrhage ; Intestinal Perforation ; Pancreatitis ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior

INTRODUCTIONHamstring injuries are one of the most common injuries associated with sports participation. The aim of this review is to outline identified risk factors and examine preventative strategies for reducing the occurrence of this form of injury.

METHODSAn electronic search of Medline and SCOPUS was carried out for key words related to the area.

RESULTSA number of risk factors, including both intrinsic and modifiable, were identified. Important aspects of an exercise programme were then outlined based on these risk factors.

CONCLUSIONA programme specifically designed to reduce the risk of hamstring injury by taking a strategised approach to exercise prescription may reduce the risk of hamstring injury. However, further research is required to determine the optimal programme for reducing the risk of injury.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of post-traumatic stress (PTS), job satisfaction, and associated factors with job satisfaction among 119 rescue crews. METHODS: The study subjects were 507 rescue crews who worked in G Metropolitan City and J province. General characteristics, job-related characteristics, PTS, and job satisfaction were collected by self-reported questionnaires via official e-mail. Job satisfaction by subjects' characteristics was tested using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 507 rescue crews, the overall PTS scores and job satisfaction score were 13.58+/-12.99 and 85.19+/-13.37, respectively. In multiple linear regression analyses, job satisfaction scores were significantly lower in subjects with fair (beta=-3.53, 95% CI=-5.89~-1.17) or poor (beta=-7.69, 95% CI=-11.67~-3.71) self-rated health and with longer duration of career (beta=-3.53, 95% CI=-6.62~-0.44). Regarding rescue field related characteristics, witness injury of co-workers (beta=-3.02, 95% CI=-5.61~-0.44), obvious dead treatment (beta=-3.60, 95% CI=-6.37~-0.83), and PTS (beta=-4.21, 95% CI=-7.56~-0.88) showed association with lower job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Job satisfaction showed association with general characteristics, field related factors, and PTS. Risk reduction of rescue field and management of PTS will help to increase the job satisfaction of 119 rescue crews.
Electronic Mail ; Emergency Medical Services ; Job Satisfaction* ; Linear Models ; Risk Reduction Behavior

OBJECTIVE: Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but the results are mixed. Little is known about the impact of comorbid major depression (MD) on HRV in GAD patients. Both issues necessitate further investigation. METHODS: Twenty unmedicated, physically healthy GAD patients, 20 GAD patients with a secondary diagnosis of MD, 40 MD patients and 60 matched controls were recruited. We used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to assess anxiety and depression severity, respectively. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring HRV parameters. Frequency-domain indices of HRV were obtained. RESULTS: Three patient groups had more anxiety and depression symptoms than control subjects, but heart rates (HRs) were significantly elevated only in GAD patients with comorbid depression. Relative to controls, GAD patients had reduced HRV while GAD patients with comorbid depression displayed the greatest reductions in HRV among three patients groups. Correlation analyses revealed anxiety/depression severity significantly associated with HRs, variance, LF-HRV and HF-HRV. However, separately analyzing among individual groups and adjusting for HRV-associated covariables rendered the correlations non-significant. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that reduction in HRV is a psychophysiological marker of GAD and individuals with comorbid GAD and MD may be distinguished based on psychophysiological correlates (for example, HF-HRV) from non-comorbid GAD patients. Taken into account that comorbid depression may confer increased risks for cardiovascular events in GAD patients, this subgroup of GAD patients may benefit better from cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.
Anxiety Disorders* ; Anxiety* ; Case-Control Studies* ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Taiwan*

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of bisphosphonates for osteoporotic fracture has been consistently reported in recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling hundreds of patients. The objective of this study was to update knowledge on the efficacy of available bisphosphonates in the prevention of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. METHODS: An approach “using systematic reviews” on PubMed and Cochrane Library was taken. Twenty-four RCTs investigating the effects of bisphosphonates for the prevention of osteoporotic fracture were included in final analysis. A pairwise meta-analysis was conducted with a random effects model. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the type of bisphosphonate. RESULTS: The use of bisphosphonate decrease the risk of overall osteoporotic fracture (odds ratio [OR] 0.62; P<0.001), vertebral fracture (OR 0.55; P<0.001) and non-vertebral fracture (OR 0.73; P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that zoledronic acid showed the lowest risk reduction (OR 0.61; P<0.001) for overall osteoporotic fractures but no significance was observed for etidronate (OR 0.34; P=0.127). CONCLUSIONS: This update meta-analysis re-confirmed that bisphosphonate use can effectively reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding etidronate for the prevention of osteoporotic fracture.
Diphosphonates* ; Etidronic Acid ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures* ; Risk Reduction Behavior