BACKGROUND

Different activity restrictions in older adults are caused by various factors and these can lead to a lower quality of life. The determination of these factors will provide baseline data in the local setting to help health care workers identify which are significantly associated with daily activity restriction. 

OBJECTIVES

To determine the different factors such as age, sex, living arrangement, educational level, more than one hospitalization per year, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, dementia risk, depression, malnutrition, history of fall, visual, and hearing impairment, bladder, and bowel incontinence; if significant association exist between these factors and the development of restriction on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Also, to determine the most common ADL and IADL restricted activities among older adults. 

METHODS

Five hundred forty (540) patients aged 60 and above were interviewed where 270 participants were included in the study through systemic random sampling. The different factors and activity restrictions were collected through one time interview using questionnaires (MGS, AD8, Katz and Lawton scale). Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using t -test, chi square and odds ratio.

RESULTS

The significant factors associated with both ADL and IADL restriction are age (p=.011; p=CONCLUSION

Older adults with more advanced age, visual impairment, bladder, and bowel incontinence are significantly associated with both ADL and IADL, indicating that health related conditions affect mobility. Lower educational level is associated with IADL restriction possibly because IADL activities are more complex and require thinking. Fall history is also significantly associated with IADL restriction because visual problems can affect balance and spatial awareness while depression is significantly associated with ADL due to lower quality of life. 

Human ; Activities Of Daily Living

With the rapid improvement of the perception and computing capacity of mobile devices such as smart phones, human activity recognition using mobile devices as the carrier has been a new research hot-spot. The inertial information collected by the acceleration sensor in the smart mobile device is used for human activity recognition. Compared with the common computer vision recognition, it has the following advantages: convenience, low cost, and better reflection of the essence of human motion. Based on the WISDM data set collected by smart phones, the inertial navigation information and the deep learning algorithm-convolutional neural network (CNN) were adopted to build a human activity recognition model in this paper. The K nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN) and the random forest algorithm were compared with the CNN network in the recognition accuracy to evaluate the performance of the CNN network. The classification accuracy of CNN model reached 92.73%, which was much higher than KNN and random forest. Experimental results show that the CNN algorithm model can achieve more accurate human activity recognition and has broad application prospects in predicting and promoting human health.
Algorithms ; Cluster Analysis ; Human Activities ; Humans ; Motion ; Neural Networks, Computer

OBJECTIVES: Human motion analysis can be applied to the diagnosis of musculoskeletal diseases, rehabilitation therapies, fall detection, and estimation of energy expenditure. To analyze human motion with micro-Doppler signatures measured by radar, a deep learning algorithm is one of the most effective approaches. Because deep learning requires a large data set, the high cost involved in measuring large amounts of human data is an intrinsic problem. The objective of this study is to augment human motion micro-Doppler data employing generative adversarial networks (GANs) to improve the accuracy of human motion classification. METHODS: To test data augmentation provided by GANs, authentic data for 7 human activities were collected using micro-Doppler radar. Each motion yielded 144 data samples. Software including GPU driver, CUDA library, cuDNN library, and Anaconda were installed to train the GANs. Keras-GPU, SciPy, Pillow, OpenCV, Matplotlib, and Git were used to create an Anaconda environment. The data produced by GANs were saved every 300 epochs, and the training was stopped at 3,000 epochs. The images generated from each epoch were evaluated, and the best images were selected. RESULTS: Each data set of the micro-Doppler signatures, consisting of 144 data samples, was augmented to produce 1,472 synthesized spectrograms of 64 × 64. Using the augmented spectrograms, the deep neural network was trained, increasing the accuracy of human motion classification. CONCLUSIONS: Data augmentation to increase the amount of training data was successfully conducted through the use of GANs. Thus, augmented micro-Doppler data can contribute to improving the accuracy of human motion recognition.
Boidae ; Classification ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Energy Metabolism ; Human Activities ; Humans ; Learning ; Motion Perception ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Rehabilitation ; Supervised Machine Learning

BACKGROUND: Organizations are pursing complex and diverse aims to generate higher profits. Many workers experience high work intensity such as workload and work pressure in this organizational environment. Especially, psychological burden is a commonly used term in workplace of Republic of Korea. This study focused on defining the psychological burden from the perspective of occupational safety and health and tried to develop a scale for psychological burden. METHODS: The 48 preliminary questionnaire items for psychological burden were prepared by a focus group interview with 16 workers through the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II and Mindful Awareness Attention Scale. The preliminary items were surveyed with 572 workers, and exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlation analysis were conducted for a new scale. RESULTS: As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, five factors were extracted: organizational activity, human error, safety and health workload, work attitude, and negative self-management. These factors had significant correlations and reliability, and the stability of the model for validity was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. CONCLUSION: The developed scale for psychological burden can measure workers' psychological burden in relation to safety and health. Despite some limitations, this study has applicability in the workplace, given the relatively small-sized questionnaire.
Focus Groups ; Human Activities ; Occupational Health* ; Republic of Korea ; Self Care

BACKGROUND: With the recent rapid industrialization, occupational safety and health (OSH) has become an important issue in all industrial and human activities. However, incidents of injuries and fatality rates in the Ghanaian industry sector continue to increase. Despite this increase, there is no evidence regarding the element of OSH management in transport activities in Ghanaian industries. Thus, this study aims to examine the perceptions regarding the importance of safety and health in work-related transport activities in Ghanaian industries. METHODS: A survey data collection technique was used to gather information on best safety practices over a 5-month period. We randomly selected 298 respondents from industries to answer structured questionnaires. The respondents included drivers, transport managers, and safety engineers. Standard multiple regression model and Pearson product–movement correlation were used to performed the analysis. RESULTS: The result shows that for interventions to improve safety and health, concentration has been on drivers’ safety practice with less attention to safe driving environments and vehicle usage. Additionally, the respondents are aware of the importance of OSH in transport activities, but the level of integration does not measure up to the standard to reduce operational accidents and injuries. Finally, strong commitment to changing unsafe practices at all levels of operations appears to be the effective way to improve safety situations. CONCLUSION: OSH culture is not fully complied in industries transport activities. This study, therefore, supports the use of safety seminars and training sessions for industry workers responsible for transport operations for better integration of safety standards.
Data Collection ; Human Activities ; Occupational Health ; Safety Management ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: There are many mechanisms in which stress can lead to weight gain thus high a BMI. The endocrine and inflammatory pathway can directly increase abdominal adiposity. Another way in which stress leads to weight gain is through changes in health behaviors. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthy students of Ahlia University, and to determine the relationship between the development of MSDs and academic stressors and body mass index. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 94 students aged 18-26 years who were enrolled at various Ahlia University colleges and met other inclusion criteria. The students responded to the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and the modified College Student Stress Inventory regarding musculoskeletal symptoms and academic stressors. Height and weight measurements were also obtained to determine body mass index. RESULTS: A total of 77.66% reported MSDs in one or more body part, with the prevalence being higher among women than among men. The 7-day prevalence of MSDs severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living was 60.64%, and 44.68% by female and male students, respectively. There was a significant relationship between academic stress and MSDs in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips, while the relationship between MSDs, and body mass index, academic stress, and grade point average was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MSDs among Ahlia University students was found to be high. Apart from the positive correlation between academic stress and MSDs in certain body parts, other correlations were not significant.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adiposity ; Body Mass Index* ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Hip ; Human Body ; Humans ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Neck ; Pain Measurement ; Prevalence ; Shoulder ; Stress, Psychological ; Weight Gain

A field survey studying intestinal parasites in humans and microbial pathogen contamination at environment was performed in a Laotian rural village to identify potential risks for disease outbreaks. A parasitological investigation was conducted in Ban Lak Sip village, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR involving fecal samples from 305 inhabitants as well as water samples taken from 3 sites of the local stream. Water analysis indicated the presence of several enteric pathogens, i.e., Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., E. coli H7, E. coli O157: H7, verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), Shigella spp., and enteric adenovirus. The level of microbial pathogens contamination was associated with human activity, with greater levels of contamination found at the downstream site compared to the site at the village and upstream, respectively. Regarding intestinal parasites, the prevalence of helminth and protozoan infections were 68.9% and 27.2%, respectively. Eight helminth taxa were identified in fecal samples, i.e., 2 tapeworm species (Taenia sp. and Hymenolepis diminuta), 1 trematode (Opisthorchis sp.), and 5 nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, trichostrongylids, and hookworms). Six species of intestinal protists were identified, i.e., Blastocystis hominis, Cyclospora spp., Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, Entamoeba coli, and Giardia lamblia. Questionnaires and interviews were also conducted to determine risk factors of infection. These analyses together with a prevailing infection level suggested that most of villagers were exposed to parasites in a similar degree due to limited socio-economic differences and sharing of similar practices. Limited access to effective public health facilities is also a significant contributing factor.
Adenoviridae ; Aeromonas ; Ancylostomatoidea ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Blastocystis hominis ; Cestoda ; Cyclospora ; Disease Outbreaks ; Endolimax ; Entamoeba ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Giardia lamblia ; Helminths ; Human Activities ; Humans ; Hymenolepis ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Protozoan Infections ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Rivers ; Shigella ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Trichuris ; Vibrio ; Water*

The global prevalence of diabetes by 2030 estimated an increase in number of people with diabetes. People who are 64 years of age will be 82 million in developing countries and 48 million in developed countries. The study aimed to assess the health care needs of older persons' physical, cognitive, functional and self-care abilities and determine relationship of these to their profiles. These assessments are the bases in designing modules for Diabetes Self-Management Education training module for Diabetes Educators. A descriptive correlational design was utilized to assess the health care needs of 100 young older persons. The Filipino Activities of Daily Living (Fil-ADL) and the Filipino Instrumental Activities of Daily living were utilized to assess the functional status of the older persons. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA-P) and cognitive function exams were used to assess cognitive status while Mini- Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to assess nutritional status of the older persons. The Self-Care Inventory Revised (Sci-R) was used to assess self-care behaviors of older persons to diabetes management. Frequency and percentage were used to describe the health care needs of older persons, while mean and standard deviation were used in assessing knowledge and self-care abilities. Chisquare test for Association was utilized to determine relationship of the health care needs and the profile of the respondents. Study shows that most of the older persons are female, 66-70 years old, married and had primary education. The older persons' knowledge in diabetes is satisfactory, had a normal nutritional status, was functional in daily living activities (ADL), was functional in their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), was normal of their cognitive status, and sometimes perform self-care abilities to diabetes management. There is significant relationship between knowledge, civil status and history of diabetes. Nutrition and cognitive status had significant relationship to their civil status, education and history of diabetes. The functional status of the older persons has significant relationship with history of diabetes. It is necessary to include the culture-based health care needs of older persons and to consider demography such as education and history of diabetes in designing the training module for diabetes educators.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Activities Of Daily Living ; Self Care ; Developing Countries ; Nutritional Status ; Nutrition Assessment ; Cognition ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Marriage

The global prevalence of diabetes by 2030 estimated an increase in number of people with diabetes. People who are 64 years of age will be 82 million in developing countries and 48 million in developed countries. The study aimed to assess the health care needs of older persons' physical, cognitive, functional and self-care abilities and determine relationship of these to their profiles. These assessments are the bases in designing modules for Diabetes Self-Management Education training module for Diabetes Educators. A descriptive correlational design was utilized to assess the health care needs of 100 young older persons. The Filipino Activities of Daily Living (Fil-ADL) and the Filipino Instrumental Activities of Daily living were utilized to assess the functional status of the older persons. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA-P) and cognitive function exams were used to assess cognitive status while Mini- Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to assess nutritional status of the older persons. The Self-Care Inventory Revised (Sci-R) was used to assess self-care behaviors of older persons to diabetes management. Frequency and percentage were used to describe the health care needs of older persons, while mean and standard deviation were used in assessing knowledge and self-care abilities. Chisquare test for Association was utilized to determine relationship of the health care needs and the profile of the respondents. Study shows that most of the older persons are female, 66-70 years old, married and had primary education. The older persons' knowledge in diabetes is satisfactory, had a normal nutritional status, was functional in daily living activities (ADL), was functional in their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), was normal of their cognitive status, and sometimes perform self-care abilities to diabetes management. There is significant relationship between knowledge, civil status and history of diabetes. Nutrition and cognitive status had significant relationship to their civil status, education and history of diabetes. The functional status of the older persons has significant relationship with history of diabetes. It is necessary to include the culture-based health care needs of older persons and to consider demography such as education and history of diabetes in designing the training module for diabetes educators.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Activities Of Daily Living ; Self Care ; Developing Countries ; Nutritional Status ; Nutrition Assessment ; Cognition ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Marriage

Changes in core body temperature are closely related to initiation and maintenance of sleep, and are influenced by various factors such as air temperature, room temperature, clothing, human activities, and medications. These factors are closely related to sleep fragments, insomnia and other sleep disorders. Understanding the effect of the temperature related to human surroundings on the core body temperature and sleep, will be useful for understanding the physiology of sleep and to treat sleep disorders.
Body Temperature ; Circadian Rhythm ; Clothing ; Human Activities ; Humans ; Physiology ; Sleep Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders