Aim: Quantify disparities and identify correlates and predictors of 'wellness' supplement use among nurses during the first year of the pandemic.
Design: Longitudinal secondary analysis of Nurses' Health Studies 2 and 3 and Growing Up Today Study data.
Methods: Sample included 36,518 total participants, 12,044 of which were nurses, who completed surveys during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020 to April 2021). Analyses were conducted in March 2023. Modified Poisson models were used to estimate disparities in 'wellness' supplement use between nurses and non-healthcare workers and, among nurses only, to quantify associations with workplace-related predictors (occupational discrimination, PPE access, workplace setting) and psychosocial predictors (depression/anxiety, county-level COVID-19 mortality). Models included race/ethnicity, gender identity, age and cohort as covariates.
Results: Nurses were significantly more likely to use all types of supplements than non-healthcare workers. Lacking personal protective equipment and experiencing occupational discrimination were significantly associated with new immune supplement use. Depression increased the risk of using weight loss, energy and immune supplements.
Conclusion: Nurses' disproportionate use of 'wellness' supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic may be related to workplace and psychosocial stressors. Given well-documented risks of harm from the use of 'wellness' supplements, the use of these products by nurses is of concern.
Impact: 'Wellness' supplements promoting weight loss, increased energy, boosted immunity and cleansing of organs are omnipresent in today's health-focused culture, though their use has been associated with harm. This is of added concern among nurses given their risk of COVID-19 infection at work. Our study highlighted the risk factors associated with use of these products (lacking PPE and experiencing occupational discrimination). Findings support prior research suggesting a need for greater public health policy and education around the use of 'wellness' supplements.
Reporting Method: STROBE guidelines were followed throughout manuscript.
Patient Or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution was involved.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jan.16162 | DOI Listing |
BMC Public Health
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia.
Obesity trend among Malaysian children is on the rise. Noting that the tendency for them to grow into obese adults and the relationship of obesity to many non-communicable diseases, the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at School (MyBFF@school program) was designed to combat obesity among the schoolchildren. The program was piloted in 2014 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
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January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of California San Diego/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
Language-discordant healthcare encounters-when the patient/caregiver and clinician are not able to communicate directly in the patient's/caregiver's preferred language-are associated with worse quality of care, increased adverse events, and research exclusion. Here, we describe the current state of language justice in clinical practice and research in the United States, Canada, and Spain, discuss the role of social determinants of health and language, in patient safety and health outcomes and review an example of culturally and linguistically concordant interventions to increase research participation. We close with practical and global strategies to increase multilingual research participation and to provide equitable patient- and family-centered care in pediatric hematology-oncology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Emerg Med
August 2024
Department of Emergency Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.
Background: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common condition in the emergency department (ED) with high incidence and mortality.
Objectives: Very early risk stratification of GIB patients can sometimes be a challenge. The decision to intubate these patients is multifactorial and requires careful consideration.
J Hazard Mater
December 2024
Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India. Electronic address:
Arsenic (As) is a potent carcinogen that enters the human food chain mainly through rice, which is one of the staple food crops worldwide. During February 2022, a market survey was conducted and 500 samples of rice grains were collected across 41 different locations in Mumbai/Navi-Mumbai. On the basis of grain As-accumulation, samples were grouped into three categories including low- (0-30 ng g DW), medium- (31-70 ng g DW) or high- (>71 ng g DW).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neural Eng
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, AUSTRALIA.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous autoimmune-mediated disorder affecting the central nervous system, commonly manifesting as fatigue and progressive limb impairment. This can significantly impact quality of life due to weakness or paralysis in the upper and lower limbs. A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) aims to restore quality of life through control of an external device, such as a wheelchair.
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