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At least 1,279 records · Page 71Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Predictors of smoking behavior of first year university students: questionnaire survey.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of smoking and sociodemographic factors related to smoking behavior of first year university students in Adana, Turkey. METHODS: The sample was selected from two faculties (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and Faculty of Agriculture) using the method of simple cluster sampling, representing the university student population. The students filled out an anonymous questionnaire comprising 17 questions related to their sociodemographic characteristics and smoking behavior. The response rate was 73.5% (471 out of 640 students). RESULTS: The prevalence of daily smoking among the first year students was 21.4%, with the predominance of men (25.0%) over women (12.9%). Most students (89.1%) had positive expectations about quitting smoking in the next 5 years ("I will quit smoking", "I will decrease the number of cigarettes I smoke", and "I will continue to be a non-smoker"). The smoking behavior was significantly related to student's sex (p=0.026, Pearson's chi-square test), mother's education (p=0.029, Pearson's chi-square test), number of failed grades (p=0.011, ANOVA), student's monthly income (p<0.001, Pearson's chi-square test), and having friends who smoke (p<0.0001, Pearson's chi-square test). CONCLUSION: The main determinants of regular smoking behavior for university students in Turkey were male sex, low academic performance, having smoking friends, high level of income, and a mother with high education level. These findings call for making anti smoking policies more specific in regard to the targeted population.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Obstructive sleep apnea in children.

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing is common in children. From 3 percent to 12 percent of children snore, while obstructive sleep apnea syndrome affects 1 percent to 10 percent of children. The majority of these children have mild symptoms, and many outgrow the condition. Consequences of untreated obstructive sleep apnea include failure to thrive, enuresis, attention-deficit disorder, behavior problems, poor academic performance, and cardiopulmonary disease. The most common etiology of obstructive sleep apnea is adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Clinical diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is reliable; however, the gold standard evaluation is overnight polysomnography. Treatment includes the use of continuous positive airway pressure and weight loss in obese children. These alternatives are tolerated poorly in children and rarely are considered primary therapy. Adenotonsillectomy is curative in most patients. Children with craniofacial syndromes, neuromuscular diseases, medical comorbidities, or severe obstructive sleep apnea, and those younger than three years are at increased risk of developing postoperative complications and should be monitored overnight in the hospital.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Two facets of self-knowledge: cross-cultural development of measures in Iran and the United States.

Self-knowledge is an ideal not only within psychological theory and practice but also within the religious and philosophical foundations of many cultures. In 6 studies conducted in Iran and the United States, the authors sought to construct and to validate scales for measuring two facets of self-knowledge. Experiential self-knowledge was defined as an ongoing sensitivity to the self in the present. Reflective self-knowledge was described in terms of personal efforts to integrate experience within self-schemas developed in the past. Thirteen-item experiential self-knowledge and reflective self-knowledge scales were created by the authors using samples of Iranian and American university students. A confirmatory factor analysis verified this 2-factor structure in a second study, and these results were replicated in a 3rd study. Correlations with a broad array of self-report variables established the two scales as valid measures of adjustment. Both displayed adequate test-retest reliability. Correlations with peer reports suggested that the two factors had behavioral implications in both cultures. Reflective self-knowledge proved to be as important as educational abilities in predicting the academic performance of Americans who were motivated to attend class. Experiential self-knowledge and reflective self-knowledge also interacted to predict better grades. In short, the experiential self-knowledge and reflective self-knowledge scales operationalized cross-cultural personality processes that deserve additional research attention.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Factors related to cigarette-smoking among adolescent students of the city of Medellin].

A study was conducted in a random sample of 600 eleventh-grade students to determine the correlation between cigarette smoking and various other factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the different variables related to smoking. These included, in order of importance: smoking by peers, impulsiveness, smoking by best friend, sex, and self-evaluation of academic performance. A slight inverse correlation was found between smoking and negative attitudes toward cigarette smoking, knowledge of its harmful effects, and frequent participation in sports. No correlation was found between smoking and the students' self-esteem or type-A behavior patterns. The cigarette consumption information provided by the students was validated by means of laboratory tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intestinal helminthiasis among school children: preliminary results of a prospective study in Agboville in Southern Côte d'Ivoire].

Intestinal helminthiasis affects the health and academic performance of children in developing countries. To highlight a few socio-economic factors that impact the presence and upholding of intestinal helminthiasis, a cohort study was performed from February to June 2001. This study took place in Agboville in Southern Côte d'Ivoire on 363 children, under the age of 15, regularly enrolled in school and selected by two-step clustered sampling. After the survey was completed, their stools were examined using 3 methods: direct exam, Kato's technique, and Graham's anal scotch-test. Infected students received an appropriate anti-helminthic treatment. After performing a test two weeks later, a new sample of 348 parasite-free children was made up and re-examined after three months, through the aforementioned techniques. In this sample, we assumed that students who were infested in the initial exam were "exposed", while those who were not infested in the first place were deemed to be "not exposed". The results showed that 135 students out of the 360 admitted for the first exam were infested; or a 37.5% of intestinal helminthiasis prevalence (IC95%=30.5-45). The prevalent parasite species were Necator americanus (15%), Trichuris trichiura (13.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (10%). Twenty-eight per cent of 135 infested students were infected by more than one parasite. After three months, the incidence rate of intestinal helminthiasis calculated out of the remaining 336 students was 7.7% (IC95%=4.4-13.1). The likelihood of re-infestation amounted to 3.4 (IC95%=1.5-7.3). The pattern of re-infestation rates according to socio-economic factors differed from that of infested prevalence. The prevalent parasites in re-infested patients were Trichuris trichiura (16.3%), Schistosoma mansoni (12.5%). All intestinal nematodes and Schistosoma mansoni were observed. The most frequent parasites species where those transmitted cutaneously. The high re-infestation rate suggests that intestinal helminthiasis in this region affects roughly the same children. These results show the necessity to continue our investigations in order to highlight essential hygienic factors in our long-term fight against intestinal helminthiasis.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Ethnic identity as a predictor of problem behaviors among Korean American adolescents.

This study examined three dimensions of ethnic identity (level of ethnic identity, attitudes toward other groups, and perceived discrimination) as predictors of adolescent problem behaviors among Korean American adolescents. Multiple regression analyses were carried out, and the results indicated that level of ethnic identity, perceived discrimination, and academic performance were significant predictors of both internalizing and externalizing problems. Implications for the provision of mental health services and strengthening multicultural education are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Indoor Air Quality: part II--what it does.

Newton, MA. A recent report indicated air quality samples taken from several rooms in the town's North High School had elevated CO2 levels of 2,000 parts per million (ppm) (Viser, 2004). State standards set 800 ppm as the optimum reading. Although not an immediate health issue, high CO2 levels are indicative of poor air circulation--clean air comes in but stale air is not vented out. Safety issues arise in the school setting when chemicals or toxic substances are in use and cannot be vented, therefore posing the health risk (Viser, 2004). Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in schools can result in decreased academic performance and days lost due to illness in the school age population (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2003). As the school nurse at North High School, what would you do?

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2005

Essential fatty acids, DHA and human brain.

Essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized in the body but they are required for maintenance of optimal health. There are two classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)--omega-6 and omega-3. The parent omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA) is desaturated in the body to form arachidonic acid while parent omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is desaturated by microsomal enzyme system through a series of metabolic steps to form eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA). But there is a limited metabolic capability during early life to metabolize PUFAs to more active long-chain fatty acids. There is a critical role of EFAs and their metabolic products for maintenance of structural and functional integrity of central nervous system and retina. Most of the brain growth is completed by 5-6 years of age. At birth brain weight is 70% of an adult, 15% brain growth occurs during infancy and remaining brain growth is completed during preschool years. DHA is the predominant structural fatty acid in the central nervous system and retina and its availability is crucial for brain development. It is recommended that the pregnant and nursing woman should take at least 2.6 g of omega-3 fatty acids and 100-300 mg of DHA daily to look after the needs of her fetus and suckling infant. The follow-up studies have shown that infants of mothers supplemented with EFAs and DHA had higher mental processing scores, psychomotor development, eye-hand coordination and stereo acuity at 4 years of age. Intake of EFAs and DHA during preschool years may also have a beneficial role in the prevention of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and enhancing learning capability and academic performance.

Brain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA), Spring 2003 Reference Group report.

Assessing and understanding the health needs and capacities of college students is paramount to creating healthy campus communities. The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) is a survey instrument developed by the American College Health Association (ACHA) in 1998 to assist institutions of higher education in achieving this goal. The ACHA-NCHA contains approximately 300 questions assessing student health status and health problems, risk and protective behaviors, access to health information, impediments to academic performance, and perceived norms across a variety of content areas, including injury prevention; personal safety and violence; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; sexual health; weight, nutrition, and exercise; and mental health. Twice a year, ACHA compiles aggregate data from institutions using the ACHA-NCHA to provide a reference group for data comparison. A portion of the data from the Spring 2003 Reference Group is provided in this article for use by professionals, researchers, institutions, departments, and organizations invested in advancing the health of college students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Use and perceived effectiveness of student support services in a first-year dental student population.

The purpose of this study was to determine the severity of problems common to the first year of dental school and to assess the use and perceived effectiveness of formal and informal peer and professional support programs in addressing those problems. First-year students at one California dental school were surveyed on the severity of problems encountered, support services used, and perceived effectiveness of services. Results indicated that the problems perceived as most serious by students in this sample were of an emotional nature relating to academic performance. Findings showed that students relied heavily on themselves and on informal advice from peers to handle problems and that they perceived these resources to be very effective. Findings also showed that low-ranking students used both formal and informal resources to resolve problems and that females used resources outside of the school more than males did. Results of the study offer some evidence to support providing both formal and informal peer and faculty support programs for first-year dental students. Results also provide insight into the use of peers and "self" to resolve problems common to the first year of dental education.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of comorbidity in conduct disorder with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. It is characterized by a variety of chronic antisocial behaviors, a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates the basic rights of others, major age-appropriate societal norms, or both. Aggressive behavior, lying, stealing, fire-setting, and running away from home and school are the most frequent manifestations of CD and are often accompanied by hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, explosiveness, cognitive and learning problems, and poor social skills. The rate of comorbidity is high, with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) being the most common; comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders are also seen, especially in adolescents. The diagnostic process should include the use of structured interviews, and scores from reliable and valid rating scales that cover all psychiatric disorders must be considered in the differential diagnosis, because CD alone is an extreme rarity and multiple disorders are almost always the rule rather than exception. Treatment should include parenting skills training combined with training of the child to improve his or her relationships with peers, academic performance, and compliance with legitimate demands of authority figures. The appropriate use of medications and integration of patient/parent education and support, as well as individual, group, family, residential, and inpatient treatment may be beneficial for patients with CD and ADHD. The article describes a number of psychopharmacological agents that are used in patients with CD with ADHD and other comorbid disorders. Drugs that may be useful include psychostimulants; atomoxetine (Strattera); antidepressants (imipramine [Tofranil], desipramine [Norpramin]); Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs); atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone (Risperdal); or mood regulators including lithium (Eskalith).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The clinical semiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder according to age, and the effectiveness of treatments at different ages].

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most important cause of poor academic performance and is also usually associated with behavioural, emotional and sociability disorders. AIM: To analyse the different clinical features and the response to psychostimulant therapy, according to the age. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the cases of 152 children referred to Neuropaediatrics owing to suspected ADHD over a 6-year period. Diagnosis and comorbidity were investigated by the looking at their case history, by examination and observation, as well as by interviewing the parents (DSM-IV criteria), and by applying Conners' Rating Scale for parents and teachers, in addition to neuropsychological tests. In order to improve data processing, we established four groups according to the patient's age at diagnosis and when treatment was started: G1: 3-5; G2: 6-8; G3: 9-11; and G4: 12-15 years. RESULTS: ADHD was diagnosed in 102 of the 152 children; 53% had the combined type, 26% were of the inattentional type, and 20% were hyperactive/impulsive. Poor school performance increased with age and reached 75% in G4. The same occurred with conduct disorders: at 6 years of age, 23% were found to have oppositional defiant disorder, and from the age of 9 onwards over 60% of them had conduct disorders. Up until 12 years of age they showed some improvement with psychostimulants and later the rate of dropouts from medical clinical controls and from treatment was over 40%. CONCLUSIONS: The older patients are and the later ADHD is attended, the more problems they have. If successful preventive measures are to be implemented, it would be advisable to begin treatment even before children start primary education (5 years old), so as to try and avoid the pedagogical and behavioural repercussions observed in these children at the age of 6.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A problem-solving strategy for teaching biosciences to nursing majors.

The author outlines a problem-solving strategy for teaching human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology to nursing majors. In Spring 2005, students improved their academic performance in comparison to Spring 2003. The author plans to further expand and analyze this teaching approach during the next two semesters.

Biological Science Disciplines↗
PubMed2005

Prevention of youth violence.

Youth violence is widely recognized as a major public health problem. Concern over the number of youth affected by violence in their homes, communities, and in schools has precipitated considerable discussion in the popular press and in professional journals. This article reviews recent activity to reduce youth violence with an emphasis on activity taking place in Maryland. The number of youth murdered or exposed to violence in Maryland remains too high. Although most of our youth are resilient, they are not unaffected by the violence that surrounds them. Exposure to violence places children at high risk for a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, such as poor academic performance, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and inadequate socialization and development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Social factors associated with the daily cigarette smoking among middle-school student adolescents in Bucaramanga, Colombia].

INTRODUCTION: Daily cigarette smoking is associated with high morbidity and mortality in adults. This pattern of tobacco use is established during the early adolescence. Among adolescents, daily cigarette smoking is a strong predictor of illegal, addictive substance use. The prevalence of daily cigarette smoking is not known in Colombian adolescent middle-school students. OBJECTIVE: To assess smoking prevalence, daily cigarette smoking and associated factors among middle school-students in Bucaramanga, northeast Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire concerning illegal and legal substance use was administered to a random sample of 2,586 students. RESULTS: The group mean age was 13.0 years; 54.9% was male; 32.0% was in sixth grade, 31.7% in seventh, 25.2% in eighth and 11.1% in ninth grade, with 67.1% enrolled in public schools. The prevalence of daily cigarette smoking lasting the month prior to the questionnaire was 3.8% (95% CI 2.7-4.9). Logistic regression showed a significant association between being the best friend of a smoker or a drinker of alcohol (OR=3.71; 95% CI 1.71-8.04), having low academic performance perception (OR=3.83; 95% CI 1.0-14.2), and being older age (OR=1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.8). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that one in 26 middle-school student adolescents from Bucaramanga is an everyday smoker. The most important associated factor was being the best friend of a smoker or a drinker of alcohol.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Effects of early vocational guidance of students at medical faculty of institute of higher education].

Despite the intensive clinical application of the scientific and technological innovations, the effect of the human factor in surgical intervention remains decisive. The existing model of training highly qualified specialists in the residency program does not always render positive results. For this reason, the issue of early orientation and specialization of prospective specialists, starting from the Bachelor's stage, has received considerable attention. The experience of colleagues at the department of human anatomy, topographic anatomy and operative surgery of the medical faculty of Tbilisi State University is based on the example of early professional orientation of the students, and their active attraction in the specialized surgery groups within the department's "student scientific-practical laboratory." The laboratory has united the abdominal, thoracic, microvascular surgery, plastic surgery, anaesthesiology groups and the group of artificial life support. Teaching was carried out on the basic and specialized stages of preparation in the duration of 5 years in conjunction with regular classes at the faculty. The results of this approach included: significantly higher level of knowledge of theoretical foundations and practical skills in various fields of surgical specialty; positive influence on learning process in general, with improved academic performance of students in every surgical discipline; popularisation and promotion of research with active engagement of students in research activities of the department; "painless" adaptation of students in the clinical departments of city hospitals.

Career Choice↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathways to college for former foster youth: understanding factors that contribute to educational success.

This article presents early descriptive findings from the Pathways to College study, a multimethod and multiphase study of emancipated foster youth. Results based on a sample of 216 emancipated foster youth attending a four-year university indicate that many of their experiences are characteristic of individuals manifesting resilience in the face of adversity. At the same time, results indicate that although the youth are successful academically, they may be vulnerable in other areas. This article examines the participants' responses, comparing them to other studies to understand the factors that affect the academic performance of former foster youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[A proposal for intervention in dysorthographic disorders by attending to the semiology of the mistakes].

INTRODUCTION: A careful analysis of the mistakes made by children with learning disabilities in writing reveals a number of qualitatively distinct errors, each of which is directly related to one of the fundamental processes underlying the ability to spell correctly, that is to say, perceptive-linguistic, metalinguistic, operative memory and long-term memory processes, among others. The objective of this study is to describe our proposal for a methodology for treating children with orthography learning difficulties that takes these processes into account. DEVELOPMENT: A thorough analysis of the orthographic mistakes and their semiological classification is taken as our starting point, and we then put forward a sequence of instruction for each kind of error that tackles the deficient psycholinguistic processes, offsets the weaker points of the processing with the stronger points, and aims to get the child to learn a large number of words, thus favouring the metacognitive and self-regulatory processes applied to writing. CONCLUSIONS: Teaching pupils with dyslexic and dysorthographic problems to spell and write correctly entails important methodological difficulties. In our clinical practice we have attempted to develop teaching processes that fit the semiological characteristics of the spelling errors by trying to modify both the pupil's actual academic performance and the psycholinguistic processes that underlie such errors.

Agraphia↗