Cessation of Betel Quid Chewing: Lessons from the ex-chewers

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Nidup Dorji

Introduction: The practice of chewing of betel quid is deep-rooted age-old traditions of most Asian countries including Bhutan. Health is an integral part of happy living and healthcare providers are generally looked up to as role models for healthier living. This paper focuses on the prevalence of ex-betel quid chewers and correlates of successful cessation of betel quid chewing among healthcare professionals in Thimphu, Bhutan. Methods: Data for this study was collected from six healthcare centres within Thimphu, during June – July 2016, using self-administered questionnaire. 478 questionnaires were handed over to the healthcare professionals, and 391 (82%) were returned. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social science version 21.0. Results: The prevalence of ex-betel quid chewers was 16.9%. More than half (51.5%) of the ex-chewers discontinuedchewing betel quid because of fear of the ill effects of chewing it. About 29% gave up chewing betel quid because of healthrelated problems. Betel quid chewing was first sourced either with a friend or a parent (59.1%, 24.2% respectively). Number of family members chewing betel quid, smoking and drinking status were significantly associated with quitting of betel quid chewing. Conclusions: Findings suggest that family and health risk behaviours such as drinking and smoking were significant correlates of quitting betel quid chewing. Hence, effective public health awareness could be targeted to both individual and their family members to enable them to quit betel quid chewing.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Yao Hsu ◽  
Yun-Fang Tsai ◽  
Chu-Ching Huang ◽  
Wen-Ling Yeh ◽  
Kai-Ping Chang ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and chewing betel quid are health-risk behaviors for several diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, with severe impacts on health. However, health care providers often have limited time to assess clients’ behaviors regarding smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and chewing betel quid and intervene, if needed. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a Web-based survey system; determine the rates of tobacco-smoking, alcohol-drinking, and betel-quid-chewing behaviors; and estimate the efficiency of the system (time to complete the survey). METHODS Patients and their family members or friends were recruited from gastrointestinal medical–surgical, otolaryngology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation clinics or wards at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Data for this descriptive, cross-sectional study were extracted from a large series of research studies. A Web-based survey system was developed using a Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP stack solution. The Web survey was set up to include four questionnaires: the Chinese-version Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire, the Chinese-version Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Betel Nut Dependency Scale, and a sociodemographic form with several chronic diseases. After the participants completed the survey, the system automatically calculated their score, categorized their risk level for each behavior, and immediately presented and explained their results. The system also recorded the time each participant took to complete the survey. RESULTS Of 782 patient participants, 29.6% were addicted to nicotine, 13.3% were hazardous, harmful, or dependent alcohol drinkers, and 1.5% were dependent on chewing betel quid. Of 425 family or friend participants, 19.8% were addicted to nicotine, 5.6% were hazardous, harmful, or dependent alcohol drinkers, and 0.9% were dependent on chewing betel quid. Regarding the mean time to complete the survey, patients took 7.9 minutes (SD 3.0; range 3-20) and family members or friends took 7.7 minutes (SD 2.8; range 3-18). Most of the participants completed the survey within 5-10 minutes. CONCLUSIONS The Web-based survey was easy to self-administer. Health care providers can use this Web-based survey system to save time in assessing these risk behaviors in clinical settings. All smokers had mild-to-severe nicotine addiction, and 5.6%-12.3% of patients and their family members or friends were at risk of alcohol dependence. Considering that these three behaviors, particularly in combination, dramatically increase the risk of esophageal cancer, appropriate and convenient interventions are necessary for preserving public health in Taiwan.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adellah Sariah ◽  
Shuixia Guo ◽  
Jing Zuo ◽  
Weidan Pu ◽  
Haihong Liu ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Silvia Faccioli ◽  
Francesco Lombardi ◽  
Pierantonio Bellini ◽  
Stefania Costi ◽  
Silvia Sassi ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 emergency has imposed distanced education and has interrupted most rehabilitation services. Adolescents with disabilities have been isolated, and the burden on their families has been exacerbated. A cross-sectional survey was administered to adolescents with disability and to parents of disabled children to describe their experience during lockdown and their concerns or expectations about rehabilitation. A sample of 53 adolescents and 239 parents completed the survey. Adolescents were ages 13–18 years old (45.3% female). Most parents were between 35 and 55 years old (84.9% female). While 53.6% of the parents reported no positive effects of the lockdown, 92.5% of the adolescents expressed favorable consequences. The increased time spent with family members was judged positively by 27.2% of parents and by 64.2% of adolescents. Concern for their child’s disability was expressed by 47.3% of parents, while 73.6% of adolescents expressed concerns regarding the ban on meeting friends. In both groups, anxiety symptoms were correlated with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and with financial problems. Parents would have liked even more remote support from school and healthcare professionals, which was available for most participants. Thus, socioeconomic support, assistive technology and telerehabilitation strategies might help families with disabilities during a lockdown.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e041108
Author(s):  
Isabella Joy de Vere Hunt ◽  
Abigail McNiven ◽  
Amanda Roberts ◽  
Himesh Parmar ◽  
Tess McPherson

BackgroundThere is little qualitative research in the UK focussing on adolescents’ experience of their healthcare providers, and inflammatory skin conditions are a common heath problem in adolescence.AimTo explore the experiences of adolescents with eczema and psoriasis with healthcare professionals, and to distil the participants’ key messages for their healthcare providers.DesignThis is a secondary thematic analysis of interviews with adolescents with eczema or psoriasis.ParticipantsThere were a total of 41 text transcripts of interviews with young people with eczema or psoriasis who had given permission for secondary analysis; 23 of the participants had eczema, and 18 psoriasis. Participants were living in the UK at time of interview, and aged 15–24 years old.ResultsWe have distilled the following key messages from young people with eczema and psoriasis for healthcare providers: (1) address the emotional impact; (2) give more information, with the subtheme and (3) appreciate patient research. We identified the following eczema-specific themes: (ECZ-4) ‘It’s not taken seriously’; (ECZ-5) offer choice in treatment and (ECZ-6) lack of structure/conflicting advice. Two psoriasis-specific themes were identified: (PSO-4) feeling dehumanised/treat me as a person; and (PSO-5) think about how treatments will affect daily life.ConclusionThis qualitative data analysis highlights the need for greater recognition of the emotional impact of skin disease in adolescence, and for more comprehensive provision of information about the conditions. We call for greater sensitivity and flexibility in our approach to adolescents with skin disease, with important implications for healthcare delivery to this group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yayoi Shikama ◽  
Yasuko Chiba ◽  
Megumi Yasuda ◽  
Maham Stanyon ◽  
Koji Otani

Abstract Background Professional identity formation is nurtured through socialization, driven by interaction with role models, and supported through early clinical exposure (ECE) programmes. Non-healthcare professionals form part of the hospital community but are external to the culture of medicine, with their potential as role models unexplored. We employed text mining of student reflective assignments to explore the impact of socialization with non-healthcare professionals during ECE. Methods Assignments from 259 first-year medical students at Fukushima Medical University, Japan, underwent hierarchical cluster analysis. Interrelationships between the most-frequently-occurring words were analysed to create coding rules, which were applied to elucidate underlying themes. Results A shift in terms describing professional characteristics was detected, from “knowledge/skill” towards “pride [in one’s work]” and “responsibility”. Seven themes emerged: contribution of non-healthcare professionals, diversity of occupation, pride, responsibility, teamwork, patient care and gratitude. Students mentioning ‘contribution of non-healthcare professionals’ spoke of altruistic dedication and strong sense of purpose. These students expressed gratitude towards non-healthcare professionals for supporting clinical work, from a doctor’s perspective. Conclusion Socialization with non-healthcare professionals provides important insights into the hospital working environment and cultural working norms. Through role modelling altruism and responsibility, non-healthcare professionals positively influenced student professional identity formation, promoting self-conceptualisation as a doctor.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A Little ◽  
Pallav Pokhrel ◽  
Kelle L Murphy ◽  
Crissy T Kawamoto ◽  
Gil S Suguitan ◽  
...  

Medicine ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Fa Tsai ◽  
Jen-Eing Jeng ◽  
Lee-Yea Chuang ◽  
Mei-Shang Ho ◽  
Ying-Chin Ko ◽  
...  

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