scholarly journals An online survey of personal mosquito-repellent strategies

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Lucille Moore ◽  
Mary Alice Scott ◽  
Stacy Deadra Rodriguez ◽  
Soumi Mitra ◽  
Julia Vulcan ◽  
...  

BackgroundMosquito repellents can be an effective method for personal protection against mosquito bites that are a nuisance and carry the risk of transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens likeplasmodia, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus. A multitude of commercially available products are currently on the market, some of them highly effective while others have low or no efficacy. Many home remedies of unknown efficacy are also widely used.MethodsWe conducted a survey study to determine what kind of mosquito repellents and other mosquito control strategies people use. Our online survey was focused on unconventional methods and was answered by 5,209 participants.ResultsThe majority of participants resided in the United States, were female (67%), had higher education (81% had a university degree), and were 18 to 37 years old (50%). The most commonly used repellent was DEET spray (48%), followed closely by citronella candles (43%) and ‘natural’ repellent sprays (36%). We collected a plethora of home remedies and other strategies people use that warrant further research into their effectiveness.DiscussionOur study lays the foundation for future research in alternative, unconventional methods to repel mosquitoes that may be culturally acceptable and accessible for people.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uba Backonja ◽  
Annie T. Chen ◽  
Kenrick Cato

BACKGROUND Research suggests that while informatics solutions can help understand and address health disparities, there is potential for solutions to exacerbate existing or create new health disparities. To help future research and development of equitable solutions, we need to look upstream at how disparities are being integrated into informatics training programs. Doing so provides understanding and informs development of curricula that provide a foundation for future informaticists to build solutions that are ethical and equitable. OBJECTIVE To examine how the topic of health disparities is integrated into informatics courses. METHODS This cross-sectional, descriptive study took place April-October 2019 in the United States. Individuals teaching courses in informatics programs were recruited via listservs and email to complete an online survey. Instructors were eligible if they integrated disparities content into their informatics courses. Survey questions examined administrative aspects of the course (e.g., class size, mode of teaching, discipline of enrolled students) and disparities content integrated into the course (e.g., social determinants of health [SDOH] covered, how students were assessed on disparities related content). Participants also reported challenges they faced integrating disparities content into their courses. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analyzed using inductive coding. RESULTS Invitations were sent to 141 individuals, including contacts for the National Library of Medicine (NLM) biomedical informatics training programs, and 11 listservs. We obtained data for 24 informatics courses that contained health disparities content. Courses were taught primarily in graduate programs (n=21, 87.5%) in informatics (n=9, 33.3%), nursing (n=7, 25.9%), and information science (n=6, 22.2%). Of the 24 courses, six (25.0%) were taught in an NLM training program. The most frequently covered SDOHs were socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity (both n=21, 87.5%); the least frequently covered were body type (n=0), low resource areas (n=2, 8.3%), and urban residences (n=3, 12.5%). Instructors noted three main types of challenges when integrating disparities related content into their courses: the need for additional resources, student-related challenges, and topic sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS Our sample included 24 informatics courses -- fewer than we had hoped -- that integrated disparities content; these courses spanned disciplines and varied in terms of the topics covered. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for the intentional development of informatics programs to support the training of future generations of informaticians with foundational and transnational knowledge in health disparities so they are well-equipped to develop equitable informatics solutions. CLINICALTRIAL This study was not a clinical trial.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bollwerk ◽  
Bernd Schlipphak ◽  
Joscha Stecker ◽  
Jens Hellmann ◽  
Gerald Echterhoff ◽  
...  

Threat perceptions towards immigrants continue to gain importance in the context of growing international migration. To reduce associated intergroup conflicts, it is crucial to understand the personal and contextual determinants of perceived threat. In a large online survey study (N = 1,184), we investigated the effects of ideology (i.e., Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation), subjective societal status (SSS) and their interaction effects in predicting symbolic and realistic threat perceptions towards Middle Eastern immigrants. Results showed that ideology (higher RWA and SDO) and lower SSS significantly predicted both symbolic and realistic threat, even after controlling for income, education, age, and gender. Furthermore, ideology and SSS interacted significantly in predicting realistic threat, with higher levels of SDO and RWA enhancing the effect of SSS. In the discussion, we focus on the implications of our findings with respect to understanding societal conflicts, discuss methodological limitations, and provide directions for future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asphat Muposhi ◽  
Brighton Nyagadza ◽  
Chengedzai Mafini

PurposeFashion designers in South Africa remain ambivalent in embracing sustainable fashion. This study examines the role of neutralisation techniques on attitude towards sustainable fashion. The study was conducted in South Africa, an emerging market known for water scarcity and pollution emanating from the textile industry.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional data from a sample of 590 fashion designers using a web-based online survey. Study constructs were drawn from the neutralisation theory and theory of planned behaviour.FindingsStandard multiple regression analysis results identified denial of injury, appeal to higher loyalties and external locus of control as the major rationalisation techniques influencing South African designers' negative attitudes towards sustainable fashion.Research limitations/implicationsResearch was conducted in South Africa where the concept of sustainable fashion is still at developmental stages. The generalisation of the study findings may be enhanced by extending the study to other markets with a fully developed market for sustainable fashion.Practical implicationsThe study results underscore the necessity of reducing social, structural and institutional barriers associated with the adoption of sustainable fashion. This study provides input towards efforts to develop attitude change strategies to stimulate designers to embrace sustainable fashion.Originality/valueThe research study contributes to theory, practice and future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-821
Author(s):  
Julia M. Alber ◽  
Chari Cohen ◽  
Amy Bleakley ◽  
Sanam F. Ghazvini ◽  
Brenda Trang Tolentino ◽  
...  

Chronic hepatitis B, a condition associated with severe complications, disproportionately affects Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Increasing testing among this population is critical for improving health outcomes. This study compares different types of video narratives that use storytelling techniques to an informational video (control), to examine whether narratives are associated with higher hepatitis B beliefs scores and video rating outcomes. A sample of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults ( N = 600) completed an online survey where they viewed one of four video conditions, three of which included storytelling techniques and one with informational content. Results indicated that parental stories received significantly higher perceived effectiveness ratings ( M = 3.88, SD = 0.61) than the older adult personal stories ( M = 3.62, SD = 0.74), F(3, 596) = 3.795, p = .010. Parental stories also had significantly higher perceived severity scores ( M = 3.83, SD = 0.69) compared to the young adult stories ( M = 3.73, SD = 0.74) and the informational videos ( M = 3.83, SD = 0.69), F(3, 596) = 7.72, p < .001. The informational videos ( M = 4.10, SD = 0.65) received significantly higher message credibility ratings than the older adult personal stories ( M = 3.84, SD = 0.70), F(3, 596) = 4.71, p = .003. Follow-up tests using Bonferroni correction revealed that parental stories ( M = 3.98, SD = 0.64) and young adult personal stories ( M = 3.934, SD = 0.76) scored significantly higher on speaker ratings than the older adult personal stories ( M = 3.698, SD = 0.77). Results suggest that storytelling has the potential for connecting with a specific audience in an emotional way that is perceived well overall. Future research should examine the long-term impact of hepatitis B personal story videos and whether the addition of facts or statistics to videos would improve outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahvia Taiyib Moody ◽  
Jioni A. Lewis

We investigated the relations between gendered racial microaggressions (i.e., subtle gendered racism), gendered racial socialization, and traumatic stress symptoms among Black women. We hypothesized that gendered racial microaggressions would be significantly associated with traumatic stress symptoms and that gendered racial socialization would moderate the relations between gendered racial microaggressions and traumatic stress symptoms. Participants were 226 Black women from across the United States who completed an online survey. Results from a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that a greater frequency of gendered racial microaggressions was significantly associated with greater traumatic stress symptoms; internalized gendered racial oppression moderated the relations between gendered racial microaggressions and traumatic stress symptoms. The results of this study can inform future research on Black women’s experiences of gendered racism and the role of gendered racial socialization in their lives. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/pwq/suppl/index


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey Thompson ◽  
Emily Zimmerman

BACKGROUND While technology use in pediatric therapies is increasing, there is so far no research available focusing on how pediatric speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States use technology. OBJECTIVE This paper sought to determine if, and to what extent, pediatric SLPs are using mobile apps, to determine what purpose they are using them for, and to identify gaps in available technology to provide guidance for future technological development. METHODS Pediatric SLPs completed an online survey containing five sections: demographics, overall use, use in assessment, use in intervention, barriers, and future directions. RESULTS Mobile app use by 485 pediatric SLPs in the clinical setting was analyzed. Most (364/438; 83.1%) pediatric SLPs reported using technology ≤50% of the time in their clinical work, with no differences evident by age group (&lt;35 years and ≥35 years; <italic>P</italic>=.97). Pediatric SLPs are currently using apps for intervention (399/1105; 36.1%), clinical information (241/1105; 21.8%), parent education (151/1105; 13.7%), assessment (132/1105; 12%), client education (108/1105; 9.8%), and other uses (55/1105; 5.0%). Cost (46/135; 34.1%) and lack of an evidence base (36/135; 26.7%) were the most frequently reported barriers. Most SLPs (268/380; 70.7%) desired more technology use, with no difference evident by age group (<italic>P</italic>=.81). CONCLUSIONS A majority of pediatric SLPs are using mobile apps less than 50% of the time in a pediatric setting and they use them more during intervention compared to assessment. While pediatric SLPs are hesitant to add to their client’s screen time, they would like more apps to be developed that are supported by research and are less expensive. Implications for future research and app development are also discussed.


Author(s):  
Benjamin Oosterhoff ◽  
Cara palmer

Importance: As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, it is critical to understand the psychological factors that influence pandemic-related behaviors (i.e., news monitoring, social distancing, hygiene/disinfecting, hoarding). This may be especially important to study among youth, who are less likely to experience severe symptoms but contribute to the spread of the virus.Objective: To examine psychological correlates of adolescents’ behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Self-report survey conducted between March 20th and March 22nd, 2020. Setting: This is an online survey study of youth from the United States.Participants: A population-based sample of adolescents were recruited via social media to complete an anonymous survey. Youth were eligible if they had internet access, lived in the United States, and were between the ages of 13 and 18. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes included COVID-19 news monitoring, social distancing, disinfecting, and hoarding behaviors over the 7 days after the US declared a national emergency. The correlates measured were attitudes about COVID-19 severity, values related to social responsibility, social trust, and self-interest. The a priori hypotheses were that attitudes about the severity of COVID-19, along with greater social responsibility and social trust, would be associated with greater news monitoring, social distancing, and disinfecting, whereas greater self-interest would be associated with more hoarding.Results: The final analytic sample included 770 adolescents (Mage = 16.34, 72% female). The majority of teens reported not engaging in pure social distancing (70%), but were monitoring the news (75%) and engaging in at least one disinfecting behavior multiple times per day (88%). Some teens reported engaging in hoarding behavior (19%). Greater attitudes about the severity of COVID-19 were associated with more social distancing, disinfecting, and news monitoring, but also more hoarding. Greater social responsibility was associated with more disinfecting and news monitoring, and less hoarding. Participants who reported valuing their own self-interest over others reported less social distancing and more hoarding. Greater social trust was associated with less hoarding.Conclusions and Relevance: Emphasizing the severity of COVID-19 and the social implications of pandemic-related behaviors may be important for teens, particularly for those who are not following recommended preventative health behaviors or who are engaging in hoarding.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica LC Sapp ◽  
Robert L Vogel ◽  
Joseph Telfair ◽  
Julie K Reagan

BACKGROUND Almost one-third of U.S. adults (29%) have a tattoo, and almost half (47%) of millennials reported having a tattoo. With more people getting tattoos, there is an increased risk for infectious diseases, skin infections, and allergic reactions. Tattoo artists can influence these health risks with their standards of practice, tattoo inks, and sterilization techniques. Although tattoos are becoming mainstream, it was unclear if tattoo artists would be a hard-to-reach population. Using social media sites represent a promising method for recruiting tattoo artists for online survey research studies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate various online platforms and traditional methods for recruiting tattoo artists into a descriptive, online survey study. METHODS From September 2015 to February 2016, tattoo artists who primarily tattooed in the United States were recruited using both online and traditional methods. Recruitment occurred via Facebook advertisements, Instagram, Twitter, website, online advertisement, emails, and postcards mailed to tattoo shops. RESULTS Recruitment methods resulted in 2332 respondents, of which 1845 answered question one, “Are you a tattoo artist?” Only 1571 were tattoo artists. Facebook advertisements recruited the most study participants. Facebook accounted for 1228 (78.17%) respondents who were tattoo artists. This number surpassed the next leading category of HTTP referer unknown, which had 268 (17.06%). The [removed for blinded manuscript] website recruited 45 (2.86%) tattoo artists while other online sources contributed to 28 (1.78%). Twitter and email had the lowest response rate with only 0.06% (n=1) each. CONCLUSIONS Social media sites enhanced survey participation, making it easier to reach tattoo artists nationwide. Of the recruitment methods used, Facebook advertisements were the most effective option, both for cost and recruitment rates. This study’s findings extend previous research studies that demonstrated the timeliness, ease, and effectiveness of using Facebook advertisements for recruitment.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imelda K Moise ◽  
Lola R. Ortiz-Whittingham ◽  
Vincent Omachonu ◽  
Marah Clark ◽  
Rui-De Xue

Abstract Background: The national wide lockdown order imposed in early April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic complicated mosquito control activities across the United States (US), and Florida is no exception. Mosquito control programs are the first line of defense against mosquitoes-borne pathogens in the state of Florida. The purpose of this study was to examine the capabilities of Florida mosquito programs to implement key mosquito measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: In a self-administered online survey, we examined capabilities of all Florida mosquito control programs during the COVID-19 pandemic (both state-approved mosquito districts (N=63) and open programs (N=27). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize information about the characteristics of responding programs, as well as the implemented mosquito control and surveillance activities. We used bivariate analysis to compare the characteristics of these responding programs and the self-reported mosquito measures.Results: Of the recruited mosquito control programs, 77 completed the survey (85.6% response rate; 77/90). Of these, 57.5% (n=42) were Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) mosquito control programs, 21.9% (n=16) were independent tax district programs, 13.7% (n=10) were municipal mosquito control programs, and only 6.8% (n=5) were either health or emergency department mosquito control programs. Except for arbovirus surveillance, most programs either fully or partially performed larval (61.8%) and adult (78.9%) surveillance; and for Aedes aegypti (85.2%, n=54), Aedes albopictus (87.3%, n=55), Culex quinquefasciatus (92.1%, n=58), and Culex nigripalpus (91.9%, n=57).Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of ongoing mosquito control activities and suggests that Florida mosquito control programs are vigilant and have significant capability to handle potential mosquito-borne disease threats, but arbovirus surveillance systems; laboratory testing of mosquito pools and testing of human and nonhuman specimens for arboviruses are needed during pandemics as well.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Kianersi ◽  
Christina Ludema ◽  
Jonathan T. Macy ◽  
Edlin Garcia ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundColleges and universities across the United States are developing and implementing data-driven prevention and containment measures against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Identifying risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity could help to direct these efforts.ObjectiveTo estimate the associations between demographic factors and social behaviors and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and self-reported positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test.MethodsIn September 2020, we randomly sampled Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) undergraduate students. Participants completed a cross-sectional, online survey about demographics, SARS-CoV-2 testing history, relationship status, and risk behaviors. Additionally, during a subsequent appointment, participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a fingerstick procedure and SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG rapid assay kit. We used unadjusted modified Poisson regression models to evaluate the associations between predictors of both SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and self-reported positive SARS-CoV-2 infection history.ResultsOverall, 1,076 students were included in the serological testing analysis, and 1,239 students were included in the SARS-CoV-2 infection history analysis. Current seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.3%, 5.8%). Prevalence of self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection history was 10.3% (95% CI: 8.6%, 12.0%). Greek membership, having multiple romantic partners, knowing someone in one’s immediate environment with SARS-CoV-2 infection, drinking alcohol more than 1 day per week, and hanging out with more than 4 people when drinking alcohol increased both the likelihood of seropositivity and SARS-CoV-2 infection history.ConclusionOur findings have implications for American colleges and universities and could be used to inform SARS-C0V-2 prevention and control strategies on such campuses.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document