Search Results (480)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains Europe’s leading cause of mortality, responsible for >45% of deaths. Beyond established risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, smoking, obesity), psychosocial elements—depression, anxiety, financial stress, personality traits, and trauma—significantly influence CVD development and progression. Behavioural Cardiology addresses this connection by systematically incorporating psychosocial factors into prevention and rehabilitation protocols. This review examines the HEARTBEAT model, developed by Greece’s first Behavioural Cardiology Unit, which aligns with current European guidelines. The model serves dual purposes: primary prevention (targeting at-risk individuals) and secondary prevention (treating established CVD patients). It is a personalised medicine approach that integrates psychosocial profiling with traditional risk assessment, utilising tailored evaluation tools, caregiver input, and multidisciplinary collaboration to address personality traits, emotional states, socioeconomic circumstances, and cultural contexts. The model emphasises three critical implementation aspects: (1) digital health integration, (2) cost-effectiveness analysis, and (3) healthcare system adaptability. Compared to international approaches, it highlights research gaps in psychosocial interventions and advocates for culturally sensitive adaptations, particularly in resource-limited settings. Special consideration is given to older populations requiring tailored care strategies. Ultimately, Behavioural Cardiology represents a transformative systems-based approach bridging psychology, lifestyle medicine, and cardiovascular treatment. This integration may prove pivotal for optimising chronic disease management through personalised interventions that address both biological and psychosocial determinants of cardiovascular health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Collaboration in mental health care is essential for implementing a model oriented towards the psychosocial rehabilitation of people based on multifaceted interventions involving different actors and sectors of society to respond to demands. Despite the benefits presented by the scientific evidence, there are still many barriers to collaborative care, and professionals continue to struggle in reorienting their conduct. The current situation demands organization and the framing of well-founded action plans to overcome challenges, which in turn requires a detailed understanding of collaborative practices in mental health care and their conceptual boundaries. A concept analysis was undertaken to propose a working definition of collaborative practices in mental health care (CPMHC). Methods: This paper used the Walker and Avant concept analysis method. This includes identifying the defining concept attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. A literature search was carried out from November 2024 to February 2025 in three databases (Medline, CINAHL, and LILACS), considering studies published between 2010 and 2024. Results: The final sample of literature investigated consisted of 30 studies. The key attributes were effective communication, building bonds, co-responsibility for care, hierarchical flexibility, articulation between services, providers and community, monitoring and evaluating of care processes, and attention to the plurality of sociocultural contexts. Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis contributes to guiding future research and policy development of collaborative practices in mental health, considering the individual, relational, institutional, and social levels. Further research is possible to deepen the understanding of the production of collaborative practices in mental health in the face of the complexity of social relations and structural inequities. Full article

Person-centered navigation (PCN) in healthcare refers to a proactive collaboration among professionals, researchers, patients, and their families to guide individuals toward timely access to screening, treatment, follow-up, and psychosocial support. PCN—which includes professional, peer, and virtual guidance, is particularly crucial for rare cancers, where affected individuals face uncertainty, limited support, financial strain, and difficulties accessing relevant information, testing, and other services. The Canadian Cholangiocarcinoma Collaborative (C3) prioritizes PCN implementation to address these challenges in the context of Biliary Tract Cancers (BTCs). C3 uses a virtual PCN model and staffs a “C3 Research Navigator” who provides clinical and research navigation such as personalized guidance and support, facilitating access to molecular testing, clinical trials, and case reviews through national multidisciplinary rounds. C3 also supports a national network of BTC experts, a patient research registry, and advocacy activities. C3’s implementation strategies include co-design, timely delivery of support, and optimal outcomes across its many initiatives. Future priorities include expanding the C3 network, enhancing user engagement, and further integrating its innovative approach into routine care. Full article

Palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and prioritize the quality of life of patients facing serious and fatal diseases, such as cancer. Cancer patients, especially in advanced stages, often have many difficult-to-control symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety, and depression, requiring the attention of a multidisciplinary team highly trained in palliative care and end-of-life management. Pain, dyspnea, nausea, and vomiting are the focus of symptomatic assessment in palliative care, but patients experience other equally important symptoms that do not receive as much attention and are often overlooked, which negatively impacts the quality of life of these patients. One of the main aims of palliative care is to provide patients with the best possible quality of life through adequate symptom control, teamwork, and psychosocial support based on the principles, values, and wishes of the patient and family. In this review, the authors summarize the management of common symptoms in patients in oncology and palliative care, as well as present a brief reflection on quality of life in this context. Full article

The sustainable management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) relies heavily on community participation in separating it at the source and delivering it to collection systems. These practices are crucial for reducing pollution, protecting ecosystems, and maximizing resource recovery. However, in the Global South context, with conditions of socioeconomic vulnerability, community participation in the sustainable management of MSW remains limited, highlighting the need to generate context-specific interventions. MSW includes items such as household appliances, batteries, and electronic devices, which require specialized handling due to their size, hazardous components, or material complexity. This study implemented a Community-Based Social Marketing approach during the research and design phases of an intervention focused on promoting source separation and management of hard-to-manage MSW in five municipalities within the administrative region of Norte de Santander (Colombia), which borders Venezuela. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from 1775 individuals (63.83% women; M _age = 33.48 years; SD = 17.25), employing social mapping, focus groups, semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a survey questionnaire. The results show that the source separation and delivery of hard-to-manage MSW to collection systems are limited by a set of psychosocial, structural, and institutional barriers that interact with each other, affecting communities’ willingness and capacity for action. Furthermore, a prediction model of willingness to engage in separation and delivery behaviors showed a good fit (R2 = 0.83). The strongest predictors were awareness of the negative consequences of non-participation and perceived environmental benefits, with subjective norms contributing to a lesser extent. Based on these results, we designed a context-specific intervention focused on reducing these barriers and promoting community engagement in the sustainable management of hard-to-manage MSW. Full article

Background/Objectives: A growing body of literature has demonstrated that living with food insecurity (FI) increases risk for mental health concerns in addition to nutritional deficits (e.g., suboptimal micronutrient consumption, excessive macronutrient consumption, malnutrition). Yet, research is needed to improve our understanding of subpopulations potentially at increased risk for mental health concerns when living in the context of FI. The current study examined psychosocial health across women of different developmental life stages all living with FI. Methods: Female clients of a large, urban food bank (N = 680) living with FI completed measures of mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a cross-sectional design conducted on site at the food bank. Results: Consistent with past research, FI severity was correlated with poorer psychosocial health across all variables. A multivariate analysis of covariance compared women living with FI across 4 developmental life stages (young adult, early midlife, late midlife, and older adult; age range = 18–94 years), controlling for FI severity and race/ethnicity, on outcomes related to mental health and HRQOL. Women in early and late midlife reported higher anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, and eating-related psychosocial impairment than younger and older women. Conclusions: The mental health toll of living with FI is profound; midlife may comprise a developmental period of increased vulnerability to experience this mental health burden of living with FI for women. Thus, efforts are needed to develop innovative pathways for interventions to support the mental health of midlife women living with FI, likely involving multi-level and/or multicomponent approaches to resource access. Full article

This exploratory study investigated how health concerns related to chronic environmental contamination and how satisfaction with the human biomonitoring (HBM) process influence the perceived quality of life in the context of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the Veneto Region (Italy). We administered a questionnaire to 84 residents of the Red Area, where PFAS exposure is classified as most severe. The main findings revealed that satisfaction with HBM was positively correlated with perceived quality of life and showed a statistically significant but modest moderation effect on the relationship between PFAS-related health concerns and quality of life (explaining 17.4% of the variance). Particularly, it attenuates the negative effect that PFAS health concerns have on quality of life. Differences between subgroups revealed heightened concern regarding PFAS health risks among women vs. men and participants with children vs. those without. These results underscore the central role of relational and communication aspects of HBM programs to mitigate psychological distress and possibly contribute to higher perceived well-being. The study highlights the need for tailored public health interventions, including transparent communication, empathetic support, and community engagement, to address the psychosocial dimensions of environmental contamination. Full article

Background: Accelerated demographic aging in Hungary and across Europe presents significant public health and socioeconomic challenges, particularly in preserving cognitive function and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Modifiable lifestyle factors—especially dietary habits—play a critical role in brain aging and cognitive decline. Objective: This narrative review explores the mechanisms by which Western dietary patterns contribute to cognitive impairment and neurovascular aging, with specific attention to their relevance in the Hungarian context. It also outlines the rationale and design of the Semmelweis Study and its workplace-based health promotion program targeting lifestyle-related risk factors. Methods: A review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted focusing on Western diet, cognitive decline, cerebrovascular health, and dietary interventions. Emphasis was placed on mechanistic pathways involving systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and decreased neurotrophic support. Key findings: Western dietary patterns—characterized by high intakes of saturated fats, refined sugars, ultra-processed foods, and linoleic acid—are associated with elevated levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), a lipid peroxidation product linked to neuronal injury and accelerated cognitive aging. In contrast, adherence to Mediterranean dietary patterns—particularly those rich in polyphenols from extra virgin olive oil and moderate red wine consumption—supports neurovascular integrity and promotes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) activity. The concept of “cognitive frailty” is introduced as a modifiable, intermediate state between healthy aging and dementia. Application: The Semmelweis Study is a prospective cohort study involving employees of Semmelweis University aged ≥25 years, collecting longitudinal data on dietary, psychosocial, and metabolic determinants of aging. The Semmelweis–EUniWell Workplace Health Promotion Model translates these findings into practical interventions targeting diet, physical activity, and cardiovascular risk factors in the workplace setting. Conclusions: Improving our understanding of the diet–brain health relationship through population-specific longitudinal research is crucial for developing culturally tailored preventive strategies. The Semmelweis Study offers a scalable, evidence-based model for reducing cognitive decline and supporting healthy aging across diverse populations. Full article

As digital transformation progresses, schools are increasingly confronted with psychosocial challenges such as technostress, digital overload, and unequal participation in digital (learning) environments. This article investigates the conceptual relevance of digital well-being for school development, particularly in relation to social inequality. Despite growing attention, the term remains theoretically underdefined in educational research—a gap addressed through a theory-driven review. Drawing on a systematic search, 25 key studies were analyzed for their conceptual understanding and refinement of digital well-being, with a focus on educational relevance. Findings suggest that digital well-being constitutes a multidimensional state shaped by individual, media-related, and socio-structural factors. It emerges when individuals are able to successfully manage the demands of digital environments and is closely linked to digital inequality—particularly in terms of access, usage practices, and the resulting opportunities for participation and health promotion. Since the institutional role of schools has thus far received limited attention, this article shifts the focus toward schools as key arenas for negotiating digital norms and practices and calls for an equity-sensitive and health-conscious perspective on school development in the context of digitalization. In doing so, digital well-being is repositioned as a pedagogical cross-cutting issue that requires coordinated efforts across all levels of the education system, highlighting that equitable digital transformation in schools depends on a critical reflection of power asymmetries within society and educational institutions. The article concludes by advocating for the systematic integration of digital well-being into school development processes as a way to support inclusive digital participation and to foster a health-oriented digital school culture. Full article

Despite growing academic interest in platform work and the gig economy, most existing research focuses on Western Europe, often neglecting the unique institutional and socioeconomic contexts of Central and Eastern Europe. This study addresses that gap by exploring the working conditions of platform workers in Poland, with particular emphasis on both material and psychosocial dimensions from the workers’ own perspectives. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 450 platform workers engaged in both online and location-based tasks, using the computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) method. The findings show a high level of perceived autonomy, with 74% of respondents feeling that they are independent in their work. However, autonomy is often limited by external factors, in particular, the availability of work. Workers who treat platform work as a side job are significantly more likely to report a sense of autonomy. In terms of health and safety, only 27% expressed concerns about negative health impacts, and 24% reported poor working conditions. Those who received health and safety information from the platform were more likely to acknowledge potential risks. Interestingly, workers relying on platform work as their primary source of income were more likely to perceive their work as safe, compared to those treating it as supplementary employment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sports tourism, particularly international running events such as half marathons and marathons, has rapidly grown due to rising health consciousness and active lifestyles. Runners competing abroad face unique nutritional challenges that extend beyond physiological needs, including adaptation to local food cultures and psychosocial factors. This study aims to explore the nutritional difficulties encountered by international runners during competitions abroad, using participants of the Poznan Half Marathon 2025 as a case example. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 international runners from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ukraine. Participants had at least two years of experience competing internationally. Results: Four primary categories of nutritional challenges emerged: (1) quality and availability of food, (2) adaptation to local eating habits and physiological impacts, (3) hydration and access to appropriate fluids, and (4) logistical factors and the interactions between psychological stress, physical well-being, and nutritional choices. These factors influenced runners’ preparation, race-day performance, and recovery, highlighting the complexity of managing nutrition in unfamiliar environments. Conclusions: Nutritional challenges for international runners are multidimensional, requiring flexible and culturally sensitive nutritional strategies. Although these findings offer useful insights, they are based on a small, specific sample and should be generalized with caution. Further research is necessary to explore the broader applicability of the findings and their relevance to diverse athletic populations and contexts. Full article

About 8% of Ghanaians, including adolescents, have various types of disabilities. Although many legal and constitutional protections for people with disabilities, including adolescents, exist in Ghana, it is widely known that these persons face a variety of psychosocial issues. Several factors have been identified as contributing to the unremitting marginalisation of people with disabilities in general, but the extent to which these can be generalised to adolescents with disabilities is unknown. This study, therefore, sought to document the determinants, manifestations, and consequences of disability-related stigma among differently abled adolescents in three special schools in northern, middle, and southern Ghana. An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used. Overall, 54 participants were purposively selected for a semi-structured interview and focus group discussions. Braun and Clarke’s procedure for thematic analysis was followed. The findings showed a variety of stigmatising experiences by adolescents with disabilities in their sociocultural context. More broadly, the cause of disability was linked to the ramifications of parental sins against the gods, being a descendant of river gods, and the consequences of bewitchment/curses by family members. Others included the perceived transmissibility of the disability and disability as a visible condition. Stigma manifested in the form of pejorative labelling, ableism, and social exclusion. The consequences of this stigma included negative psychological and emotional effects (i.e., depression, low self-esteem, and a lack of confidence) and suicidal ideation. There is an urgent need for stigma reduction interventions for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana as part of an effort to improve their wellbeing. Full article

Technology-based strategies for the prevention and management of suicidal behavior are widely referenced for identifying vulnerable groups and for supporting clinical reasoning, decision-making, and appropriate referrals. In this study, we estimated the interface and content validity evidence of an interactive mobile application developed for managing suicidal behavior. This methodological study employed psychometric parameters to evaluate the content and interface of the mobile application, following five action phases: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. A total of 27 healthcare professionals participated, selected by convenience sampling, all working within the Psychosocial Care Network across different regions of Brazil. Data were collected using an electronic form, the Delphi technique for evaluation rounds, and a Likert scale to achieve consensus. The validity analysis was based on a Content Validity Index (CVI) equal to or greater than 0.80. The results showed that GerenciaVida, a technology developed for healthcare workers—regardless of their level of care or professional category—can be used to screen for suicide risk in the general population and indicate preventive alternatives. The app demonstrated satisfactory indicators of content validity (0.974) and interface validity (0.963), reflecting clarity (0.925), objectivity (1.00), adequacy (0.925), coherence (0.962), accuracy (0.962), and clinical relevance (1.00). The development path of this mobile application provided scientific, technological, and operational support, establishing it as an innovative care tool. It consolidates valid evidence that supports the identification, risk classification, and prevention of suicidal behavior in various healthcare contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with rural populations experiencing higher prevalence and worse outcomes. This paper explores the transformative potential of nurse-led palliative care models in addressing the unique challenges faced by rural patients with COPD and their informal caregivers and synthesizes current evidence on nurse-led palliative care interventions, highlighting their impact on symptom management, advance care planning, and psychosocial support. Methods: This is a comprehensive synthesis of nurse-led palliative care programs, focusing on home-based care, telehealth, community outreach, and primary care integration. Results: Nurse-led interventions significantly improve patient satisfaction, reduce symptom burden, and enhance the likelihood of advance care planning discussions. Home-based care models and telehealth are particularly effective in rural settings, offering accessible and continuous support. Conclusions: Nurses have a critical role in bridging the palliative care gap for rural patients with COPD and their informal caregivers. Expanding nurse-led palliative care services can improve quality of life, reduce healthcare utilization, and promote health equity. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and strategies for scaling nurse-led palliative care programs in rural contexts. Full article

In the current context, where environmental concerns are gaining increased attention, the transition toward sustainable urban mobility stands out as a necessary and responsible step. Technological advancements over the past decade have brought private autonomous vehicles, particularly those defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers Levels 4 and 5, into focus as promising solutions for mitigating road congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the extent to which Autonomous Vehicles can fulfill this potential depends largely on user acceptance, patterns of use, and their integration within broader green energy and sustainability policies. The present paper aims to develop an integrated conceptual model that links behavioral determinants to environmental outcomes, assessing how individuals’ intention to adopt private autonomous vehicles can contribute to sustainable urban mobility. The model integrates five psychosocial determinants—perceived usefulness, trust in technology, social influence, environmental concern, and perceived behavioral control—with contextual variables such as energy source, infrastructure availability, and public policy. These components interact to predict users’ intention to adopt AVs and their perceived contribution to urban sustainability. Methodologically, the study builds on a narrative synthesis of the literature and proposes a framework applicable to empirical validation through structural equation modeling (SEM). The model draws on established frameworks such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior, and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, incorporating constructs including perceived usefulness, trust in technology, social influence, environmental concern, and perceived behavioral control, constructs later to be examined in relation to key contextual variables, including the energy source powering Autonomous Vehicles—such as electricity from mixed or renewable grids, hydrogen, or hybrid systems—and the broader policy environment (regulatory frameworks, infrastructure investment, fiscal incentives, and alignment with climate and mobility strategies and others). The research provides relevant directions for public policy and behavioral interventions in support of the development of clean and smart urban transport in the age of automation. Full article