Factors associated with medical complications after body art among Israeli adults: a retrospective study

Introduction Body-art, including tattoos and piercings, is steadily increasing world-wide but with relatively limited reporting of adverse outcomes. The objective of the present study was to identify correlates that would facilitate a preventative strategy to minimize adverse effects of body-art. Methods We examined patterns of body-art, health risk and perceptions among 921 participants (54% female, mean age of 35; SD = 10.8) through in-person questionnaire. Results A significantly lower frequency of those with body-art acknowledged that not all venues (parlors, clinics, etc.) are safe in terms of health and hygiene (84.7%t vs. 96.6%, p < .001) as compared to those without body-art. Similarly, knowledge of the need for a Ministry of Health certification was reported with lower frequency (77.2% vs. 94.5%, p < .001) among those with body-art. Those who experienced medical complications reported higher frequencies of smoking cigarettes and hookah as well as using ecstasy (MDMA). The risk of medical complication after body-art was 4 times higher in those who used ecstasy (OR = 3.97; CI 1.0–14.4; p < 0.05). In addition, it was more than 3 times higher for street or home tattooing as compared to studio or a licensed medical center (OR = 3.59; CI 1.32–9.76; p < .01), as well as almost 3 times higher among those who did not receive information before performing body-art (OR = 2.70; CI 1.05–6.92; p < .05) and who had somebody other than themselves decide on the body-art design (OR = 2.68; CI 1.00–7.19; p < .05). Conclusions A targeted informational-preventative program should be developed, informed by the risks highlighted in this study. In addition, it would be necessary to draft policies related to regulation and enforcement in order to more effectively manage body-art service provision. The Ministry of Health should supervise and guide tattooists and practitioners regarding the health risks of body-art and offer training and raise awareness among potential clients.

Compliance of bathers to showering before swimming in a public pool in Toronto, Ontario

Bathers at public swimming pools should shower prior to entering the pool deck to remove organic material (e.g., sweat, lotions, fecal matter) that can increase the risk of recreational water illness and the formation of disinfection by-products. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate bathers’ pre-swimming showering practices. We conducted a cross-sectional study of bathers aged 18 years or older at a public swimming pool in Toronto, Ontario, to evaluate their showering habits. An in-person questionnaire was administered in October and November 2019. Bivariate associations were examined between selected variables and participants’ self-reported showering frequency prior to swimming (often or always vs. never, rarely, or sometimes). A total of 110 bathers agreed to participate. Most participants (63%) were aged 18–34, 56% identified as male, and 78.2% reported always or often showering before swimming. Of these individuals, only 34% reported using soap when showering. Participants that identified as male (vs. female) and an ethnicity other than white were more likely to report often or always showering, as were those that reported reading the pool rules and that observed other bathers taking a shower. Additional efforts are needed to educate bathers about the importance of showering prior to swimming in public pools.

A Community Intervention In Covid-19 Pandemic: Occupational Health And Safety For Moslem Online Transportation

This study was conducted to see the implementation of community intervention the Gojek Online Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) online bike during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in Pekanbaru City, and to provide online bike drivers with psychoeducation interventions. Main data collection by observation to see the introduction of occupational health and safety (OHS) of the Gojek online bike and questionnaires to take a look at the results of the interventions. Results from the observations made by 15 drivers indicate that the application of occupational health and safety (OHS) was 59%. The results of the 15-person questionnaire on the benefits of the intervention given are 81%. Therefore, psychoeducation interventions in the form of posters and digital videos are successful and provide advantages in the implementation of online bike occupational health and safety (OHS) Gojek during the pandemic in Pekanbaru City.

Marijuana Use by Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: With social attitudes about marijuana changing and patients sometimes seeking nonmainstream treatment options, the main goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of, and factors associated with, marijuana use by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Adult patients with MS (n = 521) and controls (n = 279) from a study of clinical, neuroimaging, genetic, and environmental factors in MS progression were included. Patients with MS stated whether they had ever used marijuana before MS diagnosis, after MS diagnosis, and in the preceding 3 months as part of an in-person questionnaire. The control group stated whether they had ever used marijuana and in the preceding 3 months. Results: The percentage of patients with MS reporting ever use of marijuana was 39.9%, compared with 32.7% of controls. Marijuana use in the preceding 3 months was significantly more prevalent among patients with MS (9.4%) compared with controls (0.4%) (P &lt; .001). Marijuana use was most prevalent in male patients with MS (P = .004) and in patients with MS who used complementary and alternative medicine (P = .045). Cigarette smoking was associated with marijuana use in patients with MS (P &lt; .001) and controls (P = .001). Increasing age was associated with decreasing prevalence of marijuana use in the patients with MS (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with MS are more likely to report recent marijuana use than are people without MS. Owing to potential adverse effects, marijuana use by patients with MS may warrant vigilance by MS caregivers, given shifting social attitudes and the trend towards legalization of marijuana in the United States.

The Attitudes of Internal Auditors to Internal Audit Practice in Post-communist Countries - Case of Albania

This paper aims to reveal the attitudes of internal auditors, towards overall internal audit practices in the post-communist country of Albania. The study presents the current state of internal audit practices in Albania from eyes of the internal auditors themselves. The study will explore the independence of the internal auditors, the level of professionalism they exhibit, the use of international standards, and whether current regulations are resulting in higher quality work in the profession. In order to study these objectives, a 169-person questionnaire was conducted, all participants where internal auditors from public and private sectors in Albania. The research findings of the study reveal that internal auditors can be assessed as independent in Albania, and that the private sector is the most independent. Regarding professionalism, internal auditors are able to detect and prevent fraud in companies. In this paper, we examine the international standards of auditing that are used by Albanian auditors; the international standards are really useful for internal auditors in Albania, even though there is much room for improvement. The number of participants was limited of 169 and analyzed one country. For the future researches questionnaire can be conducted more than one country to have comparative analysis. One improvement needed is the adaptation of the international standards in national regulations. This will make the international standards easier to apply and understand the standards in Albania.

Breastfeeding, ovulatory years, and risk of multiple sclerosis

Objective:To determine whether women who breastfeed their infants longer or have fewer ovulatory years are at lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods:We recruited women with newly diagnosed MS or its precursor, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) (n = 397), and matched controls (n = 433) into the MS Sunshine Study from the membership of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. A structured in-person questionnaire was administered to collect the behavioral (pregnancies, breastfeeding, hormonal contraceptive use) and biological (age at menarche and menopause, amenorrhea) factors to make up ovulatory years.Results:Among women who had live births, a cumulative duration of breastfeeding for ≥15 months was associated with a reduced risk of MS/CIS (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28–0.77; p = 0.003 compared to 0–4 months of breastfeeding). Being ≥15 years of age at menarche was also associated with a lower risk of MS/CIS (adjusted OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.33–0.96; p = 0.035). Total ovulatory years and the remaining factors that determine it, including gravidity, parity, episodes of amenorrhea, and hormonal contraceptive use, as well as age at first birth, showed no significant association with the risk of MS/CIS.Conclusions:Mothers who breastfeed longer may be at lower subsequent risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This is consistent with the other known maternal health benefits of breastfeeding and with our previous observation that women with MS who breastfeed exclusively are at lower risk of postpartum relapses.

Post-Fight Respect Signals Valuations of Opponent’s Fighting Performance

The current research explores whether humans process inputs about combat (e.g., assessments of formidability) that produce outputs of post-fight respect (e.g., shaking an opponent’s hand when the fight ends). Using an online questionnaire (Study 1, n = 132), an in-person questionnaire (Study 2, n = 131), and an in-lab fight simulation (Study 3, n = 58), we investigated whether participants were more likely to receive (Studies 1 and 3) and display (Studies 2 and 3) post-fight respect as a function of the fight outcome (Hypothesis 1), use of fight tactics (Hypothesis 2), fighter asymmetries (Hypothesis 3), fighter ranking (Hypothesis 4), and the presence of witnesses (Hypothesis 5). The results support Hypotheses 1 to 4 concerning expectations of receiving post-fight respect, and support only Hypotheses 2 and 3 concerning displays of post-fight respect. We suggest that post-fight respect signals positive valuations of fighting performance that may function to maintain valuable relationships within the social group.

Survey Research on Quality Expectations in Interpreting: The Effect of Method of Administration on Subjects’ Response Rate

The use of new technologies within research into interpreting quality has produced new tools that are expected to increase the number of subjects taking part in survey studies. The growth of Internet users has led to a rise of online questionnaires mainly as a result of their time saving advantages. This paper compares the response rate obtained using three different ways of presenting a questionnaire about quality expectations in interpreting to subjects: in person, via an invitation to take part in an online questionnaire and by including the questionnaire within the text of an email to the subjects. The results of this study show that the subjects tend to participate more when the questionnaire is administered in person. In general male participation was higher than female, but no significant difference was observed with respect to the method of administration. Regarding the particular field of knowledge, the group of subjects working in a scientific and technological area was the only one in which the response rate for the paper “in person” questionnaire was not notably higher than for the other methods.