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Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have significantly lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to the general population and patients with other heart diseases. The research emphasis on the influence of AF symptoms on HRQoL overshadows the role of individual characteristics. To address this gap, this study's purpose was to test an incremental predictive model for AF-related HRQoL following an adapted HRQoL conceptual model that incorporates both symptoms and individual characteristics. Methods: Patients attending an AF specialty clinic were invited to complete an online survey. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine whether individual characteristics (overall mental health, perceived stress, sex, age, AF knowledge, household and recreational physical activity) incremented prediction of HRQoL and AF treatment satisfaction beyond AF symptom recency and overall health. Results: Of 196 participants (mean age 65.3 years), 63% were male and 90% were Caucasian. Most reported 'excellent' or 'good' overall and mental health, had high overall AF knowledge scores, had low perceived stress scores, and had high household and recreation physical activity. The mean overall AF Effect On Quality-Of-Life Questionnaire (AFEQT) and AF treatment satisfaction scores were 70.62 and 73.84, respectively. Recency of AF symptoms and overall health accounted for 29.6% of the variance in overall HRQoL and 20.2% of the variance in AF treatment satisfaction. Individual characteristics explained an additional 13.6% of the variance in overall HRQoL and 7.6% of the variance in AF treatment satisfaction. Perceived stress and household physical activity were the largest contributors to overall HRQoL, whereas age and AF knowledge made significant contributions to AF treatment satisfaction. Conclusions: Along with AF symptoms and overall health, individual characteristics are important predictors of HRQoL and AF treatment satisfaction in AF patients. In particular, perceived stress and household physical activity could further be targeted as potential areas to improve HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Technology holds great potential for promoting health equity for rural populations, who have more chronic illnesses than their urban counterparts but less access to services. Yet, more participatory research approaches are needed to gather community‐driven health technology solutions. The purpose was to collaboratively identify and prioritize action strategies for using technology to promote rural health equity through community stakeholder engagement. Methods: Concept mapping, a quantitative statistical technique, embedded within a qualitative approach, was used to identify and integrate technological solutions towards rural health equity from community stakeholders in three steps: (1) idea generation; (2) sorting and rating feasibility/importance and (3) group interpretation. Purposeful recruitment strategies were used to recruit key stakeholders and organizational representatives from targeted rural communities. Results: Overall, 34 rural community stakeholders from western Canada (76% female, mean age = 55.4 years) participated in the concept mapping process. In Step 1, 84 ideas were generated that were reduced to a pool of 30. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis resulted in a six‐cluster map representing how technological solutions can contribute toward rural health equity. The clusters of ideas included technological solutions and applications, but also ideas to make health care more accessible regardless of location, training and support in the use of technology, ensuring digital tools are simplified for ease of use, technologies to support collaboration among healthcare professionals and ideas for overcoming challenges to data sharing across health systems/networks. Each cluster included ideas that were rated as equally important and feasible. Key themes included organizational and individual‐level solutions and connecting patients to newly developed technologies. Conclusions: Overall, the grouping of solutions revealed that technological applications require not only access but also support and collaboration. Concept mapping is a tool that can engage rural community stakeholders in the identification of technological solutions for promoting rural health equity. Patient or Public Contribution: Rural community stakeholders were involved in the generation and interpretation of technological solutions towards rural health equity in a three‐step process: (1) individual brainstorming of ideas, (2) sorting and rating all ideas generated and (3) collective interpretation and group consensus on final results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rural and remote communities faced unique access challenges to essential services such as healthcare and highspeed infrastructure pre-COVID, which have been amplified by the pandemic. This study examined patterns of COVID-related challenges and the use of technology among rural-living individuals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A sample of 279 rural residents completed an online survey about the impact of COVID-related challenges and the role of technology use. Latent class analysis was used to generate subgroups reflecting the patterns of COVID-related challenges. Differences in group membership were examined based on age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, and living situation. Finally, thematic analysis of open-ended qualitative responses was conducted to further contextualize the challenges experienced by rural-living residents.Results: Four distinct COVID challenge impact subgroups were identified: 1) Social challenges (35%), 2) Social and Health challenges (31%), 3) Social and Financial challenges (14%), and 4) Social, Health, Financial, and Daily Living challenges (19%). Older adults were more likely to be in the Social challenges or Social and Health challenges groups as compared to young adults who were more likely to be in the Social, Health, Financial, and Daily Living challenges group. Additionally, although participants were using technology more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic to address challenges, they were also reporting issues with quality and connectivity as a significant barrier.Conclusions: These analyses found four different patterns of impact related to social, health, financial, and daily living challenges in the context of COVID. Social needs were evident across the four groups; however, we also found nearly 1 in 5 rural-living individuals were impacted by an array of challenges. Access to reliable internet and devices has the potential to support individuals to manage these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to describe the health literacy of a sample of Canadian men with prostate cancer and explore whether sociodemographic and health factors were related to men's health literacy scores. A sample of 213 Canadian men (M age = 68.71 years, SD = 7.44) diagnosed with prostate cancer were recruited from an online prostate cancer support website. The men completed the Health Literacy Questionnaire along with demographic, comorbidity, and prostate cancer treatment–related questions online. Of the 5-point scales, men's health literacy scores were highest for "Understanding health information enough to know what to do" (M = 4.04, SD = 0.48) and lowest for "Navigating the health care system" (M = 3.80, SD = 0.58). Of the 4-point scales, men's scores were highest for "Feeling understood and supported by health care professionals" (M = 3.20, SD = 0.52) and lowest for "Having sufficient information to manage my health" (M = 2.97, SD = 0.46). Regression analyses indicated that level of education was positively associated with health literacy scores, and men without comorbidities had higher health literacy scores. Age and years since diagnosis were unrelated to health literacy. Support in health system navigation and self-management of health may be important targets for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The workplace provides an important setting to promote men's mental health, yet few studies have explored the gendered views of men and workplace representatives in male-dominated industries about workplace mental health promotion. Consultations with working men (N = 23) and interviews with seven representatives from male-dominated industries in northern British Columbia, Canada were conducted. Findings highlight the impact of masculine workplace cultures on men's mental health and practices that limit men's disclosures about vulnerabilities, as well as discussions about promoting mental health. Within such milieus a healthy mind was viewed as vital for workplace safety. Participant recommendations focused on reducing stigma, promoting enjoyable activities, and creating sustainable efforts toward building social cohesion. Overall, efforts to promote mental health in male-dominated industries should be tailored for the unique needs of men and should include paid time to engage in wellness activities and positive strategies that facilitate group comradery. Given male-dominated workplaces in particular constitute unique contexts where adherence to masculine ideals is normed, the findings hold potential for advancing mental health promotion programs designed to reach men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore published empirical literature in order to identify factors that facilitate or inhibit collaborative approaches for health promotion using a scoping review methodology.Data Source: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Complete for articles published between January 2001 and October 2015 was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: To be included studies had to: be an original research article, published in English, involve at least 2 organizations in a health promotion partnership, and identify factors contributing to or constraining the success of an established (or prior) partnership. Studies were excluded if they focused on primary care collaboration or organizations jointly lobbying for a cause.Data Extraction: Data extraction was completed by 2 members of the author team using a summary chart to extract information relevant to the factors that facilitated or constrained collaboration success.Data Synthesis: NVivo 10 was used to code article content into the thematic categories identified in the data extraction.Results: Twenty-five studies across 8 countries were identified. Several key factors contributed to collaborative effectiveness, including a shared vision, leadership, member characteristics, organizational commitment, available resources, clear roles/responsibilities, trust/clear communication, and engagement of the target population.Conclusion: In general, the findings were consistent with previous reviews; however, additional novel themes did emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the relationships among identity, emotional intelligence, and intimacy. Participants were 325 emerging adults (69% women) who completed measures of identity processing styles (informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant), identity commitment, and intimacy. A subsample (n = 174) completed the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. The informational and normative identity styles were positively related to intimacy, whereas the diffuse-avoidant identity style was inversely related to intimacy. The informational style was positively related to emotional intelligence, and the diffuse-avoidant style was inversely related to emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence was also positively related to intimacy. Mediation analyses revealed that emotional intelligence mediates the relationships between identity processing and intimacy for the informational (partial mediation) and diffuse-avoidant (full mediation) styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of relationships between identity processing styles and a range of beneficial and problematic coping strategies. Participants completed self-report measures of identity styles (informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant), identity commitment, and 15 different coping strategies. The diffuse-avoidant style was positively associated with denial, disengagement, and substance use, and it was also positively related to humor. The normative and informational styles were positively correlated with active coping, planning, restraint, seeking social support, and turning to religion; however, the informational style was more highly correlated with all of these coping strategies except turning to religion. The informational style was the only identity style that was positively related to acceptance and positive reinterpretation and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships among identity processing styles, defense styles, and life distress were examined in a sample of 276 emerging adults (M = 19.71 years). Respondents completed the Identity Style Inventory, Revised; the Defense Style Questionnaire; and the Life Distress Inventory. Correlations and structural equation analyses revealed that the informational identity style was positively related to the mature defense style, all three identity styles were positively related to the neurotic defense style, and the diffuse-avoidant identity style was positively related to the immature defense style. Mediation analyses revealed that the positive relationship between the diffuse-avoidant style and life distress was mediated by the immature defense style. The results suggest potential implications of the diffuse-avoidant style for maladjustment through the use of immature defenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of differences in proactive, adaptive forms of positive adjustment as a function of identity processing style. Three hundred undergraduate students (98 men, 202 women) completed self-report measures of identity styles (informational, normative, diffuse-avoidant), identity commitment, curiosity/exploration, proactive coping, and emotional intelligence. All three identity styles and identity commitment were found to be related to curiosity/exploration, proactive coping, and emotional intelligence. These relationships were positive with identity commitment and the informational and normative styles. When the overlapping variance accounted for by identity commitment was controlled via hierarchical regression, all three identity styles significantly predicted emotional intelligence, with positive predictions from the normative and informational styles. However, only the informational identity style made a unique positive contribution to curiosity/exploration and to proactive coping. These results are discussed in terms of the role of identity processing style in positive adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Telehealth holds potential for inclusive and cost-saving health care; however, a better understanding of the use and acceptance of telehealth for health promotion among rural older adults is needed. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence for telehealth use among rural-living older adults and to explore cost-effectiveness for health systems and patients. Research Design and Methods This systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Study designs reporting health promotion telehealth interventions with rural-living adults aged 55 and older were eligible for review. Following screening and inclusion, articles were quality-rated and ranked by level of evidence. Data extraction was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and organized into outcomes related to ease of use, usefulness, intention to use, and usage behavior along with cost-effectiveness. Results Of 2,247 articles screened, 42 were included. Positive findings for the usefulness of telehealth for promoting rural older adults' health were reported in 37 studies. Evidence for ease of use and usage behavior was mixed. Five studies examined intention to continue to use telehealth and in 4 of these, patients preferred telehealth. Telehealth was cost-effective for health care delivery (as a process) compared to face to face. However, findings were mixed for cost-effectiveness with both reports of savings (e.g. reduced travel) and increased costs (e.g. insurance). Discussion and Implications Telehealth was useful for promoting health among rural-living older adults. Technological supports are needed to improve telehealth ease of use and adherence. Cost-effectiveness of telehealth needs more study, particularly targeting older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore working men's perspectives about sleep health and the intersecting influences of gender and work, describing participant's views on current and potential programming and organizational support to promote sleep health. Twenty men employed in male-dominated industries in the north-central region of Alberta, Canada, participated in 4 consultation group discussions addressing motivators, facilitators and barriers to sleep health. Participants reported sleeping an average of 6.36 (SD ±1.1) hours per night, and the majority worked more than 40 hours per week. Data were analyzed using an inductive approach. The findings provided important insights. In normalizing sleep deprivation and prioritizing the need to "just keep going" on six or less hours of sleep, the men subscribed to masculine ideals related to workplace perseverance, stamina and resilience. Workplace cultures and practices were implicated including normative dimensions of overtime and high productivity and output, amid masculine cultures constraining emotions and conversations about sleep, the sum of which muted avenues for discussing, let alone promoting sleep. Challenges to good sleep were primarily constructed around time constraints, and worry about meeting work and home responsibilities. Men's preferences for workplace support included providing and incentivizing the use of sleep health resources, designing work for sleep health (e.g., shift schedules, overtime policies) and getting advice from experienced coworkers and experts external to the workplace organization. These findings hold potential for informing future gender-sensitive programming and organizational practices to support sleep health among working men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]