Open Access Published since March 25, 2020

Open Health

ISSN: 2544-9826

Editor-in-chief: Jimmy Efird

Submit manuscript

About this journal

Open Health is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that is a forum for presenting novel research, systematic reviews, and discussions on the promotion of health and disease prevention. A special focus is on factors relating to social and personal aspects of human health. Our journal provides academically thoughtful and up-to-date reports within the research community on topics including:

Physical and mental health
Public, environmental, and occupational health
Nutrition and dietetics
Physical activity
Lifestyle change
Health policy and systems
Global health
Health economics
Digital health
Epidemiology
Geo-political influences on health

In parallel we aim at emphasizing the importance of published research in building health-promoting awareness and behaviors in society. The global importance and dynamics of many health-related matters, including human rights, epidemiology, and migration place them within the journal scope. The open-access publishing model for Open Health allows a wide group of individuals to access meaningful data and make informed decisions.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

The journal welcomes proposals for special issues from prospective guest editors – please contact the Managing Editor for more information (oskar.szczepaniak@degruyter.com).

If you are organizing a conference and looking for a media partner, please contact the Managing Editor for more information (oskar.szczepaniak@degruyter.com).

Your Benefits

publication in Open Health is FREE OF CHARGE
fast and constructive peer review
no length restrictions
open-access model – unrestricted access for all readers
continuous publication model – quick publication after acceptance
free language editing for authors from non-English speaking countries
worldwide promotion of each article
secure archiving by De Gruyter and the independent archiving service Portico
comprehensive abstracting and indexing

Abstracting and Indexing

Open Health is covered by the following services:

Baidu Scholar
Cabells Journalytics
CABI (over 50 subsections)
CNKI Scholar (China National Knowledge Infrastructure)
CNPIEC - cnpLINKer
Dimensions
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
EBSCO Discovery Service
Google Scholar
J-Gate
KESLI-NDSL (Korean National Discovery for Science Leaders)
MyScienceWork
Naver Academic
Naviga (Softweco)
Primo Central (ExLibris)
ReadCube
Scilit
Semantic Scholar
Summon (ProQuest)
TDNet
WanFang Data
WorldCat (OCLC)
X-MOL
Yewno Discover

Supplementary Materials

Topics

External Links

Volume 4 Issue 1

January 2023

Research Articles

Open Access February 22, 2023

Social factors related to depression during COVID-19

Katherine Aumer, Michael A. Erickson, Eli Tsukayama

Article number: 20220030

More Download PDF

Abstract

Background Depression can impact both the administration and efficacy of vaccines. Identifying social factors that contribute to depression, especially during a pandemic, is important for both current and future public health issues. Publicly available data can help identify key social factors contributing to depression. Method For each US state, information regarding their change in depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 2, predominant political affiliation, coronavirus disease 19 cases/100k, and lockdown severity were gathered. Structural equation modeling using latent change scores was conducted to assess the longitudinal relationships among depression, cases/100k, and state social restrictions. Results Higher initial levels of lockdown severity and depression predicted rank-order decreases in themselves over time. Correlations among the latent change variables reveal that changes in lockdown severity are negatively related to changes in cases/100k and changes in lockdown severity are positively related to changes in depression after controlling for the other variables. Conclusion Significant rank-order decreases in depression from T1 to T2 in blue states (who tend to vote for Democrats) vs red states (who tend to vote for Republicans) suggest that decreases in depression may be impacted by the population density and/or political views of that state. Rank-order increases in lockdown measures were negatively associated with rank-order increases in COVID-19 infections, demonstrating strong evidence that lockdown measures do help decrease the spread of COVID-19. Political affiliation and/or population density should be measured and assessed to help facilitate future public health efforts.

Open Access May 3, 2023

Prevalence of diaper need and diaper dermatitis and associated risk factors among children aged 1–24 months in a referral hospital in Ghana: A cross-sectional study

Abdul-Wahab Inusah, Gbeti Collins, Peter Gyamfi Kwarteng, Peter Dzomeku, Mubarick Nungbaso Asumah, Shamsu-Deen Ziblim

Article number: 20220033

More Download PDF

Abstract

Objectives This research aimed to determine the prevalence of diaper need and diaper dermatitis (DD) and associated risk factors in children aged 1–24 months. Methods Data were collected through face-to-face exit interviews with 456 mothers at a Child Welfare Clinic. A chi-square, correlation, and multivariate logistic regression analyses at a significance level of p < 0.05 were conducted. Results The prevalence of diaper need was found to be 53.5%, with lower odds observed in households with monthly incomes greater than $167 and in children on breastmilk only. Diaper need was higher in parents with no formal education and use of disposable diapers. The prevalence of DD was 27.4%, with lower odds observed in households with monthly incomes greater than $167 and in children less than 6 months old and on breastmilk only. There was a moderately positive correlation between diaper need and DD. Conclusion The researchers recommend affordable alternative diapering methods and educating parents on the importance of frequent diaper changes to improve the prevalence of diaper need and DD. Overall, this study highlights the significant prevalence of diaper need and DD among children and identifies the important associated risk factors.

Open Access May 8, 2023

A gravity model approach to understand the spread of pandemics: Evidence from the COVID-19 outbreak

Albert Opoku Frimpong, Kwadwo Arhin, Micheal Kofi Boachie, Kwame Acheampong

Article number: 20220032

More Download PDF

Abstract

Pandemics disrupt the global economy. Understanding the transmission pattern of pandemics informs policies to prevent or reduce the catastrophic consequences associated with pandemics. In this study, we applied the gravity model of trade to investigate the transmission pattern of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across countries. The results suggest an outbreak in a country is likely to spread faster (slower) from a shrinking (booming) economy to a booming (shrinking) economy.

Open Access August 27, 2023

Raising security of first responders with C-ITS?

Walter Seböck, Bettina Biron, Bettina Pospisil

Article number: 20230003

More Download PDF

Abstract

This article recommends social science research-based recommendations for improving first responder safety and occupational health by assessing cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) for use by emergency services and law enforcement. This involves vehicles using digital technologies to inform each other or via objects such as roadworks signs about traffic situations and dangerous circumstances. The application of information and communication technologies to the road transport sector and its interfaces with other modes of transport shall make a significant contribution to improving environmental performance, efficiency, including energy efficiency, safety, and security of road transport. This article investigates which social science aspects must be considered when implementing C-ITS, so that emergency vehicles such as ambulances can be given automated priority. Since emergency vehicles can communicate with traffic signal systems or other vehicles, safety requirements play a particularly important role. This leads to the question of which challenges subjective safety and technology perceptions regarding first responders are essential for the introduction of C-ITS for first responder organizations and which factors can lead to rejection.

Open Access September 14, 2023

Recomposition of work and attitudes of family assistants within Covid-19 in Poland: A pilot study

Monika Anna Budnik

Article number: 20220034

More Download PDF

Abstract

This article presents reflections on the consequence of remote work in social welfare professions in the case of family assistants. Web surveys focused on changes that came with the pandemic crisis in social welfare programs, such as family assistants. The article presents conclusions from the pilot web survey study among family assistants in June 2020 using the Survey Monkey online web survey questionnaire. Family assistants of Lower Silesia (part of the region in Poland) represent a category of professions in the social welfare system in Poland. They are employed in social welfare centers and work in the local community. The assistant has different tasks and eligibility than social workers. The family assistant knows the background of family problems, and, with them, he composes a working plan for better-functioning families. Personal contact with families before the epidemiological crisis has been replaced by remote work, replaced by changed tools, indirect contact with clients, and changing attitudes among workers. All changes have led to a transformation of daily work and organization in the workplace.

Open Access September 15, 2023

Allelic variants of CYP2B6 gene expression and its implication on the pathogenesis of malaria among a cohort of outpatients in North-Central Nigeria

Olalere Shittu, Mobolanle Oladipo Oniya, Titus Adeniyi Olusi

Article number: 20230004

More Download PDF

Abstract

Background Human cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) is fortified with the biotransformation of the antimalarial, artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). Owing to emerging reports of Plasmodium species resistance to ACT in other climes, CYP2B6*6 genotype significantly alters ACT metabolism. In North-Central Nigeria, the distribution of the CYP2B6*6 variant is poorly documented. This study investigated the distribution of CYP2B6 c.516G>T variants and its relationship with certain malaria pathogenesis among a cohort of clinical-malaria outpatients in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods A total of 50 symptomatic P. falciparum malaria-positive samples were genotyped for CYP2B6 c.516G>T using restriction fragment length polymorphism and a specific haplotype population was established. The allele frequencies and genotype distributions were analyzed. Haplotypes were clustered using Ward’s method. Correlations determined include defective CYP2B6 versus parasitemia densities and thrombocytopenia, respectively. Results Forty-five samples show genotypic ratios and nine CYP2B6 genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. The following haplotypes (64C>T = *1/*2, 785A>G = *1/*4, and 1459C>T = *1/*5) occurred and *2, *3, and *18 alleles harbor 64C>T, 777C>A, −82T>C, and 499C>G. The codon 64CT, 516GT, and 785AG; −82TC and 777CA; and 499CG, 516GT, and 785AG were identified as *2/*6 heterozygotes. Samples with 516GT and 785GG genotypes occurred with *4/*6 heterozygotes. Mutant trait alleles recorded high parasitemia 72 h post-ACT regimen. Only individuals with CYP2B6*6 alleles had severe malaria and thrombocytopenia. Conclusion This report contributes to the growing knowledge of CYP2B6*6 genotype frequency and its relationship with malaria pathogenesis among a Nigerian population.

Open Access November 8, 2023

Impact of medically supervised fasting on the vitamin D, glycemic control, quality of life and need for medication among type 2 diabetes mellitus: Protocol for a randomized control trial (FAVIT Trial)

Pradeep M. K. Nair, Karishma Silwal, Prakash Babu Kodali, Hemanshu Sharma, Gulab Rai Tewani

Article number: 20230010

More Download PDF

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of prolonged medically supervised fasting (PMSF) for 6 months on vitamin D levels and diabetes-related clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods This is an open-label, parallel arm, randomized control trial; 170 T2DM patients from a complementary medicine setting, aged between 20 and 70 years, with a body mass index >25 kg/m 2 and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels >6% and <12%, treated with lifestyle advice and/or oral hypoglycemic drugs, will be randomized to receive PMSF or a diabetic diet (DD), along with their usual care. The patients will be initially trained in PMSF and DD for a duration of 10 days in the study setting, followed by 5 months of practice at their respective residences. The PMSF will fast for five days a month for three consecutive months after the initial exposure, whereas the DD group will follow the same diet for 6 months. Other than fasting days, the PMSF group will follow the same DD as the control group. The primary outcome is an improvement in vitamin D levels, and the secondary outcomes include serum calcium, insulin levels, insulin resistance, blood cell counts, anthropometrics, quality of life, medication score, compliance rate, and disease perception. Discussion In this study, we hypothesize that PMSF would gradually increase vitamin D levels, which would increase calcium levels, which would promote insulin secretion and upregulate its function. This may help reduce the need for diabetic medication and result in diabetic remission.

Review Articles

Open Access November 2, 2023

The current status of diversity among physician assistants in surgery: A systematic review

Erin L. Sherer, Kathryn Reed

Article number: 20230007

More Download PDF

Abstract

It is difficult to achieve diverse representation within surgical settings, including within the ranks of physician assistants (PAs) despite research indicating that diversity improves patient outcomes and experience and benefits the workplace. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate interventions used to support diversity among surgical PAs. Databases including PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for publications that described interventions for increasing underrepresented in medicine and gender diversity among surgical PAs. While 20 studies were identified, none met the inclusion criteria. The absence of literature on surgical PAs led to an exploration of research conducted among surgeons, nonsurgical PAs, and PA students. While not directly applicable, results from these studies offered valuable insights into factors that impact diversity as well as strategies that foster diversity. Factors such as gender bias, discrimination, and harassment may contribute to lower numbers of underrepresented groups working in surgery. Efforts to support increased diversity include recruitment, leadership support, and mentorship programs. This systematic review highlights the need for further research to foster diversity among PAs working in surgery. While existing surgical literature offers some contextual insights, future studies on and increased attention toward this topic will improve inclusivity and create a more equitable healthcare system.

Open Access November 15, 2023

Planting a path to kidney health: The vegetarian diet and diabetic nephropathy

Mudasir Maqbool, Mohd Altaf Dar, Irfat Ara

Article number: 20230011

More Download PDF

Abstract

About 40% of people with diabetes experience diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is the main cause of renal problems. The aberrant urine albumin excretion rate, diabetic glomerular lesions, and a reduction in glomerular filtration rate are its defining characteristics. Numerous studies have found a strong link between eating animal protein and conditions like glucagon activation, insulin resistance, proteinuria, microalbuminuria, and the worsening of kidney problems in diabetic individuals. A vegan diet, which forgoes all animal products including leather and other non-edibles like fish, shellfish, and insects as well as dairy, eggs, and honey, has demonstrated significant benefits. It has been connected to enhanced insulin sensitivity, less glucagon activation, a decreased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and a slowed rate of DN progression. According to several studies, avoiding animal products and switching to plant-based protein sources can be a better nutritional plan than simply limiting dietary protein. This change may prove very helpful in reducing the risk of kidney and cardiovascular illnesses, especially for those who have diabetes and severe insulin resistance in addition to CKD. A vegan diet contains considerable benefits for those with diabetes and CKD, acting as a brake on the advancement of DN and renal failure, according to the literature evaluation done for this study. Nevertheless, more interventional studies involving humans are needed to elucidate the processes underlying the increased insulin sensitivity brought on by vegan diets. It is also advised to conduct more research to fully explore the effectiveness and security of vegan diets in people with diabetes and DN.

Short Communication

Open Access March 25, 2023

World Heart Day: Clinical case to raise awareness on cardiovascular disease in women

Marie Chan Sun

Article number: 20220031

More Download PDF

Abstract

The World Heart Federation highlights that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Indeed, women have unique female-specific risk factors for stroke, which include pregnancy, history of preeclampsia/eclampsia or gestational diabetes, duration of reproductive life, oral contraceptive use, and postmenopausal hormone therapy. In light of the female-specific risk factors and/or predisposing conditions, there is need to sensitize health professionals and the public in general on CVD in women. This clinical case is being shared with the written consent of the patient so as to avoid misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of CVD among women.

Letter to the Editor

Open Access October 14, 2023

Tranexamic acid and pre-hospital trauma setting: Is everything clear by now?

Regina Frontera, Mirko Barone

Article number: 20230005

More Download PDF

Abstract

An early use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in polytrauma patients has long been emphasized, although several conflicting evidence make its applicability still controversial and claims debate. Several multicenter trials have been conducted and the latter appear to collide with recent evidence published in the literature. In particular, the putative effects of early prognostic and hospitalization are still far from a common recommendation. We believe conflicting evidence derives from an unproper standardization of the pre-hospital setting, where non-diversified demographic factors, such as sociodemographic ones and accessibility to resources, still play a significant and detrimental role in patients’ outcomes. Moreover, evaluation and investigation of the real benefits of TXA administration in the trauma patient according to the different settings or scenarios are required, as the availability of resources could represent a non-negligible bias that could lead to evidence too far from universal applicability and accessibility.

Open Access November 3, 2023

Pneumocephalus was commonly evident and pneumorrhachis was very commonly evident among our peri-anesthesia patients whose peri-partum neurological symptoms had warranted radiological investigations

Deepak Gupta

Article number: 20230008

Download PDF

Open Access November 8, 2023

Ventilator-associated pneumonia: Epidemiological changes or disregarded bundles?

Regina Frontera, Mirko Barone

Article number: 20230009

Download PDF

Special Issue on Public Health Resilience

Open Access November 10, 2023

Message framing, partisanship, and popular support for COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all adults: Evidence from a preregistered survey experiment

Filip Viskupič, David L. Wiltse

Article number: 20230013

More Download PDF

Abstract

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the federal government in the United States required some population groups to be vaccinated. Other countries imposed even more comprehensive vaccination requirements. We conducted a preregistered randomized survey experiment that evaluated whether emphasizing the societal or economic benefits could shift popular support for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all adults. The experiment was embedded in a survey conducted in May 2022 on a sample of 1,199 registered voters in South Dakota. Participants were randomly assigned into a control group ( n = 394), communitarian frame group ( n = 403), or economic frame group ( n = 379). Results of difference-of-means tests and multivariate regression analyses showed that neither of the experimental treatments had a statistically significant impact on support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. We found that these attitudes were primarily driven by partisan self-identification. Our results underscored the political nature of attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic and particularly mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

No ranking information is available for this journal.

Submit

Manuscripts should be submitted to the journal via the online submission system: https://www.editorialmanager.com/openhe. You will be guided through the entire peer-reviewing and publishing process. Along with your manuscript, please submit a cover letter and a License to Publish. In case of any problems, please contact the Managing Editor (oskar.szczepaniak@degruyter.com).

Please read the Instructions for Authors before submitting your manuscript, as well as Author Statements, Data Sharing Policy, Editorial Policies, Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement.

Manuscripts should have line numbers and the reference style required for this journal.

The journal considers submissions of: Research Articles, Short Communications, Review Articles, Commentaries, Letters to the Editor.

Copyright: All authors retain copyright, unless – due to their local circumstances – their work is not copyrighted. The copyrights are governed by the Creative-Commons Attribution Only license (CC-BY) which is compliant with Plan-S. We may also publish a paper under CC-BY-NC-ND license on author's request. The corresponding author grants the journal license for use of the article, by signing the License To Publish. Scanned copy of license should be sent to the journal, as soon as possible.

Editorial

Editorial Contact:
Managing Editor
Oskar Szczepaniak, De Gruyter
oskar.szczepaniak@degruyter.com

Editorial Contact
Kumaran Rengaswamy
Assistant Managing Editor, Compuscript
AssistantManagingEditor@degruyter.com

Editor-in-Chief
Jimmy Efird, VA Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center, USA; Case Western Reserve University, USA

Advisory Board
Smisha Agarwal, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
Jürg Bähler, University College London, UK
Germán Cerdá-Olmedo, Valencia Catholic University Saint Vincent Martyr, Spain
Lisa Cuchara, Quinnipiac University, USA
Mariusz Duplaga, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Poland
Mady Hornig, Columbia University, USA
Hayward Derrick Horton, University at Albany - State University of New York, USA
Ricardo Izurieta, University of South Florida, USA
Yu Jiang, University of Memphis, USA
Cameron Jones, Biological Health Services, Australia; National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Australia
Andrew Kane, University of Florida, USA
Maryam Karimi, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Stathis Konstantinidis, University of Nottingham, UK
Kajal Lahiri, University at Albany - State University of New York, USA
Thomas Lenarz, Hannover Medical School, Germany
Lara Milane, Northeastern University, USA
Hanns Moshammer, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Emeka Nwadiora, Temple University, USA
Gregory Pavela, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Michael Peterson, University of Delaware, USA
Teodor Postolache, University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA
Gilbert Ramirez, Texas A&M University, USA
Grzegorz Rempała, Ohio State University, USA
Ovnair Sepai, Public Health England, UK
Ye Shen, University of Georgia, USA
Teneasha Washington, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Haim Yacobi, University College London, UK
Marsha Zibalese-Crawford, Temple University, USA

Editorial Board
Zhuo Chen, University of Georgia, USA; University of Nottingham Ningbo China, China
Kathryn Fritz, Temple University, USA
Megan Gregory, University of Florida, USA
Becca Jordre, University of South Dakota, USA
Fabrice Jotterand, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA
Jörg Kleeff, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Rositsa Koleva-Kolarova, University of Oxford, UK
Bert Little, University of Louisville, USA
Glenn McGee, University of New Haven, USA
Daniel Rosney, Temple University, USA
Alexander Siedschlag, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, USA
Nicholas Taylor, Texas A&M University, USA
Lesley Tomaszewski, Texas A&M University, USA
Norman Williams, University College London, UK
Qi Zheng, Texas A&M University, USA

Language Editors
Sally Ebeling, Boston, USA
Alissa Hackett, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Caryn Nelson, Savannah, USA
Kathryn Richards, University of Leeds, UK
Mary Wessling, Editor in the Life Sciences, Oakland, USA

Publisher
DE GRUYTER Poland
Bogumiła Zuga 32A Str.
01-811 Warsaw, Poland
T: +48 22 701 50 15

(Deutsch)

Type: Journal
Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Open Access
First published: March 25, 2020
Publication Frequency: 1 Issue per Year
Audience: researchers, students, health professionals