Browsing by Author "Schulz PJ"

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A Typology of Patients Based on Decision-Making Styles: Cross-Sectional Survey Study
(JMIR Publications, 20/11/2019) FitzPatrick MA; Hess AC; Sudbury-Riley L; Schulz PJ
Background: Although previous research shows broad differences in the impact of online health information on patient-practitioner decision making, specific research is required to identify and conceptualize patient decision-making styles related to the use of online health information and to differentiate segments according to the influence of online information on patient decision making and interactions with health professionals. Objective: This study aimed to investigate patients’ decision making in relation to online health information and interactions with health care practitioners. We also aimed to present a typology of patients based on significant differences in their decision making. Methods: We applied a large-scale cross-sectional research design using a survey. Data, generated using a questionnaire that was administered by companies specializing in providing online panels, were collected from random samples of baby boomers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. The total sample comprised 996 baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, who had used the internet in the previous 6 months to search for and share health-related information. Data were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, as well as one-way analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and paired sample t tests. Results: Analyses identified 3 key decision-making styles that served as the base for 4 unique and stable segments of patients with distinctive decision-making styles: the Collaborators (229/996, 23.0%), the Autonomous-Collaborators (385/996, 38.7%), the Assertive-Collaborators (111/996, 11.1%), and the Passives (271/996, 27.2%). Profiles were further developed for these segments according to key differences in the online health information behavior, demographics, and interactional behaviors of patients. The typology demonstrates that collaborative decision making is dominant among patients either in its pure form or in combination with autonomous or assertive decision making. In other words, most patients (725/996, 72.8%) show significant collaboration in their decision making with health care professionals. However, at times, patients in the combination Autonomous-Collaborative segment prefer to exercise individual autonomy in their decision making, and those in the combination Assertive-Collaborative segment prefer to be assertive with health professionals. Finally, this study shows that a substantial number of patients adopt a distinctly passive decision-making style (271/996, 27.2%). Conclusions: The patient typology provides a framework for distinguishing practice-relevant and addressable segments with important implications for health care practitioners, including better-targeted communication programs for patients and more successful outcomes for health care services in the long term.
Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries
(Elsevier Ltd, 2023-11-07) Hoteit M; Hoteit R; Aljawaldeh A; Van Royen K; Pabian S; Decorte P; Cuykx I; Teunissen L; De Backer C; Bergheim I; Staltner R; Devine A; Sambell R; Wallace R; Allehdan SS; Alalwan TA; Al-Mannai MA; Ouvrein G; Poels K; Vandebosch H; Maldoy K; Matthys C; Smits T; Vrinten J; DeSmet A; Teughels N; Geuens M; Vermeir I; Proesmans V; Hudders L; De Barcellos MD; Ostermann C; Brock AL; Favieiro C; Trizotto R; Stangherlin I; Mafra AL; Correa Varella MA; Valentova JV; Fisher ML; MacEacheron M; White K; Habib R; Dobson DS; Schnettler B; Orellana L; Miranda-Zapata E; Wen-Yu Chang A; Jiao W; Liu MT; Grunert KG; Christensen RN; Reisch L; Janssen M; Abril-Ulloa V; Encalada L; Kamel I; Vainio A; Niva M; Salmivaara L; Mäkelä J; Torkkeli K; Mai R; Risch PK; Altsitsiadis E; Stamos A; Antronikidis A; Henchion M; McCarthy S; McCarthy M; Micalizzi A; Schulz PJ; Farinosi M; Komatsu H; Tanaka N; Kubota H; Tayyem R; Al-Awwad NJ; Al-Bayyari N; Ibrahim MO; Hammouh F; Dashti S; Dashti B; Alkharaif D; Alshatti A; Al Mazedi M; Mansour R; Naim E; Mortada H; Gutierrez Gomez YY; Geyskens K; Goukens C; Roy R; Egli V; Te Morenga L; Waly M; Qasrawi R; Hamdan M; Sier RA; Al Halawa DA; Agha H; Liria Domínguez MR; Palomares L; Wasowicz G; Bawadi H; Tayyem R; Othman M; Pakari J; Abu Farha A; Abu-El-Ruz R; Petrescu DC; Petrescu Mag RM; Arion F; Vesa SC; Alkhalaf MM; Bookari K; Arrish J; Rahim Z; Kheng R; Ngqangashe Y; Mchiza ZJ-R; Gonzalez-Gross M; Pantoja-Arévalo L; Gesteiro E; Ríos Y; Yiga P; Ogwok P; Ocen D; Bamuwamye M; Al Sabbah H; Taha Z; Ismail LC; Aldhaheri A; Pineda E; Miraldo M; Holford DL; Van den Bulck H
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household's food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p < 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p < 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household's dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p < 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p < 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p < 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p < 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p < 0.001), Brazil (p < 0.001), Mexico (p < 0.0001) and Peru (p < 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125–1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951–3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117–1.367], having a high education (p < 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292–1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity. Conclusion: The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings.
Effects of eHealth literacy on general practitioner consultations: A mediation analysis
(JMIR Publications, 16/05/2017) Schulz PJ; Fitzpatrick MA; Hess AC; Sudbury-Riley L; Hartung U
Objective: We propose and test two potential mediators of the negative effect of eHealth literacy on health care utilization: (1) health information seeking and (2) gain in empowerment by information seeking. Methods: Data were collected in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States using a Web-based survey administered by a company specialized on providing online panels. Combined, the three samples resulted in a total of 996 baby boomers born between 1946 and 1965 who had used the Internet to search for and share health information in the previous 6 months. Measured variables include eHealth literacy, Internet health information seeking, the self-perceived gain in empowerment by that information, and the number of consultations with one’s general practitioner (GP). Path analysis was employed for data analysis. Results: We found a bundle of indirect effect paths showing a positive relationship between health literacy and health care utilization: via health information seeking (Path 1), via gain in empowerment (Path 2), and via both (Path 3). In addition to the emergence of these indirect effects, the direct effect of health literacy on health care utilization disappeared. Conclusions: The indirect paths from health literacy via information seeking and empowerment to GP consultations can be interpreted as a dynamic process and an expression of the ability to find, process, and understand relevant information when that is necessary.