In Thailand, taxi drivers employed in the informal sector often experience hazardous working conditions. Previous studies revealed that elevated Hematocrit (HCT) is a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study assessed factors associated with HCT in taxi drivers to predict their occupational CVD risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 298 male taxi drivers who joined a health checkup campaign in Bangkok, Thailand. HCT and body mass index were retrieved from participant health checkup files. Self-administered questionnaires assessed demographics, driving mileage, working hours, and lifestyle. Statistical associations were analyzed using stepwise linear regression. Our results showed that obesity (p = 0.007), daily alcohol drinking (p = 0.003), and current or past smoking (p = 0.016) were associated with higher HCT levels. While working hours were not directly associated with HCT levels in the current study, the effect on overworking is statistically arguable because most participants worked substantially longer hours. Our findings suggest that taxi drivers' CVD risk may be increased by their unhealthy work styles. Initiatives to improve general working conditions for taxi drivers should take into account health promotion and CVD prevention. The policy of providing periodic health checkups is important to make workers in the informal sector aware of their health status.

Globally, tobacco use continues to be a major health care concern. Despite strong recommendations to quit smoking, tobacco users are experiencing difficulties in quitting. The purpose of this integrative review is to discuss self-efficacy theory as an important behavioral therapy for treating tobacco use and nicotine dependence. Moreover, the paper proposes a literaturederived model that employs self-efficacy as a central component for treating tobacco use and nicotine dependence. Eleven relevant articles were included in this review. Self-efficacy has an important role in smoking cessation. Improving self-efficacy enhances the individual's success in quitting tobacco use and preventing relapse. Moreover, incorporating self-efficacy as a cognitive behavioral intervention has shown various degrees of success for treating tobacco use and nicotine dependence. In order to offer guidance to health care providers assisting in quitting tobacco, a model that integrates self-efficacy as a central component of the quitting process is proposed.

Greater understanding of psychosocial work factors may aid in developing interventions to prevent LBP in taxi drivers.

Background: The use of mobile health applications (apps) is an effective strategy in supporting patients' self-management of heart failure (HF) in home settings, but it remains unclear whether they can be used to reduce sedentary behaviors and increase overall physical activity levels. Aim: The aims of this study were to determine the effect of an 8-week home-based mobile health app intervention on physical activity levels and to assess its effects on symptom burden and health-related quality of life. Method: In this study, we collected repeated-measures data from 132 participants with HF (60.8 ± 10. 47 years) randomized into a usual care group (n = 67) or an 8-week home-based mobile health app intervention group (n = 65). The intervention was tailored to decrease the time spent in sedentary behavior and to increase the time spent in physical activities performed at light or greater intensity levels. Physical activity levels were monitored for 2 weeks before the intervention and during the 8-week intervention using the Samsung mobile health app. Heart failure symptom burden and health-related quality of life were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks from baseline assessment, and immediately post intervention. Results: At week 8, all participants in the intervention group demonstrated an increase in the average daily step counts above the preintervention counts (range of increase: 2351-7925 steps/d). Only 29 participants (45%) achieved an average daily step count of 10000 or higher by week 6 and maintained their achievement to week 8 of the intervention. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant group-by-time interaction, indicating that the intervention group had a greater improvement in physical activity levels, symptom burden, and health-related quality of life than the usual care group. Conclusion: Home-based mobile health app-based interventions can increase physical activity levels and can play an important role in promoting better HF outcomes.