Providing universal basic public health services (BPHS) for residents is the main goal of the new health reform in China. Lay health workers (LHWs) in primary health care (PHC) sectors play key roles in BPHS delivery. The competency of LHWs is critical to quality BPHS. This study assessed LHWs’ competency to deliver BPHS and related training in resource-limited Southwest China. A mixed research method combining in-depth interviews with secondary data collection was used to collect data in this cross-sectional study. Fifty-four LHWs and 16 leaders in 16 PHC sectors were recruited for in-depth interviews. Secondary data on 198 LHWs were collected through standard forms. Both the interviews and secondary data suggested that all PHC sectors did not have sufficient LHWs and lacked qualified LHWs to deliver BPHS overall, particularly in relatively low economic rural areas in Guizhou province. Furthermore, PHC sectors had difficulties retaining existing LHWs due to low incomes and fewer opportunities for self-development. In-depth interviews discovered that, although numerous training opportunities have been provided for LHWs since 2009, the trainings did not achieve the expected outcome in LHW competency building, as LHWs actually did not have access to the trainings and the training design was unresponsive to the actual needs of LHWs. Both LHWs and leaders expressed an urgent need for effective training for LHWs based on systematic needs assessments and the use of qualified trainers and materials. The shortage of qualified LHWs in PHC sectors became the bottleneck for BPHS delivery in Southwest China. Recent trainings for LHWs were less effective with regard to LHW competency building. A need-based professional training programme for LHWs by qualified trainers was expected by both LHWs and leaders in PHC sectors.

The rapid advancement of modern technology has significantly driven progress in various IT-related activities, resulting in a substantial increase in internet penetration rates, particularly among college students. The utilization of the internet has become one of the most essential tools in our modern society. However, internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a serious concern, particularly among college students, adversely affecting academic performance and having significant psychological and psychiatric implications. The aim of the current study was to determine the impact of physical exercise, gender and academic year on IA among college students. In the present study, we investigated internet usage, engagement in sports activities, and academic performance among college students from Western, Middle, and Eastern regions of Chinese universities. It’s noteworthy that most of the respondents were freshmen. Our findings indicate that freshmen students were more susceptible to experiencing IA. Approximately 75% of students engaged in leisure sports activities, revealing an inverse correlation between sports activity and IA. This correlation aligns with the level of sports involvement, emphasizing the potential benefits of physical activity in mitigating IA. However, our study did not uncover any correlation between geographic location and the occurrence of IA, nor did it find differences between medical and non-medical students. Furthermore, our study revealed no significant variations in IA among students from different ethnic backgrounds. The underlying mechanism of IA is being currently determined. Our data suggest that physical exercise, gender, and academic year have a significant impact on IA among college students.

Tuberculosis (TB) patient management (TPM) is crucial to improve patient compliance to treatment. The coverage of TPM delivered by TB dispensaries or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was not high under the previous CDC model of TB control in China. In the integrated TB control model in China, TB patient management (TPM) was mainly delivered by lay health workers (LHWs) in primary health care (PHC) sectors. This study aims to investigate TPM delivery in resource-limited western China and to identify factors affecting TPM delivery by LHWs under the integrated TB control model. A stratified random sampling was used to select study sites. Pulmonary TB (PTB) patients ≥15 years old from selected counties/districts in Guizhou Province were surveyed from August 2015 to May 2016. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. A χ2 test and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with self-administered treatment (non-TPM). In total, 638 PTB patients were included in the final analysis. Close to 30% of patients were ethnic minorities. More than 30% of patients were from counties with high TB burden, and 24.9% of patients had poor compliance to treatment. Only 37.1% of patients received TPM delivered by LHWs under the integrated TB control model throughout the treatment period. The main reasons for unwillingness to manage reported by patients included social stigma and no perceived need. Being ethnic minorities (OR = 3.35) was a main factor associated with lower likelihood of receiving TPM, while living in areas with middle or high TB burden may increase the likelihood of receiving TPM (OR = 0.17 and 0.25, respectively). Among current management approaches, more than 85% of patients chose phone reminder as their preferred TPM by LHWs. TPM under the integrated model in West China is still low and need further improvement, and the impeding factors of TPM need to be addressed. Strengthening patient-centered and community-based TPM and developing more feasible approaches of TPM delivery should be explored in future research in this region.