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This column provides an overview of the newly updated Proficiencies for Assessment in Academic Libraries (approved June 2023) and outlines the steps and rationale for each phase of the revision process. It is our hope that you will not only apply and share these assessment proficiencies in your own organizations and practice but also consider how you might adapt the strategies for inclusivity and transparency that were used to update the Proficiencies in your own work such as strategic planning, updating or revising programs, or creating new services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify contextual factors that negatively affect activity and participation among powerchair football (PF) players. Thirty-seven semistructured interviews were conducted with PF players (Mage = 27.9 ± 8.2 years) in France (n = 18) and the United States (n = 19). Participants reported acute back and neck pain as the primary morbidities resulting from PF participation, with sustained atypical posture in the sport chair as the primary cause. Competition-related physical and mental stress were also identified as participation outcomes. Accompanying the many benefits of PF, participants recognized negative impacts of discomfort, physical fatigue, and mental fatigue. Interventions such as seating modifications, thermotherapy to combat pain, napping to combat acute physical stress, and mental preparation to manage state anxiety were all identified as prospective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albert S. Cook Library at Towson University was charged with developing a new strategic plan under new library leadership and in the midst of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article details Bryson (2018)'s Strategy Change Cycle as an approach for an academic library for conducting bottom-up strategic planning. Additionally, the project details department break-out activities that were used to help library employees stay engaged in an activity that had to be conducted remotely and in the midst of telework fatigue. This work is framed within the context of moving to a model of strategic management instead of one-and-done strategic planning as well as considering how to integrate a Critical Management Studies lens to make sure all feel included and empowered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While recent scholarship emphasizes the potential role of shared leadership as a viable alternative to help address existing challenges in the Sport for Development and Peace sector, limited attention has been given to understanding how and when shared leadership can be developed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore antecedents of shared leadership based on practitioners' lived experiences within multiorganizational collaboratives. A total of 30 practitioners involved in two multiorganizational Sport for Development and Peace collaboratives was interviewed. Data were analyzed through a two-cycle coding process. Four themes were identified, including (a) strategic planning, (b) support from vertical leaders, (c) shared events, and (d) personal characteristics of members as critical antecedents of shared leadership. The findings of this study provide a foundation for refining shared leadership theory. Additionally, the findings also allow for the identification of field-sensitive strategies practitioners can implement to develop environments more conducive to shared leadership development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report aims to provide a better understanding of physical activity (PA) and related factors among Spanish children and adolescents living with disabilities. The 10 indicators used for the Global Matrix on Para Report Cards of children and adolescents living with disabilities were evaluated based on the best available data in Spain. An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats based on data provision was drafted by three experts and critically reviewed by the authorship team to provide a national perspective for each evaluated indicator. Government was the indicator with the highest grade (C+), followed by Sedentary Behaviors (C−), School (D), Overall PA (D−), and Community & Environment (F). The remaining indicators received an incomplete grade. There were low levels of PA in Spanish children and adolescents living with disabilities. Yet, opportunities to improve the current surveillance of PA among this population exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is a country member of the Para Report Card, and Brazilian researchers have frequently published information on physical activity of children and adolescents. The current study aimed to analyze the policies for the promotion of adapted physical activity to Brazilian children and adolescents with disabilities. Official government information on adapted physical activity was analyzed from the official websites. Policies were analyzed based on the Para Report Card benchmarks, and after that we used the principles of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to analyze the information. Adapted physical activity is not the main focus of any of the many policies to promote physical activity for children and adolescents. Based on the Para Report Card initiative, the score for this indicator in Brazil is D. Brazil needs to develop specific policies to promote physical activity adapted to the pediatric population with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Studies have illustrated that overuse injuries occur in adolescent athletes more often than previously reported. The general purpose of this study was to provide a thorough report of secondary school athletic trainers encounters, practices, and perceptions of overuse injury in adolescent athletes. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed via email to athletic trainers in the secondary school setting. The questionnaire was sent to participants during the summer of 2021 and 430 participants (highest educational degree earned: master's degree = 66%) completed the survey. Various survey methods were used to evaluate athletic trainers (1) demographics, (2) estimations about what percentage of injuries evaluated and treated were classified as overuse, (3) methods for treating overuse injuries, (4) confidence in treating overuse injuries and the complete implementation of their treatment plan, (5) perceptions of various barriers to treating overuse injuries, and (6) perception as to why patients did not want to reduce activity to treat their overuse injuries. Results: Participants reported that about half of all evaluations and treatments in a year were overuse injuries and they were "fairly" or "completely" confident (90%) in their ability to treat these injuries. The most common treatments cited were stretching (91%) and reducing activity (90%). Only 61% of participants were "fairly" or "completely" confident in the complete implementation of their treatment plan. Participants believed that patients' reluctance to reduce sport activities (82% "moderate" or "extreme" barrier) was the most significant barrier to treatment. Participants cited athletes' avoidance of missing games as the most common reason athletes were reluctant to reduce sporting activity. Conclusions: Participants felt confident in treating overuse injuries yet faced significant barriers in treating these injuries. Clinicians should be prepared to have conversations about the importance of reducing sporting activity to allow proper healing for overuse injuries in adolescent athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective integration of research within healthcare organisations is recognised to improve outcomes. A research strategy within a hospital Trust in South West England was revised, following the launch of a national Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) strategy that promotes research engagement and activity. The aim was to develop, implement and evaluate this revised strategic plan for research. High-level engagement within the organisation was established and previous initiatives evaluated. A 6-year plan with 2-year targets was defined and evaluated at year end. The four pillars of the CNO strategy were central to the revised strategy, underpinned by digital innovation. Evaluation of the earlier strategy indicated excellent engagement with the Chief Nurse Research Fellow initiative and the Clinical Academic Network. The 'Embedding Research In Care' (ERIC) unit was reconfigured to an ERIC model, which aided question generation and project development. Year one objectives were achieved within the revised plan. Implementing a research strategy within an organisation requires a cultural shift and a long-term vision is required with measurable objectives. The team demonstrated significant progress through high-level leadership, mentoring and cross-professional collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: In Australia, inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials is higher in rural and regional areas than in major city hospitals. Inappropriate prescribing is defined as the prescription of antimicrobial agents that do not adhere to guidelines in terms of type of antimicrobial chosen, dose and/or duration or are deemed unnecessary. A review of antimicrobial prescribing in a Queensland rural Hospital and Health Service (HHS) identified that respiratory infections were an area for potential improvement. Setting: The study was performed in a rural HHS in Queensland. Key Measures for Improvement: Appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing for baseline and post‐implementation phases of the study was evaluated according to Therapeutic Guidelines: antibiotic recommendations for community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Strategies for Change: Quality improvement strategy to implement a multifaceted package of interventions for CAP. Effects of Change: Post‐implementation, overall appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing improved and there was a decrease in duration of antimicrobial therapy. Lessons Learnt: A quality improvement strategy to implement a multifaceted package of interventions for CAP has shown to be acceptable and effective in improving the antimicrobial prescribing in a rural setting. Our findings highlight the importance of utilising a multifaceted package of interventions which can be tailored to the prescribers and the patients at hand. It is also valuable to engage with local clinicians to promote the optimal management of common infections in the rural setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To understand the importance of using patient and public involvement (PPI) in doctoral and dementia research • To become aware of the opportunities and challenges associated with including patients with dementia in PPI advisory groups • To gain insight into the practicalities of establishing PPI. Background: There is increasing recognition of the need to include patients and the public in the research process. There is extensive literature about patient and public involvement (PPI) in research, but fewer articles report on PPI in doctoral research. Aim: To reflect on establishing an advisory group for a doctoral study, exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with including patients with dementia in the research process. Discussion: The authors discuss the practicalities of establishing an advisory group, the challenges of being a novice researcher, long-term commitment to PPI, the overall approach to PPI and ethical considerations. Conclusion: Establishing an advisory group for a doctoral study can facilitate mutual learning and enhance the study’s quality. Implications for practice: Achieving high-quality PPI in health and social care research can ultimately improve its quality and relevance. An important aspect of the doctoral journey is developing knowledge and skills to facilitate PPI as part of a researcher’s apprenticeship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabricated construction has proven sustainability and affordability through innovative solutions. Prefabricated housebuilding companies, as supply entities, play a vital role toward successful projects using prefabricated products. Many companies go into liquidation due to poor performance. Supply chain management performance is linked with organizational performance in the manufacturing domain. However, there is no performance framework to date for prefabricated housebuilding companies using supply chain management theory. The purpose of this study is to identify the supply chain management interventions in prefabricated housebuilding research and report relevant key performance indicators based on empirical evidence. These indicators were classified under performance dimensions and supply chain processes. These indicators were then checked for relevancy with subject matter by academic and industry experts engaged in prefabricated construction research and practice, respectively. Later an industry-wide Likert scale-based survey was conducted with experienced experts in practice, involved in the prefabricated construction business, for validation of the proposed framework. This study reports 40 key performance indicators, ranked under six principal component bodies of supply chain management, with low to high ranges from marketing to strategic management. The purposive selection is used for industry consultation with experts having practical experience. Survey results show all the indicators are highly significant except "Supplier driven strategy" which is still under a medium range of relative importance index. The top six key performance indicators are "Collaborative networking," "Quality assurance," "Entrepreneurial cognition," "Geographical proximity," "Intellectual property," and "Relationship marketing." The performance framework is suitable for vertically integrated companies involved in design, manufacturing, and construction. The qualitative nature of this framework is highly useful, with implementation ease, for companies to benchmark and gauge performance in a competitive market. This study explored the general supply chain management theoretical intervention for the development of an integrated performance framework as only specific elements were considered previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do firms benefit from integrated enterprise systems (IES), and how does the IES implementation strategy influence the returns from IES? We investigated the implementation strategy that firms should follow to integrate multiple enterprise systems regarding the timing of adoption and the richness of modules. Borrowing theories from software development literature and enterprise system implementation literature, we developed two IES implementation strategies, i.e., the agile strategy (simple, quick, and flexible) and the phased strategy (rich, phased, and pre-determined). We collected a sample of 675 public firms from 1997 to 2004 at the module level, enabling us to distinguish enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems from customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM) systems. Our data contained the timing of purchase and "go-live" events of these system modules, helping us understand firms' detailed implementation decisions. We found that IES returns depend on the choices of ERP and CRM/SCM module foundation, ERP-CRM/SCM sequential connection, and the continued adoption of ERP and CRM/SCM modules. Fewer ERP or CRM/SCM modules at CRM/SCM go-live events, a quicker connection between ERP and CRM/SCM go-live events, and the continued adoption of ERP or CRM/SCM modules all were found to enhance IES returns. Our findings show that the agile strategy leads to more returns from IES than the phased strategy and suggest that firms should integrate multiple enterprise systems by going live with advanced system modules quickly after going live with basic enterprise system modules and by continually adding new modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has heralded a health and socioeconomic crisis that has made it difficult for nonprofit human service organizations (NPHSOs) to play their social roles and achieve their goals. This article examines how the merger of NPHSOs can serve as a strategy for coping with an organizational crisis caused by external extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on eight mergers of Israeli NPHSOs. Using in-depth interviews and a survey methodology of senior managers and board members who have participated in the merger process, we explore the motives, challenges, and key processes characterizing these mergers. The findings are organized around three stages in the merging process – the Three P's in human service mergers: Pre-merger, when the motives and barriers were examined; Process, where decision-making mechanisms, issues of belonging and identity, and coping with conflicts and trust-building were examined; and Post-merger, where attitudes toward the outcomes of the merger and its success in various organizational areas were assessed. The findings also point to a lack of proper preparation and orientation for the merger, ego struggles between managers and workers, and the need for socializing the employees to the merger. We conclude by discussing the importance of planning for and attending to the human capital in the merged NPHSOs, the need to build a shared sense of belonging, and the value of shaping a new and shared organizational culture. Implications to theory, practice, and policy are discussed. Executives of nonprofit human service organizations considering a merger in response to a crisis should prepare, orient, and socialize executives, board members, and employees before entering the merger process; part of this socialization should include emotional dimensions of trust building, respect, and empathy. Executives should establish mechanisms for shared decision-making and for coping with conflicts. Executives and board members should collaborate to plan the merger strategically (i.e. establish goals before initiating the merger) to make the process more efficient, effective, and adjusted to expected and unexpected events in the external environments. Umbrella organizations, infrastructure organizations, government agencies, and funders should develop knowledge and support systems to help organizations consider mergers. Funders should be engaged in due diligence to assess the organizations' financial and economic resilience before the merger. They should also consider the synergies of the merger and its added value to the beneficiaries before entering the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that nonprofit human service organizations are nimble in times of crisis. The surprising nature of the pandemic posed unique challenges to both the supply and demand sides of the human service sector. One way that nonprofit human service organizations responded to the pandemic environment was through programming change, including adding new programs, serving new populations, and discontinuing previous programs. Drawing from a two-wave statewide survey, our results indicate that a sizable proportion of nonprofit human service organizations engaged in these changes within the first five months of the pandemic. Such decisions were associated with both resource and mission considerations. Extant research shows how strategic change made in response to environmental shifts often leaves an imprint on organizations. As such, pandemic-era programming change may have a lasting impact on the human service sector, further evidenced by leaders' intentions to sustain them in the years to come. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a number of nonprofit human service organizations (NHSOs) to change their programming. Many NHSOs added programs, added new service populations, and discontinued programs. NHSOs seem to have balanced resource and client needs as they enacted programming change, but as pandemic resources wane NHSOs will need to change further. Programming change enacted during the pandemic was intended to persist after the pandemic ends. This may exert a toll as NHSOs recognize that the pandemic has required them to increase their programming load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Environmental Protection Agency Food Recovery Hierarchy suggests methods for diverting food waste from landfill. Knowledge of how hospital foodservices implement food waste management strategies could help modernize food waste practices. The aim of this study was to explore hospital staff members' experiences of implementing a food waste management strategy to divert food waste from landfill in their hospital foodservice, including the journey, challenges, and facilitators of this practice change. A qualitative study was conducted in 2022-2023 using semi-structured interviews. Eighteen participants were staff members with knowledge of the food waste management strategy from 14 exemplar hospitals in United States, Spain, Scotland, and Australia using strategies to divert food waste from landfill within the last 10 years. Mapping and thematic analysis were undertaken to code and identify themes from the interviews that described staff members' experiences of the journey to implement the strategy. Six hospitals donated food, 1 transferred food waste for animal feed, 4 used an industrial solution, and 3 sent food waste for composting. A common journey pathway for successful implementation was identified from participants' experiences. It features the following 6 phases: idea, preparation, roll out, maintenance, established practice, and evolution. Facilitators included legislation, enthusiastic staff members, executive support, and "luck." Challenges were smells, occasions when food waste was not collected, equipment breakage, and funding depletion. This study identified a common journey pathway for implementing a food waste management strategy in hospital foodservices that can be used to anticipate and prepare for the steps in the implementation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim(s): To understand the experiences of advanced practice nurses working in cancer care. Design: Phenomenological qualitative study. Methods: Three focus groups were held to collect qualitative data. Participants were recruited through theoretical non‐probabilistic sampling of maximum variation, based on 12 profiles. Data saturation was achieved with a final sample of 21 oncology advanced practice nurses who were performing advanced clinical practice roles in the four centers from December 2021 to March 2022. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was performed following Guba and Lincoln's criteria of trustworthiness. The centers' ethics committee approved the study, and all participants gave written informed consent. Data analysis was undertaken with NVivo 12 software. Results: Three broad themes emerged from the data analysis: the role performed, facilitators and barriers in the development of the role and nurses' lived experience of the role. Conclusion: Advanced practice nurses are aware that they do not perform their role to its full potential, and they describe different facilitators and barriers. Despite the difficulties, they present a positive attitude as well as a capacity for leadership, which has allowed them to consolidate the advanced practice nursing role in unfavourable environments. Implications for the Profession: These results will enable institutions to establish strategies at different levels in the implementation and development of advanced practice nursing roles. Reporting Method: Reporting complied with COREQ criteria for qualitative research. Patient or Public Contributions: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unsafe patient events not only entail a clinical impact but also lead to economic burden in terms of prolonged hospitalization or unintended harm and delay in care delivery. Monitoring and time‐bound investigation of patient safety events (PSEs) is of paramount importance in a healthcare set‐up. Objectives: To explore the safety incident reporting behaviour and the barriers in a hospital set‐up. Methods: The study had two sections: (a) Retrospective assessment of all safety incidents in the past 1 year, and (b) Understanding the barriers of safety reporting by interviewing the major stakeholders in patient safety reporting framework. Further root cause analysis and failure mode effect analysis were performed for the situation observed. Results were statistically analyzed. Results: Of the total of 106 PSEs reported voluntarily to the system, the highest reporting functional group was that of nurses (40.57%), followed by physicians (18.87%) and pharmacists (17.92%). Among the various factors identified as barriers in safety incident reporting, fear of litigation was the most observed component. The most commonly observed event was those pertaining to medication management, followed by diagnostic delay. Glitches in healthcare delivery accounted for 8.73% of the total reported PSEs, followed by 5.72% of events occurring due to inter‐stakeholder communication errors. 4.22% of the PSEs were attributed to organizational managerial dysfunctionalities. Majority of medication‐related PSE has moderate risk prioritization gradation. Conclusion: Effective training and sensitization regarding the need to report the patient unsafe incidents or near misses to the healthcare system can help avert many untoward experiences. The notion of 'No Blame No Shame' should be well inculcated within the minds of each hospital unit such that even if an error occurs, its prompt reporting does not get harmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay is a preliminary argument intended to provoke just war scholars to think more carefully and deeply about the criterion of likelihood of success. This is particularly appropriate at this moment in time as Taiwan is on high alert as it faces China, and as we watch the determination of Ukraine to defend itself from Russian aggression. Since the writing of this essay, the 9 million people of the state of Israel faced the horrific assault by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. If likelihood of success is prioritized over the primary jus ad bellum criteria, then many possible limited successes evaporate from creative strategy. Perhaps a better way of thinking about this is that we must be thoughtful in defining what we mean by "success." Success need not be only immediate tactical or strategic victory, as tactical losses may result in strategic wins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) have sparked recently in improving the effectiveness of teacher education. However, there is a lack of review regarding the utilisation of these technologies in this field. These three technologies, namely VR, AR and MR, can be collectively referred to as extended reality (XR) (as mentioned in reference Tang et al., 2022). Objectives: Remarkably, the utilisation of XR‐based technologies in teacher education needs to be explored. Moreover, research questions related to the training objectives, methodological features, and the effects of XR‐based teacher education remain unanswered. Methods: To this end, the present study conducted a systematic review to analyse 52 articles from six databases (including Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ERIC, ScienceDirect, and ACM Digital Library). Results: The results indicate that XR technologies have been primarily used to train teachers' procedural knowledge, for instance, classroom management. Furthermore, most studies have primarily focused on pre‐service teachers (PSTs) rather than in‐service teachers and utilised small sample sizes, with VR emerging as the most frequently employed tool. Finally, the majority of the studies reported that XR‐based training affected teachers positively. Conclusions: It urges researchers and developers to consider theory‐driven training design, which increases the potential to better understand what features of XR promote in‐service teachers' and PSTs' learning and how they do so. This article additionally conducts a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of XR‐based teacher education to offer more insightful recommendations and foster further discussion. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Numerous empirical studies have shown the great potential of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies utilised in teacher education.This rapidly growing field calls upon a synthesis of the use of extended reality (XR) technologies in teacher education. What this paper adds: Presents a systematic review of XR‐based teacher education, which provides a thorough overview of how previous research utilised XR technologies to promote teacher education.Conducted a SWOT analysis and pointed out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of XR‐based teacher education. Implications for practice and/or policy: A depth of understanding of previous research on this topic may enable educators to better plan and promote teacher education programs.It can guide researchers to optimise the multisensory immersion and interactivity of the virtual systems and platforms and develop suitable materials and tasks to be used in such learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic presented wide-ranging leadership challenges to public health leaders and public health organizations. In its wake, as the necessity of reconstructing public health and modernizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is considered, we reviewed reports from the Commonwealth Fund and the CDC and other leadership-focused literature to identify common themes for a new generation of public health leaders. We posit that this new generation must have the ability to communicate (build and maintain trust and accountability); forge, facilitate, and promote partnerships; connect public health and health care systems; build information systems that provide accessible, actionable data; engage in systems and strategic thinking and action; center equity and inclusivity and understand structural racism as a fundamental driver and creator of health inequities; and achieve and maintain resilience and self-care. For each of the 7 abilities, we offer a description, assess what COVID-19 taught us about the necessity of the ability for public health leaders, and offer suggestions for developing (or honing) one's skill set, mindset, and tool set in this regard. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(6):626–632. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307633) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an outreach recruitment endeavor, a hospital system and an affiliated college of nursing collaborated to host an immersive nursing learning experience for diverse high school participants. The program included hospital tours, speakers, educational games, and wellness activities to promote pursual of nursing as a future career path. The authors describe details of the development of the program, lessons learned, program outcomes, and implications for future programs and applicability in different settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulating goals in therapy may facilitate young people and parents/carers' engagement in mental health support settings. A number of goal taxonomies have been developed, which involve organising goals set at the outset of therapy into themes. Goal taxonomies are considered useful for service planning and outcome purposes. In order to build on the knowledge about what young people choose as goals, and to best support good practice, it is important to explore the links and differences between the existing goal taxonomies. A systematic review was conducted to identify goal taxonomies based on goals set using the goal‐based outcome (GBO) tool. Framework analysis was conducted to investigate the extracted goal taxonomies. Overall, four core concepts were identified: "Goals targeting specific issues, symptoms, emotions, and behaviours," "Return and engage in activities," "Personal growth goals" and "Interpersonal goals." Goals regarding specific issues, personal growth and interpersonal relationships were present in most studies. Using these overarching core concepts could be useful for practitioner‐level, or service‐level organisation of goal data, for activities such as service planning and delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning researchers often engage in international comparative research oriented to improving domestic planning practices. However, policy transfer is seldom sucsessful because the identified 'best practices' are insufficiently applicable or transferable. To address this, we employed a reflexive action-oriented methodology valorise the results of an ESPON project on sustainable urbanisation in two specific contexts: Lithuania's national strategic plan and Croatia's post-earthquake reconstruction. In collaboration with stakeholders, we assessed the local context and then used the European knowledge as a means for reflection. The results are encouraging, suggesting that this method could improve the impact of planning research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Oman, limited access to adequately prepared healthcare providers in primary healthcare threatens the provision of quality care to patients and families and access to healthcare services. Nurse practitioners (NP) are in an excellent position to address safety issues and ensure quality healthcare with their advanced nursing skills, knowledge, and acumen for acceptable cultural and religious practices. Aims: To explain Oman's national strategic plans, processes, challenges, opportunities, and both regional and global implications for the facilitation of NP role implementation and policies. Sources of evidence: The Nursing and Midwifery Human Resources framework guided the NP implementation project. Guided by the framework, the World Health Organization and the Omani Ministry of Health conducted multiple situational analyses (2004–2016). Later, the NP role was planned and implemented in Oman. During and after implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the NP role implementation were continuously conducted using multiple focus groups, individual interviews, and field visits. Discussion: The NP role implementation revealed multiple challenges and opportunities that either hinder or support NP role implementation. Additionally, the NP implementation project revealed various lessons learned. Implications for nursing and health policy: National and global nursing leaders and health policymakers should collaborate to discuss NP issues, especially NP role sustainability, legal approval and recognition, prescriptive authority, title protection, practice acts, and professional regulation. Conclusion: This paper informs nursing leaders and policymakers in the Middle East and other countries in the global community about Oman's experience regarding NP role implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analytical framework for analyzing how multimodal resources of emotion expression are semiotically materialized in discursive interactions specific to political discourse. Interested in how political personae are emotionally constructed through multimodal meaning-making practices, our analysis model assumes an interdisciplinary perspective, which integrates facial expression analysis – using FaceReader™ software –, the theory of emotional arcs and bodily actions (hand gestures) analysis that express emotions, in the analytical framework of multimodality. The results show how the multimodal choices that political actors make during discursive interactions allow them to build their political brand and make connections with the audience on an emotional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, the UK Government published its long-awaited reform strategy for England's children's social care system. Whilst the strategy set out planned reforms for several aspects of the wider system, an area requiring particular 'priority' was the purported workforce instability seen within child protection social work. However, the strategy has subsequently faced criticism on the basis that the suggested reforms were not satisfactorily informed by the testimonies of practicing social workers. This paper draws from a mixed-method study to report on the lived experiences of a sample of 201 child protection social workers practicing across England, in the context of better understanding the factors which they believed were impacting on workforce stability within England's child protection system. Implications that emerge are the need for an increase in the monetary commitment offered by the UK Government (especially in the context of tackling high caseloads, and improving local authority pay scales to reduce the allure of agency work); a targeted emphasis on challenging local cultures preoccupied with evidencing compliance over time spent with children; and the Government taking a more assertive role in tackling the often-counterproductive commentary perpetuated by politicians and media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extends prior research by manipulating both intervention and skill difficulty using a multiple baseline across participants design with changing phases in a virtual tutoring environment. Participants were four U.S. students from third and fifth grades for whom appropriate and challenging instructional targets were selected following diagnostic assessment using curriculum-based measurement. Instructional strategies were selected to align or misalign with those instructional targets. The multiple baseline design was used to determine the functional relationship between the instructional strategies (acquisition or fluency-building) with appropriate and challenging skills. Results suggested that indicated intervention strategies aligned with students' skill proficiency resulted in improvements but that contraindicated intervention strategies that were misaligned with students' skill proficiency did not. Furthermore, most students rated the contraindicated intervention strategies as less acceptable or reported higher levels of math anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress management programs have been developed to improve teacher coping and prevent burnout. While many of these programs have promise, few have included special educators in intervention studies. Intervention programs may be beneficial for teachers in special education to increase their awareness of stress and use of coping skills, which in turn can be modeled for students in their classrooms. Encouraging individual stress management can improve well-being and student outcomes, but may be insufficient without additional classroom management and contextual support. The purpose of this paper is to use the Garwood paper as a springboard to identify potential stress management programs that might be helpful for special educators.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Provisionalization is an important step to achieve esthetic results in implant cases, and many different techniques for provisional restoration fabrication have been described. However, depending on the clinical scenario, the provisionalization strategy will require different approaches and timing. The clinician should modify the provisional restorations efficiently to reduce the number of disconnections from the implant, as repeated disconnections may have biological consequences. This article aims to schematize different scenarios requiring implant provisionalization and propose strategies to help the clinician condition the peri‐implant tissues, respecting perio‐prosthodontic fundamentals for soft tissue, biological, and esthetic stability. Clinical Considerations: The clinical outcomes of modern implant therapy aim to achieve results that emulate natural dentition. Different scenarios may require adjunct therapy, including hard‐ and soft‐tissue grafting, which complicates treatment. The provisionalization strategy will vary depending on the initial condition of the tissues, the need for reconstructive procedures, and the timing of implant placement. Selecting the right strategy based on the case type is necessary to reduce treatment time and complications associated with inadequate prosthetic handling of the soft tissues. Clinical Significance: Proper emergence profile conditioning through provisional restorations will allow for biologically sound and esthetically pleasing outcomes in implant restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few issues have attracted as much policy interest in the tertiary sector as graduate employability. Graduate employability positions universities and their students as key players in the national economy. At the same time, the standard conception of graduate employability, as it has evolved from human capital theory and modified by neoliberal ideology, has met with significant criticism. This paper reports on our analysis of the strategic plans of Australia's 42 operating universities current in 2018 to better understand (1) the extent to which employability was embedded in each university's strategic priorities and (2) the ways in which employability was characterised in those plans. Our paper provides empirical evidence of the way in which Australian universities universally and uniformly adopted a particular model of employability, simultaneously claiming its distinctiveness. Our analysis suggests the need for Australian universities to take a more thoughtful and nuanced approach to graduate employability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, children with cancer often experience delays in palliative care referral or are infrequently referred. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative study to gain insight from paediatric oncologists into what enables or deters palliative care referral. Strategic solutions to develop integrated palliative care was a critical study theme. In this paper, we have explained and interpreted these strategic solutions through the lens of feedback intervention theory. Methodology: The study findings were interpreted using Kumar's six-step approach that enabled systematic evaluation of a theory's appropriateness and alignment with the researcher's paradigm, methodology, and study findings. It also explained how theory informed analysis and elucidated challenges or the development of new models. The feedback intervention theory appraises the discrepancy between actual and desired goals and provides feedback to improve it. Results: Strategic solutions generated from the study findings were coherent with the aspects elucidated in theory, like coping mechanisms, levels of feedback hierarchy, and factors determining the effect of the feedback intervention on performance. Paediatric oncologists suggested integrating palliative care providers in the team innocuously, improving communication between teams, relabelling palliative care as symptom control, and working with a skilled and accessible palliative care team. The paper proposes an infinite loop model developed from the study, which has the potential to foster integrated palliative care through excellent collaboration and continuous feedback. Conclusion: Applying feedback intervention theory can bridge the gap between actual and desired practice for integrated cancer palliative care in paediatric oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) describes the process of supporting individuals at any age or stage of health to consider and share their personal values, life goals, and preferences regarding future health care. Engaging in ACP is associated with better-quality of care in which people receive care in lines with their wishes, values and preferences. Direct translations of ACP guides and resources do not attend to the considerable inter- and intra-ethnic variations in cultural and religious or spiritual beliefs that shape preferences among people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. ICanCarePlan is a three-year project that aims to determine the prevalence of ACP documentation among people from CALD backgrounds with cancer, identify resources available and their use to support ACP among CALD communities, identify barriers and facilitators of person-centred ACP, and to develop, through co-design with consumers and clinicians, approaches that enhance the process ACP for people from CALD backgrounds. Method: A mixed-method sequential approach will be used comprising of four studies. Study one is retrospective medical record review of approximately 1500 medical records to establish the prevalence of ACP documentation among CALD patient records in cancer services. Study two is a document analysis synthesising the resources available in the Australian health system to support ACP. Study three is a qualitative study with healthcare staff and consumers to explore barriers and enablers of person-centred ACP. Evidence generated from studies one to three will inform the conduct of co-design with stakeholders to develop approaches to improve ACP processes among CALD communities. Language, technical and financial support for meaningful involvement with consumers from CALD backgrounds throughout this project is outlined. A plan for distress management is also made due to sensitive nature of the topic. The research project has also established a project steering group consisting of three consumer members who are from CALD backgrounds. Discussion: The project will address a national priority issue for a growing population of CALD communities in Australia. The project will provide novel evidence of ACP among CALD communities and novel strategies developed with stakeholders to enhance uptake and experiences of ACP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chemoradiation as a standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is known to induce severe hematologic toxicity. This systematic review aims to evaluate the relationship between pelvic bone marrow irradiation and hematologic toxicity in patients undergoing platin-based chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer. We seek to summarize possible dose constraints for optimal bone marrow sparing and optimize clinical strategies to mitigate treatment-related toxicities. The standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer typically includes concomitant chemoradiation, a regimen known to induce severe hematologic toxicity (HT). Particularly, pelvic bone marrow dose exposure has been identified as a contributing factor to this hematologic toxicity. Chemotherapy further increases bone marrow suppression, often necessitating treatment interruptions or dose reductions. A systematic search for original articles published between 1 January 2006 and 7 January 2024 that reported on chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer and hematologic toxicities was conducted. Twenty-four articles comprising 1539 patients were included in the final analysis. HT of grade 2 and higher was observed across all studies and frequently exceeded 50%. When correlating active pelvic bone marrow and HT, significant correlations were found for volumes between 10 and 45 Gy and HT of grade 3 and higher. Several dose recommendations for pelvic bone and pelvic bone marrow sparing to reduce HT were established, including V10 < 90–95%, V20 < 65–86.6% and V40 < 22.8–40%. Applying dose constraints to the pelvic bone/bone marrow is a promising approach for reducing HT, and thus reliable implementation of therapy. However, prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to define precise dose constraints and optimize clinical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a COVID-19 public health intervention implemented across sequenced research trials, we present a community engagement phased framework that embeds intervention implementation: (1) consultation and preparation, (2) collaboration and implementation, and (3) partnership and sustainment. Intervention effects included mitigation of psychological distress and a 0.28 increase in the Latinx population tested for SARS-CoV-2. We summarize community engagement activities and implementation strategies that took place across the trials to illustrate the value of the framework for public health practice and research. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S5):S396–S401. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307669) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International power is under profound transition, marked by a move towards deep pluralism in the international system whereby a range of middle powers have begun to stake a greater claim to regional power. This shift is escalating the power struggle between the United States and China. Both Beijing and Tehran share a strategic plan to undermine US global hegemony, and both have encountered tensions, sanctions, and pressures originating from Washington. A relatively strong and independent Iran in the Persian Gulf would help China not only to ensure its interests in the region, but also to guarantee its energy security and embed its footprint in the Middle East. Consequently, in the age of relative decline of United States' power, and the rise of regional powers, the Sino-Iranian strategic partnership is changing the Middle East's security architecture. Iran's look East and China's march West strategic visions will meet in the Persian Gulf region. As such, this article seeks to explore such confluence, and its implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the risk management implementation and the degree of likelihood and severity of risks affecting the Department of Tourism-Accredited hotels in Region VIII. In addition, it took into account if there is a significant difference between the perspectives of middle management and rank-and-file employees and the significant relationship of risk management implementation and likelihood and severity of risks and its facilitating and impeding factors. To attain these, the study utilized both quantitative framework through survey and a qualitative method through interview. Sixteen hotels participated the study. Overall, establishments demonstrated an implemented category yet presence of variability suggests the need for continuous improvement in implementation. As to likelihood and severity of risks it is perceived as "unlikely to happen" yet "very severe" suggesting to roll-out proactive measures. It showed significant difference in viewpoints where the middle management have a better grasps of risk management than the rank-and-file employees. While for the test of significant relationship it has a clear negative correlation while no significant correlation was found between risk management and severity of risks. It revealed themes reactive approach rather than proactive risk management where these hotels need to embody a culture of proactive culture, employee education and training, budget allocation and get rid of being resistance to change and lack of cooperation to enhanced strategies to risk management. Based on the findings, a comprehensive risk management plan anchored to ISO 31000-2018 will be helpful to lessen the vulnerability to various risks to safeguard its stakeholders especially it guests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practice guidelines for early childhood education (ECE) and clinical autism interventions (Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention, NDBI) have emerged separately in history, represent different disciplines, and operate within different service systems in the United States. This article identifies priorities, principles, and practices that are shared across the NDBI and ECE frameworks, unique to each framework but compatible with the other, or in conflict. Both frameworks support converging inclusive ECE models focused on autism in that they are both grounded in responsive relationships, natural learning environments, and strategies to promote children's motivation and active engagement. While compatible in general, each framework extends the other in important ways. For example, NDBI goes beyond the ECE frameworks by focusing on a more fine-grained examination of learning strategies and targets. Opportunities for bridging gaps are identified, including the use of implementation science frameworks to integrate perspectives from different stakeholder groups, supporting the scale-up of inclusion preschools in community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the experience and impact of intersectional stigma experienced by rural young people (15–25 years) who have a parent with mental health challenges. The StigmaBeat project employed a co-design approach to create short films to identify and challenge mental health stigma from the perspective of young people who have experienced this phenomenon. The aim of this paper is to describe the co-design methodological approach used in StigmaBeat, as an example of a novel participatory project. We describe one way that co-design can be employed by researchers in collaboration with marginalised young people to produce films aimed at reducing mental health stigma in the community. Through describing the processes undertaken in this project, the opportunities, challenges, and tensions of combining community development methods with research methods will be explored. Co-design with young people is a dynamic and engaging method of collaborative research practice capable of harnessing lived experience expertise to intervene in social issues and redesign or redevelop health services and policies. The participatory approach involved trusting and implementing the suggestions of young people in designing and developing the films and involved creating the physical and social environment to enable this, including embedding creativity, a critical element to the project's methodological success. Intensive time and resource investment are needed to engage a population that is often marginalised in relation to stigma discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report highlights the 2023-2028 American Association of Nurse Practitioners Research Agenda (AANP-RA), which focuses on the research goals of AANP as an organization and is based on its mission and strategic plan. The purpose of the AANP Research Agenda is to outline research priorities that advance the AANP Strategic Plan and concurrently address gaps in nursing science. American Association of Nurse Practitioners supports research studies that are rigorously designed and conducted using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, as well as implementation science with the potential to positively impact both NP practice and patient health outcomes. The AANP-RA strategy is guided by the PEARL acronym: examining NP Practice, Education, policy Advocacy, Research, and Leadership. A discussion of each area is presented along with suggested topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), authorized by the 1965 Older Americans Act, seek to promote "age-friendly" communities by offering services that help older adults live independently. This study used Qualtrics survey data (n = 94 respondents) to identify unmet needs for AAA services in the Detroit metropolitan area. Descriptive statistical analyses were used for closed-ended items and content analysis was used to identify themes from open-ended questions. This needs assessment aims to provide the opportunity for in-depth, meaningful input from stakeholders about areas relevant to strategic planning efforts that enhance and enrich older adult programming in an urban AAA service area. Key themes included the need to collaborate with transportation providers, partner with healthcare and hospitals, market the agency to enhance visibility, promote aging in place, address demographic changes, and improve access to older adult services and caregiver support. Findings suggest the importance of providing accessible, high-quality services that promote aging in place through community outreach and collaboration activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are tools designed to help operators make effective choices in workplace environments where discernment and critical thinking are required for effective performance. Path planning in military operations and general logistics both require individuals to make complex and time-sensitive decisions. However, these decisions can be complex and involve the synthesis of numerous tradeoffs for various paths with dynamically changing conditions. Intelligence collection can vary in difficulty, specifically in terms of the disparity between locations of interest and timing restrictions for when and how information can be collected. Furthermore, plans may need to be changed adaptively mid-operation, as new collection requirements appear, increasing task difficulty. We tested participants in a path planning decision-making exercise with scenarios of varying difficulty in a series of two experiments. In the first experiment, each map displayed two paths simultaneously, relating to two possible routes for the two available trucks. Participants selected the optimal path plan, representing the best solution across multiple routes. In the second experiment, each map displayed a single path, and participants selected the best two paths sequentially. In the first experiment, utilizing the DSS was predictive of adoption of more heuristic decision strategies, and that strategic approach yielded more optimal route selection. In the second experiment, there was a direct effect of the DSS on increased decision performance and a decrease in perceived task workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Translational Science Benefit Model (TSBM) was developed to broadly capture systematic measures of health and societal benefits from scientific research, beyond traditional outcome measures. We aimed to develop a systematic process for the application of the TSBM and to then provide an example of a novel application of the TSBM to an ongoing Return-to-Learn (RTL) after youth concussion project involving partnerships with community stakeholders. Methods: We invited investigators, project advisory board, and participants of the RTL project to participate in a modified Delphi process. We first generated a list of potential translational benefits using the indicators of the TSBM as guideposts. We then prioritized the benefits on an adapted Eisenhower matrix. Results: We invited 35 concussion care or research experts to participate, yielding 20 ranked translational benefits. Six of these recommendations were ranked high priority, six were regarded as investments, and eight were ranked as either low yield or low priority. Discussion: This study found that activities such as education and training of stakeholders, development of policy and consensus statements, and innovation in dissemination, were perceived as higher priority than other activities. Our approach using a modified Delphi process and incorporating the TSBM can be replicated to generate and prioritize potential benefits to society from research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Suicide risk is higher among violence-involved individuals. Intimate Partner Violence hotline workers are a critical source of support and can potentially be suicide prevention champions. Our primary goal was to examine the effectiveness of disseminating a free, online IPV—Suicide Prevention curriculum, via a randomized control trial, to hotline workers in ten states with the highest suicide and IPV homicide rates. Method: We divided the country into five regions and, based on criterion, chose two states in each region to randomize into the two arms of the study. We examined training participation and engagement between the two approaches: (1) 'dissemination as usual' (control) using a National Domestic Violence Hotline email and a postcard to state/county IPV directors, versus (2) 'enhanced dissemination' (intervention) using a four-point touch method (postcard, phone call, email, and letter) to 'drive' participation. Results: Participation increased in the intervention arm as approaches became more personal (i.e., email and phone calls vs. letters). Results indicate that traditional dissemination strategies such as email announcements and invitations are not as effective as varied and multiple touchpoints for IPV hotline staff. Conclusion: Successful dissemination strategies to promote digital training should consider the value added by personalized connection. Future research is needed to understand how to offer effective and efficient web-based training to those providing IPV and child abuse services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual assault and heavy alcohol use are prevalent and interrelated public health concerns on university campuses. Surprisingly, however, few alcohol harm reduction interventions address this intersection to help students reduce both personal and community risks for sexual assault in college drinking contexts. Objectives: In the current study, students (ages 18–24) shared strategies they use to protect themselves and others from sexual assault in college drinking contexts, as well as challenges to implementing these strategies. A series of six focus groups were conducted across two universities in the U.S. (N = 35). Participants responded to open-ended questions focused on drinking and sexual assault (e.g., What are some of the things students might do to avoid or address situations where they feel pressured of coerced to hook up or have sex when they do not want to?). Results: Thematic analyses demonstrated students' awareness of protective behavioral and bystander intervention strategies that could help reduce vulnerability to experience sexual assault for themselves or others in drinking contexts. Perceived barriers to using bystander intervention strategies included student's own and friends' heavy drinking (decreased inhibitions, loss of autonomy), ambiguity in deciphering risk (lack of familiarity, minimization, diffusion of responsibility), and gender (gender norms, power imbalances). Conclusions: This study informs the development of interventions that help students identify strategies and overcome barriers to reduce risks for sexual assault in college drinking contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expedited implementation of evidence into practice and policymaking is critical to ensure the delivery of effective care and improve health-care outcomes. Implementation science deals with the designing of methods and strategies for increasing and facilitating the uptake of evidence into practice and policymaking. Nevertheless, the process of designing and selecting methods and strategies for implementing evidence is complicated because of the complexity of health-care settings where implementation is desired. Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized a range of fields, including genomics, education, drug trials, research, and health care. This commentary discusses how AI can be leveraged to expedite implementation science efforts for transforming health-care practice. Four key aspects of AI use in implementation science are highlighted: (a) AI for implementation planning (e.g., needs assessment, predictive analytics, and data management), (b) AI for developing implementation tools and guidelines, (c) AI for designing and applying implementation strategies, and (d) AI for monitoring and evaluating implementation outcomes. Use of AI along the implementation continuum from planning to delivery and evaluation can enable more precise and accurate implementation of evidence into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the practice environment, empowerment, and outcomes such as quality of care, job satisfaction, and intent to stay has been extensively studied in healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities. Research consistently demonstrates that a positive practice environment, characterized by supportive leadership, adequate resources, and opportunities for professional growth, are associated with better quality of care, increased job satisfaction, and higher intent to stay among healthcare professionals. Limited knowledge exists regarding the specific relationship between the practice environment, empowerment, and these outcomes within home care organizations. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the impact of strategies on nurse practice environment, social capital, decision latitude, workload, care quality, job satisfaction, and retention in a Belgian home healthcare organization. METHODS: A longitudinal survey was conducted in a home healthcare organization, with data collected at 3 time points: baseline (T1) (2015), T2 (2018), and T3 (2021). RESULTS: In T3, respondents reported significantly higher scores for departmental and general management compared with T1. The interventions led to significant improvements in social capital and decision latitude. Self-reported quality of care at the department level showed a significant increase, whereas no significant change was observed for quality of care during the last round. CONCLUSION: The implementation of strategies and interventions as part of a broader healthcare transformation process had a positive impact. Improvements were observed in nurse-reported quality of care, job satisfaction, and intent to stay in nursing. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of the implemented measures in enhancing nursing practice and creating a positive work environment. Continuous efforts to implement and evaluate such strategies are essential for enhancing the satisfaction and retention of nursing teams within healthcare organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong link exists between adequate supply chain management and nurse efficiency and satisfaction. Implementing Lean methodology, specifically 5S process improvement, staff created a unit-based supply room that was clean, safe, and well organized which led to reduced waste, greater efficiency, and cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]