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In 2016 WHO launched the priority assistive products list (APL) consisting of 50 products and recommended that using this as a reference, countries should develop their own contextually relevant national APLs. This paper describes the development of Malawi's APL. Two hundred and ninety-six persons with disabilities participated in a rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) with people with various types of disabilities were conducted. The rATA questionnaire and FGDs collected data on assistive products (APs) participants used, APs they needed and the challenges they experienced. Data collection was done in six districts spread across the three regions in Malawi. All age groups were included in the survey. Persons with disabilities aged less than 18 participated but went with their guardians. All persons who participated in this study provided consent. Survey and FGDs results were presented at an APL consensus meeting with policymakers, service providers, disabled peoples' organizations and development partners in the disability sector. Based on the results and further discussions, a consensus was reached on the priority APs for Malawi. More than a third of respondents used wheelchairs (32%), followed by auxiliary crutches (25%), walking sticks (13%), reading glasses (11%), prosthesis (10%), elbow crutches (9%) and orthosis (8%). There is also a high demand for products such as pull-up underwear (incontinence products) (79%), hearing aids (70%), reading glasses (59%) and diapers (63%). After intensive discussions during a consensus meeting, an agreement was reached on the 22 priority APs for Malawi. There is a wide range of APs being used by people with different functional limitations in Malawi. There is also a demand for APs that are not readily available. When developing an APL, the list should include products in use, those in demand, and those recommended by service providers. Following the development of the priority assistive products list (APL) by WHO, member states should develop their own contextually based APL. The development of the APL should be based on research evidence. All key stakeholders including persons with disabilities and other functional limitations, government, and development partners should participate in this process. The APL should be part of the national health system or community services. The Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, being the Government of Malawi line ministry coordinating disability issues participated actively in this study including inviting participants in the stakeholders' validation workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mental health of the farming community across industrialised nations has long been a major concern. Using an adapted procedure for a systematic literature review of observational epidemiological studies reporting prevalence (informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute method), this paper reviews peer-reviewed literature that explicitly compares farmer and non-farmer mental health (n = 48). In doing so, it provides a central and accessible evidence base for researchers and practitioners, and simultaneously reveals a stark lack of consensus; specifically, 54.0% of measures deployed to assess farmer mental health determined it to be the same as or even better than non-farming populations. This ambiguity sits in sharp contrast to the unequivocally worrisome farmer suicide statistics. Informed by the literature, the paper discusses potential reasons for this mismatch, including (i) farmers' progression through a different "pathway" to suicide that is not always preceded by mental illness, and (ii) a failure of current methods to accurately gauge the mental health status of farmers. The paper concludes by recommending more research into farmers' "pathway" to suicide, and highlights the need for a dedicated and multi-disciplinary programme of methods research that will afford a more culturally appropriate and effective means of understanding mental health in the farming community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ottawa Conference on the Assessment of Competence in Medicine and the Healthcare Professions was first convened in 1985 in Ottawa. Since then, what has become known as the Ottawa conference has been held in various locations around the world every 2 years. It has become an important conference for the community of assessment – including researchers, educators, administrators and leaders – to share contemporary knowledge and develop international standards for assessment in medical and health professions education. The Ottawa 2022 conference was held in Lyon, France, in conjunction with the AMEE 2022 conference. A diverse group of international assessment experts were invited to present a symposium at the AMEE conference to summarise key concepts from the Ottawa conference. This paper was developed from that symposium. This paper summarises key themes and issues that emerged from the Ottawa 2022 conference. It highlights the importance of the consensus statements and discusses challenges for assessment such as issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion, shifts in emphasis to systems of assessment, implications of 'big data' and analytics, and challenges to ensure published research and practice are based on contemporary theories and concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curriculum change is relatively frequent in health professional education. Formal, planned curriculum review must be conducted periodically to incorporate new knowledge and skills, changing teaching and learning methods or changing roles and expectations of graduates. Unplanned curriculum evolution arguably happens continually, usually taking the form of "minor" changes that in combination over time may produce a substantially different programme. However, reviewing assessment practices is less likely to be a major consideration during curriculum change, overlooking the potential for unintended consequences for learning. This includes potentially undermining or negating the impact of even well-designed and important curriculum changes. Changes to any component of the curriculum "ecosystem "- graduate outcomes, content, delivery or assessment of learning – should trigger an automatic review of the whole ecosystem to maintain constructive alignment. Consideration of potential impact on assessment is essential to support curriculum change. Powerful contextual drivers of a curriculum include national examinations and programme accreditation, so each assessment programme sits within its own external context. Internal drivers are also important, such as adoption of new learning technologies and learning preferences of students and faculty. Achieving optimal and sustainable outcomes from a curriculum review requires strong governance and support, stakeholder engagement, curriculum and assessment expertise and internal quality assurance processes. This consensus paper provides guidance on managing assessment during curriculum change, building on evidence and the contributions of previous consensus papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most practical decision-making problems commonly contain several alternatives evaluated by more than one decision maker (DM) according to the built criteria system. It is known as multi-criteria group decision making problems. The decision-making results should be based on highly similar individual opinions to derive the most suitable choice. Nevertheless, the divergence of individual judgments is usually significant due to various subjective and objective reasons. In this case, some DMs need to modify their judgments to derive final results, the consensus adjustment in group decision making. Like supply chain management, the centralized consensus process can minimize individual adjustments under the set consensus condition. Based on the hypothesis of rational humans that individuals always pursue maximum benefits, this paper proposes an iterative consensus process in a centralized environment. According to non-consensus adjustments, the iterative procedure contains non-transferable and transferable two parts. When the non-transferable consensus adjustment procedure is completed, the transferable consensus adjustment procedure is activated using an asymmetrical Nash bargaining game allocation mechanism. Additionally, a case study is provided to demonstrate the efficaciousness and practicality of the new method. Meanwhile, sensitivity and comparison analyses are done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, we present the results of a scoping review in which we examined the scientific literature (2010–2021) on faith-based organizations (FBOs) working within the field of poverty alleviation, focusing on the way studies define and use the term FBO. Fifty-two relevant studies were identified and included. Our research shows that the term FBOs is primarily used in American studies. Moreover, there is no broad consensus on the exact definition or meaning of the term nor on its scope. Because of this lack of consensus and the inherent shortcomings of the term, we suggest to replace the term FBO by the term "religion-based solidarity initiatives" (RSIs), We define RSIs as: "Initiatives that, from a religious inspiration, aim at organizing collective action for and/or providing support or services to people in vulnerable positions." These initiatives can range from small scale ad hoc initiatives till large scale formal organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify and appraise the existing clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements and Cochrane systematic reviews for the management of adult and paediatric focal spasticity to generate a single synthesized guideline. Systematic review of 12 electronic databases. Clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements and Cochrane systematic reviews for focal spasticity in adults and children. Included studies were appraised according to the AGREE II criteria. A total of 25 papers were included in this review, comprising 12 clinical practice guidelines, nine consensus statements and four Cochrane systematic reviews. The areas most strongly endorsed were: (1) management to be provided by a multi-disciplinary team, (2) therapy should be goal-directed, (3) goals to be developed in conjunction with the patient and family, and (4) importance of follow-up evaluations. There was a greater focus on activity outcomes and classification in the paediatric papers. The guidelines varied considerably in their quality, with AGREE II scores ranging from 52.8 to 97.1%. This systematic review has synthesized the key elements regarding principles of focal spasticity management, outcome measures, physical interventions and educational recommendations into a single, readily applied guideline available for clinical use. Despite considerable variability in the quality of the guidelines, several strong themes emerged. Focal spasticity management should be multi-disciplinary, patient-centred and goal-directed. Routine measurement of impairment and activity are strongly endorsed. Botulinum toxin A injection should only be provided as part of an integrated approach to focal spasticity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Browning and Veit note how, since the presence of sentience in mammals, birds and cephalopods received official scientific recognition in the 2012 I Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness i , animal sentience has been legally recognized in the European Union, UK, New Zealand and parts of Australia. The final paper by Hendricks and Seybold criticizes the still extant practice of unauthorized pelvic examinations (UPEs) on unconscious female patients by medical students as part of their training. In their paper, they 'analyze this shift towards recognition of sentience in the regulation and practice in the treatment of laboratory animals and its effects on animal welfare and use'. [Extracted from the article]

Increasingly, a critical eye has been placed on the methodological quality of consensus statements. As expert systematic review (SR) methodologists, librarians are often called on to support consensus statement work. Using the Weill Cornell Medicine Samuel J. Wood Library's SR Service experience as a guide, the aim of this paper is to answer three main questions regarding librarians supporting consensus statement work: (1) What is a consensus statement? (2) What is consensus statement methodology and how does this compare to practice guidelines? (3) What are important and practical points to consider when supporting this kind of request? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the number of speeches which treat central topics in the House of Lords second reading of the 'Assisted Dying Bill' (October 22, 2021). It summarizes some of the principal arguments for and against the Bill according to the main categories of discussion. These were compassion; palliative care; autonomy, choice and control; legal and social effects. In summarizing the arguments thematically, it is possible to see the current state of the debate and how concerns are shared on either side, even if approaches to and proposed solutions for those problems are different. The paper concludes that the essential source of disagreement lies outside of the arguments raised, and therefore that any change in the law is not likely to arise from political consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide an overview and critique of the newly updated Sensory Processing Measure – second edition (SPM-2) to assist clinicians in understanding its strengths and limitations and in selecting an appropriate sensory processing scale that best meets their clients' needs. Using four established research methodological quality critique tools, the SPM-2's family of age-related versions was evaluated by administering the tools separately and discussed their scoring and findings to reach a consensus on all ratings. The tools identified several strengths and weaknesses of the SPM-2. The SPM-2's items on its age-related versions scored well in the criteria of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, explanation of the instrument design, construct validity, content validity, criterion validity and ease of administration, and scoring. However, a lack of normative data for participant groups outside of the United States, methodological limitations, and a lack of investigation into some important psychometric properties, particularly responsiveness, were identified as notable weaknesses of the SPM-2's items on its age-related versions based on the critique criteria. Overall, despite the areas needing further development and investigation, the SPM-2 is considered a psychometrically sound tool that provides a reliable and valid approach to measuring aspects of the sensory processing construct across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mainstream youth mental health services struggle to comprehend the connection between colonisation and service provision for Aboriginal young people. This is the consensus agreed by Aboriginal Elders from Perth, Western Australia and young Aboriginal leaders within their communities (Wright, Culbong, Crisp, Biedermann, & Lin (2019). 1–7). What is required is a more nuanced, culturally relevant approach to both an understanding of the impact of colonisation on mental health and help-seeking behaviour if they are to provide equitable access for Aboriginal young people. In this paper, we report on a three-year participatory action research (PAR) project conducted on Whadjuk Nyoongar country in Perth, Western Australia. An innovative model of care framework developed from the project and described in this paper, focuses on key components that both inform and assist service providers in improving service provision to Aboriginal young people. The model, depicted as a tree, symbolises strength and growth, with the 'roots' of the tree, holding trust, culture and spirit. This paper details a culturally-safe co-design process that was held and directed with Elders, in partnership with young people, youth mental health service staff and youth policy staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construct: The construct being assessed is readiness-for-residency of graduating medical students, as measured through two assessment frameworks. Background: Readiness-for-residency of near-graduate medical students should be but is not consistently assessed. To address this, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), in 2014, identified and described 13 core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), which are tasks that all residents should be able to perform unsupervised upon entering residency. However, the AAMC did not initially provide measurement guidelines or propose standardized assessments. We designed Night-onCall (NOC), an immersive simulation for our near-graduating medical students to assess and address their readiness-for-residency, framed around tasks suggested by the AAMC's core EPAs. In adopting this EPA assessment framework, we began by building upon an established program of competency-based clinical skills assessments, repurposing competency-based checklists to measure components of the EPAs where possible, and designing new checklists, when necessary. This resulted in a blended suite of 14 checklists, which theoretically provide substantive assessment of all 13 core EPAs. In this paper, we describe the consensus-based mapping process conducted to ensure we understood the relationship between competency and EPA-based assessment lenses and could therefore report meaningful feedback on both to transitioning students in the NOC exercise. Approach: Between January-November 2017, five clinician and two non-clinician health professions educators at NYU Grossman School of Medicine conducted a rigorous consensus-based mapping process, which included each rater mapping each of the 310 NOC competency-based checklist items to lists of entrustable behaviors expected of learners according to the AAMC 13 core EPAs. Findings: All EPAs were captured to varying degrees by the 14 NOC checklists (overall Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.77). Consensus meetings resolved discrepancies and improved ICC values for three (EPA-9, EPA-10, EPA-12) of the four EPAs that initially showed poor reliability. Conclusions: Findings suggest that with some limitations (e.g., EPA-7 "form clinical questions/retrieve evidence") established competency-based assessments can be repurposed to measure readiness-for-residency through an EPA lens and both can be reported to learners and faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tackles the politics of social control involved in the task of the police, by approaching police as a state institution that operates through and upon movement, and which seeks to transform the political aspect of movement (which Randy Martin defines as 'mobilization') into social demobilization. I argue that police performance is a choreographed performance, and focus on how police benefit from choreography as a language of control. Following Jacques Rancière's distinction of politics and police, I recognize the biopolitical dimension of police by focusing on how police manufactures social consensus by using choreographed movement to repress spontaneous movement. I draw on Randy Martin and André Lepecki in order to argue that movement plays, therefore, a central role in the performance of police: movement appearing to be both the source of police power and their main target. We must look at the professionalized production of acquiescent patterns of movement as a conscious operation of power aiming for demobilization and for the transformation of public spaces of dialogue and dispute into spaces of mobility and circulation. I engage critically with the well-known paper 'Choreopolice and choreopolitics; or, the task of the dancer' by Lepecki, which defines police as a biopolitical logic of relentless circulation while leaving aside other considerations of police that might as well be informed by the scope of performance research: provided that we consider police a practice of the bodies, what are the body techniques that police deploy? How are they embodied? I build upon Erin Manning ' s concept of ecology of movements to describe the interplay of police officers and protesters as an interface, and to observe how police usually perform on the level of atmosphere distortion in order to overwhelm and disperse protesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has attracted significant attention on social media platforms as these platforms provide users unparalleled access to 'information' from around the globe. In spite of demographic differences, people have been expressing and shaping their opinions using social media on topics ranging from the plight of migrant workers to vaccine development. However, the social media induced polarisation owing to selective online exposure to information during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major cause of concern for countries across the world. In this paper, we analyse the temporal dynamics of polarisation in online discourse related to the COVID-19. We use random network theory-based simulation to investigate the evolution of opinion formation in comments posted on different COVID-19-related YouTube videos. Our findings reveal that as the pandemic unfolded, the extent of polarisation in the online discourse increased with time. We validate our experimental model using real-world complex networks and compare consensus formation on these networks with equivalent random networks. This study has several implications as polarisation around socio-cultural issues in crises such as pandemic can exacerbate the social divide. The framework proposed in this study can aid regulatory agencies to take required actions and mitigate social media-induced polarisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we reflect on what inclusion can mean to the global Health Professions Education (HPE) community, the impact of lack of inclusion, and offer suggestions on how to be inclusive. To illustrate the impact of inclusion, we offer perspectives from the lens of a medical student, junior doctor, educators, and educational leaders. The viewpoints offered in this communication can be useful to broaden and nurture inclusive pedagogy and scholarship. Furthermore, since the aim of HPE is high quality patient care and social advocacy, emphasising inclusion in HPE could enhance inclusion in patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paediatric acquired brain injury is a life-long condition which impacts on all facets of the individual's lived experience. The existing evidence base continues to expand and new fields of enquiry are established as clinicians and researchers uncover the extent of these impacts. To add to recommendations described in the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society's 2016 paper on post-acute care for children with acquired brain injury and highlight new areas of enquiry. Recommendations were made based on the opinions of a group of experienced international clinicians and researchers who are current or past members of the board of directors of the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society. The importance of each recommendation was agreed upon by means of group consensus. This update gives new consideration to areas of study including injuries which occur in pre-school children, young people in the military, medical referral, young offenders and the use of technology in rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper thematizes basic content-free cognition in human social practices. It explores the enlanguaged dimension of skilled practical doings and expertise by taking the minimal case of concept-based perception as its starting point. Having made a case for considering such activity as free of mental content, I argue in favor of the abolishment of the distinction between truth-telling and social consensus, thus questioning the assumption held by proponents of Radical Enactivism, namely that truth and accuracy conditions are restricted to content-involving activity. Instead, I claim, even content-free practical activity can be evaluated on the basis of accuracy conditions which ultimately tie with agents' practical understandings and the normative aspects of the practice. With this as my backdrop, I explore how expertise arises in the interplay of enlanguaged affordances, concept-involving perception and the normative accuracy conditions that constrain a particular practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the first steps toward developing the ICF-based assessment schedule for manual medicine with a focus on low back pain (LBP). It reports on the results of a consensus process to develop the default and optional versions of the set of ICF categories (ManMed Set) the assessment schedule should cover, and gives insight in expert input toward building a toolbox of instruments for assessing the ManMed Set categories. A scoping review and qualitative study were conducted, each resulting in a list of ICF categories. These categories, along with the categories of the ICF Generic-30 Set, Comprehensive ICF Core Set for LBP, and from an existing Delphi study, served as the starting point for an established consensus process to decide on the ManMed Set. After alternating plenary and working group sessions, an iterative ranking process and cut-off calculation, the multi-professional and international group of 20 experts in manual medicine included 23 categories in the default ManMed version (16 + the ICF Generic-7 Set categories) and 25 in the optional version. Their development is a major step toward developing an assessment schedule that can be employed in standardizing the assessment and reporting of functioning in manual medicine, initially of LBP patients. The ICF assessment schedule for manual medicine has potential use in supporting rehabilitation practice, such as for planning interventions, defining rehabilitation goals, and measuring and documenting functioning outcomes. It can be used to promote interdisciplinary coordination of care and facilitate communication between members of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team within manual medicine and beyond. The ICF assessment schedule for manual medicine can facilitate rehabilitation and manual medicine research by providing evidence for optimizing rehabilitation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite operating from the same professional accreditation standards, discrepancies in what is recorded as Direct Client Activities (DCA) in postgraduate psychology trainee logbooks have been noted across training programs in Australia. The aim of this study was to create a consensus-based list of DCA to guide the completion of trainee logbooks while undertaking practicums in clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology. A modified Delphi approach was used to gather data across three rounds. Two expert panels, representing the two areas of practice endorsement (AoPEs), rated the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with a range of activities being recorded as DCA in trainee logbooks. Activities with over 80% agreement or disagreement during any round were accepted or rejected from the final list, respectively. Sixteen activities for clinical psychology and 30 activities for clinical neuropsychology were endorsed by the expert panels. Only nine activities across the two panels did not reach consensus over the three rounds. This study has created a list of consensus activities within these two AoPEs which will facilitate benchmarking activities, and reduce confusion and anxiety for trainees, supervisors, and placement coordinators. Discrepancies do, however, remain across the AoPEs, warranting further clarification and definition refinement. What is already known about this topic: Logbooks are a key strategy in ensuring individual trainees and postgraduate training programs are meeting minimum standards set by accrediting bodies. Although required by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) to be recorded in trainee logbooks, there is a lack of consensus across Australian postgraduate psychology program providers as to what constitutes "Direct Client Activities". Inconsistent logging practices prevents benchmarking and creates confusion and anxiety for trainees, supervisors, and placement coordinators. What this topic adds: This paper was the first, to our knowledge, to obtain expert consensus on trainee Direct Client Activities for logbook recording within the clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology areas of practice endorsement. The list provides greater certainty for "what counts" as Direct Client Activities for logbook recording within these two areas of practice endorsement, with 16 clinical psychology and 30 clinical neuropsychology activities endorsed. There is a need to better clarify the rationale and principles for recording Direct Client Activities across areas of practice endorsement, to inform ongoing practices in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the motivations behind urban climate governance in eight Swedish municipalities. The study demonstrates that political consensus among, and willingness of, urban political leaders is of importance for motivating climate actions. Municipalities are moreover motivated by the accomplishments of other cities, national and subnational policies, and an increasing climate concern in society. In line with previous research, individual policy entrepreneurs have been important for local climate action; however, with the adoption of national and subnational policies, local climate policies are becoming increasingly institutionalised. Although some of the conclusions of the study confirm the significance of a polycentric governance approach, little relevance was attributed to citizen participation. The institutionalisation of urban climate governance deserves further attention so as to better understand how the dynamics of polycentric governance can be affected, and what implications this may have on climate policy-making process, and the engagement and support of urban residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between cognitive processes and language ability in aphasia has recently gained increasing attention, with some authors suggesting that control impairments may underlie difficulties with semantic tasks in aphasia. This paper aims to present an overview of the current research on the involvement of cognitive processes in semantic processing tasks and discuss the proposed relationship between cognitive control and semantic processing in aphasia. The role of cognitive processes in semantic processing tasks commonly used in the aphasiology literature is discussed and two theoretical approaches to semantic processing that contribute to the understanding of the nature of semantic breakdown in aphasia are outlined. Finally, we examine the evidence put forward in the Controlled Semantic Cognition framework with regard to the interpretation of impaired performance on semantic processing tasks in people with aphasia. Non-linguistic cognitive abilities such as working memory, inhibition and control are required by semantic processing tasks, in addition to access to conceptual information, making it difficult to dissociate these abilities. Several issues exist regarding the evidence put forward for a control deficit as the underlying cause of poor performance on semantic processing tasks in aphasia. It remains unclear whether impairment on semantic tasks in people with aphasia is related to problems with the representation and/or processing (activation/retrieval) of meaning or problems with cognitive control (or both). Further research is still needed to fully understand how non-linguistic cognitive processes interact with semantic processing, as well as clarify and consistency the definition of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing literature examines democratic backsliding, but there is little consensus on when, where, and why it occurs. Reviewing more than 100 recent articles and working papers, this research note argues that inattention to the measurement of backsliding and the underlying concept of democracy drives this disagreement. We propose three remedies. First, we outline several questions that help researchers navigate common measurement challenges. Second, we argue that conceptual confusion around backsliding is driven in large part by inconsistent definitions of democracy. We show how outlining a comprehensive concept of democracy enables researchers to better account for the diversity of instances of democratic backsliding. Our third contribution is drawing attention to a previously overlooked form of backsliding: when governments lose the effective power to govern or voters and elites increasingly disagree about truths and facts. The research note urges scholars to pay closer attention to the conceptualization and measurement of backsliding prior to empirical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consensus thresholds play a significant role in consensus checking and reaching in group decision-making problems. The existing studies contribute very few guidelines and leave the task of determining consensus thresholds to decision makers. This paper presents an effective process to determine the thresholds in the setting of group decision-making with preference relations (PRs). The process employs a concept called random consensus indices which refer to the expected values of consensus indices of randomly generated PRs. Instead of determining the thresholds directly, decision makers are only required to express that, to what extent, the information provided by the authorized experts should be better than the random case. From the view of decision makers, the process is independent to specific consensus measures and thus could be applied easily. The process is implemented with different types of PRs and discussed in distinct situations. Besides, for the applications of frequently considered scenarios, the values of random consensus indices are provided and the consensus thresholds are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To summarise body awareness assessment tools and interventions relevant for stroke rehabilitation using a framework that categorises key body awareness constructs, disorders and impairments. Online electronic databases and trial registries were searched from inception until July 2021, in addition to hand searching reference lists of included studies and reviews. Study selection included any study design where the investigation involved assessing and/or intervening in body awareness following stroke. Data were extracted based on predefined criteria by two independent reviewers and mapped to the emergent framework. The final analysis included 144 papers that reported 43 assessment tools and 8 types of interventions for body awareness. Consensus was reached on a synthesised body awareness framework. This comprised specific impairments and disorders, constructs, sub-categories and main categories leading to the overarching term of body awareness. Clinical and psychometric properties of the assessment tools were not reported or poorly evaluated, and the interventions lacked robust study designs and rigorous methods. The framework produced will enable future research and clinical practice to be based on consistent concepts and definitions. Clinicians can also use this information to cautiously select assessment tools and/or interventions but are reminded of the limitations identified in this review. There is limited understanding, compounded by inconsistent terminology and definitions regarding body awareness after stroke. A synthesized framework to define key constructs and definitions of body awareness is proposed. Assessment tools and interventions reported in the literature are mapped to the proposed framework. Psychometric properties of available tools are reported. Significant work remains to refine concepts of body awareness, develop and evaluate assessment tools and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To highlight the World Federation of the Deaf's (WFD) development of inclusive education policies for deaf learners as part of the community of people with communication disability. These policies were developed alongside and included baseline data collection regarding deaf education in Nepal. The commentary will report on sustainable partnership practices, the development of governmental accountability measurements, and data gathered during fieldwork in Nepal to provide evidence regarding deaf people's access to inclusive and equitable quality education in sign language. The recommendations from this project focus on enhanced access, policy, and training to ensure a free education in sign language for all deaf learners and their families in low-income countries using Nepal as a model. Existing bilingual settings in sign languages should be considered as part of a national inclusive education system, and this is in keeping with the views of deaf organisations in Nepal. Free education in sign language for all deaf learners and their families is an integral and wholly attainable part of inclusive education systems. This commentary focuses on good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16) and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International negotiations, particularly in international organisations with a large number of members, can be long and fraught. Reaching consensus between a large number of countries is not an easy task and this point is often ignored in news reports relating to international negotiations. This article argues that when teaching students about the conduct of international negotiations, their understanding can be greatly enhanced by the use of active learning techniques such as role playing, simulations and games. However, much of the literature describes simulations which take time to prepare and are often run over several hours or days. This article argues that we need to develop shorter, seminar length simulations which students can relate to in order to help their understanding of the issues and processes around negotiations. Highlighting the consensus process in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and drawing on experience of teaching students about the WTO, this article elaborates a seminar length exercise which can be used to illustrate some of the negotiation processes in the WTO while at the same time teaching students about the process and difficulties of consensus building with a familiar scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe remains a destination of an ongoing influx of asylum seekers. The attempts to build an EU-wide political consensus around refugee policy have so far failed. This article provides a perspective on EU citizens' preferred policy towards refugees and asylum seekers at both the EU and domestic levels. A hidden policy consensus is identified in which European citizens across all social and ideological backgrounds prefer refugees to have the right to work but their freedom of movement to be restricted while their application for asylum is being processed. At the same time, the mode of refugee allocation between countries, which has been prominent in political debates across Europe, is relatively unimportant to respondents, as they focus on the domestic level rather than EU-level policy. The widespread consensus on support for refugees' participation in the labour market may unite EU citizens around cautious hospitality by deemphasising allocation principles, and stressing country-level solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the early phases of Covid-19, social media platforms became a significant source of misinformation, and India emerged as a global hotspot. Studies show that 'miracle cure' for preventing and treating Covid-19 infection has been a prominent topic of misinformation. This study explores the extent to which beliefs in cure for Covid-19 in three prominent medical traditions popular in India are associated with the exposure to and trust in various sources from which the public access information. We conducted an online structured questionnaire survey of 500 respondents in August 2020 in four major cities of India. Despite the scientific consensus at that time that there was no cure for Covid-19, close to three-quarters of our respondents believe that there was a cure in at least one of the three popular medical traditions in India: Allopathy, Homeopathy, and Ayurveda. We find that exposure to and trust in WhatsApp are associated with false beliefs regarding the existence of a cure for Covid-19 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively). While trust in science is associated with correct beliefs (p = 0.025), there is evidence that trust in government information may foster incorrect beliefs (p = 0.031). The high trust in scientific research and its potential ability to instill correct beliefs could be exploited to combat Covid-19 misinformation in India. Potential interventions such as awareness campaigns to increase digital media literacy, regulating social media platforms, and voluntary content regulation by social media platforms – might help policymakers tackle Covid-19 related misinformation effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and use of advanced and innovative neuroscience, neurotechnology and some forms of artificial intelligence have exposed potential threats to the human condition, including human rights. As a result, reconceptualizing or creating human rights (i.e. neurorights) has been proposed to address specific brain and mind issues like free will, personal identity and cognitive liberty. However, perceptions, interpretations and meanings of these issues—and of neurorights—may vary between countries, contexts and cultures, all relevant for an international-consensus definition and implementation of neurorights. Thus, we encourage reflecting on the proactive inclusion of transnational, cross-cultural and contextual considerations and concerns to contribute to the global discourse. This inclusion does not mean endorsing ethical relativism but rather a call to foster a universal understanding of key concepts and concerns. Including contextual and cultural perspectives may truly anticipate global concerns which could be addressed while developing and implementing neurorights. Consequently, any ethical and/or legal regulatory framework(s) for the translational and transnational use of advanced neuroscience, neurotechnology and some forms of artificial intelligence intended to protect and safeguard human dignity should be contextually and culturally mindful, responsible, respectful and inclusive of not only human rights and fundamental freedoms but also of neurocognitive cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methadone is an effective analgesic with unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variables. There is no national consensus on methadone equianalgesia tools. Our study aimed to compare methadone equianalgesic tools from various national institutions with the primary objective to summarize current practice and secondary objective to determine if a national consensus can be established. Out of 25 institutional methadone equianalgesic tools reviewed, 18 contained sufficient data and were included in this study. Fifteen (15) of the institution evaluated tools utilized a wide variety of dose-dependent modalities for methadone conversion with the hospice and palliative care (HAPC) Consensus method being the most common. Based on the variability of the equianalgesia tools evaluated in this study, we were unable to recommend a consensus methadone conversion method. Further trials exploring methadone equianalgesia beyond our study are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated people's preferences in COVID-19 vaccine allocation priority, comparing different social categories based on age and occupation. Vaccine allocation preferences were related to perceived health vulnerability and economic backlash (economic negative consequences) endured by the different social groups during the pandemic. In-group favoritism in vaccine allocation preferences was analyzed. Data were collected through an online survey in Italy (n = 506) before the start of the vaccination campaign. Vaccine allocation preferences, health vulnerability, and economic backlash due to COVID-19, measured through ranking tasks. The healthcare workers category was placed at the top of the ranking in vaccine allocation priority by 65% of the respondents. Vaccine allocation priority was related to perceived health vulnerability and not economic difficulties. Limited self-preference effects emerged. People who did not consider healthcare workers a priority (1/5 of the sample) had a lower education level, were more worried about COVID-19 infection risk, and did not trust vaccines. A consensus emerged on who should be vaccinated first. Governments and policymakers should be aware of these preferences when designing and communicating vaccine allocation plans to predict and foster the public's acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination programs created by experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high support needs of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities hamper their possibilities for self-determination. To support their self-determination understanding of what this means for this group is necessary. A three-round Delphi procedure with international experts was undertaken to operationalise self-determination for persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. The quantitative output of Likert scales guided us in finding consensus or differences in the qualitative data. First round qualitative data were analysed thematically. The analysis revealed four topics: (1) statements regarding the characteristics of the person with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, (2) statements regarding characteristics of the social environment, (3) statements regarding the concept of self-determination, and (4) statements regarding the definition and operationalisation of concepts. Consensus was found on the assumption that persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities can live a self-determined life and on the importance of the interplay between persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and the environment in order to experience self-determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Hawaii has the highest rate of per capita of persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) in the United States, the purpose of this qualitative evaluation study was to evaluate the experiences of both the providers and clients of a Street Medicine (SM) program serving one side of the island of O'ahu. This evaluation used Story Inquiry to qualitatively assess one SM program serving one side of the island of O'ahu in Hawa'i. Since the culture in Hawaii is largely based upon stories, a qualitative approach was taken to better understand the lived experiences of PEH who utilized the SM services, as well as provider perspectives. The findings of this evaluation include strengths of increased primary care engagement and improved quality of life for PEH; barriers to success included transportation scarcity and limitations of services available. The findings lend implications for new SM programs, including gathering community support, having culturally aware outreach and that mobility and flexibility can overcome health-care barriers for PEH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Responsible drinking' remains a poorly defined construct despite decades of use among diverse stakeholders including industry, academics, governmental agencies, and addiction advocacy groups. To move the field closer to a consensus definition of responsible drinking that is useful for educational and research purposes, we describe five primary barriers that discourage the construction of a shared definition of responsible drinking. These barriers include the lack of foundational empirical evidence, the social construction of the term, the possibility that different targets require different definitions, the political implications of responsible drinking, and the possibility that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. We conclude this article by offering suggestions to overcome these barriers through further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure modeling plays a significant role for regulatory organizations, companies, and professionals involved in assessing and managing occupational health risks in workplaces. One context in which occupational exposure models are particularly relevant is the REACH Regulation in the European Union (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006). This commentary describes the models for the occupational inhalation exposure assessment of chemicals within the REACH framework, their theoretical background, applications, and limitations, as well as the latest developments and priorities for model improvement. Summing up the debate, despite its relevance and importance in the context of REACH not being in question, occupational exposure modeling needs to be improved in many respects. There is a need to reach a wide consensus on several key issues (e.g., the theoretical background and the reliability of modeling tools), to consolidate and monitor model performance and regulatory acceptance, and to align practices and policies regarding exposure modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatosensory function of the lower limbs is rarely assessed in children with upper motor neuron lesions despite its potential relevance for motor function. We explored consensus regarding somatosensory categories (exteroception, proprioception, interoception, and body awareness), modalities, and outcome measures relevant to lower limb motor function. Fifteen international experts with experience of somatosensory function assessment participated in this Delphi study. Surveys of four rounds, conducted online, included questions on the relevance of somatosensory categories and modalities for motor function and on the use of potential outcome measures in clinical practice. The experts reached consensus on the relevance of six modalities of the categories exteroception, proprioception, and body awareness. Based on their feedback, we formulated three core criteria for somatosensory outcome measures, namely suitability for clinical practice, child-friendliness, and relevance for motor function. None of the nine available outcome measures fulfilled each criterion. The experts also highlighted the importance of using and interpreting the tests in relation to the child's activity and participation. There was expert consensus on three categories and six modalities of somatosensory function relevant for lower limb motor function. However, existing outcome measures will need to be adapted for use in paediatric clinical practice. Consensus was established for the categories and modalities of somatosensory function relevant for lower limb motor function of children with UMN lesion. Outcome measures should cover tactile function, joint movement and joint position and dynamic position sense, and spatial and structural body representation. None of the nine existing outcome measures fulfilled the core criteria: feasibility for clinical practice, child-friendliness, and relevance to motor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing public participation has the potential to inform better alcohol policy. One method for increasing participation is the citizens' jury – a strategy that has been both touted as a panacea for issues of democratic representation and dismissed as ineffective in impacting policy. Seeking to look past both hype and cynicism, we reflect on two Australian juries with an aim to identify both the potentials and pitfalls of the use of citizens' juries in alcohol policy. Using public documentation, we analyse two alcohol-related citizens' jury processes – one in Adelaide, SA, and one in Sydney, NSW – with respect to their implications for alcohol policy development. We reflect on matters of participation, deliberation, authority, remit, and impact of recommendations. The case studies indicate the importance of clear aims; whether these are instrumental and focussed on developing specific alcohol policy recommendations or focussed on broader epistemic democratic effects. Jury composition, the notion of vested interests, and the extent of juries' authorising power are key considerations for juries deliberating on alcohol policy. Due to the nature of policy-making, no single strategy can be a democratic panacea. However, we find that carefully considered and situationally aware elements of citizens' juries may be useful in alcohol policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a perspective on the development of an international consensus on the values and principles guiding building designs that enable people living with dementia to live full lives. A manifesto based on views contained in the Alzheimer's Disease International World Alzheimer's Report 2020; Design, Dignity, Dementia was published on the web. Signatories were asked to comment on the values and principles it contained. Comments from signatories in 18 countries were thematically analyzed and the values and principles refined in light of the findings. The refined manifesto was then published. There is an emerging international consensus on the values and principles that should be applied when designing to afford people living with dementia the dignity, autonomy, independence, equality of opportunity and nondiscrimination that is their right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal land loss is a singular threat to the people, economies, and biodiversity of Louisiana. Though opinion polls indicate broad support for restoration efforts, aspects of current plans remain contentious for some stakeholders. We used cultural consensuses analysis (CCA) to go beneath the surface of restoration policy debates and identify shared beliefs about coastal land loss and restoration efforts among select occupational stakeholder groups in Louisiana. Three latent consensus groups, spanning stakeholder groupings, were identified. Data indicate broad consensus on core beliefs related to the peril of land loss and the urgency of action. And though staunch disagreement exists, there is some evidence that differences are not wholly intractable. These findings highlight a need to better understand the nature of beliefs and the frames that motivate those beliefs in policy debates and offer CCA as avenue for doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New approaches are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of an occupational safety and health management system (OSHMS), which include the development of new methods that would facilitate the measurement of the proactive operational status. This study addresses the development of a tool that contains leading operational indicators in occupational safety and health (OSH), with the main objective of prioritizing these indicators according to the consensual opinion of groups of experts. The Delphi method was applied to this manageable list to prioritize the indicators through three rounds, and consensus was obtained on which indicators are most relevant, both for each individual group of experts and for all experts. This tool allows each company to customize the indicators that are most appropriate for its own reality by considering the report of these indicators. This tool can be a part of a safety dashboard model and considers only the most relevant indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sheds light on the factors that affect the effectiveness of implementing international development policies in recipient countries. The implementation of international aid policy should focus not only on what can be implemented and on what can work, but also on incorporating local knowledge and skills to ensure effective implementation aligned with the local environment. By adopting the participatory approach, the implementation of international development aid policies becomes a learning process to better understand the local environment and specific political and social contexts during implementation. It is noted that the implementation of development policies in the international context is a complex and interactive process between stakeholders from both the donor and the recipient and calls for building consensus and resolving disputes that may arise between the main stakeholders. In this study, the participatory development approach introduced in the framework of Dutch aid aimed at reforming the public education sector in Yemen, with projects aimed at reforming the higher education sector as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systems thinking tenets were developed based on a synthesis of contemporary accident causation theory, models and approaches and encapsulate 15 features of complex systems that interact to create both safety and adverse events. Whilst initial testing provided supportive evidence, the tenets have not yet been subject to formal validation. This article presents the findings from a three-round Delphi study undertaken to refine and validate the tenets and assess their suitability for inclusion in a unified model of accident causation. Participants with expertise in accident causation and systems thinking provided feedback on the tenets and associated definitions until an acceptable level of consensus was achieved. The results reduced the original 15 tenets to 14 and 10 were identified as important to include in unified model of accident causation. The refined systems thinking tenets are presented along with future research directions designed to facilitate their use in safety practice. Practitioner summary: This article presents a refined and validated set of systems thinking tenets which describe features of complex systems that interact to create adverse events. The tenets can be used by practitioners to proactively identify safety leading indicators and contributory factors during adverse event analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cannabis use is increasingly normalized; psychosis is a major adverse health outcome. We reviewed evidence on cannabis use-related risk factors for psychosis outcomes at different stages toward recommendations for risk reduction by individuals involved in cannabis use. Methods: We searched primary databases for pertinent literature/data 2016 onward, principally relying on reviews and high-quality studies which were narratively summarized and quality-graded; recommendations were developed by international expert consensus. Results: Genetic risks, and mental health/substance use problem histories elevate the risks for cannabis-related psychosis. Early age-of-use-onset, frequency-of-use, product composition (i.e., THC potency), use mode and other substance co-use all influence psychosis risks; the protective effects of CBD are uncertain. Continuous cannabis use may adversely affect psychosis-related treatment and medication effects. Risk factor combinations further amplify the odds of adverse psychosis outcomes. Conclusions: Reductions in the identified cannabis-related risks factors—short of abstinence—may decrease risks of related adverse psychosis outcomes, and thereby protect cannabis users' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of examining treatment fidelity is critical to the successful implementation of rehabilitation interventions. Videotaping is considered the 'gold standard' assessment; however, may be considered resource-intensive and intrusive for intervention providers and patients. An audit checklist is an alternative approach recommended in the literature. The purpose of this study was to develop a documentation audit checklist for assessing treatment fidelity during delivery of SENSe therapy, a complex rehabilitation intervention targeting upper limb somatosensory impairment post-stroke. Checklist development comprised: content determination and design; checklist testing via audit of 38 therapy records from an existing data set; and exploration of rater agreement between two assessors, using a subset of 10 therapy records. The developed audit checklist comprised 29 components core to the delivery of SENSe therapy. Six SENSe therapy records were delivered with high fidelity (>80% adherence to core components), and 32 with moderate fidelity (51–79%). Rater agreement was 80% across the subset of 10 records. Findings highlight the importance of using a theoretically-guided approach to checklist development, with the use of rater agreement to identify areas for refinement. A documentation audit checklist was developed that can be used to evaluate treatment fidelity of complex rehabilitation interventions. Development of an audit checklist that evaluates clinician documentation of therapy delivery, is feasible as one strategy to measure and enhance the treatment fidelity of complex rehabilitation interventions. The process of audit checklist development should be structured and based on conceptual frameworks, to ensure it accurately measures quality of delivery and adherence to core intervention components. Audit checklists can be used to support clinicians delivering complex rehabilitation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a language-led dementia associated with Alzheimer's pathology and fronto-temporal lobar degeneration. Multiple tailored speech and language interventions have been developed for people with PPA. Speech and language therapists/speech-language pathologists (SLT/Ps) report lacking confidence in identifying the most pertinent interventions options relevant to their clients living with PPA during their illness trajectory. The aim of this study was to establish a consensus amongst 15 clinical-academic SLT/Ps on best practice in selection and delivery of speech and language therapy interventions for people with PPA. An online nominal group technique (NGT) and consequent focus group session were held. NGT rankings were aggregated and focus groups video recorded, transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis undertaken. The results of the NGT identified 17 items. Two main themes and seven further subthemes were identified in the focus groups. The main themes comprised (1) philosophy of person-centredness and (2) complexity. The seven subthemes were knowing people deeply, preventing disasters, practical issues, professional development, connectedness, barriers and limitations, and peer support and mentoring towards a shared understanding. This study describes the philosophy of expert practice and outlines a set of best practice principles when working with people with PPA. Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) describes a group of language led dementias which deteriorate inexorably over time. Providing speech and language therapy for people with PPA is complex and must be person centred and bespoke. This study describes the philosophy of expert practice and outlines a set of best practice principles for speech and language therapists/pathologists working with people with people with PPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic with a partial agonism of dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. This differential mechanism implies a rigorous appraisal of the appropriate therapeutic strategies in certain situations. To answer currently unsolved clinical questions about the use of oral and long-acting injectable (LAI) aripiprazole, we present here an expert consensus from 12 Spanish psychiatrists and a pharmacologist with extensive experience in the use of this antipsychotic. Through one face-to-face session and online collaboration, we reached consensus and established practical recommendations based on scientific evidence and clinical experience. We classified the available scientific literature according to SIGN system and attributed a level of evidence to each reviewed article. The recommendations were divided according to (i) chronological dimension (based on previous treatments, including patients naïve or not to antipsychotic treatment and maintenance regimen), and (ii) dimension related to therapeutic options, comprising switches to aripiprazole and the most used combinations with this antipsychotic. We recommend considering aripiprazole as first treatment option in the early stages of schizophrenia and in patients with affective symptoms and contemplating a switch to aripiprazole LAI in all candidate patients. Importantly, switches from other antipsychotics should consider previous antipsychotic history and exposure to aripiprazole. Aripiprazole can be considered as first treatment option in early stages of schizophrenia and in patients with significant affective symptoms. Aripiprazole LAI shows better adherence than oral aripiprazole and could be considered in all candidate patients. Before switching to aripiprazole, detailed information about previous antipsychotic history should be gathered. Switch to aripiprazole should be managed differently for aripiprazole naïve and non-naïve patients. Rigorous and controlled studies on antipsychotics in real clinical practice should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laterality indices (LIs) quantify the left-right asymmetry of brain and behavioural variables and provide a measure that is statistically convenient and seemingly easy to interpret. Substantial variability in how structural and functional asymmetries are recorded, calculated, and reported, however, suggest little agreement on the conditions required for its valid assessment. The present study aimed for consensus on general aspects in this context of laterality research, and more specifically within a particular method or technique (i.e., dichotic listening, visual half-field technique, performance asymmetries, preference bias reports, electrophysiological recording, functional MRI, structural MRI, and functional transcranial Doppler sonography). Experts in laterality research were invited to participate in an online Delphi survey to evaluate consensus and stimulate discussion. In Round 0, 106 experts generated 453 statements on what they considered good practice in their field of expertise. Statements were organised into a 295-statement survey that the experts then were asked, in Round 1, to independently assess for importance and support, which further reduced the survey to 241 statements that were presented again to the experts in Round 2. Based on the Round 2 input, we present a set of critically reviewed key recommendations to record, assess, and report laterality research for various methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]