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INTRODUCTION: Expanding access to doula care is a key strategy for improving the perinatal experiences and health outcomes of birthing people of color in the U.S. This study investigates the future of maternal healthcare in the U.S. from the perspective of doulas and highlights emerging technology and other opportunities related to strengthening the doula workforce. METHODS: The study recruited community doulas from 12 unique U.S. states, ensuring at least half of the doulas predominantly served communities of color. Doulas (N = 26) participated in semi-structured, futures-oriented interviews that explored their experiences providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic and utilization of technology. A subset of doulas (n = 8) were engaged in interactive workshops where they envisioned alternative futures for doula care and childbirth. Interviews and workshops were analyzed using the Framework Method. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic heightened technology use among doulas and increased client accessibility. Social media serves as a unique space for critical community building and client outreach. Doulas reported opportunities to strengthen and mobilize the future workforce: recognizing doula care as a reimbursable service by health insurers, utilizing doula collectives for community practice to decrease burnout, increasing emotional support for doulas, and instilling a chain of learning through mentorship. DISCUSSION: Futures thinking served as a valuable approach for doulas to illuminate the implications of present-day challenges and empowered doulas to design roadmaps toward better futures for doulas and maternal health. Doulas should be engaged as partners to hold a meaningful decision-making role when discussing policies, employment structures, emerging technology, and other aspects of doulas positioning within the healthcare system.

Burnout in the medical workforce is a growing global concern. Visual arts-based interventions can be a novel way to mitigate burnout and bolster resilience in medicine. Improving tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty has been associated with decreased rates of burnout in clinicians. No known systematic review exists summarizing the evidence behind the use of visual arts-based interventions to mitigate burnout in clinicians. The authors conducted a systematic literature review of PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL in November 2022 using the terms: art, medicine, burnout, and uncertainty. The authors review the evidence for the effects of visual arts-based interventions on clinician burnout. The search identified 58 articles, of which 26 met study inclusion criteria and were assessed by 2 reviewers. These studies reported mixed methods assessments of changes in burnout, empathy, and stress. Overall, visual arts-based interventions promoted empathy, connectedness, and tolerance of ambiguity and had positive effects on burnout; however, some results were mixed. Visual arts-based interventions to mitigate burnout show promise, and additional research should focus on feasibility and longer-term outcomes.

PurposeThis commentary proposes a new direction to train the MCH workforce by leveraging today's rapidly changing innovation and technology to address persistent health inequities.DescriptionWe outline the creation of an MCH technology and innovation training pipeline developed by harnessing creative funding opportunities, diversifying training modalities, and expanding partnerships beyond traditional academic-practice partners, that be replicated and adapted by other academic programs.AssessmentTechnology and innovation will continue to be a growing intersection between health and equity, and we must create a robust pipeline of MCH leaders prepared to collaborate with entrepreneurial and innovation leaders.ConclusionTechnology offers an important opportunity to improve MCH outcomes and reduce disparities, but only if we train the MCH workforce to seize these opportunities.

Purpose: Eccentric exercises may cause fatigue. Fatigue in lower body causes decline in dynamic balance which may cause injury. The purpose of the study was to examine the changes in dynamic balance before and after an acute bout of eccentric exercise using Y-balance test (lower quarter) among athletes and nonathletes and to find injury risk by change in balance. Materials and Methods: This study investigated 39 subjects which were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 19) athletes (mean age, 21.89 ± 2.62 years; height, 2.96 ± 0.25 m; mass, 66.52 ± 10.05 kg) and Group 2 (n = 20) nonathletes (mean age, 23.95 ± 1.73; height, 2.77 ± 0.30 m; mass, 60.12 ± 8.25 kg). Before and after acute bout of eccentric exercise, all subjects underwent an assessment for dynamic balance using Y-balance test-lower quarter. Results: After an acute bout of eccentric knee exercises, dynamic balance was not reduced significantly (P > 0.05) in Group 1 (athletes) as well as in Group 2 (nonathletes). Conclusion: In the current study by performing eccentric knee exercises, dynamic balance was not reduced in both the groups. Therefore, these eccentric knee exercises can be done by both the groups without risk of getting injured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an increased prevalence of obesity which is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and mortality risk. Because of the large population, a preferred method of measuring body fat should be simple, portable, and reliable. This study was aimed at measuring the body composition of Indian adults using the Karada scan Omron HBF-701 model. Methods: 64 healthy adults participated in this study including 30 males and 34 females with a mean age of 21 ± 2.60 years and a mean body mass index of 22.58 ± 2.85 kg/m². The measurement was taken with the prescribed guidelines. Results: The results included mean fat % 25.31 ± 6.01, body age 28.96 ± 8.29, resting metabolism 1422.13 ± 227.86 kcal, visceral fat % 4.90 ± 2.97, subcutaneous fat % 19.74 ± 6.09, total muscle mass 31.20 ± 6.27, arms fat % 31.27 ± 10.81, trunk fat % of 16.89 ± 5.43, and legs fat % 29.43 ± 9.45. Conclusion: This study concluded that the Karada scan is a novel and rapid method to reliably measure the different variables of body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an increased prevalence of obesity, which is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and mortality risk. Because of the large population, a preferred method of measuring body fat should be simple, portable, and reliable. This study was aimed at measuring the body composition of Indian Adults using the karada scan Omron HBF-701 model. Methods: Sixty-four healthy adults participated in this study including 30 males and 34 females with a mean age of 21 ± 2.60 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 22.58 ± 2.85 kg/m2. The measurement was taken with the prescribed guidelines. Results: The results included mean fat % of 25.31 ± 6.01, body age 28.96 ± 8.29, resting metabolism 1422.13 ± 227.86 kcal, visceral fat % of 4.90 ± 2.97, subcutaneous fat % of 19.74 ± 6.09, total muscle mass 31.20 ± 6.27, arms fat % of 31.27 ± 10.81, trunk fat % of 16.89 ± 5.43, and legs fat % of 29.43 ± 9.45. Conclusion: This study concluded that the Karada scan is a novel and rapid method to reliably measure the different variables of body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Improved ankle joint muscular strength decreases the risk of ankle injury; thus, ankle joint muscular strength plays an important role in the prevention of ankle injuries. Aims: To assess the relationship between the peak muscle strength of plantar flexors and dorsiflexors and power of single leg hop jump. Settings and Design: The study design was a cross-sectional observational study. Athletes of university, state, and national levels aged 18–25 years were recruited from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab for this study with mean ± standard deviation of age (20.08 ± 1.94 years), body weight (63.43 ± 10.23 kg), and height (170.67 ± 9.25 cm). Methods and Materials: Isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical System Inc., Shirley, NY, USA) was used to determine ankle concentric isokinetic strength. The isokinetic strength of plantarflexors and dorsiflexors at speeds of 30° and 120°/s was measured for both legs and afterward single-leg hop jump performance was measured on the Kinematic Measurement System. Statistical analysis used: Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between isokinetic muscle strength and jump performance. Results: The results showed a high correlation (0.6< | r |<0.8) between the strength of plantarflexors and power of single-leg hop jump and a moderate correlation (0.4< | r |<0.6) between the strength of dorsiflexors and power of single-leg hop jump. Conclusions: The measurement of peak plantarflexors muscle strength and peak dorsiflexors muscle strength is useful in clinical practice to improve jump performance in athletes training for sports such as volleyball and basketball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]