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The apps for drawing are present in our children's life. Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of mobile technology on the freehand drawing educational activity. There are few works which are contextualised within short periods of time, with teachers who are not theirs and, in some cases, outside the children's classroom. In this paper, we are focussed on the use of technology on freehand drawing activity. Thus, we have compared the graphics produced by 4- and 5-year-old children with paper&crayon in comparison with those with tablet-finger. Children made the drawings during a planned free-drawing activity, in their ordinary classrooms, with their teachers and during five sessions. Assessment of drawings has evidenced tablet feasibility for making graphics. Nevertheless, with the passing of time, quality of graphics (tablet-finger vs paper&crayons), are nearly matched, demonstrating the low impact level technology has on this activity. In addition, if drawings are analysed specifically according to ages, results have shown that both groups have to develop adaptation strategies of visual perceptual skills and fine motor skills for the touch screen in order to obtain the same quality in the drawings made on both support types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate paper-based technology (APT) is used to provide postural support for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in low-resourced settings. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of APT on the children's and families' lives. A convenience sample of children with CP and their families participated. Inclusion was based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V. APT seating or standing frames were provided for six months. A mixed methods impact of APT devices on the children and families included the Family Impact Assistive Technology Scale for Adaptive Seating (FIATS-AS); the Child Engagement in Daily Life (CEDL) questionnaire; and a qualitative assessment from diary/log and semi-structured interviews. Ten children (median 3 years, range 9 months to 7 years). Baseline to follow-up median (IQR) FIATS-AS were: 22.7 (9.3) and 30.3 (10.2), respectively (p=.002). Similarly mean (SD) CEDL scores for "frequency" changed from 30.5 (13.2) to 42.08 (5.96) (p=.021) and children's enjoyment scores from 2.23 (0.93) to 2.91 (0.79) (p=.019). CEDL questionnaire for self-care was not discriminatory; seven families scored zero at both baseline and 6 months. Qualitative interviews revealed three key findings; that APT improved functional ability, involvement/interaction in daily-life situations, and a reduced family burden of care. APT devices used in Kenyan children with non-ambulant CP had a meaningful positive effect on both the children's and their families' lives. Assistive devices are often unobtainable for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in low-income countries. APT is a low cost and sustainable solution to make seating and standing devices for disabled children in Kenya. The regular use of a postural support device enhanced the children's motor skills, ability to function and participate in everyday activities, reduced the burden of care for the families and promoted the children's social interaction. The postural support devices were highly valued and utilised by the children and families in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The precise effect and the quality of different cases used in dermatology problem-based learning (PBL) curricula are yet unclear. Aim: To prospectively compare the impact of real patients, digital, paper PBL (PPBL) and traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) on academic results and student perceptions. Methods: A total of 120 students were randomly allocated into either real-patients PBL (RPBL) group studied via real-patient cases, digital PBL (DPBL) group studied via digital-form cases, PPBL group studied via paper-form cases, or conventional group who received didactic lectures. Academic results were assessed through review of written examination, objective structured clinical examination and student performance scores. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to evaluate student perceptions. Results: Compared to those receiving lectures only, all PBL participants had better results for written examination, clinical examination and overall performance. Students in RPBL group exhibited better overall performance than those in the other two PBL groups. Real-patient cases were more effective in helping develop students' self-directed learning skills, improving their confidence in future patient encounters and encouraging them to learn more about the discussed condition, compared to digital and paper cases. Conclusion: Both real patient and digital triggers are helpful in improving students' clinical problem-handling skills. However, real patients provide greater benefits to students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the preferred viewing distance and character size for an electronic paper display for three age groups. Proofreading speed and accuracy ratio were measured during Chinese proofreading tests using the preferred character size and minimum acceptable character size. Data analysis showed that the mean preferred viewing distance for young, middle-aged and older groups was 503, 455 and 444 mm, respectively. The mean preferred character size determined by young, middle-aged and older groups was 42.0, 50.0 and 55.2 min arc, respectively. The proofreading test results indicated that the older group proofread significantly more slowly (1.25word/sec) than the young (1.76 word/sec) and middle-aged groups (1.74 word/sec). Further, the participants proofread more correctly with their preferred character size (73.3%) than with their minimum acceptable character size (65.4%). This study provides valuable information for the design of Chinese text presentations for various agegroups. Statement of Relevance: This study confirmed the preferred viewing distance and character size for E-paper display were influenced by age. The preferred Chinese character size for young, middle-aged and older people was 42, 50 and 55 min arc, respectively. Therefore, the age factor should be considered for E-paper displays design and video display terminal (VDT) guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool is a common patient reported outcome used to assess those with Chronic Ankle Instability. However, paper versions of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool have only been assessed for reliability purposes. The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement and reliability of a digital version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool-Digital. Sixty-eight participants with a history of ankle sprain(s) were recruited to participate in this study. Participants completed a paper version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool and a digital version then returned one week later and completed them again. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Kappa coefficients were used to determine the agreement between the paper and digital versions as well as test-retest reliability between the two time periods. The digital version showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89–0.96) with the paper version. The test-retest reliability between testing sessions was considered good (ICC = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77–0.92). A majority of individual items on the digital version demonstrated substantial agreement (κ = 0.60–0.81) with the paper version. A digital version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool demonstrated good to excellent psychometric properties. Clinicians who utilize a digital version as part of an electronic medical record system can utilize them confidently to accurately assess patients with Chronic Ankle Instability. Future studies may want to consider assessing a digital version with expanded clinical and research populations. The digital version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. The digital version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool can be considered a reliable instrument for the assessment of Chronic Ankle Instability. A digital version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool can provide automated scoring and quick administration for clinicians in a rehabilitation setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bilingual language development is different from monolingual language development. The lack of appropriate assessment tools geared to the bilingual population has led to inaccurate over-diagnosis of bilingual children with typical language development (TLD) as children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and under-diagnosis of bilingual children with DLD. The present paper addresses this challenge by focusing on Hebrew as a second language (L2) of bilingual preschool children whose first language (L1) is either English or Russian, taking into consideration both chronological age (CA) and age of onset of bilingualism (AOB). This study aimed to generate bilingual standards for a monolingual screening test, Goralnik Screening Test for Hebrewby arriving at appropriate bilingual typical development cut-off points. A total of 443 bilingual Hebrew speaking children (397 with TLD and 46 with DLD), ages 61–78 months (M = 70; SD = 4), 199 with L1 English and 244 with L1 Russian, took part in the study. The results demonstrate low diagnostic accuracy when a monolingual test with monolingual norms is used for bilingual children, in contrast with increased diagnostic accuracy when bilingual standards are used for bilingual children. The paper concludes by showing the importance of bilingual standards when assessing clinical populations with varying ages of acquisition, and in particular, for those who were exposed to their second language after the age of four. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fun and social affiliation are good predictors of long-term intention to use game-based interventions including those for motivating physical activity, yet current player matching algorithms are poor at facilitating social connectedness. In this paper, we report on the results of a study investigating how different player traits are associated with interest in social features of an exercise game for improving player experience through better player matching using common and complementary characteristics. Twelve conceptual scenarios were illustrated using storyboards and data was collected from 196 respondents who rated their attitudes and preferences towards gamification elements. Correlational results showed that all scenarios, except for cutting corners, were perceived as persuasive, enjoyable, engaging and are likely to increase future exercise intention for players who score high on Philanthropist- and Socialiser-oriented traits. Results also showed that many players favour the altruistic donation feature. Furthermore, qualitative results underscore that it is the player's partner that matters more than the players' personalities. We conclude with practical recommendations for designing more personalised exercise games that can include more socially engaging game mechanics in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Health behavior research suggests that perceived social norms impact health decisions. This study aimed to (a) examine reasons for vaccine hesitancy among a sample of college students compared to a clinical sample (b) examine the accuracy of perceptions of others' receptivity and intention to seek out the COVID-19 vaccine, and (c) determine whether greater self-other normative discrepancies (SODs) were associated with increased likelihood to seek out the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants. Participants included 227 students at a Northeastern private college and 140 patients seeking medical care. Methods. College students completed an online, anonymous survey. Patients completed a paper-and-pencil survey distributed at appointment check-in. Results. Compared to their perceptions of others, participants had more positive beliefs about vaccines. The most common reason prompting individuals to seek out the vaccine was to return to "normal life." Conclusions. Future research might examine use of social norms interventions to decrease vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore 10-year trends in the use of Assistive Technology (AT). Using 2006 and 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, univariate analysis were performed, and the rate of change was calculated. In both 2006 and 2015 data, a higher per cent of Blacks were using AT compared to Whites and Hispanics (p <.001); however, the rate of increase indicate that Blacks had the lowest per cent change (23.9%) compared to Whites (26.8%) and Hispanics (27.3%). Results indicated that AT use is statistically more prevalent in women, individuals who are not married (e.g. divorce, widowed, separated), the veteran population, lower educational attainment levels (e.g. some high school or less), lower income levels, the ageing population, unemployed (e.g. out of work, retired, unable to work) and individuals with limited functioning because of a disability. Similarly, individuals who have healthcare coverage, and individuals with concerns with medical costs used AT more. Even though most factors yielded higher utilisation rates when comparing 2006 to 2015 data, the rate of change had varying 'speeds' of improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether U.S./Mexico border residence in California is related to the prevalence of DSM-5 alcohol use disorder (AUD) among Whites and Hispanics. Household survey data were obtained from 1,209 adults (59.7% female) 18 to 39 years of age resident in four counties in California: Imperial on the U.S./Mexico border; and Kern, Tulare, and Madera in California's Central Valley. Households were selected using a list assisted sample, with data collected on the phone or online. Results show that AUD rates were not different between border and non-border location and between Whites and Hispanics. AUD was negatively associated with higher income ($20,000 to $60,000: AOR=.38; 95%CI=.17–.86; p<.01—more than $60,000: AOR=.27; 95%CI:.09–.81; p<.01) and poor risk perception (AOR=.86; 95%CI=.78–.94; p<.01). AUD was positively associated with continued volume of drinking (AOR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01–1.09; p<.01), drinking in Mexico (AOR = 4.28; 95%CI = 1.61–11.36; p<.01), marijuana use (AOR = 4.11; 95%CI = 1.73–9.77; p<.01), and impulsivity (AOR = 1.55; 95%CI = 1.23–1.94). Efforts to prevent AUD in the population in California, and especially among those who live close to the border with Mexico, should take into consideration factors such as impulsivity, marijuana use, border crossing to drink in Mexico, all of which increased risk of AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technologies have allowed people with disabilities to perform daily tasks with greater independence and autonomy, especially for visually impaired people. Using smart home solutions allows these users to control their homes with less cognitive and physical demand. However, making such applications accessible to meet the needs of visually impaired users, especially in developing countries, remains a challenge. This paper investigates the perceptions of these users about home automation technologies through semi-structured interviews. A total of 20 visually impaired people participated in the interviews. A thematic analysis revealed results concerning the following themes: (1) how people go about their lives at home and around, how people interact with current appliances, objects and environments, (3) how people perceive their attitude to technologies, (4) the Brazilian context of smart homes, (5) what people think smart homes should do and (6) envisaging ways of interacting with smart home systems. The results obtained provide significant insight into the needs of visually-impaired people in Brazil, with analysis of issues that are common with previous studies in more developed countries and specific issues that have important particularities and implications in Brazil and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Swedish versions of PROMIS-29 and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Dyspnea (FACIT-Dyspnea) instruments in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). In a cross-sectional study, consecutive SSc patients completed a paper-based survey. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Test–retest reliability was tested employing weighted Kappa (Kw) and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was evaluated by hypotheses testing using RAND-36, MRC Dyspnea score, Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ) and clinical measurements. Forty-nine patients (86% female; 73% limited cutaneous SSc) completed the survey. The mean disease duration was 11 years and mean SHAQ was 0.5. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were good with the exception of PROMIS-29 anxiety. PROMIS-29, FACIT-Dyspnea, and Functional limitation showed strong correlations to corresponding RAND-36 domains (|rs|=0.67 to −0.85). Relevant PROMIS-29 domains, FACIT-Dyspnea and Functional limitation correlated strongly to SHAQ and VAS overall disease severity (|rs|=0.60 to −0.75). Ceiling effects (>15%) were found in six PROMIS-29 domains and in both FACIT-Dyspnea and Functional limitations. Four (4/5) hypotheses were confirmed. PROMIS-29 and FACIT-Dyspnea meet the requirements for reliability and have adequate construct validity in Swedish patients with SSc. PROMIS-29v2 and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Dyspnea (FACIT-Dyspnea) Index are patient outcome measures that gain increasing interest for the evaluation of patient with rheumatologic diseases. PROMIS-29v2 and FACIT-Dyspnea Index meet the requirements for reliability and have adequate construct validity compared to legacy measures in Swedish patients with systemic sclerosis. Translation and validation of PROMs is important for studies of rare diseases in multi-center collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the digitalization process of an originally school-based educational programme to an online version and confirms its efficacy on teaching young children as well as their parents about stroke symptoms and the necessary actions needed to be taken in the event of a stroke. Forty children (20 children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and 20 without NDDs), aged 4–9 years, as well as 35 of these children's parents (30–50 years old) participated in the study in Greece. All individuals watched 5 educational videos, designed and produced by the Super Grand League Team. Each video had a mean duration of 15 minutes. Most children had no prior knowledge neither in stroke symptoms nor to the appropriate actions after a stroke. Children's knowledge of stroke symptoms (except the symptom of speech disturbance) and the appropriate actions following stroke improved significantly immediately post training (p < 0.05). Children with NDDs demonstrated no significant differences when compared to their peers without NDDs in regards to the knowledge gains. In the same line, parents showed a significant increase in their knowledge as regards the stroke symptoms (p < 0.001). Only 2 parents (5.7%) knew the correct emergency number before participating in the online programme, while all of them (100%) responded correctly after the programme. The current work using multimodal remote education demonstrates significant improvement in learning about stroke symptomatology and the necessary steps that need to follow. Future work should evaluate the impact of digital interventions in respect of onset-to-door times and stroke outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use and depressive psychiatric symptoms have been associated with migration and mobility. The Mexico-Guatemala border is a key transit point for internal, regional, and international migration flows. However, there is limited knowledge of the role of substance use, migration, and mobility on mental health among migrants at this border. Our paper explores the association of migration and mobility patterns with possible major depressive symptoms among migrants at this key geographic region. We recruited 392 substance-using migrants using modified time-location sampling. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were developed. We found that 12% of the sample had possible major depressive symptoms. After adjusting for relevant covariates, including gender, income, and perceived homelessness, we found that recent rural-urban and short-term migrants had higher odds of possible major depressive symptoms, whereas international migrants had lower odds. Findings of this paper suggest that although migrants experience hardship and uncertainty, they may respond with complex and nuanced forms of coping and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective teaching of concepts related to human computer interaction (HCI) requires introduction of the core paradigms as well as the design and evaluation methodologies to the learners. In this paper, we investigate the learning effectiveness of a tool-mediated learning activity to support instruction of established human performance models, namely the Keystroke Level Model (KLM) and Fitts' law, and their application in web form design practice. The tool, named Keystroke Level Model Form Analyser (KLM-FA), supports learning through exploration by providing step-by-step tracing of the KLM modelling for any web form filling task. KLM-FA can be used in modelling exercises of either online or offline web forms according to different interaction strategies or users' characteristics. Three pretest-posttest studies involving 52 students in total enrolled in computer science curricula with different education delivery methods (campus-based, blended learning, distance learning) and levels (undergraduate, postgraduate) provide evidence for the effectiveness of the proposed learning activity. In all three studies, it was found that the KLM-FA activity had a significant positive effect on students' learning gain. In addition, students rated their perceived educational experience and KLM-FA usability as rather high. Content analysis of students' comments also found that KLM-FA is an educationally valuable and usable tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2006, Marks and Fraley published research suggesting that people remembered more information that was consistent rather than inconsistent with a sexual double standard. Despite the impact of that paper on the field, there were several caveats of that research, including a small sample. The present research, therefore, aims to replicate and extend Marks and Fraley's research. Presently, 400 participants read a vignette about a sexually active man or woman for two minutes. This vignette contained an equal amount of positive and negative information. Participants then had 5 minutes to recall the information from the vignette. In the extension portion of the research, some participants experienced an experimentally varied delay, which was used to create forgetting curves in an effort to parse apart whether any differences in recall were due to differences in the encoding process, retrieval process, or both. Recall results replicated the pattern of results from Marks and Fraley (2006), in that participants remembered more negative information about the woman than the man, and more negative than positive information about the woman. Analyses of forgetting curves were inconclusive, as the predictors explained less than 0.5% of the variance in recalled information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to estimate risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women. A case–control study included 99 newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes and 198 controls. Descriptive statistics were used, and conditional univariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine differences between cases and controls. According to multivariate analysis-independent risk factors for T2DM were as follows: oral contraceptives (OR = 2.57; 95% CI = 0.99–6.62), and their longer duration of use (OR = 3.55; 95% CI = 1.79–6.99); greater quantity of coffee consumed (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.06–3.39), occupation (odds ratio – OR = 3.17; 95% confidence interval – CI = 1.57–6.41); never been pregnant (OR = 5.88; 95% CI = 2.23–15.49); family history of diabetes (OR = 18.52; 95% CI = 7.25–47.62); overweight and obesity (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.39–4.53); stress (OR = 4.42; 95% CI = 2.19–8.26), and the greater number of stressful life event (OR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.22–2.23). The present study emphasizes the role of oral contraceptive use, a greater quantity of coffee consumed, occupation, never been pregnant, overweight and obesity, major stressful life events, and family history of diabetes in the development of type 2 diabetes. What is already known about this topic (1) It is well known that lifestyle factors and genetics are involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. (2) Gender differences in T2DM are explained by differences in sex chromosomes, sex hormones, possible hormonal disbalance, lifestyle habits in nutrition, and physical activity. (3) The global prevalence of diabetes will increase to 366 million by 2030, even if the prevalence of obesity remains constant. (4) The vast majority of patients with diabetes have T2DM. (5) Knowledge of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for T2DM is important for the prevention of this disease. (6) Many factors have been investigated for their relation to T2DM, but data on the association between some of them and the risk for diabetes are not consistent. What this paper adds (1) Independent predictive factors for T2DM in women are oral contraceptive use and quantity of coffee consumption. (2) Other independent predictive factors for T2DM include occupation, never been pregnant, overweight and obesity, major stressful life events, and family history of T2DM. (3) A greater number of children was significantly negatively related to T2DM. (4) In this study, oral contraceptive use and especially their use for 5 years and more were significantly positively associated with T2DM after adjustment for potential confounding factors. (5) This study highlights, in particular, the need to target overweight and obese women who use oral contraceptives, have never been pregnant, and consume a greater quantity of coffee, with major stressful life events and a family history of diabetes. These groups are more vulnerable to T2DM; thus, prevention should focus on these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across most developmental periods, males tend to drink at a higher frequency and at a higher intensity than females. In identifying the mechanism responsible for these differences, biological factors have been a prevalent focus; however, gender expression is also highlighted. The purpose of this paper is to decipher how differences in binge drinking are attributed to sex differences and gendered traits. Using data from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (ADD Health) (n = 8,882), we conducted a multiple group moderation analysis to examine how differences in biological sex and gender roles in emerging adulthood predicted binge drinking. We found that binge drinking in emerging adulthood was most strongly predicted by high levels of masculinity and low levels of femininity in emerging adulthood. As masculinity decreased, alcohol use decreased. Femininity significantly moderated masculinity's association with binge drinking, primarily when masculinity was high, and this did not vary across sex after controlling for gender roles. Our findings expand sex and gender research surrounding alcohol use. For both males and females, the higher the masculinity the more frequent alcohol use, an effect of which was buffered by higher levels of femininity. Clinicians should take into consideration gender role ascription of their clients when determining the risk profile during assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, numerous studies and review papers have examined a wide range of potential risk factors in an attempt to understand adolescent smoking. In the majority of those studies, family is often regarded as an important element in the life of an adolescent. The authors investigated whether family factors such as child–parent relationship and parental educational level are predictors of adolescent smoking status in three school types using archival data. Both Spearman correlation and Chi-square test of independence were used to examine the relationships. In viewing all the school types as one, the result showed that at (rho =.148, n = 751, p < 0.05), a significant positive relationship existed between child-father relationship and adolescent smoking but not with child–mother relationship. However, in controlling for school types, the Chi-square test of independence revealed (Imam Hatip high school (X2(8) = 7.121, p > 0.05), Anadolu high school (X2(8) = 12.423, p > 0.05) and Vocational high school (X2(8) = 17.744, p < 0.05) a relationship between child–mother relationship and adolescent in Vocational high school. As to whether the influence of child–father relationship on adolescent smoking differed in terms of school types, result suggested a relationship existed in all the three school types (Imam Hatip high school (X2(8) = 30.965, p < 0.05), Anadolu high school (X2(8) = 21.241, p < 0.05), and Vocational high school (X2(8) = 30.804, p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the first virtual reality (VR) photography application that incorporates elements on panoramic images to assess short-term spatial memory is presented. It also allows the interaction with these elements. A study was conducted (N = 50) to compare participants' performance outcomes and subjective experience when using a VR application with and without panoramic photography. The results show that both applications are effective in assessing short-term spatial memory. The results with panoramic photography include: 1) It was effective for short-term recall since, after using the application, the participants were able to verbally recall the objects and place them without significant differences with respect to the objects correctly placed; 2) The performance outcomes were independent of age and gender; 3) The perceived level of presence was directly related to experiencing less cybersickness when using the application; 4) The level of satisfaction was directly related to perceived enjoyment, concentration, usability, competence, calmness, and expertise; 5) The more the familiarity with VR applications, the less the perceived cybersickness. Finally, the application offers two main advantages: 1) The evaluators can customize the environment by adding as many elements as desired to the panoramic photograph; 2) It could be especially suitable for groups with reduced mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) is being implemented at increasing numbers of U.S. hospitals, yet the effects of CPOE on medical student education are largely unstudied. Purpose: The objective is to investigate the effects of CPOE on medical students’ ability to write orders for patients. Methods: One hundred forty-three medical students who began their Basic Medicine clerkship between March 2003 and April 2004 were asked to write mock admission orders for a patient with pneumonia after the 1st month of their clerkship. Students had spent the month at 1 of 3 hospitals: 1 using CPOE, 1 paper orders, and 1 that began using CPOE midway through this study. Admission orders were scored for the presence of specific orders and features. Results: One hundred twenty students attempted to write admission orders. Students who trained at hospitals using CPOE and those who trained at hospitals using paper orders included expected basic, lifesaving, and higher level orders at similar rates. No significant differences in order clarity or inclusion of unnecessary orders were found for the 2 groups. No significant differences were found when controlling for school year and 4 modifiable rotation features. Conclusions: When admission order completeness and quality for medical students who trained at hospitals using CPOE were compared to those who trained using handwritten orders, no important differences were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate determinants of willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, core affect regarding using telerehabilitation, and digital competencies in rehabilitation professionals in Austria and Germany before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional paper-based and online survey was conducted before and during COVID-19, respectively, with three cohorts of rehabilitation professionals. Outcomes were the willingness to adopt telerehabilitation evaluated using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology; willingness of technology use using the short scale for assessing the willingness of technology use; digital competencies and core affect using the Digital Competence Framework and semantic differential, respectively. Multivariate ordinal regression analysis was performed to determine predictors. Included were 603 rehabilitation professionals. Analysis revealed differences between Austria and Germany and before and during the pandemic for most outcomes. German residency, the pandemic, and a higher educational level were most important predictors of higher willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, digital competencies, and positive core affect. The pandemic increased most aspects of willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, digital competencies, and positive core affect. Results confirm that rehabilitation professionals with higher degrees are more prone to adopt innovations in healthcare.Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00021464) The willingness to adopt telerehabilitation is associated with external factors increasing the need for alternative rehabilitation delivery, such as COVID-19, and with financial facilitators, such as reimbursement. As the willingness to adopt telerehabilitation is higher among speech and language therapists and dietitians, efforts are necessary to enhance its use in physiotherapists and occupational therapists. As a higher willingness to adopt telerehabilitation was observed in younger rehabilitation professionals and those with higher education, increasing the importance of telerehabilitation in education curricula and further knowledge transfer into practice for those already working in the field seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether people's responses to official communications about COVID-19 could be "profiled" with respect to socio-economic-demographic and behavioral characteristics. Such profiles could enhance the effectiveness of future crisis management through the use of profile-adapted communications that maximize message comprehension. A representative web panel survey (742 respondents) was conducted across Switzerland in February 2022 to assess the population's reaction to COVID-19 communications during the pandemic. Latent profile analysis was conducted to explore if distinct profiles of reactions to the communications would emerge, and how each of them relate to conspiracy mentality and SED measures. The analyses revealed three latent profiles: "Compliant supporters" (54%), "defiant deniers" (23.6%), and "anxious skeptics" (22.4%). Respondents with high conspiracy mentality were more likely to belong to "defiant deniers" or "anxious skeptics." Each profile was characterized by distinct SED and behavioral features (discussed in the paper). The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that one communication does not work for all people. Our study evidenced three different types of respondent profiles that require profile-adapted communications for more effective crisis control. Our study is the first to profile people's responses to COVID-19 communications in a systematic, person-centered way. The results can be used for more effective future crisis management that delivers to each profile's communicative needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Game-based learning (GBL) is widely utilised in various domains and continues to receive interest and attention from researchers and practitioners alike. However, there is still a lack of empirical evidence concerning its effectiveness, making GBL evaluation a critical undertaking. This paper proposes an integrated approach for planning and executing GBL evaluation studies and presents its application by evaluating the effectiveness of a GBL approach to improve the Arabic reading skills of migrant refugee children in an informal learning setup. The study focuses on how children's age group, learning modality preference, and prior mobile experience affect their learning, usability, and gameplay performance. A quasi-experiment with a one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted with 30 children (5–10 years old) from migrant refugee backgrounds. The results show a statistically significant improvement in their reading assessment score. The results also outline a clear impact of children's age groups on their learning gain, usability score, and total levels played. Moreover, learning modality preference and prior mobile experience both had a statistically significant effect related to usability and gameplay performance parameters. However, no effect was found on learning gain. Based on the findings, some design recommendations are suggested for more inclusive design focusing on user characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that stress has contributed to employee turnover and retention problems for agencies, and at the individual level, chronic stress has been associated with coronary heart disease, anxiety, depression, and many other negative effects. In the past, the extent of stress one has felt has been measured by subjective paper-and-pencil instruments; however, recent technological advances have improved our ability to obtain accurate biofeedback assessments from wearable instruments. The Kentucky Child Welfare Workforce Wellness Initiative is the first known study to explore physiological stress in a sample (n = 32) of child welfare professionals using biometric technology (Firstbeat Bodyguard 2) and the first to report that data longitudinally over a four-month period. The study revealed that a variable associated with the strength of the Autonomic Nervous System (RMSSD) remained below the norms for a healthy population as participants experienced consistent and prolonged physiological stress. When examined relatively to the agency's lifting of COVID restrictions and returning to face-to-face service delivery, stress levels began to further rise almost to significant levels (p <.10) and the participants' ability to achieve a state of physiological relaxation significantly decreased. Future research employing biometric technology is also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent suicide has become an increasingly serious social problem in China. Bullying victimization was found to be an influential factor of suicidal tendency, but less attention has been paid to the internal mechanisms of the relationship. This paper examined the relationship between adolescents' bullying victimization and suicidal tendency, and the mediating effects of internalizing problems and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Generalized Structural Equation Model was employed to a sample of 3,575 Chinese secondary school students. Bullying victimization has a direct positive impact on adolescents' suicidal tendency, but also has an indirect impact on suicidal tendency through three paths: the independent mediating role of internalizing problems and NSSI, and the chain mediating role of internalizing problems and NSSI. The results suggested that students who are bullied tend to have a higher risk of suicidal tendency, and internalizing problems and NSSI are usually the prelude to suicidal behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the associations between psychological factors (pain catastrophizing, pain-related anxiety, and fear of pain) and level of pain and disability in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). One hundred and two patients with CRPS were recruited from tertiary care centers with the different upper limb injuries were evaluated for pain, disability, and psychological factors. Patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire, Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The associations of pain and disability with presence of these behavioral and mental health factors were examined using bivariate and multivariable analyses. These models were adjusted for age, sex, injured dominant hand, and previous surgery. A higher pain catastrophizing score (β = 0.55, p = 0.00) was associated with greater disability. A higher pain catastrophizing score (β = 0.35, p = 0.001) and female gender (β = 0.24, p = 0.01) were associated with greater pain at rest (PAR). A higher pain catastrophizing score and having a surgical history were associated with greater pain with movement (β = 0.25, p = 0.02). Scores of ≥18.5 in PCS, ≥57.5 on TSK, and ≥15.5 on DASS were associated with higher risk of experiencing pain and disability. Pain catastrophizing, female sex, and surgical intervention are associated with poor outcomes. Physiologic, psychological factors, and treatment factors interact to influence outcomes. The results of this study further validate the associations of chronic pain and disability with pain catastrophizing in patients with CRPS. The novel finding of this study is introducing cut-off scores for TSK, PCS, and DASS as a screening tool to predict pain, functional limitations. Pain catastrophizing has a vital role in the magnitude of disability and pain in patients with CRPS. The novel finding of this paper was the cut-off scores on the psychological evaluations that can enable using them as screening tool for bad outcomes in patients with CRPS. Cut off scores from different psychological evaluations can be used as a yellow flag for clinician's for detecting patients with increased risk of pain and disability. The identification of a cut-off can also have implications for implementing change in clinical practice by identifying the need for early and intensive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the World Health Organization, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 35% of women worldwide and 40% of pregnant women, often resulting in maternal and infant death and harm. Displaced persons are at higher risk of abuse compared to the general population. While few studies have explored IPV in Iraq, research from Erbil, Iraq showed nearly 60% of women reported experiencing IPV in their lifetime. No publications examining IPV among displaced women in Iraq exist. Considering the severe impacts of IPV in pregnancy and the associated risks for IPV among women in refugee camps, this paper presents the first analysis of prevalence and factors associated with lifetime IPV among displaced pregnant women in two Iraqi refugee camps. Thirteen percent of women reported experiencing any abuse and experiencing IPV was associated with receiving fewer years of schooling (p = 0.04), not having a private doctor (p = 0.002), attending the first prenatal visit during the third trimester (p = 0.03), feeling pressure to have a child (p = 0.003), knowing someone who was physically injured by their husband (p = 0.05), experiencing suicidal ideation (p = 0.02), and being worried about harming one's baby (p = 0.02). Policy and programme recommendations for screening and prevention of IPV in resource-limited settings are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the associations between different types of social capital and other measures including wellbeing, school connectedness, and pragmatic language. Seventeen adolescents who were deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) from Australia and the United Kingdom completed an online survey and their results were analysed to answer research questions relating to: social capital formation in adolescents who are DHH; associations between social capital, wellbeing, pragmatics, and school connectedness; and the role of identity in social capital formation. Statistical analyses were completed to determine: bivariate correlations between variables; significant differences between the types of social capital measured; and significant differences in social capital according to identity group. Results indicate that overall, adolescents had higher Offline social capital compared to Online social capital, and higher Family social capital in comparison to Peer and Institutional social capital. Additionally, all social capital except Online social capital had strong associations with wellbeing and school connectedness measures. Students who identified as deaf had statistically significant lower levels of social capital than those who identified as hard of hearing or hearing impaired, and bicultural; however, this result may be due to the composition of this small sample. This study indicates that social capital is associated with higher levels of wellbeing and school connectedness and demonstrates that school experiences play an important role in the formation of social capital for students who are DHH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of ethics education for undergraduate engineering students has been emphasized due to the manifold impacts of engineering on society. However, little is known about moral disengagement among engineering students, which could potentially lead to unethical engineering practice. Especially, it is not known how engineering students' moral disengagement changes over the course of their college studies. In this paper, we conducted a longitudinal, mixed-methods study to investigate moral disengagement among undergraduate engineering students (n = 274) using Bandura's theory of moral disengagement as a theoretical framework. We found engineering students' overall propensity to morally disengage did not change over time, but there were statistically significant differences in student responses to three mechanisms of moral disengagement. We further investigated these findings with students' interviews. Based on our results, we discuss various theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To determine whether people’s beliefs about their illness, conceptualised by the common sense model (CSM), can prospectively predict adherence to self-management behaviours (including, attendance, medication, diet and exercise) in adults with acute and chronic physical illnesses. Design and Main Outcome Measures:Electronic databases were searched in September 2014, for papers specifying the use of the ‘CSM’ in relation to ‘self-management’, ‘rehabilitation’ and ‘adherence’ in the context of physical illness. Six hundred abstracts emerged. Data from 52 relevant studies were extracted. Twenty-one studies were meta-analysed, using correlation coefficients in random effects models. The remainder were descriptively synthesised. Results:The effect sizes for individual illness belief domains and adherence to self-management behaviours ranged from .04 to .13, indicating very weak, predictive relationships. Further analysis revealed that predictive relationships did not differ by the: type of self-management behaviour; acute or chronic illness; or duration of follow-up. Conclusion:Individual illness belief domains, outlined by the CSM, did not predict adherence to self-management behaviours in adults with physical illnesses. Prospective relationships, controlling for past behaviour, also did not emerge. Other factors, including patients’ treatment beliefs and inter-relationships between individual illness beliefs domains, may have influenced potential associations with adherence to self-management behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research explores the design, implementation, and evaluation of a prototype augmented reality application that assists operators in performing procedural tasks in control room settings. Our prototype uses a tablet display to supplement an operator's natural view of existing control panel elements with sequences of interactive visual and attention guiding cues. An experiment, conducted using a nuclear power plant simulator, examined university students completing both standard and emergency operating procedures. The augmented reality condition was compared against two other conditions – a paper-based procedure condition using paper manuals and a computer-based procedure condition using digital procedures presented on a desktop display. The results demonstrated that the augmented reality -based procedure system had benefits in terms of reduced mental workload in comparison to the other two conditions. Regarding task completion time, accuracy, and situation awareness, the augmented reality condition had no significant difference when compared against the computer-based procedure condition but performed better than the paper-based procedure condition. It was also found that the augmented reality condition resulted in fewer intra-team inquiry communication exchanges in comparison to both paper-based and computer-based conditions. The augmented reality condition, however, yielded poorer memory retention score when assessed against the other two conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:The construct validity, test–retest reliability, and measurement error of the Arm Function in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (AMSQ) were examined. Additionally, the influence of administration-method on reliability and measurement error was investigated. Method:112 Dutch adult MS-patients from an academic- and a residential care-facility participated. Questionnaires were administered on paper, online or as interview, and patients performed several performance tests. Construct validity was assessed by testing pre-defined hypotheses. Reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs), Standard Error of Measurements (SEMs) and Smallest Detectable Changes (SDCs). Results:For construct validity (N = 105) 9 of 13 hypotheses were confirmed (69%). As expected, the AMSQ showed moderate to strong relationships with the instruments measuring similar constructs. The test–retest reliability coefficient was 0.96 (95% Confidence Interval 0.94–0.97); SEM was 6.3 (6.3% of scale range); SDC was 17.5 (on a sale from 0 to 100). Different administration-methods showed good reliability (ICC 0.88–0.94) and small standard errors (SEM 5.6–7.2). Conclusion:The AMSQ shows satisfying results for validity and excellent reliability; allowing for proper use in research. Due to a large SDC value, caution is needed when using the AMSQ in individual patient care. Further research should determine whether the SDC is smaller than the minimal important change.Implications for RehabilitationThe Arm Function in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (AMSQ) measures activity limitations due to hand and arm functioning in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).Results of this study confirm adequate validity and reliability of the AMSQ in patient with MS.The equivalence of scores from online, paper or interview administration is supported.A change score of ≥18 points on the scale of the AMSQ (on a scale 0–100) needs to occur to be certain a change beyond measurement error has occurred in an individual patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the levels and trajectories of physical rehabilitation needs across five resource-poor world regions, against global and key country-specific benchmarks. This comparative, secondary cross-region analysis uses data from the Global Burden of Diseases study 2017 [1990–2017], specifically varied metrics of the Years Lived with Disability (YLD) measure from the health conditions likely benefiting from physical rehabilitation. All the resource-poor world regions had significant increases (p < 0.01) in the absolute, relative, and percentage of physical rehabilitation needs [1990–2017]. Nonetheless, The Asia-Pacific region stood out with the greatest YLD Rates (i.e., per population size) in 2017, the greatest growth in YLD Rates since 1990 (38%), and an exponential growth in the rehabilitation-sensitive YLD Rates. The Asia-Pacific region also had the greatest portion of their YLDs coming from rehabilitation-sensitive conditions (72% in 2017), closely followed by the Latin America & Caribbean (67%). Nonetheless, in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, we observed the greatest percent increases in the portion of physical rehabilitation needs among all YLDs, out of lower initial values. An overall growth but differential patterns were observed in the evolution of physical rehabilitation needs across the resource-poor world regions. Asia-Pacific and Latin America & Caribbean regions had over than two-thirds of their non-fatal health loss arising from conditions sensitive to physical rehabilitation, and important growths in rehabilitation need indicators have been observed also for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The scale-up and strengthening of rehabilitation services and resources should be informed by needs-based data. The needs-based data from this study can inform trans-national developments and the planning of rehabilitation resources, inclusively at the world-region level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper used a structural perspective to examine unmet healthcare needs in women at risk for eating disorders in Canada utilizing the Canadian Community Health Survey. The results revealed that body dissatisfied women had reported significantly higher unmet needs compared to body satisfied women (χ 2(1) =29.31, p <.05). Body dissatisfied women were also more likely to identify structural reasons for unmet needs. Considering the high costs associated with eating disorders, barriers creating inequitable health services need to be addressed in clinical practice, organizational structures, policy, and in research to improve treatment pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While educators, curriculum authors and policy makers alike are influenced by assumptions about parents' dis/approval of gender and sexuality diversity, both generally, as well as specifically in relation to this topic's appropriateness for K-12 classrooms, little empirical data is available to support these assumptions. What data does exist suggests that parents generally support the implementation of a comprehensive sexuality curriculum, inclusive of same-sex attraction, and view sexuality education as a school-parent partnership. Surveying a sample of Australian parents of children attending a government (public) school (N = 2093), whose responses were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates, this study sought to expand on previous findings by exploring the complexities of parents' attitudes in relation to gender and sexuality diversity and its place within relationships and sexual health education. This paper provides a descriptive overview of parents' ideas about the purpose of relationships and sexual health education and their views on the importance of including gender and sexuality diversity-inclusive content within related curriculum areas. Notably, over 80% of parents supported the inclusion of gender and sexuality diversity-inclusive relationships and sexual health education topics across primary and secondary government schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel method combining electrolaryngography and acoustic analysis to detect the onset and offset of phonation as well as the beginning and ending of notes within a sung legato phrase, through the application of a peak-picking algorithm, TIMEX. The evaluation of the method applied to a set of singing duo recordings shows an overall performance of 78% within a tolerance window of 50 ms compared with manual annotations performed by three experts. Results seem very promising in light of the state-of-the-art techniques presented at MIREX in 2016 yielding an overall performance of around 60%. The new method was applied to a pilot study with two duets to analyse synchronization between singers during ensemble performances. Results from this investigation demonstrate bidirectional temporal adaptations between performers, and suggest that the precision and consistency of synchronization, and the tendency to precede or lag a co-performer might be affected by visual contact between singers and leader–follower relationships. The outcomes of this paper promise to be beneficial for future investigations of synchronization in singing ensembles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how paid and unpaid labor history over the life course influence women's cardiovascular disease. U.S. women comprise about 50% of the paid workforce and perform the majority of unpaid labor. However, the influence of women's work on their health is under-researched. Our sample was drawn from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, a cohort of post-menopausal women in the U.S. aged 50–79 at recruitment. Women were categorized into five groups according to paid labor history: worked in paid jobs consistently throughout adult life; left the workforce early; entered the workforce later; discontinuous work history; never worked outside the home. Live birth history (none, at least one, missing) served as a proxy for unpaid labor in prime age. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of CVD associated with different paid work histories. We then assessed the effect of unpaid labor on the relation between paid labor and CVD. Paid labor participation was not associated with CVD risk among women without unpaid labor after adjusting for age, education, and birth cohort. Among those with unpaid demands, leaving the workforce early or having discontinuous work history was protective. In this U.S. sample, the association between paid work participation history and CVD risk depends on the presence of unpaid labor. Our results demonstrate the necessity of including work – paid and unpaid – in consideration of women's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the usability and acceptability of the Mental Capacity Assessment Support Toolkit (MCAST) in healthcare settings and whether its use was associated with increased legal compliance and assessor confidence. A mixed methods convergence triangulation model was used. Multidisciplinary professionals used the MCAST during mental capacity assessments for UK hospital patients with diagnoses of stroke or acute or chronic cognitive impairment. Changes in legal compliance were investigated by comparing scores on case note audits before and after implementation of the MCAST. Changes in assessor confidence and professionals' perceptions of the MCAST's usability and acceptability were explored using surveys. Patients' and family members' views on acceptability were determined using semi-structured interviews. Data were integrated using triangulation. Twenty-one professionals, 17 patients and two family members participated. Use of the MCAST was associated with significant increases in legal compliance and assessor confidence. Most professionals found the MCAST easy to use and beneficial to their practice and patients. Patients and family members found the MCAST materials acceptable. The MCAST is the first toolkit to support the needs of individuals with communication disabilities during mental capacity assessments. It enables assessors to deliver high quality, legally compliant and confident practice. Mental capacity assessment practice needs to be improved to maximise patient autonomy, safety and well-being. The MCAST is a paper-based toolkit designed to facilitate and improve mental capacity practice in England and Wales. This study suggests the MCAST would be easy and acceptable to use in healthcare settings and could lead to improvements in assessment quality and assessor confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Differences in health among migrant groups are related to the length of stay in host countries. We examined the health of people reporting Caribbean ethnic origins within and outside of Canada; and the possible associations between length of stay and poorer physical and mental health outcomes. Method: Analyses were conducted on population data collected in Canada (2000/2001, 2003, 2005), Jamaica (2005) and Guyana (2005). Physician-diagnosed and self-rated health measures were used to assess physical and mental health statuses. Results: Rates of chronic conditions were generally higher among people reporting Caribbean ethnic origins in Canada compared to those living in the Caribbean region. Self-rated fair or poor general health rates, however, were higher among participants in the Caribbean region. Higher rates of any mood disorders were also found among Caribbean region participants in comparison to those in Canada. Logistic regression analyses revealed that new Caribbean immigrants (less than 10 years since immigration) in Canada had better physical health than those who were more established. Those who immigrated more than 20 years ago showed consistently better health conditions than those who had immigrated between 11 and 20 years ago. This healthy immigration effect, however, was not present for all chronic conditions among all Caribbean origin migrant groups. Moreover, mood disorders were highest among new immigrants compared to older immigrants. Conclusions: When and where ethnic Caribbeans migrate to and emigrate from matters in health statuses. These results have implications for policies related to health and well-being in support of ethnic Caribbean origin individuals who relocate to Canada. The paper concludes with suggestions for future studies regarding the health of ethnic origin Caribbeans living within and outside their regions of birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the lack of validated assessment tools to detect past physical or sexual abuse, the current study examines to what extent the experience of either sexual or physical abuse is reflected in self-figure drawings of adolescents at-risk. A convenience sample consists of 93 adolescents at risk between the ages of 12–17 recruited from Welfare institutes divided into three groups: Group 1 included adolescents who experienced sexual abuse, Group 2 included adolescents who experienced physical abuse but not sexual abuse, Group 3 included adolescents who experienced neither sexual abuse nor physical abuse. A self-report anonymous questionnaire that consisted of demographics, traumatic events questionnaire, and the Medical Somatic Dissociation Questionnaire (MSDQ) was administered following Ethical approval and signing of consent forms. Participants were asked to draw themselves on an A4 sheet of paper using a pencil. Five social workers who were unaware of participants' experiences assessed the drawings independently for the level of obviousness of the following indicators: face line, eyes, nose, ears, hair stand, forehead, lower body, arms, and hands. Results yielded differences in pictorial indicators (nose, hair stand, lower body) among the groups. MSDQ score was found significantly higher among sexually abused victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent meta-analysis of 164 terror management theory (TMT) papers indicated that mortality salience (MS) yields substantial effects (r = .35) on worldview and self-esteem-related dependent variables (B. L. Burke, A. Martens, & E. H. Faucher, 2010). This study reanalyzed the data to explore the researcher effects of TMT. By cluster-analyzing the authorships of each study, two major TMT research teams were identified, namely, an American team (Team A) and an Israeli team (Team I). The majority of MS experiments were conducted by or related to a small number of researchers (Team A, 50.2%). The average effect size of Team A (r = .41) was significantly greater than that of other researchers (r = .30). Further analysis revealed that cultural differences found in TMT research may be due to the teams themselves, rather than to sample regions. The reasons behind these findings are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A virtual reality (VR) study was conducted both in our lab setting and remotely to investigate the effects of virtual hand appearance and tactile feedback on ownership, external appearance, and tactile sensation embodiment dimensions when participants were instructed to perform an assembly task in a virtual environment. Six experimental conditions that combine hand appearances (abstract, mannequin, and realistic) and tactile feedback (tactile and no tactile) levels were examined. The results of our study indicated that: (1) the more realistic hand had a stronger effect on tactile sensation and external appearance, while the mannequin hand was associated with a greater ownership effect; (2) tactile feedback was associated with a stronger effect on external appearance compared to no tactile feedback; (3) the realistic hand model in conjunction with tactile feedback significantly affected the tactile sensation of the participants; (4) the participants in the lab setting rated the external appearance of the realistic hand model higher than the remote participants; (5) the participants exposed for less than one hour per week to VR rated the tactile sensation in the presence of tactile feedback higher, while they similarly rated the external appearance of the virtual hand model in the presence of a realistic hand model higher when compared to those who were exposed for more than one hour per week to VR; and finally, (6) the younger participants rated the tactile sensation higher than the older participants in the presence of the realistic hand model. In this paper, we discuss our findings and provide design considerations for virtual reality applications that consider virtual hands and tactile feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the COVID-19 pandemic now affects the entire world, countries have had diverse responses. Some responded faster than others, with considerable variations in strategy. After securing border control, primary health care approaches (public health and primary care) attempt to mitigate spread through public education to reduce person-to-person contact (hygiene and physical distancing measures, lockdown procedures), triaging of cases by severity, COVID-19 testing, and contact-tracing. An international survey of primary care experts' perspectives about their country's national responseswas conducted April to early May 2020. This mixed method paper reports on whether they perceived that their country's decision-making and pandemic response was primarily driven by medical facts, economic models, or political ideals; initially intended to develop herd immunity or flatten the curve, and the level of decision-making authority (federal, state, regional). Correlations with country-level death rates and implications of political forces and processes in shaping a country's pandemic response are presented and discussed, informed by our data and by the literature. The intersection of political decision-making, public health/primary care policies and economic strategies is analysed to explore implications of COVID-19's impact on countries with different levels of social and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main idea underlying this paper is that impairments such as deafness are particularly relevant to the extent that they lead to deprivation of capability. Likewise, the impact of healthcare services such as cochlear implants and subsequent rehabilitation can best be inferred from the extent that they protect or restore capability of those affected. To explore children's post-implant capabilities, we tested two newly developed digital, adaptive child self-report and parent-report questionnaires in 19 deaf children (aged 8–12 years) and their parents during rehabilitation, as well as in 23 age peers with normal hearing. Despite the impressive speech-language results that were recorded with cochlear implants, the post-implant capabilities of the deaf children we evaluated differed from those of their hearing peers, with the cochlear implant group appearing particularly disadvantaged in areas such as accessing information, communication, social participation, and participation in school. Deaf children with cochlear implants who are performing well on linguistic and auditory tests can still experience serious limitations in desired functioning. Our findings suggest that a capability approach may reveal aspects of what is being achieved through rehabilitation that might otherwise remain unnoticed, and that could help to further improve the well-being of our patients. Overall, children with cochlear implants appeared disadvantaged in certain capability areas, like accessing information, communication, social participation, and participation in school. It may be worthwhile to also ascertain capabilities in these children, representing a domain not covered by clinical measures, tapping directly into areas that are valuable to the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper contributes an Australian focus to the growing body of research on trans and gender diverse people's family and romantic relationships. A survey designed by the authors was completed by 160 trans or gender diverse Australians. A negative correlation was found between discrimination from families of origin and perceptions of support, and conversely a positive correlation was found between perceptions of support and emotional closeness. Analysis of open-ended responses suggested that support was primarily constituted by (1) emotional support, (2) utilising correct pronouns and names, and (3) financial support. Discrimination by families of origin was primarily constituted by (1) refusal to use correct pronouns and names, (2) exclusion from family events, and (3) pathologising responses. The findings in regard to romantic relationships suggest that trans women were more likely than trans men or gender diverse people to experience challenges in negotiating romantic relationships. A negative correlation was found between difficulties in negotiating romantic relationships and belief in the likelihood that an “ideal” romantic relationship would occur in the future. Difficulties in negotiating romantic relationships were primarily described in terms of (1) anxiety over potential responses, (2) discrimination from potential partners, and (3) lack of self-acceptance. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Modern speech-language pathology practices (SLPPs) have adopted tablet games in recent years. Research is needed to take advantage of the potential benefits tablets can offer and to explore the factors that influence its introduction. This paper discusses a survey that was conducted to investigate the factors that influence speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) beliefs and the actual use of tablets in SLPPs. The results of the survey, conducted among Slovenian SLPs, indicated that their most positive beliefs concerning tablets relate to social influence. Specifically, the beliefs relate to children’s interest and practice with tablets and have a significant impact on the decision-making of SLPs concerning introducing tablets in therapy. Conversely, SLPs’ most negative beliefs relate to the conditions for facilitating tablet use, particularly the lack of Slovenian applications. This paper discusses a separate case study that was conducted in which tablet game-supported therapy was introduced to a group of 44 children. The case study results indicated that the children accepted the use of tablet games for therapy purposes and the games had a positive impact on the children’s motivation and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify and review the most cited articles in the occupational therapy field. Methods: Using the multi-disciplinary Publish or Perish software to extract data, the top 50 lifetime and annual cited articles were examined. Studies were organized according to the following: year of publication, design, topic, number of authors, country of publication, and number of citations for each cohort. Results: We found that randomized control trials were the dominant design type used in papers with the most lifetime (36.0%) and annual (26.0%) citations. Additionally, in both groups, the most frequently cited articles investigated predictors of functional outcome for patients. Conclusions: This comprehensive citation analysis will inform future research through its identification of major trends and well-established areas of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, medicine has upgraded its therapeutic techniques and practices, with the use of various modern methods that are due to advancement in technology and sciences. It is recognized that the physical health of the patients is significantly associated to their mental state, their motivation and engagement in overcoming the illness. This paper presents experimental comparison between virtual reality (VR) technology and conventional mode of therapy for physical rehabilitation among patients of neurological deficits. The objective was to explore the effectiveness of VR during physical interactions with different game-like virtual environment and potentially leading to increased mental health (i.e., lower depression, anxiety and stress), self-esteem, social support and intrinsic motivation (task-based competence, choice and interest). The study sample consisted of thirty-four subjects with Cerebral palsy (CP), Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Spinal cord injury, Stroke and Parkinson's disease; divided into two experimental groups virtual reality exercise group (n = 17), and conventional therapy group (n = 17); who have upper- or lower-limb impairment. The outcome measures revealed significant differences across pretest and post-test conditions of both the experimental groups. Findings emerged from the study showed noticeable effectiveness of virtual-reality based rehabilitation in TBI, stroke and CP patients. Relationships between study variables and demographic variables (age and gender) were also presented. This study opens the way for future researchers, psychologists, physiotherapist and other practitioners to do more extensive work in the domain of virtual reality with different sample, constructs and approaches. It has become increasing important to introduce new state-to-art technologies in domain of rehabilitation. People are reluctant to use all the traditional modes of treatment. As these conventional ways of treatment are least motivating and interesting to indulge the patients without force and burden. It is evident in the present study that addition of virtual reality-based exercise increases the self-motivated balance during functional task in contrast to conventional and task-dependent training participants. This study opens the way for future researchers to do more extensive work in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]