Search

Simple Summary: This review paper deals with incidentally found focal liver lesions (IFLLs) in otherwise healthy subjects, which is a frequent occurrence in daily practice. The clinical presentation and the imaging aspects play an important role in deciding whether and what further evaluation is required. In low-risk patients (i.e., those without a history of malignant or chronic liver disease or related symptoms, younger than 40 years old), more than 95% of IFLLs are benign. Shear Wave liver Elastography of the surrounding liver parenchyma should be considered to exclude liver cirrhosis and for further risk stratification. If an IFLL in a low-risk patient has a typical appearance on a B-mode ultrasound of a benign lesion, no further imaging is needed. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) should be considered as the first-line contrast imaging modality to differentiate benign from malignant IFLLs. In high-risk patients (i.e., with chronic liver disease or an oncological history), each IFLL should initially be considered as potentially malignant, and every effort should be made to confirm or exclude malignancy. An incidental focal liver lesion (IFLL) is defined as a hepatic lesion identified in a patient imaged for an unrelated reason. They are frequently encountered in daily practice, sometimes leading to unnecessary, invasive and potentially harmful follow-up investigations. The clinical presentation and the imaging aspects play an important role in deciding if, and what further evaluation, is needed. In low-risk patients (i.e., without a history of malignant or chronic liver disease or related symptoms), especially in those younger than 40 years old, more than 95% of IFLLs are likely benign. Shear Wave liver Elastography (SWE) of the surrounding liver parenchyma should be considered to exclude liver cirrhosis and for further risk stratification. If an IFLL in a low-risk patient has a typical appearance on B-mode ultrasound of a benign lesion (e.g., simple cyst, calcification, focal fatty change, typical hemangioma), no further imaging is needed. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) should be considered as the first-line contrast imaging modality to differentiate benign from malignant IFLLs, since it has a similar accuracy to contrast-enhanced (CE)-MRI. On CEUS, hypoenhancement of a lesion in the late vascular phase is characteristic for malignancy. CE-CT should be avoided for characterizing probable benign FLL and reserved for staging once a lesion is proven malignant. In high-risk patients (i.e., with chronic liver disease or an oncological history), each IFLL should initially be considered as potentially malignant, and every effort should be made to confirm or exclude malignancy. US-guided biopsy should be considered in those with unresectable malignant lesions, particularly if the diagnosis remains unclear, or when a specific tissue diagnosis is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Through advocacy initiatives such as roadshows during "National ACP Week", the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) had increased advance care planning (ACP) engagement since 2011. Project Happy Apples (PHA), a community initiative project led by medical students from the National University of Singapore, also conducted a public exhibition to raise ACP awareness during this period. This study aimed to investigate and identify predictors of attitudes towards ACP documentation among 'ACP Week' respondents which may be used to formulate strategies to increase ACP documentation in Singapore. Methods: A cross-sectional study on ACP documentation attitudes of 262 respondents during local roadshows were conducted. Multiple logistic regression models were built to investigate the associations between demographic variables and attitudes toward ACP documentation. Results: The mean age was 43.5 years (SD = 17.4), 79 (30.15%) were males and 49 (18.7%) were healthcare professionals (HCP). 117 (44.66%) respondents had prior experience with serious illness and 116 (44.27%) had heard of ACP. Age was a significant predictor of readiness to sign official papers naming nominated healthcare spokesperson (NHS) (OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 1.02–1.07). Experience with serious illness was a significant predictor of readiness to discuss end-of-life (EOL) care with healthcare professionals (HCP) (OR = 3.65, 95%CI: 1.36–11.61). Being female was a significant predictor for readiness to speak to their nominated healthcare spokesperson about EOL care (OR = 7.33, 95%CI: 2.06–46.73). Subgroup analyses revealed that those aged 20–39 were less likely to speak to their healthcare professional about or sign official papers regarding EOL care. We also found that being a healthcare professional does not necessitate better or worse attitudes. Conclusion: Advocacy programs tailored to targeting respondents of different age groups and prior experience with serious illness may improve the efficacy of advocacy efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Short-term follow-up of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) primary repair (ACLPR) presented increased failure risk (37%) in patients ≤21 years of age (y/o), however low rates in patients >21 y/o (3.5%). Mid- and long-term clinical evidence for contemporary anterior cruciate ligament primary repair (ACLPR) is lacking, whereas outcomes of historical ACL repair were shown to deteriorate at midterm follow-up after initial good short-term outcomes. This study evaluates age-differentiated survival rates of ACLPR at 5-year FU to assess whether the previously presented rates at 2-year FU can be maintained at 5-year FU. Methods: The first 113 consecutive patients with proximal ACL tears undergoing ACLPR by a single surgeon, from 04/2008 to 09/2017, were prospectively followed up. Indication for ACLPR was determined if a proximal type I or II tear and good to excellent tissue quality was present. Failure and re-operation rates, patient reported outcome measurements (PROMs) (IKDC score, Lysholm score, Forgotten Joint score, ACL-RSI score, and Tegner Activity Scale Difference) and instrumented anterior-tibial translation side-to-side difference (ATT-SSD) were recorded at minimum 5-year FU. Results: A total of 96 patients (85%) with a mean final FU of 7.2 ±2.3 (5.0 – 12.8) years were evaluated. Ipsilateral reinjury rates for patients ≤21 y/o, from 2- to 5-year FU, remained stable (40.0%) with no additional failure recorded. Six additional re-injuries were detected in patients >21 y/o, leading to a failure rate of 9.8% at 5-year FU. Mean time to failure following surgery was 17 ±11 months in patients ≤21 y/o versus 26 ±16 months in patients >21 y/o. Re-operation rates for patients ≤21- and >21 y/o were 0.0% and 4.0% respectively. PROMs showed no significant differences as compared to outcomes at 2-year FU (p <.001) and 5-year ATT-SSD was 0.75 ±1.2 mm. Conclusions: ACLPR is correlated with a high risk of early failure (40.0% at 17 ±11 months) in patients < 21 y/o, however no additional subsequent re-injuries were reported at minimum final 5-year FU. In contrast, patients >21 y/o demonstrate low failure rates at 2- (3.5%) and 5-year FU (9.8%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) was introduced in mid-2000 to increase participation in private health insurance that includes hospital cover (PHI-HC) and improve the risk profile of PHI-HC participants. It initially achieved both objectives, but since 2001 the PHI-HC population has aged faster than the general population. The aim of this study was to determine if the excess ageing of the PHI-HC risk pool has been due to passive age-based adverse selection, an inherent risk of LHC. This study has potential implications for the retention of LHC. Methods: A descriptive population-level analysis of publicly available administrative datasets was performed. Data relating to PHI-HC were obtained from the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority. National population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Trends in demography, PHI-HC participation rates and LHC loading payments were analysed. Results: By 2021, age-based adverse selection had returned to the pre-LHC level. Based on the available data, this was due to passive age-based adverse selection not active age-based adverse selection. Specifically, it reflected the combination of an avoidable unintended consequence of the introduction of LHC (the over-representation, in 2001, of individuals aged 45–59) and one of LHC's intended effects (incentivisation of insured individuals to retain PHI-HC). Conclusions: This study supports the retention of LHC. Nonetheless, it highlights the risk of passive age-based adverse selection created by incentivising insured individuals to retain PHI-HC in the presence of distortions in the age distribution of the PHI-HC risk pool. Early targeted interventions are required when such distortions arise. What is known about the topic? Since the introduction of Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) in mid-2000, the participation rate for private health insurance that includes hospital cover (PHI-HC) has remained relatively stable, but the PHI-HC population has aged faster than the general population. What does this paper add? This paper makes a novel distinction between 'active' and 'passive' age-based adverse selection to explain LHC's role in the excess ageing of the PHI-HC risk pool. What are the implications for practitioners? Governments need to be vigilant for the emergence of distortions in the age distribution of the PHI-HC risk pool and respond with targeted interventions to normalise the age distribution, or risk problematic passive age-based adverse selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Most patient-reported outcome (PROs) used in thrombosis research and clinical practice are delivered using technology like online questionnaires. However, only few have undergone formal electronic adaptation from paper to digital versions, threatening the validity and reliability of the PROs. The present study aimed to perform an electronic adaption and cross-cultural translation of two PROs measuring health-related quality of life in a Danish cohort of patients with venous thrombosis (VTE), specifically the VEINES-QoL/Sym questionnaire and the PEmb-QoL questionnaire. Methods: The electronic adaption and cross-cultural translation processes followed the international guidelines recommended by ISPOR. The migration of the questionnaires from paper to electronic versions was conducted in the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Following approval of the electronically adapted and translated versions, a pretest of the questionnaires was performed by cognitive interviewing patients with VTE recruited from a hospital setting. Results: Nine men and ten women between the age of 19 and 73 years participated in cognitive interviews. The questionnaires were successfully adapted from paper to electronic versions, and during the migration process only a few modifications to the content and format were made. Most comments were related to technicalities, e.g. touch functions and checkboxes. The cross-cultural translation of both questionnaires was satisfactory, as only minor rephrasing was required. Conclusions: The original and Danish version of VEINES-QoL/Sym and PEmb-QoL were successfully adapted into electronic versions and are ready to share for REDCap users. Furthermore, the Danish versions of the two questionnaires have shown satisfactory face validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the prevalence of non‐communicable disease risk factors among the nursing staff and educate them on prevention. Background: Nursing staff is integral to the Indian community healthcare systems. Recent studies report a high prevalence of non‐communicable diseases in Indian nursing staff. Therefore, data on the prevalence of non‐communicable disease risk factors among nursing staff are crucial for education on prevention. Design: A cross‐sectional digital survey‐based study. Method: We invited 4435 nursing staff to attend our online survey. We used a customized questionnaire for data collection, including a digitized version of the Community‐Based Assessment Checklist form. A score of >4 was considered high risk and warranted screening. Result: Among 682 nursing staff who attended, 70% had never undergone screening for non‐communicable diseases. The prevalence of non‐communicable disease risk factors was significantly higher in male nursing staff. In addition, logistic regression analysis showed that age, tobacco and alcohol use, increased waist circumference, physical inactivity and family history of non‐communicable diseases were significant risk factors among nursing staff. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that the nursing staff have suboptimal self‐health concerns on non‐communicable diseases. This situation warrants continued medical education, awareness campaigns on adopting a healthy lifestyle and health promotion. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The prevalence of non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) among Indian nursing staff is a growing concern, underscoring the need for comprehensive research and targeted interventions.Despite the significant health risks faced by this demographic, there is a notable lack of data on NCD risk factors specific to Indian nursing professionals. What this paper adds? This paper adds information on the prevalence of NCD risk factors chiefly among nursing staff in the Delhi National Capital Region.Male nursing staff have particularly high NCD risk factors. The implications of this paper: Findings may help develop routine screening programmes for nursing staff, continued nursing education and good, safe nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of implementing a psychological first aid intervention for psychological distress, resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors affected by earthquake adversity in Northern Syria. Methods: A quasi‐experimental, pre‐posttest, two‐group research design was utilized. A convenience sample of 95 survivors (46 in the study group and 49 in the control group) was recruited for the psychological First Aid intervention at a 1:1 ratio. The psychological first aid intervention was delivered in 10 sessions, twice weekly, followed by 3‐month follow‐up. Results: A statistically significant improvement in the mean scores of resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors, along with a significant reduction in psychological distress, was registered among the study group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Our work verified the suitability of implementing psychological first aid following the catastrophic temblors which struck Northern Syria. Given that the psychological first aid intervention is grounded in psychological safety, cognitive reframing, mobilization of social support and installation of hope, the feasibility of its path following public health emergency, traumatic events or even a personal crisis can be favourable. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? On 6 February 2023, a massive earthquake devastated large portions of war‐torn northwest Syria and southern Turkey, leaving millions in these regions battling to reconstruct their lives.In northwest Syria, strong aftershocks left more than 4500 people dead, injured hundreds more and demolished at least 10 000 structures.Disasters such as earthquakes can have a significant impact on the mental health and well‐being of those affected. Survivors may experience high levels of psychological distress and other negative mental health recovery outcomes.There is a need for psychologically supportive interventions such as the psychological first aid intervention to help survivors cope with the aftermath of such disasters.What this paper adds? A statistically significant improvement in the mean scores of resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors, along with a significant reduction in psychological distress, was registered among the study group compared to the control group.Our work verified the suitability of implementing the psychological first aid intervention following the catastrophic temblors which struck Northern Syria.The implications of this paper: Being ready for disasters is critical; health care professionals, including nurses, are one of the most frequently requested actors in disaster interventions.Nurses are an indispensable part in ascertaining the psychological repercussions of disasters on survivors, families and communities.Due to their training and professional experience, nurses can take the lead in reducing health‐threatening risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the association between nurse education levels and patient‐related factors with hypertension self‐care. Background: Although self‐care development is recognized as a healthcare provider–patient encounter, the attribution of nurse education level to hypertension self‐care is not well addressed. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: Hypertensive patients from 15 primary care facilities were sampled, and self‐care was assessed using the Self‐Care of Hypertension Inventory version 2.0, with standardized scores ≥70 indicating adequate self‐care. Data on patient‐related factors were obtained from electronic health records, self‐reports and laboratory tests, while nurse education levels were categorized as standard (baccalaureate‐prepared) or higher (post‐baccalaureate specialty). Results: A total of 1493 participants were included in this study, with a median age of 66 years and 77.7% being female. Approximately 10% of participants had adequate self‐care, and 66% received care from higher educated nurses. The study showed the relation between nurse education levels and the self‐care of the patients. Adequate hypertension self‐care was significantly associated with higher educated nurse providers and patient‐related factors, including intermediate to higher education, non‐overweight/obese and the absence of age‐related comorbidities. Conclusions: Hypertensive patients who had been provided care by higher educated nurses and their favourable sociodemographic, lower cardiometabolic risk and no concomitant disease were more likely to demonstrate adequate self‐care. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Improving hypertension self‐care requires attention to both patient‐related and healthcare‐related factors.Clinical trial studies have established the effectiveness of nurse‐enhanced hypertension self‐care.There is currently a lack of evidence regarding the impact of nurse‐related factors, such as nurse education level, on hypertension outcomes in routine primary care practice and observational studies.What this paper adds? We confirmed that patient‐related factors, such as having intermediate to higher education, being non‐overweight/obese and not having aging‐related comorbidities, were associated with better hypertension self‐care.Patients who received care from higher educated nurses demonstrated better hypertension self‐care.The implications of this paper: To enhance hypertension self‐care, clinicians should prioritize individuals who have low levels of education, are overweight/obese and have aging‐related comorbidities.Preparing nurses with advanced competence through higher education could be a viable approach to improving hypertension outcomes in primary care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine changes in the demographics and regions of work of Australian doctors over a period of 9 years. Methods: A retrospective study of Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration data was performed. Data were sourced from the Health Workforce Dataset Online Data Tool which was derived from annual registration data from AHPRA for 2013–2022. The demographic factors analysed were gender, age, and origin of qualification. Regions of work were defined using the Modified Monash (MM) model. Results: The number of registered doctors increased from 82,408 in 2013 to 111,908 in 2022 but mean hours worked per week decreased from 41 to 39 leading up to 2020. Trends in age and origin of qualification remained stable, but the proportion of female workers increased from 38.5% in 2013 to 44.5% in 2022. While female hours per week (~37) were consistent from 2013 to 2020, male hours per week decreased from 43 to 41. The number of registrations and total full-time equivalent (FTE) outcomes increased consistently in metropolitan (MM1) and rural (MM2–5) regions but did not increase for remote and very remote (MM6–7) regions. Conclusion: The Australian medical workforce both grew and changed between 2013 and 2022. An overall decrease in mean hours worked appears to be driven by a decline in hours worked by male workers and the increased proportion of female workers. While increased gender parity and a decrease in hours worked per week were positive outcomes, a lack of growth in the medical workforce was noted in remote and very remote regions of Australia. What is known about the topic? Changes in the medical workforce over time are likely to impact health service delivery. What does this paper add? This paper examined changes in the gender, age, origin of qualification, and the region of work of Australia's medical workforce from 2013 to 2022. What are the implications for practitioners? An increase in gender parity and a decrease in the mean hours worked suggests improvements in workforce participation and sustainability, but lack of growth in medical workforce was noted in remote and very remote regions of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of male nurses towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination and to examine whether knowledge about the HPV vaccine affects attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccines. Background: HPV is responsible for ≈5% of all cancers worldwide. Therefore, vaccination against HPV is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV‐related cancers in men and women. Methods: The study group included 383 male nurses who were asked to complete online questionnaires. The data were collected using the following tools: a sociodeomographical characteristics form, the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPVKS), and The Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (CHIAS). Results: It was determined that the general HPV knowledge of the male nurses participating in the study was at a moderate level, but their knowledge of HPV screening test, HPV vaccination, and current HPV vaccination programmes were at a low level. Male nurses' HPV vaccination rates were relatively low, and most of them did not intend to be vaccinated. In addition, CHIAS Attitudes and Beliefs scores of the male nurses were at an average level and HPV knowledge affected the attitudes and beliefs of the nurses. Conclusion: These results demonstrate an opportunity to improve information and awareness about HPV and vaccines by nursing education. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? Although HPV vaccination is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV‐related cancers in men and women, vaccination rates are far behind the target, especially for men. What this paper adds? Findings showed that male nurses' HPV vaccination rates were relatively low.Male nurses' knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccine was not sufficient.HPV knowledge affected the attitudes and beliefs of these male nurses. The implications of this paper: Nurses need to be aware of the HPV vaccine during their undergraduate education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially in patients with long-term, poorly controlled diabetes. This study investigates the effects of exercise on autonomic nervous system activity in T2DM patients over time. Methods: A literature review using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PubMed identified studies assessed via heart rate variability. Papers were categorized into three groups: immediate effects (within 60 min), short-term effects (2–3 months), and long-term effects (over 4 months). Results: Nine articles with 161 T2DM patients were included in the meta-analysis. RMSSD changes after exercise were −4.3 (p = 0.227), 8.14 (p < 0.001), and 4.17 (p = 0.002) for the immediate, short-term, and long-term groups, respectively. LF/HF ratio changes were 0.21 (p = 0.264), −3.04 (p = 0.102), and −0.05 (p = 0.006) for the respective groups. Meta-regression indicated age, male gender, and exercise duration were associated with increased RMSSD, with coefficients of 2.36 (p = 0.001), 13.76 (p = 0.008), and 1.50 (p = 0.007), respectively. Age positively correlated with the LF/HF ratio, with a coefficient of 0.049 (p = 0.048). Conclusions: Regular exercise (≥3 times per week) for over 2 months increases parasympathetic activity in T2DM patients, while sympathetic activity decreases significantly after 4 months. Further study is needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the risk factors for unplanned readmissions within 1 month after hospital discharge to develop a seamless support system from discharge to home care. Background: With shorter hospital stay lengths, understanding the characteristics of patients with multiple risk factors is important to prevent rehospitalization. Design: This is a single‐centre retrospective descriptive study. Methods: Logistic regression and decision tree analyses were performed using eight items from the records of 3117 patients discharged from a university hospital between April–September 2017 as risk factors. Results: Unplanned readmission risk was significantly associated with emergency hospitalization (odds ratio [OR]: 3.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.04–4.77), malignancy (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.44–3.24), non‐surgical admission (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.07–2.88), hospital stay of ≥ 15 days (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.14–2.43) and decline in activities of daily living owing to hospitalization (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.06–2.64). The highest risk combinations for rehospitalization were as follows: emergency hospitalization and malignancy; emergency admission, non‐malignancy and a hospital stay of ≥15 days; and scheduled hospitalization, no surgery and a hospital stay of ≥15 days. Conclusions: Patients with multiple risks for unplanned readmission should be accurately screened and provided with optimal home care. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Although the characteristics of patients at high risk of rehospitalization include malignancy, heart failure, conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other diseases prone to recurrence, old age, reduced activities of daily living and emergency hospitalization, few studies have reported on cases with multiple risks. What this paper adds? The most frequent risk types for unplanned readmissions within a month were emergency admissions for malignant tumours, emergency admissions for non‐malignant tumours with a hospital stay of 2 weeks or more and scheduled admissions for non‐surgical purposes with a length of stay of 2 weeks or more. The implications of this paper: The risk of unplanned readmission within 1 month of discharge increased due to a combination of multiple risks.This study helps us identify patients who are at high risk for readmission early in the hospitalization process and in providing nursing support for transition to their homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Stalking is considered a public health priority with a range of adverse outcomes. This paper aims to explore existing literature on children and adolescents as perpetrators of stalking, with a focus on rates of stalking and victim and perpetrator characteristics associated with stalking. Design/methodology/approach: A review of research where stalking was engaged in by those 18 years old and younger was conducted, where 17 manuscripts met criteria for review. Findings: This review found a prevalence of young people engaging in stalking of between 5.3% and 36%. Considerations including demographics, typologies, prior relationship characteristics, stalking and pursuit tactics, cyberstalking and a brief consideration of the impact are given. Practical implications: Literature considering perpetration remains thin, and future research should seek to move towards a widely acceptable definition of stalking, as well as considering effective interventions for early intervention, and to consider the role of mental health services in supporting perpetrators and victims, who may not always be mutually exclusive groups. Originality/value: This paper extends previous literature reviews; the authors understand this to be original work that contributes to a gap in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research papers in psychology study the behaviour of a sample of participants. To characterise this sample, authors report various characteristics, frequently including the mean age and the associated standard deviation. However, based on reports from authors who publish in Acta Psychologica and from respondents on X/Twitter, the present paper shows that some authors use rounded-down ages whereas others don't, which lead to an uncertainty of 0.5 year in the average age. The results furthermore show that the authors tend to report the average age with two decimals precision, irrespective of the uncertainty of this average. I recommend that publications should explicitly mention how the average age is determined and report its value using a number of decimals that reflects its uncertainty., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study contributes to the diversity literature by probing whether diversity papers are cited as frequently as nondiversity papers in management and industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology journals. Based on the stigma‐by‐association theory, I argue that as a result of their association with minority groups, diversity papers may be devalued and thus "othered" by scholars. Using a citation analysis of 46,930 papers published in 29 peer‐reviewed management and I/O psychology journals, I present empirical evidence in Study 1 that diversity papers were cited significantly less frequently than nondiversity papers. The authors' gender and institutional prestige, journal tier and domain, and year of publication were not moderators. In Study 2, I used a scenario experiment to demonstrate the stigma‐by‐association effect. The authors' gender demonstrated a significant moderating effect in this experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vision plays an important role in walking development. Understanding gait characteristics and development in infants and children with visual disorders is crucial to identify early walking impairment and promoting optimal motor performance. We aimed to identify typical gait patterns and differences between infants and children with visual disorders and their sighted peers, and how these change over time, identifying key research gaps in this area. Methods: A search of three databases identified 1,531 papers, of which eight met inclusion criteria. Results: Children who are blind showed differences in gait compared to peers with low vision or full sight. Differences were identified across age groups with slower walking, postural, head, and trunk position alterations and uncoordinated and reduced upper limb swing motions observed in children with blindness. Discussion: We identified three macro areas of interest related to gait characteristics in children with visual disorders: (1) and (2) compensation mechanisms of limbs, and (3) probing the environment. In general, children who are blind also showed the use of a wider base of support, more external rotation of the feet, and fewer steps taken per minute. There are no studies reporting gait characteristics in the early stages of walking development, scarcity of longitudinal investigations, and studies using different variables to measure gait. The lack of such evidence prevented the establishment of gait development trajectories over time in pediatric populations with visual disorders. Implications for Practitioners: This review is the first to summarize existing knowledge of gait characteristics in children with visual disorders, advancing our understanding regarding the key differences in gait patterns that are observed in this population. Information gathered in this work can help inform future studies and practitioners in this field, enhancing decision-making processes to support walking development and promoting increasing knowledge of gait progresses in infants and children with visual disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is growing evidence that sex and onset age are important factors of clinical features in Parkinson's disease. Aim: The study aimed to identify nonmotor symptoms based on sex and onset age in people with Parkinson's disease. Design: This is a cross‐sectional descriptive study. Methods: A total of 210 participants were recruited from the university hospital and the Parkinson's disease association. This study measured the Korean version of the nonmotor symptoms questionnaire which includes gastrointestinal, urinary, apathy/attention/memory, hallucination/delusions, depression/anxiety, sexual function, cardiovascular, sleep disorder, and miscellaneous domains. Results: All participants reported at least one nonmotor symptom. The most commonly reported symptoms were nocturia (65.7%) and constipation (61.9%). The male participants reported more dribbling of saliva, constipation, and impaired sexual function, whereas the female reported more weight change. Young‐onset people with Parkinson's disease reported more depression than late‐onset people with Parkinson's disease. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of symptom experience beyond motor‐related symptomatology for those with Parkinson's disease and adds to the current literature. Individualized symptom assessment and management should be provided by prioritizing prevalent sex or onset age‐specific symptoms, rather than addressing with all nonmotor symptoms. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Most people with Parkinson's disease experience nonmotor symptoms including autonomic nervous symptoms as the disease progresses.Nonmotor symptoms can affect quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease, but related factors are not fully understood. What this paper adds? This paper identified the presentations of nonmotor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease based on sex and onset age. The implications of this paper: Nurses enable people with Parkinson's disease to actively engage in self‐care of their own symptoms by educating Parkinson's disease related and how to cope with the symptoms in advance.Individualized nursing care reflecting the disease characteristics is needed to improve patient engagement in symptom management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low vitamin B12 has been associated with raised plasma homocysteines and the consumption of B vitamins has been shown to reduce homocysteines. Raised levels of homocysteines have been linked to causing symptoms of mental illness. B12 is also required in the synthesis of monoamines and is required to maintain neurological health. Aim: This study reviews research into the effects of the supplementation of B12 in the prevention and recovery of mental illness, and the potentiation of psychotropic medication. Methodology: This literature review follows a systematic approach to searching databases CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, and PsycINFO where 287 non-duplicated articles results were received. Appropriate articles were identified through title and abstract screening and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Five articles were chosen to address the research question following critical appraisal. Thematic analysis was then conducted. Findings: This review identified five randomised controlled trials into the supplementation of various doses of B12 in conjunction with folic acid and B6. The supplement was measured against post-stroke depression prevention, the reduction of symptoms of depression in woman with cardiovascular disease, the effect on negative symptoms in schizophrenia, the reduction and prevention of depression in older adults, and the potentiation of psychotropic interventions. The papers reviewed showed inconclusive results, but evidence to support sub-groups and specific high-risk groups. Strong evidence showed supplementation of B12, folic acid and B6 has high rates of preventing post-stroke depression. Conclusion: The findings show that this area of research is still to be developed. The effects of B12 supplementation with other B vitamins on mental health have shown to be inconclusive. There is a case for its use to be considered within certain patient groups to aid recovery of mental health or in some high-risk patient groups. Recommendations are made for further research into high-risk groups of people that may have symptoms or symptoms that could be improved through the supplementation of B12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to demographic changes and structural developments in the healthcare system, an increasing number of patients receive home care nursing in Denmark. Little is known about the complexity of home care. The aim of this paper was to investigate the challenges that home care nurses experience in their clinical practice by studying factors related to home care nurses' experiences of encounters with patients as burdensome. A population-based survey was undertaken involving all nurses in homecare services in one municipality in Denmark. The participating nurses registered all home care contacts by the patients during the daytime for 1 week. A registration form was used including a series of items designed to identify factors related to the perceived burden of each visit. Statistical frequency analyses were used to examine factors related to the home care nurses' experiences of encounters with patients as burdensome, and to investigate the challenges that home care nurses meet in their clinical practice. Home care nurses estimated 7.6% of 941 representative homecare visits as burdensome. Assessment of burden was associated with patients being below 60 years of age, time consumption and unexpected problems during the visit, especially of a psychosocial nature. Even though <10% of the encounters were considered burdensome, there is reason to believe that an increase can be expected due to ongoing emphasis on achieving greater efficiency in the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the issues that remained contentious throughout the pandemic was vaccination: its efficacy, side effects, and the general reluctance of a substantial segment of the population to get vaccinated. The aim of this paper is to understand the role of health information sources in anti-vaccination sentiment and the decision to vaccinate. Regression models were used to analyze data from an online survey of adults in the United States in late 2021 (n = 10,221). The results of the study showed that: (a) information from local and national health experts had a significant positive association with getting the COVID-19 vaccine and a negative relationship with holding anti-vaccination sentiments while (b) information from social media and community/religious leaders had the opposite effect. Overall, this study highlights the importance of public health systems in the dissemination of information on vaccinations during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been growing, not enough research has been conducted to understand the impact of autistic traits and the broader autism phenotype (BAP), especially on the sleep quality and well-being of university students. The focus of this paper is to review the existing research on this topic and identify the key areas of interest for future research, presented in the form of a narrative review. While the review identifies the need for research on the topic, it also identifies other factors such as gender, age, culture, and internet and smartphone use that may have an impact on the relationship between autistic traits, sleep quality and well-being in university students. The review also identified the importance of using a larger sample size, appropriate measures, especially for quantifying autistic traits, and an appropriate analysis strategy involving a multivariate analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary Incontinence (UI) is a global health issue that mainly affects the female population worldwide. Different approaches have been sought for the management of UI including Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) using Virtual Reality (VR) gaming. We conducted this study to evaluate the effectiveness of VR gaming for rehabilitation of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and improving urinary symptoms in patients with UI. Method: We've included studies that contain any type of VR in all geographic locations and settings with no restrictions on the date of publication, age, or gender. Our exclusion criteria include reviews, case series, case reports, unextractable data, unavailable full text, abstract only articles, and studies don't show the effects of VR as a treatment for UI. A pre‐specified search term was used and modified according to the requirements of each of the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Google scholar, and ScienceDirect. For risk of bias assessment, two assessment tools have been used: ROB 2.0 for RCTs and NIH for single arm studies. Results: Of 915 papers identified from 6 databases, 341 papers were assigned for screening after removing duplicates, 11 papers were eligible for full text screening, and 4 papers were finally included. The qualitative analysis of the results identifies six outcomes grouped into three primary categories: PFM, urinary symptoms, and quality of life. Only urinary loss outcome was eligible for meta‐analysis. The net effect between Game therapy + PFMT and PFMT reached MD = −5.49, 95% CI [−12.36:1.38] (heterogeneity; I2 = 95%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our research underscores the potential of VR gaming as a valuable adjunctive therapy for pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation in patients with UI. However, further studies are needed to explore its long‐term effectiveness, optimal therapy parameters, and cost‐effectiveness. Registration: Our protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022384500). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This cross‐sectional multicentre study aimed to determine the effect of interventions during vaginal birth for fear of childbirth. Methods: In this cross‐sectional and analytical study, 852 women who had a vaginal birth between 2019 and 2020 were enrolled. Data were collected using the Descriptive Questionnaire and Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B. Results: The mean total Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B score of the women was 97.00 ± 24.24, indicating severe and clinical levels of fear of childbirth. Moreover, 69.4% of the women had clinical, 18.6% had severe and 12% had moderate levels of fear of childbirth. During birth, women who had close supporters, who were allowed to move and who did not undergo amniotomy, enema, perineal shaving and electronic foetal monitoring had a low level of fear of childbirth. As the number of pregnant women in the labour room, frequency of vaginal examinations, duration of delivery/hour, severity of labour pain and negative perception of the approach of health professionals increased, the women's fear of childbirth increased. Fear of childbirth decreased as the frequency of antenatal follow‐ups, number of births and satisfaction levels of the women increased (p < 0.05). Low income perception, irregular prenatal follow‐up, severe labour pain and a long duration of labour were strong predictors of increased fear of childbirth. Increasing number of births, high birth satisfaction level and positive perception of the approach of health professionals were strong predictors of reduced fear of childbirth. Conclusions: The reduction of interventions in vaginal delivery and support from health care providers during delivery can be effective in reducing fear of childbirth. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a problem experienced by most women.Sociodemographic characteristics and past experiences can increase FOC.Birth interventions are common as the majority of births in Turkey take place in health institutions. What does this paper add? Women who have vaginal births appear to have severe and clinical levels of fear of childbirth. Multiparity, mobilization, high birth satisfaction and positive approaches by health care providers are strong predictors of reduced FOC.Enema, amniotomy and fundal pressure application, high‐intensity labour pain and a long duration of labour are strong predictors of increased FOC. The implications of this study: Many current routine interventions during childbirth should be avoided.The reduction of interventions in vaginal birth and support from health professionals during labour can be effective in reducing fear of childbirth and negative consequences related to FOC, as well as helping to achieve non‐invasive vaginal deliveries.It is recommended that hospitals be organized in line with the criteria of mother‐friendly hospitals, health professionals be trained and the environments in which women give birth be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether prostate biopsy rates have altered with the July 2018 change in Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebates supporting multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for diagnosing prostate cancer. Methods: Biopsy data (both trans-rectal and trans-perineal) were obtained from the Victorian Agency for Health Information from July 2016 to June 2022. The data were stratified by financial year, age group and hospital type (public vs private). Comparison was made between rates pre and post the mpMRI MBS code change. Results: There was an 11.9% increase in the number of biopsies performed per year compared to the pre-MBS change period. There is a significant decreasing trend (P < 0.001–4) in number of biopsies in the 40–49, 50–59 and 60–69-year-old age groups with a significant increasing trend (P < 0.001) in the 70–79 and 80–89-year-old age groups. There was a 32.9% reduction in the mean number of biopsies performed per year in public hospitals, compared with an 18.3% increase in private. Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, and proposed funding, there has been an increase in the number of prostate biopsies since MRI became more easily available. This change will put increased pressure on the health budget and the large increase in biopsies in elderly patients was not anticipated when the changes were proposed. A review of the criteria is suggested. What is known about the topic? Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is increasingly used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In 2018, it was included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule with the expectation that the number of prostate biopsies performed would decrease. What does this paper add? By 2022, biopsies increased nearly 12% with over a 50% increase in the 80–89 age group – those least likely to benefit from curative treatment. What are the implications for practitioners? The criteria for funding mpMRI and the performance of prostate biopsies should be altered to enable better use of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to compare the relative physical recovery and symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection between groups confirmed positive or negative to early strains of COVID-19. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study compared outcomes of metropolitan adults polymerase chain reaction-tested for COVID-19 between March and November 2020 in Western Australia. Control matching was attempted: inpatients (gender, age) and ambulatory clinic (gender, age, asthma, chronic pulmonary disease). One-year follow-up involved three repeated measures: physical function (grip strength and 1-min sit-to-stand) and patient-reported outcomes (Fatigue Severity Scale, modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale and Euroqol-5D-5L). Results: Three hundred and forty-four participants were recruited (154 COVID+, age 54 ± 18 years, 75 females [49%]); 190 COVID−, age 52 ± 16 years, 67 females [35%]) prior to national vaccination roll-out. No between-group differences in physical function measures were evident at any time point. Fatigue (OR 6.62, 95% CI 2.74–15.97) and dyspnoea (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.14–4.30) were higher in the COVID+ group at second assessment (T2). On Euroqol-5D-5L, no between-group differences were evident in the physical function domains of self-care, mobility or usual activities at any time point. However, COVID+ participants were less likely to report an absence of anxiety or depression symptoms at T2 (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.89). Conclusions: Neither statistical nor clinically meaningful differences in physical function were evident between COVID+ and COVID− participants to 12-months after acute illness. Symptoms of fatigue, dyspnoea, anxiety or depression were more prevalent in the COVID+ group til ~8 months after illness with between-group differences no longer evident at 1 year. What is known about the topic? COVID-19 evokes multi-system sequelae including persistent physical and mental health symptoms, functional impairments and poorer quality of life. What does this paper add? A COVID+ group had equivalent physical recovery over 12 months; but higher prevalence of fatigue, dyspnoea and anxiety/depression symptoms at ~8 months compared to a COVID− group. What are the implications for practitioners? Health authorities and employers should know that while adequate physical function may return within months, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 impair sufferers for over 6 months, likely necessitating healthcare support and workplace adjustments to optimise timely return to participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lifestyle Medicine (26883740) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the excess mortality P-score has gained prominence as a measure of pandemic burden. The P-score indicates the percentage by which observed deaths deviate from expected deaths. As the P-score is regularly used to compare excess mortality between countries, questions arise regarding the age dependency of the measure. In this paper we present formal and empirical results on the population structure bias of the P-score with a special focus on cross-country comparisons during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. Methods: P-scores were calculated for European countries for 2021, 2022, and 2023 using data from the 2024 revision of the United Nations' World Population Prospects and the HMDs Short Term Mortality Fluctuations data series. The expected deaths for 2021, 2022, and 2023 were estimated using a Lee–Carter forecast model assuming pre-pandemic conditions. P-score differences between countries were decomposed using a Kitagawa-type decomposition into excess-mortality and structural components. To investigate the sensitivity of P-score cross-country rankings to differences in population structure we calculated the rank-correlation between age-standardized and classical P-scores. Results: The P-score is an average of age-specific percent excess deaths weighted by the age-distribution of expected deaths. It can be shown that the effect of differences in the distribution of deaths only plays a marginal role in a European comparison. In most cases, the excess mortality effect is the dominant effect. P-score rankings among European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic are similar under both age-standardized and classical P-scores. Conclusions: Although the P-score formally depends on the age-distribution of expected deaths, this structural component only plays a minor role in a European comparison, as the distribution of deaths across the continent is similar. Thus, the P-score is suitable as a measure of excess mortality in a European comparison, as it mainly reflects the differences in excess mortality. However, this finding should not be extrapolated to global comparisons, where countries could have very different death distributions. In situations were P-score comparisons are biased age-standardization can be applied as a solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study sought to document how the systemic biomarkers of inflammation varied based on food choices among patients with T2DM. This cross-sectional study enrolled ambulatory patients with T2DM. Demographic and clinical information was collected. Five drops of fingerstick blood were collected using an absorbent paper device (HemaSpot HFR). C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A protein (SAA), and fibrinogen were measured using a Luminex assay. Patient-generated 7-day food diaries were analyzed using a validated food processor software. Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation tests, linear regression and logistic regression with the significance level set at 0.05. Among the 71 participants, 43 (60.6%) were females. The average age and duration of T2DM were 64.1 ± 10.3 and 15.8 ± 9.1 years, respectively. In a simple linear regression run with selected micronutrients, iron [F (1, 53) = 5.319, p < 0.05, adj. R2 = 0.074] significantly predicted plasma CRP. This significance was lost with multiple linear regressions including age, gender, BMI, T2DM duration, T2DM complications, glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and other micronutrients. The average intake of most micronutrients by the participants was below the recommended daily intake. A higher intake of iron-rich foods was associated with higher levels of systemic inflammation in a simple linear regression model, but the association was not present after adjusting for patient factors like age, gender, BMI and T2DM-related variables. This relationship needs to be explored further given the key role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of T2DM and its associated complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disability is typically correlated with lower quality of life and decreased capacity for self-care. It has been demonstrated that multimorbidity is closely linked to a variety of unfavorable events, such as disability. Researchers are still figuring out how and to what extent co-morbidities impact disability, though. In order to fill up this gap, this study examines the prevalence and contributing variables of disability in older patients who have multimorbidity. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAL databases for articles from their inception until September 2023. We selected co-morbid older adults aged > 60 years and used the ADL scale or any scale that assesses disability as an assessment tool. We excluded literature that did not meet the criteria, and literature that could not be included in the data we needed. We extracted data from the included literature and calculated synthetic prevalence rates, ORs, and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 32 papers (71,135 older adults) were included in the study. The prevalence of disability among older patients with multimorbidity was around 34.9% (95% CI = 25.8-43.9%). Subgroup analysis showed higher rates of disability among comorbidities who were older, female, unmarried, and long-term users of health services. And the incidence of disability increased each year. Meanwhile, the regions of the United States, China, and Spain showed higher rates of disability. Conclusions: Disability rates in older patients with multimorbidity are higher, thus it's critical to focus on risk factors while fully accounting for regional variances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we measured B cell function in elderly healthy individuals (EH) and in elderly patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM, ET2DM), which are treatment-naive, as compared to healthy young (YH) individuals. Results show a higher serum inflammatory status of elderly versus young individuals, and especially of ET2DM versus EH. This status is associated with a reduced response to the seasonal influenza vaccine and with increased frequencies of the circulating pro-inflammatory B cell subset called Double Negative (DN) B cells. B cells from ET2DM patients are not only more inflammatory but also hyper-metabolic as compared to those from EH controls. The results herein are to our knowledge the first to show that T2DM superimposed on aging further increases systemic and B cell intrinsic inflammation, as well as dysfunctional humoral immunity. Our findings confirm and extend our previously published findings showing that inflammatory B cells are metabolically supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human longevity leaders with remarkably long lifespan play a crucial role in the advancement of longevity research. In this paper, we propose a stochastic model to describe the evolution of the age of the oldest person in the world by a Markov process, in which we assume that the births of the individuals follow a Poisson process with increasing intensity, lifespans of individuals are independent and can be characterized by a gamma–Gompertz distribution with time-dependent parameters. We utilize a dataset of the world's oldest person title holders since 1955, and we compute the maximum likelihood estimate for the parameters iteratively by numerical integration. Based on our preliminary estimates, the model provides a good fit to the data and shows that the age of the oldest person alive increases over time in the future. The estimated parameters enable us to describe the distribution of the age of the record holder process at a future time point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adult-centric concept of 'age-appropriateness' is an arbitrary signifier and yet it commands a powerful common-sense appeal in governing the shape of sexuality education. The visibility of LGBTQ+ lives in primary schools is deeply impacted by the cis-heteronormative ways in which age-appropriateness is commonly understood and mobilised; very often resulting in silence and delay. The concept of age-appropriateness also becomes entangled with moral panics about 'promoting' LGBTQ+ lives, or children being somehow 'recruited' to identify as LGBTQ+. This paper draws on findings from a study with the parents of eleven trans and gender diverse children (then aged between 5 and 13) conducted in 2017, as well as a follow-up study conducted with seven participants from the same group of parents and children in 2022. The paper explores how the politics of age and agency intersect and become intensified as trans and gender diverse children and their parents navigate and make decisions about their bodies, lives and everyday worlds in primary schools. These stories of trans and gender diverse children provide an arresting invitation to adults to attend closely to the rich stories of children themselves in (re)considering the potential of sexuality education across contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing patellofemoral pain (PFP) literature has primarily been focused on quadriceps muscle volume, with limited attention given to the deep and superficial muscle volume of the lower limbs in individuals with unilateral and bilateral PFP. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap. To explore superficial and deep lower extremity muscle volume in women with unilateral or bilateral PFP compared with a normative database of pain-free women. Cross-sectional study. University imaging research center. Twenty women with PFP (10 unilateral and 10 bilateral) and 8 pain-free women from a normative database. We quantified lower extremity muscle volume via 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging. Two separate 1-way analyses of variance were performed: (1) unilateral PFP (painful versus nonpainful limb) versus pain-free control groups and (2) bilateral PFP (more painful versus less painful limb) versus pain-free control groups. We observed no differences in age and body mass index across groups (P >.05). Compared with the pain-free group, the unilateral and bilateral PFP groups had bilaterally smaller volumes of the anterior (iliacus: P ≤.0004; d range, 2.12–2.65), medial (adductor brevis, adductor longus, gracilis, and pectineus: P ≤.02; d range, 1.25–2.48), posterior (obturator externus, obturator internus, and quadratus femoris: P <.05; d range, 1.17–4.82), and lateral (gluteus minimus: P ≤.03; d range, 1.16–2.09) hip muscles and knee extensors (rectus femoris: P ≤.003; d range, 1.67–2.16) and flexors (long and short head of the biceps femoris: P ≤.01, d range, 1.56–1.93). Women with unilateral and those with bilateral PFP displayed less volume of multiple superficial and deep muscles of the bilateral hips and knees than pain-free women. Interventions should bilaterally target lower limb muscles when treating PFP, and hypertrophy exercises for specific muscles should be explored to increase choices for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to develop a model to help parents cope with decisional conflict. Background: Parents of children with congenital heart defect experience decisional conflict when they are uncertain about treatment decisions for their child, which may lead to delay in seeking care or distress over the decision made. Design: Correlational design with model building and data triangulation was used. Methods: Data were collected through surveys and interviews with a consecutive sample of 221 parent respondents from June to December 2018. Structural equation modelling and qualitative data analysis were used. Results: Lower decisional conflict was seen in parents with higher income, more nurse support and physician risk communication. Time delay for surgery was correlated with the child's age, social service coverage, and social support. Decisional conflict mediated the influence of income, nurse support and physician risk communication on satisfaction with decision. Based on model fit parameters, the emerging model is a good and parsimonious model of decisional conflict. The overall theme, 'Deciding for Surgery: What Matters Most', described the processes parents went through in making treatment decisions. Conclusion: Nurses may help parents feel more certain, less conflicted, and more satisfied with their decision by addressing factors including knowledge gaps, personal values, available support, and resource access. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Decisional conflict occurs when parents are uncertain of the best action for their child because treatment options entail risks for undesirable outcomes, value compromise, unclear prognosis, or anticipated regret over the decision.Professional support, information, and communication are vital to parents' decision‐making process.Child, parent, and support factors may influence parent treatment decisions in varied paediatric conditions. What this paper adds? Child's age at the time of decision‐making had an effect on the delay in surgery. However, assisting parents to weigh their options and focus on personal values allowed them to make their treatment decision.Low income, costly health services, and bureaucratic processes impeded the timely availment of surgery. Healthcare reforms that provide a system of government funding, streamlined health structure, and social insurance may be looked into.Family support weighed in on the parents' decision to delay surgery for fear of blame or guilt. Providing relevant information enabled parents to make a choice and stand by their decision regardless of the outcome. The implications of this paper: Modelling provides a framework to identify which factors are more important and how they interact to affect decision‐making. It may be used as an approach to find solutions to clinical problems for groups with different diagnoses.Though nursing support, information, and communication are essential, a more holistic family nursing care approach may be considered to assist parents to make appropriate treatment decisions for their child.Familiarity with the healthcare system may equip nurses to aid parents in processing available healthcare funding and dealing with financial uncertainty affecting decisions for their child's treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of premature death worldwide, responsible for about 8 million deaths per year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, such as Morocco. Adolescents' tobacco use is a matter of concern, because early initiation increases the risk of becoming a lifelong user. There exists a notable gap in the synthesis of evidence concerning tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of the prevalence of tobacco products' use and associated factors among adolescents in Morocco. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect for relevant studies reporting prevalence rates of tobacco products' use among Moroccan adolescents, published until June 2024, using inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Additional searches were completed on other sources to reach unpublished reports. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies. Results: After the final screening, 22 papers met the inclusion criteria. Life-time prevalence of tobacco use ranged from 7.8% to 20.4% for cigarettes smoking, from 10.6% to 21.9% for waterpipe, from 7.9% to 9.1% for chewing tobacco and from 9.2% to 12.4% for snuff. The last 12-month prevalence of cigarette smoking was comprised between 6.9% and 10.8%. As for the prevalence of current use, ranges of (1.8%-16.4%) and (4.9%-8.4%) were noted for cigarettes and waterpipe, respectively. The most commonly highlighted risk factors for tobacco use included male sex, older age, having friends or family members who use tobacco and low perception of risk associated with tobacco use. Conclusion: Our findings reveal an alarming situation of tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial that all stakeholders engage in concerted efforts to develop and implement evidence-based preventive interventions among early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) remains a frustrating challenge for both patients and physicians. The aim of this paper is to focus on IA in pediatric ages and suggest possible diagnostic algorithms according to specific age ranges (infants, children, and adolescents). In fact, in a variable percentage of patients, despite extensive diagnostic tests, the cause of anaphylactic episodes cannot be identified. Moreover, the lack of a unanimous IA definition requires a careful and detailed diagnostic workup. Prompt recognition of signs and symptoms, especially in younger children, and an accurate clinical history often allow a choice of the most appropriate diagnostic tests and a correct differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Recovery‐oriented services have been shown to promote recovery in people with mental illness; their implementation is important for current psychiatric practice and is being considered by many professional institutions.The Japanese government released the policy 'A Vision for Reform of Mental Health and Medical Welfare' (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2004; https://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/2004/09/dl/tp0902‐1a.pdf), aiming to update public consciousness, reorganize the mental healthcare welfare system and strengthen the foundation of mental healthcare to promote a basic policy focusing on the transition 'from hospital to community life'. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This is the first study to clarify recovery‐oriented attitudes among psychiatric nursing directors and related factors in Japan. It shows an association between recovery‐oriented attitudes and hospital size. What are the implications for practice?: A relationship exists between the recovery knowledge and recovery‐oriented attitudes of psychiatric nursing directors. It may thus be valuable for directors to see and hear about the experiences of patients living in the community during their recovery process. As hospital size and organizational climate may hinder the successful implementation of recovery‐oriented practices, these factors must be considered when introducing such practices.Further research is needed on the relationship between psychiatric nursing directors' recovery‐oriented attitudes and practices. Moreover, to develop intervention studies that uncover success factors for enhancing recovery‐oriented attitudes, organizational factors that enable recovery‐oriented practices must be further investigated. Introduction: Recovery‐oriented practices in mental health services have become a global priority. Despite their proven effectiveness, Japanese hospitals have not widely implemented such practices. Aim: This study clarified psychiatric nursing directors' recovery‐oriented attitudes and factors regarding promoting recovery‐oriented practices to identify methods for developing these practices in Japan. Method: This cross‐sectional study used a questionnaire survey with 250 nursing directors from 1287 Japanese psychiatric hospitals. Multivariable regression analysis assessed how socio‐demographic variables and Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) scores affected Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ‐7) scores. Results: The analysis revealed that more clinical and managerial experience was associated with more negative recovery‐oriented attitudes. High RKI scores, knowledge of strength, hospital size and outpatient work experience were associated with more positive recovery‐oriented attitudes. Discussion: Implementing recovery practices requires consideration of knowledge and experience in recovery and hospital size alongside recovery training based on a hospital's organizational structure. Although the low response rate could influence the study's generalisability, it could also indicate low interest in recovery‐oriented practices among professionals. Implications for Practice: Acquiring more knowledge and experience regarding recovery promotes recovery‐oriented attitudes among nursing directors. An appropriate organizational culture and consideration of hospital size are required when introducing such recovery practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is growing scientific and policy recognition that optimising health before a potential pregnancy (preconception health) improves reproductive outcomes and the lifelong health of future children. However, public awareness on this topic is low. We conducted a public consultation to develop language recommendations and identify and prioritise approaches to inform research and improve public awareness of preconception health. Methods: A public consultation was undertaken with people of any gender aged 18–50 years living in the United Kingdom who were not currently expecting a child. Public contributors were recruited through patient and public involvement, community and support groups, an existing cohort study, and an LGBTQ+ charity. An initial round of online group discussions (February/March 2021) explored public contributors' knowledge of preconception health, their recommendations for appropriate language, and ideas about public health approaches. In a subsequent discussion round (May 2021), language recommendations were refined and suggested approaches prioritised. Discussions were summarised based on notes taken by two researchers. Results: Fifty‐four people joined the initial discussion round (66% women, 21% men, 13% nonbinary or transgender; 55% aged 18–30 years, 30% 31–40 years, 15% 41–50 years). Of these, 36 people (67%) participated in the subsequent round. Very few had heard the term 'preconception health', understood what it means, or why and for whom it is important. They recommended avoiding unfamiliar terms without further explanation (e.g., preconception health, medical terms), using language that is positive, encouraging and gender‐sensitive where possible, and using messages that are specific, nonjudgmental and realistic. The phrases 'health and well‐being during the childbearing years', 'health and well‐being before pregnancy and parenthood' and 'planning for parenthood' resonated with most public contributors. School‐based education, social media campaigns and the National Health Service emerged as priority approaches/settings for raising awareness. Conclusion: This public consultation produced recommendations from a diverse group of people of reproductive age in the United Kingdom to improve language and prioritise approaches that increase public understanding of preconception health in ways that are relevant and appropriate to them. This should begin in schools and will require adaptation of curricula, alongside co‐development of public awareness campaigns and guidance for healthcare professionals. Patient or Public Contribution: This public consultation included a diverse group of members of the public. They were not involved in the original design of the project, but following the initial round of online group discussions, they contributed to the interpretation and refinement of the emerging concepts in a subsequent round of group meetings. After the consultation activity, public contributors formed a Public Advisory Group and have subsequently been involved in other studies on the same topic. Two public contributors (E.R. and F.F.) provided critical input in the preparation and revision of this manuscript and are co‐authors of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the perceptions of the Australian public canvassed in 2021 during the COVID‐19 pandemic about their health system compared to four previous surveys (2008, 2010, 2012 and 2018). Methods: In 2021, a nationwide online survey was conducted with a representative sample of Australians (N = 5100) recruited via market research panels. The results were compared to previous nationwide Australian survey samples from 2018 (N = 1024), 2012 (N = 1200), 2010 (N = 1201) and 2008 (N = 1146). The survey included questions consistent with previous polls regarding self‐reported health status and overall opinions of, and confidence in, the Australian health system. Results: There was an increase in the proportion of respondents reporting positive perceptions at each survey between 2008 and 2021, with a significantly higher proportion of respondents expressing a more positive view of the Australian healthcare system in 2021 compared to previous years (χ2(8, N = 9645) = 487.63, p < 0.001). In 2021, over two‐thirds of respondents (n = 3949/5100, 77.4%) reported that following the COVID‐19 pandemic, their confidence in the Australian healthcare system had either remained the same (n = 2433/5100, 47.7%) or increased (n = 1516/5100, 29.7%). Overall, respondents living in regional or remote regions, younger Australians (< 45 years) and women held less positive views in relation to the system. In 2021, the most frequently identified area for urgent improvement was the need for more healthcare workers (n = 1350/3576, 37.8%), an area of concern particularly for Australians residing in regional or remote areas (n = 590/1385, 42.6%). Conclusions: Irrespective of disruptions to the Australian healthcare system caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic, Australians' perceptions of their healthcare system were positive in 2021. However, concerns were raised about inadequate workforce capacity and the cost of healthcare, with differences identified by age groups and geographical location. Patient or Public Contribution: Health consumer representatives from the Consumers Health Forum of Australia contributed to the co‐design, deployment, analysis and interpretation of the results of this survey. J.A. and L.W. from the Consumers Health Forum of Australia contributed to the development of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Freezing of gait (FoG) is a common and debilitating symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that can lead to falls and reduced quality of life. Wearable sensors have been used to detect FoG, but current methods have limitations in accuracy and practicality. In this paper, we aimed to develop a deep learning model using pressure sensor data from wearable insoles to accurately detect FoG in PD patients. Methods: We recruited 14 PD patients and collected data frommultiple trials of a standardized walking test using the Pedar insole system. We proposed temporal convolutional neural network (TCNN) and applied rigorous data filtering and selective participant inclusion criteria to ensure the integrity of the dataset. We mapped the sensor data to a structured matrix and normalized it for input into our TCNN. We used a train-test split to evaluate the performance of the model. Results: We found that TCNN model achieved the highest accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score for FoG detection compared to othermodels. The TCNN model also showed good performance in detecting FoG episodes, even in various types of sensor noise situations. Conclusions: We demonstrated the potential of using wearable pressure sensors andmachine learningmodels for FoG detection in PD patients. The TCNNmodel showed promising results and could be used in future studies to develop a real-time FoG detection system to improve PD patients' safety and quality of life. Additionally, our noise impact analysis identifies critical sensor locations, suggesting potential for reducing sensor numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Data on persisting symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents are conflicting. Due to the absence of a clear pathophysiological correlate and a definitive diagnostic test, the diagnosis of Long COVID currently rests on consensus definitions only. This review aims to summarise the evidence regarding Long COVID in children and adolescents, incorporating the latest studies on this topic. (2) Methods: We designed a comprehensive search strategy to capture all relevant publications using Medline via the PubMed interface, with the initial literature search conducted in April 2023. To be included, publications had to present original data and include >50 participants with Long COVID symptoms aged between 0 and18 years. (3) Results: A total of 51 studies met the inclusion criteria, with most studies originating from Europe (n = 34; 66.7%), followed by the Americas (n = 8; 15.7%) and Asia (n = 7; 13.7%). Various study designs were employed, including retrospective, cross-sectional, prospective, or ambispective approaches. Study sizes varied significantly, with 18/51 studies having fewer than 500 participants. Many studies had methodological limitations: 23/51 (45.1%) studies did not include a control group without prior COVID-19 infection. Additionally, a considerable number of papers (33/51; 64.7%) did not include a clear definition of Long COVID. Other limitations included the lack of PCR- or serology-based confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the study group. Across different studies, there was high variability in the reported prevalence of Long COVID symptoms, ranging from 0.3% to 66.5%, with the majority of studies included in this review reporting prevalences of approximately 10–30%. Notably, the two studies with the highest prevalences also reported very high prevalences of Long COVID symptoms in the control group. There was a relatively consistent trend for Long COVID prevalence to decline substantially over time. The prevalence of Long COVID appeared to differ across different paediatric age groups, with teenagers being more commonly affected than younger children. Furthermore, data suggest that children and adolescents are less commonly affected by Long COVID compared to adults. In children and adolescents, Long COVID is associated with a very broad range of symptoms and signs affecting almost every organ system, with the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric systems being most commonly affected. (4) Conclusions: The heterogeneity and limitations of published studies on Long COVID in children and adolescents complicate the interpretation of the existing data. Future studies should be rigorously designed to address unanswered questions regarding this complex disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Continuing care is needed for the growing number of chronically ill patients who struggle with health problems after discharge. This study aims to elucidate the development process, functionalities, service protocols, and utilization of an Internet Plus Care (IPC) platform devised by our hospital to offer healthcare services to discharged patients. Methods: This was a mixed study. After describing the development process, function and usage of IPC platform, we retrospectively collect data such as the general information of service recipients and service providers, service items, and service prices through the IPC platform from January 2021 to September 2023 to characterize these services. Results: 69 nurses delivered a total of 788 services to 211 patients through the IPC platform. The majority of services (N = 652, 82.7%) were delivered offline, with almost half of the recipients (N = 384, 48.7%) being elderly individuals. 46.4% of nurses provided services ≥ 3 times. Furthermore, 26.5% of patients received services three or more times. Notably, patients' care requirements exhibited variations across age groups, with wound care (n = 243, 63.3%), pressure injuries care (n = 50, 13.0%), and replacement of indwelling nasogastric tubes (n = 20, 5.2%) emerging as the top three services favored by the elderly. Conclusions: The IPC platform demonstrates potential in delivering diverse health services to patients; however, the involvement of nurses and patients needs to be enhanced. It is necessary to implement relevant safeguard policies to promote the effective use of IPC platform for health management of discharged patients in the future. What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community?: The prevalence of chronic diseases is on the rise, and patients with chronic diseases continue to struggle with health problems after discharge and require extended treatment and rehabilitation. Our study proves that IPC platform presents a promising avenue for addressing these challenges. It is anticipated that governmental authorities will undertake comprehensive policy, legislative, and medical insurance reforms to facilitate the extensive adoption of IPC platform-based services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delirium is a common disorder affecting patients' psychiatric illness, characterized by a high rate of underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and high risks. However, previous studies frequently excluded patients with psychiatric illness, leading to limited knowledge about risk factors and optimal assessment tools for delirium in psychiatric settings. Objectives: The scoping review was carried out to (1) identify the risk factors associated with delirium in patients with psychiatric illness; (2) synthesize the performance of assessment tools for detecting delirium in patients with psychiatric illness in psychiatric settings. Design: Scoping review. Data sources: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify primary studies on delirium in psychiatric settings from inception to Dec 2023 inclusive. Two independent reviewers screened eligible studies against inclusion criteria. A narrative synthesis of the included studies was conducted. Results: A final set of 36 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, two main themes were extracted: risk factors associated with delirium in patients with psychiatric illness and assessment tools for detecting delirium in psychiatric settings. The risk factors associated with delirium primarily included advanced age, physical comorbid, types of psychiatric illness, antipsychotics, anticholinergic drug, Electroconvulsive therapy, and the combination of lithium and Electroconvulsive therapy. Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, and Delirium Diagnostic Tool-Provisional might be valuable for delirium assessment in patients with psychiatric illness in psychiatric settings. Conclusions: Delirium diagnosis in psychiatric settings is complex due to the overlapping clinical manifestations between psychiatric illness and delirium, as well as their potential co-occurrence. It is imperative to understand the risk factors and assessment methods related to delirium in this population to address diagnostic delays, establish effective prevention and screening strategies. Future research should focus on designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions that target modifiable risk factors, to prevent and manage delirium in patients with psychiatric illness. What is already known about the topic?: • Delirium is common among individuals living in psychiatric settings and remains clinically under-detected, and it is associated with the length of hospital stay and poor prognoses. • Dementia with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and other psychiatric illnesses has been shown to make delirium more likely. However, despite extensive research on factors associated with delirium, there is a notable lack of studies conducted in psychiatric settings. • Early detection and identification of delirium are crucial in psychiatric settings; however, literature regarding the assessment and identification of delirium has not been synthesized, particularly in the context of comorbid psychiatric illness. What this paper adds?: • Risk factors associated with delirium in patients with psychiatric illness primarily include advanced age, physical comorbid, types of psychiatric illness, antipsychotics, anticholinergic drug, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and the combination of lithium and ECT. • Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, and Delirium Diagnostic Tool-Provisional might hold promising value as assessment tools for delirium in patients with psychiatric illness in psychiatric settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Population ageing is a demographic transition and burdens every country's health sector. A lack of social security combined with low government health-sector spending has made health-care utilisation difficult among elderly in many developing countries like India. This makes population ageing a global phenomenon for policymakers, researchers and stakeholders to discuss and debate in 21st century. The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavioural determinants of health-care utilisation among elderly population in Punjab. Design/methodology/approach: This study examines health-care utilisation among the elderly population in Punjab. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data in the state of Punjab, with a multi-stage stratified random sample of 385 respondents. Logit regression was used to analyse the association between several behavioural factors like age, gender, place of residence, source of livelihood, education and frequency of visits with health-care utilisation among elderly aged 60 and above. Findings: This study revealed that gender, age, place of residence, source of livelihood, education and frequency of visits were significant determinants of health-care utilisation among elderly population. Originality/value: This study directs the need to improve health-care utilisation in a country, reducing inequalities that exist among the elderly population with respect to socio-economic and demographic differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the sustained periodic oscillation phenomenon in a three-species delayed predation system with Holling type II functional response and age structure in top predator. The top predator fertility function is regarded as a piecewise continuous smooth function with regard to their maturation period τ 2 . The complicated dynamic behavior is proved by integrated semigroup theory and Hopf bifurcation theorem for semilinear equations with non-dense domain. Through qualitative analysis and bifurcation study of the system, we yield that this system has a nontrivial periodic solution that bifurcates from the positive equilibrium age distribution when bifurcation parameter τ passes through some critical values. Numerical simulations are also provided to illustrate theoretically analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) have complex etiologies and often severe consequences. Certain personality traits have been associated with an increased risk for SU(D), but far less is known about personality changes related to SU(D). This review aims to synthesize the existing literature on this research question. A systematic literature search was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 in PubMed, EbscoHost, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed original papers on SU(D)-related personality changes were included. Of 55 included studies, 38 were observational population-based studies and 17 were intervention studies. Overall, personality and SU measures, samples, study designs, and statistical approaches were highly heterogenous. In observational studies, higher SU was most consistently related to increases in impulsivity-related traits and (less so) neuroticism, while interventions in the context of SU(D) were mostly associated with increases in conscientiousness and self-efficacy and lasting decreases in neuroticism. Findings for traits related to extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were mixed and depended on SU measure and age. Studies on bidirectional associations suggest that personality and SU(D) both influence each other over time. Due to their strong association with SU(D), impulsivity-related traits may be important target points for interventions. Future work may investigate the mechanisms underlying personality changes related to SU(D), distinguishing substance-specific effects from general SU(D)-related processes like withdrawal, craving, and loss of control. Furthermore, more research is needed to examine whether SU(D)-related personality changes vary by developmental stage and clinical features (e.g. initial use, onset, remission, and relapse). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Philippines is a source of labor for many countries. Roughly 10 million overseas Filipinos are working and living outside of the Philippines. This paper examines the association between sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, educational level, and income) and self-rated physical and mental health, access to healthcare, and health habits among immigrant Filipinos living in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Through convenience sampling, Filipino migrants (n = 103) aged 18 years and above participated in the online survey between October 2022 and March 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square. Almost all respondents self-rated their health as excellent and very good. Female respondents are more affected by mental health. Most are enrolled in the Universal Health System of Spain (public insurance). There is more utilization of private health insurance among respondents aged 60 years and above and high-wage earners. Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are associated with males. More than half of the respondents perform weekly exercise occasionally or never. These findings suggest a potential need for targeted interventions with an emphasis on the practice of preventive health and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, especially among financially disadvantaged migrants with lesser health access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying major depression in children and adolescents is more challenging than in adults. Questionnaires are often used for screening or guiding clinical assessment. Several instruments of different lengths are used as equivalent measures in diagnostic decisions. In this paper, we explore to what extent 18 commonly used depression scales for children and adolescents explore depression clinical symptoms as established by standard DSM-5 diagnosis criteria. We analyzed scale content adequacy by examining the overlap between scale contents and consensus clinical symptoms, the diagnostic time frame for active symptom assessment, and readability for the target age group. The 18 scales encompassed 52 distinct symptoms. These scales included just 50% of clinical symptoms required for diagnosis. The content overlap was low; on average, 29% of symptoms coincide across scales. Half of the scales did not use the standard period for active symptom appraisal, and some did not include a period for assessment. The reading levels on six scales were inappropriate for the scale's target population age group. The substantial heterogeneity in defining the depressive syndrome, the low overlap among scales, different periods of a positive diagnosis, and mismatch of reading competence for detecting may lead to heterogeneity in clinical diagnoses when using different scales. Improving the content of self-report in terms of homogeneity of diagnostic criteria would lead to better diagnostic decisions and patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE Awareness and screening exercise on prostate cancer health related issues among the rural population is still interfered with by the socio-cultural and economic challenges affecting the developing nations. This is yet to be empirically explored in some regions such as southeast Nigeria. The paper explored prostate cancer awareness and screening exercise among some 1080 men (30+) in rural southeast Nigeria. METHODS The study was guided by Health Belief Model, while survey design and quantitative data gathering techniques were deployed in collecting data from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized in probing the prevalence of awareness about prostate cancer/screening practices, and the relationship of these and other variables. RESULTS According to the findings, there is a poor awareness about prostate cancer and related symptoms (31.2%) and poor regular prostate cancer screening practices among the respondents (11%). Prostate cancer awareness is significantly correlated with age (p<0.000, b=-0.618, Exp(B)=0.539), marital status (p<0.000, b=1.239, Exp(B)=3.452), occupation (p<0.000, b=-2.474, Exp(B)=0.084), education (p<0.000, b=1.239, Exp(B)=3.452), income (p<0.002, b=-0.476, Exp(B)=0.621) and having seen someone living with prostate cancer (p<0.000, b=3.927, Exp(B)=50.742). Regular screening exercise is predicted by age (p<0.000, b=0.054, t=4.706), marital status (p<0.000, b=-0.110, t=-5.309), education (p<0.02, b=0.047, t=2.557), occupation (p<0.000, b=0.090, t=4.484) and source of prostate cancer awareness (p<0.02, b=0.052, t=2.366). CONCLUSION The study concludes that prostate cancer screening practices are heavily dependent on the socioeconomic realities among the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to establish how the phenomenon of mental health issues among young people has translated into the reality of Irish schools through the lens of Irish teachers. Design/methodology/approach: This wholly qualitative study adopted a post-positivist and phenomenological approach to gathering data by way of semi-structured interviews of 16 participants, 8 from primary backgrounds and 8 from post-primary backgrounds. Analysis of the data highlighted what teachers perceive to be ongoing issues with the mental health and well-being of pupils and the challenges that both teachers and pupils must overcome. Findings: Interviewing the participants unearthed three sub-themes with regard to mental health in Irish schools, namely, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders/symptoms of mental ill-health among Irish children and adolescents, the barriers preventing help-seeking and the role of mental health support services in Irish schools. Research limitations/implications: One limitation in this study was that a wider variety in sample could have yielded a more in-depth volume of results. Furthermore, the study by semi-structured interview presented challenges, such as the use of other people's viewpoints to support the perceptions of the participants, which could not be validated. Practical implications: Among the recommendations made by the participants were that schools engage in policy development to combat mental health and well-being issues, that teachers engage in continuous professional development in the area and that mental health support services are sufficiently staffed and funded. Social implications: The general public should engage more in activities that promote a healthy dialogue around the topic of mental health to reduce stigma. It is recommended that campaigns to raise awareness are continued and bolstered. Originality/value: Irish teachers are being confronted by a contemporary discourse that has materialised as a by-product of an evolving society. Cultural development has led to increased focus on mental health and well-being in recent years, with this body of research exploring its emergence into school life from teachers' perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]