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The intersection of religious beliefs and sex work has long been a subject of debate, with varying perspectives on the moral, social, and legal implications. This qualitative systematic review aimed to review the nuanced relationship between religious beliefs and sex work by synthesizing the existing literature and providing insights into the diverse perspectives and experiences. The rationale for this research is to understand how religious beliefs influence societal attitudes, policies, and the experiences of sex workers in order to inform more effective and culturally sensitive interventions and support mechanisms. This review focused on articles pertaining to female-identified sex workers, as the gendered discussion happens heavily in religious interpretations and in current anti-trafficking legislation, which now genders men as customers and not as sex workers. Five stages of systematic review were followed in this review. The following peer-reviewed electronic databases from 2000 to 2023 were utilized: Google Scholar, Scopus database, Science Direct, and PubMed. The search strategy focused on identifying studies that investigated the impact of religious beliefs on various aspects of sex work, including attitudes towards sex work within religious communities and the influence of religious teachings on the behavior and practices of sex workers. Inclusion criteria were defined based on population, exposure, study design, and outcomes, while exclusion criteria were established to ensure the relevance and rigor of the included studies. Only 25 relevant studies resulted from this research. Four themes emerged from this study: (1) religious attitudes towards sex work; (2) experiences of sex workers, including stigmatization and marginalization within religious contexts; (3) social control; and (4) empowerment and advocacy. The relationship between religious beliefs and sex work is complex and multifaceted, influenced by cultural, social, and historical factors. Recognizing and understanding these perspectives is essential for developing more inclusive and effective interventions and policies that address the needs and rights of sex workers within the context of their religious beliefs and communities.

Background: Improving the understanding of the post-discharge experiences of family members after their loved ones leave the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is essential for developing effective follow-up strategies. These strategies are crucial for mitigating potential negative outcomes for both patients and their families. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of family members after the discharge of their loved ones from the ICU. Methods: In September 2023, we conducted a systematic search of qualitative studies across the following databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used to guide this review. Results: Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. Four themes were identified following evidence synthesis: (1) grappling with a weighty burden; (2) recognizing and confronting adversities along the way; (3) seeking support beyond one’s own resources; and (4) addressing comprehensive care requirements. Conclusions: Family members face significant psychological and physical challenges while caring for their loved ones recovering from an ICU stay. Adequate formal and informal help is imperative to provide support both during hospitalization and after discharge. A refined understanding of the distinct requirements and experiences of family members can serve as a strategic framework for informing educational interventions and follow-up programs during the transition from hospital settings to community-based care. This study was not registered.

This paper examined the influence of radio messages on the awareness and adoption of malaria preventive measures among rural dwellers in South-west Nigeria. The study investigated the participants’ frequency of exposure to radio messages on malaria preventive measures, message adoption, and attitudes towards adopting measures. We used a multiple-stage sampling technique to select 48 participants from Aye North, Orile-Oshodi, Ofada, Owobaale/kasumu, Isale Oba II, and Ilepa II. The findings showed that the participants were exposed to messages on malaria preventive measures through radio broadcasts; however, exposure did not necessarily influence message adoption. Instead, a positive attitude towards the message influenced adoption. The study concluded that there is a need for radio stations to engage people’s participation daily in health-related issues to achieve the desired change in health behaviour. The authors recommend that radio stations provide time to create daily health messages that influence people’s engagement to achieve the desired change in health behaviour.

Cesarean sections have become increasingly common globally, including in Nigeria. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and experiences of postpartum women who underwent cesarean sections within the distinct contexts of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 24 postpartum women in selected health facilities in urban and rural areas. A diverse sample was purposively selected to capture a range of experiences based on age, residence, education, and cultural backgrounds. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and themes within the data. The findings revealed diverse emotional responses among participants, ranging from relief and gratitude to disappointment and feelings of loss for not experiencing a vaginal birth. Societal pressures and cultural expectations played a significant role in influencing women’s perceptions and experiences of cesarean sections. Future childbirth preferences and support systems, including healthcare provider–patient relationships and community support, were identified as crucial factors impacting postoperative recovery. This study contributes to the understanding of women’s perceptions of cesarean sections within the local context of Ibadan, Nigeria. The findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare practices, clear communication, and support systems to enhance the birthing experiences of women undergoing cesarean sections.

Background: A timely diagnostic colonoscopy (DC) after a positive FIT result is crucial for effective colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. In the Flemish CRC screening program (CRC-SP), 17% of FIT-positive participants had no DC in 2020. This study explores self-reported barriers, experiences, and perceptions about DC in FIT-positive participants. Methods: An online survey combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was sent by email to FIT-positive participants (November 2019–September 2020). Results: Out of 5134 invitees, 1597 respondents (31.1%) completed the survey. Among them, 77.5% had undergone/planned a DC, while 22.5% were unwilling to undergo a DC. DC perceptions, expectations, and experiences differed among groups; 57% of the ‘DC-performed’ group reported better-than-expected experiences. A substantial portion of the ‘DC-naïve’ group anticipated pain (42%) and embarrassment (30%), while the actual experience in the ‘DC-performed’ group was much lower (6.4% and 3.2%, respectively). GP advice, support from close contacts, and colonoscopy experiencers trigger DC planning, whereas lack of symptoms, false-positive perception, fears, and embarrassment were identified as barriers to DC. Conclusions: The study reveals barriers/facilitators for a DC in the Flemish CRC-SP. The findings inform targeted interventions for improved DC completion and its impact, including patient navigation and testimonial videos of ‘colonoscopy experiencers’ to address DC misperceptions.

This study employed a localized bilingual education model developed in Taiwan to design a questionnaire targeted at junior high school students. The questionnaire was validated using exploratory factor analysis. Reliability testing indicated Cronbach’s alpha values for subscales ranging from 0.88 to 0.95, with an overall Cronbach’s alpha of 0.98. A total of 760 junior high school students in Taipei City who have received bilingual instruction completed the questionnaire. The results demonstrate that the questionnaire has high construct validity and internal consistency, making it a practical tool to evaluate students’ perceptions of bilingual education. Future studies should focus on qualitative research such as in-depth interviews, extend the survey to students at the university and primary school levels, and verify the questionnaire’s structure through confirmatory factor analysis.

This research explores the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools among higher education students in Saudi Arabia, aiming to understand their current perceptions of these technologies. This study utilizes the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the theory of Task-Technology Fit (TTF) to examine students’ utilization, perceived benefits, and challenges associated with these tools. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, yielding 859 responses. The findings indicate that 78.7% of students frequently use GenAI tools, while 21.3% do not, often due to a lack of knowledge or interest. ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used GenAI tool, utilized by 86.2% of respondents, followed by other tools like Gemini, Socratic, and CoPilot. Students primarily use these tools for defining or clarifying concepts, translation, generating ideas in writing, and summarizing academic literature. They cite benefits such as ease of access, time-saving, and instant feedback. However, they express concerns about the challenges, including subscription fees, unreliable information, plagiarism, reduced human-to-human interaction, and impacts on learning autonomy. This study underscores the need for increased awareness, ethical guidelines, and robust academic integrity measures to ensure the responsible use of GenAI tools in educational settings. These findings highlight the need for a balanced utilization of GenAI tools in higher education that maximizes benefits while addressing potential challenges and guides the development of policies, curricula, and support systems.

The study addresses the underutilisation of wood in construction in Chile, particularly given the country’s robust forestry sector. The research investigates perceptions, tensions, and contradictions among end-users regarding timber construction in Valdivia, a city with a mixed forestry industry. Methods included a comprehensive survey of 96 households across various socioeconomic clusters, utilising descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses. Key findings reveal persistent negative perceptions about wood’s durability, fire resistance, and maintenance costs. However, positive aspects, such as lower construction costs and adequate thermal comfort, were also noted. Surprisingly, concerns were raised about wood’s environmental impact, including deforestation and its role in combating climate change, contrasting with the material’s known ecological benefits. The study concludes that these perceptions are deeply influenced by ideological and sociopolitical factors, suggesting that mere marketing strategies may not suffice to alter public opinion. Instead, a collaborative effort involving public policy, industry advancements, and transparent scientific communication is essential to promote the benefits of timber construction and address the entrenched biases.

Menstruation remains surrounded by taboo and symbolic violence for many adolescents and young women today, and it is urgent to identify existing stereotypes. The objective was to validate a Spanish-language instrument to assess perceptions, false beliefs, gender stereotypes, fears, and taboos surrounding menstruation in nursing women’s studies. A cross-sectional study for psychometric validation of the METCON© scale (22 item version) was assessed in a cohort of 401 female nursing university students (2016–2019), assessing the psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and structural validity. Furthermore, an invariance analysis was conducted to discern structural disparities before and after studying the subject of gender and health. The METCON© scale showed acceptable internal consistency scores measured by Cronbach’s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a structure of six factors which explained 60.50% of the total variance with a total of 19 items. Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (α = 0.613). Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate values, confirming this structure. The invariance analyses identified that the structure remained adequate when evaluated before and after studying the subject of gender and health. Once validated, this instrument could serve as a valid and reliable tool for comprehensively examining perceptions, beliefs, and myths surrounding menstruation, addressing not only biological but also social and cultural aspects.

As cities progress into high-quality developments, the demand for urban parks that enhance residents’ well-being and sustainability is increasing. Traditional visual-centric design methods no longer suffice. Given that vision and hearing are the primary sensory pathways through which people perceive their environment, exploring their relationship with landscape experiences offers a novel perspective for optimizing the audiovisual perception quality of urban parks. This study explores the relationship between visual and auditory elements and landscape experiences to optimize urban parks’ sensory quality. Using visual perception, soundscape perception, sound source perception, and behavioral vitality, this study evaluates the audiovisual perception quality of a representative wetland park in Chengdu’s ring ecological zone. By quantifying relationships between audiovisual characteristics, behavioral vitality, and emotional feedback, several emotional assessment models were constructed. The results show that lawns, pavements, and sound pressure levels significantly impact vitality. A sound pressure level of 77 dB has been identified as a critical threshold in emotional perception models. Consequently, distinct emotional prediction models can be employed to enhance landscape design across various sound pressure level zones. This research provides scientific evidence and flexible strategies for designing urban open spaces that improve landscape experiences based on multisensory perception.

Public satisfaction is an important indicator of the success of environmental policies and management practices. China’s sponge city development (SCD) initiative was launched in 2014 and has received international attention for its technical advancements and environmental achievements. Public satisfaction, however, has not been fully investigated in cities transformed by SCD. This study uses public surveys and structural equation modeling to evaluate people’s satisfaction with SCD in four pilot sponge cities, and how familiarity with SCD, perceived benefits, concerns about adverse effects, and trust in government influence satisfaction levels. The results show that people in the four cities were, on average, slightly satisfied with SCD. Familiarity, perceived benefits, and trust in government were significant determinants of public satisfaction. On the contrary, concerns about the adverse effects of SCD did not significantly influence people’s satisfaction. Moreover, a mismatch was found between government-led evaluation outcomes and satisfaction measured here. This study highlights the importance of social and perceived values in shaping people’s satisfaction with SCD and provides suggestions for management strategies for enhancing public satisfaction, ultimately supporting the long-term effectiveness of urban stormwater management programs.

The aim of this study was to explore maternity care providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the use of calcium supplements during pregnancy for the prevention of preeclampsia in three hospitals from Metropolitan Buenos Aires, Argentina. We conducted semi-structured interviews and followed a thematic analysis framework. Maternity care providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding calcium supplementation during pregnancy are linked to barriers to the potential implementation of calcium supplementation. Free provision of calcium supplements by the government, coupled with training that reinforces the scientific evidence supporting their use to prevent preeclampsia, along with documented recommendations from credible sources, would be crucial to ensure that health providers adopt the use of calcium supplements in antenatal care. Future studies should assess pregnant women and policymakers’ perceptions about calcium supplementation during pregnancy, as well as local infrastructure to provide access to free-of-charge calcium supplements in antenatal care settings. Economic evaluation with local information could inform policymakers and advocate for the implementation of strategies to reduce preeclampsia.

Background: Ultra-processed food (UPF) is currently not included in most countries’ dietary guidance. However, there may be growing public interest and consumer avoidance of UPF due to media reporting of studies on the negative health outcomes associated with UPFs. Methods: We surveyed 2386 UK adults (M age = 45 years, 50% female) during February–April 2024. Participants completed measures on awareness of the term UPF, whether the UPF status of foods affects their dietary decision-making, and confidence in identifying UPFs. Participants categorised a list of 10 foods (5 UPFs and 5 non-UPFs) as UPF vs. not, before rating whether information about studies linking UPF to worse health impacts on their negative affect and acts as a deterrent to consuming UPFs. Results: Most participants (73%) were aware of the term UPF and 58% reported that their food choices are determined by whether they believe a food is ultra-processed or not. Participants with the highest income and education levels were most likely to report both being aware of, and, avoiding consuming UPFs. Most participants could not accurately categorise whether foods were UPFs. Some sociodemographic groups (e.g., higher education levels) were more likely to accurately categorise UPFs but were also more likely to incorrectly believe that non-UPFs were UPFs. Participants tended to report that UPF-health risk information increases negative affect and acts as a deterrent to consuming UPFs. Conclusions: In this study, a large number of UK adults reported avoiding consuming UPFs. This was particularly pronounced among those with the highest education and income levels.

(1) Gender-based dating violence is common among adolescents. This violence has global repercussions and can have immediate and delayed consequences on health. Also, cases of dating violence and sexual abuse using technology are increasing. The aim of this research is to describe and understand the perceptions and experiences of Spanish university students aged 18 to 22, about gender-based dating violence and its perpetuation through social media. (2) A qualitative descriptive study was used, following the five consolidated criteria for reporting and publishing COREQ qualitative research. (3) The inductive analysis of the data obtained in the focus group session and the individual interviews of the twelve participants was organised into three major themes: the concept of gender violence that Spanish youth have, the education they have received on gender-based violence and whether they consider that social media are a way to exercise this type of violence. (4) Spanish youth have a broad vision of the attitudes and behaviours that make up gender-based dating violence in an affective relationship. The education received at home is of vital importance for young people, but not all receive it. Social media are frequent tools through which many young people perpetuate controlling partner violence and normalise aspects and situations of gender violence, making it necessary to stress them in prevention programs.

Background and Objectives: The healthcare system in Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly with the utilization of advanced technologies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the Saudi public perceptions and opinions towards artificial intelligence (AI) in health care. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional web-based questionnaire study was conducted between January and April 2024. Data were analyzed from 830 participants. The perceptions of the public towards AI were assessed using 21-item questionnaires. Results: Among the respondents, 69.4% were males and 46% of them were aged above 41 years old. A total of 84.1% of the participants knew about AI, while 61.1% of them believed that AI is a tool that helps healthcare professionals, and 12.5% of them thought that AI may replace the physician, pharmacist, or nurse in the healthcare system. With regard to opinion on the widespread use of AI, 45.8% of the study population believed that healthcare professionals will be improved with the widespread use of artificial intelligence. The mean perception score of AI among males was 38.4 (SD = 6.1) and this was found to be higher than for females at 37.7 (SD = 5.3); however, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.072). Similarly, the mean perception score was higher among young adults aged between 20 and 25 years at 38.9 (SD = 6.1) compared to other age groups, but indicating no significant association between them (p = 0.198). Conclusions: The results showed that the Saudi public had a favorable opinion and perceptions of AI in health care. This suggests that health management recommendations should be made regarding how to successfully integrate and use medical AI while maintaining patient safety.

Background: Cancer is a rapidly rising cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Cervical cancer, in particular, is still one of the leading causes of mortality for women in this setting. The uptake of healthcare services is in part influenced by patients’ belief systems. We sought to better understand the perception of cancer in the Kom tribe of Northwest Cameroon. Methods: A qualitative research study was completed using a semi-structured interview guide and one-on-one interviews with 45 parents of girls aged 9–14 years. These girls were candidates for free HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using ATLAS.ti 9. Results: Thirty-five mothers and ten fathers with a median age of 42 yo were interviewed from Mbingo, Belo, Njinikom, and Fundong. Half of the parents were farmers, with three being herbalists or traditional medicine doctors. Seventy-seven percent had either no or only primary school education. None had had cancer. All knew at least one person with cancer. The most common word for cancer in the Kom language is “ngoissu”. It can refer to a bad infection or cancer. The occurrence of ngoissu is the result of either a curse placed on you, ancestral retribution, or transgressing the ngoulatta (snail shell spoken over and usually placed in a garden). The implications are that treatment of ngoissu must involve the traditional doctor who determines the spiritual issue and prescribes a remedy (like a herb or tea) and/or an incantation. Within the context of cancer, this can lead to a delay in diagnosis until the disease is no longer curable by conventional therapies. Conclusion: Ways to bridge biomedical healthcare services and traditional medicine are needed, especially in tribal contexts where the latter is an integral part of daily life.

As a highly urbanized country, Japan is facing the phenomenon of a continuous migration of young people from rural areas to cities, leading to an aging and decreasing population in rural communities. Influenced by the pandemic, people began to reconsider the issue of population concentration in large cities, causing urban residents to become interested in returning to rural areas. The focus of this study is on the perceptions and relocation intentions of Japanese youth towards rural areas, particularly in Hanyu-shi, Saitama Prefecture. Through semi-structured interviews with 26 urban university students who live in urban areas, this study explores the factors that attract or hinder them from having rural lives. The survey results show that childhood experiences and current lifestyle preferences have influenced their views on rural areas. The main hindering factors include backwards infrastructure, communication difficulties, and limited job prospects. This study reveals a significant cognitive gap in urban youth’s attitudes towards rural life in Japan. The study emphasizes the need to eliminate these hindrances and enhance the attractiveness of rural areas to promote reverse urban migration. This study provides important insights for policymakers and urban planners, highlighting the necessity of formulating development strategies that meet the needs of urban youth residents, which is crucial for the sustainable revitalization of rural Japan.

Adopting a plant-based diet (PBD) has been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain diseases and is linked to environmental benefits. This review synthesises the evidence on the barriers adults aged 18 to 65 living in high-income countries (HIC) may experience when adopting a PBD. A systematic literature review was conducted using four search databases: Medline, Embase, Global Health, and Web of Science. Barriers were mapped to behaviour change strategies using the COM-B model. Ten studies were included in the final review, including 1740 participants. Five were qualitative, four were cross-sectional, and one was a pre- and-post-intervention study. In total, 40 barriers were identified and synthesised into 11 themes: financial, lack of knowledge, emotional, health, convenience, social, enjoyment of meat, environmental, accessibility, personal ability, and media. Of the 40 barriers, nutritional intake/requirements (categorised into the “health” theme) had the most evidence. This barrier encompassed concerns around being able to meet nutritional needs if an individual were to adopt a PBD. Habits (in the “personal ability” theme), which included established eating habits and habitual behaviours relating to animal-source foods, had the second most evidence alongside the barrier of not knowing what to eat as part of a PBD (in the “lack of knowledge” theme). Education interventions and communication/marketing policies were the behaviour change mechanisms mapped onto these barriers. Future interventions should focus on informing individuals about what to consume as part of a nutritionally balanced PBD and facilitating habitual dietary change.

People’s attitudes toward wildlife may impact their behaviors in support of conservation. We surveyed people in the United States to determine if gender, age, or visual contexts commonly seen in zoos impacted wildlife attitudes and perceptions of animals in zoos. After viewing an image of a two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) or reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) in one of six different contexts, respondents indicated their agreement with statements designed to reveal their wildlife attitudes. We categorized attitude types, determined factors influencing attitudes, and investigated perceptions of animals in zoos. Analyses revealed both positive and negative wildlife attitudes. Attitudes were not influenced by the context in which animals were portrayed but were highly impacted by gender and age. Similar factors influenced perceptions of animals in zoos. Zoological facilities should consider how attitudes are shaped by gender and age when designing animal exhibits, educational programs, and media offerings to promote conservation mindedness.

The discourse surrounding digital transformation (DT) and sustainable development (SD) is pervasive in contemporary business and organizational operations, with both processes considered indispensable for sustainability. The success or failure of these endeavors hinges significantly on factors such as the behavior and skill sets of individuals within organizations. Thus, the purpose of the paper is twofold: to investigate the perceptions of organizations on digital transformation and sustainable development with regards to skills and education, and, secondly, to use the insights from these perceptions as a starting point for the use of systems thinking as a tool that could assist in achieving these states. To achieve the objective, a research effort was conducted that included desktop research, interviews with experts, and the development of a survey that was disseminated across Europe with questions on digital transformation and sustainable development. Finally, a general causal loop diagram was designed, illustrating the processes of digital transformation and sustainable development within organizations from a top-down view. The study reveals commonalities between DT and SD, recognizing both processes as advantageous with shared deficiencies in specific skill sets. It highlights a synergistic relationship between initiating DT and fostering SD activities. Furthermore, the research underscores the temporal aspects of these processes, acknowledging delayed positive effects and immediate implementation costs that challenge decision-makers to balance long-term benefits with short-term viability. In conclusion, the exploration emphasizes the dynamic nature of DT and SD, urging continual attention to the evolving landscape and the imperative for a shared understanding within organizational contexts.

The level of safety in healthcare units is mainly characterized by the occurrence of medical adverse events. The aim of the study was to present the experiences of reporting clinical adverse events and the perceptions of nurses working in internal medicine wards, surgical wards and midwives on these issues. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023. The study used the Author’s Survey Questionnaire and sampling by assessment was applied. The study included nurses working in internal medicine wards and surgical wards as well as midwives at nine hospitals in a large provincial city in Poland, amounting to 745 participants. A one-way analysis of variance ANOVA and a post-hoc test (Fisher’s NIR) were used. The significance level (p) did not exceed 0.05. Nurses working in surgical wards, internal medicine wards and midwives thought that clinical adverse events should be reported, and perceived this as an important and useful activity in ensuring patient safety. The most common adverse events reported by respondents were falls F(2.742) = 52.07; p = 0.001, bedsores F(2.742) = 19.62; p = 0.001, patient disappearances F(2.742) = 3.98; p = 0.019, and hospital-acquired infections F(2.742) = 3.88; p = 0.021. The most frequently selected factors influencing the abandonment of adverse event reporting were excessively complex paperwork, no or little harm to the patient or a fear of the negative consequences. The study suggests that an important way to overcome the barriers to nurses and midwives reporting adverse events would be to create a supportive atmosphere in which they could report errors and the reasons for them honestly and without fear, and to improve the way adverse events are reported at the personal and institutional levels.

Introduction: This study aims to (1) explore physicians’ perceptions and experiences of lung cancer screening in Hong Kong, (2) evaluate physicians’ readiness of implementing lung cancer screening in Hong Kong, (3) explore high-risk smokers’ health beliefs of lung cancer and screening, (4) identify barriers and facilitators for high-risk Hong Kong smokers to screening for lung cancer, and (5) validate the Chinese Lung Cancer Screening Health Belief Scale in relation to high-risk smokers in Hong Kong. Methods and analysis: A mixed methods design will be used in this study. Individual qualitative interviews will be conducted with physicians who have experience with high-risk smokers. Physicians’ perceptions and experiences of lung cancer screening, and their readiness to accept lung cancer screening in Hong Kong, will be gathered through the qualitative interviews. A semi-structured interview guide will be used in the qualitative interviews. In addition, a quantitative survey with qualitative questions will be conducted on high-risk smokers to investigate their health beliefs of lung cancer and screening and barriers and facilitators for them to screening lung cancer. A lung cancer screening health belief scale, sociodemographic questionnaire, smoking and lung cancer screening history questionnaire, lung cancer and screening knowledge questionnaire, lung cancer stigma scale, generalized anxiety disorder scale, patient health questionnaire-9, patients’ medical trust scale and preferred lung cancer screening intervention delivery questionnaire will be conducted in the quantitative survey. Constant comparison and content analysis will be used to analyze the qualitative data. Descriptive data analysis, validity and reliability analysis, one-way analysis of variance and post hoc analyses will be used to analyze quantitative data. Discussions: This study explores physicians’ and high-risk smokers’ perceptions and experiences toward lung cancer screening in Hong Kong. Findings from this study can help healthcare providers and policy makers become aware of the stakeholder’s voices. In addition, these findings can help to inform the design of future interventional lung cancer screening programs and provide a tool to measure Chinese high-risk smokers’ health beliefs toward lung cancer screening. A major limitation of this mixed methods study is the amount of time taken to complete the overall study. Also, its complexity requires more collaboration and networking among researchers. Ethics and dissemination: This study has minimal risk to the participants. It will be submitted to the university IRB for ethical approval. Findings related to physicians’ perceptions and experiences of lung cancer screening in Hong Kong, physicians’ readiness of implementing lung cancer screening, high-risk smokers’ health beliefs of lung cancer and screening, barriers, and facilitators for high-risk Hong Kong smokers to screening lung cancer will be disseminated in journals and conferences. The reliability and validity of the Chinese lung cancer screening health belief scale will be reported in methodological research journals.

Background: Quality improvement is a strategic priority for all healthcare systems. However, the engagement of healthcare providers in pursuing accreditation plays a critical role in integrating standards into routine practice. Therefore, the current study assessed the perceptions, attitudes, and barriers towards using the Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) standards among Saudi healthcare providers. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among a representative sample (364) of Saudi healthcare providers (both genders, aged 20–60) working at twenty governmental CBAHI-accredited hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The study participants were selected using a cluster random sampling method. Data regarding the perceptions, attitudes, and barriers toward using CBAHI standards among Saudi healthcare providers were evaluated using a validated questionnaire. Additional information regarding demographic–socioeconomic variables was obtained with an interview-based questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28. Results: A total of 364 healthcare providers participated in the current study. Of them, 54.4% were males, and 45.6% were females. Almost half (48.6%) of the study participants held bachelor’s degrees. For the variables of age group, marital status, monthly income, and years of work experience, statistically significant associations were found between males and females (p-value < 0.05). The means of overall item agreement percentage of the participating healthcare providers for perceptions and attitudes towards using CBAHI standards and attitudes towards using CBAHI standards as a tool for quality improvement were 80.1%, 76.4%, and 72.0%, respectively. The highest item agreement percentage of the participating healthcare providers regarding the barriers that inhibit the hospital from obtaining the full benefit from the CBAHI accreditation was for the inexpedient IT tools (59.6%). Conclusion: The current study’s results demonstrated accepted perceptions and attitudes toward using CBAHI standards among Saudi healthcare providers. In addition, the identified barriers should be alleviated to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The findings also help clarify the accreditation operating process, which may be helpful to policymakers and stakeholders in making informed decisions on integrating accreditation standards.

Research is needed that can provide an illustration of the different biopsychosocial and environmental experiences of people with fibromyalgia to consider how healthcare professionals can best engage with the challenges that are faced. Qualitative research is well-positioned to do this. The current study used interpretive hermeneutic phenomenology situated within a pragmatic worldview, the aim being to obtain a deeper exploration of the fibromyalgia experience prior to commencing a novel intervention. A purposive sample of individuals with fibromyalgia were selected to undertake a single interview. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis. The themes identified key processes of the experience. A total of 16 participants (mean age: 47.1 years) took part. Three themes and 15 sub-themes were identified, together with a process linking different experiences together. The research from this small cohort provides a clear identification of multiple components influencing the experience of fibromyalgia and the decisions around lifestyle and choices made. From this, a novel decomposition/recomposition spiral has been identified, which will benefit patients and healthcare professionals alike. An earlier diagnosis and, thus, earlier and broader treatment options can help to improve functional outcomes.

Newborn screening (NBS) has been available for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) over the last decades. Through the implementation of NBS, a new designation emerged, that of CF related metabolic syndrome (CRMS) or cystic fibrosis screen positive inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID). As there is uncertainty regarding the clinical progression of these infants to CF, some studies have investigated the psychological impact of CRMS/CFSPID on their parents. This systematic narrative review aimed to describe the findings of the relevant studies. The number of studies is limited and the study samples are relatively small. It seems that there is a negative impact of CRMS/CFSPID on parental mental health. While some studies indicated similar levels of parental anxiety among those with infants diagnosed with CF and those with CRMS/CFSPID, not all studies reached the same conclusion. Parental uncertainty represents another mental dimension of the impact associated with the designation of CRMS/CFSPID. These observations suggest that parents of infants with CRMS/CFSPID should be provided with effective communication, and it may also be beneficial to consider parental mental screening. More robust and long-term studies are required to detect differences in parental emotional status between those with infants diagnosed with CF and those with CRMS/CFSPID.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being increasingly seen as the next pandemic due to high morbidity and mortality rates, with Sub-Saharan Africa currently having the highest mortality rates driven by high rates of inappropriate prescribing in ambulatory care. In South Africa, nurses typically provide a range of services, including prescribing, in public ambulatory care clinics. However, little is currently known about the perception of final-year nursing students regarding antibiotic use, AMR, and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Consequently, we sought to address this important evidence gap. A quantitative descriptive study using a self-administered online questionnaire via Google Forms® was undertaken among six universities in South Africa offering a Baccalaureus of Nursing. Knowledge on the classes of antibiotics, organisms covered, and mechanism of action was lacking. The sample size to achieve a confidence interval of 95% with a 5% error margin was 174, increased to 200 to compensate for possible attrition. Only 15.3% of nurses knew that ceftazidime is not a fourth-generation cephalosporin, and only 16.1% knew that clavulanic acid does not decrease inflammation at the site of infection. In addition, only 58.9% and 67.7% agreed that the prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics and poor infection control, respectively, increase AMR. AMS was also not a well-known concept among final-year nurses. The lack of knowledge regarding antibiotics, AMR, and AMS among final-year nurses could have important repercussions in practice once these nurses are qualified. Consequently, this information gap needs to be urgently addressed going forward with updated curricula and post-qualification educational activities to reduce AMR in South Africa

As a next step to better understand the role of cultural tightness-looseness (CTL), this study aimed to examine whether CTL is associated with COVID-19 vaccination behavior among university students, taking into consideration sociocultural perceptions of vaccination across countries. A global online survey was conducted. University students from Japan, the US, and India participated. The average CTL score, three sociocultural perceptions related to COVID-19 vaccination, side effects, infection experience of themselves and family members, and other demographic variables were used to identify the model and to explain the second vaccination status using stepwise logistic regression methods with Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) scores which was for both the total, with the country as a variable, and for each country. Analyses of data from 1289 respondents who received the first vaccine revealed the essential role of CTL in individuals getting the second vaccine, while also revealing differences between countries. Regardless of the limitations, this study adds knowledge about CTL’s roles in the COVID-19 vaccination behavior among young generations and provides insights into public health communication practices for issues like COVID-19.

With a growing interest in the study of urban life and health, evidence indicates that the quality of the environment in which we live can have implications for our subjective well-being and health. This study assesses the potential impacts of perceptions of visual air pollution, olfactory air pollution, and noise pollution on self-perceived health, self-perceived happiness, and satisfaction with life, through the calculation of ordinal logistic regressions, using the information of an online survey carried out in Quito, Ecuador. We found that perceptions of unpleasant odors and noise pollution influence self-perceived health, self-perceived happiness, and satisfaction with life. The obtained results may support the incorporation of citizens’ perspectives to better understand environmental pollution and to enrich local planning for urban sustainability.

Since the emergence of the concept of “buildability” in 1983, numerous studies have focused on improving project performance through buildability. Initially, the buildability discourse was based on narrow definitions and focused on aspects that could improve construction performance. Although explicit academic discourse on buildability has been limited for three decades, the ongoing calls to improve construction performance have never subsided. As buildability was seen as important by industry in the 1980s and 1990s for improving performance, its limited discourse warrants investigation to understand how buildability has evolved in practice over the last 30 years. Therefore, this study aims to review and extend the discourse of the buildability concept using a phenomenological research approach to capture the unconscious evolution of the concept through stakeholder interpretations. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research philosophy embedded in the exploratory tradition was followed to uncover the 16 key underlying constructs of the buildability concept. The study is significant for casting potential buildability discourse trajectories for the future of the construction industry by integrating people, process, and technology. The findings extend the dimensions of buildability, accommodating stakeholders’ expectations and project conditions as part of buildability decisions. Moreover, the study suggests that emerging technologies (e.g., AI) will become integral to buildability processes in terms of managing knowledge in the future.

(1) Background: Advance directives are an expression of a person’s autonomy regarding end-of-life care. Several studies have shown that the level of completion in countries where advance directives are legalised is low. To better understand this phenomenon, it is important to know the perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge that the population has about this instrument. The aim of this article was to explore a population’s perceptions and/or attitudes and/or knowledge toward advance directives. (2) Methods: A search was conducted in March 2023 in the ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and PubMed databases using the following keywords: “advance care directives”, “advance care planning”, “perceptions”, “attitudes”, and “knowledge”. Two hundred and twenty-four (224) articles were identified, and thirteen (13) were included for analysis. (3) Results: The selected articles point to a low level of knowledge toward advance directives: they recognise a strong positive attitude of the population toward the implementation of advance directives but a low level of achievement. (4) Conclusions: Studies on perceptions/attitudes/knowledge toward advance directives are important to understand the real needs of the population regarding this issue and to implement more adequate and effective promotion and dissemination measures.

In light of advancements in big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI), there are emerging opportunities to harness these technologies to address perceptive biases. This study examines the potential perceptive biases that may arise when construction mediation is quasi-imposed on the disputing parties. This can happen when mediation attempts are stipulated in the construction contract or court-directed. It is argued that, under such circumstances, a negative perception might arise over whether a bona fide mediation can be realised. Concerns include the fairness and timeliness of the process, as well as the practice of opportunistic mediating behaviours. With data collected from practising construction mediation practitioners in Hong Kong, the constructs of Perceptions of Bona Fide Mediation, Quasi-Imposition, and Positive Mediation Outcomes were first developed. Applying partial least square structural equation modelling to the relationship frameworks of the constructs, it was found that quasi-imposition is not as damaging as envisaged as far as having a bona fide mediation and attaining positive mediation outcomes are concerned. Moreover, a negative perception of the fairness and timeliness of the quasi-imposed mediation would jeopardise the integrity of a bona fide mediation. In this regard, utilizing NLP and machine learning algorithms offers a pioneering AI-driven approach to informing mediating parties, as well as reminding mediators to uphold the fairness and timeliness of the process for the purposes of reaching positive mediation outcomes.

Background: Exercise has indisputable advantages for people with chronic conditions. Engaging in physical activity within natural environments, known as green exercise, contributes to both physical and mental well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of people with chronic conditions and health professionals and the perceived facilitators and barriers to therapeutic green exercise. Methods: This was a qualitative study based on two focus groups. Ethical approval was received, and a thematic analysis was used to analyze the discussions. Results: Seven patients and eight health professionals participated in the study. The thematic analysis yielded thirteen main themes. Safety concerns and inadequate infrastructures were key barriers. Core facilitators were socialization, and multisensory exposure. Conclusions: Patients with chronic conditions and health professionals believe that green exercise improves physical activity engagement, and it would be beneficial if incorporated in the rehabilitation process. There are challenges to overcome to make therapeutic green exercise for people with chronic conditions more accessible.

Introduction: As the pharmaceutical advertising landscape evolves with digital advancements, this study examines public awareness and perceptions of medication advertisements in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on the effects of regulatory frameworks and evaluates how they influence public understanding and attitudes toward these advertisements., Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic survey in Saudi Arabia in December 2023. The survey was distributed on social media platforms and reached a diverse sample of 440 participants. It covered public perception and attitudes toward drug advertisements, knowledge of regulatory laws, and preferences regarding advertising mediums., Results: Out of the 440 participants in the study, who were primarily employees with bachelor's degrees, there was a clear awareness of drug advertisements. The average age of the group was 33 years, and a significant portion (71.1%) held a bachelor's degree, with 51.1% being employed. The findings revealed that 25.5% of participants frequently noticed drug ads, while 22.7% saw them very often. Although many found the ads informative, there were significant concerns about unrealistic expectations and the risk of overmedication; 89.8% believed the ads set unrealistic expectations about the effectiveness of medications. Additionally, 60.7% thought that celebrity endorsements might mislead the audience, and 91.1% felt that ads should provide more detailed information about potential risks and side effects. Regarding preferred advertising platforms, mobile apps and websites were favored (47%), followed closely by social media (46.4%). A striking 93.2% of participants believed that drug ads on social media should be subject to stricter regulations, and 96.4% wanted more proactive monitoring of online advertising. Many also reported using other sources, such as medical review sites, to verify medication information., Conclusions: Pharmaceutical advertising in Saudi Arabia must balance ethical transparency with educational value. The influence of digital platforms underscores the necessity for stricter regulation and accurate information dissemination. A collaborative approach is essential to align advertising practices with public health interests and regulatory standards.

Menstruation remains surrounded by taboo and symbolic violence for many adolescents and young women today, and it is urgent to identify existing stereotypes. The objective was to validate a Spanish-language instrument to assess perceptions, false beliefs, gender stereotypes, fears, and taboos surrounding menstruation in nursing women's studies. A cross-sectional study for psychometric validation of the METCON© scale (22 item version) was assessed in a cohort of 401 female nursing university students (2016-2019), assessing the psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and structural validity. Furthermore, an invariance analysis was conducted to discern structural disparities before and after studying the subject of gender and health. The METCON© scale showed acceptable internal consistency scores measured by Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a structure of six factors which explained 60.50% of the total variance with a total of 19 items. Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (α = 0.613). Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate values, confirming this structure. The invariance analyses identified that the structure remained adequate when evaluated before and after studying the subject of gender and health. Once validated, this instrument could serve as a valid and reliable tool for comprehensively examining perceptions, beliefs, and myths surrounding menstruation, addressing not only biological but also social and cultural aspects.

Objective. The objective of this research was to describe and analyze the role of psychological and behavioral factors on perceptions of COVID-19 in France and Quebec at three different times during the pandemic. Design. We conducted three qualitative and quantitative studies (Study 1 N = 255, Study 2 N = 230, Study 3 N = 143). Participants were asked to evaluate psychological and behavioral measures: at the beginning of lockdown (Study 1), during lockdown (Study 2), and during lockdown exit (Study 3). Results. Results of Study 1 show that perceptions of COVID-19 are organized around fear and a sense of threat. During the lockdown, participants mentioned for the first time the health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Study 2). Psychological and social impacts constitute a central theme in participants’ discourse (Study 2 and 3). Conclusions. The results show that perceptions of risk during a pandemic are socially constructed. Perceptions seem to be influenced by the political and health management of a territory and by the evolution of behavioral and psychological responses.

Community-oriented primary care (COPC) is an inclusive healthcare approach that combines individual care with a population-based outlook, striving to offer effective and equitable services. This study concentrates on assessing the perceived quality of a “Casa della Comunità” (CdC) implemented by the Romagna Local Health Authority, which embraces the COPC model. Through the examination of user experiences, the study aims to comprehend the influence of the CdC’s care delivery model on the community’s perception of service quality. From 13–18 March 2023, paper questionnaires were distributed by trained healthcare professionals and volunteers. The cross-sectional study enrolled participants aged 18 or older, capable of understanding written Italian, and willing to take part voluntarily. A total of 741 questionnaires were collected, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 85.6%. Among the respondents, 37.9% were female, with an average age of 55.4 ± 16.2 years. While the respondents generally held a positive view of the quality, the results displayed varying levels of satisfaction across the different areas. Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between factors such as gender, employment status, financial resources, education level, and distance from the healthcare center with the perceived quality of the facility in terms of accessibility, environment, staff, continuity of care, and overall satisfaction. The study yielded valuable insights, identifying strengths and areas for improvement and underscoring the importance of ongoing monitoring studies to enhance patient satisfaction continuously.

People’s perception of the conflict they are experiencing with wildlife is a major factor in determining the extent of human-elephant conflict (HEC) occurring and needs to be considered when devising HEC management strategies. To understand perceptions and attitudes, however, it is necessary to identify factors that influence them. This study used a combination of multivariate ordered probit and generalized linear models to probe the complexities of farmer perception and attitudes and reveal underlying influential factors that shape perceived conflict levels. The study shows that the perception of HEC is complicated, influenced by an array of factors, both directly and indirectly, many of which are socio-demographic characteristics of the farmer, rather than quantifiable indicators of actual conflict. It was found that perceived human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the Okavango is affected by the ethnicity of the farmer, the raiding history of a field, the distance of fields to elephant pathways, and a farmer’s feeling towards elephants. Yet, feelings towards elephants are affected by attitudes towards wildlife, which are influenced by the benefits communities receive from living near wildlife. The perceived conflict levels of respondents were higher than the predicted actual conflict levels. Such discrepancies could be interpreted as “people over-reporting the scale of the problem”, yet results indicate that the crop-raiding history of a farmer alone is not adequate to assess the overall level of conflict being experienced because other social and environmental factors are involved in determining farmer perception of conflict. A holistic approach is needed to address the complexities of perceived and actual conflicts to ultimately reduce HEC. This involves targeting mitigation strategies for specific groups of people, considering elephant pathways and field locations in land use planning, and finding ways to improve benefits accrued to the community through wildlife-related enterprises that bring benefits back from living with elephants.

Background: It has been reported that poor oral health can worsen general health conditions. Good collaboration between health professionals is important to provide proper oral healthcare. Thus, there is a need for oral healthcare interprofessional education (IPE). This study aimed to determine the baseline level of awareness, attitudes, and perceptions of oral healthcare among first-year students of dentistry, medicine, and nursing at Universitas Indonesia. Method and Participants: A cross-sectional descriptive analytical study using a previously published questionnaire was conducted involving 442 students, consisting of dental students (DS), medical students (MS), and nursing students (NS) in Universitas Indonesia. Results: Most students have shown good oral healthcare awareness, attitudes, and perception with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05). The majority of the students did not perceive that (1) geriatric and nursing knowledge are required to practice oral care, (2) oral healthcare should be provided in cancer hospitals, and (3) oral healthcare can prevent cardiovascular disease and improve anorexia. Conclusions: This study showed that there were aspects of oral healthcare that should be improved in all student groups. Thus, oral healthcare IPE should be given to all students working in healthcare to develop knowledge and interprofessional collaboration in oral healthcare.

The dynamic interplay between teachers’ beliefs and practices significantly impact the quality of instruction and the trajectory of talent development in young students. This case study explores the beliefs and practices of two elementary teachers instructing gifted ELs in mathematics. The constant comparison method was used to analyze data collected from classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and field notes. Three factors were found to affect the (in)consistency between teachers’ expressed beliefs and observed practices: compatibility among core and peripheral beliefs, knowledge about evidence-based practices, and classroom management skills. Students exhibit higher levels of participation, communication, and engagement in critical thinking skills when their teacher embraces constructive perspectives in teaching mathematics, demonstrates pedagogical expertise, and employs a proactive classroom management approach. Conversely, students encounter restricted opportunities to independently construct their own understanding of mathematics when their teacher holds maladaptive beliefs about teaching mathematics, has limited knowledge of evidence-based practices, and has an authoritarian classroom management style. These findings underscore the need for a new approach to professional development (PD) that encourages teachers to critically examine the connection between their beliefs and instructional practices and their impact on the student’s mathematical talent development.

This study employs a survey to investigate the societal response to COVID-19 in Italy. Data were collected via snowball sampling during the period April 2020 to April 2021 using the ArcGIS Survey 123 survey instrument. The study collected and analyzed 64 responses to investigate various aspects related to COVID-19. The areas covered in the analysis include socioeconomics, changing symptoms, relocation, physical distancing, health, social behaviors (past and future), personal attitudes, perceptions of government/public response and efficacy, beliefs, travel habits, well-being, current event worries, pandemic challenges, depression, vaccine, public opinion, personality, public health measures, social media preference, and contact with others. The study’s results provide a snapshot of how people across Italy experienced the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and can help public health organizations, decision-makers, and the general public address policies related to symptoms, social distance, policy measures/regulations, and social behaviors during the different policy phases and wave measures related to COVID-19 effects.

Responsibly using resources is an essential goal of the 2030 agenda. An overall need for 180 tonnes of fish per year is pushing the limits of sustainable fishing. Teachers can focus on this topic to enhance the environmental awareness of sustainability issues in learners (e.g., sustainable consumption, production, and supporting sustainable judgements). For this purpose, we developed a questionnaire on the topic of aquaculture using LimeSurvey and administered this survey to preservice teachers. The survey contained five open questions relating to aquaculture terms, a semantic differential with 14 adjective pairs that concern the interest in and usefulness of aquacultures; the environmental motives scale to determine the environmental concern of the teachers, and a self-developed set of items on systems—consumption knowledge, and social influence. Individuals in the target group (n = 158) indicated that they thought aquaculture products were rather useless and uninteresting, and they purchased them less. The results showed that the participants mostly correctly defined the aquaculture terms, but an overall understanding of system- and consumption-related knowledge, for example, was missing. Aquaculture seems to be associated more with profit than with nutrition or environmental concerns. We illustrate a possible barrier to the communication of less-familiar issues in society.

(1) Background: Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This risk can be reduced with lifestyle interventions, including physical activity. However, studies have shown that many women with prior GDM are not physically active. The aim of this study was to investigate the motivation for physical activity among women with prior GDM. (2) Methods: A qualitative study was carried out based on a phenomenological approach using semi-structured individual interviews with nine Danish women between 29 and 36 years of age with a minimum of one earlier GDM-affected pregnancy. (3) Results: Five themes were identified; perception of physical activity, risk perception, emotional distress, competing priorities and social support. The perception of physical activity varied among the women. The GDM diagnosis or the awareness of elevated risk for T2DM did not seem to be a decisive factor for the women’s motivation to be active. Competing priorities, including being in control of everyday life choices and support from social relations, were found to be important motivational factors. (4) Conclusion: Future interventions for women with prior GDM to increase motivation for physical activity should be compatible with and take into account the women’s perceptions, earlier lived experiences, possible competing priorities and support systems.

The term “age-friendly” is widely used to describe cities, communities, health systems, and other environments. However, little is known about how this is interpreted or what the term means to the public. To investigate the public’s familiarity with the term and gain insights into its relevance to older adults, we utilized data generated by a survey of 1000+ adults aged 40 and above. We employed a 10-question survey, distributed online in the US from 8 to 17 March 2023 via a third-party vendor, that captured awareness and perceptions of age-friendly designations by exploring awareness of the term, contextual understanding, and influence on decision making. The resultant aggregate data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and straightforward summary statistical analyses. The majority of respondents (81%) were aware of the term “age-friendly.” Older adults (ages 65+) lagged in the self-described extreme or moderate level of awareness compared to adults aged 40–64. In the surveyed population, the term “age-friendly” was most often understood to apply to communities (57%), followed by health systems (41%) and cities (25%). Most people believed “age-friendly” refers to all ages, even though age-friendly health systems are designed to meet the unique needs of older adults. These survey results provide the age-friendly ecosystem field with insights into the awareness and perceptions of the term “age-friendly,” highlighting opportunities to bolster understanding.

Projects that aim to improve the welfare of equids worldwide usually involve people from different countries and cultures working together. Given that professionals involved with multi-stakeholder projects often work cross-culturally, this study examined their experiences regarding the challenges involved in, and their reflections on, how to work in a culturally sensitive way. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 participants working in a total of 29 countries and analysed using thematic analysis. Key response themes emerged from the responses to questions covering the areas of perceptions of animal welfare, challenges working cross-culturally and embracing cultural sensitivity. The overriding theme regarding perceptions of animal welfare was that of barriers to animal welfare, under which emerged the subthemes of limited financial and material resources, limited understanding of the tenets of animal welfare, and attachment to traditional medicines and practices. Exploring the key challenges resulted in two themes: challenges regarding the local context and etiquette, and those regarding working with different stakeholders. Considering cultural sensitivity, again, two themes emerged: the importance of trust and respect, and of working with local partners. Previous works have highlighted the importance of shared linguistic knowledge, interpersonal skills and cultural knowledge, and these elements also emerged in this research. As well as providing insights into the challenges of working cross-culturally, the findings of this study have enabled the development of suggestions for how this work could be taken forward in a practical way to be of use to professionals in this sector.

Obesity is a global health problem. In developing countries such as Zimbabwe, obesity is both an emerging health problem and a grey area, particularly among adolescents. This study assessed the prevalence of obesity and factors associated with low obesity awareness among adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional survey was performed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The participants were 423 adolescents aged 14–19 years recruited from 10 schools in Harare using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 23) and binary logistics regression was used to examine the factors associated with low obesity awareness. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The median± IQR age was 16 (14-18) years, and overweight and obesity affected 15.8% of the participants with higher proportions among girls (73.1%, p = 0.002). Low obesity awareness was observed in 27.1% of the adolescents with a higher proportion among girls (67.0%, p = 0.001), 14–16-year-olds (51.3%, p = 0.317), and obese adolescents (56.7%, p = 0.001). Significant factors associated with low obesity awareness were household heads lacking formal education [OR = 9.41 (2.20–40.36), p = 0.003] and inadequate (poor) food habits [OR = 2.58 (1.33–5.01), p = 0.005]. Conclusions: Our study showed that adolescents had different obesity awareness levels and diverse perceptions in terms of obesity causes, and a range of potential solutions. Obesity awareness and nutrition education should address adolescents’ poor eating habits while taking cognizance of the different education levels of household heads.

Background: The implementation of artificial intelligence brings with it a great change in health care, however, there is a discrepancy about the perceptions and attitudes that dental students present towards these new technologies. Methods: The study design was observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional. A total of 200 dental students who met the inclusion criteria were surveyed online. For the qualitative variables, descriptive statistical measures were obtained, such as absolute and relative frequencies. For the comparison of the main variables with the type of educational institution, sex and level of education, the chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test was used according to the established assumptions with a level of statistical significance of p < 0.05 and a confidence level of 95%. Results: The results indicated that 86% of the students surveyed agreed that artificial intelligence will lead to great advances in dentistry. However, 45% of the participants disagreed that artificial intelligence would replace dentists in the future. In addition, the respondents agreed that the use of artificial intelligence should be part of undergraduate and postgraduate studies with 67% and 72% agreement rates respectively. Conclusion: The attitudes and perceptions of the students indicate that 86% agreed that artificial intelligence will lead to great advances in dentistry. This suggests a bright future for the relationship between dentists and artificial intelligence.

Background and Objective: The role of the pharmacist in healthcare society is unique, since they are providers of health information and medication counseling to patients. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate Awareness, Perceptions, and Opinions towards Artificial intelligence (AI) among pharmacy undergraduate students at King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted between December 2022 and January 2023 using online questionnaires. The data collection was carried out using convenience sampling methods among senior pharmacy students at the College of Pharmacy, King Saud University. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 was used to analyze the data (SPSS). Results: A total of one hundred and fifty-seven pharmacy students completed the questionnaires. Of these, most of them (n = 118; 75.2%) were males. About 42%, (n = 65) were in their fourth year of study. Most of the students (n = 116; 73.9%) knew about AI. In addition, 69.4% (n = 109) of the students thought that AI is a tool that helps healthcare professionals (HCP). However, more than half 57.3% (n = 90) of the students were aware that AI would assist healthcare professionals in becoming better with the widespread use of AI. Furthermore, 75.1% of the students agreed that AI reduces errors in medical practice. The mean positive perception score was 29.8 (SD = 9.63; range-0–38). The mean score was significantly associated with age (p = 0.030), year of study (p = 0.040), and nationality (p = 0.013). The gender of the participants was found to have no significant association with the mean positive perception score (p = 0.916). Conclusions: Overall, pharmacy students showed good awareness of AI in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the majority of the students had positive perceptions about the concepts, benefits, and implementation of AI. Moreover, most students indicated that there is a need for more education and training in the field of AI. Consequently, early exposure to content related to AI in the curriculum of pharmacy is an important step to help in the wide use of these technologies in the graduates’ future careers.

A new approach to learning is mobile learning (m-learning), which makes use of special features of mobile devices in the education sector. M-learning is becoming increasingly common in higher education institutions all around the world. The use of mobile devices for education and learning has also gained popularity in Jordan. Unlike studies about Jordan, there are many studies that thoroughly analyze the situation of m-learning in other countries. Thus, it is important to understand the current situation of m-learning at Jordanian universities, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there have been some studies conducted prior to COVID-19 and a few studies after COVID-19, there is a need for a comprehensive study that provides an in-depth exploration of the current situation, student adoption, benefits, disadvantages, and challenges, particularly following COVID-19. Therefore, this study utilizes a sequential exploratory mixed research method to investigate the current state of the art of m-learning in Jordanian higher education with a particular focus on student adoption, benefits, disadvantages, and challenges. Firstly, the study explores the existing literature on m-learning and conducts 15 interviews with educators and learners in three Jordanian universities to gain insights into their experiences with m-learning. The study then distributes a survey to students at four Jordanian universities, representing both public and private universities, to generalize the results from the qualitative study. Additionally, the study investigates the relationship between student enrollment in public/private universities and the adoption of m-learning. The study came to the conclusion that students have a positive opinion of m-learning and are also willing to use it. However, there are a number of disadvantages and challenges to its adoption. Additionally, there is a relationship between student enrolment in public/private universities and the adoption of m-learning. These findings have important implications for institutions that want to incorporate m-learning into their undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as they aid decision-makers in these universities in creating frameworks that may be able to meet the needs of m-learning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that comes with co-occurring eating behavior such as limited food varieties, selective food intake, and repetitive eating patterns, contributing to significant challenges for their parents. Many parents find mealtimes difficult and develop anxiety or stress about their child’s nutrition, health, and overall well-being. Hence, parents must equip themselves with the correct awareness and nutrition knowledge. An online open-ended semi-structured interview was conducted among fifteen parents from the community-rehabilitation program center to explore their understanding of nutrition’s importance and the possible coping strategies when facing challenges. The interview sessions were recorded, followed by three researchers’ coding processes. Data were then subjected to thematic analysis. The interview sessions suggested that the parents were aware of the autism trait eating behavior and had a general knowledge about nutrition. However, it was quite challenging when it came to preparation. Nevertheless, the parents are able to manage the challenges with unique kinds of coping strategies. In addition, a complete educational dietary intervention program including psychosocial aspects for parents is recommended for better effectiveness.

The widespread misconception that tonsillectomy leads to a decrease in immunity may lead to fear and avoidance of the operation. This can result in a deterioration of the situation, such as sleep-related breathing issues, frequent infections, and an increase in complications. The current research was conducted to assess the awareness and perception with respect to the impact of tonsillectomy on the immune system and to assess the awareness and perception of the relationship between autoimmune diseases and tonsillectomy. This 6-month descriptive cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted among individuals who were 18 years and above living in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. Out of the 800 study subjects, 104 (13%) had undergone tonsillectomy. Statistically significant associations were found between age group, education, income, and occupation among those who had undergone tonsillectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ages 18–30 years and 31–40 years (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.18–4.71, and OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.53–3.97) and education levels of high school, bachelors, and above (OR: 8.30, 95% CI: 3.05–22.58 and OR: 10.89, 95% CI: 4.23–28.05) were found to be associated with tonsillectomy status of the subjects. On the contrary, income levels of 5000–9000 and >9000 (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.36–1.17 and OR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.42–1.42) and male gender (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.52–1.19) were found to be associated with non-tonsillectomy status of subjects. Almost 36% of study subjects thought that tonsillectomy affects immunity. Only 18% of study subjects thought that there is a relationship between tonsillectomy and autoimmune diseases. About one-third of the respondents had received this information from community members and social media. A small number of study subjects relied on public awareness programs. Therefore, social media can play a vital role in the community to remove misconceptions regarding tonsillectomy and its effect on immunity and autoimmune disease. Further educational interventional studies are required to see the correction to the public perception of tonsillectomy and its effect on immunity and autoimmune diseases.