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Governments have adopted unprecedented measures to assist in slowing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but compliance varies among individuals. This UK study uses latent profile analysis to identify four classes of individuals on factors believed to influence compliance. Those who sought health information from authoritative sources and actively sought information from multiple sources were most compliant. Profile differences in compliance and vaccination status were also primarily driven by trust in healthcare institutions over trust in government. These findings contribute to understanding compliance profiles and emphasise the importance of authoritative information and trust in healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes report poor breast/bra knowledge, breast pain, sports bras causing lacerations and chafing, negatively affecting sports performance. No bra interventions to address these issues are reported. Working with 142 UK female athletes preparing for Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics (27 sports), this multi-phase intervention assessed breast/bra knowledge, preferences, issues via surveys and breast/bra assessments. Data were used to develop two sports bras. A total of 112 athletes were prescribed one of the new bras through individual assessments. After four weeks, wear athletes completed evaluations. Pre-intervention breast/bra knowledge was low (83% ≤average), multiple breast/bra issues were reported and most athletes wore ill-fitting, loose bras, offering limited support. Post-intervention, 63% reported improved knowledge and 97% reported their prescribed bra as better than their original bra. Eighty-seven per cent reported benefitting from this intervention, with 17% reporting improved performance. This intervention effectively assessed sports bra needs, developed and implemented solutions, which improved knowledge and potentially performance for some UK athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of people cross political borders yearly without having the proper documents. This has led to increased detention and deportation practices in destination countries for reasons related to security and sovereignty. The objective of the current study was to analyze and visualize research publications on the detention and deportation of migrants to identify current research hotspots, research gaps, and potential future research in the field. Relevant research articles were obtained from the Scopus database for the study period from 1900 to December 31, 2022. The analysis included presentations of key contributors to the field and visualization of topics, themes, and international collaboration. In total, 906 articles were found. The earliest was in 1982. The majority of articles were published in journals within the subject areas of social sciences and humanities. The number of publications showed a steep rise from 2011 to 2022. The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies was the most prolific, but publications in the Citizenship Studies journal received the highest number of citations per article. Researchers from the United States contributed the most. Mexico ranked fifth in the number of publications. Oxford University was the most prolific institution, followed by three universities in Australia. The majority of articles were single-authored, indicative of limited author-author collaboration. Research hotspots in the field were "human rights" and "mental health". The detention and deportation of Mexican and other Latino migrants in the United States constituted a distinct research theme in the field. International research collaboration was limited by geographical proximity (e.g., the United States and Mexico) or common language (e.g., the United Kingdom and Australia). Future research topics should focus on alternatives to detention, family separation, and healthcare services for detained migrants. Research activity on detention and deportation is required from all world regions, including the source countries of migrants. Future research should promote alternatives to traditional detentions. The contribution of countries in Africa, the Middle East, and South-Eastern Asian regions needs to be encouraged. Future research on the detention and deportation of non-Latino migrants is highly required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate breast support is recommended in sport; however, what constitutes appropriate support is complex, individual and often sports specific, particularly in elite sport given the wear duration. This intervention educated, assessed and advised elite British female athletes on breasts and bras; those with unresolved issues engaged in bespoke bra interventions. Following educational workshops (n = 80), breast/bra surveys (n = 60), individual bra assessments (n = 37); a rower, shooter, and hockey player participated in the bespoke bra intervention. Eighty-three per cent of athletes rated their breast/bra knowledge as ≤average. Fifty-one per cent experienced breast pain, affecting performance for 29%; seven used medication and one surgery to relieve symptoms. In individual bra assessments most wore ill-fitting, unsupportive bras and wanted bra advice. Bespoke bra interventions eliminated breast pain: for the rower, improved breast position and spine rotation; for the shooter, repositioned tissue and improved performance; and for the hockey player, accommodated smart devices. Whilst bespoke bra development is challenging, most elite athlete breast/bra issues are resolved via education, advice and fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research suggests that diet influences cognitive function and the risk for neurodegenerative disease. The present study aimed to determine whether a recently developed diet score, based on recommendations for dietary priorities for cardio metabolic health, was associated with fluid intelligence, and whether these associations were modified by individual genetic disposition. Methods: This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource. Analyses were performed using self-report data on diet and the results for the verbal-numerical reasoning test of fluid intelligence of 104,895 individuals (46% male: mean age at recruitment 57.1 years (range 40–70)). For each participant, a diet score and a polygenic score (PGS) were constructed, which evaluated predefined cut-offs for the intake of fruit, vegetables, fish, processed meat, unprocessed meat, whole grain, and refined grain, and ranged from 0 (unfavorable) to 7 (favorable). To investigate whether the diet score was associated with fluid intelligence, and whether the association was modified by PGS, linear regression analyses were performed. Results: The average diet score was 3.9 (SD 1.4). After adjustment for selected confounders, a positive association was found between baseline fluid intelligence and PGS (P < 0.001). No association was found between baseline fluid intelligence and diet score (P = 0.601), even after stratification for PGS, or in participants with longitudinal data available (n = 9,482). Conclusion: In this middle-aged cohort, no evidence was found for an association between the investigated diet score and either baseline or longitudinal fluid intelligence. However, as in previous reports, fluid intelligence was strongly associated with a PGS for general cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current debates about assisted dying and assisted suicide cover a series of medical, legal, moral, ethical and religious aspects. Yet, public views on the subject remain underexplored and, therefore, not always accounted for in the formation of public policy. This paper reports on empirical data from a cross-sectional study in the UK in 2019, which examines public views about the legalisation of assisted dying and assisted suicide, by means of a self-administered Qualtrics-based survey (self-devised vignettes). A combination of simple random and convenience sampling was used. Participants (n = 297) state their preference that both assisted dying and assisted suicide should be legalised in the UK (n = 70%), while doctors should be legally allowed to support such wishes of patients with an incurable and painful illness from which they will die (n = 62.22%). The paper concludes that public opinion needs to be further accounted for in policymaking and discourses regarding patient autonomy and dignity of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisations funded by Sport England or UK Sport must work towards achieving standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport as set by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) and encourage a culture of listening to children. The present research was commissioned by the NSPCC CPSU to understand the practices of UK sports clubs regarding this objective. An electronic questionnaire was distributed through the national governing bodies of sport working with the CPSU. Some 64 clubs/squads representing 6,000+ juniors (under 18 years) responded. Quantitative data were analysed using simple statistics and qualitative data were themed utilising Foucault's theory of power and following Braun and Clark's six‐phase guide. Discourse, hierarchical judgement and docility were considered with reference to formal management and cultural environments. Semantic and latent themes were explored. The themes identified were: expectation awareness, reframing voice and preserving discourse. Clubs recognise the value of listening to children. However, existing power relations valorise adult knowledge fields over the experiences of juniors. Technology could provide an effective solution as it is remote, potentially anonymous and culturally accessible. As power is a productive force, problematisation of organisational culture could centralise children's voices and limit/prevent abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across two studies, we investigated gender stereotype knowledge and endorsement in UK schoolchildren, and their impact on academic subject choice. In Study 1, children aged 9–11 (N = 68) and 13–15 (N = 61) completed a newly developed Gender Attribute scale assessing their knowledge and endorsement of gender stereotypes relating to academic subjects and occupations. Participants demonstrated gender stereotype knowledge and endorsement, although significantly higher knowledge than endorsement scores indicated a level of stereotype rejection. Stereotype knowledge was greater in the older age group, and older girls showed significantly higher levels of stereotype rejection than all other groups. In Study 2, children aged 13–15 (N = 165) completed the Gender Attribute scale and provided information on their school subject choices. Patterns of stereotype knowledge and endorsement followed those of Study 1. Subject choice information showed that boys selected significantly more masculine than feminine subjects, while girls chose a similar proportion of each. Further, boys' level of gender stereotype endorsement predicted their subject choices, while girls' did not. We suggest that in contemporary UK some progress is being made in relation to girls challenging stereotypes that work against them but that more work is needed to encourage boys into female‐dominated disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the impact of the UK Clinical Librarian (CL) workforce and benchmark the results against a study undertaken in the North West region of the English National Health Service (NHS). Methods: An online survey was distributed by CLs to their service users regarding literature searches that had been carried out on their behalf in the 6 months from April to October 2017. Interviews were later carried out in person with selected respondents to the questionnaires. Results: CLs across the UK contribute to a wide range of outcomes, with 41% of search requests contributing to the choice of intervention, and 41% also to the advice offered by the clinician requester to a patient or their carer. These results are in line with the previous work undertaken in the North West. Discussion: CLs provide diverse services to clinical teams. They support the continuing professional development and personal research needs of team members, service development needs of organisations, and the information provided contributes to improved quality and safety of patient care. Conclusion: The survey confirms the findings of the earlier NW study. It demonstrates the impact of services based around literature searching on patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a U.K. research study encompassing two surveys which used evidence-based scales of awareness, confidence to intervene, and intervention opportunities and action regarding sexual and domestic abuse on campus. They were sent to all first-year incoming undergraduates (> n = 7,000) at one post-1992 U.K. university and received n = 1,604 responses. The study finds that survey respondents demonstrated low awareness of sexual and domestic abuse as a problem on campus. In the analysis of Survey 2, respondents were divided into three groups, those receiving active intervention, passive intervention, and no intervention from a university social norms marketing campaign challenging abuse on campus. The study drives the field forward by considering how confidence to act mediates the relationship between awareness and positive action. It finds associations between active intervention and raised awareness that is not noted in passive or no intervention. Active intervention potentially brings together the mediating variable of confidence where awareness + confidence = positive action. This article makes recommendations for first-year incoming undergraduates to receive awareness raising information about sexual and domestic abuse, prior to coming to university. Universities may also consider working with schools to counter a lack of awareness, which may emanate from normalization discourses learnt prior to coming to university and perpetuated once there. Managing low awareness of sexual and domestic abuse should be a priority of bystander programs and some form of active intervention is potentially beneficial as early as possible in university student journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining work and care can be very challenging. If not adequately supported, carers' employment, well‐being and relationships may be at risk. Technologies can be potential solutions. We carried out a scoping review to find out what is already known about technologies used by working carers. The search included academic and grey literature published between January 2000 and June 2020. Sixteen relevant publications were analysed and discussed in the context of the broader discourse on work‐care reconciliation. Technologies discussed can be classified as: (a) web‐based technologies; (b) technologies for direct communication; (c) monitoring technologies; and (d) task‐sharing tools. Technologies can help to make work‐care reconciliation more manageable and alleviate psychosocial and emotional stress. General barriers to using technology include limited digital skills, depending on others to use technologies, privacy and data protection, cost, limited technological capabilities, and limited awareness regarding available technologies. Barriers specific to some technologies include work disruptions, limited perceived usefulness, and lacking time and energy to use technologies. More research into technologies that can address the needs of working carers and how they are able to use them at work is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While certainly not a new phenomenon, the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults in 'county lines' drug distribution and sales now attracts considerable attention and concern. In this study, we explored professionals' perspectives on understandings of and responses to this issue in the West Midlands, UK. We conducted in‐depth interviews with 11 participants from policing, prosecution, government and the third sector. Participants typically saw county lines‐related exploitation as insufficiently understood, especially where individuals are both victimised and commit offences are concerned. They also characterised responses as hampered by factors such as variable use of legislation, inconsistent intelligence sharing and insufficient resources – particularly to support vulnerable people. More robust multiagency collaboration could help address these issues, although it also involves challenges. Our exploratory study focuses on criminal justice responses to county lines‐related exploitation in particular, a relatively narrow set of professionals and one specific geographical location, meaning findings must not be overextended. Nevertheless, it provides novel insights into a complex, important and understudied phenomenon. We situate the work against the broader literature on exploitation, drawing parallels with child sexual exploitation and 'modern slavery' that could inform further research. 'Provides novel insights into a complex, important and understudied phenomenon' Key Practitioner Messages: The term 'county lines' may obscure the complexities and harms of criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults in this context.There can be a challenging interplay between victimisation and offending. Although those exploited have agency, they also often face obvious power imbalances and heavily constrained choices.Enforcement alone is insufficient: addressing vulnerabilities and complex needs is vital from a preventative perspective.Improved training on the use and applicability of relevant legislation would likely support investigations and prosecutions.Implementing and abiding by a consistent framework for information sharing could facilitate more effective responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a baby is diagnosed with a condition needing surgery they, and their family, start down an uncertain and unknown path. Living with uncertainty underpins every stage of the journey from hospital to home. These journeys span the highly technical to the mundane. They are likely to involve, at crucial points, medicalised and specialised neonatal and surgical care in paediatric centres of excellence where parents are mere spectators. Yet ultimately parents are able to take their baby home, confident experts in their daily care. Drawing on narrative interviews with 42 UK parents whose baby underwent neonatal surgery, this paper explores how parents navigate this uncertainty through acquiring experiential and lay knowledge and developing expertise in their baby's condition and treatment options. These conditions are rare. Building on sociological understandings of the work of chronic illness, as well as more recent work on newborn screening, sharing information online and examinations of experiential knowledge, we explore lay knowledge and expertise as it intersects with biomedical and surgical frontiers. We demonstrate how the development of expertise is an emergent, three‐stage process supported by both biomedical and lay knowledge and elucidate this process of knowledge‐building as a scaffold through which to manage uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although language and communication difficulties are common in secondary school students, there has been limited research into the efficacy of interventions for adolescents with language and communication difficulties. Aims: To investigate the efficacy of teaching assistant (TA)‐delivered narrative and vocabulary interventions to mainstream secondary school‐aged students with language disorder. Methods & Procedures: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a language and communication intervention was used to evaluate the efficacy of vocabulary and narrative interventions to improve the vocabulary and narrative performance of adolescents (mean age = 12.8 years) with language disorder. The language and communication programmes (narrative, vocabulary and combined narrative and vocabulary) were delivered by TAs in the classroom, three times per week, for 45–60 min each, over 6 weeks, totalling 18 sessions. Standardized and intervention‐specific measures were used as outcomes. Outcomes & Results: Twenty‐one schools with 358 eligible participants were recruited. The three intervention groups showed significant improvements (d =.296) on a narrative latent variable defined by a standardized narrative assessment (the Expression, Reception and Recall of Narrative Instrument—ERRNI), but there were no significant improvements on an overall vocabulary latent variable compared with the waiting control group. Differential effects were found on some non‐standardized intervention‐specific measures with the narrative group making significantly more progress on narrative tasks compared with the waiting control group, the vocabulary group showing the same pattern on specific vocabulary tasks, and the combined narrative and vocabulary group making significantly more progress on some of the intervention‐specific narrative, and all the intervention‐specific vocabulary outcomes compared with the waiting control group. Conclusions & Implications: It is possible to improve narrative but not vocabulary skills, as assessed by standardized measures, in secondary school students with a relatively brief group TA‐delivered intervention. There were differential effects for both narrative and vocabulary with intervention‐specific measures. Future work is required to explore whether more intensive and longer lasting interventions would be more effective and to identify which students in this age group are most likely to benefit from such interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who grow up in neighborhoods with more green vegetation show enhanced cognitive development in specific domains over short timespans. However, it is unknown if neighborhood greenery per se is uniquely predictive of children's overall cognitive development measured across many years. The E-Risk Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative 1994-5 birth-cohort of children in Britain (n = 1658 urban and suburban-dwelling participants), was used to test whether residential neighborhood greenery uniquely predicts children's cognitive development across childhood and adolescence. Greenery exposure was assessed from ages 5 to 18 using the satellite imagery-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in 1-mile buffers around the home. Fluid and crystalized intellectual performance was assessed in the home at ages 5, 12, and 18 using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, and executive function, working memory, and attention ability were assessed in the home at age 18 using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Children living in residences surrounded by more neighborhood greenery scored significantly higher, on average, on IQ measures at all ages. However, the association between greenery and cognitive measures did not hold after accounting for family or neighborhood socioeconomic status. After adjustment for study covariates, child greenery exposure was not a significant predictor of longitudinal increases in IQ across childhood and adolescence or of executive function, working memory, or attention ability at age 18. Children raised in greener neighborhoods exhibit better overall cognitive ability, but the association is likely accounted for by family and neighborhood socioeconomic factors. • We tested whether neighborhood greenery predicts child cognitive development. • Satellite-imagery measures of greenery were related to cognitive ability assessed at ages 5, 12, and 18. • Children raised in greener neighborhoods showed greater ability at all ages. • Children raised in greener neighborhoods also showed greater growth in crystalized cognitive ability from age 5 to 12. • However, the positive associations were best accounted for by family/neighborhood socioeconomic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April 2015, the UK introduced Shared Parental Leave (SPL), allowing mothers to transfer their maternity leave to their partners from two weeks after the birth or adoption of a child. There has been very limited research conducted on this leave policy to date and knowledge on take-up is poor. We present findings from an in-depth survey conducted with expectant mothers in two NHS trusts in England on their knowledge, views and plans around leave after the birth of their child and examine variations across educational and ethnic groups. A total of 575 expectant mothers took part in the survey. Around 7.4 per cent of expectant mothers who were (self-)employed or in education intended to take SPL. Finances and worries over fathers' careers were cited as the primary barriers to take up of SPL. Individual entitlement for fathers and knowing others who took SPL increased individuals' reported intention to take SPL. Applying logistic regression models, we found that knowledge of and access to SPL is correlated with education, ethnicity and home ownership. Future research and policy design should attend to such issues to ensure equitable access across families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) role was introduced into the UK in 2003 to address the need for effective leadership within Infection Prevention (IP). The role was embedded in English legislation in 2008. In one Independent healthcare organisation (with 31 acute hospitals spread geographically across the UK), the DIPC role is held by the hospital matron (known as Director of Nursing in the NHS), who influence resource allocation and ensure infection prevention is prioritised. A knowledge gap in microbiology, standard precautions and infection prevention regulatory requirements was identified and as there was no educational provision for this role, an accredited programme was developed. Twenty-five matrons completed the DIPC programme. Aims: Evaluate the impact of a DIPC educational programme on the delivery of IP services. Methodology: A post-course qualitative retrospective survey using open-ended questions was used to collect data from DIPCs who had completed the programme. Inductive thematic and content analysis methods were used to identify key themes from survey responses. Results: Out of 20 DIPCs, 16 completed the survey. Key findings included improvements in knowledge related to microbiology, IP and regulatory requirements of the DIPC role. DIPCs reported changes to service delivery including appointment of six IP nurses, improved surveillance processes, reduced infections and improved cleanliness standards. This small study demonstrates the impact of an educational programme for DIPCs who felt more empowered to manage the IP services effectively, resulting in improved patient safety through reduced infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

United Kingdom (UK) paramedics are in a prime position to identify children and young people who are victims or at risk of sexual abuse. Paramedics have access, by phone, or in person, to unprepared homes and communities which other health professionals such as social workers may not. Little research exists however, investigating UK paramedic confidence in identifying child sexual abuse. This mixed-method explanatory sequential investigation used the self-reported confidence levels of 276 UK paramedics to inform the design of seven semi-structured focus groups with 25 UK paramedics from a large ambulance service with operating models similar to all UK services. Multiple factors contribute to a lack of confidence in identifying child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, and female genital mutilation, including a perceived lack of exposure to sexual abuse, the perceived hidden nature of sexual abuse, and the lack of physical symptoms and examination. An overarching lack of knowledge is the most significant contributor to a lack of confidence which in turn perpetuates misinformation surrounding prevalence, location, and the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse. These findings suggest a lack of sufficient training and a need for further research evaluating the content of current training and its method of delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify which resources BSc Nursing students found most beneficial in developing and maintaining their ePortfolio. Design: This study evaluates the benefit of resources available in developing and maintaining an undergraduate nursing student ePortfolio. A mixed-methods approach was taken during 2016, using an internet polling tool. The polling tool was available for 3 months before closing and was available to all fields of BSc Nursing student from any year of their 3-year nursing programme. Findings: The qualitative data was coded thematically and generated three themes: student workshops, textual guidance and pre-recorded video support. The quantitative data identified that the most beneficial resource was the student workshops facilitated by student academic mentors (SAMs). Conclusion: SAMs provide an invaluable service to students, by sharing their knowledge and experiences, while enhancing a student’s perceptions of self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to assess pregnant women's Internet searching activity about medication safety, knowledge and perceptions of medication risk and willingness to take prescribed and non-prescribed medication or make online medication purchases. Background Online medication advice for pregnant women is complex. The quality and veracity of this data is increasingly important as more midwives report women are bringing retrieved online information to clinical appointments. Pregnant women's use of the Internet for seeking medication advice and purchasing medications has not yet been fully investigated. Design Online survey conducted from January - March 2013. Findings Of the 284 respondents, 39% were taking a medication when they became pregnant and 76% had searched the Internet for medication safety information. Analgesics were the most commonly searched category (41%). Health service sites were the most common online source and regarded as the most helpful and trusted. Regardless of age and education level, 90% of women agreed that if trying to become pregnant they would reconsider taking any medications because of the potential risk to their unborn baby. Forty-six percent of women with higher levels of education consider buying medication online as safe, a greater proportion than those of lower education. Five percent of women reported buying medication online. Conclusion The lack of specific recommendations for medication use during pregnancy is challenging for healthcare staff and pregnant women who need robust evidence to make informed treatment decisions. The Internet is a recognized, commonly accessed, source of medication information for pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited literature exists on attitudes towards, knowledge of and where cancer survivors seek information on physical activity. This study aimed to address these gaps in the literature. Interviews were conducted with 19 UK-based adult cancer survivors. Interviews covered participants' knowledge of the relationship between physical activity and cancer, sources of information and attitudes towards physical activity following their cancer treatment. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Key themes included 'physical activity is good for you,' 'desire to be more physically active,' 'limited guidance on participation in physical activity,' 'multi-dimensional barriers and facilitators of physical activity.' Participants thought physical activity was good for them, and felt they should be more physically active. Participants reported receiving little information from oncology health professionals, as well as a desire for more guidance. Tiredness/fatigue was an important reported barrier to physical activity participation, as were situational constraints. Social support and structured exercise programmes were reported to facilitate physical activity. Health professionals should be encouraged to direct patients to appropriate sources for guidelines on physical activity for cancer survivors. Multi-component interventions to increase physical activity behaviour that consider tiredness/fatigue and incorporate components of social support could be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale Given the high number of young adults caring for a family member, and the potential for adverse psychosocial outcomes, there is a need for a screening tool, with clinical utility, to identify those most vulnerable to poor outcomes and to aid targeted interventions. Objectives (i) To determine whether current knowledge from cancer literature regarding young carers is generalisable to chronic conditions and, therefore, whether an existing screening tool could be adapted for this population. (ii) To develop a measure of unmet needs in this population and conduct initial psychometric analysis. Design This was mixed method; interviews in study one informed measure development in study two. Inclusion criteria were as follows: having a parent with a chronic condition and being aged 16-24 years. In study 1, an interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted on interviews from seven young adults (age range 17-19 years). Study 2 explored factor structure, reliability and validity of the Offspring Chronic Illness Needs Inventory ( OCINI). Participants were 73 females and 34 males (mean ages 18.22, SD = 1.16; 18.65, SD = 1.25). Main outcome measures OCINI, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the Adult Carers Quality of Life Scale. Results Interviews communicated that the impact of their parent's condition went unacknowledged and resulted in psychosocial, support and informational needs. An exploratory principal axis analysis of the OCINI yielded five factors. Significant and positive correlations were found between unmet needs and stress, anxiety, and depression, and inversely with quality of life. Conclusions The scale has applications in clinical settings where these young people, who are at risk of negative psychological outcomes, may be assessed and unmet needs targeted appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exercise is a recommended 'core' treatment for chronic knee pain (CKP), however it appears to be underused by general practitioners (GPs). While behavioural theories suggest that attitudes and beliefs influence behaviours, no single theory reliably predicts GPs' behaviours. A theoretical analysis framework, developed from sociocognitive theories, was used to underpin investigation of the key influences associated with GPs' use of exercise for patients with CKP, to inform future interventions to optimise GPs' use of exercise. Methods: A cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey investigated UK GPs' reported use of exercise based on a patient case vignette. Factors influencing GPs' exercise use (behaviour) were examined using attitude statements, free-text questions and multiple response option questions related to factors within the analysis framework. Unadjusted logistic regression analyses explored the associations between GPs' attitudes/beliefs and behaviour. Results: From a total sample of 5000 GPs, 835 (17%) returned a questionnaire. Most respondents (n = 729, 87%) reported that they would use exercise. Factors significantly associated with exercise use (OR (95% CI)) included GPs' beliefs about their role (belief that GPs should give information on type, duration and frequency of exercise (30.71 (5.02,188.01)), beliefs about consequences (agreement that knee problems are improved by local (3.23 (1.94,5.39)) and general exercise (2.63 (1.38,5.02))), moral norm (agreement that GPs should prescribe all patients local (3.08 (1.96,4.83)) and general exercise (2.63 (1.45,4.76))), and GP-related beliefs about capabilities (prior experience of insufficient expertise to give detailed exercise information (0.50 (0.33,0.76)). Whilst perceived time limitations were not associated with exercise use (1.00 (0.33,3.01)), GPs who disagreed that they experienced time limitations were more likely to suggest general (2.17 (1.04,4.55)), or demonstrate local (2.16 (1.06,4.42)), exercises. Conclusion: GPs' attitudes and beliefs are associated with their use of exercise for patients with CKP, particularly beliefs about role, responsibilities and skills in initiating exercise, and about the efficacy of exercise. Although the low response risks response bias, these results can inform future interventions to optimise GPs' behaviour. The role of GP uncertainty and influences on clinical decision-making need further exploration, thus an amended analysis framework is suggested, which should be tested in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whilst the scientific understanding of mild traumatic brain injury sequelae has advanced, the consequences of neurological insults sustained during football play in the form of multiple concussions and heading remains unclear. Method: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first longitudinal prospective study to follow-up a group of footballers and controls over time. Thirty-two elite young professional footballers were recruited and 24 were identified at follow-up. Thirty-three controls were recruited and 17 identified at follow-up. Medical examination, MRI (brain) imaging and detailed neuropsychological data were collected on the footballers at baseline and 5-year follow-up. Medical examination and detailed neuropsychological data were collected on the controls at baseline and 5-year follow-up. Results: All participants had normal neurological examination at both time points. At baseline, 37% of the footballers had sustained minor neurological insults. Between baseline and 5 years, 66% of the footballers had sustained minor neurological insults. No MRI (brain) abnormalities were identified among the footballers at either time point. Regarding the neuropsychology, there was a 6-point IQ difference between footballers and controls, with the footballers being low. Test–re-test analysis on a range of carefully selected neurocognitive tests revealed a picture of good stability in cognitive functioning over this 5-year period. Conclusions: These longitudinal prospective data indicate no significant neurological, structural brain imaging or neuropsychological change among a sample of young elite professional footballers over the first 5 years of their professional career. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Some reports suggest that there is an increase in the number of children identified as having developmental language impairment (Bercow, 2008). yet resource issues have meant that many speech and language therapy services have compromised provision in some way. Thus, efficient ways of identifying need and prioritizing intervention are required. Despite this, children’s natural change is rarely formally considered when intervention planning. The role of age, gender and non-verbal IQ in predicting change has also not always been considered. A longitudinal baseline period is important because it may guide teachers and language therapists towards different therapeutic aims/methods for different groups of children. This study reports on 22 children aged 4–7 identified by teachers as having language difficulties. All children took part in a classroom-based semantic language intervention in two phases, the first led by speech and language therapists (SLTs), followed by a phase led by trained learning support assistants (LSAs). Two Natural Change subgroups were compared: One group showed natural change in language over a six-week period before the intervention ran (n = 11; Baseline Improvers) whilst the other group did not show language change in this non-intervention period (n = 12; Baseline Non-Improvers). The groups were well matched on skills at study entry and differed only on score change without intervention. Language skills were assessed at three subsequent time points: pre-therapy, post-SLT-therapy and post-LSA-therapy. In the group as a whole, significant changes were seen across all language measures except expressive vocabulary. Non-verbal cognitive ability showed no change over time, and did not predict language change. There were important differences in the patterns shown by each subgroup depending on natural change without intervention. Notably, Baseline Non-Improvers changed during intervention more than Baseline Improvers. The results suggest that use of a longitudinal baseline may be useful when planning interventions and deciding where to focus limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Social cognition and executive functioning difficulties following acquired brain injury have been linked to negative employment outcomes, such as demotion and loss of vocational roles. These are very counter-intuitive and challenging difficulties for other employees and work supervisors who have little or no brain injury knowledge, whose perceptions of play a key role in their responses to these difficulties and the final outcome of such problems for vocational status. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to study the relationship between social cognition and executive functioning difficulties and the perceptions of work supervisors' appraisal of survivor interpersonal behaviour and social skills in the workplace. METHOD: The performance of 73 survivors of acquired brain injury (47% TBI, 38% CVA, 15% other ABI type; 73% male; mean age 45.44 years, range 19-64 years; mean time since injury 6.36 years, range 10.5-31.33 years), currently in a vocational rehabilitation placement) on neuropsychological tests of executive functioning and social cognition was measured. Informant ratings on the Social Skills Factor subscale from the Work Personality Profile (WPP, Bolton & Roessler, 1986) were used as the primary outcome measure, a vocational functioning questionnaire assessing social and presentational aspects of workplace behaviour. The raters were non-clinical workplace informants acting in a supervisory role (supervisory placement providers and job coaches). RESULTS: Correlational analysis identified significant associations between the WPP and survivor goal-orientated planning and implementation, mentalising ability, recognition of positive and negative emotions, and recognition of simple sarcasm (all significant at p < 0.05). These correlates were entered into a stepwise multiple regression. The combination final of survivor mentalising ability and executive functioning explained 32% of the variance in the WPP ratings (F (2, 52) = 12.15, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Certain limitations of the study withstanding, the current findings add to previous literature in high- lighting the relevance of survivor executive functioning and social cognition difficulties for the perceptions and appraisal of work colleagues, consistent with other studies that have identified negative vocational outcomes associated with such neuropsychological difficulties. The implications for vocational rehabilitation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with dementia and delirium in acute hospitals can exhibit verbal agitation, but there is no research on rate of occurrence or how ward staff manage such behaviour. This service evaluation aimed to measure rate of occurrence of verbal agitation in confused older inpatients and understand the management strategies used by staff. An agitation inventory was completed daily by the nursing team for all verbally agitated patients on eight older person wards over two weeks. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff and three hours of non-participant observations were undertaken. A mean 6% (13/223) of patients were verbally agitated each day. Management strategies included trial and error, distraction and engagement, reassurance, communication and familiarity. Staff did not adopt a systematic approach to care planning due to lack of training and support on the ward, as well as scarce resources in terms of staff, space and activities. Research is needed to develop and evaluate interventions that support staff to care for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some previous reviews conclude that breastfeeding is not significantly associated with increased intelligence in children once mother's IQ is statistically controlled. The conclusion may potentially have both theoretical and methodological problems. The National Child Development Study allows the examination of the effect of breastfeeding on intelligence in two consecutive generations of British children. The analysis of the first generation shows that the effect of breastfeeding on intelligence increases from Age 7 to 16. The analysis of the second generation shows that each month of breastfeeding, net of parental IQ and other potential confounds, is associated with an increase of .16 IQ points. Further analyses suggest that some previous studies may have failed to uncover the effect of breastfeeding on child intelligence because of their reliance on one IQ test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five factors (gender, handedness, some aspects of general health, family history, and intelligence) that could assist speech–language pathologists in identification of children who stutter (CWS) in 42 CWS and 34 fluent control children (children who do not stutter [CWNS]) were investigated. The data reported here were obtained from assessments made within 1 year of the reported onset of stuttering. The results from the initial assessments showed significant differences between CWS and CWNS on the five factors considered. Although there were some differences on intelligence scores, it is emphasized that the scores of all CWS were within normal limits, and in fact, both groups scored higher than the population average. These factors are important for the initial assessment of stuttering and may be useful for establishing what intervention is appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Three extraordinary, historical documents stemming from observations made in 1697, 1803 and 1817 quote medicinal plant uses among the Fante, Ga and Ashanti people of present-day Ghana, and can be linked to original botanical specimens in European herbaria. This provides a unique opportunity to gain insight to the historical materia medica of Ghana and compare this to contemporary medicinal plant uses. By critical literary and taxonomic review, the present study (re-)establishes the earliest known history of many important Ghanaian medicinal plants, and assesses the scale of change and loss of medicinal plant knowledge in Ghana over time. The study provides the foundation to reconstruct lost or discontinued Ghanaian plant uses in local or ethnopharmacological contexts. Materials and methods Historical botanical specimens were located in the herbaria of University of Copenhagen Herbarium (C) and British Museum of Natural History (BM). The classification and synonymy of the specimens were updated for the study, and the historical vernacular names and medicinal uses of the plants compared with 20th/21st century literature. The plants of the historical Ga materia medica were (re-)collected to aid in semi-structured interviews. The interviews aimed to document the contemporary uses and names of the plants among the Ga, and to determine to what extent the historical medicinal uses and names are extant. Results and discussion The study identified 100 species in historical medicinal use in Ghana, which could be linked to 134 unique uses and 105 vernacular names in Twi (Ashanti/Fante) and Ga. Most of the plants are common in Ghana. At least 52% of the historical vernacular names appear to still be in use today. Of the specific historical uses, 41 (31%) were traced among contemporary medicinal plant uses in Ghana and represent some of the most important Ghanaian medicinal plant species. However, 93 (69%) of the historical uses could not be traced and appears to be discontinued or forgotten. Among the Ga, two medicinal plants species have become rare or locally extinct, and thus the vast majority of the loss of knowledge appears to be due to cultural extinction. Conclusions The scientifically strong voucher material allowed for identification of a high number of historical medicinal plants and their roots in traditional Ghanaian medicine systems 2–300 years ago. The materia medica of the Fante, Ga and Ashanti of Ghana has changed considerably over time. The “forgotten” historical uses warrant further studies to determine the pharmacological activity of these plants. This could provide the foundation for reconstruction of historical medicinal plant uses in evidence-based modern contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An association between children's early language development and their emotional and behavioural functioning is reported in the literature. The nature of the association remains unclear and it has not been established if such an association is found in a population-based cohort in addition to clinical populations. Methods This study examines the reported association between language development and emotional and behavioural functioning in a population-based cohort. Data from 1,314 children in the Children in Focus (CiF) sample from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children ( ALSPAC) were analysed. Regression models identified the extent to which early language ability at 2 years of age and later language ability at 4 years of age is associated with emotional and behavioural functioning at 6 years while accounting for biological and social risk and adjusting for age and performance intelligence ( PIQ). Results A series of univariable and multivariable analyses identified a strong influence of biological risk, social risk and early and later language ability to emotional and behavioural functioning. Interestingly, social risk dropped out of the multivariate analyses when age and PIQ were controlled for. Early expressive vocabulary at 2 years and receptive language at 4 years made a strong contribution to emotional and behavioural functioning at 6 years in addition to biological risk. The final model accounted for 11.6% of the variance in emotional and behavioural functioning at 6 years. Conclusions The study identified that early language ability at 2 years, specifically expressive vocabulary and later receptive language at 4 years both made a moderate, but important contribution to emotional and behavioural functioning at 6 years of age. Although children's language development is important in understanding children's emotional and behavioural functioning, the study shows that it is one of many developmental factors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In line with the aims of this special issue, the purpose of this paper is to forward a position on the concept of sport parenting expertise through the presentation of six key postulates. Design Literature review and position statement. Method By adopting methods associated with an academic position paper, a statement is presented that we believe encapsulates sport parenting expertise. Six key postulates of parenting expertise, formulated from critically reviewing and interpreting relevant literature, are then presented. Results We propose that sport parenting expertise is dependent on the degree to which parents demonstrate a range of competencies; namely that parents, (a) select appropriate sporting opportunities and provide necessary types of support, (b) understand and apply appropriate parenting styles, (c) manage the emotional demands of competitions, (d) foster healthy relationships with significant others, (e) manage organizational and developmental demands associated with sport participation, and, (f) adapt their involvement to different stages of their child's athletic career. Conclusion Expertise in sport parenting requires parents to develop knowledge and utilize a range of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational skills in order to support their child, manage themselves, and operate effectively in the wider youth sport environment. Recommendations for applied researchers to further investigate these postulates and substantiate the components of sport parenting expertise are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to explore the neuro- and social-cognitive profile of a consecutive series of adult outpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN) when compared with widely available age and gender matched historical control data. The relationship between performance profiles, clinical characteristics, service utilization, and treatment adherence was also investigated. Method Consecutively recruited outpatients with a broad diagnosis of AN (restricting subtype AN-R: n = 44, binge-purge subtype AN-BP: n = 33 or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified-AN subtype EDNOS-AN: n = 23) completed a comprehensive set of neurocognitive (set-shifting, central coherence) and social-cognitive measures (Emotional Theory of Mind). Data were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis and a discriminant function analysis. Results Three separate, meaningful clusters emerged. Cluster 1 ( n = 45) showed overall average to high average neuro- and social- cognitive performance, Cluster 2 ( n = 38) showed mixed performance characterized by distinct strengths and weaknesses, and Cluster 3 ( n = 17) showed poor overall performance (Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) like cluster). The three clusters did not differ in terms of eating disorder symptoms, comorbid features or service utilization and treatment adherence. A discriminant function analysis confirmed that the clusters were best characterized by performance in perseveration and set-shifting measures. Discussion The findings suggest that considerable neuro- and social-cognitive heterogeneity exists in patients with AN, with a subset showing ASD-like features. The value of this method of profiling in predicting longer term patient outcomes and in guiding development of etiologically targeted treatments remains to be seen. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:26-34) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although reviews of the association between polyphenol intake and cognition exist, research examining the cognitive effects of fruit, vegetable, and juice consumption across epidemiological and intervention studies has not been previously examined. For the present review, critical inclusion criteria were human participants, a measure of fruit, vegetable, or 100% juice consumption, an objective measure of cognitive function, and a clinical diagnosis of neuropsychological disease. Studies were excluded if consumption of fruits, vegetables, or juice was not assessed in isolation from other food groups, or if there was no statistical control for education or IQ. Seventeen of 19 epidemiological studies and 3 of 6 intervention studies reported significant benefits of fruit, vegetable, or juice consumption for cognitive performance. The data suggest that chronic consumption of fruits, vegetables, and juices is beneficial for cognition in healthy older adults. The limited data from acute interventions indicate that consumption of fruit juices can have immediate benefits for memory function in adults with mild cognitive impairment; however, as of yet, acute benefits have not been observed in healthy adults. Conclusions regarding an optimum dietary intake for fruits, vegetables, and juices are difficult to quantify because of substantial heterogeneity in the categorization of consumption of these foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the age by which children begin to demonstrate a biological understanding of the human body and the idea that the purpose of body functioning is to maintain life. The study also explored the influence of education, culturally specific experiences and religion on knowledge acquisition in this domain. Children aged between 4 and 7 years from three different cultural backgrounds ( White British, British Muslim, and Pakistani Muslim) were interviewed about the human body and its functioning. At least half of the 4- to 5-year-olds in each cultural group, and almost all 6- to 7-year-olds, referred to the maintenance of life when explaining organs' functions and so were classified as 'life theorizers'. Pakistani Muslim children gave fewer biological responses to questions about organs' functions and the purpose of eating and breathing, but referred to life more than their British counterparts. Irrespective of cultural group, older children understood organ location and function better than younger children. These findings support Jaakkola and Slaughter's (2002, Br. J. Dev. Psychol., 20, 325) view that children's understanding of the body as a 'life machine' emerges around the ages of 4-5 years. They also suggest that, despite many similarities in children's ideas cross-culturally, different educational input and culturally specific experiences influence aspects of their biological understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK weaning guidelines recommend the introduction of solid food at or around 6 months. The evidence suggests that knowledge of the guidelines is high, although only a small minority of parents wait until 6 months to wean. The aim of this study was to assess understanding of the UK weaning guidelines in a sample of UK parents and investigate the associations of this understanding with weaning timing, and in comparison to other influencing factors. This study conducted an online survey of UK parents. Eligible participants had weaned a child since the introduction of the current guidelines. Of 3607 participants, 86% accurately understood the guidelines. Eighty-seven per cent of health visitors were reported to have advised weaning at or around 6 months. Knowledge of the guidelines was associated with later weaning (independently of demographic factors) ( P < 0.001) but did not ensure compliance: 80% of mothers who weaned before 24 weeks and 65% who weaned before 17 weeks were aware of the guidelines. Younger mothers ( P < 0.001), those receiving benefits ( P < 0.001), those educated only to 16 ( P < 0.001) and minority ethnic groups ( P < 0.001) had lower levels of awareness. Poor understanding of the guidelines was the most reliable predictor of early weaning ( P = 0.021) together with young maternal age ( P = 0.014). Following the baby-led weaning approach was the most reliable predictor of those weaning at 26 weeks, together with the Internet being the most influential source of advice. Understanding of the current weaning guidelines is high and is a key independent predictor of weaning age in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Positron emission tomography and post-mortem studies of the number of somatodendritic 5-hydroxy-tryptamine1A (5-HT1A) autoreceptors in raphe nuclei have found both increases and decreases in depression. However, recent genetic studies suggest they may be increased in number and/or function. The current study examined the effect of buspirone on the electroencephalographic (EEG) centroid frequency, a putative index of somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptor functional status, in a cohort of medication-free depressed patients and controls. Method. A total of 15 depressed patients (nine male) and intelligence quotient (IQ)-, gender- and age-matched healthy controls had resting EEG recorded from 29 scalp electrodes prior to and 30, 60 and 90 min after oral buspirone (30 mg) administration. The effect of buspirone on somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors was assessed by calculating the EEG centroid frequency between 6 and 10.5 Hz. The effect of buspirone on postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors was assessed by measuring plasma growth hormone, prolactin and Cortisol concentrations. Results. Analysis of variance revealed a significantly greater effect of buspirone on the EEG centroid frequency in patients compared with controls (F1,28=6.55, p=0.016). There was no significant difference in the neuroendocrine responses between the two groups. Conclusions. These findings are consistent with an increase in the functional status of somatodendritic, but not postsynaptic, 5-HT1A autoreceptors, in medication-free depressed patients in line with hypotheses based on genetic data. This increase in functional status would be hypothesized to lead to an increase in serotonergic negative feedback, and hence decreased release of 5-HT at raphé projection sites, in depressed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traits of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) occur frequently in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the significance of their presence in terms of phenotype and underlying neurobiology is not properly understood. This analysis aimed to determine whether higher levels of autistic traits, as measured by the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), index a more severe presentation in a large, rigorously phenotyped sample of children with ADHD ( N = 711). Regression analyses were used to examine association of SCQ scores with core ADHD features, clinical comorbidities and cognitive and developmental features, with adjustment for putative confounders. For outcomes showing association with total SCQ score, secondary analyses determined levels of differential association of the three ASD sub-domains. Results suggest that increasing ASD symptomatology within ADHD is associated with a more severe phenotype in terms of oppositional, conduct and anxiety symptoms, lower full-scale IQ, working memory deficits and general motor problems. These associations persisted after accounting for ADHD severity, suggesting that autistic symptomatology independently indexes the severity of comorbid impairments in the context of ADHD. Sub-domain scores did not show unique contributions to most outcomes, except that social deficits were independently associated with oppositional symptoms and repetitive behaviours independently predicted hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and motor problems. It would be worthwhile for clinicians to consider levels of socio-communicative and repetitive traits in those with ADHD who do not meet diagnostic criteria for ASD, as they index higher levels of phenotypic complexity, which may have implications for efficacy of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Attitudes to the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have been studied extensively, yet evidence on public awareness about ID and stigma is limited. The relationship between attitudes, knowledge and stigma associated with ID is poorly understood. The present study examined these factors and the relationships between them in the context of a multicultural society. Method UK residents of working age ( n = 1002) were presented with a diagnostically unlabelled vignette of someone with a mild ID. They were asked to label the difficulties presented and to complete measures of social distance and attitudes to the inclusion of people with IDs. Results While attitudes to the inclusion of people with IDs were relatively positive overall, social contact was viewed with ambivalence. Inclusion attitudes and social distance were only moderately correlated. Across the whole sample 28% recognised typical symptoms of mild ID. Recognition of ID was associated with lower stigma and more positive attitudes than attribution of the difficulties presented to other causes. White Westerners showed increased knowledge, lower stigma and favoured inclusion more than participants from ethnic minorities. Among the latter group, Asians showed lower stigma and attitudes more in line with inclusion policies than participants of Black African/Caribbean backgrounds. Once a host of contextual factors were considered jointly, only contact was consistently associated with the variables measured. Conclusions Stigma associated with ID is of concern across all ethnic groups, although it appears to be increased among the public from ethnic minorities. Given that contact and awareness are associated with reduced stigma, they should be considered as prime foci for efforts to tackle ID stigma. The current findings serve as baseline for attempts to increase public awareness and tackle stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested whether knowing more about an area where a humanitarian disaster happened would increase willingness to donate to its victims. Knowledge was proposed to have a positive impact on donation proclivity, mediated by greater identification with the victims: The more potential donors know about the victims and their environment, the more are they able to identify with the victims. Identification, in turn, was proposed to positively impact on willingness to donate. Results confirmed these predictions in one correlational study ( N= 111), one experimental study ( N= 200), and one quasi-experimental study ( N= 100), focusing on the Asian Tsunami of 2004 and the Chinese earthquake of 2008. Theoretical and applied implications of the research findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines public perceptions of three sexual grooming types: computer-mediated sexual grooming (CMSG), familial sexual grooming (FSG) and localised sexual grooming (LSG). Using data from a national survey of 557 respondents from the United Kingdom, we tested models that predicted perceptions of the prevalence of CMSG, FSG and LSG and the perceived safety of internet, familial and localised grooming spaces. Media-related factors were the most significant in predicting higher levels of perceived prevalence of CMSG and disagreement in relation tosafetyof internet and public spaces. Knowledge of a grooming victim was most significant in predicting higher levels of perceived prevalence of FSG and LSG and higher levels disagreement in relation to the safety of the home. The findings suggest that the public express too little concern over familial sexual grooming and that initiatives should be introduced to make citizens more aware of the distinctions between types of sexual grooming behaviours, settings and offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dietetic students are exposed to bioethical dilemmas on clinical placements; however, the nature of these situations has not been investigated. The present study aimed to analyse students' reports of incidents and their associated personal development plans ( PDP) to assess the type of ethical incidents faced and how they cope with them. Methods Final-year dietetic students were recruited via an announcement in class. The students' PDPs were analysed using thematic analysis to identify the type of ethical issues faced and how they felt about them. The 500-word PDPs were submitted after the final placement. Results Thirteen (13/26) students identified 'ethics' as a learning need and most of these incidents were related to enteral feeding (10/13). Ethical issues identified related to nonmaleficence; best interest; consent and capacity; truth telling and integrity; autonomy and substituted decision-making; futile treatment; beneficence and confidentially. The themes for how the students coped included being unsure; lack of confidence or knowledge with ethics and/or with communication; lack of experience; unease/concern about shared decision-making; and their own role in the situation. Conclusions Student dietitians are exposed to a wide range of complex ethical clinical situations, with those related to enteral feeding being the most common. Students felt unsure of what to do and lacked confidence, which resulted in unease and concern; however, students appeared to have some ethical sensitivity. Communication problems with the multidisciplinary team or families were a common theme. Clinical educators need to support students in these situations and act as role models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goodfellow L.M., Macduff C., Leslie G., Copeland S., Nolfi D. & Blackwood D. (2012) Nurse scholars' knowledge and use of electronic theses and dissertations. International Nursing Review Background: Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) are a valuable resource for nurse scholars worldwide. ETDs and digital libraries offer the potential to radically change the nature and scope of the way in which doctoral research results are presented, disseminated and used. An exploratory study was undertaken to better understand ETD usage and to address areas where there is a need and an opportunity for educational enhancement. Aims: The primary objective was to gain an initial understanding of the knowledge and use of ETDs and digital libraries by faculty, graduate students and alumni of graduate programs at schools of nursing. Design: A descriptive online survey design was used. Methods: Purposeful sampling of specific schools of nursing was used to identify institutional participants in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US. A total of 209 participants completed the online questionnaire. Results: Only 44% of participants reported knowing how to access ETDs in their institutions' digital libraries and only 18% reported knowing how to do so through a national or international digital library. Only 27% had cited an ETD in a publication. The underuse of ETDs was found to be attributable to specific issues rather than general reluctance to use online resources. Conclusions: This is the first international study that has explored awareness and use of ETDs, and ETD digital libraries, with a focus on nursing and has set the stage for future research and development in this field. Results show that most nursing scholars do not use ETDs to their fullest potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of the study was to explore the validity of the social-moral awareness test ( SMAT) a measure designed for assessing socio-moral rule knowledge and reasoning in people with learning disabilities. Comparisons between Theory of Mind and socio-moral reasoning allowed the exploration of construct validity of the tool. Factor structure, reliability and discriminant validity were also assessed. Materials and Methods Seventy-one participants with mild-moderate learning disabilities completed the two scales of the SMAT and two False Belief Tasks for Theory of Mind. Results Reliability of the SMAT was very good, and the scales were shown to be uni-dimensional in factor structure. There was a significant positive relationship between Theory of Mind and both SMAT scales. Conclusions There is early evidence of the construct validity and reliability of the SMAT. Further assessment of the validity of the SMAT will be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 5-year-olds and adults described scenes that differed according to whether (a) the subject or object of a transitive verb represented an accessible or inaccessible referent, consistent or inconsistent with patterns of preferred argument structure, and (b) a simple noun was sufficient to uniquely identify an inaccessible referent. Results showed that although adults did not differ in their choice of referring expression based on sentence position, 5-year-olds were less likely to provide informative referring expressions for subjects than for objects when the referent was inaccessible. In addition, under complex discourse conditions, although adults used complex noun phrases to identify inaccessible referents, 5-year-olds increased their use of pronominal/null reference for both accessible and inaccessible referents, thus reducing their levels of informativeness. The data suggest that 5-year-olds are still learning to integrate their knowledge of discourse features with preferred argument structure patterns, that this is particularly difficult in complex discourse contexts, and that in these contexts children rely on well-rehearsed patterns of argument realization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess objectively prospective memory ( PM) performance of individuals with alcohol dependence and determine whether the use of an imagery technique at the point of encoding can enhance their performance. Design An independent group design was used to compare individuals with alcohol dependence with social drinkers. Setting One UK residential substance misuse service. Participants Twenty-four abstinent 'individuals with alcohol dependence' and 24 social drinkers matched on age, gender and years of education. Measurements The virtual week ( VW); story recall; a category fluency task; trail-making test ( TMT); a single digit cancellation task ( SDCT); spot-the-word; State- Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI); Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI- II); and the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire ( SAD- Q) Findings Event-based PM task performance of individuals with alcohol dependence was associated strongly with indices of alcohol usage ( P < 0.001), and was impaired significantly compared to that of social drinkers ( P < 0.001). Imagining improved social drinkers' time-based PM but not that of individuals with alcohol dependence. Conclusions Individuals with alcohol dependence may experience prospective memory deficits which may be due to difficulties with effective strategy application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent reports have linked high childhood Q scores with excess alcohol intake and alcohol dependency in adult life, but the relationship with illegal drug use in later life is relatively unknown.Methods: The authors used data from a large population-based birth cohort (1970 British Cohort Study)with measures of lifetime cannabis and cocaine use,parental social class and psychological distress at16 years; cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy and polydrug use (more than three drugs) in the past12 months; and social class, educational attainment and gross monthly income at 30 years. All members of the cohort with IQ scores at 5 or 10 years were eligible to be included in the analyses.Results: Of the 11 603 (at 5 years) and 11 397 (at10 years) cohort members eligible, 7904 (68.1%) and7946 (69.7%) were included in the analyses. IQ scores at5 years were positively associated with cannabis (OR (bottom vs top tertile) =2.25, 95% CI 1.71 to 2.97) and cocaine use (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.92) in women and with amphetamines (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.06),ecstasy (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.36) and polydrug use(OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.26) in men at 30 years. IQ scores at 10 years were positively associated with cannabis, cocaine (only at 30 years), ecstasy,amphetamine and polydrug use. Associations were stronger in women than in men and were independent from psychological distress in adolescence and life-course socioeconomic position.Conclusion: High childhood IQ may increase the risk of illegal drug use in adolescence and adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical Education 2012: 46: 399-408 Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the validity and utility of and candidate reactions towards cognitive ability tests, and current selection methods, including a clinical problem-solving test (CPST) and a situational judgement test (SJT), for postgraduate selection. Methods This was an exploratory, longitudinal study to evaluate the validities of two cognitive ability tests (measuring general intelligence) compared with current selection tests, including a CPST and an SJT, in predicting performance at a subsequent selection centre (SC). Candidate reactions were evaluated immediately after test administration to examine face validity. Data were collected from candidates applying for entry into training in UK general practice (GP) during the 2009 recruitment process. Participants were junior doctors ( n = 260). The mean age of participants was 30.9 years and 53.1% were female. Outcome measures were participants' scores on three job simulation exercises at the SC. Results Findings indicate that all tests measure overlapping constructs. Both the CPST and SJT independently predicted more variance than the cognitive ability test measuring non-verbal mental ability. The other cognitive ability test (measuring verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning) had a predictive value similar to that of the CPST and added significant incremental validity in predicting performance on job simulations in an SC. The best single predictor of performance at the SC was the SJT. Candidate reactions were more positive towards the CPST and SJT than the cognitive ability tests. Conclusions In terms of operational validity and candidate acceptance, the combination of the current CPST and SJT proved to be the most effective administration of tests in predicting selection outcomes. In terms of construct validity, the SJT measures procedural knowledge in addition to aspects of declarative knowledge and fluid abilities and is the best single predictor of performance in the SC. Further research should consider the validity of the tests in this study in predicting subsequent performance in training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]