Search

IntroductionTeenage parenthood presents multifaceted implications, affecting adolescent parents, their children, and extended families. Despite a decrease in teenage pregnancy rates across Europe, the phenomenon continues to present significant challenges, impacting not only the adolescent parents but also their offspring and extended families.MethodsA comprehensive literature review was conducted. Key factors influencing teenage pregnancies, including socioeconomic background, family structure, and access to sex education and contraception, were examined. This review was supplemented by expert opinions from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP).ResultsThe triad of mother, father, and child presents individual distinct healthcare needs and vulnerabilities, highlighting the importance of specialized support and healthcare. This paper explores the psychological, social, and educational repercussions of teenage parenthood on both parents and their children, including higher risks of postpartum depression, school dropout, and repeat pregnancies. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role that paediatricians and primary care providers play in supporting these young families.DiscussionThe position paper advocates for comprehensive care for adolescent parents and their children. It recommends preventive measures such as proper sex education and access to contraception to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancies. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for specialized healthcare and support for teenage parents to address their unique challenges and improve outcomes for both parents and their children.

Background: Chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension pose significant health and economic challenges globally, and South Korea is no exception. Innovative digital health services have the potential to revolutionize chronic disease management by providing patients with real-time, personalized care and empowering them to take an active role in their health. There is a critical need to evaluate the effectiveness of such services. This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial that evaluates the effectiveness of an online-to-offline (O2O) digital healthcare service for patients with chronic diseases, specifically diabetes and hypertension, in Pyeongchang-gun. Methods: This study presents a comprehensive protocol for the assessment of an online-to-offline (O2O) digital health service model aimed at managing chronic diseases. The study consists of two main groups of participants: those with diabetes and those with hypertension. Participants are randomized into treatment and control arms for each group. The intervention includes personalized digital healthcare support, continuous data monitoring, and online education, with primary care provided by healthcare professionals. To evaluate the primary and secondary outcomes—such as HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, and cholesterol levels—the study applies a range of statistical methods. These include intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis to account for all randomized participants, regression models to estimate the treatment effect, and adjustments for baseline covariates to improve precision. Subgroup analyses will explore variations in treatment effects based on factors such as intervention intensity, comorbidity, and healthcare provider. Discussion: This protocol outlines a novel approach to evaluating the O2O digital health service model for chronic disease management. It offers insights into the nuanced effects of the intervention, highlighting the potential for tailoring future interventions for maximum benefit. By assessing its real-world effectiveness, this study can inform healthcare policies, expand the application scope of O2O service models, and identify additional chronic diseases that can benefit from digital health services. This research bridges the gap between theory and practice, contributing to evidence-based healthcare decision-making and improving patient outcomes in the era of digital health. Trial registration: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov of the US National Library of Medicine. The registration number is NCT06150508, and the registered date is 2023–11-29 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In healthcare research and practice, intervention and implementation fidelity represent the steadfast adherence to core components of research-supported interventions and the strategies employed for their implementation. Evaluating fidelity involves determining whether these core components were delivered as intended. Without fidelity data, the results of complex interventions cannot be meaningfully interpreted. Increasingly, the necessity for firmness and strict adherence by implementers and their organizations has been questioned, with calls for flexibility to accommodate contextual conditions. This shift makes contemporary fidelity a balancing act, requiring researchers to navigate various tensions. This debate paper explores these tensions, drawing on experiences from developing fidelity assessments in two ongoing effectiveness-implementation hybrid trials. Main body: First, given often scarce knowledge about the core components of complex interventions and implementation strategies, decisions about fidelity requirements involve a degree of subjective reasoning. Researchers should make these decisions transparent using theory or logic models. Second, because fidelity is context-dependent and applies to both interventions and implementation strategies, researchers must rethink fidelity concepts with every study while balancing firmness and flexibility. This is particularly crucial for hybrid studies, with their differing emphasis on intervention and implementation fidelity. Third, fidelity concepts typically focus on individual behaviors. However, since organizational and system factors also influence fidelity, there is a growing need to define fidelity criteria at these levels. Finally, as contemporary fidelity concepts prioritize flexible over firm adherence, building, evaluating, and maintaining fidelity in healthcare research has become more complex. This complexity calls for intensified efforts to expand the knowledge base for pragmatic and adaptive fidelity measurement in trial and routine healthcare settings. Conclusion: Contemporary conceptualizations of fidelity place greater demands on how fidelity is examined, necessitating the expansion of fidelity frameworks to include organizational and system levels, the service- and study-specific conceptualizations of intervention and implementation fidelity, and the development of pragmatic approaches for assessing fidelity in research and practice. Continuing to build knowledge on how to balance requirements for firmness and flexibility remains a crucial task within the field of implementation science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pioneered in the 1960s and defined by clinical practice guidelines in 1997, the CF Care Model has resulted in remarkable improvements in clinical outcomes, including increase in the median predicted age of survival to 61 years for people with CF born between 2019 and 2023 in the United States. Evolution of the CF Care Model is necessary due to improved survival and outcomes, development of CFTR modulators, and technology advances allowing telemedicine and home monitoring. • This position paper was developed by an interdisciplinary committee, including individuals with CF and their families, to provide guidance for routine visit frequency and maintenance health screening based on available evidence and expertise. • Reduced CF clinic visit frequency in children ≥ 6 years and adults to every 4–6 months can be considered when health is determined to be stable in all domains, including physical, mental and social determinants of health. • Spirometry is recommended at least twice yearly, the importance of sputum or throat cultures every 3 months is affirmed despite possible reduction in visit frequency, chest CT imaging is preferred over chest x-ray, and the re-assessment of fecal elastase after modulators is suggested especially in children. • Nutritional, CF related diabetes, cardiovascular, bone health and cancer screenings are reviewed. Mental health screening is affirmed and social determinants of health screening is encouraged. Specialized care is provided to people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) by interdisciplinary teams nested within the CF Foundation's accredited care center network. This network allows for standardization of the care model, implementation of clinical care guidelines, efficient communication, and outcomes reporting. Recent developments have impacted this care model. Increased access to CFTR modulator therapies has improved overall health for many, although not all pwCF. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid adoption of telemedicine and remote monitoring to ensure continuity of CF care. A collaboration of care providers, pwCF, and parent caregivers reevaluated key aspects of the current care model and considered potential modifications based on a widening range of needs. Available evidence was used to evaluate components of routine clinical practice and identify potential adaptations to care. The review included identification of patient characteristics warranting intensive monitoring, while embracing patient-centric care, and emphasizing the integration of telemedicine and at-home health technologies. Despite the changing landscape, the importance of the relationship between pwCF, their support system, and the care team was confirmed as a timeless and foundational aspect of the care model. Shared decision making, partnership, and coproduced care plans between pwCF and their CF care teams guide the best adaptations of the care model to support individual priorities and wellbeing. As health care advances and pwCF age, further research is needed to understand the impact of the care model on long-term health outcomes and to identify best practices that support pwCF to live longer healthier lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the challenge of integrating wearable activity trackers (WATs) into cardiovascular disease care. Despite evidence supporting the use of trackers for monitoring and promoting physical activity, implementation challenges persist in clinical settings. The paper emphasizes the lack of systematic, evidence-based implementation approaches for integrating trackers. It underscores the urgent need for stakeholder collaboration between clinicians, patients, implementation scientists, researchers, health and technology partners, and the use of proven implementation science methodologies. This is crucial for bridging the gap and ensuring effective translation of WATs into cardiovascular care, meeting the increasing demand from patients and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies have a variety of applications throughout the provision of health care, such as clinical documentation, diagnostic image processing, and clinical decision support. This position paper describes the American College of Physicians' (ACP) foundational positions and recommendations regarding the use of these technologies in the provision of health care. The foundation of these positions are principles in the ACP Ethics Manual. Internal medicine physicians are increasingly interacting with systems that implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. Some physicians and health care systems are even developing their own AI models, both within and outside of electronic health record (EHR) systems. These technologies have various applications throughout the provision of health care, such as clinical documentation, diagnostic image processing, and clinical decision support. With the growing availability of vast amounts of patient data and unprecedented levels of clinician burnout, the proliferation of these technologies is cautiously welcomed by some physicians. Others think it presents challenges to the patient–physician relationship and the professional integrity of physicians. These dispositions are understandable, given the "black box" nature of some AI models, for which specifications and development methods can be closely guarded or proprietary, along with the relative lagging or absence of appropriate regulatory scrutiny and validation. This American College of Physicians (ACP) position paper describes the College's foundational positions and recommendations regarding the use of AI- and ML-enabled tools and systems in the provision of health care. Many of the College's positions and recommendations, such as those related to patient-centeredness, privacy, and transparency, are founded on principles in the ACP Ethics Manual. They are also derived from considerations for the clinical safety and effectiveness of the tools as well as their potential consequences regarding health disparities. The College calls for more research on the clinical and ethical implications of these technologies and their effects on patient health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ireland's Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 has been heralded as a crucial step in alcohol control. However, the application of such legislation must necessarily involve recourse to the full means of enforcement and deterrence provided by the Act. This research, which is based on four Freedom of Information (FOI) Act requests, examined data on Environmental Health Service inspections and enforcement actions between 2019 and 2023, as they related to the 2018 Act. Although compliance rates have improved over time, they remain below 86% and appear to be plateauing. It is notable that in four full years of operation, no convictions for summary or indictable offences related to the Act were recorded, despite over 1900 inspections reporting non-compliance. More robust enforcement actions are appropriate to promote adherence to the Act. Authorized officers should ensure that all enforcement fully complies with the Act by publishing and maintaining a transparent register of actions taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a critically appraised paper that examines whether an internet-based intervention, with or without telephone support, is more effective than standard care for low back pain in primary care settings. Topics include the evaluation of digital interventions for pain management, the role of telephone support in enhancing outcomes, and the conclusion that this internet intervention does not outperform traditional care.

Background: The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) has long recognized and championed increasing diversity within the surgical workplace. SAGES initiated the Fundamentals of Leadership Development (FLD) Curriculum to address these needs and to provide surgeon leaders with the necessary tools and skills to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in surgical practice. In 2019, the American College of Surgeons issued a request for anti-racism initiatives which lead to the partnering of the two societies. The primary goal of FLD was to create the first surgeon-focused leadership curriculum dedicated to DEI. The rationale/development of this curriculum and its evaluation/feedback methods are detailed in this White Paper. Methods: The FLD curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary task force that included surgeons, education experts, and diversity consultants. The curriculum development followed the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model and utilized a problem-based learning approach. Competencies were identified, and specific learning objectives and assessments were developed. The implementation of the curriculum was designed to be completed in short intervals (virtual and in-person). Post-course surveys used the Kirkpatrick's model to evaluate the curriculum and provide valuable feedback. Results: The curriculum consisted of interactive online modules, an online discussion forum, and small group interactive sessions focused in three key areas: (1) increasing pipeline of underrepresented individuals in surgical leadership, (2) healthcare equity, and (3) conflict negotiation. By focusing on positive action items and utilizing a problem-solving approach, the curriculum aimed to provide a framework for surgical leaders to make meaningful changes in their institutions and organizations. Conclusion: The FLD curriculum is a novel leadership curriculum that provided surgeon leaders with the knowledge and tools to improve diversity in three areas: pipeline improvement, healthcare equity, and conflict negotiation. Future directions include using pilot course feedback to enhance curricular effectiveness and delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The increase in the number of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the disease burden, has prompted concerted efforts to improve healthcare, particularly outpatient services. In line with these attempts the Partnership-Based Nursing Practice Theoretical Framework for People with COPD was developed to guide outpatient nursing care. The principal approach of the framework is a ‘Dialogue’ with the patients, which has four components: ‘Establishing family involvement’, ‘Assisting living with symptoms’ and ‘Facilitating access to healthcare’, with the primary goal being ‘Enhancement of the health experience’. With new knowledge, research on the framework, and extensive experience in using it, a need arose to modify the framework to maximize its clinical utility. Design: Discursive paper. Methods: A narrative review and critical reflection was conducted to revise the nursing practice framework via selected literature search from 2012 to 2022, research on the framework, and the authors' reflections on the clinical experience of using the framework. Results: The nursing practice framework highlights capacities and possibilities that lie in the nurse–patient relationship. The overarching dialogue in the revised framework includes both patients and families. The action-related component ‘Assisting living with the disease’ was added to the framework to underscore the significance of attempting to understand what may lie ahead for patients and families. The other action-related components are as follows: ‘Assisting living with symptoms’ and ‘Facilitating access to healthcare’. The primary goal remains unchanged: enhancing the ‘Health experience’. Conclusion: Using the revised nursing practice framework in outpatient care may help to enhance the lives of people with COPD and their families, particularly at advanced stages of the disease. It may have transferability to other groups of people living with progressive diseases dealing with complicated health problems, and to reduce the usage of costly healthcare resources such as hospital care. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: The partnership-based nursing practice framework assumes an extension of conventional specialized respiratory service and embraces a comprehensive account for that which may influence the patient's health problems. This guidance, which holistically attends to patient-family needs of living with complicated and progressive health predicaments, is fundamental. It contributes to strengthening the disciplinary focus of nursing, interdisciplinary collaboration, person-family-centred quality nursing care and inspires research initiatives. Critical reflections and updates on nursing practice frameworks, such as this revision, are essential to advance nursing and healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a critically appraised study evaluating the effectiveness of an internet-based intervention, with or without telephone support, for managing low back pain in primary care settings. Topics include the comparison of digital interventions to traditional care, the role of remote support in pain management, and the findings that the internet intervention did not prove superior to usual care.

A variety of terms, such as "antiepileptic," "anticonvulsant," and "antiseizure" have been historically applied to medications for the treatment of seizure disorders. Terminology is important because using terms that do not accurately reflect the action of specific treatments may result in a misunderstanding of their effects and inappropriate use. The present International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) position paper used a Delphi approach to develop recommendations on English‐language terminology applicable to pharmacological agents currently approved for treating seizure disorders. There was consensus that these medications should be collectively named "antiseizure medications". This term accurately reflects their primarily symptomatic effect against seizures and reduces the possibility of health care practitioners, patients, or caregivers having undue expectations or an incorrect understanding of the real action of these medications. The term "antiseizure" to describe these agents does not exclude the possibility of beneficial effects on the course of the disease and comorbidities that result from the downstream effects of seizures, whenever these beneficial effects can be explained solely by the suppression of seizure activity. It is acknowledged that other treatments, mostly under development, can exert direct favorable actions on the underlying disease or its progression, by having "antiepileptogenic" or "disease‐modifying" effects. A more‐refined terminology to describe precisely these actions needs to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this position paper by the South African Academy of Family Physicians (SAAFPs) is to inform decision making on human resources for health policy in South Africa and the placement of family physicians (FPs) in the district health system. National policies have been marred by misunderstanding of the roles and contribution of FPs; and there is unhelpful variability in how FPs are positioned in the health services between provinces. In the private sector, medical aid schemes have discriminated against FPs by failing to remunerate them as specialists and to recognise their scope of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing examination table paper (ETP) use may help curb carbon emissions from health care. Six participants applied Glo Germ (DMA International) to their hands before a common physical examination (abdominal, cardiorespiratory, hip and knee) both with and without ETP. After each exam, UV light was shined on the exam table and photographs were taken. The number of hand touches on ETP-covered areas and uncovered areas were tallied and compared using t tests. Despite covering more surface area, participants touched areas without ETP significantly more than ETP-covered areas (P <.05). Despite its continued use, patients do not have much hand contact with ETP during common clinical examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Aim: To describe the co‐designing process of an online support programme with and for informal carers of people with heart failure. Design: A co‐design process built on core concepts and ideas embedded in co‐design methodology. Data sources: Our co‐design process included three phases involving 32 informal caregivers and 25 content creators; (1) Identification of topics and content through literature searches, focus group interviews and user group sessions; (2) Development of the online support programme and; (3) Refinement and finalization which included testing a paper prototype followed by testing the online version and testing and approval of the final version of the support programme. Outcomes: The co‐design process resulted in a support programme consisting of 15 different modules relevant to informal carers, delivered on a National Health Portal. Conclusion: Co‐design is an explorative process where researchers need to balance a range of potentially conflicting factors and to ensure that the end users are genuinely included in the process. Relevance to clinical practice: Emphasizing equal involvement of end users (e.g. carers or patients) in the design and development of healthcare interventions aligns with contemporary ideas of person‐centred care and provides a valuable learning opportunity for those involved. Furthermore, a co‐designed online support programme has the capacity to be both accessible and meet end users' information and support needs, thereby optimizing their self‐care abilities. Additionally, an online support programme provides the opportunity to address current challenges regarding scarce resources and the lack of healthcare personnel. Reporting methods: Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). Patient or public contribution: Both informal carers and content creators were involved in developing the support programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landmark 2016 Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Technologies International Society (MiECTiS) position paper promoted the creation of a common language between cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists and perfusionists which led to the development of a stable framework that paved the way for the advancement of minimal invasive perfusion and related technologies. The current expert consensus document offers an update in areas for which new evidence has emerged. In the light of published literature, modular minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) has been established as a safe and effective perfusion technique that increases biocompatibility and ultimately ensures perfusion safety in all adult cardiac surgical procedures, including re-operations, aortic arch and emergency surgery. Moreover, it was recognized that incorporation of MiECC strategies advances minimal invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) by combining reduced surgical trauma with minimal physiologic derangements. Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Technologies International Society considers MiECC as a physiologically-based multidisciplinary strategy for performing cardiac surgery that is associated with significant evidence-based clinical benefit that has accrued over the years. Widespread adoption of this technology is thus strongly advocated to obtain additional healthcare benefit while advancing patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the last decade, the emergence and spread of personalized medicine (PM) have defined a substantial revolution in healthcare. In principle, healthcare system sustainability is challenged by the investments required for research and development, as well as the adoption of PM techniques in routine clinical care. The "Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (IC2PerMed) EU-funded project aims to integrate China into the "International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (ICPerMed). IC2PerMed aims to align the EU and China's research agendas in this field to enable a swift development of approaches in the EU and China with strong leverage upon EU-Chinese collaborations. Methods: Within this project, we first mapped relevant policies on PM in both the EU and China, and then we involved European and Chinese experts in PM in workshops and Delphi surveys in order to identify relevant priorities for the implementation of PM in sustainable healthcare. Results: As a result of this process, we identified nine overarching priorities, each addressing specific aspects of the sustainability of healthcare systems and PM implementation, with the main goal of supporting policymakers in integrating PM approaches in the EU and China. Discussion/conclusion: The implementation of PM in health systems is appealing in terms of improved accuracy in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of disease, as well as reduction of the side effects resulting from inefficient use of drugs. Research, development, and implementation of needed techniques require time and resources that can slow the adoption of PM in healthcare systems. The nine priorities we identified address some of the most critical points, trying to lay the foundations for a comprehensive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I n the context of an adequate health care organization, the figure of the neurologist as an emergency operator (in the emergency room—ER—and/or in a dedicated outpatient clinic) is crucial for an effective functional connection with the territory (and therefore with general practitioners), a reduction in inappropriate ER accesses, specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to neurological emergencies in the ER and a reduction in nonspecific or even unnecessary instrumental investigations. In this position paper of the Italian Association of Emergency Neurology (ANEU: Associazione Neurologia dell'Emergenza Urgenza), these issues are addressed, and two important organizational solutions are proposed: The Neuro Fast Track, as an outpatient organization approach strongly linked to general practitioners and non-neurological specialists and dedicated to cases with deferrable urgency (to be assessed within 72 h) The identification of an emergency neurologist, who is engaged in ER assessments as a consultant and involved in the management of the semi-intensive care unit of the emergency neurology and the stroke unit according to an appropriate rotation, as well as in consultations for patients with neurological emergencies in inpatient wards The possibility of computerizing the screening of patients with deferrable urgency in the Neuro Fast Track is described. A dedicated app represents an important tool that can facilitate the identification of patients for whom deferred assessment is appropriate, the scheduling of neurological examinations and reductions in the booking time through a more rapid approach to specialist assessment and subsequent investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is recognised as one of the most challenging global events of the twenty-first Century. The detrimental impact of the pandemic resulted in high rates of infection, morbidity, and mortality, with health-care workers firmly positioned on the frontline of this unparalleled international crisis. An emerging literature detailing the impact of COVID-19 on health-care practitioners identifies high levels of depression, anxiety, and distress. Accordingly, there are calls for the implementation of effective interventions to tackle the impending spectre of psychological morbidities and staff burnout. While it is important to explore new approaches, it is also valuable to examine how existing strategies, such as reflective practice, can be repurposed to specifically address practitioner well-being. This requires a reimagining of reflective practice and a reimagining of the reflective practice contexts in which reflective activity occurs. This paper presents The Reflective Practice Integrative Framework, which illustrates how reflective practice can be used to address the complex aims of supporting effective patient care, while also facilitating practitioner well-being. The Reflective Organisational Learning Framework is also presented which can be used to develop effective reflective practice environments through single, double, and/or triple loop learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In people with bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, do feedback-guided exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen hasten return to work, reduce healthcare usage and improve clinical recovery more than a home exercise program prescribed on paper? Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. Seventy-four workers with limited functional ability due to bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers. Participants in the experimental and control groups received the same in-patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Participants in the experimental group received a home exercise program using the ReHand tablet application, which guides exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen with feedback, monitoring and progression. Participants in the control group were prescribed an evidence-based home exercise program on paper. The primary outcome was the time taken to return to work. Secondary outcomes included: healthcare usage (number of clinical appointments); and functional ability, pain intensity, and grip and pinch strength 2 and 4 weeks after randomisation. Compared with the control group, the experimental group: returned to work sooner (MD –18 days, 95% CI –33 to –3); required fewer physiotherapy sessions (MD –7.4, 95% CI –13.1 to –1.6), rehabilitation consultations (MD –1.9, 95% CI –3.6 to 0.3) and plastic surgery consultations (MD –3.6, 95% CI –6.3 to –0.9); and had better short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength. In people with bone and soft-tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, prescribing a feedback-guided home exercise program using a tablet-based application instead of a conventional program on paper hastened return to work and improved the short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength, while reducing the number of required healthcare appointments. ACTRN12619000344190 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical care delivered via telemedicine has become an accepted mode of health care delivery for many patients. There is an urgent need to understand quality of care in the telemedicine environment. This position paper presents 6 recommendations to ensure appropriate use of performance measures to evaluate the quality of clinical care that incorporates telemedicine. There has been an exponential growth in the use of telemedicine services to provide clinical care, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical care delivered via telemedicine has become a major and accepted method of health care delivery for many patients. There is an urgent need to understand quality of care in the telemedicine environment. This American College of Physicians position paper presents 6 recommendations to ensure the appropriate use of performance measures to evaluate quality of clinical care provided in the telemedicine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the release of a white paper by the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), summarizing findings from 5 global surveys on oral health conducted between 2019 and 2023. Topics discussed include toothpaste and electric toothbrush recommendations, oral-systemic links, sustainable dentistry, and oral hygiene instruction practices, revealing gaps between evidence-based knowledge and clinical decision making among dental hygienists.

The Healthcare Nutrition Council (HNC) represents manufacturers of enteral nutrition formulas and oral nutrition supplements, including those categorized as medical foods and parenteral nutrition. HNC member companies, Abbott's Nutrition Division, Nestlé Health Science, and Nutricia North America, a subsidiary of Danone S.A., manufacture a majority of the medical foods consumed in the United States. HNC is proposing a modernized interpretation of the medical food framework to reflect the evolution of nutrition science and health care. The medical food category was first defined in 1988 as part of the Orphan Drug Act. Since then, the scientific community's understanding of nutrition and the role it can play in disease management has progressed. HNC believes that a patient-centric approach is needed to foster research and innovation and to position medical foods as a viable solution in the dietary management of disease. HNC proposes that distinctive nutritional requirements refer to the clinical need for a specific nutritional intake (compared with the intake of healthy populations), which may exist by reason of abnormal physiologic manifestation or physical impairment associated with a disease or condition. The dietary management of these diseases and conditions results in clinically meaningful improvements, including but not limited to nutritional status, health outcomes, or quality of life. HNC believes that abnormal physiologic manifestation or physical impairment would include a limited, impaired, or disturbed capacity to ingest, digest, absorb, metabolize, or excrete ordinary food or certain nutrients or metabolites or other medically determined requirements for nutrients or other food substances of biological value. HNC recommends our position be considered as we build consensus across the industry. We request that the Food and Drug Administration modify and codify the current definition to reflect this. Patients and the health care system will benefit from a strong regulatory interpretation of the medical foods framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-credentials are an element of the European Skills Agenda 2020. This five-year plan aims to develop improved applied and broader work skills in response to system demands from employers, industry and communities. Within the labour market, employees increasingly want to obtain new skills-based qualifications in a relatively short period of time. Micro-credentials, as a form of lifelong learning, in the health care sector provide significant opportunities for upskilling the workforce in response to rapid changes in health care and service delivery. Moreover, micro-credentials have also been introduced in the context of undergraduate and postgraduate education within the process of accelerated digitalisation during the pandemic. However, despite its relevance, there is limited discussion about the implications and challenges of micro-credentials in the healthcare sciences. According to the findings that emerged from a review of policy documents and scientific papers, a reflective exercise has been conducted to debate the possibilities and challenges of emerging education based on micro-credentials within health care education and employment. Health care delivery is multidisciplinary and statutorily regulated to protect citizens. In such a complex sector, developing a micro-credential friendly ecosystem will require cooperation between various stakeholders if its potential is to be effectively realised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keeping up with the latest developments in the point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) literature is challenging, as with any area of medicine. Our group of POCUS experts has selected 10 influential papers from the past 12 months and provided a short summary of each. We hope to provide emergency physicians, intensivists, and other acute care providers with a succinct update concerning some key areas of ultrasound interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to outline the initial pilot use of the client complexity matrix (CCM), an outcome measure developed for an NHS Adult Intellectual Disabilities Intensive Support Team (IST) in the West Midlands of England. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed method approach was used to report the results and evaluate the use of the CCM within this IST. The CCM was trialled for six months between January 2022 and June 2022. CCM scores pre and post IST intervention were analysed via t-test, and qualitative feedback from clinicians is detailed. Findings: Analysis suggests the CCM captures service success showing a significant decrease in complexity and risk post-intervention. Qualitative comments from clinicians were generally positive; however, there were requested changes regarding specific presentations, use of labels/language and for a digital version. Research limitations/implications: The tool is not co-constructed with the client. Because of this IST's caseload, the sample size was small. Only one clinician was asked to complete the CCM pre and post intervention. Future use of the measure will encourage two clinicians to complete the measure to evidence its inter-rater reliability. Each client's specific presentation was not explicitly analysed here. Practical implications: The CCM will be updated using the feedback from clinicians and from the peer review process. Research that examines the generalisability of this measure to other IST services would be beneficial. Originality/value: The CCM appears to fill a gap in outcome measurements for this IST service which looks at breadth and depth of client complexity and risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission Horizon 2020 project—PreventIT—evaluated two approaches to delivering Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) programs for maintaining older adults' physical function: the paper-based adapted LiFE and mobile health device delivered enhanced LiFE. A self-reported method was used to measure users' monthly adherence over 12 months. This analysis aimed to explore young seniors' adherence patterns between enhanced LiFE and adapted LiFE groups. Results showed that adherence level decreased with time in both groups. The enhanced LiFE group had slightly higher adherence than the adapted LiFE group during most of the 12 months. However, the overall adherence levels were not significantly different during either intervention or follow-up periods. Monthly self-reported adherence measurement can help to understand users' adherence comprehensively. The comparable adherence levels between both groups indicate mobile health could be an alternative to delivering home-based physical activity for young seniors. However, this feasibility study was not powered to detect differences between groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a strategy that aims to standardise clinical assessment and treatment of sick children. In this article, we examine the aspirations and unfolding of introducing a revised IMCI strategy in Bangladesh. We carried out ethnographic fieldwork among project implementors and in IMCI health service delivery settings in Kushtia district, including 36 semi-structured interviews with policymakers, programmers and IMCI service providers. We focused on the IMCI register, a paper-based technology designed to guide health service providers to enact standardised treatment and decision-making during healthcare encounters. During its design, policymakers and programmers aspired to produce a register that would be simple to use and guide health service providers to enact care uniformly. However, simplicity was muddled by the range of agendas and negotiations around what should be standardised and how. In health facility settings, despite national approval, the register's legitimacy was ambiguous as it was perceived as a materialisation of an external project, and its introduction did little to reconfigure how providers enacted health care. However, it operated as a powerful material to make claims about the types of care that matter, as providers saw the work of completing the register as compromising their ability to do the highly valued work of interfacing with patients. Moreover, the register became a tool to negotiate and index intra-institutional hierarchies. Rather than pointing to project failure, these findings reflect the nature of technologies, which are always reconfigured within the systems and social worlds in which they are embedded. • Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) aims to standardise the care for children. • Adapting the IMCI register was a process of value negotiation among national actors. • In facilities, the register did not standardise care but was still important. • Among providers, the register was perceived as a burden and increasing workload. • The register operated as a tool to negotiate and index hierarchies among providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with severe mental illness (e.g. psychosis, bipolar disorder) experience poor oral health compared to the general population as shown by more decayed, missing and filled teeth and a higher prevalence of periodontal disease. Attending dental services allows treatment of oral health problems and support for prevention. However, people with severe mental illness face multiple barriers to attending routine dental appointments and often struggle to access care. Link work interventions use non-clinical support staff to afford vulnerable populations the capacity, opportunity, and motivation to navigate use of services. The authors have co-developed with service users a link work intervention for supporting people with severe mental illness to access routine dental appointments. The Mouth Matters in Mental Health Study aims to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention within the context of a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) measuring outcomes related to the recruitment of participants, completion of assessments, and adherence to the intervention. The trial will closely monitor the safety of the intervention and trial procedures. Methods: A feasibility RCT with 1:1 allocation to two arms: treatment as usual (control) or treatment as usual plus a link work intervention (treatment). The intervention consists of six sessions with a link worker over 9 months. Participants will be adults with severe mental illness receiving clinical input from secondary care mental health service and who have not attended a planned dental appointment in the past 3 years. Assessments will take place at baseline and after 9 months. The target recruitment total is 84 participants from across three NHS Trusts. A subset of participants and key stakeholders will complete qualitative interviews to explore the acceptability of the intervention and trial procedures. Discussion: The link work intervention aims to improve dental access and reduce oral health inequalities in people with severe mental illness. There is a dearth of research relating to interventions that attempt to improve oral health outcomes in people with mental illness and the collected feasibility data will offer insights into this important area. Trial registration: The trial was preregistered on ISRCTN (ISRCTN13650779) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05545228). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These 12 factors include: insufficient/incorrect patient education, insufficient/incorrect patient assessment, lack of consultation, insufficient/incorrect OTC product recommendation, discontinued medications, improper storage, expired medications, incorrect dosing (subtherapeutic/overdose), missing medications, drug-drug interactions/adverse drug reactions, therapeutic duplication, and inappropriate treatment duration. [Extracted from the article]

In this White Paper, we outline recommendations from the perspective of health psychology and behavioural science, addressing three research gaps: (1) What methods in the health psychology research toolkit can be best used for developing and evaluating digital health tools? (2) What are the most feasible strategies to reuse digital health tools across populations and settings? (3) What are the main advantages and challenges of sharing (openly publishing) data, code, intervention content and design features of digital health tools? We provide actionable suggestions for researchers joining the continuously growing Open Digital Health movement, poised to revolutionise health psychology research and practice in the coming years. This White Paper is positioned in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring how digital health tools have rapidly gained popularity in 2020–2022, when world-wide health promotion and treatment efforts rapidly shifted from face-to-face to remote delivery. This statement is written by the Directors of the not-for-profit Open Digital Health initiative (n = 6), Experts attending the European Health Psychology Society Synergy Expert Meeting (n = 17), and the initiative consultant, following a two-day meeting (19–20th August 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among the various components of disaster management during unexpected accidents, health care systems, especially hospitals, play the most important role in providing primary care services in the initial phase of the disaster. Health services in natural and humanmade disasters are the main cause of human survival. Accidents and disasters always have a significant impact on the safety, general health, and welfare of the affected population. Materials and Methods: In this paper, by collecting relevant data and their analyses in SPSS, we reviewed the response of the headquarters of the operation command of Alborz University of Medical Sciences to the Kermanshah earthquake in November 2017. Results: According to the obtained results, 25-27 years old and 80 years old groups had the highest number of casualties to receive relief services. Based on the results of the analysis in SPSS, the number of injured men who received health care services was higher than women (38 men vs. 37 women). Madani Hospital admitted the highest number of victims by accepting 54 (72%) injured people. Based on our analysis, multiple trauma had the highest prevalence (24%) among injured people, then trauma to the foot (9%), followed by the trauma of the lower back and hand fractures (6.8%). Of the total 75 injured people transferred to the hospital, 39 (52%) underwent the operation. One case was sent to a hospital in Tehran Province, and 7 (9%) casualties were settled temporarily. There was a case of amputation. One patient was re-hospitalized. Finally, 4 (5%) of the injured people left the hospital. Conclusion: Regarding the services provided, it can be acknowledged that the headquarters of the Crisis Operation of the Alborz University of Medical Sciences (in spite of its new establishment) had an excellent performance regarding the type and amount of the services provided to the injured people in the field of risk management of accidents/disasters in Kermanshah earthquake in November 2017. Some of the positive and essential measures of the headquarters of crisis operation command were planning operations; triage at the airport; transfer of the injured people; coordination with the hospitals; declaration of yellow status to all medical centers; use of the full capacities of the Medical Sciences University; assignment of beds and the issue of surge capacity of health centers; communication with organizations, centers, and hospitals affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has a long-standing commitment to improving the health of all Americans and opposes any form of discrimination in the delivery of health care services. ACP is committed to working toward fully understanding and supporting the unique needs of the incarcerated population and eliminating health disparities for these persons. In this position paper, ACP offers recommendations to policymakers and administrators to improve the health and well-being of persons incarcerated in adult correctional facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide discourse regarding awareness of institutional racism, from a non-Indigenous, Australian nursing student's perspective. The discussion has a focus on the presence of institutional racism in the Australian healthcare system, its impact on the health of First Nation Peoples and a commitment to ensuring culturally safe practice. It will be argued that institutional racism is pervasive in healthcare as a consequence of three factors: exclusion of First Nations Peoples from governance roles, inherent racism impacting on socio-cultural treatment bias, and institutional racism influencing key relationships in healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency for climate action is recognized by international government and healthcare organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO). Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution negatively impact all life on earth. All populations are impacted but not equally; the most vulnerable are at the highest risk, an inequity further exacerbated by differences in access to healthcare globally.The delivery of healthcare exacerbates the planetary health crisis through greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to combustion of fossil fuels for medical equipment production and operation, creation of medical and non-medical waste, and contamination of water supplies. As representatives of radiology societies from across the globe who work closely with industry, and both governmental and non-governmental leaders in multiple capacities, we advocate together for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to the way we deliver care by further engaging our members, policymakers, industry partners, and our patients. Simultaneous challenges, including global health disparities, resource allocation, and access to care, must inform these efforts.Climate literacy should be increasingly added to radiology training programs. More research is required to understand and measure the environmental impact of radiological services and inform mitigation, adaptation and monitoring efforts. Deeper collaboration with industry partners is necessary to support innovations in the supply chain, energy utilization, and circular economy. Many solutions have been proposed and are already available, but we must understand and address barriers to the implementation of current and future sustainable innovations. Finally, there is a compelling need to partner with patients, to ensure that trust in the excellence of clinical care is maintained during the transition to sustainable radiology.By fostering a culture of global cooperation and rapid sharing of solutions amongst the broader imaging community, we can transform radiological practice to mitigate its environmental impact, adapt and develop resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, and simultaneously improve access to care.QuestionWhat actions can professional societies take to improve the environmental sustainability of radiology?FindingsBetter understanding of resource usage in radiology is needed; action is required to address regional and global disparities in access to care which stand to be exacerbated by climate change.Clinical relevanceRadiological societies need to advocate for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to mitigate the environmental impact of radiological practice. Research and education, as well as adaptation and resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, must be prioritized while simultaneously improving access to care.Key Points: The urgency for climate action is recognized by international government and healthcare organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO). Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution negatively impact all life on earth. All populations are impacted but not equally; the most vulnerable are at the highest risk, an inequity further exacerbated by differences in access to healthcare globally.The delivery of healthcare exacerbates the planetary health crisis through greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to combustion of fossil fuels for medical equipment production and operation, creation of medical and non-medical waste, and contamination of water supplies. As representatives of radiology societies from across the globe who work closely with industry, and both governmental and non-governmental leaders in multiple capacities, we advocate together for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to the way we deliver care by further engaging our members, policymakers, industry partners, and our patients. Simultaneous challenges, including global health disparities, resource allocation, and access to care, must inform these efforts.Climate literacy should be increasingly added to radiology training programs. More research is required to understand and measure the environmental impact of radiological services and inform mitigation, adaptation and monitoring efforts. Deeper collaboration with industry partners is necessary to support innovations in the supply chain, energy utilization, and circular economy. Many solutions have been proposed and are already available, but we must understand and address barriers to the implementation of current and future sustainable innovations. Finally, there is a compelling need to partner with patients, to ensure that trust in the excellence of clinical care is maintained during the transition to sustainable radiology.By fostering a culture of global cooperation and rapid sharing of solutions amongst the broader imaging community, we can transform radiological practice to mitigate its environmental impact, adapt and develop resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, and simultaneously improve access to care.QuestionWhat actions can professional societies take to improve the environmental sustainability of radiology?FindingsBetter understanding of resource usage in radiology is needed; action is required to address regional and global disparities in access to care which stand to be exacerbated by climate change.Clinical relevanceRadiological societies need to advocate for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to mitigate the environmental impact of radiological practice. Research and education, as well as adaptation and resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, must be prioritized while simultaneously improving access to care.Graphical Abstract: The urgency for climate action is recognized by international government and healthcare organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO). Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution negatively impact all life on earth. All populations are impacted but not equally; the most vulnerable are at the highest risk, an inequity further exacerbated by differences in access to healthcare globally.The delivery of healthcare exacerbates the planetary health crisis through greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to combustion of fossil fuels for medical equipment production and operation, creation of medical and non-medical waste, and contamination of water supplies. As representatives of radiology societies from across the globe who work closely with industry, and both governmental and non-governmental leaders in multiple capacities, we advocate together for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to the way we deliver care by further engaging our members, policymakers, industry partners, and our patients. Simultaneous challenges, including global health disparities, resource allocation, and access to care, must inform these efforts.Climate literacy should be increasingly added to radiology training programs. More research is required to understand and measure the environmental impact of radiological services and inform mitigation, adaptation and monitoring efforts. Deeper collaboration with industry partners is necessary to support innovations in the supply chain, energy utilization, and circular economy. Many solutions have been proposed and are already available, but we must understand and address barriers to the implementation of current and future sustainable innovations. Finally, there is a compelling need to partner with patients, to ensure that trust in the excellence of clinical care is maintained during the transition to sustainable radiology.By fostering a culture of global cooperation and rapid sharing of solutions amongst the broader imaging community, we can transform radiological practice to mitigate its environmental impact, adapt and develop resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, and simultaneously improve access to care.QuestionWhat actions can professional societies take to improve the environmental sustainability of radiology?FindingsBetter understanding of resource usage in radiology is needed; action is required to address regional and global disparities in access to care which stand to be exacerbated by climate change.Clinical relevanceRadiological societies need to advocate for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to mitigate the environmental impact of radiological practice. Research and education, as well as adaptation and resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, must be prioritized while simultaneously improving access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While we have the tools to achieve this goal, the persistent barriers to healthcare services experienced by too many individuals will need to be addressed to make significant progress and improve the health and quality of life of all people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The necessary structural changes require actions by federal, state, and local policymakers and range from ensuring universal access to healthcare services to optimizing care delivery to ensuring a robust and diverse infectious diseases and HIV workforce. In this article, we outlines 10 key principles for policy reforms that, if advanced, would make ending the HIV epidemic in the United States possible and could have much more far-reaching effects in improving the health of our nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the potential for a system to be a co-author on an academic paper based on the criteria proposed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). We used a third generation generative pretrained transformer (GPT-3) to write a review paper on the topic of its choice: The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function. The system was asked to fulfill the four main criteria for co-authorship as recommended by ICMJE, which includes contributions to the conception or design of the work; drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published; and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Our results showed that the system was able to fulfill the criteria, with significant difficulties with accurate and reliable referencing. We also explored the ethical implications of using AI systems for research and found that it is important to take a cautious approach when considering its use for scientific authorship. This case study provides a methodology for further investigations into the possibilities and limitations of automated writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Study participants and patients often perceive (long) questionnaires as burdensome. In addition, paper-based questionnaires are prone to errors such as (unintentionally) skipping questions or filling in a wrong type of answer. Such errors can be prevented with the emergence of mobile questionnaire apps. Objective: This study aimed to validate an innovative way to measure the quality of life using a mobile app based on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. This validation study compared the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire requested by a mobile app with the gold standard paper-based version of the EQ-5D-5L. Methods: This was a randomized, crossover, and open study. The main criteria for participation were participants should be aged =18 years, healthy at their own discretion, in possession of a smartphone with at least Android version 4.1 or higher or iOS version 9 or higher, digitally skilled in downloading the mobile app, and able to read and answer questionnaires in Dutch. Participants were recruited by a market research company that divided them into 2 groups balanced for age, gender, and education. Each participant received a digital version of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire via a mobile app and the EQ-5D-5L paper-based questionnaire by postal mail. In the mobile app, participants received, for 5 consecutive days, 1 question in the morning and 1 question in the afternoon; as such, all questions were asked twice (at time point 1 [App T1] and time point 2 [App T2]). The primary outcomes were the correlations between the answers (scores) of each EQ-5D-5L question answered via the mobile app compared with the paper-based questionnaire to assess convergent validity. Results: A total of 255 participants (healthy at their own discretion), 117 (45.9%) men and 138 (54.1%) women in the age range of 18 to 64 years, completed the study. To ensure randomization, the measured demographics were checked and compared between groups. To compare the results of the electronic and paper-based questionnaires, polychoric correlation analysis was performed. All questions showed a high correlation (0.64-0.92; P<.001) between the paper-based and the mobile app-based questions at App T1 and App T2. The scores and their variance remained similar over the questionnaires, indicating no clear difference in the answer tendency. In addition, the correlation between the 2 app-based questionnaires was high (>0.73; P<.001), illustrating a high test-retest reliability, indicating it to be a reliable replacement for the paper-based questionnaire. Conclusions: This study indicates that the mobile app is a valid tool for measuring the quality of life and is as reliable as the paper-based version of the EQ-5D-5L, while reducing the response burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe and discuss clinical strategies for nurses working in partnership with substitute decision‐makers for people living with advanced dementia. Background: By providing person‐centred care to patients living with advanced dementia, nurses are positioned to work in partnership with substitute decision‐makers who make healthcare decisions related to advanced care. Because the experience of being substitute decision‐makers is complex and stressful, nurses need skillsets for working in partnership with substitute decision‐makers. Design: In this discursive paper, an innovative framework for working in partnership with substitute decision‐makers is proposed. Method: Evidence‐based findings from a systematic review provided five domain foci for the partnership framework. In each domain, two clinical strategies were discursively proposed. Clinical strategies were hypothesised from research findings and insights from the authors' nursing experiences. Then, topical literature was searched, and findings were used to support the discursively argued strategies. Discussion: To deal with complexities and reduce stress for substitute decision‐makers, an innovative Nurse–Substitute Decision‐Maker Partnership Framework for use in the context of advanced dementia is proposed and discussed. The partnership framework consists of five domains: Building trust, Exploring emotions, Translating quality of life, Encouraging proactivity and Negotiating families. Within these domains, ten strategies to support the practices of clinical nurses to work in partnership with substitute decision‐makers are discussed. Relevance to Clinical Practice: In the framework, the ten clinical nursing strategies are designed to provide targeted care to substitute decision‐makers in areas that are known to cause complexity and stress to them. The Nurse–Substitute Decision‐Maker Partnership Framework has been designed to improve nurse–substitute decision‐maker partnerships and reduce the stress experienced by substitute decision‐makers as they work through the complexities associated with advanced dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A large part of the population in Germany makes use of naturopathic, complementary and integrative medical treatments. There are now numerous scientific studies that provide evidence of efficacy for certain indications. At German medical faculties, selected procedures and their application are taught within the cross-sectoral unit called QB 12 and some elective courses, with a focus on specific aspects are offered. So far, however, there has been no structured curriculum that longitudinally anchors teaching across medical studies and enables all students to consider naturopathic and complementary medical options for patient care later on and to integrate them effectively into the diagnostic and treatment process. Objective: The aim of this position paper is to show the relevance of this topic for medical education, to clarify terminology and to present core competencies and possible implementation options for training. Method: The Integrative Medicine and Perspective Pluralism Committee of the German Association for Medical Education developed this position paper in a multi-stage consensual process, in cooperation with the Forum of University Work Groups on Naturopathic Treatment and Complementary Medicine. Results: First, different umbrella terms were discussed and an existing definition of integrative medicine and health was chosen for subsequent use. Building on this step, the status of education and its scientific foundation in Germany was considered in an international context. In the next step, a competency profile for medical training, consisting of seven areas of competency, was developed and described in detail with regard to naturopathic, complementary and integrative medicine. Implementation options were identified using possible starting points in the curriculum and using established examples of best practice. Conclusion: Despite different priorities at each faculty, it was possible to find an agreement on the development of competencies and anchoring them in medical education on the basis of a common definition of terms. Currently, the implementation in the mandatory and elective areas is very heterogeneous. As part of the current revision of the Medical Licensure Act, there are many possible starting points for the integration of naturopathic and complementary medical teaching content, especially in interprofessional and general practice courses. The implementation and accompanying research of targeted teaching settings should lay the foundations for a long-term and binding integration into medical education. Overall, it is clear that medical education in the field of naturopathy and complementary and integrative medicine has the potential to develop comprehensive core medical competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiology as a specialty has been enormously successful since its beginnings, moving over time from an adjunct to clinical decision-making to a crucial component of multidisciplinary patient care. However, this increased centrality of radiology and reliance on our services carries within it dangers, prominent among them being the danger of our being viewed as deliverers of a commodity, and the risk of our becoming overwhelmed by increasing workload, unable to interact sufficiently with patients and referrers due to pressure of work. With this White Paper, the Board of Directors of the European Society of Radiology (ESR) seeks to briefly explain the position of the radiologist in the modern healthcare environment, considering our duties and contributions as doctors, protectors, communicators, innovators, scientists and teachers. This statement is intended to serve as a summary of the breadth of our responsibilities and roles, and to assist radiologists in countering misunderstanding of who we are and what we do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]