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BackgroundWith the rise of computer science and artificial intelligence, analyzing large data sets promises enormous potential in gaining insights for developing and improving evidence-based health interventions. One such intervention is the counseling strategy motivational interviewing (MI), which has been found effective in improving a wide range of health-related behaviors. Despite the simplicity of its principles, MI can be a challenging skill to learn and requires expertise to apply effectively. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the performance of artificial intelligence models in classifying MI behavior and explore the feasibility of using these models in online helplines for mental health as an automated support tool for counselors in clinical practice. MethodsWe used a coded data set of 253 MI counseling chat sessions from the 113 Suicide Prevention helpline. With 23,982 messages coded with the MI Sequential Code for Observing Process Exchanges codebook, we trained and evaluated 4 machine learning models and 1 deep learning model to classify client- and counselor MI behavior based on language use. ResultsThe deep learning model BERTje outperformed all machine learning models, accurately predicting counselor behavior (accuracy=0.72, area under the curve [AUC]=0.95, Cohen κ=0.69). It differentiated MI congruent and incongruent counselor behavior (AUC=0.92, κ=0.65) and evocative and nonevocative language (AUC=0.92, κ=0.66). For client behavior, the model achieved an accuracy of 0.70 (AUC=0.89, κ=0.55). The model’s interpretable predictions discerned client change talk and sustain talk, counselor affirmations, and reflection types, facilitating valuable counselor feedback. ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate that artificial intelligence techniques can accurately classify MI behavior, indicating their potential as a valuable tool for enhancing MI proficiency in online helplines for mental health. Provided that the data set size is sufficiently large with enough training samples for each behavioral code, these methods can be trained and applied to other domains and languages, offering a scalable and cost-effective way to evaluate MI adherence, accelerate behavioral coding, and provide therapists with personalized, quick, and objective feedback.

Background: The success of battle against COVID 19 depends on public adherence towards infection control measures, which is greatly affected by their knowledge, attitude, and practices towards the COVID 19 pandemic. Objectives: Among the residents in the rural field practice area of a teaching hospital in Mangaluru:- 1) To assess knowledge, attitude, practice regarding preventive measures of COVID 19. 2) To assess stigma and risk perception of COVID 19. Methodology: A community based cross sectional study, by house-to-house visit was conducted among 323 participants residing in the rural field practice area of A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangaluru. Multistage sampling was adopted. Details regarding socio-demographic characteristics; knowledge, attitude, practice regarding preventive measures of COVID 19; risk perception and stigmatizing behavior was collected. Analysis was done using SPSS trial version 28. Results: 61% of participants were male; 27% had primary education and 33.1% were unemployed. Mass media was the most common source of COVID 19 related information. The knowledge of preventive measures of COVID 19 was good in 97.5% of the participants. 98.1% had positive attitude towards the preventive measures of COVID 19. The practice of preventive measures of COVID 19 good in 63.5%. 87.6% had taken two dose of COVID 19 vaccine. Low risk perception was seen in 96% and 83.6% had low stigmatizing behavior towards COVID 19. Gender was significant predictor of attitude scores. Age, gender, educational status, occupation status, type of family was the significant predictor of practices scores. Conclusion: Majority of the participants had good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice of preventive measures of COVID 19. As a result of effective IEC effort by different authorities is reaching rural part of India, people are aware of the preventive measures, has positive attitude about it and are practicing them.

Abstract Background Preventatives measures to combat the spread of COVID− 19 have introduced social isolation, loneliness and financial stress. This study aims to identify whether the COVID-19 pandemic is related to changes in suicide-related problems for help seekers on a suicide prevention helpline. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using chat data from a suicide prevention helpline in the Netherlands. The natural language processing method BERTopic was used to detect common topics in messages from December 1, 2019 until June 1, 2020 (N = 8589). Relative topic occurrence was compared before and during the lock down starting on March 23, 2020. The observed changes in topic usage were likewise analyzed for male and female, younger and older help seekers and help seekers living alone. Results The topic of the COVID-19 pandemic saw an 808% increase in relative occurrence after the lockdown. Furthermore, the results show that help seeker increased mention of thanking the counsellor (+ 15%), and male and young help seekers were grateful for the conversation (+ 45% and + 32% respectively). Coping methods such as watching TV (− 21%) or listening to music (− 15%) saw a decreased mention. Plans for suicide (− 9%) and plans for suicide at a specific location (− 15%) also saw a decreased mention. However, plans for suicide were mentioned more frequently by help seekers over 30 years old (+ 11%) or who live alone and (+ 52%). Furthermore, male help seekers talked about contact with emergency care (+ 43%) and panic and anxiety (+ 24%) more often. Negative emotions (+ 22%) and lack of self-confidence (+ 15%) were mentioned more often by help seekers under 30, and help seekers over 30 saw an increased mention of substance abuse (+ 9%). Conclusion While mentions of distraction, social interaction and plans for suicide decreased, expressions of gratefulness for the helpline increased, highlighting the importance of contact to help seekers during the lockdown. Help seekers under 30, male or who live alone, showed changes that negatively related to suicidality and should be monitored closely.

Summary: General presentation: Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a universal problem. With the increase in the rate of resistance, knowledge of susceptibility patterns is essential to guide antimicrobial therapy. In Lebanon, many studies investigated this subject. Objectives: Determine the rate of multidrug and extremely drug-resistant bacteria as well as the patterns of resistance and the factors associated with this resistance. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using the cultures from the labs of two university hospitals in Lebanon. Bacteria were divided into four groups: sensitive, multidrug-, extremely- and pan-drug resistant. Patient information was obtained from the medical records. Using the SPSS software for Windows, version 20 (IBM, Armonk, USA), the frequency of the bacteria, their susceptibilities and the association of resistance with seven potential factors (age, gender, diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, previous hospitalization) were studied. Results: The frequency of resistance was 53.7% (39.9% multidrug-resistant and 13.8% extremely drug-resistant). Escherichia coli strains were mostly susceptible to carbapenems and tigecycline; and nitrofurantoine and fosfomycin in urine. Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species were mostly sensitive to colistin. Klebsiella species were mostly susceptible to amikacin and carbapenems. MRSA rates were 34.8%. Association was seen between the resistant bacteria and older age, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and previous hospitalization. Conclusion: Resistance of bacteria to drugs in Lebanon is increasing. Significant association is seen between these bacteria and older age, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and previous hospitalization. KEYWORDS: Antibiotic resistance, Multi-drug resistance, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, Lebanon

Background: Appropriate and timely care seeking reduces mortality for childhood illnesses including pneumonia. Despite over 90 000 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) deployed in Pakistan, whose tasks included management of pneumonia, only 16% of care takers sought care from them for respiratory infections. As part of a community case management trial for childhood pneumonia, community mobilization interventions were implemented to improve care seeking from LHWs in Haripur district, Pakistan. The objective of the study was to increase the number of children receiving treatment for pneumonia and severe pneumonia by Lady Health Workers (LHWs) through community mobilization approaches for prompt recognition and care seeking in 2 to 59 month–old children. Methods: To assess pneumonia care seeking practices, pre and post– intervention household surveys were conducted in 28 target Union Councils. Formative research to improve existing LHW training materials, job aids and other materials was carried out. Advocacy events were organized, LHWs and male health promoters were trained in community mobilization, non–functional women and male health committees were revitalized and LHWs and male health promoters conducted community awareness sessions. Results: The community mobilization interventions were implemented from April 2008 – December 2009. Project and LHW program staff organized 113 sensitization meetings for opinion leaders, which were attended by 2262 males and 3288 females. The 511 trained LHWs organized 6132 community awareness sessions attended by 50 056 women and 511 male promoters conducted 523 sessions attended by 7845 males. In one year period, the number of LHWs treating pneumonia increased from 11 in April 2008 to 505 in March 2009. The care seeking from LHWs for suspected pneumonia increased from 0.7% in pre–intervention survey to 49.2% in post–intervention survey. Conclusion: The increase in care seeking from LHWs benefited the community through bringing inexpensive appropriate care closer to home and reducing burden on overstretched health facilities. The community mobilization interventions led to improvements in ap - propriate care seeking that would not have been achievable just by strengthening pneumonia case management skills of LHWs. In addi - tion to strengthening skills, community mobilization and behavior change activities should also be included in community case manage - ment programmes.

Aims: to systematically identify global research gaps and resource priorities for integrated community case management (iCCM). Methods: an iCCM Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) Advisory Group, in collaboration with the Community Case Management Operational Research Group (CCM ORG) identified experts to participate in a CHNRI research priority setting exercise. These experts generated and systematically ranked research questions for iCCM. Research questions were ranked using a “Research Priority Score” (RPS) and the “Average Expert Agreement” (AEA) was calculated for every question. Our groups of experts were comprised of both individuals working in Ministries of Health or Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in low– and middle–income countries (LMICs) and individuals working in high–income countries (HICs) in academia or NGO headquarters. A Spearman's Rho was calculated to determine the correlation between the two groups' research questions' ranks. Results: The overall RPS ranged from 64.58 to 89.31, with a median score of 81.43. AEA scores ranged from 0.54 to 0.86. Research questions involving increasing the uptake of iCCM services, research questions concerning the motivation, retention, training and supervision of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and concerning adding additional responsibilities including counselling for infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) ranked highly. There was weak to moderate, statistically significant, correlation between scores by representatives of high–income countries and those working in–country or regionally (Spearman's ρ = 0.35034, P