150 results on '"ACT"'
Search Results
2. STEM Education in the U.S.: Where We Are and What We Can Do
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
ACT's annual Condition of STEM reports provide essential national data on student interest and achievement in STEM subjects. The latest report--"STEM Education in the U.S.: Where We Are and What We Can Do"--takes the data one step further by pairing the latest findings with promising practices aimed at improving STEM achievement and preparedness. These practices include examples from states, nonprofits, businesses, and other groups committed to closing STEM achievement and opportunity gaps. The report also challenges local, state, and national policymakers to meet, within the next four years, a number of actionable goals for improving the STEM pipeline.
- Published
- 2017
3. The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2016: National
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This report is the ACT annual report on the progress of U.S. high school graduates relative to college readiness. This year's report shows that 64% of students in the 2016 US graduating class took the ACT test, up from 59% in 2015 and 49% in 2011. The increased number of test takers over the past several years enhances the breadth and depth of the data pool, providing a comprehensive picture of the current graduating class in the context of college readiness, as well as offering a glimpse at the emerging educational pipeline. This national report presents key findings on performance, STEM, career readiness, impact, behaviors that impact access and opportunity, and pipeline. [For the 2015 report, see ED563779.]
- Published
- 2016
4. The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2015: National
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This report is the ACT annual report on the progress of U.S. high school graduates relative to college readiness. This year's report shows that 59% of students in the 2015 U.S. graduating class took the ACT® test, up from 57% last year and 49% in 2011. The increased number of test takers over the past several years enhances the breadth and depth of the data pool, providing a comprehensive picture of the current graduating class in the context of college readiness as well as offering a glimpse at the emerging educational pipeline. This report is designed to help educators understand and answer the following questions: (1) Are your students graduating from high school prepared for college and career?; (2) Are enough of your students taking core courses necessary to be prepared for success, and are those courses rigorous enough?; (3) What are the most popular majors/occupations, and what does the pipeline for each look like?; and (4) What other dimensions of college and career readiness, outside of academic readiness, should educators measure and track? The following key findings are discussed: (1) graduating class representation; (2) academic achievement; (3) opportunity for growth; (4) student aspirations; and (5) next steps for improving college and career readiness of students. [For the 2014 report, see ED558038.]
- Published
- 2015
5. The Condition of STEM 2015. National
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
ACT has been a leader in measuring college and career readiness trends since 1959. Each August, ACT releases The Condition of College & Career Readiness (www.act.org/newsroom/data/2015), an annual report on the progress of the ACT-tested graduating class relative to college readiness. Nationally, a record 59% of the 2015 graduating class took the ACT® test. The continued increase in the number of ACT test takers enhances the breadth and depth of their data pool, providing a comprehensive picture of the current college readiness levels of the graduating class as well as offering a glimpse of the emerging general and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education pipeline in the United States. It also allows ACT to review various aspects of the ACT-tested 2015 graduating class. This report reviews the graduating class in the context of STEM-related fields. ACT is uniquely positioned to deliver this report for two key reasons. First is their commitment to science through the inclusion of science tests in our assessments. ACT leadership is unmatched in providing a definitive assessment in the science area. Second is the research-based ACT Interest Inventory, which is delivered with the ACT and measures students' interest in a wide range of educational and occupational fields. This report shows that, over the past several years, about half of US high school graduates have expressed interest in STEM majors and careers. Meanwhile, college readiness levels in math and science are higher for STEM-interested students than for ACT-tested students overall. [For "The Condition of STEM 2014. National," see ED555600.]
- Published
- 2015
6. Differential Effects of Using ACT® College Readiness Assessment Scores and High School GPA to Predict First-Year College GPA among Racial/Ethnic, Gender, and Income Groups. ACT Research Report Series, 2013 (4)
- Author
-
ACT, Inc. and Sanchez, Edgar I.
- Abstract
This study examines the differential effects on student subgroups of using the ACT® College Readiness Assessment Composite (ACTC) score and high school grade point average (HSGPA) for making admission decisions. The subgroup characteristics investigated include race/ethnicity, gender, and income. For each student subgroup, we examine the effect of using a total group cut point for ACTC score, HSGPA, or both to predict first-year college grade point average (FYGPA) and the estimated effects of using these predictors to make admission decisions. The data for the study consisted of over 137,000 first-year entering students from 259 two- and four-year institutions and over 498,000 nonenrolled students. The present research estimates the probability of attainment of a specific level of success in college. We also utilize validity statistics at specific cutoff values to evaluate the effects on dichotomous outcomes. Across student subgroups, the joint use of ACTC score and HSGPA resulted in greater prediction accuracy than when either predictor was used alone. Furthermore, the use of a total group cutoff score for both ACTC score and HSGPA slightly over predict the probability of success of Hispanic and African-American students, males, and lower-income students. Both ACTC score and HSGPA slightly underpredict the probability of success of White students, females, and higher-income students. These findings suggest, therefore, that African American, Hispanic, and lower-income students are not disadvantaged by the use of a total-group cutoff for making admission decisions.
- Published
- 2013
7. The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2013
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
For nearly a decade, ACT has measured student progress in the context of college readiness. "The Condition of College & Career Readiness" is ACT's annual report on the college readiness of the most recent high school graduating class. The data herein provide insights to catalyze and guide efforts to improve college and career readiness for the next generation of young people now making their way through the US education system. As more students take the ACT® college readiness assessment--54% of all 2013 high school graduates--ACT's college readiness data better reflect the entire US graduating class, providing a glimpse of the emerging educational pipeline. Progressive modifications reflected in this 2013 "Condition" report include: (1) Reformatting the ACT College Readiness Standards; (2) Updating the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks; and (3) Changing ACT aggregate reporting practices to now include college-reportable scores for accommodated students. [For the "The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2012," see ED534761.]
- Published
- 2013
8. Getting Students on Track to College and Career Readiness: How Many Catch up from Far behind? ACT Research Report Series, 2012 (9)
- Author
-
ACT, Inc., Dougherty, Chrys, and Fleming, Steve
- Abstract
This report focused on the extent to which students who are academically far off track in preparing for college can catch up in four years. We studied multiple cohorts of students in eighth grade whose EXPLORE[R] scores were more than one standard deviation below the EXPLORE benchmark scores associated with being on track. We found that 10 percent or fewer of the students who were far off track in eighth grade attained the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks[R] by twelfth grade. We did a similar analysis for two cohorts of students beginning in fourth grade, using scores on state-developed tests in grade four and EXPLORE scores in grade eight, and obtained similar results. For both the fourth grade and the eighth grade cohorts, the overall percentage of students catching up was lower in higher poverty schools. At some higher poverty schools, however, the percentage of students catching up exceeded the average for lower poverty schools. These findings will help inform policymakers who set accountability expectations for schools. For example, reasonable growth goals might be set based on student performance in the more successful schools. Furthermore, goals for percentages of students reaching college and career readiness achievement targets should take into account the students' starting points and the number of years that schools have available to catch them up. In addition, research can be conducted to identify educational practices that distinguish schools and school systems that are more successful at working with off-track students and getting students on track starting in preschool and the early grades. (Contains 11 tables, 13 figures and 17 footnotes.)
- Published
- 2012
9. Exploratory Analyses of the Long-Term Effects of Improving Behavior, Attendance, and Educational Achievement in Grades 1-6 and 8-12. ACT Research Report Series, 2012 (3)
- Author
-
ACT, Inc., Sawyer, Richard, and Gibson, Neal
- Abstract
We studied relationships among background characteristics, behavioral infractions, punishments, attendance, and educational achievement, using longitudinal data of students in grades 1-6 and 8-12. We estimated how much hypothesized early improvements in educational achievement or sustained improvements in behavior and attendance might ultimately increase educational achievement in grades 6 and 12. We also calculated similar estimates for increasing the rate of promotion from grade 1 to grade 2. Reducing infractions and punishments to zero and days absent to the average observed level in grades 1-6 would increase the percentage of students attaining proficiency on sixth-grade achievement tests by approximately 3% in literacy and 4% in mathematics. For purposes of comparison, increasing first-grade educational achievement by 0.1 SD would increase proficiency rates in grade 6 by approximately 2% in either area. For students in grades 8-12, the outcome variable was attainment of all four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, which are indicators of students' readiness to take typical first-year college courses. Reducing infractions and punishments to zero and days absent to average levels would increase attainment of the Benchmarks by about 2%. Increasing eighth-grade achievement by 0.1 SD would increase attainment of the Benchmarks by approximately 3%. As measured by average changes in scale scores, our results indicate that the benefits of improved prior achievement substantially fade with time. For example, a 0.1 SD increase in grade 1 literacy score corresponds to an expected increase of less than 0.04 SD in grade 6 literacy score. To endure over time, therefore, the benefits of improved prior achievement must be enhanced by sustained interventions (in this study, on behavior and attendance). Appended are: (1) Variables in the Study; (2) Summary of Variables, by Analysis File; (3) Prediction of Infractions, Punishments, Attendance, and Achievement in g1-g6 (Parsimonious models; p less than 0.01); and (4) Prediction of Infractions, Punishments, Attendance, and Achievement in g8-g12 (Parsimonious models; p less than 0.01). (Contains 8 tables, 7 figures, and 11 footnotes.)
- Published
- 2012
10. The Reality of College Readiness, 2012: National
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
Annually, ACT provides each state with "The Condition of College & Career Readiness," a report that details the college readiness of students who took the ACT[R] test. Based on extensive empirical research, ACT has defined "college and career readiness" as the acquisition of knowledge and skills a student needs to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing first-year college courses at a postsecondary institution without the need for remediation. This definition has been adopted by the Common Core State Standards Initiative. This report is a companion to "The Condition of College & Career Readiness." The report traces the college enrollment, retention, re-enrollment, and migration patterns of the 2010 ACT-tested high school graduates across the country. It also provides a snapshot of the impact that benchmark-meeting behavior has on those patterns and, ultimately, on success in college. This report is intended to raise awareness of the fact that the path to college success is not a linear one for many students. There are significant numbers of qualified students who move through (or in and out of) multiple postsecondary experiences as they pursue their educational goals. (Contains 4 footnotes.) [For related report, "The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2012," see ED534761.]
- Published
- 2012
11. ACT Profile Report: National. Graduating Class 2012. Hispanic/Latino Students
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This report provides information about the performance of 2012 Hispanic/Latino graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors, or seniors; and self-reported at the time of testing that they were scheduled to graduate in 2012 and tested under standard time conditions. This report focuses on: (1) Performance: student test performance in the context of college readiness; (2) Access: number of graduates exposed to college entrance testing and the percent of race/ethnicity participation; (3) Course Selection: percent of students pursuing a core curriculum; (4) Course Rigor: impact of rigorous coursework on achievement; (5) College Readiness: percent of students meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores in each content area; (6) Awareness: extent to which student aspirations match performance; and (7) Articulation: colleges and universities to which students send test results. (Contains 6 figures and 22 tables.) [For the main report, "The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2012," see ED534761. For related report, "ACT Profile Report: National. Graduating Class 2012," see ED534873.]
- Published
- 2012
12. The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2012
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This report focuses on the college and career readiness levels of the ACT[R]-tested US high school graduating class of 2012. The report represents 52 percent of all 2012 graduates in the United States. Findings in the report suggest that for this cohort of tested students, the condition of college and career readiness has slightly improved over the past several years, specifically in the subject areas of math and science. While encouraging, far too many students are graduating from high school ill-prepared for the academic rigors of college and career. The results again indicate that the US education system must do better at helping our young people to compete with their peers in other nations for meaningful jobs and careers in the 21st century global economy. As a trusted, not-for-profit leader in research on college and career readiness, ACT is committed to continuing our efforts to provide data and information to help solve the daunting problems faced by our nation. In future years, ACT research and data will be designed to provide insights not only on academic achievement but on student behavior and goals, which when combined will help individuals better prepare for success throughout their lives, from kindergarten through career. These new efforts will broaden and extend our core mission: Helping people achieve education and career success. The data in this report provide continued insights that will help inform and guide our collective efforts to improve college and career readiness for the next generation of young people now making their way through the US education system. A list of resources is included. (Contains 1 footnote.) [For "The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2011," see ED522992.]
- Published
- 2012
13. A Better Measure of Skills Gaps: Utilizing ACT Skill Profile and Assessment Data for Strategic Skill Research
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
It is no secret that global markets and innovations in technology are driving rapid change in the U.S. economy. While much has been said over the years about the employment shift from goods-producing to service-providing industries, new research suggests that the shift is not due to sectoral employment change but rather a shift in the mix of jobs within industries and the types of skills that those jobs require. The phrase "skills gap" is used in the public arena very loosely with varying degrees of understanding of what a "gap" in "skills" actually means. Definitions of the phrase vary widely, with different schools of thought approaching the issue in drastically different ways. Formal methodology for quantifying a "skills gap" is either completely lacking, as in much of the policy-oriented research, or is too convoluted, as is often the case in the economic literature. A balanced approach for "skills gap" analysis is needed that incorporates rigorous quantitative methods with an eye for practical application. This paper seeks to enter the conversation by proposing a simple definition for the phrase "skills gap" by the most simple of interpretations: that a skills gap measures the difference between the skills needed for a job versus those skills possessed by a prospective worker. This paper posits that "skills gap" analysis should target identifiable skills. Initiatives based on findings of indirect measures of "skills" and "skills gaps" may invest precious time and resources in "skills" that are not in fact needed by employers. A balanced approach is needed for "skills gap" research that incorporates rigorous quantitative methods, uses a direct measure of skills, and has practical application for workforce policy. The paper proposes a skills gap methodology that uses more detailed and specific measures of skills for supply/demand analysis. A review of the literature on the methodology and use of the phrase "skills gap" follows, with highlights from the fields of workforce policy, industrial/organizational psychology, and economic-based research. Lastly, a gap analysis using the proposed methodology is conducted for four major industry sectors
- Published
- 2011
14. Defining Credentials for the Public Workforce System. ACT Policy Brief
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This paper outlines how the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) meets the definition of "credential" as defined by the US Department of Labor Employment (US DOL) and Training Administration's Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 15-10. The NCRC fits the US DOL definition of a credential both (a) in the context of workforce development in general and (b) according to the specific definition outlined in the US DOL TEGL 15-10. The NCRC is an industry-recognized, stackable, and portable credential that certifies the foundational competencies essential for career readiness and those necessary for advancement in career pathways. The NCRC certifies measurable occupational skills necessary to obtain employment, perform a job successfully, and advance within an occupation. States may use Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I and other programs such as Wagner-Peyser, WIA 15% Governor's Discretionary, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and WIA Title II funding to implement the NCRC as part of a system of stackable credentials for any career path within an overall competency model. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), and the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) formally endorse the NCRC and include it in their systems of stackable industry credentials. The NCRC is a portable credential, in that it is accepted and recognized in many geographic areas (42 states have a statewide or regional program under way) and industries (NAM, NCCER, and CEWD). (Contains 35 notes.)
- Published
- 2011
15. Affirming the Goal: Is College and Career Readiness an Internationally Competitive Standard?
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This report examines how performance standards in reading and math on PLAN[R], the organization's college and career readiness assessment for 10th graders, compare to performance on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a worldwide assessment of 15-year-old students' academic achievement. The results show that the performance standard of college and career readiness--and therefore the new Common Core State Standards, which were designed to help all U.S. students become ready for college and career--is internationally competitive, falling well within the range of the highest-performing countries on PISA Reading and Math. (Contains 7 figures, 2 tables and 35 endnotes.) [For the "Affirming the Goal: Is College and Career Readiness an Internationally Competitive Standard? Executive Summary," see ED520012 and "Affirming the Goal: Is College and Career Readiness an Internationally Competitive Standard? Advance Brief for State Policymakers," see ED520013.]
- Published
- 2011
16. National Overview: Measuring College and Career Readiness--The Class of 2009
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
"Measuring College and Career Readiness" represents a snapshot of the ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2009 and focuses on their readiness for college and careers. Designed to inform policymakers and practitioners about selected indicators of effectiveness, it is not intended to be comprehensive but instead is designed to help stimulate discussion, inquiry and action. Reported findings include: (1) College readiness is relatively stable for 2009 U.S. high school graduates; (2) Percentage of graduates meeting all four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks increased; (3) Expanded pool of test-takers includes virtually all high school graduates in five states; (4) Increase in statewide testing offers access and opportunity to new groups of students, some who had not seriously considered college; and (5) Average national ACT Composite score for class of 2009 is 21.1, unchanged from last year. A list of 4 resources is included.
- Published
- 2009
17. The Condition of College Readiness, 2009
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
Since 1959, ACT has collected and reported data on students' academic readiness for college. Because becoming ready for college is a process that occurs throughout elementary and secondary education, measuring academic performance over time in the context of college readiness provides meaningful and compelling information about the college readiness of students. A focus on the number and percentage of students meeting or exceeding the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks does just that. Empirically derived--based on the performance of students in college--a College Readiness Benchmark is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding first-year credit-bearing college course. These college courses include English Composition, College Algebra, an introductory social science course (e.g., History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and Economics), and Biology. Using ACT[R] test scores and the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, this report provides a snapshot of the college readiness of the graduating seniors of the class of 2009 who took the ACT in high school. This report is organized into five sections: (1) Access & Preparation; (2) Academic Performance; (3) College Readiness; (4) Educational/Career Aspirations & Economic Development; and (5) Policies & Practices to Increase College Readiness. [This state report is based on the "ACT Profile Report--National: Graduating Class 2009" (ED506367).]
- Published
- 2009
18. ACT Profile Report: National--Graduating Class 2009
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
This report provides information about the performance of 2009 graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors, or seniors; and self-reported at the time of testing that they were scheduled to graduate in 2009 and tested under standard time conditions. The ACT is designed for students who plan to attend college, and the report results are based on students who completed the recommended college preparatory courses as defined by ACT, including four or more years of English; and three or more years of Mathematics, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. The report focuses on: (1) Performance (student test performance in the context of college readiness); (2) Access (number of your graduates exposed to college entrance testing and the percent of race/ethnicity participation); (3) Course Selection (percent of students pursuing a core curriculum); (4) Course Rigor (impact of rigorous coursework on achievement); (5) College Readiness (percent of students meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores in each content area); (6) Awareness (extent to which student aspirations match performance); and (7) Articulation (colleges and universities to which your students send test results.) Five sections include: (1) Executive Summary; (2) Academic Achievement; (3) College Readiness and the Impact of Course Rigor; (4) Career and Educational Aspirations; and (5) Optional Writing Test Results. (Contains 6 figures and 21 tables.)
- Published
- 2009
19. ACT's College Readiness System: Meeting the Challenge of a Changing World
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
The United States faces the challenge of adapting to the demands of a globalized economy. Jobs have become more specialized and more driven by technology, requiring higher levels of education and training than did many of the jobs available to high school graduates of the past. Students must graduate from high school ready for the demands of postsecondary education. Rigorous academic preparation during the P-12 years is essential to student college readiness. Based on decades of research into student academic achievement and educational success, ACT offers six action steps to maximize students' chances of graduating from high school ready for the challenges of the future: (1) States should adopt fewer (but essential) college- and career-readiness standards as their new high school graduation standards; (2) States should adopt a rigorous core curriculum for all high school graduates, whether they are bound for college or work; (3) States must define performance targets for college and career readiness; (4) States should strengthen the rigor of their courses; (5) States should begin monitoring early to make sure younger students are on target to be ready for college and career; and (6) States need to establish longitudinal P-16 data systems. The report presents the ACT "College Readiness System," a research-based solution of standards and benchmarks that define college readiness empirically, based on what postsecondary educators indicate is important for students to know and on actual student success in college, but which represents a single academic expectation for all students, regardless of whether they go on to college or workforce training after high school. The system is intended to help states implement the policy actions necessary to help prepare every student for college and work.
- Published
- 2008
20. College Readiness: Benefits of a High School Core Curriculum. A Joint Report by the Council of the Great City Schools and ACT
- Author
-
Council of the Great City Schools, Washington, DC. and ACT, Inc., Iowa City, IA.
- Abstract
This report focuses on the role of the college-preparatory curriculum in improving the academic achievement and college readiness of students from high schools in the member districts of the Council of the Great City Schools. Specifically, the report addresses the following questions: (1) Is taking a core college-preparatory curriculum and additional courses beyond the core associated with increased academic achievement and college readiness for urban students?; and (2) Is greater readiness for college related to increased college enrollment and increased college persistence among urban students? Section 1 examines improvements in academic achievement and college readiness. Section 2 examines improvements in college enrollment and retention. The final section presents recommendations. (Contains 15 figures. Appended are: (1) Council of the Great City Schools Member Districts (2006); (2) Table 1: Demographic Information for ACT-tested Graduates; (3) Table 2: Average ACT Scores, by Subject Area; (4) Table 3: Average ACT Composite Scores, by Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Income (5) Table 4: Percentages of Students Taking Specific Course Sequences; and (6) Table 5: Average ACT Test Scores for Students Taking Specific Course Sequences.)
- Published
- 2007
21. Assessing the College Readiness in Reading of Eighth- and Ninth-Grade Students Using ACT's EXPLORE[R]
- Author
-
ACT, Inc.
- Abstract
ACT data suggest that the readiness of the nation's high school students for college-level reading is far too low. But ACT data also show that, while it is important for students to be able to comprehend both explicit and implicit material in texts, as well as to understand how various textual elements (such as main ideas, relationships, or generalizations) function in a text, the clearest differentiator in reading between students who are ready for college and students who are not is the ability to comprehend "complex" texts. Only 43 percent of 2006 EXPLORE-tested eighth- and ninth-graders are on target to be ready for college-level reading. If a greater number of these students can be identified and helped before they reach high school, they will be more likely to have developed the necessary foundational reading skills upon which college-ready skills can be based. This report concludes with recommended action steps that policymakers and educators can take to help all students read at the level of proficiency necessary to ensure that they are ready to succeed in college without remediation. The Appendix lists some of the College Readiness Standards that eighth-and ninth-grade students need to be on target for college readiness in reading, as well as some suggested activities that can help students attain those standards.
- Published
- 2006
22. The Promise of Baldrige for K-12 Education. Act Policy Report
- Author
-
ACT, Inc., Iowa City, IA., Walpole, MaryBeth, and Noeth, Richard J.
- Abstract
Efforts focused on improving quality processes based upon the Malcolm Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence may hold promise for fundamentally improving K-12 education. This policy report examines the information available on improving school quality through implementation of the Baldrige criteria. It provides a snapshot of what is currently known about the application and effectiveness of Baldrige criteria in K-12 education and is intended to (1) provide useful information to educational practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the concepts and current state of Baldrige applications in K-12 education; and (2) make specific recommendations to each group regarding potential Baldrige K-12 implementation, evaluation, and research. This report initially provides an overview of the quality movement as it first emerged in industry and a description of the Baldrige Award process. It then focuses on the adaptation of the Baldrige Model, as well as similar quality processes, to K-12 education. Included are discussions of Baldrige core elements and values as related to the educational process. The report then describes the implementation of Baldrige, TQM (Total Quality Management), and quality processes in the schools, Baldrige studies, and current large-scale Baldrige efforts. It concludes with a series of recommendations regarding Baldrige implementation, evaluation, and research for educators, policymakers, and researchers.
- Published
- 2002
23. Nothing about us without us: Sharing results with communities that provide genomic data.
- Author
-
LeBaron von Baeyer S, Crocker RM, Rakotoarivony R, Ranaivoarisoa JF, Spiral GJ, Pascart T, Wheeler V, Mairai T, Gregersen NO, Castel SE, Yerges-Armstrong LM, Fox K, and Wasik KA
- Subjects
- Humans, Biomedical Research, United States, Genomics, Information Dissemination
- Abstract
Sharing genetic and other study results with the communities who participate in research falls under benefit-sharing and capacity-building initiatives that underpin a more equitable biomedical research relationship. Yet, which results to return and how remain fundamental challenges that persist in the absence of practical guidance and institutional policies. Here, we discuss how the return of results can be implemented across different geographies, study designs, and project budgets., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors of this manuscript are either current or former employees and options or shareholders of the US-based genomics-driven drug discovery company Variant Bio (S.L.v.B., R.C., S.E.C., L.M.Y.-A., and K.A.W.), advisors to Variant Bio (K.F.), or research collaborators and consultants for genomic research projects with Variant Bio in Madagascar (R.R., J.F.R., and G.J.S.), French Polynesia (T.P., V.W., and T.M.), and the Faroe Islands (N.O.G.). K.A.W. and S.E.C. are co-founders of Variant Bio, and S.E.C. is a member of its Board of Directors. L.M.Y.-A. is a shareholder of GSK., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Faltering mortality improvements at young-middle ages in high-income English-speaking countries.
- Author
-
Timonin S, Leon DA, Banks E, Adair T, and Canudas-Romo V
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Adult, Aged, Australia epidemiology, United States epidemiology, Canada epidemiology, Cause of Death trends, United Kingdom epidemiology, Ireland epidemiology, New Zealand epidemiology, Aged, 80 and over, Adolescent, Young Adult, SARS-CoV-2, Child, Child, Preschool, Infant, Life Expectancy trends, Developed Countries statistics & numerical data, COVID-19 mortality, COVID-19 epidemiology, Mortality trends
- Abstract
Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, stagnating life expectancy trends were reported in some high-income countries (HICs). Despite previous evidence from country-specific studies, there is a lack of comparative research that provides a broader perspective and challenges existing assumptions. This study aims to examine longevity trends and patterns in six English-speaking countries (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States) by combining period and cohort perspectives and to compare them with other HICs., Methods: Using data from the Human Mortality and World Health Organization Mortality Databases, we estimated partial life expectancy, lifespan inequality and cohort survival differences for 1970-2021, as well as the contribution of causes of death to the gap in life expectancy between English-speaking countries and the average for other HICs in 2017-19., Results: In the pre-pandemic period, the increase in life expectancy slowed in all English-speaking countries, except Ireland, mainly due to stagnating or rising mortality at young-middle ages. Relative to other HICs, those born in Anglophone countries since the 1970s experienced relative survival disadvantage, largely attributable to injuries (mainly suicides) and substance-related mortality (mainly poisonings). In contrast, older cohorts enjoyed advantages for females in Australia and Canada and for males in all English-speaking countries except the United States., Conclusions: Although future gains in life expectancy in wealthy societies will increasingly depend on reducing mortality at older ages, adverse health trends at younger ages are a cause for concern. This emerging and avoidable threat to health equity in English-speaking countries should be the focus of further research and policy action., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Virulence Patterns of Oat Crown Rust in Australia - Season 2022.
- Author
-
Henningsen EC, Lewis D, Nguyen DT, Sperschneider J, Kianian SF, Stone E, Dodds PN, and Figueroa M
- Subjects
- Australia, Virulence genetics, Disease Resistance genetics, United States, Basidiomycota genetics, Basidiomycota pathogenicity, Basidiomycota physiology, Avena microbiology, Plant Diseases microbiology, Puccinia pathogenicity, Puccinia genetics
- Abstract
Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae ( Pca ) is an important foliar pathogen of oat which causes crown rust disease. The virulence profile of 48 Pca isolates derived from different locations in Australia was characterized using a collection of oat lines often utilized in rust surveys in the United States and Australia. This analysis indicates that Pca populations in Eastern Australia are broadly virulent, which contrasts with the population in Western Australia (WA). Several oat lines/ Pc genes are effective against all rust samples collected from WA, suggesting they may provide useful resistance in this region if deployed in combination. We identified 19 lines from the United States oat differential set that display disease resistance to Pca in WA, with some in agreement with previous rust survey reports. We adopted the 10-letter nomenclature system to define oat crown rust races in Australia and compare the frequency of those virulence traits to published data from the United States. Based on this nomenclature, 42 unique races were detected among the 48 isolates, reflecting the high diversity of virulence phenotypes for Pca in Australia. Nevertheless, the Pca population in the United States is substantially more broadly virulent than that of Australia. Close examination of resistance profiles for the oat differential set lines after infection with Pca supports hypotheses of allelism or redundancy among Pc genes or the presence of several resistance genes in some oat differential lines. These findings illustrate the need to deconvolute the oat differential set using molecular tools.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Genotypic and Resistance Profile Analysis of Two Oat Crown Rust Differential Sets Urge Coordination and Standardization.
- Author
-
Nguyen DT, Henningsen EC, Lewis D, Mago R, McNeil M, Suchecki R, Boden S, Sperschneider J, Kianian SF, Dodds PN, and Figueroa M
- Subjects
- Australia, Phenotype, Virulence genetics, United States, Genetic Markers genetics, Basidiomycota genetics, Basidiomycota physiology, Avena microbiology, Avena genetics, Plant Diseases microbiology, Genotype, Disease Resistance genetics, Puccinia genetics
- Abstract
Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae is the causal agent of the disease known as crown rust, which represents a bottleneck in oat production worldwide. Characterization of pathogen populations often involves race (pathotype) assignments using differential sets, which are not uniform across countries. This study compared the virulence profiles of 25 P. coronata f. sp. avenae isolates from Australia using two host differential sets, one from Australia and one from the United States. These differential sets were also genotyped using diversity arrays technology sequencing technology. Phenotypic and genotypic discrepancies were detected on 8 out of 29 common lines between the two sets, indicating that pathogen race assignments based on those lines are not comparable. To further investigate molecular markers that could assist in the stacking of rust resistance genes important for Australia, four published Pc91 -linked markers were validated across the differential sets and then screened across a collection of 150 oat cultivars. Drover, Aladdin, and Volta were identified as putative carriers of the Pc91 locus. This is the first report to confirm that the cultivar Volta carries Pc91 and demonstrates the value of implementing molecular markers to characterize materials in breeding pools of oat. Overall, our findings highlight the necessity of examining seed stocks using pedigree and molecular markers to ensure seed uniformity and bring robustness to surveillance methodologies. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. The Unified Narcissism Scale-Revised: Expanding Measurement and Understanding of Narcissism Across Cultures.
- Author
-
Sivanathan D, Bizumic B, Li W, and Chen J
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Male, Adult, Self Concept, Sri Lanka, Middle Aged, Young Adult, China, United States, Reproducibility of Results, Adolescent, Narcissism, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Psychometrics
- Abstract
The study of narcissism has been hindered by conceptual, theoretical, and measurement in-consistencies. In this article, we report two studies that tested a novel unified conceptualization and theoretical approach to narcissism using the Unified Narcissism Scale-Revised. Study 1 revised the recently developed Unified Narcissism Scale to construct a preliminary 40-item measure in a sample of 395 American participants ( M
age = 41). We confirmed the five-factor first-order model, the two-factor second-order model, and the one-factor third-order model. Study 2 considered the cross-cultural performance of the revised scale in the Chinese language in China ( N = 326, Mage = 25.5 years) and in the English language in Sri Lanka ( N = 354 Mage = 28.7 years) and constructed a final 35-item measure. In conducting these studies, we have demonstrated the cross-cultural importance of entitlement and self-esteem to the conceptualization of narcissism and suggest that the negative relationship between narcissism and agreeableness may be culture-specific to Western samples (as evidenced by the absence of this relationship in non-Western samples). In this article, we have constructed a measure of narcissism that has refined our understanding of the construct and created a tool to capture this understanding., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Racial and ethnic inequities in the quality of paediatric care in the USA: a review of quantitative evidence.
- Author
-
Slopen N, Chang AR, Johnson TJ, Anderson AT, Bate AM, Clark S, Cohen A, Jindal M, Karbeah J, Pachter LM, Priest N, Suglia SF, Bryce N, Fawcett A, and Heard-Garris N
- Subjects
- Humans, Child, United States, Delivery of Health Care, Palliative Care, Child Health, Ethnicity, Racism
- Abstract
Racial and ethnic inequities in paediatric care have received increased research attention over the past two decades, particularly in the past 5 years, alongside an increased societal focus on racism. In this Series paper, the first in a two-part Series focused on racism and child health in the USA, we summarise evidence on racial and ethnic inequities in the quality of paediatric care. We review studies published between Jan 1, 2017 and July 31, 2022, that are adjusted for or stratified by insurance status to account for group differences in access, and we exclude studies in which differences in access are probably driven by patient preferences or the appropriateness of intervention. Overall, the literature reveals widespread patterns of inequitable treatment across paediatric specialties, including neonatology, primary care, emergency medicine, inpatient and critical care, surgery, developmental disabilities, mental health care, endocrinology, and palliative care. The identified studies indicate that children from minoritised racial and ethnic groups received poorer health-care services relative to non-Hispanic White children, with most studies drawing on data from multiple sites, and accounting for indicators of family socioeconomic position and clinical characteristics (eg, comorbidities or condition severity). The studies discussed a range of potential causes for the observed disparities, including implicit biases and differences in site of care or clinician characteristics. We outline priorities for future research to better understand and address paediatric treatment inequities and implications for practice and policy. Policy changes within and beyond the health-care system, discussed further in the second paper of this Series, are essential to address the root causes of treatment inequities and to promote equitable and excellent health for all children., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests AC has a contract with Organon & Co (previously part of Merck) as a clinical trainer for the Nexplanon contraceptive device. In this role, she provides training and education to resident physicians at her institution in the use of the subdermal implant device. She does not receive payment or any other form of incentive from Organon & Co in this role. NH-G is the co-owner of XNY Genes. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Registry-derived stage (RD-Stage) for capturing cancer stage at diagnosis for endometrial cancer.
- Author
-
Evans SM, Ivanova K, Rome R, Cossio D, Pilgrim C, Zalcberg J, Antill Y, Blake L, Du Guesclin A, Garrett A, Giffard D, Golobic N, Moir D, Parikh S, Parisi A, Sanday K, Shadbolt C, Smith M, Te Marvelde L, and Williams K
- Subjects
- Female, Humans, United States, Australia epidemiology, Registries, Neoplasm Staging, Endometrial Neoplasms diagnosis, Endometrial Neoplasms epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Capture of cancer stage at diagnosis is important yet poorly reported by health services to population-based cancer registries. In this paper we describe current completeness of stage information for endometrial cancer available in Australian cancer registries; and develop and validate a set of rules to enable cancer registry medical coders to calculate stage using data available to them (registry-derived stage or 'RD-Stage')., Methodology: Rules for deriving RD-stage (Endometrial carcinoma) were developed using the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) TNM (tumour, nodes, metastasis) Staging System (8
th Edition). An expert working group comprising cancer specialists responsible for delivering cancer care, epidemiologists and medical coders reviewed and endorsed the rules. Baseline completeness of data fields required to calculate RD-Stage, and calculation of the proportion of cases for whom an RD stage could be assigned, was assessed across each Australian jurisdiction. RD-Stage (Endometrial cancer) was calculated by Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) medical coders and compared with clinical stage recorded by the patient's treating clinician and captured in the National Gynae-Oncology Registry (NGOR)., Results: The necessary data completeness level for calculating RD-Stage (Endometrial carcinoma) across various Australian jurisdictions varied from 0 to 89%. Three jurisdictions captured degree of spread of cancer, rendering RD-Stage unable to be calculated. RD-Stage (Endometrial carcinoma) could not be derived for 64/485 (13%) cases and was not captured for 44/485 (9%) cases in NGOR. At stage category level (I, II, III, IV), there was concordance between RD-Stage and NGOR captured stage in 393/410 (96%) of cases (95.8%, Kendall's coefficient = 0.95)., Conclusion: A lack of consistency in data captured by, and data sources reporting to, population-based cancer registries meant that it was not possible to provide national endometrial carcinoma stage data at diagnosis. In a sample of Victorian cases, where surgical pathology was available, there was very good concordance between RD-Stage (Endometrial carcinoma) and clinician-recorded stage data available from NGOR. RD-Stage offers promise in capturing endometrial cancer stage at diagnosis for population epidemiological purposes when it is not provided by health services, but requires more extensive validation., (© 2023. The Author(s).)- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Beyond Medical Care: How Different National Models of Care Impact the Experience of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients.
- Author
-
Patterson P, Jacobsen RL, McDonald FEJ, Pflugeisen CM, Bibby K, Macpherson CF, Thompson K, Murnane A, Anazodo A, Sansom-Daly UM, Osborn MP, Hayward A, Kok C, and Johnson RH
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Humans, Young Adult, Australia, Patient Care, United States, Adult, Fertility Preservation psychology, Neoplasms therapy, Neoplasms psychology
- Abstract
Patient experience is positively associated with clinical effectiveness, quality care, and patient safety. This study examines the experience of care of adolescents and young adult (AYA) cancer patients from Australia and the United States, allowing a comparison of patient experiences in the context of different national models of cancer care delivery. Participants ( n = 190) were aged 15-29 years and received cancer treatment from 2014 to 2019. Australians ( n = 118) were recruited nationally by health care professionals. U.S. participants ( n = 72) were recruited nationally via social media. The survey included demographic and disease variables, and questions regarding medical treatment, information and support provision, care coordination, and satisfaction across the treatment pathway. Sensitivity analyses examined the possible contribution of age and gender. Most patients from both countries were satisfied or very satisfied with their medical treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery). There were significant differences between countries in the provision of fertility preservation services, age-appropriate communication, and psychosocial support. Our findings suggest when a national system of oversight with both state and federal funding is implemented, as is the case in Australia but not in the United States, significantly more AYAs with cancer receive age-appropriate information and support services, and improved access to specialist services such as fertility care. A national approach with government funding and centralized accountability appears to be associated with substantial benefits for the well-being of AYAs undergoing cancer treatment.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. American Board of Preventive Medicine Updated Occupational and Environmental Medicine Examination Content and Practice Analysis.
- Author
-
Baker BA, Levin JL, O'Hara H, Meyer JD, Caro C, and Braund WE
- Subjects
- United States, Humans, Certification, Environmental Medicine, Occupational Medicine
- Abstract
Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: B.A.B. is currently a board member of ABPM. J.L.L. is Senior advisor for Southwest Ag Center (NIOSH, 2 U54OH007541-21-00) as well as NIOSH COVID-19 IPA. He is currently a board member of ABPM and vice chair of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. H.O. is currently a board member of ABPM. J.D.M. received grant T42 OH008422 (New York/New Jersey Education and Research Center) from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and honorarium as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (John Wiley & Sons, publisher). He is currently a board member of ABPM. C.C. is a full-time employee of ACT. ABPM contracted with ACT, Inc, to provide the research services described in this article; the contract has concluded. W.E.B. is currently Board Chair of ABPM. All authors are members of the ABPM Board except Carla Caro who works for ACT Credentialing and Career Services.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Indigenous suicide rates in the United States, Australia and New Zealand between 2006 and 2019.
- Author
-
Nguyen T, Ullah S, Looi JC, Allison S, Mulder R, and Bastiampillai T
- Subjects
- Male, Adolescent, Humans, United States epidemiology, Female, New Zealand epidemiology, Suicide Prevention, Australia epidemiology, Suicide, Self-Injurious Behavior
- Abstract
Objective: Indigenous suicide prevention is an important focus for national health policies. Indigenous suicide rates in formerly colonial English-speaking countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand are considerably higher than the general population, particularly in young males. Given the similarities in their sociocultural history, a time series analysis was conducted to assess recent sex and age trends of suicide in the Indigenous and general populations in the United States, Australia and New Zealand., Methods: Using the number of deaths by intentional self-harm and estimated resident population, suicide incidence rates were calculated for the years 2006-2019 and stratified by Indigenous status, year, time period, sex and age group (above 15 years). Incidence rates were plotted. Using the Poisson regression model, calculated suicide incidence rate ratios were used to make comparisons for sex and age., Results: Across all countries studied, Indigenous suicide rates have increased over time, with Indigenous males having higher suicide rates than Indigenous females. However, the increase in Indigenous female suicides was greater than that for Indigenous males in Australia and New Zealand. Indigenous males aged 15-44 years have the highest suicide rates across all countries., Conclusion: Indigenous suicide rates have remained consistently high in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, with Indigenous males aged 15-44 years showing the highest rate. However, suicide rates for Indigenous females in Australia and New Zealand are increasing more rapidly than males. Given this, it is critical that further research is dedicated to understanding and addressing the issues driving this problem, particularly in youth.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Updating the Standards of Professional Competence in the Field of Toxicology: The Second Generation of Best Practice.
- Author
-
Soucy NV, Masten S, Caro C, Arthur AM, Moore NH, Hooth MJ, and Mitkus R
- Subjects
- Humans, United States, Reproducibility of Results, Referral and Consultation, Professional Competence, Certification
- Abstract
The American Board of Toxicology (ABT), in consultation with ACT Credentialing & Career Services (ACT), performed a practice analysis study of general toxicology in 2020-21. This work follows up on an initial practice analysis commissioned by the ABT and conducted in 2014-2015, results of which were published in 2016. The purpose of the current, second-generation study was to update and validate the existing process-based delineation of practice of general toxicologists, including major domains of responsibility and tasks performed in practice. In addition, the study included the review, update, and validation of the knowledge areas required by toxicologists developed by subject-matter experts (SMEs) that have been used for ABT examination development initiatives. Consistent with best practices in the field of credentialing, ABT also contracted with ACT to conduct 2 follow-on activities: a study to evaluate the reliability of a reduced-length ABT examination and a standard setting study to establish a valid passing score for the updated examination. In addition to informing ongoing ABT certification examination and question writing activities, it is anticipated that the results of this practice analysis will be of value to those responsible for developing graduate and undergraduate toxicology curricula, creating continuing education content, and authoring textbooks covering the contemporary practice of toxicology.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Air quality policy should quantify effects on disparities.
- Author
-
Wang Y, Apte JS, Hill JD, Ivey CE, Johnson D, Min E, Morello-Frosch R, Patterson R, Robinson AL, Tessum CW, and Marshall JD
- Subjects
- Humans, Racial Groups, United States, Air Pollutants toxicity, Air Pollutants analysis, Air Pollution prevention & control, Air Pollution analysis, Environmental Exposure legislation & jurisprudence, Environmental Exposure prevention & control, Socioeconomic Disparities in Health, Environmental Justice
- Abstract
New tools can guide US policies to better target and reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution exposure.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Comparative Expedited Regulatory Programs of U.S Food & Drug Administration and Project Orbis Partners.
- Author
-
Hotaki LT, Shrestha A, Bennett MP, Valdes IL, Lee SH, Wang Y, Spillman D, MacAulay T, Hunt M, Gervais J, Mafi M, Panetta V, Looi YH, Shum M, Atiek E, Meincke R, Rohr UP, Ainbinder D, Boehm-Cagan A, Luxenburg O, Cerqueira MR, Mouawad LS, Thees MFRES, Prasad K, and de Claro RA
- Subjects
- United States, Humans, Drug Approval, United States Food and Drug Administration, Canada, Neoplasms, Medicine
- Abstract
Project Orbis was initiated in May 2019 by the Oncology Center of Excellence to facilitate faster patient access to innovative cancer therapies by providing a framework for concurrent submissions and review of oncology products among international partners. Since its inception, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Canada's Health Canada (HC), Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Switzerland's Swissmedic (SMC), Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and most recently Israel's Ministry of Health (IMoH) Medical Technologies, Health Information, Innovation and Research (MTIIR) Directorate, have joined Project Orbis. While each country has its own expedited review pathways to bring promising therapies to patients, there are some similarities and differences in pathways and timelines. FDA's fast-track designation and MHRA's marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances (MAEC) allow non-clinical and limited clinical evidence to support approval under these programs. HC's Extraordinary Use New Drug (EUND) pathway allows granting exceptional use authorization with limited clinical evidence. ANVISA, HSA, MTIIR, and TGA do not have standard pathways that allow non-clinical evidence and limited clinical evidence. While there is no definite regulatory pathway for HSA, the current framework for approval does allow flexibility in the type of data (non-clinical or clinical) required to demonstrate the benefit-risk profile of a product. HSA may register a product if the agency is satisfied that the overall benefit outweighs the risk. All Project Orbis Partner (POP) countries have similar programs to the FDA accelerated approval program except ANVISA. Although HSA and MTIIR do not have defined pathways for accelerated approval programs, there are opportunities to request accelerated approval per these agencies. All POP countries have pathways like the FDA priority review except MHRA. Priority review timelines for new drugs range from 120 to 264 calendar days (cd). Standard review timelines for new drugs range from 180 to 365 cd., (© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. I-ACT for Children: helping close the gap in drug approval for adults and children.
- Author
-
Coppes MJ, Jackson C, and Connor EM
- Subjects
- Humans, Child, Adult, United States, United States Food and Drug Administration, Drug Approval
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. International perspective on military exposure data sources, applications, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Author
-
Hall AL, Batchelor T, Bogaert L, Buckland R, Cowieson AB, Drew M, Harrison K, McBride DI, Schneiderman A, and Taylor K
- Subjects
- Humans, United States, Information Sources, United Kingdom, Internationality, Military Personnel, Veterans
- Abstract
Military personnel may be exposed to a range of hazards. The assessment, documentation and reporting of military exposure information are important steps to guide health protection, services, and research to support actively serving members and veterans. In 2021, a Working Group of researchers from veteran and defense administrations across the Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) was established to examine large military exposure data sources available in each country, their applications, and opportunities to leverage information across administrations and internationally. We provide a brief summary of this work here to highlight some successful examples of data applications and to elicit interest in this evolving area of exposure science., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Hall, Batchelor, Bogaert, Buckland, Cowieson, Drew, Harrison, McBride, Schneiderman and Taylor.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. The effects of exposure to solar radiation on human health.
- Author
-
Neale RE, Lucas RM, Byrne SN, Hollestein L, Rhodes LE, Yazar S, Young AR, Berwick M, Ireland RA, and Olsen CM
- Subjects
- Humans, United States, Quality of Life, Ultraviolet Rays adverse effects, Vitamin D, Skin Neoplasms epidemiology, Skin Neoplasms etiology, Skin Neoplasms prevention & control, Melanoma epidemiology, Melanoma etiology, Melanoma prevention & control, Cataract
- Abstract
This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the Montreal Protocol under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) evaluates the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human health within the context of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments. We assess work published since our last comprehensive assessment in 2018. Over the last four years gains have been made in knowledge of the links between sun exposure and health outcomes, mechanisms, and estimates of disease burden, including economic impacts. Of particular note, there is new information about the way in which exposure to UV radiation modulates the immune system, causing both harms and benefits for health. The burden of skin cancer remains high, with many lives lost to melanoma and many more people treated for keratinocyte cancer, but it has been estimated that the Montreal Protocol will prevent 11 million cases of melanoma and 432 million cases of keratinocyte cancer that would otherwise have occurred in the United States in people born between 1890 and 2100. While the incidence of skin cancer continues to rise, rates have stabilised in younger populations in some countries. Mortality has also plateaued, partly due to the use of systemic therapies for advanced disease. However, these therapies are very expensive, contributing to the extremely high economic burden of skin cancer, and emphasising the importance and comparative cost-effectiveness of prevention. Photodermatoses, inflammatory skin conditions induced by exposure to UV radiation, can have a marked detrimental impact on the quality of life of sufferers. More information is emerging about their potential link with commonly used drugs, particularly anti-hypertensives. The eyes are also harmed by over-exposure to UV radiation. The incidence of cataract and pterygium is continuing to rise, and there is now evidence of a link between intraocular melanoma and sun exposure. It has been estimated that the Montreal Protocol will prevent 63 million cases of cataract that would otherwise have occurred in the United States in people born between 1890 and 2100. Despite the clearly established harms, exposure to UV radiation also has benefits for human health. While the best recognised benefit is production of vitamin D, beneficial effects mediated by factors other than vitamin D are emerging. For both sun exposure and vitamin D, there is increasingly convincing evidence of a positive role in diseases related to immune function, including both autoimmune diseases and infection. With its influence on the intensity of UV radiation and global warming, the Montreal Protocol has, and will have, both direct and indirect effects on human health, potentially changing the balance of the risks and benefits of spending time outdoors., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. The impact of government actions and risk perception on the promotion of self-protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Author
-
Alvarez-Galvez J, Anastasiou A, Lamnisos D, Constantinou M, Nicolaou C, Papacostas S, Vasiliou VS, McHugh L, Lubenko J, Ruiz FJ, Paez-Blarrina M, Montesinos F, Valdivia-Salas S, Merwin RM, Karekla M, Gloster AT, and Kassianos AP
- Subjects
- Humans, United States epidemiology, Pandemics prevention & control, Surveys and Questionnaires, Government, Perception, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 prevention & control
- Abstract
Introduction: We aim to understand the factors that drive citizens of different countries to adhere to recommended self-protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Survey data was obtained through the COVID-19 Impact project. We selected countries that presented a sufficiently complete time series and a statistically relevant sample for running the analysis: Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. To identify country-specific differences in self-protective behaviors, we used previous evidence and change-point detection analysis to establish variations across participating countries whose effect was then assessed by means of interrupted series analysis., Results: A high level of compliance with health and governmental authorities' recommendations were generally observed in all included countries. The level of stress decreased near the period when countries such as Cyprus, Greece or the United Kingdom relaxed their prevention behavior recommendations. However, this relaxation of behaviors did not occur in countries such as Germany, Ireland, or the United States. As observed in the change-point detection analysis, when the daily number of recorded COVID-19 cases decreased, people relaxed their protective behaviors (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland), although the opposite trend was observed in Switzerland., Discussion: COVID-19 self-protective behaviors were heterogeneous across countries examined. Our findings show that there is probably no single winning strategy for exiting future health crises, as similar interventions, aimed to promote self-protective behaviors, may be received differently depending on the specific population groups and on the particular geographical context in which they are implemented., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Alvarez-Galvez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Renewal of academic psychiatry without addressing gender equity will render it Jurassic rather than endangered.
- Author
-
Galbally M, Eggleston K, Northwood K, Siskind D, Berk M, Suetani S, Gill N, O'Connor N, Harvey SB, and Every-Palmer S
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Male, United States, Gender Equity, Australia, Leadership, Academic Medical Centers, Psychiatry
- Abstract
While two editorials have raised concerns about the decline in Australian academic psychiatry, for a genuine rejuvenation to ever occur, we will need to re-examine how women can be better included in this important endeavour. While attainment of fellowship has reached gender parity, academic psychiatry has disappointingly lagged, with 80% of its senior leadership roles across Australia and New Zealand still held by men, with a similar situation in the United Kingdom and the United States as well as many other countries. Encouraging women into academic psychiatry is not only critical to progress as a profession but also will help address the current blindness to sex differences in biological psychiatry, as well the social impact of restrictive gender norms and the effects of gender-based violence on mental health. This potentially creates opportunities for significant gains and insights into mental disorders. However, addressing the barriers for women in academia requires tackling the entrenched disparities across salaries, grant funding, publications, teaching responsibilities, keynote invitations and academic promotions alongside the gender-based microaggressions, harassment and tokenism reported by many of our female academics. Many women must grapple with not just a 'second shift' but a 'third shift', making the burden of an academic career unreasonable and burnout more likely. Addressing this is no easy task. The varied research in academic medicine reveals no quick fixes, although promoting gender equity brings significant potential benefits. Areas such as academic psychiatry need to recognise our community's growing discomfort with workplaces that choose to maintain status quo. Gender equity must be a critical part of any quest to revive this important area of practice for our profession.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. The Changing Landscape of Mental Health Crisis Response in the United States.
- Author
-
Curry J, Sloan L, Rush WK 4th, and Gulrajani C
- Subjects
- United States, Humans, Mental Health
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. American Psychiatric Association dynamic modelling of psychiatric bed shortages: Implications for frontline Australian trainees and public sector psychiatrists.
- Author
-
Allison S, Bastiampillai T, Looi JC, Kisely SR, and Lakra V
- Subjects
- Humans, United States, Public Sector, Australia, Psychiatry, Mental Disorders
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. After action review of the COVID-19 surveillance system in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, in 2020.
- Author
-
Quach HL, Nguyen KC, Pham TQ, Hoang NA, Thi Do HH, Nguyen DT, Ninh CV, Field E, Dang AD, Tran DN, Pham HCT, Tran AT, Nguyen HT, Ngu ND, and Vogt F
- Subjects
- United States, Humans, Vietnam epidemiology, Disease Outbreaks, Pandemics, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
Surveillance is the backbone of any response to an infectious disease outbreak, and comprehensive evaluation of surveillance systems is crucial. However, structured evaluations of surveillance systems during the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce. We conducted a after action review (AAR) of the performance of the COVID-19 surveillance system in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, during 2020 using the COVID-19-specific AAR methodology developed by the World Health Organization in combination with guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We conducted a stakeholder survey, document reviews, and key informant interviews with staff from Quang Ninh CDC's COVID-19 surveillance system. The COVID-19 surveillance system was based on the pre-existing surveillance system in the province. The system's strengths were early preparation for emergency response, strong governance and central coordination, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Stakeholders agreed that the system proved useful and adaptive to the fast-evolving COVID-19 situation but was weakened by overly complex systems, redundant administrative processes, unclear communication channels, and lack of resources. Overall, the surveillance systems in Quang Ninh province proved effective in containing COVID-19 and adaptive in a fast-changing epidemiological context. Several recommendations were made based on identified areas of concern that are of relevance for COVID-19 surveillance systems in Vietnam and similar settings.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Polarization and trust in the evolution of vaccine discourse on Twitter during COVID-19.
- Author
-
Ojea Quintana I, Reimann R, Cheong M, Alfano M, and Klein C
- Subjects
- Humans, United States, Trust, Politics, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 prevention & control, Social Media, Vaccines
- Abstract
Trust in vaccination is eroding, and attitudes about vaccination have become more polarized. This is an observational study of Twitter analyzing the impact that COVID-19 had on vaccine discourse. We identify the actors, the language they use, how their language changed, and what can explain this change. First, we find that authors cluster into several large, interpretable groups, and that the discourse was greatly affected by American partisan politics. Over the course of our study, both Republicans and Democrats entered the vaccine conversation in large numbers, forming coalitions with Antivaxxers and public health organizations, respectively. After the pandemic was officially declared, the interactions between these groups increased. Second, we show that the moral and non-moral language used by the various communities converged in interesting and informative ways. Finally, vector autoregression analysis indicates that differential responses to public health measures are likely part of what drove this convergence. Taken together, our results suggest that polarization around vaccination discourse in the context of COVID-19 was ultimately driven by a trust-first dynamic of political engagement., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Ojea Quintana et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Indigenous Social Enterprises and Health and Wellbeing: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Framework.
- Author
-
Hudson S, Foley D, and Cargo M
- Subjects
- United States, Humans, Health Promotion, Australia, Canada, Delivery of Health Care, Health Equity
- Abstract
Indigenous people and communities are establishing social enterprises to address social disadvantage and overcome health inequities in their communities. This review sought to characterize the spectrum of Indigenous social enterprises in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States to identify the operational models and cultural values that underpin them and their impact on Indigenous health and wellbeing. The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage methodological framework with recommended enhancements by Levac et al. underpinned by Indigenous Standpoint Theory, and an Indigenous advisory group to provide cultural oversight and direction. Of the 589 documents screened 115 documents were included in the review. A conceptual framework of seven different operational models of Indigenous social enterprises was developed based on differing levels of Indigenous ownership, control, and management: (1) individual, (2) collective, (3) delegative, (4) developmental, (5) supportive, (6) prescriptive and (7) paternalistic. Models with 100% Indigenous ownership and control were more likely to contribute to improved health and wellbeing by increasing self-determination and strengthening culture and promoting healing than others. Indigenous social enterprises could offer a more holistic and sustainable approach to health equity and health promotion than the siloed, programmatic model common in public health policy.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Community perspectives on pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraception in rural California.
- Author
-
Gomez AM, Rafie S, Garner-Ford E, Arcara J, Arteaga S, Britter M, De La Cruz M, Gleaton SK, Gomez-Vidal C, Luna B, Ortiz C, Rivera MC, Schuman L, Watanabe M, and Logan R
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, California, Contraception methods, Contraceptive Agents, Drug Prescriptions, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Hormonal Contraception, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Rural Population, United States, Young Adult, Community Pharmacy Services, Pharmacists
- Abstract
Objectives: In the United States, numerous states have enabled pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraception. Little research focuses on the perspectives of potential users of this service in rural communities. This study sought to describe awareness of, interest in, acceptability of, and support for pharmacist-prescribed contraception in a rural California county., Study Design: We conducted a community-based survey in 2019-20 in Tulare County, California. Researchers partnered with community members to design, implement, and analyze the survey. We recruited respondents who were ages 15 to 44 and assigned female sex at birth, using passive community-based approaches, social media advertisements, and social networks. Analyses focused on 177 respondents with a potential future need for contraception., Results: Thirty-one percent of respondents were aware that pharmacists could prescribe hormonal contraception in California, with more accurate knowledge among older respondents (p = 0.015). After receiving brief educational information about pharmacist-prescribed contraception, respondents expressed high levels of support and acceptability: they perceived pharmacist-prescribed contraception to be safe, time saving, and more convenient. Respondents were more comfortable talking about contraception with traditional contraceptive care providers compared to asking pharmacists questions about contraception. Fifty-seven percent were somewhat or very interested in obtaining contraception from a pharmacist, with higher levels of interest among those who preferred to use a different method., Conclusion: Awareness of pharmacist-prescribed contraception in a rural California community was low, though people are supportive of and interested in utilizing this service. This research suggests that increased availability of pharmacist-prescribed contraception could support individuals' reproductive self-determination and address gaps in access., Implications: Despite limited awareness of pharmacist-prescribed contraception, interest in using and community support for this service was high in a rural California community. This analysis suggests that increased availability of pharmacist-prescribed contraception could support reproductive self-determination and address access barriers, particularly for people whose contraceptive needs are not currently being met., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Interdependent self-construal moderates the relationship between pro-generation investment and future orientation: A cross-cultural comparison.
- Author
-
Chen Y, Gao L, Sheng Z, Ma J, Guo XH, Lippke S, and Gan Y
- Subjects
- Child, China, Germany, Humans, Students, United States, Young Adult, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Self Concept
- Abstract
Introduction: Cultural orientation and interdependent self-construal can moderate the relationship between perceived pro-generation investment and future orientation of young adults. To test how interdependent self-construal moderate the relationship between pro-generation investment and future orientation of young adults from two different cultural ecologies was the aim of the current study., Methods: A cross-cultural comparison was conducted among study participants from China, Germany, and the United States. Interdependent self-construal, perceived pro-generation investment by parents (parental investment), and future orientation were measured. Cross-cultural data were collected from 205 college students in China, a collectivist culture, and 169 college students in Germany (n = 50) and the United States (n = 119), which are individualist cultures. We examined a three-way interaction with cultural orientation and interdependent self-construal as moderators in the relationship between perceived parental investment and future orientation., Results: In the collectivist cultural context, there appeared no moderating effect of interdependent self-construal on the relationship between perceived parental investment and future orientation, although interdependent self-construal and perceived parental investment predicted future orientation. In the individualistic cultural context, there was a moderating effect. For individuals high in interdependent self-construal, future orientation remained stable as perceived parental investment increased. For individuals low in interdependent self-construal, future orientation decreased as perceived parental investment increased., Conclusions: The findings have practical implications in that parents should follow the cultural orientation of their background and provide their children with individualized investment and education to shape the future orientation of their offspring., (© 2022 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Psychometric Assessment of Pilot Language and Communication Items on the 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children's Health.
- Author
-
Hutchins H, Robinson L, Charania S, Ghandour R, Hirsh-Pasek K, and Zubler J
- Subjects
- Child, Child, Preschool, Communication, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Humans, Infant, Psychometrics methods, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Child Health, Language
- Abstract
Objective: Until recently, normative data on language and communication development among children in the United States have not been available to inform critical efforts to promote language development and prevent impairments. This study represents the first psychometric assessment of nationally representative data derived from a National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) pilot measure of language and communication development among children ages 1 to 5 years., Methods: We analyzed 14,573 parent responses to language and communication items on the 2018 and 2019 NSCH to evaluate whether the newly added 11 items represent a single latent trait for language and communication development and to determine normative age of success on each item. We applied weighted, one-parameter Item Response Theory to rate and cluster items by difficulty relative to developmental language ability. We examined differential item functioning (DIF) using weighted logistic regression by demographic factors., Results: Together, exploratory factor analysis resulting in a single factor > 1 and explaining 93% of the variance and positive correlations indicated unidimensionality of the measure. Item characteristic curves indicated groupings were overall concordant with proposed milestone ages and representative of an approximate 90% success cut-point by child age. Indicated normative age cut-points for 3 of the items differed slightly from proposed milestone ages. Uniform DIF was not observed and potential nonuniform DIF was observed across 5 items., Conclusions: Results have the potential to enhance understanding of risk and protective factors, inform efforts to promote language and communication development, and guide programmatic efforts on early detection of language delays., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. [Dénormaliser le tabac et son industrie, une approche gagnante ?]
- Author
-
de Guiran E, Daniel T, Catellin M, and Josseran L
- Subjects
- Child, Humans, Nuclear Family, Smoking, Tobacco Smoking, United States, Tobacco Industry, Tobacco Products
- Abstract
IS DE-NORMALIZING TOBACCO AND ITS INDUSTRY A WINNING APPROACH? The so-called "denormalization" approach has progressively imposed itself in the field of tobacco control. This strategy is no longer limited to the health and individual implications of smoking but renews the fight against tobacco by considering it as a social problem. It is therefore a question of attacking the industry's influencing practices, and even appropriating them in campaigns linking the tobacco issue to contemporary struggles such as children's rights, climate change or gender equality. Denormalization is different from previous modes of action. Three American programs are considered to be the founders of this concept, which has recently been considered and practiced in France by ACT (Alliance contre le Tabac)., Competing Interests: E. de Guiran, M. Catellin et L. Josseran déclarent n’avoir aucun lien d’intérêts. - D. Thomas déclare des interventions ponctuelles pour Pfizer et avoir été pris en charge à l’occasion de déplacements pour congrès par Pfizer.
- Published
- 2022
50. Effect of lockdown on mental health in Australia: evidence from a natural experiment analysing a longitudinal probability sample survey.
- Author
-
Butterworth P, Schurer S, Trinh TA, Vera-Toscano E, and Wooden M
- Subjects
- Child, Communicable Disease Control, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Pandemics prevention & control, Sampling Studies, United States, Victoria epidemiology, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Many studies have examined population mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic but have been unable to isolate the direct effect of lockdowns. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the mental health of Australians aged 15 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic using a quasi-experimental design to disentangle the lockdown effect., Methods: We analysed data from ten annual waves (2011-20) of the longitudinal Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to identify changes in the mental health of respondents from the pre-COVID-19 period (2011-19) to the COVID-19 period (2020). Difference-in-differences models were used to compare these changes between respondents in the state of Victoria who were exposed to lockdown at the time of the 2020 interviews (treatment group) and respondents living elsewhere in Australia (who were living relatively free of restrictions; control group). The models included state, year (survey wave), and person-specific fixed effects. Mental health was assessed using the five-item Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), which was included in the self-complete questionnaire administered during the survey., Findings: The analysis sample comprised 151 583 observations obtained from 20 839 individuals from 2011 to 2020. The treatment group included 3568 individuals with a total of 37 578 observations (34 010 in the pre-COVID-19 and 3568 in the COVID-19 period), and the control group included 17 271 individuals with 114 005 observations (102 867 in the pre-COVID-19 and 11 138 in the COVID-19 period). Mean MHI-5 scores did not differ between the treatment group (72·9 points [95% CI 72·8-73·2]) and control group (73·2 points [73·1-73·3]) in the pre-COVID-19 period. In the COVID-19 period, decreased mean scores were seen in both the treatment group (69·6 points [69·0-70·2]) and control group (70·8 points [70·5-71·2]). Difference-in-differences estimation showed a small but statistically significant effect of lockdown on MHI-5 scores, with greater decline for residents of Victoria in 2020 than for those in the rest of Australia (difference -1·4 points [95% CI -1·7 to -1·2]). Stratified analyses showed that this lockdown effect was larger for females (-2·2 points [-2·6 to -1·7]) than for males (-0·6 [-0·8 to -0·5]), and even larger for women in couples with children younger than 15 years (-4·4 points [-5·0 to -3·8]), and for females who lived in flats or apartments (-4·1 points [-5·4 to -2·8]) or semi-detached houses, terraced houses, or townhouses (-4·8 points [-6·4 to -3·2])., Interpretation: The imposition of lockdowns was associated with a modest negative change in overall population mental health. The results suggest that the mental health effects of lockdowns differ by population subgroups and for some might have exaggerated existing inequalities in mental health. Although lockdowns have been an important public health tool in suppressing community transmission of COVID-19, more research is needed into the potential psychosocial impacts of such interventions to inform their future use., Funding: US National Institutes of Health., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.