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Evidence suggests an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly among emerging adults. However, theories on altruism born of suffering or adversarial growth suggest that we might also see prosocial behavior as a function of the pandemic, which may protect against mental health challenges. Because cultural values are central in determining prosocial behavior, the current study explored how cultural values were differentially associated with adaptive prosocial behaviors that might protect against mental health challenges. Participants for the current study included 5,682 young people aged 18-25 years from 14 different countries around the world (68% female, 62% college students). Path analyses suggested that there were few differences in patterns as a function of culture, but revealed that horizontal individualism and horizontal and vertical collectivism were indirectly associated with lower levels of depression via prosocial behavior toward family members. Discussion focuses on the importance of coping by strengthening family relationships via prosocial behavior during the pandemic.

Background: Despite the intense policy focus on reducing health-care-associated conditions, adverse events in health care settings persist. Therefore, evaluating patient safety efforts and related health policy initiatives remains critical. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between hospital patient safety culture and hospital performance on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) metrics. Methodology/Approach: A pooled cross-sectional study design was used utilizing three secondary datasets from 2018 and 2021: the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, the American Hospital Association annual survey, and the Hospital Compare data from CMS. We used two multivariable linear regression models to examine the relationship between organizational patient safety culture and hospital performance. The dependent variables included the overall CMS total performance score (TPS) and the four individual TPS domain scores. Hospital patient safety culture, the independent variable, was operationalized using two measures from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: (a) the domain score of overall perceptions of patient safety and (b) the patient safety grade. Results: We observed positive and significant associations between hospital patient safety culture and a hospital's overall TPS and the "patient and community engagement" and "safety" domains. Conclusion: Findings suggest that building a strong patient safety culture has the potential to lead health care organizations to achieve high performance on HVBP metrics. Practice Implications: Our findings have important policy implications for both the future of CMS HVBP as a motivator of patient safety and how health care managers integrate culture change into programs to meet external quality metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing nature of the transition to adulthood in western societies, such as the United States, may be extending the length of time parents are engaged in "parenting" activities. However, little is known about different approaches parents take in their interactions with their emerging-adult children. Hence, this study attempted to identify different clusters of parents based on the extent to which they exhibited both extremes of control (psychological control, punishment, verbal hostility, indulgence) and responsiveness (knowledge, warmth, induction, autonomy granting), and to examine how combinations of parenting were related to emerging adult children's relational and individual outcomes (e.g. parent-child relationship quality, drinking, self-worth, depression). The data were collected from 403 emerging adults (M age = 19.89, SD = 1.78, range = 18-26, 62% female) and at least one of their parents (287 fathers and 317 mothers). Eighty-four percent of participants reported being European American, 6% Asian American, 4% African American, 3% Latino, and 4% reported being of other ethnicities. Data were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis, separately for mothers and fathers, and identified three similar clusters of parents which we labeled as "uninvolved" (low on all aspects of parenting), "controlling-indulgent" (high on both extremes of control and low on all aspects of responsiveness), and "authoritative" (high on responsiveness and low on control). A fourth cluster was identified for both mothers and fathers and was labeled as "inconsistent" for mothers (mothers were above the mean on both extremes of control and on responsiveness) and "average" for fathers (fathers were at the mean on all eight aspects of parenting). The discussion focuses on how each of these clusters effectively distinguished between child outcomes.

This study examined correlates of pornography acceptance and use within a normative (nonclinical) population of emerging adults (individuals aged 18-26). Participants included 813 university students (500 women; M age = 20 years) recruited from six college sites across the United States. Participants completed online questionnaires regarding their acceptance and use of pornography, as well as their sexual values and activity, substance use, and family formation values. Results revealed that roughly two thirds (67%) of young men and one half (49%) of young women agree that viewing pornography is acceptable, whereas nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) young men and nearly one third (31%) of young women reported using pornography. Results also revealed associations between pornography acceptance and use and emerging adults' risky sexual attitudes and behaviors, substance use patterns, and nonmarital cohabitation values. The discussion considers the implications of pornography use during the transition to adulthood. (Contains 4 tables.)

Background: Patient engagement (PE) is critical to improving patient experience and outcomes, as well as clinician work life and lowering health care costs, yet health care organizations (HCOs) have limited guidance about how to support PE. The engagement capacity framework considers the context of engagement and examines precursors to engagement, including patients' self-efficacy, resources, willingness, and capabilities. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore clinician and patient perspectives related to mechanisms through with the HCOs can facilitate PE through the lens of the engagement capacity framework. Methodology/Approach: We administered an online open-ended survey to clinicians and patient advisors across the United States, including questions focused on the influences of, barriers to, and skills and tools required for PE. A common theme emerged focusing on the role of HCOs in facilitating engagement. Our analysis examined all responses tagged with the "health care system" code. Results: Over 750 clinicians and patient advisors responded to our survey. Respondents identified offering advice and support for patients to manage their care (self-efficacy), providing tools to facilitate communication (resources), working to encourage connection with patients (willingness), and training for HCO employees in cultural competency and communication skills (capabilities) as important functions of HCOs related to engagement. Conclusion: HCOs play an important role in supporting a strong partnership between the patient and clinicians. Our study identifies important mechanisms through which HCOs can fulfill this role. Practice Implications: HCO leadership and administration can help establish the culture of care provided. Policies and initiatives that provide appropriate communication tools and promote culturally competent care can increase engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer observation and feedback (POF) is the direct observation of an activity performed by a colleague followed by feedback with the goal of improved performance and professional development. Although well described in the education literature, the use of POF as a tool for development beyond teaching skills has not been explored. We aimed to characterize the practice of POF among pediatric hospitalists to explore the perceived benefits and barriers and to identify preferences regarding POF. We developed a 14-item cross-sectional survey regarding divisional expectations, personal practice, perceived benefits and barriers, and preferences related to POF. We refined the survey based on expert feedback, cognitive interviews, and pilot testing, distributing the final survey to pediatric hospitalists at 12 institutions across the United States. Of 357 eligible participants, 198 (56%) responded, with 115 (58%) practicing in a freestanding children's hospital. Although 61% had participated in POF, less than one half (42%) reported divisional POF expectation. The most common perceived benefits of POF were identifying areas for improvement (94%) and learning about colleagues' teaching and clinical styles (94%). The greatest perceived barriers were time (51%) and discomfort with receiving feedback from peers (38%), although participation within a POF program reduced perceived barriers. Most (76%) desired formal POF programs focused on improving teaching skills (85%), clinical management (83%), and family-centered rounds (82%). Although the majority of faculty desired POF, developing a supportive environment and feasible program is challenging. This study provides considerations for improving and designing POF programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lajos Pósa (pronounced Posha) is one of the most prominent mathematics educators in Hungary. The authors introduce readers to the Pósa method for teaching mathematics, an approach consistent with exploratory methods promoted in the United States. The authors present two scenarios (with extensions) that were posed during the workshop, both with different strategies and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy makers and practitioners argue that electronic exchange of clinical data across the healthcare system is a key component of improving health service delivery in the United States. Provider administrators, however, question the strategic value of participation in health information exchanges (HIEs) and remain reluctant to participate. Existing research fails to adequately illuminate the potential value derived from HIEs by participating organizations. This paper addresses this gap by developing a conceptual model informed by the complementary theoretical perspectives of the relational view and systems theory to specify both a provider organization's internal conditions and the HIE structure necessary for both financial accrual and quality improvement. This two-sided model can assist policymakers as they attempt to encourage HIE development, as well as provider and HIE leadership that seek to benefit from HIEs. The propositions developed from this model can also help guide researchers as they evaluate the impact of HIEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric technology has become an increasingly common part of daily life. Although biometrics have been used for decades, recent advances and new uses have made the technology more prevalent, particularly in the private sector. This Note examines how widespread use of biometrics by the private sector is commodifying human characteristics. As the use of biometrics has become more extensive, it exacerbates and exposes individuals and industry to a number of risks and problems associated with biometrics. Despite public belief, biometric systems may be bypassed, hacked, or even fail. The more a characteristic is utilized, the less value it will hold for security purposes. Once compromised, a biometric cannot be replaced as would a password or other security device. This Note argues that there are strong justifications for a legal structure that builds hurdles to slow the adoption of biometrics in the private sector. By examining the law and economics and personality theories of commodification, this Note identifies market failure and potential harm to personhood due to biometrics. The competing theories justify a reform to protect human characteristics from commodification. This Note presents a set of principles and tools based on defaults, disclosures, incentives, and taxation to discourage use of biometrics, buying time to strengthen the technology, educate the public, and establish legal safeguards for when the technology is compromised or fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit case Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Bureau of Land Management which was concerning the compatibility of the western interstate Ruby Pipeline Project (Project) that involves construction of natural gas pipeline, with the Endangered Species Act of the U.S. It mentions court's decision that approval for the Project was invalid due to their reliance on beneficial effects of conservation action plan measures.

The article discusses the importance of digital imaging to the task of teachers in providing American students with opportunities to learn about mathematics. The use of digital pictures in classroom instruction was recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) so that teachers could connect mathematics to the real world. In this approach, the students could take a picture of a rooftop and insert it into the Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP). Digital imaging is an important tool in mathematics because it assists students in understanding the course while at the same time integrating their world into the classroom in a meaningful manner.

The article focuses on a study related the problem of deaths of the U.S. children due to cancer. Exposure to pesticides through carry-home exposures and groundwater exposure raises the chances of childhood cancer. The study discusses the association between birth in Texas county and moderate agricultural activity. It's asserted that the possibility of the connection between the two shouldn't be ruled out. Different cancer sites included in the study were all cancers, leukemia, lymphoma and CNS tumor were examined for the study.

Background: Reports have linked anorexigen intake to an increased risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). With the rise in anorexigen use in the latter half of the last decade, we established a surveillance network within the United States to monitor temporal trends in the number of reported cases of PAH. We also studied whether use of anorexigens and other drugs differed among patients with pulmonary hypertension of different etiologies. Methods: Newly diagnosed subjects (N = 1335) at 13 tertiary pulmonary hypertension centers were enrolled between January 1998 and June 2001. Patient-reported medication use was obtained by a telephone interview. Patients were classified as to the type of pulmonary hypertension. Poisson regression models were fitted to monthly case counts, and logistic regression methods were used to assess the association between type of pulmonary hypertension and medication use. Results: The average monthly number of reported cases of PAH and other categories of pulmonary hypertension did not change over the study period. Fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine use during the 5 years before the time of the interview was preferentially associated with PAH. Fenfluramine/dexfenfluramine use was particularly common in cases referred but found not to have pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions: No epidemic of anorexigen-related PAH was evident during the study period. As persons who had taken fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine were particularly likely to be referred for evaluation of pulmonary hypertension, it is unlikely that the failure to detect an anorexigen-induced rise in primary pulmonary hypertension was because of underascertainment. The association between fenfluramine derivatives and PAH is consistent with the risk elevations previously reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper explores the role of women in nineteenth century America, as well as their efforts towards equality. The particular social structure which existed in nineteenth century America had tremendous influence on events which occurred in this era. Women's contribution to the social structure had been mainly in the form of service as mother, cook, housekeeper, and servant--menial tasks which were not considered to be highly significant contributions. The Industrial Revolution opened new role alternatives for women, freeing them from traditional nuclear family obligations. Women began to raise such issues as subordination versus equality and accommodation versus autonomy, to name just two. Early conflicts between women and the social structure occurred due to social incongruities which led to group conflict and struggle. The social disorganization, brought on by dissatisfaction with the existing norms, caused a state of anomie. As Lucy Stone Blackwell became more involved in the struggle for women's equality, she grew in her understanding of the existing social order and its need for change. In its incipient stages women's struggles for equality took on many qualities of existentialism. Lucy Stone Blackwell both founded and edited the Women's Journal of Boston, this being the prime woman suffrage newspaper of the U.S. for nearly half a century.

Background: Children's hospitals are faced with the rising need for technological innovation. Their prospective health care consumers, who increasingly depend on the Web and social media for communication and consumer engagement, drive this need. As patients and family members navigate the Web presence of hospitals, it is important for these specialized organizations to present themselves and their services efficiently.Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the website content of children's hospitals in order to identify opportunities to improve website design and create benchmarks to judge improvement.Methods: All websites associated with a children's hospital were identified using a census list of all children's hospitals in the United States. In March of 2014, each website and its social media were evaluated using a Web crawler that provided a 5-dimensional assessment that included website accessibility, marketing, content, technology, and usability. The 5-dimensional assessment was scored on a scale ranging from 0 to 10 with positive findings rated higher on the scale. Websites were ranked by individual dimensions as well as according to their average ranking across all dimensions.Results: Mean scores of 153 websites ranged from 5.05 to 8.23 across all 5 dimensions. Results revealed that no website scored a perfect 10 on any dimension and that room exists for meaningful improvement.Conclusions: Study findings allow for the establishment of baseline benchmarks for tracking future website and social media improvements and display the need for enhanced Web-based consumer engagement for children's hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]