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A socio-legal analysis of the UK governance regime for data collected from children at school for teaching and learning contrasts the government-mandated data collection by schools to inform educational policy and planning with data processed and shared with third parties by commercial EdTech providers. We find the former is effectively governed by the government's 'Five Safes Framework' with some problematic exceptions. By contrast, EdTech providers process a growing volume of personal data under the DPA 2018/UK GDPR with a looser enforcement regime. While schools have few mechanisms and insufficient expertise or resources to hold EdTech providers accountable for processing children's data, EdTech providers have considerable latitude in interpreting the law. Consequently, and paradoxically, regulations governing (mostly) deidentified data used for public purposes are more systematically enforced than those governing personal (identifiable) data used for public and commercial purposes. We conclude with recommendations so that education data can serve children's best interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Understanding needle/syringe sharing is crucial for reducing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and reinfection. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with needle/syringe sharing among people who inject drugs in Australia, including those previously receiving HCV treatment. Methods: The ETHOS Engage study was an observational cohort study which collected self‐reported survey data on demographic and drug use information from people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs over two waves between May 2018 and June 2021. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with needle/syringe sharing. Results: Overall, 1555/2395 people enrolled in ETHOS Engage (65%) injected drugs in the past month. Among these, 432 (28%) reported needle/syringe sharing in the past month and 276 (18%) reported receptive sharing. Factors associated with receptive sharing included younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–2.30), recent incarceration (aOR 2.04; 95% CI 1.40–2.94), more frequent injecting (≥daily vs. less than weekly; aOR 2.59; 95% CI 1.75–3.84) and unstable housing (aOR 1.78; 95% CI 1.26–2.52). Among 560 participants with prior HCV treatment, 87 (16%) reported receptive sharing with younger age (aOR 2.42; 95% CI 1.45–4.05) and daily or greater injection frequency (aOR 2.51; 95% CI 1.31–4.83) associated with receptive sharing. Discussion and Conclusions: Needle/syringe sharing was common among this population accessing harm reduction services. This study identifies high‐risk populations with needle/syringe sharing. Research is needed to optimise HCV treatment to ensure people with ongoing risk behaviours receive adequate harm reduction following treatment to prevent reinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured education is well recognised as the way forward in the delivery of education to people with diabetes. There is a significant amount of literature that supports education as a [...]

There has been much written recently (e.g. Fleming et al, 2002) and historically (e.g. Blum et al, 1993) about the importance of smooth transfer from paediatric to adult healthcare systems [...]

Introduction: The study was conducted to compare volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Material and Methods: Ten computed tomography (CT) scans were selected and for each CT scan, two plans were created (IMRT and VMAT). The average cumulative dose-volume histograms (DVH) of VMAT plans for the planning target volumes (PTVs), organs at risk (OARs), and normal tissues were calculated and compared with those reported for the corresponding IMRT technique. Results: Target coverage was equivalent for both techniques. For primary PTV, the average homogeneity index (HI) of IMRT was significantly lower than the VMAT plans (0.10±0.04 vs. 0.11±0.03; P<0.0001). The average conformity index (CI) values for IMRT and VMAT were 1.21 and 1.12, respectively, with a nonsignificant trend for better results with VMAT (P=0.1). For the PTV boost, there was a nonsignificant trend for better results with VMAT in average HI and CI. The VMAT was superior to IMRT in OAR sparing. For monitor units (MUs), VMAT plans required 70% less MUs than IMRT. Conclusion: For LARC patients, VMAT was able to deliver treatment plans dosimetrically equivalent to IMRT in terms of PTV coverage. The VMAT provided better OAR sparing and significant reduction of MUs in comparison to IMRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of hepatitis C infection is considerable among people who inject drugs (PWID), with an estimated prevalence of 39%, representing an estimated 6.1 million people who have recently injected drugs living with hepatitis C infection. As such, PWID are a priority population for enhancing prevention, testing, linkage to care, treatment and follow‐up care in order to meet World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis C elimination goals by 2030. There are many barriers to enhancing hepatitis C prevention and care among PWID including poor global coverage of harm reduction services, restrictive drug policies and criminalization of drug use, poor access to health services, low hepatitis C testing, linkage to care and treatment, restrictions for accessing DAA therapy, and the lack of national strategies and government investment to support WHO elimination goals. On 5 September 2017, the International Network of Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) held a roundtable panel of international experts to discuss remaining challenges and future priorities for action from a health systems perspective. The WHO health systems framework comprises six core components: service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, medical procurement, health systems financing, and leadership and governance. Communication has been proposed as a seventh key element which promotes the central role of affected community engagement. This review paper presents recommended strategies for eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat among PWID and outlines future priorities for action within a health systems framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]