Search

This article presents findings from a research project that aimed to replace physical books with an adaptive learning platform, Area9 Rhapsode™, for nursing students' class preparation. As the project expanded, it became evident that students employed diverse preparation practices, prompting an investigation into their preparation habits. This is done through the following research questions: (1) how do students feel about class preparation? (2) what learning resources do students choose? (3) when and where do they prepare for class? This is conducted through a mixed methods design that draws on empirical data from interviews, mobile ethnography, surveys, and log data. The results highlight the wide range of resources students utilise, including digital and analogue tools, the various temporal patterns of preparation, and students' spectrum of feelings in their preparation. The findings suggest the importance of understanding individual students' preparation habits to facilitate targeted teaching approaches that cater to diverse learning needs. The article contributes to the existing literature on study habits and strategies, emphasising the need for educators to recognise and adapt to students' unique preparation behaviours in order to enhance their academic success.

This article presents findings from a research project that aimed to replace physical books with an adaptive learning platform, Area9 Rhapsode™, for nursing students’ class preparation. As the project expanded, it became evident that students employed diverse preparation practices, prompting an investigation into their preparation habits. This is done through the following research questions: (1) how do students feel about class preparation? (2) what learning resources do students choose? (3) when and where do they prepare for class? This is conducted through a mixed methods design that draws on empirical data from interviews, mobile ethnography, surveys, and log data. The results highlight the wide range of resources students utilise, including digital and analogue tools, the various temporal patterns of preparation, and students’ spectrum of feelings in their preparation. The findings suggest the importance of understanding individual students’ preparation habits to facilitate targeted teaching approaches that cater to diverse learning needs. The article contributes to the existing literature on study habits and strategies, emphasising the need for educators to recognise and adapt to students’ unique preparation behaviours in order to enhance their academic success.

In this theoretical paper, we argue that Tech enthusiasts and skeptics are animated by the same sociotechnical personalization imaginary to improve education and teaching through personalization, but see very different paths to this goal. Tech boosters point to well-known problems of the existing education system – and rhetorically ask: ‘why shouldn’t we solve these problems with technology?’ Doomsters claim that only humans can do this and ask ‘why should we relinquish power to machines?’ We believe that the full implications of incorporating adaptive technologies in schools have neither been considered, fully revealed, or adequately prepared for by either side. But we are not interested in evaluating either the claims of techboosters or doomsters. Through an analysis through the lens of imaginaries, we reveal the false dichotomy of for or against technology, which obfuscates the fundamental question of whether the social technology we have put in place to educate ourselves solves the right problem and solves the problem well? We conclude with a brief discussion on the value of the personalization imaginary. We argue that the question is not whether platforms enable or disable teacher agency per se, but rather why should we hold up personalization as an ideal for education?

Abstract is missing (Short communication)

Onychomycosis is a common disease with a significant negative impact on quality of life. While the disease is usually manageable in general practice, a proportion of patients need specialist treatment in academic hospital clinics. However, it is an unknown question whether the incidence in those needing specialist treatments is changing. Furthermore, the comorbidity burden in this patient population severely affected by onychomycosis has never been characterized. We conducted a retrospective study on patients treated for onychomycosis in Danish hospitals from 1994 to 2018. The cohort was observed for 24 years, and the data comprise 7.2 million Danes and their hospital diagnoses. A disease trajectory algorithm was used to examine the comorbidity burden in the cohort. A total of 2,271 patients received hospital treatment for onychomycosis during the time period, of which 1358 (59.8%) were men. The data show an increase in the incidence of hospital-treated cases since 2012 and that the most common comorbidities in this patient population include cardiovascular disease, alcohol-related diagnoses, and diabetes. One explanation of the increase in specialist treatment may include a general increase in patients with decreased resilience to fungal disease. This lack of resilience may both include an increasing elderly population with atherosclerosis, diabetes, and immunosuppression but also a potential increase in patients treated with immunosuppressive agents. Another possible explanation may include a shift in patient expectations in the case of treatment failure. Thus, patients may have an increasing demand for specialist treatment. While our data document an increase in the number of patients in need of specialist treatment for onychomycosis, we suggest future research to examine the general incidence of onychomycosis but also whether this increase in an apparently recalcitrant disease may be attributed to increased antifungal resistance, more specialist treatment options, or increased attention to dermatomycoses.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin disease characterized by inflammation and disfiguring scarring in the intertriginous body areas. Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with overweight and impaired quality of life. This study sought to describe Body Image Quality of Life (BI-QoL) in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and to compare it with patients with other skin diseases (controls). A total of 285 participants were recruited, 141 with hidradenitis suppurativa and 144 controls, at the Department of Dermatology at Zealand University Hospital, Denmark (during 2017–18). The Danish “Body Image Quality of Life Inventory” questionnaire measured BI-QoL. Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa had significantly lower mean BI-QoL than controls: Hidradenitis suppurativa BI-QoL (standard deviation; SD) –0.87 (0.98) vs. control BI-QoL (SD) 0.01 (1.11), p

Summary: Background: Pain is a prominent symptom of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and has been defined as a domain in the Core Outcome Set for the disease. Quality and intensity of pain is influenced by depression and anxiety, both of which are associated with HS. Objectives: To describe HS‐related pain quantitatively and qualitatively; and to investigate how disease severity, depression and anxiety correlate with self‐reported pain quality. Methods: Pain perception was investigated using the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were examined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Statistical analyses investigated differences in number of words chosen (NWC) and pain‐rating index rank [PRI(R)] in patients with severe disease and in patients with depression/anxiety. Results: A total of 138 patients with HS were recruited in an outpatient clinic (October 2017–March 2018). Patients presented a median NWC of 11·5 and a PRI(R) of 59·0%. Most common descriptors were 'shooting' (83%), 'itchy' (79%) and 'blinding' (75%). Patients with depression or anxiety presented significantly higher PRI(R)s [depressed 65% vs. non‐depressed 57% (P = 0·015); anxious 65% vs. nonanxious 57% (P = 0·004)]. Patients with involvement of three or more HS regions vs. those with fewer than three involved regions exhibited a significantly higher NWC (13 vs. 8; P = 0·048). Conclusions: HS‐related pain includes nociceptive and neuropathic pain, and perception appears to be influenced by disease severity, anxiety and depression. A multimodal pain management strategy may be the most appropriate; however, more detailed studies are necessary to define recommendations on pain management. What's already known about this topic? Pain is a core outcome domain hidradenitis suppurativa. Few studies have addressed this significant clinical problem. What does this study add? This study suggests that HS pain comprises both nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Pain appears associated to depression, anxiety and severity of the disease. Plain language summary available online Linked Comment: Alhusayen. Br J Dermatol 2020; 182:17–18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onychomycosis is a common disease with a significant negative impact on quality of life. While the disease is usually manageable in general practice, a proportion of patients need specialist treatment in academic hospital clinics. However, it is an unknown question whether the incidence in those needing specialist treatments is changing. Furthermore, the comorbidity burden in this patient population severely affected by onychomycosis has never been characterized. We conducted a retrospective study on patients treated for onychomycosis in Danish hospitals from 1994 to 2018. The cohort was observed for 24 years, and the data comprise 7.2 million Danes and their hospital diagnoses. A disease trajectory algorithm was used to examine the comorbidity burden in the cohort. A total of 2,271 patients received hospital treatment for onychomycosis during the time period, of which 1358 (59.8%) were men. The data show an increase in the incidence of hospital-treated cases since 2012 and that the most common comorbidities in this patient population include cardiovascular disease, alcohol-related diagnoses, and diabetes. One explanation of the increase in specialist treatment may include a general increase in patients with decreased resilience to fungal disease. This lack of resilience may both include an increasing elderly population with atherosclerosis, diabetes, and immunosuppression but also a potential increase in patients treated with immunosuppressive agents. Another possible explanation may include a shift in patient expectations in the case of treatment failure. Thus, patients may have an increasing demand for specialist treatment. While our data document an increase in the number of patients in need of specialist treatment for onychomycosis, we suggest future research to examine the general incidence of onychomycosis but also whether this increase in an apparently recalcitrant disease may be attributed to increased antifungal resistance, more specialist treatment options, or increased attention to dermatomycoses.

Tinea capitis (TC) is a fungal infection of the hair and scalp. It mainly affects children, and treatment requires an extensive regimen including oral therapy, antifungal creams, and shampoo, as well as disinfection of fomites, bed linen, and clothes. Family members to patients with TC need prophylactic treatment to limit spread of the infection. Adherence to therapy in TC is time consuming, and the disease may cause psychosocial impairment to the caregivers. In this study, we performed interviews with parents to children with TC to identify factors related to treatment adherence and psychosocial implications from the parent's perspective. The interviews were performed and recorded at a dermatology outpatient clinic in Roskilde, Denmark (2018-2019). A total of 11 families agreed to participate in the study. The families had one to four affected children (age range: 1-14 years). We found that the key factors affecting adherence were the level of cooperation between the child and their parent, lack of symptoms in family members, and language barrier. The psychosocial well-being of parents was negatively affected due to fear of stigma and the time spent on treatment. Our study emphasizes the need for proper treatment instructions and psychosocial support of the parents by healthcare professionals., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and recurring disease mainly observed in adults. Obesity is considered an important independent factor in HS development and is associated with a higher prevalence of HS in children. We aimed to characterize the clinical presentation of HS in overweight and obese children and adolescents., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional observational study during January 2007-April 2015. Overweight and obese patients (5-17 years of age, BMI> 90th percentile) referred to The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbaek, Denmark, underwent screening for dermatological conditions. A dermatologist ascertained the diagnosis of HS, and disease severity was assessed using Hurley staging and Sartorius score. Tobacco smoke exposure, body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS), and psychiatric comorbidities were recorded. Our cohort was compared with a reference cohort recruited in a previous study., Results: A total of 195 children and adolescents underwent screening for dermatological conditions. Nine patients screened positive, and six of these patients were available for examination of whom five presented with HS. All HS cases were mild (median Sartorius score of 9). Four of the five patients (with varying constellations) reported tobacco exposure, a positive family history of HS, and exhibited psychiatric comorbidities., Conclusion: Our findings support that the presence of pediatric HS is correlated with familial disposition to HS and psychiatric comorbidities., (© 2019 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease. HS patients develop painful subcutaneous nodules, primarily in the intertriginous regions. Early diagnosis is crucial to initiate appropriate treatment, which may prevent disease progression. The cost of treatment increases with disease severity. Studies have found a considerable diagnostic delay in HS. Screening programs may reduce diagnostic delay and allow for better utilization of resources., Methods: Arguments for implementing an HS screening program were explored based on the 10 WHO criteria for implementing screening programs., Results: HS is an important health problem due to its prevalence and the adverse effects of the disease. Facilities for treatment and diagnosis exist, and the validated screening questionnaire is considered acceptable to the population. HS patients should be seen by a dermatologist and treated accordingly. Medical expenses increase with disease severity, and finding patients with early-stage HS is considered cost-effective., Conclusions: We consider a screening program as valuable for public healthcare. Patients can avoid extensive surgery or treatment with biologics if disease progression is prevented, and this will reduce medical expenses for the public healthcare system. Politicians should consider implementing a screening program for HS.

Dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique, suitable for the study of structural and dynamic features of cutaneous microvasculature. Studies with D-OCT have primarily focused on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), and a reference description of healthy skin is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of standard microvascular features in normal skin. A total of 280 participants without skin disease were D-OCT-scanned on four body locations: three sun-exposed areas and one unexposed: forehead, back of the neck, back of the hand and medial side of the upper arm. Frequencies of standard vascular features were reported, and relations to anatomical location and demographic data were investigated. "Dots," "lines" and "curves" were the most frequent shapes at 150 μm, 300 μm and 500 μm. "Mottle" was the predominant pattern at 150 μm and 300 μm. "Mesh" was found from 300 μm and primarily found at 500 μm. Regional differences in vascular characteristics were primarily found comparing the medial side of the arm with the other body locations. In normal skin, the most frequent shapes were "dots," "lines" and "curves," and "mottle" was present more superficially than "mesh." In conclusion, regional anatomical differences should be taken into account when evaluating D-OCT images., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)