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This paper presents a two-year pedagogical, teacher-as-researcher, action research project at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Sousse, Tunisia, which investigates how the integration of the Soliya Connect Program, a facilitated dialogic online exchange programme, with a theoretical course on critical intercultural communication helped students develop critical interculturality. Despite some initial concern about the extra time commitment, students were unanimously positive about integrating the two aspects, claiming that the Connect Program helped them to develop criticality in real life, and that the online communication was much more effective because they participated with the critical perspective developed in class. The findings support the integration of theoretical and practical online components in developing students' critical intercultural communication skills, and the use of action research to inform adjustments to both components in order to improve the outcomes.

Background: Intellectual disability and mental health disorders constitute a major health problem globally with higher economic burden in low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. In 2017, the World Bank estimated that 85% of the global population lived in low-middle-income countries. Limited research has explored health practitioner knowledge and/or confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in persons with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in low-income countries such as Bangladesh. Method: One hundred and ninety-seven Bangladeshi-based health practitioners were grouped into 7 main professional groups according the current Bangladeshi health hierarchy (psychiatrists; traditional healers and community workers; medical doctors; nurses; psychologists; allied health: speech therapists, occupational therapists, social workers; and others: teachers physiotherapists, administration staff). A 34-item online survey was completed, which included questions measuring symptoms of common mental health disorders with reference to the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, and questions measuring confidence working with persons with IDs from the Therapy Confidence Scale-Intellectual Disabilities. Results: Participants demonstrated low knowledge of symptomology but were "confident" working with people with IDs. Kruskal-Wallis H tests indicated a significant effect of professional group on both overall knowledge and confidence levels, respectively. Traditional healers and community health workers had significantly more knowledge of symptoms than all other practitioners for obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, psychosis, and hypomania. Conclusion: Participants demonstrated confidence, but low knowledge, in treating individuals with IDs. The development of training programs to address specific deficits in knowledge of mental health symptoms, and confidence in using assessment and assessment-based communication, is recommended.

Background: Many people require additional care and support to meet their personal, health and psychosocial needs. Sometimes that responsibility falls to young people within their families. The research to date indicates that the impact on these young people can be significant, however no comprehensive reviews have yet examined this in Australian participants. Objective: Given the personal, subjective experience of caring, this study systematically reviews the qualitative literature on Australian youth under 25 who provide an informal caring role, using a meta-ethnographic approach. Method: Qualitative studies published since 2002 using Australian participants were included. The databases used included: Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, MEDLINE Complete, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, and Child Development & Adolescent Studies. Quality ratings and risk of bias are discussed. Results: Seventeen studies were included in the final analysis, representing the experiences of 531 young carers. The results suggest that the young carer experience is profound and impacts a range of domains, including social, academic, and psychological. The impacts are largely perceived as disadvantageous, although some positive outcomes are discussed. Conclusion: On the basis of the findings, the review concludes by offering a model to conceptualise the Australian young carer phenomenon. KEY POINTS: What is already known about this topic: (1) Young carers perform a wide variety of important social, personal and healthcare tasks for family members. (2) Being a young carer impacts physical and mental health, as well as academic and vocational prospects. (3) Structural health and social care differences make international comparisons of the young carer experience difficult to undertake reliably. What this topic adds: (1) Systematically collected and synthesised qualitative information on Australian young carers is presented for the first time. (2) Key themes relating to how they became young carers, their disconnection from support services and the psychosocial toll of undertaking the caring role emerged as important aspects of the young carer experience. (3) Positive aspects of the young carer experience also emerged, but these require further study, alongside factors that mediate the impact of negative health and psychosocial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual wellbeing is an integral part of human existence, characterised by physical, emotional, mental, and sociocultural factors. This study aimed to synthesise and evaluate psychometric measures of sexual wellbeing. Following systematic review methodology, searches were conducted in August 2020 and articles were screened by two independent reviewers. Studies regarding adult sexual wellbeing (≥18 years old), that also met eligibility criteria, were identified and relevant psychometric measures were extracted. A total of 74 unique measures were extracted from 88 papers, representing varying aspects of sexual wellbeing. Sexual wellbeing instruments were categorised by domains (e.g., cognitive-affective) and dimensions (e.g., sexual function, sexual desire), and reliability was summarised. The overall psychometric properties demonstrate that current measures are acceptable, although no single measure captured all domains of sexual wellbeing reflected in the literature. Rather, many instruments measured a single dimension of the multifaceted construct with variation amongst what constituted "sexual wellbeing". A unified approach to sexual wellbeing is needed to ensure clear operational definitions and theoretical frameworks are used to support psychometric evaluation. Clinicians and researchers are urged to critically evaluate which instrument best captures the desired aspects of sexual wellbeing or whether a combination of measures would be more appropriate. LAY SUMMARY: The current study investigated how sexual wellbeing has been examined by researchers within the wider literature. Interestingly, our results found that sexual wellbeing has largely been measured inconsistently, using a variety of questionnaires that only assess one part of sexual wellbeing (e.g., only sexual desire or only sexual functioning). New ways of measuring sexual wellbeing are required to ensure sexual wellbeing is accurately assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intellectual disability (ID) and co-morbid mental health problems are more common in developing countries such as Bangladesh. However, little is known about how Bangladeshi health practitioners diagnose mental health disorders in people with an ID. Studies in developed countries have explored the impact of the diagnostic overshadowing bias (DOB): the tendency for health practitioners to misattribute mental health symptomology to a client's ID, rather than a separate mental health disorder. To date, no study has investigated the presence of the DOB in Bangladesh. Method: A range of Bangladeshi health practitioners (N = 243) were randomly assigned a clinical vignette describing a client displaying symptoms of a mental health disorder. Vignette 1 described a client with an IQ of 105 who graduated from secondary school. Vignette 2 described a client with an IQ of 55 who attended special education. All other details were identical. Participants rated the likelihood of seven mental health diagnoses on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Practitioners were more likely to diagnose schizophrenia, drug problems and being bullied in people with a typical IQ compared to those with an ID. Doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists appeared to be more affected by the DOB than community health workers, traditional healers, and allied health practitioners. Conclusion: Findings indicate that the bias may be present in Bangladesh healthcare professionals. The development and implementation of specific training programs to meet the differing needs of practitioners, across the health fields are recommended.

Background: There is limited Australian research investigating health practitioner knowledge and/or confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Method: Ninety-three health practitioners from four professional groups (primary health practitioners, psychologists, mental health practitioners, and alternative therapies) completed a 34-item online survey comprising questions designed to identify participant knowledge of disorders described in the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities and the Therapy Confidence Scale-Intellectual Disabilities. Results: Participants demonstrated low knowledge of symptomology and were "moderately confident" to "confident" working with people with IDs. Whilst professional group showed a significant main effect on confidence levels, post-hoc analysis did not detect significant differences between the individual professional groups. Conclusions: Australian participants demonstrated confidence, but low knowledge, in treating individuals with IDs. The development of training to address deficits in practitioner knowledge of symptomology, assessment, and assessment-based communication is recommended.

ObjectiveMethodResultsDiscussion\nKEY POINTSThe experience of psychologists who use telehealth remains relatively unexplored. Existing literature indicates that self-efficacy and familiarity with technology contribute to satisfaction.One hundred and sixty-six Australian psychologists completed an online survey measuring self-efficacy, technology affinity and telehealth satisfaction.Self-efficacy mediated 54% of the relationship between telehealth affinity and telehealth satisfaction. Self-rated intervention skills, assessment and measurement skills, and positive attitude towards technology contributed to telehealth satisfaction.The integration of self-efficacy components into traditional telehealth training for psychologists is explored. Increased self-efficacy may lead to greater telehealth satisfaction, potentially contributing to better treatment outcomes for clients.What is already known about this topic: Clients often rate their experience of telehealth positively, but less is knows about the experience of clinicians, and in particular psychologists.Overall satisfaction with the telehealth experience and general technology skills (technology affinity) have been shown to influence the adoption of telehealth by clinicians. Self-efficacy has been shown to positively influence attitudes to telehealth.Telehealth skills, clinician satisfaction and clinician self-efficacy may also influence client outcomes.Clients often rate their experience of telehealth positively, but less is knows about the experience of clinicians, and in particular psychologists.Overall satisfaction with the telehealth experience and general technology skills (technology affinity) have been shown to influence the adoption of telehealth by clinicians. Self-efficacy has been shown to positively influence attitudes to telehealth.Telehealth skills, clinician satisfaction and clinician self-efficacy may also influence client outcomes.What this topic adds: Technology affinity is a significant positive predictor of telehealth self-efficacy in psychologistsSelf-efficacy significantly predicts some of the relationship between technology affinity and telehealth satisfaction, acting as a mediator.Intervention and assessment/measurement self-efficacy showed a greater relationship with telehealth satisfaction than other aspects of psychologist self-efficacy.Technology affinity is a significant positive predictor of telehealth self-efficacy in psychologistsSelf-efficacy significantly predicts some of the relationship between technology affinity and telehealth satisfaction, acting as a mediator.Intervention and assessment/measurement self-efficacy showed a greater relationship with telehealth satisfaction than other aspects of psychologist self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial spot disease of cucurbits, caused by Xanthomonas cucurbitae, is a major problem in cucurbit‐growing areas worldwide. In the Midwestern region of the United States, pumpkin and squash fields can have greater than 90% infected fruits, leading to high yield losses. While reference genomes are available for this bacterial species, the genetic diversity between different strains and populations is unknown. After performing restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing (RAD‐seq) analysis of X. cucurbitae isolates collected from the Midwestern region, we selected five representative isolates for further characterization, which included whole‐genome sequencing and in vitro enzyme and in planta virulence assays. Our results suggest that minimal genetic diversity exists between these isolates, and that the isolates have differential virulence on different cucurbit host plants. This study contributes to our understanding of X. cucurbitae population dynamics in the Midwestern region and may assist with developing additional management strategies for controlling bacterial spot disease of cucurbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field education is the most challenging aspect of social work education and there are unprecedented challenges currently measuring good practice with quality outcomes. Thus, it's important to have competency-based key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess social work professional practice. This study is a national, mixed-methods Delphi research study with three rounds. Round 1 required participants (N=46) to provide open-text qualitative responses on how to assess students' competency on placement, meeting core social work values and ethics. In round 2, participants' responses (N=59) were analyzed in relation to AASW Practice Standards. The final round, consensus was obtained from participants (N=71) with 31 KPIs receiving participant agreement. Establishing national agreed-on KPIs is an essential step in maintaining consistency across diverse placement sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst some research has been conducted into those who engage in non-consensual condom removal, the aim of the study was to explore the relationship between Dark Triad of Personality traits (i.e. machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy) and arousal from, intention to engage in, and reported behavioural history of non-consensual condom removal (i.e. stealthing), which is a type of sexual violence. Results found that there were associations between all Dark Triad traits and all types of condom use resistance; individuals who were aroused by stealthing scenarios and who reported a behavioural history of stealthing scored significantly higher on machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy compared to those who were not aroused by or did not report a behavioural history of stealthing. Psychopathy and narcissism were found to be significant predictors of a person's reported intention to engage in stealthing behaviour. Future research into the relationship between Dark Triad and other types of personality traits and stealthing behaviour is needed to inform assessment, prevention, and treatment for perpetrators of this type of sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young carers in Australia are people aged under 25 who undertake a substantial familial caring role. A range of associated disadvantages with this practice have been identified, however, no systematic literature review currently exists to consolidate the Australian research. Articles were included if they used a broadly quantitative methodology, were in English, and published since 2002 using original, contemporary Australian data and specifically discussed the caring role. The following databases were searched: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsychInfo, APA PsycArticles, MEDLINE Complete, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL with Full Text, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, APA PsycTherapy. Fourteen articles were included, and synthesised using a narrative style, capturing detailed information on approximately 8000 young carers, and briefer census-style data on 128,000 young carers. Quality ratings and risk of bias analyses were included. It was found that young carers exhibit a range of disadvantages across academic, social, and mental health domains, particularly when the care recipient is a parent, and even more so if the care needs are related to mental health or substance use. Additional research is required to further explore the relationships between the young caring role and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with an Intellectual Disability (ID) are around 4 times more likely to suffer with a mental health disorder than IQ-typical people, however previous studies have shown they may be less likely to be diagnosed. One suggested cause of this is the diagnostic overshadowing bias: the tendency for practitioners to attribute unusual behaviour, thoughts or feelings to a person's ID and not a separate mental health disorder.In the current study N = 87 participants were randomly assigned 1 of 2 clinical vignettes describing a client who is displaying symptoms of mental health disorder. Vignette 1 described a client with an IQ of 105 who graduated from high school. Vignette 2 described a client with an IQ of 55 who attended special classes throughout school. All other details were identical. Participants then rated the likelihood of 7 diagnoses on a 5-point Likert scale.Contrary to our hypothesis participants were not less likely to diagnose a mental health disorder in people with an ID and this was found to exist across all profession types involved in the study.Although these findings indicate that the diagnostic overshadowing bias may not be present in Australia, several factors including a reported lack of confidence in working with clients with an ID suggest the inclusion of ID specific training may be beneficial.

This research explores the use of simulation technology in supporting and preparing social work students (n = 336) for core professional skills needed for practice. This study utilized a randomized experimental design using a 3 × 3 between-subjects design to assess the impact of the type of simulation (e.g. traditional written case studies, video-based simulations, and live actor simulations) and type of scenario (e.g. family/domestic violence, suicide/mental health and hospital/medical) on social work student's ability to undertake a psychosocial assessment. Results showed that students developed more comprehensive psychosocial assessments when presented with video simulations compared to traditional methods, using actors or written case studies. This research builds evidence for social work to embrace the use of simulation to develop these skills for students in a practice setting that removes not only the fear of doing harm but also the real possibility of harm in complex scenarios. Social work field education is under increasing pressure to meet professional standards, especially with the impact of the COVID pandemic. Thus, the profession must consider alternatives for training students including utilizing technology. While many other professional disciplines incorporated the use of simulation in training, social work has been slow to embrace this trend while favoring traditional teaching methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This technology needs assessment report of populations living in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) region addresses the root causes and dilemmas of the “digital divide” problem. This study addresses the central question: how can the Southeast Cities Technology Collaborative (SCTC) structure a regional intervention project that spearheads development in the productive use of information technology and benefits a low-income population with low educational attainment in Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) cities?The study first provides a regional survey of the fiscal, institutional, and technological challenges facing this demographic region. The SELA region is a sub-section of Los Angeles County and comprised of eight cities and one unincorporated district: Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate, Vernon, Walnut Park, and the Florence-Firestone area. The demographic survey identifies that the SELA region has strong indicators of digital divide inequality.The study further provides an assessment of existing digital divide intervention efforts in the SELA region: public access to computers and the internet at public schools, public libraries, nonprofit and community-based organization, city-initiated programs, and private for-profit services. The study takes account of community impressions and provides specific recommendations for institutional changes than can better integrate the population into a positive development process.The study finds that investment in coordinating the integration of human capacity and technical infrastructure to network social service providers and users will support the social and economic advancement of the region. Investment in training school-age children, youth, and adults to harness the productive uses of information and telecommunications technology will yield the greatest benefits for future generations.

Sustainability is a serious concern for future transportation planning, but it should not be regarded as a straightforward problem with a simple but difficult solution. Achieving sustainability is a contextual and multi- dimensional process. Just as transportation pollutes the environment in a variety of ways and over a long period of time, addressing these pollut- ants requires a long-term, incremental, and multi-dimensional strategy to achieve sustainability. Genuine sustainability will likely take generations to achieve, but such a goal is most likely to be achieved through steady, incremental understanding and improvements in environmental impact. Given that sustainability is a long-term agenda, history is a useful and essential guide.

Practitioners and theorists have long searched for a clear definition of the role of planning. The attention to the subject is not surprising since a clear role lends any profession’s sense of identity, integrity, and legitimacy. Wildavsky (1973) criticized the planning profession’s lack of clarity in this regard, implying that the profession was attempting to encompass too much. He suggested that if “planning is everything, maybe it is nothing.” This view exemplifies a debate common to many disciplines over what constitutes core theory and practice.However, such debates are particularly important for inter-disciplinary professions such as planning. This essay argues that, for the planning profession, infrastructure is the organizational backbone around which basic principles, technical methods, professional norms, and even research are expressed. Interpreting its meaning liberally, infrastructure defines the very nature of planning. In turn, infrastructure requires planning, perhaps now more than ever. This symbiotic relationship between planning and infrastructure is unique and helps provide a clarity and focus that allow the profession to be sufficiently comprehensive without losing its meaning and purpose.