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The disparity in absenteeism between kindergarteners with and without disabilities is a persistent phenomenon across schools in the United States and reflects ongoing systemic inequities that disadvantage young children with disabilities. Yet, evidence of factors underlying this disparity remains less well understood, limiting the ability for schools to transform how they support students with disabilities in ways that could help narrow the disparity. In our study, we investigate how a set of factors, grounded in a socioecological framework of absenteeism, correlates with chronic absenteeism in kindergarteners with and without disabilities. Importantly, we examine the extent to which distributional differences in these factors between children with and without disabilities explain the attendance disparity. Our study draws upon a nationally representative sample of N = 13,860 kindergarteners (52 % male, 48 % female, M age = 5.5 years, n = 1240 with disabilities) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey Kindergarten Class of 2010–11. We analyze our data using multiple logistic regression to identify significant factors that correlate with chronic absenteeism and leverage the Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method to describe how distributional differences in those factors contribute to absenteeism disparities. Results show that internalizing behaviors in students with disabilities and their parents’ health are significantly associated with chronic absenteeism as well as help explain the disparity (12 % and 3 % of the disparity, respectively). Importantly, since differences in internalizing behaviors can be generated, in part, by school practices and policies that treat early elementary students with disabilities inequitably, our work suggests that reducing gaps in early absenteeism may require schools to reduce exposure to experiences that can lead to internalizing problem behaviors in young children with disabilities.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition that affects nearly 528 million people worldwide, including 23% of the global population aged ⩾40, and is characterized by progressive damage to articular cartilage, which often leads to substantial pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility for affected patients. Pain related to OA is a barrier to maintaining physical activity and a leading cause of disability, accounting for 2.4% of all years lived with disability globally, reducing the ability to work in 66% of US patients with OA and increasing absenteeism in 21% of US patients with OA. The joint most commonly involved in OA is the knee, which is affected in about 60%–85% of all OA cases. The aging population and longer life expectancy, coupled with earlier and younger diagnoses, translate into a growing cohort of symptomatic patients in need of alternatives to surgery. Despite the large number of patients with knee OA (OAK) worldwide, the high degree of variability in patient presentation can lead to challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Multiple society guidelines recommend therapies for OAK, but departures from guidelines by healthcare professionals in clinical settings reflect a discordance between evidence-based treatment algorithms and routine clinical practice. Furthermore, disease-modifying pharmacotherapies are limited, and treatment for OAK often focuses solely on symptom relief, rather than underlying causes. In this narrative review, we summarize the patient journey, analyze current disease burden and nonsurgical therapy recommendations for OAK, and highlight emerging and promising therapies—such as cryoneurolysis, long-acting corticosteroids, and gene therapies—for this debilitating condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using newly released detailed data on absence from school, we find a ‘Friday effect’—children are much less likely to attend schools in England on Fridays. We use daily level data across the whole of England and find that this pattern holds for different schools and for different types of absence, including illness‐related authorised and unexplained unauthorised absence. The Friday absence rate is 1.5 percentage points (20%) higher relative to the rest of the week. For authorised absences, the Friday rate is 0.81 percentage points higher than that for Monday to Thursday, while for unauthorised absences it is 0.71 percentage points higher. Furthermore, we document a social gradient in the ‘Friday effect’ for unauthorised absences, where the effect is larger in more deprived areas. This is especially the case for secondary schools. Similarly, in secondary schools the ‘Friday effect’ is 51% larger in areas with the highest rates of persistent absence compared with areas with the lowest persistent absence rates. We explore reasons for the ‘Friday effect’ and do not find evidence that parents working from home explain the higher absence rate on Fridays. We do find that Friday absences are greater in weeks that precede either a bank holiday or half‐term—suggesting that the extension of holidays or trying to avoid holiday traffic might go some way to explain the patterns that we find. We show that eliminating the ‘Friday effect’ could lead to an improvement of 1.15% of a standard deviation in test scores and a 0.14–0.25% increase in later life income. Tackling weekly absence patterns may therefore help to raise attainment and reduce inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people with long-term conditions (LTCs) often experience prolonged school absences. School absenteeism can adversely affect home or hospital-bound (HHB) young people's wellbeing and subsequent re-entry to school. Social connectedness through technology, especially for young people, is a burgeoning area of international research. However, connectedness through technology for HHB young people only recently gained traction. Using an integrative literature synthesis methodology, we examine the literature on connectedness through technological initiatives for HHB young people with LTCs. Results indicate potential for virtual-inclusion initiatives to enable academic and social connections but highlight the invisibility of HHB young people with LTCs in inclusive education policies. We argue that support for virtual initiatives and increased visibility of HHB young people with LTCs in inclusive education policies will enhance classroom belonging and disrupt experiences of isolation resulting in social and academic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a high prevalence of adolescent girls with ovulatory menstrual (OM) dysfunction, which is associated with school absenteeism and mental health challenges. Low menstrual health literacy among this group has evoked calls to review OM health education. This qualitative study sought to explore gaps in current OM health education and to validate a holistic school-based OM health literacy program named My Vital Cycles®. Findings are based on 19 written reflections, six focus group discussions and three interviews conducted with 28 girls aged 14–18 years from 11 schools, and five mothers. Six themes compared current OM health education with My Vital Cycles®: understating health, comprehensiveness, resources, teaching, parents and cycle tracking. Future refinements to the program comprised: inclusion of the complete reproductive lifespan, use of visual media and developing a mobile application. These findings inform future research in a whole school approach, strengths-based teaching and changes in the health curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: School attendance problems (SAPs) affect both the education and development of young learners. There is a need to better understand what supports are needed to overcome and prevent SAPs from students' perspectives. The aim of the current study is to explore students' perspectives on what challenges they faced, and what they perceived as helpful in overcoming attendance challenges on their pathways towards completing their education. Method: We conducted interviews with students (n = 9) in a local comprehensive school (Stadtteilschule) in the city-state Hamburg in Germany. Students were in their final year before obtaining a certificate that qualifies them for possible admission to post-secondary education. Data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Findings show that students experienced complex challenges to school attendance that were associated with emotional distress, negative school experiences, and reduced well-being. Our findings point to common protective mechanisms in students' perceptions of what helped them overcome SAPs. The key drivers of school attendance are located within students and their social contexts, including personal resilience, supportive relationships at school, and the social environment. Discussion: Based on students' views, we present a model that illustrates the interconnectedness of perceived challenges and supports in the function of risk and protective factors moving across ecological systems in the development of SAPs. We highlight how these areas can guide prevention and intervention to support students in successfully completing their education and transitioning into multiple post-secondary pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School absences can negatively impact a child's schooling, including the loss of teacher‐led lessons, peer interactions, and, ultimately, academic achievement. However, little is known about the long‐term consequences of school absences for overall educational attainment and labour market outcomes. In this paper, we used data from the 1970 British Cohort Study to examine long‐term associations between school absences in late childhood and individuals' educational attainment, social class, unemployment and earnings at age 42 while adjusting for a comprehensive set of confounders. Our findings show that school absences are associated with lower educational attainment but are not associated with social class destination except for increasing the likelihood of being out of the labour force after adjusting for confounders. Individuals who missed five days of school at age 10 were 5.2% more likely to have obtained no qualifications and 4.1% more likely to be out of the labour force. However, we did not find a significant association between school absences and individuals' earnings or duration of unemployment. Our findings suggest that the detrimental consequences of school absences persist beyond schooling into adulthood. Overall, this study highlights the importance of addressing school absenteeism to promote educational and labour market participation over the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the high seas, regional fishery management organisations are required to implement measures to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Our objectives were to develop habitat suitability models for use in the spatial management of bottom fisheries in the South Pacific and to evaluate these and existing models using independent data from high‐quality seafloor imagery. Presence‐only models for seven VME indictor taxa were developed to complement previous modelling. Evaluation of habitat suitability models using withheld data indicated high mean True Skill Statistic scores of 0.44–0.64. Most habitat suitability models performed adequately when assessed with independent data on taxon presence and absence but were poor surrogates for abundance. We therefore advocate caution when using presence‐only models for spatial management and call for more systematically collected data to develop abundance models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Do adolescents and young adult women (YAW) with histologically proven endometriosis present a specific clinical history? SUMMARY ANSWER Questionnaire screening of adolescents and YAW can identify clinical markers associated with histologically proven endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Some validated questionaries can contribute to an earlier endometriosis diagnosis in adults. None of these scores, however, have been validated for adolescents or YAW. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was an observational cross-sectional study using prospectively recorded data performed between January 2005 and January 2020 in a single university tertiary referral centre for endometriosis diagnosis and management. After a thorough surgical examination of the abdomino-pelvic cavity, women with histologically proven endometriosis were allocated to the endometriosis group, and symptomatic women without evidence of endometriosis were allocated to the endometriosis-free control group. The endometriotic patients were allocated into two sub-groups according to their age: adolescent (≤20 years) and YAW (21–24 years). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Adolescents and YAW ≤24 years of age were operated for a symptomatic benign gynaecological condition with signed informed consent. A standardized questionnaire was prospectively completed in the month before the surgery and included epidemiological data, pelvic pain scores, family history of endometriosis, and symptoms experienced during adolescence. The study searched for correlations by univariate analysis to determine clinical markers of endometriosis in adolescents and YAW compared with endometriosis-free control patients. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the 262 study participants, 77 women were adolescents (≤20 years of age) and 185 patients (70.6%) were YAW. The endometriosis group included 118 patients (45.0%) and 144 (55.0%) were assigned to the control group. A family history of endometriosis, absenteeism from school during menstruation, history of fainting spells during menstruation, and prescription of oral contraceptive pills for intense dysmenorrhea were significantly more frequently observed in the endometriotic patients. The prevalence and mean pain scores for dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia, non-cyclic chronic pelvic pain and gastrointestinal and lower urinary tract symptoms were significantly greater in the endometriosis group, as was experienced rectal bleeding. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The study was performed in a single referral centre that treats patients with potentially more severe disease. This questionnaire was evaluated on a population of patients with an indication for endometriosis surgery, which can also select patients with more severe disease. Women with asymptomatic endometriosis were not considered in this study. These factors can affect the external validity of this study. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Patient interviews are relevant to the diagnosis of endometriosis in adolescents and YAW. Combined with imaging and clinical examination, this approach will enable earlier diagnosis and treatment, while remaining non-invasive and rapid. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study received no funding from external sources. There are no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New roads bring new opportunities including access to employment. However, new employment opportunities might encourage early school dropout and school absenteeism. We investigate the link between rural roads, children’s labor allocation, and educational outcomes by focusing on the recent Ethiopian road construction program. In the analysis, we combine household panel data with novel road network data. To address endogeneity concerns, we combine a difference-in-difference estimation model with a matching technique. Our findings consistently show that road access does not encourage school absenteeism or school dropouts to join the labor force. The findings remain consistent across gender and age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore if child-care intensity (hours/weeks) and age of onset could moderate genetic and environmental contributions to school readiness. A sample of 648 (85% Whites; 50% Females) pairs of twins was used to compute a GxE, CxE and ExE interaction analyses. The moderation model showed that shared environment explains 48% of individual differences in school readiness for children not attending formal child-care, and decreased gradually to a mere 3% for children attending formal child-care full time, e.g., 40 h per week. Age of onset exerted no moderation effect. The results support the hypothesis that child-care acts as a normalizing environment, possibly buffering negative effects from low-quality home environments on school readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has linked disability to differential experiences and outcomes for students at multiple levels of education. To date, however, available data sources have prevented comprehensive analyses of the statistical relationship between disability and the pathways traveled by students through Ontario post‐secondary education (PSE). Through this study, we examine this topic by leveraging a large multifaceted linkage that brings together rich administrative data from the Toronto District School Board (Grades 9–12), Ontario college and university enrollment records (2009–2018), as well as government student loans and tax records. We use these data to statistically model differences in the PSE pathways traveled by more than 33,000 TDSB students. Our analyses identify statistically significant differences in the likelihood that students with/without disabilities will travel certain PSE pathways. However, such differences shrink drastically once we control for high school‐level factors (e.g., academic performance, absenteeism). We elaborate on the importance of these findings for both social stratification researchers and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CBT is a promising treatment for persistent postconcussive symptoms. • Specific CBT interventions can be easily adapted for concussion-related targets. • CBT for concussion can be integrated into the pediatric medical setting. While many youths recover from concussions within several weeks, a subset of patients experience persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS), lasting 4 weeks or longer. PPCS have a significant negative impact on children's social and academic functioning, often leading to extended absences from school, disruption of normal activities, and increased mental health burden. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated promise as a treatment for PPCS but requires tailoring to specifically address concussion-related targets. This paper describes the clinical adaptation of CBT for pediatric patients with PPCS, including core intervention modifications and recommendations for the implementation and delivery of CBT in medical settings. A model of an integrated concussion clinic with pediatric neurology and psychology is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Access to safe and sufficient drinking Water, Sanitation, and good Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools play a crucial role in preventing students from numerous Neglected Tropical Diseases, improving the learning environment in schools, and creating resilient communities living in a healthy environment. This study aims to explore the impact of combining WASH facilities on students' health status, school attendance, and educational achievements. Methods: Four schools, two with improved and two without improved WASH facilities, were selected purposively from Dhanusha and Chitwan districts of Nepal. A total of 24 participants, 16 students, and eight teachers were also purposively selected based on the Theory of Data Saturation. The participants were interviewed face‐to‐face using study guidelines; Key Informants Interview for teachers and In‐depth Interview for students. The data were audio recorded and analyzed thematically using Dedoose 9.0.17 qualitative data management and analysis software. Results: School WASH facilities have a significant impact on students' health and well‐being. Poor school‐WASH facilities hindered students' school attendance, particularly for menstruating girls. School without separate toilets for girls, including menstruation hygiene facilities, lack of water and soap, sanitary pad, and secure toilet's door often have higher rates of absenteeism among girls. Poor teacher and students' relationships, students' low interest in education, household chores, and participation in social customs also contribute to students' absence from school and low educational performance. It is important to note that inadequate WASH facilities affect not only students, but also teachers in the same school. Conclusion: The lack of safe and sufficient drinking water, unimproved sanitation, and poor hygiene facilities were seen by students and teachers as reducing their health and well‐being, school attendance, and academic performance. Thus, schools need prioritize and promote the provision of improved WASH facilities for the betterment of students' health, attendance, and educational proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment is a widespread problem with significant costs for both victims and society. In this retrospective cohort study, we develop predictive risk models using Danish administrative data to predict removal decisions among referred children and assess the effectiveness of caseworkers in identifying children at risk of maltreatment. The study analyzes 195,639 referrals involving 102,309 children Danish Child Protection Services received from April 2016 to December 2017. We implement four machine learning models of increasing complexity, incorporating extensive background information on each child and their family. Our best-performing model exhibits robust predictive power, with an AUC-ROC score exceeding 87%, indicating its ability to consistently rank referred children based on their likelihood of being removed. Additionally, we find strong positive correlations between the model's predictions and various adverse child outcomes, such as crime, physical and mental health issues, and school absenteeism. Furthermore, we demonstrate that predictive risk models can enhance caseworkers' decision-making processes by reducing classification errors and identifying at-risk children at an earlier stage, enabling timely interventions and potentially improving outcomes for vulnerable children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menstruation is a global public health issue with negative discourses of shame, embarrassment, and disgust. There is growing anecdotal evidence linking negative menstruation experiences at school to absenteeism. This systematic review and line‐of‐argument synthesis aims to develop a conceptual understanding of menstruation experiences in schools in high‐income countries. MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), HMIC (Ovid), and ERIC databases were searched. NVivo was used for thematic synthesis and reciprocal translation to generate third‐order constructs: overarching themes that interpretatively describe social processes around menstruation in schools. One thousand three hundred and thirty‐three studies were screened, with 19 meeting inclusion criteria. Six third‐order constructs were identified and integrated into a synthesized line‐of‐argument illustrating menstrual injustice at school. To ensure menstruating students do not face academic disadvantage because of schools' failure to accommodate menstrual needs, schools should challenge stigma, provide facilities to improve students' capability and confidence to manage menstruation, and provide academic support to menstruating students who miss classes. Future research should explore experiences of period poverty in HIC schools, examining the influence of gender identity, disability, race, and class on menstruation experiences. Practitioner Points: Menstrual symptoms, shame, and the failure of schools to take responsibility for menstruation management results in students self‐excluding and an unfair academic disadvantage.Schools need to provide facilities to improve students' capability and confidence to manage menstruation, such as free period products, full access to facilities for washing, product disposal, and pain management and academic support to menstruating students who miss classes.Schools should train all teachers in menstruation issues and deliver improved menstruation education to all students, alongside interventions that challenge menstrual shame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood pneumonia continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In Egypt, pneumonia is prevalent and represents a socioeconomic burden on patients and their families due to recurrent absences from school and hospital stays. This study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of pneumonia among children admitted in pediatric department, Zagazig university hospitals. Patients and methods: This cross-section study was carried out at pulmonology unit, Pediatric Department, on 159 children with pneumonia aged between 2 and less than 15 years. Treatment was tailored based on clinical presentation, special emphasis on the duration and severity of pneumonia and treatment given. The respiratory distress severity was assessed using a clinical Canadian emergency department triage. Chest x-ray on admission and before discharge, CT if needed, Laboratory investigations, Ddimer and Blood culture. Results: that pneumonia was most prevalent among preschool aged males from urban areas. Moderate pneumonia was most common, with the majority having right lung involvement. All patients presented with fever, tachypnea, dyspnea and cough, while additional symptoms like chest pain and oxygen desaturation below 92% were more associated with pleural effusion. Outcome, 90.6% of patients improved and discharged for follow up in our clinic while 9.4% of them cases needed ICU admission. Conclusion: Cultures most commonly yielded no growth, although Staph aureus from pleural fluid and Klebsiella form sputum were notable his attributed to high prevalence of viral causes of pneumonia among studied patients and confirms the importance of Staph aureus and Klebsiella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sick pay systems are critical in balancing the economic and health costs of infectious diseases, especially in workplaces, where uncontrolled disease spread can lead to significant economic losses. Surprisingly, most research on sick‐pay reforms does not rely on variation in worker exposure to disease when investigating absences from work. This paper studies the effects of exposure to influenza outbreaks on absences from work when a nation‐wide policy canceled health‐insurance coverage for the first 3 days of illness. We explore geographic variation in the prevalence of infectious diseases, primarily the seasonal flu, to identify corresponding variations in the need for sickness insurance. Estimates based on the Czech Structure of Earnings Survey imply that when sickness insurance was canceled for the first 3 days of an illness, the total hours of work missed were not affected, but employees relied on paid and unpaid leave instead of sick‐leave to stay home. The substitution effects are heterogeneous across occupations and socio‐demographic characteristics of employees, and suggest that workers did not increase the spread of infectious illness in workplaces due to a lack of insurance coverage for the first 3 days of an illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to present a dynamic model for strategic and personalized decision-making in human resources (HR), using data mining techniques to enhance corporate social sustainability (CSS). The focus is on the interconnectedness of employee engagement (EE), enablement and the quality of work life. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed model integrates various HR data, including demographic information, job specifications, payment and rewards, attendance and absence, alongside employees' perceptions of their work-life quality, engagement and enablement. Data mining processes are applied to generate meaningful insights for senior and middle managers. Findings: The study implemented the model within a production organization, revealing that factors influencing EE and enablement differ based on gender, marital status and occupational group. Performance-based rewards play a significant role in enhancing engagement, regardless of the reward amount. Factors such as "being recognized for competency" influence engagement for women, while payment has a greater impact on men. Engagement does not directly influence the quality of work life, but subcomponents like perceived transparency and the organization's processes, particularly the "employee performance evaluation system," improve work-life quality. Research limitations/implications: The findings are specific to the studied organization, limiting generalizability. Future research should explore the model's effectiveness in different cultural and organizational settings. Practical implications: The proposed model provides practical implications for organizations that enhance CSS. Organizations can gain insights into factors influencing EE and enablement by using data mining techniques, enabling informed decision-making and tailored human resource management practices. Social implications: This research addresses the societal concern regarding the impact of business activities on sustainability. Organizations can contribute to a more socially responsible and sustainable business environment by focusing on work-life quality and EE. Originality/value: This paper offers a dynamic model using data mining and machine learning techniques for sustainable human resource management. It emphasizes the importance of customization to align practices with the unique needs of the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper aims to analyze the antecedents leading to habitual entrepreneurship by investigating the role of entrepreneurs' narcissism and their level of education. While the literature provides a general understanding of what motivates individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas, the possible antecedents to the individual's decision to become a habitual entrepreneur remain unexplored and untested. Relying on a sample of 343 start-up entrepreneurs, hypotheses are tested through the partial least squares analysis. Results show that entrepreneurs' educational levels fully mediate the relationship between narcissism and the choice to become habitual entrepreneurs. The study contributes to the literature on entrepreneurs' personality, decision-making, and human capital, also underlining a few practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I denne artikkelen undersøker vi hvordan skoleledere i ungdomsskolen forstår og håndterer skolefravær. Basert på teorien om bakkebyråkrati indikerer vår analyse at fraværet først fortolkes av skolelederne som et individuelt problem hos eleven, og som ikke kan løses av skolen, men tilhører «noen andre». Et uklart regelverk skaper behov for skjønnsmessige vurderinger hvor skolens ansvarsområde tolkes relativt snevert som en leverandør av kunnskap. Denne tolkningen, koblet sammen med organisatoriske utfordringer med samarbeid og begrensede ressurser i skolen, gjør at en eksternaliserende praksis av skolefravær forstås som både rasjonell og effektiv for skoleledere. Samtidig fremstår håndteringen med å skyve ansvaret over på andre ved skolefravær som en «ikke-løsning» for oppfyllelsen av fellesskolen som ideal for grunnskoleutdanningen og et dårlig utgangspunkt for å opprette virksomme samarbeidsløsninger med andre instanser. Vi konkluderer med at et bakkebyråkratiperspektiv gir en ramme for å forstå noen av de dilemmaene skoleledere opplever i forbindelse med elevfravær.

I en tid med stigende skolefravær i hele Norden giver denne artikel elevperspektiverende bud på, hvornår og hvorfor skole vælges til og fra eller bliver en umulighed. Med inspiration fra sociokulturelle læringsteoretikere som Jean Lave, Etienne Wenger og Jerome Bruner undersøges elevernes relationelle og sociale forhold, herunder hvad der skaber meningsfuldhed og meningsløshed knyttet til skolegang. Det empiriske grundlag er udsagn fra og interviews med børn og unge indsamlet igennem de senere år af artiklens tre forfattere. Nogle interviews er foretaget i forbindelse med terapeutiske børne- og ungesamtaler, andre interviews er gennemført i forbindelse med skolebesøg og andre igen i forbindelse med kvalitative studier af fravær. De analytiske fund her i artiklen centrerer sig om oplevelse af skolen som utryg, kedelig, ekskluderende og til tider skræmmende, og dette forbindes ofte med sociale, relationelle og faglige vilkår. Omvendt forbindes det at vælge skolen positivt til med oplevelser af at kunne deltage og bidrage med noget, når undervisningen findes spændende, nærværende og inviterende, når fællesskabet fungerer, og når der forefindes tillidsfulde relationer. At have længerevarende skolefravær kan både komme af – og skabe – manglende oplevelse af at høre til i skolen. Begrebsparret skolefravær-skoletilvær (Hansen, 2019) er et analytisk par, hvori skolefravær forstås ved at samlæse perspektiver på såvel at have skolefravær, som det at vælge skole proaktiv til, altså skoletilvær. Samlet set og på tværs af negative og positive elevreflektioner over skolen som social lokation fører analysen til, at løsningsretninger må handle om at genoprette tillid, skabe tilhør og relationer og at møde børn og unges differentierede undervisningsbehov.

Background: Physical activity is essential for physical, mental, and cognitive health. Providing evidence to develop better public health policies to encourage increased physical activity is crucial. Therefore, we developed an in-depth survey as part of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey to assess the current status and determinants of physical activity among Korean adolescents. Methods: We developed an initial version of the questionnaire based on a review of validated questionnaires, recent trends and emerging issues related to adolescent physical activity, and the national public health agenda pertaining to health promotion. Content validity was confirmed by a panel of 10 experts. Face validity was confirmed through focus group interviews with 12 first-year middle school students. The test-retest reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by administering it twice, approximately two weeks apart, to a sample of 360 middle and high school students. Additionally, the frequency or average number of responses was analyzed in a sample of 600 students who participated in the initial test-retest reliability evaluation of the questionnaire developed in this study. Results: Through item pool generation and content and face validity test, the final 15 questionnaire items were developed across five themes: levels of physical activity, school sports club activities, transportation-related physical activity, physical activity-promoting environments, and factors mediating physical activity. The test-retest reliability ranged from fair to substantial. Results from the newly developed survey reveal that only a minority of adolescents engage in sufficient physical activity, with only 17.2% and 21.5% participating in vigorous and moderate-intensity activities, respectively, for at least five days per week. Among school-based activities, 44.3% of students do not participate in school sports clubs due to reasons including absence of clubs and disinterest in exercise. The major motivators for physical activity are personal enjoyment and health benefits, whereas preferences for other leisure activities and academic pressures are the predominant barriers. Conclusions: This study developed valid and reliable in-depth survey items to assess physical activity among Korean youths. It will hopefully enhance our understanding of adolescent physical activity, offering essential preliminary evidence to inform the development of public health strategies aimed at promoting adolescent health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nine in every thousand children born in the United Kingdom have congenital heart disease, and 250,000 adults are living with the condition. This study aims to investigate the associations between congenital heart disease and educational outcomes among school-aged children in Scotland. Methods: Routine health and education databases were linked to produce a cohort of all singleton children born in Scotland and attending a local authority run primary, secondary, or special school in Scotland at some point between 2009 and 2013. Children with congenital heart disease within this cohort were compared with children unaffected by congenital conditions. Outcomes investigated were special educational need (SEN), absenteeism, exclusion, academic attainment, and unemployment. All analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and maternity confounders. Absenteeism was investigated as a mediating factor in the associations with attainment and unemployment. Results: Of the 715,850 children, 6,295 (0.9%) had congenital heart disease and 4,412 (6.1%) had isolated congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease and isolated congenital heart disease were both significantly associated with subsequent special educational need (OR 3.45, 95% CI 3.26–3.65, p < 0.001 and OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.84–2.13, p < 0.001 respectively), absenteeism (IRR 1.13, 95% CI 1.10–1.16, p < 0.001 and IRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.13, p < 0.001 respectively), and low academic attainment (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.39–2.07, p < 0.001 and OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07–1.69, p = 0.011 respectively). Neither congenital heart disease nor isolated congenital heart disease were associated with school exclusion. Only congenital heart disease (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03–1.42, p = 0.022) but not isolated congenital heart disease was associated with unemployment. When days absent were included in the analyses investigating attainment and unemployment, the conclusions were not altered. Conclusion: Children with congenital heart disease have greater special educational need, lower school attendance, attain lower examination grades and have greater unemployment compared to peers. In addition to healthcare support, affected children need educational support to avoid additional impact on their long-term wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With advancements in communication technologies and internet connectivity, avatar robots for children who cannot attend school in person due to illness or disabilities have become more widespread. Introducing these technologies to the classroom aims to offer possibilities of social and educational inclusion. While implementation is still at an experimental level, several of these avatars have already been introduced as a marketable service. However, various obstacles impede widespread acceptance. Methods: In our explorative qualitative case study we conducted semistructured interviews with eight individuals involved in the implementation of the avatar robots AV1 in Germany and eleven participants involved with implementing OriHime in Japan. We analyzed and compared implementation processes, application areas, access and eligibility, and the potential and limitations of avatars at schools. Results: We identified structural similarities and differences in both countries. In the German cases the target is defined as temporary use for children who cannot attend school in person because of childhood illness, with the clear goal of returning to school. Whereas in Japan OriHime is also implemented for children with physical or developmental disabilities, or who cannot attend school in person for other reasons. Discussion: Our study suggests that avatar technologies bear high potential for children to stay socially and educationally connected. Yet, structures need establishing that grant equal access to avatar technologies. These include educational board regulations, budgets for funding avatar technologies and making them accessible to the public, and privacy protection standards that are adequate, yet do not create implementation hurdles that are too high. Furthermore, guidelines or training sessions on technical, educational and psychosocial aspects of including avatar technologies in the classroom for teachers are important for successful implementation. Since our Japanese cases suggest that expanding the area of application beyond childhood illness is promising, further research on the benefits for different groups is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how parents' perception of neighborhood conditions are associated with school absenteeism and participation in afterschool activities, and how social support networks moderate those linkages among two-parent and single-parent families. Data from the second and third Waves of the Making Connections Survey were analyzed. A subsample of 1,053 Latina/o parents with 10–17-year-old children was examined. Longitudinal path analyses suggest an indirect positive association between neighborhood control and participation in organized afterschool activities via instrumental social support, but only among two-parent families. Neighborhood cohesion was associated with school days missed and participation in organized afterschool activities among single-parent families. Implications for practice and policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically Wales has been regarded as a country with relatively low levels of school exclusion, particularly in comparison with England. This has been used as an indicator of Wales' commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which foregrounds a rights-based agenda that would argue school exclusion is a consequence of broader socio-economic structures than individual actions. However, simple analyses may mask a different picture of school exclusions in Wales. In this article, we study more detailed information on formal school exclusions by looking at 'instances' of school exclusion, which considers the frequency and length of formal school exclusions in Wales, and alongside recorded school absence. The article also demonstrates that the pupils 'at risk' of formal school exclusion varies by when they experience school exclusion during their educational lifecourse. The article concludes by highlighting that patterns of school exclusion are complex, and that interpretation of these patterns depends on what kind of measure of school exclusion is used. By publishing these results, the article hopes to persuade policymakers and practitioners to re-examine their processes of exclusion to ensure they are commensurate with the law and to prevent unnecessary school exclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a brief self‐report measure (BEACON) to inform universal mental health screening in schools. Items assess symptoms and impairment associated with anxiety and attention/hyperactivity problems (grades 4–11) as well as depression and eating difficulties (grades 6–11), with optional items for suicidality and self‐harm (grades 7–11). Initial item examination based on Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical test theory involved 3844 students in grades 4 through 11 (Study 1) and identified 18 items for grades 4–5 and 31 items for grades 6–11 that fulfilled pre‐set criteria. Study 2 extended testing with 10,479 students in grades 4–11 and added an additional four items assessing impairment associated with eating difficulties for older students (grades 6–11) creating a total of 35 items for grades 6–11. All items, for both grade‐level versions, met the pre‐set criteria for IRT and classical test theory analysis supporting their strength in the measurement of the dimensions of concern. The measure showed good reliability (subscale alphas.87 to.95). Validity was also demonstrated against standard symptom measures, school grades, school absenteeism, and help‐seeking. The BEACON appears to be a psychometrically sound measure to use in the first stage of school‐based screening for mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many Western societies, earning a degree is considered an ultimate educational achievement. Second chance education (SCE) serves as a distinct pathway for those who have dropped out of school, allowing them to re‐enter the educational system. Understanding the specific obstacles and needs of students in SCE is crucial for providing better‐tailored support. However, limited knowledge exists about the challenges faced by students seeking to enrol in SCE. This qualitative study conducted in‐depth interviews with 28 drop‐in students (Mage = 30) to explore these barriers and needs. Identified barriers span institutional, situational, environmental, and life‐course levels. Primary needs centre around warm and accessible teachers, as well as flexible, student‐focused learning options. The results underscore the value and significance of second chance education as a unique pedagogical context for drop‐in students. It also emphasizes that the insights gained from SCE can inform improvements in regular, first‐chance education, serving diverse student populations. Lastly, SCE serves as a societal mirror, urging a re‐evaluation of the broader discourse in education. Overall, this study calls for more appreciation of SCE, acknowledging and recognizing its unique pedagogical context, dedicated teachers, and determined students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotionally based school non-attendance (EBSNA) difficulties negatively impact children and young people (CYP) and their families at many levels. EBSNA is complex, often involving individual and contextual risk factors which may require a school-wide or multi-agency response. This action research study in one UK local authority explored how collaborative working with stakeholders, guided by the RADIO model, facilitated the co-production of an early identification of needs tool (EINT) for identifying potential emotion-based attendance difficulties. A research stakeholder group (RSG n = 9) from local educational services worked jointly to develop the tool. The process of developing, piloting, and evaluating the EINT with local schools, services and families is described. Content analysis of ongoing planning and review meetings, an evaluative focus group, and interview data highlighted the opportunities and challenges of working collaboratively. The EINT was positively evaluated and perceived to facilitate home-school discussions and support a contextually relevant EBSNA approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The gender pay gap is a well-documented phenomenon in labor economics. Based on the 2018 Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), the authors estimate the impact of observable characteristics on the gender pay gap in Visegrad Group countries and provide policy recommendations on reducing the gender pay gap. Design/methodology/approach: The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition is applied to estimate the values of explained and unexplained parts of the gender pay gap. Gender pay gap in unadjusted as well as adjusted form is estimated using data on the individual level. Findings: The results show that unadjusted gender pay gap proved to be stable at more than 20%. The authors found evidence that education widens gender pay gap implying that men have higher returns on education than women. Tertiary education proved to be the highest contributor to widening of gender pay gap. Results also show that there is strong sectoral and occupational segregation. Decomposition proved that only 21% of gender pay gap could be explained by observed characteristics. The unexplained part showed negative values, meaning women would have higher wages, if they had characteristics like men. Research limitations/implications: Structure of Earnings Survey data are published every four years; therefore the authors' dataset from year 2018 might not completely reflect today's reality. Unfortunately, newer data are note available yet. Second, Structure of Earning Survey data do not contain variables representing social factors of respondents like marital status, number of children or labour market absence due to birth or childcare. Third, data used for this study do not contain firms that have less than 10 employees; therefore, considerable portion of the labour market is omitted. Originality/value: Results of this study will help policymakers understand the roots and causes of the gender pay gap in Visegrad Group countries but addressing this issue requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Unilateral posterior crossbite is a common malocclusion, and early treatment is recommended to enable normal growth. There are several possibilities regarding choice of appliances used for correcting this malocclusion; however, when treatment is financed by public funds the decision needs to be based not only on the effects but also on the effect in relation to the costs. Objectives The aim was to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing quad helix (QH) and rapid maxillary expanders (RME; hyrax-type) in children in the early mixed dentition. Material and methods Seventy-two patients were randomized to treatment with either QH or RME, at two different centres. Data were collected from the patient's medical records regarding success rate, number of visits, total treatment time, emergency visits, and so forth, together with answers from patient questionnaires concerning absence from school and use of analgesics. A cost-effectiveness analysis with both an intention-to-treat (ITT) and a per-protocol approach was performed, as well as a deterministic sensitivity analysis. Results The success rate, one year after the completion of the expansion, was equal between groups according to the ITT approach. From a healthcare perspective, the mean cost difference between RME and QH was €32.05 in favour of QH (P  = 0.583; NS). From a societal perspective, the mean cost difference was €32.61 in favour of QH (P  = 0.742; NS). The total appliance cost alone was higher in the RME group €202.67 resp. €155.58 in the QH group (P  = 0.001). The probability of RME having a higher cost was 71% from a healthcare perspective and 62.7% from a societal perspective. The total treatment time was 97 days longer in the QH group. In the deterministic sensitivity analysis, when using a higher valuation of the children's educational loss, the QH becomes €58 more costly than the RME. There was a statistically significant difference in chair time and visits between centres (P  < 0.001). Conclusion The difference in costs between RME and QH is not statistically significant, however, there is a slightly higher probability that RME is more expensive than QH with a mean cost of an additional €32 per patient from a healthcare perspective. Different work procedures at different centres indicate that logistics around the patient's treatment is a more important aspect than appliance used to decrease the number of visits and save chair time and thereby also costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among female students is a neglected public health issue in the U.S. This study documented period product insecurity, school absenteeism, and use of school resources to obtain period products among high-school students in St. Louis, MO. Female students completed an anonymous, self-administered survey in English (n = 119). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of period product need, resources used to obtain period products, and period-related absenteeism. The mean age of participants was 15.78 ± 1.28. Nearly two-thirds (64.4% (95% CI 55.1%-73.0%)) reported period product insecurity. Two-thirds (66.9% (95% CI 57.7%-75.3%)) reported using at least one of the school's resources to obtain period products. One-third of the participants (33.6% (95% CI 25.0%-43.1%)) reported missing school due to a lack of period products. School nurses need to be cognizant of how MHM affects their students' attendance at school and what measures they can take to help reduce menstruation-related absenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School absenteeism among children and adolescents has been associated with a myriad of adverse outcomes. Despite a substantial amount of research on school attendance, our understanding of absenteeism in elementary-aged children with mental health difficulties is limited. The current study used a mixed-method sequential explanatory design to gain a better understanding of the links between children's mental health symptoms, age, gender and school absenteeism. The study included two phases: Phase I presented a quantitative investigation of the links between absenteeism and mental health symptoms in a large sample (N = 750) of primarily White (74%) clinic-referred children aged 5–12 years. Phase II used a participant selection model and chart review design to garner a deeper understanding of how school absenteeism presents in children with mental health problems in the elementary years. Results suggested that internalizing symptoms were significantly related to school attendance problems, and this association worsens as children age and as internalizing symptoms increase in severity. Externalizing symptoms were associated with absenteeism as well, but these findings showed that school attendance problems were worse for younger children with low to moderate levels of externalizing symptoms. The qualitative chart review illustrates the complex interplay of school absenteeism and child mental health, particularly for children experiencing co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems. Children often struggled academically and socially, with some exhibiting increasing levels of school refusal and truancy and others displaying aggressive behaviors resulting in suspensions. Future studies that examine additional contextual factors, such as school and family variables, with longitudinal cross-lagged models and diverse families are needed to develop a comprehensive understanding of causal associations and their impact on children's school attendance across children's development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores which students–with regard to gender, socio-economic background and migration background–skip school in Germany, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK) according to PISA data. Students who skip school are observed in many countries, but there is not much systematic research that studies this across countries. Comparable data is to a large extent missing. PISA data offers an opportunity to use comparable data. In PISA, students were asked in 2018, 2015 and 2012 whether they had skipped school a whole day in the last two weeks prior to their completion of the PISA student questionnaire. Patterns of how absence relates to sociodemographic factors vary in countries and school systems. In the comparison between the four countries the UK stands out as having a higher percentage of students who have reported that they have skipped school than in the other countries. This does not seem to be related to any specific group of students. Japan also stands out with a lower percentage of students who have reported that they have skipped school. According to PISA data, skipping school is more related to socio-economic background than any other of the variables studied. The socio-economic background seems to be related to skipping school in all three PISA studies in Sweden and the UK. Gender seems not to be an important factor in the four countries. In Sweden and Germany there is a lower percentage of non-immigrant students who report that they have skipped school than first-and second-generation immigrant students. In the UK the figures are more ambiguous. When the percentages of students skipping school are compared over time and in the countries, it is difficult to find any trends, but the data only covered three measurements during a period of six years, which may be too short a time span to see trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Online question banks are the most widely used education resource amongst medical students. Despite this there is an absence of literature outlining how and why they are used by students. Drawing on Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory, our study aimed to explore why and how early-stage medical students use question banks in their learning and revision strategies. Methods: The study was conducted at Newcastle University Medical School (United Kingdom and Malaysia). Purposive, convenience and snowball sampling of year two students were employed. Ten interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was undertaken iteratively, enabling exploration of nascent themes. Data collection ceased when no new perspectives were identified. Results: Students' motivation to use question banks was predominantly driven by extrinsic motivators, with high-stakes exams and fear of failure being central. Their convenience and perceived efficiency promoted autonomy and thus motivation. Rapid feedback cycles and design features consistent with gamification were deterrents to intrinsic motivation. Potentially detrimental patterns of question bank use were evident: cueing, avoidance and memorising. Scepticism regarding veracity of question bank content was absent. Conclusions: We call on educators to provide students with guidance about potential pitfalls associated with question banks and to reflect on potential inequity of access to these resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attendance absences have a substantial impact on student's future physical and mental health as well as academic progress. Numerous personal, familial, and social issues are among the causes of student absences. Any kind of absence from school should be minimized. Extremely high rates of student absences may indicate the abrupt commencement of a serious school health crisis or public health crisis, such as the spread of tuberculosis or COVID-19, which provides school health professionals with an early warning. We take the extreme values in absence data as the object and attempt to apply the extreme value theory (EVT) to describe the distribution of extreme values. This study aims to predict extreme instances of student absences. School health professionals can take preventative measures to reduce future excessive absences, according to the predicted results. Five statistical distributions were applied to individually characterize the extreme values. Our findings suggest that EVT is a useful tool for predicting extreme student absences, thereby aiding preventative measures in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]