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This study demonstrates that changes in mindfulness predict subsequent changes in well-being in a data set including individuals who recently engaged in psychedelic use.

The American Association of Endodontics (AAE) Regenerative Endodontics Committee reports here the web-based survey data of regenerative endodontic procedures performed by the AAE members from 2008 to 2019. The web-based survey consisted of 2 questionnaires, a revascularization and a follow-up , including clinical and radiographic data at 3, 6, 12 or >12 months after treatment. Data from demographics, etiology, clinical protocols, radiographic, and clinical outcome as perceived by the clinicians were recorded. From 927 entries, 184 full cases were submitted and 126 were suitable for radiographic analysis. The data were divided into cases with 6–12 months and cases with >12 months recall time. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were performed. Predominantly patients were male (63%), average 10 years-old with anterior teeth (77.2%) due to trauma (69.6%). A wide variation in regenerative endodontic procedures protocols was reported by the AAE members. The most common clinical protocols used minimal instrumentation (75.5%), 2.5% or higher concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (83.7%), and antibiotic paste as intracanal medication (58.7%). The majority reported blood clot formation (56%) and most common coronal capping material was white mineral trioxide aggregates (50.5%). Increases in radiographic root length, and radiographic root area were proportional to the time lapsed after treatment. Overall, case outcomes were categorized by clinicians as successful (54.3%), uncertain (23.9%), and unsuccessful (3.8%). This web-based survey provides a valuable perspective on case selection, clinical protocols, and perceived outcomes for regenerative endodontic procedures and supports the need for future higher level evidence studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infertile couples frequently utilize the Internet to find various reproductive clinics and research their alternatives. Patients are increasingly using self-referral because of online information on health-care providers. The objective is to compare the image of infertility specialists to other team members on the websites of reproductive clinics. Methods: Information was gathered during November and December 2022 from two publicly accessible online registries which include the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority located in the United Kingdom and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology located in the United States. We looked over every website that was accessible, paying close attention to how each team member was portrayed online. Results: We examined a total of 447 clinic websites. Only 8% of the profiles of male infertility doctors were included. Contrarily, most websites (96%), which specialize in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, feature the profiles of female infertility experts. Male infertility professionals also had significantly lower representation than other clinic employees, such as nurses (55.7%, P < 0.0001), directors of embryology laboratories (46.5%, P < 0.0001), office personnel (39.6%, P < 0.0001), and embryology specialists (29.7%, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Although male factor infertility explains the existence of over half of all cases of infertility, urologists who specialize in male infertility are glaringly understated on websites for fertility clinics. By improving this issue, fertility clinics can draw in more patients by making all members of the care team more visible.

Achieving a high participation rate is a common challenge in healthcare research based on web-based surveys. A study on local anesthetic systemic toxicity awareness and usage among medical practitioners at two Swiss university hospitals encountered resistance in obtaining personal email addresses from Heads of Departments. Participants were therefore divided into two groups: those who were directly invited via email (personal invitation group) and those who received a generic link through intermediaries (generic link group). The latter group was eventually excluded from survey data analysis. To determine whether one method of survey administration was more effective than another, we carried out a retrospective analysis of response rates and the proportion of new questionnaires completed after initial invitation and subsequent reminders. The results showed significantly higher response rates in the personal invitation group (40.2%, 313/779) compared to the generic link group (25.3%, 22/87), emphasizing the effectiveness of personal invitations on response rate (+14.9%, p = 0.007). The personal invitation group consistently yielded a higher number of completed questionnaires following the initial invitation and each reminder. The method of survey administration can greatly influence response rates and should be acknowledged as a quality criterion when conducting web-based surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infertile couples frequently utilize the Internet to find various reproductive clinics and research their alternatives. Patients are increasingly using self-referral because of online information on health-care providers. The objective is to compare the image of infertility specialists to other team members on the websites of reproductive clinics. Methods: Information was gathered during November and December 2022 from two publicly accessible online registries which include the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority located in the United Kingdom and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology located in the United States. We looked over every website that was accessible, paying close attention to how each team member was portrayed online. Results: We examined a total of 447 clinic websites. Only 8% of the profiles of male infertility doctors were included. Contrarily, most websites (96%), which specialize in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, feature the profiles of female infertility experts. Male infertility professionals also had significantly lower representation than other clinic employees, such as nurses (55.7%, P < 0.0001), directors of embryology laboratories (46.5%, P < 0.0001), office personnel (39.6%, P < 0.0001), and embryology specialists (29.7%, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Although male factor infertility explains the existence of over half of all cases of infertility, urologists who specialize in male infertility are glaringly understated on websites for fertility clinics. By improving this issue, fertility clinics can draw in more patients by making all members of the care team more visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper describes the design and implementation of an online survey experiment to investigate the effects of alcohol warning labels on alcohol‐related knowledge, risk perceptions and intentions. Method: The survey collected self‐reported data from 14 European countries through two waves of data collection with different recruitment strategies: dissemination via social media and public health agencies was followed by paid‐for Facebook ads. The latter strategy was adopted to achieve broader population representation. Post‐stratification weighting was used to match the sample to population demographics. Results: The survey received over 34,000 visits and resulted in a sample size of 19,601 participants with complete data on key sociodemographic characteristics. The responses in the first wave were over‐representing females and higher educated people, thus the dissemination was complemented by the paid‐for Facebook ads targeting more diverse populations but had higher attrition rate. Conclusion: Experiments can be integrated into general population surveys. Pan‐European results can be achieved with limited resources and a combination of sampling methods to compensate for different biases, and statistical adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients conducted its third in-line population web-based survey in 2023 to ascertain if the burden of the disease and the patients' satisfaction with conventional and novel migraine therapies are changing compared to our previous findings from 2018 and 2020. Methods: The sampling process was based on a random call to participants to reply to a specific migraine-focused self-administered questionnaire, including 83 questions in Greek, which was distributed nationwide through the online research software SurveyMonkey. Results: We eventually enrolled 2565 patients, the majority of which were females. Our findings clearly demonstrate that migraine is still a burdensome condition. The degree of its impact on all aspects of productivity depends on the monthly frequency of migraine and the response rates to acute and prophylactic treatments. A total of 1029 (42.4%) of the patients had visited the emergency room mainly for unresponsiveness to acute treatments or aura-related symptoms. Triptans seem to be partly effective as acute therapies. OnabotulinumtoxinA seems to be effective for almost half of chronic migraine patients (43.9%) to report adequate satisfaction with this treatment (27.8% were "fairly happy", 10.6% were "very happy", and 5.5% were "extremely happy"). Due to their high rates of preventative effectiveness, most respondents treated with anti-CGRP Mabs expressed their optimism concerning their future while living with their migraine (88.25%), as well as towards further improvements in their quality of life (82.8%) status, mostly with fremanezumab. Conclusions: The patients recognize the usefulness of anti-CGRP Mabs in migraine prevention and consequently seem to be more optimistic than before about living with migraine. Considering the market change that is anticipated with the use of gepants and ditans, larger longitudinal population-based studies are warranted to further explore if the new era of migraine therapeutics might further lessen the burden of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the role of reminders in recruiting and maintaining participation in an online panel. Methods: 50,045 individuals from five German federal states were invited by regular mail to participate in the online study "Health-Related Beliefs and Healthcare Experiences in Germany." Those who did not respond to the first attempt received a postal reminder. Comparisons of sociodemographic characteristics and responses were made between first-attempt respondents and those who enrolled after the second letter. Results: After the initial letter, 2,216 (4.4%, 95%CI: 4.3%-4.6%) registered for the study; after a reminder 1,130 (2.5%, 2.3%-2.6% of those reminded) enrolled. Minor sociodemographic differences were observed between the groups and the content of the responses did not differ. Second-attempt respondents were less likely to participate in subsequent questionnaires: 67.3% of first-attempt vs. 43.3% of second-attempt respondents participated in their fourth survey. Recruitment costs were 79% higher for second-attempt respondents. Conclusion: While reminders increased the number of participants, lower costeffectiveness and higher attrition of second-attempt respondents support the use of single invitation only for studies with a similar design to ours when the overall participation is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy behaviors may contribute to the development and the progression of chronic diseases with negative consequences on patients' quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between unhealthy behaviors (physical inactivity, tobacco consumption, and alcohol consumption) and health-related quality of life, measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, in women with endometriosis. To achieve this, data from a previous cross-sectional web survey among Italian adult women were analyzed. A total of 1045 responses were included in the analysis. Among the SF-36 subscales, the lowest score was recorded in the energy/fatigue domain: mean = 35.536 (Standard Deviation = 18.452). Smoking and physically inactive women had lower scores than non-smoking and physically active women, respectively, in each SF-36 domain. Women who drank more than one unit of alcohol a day, on average, reported lower scores than women with an alcohol intake <1 unit a day, for the following SF-36 domains: role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional problems, and emotional well-being. The multivariable analysis evidenced that employment, physical inactivity, and tobacco consumption were significant predictors for each SF-36 domain (p < 0.05). Physical inactivity and tobacco consumption had negative effects on the SF-36 subscales. Our results showed the need to monitor unhealthy behaviors to improve the overall well-being of women with endometriosis. Tailored strategies addressing smoking cessation, promoting physical activity, and moderating alcohol intake may aid in enhancing health-related quality of life in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are key components of our ecosystems and provide 95%–99% of our food. This importance is reflected by an increase in participatory citizen science projects on soils. Citizen science is a participatory research method that actively involves and engages the public in scientific enquiry to generate new knowledge or understanding. Here, we review past and current citizen science projects on agricultural soils across Europe. We conducted a web‐based survey and described 24 reviewed European citizen science projects in the light of the 10 principles of citizen science and identified success factors for citizen science. Over 66% of the projects generated soil biodiversity data; 54% and 42% of the projects generated data on vegetation cover and soil organic carbon, respectively. Our findings show that soil citizen science projects aligned with the 10 principles of citizen science offer an unexploited resource for European soil health research. We conclude that promoting co‐creation, fostering knowledge‐sharing networks and enabling long‐term communication and commitment with citizens are success factors for further development of citizen science on soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives This paper describes the design and implementation of an online survey experiment to investigate the effects of alcohol warning labels on alcohol‐related knowledge, risk perceptions and intentions. Method The survey collected self‐reported data from 14 European countries through two waves of data collection with different recruitment strategies: dissemination via social media and public health agencies was followed by paid‐for Facebook ads. The latter strategy was adopted to achieve broader population representation. Post‐stratification weighting was used to match the sample to population demographics. Results The survey received over 34,000 visits and resulted in a sample size of 19,601 participants with complete data on key sociodemographic characteristics. The responses in the first wave were over‐representing females and higher educated people, thus the dissemination was complemented by the paid‐for Facebook ads targeting more diverse populations but had higher attrition rate. Conclusion Experiments can be integrated into general population surveys. Pan‐European results can be achieved with limited resources and a combination of sampling methods to compensate for different biases, and statistical adjustments.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly recognized as a potential solution to address mental health service challenges by automating tasks and providing new forms of support. Objective: This study is the first in a series which aims to estimate the current rates of AI technology use as well as perceived benefits, harms, and risks experienced by community members (CMs) and mental health professionals (MHPs). Methods: This study involved 2 web-based surveys conducted in Australia. The surveys collected data on demographics, technology comfort, attitudes toward AI, specific AI use cases, and experiences of benefits and harms from AI use. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and thematic analysis of open-ended responses were conducted. Results: The final sample consisted of 107 CMs and 86 MHPs. General attitudes toward AI varied, with CMs reporting neutral and MHPs reporting more positive attitudes. Regarding AI usage, 28% (30/108) of CMs used AI, primarily for quick support (18/30, 60%) and as a personal therapist (14/30, 47%). Among MHPs, 43% (37/86) used AI; mostly for research (24/37, 65%) and report writing (20/37, 54%). While the majority found AI to be generally beneficial (23/30, 77% of CMs and 34/37, 92% of MHPs), specific harms and concerns were experienced by 47% (14/30) of CMs and 51% (19/37) of MHPs. There was an equal mix of positive and negative sentiment toward the future of AI in mental health care in open feedback. Conclusions: Commercial AI tools are increasingly being used by CMs and MHPs. Respondents believe AI will offer future advantages for mental health care in terms of accessibility, cost reduction, personalization, and work efficiency. However, they were equally concerned about reducing human connection, ethics, privacy and regulation, medical errors, potential for misuse, and data security. Despite the immense potential, integration into mental health systems must be approached with caution, addressing legal and ethical concerns while developing safeguards to mitigate potential harms. Future surveys are planned to track use and acceptability of AI and associated issues over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the initial COVID-19 outbreak, Italy was the first Western country to be seriously affected by the pandemic. Understanding vaccine hesitancy can help efforts to achieve broad vaccination coverage. The objectives of this research were to determine the extent of vaccine hesitancy in Italy and to understand the characteristics of those segments of the population with some hesitancy. Between January and February 2021, 41,473 subjects answered the second questionnaire delivered in phase II of the web-based EPICOVID19 survey. Among the included adult volunteers living in Italy, 4653 (11.2%) reported having previously received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the sample of 36,820 respondents, all not vaccinated (age 51.1 ± 13.5; 59.7% female; 63.6% high level of education), the comparison between hesitant and inclined participants was accompanied by percentages and odds ratios. A total of 2449 individuals were hesitant (6.7% of the unvaccinated ones). Hesitancy was higher among women (OR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.36–1.62); it was highest in the 50–59 and 40–49 age groups and among those with a lower educational level. A higher level of education was associated with a lower proportion of hesitancy (5.54%) compared with 9.44% among respondents with a low level of education (OR = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.46–0.68). Hesitancy was most common in subjects who did not report fear of infection (12.4%, OR = 4.0; 95%CI: 3.46–4.61). The results can guide the design of tailored information and communication campaigns through considering objective and subjective characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the role of reminders in recruiting and maintaining participation in an online panel.Methods: 50,045 individuals from five German federal states were invited by regular mail to participate in the online study “Health-Related Beliefs and Healthcare Experiences in Germany.” Those who did not respond to the first attempt received a postal reminder. Comparisons of sociodemographic characteristics and responses were made between first-attempt respondents and those who enrolled after the second letter.Results: After the initial letter, 2,216 (4.4%, 95%CI: 4.3%–4.6%) registered for the study; after a reminder 1,130 (2.5%, 2.3%–2.6% of those reminded) enrolled. Minor sociodemographic differences were observed between the groups and the content of the responses did not differ. Second-attempt respondents were less likely to participate in subsequent questionnaires: 67.3% of first-attempt vs. 43.3% of second-attempt respondents participated in their fourth survey. Recruitment costs were 79% higher for second-attempt respondents.Conclusion: While reminders increased the number of participants, lower cost-effectiveness and higher attrition of second-attempt respondents support the use of single invitation only for studies with a similar design to ours when the overall participation is low.

IntroductionPre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill aimed at reducing HIV transmission risk when taken as prescribed. It’s highly recommended for high-risk Men who have sex with Men (MSM). This study aimed to assess PrEP awareness and willingness to use it among Rwandan MSM, a critical aspect given PrEP’s proven effectiveness. The findings are expected to inform policy decisions and further advance the implementation of PrEP strategies.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study design that utilized a web-based survey conducted between April and June 2019 to assess awareness and willingness to use PrEP among sexually active MSM in Rwanda. A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants via social media such as WhatsApp and e-mail. Eligibility criteria included being sexually active, aged ≥18 years, self-identifying as MSM, residing in Rwanda, self-reported engagement in receptive or insertive anal sex in the last 12 months, and self-reported HIV-negative serostatus. We assessed two primary outcomes: PrEP awareness (having ever heard of PrEP) and willingness to use PrEP within one month of completing the survey. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify participant characteristics associated with PrEP awareness and willingness to use it.ResultsOut of 521 participants, the majority (73%) demonstrated awareness of PrEP. Factors linked to PrEP awareness included residing outside the capital, Kigali, being in the 18–29 age group, having higher education levels, perceiving a benefit from PrEP, and engaging in vaginal sex with a woman while using a condom in the last year. Additionally, 96% of participants expressed a strong willingness to use PrEP.ConclusionRwandan MSM exhibits a high level of PrEP awareness, notably associated with factors like location, age, education, perceived benefits, and condom use. The study also revealed a strong willingness to use PrEP, indicating promising prospects for its adoption among this group. These findings highlight the need for targeted awareness campaigns, personalized interventions, and comprehensive sexual health education to promote PrEP adoption and strengthen HIV prevention efforts among Rwandan MSM.

Achieving a high participation rate is a common challenge in healthcare research based on web-based surveys. A study on local anesthetic systemic toxicity awareness and usage among medical practitioners at two Swiss university hospitals encountered resistance in obtaining personal email addresses from Heads of Departments. Participants were therefore divided into two groups: those who were directly invited via email (personal invitation group) and those who received a generic link through intermediaries (generic link group). The latter group was eventually excluded from survey data analysis. To determine whether one method of survey administration was more effective than another, we carried out a retrospective analysis of response rates and the proportion of new questionnaires completed after initial invitation and subsequent reminders. The results showed significantly higher response rates in the personal invitation group (40.2%, 313/779) compared to the generic link group (25.3%, 22/87), emphasizing the effectiveness of personal invitations on response rate (+14.9%, p = 0.007). The personal invitation group consistently yielded a higher number of completed questionnaires following the initial invitation and each reminder. The method of survey administration can greatly influence response rates and should be acknowledged as a quality criterion when conducting web-based surveys.

As Canadian provinces and territories prepare to transition to HPV-based primary screening for cervical cancer, failure to identify and address potential barriers to screening could hinder program implementation. We examined screening-eligible Canadians’ attitudes towards and knowledge of cervical screening. A nationally representative sample of screening-eligible Canadians (N = 3724) completed a web-based survey in the summer of 2022. Oversampling ensured that half of the sample were underscreened for cervical cancer (>3 years since previous screening or never screened). The participants completed validated scales of cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV test knowledge and HPV test and self-sampling attitudes and beliefs. Between-group differences (underscreened vs. adequately screened) were calculated for scales and items using independent sample t-tests or chi-square tests. The underscreened participants (n = 1871) demonstrated significantly lower knowledge of cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV test. The adequately screened participants (n = 1853) scored higher on the Confidence and Worries subscales of the HPV Test Attitudes and Beliefs Scale. The underscreened participants scored higher on the Personal Barriers and Social Norms subscales. The underscreened participants also endorsed greater Autonomy conferred by self-sampling. Our findings suggest important differential patterns of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs between the underscreened and adequately screened Canadians. These findings highlight the need to develop targeted communication strategies and promote patient-centered, tailored approaches in cervical screening programs.

Despite good agreement of national guidelines for the assessment and treatment of tinnitus, there is still substantial variation regarding tinnitus-related healthcare across Europe. In contrast to previous work, which has mainly focussed on the perspective of healthcare professionals, we here report the results of separate web-based surveys conducted with clinicians and researchers as well as tinnitus patients. These surveys were devised to obtain information about their respective attitudes and needs with respect to tinnitus healthcare, and to reveal possible interdisciplinary inconsistencies among clinicians and researchers. We mainly targeted participants from Germany, Cyprus, and Greece, the countries in which the institutions of the researchers involved in this project are based. Results showed, firstly, that the treatment satisfaction of the patients was overall more negative than that of the clinicians and researchers, and that the patients' treatment satisfaction did not depend on the number of different treatments they had received. Secondly, patients as well as clinicians and researchers indicated that they were interested in learning more about a variety of tinnitus-related topics, especially treatment strategies, with no marked differences between clinicians from different professional disciplines. This suggests similar tinnitus-specific educational needs in patients and healthcare professionals.

Background: The use of local anaesthetics (LAs) is usually associated with few adverse effects, but local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) can result in serious harm and even death. However, practitioner awareness regarding this risk has been little studied. Methods: This was a closed, web-based study carried out at two Swiss university hospitals using a fully automated questionnaire. The main objective was to evaluate LAST awareness and LA use among various medical practitioners. The secondary objective was to determine whether these physicians felt that a tool designed to compute maximum safe LA doses should be developed. Results: The overall participation rate was 40.2 % and was higher among anaesthesiologists (154/249, 61.8 % vs 159/530, 30.0 %; P

Objective: In Japan, paper-based surveys are currently more effective than web-based surveys. This study compared the response rates and lifestyle behaviors between paper- and web-based surveys conducted among Japanese junior and senior high schools. Methods: In total, there were 42 and 64 junior and senior high schools, respectively, for the web-based surveys and 20 and 27 junior and senior high schools, respectively, for the paper-based surveys. The questionnaire covered lifestyle behaviors (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, eating, and sleep status), mental health, and plans to attend college. School- and student-level response rates by survey method were assessed, and so was the effect on the reporting of each lifestyle behavior using logistic regression models. Results: The school response rates were 16.0% and 38.3% for web- and paper-based surveys, respectively. The student response rates were 88.7% and 77.2%, respectively. The web-based group had significantly more female participants and lower response rates for higher grades in senior high schools. The odds of lifetime and current alcohol consumption and poor mental health were lower, whereas those of lifetime use of conventional cigarettes, shorter sleep duration, and plans to continue attending college were higher among web-based (vs. paper-based) participants. Conclusions: The school response rate was poor in the web-based survey. However, whether the differences in lifestyle behavior are attributed to selection bias or the survey method remains unclear.

Masaki Kato,1,&ast; Hiroshi Tsuda,2– 5,&ast; Yirong Chen,6 Toshinaga Tsuji,7 Nobuhiro Nishigaki2 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; 2Japan Medical Office, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Neurology, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 5Clinical Research, Innovation and Education Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; 6Cerner Enviza, Singapore, Singapore; 7Medical Affairs Department, Shionogi & Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Nobuhiro Nishigaki, Japan Medical Office, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 1-1, Nihonbashi-Honcho 2-Chome, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, 103-8668, Japan, Tel +81-80-9305-2077, Fax +81-3-3278-2925, Email nobuhiro.nishigaki@takeda.comPurpose: Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often overlap with and are hidden by those of mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), resulting in adult ADHD patients being misdiagnosed as MDD. This study aims to examine if diagnosed MDD patients are more likely to exhibit ADHD traits and if the presence of ADHD traits increases the humanistic burden, including the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI), and health-care resource utilization (HRU), on MDD patients in Japan.Methods: This study utilized existing National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) data. The 2016 Japan NHWS is an internet-based survey comprising a total of 39,000 respondents, including those with MDD and/or ADHD. A randomly selected subset of the respondents responded to the Japanese-version Adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1; ASRS-J) symptom checklist. Respondents were considered ASRS-J-positive if the total score was ≥ 36. The HRQoL, WPAI, and HRU were assessed.Results: Among MDD patients (n = 267), 19.9% were screened ASRS-J-positive, while 4.0% of non-MDD respondents (n = 8885) were ASRS-J-positive. There was a significant association between MDD status and ASRS-J status (crude odds-ratio [OR]: 5.9) as well as between MDD status and ADHD-diagnosis status (crude OR: 22.6). MDD patients who were ASRS-J positive experienced significantly lower HRQoL and higher WPAI than those who were ASRS-J negative. Limitations of this study include potential recall bias owing to the self-report nature of the survey and lack of objective confirmation of MDD diagnosis through review of medical records.Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant association between MDD status and exhibiting ADHD traits. Adult MDD patients screened ASRS-J-positive experienced significantly higher humanistic burden than patients screened ASRS-J-negative. Our results emphasize the importance of ensuring appropriate screening of ADHD and looking out for potentially hidden ADHD symptoms when diagnosing and treating MDD in adulthood.Keywords: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, web-based survey, major depressive disorder, undiagnosed ADHD, humanistic burden

Background: Identifying older adults with a high risk of falling and providing them with appropriate intervention are vital measures for preventing fall incidents. Scholars report that oral frailty, a decline in oral function, is related to physical function; thus, it bears a potential association with fall risks. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fall incidents and the status of physical and oral frailty among a sample of residents in Osaka Prefecture. Subjects and Methods: This study targeted community-dwelling people aged 50 years and older who responded to an annual questionnaire survey using a health app for 2 consecutive years, namely, 2020 and 2021. This study analyzed responses from 7591 (62 ± 7 years) participants and determined the status of their oral frailty and comprehensive and physical frailty using the Kihon Checklist. Results: In the 2020 and 2021 surveys, 17% and 19% of the participants exhibited oral frailty and experienced a fall in the previous year, respectively. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that oral frailty (adjusted odds ratio: 1.553) and physical frailty as well as low levels of awareness of frailty were significant explanatory variables of the occurrence of fall incidents during the subsequent year. Conclusions: Future studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms by which oral frailty induces fall incidents.

Unhealthy behaviors may contribute to the development and the progression of chronic diseases with negative consequences on patients’ quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between unhealthy behaviors (physical inactivity, tobacco consumption, and alcohol consumption) and health-related quality of life, measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, in women with endometriosis. To achieve this, data from a previous cross-sectional web survey among Italian adult women were analyzed. A total of 1045 responses were included in the analysis. Among the SF-36 subscales, the lowest score was recorded in the energy/fatigue domain: mean = 35.536 (Standard Deviation = 18.452). Smoking and physically inactive women had lower scores than non-smoking and physically active women, respectively, in each SF-36 domain. Women who drank more than one unit of alcohol a day, on average, reported lower scores than women with an alcohol intake p < 0.05). Physical inactivity and tobacco consumption had negative effects on the SF-36 subscales. Our results showed the need to monitor unhealthy behaviors to improve the overall well-being of women with endometriosis. Tailored strategies addressing smoking cessation, promoting physical activity, and moderating alcohol intake may aid in enhancing health-related quality of life in this vulnerable population.

As Canadian provinces and territories prepare to transition to HPV-based primary screening for cervical cancer, failure to identify and address potential barriers to screening could hinder program implementation. We examined screening-eligible Canadians' attitudes towards and knowledge of cervical screening. A nationally representative sample of screening-eligible Canadians (N = 3724) completed a web-based survey in the summer of 2022. Oversampling ensured that half of the sample were underscreened for cervical cancer (>3 years since previous screening or never screened). The participants completed validated scales of cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV test knowledge and HPV test and self-sampling attitudes and beliefs. Between-group differences (underscreened vs. adequately screened) were calculated for scales and items using independent sample t-tests or chi-square tests. The underscreened participants (n = 1871) demonstrated significantly lower knowledge of cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV test. The adequately screened participants (n = 1853) scored higher on the Confidence and Worries subscales of the HPV Test Attitudes and Beliefs Scale. The underscreened participants scored higher on the Personal Barriers and Social Norms subscales. The underscreened participants also endorsed greater Autonomy conferred by self-sampling. Our findings suggest important differential patterns of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs between the underscreened and adequately screened Canadians. These findings highlight the need to develop targeted communication strategies and promote patient-centered, tailored approaches in cervical screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding occupants’ satisfaction with their environment is an important step to improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ). These satisfaction data are limited to Singaporean commercial buildings. We surveyed (N = 666) occupant satisfaction with 18 IEQ parameters in seven Green Mark certified air-conditioned commercial buildings in Singapore. About 78 % of the participants expressed satisfaction with their overall workspace environment. Occupants were most satisfied with flexibility of dress code (86 % satisfaction), electrical lighting (84 %) and cleanliness (82 %), and most dissatisfied with sound privacy (42 % dissatisfaction), personal control (32 %) and temperature (30 %). We found that satisfaction with cleanliness has the highest impact to overall workspace environment satisfaction. Our results suggest achieving high occupant satisfaction for some IEQ factors is harder than others, which suggests the premise of singular satisfaction rating (e.g., 80 %) that applies to all IEQ parameters may not be reliable and representative. We determined that the major contributors to thermal dissatisfaction were insufficient air movement and overcooled workspaces. Occupants in open plan office were unhappy with the noise produced by their nearby colleagues. We also found that several IEQ variables (odors, air movement, available space, overall privacy, sound privacy and temperature) which are not statistically significant to the overall workspace satisfaction on their own, but their impacts becomes substantial when these IEQ variables are merged into larger environmental factors (i.e., Perceived Air Quality, Acoustics, Layout and Thermal). These results can support the development of an IEQ benchmarks for commercial buildings in Singapore.

This study uses individual survey data to investigate the impactof information about hiking destinations on estimated wildernessvalues in a spatial context. The data is derived from a revealedpreference survey of backcountry visitors who responded to questionsabout their recreation behavior in the San Jacinto Wildernessof southern California. Two GIS data layers are developed showingspatial representations of non-market values derived from a Kuhn-Tucker demand model, with and without destination information.Each pixel in each data layer contains an estimate of the recreationvalue at that location. The destination data provides more detailedinformation on recreation behavior that can be used to more accuratelyallocate the landscape values. Results show that includingdestination information produces significantly greater heterogeneityin parcel value estimates for large areas of the wilderness.

Abstract The Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients (GSMHP), maintaining a strong commitment to research and information, conducted its second web-based online survey named "Migraine in Greece—2020", following its first one conducted in 2018. The 2020 study included 2,105 migraine patients who were called to answer 151 questions. The purposes of the current research were to record the demographic and clinical characteristics of migraine patients in Greece, including the severity and effects of migraine on respondents' quality of life, as well as to survey the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the course of migraine. Our population, internet-based study provides data that will hopefully contribute to better comprehend the clinical phenotype and course of migraine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AbstractObjective The aim of this study was to investigate the use of streptococcal antigen tests and antibiotic prescription in general practice in Norway in relation to the national guidelines for sore throat.Design This study was based on a web-based survey.Setting Norwegian general practice.Subjects 4700 members of the Norwegian College of General Practice received the survey by E-mail.Main outcome measures General practitioner (GP) adherence to national guidelines.Results In total, 807 GPs responded and were included in the study. According to the guidelines, 20% and 30% of the GPs would perform unnecessary streptococcal antigen testing when presented with mild and severe infections respectively, while 52% would not perform the test at moderate infection. Phenoxymethylpenicillin was recommended by 95% of the GPs.Conclusion In this survey of self-selected GPs, we identified some non-adherence to National guidelines for streptococcal antigen testing and antibiotic prescribing. However, when antibiotic treatment was offered, the correct antibiotics were prescribed.Key pointsNorwegian guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of throat infections include the use of Centor criteria as a clinical tool to limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics. In this web-based survey, we investigated the use of streptococcal antigen tests and antibiotic prescription in general practice in relation to the national guidelines.•Streptococcal antigen tests were not always performed according to Norwegian guidelines, causing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.•National guidelines were followed in the choice of antibiotics for sore throat.

Online surveys are increasingly popular in research given their cost-effectiveness and potential reach. However, low response rates remain a key contributor to bias and the overall quality of results. Having a well-designed survey, providing financial remunerations, sending personalized invitations, offering regular reminders, and using more than one recruitment strategy are evidence-based approaches to improve response rates. Given the potential for illegitimate responses to online surveys, approaches that minimize illegitimate participation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of health literacy (HL) is a critical issue for college students who are in the transitional period to adulthood and are establishing their subsequent lifestyles. The present study aimed to evaluate the current state of HL among college students and to explore the factors that influence HL. Moreover, it investigated the relationship between HL and health conditions. For this study, the researchers conducted an online survey of college students. The questionnaire consisted of the Japanese version of the 47-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47), which is a self-assessment tool for HL that covers the major health issues of college students and health-related quality of life. The study analyzed 1049 valid responses. Based on the HLS-EU-Q47 total score, 85% of the participants exhibited problematic or unsatisfactory HL levels. Participants who reported high levels of healthy lifestyles obtained high HL scores. High levels of HL were associated with high levels of subjective health. Results from quantitative text analysis suggested that specific mindsets were correlated with high levels of competency in appraising health information among male students. In the future, educational intervention programs for college students need to be established to improve HL levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hege Hol,1 Solfrid Vatne,1 Aud Orøy,1 Anne Marie Mork Rokstad,1,2 Øivind Opdal3 1Faculty of Health Science and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway; 2Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway; 3Faculty of Business Administration and Social Sciences, Molde University College, Molde, NorwayCorrespondence: Hege Hol, Faculty of Health Science and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway, Email hege.hol@himolde.noPurpose: The purpose was to investigate: (a) Norwegian nurses’ attitudes toward assisted dying, and (b) how much nurses receive requests from terminally ill patients for help in dying.Participants and Methods: A quantitative explorative study was conducted using a web-based cross-sectional survey to collect data. The survey was sent to a total of 734 eligible participants, and 205 clinical nurses participated by completing the survey. Data were analyzed using bivariate statistics and multivariate ordinal regression.Results: The study revealed that 56% of the participating nurses agreed with the statement that physician-assisted suicide should be allowed, and 48% supported legalization of euthanasia. Nurses in pulmonary wards were more positive about the legalization of physician-assisted suicide (OR = 2.98, CI = 1.34– 6.66, p = 0.008) and euthanasia (OR = 3.51, CI = 1.58– 7.81, p = 0.002) than nurses in oncological wards. Nurses over 30 years old held more negative attitudes about physician-assisted suicide than younger nurses (OR = 0.16, CI = 0.07– 0.39, p < 0.001; and OR = 0.45, CI = 0.21– 0.96, p = 0.038), and nurses with postgraduate education held more negative attitudes than nurses with a bachelor’s degree (OR = 0.46, CI = 0.24– 0.88, p = 0.019). A total of 118 nurses (58%) had received at least one request about assisted dying in their clinical practice.Conclusion: Our results provide insight into clinical nurses’ attitudes toward assisted dying. Their attitudes were influenced by their age, education, and practice in different wards. Support for legalization of assisted dying is higher in the general Norwegian population than among nurses and receiving requests for assisted dying is not unusual for clinical nurses.Keywords: euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, nursing, web-based survey

Background and Objectives: The Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients conducted, in 2020, its second online survey, titled "Migraine in Greece—2020", after publication of the first similar online survey conducted in 2018. To compare the current findings with the corresponding data obtained in 2018, we herein release the second part of results obtained from the 2020 survey on the efficacy of preventive and symptomatic anti-migraine medications and the patients' reported satisfaction with these treatments. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 2105 migraine patients from all over Greece with the use of a 151-questions specific migraine-focused questionnaire in Greek language, which was distributed through the online research software "SurveyMonkey". Results: Triptans were mostly used with efficacy for the symptomatic relief of migraine attacks. About 2 of 3 surveyed patients had received various prophylactic oral medications and the majority of them discontinued these prophylactic medications as a result of inefficacy/safety issues. BoNTA was reported to be effective only when administration was commenced by a trained neurologist/headache specialist, while our current findings are generally comparable to those obtained in our 2018 pre-COVID-19 survey and the pandemic has not imposed any significant attitudes on migraine therapies and corresponding patients' satisfaction. Conclusion: Although a market change is anticipated with the evolving widespread use of anti-CGRPs monoclonal antibodies or gepants in the symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of migraine, it is of great interest to review published results of larger longitudinal population-based studies to further ascertain the satisfaction of patients to migraine therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This web-based survey is done to collect and assess data from people tested for COVID-19 with PCR in Pakistan. Methods: This 3-month study is a cross -sectional online survey, conducted by Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), Health Research Advisory Board (HealthRAB) and National Institute of Health (NIH). Data collection was done using Google Forms. People who were tested for COVID-19 using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were included in the study. The sample size of the study was 1,537. SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis. Results: Majority of the respondents belonged to the age group 20 - 39 years. The most common symptoms found were fever 633 (41%), cough 534 (34%), generalized body aches 432 (28%) and sore throat 392 (25%). The mean COVID-19 mental health score was 3.59 (SD: 5.808, range: 0-18). Treatment with antibiotics and painkillers had a strong correlation (p-value < 0.05) with the disease outcomes. The disease outcomes had moderate correlation (p -value < 0.05) with anti-allergy, steroids, plasma and oxygen therapy, and weak correlation (p-value < 0.05) with Antiviral and Antimalarial therapy. Out of the total respondents, 561 (36.1%) were cured from COVID-19, 14 (0.9%) were expired during/after hospitalization, 15 (1%) were still infected and 962 (62%) were not infected. Conclusion: Pakistani population has a better cure rate than some of its neighboring countries. However, further research in this area is required to draw a definite conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of streptococcal antigen tests and antibiotic prescription in general practice in Norway in relation to the national guidelines for sore throat. This study was based on a web-based survey. Norwegian general practice. 4700 members of the Norwegian College of General Practice received the survey by E-mail. General practitioner (GP) adherence to national guidelines. In total, 807 GPs responded and were included in the study. According to the guidelines, 20% and 30% of the GPs would perform unnecessary streptococcal antigen testing when presented with mild and severe infections respectively, while 52% would not perform the test at moderate infection. Phenoxymethylpenicillin was recommended by 95% of the GPs. In this survey of self-selected GPs, we identified some non-adherence to National guidelines for streptococcal antigen testing and antibiotic prescribing. However, when antibiotic treatment was offered, the correct antibiotics were prescribed. Norwegian guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of throat infections include the use of Centor criteria as a clinical tool to limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics. In this web-based survey, we investigated the use of streptococcal antigen tests and antibiotic prescription in general practice in relation to the national guidelines. •Streptococcal antigen tests were not always performed according to Norwegian guidelines, causing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. •National guidelines were followed in the choice of antibiotics for sore throat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Perthes’ disease is an uncommon hip disorder with limited data on the long-term outcomes in adulthood. We partnered with community-based foundations and utilized web-based survey methodology to develop the Adult Perthes Survey, which includes demographics, childhood and adult Perthes’ disease history, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Scale item, Short Form-36, the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and a body pain diagram. Here we investigate the following questions: 1) what is the feasibility of obtaining > 1,000 survey responses from adults who had Perthes’ disease using a web-based platform?; and 2) what are the baseline characteristics and demographic composition of our sample? Methods: The survey link was available publicly for 15 months and advertised among support groups. Of 1,505 participants who attempted the Adult Perthes survey, 1,182 completed it with a median timeframe of 11 minutes (IQR 8.633 to 14.72). Participants who dropped out were similar to those who completed the survey on several fixed variables. Participants represented 45 countries including the USA (n = 570; 48%), UK (n = 295; 25%), Australia (n = 133; 11%), and Canada (n = 46; 4%). Of the 1,182 respondents, 58% were female and the mean age was 39 years (SD 12.6). Results: Ages at onset of Perthes’ disease were < six years (n = 512; 43%), six to seven years (n = 321; 27%), eight to 11 years (n = 261; 22%), and > 11 years (n = 76; 6%), similar to the known age distribution of Perthes’ disease. During childhood, 40% (n = 476) of respondents had at least one surgery. Bracing, weightbearing restriction, and absence of any treatment varied significantly between USA and non-USA respondents (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). As adults, 22% (n = 261) had at least one total hip arthroplasty, and 30% (n = 347) had any type of surgery; both more commonly reported among women (p = 0.002). Conclusion: While there are limitations due to self-sampling, our study shows the feasibility of obtaining a large set of patient-reported data from adults who had childhood Perthes’ from multiple countries. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(5):404–414.

Jung-Hyun Kim,1 Sung-Min Kim,2 Yong-Chan Kim,2,&ast; Byung-Kwan Seo3,&ast; 1Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Byung-Kwan Seo, Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-2-440-6239, Fax +82-2-440-7143, Email seohbk@hanmail.netIntroduction: Efforts are necessary to promote postoperative patient management to reduce complications or side effects, particularly those adapted to spinal surgery. Considering compatible medical system in Korea, the study objective is to report the opinions of Korean medical doctors regarding integrative enhanced recovery after spine surgery.Methods: From December 2020 to January 2021, members of the Korean Medical Association were asked to complete an online questionnaire regarding an integrative enhanced recovery program after spine surgery. A total of 726 participants responded to the survey.Results: Approximately half of the respondents had more than 10 years of medical experience in the Korean health-care system, and 58.29% were affiliated with primary Korean medical clinics. The majority of respondents were not aware of the ERAS program (N = 412, 79.08%) but said that patient management would be advanced from the establishment of a postoperative medical program that reflected an integrated medical perspective (N = 505, 96.92%). Furthermore, Korean medical professionals believe that Korean medical interventions should play a major role in the pain management and digestive improvement sections of the upcoming postoperative program. Moreover, respondents claimed that Korean traditional medical modalities such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and herbal decoction should be included in the program.Discussion/Conclusion: Responses collected from the present study can be used as a spadework for future studies. A study on the development of a comprehensive postoperative program that reflects the perspectives of patients and conventional medical doctors is needed.Keywords: enhanced recovery after surgery, web-based survey, Korean medical doctors, spinal surgery

From the initial COVID-19 outbreak, Italy was the first Western country to be seriously affected by the pandemic. Understanding vaccine hesitancy can help efforts to achieve broad vaccination coverage. The objectives of this research were to determine the extent of vaccine hesitancy in Italy and to understand the characteristics of those segments of the population with some hesitancy. Between January and February 2021, 41,473 subjects answered the second questionnaire delivered in phase II of the web-based EPICOVID19 survey. Among the included adult volunteers living in Italy, 4653 (11.2%) reported having previously received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the sample of 36,820 respondents, all not vaccinated (age 51.1 ± 13.5; 59.7% female; 63.6% high level of education), the comparison between hesitant and inclined participants was accompanied by percentages and odds ratios. A total of 2449 individuals were hesitant (6.7% of the unvaccinated ones). Hesitancy was higher among women (OR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.36–1.62); it was highest in the 50–59 and 40–49 age groups and among those with a lower educational level. A higher level of education was associated with a lower proportion of hesitancy (5.54%) compared with 9.44% among respondents with a low level of education (OR = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.46–0.68). Hesitancy was most common in subjects who did not report fear of infection (12.4%, OR = 4.0; 95%CI: 3.46–4.61). The results can guide the design of tailored information and communication campaigns through considering objective and subjective characteristics.

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the perception of parents regarding the role of children as influencers in family consumption decisions in India. The purpose is to support marketing practitioners in understanding the stages of children's influence in the family using the theoretical perspective of the resource theory approach. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on a Web survey approach. Primary data were obtained from a sample of 180 mothers of adolescent children in the age group of 13–18 years and residing in rural and urban areas of Delhi (India) by administering a bilingual (Hindi/English) pre-tested “structured non-disguised” questionnaire designed on the Google Forms. Findings – The findings that emerged from this study and as supported by the relative theory approach revealed that Indian parents perceive their children to exert a significant influence in family buying decisions, children's influence varies across stages of the decision-making process and the type of product and children's influence in family buying decisions is moderated by family structure but not by family size. The results of this study extend interesting and practical implications for marketing practitioners in India and by extension in other similar countries while designing and implementing marketing mix strategies in respect of goods and services meant for children/family consumption. Research limitations/implications – The findings that emerged from this study and as supported by the relative theory approach revealed that Indian parents perceive their children to exert significant influence in family buying decisions, children's influence varies across stages of the decision-making process and the type of product, and children's influence in family buying decisions is moderated by family structure but not by family size. Results of this study extend interesting and practical implications for marketing practitioners in India and by extension in other similar countries while designing and implementing marketing mix strategies in respect of goods and services meant for children/family consumption. Practical implications – The results of this study support the notion that children exert considerable influence in family buying decisions in India across products, hence constitute a viable target market for different products consumed not only by them but by other family members as well. It is, therefore, vital that marketers wishing to penetrate family and/or child product markets must identify the person in the family who is likely to be more involved in the buying process and the extent of his involvement to carve effective promotional strategies. Social implications – The finding that although Indian children are actively participating across various stages of the decision-making process and their influence is strongest at the purchase initiation stage has peculiar social implications whereby families may be exposed toward eco-friendly green products and sustainable ways of living through the children in rural as well as urban areas. Similarly, children were also found to be influential at the information search and evaluation stage; hence, the messages regarding social issues, gender equality and health issues, which are not yet openly discussed in Indian families, may be imparted through children for better coverage and effectiveness. Originality/value – Children are an important part of the family; especially in the nuclear families, children are an apple of eye and central point of the discussion. The role of children in decision-making is also important because of the changing information system and modernization of the younger generation. This is an empirical study focusing on the areas not yet explored and examined in the context of a culturally distinct and emerging country in terms of the emergence of children as influencers in family consumption decisions in rural and urban Indian families.

The Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients (GSMHP), maintaining a strong commitment to research and information, conducted its second web-based online survey named "Migraine in Greece-2020", following its first one conducted in 2018. The 2020 study included 2,105 migraine patients who were called to answer 151 questions. The purposes of the current research were to record the demographic and clinical characteristics of migraine patients in Greece, including the severity and effects of migraine on respondents' quality of life, as well as to survey the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the course of migraine. Our population, internet-based study provides data that will hopefully contribute to better comprehend the clinical phenotype and course of migraine during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The complex socio-epidemiological situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced cities to rapidly adapt to new prevention distancing measures. Several interventions have been made but specific tools are needed to rapidly verify the suitability of such design proposals. This study aims to describe the process of development and testing of a visual web-based survey to assess potential user feedback on Urban Public Space renovation for the city of Saint Germain-En-Laye (SGL), France during the pandemic. The renovation included pedestrianization strategies for the city center and the design and installation of new street furniture. Method: After an exploration of the literature and stakeholder interaction, an online survey composed of three sections and seven questions evaluating the project was developed to rapidly validate the design solution before its actual installation and compare the pre- and post-situation trough visual insights on a 5-point Likert scale. Data was collected through a Google Form and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: We received 371 full replies from Italian and French respondents. The survey results showed that the Urban Public Space proposal improved the baseline situation for different reasons, such as safety, sustainability, and accessibility. In fact, Solution A (the existing situation) obtained an average score of 2.08 while Solution B (the design solution) obtained 4.13. Conclusions: The features identified allowed for timely comparisons and possible insights, and the approach can be implemented in other medium-sized European cities dealing with Urban Public Space transformation during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal design (UD) relates to many aspects of public transport (PT), comprising the vehicles/wagons, stops/stations, and access/egress to/from stops. While some UD elements are decisive for relatively few, others enhance the overall PT quality and subsequently improve the well-being of many users. If the service quality is improved, some users will be willing to pay more, either in terms of ticket price or travel time. Improved UD elements in PT therefore increase social benefits for public transport users, in economic terms, even if ticket costs are maintained unchanged. PT users in Norway have been asked to choose between journey alternatives with varying levels of UD elements between the alternatives. These UD elements comprised: a) on-board facilities and driver quality; b) stop/station qualities: shelter, seating, safety, lighting, information; and c) the qualities of the area surrounding stops/stations: road surface quality / icing, lighting, facilities/amenities, information. In total, 25 UD qualities were assessed, in addition to travel time. Fare was one of the varying elements in the journey alternatives, enabling estimation of willingness to pay (WTP) for UD quality improvements. The WTP yields benefit estimates of improvements that can be assessed against the costs of upgrading, maintaining, and running these UD-related elements in PT. More than 2000 respondents participated in our web-based survey. Almost one in five reported special needs when travelling by PT. Comparing those reporting special needs against those not reporting needs/difficulties, we find that their WTP is similar for most UD qualities, but WTP differs on some particular UD elements. Those reporting needs/difficulties show higher WTP for improved cleaning and air quality on board, and for benches and highly visible real-time departure info at stops/stations. All PT users have high WTP for improved access, without detours, to stops/stations, that have shelter and de-iced road surface. Overall, our findings provide a case for increased focus on UD in economic assessments of PT.

Background: To expand veterans' access to health care, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Connected Care explored a novel software feature called "Vitals" on its VA Video Connect telehealth platform. Vitals uses contactless, video-based, remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) through the infrared camera on veterans' smartphones (and other devices) to automatically scan their faces to provide real-time vital statistics on screen to both the provider and patient., Objective: This study aimed to assess VA clinical provider and veteran patient attitudes regarding the usability of Vitals., Methods: We conducted a mixed methods evaluation of Vitals among VA providers and patients, collecting data in July and August 2023 at the VA Boston Healthcare System and VA San Diego Healthcare System. We conducted analyses in October 2023. In-person usability testing sessions consisted of a think-aloud procedure while using the software, a semistructured interview, and a 26-item web-based survey., Results: Usability test sessions with 20 VA providers and 13 patients demonstrated that both groups found Vitals "useful" and "easy to use," and they rated its usability highly (86 and 82 points, respectively, on a 100-point scale). Regarding acceptability or willingness/intent to use, providers and patients generally expressed confidence and trust in Vitals readings, with high ratings of 90 and 85 points, respectively. Providers and patients rated Vitals highly for its feasibility and appropriateness for context (90 and 90 points, respectively). Finally, providers noted that Vitals' flexibility makes it appropriate and advantageous for implementation in a wide range of clinical contexts, particularly in specialty care. Providers believed that most clinical teams would readily integrate Vitals into their routine workflow because it saves time; delivers accurate, consistently collected vitals; and may reduce reporting errors. Providers and veterans suggested training and support materials that could improve Vitals adoption and implementation., Conclusions: While remote collection of vital readings has been described in the literature, this is one of the first accounts of testing a contactless vital signs measurement tool among providers and patients. If ongoing initiatives demonstrate accuracy in its readings, Vitals could enhance telemedicine by providing accurate and automatic reporting and recording of vitals; sending patients' vital readings (pending provider approval) directly to their electronic medical record; saving provider and patient time; and potentially reducing necessity of some home-based biometric devices. Understanding usability issues before US Food and Drug Administration approval of Vitals and its implementation could contribute to a seamless introduction of Vitals to VA providers and patients., (©Lynn Garvin, Eric Richardson, Leonie Heyworth, D Keith McInnes. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 23.10.2024.)

Background: Work burden increases for physiotherapists in the primary health care sector as the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) increases. Digital health technologies (DHTs) are proposed as a viable solution to secure the sustainability of the health care system and have shown promising results in a range of conditions. However, little is known about use of DHTs among physiotherapists in the primary health care sector in Norway., Objective: This study aimed to investigate the use of and attitudes toward DHTs among physiotherapists treating patients with MSDs in primary care, and potential facilitators or barriers for adopting DHTs in clinical practice., Methods: An author-developed web-based questionnaire was distributed to physiotherapists in all Norwegian municipalities in March 2023. The questionnaire included items regarding use of technologies, attitudes, suitability, and factors influencing adoption of DHT. Suitability and agreement on statements were scored on an 11-point numeric rating scale (0=very unsuitable or strongly disagree, 10=very suitable or strongly agree). Differences across employment sites and users versus nonusers of DHT were analyzed using the χ 2 test, Fisher exact test, Student t test, and Mann-Whitney U test., Results: Approximately 5000 physiotherapists were invited to participate, of which 6.8% (338) completed the questionnaire. A total of 46.2% (156/338) offered DHTs in their practice, of which 53.2% (83/156) used it on a weekly basis, mostly telephone consultations (105/156, 67.3%). A higher proportion of physiotherapists in private practice offered DHT compared with those employed by municipalities (95/170, 55.9% vs 61/168, 36.3%; P<.001). A majority (272/335, 81.2%) were positive about recommending DHTs to their patients. Suitability of DHTs in physiotherapy was rated an average of 6 (SD 2.1). Apps for smartphones or tablets were rated most suitable (mean rating 6.8, SD 2.4). The most frequently reported advantages were flexibility in how physiotherapy is offered (278/338, 82.3%) and reduced travel time for the patient (235/338, 70%). The highest rated disadvantages were limited scope for physical examination (252/338, 74.6%) and difficulty in building rapport with the patient (227/338, 67.2%). The main facilitators and barriers included a functioning (median rating 10, IQR 8-10) or lack of functioning (median rating 9, IQR 8-10) internet connection, respectively. Lack of training in DHTs was prominent regarding evaluation, diagnosing, and treatment (median rating 0, IQR 0-2), with minor, but significant, differences between nonusers and users (median rating 0, IQR 0-1 vs median rating 1, IQR 0-4); P<.001)., Conclusions: Physiotherapists in Norwegian primary care treating patients with MSDs are positive about using DHTs, and almost 50% (156/338) have adopted them in clinical practice. Concerns are related to lack of a physical examination and technical aspects. Training in the use of DHTs should be addressed in implementation processes., (©Lars Martinsen, Nina Østerås, Tuva Moseng, Anne Therese Tveter. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (https://rehab.jmir.org), 16.09.2024.)

Serena Oliveri,1 Lucilla Lanzoni,1 Serena Petrocchi,1 Rosanne Janssens,2 Elise Schoefs,2 Isabelle Huys,2 Meredith Y Smith,3,4 Ian P Smith,5 Jorien Veldwijk,5,6 G Ardine de Wit,5 Gabriella Pravettoni1 1Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; 2Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 3Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, USA; 4University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 5Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 6School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NetherlandsCorrespondence: Lucilla LanzoniEuropean Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, Via Giuseppe Ripamonti, 435, Milano, 20141, ItalyTel +39 294 372054Email lucilla.lanzoni@ieo.itAbstract: The application of web-based and remotely administered surveys is becoming increasingly popular due to the fact that it offers numerous advantages over traditional paper-based or computer-based surveys completed in the presence of the researcher. However, it is unclear whether complex preference elicitation tasks administered online in highly vulnerable patient populations are also feasible. This commentary discusses opportunities and challenges of conducting quantitative patient preference studies in lung cancer patients using web-based modes of data collection. We refer to our recent experience in the context of the Patient Preference in Benefit-Risk Assessments during the Drug Life Cycle (PREFER) project. Among the main advantages were the possibility of reaching a wider and geographically distant population in a shorter timeframe while reducing the financial costs of testing, the greater flexibility offered and the reduced burden on the patients. Some limitations were also identified and should be the object of further research, including the potential lack of inclusiveness of the research, the lack of control over who is completing the survey, a poor comprehension of the study material, and ultimately a lower level of engagement with the study. Despite these limitations, experience from the PREFER project suggests that online quantitative methods for data collection may provide a valuable method to explore preferences in vulnerable patient populations beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords: discrete choice experiment, swing weighting, web-based survey, educational tool, online data collection, lung cancer