Educational Activities Research Articles

Impact of education on clinical confidence utilizing HER2-targeted therapies in colorectal cancer.

225 Background: Novel targeted therapies entered the treatment landscape in patients with HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). To ensure that these therapies are used effectively, clinicians must assess tumor HER2 status and recognize how HER2-directed treatment modalities fit into the current paradigm. To further enable clinicians to integrate HER2-targeted therapies, an educational program was designed in 2023. Methods: A one-hour online, video-based program was designed for clinicians and their teams and hosted on MedLive from February 2023 for one year. Knowledge and competence questions were administered pre-, and immediate post-activity. Additional questions assessed attitudes, barriers, and intended practice changes related to HER-positive mCRC. Results: Over 4,000 participants engaged in the educational activity, 67% of whom were physicians, and 63% noting their specialty as oncology. Approximately 68% identified as treaters seeing 14 patients with CRC per week with 78% of those patients have HER2-positive CRC. All pre-post questions showed significant improvements in knowledge and competence related to HER2 amplification testing methodologies, trial eligibility criteria, identification of patients who would benefit from anti-HER2 targeted regimens, and adverse events associated with anti-HER2 agents. Following the activity, 51% were more likely to incorporate testing for HER2 expression level or amplification prior to the selection of targeted therapy for their patients. The greatest challenges faced when managing patients with HER2-positive mCRC were affordability of therapy for patients (50%), adherence to treatment schedules (25%) and patient anxiety about treatment efficacy (24%). The most common barriers to patient enrollment in clinical trials identified by clinicians were lack of trials at their institutions (35%), lack of trials in their geographic region (21%), and patient lack of interest (20%). Qualitative insights on intended practice changes were shared by learners post-activity. Conclusions: The outcomes of this educational activity demonstrate the effectiveness of education in improving knowledge and confidence from testing to adverse event management to better integrate new regimens into practice. Encouraging practice changes were also seen from the write-in responses from learners. Additional needs were also identified to further solidify HER2 testing as a prerequisite for anti-HER2 targeted therapies, selecting eligible patients, and timely management of adverse events.

Enhancing dementia prediction: A 19-year validation of the CAIDE risk score with insulin resistance and APOE ε4 integration in a population-based cohort.

Dementia is a significant cause of disability and dependency. Persons with high dementia risk but intact cognition will benefit from preventive interventions. The aim was to validate dementia risk score Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) in a national population-based cohort with data on age, education, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia and physical activity. Secondly, we examined if substituting obesity item with Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) would improve predictive value of CAIDE risk score. Longitudinal, population-based cohort study. General population, Finland PARTICIPANTS: Representative sample of Finnish adult population aged over 30 years from Health 2000 Survey (n = 5,806). CAIDE dementia risk score and substituting BMI with HOMA-IR. Dementia was diagnosed in 571 (9.8 %) participants during the 19 years follow-up. CAIDE risk score predicted dementia well: AUC (area under curve) ROC (receiver-operating characteristic) was 0.78 (95 % CI from 0.76 to 0.79). Secondly, replacing obesity with HOMA-IR in CAIDE risk score generated similar results: ROC AUC 0.78 (95 % CI from 0.76 to 0.80). Adding APOE ε4 status further improved predictive value of risk score: ROC AUC 0.81 (95 % CI from 0.80 to 0.83). CAIDE dementia risk score predicts dementia well in a national population-based cohort. Adding APOE ε4 genotype improved predictive value of risk score. Insulin resistance measured by HOMA-IR is comparable to obesity as part of CAIDE risk score. These findings imply that CAIDE risk score is applicable for assessing risk of dementia and highlight importance of modifiable risk factors of dementia.

Strengthening community actions to improve diabetes mellitus care optimising public health facilitators

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is the second leading cause of death in South Africa, and almost 90,000 people died from diabetes-related causes in the year 2019. This study aimed to investigate facilitators that can be harnessed to strengthen community actions and barriers that should be redressed in structured public health and health promotion programs for people with diabetes mellitus at a primary healthcare level.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted using face-to-face interviews among 20 conveniently sampled participants. The Ottawa Charter was adopted to guide health promotion and strengthening actions for people with diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted at Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre. Ngangelizwe is one of the townships located about 2 km east of Mthatha Town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse data with the assistance of Atlas ti, version 23 software.ResultsFive overarching themes were yielded and categorized as facilitators and barriers. Facilitators included enhancing the role of community healthcare workers and strengthening health education activities. Barriers included lack of support groups, food insecurity, and unavailability of community health promotion programs.ConclusionWe conclude that a collaborative health promotion intervention with the necessary competencies should be designed to assess needs and develop, implement, and evaluate relevant empowerment programs at the household and community levels. This approach involves active engagement with health promoters/ public health practitioners and community health workers at the local level, allowing individuals and communities to access motivation and knowledge regarding the control of diabetes mellitus.

Identifying the Views and Needs of Family Physicians on Providing Care to Living Kidney Donors: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Optimizing the long-term care and follow-up of living kidney donors (LKDs) has been challenging, and prior LKDs have reported suboptimal healthcare experiences. Long-term care of LKDs is largely undertaken by primary care practitioners such as family physicians (FPs). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Canadian FPs (n = 151). In our sample, 21.9% of participants reported that ≥1 patient had expressed interest in becoming a LKD, and 39.9% provided care to prior LKDs. While 55.5% knew how to find information on living kidney donation, 75.5% reported that information was not available in their practice. Only a minority had formal training in living kidney donation (<5%), and self-reported knowledge was low (median = 3 [scale 1 = not strong to 10 = very strong]). Knowledge improved significantly with educational activities, resources, experience, and practice needs. Attitudes toward living kidney donation were generally favorable with 71.5% stating that FPs should be involved in post-donation care. Clinical care guidelines (78.8%) were the most desired resource, followed by clear communication and reliable contact at transplant centers. Our findings inform the transplant community of an avenue to optimize LKD care by better-supporting FPs, who provide care to LKDs. This may enhance data collection on LKD outcomes and potentially increase donation rates.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards multiple myeloma among medical staff in Enshi Region

A study in the Enshi Region between Sept-Nov 2023 assessed medical staff’s knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding multiple myeloma. The disease significantly impacts physical health, quality of life, and mental well-being. Medical professionals play crucial roles in its prevention and treatment. Analysis used Pearson’s correlation, logistic regression, and structural equation model (SEM). A total of 229 valid questionnaires were collected, with 68.6% of female participants, and 42.4% aged 31–40 years. The knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 36.27 ± 4.97 (range: 25–53), 42.40 ± 5.78 (range: 30–56), and 29.71 ± 6.41 (range: 7–35), respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significantly positive correlation between knowledge and attitude. Moreover, in both univariate and multivariate analysis, knowledge showed positive association with attitude. Several demographic factors independently associated with KAP scores were identified, including education level, age, occupation type, and frequency of academic conferences or medical education activities per year. SEM further indicated direct association between attitude and practice (β = 0.320, 95%CI: 0.189–0.452, P < 0.001). In the Enshi Region, medical staff displayed moderate knowledge, neutral attitudes, and proactive practices towards multiple myeloma. Moreover, significant positive association was found between knowledge and attitude. These discoveries provided valuable perspectives to the development of healthcare interventions and educational initiatives for improving medical staff’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Assessment of Online and Onsite Information on Heritage and Its Presentation in Slovak Geoparks

Geoparks, via the ABC geotourism concept, represent ideal places to effectively combine natural and cultural heritage, allowing visitors to better understand the country’s history and development. In this way, the sustainable development of local communities is promoted and contributes to the protection of the unique natural and cultural values of the region. Proper presentation of natural and cultural heritage in a geopark is key to developing soft forms of tourism, e.g., geotourism or ecotourism. The paper focuses on Slovak geoparks with a special emphasis on analysing the information availability and presentation of both natural and cultural heritage in these areas from the perspective of potential geopark visitors. Based on the analysis and evaluation of defined categories, including websites, social media platforms, mobile applications, information centres, brochures, educational trails, information panels, and guided tours, results show that, in general, existing geoparks’ promotional materials can be considered the best source of information on heritage and its presentation. On the other hand, the most significant identified shortcomings include insufficient use of mobile applications, a lack of educational activities, and the relatively low quality of existing educational trails. However, considerable differences exist in information access and heritage presentation in Slovak geoparks. Based on the findings, specific measures are suggested as potential solutions to enable the appropriate and correct presentation of heritage in the territories of Slovak geoparks. Their practical application will contribute to the development of Slovak geoparks, increase awareness of heritage located in the areas of individual geoparks, and provide a better understanding of the values of this heritage by the wider public.

PictoAndes: A Customizable Communication Board for Inclusive Education and Multicultural Accessibility

Children with speech and language difficulties often face significant challenges in expressing their needs, emotions, and thoughts, which can lead to frustration, social isolation, and hindered participation in educational and social activities. Addressing this issue, we present a customizable communication board designed to facilitate effective and autonomous communication for these children. Unlike traditional solutions, this application offers a culturally adaptive and user-centered approach, enabling the inclusion of personalized pictograms, such as representations of familiar objects, to create a more relatable and engaging gamified experience. The platform “PictoAndes” leverages modern technology and gamification principles to transform therapy into an interactive and motivating process. By integrating pictograms that resonate with users’ unique contexts, the board enhances communication, strengthens emotional connections, and fosters a sense of belonging. Built on agile methodologies, the application provides a dynamic solution that adapts to individual needs and evolving challenges, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. The evaluation of the platform, guided by WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing communication barriers and promoting active participation. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 10, this project contributes to inclusive education and reduced inequalities by offering a practical and transformative tool. By empowering children to express themselves in meaningful ways, the customizable communication board represents a significant step toward enhancing the quality of life and fostering social inclusion for individuals with speech and language difficulties.

Beyond human flourishing: an argument for ecological education

Abstract In this paper I engage with the literature on human flourishing as an aim of education to argue that we need to look beyond human flourishing and embrace ecological education—an education that acknowledges and reflects the networks of interdependence of all that lives, including ourselves—inspired by an ecological ethic. The paper is structured as follows. I begin by briefly introducing the problem and raising the question: Is human flourishing too narrow an aim of education, from an ecological perspective? The next section discusses the value of human flourishing as an aim of education, recent objections, and rebuttals to those objections. I then turn to an ecological critique, arguing that the focus on human flourishing is ultimately (unjustifiably) anthropocentric. Even if human flourishing would require the flourishing of ecosystems, other species, biodiversity, and so on—which on standard conceptions of human flourishing is only partly true—ecological concerns cannot all be assumed to be implicit in human flourishing; and more importantly they should not be approached through human flourishing alone. I end by considering a pragmatic question: is ‘ecological flourishing’ still a plausible overarching aim (or justification) of education, or is it too far removed from the everyday reality of education and its individual and societal functions? I argue that it is fairly easy to make sense of in practical terms, and more easily embodied in concrete educational content and activities than ‘human flourishing’.

Strategic Management of Madrasas in Improving Accreditation of Guppi Nurul Jadid Mts in Sumber Sari Village, Tungkal Jaya Sub-District, Musi Banyuasin District

This study is based on the accreditation of madrasahs which are still C in the last two accreditation assessments. Strategic management is an approach that can provide an effective framework for achieving educational goals and improving madrasah accreditation. The researcher raised the planning, implementation, evaluation, and strategic management can improve accreditation at MTs Guppi Nurul Jadid. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach through case studies. Data sources consist of primary and secondary. Data collection techniques with observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis techniques used are data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions and data validity. The results of the study indicate that the strategic planning process for improving accreditation at MTs Guppi Nurul Jadid includes developing a vision and mission, identifying external opportunities and threats of an organization, and designing strategies to achieve goals to improve accreditation. The implementation of strategic management in improving the accreditation of MTs Guppi Nurul Jadid includes activities to determine madrasah policies, provide motivation by the head of the madrasah, allocate existing resources, and develop a culture that will support the implementation of the strategy. The strategic management evaluation process in improving accreditation includes monitoring activities for educators, education staff, and students and supervising institutional programs. Strategic management can improve madrasah accreditation at MTs Guppi Nurul Jadid through cooperation with all stakeholders and the community, periodic monitoring and evaluation, and human resource development. Keywords: Management, Strategic, Accreditation Improvement, Madrasah

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AS A FACTOR IN FORMING ORGANIZATIONAL AND PEDAGOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR THE USE OF CLOUD TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

Annotation. The article examines the problem of digital transformation as a factor in the formation of organizational and pedagogical conditions for the use of cloud technologies (CT) in the management of an educational institution. The methodological basis of the work was the conceptual provisions of the theory of knowledge, which were used for analysis, systematization, and generalization of theoretical provisions for the formation of a cloud-oriented educational environment, as a basis for the management of an educational institution. Organizational and pedagogical conditions are distinguished: development of IT environment; orientation to the goal determined taking into account the results of marketing research; cloud coverage of all aspects of the educational institution's activities; active involvement of participants in the educational process in the use of cloud technologies; prompt introduction of changes in the activities of the educational institution as a result of systematic continuous monitoring of the educational process and the continuity of the impact of digital transformation.

LEXICOLOGICAL ASPECT OF TEACHING BILINGUAL TURKIC LANGUAGE SPEAKING STUDENTS

Bilingual students that speak Russian and one of the Turkic languages study at many Russian medical universities. The objective of this research is to show the experience of educational activities organized for the improvement of studying English by the bilingual students. For example, the speakers of Kumyk language join the students’ scientific society of the Department of Foreign Languages of Kursk State Medical University. The teacher encourages them to make comparative research of the medical vocabulary in English and their native language. The analysis of the medical vocabulary of the Kumyk language showed that it is mainly represented by the names of body parts. The students find Kumyk phraseological units, which contain somatonyms, i.e. words denoting body parts, and compare them with the English phraseological units. For example, Kumyk phraseological unit къара юрек (black heart) and English idiom black hearted have the same meaning an evil person. Students also make comparative analysis of the Kumyk and English proverbs with somatonyms to find out the proverbs with the same meaning, e.g. “Юрекге гелген сёз башына да гелир” and ‘What the heart thinks the tongue speaks’. The comparative analysis of Kumyk and English phraseological units and proverbs helps to establish a significant commonality of the native languaculture and the languaculture of the foreign language being studied. It promotes memorizing English medical vocabulary by the students and formation of analytical thinking.

Scientific-Technological Entrepreneurship and Complex Thinking for All: A Gender Study in Science Clubs in Mexico

ABSTRACT In Latin America, Universities recognize that it is not enough to ensure the participation of equal numbers of men and women in the classrooms. In this sense, promoting the inclusion of women in STEM areas is a relevant issue for the region. This article presents the results of measuring students’ perceived achievement of scientific-technological entrepreneurship and complex thinking competencies after participating in science club activities (Mexico). The analytical methodology included descriptive statistics and analyses performed with Minitab statistical software. The educational activities of science clubs impact the development of both competencies, showing a positive correlation regardless of the participant’s gender.

P0963 Nationwide analysis of targeted telemedicinal patient education in IBD – a randomized-controlled trial

Abstract Background Data suggest that patients’ knowledge about their chronic disease is associated with treatment adherence, and education may help improve disease outcomes. The effectiveness of educational activities depends on the source of the information. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of targeted educational activities in written and podcast formats for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods In this nationwide randomized controlled trial, IBD patients were enrolled between December 2023 and May 2024. At baseline, enrolled patients completed an online questionnaire assessing general knowledge of their disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Knowledge [IBD-KNOW]) and health-related quality of life (Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire [SIBDQ] and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]). Patients were randomized (1:1) into a control and an intervention group and the latter received targeted telemedical educational material, either in podcast format or as a written version, covering topics on anatomy, medical and surgical therapy, quality of life, epidemiology, diet/lifestyle, reproduction, and vaccination. This content was developed by IBD experts. Two months after the educational material was distributed, intervention group was re-tested, and satisfaction was measured. Descriptive statistics, Welch’s test, and Fisher’s exact test were used, with p-values &amp;lt;0.05 considered significant. Results A total of 221 patients were recruited, among whom 129 (58%) had Crohn’s disease (median age was 42 years [IQR 34-49], and median disease duration was 10 years [IQR 4-19], Table 1). Higher baseline IBD-KNOW scores were associated with longer disease duration (95% CI for B: 0.08-0.22, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and lower PHQ-9 scores (95% CI for B: 0.23-0.001, p = 0.052). Of the 221 patients, 95 were randomized into the intervention group to receive educational content, with 46/95 receiving the written version and 49/95 the podcast. Baseline characteristics and overall IBD-KNOW scores did not differ significantly between groups, except for a clinically irrelevant age discrepancy. After the educational intervention, the intervention group had higher overall IBD-KNOW scores compared to the control group (26.7 vs. 23.7, p &amp;lt; 0.001), while the format of the educational activity or quality of life had no significant impact on scores (Figure 1). Patient satisfaction was high (mean score of 8 ± 1.98) and was not influenced by the format of the educational content. Conclusion Telemedical education may enhance disease knowledge among IBD patients, with both forms of educational materials proving equally effective. Although no clear predictors of educational efficacy were identified, disease duration was associated with higher baseline knowledge.

Effectiveness of self-management programmes for athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A systematic review

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common condition that can severely hinder an athlete's ability to perform and compete at their full potential and overall well-being. The emergence of self-management programmes presents a potential treatment avenue for athletes with PFPS. Self-management programmes aim to empower patients through education, symptom monitoring, tailored exercises, and gradual activity progression while respecting pain thresholds. Despite their potential benefits, limited data evaluates the effectiveness of self-management programmes specifically tailored for athletes with PFPS. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of self-management programmes in improving pain and functional ability among athletes with PFPS. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials comparing self-management interventions to other treatments or control groups for improving pain and functional ability among athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome were included. Studies including athletes with PFPS (defined as pain persisting for ≥12 weeks) were eligible. Four reviewers independently extracted data and assessed quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Results: Three trials involving 139 participants met the eligibility criteria. Identified self-management programmes comprised exercises, mindfulness training, and educational programmes tailored to athletes. Two of the eligible studies identified found that exercise consisting of the combination of mindfulness and/or dry needling reported an enhanced recovery rate in the studied population with regards to PFPS. The other study reported no added benefit whether exercise or education was used as a modality for the self-management of PFPS. Conclusion: While some studies showed promising results for self-management programmes involving exercises and mindfulness in managing patellofemoral pain syndrome among athletes, the overall evidence could be more extensive and consistent. High-quality controlled trials with consistent methodology and athletic populations are needed to identify the most effective self-management approaches for patellofemoral pain syndrome in athletes.

An Exploratory Investigation of Heritage and Educational Language Exposures as Factors in Medical Student Spanish Language Proficiency.

Prior to enrolling in medical Spanish courses, students typically acquire their Spanish skills either through formal second language education only (L2 learners) or by being exposed to Spanish during childhood at home (heritage learners). To categorize the language exposures of medical students who participated in a medical Spanish course and explore the associations of exposures with their medical language proficiency score on the Physician Oral Language Observation Matrix (POLOM). Forty-one fourth-year medical students (2021-2022) self-reported demographics and prior language exposures and participated in videorecorded POLOM-rated Spanish standardized patient encounters. To classify heritage Spanish-language exposures, we defined a three-category indicator: no, moderate, and high exposure. To classify formal language educational exposures, we created an indicator distinguishing students with advanced college-level study of Spanish versus all remaining students. Videorecorded encounters were scored by calibrated raters, yielding POLOM scores with a possible range of 6-30, with scores ≥23 indicating readiness for Spanish-concordant patient care. Nine participants (21.9% of 41) reported heritage Spanish exposure, with six (14.6%) reporting high exposure. Ten students (24.4%) reported advanced college-level study. POLOM scores were correlated with high heritage language exposure (r = 0.476, p = 0.0017) and advanced college-level study (r = 0.374, p = 0.0159). All who achieved the POLOM readiness threshold had high heritage Spanish exposure or advanced study (sensitivity 100%). Among those who scored below the threshold, 76% did not have high heritage exposure or advanced study (specificity 76%). High heritage exposure and advanced college-level study are correlated with medical Spanish proficiency, but not all students with high heritage Spanish exposure or college-level coursework are ready for Spanish-concordant care. Future work should further evaluate the proposed three-category heritage language exposure indicator with a larger sample and the effectiveness of educational activities to enhance medical Spanish proficiency for both L2 and heritage learners.

Time Is a Tool: Evaluation of a Prolonged Casualty Care Curriculum With a Focus on Temporal Fidelity.

In current and anticipated future conflicts, including large-scale combat operations, medical teams are tasked to provide prolonged casualty care (PCC) or extended patient care that occurs when delays in evacuation exceed the team's capabilities. Although the principles of PCC are often taught to military medical providers using simulation, educators rarely dedicate the time to training required to simulate the prolonged nature of these encounters. Therefore, a lack of knowledge exists regarding which aspects of extended care may be lost in an accelerated training scenario. To close this knowledge gap within military medical education and training, we modified an existing PCC curriculum at the USU, Operation Gunpowder, to focus on temporal fidelity, extending the length of the simulated encounter to 21 hours. We used a qualitative phenomenological design to explore the students' experiences and perceptions by closely analyzing their assigned reflection papers. We identified four themes from the students' reflection papers: (1) Recognized effects of fatigue, (2) navigated resource limitations, (3) realized the value of teamwork, and (4) noted the importance of communication and documentation. These themes revealed benefits of incorporating temporal fidelity into PCC training, including self-awareness of personal limits and possible strategies to mitigate fatigue when medical or operational mission requirements dictate sleep deprivation. Future studies are needed to determine other training scenarios that would benefit from adherence to temporal fidelity. Wars and disasters require medical providers trained in PCC. Future educational activities aimed at teaching PCC should continue to incorporate temporal fidelity to help teach these valuable lessons.

Enhancing student well-being through cultural educational activities: A controlled study in primary education

Enhancing student well-being through cultural educational activities: A controlled study in primary education

Knowledge and Practice on Antenatal Care among Rural Mothers

Antenatal care (ANC) includes care during pregnancy, and it should begin in the early stages of pregnancy. It allows management of pregnancy, detection and treatment of complications, and promotion of better maternal and child health. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the village of Phulbari, Golapganj, Sylhet, Bangladesh from January to December 2018 with the aim of assessing the level of knowledge and practice of antenatal care among 384 women of reproductive age who had at least one child and had delivered the last child within two years from the period of data collection. Purposive sampling was used for data collection, and data were collected via face-to-face interviews with a semi-structured, pretested questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17. The mean age of women was 26.44±5.42 years and the average monthly income was 8915.89±5078.85 Tk. The reproductive history of the women revealed that the mean age at marriage, first child birth, and parity were 19.21±2.41 years, 20.40±2.58 years, and 2.23±1.17, respectively. Among the mothers, 38% knew about the recommended four antenatal visits, while 19% had no knowledge about antenatal visits. More than half of the mothers (59%) didn't know that they had to go for an antenatal visit in the first trimester. Regarding antenatal care, among 384 respondents, 301 (78.4%) had a good knowledge score, while 83 (21.6%) had a poor knowledge score, and 272 (70.9%) had a good practice score, while 112 (29.1%) had a poor practice score. Of the 384 responders, 147 (38.3%) gave birth in medical facilities and 237 (61.7%) did so at home. In hospital deliveries, 140 (95.3%) of the mother received ANC, compared to 176 (74.3%) in home deliveries. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.004). A total of 82.3% of rural mothers received antenatal care during their last pregnancy. Women in rural settings are vulnerable due to poor antenatal health care and are exposed to the risk of pregnancy and childbirth. Appropriate health education activities, continuous database upgrade of pregnant mothers, and improved domiciliary services may increase the level of knowledge and practice of antenatal care among rural women, which may improve maternal health and decrease maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Jalalabad Med J 22; 19(1): 6-10

The Effect of Parental Attention and Provision of Educational Game Tools on the Beginning Reading Ability of Children Aged 4-5 Years

This study investigates the influence of parental attention and the provision of Educational Play Tools (EPT) on the early reading skills of children aged 4-5 years. The results demonstrate that parental involvement, specifically through active participation in learning activities, significantly contributes to the creation of an environment that fosters early literacy development. Additionally, the provision of Educational Play Tools offers an interactive and engaging learning experience, which further supports the enhancement of reading skills in young children. The findings underscore the importance of a synergistic relationship between parental attention and the availability of Educational Play Tools in establishing a robust literacy foundation during early childhood. Based on these findings, it is recommended that parents increase their engagement in their children’s educational activities and provide EPT that align with the developmental needs of the child. Moreover, the study calls for policies by government and educational institutions to ensure equitable access to high-quality Educational Play Tools, thereby maximizing their impact across diverse socio-economic groups.

Creative-Motivated Citizen Science After-School STEAM Programme for Motivating Actions Related to the Oceanic Microplastics Problem

Citizen science (CS) projects focused on microplastics (MP), small plastics that cause widespread ocean pollution, have gained interest from international research communities. However, research is lacking on designing citizen science educational programmes that promote microplastic problem-solving and enhance local understanding. These programmes could use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education and creative activities for children, supported by local adults such as parents and teachers. We, therefore, created a nine-week STEAM education CS after-school programme for primary school children. In addition to MP sampling, we have also incorporated elements of STEAM education, combining creative projects and motivational activities, in this creative-motivated after-school programme. Our goals are to encourage long-term community cooperation in research, learning about MP issues, and thinking about local solutions through this community participatory CS programme. As a result, our qualitative results showed that five primary school children and five community adults were actively involved in the programme. Three creative project outputs were produced, and four MP data sampling sessions were conducted. Three pairs of children and their mother participants remained engaged in this ongoing problem-solving activity 10 months after its conclusion. During our programme progression, we observed familial engagement between local children and parents, which has not commonly been studied in the context of CS programmes. We believe that designing action-motivating long-term programmes to raise participants’ awareness of issues and interest in research is important. This CS programme has the potential to encourage long-term community interaction with research and enhance community involvement in environmental issues.