Coding Approach Research Articles

Factors influencing physical activity and sedentary behaviour in contact centres during the COVID-19 pandemic and their relevance for the future of hybrid working.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many industries work, including contact centres, with some employees working from home and new on-site restrictions/measures in place representing even greater challenges for employers around staff engagement and wellbeing. This study aimed to understand the interplay of individual, social, environmental and organisational factors influencing physical activity and sedentary behaviour in UK contact centre employees, how the pandemic impacted these factors, and their relevance for the future of hybrid working. Individual interviews (n = 33) were conducted with participants (staff working full and part time, on site and from home) from four UK contact centres. A topic guide based on the ecological model was developed to understand current barriers and facilitators to physical activity and (reducing) sedentary behaviour during and outside of working hours. Thematic analysis was carried out using a codebook and a deductive coding approach to identify themes. Three key insights are provided. First, participants felt they were generally sitting more and moving less since the first UK-wide lockdown. Second, factors which negatively impacted on these behaviours were evident across all levels of the ecological model. These included individual and social barriers (e.g., lack of motivation and preferable physical activity options) as well as environmental and organisational barriers (e.g., poor home office setup, back-to-back virtual meetings). There were a mix of new and existing barriers (exacerbated by the pandemic) and several of these were linked to homeworking. Third, organisational support requirements (e.g., homeworking ergonomic support) and existing facilitators (such as the provision of informational support and flexible working arrangements) were identified. Solutions to reduce sedentary behaviours and increase physical activity in contact centres need to address barriers from the individual to the organisational level. Whilst the study was undertaken in the UK, the results are like to be applicable globally. Clinical trial registration: The trial for the wider project has been registered on the ISRCTN database: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11580369.

Adult mental healthcare professionals’ experiences of family centred conversations with patients who are parents: a qualitative study

BackgroundMany parents with a mental illness report a desire for both recognition of their parental role and support for themselves and their children. However, parents are often fearful of negative judgements from professionals about their ability to be a parent, which inhibits raising concerns about their children with clinical teams. Consequently, an essential first step to supporting families is for professionals to proactively identify which patients are parents, although evidence indicates this is not consistently part of services. Professionals could play a pivotal role in guiding parents about how to talk to their children about their mental illness; this in turn can facilitate family functioning and enable children to access evidence-based interventions. This approach is crucial for mitigating the well-documented intergenerational risk of poorer outcomes and mental illness in children of affected parents. This study aimed to explore adult mental healthcare professionals’ beliefs and experiences of talking with patients about: i) their role as parents ii) communication with their children about mental illness.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 adult mental healthcare professionals with 4-30 years’ experience of working with adult patients under the care of NHS adult mental healthcare services in England. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive coding approach following the principles of thematic analysis.ResultAll participants recognised their responsibility to identify patients’ children through routine safeguarding protocols, but supporting patients around telling their children the diagnosis was less common. Many participants expressed concerns that raising the topic of children with patients could conflict with other parts of their professional role or would not be welcomed. Obstacles to these conversations were identified, across individual, environmental and organisational factors. Potential facilitators included specific staff training and resources for clinical teams and families around how to tell children about mental illness.ConclusionAdult mental healthcare professionals would benefit from enhanced training on the importance and methods of guiding parents to communicate with their children about mental illness. This should include routine identification of which patients are parents and recognition of the impact of an adult’s mental illness on the wider family system.

How to optimise creative art therapy to foster the mental health of refugee adolescents? A Delphi study protocol.

This study aims to identify the most recommended components of creative art therapy (CAT) to improve the mental health of refugee adolescents. A three-round Delphi design is proposed. The first round will include semi-structured interviews with a panel of 12 CAT professionals worldwide and 12 refugee adolescents aged 10-24 in Jordan with a history of participating in creative arts interventions. The hybrid approach of coding and thematic analysis will be conducted to develop statements on recommended CAT components from the interview narratives. In the second round, the same and newly enrolled 24 professionals and 24 refugee adolescents will be asked to rate the statements according to their importance, propose new statements, and add comments. A similar procedure will be followed in the third round, where panellists will rate new and old statements after perusing the feedback from the second round. A statement will gain consensus and indicate essential components when rated 'essential' or 'very important' by > = 80% of panellists. Very important components are those with the same ratings by 60-79.9% of panellists. A list of essential and very important components, perspectives and suggestions will be provided to guide practice and intervention development.

Folk Models of Loot Boxes in Video Games

Regulations require video games to provide transparency regarding loot box odds to keep players informed, leading many games to disclose probabilities in various ways; yet, the extent of players' comprehension of loot box mechanics remains unclear. We performed a content analysis on 80 online posts to understand players' perceptions of loot box odds in two popular video games (Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail). We then conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 players to explore the causes of these folk models across more games. Utilizing a bottom-up open coding approach, we created a taxonomy of folk models players have about loot boxes. We found that participants generally possessed inaccurate mental models of how loot boxes work, and they wanted game companies to enhance loot box transparency in three areas of probability disclosures: granularity, longitude, and scope.

Reflective practice among pre-service teachers: the role of portfolios

ABSTRACT Background In Belgium, and elsewhere, the use of portfolios as a reflective practice for pre-service primary and secondary teachers has long been established in higher education. Reflective thinking is recognised as an effective process for examining daily practices, awakening students to the key elements of their profession, and fostering lifelong learning. With the emergence of the competency-based approach to employability, the link between portfolio-based reflective practice and the development of students’ employability competences remains to be explored. Purpose The aim of this study was to examine how portfolios, as a reflective practice, can promote pre-service physical education (PE) teachers’ reflective thinking and their employability competences, and to consider the support that might need to be offered to help pre-service teachers better reflect on their employability competences. Method Qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 16 pre-service PE teachers in one Belgian university. Thematic analysis, based on a dual deductive and inductive coding approach, was undertaken to discover patterns in the data. To investigate the role of portfolio-based reflective practice for reflection and employability, co-occurrences between the identified codes were examined. Findings Analysis of the interview data showed that students used the portfolio as a reflective practice. The portfolio experience appeared to foster employability competences, particularly expertise, lifelong learning, social competences and efficacy beliefs. In addition, the portfolio enabled students to explore their beliefs and knowledge and to validate their assumptions and beliefs. The support of peers and tutors was crucial during this experience. Conclusion Course designers may wish to improve portfolio use by thoughtfully incorporating all phases of reflective practice, encouraging students not only to reflect on their competence development but also to take meaningful action. Organising portfolios in a way that prompts students to draw on prior knowledge, beliefs, and experiences, while facilitating with key stakeholders, such as peers and teachers, could further support their professional development.

"It's Everybody's and It's Nobody's Responsibility": Stakeholder Perspectives on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equity at the Nexus of Chronic Kidney Disease and Oral Health.

The effects of racism, oppression, and colonization in Australia are reflected in the inequitable experience of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Despite having the highest incidence of CKD, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the lowest rate of kidney transplant, with poor oral health commonly being an obstacle to receiving a transplant. This research reflects the exploratory phase of a larger project aimed at maximizing oral health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with CKD in Australia through the provision of culturally secure dental care. The present research uses reflexive thematic analysis to analyze qualitative data from yarns, interviews, and focus groups with dental, renal, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to generate a conceptual understanding of equity at the nexus of oral health and kidney health. NVivo software was used for organizing data and an inductive line-by-line coding approach. Twenty-eight stakeholders participated; 12 of the stakeholders identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and most were female. Factors at the nexus of oral health and CKD included the continuous effects of colonization, the centrality of cultural security for improved care, as well as several challenges and opportunities at a system level. Challenges included the luxury of oral health access, limited health care team involvement in oral health pathways, high-intensity engagement with medical systems, and no communication between dental and renal teams. Opportunities identified included the role of integrated care, cross-discipline knowledge sharing, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, clear referral pathways, prevention, and assistance with navigating the oral health system. We argue that collective responsibility for the oral health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with CKD is required for improved health and eligibility for kidney transplant. Cross-discipline collaboration is required to overcome the rigidness of the current colonial and biomedical model that silos oral health and CKD. The siloed approach to management of oral health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with chronic kidney disease results in low knowledge sharing and communication across chronic disease management teams and can prevent kidney transplantation. Collective responsibility for oral health within this context is required to ensure that just and equitable access to kidney transplant can be achieved.

Student Pharmacists’ Reflections on Personal and Professional Development Following a Series of Longitudinal Faith-Based Courses

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore how integrating Judeo-Christian religious education into the pharmacy curriculum influences students’ spiritual and moral development, professional values, and mindset, preparing them for future holistic health care practice. MethodsA series of Judeo-Christian faith-based courses were integrated into the required Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum with the aim of developing student pharmacists’ moral foundation for future health care roles. Student reflections from these courses were compiled and analyzed using WordStat, combining natural language processing and statistical analysis. Content analysis included word cloud visualization, word co-occurrence, phrase extraction, and topic modeling. Thematic analysis with a deductive coding approach was applied. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze coding frequencies. ResultsWord cluster analysis revealed frequently cited and co-occurring words, including God, patient, care, life, love, ethics, personal, professional, health, and people. The frequently occurring phrases included patient care, professional ethics, personal ethics, and professional developments. The topics with high coherence values included love and compassion, empathetic care, caring health professionals, patient care, and leadership based on biblical principles. The major themes that emerged included spiritual growth and connection with God, the cultivation of virtues and ethical principles in personal development, and integration of faith into professional commitments for these aspiring professionals. ConclusionThe findings suggest that integrating spiritual and religious education into the pharmacy curriculum helps students develop a strong moral foundation, guiding their future practice with compassion and integrity.

From Calculation to Communication: Using Risk Score Calculators to Inform Clinical Decision Making and Facilitate Patient Engagement.

Risk score calculators are a widely developed tool to support clinicians in identifying and managing risk for certain diseases. However, little is known about physicians' applied experiences with risk score calculators and the role of risk score estimates in clinical decision making and patient communication. Physicians providing care in outpatient community-based clinical settings (N = 20) were recruited to participate in semi-structured individual interviews to assess their use of risk score calculators in practice. Two study team members conducted an inductive thematic analysis using a consensus-based coding approach. Participants referenced at least 20 risk score calculators, the most common being the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Calculator. Ecological factors related to the clinical system (e.g., time), patient (e.g., receptivity), and physician (e.g., experience) influenced conditions and patterns of risk score calculator use. For example, compared with attending physicians, residents tended to use a greater variety of risk score calculators and with higher frequency. Risk score estimates were generally used in clinical decision making to improve or validate clinical judgment and in patient communication to serve as a motivational tool. The degree to which risk score estimates influenced physician decision making and whether and how these scores were communicated to patients varied, reflecting a nuanced role of risk score calculator use in clinical practice. The theory of planned behavior can help explain how attitudes, beliefs, and norms shape the use of risk score estimates in clinical decision making and patient communication. Additional research is needed to evaluate best practices in the use of risk score calculators and risk score estimates. The risk score calculators and estimates that participants referenced in this study represented a range of conditions (e.g., heart disease, anxiety), levels of model complexity (e.g., probability calculations, scales of severity), and output formats (e.g., point estimates, risk intervals).Risk score calculators that are easily accessed, have simple inputs, and are trusted by physicians appear more likely to be used.Risk score estimates were generally used in clinical decision making to improve or validate clinical judgment and in patient communication to serve as a motivational tool.Risk score estimates helped participants manage the uncertainty and complexity of various clinical situations, yet consideration of the limitations of these estimates was relatively minimal.Developers of risk score calculators should consider the patient- (e.g., response to risk score estimates) and physician- (e.g., training status) related characteristics that influence risk score calculator use in addition that of the clinical system.

Detection and Characterization of Online Substance Use Discussions Among Gamers: Qualitative Retrospective Analysis of Reddit r/StopGaming Data.

Video games have rapidly become mainstream in recent decades, with over half of the US population involved in some form of digital gaming. However, concerns regarding the potential harms of excessive, disordered gaming have also risen. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been proposed as a tentative psychiatric disorder that requires further study by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is recognized as a behavioral addiction by the World Health Organization. Substance use among gamers has also become a concern, with caffeinated or energy drinks and prescription stimulants commonly used for performance enhancement. This study aimed to identify substance use patterns and health-related concerns among gamers among a population of Reddit users. We used the public streaming Reddit application programming interface to collect and analyze all posts from the popular subreddit, r/StopGaming. From this corpus of posts, we filtered the dataset for keywords associated with common substances that may be used to enhance gaming performance. We then applied an inductive coding approach to characterize substance use behaviors, gaming genres, and physical and mental health concerns. Potential disordered gaming behavior was also identified using the tentative IGD guidelines proposed by the APA. A chi-square test of independence was used to assess the association between gaming disorder and substance use characteristics, and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze whether mental health discussion or the mention of any substance with sufficient sample size was significantly associated with IGD. In total, 10,551 posts were collected from Reddit from June 2017 to December 2022. After filtering the dataset for substance-related keywords, 1057 were included for further analysis, of which 286 mentioned both gaming and the use of ≥1 substances. Among the 286 posts that discussed both gaming and substance use, the most mentioned substances were alcohol (n=132), cannabis (n=104), and nicotine (n=48), while the most mentioned genres were role-playing games (n=120), shooters (n=90), and multiplayer online battle arenas (n=43). Self-reported behavior that aligned with the tentative guidelines for IGD was identified in 66.8% (191/286) posts. More than half, 62.9% (180/286) of the posts, discussed a health issue, with the majority (n=144) cited mental health concerns. Common mental health concerns discussed were depression and anxiety. There was a significant association between IGD and substance use (P<.001; chi-square test), and there were significantly increased odds of IGD among those who self-reported substance use (odds ratio 2.29, P<.001) and those who discussed mental health (odds ratio 1.64, P<.03). As gaming increasingly becomes highly prevalent among various age groups and demographics, a better understanding of the interplay and convergence among disordered gaming, substance use, and negative health impacts can inform the development of interventions to mitigate risks and promote healthier gaming habits.

Understanding Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in Young College Students: A Qualitative Work from India Based on Social Norms Theory

Background and Objectives: Substance use among young college students in India poses public health challenges. This study seeks to uncover the motivation behind alcohol and illicit drug consumption, applying social norms theory. Methods: This qualitative research utilized the framework method to analyze data from 14 college students (18–24 years) across various disciplines. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure diversity in demographics and perspectives. Data collection was conducted online. The study used a combination of in-depth interviews (n = 14) and focused group discussions (n = 2). We used AtLAS.ti to facilitate data analysis. We used a mixed inductive and deductive coding approach. A mind map was generated to visualize the complex interplay between social norms and other individual and external mediators. Results: We identified 10 themes, 20 subthemes, and 42 codes. The themes revealed descriptive (e.g., media and modernization) and injunctive (e.g., availability and legality) social norms that facilitate substance use and social disapproval and stigma that might deter young people from using substances. Family and institutional support were also found to play a protective role. The individuals also weigh the personal consequences (e.g., health and academic harm) and advantages (e.g., coping and relaxation) of substance use, which can influence their decision to use substances. Gendered norms and subtle differences in the social norms between alcohol and illicit drugs were also identified. Conclusion: Our study illuminates culturally tailored substance use prevention/intervention strategies that operate at the social, individual, and policy levels.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REGULATORY ACTS OF THE EU COUNTRIES ON THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally challenged traditional intellectual property (IP) frameworks, particularly in the European Union (EU), where regulatory efforts are aimed at balancing innovation with legal protections. AI’s ability to autonomously create, modify, and use IP raises complex questions about authorship, inventorship, ownership, and enforcement, which existing laws were not designed to handle. As EU countries attempt to adapt their legal systems to address these challenges, a comparative analysis of their regulatory acts is essential to understand how different member states are responding to the intersection of AI and IP protection. The aim of this article is to provide a comparative analysis of the regulatory frameworks governing IP protection in the context of AI across selected EU countries. By examining national legislation and harmonization efforts, the study seeks to identify common challenges, highlight divergent approaches, and offer insights into the evolving legal landscape of IP protection in the age of AI. The article employs a qualitative, comparative research methodology. It focuses on six EU countries—Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, and Romania—analyzing their IP laws concerning AI-related issues. The study reviews national regulations, EU directives, and case law to evaluate how each country addresses AI-generated IP in terms of ownership, authorship, patentability, trademark issues, and enforcement mechanisms. A thematic coding approach is used to identify key trends and divergences between member states. The analysis reveals that all EU countries maintain the requirement for human authorship and inventorship, which limits the legal recognition of fully autonomous AI-generated content. While countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands have initiated discussions on potential legal reforms, others, such as Poland, Greece, and Romania, rely more heavily on existing frameworks and await further EU guidance. Additionally, enforcement mechanisms vary significantly, with more technologically advanced countries adopting AI-driven tools to monitor and enforce IP rights. As AI continues to evolve and play a larger role in creative and technical industries, the legal frameworks governing IP in the EU must adapt accordingly. Future regulatory efforts should focus on creating new categories for AI-generated works, investing in AI-powered enforcement tools, and ensuring greater harmonization across member states. By addressing these challenges proactively, the EU can strike a balance between fostering AI innovation and maintaining robust IP protections, positioning itself as a global leader in both technology and intellectual property rights.

“Into the Abyss” – Exploring Healthcare Professionals Experience of Transitions of Care from Stroke Early Supported Discharge Services in Ireland

Abstract Background Early Supported Discharge (ESD) is a key component of the stroke rehabilitation pathway. Evidence suggests that ongoing needs persist for people with stroke at the end of ESD, however little is known about the transition from ESD to other services. As such, the aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) experiences of transitions of care from ESD services, in the Republic of Ireland. This was achieved through the following objectives: 1) Discussion of HCPs experience of transition from ESD, including ongoing needs of people with stroke and referral pathway utilisation; 2) Exploration of barriers and facilitators to ESD transition; 3) Discussion of potential solutions to barriers experienced. Methods A qualitative descriptive design was implemented using semi-structured interviews with HCPs working in ESD. Interviews took place online from November 2023 to January 2024 and were audio and video recorded and transcribed, via Microsoft Teams. Analysis of interview transcripts utilised an inductive coding approach through implementation of Braun and Clarke’s six step approach to thematic analysis. Results Nine HCPs took part in this study. A variety of ongoing needs and current referral pathways were described. Three key themes were identified: 1) “Into the Abyss”: Lack of a coordinated care pathway after ESD, 2) Role of communication and integrated information sharing in transition of care from ESD and 3) Facilitating care transition from ESD: current practices and future solutions. Conclusion This study highlights that at present, services in Ireland appear insufficient to cater to the ongoing needs of people with stroke after ESD. The roll out of community neurorehabilitation teams nationally and developing integrated communication systems are key areas for development, which warrant consideration by relevant stakeholders in order to optimise patient-centred care for this cohort.

Challenges in reliable preoperative blood ordering: A qualitative interview study.

Presurgical blood orders are important for patient safety during surgery, but excess orders can be costly to patients and the healthcare system. We aimed to assess clinician perceptions on the presurgical blood ordering process and perceived barriers to reliable decision-making. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted at a single large academic medical center. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners working in preoperative assessment clinics, and transfusion medicine physicians to assess perceptions of current blood ordering processes. Interview responses were analyzed using an inductive open coding approach followed by thematic analysis. Twenty-three clinicians were interviewed. Clinicians felt that the current blood ordering process was frequently inconsistent. One contributor was a lack of information on surgical transfusion risk, related to lack of experience in ordering clinicians, insufficient communication between stakeholders, high turnover in academic settings, and lack of awareness of the maximum surgical blood ordering schedule. Other contributors included differing opinions about the benefits and harms of over- and under-preparing blood products, leading to variation in transfusion risk thresholds between clinicians, and disagreement about the safety of emergency-release blood. Several barriers to reliable decision-making for presurgical blood orders exist. Future efforts to improve ordering consistency may benefit from improved information sharing between stakeholders and education on safe transfusion practices.

'Cheering on from the side-lines': The perceived impact of romantic partner's commentary and behaviour on maintaining women's appearance anxiety.

Appearance anxiety (AA) is a probable risk factor for body dysmorphic disorder and a prevalent and debilitating concern. Extant literature suggests that romantic partners' commentary and accommodation behaviour may contribute to women's appearance concerns. The aim of this study is to explore how women experience and make sense of romantic partner feedback about their appearance. Qualitative semi-structured interview study. Semi-structured interviews with 13 cis-gender women explored how they make sense of appearance anxiety in the context of romantic relationships. Reflexive thematic analysis with a hybrid inductive-deductive coding approach was utilised, drawing on cognitive behavioural theory (CBT) as a theoretical lens to interpret the data. Four themes were created from the data: (1) 'Then he said to me … you could probably tone up a bit': Maintaining cycles; (2) 'I think those comments down the line do eventually help': breaking out of maintenance cycles, (3) 'It's like they're talking in a foreign language'; beliefs as a filter and (4) 'Cheering me on from the side-lines'; romantic partner a supportive coach. These themes highlight the perceived unhelpful (e.g. accommodation of behaviours) and helpful (e.g. affection) impact of romantic partners' behaviours and commentary on participants' AA. Romantic partners are perceived by women to have a potent impact on their AA. Clinical practice implications include involving romantic partners in treatment, and clinicians using their formulation and CBT skills (e.g. Socratic questioning), to understand and target these possible maintenance processes within couples.

Sources of moral distress among obstetrician-gynecologists after Dobbs: A qualitative, multi-state study

Since the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization, 18 states have enacted functional bans on abortion, yet little is known about how these laws contribute to workplace stress and its sequelae among clinicians. The purpose of this study was to characterize sources of moral distress—which occurs when a clinician knows the right course of clinical action but is barred from taking that action by external constraints—among obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) in states with abortion bans. We conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 54 OB-GYNs practicing in 13 of 14 states where abortion was illegal as of March 2023. Using a qualitative descriptive coding approach, we identified four types of clinical situations leading to moral distress: delaying treatment for patients with obstetric complications, conflict with other clinicians, denying care they would have provided locally prior to Dobbs, and restrictions on clinical counseling. These situations provoked feelings of anger, frustration, helplessness, and emotional exhaustion. Participants attributed moral distress to the cumulative toll of routinely being unable to provide evidence-based healthcare, in addition to the acute burden of managing obstetric emergencies in legal gray areas, which was relatively rarer. The findings demonstrate a previously unreported source of moral distress: the everyday chipping away of professional integrity that occurs when OB-GYNs cannot care for patients in the way that patients need. Next steps include developing institutional-level policies and programs to support clinicians and enable them to practice ethical medicine in abortion-restrictive policy environments.

Perceptions of HIV self-testing promotion in black barbershop businesses: implications for equitable engagement of black-owned small businesses for public health programs

BackgroundHIV self-testing (HIVST) offers an innovative and promising approach to increasing HIV testing among Black men in the United States, a population disproportionately affected by HIV. However, engaging Black men in traditional HIV prevention programs has been challenging due to stigma, medical mistrust, and limited access to preventive health services. This formative qualitative study aimed to explore the potential of utilizing barbershops as an example of a nontraditional healthcare venue to promote and distribute HIVST.MethodsFour virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) consisting of 19 participants in North Carolina were conducted with Black men, including barbershop business owners, barbers, and their customers, to assess perceptions of HIVST and the acceptability of partnering with barbershop businesses to promote HIVST. FGDs were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a deductive coding approach to thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants reported that the trusting relationship between barbers and their customers, which may not exist between Black men and health care providers, is a facilitator of collaborating with barbershop businesses to reach Black men for HIVST distribution. Participants recommended providing education for barbers on the use of HIVST, as well as how to inform self-testers about linkage to care following HIVST to build the credibility of the barbers in delivering the intervention. Participants also raised the issue of the cost of HIVST to barbershop customers as a potential barrier to implementation, as well as the possibility that the implementation of such interventions could be seen as out of place in a barbershop business venue. Participants also expressed a strong belief that compensation to barbershops and their employees should accompany any intervention.ConclusionThese findings suggest that barbershop business venues may provide an appropriate venue for HIVST promotion and distribution, though factors like cost, training, and incentivization of implementers are necessary to consider in implementation planning. Furthermore, partnerships between public health actors and the business community must be built on equitable engagement to ensure the long-term viability of these critical initiatives.

Clustered Automated Machine Learning (CAML) model for clinical coding multi-label classification

AbstractClinical coding is a time-consuming task that involves manually identifying and classifying patients’ diseases. This task becomes even more challenging when classifying across multiple diagnoses and performing multi-label classification. Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) techniques can improve this classification process. However, no previous study has developed an AutoML-based approach for multi-label clinical coding. To address this gap, a novel approach, called Clustered Automated Machine Learning (CAML), is introduced in this paper. CAML utilizes the AutoML library Auto-Sklearn and cTAKES feature extraction method. CAML clusters binary diagnosis labels using Hamming distance and employs the AutoML library to select the best algorithm for each cluster. The effectiveness of CAML is evaluated by comparing its performance with that of the Auto-Sklearn model on five different datasets from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC III) database of reports. These datasets vary in size, label set, and related diseases. The results demonstrate that CAML outperforms Auto-Sklearn in terms of Micro F1-score and Weighted F1-score, with an overall improvement ratio of 35.15% and 40.56%, respectively. The CAML approach offers the potential to improve healthcare quality by facilitating more accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

Exploring the Views of Barbers and Stylists on the Acceptability of Delivering Community-Based Interventions to Promote COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination in South Carolina.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for effective community-based interventions to promote disease prevention and reach high-risk, underserved communities. Trusted community leaders like barbers and stylists may serve as effective conduits for intervention implementation. This study aimed to explore the perceived acceptability of an intervention to promote COVID-19 testing and vaccination delivered by barbers in South Carolina. We conducted exploratory in-depth interviews to ascertain barbers' and stylists' perceptions and identify potential barriers and facilitators. Data analysis used a deductive coding approach to identify themes and was guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Sixteen participants were interviewed. Participants expressed positive reactions towards the interventions. Acceptability was influenced by strong trust relationships with clients, perceived community influence, self-efficacy in providing the intervention, and a shared sense of responsibility for community health. However, potential barriers included declining public concern about COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy, and limited COVID-19 knowledge among barbers and stylists. Participants emphasized the need for training and incentives for effective and sustained intervention delivery. Barbers and stylists are well-positioned to promote COVID-19 testing and vaccination due to their trusted roles and community influence. Given the complacency from the waning perceived COVID-19 threat and the historical mistrust in health interventions, vaccine hesitancy must be addressed through supportive communication strategies.

Mathematical model enhancing flash memory reliability through DFT-driven error correction coding

Flash memory, ubiquitous in diverse electronic devices, confronts persistent challenges stemming from inherent errors that jeopardize data integrity. This research situates itself at the intersection of these challenges and advancements, proposing an inventive error correction coding framework that harnesses the unique capabilities of analysis with a hybrid error control coding (HECC) approach. In the proposed work, a mathematical model aimed at enhancing the flash memory by identifying the error pattern within the pages using the discrete fourier transform (DFT). By incorporating distinctive DFT mathematical properties, the proposed technique intends to improve flash memory error correction beyond traditional methods. The flash storage defect detection and rectification results with hybrid error correction coding achieved bit error rate (BER) of 4.3e-6, latency 14.1, mean 15.1 and standard deviation 1.0. Error correction efficiency 98% and storage overhead 10%. With this approach results are significantly improving the error correction efficiency, reduce storage overhead and enhanced adaptability to diverse error patterns.

Characteristics of a Successful Nurse Peer Champion in the Implementation of Innovative Digital Technologies in Hospitals: A Qualitative Study

ObjectivesUsing the Motivational Theory of Role Modelling as a framework, this study explores which attributes nurses deem essential for an effective peer champion, particularly in digital transformation processes within hospitals. MethodsA qualitative study was conducted with semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were coded using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and analysed using thematic analysis. ResultsTen nurses from Germany participated. The attributes most often mentioned were competence, taking on responsibility, a positive and passionate attitude, transferring knowledge and supporting aspirants in applying it, and leadership skills. Four types of champions were identified: a pragmatic and structured champion, a passionate innovator, a social and outgoing team leader, and a calm and empathetic team leader. ConclusionsThe findings largely align with the body of literature on peer champion characteristics in other populations and should therefore be used to guide peer champion application in hospitals to enhance effective implementation of innovations. InnovationThe identification of four unique champion types offers an innovative contribution to the field. Highlighting the unique requirements of nurses when implementing innovative technologies in healthcare, this study emphasises the importance of involving end-users in the design and implementation process of new technologies, a crucial step towards a more sustainable and user-centred digital health ecosystem.