Awareness Of Choices Research Articles

COVID-19 and shifting food preferences: A panel study among Chilean students

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on various aspects of life. This study aims to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic changed food preferences, focusing on cost perceptions, environmental factors, and health attributes. We conducted a panel study with self-administered online surveys among undergraduate students in Chile, both before and during the first wave of the pandemic. Each survey included a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to elicit food preferences. Using mixed logit models, our analysis shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, sensitivity to cost, preference for foods with low environmental impact, and preference for vitamin-rich foods increased. These changes in preferences can be attributed to individuals' perceived health risks. These findings suggest that the pandemic increased awareness of sustainable and healthy food choices, with important implications for promoting these choices during global crises.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Healthy Nutrition and Obesity Awareness Education for Middle School Students Using Drama-Based Learning Activities

Aim: The prevalence of childhood obesity is rapidly increasing, making it one of the most common nutritional problems globally. This study aimed to investigate the impact of education using the creative drama technique on obesity awareness and healthy nutrition-exercise behavior among middle school students. Material and Methods: This single-group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted in a state middle school in a Western Black Sea Region province between October 2023 and January 2024, involving 156 middle school students selected through random sampling. A six-session face-to-face education program on obesity prevention and healthy nutrition was implemented. Data collection forms included a Demographic Information Form, an Obesity Awareness Scale, and a Nutrition-Exercise Behavior Scale. Data collection forms were administered to students before (t1) and one month after the education (t2). Results: The mean age of the participating students was 12.33±0.92. Only 3.8% of students had previously received education on combating obesity through healthy nutrition. There was a significant increase in students’ obesity awareness (t1=2.99±0.17, t2=3.54±0.20) and nutrition-exercise behavior scores (t1=153.76±13.07, t2=165.1±11.57) after the education. Conclusion: Interactive and participatory learning through the creative drama technique effectively increased students’ obesity awareness and promoted healthy nutrition-exercise behaviors. Education focusing on hands-on experiences and active engagement was found to be successful in enhancing students’ awareness of obesity and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices.

Feasibility Study on the Development of Functional Food Products from Local Crops in Malaysia

Consumer choice and preferences are the utmost criteria when selecting which product needs to be formulated. Awareness of healthier choices leads to consumer demand for functional food that consists of nutritional properties and provide beneficial health attributes. Products added with useful ingredients are functional food. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and understand the consumption pattern of functional food among Malaysian consumers by conducting a survey. This offers a new basis to understand how Malaysian consumers from various religion and race choose functional foods in this era, especially after the pandemic has ended. A total of 102 respondents participated that consisted of Malaysian adults aged from 18 to late 60s regardless of the household incomes from all over states in Malaysia. This study indicated that 96.9 percent of respondents are knowledgeable about the idea and benefits of functional foods. A total of 23.5% of respondents consumed it every day, and 27% purchased it on a regular basis, usually purchased from supermarkets and hypermarkets. Innovation ideas were given from selected 31 local crops in Malaysia such as juice products, cordials, healthy bars, ice creams, freeze dried snacks, multi-purpose powder etc. According to the results, there is a potential market and buyers for functional foods produced locally. This survey provides a strong suggestion to food industries to start off with functional food products added with local food ingredients.

Combination of Multi-Objective Optimization on The Basis of Ratio Analysis and ROC in The Selection of Extracurricular Activities

The selection of extracurricular activities for students often involves several challenges and problems. Some problems in the selection of extracurricular activities include limited time, interests and talents, limited facilities and infrastructure, and awareness of choices. Problems in the selection of extracurricular activities include limited time, interests and talents, limited facilities and infrastructure, and awareness of choices. The purpose of this study is to provide recommendations for a decision support system model for students in the selection of extracurricular activities by applying the ROC method as a method of weighting criteria and the MOORA method as an alternative ranking tool for extracurricular activities that become recommendations for students. The combination of MOORA and Rank Order Centroid (ROC) methods is an approach that can be used in complex multi-criteria decision analysis. This method combines the strengths of both methods to provide more comprehensive and effective solutions in decision-making. The results of the study on the selection of extracurricular activities using a combination of MOORA and ROC methods, recommendations for extracurricular activities for Futsal extracurricular activities with a value of 0.444 as recommendations based on the final calculation results with the MOORA method got rank 1, for rank 2 recommended extracurricular activities Basketball with a final value of 0.437, and rank 3 recommended extracurricular activities Karate with a final value of 0.426.

Elder Voices in Oncology: Awareness of Cancer Treatment Choices and Conflicts in Decision Making

Elder Voices in Oncology: Awareness of Cancer Treatment Choices and Conflicts in Decision Making

Healthy Nutrition for Adults With Intellectual Disability: Piloting a Mobile Health Application and Self-Management Intervention.

While there are many benefits to healthy nutrition, adults with intellectual disability often have poor nutrition habits. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the use of a nutrition app and self-management intervention to increase awareness of healthy nutrition choices for adults with intellectual disability. Data was gathered on the effectiveness of the intervention and social validity of intervention components. Through a single-case multiple-baseline across participants design, the mobile nutrition app with self-management intervention was effective in increasing awareness of healthier nutrition items for three adults with an intellectual disability. Future research is needed to replicate and generalize findings, as well as explore additional supports that may be needed for individuals who have more extensive support needs.

Increasing Student Awareness of Complex Problems Through Systems Thinking: How (Re)Framing Can Lead to Identifying the Core Problem

Within global and interconnected societies, engineers need to embrace complexity and understand the importance of awareness of their choices in the problem definition process. In this practice paper, we propose a framework to increase students’ awareness of choices during problem definition, based on the integration of three frameworks: systems mapping, problem framing, and Cynefin framework. Through application of the frameworks students can identify important elements and interconnections within a system and frame the scenario around the core problem. We provide an example from an entrepreneurship course to illustrate how the proposed framework can increase awareness among engineering students and allow them to identify and respond to the core problem effectively. We conclude that this framework can help students broaden their understanding of complex systems and identify alternative core problems. This work also highlights the importance of recognizing that not all problems can be solved through engineering (technical) solutions.

Using AAERs in Financial Accounting Courses: A Case Study to Integrate Ethical and Technical Competencies

ABSTRACT Using the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases, this assignment builds critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills in a financial accounting setting. It requires students to analyze a real-world fraud from the perspective of an employee, manager, or executive (a “case participant”) involved in the accounting impropriety. The case features individual and group components that may be customized to fit the instructor’s needs. The individual component examines a case participant’s choices in committing accounting improprieties using an ethical decision-making framework. The group component includes an analysis of the accounting, the fraud triangle, possible preventative measures, and takeaways applicable to students’ future careers. By requiring students to step into the shoes of a case participant, this assignment increases student awareness of deliberate choices leading to financial reporting fraud and equips students with an ethical decision-making framework should they encounter a financial reporting ethical conflict in the workplace.

Policy education in a research-focused doctoral nursing program: Power as knowing participation in change.

Nurses have moral obligations incurred by membership in the profession to participate knowingly in health policy advocacy. Many barriers have historically hindered nurses from realizing their potential to advance health policy. The contemporary political context sets additional challenges to policy work due to polarization and conflict. Nursing education can help nurses recognize their role in advancing health through political advocacy in a manner that is consistent with disciplinary knowledge and ethical responsibilities. In this paper, the authors describe an exemplar of Elizabeth Barrett's "Power as Knowing Participation in Change" theory as a disciplinary lens within a doctoral nursing health policy course. Barrett (radically) emphasizes "power as freedom" instead of "power as control." This approach is congruent with nursing disciplinary values and enhances awareness of personal freedom and building collaborative relationships in the policy process. The theory was used in concert with other traditional policy content and frameworks from nursing and other disciplines. We discuss the role of nursing ethics viewed as professional responsibility for policy action, an overview of Barrett's theory, and the design of the course. Four student reflections on how the course influenced their thinking about policy advocacy are included. While not specific to policymaking, Barrett's theory provides a disciplinary grounding to increase students' awareness of freedom and choices in political advocacy participation. Our experience suggests that Barrett's work can be fruitful for enhancing nurses' awareness of choices to participate in change across settings.

Vulnerability to seasonal food insecurity as an exposure to risk: the case of the Southern Province of Zambia

BackgroundSeasonality is an important aspect of food security for subsistence households in developing countries. Among the multidimensional aspects of food security, this paper focuses on how unexpected negative harvest shocks would affect the seasonal food consumption of households. This is particularly important because, with the increasing threat of climate change, the frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods is expected to increase; this would adversely affect crop yields.MethodsGiven seasonal price changes of staple foods, some households buy them when prices are low and store them for the hunger season (not buy high (NBH) households), while others run out of staple foods before the next harvest and therefore buy them when prices are high (buy high (BH) households). Using three years of weekly household panel data for the Choma and Sinazongwe Districts of the southern province of Zambia, we assess the ability of seasonal consumption smoothing separately for NBH and BH households.ResultsNBH households successfully smooth their consumption over the 12 months of the crop year. In contrast, BH households, especially for households with few assets, reduce total consumption in response to harvest shocks, just after the harvest and during the “hunger season” just before the next harvest. However, in spite of this, the consumption of staple foods is generally insensitive to harvest shocks. Instead, they reduce consumption only of non-staple food items, such as vegetables and meats.ConclusionsSeasonal food insecurity is exacerbated by negative harvest shocks. We emphasize the significance of policies aimed at increasing public awareness of healthier food choices, empowering households to avoid purchasing maize at high prices, and reducing seasonal price disparities.

Digital distortions and interpretive choices: A cartographic perspective on encoding regulation

Rules as Code (RaC), which encompasses the conversion of legal and regulatory rules into computer code, is gaining traction internationally. This article analyses ‘digital distortions’ in RaC, which refer to disconnects between regulation and code that arise from interpretive choices in the encoding process. We contend that Boaventura de Sousa Santos’ ‘symbolic cartography of law’ provides valuable concepts for understanding digital distortions in encoding regulation. Specifically, we argue that the cartographic concepts of scale, projection, symbolisation and orientation highlight distortions that can arise from choices involving the documentation to code, logics to follow, languages to use and coded outputs to present. We demonstrate how these distortions arose in our attempt to convert the ePayments Code, an Australian voluntary code of conduct for consumer electronic payment transactions, into machine-executable code. The article concludes by underscoring the importance of greater awareness of interpretive coding choices and their implications for diverse users of digitised regulation.

What socio-demographic factors support disposable vs. sustainable menstrual choices? Evidence from India's National Family Health Survey-5.

For over a decade, improving menstrual hygiene among poor girls and women in low-and-middle-income-countries has been a prominent global goal. Towards this, governments in the Global South have worked to promote the uptake of disposable sanitary pads. Despite this, we continue to see a high prevalence of period poverty mainly because disposable pads require monthly purchasing that may be burdensome for many women. Not only are pads financially unsustainable but also represent a heavy environmental burden which has kindled an interest in re-usable innovations like menstrual cups that present a sustainable solution. However, there is little understanding of factors that promote the take-up of disposable vs. sustainable products at population levels. In this paper, we draw on India's National Family Health Survey-5 to understand the socio-demographic determinants of period product usage among girls and women, differentiated by their sustainability quotient. Our findings suggest that awareness of sustainable products and cultural factors are the key driver to promote their use. Women with exposure to menstrual cups either via education or mass media were more likely to use them. Belonging to urban areas and to disadvantaged social categories are other driving factors, at least partly because taboos of vaginal insertion are less of a concern among these groups. These findings suggest that improving the uptake of menstrual cups requires a paradigm shift in menstrual health policies from the promotion of disposable pads alone to spreading awareness of sustainable period choices among women via innovative use of mass media and community networks. Some micro-level evidence of change supports our conclusions.

Elementary School Teachers Development of a Sense of Community in the Workplace through the Participation in a Fitness and Mindfulness Program

Introduction: Stress and burnout continue to have negative impacts on teachers. Wellness programs have reported to help improve teachers’ quality of life, social life, reduce stress, and increase awareness of healthy choices. The purpose of this paper is to explore teachers’ perceptions and experiences of a fitness and mindfulness program. Methods: Semi-structured interview guides were used in the three separate focus groups that were conducted following each of the three 9-week fitness and mindfulness programs serving as an intervention for elementary school teachers to reduce stress. Focus groups included all female participants between the ages of 22-64 years old with one to 21 years of experience in the classroom. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two themes and subsequent themes were found: (1) work-life balance (subthemes: Implementing mindfulness techniques; Feeling ok leaving work; Self-care) and (2) building community (subthemes: Developed community; Accountability; and Level of comfort). Conclusions: The finding revealed that teachers improved their work-life balance through self-care, implementation of mindfulness techniques, accountability, and comfort with co-workers. The participants reported developing a workplace community. Overall, the results support that elementary teachers perceived a 9-week fitness and mindfulness program to have a positive impact on workplace wellbeing.

Moderate physical activity and healthy eating habits among older African American women with diabetes and hypertension: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators

ABSTRACT Objective African American women have a high prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors. Many of these atherosclerotic risk factors can be modified through increased physical activity and a healthy diet. Design We conducted a phenomenological qualitative study on perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating among 26 African American women, 55 years and older. Interviews were conducted and coded for emerging themes on barriers and facilitators of physical activity and dietary behaviors. Results Perceived barriers were pain and motivation to be active, limited definition of physical activity, time, preparation, cost of healthy meals, and daily decisions on food choice and preference. Facilitators were a routine of regular physical activity, awareness of healthy food choices, and influence of family. Conclusions Overall, participants had a general perception about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating; however, their motivation to engage in these behaviors depends on their definition, personal motivation, and food preference.

Health in Our Hands: diabetes and substance use education through a new genomic framework for schools and communities

From May 2014 through June 2019, educational, health, and academic partners under an NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) engaged 1271 6th through 8th grade students and their families in the “A New Genomic Framework for Schools and Communities” program. Evaluation addressed the effectiveness of the Health in Our Hands genomics curriculum, which employed Next Generation Science Standards and community action research projects to target two common, complex conditions—type 2 diabetes and substance use disorder (SUD)—in the underserved cities of Flint and Detroit, MI, USA. Curriculum outcomes were measured with classroom surveys, presentation event questionnaires, and adult interviews using mixed qualitative/quantitative (SPSS V. 25.0) methods involving generalized linear mixed modeling-based ANOVA. The diabetes unit enactment registered a 12% pre- /post-gain among students in perceived learning about genes and the environment. Both diabetes and SUD units showed statistically significant gains in perceived learning about health and health conditions and the importance of what students were learning to everyday life. A total of 73.4% of fall 2018 SUD event participants indicated increased awareness of educational and career choices in science. Moderate gains were noted during the diabetes curriculum in students sharing what they learned with friends and family. 9/11 parents and 5/9 community members attending the student presentation event had discussed diabetes with a student. Linked formal classroom and informal community-connected approaches can successfully be used to teach genomics and promote project-based learning in students, family, and community members. Further efforts are needed to effectively engage families.

The method of correcting the value orientations of the individual "Building a "Tower" of one's own life" in working with athletes

The article describes a visual-figurative method of correcting the value orientations of a person, its application and observations during the use of a sports psychologist with injured athletes. The aim of the work was to search for a visual model of life that allows the athlete to show the variability of its construction in a short time, with instant feedback from the system, which would increase awareness and quality of choices. During the psychocorrective game, an athlete has the opportunity to find a way out of the current situation, through a deeper understanding of the values of life and their role in building further life goals, find motivation for rehabilitation and readaptation after injury, painlessly undergo readaptation when a sports career cannot be continued for objective reasons. The technique allows the psychologist to overcome the athlete's resistance in an unobtrusive playful way, force psychological rehabilitation, return control and responsibility for his/her life to the athlete. The approbation of the technique showed the main advantages: brevity (one lesson of 70-90 minutes is required), simplicity of instructions, clarity and deep immersion into the inner world, which takes place almost without resistance from the athlete. The article presents two practical cases.

Understandings of mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a survey study of public and professional perspectives

PurposeThis paper aims to report the findings of a survey study exploring perceptions about cognitive impairment. These findings are relevant to public health campaigns and education programmes.Design/methodology/approachA survey exploring respondents’ views and knowledge about mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was circulated via UK networks. A total of 417 respondents completed the survey, including people living with cognitive impairment (n = 10), care partners (n = 23), older adults (n = 83), younger adults (n = 83), general health-care professionals (n = 96), dementia specialist health-care professionals (n = 48) and dementia specialists (n = 40).FindingsRespondents were more confident in their knowledge about dementia than cognitive impairment but wanted more information about both conditions. Younger adults were uncertain about many aspects of MCI, and were the most likely to view MCI as a normal part of ageing. Diet (45.1%, n = 188) and personal behaviour (63.8%, n = 266) were the least endorsed possible causes of MCI, suggesting a lack of awareness of lifestyle choices as risk factors for MCI.Originality/valueThe results highlight the need to provide education and awareness raising about MCI to enable people to seek help in a timely manner and be able to make informed lifestyle choices that may reduce their risk of MCI and dementia. Implementing education about MCI and dementia in schools is a key target, as younger people were the most uncertain or misinformed about these topics. It is clear that further public health initiatives around MCI are both warranted and welcomed by the general public.

Implementation of Indigenous Food Tax Policies in Stores on Navajo Nation.

In 2014, the Navajo Nation Healthy Diné Nation Act (HDNA) was enacted and permanently approved in 2020; HDNA places a 2% surtax on unhealthy foods and beverages, while other 2014 legislation exempted healthy food items from the 6% regular sales tax. Little is known about Navajo Nation store manager/owner perspectives toward the HDNA and how best to support stores to implement the legislation. Purposive sampling was used to ensure a balanced sample of correct HDNA implementers, incorrect HDNA implementers, and stores which made healthy store changes over the past 6 years. Three community-based interviewers collected surveys by phone or in-person. Frequency of closed-ended questions was quantified, and open-ended responses were coded using thematic analysis. Of 29 identified sample stores, 20 were interviewed to reach saturation. Eleven of 20 stores made changes improving their healthy food environments. Barriers included lack of equipment (6/20) and low consumer demand (5/20). Facilitators included consumer awareness and increased produce supply options (5/20). Sixteen of 20 stores supported HDNA continuation. Facilitators to HDNA implementation included orientation and informational materials (6/20) and promotion of tax-free items (5/20). Barriers included confusion about the tax (6/20) and tax exemption (5/20). Suggestions for support included printed materials (6/20) and store training (5/20). HDNA benefits included greater awareness of healthy choices among staff (7/20) and customer-community members (2/20). Most managers and owners expressed receiving support for healthy store changes and HDNA, but also identified a need for added resources and support. Findings inform legislative action to promote timely and appropriate uptake of HDNA, and support equitable, healthy food systems.

Facilitating content knowledge, language proficiency, and academic competence through digital storytelling: Performance and perceptions of first-year medical-related majors

This study explores pedagogical applications of using digital storytelling to facilitate the learning of content knowledge, integrated language proficiency, and academic English competence in an EFL context. Informed by social constructivism, process writing theory, and multimodality, a digital storytelling project was designed in accompany with a series of carefully structured learning tasks and instructor’s scaffolding during the composing process. The findings revealed that digital storytelling encouraged learners to transform from passive receivers to critical users of knowledge, engaged them in using integrated English abilities strategically, and invited them to explore the possibilities and limitations of applying multimodalities in order to construct meaning. In addition, students revealed more awareness of rhetorical, linguistic, and inter-semiotic choices, in response to the interactive nature of the multimodal genre.

Tradition, modernity, and the visual representation of “leftover women” in the English language news media in China

ABSTRACT This study examines the visual representations of “leftover women” (unmarried women who are 27 or above) in the English language news media in China by employing multimodal discourse analysis. The findings show that both conservative and gendered discourses are constructed by different visual resources in relation to “leftover women’s” actions, reactions, outfits, symbolic processes, and settings. Our research provides new understandings of Chinese single womanhood, which reflect the State profamily and pronatalist agenda intertwined with the pressure from tradition on the one hand, and women’s increasing awareness of individual choices, sexual freedom, and feminist values under the influence of globalisation and modernisation on the other.