Baseline Perceptions Research Articles

A Study on Causes of Gender Gap in Construction Management: High School Students’ Knowledge and Perceptions across Genders

This paper addresses three research questions: (1) According to the pertinent literature, what are the main causes of the current gender gap in the construction industry, particularly for management and leadership roles? (2) Is there a significant difference between male and female high-school-age students regarding their level of knowledge of the construction industry? (3) Is there a significant difference between male and female high-school-age students in their perception of the construction industry and factors impacting their career choice? These research questions are addressed by a review of the literature followed by a discussion of precamp survey results from two consecutive years of a two-week high school summer camp, which is focused on construction science and management. The literature review reveals that the issues are deep-routed and complex but can in general be categorized into two groups: the recruitment and retention of women in construction management and related careers. While the literature review summary in this paper addresses both categories, the focus of the paper remains recruitment, particularly through a study of high school students’ level of knowledge and perceptions of construction management. The pre-camp surveys assessed the participants’ baseline knowledge and perceptions of construction management as a career. The results showed that the knowledge of construction management as a career is very low, with no statistically significant difference between genders. It must be noted here that the participants are biased positively toward the construction management and related careers, as they chose to attend the camp for a variety of reasons, from wanting an experience on the campus of this university to parents’ encouragement. Despite this baseline interest, however, the data show that the participants lacked clarity on what this career really entails. It is suggested, therefore that the general knowledge of this career path across larger and more randomized samples across U.S. will be even lower. The perceptions of the construction industry differed slightly between genders, with females perceiving it as more physically challenging and prioritizing family friendliness when considering career options. In conclusion, both the literature review and the survey data analysis show that the lack of knowledge of this career path, exacerbated by the negative perceptions of the construction industry, contribute to the problem of women not choosing to study construction management. The construction industry continues to make significant improvements in their diversity and inclusion efforts, and there are a variety of paths within the industry for graduates of construction science and management degrees. As such, significant work remains for both the industry and academia to overcome the lack of knowledge and negative perceptions of the industry through increased outreach to better inform high school students, parents, and counselors.

Changing Your Tune: Lessons for Using Music to Encourage Physical Activity

Our research investigated whether music can communicate physical activity levels in daily life. Past studies have shown that simple musical tunes can provide wellness information, but no study has examined whether musical feedback can affect daily behavior or lead to healthier habits. We conducted a within-subject study with 62 participants over a period of 76 days, providing either musical or text-based feedback on their daily physical activity. The music was built and personalized based on participants' step counts and baseline wellness perceptions. Results showed that participants were marginally more active during the music feedback compared to their baseline period, and significantly more active compared to the text-based feedback (p = 0.000). We also find that the participant's average activity may influence the musical features they find most inspiration within a song. Finally, context influenced how musical feedback was interpreted, and specific musical features correlated with higher activity levels regardless of baseline perceptions. We discuss lessons learned for designing music-based feedback systems for health communication.

Positive impacts of psychological pain treatments: Supplementary analyses of a randomized clinical trial.

Clinical trials often focus on symptom reduction as a primary outcome, overlooking positive psychology factors of potential importance although many individuals can and do live well with pain. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Psychosocial Illness Impact-Positive (PIIP) scale assesses perceptions of adaptive psychosocial functioning (e.g., coping and meaning-making) after illness onset. This study evaluated the effects of hypnosis (HYP), mindfulness meditation (MM), and pain psychoeducation (ED) on PIIP scores, using data from a completed randomized clinical trial (RCT) of complementary and integrative chronic pain interventions. We hypothesized that treatment effects on PIIP would mirror the RCT's primary pain intensity outcome, such that HYP and MM, relative to ED, would lead to greater improvements in PIIP during trial follow-up. Our sample included 262 Veterans who completed the PROMIS PIIP Short-Form 8a at pre- and posttreatment and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Linear regression was used to test between-group differences in PIIP at each time point, controlling for baseline PIIP, average pain intensity, and baseline perceptions of prepain psychosocial functioning. There were no significant between-group differences in PIIP at posttreatment or 3-month follow-up. However, group differences emerged at 6-month follow-up: individuals randomized to MM and HYP showed improved PIIP relative to those randomized to ED. Positive psychosocial outcomes are a mostly untapped territory in clinical trials of pain interventions. The present work highlights the potential benefits of including positive psychology concepts in both research and clinical contexts, emphasizing the importance of understanding human flourishing in the presence of illness and disability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A136 EXPLORING ENDOSCOPIST PERCEPTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-AIDED COLONOSCOPY: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract Background Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining recognition as a promising adjunct in healthcare including gastrointestinal endoscopy. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated improved polyp detection with computer-aided detection (CADe) systems in colonoscopy. Despite the foreseeable translation of CADe systems into the endoscopy suite, no study to date has explored how introducing this novel technology influences endoscopist perceptions and cognitive processes. Aims To explore how AI assistance impacts endoscopists’ perceptions of and cognitive processes during colonoscopy. Methods Faculty in gastroenterology and general surgery at the University Health Network (Toronto, Canada) were interviewed in April 2023 to explore their baseline perceptions of AI before the planned installation of the Medtronic GI GeniusTM Intelligent Endoscopy Module, an AI polyp detection tool, at Toronto Western Hospital in May 2023. After performing a minimum of 10 colonoscopies using GI GeniusTM, participants were re-interviewed to discuss their perceptions of AI-assisted colonoscopy and how it influenced their cognition during the procedure. Analysis was informed by constructivist grounded theory, whereby interview data were transcribed and coded iteratively using constant comparison to generate themes. Results In this interim constant comparative analysis, 9 participants (6 gastroenterologists and 3 general surgeons) were interviewed to generate 16 interview transcripts (9 pre-exposure and 7 post-exposure; 1 interview pending, 1 participant on leave). Participants held the view that: (1) AI will inevitably become the standard of care in colonoscopy, where clinicians and AI function symbiotically and in partnership; (2) CADe systems may facilitate standardization of practice and reduce inter-endoscopist variability by improving detection of specific types of lesions (e.g., sessile serrated polyps); (3) CADe assistance provides a “second set of eyes” that interacts with, but does not replace, endoscopists’ cognitive processes; and (4) trainees should gain familiarity with AI systems, despite mixed opinions regarding AI’s specific role in training. Conclusions We found that study participants conceptualize AI as an essential component of colonoscopy practice and training, with endoscopist thought processes and CADe systems appearing to function symbiotically. Elucidating the specific ways in which AI and endoscopist cognition interact will facilitate the future refinement of these tools. Funding Agencies None

Understanding Nurse Perceptions of Caring for Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), the problematic consumption of alcohol, affects 107 million people worldwide. Individuals with AUD experience high morbidity and increased mortality. Nurses practicing in acute care are ideally positioned to deliver quality interventions to patients with AUD, including screening and brief intervention; formal training and assessment of baseline knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions are necessary. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of acute care nurses caring for patients with AUD. This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The Survey of Attitudes and Perceptions was completed by 93 nurses working in six acute care centers (seven medicine units) across Alberta. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Few participants reported receiving any prior structured training on AUD, with the majority reporting limited knowledge of alcohol and the effects of alcohol consumption. Although most participants said that caring for patients with AUD was a part of their professional role, few felt satisfied or motivated to work with this group of patients. Responses to individual questions or subdomains of the survey did not significantly differ by length of time in professional role, employment status, or sex. Our results indicate that nurses need to learn more about caring for patients with AUD. Developing tailored educational interventions that are mindful of the importance of knowledge, support, satisfaction, and motivation is necessary to improve the quality of care for patients with AUD.

Baseline Perceptions of Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Health Care Professionals About Digital Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Self-Management Health Care Technologies: Interview Study Among Patients and Health Care Professionals.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a significant medical complication of pregnancy that requires close monitoring by a multidisciplinary health care team. The growing sophistication of mobile health (mHealth) technology could play a significant supporting role for women with GDM and health professionals (HPs) regarding GDM management. This study included 2 phases. The aim of phase 1 was to explore the perceptions of HPs and women with GDM regarding the use of mHealth for GDM self-management and to identify their needs from these technologies. The aim of phase 2 was to explore the perceptions of women with GDM about their experiences with a state-of-the-art app for managing GDM that was offered to them during the COVID-19 lockdown. This phase aimed to understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on women's perceptions about using technology to manage their GDM. By combining both phases, the overall aim was to establish how perceptions about GDM self-management technology have changed owing to the pandemic restrictions and experience of using such technology. In total, 26 semistructured interviews were conducted in 2 phases. In phase 1, overall, 62% (16/26) of the participants, including 44% (7/16) of HPs, 50% (8/16) of women with GDM, and 6% (1/16) of women in the postpartum period with GDM history participated in the interviews. In phase 2, overall, 38% (10/26) of women with GDM participated in the interviews. NVivo (QSR International) was used to extract qualitative data, which were subjected to thematic analysis. Phase 1 identified 3 themes from the interviews with women with GDM: fitting with women's lifestyle constraints, technology's design not meeting women's needs, and optimizing the technology's design to meet women's needs. Overall, 3 themes were derived from the interviews with HPs: optimizing the technology's design to improve the quality of care, technology to support women's independence, and limitations in the care system and facilities. Analysis of phase-2 interviews identified 2 further themes: enhancing the information and functionalities and optimizing the interface design. In both phases, participants emphasized a simple and user-friendly interface design as the predominant positive influence on their use of technology for GDM management. The combined findings underlined similar points. Poor usability, data visualization limitations, lack of personalization, limited information, and lack of communication facilities were the prime issues of current GDM self-management mHealth technology that need to be addressed. The analysis also revealed how women with GDM should play a vital role in gathering the requirements for GDM self-management technology; some needs were identified from in-depth discussion with women with GDM that would be missed without their involvement.

Public perceptions of an avian reintroduction aiming to connect people with nature

Abstract Species reintroductions are an increasingly popular conservation tool, typically aiming to achieve direct conservation benefits. Socio‐cultural drivers also exist but have, to date, received very little attention in research and policy. As a case study, we focus on the recent and ongoing reintroduction of the white stork Ciconia ciconia to England, key drivers of which include connecting people with nature, providing local socio‐economic benefits and inspiring environmental restoration. We surveyed 3531 people in Britain to establish and explore baseline perceptions toward white storks and their reintroduction, including their cultural salience. Findings were compared and evaluated between (i) self‐selecting and nationally representative samples and (ii) residents living close to release sites versus non‐locals. In contrast to self‐selecting participants, most of the nationally representative sample had never heard of nor seen a white stork and were unaware of the reintroduction. Attitudes were more positive in the self‐selecting sample and neutral or uncertain in the nationally representative sample. Consequently, to assess views of both engaged communities and wider publics, we recommend reintroductions adopt a similar two‐mode sampling strategy to that used here when undertaking social feasibility assessments/public consultations. Eighty‐six percent of participants supported the reintroduction overall. Reasons provided for support were diverse, relating to perceived or experienced socio‐cultural benefits and values, general biodiversity enrichment, and moral impetus to restore formerly native species. Criticisms, raised by a minority, related to uncertainty/disagreement about the white stork's formerly native status; rigour of the ecological risk assessment; and a perceived lack of transparency regarding how the project supports conservation efforts. Given that reintroductions have underexplored potential to (re)establish socio‐cultural relationships between people, wildlife and landscapes, and these are increasingly cited as justifications for reintroductions, we encourage further discussion and research in this area. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

South African health sciences students’ perspectives on utilisation, constraints and future possibilities of mHealth and e-Learning

The global COVID-19 pandemic has added considerable complexity to the education and training of health care professionals as well as patient care. Literature suggests that e-Learning and mobile health (mHealth) technologies have great potential, but research studies are sparse, especially in low- to middle-income countries. The paper presents South African health science students’ perceptions of the importance, relevance, constraints and future possibilities of e-Learning and mHealth. Students from five universities participated in a modified Delphi. The first phase of student focus groups and interviews (n = 5), established baseline experiences and perceptions of e-Learning and mHealth during and post-COVID-19. These findings informed the design of an online survey (n = 155) for the second phase of the study. The majority of students were familiar with e-Learning, less so with mHealth; however most believed both to be a beneficial complement to theoretical and clinical teaching. Reasons for an integrated Learning Management System (LMS), also known as virtual learning environments, include increased flexibility, access and enhanced learning; and issues of anxiety, reduced interactivity, an absence of context and a lack of discipline- or profession-specific features as reasons against. The perceived importance of particular features of e-Learning and mHealth tools were highlighted. These findings will contribute to the redesign of online work-integrated curricula and the development of an inclusive, student-centred, health sciences-specific integrated and multi-modal LMS directed towards student-centred learning while addressing concerns around the digital divide and social justice.

Assessing Perceptions and Medication Disposal Habits in Rural Michigan.

Background: Inadequate or inappropriate medication disposal is a public health concern that may lead to increased community risk of accidental poisonings, substance misuse, and environmental pollution. Objective: The study's primary objective was to assess medication disposal knowledge and practices of Michigan residents living in rural, underserved areas. Secondary objectives included determining baseline perceptions of at-home drug disposal kits and examining the impact of an educational video intervention on at-home drug disposal kit perceptions. Methods: To measure the objectives, an online 15-question survey was deployed to the general public via convenience sampling from local organizations working with drug disposal. The survey questions assessed medication disposal knowledge and practices in underserved, rural Michigan. Participant responses were assessed categorically and numerically. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 97 survey participants. Results indicated that Michigan rural residents, regardless of various demographic factors, would benefit from increased drug disposal education. Specifically, at-home drug disposal kits and medication drop boxes have the highest need for additional education. Perceptions related to home disposal safety and ease of use improved significantly with an educational video intervention. Conclusion: All rural residents, regardless of demographics, would benefit from increased drug disposal education. A short, educational video can impact thoughts and attitudes related to at-home drug disposal kits. Similar interventions may be successful in other rural, underserved areas.

Implementing a workflow-integrated motivational interviewing training program for psychiatry trainees on an inpatient consultation-liaison rotation: lessons learned.

Effective consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) is proactive, collaborative, and requires providers to have proficiency with therapeutic skills beyond nosology and medication management. Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidenced-based intervention that should be considered essential for CLP trainees to learn. Given that the demands of training and patient care are already experienced as stressful for many psychiatry trainees, the authors endeavored to create a MI training program that was integrated into trainees' normal CLP workflow. Twenty-two trainees on an inpatient CLP rotation participated in a six-week MI training program that was incorporated into their regular workflow. The program included didactic sessions with role-playing, as well as on-demand between-session coaching via an expert in MI. Trainee participation and perceptions of MI were measured via a questionnaire that was administered prior to each training session. Trainee participation in the didactic sessions was inconsistent. Questionnaire data revealed positive baseline perceptions of motivational interviewing and its usefulness in inpatient medical settings. Additionally, as trainees participated in the program, perceived knowledge of motivational interviewing as well as awareness of motivational issues among their patients increased. Finally, participation in program was not perceived as disruptive to daily workflow for the participants. This the first documented attempt at implementing a MI training program for CLP trainees that was integrated into their regular workflow. Preliminary data identified some encouraging trends, but also unexpected challenges. These lessons could inform how these types of training programs are implemented moving forward.

Culture of Safety Quality Improvement Project: Longitudinal AHRQ Survey Results From a Family Medicine Residency Program.

This project analyzed the culture of safety quality improvement at the Family Medicine Center (FMC). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Culture of Safety Survey was used as a benchmark for internal and external comparison. The AHRQ Culture of Safety Survey was administered to health care staff in 2015, 2017, and 2019, respectively, at the Family Medicine Center. Baseline perceptions of safety and quality were established using the data from the AHRQ Culture of Safety Survey in 2015. We performed multiple large-scope quality improvement projects that focused on identified deficiencies. The changes in perception were monitored over time every 2 years. We analyzed the results using the Kruskal-Wallace test (P=.05). The AHRQ Culture of Safety Survey showed statistically significant improvement in patient centeredness, effectiveness, timeliness, efficiency, equitableness, and overall patient safety from 2015 to 2019. Some inconsistencies were seen between different sections of responses, likely due to wording interpretations by the participants. Overall, the AHRQ Culture of Safety Survey is an effective way to help monitor employee perception of multiple domains that lead to a safe and effective clinical environment as compared to other practices across the country. Clinic-wide implementation of quality and patient care strategies resulted in significant improvements in nearly every category of the survey.

A national survey of dental hygiene faculty perspectives on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To investigate potential unconscious bias among dental hygiene educators and identify baseline perceptions of race and racism. Dental hygiene programs in the USA were clustered into 4 geographic regions from which 2 programs were sampled from each region. The 20-item, Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS) electronic survey was sent to educators from each of the selected programs in 2022. The CoBRAS instrument measures contemporary racism and stereotyping in 3 subcategories: Unawareness of Racial Privilege, Institutional Discrimination, and Blatant Racial Issues. Scores range from 20-120, with higher scores indicating elevated levels of denial of racism. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were performed. The level of significance was set to α=0.05. Of the 172 potential respondents, 89 (52%) completed all of the survey questions. The majority of the respondents were White, female and from the Northeast (74.2%, 93.3%, and 61.8% respectively). The mean CoBRAS score (55.73) indicated moderate levels of color-blind racial attitudes. Race was a significant variable in perceptions of racial dynamics and racism with statistically significant differences between groups by race and ethnicity as demonstrated by one-way ANOVA (F[6,82]=3.469, p=0.004). Moderate levels of color-blind racial attitudes among dental hygiene educators were found, indicating a presence of cognitive aspects of stereotyping related to race. The demographic data collected adds to the existing evidence of a lack of diversity among dental hygiene faculty.

Produce Prescriptions and Nutrition Education Improve Experiences and Perceptions of Farm Direct Settings in Adults With Low Income

ObjectiveTo examine Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) Program participants’ and nonparticipants’ experiences and perceptions of farm direct (FD) settings. DesignMultiple-case study of adults with low income from 3 study groups: (1) FVRx intervention (produce prescription, nutrition education [NE], financial literacy education, health screening), (2) NE only, and (3) control (standard health care). Participant interviews with each group at baseline and 6 months. SettingSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) eligible adults from 3 Georgia counties. ParticipantsA total of 46 adults with ≥ 1 diet-related condition. Phenomena of InterestFruit and Vegetable Prescription Program participant and nonparticipant experiences and perceptions of FD settings. AnalysisConstant comparative methods and thematic analysis of qualitative interview data across groups. FindingsTwo main themes emerged: (1) baseline FD setting experiences and perceptions and (2) divergent experiences and perceptions with FD settings postintervention. Participants across each group employed price-conscious food purchasing practices because of limited food budgets, limiting local food access. Combining produce prescription, NE, and farmers’ market access enhanced FVRx participant associations with FD settings to reinforce motivation for accessing and purchasing fruits and vegetables beyond program participation. Conclusions and ImplicationsFruit and Vegetable Prescription Programs reduce multiple barriers to participating in FD settings compared with NE or standard health care alone.

What’s that bug? Community participation in biosecurity in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

Biosecurity is essential to protect against the negative effects of non-native invasive species. As part of the government’s ‘Biosecurity 2025’ Initiative to enlist all New Zealanders as biosecurity risk managers, Tauranga Moana has been named the ‘biosecurity capital’ of New Zealand. The initiative will involve large-scale citizen science, for reporting and management of pest and disease threats. In this context we measured baseline awareness, perceptions and behaviour around biosecurity among two key groups of respondents, the local community at Mount Maunganui (surrounding Tauranga’s port) and school children. An online survey was completed by 324 members of the local community, while 120 school children completed a survey about their biosecurity knowledge and behaviours after using a biosecurity education kit. Results indicate that while both groups report a relatively high level of understanding about the concept of biosecurity, and acknowledge it as extremely important, knowledge of current pest threats and correct biosecurity behaviours could be improved. Mount Maunganui community members rate their understanding of biosecurity as better than the average New Zealander, but are less likely to have taken regular biosecurity action in the past year. For school children, improved biosecurity efforts could be evidenced by more active pest monitoring, and greater discussion about biosecurity outside of school (e.g. with their family at home). Key enablers for achieving more impactful citizen science for biosecurity among these groups are targeted education, and practical advice about what they can do to help.

Exploring substance use perceptions among Family Therapy and Counseling trainees upon entering an opioid use disorder treatment training program

ABSTRACT Little is known about Couple/Marriage and Family Therapy (C/MFT) or Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) trainees with respect to their baseline perceptions about substance use and other systemically relevant therapeutic concepts integral to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Understanding trainee’s baseline perceptions upon entering a SUD-focused training program may allow for directed tailoring of the training to meet student’s educational needs in learning about how to work with families affected by SUD most effectively. To help address this gap, this study examined substance use perceptions of C/MFT and CMHC trainees upon initial enrollment in an opioid training program. Masters-level trainees completed a baseline survey assessing substance use/user perceptions, efficacy in working with substance-using clients, interprofessional collaboration, multicultural competency, and professional quality of life. Baseline data from n = 61 trainees were examined. Findings indicated substance use perceptions were related to trainee efficacy, multicultural competence, and professional quality of life. Further, there were group differences in drug perceptions based on previous substance use training and in trainee efficacy related to working with families affected by substance use, as well as and previous experience working with families affected by substance use. The current findings can inform development and refinement of substance use training within the behavioral health fields and develop the substance use workforce.

Outcomes of Mayo Clinic reBoot camps for postimplementation training in the electronic health record.

ObjectiveAfter a new electronic health record (EHR) was implemented at Mayo Clinic, a training program called reBoot Camp was created to enhance ongoing education in response to needs identified by physician leaders.Materials and MethodsA reBoot camp focused on EHR topics pertinent to ambulatory care was offered from April 2018 through June 2020. There were 37 2-day sessions and 43 1-day sessions, with 673 unique participants. To evaluate outcomes of the reBoot camp, we used survey data to study baseline, immediate, and long-term perceptions of program satisfaction and self-assessed skills with the EHR. The study was conducted among practitioners at a large ambulatory practice network based in several states. Data were collected from April 2018 through January 2021. We analyzed automatically collected metadata and scores that evaluated the amount of personalization and proficiency of use.ResultsConfidence in skills increased by 13.5 points for general EHR use and was significant in 5 subdomains of use (13–18 point improvement). This degree of user confidence was maintained at the 6-month reassessment. The outcomes of configuration and proficiency scores also improved significantly.DiscussionOngoing education regarding EHR tools is necessary to support continued use of technology. This study was novel because of the amount and breadth of data collected, diversity of user participation, and validation that improvements were maintained over time.ConclusionsParticipating in a reBoot camp significantly improved user confidence in each domain of the EHR and demonstrated use of best-practice tools. Users maintained gains at the 6-month evaluation phase.

Outcomes of Telehealth Physical Therapy Provided Using Real-Time, Videoconferencing for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Longitudinal Observational Study

ObjectiveTo describe the feasibility of an evidence-based physical therapy (PT) program for persons with chronic low back pain (LBP) originally designed for in-person delivery, adapted for telehealth using videoconferencing. DesignProspective, longitudinal cohort. SettingThree health care systems in the United States. ParticipantsAdults, aged 18-64 years (N=126), with chronic LBP recruited from August through December 2020. InterventionUp to 8 weekly sessions of telehealth PT. Main Outcome MeasuresFollow-up assessments were 10 and 26 weeks after baseline. Participant outcomes collected were the Oswestry Disability Index, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 health domains, and pain self-efficacy. Implementation outcomes included acceptability, adoption, feasibility, and fidelity assessed using participant surveys and compliance with session attendance. ResultsWe enrolled 126 participants (mean age, 51.5 years; 62.7% female). Baseline perceptions about telehealth were generally positive. Eighty-eight participants (69.8%) initiated telehealth PT, with a median of 5 sessions attended. Participants in telehealth PT were generally satisfied (76.3%), although only 39.5% perceived the quality equal to in-person PT. Telehealth PT participants reported significant improvement in LBP-related disability, pain intensity, pain interference, physical function, and sleep disturbance at 10- and 26-week follow-ups. ConclusionsThe findings generally support the feasibility of telehealth PT using videoconferencing. Implementation and participant outcomes were similar to in-person PT as delivered in the participating health care systems. We identified barriers that may detract from the patient experience and likelihood of benefitting from telehealth PT. More research is needed to optimize and evaluate the most effective strategies for providing telehealth PT for patients with chronic LBP.

The impact of small-group virtual patient simulator training on perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration: a multicentre cohort study of nursing and medical students

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated rapid changes in medical education to protect students and patients from the risk of infection. Virtual Patient Simulators (VPS) provide a simulated clinical environment in which students can interview and examine a patient, order tests and exams, prioritize interventions, and observe response to therapy, all with minimal risk to themselves and their patients. Like high-fidelity simulators (HFS), VPS are a tool to improve curricular integration. Unlike HFS, VPS require limited infrastructure investment and can be used in low-resource settings. Few studies have examined the impact of VPS training on clinical education. This international, multicenter cohort study was designed to assess the impact of small-group VPS training on individual learning process and curricular integration from the perspective of nursing and medical students.MethodsWe conducted a multi-centre, international cohort study of nursing and medical students. Baseline perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration were assessed using a 27-item pre-session questionnaire. Students subsequently participated in small-group VPS training sessions lead by a clinical tutor and then completed a 32-item post-session questionnaire, including 25 paired items. Pre- and post-session responses were compared to determine the impact of the small-group VPS experience.ResultsParticipants included 617 nursing and medical students from 11 institutions in 8 countries. At baseline, nursing students reported greater curricular integration and more clinical and simulation experience than did medical students. After exposure to small-group VPS training, participants reported significant improvements in 5/6 items relating to individual learning process and 7/7 items relating to curricular integration. The impact of the VPS experience was similar amongst nursing and medical students.ConclusionsIn this multi-centre study, perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration improved after exposure to small-group VPS training. Nursing and medical students showed similar impact. Small-group VPS training is an accessible, low-risk educational strategy that can improve student perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration.

Effects of Narrative Messages on Key COVID-19 Protective Responses: Findings From a Randomized Online Experiment.

PurposeWe investigated the effectiveness of narrative vs non-narrative messages in changing COVID-19-related perceptions and intentions.Design/SettingThe study employed a between-subjects two-group (narratives vs non-narratives) experimental design and was administered online.Subjects/Intervention1804 U.S. adults recruited via Amazon MTurk in September 2020 were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions and read either three narrative or three non-narrative messages about social distancing, vaccination, and unproven treatments.MeasuresPerceptions and intentions were assessed before and after message exposure (7-point scales).AnalysisUsing multivariable regression, we assessed main effects of the experimental condition (controlling for baseline measures) and interactions between the condition and pre-exposure perceptions/intentions in predicting post-exposure outcomes.ResultsCompared to non-narratives, narratives led to (1) less positive perceptions about the benefits of unproven treatments (Mnarrative = 3.60, Mnon-narrative = 3.77, P = .007); and (2) less willingness to receive an unproven drug (Mnarrative = 3.46, Mnon-narrative = 3.77, P < .001); this effect was stronger among individuals with higher baseline willingness to receive unproven drugs (baseline willingness = 2.09: b = −.06, P = .461; baseline willingness = 3.90: b = −.30, P < .001; baseline willingness = 5.71: b = −.55, P < .001). Narratives also led to more positive perceptions of vaccine safety/effectiveness, but only among individuals with lower baseline vaccine perceptions (baseline perceptions = 4.51: b = .10, P = .008; baseline perceptions = 5.89: b = .04, P = .167; baseline perceptions = 7: b = −.01, P = .688).ConclusionNarratives are a promising communication strategy, particularly for topics where views are not entrenched and among individuals who are more resistant to recommendations.

A88 UNDERSTANDING NURSE PERCEPTIONS OF CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDER: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

BackgroundAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD), the problematic consumption of alcohol, affects 107 million people worldwide. AUD increases morbidity and mortality and has a substantial impact on daily functioning including quality of life, relationships and employment. AUD is particularly detrimental in patients who already have liver damage like cirrhosis. The management of AUD includes screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment for psychological and pharmacotherapy based treatment. People with AUD have frequent interactions with the healthcare system. These interactions represent opportunities to engage patients with therapy. As front-line workers who have maximal contact with patients, nurses practicing in acute care are in an ideal position to initiate AUD related discussion with patients. Prior to the design of an educational intervention to increase nursing engagement with AUD screening and brief intervention, there is a need to understand baseline knowledge, attitudes and perceptions in this group.AimsThe aim of the present study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of nurses caring for patients with cirrhosis and AUD.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey using the Survey of Attitudes and Perceptions (SAP). The SAP is derived from a validated tool to assess attitudes and perceptions towards patients with AUD. Anonymous surveys were distributed on inpatient medicine units across 5 geographic zones in Alberta between September 2019-March 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsA total of 93 nurses from 7 inpatient medicine units across Alberta participated in the study. The majority of participants were Registered Nurses (74.9%), who practiced in an urban setting (69%), and had worked in their role for an average of 9.9 years. Few (22.6%) participants reported any prior structured education on caring for patients with AUD, with the majority reporting limited knowledge of alcohol and effects of alcohol consumption. Though most reported that caring for patients with AUD was part of their professional role, only 15.7% felt motivated to work with this group of patients. Responses to individual questions or sub-domains of the survey did not significantly differ by length or time in professional role, or practice setting.ConclusionsOur results indicate that nurses have limited knowledge on caring for patients with AUD. Given the importance of AUD in the development and progression of cirrhosis as well as the frequency of hospitalizations for patients with cirrhosis, increasing nurse knowledge of AUD is crucial to improving the quality of care for these patients. The results of this study will be used to inform the development of an educational intervention to increase nursing knowledge of caring for patients with cirrhosis and AUD.Funding AgenciesAlberta Innovates