A Meta-analysis of Oral Health Interventions in Children: Impacts on Knowledge, Behaviour, and Clinical Outcomes.

Training satisfaction among medical trainees in the Ministry of defense, fifth training sector, KSA.

ABSTRACT Academic identity influences disciplinary contributions and professional development of individuals within those disciplines. Little is known about academic identity within the social work discipline. This paper presents the results of a modified systematic international literature review to investigate academic identity in social work, nursing and allied care professions. Papers (138) were initially retrieved for screening, 40 met the final inclusion criteria for review. Limited social work academic identity literature was identified, with only four papers specifically focused on social work. Results highlighted numerous barriers to establishing a distinct academic identity, with a multitude of challenges in transition from practice to academia and its dual identities of practitioner and scholar. The process of academic socialization requires adequate institutional preparation, collegial support, sense of community and relationality, and not least time. We discuss four key themes from this literature (1) temporality and dynamic nature of developing academic identity in the academy, (2) role of professional work culture and communities of practice, (3) legitimacy, visibility and dichotomies of professional, disciplinary and academic knowledge and skills and (4) strategic imperatives for supporting transitions for the helping professions. The implications for social work academic identity development, social work education and social work knowledge are discussed.

BackgroundHistorically love in nursing has been expressed as tender loving care but a move to technological thinking in nursing and the integration of healthcare systems may have changed this to one where love may be distant or avoided from the arena of care. It may now uncertain if love in nursing is an essential part of care, or supererogatory and additional to a paid duty of care.Research aimA study was conducted to investigate hospital nurses' experiences of providing end-of-life care. A core theme from the study was the nurse's expression of love. This article reports on this outcome and aims to provide clarity regarding the current nature of love in nurses' care.Research designInterpretative phenomenology was used to explore hospital nurses' experiences of providing end-of-life care.Participants and research context6 UK registered nurses with experience of hospital end-of-life care took part.Ethical considerationsEthical approval was gained before commencing the study. All participants consented to take part.FindingsThe nurses' end-of-life care actions were done willingly with goodness, selflessness, sometime courage, placing others before themselves and going beyond their duty of care. As a consequence, their love is universal and not bound by a professional care ethic but given freely of themselves as a gift.DiscussionThe nurses' action described love as both agape and eros suggesting a universal love. This was suggested a love not bound by a professional care ethic but one given freely of themselves as a gift.ConclusionsA contemporary view of love in nursing care is presented; when caring for dying vulnerable people in hospital, the value of love for another person is prevalent in the nursing care provided. It is not bound by a duty to care but is an addition to the process of care and is given freely of self.

Purpose The Mental Capacity Act (2005; MCA) entered into force in 2007, some 18 years ago. Since its implementation, several authors have identified gaps in knowledge and confidence in different professional groups. There has, however, been very little research considering this question in relation to Clinical Psychologists, and many wider surveys are now dated. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and confidence in working with the MCA in a group of practicing Clinical Psychologists. Design/methodology/approach A bespoke survey assessed knowledge and confidence in key domains of the MCA specific to the role of a Clinical Psychologist, including a scenario-based vignette and qualitative responses to address additional training needs. A total of 58 Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Psychologists responded to the survey. Findings In the scenario, Clinical Psychologists demonstrated good knowledge of applying principles of the MCA to a psychology-specific scenario. However, confidence seemed lower, and not all psychologists considered the MCA as very important to their work. Research limitations/implications Research limitations include using a bespoke survey and likely self-selection bias which may mean knowledge and confidence is over-represented. A number of different areas for potential training were identified by the participants. Originality/value Whilst various studies (Marshall and Sprung, 2016; Scott et al., 2020) have explored the knowledge and confidence of the MCA in different professional groups, there has been limited reported data on the knowledge and confidence of a psychological workforce.

BackgroundTinnitus is a prevalent condition worldwide, particularly among adolescents, that has a substantial impact on quality of life, yet it remains an understudied issue.ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the prevalence of tinnitus and its associated risk factors among Palestinian adolescents aged 15–18.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2025. A convenience sample of participants was recruited. The study utilized the European School for the Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research Screening Questionnaire.ResultsA total of 1,131 participants were enrolled in the study, with 64.5% being females. The prevalence of tinnitus among the study sample was 532, representing 47% of the population. Females had a higher prevalence of tinnitus, with 370 affected (50.7%) compared to males (40.4%). Significant associations were found between tinnitus and several factors: age, positive family history of tinnitus (threefold increased risk), sensitivity to external sounds (2.7 times higher likelihood), slight hearing difficulty in noisy environments (1.7 times higher risk), pain symptoms (double the risk), and difficulty falling asleep (1.8 times higher risk). Notably, the majority of affected participants (71.5%) had never sought professional care for their tinnitus.ConclusionAlthough Tinnitus is common among Palestinian adolescents aged 15–18 years, the majority of affected participants did not seek professional care for tinnitus. These findings highlight the importance of conducting further research to shed insight into this prevalent and neglected health priority.

ABSTRACT This paper explores teacher educators’ professional agency through a qualitative analysis of career stories of 44 Teacher Educators in five European countries (England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland). The career stories were collected and analysed as part of the first phase of the Teacher Educator Living Library (TELL) project. Through collaborative interpretive analysis, we identify how professional agency can manifest itself in teacher educators. While teacher educator professional agency is situated within the socio-cultural workplaces and experiences of individuals, our findings suggest that professional knowledge, identity and biography also impact on the degree of agency a teacher educator perceives they inhabit. Gaps in knowledge, lack of progressive development and a sense of isolation indicate that more needs to be done to support and guide teacher educators as they navigate their professional careers.

To review literature on anisometropia, concentrating on diagnostic criteria, contemporary prevalence and progression with regard to the changing distribution of refractive errors in many countries. Also, to consider anisometropia with respect to myopia and hyperopia control, regions/race/ethnicity, effects on visual function and associated conditions. Scoping review based on searches of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Various diagnostic criteria have been used for anisometropia, most commonly a SER difference ≥1.00 D. Anisometropia is more common in people with higher refractive errors, and therefore, its prevalence changes with the frequency distribution of refractive errors. Anisometropia is traditionally mostly associated with hyperopia, and this is still the case in some populations. In East and South-East Asia, the rapid increase in myopia has resulted in increased anisometropia. This is associated with impaired stereopsis and binocularity, as well as increased rates of strabismus and amblyopia. When anisometropia is corrected with spectacles, there is an increased risk of spectacle non-tolerance arising from aniseikonia (different image sizes in each eye) and prismatic effects. Contact lenses alleviate most of the problems associated with anisometropia, but are under-prescribed for this condition. The increased association between anisometropia and myopia has led to trials of myopia control interventions, which show promise for reducing anisometropia in myopic cases. However, since myopia in one eye is often a precursor of bilateral myopia, the likelihood of pre-myopia in the non-myopic eye should be considered. The association between anisometropia and the magnitude of refractive error means that in populations with a high prevalence of myopia, anisometropia has largely become a feature of that refractive error, in contrast to the traditional association with hyperopia. This has important implications for myopia control. Vision screening and/or routine professional eye care are recommended because anisometropia is under-diagnosed.

Oral health is an essential component of overall health and quality of life; however, utilisation of professional dental care services remains low in many rural communities in Nigeria. Knowledge and attitudes toward dental care are key determinants of service utilisation, particularly in underserved populations. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and utilisation of professional dental care services among rural residents of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 rural residents selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and utilisation of dental care services, while Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge and attitudes. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Result: Most respondents demonstrated good knowledge of oral/dental health (84.3%). Despite this, attitudes toward dental care utilisation were largely negative, with 63.7% of respondents exhibiting unfavourable attitudes. Utilisation of professional dental care services was generally low and largely symptom-driven. Sex and monthly income were significantly associated with knowledge of oral/dental health (p < 0.05). Attitude toward dental care utilisation was significantly associated with level of education, occupation, and monthly income (p < 0.001), while age, marital status, and sex showed no significant association. Conclusion: Although knowledge of oral health was relatively high among rural residents of Ikwerre Local Government Area, negative attitudes toward dental care and low utilisation of professional services persist. Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in shaping attitudes and knowledge, underscoring the need for targeted oral health education, attitude-focused interventions, and improved accessibility and affordability of dental services in rural communities.

Objectives. During their studies, software engineering students develop various skills that are crucial for their professional careers. Surprisingly, there is limited research on how these graduates perceive these skills in the workplace. This paper details a study that specifically examines the experiences of graduates from Software Engineering and Mobile Solutions programs that were implemented as project-based curricula. The study sheds light on how they have utilized their skills and identified any gaps in their capabilities. Participants. Project-based curriculum graduates (N = 10) who had a few years of work experience after their graduation. Complementary data was collected from three participants who graduated earlier from the traditional curriculum. Study Method. This is a qualitative interview study on graduates’ perceptions of the working life competences they gained during their studies. Data includes graduate interviews that were recorded and transcribed verbatim, complemented by field notes. Transcriptions were analyzed using content analysis with both descriptive a priori codes and data-driven coding. Findings. Graduates of the project-based curriculum felt that the skills they acquired during their studies were adequate for their professional work. However, they often noted that communication presented some challenges. They specifically mentioned gaps in communication skills with different audiences, such as customers. Other gaps mentioned included written communication, code maintenance, and test automation. Several interviewees expressed a view that their reluctance to ask questions had hindered their integration into the work community. Conclusions. Project-based education facilitates competence acquisition during studies: Graduates have reported acquiring vital professional non-technical competences such as teamwork, communication, and project management. Moreover, they indicated that they had gained proficient technical skills throughout their academic pursuits. The results of this study could be used to develop curricula and design a survey to collect current perceptions, identify gaps, and generate improvement ideas from a larger number of graduates.

This study investigated intraoccupational income and wage-rate distributions across 8 health care professions: physicians and surgeons, dentists, physician assistants, optometrists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, physical therapists, and registered nurses. The research was based on a sample of 142,527 U.S. practitioners from the 2019 to 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) and focused on 4 inequality indicators: the coefficient of variation, lower median share, 90-10 decile ratio, and Gini coefficient. Findings revealed substantial income dispersion, with dentists and physicians/surgeons displaying the highest levels of inequality, while pharmacists, registered nurses, physical therapists, and nurse practitioners and nurse midwives exhibited more even distributions. The occupations' degree of inequality was correlated with average annual income and wage-rate levels. Gender disparities were significant across all professions, with male practitioners consistently earning more than their female counterparts. The degree of inequality was greater for professions in which there were more male than female practitioners. Annual income and wage-rate inequality also was identified within genders. This research contributes to understanding income disparities within health care professions and suggests that further exploration is needed to identify the determinants of these inequalities and their long-term evolution.

The spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is a global threat. Our previous study investigated oral colonization by Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in long-term care facilities. In this study, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the oral cavity of bedridden severely dependent elderly residents were investigated and the relationship of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria with oral and systemic status was clarified. In addition, the effect of professional oral care on antimicrobial-resistant bacteria colonization was investigated. This was a cross-sectional study followed by an interventional study. Fifty-seven residents were randomly assigned to screening for the presence of Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria with 3rd-generation cephalosporin or carbapenem-resistance methods and the presence of oral and rectal MRSA using respective selective plates. Epidemiological data were collected from clinical records. The interventional study was conducted on 23 subjects who presented with Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria or S. aureus in the cross-sectional study. The interventions included professional oral care once a week for 8 weeks in addition to daily oral care. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria colonization before and after the intervention was compared. Among 57 subjects, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria were isolated from oral samples of 29 subjects and from rectal samples of 44 subjects. Among 29 subjects with oral antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and MRSA were isolated from 21 and 17 subjects, respectively. Logistic regression analysis of the independent variables revealed that Non-oral nutritional intake was significantly related to Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria positivity. In the interventional study, professional oral care failed to eliminate of oral antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in most subjects. This study showed that subjects with Non-oral nutritional intake had significantly higher rates of oral Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. These findings concluded that a short-term professional oral management has a limited capacity to eliminate antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Our results provide important information for the control of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the oral cavity.

Private investment in residential long-term care has surged around the world. Growing evidence shows that this is changing the institutional logic and the inner workings of the sector, prioritising the financial interests of asset holders above those of other stakeholders (eg. clients, care professionals and regulators). We know little about how policy makers and regulators are responding to private investment and profit-making in the long-term care sector. This paper addresses that gap by analysing policies prompting the growth of private investment and profit-making in residential long-term care, the emerging power struggles in some cases between asset holders and other stakeholders in long-term care, the controversies that have arisen and the concomitant responses of regulators and policy makers in Ontario (Canada), Lombardy (Italy), the Netherlands and England (United Kingdom). We show that the institutional context (eg. legal frameworks, policies and regulations) shapes controversies concerning quality, accessibility and affordability of care, and argue that regulators and policymakers in the constituencies we studied are responding reactively to such controversies rather than proactively anticipating and preventing unwanted effects. Our analysis provides policymakers with valuable insights regarding the regulation and governance of private investment and profit-making in the residential long-term care sector.

Arts therapists practising in the UK must be registered to the statutory regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and adhere to their various standards, including the Standards of Proficiency (HCPC, 2023a). In 2023, these standards were significantly revised. This paper shares perspectives on how these revisions relate to emerging critical discourse on disability and music therapy. In relation to the construct of disability, music therapy has historically aligned itself, knowingly or unknowingly, with medically-informed paradigms. However, in recent years this has been questioned through engagement with other perspectives on disability (Cameron, 2014; Davies, 2022; Leza, 2020). Any revisions to the Standards of Proficiency have the potential to reflect these perspectives, impact practices which engage disabled people, and affect ongoing growth within the profession. In this spirit, each author has chosen aspects of these revised standards as starting points for reflecting on the following topics within music therapy: shifting paradigms around disability; disability and pedagogy; collaborative practice and research with disabled people; and the role of anti-oppressive language. We acknowledge the complexity of these issues and aim to raise questions rather than provide answers, inviting our audience to challenge and be challenged as they contribute to the profession. Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge our colleague David Limmer, who was initially part of these discussions and was due to present alongside us. David planned to share his perspective as a disabled music therapist and present on the topics of accessibility and building collaborative approaches to music therapy with disabled people. Unfortunately, the late withdrawal of the option to attend the 2024 BAMT conference online that was initially promised meant that David was unable to attend, and he did not feel comfortable remotely participating in a roundtable about the issues faced by disabled people for a conference he and others were unable to be a part of.

Maximizing the Impact of Your Academic Scholarship: Strategies for Early Career Professionals.

Postpartum women experience significant emotional and psychological challenges that may lead to depressive symptoms. Adequate emotional support and access to professional care are essential for their well-being. Acknowledging that partner support and help-seeking attitudes play a role in how women cope with postpartum distress, this study employed a correlational, cross-sectional design to examine the relationships among depressive symptoms, perceived partner support, and attitudes toward seeking professional help. Participants were Filipino women aged 20-45 years old, within six months postpartum, cohabiting with their partner for at least one year, regardless of marital and employment status. 52.5% participated through onsite data collection in various health centers and hospitals, while 47.5% participated online. Standardized tools were utilized, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS), Postpartum Partner Support Scale (PPSS), and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF). Findings revealed high levels of depressive symptoms, moderate perceived partner support and moderately positive attitudes toward seeking professional help. A positive correlation was found between depressive symptoms and perceived partner support. These findings highlight public health concerns due to the severity of depressive symptoms and the presence of self-harm ideation. Corresponding recommendations are presented within the study.

Assisted Suicide (AS)/Assisted Dying (AD), where a physician prescribes lethal medication to a terminally ill patient who intends to take it to end his/her life, is a highly controversial matter. Sound knowledge about recent legal changes and related challenges should inform considerations for clinical ethics consultation, education, and policy making. This article describes a wide spectrum of current legal contexts for AS/AD in the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, the United States (US), Switzerland, and Germany. This selection includes countries covering a wide range from the restrictive to the permissive extreme as well as legal gray zones of AS/AD law and practice. Issues of conscientious objection are addressed, acknowledging that both liberal as well as restrictive practices may trigger moral uncertainty or dilemmas for all those involved. One strategy to improve handling such challenges arising in patient care according to ethical norms and values has been clinical ethics support (CES) in various forms. Like legislation and practice, the involvement of CES in AS/AD differs between countries. The authors describe the role of CES in AS/AD if it exists and explore possible future roles in this changing landscape. Agreement exists that the knowledge and skills of CES are valuable for identifying and analyzing moral issues and informing policy development and education at the individual case, institutional, regional, and national levels. Good practice of handling requests for AS/AD is an example where CES overlaps with organizational clinical ethics, going beyond the acute single case perspective to wider ethical and legal considerations, which can impact patient care and support for health care professionals involved.

To investigate the relation between moral foundations and patient-centered care in health professionals who work in the delivery room and in the rooming-in. Single-center quantitative survey study. This survey was conducted in a Brazilian maternity ward. The Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ-20) and the Care in Dialogue Competence Scale (CDCS) were administered to health professionals working in the delivery room and rooming-in areas. Analysis included descriptive statistics and Spearman correlations. Data were analyzed using Stata version 19.0. A total of 80 health professionals were included, and the median age was 34 years (IQR: 28.5-44). Cronbach's alpha of the MFQ-20 was 0.8480, and CDCS was 0.8499. In the MFQ-20, fairness and care were the domains with the highest median, and in the CDCS, communication and dialogue with the patient. MFQ-20 and CDCS were correlated (0.54; p < 0.001). Purity presented the highest domain-specific correlation with CDCS (0.48; p < 0.0001). In this maternity ward, health professionals' moral foundations are correlated with patient-centered care. Although fairness and care were the MFQ-20 domains with the highest medians, purity was the domain most strongly correlated to CDCS. Clinical practice requires health professionals to use moral dimensions that are part of their individual essence, and this can correlate with patient-centered care, a dimension of quality care. These results contribute to a better understanding of the relations between moral foundations and patient-centered care in neonatology. By highlighting moral motivations strongly associated with patient-centered care, we can strengthen it.

We aimed to map current evidence on the relationship between oral health and swallowing function in older adults and identify key factors, knowledge gaps, and future directions. We conducted a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase, and EBSCO from 2014 to the present. Eligible publications included original research (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods), reviews, case studies, and clinical trials involving individuals aged ≥ 60 years that examined the interplay of oral health and swallowing. Two independent reviewers extracted data, followed by a descriptive, narrative synthesis. Of 87 included studies, cross-sectional and cohort designs predominated. Poor oral health-dental loss, suboptimal denture hygiene, reduced bite force, reduced lingual pressure, and xerostomia-was consistently associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and increased mortality risk. Interdisciplinary interventions incorporating professional oral care, prosthetic adjustments, and orofacial/swallowing rehabilitation demonstrated reductions in pneumonia rates and improvements in nutritional status and quality of life. Oral health is integral to swallowing function and overall well-being in older populations. Standardized screening tools, robust trials, and integrated interventions are crucial to address both domains comprehensively. Future research should clarify mechanistic pathways linking oral health and swallowing, and strive toward unified scales capturing oral, nutritional, cognitive, and physical parameters.

"If You Don't Care, Why Should I?": Residents' Perspectives on Attending Actions that Influence the Educational Alliance.