Descriptive Data Research Articles

Critical review: The relationship between the implementation of a contract work system and employee job insecurity

The emergence of the implementation of the contract work system, makes employees feel insecure about the certainty of their long-term employment. This contract work system is implemented by companies to increase efficiency and responsiveness to market changes. However, this can cause job insecurity. The purpose of this study is to review previous research conducted on the topic of contract or flexible work system practices and job insecurity and another purpose is to analyze the relationship between contract or flexible work system practices and job insecurity. This study is descriptive and empirical data investigations linking contract or flexible work system practices and job insecurity have been conducted to understand the relationship between the two. The implementation of a contract or flexible work system makes employees experience higher levels of stress followed by prolonged anxiety related to their future careers. The implementation of the work system makes these employees have no job security in the long term. There are two suggestions in this research. First, the company must review the work system, taking into account the various impacts experienced by employees. Second, the government must implement a policy or law that can protect the rights of workers whose work system is contractual, such as establishing a work system and providing more appropriate compensation.

An interrogation of family-based care for the elderly in Kaloleni sub-location, Kisumu, Kenya

The aim of this study was to interrogate family based care services for the elderly within Kaloleni Sub-Location, Kisumu, Kenya. The population of the elderly (age 60 and above) is projected to outnumber children (0-9 years) by the year 2030, and by 2050, to exceed the population of adolescents and youth aged between 10 to 14 years. The Kenya government is exploring the development of a community care strategy and the roll-out of an Integrated Care of Older Persons (ICOPE) package. While family-based care has been the policy and cultural preference for offering long term elderly care, the state recognized growing demand for responsive changes to current realities. This research set the following three objectives: First, to establish the state of family based care in Kaloleni sub-location; second, to examine alternatives to family based care that exist in the sub-location, and, lastly, to interrogate policy options as suggested by respondents in the study. Using Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table, a total of 120 elderly persons aged 70 and above were traced and 92 of them randomly sampled. The methodology deployed was mixed methods involving narrative interviewing and cross sectional survey. Descriptive data analysis and thematic analysis were deployed for quantitative and qualitative results respectively. Narrative interviewing/In depth interviews method was used in collecting data from Kaloleni sub-location. While findings from this research may not be generalizable due to study limitations and scope, the study strongly demonstrated the desperate state of gerontological care in informal settlements in urban centers in Kisumu, where over 90% of respondents sought improvement on care service provision for the elderly. The elderly persons mostly rely on care givers from the family but these care givers also tend to be dependent on the elderly respondents for general upkeep. Results support the literature that contends that older people are vulnerable to poverty. It was recommended that policy must shift to address factors that promote healthy aging and diminish suffering in old age as population aging continues. Further studies of a longitudinal nature are required to lend greater insight and inform policy.

Prevalence of gingival overgrowth among patients at the periodontology clinic of Dental Hospital Universitas Airlangga

Background: The prevalence of dental and oral health problems in Indonesia, including periodontal disease and gingival overgrowth (GO), remains high and requires serious attention from health workers. This study aims to determine the prevalence of GO due to the existing data gap and public concern regarding this condition. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of gingival overgrowth among patients at the periodontology clinic of Universitas Airlangga Dental Hospital. Material and Methods: This study was conducted from August to September 2023 at the Dental and Oral Hospital (RSGM) Universitas Airlangga using a descriptive observational method with a cross-sectional design. The sample was calculated using total sampling from medical record data of patients at the Periodontics Clinic of the Dental and Oral Hospital (RSGM) Universitas Airlangga who met the inclusion criteria in 2022. The study variables included gingival overgrowth (GO), gender, age, and tooth region (sextant). Data were processed using Microsoft Excel and presented as a percentage (%). A descriptive data analysis was carried out to draw a conclusion. Conclusion: The study found that 37.11% of patients at the Dental and Oral Hospital (RSGM) of Universitas Airlangga experienced gingival overgrowth. The percentage of male patients experiencing gingival overgrowth was higher than that of women, with the highest age group being 18-24 years. The tooth area that experienced the most gingival overgrowth was sextant 5, with a total of 29 samples.

AI and Thinkable-Assisted learning media for physical education: a descriptive study on collaborative lecturer education

This research aims to determine the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Thunkable interactive learning media application design in cerebrating practices of lecturer education in the context of physical education (PE) methods integrated training. Questions arise on how lecturers can reinforce PE lessons with technologies such as AI and Thunkable and what challenges they face in doing so. This study utilized descriptive research design and data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with PE lecturers who were knowledgeable about and had utilized AI or Thunkable in their teaching practice. Analysis of quantitative data was also descriptive but focused on transcribing the qualitative data based on, among others, lecturers' technological competence, benefits and challenges of the implementation, student outcome, and qualitative, lecturers' responses. Results found out that despite 70% of lecturers’ awareness of AI in PE lessons, only 30% of them used the available AI tools for the lessons. Out of the few lecturers who attempted to use the Thunkable application, only 25% were able to generate apps which is the focus of the application. Lecturers suggested that students would benefit a lot from AI especially through active participation rewarded by instant feedback without possibilities of concerns being addressed properly due to insufficient training and technical infrastructures. The implications of this study will focus on educational linguistics considering practical uses of AI tools in the language of education in terms of physical education. The use of AI systems in PE lessons can enhance communication and interaction in a multilingual setting that promotes both language and movement skills. This research aims to determine the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Thunkable interactive learning media application design in cerebrating practices of lecturer education in the context of physical education (PE) methods integrated training. Questions arise on how lecturers can reinforce PE lessons with technologies such as AI and Thunkable and what challenges they face in doing so. This study utilized descriptive research design and data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with PE lecturers who were knowledgeable about and had utilized AI or Thunkable in their teaching practice. Analysis of quantitative data was also descriptive but focused on transcribing the qualitative data based on, among others, lecturers' technological competence, benefits and challenges of the implementation, student outcome, and qualitative, lecturers' responses. Results found out that despite 70% of lecturers’ awareness of AI in PE lessons, only 30% of them used the available AI tools for the lessons. Out of the few lecturers who attempted to use the Thunkable application, only 25% were able to generate apps which is the focus of the application. Lecturers suggested that students would benefit a lot from AI especially through active participation rewarded by instant feedback without possibilities of concerns being addressed properly due to insufficient training and technical infrastructures. The implications of this study will focus on educational linguistics considering practical uses of AI tools in the language of education in terms of physical education. The use of AI systems in PE lessons can enhance communication and interaction in a multilingual setting that promotes both language and movement skills.

Smoking, alcohol, substance, technology, and gambling addiction among university students

Abstract Background University students turn to addictive substances to cope with the anxiety and stress caused by separation from family, adaptation to a new environment, as well as many economic and social problems. This study aimed to examine smoking, alcohol, substance, technology, and gambling addiction among university students. Methods The data of this cross-sectional study were collected between February and March 2024. The study population consisted of 23,446 people studying at Ä°nonu University, and the sample size was calculated as 346 based on a smoking rate of 35.6% among university students. A stratified sampling method was adopted according to the faculty of study, and 366 people were approached regarding the study. The independent variables were age, gender, faculty of study, and smoking status, while the dependent variables were alcohol and substance use status. Descriptive data were expressed in numbers and percentages, and a Chi-square test was used in the statistical analysis. Results Of the students in the research group, 56.8% were female, 54.4% were 22 years of age or older, 30.1% reported smoking cigarettes, 7.7% reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days, 39.2% reported using the internet for five hours or more per day, 3% reported playing various casino games on the internet once a week or more, and 1.4% stated that they used substances. There was no statistically significant difference between alcohol and substance use according to smoking status (p > 0.05). Conclusions Approximately one-third of the students in the research group reported smoking cigarettes, and one-tenth reported alcohol use, which is quite high. The high percentage of students who use the internet for five hours or more per day and the low rate of online gambling should be considered in relation to these addictions. Key messages • Multidimensional interventions and intersectoral cooperation are required to prevent smoking, alcohol, substance use, technology, and gambling addictions among university students. • In addition, precautions should be taken to protect students against the risks associated with internet addiction and online gaming.

Aedes aegypti surveillance under the International Health Regulations - experience at Madeira Island

Abstract Problem Aedes aegypti was first identified on Madeira Island in 2005, persisting since then. This mosquito transmits various haemorrhagic diseases and caused a Dengue outbreak in 2012-2013. The island has two seaports and one airport that may serve as points of entry or dissemination of these diseases, potentially leading to a new outbreak or international disease spread. We aimed to assess Ae. aegypti presence at the island’s seaports and airport during 2023. Description Data was collected from 52 entomological panels produced by the Regional Health Department throughout 2023. This data is publicly available on the Institute of Health Administration’s website. Ovitraps capture eggs, larvae, and pupae of Ae. aegypti, and BGtraps capture adult mosquitos. Positivity refers to the proportion of times an ovitrap recorded eggs in the entomological cycle. Results In 2023, there were 204 active ovitraps at the island (17 at the airport, 9 at Funchal’s seaport 8 at Caniçal’s seaport) and 24 BGtraps (2 at the airport, 2 at Funchal’s port and 1 at Caniçal’s port). Weekly reports revealed a median of 2243 (0-14448) eggs and 14 (0-234) mosquitos in all traps. Positivity was higher in the second semester. On average, ovitraps’ positivity at the airport (avg 6.4%; 0-59%) and at Caniçal’s port (avg 2.8%; 0-47%) were lower than the positivity of the island (avg 14.8%). Funchal’s port had a higher positivity than the island (avg 15.9%; 0-67%). Per-ovitrap, the average weekly positivity rate rose by 15%, 10% and 5% at Caniçal’s port, airport and Funchal’s port, respectively, compared to 2012-2022. Lessons Ae. aegypti’s eggs prevalence increased in 2023. The high positivity of eggs suggests an increased likelihood of mosquitos nearby. The detection of immature forms triggers actions to prospect the surrounding area for identification and elimination of breeding grounds, as well as the placement of salt in water accumulation areas. This is particularly important at high-traffic areas such as seaports and airports. Key messages • The increase in Ae. aegypti egg positivity in 2023 on Madeira Island suggests a higher risk of disease transmission. • It is essential to prioritize vector control measures at seaports and the airport in Madeira Island.

Multiple description image coding using Schur transform

A novel obvious and robust image Multiple Description Coding (MDC) using Schur transform (ST)is presented in this work. To overcome the inherent drawbacks in the discrete wavelet transform (DWT)which are the hardware implementation and computational complexityIn the MDC approach, two or more correlated descriptions of the same data aregenerated, which can be independently decoded, and yield mutually refinable information. Therefore, the quality of the recovered signal is dependent only on the number of received descriptions, and not on the specific loss pattern. The new techniquewas analyzed and compared to the conventional approach in the case of four descriptions by using multiple grayscale test images having different spectral characteristics.Theexperimental results of Schur transform (ST) compared to discrete wavelet transform (DWT)show that our method achievesbetter performance in terms of delivered peaksignal to noise ratio (PSNR) and visual image quality reconstruction.The proposed MDC has a low redundancy and outperforms the conventionalscheme for image transmission over error-prone networks.Therefore, the proposed approach provides an easier practical implementation and a better redundancy performancethan the classical approach.

Analysis of School Financial Management in the Context of Tax Accounting: A Case Study at SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe

Schools as educational units manage their finances independently and are bound by tax obligations. Therefore, knowledge of tax accounting is very important in planning and implementing school activities and budgets. School principals, treasurers and BOS teams must understand tax regulations related to school revenues and expenditures; such as income tax (PPh), value-added tax (VAT) and local tax. With the above premise, the author is interested in conducting research on School Financial Management in the Context of Tax Accounting: Case Study at SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe. The purpose of this study is to describe financial management at SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe, analyze the suitability of its management for tax accounting provisions, identify the obstacles faced by the financial management team of SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe and formulate solutions to overcome these obstacles. This research uses a qualitative approach, which is a research procedure that produces descriptive data in the form of speech or writing and observable behavior of the person (subject) itself. The data collection methods used are observation, interviews, and document review with the object of research is the financial management of SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the Financial Management and Reporting of SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe is in accordance with the general provisions and procedures of taxation and there are no obstacles faced in the financial management of SMP Negeri 3 Hilisalawa'ahe because the management team is in accordance with the professional field and understands tax regulations. Translated with DeepL.com (free version).

Increasing Student Learning Activeness by Using Puzzle Media in Learning Pancasila Education at SMPN 38 Palembang

This research was motivated by the problem of low learning activeness of class VIII students in junior high schools. Students look passive, lack self-confidence, and show low learning motivation in the learning process. This research aims to increase students' learning activeness through the use of crossword puzzle and word search puzzle media in learning Pancasila Education class VIII.6 at SMP Negeri 38 Palembang. This research was carried out using the classroom action research method which was carried out over 2 cycles where each cycle consisted of 1 meeting and 1 assessment which consisted of 4 stages, namely: planning, action, reflection and evaluation. The subjects in this research were all students in class VIII.6 of SMP Negeri 38 Palembang, consisting of 15 male students and 17 female students. This research was conducted using a quantitative approach with observational data collection techniques. Observations were carried out by observing observers whose results were analyzed using percentage descriptive data analysis techniques. This research shows that the use of crossword puzzle and word search puzzle media in learning can increase the learning activity of class VIII.6 students at SMP Negeri 38 Palembang. This can be seen from the observation results obtained in the pre-cycle which show that students' learning activeness has a percentage of 49.78%, then in cycle 1 it increased by 24.66% to 74.44%, and in cycle 2 it increased by 14.40% to 88.84%. This shows that the use of crossword puzzle and word search puzzle media in learning can increase the learning activity of students in class VIII.6 SMPN 38 Palembang.

Evaluating the effect of horizontal Integration strategy on performance of commercial State corporations in Kenya

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of horizontal integration on performance of Commercial State Corporations in Kenya. The study was based on positivist research philosophy. A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted as the study design. The target population was 1,026 senior managers of the Commercial State Corporations. The sample size was 99 senior managers in Commercial State Corporations. Primary data were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Collected data was analysed using descriptive data analysis techniques (Mean, Standard Deviation, Maximum and Minimum) and regression analysis. The findings of the study were presented using figures and tables. The study established a significant effect of horizontal integration strategy on financial, customers, internal business process and learning, growth and development performance of Commercial State Corporations in Kenya (? =0.536, p=0.000<0.05; ? =0.548, p=0.000<0.05;? =0.359,p=0.000<0.05;? =0.201,p=0.027<0.05). The study concluded that the horizontal integration strategy significantly improved the financial, customer, internal business process, and learning, growth, and development performance of Commercial State Corporations, supported by statistical evidence. The study recommends that Commercial State Corporations should streamline regulations to facilitate horizontal integration, ensure alignment with strategic objectives, prioritise sectors that enhance efficiency and service delivery, collaborate with competition authorities to comply with antitrust laws, and proactively address market concentration and anti-competitive concerns.

Analisis Sistem Akuntansi Pemberian Kredit Pemilikan Rumah (KPR) pada PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Cabang Pettarani Makassar

This study aims to understand the home ownership credit accounting system at PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Pettarani Makassar Branch, with a focus on simple requirements and a fast credit application process. Based on research conducted at PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Pettarani Makassar Branch, the use of the MyCore application in providing home ownership credit can facilitate the input of prospective debtor files in an effective and efficient manner, thereby speeding up the process. The author applies a qualitative research method, which produces descriptive data in the form of written notes and oral information from individuals observed during data collection in the field. The results of the study show that the process of applying for a home ownership loan at PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Pettarani Makassar Branch has become easier and faster because the requirements applied are general requirements that are already owned by customers. This allows the collection of files to be done more quickly.

ANALISIS PENDAPATAN USAHA PETERNAKAN SKALA MENENGAH PROGRAM UMKM PADA RUMAH PEMOTONGAN AYAM KAMPUNG(STUDI KASUS RPA LA’TANSA DI KECAMATAN PALU SELATAN KELURAHAN BIROBULI UTARA)

Central Sulawesi Province has an area of ​​61,841.29 km^2 consisting of 13 Regencies/Cities with a population of 2,921,715 people or 719,031 households and a population of 77,004 free-range chickens spread across several areas of Palu City (Central Statistics Agency, 2016). Palu City as an autonomous region has various resources that can be developed to achieve the main goal of economic development, so that it can increase the number and types of employment opportunities for regional communities so that community welfare is more equitable. In an effort to achieve this goal, the government must be able to develop potential economic sectors, one of which is free-range chicken farming so that it develops as a leading sector. With the hope that this sector will be able to contribute to the community's economy, especially medium-sized farms with MSME capital. Extensive-traditional or free range chicken rearing system. Even though there are breeders who carry out intensive cultivation, they are still very limited in terms of capital and marketing. This is what makes the total production of the free-range chicken population in the city of Palu lower when compared to other cities, so it is necessary to conduct a study on income analysis of the medium-scale free-range chicken business for the UMKM program in the City of Palu. The aim of this research is to find out how much income middle-scale chicken traders earn from the MSME program at RPA LA Tansa, South Palu District, North Bureaubuli Village and to find out the feasibility of selling free-range chickens at RPA Latansa. This research will be carried out at RPA Latansa from February to April 2024 . This research method uses a survey method. The research design uses a type of quantitative descriptive research, namely a research procedure that uses descriptive data in the form of written or spoken words (interviews) with respondents, then the research data obtained is simplified in table form by displaying the number and average, then analyzed again sequentially. descriptive. The data analysis used is Revenue Analysis, Cost Analysis, Income Analysis and R/C Ration business feasibility analysis. Based on an analysis of income calculations, the Latan'sa chicken slaughterhouse (RPA) business income for one month is IDR. 38,722,708 which shows that the Latan'sa chicken slaughterhouse (RPA) business is making a profit

Fostering the Value of Religious Tolerance among Students through the Development of Potential Issues

Religious tolerance is a global priority amidst diverse beliefs and interests. This research explores potential issues in student religious tolerance for educational stakeholders. The study uses a qualitative bibliometric approach with descriptive data analysis. Findings indicate an increasing but modest trend in religious tolerance research over the past 14 years (2010-2024), peaking in 2023 with 65 articles. Electronic journals (e-journals) are the largest source of such research, with 150 publications. Four productive researchers from Jambi University produced two publications: Arizal Dwi Kurniawan, Nur Aini, Marlina Susanti, and Anisa Andrian. The study identifies several potential future research areas in student religious tolerance, including religion, mutual respect, analysis, tolerance, character education, data, institutions, teachers, Islamic religion, literature review, Islamic education, school, challenges, literacy, strategy, teacher, multicultural Islamic education, student ability, integration, multicultural education, society, tolerance, literature study, child, and concept.

Anomaly detection scheme for lung CT images using vector quantized variational auto-encoder with support vector data description.

This study aims to develop an anomaly-detection scheme for lesions in CT images. Our database consists of lung CT images obtained from 1500 examinees. It includes 1200 normal and 300 abnormal cases. In this study, SVDD (Support Vector Data Description) mapping the normal latent variables into a hypersphere as small as possible on the latent space is introduced to VQ-VAE (Vector Quantized-Variational Auto-Encoder). VQ-VAE with SVDD is constructed from two encoders, two decoders, and an embedding space. The first encoder compresses the input image into the latent-variable map, whereas the second encoder maps the normal latent variables into a hypersphere as small as possible. The first decoder then up-samples the mapped latent variables into a latent-variable map with the original size. The second decoder finally reconstructs the input image from the latent-variable map replaced by the embedding representations. The data of each examinee is classified as abnormal or normal based on the anomaly score defined as the combination of the difference between the input image and the reconstructed image and the distance between the latent variables and the center of the hypersphere. The area under the ROC curve for VQ-VAE with SVDD was 0.76, showing an improvement when compared with the conventional VAE (0.63, p < .001). VQ-VAE with SVDD developed in this study can yield higher anomaly-detection accuracy than the conventional VAE. The proposed method is expected to be useful for identifying examinees with lesions and reducing interpretation time in CT screening.

Utilization and determinants of maternity waiting homes among pastoralist mothers in Dire district, southern Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundMaternity waiting homes are cost-effective, World Health Organization-approved components of comprehensive prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care strategies. However, few community-based studies within Ethiopia's pastoralist communities, and none in the study area, have been conducted to determine actual usage or to gain a thorough understanding of the factors influencing utilization.MethodsA cross-sectional study, supplemented by qualitative methods, was conducted from June 25 to July 25, 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 305 study participants. Data were gathered through an interviewer-administered questionnaire, entered into Epi-data version 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive data were presented in tables, graphs, text, and percentages. Bivariate logistic regression identified candidate predictors at a P-value of &amp;lt;0.25, and predictors of maternity waiting home utilization were identified through multivariate logistic regression at a 95% confidence interval and P-value of &amp;lt;0.05. Qualitative interviews were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed.ResultsThe prevalence of maternity waiting home use in the study area was 35.2% (95% CI: 30.9%, 39.5%). Factors associated with maternity waiting home utilization included travel time greater than 60 min to nearby health facilities (AOR: 5.47 CI: 1.77, 16.91), good knowledge of danger signs of pregnancy (AOR: 5.41, CI: 1.86, 15.79), lack of a caretaker to household tasks (AOR: 0.1, CI: 0.03, 0.31), and a refusal to accept a waiting time of 2–4 weeks (AOR: 0.24 CI: 0.08, 0.74). The qualitative findings underscored hurdles such as resource constraints, challenges in providing maternity services, and the importance of community awareness and access to network connectivity in ensuring safe childbirth.ConclusionThis study aims to determine the utilization of maternity waiting homes and the factors associated with their use among women who gave birth within the last year in the Dire district, Borana zone, southern Ethiopia. The prevalence of maternity waiting home use was low compared to national efforts to promote this service. Longer travel time, lack of a caretaker, good knowledge of danger signs of pregnancy, and a refusal to accept a waiting time of 2–4 weeks were associated with maternity waiting home use in this study.

19 How are paediatric tertiary care hospitals structured to respond to the needs of children with medical complexity during acute deteriorations? A landscape study in Canada

Abstract Background Children with medical complexity (CMC) are at risk of unplanned healthcare visits especially due to acute clinical deteriorations. Complex care (CC) programs help facilitate the needs of CMC. Objectives To identify the organizational and administrative resources available for the care of CMC in Canadian tertiary care paediatric hospitals and to assess how physicians believe these resources are adapted to the specific urgent needs of CMC. Design/Methods In this observational study, key informants representing complex care (CC) and paediatric emergency medicine (PEM) services from 15 paediatric tertiary care hospitals in Canada completed cross-sectional structured questionnaires. Participants were identified through national research networks (Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC), Pediatric Inpatient Research Network (PIRN) and by snowball sampling. Utilizing the Lime Survey web application, two questionnaires (one for PEM, one for CC) were develop based on a literature review and following Burns methodology. Verbal questionnaires were administered via a secured teleconference application or completed digitally. Descriptive data were generated using Excel and SPSS v.29. Results From 09/2022 to 09/2023, 93% (28/30) key informants completed questionnaires (15 PEM, 13 CC, Table 1). Across the 15 sites, 12 had a CC program or clinic. Information about established CC programs was available for 10 sites (Table 2), from participating CC informants: 4/10 offered outpatient services; 6/10 offered inpatient and outpatient services; 8/10 offered last minute appointments for CMC. CC programs had variable staffing: mostly physicians (median 3 FTE, range: 0.2-6) and nurse practitioners (0.75 FTE, range: 0-9) or registered nurses (0.9 FTE, 0-8). CC informants reported offering an ED consultation service at 8/10 sites, while 6/12 PEM participants reported access to such a service. CC informants reported that their program rarely offered consultations during weekends (2/10) or nights (1/10). Across all sites, PEM informants reported good access to documents to help with continuity of care including emergency care plans (13/15), medical history (14/15), goals of care (13/15). Using an 11-point scale, CC informants rated their hospital’s median ability to meet the outpatient needs of CMC as 6.5 (range: 0-10), and their ED’s median ability to meet the needs of CMC as 7 (range 5-10). PEM informants reported their median ability to meet the needs of CMC as 8 (range 6-9). Informants made suggestions to improve the ED care of CMC (Table 3). Conclusion There exists wide variation in the structures caring for CMC and their availability in case of acute needs. National collaboration between CC and PEM teams may facilitate the design of programs to improve the acute outpatient care of CMC.

Teledentistry for Pediatric Dental Emergency: Comparison Between Experienced and Novice Users

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teledentistry was often employed for pediatric emergency treatments. Dental students acted as the first health providers using teledentistry under the supervision of faculties in most hospital-based or university-based medical centers during the lockdown period. The aims of this study were to assess the quality of using teledentistry among general dentists (GDs) and dental students (DSs) for managing pediatric dental emergencies. Methods: In total, 60 DSs and 85 GDs were recruited in this study. Each participant was assigned to one of five teledentistry emergency scenarios in pediatric dentistry using a stratified random assignment method. Teledentistry with five emergency scenario simulations was used to evaluate the quality of diagnosis (QD) and treatment (QT) and the detailed information (DI) among all participants. A post-visit survey collected demographic data, usability, confidence in diagnosis (CD), and confidence in treatment recommendation (CT). Descriptive and inferential statistics data were analyzed. The significance level was set as p &lt; 0.05. Results: Overall, the study showed that GDs and DSs can use teledentistry to provide good quality of diagnosis (74.5%) and treatment recommendations (77.2%). When encountering pediatric dental emergency scenarios, GDs scored significantly higher (p &lt; 0.001) than DSs regarding QD, QT, CD, and CT. Significant differences were noted in QD (p &lt; 0.001), QT (p &lt; 0.001), CD (p = 0.045), and DI (p = 0.042) when the subjects encountered five different scenarios. Significant correlations were noted between the amount of detailed information subjects obtained with the quality of diagnosis and treatment recommendation. Confidence in diagnosis is significantly correlated to the quality of diagnosis (p = 0.034) and treatment recommendation (p = 0.042). However, the confidence in treatment recommendation is not correlated with either QD or QT. Both GDs and DSs hold positive attitudes toward the usability of teledentistry. Conclusions: Teledentistry is effective for diagnosing and managing pediatric dental emergencies. Experienced users provided a better quality of visit compared to novice users, so dental students should be supervised when performing a teledentistry visit.

Psychological, Informational, and Material Factors Impacting Girls’ Menstruation-related School Absenteeism in Rural Tanzania

Girls’ education remains a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa as it is estimated that 1 in 10 adolescent girls miss school during their menstrual cycle. In Tanzania, girls must attend school regularly to be sufficiently prepared for the National Examinations that serve as gatekeepers to higher education levels and advanced careers. Our current study focuses on contextual factors that limit Tanzanian girls’ school attendance during menstruation (ADM). Using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques and survey data from post-menarche adolescent girls (N = 610) in the Mara region of Tanzania, the findings revealed that psychological, physiological, informational, and material factors increase the likelihood of girls’ school absenteeism during menstruation. The results from this study indicate that generalized anxiety, depression, worry about menstruation, menstruation preparation, and menstrual pad material have a direct impact on ADM. The findings from this study have implications for educational policy and school leadership

An ecosystem of interconnected technologies to increase efficiencies in blood establishments: The example of the Blood and Tissue Bank of Aragón, Spain.

Blood establishments face environmental, financial, demographic and societal challenges that may impair sustainable blood supply to patients. This study presents the technologies (devices and software) assembled in a global ecosystem implemented by the Blood and Tissue Bank of Aragón (BTBA), Spain, over the last decade to overcome these challenges. Descriptive yearly activity data (2013-2023) of BTBA were retrospectively collected to evaluate the impact of different technologies on blood processing efficiency, focusing on the production of blood components (red blood cell concentrates [RCCs], platelet concentrates [PCs]) and plasma. Operator satisfaction about the technologies introduced in daily routine work was also monitored. Between 2013 and 2023, the annual production decreased by 16.0% for RCCs and increased by 13.3% for PCs. From 2020, all PCs were treated with pathogen reduction technology, and no inventory stock-out was reported. The lowest PC expiry rate (0.2%) was observed after the implementation of the software for blood processing and PC stock management. The deployment of this software also improved plasma recovery: on average, an extra plasma volume of 9 mL was collected per donation in 2023 compared to 2015. A survey confirmed staff satisfaction. The progressive implementation of automated and software-based solutions was key to increasing efficiencies in BTBA. This enabled the optimization of blood processing by maximizing productivity, enhancing traceability, reducing overproduction and wastage and increasing the yield of recovered plasma, while ensuring blood product safety and staff satisfaction.

Key data elements for a successful pediatric rheumatology virtual visit: a survey within the PR-COIN network

IntroductionJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common childhood rheumatic disease which is commonly monitored by a combination of history, physical examination, bloodwork, and imaging. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a rapid shift to telemedicine to ensure that patients continued to receive healthcare. The shift to telemedicine changed the methodology and ability of healthcare providers to monitor their patients' progress, as they were unable to perform direct hands-on assessments. The following survey sought to understand the impact of switching pediatric rheumatology healthcare delivery from in-person to telemedicine modality. Specifically, it sought to examine the rate of collection of critical data elements (CDE) for monitoring JIA disease activity and outcomes, barriers and facilitators to its collection, opinions on difficulty and importance of collecting CDE over telemedicine, tools and electronic medical record modifications that facilitated CDE collection, and other data elements that were important to collect during telemedicine visits.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was sent to healthcare providers at all PR-COIN centers who saw patients using telemedicine. Qualitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analyzed using an inductive approach.ResultsSurvey respondents reported that they documented the CDE at least 75% of the time. Barriers to assessing and documenting critical data elements included (1) the inability to palpate or visualize all joints over telemedicine, (2) connectivity issues, and (3) forgetfulness with collecting all CDE. Respondents suggested using reminders within the electronic medical record to prompt documentation completeness and improve reliability. They also suggested including medication adherence, quality of life, and patient/caregiver satisfaction with their telemedicine experience as part of their documentation. A few centers reported that they had established processes to assist with data collection in advance of the telemedicine visit; however, the variation in responses reflects the need to standardize the process of providing care over telemedicine.DiscussionMultiple barriers and facilitators to collecting CDE during telemedicine visits exist. Given that a proportion of the population will continue to be seen over telemedicine, teams need to adapt their practices to consistently provide high-quality care over virtual platforms, ensuring that patients at any institution receive a standardized level of service.