Digital Outreach Research Articles

Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults in Latvia and Iceland During COVID-19

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health and wellbeing of older populations across Europe, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and social isolation, known risk factors for poor physical and mental health outcomes. This study aims to understand the extent and implications of these changes in Latvia and Iceland, providing essential insights for targeted public health interventions. Methods This comparative study utilized data from two key sources: the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) for Latvia and the HL20 study for Iceland, focusing on individuals aged 67 and above. Both quantitative surveys were conducted during the pandemic, offering data on health status, loneliness, and social isolation. A novel approach was applied in analyzing older populations to standardize comparisons between the two distinct datasets. This methodological innovation is part of a bilateral EEA initiative FM2021/23 aimed at strengthening research collaboration between Latvia and Iceland. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson Chi-square test were used to compare outcomes between the two countries and within demographic subgroups. Results The study revealed stark differences between the two countries: 80% of Latvian older adults reported social isolation compared to 42.7% in Iceland. Similarly, 45% of Latvians experienced loneliness versus 30% of Icelanders. Significant associations were found between social isolation, loneliness, and deteriorating mental and physical health, with worse outcomes noted in socially isolated individuals. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate a clear link between social isolation and adverse health outcomes among the older adults, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study supports the need for proactive public health measures in Latvia and Iceland, including the development of community engagement programs and mental health support services tailored to the needs of older adults. Key messages • Study shows significant health impact of social isolation among older adults in Latvia and Iceland, highlighting urgent need for targeted public health interventions. • Effective public health strategies and innovative digital outreach can mitigate adverse effects of loneliness and isolation observed in older populations.

Social Media Preferences and Usage Behaviour among Indonesians Insights and Implications for Business Strategies

This study explores social media preferences and behaviors among Indonesian users aged 18 to 64, surveyed between August and September 2024. Utilizing a sample of 156 respondents, the research aims to uncover patterns in platform usage, content preferences, and receptivity to advertisements. The results reveal that Instagram is the most used and preferred social media platform among respondents, positioning it as a crucial channel for businesses targeting the Indonesian market. These findings offer valuable insights into the social media habits of Indonesian users, providing practical implications for businesses looking to optimize their digital marketing strategies. By identifying key trends in platform popularity, user behavior, and engagement with specific types of content, businesses can better tailor their digital outreach and advertising efforts. The study also highlights that users are most engaged during particular times of the day and show a strong preference for content related to entertainment, education, and career development. These insights allow businesses to strategically target users with personalized content that aligns with their interests and maximizes engagement. Furthermore, the importance of understanding consumer preferences in shaping effective advertising campaigns is emphasized, particularly in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of Indonesia. This study shows the dominance of Instagram platform among social users.

The Effects of the Connecting All Generations Through the Gerontech (CARETech) Program on Motivating Young People to Enter the Elderly Care Sector

PurposeThis study aims to organize an intergenerational program to provide unemployed young people with operational skills related to gerontechnology and the experience required to deliver digital outreach rehabilitation services to community-dwelling older people. MethodsA quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The young participants received a 12-session training program on the management of common chronic diseases, communication with older people, the functions and use of interactive games, and techniques to teach and match interactive games with older people. The perception of elderly outcomes (i.e., knowledge and attitude toward elderly care, willingness to care for the elderly), personal outcomes (i.e., life satisfaction, self-efficacy), and desired vocational outcomes (i.e., hours worked in the nongovernmental organization’s center, hours spent with older people) were evaluated preprogram and postprogram. ResultsFifty-one young people joined the program. A statistically significant improvement was seen from preprogram to postprogram in their willingness to care for the elderly (p = .016) and life satisfaction (p = .005), as well as in the number of hours that they spent in the community center volunteering or engaged in social services for older people. DiscussionThe findings proved that the program could improve the willingness of young people to care for older people, as well as improve their own life satisfaction. Using gerontechnology can serve to bridge the intergenerational gap and bring benefits to both young adults and older people. It may provide policy makers with a way to address the manpower shortage in elderly care services and help frail older people to age in place.

Cultural Diversity & Policy Making: India’s G-20 Presidency.

India's policy, diplomacy, and international outreach endeavours are shaped by its cultural diversity and richness, which presents the nation's distinct identity to the globe. The main issues covered in a number of topics are summarized in this abstract, including cultural diplomacy, policies influenced by diversity, India's soft power potential, and methods for promoting Indian culture internationally. India has the potential to be a soft power due to its rich cultural legacy, dynamic democracy, and long history. India has demonstrated its power to affect global agendas and perceptions through cultural, diplomatic, and economic methods through projects such as its presidency of the G-20. India promotes its ideals of inclusion, tolerance, and respect for all people by utilizing its rich cultural legacy to build international collaboration and ties. India's foreign policy is based on cultural diplomacy, which allows the nation to present its rich history and customs to the world. India facilitates intercultural discourse, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and advances a more comprehensive comprehension of its multifaceted cultural mosaic through the organization of cultural exchanges, festivals, and exhibitions. India connects with global audiences through cultural centers, educational exchange programs, and internet outreach to promote awareness and recognition of its cultural richness. India's diverse culture has an impact on policy in a number of areas, including social welfare, language, education, and healthcare. India undertakes programs to protect minority rights, encourage linguistic variety, and incorporate indigenous knowledge systems into governance and development strategies because it understands the value of protecting and developing cultural heritage. India keeps its promise to social justice and inclusivity by tackling socioeconomic inequalities and empowering neglected populations. There are many different ways to promote Indian culture internationally, ranging from digital outreach and cultural diplomacy to supporting the cultural industries and encouraging tourism. India uses its cultural resources to draw visitors, present its artistic creations, and promote cross-cultural exchange via international cultural institutions, festivals, and exhibitions. India's attempts to promote its unique cultural history are strengthened when it collaborates with international organizations, educational institutions, and diaspora populations. This increases global appreciation and recognition of India's cultural outreach. In summary, India's cultural diversity and richness are important advantages that help to shape its foreign ties and global identity. India bolsters its soft power and promotes more understanding, collaboration, and harmony in an increasingly interconnected globe by embracing its cultural history, fostering cultural exchange, and interacting with global audiences.

Engage to co-create! The drivers of brand co-creation on social commerce

PurposeConsumers nowadays are no longer bystanders in the process of production but are proactive collaborators with the power to co-create value with brands. This study aims to explore the impact of social commerce on the co-creation process of brand value in a social commerce setting.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was conducted online to gather 300 eligible responses. The data were empirically validated using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method.FindingsThe results indicated that brand engagement (BEN) is vital to brand co-creation (BCC) in social commerce, which could be driven by social-hedonic value (SHV) and social information sharing (SIS).Research limitations/implicationsThis study stresses the influence of consumer autonomy in the process of BCC by probing the role of SIS. Moreover, by considering the prevailing trend in social media, this study offers a nuanced perspective on the values of social commerce from the viewpoint of SHV.Practical implicationsThis study may serve as a useful guide for practitioners to improve their digital outreach strategy on social commerce to forge stronger relationships, encourage further engagements and promote value co-creation within their brand community.Originality/valueThis examines the effect of relationship quality (RQU) and BEN on BCC through a relational viewpoint.

Navigating the digital age: The gray digital divide and digital inclusion in China

Rapid digitalization and an aging population are leading to an increasingly prominent age-based digital divide among the world’s elderly population. This study focuses on China, one of the most rapidly aging and digitalizing countries in the world. Employing a mixed-method approach, this research examines how elderly individuals experience the digital transformation and the associated digital divide. The findings suggest that the elderly interviewees encounter multiple barriers to learning and using digital technologies, which highlights the significant role of social support and networks in facilitating their adaptation to the digital society and lifestyle. Attitudes toward digital engagement and digitalization vary greatly among the elderly, ranging from being optimistic to feeling left behind and having multiple concerns. Our findings further reveal that the Chinese government has implemented numerous digital apps tailored to the demands of the elderly and provided training opportunities to bridge the gray digital divide. This emphasizes the responsiveness and adaptiveness of Chinese authorities in addressing pressing societal issues. However, we identify a gap in digital outreach, as most elderly interviewees have limited awareness of government digital inclusion policies and programs. This article contributes to digital divide research and offers practical implications for countries grappling with the gray digital divide.

A Study on Cultural Heritage Preservation in the Digital Era

In our digitally driven era, the preservation of cultural heritage stands at a critical juncture, necessitating an exploration of the challenges and opportunities associated with this dynamic process. This research paper investigates the evolving landscape of cultural heritage preservation, emphasizing the transformative impact of digitization and the vital role of marketing strategies in advocacy and support. The significance of cultural heritage preservation lies in its ability to safeguard the collective identity of societies. This study emphasizes the role of tangible and intangible cultural assets in maintaining traditions and preserving human history, echoing the sentiments expressed by scholars such as Smith (2016) on the social cohesion that stems from cultural heritage. The advent of digital technologies has ushered in a new era for cultural preservation, offering novel approaches to archiving, restoration, and dissemination. However, this digital transformation presents challenges such as data security, copyright concerns, and addressing the digital divide, as highlighted by Jones (2018). Crucially, marketing strategies play a pivotal role in raising awareness and garnering support for cultural heritage preservation initiatives. Successful case studies, such as the British Museum's digital outreach (Smithsonian, 2020), underscore the potency of digital marketing in the cultural preservation domain. As technology continues to advance, the future of cultural heritage preservation will likely witness innovations in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality. This paper provides insights into these future trends and recommends adaptive strategies for marketers, policymakers, and cultural institutions to foster sustainable preservation efforts. KEY WORDS: cultural heritage preservation, virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), tourism, digital reconstruction, technological advancements, transformative impact.

Efficacy of Digital Outreach Strategies for Collecting Smoking Data: Pragmatic Randomized Trial.

Tobacco smoking is an important risk factor for disease, but inaccurate smoking history data in the electronic medical record (EMR) limits the reach of lung cancer screening (LCS) and tobacco cessation interventions. Patient-generated health data is a novel approach to documenting smoking history; however, the comparative effectiveness of different approaches is unclear. We designed a quality improvement intervention to evaluate the effectiveness of portal questionnaires compared to SMS text message-based surveys, to compare message frames, and to evaluate the completeness of patient-generated smoking histories. We randomly assigned patients aged between 50 and 80 years with a history of tobacco use who identified English as a preferred language and have never undergone LCS to receive an EMR portal questionnaire or a text survey. The portal questionnaire used a "helpfulness" message, while the text survey tested frame types informed by behavior economics ("gain," "loss," and "helpfulness") and nudge messaging. The primary outcome was the response rate for each modality and framing type. Completeness and consistency with documented structured smoking data were also evaluated. Participants were more likely to respond to the text survey (191/1000, 19.1%) compared to the portal questionnaire (35/504, 6.9%). Across all text survey rounds, patients were less responsive to the "helpfulness" frame compared with the "gain" frame (odds ratio [OR] 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.91; P<.05) and "loss" frame (OR 0.32, 95% CI 11.8-99.4; P<.05). Compared to the structured data in the EMR, the patient-generated data were significantly more likely to be complete enough to determine LCS eligibility both compared to the portal questionnaire (OR 34.2, 95% CI 3.8-11.1; P<.05) and to the text survey (OR 6.8, 95% CI 3.8-11.1; P<.05). We found that an approach using patient-generated data is a feasible way to engage patients and collect complete smoking histories. Patients are likely to respond to a text survey using "gain" or "loss" framing to report detailed smoking histories. Optimizing an SMS text message approach to collect medical information has implications for preventative and follow-up clinical care beyond smoking histories, LCS, and smoking cessation therapy.

Parenting Styles And Their Impact On Online Gaming Addiction: Mediating Role Of Psychological Well-Being In Indonesia

In Indonesia’s distinctive cultural and digital milieu, this study explores the interconnectedness between parenting styles, psychological well-being, and online game addiction in individuals aged 15-30. Utilizing digital outreach on platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, data was sourced from 601 participants. The Indonesian Online Game Addiction Questionnaire, the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and Triwahyuni and Prasetio’s 42-item scale for psychological health were the primary measurement tools. Findings underscore an inverse relationship between both paternal and maternal parenting styles and psychological health. Furthermore, psychological well-being serves as a critical mediator in the relationship between parenting styles and online gaming habits. The insights offer significant implications for parenting, psychological health, and digital gaming behaviors in the contemporary Indonesian context, suggesting a need for harmonized approaches that seamlessly blend tradition and modern challenges.

Perception and barriers to access Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS (PrEP) among the MSM (men who have sex with men) Brazilian Amazon: A qualitative study.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention strategy that consists in the use of antiretroviral drugs by seronegative people at risk of HIV. Negative perceptions, inadequate understanding, and access barriers have been associated with decreased medication adherence. Manaus is the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon, where the incidence of HIV/AIDS is high, and the rates of adherence to the antiretroviral treatment for HIV and PrEP are low. In this qualitative study among PrEP users, mostly MSM, we explored perceptions, knowledge, and access barriers. We conducted 21 in-depth interviews with an intentionally sampled group of participants who had used PrEP at least once in their lifetime, selected through the snowball technique, between April and July 2022. A thematic analysis was conducted with a predominantly inductive approach. We highlight three relevant themes: (i) access to information about PrEP and its influences on users, (ii) access, monitoring, and barriers encountered, and (iii) facilitators for PrEP adherence and sexual behaviors. One of the negative perceptions identified in the study involves a misunderstanding of the association between PrEP users and the HIV/AIDS status. Participants revealed that some non-PrEP users suspect that individuals claiming PrEP usage are concealing an HIV-positive status to engage in unprotected sex. Lack of information by health professionals regarding HIV prevention methods poses significant barriers to PrEP access and adherence. Participants emphasized social media's crucial role in PrEP awareness. The results suggest a need to increase digital outreach regarding PrEP, decentralize PrEP services, and provide comprehensive healthcare training to improve the effectiveness of the preventive measure.

Grassroots and Digital Outreach Strategies Raise Awareness of COVID-19 Information and Research in Baltimore City.

We aimed to disseminate reliable COVID-19 information to the Black and Latino communities of Baltimore City, Maryland, between July 2020 and December 2022. With community partners, we disseminated evidence-based COVID-19 information via grassroots and digital strategies, including Hopkins Opportunity for Participant Engagement, and connected volunteers to COVID-19 research. Using a multimodal approach facilitated dissemination of reliable information and raised awareness of research; evaluation of trust is ongoing. Robust, multimodal strategies are needed to foster trust and equity among diverse communities. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S1):S69-S73. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307492).

Artificial Intelligence in Digital Marketing: Insights from a Comprehensive Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged as a transformative force in multiple sectors, with digital marketing being a prominent beneficiary. As AI technologies continue to advance, their potential to reshape the digital marketing landscape becomes ever more apparent, leading to profound implications for businesses and their digital outreach strategies. This research seeks to answer the pivotal question: “How could AI applications be leveraged to optimize digital marketing strategies”? Drawing from a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework, this study has identified 211 pertinent articles. Through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, the findings were categorized into distinct clusters, namely: AI/ML (Machine Learning) Algorithms, Social Media, Consumer Behavior, E-Commerce, Digital Advertising, Budget Optimization, and Competitive Strategies. Each cluster offers insights into how AI applications can be harnessed to augment digital marketing efforts. The conclusion synthesizes key findings and suggests avenues for future exploration in this dynamic intersection of AI and digital marketing. This research contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of AI in digital marketing, identifying key trends, challenges, and future directions. Our systematic approach offers valuable insights for businesses and researchers alike, enhancing the understanding of AI’s evolving role in digital marketing strategies.

Participation in genetic screening: testing different outreach methods across a diverse hospital system based patient population.

Introduction: Genomics has the potential to transform medicine by identifying genetic risk factors that predispose people to certain illnesses. Use of genetic screening is rapidly expanding and shifting towards screening all patients regardless of known risk factors, but research is limited on the success of broad population-level outreach for genetic testing and the effectiveness of different outreach methods across diverse populations. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of Digital Only (emailing and texting) and Brochure Plus Digital (mailed brochure, emailing, and texting) outreach to encourage a diverse patient population to participate in a large hospital system's whole genome sequencing program. Methods: Disproportionate stratified sampling was used to create a study population more demographically diverse than the eligible population and response rates were analyzed overall and by demographics to understand the effectiveness of different outreach strategies. Results: 7.5% of all eligible patients enrolled in the program. While approximately 70% of patients invited to complete genetic testing identified in their EHR as being Hispanic, Black or African America, Asian, or another non-White race, these patients generally enrolled at lower rates than the overall population. Other underrepresented groups had higher enrollment rates including people with Medicaid coverage (8.7%) and those residing in rural areas (10.6%). We found no significant difference in enrollment rates between our Digital-Only and our Brochure Plus Digital outreach approaches in the overall population, but enrollment rates were significantly higher for Asian patients and patients who resided in rural areas in the Brochure Plus Digital group. Across both outreach approaches, links provided in emails were most commonly used for enrollment. Discussion: Our study reveals expected enrollment rates for proactive outreach by a hospital system for genetic testing in a diverse population. As more hospital systems are adopting population-scale genetic testing, these findings can inform future outreach efforts to recruit patients for genetic testing including those patients traditionally underrepresented in genomics.

Working towards a ready to implement digital literacy program.

As healthcare continues to expand online and digital care offerings multiply, the importance of digital inclusion and equity is now better recognized. Yet despite impressive regional grassroots efforts, today there remain few readily deployable programs designed to support patient digital literacy. Digital Outreach for Obtaining Resources and Skills (DOORs) is one such digital literacy program that has evolved over the last 5 years to meet the rising demand. Through community partnerships, the DOORs curriculum and delivery has been updated to make the program more accessible and applicable as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) changes healthcare. Participants' experience in the most updated iteration of DOORS was assessed through surveys and semi-structured interviews. Improvements to DOORs include an updated DOORs curriculum, updated facilitator manual, an online platform with a learning management system, standardized training, patient-facing educational handouts, consolidation of all DOORs materials into a single package that is ready to be shared with other groups, implementation of a single-session intervention model, and Spanish translation. Participants reported improved confidence on 72% of the digital skills assessed. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes: awareness of divide, patient-centered design, and expanded skills and confidence. Combined, these changes and participant outcomes better position DOORS to meet the rising need for digital literacy and offers a scalable model for teams across the world.

The Initial Relationship Between the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Digital COVID-19 Public Education Campaign and Vaccine Uptake: Campaign Effectiveness Evaluation.

Over 1 million people in the United States have died of COVID-19. In response to this public health crisis, the US Department of Health and Human Services launched the We Can Do This public education campaign in April 2021 to increase vaccine confidence. The campaign uses a mix of digital, television, print, radio, and out-of-home channels to reach target audiences. However, the impact of this campaign on vaccine uptake has not yet been assessed. We aimed to address this gap by assessing the association between the We Can Do This COVID-19 public education campaign's digital impressions and the likelihood of first-dose COVID-19 vaccination among US adults. A nationally representative sample of 3642 adults recruited from a US probability panel was surveyed over 3 waves (wave 1: January to February 2021; wave 2: May to June 2021; and wave 3: September to November 2021) regarding COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine confidence, and sociodemographics. Survey data were merged with weekly paid digital campaign impressions delivered to each respondent's media market (designated market area [DMA]) during that period. The unit of analysis was the survey respondent-broadcast week, with respondents nested by DMA. Data were analyzed using a multilevel logit model with varying intercepts by DMA and time-fixed effects. The We Can Do This digital campaign was successful in encouraging first-dose COVID-19 vaccination. The findings were robust to multiple modeling specifications, with the independent effect of the change in the campaign's digital dose remaining practically unchanged across all models. Increases in DMA-level paid digital campaign impressions in a given week from -30,000 to 30,000 increased the likelihood of first-dose COVID-19 vaccination by 125%. Results from this study provide initial evidence of the We Can Do This campaign's digital impact on vaccine uptake. The size and length of the Department of Health and Human Services We Can Do This public education campaign make it uniquely situated to examine the impact of a digital campaign on COVID-19 vaccination, which may help inform future vaccine communication efforts and broader public education efforts. These findings suggest that campaign digital dose is positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake among US adults; future research assessing campaign impact on reduced COVID-19-attributed morbidity and mortality and other benefits is recommended. This study indicates that digital channels have played an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Digital outreach may be integral in addressing future pandemics and could even play a role in addressing nonpandemic public health crises.

MP22-08 PREDICTORS OF TRAVEL DISTANCE FOR RADICAL CYSTECTOMY IN FLORIDA: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACCESS TO CARE

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP22-08 PREDICTORS OF TRAVEL DISTANCE FOR RADICAL CYSTECTOMY IN FLORIDA: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACCESS TO CARE Jared Schommer, Shalmali Borkar, Emily Brennan, Andrew Zganjar, Dorin Colibaseanu, Aaron Spaulding, and Timothy Lyon Jared SchommerJared Schommer More articles by this author , Shalmali BorkarShalmali Borkar More articles by this author , Emily BrennanEmily Brennan More articles by this author , Andrew ZganjarAndrew Zganjar More articles by this author , Dorin ColibaseanuDorin Colibaseanu More articles by this author , Aaron SpauldingAaron Spaulding More articles by this author , and Timothy LyonTimothy Lyon More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003247.08AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Travel distance to a center performing radical cystectomy (RC) is a well-established risk factor for impaired access to care and care fragmentation. However, the characteristics associated with increased travel for RC remain incompletely defined but are needed to inform efforts to bridge these gaps in care. The objective of this study was to assess features associated with travel distance for RC in a statewide dataset. METHODS: The Florida Inpatient Discharge Database was used to identify RC patients from 2013-2019. Travel distance was estimated using zip code centroids and modeled as < 25 miles, 25-50 miles, or > 50 miles. The primary outcome was travel >50 miles for RC. Secondary outcomes included inpatient mortality, discharge to a non-home facility, inpatient complications, and characteristics of hospitals that were bypassed by those traveling. U.S. County Health Rankings were included as model covariates and analyzed by tertile. Mixed effects logistic regression models accounting for clustering within hospitals were utilized. RESULTS: We identified 4209 patients, of whom 2284 (54%) traveled <25 miles, 654 (16%) traveled 25-50 miles, and 1271 (30%) traveled >50 miles. Travel distance >50 miles was associated with treatment at a high-volume center and significantly lower risks of inpatient mortality, non-home discharge, and postoperative complications (all P<0.02). Bypassed hospitals were less likely to be teaching facilities (56% vs. 96%, P<0.001) and more likely to perform ≤5 RC/year (75% vs. 25%, P<0.001). Following multivariable adjustment, patients who traveled >50 miles were significantly younger (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-1.00), less likely to be Hispanic/Latino (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.23-0.51), and more likely to reside in a county with the lowest health behavior ranking (OR 6.48, 95% 3.81-11.2) and lowest social economic ranking (OR 7.63, 95% CI 5.30-11.1) compared to those who traveled <25 miles (all P<0.01). Patients who traveled >50 miles primarily lived in central, southeast, or southwest Florida. CONCLUSIONS: In Florida, digital outreach aimed to improve care coordination for RC patients would be best targeted in counties with low health behavior and social economic rankings in central and southern Florida. Further work is needed to understand why Hispanic/Latino patients were least likely to travel outside of their local community for RC. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e299 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Jared Schommer More articles by this author Shalmali Borkar More articles by this author Emily Brennan More articles by this author Andrew Zganjar More articles by this author Dorin Colibaseanu More articles by this author Aaron Spaulding More articles by this author Timothy Lyon More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

DNA isolation at a distance: Undergraduate experiential learning to create a virtual elementary outreach program.

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the realities of science education, and the move to remote learning has made laboratory instruction particularly challenging. Extensive efforts have been made to design virtual labs,1, 2 including efforts to create at-home wet lab experiments.3 In addition to remote wet labs, we experienced an additional challenge: continuing our elementary outreach program. Each year we host a STEM outreach for several hundred local students. Undergraduates help guide elementary students through an activity isolating their own DNA from cheek cells. To address the need for remote labs and to continue our elementary outreach program, we united the two in a virtual experiential learning approach. Undergraduate students, faculty, and instructional design staff worked collaboratively to create an interactive video of DNA isolation and a YouTube channel, SciKids Network, to share the digital content. Experiential outreach opportunities improve academic performance and STEM enthusiasm in both elementary students4, 5 and their undergraduate mentors.6, 7 With the suspension of our outreach program, we sought to continue this valuable experience through a virtual format. Working collaboratively, undergraduate students adapted the lab-based DNA isolation protocol to a version that could be easily performed at home. They converted metric units to US customary units, and identified reagents and equipment commonly available in a kitchen. Students learned how to trouble-shoot as they independently iterated through the protocol. After finalizing the at-home method (Figure 1a), students filmed themselves performing the protocol using smartphones or other devices. They provided age-appropriate commentary and instructions for their elementary audience. Student film clips were edited together into a single, cohesive video for the elementary audience. We used Adobe Premiere and Adobe Illustrator to create the final video, adding visual and auditory aids to improve the clarity of instructions and engagement. Three major goals for the outreach video were to: (1) make science fun and accessible, (2) teach the concept of DNA through a hands-on activity, and (3) create an inclusive experience for elementary students. By compiling many students' clips, we sought to celebrate diversity and show elementary students that everyone can be a scientist (Figure 1b). Studies have demonstrated that early intervention in elementary students' perception of scientists can increase enthusiasm and participation in STEM, particularly for underrepresented groups.8 Our pre-pandemic outreach program was geographically limited to local schools, and the move to a virtual format created the opportunity to reach a broader audience. To share the video, we developed a new YouTube channel, SciKids Network (Figure 1c, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU23sXeFXVm98ScDcXRAmbA), hosted by our institution. We will continue to create biology content for the channel, as well as broaden the scope to other STEM fields. While remote learning has been challenging, it stimulated us to develop a digital outreach platform that connects with a larger audience, offers more equitable access to learning opportunities, and is primed for future growth of content to promote STEM literacy. We would like to thank the students who created the video content: Pablo Reina-Gonzalez, Emnet Sisay, and Shelby McVey. We would like to thank our instructional designer, Sacharja Cunningham for his support with software and the channel creation and our graphic designer, Brad Lewthwaite for his logo designs for SciKids network, as well as Hamilton College LITS and Communications departments. Our project was supported by the Social Innovation and Transformational Leadership Grant from the Hamilton College Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center and by the National Science Foundation: grant MCB-1925546.

Measuring KVK-led Fisheries Extension Efforts in Haryana and Punjab: Insights and Interventions

KVKs have proved to be dynamic agents of agricultural development but their role and potential contribution for fisheries development is less known. This study, conducted in 2023, quantifies fisheries extension efforts of all 22 KVKs in Punjab and 19 KVKs in Haryana. The study relied on secondary data sourced from annual reports of ATARI Ludhiana, ATARI-Jodhpur, ICAR-KVK portal, individual KVK websites as well as primary data collected from KVK-SMS in all districts using a structured online survey, besides field visits to few KVKs. A novel methodology, the KVK-Fisheries Extension Intensity Index (FEII) consisting of 5 dimensions (human resource, infrastructure, budget, fisheries extension activities, and digital outreach), was used to quantify the KVKs’ extension effort. The average FEI scores were 33 per cent for Haryana KVKs and 36 per cent for Punjab KVKs with none of the 41 KVKs having high FEI (&gt;66%), clearly indicating inadequate attention to fisheries by KVKs. Nearly two-thirds of KVKs in Punjab (68%) and in Haryana (58%) had moderate FEI scores. The absence of fisheries SMS and fisheries infrastructure in all, but 5 KVKs in the two states were primary reasons for poor extension effort which needs speedy redressal.

The Framing Effect of Digital Textual Messages on Uptake Rates of Medical Checkups: Field Study.

Health care authorities often use text messages to enhance compliance with medical recommendations. The effectiveness of different message framings has been studied extensively over the past 3 decades. Recently, health care providers have begun using digital media platforms to disseminate health-related messages. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of some of the most widely used message framings on the uptake rates of medical checkups. This study used a large-scale digital outreach campaign conducted by Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) during 2020-2021, involving a total of 113,048 participants. MHS members aged 50-74 years were invited to take their recommended medical actions from the following list: human papillomavirus (HPV), mammography, abdominal aortic aneurysm, fecal occult blood test (FOBT), and pneumococcal vaccination. Each member was randomly assigned to receive 1 of 6 message framings: control (neutrally framed; n=20,959, 18.5%), gains (benefits of compliance; n=20,393, 18%), losses (negative consequences of noncompliance; n=15,165, 13.4%), recommendation (a recommendation by an authoritative figure, in this context by a physician; n=20,584, 18.2%), implementation intentions (linking potential outcomes to future reactions; n=20,701, 18.3%), and empowerment (emphasizing personal responsibility for maintaining good health; n=15,246, 13.5%). The time frames for measuring a successful intervention were 14 days for scheduling screenings (ie, HPV, mammography, or abdominal aortic aneurysm), 30 days for performing the FOBT, and 60 days for receiving pneumococcal vaccination. We also examined the effectiveness of media channels (text message or email) on uptake rates and whether the subject-line length is correlated with message-opening rates. No significant effect of message framing on uptake rates of medical checkups was observed. The rates of appointments for screening ranged from 12.9% to 14.1% across treatments. Based on a chi-square test, there was no evidence to reject the null hypothesis that these compliance rates are independent of the treatments (P=.35). The uptake rates for the FOBT and pneumococcal vaccination ranged from 23.3% to 23.8% across treatments, and we could not reject the hypothesis that they are independent of the treatments (P=.88). We also found that emails are more effective than text messages (P<.001) and that the subject-line length is negatively correlated with message-opening rates. No evidence was found for an effect of the 5 message framings on uptake rates of medical checkups. To enhance compliance rates, public health officials may consider alternative framings. Furthermore, media channels and the subject-line length should be given careful consideration in the planning stages of health care campaigns. AEA RCT Registry AEARCTR-0006317; https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/6317/history/201365.

Impact of Digital Literacy Training on Outcomes for People With Serious Mental Illness in Community and Inpatient Settings.

The authors explored whether a digital literacy program, Digital Outreach for Obtaining Resources and Skills (DOORS), could improve self-reported functional skills and clinical outcomes among people with serious mental illness. The 8-week program was offered to participants receiving treatment in community mental health centers (N=113) and an inpatient psychiatric unit (N=74). Pre- and postintervention self-report surveys were collected. Descriptive statistics and two-tailed t tests were used for analysis. For patients treated in a community center, improvements were observed in 27 of the 29 self-reported functional skills that measured digital literacy. Changes in seven of these skills were statistically significant. Although these participants reported larger improvements in clinical outcomes than did inpatient participants, no statistically significant changes in symptoms were seen in either setting. Digital skills training is necessary to increase access to care through technology. DOORS can improve self-reported digital literacy, but further research is necessary to determine its immediate impact on symptoms.