Effective Partnerships Research Articles

A healthy state? Geopolitics, health, and safety: A keynote presentation for the European Conference of Law Enforcement and Public Health

Law enforcement and public health agencies operate in the context of their national government policies and resources. But improving and protecting health and community safety are made more difficult by four dark geopolitical forces which have been accelerating in recent years. Neoliberalism is driving governments to pursue low tax, low regulation small-state policies and aiding the expansion of uncontrolled globalization and colonialization of health-damaging manufacturing and services by multinational companies. The “Sovereign individuals,” first described in 1997, are the super-rich who have mastery over information technologies to avoid taxes and hide their wealth from governments. The vast offshoring of wealth has led to increasing inequalities in wealth and health, between rich and poor, further adding to civil distrust and unrest. Loss of revenues prevents government funding of health, welfare, and public protection whilst creating greater need for it. To explain the increasing poverty and harshness of life for the masses, there has been a rebirth and rise of populism. This has accelerated political corruption, created culture wars, fomented distrust of others, and added to global political instability. The information revolution has influenced all of these: it has created its own dark geopolitical force through the explosion of social media and industrial disinformation undermining individual critical thinking and democratic processes. Law enforcement and public health agencies face the consequences of these dark forces in their daily work, but they also need to understand more and develop more effective partnership responses to counter the worst excesses of the new geopolitical realities.

Parenting and Learner Support in Rural South African Schools: Home Involvement as a Conduit for Strengthening Home-School Partnership

For the delivery of effective and quality education, active parent participation regarding learning support both in schools and at home is crucial. The study, hinged on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model sought to analyse School Management Teams (SMTs) and parents’ views on and interpretations of parental school involvement. Interviews were used to collect data from fifteen (15) purposively selected participants from three Junior Secondary Schools in the OR Tambo Coastal District in the Eastern Cape Province. The data was analysed using Atlas. ti and presented thematically and through network diagrams. The findings revealed that while parents were valued stakeholders in schools, there was a lack of viable partnerships between parents and schools. It emerged that effective home-school partnership was hindered by communication challenges as most parents were illiterate, hence children received minimal learning support from home. The low socio-economic status of the parents drove them towards tilling their land to provide food rather than actively participating in school activities. It was concluded that while parents had a clear and consistent understanding of parental involvement in school activities, the high poverty diminished their motivation for school involvement. Recommendations include the need for the Department of Education to foresee that school governing bodies ensure collaboration between homes and schools. Also, there should be intervention programs to enhance active parental participation in schools. This study adds to the existing literature on inclusive education in South African schools. Keywords: Effective Education, Quality Education, Parent Participation, Team Spirit, Learner Performance.

Exploring hybrid security strategies in Ghana: State and private sector partnerships

ABSTRACT Mounting security challenges in the Global South provoke scholarly discussions on multi-actor and multi-dimensional interventions, especially the role of private security organisations. Yet, while broadly revealing the growing influence of private security firms and/or anecdotes of periodic private-public security collaborations in contemporary security provision in developing countries, the related literature offers little discussion about the potential for sustained systemic partnerships between public and private security organisations to tackle contemporary security challenges. Contributing to the broader discourse on hybrid governance, this research examines the potential of private-public security operational collaborations and how they could address contemporary security dilemmas in Ghana. The article draws on semi-structured interviews with actors from private and public security sectors to demonstrate the potential of effective private-public security partnerships in the areas of intelligence gathering and logistical (re)enforcement; community education and operations; and surveillance. The data suggest that while private and public securities operate under different structures, codes, and conditions, the three areas present real possibilities for a hybrid security context, which could significantly reduce crime and general security concerns in the country.

Wildfire management and evacuation in indigenous communities in Canada and the United States: A scoping review

Indigenous people and communities are disproportionately affected by wildfire and the accompanying smoke, motivating calls for revitalization, integration, and greater engagement with Indigenous people regarding fire knowledges and practices. We conducted a scoping review of literature on wildfire management and evacuation in Canada and the United States to understand impacts on Indigenous communities, and to inform ways that Indigenous communities can be more involved in decision-making in these areas. The literature reviewed suggests that, despite progress, there are still a range of barriers that leave little scope for Indigenous participation in shaping wildfire management on their territories. The literature also illustrates that the evacuation process can be traumatic and, at times, more harmful than the risk posed by the wildfire itself. However, the challenge is deeper than government agencies and external support organizations needing to improve their acceptance and utilization of Indigenous experiences and knowledges, identify opportunities for effective partnerships between government and Indigenous communities and organizations, and provide adequate funding and resources. More so, the challenge relates to the need to make space for Indigenous people's self-determination, with more agency and control over key aspects of wildfire management and evacuation. Some of the most promising examples from the literature were situations in which Indigenous communities took initiative on their own, had more control over decisions, or were otherwise enabled to express their collective agency in both wildfire management and evacuation. The pursuit of more integrative and holistic approaches in wildfire management generally will strengthen Indigenous community sovereignty, capacity, and community resilience.

Power dynamics and resource dependence: NGO‐government collaboration in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

AbstractThis study examines the collaboration between non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) and the government in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to shed light on their dynamics and fill the existing gaps in the literature. Focusing on financial dependence, legitimization, and other motivating factors, this study explores the motivations behind NGO–government collaboration and their practical implications. The utilization of a two‐stage purposive sampling method and conducting interviews with executive directors allowed for a rich and nuanced understanding of the motivations, challenges, and dynamics of NGO‐government collaboration in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It also uncovers factors such as access to resources, networks, advocacy efforts, and grants and supports that shape collaborative relationships. These findings contribute to the understanding of the relationship between NGOs and the government and provide insights for policymakers and practitioners to foster effective and sustainable partnerships. This study contributes to the existing literature on NGO‐government collaboration and offers valuable implications for future research and policy considerations.

Enablers and barriers for implementation of the outpatient intravenous diuretic treatment across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Abstract Introduction The burden of heart failure is underestimated, and it has a long average inpatient stay. Many healthcare institutions have trialled the outpatient administration of intravenous diuretics, which demonstrated a reduction in hospitalisation, however the reasons for not implementing this service model more widely remain unknown. Aim The aim was to explore the qualitative views on the enablers and barriers for implementation of an outpatient intravenous diuretic service across NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Methods This study was qualitative in design and participants were recruited by convenience sampling from three professional groups: doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Inclusion criteria stipulated at least 10 years of professional practice and current experience within cardiology. We aimed to recruit 12 participants as this is the minimal number needed to deliver saturation of ideas.1 Data was gathered through semi-structured, individual interviews, which were conducted via videoconferencing platform, Microsoft Teams. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken using Braun and Clarke’s six phases, via the NVivo software.2 Approval from the University of Strathclyde Ethics Committee was received. Results Analysis of transcripts generated 6 main themes: system performance (staffing levels, training, inpatient stay and budgetary control, utilisation of healthcare); person factors (experience and satisfaction, physical factors, collaboration, attitude and person-centred care); treatment – procedure (practicalities, governance, referral, treatment effectiveness); environment and technology (hospital environment, designated area, transport); external factors (impact of the pandemic, support from management, vision and innovation); alternative location. Barriers and enablers were interdependent, and some themes featured both, depending on the context. The overall perspective of the service was positive due the impact on system performance and reduction of inpatient stay as well as improved wellbeing of patients related to favourable person factors. Themes, which represented barriers were limited staffing levels and unavailability of a designated area. Discussion/Conclusion Although certain themes identified through this research were expected, they reemphasise the common underpinning interactions within dynamic healthcare systems. Described themes may form an improvement framework, which could be transferrable to other therapeutic areas and aid patient care beyond cardiology. The proposed outpatient diuretic service has potential for development and may bridge a gap between current and future treatment strategies, which supports priorities related to transforming patient care during post-Covid recovery. Barriers and enablers are interdependent and unlikely to be resolved by a single intervention. It was recognized that a whole system approach with the focus on disease prevention as well as wider collaboration are required to broaden the range of available options. It may be achieved by creating more effective partnerships between healthcare settings. The study highlighted the importance of promoting innovation, as the results may narrow the evidence gap in the formation of future care pathways. Data emerging from research may empower healthcare providers to apply innovation to deliver person-centred care in accordance with national priorities. Limitations included small study sample, however the sampling strategy allowed diversity of opinions. Analysis continued until last interview to form the framework, which was not limited by pre-existing models.

Delivery of a community-based peer mentorship program for people with spinal cord injury at a rehabilitation center

IntroductionCommunity-based spinal cord injury (SCI) organizations deliver peer mentorship programs in rehabilitation settings. Little is known on how these programs are delivered through the collaboration between community-based SCI organizations and rehabilitation institutions. This study aimed to identify barriers, facilitators, and collaboration processes within a SCI peer mentorship program provided by a community-based organization at a rehabilitation center.MethodsA qualitative case study design was applied. Seven participants were recruited, including two mentees, two mentors, one program director of the community-based SCI organization, and two healthcare professionals of the rehabilitation center. Each participant completed a one-on-one interview. Data were analyzed inductively and deductively based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).ResultsTen factors were identified to influence the delivery of the peer mentorship program, including nine CFIR constructs. Successful delivery of the program required strong, collaborative inter-professional relationships between health professionals and community organizational staff (e.g., peer mentors) as facilitators; whereas potential cost, minimal patient needs, and limited mentor resources were found to be barriers. Engaging health professionals by initiating communications, reflecting and evaluating the program collectively with health professionals were important collaboration processes for the community-based organization to maintain effective partnership with the rehabilitation center.DiscussionThe collaboration processes and strategies to addressing/leveraging the barriers and facilitators may inform evidence-based practice to establish and optimize the delivery of SCI peer mentorship programs in various rehabilitation settings.

Innovation in Smart Marketing: The Role of Technopreneurs in Driving Educational Improvement

This study explores the influence of marketing strategies, technology utilization, inclusive education policies, and collaboration with the industry sector on the positive image of educational institutions. Employing the SmartPLS approach and statistical analysis, the findings indicate that responsive marketing strategies, effective technology utilization, inclusive policies, and partnerships with the industry sector significantly impact the institution's image in education. In this research, it was found that market-responsive marketing strategies significantly affect the positive institutional image (T-statistics: 13.197), followed by technology utilization playing a crucial role in building a positive image (T-statistics: 11.735). Inclusive education policies and collaboration with the industry sector also have a significant impact on enhancing the institution's image (Inclusive Education Policy - Positive Image, T-statistics: 5.928; Collaboration with Industry Sector - Positive Image, T-statistics: 8.834). The research results affirm the importance of implementing adaptive marketing strategies and advanced technology in constructing a positive image of educational institutions in the eyes of the public. By strengthening these factors, educational institutions have the opportunity to meet stakeholders' expectations regarding the provided educational services. This study contributes significantly to understanding the factors influencing the reputation of educational institutions and provides strategic guidance for developing the educational institution's image towards a more positive and ad aptive direction.

Setting Industry Standards for Patient Engagement, Partnership, Allyship and Care: The Patient Vision Project

Background: Patient perspectives have shifted towards greater expectations of autonomy and personalized care, leading to growing demands for partnerships between patients, healthcare providers (HCPs), and industry. Such collaborations provide a mechanism to understand the unique needs of patient communities, which is particularly important for rare diseases, such as hereditary hemolytic anemias (HHAs). The Patient Vision Project (initiated and sponsored by Agios Pharmaceuticals) was launched in November 2021, aiming to establish a set of principles for defining industry standards in engagement with multiple stakeholders, including (but not limited to) HCPs, caregivers and patients with HHA. Methods: The Project consisted of 4 phases: In-depth discovery (company-wide survey, and one-to-one interviews with patient advocates, HCPs and company leaders), with the goal to understand perspectives on patient-centricity and areas of strength and opportunity to optimize patient engagementThematic analysis of discovery findings and recommendations to align on company commitment to develop a patient engagement model1-Day interactive workshop (patients, HCPs, HHA experts and Agios representatives) for feedback on modelDevelopment of an implementation plan The workshop included 31 participants (patients, HCPs, HHA experts and Agios representatives) divided into breakout groups to define traits of a patient ally, identify universal ally behaviors, discuss ways to support core areas for collaboration and commitment to patients, and provide input to industry on patient needs and expectations (Figure). Results: During the discovery phase, 116 of 152 (76%) Agios respondents completed the survey, and 7 Agios leaders and 8 HHA experts (HCPs, patients, and patient advocates) were interviewed. Responses to questions pertaining to patient-centricity emphasized patient partnership/prioritization, with 42% of the 152 responses favoring ongoing patient engagement to understand their needs, transparent communication, and identification of collaboration opportunities. On questions related to company engagement with patients, 93% felt connected to patients because of their work, 86% felt they added value, and 86% felt the company had a clear approach for patient engagement. Interviewees emphasized the importance for company leadership to prioritize patient-centricity, as well as the value of hearing the patient voice and meeting their needs, while being transparently connected to their lives, experiences, and priorities. Findings from the discovery phase led to the concept of a “patient ally”, along with 4 universal behaviors to define allyship: (1) Listening actively and openly; (2) Collaborating and communicating; (3) Fostering mutual respect and trust; (4) Honoring individuality while maintaining perspective. 3 core areas for demonstrating collaboration and commitment were also defined: (1) Providing credible education; (2) Facilitating community connection; and (3) Delivering support. Implementation of key learnings consisted of: Establishing an internal culture based on the patient ally mindsetCreating a cross-functional working group to establish meaningful strategies and aligned approaches based on actionable insights from patients and HCPsFounding a “Red Cell Revolution™” group of patients, caregivers and HCPs across three HHA indications (PK deficiency, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease) and Agios representatives to define and collaborate on shared issues within the HHA communityMeasurement of patient engagement activities to monitor the intended positive impact on the patient community Conclusion: Inception of the Patient Vision Project stemmed from a growing awareness of the importance of the patient voice-understanding how patients want to be engaged-and a vision to create a transparent mechanism that supports industry partnerships with patients to improve the drug development process. Evaluating patient engagement from industry, HCPs, and patient perspectives enabled the strategic alignment and shaping of a vision for effective partnership. In addition to providing a path forward to the participants of the Project, this initiative challenges industry standards and provides a blueprint to other companies with a common goal of understanding patient needs to ultimately reduce disease burden and improve patient outcomes.

The global challenges of surgical congenital anomalies: Evidence, models, and lessons

The treatment of congenital anomalies (structural birth defects) is common to all the surgical sub-specialties dealing with children. Globally more than 90 % of all babies born with a congenital anomaly are born in middle-and-low-income countries where there is often limited access to needed surgical care. Challenges include lacks of early identification, registry and surveillance systems, missing referral pathways, shortage of trained surgical expertise and insufficient surgical infrastructure. Poverty, transportation logistics, financial constraints and social stigma are also serious barriers for families. There is, however, growing recognition of the priority to expand services, encouraged by the World Health Organization and other global players, and examples of successful models of care. Registry programs are growing, especially in Latin America. The Ponseti method of clubfoot care has been revolutionary on a global scale. The role of not-for-profit non-governmental-organizations has been instrumental in fundraising, training and logistical support as exemplified in the care of oro-facial clefts. Specialized “niche” hospitals are providing needed sub-specialist expertise. The way forward includes the need for effective partnerships, innovative methods to distribute care out from referral hospitals into the districts and the development of national plans embedded in national health policy.

Strengthening breast cancer screening program through health education of women and capacity building of primary healthcare providers.

Globally and in India, breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy. India saw 178,361 new cases and 90,000 deaths in 2020. Timely detection is vital, highlighting the importance of Breast Self-Examination (BSE), especially in low-income settings. Strengthening BSE in awareness and screening efforts is urgent. Despite awareness, practical application lags due to women's reluctance. Effective execution demands partnerships, a multi-sectoral strategy, and training grassroots workers. To address these challenges, the present study aims to strengthen the breast cancer screening program using BSE strategy and adopting a referral mechanism for the diagnosis and treatment of suspect cases. A community-based study occurred in specific districts of Rajasthan (2017-2022), enhancing breast cancer screening for women aged 30-65. It involved healthcare providers and local women, utilizing tools like the MT-DM-GP6620 Breast Inspection Model, educational booklets, and semi-structured schedules. The strategy encompassed knowledge assessment, capacity building for healthcare providers, BSE training, increasing women's breast cancer awareness, suspect case referrals, and phone-based follow-up. Our study encompassed 157,225 women aged 30-65 in Jodhpur, Jalore, and Pali districts. Initial breast self-examination (BSE) awareness was below 1%. BSE training reached 218,978 women using booklets and demonstrations, with 72% aged 30-65 and the rest 15-30. Follow-ups reinforced BSE, leading to 745 identified suspect breast cancer cases, mostly due to painless lumps (332 cases). Capacity-building workshops involving 824 medical and paramedical staff strengthened early breast cancer detection in Jodhpur and Jalore, in collaboration with the district health department. The study model's success suggests its applicability in other Rajasthan districts, Indian states, and global breast cancer prevention programs. While positive outcomes were evident, challenges related to culture, cost, and benefits warrant consideration. The approach prioritized early detection through community engagement, reducing patient and government burdens. Community involvement and healthcare engagement were pivotal, with breast self-examination proving effective for enhancing awareness and early detection. Promoting BSE education can significantly enhance breast cancer awareness and early detection.

Development and validation of a Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes-specific patient-reported experience measure e-questionnaire: Diabetes reported experience measures (DREMS)

IntroductionSuccessful diabetes management is associated with an effective partnership between People with Diabetes (PwD) and healthcare professionals. Though possible to measure using Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs), none are specific to Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes (T1D/T2D) and validated in French. Thus, we developed and validated the DREMS (Diabetes Reported Experience MeasureS) e-questionnaire. MethodologyDREMS is comprised of 18 items evaluating 5 different factors. Validation for use by PwT1D and PwT2D (recruited online) was performed using: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA); Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Cronbach's Alpha. Test-retest reliability was evaluated through Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) in a subsample. ResultsDREMS was tested by 2,513 respondents, including 942 PwT1D and 1,571 PwT2D. For both groups, EFA results indicated 18 items loaded substantially onto 5 clear factors. CFA showed all coefficients were significant in their respective factors. Goodness-of-fit, assessed using the Comparative Fit Index was >0.90 and by the RMSEA was <0.080. Cronbach's α for the entire DREMS e-questionnaire was ≥0.90. ICC was 0.87 for PwT1D (n = 136) and 0.74 for PwT2D (n = 169). InnovationDREMS is the first validated French-language diabetes-specific PREM for both PwT1D and PwT2D and can be useful to evaluate and improve health care management and patient health.

Mechanisms of Intersectoral Collaboration in the Health System: A Scoping Review.

The implementation of health interventions requires the collaboration of various sectors outside health due to the multidimensional nature of healthcare. Building effective partnerships demands the use of intersectoral mechanisms that facilitate the leadership and implementation of these programs. In this review, the mechanisms of intersectoral collaboration (ISC) and their results were identified. This scoping review was conducted in 2020. Using relevant keywords, all documents related to ISC in the health system were identified by searching four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science), Google, and Google scholar search engines. In the initial search, 2911 documents were extracted. Based on the selection criteria 52 documents were selected for content analysis. Five areas of ISC were identified, including funding (collection, pooling, and distribution of funds), governance and leadership (political commitment, rules and regulations, control and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement), structural mechanisms (interorganizational, government-based, and program-based structures), process tools (information tools, support tools, and resource and service sharing), and models and frameworks (general, national, and program-specific models). An intersectoral framework or model be developed that considers the financial, structural, and leadership aspects as well as the necessary process tools required for each program. Moreover, it should be considered communication and human resources empowerment in each intervention.

Assessing parents’ satisfaction with their parental role for a more effective partnerships between families and schools

This study is framed within the field of family education family-school-community partnerships considering ways by which schools might help parents to be better involved in their children’s education; one of this ways is performing parenting programmes within the school in areas of interest for parents. The objective is to identify parents’ educational needs regarding their role with small children to help them to answer those needs by means of a parenting programme. Accordingly, the study has been organized in two phases: the first one is devoted to assess and identify parental needs and the second one to describe and evaluate a parenting programme. Both qualitative and quantitative procedures to gather information have been used: parents’ questionnaires, group dynamics with parents and semi-structured interviews. The sample is composed of 54 Spanish rural and urban parents with small children. Results in the assessment phase indicate that although most parents are satisfied with their parental role, many have doubts about how to solve problems and help their children to control their behaviour better. The positive results of the parenting programme in the second phase point out the convenience to design, perform and evaluate educational strategies for empowering parents while upbringing their children.

Types of parents and school strategies aimed at the creation of effective partnerships

In order to expand parental participation in the education of their children, teachers should be equipped with some basic and possibly new skills for communication and cooperation purposes. Schools host a very diverse population of pupils, and the purpose of the present study was therefore to attain a better understanding of what various groups of parents expect of education and the school in order to develop a framework for school strategies to involve different types of parents. The research included a review of the literature, consultation with three expert panels, a web survey of 500 school leaders, an interactive focus group, 20 case studies to identify promising practices and the identification of strategies to expand parental participation. The results showed parents in ‘white’ schools to support teachers during activities (parents as supporters). Non-minority parents and certainly those from higher social milieus were accustomed to having a say in school matters (parents as politicians). In schools with many disadvantaged pupils, in contrast, little or no attention was paid to having parents have a say in school matters. A bottleneck in ‘white’ schools was that parents do not have time to participate due to their work (career parents). A bottleneck in ‘black’ schools is that parents do not perceive themselves as qualified to participate (absentee parents). It is further shown that strategies which parallel the different types of parents can be identified for school teams to realize effective partnership relations.

Parent involvement in teacher education in South Africa

Parent involvement in South African schools has been primarily limited to financing schools and parent volunteering. Legislation extended the right to parents and the community to participate in the school’s governing structures. This creates a framework for formal parent involvement but home-school partnerships should not be limited to this practice. A comprehensive model of partnership can provide a broader view of family, community and school relations. In order to prepare teachers to implement effective school, family and community partnerships, a Certificate in Parent Involvement was introduced at the University of South Africa through distance education. The curriculum is designed around the Epstein model of family, community and school partnerships. A brief review is given of the theory underlying the Epstein model and the typology comprising six types of parent and community involvement. A qualitative inquiry explored the implementation of this model in a small sample of schools. A document analysis was made of assignments written by teachers as part of their course work. Rich data (personal accounts corroborated by supporting material) was elicited by the assignment which required teachers to describe the implementation of one type of parent involvement in their school. Findings show how teachers adapted the model in pre-primary, primary and high schools in diverse communities in South Africa. Teachers created family friendly environments for parent encounters; used various strategies to communicate with the home; employed an expanded view of parent and community; introduced innovative volunteering; and illustrated positive results for teachers, learners and parents.

School – family relations: Greek parents’ perceptions of parental involvement

While the value of the school-family partnership is universally accepted, it is not always easy to promote effective parent-teacher partnership. A central question that emerges is how schools can ensure that they develop their home-school relationship in a way that acknowledges the needs and perspectives of children, parents and teachers and enhances parents’ participation in school activities. Our main assumption is that we can better understand school-family relations, by examining the beliefs held by both teachers and parents about their relationship. This study addressed Greek parents’ perceptions of teachers, as well as their own role and responsibilities, parental involvement activities and areas of cooperation with teachers. Analysis of 581 questionnaires to parents revealed that parents perceived distinctly separate roles between teachers and parents. Teachers were perceived as “experts” in academic domains, while parents were perceived as “guardians” of children’s social and emotional growth. Both teachers and parents’ role was to keep each other informed about children’s achievement in school and home setting respectively. Results of the study are discussed in terms of implications for initiatives to develop school-family relations in teacher training programmes.

Abstract 17200: PAD Raising Awareness in Sacred Environments “Praise”

Introduction: Atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease (PAD) leads to a great burden of cardiovascular and limb-related morbidity and mortality in African Americans (AA) compared to White Americans. Medical center partnerships with churches may be an effective method to improve PAD awareness and detection in the AA community. Hypotheses: We hypothesized that implementing a medical educational program in partnership with churches would increase PAD familiarity and identify participants with undiagnosed PAD. Aims: To determine (1) PAD familiarity before and after a one-time educational intervention and (2) the prevalence of PAD in older, church-going Nashville residents. Methods: Using a community-engaged research (CER) model, we partnered with 5 churches to enroll participants ≥ 50 years of age. Participants were given a 16-point pre- and post-educational program assessment to determine baseline and post-intervention PAD knowledge. Pre- and post-intervention scores were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing was used to screen for PAD (ABI &lt; 0.9). Results: We enrolled 120 participants (mean age [SD]: 64.67 [8.33] years, 74% women, 80% AA). The prevalence of PAD was 10.83%. Pre-intervention PAD awareness was low (mean score (MS): 10.89 [4.24]) and improved significantly post-intervention in all participants (MS: 13.88 [2.76; p=2 x 10 -12 ). Participants without PAD (ABI ≥ 0.9-1.39) (MS: 10.81 [4.28] vs. 13.91 [2.79]; p= p=4 x 10 -11 ) and with indeterminate status (ABI&gt;1.4) (MS [SD]: 10.00 [5.03] vs. 14.10 [1.73; p=0.01) showed significant improvement in PAD awareness pre vs post intervention. Participants with PAD (ABI &lt;0.9) (MS: 12.15 [3.26] vs. 13.46 [3.26; p=0.40) did not have significant improvement in their awareness scores. Conclusions: The PRAISE study demonstrates an effective CER partnership with churches as a method to increase PAD awareness and early detection of PAD, specifically among AAs.

Resilience of Cross-border Cooperation in the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion after the Pandemic: Bouncing In-between

ABSTRACT The article focuses on analyzing the impact of pandemic-induced border closures on cross-border integration within the Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa (ERN) encompassing parts of Germany, Czechia, and Poland. The restrictions on border crossings significantly disrupted the flow of people and goods across the ERN, affecting the daily lives of individuals residing on both sides (or all three sides) of the borders, particularly cross-border commuters. These individuals, referred to as borderlanders, found themselves disproportionately affected by the closures, with no representation to advocate for their interests. Consequently, the article highlights the key consequences of border closures and evaluates the initiatives undertaken by Euroregional stakeholders to enhance the resilience of cross-border cooperation within the ERN. In the concluding remarks, stakeholders involved in cross-border cooperation are urged to seize the opportunity and proactively advance their collaboration, as their interim unambiguous responses to the pandemic bounce in between advancing their cooperation and coming back to a pre-pandemic state. This can be achieved through the implementation of people-centric initiatives and a transition towards the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, facilitating a more effective and sustainable cross-border partnership.

No evidence to support the use of glycerol-oxalic acid mixtures delivered via paper towel for controlling Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) mites in the Southeast United States.

A significant amount of researcher and practitioner effort has focused on developing new chemical controls for the parasitic Varroa destructor mite in beekeeping. One outcome of that has been the development and testing of "glycerol-oxalic acid" mixtures to place in colonies for extended periods of time, an off-label use of the otherwise legal miticide oxalic acid. The majority of circulated work on this approach was led by practitioners and published in nonacademic journals, highlighting a lack of effective partnership between practitioners and scientists and a possible failure of the extension mandate in beekeeping in the United States. Here, we summarize the practitioner-led studies we could locate and partner with a commercial beekeeper in the Southeast of the United States to test the "shop towel-oxalic acid-glycerol" delivery system developed by those practitioners. Our study, using 129 commercial colonies between honey flows in 2017 split into 4 treatment groups, showed no effectiveness in reducing Varroa parasitism in colonies exposed to oxalic acid-glycerol shop towels. We highlight the discrepancy between our results and those circulated by practitioners, at least for the Southeast, and the failure of extension to support practitioners engaged in research.