Electronic Forum Research Articles

The Relationship Between Mental Health Status and Daily Step Count in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Aim This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the mental health status and daily step count of adult individuals. Methods The research was conducted between November 2023 and April 2024 with a descriptive cross-sectional design. The research population consisted of 386 individuals over the age of 18 who voluntarily filled out public electronic forums on online platforms. Data were collected with the socio-demographic characteristics diagnostic form consisting of 21 questions, the average number of steps in the last week, and the General Health Survey-28 (GHQ-28). Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, normality statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), t test, Kruskal Wallis variance analysis, Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance level was accepted as p < 0.05 Results GHQ-28 total score average was found to be 5.59 ± 6.52. 42.0% of the participants received a score of 5 or above on the GHQ-28 and were considered at risk for mental health. The individuals’ average weekly step count was mean=5269±3065 steps and 43% were basal-limited active. According to GHQ-28, the average weekly step count of individuals in the mental health risk group (4528.62 ±2892.31) was lower than those who were not at risk (5804.63 ±3081.67) (p < 0.05). According to step count categories, individuals who were basal-limited active (51.2%) and low active (39.4%) were found to be at higher risk for mental health than those who were slightly active (36.0%) and active-highly active (18.4%) (p < 0.05). A weak negative correlation was found between the average number of steps and the scores obtained from the GHQ-28 (r = -.187; p = 0.000). Conclusions It was determined that more than half (51.2%) of the individuals (42.0%) in the risk group in terms of mental health were sedentary, that is, basal-limited active (less than 2500-4999 steps). Key messages • Increasing awareness about the positive effects of individuals’ daily step counts on mental health can contribute positively to the promotion of health. • As part of policies aimed at enhancing mental health within society, implementations directed towards increasing daily step counts can contribute positively to the improvement of public health.

Protocol for the COVID-19 Wellbeing and Stress Study: a longitudinal study of parent distress, biological stress and child biopsychosocial development during the pandemic and beyond

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a unique impact on the mental health and well-being of pregnant individuals and parents of young children. However, the impact of COVID-19-related stress during pregnancy...

Fostering ethical reasoning in medical pharmacology through role‐playing and digital tools

IntroductionReflection on ethical behavior is undoubtedly one of the most important competencies required throughout a medical career, due to the series of dilemmas and difficult decisions that health professionals have to make when providing care to patients or communities, teaching other professionals, or conducting biomedical research. Given the complexity of the challenge, it is surprising that there is little literature about effective pedagogical strategies that enhance ethical reflection in medical students. The aim of this study is to evaluate new strategies for promoting ethical thinking and reflection, in a medical pharmacology course, using technologies that can be easily implemented in other courses and programs.MethodsTo promote ethical reflection, we developed a role‐playing game that was initially conducted face‐to‐face, but was quickly adapted to a digital environment, due to the changes in classroom interaction brought about by the COVID‐19 pandemic.The academic exercise was conducted in several steps:1) The course was divided into groups that were assigned an ethical dilemma or controversial situation in pharmacology. Examples of ethical dilemmas are equal access to expensive therapies, health disasters caused by drugs or toxic substances, research in humans without review by ethics committees, academic fraud in clinical or basic research studies.2) Each group had to generate a 10‐minute newscast, in which they presented the dilemma in the form of a report, showing the point of view of the various actors involved (through the performance of the group members).3) The newscast was shared through social networks with classmates, who reviewed the material asynchronously.4) each expository group prepared an integration activity using, in a free way, digital tools (virtual boards, surveys and interactive quizzes, electronic forums, museum applications displayed on the Internet, etc) to seek to generate a deeper discussion about the assigned topic, in the classmates of the course.5) the course mates and the teacher evaluated the quality of the elements of the activity by means of the mentimeter6) at the end of the semester, an electronic survey with Likert‐type questions was applied to evaluate the students' perception of the effectiveness of the activity and their learning in 24 ethical competencies relevant to the course.ResultsDuring the two years of the innovation, the majority of students reported that the feedback provided by the professor (96%), group discussions (89%), role‐playing (79%), and opportunities for personal reflection (71%) were the activities that contributed most to their learning of ethics in pharmacology. Most students (96%) reported that the activities were helpful to them in achieving the competencies of ethical reasoning and reflection. Assessment of each competency, described in table 1, demonstrated gains in all domains.ConclusionsThe use of interaction and discussion tools, individually or in teams, in the framework of a role‐playing strategy, is an effective method to promote students' analysis of an ethical dilemma in medicine. Opening spaces for ethical discussion, in the midst of traditionally technical courses, helps students reflect more on the importance of course content and curricula, and how their learning will be useful for making better decisions as professionals.

Survey-based Evaluation of the Use of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems in an Eye Hospital-Ophthalmologists' Perspective.

Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a medical imaging system for sharing, storage, retrieval, and access of medical images stored. Our study aimed to identify ophthalmologists' views on PACS, with the comparison between 3 platforms, namely electronic patient record (ePR), HEYEX (Heidelberg Engineering, Switzerland), and FORUM (Zeiss, US), following their implementation in an eye hospital for common ophthalmic investigations [visual field, optical coherence tomography (OCT) of retinal nerve fiber layer and macula, and fluorescein/indocyanine green angiography (FA/ICG)]. An online survey was distributed among ophthalmologists in a single center. Primary outcome included comparison of PACS with paper-based system. Secondary outcomes included pattern of use and comparison of different PACS platforms. Survey response rate was 28/37 (75.7%). Images were most commonly accessed through ePR (median: 80% of time, interquartile range: 50 to 90%).All systems scored highly in information display items (median scores ≥7.5 out of 10) and in reducing patient identification error in investigation filing and retrieval during consultation compared to paper (score ≥7.0). However, ePR was inferior to paper in "facilitating comparison with previous results" in all investigation types (scores 3.0 to 4.5). ePR scored significantly higher in all system quality items than HEYEX ( P < 0.001) and FORUM ( P < 0.022), except login response time ( P = 0.081). HEYEX scored significantly higher among vitreoretinaluveitis members (VRU) for information quality items for OCT macula and FA/ICG [VRU: 10.0 (8.0 to 10.0), non-VRU: 8.0 (6.75 to 9.25), P = 0.042]. Overall feedback for PACS among ophthalmologists was positive, with limitations of inefficiency in use of information, for example, comparison with previous results. Subspecialty played an important role in evaluating PACS.

Investigating the work–life experiences of nursing faculty in Canadian academic settings and the factors that influence their retention: protocol for a mixed-method study

IntroductionWhile all research-oriented faculty face the pressures of academia, female faculty in fields including science, engineering, medicine and nursing, are especially susceptible to burnout. Nursing is unique in that it...

Development and assessment of a nationwide, cross-discipline women faculty mentoring program

IntroductionProfessional health care associations present a unique opportunity for formal mentorship programs, with membership often spanning a variety of experiences, professional ranks, and institutions. However, scarce literature describes the role of professional associations in the development and assessment of mentoring programs. This paper describes development of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Women Faculty Special Interest Group (SIG) mentoring program and characterizes the impact of the program. MethodsThe task force collaboratively developed the mission, vision, and structure of the mentoring program, posted the program description on the SIG's electronic forum, and called for mentors and mentees via an online survey asking for matching preferences. The task force reviewed responses and designated matches. Participants were emailed match information and a guidance document. The program was assessed at three, six, and 12 months via electronic survey. ResultsThe program matched 43 mentors with 77 mentees, with each mentor assigned one to three mentees. At the three- and six-month assessments, 89% and 87% of respondents, respectively, indicated they had met with their mentor/mentee. At the 12-month assessment, 86% of mentor respondents and 80% of mentee respondents stated the mentoring program met their needs/expectations. Career goal development, work/life integration, and difficult work situations were the most frequently discussed topics. Most participants stated they would continue to serve as a mentor/mentee in a future cycle and recommend other faculty members participate. ConclusionsResults from three-, six-, and 12-month assessments indicated a positive impact of developing a nationwide, organizational, cross-discipline mentoring program.

The schemes of students' understanding through digital argumentation in online learning during pandemic COVID-19

The student conception needed to analyze problems and obtain effective solutions. It is also required to train students to think reflective and argumentative, so expressing student conception is necessary. This research aimed to describe the schemes of students' conception through digital arguments in online learning. This research was descriptive qualitative by uncovering students 'digital arguments and making schemes of students' understanding based on digital arguments presented in written discussions. Research Data were from electronic discussion forums, and unstructured interviews in biology and physics. The analysis results describe that digital argumentation can use to schemes students' conception.

WADUL-E AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF E-SERVICE IN THE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE PARADIGM

This study aims to determine how the application of the New Public Service concept to the WADUL-E Service (Aspiration and Electronic Complaints Forum) in Pacitan Regency. This study used a qualitative approach and the determination of informants using the purposive sampling technique. The results showed that the concept of the New Public Service was not fully applicable to the Pacitan WADUL-E Service, because the researchers did not find data related to the 6th indicator, which is serving not directing which contains the position of the leader here, not as the owner but as a public servant or public servant. However, the rest of the concept of the new public service is in accordance with the real situation in the Pacitan Wadule Service. Hence, it is necessary to have in-depth research to find out the leadership side in the service. Based this research, it can be conculed that it is one of the public innovation efforts created by the Pacitan Regency Government is to provide Complaint Services in the form of WADUL-E Services of Pacitan Regency which was formed and inaugurated on March 14, 2018. By utilizing this service, it is hoped that the aspirations and complaints of the Pacitan citizens are connected to regional government. &#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: E-Service, New Public Service, WADUL-E Pacitan

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ВИДЫ ИЗОБРЕТАТЕЛЬСКОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЙ ИНТЕЛЛИГЕНЦИИ

The present technical intelligentsia, engaged in industrial production, has a significant intellectual potential, which is realized in its inventive activity. There are two ways of implementing that: formal and informal. The formal path (the possibility of registering its inventions through patents and the formalization of intellectual property) is characterized in general by a trend towards a decrease in applications for industrial designs, as well as uneven submission of them from the regions. The most popular and actively used among representatives of the technical intelligentsia is the informal method, which makes it possible to prove oneself among like-minded people and discuss the complexities of the patenting and implementation, new industrial designs, as well as business ideas, startups, features of modern industrial and scientific and technological policies on electronic platforms and forums.

The Reality of Implementing of E-learning in Graduate Studies Programs from the Point of View of Postgraduate Students at King Saud University: واقع تطبيق التعلم الإلكتروني في برامج الدراسات العليا من وجهة نظر طالبات الدراسات العليا بجامعة الملك سعود

This study aims to recognize the reality of e-learning application in graduate study programs in the point of view of the girl students of the graduate study in King Saud University. The study has used the descriptive approach through the application of questionnaire that involved three points: using some e-learning tools which depend on the internet, the girl student's satisfaction for the application of the e-learning and its obstacles in the graduate study programs. And it was applied to a random sample from the graduate study girl students of the faculty of education that reached (220) girl students, 182 students responded for it. And after collecting the data and analyzing them by using repetition, percentages, arithmetic means and the study has reached many important results such as: The use of some e-learning means that depend on the internet. The study focused on satisfaction of the girl students for the application of e-learning, and the application obstacles. As well as ,it was applied on a random sample of the graduate study girl students in the faculty of education which had 220 girl students, there were 182 responded students and analyzing the data after collecting them using a number of statistical ways and the study has reached some important results: The e-learning means which depend on the internet that was applied in the graduate study programs of King Saud University in the sample's point of view and it came in the following order: The web net is the most used means of the electronic education and then the electronic emails, after that the scientific electronic forums. Finally, the blogs and the social networks such as: face book, twitter and YouTube. The study has found that the satisfaction of the sample persons for the application of the e-learning divided into two categories: (satisfied and unsatisfied).The study results have confirmed that the obstacles ranged from medium, small and zero. The weakness in the English Language was a medium obstacle, while the cost of the internet connection was high, the lack of the teachers who encourage to the use of the electronic learning, there is no interaction of the teachers during the use of electronic learning, and the lack of the teachers who are able to use the e-learning are small obstacles for the persons of the sample. This study has provided a number of suggested procedures recommendations which aim to the improvement of the e-learning in the graduate study programs, they included (suggested programs to develop the girl students in the field of electronic learning, suggested programs to develop the teachers in the field of electronic learning, Suggested programs to develop the e-learning planning in the university).

Abstract The effect of media and social media on security and reducing crime from the perspective of some high school students in Riyadh

The current study aimed to investigate the role of media and social media on security and reducing crime. This research used a descriptive mixed-methods approach, by using two instruments: a questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire was administrated on a survey sample of students (n = 390) and 12 students were interviewed qualitatively, which all are in high school in Riyadh. Results showed that the effect of media and social media on security and crime reduction was (M = 2.41 out of 3) in general and this is a large effect. The influence of media role in implementing security in its comprehensive concept was (M = 2.24 out of 3), which is a medium effect. The influence of social media on internal security (M = 2.32 out of 3), which is a medium effect. The influence of distributing security information in different media (M = 2.50 out of 3), which is a large effect. The influence of using social media in security media (M = 2.55 out of 5) which is a large effect. The influence of social media on media and in forming the general opinion (M = 2.37 out of 3) which is a large effect. The mean of the best way to deal with websites and electronic forums was (M = 2.47 out of 3) which is a large effect. The mean of the role of modern technology in security media (M = 2.43 out of 3) which is a large effect. The results of the qualitative interviews matched the findings of the quantitative data. A number of important comments and clarifications were added. The research concluded with a number of recommendations that stress the role of media and social media on the occurrence of crime, as well as their role in reducing crime at the same time. Especially when considering the youth attitudes toward using social media.

Factor Structure Evaluation of the French Version of the Digital Natives Assessment Scale.

"Digital natives" concept defines young adults particularly familiar with emerging technologies such as computers, smartphones, or Internet. This notion is still controversial and so far, the primary identifying criterion was to consider their date of birth. However, literature highlighted the need to describe specific characteristics. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the factor structure of a French version of the Digital Natives Assessment Scale (DNAS). The sample of this study includes 590 participants from a 6-week massive open online course and from Web sites, electronic forums, and social networks. The DNAS was translated in French and then back-translated to English. A principal component analysis with orthogonal rotation followed by a confirmatory factorial analysis showed that a 15-item four-correlated component model provided the best fit for the data of our sample. Factor structure of this French-translated version of the DNAS was rather similar than those found in earlier studies. This study provides evidence of the DNAS robustness through cross-cultural and cross-generational validation. The French version of the DNAS appears to be appropriate as a quick and effective questionnaire to assess digital natives. More studies are needed to better define further features of this particular group.

Spreading Awareness and Job Opportunities Through Odl

Distance Education has done miracles in the field of education, it caters to those students who study and work on their own at home or at the office and communicate with faculty and other students via e-mail, electronic forums, videoconferencing, chat rooms, boards, instant messaging and varieties of other forms of computer-based communication. Distance learning makes it much easier for some students to complete a degree or get additional job-training while balancing work and family commitments. This article elaborates upon the significance of Distance Education discussing various job oriented courses offered by Open universities to aspirants seeking degrees for a better resume and for career enhancements.

Closing the gaps – Improving literacy and mathematics by ict-enhanced collaboration

Literacy and mathematics are necessary skills that for different reasons unfortunately not everybody acquires sufficiently. In OECD countries there is also a gender gap; boys lag behind girls in literacy but often outperform girls in mathematics (OECD., 2012). ICT (Information and communication technologies) may contribute useful tools to address both these problems but in order to effectively create better educational conditions there is yet a need to develop effective methods that combine ICT with key factors for learning. This research contributes to this by measuring effects of the “Write to Learn” (WTL) method. WTL lets children from 1st grade use several ICT tools to write texts and subsequently discuss and refine them together with classmates and teachers using digital real-time formative feedback and assessment. The central learning factor addressed, in mathematics as well as in literacy, is the written communication allowing the learners to interact with peers and teachers. WTL draws on methods from socio-cultural theory, including continuous social interaction and written real-time formative feedback among peers, using shared electronic forums for collaboration, thereby providing social meaning and increased learning of literacy and mathematics, among both boys and girls.The study uses quantitative methods and two control groups, one using traditional method (no ICT) and one using technology individually (without integrated social interaction and formative feedback), to compare results from 502 students in grade 3 national tests in mathematics and literacy. WTL yields by far best results; higher average score both in literacy and mathematics, smaller gender gap, and significantly better results for the under-achievers. The ITU method performs worst, which shows that ICT use must be well integrated into the pedagogy to be useful.

Spreading Awareness and Job Opportunities through Odl

Distance Education has done miracles in the field of education, it caters to those students who study and work on their own at home or at the office and communicate with faculty and other students via e-mail, electronic forums, videoconferencing, chat rooms, boards, instant messaging and varieties of other forms of computer-based communication. Distance learning makes it much easier for some students to complete a degree or get additional job-training while balancing work and family commitments. This article elaborates upon the significance of Distance Education discussing various job oriented courses offered by Open universities to aspirants seeking degrees for a better resume and for career enhancements.

Creation of meanings on the theme "nature of science" by chemistry graduates in electronic forum

Investments in policies for science teachers, as well as their adaptation to new realities andtechnologies are essential, since the teacher is the key to changing mindsets and attitudes of theirstudents. Thus, conceptual discussions are proposed between chemistry teachers in a virtualenvironment on the Moodle platform on topics previously chosen by the education teacher. Theobjective is to analyze the process of creating meanings of participants of the forum on the theme"nature of science." It was noticed that new media can help building students' knowledge andmotivate them to expand their research and scientific readings; however, rules must be preestablishedso that a real interaction and mediation could occur. Initiatives like these are useful forthe understanding of scientific and technical fields, and may also facilitate communication andinteraction between teachers and students

The Influence of Collective Asynchronous Discourse Elaborated Online by Pre-Service Teachers on Their Educational Interventions in the Classroom

Networked learning communities are growing and they offer new opportunities for reflection on practice in education. Many authors have studied the processes followed and the contents produced by such communities. On the other hand, few have observed how collective asynchronous discourse can be enacted in the classroom. This objective was pursued in the context of this exploratory research. Data was provided by asynchronous discourse written on the Knowledge Forum by five pre-service teachers during a 14-week practicum throughout the winter 2011 semester, as well as in situ observations from their university supervisor, while they were teaching students. Qualitative and descriptive quantitative analyses were conducted. In particular, results showed participants were highly concerned with quality of teaching when elaborating collectively in the electronic forum regarding ideas of interventions, and with the importance of properly handling the possible enactment of such ideas in the classroom while teaching.

How to Apply Electronic Services in Chinese-City-Planning

E-participation is a modern way of participation that in the process of city planning,the government builds a communication information platform by which the public, especially the stakeholders can get the relevant decision making information, express their views and interests and enhance the capability of the planning decisions with the help of internet and modern communication technology. The application of e-participation in city planning is mainly reflected in three aspects; electronic information dissemination, e-feedback and electronic forum.

Billion core brains

Professor Karlheinz Meier of the University of Heidelburg explained at the recent International Electronics Forum organised by Future Horizons: Computers are fast and reliable they need software and are fault sensitive. The brain is slow and unreliable it is fault tolerant and energy efficient. It also has the advantage of being able to work software out for itself. Eventually designs based on the brain are likely to be very attractive for future technologies because they can use unreliable elements, Meier adds. Meier sees a further split in the Human Brain Project between Europe and US in terms of focus. The US he sees as being more focused on understanding the neuroscience, with the simulations used to help drive medical research as much as computing. Ours is more directed at computing architectures. It has a large neuroscience component, he says, but it is about designing new computer architectures.

Literacy Agents Online

This study explored how adults used a self-selected online forum to advance their own and others’ literacy practices. The study was a discourse-centered online ethnography using triangulated methods, including analysis of list archives, semi-structured and informal interviews, and document collection. These data were analyzed by discourse analysis and thematic analysis. Findings illustrate how participants in a global electronic forum used electronic texts, forums, and textual practices to share digital and print resources and promote digital literacies. This study advances a theory of adult literacy practice as socially and culturally embedded and provides implications for adult literacy education.