Graduate Degree Research Articles

Incidence and risk factors of congenital heart disease in Qingdao

Objective: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Qingdao. Methods: A prospective study was adapted, and study participants were pregnant women who underwent prenatal screening in Qingdao from August 2018 to June 2020 and their offspring (the whole population coverage). CHD in neonates was screened by using the pulse oximetry saturation and heart auscultation, and the final diagnosis was determined by the result of echocardiography. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to analyze the risk factors of CHD. Results: The study included 115 238 live births, among which 709 were diagnosed with CHD, with an incidence of 6.15/1 000. Ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, as well as ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect were the main CHD subtypes, with incidences of 2.97/1 000 (342/115 238), 1.01/1 000 (116/115 238), and 0.39/1 000 (45/115 238), respectively, comprising 48.2% (342/709), 16.4% (116/709), and 6.3% (45/709) of the CHD cases. The results of multivariable logistic regression showed that the offspring of women with a graduate degree (compared to junior high school or below) (OR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.15-2.40), pregnancy history of CHD (OR=9.50, 95%CI: 5.37-16.81), pregestational diabetes mellitus (OR=3.40, 95%CI: 1.58-7.32) had a higher risk of having CHD, whereas the offspring of multiparous women was associated with a lower risk of CHD (OR=0.84, 95%CI: 0.71-0.99). In addition, compared with male newborns, female newborns have a higher risk of having CHD (OR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.01-1.39). Conclusions: The incidence of CHD in Qingdao is 6.15/1 000, with ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, as well as ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect being the main subtypes. Maternal education, parity, pregnancy history of CHD, pregestational diabetes mellitus, and offspring gender are associated with CHD occurrence.

Family and consumer sciences graduate research productivity in 2023

AbstractFamily and consumer sciences research from graduate theses and dissertations and the resulting degrees have been reported annually in the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal since 1992. Requests for the 2023 data began in September 2024 when 528 email invitations were sent to contacts at 163 US universities and colleges with family and consumer sciences programs. Forty‐six institutions responded with data and reported that 1550 graduate degrees were conferred collectively, with 1027 non‐thesis master's degrees, 241 master's theses, and 282 dissertations completed. This review reports graduate degree completion and highlights topical trends of the theses and dissertations completed by reporting programs.

Perception of translation competence among master’s degree graduates in translation and interpreting: a quantitative study

ABSTRACT In a global context increasingly prone to e-learning formats at all levels of education, especially in and after the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the acquisition of skills in distance learning programmes should not differ from the ones in onsite learning programmes. The main objective of this study is to analyse the perception that master’s in translation and interpreting (TIS) graduates have of the competences acquired during their studies offered by higher education institutions in Spain. This will be done by means of a questionnaire that uses a 4-point Likert scale to collect evaluations of different issues related to the translation skills of 256 graduates. Our results indicate that the mode of study (face-to-face or distance) does not influence graduates’ perceptions. Finally, we conclude that the graduates’ perception is positive.

Evolving into curriculum makers: the pivotal role of geography teachers as “boundary teachers”

This study explores how collaborative action research (CAR) can enhance high school geography teachers’ curriculum making capabilities and strengthen their status as “boundary workers.” The research team consisted of a graduate student pre-service geography teacher, a university theoretical mentor, and a high school practical mentor. The study lasted four months and employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing four rounds of CAR to continuously reflect on and evaluate the effectiveness of boundary work-based high school geography curriculum making and its impact on enhancing pre-service teachers’ curriculum competency. Each CAR round focused on different aspects of curriculum making, such as designing problem situations, strengthening teacher-student interactions, creating localized curricula, and using interdisciplinary themes. The four CAR rounds collectively formed a “boundary work-based geography curriculum making model.” The research findings indicate that through sustained practice of this model, geography teachers, especially those pursuing graduate degrees, can effectively improve their curriculum leadership and become competent “boundary teachers.”

WHAT SKILLS DO EMPLOYERS WANT FROM RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES?

Currently, it is not enough for university graduates to acquire only occupation-specific academic knowledge to find a job. Graduates are also expected to possess an additional set of skills called employability skills. In this study, job vacancies were analyzed to determine the skills employers want from new graduates. In this study, 178 job posts for new graduates on an online job search platform (Kariyer. net) were analyzed using content analysis. According to the findings of the study, fewer hard skills and more soft skills were demanded by recent university graduates. The most demanded skills for both associate degree and bachelor's degree graduates were skills in social and communication groups. When examined in detail, the highest-demanded soft skills include "strong communication skills,” "predisposition to teamwork,” "planning and organization skills,” "effective written and oral communication skills.” In addition, "mastery of MS Office applications, knowledge of foreign languages and "knowledge of computer programs related to the field" are among the technical skills that graduates require. This research is expected to guide new graduates in terms of which skills they should develop and educational institutions in terms of updating their curricula in line with the demand for skills.

Evaluation of public's knowledge, attitude and experiences towards the generic medications in building healthcare policy.

The increasing cost of prescription drugs has high concern and associated with medication nonadherence and adverse health outcomes. The use of generic prescription drugs by the patients depends on if recommended by competent healthcare providers. Generic medicines, which are cheaper and bioequivalent to brand-name drugs, offer an opportunity to reduce healthcare expenditures of Saudi Arabia's healthcare system as per the Vision 2030 plan. Therefore, the current study was conducted to assess the population awareness, attitude and perception towards the generic medications particularly those locally manufactured in Saudi Arabia. We managed a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study and included indices like demographic sections, knowledge of generic medications, perception of generic medication use, and previous experience. Data was collected over 12 weeks from February 2022 to April 2022 using an online survey tool. A study of 462 participants found that the majority were male (54.97%), young (55.4%), with a graduate or post-graduate degree (73.5%) and employed (43.29%). The majority reported good health, with 75.5% reporting good health. The study found significant differences in knowledge about generic drugs, their country of origin, and their benefits and utility. Most participants had positive attitudes towards generic medications, with 45% believing they are as effective as those from other countries. The study also revealed a significant difference in participants' experience and usage of medications particularly satisfaction to health outcome. Enhancing healthcare professionals' perceptions of generics can positively influence patient/consumer opinions and trust in generic medicines. Patients' high trust in prescribing physicians also influences these opinions, as their opinions can influence patient/consumer opinions.

Turnover intention and continuing professional development of rural doctors from targeted admission medical education program in China: a cross-sectional study in the post-COVID-19 era

BackgroundTurnover intention (TI) indicates an employee’s intention to depart from their current role within a defined timeframe. In China, the Targeted Admission Medical Education (TAME) program, initiated in 2010, offers tuition-free education to cultivate rural doctors. Despite continuous professional development (CPD) being considered a viable retention strategy, TI of alumni doctors from the TAME program remains high in recent years. This study aims to describe the prevalence of “turnover intention” among alumni doctors of the TAME program doctors in rural placements, and associated factors that predict high turnover intention.MethodsA snowball sampling method was adopted to collect survey responses from 1,369 alumni doctors of the TAME program in Jiangxi Province, China. Based on the survey data, a binary variable was constructed to measure the turnover intention, and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between doctors’ turnover intention and demographic characteristics, work environment characteristics, and CPD activities. Results were presented using adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsAmong the 1,369 alumni doctors of the TAME program surveyed in this study, 392 (28.6%) expressed intentions to leave their current positions. Of the respondents, 620 (45.3%) were female, and 930 (67.9%) were married. Additionally, 1,232 respondents (90%) indicated that their fathers were engaged in farm work. Strong associations with turnover intention were notably found among individuals who had undergone training at a higher-level healthcare institution for more than three months (aOR = 6.810, 95% CI: 3.333 to 13.909, p-value < 0.001), particularly those who had participated in CPD through a graduate degree program (aOR = 1.818, 95% CI: 1.272 to 2.597, p-value < 0.001).ConclusionRural doctors in China from the tuition-free medical education program exhibit high turnover intention, especially those in graduate degree programs as CPD. To retain these highly qualified rural doctors, it is vital to offer competitive efficiency wages aligned with their skills and provide ample long-term career growth opportunities within the rural healthcare system.

Mother knows best: how working mothers influence gender and racial differences in educational expectations for graduate school

Educational expectations have increased over time in the United States. Most adolescents expect to earn a bachelor’s degree and a graduate or professional degree. Although past research has generally agreed on the status-attainment perspective to understand educational expectations, these frameworks are limited in terms of the type of parental resources they address, as well as inattention to the intersection of gender and race over time. We address these gaps and investigate variations in youths’ expectations for graduate school by mother’s employment status, gender, and race using Monitoring the Future data from twelfth graders from 1976 to 2019. We find that mother’s employment status positively influences women’s graduate school expectations more than men’s across all racial groups we examine with young Black women holding the highest graduate school expectations. We also find that maternal employment patterns graduate school expectations over time but only for White respondents. Black respondents hold higher expectations, but this trend is stable across maternal employment status.

Caregiver and Youth Characteristics That Influence Trust in Digital Health Platforms in Pediatric Care: Mixed Methods Study.

Combining patient-generated health data and digital health platforms may improve patient experience and population health, mitigate rising health care costs, reduce clinician burnout, and enable health equity. However, lack of trust may be a notable barrier to the data-sharing required by such platforms. Understanding sociodemographic, health, and personal characteristics will enable developers and implementers of such technologies to consider these in their technical design requirements. This study aims to understand relationships between sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers of children or adolescents and trust in and willingness to use digital platforms to store and share personal health information for clinical care and research. This study used a mixed methods approach, including surveys of caregivers of youth aged <18 years living in Canada or the United States and youth aged 16 to 17 years living in Canada, as well as web-based bulletin board discussions to further explore topics of trust in data sharing. Sociodemographic and survey data were tabulated and explored using proportional odds ordinal regression models. Comments from web-based group discussions were analyzed thematically using a coding approach to identify issues important to the participants. Survey data from 1128 caregivers (female participants: n=549, 48.7%; 36-50 years old: n=660, 58.5%; Canadian: n=603, 53.5%; urban population: n=494, 43.8%) were collected, of which 685 (60.7%) completed all questions. Data from 173 youth (female participants: n=73, 42.2%; urban population: n=94, 54.3%) were collected, of which 129 (74.6%) completed all questions, and data were available for analysis. Furthermore, among 40 participants, 23 (58%) caregivers contributed to the web-based discussion boards. Related to trust, living in a rural area (vs urban; odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% CI 0.46-0.95) resulted in lower concern for data privacy and security, while having an undergraduate (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.30-2.55) or graduate degree (vs secondary or trade school; OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.68-3.73) resulted in higher levels of concern. Living with a chronic disease (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.35-2.44) increased levels of concern regarding data privacy and security. Interestingly, those with chronic disease were more willing to use digital platforms for clinical care and share personal health information for not-for-profit research. Caregivers were most concerned about data breaches involving data from their children but also highlighted that digital platforms would allow for better coordination of care for their children. Our research confirms the willingness of caregivers and youth to use digital platforms for both clinical care delivery and research and suggests that the value of a digital platform may outweigh the risks of its use. Engagement of end users in co-designing such platforms has the potential to enhance digital trust. However, digital trust varies across sociodemographic groups; therefore, diverse end user engagement is necessary when designing digital applications.

Analysis of Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention According to the Characteristics of Forest Industry Workers

The forest industry is a key sector in South Korea, significantly contributing to the national economy. Despite the growth of the forest industry, workers often face physically demanding tasks, high job stress, and factors reducing job satisfaction, such as remote locations and limited career opportunities. This study analyzes differences in job satisfaction and turnover intentions among forest industry workers based on socio-demographic and job characteristics. A survey of 654 workers across various sectors—including production, processing, retail, transportation, leisure, and services—was conducted. The data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. The results indicate that job satisfaction and turnover intentions significantly vary with age, education, income, employment type, workplace location, and working days. The workers with graduate degrees reported lower job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions. The non-regular employees and field workers exhibited lower job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions. The findings suggest that improving job conditions, creating quality positions for highly educated workers, and providing stable employment could enhance job satisfaction and reduce turnover intentions in the forest industry, aiding workforce retention and sustainability.

Tracer Study on the Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration (LEA) Graduates of Isabela State University Cabagan

Tracer study is a retrospective evaluation of graduates conducted via a standardized survey sometime after graduation. The study aimed to trace the employability status of BS LEA graduates from 2017- 2019. It utilized the descriptive research design and a survey questionnaire in gathering data. The result revealed that majority of the graduates are twenty-five years old, male, single, Ibanag, bachelor’s degree graduate, and AFPSAT passers. Moreover, majority of the graduates are temporary/casual, connected to security agencies, able to hunt for a job within one to two years, delayed in their employment for reason of absence of immediate vacancy, earning a monthly salary within the range of thirty thousand to thirty-four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and employed due to their educational qualifications. They realized that their employment is directly related to their degree and claimed that communication skills developed at the college aided in their employment. It was also discovered that the quality of Education at ISU is excellent in terms of curriculum/course content, methods of instruction, faculty, physical plant, career guidance, job placement, and academic counseling.

Curriculum approaches to strengthening student employability and improving graduate outcomes in the STM disciplines

ABSTRACT In Australia and elsewhere, curriculum improvements are needed to improve the development of Science, Technology and Mathematics (STM) graduates for future work and careers. Several studies document significant STM student attrition, poor graduate preparedness for work, relatively weak employment rates post-graduation, and mismatched expectations of graduate capabilities by employers. The inclusion of work-integrated learning (WIL) activities within curricula can better prepare students for relevant employment by bridging discipline-specific teaching with work practices. Traditionally, access to WIL has been limited for STM Bachelor students and a better understanding of WIL’s benefits and impact is needed to refine and extend STM WIL curricula for different disciplines and cohorts. Through the lens of personal capital resources, this article reports on the perspectives of 34,000 recent Bachelor graduates of Australian STM degrees on their participation in WIL and its impact on their perceived employability and transition to work. Findings indicated differences in engagement in WIL across STM disciplines and underrepresented student groups, yet consistent benefits of WIL on preparedness for work and graduate employment. The study provides valuable insights on gaps in WIL provision and potential ways to improve WIL offerings that support the development of future-capable STM graduates with positive labour market experiences.

Professional development: a mixed methods study of Masters of Public Health alumni.

We examined the perceptions of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree graduates regarding their personal competencies, job performance and professional development using a mixed method, explanatory sequential design. A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire of the Haifa School of Public Health alumni who graduated between 2005 and 2022 was disseminated to 849 graduates between March and June 2022, from which 127 responded (response rate: 14.90%). This was followed by 24 in-depth interviews with alumni from the same sample (conducted between November 2022 and March 2023). The sample included 74.8% of females with a mean age of 40.7 years, 35% of alumni agreed that the MPH degree helped them attain a promotion in their present position (in rank or salary), and 63.8% felt that the degree helped them improve their job performance and contribute to their current workplace. Most (80.3%) alumni reported not changing jobs after graduation. The interview themes revealed that the MPH contributed to their personal and professional lives, provided them with a holistic view of public health and health systems, and improved their in-depth scientific skills. The main reported barriers to professional development included missing core competencies, low salaries, and a lack of information regarding suitable jobs. Surprisingly, an MPH was not a requirement for some public health sector jobs. Alumni reported that the MPH degree contributed to improving many graduates' careers and satisfaction levels and to build their leadership competencies in public health. There seems to be a lack of coordination between the academic curriculum and the jobs available for alumni, hindering better alumni professional development. Regular discussions, information sharing, and curriculum refinements between MPH program leaders and health sector leaders might help address many of the concerns of MPH degree graduates.

Examining Parents' Opinions on Safe School

The aim of this study is to examine the views of parents on safe schools and to develop solutions to the problems encountered in a safe school environment based on these views. The research was conducted with phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study group of the research consists of 16 parents selected by criterion sampling and maximum sampling method. The research was carried out with volunteer parents who have at least one student in primary school, secondary school, high school age, high school, bachelor's or master's degree graduates in Fatih district of Istanbul province. The data of the study were collected by semi-structured interview technique and analysed with descriptive analysis method. According to the results obtained, parents' views on safe school were categorised under 6 themes. These themes are safe school ecosystem, social relations and educational safety, health and safety balance in education, resources and implementations for safety and governance, communication and solidarity, safe behaviour and moral values. As a result, it has been determined that parents' views on safe school environment are mainly gathered around physiological and psychological safety for students and school climate based on mutual trust of stakeholders. Based on these results, it is recommended that policy makers and implementers in education should prioritise measures to ensure school safety.

Learning Outcomes, Benefits, and Challenges of International Research Experiences for Students (IRES): An Exploratory Study of an IRES Program in China

Despite the increasing number of international programs targeting students’ learning of research and intercultural skills, there has been limited holistic investigation of students’ experiences employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In this study, we incorporated several measures to explore students’ experiences in an International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, which benefited from the existing partnership between Virginia Tech in the U.S. and Shandong University in China. We examined students’ intercultural competence and interdisciplinary research skills and explored students’ stories of their lived experiences across three cohorts, each with five students, who completed the IRES program. Both open-ended survey responses and interview data demonstrate that the experience allowed students to learn skills involving the various tools, methods, and processes needed to conduct experiments and solve interdisciplinary problems. In particular, qualitative data further demonstrated the influence of the program on students’ desire to pursue graduate degrees and navigate the research process. While the behavioral dimension of cultural intelligence did not show a major improvement, student interviews suggested enhanced student abilities in interpersonal interactions, including non-verbal and verbal means for effective communication. We provide explanations for the differences between quantitative and qualitative results. Reflecting on the results, we elaborate on the importance of structural elements necessary for creating international experiences for students and the need to examine students' learning processes using different means of data collection.

Knowledge and conspiracy belief of healthcare professionals on human monkeypox virus: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital of Bangladesh

Background: Since early May 2022, the unprecedented outbreak of human monkey pox (HMPX) has been documented globally which demands assessment of knowledge on the emerging viral infection as well as the state of conspiracy belief among the healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge about HMPX and its relation to conspiracy belief. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital Dhaka (CMH) among purposively selected 254 healthcare professionals from July 2022 to September 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire with validated and reliable tools. Results: The study comprised a total of 254 respondents, including 53.9% male, 72.8% respondents having a graduate degree and 42.9% individuals aged between 26-30 years. The study revealed very poor (61.8%) knowledge on HMPX as well as higher (50.4%) belief in conspiracy theory among the respondents. The hierarchical logistic regression revealed that male had significantly higher (B=1.12, OR 3.06, 95% CI=1.714-5.463) knowledge on HMPX virus than that of the female, age group &lt;31 years emerged as a negative and significant predictor than that of the age group &gt;31 years (B= -1.065, OR 0.345, 95% CI=0.172-0.690), monthly income of between 60001-90000 taka also emerged as a positive and significant predictor than that of the income of &gt;90001 taka (B=0.763, OR 2.145, 95% CI=1.002-4.595). Conclusion: The study findings demand intervention of appropriate health educational program in the medical study curriculum. JOPSOM 2023; 42(1):29-39

Factors associated with mentoring and supervising US doctoral students with LD and/or ADHD

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore advisor–advisee relationships from the perspective of doctoral students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While some research exists on the importance of doctoral advisor/advisee relationships generally, few studies have focused on advisor support for doctoral students with LD and/or ADHD. Design/methodology/approach In total, 20 doctoral students from various US institutions with an average age of 28 years old participated in this study. In all, 2 participants had a dual diagnosis of LD and ADHD, 3 were diagnosed solely with LD and 15 solely with ADHD; 15 of the participants with ADHD indicated that they take medication. Each graduate student participated in an hour-long semi-structured Zoom interview inquiring about their disability and their relationship with their advisor. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed inductively. Findings The relationship between the participant and their advisor was the key theory. In total, 6 participants disclosed their disability status to their advisor with positive results, 2 had negative outcomes and 12 did not disclose for various reasons. The overarching theme of the study is that advisors are supportive of doctoral students with LD and/or ADHD whether or not they know about the student’s disability. Support was seen in offering flexible and strict deadlines, advocating on the student’s behalf and/or forming personal relationships with students. Research limitations/implications One of the biggest challenges of this study was recruiting participants. Graduate students with LD and ADHD are justifiably afraid of facing discrimination; therefore, it was difficult to identify participants despite having IRB approval and placing a very high value on confidentiality. The sample was consequently limited in size as well as in terms of race and gender diversity and was not representative of students with LD and/or ADHD in higher education. Qualitative research is typically not generalizable and the same was true for this study. This study gives a broader glimpse into the experiences of doctoral students with ADHD than those with LD. Additionally, when one of the researchers began each interview, she revealed that she also has a learning disability. While this may have helped participants feel more comfortable, it also could have influenced their responses. Practical implications This study undertakes a more detailed investigation than previous research on the experiences of individuals with LD and/or ADHD in doctoral programs in the US. The findings provide current data on perceptions of advisor–advisee relationships in the students’ own voices. Social implications Given the emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in US higher education, students with LD and/or ADHD need to be actively engaged in these conversations. With increasing numbers of students with LD and ADHD entering higher education and pursuing graduate degrees, faculty must be prepared to support all their students. By assessing strategies for positive mentor–mentee relationships among doctoral students with LD and/or ADHD, institutions can continue to foster increased diversity, creating doctoral programs and developing future faculty who more accurately represent the world in which we live. Originality/value The population studied doctoral students with LD and/or ADHD in the USA adds to the literature. The findings in terms of disclosure as it relates to advisors also adds to the literature. Doctoral students in the USA are dropping out at high rates making this an area that needs exploration.

Cross-sectional study of assessment of lung cancer (LC) screening awareness in an underserved community in the Bronx, New York.

155 Background: LC remains the second most diagnosed cancer but is the leading cause of cancer death in the USA, accounting for 21% of all cancer deaths. Despite advances in screening and treatment, it remains the principal cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Notably, survival rates have improved from 21% to 25% over the past 5 years. However, LC screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is underutilized, with only 5.8% of eligible individuals screened in 2021. Methods: A prospective 29-question survey was conducted at St. Barnabas Health Care System in the Bronx, NY, from February to April 2024. The survey included patients aged 50-80, both former and active smokers. Data on demographics, social determinants, and knowledge of LC and LDCT screening were collected and processed using JASP Version 0.18.3. The study aimed to assess the community's knowledge of lung cancer screening, with demographic characteristics as secondary outcomes. Results: From all the surveys collected, 115 met the inclusion criteria, 53% male (61) and 47% female (54), with no significant difference between proportions (p=0.576). The median age was 63 years. Race: 73% were Hispanic, 22% Black, and 5% White, with significant differences from an equal distribution (p&lt; 0.001). Legal Status, citizens (74%), followed by green card holders (17%). Most of the patients lived in the USA for over 20 years (90%), with very few having lived for less than five years (1%), indicating a long-term residency trend (p &lt; 0.001). Education Level: high school education was the most common (58%), followed by middle school (17%) and elementary school (15%). Doctorate and graduate degrees were less common (7%). 91% of patients were aware of the relationship between cigarette smoking and LC, while 9% did not (p&lt;0.001). On the other hand, 66% believed there was a relationship between e-cigarette use and LC, while 44% believed there was not. Patients with an income greater than $50,000 have significantly more knowledge of the screening tool for LC (STLC), as indicated by a Chi-square value of 50.87 (p &lt; 0.05, with a critical value of 5.99). Patients with low education levels have less knowledge of the existing STLC, with a Chi-square of 143.587 (p&lt;0.05 and a critical value of 9.488). Conclusions: Our study highlights critical disparities in LC awareness and knowledge of screening tools among different demographic groups. There is a clear need for targeted educational initiatives, especially for lower-income and less-educated populations, to improve understanding of LC risks associated with both traditional and electronic cigarette use. The significant presence of long-term Hispanic residents suggests that culturally tailored interventions could be particularly effective. Addressing these gaps is essential for enhancing lung cancer prevention and early detection efforts across diverse communities.

Oxidative stress as a potential mechanism linking gestational phthalates exposure to cognitive development in infancy

BackgroundGestational exposure to phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals widely used in consumer products, has been associated with poor recognition memory in infancy. Oxidative stress may represent one pathway linking this association. Hence, we examined whether exposure to phthalates was associated with elevated oxidative stress during pregnancy, and whether oxidative stress mediates the relationship between phthalate exposure and recognition memory. MethodsOur analysis included a subset of mother-child pairs enrolled in the Illinois Kids Development Study (IKIDS, N = 225, recruitment years 2013–2018). Concentrations of 12 phthalate metabolites were quantified in 2nd trimester urine samples. Four oxidative stress biomarkers (8-isoprostane-PGF2α, 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-isoPGF2α, 2,3-dinor-8-isoPGF2α, and prostaglandin-F2α) were measured in 2nd and 3rd trimester urine. Recognition memory was evaluated at 7.5 months, with looking times to familiar and novel stimuli recorded via infrared eye-tracking. Novelty preference (proportion of time looking at a novel stimulus when paired with a familiar one) was considered a measure of recognition memory. Linear mixed effect models were used to estimate associations between monoethyl phthalate (MEP), sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP), sum of di(isononyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDINP), and sum of anti-androgenic phthalate metabolites (ΣAA) and oxidative stress biomarkers. Mediation analysis was performed to assess whether oxidative stress biomarkers mediated the effect of gestational phthalate exposure on novelty preference. ResultsThe average maternal age at delivery was 31 years and approximately 50 % of participants had a graduate degree. A natural log unit increase in ΣAA, ΣDINP, and ΣDEHP was associated with a statistically significant increase in 8-isoPGF2α, 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-isoPGF2α, and 2,3-dinor-8-isoPGF2α. The association was greatest in magnitude for ΣAA and 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-isoPGF2α (β = 0.45, 95 % confidence interval = 0.14, 0.76). The relationship between ΣAA, ΣDINP, ΣDEHP, and novelty preference was partially mediated by 2,3-dinor-8-isoPGF2α. ConclusionsGestational exposure to some phthalates is positively associated with oxidative stress biomarkers, highlighting one mechanistic pathway through which these chemicals may impair early cognitive development.

Predictors of participant compliance with ecological momentary assessment among individuals with chronic pain who are using cannabis and opioids

BackgroundCannabis may be an alternative or adjunct to opioid therapy for chronic pain. However, there are limited data on patterns of opioid medication and medical cannabis use. The current study investigated the feasibility of using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to assess patterns of prescription opioids and medical cannabis among individuals experiencing chronic pain. MethodThe study included 133 participants recruited online. Participants were 42.6 (SD = 13.9) years old on average and the majority were men (57.9 %) and Non-Hispanic White (63.2 %). Participants completed a baseline assessment, followed by 30-days of EMA data collection with four randomly prompted past-hour surveys and one daily diary per day, and a follow-up survey that assessed perceived EMA burden. Simple and multivariable linear regression models were estimated to investigate participant predictors of the proportion of EMA surveys completed (past-hour surveys and daily diaries in separate models). ResultsCompliance rates for EMAs prompts were 89.7 % for daily diaries and 63.3 % for past-hour surveys. In multivariable regression, participants holding a graduate degree completed a lower proportion of daily diaries (b = −0.109, SE = 0.052, p < .05) and past-hour surveys (b = −0.148, SE = 0.071, p < .05), compared to those with less than a 4-year degree. Participants completing a higher proportion of daily diaries reported greater ease of use at follow-up (b = 0.050, SE = 0.022, p < .05) and those completing a higher proportion of past-hour surveys desired higher rewards (b = 0.066, SE = 0.033, p < .05). ConclusionsStudy results confirm the feasibility of using EMA methods to assess patterns of prescription opioids and medical cannabis among individuals experiencing chronic pain.