Information Professionals Research Articles

Integrating information ethics into library and information science curriculum at a public university in Malawi

The role of information ethics (IE) is lauded as a catalyst for the moral and professional development of library and information professionals globally. Despite this notion, the extent to which IE is integrated into the Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum is not fully researched. Therefore, this study explored the importance of IE integration into the LIS curriculum in higher education in Malawi focusing on the Department of Library and Information Science, Mzuzu University. The study adopted a case study design, employing a qualitative research method. The study drew concepts of IE typology as a theoretical lens postulated by Froehlich. The findings established a low-level integration of IE into the LIS curriculum. In line with the findings, the study recommends a stand-alone course or module for effective delivery and indoctrination of IE concepts and practices.

The role of the pharmacist during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: an updated scoping review

Abstract Objective To identify new articles that describe services provided by pharmacists during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An update scoping review was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and Google Scholar between 21 May 2020 and 31 May 2021. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent authors. DEPICT v. 2 was used to characterize the components of pharmacists’ interventions. It was also verified whether the articles evaluated outcomes of care. Key findings A total of 8983 records were identified, of which 120 met the inclusion criteria. The hospital was the workplace of the pharmacist most often described (55%). The majority of articles (73.3%) described the main domains of DEPICT v.2. Pharmacists provided interventions for patients (27.5%), healthcare professionals (25.8%), both (34.2%), individually (84.2%), through face-to-face contact (44.2%), and followed by telephone (41.7%). The main actions included patient counseling (56.7%), drug supply management (42.5%), and drug information for healthcare professionals (40.8%). Less than half of the articles (36.6%) evaluated the dimension “outcomes of care” of the study population. Conclusion Although most of the articles reported the pharmacists’ interventions, the description is still not satisfactory. In addition, the majority of articles focused solely on the dimension “process of care”. Future research should provide more detailed descriptions of the pharmacists’ interventions and assess the effectiveness of their interventions.

The Relationship Between Moral Sensitivity, Missed Nursing Care and Moral Distress Among New Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To explore the relationships among moral sensitivity, missed nursing care and moral distress in the context of new nurses in China. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted. A total of 228 new nurses were recruited from three tertiary hospitals in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Participants provided their sociodemographic and professional information and completed the Chinese Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire-Revised Version, the Chinese Missed Nursing Care Survey Version and the Chinese Moral Distress Scale-Revised Version. The data were analysed using Spearman's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The means and standard errors of moral sensitivity, missed nursing care and moral distress were 40.71 (0.39), 9.82 (0.78) and 34.87 (2.41), respectively. The variable of missed nursing care exhibited a significant negative relationship with moral sensitivity and a significant positive relationship with moral distress. Regression analysis revealed that the main factors influencing new nurses' moral distress were educational background, nature of job, current unit, frequency of night shifts and the dimensions of moral strength and responsibility. These factors can explain 14.9% of the total variation. The findings revealed that higher rates of missed nursing care were associated with lower moral sensitivity and greater moral distress among new nurses. Therefore, developing interventions to reduce missed nursing care may be a promising strategy for improving moral sensitivity and preventing moral distress among new nurses. In hospitals, moral distress can be improved by focusing on modifiable factors such as staffing resources, leading to better promoting new nurses' health and improving the quality of care. This study can highlight practices accounting for moral sensitivity and missed nursing care in nursing research and training programmes. Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement. No patient or public contribution.

Use of Virtual Reality in School-Aged Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Novel Approach.

Virtual reality (VR) applications in paediatric rehabilitation are recent but promising. This brief report describes a VR rehabilitation program for a small sample of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The program focused explicitly on executive functions, a key area of concern for this population. It was conducted over 11 weeks in the CARE Lab. This lab was designed with appropriate structural characteristics and sophisticated technology to provide a rehabilitative setting with recreational and semi-immersive features. Before and after the VR training, the children were evaluated in terms of visual attention, inhibition, planning abilities, and visual-motor coordination. The rehabilitation programs were customised according to the clinical needs and the functional profile of each patient, proposing different games with variable complexity levels. These preliminary results showed a global and clinically significant change in executive functions, especially visual attention and inhibition skills. These findings suggest interesting implications for clinical practice, providing new information for professionals regarding the application of VR in the field of paediatric rehabilitation.

Integrating PCA with deep learning models for stock market Forecasting: An analysis of Turkish stocks markets

Financial data such as stock prices are rich time series data that contain valuable information for investors and financial professionals. Analysis of such data is critical to understanding market behaviour and predicting future price movements. However, stock price predictions are complex and difficult due to the intense noise, non-linear structures, and high volatility contained in this data. While this situation increases the difficulty of making accurate predictions, it also creates an important area for investors and analysts to identify opportunities in the market. One of the effective methods used in predicting stock prices is technical analysis. Multiple indicators are used to predict stock prices with technical analysis. These indicators formulate past stock price movements in different ways and produce signals such as buy, sell, and hold. In this study, the most frequently used ten different indicators were analyzed with PCA (Principal Component Analysis. This study aims to investigate the integration of PCA and deep learning models into the Turkish stock market using indicator values and to assess the effect of this integration on market prediction performance. The most effective indicators used as input for market prediction were selected with the PCA method, and then 4 different models were created using different deep learning architectures (LSTM, CNN, BiLSTM, GRU). The performance values of the proposed models were evaluated with MSE, MAE, MAPE and R2 measurement metrics. The results obtained show that using the indicators selected by PCA together with deep learning models improves market prediction performance. In particular, it was observed that one of the proposed models, the PCA-LSTM-CNN model, produced very successful results.

Caregiver burden after stroke: a 10-year follow-up study of Polish caregivers for stroke patients

BackgroundA long-term assessment of stroke outcomes from the perspectives of patients and their caregivers is important for optimising long-term post-stroke care. The extended effects of stroke caregiving, particularly caregiver burden beyond 5 years since stroke, remain to be determined. Hence, this study aimed to determine caregiver burden at 10 years after stroke, compare the burden severity at 10 years with its levels at 5 years and 6 months after stroke, and identify predictors of the burden severity at 10 years post-stroke.MethodsA longitudinal follow-up study including a group of first-ever stroke patients/informal continuous caregivers pairs was followed for 10 years and interviewed face-to face at their home setting.Caregiver burden was evaluated with the Caregiver Burden Scale. Potential predictors were examined using standardised measures and identified by applying the Classification and Regression Tree.ResultsA total of 40 caregiver/patient pairs participated in the study. At 10 years, 47.5% of the caregivers experienced a considerable burden. This was more than after 5 years (17.5%) and comparable to that after 6 months (37.5%), p < 0.003. Longer time spent caregiving, caregivers’ weaker sense of coherence, more severe stroke, and caregivers’ anxiety were the independent predictors of considerable burden 10 years after stroke.ConclusionsCaregivers’ burden in the late chronic post-stroke phase is a significant problem, as nearly half of the caregivers experience a substantial burden. This problem mainly concerns individuals who spend at least 7 h daily caregiving and have a lower Sense of Coherence.The long-term evaluation of stroke consequences reported by stroke patients and their caregivers can be an important source of information for healthcare professionals in order to optimise the care and support they provide at various stages of life after stroke.

Analysis of user trends in digital health communities using big data mining.

Camoni, the largest digital health community in Israel, involves thousands of patients in the decision-making process concerning their illness and treatment. This approach reflects the recent global shift towards digital tools that combine professional information with social networking capabilities to enable problem-solving, emotional support, and knowledge sharing. Digital health communities serve as an invaluable resource for individuals seeking to learn more about their health, connect with others with shared experiences, and receive encouragement. Our research investigates user trends in digital health communities using the Camoni platform as a case study. To this end, we compile a comprehensive database of 12 years of site activity and conduct a large-scale analysis to identify and assess significant trends in user behavior. We observe several significant trends concerning different genders engagement and note a narrowing of gaps between men and women users' participation and publication volume. Furthermore, we find that younger users have become increasingly active on the platform over time. We also uncover unique gender-specific behavior patterns that we attempt to characterize and explain. Our findings suggest that the rise of digital health communities has accelerated in recent years, reflecting the public's growing preference to take a more active role in their medical care.

Exploring artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots adoption among research scholars using unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as chatbots, has significantly increased in academia and research. The present study seeks to determine the key factors influencing chatbot adoption, as well as attempts to validate the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) in the context of AI chatbots adoption among research scholars. The data for this study were collected through purposive sampling using a cross-sectional survey. The population of the study comprised research scholars enrolled in three public sector universities in Pakistan. The eight-factor proposed measurement model was estimated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on 30 valid items. The goodness of fit indices suggest a favourable fit for the model χ2 = 1.710, DF = 381; p = 0.000; IFI = .902; TLI = 0.886, CFI = 0.900, RMSEA = 0.056. Our research affirms that social influence, trust, and facilitating conditions play pivotal roles as primary predictors of behavioural intentions for AI chatbots adoption among scholars. The study suggests that the perceived risks associated with using AI chatbots due to their potential misuse can be minimized by effectively implementing AI user guidelines, and developing AI literacy among scholars. Information professionals and ethical libraries can play an important role in “building the bridge” between cutting-edge technology capabilities and information users’ needs and rights. The proposed eight-factor AI chatbots adoption model holds substantial potential in understanding the influence of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, trust, perceived risk, and facilitating conditions on behavioural intention to AI chatbots adoption. This study contributes to the limited body of research investigating the factors influencing AI chatbot adoption among research scholars using the UTAUT model with additional constructs for trust and perceived risk.

Information Professionals’ Metaphorical Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence Concept

This study examines the metaphors used by 66 information professionals in Türkiye to conceptualize artificial intelligence (AI). Through qualitative metaphor analysis, rich insights emerged on perceptions of AI’s nature, functioning, relationships with humans, roles, and societal impacts. Some of the metaphors used are child, human, artist, human intelligence, robot, assistant, doctor, weapon, terminator, something scary, closed box, black hole, Pandora’s box, etc. Multiple, often contradictory metaphors like “child” and “uncontrollable power” indicate AI is viewed in a multidimensional way, evoking both promise and concern. Key findings suggest information professionals appreciate AI’s transformative potential in enhancing services but also harbor anxieties related to human relevance, technocracy, and social issues like privacy. Understanding these complex cognitive and emotional orientations can facilitate responsible AI adoption to augment information services. Gesturing at AI’s multifaceted connotations also foregrounds communication challenges complicating public debate and policymaking on emerging technologies. The value of this study lies in surfacing the nuanced perspectives of a stakeholder group positioned to mediate public understanding and direct integration of AI in information services. Mapping information professionals’ rich construals of AI also highlights the need for public communication attuned to metaphorical reasoning around new technologies.

New Insights Concerning Phytophotodermatitis Induced by Phototoxic Plants.

The present review explores the underlying mechanisms of phytophotodermatitis, a non-immunologic skin reaction triggered by certain plants followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by sunlight. Recent research has advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of phytophotodermatitis, highlighting the interaction between plant-derived photosensitizing compounds (e.g., furanocoumarins and psoralens) and ultraviolet light leading to skin damage (e.g., erythema, fluid blisters, edema, and hyperpigmentation), identifying these compounds as key contributors to the phototoxic reactions causing phytophotodermatitis. Progress in understanding the molecular pathways involved in the skin's response to these compounds has opened avenues for identifying potential therapeutic targets suitable for the management and prevention of this condition. The review emphasizes the importance of identifying the most common phototoxic plant families (e.g., Apiaceae, Rutaceae, and Moraceae) and plant species (e.g., Heracleum mantegazzianum, Ruta graveolens, Ficus carica, and Pastinaca sativa), as well as the specific phytochemical compounds responsible for inducing phytophototoxicity (e.g., limes containing furocoumarin have been linked to lime-induced photodermatitis), underscoring the significance of recognizing the dangerous plant sources. Moreover, the most used approaches and tests for accurate diagnosis such as patch testing, Wood's lamp examination, or skin biopsy are presented. Additionally, preventive measures such as adequate clothing (e.g., long-sleeved garments and gloves) and treatment strategies based on the current knowledge of phytophotodermatitis including topical and systemic therapies are discussed. Overall, the review consolidates recent findings in the field, covering a diverse array of phototoxic compounds in plants, the mechanisms by which they trigger skin reactions, and the implications for clinical management. By synthesizing these insights, we provide a comprehensive understanding of phytophotodermatitis, providing valuable information for both healthcare professionals and researchers working to address this condition.

The Comparative Analysis of Peptides in Enteral Nutrition Products and Foods for Special Medical Purposes.

Enteral nutrition (EN) and foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs) can be used to meet the specific nutritional needs of patients. There are multiple types of EN products and nutritionally complete FSMPs on the market. The peptides in these products are important nutritional components, while their presence in different products remains unclear. To provide better clinical guidelines, we analyzed and compared the molecular weight (MW) distribution, types, and quantities of peptides and bioactive peptides of two EN products (liquid products) and two FSMPs with nutritionally complete formulas (powder products). Our results showed that each product had a unique peptide profile. The two liquid products and one powder product (Samples 1-3) had a higher content of peptides. Sample 1 contained 75.60% peptides with an MW less than 375 Da and contained 95.21% peptides with an MW less than 1000 Da, being rich in short peptides. Sample 2 and 3 had high levels of peptides with MW values between 180 Da and 2000 Da. Additionally, Sample 4 contained high levels of proteins, containing 69.18% peptides with MW values larger than 10,000 Da. Further, Sample 1 had more bioactive dipeptides and Sample 2 had more long bioactive peptides. Our results suggest that peptides in different EN and FSMP products are very different and should be evaluated in more detail. This will provide valuable information for clinical medical professionals, help them to guide patients with different physiological conditions better, and ultimately benefit patients.

Formal help-seeking in intimate partner violence among Spanish-born and immigrant women in Spain: A focus group study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem. In Spain, although the prevalence of IPV is greater in immigrant women than in Spanish-born women, immigrant women seem to access services to a lesser extent. This study aimed to explore and compare perceptions of barriers to and strategies for seeking formal help among Spanish-born and immigrant women IPV survivors. A qualitative study was conducted based on three focus groups with women of Spanish (n = 9), Romanian (n = 4), and Latin American (n = 4) origin. The thematic analysis was supported by Atlas.ti. Three categories and 12 subcategories were identified: general characteristics of help-seeking behavior (e.g., children as the main motivating factor), barriers (e.g., immigrant status, fear of the perpetrator), and strategies for accessing services (e.g., increasing education). Differences in help-seeking behavior were found between groups. Relevant information for professionals to improve women's access to IPV support services is provided.

The Basic Principles and Criteria for the Selection of Terms for the Compilation of the Latin-Kyrgyz Educational Dictionary for Students of a Medical University

The modern stage of the world's development is caused by a large flow of information and rapid changes in language. Today, in the current circumstances of international communication, it is necessary to know about the empirical sphere of the translated primary source, to have the skills to search for highly specialized terms. The term is an inseparable part of the scientific sphere, a means of transforming professional information and performs the function of semantic support in understanding the professional concept. The educational dictionary plays an important role in the educational environment, providing students and teachers with the necessary vocabulary and explanations of terms in various subjects. This is one of the key means of teaching a foreign language. It helps students build vocabulary, master grammatical structures, and improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Therefore, when compiling an educational dictionary, it is necessary to adhere to certain principles. Its main task is to provide students with clear and accurate vocabulary that helps them understand the educational material and communicate effectively in a professional language. Compiling a Latin-Kyrgyz educational dictionary for medical university students is an important task that requires strict adherence to certain principles and rules. First of all, it is important to keep in mind that this dictionary is designed to facilitate the process of teaching medical terminology to students, and therefore should be as accurate, complete and accessible as possible. Effective compilation of an educational dictionary requires careful planning, collaboration between language specialists and teachers, as well as taking into account current trends in education and the use of technology.

БОЛОЧОКТОГУ МАТЕМАТИКА МУГАЛИМДЕРИН ОКУТУУНУН ЗАМАНБАП ТЕХНОЛОГИЯЛАРЫ

This article examines the impact of informatization and computerization on the development of science and economics in a modern digital society. The process of improving professional education and information plays a special role. Trends in informatization of education are aimed at training competent, highly qualified specialists in professional activities and related fields. Bul makala koldonuu mүmkүnchүlүktөrүnө arnalgan bilim beru maksatynda zamanbap ilim menen tehnikanyn zhetishkendikteri. Zamanbap koldonuunun on jaktary okuuchularga mathematicians okutuunun technologylars. modern science of mathematics prefers the introduction of new pedagogical technologies to traditional knowledge and skills in the field of Education. Educational technologies are also changing, and the introduction of information and communication technologies provides great opportunities for expanding the range of education in each subject in a general educational institution, including in the field of mathematics.

The influence of the use of information technology and professionalism on employee performance mediated by work productivity

The influence of the use of information technology and professionalism on employee performance mediated by work productivity

Determination of Professional Belonging Level and Affecting Factors in Student and Working Midwives

Objective: The research has been carried out to determine the professional belonging of the undergraduate senior students studying midwifery at universities in Turkey and the midwives with a bachelor’s degree who are actively working as midwives in the field. Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 174 midwifery senior undergraduate students studying at universities in Turkey and 171 midwives with a bachelor’s degree in the field between January 17 and April 29, 2022. The data were gathered through Google Survey Forms using introductory information form prepared by the researchers, including socio-demographic characteristics, views on the midwifery profession, professional activity information, and the Midwifery Belonging Scale. The number percent distribution, the chi-square analysis, the Mann Whitney U test, and the Kruskall Wallis test were used in the evaluation of the data, and the post-hoc Bonferonni test was used in the further analysis. Results: 50.43% of the participants in the research are senior undergraduate students, and 49.57% of them are working midwives. The total average score of the student midwives on the midwifery belonging scale is 93.18±10.01, and 90.21±13.18 for the working midwives. While a statistical difference was found between the student midwives and the working midwives in the emotional belonging sub-dimension mean scores of the scale, no difference was found in the other sub-dimension mean scores (p

Stigma toward people with mental disorders in mental healthcare in Chile.

This research aimed to determine the stigma toward people with mental illness among mental health personnel and identify individual, professional, and contextual predictors. A descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational design was used. The sample consisted of 218 mental health personnel working in Outpatient Psychiatric Units belonging to hospitals and Community Mental Health Centers in Chile. Stigma was evaluated using a scale of humanized treatment, a scale of social distance, and a scale of attitudes in health personnel. In addition, sociodemographic and professional information was collected from mental health personnel and contextual information, particularly the type of outpatient mental health center and the technical-administrative unit that groups all the health centers in a territory. It was found that mental health personnel, in general terms, present low levels of stigma expressed in behaviors of comfort and support toward users, a desire for closeness and social interaction, and reduced stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes of infantilization toward individuals with MHPs. However, intimacy and trust were lower than expected.Only educational levels and health centers were related to stigma. The low levels of stigma may be due to the evolution of this phenomenon and the country's mental health policies.

From blocks to bridges: navigating the globalization-blockchain nexus through bibliometrics analysis

Purpose This study aims to comprehensively inspect the impact of blockchain technology in the context of globalization, focusing on the most influential research works, scientific production by countries, commonly used keywords, trending topics and the conceptual and intellectual structure of this field. Design/methodology/approach A bibliometric analysis was conducted in R Studio, involving the review and scrutiny of 194 research papers indexed in the Scopus database. This analytical approach allowed for a systematic examination of the literature and the identification of key patterns and trends in blockchain and globalization research. Findings The analysis revealed the most influential research contributions, highlighted countries with significant scientific production, identified frequently used keywords and unveiled emerging trends and areas of focus in the field of blockchain and digitization. Additionally, the study explores prospective research directions. Research limitations/implications This research provides insights into the current state of blockchain and globalization research, offering valuable information for scholars, policymakers and industry professionals. The recognized themes provide a systematic structure for upcoming inquiries, directing studies toward vital domains like supply chain management and sustainable development. Moreover, the analysis emphasizes the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration and provides practical insights, enabling businesses and policymakers to enhance transparency, counteract fraud and adjust to the digital era for societal and economic advancement. Originality/value The study contributes to the prevailing literature by steering a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between blockchain technology and globalization, shedding light on influential works and emerging trends. It adds value by providing a structured overview of the field's intellectual landscape.

Preprint pointers from a long COVID scoping review: considerations for source selection and searching.

This paper describes the search approach for preprints for a post COVID-19 condition (i.e., long COVID) scoping review, including source selection, search strategy development, challenges, and insights throughout a project life cycle. With the growth of medical preprints since the COVID-19 pandemic, information professionals and researchers should be aware that preprints are possible sources of evidence and be prepared to manage them in evidence reviews for COVID-19 topics and beyond. Preprints are not peer-reviewed but can include important evidence about emerging topics. Because of the importance of preprints to the scoping review, a preprint search of Europe PubMed Central (PMC) was added. Europe PMC and similar aggregators combine multiple preprint servers and often have Boolean search, but sometimes limited search functionalities or few export options. Strategy translation encountered challenges such as varying and inconsistent terminology for post-COVID-19 condition, a complex search, and negotiating large numbers of preprints with resource constraints. Europe PMC identified additional preprints for inclusion due to additional preprint server coverage. It was helpful to limit the preprint search to the title and abstract fields, and to run an extra Internet search for publication of included study preprints. Challenges and potential solutions are summarized to support those conducting preprint searches for COVID-19 and other topics.

Fellows of the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA): Looking Back and Looking Ahead.

Over the past 30 years, the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) has played a pivotal role in fostering a collaborative community for professionals in biomedical and health informatics. As an interdisciplinary association, AMIA brings together individuals with clinical, research, and computer expertise and emphasizes the use of data to enhance biomedical research and clinical work. The need for a recognition program within AMIA, acknowledging applied informatics skills by members, led to the establishment of the Fellows of AMIA (FAMIA) Recognition Program in 2018. To outline the evolution of the FAMIA program and shed light on its origins, development, and impact. This report explores factors that led to the establishment of FAMIA, considerations affecting its development, and the objectives FAMIA seeks to achieve within the broader context of AMIA. The development of FAMIA is examined through a historical lens, encompassing key milestones, discussions, and decisions that shaped the program. Insights into the formation of FAMIA were gathered through discussions within AMIA membership and leadership, including proposals, board-level discussions, and the involvement of key stakeholders. Additionally, the report outlines criteria for FAMIA eligibility and the pathways available for recognition, namely the Certification Pathway and the Long-Term Experience Pathway. The FAMIA program has inducted five classes, totaling 602 fellows. An overview of disciplines, roles, and application pathways for FAMIA members is provided. A comparative analysis with other fellow recognition programs in related fields showcases the unique features and contributions of FAMIA in acknowledging applied informatics. Now in its sixth year, FAMIA acknowledges the growing influence of applied informatics within health information professionals, recognizing individuals with experience, training, and a commitment to the highest level of applied informatics and the science associated with it.