Intervention Practices Research Articles

Challenges in implementing educational strategies for women’s career advancement towards advancing SDGs in Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to identify the key challenges in implementing educational strategies for women’s career advancement in Malaysia’s corporate sector, and to evaluate their impacts on advancing gender equality (SDG 5) and quality education (SDG 4) in the country. The study employs a qualitative phenomenological approach, utilizing the combination of purposive and snowball sampling to conduct in-depth interviews with senior female executives in Malaysia, exploring their experiences and perceptions of obstacles on the implementation of educational strategies for women empowerment in the corporate sector. The findings uncover four major challenges in implementing effective educational strategies for women’s career advancement which are insufficient organizational support and underrepresentation of women leaders; unconscious gender bias and stereotypes; resistance to change and work-life balance challenges. The study offers practical insights for corporate sectors and human resource management to develop comprehensive policies and practices that is essential to empower women and promote gender equality within the organization. The challenges identified in the findings provide valuable direction for the development of targeted interventions and strategies that address the unique challenges women face in the corporate sector, thereby enhancing their leadership potential and contributing to the achievement of gender equality and quality education as outlined in SDG 5 and SDG 4. This qualitative approach offers a unique, in-depth understanding of the challenges and successes women face in their career advancement. The findings will provide valuable insights for corporate sectors, policymakers, and human resource management on the guidance to develop an effective framework and approach that promotes gender equality and women leadership within Malaysia’s corporate setting and contribute to both academic literature and practical interventions.

Comparative effectiveness of different interventions on adherence to exercise-based CR among patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundExercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation is critical for post-PCI patients, but adherence to exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation remains low. Many studies aimed at improving adherence have been conducted in recent years, but the most effective interventions remain unclear. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and ranks of various interventions in enhancing adherence to exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation for post-PCI patients.MethodsA network meta-analysis employing random effects was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions. Bias evaluation was performed via the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool, with data analysis performed using STATA v15.0. The surface under the cumulative ranking was used to estimate the rankings among different interventions.ResultsIn the final analysis, 30 RCTs with 4267 patients across 17 different interventions were included. The results showed that patients who received home-based cardiac rehabilitation combined with mobile health intervention had the best adherence to exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation (83.8%), followed by hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation combined with mobile health intervention (79.9%).ConclusionsThis network meta-analysis identified home-based CR + mobile health intervention and hospital-based CR + mobile health intervention as the top two ranked interventions for improving adherence to exercise-based phase II CR in post-PCI patients. Healthcare providers may consider prioritizing the use of home-based cardiac rehabilitation combined with mobile health intervention in clinical practice, but still need to evaluate factors such as patient preference and Medicare reimbursement availability to develop customized interventions that are not only safe and effective but also satisfying to the patient.

The co-design of a digitally supported intervention for selecting implementation tools and actions for standards (SITAS)

BackgroundHealth and social care standards are multi-faceted interventions that promote quality and safe care in health systems. There is a need to apply evidence-based, rigorous and transparent methods when selecting strategies to support the implementation of standards. We aimed to develop an evidence- and theory-informed intervention to guide researchers in identifying appropriate implementation strategies and then selecting tailored support tools and actions for use when implementing a set of standards.MethodsOur intervention is a digital tool entitled ‘Selecting Implementation Tools and Actions for Standards (SITAS).’ The Medical Research Council Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions guided the design of SITAS. Co-design of SITAS, using a multi-stage and multi-methods approach included developing programme theory; identifying and prioritising enablers and barriers to implementing standards; identifying the best fit implementation framework using the Theory Comparison and Selection Tool; mapping enablers and barriers to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR); identifying matching implementation strategies using the CFIR-ERIC (Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change) matching tool; mapping enablers and barriers to the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). The enablers and barriers, outputs from the CFIR-ERIC matching tool and the BCW were used to develop a prototype of the content and interactive logic within a digital tool. The prototype was refined following feedback from intended users (n = 7) at three design workshops.ResultsProgramme theory was developed and refined following feedback from intended users of SITAS. Twenty-three enablers and barriers were prioritised. CFIR was identified as the best fit framework with the majority of enablers and barriers (n = 15) mapped to the ‘Inner Setting’ domain. ‘Conduct educational meetings’ was the most common strategy retrieved using the CFIR-ERIC matching tool. ‘Physical opportunity’ was the component of the BCW with the most enablers and barriers (n = 8). A prototype of SITAS was designed in Microsoft Excel based on the aforementioned steps. Workshops with intended users provided key insights about the content, functionality and user experience for SITAS which resulted in refinements to SITAS.ConclusionWe developed a practical intervention enhanced by user involvement. SITAS guides users through the process of selecting and tailoring implementation strategies to specific contexts, using core concepts of implementation science. SITAS will need to undergo formal piloting before spread and scale-up.

Racial Disparities in Cesarean Section Rates Between Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White Populations in the United States

AbstractThis study uses national natality data from the National Vital Statistics System, provided by the National Center for Health Statistics, covering the years 2011 to 2018 (N = 23,810,031) to investigate racial disparities in cesarean section (C-section) rates between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White mothers in the United States. This analysis offers a comprehensive perspective on the factors contributing to C-section disparities by considering mothers' demographic characteristics, health conditions, and infant health status. Using multivariable logistic regression, the findings reveal consistently higher C-section rates for non-Hispanic Black mothers compared to non-Hispanic White mothers, with the gap widening over time. Even after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors, non-Hispanic Black mothers remained more likely to undergo C-sections. Using Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition methods, key factors contributing to this C-section rates disparity include maternal age, the source of delivery payment, and fetal presentation. This study highlights the pressing need for further investigation into healthcare system factors and racial inequities driving these disparities, alongside the growing urgency for policy and practical interventions to reduce unnecessary C-sections.

Brief Expressive Writing Improves Social Performance in College Students With Mild Social Anxiety

ABSTRACTSocial anxiety is a prevalent issue among college students, often leading to poor academic and psychosocial adjustment. Expressive writing has shown promise as a brief, cost‐effective intervention for improving mental and physical health. This study investigated the effects of a 15‐min expressive writing session on the social performance of mildly socially anxious college students. Participants (N = 128) were randomly assigned to write expressively about social anxieties or do a control writing task. Before and after, they introduced themselves while being audio recorded. Results demonstrated that expressive writing significantly increased the number of words spoken, time spent speaking, speech rate, and use of positive emotion words during the social interaction, compared to the control condition. However, no significant effects were found for negative emotion word use or speech volume. Additionally, no significant relationship was observed between the number of words written and social performance measures. These findings suggest that even brief expressive writing interventions can improve some aspects of social performance in mildly socially anxious college students. The lack of association between writing length and social performance outcomes highlights the potential effectiveness of short writing exercises, which is particularly relevant for school‐based applications where time and resources are often limited. This study provides initial evidence for the use of brief expressive writing as a scalable, practical intervention to improve social functioning and promote adjustment among socially anxious students in educational settings.

English learners with dyslexia benefit from English dyslexia intervention: an observational study of routine intervention practices

IntroductionLearning to read when the language of the curriculum differs from one’s home language can pose unique challenges. For example, compared to the language spoken at home, the learner may be less familiar with the sound structure and have relatively limited word knowledge in the language of instruction. In the United States, English is the primary language of reading instruction for students who are English Proficient (EP) and for English Learners (EL). Current evidence indicates that for both EP and EL students, code-based competencies and meaning-based skills are important for learning to read. English-language reading interventions have been shown to be beneficial for EPs and ELs with reading problems, though it is not clear if this is also true when the reading problem is a reading disorder like dyslexia.MethodsThe current study addresses this question by comparing EL and EP student’s reading profile at baseline and changes over time in response to evidence-based English Language Dyslexia Instruction (ELDI) in public schools. One-hundred eighty-six students with dyslexia were followed over the course of two academic years. Assessments measured code and meaning-based reading skills. Multivariate profile analysis and linear mixed effects modeling were conducted to compare baseline reading profiles as well as growth in targeted skills over time.ResultsFindings reveal similar patterns of reading profiles across EL and EP groups, with more severe baseline deficits emerging for ELs. Groups performed equivalently on target reading skills after two years of intensive multi-componential reading intervention.ConclusionFindings confirm and extend previous research, suggesting ELs with Dyslexia can be identified and successfully served through routine practices, including ELDI.

High school foundational skills intervention in context: Lessons from a research–practice partnership in an urban district

AbstractWhile adolescent foundational skills interventions can be critical levers for reading improvement, district leaders, teachers, and researchers must make complex decisions about how to evaluate their effectiveness in context. In this discussion article, we explore three issues and tensions we experienced during a 2‐year research–practice partnership overhauling Tier II high school reading intervention practices in a district serving largely African American students. First, we discuss assessment and the challenges of using data and reading theory to simultaneously address system‐level and student‐level needs. Second, we share our process for choosing a curriculum and evaluating its effectiveness. Finally, we weigh how students' African American English may have been related to program implementation and foundational skills development. We share our takeaways to help practitioners and researchers seeking systematic foundational skills improvement across a district, especially districts like ours.

Do negative attitudes toward older adults vary by occupation? Focus on the stereotype content model

Do negative attitudes toward older adults vary according to the occupation of the older adult? Addressing this question is crucial to foster continued employment opportunities for older individuals. To explore this, we conducted an online experiment with Japanese participants, examining how negative attitudes fluctuate when comparing non-older and older adults within specific occupations. This study applied the stereotype content model across 16 occupations and unveiled a three-cluster solution, indicating variations in stereotype mappings between non-older and older workers. Moreover, it was observed that the propensity for these differences varied across clusters. Notably, in occupations where the workers were perceived as more competent and warmer than the general older adults, stereotypes shifted more positively when participants were informed that the workers were older. Conversely, in occupations where workers were perceived as more competent and less warm, both competence and warmth shifted in a negative direction with the introduction of age information. In addition, respect—the degree to which the target person is esteemed and/or admired by others—was strongly associated with both competence and warmth. It is anticipated that the insights gleaned from this study can inform practical interventions aimed at mitigating negative attitudes toward older adults concerning employment.

Effects of mindfulness-based strengths practice (MBSP) among women undergraduates in enhancing positive mental health

ABSTRACT The study investigates the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) intervention to enhance the positive mental health of women undergraduates by focusing on the development of character strengths, flourishing, mindfulness, and the reduction of psychological distress. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study involved 162 undergraduate women (mean age 18.55) from rural backgrounds; 80 volunteered for intervention and 82 for the control group. Participants completed pre-, post-, and three-month follow-up assessments, and the results showed significant gains in mindfulness, PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) flourishing, character strengths, and a reduction in psychological distress, with moderate to large effect sizes. A follow-up after three months showed persistent effects in certain aspects. This investigation among the Indian population contributes to the literature on MBSP in an Eastern context. It underscores the effectiveness of MBSP as a positive psychological, mindfulness-based intervention on college campuses for promoting well-being and mitigating mental health challenges among college students.

Workplace Incivility in Hotels: Unmasking the Complex Landscape of Employee Well-Being

Workplace incivility in hotel settings poses significant challenges, affecting employee well-being and organizational outcomes. This systematic literature review aims to comprehensively examine its multifaceted impact, addressing key research questions. Firstly, it explores the antecedents and forms of workplace incivility. Secondly, it explores the multilayered impacts on employee well-being, job satisfaction, engagement, turnover intentions, and counterproductive behaviors. Lastly, it examines how leadership styles, organizational support structures, individual traits, and contextual variables influence employee responses to incivility. Through a SLR methodology, current trends and gaps in research are identified, offering insights for future examination. The review includes 102 relevant papers to the study, covering the time range from 2012 to 2023. The application of the PRISMA methodology and SPAR4-SLR approach ensures a detailed analysis of published works, while the TCM framework provides a theoretical lens for interpretation. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of workplace incivility dynamics in hotel settings, informing both research and practical interventions. Findings suggest that positive leadership and strong organizational support mitigate the negative effects of incivility, while negative factors like nepotism exacerbate them. Enhancing emotional intelligence and establishing clear anti-incivility policies are crucial for improving employee well-being and organizational success.

A systematic review on career interventions for high school students.

This study presents a systematic literature review of career interventions for high school students, exploring the theoretical framework, intervention modality, evaluation and outcomes of the intervention. Five keywords, three databases and five inclusion criteria were defined. Of the 419 documents collected, 25 remained for meta-synthesis. The results showed that (1) the theoretical framework mainly consisted of career construct theory, social cognitive career theory, and cognitive information processing theory. (2) The intervention modality was mainly group counseling (8 sessions, 45 min). (3) The evaluation system mainly consisted of a pre-and post-test for the experimental and control group, and (4) the intervention outcomes were mainly focused on the positive development of career adaptability and career decision-making. The discussion offers recommendations for future research and practice in high school career interventions. (1) Social cognitive career theory should be given attention. (2) A three-tiered high school career development guidance model of career curriculum, career group counseling and individual counseling could be developed. (3) Career interventions should be shifted to mixed quantitative and qualitative studies, tracer studies, and special groups. (4) Outcome expectations should be given equal attention.

Is ‘Contribution to Theory’ an Unhealthy Obsession for Management Research? A Response to Zhang and Chen

The early months of the COVID pandemic prompted a flood of research aimed at illuminating all facets of the disease and its spread. Scholars sought to create and assess practical interventions that ranged from vaccines to government lockdown policies to workplace practices. To date, there are nearly a half-million publications on the pandemic, and more are in process.

"Jumping on the Blood Pressure Bandwagon": Nurse, GP, and Patient Perspectives of a General Practice Nurse-Led Hypertension Management Intervention.

To explore the perceptions and experiences of general practice nurses, general practitioners, and patients who participated in a nurse-led intervention to improve blood pressure control. Given the impact of hypertension on rates of premature death and disability, it is important that interventions be evaluated to reduce blood pressure. A key component of such evaluation is understanding the experiences of participants and clinicians. Understanding these experiences can provide insight into acceptability and feasibility that informs future research and implementation. Qualitative descriptive study within a mixed methods project. Semi-structured interviews were conducted post-intervention with six patients, five nurses, and three general practitioners. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The COREQ checklist guided reporting. Three themes around the need for change, navigating change, and sustaining change were revealed. In highlighting the need for change, participants recognized that it was time to actively work toward improved blood pressure control. In navigating change, general practice nurses were perceived as ideally placed to communicate risks around uncontrolled blood pressure and support lifestyle change. The final theme, sustaining change revealed the feasibility of the intervention in practice, however, clinician participants identified that appropriate funding is required to ensure sustainability. Nurse-led intervention to improve blood pressure control in general practice is feasible in practice and acceptable to patients. This highlights an opportunity for nurses to play a more proactive role in hypertension management within general practice. To ensure sustainability, however, issues such as funding, teamwork, and collaboration need to be addressed. Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000169246.

Otkrivanje i razotkrivanje dezinformacija: uloga sveučilišnih knjižnica u promicanju informacijske pismenosti

This research delves into strategies for detecting and debunking disinformation, placing significant emphasis on fortifying information literacy within university libraries. It explores the surge of disinformation in the digital era, its societal impacts, and the imperative of equipping individuals with adeptness to navigate today’s information landscape. The paper lists existing methodologies and tools for identifying disinformation, explores debunking strategies, and underscores the pivotal role of university libraries in fostering information literacy. It also pinpoints challenges and proposes future research directions and practical interventions in this domain.

Paradox within the Healthcare System: An Intersectional Analysis of Health Seeking Experiences of Migrants in the U.S.

ABSTRACT This study examined the complexities surrounding migrants’ health-seeking behaviors in the United States. Using intersectionality as a guiding analytic, we conducted in-depth interviews with 15 visa-holding migrants from West African, East, and Southeast Asian countries to understand their experiences navigating healthcare in another country. Participants mentioned the convergence of three power systems: nativity/language of origin status, education status, and migration (legal) status. Based on participants’ experiences navigating these converging systems, we identified two paradoxes migrants’ experience when seeking health information: (1) the empowerment and disempowerment in the pursuit of health information and (2) the scarcity and sufficiency in the accessibility of health information. Our findings offer a more nuanced understanding of migrant health processes. In particular, we propose that more theorizing and practical interventions should consider intersectional tensions and paradoxes that emerge from individuals whose identities grant them both access and limitations when it comes to seeking healthcare information.

Son-to-mother violence in the aftermath of domestic violence: Experiences of sons attending group violence prevention programs

There is growing acknowledgment that son-to-mother violence can occur as part of domestic and family violence (DFV) dynamics. DFV can significantly impact mother–child relationships. This situation is complex because mother–child relationships have different power dynamics and responsibilities than intimate adult partnerships. Recognition of and responses to adolescent-to-parent violence (APV) are inconsistent in service and justice systems, often leaving families under-serviced. There is a dearth of evidence on the effectiveness of programs specific to APV. This article analyses participants’ experiences in two APV reduction group programs. Both of the programs focused on encouraging accountability, addressing trauma, rebuilding attachment between sons and mothers, challenging harmful gendered attitudes, and increasing mothers’ parenting confidence. We report on a thematic analysis of interviews with 15 sons aged 12–17 whose mothers had experienced DFV from adult male partners. The participants were taken from the two different group programs. Our findings highlight sons’: 1) complex needs and trauma; 2) feelings of injustice and shame; 3) uncertainty regarding program aims; 4) connection with other young people; and 5) increased empathy for their mothers. Our findings can inform more responsive policy and practice interventions that engage this vulnerable cohort, address trauma, and prevent future violence.

Breadth and Depth of Patient and Caregiver Supportive Services in Community Oncology (WF-1803CD).

Providing supportive services to patients and their caregivers is essential to quality cancer care, yet the depth, availability, and infrastructure underlying these services remains unknown in community practice. We assessed these factors among practices within the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) to guide priorities for comprehensive supportive service(s) development and inform implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice. Supportive care leaders at NCORP practices completed online surveys regarding availability of services to patients and caregivers within seven domains, service infrastructure (e.g., staffing, technology), and implementation recommendations for caregiver-specific services. Primary outcomes were the proportion of practices offering at least one service in each domain to both populations and the proportion offering caregiver training/education. Of the 103 participating practice groups, only 15.5% offered at least one service in each domain to both populations; 21.4% offered caregiver training/education. Psychological (83.5%) and spiritual/religious (75.7%) services were most widely available to both; health promotion (28.2%) services were least available to both. Services offered were largely available on-site with dedicated staff; caregiver-specific services were nearly always off-site and typically self-pay. Practices most often used the patient health portal to communicate with patients and caregivers (54.4%). Only 28.9% provided bilingual staff for services. Social workers (35.7%) and navigators (34.7%) were recommended to support caregiver services. To meet national recommendations for supportive service provision, practices should invest in caregiver education/training programs, expand health promotion programs, and increase interpretation services. Future interventions should leverage existing resources (e.g., recommended staff, patient portal).

Plant Leaf Disease Detection Using Integrated Color and Texture Features

In the realm of precision agriculture, a pivotal challenge lies in the detection, identification, and grading of crop diseases. This multifaceted task necessitates the involvement of expert human resources and time-sensitive actions aimed at mitigating the risks of production losses and the rapid spread of diseases. The effectiveness of the majority of developed systems in this domain hinges on the quality of image features and disease segmentation accuracy. This paper presents a comprehensive research endeavor in the domain of Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR), specifically tailored to detect and classify leaf diseases. The proposed system integrates both color and texture features to underpin its functionality, providing a robust framework for accurate disease detection. By leveraging advanced image processing techniques, the system enhances the precision of disease identification, which is crucial for timely and effective intervention in agricultural practices. To evaluate the system’s performance, maize leaves afflicted by rust and blight serve as prime candidates for testing. These diseases were chosen due to their prevalence and significant impact on crop yield. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed system consistently excels in its disease detection and identification tasks, boasting an impressive efficiency rate of 98.33%. This high level of accuracy underscores the potential of the system to be a valuable tool in precision agriculture, aiding farmers and agricultural experts in maintaining healthy crops and optimizing production. The integration of color and texture features not only improves the detection accuracy but also provides a comprehensive understanding of the disease characteristics. This dual-feature approach ensures that the system can distinguish between different types of diseases with high precision, making it a versatile solution for various agricultural applications. The findings of this research highlight the importance of advanced image analysis techniques in enhancing the capabilities of disease detection systems, paving the way for more efficient and effective agricultural practices.

Identifying accident prone areas and factors influencing the severity of crashes using machine learning and spatial analyses

Identifying accident prone areas and the contributing environmental factors can save lives and enhance infrastructure durability. This research presents an innovative use of two hierarchical clustering methods (Agglomerative Hierarchical and BIRCH clustering algorithms) to detect accident hotspots with high accident rates on the Yazd-Kerman road, in Iran. These approaches identified clusters of accidents, highlighting significant clusters and categorizing their overlap as two accident prone areas. The high percentage of overlapping results from both methods indicates a high level of consistency in the findings. Through observations, field visits, police report analysis, and interviews with locals, the primary causes of accidents in accident prone areas were identified. In one of the accident prone areas, the most significant reasons for accidents included the presence of a resting area, insufficient lighting at curves, and poor road signage, which created a dilemma zone for drivers. In another accident prone area, the main contributing factor was reduced visibility during dust storms. Then, K-Nearest Neighbors and Random Forests machine learning algorithms were employed to predict the severity of accidents, using various input attributes such as lighting, climate, alignment slope, and road geometry. The K-Nearest Neighbor surpassed the Random Forest technique, achieving an overall accuracy of 71% in contrast to 60%. This study effectively evaluated the outcomes of clustering, uncovering the underlying causes of accidents to inform future practical interventions. Moreover, by predicting the severity of accidents along the road, a framework was developed to propose strategies for risk reduction.

Impact of the intensified follow-up procedure of patients lost to 6-month follow-up after an intensive smoking and nicotine cessation intervention in practice: a cohort study

BackgroundPost-intervention follow-up is challenging in research and practice. In tobacco reports, patients with missing follow-up were considered smokers. Based on patient and staff preferences, an add-on intensified follow-up procedure after...