Members Of Population Research Articles

Early subclinical stages of the inflammatory bowel diseases - insights from human and animal studies.

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) occur in genetically susceptible individuals that mount inappropriate immune responses to their microbiota leading to chronic intestinal inflammation. The natural history of IBD progression begins with early subclinical stages of disease that occur before clinical diagnosis. Improved understanding of those early subclinical stages could lead to new or improved strategies for IBD diagnosis, prognostication or prevention. Here we review our current understanding of the early subclinical stages of IBD in humans including studies from first-degree relatives of IBD patients and members of the general population who go on to develop IBD. We also discuss representative mouse models of IBD that can be used to investigate disease dynamics and host-microbiota relationships during these early stages. In particular, we underscore how mouse models of IBD that develop disease later in life with variable penetrance may present valuable opportunities to discern early subclinical mechanisms of disease before histological inflammation and other severe symptoms become apparent.

Intrusive thoughts and memories in adolescents with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Research in adults suggests that intrusive memories and intrusive thoughts (often referred to as intrusive cognitions) are common in members of the general population and are often seen in clinical disorders. However, little is known about the experience of intrusive cognitions in adolescents, particularly in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study sought to gather fundamental data on these phenomena (i.e., frequency, characteristics and appraisals of intrusive cognitions) in adolescents with MDD and PTSD. Adolescents aged 11-18 with MDD (n = 11), PTSD (n = 13) and a non-clinical control group (n = 25) completed structured interviews concerning their intrusive memories and thoughts. Intrusive thoughts were common in all three groups but were particularly frequently experienced in the MDD group. Intrusive memories were expectedly very common in the PTSD group but also experienced by over half of the adolescents with MDD. Both clinical groups reported more negative emotions in response to their intrusive thoughts or memories and appraised these cognitions more negatively than the non-clinical group. Intrusive memories and thoughts are common experiences in adolescents with MDD and PTSD. Emotions and appraisals relating to these cognitions may be targets for psychological intervention in this age group. However, small sample sizes limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Replication is needed with larger numbers of clinical participants.

Comparative Analysis of Central Corneal Thickness in Ocular Hypertension and Healthy Individuals.

This study aimed to compare the central corneal thickness (CCT) between patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and healthy individuals, and to investigate the relationship between CCT and intraocular pressure (IOP), diopter, and corneal endothelium cell count (CECC). The CCT of 30 healthy subjects and 38 patients with OHT was measured using a non-contact specular microscope. IOP, diopter, and CECC were also assessed for all participants. Comparative analysis of CCT between the two groups was performed, along with correlation analysis between CCT and each parameter. The average CCT for all participants was 527.57 ± 35.84 µm. The average CCT was 516.07 ± 34.76 µm for healthy subjects and 536.66 ± 34.46 µm for patients with ocular hypertension, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P ≤ 0.05). CCT was not correlated with age (Pearson r = -0.098, P = 0.426), diopter (spherical equivalent refraction) (Pearson r = -0.158, P = 0.197), or corneal endothelium cell count (Pearson r = 0.065, P = 0.598). However, a positive correlation was found between ocular hypertension and central corneal thickness (Pearson r = 0.278, P = 0.022). Patients with ocular hypertension of members of the Chinese Han population exhibited greater CCT compared to healthy subjects in this study. CCT showed no association with age, diopter, or corneal endothelium cell count; however, a positive correlation was observed between intraocular pressure and CCT. With CCT as the abscissa and IOP as the ordinate, the linear regression equation is Y=0.05+0.021X (F = 5.508, P = 0.022). The use of non-contact tonometers for measuring CCT may impact the accuracy of diagnosing and treating glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rwanda

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to examine the effect of diplomacy practices on the conflict resolution in Rwanda. This study has the following specific objectives: To assess the effect of the public diplomacy on conflict resolution through MINAFFET. To establish the effect of economic diplomacy on conflict resolution through MINAFFET. To find out the effect of cultural diplomacy on conflict resolution through MINAFFET. This study assisted decision-makers, policy-makers, and government officials in enhancing their strategies for conflict resolution by providing insights into the effectiveness of public, economic, and cultural diplomacy through the MINAFFET. Methodology: The study used a descriptive research design, A total of 121 MINAFFET employees were the target population. All members of the target population were included in the sample size for this survey, which follows the census approach. The researcher collected data using questionnaire. Statistical methods such as correlation and regression analysis, in addition to descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations, were used by the researcher when dealing with quantitative data. For qualitative data, content analysis was used. Findings: The model demonstrates a multiple correlation coefficient (R) of 0.873, signifying a robust positive correlation among public diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and cultural diplomacy with the dependent variable, conflict resolution via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rwanda. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: It is advised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rwanda focus the enhancement of its diplomatic strategy via public, economic, and cultural avenues. This entails cultivating more vigorous public diplomacy efforts, advocating for economic interdependence as a mechanism for peace, and augmenting cultural contacts to enhance mutual understanding and collaboration among opposing factions.

The Impact of Capital Structure, Company Size, and Good Corporate Governance on Financial Performance and Company Value

This study aims to resolve the inconsistencies in prior research regarding the effects of capital structure, firm size, and good corporate governance (GCG) on company value. Additionally, it investigates the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the relationship between financial performance and company value, offering new insights into this dynamic interaction. This study utilizes a saturated sample or census approach, including all population members, due to the small population size and the researcher's ability to access the required data. Data from 71 manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) between 2018 and 2022 were obtained from their financial statements and annual reports. A quantitative analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square (PLS) regression with the SmartPLS 4.0 software. The results indicate that capital structure, company size, and GCG significantly impact financial performance. Additionally, capital structure was found to significantly affect company value, while company size and GCG did not. Financial performance significantly influenced company value, but CSR did not directly affect company value and did not moderate the relationship between financial performance and company value.

Validation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support among LGBT population in Serbia

Abstract Background Social support represents the belief that one is valued, cared for, and loved by others in a social network and a lack of it may lead to adverse outcomes such as a relapse into depression or emotional distress in physically ill patients. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is an instrument aimed to measure an individual’s perception of how much he or she receives outside social support. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Serbian version of MSPSS in a sample of LGBT population in Serbia. Methods The cross-sectional study included 504 respondents, members of the LGBT population living in Serbia. The instrument used was the MSPSS as a self-report measure, containing twelve items rated on a 7-point Likert scale. MSPSS consists of three sub-scales: Family, Friends, and Significant Others. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed with two independent random samples. Results The average score on the scale of social support was 5.58±0.84 (scale of social support by family 4.62±1.41, scale of social support by friends 5.93± 1.99, and scale of social support by the significant others 6.20±0.96, respectively). The Cronbach’s alpha for the entire social support scale was α = 0.772. The three-factor structure of the MSPSS was proved with EFA and CFA. The factor loadings varied between 0.630-0.817. The three factors explained a total of 52.68% of the variance (factor 1- 28.62%, factor 2. 13.16%, factor 3- 10,90%). The three-factor model was adopted during the CFA when the three-factor model CFI (comparative fit index) was 0.969. Conclusions The MSPSS has shown good reliability, internal validity and construct validity and can be used as a convenient measure of social support among the LGBT population. Both EFA and CFA yield a three-factor structure consistent with the theory underlying the measure’s development. Key messages • The results of the study suggest that the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support has acceptable psychometric properties for use with the LGBT population. • This study supports the use of the MSPSS for assessing community-based collaboration using the three-factor model among the LGBT population.

The influence of kindness on academics' identity, well-being and stress.

The well-being of people working and studying in higher education, including students, staff, and faculty, is a topic of increasing concern. The lack of well-being may be attributed to the current academic context, which does not consistently provide cues that affirm social inclusion to all members of the academic population. This study examines the role of kindness (defined as actions that affirm dignity and social inclusion) in promoting identification with community and well-being in higher education utilizing a cross-sectional study of 182 diverse members of higher education. To assess the extent that kindness relates to the acquisition of institutional identity, well-being, and stress, we developed and validated two novel psychometric rating scales for kindness: Kindness Received (α = 0.927, ώ = .921) and Kindness Given (α = .859, ώ = .860). Initial analysis showed that receiving kindness was significantly associated with increased well-being, reduced stress, and improved institutional identity. Giving kindness was significantly associated with decreased stress reduction and decreased institutional identity. Results from structural equation modeling shows that institutional identity mediates the relationship between receiving kindness and well-being. Qualitative analysis of micronarratives regarding kindness showed that feeling safe and being acknowledged are the most commonly described experiences of kindness, both acts that affirm dignity. The findings from this study suggests that kindness contributes towards improving diverse people's well-being and increased identification with institutions of higher education. Measurement of kindness provides methods for assessing institutional changes that foster greater positivity and inclusion in higher education settings.

Factors Affecting the Menstrual Cycle in Adolescent Girls at SMA Negeri 1 Kluet Selatan, South Aceh Regency, Aceh Province in 2023

The menstrual cycle is a problem among teenagers. The number of women who experience abnormal menstrual cycle problems caused by many factors, one of which is nutritional status, stress, physical activity and menarche age. Abnormal cycles are generally caused by unstable hormonal levels. Abnormal menstrual cycles cause long-term disruption to the reproductive system if left untreated. This type of research is an analytical survey research with a Cross Sectional research design. The purpose of the study was to find out the factors that affect the menstrual cycle in adolescent girls at SMA N 1 Kluet Selatan. The sample in this study is a student of SMA N 1 Kluet Selatan Class X, XI and XII which was obtained through the probability sampling technique, which is sampling that provides the same opportunity for population members to be selected as sample members. The results of the study showed that there was an effect of nutritional status with a P value of 0.003 (< 0.05), stress with a P value of 0.002 (< 0.05), physical activity with a P value of 0.026 (< 0.05. Menarche age, with a P value of 0.000 (< 0.05) on the menstrual cycle in adolescent girls at SMA N 1 Kluet Selatan From the results of the research, it was found that there was an effect of nutritional status, stress, physical activity, and menarche age on the menstrual cycle in adolescent girls at SMA N1 Kluet Selatan. The suggestion in this study is that it is hoped that adolescent girls can find information about factors that can affect the menstrual cycle so that they can find out early and can overcome the occurrence of disturbances during menstruation.

Green Hrm and Employee Performance: How Organizational Culture Plays A Mediating Role

This research looks at how green HR management affects employee performance through the medium of organizational culture. With the increasing demand for environmentally friendly practices, businesses are feeling the heat to adopt eco-friendly policies that benefit society and our environment. Green HRM is believed to promote environmentally conscious behavior among employees, thereby enhancing their performance. This study takes a quantitative approach by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) as its statistical method. PLS is well-suited for analyzing correlations between complex variables. Maximizing explained variance enhances prediction accuracy, which is why PLS is chosen. The study ensures full data representation by using a saturation sampling strategy, which encompasses all relevant population members. Although green HR management has a major effect on company culture, the results show that it has little to no effect on employee performance. Furthermore, corporate culture mediates the relationship between green HR management and staff effectiveness, which in turn has a substantial impact on worker performance. The study concludes that for effective implementation of green HRM, it is essential to integrate it with an organizational culture that aligns with sustainability values. For this reason, green human resource management practices ought to be an essential component of the culture of every organization that aspires to raise the level of productivity achieved by its workforce.

An Exploration of Registered Nurses' Experiences Caring for Patients Taking Medicinal Cannabis.

This study aimed to describe nurses' experiences caring for patients who use medicinal cannabis. For the purpose of this study, the term 'medicinal cannabis' is used to describe cannabis-based products that are sourced legally or illegally. Qualitative study using thematic analysis. Eleven registered nurses explored their experiences caring for patients using medicinal cannabis in the Australian healthcare sector. Semistructured interviews were via telephone, Zoom or face to face. Transcribed interview data were analysed using the six phases of thematic analysis. The nurses' experiences of caring for patients who use medicinal cannabis were described in three themes; 'Searching for predictable processes of regulation, access and use of medicinal cannabis', 'One conundrum after another' and 'There is a lot to learn'. Overall, nurses described feeling underprepared to care for patients who use or want to use medicinal cannabis in the Australian healthcare sector. The results indicate that nurses want to have meaningful discussions with patients about the use of medicinal cannabis, yet do not always have the confidence to do so. Nurses sought their own education on how to better support patients. All participants echoed the need for education. The nurse's role in caring for and supporting patients using medicinal cannabis could improve the patient experience. Nurses play an essential role in improving the patient's experience and advocating for those using or wanting to discuss medicinal cannabis as a part of holistic care. Defining the nurse's role in effectively caring for patients can begin by providing evidence-based education to nurses. Including nurses in policy development and beginning to understand the legal and regulatory implications for nurses are important. This is the first study presenting current issues for nurses who care for patients using medicinal cannabis in Australian healthcare systems. COREQ guidelines were adhered to for this study. For this research project on the experiences of registered nurses caring for patients using medicinal cannabis, we did not engage members of the patient population or the general public.

Hospital Strain During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Outcomes in Older Racial and Ethnic Minority Adults

Marginalized populations have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Critically ill patients belonging to racial and ethnic minority populations treated in hospitals operating under crisis or near-crisis conditions may have experienced worse outcomes than White individuals. To examine whether hospital strain was associated with worse outcomes for older patients hospitalized with sepsis and whether these increases in poor outcomes were greater for members of racial and ethnic minority groups compared with White individuals. In this cross-sectional study, multivariable regression analysis was conducted to assess differential changes in all-cause 30-day mortality and major morbidity among older racial and ethnic minoritized individuals hospitalized with sepsis compared with White individuals and changes in hospital strain using Medicare claims data. Data were obtained on patients hospitalized between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, and analyzed between December 16, 2023, and July 11, 2024. Time-varying weekly hospital percentage of inpatients with COVID-19. Composite of all-cause 30-day mortality and major morbidity. Among the 5 899 869 hospitalizations for sepsis (51.5% women; mean [SD] age, 78.2 [8.8] years), there were 177 864 (3.0%) Asian, 664 648 (11.3%) Black, 522 964 (8.9%) Hispanic, and 4 534 393 (76.9%) White individuals. During weeks when the hospital COVID-19 burden was greater than 40%, the risk of death or major morbidity increased nearly 2-fold (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.90; 95% CI, 1.80-2.00; P < .001) for White individuals compared with before the pandemic. Asian, Black, and Hispanic individuals experienced 44% (AOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.28-1.61; P < .001), 21% (AOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.11-1.33; P < .001), and 45% (AOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.32-1.59; P < .001) higher risk of death or morbidity, respectively, compared with White individuals when the hospital weekly COVID-19 burden was greater than 40%. In this cross-sectional study, older adults hospitalized with sepsis were more likely to die or experience major morbidity as the hospital COVID-19 burden increased. These increases in adverse outcomes were greater in magnitude among members of minority populations than for White individuals.

A Self-led Self-management Intervention Supporting Teens with IBD (ASSIST-IBD): protocol for a feasibility study of a novel digital treatment adherence intervention

IntroductionTreatment non-adherence is common in young people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet support is lacking. A self-led self-management intervention supporting teens with IBD (ASSIST-IBD) is a new theory-based digital...

Effect of smoking on the risk of gastrointestinal cancer after cholecystectomy: A national population-based cohort study.

The role of smoking in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) or gastric cancer (GC) in populations undergoing cholecystectomy has not been investigated. To evaluate the effect of smoking on CRC or GC development in cholecystectomy patients. A total of 174874 patients who underwent cholecystectomy between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017 were identified using the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database. These patients were matched 1:1 with members of a healthy population according to age and sex. CRC or GC risk after cholecystectomy and the association between smoking and CRC or GC risk in cholecystectomy patients were evaluated using adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95%CIs. The risks of CRC (adjusted HR: 1.15; 95%CI: 1.06-1.25; P = 0.0013) and GC (adjusted HR: 1.11; 95%CI: 1.01-1.22; P = 0.0027) were significantly higher in cholecystectomy patients. In the population who underwent cholecystectomy, both CRC and GC risk were higher in those who had smoked compared to those who had never smoked. For both cancers, the risk tended to increase in the order of non-smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between the amount of smoking and the risks of both CRC and GC. Careful follow-up and screening should be performed, focusing on the increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer in the cholecystectomy group, particularly considering the individual smoking habits.

Myasthenia Gravis: utilising cross-platform quantitative content analysis to uncover and validate unmet needs.

Recent years have seen a rapid growth in the number of online health communities targeted at patients with long-term conditions. Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare neurological disease for which such communities have not been analysed before. The aim of this study was to better understand the needs of the MG population through the collation and categorisation of questions that users of MG social media were asking fellow users on these platforms. Systematic observation of four MG Facebook groups was conducted over a 2-month period. Groups were selected for analysis based on the following systematic criteria: Language (English), Membership (≥ 5,000 members), group activity (≥ 2 posts per week), target audience (general MG population) and researcher engagement with group administrators. The study protocol was reviewed by the institutional review board of the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (EA2/106/22). During the observation period, data were extracted from individual posts featuring questions made across each group using a systematic and objective coding scheme. All data points were coded directly from the source and collated into an SPSS database (IBM SPSS V.27, SPSS). Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for categorical variables and proportions were compared across groups to validate the credibility and relevance of different requests. Of the 2,062 posts observed (N = 2,062), 1,392 featured questions (n = 1,392). Questions were asked by 787 unique users: 531 were identified as one-time users (67%) and 256 were identified as repeat users (33%). Six hundred and fifty six users were classified as presumed diagnosed (83%), 61 as seeking diagnosis (8%), 69 as family and/or friends (9%) and as other (<0%). Eight unique categories of questions were observed including MG treatment (31%), Symptoms (19%), Living with MG (12%), Diagnosis (10%), non-MG medication (11%), Tests (8%), Location (4%) and Other (4%). Members of the MG population make active use of online health communities to seek and discuss practical information concerning various aspects of the disease, its diagnosis and care. The openness and willingness of the sample population to share sensitive medical information shows a high need for information not entirely catered to by the medical profession.

An integrated optimization method for the damper placements, shape and size of truss structures

This work extends the application of the approximation concept in dynamic topology optimization for truss structures. The corresponding problem contains both continuous and discrete variables, encompassing damper placements, truss shape and cross-sectional area. First, the utilization of a branched multipoint approximation (BMA) function establishes sequential approximation problems that also involve such mixed variables, marking its innovative application in dynamic optimization. Then, a modified genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize discrete variables. To enhance convergence stationarity, the concept of ‘adjacent individuals’ is proposed to control the degree of difference in topology configuration between initial population members and the current optimal. Additionally, adjustments to the sequence-based crossover process ensure compliance with damper quantity constraints. Examples demonstrate that the introduction of adjacent individuals is beneficial to convergence stationarity, and the shape change of the truss increases the mode damping ratio by more than 20%. The created optimization platform can also tackle other mixed variables optimization problems.

Influence of the Budget Control System on the Company's Financial Performance

A company certainly has goals to achieve. Various things can help in achieving company goals, one of which is the budget control system. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the budget control system on financial performance. The type of research used is quantitative. The data source used is secondary data obtained through the documentation method. The population in this study were companies in City X. Meanwhile, the sampling technique used in this study is a non-probability sampling technique, more precisely using saturated sampling technique, namely sampling determination technique with all population members used as samples. The sample obtained was 90 companies in City X. The data analysis techniques used are validity test, reliability test, normality test, and t test and determination coefficient test for hypothesis testing. The results obtained that the budget control system has a significant effect on the company's financial performance. The better the financial control system, the better the financial performance.

Outcomes and Patterns of Evolution of Patients with Hematological Malignancies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Study (2020-2022).

Background: Early reports suggest that hematological malignancy (HM) is a relevant risk factor for morbidity and mortality in COVID-19. We investigated the characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for mortality in patients hospitalized with HM and COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, nationwide study using data from hospitalized patients that were provided by the Spanish Ministry of Health including all patients admitted to a Spanish hospital from 2020 to 2022 with a COVID-19 diagnosis. A descriptive analysis and correlational analyses were conducted. Logistic regression was used to assess mortality in these patients and to calculate odds ratios (ORs). Results: We collected data on 1.2 million patients with COVID-19, including 34,962 patients with HMs. The incidence of hospitalization for patients with HMs was 5.8%, and the overall mortality rate was higher than for patients without HMs (19.8% versus 12.7%, p = 0.001). Mortality rates were higher for patients with lymphomas, multiple myelomas, and leukemias than for those with myeloproliferative disorders. Having HMs was a risk factor for mortality, with OR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.66-1.75, p = 0.001). By subtype, non-Hodgkin lymphomas were the highest risk factor for mortality (OR = 1.7), followed by leukemias (OR = 1.6), Hodgkin lymphomas (OR = 1.58), and plasma cell dyscrasias (OR = 1.24). Conclusions: This study identifies the different clinical profiles of patients with HMs who are at a high risk for mortality when hospitalized with COVID-19. As members of a vulnerable population, these patients deserve special prophylactic and therapeutic measures to minimize the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

GDPR-anonymous population overlap estimation

The feasibility of many collaborative, data-driven research projects in Public Health and Social Sciences depends on the size of the overlap between the populations of contributing data partners, that is, the number of individuals for whom all parties can provide data. Where the identity of respective population members is subject to privacy protections, the overlap is traditionally estimated using de-identified cryptographic tokens to represent individuals. This does however not meet the strict standard of anonymity under GDPR and potentially runs counter to emerging privacy laws of US States, and may thus impose significant regulatory and governance burdens on research institutions, even at the early scoping stage. We present a novel method for overlap estimation, where two data partners construct a single, anonymous Bloom filter for their populations from which the overlap can be estimated. Two new techniques -- (a) the randomization of the contribution of individual population members to the Bloom filter and (b) an interactive bit-flipping protocol between data partners -- are presented which ensure that the Bloom filters are safe against dictionary attack by one party against the other party. We discuss the security aspects of this method, present the required mathematical formulas for calculating the overlap estimate, and report on the practical performance in terms of computational effort and resulting accuracy. The goal of the method is to facilitate new research by reducing the cost and complexity of initial planning and by making the overlap estimate GDPR-anonymous, and thus safer and subject to less onerous compliance requirements.

Theoretically framing views of people who smoke in understanding what might work to support smoking cessation in coastal communities: adapting the TIDieR checklist to qualitative analysis for complex intervention development

IntroductionPeople living in coastal communities have some of the worst health outcomes in the UK, driven in part by high smoking rates. Deprived coastal communities include socially disadvantaged groups that struggle to access traditional stop smoking services. The study aimed to seek the views of people who smoke living in coastal communities, to assess the optimal smoking cessation intervention for this population. In addition, the Template for Intervention Description Replication (TIDieR) checklist was adapted as an analytical framework for qualitative data to inform intervention design.MethodsCurrent or recent ex-smokers (n = 25) were recruited to participate in qualitative interviews from a range of community locations in a deprived English seaside town. A thematic analysis of the interview data was undertaken adapting the TIDieR framework. This analysis was triangulated with relevant literature and notes from stakeholder meetings and observations to map onto the TIDieR checklist to describe the optimal intervention.ResultsBarriers to quitting smoking in the target population included low motivation to quit, high anxiety/boredom, normalisation of smoking and widespread illicit tobacco use. There was broad support for combining behavioural support, e-cigarettes and financial incentives, with a strong preference for the intervention to be delivered opportunistically and locally within (non-healthcare) community settings, in a non-pressurising manner, ideally by a community worker specially trained to give stop smoking support.ConclusionsAn intensive community-based smoking cessation intervention was acceptable to the target population. Adapting the TIDieR checklist as a deductive qualitative analytical framework offered a systematic approach to intervention development. Combined with other intervention development activities, this ensured that the intervention design process was transparent and the proposed intervention was well defined. It is recommended that prior to intervention development researchers speak to members of the target population who may give valuable insight into the optimal intervention.

Race in place: scales of difference along the Balkan Route of migration

ABSTRACT This paper is an ethnographic examination of race, racialization, and racism among members of a Muslim post-Yugoslav population who have not emigrated – who stayed “in place” – but whose location just outside EU borders has brought people from outside Europe to their community as illegalized migrants along the Balkan Route to the EU. Residents of Bihać and the northwest region of Bosnia–Herzegovina make sense of how racial hierarchies position both them and the migrants, and in turn how racism functions in their society, through overlapping and simultaneously imagined global, regional, and local scales. Distancing from racism based on Bosnia’s specific positioning was common, while local racializing hierarchies such as those that inferiorize the Roma were often understood through frameworks of ethnicity. This made possible a simultaneous identification with “Europe” and whiteness and a distancing from racial thinking and racism as a problem of the “west” even through divergent stances towards migrants.