Group Meetings Research Articles

Improving the process of evaluating the quality of care in “maternal near miss” at hospital level: an action research study protocol

BackgroundThe fifth Millennium Development Goal aims to improve maternal health by reducing maternal mortality by 75% from 1990 to 2015. Consequently, utilizing quality care indicators and performance evaluations is crucial for providing effective services. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of care for critically ill mothers in hospitals through action research.Methods/designThis study involves action research utilizing reform cycles, including focus group meetings with the head of the midwifery office, maternity hospital officials, gynecologists, and midwives from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Following a severe morbidity incident resulting in maternal death, a hospital meeting will convene to investigate the root causes. This committee will review the hospital records from the mother's admission to discharge to identify necessary preventive measures against malpractice. Sampling is purposeful. Sample size will be determined by data saturation. The project's final results, along with participant feedback, will inform the planning of the second action research cycle, which will encompass planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The final report will be submitted to officials for approval, and the number of invitees for subsequent meetings will be based on study findings, facilitating discussion and decision-making for ongoing processes. Ultimately, the final care quality assessment process will be prepared for presentation.DiscussionIn many birth blocks, women experiencing severe complications from pregnancy and childbirth face similar health issues. Quality care is essential for global strategies aimed at eliminating avoidable deaths.Ethical code IR.MUMS.NURSE.REC. 1402.024.

Assessing the Environmental Sustainability Corridor for BRICS Nations by Integrating Three SDGs, ‘Biocapacity’ and ‘Ecological Footprint’

The present study makes an attempt to analyse the co-integrating relation between ‘ecological footprint’ on one hand and GDP, trade openness, forest area and biocapacity on the other for the period 1992–2015 for five BRICS economies with the objective of ascertaining whether the rapid growth achieved by the BRICS is along a ‘sustainable’ path. Further, the study also tries to lookout for signs of ‘convergence’ of ‘ecological footprint’ amongst all BRICS economies. The methodology employed includes ARDL Co-integration Model, TY Causality and Beta Convergence Models. The results showed existence of long run co-integration amongst four BRICS nations (except for India where no co-integration was proved) with fast speed of adjustment towards long run equilibrium. Further, short-run causality was seen moving from ‘GDP’ and ‘forest area’ towards ‘ecological footprint’ in three of the five BRICS nations, while variable ‘trade’ was not seen causing ‘ecological footprint’. ‘Beta convergence’ was also proved for ‘ecological footprint’ amongst all BRICS nations. These results thus provide a clear indication as to which variables need to be targeted to achieve a ‘sustainable’ growth. The results also reveal the pace of long-term adjustment as shown by ECM(1) term, which would enable policymakers to plan their action for fulfilment of the objective of tackling ‘environmental degradation’ in BRICS economies. Also, convergence of ‘ecological footprint’ across BRICS indicates that similar policies to tackle environmental degradation could be framed for BRICS at their group meetings.

Methionine supplementation regulates eggshell quality and uterine transcriptome in late-stage broiler breeders

This study aimed to compare the effects of dietary methionine (Met) and 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoate (HMTBA) on the eggshell quality of broiler breeder hens and elucidate the mechanism of Met in improving eggshell quality from the perspectives of eggshell microstructure and shell gland physiological function. A total of 720 WOD188 broiler breeder hens at 40 wk old were assigned to 3 groups, with 8 replicates per group and 30 birds per replicate. Over 7 weeks, birds were fed a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 0.15% Met or 0.17% HMTBA. Our findings revealed significant improvements in the Met group for egg shape index, shell thickness, breaking strength, and fracture toughness (P < 0.05), whereas the HMTBA group showed no significant improvements (P > 0.05). Met supplementation increased calcium and phosphorus levels in both serum and shell gland tissue (P < 0.05), and enhanced Ca2+ ATPase activity in shell gland tissue (P < 0.05). Histomorphological changes included enhanced mucosal fold dimensions and increased epithelial height in the shell gland (P < 0.05). Met also improved eggshell ultrastructure, resulting in a thicker effective layer and broader mammillae with fewer type B structures (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels for genes regulating eggshell ultrastructure, such as OC-116, CALB1, and ITM2C, were significantly upregulated in the Met group (P < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis identified 248 differentially upregulated genes in the Met group, primarily linked to the non-canonical Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway, crucial for calcium ion transport and cellular proliferation. This research highlights that Met supplementation improves eggshell quality by enhancing calcium transport and cellular proliferation in uterine function, particularly through the modulation of WNT11 and CALB1, influencing calcium deposition and ultrastructural development.

Improving medication safety for intensive care patients transitioning to a hospital ward: development of a theory-informed intervention package.

Care of critically ill patients is complex, requiring effective collaboration co-ordination and communication across care teams and professions. Medicines are a fundamental component of the acute interventions intensive care unit (ICU) patients receive, requiring frequent review and optimisation according to patient needs. ICU patients recovering to transfer to a hospital ward are at risk of medication transition errors, contributing to poorer patient and health-system outcomes. We aimed to develop of a theory-informed intervention package to improve medication safety for ICU patients transferring to a hospital ward. We conducted a qualitative study comprising two UK face-to-face focus group meetings in April and May 2022. There were ten participants in each meeting (7-8 healthcare professionals and 2-3 patient and public representatives). Each meeting had four foci: (i) What needs to change (intervention targets)? (ii) What are the core intervention components? (iii) What will the intervention components change and how (mechanisms of action), and what key outcomes will the changes impact on? (iv) What are the barriers and facilitators to intervention delivery? A background to the problem and previous intervention development work was provided. Meetings were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Iterative analyses, informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, were conducted to provide a behavioural diagnosis, identify key behaviour change techniques and outline the mechanisms of action through which the intervention might impact on key outcome. We identified what needs to change to improve medication safety for UK ICU patients on this care transition. A theory-informed intervention package was developed, based on seven core intervention components (e.g., medication review (targeted), task organisation and prioritisation). For each intervention component the mechanism of action, targeted change, and key outcomes were identified (e.g., medication review (targeted); action planning; decreases problematic polypharmacy; decreased preventable adverse drug events). Barriers and facilitators to intervention component delivery were described. We developed a theory-informed core intervention package to address the limitations in medication safety for ICU patients transferring to a hospital ward. Understanding what needs to change, and the accompanying facilitators provides a basis for intervention feasibility testing and refinement prior to future evaluation of effectiveness.

Assessment of Maternal and Infant Health Status in Durham Region

I completed my practicum as a Student Epidemiologist at the Durham Region Health Department with the Health Analytics and Research Team (HART). HART is tasked with conducting population health assessments in the Durham Region. As a member of HART, I played a critical role in assessing the maternal and infant health status of the local population using data from the Better Outcome Registry and Network (BORN) information system (BIS), a database that contains critical reproductive and child health data in Ontario. Specifically, my primary responsibilities included data extraction and data coding, which encompassed a series of tasks, spanning from data cleaning to data analysis in STATA. By analyzing BORN data, I was able to refine my statistical and programming skills. Moreover, I collaborated with public health program staff to develop infographics that disseminated critical maternal and infant health information to various communities. The infographics I assisted with covered a wide range of maternal and infant health topics, including issues such as gestational diabetes and maternal mental health concerns. From here, I was able to effectively communicate health information in a concise and understandable manner. In addition, I had the opportunity to attend various public health workshops and group meetings during my practicum. These experiences not only expanded my knowledge of diverse public health topics but also afforded me greater familiarity with public health practice. In summary, my time at the Durham Region provided me with an exceptional opportunity to apply the knowledge I gained in school to real-world practice. It was a valuable and enriching experience that significantly contributed to my professional development in the field of public health.

Análisis de prácticas ambientales, comerciales, seguras y saludables en comunidades artesanales rurales y urbanas de Cali

The objective of this article is to document the experiences and results of the project “Technical Assistance for Environmentalmanagement, safe and healthy practices in rural and urban artisanal communities, Cali 2023", based on the potential of theartisan of the handicraft sector in the popular economy and its contribution to the Colombian economy, supported by tradition,culture, in the environmental, commercial, social and labor dimensions. Artisan communities in Cali and its rural areas wereinvited so that various group and individual meetings were held with artisans in their territories and other agreed-upon spaces.The identification and selection of the participating artisan communities was carried out, by characterizing the populationof interest through a rubric for the identification of needs and a interview data collection instrument This made it possible to propose a plan of action aimed at training and advice tailored to the artisan and the artisan community, as well as the developmentof a pilot test of a web-based application for the strengthening competencies in digital economy.

Advancing Gender Inclusion in Forest Governance in Selected Communities; Kori Chiefdom, Southern Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, existing cultural norms are believed to limit gender mainstreaming in sustainable forest management. This study investigated women’s involvement in decision making regarding forest governance and management in five communities within Kori Chiefdom Southern Sierra Leone. Respondents were selected using both probability and non-probability sampling methods. Stratified sampling was used to classify key respondents into youth and adults (male and female, based on age classes and gender. Consequently, due to the small populations of selected communities (Kawella, Lagor Kawema, Nyamawabu, Kangahun and Foya), purposive sampling was used to select 100.0% of male and female youth (ages 18 to 35), and adults (age 36 and above). Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedule. Data from respondents was analysed using descriptive analysis and presented in tables and charts. The 2010 Sierra Leone National Forest Policy was analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed that 100.0% of youth, men and women sampled, confirmed that women attend forest-user group meetings and were actively involved in decision making concerning forest governance. Likewise, majority of men sampled (above 56.2%) opined that the chiefs took final decision over forests use in their respective communities. Furthermore, most of the youth (above 50.0%) in each community and men (above 87.5%), with the exception of those in Foya, (25.0% in Kangahun), revealed that women held positions in forest-user groups. Similar proportions of youth and men also confirmed that women actively engage in implementing decisions made regarding forest governance. All, (100%) of women attested that there was no existing gender marginalization in forest governance within the communities sampled. Finally, content analysis of the 2010 Sierra Leone National Forest Policy revealed that there aren’t any women specific - provisions or roles assigned to or reserved for women in any part of the policy document. In conclusion, in spite of the absence policy provisions to promote mainstreaming women’s involvement in forest governance, this research confirmed that women are not hindered from participating in forest decision making and governance in the study areas. It is therefore recommended that women should be given more encouragement to participate in forest decision making and assigned more leadership roles in forest governance.

Museum Educators Perspective of Failure: A Collective Frame Analysis

ABSTRACTMuseums offer a unique role and safe space in shaping how youth view and react to experiences with failure. The purpose of this study was to add to the conversation around failure in out‐of‐school learning, particularly from the perspective of educators within museum settings that implement STEAM‐related making exhibits, workshops, and/or camps for youth. We analyzed approximately 9 h of video data from two sources: video recordings of virtual group meetings with 14 museum educators from six partnering institutions, and video recordings from five of the individual partnering sites discussing failure as a concept within their organization and programming. In this article, we demonstrate how the framings of failure by museum educators are bounded, and transformed, by un/seen external forces that ultimately impact the professional practices of educators in their organizations. We contend that the significance of this study lies in how perspectives around failure are produced and how they influence educators' professional practice, specifically in how failure is framed and communicated within STEAM‐related learning opportunities in museum settings.

Collaborative dynamics and shared motivation: exploring tobacco control policy development in Zambia.

In Zambia, efforts to produce a tobacco control policy have stalled for over a decade, and the country is not yet close to developing one. Limited studies have explored the dynamics in this policy process and how they affect the attainment of policy goals and outcomes. This study explored how collaborative dynamics within tobacco control policy development shaped shared motivation among stakeholders in Zambia. The study used a qualitative case study design that adopted a collaborative governance lens, comprising an in-depth exploration of the tobacco control policy working group meetings and their internal collaborative dynamics. The integrative framework for collaborative governance, which identifies mutual trust, mutual understanding, internal legitimacy and shared commitment as key elements of shared motivation, was adapted for this study. Data were collected from 27 key informants and analysed using thematic analysis. Several collaborative dynamics thwarted mutual trust among tobacco control stakeholders, including concerns about associated loyalties, fear of a ban on tobacco production, silo-mentality and lack of comprehensive dialogue. All stakeholders agreed that the limited sharing of information on tobacco control and the lack of reliable local evidence on the tobacco burden hindered mutual understanding. Diverse factors hampered internal legitimacy, including sector representatives' lack of authority and the perceived lack of contextualization of the proposed policy content. Acknowledgement of the need for multisectoral action, lack of political will from other sectors and limited local allocation of funds to the process were some of the factors that shaped shared commitment. To accelerate the development of tobacco control policies in Zambia and elsewhere, policymakers must adopt strategies founded on shared motivation that deliberately create opportunities for open discourse and respectful interactions, promote a cultural shift towards collaborative information sharing and address unequal power relations to enable shaping of appropriate tobacco control actions in respective sectors.

THE PROBLEM OF PROFESSIONALLY SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY

It was proved in the article, that among the students of experimental and control groups, before the experimental training, the most important instrumental values were: high demands, cheerfulness, independence, accuracy, education, conscientiousness in the execution of assignments. Unfortunately, such important instrumental values for the future psychologist as sensitivity, tolerance for the opinions of others, the ability to make thoughtful decisions, self-control and others have a rather low level of formation (for example, sensitivity; tolerance of others’ opinions). According to the results of our research, individual experience is actualized during the formation of the subject, the so-called “going out to meet something”. This is explained by the fact that our self-realization, although important in itself, is optional, an additional product of our desire, that is, in other words, a human calling that inspires a person to perform actions. In this context we’d remark on subjective experience (“awareness”), which is a component of a real dialogue is quite important. We call another danger from the person’s focus on his/her personality “hidden spontaneity”. This spontaneity is hidden because we want to become spontaneous, we set this as our goal, but then we try to structure this spontaneity. Such a process takes place during encounter groups. However, we point out, the danger is that what worked for one person in one situation may not necessarily work in another situation, so transference should not be applied in every case. But, as a rule, at the moment when a person becomes experienced, then he/she wants to transfer this experience to other subjects. As a result of this, the emergence of authoritarianism on the part of the coach during the group meetings classes is possible. In the context of the analysis of the experience that we carry out, one can see the efforts to overcome the methodology of simplified determinism. Thus, Humanistic Psychology paradoxically comes close to weakening its own subjective idea. Directly for the results of our research, the key point in our theory was the construction of a universal scale of needs from lower to higher, which differs from the levels of the formation or functioning of needs in representatives of behavioral psychology or known levels of psychoanalysis, in their essence, only an instruction to look for the key to anatomy not from below, but from above. The heuristic nature of the classification and ranking of human needs in the operational-procedural plan is not in doubt, but, nevertheless, objections arise when even any broad normalization of human actualizations enters the limits of the methodological paradigm. It is difficult to say to what extent such regulation is unhumanistic, but it is clear that to a large extent it appears as undemocratic.

Perceptions of pupil poverty: what do trainee teachers really think?

ABSTRACT This study gained an understanding of trainee teachers’ perceptions of poverty and the effects on primary school children. Previous research is limited but has suggested that trainees may hold stereotypical deficit views about children in poverty, which can negatively impact the learning and progress of such children. The study took place over a three-year period at a university in the East Midlands region of England. Participants were volunteers from three Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes. Qualitative data were collected from three snapshot focus group meetings with participants from each programme (n = 6; n = 5 and n = 7). These were followed by three focus group meetings with another group of trainees (n = 5), which were convened across their one-year course. The findings showed that the trainees often viewed poverty in terms of income and lack of material possessions. They expressed negative opinions couched in derogatory language, equating poverty with a lack of aspirations, care and supervision on the parents’ part. However, there were indications of some shifts in perceptions during training. The findings suggest that it is important for ITE courses to offer trainees opportunities to facilitate the disruption of stereotypical beliefs by engaging meaningfully with issues of social justice.

High Yielding Pest and Disease Tolerance Variety (DHLM-14-1) in Little Millet (Panicum sumetrense. L) Developed through Recombinant Breeding Technology

The little millet variety DHLM-14-1 developed at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) Hanumanamatti under the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. With a maturation period of 85-90 days, this variety features an erect, tall plant stature ranging from 112 to 130 cm and produces bold, oval-shaped gray grains. DHLM-14-1 stands out for its notable tolerance to shoot fly, exhibiting only a 13.89% incidence compared to 19.15% in the national check JK-8. Its impressive yield performance is evident, yielding 18.42%, 30.58%, and 3.14% more than the national checks OLM-203, JK-8, and KOPLM-53, respectively, making it a beneficial option for millet producers looking for resilient, high-yielding crops. Across trials conducted from 2011 to 2014, DHLM-14-1 showcased exceptional agronomic performance, achieving a mean seed yield of 42.41q/ha, significantly outperforming local check TNAU-63 and national check OLM-203 by 26.63% and 23.75%, respectively. Its consistent yield superiority, with an average of 15.89 q/ha over three years, illustrates the cultivar's adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions, surpassing OLM-203 and JK-8 by 18.42% and 30.58%. Recognized during the 29th Annual Group Meeting of the ICAR All India Coordinated Research Project on small millets, DHLM-14-1 has shown strong disease resistance against grain smut, brown spot, and sheath blight, with disease incidences similar to OLM-203 and significantly lower than JK-8. Additionally, its effective resistance to shoot fly underscores its potential to reduce pest damage, reinforcing DHLM-14-1's value as a high-yielding, resilient cultivar that not only enhances sustainable millet production but also supports food security and improves farmer livelihoods across India.

Co-Design of a Facilitated Self-Management Toolkit for People With Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease is a complex progressive neurodegenerative disease increasing globally. Self-management interventions have shown promise in improving the quality of life for people with chronic conditions. This paper aims to describe the development processes and the core components of a facilitated self-management toolkit to support people with Parkinson's disease to self-manage their condition. An iterative co-design approach was adopted and included the use of systematic reviews, qualitative methods and theory to develop the Live Well with Parkinson's toolkit. A co-design group was established consisting of people with Parkinson's, family carers and health and social care experts to produce and refine an online self-management toolkit to be tested in practice. Five co-design groups were conducted alongside several phases of toolkit development. An online self-management toolkit, called Live Well with Parkinson's, was developed with core aspects such as tailored information to the individual, a well-being section using an asset-based approach and problem-solving skills to create and maintain goals, symptom review and management sections and a tracker of medication, symptoms and activities/actions. A paper-based alternative version was also created for those who cannot use an online resource. The toolkit is fully manualised and facilitated by six sessions from a 'supporter' who is trained in behaviour change techniques. It can be shared with carers and healthcare professionals. The toolkit is a robust and comprehensive approach to self-management of Parkinson's disease. It is evidenced based, incorporates theory and was developed with people with Parkinson's and experts in the area. The Live Well with Parkinson's toolkit has the potential to be embedded within routine healthcare, aligning with self-management policies. Author B.M. is our patient and public involvement (PPI) representative and author on this paper. B.M. supports a team of 15 PPI members who have contributed to the development of the toolkit. This involvement has included attending research team and steering group meetings, attending and facilitating co-designed workshops, reviewing all the toolkit information before approval and supporting with the user testing.

Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning for risk stratification acute kidney injury among hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: PCRRTICONIC AI Initiative Group Meeting Proceedings.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent, severe complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have showcased their proficiency in predicting AKI, projecting disease progression, and accurately identifying underlying etiologies. This review examines the central aspects of AKI post-HSCT, veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in HSCT recipients, discusses present-day applications of artificial intelligence in AKI, and introduces a proposed ML framework for the early detection of AKI risk.

Determinants of Loan Repayment Behavior of Tanzanian Microfinance Borrowers

ABSTRACT Microfinance institutions (MFIs) play a vital role in promoting financial inclusion and reducing poverty by providing credit to marginalized populations. However, sustainability issues arise due to challenges in loan repayment. This study examines the factors influencing loan repayment among microfinance borrowers in Tanzania, specifically the impact of dynamic incentives, joint liability, and regular group meetings. Using survey data from 251 MFI borrowers, we analyzed repayment behavior among individuals in group loans through correlation and multiple regression techniques. The results indicate that dynamic incentives and joint liability improve repayment behavior, supporting information asymmetry and carrot/stick theories by reducing information gaps. Joint liability, in particular, fosters mutual trust and accountability, as members become more involved in monitoring and reporting each other’s activities to lenders. These findings suggest that MFIs should enhance group lending management practices. For regulators, formalizing and legally recognizing community groups would further support their access to financial services. This study highlights the importance of structured group dynamics in improving loan repayment rates, which are crucial for the sustainability of MFIs.

MycoTWIN Working Group Discussion: A Multi-Actor Perspective on Future Research Directions for Mycotoxins and Toxigenic Fungi Along the Food and Feed Chain.

Mycotoxin research is facing unprecedented challenges, starting from the urgent need to cope with the consequences of climate change, the global shortage of grain due to unstable political scenarios, and the major transformation of the supply chains after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this scenario, the mycotoxin contamination of human and animal foods is still unavoidable, thus representing a major challenge to global food security. Next to this, the shift to sustainable and circular food production might be accompanied by an increase in food safety issues involving mycotoxins, e.g., when new technologies are applied to reuse side streams from the food industry, it is not known if and how mycotoxins accumulate in these by-products. MycoTWIN is an EU-funded Horizon 2020 project which fosters knowledge transfer and scientific cooperation within the Mediterranean area, involving worldwide experts, decision makers, and stakeholders in the field of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins. The MycoTWIN project hosted working group meetings, whose aim was to propose operational plans and/or scientific strategic plans to shape the future research directions to better cope with these challenges. In the working group cycle "Future proof approaches for the management of toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins along the food chain", a multi-actor group was guided in co-creation exercises to elaborate on future research directions and propose relevant actions to be implemented for the present to long-term time periods. The discussion focused on three main topics relevant to the assessment and management of risks associated with mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi: (i) needs for the harmonization of molecular and chemical methods and data analysis, (ii) from lab research to marketable solutions: how to fill the gap, and (iii) gaps in data quality for risk assessment.

Relations among the trifurcated narcissism domains at trait and state level: Two of a kind?

This study explored narcissistic states using a hierarchical, trifurcated structure, examining state variability and trait-state associations of agentic extraversion, self-centered antagonism, and narcissistic neuroticism. The primary objective was to investigate whether the structural composition of narcissism, well-established in trait data, could be replicated in state data. We examined this structure at both between- and within-person levels in state data, including situation-specific structures of narcissism. The study used data from an experimental study where participants ( N = 189) met in groups of up to four people weekly over six weeks. Multilevel confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the narcissism structure was largely the same at both levels. However, within-person compositions of narcissism differed across affiliative versus controversial situations. In affiliative contexts, grandiosity manifested exclusively through agentic extraversion, with no expression through self-centered antagonism. In controversial settings, agentic extraversion and narcissistic neuroticism exhibited a slight negative association, contrasting the positive association observed across all group meetings. Our results show that narcissistic states exhibited less variability compared to the Big Five and rarely varied above their corresponding trait levels. This research contributes to a refined understanding of narcissism, highlighting the interplay between trait tendencies and situational factors in shaping narcissistic state expressions.

Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of Virtual Reality for Remote Group-Mediated Physical Activity in Older Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Physical inactivity represents a major health concern for older adults. Most social, at-home physical activity (PA) interventions use videoconference, email, or telephone communication for program delivery. However, evidence suggests that these platforms may hinder the social connection experienced by users. Recent advancements in virtual reality (VR) suggest that it may be a rich platform for social, at-home interventions because it offers legitimate options for intervention delivery and PA. This pilot study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of VR compared to videoconference as a medium for remote group-mediated behavioral intervention for older adults. The information generated from this investigation will inform the use of VR as a medium for intervention delivery. Nine low-active older adults (mean age 66.8, SD 4.8 y) were randomized to a 4-week home-based, group-mediated PA intervention delivered via VR or videoconference. Feasibility (ie, the total number of sessions attended and the number of VR accesses outside of scheduled meetings) and acceptability (ie, the number of participants reporting high levels of nausea, program evaluations using Likert-style prompts with responses ranging from -5=very difficult or disconnected to 5=very easy or connected, and participant feedback on immersion and social connection) are illustrated via descriptive statistics and quotes from open-ended responses. None of the participants experienced severe VR-related sickness before randomization, with a low average sickness rating of 1.6 (SD 1.6) out of 27 points. Attendance rates for group meetings were 98% (59/60) and 96% (46/48) for the VR and videoconference groups, respectively. Outside of scheduled meeting times, participants reported a median of 5.5 (IQR 5.3-5.8, range 0-27) VR accesses throughout the entire intervention. Program evaluations suggested that participants felt personally connected to their peers (VR group: median 3.0, IQR 2.5-3.5; videoconference group: median 3.0, IQR 2.7-3.3), found that goals were easy to accomplish (VR group: median 3.0, IQR 2.8-3.3; videoconference group: median 3.0, IQR 2.6-3.4), and had ease in finding PA options (VR group: median 4.0, IQR 3.5-4.3; videoconference group: median 2.0, IQR 1.6-2.4) and engaging in meaningful dialogue with peers (VR group: median 4.0, IQR 4.0-4.0; videoconference group: median 3.5, IQR 3.3-3.8). Open-ended responses regarding VR use indicated increased immersion experiences and intrinsic motivation for PA. These findings suggest that VR may be a useful medium for social PA programming in older adults, given it was found to be feasible and acceptable in this sample. Importantly, all participants indicated low levels of VR-related sickness before randomization, and both groups demonstrated very high attendance at meetings with their groups and behavioral coaches, which is promising for using VR and videoconference in future interventions. Modifications for future iterations of similar interventions are provided. Further work using larger samples and longer follow-up durations is needed. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04756245; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04756245.

A STUDY TO COMPARE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPINAL MOBILIZATION WITH ARM MOVEMENT VERSUS NEURAL TISSUE MOBILIZATION ALONG WITH MUSLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE AMONG CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY PATIENTS

Background: Cervical Radiculopathy is a disease of the cervical spine and a space occupying lesion that occurs because of pathological problems with cervical nerve roots. It usually causes the pain in the neck ,radiating to one arm with reduced motor function and reflex changes in the affected nerve root and commonly affect the middle aged to elderly person. Objective: A study to compare the effectiveness of spinal mobilization with arm movement versus neural tissue mobilization along with muscle energy technique among cervical radiculopathy patients. Method: Comparative study, 30 patients were selected from Sri Venkateshwara group of institution. They were allocated into two groups, group A(n=15) spinal mobilization with arm movement along with MET, group B (n= 15) neural tissue mobilization with MET given for 3 days per week for 6 weeks, the outcome measures NPRS and goniometric measurement were used. Result: Data analysis was done by paired ‘t’ test for within the group and unpaired ‘t’ test for between the group analysis respectively. The statistical analysis shows that the group A had significant improvement than group B. It has been concluded that group A showed reduction in the pain and improvement in ROM than group B. Conclusion: This study concludes that spinal mobilization with arm movement along with MET for group A shows more significant in reducing the pain and improve ROM among cervical radiculopathy patients than neural tissue mobilization with MET in group B.

Development and evaluation of the children's postoperative health-related quality of life scale for thyroid cancer

Objective: To develop the children's postoperative health-related quality of life scale for thyroid cancer and to test its reliability and validity. Methods: The first draft of the scale was developed through literature search, focus group meetings, and a pre-survey, and 116 children (76 for testing and 40 for external validation) with thyroid cancer attending Beijing Children's Hospital of Capital Medical University were selected to answer the scale, to screen and categorize the questions and to form the final scale with multiple dimensions. Results: The children's postoperative health-related quality of life scale for thyroid cancer contained 5 dimensions and 29 questions. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the cumulative variance explained by the 5 factors was 64.343%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed correlations between the questions and dimensions of this scale, fair convergent validity for the scale, and good discriminant validity. The validity of the validity scale showed that there was a existing correlation between the questions and the validity scale of this scale. The item-dimension correlation coefficients showed that the questions in each dimension were well differentiated. The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.930, the folded half reliability was 0.843, and retest reliabilities at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the initial test were respectively 0.936, 0.922, and 0.910. Conclusion: The developed children's postoperative health-related quality of life scale for thyroid cancer has good reliability and validity and can be used to assess the health-related quality of life of children after thyroid cancer surgery.