Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design Research Articles

Transdisciplinary STEAM learning in improving students’ conceptual understanding of heat and temperature

ABSTRACT Background Students’ difficulty in understanding heat and temperature concepts hinders their ability to solve real-world problems. The positive impact of STEAM education on students’ creativity and problem-solving skills has been reported. However, limited research exists on its influence on students’ conceptual understanding in physics. Purpose This study examines the role of transdisciplinary STEAM learning in enhancing students’ conceptual understanding of heat and temperature, emphasizing its potential to improve the quality of physics education and prepare students for the 21st century. Sample The participants of the study were 76 senior high school students in Indonesia. Design and methods We implemented a mixed-methods sequential explanatory research design to evaluate the impact of transdisciplinary STEAM learning intervention. In this study, pre- and post-tests measured changes in conceptual understanding, and one-to-one interviews further explored students’ learning experiences. From the statistical analysis of the quantitative data, the results suggest that the transdisciplinary STEAM learning enhances students’ conceptual understanding, with a significant improvement observed after completing the lessons. Based on the qualitative thematic analysis, students experience that integrated learning in transdisciplinary STEAM does not only help them to better understand the concepts of heat and temperature, but it also improves their ability to address real-world issues related to these concepts. Conclusion Through the steps of design thinking, this study demonstrated how a real-world problem-solving scenario in transdisciplinary STEAM learning improved students’ conceptual understanding of heat and temperature.

A comparative study of menstrual poverty among urban and rural female learners in government schools of Zambia

BackgroundMenstrual poverty remains a significant health problem among female learners in Zambia, particularly due to the lack of access to menstrual products, leading to the use of unsafe alternatives and potential health risks such as reproductive tract infections. To address this pressing issue, this study examined the disparities in knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning menstrual poverty among female learners in both urban and rural government schools within Zambia.MethodsThe study utilized a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. A cross-sectional survey of 447 female learners was conducted in urban and rural areas using a multistage stratified sampling approach. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and bivariate techniques in Stata version 14.2. The qualitative arm consisted of focus group discussions and key informant interviews, with thematic analysis applied.ResultsThe findings revealed that urban female learners possessed a more comprehensive understanding of menstruation than their rural peers, with a significantly higher proportion accurately defining the process (74% vs. 50%). Notably, both urban and rural learners experienced a spectrum of emotional responses to menarche, with fear and discomfort common among learners in both urban and rural settings, while support-seeking behaviours and cultural beliefs varied geographically. Rural learners commonly turned to herbal remedies for menstrual management (30% vs. 21%, p = 0.007). Furthermore, over 50% of urban and rural leaners reported dissatisfaction with the sanitary facilities, citing concerns such as cleanliness, privacy, and inadequate handwashing amenities.ConclusionThis study reveals significant disparities in menstrual knowledge, practices, and attitudes between urban and rural female learners. Government funding is imperative to implement comprehensive menstrual health education in all public schools to create a supportive environment for menstruating learners. Collaboration with the Ministry of Health is crucial to ensure access to essential resources, including pain relief and gender-sensitive facilities.

Primary care functional features and their health impact on patients enrolled in the Shanghai family doctor service: a mixed-methods study.

While research in multiple countries confirms that primary care functional features significantly improve patient health, China's primary care system differs markedly due to unique structural and contextual factors. This study aims to measure and explore the functional features experienced by patients received family doctor contract service in the past year, evaluating the impacts and pathways of these primary care features on health outcomes. We employed a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. In the quantitative phase, we randomly selected 2118 residents from 12 primary care institutions. The intensity of functional features was assessed using the Person-Centered Primary Care Measure (PCPCM), and their association with levels of EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS) was evaluated through multilevel modelling. In the qualitative phase, a qualitative description approach was used, conducting 24 focus groups with a total of 85 patients to gather in-depth information about their experiences with functional features and perceived health impacts. Finally, the quantitative and qualitative data were integrated using meta-synthesis and joint display methods to validate, interpret, and expand the results. The average PCPCM score was 3.65, with subdomain scores ranging from 3.39 to 3.83. Qualitative findings confirmed the quantitative results regarding the intensity and manifestation of features like accessibility, coordination, and relationship-building. However, discrepancies were noted in features such as comprehensiveness, integration, and family and community context. Additionally, two new functional features, 'being appreciated' and 'being cared for,' were identified. The quantitative results also showed that higher PCPCM scores were positively associated with EQ VAS levels (odds ratio (OR) = 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.35, P < 0.001). Furthermore, qualitative results revealed six key pathways supporting the beneficial effects of local primary care functional features on health maintenance and improvement. This study demonstrates high functional scores for Shanghai's family doctor services and highlights a positive association between primary care functionality and population health. These features and their health benefits are deeply shaped by the local social and health care context. This confirms the progress of Shanghai's primary care development and underscores the need for further exploration of primary care functional features across China, along with the development of tools tailored to local conditions to better measure and improve primary care quality and health outcomes. primary healthcare; primary care; quality measurement; population health; mixed method research; China.

The MyGuide Web-Based Self-Management Tool for Concussion Rehabilitation: Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Study.

Web-based concussion self-management education programs for adolescents can improve functional outcomes, reduce concussion symptoms, and increase self-efficacy. However, there are a limited number of studies examining the perceptions and acceptance of these programs and the use of these tools in the adult concussion population. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions and acceptance of clinicians and adults with concussions using MyGuide Concussion (Vancouver Coastal Health), a web-based concussion self-management tool. Using a mixed methods sequential explanatory design, a convenience sample of 8 adults with concussions and 8 clinicians who used MyGuide Concussion over a 2-year period were interviewed, and their responses were analyzed. Participants reported two key benefits of using the web-based self-management tool: (1) the tool's emphasis on the interconnectedness of physical and psychological symptoms, and (2) the ability to provide reassurance that symptom being experienced were a normal part of the concussion experience. Clinicians described the tool as being useful as a supplementary source of information for clients in addition to clinical sessions and believed the content was useful for increasing clients' independence in managing their own recovery. Overall, the evaluation of the MyGuide tool is an acceptable and well-perceived tool for adults with concussions who require a basic understanding of concussion recovery, particularly in the early stages of recovery. Future research may include optimizing MyGuide by targeting promotional strategies and addressing other barriers to use.

Returning to Work After Cancer Treatment: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Guided by Transitions Theory.

Although many individuals return to work after cancer treatment, supports to facilitate this transition are ineffective or lacking. Transitions Theory can be useful to conceptually explain the transition back to work after cancer; however, no known studies have used Transitions Theory to empirically examine this transition. To explore how and why Transition Theory concepts can be used to understand individuals' transition back to work after cancer treatment. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, breast or colorectal cancer survivors who had returned to work completed questionnaires aligned with Transitions Theory concepts. Spearman correlations were used to explore associations, and significant results were used to draft interview questions. One-to-one telephone interviews with a subsample of participants provided elaborations to quantitative results. Qualitative data were analyzed using template analysis. Among the 23 participants who returned questionnaires, most identified as female (n = 21 [91%]) and had been back at work for 28.9 months (range, 3-60). The sample's productivity loss was 7.42%, indicating an incomplete mastery of their return to work. Only 2 significant associations were revealed with higher productivity loss: higher anxiety (r = 0.487, P = .019) and a greater number of unmet relational needs (r = 0.416, P = .048). Twelve participants engaged in interviews wherein explanations for quantitative results were uncovered. To support a smoother transition back to work after cancer, assessment and interventions should focus on individuals' psychological well-being and relationship needs. Transitions Theory can be useful in developing interventions to support a successful return to work after cancer.

The Invisible Majority: Rural Women, Digital Campaigns, and Political Violence

Research on gender-based violence (GBV) has primarily focused on non-political dimensions, while studies specifically on political gender-based violence (PGBV) tend to be reductionist, often centering on elite women candidates running for office. This narrow focus overlooks the experiences of rural women, who represent a vulnerable majority in political spaces and are increasingly affected by political violence including, and increasingly so, within digital environments. Moreover, the study of PGBV in virtual or digital spaces remains limited. This study attempted to address this gap by examining the experiences of rural women with gendered political violence in digital spaces with the aim of offering insights to both academic and policy cycles. Using a sequential exploratory mixed methods design and inspired by Intersectional Feminist framework (Crenshaw, 1991, improved by Hawk, 2015), this study investigates the influence of gender on rural voters’ experiences of PGBV across nine identified digital domains. Data were gathered from self-administered surveys in-depth qualitative interviews and focus groups discussions with rural voters and electoral policymaker and implementers from 2 sub-counties and 4 Wards from Siaya County. The study explored specific grounds for political violence, including social media harassment and intimidation, disinformation campaigns and character assassination, cyberstalking and surveillance, non-consensual sharing of private information (doxing), coercive use of messaging platforms, exclusion from digital campaign engagement, manipulative use of deepfakes and altered media, sexual harassment in virtual campaign spaces, and exploitation via mobile money scams. Findings reveal three key insights with implications for extant literature, policy, and gender mainstreaming initiatives. First, the relationships between gender and Political violence and digital politics are more nuanced than currently understood, underscoring the need to acknowledge and transform elitist ontologies in literature, policy and programming. Second, digital spaces offer challenges that must be addressed to advance meaningful gender mainstreaming for attainment of gender parity in politics. Finally this study provides a foundational list of variables, which though are neither conclusive nor comprehensive, can inform future, non-elite-focused analyses of PGBV. Overall, the study findings contribute to a broader understanding of PGBV in digital spaces, particularly from the perspective of vulnerable rural women (and rural voters generally).

Exploring Self-Management Behavior Profiles in Patients with Multimorbidity: A Sequential, Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study.

This study aims to identify self-management behavior profiles in multimorbid patients, and explore how workload, capacity, and their interactions influence these profiles. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. In the quantitative phase (August 2022 to May 2023), data were collected from 1,920 multimorbid patients across nine healthcare facilities in Zhejiang Province. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct self-management behavior profiles. Multinomial logistic regression was then used to assess the influence of workload and capacity dimensions (independent variables in Model 1), as well as their interaction (independent variables in Model 2), on these profiles (dependent variables in two models). The qualitative phase (May to August 2023) included semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, and the Giorgi analysis method was used for data categorization and coding. Quantitative analysis revealed three self-management behavior profiles: Symptom-driven Profile (8.0%), Passive-engagement Profile (29.5%), and Active-cooperation Profile (62.5%). Compared to the Active-cooperation Profile, both the Symptom-driven and Passive-engagement Profiles were associated with a higher workload (OR > 1, P < 0.05) and lower capacity (OR < 1, P < 0.05). An interaction of the overall workload and capacity showed a synergistic effect in the Passive-engagement Profile (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03-1.13, P < 0.05). Qualitative analysis identified six workload themes, and related coping strategies of three self-management behavior profiles. The integrated results highlighted distinct characteristics: Symptom-driven Profile patients exhibited reactive behaviors with limited health awareness, Passive-engagement Profile patients reduced engagement once symptoms stabilized, while Active-cooperation Profile patients proactively managed their conditions. Identifying three distinct self-management behavior profiles and their relationship with workload and capacity provides valuable insights into multimorbid patients' experiences, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions targeting workload and capacity to improve health outcomes.

The use of mobile technology in abductive inquiry-based teaching and learning of chemical bonding

Continuous enhancement of mobile devices such as smartphones offers new opportunities for using these technologies in inquiry-based learning environments. Inquiry-based learning has followed deductive and inductive forms of inquiry, while the abductive form of inquiry that targets the development of higher-order thinking skills such as critical thinking is less prevalent. This study investigated the use of mobile technology in abductive-inquiry based teaching and learning of chemical bonding for grade 11 physical sciences learners in two South African schools. The study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design that entailed first collecting quantitative data and then qualitative data to help explain or elaborate on the quantitative results. Two grade 11 physical sciences classes were randomly designated as the experimental and control groups in each of the two different schools. The experimental group in each school experienced activities in a laboratory using mobile technology-enhanced abductive scientific inquiry through the ‘Molecular Workbench’ web-based simulation using a mobile device, while the control group in each school experienced activities in abductive scientific inquiry in a science laboratory without using mobile learning technology. The principal findings indicated that learners within the control group displayed a significant increase in their performance to create a scientifically accurate hypothesis that is the essence of abductive inquiry, whereas for the experimental group there was no significant improvement in their hypothesis generation capacity. However, participants within the experimental group felt that their use of mobile devices created a sense of learner agency amongst themselves, developed their communication skills, made them feel responsible for their own learning, and also made learning scientific concepts more fun as opposed to what they are normally exposed to.

UNCOVERING RELEVANT MATHEMATICS TOPICS FOR HOME ECONOMICS: SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' VIEWS IN CAPE COAST, GHANA

Mathematics holds universal significance, playing a pivotal role across diverse disciplines in our daily lives. Its impact is crucial for societal development, with mathematics acting as a cornerstone. This study delves into the senior high school (SHS) mathematics topics that students studying home economics consider most relevant to their programme of study and future career needs. Employing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, data was collected through a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide from grades 11 and 12. Out of a population of 330 students, 286 were sampled using a multi-stage technique, and 277 students filled out the questionnaires, resulting in a 97% response rate. Quantitative data was analysed using percentages and frequency counts, while thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative interview data. Results reveal that ratio and rate, percentages, mensuration, and statistics emerge as the most impactful mathematics topics influencing home economics students' SHS programmes. The study recommends a focus on these topics, urging mathematics educators to always highlight the relevance of any topic they teach to the students' specific programmes of study. These findings underscore the importance of aligning the curriculum with real-world applications, thereby enhancing students’ analytical skills and preparing them for future careers.

School-based management practices and utilization of special education fund

This study assessed the School-Based Management (SBM) practices and the utilization of Special Education Funds (SEF) within the Department of Education, Quezon Division, focusing on the Tiaong I District in the Philippines. Guided by Musgrave's (1959) theory of public finance and Dalton's (1922) principle of maximum social advantage, the research employed a mixed-method explanatory sequential design. Data were gathered from 232 respondents using purposive sampling, with a validated questionnaire as the primary instrument. Quantitative analysis utilized Kruskal-Wallis to examine significant differences in SEF utilization across respondent profiles, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify challenges. Results revealed no statistically significant differences in SEF utilization across sex, age, educational attainment, or position (p &gt; 0.05). Thematic analysis highlighted challenges such as underutilization in areas like the purchase of books and periodicals. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Department of Education continue to monitor and optimize the allocation and utilization of SEF to ensure equitable resource distribution across various categories, with particular attention to underutilized areas such as the purchase of books and periodicals. This paper uniquely contributes to the field by providing a detailed examination of SEF utilization at the local level in the Philippines, offering insights into resource allocation consistency and identifying specific demographic needs for improved educational outcomes.

Understanding Interpersonal Influences on Maternal Health Service Utilization at Community Health Centers: A Mixed-Methods Study in Indonesia.

Background/Objective: The utilization of maternal health services at the primary healthcare level is still considered an effective approach despite the critical role in improving maternal health outcomes. The study aimed to assess the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and interpersonal support on the use of maternal health services in three regions of the Province of Jambi, Indonesia. Methods: Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, a quantitative survey of 432 women and qualitative focus group discussions with nine families were conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using bivariate analysis, while the qualitative data were examined through conventional content analysis. Results: The research results show no significant association between sociodemographic factors (education, employment, residence) and the use of maternal health services for antenatal care and delivery. Direct support, such as accompaniment by spouses, and indirect support, including emotional encouragement and shared knowledge, were pivotal in influencing women's decisions to seek care. Conclusions: Targeted interventions focusing on improving social support, addressing service accessibility barriers, and raising awareness about the benefits of community health centers are essential to enhancing maternal health outcomes. Policymakers and healthcare providers should integrate family-centered strategies to ensure women receive adequate maternal healthcare.

MOOC-Based PBL Model to Improve Chemical Literacy Skills In Content, Procedural and Epistemic Knowledge Aspects

This study explores the effectiveness of a MOOC-based Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model in enhancing chemical literacy across three dimensions—content, procedural, and epistemic knowledge—among grade 10 high school students. Employing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the research gathered data through chemical literacy tests, interviews, and observations. The participants comprised 80 students from three districts in Central Java, Indonesia. Quantitative analysis using Rasch modeling revealed a significant improvement in scores, with an average pretest score of 44.82, increasing to 66.50 post-intervention. The effect size of 1.1819 was categorized as "good," indicating the model's potential for fostering learning. However, the average post-test score remained below the minimum completion criterion of75.80. Qualitative findings highlighted weaknesses in the problem orientation stage of the PBL model, particularly in connecting students’ prior knowledge to new learning objectives. This stage is critical for setting the foundation for subsequent PBL phases, suggesting that insufficient scaffolding may have hindered optimal learning outcomes. To enhance the effectiveness of MOOC-based PBL, the study recommends restructuring the problem orientation stage to align better with students' initial knowledge levels. These findings underscore the promise of integrating MOOC-based PBL in chemistry education while emphasizing the need for refinements to address identified challenges. By bridging gaps in problem orientation and fostering deeper connections between prior and new knowledge, this approach could more effectively support the development of chemical literacy, providing valuable insights for educators and policymakers.

Assessing archaism in Philippine Indigenous languages: the case of Kankanaey as spoken in Mankayan, Benguet, Philippines

Once considered safe, the Kankanaey (a Northern Philippine language) language now faces risks due to code-switching, linguistic discrimination, and language dominance. These issues lead to the replacement of traditional words with borrowed terms, resulting in archaism. This study investigated archaism in the Kankanaey language within Barangay Suyoc, in Mankayan, Benguet, Philippines. Using a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, a group elicitation method and survey were employed for the quantitative phase, while a focus group discussion was conducted for the qualitative phase. Of the 100 words surveyed, 51 were non-archaic, 43 were semi-archaic, and 6 were archaic. The prevalence of archaism in the language among the people of Barangay Suyoc can be attributed to ongoing changes in the community, which manifest through various processes. Hence, it was concluded that despite the language being stable, archaism is inevitable. However, continuous language documentation is highly recommended.

Barriers and Facilitators Toward Disaster Knowledge, Skills, and Preparedness among Emergency Medical Services in Saudi Arabia.

Disasters pose significant challenges globally, affecting millions of people annually. In Saudi Arabia, floods constitute a prevalent natural disaster, underscoring the necessity for effective disaster preparedness among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers. Despite their critical role in disaster response, research on disaster preparedness among EMS workers in Saudi Arabia is limited. The study aimed to explore the disaster preparedness among EMS workers in Saudi Arabia. This study applied an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to explore disaster preparedness among EMS workers in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the qualitative phase. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 EMS workers from National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah. Thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke's six-step process, ensuring data rigor through Schwandt, et al's criteria for trustworthiness. The demographic characteristics of participants revealed a predominantly young, male workforce with varying levels of experience and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: (1) Newly/developed profession, highlighting the challenges faced by young EMS workers in acquiring disaster preparedness; (2) Access to opportunities and workplace resources (government versus military), indicating discrepancies in disaster preparedness support between government and military hospitals; and (3) Workplace policies and procedures, highlighting the need for clearer disaster policies, training opportunities, and role clarity among EMS workers. The study underscores the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by EMS workers in Saudi Arabia to enhance disaster preparedness. Recommendations include targeted support for young EMS professionals, standardization of disaster training across health care facilities, and improved communication of disaster policies and procedures. These findings have implications for policy and practice in disaster management and EMS training in Saudi Arabia.

Investigating ethical considerations in the communication network of married women undergone hysterectomy: instrumentation of a questionnaire

IntroductionConsidering the importance of complying medical and general ethics and the lack of a study on determining ethical considerations in the communication network of women undergoing hysterectomy surgery, this study aimed to present these aspects in the patients’ lives by a standard researcher-made instrument.MethodThis mixed method analysis (exploratory sequential mixed methods design was conducted in the whole of 2020 to create the “ethical considerations in communication network of women undergone hysterectomy” questionnaire and investigate its psychometric properties. A researched-made instrument was validated and its psychometric properties were checked among 218 women by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsAccordingly, the 8 factors extracted included “complying ethical consideration by the physician (a)”, “complying ethical consideration by medical team (b)”, “complying ethical consideration in the hospital (c)”, “complying ethical consideration by the secretory in the clinic (d)”, “complying ethical consideration by the spouse (e)”, and “complying ethical consideration by the family and friends (f)”, “complying ethical consideration by the media and society (g)” and “complying ethical consideration by herself (h)”. The results of Cronbach’s alpha test showed that there is moderate to good internal consistency in all dimensions. Cronbach’s alpha for the whole questionnaire was calculated as 0.75, which shows that the internal consistency is at a good level.ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, the reliability (internal consistency) and construct validity of the ethical considerations in the communication network of women undergoing hysterectomy questionnaire were confirmed. However, in light of the study limitations, caution should be practiced in the interpretation of the results. There is a need for further longitudinal studies in multiple settings using random sampling methods.

Optimization of a Mobile Transdiagnostic Emotion Regulation Intervention for University Students: A Micro-Randomized Trial.

Increasing mental health problems among university students highlight the need for scalable, effective solutions. We have developed a transdiagnostic mobile intervention called ROOM, promoting adaptive emotion regulation (ER) skills among university students. Understanding how the intervention works and optimising content and delivery is essential for creating an effective and adaptive system. Therefore, this study aimed to optimise ROOM through a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, combining a Micro-Randomized Trial (MRT), evaluating within-person effects using repeated randomisation, with user experience interviews. 161 university students (82% females) participated in a 3-week MRT to assess the intervention proximal outcomes, that is, participants' positive and negative emotional states after completing intervention exercises. Additionally, we evaluated impact on distal outcomes (i.e., distress symptoms and ER skills), and user experience by combining objective (e.g., exercise completion rates) and subjective (e.g., exercise likability and helpfulness ratings) engagement patterns with insights from the semi-structured interviews (n=18). Upon receiving the intervention, positive emotional states increased and negative ones decreased. The effect on positive emotional states gradually decreased over time while the effect on negative emotional states remained stable throughout the 3-week intervention period. Distress symptoms and ER skills either remained stable or improved over the 3weeks, which indicated the intervention's safety. Overall, engagement patterns and interview data show that the intervention was well received, students enjoyed this study design and found context-sensitive content recommendations highly relevant.

Reputational risks associated with nurses' presence on social media: proposed actions following the Vall d'Hebron case

A Spanish nurse posted a video on TikTok criticizing the requirement of a certain level of Catalan to work in the public health system of Catalonia (Spain). The video went viral, eliciting reactions from social media users, politicians, and professional nursing organizations. This study aims to evaluate the reputational damage suffered by the nurse, her hospital, and the nursing profession, with the goal of proposing actions to prevent, avoid, or manage similar situations. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was used to analyse the content of the video, its impact on the press and social media, and the management of the communication crisis by the hospital and nursing organizations involved. The nurse exercised her right to freedom of expression. However, her choice to convey the message, wearing the uniform that identified her as a staff member of a specific hospital, and her criticism of the language level requirement, led to reputational damage after the video spread via the press and Twitter/X. The hospital's reputation was affected due to the nurse being identified as one of its employees. In contrast, the reputation of the nursing profession was not significantly harmed, as multiple information sources suggested the incident was isolated. The creation of a safe, self-regulatory framework and training in social media and communication management are proposed as measures for healthcare centres, nursing organizations, and academic institutions to implement. The reputations of both the nurse and her hospital were impacted. A methodological model for analysing similar situations is proposed.

The Roles of Acculturation and Pre-migration Experiences in Influencing the Confidence of Vietnamese Parents in Vaccine Use Among Adolescents.

Vaccine confidence is a critical antecedent of vaccine uptake. Little research has examined vaccine confidence among Asian communities, particularly the associations with acculturation and pre-migration experiences. We explored this issue among U.S. Vietnamese parents. Our study uses an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to investigate the influence of American acculturation, Vietnamese acculturation, and pre-migration experiences on U.S. Vietnamese parents' vaccine confidence for their adolescents. A cross-sectional web-based survey (n = 408) was followed by semi-structured interviews (n = 32). Quantitative analysis showed that many participants reported high or complete trust in scientists involved in vaccine development (61%), federal agencies responsible for vaccine safety monitoring and licensure (53%), the CDC (62%), and the FDA (58%). High or complete trust in scientists was associated with a higher Vietnamese acculturation score [aRR = 1.20 (1.03-1.40)], while trust in federal government agencies was associated with English medical proficiency [aRR = 1.42 (1.15-1.76)]. Qualitative findings provided deeper insights, with many parents expressing trust in vaccine efficacy, safety, and the rigorous development and approval process. Pre-migration experiences in Vietnam had mixed influences on vaccine confidence. Some participants cited positive experiences with the national immunization program, while others were influenced by negative vaccine-related injury stories. Newer immigrants reported limited familiarity with U.S. health authorities. Language preferences (Vietnamese versus English) for vaccine information varied. Our study highlights the complex interplay of acculturation, cultural identity, language, and historical experiences in shaping vaccine confidence among U.S. Vietnamese parents and emphasizes the need to take these factors into account with tailored public health strategies.

Enhancing the tenth graders’ self-efficacy in learning Social Studies through technology-based pedagogies

This research aimed to improve students' self-efficacy in Social Studies using technology-based pedagogies. The study utilized mixed methods sequential explanatory design which involves quantitative and qualitative data. Pre- and post-assessments were used to measure the development of students’ test scores and supported by pre- and post-self-efficacy surveys to identify the changes in students’ levels of self-efficacy. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine the significant difference in pre- and post-self-efficacy survey scores. At the same time a paired sample t-test was used to analyze the pre- and post-assessment scores. On the other hand, the data obtained from the interview on the students’ experiences was analyzed thematically using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological data analysis technique. Results showed that students’ self-efficacy in learning Social Studies has improved with increased student engagement, active participation, and a more vibrant learning environment while implementing the interventions. Furthermore, the study recommends that teachers integrate different technological tools in their classes to enhance students' self-efficacy.

Exploring the supportive care needs of families affected by pancreatic cancer: a mixed-methods study protocol

BackgroundPancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with most cases diagnosed at an advanced stage resulting in low survival rates. Family members often take on a role of supporting patients’ needs. Families tend to be unprepared for this and experience high levels of unmet needs and substantial impacts to their own wellbeing, heightened by the rapid deterioration and short life expectancy associated with pancreatic cancer.AimThe proposed study aims to explore the supportive care needs and associated psychosocial impact of pancreatic cancer on family members, and the role of support services in supporting these families.MethodsA sequential explanatory mixed methods design will be utilised. Data collection will consist of three phases: (1) Survey of affected family members to explore their supportive care needs and psychological wellbeing; (2) Semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of family members across the disease trajectory, their psychosocial adjustment, and their perceptions of support services; (3) Focus groups with support services providers to explore their experiences in providing support to affected families.DiscussionBy combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in providing psychosocial support to families affected by pancreatic cancer, ultimately enhancing their quality of life during and after the cancer journey. The findings may help to inform the development and enhancement of support programs, tailored to meet the specific needs of affected families.