Modality Preference Research Articles

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Strategies: Major Guidelines and Screening Advances

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Strategies: Major Guidelines and Screening Advances

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis programmatic preferences among people who inject drugs: findings from a discrete choice experiment

BackgroundPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) holds promise for decreasing new HIV infections among people who inject drugs (PWID), yet daily oral PrEP use is low, and PrEP modality and delivery strategy preferences in this population remain understudied.MethodsFrom May 2022-June 2023, we conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with PWID in San Diego, California. Participants viewed 18 PrEP program scenarios in sets of three and chose their preferred scenario within each set. Scenarios consisted of various combinations of five characteristics: PrEP modality (injectable, implantable, oral), frequency of use (annual, bi-monthly, daily), service location (community-based organization, clinic, telemedicine), prescription access location (on-site, street outreach, mail), and adherence supports (social support, outreach worker, phone/text reminder). Multinomial logit regression estimated probabilities of choosing PrEP program scenarios as a function of the five characteristics to estimate part-worth utility scores (PWUS; reflecting relative preferences for specific characteristic values) and relative importance scores (RIS; reflecting the relative influence of each characteristic on program choice). We also explored differences by hypothesized modifiers of preferences (i.e., sex assigned at birth, housing status, injection frequency, prior PrEP awareness).ResultsAmong 262 participants, mean age was 43.1 years, and most reported male sex assigned at birth (69.5%), identified as non-Hispanic (60.3%), and were previously unaware of PrEP (75.2%). Frequency of use (RIS: 51.5) and PrEP modality (RIS: 35.3) had the greatest influence on PrEP program choice. Within these characteristics, participants had relative preferences for annual use (PWUS: 0.83) and oral PrEP (PWUS: 0.57), and relative aversions to daily use (PWUS: -0.76) and implantable PrEP (PWUS: -0.53). Generally, participants did not indicate preferences for specific service or prescription access locations, or adherence supports; however, among those with prior PrEP awareness, prescription access location and adherence supports had a slightly greater influence on PrEP program choices.ConclusionOur study considered diverse PrEP scenarios and highlighted potential preferences for long-acting oral modalities. Although not currently available, renewed investment in long-acting oral PrEP formulations may facilitate PrEP care engagement among PWID. Additional delivery and implementation strategy research is needed to support PrEP uptake and persistence in this population.

UPGCN: User Perception-Guided Graph Convolutional Network for Multimodal Recommendation

To tackle the challenges of cold start and data sparsity in recommendation systems, an increasing number of researchers are integrating item features, resulting in the emergence of multimodal recommendation systems. Although graph convolutional network-based approaches have achieved significant success, they still face two limitations: (1) Users have different preferences for various types of features, but existing methods often treat these preferences equally or fail to specifically address this issue. (2) They do not effectively distinguish the similarity between different modality item features, overlook the unique characteristics of each type, and fail to fully exploit their complementarity. To solve these issues, we propose the user perception-guided graph convolutional network for multimodal recommendation (UPGCN). This model consists of two main parts: the user perception-guided representation enhancement module (UPEM) and the multimodal two-step enhanced fusion method, which are designed to capture user preferences for different modalities to enhance user representation. At the same time, by distinguishing the similarity between different modalities, the model filters out noise and fully leverages their complementarity to achieve more accurate item representations. We performed comprehensive experiments on the proposed model, and the results indicate that it outperforms other baseline models in recommendation performance, strongly demonstrating its effectiveness.

Preference of mHealth versus in-person treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in Kenya: demographic and clinical characteristics

ObjectivesWe conducted an implementation science mental health treatment study in western Kenya, testing strategies for scale up of evidence-based mental health services for common adult disorders using a non-specialist workforce,...

Patient Experiences With Group Teletherapy for the Treatment of Mental Illness: A Qualitative Study.

The authors sought to understand patient experiences with group teletherapy to inform improvements in service delivery. From December 2022 to October 2023, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 adults with depression or bipolar disorder who had received outpatient group teletherapy in the past 2 years. A rapid thematic analysis was conducted by using a matrix to identify patterns and synthesize data. A logic model from the patients' perspective was developed by extracting common themes related to elements of effective group teletherapy. Telehealth allowed for more empowered engagement in group teletherapy and enabled better access and longitudinal attendance for many patients, compared with in-person group therapy. However, many patients reported a reduced sense of emotional intimacy and connectedness with telehealth, and some reported that technology challenges and distractions contributed to feelings of disconnection. Patients were divided in their modality preferences, but many expressed an interest in receiving at least some of their group therapy sessions by telehealth. Although group teletherapy has the potential to meet patients' needs and preferences, more work is needed to improve the quality of the experience for patients.

Analysis of the Interpersonal Meaning in the Teacher Discourse in Competition Videos

This study, grounded in Systemic Functional Linguistics, examines the form and distribution of mood and modality in English classroom discourse by the winner of the Special Prize at the 12th "Foreign Language Teaching Society Cup" National College Foreign Language Teaching Competition (English Major Group). It reveals how interpersonal meaning is realized in the teacher's discourse and explores teacher-student relationships. The analysis shows a predominant use of the declarative mood, followed by interrogative and imperative moods. This balance reflects the teacher's dual role as both knowledge disseminator and facilitator of student participation, steering away from a wholly authoritative position. Minimal use of the imperative mood suggests discussions are mainly informational, reducing student pressure and promoting an equal and harmonious classroom atmosphere. Declarative moods serve multiple functions, whereas interrogatives stimulate student engagement. Modal preferences indicate a balance between directive and facilitative communication, emphasizing low modal values to foster respect and a student-centered approach. This strategy illustrates the teacher's respect for students, embracing roles such as guide and observer, and offers insights for creating inclusive and effective university English classrooms.

AI-Enhanced Decision-Making for Course Modality Preferences in Higher Engineering Education during the Post-COVID-19 Era

AI-Enhanced Decision-Making for Course Modality Preferences in Higher Engineering Education during the Post-COVID-19 Era

Who is ready to live a car-independent lifestyle? A latent class cluster analysis of attitudes towards car ownership and usage

An excessive use of private cars for transportation has multiple negative effects on our society. It is therefore paramount to identify the underlying factors driving car usage among different segments of travellers. In this study, we aim to identify and characterise traveller segments in terms of their car-related attitudes and how different sociodemographic attributes, travel behaviour characteristics (such as using cars as the primary mode of transportation), and the accessibility of their place of residence vary amongst different population segments. Through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Latent Profile Analysis we identify five different classes, namely car-detractors, −hesitants, −positives, −friends, and −lovers. More favourable car attitudes are associated with higher car ownership and access but, interestingly, there are no significant differences in terms of travel frequency and trip length distribution. This suggests that attitudinal differences relate mostly to modal preference rather than to the underlying travel demand patterns and the associated activities. We also see that car-less individuals are more likely to be car detractors, suggesting that the experiencing barriers for owning a car may contribute to developing more negative attitudes towards cars. Our results shed light on the different influencing factors and characteristics of individuals that consider, or not, a car-centred mobility.

Developing Scales of Learner Modality Preferences and Perspectives on Online Learning

While the COVID-19 pandemic significantly transformed post-secondary course delivery formats, little attention has been paid to post-pandemic learner preferences. To address this gap, we designed two scales to advance our understanding of learner preferences for online learning modalities: the Modalities of Digital Education – Learner Preference (MODE-LP) scale and the Perceptions of Online Learning Scale (POLS). In this proceeding, we describe the development and piloting of these scales, including how they can provide a nuanced understanding of learner preferences for online programs, courses, and course designs and the key underlying factors that impact them. We conclude with a snapshot of preliminary results and a discussion of future research.

Ride-Hailing vs. Fixed-Route: Preferences of the Transit-Dependent Populations in U.S. Urbanized Areas

Transportation inequality poses significant challenges in car-dependent cities in the US, especially for Transit-Dependent Populations (TDPs) who rely on public transportation to meet their travel requirements. Research indicates that despite the rapid growth of ride-hailing services like Uber, TDPs primarily depend on conventional transit options such as buses and metros. This study differentiates between two classifications of ride-hailing services: Private Ride-hailing (PRH), represented by platforms like Uber and Lyft, where individuals hire and pay for their rides, occasionally sharing the journey with guests; and ride-sharing (RS), like UberPool, which allows users to divide travel expenses. However, a more profound comprehension is necessary to clarify why TDPs show a preference for one mode of transportation over another and the factors that influence their decision-making. This study utilises Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the direct and indirect relationships between explanatory and outcome variables, while investigating modal preferences and usage frequency in 48 densely populated urban areas in the US (N = 384). TDPs choose to use transportation services like Uber because of their effectiveness in reducing both travel and waiting time, in contrast to traditional Fixed-Route Transit Services (FRTS), which are relatively less efficient. TDPs’ inclination towards PRH leads to a greater dependence on ride-hailing services, whereas a preference for FRTS reduces this dependence. Significantly, the study demonstrates that TDPs’ modal preferences are not only influenced by their socioeconomic status or rational decision-making, but also by the complex interaction between these factors. These findings provide valuable information for policymakers who want to evaluate the sustainability of ride-hailing services for TDPs and effectively tackle transportation inequalities.

Investigation of Exercise Interventions on Postoperative Recovery in Lung Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study Using Web Crawling Technology.

Rapid recovery after lung cancer surgery is challenging. Exercise is a low-cost, effective method to expedite recovery. Despite numerous exercise interventions, many fail to consider patient perspectives, leading to low adherence and short-term effects. Understanding lung cancer patients' perspectives on postoperative exercise and exploring their exercise-related concerns and needs are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of exercise-based rehabilitation programs. This study aims to analyze lung cancer patients' perspectives on postoperative exercise in their daily lives, exploring their concerns and needs related to postoperative exercise to help healthcare professionals develop personalized exercise plans. An internet crawling technique collected online inquiries from Baidu webpages about postoperative physical activity in lung cancer patients, using "lung cancer", "surgery", and"exercise" as keywords. The data was encoded, categorized, and analyzed using a large-scale semantic analysis platform in natural language processing and information retrieval to examine term frequency, sentiment tendencies, and attributes in the inquiry texts. Initially, 2727 queries were retrieved; after screening, deduplication, and cleansing, 201 unique queries were identified. Queries related to "modes of exercise" constituted the largest proportion. The most frequently occurring words in the word frequency analysis were "lung", "cancer", "should", "can", "long", "early", and "surgery", "exercise", "respiratory". Postoperative lung cancer patients demonstrate significant interest in whether they should engage in exercise, as well as in the appropriate types and duration of such activities, indicating a strong need for detailed guidance and knowledge related to exercise. The sentiment analysis showed a positive score of 87.5% and a negative score of 12.5%, indicating that postoperative lung cancer patients view exercise positively and have an enthusiastic attitude towards it. Among the positive sentiment attributes, "good" was the most frequently mentioned term, whereas "bad" and "surprising" were the most prevalent terms within the negative sentiment attributes. Postoperative physical activity receives limited attention from lung cancer patients, who emphasize their preferences for exercise modalities. Their inquiries often reflect psychological concerns, such as fear and helplessness caused by symptoms. Understanding patients' perspectives on postoperative physical activity within their real-life contexts can help integrate psychological support into exercise plans. This integration could guide healthcare professionals in developing more personalized postoperative exercise regimens for lung cancer patients.

Randomized non-inferiority trial comparing an asynchronous remotely-delivered versus clinic-delivered lifestyle intervention.

Lifestyle interventions are effective, but those delivered via in-person group meetings have poor scalability and reach. Research is needed to establish if remotely delivered lifestyle interventions are non-inferior to in-person delivered lifestyle interventions. We conducted a randomized non-inferiority trial (N = 329) to compare a lifestyle intervention delivered remotely and asynchronously via an online social network (Get Social condition) to one delivered via in-person groups (Traditional condition). We hypothesized that the Get Social condition would result in a mean percent weight loss at 12 months that was not inferior to the Traditional condition. Additional outcomes included intervention delivery costs per pound lost and acceptability (e.g., convenience, support, modality preferences). At 12 months, no significant difference in percent weight change was observed between the Get Social and Traditional conditions (2.7% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.17) however, criteria for non-inferiority were not met. The Get Social condition costs $21.45 per pound lost versus $26.24 for the Traditional condition. A greater percentage of Get Social condition participants rated participation as convenient (65% vs 44%; p = 0.001). Results revealed a remotely-delivered asynchronous lifestyle intervention resulted in slightly less weight loss than an in-person version but may be more economical and convenient. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02646618; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02646618 .

In-person or convenience voting? The role of the direct costs in explaining preferences for voting modalities

High turnout is crucial for political legitimacy. By reducing the direct costs of voting in person, such as queuing and taking time off work, convenience voting modalities are expected to increase turnout. Yet, little is known about the role these costs play in explaining how citizens want to vote. This paper investigates whether perceptions of the direct costs of voting influence individual preferences for in-person compared to convenience forms of balloting such as voting by mail, or absentee voting. Using original cross-sectional data and a preregistered survey experiment encompassing the 2022 US midterm elections, I find that higher direct costs reduce individual preferences for in-person voting. Importantly, this reduction is not compensated by higher preferences for convenience modalities.

Approach to graduate nursing education pedagogy and learning transition

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing (SON) is a historically in person graduate program that immediately transitioned to remote learning at the start of the pandemic. In 2022, upon emerging from the pandemic, the need to intentionally determine the teaching and learning modality of the UCSF SON became apparent. This is a report of the process of our institutions transition from an in person to a hybrid school. A task force was formed and charged with identifying the school's approach to the teaching and learning modality moving forward. A group think activity identified needs assessment for the task force's approach. The task force agreed upon definitions for in person, hybrid, online and hyflex learning, conducted a literature review, re-examined internal survey results from both faculty and learners regarding teaching and learning modality preferences and compared top graduate nursing programs teaching and learning modalities. The literature review revealed that hybrid learning was not inferior to in person learning and may improve educational outcomes. The faculty and learner survey results identified a preference toward hybrid learning and teaching. The task force recommended that the school change its public-facing information to identify as a hybrid school with specialty specific flexible design. This transition allows the school to carry out the mission of educating diverse health leaders.

Understanding caregiver preferences and technology access to plan improvement of pediatric emergency department discharge instructions.

Approximately 95% of children treated in emergency departments (EDs) in Alberta, Canada, are discharged home. Discharge teaching is an opportunity to provide caregivers with the information that they need to manage their child's condition at home and ensure appropriate follow-up. Our ED lacked a standard discharge instruction process. In preparation for local quality improvement, we sought to understand caregiver preferences regarding discharge instructions by assessing the preferred format, need for translated resources, and ability to effectively access electronic information using a Quick Response (QR) code. This project was completed at a tertiary pediatric ED in Calgary, Alberta in July and August 2021. Caregivers of pediatric patients were invited to complete a survey. Families requiring an interpreter were not eligible; however, this was recorded to estimate translation needs. Survey questions addressed preference of discharge instruction modality (verbal, printed, electronic), primary language spoken at home, ability to use English resources, and ability to use QR codes. Descriptive analyses were performed, and preferences were compared. Of 117 caregivers approached, 104 completed the survey (89%). Caregivers had a strong preference for receiving written discharge instructions, with 98% desiring either electronic or printed resources in addition to verbal instructions. There was a similar likelihood of using printed (75%) versus electronic (79%) resources (p = 0.5). Three percent of families were unable to complete the survey due to a language barrier. Of the 104 participants, 19% noted that their primary language at home was not English but that they would still use English discharge instructions. Eighty percent of participants were able to successfully use the QR code. Caregivers had a strong preference for receiving written discharge instructions, with electronic or paper formats preferred equally. Translated resources will be important for some families. QR codes may be an effective tool for distributing electronic resources to most but not all families.

Exploring the influence of learning modality preferences and COVID-19 infection experiences on depressive mood in Chinese students

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of children and adolescents worldwide. While various factors contributing to this phenomenon have been explored, the role of learning style preferences remains underexamined. This cross-sectional study, conducted between October and November 2020, involved over 20,000 participants, including students from junior high school, senior high school, and undergraduate levels. Significant differences in depressive mood levels were observed among individuals with different learning modality preferences upon the return to traditional, in-person learning. Students with in-person learning preferences exhibited lower depression levels, while students with no preference for either learning style outperformed devotees of remote learning. The highest depression occurred among those endorsing neither learning mode. Importantly, the impact of these preferences on depressive moods was found to be moderated by COVID-19 infection experiences. The findings highlight the nuanced relationship between learning style preferences, COVID-19 infection experiences, and mental health outcomes among students. Acknowledging the moderating effect of infection experiences is crucial for developing targeted interventions and adapting pedagogical approaches post-pandemic. This study contributes valuable insights into the complex relationships shaping the mental well-being of students amidst educational disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Using Online Surveys for Routine Campylobacter Case Investigations in Colorado, September 2020-December 2021.

Routine case investigations are critical for enteric disease control and surveillance. Given limited resources and staffing, public health agencies are exploring more efficient case investigation methods. To identify and describe the advantages and disadvantages of using online surveys to supplement routine enteric disease case investigations. We evaluated routine Campylobacter interview data collected via telephone vs online by interviewers with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Colorado laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter cases reported from September 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. We calculated modality preference, response rates, and data quality (missing and unknown answers) and compared demographics (age, gender, and urban vs rural) by modality. Estimated staff time savings and investigation timeliness were compared. Modality preference was split among the 966 contacted Campylobacter cases (46% telephone, 50% online, and 4% refusal). Among online respondents, 57% completed the survey for an overall 63% response rate. Females and those 18 to 44years of age were most likely to select (55%, 60%) and complete (57%, 66%) the online survey, while those under 18 and over 65years of age were least likely to select (47%, 45%) or complete (53%, 46%). Those who identified as non-Hispanic Black were most likely to select online (62%), whereas those who identified as mixed-race non-Hispanic and non-Hispanic White had the highest completion (78%, 60%). Modality preference was comparable by geography; however, rural residents had higher completion rates (61%). Data quality and completeness were comparable between modalities. Completing the 274 online surveys via telephone would have taken an estimated 78hours of additional staff time. Online surveys can increase public health efficiency and capacity while maintaining data quality. However, use should be limited to high-burden, low-resource pathogens due to reduced response rates. Understanding implementation best practices and conducting regular evaluation are critical for optimization.

The effect of modality on reading comprehension of struggling and typical readers in the second and third grades

AbstractBackground“Screen inferiority” refers to a well‐established phenomenon observed among adults and teenagers, wherein they demonstrate higher reading comprehension when reading from paper compared to screens. However, there is limited research focusing on readers in the initial stages of reading development. The current study aims to investigate reading comprehension in both screen and paper settings, as well as modality preferences, among young typical and struggling readers in the second and third grades.MethodsThe study included 342 second graders and 284 third‐grade Hebrew readers. Their reading comprehension performance in both modalities and their preferences for a particular modality were assessed.ResultsThe results suggested no differences in reading comprehension between the two modalities in the second and third grades. The only group that showed numerically higher performance on paper over computer was struggling readers in the second grade. The numeric proportion of modality preferences was higher on the computer rather than on paper.ConclusionsThe current study did not find an effect of modality on reading comprehension in the second and third grades. We did find that children in these grades prefer to read on screens. It is essential to examine the specific characteristics of the digital task to determine when it benefits young readers and when it may be detrimental to them.

Subpopulations of neurons in the perirhinal cortex enable both modality-specific and modality-invariant recognition of objects.

The perirhinal cortex (PER) supports multimodal object recognition, but how multimodal information of objects is integrated within the PER remains unknown. Here, we recorded single units within the PER while rats performed a PER-dependent multimodal object-recognition task. In this task, audiovisual cues were presented simultaneously (multimodally) or separately (unimodally). We identified 2 types of object-selective neurons in the PER: crossmodal cells, showing constant firing patterns for an object irrespective of its modality, and unimodal cells, showing a preference for a specific modality. Unimodal cells further dissociated unimodal and multimodal versions of the object by modulating their firing rates according to the modality condition. A population-decoding analysis confirmed that the PER could perform both modality-invariant and modality-specific object decoding-the former for recognizing an object as the same in various conditions and the latter for remembering modality-specific experiences of the same object.

Understanding contextual and practical factors to inform WHO recommendations on using chest imaging to monitor COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae: a qualitative study exploring stakeholders’ perspective

BackgroundA recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) was issued about the use of chest imaging to monitor pulmonary sequelae following recovery from COVID-19. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspective of key stakeholders to understand their valuation of the outcome of the proposition, preferences for the modalities of chest imaging, acceptability, feasibility, impact on equity and practical considerations influencing the implementation of using chest imaging.MethodsA qualitative descriptive design using in-depth interviews approach. Key stakeholders included adult patients who recovered from the acute illness of COVID-19, and providers caring for those patients. The Evidence to Decision (EtD) conceptual framework was used to guide data collection of contextual and practical factors related to monitoring using imaging. Data analysis was based on the framework thematic analysis approach.Results33 respondents, including providers and patients, were recruited from 15 different countries. Participants highly valued the ability to monitor progression and resolution of long-term sequelae but recommended the avoidance of overuse of imaging. Their preferences for the imaging modalities were recorded along with pros and cons. Equity concerns were reported across countries (e.g., access to resources) and within countries (e.g., disadvantaged groups lacked access to insurance). Both providers and patients accepted the use of imaging, some patients were concerned about affordability of the test. Facilitators included post- recovery units and protocols. Barriers to feasibility included low number of specialists in some countries, access to imaging tests among elderly living in nursing homes, experience of poor coordination of care, emotional exhaustion, and transportation challenges driving to a monitoring site.ConclusionWe were able to demonstrate that there is a high value and acceptability using imaging but there were factors influencing feasibility, equity and some practical considerations associated with implementation. We had a few suggestions to be considered by the expert panel in the formulation of the guideline to facilitate its implementation such as using validated risk score predictive tools for lung complications to recommend the appropriate imaging modality and complementary pulmonary function test.