Ongoing Support Research Articles

The Impact of Shifting from Subsistence to Cash Crops on the Livelihoods of the Soliga Tribe in India

Efforts to protect and conserve nature are essential worldwide. However, in many protected forests, local communities have lived for centuries, relying on the environment for food, income, shelter, and cultural practices. Conservation regulations often impact their livelihoods. This study examines the challenges and opportunities for sustaining the livelihoods of Soliga tribe farmers in Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, South India. A participatory workshop with five researchers and 25 diverse farmers (male, female, young, and old) discussed: a) current agricultural and livelihood practices; b) key drivers of land-use changes; and c) necessary actions for sustainable livelihoods. Findings showed that shifting from traditional subsistence crops to cash crops like coffee, pepper, and floriculture reduced food availability but increased cash income. Non-timber forest products such as honey, berries, nuts, and firewood significantly supplemented household needs. Challenges included low coffee yields due to disease and poor soil, changing rainfall patterns, limited land, and wildlife crop damage. The forest conservation policies enforced during the recent decades have limited their access to resources and traditional lands, affecting their food security and economic stability. Additionally, limited access to education and employment opportunities restricts their social and economic mobility. Ongoing research and support are needed to enhance sustainable farming techniques such as mulching, composting, intercropping, integrated pest management, and controlling Lantana spp. to achieve resilient farming systems.

Sustainable synergy: exploring the nexus of green initiatives and digitalization in gulf countries – a comprehensive study on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators

Purpose This research investigates the trajectory of Gulf region, focusing on the interplay between environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and key elements – digital economy, green economy (GE), green finance, green energy and green innovation. This study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how Gulf economies align their developmental pursuits with sustainability principles amidst the rapid evolution of digital technologies. Design/methodology/approach A data set of 95 listed companies from six Gulf Cooperation Council countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – from year 2016 to 2022 was compiled from reputable sources. Using fixed effect regression techniques, this study explores relationships, accounting for individual and time-specific variations. Findings This study indicates that key factors – digital economy, GE, green energy and green innovation – significantly influence ESG performance across Gulf nations underscoring the potential for strategic integration of these elements to enhance sustainable practices. However, the nonsignificant impact of green finance highlights a need for further exploration and refinement of financial mechanisms to effectively contribute to ESG goals in the Gulf region. Research limitations/implications The findings underscore the importance for Gulf policymakers to prioritize ongoing support and policy formulation fostering digitalization and green initiatives. Businesses in the region can enhance ESG performance by integrating sustainable practices, promoting long-term resilience and reputation. Investors and financial institutions can use these insights to guide investment decisions, prioritizing projects contributing to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Originality/value Amidst the current sustainability imperative, this research holds unique value in its timely exploration of the Gulf region’s sustainable landscape, providing crucial insights into the interplay between ESG factors and digital and green initiatives.

Pilot of a multicomponent program for people with dementia and their care partners: Health services staff expectations, experiences and observations.

There is increased recognition of the need to improve post-diagnostic pathways for people with dementia and their care partners living in the community to access rehabilitation services to support independence and wellbeing. However, there is minimal evidence on implementing rehabilitation services for this population. The study aimed to present the expectations and experiences of allied health staff involved in piloting the Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care and Engagement (SPICE) program based at an outpatient clinic of a public rehabilitation hospital. Over twelve weeks, the program combines small group and dyadic evidence-based interventions including cognitive stimulation therapy, occupational therapy, physical activity, care partner education, and dietetics. A qualitative exploratory methodology was used with pre- and post-program interviews conducted with ten allied health staff. Questions were designed to elicit the expected and actual benefits and challenges of the initial implementation of the multicomponent program. The multidisciplinary team were motivated by the potential for the SPICE program to meet an important service gap, and confident people with dementia and their care partners would benefit. Staff reported enjoyment, satisfaction, and confidence in delivering the program, and believed the multiple components had synergistic effects on participants, particularly regarding social connection and functional engagement. While staff had pre-program concerns regarding retention, participant fatigue, and managing challenging situations, these were not realised. At times, staff observed program intensity to cause unintended stress for some care partners. Resourcing and strategies to ensure sustainability were identified as important by staff, as well as the need for ongoing support to participants post-program. Overall, the SPICE program exceeded expectations and was rewarding for staff. Further work to refine and evaluate the program is necessary to support its potential to continue providing dementia rehabilitation to promote the independence and wellbeing of people with dementia and care partners living in the community.

Exploring Racial Justice with Culturally Responsive Mathematical Modeling in the Primary Grades: Cultivating Criticality in the Problem-Based Learning Space

This study explores the integration of culturally responsive mathematical modeling (CRMM) in primary grades to promote racial justice and critical consciousness. The research focuses on how CRMM can support problem-based learning (PBL) by engaging students in analyzing real-world issues through mathematics. CRMM leverages students' cultural knowledge, identities, and experiences to critically examine and address social justice issues, such as racial representation in classroom libraries. The study utilizes a case study approach to investigate the supports and challenges faced by two primary grade teachers in designing and implementing a CRMM task, the Library Diversity Project. This project aimed to evaluate and improve the fairness of classroom library collections by analyzing the representation of different racial and cultural groups in children's books. The research highlights the importance of collegial support, critical reflection, and the use of specific pedagogical tools, such as decision matrices and graphical representations, in facilitating CRMM. Key findings indicate that CRMM tasks can cultivate critical awareness and empathy among students, enabling them to take action to address inequities. The study also unveils the complexity of implementing CRMM, particularly in navigating political, contextual, and mathematical challenges. Teachers' critical reflexivity and collaboration were essential in addressing these challenges and fostering a learning environment that allowed students to use mathematics to analyze an issue and take action. The research contributes to the literature on equity-focused mathematics education by providing empirical evidence of the potential of CRMM to promote social justice in the primary grades. It emphasizes the need for ongoing professional development and support for teachers to effectively integrate CRMM into their practice. The study concludes with recommendations for future research and practice in culturally responsive mathematics teaching.

The mental health impact of repeated COVID-19 enforced lockdowns in England: evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study.

Research shows initial COVID-19 lockdowns increased population mental distress. Yet, the mental health impact of repeated lockdowns in England remains unknown. To: (a) explore changes in population mental health symptoms over the COVID-19 pandemic period (March 2020 to March 2021) in England, comparing this with trends from a decade before (2009-2019) as well as after (2021-2023); (b) compare the mental health impact of each of the three lockdowns in England with periods of eased restrictions, determining who was most affected; (c) examine the impact of demographics and distinct time periods on the prevalence of mental health symptoms. A secondary analysis of a national longitudinal cohort study, utilising data from Waves 1-13 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study and from Waves 1-9 of the COVID-19 Survey. Mental health was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Student t-tests and logistical regressions were conducted. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of mental health during England's pandemic period, encompassing three lockdowns, compared with the average of rates from 10 years before. Rates of reported mental health symptoms were not significantly different across each lockdown, but were significantly higher than pre-pandemic rates, declining with eased restrictions. Rates from the end of lockdown to May 2023 revealed elevated mental health symptoms compared with pre-pandemic. Elevated symptoms were observed for women, people homeworking, those with health conditions, individuals aged 30-45 years and those experiencing loneliness. Repeated lockdowns in England had a substantial impact on mental health, indicating requirements for ongoing mental health support.

Literature Review of the Effect of Parenting on the Learning of Dyslexic Learners in Inclusive Schools Between 2019-2024

This article was written to present a literature review to find out the forms of parenting that affect the learning of dyslexic students in Inclusive Schools in the period between 2019 and 2024. The method used in this research is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Data was obtained from journal articles, research reports, and proceedings aligned with the paper's topic using the help of Harzing's Publish or Perish. Parenting has a vital role in shaping the behavior, social skills, and academic achievement of dyslexic learners. From the search for articles on parenting patterns of dyslexic learners in the 2019-2024 time span, there were 16 articles consisting of 11 journal articles, four research reports, and one proceeding. The results showed that democratic and supportive parenting consistently improved the engagement and learning outcomes, independence, and self-confidence of dyslexic children. Meanwhile, authoritarian and permissive parenting showed mixed impacts, often impeding educational progress. In addition, this study highlights the importance of collaboration between parents, educators, and support personnel in creating an inclusive and adaptive learning environment. The implications of this study suggest that ongoing support from families and educational environments is essential to achieve optimal learning outcomes for dyslexic learners.

Changes in muscle performance among older adults with myeloid malignancies engaging in a mobile health (mHealth) exercise intervention: a single arm pilot study

BackgroundOlder adults with cancer are vulnerable to declines in muscle performance (e.g., strength, speed, duration of muscular contraction), which are associated with worse cancer-related outcomes. Exercise-based interventions can mitigate these declines, but evidence of their effect among older adults with myeloid malignancies receiving outpatient treatment is limited. We explore change in muscle performance among patients in a single arm pilot study of a mobile health (mHealth) exercise intervention.MethodsPatients ≥ 60 years old with myeloid malignancies receiving outpatient chemotherapy completed a home-based resistance band and walking exercise program [EXercise for Cancer Patients (EXCAP)©®] delivered via a mobile application with symptom monitoring [(Geriatric Oncology-EXCAP (GO-EXCAP)] lasting 2 cycles of chemotherapy (approximately 8–12 weeks). Clinical exercise physiologists provided instruction and ongoing support. Upper and lower extremity peak torque (maximum force, newton-meters, Nm), total work (force over entire movement, Nm), and average power (speed of force, watts, W) were assessed using the BIODEX System 4 isokinetic dynamometer. Muscle activation (motor recruitment, millivolts, mV) was captured using the BTS FREEEMG 1000. We report descriptive statistics and within-patient differences from baseline to post-intervention using Wilcoxon signed rank tests (α = 0.10) and effect size (ES, Cohen’s d, 0.20 ≤ small < 0.50, large ≥ 0.80), and explore differences by exercise level (resistance exercise, daily steps).ResultsA total of 25 patients completed baseline assessments, 23 with muscle performance data at baseline, 16 at post-intervention. Of these, most were male (n = 10, 62.5%) and had acute myeloid leukemia (n = 9, 56.3%). From baseline to post-intervention there were improvements in left shoulder peak torque [mean change = 2.45 (Standard Deviation = 2.41), p = 0.004] and average power [2.29 (3.05), p = 0.033]. Muscle activation increased for left rectus femoris [0.04 (0.04), p = 0.074], right and left biceps brachii [0.03 (0.04), p = 0.012; 0.03 (0.05), p = 0.098, respectively], and left pectoralis major [0.02 (0.03), p = 0.064]. Several measures of peak torque/total work and all measures of muscle activation showed ES ≥ 0.20 for improvement. There were no statistically significant decreases from baseline to post-intervention.ConclusionsOlder adults with myeloid malignancies participating in a mHealth exercise intervention had stable to improved muscle performance. Further research is needed to establish the preliminary efficacy of this intervention for improving physical performance in this population at high risk for decline.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT04035499 (registered July 29th, 2019).

Assessing neonatal nurses: transitioning preterm infants to oral feeding - a multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Egypt, approximately 10% of preterm deliveries occur between 32 and fewer than 37 weeks, leading to high neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions. Preterm infants often face oral feeding difficulties due to immature development, which can lead to extended hospital stays and increased health risks.AimTo assess neonatal nurses’ performance in terms of the transition to oral feeding in preterm infants, focusing on knowledge, practices, and attitudes.MethodsA descriptive, quantitative, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted across 16 hospitals in five governorates in Egypt from November 2023 to March 2024 involving 553 neonatal nurses. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge and attitudes and through an observed checklist for nurses’ practices. The study used statistical methods, including binary logistic regression, to analyze the data.ResultsThe findings revealed significant knowledge gaps among nurses, particularly in terms of oro-motor function, suck-swallow-breathe patterns, and nonnutritive sucking. A total of 64.6% of the nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge, 58.6% had unsatisfactory practices, and 45% had a negative attitude toward the oral feeding transition. Key predictors of satisfactory practices included higher education levels, full-time employment, and positive attitudes.ConclusionThis study highlights critical gaps in neonatal nurses’ knowledge and practices regarding the transition to oral feeding in preterm infants. Addressing these gaps through targeted educational interventions and ongoing support is essential for improving care quality and outcomes for infants. The findings revealed that a substantial proportion of nurses lacked adequate knowledge of critical areas, such as oro-motor function, the suck-swallow-breathe pattern, and nonnutritive sucking. These knowledge deficits could hinder the ability of nurses to provide optimal care during this crucial transition.

"Just Be Relentless," Lessons Learned from In-Hospital Addiction Consult Service Implementation.

Hospitalization is a "reachable" moment to engage people in addiction care. Addiction consult services (ACSs) have been shown to improve outcomes for hospitalized patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Despite this, most hospital systems do not provide hospital-based addiction care or have an ACS. Characterize implementation barriers, lessons learned, and opportunities for future support of ACS implementation. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 17 "champions" leading ACS implementation at 11 institutions across the U.S. Interviews explored evolution of ACSs, including staffing, service delivery, strategic planning, and barriers and facilitators to implementation. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to identify emergent themes. Five dominant themes characterize ACS implementation: (1) how champions obtain buy-in from hospital leadership. Participants described the impression that ACSs are not revenue-generators as a barrier to implementation and found ways to capture monetary and non-monetary outcomes to demonstrate value; (2) specific attributes are common to ACS champions including persistence, good communication, and leadership skills. ACS champions described needing to communicate strategically with multiple stakeholders across their institution and often pitched their case multiple times before obtaining funding; (3) reliance on external resources. This included informal coaching from other ACS leaders and formal tools such as telementoring networks and published literature to learn to engage leadership and present a business case; (4) ACSs are important drivers of cultural change within institutions in the face of significant stigma and; (5) planning for sustainability. This included demonstrating improved quality of care and patient and provider satisfaction to obtain ongoing support for ACS. Barriers to ACS implementation are common and significant and the process of obtaining leadership support for implementation is often long and iterative. Broad adoption of ACSs will require support from hospital systems and policymakers including incentives, funding, and infrastructure to support clinical champions.

Building the capacity of young professionals in family planning to publish: Insights from the ICFP2022 WHO scientific writing, mentoring and coaching course.

We describe the development, delivery, and evaluation of a program to support junior professionals to publish their work in a scientific journal. Conference delegates with an accepted abstract at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), self-identifying as junior professionals and from a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) or working predominantly in LMIC settings, were eligible for the program. The program involved: (1) Four face-to-face workshops at ICFP from the 14th to 17th of November 2022; (2) mentoring meetings at ICFP; (3) a six-month post-conference online coaching program; and (4) post-conference learning webinars from December 2022 to May 2023. We used online surveys to assess the participants' reactions, learning, and behaviour changes to the workshops and the online coaching program. We present participants' self-reported progress towards achieving a scientific publication. Sixty-seven participants from 29 countries participated in the workshops, and 40 attended the post-conference program. Workshops were rated positively, though the in-conference mentoring program faced challenges, including low attendance. The post-conference program was highly rated, with most participants engaging well with coaching and the webinars. At the end of the six-month program, 31 (46%) participants reported some progress in manuscript writing, with five completed manuscripts submitted. Scientific writing is a complex skill, and whilst our program had several positive elements, our participants faced many challenges completing their manuscripts within six months. The post-conference coaching and webinar program was rated highly, emphasising the need for ongoing support. Future programs should address this and other difficulties we highlight.

Digital Competence of Rural Teachers in Depopulated Regions of Spain: A Bibliometric Review.

Rural teachers have the potential to be important agents of local development. To achieve this goal, they need to acquire high digital competence in order to effectively integrate technology into their pedagogical practices, thus enriching the learning experience of students and fostering their participation. Digital competence contributes to reducing the education gap between urban and rural areas, promoting educational equity and inclusion. High digital competence also enables rural teachers to address the specific challenges of their environment, such as cultural diversity, scarce resources, and low population density. Against this backdrop, this article presents a bibliometric review of the importance of digital competence in rural teachers in Spain, where the problem of rural depopulation, as in other regions of Europe, has been accentuated in recent years. The objective of the bibliometric review is both (i) to find the strengths and weaknesses that concern researchers in relation to the digital training of teachers in rural areas and (ii) to express them explicitly in order to contribute to propose solutions. The results reveal the growing academic and political attention being paid to this issue, highlighting the need for rural teachers to acquire digital skills to adapt to current educational demands. In addition, they point to the importance of developing specific policies and programs in Europe as well as providing training opportunities and ongoing support to ensure that teachers in rural contexts can acquire or strengthen their digital competence, thereby improving the quality of education in these areas.

Systematic review of international ethics knowledge in the speech-language pathology literature (1980–2022)

Purpose A systematic review was conducted to describe various viewpoints expressed in speech-language pathology literature over four decades concerning ethics knowledge in the profession. Method The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were employed. Our sample search encompassed peer-reviewed journal articles sourced from electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, MasterFILE Premier, E-Journals, Africa-Wide Information, and Academic Search Premier, spanning the period from 1980 to 2022. Result The initial search of articles identified 139 papers. After applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 full-text papers were deemed suitable for inclusion. We conducted a qualitative, deductive analysis of the relevant data and findings. Studies primarily concentrated on the speech-language pathologist’s roles in rehabilitation/management and education, research, and administration. A predominant focus of these papers revolved around moral judgement, a fundamental component of moral behaviour. Conclusion Findings suggest an evolving landscape within the speech-language pathology discipline, with an increased focus on moral judgement, professional competency, and rehabilitation/management. The findings highlight a consistent need for further development and emphasis on ethics in education, research, administration, and advocacy/consultation roles. This underscores the necessity for ongoing ethical education and support to ensure practitioners are well-equipped to navigate the complex ethical landscape of their professional practice.

The PDC30 Chatbot-Development of a Psychoeducational Resource on Dementia Caregiving Among Family Caregivers: Mixed Methods Acceptability Study.

Providing ongoing support to the increasing number of caregivers as their needs change in the long-term course of dementia is a severe challenge to any health care system. Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) operating 24/7 may help to tackle this problem. This study describes the development of a generative AI chatbot-the PDC30 Chatbot-and evaluates its acceptability in a mixed methods study. The PDC30 Chatbot was developed using the GPT-4o large language model, with a personality agent to constrain its behavior to provide advice on dementia caregiving based on the Positive Dementia Caregiving in 30 Days Guidebook-a laypeople's resource based on a validated training manual for dementia caregivers. The PDC30 Chatbot's responses to 21 common questions were compared with those of ChatGPT and another chatbot (called Chatbot-B) as standards of reference. Chatbot-B was constructed using PDC30 Chatbot's architecture but replaced the latter's knowledge base with a collection of authoritative sources, including the World Health Organization's iSupport, By Us For Us Guides, and 185 web pages or manuals by Alzheimer's Association, National Institute on Aging, and UK Alzheimer's Society. In the next phase, to assess the acceptability of the PDC30 Chatbot, 21 family caregivers used the PDC30 Chatbot for two weeks and provided ratings and comments on its acceptability. Among the three chatbots, ChatGPT's responses tended to be repetitive and not specific enough. PDC30 Chatbot and Chatbot-B, by virtue of their design, produced highly context-sensitive advice, with the former performing slightly better when the questions conveyed significant psychological distress on the part of the caregiver. In the acceptability study, caregivers found the PDC30 Chatbot highly user-friendly, and its responses quite helpful and easy to understand. They were rather satisfied with it and would strongly recommend it to other caregivers. During the 2-week trial period, the majority used the chatbot more than once per day. Thematic analysis of their written feedback revealed three major themes: helpfulness, accessibility, and improved attitude toward AI. The PDC30 Chatbot provides quality responses to caregiver questions, which are well-received by caregivers. Conversational AI is a viable approach to improve the support of caregivers.

Association Between Digital Front Doors and Social Care Use for Community-Dwelling Adults in England: Cross-Sectional Study.

Requests for public social care support can be made through an online portal. These digital "front doors" can help people navigate complex social care systems and access services. These systems can be set up in different ways, but there is little evidence about the impact of alternative arrangements. Digital front-door systems should help people better access services, particularly low-intensity services (high-intensity care is likely to require a full in-person assessment). This study aimed to investigate the association between 2 primary digital front door arrangements, easy-read information, and self-assessment tools provided on official websites, and the type of social care support that is offered: ongoing low-level support (OLLS), short-term care (STC) and long-term care (LTC). Information on front door arrangements was collected from the official websites of 152 English local authorities in 2021. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using aggregated service use data from official government returns at the local authority level. The independent variables were derived from the policy information collected, specifically focusing on the availability of online digital easy-read information and self-assessment tools for adults and caregivers through official websites. The dependent variables were the rates of using social care support, including OLLS, STC, and LTC, across different age groups: the adult population (aged 18 and older), younger population (aged between 18 and 64 years), and older population (aged 65 and older). Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the association between digital front door arrangements and access to social care support, controlling for population size, dependency level, and financial need factors. Less than 20% (27/147) of local authorities provided an integrated digital easy-read format as part of their digital front door system with about 25% (37/147) adopting digital self-assessment within their system. We found that local authorities that offered an integrated digital easy-read information format showed higher rates of using OLLS (β coefficient=0.54; P=.03; but no statistically significant association with LTC and STC). The provision of an online self-assessment system was not associated with service use in the 1-year (2021) cross-sectional estimate, but when 2 years (2020 and 2021) of service-use data were analyzed, a significant positive association was found on OLLS rates (β coefficient=0.41; P=.21). Notably, these findings were consistent across different age groups. These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that digital systems with built-in easy-read and self-assessment may make access to (low-intensity) services easier for people. Adoption of these arrangements could potentially help increase the uptake of support among those who are eligible, with expected benefits for their care-related well-being. Given the limited adoption of the digital front door by local authorities in England, expanding their use could improve care-related outcomes and save social care costs.

Breastfeeding problems experienced by lactating mothers in Almadinah Almonawarah province and the probable maternal and fetal risk factors

Objective: This study aimed to identify breastfeeding problems commonly experienced during the first six months of lactation and the associated risk factors in Almadinah Almonawarah Province. Methods: The study was conducted through face-to-face questionnaires filled out by lactating mothers attending the Maternity and Children Hospital and Ohud Hospital in Al-Madinah. Results: The majority of mothers (52.8%) encountered breastfeeding difficulties. The most prevalent concerns were insufficient milk (28.6%), uncertainty of appropriate timing for breastfeeding (23.5%), not knowing the proper breastfeeding position (16.6%), solidification of milk (14.4%), and nipple pain (8.6%). There were significant associations between encountering breastfeeding problems and the baby&amp;apos;s weight at birth (p-value=0.005), the baby&amp;apos;s need for an incubator (p-value= 0.000), the timing of breastfeeding initiation (p-value=0.002), and getting help on correct breastfeeding techniques (p-value=0.032). No significant difference in experiencing breastfeeding problems between mothers who received prenatal breastfeeding education and those who did not (p-value=0.123). A moderate positive correlation was found between the occurrence of breastfeeding problems and prenatal care visits (rs= 0.165, p-value= 0.000) as well as the level of maternal education (rs= 0.107, p-value= 0.000). The need for an incubator, hospital follow-up visits, timing of breastfeeding initiation, receiving help with breastfeeding, and gestational age are predictors for the occurrence of breastfeeding problems. Conclusion: Breastfeeding difficulties were prevalent among mothers in Al-Madinah province. Early initiation of breastfeeding, proper positioning, and ongoing postnatal support are crucial factors for successful breastfeeding.

Are households willing to contribute financially to hazard mitigation? A lesson landslide-prone areas

Abstract This study examines household readiness to make financial contributions to reduce the risk of landslides, with a particular focus on Bantul, Indonesia, a location that frequently experiences these kinds of disasters. The average willingness to contribute (WTP) towards mitigating landslides was determined by analysing data from 358 homes using the Contingent Valuation approach. The results showed that households are willing to provide IDR 27,026 (USD 1.68) on average for this reason. WTP was found to be influenced by a number of sociodemographic factors. Factors such as age, gender, family size, income, and education level were all important. Furthermore, there was a correlation found between WTP levels and social capital elements including trust and involvement in community activities. Household willingness to make financial contributions was also influenced by where they lived in landslide-prone areas and how frequently landslides happened in the past. Policymakers and stakeholders in Bantul and other similar locations are advised to adopt a number of activities in light of these findings. Initially, it is important to create focused marketing and educational initiatives to increase public knowledge of the risks associated with landslides and the value of mitigating measures. Second, since social capital, trust, and community involvement all have a favorable effect on WTP, these programs ought to be given top priority. To guarantee ongoing household support, it is also essential to put in place equitable and open procedures for gathering and applying donations for landslide mitigation initiatives.

Community Perspectives on Optimizing Community Health Volunteer Roles for HIV Prevention Services in Kenya and Uganda.

Community health workers (CHWs) play a significant role in supporting health services delivery in communities with few trained health care providers. There has been limited research on ways to optimize the role of CHWs in HIV prevention service delivery. This study explored CHWs' experiences with offering HIV prevention services [HIV testing and HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP)] during three pilot studies in rural communities in Kenya and Uganda, which aimed to increase biomedical HIV prevention coverage via a structured patient-centered HIV prevention delivery model. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted from November 2021 to March 2022 with CHWs (N = 8) and their clients (N = 18) in the Sustainable East Africa Research in Community Health (SEARCH) SAPPHIRE study. A seven-person multi-regional team coded and analyzed data using a thematic analysis approach. CHWs offered clients PrEP and PEP refills, adherence monitoring, counseling on medications, and phone consultations. Clients reported CHWs maintained close interpersonal relationships with clients, and demonstrated trustworthiness and professionalism. Some clients reported that community members trusted the authenticity of CHWs, while others expressed concerns about the CHWs' ability to maintain confidentiality, and felt that some community members would be uncomfortable receiving HIV services from them. CHWs valued the expansion of their role to include prevention services but expressed concerns about balancing competing demands of CHW responsibilities, income-generating activities, and family roles. CHWs were well accepted as HIV prevention service providers despite contextual challenges. CHWs need ongoing training support. Establishing structures for remunerating CHWs in health systems could improve their performance and retention.

Enhancing Virtual Learning Outcomes: A Regression Study on Technology Integration

This study examines the impact of technology integration on instructional practices and student engagement in virtual learning environments. Through quantitative analysis, the research assesses factors such as the types of technological tools used, student access to technology, and instructors’ proficiency in digital tools, evaluating their collective influence on student participation. The regression results indicate a statistically significant relationship between these variables and student engagement, underscoring the need for equitable access to technology and ongoing support for educators to foster effective virtual learning. Despite the flexibility and accessibility afforded by virtual classrooms, the study identifies persistent challenges, such as the digital divide and insufficient institutional support, which hinder optimal learning outcomes. These findings suggest that comprehensive strategies, including professional development for instructors and improved technological infrastructure are crucial for enhancing engagement and achieving equitable educational outcomes in virtual settings.

A Sequential Calibration Approach to Address Challenges of Repeated Calibration of a COVID-19 Model.

Mathematical models served a critical role in COVID-19 decision making throughout the pandemic. Model calibration is an essential, but often computationally burdensome, step in model development that provides estimates for difficult-to-measure parameters and establishes an up-to-date modeling platform for scenario analysis. In the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, frequent recalibration was necessary to provide ongoing support to decision makers. In this study, we address the computational challenges of frequent recalibration with a new calibration approach. We calibrated and recalibrated an age-stratified dynamic compartmental model of COVID-19 in Minnesota to statewide COVID-19 cumulative mortality and prevalent age-specific hospitalizations from March 22, 2020 through August 20, 2021. This period was divided into 10 calibration periods, reflecting significant changes in policies, messaging, and/or epidemiological conditions in Minnesota. When recalibrating the model from one period to the next, we employed a sequential calibration approach that leveraged calibration results from previous periods and adjusted only parameters most relevant to the calibration target data of the new calibration period to improve computational efficiency. We compared computational burden and performance of the sequential calibration approach to a more traditional calibration method, in which all parameters were readjusted with each recalibration. Both calibration methods identified parameter sets closely reproducing prevalent hospitalizations and cumulative deaths over time. By the last calibration period, both approaches converged to similar parameter values. However, the sequential calibration approach identified parameter sets that more tightly fit calibration targets and required substantially less computation time than traditional calibration. Sequential calibration is an efficient approach to maintaining up-to-date models with evolving, time-varying parameters and potentially identifies better-fitting parameter sets than traditional calibration. This study used a sequential calibration approach, which takes advantage of previous calibration results to reduce the number of parameters to be estimated in each round of calibration, improving computational efficiency and algorithm convergence to best-fitting parameter values.Both sequential and traditional calibration approaches were able to identify parameter sets that closely reproduced calibration targets. However, the sequential calibration approach generated parameter sets that yielded tighter fits and was less computationally burdensome.Sequential calibration is an efficient approach to maintaining up-to-date models with evolving, time-varying parameters.

직장에서의 자폐인 지원 관련 국내외 질적연구 동향 분석

The aim of this study was to examine the implications and identify future research directions regarding support for autistic individuals in employment settings. This objective was accomplished through a comprehensive analysis of trends and detailed findings from qualitative research on workplace support for autistic individuals. Based on the selection criteria, a total of 18 studies were selected. Overall research trends, the work-life experiences of autistic people, the support provided at work, and identified support needs were analyzed. The results showed that autistic participants were employed across various fields and had positive experiences at work when individualized support was provided. Relationships with managers and coworkers, as well as organizational culture and climate, also influenced the successful employment of autistic individuals. Environmental modification and job performance support were the most common types of support provided. To enable autistic individuals to perform their jobs successfully and remain employed, providing flexible and ongoing support based on an understanding of the characteristics of autism is essential. Implications for support in employment settings and directions for further research are discussed herein.