Perceptual Domains Research Articles

98 Cognitive Outcomes Following Bilateral Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor

Objective:Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, characterized by bilateral action tremors of the upper extremities. Surgical interventions can be considered for severe cases that are refractory to medication. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (Vim) is a recently approved, minimally invasive treatment for unilateral tremor. While patients are generally pleased with unilateral treatment, many patients are bothered by tremor on the untreated side. Historically, bilateral thalamotomy has been associated with a higher rate of adverse events, including cognitive impairment. MRgFUS Vim thalamotomy for bilateral tremor is currently being investigated. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of bilateral MRgFUS Vim thalamotomy on cognition.Participants and Methods:Twelve patients with medication-refractory essential tremor (mean age = 68.77 +/- 11.78 years, mean education = 14.34 +/- 2.71 years, 8 male) were included in the present study. Three of the 12 patients met criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). All patients successfully underwent unilateral MRgFUS thalamotomy at least 48 weeks before the second thalamotomy. A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to patients before (considered baseline in the present study) and three months following the second thalamotomy. Baseline evaluations occurred on average 144.64 +/- 91.53 weeks (range: 55.00 - 346.58) after the first thalamotomy. The neuropsychological battery assessed domains of processing speed (Oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test, D-KEFS Color-Word Naming and Reading), attention (WAIS-IV Digit Span Forward), executive function (D-KEFS Color-Word Inhibition and Inhibition/Switching), working memory (WAIS-IV Digit Span Backward and Sequencing), verbal fluency (D-KEFS Letter Fluency and Animal Fluency), confrontation naming (Boston Naming Test), verbal memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised), and visuospatial perception (Judgment of Line Orientation). Alternate versions of tests were used when possible. Cognitive changes were analyzed at the group and individual level. Group level changes were assessed with paired sample t-tests (corrected for multiple comparisons). At the individual level, postoperative declines > 1.5 SD from baseline were considered clinically significant.Results:Participants’ baseline intellectual functioning ranged from low average to superior (as measured by the WTAR). The mean baseline score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was 24.58 (range: 17 - 30). At the group level, there were no significant changes in cognitive scores from baseline to follow-up (all p values > 0.635). At the individual level, one patient with MCI declined > 1.5 SD on the verbal memory composite. No other patients showed declines > 1.5 SD.Conclusions:Our preliminary findings suggest that bilateral MRgFUS Vim thalamotomy is relatively safe from a cognitive perspective. However, a single patient with MCI exhibited clinically significant postoperative decline in verbal memory. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate the factors that increase the risk of postoperative cognitive decline, including pre-existing cognitive impairment, older age, and lesion size.

Supervision, scheduling, satisfaction and shared working: how experiences of junior doctors relate to excess mortality within the NHS

BackgroundWe sought to explore associations between trainee doctor perception and excess patient mortality. MethodsData from two publicly available databases reflecting mortality and components of trainee satisfaction within 81 NHS healthcare institutions between the years 2012 and 2019 were analysed. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated. ResultsAll domains of trainee perception were correlated with excess mortality. Clinical supervision out of hours (R=–0.44; p<0.0001), teamwork (R=–0.36; p<0.0001) and clinical supervision at any time (R=–0.35; p<0.0001) were most strongly correlated. Most associations remained consistent year on year. ConclusionTrainee doctor perceptions of clinical supervision, rota design and teamwork within the NHS are consistently correlated with excess patient mortality. Further exploration of these associations could identify opportunities for interventions to reduce excess patient mortality. Given the clinical significance of our findings, organisations should consider rapid implementation of evidence-based interventions where they exist.

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From 2019 to 2023, the global population experienced a period characterized by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which was attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Cognitive impairment, particularly memory loss, is frequently reported by individuals who have recovered from Covid-19, alongside other neurological symptoms. This phenomenon not only carries implications for individual health, but also extends to social and economic domains. This phenomenon garners the interest of scholars. Numerous empirical investigations have established a correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health disorders. The infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms. Additionally, individuals with pre-existing mental illness are more susceptible to experiencing more severe outcomes of COVID-19, increased mortality rates, and enduring residual symptoms over an extended period of time. Dementia itself encompasses a multitude of risk factors, including but not limited to advanced age, vascular and metabolic disorders, obesity, hypodynamic lifestyle, various infections, depression, smoking and social isolation. These factors should be considered collectively when evaluating cognitive impairment following COVID-19 infection. Nevertheless, it is obvious that COVID-19 survivors frequently experience health concerns related to memory, attention, perception, and other cognitive domains, necessitating thorough assessment and, in certain cases, intervention. Given the frequency of “memory decline” in the post-Covid period, especially in young and middle age, it is evident that cognitive dysfunction caused by COVID-19 impairment can have detrimental effects on both quality of life and the ability to perform daily tasks efficiently. In summary, the existing literature review indicates a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive impairment. Consequently, there is a pressing need for further research endeavors that are more focused and specific in nature.

Employers' Perception and Practice of Workplace Violence Prevention at Healthcare Facilities Questionnaire: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Workplace violence prevention initiatives are undeniably lacking in healthcare facilities. The aim of this study was to validate a newly developed questionnaire and assess employers' perceptions and practices towards workplace violence prevention at healthcare facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to November 2021 by recruiting 333 employers at healthcare facilities in Kelantan, Malaysia. The original draft of the Malay version of the questionnaire comprised 62 items constructed under two domains (perception and practice). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate construct validity and internal consistency using R software. The final model for the perception and practice domain of the questionnaire consisted of 13 factors and 56 items. The factor loadings for all items were above 0.6. The fit indices used for confirmatory factor analysis in the final model were as follows: χ2 = 2092.6 (P < 0.001), standardised root mean squared residual (SRMR) = 0.053, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.042, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.928 and Tucker Lewis index (TLI) = 0.920. The construct reliability for all factors was reliable, with Raykov's rho coefficients above 0.70. The newly developed questionnaire demonstrated excellent psychometric properties and adequate validity and reliability, confirming that this instrument is reliable and valuable for evaluating employers' perceptions and practices towards workplace violence prevention at healthcare facilities.

Dental aesthetic perception of patients submitted to activated charcoal-based bleaching agents: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of activated charcoal-based products used in two presentation forms (powder or toothpaste), compared to 10 % carbamide peroxide and conventional toothpaste on aesthetic perception and psychosocial impact before and after treatment. MethodsFifty-six participants were divided into 4 experimental groups (n = 14). Activated charcoal-based powder (PW); Activated charcoal-based dentifrice (AC); Conventional fluoride toothpaste (CD) and 10 % carbamide peroxide (CP). All products were used for 14 days. Psychosocial impact on dental esthetics (PIDAQ), oral health impact profile (OHIP- Esthetics) and orofacial esthetics scale (OES) questionnaires were applied before and after treatment. Descriptive and exploratory data analyses were performed and analyzed using linear mixed models for repeated measures over time considering significance level of α = 0.05. ResultsFor PIDAQ, the CP group showed significant decrease in psychological impact, aesthetic perception domains and overall score, while in the PW group, there was only a significant decrease in the psychological impact domain. Decrease in OHIP was observed for the functional limitation domain scores for treatments with CP and PW, in the psychological discomfort domain, decrease was observed for all groups, while for the OES questionnaire, significant increase in the color domain was observed for the CP group. ConclusionActivated charcoal-based products showed lower scores in all questionnaires when compared with carbamide peroxide; thus, charcoal-based products promoted lower impact on quality of life and aesthetic perception. Clinical relevanceIn this randomized clinical trial, charcoal-based OTC products had inferior quality of life and aesthetic perception results compared to conventional carbamide peroxide bleaching.

Real-time 360 degrees view for the operator of milliAmpere 2

In the evolving domain of autonomous marine operations, accurate perception and representation of the surrounding environment are crucial for safe and effective execution. This paper addresses this issue by developing and testing a near real-time 360-degree bird’s eye view system for the situations where the ferry, milliAmpere 2, has to be manually controlled by a local operator onboard. The goal was to aid the operator during the critical phase of docking, by displaying the surrounding area of the ferry from a bird’s eye view. The bird’s eye view was made by using inverse perspective mapping on the undistorted images from the 8 cameras onboard. The system was implemented in Python, and aimed to reach a run-time of less than 200ms. This goal was reached during the initial phase of the work. However, during live testing, only near real-time performance was achieved. Despite some shortcomings, the operators found the system to be a “useful additional assistance” during the docking process.

Relationship between physical activity and perceptions of ageing from the perspective of healthy ageing among older people with frailty with chronic disease: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Taiwan, the 2019 Elderly Frailty Assessment found that 11.2% of older people have frailty problems. Some researchers have found that older persons’ negative perspectives on ageing aggravate the progression of frailty, thereby increasing their risk of disability. This study aimed to investigate associations of physical activity and perceptions of ageing on perspectives of healthy ageing in older people with frailty and chronic diseases and to compare the differences in their frailty status.MethodsThis study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. Participants were recruited from community long-term care stations. The inclusion criteria were (1) no severe cognitive impairment and ability to communicate in Mandarin and Taiwanese; (2) over 65 years old; (3) at least one chronic disease; and (4) at least one debilitating item in the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture index. A total of 312 participants were recruited. The Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire Chinese version, Healthy Ageing Perspectives Questionnaire, and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly Chinese Version were used for measurement.ResultsThe study results found that demographic variables, perceptions of ageing, and physical activity were significantly correlated with perspectives on healthy ageing, including age, Activities of Daily Living, education, all domains of perceptions of ageing, and household- and work-related physical activity. With regard to the frailty status level, prefrailty was better than frailty from the perspective of healthy ageing in older people with chronic disease (t = 5.35, p < 0.05). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to predict the healthy ageing perspectives of older persons with chronic disease involving a chronic time-line, positive control, health-related changes, and work-related activities. Those domains could predict 21% of the variance in healthy ageing perspectives.ConclusionIt is suggested that in community long-term care stations, health care providers can arrange activities to improve the perception of ageing that are acceptable for older people with frailty and chronic diseases and encourage older people to participate in service activities to achieve a sense of social participation.

Effects of scaling direction on adults’ spatial scaling in different perceptual domains

The current study investigated adults’ strategies of spatial scaling from memory in three perceptual conditions (visual, haptic, and visuo-haptic) when scaling up and down. Following previous research, we predicted the usage of mental transformation strategies. In all conditions, participants (N = 90, aged 19–28 years) were presented with tactile, colored graphics which allowed to visually and haptically explore spatial information. Participants were first asked to encode a map including a target. Then, they were instructed to place a response object at the same place on an empty, constant-sized referent space. Maps had five different sizes resulting in five scaling factors (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3). This manipulation also allowed assessing potentially symmetric effects of scaling direction on adults’ responses. Response times and absolute errors served as dependent variables. In line with our hypotheses, the changes in these dependent variables were best explained by a quadratic function which suggests the usage of mental transformation strategies for spatial scaling. There were no differences between perceptual conditions concerning the influence of scaling factor on dependent variables. Results revealed symmetric effects of scaling direction on participants’ accuracy whereas there were small differences for response times. Our findings highlight the usage of mental transformation strategies in adults’ spatial scaling, irrespective of perceptual modality and scaling direction.

The BTPI: An online battery for measuring susceptibility to visual illusions.

Visual illusions provide a powerful tool for probing the mechanisms that underlie perception. While most previous studies of visual illusions focused on average group-level performance, less attention has been devoted to individual differences in susceptibility to illusions. Unlike in other perceptual domains, in which there are established, validated tools to measure individual differences, such tools are not yet available in the domain of visual illusions. Here, we describe the development and validation of the BTPI (Ben-Gurion University Test for Perceptual Illusions), a new online battery designed to measure susceptibility to the influence of three prominent size illusions: the Ebbinghaus, the Ponzo, and the height-width illusions. The BTPI also measures perceptual resolution, reflected by the just noticeable difference (JND), to detect size differences in the context of each illusion. In Experiment 1 (N = 143), we examined performance in typical self-paced tasks, whereas in Experiment 2 (N = 69), we employed a fixed presentation duration paradigm. High test-retest reliability scores were found for all illusions, with little evidence for intercorrelations between different illusions. In addition, lower perceptual resolution (larger JND) was associated with a larger susceptibility to the illusory effect. The computerized task battery and analysis codes are freely available online.

745 The Effect of 3D Versus 2D Training Models in Laparoscopic Skills Acquisition: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Novice Medical Students

Abstract Aim Determining whether the effect of laparoscopic technical skills acquisition will be superior with the use of low-fidelity 3D training models with contours compared to flat, 2D LapPass training models in novice medical students. Method This was a prospective, single-centre, two-arm, randomised controlled trial. Participants were randomised equally into either 3D or 2D group and performed two standardised laparoscopic tasks: (1) grasping and manipulation and (2) intracorporeal suturing on separate days. Performance was based on the GOALS tool, completion time and number of errors via 3 assessments (baseline, interim and post-training) each session. A post-study survey was used to measure participant-perceived confidence and performance. Results Sixty-two participants completed the study from April to June 2022. The two groups were homogenous regarding demographic data (p&amp;gt;0.05). Both groups had significantly superior performance post-training compared to baseline in the two tasks via the intra-group comparison (p&amp;lt;0.017). In the inter-group comparison, the 3D group had statistically significantly greater improvements in GOALS score parameter and depth perception domain in all comparisons in the two tasks (p&amp;lt;0.05). The time improvement and error reduction also favoured the 3D group. In the post-study survey, the 3D group reported significantly greater perceived post-training confidence and performance in the suturing task only (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions The 3D training models resulted in a superior laparoscopic skills acquisition for novices in two tasks compared to 2D LapPass training models and should be incorporated into laparoscopic training curricula. Further work should focus on their long-term efficacy on a competency-based endpoint.

Serial dependence in visual perception: A meta-analysis and review.

Positive sequential dependencies are phenomena in which actions, perception, decisions, and memory of features or objects are systematically biased toward visual experiences from the recent past. Among many labels, serial dependencies have been referred to as priming, sequential dependencies, sequential effects, or serial effects. Despite extensive research on the topic, the field still lacks an operational definition of what counts as serial dependence. In this meta-analysis, we review the vast literature on serial dependence and quantitatively assess its key diagnostic characteristics across several different domains of visual perception. The meta-analyses fully characterize serial dependence in orientation, face, and numerosity perception. They show that serial dependence is defined by four main kinds of tuning: serial dependence decays with time (temporal-tuning), it depends on relative spatial location (spatial-tuning), it occurs only between similar features and objects (feature-tuning), and it is modulated by attention (attentional-tuning). We also review studies of serial dependence that report single observer data, highlighting the importance of individual differences in serial dependence. Finally, we discuss a range of outstanding questions and novel research avenues that are prompted by the meta-analyses. Together, the meta-analyses provide a full characterization of serial dependence as an operationally defined family of visual phenomena, and they outline several of the key diagnostic criteria for serial dependence that should serve as guideposts for future research.

Dunhuang Dreamscape: A Study and Exploration of Dunhuang Art in Modern Interior Design based on Virtual Reality Technology

In the context of the national initiative of the "Belt and Road" policy and the vigorous promotion of cultural soft power, interior design products infused with cultural creativity have emerged as significant carriers of cultural development and heritage. This paper explores the innovative application of virtual reality technology in the field of interior design, with a special focus on the integration of Dunhuang elements in design practices. By combining virtual reality technology with Dunhuang art, a novel paradigm for interior design is proposed, blending ancient murals, patterns, and colors with modern computer graphics technology, infusing spaces with a unique historical charm and cultural significance. From the perspectives of virtual reality technology, inheritance of Dunhuang artistic elements, Dunhuang-style spatial design based on virtual reality, user experience, and emotional resonance, this paper delves into an in-depth exploration. Its aim is to expand innovative paths within interior design, while simultaneously providing new ideas and methods for cultural heritage and spatial perception domains.

MIL-CT: Multiple Instance Learning via a Cross-Scale Transformer for Enhanced Arterial Light Reflex Detection.

One of the early manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis, which leads to blood circulation issues, is the enhanced arterial light reflex (EALR). Fundus images are commonly used for regular screening purposes to intervene and assess the severity of systemic atherosclerosis in a timely manner. However, there is a lack of automated methods that can meet the demands of large-scale population screening. Therefore, this study introduces a novel cross-scale transformer-based multi-instance learning method, named MIL-CT, for the detection of early arterial lesions (e.g., EALR) in fundus images. MIL-CT utilizes the cross-scale vision transformer to extract retinal features in a multi-granularity perceptual domain. It incorporates a multi-head cross-scale attention fusion module to enhance global perceptual capability and feature representation. By integrating information from different scales and minimizing information loss, the method significantly improves the performance of the EALR detection task. Furthermore, a multi-instance learning module is implemented to enable the model to better comprehend local details and features in fundus images, facilitating the classification of patch tokens related to retinal lesions. To effectively learn the features associated with retinal lesions, we utilize weights pre-trained on a large fundus image Kaggle dataset. Our validation and comparison experiments conducted on our collected EALR dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the MIL-CT method in reducing generalization errors while maintaining efficient attention to retinal vascular details. Moreover, the method surpasses existing models in EALR detection, achieving an accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score of 97.62%, 97.63%, 97.05%, 96.48%, and 97.62%, respectively. These results exhibit the significant enhancement in diagnostic accuracy of fundus images brought about by the MIL-CT method. Thus, it holds potential for various applications, particularly in the early screening of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.

The Way They See Us: Examining the Content, Accuracy, and Bias of Metaperceptions Held by Syrian Refugees About the Communities That Host Them.

Discourse about people seeking refuge from conflict varies considerably. To understand what components of this discourse reach refugees the most, we examined refugees' perceptions of how their host communities perceive them (i.e., intergroup metaperceptions). We sampled refugees who fled Syria to Jordan, Lebanon, Germany, and the Netherlands. Focus groups with 102 Syrian refugees revealed that the most prevalent metaperception discussed by refugees was that they thought their host communities saw them as threatening (Study 1). Surveys with 1,360 Syrian refugees and 1,441 members of the host communities (Study 2) found that refugees' metaperceptions tracked the perceptions held by their host communities (i.e., they were accurate), but there was also a significant mean difference, indicating that they were positively biased. Analyses further tested the roles of evaluative concern and group salience on metaperception accuracy, as well as differences in accuracy and bias across country and perception domain.

MIDW‐Net: A multi‐tasking network architecture for radar intra‐pulse parameter description

AbstractThe automatic modulation recognition (AMR) of radar signals has become a popular research topic in recent years. However, most algorithms focus on the type of signal modulation and lack further understanding of the signal. To address this gap, a network architecture for multi‐tasking intra‐pulse description words (MIDW‐Net) is proposed herein. In this framework, the denoising algorithm employs a convolutional denoising autoencoder, which is an effective method for suppressing noise interference and preserving signal information. The multiscale feature‐extraction capability of a feature pyramid network (FPN) is utilized to expand the perceptual domain without losing the high‐frequency features of the image. Finally, AMR and modulation parameter estimation are accomplished via multitask learning. Experiments performed on simulated radar signals using four intra‐pulse descriptors verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Trial-by-trial fluctuations of pre-stimulus alpha power predict language ERPs.

Anticipatory mechanisms are known to play a key role in language, but they have been mostly investigated with violation paradigms, which only consider what happens after predictions have been (dis)confirmed. Relatively few studies focused on the pre-stimulus interval and found that stronger expectations are associated with lower pre-stimulus alpha power. However, alpha power also fluctuates spontaneously, in the absence of experimental manipulations; and in the attention and perception domains, spontaneously low pre-stimulus power is associated with better behavioral performance and with event-related potential (ERPs) with shorter latencies and higher amplitudes. Importantly, little is known about the role of alpha fluctuations in other domains, as it is in language. To this aim, we investigated whether spontaneous fluctuations in pre-stimulus alpha power modulate language-related ERPs in a semantic congruence task. Electrophysiology data were analyzed using Generalized Additive Mixed Models to model nonlinear interactions between pre-stimulus alpha power and EEG amplitude, at the single-trial level. We found that the N400 and the late posterior positivity/P600 were larger in the case of lower pre-stimulus alpha power. Still, while the N400 was observable regardless of the level of pre-stimulus power, a late posterior positivity/P600 effect was only observable for low pre-stimulus alpha power. We discuss these findings in light of the different, albeit connected, functional interpretations of pre-stimulus alpha and the ERPs according to both a nonpredictive interpretation focused on attentional mechanisms and under a predictive processing framework.

The Cognitive Profile of Intellectual Giftedness

Previous literature has suggested the existence of a close relationship between individuals’ intellectual abilities and their cognitive profile, understood as their performance in tasks tapping into the different cognitive domains. This relationship has typically been discussed in populations characterized as having high intellectual abilities, as is the case of gifted children and adolescents. In this study, the cognitive profile in domains of memory, attention, coordination, perception, and reasoning of a group of gifted children and adolescents was contrasted with a control group similar in age distribution, gender and socioeconomic level but with normotypical development. The results indicated that participants in the gifted group scored higher than those in the control group in all cognitive domains. The differences in cognitive abilities were not consistent across all areas, meaning that some cognitive abilities did not show significant differences, while others did. These results help to identify a more precise cognitive profile of gifted individuals, yielding a better understanding of the relationship between intelligence and cognitive abilities. The study provides evidence that allows delving into the most differential and characteristic aspects of giftedness.

A quantitative study of the polysemy of Mandarin Chinese perception verb kàn ‘look/see’

ABSTRACT This study presents a quantitative study of the polysemy of the Chinese perception verb kàn ‘look/see’ by using a corpus-based behavioural profile approach. The analysis yields the following findings. First, two significant meaning clusters of kàn can be distinguished: the first represents physical perceptual senses, and the second groups together cognitive senses. Second, both the frequency and behavioural profiles are used to determine the prototypicality of kàn. They lead to the same conclusion that the sense ‘perceive with eyes’ is the prototypical meaning of kàn. Based on the corpus results, a semantic network of kàn has been proposed and the cognitive mechanisms underlying its meaning extension have been addressed. It is found that its meaning extensions in the domain of physical perception are attributed to the metonymy SUBEVENT FOR WHOLE EVENT, while its meaning extensions in the domain of cognition are ascribed to the metaphor COGNITION IS PERCEPTUAL VISION. These results not only provide usage-based evidence for the universal interconnections between perception and cognition, but also confirm the effectiveness and viability of a behavioural profile analysis in studying the polysemy of perception verbs. This study also demonstrates that quantitative methods are essential for the description and understanding of semasiological structures.

Tobacco Turmoil in Teens and Preparedness of Pediatric Dentists: A Global Survey.

Tobacco use amongst adolescents causes significant health problems affecting almost all organs and has a significant effect on normal growth and development. Smoker adolescents are also more prone to oral health problems than nonsmokers. Pediatric dentists can play a significant role in providing tobacco cessation counseling to adolescents. To assess the knowledge (K), perceptions (PR), training, and practices (PE) of pediatric dentists related to the provision of tobacco cessation interventions. A cross-sectional online survey with convenience sampling was planned to assess the K, PR, training, and PE of pediatric dentists across the globe in dealing with tobacco menace amongst adolescents. The survey was done through a self-administered questionnaire in the form of an online Google Form. The study population consisted of pediatric dentists attending the International Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD) virtual conference 2021. A total of 1,564 participants were targeted and 235 answered the survey with a response rate of 15.02%. Attending tobacco cessation intervention (p ≤ 0.001) and training in postgraduation on tobacco cessation (p ≤ 0.002) showed significant association with favorable practice scores. However, in the PR domain age in years (p ≤ 0.043), country of residence (continent, p ≤ 0.001) was found to be significantly associated with attending tobacco cessation intervention (p < 0.001) and training in postgraduation (p < 0.001). The results of the study emphasize the need for recommendations for educating pediatric dentists by the inclusion of tobacco cessation interventions in the core curriculum, continuing dental education programs, and promoting professional responsibility to help achieve tobacco-free youth all across the globe. Virk I, Agnihotri A, Sood P, et al. Tobacco Turmoil in Teens and Preparedness of Pediatric Dentists: A Global Survey. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(3):483-488.

ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS OF CHITWAN DISTRICT, NEPAL

Background: Nepal is experiencing a notable rise in life expectancy and increase the number of elderlies as well. The significance of enhancing the quality of life for the elderly is growing within societies, yet it remains an overlooked matter, particularly in developing nations. The objective of the study was to access and compare the QOL of elderly living with their family and in old age homes. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 156 elderly (≥60 years) in the Bharatpur Metropolitan, Chitwan, Nepal. A total of 78 elderly were recruited from an old age home, and an equal number from a family setting. WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess QOL, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Overall QOL among the family setting is better than old age homes (p=0.009). Except for the social relationship domain of OAH, overall QOL and overall health perception were found to be significantly correlated with all domains of QOL (p=0.05 and p=0.01). Age, gender, caste, education, land ownership, high blood sugar, taking various types of medicine, and smoking habit were statistically associated with the different domains of QOL in both groups. Conclusions: Overall QOL tends to be better within a family setting and it is notable that the social domain of QOL is specifically linked to overall health. In order to promote a healthy and fulfilling life for the elderly, it is crucial to prioritize efforts towards improving their health and addressing their physical, psychological, and social wellbeing.