Professional Platform Research Articles

Rule-Based Chatbot for Early Self-Depression Indication: A Promising Approach

Depression is a prevalent mental health condition worldwide, often characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, and feelings of worthlessness. Depression is the leading cause of mental health issues worldwide, and it is becoming more severe without self-awareness, early screening, and further medication. Early detection and intervention are critical in mitigating its adverse effects. Leveraging advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly in Natural Language Processing (NLP), chatbots have emerged as potential tools for early depression indication. Chatbots are beneficial tools in the mental health domain, such as in assisting mental health risk users. This paper presents the development of a rule-based chatbot aimed at detecting early signs of depression through conversational interactions by screening symptoms of depression. Predefined rules are developed to ensure the assessment can generate reliable results. The rule-based chatbot is developed to assist in depression indication assessment for mental health-risk individuals at an early stage and provide the risky patient with appropriate support and resources. The chatbot assessment has adopted the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS21) instrument. Based on the System Usability Scale (SUS) results, the rule-based chatbot has been accepted by all 30 respondents with good acceptance of an average SUS score of 77.2. Thus, the outcome of this chatbot can be utilized as a professional platform to encourage self-disclosure of mental depression indications for users, and it can be beneficial as the initial reference before recommending further action before the earlier help-seeking.

Simulation of container discharge dynamics using modified cellular automata

In the field of physical logistics, efficient and precise control of material flow during the emptying of containers such as silos and wagons is crucial. This study introduces a not conventional cellular automaton model to simulate spillage from containers. The model is implemented using Excel macros, providing a user-friendly and accessible platform for logistics professionals. By modifying the traditional cellular automaton framework, the simulation can accurately represents the dynamics of material flow during container emptying processes. The proposed method allows for fine-tuned control over the spillage by integrating specific constraints and parameters, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing material loss. The versatility of the model makes it applicable to a wide range of logistical scenarios, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool in physical logistics management.

WhatsApp: A Blessing or Bane for Communication between Emergency Physicians and Vascular Surgeons?

Abstract The integration of WhatsApp (WhatsApp Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) into the health-care sector is transforming the dynamics of medical communication. Launched in 2009 and incorporated into the Facebook suite of companies in 2014, WhatsApp has become a pivotal platform for health-care professionals. It allows for quick, personal, and group messaging, which is increasingly used to exchange patient information, discuss cases, and make timely decisions. The app’s end-to-end encryption is critical for maintaining patient confidentiality, ensuring that sensitive data are only accessible to the intended recipients. This security feature and the group sharing format enable health-care teams to communicate confidentially and efficiently, bolstering the oversight capabilities of attending senior consultants or physicians over their junior peers. The real-time exchange of information is crucial in providing continuous supervision and facilitating immediate feedback, which is indispensable in clinical training and patient care. However, the widespread adoption of WhatsApp also comes with challenges and potential drawbacks, which have been the focus of past research. These studies assessed the impact of WhatsApp on health-care delivery, considering both the enhancement of communication it offers and the issues it may present, such as data security beyond encryption and the blurring of professional and personal boundaries. In this “medical opinion” from an academic tertiary care center in Muscat, we explored how emergency medicine physicians can effectively use WhatsApp to expedite or bypass referral processes for emergency cases, particularly those involving vascular and other surgical emergencies.

Preface

International Conference on Hydrodynamics, Energy and Electric Power System (HEEPS) is an annually held conference, it aims to provide a forum for participants to exchange their experiences, share research results in all aspects about Hydrodynamics, Energy and Electric Power System and discuss the encountered practical challenges and the adopted solutions. The 2024 8th International Conference on Hydrodynamics, Energy and Electric Power System (HEEPS 2024) was held in Beijing, China from June 28th to 30th, 2024. This esteemed conference, as the eighth in its series, continues to serve as a premier platform for researchers, scholars, and industry professionals to converge, share insights, and collaborate on the latest advancements in hydrodynamics, water resources and hydropower engineering, energy systems, and electric power technologies. HEEPS 2024 was organized with the aim of fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and innovation within the rapidly evolving fields of fluid mechanics, energy systems, and power engineering. Building upon the success of the previous seven editions, this conference attracted a diverse and vibrant community of participants from around the world. The event was hosted with the support of esteemed institutions such as the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Universiti Putra Malaysia, further enhancing its international reach and impact. HEEPS 2024 was an outstanding three-day conference and a reference that attracted many remarkable keynote speakers, including: Professor Jizhong Zhu (South China University of Technology, China), Professor Ishak Bin Aris (Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia), Professor Lin Chen (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Associate Professor Sohrab Mirsaeidi (Beijing Jiaotong University, China), as well as Assistant Professor Jianxiao Wang (Peking University, China). The program kicked off with a series of keynote lectures delivered by renowned experts in their respective fields, setting the tone for an intellectually stimulating conference. These presentations covered a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from fundamental research in hydrodynamics and fluid mechanics to the latest developments in energy systems and power grid technologies. Besides, during all parts of the conference, the attendees actively interacted with the speakers and each other on specific topics. The conference’s Proceedings of HEEPS 2024 contains the papers accepted and presented at this great conference. All these contributions were carefully reviewed by program committee members and took into consideration the breadth and depth of the research topics that fall into HEEPS scope. On behalf of the conference organizers, we would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all the editors and reviewers for their tremendous efforts and dedication to the conference. We also wish to thank all the authors and speakers for their great contributions to this conference and the conference’s Proceedings. And we believe that with such earnest support and contributions, the future HEEPS conferences will also scale new heights. The Committee of HEEPS 2024 List of Committee Member are available in this pdf.

Entity and relation extractions for threat intelligence knowledge graphs

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) represent a complex challenge in cybersecurity as they infiltrate networks stealthily to conduct espionage, steal data, and maintain a long-term presence. To combat these threats, security professionals increasingly rely on cyber knowledge graphs (CKGs), which provide scalable solutions to analyze and structure vast amounts of cyber threat intelligence (CTI) from diverse sources in real-time, enabling the automation of proactive security measures. Developing CKGs requires extracting entity and their relationships from unstructured CTI reports. However, existing approaches face significant limitations, such as difficulties with the nuances of cybersecurity language, diverse threat terminologies, and high rates of error propagation, resulting in low accuracy and poor generalizability. This paper introduces a novel Threat Intelligence Knowledge Graph (TiKG) pipeline designed to address these challenges. The TiKG framework leverages SecureBERT, a domain-specific transformer-based model optimized for cybersecurity, and integrates it with an attention-based BiLSTM to capture the context and nuances of security texts, reducing error propagation and improving extraction accuracy. Additionally, the pipeline incorporates a domain-specific ontology and inference model to ensure precise relation mapping in relation extraction. Using three large-scale TI open-source datasets (DNRTI, STUCCO, and CYNER) and a curated CTI dataset, extensive evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework, showing significant improvements over existing methods in detecting and linking cyber threats. These contributions provide a robust platform for security professionals to analyze and predict potential attacks, develop effective defenses, and enhance the strategic capabilities of cybersecurity operations.

Strengthening the mental health literacy and self-efficacy of school counsellors using “MDAS” module: A pilot project in Malaysia

Mental health difficulties affect children and adolescents pervasively. School counsellors serve as frontliners to support the students in need, but often face challenges from the complexity of their cases. This study aims to develop a training module named MDAS (Mental Health disorder, Developmental disorders, Attachment and Self-compassionate) program to improve the school counsellors’ mental health knowledge and counselling self-efficacy. The Module was adapted from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Training Module for Specialist 2009 (Second Edition). The study adopted a one group pre-test/post-test design to assess 28 school counsellors at 0-month and 4-month after the training. The scales used were Counselling Self-Efficacy scale (COSE), Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Self-Compassionate Scale – Short Form (SCS-SF). Post-training, there were significant increment of COSE and MHLS scores ( p < .001 and p < .046) with Cohen’s d of 1.01 and 0.58. Four of the COSE subscales (micro skills, counselling process, cultural competence and dealing with difficult clients’ behaviour) significantly increased after MDAS training ( p < .001, p = .006, p = .001 and p = .01). In addition to increasing the counselling capacity of school counsellors, our training module can serve as a promising platform for mental health professionals and counsellors.

Development of robotic arm control using Arduino controller

The advance of Arduino-based technology has spurred innovation in the realm of robotic arm control, offering a cost-effective and accessible platform for enthusiasts and professionals alike. This paper presents the development of robot arm control using an Arduino controller. The work involves the integration of Arduino microcontrollers and sensors to enable precise and dynamic control of a robotic arm. The proposed robot is controlled by 4 servo motors, the motors rotate left, right, front, and back. The paper discusses the challenges encountered during the development process and proposes solutions, paving the way for further advancements in this burgeoning field. With Arduino's widespread availability and affordability, the presented robotic arm control system holds promise for expanding the accessibility of robotics education and fostering innovation in automation technologies. This paper provides a glimpse into the promising synergy between Arduino and robotic arm control, highlighting the contributions and implications of this technology in shaping the future of automation.

Financial uncertainty of a startup

This article discusses the transformation of the system of attracting investments in startups. The process of finding an investor for a startup has had a difficult path of formation in recent years. An entrepreneur’s interest in different sources of investment is associated with determining their possibilities for implementing the chosen business idea. For various purposes, businesses need different types of investments: loans, credits, sale of shares or stocks. The search for an investor for a startup and their attraction is associated with specific requirements for an entrepreneur, which are practically not written about in the media and advertised. The article focuses on the types of finance involved in business. The issues of the difference between grant financing of a startup and the process of searching and attracting an investor are raised, since the requirements from the grantee fundamentally change the requirements for specialists who should be involved in the work and the requirements for maintaining the financial stability of an organisation. The authors also consider the professional platforms for investors that have developed in Russia and the forms of investment relations: in exchange for receiving a share of profits; in exchange for a share of the proceeds.

Հարկաբյուջետային քաղաքականության ներառականության գնահատման մեթոդաբանական մոտեցումները / Methodological approaches to assessing the inclusiveness of fiscal policy

The idea of inclusiveness of economic development has become one of the main guidelines for developers and implementers of economic policies in many countries of the world. Issues related to inclusiveness make their comprehensive study relevant and topical. Recently, much attention to the problems of ensuring the inclusiveness of economic policy is associated with globalisation and technological change. The latter have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of households and contribute to poverty reduction in some developing countries. On the other hand, the economic and financial crises and the resulting economic and social distortions make changes in research and management approaches inevitable. Thus, quantifying the inclusiveness of fiscal policy is a necessity as it provides valuable information on the efficient allocation of a state's financial resources. On the other hand, assessing the inclusiveness of fiscal policy can serve as a benchmark in the process of fiscal policy formulation. Individual authors in their studies approach the problems from different positions, use different groups of factors under consideration, use different research methods. The purpose of the study is to interpret and summarise the methodological approaches to assessing the inclusiveness of fiscal policy discussed in professional platforms and in the literature. By comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the evaluation methods, acceptable approaches to assessing fiscal policy inclusiveness for the Republic of Armenia were identified.

Medical training program size and clinical staff productivity and turnover.

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of resident program training size on clinician productivity and turnover in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest education and training platform for medical professionals in the United States. We retrieved administrative data on training programs and training facilities from the VA Office of Academic Affiliations and the VHA Corporate Data Warehouse. Data on primary care physician shortage areas were retrieved from the Health Resources and Services Administration. We used a quasi-experimental instrumental variables 2SLS design and constructed an exogenous predicted training allocation treatment variable as a function of the total national training program allocation. The outcome was clinical staff productivity and turnover. Secondary analyses stratified results using Health Professional Shortage Areas data (HPSA). Data were obtained for a national dataset of 141 VHA medical facilities and 26 specialties that hosted training programs across 11 years from 2011 to 2021 (N = 132,177). Instrumental variables results showed that on average, an increase of one training slot in a specialty leads to a decrease of 0.039 visits per standardized clinic day (p < 0.001) and a 0.02 percentage point increase in turnover (p < 0.001). The direction of this association varied by specialty: while psychiatry and psychology specialties saw a decline in productivity, fields such as primary care and cardiology experienced an increase in productivity. HPSA stratified results indicate that negative effects on productivity and turnover are driven by areas with little to no primary care physician shortage, whereas shortage areas experienced a small increase in productivity and no effect on turnover. This quasi-experimental evaluation indicates that resident training program size is associated with reduced productivity and increased turnover in specialties such as psychiatry and in facilities with high baseline productivity. However, in specialties like primary care and cardiology, as well as areas with shortages of primary care, larger training programs are associated with increased productivity.

Challenges of spatio-temporal trajectory datasets

ABSTRACT The rapid evolution of wireless location technologies has significantly increased the availability of mobility data, particularly spatio-temporal trajectory data, detailing object movements and locations over time. This data holds diverse applications such as predicting travel patterns, optimizing routes, analysing social interactions, and managing urban resources. However, leveraging trajectory datasets presents challenges, including data heterogeneity, volume, velocity requiring real-time processing, privacy concerns with sensitive information, and regulatory compliance. Traditional systematic reviews of literature may not fully capture industry challenges, as professionals often do not publish research. To address this gap, industry expert input is vital. Collaborating with academia, we propose using focus group discussions to explore these challenges comprehensively. Focus groups offer a qualitative platform for professionals and academics to identify practical issues and gaps in the literature. This combined approach will inform technological advancements in creating and utilizing spatio-temporal datasets. Additionally, integrating insights from focus groups with a literature review ensures a thorough analysis of data challenges. This methodology aims to provide a holistic understanding and foster innovation in managing and exploiting trajectory data effectively.

Analysis of Brand Positioning in Online Course Companies to Change Consumption Patterns—A Case Study in the Personal Wellbeing Sector

This article examines the communication and marketing requirements of a prospective business enterprise that specializes in offering online courses focusing on psychology, personal growth and professional development to change patterns of educational production and consumption. The objective of this research is to analyse the necessary brand positioning for this company to improve its visibility, attracting and retaining interested customers. Using a sequential and evidence-based methodology, this study analyses the precise business requirements to establish an optimal and competitive platform for professionals offering wellbeing courses. This involved analysing the characteristics and needs of the target audience—the professionals who would deliver the courses—and the audience who would enrol in the courses. In addition, we assessed the company’s environmental context, its strengths, weaknesses and unique selling points, as well as effective marketing and positioning strategies, and its direct competitors. We identified a growing interest in online training of courses that contribute to wellbeing. Among the target audience, preferences were diverse, with 58.1% leaning towards personal growth, 45.9% interested in meditation and 43.2% in psychology. Social media, particularly YouTube (52.7%), served as the main source of information for these courses. Criticisms focused mainly on issues such as poor visual and audio quality (20%), inadequate structuring of content (30%) and perceived boredom (23.6%). Addressing these preferences through multilingual translation, niche targeting, diverse course offerings, flexible pricing and membership options can effectively cater to diverse customer segments. The findings emphasise the importance of prioritising audiovisual quality and personalised learning experiences to foster audience loyalty.

Regenerative rehabilitation: a novel multidisciplinary field to maximize patient outcomes.

Regenerative rehabilitation is a novel and rapidly developing multidisciplinary field that converges regenerative medicine and rehabilitation science, aiming to maximize the functions of disabled patients and their independence. While regenerative medicine provides state-of-the-art technologies that shed light on difficult-to-treated diseases, regenerative rehabilitation offers rehabilitation interventions to improve the positive effects of regenerative medicine. However, regenerative scientists and rehabilitation professionals focus on their aspects without enough exposure to advances in each other's field. This disconnect has impeded the development of this field. Therefore, this review first introduces cutting-edge technologies such as stem cell technology, tissue engineering, biomaterial science, gene editing, and computer sciences that promote the progress pace of regenerative medicine, followed by a summary of preclinical studies and examples of clinical investigations that integrate rehabilitative methodologies into regenerative medicine. Then, challenges in this field are discussed, and possible solutions areprovided for future directions. We aim to provide a platform for regenerative and rehabilitative professionals and clinicians in other areas to better understand the progress of regenerative rehabilitation, thus contributing to the clinical translation and management of innovative and reliable therapies.

Preface

Welcome to the proceedings of the The 10th International Seminar on Tropical Animal Production (ISTAP X) organized by Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada. In the midst of escalating concerns about the environmental impacts of animal production and the imperative to ensure global food security, this symposium serves as a crucial platform for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals to converge and deliberate on pressing issues. The title of our symposium, “Sustainable Animal Productivity and Environmental Footprint Toward Global Halal and Food Security,” encapsulates the multifaceted challenges we face today. As the world’s population burgeons and economies expand, the demand for animal products escalates, placing immense pressure on our environment and resources. Yet, this surge in production comes at a cost—degradation of ecosystems, deforestation, habitat loss, and a myriad of environmental woes. Concurrently, the burgeoning demand for halal food, driven by the expanding Muslim population, necessitates innovative approaches to ensure the sustainability and integrity of supply chains. The backdrop against which this symposium unfolds is one characterized by urgency and complexity. Traditional agricultural practices, marked by inefficiencies and resource-intensive methods, are no longer tenable in the face of escalating global challenges. The need of the hour is a paradigm shift towards sustainable animal production systems that reconcile productivity with environmental stewardship. Throughout this symposium, esteemed experts from diverse disciplines will engage in rigorous discourse, sharing insights, methodologies, and innovative solutions aimed at fostering sustainable animal productivity while mitigating environmental footprints. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, we aspire to chart a path towards a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for animal production systems worldwide. The contributions contained within these proceedings represent the culmination of rigorous research, thought-provoking insights, and practical applications. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the authors, presenters, attendees, and organizers whose collective efforts have made this symposium a resounding success. As we embark on this intellectual journey, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to forge a harmonious balance between the imperatives of productivity, environmental sustainability, halal integrity, and global food security. List of Committee of ISTAP X 2023 is available in this Pdf.

Recent pathogenetic aspects of hearing loss in COVID: A literature review

The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2050, up to 10% of the world's population will need rehabilitation to address disability-related hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to identify the main mechanisms of hearing loss associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infection. The study included modern English-language scientific publications, mainly those with a high citation index, through the professional platforms MEDLINE/PubMed and Index Medicus. A total of 48 sources were selected. Research papers devoted to the development of conductive or sensorineural hearing loss, which occurred directly as a result of a viral disease, or is associated with the processes that accompany it (treatment, concomitant pathology, vaccination, etc.), were analysed. It was found that the development of viral-induced hearing loss in COVID has a multifactorial nature. The heterogeneity of audiological changes is primarily conditioned by direct viral damage to auditory analyser cells that express membrane receptors of the angiotensin converting enzyme of the second type. In addition, there is a reactivation of latent viral infection, extravasation of exudate into the middle ear cavity, blood clotting disorders, immune-mediated cell damage, local and generalised inflammatory reactions that affect both sound conduction and sound perception in one ear or both. Some cases of audiological disorders may also be of iatrogenic origin, since post-vaccination complications and ototoxic effects of medications used in the treatment of COVID-19 are not excluded, which should be considered by clinicians at all levels of healthcare to effectively manage a specific clinical scenario

Empowering computer science scholarship: the role of Computer Science and Engineering Research

In the ever-evolving landscape of computer science and engineering, staying abreast of the latest advancements is imperative for both researchers and practitioners. As technology continues to permeate every facet of our lives, the need for a dedicated platform to disseminate cutting-edge research becomes increasingly crucial. Enter Computer Science and Engineering Research (CSER), a premier international peer-reviewed journal committed to advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the field. At CSER, we recognize the dynamic nature of computer science and engineering, encompassing a wide array of topics ranging from cyber-physical systems to computational neuroscience. Our mission is clear, to serve as a catalyst for innovation by providing a platform for researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals to share their latest findings, insights, and methodologies. With a diverse scope that includes but is not limited to cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies, and augmented reality, CSER offers a comprehensive perspective on the multifaceted realm of computer science and engineering. By covering such a broad spectrum of topics, we aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and drive forward the collective knowledge base of the field.

Preface: 3rd International Conference on Governance of Accounting and Global Business Management (GAGBM 2024)

The 2024 3rd International Conference on Governance of Accounting and Global Business Management (GAGBM 2024) was successfully held in Dublin, Ireland from February 03-04, 2024. The conference offered extraordinary opportunities for educators, teachers, researchers, administrators and decision-makers to exchange and gain new insights on the ongoing research works and an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded researchers from across the world. This conference covered a variety of sessions, including the works on 1) governance of accounting; 2) finance &amp; investment; 3) marketing research and strategy; and 4) global business management. GAGBM 2024 is a platform for researchers, engineers, academics and industry professionals from around the world to showcase their sustainability and research results and development activities in marketing research and global business management. We sincerely invite all researchers, scholars, engineers, students and people to be interested in these areas and participate in our conference. On behalf of the committee, we would like to thank the authors, reviewers, advisory board, committee members, presenters, and participants. Recognition should go to the GAGBM 2024 team members who have all worked extremely hard for the details of important aspects of the conference programs and social activities. Special thanks are also given to the conference proceedings publisher. We would like to thank all parties for their participation in supporting this publication. We hope to see you all at the next conference. Kind regards, GAGBM Organizing Committees Dublin, Ireland

Virtual Learning Decreases the Carbon Footprint of Medical Education.

The environmental impact of holding in-person academic conferences and continuing medical education (CME) programs can be significant. In-person conferences provide a unique social and professional platform to engage in networking and foster professional development; however, there is an opportunity for hybrid and virtual platforms to provide CME for broader audiences looking to improve their clinical skills and strengthen their knowledge base. This study seeks to describe the reduction in carbon emissions associated with a webinar hosted by an online dermatology-focused medical education platform. This cross-sectional study used the location of deidentified virtual attendees of a webinar to predict the carbon emissions produced if attendees had instead traveled to the location of the most recent Integrative Dermatology Symposium (Sacramento, CA). Following collection of each virtual attendee's location, the mode of transportation was predicted on the basis of each participant's distance to the conference. The estimated carbon emissions were calculated for 576 participants. The total estimated, unadjusted carbon emissions for both attendees predicted to fly or drive was 370,100kg CO2. The emissions produced per participant from those expected to fly to an in-person CME after adjusting for all additional passengers on every flight were 4.5kg CO2. The emissions produced per participant from those expected to drive were 42.7kg CO2. The use of a virtual CME webinar led to a significant reduction in travel-related carbon dioxide emissions when compared to running the same program in-person event. When accounting for all passengers traveling via plane on any flight, driving to an event produced more emissions per participant than flying.

Evaluating Teachers’ Workplace Climate and Anxiety Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Information Seeking Platforms

The COVID-19 disease affected the school workplace climate for teachers and led to psychological consequences. However, it is not clear how the workplace climate affected the anxiety levels of teachers. This study assessed the connection between workplace climate and COVID-19-related anxiety among senior high school (SHS) teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study further examined the moderating role of professional and social media platform use on the relationship between workplace climate and COVID-19-related anxiety among teachers. Through a cross-sectional survey design, 395 high school teachers were conveniently sampled from various schools in the Central Region of Ghana. A questionnaire was used to survey participants, and the obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics as well as simple linear regression and moderation analyses with Hayes’ PROCESS. This study revealed a negative association between workplace climate and anxiety. The relationship between workplace climate and anxiety was contingent on social media use but not professional platform use. Therefore, the consumption of unscrutinised COVID-19-related information on social media heightened fear and anxiety among teachers, even in the midst of a safe workplace environment. An effective strategy against teachers’ COVID-19-related anxiety required the provision of accurate science-driven information about the virus. School counselling psychologists, school welfare officers, and school health coordinators are encouraged to collaborate towards designed interventions that promote a safe working environment and the mental health of teachers.

Do healthcare providers consider the social determinants of health? Results from a nationwide cross-sectional study in the United States

BackgroundWhile the social determinants of health (SDOH) have a greater impact on individual health outcomes than the healthcare services a person receives, healthcare providers face barriers to addressing these factors in clinical settings. Previous studies have shown that providers often lack the necessary knowledge and resources to adequately screen for and otherwise assist patients with unmet social needs. This study explores the perceptions and behaviors related to SDOH among healthcare providers in the United States (US).MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from a 22-item online survey using Reaction Data’s research platform of healthcare professionals in the US. Survey items included demographic questions as well as Likert scale questions about healthcare providers’ perceptions and behaviors related to SDOH. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and further analyses were conducted using t-tests and analysis of variance.ResultsA total of 563 respondents completed the survey, with the majority being male (72.6%), White (81%), and located in urban areas (82.2%). In terms of perceptions, most providers agreed or strongly agreed that SDOH affect the health outcomes of all patients (68.5%), while only 24.1% agreed or strongly agreed that their healthcare setting was set up to address SDOH. In terms of behavior, fewer than half currently screened for SDOH (48.6%) or addressed (42.7%) SDOH in other ways. Most providers (55.7%) wanted additional resources to focus on SDOH. Statistical analyses showed significant differences by gender, with females being more likely than males to prioritize SDOH, and by specialty, with psychiatrists, pediatricians, and family/general medicine practitioners being more likely to prioritize SDOH.ConclusionMost healthcare providers understand the connection between unmet social needs and their patients’ health, but they also feel limited in their ability to address these issues. Ongoing efforts to improve medical education and shift the healthcare system to allow for payment and delivery of more holistic care that considers SDOH will likely provide new opportunities for healthcare providers. In addition to what they can do at the institutional and patient levels, providers have the potential to advocate for policy and system changes at the societal level that can better address the root causes of social issues.