Policy Practice Research Articles

Assessing the spatial-temporal environmental efficiency of global construction sector

The extensive waste emissions and energy consumption in the construction industry has spurred calls for sustainable development reform. Identifying valuable development paradigms through evaluating the spatial-temporal environmental efficiency (EE) of the construction sector offers an effective avenue for practice guidance. However, a comprehensive and detailed global analysis of the construction sector's EE remains lacking. This study applies the super-slack-based measure (Super-SBM) model to assess EE of the construction sector across 112 countries from 2006 to 2016. The results reveal relatively low overall EE performance of global construction sector, with notable disparities among countries and improvements were observed in certain years. Singapore, Malta, and Paraguay emerge as top performers, while Moldova, Swaziland, and Iceland rank at the bottom. The findings highlight significantly better EE in European and coastal Asian countries compared to inland Asian and African nations. Using the Tobit model, we identify that industrial structure, trade dependency, international cooperation, energy intensity, and geographic factors significantly influence EE, with varying impacts across countries of different income levels. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the global construction sector's environmental efficiency, emphasizing the urgent need for increased awareness and the adoption of sustainable practices. The study offers practical policy implications, advocating for targeted strategies to balance economic development with environmental protection.

Sexual and gender minority health: a roadmap for developing evidence-based medical school curricula.

Educating future physicians about sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients and their health care needs is an important way to mitigate discrimination and health disparities faced by this community. Canada, across its 17 medical schools, lacks a national standard for teaching this essential topic. This paper aims to review the best practices for teaching an SGM curriculum in undergraduate medical education and synthesize this information into actionable propositions for curriculum development. A scoping literature review was conducted to identify best practices for SGM teaching. The review elicited peer-reviewed and grey literature on best practices for SGM teaching, policy documents, and opinion pieces from medical education authorities and SGM advocacy groups. Through an iterative process with all authors, the Canadian Queer Medical Students Association (CQMSA), and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), a set of propositions was developed. The search yielded 1347 papers, of which 89 were kept for data extraction. The main outcomes of these papers were sorted along five repeating themes, which formed the basis for six propositions; two more propositions were then added after discussion with all authors. We present eight propositions for the development of a national standard for SGM education at the undergraduate medical level. These include standardizing learning objectives across all schools, using established curricular models to guide curriculum development, interweaving concepts across all levels of training, diversifying teaching modalities, providing faculty training, ensuring a safe space for SGM students and faculty, using OSCEs as a teaching tool, and involving the local SGM community in curriculum development and delivery.

Teledentistry utilization by oral health professionals and policy considerations: A mixed methods case study.

To examine variations in the delivery of teledentistry after the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore oral health professionals' utilization of various teledentistry modes of delivery. In this mixed methods case study, we collected teledentistry claims data from patient electronic health records (n = 78,756) encompassing various types of teledentistry utilization in clinical settings and through community outreach from a Dental Support Organization (DSO) in Oregon from January 2021 to November 2022. We analyzed the patient demographic and claims data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses to identify patterns of teledentistry service delivery. Qualitatively, we conducted virtual interviews (n = 13) through Microsoft Teams with oral health professionals about their experiences with teledentistry utilization. We used inductive and deductive coding to code individual transcripts and identify common themes among provider experiences. Out of the 78,756 electronic health record claims for teledentistry, 75.7% used synchronous audio, 13.4% used synchronous video, and 10.9% used asynchronous teledentistry methods. We observed a 8.6% increase in synchronous audio teledentistry utilization at the end of the study period, compared with a 4.2% increase in synchronous video and a 4.4% decrease in asynchronous teledentistry. Oral health professionals interviewed reported choosing the type of teledentistry delivery based on patient and provider access to the virtual teledentistry platform. Oral health professionals' knowledge of and experiences with teledentistry need to be considered when developing policy and best practices for the use of teledentistry for patient care.

A Critical-Level Dynamic Pricing Mechanism for Improving Supply Chain Inventory Policies With Multiple Types of Customers: An Integration of Rationing Policy and Dynamic Pricing

In today’s highly dynamic and competitive environment, an effective and practical inventory policy is critical for every supply chain and can dramatically affect its performance. When a supply chain faces multiple types of customers with different characteristics, management encounters even more challenges in making decisions about inventory policies. By integrating inventory rationing policies and dynamic pricing strategies, this study proposes a critical-level dynamic pricing (CLDP) mechanism associated with inventory ordering policies to address these challenges. Furthermore, to demonstrate the implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed policy, we develop a simulation model with the CLDP mechanism and apply it to a specific numerical case. The results show that the proposed inventory policy improves the total net profit by 12.58%. Finally, the conclusions and future research topics are discussed.

State of the Art of Patient Therapeutic Education in Morocco: A Systematic Literature Review

Introduction This article examines the current state of Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) in Morocco through a systematic literature review. With the rising prevalence of chronic diseases in the country, TPE is pivotal in aiding patients to manage their conditions and treatments, thus enhancing their quality of life. Despite the efforts of Moroccan authorities to promote TPE, its utilization remains largely constrained, partly due to the lack of structured programs and accessible data. Objective In this manuscript, we explore the current state of existing TPE, focusing on various therapeutic education interventions for patients in Morocco. This study aims to enhance public health policies and practices in Morocco by exploring existing TPE interventions. Results The systematic review analyzed 11 studies from 2010 to 2024. Recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other relevant bodies could facilitate the integration of TPE into healthcare systems. However, challenges persist, including region-specific obstacles in Morocco and the need for enhanced training of healthcare professionals. Conclusion This systematic review underscores the importance of investing in TPE and offers insights into research, clinical practice, and health policies in Morocco. Despite its potential, sustained attention and further efforts are necessary to ensure the comprehensive integration of TPE into Moroccan healthcare settings.

Device associated healthcare associated infection (DA-HAI): a detailed analysis of risk factors and outcomes in a university hospital in Rome, Italy

This study investigates the impact of invasive procedures on healthcare-associated infections (HAI) at Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata in Rome, Italy, aiming to understand their role in device-associated HAI and to inform prevention strategies. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted, examining mandatory discharge records and microbiology data from 2018 across all departments. The study focused on adult patients, analysing the correlation between invasive procedures and HAI through univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Of the 12,066 patients reviewed, 1,214 (10.1%) experienced HAI. Univariate analysis indicated an association between invasive procedures and HAI (OR= 1.81, P < 0.001), which was not observed in multivariable analysis. Specific procedures significantly raised HAI risks: temporary tracheostomy (AOR= 22.69, P <0.001), central venous pressure monitoring (AOR= 6.74, P <0.001) prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (AOR= 4.44, P <0.001), and venous catheterisation (AOR= 1.58, P <0.05). Aggregated high-risk procedures had an increased likelihood of HAI in multivariable analysis (OR= 2.51, P < 0.001). High-risk departments were also notably associated with HAI (OR= 6.13, P < 0.001). This study suggests that specific invasive procedures, such as temporary tracheostomy, significantly increase HAI risks. The results highlighting the need for targeted infection prevention and control procedures and supports the need for innovative methods such as record-linkage in policymaking to address HAI. These findings inform clinical practice and healthcare policy to improve patient safety and care quality.

The Importance and Advantages of Thinking-Based Learning

This study explores the significance of thinking-based learning in the educational process, emphasizing its advantages over traditional methods. Despite extensive research on learning methods, a gap exists in understanding how thinking-based approaches impact students' cognitive and professional development. Using a combination of theoretical analysis and empirical studies, the research found that thinking-based learning significantly enhances critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and adaptability in students. The results suggest that integrating thinking-based learning into educational curricula can foster deeper learning and better prepare students for future challenges. These findings have important implications for educational policy and teaching practices.

Transforming ambition into action to catalyse nature-based solutions: Insights from 250 good practice policy instruments

Ambition to leverage the power of nature-based solutions (NbS) to address global challenges such as the interlinked climate change and biodiversity crises has reached unprecedented levels. Despite a growing consensus around the potential benefits of NbS, this ambition has not translated into sufficient actionable progress in practice. Cities, increasingly recognized as centres of transformative capacity, have become a focal point for achieving NbS ambitions. Nevertheless, the transition from theoretical discourse to practical implementation has been slow, with NbS frequently being overlooked until recently in political agendas. A key obstacle to progress is the lack of action-oriented research grounding theoretical discussions in empirical evidence on NbS policy design and application. This paper seeks to address these knowledge gaps by: (i) defining criteria for good practices in urban NbS policy design and implementation; (ii) assessing policy instruments from the Urban Governance Atlas (UGA) against these criteria using mixed statistical and qualitative methods; and (iii) identifying potential pathways and actionable measures to promote the adoption of good practices in practice. Drawing on the diverse UGA examples, with a particular focus on Europe and the CELAC region, the paper identifies seven good practice criteria and outlines four potential pathways and related actions to guide the development of NbS policy instruments across varied urban contexts. Concrete recommendations around actionable knowledge aim to tap the transformative potential of NbS in addressing pressing global issues.

RETRACTION: Evaluation of Proteome Dynamics: Implications for Statistical Confidence in Mass Spectrometric Determination.

I. Popova, E. Savelyeva, T. Degtyarevskaya, D. Babaskin, and A. Vokhmintsev, "Evaluation of Proteome Dynamics: Implications for Statistical Confidence in Mass Spectrometric Determination," Proteomics 24, no. 14 (2024): 2300351, https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202300351. The above article, published online on 03 May 2024 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Lucie Kalvodova; and Wiley-VCH GmbH. The retraction has been agreed due to a major unattributed overlap between the figures and figure legends of this article (Figures 2-7) and another article previously published elsewhere by a different group of authors [1]. Such publishing practice is against the journal's policy and Wiley's Best Practice Guidelines on Research Integrity and Publishing Ethics. The co-authors, I. Popova, T. Degtyarevskaya, D. Babaskin, and A. Vokhmintsev stated that they did not participate in the writing and submission of the article and gave no consent for publication. E. Savelyeva remained unresponsive. REFERENCES 1. H. Boekweg, A. J. Guise, E. D. Plowey, R. T. Kelly, and S. Payne, "Calculating Sample Size Requirements for Temporal Dynamics in Single-Cell Proteomics," Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 20, (2021): 100085, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcpro.2021.100085.

Centering Social Justice and Equity in Research on Accessibility to Public Buildings for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities: A scoping review

Purpose To explore how principles of social justice and equity are integrated into research concerning accessibility to public buildings for individuals with mobility disabilities. Methods Utilising a scoping review methodology to assess literature based on the criteria set by the Joanna Briggs Institute, seven databases were screened. Studies were selected using the framework: “persons with mobility disabilities” AND “accessibility” AND “public buildings”. A theoretical framework helped to extract codes and develop themes through an inductive-deductive analysis method. The results are presented descriptively. Results The examination of 84 studies uncovered a complex interplay between agencies, systemic challenges, discriminatory practices, and societal attitudes perpetuating marginalisation of individuals with mobility disabilities in their access to public buildings. The recommendations emphasize importance of practical measures, research imperatives, and policy developments to promote inclusivity. We present a ‘Ten-step approach’ to integrate social justice and equity into research on accessibility in public buildings for people with mobility disabilities. Conclusion Integrating diversity, active participation, and inclusive methodologies are essential to address systemic issues, discriminatory practices, and societal attitudes that hinder accessibility and inclusion. Collaborations with diverse stakeholders are crucial for policy changes, resource allocation, and advancing social justice and equity in accessibility research and practice.

A Study on Gender-based Bullying in Australian High Schools-Take LGBTIQ Student Support Policy as an Example

This thesis provides an in-depth investigation of gender-based bullying in Australian high schools through a critical policy analysis of a relevant sexuality education policy text – LGBTIQ Student Support. The thesis summarises the general phenomenon of gender-based bullying among teenagers and points out the existence of the disconnection between policy and practice – including the unclear definitions in academic materials and policy texts regarding “bullying”, as well as the tendency of individuals to be “silenced” within the high school environment. The thesis subsequently provides an in-depth analysis of the selected policy text, exploring the underlying political discourses as well as the sexual political preferences within the policy. Further, the thesis evaluates the current state of the policy and its practice, revealing its issues and limitations, meanwhile providing certain possible suggestions for further development regarding gender-based bullying. The continuous focus on the issue of gender-based bullying among teenagers is significant, with further support from academic research, actual practices and politics should be provided – to address the disconnection status between policy texts and practices, and to achieve the objective of “improved solutions”. At the same time, the perspective of teenagers is significant and needs to be incorporated into future research and practices to enhance the responsiveness of the result.

Impact of unprecedented drought in intensive subsistence agriculture and food security: issues, policy practice gap and the way forward

Impact of unprecedented drought in intensive subsistence agriculture and food security: issues, policy practice gap and the way forward

Thinking beyond the stomach: Fixing social work’s food aid provision in displaced environments

This brief note underscores the negative consequences of food aid monotony to mealtime dynamics among war-affected internally displaced families. The article argues that this is rooted in an unethical food aid practice in which social work agencies naively dole out the same food items over a period of time. Caused by monotonic diets, the meal table witnesses poor family commensal activities. Social welfare services have to think ‘beyond the stomach’ and reinvent their food assistance. The article therefore contributes by addressing food aid issues within social work practice and social care policy and urges those responsible to do better.

Collaborating in future states—Contextual instability, paradigmatic remaking, and public policy

AbstractCollaboration is ubiquitous in public policy life, with its presence and profile determined by prevailing governance conditions. Commitments to globalisation and marketisation in the latter part of the 20th century marked the onset of an era defined by collaboration, between and across tiers and spheres of government, with non‐state actors, and through market and network instruments. Current contextual instability poses questions for dominant public policy paradigms and the existing collaborative settlement. This article explores the challenges presented in the current moment and how policymakers and scholars might navigate them. It focuses on how ideas about economics and security shape public policy, illustrating the paradigm‐shifting impact of economism and securitisation. It argues for the replacement of economism and securitisation by sustainability, sovereignty, and justice and demonstrates the latter's engagement with economics and security and their accounting for what have hitherto been ‘subaltern voices’ in public policy. It discusses the implications for collaboration in relation to future collective action problems, more diverse and disconnected ‘publics’, and a more congested and lower trust policy environment. It highlights the need for collaborative plasticity and pluralistic agency.Points for practitioners Public policymaking is shaped by dominant ideas about economics and security; ideas that become ‘taken for granted’ in policy practice. The prevailing ideas of economism and securitisation are being challenged by contextual changes, globally, regionally, and nationally. This creates space for new ideas to shape future public policy. Ideas of sustainability, sovereignty, and justice offer an alternative framework for public policymaking. These ideas can engage productively with economics and security, and they are also inclusive of a wider variety of ‘voices’ particularly those previously marginalised. Collaboration will remain integral to the success of public policy. However, it will need to adapt to new circumstances. This will include defining new purposes, reassessing its appropriateness, reshaping collaborative scope, scale, and form, and refining collaborative activities. A paradigmatic shift in public policy that highlights sustainability, sovereignty, and justice will require the active involvement of a plurality of actors enabled to contribute new knowledge and contest the status quo.

Bridging K-12 Student Mental Health Policy to Practice Gaps with a Multi-Component Framework

K-12 schools are a major sector for efforts to prevent and treat student mental health problems. In the United States, these efforts have led to the emergence of the MultiTiered System of Supports (MTSS) universal prevention, early intervention, and treatment policy framework. With a major focus on behavioral and mental health, MTSS has been adopted by all fifty state education departments. However, multi-level complexities of addressing student mental health within and across organizational structures complicate MTSS and broader policy development, implementation, and evaluation; disconnects between policy writers and practitioners obstruct progress, limiting positive outcomes. To bridge these policy-to-practice gaps, a multi-component solution is needed. The authors propose integrating the following elements: the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium’s Five Guiding Principles for Building a Coordinated School Mental Health System, the comprehensive school improvement methodology Evolutionary Systems Improvement (ESI); and the ontological framework of BioPsychoSocioTechnical Systems Theory (BPST). Individual application of these components has already yielded systems-level improvements outperforming compliance-driven procedures. Used together, these components offer a multi-level solution for establishing conceptually-guided, measurement-based loops that transcend the restrictions of uninformed policy, supporting stakeholders as they work to systematically eliminate barriers and improve student mental health.

Teacher and Middle Leader Research: Considerations and Possibilities

This essay explores research on teacher and middle leadership. It begins by considering the definitions and the conceptual overlap between teacher and middle leaders and briefly considers the volume and sources of research information. Six areas in which trustworthy claims can be made about the roles are then explored: teacher and middle leader definitions, impact, interventions, leadership focus, identification, and supports/hindrances. The essay concludes by considering policy recommendations, practice recommendations and future research directions.

A Tele-detection and referral pAthways model for early childhood cariEs control- a protocol for a randomized factorial study: the TRACE study

BackgroundEarly childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most common childhood diseases affecting the primary teeth of children younger than 6 years of age. ECC progression can be reversed in the early stages although these lesions often go undetected. New approaches are needed to detect oral diseases at an early stage when they can be better controlled. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of ECC tele-detection methods combined with referral pathways with and without user fee removal in controlling ECC.MethodsA randomized factorial trial will be used to compare two tele-dentistry detection methods for ECC (intraoral camera and smartphone camera) and two referral pathways (user fee removal versus conventional care). The study will recruit children younger than 6 years of age in marginalized communities in Alexandria, Egypt. The primary outcome is the percentage of teeth receiving indicated care, while the secondary outcomes are the oral health-related quality of life, acceptance of teledentistry by dentists, procedure time, and child cooperation. Two-way analysis of variance will be used to assess the effect of the two factors as between group variables on the outcomes after 6 and 12 months. The interaction between detection methods and referral pathways will also be assessed, and the effect of confounders will be controlled in a multivariable linear regression model.DiscussionThe findings of this study have the potential to inform clinical practice and oral healthcare policies for ECC management. Successful tele-detection and referral pathways could be integrated into oral healthcare systems, leading to improved oral health outcomes for children.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov in August 2023 (initial release) ID: NCT06019884.

Graduate employability: A bibliometric analysis

AbstractIn today's highly competitive job market, the employability of graduates holds paramount significance. Employers increasingly demand fundamental competencies and diverse employability skills from the current graduates. Studies have highlighted a noticeable gap between the skills employers seek and graduates’ skills upon the completion of their studies. This gap in employability skills significantly impacts graduates, impeding their prospects of securing suitable employment opportunities. The disparities in skills and knowledge have sparked a debate on graduate employability, necessitating further research in this domain. Addressing that, the current study explored research trends, directions, and opportunities related to graduate employability. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising 2335 journal articles on graduate employability published between 1981 and 2023 in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results of bibliometric analysis revealed the most influential journal articles based on their publications, citations, and significance in the intellectual network. Through content analysis, this study shed light on the subject's intellectual structure, characterized by four major thematic clusters: (1) the attribution of broader skills to career enhancement; (2) the significance of generic skills (interpersonal, problem‐solving, and communication skills); (3) the need for work‐related training and employer engagement; and (4) the need for improved curriculum design to build adequate human capital. The study concluded with a discussion of practical policy implications, limitations of study, and recommendations for future research.

Political and policy content in human behavior in the social environment textbooks

ABSTRACT Both the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) require that social work practitioners and students engage in political and policy practice. However, social work practitioners report that they feel inadequately prepared by their education to engage in the political system. Thus, utilizing a content analysis approach, this study explores the frequency and integration of political and policy themes in Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) textbooks. Reviewing 607 learning objectives in six HBSE textbooks determined that political and policy themes are implicitly identified within these textbooks; however, more steps can be taken to integrate and explicitly incorporate political and policy themes. Thus, this article provides findings from content analysis as well as suggestions for social work educators to incorporate political and policy themes in HBSE courses.

Assessing the Interplay of Financial Development, Human Capital, Democracy, and Industry 5.0 in Environmental Dynamics

The anthropogenically induced ecological resource exploitation surpasses the Earth’s regenerative capacity and has resulted in ecological bankruptcy. Conceding that, the United Nations mandates environmental restoration by 2030. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to orchestrate a hybrid framework by modulating the Quintuple Helix Model into an Anthropomorphized Stochastic Quintuple Helix Model (ASQHM). This model introduces human behavior and allows for hypothesis testing. ASQHM stipulates that the propensity of espoused eco-innovation aimed at environmental restoration is contingent upon five composite helices: human capital, democracy, Industry 5.0, media, and pro-environmental human behavior. In addition, financial development has been deemed imperative to facilitate these variables, which were considered stakeholders in this study. To fill gaps in the literature, three variables, namely democracy, Industry 5.0, and pro-environmental human behavior (PEHB), are formed through principal component analysis. This panel data study employs the Generalized Methods of Moments model to compute the ASQHM for developed and less developed countries from 1995 to 2022. The results imply that the first helix (human capital) levitates environmental restoration in developed countries (DCs) but yields the opposite in less developed countries (LDCs). Democracy, Industry 5.0, and information and communication technology helices demonstrate a solicited negative relationship with ecological footprints in both panels, thus supplementing environmental restoration. The fifth helix, PEHB, escalates ecological footprints in DCs; however, it abets environmental restoration in LDCs. The postulated ASQHM “partially” works in DCs and LDCs, rejecting its hypothesized role in the former group while confirming it in the latter group. Astonishingly, DCs fall short of the requisite PEHB (fifth helix), and LDCs do not have the at-par human capital (first helix) to reduce ecological footprints, catalyze eco-innovation, and partake in the environmental restoration process. Despite slight discrepancies in both panels, these findings validate the effectiveness of this hybrid ASQHM as a decisive determinant of environmental restoration. Based on the findings, this study also suggests practical policies.