Community Population Research Articles

The Intersection of Gender, Migration, and Urbanisation in Shaping Community Identities and Social Structures

This paper explores in depth the cross influence of three factors, gender, migration and urbanization, in shaping community identity and social structure. As the basic element of social composition, gender not only affects the self-perception of individuals, but also shapes the collective identity at the community level. As an important driving force of community development, the cultural diversity and social dynamics brought about by immigration have had a profound impact on community identity. However, urbanization, as an important feature of modern society, has had a significant impact on community identity and social structure by changing the physical and social environment of communities. In terms of community identity, the adjustment and remodeling of gender roles and gender relationships are an important part of community development.Simultaneously, the integration of immigrants involves the reshaping and rediscovery of identity, enhancing the complexity of community identity through interactions and contrasts with native residents. Moreover, urbanization-induced community shifts and population movements further complicate and diversify this identity. In terms of social structure, the promotion of gender equality awareness helps to break the shackles of traditional social structure and promote the community to a more equitable and inclusive direction. The influx of immigrants brings new social classes and interest groups and have an important impact on the social structure of the community. The rapid advancement of urbanization intensifies the differentiation and reorganization of social structure, which makes the class differences and conflicts of interest within the community more obvious. Gender, immigration, and urbanization have close intersections in shaping community identity and social structure. These three factors interact and influence each other to jointly promote the development and change of the community.

Multidimensional frailty in elderly emergency department patients: unveiling the prevalence and significance of social frailty.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors of physical, psychological, and social frailty among older adults in the emergency department, comparing these data with community population to understand emergency setting manifestations. Conducted at the Emergency Department of National Taiwan University BioMedical Park Hospital, this prospective observational cohort study enrolled older adult patients over a three-month period. Frailty assessments included the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures scale for physical frailty, the Tilburg Frailty Indicator for psychological frailty, and the Makizako Social Frailty Index for social frailty. Data analysis involved a multivariable logistic model to determine the risk factors associated with each frailty type. Out of 991 older adult individuals seeking medical care, 207 participated in the study. The study found high prevalence rates of frailty: 46.38% for physical, 41.06% for psychological, and 48.79% for social frailty. Risk factors for frailty included older age and a history of falls. Interestingly, the prevalence of social frailty was notably higher than physical and psychological frailty. Gender and polypharmacy showed no significant association with any frailty type. This research reveals high physical, psychological, and social frailty among older ED patients, especially noting social frailty's prevalence. It highlights the importance for emergency care to adopt holistic care strategies that address older adults' multifaceted health challenges, suggesting a paradigm shift in current healthcare practices to better cater to the multifaceted needs of this vulnerable population.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general community population toward heatstroke

Background and objectiveHeatstroke (HS) is a life-threatening condition resulting from thermal injury within the body, and it is associated with a significantly high mortality rate. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among the general community population toward heatstroke.MethodsThe web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2023 and October 2023 at the Emergency Department of Dongyang People's Hospital. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of the general community population and to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices toward heatstroke.ResultsA total of 1,356 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 875 (64.53%) were female, and 496 (36.58%) had regular exercise. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were 12.73 ± 1.42 (possible range: 0–14), 33.74 ± 2.91 (possible range: 8–40) and 34.65 ± 5.30 (possible range: 8–40), respectively. The structural equation model demonstrated that education had direct effects on knowledge (β = 0.017, p < 0.001), attitudes (β = 0.123, p < 0.001), and practices (β = −0.094, p < 0.001). Moreover, knowledge had direct effects on attitudes (β = 1.920, p < 0.001), and attitudes had direct effects on practices (β = 0.642, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe findings revealed that the general community population have sufficient knowledge, active attitudes and proactive practices toward the heatstroke. However, there is still room for improvement and it is necessary to develop and implement educational initiatives and interventions designed to further enhance their KAP toward heatstroke.

Effects of long-term blood pressure variability on renal function in community population.

Effects of long-term blood pressure variability on renal function in community population.

Soil and Urine Mercury Levels in Secocha: A Case Study of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Peru

In recent decades, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has spurred population and economic growth in the small rural communities in which it is located, along with causing contamination of the soil, air, and water with grave effects on human health due to the uncontrolled use of mercury for gold processing activities. This study analyzes the levels of mercury in Secocha, an ASGM community in Arequipa, Peru. A total of 44 soil samples were taken from two ASGM commercial-extractive zones (n = 18) and non-processing urban zones (n = 26). Soil mercury analysis with atomic absorption spectrometry revealed average mercury levels of 86.11 mg/kg in commercial-extractive zone I, where ore processing has occurred for about 17 years, and mercury levels of 43.81 mg/kg in commercial-extractive zone II, where processing has occurred for about 7 years. In the urban zone, the average mercury level was 9.53 mg/kg. The average mercury concentrations for each zone exceed the relevant environmental quality standards established by the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment. In addition, urine samples were obtained from 15 miners and 15 people from the general urban population (non-miners). The average mercury level in the urine of miners was 7.04 µg/L, and in the urine of non-miners it was 0.49 µg/L. In both cases, the mercury urine level did not exceed the limits established by WHO and the Peruvian Ministry of Health, though miners’ elevated levels do raise concerns.

Associated lifestyle factors of elevated plasma aldosterone concentration in community population, gender-stratified analysis of a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundAldosterone plays important parts in development of cardio-metabolic diseases as end product of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. However, factors elevating circulating aldosterone are not clear, and lifestyle-related factors are suggested to be involved, whereas less studied. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association of lifestyle factors with plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in community population.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited participants using multistage random sampling from Emin China in 2019, and collected data and fasting blood samples. The considered lifestyle factors included obesity parameters (neck circumference, abdominal circumference), alcohol consumption, blood pressure (BP), physical activity, sleep duration, sleep quality, mental state (depression and anxiety), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and lipid profiles (total cholesterol and triglyceride). PAC was measured using radioimmunoassay. We performed sex-stratified linear and logistic regressions to explore associated factors of PAC. Component analysis was further performed to identify the main factors affecting PAC.ResultsTwenty-seven thousand four hundred thirty-six participants with 47.1% men were included. Obesity parameters (neck circumference, abdominal circumference), glucose metabolism (FBG), psychological status (anxiety status in men and women, depression status in men), BP, liver function (in men), lipid metabolism (TC and TG in men), sleep parameters (sleep quality in women), and renal function (in women) are the main factors associated with elevated PAC.Conclusionlower physical activity, alcohol consumption, higher BP, fat accumulation, dyslipidemia, higher fasting blood glucose, and presence of depression and anxiety were the main factors associated with eleveated PAC.

Hypoxic indices for obstructive sleep apnoea severity and cardiovascular disease risk prediction: A comparison and application in a community population.

The apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) encounter challenges in capturing the intricate relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Although novel hypoxic indices have been proposed to tackle these limitations, there remains a gap in comprehensive validation and comparisons across a unified dataset. Samples were derived from the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS), involving 4485 participants aged over 40 years after data quality screening. The study compared several key indices, including AHI, ODI, the reconstructed hypoxic burden (rHB), the percentage of sleep time with the duration of respiratory events causing desaturation (pRED_3p) and the sleep breathing impairment index (SBII), in relation to CVD mortality and morbidity risks. Adjusted Cox proportional models were employed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for each index, and comparisons were performed. SBII and pRED_3p exhibited significant correlations with both CVD mortality and morbidity, with SBII showing the highest adjusted HR (95% confidence interval) for mortality (2.04 [1.25, 3.34]) and pRED_3p for morbidity (1.43 [1.09-1.88]). In contrast, rHB was only significant in predicting CVD mortality (1.63 [1.05-2.53]), while AHI and ODI did not show significant correlations with CVD outcomes. The adjusted models based on SBII and pRED_3p exhibited optimal performance in the CVD mortality and morbidity datasets, respectively. This study identified the optimal indices for OSA-related CVD risks prediction, SBII for mortality and pRED_3p for morbidity. The open-source online platform provides the computation of the indices.

Development of multi-epitope mRNA vaccine against Clostridioides difficile using reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics approaches

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), as the major pathogen of diarrhea in healthcare settings, has become increasingly prevalent within community populations, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. However, the therapeutic options for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remain limited, and as of now, no authorized vaccine is available to combat this disease. Therefore, the development of a novel vaccine against C. difficile is of paramount importance. In our study, the complete proteome sequences of 118 strains of C. difficile were downloaded and analyzed. We found four antigenic proteins that were highly conserved and can be used for epitope identification. We designed two vaccines, WLcd1 and WLcd2, that contain the ideal T-cell and B-cell epitopes, adjuvants, and the pan HLA DR-binding epitope (PADRE) sequences. The biophysical and chemical assessments of these vaccine candidates indicated that they were suitable for immunogenic applications. Molecular docking analyses revealed that WLcd1 bonded with higher affinity to Toll-like receptors (TLRs) than WLcd2. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, performed using Gmx_MMPBSA v1.56, confirmed the binding stability of WLcd1 with TLR2 and TLR4. The preliminary findings suggested that this multi-epitope vaccine could be a promising candidate for protection against CDI; however, experimental studies are necessary to confirm these predictions.

Co-designing strategies to improve advance care planning among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with cancer: iCanCarePlan study protocol

BackgroundAdvance care planning (ACP) describes the process of supporting individuals at any age or stage of health to consider and share their personal values, life goals, and preferences regarding future health care. Engaging in ACP is associated with better-quality of care in which people receive care in lines with their wishes, values and preferences. Direct translations of ACP guides and resources do not attend to the considerable inter- and intra-ethnic variations in cultural and religious or spiritual beliefs that shape preferences among people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. ICanCarePlan is a three-year project that aims to determine the prevalence of ACP documentation among people from CALD backgrounds with cancer, identify resources available and their use to support ACP among CALD communities, identify barriers and facilitators of person-centred ACP, and to develop, through co-design with consumers and clinicians, approaches that enhance the process ACP for people from CALD backgrounds.MethodA mixed-method sequential approach will be used comprising of four studies. Study one is retrospective medical record review of approximately 1500 medical records to establish the prevalence of ACP documentation among CALD patient records in cancer services. Study two is a document analysis synthesising the resources available in the Australian health system to support ACP. Study three is a qualitative study with healthcare staff and consumers to explore barriers and enablers of person-centred ACP. Evidence generated from studies one to three will inform the conduct of co-design with stakeholders to develop approaches to improve ACP processes among CALD communities. Language, technical and financial support for meaningful involvement with consumers from CALD backgrounds throughout this project is outlined. A plan for distress management is also made due to sensitive nature of the topic. The research project has also established a project steering group consisting of three consumer members who are from CALD backgrounds.DiscussionThe project will address a national priority issue for a growing population of CALD communities in Australia. The project will provide novel evidence of ACP among CALD communities and novel strategies developed with stakeholders to enhance uptake and experiences of ACP.

And now for something completely random: spatial distribution of Dickinsonia on the Ediacaran seafloor

The oldest evidence of motile complex benthic multicellular organisms is found in Ediacaran aged rocks. At Nilpena Ediacara National Park (NENP), South Australia, one of the most iconic of such organisms, Dickinsonia, are found in abundance, with over 500 individuals preserved across the site's 33 in situ, fossiliferous beds. These beds vary in mat type and maturity, community diversity and population size. Here, we investigate six beds using spatial point pattern analysis (SPPA) to compare Dickinsonia spatial distributions between populations. Five populations were best-fit to a completely spatially random pattern, with a single outlier (TC-MM3) exhibiting signs of environmental heterogeneity. When distributions were examined in relation to other taxa, no indication of spatial competition was detected. Univariate and bivariate spatial distributions imply that Dickinsonia was generally not impacted by competition with other taxa, meter-scale environmental heterogeneity, or other external factors. These patterns hold when analyses were split between populations of large and small individuals, and these two size cohorts had no measurable effect on each other's spatial distributions. Additionally, we find no indication of intraspecific competition for Dickinsonia or any change in the preferred resources or habitats with growth. These results suggest that the anactualistic environmental conditions produced by ubiquitous organic mats present across Ediacaran seafloors at NENP provided such abundant nutrients that Dickinsonia did not have to compete for resources at the meter scale. These results further inform community-scale dynamics of Earth's earliest complex ecosystem.

Development of the Parent-to-Infant Bonding Scale: Validation in Swedish Mothers and Fathers in Community and Clinical Contexts.

Valid measurement instruments are needed to investigate the impact of parental bonding on child health development. The aim was to develop and validate a self-report questionnaire, the Parent-to-Infant Bonding Scale (PIBS) to measure bonding in both mothers and fathers. Internal consistency and construct validity were analysed using data from Swedish parents from both clinical (N = 182), and community (N = 122) population samples. Overall, good oracceptable internal consistency of the PIBS appeared. Convergent validity (against the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, analysed in the clinical sample) and discriminant validity (against the mental health constructs of depressive symptoms and anxiety) were demonstrated. The results support the PIBS as a measure of maternal and paternal bonding in community and clinical populations. Assessments of criterion validity in these populations are desirable. The similarities in PIBS measurement properties between the parent groups suggest its usefulness for comparisons between mothers and fathers, and for future investigations of unique and interactive impacts of maternal and paternal bonding on child outcomes using community and clinical cohorts.

Association between sleep patterns and galectin-3 in a Chinese community population

BackgroundIrregular sleep patterns have been associated with inflammation. Galectin-3, a novel biomarker, plays an important role in inflammation. We investigated the relationship between sleep patterns and galectin-3 in a Chinese population.MethodsA total of 1,058 participants from the Shenzhen-Hong Kong United Network on Cardiovascular Disease study were included in the analysis. Age and sex-adjusted linear regression models were employed to investigate the relationship between galectin-3 level and traditional metabolic biomarkers. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association among sleep disturbance, nighttime sleep duration, and daytime napping duration and elevated galectin-3, with elevated galectin-3 defined as galectin-3 level > 65.1 ng/ml.ResultsOf study participants, the mean age was 45.3 years and 54.3% were women. Waist circumference, natural logarithm (ln)-transformed triglyceride, and ln-transformed high sensitivity C-reactive protein were positively associated with galectin-3 level (age and sex-adjusted standardized β [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0.12 [0.04, 0.21], 0.11 [0.05, 0.17], and 0.08 [0.02, 0.14], respectively). Sleep disturbance was associated with elevated galectin-3 (odds ratio [95% CI], 1.68 [1.05, 2.68], compared to those without sleep disturbance) after adjusting for traditional metabolic biomarkers. No interaction was observed between galectin-3 and age, sex, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes on sleep disturbance. No association was found between nighttime sleep duration or daytime napping duration and elevated galectin-3.ConclusionsOur study provides evidence of a significant association between sleep disturbance and elevated galectin-3 level, independent of traditional metabolic biomarkers. Screening and interventions on galectin-3 could assist in preventing sleep disturbance-induced inflammatory disease.

An Analytical Study on Depression among the Geriatric Population of Rural Field Practice Area of Private Medical College in Andhra Pradesh State

Abstract Background: Depression is a common illness worldwide, with an estimated 300 million people affected at any time. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived, emotional response to challenges in everyday life. In India, most of the elderly live in the rural areas and the access to the health care facilities is meagre. The depressive symptoms are likely to be dismissed as “normal” by the older persons, their family members and even by health care providers. Objectives: To estimate the level of depression among the geriatric population in a rural community. To study the association of socio-demographic profile with the levels of depression identified among them. Methodology: It was an observational analytical cross-sectional study done over a period of 2 months (7th August 2018 to 7th October 2018). Study population includes the geriatric population of rural field practice area at a private medical college. A minimum sample of 210 was included in the study by systematic random sampling method. Questionnaire consists of two parts. Part-1 consists of socio demographic characteristics. Part II consists of GDS 15-point questionnaire. Results: Out of the total 210, majority of subjects were less than 70 years of age (69 p.c). Prevalence of depression in the study was (33.8 p.c.). Depression was significantly high in financially dependent study subjects (56 p.c.). A significant relationship was observed between factors like Living status, Marital status, Education and levels of depression (p<0.05). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of depression among elderly population. It was associated with living alone, presently not married, illiteracy.

Proteomic change in the upper lobe of the left lung of Beagle dogs at the lung migration stage of Toxocara canis infection

BackgroundToxocara canis is considered one of the most neglected parasitic zoonoses and threatens the health of millions of people worldwide with a predilection for pediatric and adolescent populations in impoverished communities. Exploring the invasion and developmental mechanisms associated with T. canis infection in its definitive canine hosts will help to better control zoonotic toxocariasis.MethodsProteomic changes in samples from the upper lobe of the left lung of Beagle puppies were systematically analyzed by quantitative proteomic technology of data-independent acquisition (DIA) at 96 h post-infection (hpi) with T. canis. Proteins with P-values < 0.05 and fold change > 1.5 or < 0.67 were considered proteins with differential abundance (PDAs).ResultsA total of 28 downregulated PDAs and 407 upregulated PDAs were identified at 96 hpi, including RhoC, TM4SFs and LPCAT1, which could be associated with the maintenance and repair of lung homeostasis. GO annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of all identified proteins and PDAs revealed that many lung proteins have correlation to signal transduction, lipid metabolism and immune system.ConclusionsThe present study revealed lung proteomic alterations in Beagle dogs at the lung migration stage of T. canis infection and identified many PDAs of Beagle dog lung, which may play important roles in the pathogenesis of toxocariasis, warranting further experimental validation.Graphical

Legitimacy of Community Justice. A Look From the Aymara Communities of Peru

Objective: The objective is to identify the designation of communal authorities in the form of election, its organizational structure, its attributions, roles, functions and legitimacy in the community. Finally, to explain the prevailing norms, forms of conflict resolution within the framework of the administration of communal justice, considering as a source the cultural patterns as a mechanism of access to justice. Results: The study is carried out in the district of Chucuito, Puno, Peru, where the ancestral social political organization persists and the administration of justice is based on its cultural practice, especially rooted in the ancestral historical legacy. In the article, an analysis is made regarding the scope and limitations of the administration of community justice. Method: The method used is ethnographic-qualitative. In the procedural aspect, it was carried out through the analysis of the Communal Minutes Book, where the cases dealt with in the communal assemblies are recorded. Observation guides and in-depth interviews were used as research instruments. The field work was carried out following a program of visits coordinated with the communal authorities for a period of one year. Conclusions: The ancestral practices of justice administration are in force in the Aymara communities practiced by the families of the community and authorities, mainly Lieutenant Governors, based on custom, ancestral traditions and the legitimacy attributed to them by the community population, and they seek to lay the foundations for the understanding and incorporation to the official state justice spheres.

Coronary Plaque in People With HIV vs Non-HIV Asymptomatic Community and Symptomatic Higher-Risk Populations

BackgroundPeople with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of coronary plaques; however, the comparison to people without known HIV (PwoH) needs clarification. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine coronary plaque burden/phenotype in PWH vs PwoH. MethodsNonstatin using participants from 3 contemporary populations without known coronary plaques with coronary CT were compared: the REPRIEVE (Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV) studying PWH without cardiovascular symptoms at low-to-moderate risk (n = 755); the SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study) of asymptomatic community PwoH at low-to-intermediate cardiovascular risk (n = 23,558); and the PROMISE (Prospective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain) of stable chest pain PwoH (n = 2,291). The coronary plaque prevalence on coronary CT was compared, and comparisons were stratified by 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, age, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) presence. ResultsCompared to SCAPIS and PROMISE PwoH, REPRIEVE PWH were younger (50.8 ± 5.8 years vs 57.3 ± 4.3 years and 60.0 ± 8.0 years; P < 0.001) and had lower ASCVD risk (5.0% ± 3.2% vs 6.0% ± 5.3% and 13.5% ± 11.0%; P < 0.001). More PWH had plaque compared to the asymptomatic cohort (48.5% vs 40.3%; P < 0.001). When stratified by ASCVD risk, PWH had more plaque compared to SCAPIS and a similar prevalence of plaque compared to PROMISE. CAC = 0 was more prevalent in PWH (REPRIEVE 65.2%; SCAPIS 61.6%; PROMISE 49.6%); among CAC = 0, plaque was more prevalent in PWH compared to the PwoH cohorts (REPRIEVE 20.8%; SCAPIS 5.4%; PROMISE 12.3%, P < 0.001). ConclusionsAsymptomatic PWH in REPRIEVE had more plaque than asymptomatic PwoH in SCAPIS but had similar prevalence to a higher-risk stable chest pain cohort in PROMISE. In PWH, CAC = 0 does not reliably exclude plaque.

Association of metabolic syndrome and its components with hearing loss in low-income women: A population-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundHearing loss (HL) is globally prevalent among older adults and a common disability cause. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder characterized by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Few studies have examined the association between MetS and HL in women. This study investigated the association between HL and metabolic disease among low-income population women in China. MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September and November 2013. All participants completed questionnaires, physical examinations, laboratory examinations, and hearing tests. HL was measured using pure-tone audiometry, and audiologists determined the final diagnoses. ResultsA total of 1448 women were enrolled, including 781 (53.9 %) with demonstrated HL and 804 (55.5 %) with MetS. Elevated blood pressure (BP) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were independent risk factors for pure-tone averages (PTAs) in the high pure tone audiometry (high-PTA) group, after adjusting for education level, smoking and drinking status, body mass index group, and low high-density lipopolysaccharide cholesterol levels (all, P < 0.05); PTAs increased by 2.11 dB HL of hearing level in patients with elevated BP compared with normal BP (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.22–4.01; P = 0.029); PTAs increased by 1.64 dB HL of hearing level (95 % CI, 0.12–3.15; P = 0.034) in patients with elevated FBG levels compared with normal FBG levels. ConclusionThese results indicate that hypertension and hyperglycemia are influencing factors for HL, and strengthening the management of blood glucose and blood pressure in community populations can reduce the burden of HL.

Urinary peptide profiling for prediction of kidney disease progression in community populations: A prospective study with 6-year follow-up

Urinary peptide profiling for prediction of kidney disease progression in community populations: A prospective study with 6-year follow-up

Historical Inequities in Medical Education - Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity, and Equity at the University of Hawai'i School of Medicine.

Medical education in the US has contributed to institutionalized racism through historically exclusionary practices, which has led to health disparities and inequities in health care today. The 1910 Flexner report, which favored schools with greater resources, led to the closure of nearly half of medical schools in the Us, which were mostly small schools located in rural communities that served economically disadvantaged, ethnic minority, and female populations. Closing these schools ultimately limited the availability of physicians willing to serve disadvantaged and minority populations in impoverished and underserved communities. In order to transform medical education to be more equitable, medical schools must be proactive in opportunity, diversity, and equity efforts. This not only includes efforts in admissions and faculty hiring, but also curricula related to social and health disparities, interracial interactions between students and faculty, and service learning activities that engage and work with marginalized communities. The University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine has a longstanding commitment to diversity, which is integral to the school's mission. Providing opportunities to underserved populations has been a priority since establishment of the school. As one of the most diverse univeristies in the US, the school of medicine continues to focus on opportunity, diversity, and equity priorities in both its strategic planning and overall mission.

A new measure of feeling safe: Developing psychometric properties of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS).

The study comprised of 3 stages: (a) item generation, (b) item reduction, and (c) assessment of factor structure and internal consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted from 2 samples who completed a survey online (exploratory n = 342, confirmatory n = 455). Initially, 107 items were generated. Item reduction and exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 29-item NPSS with subscales of compassion, social engagement and body sensations. The NPSS was found to have a consistent factor structure and internal consistency. The NPSS is a novel measure of psychological safety which can be used across a range of health and social care settings. This research provides a platform for further work to support and enhance understandings of the science of safety through the measurement of psychological, relational and physiological components of safety. The NPSS will help shape new approaches to evaluating trauma treatments, relational issues and mental health concerns. Research to establish the convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity of the NPSS and to explore its use with diverse community and clinical populations is underway. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).