Participant Preferences Research Articles

A personalized learning theory-based cyber-security training exercise

Current enterprises’ needs for skilled cyber-security (CS) professionals have prompted the development of diverse CS training programs and offerings. It has been noted that even though enterprise staff is now more aware of security threats, the number of successful attacks against companies has all but decreased over the years. Several criticisms were raised against current CS training offerings, which often made them inadequate, or unable to change participants’ behavior and security attitude. One of the main factors CS training programs are often not very effective is the lack of engagement or motivation of participants. This is often the result of training not being tailored to the needs or preferences of participants. In our previous work, we tackled this issue by developing a personalized learning theory-based model for developing CS training frameworks. In this work, we utilize the model to develop two CS training exercises: two game-based scenarios using the CS training video game Cyber CIEGE and one table-top team exercise. The exercises are later tested by involving a group of 12 students from the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (NTNU) Information Security master’s degree program. According to the results of the experiment and the feedback from the students, students felt more engaged during the exercises due to having been participants in their development process. This has in turn motivated them to continue using the training tools independently in their spare time. Further research is recommended to establish whether the training development model is adequate for different target groups, as well as better performing than other models when developing full-fledged training programs.

The Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program-a Psychosocial Digital Health Intervention for English- and Spanish-Speaking Parents of Children With Cancer: Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial.

The psychosocial needs and risks of children with cancer and their families are well-documented including increased risk of parental distress, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety. There is a critical need to provide evidence-based psychosocial care to parents and caregivers of children with cancer. Digital health interventions are important to address many barriers to in-person intervention delivery but are not widely used in pediatric psychosocial cancer care. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for flexible, acceptable, and accessible psychosocial digital health interventions. The Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (eSCCIP) is an innovative digital health intervention for parents and caregivers of children with cancer, delivered through a combination of self-guided web-based content and supplemented by 3 telehealth follow-up sessions with a trained telehealth guide. A Spanish language adaptation of eSCCIP, El Programa Electronico de Intervencion para Superar Cancer Competentemente (eSCCIP-SP), has been developed. The self-guided web-based cores of eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP are a mix of didactic video content, multifamily video discussion groups featuring parents of children with cancer, and hands-on web-based activities. The objective of this study is to test eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP in a multisite randomized controlled trial, compared to an internet-based education control condition consisting of information specifically focused on concerns relevant to parents and caregivers of children with cancer. Using a randomized controlled clinical trial design, 350 eligible parents and caregivers of children with cancer will be randomly assigned to the intervention (eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP) or an education control condition. Data will be collected at 3 time points: preintervention (prior to randomization), immediately post intervention (after 6 weeks), and at a 3-month follow-up (from baseline). Participants randomized to either condition will receive study material (eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP intervention or education control website) in English or Spanish, based on the primary language spoken in the home and participant preference. The primary study end point is a reduction in acute distress from baseline to postintervention, with secondary end points focused on reductions in symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety, and improvements in coping self-efficacy and cognitive coping. An additional exploratory aim will be focused on implementation strategies and potential costs and cost-savings of eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP, laying the groundwork for future trials focused on dissemination and implementation, stepped-care models, and intervention refinement. This trial will provide necessary data to evaluate the efficacy of eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP. This intervention has the potential to be an easily scalable and highly impactful psychosocial treatment option for parents and caregivers of children with cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05294302; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05294302. PRR1-10.2196/46339.

Simplicity and predictability: a phenomenological study of psychological flow in transactional workers.

Psychological flow is a positive experience achieved through a near-balance of task challenge and skill capability, creating a merging of awareness and action and leading to an intrinsically rewarding feeling. Flow has typically been documented in persons who participate in work and leisure activities where they can exercise a large degree of creativity and agency over their actions in pursuit of their goals. The objective of the present study is to explore the lived experiences of flow in workers in roles where creativity and agency are typically not expected. An interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was employed to attain this objective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 adults whose role is to perform transactional work, which by its nature affords less opportunity for creative execution. Common themes about participants' flow experiences are documented. Two broad types of flow are described and a connection is made that the present study's participants achieve one of those flow types while working. Participants' feelings, preferences, and actions are mapped to the nine conventional dimensions of flow. Specific non-task work system factors are discussed relative to their influence on participants' attainment of flow. Limitations of the present study and recommended future research are discussed.

Patient-reported usefulness of an intervention to promote job retention among women undergoing (neo)adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy.

1586 Background: Women who undergo (neo)adjuvant breast cancer chemotx are at risk of job loss, especially if they lack work accommodations. We developed TEAMWork (Talking to Employers And Medical staff about Work), an English/Spanish mobile application (app) to help women identify work accommodations relevant to their needs, negotiate with their employers to receive these accommodations, and communicate with the clinic team to manage symptoms. TEAMWork will be compared to a booklet as a job-retention tool in an ongoing randomized clinical trial (RCT). Here we present acceptability data based on RCT participants’ perceptions of the app’s usefulness. Methods: Eligible participants were women aged 18-64, who spoke English/Spanish, were able to use and had access to a smartphone/tablet, were undergoing or planned to undergo (neo)adjuvant chemotx for stage I-III breast cancer, and were working full or part time for pay. Women who had stopped working due to the diagnosis were eligible. Those who had stopped working for reasons unrelated to breast cancer (e.g., prior illness disability) were ineligible. Online surveys were self-administered or administered interview-style (per participant preference) at baseline and midway through the planned chemotx. In the second survey, participants were asked if they had used TEAMWork at all since enrollment; those who said they had used it were asked about the app’s usefulness. Results: 58 participants received the app; 56 received the booklet. 64% were white, 18% were Black, and 12% were Asian; 7% were Hispanic. 4% were Spanish-speaking. 79% had at least a college education. When surveyed half-way through their chemotx regimen, 62% of those randomized to the app said they had used the app; only 25% of those randomized to the booklet said they had used the booklet (p<0.0001). Among those who reported having used the app (n=36), 86% said they were very (44%) or somewhat (42%) satisfied with TEAMWork, and 94% said they thought TEAMWork would be very (61%) or somewhat (33%) helpful to other patients. Additional details about the perceived usefulness of the app are shown. Conclusions: Compared to participants randomized to the booklet, more than twice as many who received the app reported that they had used their assigned intervention. Among those who used it, the app was well-received and was deemed especially helpful for communicating with medical providers. Recruitment to the RCT is ongoing, and job retention results will be presented when data are mature. Efforts are under way to increase the diversity of the study sample based on ethnicity, language, and education. Clinical trial information: NCT03572374 .[Table: see text]

EPH26 Barriers to in-Person Focus Group Participation during the Third-Year of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening in Underrepresented Groups

In the process of conducting research to understand barriers to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in underrepresented groups such as Blacks and Hispanics, it became evident that there were also barriers to recruitment in this population. This study assesses the challenges faced in recruitment of focus group participants regarding CRC screening practices among underrepresented groups. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, qualitative research participants have primarily been interviewed through online video or audio interactions. However, as restrictions on in-person interactions have been lifted, in-person focus groups are being increasingly considered. The study investigators began recruitment through community health workers in August 2022, when COVID-19 vaccines were available for all adults (age>18 years). Eligible individuals were: age 45-75, Black or Hispanic, with Medicaid or no insurance, and no family history of CRC or diagnosis of certain colon-related diseases. We combined in-person and virtual recruitment strategies, including posting flyers in communities, advertising our study at health fairs, and on social media. Participants would receive a $50 gift card. Fifty-five met the eligibility criteria among 144 respondents, and 45 subjects (29 women and 16 men) agreed to be contacted. An average of 2.5 attempts were made per eligible subject. Unfortunately, we were able to recruit only four women (3 Hispanic and one non-Hispanic black). Traveling to the research site was a barrier to participation. Many subjects (49%) requested virtual participation (online video or audio interactions); some declined because the topic was too sensitive (considered taboo), and eligible men were reluctant to participate in-person. The requirement of in-person participation affected our recruitment goals, suggesting that COVID-19 has shifted the preferences of research participants to virtual interaction. In response to the eligible participant preferences, the study protocol has been revised to re-contact patients and schedule virtual FG sessions.

Influence of multi-aspect job preference matching on job tenure for people with mental disorders in supported employment programs in Japan.

This study examined the association between job tenure and job preference matching for five job preference domains for people with mental disorders enrolled in Individual Placement and Support (IPS) programs in Japan. The domains include occupation type, monthly income, weekly work hours, commute time, and illness disclosure. We conducted secondary analysis of participants who obtained employment in a longitudinal study during the 24-month follow-up period at 16 agencies routinely providing IPS programs. We included 112 participants who expressed job preferences and were employed at least once. A total of 130 employment cases were analyzed. Matches in the five domains were determined using participants' job preferences and employment information. The Match Level (0-5) indicates the number of domains that match the participant's job preferences. Job tenure (weeks worked) was compared between the matched and unmatched groups in each domain and between each match levels using linear regression mixed-effects models. A match for a given domain did not show a significant relationship with job tenure, whereas Match Levels 3 (B = 29.6, 95% CI [10.8, 48.4], p = .003) and 4 (B = 37.0, 95% CI [17.1, 56.9], p < .001) had a significantly longer tenure than those with Match Level 1. A higher match level may be related to a longer job tenure. The results suggest that employment specialists should prioritize clients' preferences in job searches. Further replication studies in other settings and countries should be conducted to verify the findings in this study. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

PCR77 “It Shocks Me That There Is Not Something like This Already in Place”: Patient Perspectives for Enhancing Pan-Canadian Data Sharing for Precision Oncology

The generation of robust evidence informing cancer prevention and treatment is premised on availability of patient-level data. Canadian policies and infrastructure limit cross-jurisdictional data sharing. Alongside efforts to enable greater access and use of patient data, understanding preferences for participation in such initiatives is critical. This qualitative investigation sought to elicit patient values, expectations, and concerns for enhancing pan-Canadian data sharing for precision oncology research.

The impact of demographic information on students’ preferable extracurricular activities for English learning

The study aims to explore the potential of extracurricular activities (ECAs) in enhancing English learning among Vietnamese higher education students, given the government’s emphasis on English language reforms. In Southwest Vietnam, a comprehensive survey consisting of 20 questions was carried out among 1,032 students at a higher education establishment. The aim was to ascertain their favored ECAs and to explore how students’ demographic details, particularly their gender, field of study, and academic year, influenced these preferences. Results showed students were fond of ECAs for English learning, with female students expressing a higher preference for participation. Students’ majors and years in university significantly influenced preferences for specific activities, while no significant difference was found in the overall perception of ECAs. The study concludes that understanding students’ preferences and demographic influences can help design more effective ECAs for English learning in Vietnamese higher education institutions. The findings offer insights for developing tailored ECAs to address students’ unique needs and preferences, thereby improving English language learning outcomes in Vietnamese higher education institutions.

Participation patterns in elementary school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders and their typically developing peers

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the differences in participation patterns between children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and children with typical development (TD) in Jordan.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a cross-sectional comparative design and convenient and snowball sampling. The sample consisted of 60 children (30 ASD and 30 TD), mean age (nine years), who completed the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and the Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC) via interview. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests.FindingsChildren with ASD had significantly lower participation Diversity (U = 24.00, p < 0.000) and Intensity (U = 110.00, p < 0.000) than children with TD. In addition, children with ASD had significantly lower participation preference in Physical (U = 145.50, p < 0.000), Self-Improvement (U = 163.50, p < 0.000), Skill-Based (U = 281.00, p = 0.01), Social activities (U = 307.50, p = 0.03) and total PAC scale score (U = 246.50, p = 0.003). However, children with ASD had significantly higher Enjoyment (U = 274, p < 0.000) than children with TD.Originality/valueChildren with ASD have restricted participation patterns due to certain ASD features like extreme sensory processing patterns. However, limited research compared participation patterns between school-aged children with ASD and children with TD. This study concluded that participation patterns in children with ASD are different from children with TD.

Hypercasual and Hybrid-Casual Video Gaming: A Digital Leisure Perspective

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of hypercasual and hybrid-casual video gaming and their influence on digital leisure. Existing sport and leisure scholarship on video gaming has focused primarily on competitive video gaming, namely esports. However, among the most popular competitive video games are simple and easy to play titles – hypercasual and hybrid-casual games. In this conceptual article, a digital leisure perspective is used to examine hypercasual and hybrid-casual gaming. To address the study’s purpose, the growth, gameplay, and consumption practices of hypercasual and hybrid-casual games are outlined. The current article supports that the intuitive nature and design of these games increases their appeal and adoption, particularly by those marginalized by the digital divide. Hypercasual and hybrid-casual video games reflect trends in digital leisure activities, including participant preferences favoring simplicity over sophistication, providing a novel perspective in contrast to increasingly complex forms of digital leisure.

Participant Preferences for the Development of a Digitally Delivered Gardening Intervention to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health: Cross-sectional Study.

Low dietary intake of fruits and vegetables and physical inactivity are 2 modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Fruit and vegetable gardening can provide access to fresh produce, and many gardening activities are considered moderate physical activity. This makes gardening interventions a potential strategy for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. Previously developed gardening interventions have relied on in-person delivery models, which limit scalability and reach. The purpose of this study was to ascertain participant insight on intervention components and topics of interest to inform a digitally delivered, gardening-focused, multiple health behavior change intervention. A web-based survey was delivered via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), including quantitative and open-ended questions. Eligible participants were aged ≥20 years, could read and write in English, were US residents, and had at least a 98% MTurk task approval rating. A multilevel screening process was used to identify and exclude respondents with response inattention, poor language fluency, or suspected automated web robots (bots). Participants were asked about their interest in gardening programming, their preferences for intervention delivery modalities (1-hour expert lectures, a series of brief <5-minute videos, or in-person meetings), and what information is needed to teach new gardeners. Comparisons were made between never gardeners (NG) and ever gardeners (EG) in order to examine differences in perceptions based on prior experience. Quantitative data were summarized, and differences between groups were tested using chi-square tests. Qualitative data were coded and organized into intervention functions based on the Behavior Change Wheel. A total of 465 participants were included (n=212, 45.6% NG and n=253, 54.4% EG). There was a high level of program interest overall (n=355, 76.3%), though interest was higher in EG (142/212, 67% NG; 213/253, 84.2% EG; P<.001). The majority of participants (n=282, 60.7%) preferred a series of brief <5-minute videos (136/212, 64.2% NG; 146/253, 57.7% EG; P=.16) over 1-hour lectures (29/212, 13.7% NG; 50/253, 19.8% EG; P=.08) or in-person delivery modes (47/212, 22.2% NG; 57/253, 22.5% EG; P=.93). Intervention functions identified were education and training (performing fundamental gardening and cooking activities), environmental restructuring (eg, social support), enablement (provision of tools or seeds), persuasion (offering encouragement and highlighting the benefits of gardening), and modeling (using content experts and participant testimonials). Content areas identified included the full lifecycle of gardening activities, from the fundamentals of preparing a garden site, planting and maintenance to harvesting and cooking. In a sample of potential web-based learners, participants were interested in a digitally delivered gardening program. They preferred brief videos for content delivery and suggested content topics that encompassed how to garden from planting to harvesting and cooking. The next step in this line of work is to identify target behavior change techniques and pilot test the intervention to assess participant acceptability and preliminary efficacy.

Evaluation of AR visualization approaches for catheter insertion into the ventricle cavity.

Augmented reality (AR) has shown potential in computer-aided surgery. It allows for the visualization of hidden anatomical structures as well as assists in navigating and locating surgical instruments at the surgical site. Various modalities (devices and/or visualizations) have been used in the literature, but few studies investigated the adequacy/superiority of one modality over the other. For instance, the use of optical see-through (OST) HMDs has not always been scientifically justified. Our goal is to compare various visualization modalities for catheter insertion in external ventricular drain and ventricular shunt procedures. We investigate two AR approaches: (1) 2D approaches consisting of a smartphone and a 2D window visualized through an OST (Microsoft HoloLens 2), and (2) 3D approaches consisting of a fully aligned patient model and a model that is adjacent to the patient and is rotationally aligned using an OST. 32 participants joined this study. For each visualization approach, participants were asked to perform five insertions after which they filled NASA-TLX and SUS forms. Moreover, the position and orientation of the needle with respect to the planning during the insertion task were collected. The results show that participants achieved a better insertion performance significantly under 3D visualizations, and the NASA-TLX and SUS forms reflected the preference of participants for these approaches compared to 2D approaches.

PO-03-155 PATIENT PREFERENCES FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE INFORMATION AND PARTICIPATION IN SHARED DECISION MAKING IN AN OUTPATIENT CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CLINIC

Providing health care related information is a component of patient centered care that allows for shared decision making (SDM). Patient preferences for health care information (PPHI) and SDM vary among populations. Understanding PPHI may improve delivery of relevant information, especially for older patients who are seeking care for complex arrhythmic conditions in the time constrained outpatient setting. This study sought to understand patient preferences for participation in SDM and for the amount, format and delivery of additional relevant health information, as well as to explore the influence of select sociodemographic factors. Over four months, a convenience sample of adult patients, prior to their visit in an Electrophysiology (EP) clinic voluntarily completed an anonymous multiple-response survey ranking their preferences for the amount, delivery and format of information, and for their degree of participation in SDM. Bivariate analyses were used to correlate associations between demographic characteristics and PPHI. P values, assuming a significance level of 0.05, were obtained using chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Analyses were performed using (SAS®). Of 202 patients who participated, 76% wished to know most or all information for their condition such as diagnosis, treatment, procedures and complications (Table 1). Apart from face-to-face conversation, printed format was preferred by 83% for additional health information. Approximately 46% preferred their doctor to play a major role in SDM, while 52% preferred equal participation for various aspects of health care (diagnosis, treatment, procedures and risks). These were independent of age or education level. Patients older than 65 were less likely to own a smart phone or seek additional information online, and less likely to prefer a video format. Those who did not complete high school were less likely to have internet access, own a smart phone or search for information from other sources and did not prefer a video format. Understanding patient preferences for delivery and format for additional relevant health care information is essential for SDM in the outpatient EP setting. Advanced age and lower level of education contribute to technological vulnerability of patients and influence patient preferences for additional information and SDM. Health systems should integrate PPHI in the outpatient setting.

Designing a transactive electric vehicle agent with customer’s participation preference

The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) and their inherent flexibility in charging timings make them an asset to improve grid performance. In contrast to direct control by a utility or autonomous price-based charging, the transactive control framework not only provides benefits to both grid and customers but also ensures customer autonomy. In this work, we design a transactive electric vehicle (TEV) agent that incorporates the EV owner’s willingness to trade-off between savings and amenity in form of a slider, where the EV owner’s amenity is characterized as vehicle readiness. Further, a privacy-preserving bidding formulation is proposed that also represents the customer’s transactive preference. A transactive market mechanism is discussed that integrates the TEV Agents into the local retail market and reconciles with the current day-ahead and real-time market structure. It is demonstrated that the proposed slider is able to provide a preferred trade-off between savings and amenity to individual customers. At the same time, the market mechanism is shown to successfully reduce both peak prices and peak demand. A comparative investigation of V1G and V2G technologies with respect to the battery prices is also discussed. It reveals that the V2G does not offer significant additional benefits with current battery prices, but could be promising if battery costs decline in the future.

I Would Like to Do It Very Much! Leisure Participation Patterns and Determinants of Brazilian Children and Adolescents With Physical Disabilities.

To describe the patterns, preferences, and predictors of participation in leisure activities of children and young people with physical disabilities from Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study that included 50 children/young people with physical disabilities from the southeast of Brazil. The children were assessed using the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities. Children/young people participated in an average of 38% of the activities, with a greater number and frequency of informal, recreational, social, and self-improvement activities. The average frequency of participation in the activities was twice in the previous 4 months. The enjoyment in the participated activities was high. There was a greater preference for recreational, social, and physical activities. Age and functional classification were predictors of participation. This study of children with disabilities from the southeast of Brazil supports studies in other low- and middle-income countries, demonstrating low diversity and intensity of participation in leisure activities, but with high levels of enjoyment.

HIV Care Preferences among Young People Living with HIV in Lesotho: A Secondary Data Analysis of the PEBRA Cluster Randomized Trial

Introduction. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 89% of all young people living with HIV, a key population with specific challenges and needs. In-depth knowledge of service demands is needed to tailor and differentiate service delivery for this group. We evaluated HIV care preferences among young people living with HIV who were part of the PEBRA (Peer Educator Based Refill of ART) cluster-randomized trial. Methods. The PEBRA trial evaluated a novel model of care at 20 health facilities in Lesotho, Southern Africa. In the PEBRA model, a peer educator regularly assessed participant preferences regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill location, SMS notifications (for adherence, drug refill, viral load), and general care support options and delivered services accordingly over a 12-month period. We present these preferences and their changes over time. Results. At enrolment, 41 of 123 (33.3%) chose ART refill outside the health facility, compared to 8 of 123 (6.5%) after 12 months. Among those selecting clinic-based ART refill, many preferred collecting ART during the peer educator led Saturday clinic club, 45 of 123 (36.5%) at the beginning and 55 of 123 (44.7%) at the end. SMS reminders for treatment adherence and ART refill visits were chosen by 51 of 123 (41.5%) at enrolment and 54 of 123 (44.7%) at the last assessment. Support by the peer educator was popular at the beginning (110 of 123 (89.4%)) and lower but still high at the end (85 of 123 (69.1%)). Thirteen of 123 (10.6%) participants chose support by the nurse, without the involvement of any peer educator, at the first and 21 of 123 (17.1%) at the last assessment. Conclusion. Our longitudinal preference assessment among young people living with HIV in Lesotho showed a sustained interest in SMS notifications for adherence and refill visits as well as in additional support by a peer educator. ART refill outside the health facility was not as popular as expected; instead, medication pick-up at the facility, especially during Saturday clinic clubs, was favoured. The PEBRA trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03969030. Registered on 31 May 2019)

A qualitative study to explore the acceptability and feasibility of implementing person-focused evidence-based pain education concepts in pre-registration physiotherapy training.

The purpose of this study was to engage with physiotherapy clinicians, academics, physiotherapy students and patients to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and practical considerations of implementing person-focused evidence-based pain education concepts, identified from our previous research, in pre-registration physiotherapy training. This qualitative study took a person-focused approach to ground pain education in the perspectives and experiences of people who deliver and use it. Data was collected via focus groups and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using the seven stage Framework approach. Focus groups and interviews were conducted either face to face, via video conferencing or via telephone. This depended on geographical location, participant preference, and towards the end of data collection the limitations on in-person contact due to the Covid-19 pandemic. UK based physiotherapy clinicians, physiotherapy students, academics and patients living with pain were purposively sampled and invited to take part. Five focus groups and six semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-nine participants. Four key dimensions evolved from the dataset that encapsulate concepts underpinning the acceptability and feasibility of implementing pain education in pre-registration physiotherapy training. These are (1) make pain education authentic to reflect diverse, real patient scenarios, (2) demonstrate the value that pain education adds, (3) be creative by engaging students with content that requires active participation, (4) openly discuss the challenges and embrace scope of practice. These key dimensions shift the focus of pain education towards practically engaging content that reflects people experiencing pain from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. This study highlights the need for creativity in curriculum design and the importance of preparing graduates for the challenges that they will face in clinical practice.

I wanna hold your hand: Handholding is preferred over gentle stroking for emotion regulation.

Social touch is an important form of interpersonal emotion regulation. In recent years, the emotion regulation effects of two types of touch have been studied extensively: handholding and stroking (specifically of skin with C-tactile afferents on the forearm, i.e. C-touch). While some studies compare their effectiveness, with mixed results, no study to date has examined which type of touch is subjectively preferred. Given the potential bidirectional communication provided by handholding, we hypothesized that to regulate intense emotions, participants would prefer handholding. In four pre-registered online studies (total N = 287), participants rated handholding and stroking, presented in short videos, as emotion regulation methods. Study 1 examined touch reception preference in hypothetical situations. Study 2 replicated Study 1 while also examining touch provision preferences. Study 3 examined touch reception preferences of participants with blood/injection phobia in hypothetical injection situations. Study 4 examined types of touch participants who have recently given birth recalled receiving during childbirth and their hypothetical preferences. In all studies, participants preferred handholding over stroking; participants who have recently given birth reported receiving handholding more than stroking. This was especially evident in Studies 1-3 in emotionally intense situations. These results demonstrate that handholding is preferred over stroking as a form of emotion regulation, especially in intense situations, and support the importance of two-way sensory communication for emotion regulation via touch. We discuss the results and possible additional mechanisms, including top-down processing and cultural priming.

Abstract 1979: Examining stereotype perceptions of colorectal cancer in the Latino community

Abstract Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is significantly lower in the Hispanic community compared to non-Hispanic whites. Qualitative research has suggested that cultural attitudes towards cancer may be a potential barrier to screening. The purpose of the study was to quantitatively examine explicit stereotypes about CRC and CRC screening within the Hispanic community using the stereotype content model. Methods: A one-time online cross-sectional survey was administered to individuals self-identifying as Hispanic living across the United States. Based on participant preference, the survey was completed in English or Spanish. In counterbalanced order, participants were asked to read brief paragraphs about a control target, a target with CRC, and a target undergoing colonoscopy CRC screening. The target was a Hispanic individual assigned a gender-neutral name. Other than the one sentence with CRC-related information in the CRC and CRC screening paragraphs, all the paragraphs were identical describing the individual, their family, and their hobbies. After each paragraph, participants were asked to rate the target on validated surveys assessing warmth and competence, two indicators of explicit stereotypes. Data was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, which were fitted to evaluate the effect of each target on warmth and competence, controlling for age, gender, race, Hispanic heritage, cancer exposure, and randomization. Results: The target condition was not statistically significantly associated with the Warmth and Competence outcomes when the models were fitted considering only the main effects. However, in the presence of interactions the condition was associated with the outcomes. Specifically, the analysis yielded a significant fixed effect for the interaction between target condition and participant age, such that younger participants had greater perceptions of warmth [F(2, 511.93)=7.045, p=0.001] and competence [F(2, 522.73)=11.129, p&amp;lt;0.001] towards the target undergoing cancer screening. The analysis also yielded a further significant effect for the interaction between target condition and Hispanic heritage with differences in perceptions of warmth between those born in the USA and participants born in Central and South America or in Europe [(F(2, 520.16)=2.299, p=0.02)]. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of understanding the heterogeneity within the Hispanic community when seeking to address stigma towards CRC. First, there are differences in explicit perceptions based on generation, suggesting the need for age-appropriate cancer prevention initiatives. Second, the findings demonstrate the need to account for diverse cultural perspectives of cancer screening based on country of origin. Thus, this research supports the importance of respecting the diversity within the Hispanic community and tailoring cancer prevention interventions accordingly. Citation Format: Bianca Luna-Lupercio, Aidan Foley, Nenette A. Caceres, Ergueen Herrera, Galen Wiens-Cook, Vinicius Calsavara, Zul Surani, Sarah-Jeanne Salvy, Robert Haile, Celina H. Shirazipour. Examining stereotype perceptions of colorectal cancer in the Latino community [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1979.

Proposing the observational–implementation hybrid approach: designing observational research for rapid translation

We propose the observational–implementation hybrid approach—the incorporation of implementation science methods and measures into observational studies to collect information that would allow researchers to anticipate, estimate, or infer the effects of interventions and implementation strategies. Essentially, we propose that researchers collect implementation data early in the research pipeline, in situations where they might not typically be thinking about implementation science. We describe three broad contextual scenarios through which the observational–implementation hybrid approach would most productively be applied. The first application is for observational cohorts that individually enroll participants—either for existing (to which implementation concepts could be added) or for newly planned studies. The second application is with routinely collected program data, at either the individual or aggregate levels. The third application is to the collection of data from study participants enrolled in an observational cohort study who are also involved in interventions linked to that study (e.g., collecting data about their experiences with those interventions). Examples of relevant implementation data that could be collected as part of observational studies include factors relevant to transportability, participant preferences, and participant/provider perspectives regarding interventions and implementation strategies. The observational–implementation hybrid model provides a practical approach to make the research pipeline more efficient and to decrease the time from observational research to health impact. If this approach is widely adopted, observational and implementation science studies will become more integrated; this will likely lead to new collaborations, will encourage the expansion of epidemiological training, and, we hope, will push both epidemiologists and implementation scientists to increase the public health impact of their work.