Preferred Frequency Research Articles

The effects of stride frequency manipulation on physiological and perceptual responses during backward and forward running with body weight support.

We investigated the influence of a change in stride frequency on physiological and perceptual responses during forward and backward running at different body weight support (BWS) levels. Participants ran forward and backward at 0% BWS, 20% BWS, and 50% BWS conditions on a lower body positive pressure treadmill. The stride frequency conditions consisted of forward and backward running at preferred stride frequency (PSF), PSF + 10%, and PSF-10%. We measured oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2), carbon dioxide production, heart rate (HR), muscle activity from the lower extremity, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Furthermore, we calculated the metabolic cost of transport (CoT). [Formula: see text]O2, HR, CoT, and muscle activity from the rectus femoris were significantly different between stride frequency conditions (P < 0.05). [Formula: see text]O2, HR, and CoT during running at PSF + 10% were significantly higher than when running at PSF, regardless of running direction and BWS (P < 0.05). However, RPE was not different between stride frequency conditions (P > 0.05: e.g., 12.8-13.8 rankings in RPE for backward running at 0% BWS). Manipulation of stride frequency during running may have a greater impact on physiological responses than on perceptual responses at a given speed, regardless of running direction and BWS. Individuals who need to increase their physiological demands during running may benefit from a 10% increase in stride frequency from the PSF, regardless of BWS and running direction.

A Convergence Study on Desired Frequency of Meat Side Dishes and Preference of Fish Side Dishes in School Meals of High School Girls in Coastal Cities

A Convergence Study on Desired Frequency of Meat Side Dishes and Preference of Fish Side Dishes in School Meals of High School Girls in Coastal Cities

Effect of step frequency on leg stiffness during running in unilateral transfemoral amputees

Spring-like leg behavior is a general feature of mammalian bouncing gaits, such as running and hopping. Although increases in step frequency at a given running speed are known to increase the stiffness of the leg spring (kleg) in non-amputees, little is known about stiffness regulation in unilateral transfemoral amputees. In this study, we investigated stiffness regulation at different step frequencies at a given running speed in unilateral transfemoral amputees. We recruited nine unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing running-specific prostheses. They were asked to perform the action of running across a range of step frequencies (±20, ±15, ±10, ±5, and 0% of their preferred step frequency) at a given speed on an instrumented treadmill. The kleg values were calculated using ground reaction force data in both the affected and unaffected limbs. It was found that kleg increased with increasing step frequency for the unaffected limb, but not for the affected limb. Consequently, the unilateral transfemoral amputees attained the desired step frequency in the unaffected limb, but were unable to match the three highest step frequencies using their affected limbs. These results suggest that the stiffness regulation strategy during running differs between the affected and unaffected limbs.

Stimulus-frequency-dependent dominance of sound localization cues across the cochleotopic map of the inferior colliculus.

The horizontal direction of a sound source (i.e., azimuth) is perceptually determined in a frequency-dependent manner: low- and high-frequency sounds are localized via differences in the arrival time and intensity of the sound at the two ears, respectively, called interaural time and level differences (ITDs and ILDs). In the central auditory system, these binaural cues to direction are thought to be separately encoded by neurons tuned to low and high characteristic frequencies (CFs). However, at high sound levels a neuron often responds to frequencies far from its CF, raising the possibility that individual neurons may encode the azimuths of both low- and high-frequency sounds using both binaural cues. We tested this possibility by measuring auditory-driven single-unit responses in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) of unanesthetized female Dutch Belted rabbits with a multitetrode drive. At 70 dB SPL, ICC neurons across the cochleotopic map transmitted information in their firing rates about the direction of both low- and high-frequency noise stimuli. We independently manipulated ITD and ILD cues in virtual acoustic space and found that sensitivity to ITD and ILD, respectively, shaped the directional sensitivity of ICC neurons to low (<1.5 kHz)- and high (>3 kHz)-pass stimuli, regardless of the neuron's CF. We also found evidence that high-CF neurons transmit information about both the fine-structure and envelope ITD of low-frequency sound. Our results indicate that at conversational sound levels the majority of the cochleotopic map is engaged in transmitting directional information, even for sources with narrowband spectra.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A "division of labor" has previously been assumed in which the directions of low- and high-frequency sound sources are thought to be encoded by neurons preferentially sensitive to low and high frequencies, respectively. Contrary to this, we found that auditory midbrain neurons encode the directions of both low- and high-frequency sounds regardless of their preferred frequencies. Neural responses were shaped by different sound localization cues depending on the stimulus spectrum-even within the same neuron.

Investigating the concept of participant burden in aging technology research

BackgroundResearch participation burden, despite being an integral concept in research ethics, is not well-conceptualized in the context of the use of technology in research. This knowledge gap is especially critical for the older adult population as new technology solutions are increasingly embedded in clinical trials for this demographic. Our objective was to investigate how older adults conceptualize participation burden in contact for research participation and research trials using technology.MethodsWe developed and conducted an Internet-based survey consisting of 22 multiple choice and Likert-scale type questions investigating older adults’ preferred means and frequency of being contacted about research opportunities, their willingness to use specific kinds of technology and their concerns regarding technology use in clinical trials. We received a total of 273 completed surveys from eligible participants aged 50 or older.ResultsOlder adults preferred to be contacted about research opportunities monthly, over email. Survey participants were least willing to use monitoring devices and their biggest concern was the security of the storage of information gathered by technology. This concern was positively correlated with age. Participants indicated a preference to use technology daily, in short sessions, preferably in a way that can be incorporated into their daily routine.ConclusionsResults from this work provide insights for the design of effective recruitment campaigns as well as technology interventions in clinical trials through minimizing the burden of research participation.

Correction to 'Humans falling in holes: adaptations in lower-limb joint mechanics in response to a rapid change in substrate height during human hopping'.

In getting from here to there, we continuously negotiate complex environments and unpredictable terrain. Our ability to stay upright in the face of obstacles, such as holes in the ground, is quite remarkable. However, we understand relatively little about how humans adjust limb mechanical behaviour to recover from unexpected perturbations. In this study, we determined how the joints of the lower-limb respond to recover from a rapid, unexpected drop in substrate height during human hopping. We recorded lower-limb kinematics and kinetics while subjects performed steady-state hopping at their preferred frequency on an elevated platform (5, 10 and 20 cm). At an unknown time, we elicited an unexpected perturbation (i.e. a hole in the ground) via the rapid removal of the platform. Based on previous research in bipedal birds, we hypothesized (i) that distal joints would play an increased role in fall recovery when compared to steady-state hopping, and (ii) that patterns of joint power redistribution would be more pronounced with increases in perturbation height. Our results suggest that humans successfully recover from falling in a hole by increasing the energy absorbed predominantly in distal lower-limb joints (i.e. the ankle) across perturbation heights ranging from 5 to 10 cm. However, with increased perturbation height (20 cm) humans increase their reliance on the more proximal lower-limb joints (i.e. the knee and the hip) to absorb mechanical energy and stabilize fall recovery. Further investigations into the muscle-tendon mechanics underlying these joint-level responses will likely provide additional insights into the neuromotor control strategies used to regain the stability following unexpected perturbations and provide biological inspiration for the future design of wearable devices capable of performing within unpredictable environments.

Integration of locomotion and auditory signals in the mouse inferior colliculus.

The inferior colliculus (IC) is the major midbrain auditory integration center, where virtually all ascending auditory inputs converge. Although the IC has been extensively studied for sound processing, little is known about the neural activity of the IC in moving subjects, as frequently happens in natural hearing conditions. Here, by recording neural activity in walking mice, we show that the activity of IC neurons is strongly modulated by locomotion, even in the absence of sound stimuli. Similar modulation was also found in hearing-impaired mice, demonstrating that IC neurons receive non-auditory, locomotion-related neural signals. Sound-evoked activity was attenuated during locomotion, and this attenuation increased frequency selectivity across the neuronal population, while maintaining preferred frequencies. Our results suggest that during behavior, integrating movement-related and auditory information is an essential aspect of sound processing in the IC.

Influence of Generational Cohorts on the Preferences for Information and Communication Technologies in Latin American Patients with Obstructive Lung Diseases.

Background Advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) represent a growing platform for the expansion of healthcare related services, but there is little information on how generational differences might account for distinct patterns of use and interest for ICTs. Our study aims to achieve a better understanding on how generational cohorts might influence the use and preferences for ICTs among patients with obstructive lung diseases in Latin America. Materials and Methods We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey-based study, involving 968 patients with obstructive lung diseases (OLD) in Latin America. Patients rated their frequency of use and preferences of ICTs through a modified version of the Michigan Questionnaire. Chi-square test for association and adjusted regression analyses were performed. Results Of all, 63.6% of participants had Internet access. Younger generations, in particular Generation Z and Millennials, had the highest rate of Internet access and smartphone ownership, as well as of overall frequency of ICT use. Web-based Internet was found to be the main source to seek information about the disease (36.9%) across all generational cohorts. Generation Z and Millennials presented the highest odds to be interested in using Twitter (OR 31.79 and 8.86) for receiving health-related information, and email (OR 4.87 and 4.86) as the preferred way to ask physicians information related to their disease through ICTs. Conclusion Generational cohorts influence the use and preferences for ICTs among patients with obstructive lung diseases. Younger generational cohorts were associated with higher access to the Internet and smartphone ownership, as well as higher interest for using ICTs to receive and ask for health-related information.

Establishing a mentorship program in rural workplaces: connection, communication, and support required.

Recruitment and retention of healthcare providers to rural workplaces is often challenging due to many factors, such as complex work environments requiring a broad skill set, minimal staffing, and limited community support and resources. Mentorship has been proposed as a strategy to encourage recruitment and retention of staff in rural workplaces. This article describes a rural-specific pilot mentorship program that was implemented and evaluated in terms of supporting rural mentorships, easing workplace transition, strengthening community connections, and encouraging recruitment and retention in rural communities. Thirty volunteer registered nurse mentors and mentees were recruited from within a western Canadian province. These individuals worked in communities with populations of less than 10 000. Mentors and mentees were matched by program coordinators based on self-identified relationship priorities and similar responses to questions including preferred frequency and method of contact. Online orientation to the program was provided and the formal mentorship lasted 4 months. Follow-up program evaluation was conducted via informal electronic feedback and comprehensive interviews that were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes were identified by participants that serve as key considerations when implementing a rural mentorship program: connection, communication, and support. Connection describes the variety of relationships participants formed throughout the mentorship program, including connections to their mentor/mentee, themselves, their profession, colleagues, and the larger rural community. Communication includes the logistics of corresponding between mentee-mentor dyads during the program, participant communication with the coordinators of the program, and future communication about and promotion of rural mentorship programs. Support was described as interpersonal and professional assistance provided to the mentee from the mentor as well as to the mentor from the mentorship program and management. Data from the study suggest that rural-specific mentorships are effective in terms of supporting mentorships, easing workplace transition, strengthening community connections, and encouraging recruitment and retention of registered nurses in rural health care. Pervasive throughout the themes derived from the thematic analysis of interview data was the pivotal role of four key groups (mentors, mentees, the healthcare organization, and the rural community) in developing, facilitating, and sustaining mentorships in rural areas. Participants in this study believed that mentorship was beneficial to support healthcare providers working in rural environments. However, greater strides need to be made in terms of creating and supporting such relationships. The responsibility for mentorship resides with not only the mentor and mentee but also health organizations and rural communities. Members from all groups need to be committed and contribute to mentorship for rural mentorship programs to be successful and sustainable. Rural residents are often underserved due to insufficient numbers of healthcare professionals working in rural areas along with a limited number of services offered. The greater the numbers of healthcare professionals that can be recruited and retained within rural communities, the greater the likelihood the community residents will have timely and appropriate access to quality health services. These services can result in positive patient outcomes and greater community health.

Performance exploration of on-body WBAN using CM3A-IEEE 802.15.6 channel model

Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is an upcoming technology for comprehending effective healthcare. In order to enhance the enactment of the WBAN system, performance evaluation under diverse working scenarios is important. This paper proposes a novel approach to explore the performance of a WBAN operating at the IEEE 802.15.6 standard. The investigation has been performed for non-cooperative and cooperative scenarios. IEEE 802.15.6 CM3A path loss modelling has been implemented to formulate and further evaluate link quality metrics like: Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Bit Error Rate (BER). Energy consumption and throughput have been analyzed. Critical comparative analysis has been performed for three IEEE 802.15.6 narrow bands: W-ISM (Worldwide Industrial, Scientific and Medical band)-(2.4 GHz), U-ISM (US-Industrial, Scientific and Medical band)-(902–928MHz) and WMTS (Wireless Mobile Telemetry Services band)-(420–450 MHz). From the scrutiny of simulation results, it is observed that comparative energy consumptionis lowest in WMTS and U-ISM band wrt distance and antenna gain respectively in non-cooperative as well as cooperative scenarios. Link quality evaluation reveals that the U-ISM band exhibits better performance as it offers highest SNR and lowest BER for the considered scenarios. W-ISM exhibits the highest throughput compared to U-ISM and WMTS. Cooperative communication offers better link quality and throughput compared to non-cooperative scenario. The evaluation results aid a WBAN implementer to choose a preferable and permissible frequency band as per design requirements.

The human foot functions like a spring of adjustable stiffness during running.

Like other animals, humans use their legs like springs to save energy during running. One potential contributor to leg stiffness in humans is the longitudinal arch (LA) of the foot. Studies of cadaveric feet have demonstrated that the LA can function like a spring, but it is unknown whether humans can adjust LA stiffness in coordination with more proximal joints to help control leg stiffness during running. Here, we used 3D motion capture to record 27 adult participants running on a forceplate-instrumented treadmill, and calculated LA stiffness using beam bending and midfoot kinematics models of the foot. Because changing stride frequency causes humans to adjust overall leg stiffness, we had participants run at their preferred frequency and frequencies 35% above and 20% below preferred frequency to test for similar adjustments in the LA. Regardless of which foot model we used, we found that participants increased LA quasi-stiffness significantly between low and high frequency runs, mirroring changes at the ankle, knee and leg overall. However, among foot models, we found that the model incorporating triceps surae force into bending force on the foot produced unrealistically high LA work estimates, leading us to discourage this modeling approach. Additionally, we found that there was not a consistent correlation between LA height and quasi-stiffness values among the participants, indicating that static LA height measurements are not good predictors of dynamic function. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that humans dynamically adjust LA stiffness during running in concert with other structures of the leg.

Evaluating forces associated with sentient drivers over the purchase intention of organic food products

The study proposes to find out the factors which influence awareness among the consumers towards purchasing organic food product. The study is based on primary data by using tools Chi-square test, Cronbach alpha, KMO, and Bartlett's test, ANOVA, regression, correlation, and cross-tabulation. The study found that awareness driver's nutritional information, price, certification, brand name, and logos have an essential influence on the purchase intention of the product of organic food. However, labeling and food standards do not show a noteworthy rapport between labeling and organic food products' purchase plans. The core commitment and flow to explore are to analyze purchasers with respect to organic guarantee systems (accreditation, guidelines, logo, imprints, and confirmation) so we can distinguish the genuine organic products. The independent factors of awareness like organic buying preference and buying frequency, have a significant influence on the purchase intention of organic food. The research provided evidence of consumer awareness and purchase intention of organic food that would help the organic food industry to promote their products according to the attribute of customers.

Добротность центральной части ВЕП, определенная по коде волны Lg по данным МСГ «Михнево»

Whereas the quality factor Q is one of the basic parameters required in seismic hazard estimation, no systematic studies of seismic attenuation factors have been carried out in the central part of the East European Platform due to the lack of a dense seismic network and a small number of regional earthquakes. The main part of the events, recorded by the small aperture array “Mikhnevo” 80 km to the south of Moscow, consists of industrial explosions of different magnitude. The idea of the paper is to apply conventional seismic methods to the analysis of seismic waveforms of industrial explosions. The paper focuses on the Lg coda of the quarry blast in “Mikhailovsky” quarry 300 km from the array. Vertical components of the short-period and broad band records of the sensors positioned in the well at the depth 20 m are processed according to the SSR algorithm, suggested by Xie and Nuttli, 1988, and extensively used by Mitchell et al in different regions of the world. The advantages of the method imply exclusion of the source and site characteristics by taking spectral ratios of the successive time windows of the coda. Compared to the earthquake waveforms, the Lg coda of explosions is shorter, less regular and contains higher frequencies. The length of coda varies according to the noise level. We selected 14 events from the same quarry in different years, which demonstrate remarkable stability of the waveforms. All the events were processed individually to obtain the frequency dependence of Q in the form Q(f)=Q0 f , where Q0 is the Q factor at the frequency 1 Hz and  is the power. To produce stable estimates of Q0 and  individual values were averaged for frequency bands: 2-6 Hz, 2-7 Hz, 3-6 Hz, 3-7 Hz for different length of coda. The preferable frequency range for Lg coda Q studies of quarry blasts is suggested as 3-6 Hz, which avoids instability of coda in 1-3 Hz interval, presumably caused by local site effect, connected with the 3 km thick sedimentary layer. The Q estimate of Q0=584±89, =0.41±0.06 proves considerable heterogeneity of the upper crust in the region. Speaking about Q factor as an indicator of the tectonic activity, the studied area can be related to a region of moderate activity.

TRNS effects on visual contrast detection

In recent years, transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has been used to improve cognitive and perceptual abilities and to boost learning. In the visual domain, transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a type of tES in which electric current is randomly alternating in between two electrodes at high frequency, has shown potential in inducing long lasting perceptual improvements when coupled with tasks such as contrast detection. However, its cortical mechanisms and online effects have not been fully understood yet, and it is still unclear whether these long-term improvements are due to early-stage perceptual enhancements of contrast sensitivity or later stage mechanisms such as learning consolidation. Here we tested tRNS effects on multiple spatial frequencies and orientation, showing that tRNS enhances detection of a low contrast Gabor, but only for oblique orientation and high spatial frequency (12 cycles per degree of visual angle). No improvement was observed for low contrast and vertical stimuli. These results indicate that tRNS can enhance contrast sensitivity already after one training session, however this early onset is dependent on characteristics of the stimulus such as spatial frequency and orientation. In particular, the shallow depth of tRNS is likely to affect superficial layers of the visual cortex where neurons have higher preferred spatial frequencies than cells in further layers, while the lack of effect on vertical stimuli might reflect the optimization of the visual system to see cardinally oriented low contrast stimuli, leaving little room for short-term improvement.Taken together, these results suggest that online tRNS effects on visual perception are the result of a complex interaction between stimulus intensity and cortical anatomy, consistent with previous literature on brain stimulation.

Healthcare provider opinions about a generic drug educational newsletter.

Increasing the prescribing and dispensing of generic drugs, compared to branded drugs, may increase patient access to affordable drug treatments. Healthcare providers have information needs regarding generic drugs, but available, tailored education materials designed for provider use are lacking. To examine healthcare provider opinions and receptivity regarding generic drug educational materials in content, format and design, delivery channel, and level of satisfaction. A national online survey was conducted in summer 2018 to gather practicing healthcare prescribers' (i.e., physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) and pharmacists' opinions on an educational newsletter developed through a collaboration between the investigators and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Quantitative analyses were performed using SPSS version 24 (IBM, Armonk, NY), while responses to open-ended questions were assessed using qualitative content analysis in Excel. A total of 208 surveys were completed. Overall, participants expressed positive opinions about the newsletter's content and format/design. About 69% of prescribers and 60% of pharmacists stated the newsletter gave information that will help them better serve patients. While 15% of surveyed pharmacists stated that they did not have resources to help them get information on generic drug availability and cost, more prescribers (37%) responded similarly. Both prescribers and pharmacists preferred to receive this newsletter via email from the FDA or a professional association. Findings indicate the feasibility of educational outreach programs about generic drugs targeted towards healthcare providers. There is room for improvement in making prescribers and pharmacists aware of resources for learning about generic drug availability and cost. Future studies may test alternate versions of the newsletter that have been tailored to the needs of specific provider specialties or provider practices serving specific patient sub-groups, as well as preferred dissemination frequency.

Design of Computationally Efficient Sharp FIR Filter Utilizing Modified Multistage FRM Technique for Wireless Communications Systems

Modern wireless communications gadgets demand multi-standard communications facilities with least overlap between different input radio channels. A sharp digital filter of extremely narrow transition-width with lower stop band ripples offers alias-free switching among the preferred frequency bands. A computationally competent low pass filter (LPF) structure based on the multistage frequency response masking (FRM) approach is proposed for the design of sharp finite impulse response (FIR) filters which are suitable for wireless communications applications. In comparison of basic FRM with other existing multistage FRM structures, the proposed structure has a narrow transition bandwidth and higher stop band attenuation with significant reduction in terms of the number of computational steps. A design example is incorporated to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach. Simulation results establish the improvement of the proposed scheme over other recently published design strategies.

Wavelength-Conversion-Material-Mediated Semiconductor Wafer Bonding for Smart Optoelectronic Interconnects.

A new concept of semiconductor wafer bonding, mediated by optical wavelength conversion materials, is proposed and demonstrated. The fabrication scheme provides simultaneous bond formation and interfacial function generation, leading to efficient device production. Wavelength-converting functionalized semiconductor interfacial engineering is realized by utilizing an adhesive viscous organic matrix with embedded fluorescent particles. The bonding is carried out in ambient air at room temperature and therefore provides a cost advantage with regard to device manufacturing. Distinct wavelength conversion, from ultraviolet into visible, and high mechanical stabilities and electrical conductivities in the bonded interfaces are verified, demonstrating their versatility for practical applications. This bonding and interfacial scheme can improve the performance and structural flexibility of optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells, by allowing the spectral light incidence suitable for each photovoltaic material, and photonic integrated circuits, by delivering the respective preferred frequencies to the optical amplifier, modulator, waveguide, and detector materials.

Identification of a preferred statistical distribution for at-site flood frequency analysis in Canada

Floods are the most frequent natural disaster in Canada, putting Canadian lives and property at risk. Projected variations in precipitation and temperature are expected to further intensify extreme events, necessitating improved flood planning and water resource management. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council funded FloodNet project is developing a standardized flood estimation manual for Canada; such a nation-wide manual would make flood frequency application more effective, consistent, and reproducible, reducing the need for subjective judgement. This research investigates a preferred at-site flood frequency distribution for Canadian annual peak flow dataset. Four frequently used distributions: Generalized Logistic distribution, Generalized Extreme Value distribution, and Pearson Type III distributions with and without log transformation, are assessed using two robust goodness-of-fit tests (i.e., Modified Anderson-Darling test and L-Moment test) across a wide range of Canadian annual peak flood samples. Goodness-of-fit assessments are analysed using different configurations of flood samples, including annual maximum flow and instantaneous peak flow samples, stationary samples and de-trended non-stationary samples, samples with varied record length, and samples from various geographical regions of Canada. Estimated flood quantiles are compared with estimates of hypothetical true quantiles to assess predictive performance of the considered distribution. Results show the Generalized Extreme Value distribution is better than the other considered distributions because of its acceptance for most station samples and the closeness to the estimates of hypothetical true quantiles. This study provides a basis for recommending the Generalized Extreme Value distribution for at-site flood frequency analysis in Canada.

Perspectives on Analytical Treatment Interruptions in People Living with HIV and Their Health Care Providers in the Landscape of HIV Cure-Focused Studies.

Analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) aim to assess effects of HIV cure-focused interventions, but poses potential risks. Understanding of ATI acceptability among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their HIV health care providers (HHP) is limited. Two international online surveys for PLHIV and HHP assessed understanding and acceptability of monitoring strategies during ATI. Survey items included the following: frequency of CD4, viral load (VL) and clinical assessment, CD4 and VL threshold to restart antiretroviral therapy (ART), acceptability of detectable viremia during ATI, and potential risks of ATI. Responses were collected from July 2017 to January 2018, and a descriptive analysis was performed. Responses to questions asked in both surveys were compared by χ2 test. Four hundred forty-two completed the PLHIV survey: 22% identified as female, 39% older than 50 years of age, and 64% identified as gay/homosexual/lesbian. Ninety-five percent were on ART, of which 83% reported an undetectable VL. The preferred frequency of CD4, VL, and clinical monitoring during ATI was monthly. Thirty-five percent of respondents preferred VL to remain undetectable during ATI and would not accept any sustained period of viremia, compared to 18% of 144 HHP (p < .01). Having previously interrupted ART predicted preference for VL to remain undetectable during ATI (odds ratio 0.6, p = .05). Both clinicians and PLHIV were concerned about HIV transmission during ATI. Our work demonstrates that PLHIV expectations of ATI in cure-focused clinical trials do not align with current practices, with PLHIV less accepting of viremia during ATI and preferring less frequent monitoring. Clear education messages and careful consent processes need to be developed in relationship to ATIs in HIV cure research.

Health Communication needs of health professionals in Europe – the H-COM cross sectional study

Abstract Background Effective communication between Health Professionals (HP) and patients is crucial for the overall functioning of the healthcare system with positive impacts on readmission rates, treatment outcomes, adherence and costs. However, health communication training is limited especially during medical training. In the framework of the EU H-COM project an exploration of health communication needs and gaps and preferred training methods was performed among HP. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 702 health professionals (Physicians: n = 315; Nurses: n = 258; Other: n = 129) through a purpose made questionnaire available in English, Greek, Polish, Spanish and German. Results Health communication training is considered necessary for physicians (89.8%) and nurses (89.7%), although 42.4% of them never received relevant training in the past. Professional status (p &amp;lt; 0.001), age (p = 0.079), gender (p = 0.090) and years of experience (p = 0.012) affected the likelihood of not having received such training, with physicians, HPs aged 45-54 years old, males and those having 6-10 years of experience being most in need. At least 50.0% reported encountering problems in communicating with their patients and facing several barriers either in primary health care settings and hospitals or in private practice. The ability to listen and answer patients, deliver bad news and obtain medical history were the most important communication skills identified, while the most suitable training method was learning relevant practical skills. The availability of such trainings is reported as being fair or poor at all educational levels by the majority. Conclusions Health communication training is considered important although currently not available to the extent needed. This research provides evidence concerning the preferred type, frequency and mode of health communication training providing also insight on differences between various HPs. Key messages Health communication training is crucial but inadequate in Europe. There are specific training needs and preferences among HP which need to be considered. Health communication training needs to be adapted and tailored to professionals’ age, experience and status.