Primary Source Of Information Research Articles

Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are frequently discussed by people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim of this study is to explore CAM use in Australians with IBD. This cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous online survey, predominantly distributed through IBD-specific social media accounts. Data collection occurred over a three-month period in 2021. Descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, and binary logistic regression were used to analyse quantitative data. A simple thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative free-text responses. Of the 123 responses, acupuncture (12.2%) and chiropractors (8.9%) were common CAM practitioners accessed. CAM practitioners were perceived to be 'very helpful' compared to mainstream health practitioners. The most common CAM products reported were vitamins (51.2%), probiotics (43.9%), and herbal medicine (30.9%). Common reasons for use were improved perceived improvements to wellbeing or for long-term management of IBD. Females were more likely to access CAM practitioners (OR 12.6, 95% CI 1.62-98.1, p = 0.02). Doctors were the participants' primary source of information (64.2%), although many expressed dissatisfaction with conventional therapy and the desire for a more holistic approach to care. The use of CAMs in this sample was high. Limited research into the efficacy and safety of these therapies may prevent health professionals from discussing their use with patients. Improved communication with health professionals will allow patients to be active partners in their healthcare plans and can heighten patient satisfaction with conventional therapy.

Relationship between Media Coverage and Public Opinion during Political Campaigns in South Africa

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between media coverage and public opinion during political campaigns in South Africa. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study indicated that media coverage significantly influences public opinion by shaping perceptions, framing issues, and highlighting particular aspects of candidates and policies. During political campaigns, the media serves as a primary source of information for the electorate, often determining the salience of issues and the prominence of candidates. Extensive and favorable media coverage can enhance a candidate's visibility and credibility, potentially swaying undecided voters and reinforcing the views of supporters. Conversely, negative coverage can damage a candidate's public image and diminish their support base. The framing of news stories, the selection of topics, and the tone of coverage play critical roles in this process. For instance, media emphasis on certain campaign issues can lead to a phenomenon known as agenda-setting, where the public perceives these issues as more important. Additionally, the portrayal of candidates through specific narratives can influence voter perceptions, contributing to the formation of public opinion. The interplay between media coverage and public opinion underscores the media's power in shaping political landscapes and affecting electoral outcomes. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Agenda-setting theory, framing theory and spiral of silence theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the relationship between media coverage and public opinion during political campaigns in South Africa. From a practical standpoint, political campaigns must adopt strategic media engagement to shape public opinion effectively. In terms of policy, there is a pressing need for regulations that promote accountability and transparency in media coverage during political campaigns.

Inclusive Innovation Governance for Just Transitions: Insights from the Bean Agri-Food System in the Brunca Region of Costa Rica

This study explores how an inclusive governance of “niche” innovations with family farmers enables or limits the realization of just transitions in family farming at different scales, from the local to the national levels. The research focuses on a case study in the Brunca region of Costa Rica, which has pioneered innovations for bean research with family farmers. The primary source of information for the study was in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders. Secondary information comes from a desk review of the relevant policies and strategic documents from the relevant authorities. Lastly, a semi-scoping review was conducted to explore gender and intergenerational gaps in plant breeding, as well as potential conflicts between plant breeding and on-farm agro-diversity. The inclusive governance of bean research contributes to the realization of just-transition dimensions of justice, such as recognitional, procedural, and distributional justice, as a result of farmers’ engagement in participatory plant-breeding processes, and due to the coordination between different institutions at the local and national levels. Progress has been made in terms of the recognition and participation of farmers in research and in decision-making locally. The findings show interactions between the local and national scales, in terms of the commercialization of farmers’ seeds. However, the Costa Rican program for bean research struggles to engage family farmers in national decision-making processes and falls short of addressing equality and intergenerational issues. It also faces challenges in reaching a balance between short-term income generation and long-term conservation of agro-biodiversity on the farm. Fostering just transitions in family farming would require a greater inclusion of women and youth by the Costa Rican bean system. This implies allocating resources to increase their capacities and participation in bean research, as well as in decision-making at all levels. This is imperative and could be achieved if the government and relevant stakeholders align their strategic objectives and priorities to shorten gender and intergenerational gaps within the bean production system.

Knowledge and Attitude Toward Organ Donation and Transplantation Among the Adult Population in Bisha, Saudi Arabia

Background and ObjectiveOrgan donation is a procedure in which an organ is surgically removed from a human to be transplanted into another. The need for organ transplantation is increasing with time, and thus, the gap in the awareness of organ donors about the process must be recognized. This study aims to raise awareness and perceptions regarding organ donation and transplantation among the adult population. MethodsBetween May 2021 and April 2022, we conducted an analytical cross-sectional study involving residents of Bisha. We used a vetted, well-structured questionnaire distributed on media for data collection. We gathered sociodemographic data from the participants and evaluated their awareness and perspective on organ donation. ResultsA total of 417 responses were recorded, and out of them, 65.7% had an average to good level of knowledge about organ donation, and 69.8% were shown to have a positive attitude toward organ donation. Mass media, comprising television, newspapers, magazines, and radio, accounted for the primary information source, constituting 29%. Participants who were willing to donate chose "to save someone's life" and "out of compassion and sympathy" as reasons for donation 71.7%. Meanwhile, those who disagreed to donate were hesitant due to the fear of health complications 56.6%. ConclusionsThe level of awareness and willingness to donate are correlated, especially regarding knowledge regarding the procedure outcomes from the donor side. So, improving the knowledge and attitude is crucial to face the shortage and increasing organ donation and transplantation demands.

Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among the patients attending a tertiary eye hospital with and without glaucoma diagnosis

Background: Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, remains under-recognized in many regions, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among the patients attending a tertiary eye hospital with and without glaucoma diagnosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 individuals attending deep eye care foundation, Rangpur, from April 2023 to September 2023. Informed consent was obtained from eligible participants over 18 years. The questionnaire, available in both English and Bengali, collected demographic data and included questions on glaucoma awareness and knowledge. Data were analysed using SPSS 25, and the chi-square test was applied to determine statistical significance. Results: Among the participants, 34.7% had heard of glaucoma, with doctors/hospitals being the primary source of information. Awareness varied significantly based on age, residency, education, occupation, and income levels. Among those aware of glaucoma, 59.6% had poor knowledge, 33.7% had average knowledge, and only 6.7% had good knowledge. No significant association was found between glaucoma patients and non-glaucoma patients regarding knowledge level. Conclusions: This study revealed a substantial gap in glaucoma awareness and knowledge in Bangladesh. While a notable portion of the population had heard of glaucoma, their understanding of the condition was limited, emphasizing the need for targeted awareness campaigns and improved access to eye care services. Addressing these gaps is crucial for early diagnosis, treatment, and preventing irreversible blindness while reducing the economic burden associated with glaucoma-related healthcare costs.

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: THE VIEW OF MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Sustainable consumption involves climate change adaptation. International organisations are emphasising and encouraging youth climate change preparation. This study examines undergraduate students' climate change adaptation knowledge and attitudes. A total of 384 undergraduate students from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia responded to the survey. The findings showed a high level of knowledge and attitude among the students. The study also discovered significant and positive relationships between knowledge and attitude towards climate change. Furthermore, construct basic knowledge has a greater impact on climate change adaptation attitudes than risk perception. Their primary source of information is the internet. In light of these findings, internet information sources have an effect on students' knowledge and attitudes. This study provides an indicator of the youth's knowledge and attitude patterns, in order for policymakers and educational institutions to consider climate change adaptation more effectively.

Information needs of people who have suffered a stroke or TIA and their preferred approaches of receiving health information: A scoping review.

We aimed to synthesize the information needs of people with stroke (PwS) in recurrent stroke prevention. In this scoping review we searched Medline (via PubMed), CINAHL, and PsycINFO from inception to June 5, 2023, to identify all studies describing the information needs of people 18 years and older who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack within the past 5 years. We included qualitative and quantitative studies from developed countries published in German or English. Data analysis was performed following Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for scoping reviews. We screened 5822 records for eligibility and included 36 articles published between 1993 and 2023. None of the included studies used a comprehensive framework or defined information needs. Based on statements from PwS and their caregivers, PwS needed information on treatment, etiology, effects of stroke, prognosis, rehabilitation, discharge, life changes, care role, support options, information sources, and hospital procedures. The most frequently expressed needs were information on the treatment (77.8%) and stroke etiology (63.9%). The primary information source was healthcare professionals (85.7%), followed by written information (71.4%), family and friends (42.6%), and the internet (35.7%), with information provided directly by healthcare professionals being preferred. The timing of information transfer is often described as too early. PwS are primarily interested in clinical information about stroke, for example, treatment and etiology, and less often in information about daily life, for example, rehabilitation, the role of care, or lifestyle changes. PwS prefer to receive information directly from healthcare professionals. Developing a shared understanding of PwS's information needs is crucial to implement suitable strategies and programs for dealing with these needs in clinical practice.

Evaluating Urban Services in Neighbourhoods Through the Inequality Lens in Khulna City, Bangladesh: A Geographic Information System Approach

This article delineates the development of an integrated assessment tool to understand inequality in the provision of urban services among neighbourhoods in Khulna city, Bangladesh. The study considers eight key indicators to evaluate basic urban services related to the physical environment of the city. We use primary and secondary sources of information as well as geographic information system (GIS) to summarise the results in a scientific fashion. Additionally, we adopt the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique to distribute weights among the considered indicators and categorise the neighbourhoods as ‘good’, ‘average’ or ‘poor’ in terms of service availability. Results from the study demonstrate that a majority of the neighbourhoods lack basic urban services. Only 10 per cent of the neighbourhoods are equipped with basic urban services, whereas 74 per cent face difficulties with ‘average’ quality of services and nearly 16 per cent of neighbourhoods fail to provide basic services to city dwellers. Our study may be useful to development authorities, city corporations and local governments to visualise the neighbourhoods struggling for basic urban services and bring them under immediate attention to deliver the required resources. Further, the study provides an assessment model to understand urban service inequality in cities with similar characteristics in other parts of the world.

NAKNN: An Efficient Classification of Indonesian News Texts with Nazief-Adriani and KNN

Internet usage in Indonesia has seen a significant increase, reaching 215.63 million users in 2022-2023, or 78.19% of the population. With the ease of internet access, digital news portals like Narasi TV have become a primary source of information for many people. However, the large number of news articles makes manual categorizing challenging. This study aims to classify Indonesian-language news documents from Narasi TV using the Nazief-Adriani algorithm for stemming and the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) method for classification. The text mining process begins with preprocessing, which includes case folding, tokenizing, stop-word filtering, and stemming. Using a dataset of 500 news documents, the study demonstrated that with a 90:10 data split, the average accuracy reached 93%, with the highest value being 100%. For the 80:20 data split, the average accuracy was 89%, with the highest value being 93%, and for a 70:30 data split, the average accuracy was 87%, with the highest value being 89%. In conclusion, the combination of the Nazief-Adriani algorithm and the KNN method with optimal k selection and random states obtained high accuracy, obtaining an average accuracy of 93%) in classifying Indonesian-language news documents. These results demonstrate the significant potential of text mining and classification techniques to manage digital news.

Evaluation of YouTube as a Health Education Resource for Skin Graft Procedures.

Recent studies indicate that YouTube has become a primary source of healthcare information for patients. Videos about skin graft procedures on YouTube have accumulated millions of views, yet there lacks a publication investigating the educational quality of this content. With current literature revealing misleading healthcare information found on YouTube, this study aims to evaluate the educational quality of videos related to skin graft procedures. YouTube was searched for various terms such as "Skin Graft Procedures" and "Skin Graft Surgery." 105 videos were assessed, with 21 excluded. Four independent reviewers rated the material with the Global Quality Scale (5 = highest quality, 1 = lowest quality) to judge educational value. Viewership, source, modality, and date of upload were also collected from each video and compiled for further analysis. The average Global Quality Scale was 2.60 amongst all videos, with videos led by physicians recording significantly higher scores than those not led by physicians (p<0.01). In comparing educational modalities, physician-led presentations provided the highest educational value, whereas live surgeries and consumer-friendly content contained low educational quality (p<0.01). Assessing videos split into cohorts based on viewership noted a significantly higher Global Quality Scale in videos with lower view counts (p<0.05). Skin graft videos on YouTube largely provide low quality information. Videos performed by physicians, particularly physician-led presentations, significantly improved the educational quality of skin graft content. Physicians must involve themselves in enhancing the quality of online content to better guide patients in navigating treatment options and making healthcare decisions.

Evaluating the Impact and Awareness of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Bihar

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, India's largest health insurance initiative, was launched in 2018 with the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage as outlined in the National Health Policy 2017. This scheme comprises two components: the National Health Mission, which focuses on strengthening health services and promoting awareness in rural and urban areas, and the National Health Protection Mission, which provides free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakhs for 50 crore individuals from economically disadvantaged families. A survey conducted in four districts of Bihar—Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, and Khagaria—revealed that rural areas have a higher registration rate (58%) compared to urban areas (37%). Social media (31%) and newspapers (21%) are the primary sources of information about the scheme, while gender participation is relatively balanced, with 44% women and 56% men registered. Despite these positive indicators, issues such as paperwork, Aadhaar card problems, and lack of information hindered some from registering. The scheme received an average rating of 3.83 out of 5, reflecting general satisfaction and strong trust (97%) among respondents, though no respondents had yet used the card. To improve the scheme’s reach and effectiveness, it is recommended to increase awareness through targeted social media and newspaper campaigns, simplify the registration process, expand information dissemination, address technical issues, and encourage active usage of the Ayushman Bharat card.

Factors affecting women's entrepreneurial intention: An empirical examination of Nepalese perspective

This paper aims to investigate the perceived social norms, entrepreneurial motivation, and entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial intention. The study adopted a descriptive and causal relational research approach. The survey was based on a structured questionnaire and cross-sectional data for primary sources of information. A total of 525 questionnaires were distributed among the targeted respondents during October-December (2023) and received only 231 (44 percent) usable responses of youth women. The study utilized descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis for analysis of demographic information, to assess the association and for testing the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that Entrepreneurial Education (EE), Perceived Social Norms (PSN), and Entrepreneurial Motivation (EM) have a strong and positive correlation with Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) among youth women who are pursuing entrepreneurship. The data demonstrates that the intention of women to engage in entrepreneurship is influenced by independent variables. This discovery significantly enhances the current body of work on the characteristics that influence entrepreneurial activity among youth women with entrepreneurial intentions in Nepal. The study's findings will assist planners, local governments, the federal government, educational institutions, economists, and social welfare agencies in implementing effective measures to promote entrepreneurship and formulating suitable strategies, rules, and regulations within the Nepalese business landscape.

Information experiences of bonsai growers: a phenomenological study in serious leisure

PurposeThe paper reports the findings of a research project exploring the information experiences of bonsai growers in Australia as an example of a serious leisure pursuit.Design/methodology/approachThe study used phenomenology as a qualitative approach in an interpretive paradigm. The data collection technique was a semi-structured interview with open-ended questions, and 23 volunteers were recruited via a maximum variation sampling strategy. The study employed the Serious Leisure Perspective and Information Experience as its theoretical frameworks.FindingsBonsai growers rely on three primary sources of information: publications, people, and plants. They use formal and informal publications across various media. They interact with fellow bonsai growers to share experiences and seek advice. The shape and conditions of bonsai trees are sources of embedded information that help them to make informed decisions in their practice. They have a culture of information sharing on many grounds, such as local clubs, online forums, and workshops. Their embodied information manifests in their sophisticated skills of shaping bonsai trees to express the aesthetic principles of this ancient art.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are contextual and cannot be generalised. A generalisation of the result needs to be tested in a broader population.Social implicationsEngaging in the bonsai hobby often fosters a sense of community among bonsai enthusiasts. Understanding these social connections can contribute to the development of supportive networks and enhance belongingness.Originality/valueThe study contributes to understanding the information experiences in serious leisure. It offers new evidence-based insights that can inform the design of information systems and services tailored to the needs of leisure pursuers.

Assessment of Online Arabic Patient-Centered Knowledge About Orthognathic Surgery: An Infodemiologic Study.

Orthognathic surgery, addressing skeletal and dental irregularities, is pivotal for patients suffering from malocclusion, facial asymmetry, and related disorders. With the internet becoming a primary source of health information, the accuracy, quality, and reliability of online Arabic-language patient-centered information on orthognathic surgery necessitate thorough evaluation. This study aimed to assess the quality, reliability, and readability of Arabic online resources about orthognathic surgery to ascertain their potential as reliable patient education tools. An infodemiological approach was employed, analyzing the top 100 websites from Google, Yahoo, and Bing based on specific Arabic search terms related to orthognathic surgery. Websites were evaluated for affiliation, content specialization, and presentation and excluded based on predetermined criteria to ensure relevance and focus. Quality assessment was conducted using the DISCERN instrument, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and Health On the Net code evaluation. Readability was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook, and Flesch Reading Ease scales. Of 600 initial websites, 96 met the inclusion criteria. Most were affiliated with universities or medical centers (53.1%), followed by commercial (28.1%), and non-profit organizations (16.7%). The majority of websites (96.9%) were only partially related to orthognathic surgery. Content analysis revealed a moderate quality of information, with a median overall DISCERN quality rating of 3 out of 5. The JAMA benchmarks showed a lack of comprehensive adherence, with currency being the most achieved criterion. Readability assessments indicated the content was generally accessible yet highlighted the need for Arabic-specific readability evaluation tools. The study reveals a critical need for enhancing Arabic online resources on orthognathic surgery. Despite the available content's moderate quality and acceptable readability, there is a substantial gap in providing comprehensive, patient-centered, and easily understandable information. Future efforts should focus on developing high-quality, reliable, and readable online resources to aid Arabic-speaking patients in making informed decisions about orthognathic surgery.

Political Awareness and Behaviour of Undi18 Cohort: Insights from a survey of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

The UNDI18 Bill, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and provided automatic voter registration, was passed in 2019 by the Malaysian Parliament to the applause of many stakeholders. However, concerns have been raised about the readiness of these 18-year-olds to vote, given their limited exposure to political discussions. To address this, this study aimed to (i) explore the political awareness of 18-year-old first-time voters in Malaysia, (ii) investigate their sources of political information, and (iii) examine the relationship between their Malay student background studying in a Malay-based university and their political party and candidate choices. We surveyed 5,586 undergraduate students from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, using a quantitative research design. Our findings revealed that science stream students were less politically aware than their social science counterparts, and that respondents from the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies scored the highest. Additionally, social media was the primary source of political information for our respondents. We also found that Malay students studying at a Malay-based university showed strong support for the Malay political leaders which supports the perception that Universiti Teknologi MARA nurtures its undergraduates to be defenders of Malay supremacy. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the political awareness and behavior of 18-year-old Malaysians, which can inform efforts to engage and educate this demographic in future elections.

Knowledge of Glaucoma Among New Patients to a Tertiary Eye Care Center in China.

Glaucoma patients who had previously been evaluated by eye care professionals at lower-level facilities possessed limited awareness and knowledge about their condition upon presentation to a tertiary care ophthalmic hospital, highlighting the need for improved patient education throughout the health care system. To investigate the depth of knowledge about glaucoma among patients who were referred to a tertiary eye hospital for their first visit. An internally-designed questionnaire (scored 0-15) assessing patients' knowledge about glaucoma was administered at a glaucoma outpatient service. Patients were divided into normal, high-risk, and glaucoma groups based on comprehensive eye evaluation. Scores were analyzed by regression models. The relationship between glaucoma awareness and the stage of disease at presentation was explored. One hundred and thirty patients were enrolled and divided into three groups. The group with definitive diagnosis of glaucoma had the most prior medical visits but scored the lowest, with the primary source of information being previous health care providers. The high-risk group possessed more knowledge about glaucoma than the other groups and tended to acquire knowledge from the media and sought tertiary care earlier. Significant differences were observed between the glaucoma and the high-risk groups in all aspects of glaucoma knowledge (P < 0.05). Additionally, the average scores of all participants who had visited lower-level facilities were low. Education, economic status, presence of risk factors for glaucoma positively correlated with awareness and knowledge, whereas age had an inverse relationship (all P < 0.05). Ophthalmic visit frequency had no impact (P > 0.05). Doctors were the primary source of information for all groups, but social media users were better informed. Patients at tertiary eye care centers lack glaucoma knowledge, despite experience with eye care providers previously. Implementing health education at all levels is crucial in preventing glaucoma-related visual impairment.

Understanding uptake of information about innovations among emergency department clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, little was known about managing sick patients, but emergency department (ED) clinicians had to decide which treatments and care processes to adopt. Our objective was to describe how ED clinicians learned about innovations and how they assessed them for credibility during the pandemic. We purposively sampled clinicians from hospital-based EDs to conduct focus groups with ED clinicians and staff. We used both inductive and deductive approaches to conduct thematic analysis of transcripts. We conducted focus groups with clinicians from eight EDs across the United States. We found that ED clinicians in our sample relied on friends and colleagues or departmental and institutional leadership for information on innovations. They used social media sources when they came from credible accounts but did not directly seek information from professional societies. Clinicians reported a range of challenges to obtain credible information during the pandemic, including a fractured and changing information environment, policies misaligned across clinical sites or that conflicted with clinical knowledge, high patient volume, fear of harming patients, and untimely information. Facilitators included access to experienced and trusted colleagues and leaders and practicing at multiple EDs. Participants cited anecdotal evidence, institutional practice, and word-of-mouth-rather than peer-reviewed evidence and professional society communications-as their primary sources of information about care innovations during the early phases of the pandemic. These results underscore the importance of developing trusted local mechanisms and wider networks to identify and vet information for frontline clinicians during rapidly emerging public health emergencies.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Awareness and Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study Among the Population of the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prevalent and preventable health issue globally. This study aims to evaluate the symptoms, knowledge, beliefs, and preventive practices regarding NIHL among the general population of the southern region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2024, using a self-administered, validated electronic questionnaire distributed in Arabic via social media platforms. The questionnaire assessed socio-demographic data, NIHL awareness, attitudes towardprevention, and personal practices regarding noise exposure. The sample included 400 participantsanalyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with associations measured through the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Most participants were Saudi nationals (97%) and females (81.3%). Symptoms of NIHL, such as tinnitus and the need to increase TV or radio volume, were prevalent among participants. Most participants (88.5%) were aware that high sound levels affect hearing, yet only 9.5% correctly identified the minimum duration of exposure that could harm hearing. Social media was the primary source of information (51.3%). Positive preventive practices were noted, with 66% lowering device volumes and 55.3% recommending sound restrictions on tablets. Significant associations were found between better preventive practices and higher income as well as marital status. The study highlights the high basic awareness of NIHL but identifies critical knowledge gaps regarding the minimum sound level and duration that affect hearing negatively. Enhanced public health education and technological interventions are needed to improve prevention practices. Future research should include longitudinal studies and diverse populations to better understand and address NIHL.

J.S. Bach’s method of playing the clavier and its transformation into modern piano pedagogy and performance

Music pedagogy as a practical field of activity has a long history. Having become professional, keyboard instruments - the organ, harpsichord – have a significantly longer lifespan than the pianoforte. Piano culture inherited not only the musical material of its great predecessors but also some valuable pedagogical instructions for the practical implementation of this material. Nowadays, these unique sources of information are sometimes regarded as archaic, relevant only to the instruments on which they were performed, but they still provide a key approach to thinking concerning musical material for its correct performance. Such valuable sources of information for modern piano performers include the theoretical works of F. Couperin, J.S. Bach and C.F.E. Bach. Understanding the primary sources of information concerning modern piano art regarding the achievements gained on the path of improving performance under the influence of reasonable pedagogy can significantly improve the culture of performance, which indicates the effectiveness of the teacher’s work.

Functional Ovulatory Menstrual Health Literacy Amongst Adolescent Females in Western Australia

Study objectiveTo assess the knowledge of ovulation and menstruation of adolescent females in Western Australia. MethodsA validated adolescent ovulatory menstrual health literacy questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional study, which included an open-response question inviting participants’ reflections. ResultsParticipants (n=297) were from two single sex and seven co-educational schools of varied socio-educational advantage. Mean chronological age was 15 years and mean gynaecological age was two years. The prevalence of dysmenorrhoea was 69%. Primary sources of information included mothers (91%), friends (61%) and, for post-menarcheal participants (n=274), mobile applications (52%). Most adolescents enjoyed finding out information about ovulatory menstrual health, and understood the information given to them. However, participants’ knowledge of ovulation, menstruation and their occurrence in the cycle were low. Attendance at a single sex or Catholic school or use of mobile applications did not confer a knowledge advantage overall (p<0.05), except for knowing the meaning of cervical mucus. Thematic content analysis of open-ended responses resulted in five themes, including normality, menstrual flow, charting, ovulation and dysmenorrhoea. ConclusionInadequate functional ovulatory menstrual health literacy hampers progression to acquiring complete health literacy. This has negative implications for progressing towards the interactive and critical ovulatory menstrual health literacy domains, which include providing an accurate menstrual history when engaging with healthcare providers.