Physical Problems Research Articles

Unpacking Technostress: A Systematic Review on its Effects and Mitigation

The exponential growth of technology in everyday life has given rise to technostress, a condition marked by negative psychological and physiological effects. This systematic review synthesizes current research on technostress, examining its global definition, regional variations, impacts, opportunities and mitigation strategies. Drawing on established theories such as the Technostress Model, Job Demands-Resources Model, and Person-Environment Fit Model, the review explores the complex interplay between technology use and stress. The technostress model posits that technostress arises from negative reactions to technology use, fueled by information overload, task demands, and lack of control. The job demands-resource model views technology as either a stressor or a resource, impacting well-being based on organizational context and individual traits, while the person-environment fit model links technostress to capability-demand mismatches. Studies link technostress to anxiety, depression, and physical health problems. The review underscores the importance of tailored interventions, emphasizing organizational support, user-centered design, and individual coping mechanisms in managing technostress, especially in regions with high prevalence rates. In addition to these interventions, the review emphasizes the need for ongoing education and awareness campaigns to promote digital literacy and healthy technology habits. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, these initiatives can empower them to make informed decisions and effectively manage technostress in their daily lives. Highlighting the significance of culturally-tailored interventions, future research aims to refine mitigation strategies and investigate the potential benefits of technology use, ultimately fostering a balanced relationship with technology to minimize drawbacks and maximize advantages.

Understanding Barriers and Distress Experienced Among Cancer Patients: Analysis from an Urban Academic Emergency Department.

The purpose of this study was to examine barriers and facilitators to compliance for cancer care in patients utilizing an emergency department (ED)-based assessment. Adult ED patients who either had active cancer or a history of cancer were enrolled between August 2020 and Jan 2022 for this prospective cohort study. We piloted the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer. Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess the predictors of high distress. Of the 152 patients enrolled, 73% were Black patients, 11% were non-Hispanic White, and 16% included patients from other racial and ethnic groups (including 10.5% Hispanic patients); 73% of the sample had active cancer. The current ED visit was cancer related for 44%. The mean score on the Distress Thermometer was 4 (SD = 2; range 0-8) with 30% having a high distress level of ≥ 6. Having an active cancer and race/ethnicity were significant predictors of high distress. Patients who had active cancer had three times (aOR = 3.01; 95% CI 1.12-8.10) higher odds of experiencing high distress in the past week compared to those who did not have active cancer, after adjusting for race/ethnicity and reason for visit. Practical problems and physical problems were the most common, with 43% (n = 66) and 40% (n = 61) of the patients reporting these problems, respectively. Despite significant progress in cancer care, cancer patients/survivors face difficulty in transitioning between care environments and end up seeking episodic care in the ED and experience a high level of distress.

Examining Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Relation to Social Problem Solving in Young Adults.

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS), previously referred to as sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), is characterized by symptoms such as excessive daydreaming, mental confusion, and hypoactivity. CDS symptoms are associated with emotional, social, and daily life impairments. The way in which one solves problems in their daily life is associated with experiences of further problems, such that maladaptive problem-solving can lead to further physical and psychological problems. However, there is limited information on how CDS symptoms are associated with problem solving. The current study examined CDS symptoms in relation to different social problem solving approaches. A total of 280 college students (ages 18-23 years; 77.9% female) completed measures of psychopathology symptoms and social problem solving. Above and beyond ADHD and internalizing symptoms, CDS symptoms were independently associated with negative problem orientation and avoidance style domains of maladaptive problem solving. Findings indicate that CDS symptoms are related to specific difficulties with social problem solving. CDS symptoms may lead to difficulties attending to problems or working through relevant steps needed to identify solutions for the problem, which may then lead to avoidance and social withdrawal. Longitudinal research is needed to evaluate maladaptive problem solving as a potential mechanism in the association between CDS, social withdrawal, and internalizing symptoms.

A study to assess the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and its impact on quality of life in the menopausal women in a selected Urban community, Kolkata, West Bengal

Menopause is the end of menstruation. Menopause is cessation of menstruation for 12 months or a period that equivalent to three previous cycles or as time of cessation of ovarian function resulting in permanent amenorrhea. Menopause is a part of a women’s natural ageing process when lower level of estrogen & progesterone is produced by ovaries. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 400 women in the age group of 45-50 years in a selected urban community, Kolkata, West Bengal in 2020. Menopause Specific Quality of Life scale was used to assess the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and its impact. Data analysis was performed calculating mean, frequency and percentage and chisquare. Among the vasomotor symptoms prevalence of sweating was maximum (98%), among psychological symptoms anxiety and nervousness was the maximum prevalent symptoms(98%), most prevalent physical symptom was lack of energy (89.25%). Vasomotor symptoms had mild moderate and severe impact on quality of life where the other symptoms had mild and moderate impact on quality of life. Menopausal symptoms had significant association with socio demographic variables. The results support the popular belief that menopause causes vasomotor, physical and psychological problems. From the findings of the present study it can be concluded that almost all areas or domains evaluated were impaired in menopausal women but the vasomotor and psychological symptoms affects women’s quality of life more than the physical and sexual symptoms of menopause

Psychological adjustment: A promising approach in the treatment of women with breast cancer

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, affecting the lives of patients at all individual and social levels [1]. According to reports, every year 1.5 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer and 502,000 people die from this disease [2]. In case of survival, the complications of the disease and related treatments may greatly reduce the quality of life of affected people [3]. The diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment is considered one of the basic crises in the lives of affected people and causes countless problems for affected women and their families [4]. Breast cancer, like any type of chronic and debilitating disease, endangers various aspects of health, both on the individual and social levels, and, like other chronic diseases, reduces individual performance and consequently quality of life [5]. The application of treatment measures such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy and the receipt of toxic drugs can have side effects and the patient experiences double problems, which can affect their quality of life [6]. Among the problems that usually affect the quality of life of cancer patients include physical problems such as pain and fatigue, psychological and mental effects caused by the disease such as depression, as well as the effects of the disease on family, marital, social relationships, and economic problems caused by it is from illness [5]. Meanwhile, psychological adjustment as an influencing factor has a significant role in quality of life and more effective performance among cancer survivors [7].

Probing rotated Weyl points on one-dimensional sonic crystals

Recently, researchers have devoted their intense efforts to investigating Weyl physics in synthetic space. In this Letter, we study the intriguing topological rotated Weyl physics in a three-dimensional parameter space, which consists of two extra structural parameters and the wave vector of a simple one-dimensional sonic crystal. In our ultrasonic experiments, we observe that the topological interface states propagate along the interface formed by two sonic crystals of distinct chirality caused by the rotated Weyl points. We detect the rotated synthetic Weyl points and measure the singularities of the reflection phase, which results in the robustness of the interface states. At the same time, it also shows the advantages of synthetic dimensions in exploring high-dimensional physics problems in low-dimensional systems.

СЛОЖНОСТЬ ФОРМУЛ И МЕТОДОВ РЕШЕНИЯ ЗАДАЧ ПО МКТ, ТЕРМОДИНАМИКЕ, ОПТИКЕ, ФИЗИКЕ МИКРОМИРА И ЧТО

The article is devoted to the problem of determining the complexity of formulas and methods used to solve school problems in molecular physics and thermodynamics, optics, microcosm physics and the special theory of relativity. As a result of the content analysis of school textbooks, all formulas related to the listed sections were written out and 17 topics are identified, each of which corresponds to its own method of solving problems. In order to determine semantic complexity, formulas are presented in the form of statements that are stored in a text file Formuli.txt. To a file Slovar.txt the list of concepts denoting physical quantities is placed, indicating their complexities. Using a special computer program that analyzes the file Formuli.txt the semantic complexities of the formulas, their volume and the information folding coefficient are determined. The complexities of the methods are calculated, the distributions of formulas in the space of "semantic complexity - volume" signs are analyzed. Based on the number of formulas in each method and the number of methods in each section, the complexity of choosing a suitable formula for independent solving a single-formula task is estimated. It is shown how to take into account the uncertainty of the choice of formulas when solving two- and three-formula tasks to find their complexities.

The Relative Frequency of Anxiety and Its Correlation with Individual and Family Factors Among Adolescents in Shiraz, 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems in adolescents. Uncontrolled anxiety disorders during this period not only negatively affect adolescents' current performance but can also have long-term negative consequences on their physical and mental health. Objectives: This study is designed to investigate the relative frequency of anxiety and its correlation with individual and family characteristics among first-grade high school students in Shiraz, 2020. Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, conducted on 360 first-grade high school students who were selected using a multi-stage sampling method in Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected through online questionnaire software, which included the Beck Anxiety Inventory and a Demographic Questionnaire, and were analyzed using SPSS software version 24. Results: The relative frequency of anxiety disorders in the study samples was 59.7% (60.9% in girls and 56.6% in boys); among them, 13.1% experienced severe anxiety, 16.9% had moderate anxiety, and 29.7% had mild anxiety. The results of univariate analysis showed correlations between anxiety disorders and factors such as father's unemployment (P = 0.04), a history of physical and mental problems in teenagers (P = 0.04 and P = 0.001, respectively), and the lack of friendly relations between family members (P = 0.001). Additionally, the results of logistic regression analysis indicated that adolescents with mental illness and those lacking friendly relationships within their family had higher chances of experiencing anxiety disorders compared to other participants (OR = 5.00, P = 0.04 and OR = 9.95, P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: In this study, mental illness and the lack of friendly relations between family members emerged as significant factors contributing to adolescents' anxiety. Therefore, identifying and addressing these related factors, along with timely diagnosis and treatment of this disorder in adolescents, should be prioritized by mental health officials.

Impact of chemical reaction on hybrid nanofluid (GO + MoS2) flow over an exponentially stretching sheet with Soret and Dufour effects

AbstractThe Soret and Dufour effects play a crucial role in various fields such as geosciences, groundwater pollutant migration, chemical reactor operations, binary alloy solidification, and isotope separation. This study focuses on examining the impact of mixed convective flow on hybrid nanofluid through an exponentially stretching sheet with Soret and Dufour effects. The flow is affected by factors like variable viscosity, radiation, viscous dissipation, and activation energy. Instead of the no‐slip condition at the boundary, velocity slip, thermal slip, and concentration slip are considered. The physical problem is modeled using boundary layer theory, and flow patterns are expressed using partial differential equations (PDEs). These governing fluid flow equations are transformed into non‐linearly coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using exponential similarity transformations. These simplified ODEs are resolved using the MATLAB bvp4c package. The effects of physical parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration are illustrated through figures. Additionally, the drag force coefficient and heat and mass transfer rates are calculated for various parameters and presented graphically and in tabular form. It is observed that compared to nanofluids, the drag force coefficient of hybrid nanofluids increases by up to 21.05% with various solute buoyancy parameters (δ). Also, the mass transfer rate of hybrid nanofluids can be increased by .96% by the chemical reaction rate (σm). A comparison of this work with previously published research has been reported.

Using cryotherapy, EMLA (eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine) cream, or lidocaine spray to reduce pain during arteriovenous fistula puncture: A randomized controlled trial.

In hemodialysis patients, pain associated with needle insertion into an arteriovenous fistula is a physical and psychological problem. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of pre-puncture application of an ice pack, EMLA cream, or lidocaine spray to reduce pain associated with access puncture. This was a multicenter study done in nine hemodialysis centers in Iraq. The study utilized a randomized, parallel-group design, in which patients being dialyzed using an arteriovenous access were allocated into one of four groups. Access puncture was preceded by nothing (control group), by use of ice pack cooling at the puncture site, by application of EMLA cream, or by application of lidocaine spray. Pain after access puncture was assessed during a single treatment for each patient. Pain was quantified using a Visual Analogue Scale. A total of 1548 patients agreed to participate, and 1041 patients were included in the data analysis. Use of an ice pack, EMLA cream, or lidocaine spray each was associated with a lower pain score on access puncture compared with no pretreatment. The mean Visual Analogue Scores in the four groups were: 69.7 ± 15.7 in the controls, 39.8 ± 13.2 in the ice pack group, 45 ± 18.4 in the EMLA group, and 52.9 ± 15.2 in lidocaine group. Ranking of the pain severity scores suggested that ice pack use was associated with the least pain, followed by use of EMLA cream and use of lidocaine spray (severity score ranking, from lowest to highest, being 1.62, 2.18, and 2.63, respectively). Application of an ice pack prior to vascular access puncture is a fast and inexpensive technique to limit pain associated with this procedure.

Polymer Physics Behind the Gel-spinning of UHMWPE Fibers.

Gel-spinning of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers has attracted great interest in academia and industry since its birth and commercialization in the 1980s, due to unique properties such as high modulus, low density, and excellent chemical resistance. However, the high viscosity and long relaxation time greatly complicate processing. In industry, solvents like decalin, paraffin oil, etc., usually disentangle the physical networks and promote final drawability. From extruding the polymer solution to post-solid-stretching, many polymer physics problems that accompany high-modulus fiber gel-spinning should be understood and addressed. In this review, by detailed discussions about the effect of entanglements and intracrystalline chain dynamics on the mechanical properties of UHMWPE, we provide theoretical descriptions of the structure formation of disentangled UHMWPE crystals and the origin of high modulus and strength of final fibers. Several physical intrinsic key factors are also discussed, revealing why UHMWPE is an ideal material for producing high-performance fibers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Recent trends in an uncommon method of carbon monoxide suicide.

The most prevalent method of carbon monoxide (CO) suicide is inhalation of vehicle exhaust (VE). However, a new method of CO suicide has recently emerged involving charcoal burning (CB) in a confined space to produce fatal CO levels. This method has been reported from countries in Asia, associated with economic instability and media reporting of high-profile celebrity cases. The current study was undertaken to analyze rates and characteristics of CB suicides in South Australia (SA) for comparison with respect to their characteristics and scene, autopsy and toxicology findings. A search was undertaken for all intentional fatal carbon monoxide poisonings in SA between 2000 and 2019. Collected variables included age, sex, cause of death, location of death, decedent histories, scene, autopsy and toxicology findings and manner of death. Statistical analyses were performed using R (version 4.2.3). There was a significant decrease in VE suicides (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in CB suicides (p < 0.001) over the 20-year period. Those who used CB were found to be, on average, between 1.5 and 15.8 years younger than those who used VE (p = 0.017). The risk factors for CB suicide included psychological/psychiatric conditions and financial problems, while VE suicides were associated with a history of physical problems and contact with the legal system. External and internal autopsy findings were consistent with the literature. CB suicide is perceived to be widely accessible and painless and is therefore becoming a popular suicide method. Monitoring future trends will be important to determine whether intervention is required.

Prevention of Maternal Complication with Ayurveda Regime

Maternal health revolves around the health and wellness of pregnant women at the time they give birth and during child rising. Ayurveda considers food to be the best source of nourishment as well as medication for the pregnant woman. The nine monthly diets are singularly unique to Ayurveda. The food taken by a pregnant woman (Aahar Ras) nourishes and helps the growth of the foetus (Garbha Vriddhi), nourishes the mother's own body (Swa-Sharir Pushti) and nourishes the breasts by which the breast milk formed (Stanyaya). Postpartum period is an important phase of transition in women’s life following childbirth. This period is also known as puerperium, starts following the expulsion of the placenta. Mortality and morbidity of mother are most challenging problems of our country. In our day-to-day life we see many mothers complaining of increase in their physical problems like back-ache, anaemia and many other infections after puerperium. Lady after delivery of placenta is called as Sutika (puerperal woman), Sutikakala (duration of puerperium) is the period following childbirth during which all body tissues revert back approximately to a pre-pregnant state. For better health attainment after delivery every postnatal woman should be encouraged to follow Sutika Paricharya as per Ayurveda classics.

The hidden struggle of overworked urology residents “the hour”: The overlooked burnout, a narrative review

AbstractBurnout is a growing concern across numerous professions and industries worldwide. It has increased for many people since the onset of COVID‐19 due to the stress, uncertainty, and changes brought on by the pandemic. Burnout is also a significant issue in the field of medicine, particularly urology, where residents face long working hours and high workloads, leading to physical and mental health problems, as well as limited opportunities for rest and rejuvenation. This alarming trend highlights the need for more effective measures to address burnout and promote employee well‐being and job satisfaction. A thorough search of electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted to obtain pertinent articles using relevant keywords. Retrieved articles were screened for relevance, with duplicates and irrelevant articles excluded. Thematic and critical review analysis was conducted on chosen articles, identifying key themes and contributing factors related to burnout in urology residents. The hidden struggle of overworked urology residents and their overlooked burnout represents a complex issue that requires systemic change and individual‐level interventions. Organizations must prioritize employee well‐being by providing adequate support and resources for managing burnout. Additionally, promoting effective leadership practices that prioritize resident well‐being over any personal or institution recognitions or gains is crucial. These steps will improve the quality of care while mitigating negative outcomes for residents.

Perspectives of refugee parents and unaccompanied minors on initial health assessment and access to care.

To explore the needs, expectations, and experiences of asylum-seeking parents and unaccompanied minors under the age of 18years on the initial health assessment for children and adolescents and access to care upon entry in the Netherlands,We conducted five semi-structured focus group discussions with asylum-seeking parents and unaccompanied minors, from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and other Middle-East and African countries, supported by professional interpreters. To triangulate findings, semi-structured interviews with health care professionals involved in care for refugee children were conducted. Transcripts of focus group discussions were inductively and deductively coded and content analyzed; transcripts of interviews were deductively coded and content analyzed.In total, 31 asylum-seeking participants: 23 parents of 101 children (between 0 and 18years old), 8 unaccompanied minors (between 15 and 17years), and 6 healthcare professionals participated. Parents and minors expressed that upon entry, their needs were met for vaccinations, but not for screening or care for physical and mental health problems. Parents, minors, and health professionals emphasized the necessity of appropriate information and education about health, diseases, and the health system. Cultural change was mentioned as stressful for the parent-child interaction and parental well-being. Conclusion: The perspectives of refugee parents and unaccompanied minors revealed opportunities to improve the experience of and access to health care of refugees entering the Netherlands, especially risk-specific screening and more adequate education about health, diseases, and the Dutch health care system. What is Known: • Refugees have specific health needs due to pre-flight, flight, and resettlement conditions. Health assessment upon entry was non-obligatory in the Netherlands, except for the tuberculosis screening. Health needs were not always met, and refugees experienced barriers in access to care. What is New: • The initial health assessment met the needs concerning vaccinations but mismatched the needs regarding physical and mental health assessment. Screening for specific risk-related diseases and mental health could enable refugee parents and minors to engage better with the health system.

Double-bracket quantum algorithms for diagonalization

This work proposes double-bracket iterations as a framework for obtaining diagonalizing quantum circuits. Their implementation on a quantum computer consists of interlacing evolutions generated by the input Hamiltonian with diagonal evolutions which can be chosen variationally. No qubit overheads or controlled-unitary operations are needed but the method is recursive which makes the circuit depth grow exponentially with the number of recursion steps. To make near-term implementations viable, the proposal includes optimization of diagonal evolution generators and of recursion step durations. Indeed, thanks to this numerical examples show that the expressive power of double-bracket iterations suffices to approximate eigenstates of relevant quantum models with few recursion steps. Compared to brute-force optimization of unstructured circuits double-bracket iterations do not suffer from the same trainability limitations. Moreover, with an implementation cost lower than required for quantum phase estimation they are more suitable for near-term quantum computing experiments. More broadly, this work opens a pathway for constructing purposeful quantum algorithms based on so-called double-bracket flows also for tasks different from diagonalization and thus enlarges the quantum computing toolkit geared towards practical physics problems.

A solar cycle clock for extreme space weather

The variable solar cycle of activity is a long-standing problem in physics. It modulates the overall level of space weather activity at earth, which in turn can have significant societal impact. The Hilbert transform of the sunspot number is used to map the variable length, approximately 11 year Schwabe cycle onto a uniform clock. The clock is used to correlate extreme space weather seen in the aa index, the longest continuous geomagnetic record at earth, with the record of solar active region areas and latitudes since 1874. This shows that a clear switch-off of the most extreme space weather events occurs when >90\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$>90$$\\end{document}% of solar active region areas have moved to within about 15° of the solar equator, from regions of high gradient in solar differential rotation which can power coronal mass ejections, to a region where solar differential rotation is almost constant with latitude. More moderate space weather events which coincide with 27 day solar rotation recurrences in the aa index, consistent with stable, persistent source regions of high speed streams, commence when the centroid of solar active region areas moves to within 15° of the solar equator. This offers a physical explanation for the longstanding identification of a two component cycle of activity in the aa index.

Effect of an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program on quality of life of patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: results from the PEACH randomized clinical trial.

To investigate the effect of an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). PEACH study was a single-center, superiority randomized clinical trial of exercise training versus no exercise (control). The sample comprised Chagas disease patients with CCC, left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%, without or with HF symptoms (CCC stages B2 or C, respectively). QoL was assessed at baseline, after three months, and at the end of six months of follow-up using the SF-36 questionnaire. Patients randomized for the exercise group (n = 15) performed exercise training (aerobic, strength and stretching exercises) for 60min, three times a week, during six months. Patients in the control group (n = 15) were not provided with a formal exercise prescription. Both groups received identical nutritional and pharmaceutical counseling during the study. Longitudinal analysis of the effects of exercise training on QoL, considering the interaction term (group × time) to estimate the rate of changes between groups in the outcomes (represented as beta coefficient), was performed using linear mixed models. Models were fitted adjusting for each respective baseline QoL value. There were significant improvements in physical functioning (β =  + 10.7; p = 0.02), role limitations due to physical problems (β =  + 25.0; p = 0.01), and social functioning (β =  + 19.2; p < 0.01) scales during the first three months in the exercise compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed between groups after six months. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation provided short-term improvements in the physical and mental aspects of QoL of patients with CCC.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02517632; August 7, 2015.

Social and physical problems associated with foreign students at Al-Azhar University

Social and physical problems associated with foreign students at Al-Azhar University

Prevention of alcohol exposed pregnancies in Europe: the FAR SEAS guidelines

IntroductionDrinking during pregnancy is the leading cause of birth defects and child developmental disorders in Europe. The adverse effects of drinking during pregnancy may include physical, behavioural and cognitive problems, known collectively as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Evidence-based comprehensive recommendations at the European level on how to implement preventive and treatment policies to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancies are needed. FAR SEAS, a tendered service contract (number 20,187,106) awarded by the European Commission, aimed at developing guidelines to respond to this knowledge gap.MethodsFAR SEAS recommendations were built on (1) a two-phase review of interventions, (2) an international expert consultation, and (3) a pilot study on prevention of FASD conducted in the Mazovia region of Poland. The review of interventions included nineteen electronic open access databases, several repositories of grey literature and a key informant consultation covering most European Union (EU) countries and an additional guidelines search. After triangulating sources, 94 records were collected. Experts contributed in the design of the research questions, addressing the gaps in the literature and reviewing the recommendations formulated. The Polish pilot added nuances from real world practice to the formulated recommendations, resulting in the final set of guidelines for dissemination.ResultsThe FAR SEAS Guidelines comprise 23 recommendations grouped into different topics areas of policies, communication strategies, screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment, treatment and social services. The recommendations highlight the need to respect women’s autonomy and avoid discrimination and stigmatization; using universal screening for women of childbearing age, including detection of other psychosocial risks (such as domestic violence); and individualized, comprehensive and multidisciplinary supportive interventions for those who require it, such as those with alcohol use disorders, including women’s partners. Policies to prevent FASD should be multicomponent, and public health communication should combine information about the risks together with self-efficacy messages to promote changes.ConclusionsThe FAR SEAS guidelines are a tool to support policy-makers and service managers in implementing effective programmes to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure among general and at-risk population groups. FASD prevention has to involve comprehensive and multi-level evidence-based policies and practice, with services and activities tailored to the needs of women at differing levels of risk, and with due attention to reducing stigma.