Professional Attitudes Research Articles

Public and professional attitudes to the digitisation of health and social care in Ireland

Abstract Background The European Commission has set targets for all EU citizens to have access to electronic medical records by 2030. In Ireland the Sláintecare health reform programme has set goals around the use of digital technologies in health and social care. The Health Information and Quality Authority (an independent authority established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland) in partnership with the Health Service Executive (public healthcare provider) and the Department of Health (Ministry) conducted a National Engagement on Digital Health and Social Care. The aim of this engagement was to understand the opinion, attitudes and comfort levels of the public and professionals working in health and social care around digitisation of health and social care. Methods The National Engagement on Digital Health and Social Care used a mixed-method approach to data collection. There were two surveys, a national telephone survey with a representative sample of the public (n = 2009) and an online survey with professionals working in health and social care (n = 1020). There were separate focus groups with professionals and with the public, including representatives of minority groups. Results Preliminary results indicate that the public and professionals have positive attitudes to digital health and social care. Of the public surveyed 73% said that they are likely to access their online health record. Professionals feel that when the public have access to information via an online health record they will be better informed about their health (88%). Both the professionals and public feel that it is important to ensure patient choice around the format and delivery of care. Conclusions The research provides valuable insights and gives the public and professionals a platform to voice their opinions and have a meaningful impact on how digital health and social care is developed and implemented in Ireland. Key messages • This research provides unique insights and a deeper understanding into the attitudes of Irish public and professionals working in health and social care towards digital health. • Research findings will inform national policy, legislation and recommendations on the use of digital health tools in Ireland.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Care Providers Toward Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Managing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Australian Aged Care Residents with Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

ABSTRACT Objectives This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the healthcare professionals and paid caregivers toward non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Australian residential aged care homes (RACHs). Methods A cross-sectional, online survey was completed by RACH staff and physicians over the period 6 March-31 August 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results. Results Ninety-six respondents participated (41.7% aged 35–54 years, 80.2% female, 38.5% nurses). While 50–65% of the respondents were extremely familiar with 15 of NPIs, only 22% believed there was a sufficient funding for their implementation, and 6% felt there were sufficient human resources. Although 66% of the respondents viewed NPIs as more useful than medications, only 46% expected consistent positive outcomes from NPIs. The most used NPIs were redirection, behaviour management, and validation therapy. Conclusions The study highlights that barrier such as inadequate funding, limited human resources, skepticism about NPIs’ effectiveness, unfamiliarity with certain NPIs, and unfavourable attitude toward NPIs are likely to slow NPI adoption for BPSD management. Clinical implication To improve practice, it is essential to address these barriers through targeted education, and training, increased funding, and enhancement of the workforce.

It must not be dangerous to talk about it! Parents views of communication with schoolnurses on weight

Abstract Background The study aimed to describe parents’ experiences of communication with school nurses concerning the growth data and weight development of their children aged 8 and 10 years old in Sweden. Methods The design was descriptive and qualitative. 15 women and 3 men in south Sweden were included, with children who had performed health visits in the School Health Service (SHS). Data were collected through in - person semi structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used. Results The results illustrated the health visit’s purpose as unclear with need for improved dialogue and lacking feedback from the SHS. “To be able to get guidelines of what is the normal growth and what is a normal deviation and maybe a bit more about diet and lifestyle and movement.” The need for an improved channel for receiving information from SHS, and access to their child’s growth data. “Couldn’t they have a school nurse site or information page, where you get information about your child from the day they enroll in school until they leave.” Parents experienced a lack of a child-centered perspective, described the child’s context as not in focus, and desired collaboration. “I think that it is very important that children feel good in their bodies, and that is a really important task for health care.” Conclusions (a) Initiating a discussion regarding the preventive health work of school nurses and the main assignment of SHS. (b) Development of a child-centered perspective towards parents and children with focus on the child’s entire social context. (c) Implementation of evidence-based methods for communicating growth data and weight development between SHS and parents. Key messages • An increased dialogue between parents and SHS was requested, with a reachable way of communication via a digital platform. • A holistic view of the child, with positive professional attitudes seem essential to meet the needs of the child.

Revisiting the conceptualisation and implications of medicine's 'hidden curriculum'.

In medical training and practice, our professional attributes, attitudes, perceptions, character traits and identities are fundamentally shaped by our lived experiences and observations in clinical and para-clinical settings instead of being inculcated through formal curriculum or classroom teaching. For instance, clinical acumen, communication skills and bedside manners are learnt through role modelling and experiential learning in the course of clinical rotations. Likewise, one's attitudes, professional behaviours and inclinations are often also influenced by direct/indirect observations of the actions of others in the medical fraternity in various clinical and non-clinical settings. This is also what is often termed as the 'hidden curriculum' of medicine. In this article, we sought to provide a practical conceptualisation of the hidden curriculum in medical training, which we describe as lived experiences and personal observations of medical trainees and residents in clinical and para-clinical spaces, which shape their perceptions of the medical profession (vocational identity and purpose), patients (patient-physician relationship) and colleagues (intra- and inter-professional relationships), with downstream implications on physician well-being and clinical decision-making. Although this idea of a 'hidden curriculum' has conventionally carried predominantly negative connotations in medical literature, we suggest that it is an inevitable part of medical education and practice, which, through deliberate regulation, can potentially be shaped to create more positive and meaningful effects in the professional development of medical trainees.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Nurses and Midwives towards Hepatitis B Infection and Control Measures in Alban Gaded Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan

Purpose: Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes severe morbidity and death, burdening world health. Nurses and midwives, among other healthcare professionals, are more likely to contract the illness. Few studies have looked at the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of healthcare professionals in Sudan with regard to HBV infection, despite the fact that diverse components of KAP have an impact on health-related behaviors. This study's objective was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) level of nurses and midwives concerning HBV viral infection in, Khartoum, Sudan.  Methods: In the Sudanese state of Khartoum, a public hospital (Alban Gaded Hospital) underwent a cross-sectional descriptive hospital-based study. To assess KAP's understanding of nurses and midwives about HBV infection. Self-administered questionnaires were used and approved by the supervisor for distribution to the population chosen for the study. The data was handed over to the Medical Director whom personally ensured the questionnaires were signed and filled by the Healthcare workers (HCWs) of the chosen criteria at the field. A member of group (23:B) took care of the supervision aside with the medical director, and made sure the data was collected as needed. The data at hand were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 24.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences).  Results: 95 samples out of 99 were collected. According to participants’ knowledge: 67.95% have good knowledge about HBV, while 32.05% lack basic knowledge about it. The participants’ attitude towards HBV is above average showing 60.3% safe attitude. Lastly, the study shows excellent practice of the participants’ behavior towards HBV safety measures with a score of 92.3% safe practice. From the hospital, a total of 95 out of 99 nurses and midwives took part in the study. Two thirds of the respondents practiced safety, and the majority of respondents had a positive attitude about HBV preventative measures. More than half of the respondents (58.2%) had an average level of understanding. A minor but serious score of (12.6%) was noticed of the individuals, dealing with patients without wearing gloves. More over half of the nurses and midwives were not vaccinated against HBV; more than 50% of participants had incorrect ideas regarding the symptoms and route of HBV infection and all 95 participants voted (NO) for ever being infected by HBV.  Conclusion: In Alban Gaded hospital, the majority of the nurses and midwives were aware of HBV infection. But a sizeable majority of the participants lacked the necessary understanding of early immunization after birth. The study found a probability of high risk infection due to exposure under the poor level of HBV vaccine coverage rate. Moreover a clear point of limitation was noticed in Table 4 third question, where it asks whether you are or ever was infected by HBV. All the participants denied, showing a sense of partiality. Further occupational exposure prevention measures, training programs on HBV infection, including post-exposure prophylaxis, and increasing the vaccination rate of all HCWS are also strongly encouraged.

A study of professional practices, attitudes and barriers to blended tube feeding in Australia and New Zealand.

This study investigates the utilisation of blended tube feeding by health professionals in Australia and New Zealand, assessing factors influencing its implementation following the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition blended tube feeding consensus statement. A cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting health professionals across Australia and New Zealand. The survey comprised 35-questions including multiple choice, Likert scales and open-ended responses, to gain insights into blended tube feeding practices and perspectives. The effect of the health professional factors on outcomes was explored in pairs with a series of Chi-squared tests. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using standard univariate logistic regression. An exploratory content analysis was used to code the open-ended text responses to the survey questions which were then categorised and further synthesised into overarching themes. Out of 89 health professionals who completed the survey, the majority were dietitians, 63% reported managing fewer than five patients using blended tube feeding within their services. Parental request was the leading reason for adoption. Notable barriers included clinician time constraints, resource limitations and a lack of formal guidelines. Some health professionals considered the primary risk associated with blended tube feeding to be poor growth and/or weight loss. Professional development was pivotal in increasing confidence and advocating for blended tube feeding, with significant correlations observed between blended tube feeding training and clinical practice. This study emphasises the essential role of education, resource availability and institutional policy in promoting blended tube feeding practices for health professionals. Findings suggest that focusing on professional development and standardised resources could significantly enhance knowledge, confidence and competence of health professionals in blended tube feeding application. The outcomes point towards the need for a coordinated approach to support evidence-based blended tube feeding practices, aligning with the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition blended tube feeding resources and recommendations.

Knowledge, perception and attitude about Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) among veterinary students and professionals of Spain

The Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tropical viral zoonosis first reported in Spain with 17 detected cases since 2010–2024. Health professionals, including veterinarians, play a crucial role in controlling and preventing this disease. This study aimed to analyse and compare the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of veterinary students and professionals in Spain regarding CCHF and zoonoses in general. Additionally, the study highlighted the value of epidemiological surveys as a tool for identifying knowledge gaps related to specific diseases. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2024 among 4th and 5th-year veterinary students, Masters and Doctorate students, and veterinarians from the public and private sectors using a validated online questionnaire. A total of 135 individuals participated, 80.7 % professionals and 19.3 % students. The study found that 76.9 % of students and 64.2 % of veterinarians had good or very good knowledge of CCHF, yet significant gaps remained, particularly in epidemiology and diagnosis. Notably, only 34.8 % had good or very good knowledge of the disease’s situation in Spain, and many respondents felt their training and the information provided by official sources were inadequate. Additionally, the perception of infection risk from pets and attitudes towards preventing zoonoses through medication, vaccination, or regular analysis were concerning. Despite CCHF being an emerging disease in Spain, this survey—the first in Spain and Europe—reveals that veterinarians’ knowledge and attitudes in affected regions are not as advanced as needed, underscoring the importance of targeted epidemiological surveys on the knowledge of the disease.

Enhancing Clinicians' Use of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Outpatient Care: Mixed Methods Study.

Despite the increasing use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for collecting self-reported data among hospital outpatients, clinicians' use of these data remains suboptimal. Insight into this issue and strategies to enhance the use of PROMs are critical but limited. This study aimed to examine clinicians' use of PROM data for value-based outpatient consultations and identify efforts to enhance their use of PROMs in a Dutch university hospital. First, we aimed to investigate clinicians' use of outpatients' PROM data in 2023, focusing on adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Second, we aimed to develop insights into the organizational-level strategies implemented to enhance clinicians' use of PROM data from 2020 to 2023. This included understanding the underlying rationales for these strategies and identifying strategies that appeared to be missing to address barriers or leverage facilitators. Third, we aimed to explore the key factors driving and constraining clinicians' use of PROMs in 2023. We integrated data from 4 sources: 1-year performance data on clinicians' use of PROMs (n=70 subdepartments), internal hospital documents from a central support team (n=56), a survey among clinicians (n=47), and interviews with individuals contributing to the organizational-level implementation of PROMs (n=20). The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework was used to analyze clinicians' adoption, implementation, and maintenance of PROMs. Strategies were analyzed using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change taxonomy, and results were structured around the constructs of capability, opportunity, and motivation. On average, around 2023, clinicians accessed PROM data for approximately 3 of 20 (14%) patients during their outpatient consultation, despite numerous strategies to improve this practice. We identified issues in adoption, implementation, and maintenance. The hospital's strategies, shaped organically and pragmatically, were related to 27 (37%) out of 73 Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change strategies. These strategies focused on enhancing clinicians' capability, opportunity, and motivation. We found shortcomings in the quality of execution and completeness of strategies in relation to addressing all barriers and leveraging facilitators. We identified variations in the factors influencing the use of PROMs among frequent PROM users, occasional users, and nonusers. Challenges to effective facilitation were apparent, with certain desired strategies being unfeasible or impeded. Enhancing clinicians' use of PROMs has remained challenging despite various strategies aimed at improving their capability, opportunity, and motivation. The use of PROMs may require more substantial changes than initially expected, necessitating a shift in clinicians' professional attitudes and practices. Hospitals can facilitate rather than manage clinicians' genuine use of PROMs. They must prioritize efforts to engage clinicians with PROMs for value-based outpatient care. Specific attention to their professionalization may be warranted. Tailored strategies, designed to address within-group differences in clinicians' needs and motivation, hold promise for future efforts.

Filipino Rehabilitation Practitioners’ COVID-19 knowledge, practice and attitude: A cross-sectional study

Background: The rehabilitation team, consisting of physiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, and speech pathologists, faces heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure because of treatment practices in rehabilitation settings.Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, practices and attitudes of rehabilitation professionals in treating COVID-19 patients and to determine potential associations with respondents’ demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, type of profession).Setting: The study was conducted in the Philippines.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2021 to July 2021. Researchers employed snowballing and purposive homogenous convenient sampling methods. Participants completed a 31-item online questionnaire via Google Forms.Results: A total of 410 rehabilitation professionals participated in the study. The total mean scores for knowledge, practices and attitudes are 41.14 ± 3.16, 104.54 ± 33.65 and 37.13 ± 3.55, respectively which were considered adequate. However, only 9.8% (n = 40) professional was actively treating COVID-19 patients with analysis of variance indicated that age, type of profession and gender did not significantly impact COVID-19 knowledge. However, age (p = 0.005) and type of profession (p = 0.004) were found to influence COVID-19 practices, with physiatrists exhibiting higher adherence. There was a strong positive correlation between age and positive COVID-19 attitudes (p 0.000).Conclusion: Filipino rehabilitation professionals have positive attitude, adequate knowledge and skills about COVID-19.Contribution: The study provides information to modify training courses and curricula to further improve the knowledge and practices related to COVID-19.

Development of a Professional Identity Scale for Information Professionals

Professional identity is generally defined as one’s interpretation of self as a professional in connection with the personal and professional experiences, attitudes, and aspirations. The research used the framework developed by Pierson et al. (2019), value statements from major professional associations, library and information science (LIS) literature to revise a professional identity scale for counseling profession developed by Woo and Henfield (2015). The developed instrument will be reviewed by small number of experts (N≈20) for content validation. The instrument will be sent out to LIS professionals via mailing lists for construct validation. LIS professionals who have just transitioned from school to work (graduated from LIS programs in the last 5 years) will be invited to participate in the study. The final instrument will include demographic questions (e.g., age, gender), highest degree achieved, employment status, and LIS job experience. Exploratory factor analysis will be carried out to identify the factor structure of the scale and relevant tests (e.g., Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, Bartlett's test of sphericity) will be performed to investigate and assess the professional identity constructs that will emerge from the data. Confirmatory factor analysis will be conducted to obtain additional measures of fit and possibly explore additional changes. As the profession goes through a transformation and recalibrates itself to stay relevant and better address the needs and expectations of users, having a validated and reliable instrument to assess the professional identity of the professionals in the field will help address this gap.

Environmentally sustainable person-centred care: Occupational therapy students' attitudes, perceptions and self-perceived preparedness for practice.

Climate change threatens the environments in which person-centred occupational therapy occurs. Environmental sustainability is directly linked with the health and wellbeing of current and future generations, presenting occupational therapists with a unique advocacy and activist role. As practitioners of the future, there is an urgent need to understand students' attitudes, perceptions of, and self-perceived preparedness for, dealing with environmental determinants of health and intergenerational occupational and climate justice. A cross-sectional exploratory descriptive survey collected United Kingdom (UK) based allied health professional students' attitudes, perceptions, and self-perceived preparedness for advocating for environmental sustainability in the context of person-centred care. The survey was distributed to 48 gatekeepers in UK institutions with approved allied health professional training programmes (44 offered occupational therapy); 62 occupational therapy students responded. Descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data. Text and short answers were analysed qualitatively via inductive content analysis. The study was co-designed and implemented with MSc (pre-registration) occupational therapy students. Participants (94%) expressed concerns for climate change, with 84% feeling responsible for addressing environmental sustainability in health care. While 64.5% identified climate justice as a top priority, a perceived challenge emerged between person-centred care and sustainability, with only 18% of participants feeling prepared for environmental sustainability in occupational therapy practice. Participants requested education on personal and professional sustainability practices, as well as collective action. Sharing personal climate change experiences, advocating with family and friends, and facilitating connections for collective action were highlighted as potentially transformative educational tools in this area. Occupational therapy curricula should address environmental sustainability through pragmatic, critical, and ethical lenses to enhance students' preparedness for this advocacy and activist role. Reflection and continuous professional development for environmentally sustainable practices is recommended. Occupational therapists believe that it is important to support people to participate in occupations that matter to them. However, the activities that some people choose to participate in may have negative effects on the environment and the planet. It is important to ensure that when occupational therapists support people in their choices of activities, this does not lead to unequal access to healthy and meaningful occupations of others, now or in the future. That is because occupational therapists also have a responsibility to prevent occupational injustice. Occupational therapy students are the professionals of the future, so it is important to include them in research about this topic. They need to develop skills that allow them to simultaneously make sure that they are delivering person-centred care, which is not environmentally detrimental and that does not lead to occupational injustice. Making sure that occupational therapists provide person-centred care while also managing risks of occupational injustice may be seen as a profession-specific dilemma. In this study, occupational therapy students in the UK completed a survey about their feelings, views, and readiness for managing this dilemma. Results showed that most respondents are concerned about climate change, but do not feel that their occupational therapy education sufficiently prepared them to practise in an environmentally sustainable way. They were asked to propose ideas for addressing this issue, and the article discusses how occupational therapy curricula might be changed in accordance.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the family presence risk-benefit and self-confidence scales in Chinese nurses

BackgroundControversy surrounding Family Presence during Resuscitation (FPDR) continues internationally. The attitudes of medical professionals toward FPDR are particularly important for its clinical implementation. Currently, there is a lack of validated tools to evaluate medical professionals’ perceptions of FPDR in China. The study aimed to: (1) Cross-culturally adapt and validate the Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale (FPR-BS) and the Self-Confidence Scale (FPS-CS) for use in China; and (2) investigate the nurses’ perceptions of FPDR and explore the relationships between the nurses’ perceptual variables and demographic variables.MethodsThe English version of the FPR-BS and FPS-CS underwent a rigorous process of translation, back-translation, proofreading, and cultural adaptation to create the Chinese versions. In the first stage, a sample of 200 nurses were recruited to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scales. In the second stage, a larger cohort 519 nurses were invited to assess their perceptions of FPDR and the relationships between these perceptual variables and demographic variables.ResultsExploratory factorial analysis identified a single dimension for both the FPR-BS and FPS-CS, explaining 43.84% and 48.43% of the variance, respectively. The Scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) of the FPR-BS and the FPS-CS was 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. Reliability assessments yielded Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.933 for the FPR-BS and 0.930 for the FPS-CS. The split-half reliability coefficients were 0.832 for the FPR-BS and 0.835 for the FPS-CS, while the retest reliability coefficients were 0.742 and 0.927, respectively. The average scores obtained were 2.76 (SD = 0.52) for the FPR-BS and 3.43 (SD = 0.58) for the FPS-CS. Statistical analyses revealed that factors such as patient type, family members’ prior experience with resuscitation, and the number of times nurses invited family members during resuscitation significantly influenced perceptions of the benefits and risks associated with FPDR (P < 0.05). Furthermore, obtaining certification as an intensive care specialist was positively associated with nurses’ self-confidence in managing FPDR (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe FPR-BS and FPS-CS were validated as effective instruments for measuring nurses’ perceptions of PFDR, demonstrating acceptable levels of validity and reliability. While nurses reported fewer benefits and greater risks of FPDR, they exhibited increased self-confidence in managing family presence during resuscitation.

Ten Years of Three-Dimensional Science and Its Implementation in the Secondary Classroom: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT In the decade following the release of the Next-Generation Science Standards in the United States, many efforts have occurred to reform K-12 science teaching. While not all states have adopted NGSS, 48 of 50 have adopted standards that are consistent with the underlying philosophy and research base of NGSS: three-dimensional (3D) science. This scoping review explores the research activity on classroom implementation of 3D Science in secondary schools in the US. The findings reveal that research about 3D Science implementation also touches on a wide array of adjacent issues, including professional learning, teacher knowledge, teacher attitudes and beliefs, assessment, and administrative support. Future research should continue to investigate the impacts of actions taken in one level of the system (i.e. professional development for teachers) on other levels of the system (i.e. classroom practice, student learning), as well as the challenges and barriers that hinder classroom implementation of the new standards.

Spinal muscular atrophy carrier screening program: awareness and attitude of healthcare professionals in Turkey.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by variants in the SMN1 gene, leading to progressive muscle weakness. The carrier frequency of SMN1 gene variants, including variant and copy number variations, is estimated to be around 1 in 50 people, while the global prevalence of SMA is 1-3 per 10,000 live births. In response to the increasing carrier proportion, especially due to consanguineous marriages, Turkey launched the SMA Carrier Screening Program in 2021. Notably, recent SMA cases have been observed in the children of healthcare workers who did not undergo carrier screening, prompting us to evaluate their awareness of this program. After receiving ethics approval, 1,322 healthcare professionals completed a 15-item survey based on the SMA Carrier Screening Guidelines. Of these, 5.8% were unaware of SMA, and 26% lacked information about the national screening program. Awareness of the screening program was significantly lower among secondary and tertiary healthcare professionals compared to primary healthcare professionals (p < 0.0001) and among non-physician healthcare professionals compared to physicians (p < 0.0001). Additionally, a serious lack of knowledge was observed concerning the parts of the screening covering the pregnancy period. Although there is generally high awareness of the SMA Carrier Screening Program among healthcare professionals, significant knowledge gaps exist. These findings highlight the need for increased efforts to more effectively deliver screening programs and continue the education of healthcare professionals. Education and awareness campaigns can enhance program awareness and effectiveness, reach wider audiences, and contribute to preventive measures for the health of future generations.

Study of Attitude Toward Homosexuality Among the Health Professionals

Background: Despite the level of awareness of homosexuality is in the increasing trend, health professionals lack a positive attitude toward homosexuality. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of attitudes toward homosexuality among health professionals. Subject and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 600 health professionals. The attitude toward homosexuality questionnaire was used to assess the attitude of health professionals toward homosexuality. A descriptive analysis, Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal Wallis test were used to analyze the data. Observations: The mean score for attitude toward homosexuality questionnaire was 73.04 + 23.39 among the participants. The males had lesser degree of positive attitude compared to higher degree of positive attitude of females toward homosexuality. Participants from rural areas had neutral attitudes, and participants from the urban areas had positive attitudes toward homosexuality. Participants living in nuclear families had positive attitudes toward homosexuality, and participants living in joint families had negative attitudes toward homosexuality. Participants with heterosexual orientation had negative attitudes toward homosexuality. Conclusion: Overall, health professionals had a lesser degree of positive attitude toward homosexuality; they require sensitization to upgrade their positive attitude toward homosexuality for better doctor–patient relationship.

Parental Perceptions of Community and Professional Attitudes Toward Autism.

The purpose of this study was to examine parent perceptions of professional and community attitudes about autism through the lens of parenting their autistic children from birth through adulthood. Implications of this research may assist with future development and study of professional and community supports of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The study participants consisted of 51 parents who had an adult-aged child on the autism spectrum. One-on-one interviews were conducted with parents about their experiences raising a child with autism. Data were double-coded and analyzed using a qualitative, phenomenological approach to explore parents' experiences with and perceptions of society members' attitudes towards autism. Positive and negative themes were identified across parents' perceptions of professionals and of community members. Themes regarding professional attitudes included cooperating with family requests, presuming competence of individuals with autism, complacency towards the needs of families and individuals with autism, and discrimination towards the individual with autism based on age or level of need. Themes regarding community member attitudes included valuing the strengths of individuals with autism, accommodating autistic differences, intolerance of autistic traits, and prejudice towards individuals with autism. Findings indicate that professional and community members presented with both positive and negative attitudes towards autism and individuals on the autism spectrum, with negative attitudes proving more prevalent in parent recollections. Results suggest a need for further research and related training to improve interactions with and support of individuals with autism and their families.

A lost opportunity: did the Disability Royal Commission let down parents with intellectual disabilities and their children?

This article considers the response of the Disability Royal Commission (the Commission) to the experiences of the estimated 21,000 Australian parents with intellectual disabilities and their children. Research shows that interlocking complex social disadvantage and ableist professional attitudes toward parenting by people with intellectual disabilities persist, leading to very high rates of child protection and child removal. The approach taken by the Commission to examination of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation against parents with disabilities as a group led to the invisibility of parents with intellectual disabilities within the Final Report. The life course approach was narrowly conceived and did not fully capture reproductive justice across the life course. The issue of parenting and child protection contact was primarily considered in relation to First Nations families, which brought critical attention to some aspects of systemic violence and abuse, but issues and experiences of non-Indigenous parents with intellectual disabilities were absent. We argue that these and other flaws prevented the Commission from making important recommendations in relation to legal and policy reform to uphold the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to become parents and to receive the support they need for parenting over the life course.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Dentists in Maharashtra Regarding Sharing Patients’ Data on Social Media: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background: Social media has become an integral part of dental practice, offering opportunities for professional interaction and patient engagement. However, it raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding patient confidentiality. Objective: To gauge the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental professionals in Maharashtra regarding the sharing of patient data on Social media, and to assess the ethical considerations associated with this practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental professionals in Maharashtra from October to December 2023. Participants were recruited from six dental institutions and various private clinics. A self-structured questionnaire was validated and distributed via Google Forms. Data were analyzed using MedCalc Statistical Software, with demographic characteristics and response frequencies summarized in tables and graphs. Results: Of the 312 participants, 265 completed the survey (response rate: 84.94%). WhatsApp (88.3%) was the most preferred platform, followed by Facebook (54.34%) and Instagram (54.34%). The majority rarely shared patient data on SM. Marketing (63.4%), showcasing treatment results (46.79%), and educating colleagues (46.79%) were primary motivations. While 56.98% agreed that sharing patient data infringes privacy, only 46.04% consistently obtained patient consent. A significant portion (92%) supported establishing guidelines for social media usage. Conclusion: Dental professionals in Maharashtra frequently use SM for professional purposes, with WhatsApp being the most popular platform. Despite recognizing privacy concerns, there is a lack of consistent patient consent practices. The findings highlight the need for clear guidelines to balance the benefits of social media with ethical obligations to patient confidentiality and professional conduct.

The Effect of Professional Attitude on Motivation with a Strategic Management Perspective: The Mediating Role of Trust

Employees' professional attitudes, motivation, and trust perceptions should be positive to be more successful and productive in their professions. Based on these research topics, the primary purpose of this study is to measure the effect of the trust mediation role and professional attitudes on the motivation of non-managerial employees working in the provincial units of a public institution in Ankara. The data obtained from 392 employees were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS programs, and structural equation modeling was used. As a result of the findings, it was understood that professional attitude did not have a statistically significant mediating effect on trust, and trust did not have a statistically significant mediating effect on motivation. According to the results obtained, professional attitude had a statistically significant impact on motivation. Increasing the perceptions of human capital, which is the most crucial resource of organizations, such as motivation and attitude towards work, will prevent negative situations such as leaving the organization and burnout syndrome.

The paths of career aspiration for intern nursing students: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

AimThis study was conducted to explore the combination of different conditional variables that led to high career aspiration of intern nursing students. BackgroundA severe shortage of nurses exists nationwide, and nurses’ low career aspiration contribute to high turnover rates and hinder the high-quality development of the nursing field. Nursing students undergoing clinical practice will become the backbone of future nursing staff. Enhancing their career aspiration is crucial for developing nursing career education and stabilizing the nursing team. DesignThis was a cross-sectional study. Using the cluster sampling method, 521 intern nursing students from Henan and Anhui in China were selected as participants from December 2023 to January 2024. MethodsThis study employed the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore the configuration for paths of leading to high career aspiration among intern nursing students. General information questionnaires, career aspiration scale, clinical practice maladjustment scale, self-reflection and insight scale were used as measures in this study. ResultsThe results showed that students’ origin, professional attitude, GPA, self-reflection and insight, relationship with preceptors and clinical practice maladjustment have a combined effect on career aspiration. This study found that eight configuration combined into four models could explain 75.9 % of high-level career aspiration (solution consistency = 0.786; solution coverage = 0.759). ConclusionThe level of career aspiration among intern nursing students is the result of the combination of different conditional variables. Using a configurational perspective to intervene in nursing students with various characteristics is expected to enhance the career aspiration of intern nursing students.