Scale Questions Research Articles

Students attitudes on STACK content: A pilot study at the university of Trieste, Italy

Background: Online examinations are increasingly prevalent in educational settings, offering innovative assessment methods. Understanding student perceptions and experiences with such systems is essential for enhancing their effectiveness and acceptance in educational practice.Aims: This pilot study aimed to examine the impact of STACK-based online exams on various facets such as student comfort, perceived value for learning and exam preparation, preferences between pen-and-paper versus STACK formats, confidence in online math tests, readiness to adopt online assessment platforms, and overall perspectives on online evaluations.Method: An experimental within-subjects design and convenience sampling were used to involve 117 first-year biology students enrolled in a Probability and Statistics course, who were already familiar with the STACK system. Data were collected using pre- and post-exam online surveys featuring five-point Likert scale questions and an open-ended query.Results: The findings indicate that students felt more comfortable using the STACK system after the study and preferred it over traditional exams. Nevertheless, some students expressed uncertainty about using STACK content for final exams due to concerns about its effectiveness in evaluating critical thinking and potential technical difficulties. However, concerns regarding technical challenges decreased significantly post-exam, with no technical issues reported during the exam. Positive feedback highlighted STACK's benefits for formative assessment, easier learning, immediate feedback, and its practicality and innovation. Some students even suggested incorporating STACK into final exams for convenience and advocated for further investment in the STACK system, possibly with improved content. Conclusion: In summary, students preferred using STACK for exams, though concerns about technical glitches and the need to refine content for assessing critical thinking persist. Future efforts should focus on enhancing content quality, starting this summer.

Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill: A Comparative Study Between Medical Officers and Nurses in the Ahmedabad City of Gujarat

Context: Medical Officers (MO) and nurses are the most important contact of healthcare for all patients, including Mentally Ill persons. Therefore, it is important to analyze their attitudes towards MI. Aims: To assess and compare the attitudes of MO and nurses on the community attitude toward the mentally Ill (CAMI) scale. Settings and Design: The study was cross-sectional and census sampling was used to collect data. Methods and Material: The study was conducted on 67 MO and 85 nurses of 74 urban primary health centers in Ahmedabad. The questionnaire comprised socio-demographic data and the CAMI scale. Statistical analysis: The frequency of each item and mean (SD) of all subscales were calculated for both groups. T-test and ANOVA were applied to compare socio-demographic data with the CAMI scale. Results: Mean (SD) of authoritarianism (AU), benevolence (BE), social restrictiveness (SR), and Community Mental Health Ideology (CMHI) subscales were 24.97 (±3.14), 36.69 (±33.69), 21.61 (±3.76), 38.52 (±3.74) respectively for MO and 29.13 (±3.87), 35.51 (±4.17), 23.64 (±4.36), 36.01 (±4.37), respectively for nurses (p-value is <0.05 in AU, SR and CMHI). Joint families, rural areas, lower education and higher income are associated with higher stigma. Conclusion: Although we found NA among nurses as compared to MO, it is highly prevalent in both groups. This requires widespread mental health educational programs by tertiary care hospitals and psychiatrists under the District Mental Health Program. Key Messages: MO and nurses displayed stigmatizing attitudes toward MI in ample questions of the CAMI scale, especially in AU and SR subscales. This necessitates training them under DMHP.

Job Satisfaction and Associated Factors Among Primary Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study From Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background The healthcare sector is one of the most important sectors in any country. Any disruption in the productivity of the workforce majorly affects healthcare entities. Job satisfaction directly interferes with the individual's productivity. Hence, the job satisfaction of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a fundamental issue to discuss, investigate, and study to improve the outputs to their maximal levels, especiallyif limited studies are done in this regard. Methodology A descriptive, cross-sectional, facility-based study was conducted among 302 HCWs in 30 primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, using a pretested, validated, electronically self-administered "Satisfaction of Employees in Health Care" (SEHC) questionnaire. Our sample included physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dental workers, and lab and radiology technicians. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The mean score of the overall perception of job satisfaction in primary healthcare staff was 3.9 (±1.01) out of one to five scale questions. This implies a high satisfaction in 71.2% (n = 215) of the sample. Nurses expressed the highest satisfaction with their roles, comprising 26.5% (n = 80)who reported high satisfaction. Second in line were physicians, demonstrating high satisfaction levels with 14.2% (n = 43). The third place was for lab technicians, 4.6% (n = 14) of whom expressed high satisfaction. Many factors were found to be significantly statistically associated with job satisfaction, including gender (p = 0.015), age (p = 0.001), job rank (p = 0.027), number of patients seen per day (p = 0.002), type of primary healthcare duty (p = 0.042), and health workers' years of experience (p = 0.000). Conclusion The study revealed that HCWsat primary healthcare facilities in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, were highly satisfied with their jobs. Significant statistical relationships were found between job satisfaction and factors such as years of experience, type of duty in PHCCs, and number of attendees per day. To improve HCWs' job satisfaction, we recommend that they receive additional organizational support and response to feedback, a reduced workload achieved through increased staffing, and flexible work shifts. We also recommend investigating satisfaction in the private healthcare sector.

Advancing breast cancer care for underserved women: A study of the Pink Ribbon Mammogram Program in Oakland County.

11053 Background: The Pink Ribbon Mammogram program, a non-profit initiative in Oakland County, Michigan, aims to provide free breast cancer screening (BCS) to underserved and uninsured women, in partnership with Trinity Health Oakland. The program has served approximately 1500 women since 2009. This study aims to highlight the program’s effectiveness in providing free BCS and gather participant feedback to address challenges and improve its operational efficiency. The study also aims to evaluate the factors associated with participants' perceptions of BCS using the Revised Champion’s Health Belief Model scale (RCHBMS) and open-ended questions. Methods: A survey with open- and close-ended items was conducted among 253 women who participated in the program from 2019-2023 via structured telephone interviews. The RCHBMS, a validated tool, was used to measure participants’ perceptions of breast cancer susceptibility and screening benefits and barriers using a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree). SPSS 28 was used for analysis, with a p-value<0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results: Over the last 5 years, the program has conducted 363 mammograms, 59 ultrasounds, and 2 biopsies, leading to 1 confirmed and treated case of breast cancer. Among 253 individuals with valid contact details, 96 consented to participate in the survey. Participant demographics are as follows: mean age 50 years; 80% Hispanic, 15% White, 5% Black; 76% primarily Spanish-speaking; all are uninsured or with high copay. The main reasons for participating included the benefit of free coverage (32.3%) and reassurance of being breast cancer-free (31.3%). 44% reported no issues in attending their appointments, while 8.4% faced logistical challenges, equally divided between work commitments and transportation issues, which were the main causes for missed appointments. The primary motivation for 81.3% of participants undergoing mammogram screening was early breast cancer detection. Using RCHBMS, the study also revealed a correlation between participants’ perceived susceptibility for breast cancer and their attitudes toward mammogram screening. Those who felt more susceptible to breast cancer also perceived greater barriers and lesser benefits to screening (p<0.05). Factors such as younger age, disability, and having private insurance with high copay were associated with increased perceived susceptibility to breast cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study serves as an important evaluation of a community-driven BCS initiative, highlighting its successes and areas for improvement to better serve underserved populations. This program can serve as a model to increase BCS nationwide. Insights into factors influencing screening perceptions among underserved women offer valuable guidance for healthcare providers and policymakers to improve screening outcomes in similar communities.

Patient-centered development and dissemination of MTCEducate.org, an online educational aid for patients with a rare cancer.

e13655 Background: Patients with rare cancers are subject to clinical vulnerability due to limited access to expert clinicians, equivocal treatment options, and a lack of accessible, reliable information. Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare cancer often characterized by an advanced, progressive, chronic disease state for which there is clinical equipoise in treatment decisions. In a previous needs assessment, we learned from MTC patients, their caregivers, and treating physicians about the desire for education at each disease stage and strategies to convey patients' priorities to clinicians. Here, we report the patient-centered development of a novel online educational resource and decision aid, MTCEducate.org, its dissemination, and an analysis of its usability and acceptability. Methods: Working with a stakeholder group of MTC patients, caregivers, and clinicians, we used our prior needs assessment results to guide development and refinement of MTCEducate.org, including storyboarding and iterative patient feedback. The finalized site was strategically promoted through patient support organizations, a patient-run Facebook group, the American Thyroid Association, multiple conferences, and a robust MTC Registry listserv. Site metrics were assessed via Google Analytics, and site usability and acceptability were evaluated via an online survey with Likert scale questions. Results: MTCEducate.org underwent 5 rounds of patient feedback with 11 patients total to achieve saturation and finalization. Over its first 9 months, the site had 1878 unique visitors; of these, 65% used a mobile device to visit the site, and 35% used a desktop computer or tablet. Visitors accessed the site most often via direct emails or newsletters (49%) and Facebook (49%). Seventy-one visitors fully completed the site usability and acceptability survey. Most respondents identified as women (76%) and as non-Hispanic White (91%). The majority were ≥45 years old (87%) and had an associate’s degree or higher (93%). Most were MTC patients or survivors (91.8%), and most responded correctly to MTC knowledge–based questions about tumor markers (96%), lymph node dissection (94%), and FDA-approved medications (71%). Most found the site easy to use (88%) and well-integrated (84%), and most could learn to use it quickly (86%) and confidently (81%). Conclusions: Patients, especially those with rare tumors, need trustworthy educational and decision aids that provide evidence-based, reliable information and support shared decision-making. Using a patient-centered approach, we created a product whose multipronged deployment reached a unique audience. The site’s visitors’ lack of racial and ethnic diversity as well as their advanced educational status underscores the need to understand preferred access, communication, and educational resources desired by underrepresented populations.

A national survey of obstetrics and gynecology resident perspectives on their preparedness to provide care for racially and socioeconomically diverse gynecologic oncology populations.

9037 Background: Despite 83% female representation, Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) lags behind other residencies in racial diversity, with 35.2% of trainees classified as Underrepresented in Medicine (URM). Fellowships are markedly less diverse, with Gynecologic Oncology representing 26.1% URM. While studies have examined Ob/Gyn residents’ self-perceived preparedness for surgical skills, little is known about their confidence in treating vulnerable patients with gynecologic malignancies. This survey assessed resident confidence in providing Gynecologic Oncology care to patient populations diverse in racial/ethnic background and insurance status, while accounting for residents’ own racial/ethnic backgrounds. Methods: An anonymous, novel Qualtrics survey was disseminated to current US Ob/Gyn residents, to elicit their self-reported preparedness to provide NCCN guideline-based care to diverse Gynecologic Oncology patient populations. Subjects were asked multiple-choice questions to record their own demographics followed by Likert scale questions which ranged from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5) regarding their perceived readiness to care for patients diverse in insurance and racial background. Differences in responses between racial groups were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis Rank Sum test while differences in responses between ethnic groups were evaluated using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Results: 207 residents complete the survey, mirroring sample sizes of national surveys of Ob/Gyn residents. There was no statistical difference in self-perceived preparedness between Hispanic and non-Hispanic Ob/Gyn residents regarding providing care for diverse racial minorities (mean Likert Non-Hispanic = 4.1 vs. Hispanic = 4.2; p = 0.222) or insurance types (mean Likert Non-Hispanic= 4.0 vs. Hispanic = 4.0; p=0.563). There was a significant difference in the number of Hispanic residents who felt that patients with Medicaid insurance experienced more difficulty obtaining non-operative gynecologic care compared to those with other insurance types (Hispanic = 3.7 vs. non-Hispanic = 3.2; p = 0.044). Further, there was a significant difference in the number of Hispanic residents who felt that patients with Medicaid insurance had to wait longer for outpatient appointments with a gynecologic oncologist (Hispanic = 3.6 vs. non-Hispanic = 3.0; p=0.016). Conclusions: All Ob/Gyn residents will encounter, screen for, and diagnose gynecologic malignancies, regardless of pursuit of Gynecologic Oncology fellowship. This study evaluated Ob/Gyn resident perceptions, finding that they feel overall prepared to provide Gynecologic Oncology care to socioeconomically diverse patient populations, though differences exist when residents are compared based on their backgrounds.

Nutraceutical and dietary supplement use in the cancer population: The impact of evidence-based education.

10611 Background: The nutraceutical market is a multi-billion dollar industry. Studies show many cancer patients turn to vitamins and nutraceutical supplements, seeking health improvements post-diagnosis. Despite their popularity, the efficacy & safety of most substances remains unverified through clinical trials. Additionally, interaction with cancer treatments could potentially increase toxicities or diminish chemotherapy effects. In response, our Cancer Center initiated a comprehensive program aimed at enhancing informed decision-making. This involved conducting surveys to understand patient’s attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions about supplement use, alongside evaluating the impact of an educational intervention designed to encourage the discontinuation of self-prescribed vitamins and supplements during cancer treatment. Methods: We utilized a structured survey with open-closed-ended questions to assess dietary supplement use among cancer patients. The survey featured multiple-choice and 1-5 Likert scale questions covering supplement types (e.g., vitamins, minerals, herbs), reasons for use, duration, and timing of use, and beliefs about safety & efficacy. Clinicians also reviewed disclosed non-prescription supplements, advising on their continuation or cessation. Our goal was to understand patient perspectives on supplement use pre & post-educational intervention, among new patients undergoing oral or systemic cancer treatment. We analyzed changes in supplement use with McNemar’s Exact Tests for paired proportions. Results: Following the educational intervention with 144 cancer patients, the proportion not using any supplements rose from 44.4% to 50.0%, hinting at a trend towards discontinuing supplement use. Yet, McNemar’s tests for various supplement categories revealed no statistically significant changes (p>0.05). Of the 73 patients taking supplements and evaluated post-education by a physician, 53.4% were permitted to continue (primarily vitamins), 26% agreed to stop, and 20.5% reaffirmed they would not discontinue use. Of the resistant patients choosing to continue despite medical advice, 93.3% were taking high-dose vitamins, 20% minerals, and 13% herbs/botanical compounds. Conclusions: Supplements are heavily marketed as promoting various anticancer benefits. Our study shows the challenging nature of modifying cancer patients' perceptions. Despite a modest uptick in stopping, a significant portion persisted supplement use post-education, highlighting entrenched beliefs & attitudes. This emphasizes the importance of ongoing, tailored discussions within oncology care to reduce the risks associated with unsupervised supplement use. Our results advocate for incorporating longer-term educational strategies about supplements, underscoring the critical need for evidence-based guidance in managing their use among cancer patients.

Awareness of Antibiotic Misuse in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Among Adults in the Bisha Governorate in 2024.

Antibiotics are targeted to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and have no effect on viral agents. Unfortunately,viruses cause about 80% of respiratory tract infections, and up to 75% of antibiotics are prescribed for URTIs. Overuse of antibiotics is linked to a number of issues, including the emergence of antibacterial resistance, an increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses, a rise in the expense of healthcare services, and the emergence of side effects. This study aimed to assess the awareness of antibioticmisuse for URTIs among adults in the Bisha governorate in 2024. A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bisha governorate among the adult population. Data was collected using an online standardized self-administered adapted questionnaire. The questions vary from multiple choice to Likert scale questions, and each question has 2 points. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). The response rate was about 85.3% (721/845). The ages of the participants ranged between 18 and75 years. There were 360 (49.9%)male respondents and 361 (50.1%) female respondents. The study revealed that 83.1% (599) of the participants have poor awareness of antibioticmisuse in URTIs. Knowledge of antibioticmisuse consequences was poor at 66.7% (481). There was a significant difference observed between the residents of Bisha city compared to the residents of Bisha villages in total knowledge level about antibiotic misuse in URTIs (p = 0.030). The population of the Bisha governorate has a poor knowledge of antibiotic misuse in URTIs. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase the knowledge and awareness of the general public about the problem.

Internalizing and Supplicating with the Beautiful Names of Allah A Treatment Intervention for Anxiety in University Students

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of internalizing and supplicating through Names of Allah on anxiety levels in university students. Inclusion of faith/religion as an intervention is a scientific way of reducing worrisome thoughts. Methods: A pre and post design was administered to measure the anxiety levels before and after participant’s carry out the procedure with the help of the STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) scale and open-ended questions. Results were analyzed with SPSS using dependent or paired t-test. Results: The study demonstrated that the participants showed statistically significant improvement of their emotional states (anxiety) following the intervention compared to before the intervention took place (p0.001). Hence, indicating that internalizing and supplicating with the names of Allah reduced anxiety in university students as hypothesized. Qualitative results also revealed positive results. Future directions and recommendations are presented in the paper with a focus on furthering the research in this new area. Keywords: Supplication, Names of Allah, Anxiety Levels, Religion, Islamic Psychology

Bridging the digital divide: gender and learning mode impacts on pre-service teacher digital competence and online engagement

ABSTRACT Digital technology literacy, attitude, efficacy, and online engagement are important for effective teaching in a contemporary world. This study examines the connections between pre-service teachers’ (PST) self-assessed digital technology literacy, attitudes, self-efficacy, and engagement in online learning. It also explores how these aspects relate to their gender, age, and learning mode. A total of 110 first year PSTs responded to an online survey consisting of Likert scale questions and demographic information. These PSTs can access various study options, including online, on-campus, and a mixture of both. First, a series of one-way analyses of variance was conducted to evaluate the relationship between age range, gender, mode of study and the different constructs. Next, Post Hoc tests were conducted to evaluate pairwise differences among the significant means. The study found significant differences in PSTs’ digital literacy based on gender, attitude, and engagement in online learning. It suggests that teacher education should adopt tailored strategies to address these technology skill gaps. Personalised support for PSTs could improve their digital literacy and confidence in using technology for teaching. The implications for course and programme design in teacher education are also explored.

Contrasting the Treatment-Related Perceptions of Parents and Their Children: Using Data from Child and Adolescent Brief Mental Health Services Recipients in Canada

Introduction: Discrepancies between parental and child perceptions of problems and their therapeutic expectations can negatively impact mental health treatment efficacy. Aims: We sought to explore concordance and discrepancy in families receiving brief, client-centered, and strengths-based mental health services, specifically by contrasting parents’ and children’s perceptions of the child’s presenting issues; treatment expectations; and levels of concern pre- and post-treatment. We also examined the psychometric properties of a therapeutic scaling question on the level of concern, by examining associations with scores from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, we examined data from openand closed-ended questions, some used as part of the treatment. This included brief descriptions of perceived presenting issues and treatment expectations, and levels of concern on a scale of 1 to 10. Results: Parent and child descriptions of issues were judged generally congruent 66% of the time. Respectively, minor and major non-congruence was observed 25% and 9% of the time. In terms of treatment expectations, parents were more likely to express a desire to understand the issues and improve communication in the family. Children were more likely to express no expectancies or respond with simple statements (e.g., feel better). Parents initially rated their children’s problems as more severe than did their children. We found that the scaling question demonstrated a modest association with the level of concern from the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Conclusions: Even though most parents and their children broadly agree on presenting mental health issues for which they seek counseling, important differences manifest in how they perceive them and what they want accomplished during sessions. Practitioners need to consider, assess, and accommodate such discrepancies.

AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE REGARDING PAIN MANAGEMENT AMONG NURSES WORKING IN MAJOR HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS

Pain management is a critical aspect of nursing care, yet the awareness and attitudes of nurses regarding this issue remain understudied, particularly in the context of Pakistan. Objective: This study evaluated nurses' understanding and attitudes regarding pain management in central hospital departments. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, Pakistan, from March 2023 to March 2024. Using convenient sampling, 300 nurses from various hospital departments were included, including internal medicine, paediatrics, outpatient, surgical unit, ICU, and emergency. A 25-item questionnaire comprising polar and Likert scale questions was utilised to assess knowledge and attitudes. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the data, and mean scores were compared using appropriate statistical methods. Results: Of the participants, 67.3% (95% CI: 61.4%, 70.9%) demonstrated good knowledge about pain management, with a mean score of 7.07 ± 1.66. Furthermore, 50.6% (95% CI: 45.7%, 55.3%) exhibited a positive attitude, with a mean score of 48.2 ± 6.08. While no significant difference in mean knowledge scores was observed between genders (p = 0.754), a statistically significant difference was found in mean attitude scores (men: 49.03, women: 47.22, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Despite possessing good knowledge, nurses in Pakistan display a comparatively less favourable attitude toward pain management, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address attitude-related barriers.

Tectonic processes and the evolution of the continental crust

The Earth is the only known planet where plate tectonics operates. We review the features of Archean and early Proterozoic geology that constrain tectonic environments and inform discussions of the onset of plate tectonics. There is the question of scale and how the results of individual case studies are put into a wider global context. Global models may be difficult to test and we seek to integrate evidence for plate tectonics being active with ancient records of subduction. We explore evidence for when the continental crust became rigid enough to facilitate plate tectonics based on the occurrence of widespread dyke swarms and large sedimentary basins, relatively widespread granulite facies metamorphism and evidence for crustal thickening. We argue that it remains difficult to constrain tectonic settings from contemporaneous metamorphic events without spatial controls. Archean cratons stabilized at different times in different areas from 3.1 to 2.5 Ga, juvenile continental crust changed from mafic to more intermediate compositions, there was a reduction in crustal growth at c. 3 Ga and increasing evidence for the lateral movement of crustal fragments. These, together with the other changes at the end of the Archean, are taken to reflect the onset of plate tectonics as the dominant global regime.

Veterinary students’ attitudes toward anesthesiology as a specialty

ObjectiveTo identify the perceptions of veterinary students interested in specialization regarding veterinary anesthesiology. Study designCross-sectional, multi-institutional, voluntary, anonymous, nonrandomized survey. PopulationVeterinary students (303 of 557 total respondents) from 10 veterinary schools. MethodsQuantitative data were obtained via 5-point Likert scale questions about anesthesia-related topics. Open-ended questions were used to obtain qualitative data. A multivariate logistic regression model assessed the likelihood of choosing a career as an anesthesiologist. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between ‘anesthesia is interesting’ and other variables. ResultsOf the respondents, 14 (6%) indicated veterinary anesthesia as their chosen specialty. There was a significant positive relationship between ‘anesthesia is interesting’ and the following variables: age, enjoyment in anesthesia class, belief in the importance of anesthesia for their career, belief in the importance of analgesia for their career, belief that anesthesia and analgesia have a large impact on patient care, interest in pharmacology, interest in physiology, interest in learning technical skills, belief that anesthesiologists are respected by their colleagues and belief that anesthesiologists are an important part of the health care team. More weeks on the anesthesia clinical rotation was positively and significantly associated with increased rotation enjoyment. Enjoyment in the anesthesia class [p = 0.001, Exp(β) = 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–3.4] and belief that anesthesia is interesting [p = 0.013, Exp(β) = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2–5.4] were predictors that respondents would be more likely to consider a career as a veterinary anesthesiologist. ConclusionsThose veterinary students with an interest in pharmacology and who enjoyed their anesthesia course were more likely to consider a career as a veterinary anesthesiologist. If students indicated no interest in specializing in veterinary anesthesia, they appreciated the value the specialty brings to animal care and believed that veterinary anesthesiologists are respected by their peers.

“That does not apply”: graduate students’ (mis)perceptions of the racial climate in STEMM

PurposeThis study aims to explore how science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) graduate students’ experiences with and conceptualizations of racism can more clearly expose the current racial climate across multiple academic institutions.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach using a single online questionnaire consisting of open-ended and Likert scale questions about their perceptions of the racial climate in their department was completed by 34 graduate students of different races and STEMM disciplines.FindingsResults from this study suggested that graduate students, regardless of race, consistently perceive STEMM as colorblind. The results also suggest that experiencing or witnessing racial discrimination is potentially predictive of perceptions of negative social support. Furthermore, multiracial and international graduate students often face different experiences of discrimination than do other graduate students.Originality/valueBy better understanding STEMM academic climates, higher education institutions can begin to reflect on the social barriers that may limit minoritized students from matriculating in academic STEMM spaces and affect retention.

Analisis Keamanan Data Pelanggan dalam Menghadapi Tantangan Penggunaan Marketplace

The advent of the digital economy makes commerce more accessible to everyone. Example: an online marketplace app that simplifies buying and selling. The marketplace app's useful features and ease of use attract many users. The marketplace app's functionality and convenience have been enhanced to meet consumer expectations and prioritize consumer data protection. This study investigates how customers protect their data when shopping online and utilizing marketplace apps. Environmental and social influences, personal data security facilities, the goal of utilizing the marketplace, and awareness of customer data security when using the marketplace application were asked of 70 random sample participants. The questionnaires had 16 Guttman scale questions. According to the report, 81.42% of customers trust the marketplace app to protect their data. Likewise, 88.57% of customers strongly believe that the marketplace application they use secures their personal information, indicating that this is related to their marketplace service needs.

Scale Development Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Digital Transformation in Businesses: An Application in Turkish Defence Industry

The global attractiveness of digital transformation technologies leads many nations to increase their investments in these technologies and to achieve a stronger economic position. While this process can be considered in the context of many sectors, it has emerged more clearly in recent years, especially in the defence industry. Not only in many developed countries but also in Turkey, especially with the developments in the last 15 years, the defence industry sector can find a place among the notable countries in the world. Therefore, the use of these technologies can be expressed as a dynamic structure whose potential increases daily thanks to the added value it creates and the ecosystem it has created. However, this process is not only the application field of the private sector but also creates value in the context of the theoretical framework and concepts revealed by scientific studies. This study, it is aimed to develop a scale to determine the ‘digital transformation effectiveness’ in defence industry enterprises. In this framework, the scale and questionnaire questions were sent to companies operating in the Turkish defence industry, and 65 companies responded. The data was subjected to validity and reliability analyses using SPSS 26 and AMOS 26 programs, followed by statistical testing through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The findings showed that the scale has sufficiently high internal consistency, has explanatory and confirmatory factor validity, and also has criterion validity based on sub-dimensions.

Implementation of nurse administered propofol sedation for same-day discharge pulsed field ablation of atrial fibrillation is safe and has excellent patient reviews

Abstract Background In June 2022, we introduced Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) for de novo pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Simultaneously, deep sedation with propofol undertaken by trained nurses from the cath lab was introduced. Purpose To evaluate feasibility, safety and patient reported experience for same-day discharge AF ablations performed with PFA on propofol sedation. Methods Patients with an ASA physical status classification of 1 or 2 referred for de novo AF ablation were planned for PFA in propofol sedation. Three nurses with previous experience from the intensive care unit planned and undertook the sedation. In addition, two nurses were trained locally. The initial 200 consecutive patients were included in the observational cohort study after signing consent to participate in follow-up after the procedure. Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools. In addition to procedure related data, patient-reported quality measures were acquired 30 days after the procedure by an internet based questionnaire including scaling and open questions. Results 96% of the procedures were successfully completed using only propofol while 4% were scheduled for general anesthesia, mainly because of sleep apnea and high BMI. The average procedure time for the first 100 procedures was 57 min (95% CI, 54.1-62.9) and 45 min (95% CI, 42.6-47.4) for the following 100 procedures. Acute PVI was achieved during all procedures. No sedation related adverse effects were observed. One patient experienced pericardial tamponade requiring prolonged hospitalization. 87% were discharged on the same day as planned while 12% remained hospitalized one additional day for reassurance and social reasons. 93% (186/200) completed the questionnaire. 56% of patient only responded "very little" or "not at all" to all questions about adverse symptoms during and after the procedure. For each specific symptom, 80 to 95 % were only experienced "very little" or "not at all" (Fig 1). In general, patients felt safe about the preparation for and handling of the sedation (Fig 2). Conclusions Nurse administered deep sedation with propofol, provides excellent pain relief for PFA procedures, facilitates an efficient workflow and can safely be implemented and administered by nurses from the cath lab. Propofol sedation constitutes an important alternative to general anesthesia that is not widely available.Figure 1Figure 2

Treatment of thrombotic cardiovascular diseases in people with haemophilia: A Japanese consensus study.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) that require long-term anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy presents a problem in people with haemophilia (PWH) who receive factor replacement therapy to reduce bleeding risk. Currently, there are no Japanese guidelines for the management of PWH with CVD. To develop expert guidance on managing CVD in PWH in Japan. A steering committee of four experts (two haemophilia specialists, one thrombosis specialist, one cardiologist) identified 44 statements related to five key themes. An online questionnaire was produced comprising a mix of 4-point Likert scale and multiple-choice questions that was sent to specialists in the management of PWH with CVD in Japan. Consensus was defined as high or very high if a respective ≥75% or ≥90% of respondents agreed with a statement. Of 16 potential respondents, responses were received from 15 specialists. Of the Likert scale questions, 71% (29/41) achieved ≥90% agreement (very strong agreement), 17% (7/41) achieved 75%-89% agreement (strong agreement) and 15% (6/41) did not achieve consensus agreement. The three multiple-choice questions failed to identify a strong preference. Agreement on specific target trough clotting factor levels for managing certain clinical situations, such as when in the presence of non-valvular atrial fibrillation or myocardial infarction, was also achieved. The results of this consensus study provide a framework for cardiologists and haematologists to manage PWH who are at risk of, or who have, CVD. Implementation of the recommendations provided herein may improve outcomes for PWH with CVD.

Barriers to pregnancy prevention for adolescents in rural Haiti: perceptions of healthcare providers.

Little is known about healthcare providers' (HCPs) contraceptive views for adolescents in Haiti, who experience high rates of unintended pregnancy. We sought to describe HCPs' perspectives on barriers and facilitators to contraceptive care delivery in rural Haiti. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews with HCPs in two rural communities in Haiti from 08/2021-03/2022. We assessed demographics, clinical practice behaviors and explored contraception perspectives according to Theory of Planned Behavior constructs: attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (e.g., people's perceptions of their ability to perform a given behavior, barriers and facilitators of a behavior).15-17 We used descriptive statistics to report proportions and responses to Likert scale and multiple-choice questions. Guided by content analysis, we analyzed interview transcripts through thematic inductive coding and team debriefing. Among 58 respondents, 90% (n = 52) were female and 53% (n = 31) were nurses. Most reported always (n = 16, 28%) or very often (n = 21, 36%) obtaining a sexual history for adolescents. A majority agreed/strongly agreed that clinicians should discuss pregnancy prevention (n = 45, 78%), high-risk sexual behaviors (n = 40, 69%), and should prescribe contraception (n = 41, 71%) to adolescents. The most frequently cited provider-level barriers (i.e., significant or somewhat of a barrier) included insufficient contraception knowledge (n = 44, 77%) and time (n = 37, 64%). HCPs were concerned about barriers at the patient-level (e.g. adolescents' fear of parental notification [n = 37, 64%], adolescents will give inaccurate information about sexual behaviors [n = 25, 43%]) and system-level (e.g. resistance to providing care from administration [n = 33, 57%]). In interviews (n = 17), HCPs generally supported contraception care for adolescents. Many HCPs echoed our quantitative findings on concerns about privacy and confidentiality. HCPs reported concerns about lack of contraception education leading to misconceptions, and community and parental judgement. HCPs expressed interest in further contraception training and resources and noted the importance of providing youth-friendly contraceptive care. While HCPs support contraceptive care, we identified actionable barriers to improve care for adolescents in rural Haiti. Future efforts should include increasing HCP knowledge and training, community and parent coalition building to increase contraception support and offering youth-friendly contraceptive care to offset risk for related adverse health outcomes in adolescents in rural Haiti.