Separate Focus Research Articles

A FORESIGHT ABOUT CONTENT PRODUCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN TURKEY FROM THE COMMUNICATORS' PERSPECTIVE: FOCUS GROUP STUDY ON TIKTOK

As a social media tool that attracts attention and tries to gain a place for itself among the developing and changing platforms, TikTok is the subject of many news, conversations and research. TikTok application, which is seen as a danger by many, finds itself a wide place in the Turkish and world press. This research is based on the prejudiced attitude towards the TikTok platform, which is especially evaluated for the younger generation and raises concerns. The study tries to reveal the reason for the prejudice against TikTok in Turkey and to provide a foresight. In this context, it has been tried to answer the questions of why the participants are prejudiced against TikTok, what prevents them from using TikTok, and whether the participant's views differ between professionals and students. Focus group interview method was used in order for people to express their ideas as easily as possible both individually and within the community dynamics. Two separate focus group studies were conducted for communication faculty students and communication professionals, and 47 people were interviewed in six focus group meetings, three for students and three for professionals. At the end of the research, the main reasons for the participants' prejudice against TikTok are their inability to make sense of the application, their refrain from the application, especially in terms of children's use, and seeing the application as an exhibitionist, perceiving the application as a waste of time, and especially the content and content producers have also affected this prejudice. In addition to these, the fact that the origin of the application is China has emerged as a reason for prejudice.

Perpindahan Ibukota Studi Tentang Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Terhadap Teori Sustainable

The pace of world development requires Indonesia to participate in advancing itself so that it can continue to exist following current progress. A better standard of living is certainly the goal of every country for its citizens, with that the country will advance in its progression. Sustainable development poses a challenge for the government to adopt policies that are precisely on target. The policy of moving the Indonesian capital to Kalimantan has become a separate focus for environmentalists. This research was examined by using a conceptual approach. By examining government programs, especially whether the said program has adhered to the principles of sustainable development. Awareness and assessment of environmental issues must be addressed immediately by increasing eco-development that uses and manages natural resources wisely so as to improve environmental quality.

P048 Social Media's Influence on Adolescents’ Food Preferences Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundAdditional time spent on social media (SM) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased adolescents’ exposure to food and beverage (F&B) advertisements. The marketing of unhealthy F&B products featuring celebrities and influencers may contribute to an increased preference towards various products, potentially influencing consumption patterns and increasing one's long-term health risk.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine SM's influence on adolescents’ food and beverage preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore their parents’ perceptions of this phenomenon.Study Design, Setting, ParticipantsThree, one-hour, semi-structured virtual focus groups were conducted with seven dyads of 6th grade students and their parents (n = 14) from a suburban school district in northeastern Pennsylvania. Students and parents participated in separate focus groups and completed a demographic survey that included SM use characteristics in June-September 2021.Measurable Outcome/AnalysisFocus group transcripts were transcribed, coded, and analyzed by both authors using a constant comparison approach.ResultsThree themes that emerged from adolescents were: increased SM usage, factors that increased consumption, and increased recall of memorable aspects of F&B advertisements. Themes that emerged from parents were: parental observations of adolescents’ less healthy eating behaviors, parental influence over F&B purchases, and increased engagement in food trends seen on SM.ConclusionsThese themes suggest increased SM use influenced adolescents' ability to recall specific F&B brands and potentially influenced consumption. Safeguards seem to remain in place regarding parents’ influence over the adolescents’ F&B purchase requests. Additionally, parents may be aware of the targeted marketing used on SM and its potential to influence adolescents’ eating behaviors. These findings suggest the importance for parents, dietitians, and other healthcare providers to be aware of increased SM usage and the potential influence F&B advertisements may have on adolescent eating behaviors. These findings will also be important for nutrition educators to understand when teaching these risks to students/future practitioners.FundingVillanova University's Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

High-throughput single cell metabolomics and cellular heterogeneity exploration by inertial microfluidics coupled with pulsed electric field-induced electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry

Single cell metabolomics can obtain the metabolic profiles of individual cells and reveal cellular heterogeneity. However, high-throughput single-cell mass spectrometry (MS) analysis under physiological conditions remains a great challenge due to the presence of complex matrix and extremely small cell volumes. Herein, a serpentine channel microfluidic device which was designed to achieve continuous cell separation and inertial focusing, was coupled with a pulsed electric field-induced electrospray ionization-high resolution MS (PEF-ESI-HRMS) to achieve high-throughput single cell analysis. The pulsed square wave electric field was applied to realize on-line cell disruption and induce electrospray ionization. Single cells were analyzed under near-physiological conditions at a throughput of up to 80 cells min−1. More than 900 features were detected and approximately 120 metabolites were tentatively identified from a single cell. Further, by continually analyzing more than 3000 MCF7 and HepG2 cells, discrimination of different cancer cells based on their individual metabolic profiles was achieved by using the principal component analysis. The PEF-ESI-HRMS method was also applied for the analysis of single yeast cells, and more than 40 metabolites were annotated. This method is versatile and has good robustness, which is promising for high-throughput single cell metabolomics analysis.

AN UNUSUAL LARGE SIZE DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU IN A PATIENT ON LITHIUM THERAPY: A CASE REPORT WITH LITERATURE REVIEW

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest and most curable form of breast cancer. Patients who harbour this disease for quite some time usually have micro invasion by virtue of high-grade disease or big size. Herein, we report a case of 56-year-old postmenopausal woman presenting with a one-year history of blood-stained nipple discharge from right breast. She was a known case of depression receiving oral anti-depressants containing lithium for 20 years. Her mammogram was performed followed by ultrasound breast. Mammogram identified suspicious clusters of micro calcifications hence subjected to stereotactic core biopsy which revealed two separate foci of high-grade DCIS. Therefore, based on her clinical, radiological, and pathological findings she was subjected to mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy. Final histopathology showed big DCIS (10×8×3 cm in size) with immunohistochemical stains confirmed no invasive focus on extensive sampling. Therefore, we postulated that it might be correlated to the use of Lithium which has anti-cancer properties.

Culturally adapting a parent psychoeducational intervention for Chinese immigrant families of young children with autism spectrum disorder

AbstractAsian children with autism are underdiagnosed and underserved compared to White children in the United States. There is a critical need for culturally appropriate interventions addressing these health disparities. The current study aims to present the cultural adaptation process of an empirically supported parent education intervention, “Parents Taking Action” (PTA), for low‐income Chinese immigrant families of young children with autism. Six Chinese immigrant parents of children with autism and six providers serving this population were recruited to participate in two separate focus groups in a US Midwestern city. Focus group data were transcribed and then analyzed using deductive qualitative analysis. Two bilingual researchers coded the data independently using a predeveloped coding list. Parents provided insights on the intervention structure and contextual elements such as cultural stigma against autism while providers put more emphasis on content modification. Parents underscored the benefits of delivering the intervention in group format as opposed to one‐on‐one family visits. This preference for group delivery was based on contextual issues such as feeling isolated from extended family and community members who do not have much knowledge of autism. Parents and providers agreed that it is important to deliver the intervention in community settings instead of clinics to enhance accessibility. As we tested out the predeveloped coding list, we synthesized a process of integrating community input into modifications of the original intervention. To our knowledge, this is the first culturally adapted intervention targeting Chinese immigrant families of young children with autism. The lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions for Chinese immigrant families of children with autism is alarming given the fast growth of this population. The process of culturally adapting “PTA” for Chinese immigrant families of children with autism provides a roadmap on how to translate community input into steps of adaptations.

Features and Components Preferred by Adolescents in Smartphone Apps for the Promotion of Physical Activity: Focus Group Study.

BackgroundThere is solid evidence that lack of physical activity (PA) is a risk factor for chronic diseases. Sufficient levels of PA in childhood and adolescence are particularly important, as they can set the standards for PA levels in adulthood. The latest reports show that only a small percentage of adolescents reach the recommended levels of PA in European Union countries at the age of 15 years. In view of the scale of the problem, it is crucial to develop interventions that promote and support PA in adolescents. Considering their low implementation costs and ubiquitous presence, smartphone apps could be advantageous as a part of PA interventions.ObjectiveThis study aimed at investigating the attitudes and preferences of adolescents aged 16-18 years toward various PA app features and components that could (1) make the app more attractive for them and consequently (2) increase their interest and engagement with the app.MethodsTwo separate focus group discussions were conducted in 2 groups of adolescents (n=4 each) aged 16-18 years. Focus groups were carried out online via video conference. The discussions were conducted using a semistructured interview. Participants (n=8; 4 males and 4 females) had a mean age of 17.25 years (SD 0.82 years). Transcripts were analyzed following the approach by Krueger and Casey, that is, categorizing participants’ answers and comments according to the questions and themes from the focus group schedule.ResultsFeatures, such as “goal setting and planning,” “coaching and training programs,” “activity tracking,” “feedback,” and “location tracking” were appraised as attractive, motivating, and interesting. An “automatic activity recognition” feature was perceived as useful only under the condition that its precision was high. The “reminders” component was also deemed as useful only if a range of conditions was fulfilled (timeliness, opportunity for customization, etc). The features “mood and sleep tracking,” “sharing workout results via social networks,” “digital avatar and coach,” and “rewards” were generally perceived negatively and considered as useless and not motivating. In general, participants preferred features with an easy-to-navigate interface and a clear, simplistic, and straightforward layout with a modern design. Customization and personalization qualities were highly appreciated throughout an app, together with data precision.ConclusionsThis study contributes to the understanding of the features and components preferred by adolescents in apps promoting PA. Such apps should provide users with precise data, and have a simplistic modern design and a straightforward easy-to-use interface. Apps should be personalized and customizable. Desired features to be included in an app are goal setting and planning, feedback, coaching and training programs, and activity tracking. The features should involve high levels of data precision and timely delivery while taking into consideration the real-life context.

Students' perception on flipped classroom in contrast to live demonstration for teaching orthodontic wire-bending skills: A focus group study.

This study aimed to explore students' perceptions of flipped classroom (FC) compared to live demonstration (LD) in transferring skills of fabricating orthodontic wire components for orthodontic removable appliances. Forty third-year undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned to two groups: FC (n=20) and LD (n=20). Students in group FC attended FC, while students in group LD attended LD. Both groups underwent a series of standardized teaching sessions to acquire skills in fabricating six types of orthodontic wire components. Eight students (four high achievers and four low achievers) from each group were randomly selected to attend separate focus group discussion (FGD) sessions. Students' perceptions on the strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement on each teaching method were explored. Audio and video recordings of FGD were transcribed and thematically analyzed using NVivo version 12 software. Promoting personalized learning, improvement in teaching efficacy, inaccuracy of three-dimensional demonstration from online video, and lack of standardization among instructors and video demonstration were among the themes identified. Similarly, lack of standardization among instructors was one of the themes identified for LD, in addition to other themes such as enabling immediate clarification and vantage point affected by seating arrangement and class size. In conclusion, FC outperformed LD in fostering personalized learning and improving the efficacy of physical class time. LD was more advantageous than FC in allowing immediate question and answer. However, seating arrangement and class size affected LD in contrast to FC.

Cultural Identity in Bicultural Young Adults in Ireland: A Social Representation Theory Approach

This research investigates the nature by which first- and second-generation Irish young adults of (1) African descent, (2) Asian descent, and (3) Eastern European descent explore their cultural identity(ies) through communicating and interpreting social representations relating to their ethnic and national cultures. Using Social Representation Theory (SRT) and, more widely, Proculturation Theory as the theoretical underpinning, we examine how grown children of migrants construct their cultural identity(ies) by exploring external social representations. We conducted three separate in-depth focus groups for each continental group in virtual rooms on Zoom, lasting between 60 and 90 mins. A thematic analysis was pursued to understand how the participants discussed the representation of their cultural groups both in social and media-driven situations. The results indicated the overarching themes of Anchoring Irishness and Latent Media Representation, whereby participants communicated and dialogically explored their subjective interpretations of the social representations of their cultural groups which, in turn, may have informed their cultural identity(ies). Highlighting the dynamic nature of the cultural reality of Ireland and how it impacts generations after the initial migration period, this research highlights and exemplifies the importance of external social representations that serve to construct the multiple cultural identities of first- and second-generation migrants.

When the Challenges of Widowhood Extend to Childcare: Essential Considerations for Social Work Practice

Unless widows recount their painful experiences of caring for their children, their day-to day lived challenges of childcare may be misunderstood if not totally missed by social workers in practice. This article discusses the widow’s painful experiences of caring for their children in Binga District in Zimbabwe and the critical aspects needed for consideration by social workers in practice. A qualitative research approach using a phenomenological research design was adopted to capture the lived struggles of the widows in caring for their children. Using purposive sampling, twenty-four widows participated in the in-depth interviews, with ten widows participating in individual interviews whilst fourteen widows participated in two separate focus group interviews with seven widows in each group. Data were analysed thematically with predetermined and emerging themes critically discussed and compared with existing literature. The findings showed that due to dwindling resource bases, widows are bound to fail to meet the physiological, psychosocial, economic and educational needs of their children. The article recommends deliberate and systematic social work considerations in efforts to intervene and avert the circumstances of the widows that have a negative impact on childcare.

The Impact of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy on the Quality of Life of Patients and Their Relatives: A Qualitative Study.

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is an inherited mitochondrial disease characterized by severe bilateral vision loss and chronic visual impairment. The objective of this study was to comprehensively explore the impact of LHON on the lives of patients and their relatives at the time of diagnosis and now. Qualitative study design with 8 focus group interviews conducted in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, involving 17 individuals with m.11778G>A mutation and their relatives. Separate focus groups for patients and their relatives were facilitated by a moderator in French, German, or English. Qualitative analysis of interviews using a pre-defined analytical framework. Participants reported feeling devastated by the diagnosis of LHON after a lengthy and worrisome diagnostic journey. Patients were frustrated by the loss of autonomy, which also affected their relatives. Participants described challenges across several domains: physical capabilities, emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, work and studies, finances, and recreational activities. Access to disability allowances, vision aids, and funded or subsided idebenone varied by country, resulting in unequal financial impact. Patients are hopeful for therapy that would restore autonomy and improve their ability to enjoy a fulfilling life, while alleviating the demands placed on their relatives. The impact of LHON extends beyond vision-related activity limitations. Addressing the psychosocial impact of LHON and helping patients and their relatives adapt and cope with vision loss are vital. As part of this, an accurate and timely diagnosis is important to enable early intervention. Further investigation of specific unmet needs is required.

We Are Not There Yet: A Qualitative System Probing Study of a Hospital Rapid Response System.

ObjectivesThe capability of a hospital’s rapid response system (RRS) depends on various factors to reduce in-hospital cardiac arrests and mortality. Through system probing, this qualitative study targeted a more comprehensive understanding of how healthcare professionals manage the complexities of RRS in daily practice as well as identifying its challenges.MethodsWe observed RRS through in situ simulations in 2 wards and conducted the debriefings as focus group interviews. By arranging a separate focus group interview, we included the perspectives of intensive care unit personnel.ResultsHealthcare professionals appreciated the standardized use of the National Early Warning Score, when combined with clinical knowledge and experience, structured communication, and interprofessional collaboration. However, we identified salient challenges in RRS, for example, unwanted variation in recognition competence, and inconsistent routines in education and documentation. Furthermore, we found that a lack of interprofessional trust, different understandings of RRS protocol, and signs of low psychological safety in the wards disrupted collaboration. To help remedy identified challenges, healthcare professionals requested shared arenas for learning, such as in situ simulation training.ConclusionsThrough system probing, we described the inner workings of RRS and revealed the challenges that require more attention. Healthcare professionals depend on structured RRS education, training, and resources to operate such a system. In this study, they request interventions like in situ simulation training as an interprofessional educational arena to improve patient care. This is a relevant field for further research. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies Checklist was followed to ensure rigor in the study.

Postgraduate student perceptions of face-to-face and distance education in orthodontics: A cross-sectional qualitative study.

Objective:To investigate postgraduate student perceptions of face-to-face and distance education on a three-year programme in orthodontics.Design:Cross-sectional qualitative study.Setting:UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London.Participants:A total of 25 current postgraduate orthodontic students in the first, second and third years of training were included in this study.Methods:Postgraduate student perceptions were obtained by conducting online focus groups on Zoom Video Communications Inc. A focus group topic guide was developed, and a facilitator was trained to host the focus groups. There were separate focus groups for each year group, with a maximum of five participants in each group. The focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were assessed by all members of the research team and analysed using a thematic content analysis, with a framework approach to identify themes and subthemes regarding perceptions of distance and face-to-face education.Results:A total of 25 students participated. Six key themes were identified relating to student perceptions of face-to-face and distance education: (1) social support network; (2) technology; (3) learning experience; (4) education environment; (5) interpersonal interactions; and (6) effective teaching/learning. There were perceived benefits and drawbacks for both modes of teaching delivery. In particular, students highlighted the importance of reliable technology, peer support and accessibility of educational resources for their academic learning. Students favoured a blended approach to learning where practical skills were taught in person and some theoretical aspects taught remotely.Conclusion:The results aid the understanding of how educational tools and digital technology can enrich the student academic experience. The results provide important information for the future development and delivery of orthodontic postgraduate education.

The flagging features of the Sysmex XN-10 analyser for detecting platelet clumps and the impacts of platelet clumps on complete blood count parameters.

Platelet clumps present in anticoagulant specimens may generate a falsely decreased platelet count and lead to an incorrect diagnosis. A clear understanding of the ability of a haematology analyser (HA) to detect platelet clumps is important for routine work in the clinical laboratory. Citrate-anticoagulated whole-blood samples were collected from various patients as a negative group. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was performed on those negative samples to mimic platelet-clump-containing (positive) samples. The 'platelet clumps' and 'platelet abnormal' flags generated by the Sysmex XN-10 instrument were used to assess the flagging performance of this HA and demonstrate its flagging features. The complete blood count (CBC) results of paired negative and positive samples were compared to evaluate the impact of platelet clumps on the CBC parameters. A total of 187 samples were eligible for this study.The total accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the platelet clumps flag were 0.786, 0.626, and 0.947, respectively. The total accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of theplatelet abnormal flag were 0.631, 0.348, and 0.914, respectively. A separate assessment focusing on the positive samples with low platelet counts showed that the total sensitivities of the platelet clumps and platelet abnormal flags were 0.801 and 1.000, respectively. Platelet clumps may interfere with the leukocyte count and with platelet and erythrocyte indices. Platelet clumps can influence not only platelet indices but also leukocyte and erythrocyte counts. The Sysmex XN-10 instrument is sensitive to positive samples with low platelet counts but insensitive to those with high platelet counts.

Patient Advocacy Assessment in the Medicine Clerkship: A Qualitative Study of Definition, Context, and Impact

BackgroundAdvocacy is a core value of the medical profession. However, patient advocacy (advocacy) is not uniformly assessed and there are no studies of the behaviors clinical supervisors consider when assessing advocacy.ObjectiveTo explore how medical students and supervisors characterize advocacy during an internal medicine clerkship, how assessment of advocacy impacted students and supervisors, and elements that support effective implementation of advocacy assessment.DesignA constructivist qualitative paradigm was used to understand advocacy assessment from the perspectives of students and supervisors.ParticipantsMedical students who completed the internal medicine clerkship at UCSF during the 2018 and 2019 academic years and supervisors who evaluated students during this period.ApproachSupervisor comments from an advocacy assessment item in the medicine clerkship and transcripts of focus groups were used to explore which behaviors students and supervisors deem to be advocacy. Separate focus groups with both students and supervisors examined the impact that advocacy assessment had on students’ and supervisors’ perceptions of advocacy and what additional context was necessary to effectively implement advocacy assessment.Key ResultsStudents and supervisors define advocacy as identifying and addressing social determinants of health, recognizing and addressing patient wishes and concerns, navigating the health care system, conducting appropriate evaluation and treatment, and creating exceptional therapeutic alliances. Effective implementation of advocacy assessment requires the creation of non-hierarchical team environments, supervisor role modeling, and pairing assessment with teaching of advocacy skills. Inclusion of advocacy assessment reflects and dictates institutional priorities, shapes professional identity formation, and enhances advocacy skill development for students and their supervisors.ConclusionsStudents and supervisors consider advocacy to be a variety of behaviors beyond identifying and addressing social determinants of health. Effectively implementing advocacy assessment shapes students’ professional identity formation, underscoring the critical importance of formally focusing on this competency in the health professions education.

‘Where were pharmaceuticals in Eden?’ Use of herbal medicine in old age: Focus group discussions among community-dwelling older adults in Ghana

ObjectiveThe use of herbs later in life is an important research area, yet there is little known about older adults’ herb use in Ghana. This qualitative study offers a better understanding of the motivations for herb use among older adults in Ghana. MethodsTwo separate focus group discussions were conducted for individuals who participated in a study investigating healthcare use among older adults in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Nineteen older adults (10 males, 9 females) participated in the focus group discussions. Discussion responses were coded and analysed. ResultsOlder adults used various kinds of medicinal herbs which include ginger (Zingiber officinale), garlic (Allium sativum), moringa (Moringa oleifera), Bonto (Nicotiana tabacum) and Sorowisa (Piper guineense) for treating and preventing various illnesses and diseases. Reasons for herb use in later life included: (1) the perceived safety and efficacy of herbal remedies; (2) a lack of trust in conventional drugs; (3) cultural sensitivity of herbal remedies; (4) perception of positive health outcomes and status as a result of herbal medicine use; (5) unpleasant experiences of using western medications; and (6) the availability, accessibility and affordability of herbal remedies compared to conventional drugs. There was a lack of disclosure of herb use to healthcare professionals. In most cases, participants used herbs concurrently with pharmaceuticals without the knowledge of possible side effects and interactions. ConclusionThis paper provides evidence to suggest that the implementation of an intercultural healthcare system should be considered by the relevant authorities within the Ghana health sector.

The Shared Safety Net Action Plan (SSNAP): a co-designed intervention to reduce delays in cancer diagnosis.

BackgroundSafety netting in primary care may help diagnose cancer earlier, but it is unclear what the format and content of an acceptable safety-netting intervention would be. This project aimed to co-design a safety-netting intervention with and for primary care patients and staff.AimThis work sought to address how a safety-netting intervention would be implemented in practice; and, if and how a safety-netting intervention would be acceptable to all stakeholders.Design and settingPatient representatives, GPs, and nurse practitioners were invited to a series of co-design workshops. Patients who had and had not received a diagnosis of cancer and primary care practices took part in separate focus groups.MethodThree workshops using creative co-design processes developed the format and content of the intervention prototype. The COM-B Framework underpinned five focus groups to establish views on capability, opportunity, and motivation to use the intervention to assist with prototype refinement.ResultsWorkshops and focus groups suggested the intervention format and content should incorporate visual and written communication specifying clear timelines for monitoring symptoms and when to present back; be available in paper and electronic forms linked to existing computer systems; and be able to be delivered within a 10-minute consultation. Intervention use themes included ‘building confidence through partnership’, ‘using familiar and current procedures and systems’, and ‘seeing value’.ConclusionThe Shared Safety Net Action Plan (SSNAP) — a safety-netting intervention to assist the timely diagnosis of cancer in primary care, was successfully co-designed with and for patients and primary care staff.

CLIL implemented and scaffolded in an EFL higher education context: Engineering research methodology course

The increasing global and local demands to improve English proficiency have been a burgeoning challenge across the entire paradigm and domains. Specifically, in academia, the ability to read English research articles is of paramount importance. Meanwhile, Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) implementation has been recognized to be a successful teaching approach. This study aims to estimate the CLIL impact on enhancing the students’ English research article reading skills, enlarging their vocabulary repertoire, and boosting the students’ and instructors’ satisfaction. The focus of the study is on a “research methodology” course for engineering students in Thailand. Throughout CLIL, the language teachers and engineering teachers closely collaborated, designing course materials and developing language activities. To assess research article reading skills and vocabulary knowledge, two sets of similar pretests/posttests were administered. Then, to assess the students’ level of CLIL satisfaction, questionnaires were completed, and two separate focus group discussion sessions were conducted with the students and teachers. Test score analysis yielded a significantly enhanced output in both the content subject and English vocabulary knowledge. Additionally, questionnaire and focus group discussion data analysis indicated that both the students and teachers had positive attitudes toward CLIL instruction. Taken together, this study demonstrates that to achieve full optimization of CLIL benefits, scaffolding needs to be supplemented to accommodate individual learning contexts.

Exploring views of relatives and mental health professionals to inform the cultural adaptation of a family intervention for schizophrenia in Oman: A qualitative study.

Family interventions (FI) for schizophrenia were primarily developed and practised in the West. It has been proven that cultural adaptation for FI facilitates its uptake and improves therapy outcomes; however, the majority of literature on the development of FI focussed on outpatient or community settings, and little attention has been paid to in-patient units. There is an opportunity to engage with the family during admission, particularly in Asia. To explore relatives' and mental health professionals' views and opinions to inform the cultural adaptation of FI for hospitalised patients with schizophrenia in Oman. It also aimed to gain consensus on items that need adaptation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with the caregivers (n = 20) and two separate focus groups with psychiatrists (n = 7) and nurses (n = 5). Another consensus group was a mix of both (n = 6) to develop agreement and solve discrepant issues. The data were analysed using framework analysis to identify the intervention components and delivery system. Modifications to existing components indicated that the cultural adaption of the intervention focussed more on themes such as religious and spiritual causes of mental illness, simplified language, format of delivery as individual sessions and culturally relevant and acceptable problem solving and coping skills. The components of the intervention identified as psychoeducation, problem-solving and emotional support. The consensus group finalised the intervention's content and delivery system concerning training needs and issues and barriers to implementation. The proposed culturally adapted FI for hospitalised patients requires a flexible approach to meet the family's needs. The findings of the study indicated that FI is an acceptable and feasible approach to be delivered during hospitalisation. The intervention will be accompanied with an intervention manual, which will be tested in a future feasibility study.

Individuals Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Participate in Active Recreation: Perspectives From Adults With Developmental Disabilities and Acquired Conditions.

The aim of the study was to gather the perspectives and lived experiences of 10 adults who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and participate in active recreation. Active recreational participation includes individual sports such as adaptive skiing, surfing, and cycling, as well as unified team sports such as soccer, bocce, and basketball. This research involved a qualitative study with two separate asynchronous online focus groups each conducted over a 6-week span. The focus groups included literate individuals who use AAC and engage in active recreational pursuits across the United States. One focus group included five individuals with acquired conditions, and the other group included five individuals with developmental disabilities. Thematic analysis of the data from both focus groups revealed five primary themes with corresponding subthemes: barriers (intrinsic and extrinsic), supports (intrinsic and extrinsic), benefits (intrinsic and extrinsic), communication (methods), and recommendations for communication partners and people who use AAC. This study provides important information to individuals who use AAC and their communication partners about the benefits of active recreation and the supports needed to make these experiences successful. As a result of this study, speech-language pathologists, related professionals, and caregivers will gain a better understanding of how they can support recreational participation for people who use AAC with a specific focus on enhancing communication and expanding social networks. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.17701043.