Thematic Domains Research Articles

Patient-reported observations on medical procedure timeliness (PROMPT) in breast cancer: a qualitative study.

Timeliness of care is an important healthcare outcome measure. The objective of this study was to explore patient perspectives on the timeliness of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment at accredited breast cancer centers. In this qualitative study, 1hour virtual interviews were conducted with participants 18-75years old who were diagnosed and treated for stage 0-III breast cancer at a National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers facility from 2018 to 2022. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes of participant experiences. Twenty-eight participants were interviewed. Two thematic domains were identified: etiologies of expedited or delayed care and the impact of delayed or expedited care on patients. Within these domains, multiple themes emerged. For etiologies of expedited or delayed care, participants discussed (1) the effect of scheduling appointments, (2) the COVID-19 pandemic, (3) dissatisfaction with the timeline for various parts of the diagnostic workup, and (4) delays related to patient factors, including socioeconomic status. For the impact of expedited or delayed care, patients discussed (1) the emotional and mental impact of waiting, (2) the importance of communication and clear expectations, and (3) the impact of electronic health portals. Patients desired each care interval (e.g., the time from mammogram to breast biopsy) to be approximately 7days, with longer intervals sometimes preferred prior to surgery. These patient interviews identify areas of delay and provide patient-centered, actionable items to improve the timeliness of breast cancer care.

Moving Diabetes Prevention Programs to the Workplace: A Qualitative Exploration of Barriers and Facilitators to Participant Engagement When Implemented by an Employer-Based Clinic.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), an effective evidence-based strategy to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, has been widely implemented in various locations, including workplaces. However, most people do not remain engaged in the program for the recommended full year. Limited qualitative research exists around participant engagement in the workplace DPP. Our study aimed to explore participant engagement in the DPP delivered through the employer-based clinic (EBC) at a large technology company. The DPP was implemented through the EBC at a large technology company in Southern California, beginning in September 2019 by using in-person and virtual synchronous group classes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual focus groups with DPP participants from 2 inaugural cohorts were conducted via Zoom from October 2020 to February 2021. Data were analyzed by using inductive thematic analysis. Five focus groups with 2 to 3 participants in each (total n = 12) were conducted, 2 focus groups per cohort and 1 focus group with the group instructors. Barriers and facilitators to engagement in the DPP were grouped into thematic domains: Individual Drivers, Small Group Community, Workplace Setting, Integrated EBC, and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Results showed that prepandemic workplace demands (ie, meetings, travel) affected DPP participation, yet the group setting provided social support in the workplace to engage in and maintain healthy habits. With the move to a virtual synchronous offering during the pandemic, participants valued the group setting but expressed a preference for in-person meetings. Collectively, participant engagement was bolstered by shared buy-in and collaboration between the employer and the EBC. Our findings suggest that engagement in a workplace DPP can be supported by addressing workplace-specific barriers and gaining buy-in from employers. Delivering the DPP, in person and virtually, through an EBC has the potential to engage employees who have prediabetes.

Barriers and Enablers for Equitable Healthy Food Access in Baltimore Carryout Restaurants: A Qualitative Study in Healthy Food Priority Areas.

Black neighborhoods in the U.S., historically subjected to redlining, face inequitable access to resources necessary for health, including healthy food options. This study aims to identify the enablers and barriers to promoting equitable healthy food access in small, independently owned carryout restaurants in under-resourced neighborhoods to address health disparities. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with restaurant owners in purposively sampled neighborhoods within Healthy Food Priority Areas (HFPAs) from March to August 2023. The qualitative data were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis with Taguette software (Version 1.4.1). Four key thematic domains emerged: interpersonal, sociocultural, business, and policy drivers. Owners expressed mixed perspectives on customers' preferences for healthy food, with some perceiving a community desire for healthier options, while others did not. Owners' care for the community and their multicultural backgrounds were identified as potential enablers for tailoring culturally diverse menus to meet the dietary needs and preferences of their clientele. Conversely, profit motives and cost-related considerations were identified as barriers to purchasing and promoting healthy food. Additionally, owners voiced concerns about taxation, policy and regulation, information access challenges, and investment disparities affecting small business operations in HFPAs. Small restaurant businesses in under-resourced neighborhoods face both opportunities and challenges in enhancing community health and well-being. Interventions and policies should be culturally sensitive, provide funding, and offer clearer guidance to help these businesses overcome barriers and access resources needed for an equitable, healthy food environment.

Emergency Medicine Milestones Final Ratings Are Often Subpar.

The emergency medicine (EM) milestones are objective behaviors that are categorized into thematic domains called "subcompetencies" (eg, emergency stabilization). The scale for rating milestones is predicated on the assumption that a rating (level) of 1.0 corresponds to an incoming EM-1 resident and a rating of 4.0 is the "target rating" (albeit not an expectation) for a graduating resident. Our aim in this study was to determine the frequency with which graduating residents received the target milestone ratings. This retrospective, cross-sectional study was a secondary analysis of a dataset used in a prior study but was not reported previously. We analyzed milestone subcompetency ratings from April 25-June 24, 2022 for categorical EM residents in their final year of training. Ratings were dichotomized as meeting the expected level at the time of program completion (ratings of ≥3.5) and not meeting the expected level at the time of program completion (ratings of ≤3.0). We calculated the number of residents who did not achieve target ratings for each of the subcompetencies. In Spring 2022, of the 2,637 residents in the spring of their last year of training, 1,613 (61.2%) achieved a rating of ≥3.5 on every subcompetency and 1,024 (38.8%) failed to achieve that rating on at least one subcompetency. There were 250 residents (9.5%) who failed to achieve half of their expected subcompetency ratings and 105 (4.0%) who failed to achieve the expected rating (ie, rating was ≤3.0) on every subcompetency. When using an EM milestone rating threshold of 3.5, only 61.2% of physicians achieved the target ratings for program graduation; 4.0% of physicians failed to achieve target ratings for any milestone subcompetency; and 9.5% of physicians failed to achieve the target ratings for graduating residents in half of the subcompetencies.

Interdisciplinary perspectives on multimorbidity in Africa: Developing an expanded conceptual model.

Multimorbidity is an emerging challenge for health systems globally. It is commonly defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions in one person, but its meaning remains a lively area of academic debate, and the utility of the concept beyond high-income settings is uncertain. This article presents the findings from an interdisciplinary research initiative that drew together 60 academic and applied partners working in 10 African countries to answer the questions: how useful is the concept of multimorbidity within Africa? Can the concept be adapted to context to optimise its transformative potentials? During a three-day concept-building workshop, we investigated how the definition of multimorbidity was understood across diverse disciplinary and regional perspectives, evaluated the utility and limitations of existing concepts and definitions, and considered how to build a more context-sensitive, cross-cutting description of multimorbidity. This iterative process was guided by the principles of grounded theory and involved focus- and whole-group discussions during the workshop, thematic coding of workshop discussions, and further post-workshop development and refinement. Three thematic domains emerged from workshop discussions: the current focus of multimorbidity on constituent diseases; the potential for revised concepts to centre the priorities, needs, and social context of people living with multimorbidity (PLWMM); and the need for revised concepts to respond to varied conceptual priorities amongst stakeholders. These themes fed into the development of an expanded conceptual model that centres the catastrophic impacts multimorbidity can have for PLWMM, families and support structures, service providers, and health systems.

Characterization of the technological domain of relational citation analyses: A study of stem cell patents

This research aims to analyze the contribution of univariate and relational citation analysis methods, applied to patents, for the identification and characterization of scientific-technological domains, in documents indexed in the Derwent Innovation Index database. The adopted method was patentometrics associated with bibliometrics, using joint analysis of the relational bibliometric citation methods: co-citation and bibliographic coupling. The corpus of the study is composed of 144 patent families. Through the bibliographic coupling, 5 theme clusters and researchers with well-defined thematic domains were observed. Employing co-citation, 23 clusters were identified, characterizing the epistemic domains related to technological currents in which stem cell inventors operate. Such results allowed us to prospect the scientific-technological scenario in this theme, which can illustrate some institutions’ innovation potentials and explain who the actors at the forefront of such research are. It is proposed that applying this methodology allies to topic modeling techniques.

Consensus study on UK weight management services' response to COVID-19: best practices in outpatient management, governance and digital solutions.

The COVID-19 pandemic put unprecedented pressure on weight management services. These services were required to adapt to continue to provide care for people living with obesity. This study sought to develop consensus recommendations on the best practice solutions adopted by weight management services in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilised a semi-structured interview and a modified Delphi methodology to develop a consensus of best practice recommendations identified by specialist weight management services during the pandemic. Twenty-three healthcare professionals working in weight management service across the United Kingdom participated in the study. Analysis of interview transcripts identified four key thematic domains: outpatient, patient education and support, perioperative care and team working. Of the initial 43 unique recommendations, 30 reached consensus agreement. Outpatient recommendations focused on communication strategies, patient self-monitoring and remote patient tracking. Patient education and support recommendations addressed the development of online educational resources and support groups. Perioperative care recommendations emphasised case prioritisation, waiting list support and postoperative care. Team working recommendations targeted the use of digital collaboration tools and strategies for effective teamwork. Developing consensus recommendations on best practice is a critical step for weight management and outpatient services to achieve higher standards of care. These recommendations provide a springboard for departmental discussions, paving the way for improved experiences for individuals living with obesity as they progress along their weight management journey.

GREEN GOVERNANCE: INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY INTO PUBLIC DECISION-MAKING

<em>This study delves into the multifaceted domain of Green Governance, aimed at integrating environmental policies into public decision-making processes. Grounded in qualitative research methods utilizing secondary data, the investigation unfolds key insights derived from various thematic domains. The exploration begins by uncovering the foundational elements crucial to Green Governance, unveiling key components and imperatives for effective environmental policy implementation. Stakeholder perspectives emerge as pivotal, shaping policy realities and influencing the trajectory of environmental initiatives. The study navigates through theoretical perspectives, shedding light on the intricacies of policy integration into public decision-making, drawing from diverse lenses such as the Advocacy Coalition Framework and Institutional Theory. Additionally, the research meticulously explores various governance models, dissecting collaborative and network-based approaches and elucidating their distinguishing features and comparative advantages in integrating environmental policies. Findings underscore the significance of collaboration, adaptive structures, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive decision-making in crafting effective green governance frameworks. Ultimately, this research culminates in a comprehensive understanding of Green Governance, providing insights vital for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders.</em>

Hyperscanning literature after two decades of neuroscientific research: A scientometric review

Hyperscanning, a neuroimaging approach introduced in 2002 for simultaneously recording the brain activity of multiple participants, has significantly contributed to our understanding of social interactions. Nevertheless, the existing literature requires systematic organization to advance our knowledge. This study, after two decades of hyperscanning research, aims to identify the primary thematic domains and the most influential documents in the field. We conducted a scientometric analysis to examine co-citation patterns quantitatively, using a sample of 548 documents retrieved from Scopus and their 32,022 cited references. Our analysis revealed ten major thematic domains in hyperscanning research, with the most impactful document authored by Czeszumski and colleagues in 2020. Notably, while hyperscanning was initially developed for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), our findings indicate a substantial influence of research conducted using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The introduction of fNIRS and advancements in EEG methods have enabled the implementation of more ecologically valid experiments for investigating social interactions. The study also highlights the need for more research that combines multi-brain neural stimulation with neuroimaging techniques to understand the causal role played by interpersonal neural synchrony in social interactions.

Academic insight for approaching the sustainability of the textile industry

Objective: Sustainability is gaining importance in the textile sector, but there is a lack of literature reviews using bibliometric techniques to provide a quantitative and comprehensive assessment of scientific output. This article aims to provide a current and systematic overview of previous literature on sustainability in the textile sector. To achieve this, a literature review on this topic is done and a model of analysis of the issues studied is presented.Methodology: A mixed-method approach combining bibliometric analysis and qualitative reflection was employed on a sample of 580 papers. Co-word analysis identified thematic clusters in the literature.Results: A general analytical model has been presented to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review creating five key thematic research domains: Sustainable Development, Value Chain - Cellulose and Textile, Design Process, Circular Economy, and Sustainability. The model has also made it possible to evaluate the relationship of these areas with each other and identify other emerging themes.Limitations: The main limitations come from the methodology used. Future studies can complement the results obtained using additional techniques such as event analysis or case studies.Practical implications: This approach allows companies to focus their strategic decisionson sustainability practices. The findings provide insights for industry stakeholders to prioritise sustainability-related investments and initiatives and enhance operational efficiency.

Serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Students: Examining How Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander- Serving Institutions Build Students’ Capacities

This study examines how Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA&NHPI) students. Through a two-site case study of a community college on the west coast and a regional comprehensive university on the east coast, this study details the processes that are undertaken to serve and enhance the educational experiences of AA&NHPI students by building their capacities. Findings suggests that federally-funded AANAPISIs design and implement their programs in a manner that reflects the lived experiences and realities of AA&NHPI students through academic coursework, co-curricular programming, and research opportunities, in an intentional and strategic multilayered process, which resembles a developmental nested design focused on five thematic domains. Implications for policy, practice, and research are also offered to advance the work of AANAPISIs.

Diversity and limitations of electroencephalogram and event-related potential applications in nursing research: A scoping review.

This scoping review was conducted to provide a comprehensive summary of how electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) have been used in nursing research, with the goal of mapping the themes and methods of nursing research involving EEGs or ERPs as a measurement tool. The eligibility criteria were determined according to the Population, Concept, and Context principle. A systematic electronic search of articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and Scopus databases was carried out for the period from database establishment to November 21, 2022. The included studies were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The review process culminated in 45 articles, evidencing an increasing trend and dispersion characteristics of EEG in nursing research and reflecting five thematic domains of inquiry related to nursing. There was a deficiency of detailed reports of EEG recording and data analysis parameters in nursing research. The common EEG bands in nursing research were Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma. The ERP components used frequently were P3, P2, N1, N2, P1, N170, and feedback-related negativity. The wide variety of EEG components used show broad potential for studying nursing questions. In the future, it will be necessary to increase the depth of the research content, the repeatability of the experiment and the standardization of the report. Nursing researchers should give full play to the characteristics of nursing and establish a systematic and complete EEG research system for nursing.

Serious illness communication skills training for emergency physicians and advanced practice providers: a multi-method assessment of the reach and effectiveness of the intervention

BackgroundEM Talk is a communication skills training program designed to improve emergency providers’ serious illness conversational skills. Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, this study aims to assess the reach of EM Talk and its effectiveness.MethodsEM Talk consisted of one 4-h training session during which professional actors used role-plays and active learning to train providers to deliver serious/bad news, express empathy, explore patients’ goals, and formulate care plans. After the training, emergency providers filled out an optional post-intervention survey, which included course reflections. Using a multi-method analytical approach, we analyzed the reach of the intervention quantitatively and the effectiveness of the intervention qualitatively using conceptual content analysis of open-ended responses.ResultsA total of 879 out of 1,029 (85%) EM providers across 33 emergency departments completed the EM Talk training, with the training rate ranging from 63 to 100%. From the 326 reflections, we identified meaning units across the thematic domains of improved knowledge, attitude, and practice. The main subthemes across the three domains were the acquisition of Serious Illness (SI) communication skills, improved attitude toward engaging qualifying patients in SI conversations, and commitment to using these learned skills in clinical practice.ConclusionOur study showed the extensive reach and the effectiveness of the EM Talk training in improving SI conversation. EM Talk, therefore, can potentially improve emergency providers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of SI communication skills.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT03424109; Registered on January 30, 2018.

A bibliometric review study of Michael Burawoy.

This review article utilizes the technique of citation-based bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the scholarly contributions made by sociologist Michael Burawoy. The most influential academic articles published by Burawoy were retrieved for analyses. Following this, scholars, journals and institutions that he most frequently collaborated with were traced. Further, country-wise analysis of his scholarship was carried out. Lastly, content analyses of retrieved articles identified prominent thematic domains in sociology to which Burawoy contributed, while temporal analyses helped to identify some emerging research hotspots. Findings reveal that historical and cultural context of Burawoy's research mostly remained confined to the U.S.A., however, he significantly contributed towards the foundation of sociology in the Global South and studied the ensuing global power imbalances. Contemporary sociological thought remains indebted to Burawoy for his comparative study of industrial relations in the 21st century, and recently, his elaboration upon the need for public sociology has taken the discipline in new intellectual directions that appeals to a broader sociological community.

A bibliometric analysis of the literature on crop yield prediction: insights from previous findings and prospects for future research.

This research presents a bibliometric analysis of articles predicting crop yield using machine learning methods. While several systematic review articles exist, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis illustrating the knowledge structure and research trends, along with collaboration networks among authors, institutions, and countries in this field, has not been conducted. The study focused on 826 articles published over a 32-year period (1992 to 2023) and revealed a significant increase in publications, particularly in recent years. Zhang Zhao from China authored the majority of articles, while the highest number of citations was associated with articles by Zhu Yan and Lobell. Leading countries in article publications are the USA, China, India, Germany, Australia, and Canada, showing strong interconnections in citing each other's research. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the US Department of Agriculture are the institutions with the highest number of articles and citations in this domain. The journals Agricultural and Forest Meteorology and Remote Sensing are recognized as top ranking journals in this field (Q1). Based on co-occurrence analysis, three main thematic domains were identified: weather and crop yield prediction, plant growth simulation models, and crop yield prediction using remote sensing data. The research suggests a focus on variables such as disease, pests, insects, and soil salinity when predicting yield. Additionally, greater attention should be given to discussions on food security and crop yield, especially in developing countries.

Professional Development Workshop on Global Citizenship Education Experiences of University Teachers

The purpose of the study was to assess the experiences of teachers about professional development workshop on global citizenship education (GCE). The workshop as a research method (Ørngreen & Levinsen, 2017) was used for conducting this study. The workshop was of 04 days duration. Twenty-one regular university teachers were participants of the workshop. No prerequisite experience with GCE was required for attending this workshop. The workshop involved sessions on thematic dimensions and learning domains of GCE, integration of GCE in the curriculum and teaching-learning process at the university level, and facilitating safe and productive dialogue in various learning environments. Field notes and the feedback form were used to collect data about the workshop content and the experiences of the workshop participants. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The study results showed that the faculty members found the workshop content relevant and useful, and the workshop instructional experiences and the arrangements as helpful and effective. It is recommended to adjust the training content and duration according to the needs of the faculty members in future workshops. The study results may be helpful to arrange professional development opportunities for university teachers in future.

Tracheostomy and long-term invasive ventilation decision-making in children: A scoping review.

An increasing number of children are surviving critical illnesses requiring tracheostomy/long-term ventilation (LTV). This scoping review seeks to collate the available evidence on decision-making for tracheostomy/LTV in children. Systematic searches of electronic databases and websites were conducted for articles and reports. Inclusion criteria included: (1) children 0-18 years old; (2) described use of tracheostomy or tracheostomy/LTV; and (3) information on recommendations for tracheostomy decision-making or decision-making experiences of family-caregivers or health care providers. Articles not written in English were excluded. Of the 4463 records identified through database search and other methods, a total of 84 articles, 2 dissertations, 1 book chapter, 3 consensus statement/society guidelines, and 8 pieces of grey literature were included. Main thematic domains identified were: (1) legal and moral standards for decision-making; (2) decision-making models, roles of decision-makers, and decisional aids towards a shared decision-making model; (3) experiences and perspectives of decision-makers; (4) health system and society considerations; and (5) conflict resolution and legal considerations. A high degree of uncertainty and complexity is involved in tracheostomy/LTV decision-making. There is a need for a standardized decision-support process that is consistent with a child's best interests and shared decision-making. Strategies for optimizing communication and mechanism for managing disputes are needed.

The Multi-temporal and Multi-dimensional Global Urban Centre Database to Delineate and Analyse World Cities

Monitoring sustainable urban development requires comparable geospatial information on cities across several thematic domains. Here we present the first global database combining such information with city extents. The Global Human Settlement Urban Centre Database (GHS-UCDB) is produced by geospatial data integration to characterise more than 10,000 urban centres worldwide. The database is multi-dimensional and multi-temporal, containing 28 variables across five domains and having multitemporal attributes for one or more epochs when the UC are delineated (1975-1990-2000-2015). Delineation of urban centres for the year 2015 is performed via a logic of grid cell population density, population size, and grid cell contiguity defined by the Degree of Urbanisation method. Each of the urban centres has 160 attributes, including a validation assessment. The novel aspects of this database concern the thematic richness and temporal depth of the variables (across geography, socio-economic, environmental, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development domains) and the type of geo-information provided (location and extent), featuring an overall consistency that allows comparative analyses across locations and time.

Analyzing the Effects of Twitter on Electronic Media A Study of By-Elections 2022 in Pakistan

This research examines the impact of Twitter on electronic media in Pakistan during the by-elections of 2022. The study specifically focuses on the strategies utilized by political personalities, such as Imran Khan and Maryam Nawaz, to shape public conversation. Twitter, a highly influential social media tool, exerts significant influence in shaping public opinion and setting the agenda. This study uses agenda-setting theory to examine the impact of Twitter debates during the by-elections on the public's perception of prominent themes. This study explores eleven main themes, which include political issues and socio-economic factors. These themes contain topics such as "Lifafa Journalism," "Imported Government," "Lawlessness," and "Inflation." This study conducts a thorough examination of Twitter engagement, uncovering discrepancies in the frequency of tweets and accompanying media coverage received by Imran Khan and Maryam Nawaz on four prominent news networks. It is worth mentioning that Maryam Nawaz's tweets have a notable prevalence, particularly about topics such as "Harsh Language" and "Incompetent Government." On the other hand, Imran Khan's influence is evident in thematic domains such as "Imported Government," "Inflation," "Regime Change," and "Haqeeqi Azadi." The analysis of media coverage reveals that Imran Khan's tweets garnered significant visibility across many thematic categories, particularly on prominent news channels like as ARY News, Geo News, Sama News, and Dunya News. In contrast, the tweets of Maryam Nawaz received considerable attention, namely from Geo News and Dunya News, illustrating the varied media strategies utilized by each leader.

The fall of genres that did not happen: formalising history of the “universal” semantics of Russian iambic tetrameter

This paper examines thematic features of the “universal” poetic meters that are disproportionately popular in a tradition. Focusing on the example of 19th-century Russian iambic tetrameter, we propose a method for diachronic analysis of semantic structure of a meter based on the combination of topic modelling and network analysis. We represent each poem as topic probabilities and use most probable topics appearing within one poem to build up the connections of a network. This representation allows us to detect a chronological process of semantic expansion of the meter: its usage spreads to various thematic domains contributing to its perception as “universal”. At the same time, we show that the expansion of iambic tetrameter does not lead to the collapse of semantic traditions of other meters and their associations with certain genres. Testing the amount of shared connections between meters against randomized data demonstrates that the increase in number of topics within a meter is mostly driven by the sample size, rather than by the direct borrowing from other meters. The stability of thematic connections inside each meter displays the conservative nature of poetic meters and surprisingly strong retention of association between meter and semantics.