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Objectives. The present study aimed to review the changes in anthropometric dimensions around the world during the last 30 years. Methods. The search for this study was conducted in four databases with related keywords. Papers from 1990 to 2021 were reviewed and 4139 articles were identified, with 505 related titles. Of these, 187 articles met the eligibility criteria, and their whole text was examined; 132 articles were then included for the final review. Results. The reviewed studies showed that a large number of anthropometric dimensions of the human body have become larger than in the past, such as height. Although the increasing trend of anthropometric dimensions in the past has been faster than in recent years, decreasing changes have also been seen in some anthropometric dimensions, such as the human jaw, face width and head width. It should be noted that the main reasons for the changes mentioned in the studies are economics and family income, social conditions, health and nutrition. Conclusion. Since the process of changes in anthropometric dimensions is not always the same, anthropometric data should be updated regularly, and work environments and equipment should be reviewed or redesigned according to the new anthropometric data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Historical socio-political processes have produced gross inequity of health resource for Aboriginal Australians and New Zealand Māori. Objectives: This paper argues that socio-political factors resulting from the entrenchment of colonialism have produced significant personal and structural barriers to the utilisation of healthcare services and directly impact the health status of these two vulnerable groups. Design: Discussion Paper. Conclusions: Understanding the actual barriers preventing the utilisation of healthcare facilities, as perceived by Indigenous people, is essential in reducing the gross disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous morbidity and mortality in Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare data based on computerized and paper versions of health status questionnaires (HSQs) for sampling patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). In addition, to examine associations between patient characteristics (age, education, computer experience) and differences between versions. Finally, to evaluate the acceptability of computer-based questionnaires among patients with FM.Method: The study population comprised female patients diagnosed with FM. All patients completed six HSQs: the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ), the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Self-Assessment Questionnaire (GAD-10), both on paper and using a touch screen. One HSQ was tested at a time in a repeated randomized cross-over design. The two versions were completed with a 5-min interval and between each HSQ the participants had a 5-min break. Means, mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), medians, median differences, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for all HSQs, including relevant subscales. Associations between patient characteristics and differences between versions were explored using Spearman's correlation coefficients.Results: Twenty women, mean age 48.4 years, participated in the study. Except for one item, ICCs between touch-screen and paper versions of the HSQs examined indicated acceptable agreement (ICC = 0.71-0.99). Overall, mean and median differences revealed no differences between versions. No significant associations were observed for patient characteristics. None of the participants preferred paper questionnaires over computerized versions.Conclusions: The computerized HSQs using a touch screen gave comparable results to answers given on paper and were generally preferred by the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increasing recognition of the importance of mental and substance use disorders (MESUDS) for population health and health systems and the potential value of systems-based performance indicators in addressing this issue, we aimed to describe the development and content of key performance indicators (KPIs) for MESUDS. Publications were identified through official websites, Google searches and PubMed. Following “PRISMA” guidelines, 25 studies were kept for qualitative synthesis and six for quantitative analysis. We describe their use in practice by comparing their application across a range of public and mixed healthcare systems. Currently, the KPI development for MESUDS adopts several methodologies, including expert opinion, literature review, stakeholder consultation, and the structured consensus method. The rationales provided for selection of particular KPIs vary greatly between systems. Systems exhibit different levels of KPI adaptability, which is reflective of dynamic changes in evidence-based practices. We noted bias in the level of KPI assessment toward system/health plan evaluation followed by program/service evaluation. Similarly, there is a large skew toward KPIs that reflect evaluation of processes. Collection of data in all systems is nearly exclusively reliant on electronic administrative/medical data. Experiences from these systems are synthesized into methodological recommendations and considerations for further research and clinical practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EMS personnel in the U.S. continue to be overwhelmingly Caucasian and male, with 75% being male and 85% identifying as nonminority. While the population of the United States becomes more diverse in ethnicity, religion, and race, the EMS workforce remains largely homogenous and does not reflect the diversity of the population it serves. Given the growing diversity across the country, EMS personnel will increasingly be responding to calls for service involving patients with different cultural backgrounds than their own. This growing gap between providers and the population they serve may exacerbate already existing disparities in care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mental health of the farming community across industrialised nations has long been a major concern. Using an adapted procedure for a systematic literature review of observational epidemiological studies reporting prevalence (informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute method), this paper reviews peer-reviewed literature that explicitly compares farmer and non-farmer mental health (n = 48). In doing so, it provides a central and accessible evidence base for researchers and practitioners, and simultaneously reveals a stark lack of consensus; specifically, 54.0% of measures deployed to assess farmer mental health determined it to be the same as or even better than non-farming populations. This ambiguity sits in sharp contrast to the unequivocally worrisome farmer suicide statistics. Informed by the literature, the paper discusses potential reasons for this mismatch, including (i) farmers' progression through a different "pathway" to suicide that is not always preceded by mental illness, and (ii) a failure of current methods to accurately gauge the mental health status of farmers. The paper concludes by recommending more research into farmers' "pathway" to suicide, and highlights the need for a dedicated and multi-disciplinary programme of methods research that will afford a more culturally appropriate and effective means of understanding mental health in the farming community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy seven research papers published from 1986 to 2018 were observed. These papers investigated PTEs (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Fe, Zn, Ni, and total Cr) in leafy (mint, spinach, coriander, and lettuce) and tuberous (potato, carrot, radish, and onion) vegetables irrigated by wastewater. The studies observed in our paper were conducted in 19 countries. The PTEs concentrations were compared among studies and the human health risk was observed. According to the obtained meta-analysis results, PTEs concentrations (mg/kg) in vegetables were found in the following order Zn (34.216)> Cu (22.581)> Ni (14.056)> Pb (10.173)> Cr (8.308)> Fe(8.130)> As(1.881)> Cd (1.763). Hazard index for children was higher than that for adults and for both groups, the calculated HQ was higher than 1, which indicates that there is a health risk for the consumers. This study provides a comprehensive analysis that demonstrates the urgent necessity for treating PTE pollution in agricultural areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review articulates current understanding of the aesthetic, artistic and creative contributions that Dance makes to Health and Wellbeing across the lifecourse within publications 2000–2019, an under-researched area. Review Questions: What are the aesthetic, artistic and creative contributions that Dance makes to Health and Wellbeing across the lifecourse? And what methodologies are appropriate for investigating these contributions? A database keyword search identified 769 articles and 91 evaluations. 109 documents were identified for further in-depth analysis and rating, resulting in 24 papers (11 articles, 3 PhD studies, 10 evaluation reports), which were thematically analysed. Findings offer seven interrelated contributions that Dance makes to Health and Wellbeing: embodiment, identity, belonging, self-worth, aesthetics, affective responses and creativity. There was less insight regarding different methodologies, and discussions focused on quantitative data's limitations. There were insights into inclusion of embodied voices, subjective accounts, and lived experiences. Whilst acknowledging challenges, this paper illuminates the key contributions of dance to arts and health. It provides a future conceptual research agenda (prioritizing identity and creativity) and associated methodological developments. It recommends expanding geographical/lifecourse research, better defining terms, fuller epistemological critiques to open space for new methodologies, and continued attendance to appropriate rigour criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental Clinical Social Work (DCSW) involves the integration of social development approaches to the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological, behavioral, emotional, and medical disorders through social work methods. In doing so, it also covers the predispositions that occur over time in one's life course. Utilising the thinking of Developmental Clinical Social Work, the paper explores the effects of substance use disorders from a human rights perspective. The human rights to health, adequate housing, food and nutrition, development, clean and healthy environment, occupational health and safety, education, parental and children rights have been discussed considering the effects of substance use disorders. The article stimulates the realization that investment in the prevention of substance use disorders advances for the attainment and enjoyment of the above-mentioned human rights. To its end, the paper contradicts with the notion that the use of drugs is a "human right". It justifies the need for court sanctioned substance use disorder treatment facilities that are evidence-based and adhere to human rights. It should be noted that this is a conceptual reflection of three academics, two of whom have taught on the advanced substance use and treatment course and one has taught on developmental social work courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industries are currently struggling with ageing workforce in modern production systems associated with Industry 4.0. The industrial socio-demographic problem is more and more present as the increasing of the ageing population results in the prolongation of the working life and the consecutively in the ageing of the workforce in industries. This paper aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the challenges and concerns of ageing operators, including the physical, cognitive, ergonomic, and well-being conditions of the ageing workforce in the Industry 4.0 environment. The ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed scientific databases were used to survey the studies and selected using PRISMA guidelines. This paper was structured and analysed by clusters: Ageing, Industry 4.0, Human Factors, and Ergonomics. These clusters were developed as research lines: Ageing as the socio-demographic challenge, Industry 4.0 as the technological development, Human Factors as the individual characteristics of the operator, and Ergonomics as the work environment. Thus, human--centric approaches and ideas are discussed with the insights and issues of Industry 4.0 technologies, Human Factors, and Ergonomics to achieve a sustainable system at the engineering and social level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonisation and continuing discrimination have significantly and negatively impacted the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations peoples globally. In Australia, Aboriginal cultures thrive despite ongoing barriers to health care. This paper describes challenges and new initiatives for Australian Aboriginal people with acquired communication disability after brain injury and their alignment with the global aims forming the Sustainable Development Goals. Research undertaken by an Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal multidisciplinary team over a decade in Western Australia identified and responded to mismatches between community needs and services. Initiatives described include the Missing Voices, Healing Right Way, Brain Injury Yarning Circles and Wangi/Yarning Together projects. Recommendations implemented related to (a) greater incorporation of Aboriginal cultural protocols and values within services, (b) more culturally secure assessment and treatment tools, (c) support after hospital discharge, (d) Aboriginal health worker involvement in support. Implementation includes cultural training of hospital staff, trialling new assessment and treatment methods, and establishing community-based Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinator positions and relevant peer support groups. Culturally secure brain injury rehabilitation in Australia is in its infancy. Our initiatives challenge assumptions about worldviews and established Western biomedical models of healthcare through incorporating Indigenous methodologies and leadership, and community-driven service delivery. This commentary paper focuses on Sustainable Development Goals 3, 16 and 17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The words used to refer to weight and individuals with large bodies can be used to reinforce weight stigma. Given that most previous research has examined preferred terminology within homogenous groups, this research sought to examine terminology preferences across populations. This paper reports on data gathered with the general public, family physicians, and obesity researchers/practitioners. Participants were asked about the words they commonly: (1) used to refer to people with large bodies (general public); (2) heard in their professional contexts (physicians and obesity specialists); and (3) perceived to be the most socially or professionally acceptable (all samples). Similarities and differences were evident between samples, especially related to weight-related clinical terms, the word fat, and behavioral stereotypes. The results provide some clarity into the differences between populations and highlight the need to incorporate use of strategies that may move beyond person-first language to humanize research and clinical practice with people with large bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth alcohol use and misuse lead to adverse outcomes. However, the literature has not always associated complete abstinence with better health. Since recent literature indicates an increased proportion of young abstainers, the aim of this paper is to review the studies investigating this upward trend and the factors associated with it, such as socio-demographics, school performance, social life, physical and mental health, and parental influence. Methods: Different databases were searched and appropriated terms were used. Given that the trend has only emerged in recent years, the review was limited to papers published since 2000. A total of 970 papers were returned and 10 were retained for the present review. Results: All papers covered by the review acknowledge the existence of a new significant trend resulting in more young people in developed countries who are choosing to abstain completely from drinking alcohol. They are in good physical and mental health and perform better at school than their drinking peers. The quality of their social life, albeit slightly more limited than that of their drinking peers, appeared to be good. Conclusion: Young alcohol abstainers represent a group situated at the beginning of a continuum of alcohol consumption, they do well and are not very different from light drinkers. Alcohol abstinence at young age does not seem to have any downsides and should therefore be generally advised. To further promote such behavior, measures to encourage parental monitoring and more generous public expenditure on health services and family benefits should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical health of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) is generally far worse than the general population. Emerging electronic and mobile health (e-& mHealth) technology may provide new ways to offer interventions in order to reduce modifiable lifestyle risk factors in this vulnerable population. This scoping review aimed to assess the state of knowledge about the use of e-& mHealth technology-based interventions to address modifiable lifestyle risk factors amongst individuals with SMI. EMBASE, Medline (Ovid) and PsycINFO were searched to identify papers published up to July 2021. Extended PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews were followed to report the results. A total of 85 papers were identified, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. These interventions were effective in bringing about positive and clinically significant impacts in weight loss, diet, smoking cessation, and physical activity for some participants. However, many participants did not experience these benefits. Overall, participants indicated that they were satisfied with, and receptive to e-& mHealth interventions. The evidence base for the use of technology-based interventions to improve modifiable lifestyle risk factors for people with SMI is very limited. More rigorous research on the use of technological tools is needed to determine how more users could benefit from them. Further research and intervention development should be undertaken in collaboration with people with SMI to ensure that unique requirements and preferences are included. What is already known about this topic: The rates of mortality for individuals with SMI are several times those of the general population. Reducing the major modifiable lifestyle risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among those with SMI is crucial. The use of emerging e-& mHealth technologies could expand the reach of services to improve modifiable lifestyle risk factors among this population. What this paper adds: More studies are currently required to build on the current evidence base regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of e-& mHealth technology to improve the modifiable lifestyle risk factors of those with SMI. Emerging research on the use of e-& mHealth technology to improve modifiable lifestyle risk factors of those with SMI looks promising. Findings from research can inform the design of future health interventions targeting this vulnerable patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments all over the world have had to implement various policy measures in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, impacting many people's lives and livelihoods. Combinations of measures targeting the transportation sector and other aspects of social life have been implemented with varying degrees of success in different countries. This paper proposes a classification of COVID-19 measures aimed at passenger mobility. We distinguish the categories "avoidance of travel", "modal shift" and "improvement of quality". Per category, we distinguish different types of measures and effects (social, economic and environmental). Next, we review the literature on COVID-19 measures for passenger mobility, after which we discuss the policy relevance of our findings and propose a research agenda. We conclude that broad or integral assessments of measures on all socially relevant effects are rare. Also, few studies exist to determine the effects of individual measures and deal with combinations of measures instead. Studies on social or economic effects focus on partial direct effects (e.g. turnover of the transport sector, effect of mobility measures on commuter traffic) and do not elaborate on indirect effects (e.g. changes in household expenditure, stress levels). Finally, there is a greater focus in the literature on intermediary health indicators (e.g. travel behaviour) but less on the actual spread of COVID-19 or indeed on other indirect health effects of measures (e.g. due to air pollution, more exercise, etc). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several lines of evidence indicate the prevalence of mental health disorders in Transgender (TG) individuals is higher than that of cisgender individuals or the general population. In this systematic review, we aim to propose a summary of some of the most significant research investigating mental health disorders' prevalence among this population. We performed a double-blind systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting (PRISMA) on PUBMED/MEDLINE and SCOPUS, specifically using peer-reviewed articles examining the mental health status of transgender (TG) individuals. This review did not exclude any research based on publication date. The last search was performed in February 2022. The employed search strategy led to the selection of 165 peer-reviewed articles. The majority of these papers presented a cross-sectional design with self-reported diagnoses and symptoms, signaling a significant prevalence of mental health disorders amongst TG Individuals. Of the reviewed articles, 72 examined the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders; 8 examined eating disorders; 43 examined the prevalence of suicidal or self-harm ideation or behaviors; 5 papers examined the prevalence of trauma and stress-related disorders; 10 examined the frequency of personality disorders; 44 examined substance use disorders; and 9 papers examined the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder. Finally, 22 studies reported on the prevalence of TG individuals diagnosed with co-morbid mental health disorders or unspecified mental disorders. Our findings coincide with existing research, which indicates TG individuals do experience a higher prevalence of mental health disorders than that of the general population or cisgender individuals. However, further research is needed to address the existing gaps in knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building upon two previously published research papers exploring Canadian media reporting of childhood in the first wave of the pandemic, this paper investigates how constructions of childhood evolved from the first wave to the fourth wave of the pandemic. This qualitative research is guided by the central research question: Over the span of 2 years, from 2020 to 2022, what changes are evident in discourses reported within media focused on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on Canadians under the age of 18 years? Findings from this study suggest that in the fourth wave young people were constructed as innocent victims of pandemic restrictions framed through an adult-centric lens; noticeably absent were representations of young people under the age of 18 in their voices. A key recommendation emerged from this study: any future research investigating the impact of the pandemic on young people under aged 18 years must include their full participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated a research area worthy of greater attention: foreign language classroom anxiety (hereafter FLCA) and enjoyment (hereafter FLE) of older adults learning English as a foreign language in Chinese Universities of the Third Age. Understanding the largely overlooked emotional involvement of older language learners contributes to sustaining their motivation in lifelong learning for more remarkable personal growth and successes. Based on the survey of 587 Chinese older learners of English between the age of 50 and 80, paired sample t-test showed that more FLE was reported than FLCA. The results of Welch's ANOVA suggested that those who were better educated had less FLCA and those who believed themselves healthier had more FLE. The language performance evaluation (i.e. relative standing in class and English mastery) affects both FLE and FLCA. Further interviews with 34 older participants revealed three major sources of FLE, including the language use in life situations, the favorable attitude toward FL learning in the cognitive, aesthetic cultural and pragmatic aspects and the social interactions in the U3As. FLCA occurs when the language performance is perceived as dissatisfying and when aspects of mental health (e.g. worsening memory) impede effective learning. Although FLCA and FLE had only a very weak correlation, Chinese older adult learners commented on a shared belief that anxiety usually precedes and subsequently enhances enjoyment in learning, indicating a sign of emotional resilience later in life. This paper demonstrates a need for understanding the emotions in language learning across life stages and socio-cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the preferences of people with memory complaints (PwMC) and their significant others regarding starting a diagnostic trajectory for dementia. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase. Selection of abstracts and papers was performed independently by two researchers. Methodological quality was assessed with the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Result sections of the selected papers were thematically synthesized. From 2497 citations, seven qualitative studies and two mixed methods studies published between 2010 and 2020 were included. Overall quality of the studies was high to moderate. A thematic synthesis showed that preferences for starting a diagnostic trajectory arose from the feeling of needing to do something about the symptoms, beliefs on the necessity and expected outcomes of starting a diagnostic trajectory. These views were influenced by normalization or validation of symptoms, the support or wishes of the social network, interactions with health care professionals, the health status of the PwMC, and societal factors such as stigma and socioeconomic status. A variety of considerations with regard to decision-making on starting a diagnostic trajectory for dementia were identified. This emphasizes the need to explore individual preferences to facilitate a timely dementia diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uncovers the complexity of the term "Jian kang/health 健康" and "Fu/wellbeing (福)" by analysing their etymological origins and cultural connotations in the context of China. The paper introduces a Taoist philosophy of tradition to understand health and wellbeing. This paper argues that in Chinese cultural connotations, "Jian kang" (health) and "Fu" (wellbeing) entail the integration of human beings' physical and mental status and beyond. Notwithstanding the contextual and culturally specific philosophy and traditions of understanding health and wellbeing, this paper initiates intercultural epistemological dialogue, engages with contemporary psychotherapy, and argues that health and wellbeing is regarded and understood as a concept across cultural boundaries, while emphasising its pivotal features of being holistic, comprised of multifaceted and interrelated components of body, mind, and spirit, focusing on lifestyle behaviours, and recognising the interweaving relationship between human and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication is central to the accomplishment of each of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is a fundamental human right. This special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (IJSLP, vol. 25, no. 1) is dedicated to communication, swallowing and the SDGs; particularly focussing on people with communication and/or swallowing disability and those who support them. The papers in the special issue of IJSLP demonstrate that successful communication is necessary for realisation of all 17 SDGs at both a global and an individual level and advance the international call for SDG 18: Communication for All. The 36 papers address all 17 goals, focussing on poverty, hunger, health, education, work, innovation, climate, cities, land, oceans, justice, and partnerships. Authors worked and undertook their research in Australia, Austria, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, State of Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, South Africa, Uganda, UK, USA, Vietnam. Communication for all is essential for the achievement of the SDGs, "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" (United Nations, 2015a). Achievement of the SDGs is the role of all; including communication specialists, people with communication/swallowing disability, their families and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper relates to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Life Below Water (SDG 14) and the need to consider Better Health and Well-Being (SDG 3) in interventions designed to reduce plastic straw waste. The aim of this paper is to explore the competing demands of saving the world's oceans and sea life from plastic straw waste, and simultaneously meeting the health and social needs of people with swallowing or physical disability who use plastic straws for drinking. In order to meet both SDG 14 and not compromise SDG 3 there is a need for collaborative and interdisciplinary, person-centred, inclusive innovation approaches to finding suitable and acceptable alternatives to plastic straws. Many people with swallowing disability will need a durable, flexible, and single-use straw that is resilient enough to withstand jaw closure without breaking. Co-design considerations include the alternative straw being (a) soft and flexible so as not to damage the teeth of people who bite to stabilise the jaw or who have a bite reflex; (b) suitable for both hot and cold drinks; (c) flexible for angling to the mouth; (d) readily, thoroughly and easily cleaned to a high standard of hygiene; (e) widely available for low or no cost wherever drinks are served; and (f) safe for people to use while reducing impact on the environment and being sustainable. Plastic straws are an assistive technology critical for the social inclusion of people with disability. In an inclusive society, reaching a policy position on the provision of plastic straws must include seeking out and listening to the voices of people with sensory, intellectual, physical, or multiple disabilities who use plastic straws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores racial differences in maternal risk factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes across urban and rural geographies using 2019 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Bivariate chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed which showed statistically significant geographical differences among Non-Hispanic (NH) Black pregnant women across income levels (p =.016) and perceived health status (p =.003). Regression analyses indicated an increased racial gap between NH White pregnant women and other racial/ethnic groups. The findings support that there are statistically significant racial differences in maternal risk factors across urban and rural geographies for NH Black and Hispanic pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada is often viewed as an oasis of multicultural inclusion where racially diverse groups could freely enjoy life in all its forms. Focusing on a group of twenty-five racialized participants working for the public sector in British Columbia (BC), this qualitative study illustrates that workplace racism is alive and prevalent in Canada. Moreover, it aims to demonstrate that this form of racism impacts not only racialized individuals who are targeted, physically and emotionally, but also their families. After presenting an outline of what constitutes racism and racialization, the article will detail and discuss findings with respect to physical, psycho-emotional and familial tolls that experiencing racial discrimination at work had exacted on racialized participants. The paper will then conclude that considering the higher expectations from public servants for not only modeling equity behavior but also upholding the rule of law, opportunities exist to more seriously address systemic racist violence against racialized workers in public sector employment contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid reviews involve a streamlined approach to knowledge synthesis. They are used to identify high-quality evidence for the purpose of informing decisions and initiatives, completed over relatively short timeframes, and have been found to reach conclusions that do not differ extensively from full systematic reviews. Although common in the health sector, rapid reviews are not as widespread in education. This paper reflects on the experiences of conducting a rapid review that applied review guidance from the health sector to a topic situated within education: effective Professional Learning (PL) for school-based educators. Our purpose is not to share the rapid review's findings: rather, our interest lies in exploring the process of undertaking the review. We sought to investigate the methodological decisions we made for the education context as we carried out the review. As part of a large-scale investigation focusing on practitioner use of research evidence in education, we undertook a rapid review to understand what is known about effective PL. Drawing on methodological literature from the health and education sectors, we documented the procedure involved in conducting our rapid review in education. At each step, we reflected on methodological issues encountered, decisions taken and the procedural adjustments we made to align the process to the education context. Our reflections identify the key adaptations we made to ensure that review guidance was carefully attuned to the context of the education field and the wider purpose of the review: in our case, to inform an initiative in education. Considerations highlighted by our procedure also included the role of reviewer judgement in quality appraisal and attending to collaborative review team processes. These reflections support the notion that the use of research to inform decisions in education needs to be a dynamic, contextualised, and collaborative process. Rapid reviews have a crucial part to play in efforts to strengthen evidence-informed practice in the education sector. Our methodological exploration offers insights for those conducting, using, and commissioning rapid reviews to provide systematic and transparent evidence-based guidance for initiatives in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explicates blame as a psychological construct in communication processes, with a focus on its underlying structure and its mediating role between message characteristics and the public's issue engagement. Data were collected from Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 373) via a Web-based experiment, where we manipulated a news story about a child suffering an obesity-related health risk (asthma attack vs. heart attack) with different levels of preventability (high vs. low) and severity (high vs. low). Findings showed that blame should best be conceptualized and operationalized as a latent construct comprising both cognitive and affective components. Blame mediated message effects on social responses related to obesity prevention, including punitive attitudes, policy support, and intentions toward interpersonal communication and civic participatory behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relaxation of discriminatory policies against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) service personnel has led to increased diversity among military populations. Given this increase, it is important to assess sexual and gender minority groups' health and well-being in the context of military service. This narrative review assessed these outcomes in LGBTQ military personnel. The electronic databases OVID Medline, PsycInfo, and Embase were searched for papers published between January 2000 and July 2018. Thirty papers were included. In line with life course model, studies aligned with four themes: (1) mental health and well-being; (2) stigma and healthcare utilization; (3) sexual trauma; and (4) physical health. These themes highlighted that LGBTQ military personnel and veterans have poorer mental health and well-being; report more stigma and barriers to mental healthcare, which reduces uptake of accessed healthcare services; experience more sexual trauma; and have poorer physical health than heterosexual military personnel and veterans. However, there are substantial gaps in the current evidence for this population. Future research should aim to address limitations of the literature, and to ensure that data on LGBTQ personnel and veterans is collected as standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to assess to what extent prohibitive drug policies hamper the management of drug problems from the perspective of young people who have experience with the criminal justice systems (CJS). Qualitative, in-depth interviews were carried out in six European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK) following a common interview guide to obtain comparative data on the life trajectories of drug experienced youth. Altogether 198 interviews with people aged 14–25 years were collected and analysed by national teams following a common coding book. Unintended consequences of drug policies for the individual and society were identified. Individual consequences included health consequences and traumatic experiences with law enforcement. Social consequences included those affecting social relations such as stigmatisation and those impacting on institutions, for example, focusing on drug use and neglecting other problems. This paper confirmed earlier research indicating unintended consequences of prohibitive drug policies but also added to the literature its cross-national perspective and use of young people narratives as a source of analyses. There are, however, policy measures available that may reduce the volume and range of unintended effects. Their implementation is crucial to reduce the array of unintended consequences of prohibitive drug policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified associations between affectionate communication and blood lipid levels but been limited by small, homogenous samples and failed replication attempts. Moreover, no study has tested the prediction derived from affection exchange theory that stress mediates the association between affectionate behavior and health. Using secondary analyses of data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher study Biomarker Project, this paper remedies these limitations by testing the prediction that stress mediates the association between kissing and serum levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, and low-density lipoproteins using a large probability sample of U.S. American adults (N = 863). Results indicate significant indirect effects of kissing frequency on triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins for participants who reported kissing seven or more times in the previous month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous research on the indirect effect of generativity on fear of death through egointegrity, intrinsic religiosity was controlled for. This paper tests the same indirect effect, but controls for spirituality instead of religiosity. German adults (N=154) were administered self-report questionnaires on generativity, ego-integrity, fear of death, spirituality, and physical health. Spirituality correlated negatively with fear of death. A mediation analysis yielded the hypothesized indirect effect without spirituality significantly predicting fear of death. The present results indicate that the indirect effect of generativity on fear of death through ego-integrity holds when spirituality is considered beyond the religious domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on who does/does not disclose suicidal intent (SI) and related factors has important implications for suicide risk management. In this paper based on the 2017-2019 National Violent Death Reporting System, we compared four age groups (18-24, 25-44, 45-64, and 65þ years) of suicide decedents with respect to associations between SI disclosure and (1) suicide contributing/precipitating factors, and (2) suicide means. The results shows that those age 18-44 were more likely to disclose SI than those age> 45, especially among those with relationship problems. Physical health problems and death/suicide of family/friend increased the likelihood of SI disclosure in the 65þ age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper seeks to: provide an overview of the impacts of and responses to the spread of COVID-19 in Ireland; assess the vulnerability of the population living in rural areas to COVID-19; compare the health status of male farmers to underlying medical conditions frequently associated with those experiencing the worst impacts of the illness; and assess the implications of COVID-19 for farmers living alone and farm households with children. Methods: We present an overview of the impact and response to COVID-19 through the use of public health statistics and reference to policy documents. We subsequently draw on the results of ongoing geographic and health research to present an overview of the impacts and potential implications of COVID-19. Results: The population of many rural areas and farmers in particular are highly vulnerable to adverse outcomes to COVID-19 infection. Single person farm households are at particular risk of isolation, whilst those families with children are at increased risk of stress. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to address both COVID-19 challenges and the health and wellbeing issues confronting farmers and farm families arising out of the current pandemic by supporting these populations adopt and sustain health behaviour changes, improve their wellbeing and develop the resources that support resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we outline a critical reparative justice/care approach to adolescent reproductive health as an alternative to the standard public health response to 'teenage pregnancy'. Joining an increasing body of critical scholarship that calls for nuance in understanding reproduction amongst young people, we draw, in this paper, on data generated from an ethnographic study conducted in antenatal care units in an Eastern Cape township in South Africa. To illustrate the approach we propose, we home in on five case studies that highlight the variability of young women's lives, the multiple injustices they experience, and the agency they demonstrate in negotiating their way through pregnancy and birth. Injustices evident in these cases centre on sexual violence, rape myths, education system failures, health system failures, shaming and stigmatising practices, socio-economic precariousness, absent male partners, and denial of services. We outline how the reparative justice approach that highlights repair and support for social and health injustices at the individual and collective level as well as at the material and symbolic level may be taken up to ensure reproductive justice for young pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antiretroviral adherence is vital to the successful long-term rollout of the antiretroviral therapy program in South Africa. At present, there are no studies that look at the effects of disability on antiretroviral adherence. Methods: Drawing on the baseline data from an existing cohort of 1042 people on antiretrovirals in a public healthcare setting in KwaZulu-Natal, the paper investigated a variety of existing covariates relating to antiretroviral adherence, together with functional limitations, depressive symptoms, and health symptoms. Disability was defined according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework and measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Results: In a proportional odds logistic regression functional limitations, depressive symptoms, health symptoms and gender emerged as significant associated with decreased adherence to antiretrovirals (Odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.86 [1.31, 2.66], 1.61 [1.02, 2.55], 2.33 [1.47, 3.69], and 1.65 [1.16, 2.35], respectively). This was found for both severe and milder forms of functional limitations/disability. Conclusion: The paper highlights the need to better understand the role of these limitations in achieving adequate adherence to antiretrovirals and viral suppression. It also calls for investigations into integrated mitigating services such as integrating rehabilitation into routine human immunodeficiency virus care. This study provides a starting point to understand the association between functional limitations and challenges in maintaining adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Addressing functional limitations is currently a neglected factor in efforts targeting HIV-treatment adherence and retention. Rehabilitation is a key intervention that could address this gap. Even mild forms of disability can have profound effects on adherence to antiretroviral therapy, which highlights the need for better screening, early identification, and referrals to rehabilitative support and treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rejecting the association between aging and asexuality that persists in the UK's cultural representation of the female aging body, this paper reveals the importance of sensuality and maintaining physical agency to older women. It pays attention to the phenomena of participating in recreational burlesque classes to counter and negotiate potentially negative representations. Through in-depth interviews and researcher-as-participant observation, the paper explores the transformative possibilities mediated through participating in theatrically glamorized performance classes and the processes thereby initiated. The author examines the potential of burlesque to offer improvements to wellbeing and healthier self-perceptions for aging women experiencing marginalization through social invisibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although health services in Australia have an aim to provide inclusive care for their patients/clients, this study highlights how barriers to care can lie at the centre of patient-provider interactions. Racial microaggression is a subtle form of racism that can occur in health settings, leading to further exclusion for First Nations Australians, immigrants and refugees. This paper is guided by Derrida's approach to deconstructionism by unpacking how language is used by health professionals – as holders of organisational power – and how they construct 'truths' or discourses about clients that historically have been marginalised by health services and system. Data comprise 21 interviews with staff from two rural health services. It identified three racial microaggressions were used to justify the challenges of providing care to people from First Nations, immigrant and refugee backgrounds: (1) Participants problematised culture(s) of service users; (2) participants implied cultural superiority in their conceptualisation of 'other' cultures; and (3) participants shared stories of inactions, discomfort and relegating of responsibility. The findings identified these discourses as forms of racial microaggression that can potentially lead to further exclusion of people seeking services and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an original protest event dataset covering 30 European countries and the period 2000–2021, this paper studies the nature and drivers of protest mobilisation across three major crises that have hit European Member States (the Eurozone, refugee, and Covid crises). Contributing a crisis-comparative perspective to social movement research, we explore crisis mobilisation in three steps. First, looking at general protest trends throughout the past decade, we find that the overall level of protest declined significantly, and especially so after the Eurozone crisis. Second, we characterise crisis-specific protest in terms of the action forms and the actors involved. We find a high involvement of institutional actors in the Eurozone crisis, a high share of radical events in the refugee crisis, and a generally non-confrontational protest organised by civil society actors in the Covid crisis. Finally, we explain crisis-specific protest levels by examining the mobilising effect of grievances. More specifically, we study the impact of problem pressure (how hard countries were affected using economic, migration, and public health indicators) and political pressure from public opinion (the salience of crisis-specific issues) and show that both were important drivers in the three crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenomenon: Intersex, trans, and Two-Spirit people report overwhelmingly negative experiences with health care providers, including having to educate their providers, delaying, foregoing, and discontinuing care due to discrimination and being denied care. Medical education is a critical site of intervention for improving the health and health care experiences of these patients. Medical research studies, clinical guidelines, textbooks, and medical education generally, assumes that patients will be white, endosex, and cisgender; gender and sex concepts are also frequently misused. Approach: We developed and piloted an audit framework and associated tools to assess the quantity and quality of medical education related to gender and sex concepts, as well as physician training and preparedness to meet the needs of intersex, trans, and Two-Spirit patients. We piloted our framework and tools at a single Canadian medical school, the University of British Columbia, focused on their undergraduate MD program. We were interested in assessing the extent to which endosexnormativity, cisnormativity, transnormativity, and the coloniality of gender were informing the curriculum. In this paper, we detail our audit development process, including the role of advisory committees, student focus groups, and expert consultation interviews. We also detail the 3-pronged audit method, and include full-length versions of the student survey, faculty survey, and purpose-built audit question list. Findings: We reflect on the strengths, limits, and challenges of our audit, to inform the uptake and adaptation of this approach by other institutions. We detail our strategy for managing the volume of curricular content, discuss the role of expertise, identify a section of the student survey that needs to be reworked, and look ahead to the vital task of curricular reform and recommendations implementation. Insights: Our findings suggest that curricular audits focused on these populations are lacking but imperative for improving the health of all patients. We detail how enhancing curriculum in these areas, including by adding content about intersex, trans, and Two-Spirit people, and by using gender and sex concepts more accurately, precisely and inclusively, is in line with the CanMEDS competencies, the Medical Council of Canada's Objectives for the Qualifying Examinations, many institutions' stated values of equity, inclusion and diversity, and physicians' ethical, legal and professional obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nomophobia, often known as a 21st-century disorder, is a recent condition that has received considerable attention, with numerous studies conducted to better understand it since it was first introduced in 2008. To better understand the present research status and prospects to assist practitioners, policymakers, and funding agencies in protecting the population from nomophobia-related harm, a bibliometric study of nomophobia-related publications was conducted. We used Scopus and dimensions.ai to perform a search between 2008 and 2022. The HistCite, R software, and VOSviewer were used to analyze the data and extract relevant keywords indexed in medical databases using mesh heading phrases. Between January 2008 and April 2022, 1,781 papers, 30 datasets, two grants, six patents, four clinical trials, and five policy documents were identified. The bulk of the articles included in this review were published after 2017 with the majority written in English. Most of the research focuses on determining the prevalence of nomophobia in various populational groups, such as students, clinical samples, and the general adult population. Several studies examined the possible association between nomophobia symptoms and other psychiatric or physical health issues, such as changes in sleep, learning and attention, academic performance, coping strategies, etc. The current body of research knowledge of nomophobia in the main includes epidemiologic and diagnostic effort that has provided mixed results regarding its assessment and prevalence rates, and appreciable data on its treatment and prevention are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by existing gaps in the research of elder abuse and neglect (EAN) outcomes and very limited knowledge from Central-European cultural contexts, this paper analyzes the link between domestic-based EAN and three measures of well-being, namely subjective loneliness, sense of control over one's life, and a broader outlook on life. To do this, we used recently (2022) collected EAN survey fielded among home-dwelling residents of the Czech Republic aged 65 +. The results show that there is a clear relationship between EAN and these selected outcomes. Controlling for several sets of potential modifying or confounding factors further indicates that this relationship is substantial and direct, rather than weak and indirect. Among controls, only variables related to disadvantage (health, income, dependency, history of abuse) partly account for the link between EAN and its outcomes due to their relation to both heightened risk of EAN and lower well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Swedish versions of PROMIS-29 and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Dyspnea (FACIT-Dyspnea) instruments in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). In a cross-sectional study, consecutive SSc patients completed a paper-based survey. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Test–retest reliability was tested employing weighted Kappa (Kw) and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was evaluated by hypotheses testing using RAND-36, MRC Dyspnea score, Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ) and clinical measurements. Forty-nine patients (86% female; 73% limited cutaneous SSc) completed the survey. The mean disease duration was 11 years and mean SHAQ was 0.5. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were good with the exception of PROMIS-29 anxiety. PROMIS-29, FACIT-Dyspnea, and Functional limitation showed strong correlations to corresponding RAND-36 domains (|rs|=0.67 to −0.85). Relevant PROMIS-29 domains, FACIT-Dyspnea and Functional limitation correlated strongly to SHAQ and VAS overall disease severity (|rs|=0.60 to −0.75). Ceiling effects (>15%) were found in six PROMIS-29 domains and in both FACIT-Dyspnea and Functional limitations. Four (4/5) hypotheses were confirmed. PROMIS-29 and FACIT-Dyspnea meet the requirements for reliability and have adequate construct validity in Swedish patients with SSc. PROMIS-29v2 and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Dyspnea (FACIT-Dyspnea) Index are patient outcome measures that gain increasing interest for the evaluation of patient with rheumatologic diseases. PROMIS-29v2 and FACIT-Dyspnea Index meet the requirements for reliability and have adequate construct validity compared to legacy measures in Swedish patients with systemic sclerosis. Translation and validation of PROMs is important for studies of rare diseases in multi-center collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has suggested that older trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people may face particular challenges related to stigma, social exclusion and discrimination in later life. However, direct data on social support and needs in older TGNC population both internationally and within the UK is limited due to the small, dispersed nature of this population, and the absence of specific data collection on aging TGNC populations. During the UK COVID-19 lockdown in summer 2020, older people and those with long-term health conditions were advised to adopt particular precautions. This study aimed to explore older TGNC people's social support networks, key concerns and unmet needs during the COVID-19 'lockdown'. A UK cross-sectional survey of LGBT + people aged 60+ (n = 375) was undertaken during the lockdown. This paper analyses responses from the subset (n = 38) of TGNC participants. The majority of TGNC respondents described diverse social networks, often centered around friends and non-kin social networks, although partners and adult children were also significant for some. In most cases, those with existing strong networks continued to maintain social connections during lockdown, albeit with some regrets about loss of activities and face-to-face connection. However, a minority of respondents had experienced greater challenges prior to lockdown, and may have been at increased vulnerability during the pandemic, for example indicating that they had no-one to call on for practical support in an emergency. When asked about unmet needs and challenges, social isolation was repeatedly raised as the most frequent concern. Several respondents also mentioned issues specifically affecting TGNC communities, including access to gender affirming care and a perceived rise in social intolerance. Health and social care providers should be aware of the diversity of support networks within TGNC communities. There may also be benefits in community sector interventions to help older TGNC build and maintain strong social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper aimed to examine the longitudinal validity of self-rated health (SRH) and whether it would be affected by possible changes in evaluation standards (i.e., response shift) over time. Design: Data are from a longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample in China. Analytical sample was restricted to respondents aged 45 and above (n = 15,893). Individual fixed effects models were used to analyze changes in ratings on health anchoring vignettes and self-rated health over time. Main outcome measures: SRH at two time points with a -two-year span. Results: Both SRH and anchoring vignettes ratings displayed changes over a two-year span for all the studied age groups. Compared with the self-assessed change in health ("How would you rate your health as compared to that of last year?"), changes in SRH reported over time displayed a more stable and optimistic pattern. SRH responded to doctor diagnosed chronic disease and changes in functional limitation, before and after adjusting for evaluation standards. Conclusion: SRH is responsive to the newly diagnosed chronic disease and functional limitation, regardless of whether we consider response shift within the same respondents over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology for enabling the implementation of the Digital Twins (DTs) of industrial robots and complex machines is presented. The enabled DT can provide a series of benefits, for instance when combined with the degradation curves of critical health indicators can allow predicting the robots' RUL. This paper suggests a systematic and generic methodology to address challenges such as (1) the definition of the physics-based model parameters for accurate DTs, (2) selection of the parameters to tune and the frequency of their tuning to capture the physical changes in the digital world, (3) calculation of new modeling parameters values based on the collected filed data and their automated propagation to the digital model. A software module to implement these functionalities was developed, whereas the testing and validation of the module were held for an industrial robotic manipulator for a manufacturing application. The results prove that the methodology is generic to accommodate the desired granularity per case, and that the tuning of the digital model ensures realistic DTs, which sets the foundation for physics-based predictive maintenance tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-rated health (SRH) is a salient outcome for cancer survivors. Although depression is a well-studied correlate with SRH, few studies have focused on the role of cancer survivors' age on the association between depression and SRH. This study evaluates demographic and psychosocial factors associated with cancer survivors' SRH. We also assess the moderating role of age to the association between depression and SRH. This paper analyzed 2,470 U.S. cancer survivors from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey. Two ordered logistic regression models with complex survey weights were used for analyses. Missing data was addressed using multiple imputations by chained equations. Being female, higher education and higher income were positively associated with better SRH. While the relationship between higher education and higher income was consistent with previous findings, the positive association between being female and SRH was different from previous studies. Age significantly moderated the association between depression and SRH, evidenced by results of the joint tests of all interaction term coefficients being statistically significant, F(2, 544.6) = 5.13, p < 0.01. The findings of the study highlighted the significance of screening for social determinants of health and health disparity when supporting cancer survivors. Additionally, findings of this study emphasized the significance of adopting an age-specific approach when evaluating and addressing depression across different age groups of cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The news media has consistently promoted weight loss as a solution to the "obesity epidemic", despite research refuting the connection between fatness and health. In this paper, I examine the framing of weight loss in news articles during lockdown months of 2020, addressing whether healthist ideologies about weight loss persisted or declined during the pandemic. Most articles reflected a healthism lens, encouraging weight loss to achieve good health and to prevent COVID-19. However, some articles rejected weight loss or utilized a Health at Every Size perspective. This study has implications for research on body surveillance, neoliberalism, public health, and media reporting about weight loss and COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic created an unprecedented physical and mental health crisis on an international scale. Clients and therapists alike navigated the fears and uncertainty surrounding the virus, often in an environment of social isolation. The following paper presents a brief overview of the unique stressors and psychosocial factors impacting therapeutic work in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, including fears of the virus and social transmission, relational stressors due to isolation, grieving in isolation, fear of death, financial challenges, and the transition to telehealth. In addition, this paper aims to provide specific interventions and helpful approaches for psychotherapists navigating the novel challenges and demands to their clinical work through an AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) perceptive. This includes finding an entry point for accessing the pain: undoing aloneness; moving through the pain: dyadic affect regulation; and paying close attention to vitality within suffering: searching for transformance. Recommendations for the health and care of the clinician are also discussed, such as attuning to self-needs, anticipating and detecting dysregulation, staying with the good, meaning-making, identifying and responding to burnout, and the importance of receiving personal therapy and clinical supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of a framework for reducing health disparities inclusive of interprofessional collaborative practice, cultural humility, and ecological approaches to health; the identification of common core competencies for students from various disciplines; and relevant assessment instruments to measure attainment of those competencies. The framework, associated logic model and initiatives, and core competencies were created through an iterative process involving multiple stakeholders. Using the framework as the outcome, a logic model was created to identify short, medium, and long-term activities and outcomes. Faculty were involved in the identification of core competencies and relevant validated assessment instruments. Future work will include mapping competencies across the curricula in a school of health at a liberal arts university and longitudinal assessment of students to evaluate attainment of competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the environmental, interpersonal, and personal outcomes of music performance in a hospital oncology setting. An original, qualitative research study examined the impact of live music for staff, patients, and carers. Data were collected using a multi-method approach of observations and semi-structured interviews and were analysed using inductive and theory-driven theming that was shaped by a determinants of health framework. The research found that live music promoted stronger relationships and calmer environments, among other environmental, social and individual outcomes. Improved communication between staff through the creation of a more supportive environment was a pertinent finding of the research. No negative effects were reported. We discuss research findings in the context of relevant literature and suggest recommendations for future hospital-based live music programs. Results of this study indicate that live music interventions impacted individual, interpersonal, social and environment factors that led to health and wellbeing outcomes for participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary paper focuses on four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). Each bite of food has the potential to impact on nutrition and well-being, particularly for the older adult aged over 65 years with swallowing disability. Better attention to the shape of the foods presented for consumption may help improve access to food and nutrition through food shaping methods such as 3D food printing. Target objectives across these four SDGs should help to improve the physical and emotional health of older people with swallowing disability who need texture-modified foods. We discuss the potential for methods to improve food shaping and influence better health outcomes for older people, particularly those with swallowing disability. Texture-modified food should be both nourishing and enjoyable while being safe to swallow without coughing or choking; to improve nutrition, health, and quality of life. Along with temperature and taste, the shape of texture-modified foods influences the appeal of the food as important elements of food design. The link between the enjoyment of food and nutrition sets the foundation for a good quality of life for older people. 3D food printing, among other food shaping methods, helps establish this link through the creation of nutritious and appealing foods. Applying the targets for SDGs relating to food shaping techniques will involve innovation and collaboration with older people and multiple disciplines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]