Search

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, is highly prevalent among individuals who intersect with the criminal justice system (CJS). It is well-established that TBI negatively impacts individuals’ interactions both within the CJS and upon release and is associated with serious disciplinary charges and higher recidivism rates. Although rehabilitation is fundamental to TBI recovery, it is not known to what extent rehabilitation is available to, or used by, individuals who intersect with the CJS. This scoping review explores the availability and extent of rehabilitation for individuals with TBI who intersect with the CJS, based on available literature. A systematic search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Clinical Trials, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, and Proquest Nursing and Allied Health), relevant organizations’ websites, and reference lists of eligible articles identified 22 peer-reviewed articles and 2 gray literature reports that met predetermined eligibility criteria. Extracted data were synthesized through a descriptive numerical summary and qualitative content analysis. This review provides evidence that existing rehabilitation interventions are already serving individuals with TBI with a history of CJS involvement; however, they rarely consider or acknowledge TBI or CJS in their interventions. Findings also suggest opportunities to integrate rehabilitation for individuals with TBI who intersect with the CJS through TBI screening, education on TBI within CJS settings, and linkages to the community to facilitate continuity of care. This review also highlights significant gaps in knowledge regarding sex, gender, and other intersecting factors. Research to understand how these experiences impact the rehabilitation process throughout the CJS is urgently needed to enable timely and appropriate rehabilitation and continuity of care for diverse individuals with TBI who intersect with the CJS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The COVID-19 pandemic has increased rates and severity of intimate partner violence. • The pandemic has amplified existing challenges for Indigenous and remote communities. • Increased awareness of brain injury is needed among survivors and professionals. • Health care professionals need to be better equipped to support survivors. • Peer navigators are a powerful support for survivors. Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 3 women and has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although most injuries are to the head, face, and neck, leaving survivors vulnerable to sustaining traumatic brain injury (TBI), the intersection of IPV and TBI remains largely unrecognized. This article reports on COVID-19–related effects, barriers, needs, and priorities to health care and support services for women survivors of IPV-TBI. Using a participatory research model, we engaged 30 stakeholders in virtual meetings drawn from an IPV-TBI Knowledge to Practice Network in two virtual meetings. Stakeholders included women survivors, service providers, researchers, and decision makers across the IPV, TBI, and healthcare sectors. Data were gathered through small group breakout sessions facilitated by the research team using semistructured discussion guides. Sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to contribute to the analysis and knowledge transfer through member checking activities. Ethics approval was obtained through the University of Toronto. Stakeholders shared that COVID-19 has increased rates and severity of IPV and barriers to services and help-seeking. These effects have been exacerbated by infrastructure difficulties in rural and remote areas, including limited access to services. They noted the need to carefully consider implications of virtual care such as safety, privacy, and usability. Requests from survivors for peer support have increased significantly, indicating a need for more formalized and better-supported peer roles. Stakeholders further noted that an overwhelming lack of awareness of the intersection of IPV-TBI continues. Increasing education and awareness among health care and IPV service providers, survivors, and the public remains a priority. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified IPV-TBI, increased challenges for women survivors, and accentuated the continued lack of IPV-TBI awareness. Key recommendations for health care and rehabilitation to address this priority are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of both death and disability worldwide, is highly prevalent among individuals who intersect with the criminal justice system. TBI is associated with increased behavioural, psychological, or negative outcomes, such as higher rates of mental health problems, aggression, and violent offending that may lead to negative interactions with the criminal justice system, reincarceration, and recidivism. Although rehabilitation is often recommended and holds promise in addressing TBI-related impairments, there is currently a paucity of reviews on rehabilitation for individuals with TBI who intersect with the criminal justice system (CJS). Concurrently, to the best of our knowledge, there is currently no review that considers rehabilitation among individuals with TBI who intersect with all parts of the CJS (i.e., policing, courts, corrections, and parole). This protocol is for a scoping review to address the above gaps, specifically, to identify the types of rehabilitation interventions and/or programs available to, or used by, individuals with TBI who intersect with all parts of the CJS. Primary research articles that meet pre-defined inclusion criteria will be identified from electronic databases (MEDLINE® ALL, Embase and Embase Classic, Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Clinical Trials, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Nursing and Allied Health, and Dissertation and These Global), reference lists of included articles, and scoping or systematic reviews. Grey literature will also be searched to identify non-peer-reviewed reports. Retrieved articles will be screened by two reviewers and any disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be summarized quantitatively and analyzed using content analytic techniques. Intersecting identities will be charted and considered in the analysis. Stakeholders will be engaged to obtain feedback on preliminary results and the implications of findings. The scoping review will summarize the current state of rehabilitation available to, or used by, individuals with TBI who intersect with all parts of the CJS to (a) inform opportunities to integrate rehabilitation in the criminal justice system for diverse individuals and (b) identify opportunities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) prioritizes children's services and programming to diverse communities, and ALSC provides guidelines and tangible resources, children's librarians with not only actualizing library services that support the most vulnerable communities. It mentions that Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation.

Centralized Off-Unit Programing With Extended hours (COPE) is a recovery-oriented model of service that aims to address limited occupational engagement and social isolation among inpatient clients with serious mental illness. This study explored the self-reported outcomes of 12 clients using semi-structured interviews and pre- and post- administration of the Personal Recovery Outcome Measure. These outcomes were supported by significant improvements in personal recovery and included sense of choice, occupational engagement, socialization, change in environment, skill learning, and improved sense of wellness. These findings provide preliminary evidence on the COPE model of service and its potential role in promoting personal recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 103 root nodule isolates were utilized to assess the diversity of bacteria nodulating Lotus tenuis in typical soils of the Salado River Basin. The high levels of conservation of the nodC and nifH genes in Lotus symbionts indicated that both intrageneric horizontal gene transfer and intergeneric horizontal gene transfer are significant mechanisms for the spread for symbiotic capacity in the Salado River Basin.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects up to 1 in 3 women over their lifetime and has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although most injuries are to the head, face and neck, the intersection of IPV and brain injury (BI) remains largely unrecognized. Our main objective was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on survivors and service providers. This project used a qualitative, participatory approach using semi-structured individual or group interviews. Interviews were conducted via videoconferencing, audio recorded, and transcribed. Transcripts were thematically analyzed by the research team to identify themes. The study took place in the general community and included participants from across Canada. Purposeful sampling through the team's national Knowledge-to-Practice (K2P) Network and snowball sampling were used to recruit 24 participants across 4 categories: survivors, executive directors/managers of organizations serving survivors, direct service providers, and employer/union representatives. N/A. N/A. COVID-19 has increased rates and severity of IPV and barriers to services, both in terms of provision and uptake. Three main themes emerged: (1) implications for women survivors of IPV/BI; (2) implications for service delivery and service providers supporting women survivors of IPV/BI; and (3) key priorities. Increased risk, complex challenges to mental health, and the impact on employment were discussed. Adaptability and flexibility of service delivery were identified as significant issues and increased outreach and adaptation of technology-based services were noted as key priorities. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified IPV/BI, increased challenges for women survivors and service providers, and accentuated the continued lack of IPV/BI awareness. Recommendations for service delivery and uptake are discussed. Nothing to disclose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if educating parents with visual aids after their child's treatment under general anesthesia would improve attendance at follow-up appointments, oral health outcomes, and treatment satisfaction. Methods: Fifty-four parent-child dyads were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups. The control group received verbal education, and the intervention group received verbal and visual education. Oral health was measured using the Gingival Index and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) before and after the treatment. Parent surveys were administered before and after treatment. Results: Seventy-eight percent of the intervention group and 52 percent of the control group returned for follow-up appointments (P=.04). The plaque index decreased (P<.01); the reported brushing frequency increased for all children from baseline to follow-up visit (P=.02). The satisfaction increased only for parents in the intervention group over time (P=.04). Conclusions: Using visual aids had a positive impact on patient attendance at follow-up and parents' treatment satisfaction. There was an improvement in oral hygiene, as measured by the OHI-S, and an increase in brushing frequency for all children, regardless of whether their parents were educated with or without a visual aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with special health care needs include those with behavioral issues, developmental disorders, cognitive disorders, congenital or genetic disorders, or systemic disease. These conditions may place them at increased risk for oral diseases, making it important to establish preventive oral health strategies at an early age. These children should have an established dental home, through which preventive care can be initiated and maintained, by 12 months of age. Dentists can establish prevention-based care from a young age by understanding the child's condition and how that condition influences the delivery of oral health care. This article outlines common conditions among children with special needs, focuses on their influence on dental health, and describes how these conditions influence preventive, operative, surgical, and behavior management strategies. The goal is to provide an overview that will help guide practicing dentists to understand their role in the care of children with special health care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to increase dentists' understanding of how to best engage parents and their children with special health care needs (SHCN) in oral health promotion efforts and explore the relationships between these patients' level of functioning and oral health and their parents' comfort concerning oral health promotion. Methods: Survey data were collected from 154 caregivers of SHCN children. Children's oral health data were obtained from their clinical charts. Results: The patients' level of functioning ranged from the lowest to the highest regarding their ability to listen/understand, talk, relate to others, care for themselves, play with others, and participate in physical activities. Children's gingival health was correlated with their ability to talk (r=-.12; P<.05). Their oral hygiene score correlated with their ability to talk (r=.18; P<.05) and their skills in social play interactions (r=.21; P<.05). The parents' comfort level concerning oral health promotion correlated positively with their child's level of functioning. Parents' interest in receiving oral health instruction correlated positively with their child's level of functioning. Conclusions: Understanding patient's level of functioning might predict the degree to which parents actually engage in oral health promotion efforts and are interested in oral health-related education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess restorative treatment outcomes in the mixed dentition of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) patients and determine the postrehabilitation oral health status and satisfaction of the patients. Methods: Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed on eight AI patients, who had 74 restorations placed in permanent incisors and molars, to allow evaluation of the integrity of the restorations and periodontal status post-treatment. Subjects completed o survey regarding esthetics, function, and sensitivity. Results: Among the 74 restorations evaluated, seven were lost; of the remaining restorations, 31 were posterior, and 36 were anterior. Ten were rated clinically unacceptable. Teeth with stainless steel crowns had a moderate gingival index (mean=23) and plaque index (mean=2.0) scores. Widening of the periodontal ligament and pulp canal obliteration were common radiographic findings. Subjects recall of satisfaction regarding esthetics (P=.002) and sensitivity (brushing-P=.03; eating-P=.01) showed a statically significant difference before and offer treatment. Conclusions: During mixed dentition, teeth with amelogenesis imperfecta may be restored with conventional treatment modalities. Direct restorations should be considered "interim" with multiple repairs anticipated. Post-treatment, gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation were observed. Subjects were satisfied with their appearance and reported a decrease of hypersensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine pediatric dentists' awareness and experiences with oral health literacy and to identify communication techniques used with parents. Methods: Active North American members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry were invited to participate in the survey. Descriptive statistical analyses were completed, and Pearson's chi-square crosstabs tests were used to compare categorical data between groups. Results: Data were collected from 22 percent (n=1,059) of pediatric dentists; 68 to 87 percent use basic communication techniques routinely, while 36 to 79 percent routinely use enhanced communication techniques. Approximately 59 percent (n=620) reported having had an experience with health literacy miscommunication, while II percent (n=116) are aware of an error in patient care that resulted from oral health literacy miscommunication. Respondents who have had an experience with miscommunication were significantly more likely statistically to perceive barriers to effective communication as more significant than those without a history of miscommunication experience (P<.001). Conclusions: Most pediatric dentists have experienced situations in which a parent has misunderstood information. Basic communication techniques were most commonly used, while enhanced communication techniques were used less routinely. Those who have had experience with oral health literacy miscommunication events perceive barriers to effective communication as more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]