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Objective: To rate athletes' functional ability and return to sport (RTS) success at the end of their individual, formal, medically prescribed rehabilitation after anterior anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: In our prospective multicenter cohort study, 88 (42 females) adults aged 18-35 years after acute unilateral ACL rupture and subsequent hamstring grafting were included. All patients were prospectively monitored during their rehabilitation and RTS process until the end of their formal rehabilitation and RTS release. As outcome measures, functional hop and jump tests (front hop, balance hops, and drop jump screening test) and self-report outcomes (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, ACL-RTS after injury) were assessed. Literature-based cut-off values were selected to rate each performance as fulfilled or not. Results: At 7.5 months (SD 2.3 months) after surgery, the percentage of participants meeting the functional thresholds ranged from 4% (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score SPORT) and over 44% (ACL-RTS after injury sum score) to 59% (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score activities of all daily living) in the self-report and from 29% (Balance side hop) to 69% (normalized knee separation distance) in performance testing. Only 4% fulfilled all the cut-offs, while 45% returned to the same type and level of sport. Participants who successfully returned to their previous sport (type and level) were more likely to be "over-cut-off-performers." Conclusions: The low share of the athletes who fulfilled the functional RTS criteria highlights the importance of continuing the rehabilitation measures after the formal completion to assess the need for and success of, inter alia, secondary-preventive therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hindu Kush Himalayan region is a global hotspot for climate change and highly vulnerable to its direct and indirect impacts. Understanding people's perception of climate change is crucial for effective adaptation strategies. We conducted a study by using quantitative (Household survey, n = 660) and qualitative data collection tools (Focus group discussion, n = 12; In-depth interviews, n = 27) in central Nepal encompassing three altitudinal regions: Lowland (<1000 m amsl; Terai region), Midland (1000–1500 m amsl; hilly region) and Highland (1500–2100 m amsl; mountainous region). We analyzed 37 years (1981–2017) of climatic data from respective districts (Lowland: Chitwan, Dhading; Midland: Kathmandu, Lalitpur; Highland: Nuwakot, Rasuwa). People's perception was compared with climate extreme indices measured along these regions and evaluated if they accurately recognized the impacts on the environment and human health. Our findings show significant climate changes, including rising summer temperature, region-specific winter temperatures and extended monsoon seasons in Nepal. Participants in our study accurately perceived these trends but misperceived heavy precipitation patterns. Reported impacts are rise in crop diseases, human diseases, vector expansion and climate induced disasters like floods, landslides, and water resource depletion, with perception accuracy varying by region. These insights highlight the importance of understanding regional and cross-regional perceptions in relation to climate data in order to develop tailored climate adaptation strategies. Policymakers can use this information to establish region-specific educational and communication initiatives, addressing communities' distinctive vulnerabilities and needs across diverse landscapes. Such approaches can enhance equitable and effective climate resilience in subtropical to alpine regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) are high pressure work environments with several psychosocial job demands, e.g., violence, and job resources, e.g., colleague support. So far, the perceptions of working conditions have been compared between doctors and nurses, but there is limited knowledge regarding their respective supervisors. In addition, the violence prevention climate has not been assessed in German EDs before. Thus, the current study focuses on differences in the perceptions of working conditions and the violence prevention climate between the groups of doctor-supervisors, doctor-employees, nurse-supervisors, and nurse-employees within the ED. Further analyses regarding the association between social relations and pressure for unsafe practices are performed, including the moderating role of belonging to one of the aforementioned groups. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among N = 370 participants, who were doctors or nurses from German EDs. The Questionnaire for Psychosocial Risk Assessment (QPRA) and the Violence Prevention Climate Scale (VPCS) were applied. Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed for group comparisons, followed by a hierarchical multiple linear regression model and moderation analyses. Results: Statistically significant differences between the groups were found for eight out of 13 variables. The highest number of significant pairwise comparisons was found between the groups of doctor-supervisors and nurse-employees. High job demands regarding work intensity and work interruptions became apparent across all groups. Nurse-employees reported the highest social and emotional demands as well as the highest pressure for unsafe practices regarding violence prevention, significantly differing from the other groups on these variables. The variables of supervisor support and social stressors were found to be significantly predictive of pressure for unsafe practices. Furthermore, there was no moderating effect of belonging to one of the above-mentioned groups in the relationships between variables of social relations and pressure for unsafe practices. Conclusions: Differences found in the current study can help tailor preventive measures according to the needs of distinct professions and positions in order to improve working conditions and the violence prevention climate in EDs. Furthermore, supervisor support should be strengthened while social stressors should be resolved in order to decrease pressure for unsafe practices regarding violence prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The utilization of digital technologies in the field of dentistry is becoming increasingly prevalent. Such technologies facilitate more precise and efficient dental treatment while also enhancing the overall quality of care. The advent of digitalization has brought with it a plethora of advantages, yet it has also given rise to a number of potential challenges. These have the potential to give rise to a variety of negative consequences, including an increase in stress perception. Objectives: This study identifies the digital demands and resources as well as the prevalence of digital stress perception among German dentists. Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between digital stress perception and work- and health-related outcomes, and it identifies potential preventive measures. Methods: The quantitative cross-sectional study involved a total of 325 German dentists. Data collection took place between January and April 2024. The questionnaire was validated using several established scales, including the Technostress Scale and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Multiple correlation and regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the reliability and validity of the data collected. Results: The study results demonstrated that the participating dentists exhibited a moderate level of digital stress (M = 3.73 (SD = 0.71). Regarding the individual technostress creators, the highest mean was observed for the constructs of techno-overload (M = 3.91; SD = 0.76), techno-complexity (M = 3.63; SD = 0.71), and techno-uncertainty (M = 2.01; SD = 0.75). The participants reported an average level of exhaustion symptoms (M = 3.21; SD = 0.91) and job satisfaction (M = 4.52; SD = 0.78). The association between technostress and emotional exhaustion (as a burnout symptom) showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.38; CI: 0.07, 0.52; p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between the variables of technostress and job satisfaction, with a correlation coefficient of r = −0.33 (CI: −0.25, 0.07; p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study presents preliminary findings on the digital stress experience in dentistry and relevant associations. In the context of ongoing digitalization, there is a need for support and preventive measures to reduce technology-related stress. An optimized design of digital applications and the working environment are of crucial importance to improve the health of dentists and the quality of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]