Creating Flexibility for Adapted Physical Education Teachers in Supporting Children with Disabilities Using Google Sites and Google Forms

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education in how learning occurs such as utilizing technological supports. Specific to adapted physical education (APE), the pandemic affected APE teachers' abilities to support their students' physical activity (PA) needs, which produced barriers but also successes in the form of collaboration among APE professionals and increased knowledge, confidence, and use of technology. However, a question remains on what lasting impacts the COVID-19 pandemic will have on education and APE. As such, APE teachers should be prepared to support students in any educational setting and utilize the available resources regarding technology. Additionally, they should have the opportunity to explore different technology approaches to develop competence and determine what aspects can support their students and themselves. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide information about two technology resources-Google Sites and Google Forms-that APE teachers can use to support their teaching responsibilities and students. Information about how to utilize both resources are provided as well as suggestions for future use.

Centering Work: Integration and Diffusion of Workforce Development Within the U.S. Manufacturing Extension Network

As the U.S. economy rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, strategies that promote long-term transformation toward quality jobs will be critical. This includes workplace-improving interventions that enable employers to upgrade existing jobs, often while enhancing their own competitive position. This article focuses on the U.S. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a national network of federally funded centers that support small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms. The authors document the range of workforce- and workplace-enhancing strategies that MEP centers have adopted since the network's inception in the mid-1990s. While workforce development is unevenly implemented across today's MEP network, leading centers within it are devising transformative strategies that shape underlying business practices in ways that can improve the quality of frontline manufacturing jobs. The pandemic recovery, along with federal commitments to reenergize domestic supply chains, presents an opportunity to establish National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-MEP as a national workforce development leader, while also strengthening localized institutional partnerships to center that effort on inclusive economic development and recovery. © The Author(s) 2023.

Enhancing diabetes care for the most vulnerable in the 21st century: Interim findings of the National Advisory Panel on Care Home Diabetes (NAPCHD).

Older adults with diabetes may carry a substantial health burden in Western ageing societies, occupy more than one in four beds in care homes, and are a highly vulnerable group who often require complex nursing and medical care. The global pandemic (COVID-19) had its epicentre in care homes and revealed many shortfalls in diabetes care resulting in hospital admissions and considerable mortality and comorbid illness. The purpose of this work was to develop a national Strategic Document of Diabetes Care for Care Homes which would bring about worthwhile, sustainable and effective quality diabetes care improvements, and address the shortfalls in care provided. A large diverse and multidisciplinary group of stakeholders (NAPCHD) defined 11 areas of interest where recommendations were needed and using a subgroup allocation approach were set tasks to produce a set of primary recommendations. Each subgroup was given 5 starter questions to begin their work and a format to provide responses. During the initial phase, 16 key findings were identified. Overall, after a period of 18 months, 49 primary recommendations were made, and 7 major conclusions were drawn from these. A model of community and integrated diabetes care for care home residents with diabetes was proposed, and a series of 5 'quick-wins' were created to begin implementation of some of the recommendations that would not require significant funding. The work of the NAPCHD is ongoing but we hope that this current resource will help leaders to make these required changes happen.

Applied Regional Economic Research Can Improve Development Strategies and Drive Better Outcomes

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an unimagined level of federal investment in regional economic development and much greater political attention to its priorities. Economic development researchers have an opportunity to contribute to an array of federally funded and pandemic-inspired regional experiments, many of which reflect shifting concerns about economic development and what constitutes success. Among these include the importance of addressing historical racial, ethnic, and gender inequalities;the value of research and development as a solution to major human problems;the severity of impending workforce shortages in key sectors;the fragility of many highly efficient global supply chains;and the inadequacy of our underinvested economic data infrastructure to help understand these issues. Researchers have a unique opportunity to examine the regional impacts of national issues by improving public investment logic models, advocating for an improved data infrastructure, and providing evidence to address the long-standing tension between growth and equity as competing economic development priorities.

Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on living with diabetes and the provision of diabetes care across Europe: A survey of diabetes nurses

Aims: To describe diabetes nurses' perspectives of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on people living with diabetes and diabetes services across Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was disseminated to diabetes nurse across Europe via professional networks. The survey was developed by a multi-national consortium of diabetes nurses using a rapid Delphi method and translated into 17 languages. The questionnaire asked respondents to identify the single biggest impact of the pandemic on people with diabetes and diabetes care, together with the main strategies that helped people with diabetes. Responses were analysed using quantitative content analysis to generate themes and sub-themes. Results: Participants (n = 1829) from 27 countries were included in this analysis. The single biggest negative impacts reported were: reduced access to care (n = 639, 35%);and the emotional impacts of the pandemic (n = 494, 27%). Helpful impacts were: digital/virtual health care support (n = 590, 32%);maintaining access to diabetes care (n = 561, 31%);people with diabetes had more time for their self-management activation (n = 319, 17%);and targeted covid-19 resources (n = 109, 5.9%). The biggest challenges perceived by nurses to providing diabetes care, were: virtual care delivery (n = 788, 43%);access to clinical resources and information (n = 452, 24%);and supporting vulnerable groups (n = 156, 9%). Almost two thirds of respondents reported that innovative methods for service delivery were required to respond to the pandemic (n = 1125, 62%). Conclusions: Diabetes nurses across Europe reported significant disruption to clinical diabetes services during the pandemic. Care delivery systems needed to be adapted to minimise the physical and psychological impact of the pandemic on people living with diabetes.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic on young people with diabetes and preferences for future care: A patient survey

Aims: Covid-19 restrictions have impacted social interaction, work, education and care provision for young people with diabetes. Furthermore, people with diabetes have increased morbidity and mortality from covid-19. We aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on young people's diabetes care and management;their psychosocial well-being;and identify preferences for future diabetes care. Methods: A survey was emailed to all patients aged 16-23 with diabetes attending two London (UK) hospital-based diabetes clinics. Descriptive and content analyses were conducted. Results: Response rate was 33% (n = 74/222). Respondents reflected clinic population in age, ethnicity and area-level deprivation, although males were underrepresented (34%, n = 25). Since the pandemic 55% (n = 41) felt well supported by their diabetes team;35% (n = 26) felt more confident and 40% (n = 29) more motivated to manage their diabetes. Conversely 22% (n = 16) felt less confident or motivated, which they attributed to decreased physical activity, disrupted diabetes routines and a lack of support. Mental well-being was reportedly negatively impacted in 57% (n = 42) of patients, with no differences by area-level deprivation or ethnicity. 31% (n = 23) and 41% (n = 30) of respondents felt more negatively about their diabetes and future health, respectively. Face-to- face care in the future remained the most popular option (69%, n = 51), despite increased virtual appointments during the pandemic. Conclusion: Negative impacts on mental well-being, feelings about diabetes and future health need to be considered when providing care for young people with diabetes. Variable experiences and views on care provision indicate the need for a flexible approach to future care delivery models.

Stories and journeys: Understanding the experience of living with kidney disease and receiving haemodialysis through storytelling

Aim: This study aimed to investigate how storytelling contributes to personal and community understandings of living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Background: Stories shape our personal and social worlds. People may experience CKD and haemodialysis as confronting, disempowering, complex and uncertain. This study sought to understand how these challenges are navigated through collecting personal stories. Methods: The longitudinal qualitative study used narrative and arts-based research methodologies to find out the impact of CKD on 14 men and women and how they have made sense of their illness. Over 10 months, the researcher undertook a series of observations, 46 interviews and creative activities, initially face to face and later by telephone due to COVID19. Results: Preliminary findings from the narrative analysis evoke classic story forms of chronologies and epiphanies, suggestive of the 'hero's' journey or 'quest' journey. Using this lens to view the person's experience reveals themes as they: (I) Cross the threshold at diagnosis into the unknown 'otherworld', being compelled by internal motivations and cares for loved ones. (ii) Journey through trials, restrictions, and polarities of machine and body, and are changed, physically and metaphorically, in their return. (iii) Portray their health practitioners as guide or villain, and develop a strong connectiveness with others within the dialysis unit. Conclusions: The journey for people with CKD may not be 'heroic' in the superhero sense but is a testimony of perseverance, obligation, and persistence. Recognising the person as the driver of their unique journey, builds understanding and bespoke care from health practitioners. Stories told and witnessed supports the protagonist to reconstruct their changing sense of self. A study outcome includes sharing stories through an exhibition.