Physicians' Perceptions and Experiences Regarding Leadership: A Link Between Beliefs and Identity Formation.

Introduction: Despite the development of national recommendations and training programs for effective leadership, junior and senior medical leaders often find themselves ill-prepared to take on these new responsibilities. This study aimed to explore physicians' perceptions, feelings, and beliefs regarding leadership and to provide recommendations regarding appropriate training and institutional post-training support. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study at the Geneva University Hospitals. A purposeful sample of residents (R), fellows (F), attending physicians (A), and chairpersons (CP) were invited to participate in focus groups (or semi-structured interviews) between April and June 2021. We investigated their understanding of leadership, self-perception as leaders, difficulties, and paths to improvement in their leadership skills. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analyzed both inductively and deductively using Fishbein's model of behavior prediction and Irby's professional identity formation framework. Results: We conducted ten focus groups (R=3; F=4, A=2, and CP=1) and one interview (CP). Physicians expressed poor self-efficacy at all hierarchical levels: feelings of insecurity and confusion (R and F), frustration (A), and feeling stuck between divisional and institutional governance (CP). Such negative feelings were nurtured by personal beliefs with an intuitive and idealized representation of leadership. Beliefs focused more on personal characteristics rather than on skills, processes, or perceived institutional norms. Unclear expectations regarding physicians' role as leaders, overemphasis on academic achievement, and silo professional organizations fueled their feelings. Participants reported developing their leadership through trial and error, observing role models, and turning to personal resources rather than formal training. Conclusion: Our results show that physicians' leadership skills are still mainly acquired intuitively and that institutional norms do not encourage clarification of leadership roles and processes. Physician training in leadership skills, together with more explicit and clear institutional processes, may help to improve physicians' self-efficacy and develop their identity as leaders.

Exploring the mediating role of self-efficacy beliefs among EFL university language learners: The relationship of social support with academic enthusiasm and academic vitality.

This study explores the intricate relationship between social support, academic enthusiasm, and academic vitality among English language learners (ELLs) in 2023, with a specific emphasis on the intermediary role of self-efficacy beliefs. Despite the existing body of literature, there has been a notable dearth of discussions concerning the influence of social support on academic enthusiasm and vitality. In 2023, the educational landscape is evolving rapidly, demanding a deeper understanding of the factors that drive student motivation and academic engagement. This study addresses this gap by investigating the role of social support and self-efficacy beliefs in shaping academic enthusiasm and vitality among ELLs in this contemporary educational context. Through a quantitative research approach, this study engaged a cohort of 242 ELLs from Zanjan University, encompassing both genders. Data were diligently collected through the administration of four distinct questionnaires by using multiple-stage cluster sampling. To unearth insights into the complex relationships under scrutiny, data analyses were meticulously conducted using SPSS 25 and AMOS 24. The consequential findings underscore the paramount significance of cultivating a supportive educational milieu that effectively bolsters self-efficacy beliefs. This nurturing environment, in turn, begets heightened academic enthusiasm and vitality among ELLs. The implications of these findings are manifold, offering universities a valuable toolkit to forge strategies and interventions aimed at fostering not only social support but also the crucial underpinning of self-efficacy beliefs. By doing so, these institutions can effectively nurture the academic enthusiasm and vitality of ELLs, thereby enhancing their educational experience and outcomes.

Breaking the cycle: Exploring the relationship of metacognition beliefs, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and psychosocial performance among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

THE RELEVANCE TO MENTAL HEALTH NURSING: This research paper explores the intricate relationship between metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and psychosocial performance in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Understanding these dynamics can help mental health nurses identify and address each patient's needs more effectively. It can guide them in devising personalized care plans that not only manage the symptoms but also improve the underlying mechanism that exacerbates the psychotic symptoms and social functioning and the overall quality of life. Moreover, the findings of this research can contribute to developing training programs for mental health nurses, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide optimal care. What the paper adds to existing knowledge? • This study provides empirical evidence of the significant positive correlation between OCS and metacognitive dimensions in individuals with schizophrenia. • It highlights the role of certain demographic factors, such as younger age and single marital status, in increasing the likelihood of elevated OCS. • It underscores the inverse relationship between higher metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs and lower levels of psychosocial functioning. • It identifies age and metacognitive scores as crucial predictors of psychosocial functioning across various domains. What are the implications for practice? • The findings suggest that therapeutic nursing interventions for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia should address metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs to improve overall functioning and well-being. • Clinicians, including psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses, should consider the patient's age, marital status, and metacognitive scores when assessing the risk of elevated OCS and devising treatment plans. • The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive psychiatric nursing assessment, including metacognitive dysfunction and OCS evaluation. What are the implications for future research? • Future research could explore the causal relationships between metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs, OCS, and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia. • Longitudinal studies could provide insights into the progression of these relationships over time and the impact of therapeutic interventions. • Further research could also investigate the effectiveness of specific therapeutic strategies such as Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), Schema Therapy (ST), Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET), and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to address this population's metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs. ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder that significantly impacts an individual's cognitive, emotional and social functioning. Recent research has highlighted the role of metacognitive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the psychosocial performance of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Understanding these relationships could provide valuable insights for developing more effective nursing interventions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between metacognitive beliefs, OCS and psychosocial performance among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 174 purposively selected participants diagnosed with schizophrenia. TOOLS: The Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30, Young Adult Self-Report Scale for OCS and Specific Level of Functioning Scale were used to gather the necessary data. RESULTS: The study found a significant positive correlation between OCS and metacognitive dimensions. Age was a significant predictor with an Oddis Ratio of 2.471. The metacognitive dysfunction was a highly significant predictor in univariate and multivariate analyses, with Oddis Ratios of 1.087 and 1.106, respectively. The study also discovered that higher levels of metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs were associated with lower levels of psychosocial functioning. Age and the metacognitive dysfunction score were significant predictors of psychosocial functioning scores, accounting for 26.8% of the variance in these scores. CONCLUSION: The study reveals a compelling inverse relationship between higher metacognitive dysfunctional beliefs and lower levels of psychosocial functioning in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. It also identifies certain demographic factors, such as younger age, as significant contributors to elevated OCS. Importantly, metacognitive dysfunction emerged as a critical predictor of psychosocial functioning across various domains. These findings underscore the potential of incorporating metacognitive-focused interventions in the treatment plans for schizophrenia patients. By addressing these cognitive patterns, healthcare professionals can enhance overall functioning and well-being in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Understanding patient demand for and use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infection: A qualitative application of the Necessity-Concerns Framework in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a priority for public health. Inappropriate patient demand is an important driver of unnecessary antibiotic use. To develop an effective intervention to reduce inappropriate demand for antibiotics in upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), it is important to identify patient perceptions that influence demand for, and appropriate use of antibiotics. Aim: To identify and describe the beliefs about antibiotics necessity and concerns that patients with URTIs have, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Method: An exploratory qualitative approach was used. One-to-one, face-to-face or telephone semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants recruited using purposive sampling (based on age and gender) from primary healthcare centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were conducted. Only adult patients who currently experience URTIs symptoms and agreed to participate were recruited. Recruitment for interviews continued until data saturation point was reached. The interview guide explored patients' necessity beliefs and concerns about antibiotics, AMR perceptions, and expectations from URTIs consultation. Interview transcripts were coded using QSR NVivo 12 using framework analysis informed by the Necessity-Concerns Framework to identify key motivations driving antibiotic requests and consultations. Results: the study interviewed 32 participants (44% were male, average age was 36.84). Results identified that the patients often relate their personal need for antibiotics when encountering an URTIs symptoms to the type, severity and duration of symptoms. Patients also linked antibiotics with quicker recovery, generally expressing few concerns about antibiotics mainly because of its short duration of use. However, some conveyed their concern about frequent administration of antibiotics and effect on the body's immune system function, which may make them more prone to infections in the future. Participants varied widely in their awareness of AMR; this was associated with many misconceptions, such as confusing AMR with antibiotics efficacy and tolerance. Interestingly, the interplay between necessity beliefs and concerns was observed to influence the decision to start and stop antibiotic, potentially impacting inappropriate antibiotic demand and unnecessary use. Conclusion: This study highlighted important beliefs and misconceptions about antibiotics and AMR in Saudi population which can be targeted in future interventions to reduce inappropriate demand for antibiotics and optimise appropriate usage.

Control beliefs as mediators between education and quality of life in patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer: a large register based study.

OBJECTIVE: Control beliefs have been found to influence adaption to a cancer diagnosis. This study explored interrelationships among education, control beliefs, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer and tested weather control beliefs act as mediators. METHODS: Six hundred and five patients with breast (n = 205), prostate (n = 205), colorectal (n = 124), and lung (n = 71) cancer from two German cancer registries answered standardized questionnaires. Response rate was 54%. HRQoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire and control beliefs (internal, external, and fatalistic) were evaluated using the IPC-questionnaire. Education was measured on a scale ranging from 1 to 8. Data were analyzed using multiple mediation models. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between education and HRQoL. Internal beliefs were positive and external beliefs were negative correlated with HRQoL. Internal control beliefs mediated the relationship between education and global health-related quality of life (.299, CI .122, .531), physical functioning (.272, CI .110, .486), emotional functioning (.325, CI .120, .578), and pain (-.288, CI - .558, - .094). External and fatalistic control beliefs did not act as mediators. CONCLUSION: Patients with low education feel they have less control over their cancer disease and consequently a poorer health-related quality of life.

A new framework for understanding stress and disease: the developmental model of stress as applied to multiple sclerosis.

This paper proposes a new model of stress that integrates earlier models and adds insights from developmental psychology. Previous models describe the behavioral and physical effects of stress events, but have not explained the translation of experiences into stress itself. The Developmental Model of Stress shows how psychosocial developmental challenges in childhood create persistent negative beliefs and behaviors that increase threat perception and maladaptive stress responses. These developmental challenges produce early psychological and physiological predispositions for increased stress responses over time. Ongoing stress leads to dysregulation of physical stress-response systems (allostatic load), which is associated with multiple diseases. High allostatic load provides the necessary preconditions for the diathesis-stress model, which says the addition of an acute stressor to a weakened or predisposed system can lead to disease development. The paper also documents the evolving measurement of stress to better understand the stress-disease relationship, helping to resolve conflicting results between studies. The Developmental Model of Stress was combined with clinician insight and patient reports to build an integrative framework for understanding the role of stress in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). It includes the first mapping of maladaptive beliefs and behaviors arising from developmental challenges that are common to people with MS. An initial comparison shows these may be distinct from those of people with other chronic diseases. These beliefs and behaviors form the predisposing factors and contribute to the triggering factors, which are the acute stressors triggering disease onset. These often took two forms, a prolonged incident experienced as feeling trapped or stuck, and threat of a breach in a relationship. The reinforcing factors add the stress of a chronic disease with a poor prognosis and seemingly random symptom fluctuation, still managed with the same beliefs and behaviors developed in childhood, increasing physiological dysregulation and symptom severity. A pilot study is described in which these three categories of stress factors in MS were explicitly addressed. This study noted clinically important improvements in physical and mental well-being, providing preliminary support for the Developmental Model. Future research might expand on the pilot using a more robust sample and design.

Divergent beliefs about food safety and affordability in Nigeria.

Access to safe, affordable diets is paramount for improved nutritional outcomes. Yet, how do stakeholders perceive the binding constraints and requisite policy actions to increase food safety and affordability? Focusing on Nigeria, this paper uses best-worst scaling techniques applied to a survey of 200 government and agrifood system stakeholders to examine their policy beliefs on safety and affordability vis-à-vis the vegetable and fish value chains. We find that divergence among stakeholders is greater for food safety than affordability. While antibiotics overuse and toxin exposure, lack of knowledge, and weak legislation were identified by different stakeholders as the binding constraints for food safety, high costs of inputs and infrastructure, as well as security threats, were seen as common challenges for affordability across most, though not all, stakeholders for both value chains. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of beliefs in the agrifood system policymaking process and emphasizes the need to explore not only the existence but also the source of divergent beliefs among policy actors in greater depth.

Knowledge, attitude, and perception towards COVID-19 vaccinations among the adults in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple vaccinations have received approval for the prevention of the coronavirus illness. Nevertheless, the sluggish vaccination rate is mostly attributed to the general population's limited understanding and unwillingness to accept the use of vaccinations. Thus, it is important to investigate the Rwandan population's knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 370 participants from 11th to 17th February 2023. Demographic information was gathered, and knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccinations were assessed. A binary logistic regression analysis was undertaken to determine the parameters that determine the perception of COVID-19 vaccinations. RESULTS: This study included 370 participants. Among them, 85% had good knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, and 84% had a positive attitude towards them. Additionally, the study had a diverse group, with half of the participants being female and nearly half falling between the ages of 30 and 39. Several key findings emerged through logistic regression analysis. Those aged 30-39 had 1.39 times higher odds of positive perception than 18-28 (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.08-3.24). Participants with a university education were twice as likely to have a positive perception compared to those without an education level (OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.30-6.20). Additionally, single individuals were three times more likely to have a positive perception than their married counterparts (OR = 3.39, 95% CI = 1.28-9.09). Vaccinated individuals had twice the odds of positive perception than non-vaccinated individuals (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.01-8.89). Those receiving information from government health institutions were three times more likely to have a positive perception than those who received the information from friends (OR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.02-12.7). Moreover, employed participants were four times more likely to have a positive perception non-employed individuals (OR = 4.21, 95% CI = 1.48-13.6). Besides, gender and COVID-19 diagnosis did not significantly correlate with positive COVID-19 vaccine perception. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the general public in Rwanda has good knowledge, positive attitudes, and a positive perception toward the COVID-19 vaccination, however, some of the participants had some misconceptions towards COVID-19. The findings of this study will be valuable for policymakers and healthcare authorities working to improve vaccination rates.

Breaking down barriers: rationalisations and motivation to stop among Chinese male smokers under cigarette dependence.

BACKGROUND: Smoking rationalisation beliefs are a huge barrier to quitting smoking. What types of rationalisations should be emphasised in smoking cessation interventions? Although past literature has confirmed the negative relationship between those beliefs and motivation to stop smoking, little is known regarding the importance and performance of those beliefs on motivation with varying cigarette dependence. The study aimed to ascertain rationalisations that are highly important for motivation yet perform poorly in different cigarette dependence groups. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from November 19 to December 9, 2023 in Guiyang City, China. Adult male current smokers were enrolled. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesis. The multi-group analysis was used to determine the moderating effect of cigarette dependence, and the importance-performance map analysis was utilised to assess the importance and performance of rationalisations. RESULTS: A total of 616 adult male current smokers were analysed, and they were divided into the low cigarette dependence group (n = 297) and the high cigarette dependence group (n = 319). Except for risk generalisation beliefs, smoking functional beliefs (H1: -ß = 0.131, P < 0.01), social acceptability beliefs (H3: ß = -0.258, P < 0.001), safe smoking beliefs (H4: ß = -0.078, P < 0.05), self-exempting beliefs (H5: ß = -0.244, P < 0.001), and quitting is harmful beliefs (H6: ß = -0.148, P < 0.01) all had a significant positive influence on motivation. Cigarette dependence moderated the correlation between rationalisations and motivation. In the high-dependence group, the social acceptability beliefs and smoking functional beliefs were located in the "Concentrate Here" area. In the low-dependence group, the social acceptability beliefs were also situated in there. CONCLUSIONS: Social acceptability beliefs and smoking functional beliefs showed great potential and value for improvement among high-dependence smokers, while only social acceptability beliefs had great potential and value for improvement among low-dependence smokers. Addressing these beliefs will be helpful for smoking cessation. The multi-group analysis and the importance-performance map analysis technique have practical implications and can be expanded to other domains of health education and intervention practice.

Motivators for family carers of persons with dementia in Kenya.

OBJECTIVES: The number of people with dementia is on the rise in Kenya and across Africa. Although family carers act as the main providers of dementia care in Kenya, there is still a significant knowledge gap regarding why family members care for someone with dementia. This study explores perceived drivers of care for people with dementia in a rural Kenyan context. METHODS: Participants were recruited in Makueni County, Kenya. Primary data were derived from a focus group discussion (FGD) and five individual interviews with family carers of people with dementia. To complement interpretation, triangulation occurred through using data from FGDs with healthcare workers and members of the general public. All audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis performed using NVIVO 12. RESULTS: Using the Positioning Theory, we sought to generate information pertaining to motivation for becoming a family carer. Five themes emerged from the analysis and included: (i) self-fulfillment, (ii) familial obligation, (iii) cultural and religious beliefs, (iv) reciprocity, and (v) societal pressures. These themes described the nature of care given to people with dementia, based on what the participants perceived as compelling and/or motivating factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings describe the unique motivators of family carers for people with dementia in Kenya. The ability to find meaning in the caregiving experience could contribute to development of effective support systems, interventions and policies for dementia carers with the aim of improving the overall quality of dementia care in Kenya.

To be a midwife in Latvia - Midwives talking - Pilot study.

Introduction: For almost 20 years Latvia has been a member state of European Union. Accessible and constantly evolving information has led to a paradigm change in the woman - midwife relationship; nowadays, it should be horizontal - women's and her family orientated. The question is: how do the midwives perceive their professional identity, its core values, norms and beliefs in this new paradigm? Method and findings: Three interview rounds with 20 midwives were performed. Highlighted themes were asked to be explained in the next round of interview in order to compare them with authors' thematic analysis and formulated pre - understandings.The method of thematic analysis was used in frame of a pilot study to understand how practising midwives describe their professional identity.Eleven themes emerged and were categorised in three larger themes: integral part of midwife's professional identity - courage, patience, ability to provide intimacy, flexibility and creativity, the most beautiful profession; desirable part - the ability to evaluate yourself, the ability to draw boundaries, tolerance and acceptance of diversity, "go with the flow" - ability to allow physiological processes to take place, hindrances - struggle with bureaucratic norms and paperwork, struggle with the finances/salary. Conclusion: Within the present study midwives' voices have been conceptualised for the first time in Latvia. With the repeated reflection on their professional identity, midwives not only conceptualised it, but also let light shine on the shadowy side of its components.

A qualitative study on Chinese primary school EFL teachers' beliefs about incorporating intercultural competence into foreign language teaching.

Intercultural competence has become one of the important goals of foreign language education. The potential and value of foreign language education on students' intercultural competence (IC) has been widely recognized by academia. Currently, most of the research on intercultural foreign language teachers in China focuses on university teachers, with little attention paid to primary school EFL teachers. However, the cultivation of IC is a staged and continuous process which cannot be achieved in one stroke. Therefore, it is necessary to include primary school EFL teachers in the study of IC cultivation. This paper presents data on Chinese primary school EFL teachers' beliefs about incorporating IC into foreign language teaching. Specifically, their understanding of culture, IC, and intercultural teaching practices are investigated through interviews. The interview transcriptions were analyzed using thematic analysis. The research found: 1. Chinese primary school EFL teachers generally hold an essentialist view of culture; 2. Teachers emphasize the attitudinal dimension of IC; however, they also exhibit a tendency to oversimplify IC or perceive it as a higher-order skill than language proficiency, hence deeming it unsuitable for cultivation at the primary school level; 3. Most cultural teaching practices are teacher-centered, focusing on background knowledge-style introduction. In general, teachers' intercultural teaching practices align with their cultural outlook. At last, the study explores two suggestions for promoting intercultural foreign language teaching: 1. Supporting primary school EFL teachers in updating their language and culture concepts system; 2. Encouraging teachers to reflect on their daily teaching practices as a major opportunity to promote the development of intercultural foreign language teaching.

Knowledge and beliefs of endocrine disruptors in pediatrics: all hands on deck!

Endocrine disruptors (ED) are ubiquitous pollutants, possibly implicated in chronic disease. Exposure of vulnerable populations; including neonates, infants and children; must therefore be limited. Informing parents is now a public health challenge. We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study at the Lyon Mother and child Hospital. We used questionnaires to assess the beliefs and knowledge about ED of parents and pediatric healthcare professionals in the pediatric ward in Lyon, France. A total of 746 questionnaires were completed: 444 for professionals and 302 for parents. The majority of both populations had already heard of ED but only 10% of parents and 5% of professionals felt sufficiently informed. Professionals answered better than parents (73% vs. 60%). The main source of information was similar: media. Only 20% of professionals had read a scientific article about ED and 4% have followed a training. Environmental exposure and EDs is an increasing concern for parents but specific knowledge remains scare for parents and professionals. Specific training is needed.

Physiotherapists' attitudes and beliefs in the management of low back pain: Protocol for a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) poses a significant global health burden where a biopsychosocial model of care has been recommended. Physiotherapists (PTs) play a crucial role in LBP management; however, their attitudes and beliefs towards LBP were not reviewed in detail. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to summarise the attitudes and beliefs of PTs towards LBP and the factors influencing them. METHODS: The review protocol and methods adhere to the PRISMA-P and Meta Analyses and Systematic Reviews for Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro and Ovid databases will be conducted to search for cross-sectional studies evaluating PTs' attitudes and beliefs towards LBP. Two reviewers will independently screen the articles, conduct data extraction and assess methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies. Data synthesis will involve a narrative synthesis of study characteristics, attitudes, beliefs, and methodological quality. If feasible, a meta-analysis will be performed to quantify the pooled effects. CONCLUSION: Despite the emphasis on biopsychosocial approaches for managing LBP, the adoption of such approaches in physiotherapy practice is still suboptimal, with attitudes and beliefs of PTs being considered an important factor influencing treatment practices. Our review will summarise the literature on attitudes and beliefs of PTs towards LBP. Such knowledge would inform the need for development of additional interventions addressing the attitudes and beliefs that would eventually enhance the update of the biopsychosocial model of care in physiotherapy management of LBP.

Testing an Imagery Rescripting Exercise Targeting Fear of Self.

A feared possible self refers to the unwanted characteristics that a person may possess or develop. We tested an experimental paradigm to target fear of possible self using imagery rescripting. A student sample (n = 91), with moderate obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, engaged in written and audio-guided exercises to evoke episodic future mental imagery that represented their feared possible self. Participants were then randomized between imagery rescripting or neutral imagery control tasks. The results revealed no difference between conditions in fear of self or general obsessional beliefs following the manipulation. State anxiety and the urge to neutralize the imagery reduced more in the control condition than in the rescripting condition. These findings suggest that the current paradigm is emotionally engaging but not effective at addressing fear of self as measured. Methodological improvements such as removing a written component of the rescripting task and idiosyncratic measuring of fear of self are proposed.

Health Beliefs, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Prevention Behaviors of Turkish Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between nursing students' breast cancer (BC) awareness, health beliefs, and BC prevention behaviors. Methods: This study sample consisted of 256 female students. Descriptive Information Form, Breast Cancer Awareness Scale (B-CAS), the Factors Affecting Breast Cancer Prevention Behaviors of Women (FABCPB) Scale, and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) were used to collect the data. Results: Breast self-examination was performed in 53.9% of the nursing students. The mean B-CAS score was 1.35 ± 0.58 and the mean FABCPB score was 102.84 ± 9.62. The mean scores of the sub-dimension scores of the CHBMS of nursing students were as sensitivity perception 7.93 ± 2.13, seriousness perception 22.58 ± 5.26, benefit perception 17.25 ± 3.17, obstacle perception 22.89 ± 6.24, confidence 37.71 ± 7.53, and health motivation 26.47 ± 4.41 points. A significant correlation was found between the scores of the nursing students on the B-CAS, FABCPB, and CHBMS scales. Conclusions: Nursing students' scores on the B-CAS and FABCPB were moderate, CHBMS sensitivity and obstacle perception sub-dimension scores were low, severity perception scores were moderate, and benefit perception, trust, and health motivation sub-dimension scores were high. As the BC awareness of nursing students increased, their cancer prevention behaviors and health beliefs increased.

Predicting Food Waste Avoidance: Analysis of an Extended Model of the Theory of Planned Behavior and of Relevant Beliefs.

This research adopted the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict intention and behavior to avoid food waste. In a pilot study, behavioral, normative, and control beliefs were identified. In the main study, a TPB model extended with descriptive and moral norms was assessed using a two-wave design and applying SEM. The associations between beliefs and TPB constructs were analyzed by MIMIC models. Attitude, descriptive and moral norms, and perceived behavioral control were associated with intention to avoid food waste, which predicted behavior. Considering the most important beliefs in forming intentions has important implications for designing food waste prevention interventions.

Actual uptake pursuance analysis of certification examination among industrial engineers in the Philippines: A TPB-PVT approach.

The demand for Industrial Engineers across the globe is significantly increasing and professional certifications give advantage in the job marketplace. The Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers (PIIE) - Industrial Engineering Certification Board facilitates the conferment of the Certified Industrial Engineer (CIE) in the Philippines. The goal of this study was to determine the factors affecting the intention IEs in the Philippines to take the CIE examination using an integration of the Perceived Value Theory and the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior. The research data were collected through an online distributed survey questionnaire to 690 graduating students and graduates from private and public universities across the Philippines. Employing a variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling, the different significant variables and factors were assessed holistically. It was seen that attitude, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and understanding of the CIE examination have significant positive effects to intent to take the CIE examination and becoming a CIE. The perceived benefits and positive emotions brought by becoming a CIE significantly affects the attitude and behavior. This study also confirmed that the higher the perceived return on investment, the more the IEs will take the CIE examination. Moreover, demographic characteristics were identified to correlate and are significant among different variables. As a reflection, the findings and the integrated framework can be utilized in future studies related to development, career pathing, lifelong learning, and other related professional education.

Formative research to understand food beliefs and practices relating to pregnancy on Kei Besar Island, Eastern Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Food-related beliefs and practices during pregnancy may contribute to the high prevalence of chronic energy deficiencies (CED) in Eastern Indonesia, particularly in Southeast Maluku regency, where 21.33% of pregnant women experience CED. Currently, little information on these issues is available. This study investigates food beliefs and practices related to pregnancy on Kei Besar Island in the Maluku province of Eastern Indonesia. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted utilizing in-depth interviews, free lists, and pile sort exercises. Data collection was conducted in January 2023 and involved married pregnant women aged 18 and above (n = 12), community health volunteers (n = 2), and traditional healers (n = 3) from 9 villages in Kei Besar District. All participants must be natives of Kei Besar Island, with community health volunteers and traditional healers being respective figures recommended by the local villagers. RESULTS: The need to avoid or minimize consumption of certain foods during pregnancy, such as some kinds of fish, chili and spicy food, soda, pineapples, octopus, squid, and ice was reported by more than one-third of all participants. Consumption of prescribed foods, such as cassava leaves, papaya, coconut water, rice during early pregnancies, moringa leaves, bananas, and katok leaves was reported by five or more participants. These food proscriptions and prescriptions were due to concerns about the risks of miscarriage, adverse effects on the fetus and mother, and complications during labor. Participants also reported other practices, such as eating for two during early pregnancy and reducing food intake in late pregnancy. We found that food beliefs have shaped the dietary patterns of most participants. However, they still consumed food recommended by community health volunteers and midwives. CONCLUSIONS: Food beliefs are present and practiced in the Kei Besar community and may impact the nutritional status of women and their infants. Interventions should target training healthcare providers and community health volunteers to provide culturally appropriate health education that incorporates prescribed local ingredients and provides nutritionally adequate substitutes for the proscribed food items. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Physicians' perceptions and awareness of adverse effects of proton pump inhibitors and impact on prescribing patterns.

Background: Heightened scrutiny surrounds the inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) due to concerns regarding potential serious adverse effects (AEs). Understanding the impact of these AEs on real-world practice is crucial. This study aimed to assess physicians' perceptions, experiences, awareness, and beliefs regarding published data on potential AEs associated with PPIs. Additionally, it sought to determine alterations in PPI prescribing patterns resulting from these AEs, explore attitudes towards PPI use, and ascertain recommendations for PPI use in clinical scenarios with varying levels of risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Method: A quantitative, cross-sectional study utilized a self-administered questionnaire, inviting 282 physicians from 55 primary healthcare centers and 334 internal medicine physicians from seven governmental hospitals to participate. Results: With a response rate of 87.8% (541/616), 74% (95% CI: 70.2-77.7) of respondents were somewhat or very familiar with published data on PPI AEs. Among the familiar, 69.5% (CI: 65.2-73.5) had somewhat or very much changed their PPI prescribing patterns. General concerns about AEs when prescribing PPIs were reported by 62% (CI: 56.7-65.1). Respondents displayed awareness of a median (IQR) of 15 (9) different AEs associated with long-term PPI use, including osteoporosis or osteopenia (90.2%), hypomagnesemia (81.5%), vitamin B12 deficiency (80.6%), and bone fracture (80.0%). Respondents believed that PPIs elevate the risk for a median (IQR) of 7 (6) different AEs, with osteoporosis or osteopenia (81.8%) being the most common, followed by hypomagnesemia (67.1%), and vitamin B12 deficiency (62.3%). The most common strategies for PPI de-escalation were PPI discontinuation (61%) and using PPI on-demand/as-needed (57.9%). The majority (87.4%) agreed or strongly agreed that PPI overuse is prevalent in Kuwait and 78.2% emphasized the necessity for large-scale education on rational PPI use for medical staff and the public. In the UGIB prevention scenarios, 43.6% recommended appropriately the PPI discontinuation in the minimal-risk scenario, while 56% recommended appropriately the PPI continuation in the high-risk scenario. Associations and comparative analyses revealed predictors influencing physicians' practices and attitudes toward PPI usage. Conclusion: These findings lay the foundation for future research and targeted interventions aimed at optimizing PPI prescribing practices and ensuring patient safety.