Evaluation of an online arts-based platform to support the health and well-being of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to conduct a formative evaluation of the Art Your Service (AYS) arts-based program to determine the program's potential for improving the social and physical well-being of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: An online questionnaire was administered to the AYS members who consented to be invited to participate in the study. Questionnaire items consisted of a Likert scale and open-ended questions delivered using an online platform (SurveyMonkey). Participants provided feedback on their perceptions and experiences of the AYS program, such as its impact on their health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits and challenges of participating, and any suggestions for program improvement. OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS: Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, means with standard deviations), and open-ended questions (qualitative data) were analyzed using content analysis. Outcomes included participant demographics, perceptions about the program, usability (System Usability Scale [SUS]), eHealth literacy (eHealth Literacy Scale), and social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale; LSNS-6). RESULTS: Program participants revealed consistent patterns of their perceptions and experiences about the program, including a high satisfaction rate (95%) and a perceived positive impact on participants' health and well-being. The program sessions were perceived to be a well-organized, convenient, and safe way to engage with one another socially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program usability was also perceived to be high (SUS mean score 86.2). Participants felt a sense of connectedness and had reduced feelings of social isolation. Most participants (75%) reported that the program improved their physical health. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this formative evaluation study identified key strengths and opportunities to improve the Art Your Service arts-based program, which can be used to help enhance the program's functioning and long-term sustainability potential.

Association between vitamin B2 intake and prostate-specific antigen in American men: 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests a pivotal role of vitamin B2 in the pathogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Vitamin B2 intake has been postulated to modulate the screening rate for PCa by altering the concentration of prostate-specific antigen(PSA). However, the relationship between vitamin B2 and PSA remains indeterminate. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the association between vitamin B2 intake and PSA levels, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. METHODS: From a pool of 20,371 participants in the NHANES survey conducted between 2003 and 2010, a cohort of 2,323 participants was selected for the present study. The male participants were classified into four distinct groups based on their levels of vitamin B2 intake. We employed a multiple linear regression model and a non-parametric regression method to investigate the relationship between vitamin B2 and PSA levels. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised of 2,323 participants with a mean age of 54.95 years (± 11.73). Our findings revealed a statistically significant inverse correlation between vitamin B2 intake (mg) and PSA levels, with a reduction of 0.13 ng/ml PSA concentration for every unit increase in vitamin B2 intake. Furthermore, we employed a fully adjusted model to construct a smooth curve to explore the possible linear relationship between vitamin B2 intake and PSA concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Our study in American men has unveiled a notable inverse association between vitamin B2 intake and PSA levels, potentially posing a challenge for the identification of asymptomatic prostate cancer. Specifically, our findings suggest that individuals with higher vitamin B2 intake may be at a greater risk of being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in the future, possibly indicating a detection bias. These results may offer a novel explanation for the observed positive correlation between vitamin B2 intake and prostate cancer.

Memory, mood and associated neuroanatomy in individuals with steroid sulphatase deficiency (X-linked ichthyosis).

Steroid sulphatase (STS) cleaves sulphate groups from steroid hormones, and steroid (sulphate) levels correlate with mood and age-related cognitive decline. In animals, STS inhibition or deletion of the associated gene, enhances memory/neuroprotection and alters hippocampal neurochemistry. Little is known about the consequences of constitutive STS deficiency on memory-related processes in humans. We investigated self-reported memory performance (Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire), word-picture recall and recent mood (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K10) in adult males with STS deficiency diagnosed with the dermatological condition X-linked ichthyosis (XLI; n = 41) and in adult female carriers of XLI-associated genetic variants (n = 79); we compared results to those obtained from matched control subjects [diagnosed with ichthyosis vulgaris (IV, n = 98) or recruited from the general population (n = 250)]. Using the UK Biobank, we compared mood/memory-related neuroanatomy in carriers of genetic deletions encompassing STS (n = 28) and non-carriers (n = 34,522). We found poorer word-picture recall and lower perceived memory abilities in males with XLI and female carriers compared with control groups. XLI-associated variant carriers and individuals with IV reported more adverse mood symptoms, reduced memory contentment and greater use of memory aids, compared with general population controls. Mood and memory findings appeared largely independent. Neuroanatomical analysis only indicated a nominally-significantly larger molecular layer in the right hippocampal body of deletion carriers relative to non-carriers. In humans, constitutive STS deficiency appears associated with mood-independent impairments in memory but not with large effects on underlying brain structure; the mediating psychobiological mechanisms might be explored further in individuals with XLI and in new mammalian models lacking STS developmentally.

The short version of the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS-3): Measurement invariance across countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Background: The three-item Sexual Distress Scale (SDS-3) has been frequently used to assess distress related to sexuality in public health surveys and research on sexual wellbeing. However, its psychometric properties and measurement invariance across cultural, gender and sexual subgroups have not yet been examined. This multinational study aimed to validate the SDS-3 and test its psychometric properties, including measurement invariance across language, country, gender identity, and sexual orientation groups. Methods: We used global survey data from 82,243 individuals (Mean age=32.39 years; 40.3 % men, 57.0 % women, 2.8 % non-binary, and 0.6 % other genders) participating in the International Sexual Survey (ISS; https://internationalsexsurvey.org/) across 42 countries and 26 languages. Participants completed the SDS-3, as well as questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, including gender identity and sexual orientation. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a unidimensional factor structure for the SDS-3, and multi-group CFA (MGCFA) suggested that this factor structure was invariant across countries, languages, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Cronbach's α for the unidimensional score was 0.83 (range between 0.76 and 0.89), and McDonald's ω was 0.84 (range between 0.76 and 0.90). Participants who did not experience sexual problems had significantly lower SDS-3 total scores (M = 2.99; SD=2.54) compared to those who reported sexual problems (M = 5.60; SD=3.00), with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.01 [95 % CI=-1.03, -0.98]; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The SDS-3 has a unidimensional factor structure and appears to be valid and reliable for measuring sexual distress among individuals from different countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Artificial Intelligence - Perception of Clinical Laboratories' Technical Staff a Nationwide Multicentre Survey in Pakistan.

Introduction: As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology continues to assimilate into various industries, there is a huge scope in the healthcare industry specifically in clinical laboratories. The perspective of the laboratory professionals can give valuable insight on the ideal path to take for AI implementation. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design and was conducted at the section of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan in collaboration with Consultant Pathologists of 9 clinical laboratories associated with teaching hospitals across Pakistan from October-November 2023. The survey was for a duration of 2 weeks and was circulated to all working laboratory technical staff after informed consent. Results: A total of 351 responses were received, of which 342 (male=146, female=196) responses were recorded after exclusion. Respondents ranged from technologists, faculty, residents, and coordinators, and were from different sections (chemical pathology, microbiology, haematology, histopathology, POCT). Out of the total 312 (91.2%) of respondents stated that they were at least somewhat familiar with AI technology. Experts in AI were only 2.0% (n=7) of all respondents, but 90% (n=6) of these were < 30 years old. 76.3% (n=261) of the respondents felt the need to implement more AI technology in the laboratories, with time saving (26.1%) and improving performances of tests (17.7%) cited to be the greatest benefits of AI. Security concerns (n=144) and a fear of decreasing personal touch (n=143) were the main concerns of the respondents while the younger employees had an increased fear of losing their jobs. 76.3% were in favour of an increase in AI usage in the laboratories. Conclusion: This study highlights a favourable perspective among laboratory professionals, acknowledging the potential of AI to enhance both the efficiency and quality of laboratory practices. However, it underscores the importance of addressing their concerns in the thoughtful implementation of this emerging technology.

An overwinter protocol for detecting wolverines and other carnivores at camera traps paired with automated scent dispensers.

Camera traps deployed with olfactory attractants are used to survey rare and elusive carnivores. Study areas with deep snowpack and rugged terrain present challenges and risks to field personnel, who traditionally must revisit camera stations regularly to refresh attractants. In such locations, alternative overwinter survey protocols that include a persistent attractant would improve both the safety and efficiency of camera-trap surveys. We present a protocol for installing camera traps and automated scent dispensers on trees at above-average maximum snow depth to eliminate the need for interim service visits and to enable standardized surveys to be conducted throughout the year. Our protocol proved to be effective at attracting and detecting numerous and repeated visits by wolverines, fishers, and other carnivores in two montane regions of the western contiguous United States. The volume, timing, and composition of liquid scent lure released by automated scent dispensers can be varied to target multiple species of interest, and the dispenser can be used in situations where bait rewards may influence the behavior of target species and/or pose human safety concerns.

Permissive Weight Bearing in Proximal Humeral Fracture Management: A Survey-Based Inquiry in the Netherlands.

Purpose Proximal humeral fractures (PHF) are common, particularly among the elderly due to low-energy trauma. Adequate rehabilitation is essential for functional recovery, whether through conservative or surgical treatment. Permissive weight bearing (PWB) is a relatively new rehabilitation concept, characterized by earlier mobilization of the affected limb/joint after trauma. Multiple studies demonstrated the value of PWB for the lower extremities, but this has not been translated to the upper extremity (i.e. PHF). Therefore, our aim was to investigate the current state and variability of rehabilitation of PHF and the role of implementing PWB principles in aftercare. Materials and methods An online survey, comprising 23 questions about the treatment of PHF, was distributed amongst an estimated 800 Dutch orthopaedic and trauma surgeons via the Dutch Orthopaedic and Dutch Trauma Society newsletter from May 2021 until July 2021. Results Among 88 respondents (n=69 orthopaedic, n=17 trauma surgeons, and n=2 other), most recommended early post-trauma mobilization (<6 weeks). Additionally, 53.4% (n=49) advised starting load bearing after six weeks for conservatively treated patients and 59.8% (n=52) for operative treatment. A wide variation of exercises used after immobilization was found in both groups. The usage of a sling after operative treatment was advised by 86% (n=74) of all 86 respondents. Conclusions The present study found limited consensus about PHF aftercare and the implementation of weight-bearing principles. The majority recommended early mobilization and advised the usage of a sling. A protocol capable of accommodating the diversity in aftercare (e.g. fracture type) is essential for maintaining structured rehabilitation, with PWB emerging as a promising example. More prospective studies are needed to form an evidence-based protocol focusing on the aftercare of PHF.

High serum copper as a risk factor of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among US adults, NHANES 2011-2014.

Background: Several studies have shown that serum copper levels are related to coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, the association of serum copper levels with all-cause, cause-specific [including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer] mortality remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to prospectively examine the association of copper exposure with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality among US adults. Methods: The data for this analysis was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2014. Mortality from all-causes, CVD, and cancer mortality was linked to US National Death Index mortality data. Cox regression models were used to estimate the association between serum copper levels and all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. Results: A total of 2,863 adults were included in the main study. During the mean follow-up time of 81.2 months, 236 deaths were documented, including 68 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 57 deaths from cancer. The weighted mean overall serum copper levels was 117.2 ug/L. After adjusting for all of the covariates, compared with participants with low (1st tertile, <103 µg/L)/medium (2st tertile, 103-124 µg/L) serum copper levels, participants with high serum copper levels (3rd tertile, ≥124 µg/L) had a 1.75-fold (95% CI, 1.05-2.92)/1.78-fold (1.19,2.69) increase in all-cause mortality, a 2.35-fold (95% CI, 1.04-5.31)/3.84-fold (2.09,7.05) increase in CVD mortality and a 0.97-fold (95% CI, 0.28-3.29)/0.86-fold (0.34,2.13) increase in cancer mortality. In addition, there was a linear dose-response association between serum copper concentration with all-cause and CVD mortality (P for nonlinear > 0.05). Conclusions: This prospective study found that serum copper concentrations were linearly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality in US adults. High serum copper levels is a risk factor for all-cause and CVD mortality.

Cost-effort analysis of Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and environmental DNA (eDNA) in monitoring marine ecological communities.

Monitoring the diversity and distribution of species in an ecosystem is essential to assess the success of restoration strategies. Implementing biomonitoring methods, which provide a comprehensive assessment of species diversity and mitigate biases in data collection, holds significant importance in biodiversity research. Additionally, ensuring that these methods are cost-efficient and require minimal effort is crucial for effective environmental monitoring. In this study we compare the efficiency of species detection, the cost and the effort of two non-destructive sampling techniques: Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to survey marine vertebrate species. Comparisons were conducted along the Sussex coast upon the introduction of the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw. This Byelaw aims to boost the recovery of the dense kelp beds and the associated biodiversity that existed in the 1980s. We show that overall BRUV surveys are more affordable than eDNA, however, eDNA detects almost three times as many species as BRUV. eDNA and BRUV surveys are comparable in terms of effort required for each method, unless eDNA analysis is carried out externally, in which case eDNA requires less effort for the lead researchers. Furthermore, we show that increased eDNA replication yields more informative results on community structure. We found that using both methods in conjunction provides a more complete view of biodiversity, with BRUV data supplementing eDNA monitoring by recording species missed by eDNA and by providing additional environmental and life history metrics. The results from this study will serve as a baseline of the marine vertebrate community in Sussex Bay allowing future biodiversity monitoring research projects to understand community structure as the ecosystem recovers following the removal of trawling fishing pressure. Although this study was regional, the findings presented herein have relevance to marine biodiversity and conservation monitoring programs around the globe.

[Indication and Contraindication of Video-Based Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Delphi Survey to Capture Psychotherapists' Reflection and Deliberation Processes]. / Indikation und Kontraindikation videobasierter Psychotherapie: Eine qualitative Delphi-Befragung zur Erfassung der Reflexions- und Abwägungsprozesse von Psychotherapeut*innen.

OBJECTIVE: The Corona pandemic forced many psychotherapists to make a rapid transition to video setting. Even after the acute phase of the pandemic, video-based treatments can be determined to a certain extent in practice. Thus, indication and contraindication recommendations are essential to ensure treatment quality. However, empirical studies are almost completely lacking in this regard. In the context of this work, the decision-making and consideration processes of psychotherapists regarding video-based treatments are to be recorded and those factors that can have an effect on the indication are to be identified. METHODS: Two-stage, qualitative Delphi survey with psychodynamically oriented psychotherapists (n=9) and behavioural therapists (n=7) who can be assigned to the fields of research and practice. RESULTS: The quality of the therapeutic alliance guides the participants' choice of setting. An indication for video setting results from the feasibility of therapeutic interventions and the respective treatment goal. The therapists weighed the costs and benefits of video setting for various disorders. The changed feeling of control on both sides and the possibility of improving health care are decisive factors. DISCUSSION: Based on the results, a decision tree for psychotherapists was created, which includes the identified indication criteria.

How Are We Teaching Advocacy? A National Survey of Internal Medicine Residency Program Directors.

BACKGROUND: Although internal medicine (IM) physicians accept public advocacy as a professional responsibility, there is little evidence that IM training programs teach advocacy skills. The prevalence and characteristics of public advocacy curricula in US IM residency programs are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of curricula in US IM residencies addressing public advocacy for communities and populations; to describe barriers to the provision of such curricula. DESIGN: Nationally representative, web-based, cross-sectional survey of IM residency program directors with membership in an academic professional association. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 276 IM residency program directors (61%) responded between August and December 2022. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Percentage of US IM residency programs that teach advocacy curricula; characteristics of advocacy curricula; perceptions of barriers to teaching advocacy. KEY RESULTS: More than half of respondents reported that their programs offer no advocacy curricula (148/276, 53.6%). Ninety-five programs (95/276, 34.4%) reported required advocacy curricula; 33 programs (33/276, 12%) provided curricula as elective only. The content, structure, and teaching methods of advocacy curricula in IM programs were heterogeneous; experiential learning in required curricula was low (23/95, 24.2%) compared to that in elective curricula (51/65, 78.5%). The most highly reported barriers to implementing or improving upon advocacy curricula (multiple responses allowed) were lack of faculty expertise in advocacy (200/276, 72%), inadequate faculty time (190/276, 69%), and limited curricular flexibility (148/276, 54%). CONCLUSION: Over half of US IM residency programs offer no formal training in public advocacy skills and many reported lack of faculty expertise in public advocacy as a barrier. These findings suggest many IM residents are not taught how to advocate for communities and populations. Further, less than one-quarter of required curricula in public advocacy involves experiential learning.

Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-6 (DBAS-6): Data-driven shortened version from a machine learning approach.

BACKGROUND: The Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS-16) is a widely used self-report instrument for identifying sleep-related cognition. However, its length can be cumbersome in clinical practice. This study aims to develop a data-driven shortened version of the DBAS-16 that efficiently predicts the DBAS-16 total score among the general population. METHODS: We collected 1000 responses to the DBAS-16 from the general population through three separate surveys, each focusing on different aspects of insomnia severity and related factors. Using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on the survey responses, we grouped DBAS-16 items based on response pattern similarities. The most representative item from each group, showing the highest regression performance with eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) in predicting the DBAS-16 total score, was selected to create a shortened version of the DBAS-16. RESULTS: Through EFA and XGBoost, we categorized the DBAS-16 items into six distinct groups. Selecting one item from each group, based on the highest coefficient of determination R2 values in predicting the DBAS-16 total score. After measuring the R2 values for all possible combinations of six items, items 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 15 were chosen, exhibiting the highest R2 value. Based on these six items, we developed the DBAS-6, a data-driven shortened version of the DBAS-16. The DBAS-6 exhibited outstanding predictive ability, achieving the highest R2 value of 0.90 for predicting the DBAS-16 total score, surpassing that of a previously developed shortened version. Notably, the DBAS-6 efficiently encapsulates the core aspects of the DBAS-16 and demonstrates robust predictive power over heterogeneous test data samples with distinct statistical characteristics from the training data. CONCLUSION: With its concise format and high predictive accuracy, the DBAS-6 offers a practical tool for assessing dysfunctional beliefs about sleep in clinical settings.

[Undiagnosed arterial hypertension in a Latin American country, 2019 to 2021]. / Hipertensión arterial no diagnosticada en un país de Latinoamérica, 2019 a 2021.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Method: A quantitative, observational, retrospective, cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out in people aged 15 years and over included in the Demographic and Family Health Survey from 2019 to 2021 in Peru. A statistical analysis was carried out using the corrected F test, and crude and adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR), with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for inferential analysis, through Poisson regression with robust variance. Likewise, the CSPLAN analysis was carried out for complex samples according to the sample design and taking into account the weighting factor. Results: In the multivariate analysis, a significant association was found between the factors male sex (aPR: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.19-1.26), age from 30 to 49 years (aPR: 0.94; 95%CI: 0.92-0.96), native ethnicity (aPR: 1.07; 95%CI: 1.04-1.10), having health insurance (aPR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.89-0.93), suffering from some permanent limitation (aPR: 0.83; 95%CI: 0.76-0.91) and diabetes mellitus (aPR: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.55-0.64). No significant association was found with educational level, language, Afro-Peruvian ethnicity, or alcohol or tobacco consumption (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of undiagnosed arterial hypertension is high, 69.5%. The associated factors are male sex, native ethnicity, age between 30 and 49 years, having health insurance, suffering from some permanent limitation and having diabetes mellitus.

Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados a hipertensión arterial no diagnosticada. Método: Estudio de tipo cuantitativo, observacional, retrospectivo, transversal y analítico, en personas de 15 y más años de edad contenidas en la Encuesta Demográfica y Salud Familiar de 2019 a 2021 en Perú. Se realizó un análisis estadístico haciendo uso de la prueba F corregida y la razón de prevalencia cruda y ajustada (RPa), con un intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC95%) para el análisis inferencial, a través de regresión de Poisson con varianza robusta. Asimismo, se realizó el análisis CSPLAN para muestras complejas de acuerdo con el diseño de la muestra y teniendo en cuenta el factor de ponderación. Resultados: En el análisis multivariado se halló una asociación significativa de los factores sexo masculino (RPa: 1.22; IC95%: 1.19-1.26), edad de 30 a 49 años (RPa: 0.94; IC95%: 0.92-0.96), etnia nativa (RPa: 1.07; IC95%: 1.04-1.10), tenencia de un seguro de salud (RPa: 0.91; IC95%: 0.89-0.93), sufrir alguna limitación permanente (RPa: 0.83; IC95%: 0.76-0.91) y diabetes mellitus (RPa: 0.59; IC95%: 0.55-0.64). No se encontró asociación significativa con el nivel de instrucción, el idioma, la etnia afroperuana ni el consumo de alcohol o tabaco (p > 0.05). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial no diagnosticada es alta, del 69.5%. Los factores asociados son el sexo masculino, la etnia nativa, la edad entre 30 y 49 años, la tenencia de un seguro de salud, sufrir alguna limitación permanente y tener diabetes mellitus.

Association Between the Serum α-Klotho Level and Insulin Resistance in Adults: NHANES 2007-2016.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum α-Klotho levels and insulin resistance (IR), a precursor to type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The study analyzed data from 4,758 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2007 to 2016. The relationship between α-Klotho concentration and IR was assessed using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and odds ratios (OR) derived from logistic regression models. RESULTS: Results showed that every 1-ln increase in α-Klotho concentration raised the HOMA-IR value by 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.35-0.74) and the odds of IR by 64% (odds ratio 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.28-2.1). The odds of IR was 40% greater in highest tertile than in the lowest tertile. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study underscore a significant correlation between increased serum α-Klotho levels and the prevalence of IR.

Qatar's National Mental Health Survey-The World Mental Health Qatar: Sampling design, instrument adaptation, quality control, and fielding procedures.

OBJECTIVES: The World Mental Health Qatar (WMHQ) study, the first national general population mental health survey in Qatar, was conducted as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative. It was one of the few WMH survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents the methodological advances and challenges encountered while conducting the survey by telephone during the pandemic. METHODS: Disproportionate stratified sampling using a national-level cellular telephone frame selected a representative sample of Arabic-speaking adults. Participants were initially contacted via Short Message Service text, followed by telephone interviews. WMH training materials supported a comprehensive training program, and data quality was ensured through a quality control indicator system and extensive monitoring. RESULTS: Over 234 days, 5195 interviews in Arabic were completed, averaging 77 min each. In line with Qatar's population, the majority of participants were non-Qatari residents living in Qatar (72.2%). CONCLUSIONS: A distributed remote Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing system facilitated centralized quality monitoring and data security. However, the pandemic intensified challenges such as remote management of interviewer productivity, low response rates, and rising survey costs. The findings will inform Qatar's mental health policymakers, and the strategies used to address these challenges offer valuable insights for researchers worldwide.

Feasibility of replacing face-to-face with telephone interviews for the World Mental Health Qatar survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the feasibility of replacing face-to-face with telephone interviews conducted as part of the World Mental Health Qatar (WMHQ) survey and discuss the main methodological changes across the two pilots that were subsequently implemented in the full-scale WMHQ telephone survey. METHODS: We assessed the net mode effect by comparing the lifetime prevalence estimates of the main mental disorder classes (mood and anxiety disorders) and a number of disorders across the two survey pilots conducted prior to and post-pandemic. RESULTS: The main differences in terms of methodology for both pilots stemmed from differences in the survey mode, including questionnaire length, study recruitment method, and fielding team size and structure. These factors influenced response rates and costs. However, the lifetime prevalence estimates and other key indicators of survey results did not differ across modes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the comparability of data collected via telephone and face-to-face modes, supporting the adoption of telephone surveys for future mental health studies, particularly in the context of pandemics. They also confirm the feasibility of changing or mixing modes depending on field conditions in future psychiatric epidemiological research.

Description of the African Cigarette Prices Project Data.

The African Cigarette Price Project is a project that collects tobacco prices from African countries. Amongst other things, the data enable users to estimate price differences across brands, urban/rural divides, types of packaging, retail types, and trends in price over time. A total of 215 354 individual prices were collected during the first twelve rounds of the project (collected biannually from 2016 to 2022). Data collection continues to date. Data have been collected from 19 African countries, with most data from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana. Other countries include Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Chad, Eswatini, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Madagascar, Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda and Cameroon. The project employs a novel data collection approach, by contracting local and international University of Cape Town (UCT) students as fieldworkers to collect price data while at home over the long university vacation. The data were collected at the retail level; the lowest level of geographic detail available in the public use dataset is the suburb. While the price data are not nationally representative, the data collection method is simple and affordable and provides an indication of the range of prices and the brands available in the respective countries. While cigarette prices make up the bulk of the data, other common tobacco products included are hookah tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco, cigars, e-cigarettes, hand-rolled tobacco, and others. The collection of these other tobacco products started in round 4 (2017).

Non-use and inadequate use of cervical cancer screening among a representative sample of women in the United States.

Introduction: Women's adherence to the United States (U.S.) Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for cervical cancer screening was determined by examining predisposing, enabling, and needs factors from Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use conceptual framework. Methods: The outcome was operationalized as cervical cancer screening use, non-use, and inadequate-use. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted on data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey of 7,331 eligible women aged 21-65. Results: Compared with women who used cervical cancer screening services, women aged 30-65 were less likely to be Non-Users than those aged 21-29. Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) women were more likely to be Non-Users than White women. More educated women were less likely to be Non-Users. Foreign-born women <10 years in the U.S. were more likely to be Non-Users than U.S.-born women. Women with financial hardship were less likely to be Non-Users. Poorer women and uninsured women were more likely to be Non-Users. Women with children in their household were less likely to be Non-Users than those without children. Women who had a well-visit in the past year were less likely to be Non-Users. Women with a history of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination were less likely to be Non-Users. Compared with women who used cervical cancer screening services, women aged 30-65 were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. AIAN women were more likely to be Inadequate-Users. Women of other races were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Employed women were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Uninsured women were more likely to be Inadequate-Users. Women who had a well-visit within a year were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Women with past HPV vaccination were more likely to be Inadequate-Users. Smokers were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Discussion: Predisposing, enabling, and needs factors are differently associated with non-use and inadequate use of cervical cancer screening. Understanding factors associated with the use, non-use, and inadequate use of cervical cancer screening is crucial to avoid or curb unnecessary tests, increased costs to both society and individuals, and the ill-allocation of limited resources.

United Kingdom oral and maxillofacial surgeons support changes to current specialty recruitment process, which could include 'Walport' style local selection and national benchmarking.

Recruitment to oral and maxillofacial Surgical (OMFS) specialty training was centralised in 2010. The 'flexibility' for OMFS to respond to specialty specific recruitment issues is reducing and many Specialty Trainees' (ST) posts are left unfilled. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) appointment process designed to address the problem of recruiting and appointing academic surgeons with local selection with national benchmarking has worked. Using a database of all UK OMFS consultants/trainees, an electronic questionnaire was shared by e-mail, WhatsApp, and other social media. Of 306 replies, 125 (41%) were Consultants/post-certificate of completion training (CCT) individuals, 66 (22%) ST, 61 (20%) second degree students, 27 (9%) pre-second degree, 26 (9%) dual degree pre-ST trainees, and one did not indicate their status. A total of 249 (76%) studied dentistry first and 230 (75%) were male. Of those replying, 147 (48%) had no direct experience of national selection. 120 (39%) had experience as a candidate, 20 (7%) as a selector only, 17 (6%) as a candidate and selector, and two did not record their experience. Of 250 expressing an opinion, 156 (62%) supported local selection with 140 (56%) supporting local selection and national benchmarking, which is a process used for research training posts by the NIHR. Geographical continuity was most important for 78% of pre-second-degree trainees, 45% of STs, and 54% of second-degree students. A total of 57 respondents completed free text comments. There is support for changes in OMFS ST selection including creating OMFS posts which include Foundation and second-degree training in NIHR style locally recruited nationally benchmarked posts.

Association between physical activity and allostatic load among pregnant women.

Allostatic load (AL) in pregnant women is associated with maternal and infant health outcomes. Whether physical activity (PA) is a modifiable factor associated with AL during pregnancy is unknown. In this cross-sectional study, including 725 pregnant women in 3 different trimesters, 8 biomarkers were included, and the high-risk quartile approach based on sample distribution was used to construct AL index (ALI). ALI <2 was defined as a low level and ≥2 as a high level. Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test or Fisher exact test were used to compare differences in AL with different demographic characteristics among pregnant women. The relationship between PA and AL in pregnant women was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. The results show that the detection rate of high-risk AL during pregnancy was 47.3%. In the adjusted model, sufficient PA was related to a lower AL than insufficient PA (OR = .693, 95%CI:.494,.971; p = .033). Compared with low- and high-intensity PAs, moderate-intensity PA was associated with lower AL (OR = .645, 95%CI:.447,.930; p = .019). The results suggest that PA is a modifiable factor related to AL, and intervention is recommended to be carried out in the first trimester to prevent the increased likelihood of high AL as pregnancy progresses. In addition, health care personnel should encourage pregnant women to participate in PA, especially moderate-intensity PA, in order to obtain lower AL and promote maternal and child health.