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Digital health interventions for women in frontline public service roles: A systematic review of effectiveness in reducing substance use
Full text linkFrontline occupations, including military, healthcare, and first responders, often include frequent exposure to traumatic events, increasing the risk of substance use disorders (SUDs). Research has shown that those in high-intensity occupations are at higher risk of developing SUDs compared to the general population. Women face unique experiences related to substance use, including greater functional impairment and barriers to treatment access. Yet, understanding of the effectiveness of digital health technologies in addressing substance use among women in frontline occupations is limited. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of digital health interventions in reducing substance use among women in frontline roles. Four databases (PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycArticles) were searched for English language full-text articles (2007–2024) that (1) evaluated a digital intervention designed to reduce substance use, (2) reported changes in substance use outcomes such as frequency, intensity or duration, using validated tools (3) included current or former frontline public service workers, and (4) included women as the primary target population or as a subgroup within the sample. 13 papers met inclusion criteria, focusing on eight distinct web and mobile-based interventions for alcohol, tobacco and illicit substances. Most studies (n = 11) reported substantial post-intervention reductions in alcohol and tobacco use, although results for PTSD symptoms, illicit drug use, and quality of life were mixed. This review highlights the potential of digital health interventions for reducing substance use but underscores significant gaps in research. The scarcity of studies focused on women, small and heterogeneous samples, and focus on veterans limits the generalisability to women in frontline roles. These gaps present a pressing challenge in understanding gender-specific digital intervention efficacy. Future research should prioritise larger, representative samples of women across diverse frontline occupations to drive the development of digital technologies tailored to the unique challenges faced by women in these roles
Communicating Confidence in the Reliability of Micro- and Nanoplastic Identification in Human Health Studies
Full text linkAccurately quantifying and characterizing human internal exposure to micro- and nanoplastics are critical for assessing potential health risks. However, the detection of these particles in human tissues, fluids, cell systems, and relevant models remains a major analytical challenge. There is an urgent need for robust, selective, sensitive, and high-throughput methods capable of generating reliable quantitative data. Equally essential is the transparent reporting of methodological limitations and uncertainties, supported by rigorous data collection and standardized practices. These challenges are compounded by the ubiquity of plastic particles, and therefore the risk of sample contamination and their diverse properties (e.g., size, shape, composition), all adding to the complexity of identifying and quantifying them in biological matrices. To address these issues, we propose a framework that integrates orthogonal analytical techniques to enhance the data reliability. Commonly used analytical techniques for the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics are assigned a category based on their specificity when identifying plastic particles. The framework proposes minimum data requirements from orthogonal techniques for the identification of plastic particles at various confidence levels. Clear communication of analytical confidence is vital, and we present a structured approach to support this. We emphasize the importance of scientific integrity, rigorous study design, and transparent reporting in health research. Finally, we call for the universal adoption of harmonized confidence criteria for reporting the presence of plastics in humans, an essential step toward informed decision-making
The role of play in social work education, training, and practice
No full textThis study explored the role of play within social work education, training, and practice. Thirty-nine social workers, ranging from current students to those with over five years of experience, participated in an anonymous online survey. The results found that over 90% of participants have or did not have any play-specific education or training although there was an overwhelming consensus that it was needed. A thematic analysis found that the benefits of play within social work practice included building relationships, communicating with children, reducing the power imbalance, and having a therapeutic role. The barriers to using play in professional practice related to the perceived professional role of social workers, time, resources, and the lack of training. This study provides one of the first research studies identifying from a social worker’s perspective the need for up-to-date play theory to support education and training and applied to professional practice
Antiseizure Prescription for Children With Severe Congenital Heart Defects and Children With Gastrointestinal Anomalies
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Dominant baboons experience more interrupted and less rest at night
Full text linkSleep is a fundamental biological process.1,2 The amount and quality of sleep individuals get can impact various aspects of human and non-human animal health,1 ultimately affecting fitness.3 For wild animals that sleep in groups, individuals may disturb one another’s sleep,4,5 but this aspect of social sleep has been understudied due to methodological challenges.6,7,8 Here, using nighttime rest (absence of bodily movements) as a proxy for sleep, we test the hypothesis that an individual's social dominance affects nighttime rest in a troop of wild, highly hierarchical8,9 chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). First, we show that the troop’s nighttime rest (determined by 40 Hz acceleration data) is highly synchronized. Next, we link nighttime rest dynamics to daytime spatial networks and dominance hierarchy (from 1 Hz GPS data and direct observations). We show that baboon nighttime states (activity and rest) are more synchronized between similarly ranked individuals and, unexpectedly, that more dominant baboons experience more interrupted and less nighttime rest than lower-ranked baboons. We propose that this hierarchy effect is explained by higher-ranked baboons resting closer to more group members, which leads them to exert a greater influence on each other’s nighttime behavior compared with lower-ranked individuals. Our study provides the first evidence for the impact of social hierarchies on aspects of sleep in a wild primate, suggesting that dominance status may impose trade-offs between social rank and the quality and quantity of sleep
Reflections for Biodiversity Researchers Engaging With Policy‐Science Interfaces
Full text linkResearchers who wish to engage in policy processes to help address the biodiversity crisis are often hindered by fear of the potential drawbacks to doing so. The complexity of political systems, the necessity to interact with policymakers or politicians outside of the work environment, the potential professional risks that may arise from engagement, advocacy, or activism, and the lack of institutional recognition and support for engaging in the science–policy interface may be daunting. Following the negotiation and adoption of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a reflection on how biodiversity researchers may engage more in policy processes is timely. Here, we introduce and reflect on some of the tools that can empower researchers who would like to engage in (1) changing policies, (2) multidirectional communication, (3) building networks, (4) activism and advocacy, and (5) securing institutional support
Automated data collection in cancer care: State of play among registries in the United Kingdom and Europe
Full text linkBackground: Automated clinical coding can use statistical or artificial intelligence-based technology to transform unstructured clinical data into clinical codes. These processes have the potential to enhance the quality and accuracy of data collections, save resources and accelerate research. Objective: To evaluate the use of automated clinical coding in the United Kingdom (UK) and European cancer registries. Method: An online electronic survey was formulated to evaluate the use and user opinion of automation within cancer registries. The survey was distributed to members of the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Cancer Registry and the European cancer registries. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2015 ® version 15.13.3 in order to summarise the results. Results: Twenty-three of the 117 cancer registries responded to the distributed survey; 15 (12.8%) cancer registries used automation within their registry, mainly in the form of natural language processing or machine learning. Most of the sampled registries (73.3%) used these technologies to automate data collection from pathology reports; 87% of respondents reported automation as efficient; and 26.1% reported improved data quality; 12 (52.1%) of cancer registries still manually checked all the automations; and 17 (74%) respondents believed that the algorithms for difficult tasks require further development. Conclusion: Various computer-based algorithms have been used for automated clinical coding in the UK and European cancer registries in the past few decades; however, to date there are no published data to validate its use. Further research and development of these technologies is needed to ensure external validity and maximise the potential use within other cancer registries globally. Implications for health information management practice: It is clear that while automation can be advantageous in areas of clinical coding, the role of the “human” (HIMs and clinical coders) in coding and classifying registry data, and in overseeing the transition, will be required for some time yet
A critical review of recent economics pedagogy literature, 2022–2023
No full textThis paper reviews pedagogy journal articles relevant to teaching, learning and assessment in economics, and the outcomes of an economics higher education, published in the 2022 and 2023 calendar years. The paper highlights key papers published and themes of the pedagogical literature most likely to be of interest to economics academics, rather than offering an exhaustive survey of literature produced in the two-year period. As such, the paper can be considered a follow-up to an earlier paper published in 2023 in the International Review of Economics Education. As in the earlier review, articles continue to be published that utilise the natural experiment provided by the changes in teaching and assessment methods associated with the COVID pandemic, to offer lessons on a range of topics associated with teaching methods and assessment design. Post-pandemic, we see an increased concern regarding the impact of the pandemic on graduate employment outcomes. Research has continued on diversity and inclusivity issues, with research emerging on dimensions of diversity beyond gender, with greater attention paid to awarding gaps and how these can be reduced. The theme of effectively incorporating games and experiments in teaching has continued. Meanwhile, more research has emerged, providing advice on incorporating coding into economics teaching
Examining the South Wales Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (IIRMS): Views and experiences of those delivering and those accessing the service
No full textIntensive Intervention Risk Management Service (IIRMS) is a time-limited enhanced level of input for those who are subject to probation service supervision and present with high risk and a likely personality disorder. In order to understand experiences of delivering or receiving this service and ways in which the service might address need or reduce risk, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all those providing the service (n = 10) and participants who had accessed the service (n = 9). Data were analysed using thematic analysis, first by group (provider or recipient) and then together. Themes concerning the ‘purpose of IIRMS’, ‘relational working’, ‘IIRMS experience’, ‘practical challenges’ and ‘outcomes’ were shared across the two participant perspectives whilst ‘engagement and change’ was unique to those accessing the service and ‘future directions’ to those providing the service. Addressing risk and promoting well-being requires an individual focus and flexibility and effective support and supervision for staff
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