50 research outputs found
Risk of low Apgar score and socioeconomic position: a study of Swedish male births.
Full text linkAIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal socioeconomic position and a persistent low Apgar score (a score of < 7 at 1 and 5 min following birth). METHODS: The research is based on a population cohort study of 183,637 males born in Sweden between 1973 and 1976. Data from the Medical Birth Register were linked to Population and Housing Censuses. RESULTS: There was evidence that mothers working in non-manual (Odds ratio (OR) 0.83 (0.72-0.97)) and self-employed (OR 0.64 (0.44-0.93)) occupations were less likely to have an infant with a low Apgar score, compared to manual workers. There was evidence that the risk of a low Apgar score decreased as the mother's level of education increased, if the infant was born by instrumental (OR 0.86 (0.74-0.99)) or caesarean section (OR 0.80 (0.68-0.93)) delivery, but not by unassisted vaginal delivery (OR 1.01 (0.92-1.10)). CONCLUSION: There was a lower risk of poor birth condition in male infants born to more educated and non-manual/self-employed mothers. These differences may contribute to our understanding of socioeconomic differences in infant health and development although the results may not be applicable due to changes over the last 30 years
Childhood socioeconomic position and objectively measured physical capability levels in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Full text link<p><b>Background:</b> Grip strength, walking speed, chair rising and standing balance time are objective measures of physical capability that characterise current health and predict survival in older populations. Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood may influence the peak level of physical capability achieved in early adulthood, thereby affecting levels in later adulthood. We have undertaken a systematic review with meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that adverse childhood SEP is associated with lower levels of objectively measured physical capability in adulthood.</p>
<p><b>Methods and Findings:</b> Relevant studies published by May 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE and MEDLINE. Unpublished results were obtained from study investigators. Results were provided by all study investigators in a standard format and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. 19 studies were included in the review. Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from N = 17,215 for chair rise time to N = 1,061,855 for grip strength. Although heterogeneity was detected, there was consistent evidence in age adjusted models that lower childhood SEP was associated with modest reductions in physical capability levels in adulthood: comparing the lowest with the highest childhood SEP there was a reduction in grip strength of 0.13 standard deviations (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21), a reduction in mean walking speed of 0.07 m/s (0.05, 0.10), an increase in mean chair rise time of 6% (4%, 8%) and an odds ratio of an inability to balance for 5s of 1.26 (1.02, 1.55). Adjustment for the potential mediating factors, adult SEP and body size attenuated associations greatly. However, despite this attenuation, for walking speed and chair rise time, there was still evidence of moderate associations.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> Policies targeting socioeconomic inequalities in childhood may have additional benefits in promoting the maintenance of independence in later life.</p>
Creating and Implementing Oncology-Focused Onboarding Program for New Clinical Staff to Improve Oncology Knowledge and Confidence
No full textCancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, yet there is little focus on oncology topics in nursing programs. Staffing shortages and the cancelations of classes during COVID exacerbated the lack of oncology preparation for clinical staff. A needs assessment was performed on newly hired clinical staff in an academic oncology hospital which identified numerous educational gaps in the field of oncology. Purpose: Our purpose was to create a standardized program that would give all clinical staff the same foundational oncology understanding and create a unified high standard of care for oncology patients in our institution. Interventions: We collaborated with hospital administration and clinical managers to set expectations of learning and time commitment for learners. We met with new clinical staff to identify knowledge gaps. We reviewed incident reports to determine areas which needed further education. We worked together to incorporate the above finding and ONS criteria to develop a week-long foundation oncology course with generalized oncology information, role specific training, and unit specific education. Evaluation: Prior to the oncology course, clinical staff did not feel confident in caring for the unique needs of oncology patients. Pre and post assessments were given to staff to identify if the interventions were effective. Pre and post assessments indicated statistically significant results in increasing participant\u27s confidence and knowledge in caring for oncology patients. Discussion: As the data indicates, it was necessary to provide a foundation of oncology education for clinical staff to provide knowledge and confidence to care for the complex needs of an oncology patient. When provided oncology-focused educational opportunities staff felt better prepared to give high quality care to our patients. In empirical data received, learners expressed appreciation for the foundational learning opportunity. Managers stated they felt their new employees were more prepared in oncology care. To evaluate future impact, we would like to analyze how this course affects patient outcomes and staff retention
The ubiquity of the screen: An overview of the risks and benefits of screen time in our modern world
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The snowy egret (Egretta thula Brewsteri) a life history study at Utah Lake with comments on the subspecies status
Full text linkThis study was conducted to augment the limited information available regarding the Snowy Egret in the Utah Lake area of Utah. Field observations included the following: nesting habits; egg and clutch sizes; sexual, defense, and feeding behaviors. Analysis was made of the distinguishing subspecies characteristics (culmen, tarsus, and wing length) of the Snowy Egrets and of the distribution of the birds. Field observations showed that growth measurements of the young varied from 16.75 g at hatching to 260.58 g after 17 days. Culmen and tarsus measurements were 15.41 mm and 14.12 mm to 53.18 mm and 62.18 mm, respectively, after 17 days. The average clutch size was 2.93 eggs per clutch. The average egg measured 43.85 mm by 32.44 mm. Hatching success was 50.85% in the two major periods of hatching noted. The lack of distinct lines of differentiation between existing subspecies leads the author to question the validity of the current subspecies designations
Foreword for the thematic volume of the PalEurAfrica project international symposium, Evolution and paleoenvironment of early modern vertebrates during the Paleogene
No full textThe initial idea of PalEurAfrica (full title of the project: Origin of the European modern faunas through Paleogene Central Africa collections was born 10 years ago from a discussion between Gregg F. Gunnell and the first author (TS). They noted how little was known about the relationship between African and European Paleogene mammal faunas despite their geographical proximity. This was observed at the end of the editing process of a previous thematic volume on the dispersal of continental vertebrates during the Paleogene (Smith and Gunnell, 2013). Giant leaps in knowledge about the evolution of the earliest modern vertebrates have been made over the last three decades thanks to important studies and discoveries by researchers in North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. Recent advances made in the study of vertebrate evolution suggest that the earliest modern mammals such as primates, perissodactyls(odd-toed ungulates) and artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates), appeared suddenly in Europe, Asia, and North America at the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) 56 Ma ago. Modern mammals likely originated during the late Paleocene in tropical habitats farther south. The PETM is the first and most prominent in a series of hyperthermals, short-lived events of extreme global warming. The PETM is especially important as an analogue for current global warming trends. Studies of the PETM have demonstrated its effect on past mammal dispersal, evolution and ecology, and highlighted potential biotic effects of future climate change
