A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Feasibility and Acceptability of Helping Ease Anxiety and Depression after Stroke (HEADS: UP): An Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Stroke Survivors

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess feasibility and acceptability of a stroke-specific mindfulness-based intervention called Helping Ease Anxiety and Depression after Stroke (HEADS: UP). Method This study was a mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial comparing HEADS: UP to treatment as usual (TAU). HEADS: UP is a 9-week mindfulness intervention for stroke survivors. UK (United Kingdon)-based stroke survivors were recruited and attended HEADS: UP Online. Psychological functioning outcomes measures and other data were collected online at pre-intervention (Week 0), post-intervention (Week 9), and follow-up (months 3 and 6). Participants were randomized 1:1 to either HEADS: UP or TAU. Results Sixty-two participants completed baseline questionnaires and were randomized to HEADS: UP (n = 30) or TAU (n = 32). Retention rates were as follows: HEADS: UP (n = 25, 83.30%) versus TAU (n = 25, 78.10%) at post-intervention, HEADS: UP (n = 24, 80%) versus TAU (n = 26, 81.30%) at 3-month follow-up, and HEADS: UP (n = 20, 66.70%) versus TAU (n = 25, 78.10%) at 6-month follow-up. The mean age for HEADS: UP was 56.0 years versus 56.80 for TAU. The HEADS: UP group was 30% male, while the TAU group was 56% male. Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS)-21 total mean score for HEADS: UP improved in the direction of expected effect (baseline 46.20, SD (standard deviation) = 24.00; post-intervention 24.00, SD = 16.10) indicating recovery versus no reliable change for TAU (baseline 36.10, SD = 18.70; post-intervention 31.60, SD = 20.40). HEADS: UP and TAU scores continued to improve over time. Between-group effect sizes (Cohen’s d) at post-intervention were large for BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory) (d = 0.91), DASS-21 total (d = 0.89), and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory)-II (d = 0.86), highlighting the potential of HEADS: UP for improving depression and anxiety symptoms. At the six-month follow-up, the attrition rate was higher in the HEADS: UP group (33.30%) compared with TAU (21.90%). Conclusions HEADS: UP is feasible and acceptable and has potential to improve depression and anxiety symptoms for stroke survivors. Preregistration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04985838

‘We need to give it more attention’. Educators’, students’, and social work apprentices’ experiences of teaching and learning child-centred recordkeeping

Maintaining records about children and families who are the subject of social work intervention is a routinized aspect of everyday practice and has been recognized as vital in protecting children from harm and promoting their wellbeing. There is evidence that the fast-paced nature of statutory social work, as well as bureau cratic demands and difficulties with writing, can inhibit workers’ capacity to keep child-centered records, with inadequate record keeping having serious implications for protecting children from harm in the present and meeting their potential memory and identity needs in the future. This paper presents evidence from social work educators, as well as undergraduate, postgraduate, and apprentice social work students about their experiences of teaching and learning skills for child-centered case recording while at university and on placement. We highlight the interaction of university and practice learning, identifying key barriers to the complex task of maintaining child-centered records and outlining evidence from learners that there is a case for the prioritization of teaching skills for writing for practice within the university environment. We conclude by making recommendations as to how skills for child-centered recordkeeping could be more effectively taught, assessed, and embedded in pre-qualifying social work education

QCA: Quantum Computational Approach for Internet of Things with 5G Connectivity

In this paper, the need for a quantum computing approach is analyzed for IoT applications using the 5G resource spectrum. Most of the IoT devices are connected for data transmission to end users with remote monitoring units, but there are no sufficient data storage units, and more data cannot be processed at minimized time periods. Hence, in the proposed method, quantum information processing protocols and quantum algorithms are integrated where data transmissions are maximized. Further, the system model is designed in such a way for checking the external influence factors that prevent the IoT device from transmitting data to end users. Therefore, with corresponding signal and noise power, it is essential to process the transmissions, thereby increasing data proportions at end connectivity. Once quantum computations are performed, then it is crucial to normalize IoT data units, thus establishing control over entire connected nodes that create a gateway for achieving maximum throughput. The combined system model is tested under four cases where the comparative outcomes prove that with reduced queue reductions of 12%, it is possible to achieve a maximum throughput of 99%

“I Like the Olympics, but I’m here not just for the Olympics”: Sex tourism, destination image and the dark side of mega-event tourism in Rio De Janeiro

The Olympic Games are a major tourism attraction and are used by host cities and destinations to try and positively affect destination image and drive tourism attractiveness. Olympic tourists travel to enjoy the sport and carnival of the event, but some also seek to engage in sex tourism. This study draws on interviews with 10 heterosexual male sex tourists during the 2016 Rio Olympics in order to investigate the relationships between the Olympic Games, destination image, and sex tourism. Findings reveal that the limonoid atmosphere of the event provides an appealing atmosphere for sex tourists to engage in sexual encounters with sex workers and local women. The image of Rio as a destination was important in this, as it was seen as a relaxed and fun destination and Brazilian women as beautiful and sexually available. Issues of power between the mainly white sex tourists from the Global North and more economically vulnerable local women in destinations in the Global South were identified and recommendations offered for how Olympic and host destination stakeholders can better protect those most vulnerable to sexual exploitation during mega-event hosting, such as working with other related organisations to educate tourists and protect local women

Investigating the Construction Professionals’ Perspective on the New Building Safety Act in the UK: A Sentiment Analysis of Media Data

Existing research on constructional professional attitudes towards fire safety and evacuation has predominantly employed traditional methodologies. While these methods have provided valuable insights, they are limited in their ability to capture the full spectrum of the stakeholders. Moreover, a significant gap exists in the literature regarding the broader population’s concerns about how the industry experts perceives and responds to building safety regulations, particularly in the context of new legislation like the Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022. To address these gaps, this study adopts a novel approach by analysing social media data, specifically YouTube, to capture a wider range of public sentiments towards the BSA 2022. A total of 3577 data points reflecting the general public’s views were gathered, processed, and examined using sentiment analysis, k-means clustering and Latent Dirichlet Allocation text mining techniques for topic modelling. Findings reveal nine clusters each for the positive and negative sentiments. The overall findings reveal that the public expressed positive sentiments (20 %), negative sentiments (4 %), and neutral sentiments (76 %) towards BSA 2022. The study posits recommendations from the public’s sentiments for policy makers to leverage

Symptom Burden, Treatment Goals, and Information Needs of Younger Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Content Analysis of ePAQ-Pelvic Floor Free-Text Responses

Background/Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition that significantly impacts quality of life. Research has focused largely on older women, while experiences of younger women remain relatively underexplored despite challenges unique to this population. Informed by the biopsychosocial model of illness, this study aims to assess the symptom burden, treatment goals, and information needs of younger women complaining of prolapse by analyzing questionnaire responses from an existing electronic Personal Assessment Questionnaire—Pelvic Floor (ePAQ-PF) dataset. Methods: Mixed-methods content analysis was conducted using free-text data from an anonymized multi-site ePAQ-PF dataset of 5717 responses collected across eight UK NHS trusts (2018–2022). A quantitative, deductive approach was first used to identify younger women (≤50 years old) with self-reported prolapse. ePAQ-PF scores for younger women with prolapse were compared with those aged >50 years, using Mann–Whitney tests. Free-text response data were analyzed inductively to qualitatively explore younger women’s symptom burden, treatment goals, and information needs. Results: Of the 1473 women with prolapse identified, 399 were aged ≤50 years. ePAQ-PF scores of the younger cohort demonstrated significantly greater symptom severity and bother than those aged >50, particularly in bowel, prolapse, vaginal, body image, and sexual health domains (p < adjusted threshold). Qualitative analysis undertaken to understand women’s concerns and priorities produced five health-related themes (physical health; functionality; psychosocial and emotional wellbeing; reproductive and sexual health; and healthcare journeys) and a sixth intersecting theme representing information needs. Conclusions: The findings highlight the substantial symptom burden of younger women with prolapse, as well as treatment goals and information needs specific to this population. The development of age-specific resources is identified as a requirement to support this group

Making sense of metal in the United Kingdom and the future of metal music studies: A case study of Wytch Hazel and Arð

Heavy metal in the United Kingdom, as in many countries around the world, is thriving and has become a respectable form of popular culture, and its fans and musicians are seen everywhere. The same position of respectability has been gained by academics and the once-mocked subject field of metal music studies. In this article, I try to map metal in the United Kingdom today through a case study of Wytch Hazel and Arð, two bands located in the north of England. I will argue that metal in the United Kingdom is still a space for resistance to the commodification of the mainstream and the construction of imaginary, imagined communities. I will then argue that the future of metal music studies depends on whether metal itself continues to thrive as a place of polyvalent identities, as well as whether academics can negotiate their own epistemological and ontological uncertainties in the marketplace of higher education

Banned for doping: Using composite vignettes to portray rugby players’ experiences of anti-doping rule violations

Objective: Understanding the lived experiences of athletes who have been sanctioned for violating anti-doping rules presents the opportunity to listen and learn. Yet, the academic field seldom draws on the voices of those affected when considering doping in sport. Our aim was to illuminate important aspects of sanctioned athletes’ experiences and highlight opportunities for prevention and rehabilitation. Design: A semi-structured interview research design was used, and data informed the development of composite vignettes, a form of creative non-fiction. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two elite rugby players sanctioned for violating the anti-doping rules within rugby league (n=1) and rugby union (n=1). Three composite vignettes were created illuminating player experiences before, during and after the violations. Findings: The vignettes highlight in participants’ own words the multiple impacts of sport demands and drug use: (1) Leading up to the violation: ‘You’re just treading water, you’re surviving’ (2) ‘There’s just this massive amount of social pressure in rugby, not just on the game, but on who you’re supposed to be’ (3) ‘It was like being hit by a train’. The ADRV aftermath. Conclusions: The role of social identity in the transitions experienced by a rugby player following a critical incident (e.g., serious injury) was a key influencing factor for doping. Alongside addressing the demands of the sport, the need for early intervention and evidence-based support for players experiencing critical incidents (e.g., injury) and transitions was evident to prevent doping violations

The Benefits of Assistive Technology for the Elderly and Disabled People: A Baseline Study

Purpose Housing adaptation enables the elderly and disabled people to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives by making it easier to carry out everyday tasks in a safer environment. Assistive technology enables them to perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to achieve independence. Therefore, the new guidance for local authorities in England on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) recommends assistive and smart technology as part of a DFG award package to maximise the benefits of home adaptations. Through a baseline study, this paper examines the disabled and elderly peoples’ level of digital engagement, the challenges and the impact of smart devices on their daily living and well-being. Design/methodology/approach A baseline study approach was used through the co-production of knowledge. The study relies on a questionnaire survey and the Most Significant Change (MSC) research technique through structured interviews. A percentage of the total approach is used in analysing the quantitative data by comparing the pre- and post-baseline results. Findings The major challenges the clients face are Wi-Fi connectivity, system compatibility issues, and skills in navigating different applications and operating systems. The pilot study demonstrates that assistive technology supports independent and healthy living and promotes a secure and safe environment. It also promotes social inclusion and improves the elderly and disabled people’s comfort and engagement. However, the results show that the overall impact is minimal; therefore, a longitudinal study is needed to understand the impacts over a long period. Practical implications The findings will help policymakers to understand the impacts of assistive technology on improving the elderly and disabled people’s quality of life. Originality/value A comparable baseline study was carried out to serve as a reference point for other similar future studies. The paper also highlights the challenges faced by the elderly and disabled people, their digital skill level and the impact of smart devices on their daily living and well-being

Disparity in Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury management: A case series review across six National Health Service Trusts

Background Effective management of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries requires a comprehensive approach, from initial assessment, through treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge, however no gold standard care pathway exists to help guide clinicians. This case series provides an overview of current ACL injury management processes in six National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. Methods This study utilised a retrospective case series design within six NHS Trusts in the Yorkshire region of the United Kingdom. Using a standard operating procedure, each Trust selected ten consecutive ACL injured patients (≥ 16 years), managed either surgically or non-surgically. Data relating to the patient injury journey, patient and injury characteristics, key pathway events, rehabilitation management, outcome measures, and discharge, were collected. Data was anonymised and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Reviews covered 55 patients, median age 25.5 years, (41 males, 14 females). Median time to specialist assessment from injury was 12 days (Interquartile Range [IQR] 6 to 20 days), with 43 patients managed operatively, and 12 non operatively. The median number of physiotherapy sessions was 21 (IQR 9 to 29.5), with outcome measures being variably used across Trusts. Trusts using patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) consistently with their patients provided more physiotherapy appointments (34.5 and 27) and achieved higher return to sport (RTS) rates. Time from injury to discharge varied with a median of 421 (IQR 249 to 546) days. Discharge criteria were applied inconsistently across Trusts, with 31% of cases not using specific criteria. However, Trusts using standardised discharge criteria showed better RTS outcomes, with 27 (61%) patients successfully returning to sport. Conclusions This case series review highlighted some good practice in initial ACL management across six NHS Trusts in the Yorkshire region. However, from time to MRI diagnosis to discharge, substantial variation in care is observed. Whether treated operatively or non-operatively, for patients aiming to RTS, this was achieved with greater consistency when more physiotherapy appointments were undertaken, outcome measures and PROMs were used, and specific discharge criteria was utilised. Future larger pathway investigation studies incorporating causative and predictive analysis studies on a national scale are required to determine whether similar trends are observed in a wider ACL injured population, which could help to improve national pathways for patients and clinicians working towards ensuring more positive and standardised patient-related ACL injury outcomes