The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): development of a tool to measure gender euphoria

Background Gender euphoria is a concept that arose from within the trans and gender diverse (hereafter trans) community to describe positive feelings associated with gender identity, expression, and affirmation. Despite its importance within the trans population, there is currently no consistent, valid or reliable way of measuring gender euphoria. Accordingly, this article describes the development and validation of a tool to measure gender euphoria in trans individuals. Method An initial 121-item pool for the scale was developed based on qualitative research and a review of existing tools measuring related psychological constructs in trans adults. Trans researchers and experts in trans health reviewed and revised the items, enabling development of a preliminary scale which was pilot tested with a trans community advisory group before being further refined and administered to a larger cohort of trans individuals. A subgroup of individuals within the cohort repeated the scale two weeks following the initial completion to assess for test-retest reliability. Results The preliminary scale was undertaken by 664 trans participants aged 16–79 years (median = 32 years, IQR = 25, 43). Exploratory factor analysis produced a final 26-item Gender Euphoria Scale (GES) comprising three subscales: social affirmation, self-affirmation, and community connection. The GES was found to have excellent internal consistency (α = .97), strong test-retest reliability (r = .88), and some evidence of discriminant and convergent validity. Conclusion The GES is a reliable and consistent tool to measure gender euphoria in trans individuals and is likely to be of value in both research and clinical settings

Designing gamified branching scenarios on a technological platform to enhance clinical reasoning in dental education

Simulation and gamification offer valuable pedagogical approaches, providing safe environments for dental students to practice complex professional skills. Developing clinical reasoning is crucial as students perform irreversible procedures early in their training. Traditional methods may offer limited opportunities to experience decision consequences without risking patient harm. Simulation based learning in a branching scenario (BrSc) format, that incorporates gamification and productive failure (Kapur, 2008), bridges the gap between preclinical theory and clinical practice, addressing the need for engaging, relevant learning experiences (ASE Strategy). This project aligns with the University's ASE Strategy, 'A curriculum defined by quality and relevance' through innovative, inquiry-based learning and authentic assessment, and 'Environments and systems that enable innovation' by leveraging digital technologies

Risk management in translation: A reply to critics

Risk management has been proposed as an approach that can help explain why translators make certain decisions in certain situations. A review of the surprisingly extensive work done to apply the concepts to translation suggests that one of the intellectual attractions of the approach is that it can avoid the essentialisms of equivalence and univocal purposes. Risk management has nevertheless been criticized on several fronts: for purporting to explain all aspects of a more complex process, for assuming a rational translator, for deviating from accuracy as the translator’s main task, for overlooking the affective dimensions of language use, and for being associated with the evils of economics. These criticisms lose ground when risk management is seen as part of a wider approach to translation, and when the concepts are not taken as an account of everything that translators do

Outcomes Model For Assessing Strategies Improving In Vitro Fertilization Birth Rates

Introduction: Infertility affects one-sixth of women worldwide, with over seven million assisted reproductive cycles performed annually. Oral dydrogesterone is recommended alternatively for luteal phase support in in vitro fertilization (IVF), preventing miscarriages and improving live birth rates. This study aims to develop an outcomes model comparing oral dydrogesterone treatment with the standard of care in the IVF cycle over a 10-year period. Methods: A two-level Markov cohort model in Microsoft Excel includes six health states: IVF, pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth, perinatal death, and maternal death. Miscarriage, live birth, and perinatal death are sub-states of pregnancy. Transition probabilities are based on published rates with medical intervention limited to the first 12 weeks of gestation. A sensitivity analysis of treatment was performed. Data from a published meta-analysis of nine dydrogesterone studies for IVF luteal phase support were used. The baseline cohort is 10,000 Australian females undergoing IVF annually over a 10-year period. Results: Over the 10-year time horizon, compared to standard care, the group treated with dydrogesterone was estimated to increase the number of live births by 3.5 percent (range: 3.4 to 3.7%), reduce the number of miscarriages by 69.4 percent (range: 66.2 to 72.7%), reduce the perinatal death by 10.9 percent (range: 10.4 to 11.4%), reduce the IVF cycles by 11.56 percent (range: 11.0 to 12.11%), and reduce the death of the mothers by 10.9 percent (range: 10.4 to 11.4%). Conclusions: The outcomes model projected that treatment with oral dydrogesterone significantly reduced the number of miscarriages and improved the number of live births compared to the standard of care used for IVF patients in Australia

Machine learning and multi-omics in precision medicine for ME/CFS

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and multifaceted disorder that defies simplistic characterisation. Traditional approaches to diagnosing and treating ME/CFS have often fallen short due to the condition’s heterogeneity and the lack of validated biomarkers. The growing field of precision medicine offers a promising approach which focuses on the genetic and molecular underpinnings of individual patients. In this review, we explore how machine learning and multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) can transform precision medicine in ME/CFS research and healthcare. We provide an overview on machine learning concepts for analysing large-scale biological data, highlight key advancements in multi-omics biomarker discovery, data quality and integration strategies, while reflecting on ME/CFS case study examples. We also highlight several priorities, including the critical need for applying robust computational tools and collaborative data-sharing initiatives in the endeavour to unravel the biological intricacies of ME/CFS

Rapid increase in continuous glucose monitoring use among adults with type 1 diabetes admitted to hospital: a Melbourne multicentre observational study

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology is transforming community diabetes management. Interest in the utility of CGM during hospitalisation is increasing. This multicentre retrospective observational study found that, among adult inpatients with type 1 diabetes, the proportion with inpatient CGM glucose data in hospital-linked CGM software accounts increased from 3.2% in 2021 to 20.5% in 2023. This study highlights the need for hospital-based clinicians to familiarise themselves with CGM technology

Toward open science in marketing research

The open science paradigm has gained prominence in marketing as researchers seek to enhance the validity, reliability, and transparency of research methods and findings. Journals and institutions increasingly encourage or require open science practices, and many authors have started to adapt to and meet these new research and publishing expectations. We provide guidance for effectively implementing open science practices in empirical marketing research. Our recommendations, are tailored to the unique methodological approaches and challenges of each subdiscipline and their specific research contexts. Successful integration of these practices into academic marketing research will require concerted and collaborative efforts among authors, journals, institutions, and funding agencies. We argue that the gradual, thoughtful adoption of these principles and practices will improve the quality and efficiency of scientific discovery

Using an SMS to improve bowel cancer screening: the acceptability and feasibility of a multifaceted intervention

BACKGROUND: The Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends an immunochemical faecal occult blood test to Australians aged 50-74 years to screen for bowel cancer, but uptake is low (40.9%). The SMARTscreen trial demonstrated that sending a short messaging services (SMS) prompt from the participant's general practitioner (GP) increased the proportion of kit returns by 16.5%. This research aimed to determine the acceptability and feasibility of implementing SMARTscreen. METHOD: SMARTscreen was a cluster randomized controlled trial set in 21 Australian general practices in regional Australia. Participants and general practice staff involved in the trial were included in this study. Acceptability and feasibility were measured quantitatively by calculating proportions of the SMS received, viewed, or opted out of, and qualitatively by interviewing people who sent and received the SMS. RESULTS: Of 2914 SMS sent, 2645 SMS (91%) were received by participants, 1128 (43%) people opened the weblink, and 59 (2%) people opted out of receiving future SMS. Interviews with general practice staff (n = 17) and participants (n = 18) found that sending and receiving the SMS was acceptable and feasible. The SMS was considered a low-burden activity that easily integrated into the clinic's workflow without impacting clinicians' time. Participants reported an increased intention to participate in screening, but some people worried the weblink was spam, and some suggested sending it out of working hours. CONCLUSION: The SMS-based intervention was widely accepted by GP staff and participants. Future research should test the SMS with and without the weblink, and send the SMS at a more convenient time of the day/week

Impact of employment support in different work environments on individuals with intellectual disability and their families from their own perspectives: Protocol for a systematic review of qualitative evidence

Introduction People with intellectual disability experience lower levels of employment than those with other disabilities and those without disability, and typically require support services to access and maintain employment. Reviews on employment support often focus on the perspectives of providers and employers, meaning that, thus far, the perspectives of people with intellectual disability and their family members have not been collated and synthesised. This review will address this evidence gap. Methods and analysis Six databases (CINAHL, EconLit, EMBASE, Medline Complete, PsychINFO, Web of Science) will be comprehensively searched for the last 20 years to identify English-language, peer-reviewed publications including primary qualitative data. Search results will be independently screened by three reviewers (CP, NM, SF). Backwards and forwards citation tracing will be used to identify any additional literature not found by the searches. A narrative summary of the included studies will be provided. Study characteristics such as research focus, design, setting and findings will be independently extracted by one reviewer, checked by a second. Methodological quality will be independently evaluated by two reviewers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Studies Checklist. Findings from the studies will be collated using thematic synthesis and a realist approach. Any disagreement during the review process will be resolved by a third reviewer. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required to conduct the planned systematic review of peer-reviewed, published articles because the research does not involve human participants. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at leading disability conferences and disseminated via website postings and social media channels. PROSPERO registration number CRD42024615393