Student Attitudes Towards Distance Learning at a Large Urban Public College

Student attitudes towards distance learning can affect both the acquisition of knowledge and the motivation to learn. This study explores student attitudes towards the following four topics: (1) technological and environmental impediments towards distance learning, (2) asynchronous vs. synchronous course preferences, (3) online vs. in-person course preferences, and (4) attitudes towards taking online courses in the future. The findings of the study are based on two anonymous online surveys conducted in the spring and fall of 2020 among students at a large urban public college located in the Northeast U.S.  The study reveals that a significant number of students have unreliable Internet and live in homes not conducive for online learning.  By a narrow margin, students prefer an asynchronous to a synchronous approach to online learning.  Along several dimensions covering different facets of the classroom experience, students prefer in-person courses to online courses.  The disparities favoring in-person classes are most noticeable with respect to the ability to concentrate in class sessions, feeling motivated to learn, and developing friendship ties with classmates.  Distinctive profiles exist among students who opt for these different teaching modalities.  Those students who are more positively disposed towards in-person classes tend to be younger,  freshmen or sophomores, those experiencing higher stress levels, and those whose physical arrangements at home are not conducive for learning.  Importantly, though, a majority of students say they were inclined towards taking more online course in the future. 

Social acceptability of treatments for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: There are no data on social acceptability of scoliosis. Aim. To elicit evidence-based opinions on therapeutic strategies for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a sample of families with not affected children, so to understand the social perception of this issue. METHODS: Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Secondary schools in 4 northern Italian regions. Participants. Parents of children in the age group at risk of and not affected by scoliosis (Pre-test group = 100, Study group = 3,162). Interventions. Questionnaire: five specific and evidence-based questions regarding scoliosis treatment options and a socio-demographic section. Methodology. "Role-playing" in which it was required to normal people to answer what they would have chosen if they had been in the situation proposed. Main outcome measures. Perception of acceptability of treatments for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the general population (social acceptability) RESULTS: The families support the use of screening (94.8%) at school, immediate bracing (76.4%) for scoliosis with a 60% risk of progression, but also therapeutic exercises (86.9%) in cases with a 25% risk of progression. CONCLUSION: There is a growing tendency to consider not only the efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of treatments, but also their acceptability. This patient-centred aspect is especially more important in areas (like adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) in which there is some evidence on the efficacy of treatments, but not strong and definitive (RCTs). Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatments should thus be carefully considered also in the light of their social acceptability

Forces exerted during exercises by patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis wearing fiberglass braces

OBJECTIVE: To quantify and compare the forces exerted by scoliosis patients in fiberglass braces during exercises usually prescribed in departments where casts are made. The exercises are intended to increase corrective forces, activate muscles, stimulate ventilation and help the patient psychologically. SETTING: Outpatient care. PATIENTS: 17 consecutive adolescent patients wearing fiberglass brace for idiopathic scoliosis. INTERVENTIONS: Exercises (kyphotization, rotation, "escape from the pad") in different positions (sitting, supine, on all fours). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pressure detected by the F-Socket System between the rib hump and the pad of the brace. RESULTS: In static and dynamic conditions, the position adopted did not alter the total pressure exerted by the brace, although the part of the sensor stimulated did vary. Kyphotization and rotation exercises produced a significant increase of pressure (+ 58.9% and +29.8%, respectively); however, the "escape from the pad" exercise, despite its name, did not produce any significant variation of pressure. CONCLUSION: Exercises in the brace allow adjunctive forces to be applied on soft tissues and through them, presumably on the spine. Different exercises can be chosen to obtain different actions. Physical exercises and sporting activities are useful in mechanical terms, although other important actions should not be overlooked

Backpacks on! Schoolchildren's perceptions of load, associations with back pain and factors determining the load.

A cross-sectional study was conducted.To investigate schoolchildren's subjective perceptions of their daily backpack loads, to ascertain whether an association exists between these sensations or the load itself and back pain, and to identify the school, family, and personal factors that determine the backpack load, and that might, with a view to primary prevention, be addressed with specific interventions.Backpack carrying has been shown to constitute a considerable daily "occupational" load of the spine in schoolchildren. Although society perceives backpack carrying as a problem, the scientific community currently offers very few answers. The backpack load borne by schoolchildren exceeds, proportionally, the legal load-bearing limits set for adults, and the association with low back pain is questioned.All the backpacks of the 237 year 6 children in a school catchment area of Milan were weighed on six school days. The data were analyzed in groups according to the schools and classes involved, the single children, and the days of the week. A validated questionnaire also was administered to 115 schoolchildren (54 boys and 61 girls; average age, 11.7 years) whose anthropometric characteristics and loads carried daily were known. The associations among features of backpack carrying, subjective perceptions of the load (fatigue, feeling it to be heavy, pain) and back pain (point and life prevalence) were assessed and verified.School backpacks are felt to be heavy by 79.1\% of children, to cause fatigue by 65.7\%, and to cause back pain by 46.1\%. Fatigue during and time spent backpack carrying, but not the backpack's weight, are associated with back pain. The determining factors were found to be classes (e.g., range, 8.87-10.59 kg), days of the week (e.g., range, 5.75-12.74 kg.), and single students (e.g., range, 4.2-9.5 kg.), but not individual schools.Daily backpack carrying is a frequent cause of discomfort for schoolchildren. There is an association between this load and back pain, although the relationship is not direct. The results suggest the existence of personal physical and psychological factors that need to be investigated. Reduction of the daily backpack load borne by schoolchildren is recommended both on the basis of the current results and because it exceeds, proportionally, the legal load limits set for adults. All the different parties involved (school system, parents, children) play a role, and if the aim is to reduce this "weight of culture," all should be targeted through specific interventions. Recommendations are supplied for the achievement of this aim

Reliability of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 Patient Questionnaire (Italian version) in mild adolescent vertebral deformities.

The reliability evaluation of the Italian version of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 Patient Questionnaire (SRS-22-I), administered to adolescents with mild vertebral deformities, is evaluated.Study design: forward-backward translation, pretest, final version according to a focus-group evaluation, and 1 week test/retest. Population: pretest: 35 subjects (22 females), age range 8.5-19 years, 28 idiopathic scoliosis (17 degrees +/-7 degrees ), 7 hyperkyphosis (54 degrees +/-4 degrees ); test/retest: 20 subjects (11 females), age range 12-17.5 years, 15 idiopathic scoliosis (16 degrees +/-8 degrees ), 5 hyperkyphosis (55 degrees +/-5 degrees ). Statistical analysis: Spearman rank test, percent of agreement. Statistical significance: 0.05. Software: Statgraphics 3.0. We calculated the results of the questionnaire and performed the statistical analysis using non parametric test because of the charcteristics of the data: this differ from previously publishedResponse rate was 100\%. Total score: median 4 (range 3-5); results for different domains (median, range): function/activity 4 (3-5), pain 5 (3-5), self image/ appearance 3 (2-5), mental health 4 (3-5), satisfaction with management 4 (2-5). Time required to answer the questionnaire ranged from 5 to 20'; for 12 to 17.5 years old subjects from 5 to 10'. pretest showed difficulties with questions on pain; the questionnaire was changed accordingly. Spearman's rho ranged from 0.42 to 1, not significantly different from null value for questions 12 and 21. Percent of agreement (evaluated only for question 11a) was 100\%. The ceiling and floor effects have been found high.The SRS-22-I was found to be reliable for young patients with mild vertebral deformities of different type. Lack of reliability for questions 12 and 21 should be better understood. Until now the psychometric properties of SRS-22 questionnaire have been evaluated only in USA populations, and in idiopathic scoliosis. Moreover, only one study has been proposed including patients with mild idiopathic scoliosis. This, together with the non-parametric statistical analysis used, could explain the high ceiling and floor effects we found in our data

Backpack as a daily load for schoolchildren

34.8% of Italian schoolchildren carry more than 30% of their bodyweight at least once a week, exceeding limits proposed for adults. Given increasing evidence of back pain in children, the time has come to propose some limitations to backpack loa

General practitioners' management of low back pain: impact of clinical guidelines in a non-English-speaking country.

Cross-sectional.To evaluate the assessment of patients with low back pain by general practitioners (GPs) in a non-English-speaking country and to compare their behavior with AHCPR and CSAG clinical guidelines.The diffusion of clinical guidelines (and their everyday application by health care professionals) is a significant problem. Because most guidelines are developed in English, concerns over their diffusion are obviously greater in non-English-speaking countries.A questionnaire was sent to all the GPs in the province of Mantua, Italy (n = 318). The authors evaluated what examinations are routinely performed and what danger symptoms and signs prompt referral of patients. GPs indicated the frequency of their prescription of radiographs, computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, laboratory tests, and consultations. The findings were compared with a "gold standard": the AHCPR and CSAG clinical guidelines.The response rate was 68.2\%. Only 28.0\% of GPs perform all the tests considered important by the clinical guidelines, and 33.0\% were aware of all the red flags. Correspondence with the clinical guideline recommendations ranged from 14.6\% to 89.4\%. There is a clear tendency to overprescribe examinations in acute cases, whereas in chronic cases underprescription is sometimes seen.In a non-English-speaking country the evaluation of low back pain by GPs does not reflect current recommendations, and the situation is seen to be worse than in English-speaking countries. Concerns over the diffusion of guidelines must therefore be considered greater in non-English-speaking countries, where thorough presentation to GPs of the existing "evidence-based" guidelines is to be recommended