Investigating prevalence and healthcare use of children with complex healthcare needs using data linkage. A study using multi-ethnic data from an ongoing prospective cohort: the Born in Bradford project

Background: The impact children with complex healthcare needs have on the healthcare system is significant and requires a multidisciplinary response. Congenital anomaly (CA) is a group of conditions requiring complex and variable input from primary and secondary healthcare. This thesis explores the literature on health system preparedness for children with complex healthcare needs and quantitatively describes healthcare use for a population of children with CA, an exemplar for children with complex healthcare needs. Methods: Routine health data from primary care was explored to identify children with CA and linked to secondary care data, outpatient records, and questionnaire data from a multi-ethnic prospective birth cohort over a five-year period. Rates of CA were calculated and healthcare use for children with and without CA was analysed. Results: Out of a birth cohort of 13,857 children, 860 had a CA. Using primary care data for children aged 0 to 5 years, the number of children with CA was found to be 620.6 per 10,000 live births, above the national rate of 226.5 per 10,000 live births. Healthcare use was higher for children with CA than those without CA. Demand for use of hospital services for children with CA was higher (Incident rate ratio (IRR) 4.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.90 to 4.92) than demand for primary care services (IRR, 1.27, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.35). Conclusion: These results suggest that using primary care data as a source of CA case ascertainment reveals more children with CA than previously thought. These results have significant implications for commissioning healthcare services for children with complex healthcare needs

The Experiences of Latino Adolescent Mentees growing-up with a Single Mother and Mentoring Program Development: A Narrative Analysis Study

Latinos comprise the largest minority population in the United States. Research underscores the many positive effects that mentors can have on Latino adolescents who lack a male role model living in the home. Mentors can provide support and teach helpful skills that can be applied to multiple life domains needed throughout a person’s lifespan. There are many different types of mentoring services and styles available to adolescents. Yet, there are specific gaps and room for growth within the scholarly literature regarding Latino adolescents that need to be addressed. Shining light and allowing their narratives to be heard and understood in greater depth can promote more effective mentoring programs for Latino adolescents. A qualitative study was conducted using Narrative Analysis involving face-to-face interviews with Latino male adolescents who have lived with a single mother and were participating in a mentoring program. The aim of this study was to obtain valuable first-hand insight and recommendations with regard to adolescents’ experiences regarding the absence of a male role model at home, their participation in mentoring services, as well as their recommendations for improving mentoring programs for Latino adolescents. Key findings included the many benefits that stem from the mentees being involved in their mentoring program, the importance of the mentees’ mothers and other positive supports in their lives, as well as the mentees’ helpful recommendations for their mentoring program

The need for excellence centres in clinical imaging

First paragraph: Within the UK there is a growing demand for clinical imaging and scanning. This demand is attributable to both a rapid advance in clinical (diagnostic) imaging technology over the last 30 years, and imaging being at the forefront of prediction, prevention, diagnosis and monitoring disease pathways

Civic Engagement among Iranians in the United States

Civic engagement is beneficial for individuals and the overall communities they live in. There is currently a gap in our literature regarding studies about civic engagement among immigrants and refugees. The purpose of this study was to examine civic attitudes, civic engagement, and their potential predictors among Iranian immigrants and refugees in the U.S. In total, these researchers recruited 52 participants and administered an internet-based, four-section questionnaire. They found very positive civic attitudes, as well as a high level of engagement in different civic activities among this group. Applying multiple linear regression analysis, the results indicated that female participants and those with higher English language proficiency have significantly more positive civic attitudes. Additionally, civic attitude was the only significant predictor of the level of civic engagement. Implications to improve civic attitudes and engagement are discussed

The impact of paternal involvement and United States stay length on Latino youth\u27s depressive symptoms

Latino youth in the United States are more at-risk for depression than youth of other ethnic backgrounds. This manuscript assesses the impacts of sex, age, United States stay length, and whether or not Latino children of immigrants’ fathers live with them on the youth’s depressive symptoms. For this purpose, data of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study was used. Using multiple regression analysis, the relationships among the aforementioned factors were examined among 1305 immigrant youth who were born in Latin America and Caribbean countries. The results of the study indicated that being male, living with one’s father and longer stay in the United States are significantly associated with less depression for Latino children of immigrants. The implications of the study can be applied to multiple settings including youth’s homes, social service agencies, and personnel who work with depressed populations. Raising awareness among immigrant parents, training mental health and social service providers, and developing culturally sensitive interventions were recommended. Although this study is a significant and timely topic, using data that are more recent could be more beneficial

Cultural Diversity in the MSW Learning Space: Exploring Awareness, Acceptance, and Perceptions

This exploratory study assesses MSW students’ awareness, acceptance, and perceptions with regard to cultural diversity in the MSW learning space. Through a stepwise multiple regression analysis, seven predictor variables were inputted to assess their predictive qualities on the criterion of perceptions of cultural diversity in the MSW learning space

A Longitudinal Review of System of Care (SOC) Development A Case Study from the Mid-West

This study examined the implementation of the System of Care (SOC) framework in a Midwestern state and efforts to assess the progress over time. The period in focus was 2014-2018

Telling the Story: National and Local SOC Evaluation

With foundation and grant funding for behavioral health, social services, and integrated health initiatives come requirements to collect and report data. State and local grantees, partners, and stakeholders can combine such requirements with local quality improvement and evaluation initiatives to tell their story and to manage initiatives. To support local system of care (SOC) coordinators in collecting and using grant and relevant information, basic grant requirements are reviewed in the context of using the information to support decisions, to monitor progress, and to improve outcomes

Metamaterials Manufacturing: Pathway to Industrial Competitiveness

Metamaterials are artificially structured materials with the promise to remove performance constraints associated with conventional materials, redefining the boundaries of materials science and offering a wealth of new opportunities for innovation and economic growth. The prospects are powerful. National security applications of metamaterials range from enhanced stealth technology to improved military communication to higher-quality reconnaissance imaging to next-generation body armor. Health implications range from greatly improved medical imaging and research tools to superior injury protection products. Metamaterials also have promising energy applications in transportation light-weighting, as well as energy generation and storage technologies. By 2025, it is estimated that metamaterials manufacturing will be a multi-billion-dollar market. The United States has invested heavily in the potential of metamaterials, and U.S. experts and research facilities lead the world in publications, citations, and intellectual property related to this emerging field. Realizing the true benefits of these emerging technologies—and return on federal investments—will require advancing metamaterials from prototypes to products manufactured at scale. Manufacturing of these materials at the volume and quality needed for practical applications requires process innovation and establishment of a strong supporting ecosystem. This report examines the challenges and opportunities facing metamaterials manufacturing and presents a set of actionable recommendations for realizing the promised impact.National Science Foundation, Grant No. 1552534https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145155/1/MetamaterialsManufacturingReport-May21_digital-reduced.pd