Tackling Smoker Misperceptions About E-cigarettes Using Expert Videos

Background: The pervasive misperception that e-cigarettes are equally or more harmful than combustible cigarettes is a barrier to current smokers switching to e-cigarettes. To tackle misperceptions, public health bodies are using informational videos, although their efficacy is unknown. Methods: In our online study, current UK smokers who do not vape (n=382) were randomised to view either: 1) a Cancer Research UK (CRUK) text-only video; 2) a video featuring leading e-cigarette experts (expert); or 3) a no video control condition, and then completed questions regarding e-cigarette harm perceptions. Results: Compared to the control condition, participants in the CRUK condition and especially those in the expert condition had more accurate harm perceptions of e-cigarettes and had more accurate knowledge of e-cigarette constituents. In the expert condition, 67% of individuals reported they would try an e-cigarette in a future quit attempt, compared with 51% in the CRUK condition and 35% in the control condition. Conclusions: Our findings are encouraging in the face of mounting evidence that e-cigarette misperceptions are increasing. Whilst misperceptions are often characterised as resistant to correction, we find that carefully designed public health information videos have the potential to promote a more accurate, informed view of e-cigarettes and encourage intended e-cigarette usage. Importantly, we find this among current smokers who do not vape, a group often reported as having the highest levels of misperceptions and as having the most to gain from accurate e-cigarette perceptions

The Elicitation Method for Past Tense Verb production in Children with Specific Language Impairment and Typical Language

Past tense verb production in children with specific language impairment and language-matched children with typical language was compared using language samples and a standardized probe (Rice/Wexler Test of Early Grammatical Impairment). Analyses revealed accuracy and error type differences between elicitation types and groups. Results have important clinical practice implications

Global Burden Related to Nitrous Oxide Exposure in Medical and Recreational Settings: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

The risk of adverse effects of nitrous oxide (N2O) exposure is insufficiently recognized despite its widespread use. These effects are mainly reported through case reports. We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of clinical, laboratory, and magnetic resonance findings in association with N2O exposure in medical and recreational settings. We calculated the pooled estimates for the studied outcomes and assessed the potential bias related to population stratification using principal component analysis. Eighty-five publications met the inclusion criteria and reported on 100 patients with a median age of 27 years and 57% of recreational users. The most frequent outcomes were subacute combined degeneration (28%), myelopathy (26%), and generalized demyelinating polyneuropathy (23%). A T2 signal hyperintensity in the spinal cord was reported in 68% (57.2-78.8%) of patients. The most frequent clinical manifestations included paresthesia (80%; 72.0-88.0%), unsteady gait (58%; 48.2-67.8%), and weakness (43%; 33.1-52.9%). At least one hematological abnormality was retrieved in 71.7% (59.9-83.4%) of patients. Most patients had vitamin B12 deficiency: vitamin B12 <150 pmol/L (70.7%; 60.7-80.8%), homocysteine >15 µmol/L (90.3%; 79.3-100%), and methylmalonic acid >0.4 µmol/L (93.8%; 80.4-100%). Consistently, 85% of patients exhibited a possibly or probably deficient vitamin B12 status according to the cB12 scoring system. N2O can produce severe outcomes, with neurological or hematological disorders in almost all published cases. More than half of them are reported in the setting of recreational use. The N2O-related burden is dominated by vitamin B12 deficiency. This highlights the need to evaluate whether correcting B12 deficiency would prevent N2O-related toxicity, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of B12 deficiency

Validating accelerometry estimates of energy expenditure across behaviours using heart rate data in a free-living seabird

Two main techniques have dominated the field of ecological energetics, the heart-rate and doubly labelled water methods. Although well established, they are not without their weaknesses, namely expense, intrusiveness and lack of temporal resolution. A new technique has been developed using accelerometers; it uses the Overall Dynamic Body Acceleration (ODBA) of an animal as a calibrated proxy for energy expenditure. This method provides high resolution data without the need for surgery. Significant relationships exist between rate of oxygen consumption (V̇o2) and ODBA in controlled conditions across a number of taxa; however, it is not known whether ODBA represents a robust proxy for energy expenditure consistently in all natural behaviours and there have been specific questions over its validity during diving, in diving endotherms. Here we simultaneously deployed accelerometers and heart rate loggers in a wild population of European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis). Existing calibration relationships were then used to make behaviour-specific estimates of energy expenditure for each of these two techniques. Compared against heart rate derived estimates the ODBA method predicts energy expenditure well during flight and diving behaviour, but overestimates the cost of resting behaviour. We then combine these two datasets to generate a new calibration relationship between ODBA and V̇o2 that accounts for this by being informed by heart rate derived estimates. Across behaviours we find a good relationship between ODBA and V̇o2. Within individual behaviours we find useable relationships between ODBA and V̇o2 for flight and resting, and a poor relationship during diving. The error associated with these new calibration relationships mostly originates from the previous heart rate calibration rather than the error associated with the ODBA method. The equations provide tools for understanding how energy constrains ecology across the complex behaviour of free-living diving birds

The Effect of Team-Building Interventions on Group Cohesion and Academic Performance

The present study investigates the effect of group cohesion on academic success in undergraduate students in a semester-long group project. Students in Research Methods classes form small groups at the beginning of the semester and conduct experiments with their teammates throughout the course. Oftentimes, professors do not include any team-building interventions in their class sessions. However, research shows that a sense of group cohesion enhances group performance across various settings (e.g., on sports teams). The more cohesive a group feels both socially and professionally, the more likely they are to work together towards shared goals. This research aims to test whether interventions that are meant to enhance group cohesion in a classroom setting impact perceived and actual group and academic performance. At the beginning of the semester, two sections of Research Methods in Behavioral Science received a pretest survey to determine their baseline cohesion. Throughout the semester, students in the experimental class participated in three team-building interventions that involved answering three personal reflection writing prompts to fill out at home and bring to class. This technique is known as Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (PDMS). On the intervention days, each group met and had a discussion in which they shared their personal answers with the group. The control group only received surveys throughout the semester that measured their cohesion. After the groups complete their projects at the end of the semester, each participant will fill out a posttest survey rating perceptions of cohesion within their group; in addition, we will collect students’ final grades to determine if the interventions had any significant effect on their performance. We expect that groups who participate in the interventions will have a greater perceived sense of cohesion with their team members, which will ultimately improve their academic performance

Addressing Gaps in Care Through a Medical Student-Led Cancer Screening Project

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer (BrCa), and cervical cancer are three of the most preventable cancers. Despite the known significance for early detection and treatment, barriers to screening remain. We developed a medical student-led project to improve adherence to national cancer screening guidelines in patients across Rowan-Virtua Family Medicine (FM) practices. This study assesses the initiative’s efficacy in improving adherence to CRC, BrCa, and cervical cancer screenings. Methods: Rowan-Virtua FM patients between the ages of 21-75 (n=735) were identified as due or up-to-date on cancer screenings based on chart review. Student volunteers were trained to contact patients to discuss options for overdue screenings and place corresponding referrals. Patient demographics including sex, age, and race/ethnicity were collected. Outcomes included patient eligibility, number and rates of patients reached, referrals placed, and up-to-date patients. Results: Among the 735 patients, mean (sd) age was 57.9 (11.5), 71.2% were female, 55.8% were white, 15.5% were Black, 4.4% were Hispanic, 1.4% were Asian and 23.4% did not specify their race/ethnicity. Per chart review, 643 (87.5%) patients were due for at least one cancer screening. Of 323 (50.2%) patients reached via phone, 30.7% received at least one referral for cancer screening, 23.2% reported being up-to-date on screenings, and 46.1% declined screening. A total of 28 colonoscopy, 38 stool DNA test, 38 mammogram, and 30 pap smear referrals were placed among 99 patients. 28 patients received referrals for more than one screening. Conclusion: This student-led medical outreach project promoted increased adherence to national cancer screening guidelines

A Qualitative Study: Caregiver Experience of Dementia

Purpose and Background/Significance: Dementia affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans (Czekanski, 2017) and has ramifications for those affected with the disease as well as their caregivers. More than 15 million Americans currently care for individuals with dementia without pay, most provided by their loved ones (Czekanski, 2017). Caring for a loved one with dementia is associated with emotional, physical, and financial repercussions (Warchol-Biedermann et al., 2014). The objectives of this qualitative study were to assess effects of being a caregiver for someone with dementia and the impact of using an adult day service. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: Caregiver resilience is the successful use of coping strategies that emphasize the perspective of resilience rather than burden (Roberts & Struckmeyer, 2018). Fitting with the conceptualization of resilience, caregivers experience subtle but long-term role changes, both physical and emotional (Roberts & Struckmeyer). Method: The sample consisted of caregivers of people attending an adult day center. Undergraduate nursing research assistants conducted two focus groups of 6-8 participants each to assess the caregivers’ experiences with their loved one. Data were collected through a series of structured, open-ended questions. Each session was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. All recordings and transcripts were destroyed after dissemination of the data. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that caregivers experience role overload, role strain, and variable levels of burden depending on their resiliency to manage the care that is needed. Using an adult day service assists with role strain and provide respite for the caregiver