Subjective wellbeing among young dancers with disabilities

Little is known about the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of young dancers with disabilities and whether it changes over time. The aim of this study was to assess the SWB of young dancers with disabilities enrolled on an extracurricular inclusive talent development programme in the UK at two time points. Twenty-two young dancers completed the Personal Wellbeing Index for people with intellectual disability at the beginning of the academic year. Thirteen dancers completed the questionnaire a second time towards the end of the academic year. Scores were compared with normative values, and a Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was conducted to assess change over time. The participants reported high levels of SWB at both time points in comparison with normative values. There was no significant change in wellbeing scores over time. The study contributes to a growing body of literature suggesting that people with disabilities have high levels of SWB. Although causality cannot be assumed, inclusive dance programmes may contribute to SWB and allow young people with disabilities to overcome the barriers associated with physical activity

Motivations and barriers to prosthesis users participation in physical activity, exercise and sport : a review of the literature

The UK will host the Paralympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014 showcasing the talents of elite athletes and aiming to inspire the population to become involved. However, low levels of physical activity (PA) are prevalent: only 40% of men and 28% of women meet the minimum UK recommendations. The limb absent population is no exception. To determine if people with limb amputations are participating in physical activity and sport; whether post-amputation activity levels match pre-amputation levels; and if there are motivations and barriers to participation. Study design: Literature review Five reviewers systematically search of peer reviewed and gray literature in seven bibliographic databases and the Cochrane Library. Results: Following rigorous elimination, 12 articles were finally included in the review and critically appraised. Four themes were identified: components, rehabilitation outcomes, body image and motivations and barriers to participation. People with limb absence are not participating in PA conducive to health benefits, and only a minority participate in exercise and sports. Participation following amputation does not mirror that of pre-amputation levels, and more barriers than motivations exist to adopting and maintaining a physically active lifestyle. This literature review aims to inform those involved in rehabilitation and ongoing care of those with limb absence about what motivates or precludes their participation in physical activity, exercise and sport. Such knowledge could be applied to improving health and well being in this population

Understanding potential career changers’ experience of career confidence following a positive psychology based coaching programme

Changes in the labour market over the last decades have led to an increase in the number of career and job changes individuals are likely to face in their working lives. Previous research indicates that a high level of confidence can help individuals to make positive career changes, yet an agreed definition of confidence is not widely accepted, and the literature provides a limited evidence base for practice. This research involved five female participants who were contemplating a career change. They took part in a coaching programme which consisted of four positive psychology interventions based on a proposal of core confidence as a higher order construct composed of self-efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and written reflections and an interpretative phenomenological analysis showed that participants perceived their career confidence before the programme as low, incorporating negative affect and self-doubt. After the programme, participants demonstrated increased career engagement, self-awareness and a positive and optimistic outlook. The analysis revealed that change was effected through the development of hope, change in cognitive processes and coaching as a catalyst. Implications for the definition of career confidence, and for positive psychology and career coaching practice are considered

Physical Exam Indicated Cerclage in Twin pregnancy: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Twin pregnancies with dilated cervix in the second trimester are at increased risk of pregnancy loss and early preterm birth; currently there is no proven therapy to prevent preterm birth in this group of women. Objective: To determine if physical exam indicated cerclage reduces the incidence of preterm birth in asymptomatic women with twin gestations and cervical dilation diagnosed before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Study design: Multicenter, parallel-group, open-label, randomized controlled trial of women with twin pregnancy, and asymptomatic cervical dilation from 1-5 cm between 16 0/7 to 23 6/7 weeks were enrolled from 7/2015 to 7/2019 in 8 centers. Eligible women were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either cerclage or no cerclage. We excluded women with: monochorionic-monoamniotic pregnancy, selective fetal growth restriction, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, major fetal malformation, known genetic anomaly, placenta previa, signs of labor, or clinical chorioamnionitis. The primary outcome was the incidence of preterm birth <34 weeks. Secondary outcomes were preterm birth <32, <28 and <24 weeks, interval from diagnosis to delivery, and perinatal mortality. Data were analyzed as intention to treat. Results: After an interim analysis was performed, the Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended stopping the trial due to significant decrease of perinatal mortality in the cerclage group. We randomized 34 women, four were excluded due to expired informed consent. Seventeen women were randomized to physical exam indicated cerclage and 13 women to no cerclage. Four women randomized to cerclage did not receive the surgical procedure, while no women in the no cerclage group received cerclage. Maternal demographics were not significantly different. All women in the cerclage group also received indomethacin and antibiotics. When comparing cerclage vs no cerclage group, the incidence of preterm birth <34 weeks was significantly decreased: 12/17 (70%) vs 13/13 (100%) (RR: 0.71 95% CI 0.52-0.96), as well as preterm birth <32 weeks 11/17 (64.7%) vs 13/13 (100%) (RR: 0.65 95% CI 0.46-0.92), preterm birth <28 weeks 7/17 (41%) vs 11/13 (84%) (RR: 0.49 95% CI 0.26-0.89) and preterm birth <24 weeks 5/17 (30%) vs 11/13 (84%) (RR: 0.35 95% CI 0.16-0.75). The mean gestational age at delivery was later: 29.05±1.7 vs. 22.5±3.9 weeks (p<0.01); the mean interval from diagnosis of cervical dilation to delivery was longer: 8.3±5.8 vs. 2.9±3.0 weeks (p=0.02). Perinatal mortality was also significantly reduced in the cerclage group 6/34 (17.6%) vs 20/26 (77%), (RR: 0.22 95% CI 0.1-0.5). Conclusion: A combination of physical exam indicated cerclage, indomethacin, and antibiotics in asymptomatic twin pregnancies before 24 weeks significantly decreases preterm birth at all evaluated gestational ages. Most importantly, cerclage in this population is associated with a 50% decrease in very early preterm birth <28 weeks and with a 78% decrease in perinatal mortality

Understanding potential career changers’ experience of career confidence following a positive psychology based coaching programme

Changes in the labour market over the last decades have led to an increase in the number of career and job changes individuals are likely to face in their working lives. Previous research indicates that a high level of confidence can help individuals to make positive career changes, yet an agreed definition of confidence is not widely accepted, and the literature provides a limited evidence base for practice. This research involved five female participants who were contemplating a career change. They took part in a coaching programme which consisted of four positive psychology interventions based on a proposal of core confidence as a higher order construct composed of self-efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and written reflections and an interpretative phenomenological analysis showed that participants perceived their career confidence before the programme as low, incorporating negative affect and self-doubt. After the programme, participants demonstrated increased career engagement, self-awareness and a positive and optimistic outlook. The analysis revealed that change was effected through the development of hope, change in cognitive processes and coaching as a catalyst. Implications for the definition of career confidence, and for positive psychology and career coaching practice are considered

Clay components in soil dictate environmental stability and bioavailability of cervid prions in mice

Chronic wasting disease affects cervids and is the only known prion disease to affect free-ranging wildlife populations. CWD spread continues unabated, and exact mechanisms of its seemingly facile spread among deer and elk across landscapes in North America remain elusive. Here we confirm that naturally contaminated soil contains infectious CWD prions that can be transmitted to susceptible model organisms. We show that smectite clay content of soil potentiates prion binding capacity of different soil types from CWD endemic and non-endemic areas, likely contributing to environmental stability of bound prions. The smectite clay montmorillonite (Mte) increased prion retention and bioavailability in vivo. Trafficking experiments in live animals fed bound and unbound prions showed that mice retained significantly more Mte-bound than unbound prions. Mte promoted rapid uptake of prions from the stomach to the intestines via enterocytes and M cells, and then to macrophages and eventually CD21+ B cells in Peyer’s patches and spleens. These results confirm clay components in soil as an important vector in CWD transmission at both environmental and organismal levels.