Causes of Drug Initiation among Adolescents

Drug use is a behaviour frequently seen among adolescents. The World Drug Report draws attention to the increase in this phenomenon. The studies were undertaken to look for determinants that promote drug use and those that protect against reckless activities. It seems important to determine the causes of drug initiation. The presented study aimed to identify the determinants favouring first contact with drugs among adolescents. Eighteen respondents participated in the study. Purposive sampling was used and data were collected using categorized interviews. The exploratory nature of the interviews focused on obtaining information on three areas: family life, peer influences and the role of mass culture products. Education, financial background, and inquiries about life plans, dreams, and their realization were also recorded. The analysis of empirical data made it possible to establish interesting factors conducive to the respondents’ first contact with drugs both in the family environment, peer environment, but also related to popular culture, lifestyle, the influence of significant others, as well as to the dangers of the Internet. Established causes of drug initiations are indicated. The obtained results can be used in designing preventive interventions among adolescents. They can also be the basis for planning further studies with this group.

Né vittime, né carnefici. Cittadine. Un’analisi pedagogica dei ruoli delle madri nei percorsi di prevenzione alla radicalizzazione violenta e al terrorismo

Phenomenologies of Islamic terrorism, changing processes of radicalization to violence, and the suicide terrorist attacks perpetrated in many European countries, together constitute a complex educational topic. A topic that defies simplistic readings whereby the drawing of sharp boundaries between ‘us’ and ‘them’, or civilization and barbarism, organizes and reproduces morally reassuring analyses that relieve us of the duty to more thoroughly explore causes and areas of co-responsibility. A combination of pedagogical and gender based analysis can significantly contribute to advancing our knowledge of these phenomena and the related representations, deconstruct the processes underlying them, and inform the design of preventive interventions. More specifically, this article assesses the limitations and risks surrounding women’s role in prevention, also indicating ways in which the positive potential of this role may be explored; it is crucial to avoid re-essentializing the maternal and feminine, while supporting full recognition of women’s status as active and critical citizens

Acceptability of Mebendazole Chewable Tablet in Children Aged 2 to 4 Years in Peru

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is among the most common of parasitic infections, affecting vulnerable populations in tropical/subtropical areas globally. In endemic countries, children, a high-risk population, require treatment and preventive interventions. Mebendazole, a WHO-recommended medicine, originally formulated as a tablet that was often crushed for administration to young children unable to swallow it, was reformulated as a chewable tablet. Acceptability is a key aspect for treatment effectiveness in pediatrics. Herein, we used a validated data-driven approach to investigate the acceptability of the 500-mg mebendazole chewable tablet in children aged 2 to 4 years in Peru. Observer-reported outcomes were collected for 182 medicine intakes. Acceptability was scored using the acceptability reference framework: a three-dimensional map juxtaposing “positively accepted” and “negatively accepted” profiles. Results found that the 500-mg mebendazole chewable tablet was classified as “positively accepted” in children aged 2 to 4 years. Acceptability increased with age and some acceptability issue remain for the younger children. Nevertheless, this formulation was considerably better accepted than the conventional tablets regardless of treatment in young children. This chewable formulation appears to be an appropriate alternative to the hard tablet of mebendazole for treatment of STH and preventive interventions in children aged 2 to 4 years.

Staff-to-Residence Abuse in Nursing Homes: A Scoping Review

Background: Elder abuse in long-term care is an important public health concern with social, health-related, and economic implications. Staff-to-resident abuse is of particular interest since institutions should protect residents’ rights and prevent harm. To provide an up-to date comprehensive overview of staff-to-resident abuse in nursing homes, we performed a scoping review considering types of abuse, their prevalence and associated factors, descriptions, experiences, and preventive interventions.Methods: We performed a scoping review following the framework provided by Arksey and O’Malley. We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, PsycINFO via Ovid, and Cochrane Library. Additionally, we performed free web searching using Google Scholar and checked relevant reviews. Two reviewers independently selected studies. We narratively synthesised the results.Results: Out of 3876 references retrieved by our search, we included 46 studies in 47 reports. The prevalence rates of abuse varied widely, ranging from 0 to 93% depending on the type of abuse. Associated factors of abuse at the staff, resident, and nursing home level were evaluated inconsistently. Abuse was perceived ambiguous: even though it was considered unacceptable, it was underreported. We found only four studies addressing preventive interventions. Of these, four made recommendations for intervention development. Only one study with an experimental design examined a multi-component intervention including education and mutual support.Conclusions: The review yielded heterogenous evidence not allowing a concrete conclusion on prevalence and associated factors. However, the results show the significance of the problem and indicate that there are associate factors of abuse that can be influenced by appropriate interventions. These are amongst other staff education, organisational culture, and conditions. Further research should investigate the composition and content of preventive interventions and their potential to reduce abusive behaviours.

Perceptions and experiences of individuals at-risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) knowing about their risk of developing RA and being offered preventive treatment: systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

ObjectivesThere is increasing interest in identifying individuals at-risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and initiating early treatment to prevent or delay the onset of arthritis. We aimed to describe the perceptions and experiences of at-risk individuals and to inform the conduct of clinical trials and studies, and clinical practice.MethodsA systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies was conducted. Two review authors independently screened studies for inclusion, appraised their methodological quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and assessed confidence in the findings using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation–Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research approach.ResultsSeven studies involving 115 individuals at-risk of developing RA were included. Three major themes (seven subthemes) were identified: understanding the risk of developing RA (knowledge of RA and identification of potential risk factors); preventive interventions to reduce the risk of developing RA (understanding the value and role of preventive interventions, and engagement with preventive interventions); and perceptions of predictive testing for RA (benefits of predictive testing, decision to undertake predictive testing and concerns about predictive testing). Moderate confidence in most review findings was evident.ConclusionWhile there are clear benefits in informing individuals at-risk of RA about their risk following predictive testing and offering preventive treatment, there are potential barriers to engagement, intensified by the burden of uncertainty. Identification of the optimum approaches for presenting risk information, including the risks and benefits of engaging with preventive interventions, is urgently needed to support individuals at-risk of RA in their decision making.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021236034.

Is it time to re-evaluate the inevitability of ulcers at the end of life?

Background: The prevention of pressure injuries/ulcers (PI/PUs) in patients at the end of life is achievable, albeit challenging. Objective diagnostic tools, such as sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) scanning, support healthcare practitioners' clinical judgment in preventing PI/PUs. Aim: A pragmatic study was conducted to assess the feasibility of preventing PI/PUs using SEM technology as an adjunct to routine care in a 22-bed inpatient hospice. Methods: Daily SEM scanning was introduced to support the device-trained practitioners' clinical judgment in detecting developing, non-visible PI/PUs. Preventive interventions were initiated by clinical judgment informed by Waterlow scores, visible, tactile skin and tissue assessments and scanner readings. Results: Prior to the study, the incidence of PI/PUs was 9%. The 6 month study period reported a 4.8% PI/PU incidence, 7/146 consenting patients developed a PI/PU, resulting in a 47% reduction in incidence rates. Conclusion: Preventing the development of PI/PUs is possible with clinical judgment aided by SEM data.

Exploring infant fall events using online parenting discussion forums (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Falls are the most common mechanism of hospitalised injury in children under 12 months and commonly result in traumatic brain injuries. Epidemiological studies exploring infant falls demonstrate the burden but lack the contextual information vital to the development of preventive interventions. The objective of this study was to examine contextual information for falls involving children under 12 months. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine contextual information for falls involving children under 12 months using online parenting discussion forums. METHODS Online parenting forums provide an unobtrusive rich data source for collecting detailed information about fall events. Relevant discussions related to fall incidents were identified and downloaded using site-specific google search queries and a programming script. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to analyse the incidents and categorise contextual information into ‘pre-cursor events’ and ‘influencing factors’ for infant falls. RESULTS 461 infant fall incidents were identified. Common fall mechanisms included: falls from furniture; falls when being carried or supported by someone; falls from baby products and falls on the same level. Across the spectrum of fall mechanisms, common precursor events were: infant rolling off; being alone on furniture; product misuse; caretaker falling asleep while holding the infant; and caretaker tripping/slipping while carrying the infant. Common influencing factors included: infant’s rapid motor development; lapses in caretaker attention; and trip hazards. CONCLUSIONS The findings define targets for intervention to prevent infant falls and suggest the most viable intervention approach may be to target parental behaviour change. Online forums have provided rich information critical for preventive interventions aimed at changing behaviour.

Mineral metabolism and COVID-19: is there a connection?

Due to global spread of COVID-19, the search for new factors that could influence its clinical course becomes highly important. This review summarize the relevant publications on the association between immune system and the main regulators of mineral homeostasis including. In addition, we have highlighted the various aspects of phosphorus-calcium metabolism related to the acute respiratory diseases and in particular to COVID-19. The data about the calcium-phosphorus metabolism in SARS-CoV-2 infection is required to understand the possible clinical implications and to develop new therapeutic and preventive interventions.