Self- and informant-reported executive function in young adults operated for atrial or ventricular septal defects in childhood

Background: Adults with simple congenital heart defects (CHD) have increased risk of neurodevelopmental challenges including executive dysfunction. It is unknown if the executive dysfunction is universal or if it is driven by dysfunction in specific clinical subscales and how it might affect psychosocial aspects of everyday life. Methods: The self-reported and informant-reported executive function of adults with an average age of 26 ± 5 (range 18–41) who underwent childhood surgery for atrial septal defects (n = 34) or ventricular septal defects (n = 32) and matched controls (n = 40) were evaluated using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions - Adult version (BRIEF-A). Results: The CHD group reported having more executive dysfunction than controls in all BRIEF-A clinical subscales (p < 0.020) and more than their informants reported on their behalf (p < 0.006). The CHD group had received three times more special teaching (44% compared to 16%) and pedagogical psychological counselling (14% compared to none) and had a three times higher occurrence of psychiatric disorders than controls (33% compared to 11%). Lower educational levels and psychiatric disorders were associated with higher BRIEF-A scores (p < 0.03). Conclusions: Adults operated for septal defects in childhood report more challenges with all aspects of the executive functions than controls and more than relatives are aware of.

Story-Telling, Gamification, and Videogames

The educational use of gamification in class has been widely explored by research. Theorizations establish a direct relationship between gamification and higher levels of motivation and engagement of students regardless of their educational levels. When teaching English as a second language, gamification becomes a key factor to provide dynamism to lessons and to foster the consolidation of the content taught in class. Moreover, gamification not only promotes the assimilation of vocabulary and grammar, but also the improvement of oral and written comprehension and production. The extensive use of new technologies in class has proved to be very useful for the implementation of the methodology on gamification. One of the tools that has attracted the attention of educators recently is Classcraft, an online virtual game based on digital storytelling. This chapter aims at explaining and assessing the use of Classcraft as a successful technology-based collaborative learning tool in a course on English as a second language at the university level.

Gamification and Escape Rooms for Learning

Historically, the most widely used methodologies in teaching have been passive ones, where the teacher was limited only to transmitting knowledge to the students, that is, it was a mere passage of information from the teacher to the student. Gamification has been one of the educational methodologies with more relevance in recent years. Relating the use of gamification with problem-based learning, the use of escape room in education arises. In this sense, the escape room emerges as a fundamental tool at the service of teachers, for teaching, and of students for learning. Blunt spears are an emerging and novel tactic that has been shown to favor attitudes and student learning in different areas of knowledge and educational levels. Given its importance, an intervention in primary education is proposed whose main axis is the escape room.

Development of a Psychological Game Questionnaire

A research study is described, conducted in Taiwan with 615 subjects across different ages, educational levels and occupations, to develop a questionnaire that will measure three components of psychological games: hidden messages or ulterior transactions, role switches on the drama triangle, and repressed emotions. A literature review is included and the development of the questionnaire through a pre-test option with 226 subjects is described. The results of statistical analyses are described and the final questionnaire, in English and in Chinese, is included as appendices.

Substantiation of the perspectivity of improving of the population informing about the criteria of the correct choice of modern multivitamin drugs

The aim. Determination of the need to raise awareness of the population about multivitamins and the criteria for their rational choice. Materials and research methods. To achieve the goal of the study, it was necessary to develop a questionnaire for visitors to pharmacies and carry out an anonymous survey of them. All adult visitors of the pharmacy were attracted to the survey. The developed questionnaire consisted of 3 parts and contained 32 questions processed in the course of our own research. Research results. Among the pharmacy visitors we surveyed, the majority were between the ages of 35–55, approximately equally divided were men and women who mainly lived in the Kiev region (87 %), were not students and did not have educational levels of bachelor or master, and had no relation in health care education. Summarizing the information obtained in the course of processing questionnaires with the answers of visitors to pharmacies, it can be noted that in the surveyed group of respondents there is a certain interest and indifference to the discussed aspects, but quite often there is a lack of knowledge in this regard. Conclusions. In the course of analyzing the results of the questionnaire survey, the level of awareness of the population regarding general information about the pharmacology of multivitamin drugs and the criteria for their correct choice was determined. From the data obtained, it can be concluded that on many issues the respondents showed an insufficient level of knowledge, which justifies the need for additional information about multivitamins, and indicates that better it should be done with participation of a specialist with a pharmaceutical education or physician. Mostly the population lacks knowledge on the issues listed in the second part of the questionnaire, namely, on general information about the biological and pharmacological properties of vitamins. It was found that the information obtained from the Internet or other media, including advertising, has a significant impact on the awareness and decision of the respondents

Prevalence of grief disorders in bereaved families of cancer patients: A meta-analysis

Background: Cancer caregiving is a distressing experience and loss of a loved one can lead to intense grief and other adverse effects. However, the prevalence of grief disorders among families associated with cancer-related deaths remains unknown. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of grief disorders among families of patients with cancer to better inform clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. Design: Meta-analysis, PROSPERO number CRD42020209392. Data sources: The databases of CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched with no language restrictions. The quality of included studies was assessed with Hoy’s criteria. Results: Among the 3046 records screened, 19 studies were eligible for meta-analysis, with a total of 14,971 participants. The pooled prevalence rate of grief disorders was estimated at 14.2% (95% CI, 11.7%–16.7%), ranging from 7% to 39%. The prevalence was higher in females (10%; 95% CI, 8.2%–12.1%), those who are religious (9.55%; 95% CI, 8.97%–10.16%), spouses of the deceased (7.78%; 95% CI, 6.08%–9.69%), and families of patients with neurological cancers (6.4%; 95% CI, 0.10%–19.9%). Educational levels, study locations, diagnosis tools, time post-after loss, and study methods seemed not to affect the prevalence of grief disorders in families of patients with cancer. Conclusions: As the prevalence of grief disorders in cancer-related bereavement is substantial, therefore, support including palliative care is important to reduce the burden of caregiving. In addition, future studies are needed to identify and explore effective strategies that can help reduce the burden caused by grief disorders after the death of the patient.

Air dan Dampak Kelangkaannya bagi Perekonomian Masyarakat Urban: Studi Pustaka Pulau Jawa

The purpose of this study is to determine and analyze the effect of water resources on the economy of urban communities in Java and to answer the issue of clean water scarcity in 2040. The results of this study indicate that the issue of water scarcity in Java in 2040 is caused by climate change. population growth, land-use change, and water pollution. The suggestion in accordance with this is that all stakeholders are expected to be aware of and continue to monitor the availability of clean water by providing education and socialization at various professional and educational levels in order to obtain more sustainable use of water.

Learning in Troubled Times: Parents’ Perspectives on Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered profound social consequences, affecting all aspects of human activity, including education. The process of remote teaching that was implemented in response to this crisis is known as emergency remote teaching and learning (ERTL). The present study focuses on Portuguese parents’ perspectives about this process. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire, answered by 203 parents of preschool, basic, and secondary education students (ages 3–18), focusing on self-perceived digital competence, satisfaction with ERTL, and pedagogical activities developed with their children. Parents were moderately satisfied with ERTL but expressed a marked increase in their workload, particularly those working from home. Parents of children in the second cycle of basic education (ages 10–12) were less satisfied with the process. A variety of activities was promoted, responding to different educational levels’ characteristics. Results show the importance of promoting parents’ digital competence and directing support policies, particularly to parents of younger children (ages 3–12), and raise concerns about equity.

Assessing Moral Judgment Maturity Using the Sociomoral Reflection Measure – Short Form Objective

The Sociomoral Reflection Measure – Short Form Objective (SRM-SFO) aims to assess the reasoning and valuing components of moral judgment. A new index for measuring moral reasoning is introduced. The first study assessed construct validity by examining the structure and invariance of moral reasoning and moral value evaluation in community adolescents and adults from The Netherlands ( N = 1,583). Factor analyses supported the unidimensionality of both components. Measurement invariance was found across age groups, gender, and educational levels. Convergent validity was supported by positive relationships between moral reasoning and age in males and between moral reasoning and higher educational levels. Divergent validity was supported by the weak relationship of both components with social desirability and their negative relationship with self-centered orientation and self-reported antisocial/delinquent behavior. The second study included incarcerated juvenile delinquents ( N = 246). Measurement invariance was found for both components across delinquency groups. Furthermore, community participants reporting no antisocial/delinquent behavior showed higher levels on both components than community participants reporting antisocial/delinquent behavior and juvenile delinquents. The SRM-SFO provides acceptable to good psychometric properties for assessing the reasoning and valuing components of moral judgment. Its practical benefits support its use in large-scale research from young adolescence onward.