The Psychosocial Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19 Are Only Partially Explained by Increased Physical Activity

The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical activity (PA) increases were responsible for the improvements in mental health and quality of life (QOL) seen among adolescents who returned to sport during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescent athletes were asked to complete a survey in October 2020 regarding demographic information, whether they had returned to sport participation (no [DNP], yes [PLY]), school instruction type (virtual, in-person, hybrid), anxiety, depression, QOL, and PA. Anxiety, depression, QOL and PA were compared between PLY and DNP using least squares means from linear models adjusted for age, gender, and instruction type. Mediation analysis assessed whether the relationship between sport status and anxiety, depression, and QOL was mediated by PA. 171 athletes had returned to play, while 388 had not. PLY athletes had significantly lower anxiety (3.6 +/- 0.4 v 8.2 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001) and depression (4.2 +/- 0.4 v 7.3 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001), and significantly higher QOL (88.1 +/- 1.0 v 80.2 +/- 1.4, p < 0.001) and PA (24.0 +/- 0.5 v 16.3 +/- 0.7, p < 0.001). PA explained a significant, but relatively small portion of the difference in depression (22.1%, p = 0.02) and QOL (16.0%, p = 0.048) between PLY and DNP athletes, but did not explain the difference in anxiety (6.6%, p = 0.20). Increased PA is only responsible for a small portion of the improvements in depression and QOL among athletes who returned to sports and unrelated to improvements in anxiety. This suggests that the majority of the mental health benefits of sport participation for adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic are independent of, and in addition to, the benefits of increased PA.

Psycho-Social Benefits of an Afterschool Program in Romania: Qualitative Analysis of Parental Perceptions

This study investigates in a qualitative manner the psychosocial benefits perceived by the parents of children enrolled in a private Aftershool (AS) program in Romania. The theoretical background includes aspects of school-family-community collaboration and characteristics and legislative frames supporting Afterschool programs in Romania and in the EU space. By using an online focus group approach, the objective was to identify the dimensions of the children-related benefits of the Afterschool program perceived by the parents (6 participants) at social, emotional and cognitive levels, as well as to identify their needs and suggestions regarding the compassion-based educational activities that the AS program might offer to their children. The results indicate a general satisfaction with the AS program, as well as the readiness of the parents to get involved in activities oriented towards community together with their children and the personnel of the AS program.

Flow. A Socially Responsible 3D Printed One-Handed Recorder

The recorder is one of the most common instruments used during primary school in the formal education system in the EU. However, there are a percentage of students with only one functional hand. The existing one-handed recorders available for them to be able to play and perform in the same way as their peers are expensive and difficult to use. This study’s purpose is to document the development of Flow—a low cost one-handed recorder as well as the user’s assessment of the psychosocial benefits of the recorder. The methods used for fabrication were 3D modelling and additive manufacturing (AM) technology or 3D printing using the technique of stereolithography, and for the assessment of the product, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) questionnaire was distributed to 20 primary school users. The results show that the use of resins and Stereolithography is appropriate for wind instruments providing quality and strength at a fair price. Flow also proved to have a positive impact on the users and their inclusion in school. The main conclusions of this study underscore the adequacy of using AM for adaptations required for people with disabilities and the positive psychosocial benefits generated by the use of Flow in children.

Reconstruction of extensive sequel of frontal fracture: optimizing results

Introduction: Fractures of the frontal bone correspond to 5 to 15% of all facial fractures. This type of fracture can lead to difficulties in restoring bone congruence and to postoperative secondary aesthetic problems. Objective: This paper aims to present a clinical case report of frontal bone fracture where a late reconstruction was performed using a titanium mesh with the aid of stereolithographic model prototyping. Case report: Female patient, 26 years old, with aesthetic sequelae in the upper third of the face after a motorcycle accident. The imaging exams showed a comminuted frontal bone fracture, as well as upper edge and right orbit ceiling involvement. The planning consisted of reconstruction of the affected area with the use of a titanium mesh pre-shaped in a stereolithographic model. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia and coronal access. After installation of the fixation material, pericranial flap rotation and suture of the surgical wound were performed. The patient progressed well, with considerable improvement in facial aesthetics. Conclusion: This paper reports the importance of good planning in cases of frontal bone fracture sequel, in which the use of model-shaped mesh in a stereolithographic model tends to optimize surgery, bringing aesthetic and psychosocial benefits. Keywords Frontal bone; Titanium; Craniocerebral trauma.

Nurse perspectives on the psychosocial care of patients with urinary incontinence in home hospice: A qualitative study

Background: Urinary incontinence is prevalent among patients receiving home hospice and presents multiple care management challenges for nurses and family caregivers. Aim: This study sought to understand how urinary incontinence influences the psychosocial care of patients receiving home hospice and the strategies that nurses employ to maximize patient and family comfort. Design: Qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews. Setting/participants: Nurses employed at a large not-for-profit hospice agency in New York City. Results: Analyses of 32 interviews revealed three primary themes. First, nurses considered urinary incontinence to be associated with multiple psychosocial issues including embarrassment for patients and caregiver burden. Second, nurses described urinary incontinence as a threat to patient dignity and took steps to preserve their continence function. Third, nurses assisted patients and their families to cope with urinary incontinence through normalization, reframing incontinence as part of the disease process, mobilizing caregiving assistance, and encouraging use of continence supplies such as diapers and liners. Conclusion: Urinary incontinence influences the psychosocial care of patients receiving home hospice and nurses employ strategies to maximize patient and family comfort. Additional research is needed to examine the psychosocial benefits of facilitated discussions with patients and family members about incontinence, provision of caregiving support, and distribution of comprehensive incontinence supplies to patients with fewer resources.

Choral singing and personal well-being: A Choral Activity Perceived Benefits Scale (CAPBES)

Numerous studies have demonstrated the capacity of choral singing to improve human well-being and that, in certain sectors of society (including older adults, prison populations, underprivileged social groups, and mentally illness groups), choral singing bears several benefits. Thus, this descriptive study proposed a comprehensive structural model of the dimensions that comprise choral singing’s contribution to individual well-being and aimed to explain these benefits. The study was conducted in a non-random sample of 1,513 adult Spanish singers of both sexes and variable age. An instrument was developed to assess the psychosocial benefits of choral singing, as perceived by singers; it comprised five constituent dimensions: satisfaction, ability, group engagement, belonging, and optimism. The instrument enabled us to assess how choral singing contributed to well-being, with adequate reliability (Cronbach’s α = .917) and validity. The system of relationships proposed by the model represents a plausible explanation regarding the benefits of choral practice and singing for well-being.

Development of priorities for a Canadian strategy to advance activity-based therapies after spinal cord injury

Study Design Participatory design. Objectives Activity-based therapies (ABT) have physical and psychosocial benefits for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A Canadian ABT summit was held to: (1) identify methods used in stroke rehabilitation that may be appropriate for SCI; (2) understand the current state of ABT activities in Canada; and (3) identify priorities for ABT research and care for the next five years. Setting Stakeholder-engaged meeting at a tertiary rehabilitation hospital. Methods Thirty-nine stakeholders, including individuals with SCI, frontline clinicians, healthcare administrators, researchers, funders and health policy experts, attended. Two participants were note-takers. Priority identification occurred through input from stakeholder groups, followed by individual voting. Conventional content analysis was used to synthesize the information in the meeting notes. Results The strengths of ABT in stroke rehabilitation included clear and clinically feasible definitions, measurements and interventions, and recognized requirements for implementation (e.g. behavior change, partnerships). Knowledge gaps concerning ABT activities in Canada were identified for acute and community settings, non-traumatic populations, and the interventions, equipment and standardized measures (i.e. upper limb, activity levels) used. Five priorities for ABT across the continuum of care were identified: (1) Identify current ABT activities; (2) Create a network to facilitate dialog; (3) Track engagement in ABT activities; (4) Develop and implement best practice recommendations; and (5) Study optimal timing, methods, and dose of ABT. Working groups were formed to address priorities 1–3. Conclusions The priorities will guide SCI research and care activities in Canada over the next five years. Sponsorship Praxis Spinal Cord Institute.

The Emerging STEM Paths and Science Identities of Hispanic/Latinx College Students: Examining the Impact of Multiple Undergraduate Research Experiences

In addition to professional and psychosocial benefits, having the opportunity to spend multiple summers in research at institutions away from home helped to strengthen Hispanic/Latinx students’ comfort levels with being away from their families and helped them recognize the broad range of graduate school opportunities available to them.