Shaping the future: perspectives on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in health profession education: a multi-country survey.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming health profession education (HPE) through personalized learning technologies. HPE students must also learn about AI to understand its impact on healthcare delivery. We examined HPE students' AI-related knowledge and attitudes, and perceived challenges in integrating AI in HPE. METHODS: This cross-sectional included medical, nursing, physiotherapy, and clinical nutrition students from four public universities in Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt. Data were collected between February and October 2023 via an online survey that covered five main domains: benefits of AI in healthcare, negative impact on patient trust, negative impact on the future of healthcare professionals, inclusion of AI in HPE curricula, and challenges hindering integration of AI in HPE. RESULTS: Of 642 participants, 66.4% reported low AI knowledge levels. The UAE had the largest proportion of students with low knowledge (72.7%). The majority (54.4%) of participants had learned about AI outside their curriculum, mainly through social media (66%). Overall, 51.2% expressed positive attitudes toward AI, with Egypt showing the largest proportion of positive attitudes (59.1%). Although most participants viewed AI in healthcare positively (91%), significant variations were observed in other domains. The majority (77.6%) supported integrating AI in HPE, especially in Egypt (82.3%). A perceived negative impact of AI on patient trust was expressed by 43.5% of participants, particularly in Egypt (54.7%). Only 18.1% of participants were concerned about the impact of AI on future healthcare professionals, with the largest proportion from Egypt (33.0%). Some participants (34.4%) perceived AI integration as challenging, notably in the UAE (47.6%). Common barriers included lack of expert training (53%), awareness (50%), and interest in AI (41%). CONCLUSION: This study clarified key considerations when integrating AI in HPE. Enhancing students' awareness and fostering innovation in an AI-driven medical landscape are crucial for effectively incorporating AI in HPE curricula.

Empowering Maneuvers: Boldly Mobilizing Military Medical Research and Training within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Safeguard a Nation and its People.

In 2023 Alkhathami and colleagues from the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's transformative upgrades across various sectors, notably including enhancements to the healthcare system, and called for action to extend these upgrades to the military healthcare field. Prompted by this call to action, the leadership of the military healthcare system swiftly commenced initiatives, acting in less than three months from this pivotal appeal. In January 2023 the first author ordered a decree via the General Directorate of Armed Forces Medical Services of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with US central Command and international partners, to host the 3rd International Conference of Military Medicine. The event graciously welcoming more than 1000 military representatives from 20 participating nations. The Military Medical Conference, fostering a global military community dialogue on the necessity to explore collective capacities to endure and overcome humanitarian challenges, thereby sustaining health, promoting well-being, and nurturing life through strategies that align with the insights of Alkhathami et al. (2023). The response and the need underlined by the original article are discussed by the Major General, staff of the Saudi Military Medical Services and academics from the University of Sharjah.

A reflection on the use of virtual nominal group technique in health policy and research priority consensus studies.

BACKGROUND: Nominal group technique (NGT) is widely used in healthcare research to facilitate decision-making and consensus-building. Traditional NGT requires face-to-face interaction and its limitations include potential biases, logistical challenges and high costs. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual methods, which led to the development of virtual nominal group technique (vNGT). Aim To reflect on the use of vNGT, particularly in the context of Ghader et al (2023 ), to understand its effectiveness in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT and on its applicability in pandemic-affected scenarios. METHOD: This paper reviews and discusses literature on the use and effectiveness of NGT compared to other consensus-building methods and examines the emergence of vNGT in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT. The authors also reflect on their use of vNGT in a study to identify cardiovascular research priorities in the UAE and provide details of its implementation. DISCUSSION: vNGT bridges the gap between the localised nature of traditional NGT and the global reach of the Delphi technique. It allows for the inclusion of diverse participants, saves costs and offers time-efficiency. The study demonstrated vNGT's adaptability, with participants engaging in idea generation, discussion and prioritisation using online tools. However, challenges persist with vNGT, including reduced accessibility for certain demographics, timing issues across time zones and technical difficulties. CONCLUSION: vNGT successfully integrates the interactive, consensus-building aspects of NGT with the broad reach of Delphi. It can be valuable in research and decision-making, especially in an era of increased remote collaboration. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: vNGT can significantly impact healthcare research and policy formulation by enabling more inclusive, cost-effective and timely consensus-building processes. However, considerations for accessibility and technical support are crucial for its wider adoption and effectiveness.

Listening to the voices of mothers in Indonesia: Qualitative content analysis of experiences in parenting children with down syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Generally, mothers provide the majority of caring for children who have Down syndrome. They pose challenges not only with regard to the acceptability of the child situation but also with regard to the provision of care for children with DS. AIM: To explore the experiences of mothers parenting children with DS in Indonesia, to give a better understanding of their needs, which is necessary for the delivery of treatment. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative research with content analysis was used. Study participants (15 mothers) were purposively sampled from attendees of a State Special School for students with disabilities. Data was collected via semi-structure interviews and were audio recorded. Participant's statements underwent content analysis, and the principle of trustworthiness was subsequently applied. RESULTS: Five main themes describing participants' experiences were identified: (1) parenting experiences - the impacts, (2) special needs, (3) parenting barriers, (4) parenting facilitators, and (5) mothers' expectations. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings showed that the mothers viewed their situation in both positive and negative ways. Despite the limited sample size in this exploratory study, the results offer new insights into raising a child with DS in a particular cultural setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study offers important information to families and healthcare providers to improve awareness of the disorder and its appropriate management methods. It is important that an exploration of the experiences of mothers will provide healthcare professionals and families with an understanding of the situation. This understanding is essential for the effective management and delivery of treatment.

Salutogenesis: A sense of coherence and health among British military veterans exposed to impactful life challenges - the emergence of post-traumatic growth and positive deviance within a life-story approach.

Background: This study sought to capture the perspectives and experiences of two sub-groups of military veterans, namely those who had previously been identified as offenders and those employed as practitioners within the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom. Methods: The lead author undertook narrative inquiry in the form of life story research. The life stories of 17 in-depth interviews were conducted across England and Wales, allowing for insight into the lived experiences of two life story trajectories of the health of military veterans. Existing literature on salutogenesis, health, post-traumatic growth, and positive deviance has also been investigated. Results: Life story interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed concurrently using thematic analysis to identify emergent themes. The researchers used thematic analysis as an analytical framework to allow descriptive themes from the literature on salutogenesis, health, post-traumatic, and positive deviance to be compared with those of life-story interviews. Conclusion: The study adopts a salutogenic approach, which suggests that an important indicator for a sense of coherence is enabled through the positive utilization of resilience through the reconstruction of military identity and experience. Notably, the concept of salutogenesis demonstrates the ability to draw from internal and external resources as circumstances require, to survive, and because of this, the participants' health is maintained or improved. Hence, adaptation was notable through the coherence identified by the identity of being a veteran noted between the two subgroups and represents a continuous and dynamic process. The study suggests that the development of a sense of coherence is not restricted to the early decades of life but is a continuous process as contexts, personal circumstances, and opportunities arise. This later point is realized through the presence of post-traumatic growth and positive deviance, as they aid in the nurturing and development of a renewed sense of coherence via the known identity of military service and life.

Exploring mental health stigma among Indonesian healthcare students towards individuals with mental illnesses: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The social disapproval or stigma surrounding mental illness contributes to the postponement of individuals seeking assistance and frequently undermines therapeutic alliances between mental illness sufferers and health care professionals. AIMS: This study explored perceptions and attitudes towards individuals with mental illness among college healthcare students in Indonesia. METHODS: This study used a qualitative method. Twenty five students enrolled in six healthcare programs were interviewed using a semi structured format. The data analysis adopted a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Our thematic analysis generated four main themes: (1) general perceptions of mental health and mental illness; (2) knowledge about mental illness; (3) mental health stigma; and (4) mental health stigma campaigns. CONCLUSIONS: The participants exhibited positive perceptions of mentally ill people. Students understood mental health, and they exhibited positive attitudes toward mentally ill people. Some students have stigma and lack of confidence to assist those who have mental illness. Further efforts are required to acquaint students with mental health issues and facilitate their interaction with mentally ill individuals. Anti-stigma campaigns are required to combat the pervasive stigmatization of individuals with mental illness. It is recommended to conduct a more extensive study about the stigma that students encounter in relation to mentally ill individuals.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms in the Young Adult Population of the United Arab Emirates: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a globally prevalent behavioural disorder, remains underdiagnosed, particularly among adults. This issue is exacerbated in the Arab region due to stigma and insufficient healthcare facilities and professionals. Despite the United Arab Emirates (UAE) efforts to improve mental healthcare, shortcomings persist. No studies in the UAE currently assesses the appropriateness of the screening system for ADHD and other behavioural issues. Furthermore, prevalence rates of ADHD, particularly within the young adult population, are absent. AIM: To estimate the prevalence of ADHD amongst young adults attending university in UAE and examine its relationship with gender and academic outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Young adults in their first year at university were recruited from different academic institutions across the UAE. The study utilized the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) for data collection. RESULTS: A sample of 406 young adults, aged between 18 and 20 years of age were recruited. Approximately, 34.7% (n = 141) reported symptoms suggestive of probable ADHD. Significantly lower grade point average marks were observed in participants with ADHD symptoms (M = 3.15) compared to those without (M = 3.35). Females reported symptoms of probable ADHD at higher rates than males, indicating possibly a potential screening deficiency and a potential stigma consequence. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a high prevalence of probable ADHD in young adults, particularly among females attending university in the United Arab Emirates. Implications for early screening, service provision, and greater professional health training on this disorder are required.

The social prescribing of psychosocial interventions in the treatment of addictions and substance use disorders with military veterans: a reclamation of identity and belonging.

Social prescribing is a way of connecting individuals to a source of support within the community to help improve their health and well-being. Social prescribing programmes are being widely promoted within the United Kingdom (UK) and United States as non-pharmaceutical interventions for those living with addiction and substance misuse needs. These needs have been exasperated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic and global economic crisis, with emerging research indicating short-term and long-term detrimental effects on physical and mental health due to substance misuse and addictions. Psychosocial interventions utilize psychological or social factors rather than an overreliance on biological interventions to treat the health impacts of mental illnesses such as addictions and substance use disorder. In this paper, I will discuss the associated determinants of addictions and substance for the military veteran population, as well as how the social prescribing of psychosocial interventions could be used to reaffirm participant's identity and enhance their sense of belonging for military veterans, using a real-world example in Wales, UK.

Horticultural therapy, nutrition and post-traumatic stress disorder in post-military veterans: developing non-pharmaceutical interventions to complement existing therapeutic approaches.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder are becoming a more popular way to address some of the social and personal needs identified by this group. Horticultural therapy or growing and eating food together provides several ways to increase mood, improve nutritional status, reduce loneliness and reduce the physical health impacts of mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder. In this paper we will discuss some of the issues people living with post-traumatic stress disorder might face. We will also provide an overview of the therapeutic effects of these approaches and how they will be applied in a locally identified group.

A narrative inquiry into the resettlement of armed forces personnel in the Arabian Gulf: a model for successful transition and positive mental well-being.

Background: The study sought to explore the lived experiences of individuals having served in the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia, as they made the transition to civilian life and sought new employment opportunities.     Methods: Researchers carried out qualitative research in the form of narrative inquiry. Narratives were collected from eleven in-depth interviews conducted in Saudi Arabia in 2021, allowed for insight into participant experiences. Existing literature on military retirement was also investigated. Results: Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed concurrently using thematic analysis to identify patterns or themes. The researchers adopted thematic synthesis as an analytical framework though which descriptive themes from the literature on military retirement were generated. Overall, this approach allowed for the comparison of themes in literature with those of narrative interviews. Conclusion: The study identified challenges encountered by veterans during the resettlement and transitional phase from military to civilian life. There was a general consensus, however, that military life equips individuals with valuable skills that are transferrable to successful post-military employment, known as Positive Transferable Adaptability for Employability (PTAE), ( Mottershead, 2019), which can greatly empower those making the transition. These findings led the researchers to develop a new model for veteran career paths that meet the contemporary employment needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the REVERE Transition Model, which identifies six career paths.