International survey of faculty teaching undergraduate introductory biomechanics.

Little is known about worldwide biomechanics instructors use of evidence-based teaching and introductory instruction format relative to the COVID-19 pandemic. International biomechanics instructors' perspectives were surveyed on the introductory biomechanics instruction, active learning (AL), instructional quality standards, and instructional formats. Responses (n = 181) from college biomechanics instructors were received, with a majority from kinesiology/sport and exercise science (85%), a doctorate in biomechanics (81%), and a mean teaching experience of nine years. The introductory instructional unit/course was primarily (74%) a lecture/lab delivery. Instruction delivery was usually in-person (85%) that transitioned due to the COVID-19 pandemic as fully online (55%) and hybrid (25%). Most instructors (65%) reported being familiar with standards for quality online instruction and guidelines/standards for biomechanics instructional units (51%). Fewer biomechanics instructors (40%) were familiar with related physics education research. A majority (75%) were familiar with the benefits of AL instruction, with 41% using AL for 30-70% of contact time. These data indicate little change in evidence-based instructor teaching internationally compared to previous studies of North American instructors. Biomechanics instructors had similar perceptions of teaching experience across regions of the world but there were qualitative differences in instructional unit timing in the curriculum, instructional delivery, and use of textbooks.

Empowering Black Scientists in STEM: Early Success of the Black Biomechanists Association.

Black individuals are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In 2016, Black students earned 9% of science and 4% of engineering bachelor's degrees compared to a total of 56% of science and engineering bachelor's degrees earned by White students. Even with similar entering rates, Black students leave STEM majors at 1.4 times the rate of White students. These data reflect the manifestation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) barriers faced by Black students and scientists to successfully navigate higher education and pursue careers in STEM fields. There remains a critical need to develop better ways to recruit, retain, train, and graduate Black students in STEM, especially within predominantly White institutions. Biomechanics is a growing interdisciplinary and translational STEM field where DEI barriers persist. Thus, the Black Biomechanists Association (BBA) was founded in 2020 with intentions to reduce these barriers and give much needed support to Black students and biomechanists in STEM spaces. The organization's mission is to uplift and enrich Black biomechanists in their academic and professional careers. Our objectives to achieve this mission provide a supportive environment and resources to address the challenges, needs, and interests of Black biomechanists, as well as aid in the biomechanics community's efforts to achieve DEI. In two short years, BBA has developed a needs-based mentoring program, hosted professional development and culturally-competent mentoring workshops, and produced communications to educate the biomechanics community and broader audience on culturally-relevant topics that impact Black biomechanists. The purpose of this article is to share the work and impact of BBA to date.

Biomechanics without Borders: Teaching Biomechanics in Brazil and South Africa.

The "Biomechanics without Borders: Teaching Biomechanics in Brazil and South Africa" involved academics from different countries combining efforts to improve remote education. In addition to the live discussions, the event resulted in the availability of online content to help academic staffs improve teaching strategies in the field of human movement sciences.

Relationship between parent mood and resilience and child health outcomes in pediatric asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is the most common pediatric chronic disease and disproportionately affects urban, minority, and disadvantaged youth. This study explored the relationship between parent and child psychosocial functioning and asthma-related health outcomes in a sample of at-risk children with asthma. We hypothesized that greater parent resilience would be associated with better parent mood, more symptom-free days (SFDs), better child mood, and less child anxiety. Further, we hypothesized that parent resilience would moderate the relationship between parent mood and SFDs. METHOD: We performed a secondary analysis of baseline cross-sectional enrollment data. Parents of African American children on Medicaid with persistent asthma reported their children's asthma SFDs and their own measures of parent quality of life, mood, and resilience, and child mood and anxiety. RESULTS: Baseline data from 217 parents (92.2% female, Mage = 33.8 years ± 9.5) of children (Mage = 6.6 years ± 2.3) were available. Parent resilience was significantly associated with parent mood. Better parent-reported quality of life (QOL) and mood were significantly associated with more child asthma SFDs. In contrast to our hypothesis, parent resilience did not moderate the relationship between parent mood and SFDs. DISCUSSION: Higher parent-reported QOL and mood were significantly associated with better parent report of child asthma SFDs. Although parent resilience was associated with parent mood, it did not moderate the relationship to child SFDs. Future research is warranted to better understand the unique contribution of resilience in families with children with asthma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Are changes in running economy associated with changes in performance in runners? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Improvements in running economy (RE) are thought to lead to improvements in running performance (P). Multiple interventions have been designed with the aim of improving RE in middle and long-distance runners. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of interventions of at least 2-weeks' duration on RE and P and to determine whether there is a relationship between changes in RE (ΔRE) and changes in running performance (ΔP). A database search was carried out in Web of Science, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. In accordance with a PRISMA checklist 10 studies reporting 12 comparisons between interventions and controls were included in the review. There was no correlation between percentage ΔRE and percentage ΔP (r = 0.46, P = 0.936, 12 comparisons). There was a low risk of reporting bias but an unclear risk of bias for other items. Meta-analyses found no statistically significant differences between interventions and controls for RE (SMD (95% CI) = -0.37 (-1.43, 0.69), 204 participants, p = 0.49) or for P (SMD (95% CI) = -0.65 (-26.02, 24.72, 204 participants, p = 0.99). There is a need for studies of greater statistical power, methodological quality, duration and homogeneity of intervention and population. Standardised measures of performance and greater control over non-intervention training are also required.

Barriers to implementing the Sepsis Six guidelines in an acute hospital setting.

AIM: To identify the barriers to implementation of the Sepsis Six pathway. BACKGROUND: Research has suggested that compliance with the Sepsis Six pathway remains low. METHODS: A convenience sample of doctors and nurses from one emergency department, two medical wards and two surgical wards were asked to complete a survey questionnaire. RESULTS: Data from 108 respondents were available for analysis. Doctors and nurses agreed that lack of sepsis recognition during observation rounds and failure to associate sepsis with deranged temperature and blood results acted as barriers to the identification of sepsis. Doctors and nurses agreed that nursing delays and knowledge deficits were the top barriers leading to delay in sepsis treatment. CONCLUSION: Knowledge deficits, lack of resources and practical issues were barriers identified in this survey. This will inform the educational and process needs of both doctors and nurses in order to improve sepsis care.

Considering Culture: A Review of Pediatric Behavioral Intervention Research in Type 1 Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence in youth is growing across all racial/ethnic backgrounds, with the most marked increase in African-American youth under 5. Underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities are at an increased risk for health complications. This review focuses on the reported disparities, demographics of samples in behavioral interventions, and study design considerations. RECENT FINDINGS: Recruitment data from two ongoing behavioral intervention trials for young children with T1D are presented to compare enrolled/non-enrolled individuals and to discuss culturally appropriate study design considerations. Data were compared to the demographics of children (ages 1-6) with T1D in the clinic populations from the recruitment sites. Enrolling a representative sample and designing culturally appropriate behavioral interventions are important for generalizability, yet there is a gap between the individuals participating in T1D research and those who are most negatively affected by T1D. Suggestions are offered for ways to expand inclusion of diverse samples in behavioral intervention research in T1D.

Utility values associated with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: data needs for economic modeling.

INTRODUCTION: Cost-effectiveness analyses often inform healthcare reimbursement decisions. The preferred measure of effectiveness is the quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained, where the quality of life adjustment is measured in terms of utility. Areas covered: We assessed the availability and variation of utility values for health states associated with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to identify values appropriate for cost-effectiveness models assessing alternative treatments. Our systematic search of six electronic databases (January 2000 to August 2015) found the current literature to be sparse in terms of utility values associated with NSCLC, identifying 27 studies. Utility values were most frequently reported over time and by treatment type, and less frequently by disease response, stage of disease, adverse events or disease comorbidities. Expert commentary: In response to rising healthcare costs, payers increasingly consider the cost-effectiveness of novel treatments in reimbursement decisions, especially in oncology. As the number of therapies available to treat NSCLC increases, cost-effectiveness analyses will play a key role in reimbursement decisions in this area. Quantifying the relationship between health and quality of life for NSCLC patients via utility values is an important component of assessing the cost effectiveness of novel treatments.

Soccer-specific endurance and running economy in soccer players with cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study was to describe running economy, soccer specific endurance, and selected kinematic running criteria in soccer players with cerebral palsy (SPCP) and to compare them with values of position-matched players without CP. Fourteen international, male soccer players with cerebral palsy completed the "Yo-Yo" intermittent recovery run level 1 (IRL-1) test to assess soccer-specific endurance and a submaximal running test on a treadmill to determine running economy. The mean IRL-1 distance covered by the SPCP of the Irish CP team was found to be 43-50% below the mean distance attained by position-matched soccer players without disability, while running economy was found to be within the range of that reported for able-bodied athletes. No relationship could be found between the level of CP-ISRA classification and soccer-specific endurance or running economy in this group of elite level SPCP. Though small in number, these data support a further examination of the relationship between CP classification and sport-specific performance.