Barriers and facilitators to implementation of an exercise and education programme for osteoarthritis: a qualitative study using the consolidated framework for implementation research.

Targeted efforts to better understand the barriers and facilitators of stakeholders and healthcare settings to implementation of exercise and education self-management programmes for osteoarthritis (OA) are needed. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D), a supervised group guideline-based OA programme, across Irish public and private healthcare settings. Interviews with 10 physiotherapists (PTs; 8 public) and 9 people with hip and knee OA (PwOA; 4 public) were coded by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs in a case memo (summary, rationale, quotes). The strong positive/negative implementation determinants were identified collaboratively by rating the valence and strength of CFIR constructs on implementation. Across public and private settings, PTs and PwOA strongly perceived GLA:D Ireland as evidence-based, with easily accessible education and modifiable marketing/training materials that meet participants' needs, improve skills/confidence and address exercise beliefs/expectations. Despite difficulties in scheduling sessions (e.g., work/caring responsibilities), PTs in public and private settings perceived advantages to implementation over current clinical practice (e.g., shortens waiting lists). Only PTs in public settings reported limited availability of internal/external funding, inappropriate space, marketing/training tools, and inadequate staffing. Across public and private settings, PwOA reported adaptability, appropriate space/equipment and coaching/supervision, autonomy, and social support as facilitators. Flexible training and tailored education for stakeholders and healthcare settings on guideline-based OA management may promote implementation. Additional support on organising (e.g., scheduling clinical time), planning (e.g., securing appropriate space, marketing/training tools), and funding (e.g., accessing dedicated internal/external grants) may strengthen implementation across public settings.

Co-design and mixed methods evaluation of an interdisciplinary digital resource for undergraduate health profession students to improve the prevention, recognition, and management of delirium in Ireland: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common symptom of acute illness which is potentially avoidable with early recognition and intervention. Despite being a growing concern globally, delirium remains underdiagnosed and poorly reported, with limited understanding of effective delirium education for undergraduate health profession students. Digital resources could be an effective approach to improving professional knowledge of delirium, but studies utilising these with more than one profession are limited, and no evidence-based, interdisciplinary, digital delirium education resources are reported. This study aims to co-design and evaluate a digital resource for undergraduate health profession students across the island of Ireland to improve their ability to prevent, recognise, and manage delirium alongside interdisciplinary colleagues. METHODS: Utilising a logic model, three workstreams have been identified. Workstream 1 will comprise three phases: (1) a systematic review identifying the format, methods, and content of existing digital delirium education interventions for health profession students, and their effect on knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioural change; (2) focus groups with health profession students to determine awareness and experiences of delirium care; and (3) a Delphi survey informed by findings from the systematic review, focus groups, and input from the research team and expert reference group to identify resource priorities. Workstream 2 will involve the co-design of the digital resource through workshops (n = 4) with key stakeholders, including health profession students, professionals, and individuals with lived experience of delirium. Lastly, Workstream 3 will involve a mixed methods evaluation of the digital resource. Outcomes include changes to delirium knowledge and self-efficacy towards delirium care, and health profession students experience of using the resource. DISCUSSION: Given the dearth of interdisciplinary educational resources on delirium for health profession students, a co-designed, interprofessional, digital education resource will be well-positioned to shape undergraduate delirium education. This research may enhance delirium education and the self-efficacy of future health professionals in providing delirium care, thereby improving practice and patients' experiences and outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Student nurses' views of participating in an intergenerational café with older people.

BACKGROUND: Within the context of global ageing, older people will require health care during times in their later lives. As most nurses will care for older people across a variety of care settings, it is crucial that older people and nurses can work together in partnership. In preparation for this, it is important to develop intergenerational learning innovations for student nurses and older people. An online intergenerational discussion café was developed to provide an opportunity for older people and student nurses to meet and get to know each other. OBJECTIVES: 1) Evaluate the effectiveness of an intergenerational discussion café as a way of facilitating intergenerational learning, 2) Elicit participants' views on whether intergenerational learning had occurred. DESIGN: Ethically approved survey research. SETTINGS: Tertiary education institution. PARTICIPANTS: Third year student nurses (n = 50) across three BSc Nursing pre-registration degree programmes enrolled on a shared community care module. METHODS: Post-café, student nurses were invited via email to voluntarily participate in the research and to complete an anonymous online survey. Questionnaire return implied consent. Fifty student nurses (n = 50) participated in the post café survey. Descriptive statistical analysis of Likert scale quantitative data and thematic analysis of open-ended questions was undertaken. RESULTS: Participants reported that the intergenerational cafés were well organised, worked well and strongly agreed that the cafés were helpful in facilitating student nurses and older people to connect socially and share views. Results also showed that participants felt they got to know a lot about older people and that they were in many ways quite similar to older people. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable information on the use of intergenerational cafés as a means of facilitating intergenerational learning. Findings indicate that it was a positive learning experience for participants.

Clinical effectiveness of vaginal pessary self-management vs clinic-based care for pelvic organ prolapse (TOPSY): a randomised controlled superiority trial.

Background: Prolapse affects 30-40% of women. Those using a pessary for prolapse usually receive care as an outpatient. This trial determined effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pessary self-management (SM) vs clinic-based care (CBC) in relation to condition-specific quality of life (QoL). Methods: Parallel-group, superiority randomised controlled trial, recruiting from 16 May 2018 to 7 February 2020, with follow-up to 17 September 2021. Women attending pessary clinics, ≥18 years, using a pessary (except Shelf, Gellhorn or Cube), with pessary retained ≥2 weeks were eligible. Limited manual dexterity; cognitive deficit; pregnancy; or requirement for non-English teaching were exclusions. SM group received a 30-min teaching session; information leaflet; 2-week follow-up call; and telephone support. CBC group received usual routine appointments. The primary clinical outcome was pelvic floor-specific QoL (PFIQ-7), and incremental net monetary benefit for cost-effectiveness, 18 months post-randomisation. Group allocation was by remote web-based application, minimised on age, user type (new/existing) and centre. Participants, intervention deliverers, researchers and the statistician were not blinded. The primary analysis was intention-to-treat based. Trial registration: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN62510577. Findings: The requisite 340 women were randomised (169 SM, 171 CBC) across 21 centres. There was not a statistically significant difference between groups in PFIQ-7 at 18 months (mean SM 32.3 vs CBC 32.5, adjusted mean difference SM-CBC -0.03, 95% CI -9.32 to 9.25). SM was less costly than CBC. The incremental net benefit of SM was £564 (SE £581, 95% CI -£576 to £1704). A lower percentage of pessary complications was reported in the SM group (mean SM 16.7% vs CBC 22.0%, adjusted mean difference -3.83%, 95% CI -6.86% to -0.81%). There was no meaningful difference in general self-efficacy. Self-managing women were more confident in self-management activities. There were no reported suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions, and 31 unrelated serious adverse events (17 SM, 14 CBC). Interpretation: Pessary self-management is cost-effective, does not improve or worsen QoL compared to CBC, and has a lower complication rate. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Health Technology Assessment Programme (16/82/01).

A scoping review on the psychosocial interventions used in day care service for people living with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Adult Day care centres provide an important aspect of care provision through all phases of the dementia illness from diagnosis to the end of life (Dabelko HI 2008) supporting the well-being of both older people living with dementia and their care partners. Services within adult day care settings are designed to provide biopsychosocial health benefits to participants as well as care partner respite. OBJECTIVE: To examine research studies, literature reviews and grey literature and identify and map the literature on psychosocial interventions used in day care services for older people living with dementia and chart their use, evaluation and outcomes. The research review question is "what are the psychosocial interventions used in day care service for older people living with dementia?" Psychosocial interventions are important non-pharmacological interventions which support people's wellbeing. METHODS: Inclusion/Exclusion criteria were identified and guided the search strategy. Participants were people aged 60 years and over living with dementia attending day care services. The use of psychosocial interventions for this cohort was the focus of the review. Databases were searched (Cochrane Reviews, CINAHL, Embase, Medline EBSCO, Medline Ovid, Medline PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Open Grey, Lenus and WHO Global Index Medicus databases) using keywords/terms with Boolean operators from 2011 to 2023. Rayyan was used to extract and manage the data. RESULTS: The findings present a narrative and charting of the data from the 45 papers that met the review criteria, and this data is mapped onto the five objectives. Within this review, interventions were grouped into five broad types: nature (n = 6 papers), memory/cognitive (n = 11 papers), social (n = 17 papers), animal (n = 4 papers), or physical/sensory (n = 7 papers) based interventions. CONCLUSIONS: This review has illustrated the wide variety in the types, range and facilitation of psychosocial interventions within adult day care services. This review highlights the potential benefits of these interventions. However, findings must be considered in the context that many were provided as brief intervention studies with little evidence of continuation after the study and further research is required given the complex and diverse range of interventions. Results will be of interest to practitioners planning to implement or evaluate psychosocial interventions used in day care services for older people living with dementia.

Facilitating intergenerational learning between older people and student nurses: An integrative review.

AIM: To examine the literature on intergenerational learning between older people and student nurses. BACKGROUND: Intergenerational activities offer opportunities for intergenerational learning and help reduce ageism. There are several older person/school children intergenerational learning initiatives. However, there is less known about how intergenerational learning occurs in nurse education programmes outside of service provision. METHODS: Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) integrative review framework was used to guide the review process. Population, intervention, context and outcome (PICO) was used to develop the review question, search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Database (CINAHL, Cochrane library, Medline, PubMed, Scopus and PsychInfo) searches and hand searching occurred from 2012 to 2023. Screening, appraisal and data extraction was undertaken according to Prisma guidelines. RESULTS: Nine papers were included (North American (n = 5), Canadian (n = 1) Chinese (n = 2), Taiwanese (n = 1)). Mixed methods designs were included. Four themes were identified: 1) Seeing beyond first glance; 2) Connecting and getting to know each other; 3) Learning together; and 4) Challenges for intergenerational learning. CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates the relevance of intergenerational learning in nurse education and highlights the importance of embedding initiatives which will promote and support mutual learning. Innovative intergenerational initiatives enable students to explore their underlying attitudes and views in a way that they may not be able to in the more traditional service and care giving learning situations.

An Innovative Well-Child Video Project to Teach Developmental Surveillance and Anticipatory Guidance.

BACKGROUND: Learning to implement developmental surveillance and anticipatory guidance are critical components of clinical nursing education. METHOD: The purpose of the Well-Child Video Project was to provide nursing students opportunities to develop confidence in providing early childhood health supervision. The faculty team curated more than 100 video clips of children age 0 to 6 years demonstrating key developmental milestones. Nurse practitioner students (N = 33) enrolled in an online course participated in a collaborative learning activity and completed pre- and post-assignment surveys assessing their level of confidence and evaluating their engagement. RESULTS: Students reported increased confidence in their ability to perform developmental surveillance and deliver anticipatory guidance following the clinical learning activity. Students (93.75%) agreed that the video strategy enhanced their learning. CONCLUSION: The Well-Child Video Project served as a cost-effective, easily accessible, user-friendly digital resource for designing innovative learning activities to increase student engagement in practicing developmental surveillance and anticipatory guidance. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(7):412-415.].

Investigating the hydration of C3A in the presence of the potentially toxic element chromium-a route to remediation?

Pollution by hexavalent chromium is a growing, global problem. Its presence in public water systems is often the result of industrial activities, both past and present. In this study, tricalcium aluminate (C3A, Ca3Al2O6) is added to solutions of varying concentrations of potassium chromate (K2CrO4) and samples of both the solid and liquid are taken at various time intervals to monitor the removal of chromium from the solutions. Solution concentrations of 0.2 M, 0.1 M, 0.02 M, and 0.01 M are used, and the chromium concentration is found to reduce in all cases. For the 0.02 M solution the chromium concentration is reduced from 1040 ppm to 3.1 ppm in 1 week, and the chromium concentration of the 0.01 M solution is reduced from 520 ppm to 0.26 ppm in only one day of reaction with the C3A. The chromium removed from solution is identified in the solid products, which were fully characterised as being a mixture of ettringite (Ca6[Al(OH)6]2(CrO4)3·26H2O) and monochromate (Ca4[Al(OH)6]2CrO4·8H2O) phases from analysis of Powder X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy data. The work presented here is a proof of concept study to investigate C3A as a potential material for the removal of hexavalent chromium from solution. The results from this study are initial steps towards development of this as a technology for hexavalent chromium remediation.

Theoretical and practical development of the TOPSY self-management intervention for women who use a vaginal pessary for pelvic organ prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition in women, where the downward descent of pelvic organs into the vagina causes symptoms which impacts quality of life. Vaginal pessaries offer an effective alternative to surgery for the management of POP. However, the need for regular follow-up can be burdensome for women and requires significant healthcare resources. The TOPSY study is a randomised controlled trial which aims to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of self-management of vaginal pessaries. This paper describes the theoretical and practical development of the self-management intervention. METHODS: The intervention was developed using the MRC complex intervention framework, normalisation process theory (NPT) and self-management theory. The intervention aims to boost perceived self-efficacy in accordance with Bandura's social cognitive theory and is guided by the tasks and skills Lorig and Hollman describe as necessary to self-manage a health condition. RESULTS: The TOPSY intervention was designed to support women to undertake the medical management, role management and emotional management of their pessary. The six self-management skills described by Lorig and Hollman: problem-solving, decision-making, resource utilisation, formation of a patient-provider partnership role, action planning and self-tailoring, are discussed in detail, including how women were supported to achieve each task within the context of pessary self-management. The TOPSY intervention includes a self-management support session with a pessary practitioner trained in intervention delivery, a follow-up phone call 2 weeks later and ongoing telephone or face-to-face support as required by the woman initiated by contacting a member of the research team. CONCLUSIONS: The TOPSY study intervention was developed utilising the findings from a prior service development project, intervention development and self-efficacy theory, relevant literature, clinician experience and feedback from pessary using women and members of the public. In 2022, the findings of the TOPSY study will provide further evidence to inform this important aspect of pessary management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN62510577 . Registered on June 10, 2017.

Transatlantic Collaborations: Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Experiences of Participating in a Semester-Long Study Abroad Program.

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe students' experiences during a 15-week semester involving clinical placement in an Irish university. BACKGROUND: Internationalization is promoted and facilitated through study abroad initiatives within nurse education. Collaborations were developed between one university in the United States, an Irish university, and service partners. This study abroad initiative involved planning logistics, curriculum learning opportunities, and negotiating clinical placement in meeting state professional requirements. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Following ethical approval, 19 fourth-year students participated in focus group and individual semistructured interviews. Data analysis followed a thematic approach. RESULTS: Connecting our worlds details a process of acclimatizing, navigating learning, and using person-centered practices, illustrating meaningful learning in a journey of personal and professional development. CONCLUSION: Moving beyond the rhetoric of globalization is critical in future proofing initiatives in developing nursing practitioners while balancing potential safety risks in a post-COVID-19 era.

Composition of PAHs in Biochar and Implications for Biochar Production.

The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biochar has been studied extensively; however, the links between biomass feedstock, production process parameters, and the speciation of PAHs in biochar are understudied. Such an understanding is crucial, as the health effects of individual PAHs vary greatly. Naphthalene (NAP) is the least toxic of the 16 US EPA PAHs but comprises the highest proportion of PAHs in biochar. Therefore, we investigate which parameters favor high levels of non-NAP PAHs (∑16 US EPA PAHs without NAP) in a set of 73 biochars. On average, the content of non-NAP PAHs was 9 ± 29 mg kg-1 (median 0.9 mg kg-1). Importantly, during the production of the biochars with the highest non-NAP PAH contents, the conditions in the post-pyrolysis area, where pyrolysis vapors and biochar are separated, favored condensation and deposition of PAHs on biochar. Under these conditions, NAP condensed to a lower degree because of its high vapor pressure. In biochars not contaminated through this process, the average non-NAP content was only 2 ± 3 mg kg-1 (median 0.5 mg kg-1). Uneven heat distribution and vapor trapping during pyrolysis and cool zones in the post-pyrolysis area need to be avoided. This demonstrates that the most important factor yielding high contents of toxic PAHs in biochar was neither a specific pyrolysis parameter nor the feedstock but the pyrolysis unit design, which can be modified to produce clean and safe biochar.

Navigating Professional and Personal Knowing Through Reflective Storytelling Amidst Covid-19.

The paper offers space for dialogue illustrating reflection as lived, exploring both my personal and professional experiences of grief and loss surrounding the death of my Dad from Covid -19. In my role as a nurse educator, I share understandings of reflection in facilitating learning and person centered practices with students. I illustrate my approach with two stories generating a narrative giving testimony to those who have died and highlighting the ensuing grief for those who have cared for older people during the pandemic. The first reflective story has been shared with students and snapshots of student responses during virtual sessions are incorporated. The second story shifts to a more personal focus reflecting personal knowing. Insights emerge bringing forth personal and professional knowing, about the art and science of holistic nursing. I explore the challenges in separating ourselves from personal knowledge and experience in reflective writing. I invite readers to take time to pause amidst a global healthcare pandemic to consider the potential of reflection to support nurses in recovering from suffering experienced during a pandemic.

Efficacy of a language-concordant health coaching intervention for latinx with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of a language-concordant health coaching intervention for Spanish-speaking patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) on glycemic control, anxiety, depression, and diabetes self-efficacy. METHODS: 64 patients with T2D were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. Outcomes were assessed by blood work and surveys pre and post intervention. RESULTS: The mean sample age was 47.8 years (SD=11.3) and 81% were female. HbA1c was not significantly different between groups at baseline. The intervention group's HbA1c was significantly lower at times 2 and 3 than in the control arm (p < .01 and p < .001). There were significant reductions in the intervention group's mean HbA1c levels from baseline 10.37 to midpoint 9.20, p < .001; and from baseline 10.42 to study end 8.14, p < .001. Depression and anxiety scores significantly decreased (p < .05 and p < .001), and diabetes self-efficacy significantly increased (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Health coaching led to statistically significant and clinically meaningful decreases in HbA1c, depression, and anxiety scores among LEP Latinx adults with uncontrolled T2D. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Heath coaching can be conducted in primary care clinics by nurses or advanced practice nurses. The short-term intervention tested here could be adapted to the clinical setting.

Locating hydrogen positions in the autunite mineral metatorbernite [Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O]: a combined approach using neutron powder diffraction and computational modelling.

Metatorbernite [Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O] is a promising remediation material for environmental uranium contamination. Previous X-ray diffraction studies have been unable to definitively locate hydrogen positions within metatorbernite, which are key to determining the hydrogen-bond network that helps to stabilize the structure. Here, hydrogen positions have been determined using a combination of neutron powder diffraction and the computational modelling technique ab initio random structure searching (AIRSS). Atomic coordinates determined through Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data are in excellent agreement with the minimum energy configuration predicted by AIRSS; thus, simulations confirm that our proposed model likely represents the global minimum configuration. Two groups of water molecules exist within the metatorbernite structure: free water and copper-coordinating water. Free water molecules are held within the structure by hydrogen bonding only, whilst the coordinating water molecules bond to copper in the equatorial positions to produce a 4 + 2 Jahn-Teller octahedra. The successful agreement between neutron powder diffraction data and AIRSS suggests that this combined approach has excellent potential for the study of other (trans)uranium materials in which hydrogen bonding plays a key role in phase stability.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Language Concordant Health Coaching Intervention Delivered by Nurses for Latinx With Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Latinx immigrants have high rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D), exhibit out-of-range glycemic control, and have higher rates of diabetes-related complications than non-Latinx whites, with limited English proficiency (LEP) being a major barrier to care. AIMS: We tested the feasibility and acceptability of a language concordant (provider that is proficient in the patient's preferred language) health coaching intervention delivered by nurse and nurse practitioner students in a pilot study of Latinx immigrants with T2D and LEP. METHODS: A sample of 17 Latinx immigrants with T2D and LEP were split into intervention and control groups. The control group received basic diabetes care and written educational materials on diabetes self-management in Spanish. Individuals in the intervention group received the standard diabetes care offered by the clinic and six biweekly health coaching sessions (intervention) with a trained language concordant health coach. RESULTS: The language concordant health coaching intervention was both feasible (delivery) and acceptable (satisfactory) to Latinx immigrants with T2D and LEP and resulted in clinically meaningful differences in key diabetes-related outcomes. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Our findings suggest that lack of language concordance between provider and patient has an important and meaningful impact on the ability of an LEP Latinx patient to receive, and perhaps act upon, adequate education for T2D management. Receiving biweekly coaching calls could have offered further emotional support for participants to discuss living with T2D, which may have helped to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety that individuals with T2D frequently endure.

Towards the development of a national patient transfer document between residential and acute care-A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A lack of standardisation of documentation accompanying older people when transferring from residential to acute care is common and this may result in gaps in information and in care for older people. In Ireland, this lack of standardisation prompted the development of an evidence based national transfer document. OBJECTIVES: To pilot a new national transfer document for use when transferring older people from residential to acute care and obtain the perceptions of its use from staff in residential and acute care settings. METHODS: This was a pre- and post-study design using purposive sampling following the STROBE guidelines. The pilot was conducted in 26 sites providing residential care and three university hospitals providing acute care. Pre-pilot questionnaires focused on current documentation and were distributed to staff in residential care (n = 875). A pilot of the new paper-based transfer document was then conducted over three months and post-pilot questionnaires distributed to staff from both residential and acute care settings (n = 1085). The findings of the pilot study were discussed with multidisciplinary expert advisory and stakeholder groups who recommended some revisions. This consensus informed the development of the final design of the new revised transfer document. RESULTS: Pre-pilot: 23% response rate; 83% (n = 168) participants agreed/strongly agreed that existing documentation was straightforward to complete but could be more person-centred. Post-pilot: 11% response rate; 75% (n = 93) of participants agreed/strongly agreed that the new transfer document promoted person-centred care but recommended revisions to the new document regarding layout and time to complete. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted some of the challenges of providing safe, effective and relevant transfer information that is feasible and usable in everyday practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Standardisation and being person-centred are important determining factors in the provision of relevant up to date information on the resident being transferred.

Communicating and Coaching in Spanish for Chronic Care.

BACKGROUND: Language barriers affect millions of health care consumers each year in the United States. One in five U.S. residents over the age of 5 years speaks a language other than English. METHOD: A multidisciplinary team consisting of applied linguists and nurse educators developed a graduate elective for nursing students who demonstrated a minimum Spanish proficiency level. The course was organized around three core content components: management of type 2 diabetes, motivational interviewing competencies, and strategic communication in Spanish. Course activities included discourse analysis, simulated mini-conversations, and standardized patient simulations. RESULTS: A multidisciplinary team-teaching approach was ideal in assisting students to develop culturally sensitive clinical language skills. CONCLUSION: Language concordance is imperative to providing quality health care to non-English-speaking patients. Health care providers must be able to demonstrate empathy, an understanding of cultural dynamics, and the ability to provide care to non-English-speaking patients. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(1):34-37.].

A survey of heavy metal contents of rural and urban roadside dusts: comparisons at low, medium and high traffic sites in Central Scotland.

Roadside dust can contain particulates enriched with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) as a result of the degradation of mechanical vehicular parts, tyre wear and combustion processes. To assess the potential accumulation of these metals in roadside areas, a snapshot study was carried out, investigating metal content at rural and urban locations in central Scotland. Samples of road dust were collected at six sites representing low, medium and high traffic intensity at rural and urban locations. The samples were separated based on particle size and analysed for heavy metal content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after acid digestion. The metals analysed were aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The rural area measurements were carried out in West Lothian, approximately 13 to 17 miles west of the city of Edinburgh (UK). The urban area measurements were carried out in the southern part of the Edinburgh city district (UK). Concentrations of Cu, Cr and Zn were found to correlate with traffic intensity, although only Cu and Zn concentrations exceed recommended EC directive 86/278/EEC guidelines for urban runoff materials. The metal concentrations of small particles (0.45-20 µm) were exceedingly high in both Cu and Zn at areas of high traffic intensity, indicating potential areas of concern regarding health impacts for pedestrians and cyclists who are exposed to roadside dust on a regular basis.