User Requirements for an Electronic Patient Recruitment System: Semistructured Interview Analysis After First Implementation in 3 German University Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials are essential for medical research and medical progress. Nevertheless, trials often fail to reach their recruitment goals. Patient recruitment systems aim to support clinical trials by providing an automated search for eligible patients in the databases of health care institutions like university hospitals. To integrate patient recruitment systems into existing workflows, previous works have assessed user requirements for these tools. In this study, we tested patient recruitment systems KAS+ and recruIT as part of the MIRACUM (Medical Informatics in Research and Care in University Medicine) project. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate whether and to what extent the 2 different evaluated tools can meet the requirements resulting from the first requirements analysis, which was performed in 2018-2019. A user survey was conducted to determine whether the tools are usable in practice and helpful for the trial staff. Furthermore, we investigated whether the test phase revealed further requirements for recruitment tools that were not considered in the first place. METHODS: We performed semistructured interviews with 10 participants in 3 German university hospitals who used the patient recruitment tools KAS+ or recruIT for at least 1 month with currently recruiting trials. Thereafter, the interviews were transcribed and analyzed by Meyring method. The identified statements of the interviewees were categorized into 5 groups of requirements and sorted by their frequency. RESULTS: The evaluated recruIT and KAS+ tools fulfilled 7 and 11 requirements of the 12 previously identified requirements, respectively. The interviewed participants mentioned the need for different notification schedules, integration into their workflow, different patient characteristics, and pseudonymized screening lists. This resulted in a list of new requirements for the implementation or enhancement of patient recruitment systems. CONCLUSIONS: Trial staff report a huge need of support for the identification of eligible trial participants. Moreover, the workflows in patient recruitment differ across trials. For better suitability of the recruitment systems in the workflow of different kinds of trials, we recommend the implementation of an adjustable notification schedule for screening lists, a detailed workflow analysis, broad patient filtering options, and the display of all information needed to identify the persons on the list. Despite criticisms, all participants confirmed to use the patient recruitment systems again.

Corrigendum: Public opinion on alcohol policies in Sri Lanka.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1409012.].

Determinants of exotic poultry breeds adoption by smallholder farmers in Gibe district, Hadiya zone, Ethiopia.

This study aimed to analyze farmers' opinions, its role to household welfare, and the factors that influence the likelihood and intensity of exotic poultry adoption among rural chicken producers. To attain this, 155 households were targeted for interview. To this end, a multistage sampling procedure was administered to select households. Accordingly, quantitative data was backed by the qualitative data so as to bolster its credibility. Thus, the qualitative data was obtained through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The result revealed that for enhanced market demand of chickens and egg production capacity among other allied factors farmers were interested with its production though exposure to disease and predators, absence of rural vaccination services, and the need for more care were also identified as challenges of production. Furthermore, exotic poultry producers' get advantage over their non-exotic poultry producers as a result of the sale of eggs and a live chicken. The producers improved their diets notably for egg and chicken meat. This also implies that exotic poultry producers were better at food diversification than their counter part using the days recall method. The model output, on the other hand, showed that household size, farming experience, farm size, sex, off/non-farm income, livestock holding, distance to market, and access to credit service were all statistically significant at 1 %. The study suggests that focusing on key factors influencing the adoption and use of exotic poultry will help maintain and increase their adoption rates.

Emerging therapies for opioid-induced constipation: what can we expect?

INTRODUCTION: The rise in opioid use for managing chronic and oncologic pain has led to a significant increase in opioid-induced constipation (OIC) that impacts patient quality of life and pain management. AREAS COVERED: In this study, emerging therapies for OIC were criticized for refining advancements and novel treatment options. Key topics included the efficacy of peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) such as methylnaltrexone, naloxegol, and naldemedine, which specifically target opioid-induced gut dysfunction. Other treatment options, including intestinal secretagogues like lubiprostone and linaclotide, selective 5-HT receptor agonists such as prucalopride, and emerging adjunctive therapies like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and electroacupuncture were mentioned. Current guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the European consensus were criticized. EXPERT OPINION: Experts stress the importance of a stepwise approach to managing OIC, considering patient-specific factors and the efficacy of various treatments. While PAMORAs have demonstrated effectiveness in improving bowel function, their high cost and lack of extensive head-to-head comparisons with traditional laxatives are significant concerns. Emerging therapies and adjunctive treatments offer promising results but require further validation through rigorous studies. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and comparative effectiveness to better address the complex needs of patients with OIC and refine treatment protocols.

Perceived Acceptability of Technology Modalities for the Provision of Universal Child and Family Health Nursing Support in the First 6-8 Months After Birth: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Child and Family Health Nursing (CFHN) services provide universal care to families during the first 2000 days (conception: 5 years) to support optimal health and developmental outcomes of children in New South Wales, Australia. The use of technology represents a promising means to encourage family engagement with CFHN services and enable universal access to evidenced-based age and stage information. Currently, there is little evidence exploring the acceptability of various models of technology-based support provided during the first 2000 days, as well as the maternal characteristics that may influence this. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe (1) the acceptability of technology-based models of CFHN support to families in the first 6 months, and (2) the association between the acceptability of technology-based support and maternal characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken between September and November 2021 with women who were 6-8 months post partum within the Hunter New England Local Health District of New South Wales, Australia. Survey questions collected information on maternal demographics and pregnancy characteristics, perceived stress, access to CFHN services, as well as preferences and acceptability of technology-based support. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the sample, the proportion of women accessing CFHN services, maternal acceptability of technology-based support from CFHN services, and the appropriateness of timing of support. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to assess the association between maternal characteristics and the acceptability of technology-based CFHN support. RESULTS: A total of 365 women participated in the study, most were 25 to 34 years old (n=242, 68%), had completed tertiary level education or higher (n=250, 71%), and were employed or on maternity leave (n=280, 78%). Almost all (n=305, 89%) women reported accessing CFHN services in the first 6 months following their child's birth. The majority of women (n=282-315, 82%-92%) "strongly agreed or agreed" that receiving information from CFHN via technology would be acceptable, and most (n=308) women "strongly agreed or agreed" with being provided information on a variety of relevant health topics. Acceptability of receiving information via websites was significantly associated with maternal employment status (P=.01). The acceptability of receiving support via telephone and email was significantly associated with maternal education level (adjusted odds ratio 2.64, 95% CI 1.07-6.51; P=.03 and adjusted odds ratio 2.90, 95% CI 1.20-7.00; P=.02, respectively). Maternal age was also associated with the acceptability of email support (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: Technology-based CFHN support is generally acceptable to mothers. Maternal characteristics, including employment status, education level, and age, were found to modify the acceptability of specific technology modalities. The findings of this research should be considered when designing technology-based solutions to providing universal age and stage child health and developmental support for families during the first 2000 days.

Rural reticence to inform physicians of cannabis use.

PURPOSE: Over 75% of Americans have legal access to medical cannabis, though physical access is not uniform and can be difficult for rural residents. Additionally, substantial stigma remains in using medical cannabis, particularly within the health care system. This article argues that rural Americans may be particularly affected by such stigma and may thus be more likely to not report cannabis use to health care providers. METHODS: Data were obtained from 1,045 adult Pennsylvanians using a self-administered web panel omnibus survey. Rurality was determined by overlaying Zip Code Tabulation Areas with urban areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Primary outcomes were prior use of cannabidiol (CBD) or marijuana and reporting of such use to medical professionals. Covariates utilized in logistic regressions included rurality, gender, age, race/ethnicity, political affiliation, political ideology, and veteran status. FINDINGS: Living in an urban area was positively associated with disclosure of marijuana use to health care providers as compared to those in rural areas, although there were no differences found in CBD disclosure. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma surrounding marijuana usage may have a disproportionate impact on health outcomes for rural residents who use marijuana. Nonreporting prevents effective holistic medical care and can result in negative drug interactions and other side effects.

Changes in Australians' attitudes towards supervised injecting facilities.

INTRODUCTION: Supervised injecting facilities (SIF) have been shown to reduce negative outcomes experienced by people who inject drugs. They are often subject to intense public and media scrutiny. This article aimed to explore population attitudes to SIFs and how these changed over time in Australia. METHODS: Data were drawn from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, a national sample collecting data on illicit drug use and attitudes towards drug policy among Australians (2001-2019). Ordinal logistic regression assessed sociodemographic characteristics associated with different attitudes to SIFs and binary logistic regression assessed trends over time and by jurisdiction. RESULTS: In 2019, 54% of respondents (95% CI 52.9, 55.1) supported SIFs, 27.5% (95% CI 26.6, 28.4) opposed and 18.4% (95% CI 17.7, 19.2) were ambivalent. Support for SIFs correlated with having a university degree (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.58, 1.94), non-heterosexual identity (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.51, 2.17) and recent illicit drug use (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.55, 1.94). Male respondents or those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas had lower odds of supporting SIFs (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85, 1.00; OR 0.64-0.80, respectively). Between 2001 and 2019, support for SIFs increased modestly by 3.3%, those who 'don't know' by 7.4%, whereas opposition decreased by 11.7%. Between 2001 and 2019, support for SIFs increased in NSW and Queensland, whereas opposition decreased in all jurisdictions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Opposition to SIFs declined over the past 20 years, but a substantial proportion of respondents are ambivalent or 'don't know enough to say'. Plain language information about SIFs and their potential benefits, targeted to those who are ambivalent/'don't know' may further increase public support.

The formation pattern, causes, and governance of network public opinion on university emergencies.

Background: University emergencies, garnering significant public attention and shaping network opinions, pose a crucial challenge to universities' management and societal stability. Hence, network public opinion on university emergencies is a vital issue. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism has not been fully explored and cannot be efficiently controlled. This study aimed to explore the formation pattern of network public opinion on university emergencies, analyze its causes, and provide scientific governance strategies for coping with this issue. Methods: Based on a sample set of 204 cases from the Zhiwei Data Sharing Platform, this study classifies network public opinion on university emergencies into six types and visually analyzes their characteristics: time distribution, subject, duration, and emotion. By integrating the theory of the network public opinion field, this study develops a network public opinion field model of university emergencies to reveal its formation pattern. Furthermore, it analyzes the causes of network public opinion on university emergencies from the perspective of the public opinion lifecycle and proposes corresponding governance strategies. Results: The sample consisted of 304 cases of real-life public opinion, and the visualization results show that public opinion on mental health and teacher-student safety constitutes the predominant types, accounting for 83.3%. High-occurrence subjects are public universities (88.24%) and students (48%). The most frequent months are July and December. 90.20% of the public opinions have a lifespan of less than 19 days, with an impact index ranging from 40 to 80. The public's emotional response to different types of public opinion varies, with negative emotions dominating. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights for understanding their formation and dissemination. It also provides practical implications for relevant departments to govern network public opinion on university emergencies.

Digital health tools in nephrology: A comparative analysis of AI and professional opinions via online polls.

Background: Professional opinion polling has become a popular means of seeking advice for complex nephrology questions in the #AskRenal community on X. ChatGPT is a large language model with remarkable problem-solving capabilities, but its ability to provide solutions for real-world clinical scenarios remains unproven. This study seeks to evaluate how closely ChatGPT's responses align with current prevailing medical opinions in nephrology. Methods: Nephrology polls from X were submitted to ChatGPT-4, which generated answers without prior knowledge of the poll outcomes. Its responses were compared to the poll results (inter-rater) and a second set of responses given after a one-week interval (intra-rater) using Cohen's kappa statistic (κ). Subgroup analysis was performed based on question subject matter. Results: Our analysis comprised two rounds of testing ChatGPT on 271 nephrology-related questions. In the first round, ChatGPT's responses agreed with poll results for 163 of the 271 questions (60.2%; κ = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.38-0.46). In the second round, conducted to assess reproducibility, agreement improved slightly to 171 out of 271 questions (63.1%; κ = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.42-0.50). Comparison of ChatGPT's responses between the two rounds demonstrated high internal consistency, with agreement in 245 out of 271 responses (90.4%; κ = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.82-0.90). Subgroup analysis revealed stronger performance in the combined areas of homeostasis, nephrolithiasis, and pharmacology (κ = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.47-0.59 in both rounds), compared to other nephrology subfields. Conclusion: ChatGPT-4 demonstrates modest capability in replicating prevailing professional opinion in nephrology polls overall, with varying performance levels between question topics and excellent internal consistency. This study provides insights into the potential and limitations of using ChatGPT in medical decision making.

A new perspective to understand public response to the Typhoon Doksuri from coastal and inland regions.

Massive amounts of data from social media possess the potential to rapidly identify the primary issues of concern in emergency disaster management. In summer 2023, Super Typhoon Doksuri which was an exceptionally special typhoon disaster that caused severe damage to China's coastal areas and disastrous impacts in inland regions, particularly triggered the most severe rainstorm in Beijing area in over a century. To enhance typhoon hazard reduction in both coastal and interior locations, it is crucial to examine public response to these events. This study uses microblog text data from July 27 to August 3 of 2023 to map the public response to Typhoon Doksuri. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm was used to classify the microblog text in combination with the typhoon path to analyze the spatial and temporal variations of the emotions of the affected individuals. The relationship between changes in public opinion, the distribution of topics, and the major disasters triggered by the residual circulation of Typhoon Doksuri in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is discussed. The Mentougou mega-storm in Beijing area that occurred in July 2023 is a typical case. The findings demonstrate that during the typhoon event, the focus of public attention changed with the movement of the typhoon path, and various public opinion topics exhibited temporal synchronization. Public sentiment indicates that the overall supportive sentiment is higher than is fearful sentiment. Based on this, it is crucial to strengthen the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cooperative emergency response, and response measures were proposed related to urban flood control and drainage construction, public awareness, backward areas, secondary disasters, resident relocation, and social media technology.

Preserving the human voice: A plea for regulating ChatGPT use in Correspondence and Opinion writing.

Correspondence and Opinion provide a 'human voice,' serving as the captivating elements that grab readers' attention and stimulate contemplation. The extent of ChatGPT's involvement in writing raises controversy. We tested ChatGPT's capability to generate readable Correspondence or Opinion, producing an English Opinion from a Japanese abstract. We also tasked ChatGPT with creating Correspondence and Reply for an English→German translated Opinion. Opinion, Correspondence, and Reply output here were found to be readable and reasonable. While preliminary, these results suggest that ChatGPT can generate such articles, prompting serious concern about AI taking over the 'human voice.' Some regulatory measures may be needed.

Assessing support for substance use policies among the general public and policy influencers in two Canadian provinces.

BACKGROUND: Examining support for substance use policies, including those for harm reduction, among the general public and policy influencers is a fundamental step to map the current policy landscape and leverage policy opportunities. Yet, this is a knowledge gap in Canada. Our paper identifies the level of support for substance use policies in two provinces in Canada and describes how the level of support is associated with intrusiveness and sociodemographic variables. METHODS: Data came from the 2019 Chronic Disease Prevention Survey. The representative sample included members of the general public (Alberta n = 1648, Manitoba n = 1770) as well as policy influencers (Alberta n = 204, Manitoba n = 98). We measured the level of support for 22 public policies concerning substance use through a 4-point Likert-scale. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics Intervention Ladder framework was applied to assess intrusiveness. We used cumulative link models to run ordinal regressions for identification of explanatory sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Overall, there was generally strong support for the policies assessed. The general public in Manitoba was significantly more supportive of policies than its Alberta counterpart. Some differences were found between provinces and samples. For certain substance use policies, there was stronger support among women than men and among those with higher education than those with less education. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight areas where efforts are needed to increase support from both policy influencers and general public for adoption, implementation, and scaling of substance use policies. Socio-demographic variables related to support for substance use policies may be useful in informing strategies such as knowledge mobilization to advance the policy landscape in Western Canada.

Second opinion and self-efficacy in German skin cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The global incidence of skin cancer has steadily increased in recent years. Accordingly, patients require information on diagnosis and treatment options while dealing with the perceived impact of the diagnosis. In 2015, the German government enacted legislation under the Social Code (SGB V, § 27b), granting patients the right to obtain a second medical opinion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Utilizing a standardized questionnaire, our study aims to explore whether patients diagnosed with skin cancer actively pursue a second medical opinion and to evaluate any potential disruptions to their daily lives. We collected a total of 714 completed questionnaires. RESULTS: The majority of those seeking a second opinion were diagnosed with malignant melanoma (96, 58%). Primary motivations for seeking a second opinion included seeking reassurance regarding treatment decisions and obtaining further information. Additionally, seeking a second opinion was correlated with a significantly lower internal locus of control, indicating a belief that their actions are not solely determined by their own abilities. Notably, we observed a greater impairment of daily life among younger participants and those with advanced cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study shows that second opinions often strengthened the patient-physician interaction and provided additional reassurance, especially in patients with a weak perception of control. Moreover, we found that the impairment of quality of life and both internal and external locus of control decrease significantly in advanced tumor stages. Hence, it is imperative to identify additional interventions aimed at bolstering internal resilience and locus of control, thereby enhancing patients' capacity to cope with their cancer diagnosis.

Evaluating a Mobile App Supporting Evidence-Based Parenting Skills: Thematic Analysis of Parent Experience.

Background: Disruptive behavior disorders are among the most common disorders of childhood, and evidence-based parenting programs are the first-line treatment. Digital microinterventions have been proposed as one possible means of supporting parenting style change by giving parents in-the-moment advice about how to respond to challenging behavior. Until now, no digital microintervention supporting evidence-based parenting skills programs has been evaluated. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the subjective experience of parents using a digital microintervention to support evidence-based parenting skills, with particular attention to acceptability, usability, family relationships, and parents' values. Methods: We conducted serial interviews with 11 parents of 33 children before and after spending 3 weeks using an app including 3 digital microinterventions. Parents were recruited via local authorities in the Midlands region of the United Kingdom. Previous participation in a parenting program was an inclusion criterion. Interviews explored family composition; child behavior problems; and experience of using the mobile app, including barriers to use. Thematic analysis was conducted from a user-centered design perspective, and illustrative case vignettes were produced. Results: Many parents used the app in ways that helped them rather than strictly following the instructions they were given. Parents described a range of barriers to using the app including practical problems and failure to change child behavior. Parents and children responded in a variety of ways to the use of the phone, with many wholeheartedly embracing the convenience of technology. Case vignettes illustrate the uniqueness of each family's experience. Conclusions: Parents' use of a mobile app supporting evidence-based parenting skills is difficult to predict due to the unique challenges each family encounters. Many parents found it an acceptable and helpful addition to family life, but increased personalization is likely to be key to supporting parents. Future digital microintervention developers should keep in mind that parents are likely to use the app pragmatically rather than following instructions, may struggle to use a complex app under pressure, and are likely to hold complex feelings about parenting with an app.

Deferred consent in emergency trauma research: A qualitative study assessing the healthcare professional's opinions.

INTRODUCTION: Severely injured patients are often incapacitated to provide informed consent for clinical studies. Deferred consent could facilitate unbiased enrollment in studies involving these patients. Little is known about how healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive deferred consent and how this impacts patient enrollment. The aim of this study was to identify factors that could influence HCPs decision-making during recruitment of patients for interventional studies in (pre)hospital emergency trauma research. METHODS: This was a qualitative study in which physicians and nurses working in prehospital or in-hospital care were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke. RESULTS: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with six physicians and four nurses. Eight themes were identified as being relevant consent related factors influencing HCPs' decision-making during patient recruitment in studies using deferred consent: (1) HCPs' lack of knowledge; (2) Patients' and proxies' inability to be informed; (3) Practical (im)possibilities for informed consent; (4) Nature of intervention; (5) HCPs' personal beliefs; (6) Importance of emergency care research; (7) HCPs' trust in legal base; and (8) Communication and collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Eight consent-related factors influencing HCPs' decision making were identified. Insufficient knowledge about consent procedures among HCPs leads to significant negative attitudes towards deferred consent.

Peer conformity and competition shape how business managers evaluate withdrawals from Russia amid the Ukraine War.

States have long used economic sanctions in response to violations of international law as a strategy to restore order. Increasingly, firms also reject doing business with violators. In response to the war in Ukraine, hundreds of multinational corporations voluntarily withdrew from Russia, even when policymakers were still debating the extent of sanctions. How did firm managers evaluate whether to withdraw from the Russian market? Using a survey experiment with Japanese firm managers conducted three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, we explore how peer effects-information on what other firms are doing in response to the crisis-influence support for withdrawal of business activity with Russia. Our findings show that information about withdrawal by other firms from a diverse set of countries promotes peer conformity that increases support. In contrast, information about ongoing business with Russia by Chinese firms fosters competition that reduces support. Market exposure moderates these reactions, although the concern about peer behavior does not appear to be driven by a reputation mechanism. Our research provides insight into how business actors perceive the strategic interplay of peer influence and market dynamics in the context of geopolitical conflicts.

Policy Feedbacks and Medicaid on its 60th Anniversary.

CONTEXT: Despite early skepticism about Medicaid's ability to withstand retrenchment as a program of "welfare medicine," it has proved remarkably durable. Existing analyses explain durability with a policy feedbacks perspective - how program provisions affect the subsequent political environment and policymaking options. This article updates earlier feedback accounts to the ACA era. METHODS: Examines extant findings on policy feedbacks in Medicaid at the elite and mass levels since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act of 2010. FINDINGS: Mass feedbacks have been modest. Medicaid expansion under the ACA only slightly increased beneficiary political participation, if at all. Medicaid attitudes among beneficiaries and the larger public have become somewhat more supportive. Elite-level feedbacks are the most powerful, with the federal contribution, increased for expansion populations under the ACA, inexorably shaping state incentives. However, continued rejection of Medicaid expansion and attempts to add conditions to Medicaid eligibility in Republican-led states with large shares of Black residents demonstrate that federalism, race, and the program's welfare medicine image continue to threaten the program. CONCLUSION: Medicaid survives as the nation's largest health insurance program by enrollment, and is deeply woven into the health care system, but remains chronically vulnerable and variable across states despite robust aggregate enrollment and spending.

Public Perception of the Tobacco 21 Amendment on Twitter in the United States: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Following the signing of the Tobacco 21 Amendment (T21) in December 2019 to raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years in the United States, there is a need to monitor public responses and potential unintended consequences. Social media platforms, such as Twitter (subsequently rebranded as X), can provide rich data on public perceptions. OBJECTIVE: This study contributes to the literature using Twitter data to assess the knowledge and beliefs of T21. METHODS: Twitter data were collected from November 2019 to February 2021 using the Twitter streaming application programming interface with keywords related to vaping or e-cigarettes, such as "vape," "ecig," etc. The temporal trend of the T21 discussion on Twitter was examined using the mean number of daily T21-related tweets. Inductive methods were used to manually code the tweets into different sentiment groups (positive, neutral, and negative) based on the attitude expressed toward the policy by 3 coders with high interrater reliability. Topics discussed were examined within each sentiment group through theme analyses. RESULTS: Among the collected 3197 tweets, 2169 tweets were related to T21, of which 444 tweets (20.5%) showed a positive attitude, 736 (33.9%) showed a negative attitude, and 989 (45.6%) showed a neutral attitude. The temporal trend showed a clear peak in the number of tweets around January 2020, following the enactment of this legislation. For positive tweets, the most frequent topics were "avoidance of further regulation" (120/444, 27%), "Enforce T21" (110/444, 24.8%), and "health benefits" (81/444, 18.2%). For negative tweets, the most frequent topics were "general disagreement or frustration" (207/736, 28.1%) and "will still use tobacco" (188/736, 25.5%). Neutral tweets were primarily "public service announcements (PSA) or news posts" (782/989, 79.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we find that one-third of tweets displayed a negative attitude toward T21 during the study period. Many were frustrated with T21 and reported that underage consumers could still obtain products. Social media data provide a timely opportunity to monitor public perceptions and responses to regulatory actions. Continued monitoring can inform enforcement efforts and potential unintended consequences of T21.

The Legality of Labor and Perceptions of Deservingness of Rights and Services for Sex Workers.

Access to social services like healthcare, education, housing, and welfare are integral to creating an equitable society. While many populations inherently benefit from these services, sex workers are often denied these rights and services because of the nature of their work. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of deservingness of sex workers for a wide range of rights and services. This study distinguished those attitudes across legal and illegal forms of sex work, identified attitudinal and demographic correlates associated with those perceptions, and examined potential interactions between respondents' gender and age. Participants included a nationwide sample of adults from the USA (n = 549). Results indicated that participants perceived legal sex work as more deserving of rights and services compared to illegal sex work. Perceptions of deservingness were associated with attitudes toward abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and perceptions of government legitimacy. Overall, older individuals were less willing to extend rights and services to sex workers and women were more likely to perceive sex workers as deserving of rights and services. There was an interaction between gender and age. For illegal sex work, gender differences in perceptions converged as participants aged, whereas for legal sex work, gender differences were exacerbated with age, with men reporting particularly restrictive perceptions of deservingness.

New wearable and portable EEG modalities in epilepsy: The views of hospital-based healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND: Novel mobile and portable EEG solutions, designed for short and long-term monitoring of individuals with epilepsy have been developed in recent years but, they are underutilized, lacking full integration into clinical routine. Exploring the opinions of hospital-based healthcare professionals regarding their potential application, technical requirements and value would be crucial for future device development and increase their clinical application. PURPOSE: To evaluate professionals' opinions on novel EEG systems, focusing on their potential application in various clinical settings, professionals' interest in non-invasive solutions for ultra-long monitoring of people with epilepsy (PWE) and factors which could increase future use of novel EEG systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an online survey where Hospital-based professionals shared opinions on potential advantages, clinical value, and key features of novel wearable EEG systems in five different clinical settings. Additionally, insights were gathered on the need for future research and, the need for additional information about devices from companies and researchers. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 40) prioritized high performance, data quality, easy patient mobility, and comfort as crucial features for novel devices. Advantages were highlighted, including more natural settings, reduced application time, earlier epilepsy diagnosis, and decreased support requirements. Novel EEG devices were seen as valuable for epilepsy diagnosis, seizure monitoring, automatic seizure documentation, seizure alarms, and seizure forecasting. Interest in integrating these new systems into clinical practice was high, particularly for supervising drug-resistant epilepsy, reducing SUDEP, and detecting nocturnal seizures. Professionals emphasized the need for more research studies and highlighted the need for increased information from companies and researchers. CONCLUSIONS: Professionals underscore specific technical and practical features, along with potential clinical advantages and value of novel EEG devices that could drive their development. While interest in integrating these solutions in clinical practice exists, further validation studies and enhanced communication between researchers, companies, and clinicians are crucial for overcoming potential scepticism and facilitating widespread adoption.