Drug Abuse Educational Program for Saudi University Students: A Pre-test and Post-test Design.

Background and objective Designing a consistent preventive drug abuse program and evaluating the educational needs of diverse target groups, school curricula, and new instructional materials customized to a country's socioeconomic and cultural characteristics should be used. This research aims to assess the influence of an educational program on university students' awareness of drug abuse. Methodology A cross-sectional study using a pre-test questionnaire with predetermined questions was conducted with 102 participants. The educational program about drug abuse prevention measures was subsequently implemented. After the program was completed, a post-test was administered to the students, and the results were compared to the pre-test results. The data were collected from male and female Saudi students at a university in the western area of Saudi Arabia. Results The pre-test findings indicate that the students had already received some information on drug use and abuse, but the post-test results show that their awareness rose as a result of the drug abuse educational program. Conclusion Drug abuse is a major problem all across the world, including in Saudi Arabia. However, educational programs will help to increase knowledge and awareness of this issue.

Pilot evaluation of a behavioral weight loss program for adults with physical disabilities: State of Slim Everybody usability and feasibility.

Background: People with physical disabilities (PWD) have a higher prevalence of obesity than populations without disability, but most evidence-based weight loss programs have not included this population. The State of Slim (SOS) program is an evidence-based weight loss program that has demonstrated success in producing weight loss in populations without disability, but it has not been adapted for or evaluated in PWD. Methods: The SOS program was systematically adapted using the evidence-informed Guidelines, Recommendations, and Adaptations Including Disability (GRAIDs) framework. A total of 35 participants enrolled in the State of Slim Everybody program. The program was offered entirely online. Body weight, attendance, and food log completion were also tracked weekly. The program length was 16.5 h and included weekly group instruction, with optional one-on-one sessions provided upon request. Following completion, participants completed post-evaluation surveys on overall satisfaction with the program. The primary outcomes were program effectiveness (i.e., body weight), usability, and feasibility. Results: Thirty-two out of 35 participants completed the program, representing a retention rate of 91.4%. Average weight loss was 10.9% (9.9 ± 0.7 kg (t (31) = -13.3, p =< 0.0001)). On a 1 (dissatisfied/completely useless) to 5 (very satisfied/completely helpful) Likert scale, the average score for overall program satisfaction was 4.8 ± 0.1 and program helpfulness 4.6 ± 0.1. Conclusion: The State of Slim Everybody program demonstrated significant weight loss and good usability and feasibility in PWD. Existing adaptation frameworks can be used to create inclusive health promotion programs for adults with physical disabilities.

Challenges in capacity building of national immunization programs and emergency or pandemic vaccination responses in the Global Health Security Agenda member countries.

The Immunization Action Package aims to increase the vaccination rate for vaccine-preventable diseases to save lives. To achieve this, member countries of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) must have the capacity to implement sustainable national immunization programs (NIPs) and to respond to emergency vaccination scenarios. This article focuses on 4 major areas of NIP capacity, including in emergency situations: infrastructure capacity, sustainable financing capacity, vaccine access and equity, and vaccination hesitancy. Countries require resilient infrastructure to achieve high vaccination rates and develop preparedness for public health emergencies. Financial sustainability is crucial in achieving high vaccination coverage to best implement initiatives and national programs. Furthermore, challenges to NIPs include vaccine access and equity, as inequitable distribution and access to vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 accelerated the impact of the pandemic. Lastly, the correlation between low acceptance and successful implementation of national initiatives suggests that vaccination hesitancy is another challenge to NIPs. In an attempt to overcome these challenges, the Expert Forum of the GHSA Seventh Ministerial Meeting was held to provide sessions allowing countries to share their national case studies and discuss strategies for capacity building of country-level NIPs, including for emergency responses.

Illuminating the landscape of high-level clinical trial opportunities in the All of Us Research Program.

OBJECTIVE: With its size and diversity, the All of Us Research Program has the potential to power and improve representation in clinical trials through ancillary studies like Nutrition for Precision Health. We sought to characterize high-level trial opportunities for the diverse participants and sponsors of future trial investment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We matched All of Us participants with available trials on ClinicalTrials.gov based on medical conditions, age, sex, and geographic location. Based on the number of matched trials, we (1) developed the Trial Opportunities Compass (TOC) to help sponsors assess trial investment portfolios, (2) characterized the landscape of trial opportunities in a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS), and (3) assessed the relationship between trial opportunities and social determinants of health (SDoH) to identify potential barriers to trial participation. RESULTS: Our study included 181 529 All of Us participants and 18 634 trials. The TOC identified opportunities for portfolio investment and gaps in currently available trials across federal, industrial, and academic sponsors. PheWAS results revealed an emphasis on mental disorder-related trials, with anxiety disorder having the highest adjusted increase in the number of matched trials (59% [95% CI, 57-62]; P < 1e-300). Participants from certain communities underrepresented in biomedical research, including self-reported racial and ethnic minorities, had more matched trials after adjusting for other factors. Living in a nonmetropolitan area was associated with up to 13.1 times fewer matched trials. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: All of Us data are a valuable resource for identifying trial opportunities to inform trial portfolio planning. Characterizing these opportunities with consideration for SDoH can provide guidance on prioritizing the most pressing barriers to trial participation.

Assessing the fidelity of supported education programs for first-episode psychosis to the supported employment guidelines adapted for education.

INTRODUCTION: Psychotic disorders are associated with academic difficulties. Supported Employment Program (SEP) guidelines have become the gold standard to improve occupational functioning in psychotic disorders. More recently, these guidelines have been adapted to education. In Canada, several community organizations and hospital programs offer supported education to young people with psychotic disorders. However, SEP guidelines are not systematically used. The objective of this study was to assess the fidelity of 6 Canadian (Quebec) organizations offering supported education services to young people with psychotic disorders to the SEP guidelines adapted to education. METHODS: Six sites offering educational services to young people with psychotic disorders were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with one supported education professional and one manager of each site, using the Quality of Supported Education Implementation Scale (QSEDIS). This new scale has been developed from the Quality of Supported Employment Implementation Scale. The QSEDIS assesses the fidelity of the quality of the implementation of supported education programs, using three subscales (Employees, Organization and Services). RESULTS: Acceptable fidelity scores were observed in the three QSEDIS subscales for all six sites combined. The Services subscale received the highest score of fidelity (4.4/5), followed by the Supported Education Employee (4.1/5) and the Organization (3.7/5). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that supported education services offered to young people with psychotic disorders in the six sites are generally consistent with SEP guidelines adapted to education. Further research is warranted to validate whether acceptable SEP guidelines fidelity according to the QSEDIS translates into educational outcomes.

Ontological approach for competency-based curriculum analysis.

This article is dedicated to the development of a model for competencies within an educational program and its implementation through the use of semantic technologies. The model proposed by the authors is distinctive in that competencies are organized into a hierarchical data structure with arbitrary levels of nesting. Furthermore, the article presents an original solution for modelling the input requirements for studying a course, which is defined in the form of dependencies between the competencies generated by the course and the competencies of other courses. The outcome of this work is an ontological model of a competency-based curriculum, for which the authors have developed and implemented algorithms for data addition and retrieval, as well as for analyzing the consistency of the curriculum in terms of the input requirements for studying a discipline and the learning outcomes from previous periods. The findings presented in the article will prove to be valuable in the development of educational process management information systems and educational program constructors. They will also be instrumental in aligning diverse educational programs within the context of academic mobility.

Effects of clinical interventions through a comprehensive medication management program: A retrospective study among outpatients in a private hospital.

Introduction: The intricate nature of certain diseases necessitates complex medication regimens, utilization including high-cost medications, and continual vigilance to avoid potential complications. To address these exigencies, numerous healthcare institutions have instituted multidisciplinary management teams, exemplified in pharmaceutical care through Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) programs. These programs oversee diverse facets such as patient education, medication adherence promotion, clinical monitoring, dose adjustments, and scrutiny of prescribed drug therapies. Given the emphasized significance, it is relevant to possess evidence to continue endorsing these initiatives from management positions within health centers, and it is for this reason that this study aims to evaluate the clinical and economic benefits provided by a CMM program within a private hospital in Latin America, by analyzing the effects of clinical interventions. Methods: A retrospective examination was conducted involving documented pharmaceutical interventions in an outpatient setting from January 2019 to September 2022. To assess the interventions' repercussions, a retrospective analysis was undertaken. The collated data included patients' basic characteristics, a comprehensive pharmacist-generated description of interventions, potential associated complications, and avoided medical services. Multiple clinical projections, which were endorsed by internal medicine physicians, were developed to explore potential scenarios in the absence of pharmaceutical care. These projections were associated with conceivable complications, aligned with the most plausible circumstances. Subsequently, utilizing the average cost of healthcare within a private hospital in Latin America, the cumulative savings were quantified. These savings were then attributed to the intrinsic advantages offered by pharmaceutical care. Results: The study discloses demographic trends among patients within distinct age groups in the CMM program. Rheumatology predominated as the main referral source, and interventions centering on monitoring emerged as the pivotal drug-related concern. This encompassed a collaborative approach, involving interdisciplinary efforts toward patient education and critical parameter monitoring. Of the total 347 pharmaceutical interventions, 66.3% (N = 230) specialty office visits, 14.1% (N = 49) general practitioner consultations, 12.4% (N = 43) hospitalizations, and 7.2% (N = 25) ER visits were avoided. The economic analysis underscores cost savings ensuing from pharmaceutical interventions, amounting to a cumulative 603,792.82 USD. Extrapolating these findings to a patient cohort of 400 enrolled in the pharmaceutical care program approximates per-patient savings of 361.47 USD. Conclusion: This study reveals the significant clinical and economic benefits of CMM programs, led by multidisciplinary pharmaceutical professionals. The findings provide compelling evidence for hospital management to consider promoting such programs, drawing from the patient-centered care model in the United States applicable to Latin America.

Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Program Directors' Perspective on the Virtual Interview Process.

Background: Since the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the residency and fellowship recruitment process has changed significantly with the use of virtual interview (VI) platforms. Pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) candidates reported in a survey that VIs hindered their ability to evaluate their fit within the program. However, the program directors' (PDs') opinion of this process remains unknown. Objective: We aim to provide insight into the PCCM fellowship PDs' perspective regarding the virtual recruitment process since the first class of fellows undergoing this process has now completed 1 year of training. Methods: An anonymous survey was sent to the PDs of PCCM programs participating in the National Resident Matching Program match process in 2020 and 2021. The survey consisted of five sections and 26 closed-ended questions and was distributed via email using the SurveyMonkey platform. The survey was conducted for a total of 6 weeks. A follow-up email to nonrespondents was sent every week. The collected responses were divided into two categories: favoring VIs versus not favoring VIs. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with favoring VIs. Results: The survey was sent to 190 email accounts from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access System website. Over the course of 6 weeks, 64 respondents participated in the survey, with a response rate of 33.68%. Of 64 respondents, 56 (87.5%) fully completed the survey and 8 (12.5%) partially completed the survey. The final sample size was 59. Thirty-six (61.02%) of the PDs favored VIs for future recruitment, and 23 (38.98%) did not (P < 0.001). Ninety-seven percent of PDs who favored VIs versus 72.73% of those who did not perceived the current fellows to fit well in the program (P = 0.007). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a trend toward higher odds of favoring VIs if PDs believed they were able to represent the program well virtually (adjusted odds ratio, 6.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.79 - 61.58) and if they found that the current fellows fit the program well (adjusted odds ratio, 7.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-66.52); however, these results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this survey research, we found that the majority of the PCCM fellowship PDs favored a virtual process for future recruitment.

Fostering Digital Life Skills Through Social Media With Adolescents in 6 German States: Protocol for an Accessibility Study According to the RE-AIM Framework.

BACKGROUND: Social media is essential in the lives of adolescents, with 97% of US teenagers engaging daily. While it facilitates communication, learning, and identity development, it also poses risks like harmful content exposure and psychological distress, particularly for adolescents in their critical developmental stage. Teaching digital life skills innovatively counters these risks, adapting traditional competencies such as decision-making, problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, communication, interpersonal skills, self-awareness, empathy, and emotional and stress management to digital challenges. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the accessibility of the "leduin" program, a novel intervention designed to impart digital life skills through Instagram. The program aims to leverage social media's educational potential, focusing on effective strategies to engage adolescents. Emphasizing accessibility is crucial, as it determines the program's overall impact. METHODS: The leduin program, developed through intervention mapping, applies behavior change techniques via social media for 9th and 10th graders. It is a 14-week spaced learning curriculum with daily sessions <5 minutes. Emphasizing the "reach" aspect of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) model, the recruitment targets diverse educational settings across 6 German states, aiming for inclusivity. Recruitment will involve schools, youth centers, and therapeutic facilities. The study seeks at least 128 participants, a calculated minimum to detect medium-sized effects in the quasi-experimental design and explore varying engagement levels and program responses. Data collection includes preintervention, postintervention, and 6-month follow-up surveys, using multilevel regression, latent growth models, and qualitative analysis to extensively assess reach and gain first insights on effectiveness, acceptance, implementation, and maintenance. The study aims to reveal key factors influencing program participation and interaction; a detailed analysis of engagement patterns will reveal the effectiveness of the recruitment strategies and barriers to participation. Additionally, initial indications of the program's impact on life skills, social media-related skills, health status, risk behaviors, and academic performance will be analyzed. RESULTS: Recruitment was planned from May 2023 until the beginning of the leduin program in October 2023. As of March 2024, we have recruited 283 participants. CONCLUSIONS: The leduin program stands as an innovative and essential initiative in adolescent health promotion, harnessing the power of social media to teach important digital life skills. This study highlights the critical role of accessibility in the success of social media interventions. Effective adolescent engagement strategies are imperative, as they dictate the overall impact of such interventions. The insights gained from this study will be instrumental in shaping future programs, laying groundwork for a subsequent, more comprehensive cluster-randomized controlled trial. The study's design acknowledges the limitations of the current quasi-experimental approach, including the anticipated sample size and the absence of a control group, and aims to provide a foundational understanding for future research in this field. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00032308; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00032308. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/51085.

Dual-role transcription factors stabilize intermediate expression levels.

Precise control of gene expression levels is essential for normal cell functions, yet how they are defined and tightly maintained, particularly at intermediate levels, remains elusive. Here, using a series of newly developed sequencing, imaging, and functional assays, we uncover a class of transcription factors with dual roles as activators and repressors, referred to as condensate-forming level-regulating dual-action transcription factors (TFs). They reduce high expression but increase low expression to achieve stable intermediate levels. Dual-action TFs directly exert activating and repressing functions via condensate-forming domains that compartmentalize core transcriptional unit selectively. Clinically relevant mutations in these domains, which are linked to a range of developmental disorders, impair condensate selectivity and dual-action TF activity. These results collectively address a fundamental question in expression regulation and demonstrate the potential of level-regulating dual-action TFs as powerful effectors for engineering controlled expression levels.

Analysis of waste management effect on the climate related disease in Larangan Village, Sidoarjo.

The repercussions of climate change have profound implications for human health, leading to the emergence of climate-related diseases. Recognizing this, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Indonesia has established the Climate Village Program to tackle and mitigate the impact of climate change. Despite the implementation of this program, Larangan Village in Candi Sub-district, Sidoarjo Regency, continues to struggle with cases of climate-related diseases. This research aims to assess the impact of waste management on the prevalence of climate-related diseases in Larangan Village. Using a quantitative, analytical, observational approach with a cross-sectional design, the study concentrates on two neighborhoods within Larangan Village. The population consists of 330 families in the 2nd neighborhood (Non-Climate Village Program) and 344 families in the 9th neighborhood (Climate Village Program), with a sample size of 109. The variables under investigation encompass waste management and climate-related diseases. Data collection involves conducting interviews and distributing questionnaires among community members in both neighborhoods. The collected data undergo analysis using Multigroup Analysis SEM PLS with a significance level of 0.05. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between waste management and climate-related diseases, suggesting that enhanced waste management is linked to a reduced incidence of such diseases in the community.

Integrating real-world skills and diabetes lifestyle coach training into a revised health promotion and communications course.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Effective communication skills are essential for all pharmacists, regardless of practice setting. An implicit need in pharmacy education is to emphasize direct application of these skills to future healthcare practice prior to experiential rotations. The aim of this article is to describe how we revised a required first professional year (P1) doctor of pharmacy course to achieve two main goals: 1) improve the course relevance by connecting content to real-world skills; and 2) qualify all pharmacy students at our institution as certified National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle coaches upon course completion. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Lifestyle coach training approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was integrated into a P1 communications course consisting of 14 modules that include: review of diabetes pathophysiology, group facilitation skills, social determinants of health, food tracking, action planning, participant retention and program administration. This content serves as a direct application of pre-existing course objectives related to knowledge (evidence-based theory) and skills (technical and counseling) required for effective communication with patients, families, and health professionals. FINDINGS: Between 2019 and 2022, the redesigned course was offered to 373 P1 students. Course evaluations during this time were consistently positive. The average evaluation score since DPP activities were integrated into the course was 3.41 (on a 4-point scale). Based upon course evaluations, students appreciated three main benefits of incorporating lifestyle coach certification into the pharmacy curriculum: 1) a certified skill that can differentiate them in the job market; 2) practice of skills on real patients under faculty supervision in the community setting; 3) early exposure to pharmacy patient care topics, thus contributing to professional identity. SUMMARY: Integration of lifestyle coach training into an existing core P1 pharmacy course increased application and assessment of communications skills and allowed wider availability of trained coaches to deliver DPP in the community.

Perceptions of key stakeholders on peer led strength building program for suicide prevention among young adolescents: A qualitative study from Karnataka, India.

Context: Adolescent suicides are a significant public health concern in India and understanding the intersecting perspectives becomes imperative for the prevention of various mental health concerns. Aim: Assessing perceptions of various key stakeholders, that is, mental health experts, school and college teachers, and District Mental Health Program staff about peer-led strength building programs for suicide prevention. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional qualitative design using two Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with mental health experts and teachers and one FGD with DMHP staff was conducted. The sample comprised 45 participants from Bengaluru urban district. Materials and Methods: The data were analyzed manually by the method of direct content analysis, and themes were determined using existing literature. Results: The teachers and the DMHP highlighted the need for an intensive training program/module that is necessary to be developed in order to train the peer leaders first. The mental health experts opined that creating a network will help in easy identification of the cases and appropriate treatment could be provided without delays. Conclusions: This study indicated that suicide is a preventable public health emergency and inaccessibility to existing as well as proper support systems was perceived as a major concern. Therefore, peer-led programs are beneficial in steering and improving help seeking behavior in suicidal adolescents.

Reducing Postoperative CT Imaging for Children With Complicated Appendicitis: A Pediatric Surgical Quality Collaborative Quality Improvement Project.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread initiatives to reduce ionizing radiation for appendicitis diagnosis, computed tomography (CT) scanning postoperatively remains common. The Pediatric Surgery Quality Collaborative (PSQC) aimed to identify differences between children's hospitals with high and low postoperative CT usage for complicated appendicitis. METHODS: Using National Surgery Quality Improvement Program Pediatric data from PSQC children's hospitals, we compared postoperative CT imaging for complicated appendicitis (April 2020-March 2021). Key stakeholders from 11 hospitals (5 low CT utilization, 6 high CT utilization) participated in semi-structured interviews regarding postoperative imaging. Qualitative analysis of transcripts was performed deductively and inductively based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). RESULTS: Five of twelve TDF domains were most prominent in influencing CT use: skills, beliefs about capabilities, intentions/goals, memory and decision processes, and environment. Children's hospitals with lower rates of postoperative CT use tended to: trust and educate the ultrasound technicians; believe US strengths outweigh weaknesses; image no sooner than 7 days postoperatively; have access to sufficient quality improvement resources; maintain trusting relationships between specialties; and prioritize radiation stewardship. CONCLUSION: Hospitals at extremes of postoperative CT use for complicated appendicitis reveal strategies for improvement, which include imaging protocol development and adherence, quality improvement resource availability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting radiation stewardship. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education: A Framework for Prevention Science Program Development.

Sexual harassment is an intractable problem that harms the students, community, culture, and success of institutes of higher education (IHEs). The alarming prevalence of sexual harassment at IHEs highlights the urgent need for effective prevention programs. However, there are few empirically supported preventive interventions that effectively target the factors that most impact the determinants, trajectory, and short- and intermediate-term effects of sexual harassment. In this paper, we overview the problem of sexual harassment and propose an organizing framework to help IHEs develop effective interventions to prevent sexual harassment. Guided by prevention science, we propose a framework-modified from SAMHSA's (2019) guidelines for prevention practitioners-that underscores the criticality of trauma- and equity-informed characteristics in prevention programs. We offer a discussion on how IHEs must consider and evaluate the empirical evidence of effectiveness, flexibility, cultural competency, and sustainability when developing and adapting prevention programs to reduce and-ultimately-ameliorate sexual harassment. We conclude with recommendations that can provide a roadmap for higher education stakeholders and researchers to prevent this urgent public health concern.

The effect of the KNEE program for Netball players on the modified Star Excursion Balance Test - a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the effect of the KNEE program on postural control as measured by the modified Star Excursion Balance test (mSEBT) in Australian club level netball players. METHODS: Two netball teams from Netball NSW Premier-League were recruited and randomized to complete either the KNEE program or a traditional warm-up. Cumulative, anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions of the mSEBT were measured for both limbs at baseline, 8-weeks, and 5-months. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of the intervention on mSEBT outcomes. RESULTS: When compared to a traditional warm-up, the KNEE program led to improvements in postural control in the PM direction of the mSEBT at 8 weeks (R: p = 0.005; L = 0.016) and 5 months (R: p = 0.006 and L: p = 0.026). For the cumulative score, there was a main effect of time with significant improvements between baseline and subsequent time points (p < 0.03), but there was no effect of group or interaction. No significant changes were found in ANT and PL directions. CONCLUSION: The KNEE program when implemented as a warm-up prior to training and match-play can improve postural control in the PM direction which is integral to Netball.

Outcome evaluation of the p drivers Program: Randomised controlled trial of a program to improve safe driving among novice drivers.

BACKGROUND: Globally, road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for young adults. The P Drivers Project was a trial of a behavioural change program developed for, and targeted at, young Australian drivers in their initial months of solo driving when crash risk is at its highest. METHODS: In a parallel group randomised controlled trial, drivers (N = 35,109) were recruited within 100 days of obtaining their probationary licence (allowing them to drive unaccompanied) and randomised to an intervention or control group. The intervention was a 3 to 6-week multi-stage driving behaviour change program (P Drivers Program). Surveys were administered at three time points (pre-Program, approximately one month post-Program and at 12 months after). The outcome evaluation employed an on-treatment analysis comprising the 2,419 intervention and 2,810 control participants who completed all required activities, comparing self-reported crashes and police-reported casualty crashes (primary outcome), infringements, self-reported attitudes and behaviours (secondary outcomes) between groups. RESULTS: The P Drivers Program improved awareness of crash risk factors and intentions to drive more safely, relative to the controls; effects were maintained after 12-months. However, the Program did not reduce self-reported crashes or police-reported casualty crashes. In addition, self-reported violations, errors and risky driving behaviours increased in the intervention group compared to the control group as did recorded traffic infringements. This suggests that despite the Program increasing awareness of risky behaviour in novice drivers, behaviour did not improve. This reinforces the need to collect objective measures to accompany self-reported behaviour and intentions. CONCLUSIONS: The P Drivers Program was successful in improving attitudes toward driving safety but the negative impact on behaviour, lack of effect on crashes, and the large loss to follow-up fail to support the use of a post-licensing behaviour change program to improve novice driver behaviour and reduce crashes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: 363,293 (ANZCTR, 2012).

Estimation of genetic parameters for bull conception rate and its genetic correlations with semen production traits in Japanese Black bulls.

The P of achieving pregnancy is an important trait of bull fertility in beef cattle and is defined as the bull conception rate (BCR). This study aimed to clarify and better understand the genetic architecture of the BCR calculated using artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis records from a progeny testing program in Japanese Black bulls. In this study, we estimated the genetic parameters of the BCR and their correlation with semen production traits. In addition, we assessed the correlated responses in BCR by considering the selection of semen production traits. Nine hundred and sixteen Japanese Black bulls were selected based on fertility, with 28 869 pregnancy diagnostic records from the progeny testing program. Our results showed that the heritability estimate was 0.04 in the BCR at the first service and 0.14 in BCR for the three services, and an increase in the inbreeding coefficient led to a significant decrease in BCR. The phenotypic trend of BCR remained almost constant over the years, whereas the genetic trend increased. In addition, the changes in the progeny testing year effect showed a similar tendency to the phenotypic trends, suggesting that the phenotypic trends could be mainly due to non-genetic effects, including progeny testing year effects. The estimated genetic correlation of BCR with sperm motility traits was favorably moderate to high (ranging from 0.49 to 0.97), and those with sperm quantity traits such as semen volume were favorably low to moderate (ranging from 0.23 to 0.51). In addition, the correlated responses in BCR at the first service by selection for sperm motility traits resulted in a higher genetic gain than direct selection. This study provides new insights into the genetic factors affecting BCR and the possibility of implementing genetic selection to improve BCR by selecting sperm motility traits in Japanese Black bulls.

eviQ Cancer Treatments Online: Providing evidence-based information to improve cancer patient outcomes.

AIM: To understand the current usage of eviQ Cancer Treatments Online (www.eviQ.org.au), an Australian, open-access website providing evidence-based and consensus-driven cancer treatment protocols and information, and the extent to which it is meeting its intended outcomes and providing value to its users. METHODS: A mixed-method evaluation was conducted in 2020-2022 which included a review of key program documentation and website usage data, and delivery of a focused online survey to its users. RESULTS: In 2022, 329 clinicians representing all Australian states and territories contributed to eviQ content development and review. eviQ content continues to grow with a 15.2% increase in total content from 2019 to 2022.  eviQ website users continue to grow with 90,000 total monthly users in 2022, representing a 166% increase from 2018. The proportion of international users compared to Australian users continues to grow with 57% of total users in Australia and 43% international in 2022. Of 466 survey responses, the most cited reason for eviQ use was for information on side effects/toxicity (67%). Ninety-three percent (93%) of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that eviQ contributed to both health professionals providing the best evidence-based treatment and care and improving the standardization of treatment and care provided. CONCLUSION:  eviQ is embedded in Australian clinical practice, highly valued, and relied upon by users. Users agree that eviQ has a positive impact on patients by supporting the delivery of evidence-based treatment and that eviQ contributed to patients' improved health outcomes and quality of life. eviQ's increasing international usage should be explored.

The Gehan test identifies life-extending compounds overlooked by the log-rank test in the NIA Interventions Testing Program: Metformin, Enalapril, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, green tea extract, and 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin hydrochloride.

The National Institute on Aging Interventions Testing Program (ITP) has so far identified 12 compounds that extend the lifespan of genetically heterogeneous mice using the log-rank test. However, the log-rank test is relatively insensitive to any compound that does not uniformly reduce mortality across the lifespan. This test may thus miss compounds that only reduce mortality before midlife, for example, a plausible outcome if a compound only mitigates risk factors before midlife or if its efficacy is reduced at later ages. We therefore reanalyzed all data collected by the ITP from 2004-2022 using the Gehan test, which is more sensitive to mortality differences earlier in the life course and does not assume a uniformly reduced mortality hazard across the lifespan. The Gehan test identified 5 additional compounds, metformin, enalapril, 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin hydrochloride (17-DMAG), caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), and green tea extract (GTE), which significantly increased survival but were previously missed by the log-rank test. Three (metformin, enalapril, and 17-DMAG) were only effective in males and two (CAPE and GTE) were only effective in females. In addition, 1,3-butanediol, which by log-rank analysis increased survival in females but not males, increased survival in males by the Gehan test. These results suggest that statistical tests sensitive to non-uniformity of drug efficacy across the lifespan should be included in the standard statistical testing protocol to minimize overlooking geroprotective interventions.