Stunting affects not only physical growth but also several aspects of child development, including gross and fine motor skills. Early stimulation interventions, such as Montessori-based activities, have been proposed to enhance developmental outcomes through structured sensorimotor experiences. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Montessori-based stimulation on motor development among children with stunting and to compare its outcomes with those of conventional stimulation. A quasi-experimental study with intervention and control groups was conducted among 120 children with stunting aged 36–59 months. Participants were allocated to either a Montessori group (n = 60) or a conventional stimulation group (n = 60). The intervention was delivered over 12 weeks, three times per week, with each session lasting 60 minutes. Gross and fine motor development were assessed before and after the intervention using the Pre-Screening Developmental Questionnaire. Within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while between-group differences were examined using the Mann–Whitney U test. The Montessori group showed significant improvements in gross motor development (p = 0.028) and fine motor development (p = 0.003). In the conventional group, only fine motor development improved significantly (p = 0.046), whereas changes in gross motor development were not statistically significant (p = 0.144). However, no significant differences were observed between the Montessori and conventional groups in post-intervention comparisons (p > 0.05). Montessori-based stimulation may contribute to improvements in gross and fine motor development among children with stunting. However, the absence of significant between-group differences suggests that Montessori-based stimulation was not superior to conventional stimulation during the study period. Further studies with larger samples and randomized controlled designs are needed to clarify its role in supporting developmental outcomes in children with stunting.
Palliative End-of-Life Care (PEoLC) is a process requiring timely assessment, effective communication, and person-centered decision-making to support patients and families. Although the process can be strengthened through digital health innovations such as Mobile Palliative End-of-Life Advanced Care Enhancement (M-PEACE), its use in PEoLC remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate M-PEACE usability and technology acceptance through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design and explore user experiences in describing quantitative results. The quantitative phase was conducted to assess usability through an adapted System Usability Scale (SUS), and technology acceptance was measured using a modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire. A total of 106 respondents (median age = 46.5 years) who participated were selected using convenience sampling. The results showed that internal consistency of the modified instruments was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.865–0.980). Quantitative analysis showed high agreement across usability, functionality, reliability, and transportability domains (median = 4). Perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, behavioral intention, and trust were also high (median = 4–5). In line with the methodological procedures, the qualitative phase was conducted through semi-structured interviews with patients, family caregivers, and nurses to help explain and deepen the quantitative results. Thematic analysis identified three themes, namely (1) Positive Experience with the Application (user-friendly interface, easy access), (2) Perceived Benefits (motivation booster, better symptom monitoring, enhanced quality of life and dignity at end of life, improved self-care ability), and (3) Improvements Needed (reminders, simpler language, cross-platform access, additional tools, offline functionality). Overall, the integration of quantitative and qualitative results suggested that M-PEACE showed strong usability and acceptance, indicating substantial potential for incorporation into PEoLC service delivery.
Breast self-examination (BSE), especially when adopted by vulnerable populations, serves as a vital mechanism for the timely detection of breast abnormalities indicative of cancer. As a result, this decreases the public health burden associated with treatment at advanced stages. Therefore, assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding this simple early detection method is a priority. This study examines the relationship between KAP concerning BSE among women in Cartagena, Colombia. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 322 women attending a healthcare facility. Data were gathered using two tools: a sociodemographic profile and a KAP questionnaire. Results showed that most participants were aged 20–29 years (46.3%), cohabiting (66.1%), and had completed secondary education (44.4%). Concerning knowledge, 50.0% demonstrated inadequate levels. Attitudes were rated as fair (49.4%) or deficient (44.1%), and practices were insufficient in 59.9% of participants. Statistically significant correlations were recorded between knowledge and attitudes (P < 0.01), knowledge and practices (P < 0.01), and attitudes and practices (P < 0.01). The findings reveal significant gaps in KAP regarding BSE, heightening the risk of delayed diagnosis. The significant correlations confirm that knowledge is a crucial factor in enhancing preventive behaviors. We conclude that women's knowledge levels are suboptimal and that the domains of knowledge and practice are interconnected and linked to demographic factors. Consequently, nursing professionals should spearhead culturally tailored educational interventions to strengthen early detection and decrease breast cancer morbidity. Recommendations include implementing educational programs, training healthcare personnel, and integrating primary care services with screening initiatives.
Post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients often experience decreased cardiac output, which slows recovery and increases the risk of cardiovascular complications. This research and development study evaluated the preliminary effectiveness of the REHCARDICARE application in increasing cardiac output, a key indicator of successful cardiac rehabilitation. The research also assessed user satisfaction to determine the feasibility of broader implementation. The findings can inform further development of the application. The application development used the (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) ADDIE model. The study subjects consisted of 30 post-CABG patients purposively selected at the North Sumatra Integrated Heart Center. An application-based resistance and flexibility training intervention was implemented for eight weeks. Data collection and analysis took place two weeks after the intervention was completed. Using a single-group pretest–posttest design, transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was used to measure cardiac output before and after the intervention. Data analysis involved a paired t-test with a significance level of p < 0.05. Cardiac output significantly increased from 4.12 ± 0.55 L/min to 5.28 ± 0.62 L/min (p = 0.001). The feasibility evaluation showed high user satisfaction (87.5 ± 6.8), indicating that REHCARDICARE was perceived as useful and easy to use, with good patient adherence and no significant safety events. Overall, REHCARDICARE demonstrated improved cardiac output after eight weeks and good user acceptance as a digital cardiac rehabilitation tool for post-CABG patients. It is recommended that this application be structurally integrated into the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program, that remote monitoring features, and that further tests be conducted using an experimental design with a control group and a larger sample to strengthen the evidence of clinical effectiveness.
