Aim: To assess undergraduate social and healthcare applicants’ emotional intelligence and the factors related to it. Background: Emotional intelligence enhances study success. It also reduces stress enabling the management of emotional stressors in social and healthcare environments. However, applicants’ emotional intelligence and the factors related to it have been scarcely researched. Methods: The Emotional Intelligence Test (EMI-T) was used in 4, 808 social and healthcare applicants during the national digital entrance examination in 2021. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, an analysis of variance with Tukey’s test in post-hoc multiple-group comparisons and a regression analysis. Results: The applicants scored best at managing emotions and their emotional intelligence mean score was above the centre of the score range. Female gender, older age, previous education, having currently employed parents and the applicant or his/her parents being born in Finland indicated higher emotional intelligence. However, these factors explained only 14% of emotional intelligence variation. Conclusions: Social and healthcare applicants managed overall well in EMI-T. Several demographic factors seem to influence applicants’ emotional intelligence to a minor degree. Further research should establish how the domains of daily life (resolution of past life events, relationships, and self-esteem) and demographic factors together explain emotional intelligence. Keywords: emotional intelligence; student selection; social care education; healthcare education; assessment
More than 60 countries, including Japan, China and recently the United States, which are Canada’s major trading partners, require mandatory labelling of genetically engineered (GE) food products. While Canada is a major producer and exporter of GE foods, Canada has only voluntary labelling requirements for them. This paper investigates the justification and possible effects of replacing Canada’s voluntary labelling scheme with one that is mandatory. The paper sheds light on the important but neglected socio-economic policy issue of genetically engineered food labelling policy in Canada. It is shown that Canadian producers have been minimally affected by labelling regulations in export markets. In addition, it is shown that the cost of changing to a mandatory labelling requirement could be very substantial. Canada does experience some domestic pressure surrounding the labelling of these products, as a large proportion of Canadian consumers express a desire for more information. This ‘right to know’ demand is created largely by consumer advocacy groups, not the scientific or agricultural communities’ influence on the public. With a clearer understanding of economic, social, political and regulatory factors that surround the labelling issue, several recommendations are made including increased public and private sector education about these genetically engineered food products, and no immediate need to change Canada’s current voluntary labelling scheme. Conclusively, Canadian policy makers and market participants can feel confident in their current system but must remain vigilant to changes both domestically and abroad. Keywords: genetically engineered foods, voluntary labelling, mandatory labelling, public policy
Smart healthcare management systems (SHMS) play a vital role in medical centers. SHMS has various risks and threats that affect patient care. So, risk management is the best choice to identify and mitigate these risks. This study proposed a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework for identifying risks in SHMS and selecting the best project in SHMS to reduce risks. This study used the MCDM method to deal with conflict criteria. There are two MCDM methods: CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and Additive Ration Assessment (ARAS). The CRITIC approach is used to compute the criteria weights, and the ARAS algorithm is used to select the appropriate projects in SHMS. The neutrosophic set (NS) was applied with MCDM methods to deal with inconsistent data in the evaluation process. The results show the Health Data Informational System project is the best. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to show the stability of the rank. The comparative study was conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The outcomes demonstrate the rank of projects is stable through all scenarios, and the proposed methodology is effective compared with others MCDM methods. Keywords: risk management, portfolio management, smart healthcare, neutrosophic set, MCDM
Digital health literacy (DHL) is increasingly essential for effective engagement with contemporary healthcare systems. Despite increasing digitilisation of health services, older adults, who typically require greater healthcare needs, remain disproportionately disadvantaged. While structural barriers have been widely examined, less attention has been given to psychological determinants of DHL. This study examined psychological determinants of digital health literacy among older adults in Ondo Town, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. A total of 258 older adults aged ≥ 60 years (mean=65.0, SD =3.7) were recruited from a State-owned hospital in Ondo town, Nigeria. Participants completed Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI), the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and a self-structured questionnaire on Attitude toward Digital Health Literacy. Multiple regression analysis revealed that psychological factors jointly explained 28.9% of the variance in DHL (adjusted R²=.289, F(4,253) =27.06, p<.001). Attitudes toward digital health technology emerged as the strongest unique predictor (β=.335, p<.001), followed by self-efficacy (β=.214, p<.001) and internal health locus of control (β=.189, p<.001). External locus of control was not statistically significant (β=-.097, p=.076). These findings emphasize the need for interventions that aimed at improving digital health literacy among older adults, strategies to foster positive attitudes, build self-efficacy through hands-on experience and social support and as well strengthen internal health locus of control through empowerment-based education. Keywords: digital health literacy, attitudes, self-efficacy, health locus of control, older adults
A 3-year multiprofessional intervention was carried out in Finland with 155 long-term unemployed people living with prolonged illness to support their health and work ability. The study aims at producing information that could be used to develop further interventions to support the unemployed individuals with long-term illness. Triangulation was used to collect data about how the participants experienced the intervention. According to the quantitative results of this study, the intervention increased participants’ experience of inclusion, and improved their emotional wellbeing and coping with daily activities. It had no immediate or extensive effect on the aspects of general life satisfaction and experienced health, functioning and work ability. The qualitative findings portrayed a positive image of the participant experiences; many of the participants had positive experiences concerning client-centredness, multiprofessional support, the flow of information between professionals and their involvement and agency in the intervention. They especially appreciated the individualized services and being treated with respect. The intervention forms a useful foundation for similar projects, especially if attention is paid to recruiting individuals with a realistic prospect of being employed. Collaboration between employment services and health services is required at the recruitment stage. Keywords: client, experience, intervention, unemployed, work ability
Hematology-oncology nurses (HONs) face repeated patient deaths, resulting in a significant emotional burden. This integrative review synthesizes current evidence on grief experiences and coping mechanisms among HONs, highlighting specialty-specific challenges and evidence gaps. A systematic search of CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar (2017–2023) identified 156 studies, with 48 meeting inclusion criteria. Results indicate that HONs experience high levels of grief, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Adaptive coping strategies—such as peer support, reflective practices, and spiritual engagement—are associated with reduced stress, whereas maladaptive strategies—including emotional suppression and avoidance— correlate with increased burnout. Organizational support, mentorship, and palliative communication training are critical moderators of grief outcomes. Despite consistent findings, methodological limitations (e.g., small sample sizes, convenience sampling, lack of cultural diversity) limit generalizability. The review underscores the need for evidence-based, institutionally supported interventions and further research integrating longitudinal, cross-cultural, and quantitative analyses. Keywords: nurses, hematology, oncology, emotional burden, coping mechanisms
This research explores the design, implementation, and outcomes of Project Ricochet’s Barbershop and Beauty Salon Initiative (BBSI), a culturally grounded, community-centered public health program serving African American communities in Central Kentucky from 2023-2025. Drawing on data from 562 outreach events across 330 locations, the study provides a mixed-method analysis of how barbershops, beauty salons, and trusted community spaces can serve as critical nodes for health promotion, education, and equity. The research incorporates descriptive statistics, thematic narratives, and strategic policy analysis to assess the BBSI’s impact on health behavior, community trust, and systemic engagement. Findings reveal that the BBSI model, which integrates trauma-informed care, arts-based engagement, youth leadership, and culturally responsive outreach, advances health equity not through clinical imposition, but through deep community partnership and empowerment. The research also identifies barriers and lessons learned, offering a replicable framework for other public health practitioners seeking to embed interventions in the social and cultural infrastructure of marginalized populations. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of shifting from transactional outreach to transformational public health rooted in trust, creativity, and co-ownership. Keywords: health equity, community-based public health, barbershop interventions, culturally responsive outreach, trauma-informed care, African American health, arts in public health, youth engagement, public health innovation, participatory evaluation
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the major contributors to cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women in Africa. Even though there is conclusive evidence regarding the physical toll of this condition, there is little known about mental health outcomes in women who suffer from this condition. Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to map existing findings on mental health outcomes for women suffering from cervical cancer in Africa. Methods: The scoping review was carried out using the PRISMA-ScR. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, African Index Medicus, and Google Scholar) were utilized for searching through peer-reviewed literature in English up until 2025. The inclusion criteria comprised literature studying the mental health outcomes of women with cervical cancer in Africa. The literature was examined for features and outcomes relating to mental health, alongside the key findings. Results: A total of 15 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The most reported outcome was depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and a compromised quality of life. Prevalence of depression was reported between 25% and 50% and anxiety was up to 38% in some studies. Factors that escalated psychological distress include stigma, fear of death, a lack of certainty regarding the treatment, a concern regarding infertile partners, and isolation. Quality of life, especially emotional and social aspects, was severely affected. Only a few studies assessed structured interventions. There was a lack of available mental health care. Conclusion: Mental health issues are found at a high level of prevalence among women with cervical cancer in Africa, but there is little treatment provided for mental health issues in cervical cancer treatment systems. There is a pressing need for cervical cancer treatment systems that include systematic mental health screening and culturally compatible mental health counselling components. Keywords: cervical cancer, mental health, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, Africa
There is an epidemic of maternal and infant death rising in plain sight in the United States. The maternal and infant mortality rate of Black/African-American mothers is three times that of White/European Americans in the US. Current research indicates that breastfeeding lowers both. While African-American mothers had the highest breastfeeding rates through the start of the twentieth century, by close of the century, their rates precipitously declined. Presently, they have the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the United States. In this paper, I examine how the ideas that Black/African American mothers had about breastfeeding before, during, and after pregnancy (postpartum) affected initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Also, I investigate how mothers’ healthcare providers affect their decision making, as well as how the type of birth that a mother has, e.g., preterm, vaginal, c-section, full term, affects her actual versus idealized infant feeding practice. I present a discussion of how doctors, nurses, breast pumps, etc., affect breastfeeding practice and how the practice impacts mothers’ beliefs about themselves as “good” mothers. In order to understand the interplay of the decision-making process and these constructs, I conducted a qualitative study in which I participated in face-to-face interviews with a diverse group of thirty African-American mothers. They ranged in age from 18 years-old to 50-years-old. At the time of her interview, each mother had at least one child who was three years old or younger. Through our discussions, we explored how pre-pregnancy perceptions, lived experiences as a mother, familial influences, and the discourses surrounding motherhood within an African-American context affected the perceptions and experiences that the mothers in the study had with their infant feeding practice(s). Findings suggest that pregnancy and birth experiences of the mothers in the study influenced whether or not they breastfed exclusively, combined breastfeeding and infant formula use or used infant formula exclusively. Specifically, the interplay of invocation of agency (the ability to control their bodies before, during, and after birth), birth outcomes and the interaction that the mothers in this study had with resources, human and material, had the highest on the initiation, duration, and attitude toward breastfeeding.
The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the short-, medium- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on digitalization processes, primarily through the example of the Hungarian healthcare. The main task was to explore how the pandemic affected the Hungarian healthcare services both of public (state) and private providers and what role healthcare digitalization played in this. The investigation contained a questionnaire survey which was conducted among private healthcare providers in 2024. The findings were supplemented by statistical analysis, literature review, document analysis and interviewing. Among the results, it can be mentioned that the pandemic accelerated the rapid and widespread spread of telemedicine in Hungary, and also resulted in the effective interaction of public and private healthcare, and thirdly, through private investments, serious developments were made in the application of telemedicine even before the pandemic which were also strengthened by the effects of the coronavirus epidemic. In addition to private investments, the Hungarian public – state – healthcare has also made significant developments in the application of telemedicine. All of these interventions in the digitalization processes of healthcare are still noticeable today due to the impact of the pandemic and will stay with us in the long-term. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, delivery of healthcare, digitalization, telemedicine, Hungary
Background and aim: Gastritis and dyspepsia often worsen during recumbency due to increased intragastric pressure and reflux, exacerbating gastric acid contact. We evaluated whether sleeping in an elevated right lateral head position with a bolster pillow reduces acid production and symptom severity in patients with gastritis or dyspepsia. Methods: An experimental study was conducted from January 2023 to February 2025 across multiple hospitals in Ajatappareng. A total of 200 diagnosed gastritis/dyspepsia patients were enrolled following ethical clearance (Poltekkes Kemenkes Makassar, EC/47832/01/2023). Patients were assigned to sleep in a 30° elevated right lateral head position using a bolster pillow every night. Gastric acid output was measured via basal and stimulated acid tests; symptom questionnaires were collected at baseline, 3 months, and end point. Results: Compared to baseline, mean basal acid output decreased by 35% (p < 0.001); peak acid output decreased by 40% (p < 0.001). Patient-reported symptom scores (pain, burning, early satiety) dropped by 50% (p < 0.001). No adverse events were observed. Conclusion: Non pharmacological elevated right lateral head positioning attenuates acid production and dyspepsia/gastritis symptoms, likely by enhancing gastric emptying, reducing gastric distension, and dampening parietal cell activation. This posture may serve as a simple, effective adjunct to standard management.
Suicide is a public health problem that, despite having prevention programs, rates are rising every year in Mexico. But beyond this situation, there is a little studied and analyzed issue: the economic and social costs that are generated after the suicide of a person, and that have repercussions on the family nucleus and society. The expenses associated with this type of death can last for years and considerably reduce the family income and, therefore, the quality of life of the survivors of suicide. The short- and long-term costs destabilize the economy of families and have long-term negative consequences for them, as well as for the business sector and society. The professional interest in this research stems from the current lack of information regarding the aforementioned consequences and the absence of public policies addressing them. This oversight in the political agenda may be attributed to the limited in-depth studies on the practical consequences of suicide within families, as well as in business and social spheres. The continuation of this research has the potential to foster greater recognition of this widespread issue. Keywords: suicide, economic costs, survivors
Understanding frailty in elderly requires a comprehensive bio-psycho-social framework that highlights social determinants as a relevant part of physical and cognitive health. This perspective is central to the multicentred study Fra-SET: Identification and Quantification of Frailty, coordinated by Prof. P. Abete and funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR – AGE-it, Spoke 3, Task 1.2: Definition of a shared minimum dataset and data collection framework: Multidimensional assessment of age-related diseases, multimorbidity, and frailty and related outcomes in health settings). The study is conducted within the broader research project "Metabolic Aspects of Vascular Diseases: Importance in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Identification of New Therapeutic Approaches and Biomarkers" (PRIN 2020). The primary objective of the study is to validate the brand-new diagnostic tool “fr-AGILE” designed for the identification and quantification of frailty in hospitalized elderly patients across healthcare settings with varying intensity levels, specifically in low, medium, and high-intensity care facilities affiliated with the study in Region Campania (Italy). It moves beyond traditional biological indicators, underscoring Fried’s phenotypic model, by addressing the multidimensional nature of frailty, which includes physical status, cognitive and psychological function, and crucially, social factors such as socioeconomic status, isolation and luck of support networks, which are critical contributors to health outcomes. Recognizing these factors aligns with current literature emphasizing the need for simple, quick, and multidimensional tools (Faller JW et al., 2019) plus the estimation of physical status, psycho-cognitive sphere, functional aspects, and social aspects (Abete et al., 2017) for personalized care strategies to manage frailty and improve quality of life in aging populations. This paradigm shift reflects an urgent public health priority given the growing prevalence of frailty globally: integrating social vulnerability into frailty assessment is essential for developing comprehensive care pathways and interventions tailored to the complex needs of elderly patients, ultimately enhancing clinical outcomes and promoting healthy aging.
This study investigated whether providing a mediation program by the education staff prior to elective surgery would reduce anxiety, improve cooperation, and increase knowledge compared to children who did not receive a mediation program. Participants included 60 children (ages 5–16) prior to undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia at Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, assigned to two groups: The control group received treatments provided exclusively by the medical and nursing staff. The experimental group also received mediation by the educational staff through a psycho-educational mediation program. Results were measured using the SCARED questionnaire in Hebrew with a section adapted to the study addressing anxiety, cooperation, knowledge acquisition, and one reflective question. Findings indicate that the experimental group's levels of knowledge and cooperation significantly exceeded that of the control group. In the psycho-educational program, 90 percent of experimental group participants exhibited a significant reduction in anxiety compared to the control group, persisting for two weeks following the intervention. The psycho-educational discussion was instrumental in helping most participants, particularly improving their emotional well-being. The staff's expertise in adapting the program to the children's emotional, physical, and mental needs also played a key role in reducing anxiety, increasing knowledge, and fostering cooperation.
Research is carried out on factors that influence academic performance in a group of students of Educational Sciences, from a public university in Mexico, after confinement due to COVID-19 pandemics. In a non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used, a Likert scale is used, to analyze mainly variables related to students’ mental and emotional health and academic engagement. A sample of 34 students (85% female, 20-25 aged). All participants came from other states or towns near to the city, from medium-low economic resources; some of them had work to continue studying. Students reported that they suffered moments of anxiety, fear, loneliness, depression, claustrophobia, and constant stress. Regarding academic engagement, it was found that they were easily distracted, it was difficult for them to complete their homework on time, to learn and to study, and some of them dropped out of school to work in order to financially help his family. It is suggested that research must be carried out to test interventions aimed at preventing and overcoming emotional and mental problems that may affect students’ learning and integral development. Keywords: academic engagement, anxiety, depression, stress, undergraduate students, COVID-19 pandemics
This study aimed to investigate the influence of an interactive design installation on patients’ anxiety in waiting rooms. Waiting rooms are often stressful environments, which can lead to serious phobias. Therefore, it is essential to make these spaces more pleasant. It is also important to help patients reduce their anxiety and stress levels while in these waiting rooms. Interactive design installations are a behavioral distraction technique used to influence patients’ thinking and refocus their attention away from anxiety. This experimental study was conducted using speculative design theory to determine how interactive installations can help reduce anxiety among patients in waiting rooms. Could it be a powerful tool that could be used in the future to improve healthcare quality, potentially replacing direct medical treatments, such as medications for anxiety, with behavioral techniques? Keywords: interactive design installation, patient anxiety, waiting rooms, Behavioral distraction techniques, future healthcare innovations
The 15-minute city is now considered paradigmatic in representations or models of cities. This city should allow all citizens access to all services, with each service located within a distance that takes no more than fifteen minutes to reach from any point in the city. However, would such a city be truly equitable encompassing the diversity of a population, or would it only represent the center of the Gaussian bell curve, with a reasonable deviation from the maximum of the Gaussian? Let us consider a person who is elderly, chronically ill or has limited mobility. This paradigm does not make him/her safe concerning the exposure to a climate risk within the current urban structure. The risk is directly related to climate exposure and thus to the time it takes to perform an “everyday life” task (e.g. going shopping). Studies show that an older adult with limited mobility also has limited ability to remain in a state of physiological well-being when exposed to a heat wave, so the 15 minute-city does not produce as much benefit for those living towards the tail end of the Gaussian. This example of an elderly person with limited mobility can, moreover, be aggravated by the presence of any disabilities. The first results of Horizon Europe Project CARMINE and of the interaction with a group of stakeholders who were asked how they would work to introduce Nature Based Solutions (NBS) in the Metropolitan area of Bologna are presented in the findings. The objective of the CARMINE Project is to create a decision support system, scalable to European cities, for implementing urban climate policies in the Climate Adapt Platform.
This paper documents the experience of a methodological approach that integrates offline, personalized, and individual assessment with new digital data processing technologies, based on specific medical needs. In the multicenter non-pharmacological experimental study on aging titled "Fra-set: Identification and Quantification of Frailty" by P. Abete (funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) - AGE-it - Ageing Well in an Ageing Society, Spoke 3, Task 1.2 (Definition of a shared minimum dataset and data collection framework: Multidimensional assessment of age-related diseases, multimorbidity, and frailty and related outcomes in health settings), conducted within the study "Metabolic Aspects of Vascular Diseases: Importance in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Identification of New Therapeutic Approaches and Biomarkers" (PRIN 2020), the endpoint is the validation of the diagnostic tool named “fr-AGILE,” which allows for the identification and quantification of frailty in hospitalized elderly patients in facilities with varying levels of care intensity. Although the investigative tools are questionnaires, the research is quantitative. Data collection occurs in non-digital settings, specifically in low, medium, and high-intensity care facilities affiliated with the study in Campania. It utilizes information acquired directly from the patient or caregiver in a detailed and individualized manner, through the administration of scales such as the Edmonton Frail Scale and fr-AGILE, tests administered at clinical stability (pre-discharge). The importance of adherence to informed consent from patients—whose absence constitutes an exclusion criterion from the study; the awareness of a pronounced digital divide within the elderly population; the urgent need for extreme personalization of care; the necessity to identify a medical tool for the identification and quantification of frailty in elderly patients that is simple, quick, and multidimensional (Faller JW et al., 2019); the need to abandon Fried's phenotypic model (the narrow biological paradigm) in favor of a complex bio-psycho-social paradigm that includes, in a multidimensional approach, the estimation of physical status, the psycho-cognitive sphere, functional aspects, and social aspects (P. Abete et al., 2017)—are motivations that dictate the need for a research methodology that integrates offline, individualized, and personalized data collection tools with digital contexts for data analysis, processing, and sharing, as well as internal communication and interconnection between the UOCs and the various professional figures involved in the study. Keywords: Aging, Customization, Fragility, Integrated methodology
Demands facing healthcare providers include heavy caseloads, limited control over work environment, and changes in reimbursement lead to systems in transition and provider stress. Other conditions of increasing stress and symptoms of burnout as self-reported by clinicians include apathy. Lack of empathy affects the quality of patient care. Lack of empathy is a symptom or a red flag to burnout. Rising burnout rates correspond with rising suicide rates among providers. Compassionate Aging: Reimagining Empathy (C*A*R*E) is an empathy-raising experience regarding the unique challenges faced by an aging patient population. This paper empirically examines the effectiveness of C*A*R*E in promoting empathy among healthcare providers. The program uses an escape room-type experience in which participants adopt personas with challenges associated with aging. The participants perform daily tasks with simulated impairments. Pre and post surveys show significant effects on participants’ likelihood to help patients and feeling that they can relate to them. Keywords: Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, Mindfulness, Empathy
Gaps in management skills have been identified in the social and health field. Improved personnel management skills and new ways of strengthening skills are needed to strengthen the field’s attractiveness and retention. Digital pre-service training and content topics on good leadership is one potential solution. The target group for this study was professionals studying for a master's degree in the field of social and health care. The aim of the study was to discover what kind of transformational leadership insights could be identified in the essays reflecting on the learning of the students (n=97) of the digital pre-personal coaching course. The topic was examined using Kouze and Posner's model of transformational leadership, which includes five components: 'Modeling the way', 'inspiring a shared vision', 'challenging the process', 'enabling others to act' and 'encouraging the heart'. The essays were analyzed using inductive-deductive content analysis. The results supported transformational leadership theory and provided insights into good chaperone work that were reflected at the levels of knowing, doing and being. A frontline worker can develop their knowledge and leadership skills if they are motivated to do so. A transformational leader can create a work climate that supports innovation and renewal in their organization. Keywords: transformational leadership, supervisor, coaching, insight, competence
