Background/Objectives: Understanding environmental experiences in residential dementia care is crucial for enhancing care practices, training, and policy. The environment’s role in dementia care is complex. Allied health and nursing professionals must consider environmental aspects concerning care for individuals with dementia. This study investigates how employed caregivers experience and perceive environmental influences in residential dementia care. Methods: In September 2024, we systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO for qualitative studies, adhering to SRQR guidelines. The CASP tool was used to assess study quality, ensuring rigor and reliability in selection. The meta-synthesis is registered with Prospero: CRD42024598962. A template analysis was conducted to structure emerging themes. Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Key themes included: 1. Working Environment: Informed understandings—capturing caregivers’ perceptions of organisational structures and support. 2. Lived Environment: Stability and Clarity—highlighting the impact of relational and social dynamics on caregiving; and 3. Physical and Built Environment: Impact on Overall Care Experience—looking at the role of space and design in facilitating effective dementia care. Following this, more subthemes emerged, resulting in the final template. Conclusions: The key gaps included understanding the existing strengths of practice, differences in job roles, funding, the role of Employed Caregivers, and Employed Caregivers’ personhood. Emphasising evidence-based practice and clearly defining job roles may improve decision-making and collaboration. It is essential to identify funding gaps and provide clear guidelines and training to ensure equitable care and maximise the contributions of Employed Caregivers working with nurses and allied health professionals. Recognising Employed Caregivers’ personhood could enhance job satisfaction and reduce burnout. Policies should address these gaps by providing training to clarify roles and enhance skills. A supportive, person-centred workplace may improve satisfaction and care outcomes. Future research should evaluate these aspects and continue to identify the best practices.
Stronger maternal-fetal attachment contributes to less prenatal maternal mental stress and better pregnancy outcomes, ultimately leading to healthier mother-infant relationships and infants with far fewer cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal issues. The literature suggests that a lack of maternal factors, such as oral health knowledge and prenatal dental care utilization, is directly linked to the incidence of early childhood caries (ECC). The authors hypothesize that innovative maternal behavioral change communication (MBCC) interventions targeting pregnant mothers could help improve the general/oral health literacy and outcomes of both themselves and their infants. The study is conducted as a randomized controlled trial (3-arm parallel design) reto assess the ability of an MBCC intervention to develop and strengthen the maternal-fetal/infant bond and encourage awareness and understanding of good oral health, behavior, and practices among expecting mothers and their newborn infants to prevent ECC. Pregnant women (n = 450) aged 20–35 years in the 12th -20th week of gestation will be the sampling frame for the study, which will be extended to a 2-year postnatal period. Women randomized to the study groups will be provided with timely intervention videos that contain information on prenatal bonding and preventive pre- and postnatal oral health care, whereas women in the control group will receive general information via pamphlets, e-flyers, and brochures on preventive oral care for a healthy pregnancy. Oral health screening and counselling will be provided during the follow-up visits of the mother and her infant. The outcome measures will include the incidence of ECC among infants (primary outcome), prenatal/postnatal maternal–fetal/infant attachment measures, maternal oral health knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP), caries risk assessment, and oral health measures (secondary outcomes). The study outcomes will be added to substantiate the use of MBCC interventions in reducing the incidence of ECC. A stronger maternal-Fetal/Infant bond may also possibly contribute to babies receiving greater maternal affection and developing a strong sense of trust. If positive, this model of care can be widely applied in clinical practice to ensure holistic health care and thereby achieve sustainable positive health outcomes. Clinical Trial Registry India CTRI/2022/07/044124 [Registered on: 19/07/2022].
ObjectivesTo conduct a narrative review of the published literature on the localization techniques to identify the best technique for the localization of supernumerary teeth.MethodsAn extensive search of literature published in English between January 1966 and May 2024 was conducted using the “Medline via PubMed” and “Cochrane database” databases. The keywords included in the search were “localization” “radiographs”, and “impacted teeth”, or “un-erupted teeth”, or “supernumerary teeth” or “supernumerary tooth”. The citation lists from the included articles were examined to identify additional reports and a hand search was also conducted. Kappa statistics were used for intra-examiner reliability.ResultsThe initial search yielded 4,864 citations, subsequently examined and supplemented by a hand search to find additional studies. Commonly used techniques for the localization of supernumerary teeth are the horizontal tube shift technique, vertical tube shift technique, vertex occlusal technique, and cone-beam computerized tomography.ConclusionThe most commonly used localization techniques for supernumerary teeth are horizontal tube shift, vertex occlusal, vertical tube shift, and cone-beam computerized tomography. Conventional radiographs only provide two-dimensional views of 3-dimensional structures. Three-dimensional imaging alone can provide accurate data on impacted supernumerary teeth but, the need for this film has to be justified because of the higher radiation exposure.
This study explored how people thought and talked about death/dying during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings presented here are based on data collected for a larger study exploring the processes undertaken that allow individuals to actively think and openly talk about death and dying. Ten of the eleven interviews conducted during the pandemic mentioned COVID-19. These were subjected to thematic analysis, which identified two main themes: 'Becoming more thoughtful and open about death' and 'Anxieties around death and COVID-19'. The findings suggest that COVID-19 has prompted some people to think about and become more open to talk about death and dying.
BACKGROUND:Tele-consultations are increasingly used for screening and diagnosis. Only a few studies have assessed dental students' visual attention to clinical images.AIM:To (i) determine dental students' gaze behavior, visual fixations, and diagnostic competence while viewing clinical images, and (ii) explore potential opportunities to strengthen the teaching-learning approaches.DESIGN:Tobii Pro Nano-device captured the eye-tracking data for 65 dental undergraduate students in this cross-sectional study. The predetermined areas of interest (AOI) for all five clinical photographs were uploaded onto Tobii software. All participants used a think-aloud protocol with no restrictions to view time.RESULTS:A total of 325 clinical pictures were analyzed, and the average view time was 189.25 ± 76.90 s. Most participants started at the center of the image (three frontal photos), spent a significant share of their view time on prominent findings, did not follow a systematic pattern, and exhibited diagnostic incompetence. Also, most participants followed a "Z" viewing pattern (oscillating movement from left to right) for the remaining two pictures.CONCLUSIONS:Subjects frequently fixated on the prominent AOI, however, failed to make the correct diagnosis. Their view patterns revealed no sequential viewing. Therefore, emphasizing knowledge about common dental abnormalities and focusing on full coverage of clinical pictures can improve dental students' diagnostic competence and view patterns.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the long-established approach to death. Among the workers who suffered most from the effects of this new situation are those in death care, who had to take care of the disposal of bodies throughout the pandemic. This study explores the experiences of these professionals to better understand the difficulties they faced in their daily work during the first wave of the pandemic. The narratives of 29 Italian death care professionals were collected. The data were analysed using Template Analysis, and four main themes were identified: the changes in funeral practices, the management of the increased workload, stigmatisation and a lack of support. The results of this study have also shown that institutions and the public know too little about the death care system, a factor that significantly influenced the difficulties faced by these professionals in coping with the pandemic.
Childhood fantasy play and creation of imaginary companions are thought to confer socio-emotional benefits in children, but little is known about how they relate to socio-emotional competence in adulthood. A total of 341 adults (81 males) aged 18 and above (M = 31.47, SD = 12.62) completed an online survey examining their fantasy play as a child, their childhood imaginary companion status, and their adult socio-emotional competence. Adults who reported higher levels of childhood fantasy play were found to be significantly more prosocial, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent than their counterparts after controlling for demographic factors. Recall of a childhood imaginary companion, however, was significantly related only to higher scores for perspective-taking and did not explain unique variance in any adult competence measure. Findings suggest that engagement in fantasy play during childhood may be a precursor to later socio-emotional competence, while benefits previously associated with imaginary companions specifically may not extend into adulthood.
Background and aim: For people with type 1 diabetes, self-management is a necessity. However, self-management can be impeded by aspects of everyday life, which may impact young adults moving to independence. However, it is not yet clear which aspects are most relevant, nor what knowledge gaps remain.Methods: An established scoping review methodology was used to select and synthesise the existing literature. Sixteen peer reviewed articles were included for analysis.Results: Type 1 diabetes self-management exists within a disordered space, impeded by aspects of everyday life, while simultaneously impeding daily living. Negative attitudes, concealment, non-adherence, Diabetes Distress, and mental illness were each associated with difficulty in self-management. A cyclical relationship between these characteristics emerged: they are obstacles to self-management yet also result from poor self-management. Young adults were identified as a vulnerable demographic: they tend to perceive type 1 diabetes more negatively and have additional life priorities (e.g., education/work) that lead to suboptimal self-management, including nonadherence behaviours, which can reduce quality of life. Several gaps in the literature were found, notably around psychological experiences, employment, and effective interventions. Few studies involved in-depth exploration of lived experiences.Conclusions: There is a need to develop novel interventions to support self-management of type 1 diabetes that target the obstacles identified here. Furthermore, experiential research into younger adults' experiences of life and work with type 1 diabetes will help fill the knowledge gap for this demographic.
Spontaneous imaginary companion (SIC) creation in childhood is a typical imaginative play behaviour associated with advanced sociocognitive skills; however, the direction of causality has not been established. To investigate this experimentally, researchers must determine whether children can create, on request, qualitatively equivalent imaginary companions (ICs) to those created spontaneously. We examined whether children could create ICs, and how these compared to SICs. Nine elementary school children were encouraged to create ICs in a 3-month intervention. Accounts of elicited ICs were compared with an age-matched sample of interviewees with SICs. Seven children maintained ICs for 6 months post intervention. Template analysis of IC interviews found four themes: Realistic Play, Multifaceted IC Mind, Utility of the IC, and Elicited IC Across Time. Analysis suggests elicited and SICs were similar in nature and utility, although intervention ICs tended to have animal rather than human appearances. Findings support the argument that children can be encouraged to create ICs similar to SICs.
Visual attention is a significant gateway to a child’s mind, and looking is one of the first behaviors young children develop. Untreated caries and the resulting poor dental aesthetics can have adverse emotional and social impacts on children’s oral health-related quality of life due to its detrimental effects on self-esteem and self-concept. Therefore, we explored preschool children’s eye movement patterns and visual attention to images with and without dental caries via eye movement analysis using hidden Markov models (EMHMM). We calibrated a convenience sample of 157 preschool children to the eye-tracker (Tobii Nano Pro) to ensure standardization. Consequently, each participant viewed the same standardized pictures with and without dental caries while an eye-tracking device tracked their eye movements. Subsequently, based on the sequence of viewed regions of interest (ROIs), a transition matrix was developed where the participants’ previously viewed ROI informed their subsequently considered ROI. Hence, an individual’s HMM was estimated from their eye movement data using a variational Bayesian approach to determine the optimal number of ROIs automatically. Consequently, this data-driven approach generated the visual task participants' most representative eye movement patterns. Preschool children exhibited two different eye movement patterns, distributed (78%) and selective (21%), which was statistically significant. Children switched between images with more similar probabilities in the distributed pattern while children remained looking at the same ROI than switching to the other ROI in the selective pattern. Nevertheless, all children exhibited an equal starting fixation on the right or left image and noticed teeth. The study findings reveal that most preschool children did not have an attentional bias to images with and without dental caries. Furthermore, only a few children selectively fixated on images with dental caries. Therefore, selective eye-movement patterns may strongly predict preschool children’s sustained visual attention to dental caries. Nevertheless, future studies are essential to fully understand the developmental origins of differences in visual attention to common oral health presentations in children. Finally, EMHMM is appropriate for assessing inter-individual differences in children’s visual attention.
This paper presents and illustrates Interpretive Clustering, an innovative and original method of qualitative analysis of Repertory Grid data. Repertory Grids are a popular and flexible method of research, but they have primarily been used to gather data that are analysed quantitatively. Although many researchers have used Grids more qualitatively, this is often limited to a content analysis of the elicited constructs across a sample of participants. Interpretive Clustering is a participant-led method which uses the grid data idiographically to explore how a participant's construing may 'cluster' around one or more issues. We show how this is quite different from a thematic analysis, and discuss how Interpretive Clustering can provide insights that are complementary to those gained from methods like thematic analysis. We conclude with suggestions for how this method, which we argue bridges the qualitative/quantitative divide, might be used in future research.
Abstract Background/Aim Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in the primary dentition may result in tooth discolouration and fractures. The aim of this child‐centred study was to explore the differences between preschool children's eye movement patterns and visual attention to typical outcomes following TDIs to primary teeth. Materials and Methods An eye‐tracker recorded 155 healthy preschool children's eye movements when they viewed clinical images of healthy teeth, tooth fractures and discolourations. The visual search pattern was analysed using the eye movement analysis with the Hidden Markov Models (EMHMM) approach and preference for the various regions of interest (ROIs). Results Two different eye movement patterns (distributed and selective) were identified (p < .05). Children with the distributed pattern shifted their fixations between the presented images, while those with the selective pattern remained focused on the same image they first saw. Conclusions Preschool children noticed teeth. However, most of them did not have an attentional bias, implying that they did not interpret these TDI outcomes negatively. Only a few children avoided looking at images with TDIs indicating a potential negative impact. The EMHMM approach is appropriate for assessing inter‐individual differences in children's visual attention to TDI outcomes.
In response to Jones’s (2022) article, we argue that if we understand personal construct psychology as being less rationalistic and more holistic than is often assumed, important synergies between it and Jungian analytical psychology can be observed. We argue that the two theories can be considered to align with each other on a number of points. These include taking a similar epistemological position, a recognition of psychological processes operating outside of immediate awareness, and the implications that these can have for personal change. We argue for a more “social” understanding of personal construct psychology than Jones allows for, and further suggest that possibilities for its alignment with social constructionism should not be understated. We conclude that both theories deserve greater visibility in the world of academic psychology, and argue for greater consideration of their potential use in research.
No previous studies have investigated eye-movement patterns to show children’s information processing while viewing clinical images. Therefore, this study aimed to explore children and their educators’ perception of a midline diastema by applying eye-movement analysis using the hidden Markov models (EMHMM). A total of 155 children between 2.5 and 5.5 years of age and their educators (n = 34) viewed pictures with and without a midline diastema while Tobii Pro Nano eye-tracker followed their eye movements. Fixation data were analysed using data-driven, and fixed regions of interest (ROIs) approaches with EMHMM. Two different eye-movement patterns were identified: explorative pattern (76%), where the children’s ROIs were predominantly around the nose and mouth, and focused pattern (26%), where children’s ROIs were precise, locating on the teeth with and without a diastema, and fixations transited among the ROIs with similar frequencies. Females had a significantly higher eye-movement preference for without diastema image than males. Comparisons between the different age groups showed a statistically significant difference for overall entropies. The 3.6–4.5y age groups exhibited higher entropies, indicating lower eye-movement consistency. In addition, children and their educators exhibited two specific eye-movement patterns. Children in the explorative pattern saw the midline diastema more often while their educators focussed on the image without diastema. Thus, EMHMMs are valuable in analysing eye-movement patterns in children and adults.
Dyadic interviews, in which two participants are interviewed together, are becoming more popular in qualitative research, but are much less discussed in the methodological literature than individual and group forms. In this article, we consider the nature and value of dyadic interviews, recognizing them as active, relational encounters, shaped by what all parties bring to them, and infused with issues of power. Drawing on our research on altruistic motivation which involved 47 dyadic interviews conducted with 94 individuals and post-interview feedback from participants, we demonstrate the strengths and point out some of the potential pitfalls associated with the dyadic format, focusing on the practical and ethical issues in defining and recruiting dyads and the practice of conducting such interviews. We provide recommendations for researchers interested in using this method, and suggest research priorities for the further development of dyadic interviewing.
PURPOSE:While eye-tracking technology is a validated tool in the field of education it is still in its infancy in the field of Pediatric Dentistry. The primary aim of this study was to determine dental undergraduates' search patterns and visual fixations while viewing panoramic radiographs (PR) using an eye-tracker. The secondary aim was to decide on the potential opportunities to enhance teaching-learning strategies when studying these radiographs.METHODS:Sixty-five dental undergraduates in the final year of their dental education consented to and participated in this study. A Tobii Pro Nano screen-based eye-tracking camera was mounted to the lower edge of a laptop with five different PR uploaded onto the Tobii Studio software. Regions of Interest (ROIs) were pre-determined for the five PR. The participants (17 males and 48 females) viewed all the PR images with no time restrictions and a "think-aloud" protocol was exercised.RESULTS:The average view time for the PR was 245.58 ± 106.7 s. Participants spent significantly less time examining the surrounding structures (14.85 s) than the dentitions (primary: 97.58 s and permanent: 37.58 s). Males demonstrated a slightly higher view time (290.88 ± 97.7 s) than females (229.53 ± 106.05 s).CONCLUSIONS:The results revealed that though the participants focused on the ROI, most of them failed to make the correct diagnosis. In addition, the search patterns of the participants unveiled no sequential viewing of PR. Hence the need to revise the teaching-learning strategies for the systematic interpretation of PR images in the dental curriculum is warranted.
Background Reporting guidelines for different study designs are currently available to report studies with accuracy and transparency. There is a need to develop supplementary guideline items that are specific to areas within Pediatric Dentistry. This study aims to develop Reporting stAndards for research in PedIatric Dentistry (RAPID) guidelines using a pre-defined expert consensus-based Delphi process. Methods The development of the RAPID guidelines was based on the Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting Guidelines. Following a comprehensive search of the literature, the Executive Group identified ten themes in Pediatric Dentistry and compiled a draft checklist of items under each theme. The themes were categorized as: General, Oral Medicine, Pathology and Radiology, Children with Special Health Care Needs, Sedation and Hospital Dentistry, Behavior Guidance, Dental Caries, Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, Pulp Therapy, Traumatology, and Interceptive Orthodontics. A RAPID Delphi Group (RDG) was formed comprising of 69 members from 15 countries across six continents. Items were scored using a 9-point rating Likert scale. Items achieving a score of seven and above, marked by at least 70% of RDG members were accepted into the RAPID checklist items. Weighted mean scores were calculated for each item. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and one-way ANOVA was used to calculate the difference in the weighted mean scores between the themes. Results The final RAPID checklist comprised of 128 items that were finalized and approved by the RDG members in the online consensus meeting. The percentage for high scores (scores 7 to 9) ranged from 69.57 to 100% for individual items. The overall weighted mean score of the final items ranged from 7.51 to 8.28 (out of 9) and the difference was statistically significant between the themes (p < 0.05). Conclusions The RAPID statement provides guidance to researchers, authors, reviewers and editors, to ensure that all elements relevant to particular studies are adequately reported.
Purpose In the past decade, there has been growing awareness of well-being and its importance and an increase in the development of activities or programmes aimed at improving well-being. The purpose of this study is to investigate what well-being programmes were being offered to prisoners in England and Wales and what benefits and other outcomes were experienced. Design/methodology/approach The study used a mixed-methods exploratory design in two phases. Phase 1 was a questionnaire survey of all adult prisons in England and Wales, completed by prison staff. In Phase 2, a sample of survey respondents took part in in-depth interviews. Findings The programmes identified in Phase 1 included physical activities, creative arts, mindfulness, horticulture, reading and animal-assisted activities. Prison staff reported a range of universally positive outcomes shared by all programmes, including enthusiasm from prisoners, enjoyment of the activities and being able to do something different from the usual prison routine. However, in Phase 2, interviewees rarely mentioned direct health and well-being benefits. The impetus for programmes was varied and there was little reference to national policy on health and well-being; this reflected the ad hoc way in which programmes are developed, with a key role being played by the Well-being Officer, where these were funded. Originality/value The literature on well-being programmes in prisons is limited and tends to focus on specific types of initiatives, often in a single prison. This study contributes by highlighting the range of activities across prisons and elucidating the perspectives of those involved in running such programmes.