UNASSIGNED: The Roma minority, Europe\'s largest ethnic minority, experiences significant disparities in living conditions and health outcomes compared to the non-Roma populations across the continent. Despite extensive documentation of the socio-economic challenges faced by the Roma, there is a notable lack of comparative research.
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to fill this gap by examining the differences in socio-economic characteristics, living conditions, and self-reported health status between Roma (R) and non-Roma (nR) women in in Hungary (HU), Romania (RO), and Slovakia (SK), providing a cross-country comparative analysis. Utilizing simple and multiple binary logistic models, our research analysed data collected from September 2020 to March 2022, involving 322 Roma and 294 non-Roma women in Hungary, 258 Roma and 183 non-Roma women in Romania, and 146 Roma and 163 non-Roma women in Slovakia.
UNASSIGNED: Findings indicate significant associations between increased age (R:OR = 1.04[1.02,1.06], p < 0.001), (nR:OR = 1.04[1.02,1.05], p < 0.001) lower financial situation (R:OR = 2.05[1.01,4.18], p = 0.048) (nR:OR = 1.67[1.01,2.77], p = 0.047), and basic education level (R:OR = 3.60[1.29,10.08], p = 0.015) (nR:OR = 3.64[1.77,7.51], p < 0.001) with the likelihood of poor health status across both groups in Hungary. In Romania, increased age (OR = 1.04[1.02,1.06], p < 0.001) and basic education level (OR = 5.24[2.29,11.99], p < 0.001) were particularly predictive of poor health among non-Roma, while in Slovakia, age (OR = 1.05[1.02,1.07], p < 0.001) was a significant factor for Roma, and intermediate education level (OR = 2.68[1.16,6.20], p = 0.021) was for non-Roma. The study also found that a higher number of children (HU:OR = 1.35[1.12,1.63], p = 0.002), (RO:OR = 1.57[1.25,1.96], p < 0.001) and problems with housing comfort (RO:OR = 4.83[2.19,10.62], p = 0.015) and wall conditions (RO:OR = 2.81[1.22,6.46], p < 0.001) significantly impacted the health status of non-Roma women in Hungary and Romania. Conversely, an increase in household size was associated with a better health status among Roma women in Hungary (OR = 0.88[0.79,0.99]) and Slovakia (OR = 0.78[0.61,0.99]).
UNASSIGNED: By offering a novel comparative analysis, this study highlights the critical need for focused attention on the health disparities faced by Roma women, particularly those in a multiply disadvantaged situation due to their ethnic and socio-economic status.

In recent years, due to the prevalence of virtual reality (VR) and human-computer interaction (HCI) research, along with the expectation that understanding the process of establishing sense of ownership, sense of agency, and limb heaviness (in this study, limb heaviness is replaced with comfort level) will contribute to the development of various medical rehabilitation, various studies have been actively conducted in these fields. Previous studies have indicated that each perceptual characteristics decrease in response to positive delay. However, it is still unclear how each perceptual characteristic changes in response to negative delay. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to deduce how changes occur in the perceptual characteristics when certain settings are manipulated using the avatar developed in this study. This study conducted experiments using an avatar system developed for this research that uses electromyography as the interface. Two separate experiments involved twelve participants: a preliminary experiment and a main experiment. As observed in the previous study, it was confirmed that each perceptual characteristics decreased for positive delay. In addition, the range of the preliminary experiment was insufficient for the purpose of this study, which was to confirm the perceptual characteristics for negative delay, thus confirming the validity of conducting this experiment. Meanwhile, the main experiment showed that the sense of ownership, sense of agency, and comfort level decreased gradually as delay time decreased, (i.e., this event is prior to action with intention, which could not be examined in the previous study). This suggests that control by the brain-machine interface is difficult to use when it is too fast. In addition, the distribution of the most strongly perceived settings in human perceptual characteristics was wider in regions with larger delays, suggesting this may lead to the evaluation of an internal model believed to exist in the human cerebellum. The avatar developed for this study may have the potential to create a new experimental paradigm for perceptual characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of cluster nursing on pressure ulcer prevention and comfort of orthopedic patients.
METHODS: A total of 124 orthopedic inpatients admitted to the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 66 cases received cluster nursing who were assigned into the observation group and the other 58 cases received routine nursing and were assigned into the control group. The incidence of pressure ulcers, the degree of pressure the ulcer, quality of life-brief (QOL-BREF), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores of the two groups at 7 days after surgery were compared, and the comfort score and nursing satisfaction of the two groups were evaluated and compared. The expression and predictive value of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with pressure ulcers before operation were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were compared between the two groups before and after nursing.
RESULTS: After nursing, the observation group had significantly lower IL-6, TNF-α, SAS score, and SDS scores than the control group, and showed significantly higher QOL-BREF score, nursing satisfaction and comfort scores than the control group. In addition, the observation group showed a significantly lower incidence of pressure ulcers and a significantly lower severity level than the control group after nursing. Patients with pressure ulcers showed significantly higher serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels before surgery, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed that IL-6 and TNF-α had certain value in forecasting the occurrence of pressure ulcers.
CONCLUSIONS: Cluster nursing can substantially lower the incidence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized orthopedic patients and improve their comfort.

Form-fitting spandex swimsuits or single-layer compression shorts are recommended during BOD POD® testing to ensure accurate results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various outfit types on body composition measurements using the BOD POD®, and self-reported comfort level wearing each outfit. Twenty-one participants, 8 females and 13 males, (age 31.6 ± 9.8 years) wore a spandex swim cap and three different outfits during BOD POD® testing (manufacturer-recommended form-fitting spandex swimsuit, short sleeve spandex, long sleeve spandex). Measured variables include body mass, body fat percentage, body volume, and self-reported comfort level wearing each outfit. Calculated variables include BMI and body density. Mean body density when wearing the control outfit was 0.004 g/cm3 lower than both short (p < 0.001) and long sleeve (p = 0.001) alternatives. Short and long sleeve outfits resulted in body fat percentage underestimations of 2.0% and 2.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). The short sleeve outfit had the highest mean comfort rating followed by the long sleeve outfit, and the lowest was the control swimsuits. The short sleeve outfit and control outfit had the largest differences in reported comfort levels (p < 0.05). Wearing short and long sleeve spandex outfits instead of recommended form-fitting swimsuits resulted in body density increases and body fat percentage underestimations. Participants should follow manufacturer recommendations by wearing spandex swimsuits. Participants had higher self-reported comfort levels when wearing short or long sleeve outfits.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous histopathologic diagnoses in children often differ from those in adults. Depending on practice setting, these specimens may be evaluated by dermatopathologists or pediatric pathologists. We sought to determine whether comfort level with pediatric dermatopathology is associated with prior training, pediatric dermatopathology exposure during fellowship, career duration, or specimen subtype.
METHODS: We surveyed dermatopathologists and pediatric pathologists practicing in the United States. Training and practice variables were evaluated by multivariable regression for association with comfort level.
RESULTS: Of the 156 respondents, 72% were dermatopathologists (response rate 11.6%) and 28% were pediatric pathologists (response rate 9.3%). Dermatopathologists reported higher comfort overall (P < .001); this was also true for inflammatory dermatoses and melanocytic neoplasms (P < .001). Thirty-four percent and 75% of dermatopathologists and pediatric pathologists, respectively, reported lower comfort with pediatric skin specimens than their usual cases. Pediatric pathologists were 28% more likely to refer these cases to colleagues. Among dermatopathologists, dermatology-trained were more comfortable than pathology-trained colleagues interpreting inflammatory dermatoses (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS: Pathologists\' comfort with pediatric dermatopathology varied significantly based upon prior training, career duration, and specimen subtype. These results suggest opportunities for improving education in this domain.

Many East Asians apply double eyelid tape to create the double eyelid effect temporarily as a means of increasing their beauty. This study evaluated the effects of four-week wear of double eyelid tape on anterior ocular health in young adult women with single eyelids. Twenty-nine participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The participants\' anterior ocular health was examined including blinking characteristics (blink pattern and blink rate), ocular surface health (presence of corneal abrasion, corneal staining, conjunctival staining, corneal curvatures, meibomian gland dysfunction), tear break up time, intraocular pressure, and subjective comfort level. Participants were required to apply the double eyelid tape for at least eight hours a day and five days a week for four weeks. The parameters were re-measured at the end of each week. There was a significant increase in conjunctival staining, corneal staining, and meibomian gland dysfunction, with a significant reduction in tear break-up time and intraocular pressure. By week 3, all participants had incomplete blinks. There was no significant change in symptoms and subjective comfort level reported. Therefore, patients and eye care practitioners should be aware of the potential implications of double eyelid tape wear on ocular health, with no significant change in subjective comfort.

This study aimed to determine the effects of back massage on postoperative vital signs, pain, and comfort levels in liver transplant patients.
A quasi-experimental model with a pretest, a posttest, and a control group was used. The population of the study comprised adult patients who had liver transplantation for the first time. The study sample comprised 84 adult patients who had liver transplantation: 42 experimental (study group) and 42 control group, selected by power analysis and the random sampling method from the population. The data were collected between May and September 2016 using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the General Comfort Scale. In the study group, the researcher performed back massage twice per day in the morning and evening in the organ transplant service. No treatment was performed in the control group. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, a t-test for dependant groups, and a t-test for independent groups were used.
According to morning and evening follow-ups after liver transplantation, the mean scores of pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure values, and pain intensity was lower, and the mean score of sPO2 (oxygen saturation) levels and comfort levels was higher, with a statistical significance in the experimental group compared with the control group in all measurements before and after back massage (p < 0.001).
The back massage applied to liver transplant patients positively affected vital signs, decreased the severity of pain, and increased the comfort levels of the patients.

BACKGROUND: Newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) have reported stress and role ambiguity during the transition to practice. Previous researchers focused on their qualitative experiences, yet no investigators have explored how characteristics such as the setting or type of educational program affect the transition to practice.
OBJECTIVE: To determine how newly credentialed ATs perceived their transition to practice.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study.
METHODS: Online survey.
METHODS: Of 1835 newly credentialed ATs (18%) certified and employed between January and September, 332 completed the survey within 3 months of employment (129 men, 203 women; age = 23.58 ± 2.54 years).
METHODS: The survey consisted of demographic information (eg, employment setting, job title) and 3 sections: (1) comfort level during the transition (CL), (2) feelings of mentorship and support (MS), and (3) feelings of organizational transition. Participants identified their feelings of nervousness, support, and understanding organizational values using a Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree). Descriptive statistics were calculated for each survey item. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis (H) tests were used to determine associations between different demographic characteristics and responses regarding orientation and CL, MS, and feelings of organizational transition.
RESULTS: Most participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt nervous (n = 264, 79.2%) and that the transition was stressful (n = 227, 68.1%) but they felt prepared for their job (n = 262, 78.7%). No differences in CL were present among settings (H = 5.64, P = .228), job titles (H = 4.88, P = .087), or types of professional program (U = 6488, P = .279). Respondents who were assigned a mentor reported better perceptions of MS (U = 6250, P < .001). Most participants felt that supervisors adequately explained administrative procedures during orientation (n = 169, 54.3%) and felt they were adequately oriented to organizational values (n = 252, 75.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: New ATs felt nervous when entering their new role, but having a mentor and receiving a detailed orientation helped alleviate stress during the transition to practice.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure the effects of instruction regarding transgender health in second-year student pharmacists and provide qualitative insight regarding their impressions of the educational experience.
UNASSIGNED: Students completed a pre- and post-survey assessing knowledge regarding transgender therapeutics, the pharmacist\'s role, level of comfort providing care, and impression of exposure to the topic. McNemar\'s test and paired t-tests compared respondent data before and after the activity. The post-survey evaluated the learning activity, with an opportunity to leave open comments that were then analyzed using content analysis.
RESULTS: Eighty-five of 107 (79.4%) students completed both surveys and were included in the analysis. Transgender therapeutics knowledge, participant understanding of pharmacist\'s role, comfort level, and assessment of adequateness of exposure improved significantly (p < 0.001). A majority (82.4%) affirmed that more than one exposure to issues regarding care of transgender patients is needed in the curriculum. Fifty-five open comments offered by 23 students were coded and categorized into two overall themes with four and two subthemes, respectively. Strengths of the activity were topic importance, exposure appreciation, presentation style, and knowledge foundation. Opportunities for improvement included providing more information and different types of information.
CONCLUSIONS: The activity increased student pharmacists\' knowledge regarding transgender therapeutics, the pharmacist\'s role, and comfort level in caring for this patient population. Respondents found the content valuable and desired more. Colleges of pharmacy should consider increasing exposure to specific patient populations, such as transgender patients, to prepare students for practice.

The purpose of this study was to describe current genetic counseling practice in the United States following a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) result positive for a sex chromosome abnormality (SCA). Screening for SCAs can be confounded by confined placental mosaicism, natural loss of the X chromosome from maternal cells during aging, and undiagnosed maternal SCA or copy number variant (CNV). Furthermore, with the exception of 45,X, individuals with SCAs usually have no ultrasound or postnatal findings. This makes follow-up for unresolved positive NIPT necessary; however, there are currently no clinical guidelines. This study used a cross-sectional design with an anonymous questionnaire to survey 176 genetic counselors. The majority of prenatal respondents always offered diagnostic testing (>88%) and anatomy ultrasound (~90%), but the percent consistently offering maternal karyotype (22%-52%) and postnatal evaluation (28%-87%) varied. Maternal karyotype was offered more often when NIPT was positive for 45,X or 47,XXX and patients had normal prenatal diagnostic testing (p < 0.02) or declined testing (p < 0.02). Offer of postnatal evaluation was more likely when diagnostic testing was declined (p < 0.001). The majority of pediatric providers always offered a postnatal karyotype for the newborn (>72%) but the percent offering maternal karyotype (6%-46%) varied widely. With the current inconsistencies, many newborns with undiagnosed SCAs who could benefit from growth hormone therapy, early intervention, and/or targeted surveillance may be missed. Therefore, there is a need for professional guidelines to help improve the consistency of clinical care for patients with NIPT results positive for SCAs.