Purpose: To evaluate the readability, accountability, accessibility, and source of online patient education materials for treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to quantify public interest in Syfovre and geographic atrophy after US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Methods: Websites were classified into 4 categories by information source. Readability was assessed using 5 validated readability indices. Accountability was assessed using 4 benchmarks of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Accessibility was evaluated using 3 established criteria. The Google Trends tool was used to evaluate temporal trends in public interest in \"Syfovre\" and \"geographic atrophy\" in the months after FDA approval. Results: Of 100 websites analyzed, 22% were written below the recommended sixth-grade reading level. The mean (±SD) grade level of analyzed articles was 9.76 ± 3.35. Websites averaged 1.40 ± 1.39 (of 4) JAMA accountability metrics. The majority of articles (67%) were from private practice/independent organizations. A significant increase in the public interest in the terms \"Syfovre\" and \"geographic atrophy\" after FDA approval was found with the Google Trends tool (P < .001). Conclusions: Patient education materials related to AMD treatment are often written at inappropriate reading levels and lack established accountability and accessibility metrics. Articles from national organizations ranked highest on accessibility metrics but were less visible on a Google search, suggesting the need for visibility-enhancing measures. Patient education materials related to the term \"Syfovre\" had the highest average reading level and low accountability, suggesting the need to modify resources to best address the needs of an increasingly curious public.

UNASSIGNED: Digital health ecosystems may be the next revolution in improving citizens\' well-being, health delivery, data management, and health system processes, but solutions have not yet been broadly established. Reasons could be that health service-organizations have misaligned interests or lack capabilities. This study investigates reasons from a multi-health-service-organization perspective, differentiating between payers, insurers, healthcare providers, and innovators, detailing the expected value-adds, preferred participation roles, and required capabilities including a rating assessment.
UNASSIGNED: Findings are based on a taxonomy development methodology, which combines a literature review with semi-structured qualitative expert interviews, conducted using a modified Delphi approach. Interviews were thematically analysed.
UNASSIGNED: In total, 21 experts across the four health service-organization groups were interviewed. The capability taxonomy includes a total of 16 capabilities, categorized in three themes: \'Health market\', \'organizational\', and \'technology and informatic\'. Providers expect a value-add from strengthening their health process economics through efficiency gains but reveal the largest capability gaps, especially in \'interoperability\' and \'platform\'. Innovators\' \'technology and informatic\' capabilities complement well with those of payers for the \'health market\'.
UNASSIGNED: We present a health service-organization-specific three-stage approach for establishing digital health ecosystems. Payers and insurers should address their \'technology and informatic\' capability gaps, using technical enablers or forming new entities to reduce dependencies from legacy information technology systems. Innovators should clarify their monetization models and create positive awareness for their services, possibly entering the market directly. Providers must address interoperability issues and may require incentives to encourage their participation. Findings suggest governmental policymakers to prioritize three health policy initiatives.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the phenomenon of loneliness has received increasing attention. Loneliness is widespread and can have adverse consequences for mental and physical health if prolonged. Internet-based interventions (IBIs) for self-help have proven to be effective for a variety of psychological disorders. Due to several specific aspects, IBIs are also a relevant option for loneliness. This systematic review aims to present the current research on self-help IBIs for reducing loneliness.
METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, MedLine, PsycIndex, Cochrane Library and PsyArXiv between December 2023 and early January 2024. We included original German or English studies that addressed IBIs for self-help to reduce loneliness.
RESULTS: In total, eight studies published between 2017 and 2024 were included in the qualitative analysis. All studies were conducted in high-income countries, included predominantly well-educated female adults and were mostly satisfactory regarding their internal validity.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this review suggest that self-help IBIs may be a promising option for alleviating loneliness. However, the work also points to the need for further research. Future studies should consider larger samples and people of different ages, genders and education levels in order to generalise the results of the present review.
UNASSIGNED: HINTERGRUND: In den letzten Jahren hat das Phänomen der Einsamkeit zunehmend Aufmerksamkeit erlangt. Einsamkeit ist weitverbreitet und kann bei längerem Anhalten negative Folgen für die psychische und physische Gesundheit haben. Internetbasierte Interventionen (IBI) zur Selbsthilfe haben sich für eine Vielzahl von psychologischen Störungen als hilfreich erwiesen. Aufgrund verschiedener spezifischer Aspekte stellen IBI auch für Einsamkeit eine vielversprechende Interventionsform dar. Ziel dieser systematischen Übersicht ist es, den aktuellen Stand der Forschung von Selbsthilfe-IBI zur Reduktion von Einsamkeit darzustellen.
METHODS: Eine systematische Literaturrecherche wurde in den Datenbanken Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, MedLine, PsycIndex, Cochrane Library und PsyArXiv im Zeitraum von Dezember 2023 bis Anfang Januar 2024 durchgeführt. Eingeschlossen wurden deutsch- oder englischsprachige Originalarbeiten, die Selbsthilfe-IBI zur Reduktion von Einsamkeit untersuchten.
UNASSIGNED: Insgesamt konnten 8 Studien, die zwischen 2017 und 2024 publiziert wurden, in die qualitative Analyse eingeschlossen werden. Alle Studien wurden in einkommensstarken Ländern mit überwiegend gut gebildeten weiblichen Teilnehmenden durchgeführt und waren hinsichtlich ihrer internen Validität mehrheitlich zufriedenstellend.
CONCLUSIONS: Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Übersichtsarbeit legen nahe, dass Selbsthilfe-IBI eine vielversprechende Möglichkeit zur Verringerung von Einsamkeit sein können. Die Arbeit weist jedoch auch auf weiteren Forschungsbedarf hin. Zukünftige Arbeiten sollten größere Stichproben und Menschen unterschiedlicher Altersgruppen, Geschlechter und Bildungsniveaus berücksichtigen, um die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Übersichtsarbeit verallgemeinern zu können.

Various types of in-person and online support are available to women intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) survivors. However, we know little about the interplay between them. We investigated the transitions and interactions between these types of help and how their use can be optimized, using a mixed-methods approach (survey N = 107; interviews N = 18). Significant but weak correlations were found for specific IPVA and support types. No significant correlations were found between online and in-person help types. Almost 60% of survey participants expressed interest in blended care. Integration and optimization of online and blended care options can increase outreach and provide an enhanced, tailored help-seeking and recovery journey.

Ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (UHF RT) is revolutionizing the treatment approach for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. This study reports the planning process of UHF RT utilizing the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based online adaptive radiotherapy (OART) treatment with the Ethos system, focusing on a comparative analysis between OART and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) plans. We also assessed the pre-planning capabilities of the Ethos system against the CyberKnife (CK) (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA) system. A 66-year-old patient, diagnosed with prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma confirmed via biopsy and presenting with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, underwent UHF OART treatment using the Ethos system. The planning encompassed delineating the gross target volume (GTV) as the prostate, while the clinical target volume (CTV) comprised the prostate and proximal seminal vesicle. The planning target volume (PTV) was derived from the CTV with a 5 mm external margin except for a 3 mm posterior margin. A simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique was employed, delivering 40 Gy in five fractions (8 Gy per fraction) to the gross tumor volume (GTV) and 36.25 Gy in five fractions (7.25 Gy per fraction) to the remaining part of the planning target volume (PTV), with treatments scheduled biweekly. We compared OART and IGRT plans and conducted a comparative analysis between Ethos planning and the CK system for pre-planning assessment. When comparing Ethos planning and CK plans, Ethos demonstrated slightly better target coverage and organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing. However, CK plans showed superior containment of low-dose spillage, particularly at 50% and 25% iso-doses, due to non-coplanar beam arrangements. Our results demonstrated that OART plans yielded superior target coverage and improved OAR sparing compared to IGRT plans. Notably, the entire OART process, from planning to delivery, was accomplished within 27 minutes. The Ethos OART system\'s ability to adapt to daily anatomical changes, efficient workflow, and superior OAR-sparing capabilities make it a promising option for prostate cancer treatment using UHF RT.

UNASSIGNED: Group psychotherapy is an effective treatment for postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms, and interpersonal connection and support through the group process can aid recovery. Little is known about the implication of the delivery of interpersonally oriented group therapy in this population through videoconferencing.
UNASSIGNED: To pragmatically evaluate the implementation of a conversationally-oriented postpartum videoconferencing psychotherapy group for depression and anxiety within the clinical setting.
UNASSIGNED: Over 8 weeks, five to six patients and one therapist facilitator (closed group) meet weekly for 1 hour via a secure videoconferencing platform. We evaluated group adoption metrics for all postpartum videoconferencing psychotherapy groups offered during the evaluation period (October 2021-August 2022), and offered patients the opportunity to complete baseline and post-group quality improvement surveys to evaluate outcomes including acceptability (Satisfaction with Therapist and Therapy Scale-Revised, STTS-R), group process (Group Questionnaire, GQ), and effectiveness (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS).
UNASSIGNED: Of 153 patients (n = 26 groups), most (72.5%) attended >70% of group sessions. Of 137 patients (n = 24 groups) who were sent surveys, n = 50 (36.5%) completed both baseline and post-group surveys. Mean (SD) ratings were high for acceptability (STTS-R-therapy: 25.0/30 (3.1); STTS-R-therapist: 27.6/30 (2.3)) and group process with GQ ratings of 81.4/91 (7.8) (positive bond), 34.1/56 (3.8) (positive working relationship) and 23.5/63 (4.4) (negative relationship). Patients with probable depression (EPDS ≥ 13) significantly decreased from n = 23 (50%) to n = 19 (41.3%, p < .001), although the absolute score difference was minimal.
UNASSIGNED: Videoconferencing-based group therapy can be implemented with a robust group process and acceptability in the postpartum period. Impact on clinical outcomes should be further investigated.

UNASSIGNED: We implemented an online visitation system named \"telepresence\" in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for family members at home to communicate with their babies in real-time using video and audio. This study evaluated the impact of this system on families and medical staff.
UNASSIGNED: Nineteen families of babies admitted to the NICU between 2022 and 2023 and 65 medical staff participated. Each family experienced two weeks of virtual visits. Changes in parental depression and attachment were assessed.
UNASSIGNED: Before and after telepresence, the median Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score reduced from 6 to 4 (p = 0.026), and the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale score showed a decreasing trend, with both medians at 2 (p = 0.057). Eighty-nine percent of the parents and 97% of staff reported that telepresence did not increase parental stress, and 88% of parents felt positive changes in their baby\'s siblings. All parents wanted to visit their babies in person after seeing them on camera.
UNASSIGNED: Telepresence improved parental mental health, reduced family distress, and supported connection with their infants, making them eager to visit in person.
UNASSIGNED: This technology potentially make parents want to visit more by helping them feel more connected to their infants.

A quick and reliable test of vocabulary knowledge is a vital component of many studies looking at a range of language processing skills. Recent proliferation of online (web-based) research has generated a growing need for reliable open-access vocabulary tests that can be administered online. This data report presents the newly developed 30-item Web-based Open-access Reliable Decision on Synonyms (WORDS) English Vocabulary Test. In Experiment 1, we tested 109 participants (age range: 18-69 years) on an initial set of 51 potential multiple-choice test items in which participants read a target word (e.g., ubiquitous) and selected a (near-)synonym (e.g., omnipresent) from among three semantically unrelated foils (e.g., interpersonal, catatonic, voluminous). We conducted an item response theory analysis of participants\' accuracy data to select an optimal subset of 30 items to include in the final version of the test. In Experiment 2, we verified the reliability of this 30-item version in a different sample (N = 121; 18-79 years); reliability (internal consistency) was good (Cronbach\'s α = 0.82). We confirmed that, consistent with numerous previous studies, (1) responses were more accurate and quicker for more frequent compared to less frequent words, and (2) older adults showed greater vocabulary knowledge compared to younger adults. The WORDS test takes on average 4 minutes (5 minutes 40 seconds including consent/debrief) to complete. It can be freely accessed via Gorilla Open Materials (https://app.gorilla.sc/openmaterials/694887), allowing ease of use and for useful comparisons between data collected by different researchers.

BACKGROUND:  Blended learning combines face-to-face and online learning and has recently gained popularity, accelerated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, often without active evaluation.
OBJECTIVE:  This study aimed to assess university nursing students\' perceptions of a blended learning approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS:  The population was 150 third-year nursing students from a university in the Western Cape, South Africa, using all-inclusive sampling. A one-group, pre-and post-evaluation study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire (Student Perceptions of Blended Learning scale). Differences were assessed using Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests with a significance level of p  0.05.
RESULTS:  Before implementing blended learning, 128 students (85.3%) completed the questionnaire, while 95 (63.3%) did so after. Demographics and access showed no significant differences between the groups. Post-implementation showed a 10.1% increase in preference for blended learning (χ2 = 2.832, p = 0.092). Ease of use was rated significantly higher before implementation (3.07 ± 0.49), with no significant change post-implementation (2.99 ± 0.58). The blended learning process received lower ratings compared to content, with no significant differences before or after implementation for either (process: 2.55 ± 0.58 vs 2.54 ± 0.63; content: 2.75 ± 0.52 vs 2.79 ± 0.52).
CONCLUSIONS:  Nursing students had a positive perception of blended learning, though the online learning component posed challenges with time and module comprehension.Contribution: The findings can help higher education institutions evaluate existing online management systems and guide nurse educators in meeting students\' needs when developing module resources.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors that influence client selection of a veterinary pharmacy and assess client perception of the impact of online pharmacies on veterinary clinics.
METHODS: Survey data and satisfaction metrics were compared between online pharmacies, a teaching hospital pharmacy (UW Veterinary Care), and primary care veterinary clinics between March and April 2023. Online pharmacy users were asked about perceived impact of online pharmacies on veterinary clinics. Personal values were correlated with the likelihood of using a pharmacy.
RESULTS: 158 surveys were analyzed; 32.9% of respondents used an online pharmacy. Of those, 20% used a veterinary-affiliated online pharmacy. Convenience was the value most liked by online pharmacy and primary care clinic users. Online users reported liking price most, whereas veterinary clinic pharmacy users (UW Veterinary Care and primary care clinics) reported liking communication and trust. Online users ranked price as more important, whereas veterinary clinic users ranked personalized experience (caring, explanations, veterinary recommended) as more important. Regardless of pharmacy type, satisfaction scores were high. Most online users perceived a negative impact of online pharmacies on veterinary clinics; this did not change reported usage.
CONCLUSIONS: Online and veterinary clinic users prioritized different values. Online users prioritized price and veterinary clinic users prioritized personalized experience. Online usage was not influenced by perceived impact.
CONCLUSIONS: For veterinary clinics attempting to increase revenue, appealing to these 2 distinct driving values is essential. Offering practice-directed online pharmacies with competitive and transparent pricing could procure online consumers, while maintaining a personalized experience remains important for consumers purchasing prescriptions in-house.