Search Results (225)

Introduction: With the emergence of the expert patient and the expansion of health literacy, the importance of planning and building health technologies aimed at teaching and training health professionals, especially nurses, due to their activities with patients in Primary Health Care, with the aim of meeting the real and constant demands of the expert patient, is evident. Methods: Methodological study with a quantitative approach. The course was constructed based on a scope review, scientific reference, and observational visits during the months of September 2021 and August 2022. For validation, an organized electronic form was used with general information about the research and items of the course constructed for later evaluation by the judges with the three-point Likert scale and with the application of the Delphi Technique between the months of September and October 2022; for the agreement of the judges, the Content Validation Coefficient > 0.8 was considered. Results: Based on the content selected in the scope review, the reference contribution, and the observational visits, the course was constructed. Nine judges participated in the validation stage in Delphi I with a total Content Validation Coefficient above 0.90 and with some suggestions for modifications and improvements pointed out by them. In Delphi II, six judges evaluated the course, resulting in a total Content Validation Coefficient of 0.99. Conclusions: The course developed was considered valid to support the training of Primary Health Care nurses in the formation of the expert patient, with a view to promoting patient autonomy in self-care management, optimizing Primary Health Care, and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. Full article

In an era where digitalization shapes economic and social landscapes, the intersection of digital skills, ethics, and integrity plays a crucial role in understanding the vulnerability of youth classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). This study explores how risky internet use and digital skill gaps contribute to socio-economic exclusion, integrating a multivariate and spatial approach to assess regional disparities in Europe. This study adopts a systems thinking perspective to explore digital exclusion as an emergent outcome of multiple interrelated subsystems. The research employs logistic regression, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Promax rotation, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to examine the impact of digital behaviors on NEET status. Using Eurostat data aggregated at the country level for the period (2000–2023) across 28 European countries, this study evaluates 24 digital indicators covering social media usage, instant messaging, daily internet access, data protection awareness, and digital literacy levels. The findings reveal that low digital skills significantly increase the likelihood of being NEET, while excessive social media and internet use show mixed effects depending on socio-economic context. A strong negative correlation between digital security practices and NEET status suggests that youths with a higher awareness of online risks are less prone to socio-economic exclusion. The GIS analysis highlights regional disparities, where countries with limited digital access and lower literacy levels exhibit higher NEET rates. Digital exclusion is not merely a technological issue but a multidimensional socio-economic challenge. To reduce the NEET rate, policies must focus on enhancing digital skills, fostering online security awareness, and addressing regional disparities. Integrating GIS methods allows for the identification of territorial clusters with heightened digital vulnerabilities, guiding targeted interventions for improving youth employability in the digital economy. Full article

According to the literature, the advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) has increased individual exposure to scams, turning fraud victimization into a significant concern. While prior research has primarily focused on socio-demographic predictors of fraud victimization, this study adopts a behavioral perspective that is grounded in the Signal Detection Theory (SDT) to investigate the likelihood determinants of individuals becoming fraud victims. Using survey data of 671 Indonesian respondents analyzed with the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), we explored the roles of vigilance and financial literacy in moderating the relationship between fraud exposure and victimization. Our findings substantiate the notion that higher exposure to fraudulent activity significantly increases the likelihood of victimization. The results also show that vigilance negatively moderates the relationship between fraud exposure and fraud victimization, suggesting that individuals with higher vigilance are better at identifying scams, thereby decreasing their likelihood of becoming fraud victims. Furthermore, financial literacy is positively related to vigilance, indicating that financially literate individuals are more aware of potential scams. However, the predictive power of financial literacy on vigilance is relatively low. Hence, while literacy helps a person sharpen their indicators for detecting fraud, psychological, behavioral, and contextual factors may also affect their vigilance and decision-making. Full article

This study explores digital inequality as a socio-spatial phenomenon within the context of smart inclusion, focusing on the Regional Unit of Xanthi, Greece—a region marked by ethno-cultural diversity and pronounced urban–rural contrasts. Using a mixed-methods design, this research integrates secondary quantitative data with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews, aiming to uncover how spatial, demographic, and cultural variables shape digital engagement. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools are employed to map disparities in internet access and ICT infrastructure, revealing significant gaps linked to geography, education, and economic status. The findings demonstrate that digital inequality is particularly acute in rural, minority, and economically marginalized communities, where limited infrastructure intersects with low digital literacy and socio-economic disadvantage. Interview data further illuminate how residents navigate exclusion, emphasizing generational divides, perceptions of technology, and place-based constraints. By bridging spatial analysis with lived experience, this study advances the conceptualization of digitally inclusive smart regions. It offers policy-relevant insights into how territorial inequality undermines the goals of smart development and proposes context-sensitive interventions to promote equitable digital participation. The case of Xanthi underscores the importance of integrating spatial justice into smart city and regional planning agendas. Full article

Media organizations are experiencing ongoing transformation, increasingly driven by the advancement of AI technologies. This development has begun to link journalists with generative systems and synthetic technologies. Although newsrooms worldwide are exploring AI adoption to improve information sourcing, news production, and distribution, a gap exists between resource-rich organizations and those with limited means. Since ChatGPT 3.5 was released on 30 November 2022, Greek media and journalists have gained the ability to use and explore AI technology. In this study, we examine the use of AI in Greek newsrooms, as well as journalists’ reflections and concerns. Through qualitative analysis, our findings indicate that the adoption and integration of these tools in Greek newsrooms is marked by the lack of formal institutional policies, leading to a predominantly self-directed and individualized use of these technologies by journalists. Greek journalists engage with AI tools both professionally and personally, often without organizational guidance or formal training. This issue may compromise the quality of journalism due to the absence of established guidelines. Consequently, individuals may produce content that is inconsistent with the media outlet’s identity or that disseminates misinformation. Age, gender, and newsroom roles do not constitute limiting factors for this “experimentation”, as survey participants showed familiarity with this technology. In addition, in some cases, the disadvantages of specific tools regarding qualitative results in Greek are inhibiting factors for further exploration and use. All these points to the need for immediate training, literacy, and ethical frameworks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health literacy plays a fundamental role in adolescents’ health-related decisions and behaviors. The aim of our study was to assess the level of health literacy among 16–17-year-old students in Southern Hungary and to examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in the autumn of 2024 in Baranya and Somogy counties. A total of 133 students completed a self-administered questionnaire including sociodemographic variables and health behaviors. Health literacy was measured using the validated HELMA-H instrument. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, t-tests, and ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: Overall, 62.7% of the students demonstrated adequate, while 37.3% demonstrated inadequate levels of health literacy. No significant association was found between overall health literacy and sociodemographic variables; however, partial associations were observed on specific subscales. Boys reported better access to health information (p = 0.037), while children of mothers with higher educational attainment scored better in comprehension (p = 0.042) and appraisal (p = 0.036). In the case of the numeracy subscale, children of mothers with the lowest educational level showed significantly better results (p = 0.006). Students with higher health literacy levels were less likely to smoke or consume caffeine; however, a reverse trend was observed regarding alcohol consumption. Physical activity showed a positive association with healthier behaviors (p < 0.05). Discussion: The use of digital technologies, interactive learning strategies, and the involvement of family members—especially mothers—may support the development of health-conscious decision-making in adolescents. Consequently, health education programs should focus not only on knowledge transfer but also on fostering critical thinking and decision-making skills. Full article

Background/Objectives: The use of digital technologies among children and adolescents has been increasing exponentially, raising concerns about the potential impacts on physical, mental, cognitive, educational, and social development. Understanding these effects is key to informing clinical and educational practices and public policies that promote digital wellbeing in childhood and adolescence. The main objective of this study was to map the latest available scientific evidence on the patterns of digital technology use by children and adolescents and its main impact, identifying risk factors, opportunities, and strategies for promoting digital wellbeing. Methods: A rapid review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed studies published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese or English, that addressed the use of digital technologies by children and adolescents were included. The assessment of methodological quality was based on JBI’s Critical Appraisal Tools. Results: Ten studies from diverse contexts showed an association between excessive screen time and risks of sedentary lifestyles, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, attention difficulties, and low academic performance. Occasional benefits arose with adult mediation and educational use; parental mediation and socioeconomic background were key factors. Conclusions: The use of digital technologies is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon that requires integrated approaches; the promotion of digital literacy, public policies for equitable access to quality digital resources, and longitudinal and intercultural studies are recommended to clarify causal relationships and adapt interventions to local contexts. Full article

This study explores the integration of digital media tools—specifically TikTok, online press news analysis, and digital portfolios—into pre-service chemistry teacher education to enhance student engagement, foster conceptual understanding, and highlight the relevance of chemistry in society. The educational intervention involved 138 pre-service teachers who analysed digital news articles to reflect on the societal and environmental implications of chemistry, promoting media literacy and awareness of socioscientific issues. Additionally, they created short-form TikTok videos, using social media to communicate scientific concepts creatively and interactively. All participants compiled their work into digital portfolios, which served as both a reflective and integrative tool. A post-course Likert-scale questionnaire (N = 77) revealed high overall satisfaction with the methodology, with 94.8% valuing the news analysis activity and 59.7% finding TikTok particularly engaging. Despite some limitations regarding access to technical infrastructure, the findings indicate that incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in this manner supports motivation, meaningful learning, and the development of key teaching competencies. This case study contributes practical insights into ICT use in science education. Full article

Generative artificial intelligence is reshaping how people interact with digital technologies, emphasizing the need to develop effective skills for engaging with it. In this context, prompt engineering has emerged as a critical skill for optimizing AI-generated outputs. However, research on how higher education students interact with these technologies remains limited, particularly in non-English-speaking contexts. This exploratory study examines how 102 higher education students in Chile formulated prompts in Spanish and how their techniques influenced the responses generated by ChatGPT (free version 3.5). A quantitative analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between prompt techniques and response quality. Two emergent prompt engineering strategies were identified: the Guide Contextualization Strategy and the Specific Purpose Strategy. The Guide Contextualization Strategy focused on providing explicit contextual information to guide ChatGPT’s responses, aligning with few-shot prompting, while the Specific Purpose Strategy emphasized defining the request’s purpose, aligning with structured objective formulation strategies. The regression analysis indicated that the Guide Contextualization Strategy had a greater impact on response quality, reinforcing the importance of contextual information in effective interactions with large language models. As an exploratory study, these findings provide preliminary evidence on prompt engineering strategies in Spanish, a relatively unexplored area in artificial intelligence education research. Based on these results, a methodological framework is proposed, encompassing four key dimensions: grammatical skills; prompt strategies; response from the large language model; and evaluation of response quality. This framework lays the groundwork for future artificial intelligence digital literacy interventions, fostering critical and effective engagement with generative artificial intelligence while also highlighting the need for further research to validate and expand these initial insights. Full article

This study examines the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) media narratives and digital literacy levels in Indonesia, focusing on their combined impact on information resilience and misinformation vulnerability. Through a mixed-methods approach involving content analysis of five major Indonesian media outlets (2022–2024), a survey of 384 respondents across South Sulawesi, and in-depth interviews with 15 media professionals, this research reveals significant gaps between AI media coverage and public understanding. The findings indicate that while 76% of Indonesian media coverage presents AI as a technological solution to misinformation, only 32% of the surveyed population demonstrates adequate digital literacy skills to evaluate AI-generated content critically. The study identifies three distinct patterns of AI media framing: technological optimism (47%), cautionary realism (33%), and dystopian skepticism (20%). These findings contribute to understanding how media narratives about emerging technologies influence public digital literacy and information resilience, particularly in developing digital economies where technological adoption often outpaces digital education initiatives. Full article

Background: The mechanisms through which information and communication technology (ICT) use influences chronic disease self-management remain unclear. Method: This cross-sectional investigation examined the mediating effects of health literacy, social support, and self-efficacy on the association between ICT use and self-management behaviors among older adults (≥60 years) with comorbidities in China (n = 520). The participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai (July 2023–June 2024), and data on sociodemographics, self-management, health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, and ICT use were collected via structured questionnaires. Results: Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant association between ICT use, health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, and chronic disease self-management (p < 0.001). Multiple mediation modeling revealed a direct positive effect of ICT use on self-management (b = 1.3314, 95% CI = 0.6629, 2.0002). Furthermore, significant indirect effects were observed, mediated independently by both health literacy and social support. Additional serial mediation pathways included health literacy → social support, health literacy → self-efficacy, social support → self-efficacy, and a comprehensive pathway from health literacy through social support to self-efficacy. Conclusions: These findings collectively indicate that ICT use directly enhances chronic disease self-management among older adults with comorbidities. Moreover, ICT use indirectly improves self-management by enhancing health literacy, augmenting social support, and bolstering self-efficacy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) offers opportunities to enhance healthcare accessibility for people with disabilities (PwDs). However, their application in Saudi Arabia remains limited. This study explores PwDs’ experiences with AI technologies within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital health framework to inform inclusive healthcare innovation strategies. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine PwDs across Riyadh, Al-Jouf, and the Northern Border region between January and February 2025. Participants used various AI-enabled technologies, including smart home assistants, mobile health applications, communication aids, and automated scheduling systems. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework was employed to identify key themes and patterns. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) accessibility and usability challenges, including voice recognition difficulties and interface barriers; (2) personalization and autonomy through AI-assisted daily living tasks and medication management; (3) technological barriers such as connectivity issues and maintenance gaps; and (4) psychological acceptance influenced by family support and cultural integration. Participants noted infrastructure gaps in rural areas, financial constraints, limited disability-specific design, and digital literacy barriers while expressing optimism regarding AI’s potential to enhance independence and health outcomes. Conclusions: Realizing the benefits of AI for disability healthcare in Saudi Arabia requires culturally adapted designs, improved infrastructure investment in rural regions, inclusive policymaking, and targeted digital literacy programs. These findings support inclusive healthcare innovation aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 goals and provide evidence-based recommendations for implementing AI healthcare technologies for PwDs in similar cultural contexts. Full article

Blockchain technology is being increasingly deployed to store and process transactions and information in the global financial sector. Blockchain underpins cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and facilitates decentralized finance (DeFi), representing a paradigm shift in the global financial landscape, offering alternative solutions to traditional banking, and fostering financial inclusion. In developing economies such as Morocco, where a significant portion of the population remains unbanked, these digital financial innovations present both opportunities and challenges. This study examines the potential role of cryptocurrencies and DeFi in enhancing financial inclusion in Morocco, where cryptocurrencies have been banned since 2017. However, the public continues to use cryptocurrencies, circumventing restrictions, and the Moroccan Central Bank is now preparing to introduce new regulations to legalize their use within the country. In this context, this article analyses the potential of cryptocurrencies to mitigate barriers such as high transaction costs, restricted access to financial services in rural areas, and limited financial literacy in the country. The study pursues a mixed-methods approach, which combines a quantitative survey with qualitative expert interviews and adapts the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to the Moroccan context. The findings reveal that while cryptocurrencies offer cost-efficient financial transactions and improved accessibility, their adoption may be constrained by regulatory uncertainty, security risks, and technological limitations. The novelty of the article thus lies in its focus on the key mechanisms that influence the adoption of cryptocurrencies and their potential impact in a specific national context. In so doing, the study highlights the need for a structured regulatory framework, investment in digital infrastructure, and targeted financial literacy initiatives to optimize the potential role of cryptocurrencies in progressing financial inclusion in Morocco. This underscores the need for integrated models and guidelines for policymakers, financial institutions, and technology providers to ensure the responsible introduction of cryptocurrencies in developing world environments. Full article

This study investigates the impacts of financial inclusion, development, and technological innovation on ESG readiness across low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries from 2004 to 2020. Grounded in an augmented environmental Kuznets curve framework, financial intermediation, and financial literacy theories, the analysis employs a panel data approach. Results from panel and quantile regressions reveal that financial inclusion and financial development positively influence ESG readiness, with stronger effects in less financially developed countries. However, in upper-middle-income countries, excessive credit may increase energy-intensive consumption, moderating sustainability gains. Financial inclusion negatively affects ESG readiness at lower quantiles in low-innovation contexts but enhances it at higher quantiles in high-innovation settings. Financial development consistently supports ESG readiness, which is amplified by technological innovation. Effects are stronger in less financially developed countries, moderated by energy-intensive consumption in upper-middle-income economies. The findings underscore the critical role of technological infrastructure in maximising the sustainability benefits of financial systems, advocating for technology-supported financial inclusion and green financing. This study enriches the sustainable development literature and informs policies for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

A persistent challenge in training future philology educators is engaging students in deep textual analysis across historical periods—especially in large classes where limited resources, feedback, and assessment tools hinder the teaching of complex linguistic and contextual features. These constraints often lead to superficial learning, decreased motivation, and inequitable outcomes, particularly when traditional methods lack interactive and scalable support. As digital technologies evolve, there is increasing interest in how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can address such instructional gaps. This study explores the potential of conversational AI chatbots to provide scalable, pedagogically grounded support in philology education. Using a mixed-methods case study, twenty-six (n = 26) undergraduate students completed structured tasks using one of three AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, or DeepSeek). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via usability scales, AI literacy surveys, and semi-structured interviews. The results showed strong usability across all platforms, with DeepSeek rated highest in intuitiveness. Students reported confidence in using AI for efficiency and decision-making but desired greater support in evaluating multiple AI-generated outputs. The AI-enhanced environment promoted motivation, autonomy, and conceptual understanding, despite some onboarding and clarity challenges. Implications include reducing instructor workload, enhancing student-centered learning, and informing curriculum development in philology, particularly for instructional designers and educational technologists. Full article