Search Results (810)

Background: Perioperative care is an integral part of the procedure of a surgical operation, with strictly defined rules. The need to upgrade and improve some individual long-term processes aims at optimal patient care and the provision of high-level health services. Therefore, preoperative care is drawn up with new data resulting from the evolution of technology to upgrade the procedures that need improvement. According to the international literature, a factor considered to be of major importance is high preoperative anxiety and its effects on the patient’s postoperative course. High preoperative anxiety is postoperatively responsible for prolonged hospital stays, increased postoperative pain, decreased effect of anesthetic agents, increased amounts of analgesics, delayed healing of surgical wounds, and increased risk of infections. The use of Virtual Reality technology appears as a new method of managing preoperative anxiety. Objective: This study investigates the effect and effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in managing preoperative anxiety in adult patients. Methods: A literature review was performed on 193 articles, published between 2017 and 2024, sourced from the scientific databases PubMed and Cochrane, as well as the trial registry ClinicalTrials, with a screening and exclusion process to meet the criterion of investigating VR technology’s effectiveness in managing preoperative anxiety in adult patients. This systematic review was conducted under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Results: Out of the 193 articles, 29 were selected. All articles examined the efficacy of VR in adult patients (≥18) undergoing various types of surgery. The studies represent a total of 2.354 participants from 15 countries. There are two types of VR applications: distraction therapy and patient education. From the studies, 14 (48%) used the distraction VR intervention, 14 (48%) used the training VR intervention, and 1 (4%) used both VR interventions, using a range of validated anxiety scales such as the STAI, VAS-A, APAIS, and HADS. Among the 29 studies reviewed, 25 (86%) demonstrated statistically significant reductions in preoperative anxiety levels following the implementation of VR interventions. VR technology appears to manage preoperative anxiety effectively. It is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention with minimal side effects. Conclusions: Based on the review, the management of preoperative anxiety with VR technology shows good levels of effectiveness. Further investigation of the efficacy by more studies and randomized controlled trials, with a larger patient population, is recommended to establish and universally apply VR technology in the preoperative care process as an effective method of managing preoperative anxiety. Full article

This article examines the accessibility of public space for individuals with disabilities in the Netherlands, as well as the relevant legal frameworks intended to promote accessibility. It discusses the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and efforts to implement its provisions at the local level. The article first provides an overview of Dutch legislation and regulations concerning accessibility in public spaces. It then presents an analysis of the experiences of individuals with disabilities in navigating streets and pavements in two Dutch cities, Utrecht and Almere. The central question is to what extent equal participation in public space has been realised. The findings indicate that national legislation remains inadequate in addressing the accessibility of streets and pavements. Despite the constitutional amendment in January 2023, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability, substantive equality is largely dependent on the individual policies and bylaws of the 342 municipalities. The involvement of individuals with disabilities in shaping the inclusive use of public space is therefore crucial at the local level. This article highlights local initiatives that have successfully drawn the attention of municipal policymakers and civil servants to the importance of accessible streets. Full article

Small-scale farms deserve attention and support because they play crucial and important roles. Apart from ensuring provision of food security, they also provide other economic, environmental, and social–cultural benefits. In the United States of America, these farms are agriculturally, culturally, and geographically different. They have varied needs that trigger an array of distinct biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional challenges. The effects of these challenges are exacerbated by economic uncertainty, technological advancements, climate change, and other environmental concerns. To provide ideal services to the small-scale farm audience, it is necessary to understand these challenges and opportunities that can be leveraged to enhance their productivity and profitability. This article reviews the challenges faced by small-scale farming in the United States of America. It then reviews possible pathways to enhance their productivity and profitability. The review revealed that U.S. small-scale farms face several challenges. They include accessing farmland, credit and capital, lack of knowledge and skills, and technology adoption. Others are difficulties to insure, competition from corporations, and environmental uncertainties associated with climate change. The paper then reviews key pathways to enhance small-scale farmers’ capacities and resilience with a positive impact on their productivity and profitability. They are enhanced cooperative extension services, incentivization, strategic marketing, annexing technology, and government support, among others. Based on the diversity of farms and their needs, responses should be targeted towards individual needs. Since small-scale farm products have an effect on human health and dietary patterns, strategies to increase productivity should be linked to nutrition and health. Full article

(1) Background: Patient-centered care for individuals with breast cancer requires multidisciplinary cooperation to ensure the appropriate use of medication and prevent medication-related problems. Pharmaceutical care has been associated with improved adherence in breast cancer management, a factor linked to patient outcomes and mortality. This study aims to summarize and explore the provision and utilization of pharmaceutical services for breast cancer patients by pharmacists. (2) Methods: A scoping review was performed to assess the pharmacist’s role in providing pharmaceutical services for patients with breast cancer. A comprehensive review of four databases (PubMed, Ovid Embase, Ovid International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Scopus) was completed between 1 January 2012 and 8 April 2025 according to PRISMA-ScR framework. (3) Results: A total of 46 articles met the inclusion criteria, which included RCTs, observatory studies, cohort studies, and reviews. Findings suggest that both clinical and community pharmacists play an important role in prevention, management, and education for breast cancer patients. (4) Conclusions: Pharmacists can improve health outcomes by providing pharmaceutical service in breast cancer care. Optimizing interventions, expanding services, and evaluating long-term cost-effectiveness is needed in the future. Full article

The article examines possible amendments to the Australian legislative regime regulating and protecting Indigenous cultural heritage in an offshore, including underwater, context. It suggests that there are significant reforms that are needed to bring the existing domestic legislative regime into conformity with the expectations of contemporary international law, particularly as manifested in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In reaching this conclusion, the article proceeds by examining recent Australian jurisprudence and archaeological studies, considering offshore Indigenous cultural heritage as well as the current Australian domestic legislative framework. It then proceeds to examine the relevant provisions of both UNDRIP and the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH Convention). The article identifies that the UCH Convention operates to ignore any legitimate role for Indigenous peoples and does not provide an appropriate foundation for legislative reform. The article concludes by suggesting the content of appropriate legislative reforms that accord with the expectations in UNDRIP. Full article

Current temperature sensors require regular recalibration to maintain reliable temperature measurement. Photonic/quantum-based approaches have the potential to radically change the practice of thermometry through provision of in situ traceability, potentially through practical primary thermometry, without the need for sensor recalibration. This article gives an overview of the European Partnership in Metrology (EPM) project: Photonic and quantum sensors for practical integrated primary thermometry (PhoQuS-T), which aims to develop sensors based on photonic ring resonators and optomechanical resonators for robust, small-scale, integrated, and wide-range temperature measurement. The different phases of the project will be presented. The development of the integrated optical practical primary thermometer operating from 4 K to 500 K will be reached by a combination of different sensing techniques: with the optomechanical sensor, quantum thermometry below 10 K will provide a quantum reference for the optical noise thermometry (operating in the range 4 K to 300 K), whilst using the high-resolution photonic (ring resonator) sensor the temperature range to be extended from 80 K to 500 K. The important issues of robust fibre-to-chip coupling will be addressed, and application case studies of the developed sensors in ion-trap monitoring and quantum-based pressure standards will be discussed. Full article

This article examines the level of inconsistency in work, health and safety (WHS) laws across Australia’s mining sector. Despite general efforts towards national harmonisation through model WHS legislation, significant inconsistencies persist because individual states and territories retain primary regulatory control. A critical analysis of each jurisdiction’s legislative framework reveals a fragmented legal landscape. Queensland, especially, exhibits notable divergence. Key findings highlight a considerable variation in legislative approaches to risk management principles and specific obligations. In particular, a disjointed and incremental approach to serious offences such as industrial manslaughter and provisions concerning imputed conduct are evident. These inconsistencies suggest that corporations operating in multiple Australian mining regions must develop a nuanced understanding of the varying WHS requirements in each jurisdiction. This study underscores the need for caution when assessing risk management strategies aimed at preventing serious incidents because the presumption of a harmonised system can be misleading, especially concerning mining-specific legislation. Full article

This article analyzes the role of dance and the arts in European and national educational policy agendas and maps the provision of dance in upper-secondary schools in the district of Porto, Portugal. To understand the role of dance in educational policies, we conducted a document analysis of regulations and decree-laws inspired by Stephen Ball’s policy cycle approach. To explore how these policies materialize in educational contexts, a mapping approach was conducted in upper-secondary schools within the district of Porto, Portugal. Results show that, at the public education policy level, although there is no specific debate about dance, the arts are gradually being included in the educational agendas, but still in a scarce way and with a more instrumental approach. At the institutional level, access to dance in education is not sufficiently democratized, reinforcing social and territorial inequalities. Despite its local scope, the study contributes to the broader international debate on equity in access to education with the arts, mainly dance. It offers insights from Southern Europe—a region often underrepresented in global research—which can inform research and policy development aimed at more inclusive educational systems. Full article

With the increasing penetration of renewables, the importance of electrical energy storage (EES) for power supply stabilization is growing. The intermittency of renewable energy sources remains the main issue limiting their rapid integration; however, the development of high-capacity batteries capable of storing large quantities of energy offers a way to address this challenge. This article presents and describes dedicated algorithms for controlling the EES system to enable the provision of individual system services. Five services are planned for implementation: RES power stabilization; voltage regulation using active and reactive power; reactive power compensation; power stabilization of unstable loads; and power reduction on demand. The aim of this paper is to develop new, dedicated energy storage control algorithms for delivering these specific services. Additionally, the voltage regulation algorithm includes two operating modes: short-term regulation (voltage fluctuation stabilization) and long-term regulation (triggered by an operator signal). Full article

Many breast cancer patients follow a self-managed treatment pathway, which may lead to gaps in the data available to healthcare professionals, such as information about patients’ everyday symptoms at home. Mobile apps have the potential to bridge this information gap, leading to more effective treatments and interventions, as well as helping breast cancer patients monitor and manage their symptoms. In this paper, we elicit design requirements for breast cancer symptom-management mobile apps using a systematic review following the PRISMA framework. We then evaluate existing cancer symptom-management apps found on the Apple store according to the extent to which they meet these requirements. We find that, whilst some requirements are well supported (such as functionality to record multiple symptoms and provision of information), others are currently not being met, particularly interoperability, functionality related to responses from healthcare professionals, and personalisation. Much work is needed for cancer patients and healthcare professionals to experience the benefits of digital health innovation. The article demonstrates a formal requirements model, in which requirements are categorised as functional and non-functional, and presents a proposal for conceptual design for future mobile apps. Full article

This article examines the impact of everyday life infrastructure on well-being through the lens of feminist economics, with a specific focus on gender disparities within the European context. Combining the capability approach (CA) and subjective well-being (SWB) theory, this study introduces a gender-sensitive well-being budget indicator, the Well-being and Infrastructure by Gender Index, or just WIGI, to assess the differential impacts of public expenditures on women and men. Drawing on feminist critiques of infrastructure planning, it highlights how gendered patterns of access and use shape experiences of well-being. The literature review synthesizes recent contributions on well-being measurement, gendered capabilities, and the role of public infrastructure in supporting everyday life. The research utilizes the Benefits of Gender Equality through infrastructure Provision (BGGEIP) survey from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) from 28 EU member states in 2015 to evaluate the contribution of key public services—such as transport, childcare, and healthcare—to individual capabilities and subjective well-being outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of integrating gender-sensitive methodologies into infrastructure planning and public policy to promote social inclusion and equitable well-being outcomes. This article concludes by advocating for feminist economics-informed policies to enhance the responsiveness of public investments to the lived experiences of women and men across Europe. Full article

Introduction: The rapid adoption of telerehabilitation in physiotherapy and occupational therapy has transformed healthcare delivery, offering new opportunities for patient-centered care. However, its implementation raises critical ethical and equity-related questions that require proactive strategies to ensure fair and responsible practices. This review examines how ethical disparities and equity-related challenges are reflected in the existing literature on telerehabilitation. Objective: To investigate the presence of ethical-disparity and equity-related aspects in the provision of telerehabilitation in physiotherapy and occupational therapy as reflected in the literature. Data Sources: A rapid review methodology was employed to explore ethical and equity-related challenges in telerehabilitation. The search included articles published in English and French between 2010 and 2023 from the Medline and Embase databases. Study Selection: Articles were selected based on their relevance to ethical and equity considerations in telerehabilitation. A total of 1750 sources were initially identified, with 67 articles meeting the eligibility criteria for inclusion in this review. Data Extraction: Data were extracted based on variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, morbidity, cost, privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy. The data extraction and analysis were guided by the Progress Plus and Metaverse Equitable Rehabilitation Therapy frameworks. Data Synthesis: The findings were analyzed and discussed using a narrative synthesis approach. The results highlighted key ethical considerations, including adverse events, patient autonomy, and privacy issues. Equity-related aspects were examined, access to rehabilitation services and gender considerations. Disparities in technology access, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity were also identified. Conclusions: This rapid review highlights the growing relevance of ethical and equity considerations in the design and delivery of telerehabilitation within physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The findings show inconsistent reporting and limited depth in addressing key domains such as patient autonomy, privacy, and adverse events, alongside disparities related to age, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic access. Although telerehabilitation holds promise for expanding access, particularly in underserved areas, this potential remains unevenly realized. The review underscores the critical need for structured, equity-driven, and ethically grounded frameworks such as the Metaverse Equitable Rehabilitation THerapy (MERTH) framework to guide future implementation, research, and policy. Full article

This research is situated within the Irish tertiary educational space, between higher education (HE) and further education and training (FET). The higher education organisation in which this research is set is the Literacy Development Centre (LDC)—South-East Technological University (SETU), and the further education organisation is the Longford Westmeath Education Training Board (LWETB). This study focuses on the provision of a 30 Credit NFQ Level 6 qualification entitled Certificate in Adult Literacy Studies. Methods include multiple focus groups to capture the differing accounts of experience. The findings of this research present a unique 360-degree view of experiences of the blended delivery of this curriculum programme. Voices reported here include all stakeholders, specifically the people who logistically manage the programme from both the HE and FE perspectives, the lecturers and their students. The research focuses specifically on the opportunities, the positives, the challenges and the lessons learned for all the research participants involved in delivering this programme within this tertiary space. This article concludes with a discussion of the impact of this type of academic delivery upon the students and other respective organisational stakeholders from both the HE and the FE perspectives. Full article

Introduction: The health education curricula should explicitly recognize, define, and address the unique needs and health disparities faced by Black and LGBTQIA+ populations, as a means of ensuring that healthcare for these populations is both comprehensive and inclusive. Aim: To map scientific evidence and identify knowledge gaps regarding the health of Black and LGBTQIA+ populations within the global context of health education. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted following the JBI methodology. The articles will be retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, BVS, CINAHL, ERIC, Cochrane, BDTD, PQDT, EBSCO, and NDLTD. The search will be conducted without language or time restrictions. Two independent reviewers will screen the studies and extract data using a form specifically developed for this purpose. The concepts, definitions, structures, results, and applications of professional health education worldwide for the healthcare of Black and LGBTQIA+ populations will be summarized and discussed. Inclusion Criteria: Studies related to professional health training at both undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as other educational modalities that address the provision of healthcare for these populations, will be included. The results will be presented in both tabular and graphical formats, accompanied by a narrative summary. Protocol registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF). Full article

Poland is a country with significant lignite resources. Prospecting for and exploring lignite deposits, as well as lignite extraction, requires prior acquisition of an appropriate concession. As concessions serve as instruments for regulating economic activity—and thereby constitute a form of permissible restriction on such activity under the Polish Constitution—the legal provisions governing them must be enacted by statute. This article analyzes the role of state policies relating to lignite extraction and its use in electricity generation, and examines the concession procedure as a regulatory instrument, with a particular focus on one specific ground for refusing to grant a concession: inconsistency with the state’s raw material interest. The main research question addresses whether the incorporation of the state’s raw material interest as grounds for refusal complies with constitutional standards and whether policy documents—specifically the State Raw Materials Policy and the State Energy Policy—can effectively guide its interpretation. The analysis concludes that, while the constitutional framework permits such a ground for refusal, current policy documents require updates and greater specificity to ensure legal certainty and consistency in administrative practices. Full article