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Frontiers in Physiology 2023There is a growing interest in the scientific community about the progression and congruity in the performance of talented participants who complete representing...
There is a growing interest in the scientific community about the progression and congruity in the performance of talented participants who complete representing different nations in the most important international events. The prediction of incoming performances is nowadays in demand with the objective of returning in talent investment. Talent identification programs have tried to select and develop sports talent over years. However, to our knowledge, there is a lack of research about success in swimming World Championships (WCs) performance considering continents-country and how successful outcomes are influenced by these variables. Therefore, the primary goal is to analyze the effect of early specialization comparing the performance progression model of the countries gathered by continents. Participant's data from all Junior and Senior WCs between 2006 and 2017 from International Swimming Federation (FINA). One-way ANOVA, ANCOVA and regression model were used to explain whether the variable category, age, best z-score, experience, and continent influences the performance obtained in Absolute WC. Significant differences ( < 0.01) were found between the average performance obtained by the two different categories (junior: swimmers participating in junior WCs before senior WCs; senior: swimmers participating in senior WCs without previous participation in junior WCs), where swimmers from category junior showed significant better performance's times than seniors, except in America. ANCOVA results showed that generally, the greatest differences where in the earliest ages, with best performance registered in category junior in all the continents. Also, the experience was a significant variable in the general model. Swimmers who had participated in junior category prior absolute obtained better performance's times than those swimmers who participated directly in absolute, in the first participation in senior WC. Thus, early specialization is a key factor to obtain better results in senior WCs for all the continents, except in America.
PubMed: 37288433
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1075167 -
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2020This study aimed to investigate the sensory integration and perceptual-motor performances in elementary school children (5-12 years) with autistic spectrum disorder...
PURPOSE
This study aimed to investigate the sensory integration and perceptual-motor performances in elementary school children (5-12 years) with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in Taiwan. The impacts of comprehensive body functions on activity participations in ASD were also investigated to provide evidence for clinical applications and further study.
METHODS
One hundred and seventeen children with ASD (42 females; aged 5-13 years, average age 8 years 3 months) were recruited. All participants were assessed with standardized measures of body functions and activity participations. The body function measures included Bruininks-Oseretsky of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition, Sensory Profile, Test of Sensory Integration Functions, and Test of Visual Perception Skills - Third Edition. The activity participation measures included the Chinese versions of both Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale and School Function Assessment.
RESULTS
School-aged children with ASD had different levels of impairments on body function measures. Most participant scores fell within the impairment range on 13 to 15 items out of the total 19 sensory and perceptual-motor measure subtests, with worst performance on coordination-related motor task and most sensory integrative dimensions. The results indicated a significant main effect for age and sex on some body functions and activity participations. Correlation analyses indicated strong associations between body function and activity participation across settings in ASD.
CONCLUSION
Our findings characterized the developmental continuum of body functions of school-aged children with ASD and showed their associations with adaptation and participation. While emphasizing the development of functional skills to facilitate age-appropriate activity participation in multiple scenarios, interventions aiming to improve body functions are indispensable.
PubMed: 32753871
DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S253337 -
Nutrients Oct 2022This study aims to describe reasons for discontinuing participation and experiences participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special...
This study aims to describe reasons for discontinuing participation and experiences participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional online survey distributed to a national sample, restricted to (1) households that discontinued participating in SNAP (n = 146) or WIC (n = 149) during the pandemic and (2) households that participated in SNAP (n = 501) or WIC (n = 141) during spring 2021-approximately one year into the pandemic. We conducted thematic analyses of open-ended survey questions and descriptive statistics for Likert-scale items. Themes raised by respondents who discontinued participating in SNAP or WIC included difficulty recertifying and virus exposure concerns. Former WIC participants reported the program was not worth the effort and former SNAP participants reported failing to requalify. Respondents participating in WIC or SNAP during the pandemic mentioned transportation barriers and insufficient benefit value. WIC participants had trouble redeeming benefits in stores and SNAP participants desired improved online grocery purchasing experiences. These results suggest that enhancements to WIC and SNAP, such as expanded online purchasing options, program flexibilities, and benefit increases, can improve program participation to ensure access to critical nutrition supports, especially during emergencies.
Topics: Child; Infant; Humans; Female; Food Assistance; Pandemics; Food Supply; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Poverty
PubMed: 36364785
DOI: 10.3390/nu14214524 -
Computational Intelligence and... 2022As an important part of the modern sports industry system, the quality and level of its development are related to whether China's sports industry can successfully...
As an important part of the modern sports industry system, the quality and level of its development are related to whether China's sports industry can successfully become a pillar industry of the national economy. Therefore, the development of the ice and snow sports industry is to promote the expansion of China's sports industry scale high quality development of the national economy and an important way to build sports power. Participative sports consumption is the most important part of sports consumption and the development of the sports industry. The sports industry separated from participative sports consumption is water without source and tree without roots, while participative sports consumption demand is the power source of participative sports consumption. At present, there is no systematic and complete research on participation sports consumption demand. In order to understand the causes and demand state of residents' participation sports consumption demand and provide entry points for enterprises to formulate marketing strategies, this study constructs an organic system with participation sports service products as consumption objects, centering on the demanding state of participation sports consumers. In the system, on the theory of supply and demand, under the guidance of consumption economics theory, adhere to the combination of theoretical research and empirical analysis, the combination of macroplanning and microdesign, the combination of qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, through the empirical investigation and receipt collection of residents' participation sports consumption demand, the use of systematic analysis, literature method, and survey method, through mathematical analysis, and other research methods, the paper explores the main causes and demand conditions of residents' participation sports consumption demand in different consumption states and excavates the main causes and demand conditions of participating sports consumption demand in different consumption states under different sports levels.
Topics: Algorithms; China; Ice; Industry; Snow Sports; Social Identification
PubMed: 35814582
DOI: 10.1155/2022/2174910 -
JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck... Jul 2020The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for Medicare is the largest pay-for-performance program in the history of health care. Although the Centers for Medicare...
IMPORTANCE
The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for Medicare is the largest pay-for-performance program in the history of health care. Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the MIPS in 2017, the participation and performance of otolaryngologists in this program remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize otolaryngologist participation and performance in the MIPS in 2017.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of otolaryngologist participation and performance in the MIPS from January 1 through December 31, 2017, using the publicly available CMS Physician Compare 2017 eligible clinician public reporting database.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The number and proportion of active otolaryngologists who participated in the MIPS in 2017 were determined. Overall 2017 MIPS payment adjustments received by participants were determined and stratified by reporting affiliation (individual, group, or alternative payment model [APM]). Payment adjustments were categorized based on overall MIPS performance scores in accordance with CMS methodology: penalty (<3 points), no payment adjustment (3 points), positive adjustment (between 3 and 70 points), or bonus for exceptional performance (≥70 points).
RESULTS
In 2017, CMS required 6512 of 9526 (68.4%) of active otolaryngologists to participate in the MIPS. Among these otolaryngologists, 5840 (89.7%) participated; 672 (10.3%) abstained and thus incurred penalties (-4% payment adjustment). The 6512 participating otolaryngologists reported MIPS data as individuals (1990 [30.6%]), as groups (3033 [46.6%]), and through CMS-designated APMs (964 [14.8%]). The majority (4470 of 5840 [76.5%]) received bonuses (maximum payment adjustment, +1.9%) for exceptional performance, while a minority received only a positive payment adjustment (1006 of 5840 [17.2%]) or did not receive an adjustment (364 of 5840 [6.2%]). Whereas nearly all otolaryngologists reporting data via APMs (936 of 964 [97.1%]) earned bonuses for exceptional performance, fewer than 70% of otolaryngologists reporting data as individuals (1124 of 1990 [56.5%]) or groups (2050 of 3033 [67.6%]) earned such bonuses. Of note, nearly all otolaryngologists incurring penalties (658 of 672 [97.9%]) were affiliated with groups.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Most otolaryngologists participating in the 2017 MIPS received performance bonuses, although variation exists within the field. As CMS continues to reform the MIPS and raise performance thresholds, otolaryngologists should consider adopting measures to succeed in the era of value-based care.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Medicare; Otolaryngologists; Reimbursement, Incentive; Relative Value Scales; Retrospective Studies; United States
PubMed: 32437498
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0847 -
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal =... May 2020Clinical trials are important to improve public health care. However, recruiting participants for trials can be difficult.
BACKGROUND
Clinical trials are important to improve public health care. However, recruiting participants for trials can be difficult.
AIMS
This study assessed public knowledge of and willingness to participate in clinical trials in Jordan and examine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with knowledge and willingness and the reasons behind unwillingness to participate.
METHODS
The questions were part of a representative, population-based survey in 2011 that included 3196 Jordanian individuals. In a home-based interview, participants were asked about: sociodemographic characteristics, and knowledge of and participation in clinical trials.
RESULTS
Only 21.8% of respondents knew what a clinical trial was and (1.2%) had participated in a trial. About 25% of respondents indicated their willingness to enrol in a trial. Significantly more men (24.1%) than women (19.3%) knew what clinical trials were (P < 0.001), whereas more women (4.3%) than men (2.9%) said they would be very likely to agree to participate in trials. People aged 40-49 years had better knowledge of and greater willingness to participate in trials than other age groups. Income was positively associated with knowledge of trials but negatively associated with willingness to participate. Higher education was positively correlated with knowledge of and willingness to take part in trials. The main reasons for not participating in trials were concern about the risk to own health (61.1%) and not being convinced about the outcome and benefits of clinical trials (29.7%).
CONCLUSION
The low level of knowledge of and willingness to participate in clinical trials indicates that strategies are needed to educate the public about the nature and importance of clinical trials.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Attitude to Health; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Jordan; Male; Middle Aged; Research Subjects; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 32538447
DOI: 10.26719/2020.26.5.539 -
BMC Health Services Research Feb 2019Health risk assessment (HRAs) are commonly used by occupational health services (OHS) to aid workplaces in keeping their employees healthy, but for unknown reasons, many...
BACKGROUND
Health risk assessment (HRAs) are commonly used by occupational health services (OHS) to aid workplaces in keeping their employees healthy, but for unknown reasons, many employees choose not to participate in the HRAs. The aim of the study was to explore whether demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors in employees are associated with non-participation in initial and repeated HRAs.
METHODS
In an OHS-based health project, 2022 municipal employees were asked to participate in three repeated HRAs. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used so as to determine associations between non-participating and demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors (e.g. biomarkers).
RESULTS
Among the employees who were asked to participate in the health project, more than half did not participate in any HRA and among those who did, more than one third did not participate in repeated HRAs. Young age, male sex and being employed in the Technical department or Health and Social Care department in comparison with being employed in the department for Childcare and Education were factors significantly associated with non-participation in the initial HRA. These factors, together with being on sick leave and having unhealthy dietary habits, were factors associated with non-participation in repeated HRAs.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the non-participators in initial HRAs and in repeated HRAs younger men and those already related to ill-health were overrepresented. This implicates that health care providers to a higher extent should focus on "those most needed" and that employers should be more engaged in results of repeated HRA's. Future studies should focus on modifiable variables that could make the HRAs more attractive and inclusive.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Health Behavior; Health Personnel; Health Promotion; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Health Services; Risk Assessment; Work Engagement; Young Adult
PubMed: 30791905
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-3949-9 -
Early Childhood Research QuarterlyEven with rapid and widespread expansion of states' quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS)-tiered frameworks that assess, communicate, and improve early childhood...
Even with rapid and widespread expansion of states' quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS)-tiered frameworks that assess, communicate, and improve early childhood education (ECE) quality-there exists no population-level information regarding which providers choose to participate in these primarily voluntary systems. We use a nationally representative survey of ECE centers to examine how the characteristics of ECE centers and the communities in which they are located predict participation in QRIS to understand the scope of QRIS policy implementation and the extent to which QRIS may be equity enhancing. We find that approximately one-third of centers nationwide participated in QRIS in 2012. Selection model results reveal that participation is more likely among centers that blend multiple funding sources and who are NAEYC accredited, and in communities with high poverty rates. However, QRIS participation is less likely in communities with relatively higher proportions of Black residents. Findings raise questions about how QRISs can equitably engage programs in all communities.
PubMed: 33041498
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.09.005 -
BMC Public Health Aug 2016Participation in sport can contribute to health-enhancing levels of leisure-time physical activity. There are recent reports that participation in sport in Australia is...
BACKGROUND
Participation in sport can contribute to health-enhancing levels of leisure-time physical activity. There are recent reports that participation in sport in Australia is decreasing. However, these studies are limited to ages 15 years and over.
METHODS
This study integrates sports club membership data from five popular team sports and investigates sport participation across the lifespan (4-100 years) by sex and region (metropolitan/non-metropolitan).
RESULTS
Overall participant numbers per annum increased from 414,167 in 2010 to 465,403 in 2012 corresponding to a rise in the proportion of Victorian's participating in these sports from 7.5 % in 2010 to 8.3 % in 2012. The highest proportion of participants was in the 10-14 year age range, with participation rates of 36 % in 2010 and 40 % in 2012. There was a considerably lower participation rate in the 15-19 year age group compared to the 10-14 age group, in all three years studied, and the decline continued progressively with increasing age. Male and female age profiles of participation were generally similar in shape, but the female peak at age 10-14 was sharper than for the males, and conversely there were very few 4 year old female participants. Participation rates were generally higher in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas; the difference increased with increasing age from 4 to 34 years, then steadily declined, reaching parity at around 60 years of age.
CONCLUSIONS
It is a positive sign that participation in these popular sports increased by over 50,000 participants from 2010 to 2012. Large proportions of the population aged 5-14 participate in club based sport. Participation rates decline sharply in late adolescence, particularly for females, and while this may not be a concern from a broad health perspective so long as they transition into other forms of physical activity, it is certainly a matter of concern for the sport sector. It is recommended that sport policy places a higher priority on grass-roots participation and that sporting organisations are supported to prioritise the retention issues occurring during adolescence, particularly for females so as to maximise the potential for sport to maintain its positive contribution to population wellbeing.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Australia; Child; Child, Preschool; Community Participation; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Organizations; Sex Distribution; Sports; Young Adult
PubMed: 27506922
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3463-5 -
BMC Medical Ethics Apr 2022Limited research has been conducted on explanations and understandings of biobanking for future genomic research in African contexts with low literacy and limited...
Participant recall and understandings of information on biobanking and future genomic research: experiences from a multi-disease community-based health screening and biobank platform in rural South Africa.
BACKGROUND
Limited research has been conducted on explanations and understandings of biobanking for future genomic research in African contexts with low literacy and limited healthcare access. We report on the findings of a sub-study on participant understanding embedded in a multi-disease community health screening and biobank platform study known as 'Vukuzazi' in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with research participants who had been invited to take part in the Vukuzazi study, including both participants and non-participants, and research staff that worked on the study. The interviews were transcribed, and themes were identified from the interview transcripts, manually coded, and thematically analysed.
RESULTS
Thirty-nine individuals were interviewed. We found that the research team explained biobanking and future genomic research by describing how hereditary characteristics create similarities among individuals. However, recollection and understanding of this explanation seven months after participation was variable. The large volume of information about the Vukuzazi study objectives and procedures presented a challenge to participant recall. By the time of interviews, some participants recalled rudimentary facts about the genetic aspects of the study, but many expressed little to no interest in genetics and biobanking.
CONCLUSION
Participant's understanding of information related to genetics and biobanking provided during the consent process is affected by the volume of information as well as participant's interest (or lack thereof) in the subject matter being discussed. We recommend that future studies undertaking biobanking and genomic research treat explanations of this kind of research to participants as an on-going process of communication between researchers, participants and the community and that explanatory imagery and video graphic storytelling should be incorporated into theses explanations as these have previously been found to facilitate understanding among those with low literacy levels. Studies should also avoid having broader research objectives as this can divert participant's interest and therefore understanding of why their samples are being collected.
Topics: Biological Specimen Banks; Genome; Humans; Informed Consent; Public Health; South Africa
PubMed: 35436913
DOI: 10.1186/s12910-022-00782-z