Cranford Hospice is Hawke's Bay's leading palliative care provider. Our dedicated team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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AXA
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Go further with international health insurance. Global support for people who think a little bigger
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APOLLONIO
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The Apollonion Private Hospital is an ultra-modern Hospital purposely built to offer the best medical care to its patients.
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Durbin
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Specialist medical suppliers in sourcing and distributing pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and consumable supplies.
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Self
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Women Magazine on Fitness, Health, Food, Beauty & more.
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Easyway
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Allen Carr Easyway International operates clinics in more than 150 cities in over 50 countries worldwide.
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id Hospital
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All kinds of plastic surgeries at affordable cost.
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Al Zahra Hospital
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Al Zahra Hospital Sharjah is the first and the largest private general hospital in the UAE with both inpatient and outpatient treatment at an international standard,
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Kunming Children�s Hospital
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Kunming Children Hospital integrates first aid, medical treatment, rehabilitation, health care, & scientific research.
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UT Health
uthealtheasttexas.com
UT Health East Texas is passionate about delivering the highest quality care with unmatched compassion, outstanding service and innovative technology.
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WORLD HOSPITAL DIRECTORY
Research Medical Health Education Research - current issue
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Interventions with high levels of engagement have been found to be more effective at changing health behavior than those with low levels. Few prior studies have examined whether engagement in interventions using social media groups is associated with higher program effectiveness. This study examined whether participant engagement in a moderated private Facebook group aimed at COVID-19 vaccination was associated with improvements in immunization intentions (<span style="font-style:italic;">N</span> = 263). Engagement in the group (i.e. emoji reactions, comments, poll votes and posts) and change in COVID-19 vaccine intentions were assessed through a retrospective review of participant engagement metrics and self-reported surveys at 4 weeks. Overall, 59% of participants engaged at least once. Participants on average made 11.9 total engagements during the 4-week study (SD = 25.5), of which 6.3 (SD = 15.2) were emoji reactions, 4.0 (SD = 12.3) comments, 1.4 (SD = 2.2) poll votes and 0.2 (SD = 0.7) post. No significant differences were found between engagement and sociodemographic characteristics or group size. Emoji reactions were associated with increased intentions. Each emoji reaction used was associated with a 4% increase in the odds of improvements in intention to vaccinate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08, <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> = 0.015). Future interventions on social media should encourage users to use emoji reactions on posts.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>The rapid spread of health misinformation on social media poses significant challenges to public health crisis. Mpox misinformation has portrayed it as exclusively a sexually transmitted infection, resulting in misperceptions about infection risk and stigmatization of affected groups. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different correction approaches and message framing in reducing misperception and shaping disease-related attitudes, both immediately after exposure and after a 1-day delay. We employed a 2 × 2 design with a control group to test correction approaches (fact-based vs. logic-based) combined with hashtag framing (health literacy vs. inclusivity) through an experiment (<span style="font-style:italic;">N</span> = 274). Findings showed that all corrections reduced misperception both immediately and after 1 day and increased the likelihood of sharing corrective messages. Only corrections with inclusivity hashtags promoted more positive attitudes towards Mpox immediately after exposure. Stereotypes played a significant moderating role where participants with stronger stereotypes showed a greater reduction in misperception when exposed to corrections with inclusivity hashtags but were less likely to share logic-based corrective message. These findings contributed to understanding effective health communication by highlighting the role of social media hashtags in message framing, promoting user sharing of corrective information, and addressing stereotypes when designing interventions against health misinformation.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Nosocomial infections are among the major challenges faced by health systems worldwide, with hand hygiene being one of the simplest and most important preventive measures. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in improving hand hygiene behaviour among hospital nursing staff. A total of 194 nursing staff members were selected using a random sampling method and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Data were collected through researcher-made questionnaire based on the TPB and the World Health Organization’s five moments of hand hygiene. The intervention programme was developed and implemented following a pretest, response analysis, and educational needs assessment. The results showed a significant change in the mean scores of subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, behavioural intention, and behaviour at baseline, immediately after, and 2 months after the intervention in the intervention group. Hand hygiene adherence at the moments of ‘before touching a patient’, ‘after body fluid exposure’, and ‘after touching a patient’ showed significant differences in the intervention group. Given the effectiveness of TPB-based intervention and the influence of factors like the environment and reinforcement, combining TPB with constructs from other behaviour change theories, particularly Social Cognitive Theory is recommended to improve hand hygiene compliance.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Drug take-back system provides a legal, safe and eco-friendly avenue to appropriately dispose of unwanted medicines, contributing to both environmental sustainability and reducing medication misuse. This study designed and implemented a brief educational intervention, which took <1 min on average, to enhance awareness of community residents regarding the dangers of hoarding and improperly disposing of expired and unused medication at home. In a Chinese urban community, 104 eligible households were evenly assigned into 2 groups receiving leaflet-based awareness-raising interventions. Messages about risks of unwanted medicines delivered to the two groups focused on either environmental concerns of pharmaceutical emerging contaminants (eco-directed) or health hazards associated with misuse or overuse (health-focused). Compared with those in a health-focused intervention, significantly more households participating in an eco-directed awareness-raising activity returned unwanted medicines, supported community-level drug take-back program and agreed that drug take-back program should be mandatory and paid for by consumers. Data suggested that the eco-directed awareness-raising intervention might be an attractive approach to enhance the public’s active participation in drug take-back program.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>This scoping review examines the visual design elements of written patient information (WPI), specifically focusing on imagery, colour, layout and content presentation, and their impact on health information communication, understanding, behaviour and preferences among patients. Understanding patient preferences allows for patient-informed WPI design, which is important for Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) living in a colonial society. Nine studies were analysed, primarily investigating the integration of visual illustrations within WPI. Participants generally favoured the inclusion of images alongside text, finding them instrumental in enhancing comprehension and making health information more approachable. The preference for simpler and less detailed visuals, such as cartoons, was highlighted, although there was variability depending on literacy levels and cultural backgrounds. The use of colour, layout features (e.g. font type and white space) and content framing (e.g. positive versus negative framing of risk information) were explored for their effects on information reception and behavioural outcomes. Currently, there is a paucity of literature on Māori preferences and requires further research. Overall, this scoping review highlights the importance of designing WPIs with visual elements that cater to diverse literacy levels and cultural preferences to optimize communication effectiveness and patient engagement.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Patient education is a core component of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR). Recent guidelines call for tailored materials to support women, given their unique needs and preferences. This study investigated women patient’s perspectives of online CR educational materials (Cardiac College, Toronto). Through a cross-sectional design, a think-aloud protocol followed by semistructured qualitative interviews was used to collect data on women’s perceptions of the comprehensive educational webpages with regard to content, format, visuals, length/volume, difficulty, applicability, implementability and suggestions for improvement. Thirty-eight current and previous CR program participants completed 1-h Zoom interviews. Transcripts were coded thematically using best practices in NVivo by two researchers independently. Four themes emerged: (I) materials met their needs (content, presentation, and empowerment), (II) suggestions for improvement in presentation (website design, text, and visuals), (III) content (volume, additions, and difficulty), and (IV) optimizing reach and implementability (inclusiveness, barriers, and dissemination). Overall, the education content met women’s needs and was relatable, but should be updated for currency, visual appeal, and searchability. Cardiac College for Women may meet these needs and preferences.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Informing adults who smoke (AWS) that completely switching to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) reduces their exposure to harmful chemicals could prompt them to switch. However, it would be problematic if such reduced-exposure messages prompted ENDS use by adults not currently using tobacco (Former Users and Never Users of tobacco). This study assessed the effect of a reduced-exposure message for JUUL ENDS, presented in a video ad, on behavioral intentions among 3485 AWS, 1756 Dual Users (of cigarettes and ENDS), 1857 Former Users and 5459 Never Users. In a randomized experiment, participants viewed an ad for JUUL with or without a reduced-exposure message. Exposure to the reduced-exposure message significantly increased AWS’ Openness to Try ENDS, while significantly decreasing it among Nonusers, resulting in a significant message × user group interaction. Responses of young adults (18–24 years) did not differ from those of older adults (30+), and message exposure did not increase Young Adult Nonusers’ Openness to Try. The message’s effect on AWS’ Openness to Try was completely mediated by its effects on AWS’ perception of the risk of ENDS use compared to smoking cigarettes. The reduced-exposure message resulted in a pattern of behavioral intentions consistent with a favorable impact on population health.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Completely switching from cigarette smoking to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) reduces exposure to toxic substances. Yet, many smokers believe that ENDS are at least as harmful as smoking, making them less likely to switch from cigarettes to ENDS. Effectively communicating reduced-exposure information is critical, but such messages must be properly understood. This online study evaluated comprehension of a factual message, indicating that smokers who switch completely away from smoking to JUUL-brand ENDS can reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. Participants were 12 557 adults 18+ years (smokers, dual users and former and never users of tobacco) randomized to see the reduced-exposure message or to a Control condition. After exposure to the message, the majority of smokers (89%) understood the need to switch completely from cigarettes to JUUL to achieve reduced exposure. Most smokers and nonusers (>75%) did not misperceive JUUL as completely eliminating exposure to harmful chemicals, and >85% understood that using JUUL has risk. Exposure to the message improved understanding of the intended audience for JUUL. Individuals with limited health literacy showed modestly lower comprehension, regardless of condition. Ensuring adequate comprehension of messages about reduced exposure from ENDS is important to ensuring that such messaging can benefit public health.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Complex eHealth interventions—featuring multiple components within dynamic systems—are used for healthcare improvement. Public–private partnerships (PPPs), combining resources, expertise, and technology, are crucial in this context. Yet, integrating these interventions into practice remains challenging. This study identifies barriers and facilitators affecting implementation of the BENEFIT programme, a complex eHealth intervention targeting cardiovascular disease patients, by PPP within practice. A qualitative study design was employed. Ten key stakeholders from four cardiac rehabilitation (CR) sites, who were all PPP partners involved in developing and implementing the BENEFIT programme, were interviewed semistructured. Transcripts were analysed using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Facilitators included programme adaptability, communication and planning within teams, digital healthcare needs, dedicated PPP leadership, PPP meeting structure and PPP’s ability to quickly modify the implementation strategy. Barriers involved specific PPP challenges (frequently changing roles, unclear roles and responsibilities and limited staffing), workplace disruptions, poor information technology (IT) integration, and ambiguous implementation goals amongst CR sites. This case study highlights challenges in implementing complex eHealth interventions by PPPs within practice. The findings underscore the need for a comprehensive implementation approach considering specific PPP dynamics, including combined expertise and resources, transparent role definition, sufficient staffing, clear goal communication and adaptable strategies for sustainable implementation.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Adults who smoke (AWS) who switch completely to e-cigarettes reduce their exposures to many harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. Those who believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes are more likely to use e-cigarettes to switch away from smoking, yet most believe e-cigarettes are at least as harmful as cigarettes. This study assessed the effect on risk perceptions of communicating that switching can reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from cigarette smoke. In a randomized experiment, AWS (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 3485), dual users (DU) of cigarettes and e-cigarettes (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 1756), and nonusers (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 7316) viewed an ad for JUUL with or without a reduced-exposure message, and completed assessments of perceived risk. Message exposure decreased perceived risk of JUUL among adults who smoke, while increasing perceived risk of smoking, thus increasing the perceived risk differential (PRD). Among DU, the message increased perceived risk of smoking, but did not change perceived risk of JUUL. Among nonusers, who rated the perceived risk of all assessed tobacco products higher than did AWS and DU, the message decreased perceived risk of JUUL, and did not affect perceived risk of smoking. Accurate modified exposure communications have potential public health benefit by shifting the PRD of smoking and e-cigarettes.</span>
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