The Oral Health Status of Person with Special Needs in Kumasi

Background: The most prevalent non-communicable disease worldwide is oral health-related disease, with dental caries and periodontal conditions being common. Oral health status significantly impacts overall health and quality of life. Barriers to dental care affect children with special needs. This study evaluates the oral health status and treatment requirements of people with special needs. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study in Kumasi, Ghana examined oral health status among people, 121 children with special needs over two months, in June-July 2022. Dental caries, periodontal changes, malocclusion, and trauma were assessed. The data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: The oral health status among people with special needs in this study was generally moderate, with a range from very good to very poor. The prevalence of dental caries was 37%, with a mean DMFT score of 2.82. Periodontal health showed unsatisfactory indicators such as mobile teeth, poor gingival health, high plaque scores, and the presence of halitosis. Conclusion: This descriptive study aimed to provide baseline data on the oral health status of special needs students in Kumasi, addressing the lack of knowledge in this area. It highlighted the importance of dental care in maintaining good oral health and overall well-being in individuals with special needs. Coordinated efforts by dental professionals are needed to provide dental health education and preventive interventions for these children.

Research on Learner Needs Analysis and Listening Activities

Listening is the primary method to access language information.It is an essential part of L2(second language)teaching but also the most difficult skill to master for L2 learners.Based on this,it is necessary to analyze learners’needs in listening.This article aims to conduct a needs analysis of a selected learner from Iraq and describe course material selection and design.Methods including questionnaires,interviews,and observation were used to collect data.Additionally,targeted 60-minute online listening activities were designed.It was found that listening activities can improve both listening and speaking skills.Thus,language teaching should be student-oriented,and subsequent course materials and activity design should be selected based on the analysis of students’needs.

Research on Training Needs,Training Transfer,and Training Effectiveness of In-Service Teachers in Local Normal Colleges

This study aims to understand the in-service training needs,training transfer,and training effectiveness of teachers in local normal universities in China,while also proposing a continuous professional development plan for teachers.Descriptive research methods were employed,with questionnaires serving as the primary data collection tool.The survey revealed that the educational background of teachers in local normal universities is characterized by an unreasonable distribution of academic qualifications,with a shortage of teachers holding postgraduate and higher degrees.Additionally,the training effectiveness for female teachers was found to be lower than that of male teachers.There is a lack of personalization in training needs,which tends to be more generalized.The transfer effect of training is moderate,and there is a need for further enhancement at the behavioral level of training effectiveness.A continuous professional development plan for teachers has been formulated to improve training effectiveness and promote professional development.

Research on the Status Quo and Improvement Needs of Foreign Language Teachers’ Teaching Competence in Curriculum-Based Ideological Education in Xinjiang Colleges and Universities

This study investigated the status quo and further improvement needs of foreign language teachers’teaching competence in curriculum-based ideological education(CIE)in Xinjiang colleges and universities.The results show that the teachers’teaching competence in CIE is generally good,with the“cultivating quality”being the highest and the“scientific research quality”the lowest;there still exist several problems,such as teachers’lack of theoretical knowledge in CIE,lack of teaching resources,and insufficient abilities in teaching design and research.It is hoped that with the support and efforts from university administrations,teachers can improve their teaching competence in CIE through various approaches adopted and multiple measures taken,thus optimizing their teaching effectiveness,promoting the construction of CIE in Xinjiang colleges and universities in the new era,and contributing to Xinjiang’s high-quality development.

Core competencies and perceived training needs of nurses in the background of Internet plus nursing service:a qualitative descriptive study

Background:The Internet plus nursing service program is being piloted in China,which has become a new home nursing service model led by nurses.To enable safe and effective homecare service delivery,nurses working in the program need a high level of competency.However,the content of these core competencies and the training needs of nurses for Internet plus nursing services are still unknown.Aim:To describe nurses’perceptions of core competencies and training needs to work in the Internet plus nursing service program,thereby providing a reference for the development of training programs.Methods:A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews was conducted on 15 nurses with experience of working in the Internet plus nursing service program.Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim,and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results:Core competencies involved comprehensive assessment competence,direct care practice competence,health education and consulting competence,risk estimation and response competence,and communication competence.Training needs involved complex operational items,knowledge of chronic disease management,professional communication,risk identification and response,nursing standards,norms,and procedures,and utilization of information technology.Conclusions:The training system may be developed based on nurses’core competencies and their training needs to promote professional development of the Internet plus nursing service.

Information Needs and Self-Care Practices of Diabetic Patients in Mbala, Northern Province, Zambia

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. It is “a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both” manifested by carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism abnormality. If untreated high blood sugar can damage the nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. The purpose of this study was to assess the information needs and self-care practice of Diabetic Patients in Mbala, Northern Province Zambia. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study where 105 respondents aged 18 years and above participated in the study. Participants were randomly selected. A structured interview schedule and a check list were used to collect data. Statistics Package for Social Sciences computer software package version 23.0 was used to analyze data. Chi square and fisher’s exact tests were used to test the significance of the association between Knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus, attitude towards self-care practices, self-care practices among Diabetic patients and the need for information among Diabetic patients. A 95% confidence interval and P value of 0.05 were used to ascertain the degree of significance. Multi-variate binary logistic regression model to determine predictors of self-care practices and need for information was also used. Result: On analyzing the dependent variables, more than half (61.9%), had high need for information and three quarters (85.7%) of respondents had poor self-care practices. Slightly more than half (58.1%) had high knowledge levels majority (78.1%), had a negative attitude. Significant associations were found P Conclusion: Negative attitudes and lack of information among Diabetic patients were the main reasons associated with poor self-care practices. Particular attention should therefore be given to ensuring that Diabetic patients are given adequate information on Diabetes self-care in order to improve the quality of life.

Comparison of Self-Perception of Esthetics and Orthodontic Treatment Needs among Dental and Non-Dental Students with Assessment by Orthodontist

Objectives: The present study was conducted to compare the self-perception of esthetics and wish for seeking orthodontic treatment among dental and non-dental students. The realistic orthodontic treatment needs were confirmed by expert orthodontist. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 255 male students (Dental—75, Medical—93 and Pharmacy—87 students). The questionnaire included 20 items covering dental esthetics self-perception (10 questions), self-confidence and psychological impact (5 questions), and the need for seeking orthodontic treatment (5 questions) on a five-point Likert scale. The realistic orthodontic treatment needs were confirmed by photographs using aesthetic component of IOTN and clinical examination for the participants and analysis of jaw models using Dental aesthetic index (DAI). Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used to check the significant difference between groups. Results: The overall average esthetic self-perception score for total sample was 3.83. The overall average psychological impact score for the whole sample was 2.67. The total percentage of participants who either agree or strongly agree with the question related to their perception of need for seeking orthodontic treatment was 70%. According to the assessment of orthodontic needs using AC-IOTN, 19.8% required definitive treatment. According to the assessment of orthodontic treatment needs based on DAI, 20.3% and 9.9% needed highly desirable (DAI 31 - 35) and definite need of treatment (DAI ≥ 36) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that there was no difference between the esthetic perception of dental and non-dental students. The self-perception for seeking orthodontic treatment was over-reported by participants compared to real requirement as assessed by orthodontic specialist. Dental esthetics has no psychological impact on academic performance and self-confidence as perceived by study participants.

Managements of Special Health Care Needs Patients from Dental Assistant Point

The main role of this article is to describe dental assistants and the dental department’s role in the dental delivery system for Special health care needs (SCHN) by creating a structure to educate the dental assisting profession and project factors that have a significant impact on the dental assistant. The dental assisting management of SCHN patient’s profession including dental Assistance general responsibilities, regulation credentialing, and education. The SCHN patient’s management creates a challenge in all area of the dental department. Handling patient with a SCHN is underexplored throughout the dental staff especially when there is not enough theoretical foundation, education and training to deal with this category of patients. SCHN patients are defined as individuals who have abnormal behavioral impairments, mental conditions or/and chronic disease or abnormal laboratory results. Thus, the aim of this article is to guide all dental assistance staff in the best dental management choice for SCHN patients. All health care teams are part of patient care in most medical settings. A work environment supportive ensures positive outcomes for patient care. This article was considered as those categories of patients required more care and special way to deal with, moreover language, age, gender and education level of the patient are also considered significant parries. Not Many studies were found to support the care of SCHN patients in dentistry department. Taking experience from other area help to design a system to handle the SCHN even if it requires hiring a Dentist who is specialized in that filed.

Reporting Children’s Development below the Test Floor: Looking Back and Forth to Describe Individual Strengths and Needs

The test floor effects seen in standardised tests lead to a standardised score of 1 or less with a flat profile that hides a child’s individual strengths and needs. The Griffiths III community of practitioners requested advice on the reporting of children’s development below the floor of the test, so that individual strengths and needs can be described. This paper reports the third phase of research following an earlier Scoping Review and a wider literature review. To confirm quality control, Phase 3 was conducted in a retrospective manner using the same methodology as the earlier phases but in a reverse direction. Peer reviewer comments and key elements from the Scoping Review and keywords from the publications were tabulated. Data analysis included a change of perspective to that of the child and their individual rights with respect to the literature themes already described in Phase 2. These confirmed that there is little specific guidance in the literature, but that computational advances for homogeneous populations and especially disaggregated data offer some solutions. A greater balance between broad biopsychosocial models and standardised models of assessment should be sought by practitioners together with the use of disaggregated data to highlight issues that pertain to individual subsets of results. This will ensure that the child’s right for their individual strengths and needs to be described together with a plan for management, may be met.

Health-care needs of remitted patients with bipolar disorder: A comparison with schizophrenia

AIM To investigate health-care needs and their correlates among patients with remitted bipolar disorder(BD) compared to patients with remitted schizophrenia. METHODS Outpatients with BD(n = 150) and schizophrenia(n = 75) meeting clearly defined remission criteria were included in the study along with their relatives. Diagnostic ascertainment was carried out using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Demographic and clinical details were recorded using structured formats. Residual symptoms were assessed using standardized scales. Health-care needs were assessed on two separate scales. The principal instrument employed to assess health-care needs was the Camberwell Assessment of Need-Research version(CAN-R). To further evaluate health-care needs we felt that an additional instrument, which was more relevant for Indian patients and treatment-settings and designed to cover those areas of needs not specifically covered by the CAN-R was required. This instrument with a structure and scoring pattern similar to the CAN-R was used for additional evaluation of needs. Patients' level offunctioning was assessed using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and their quality of life(QOL) using the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-BREF version in Hindi.RESULTS An average of 6-7 needs was reported by patients with BD as well as their relatives. Commonly reported needs were in the areas of economic and welfare needs, informational needs, social needs and the need for treatment. According to the CAN-R, both patients and relatives reported that more than 60% of the total needs were being met. However, over 90% of the needs covered by the additional evaluation were unmet according to patients and relatives. Needs in the areas of economic and welfare-benefits, information, company, daytime activities and physical health-care were largely unmet according to patients and relatives. Total, met and unmet needs were significantly higher for schizophrenia, but the most common types of needs were quite similar to BD. Relatives reported more needs than patients with certain differences in the types of needs reported. Level of patients' functioning was the principal correlate of greater total and unmet needs in both groups. Significant associations were also obtained with residual symptoms and QOL.CONCLUSION The presence of unmet needs in remitted patients with BD was an additional marker of the enduring psychosocial impairment characteristic of the remitted phase of BD.

Myocardial infarction patients' learning needs: Perceptions of patients, family members and nurses

Purpose: This descriptive study aimed to identify and compare patient with myocardial infarction,their family member,and cardiac nurse perceptions on the learning needs of patients with myocardial infarction in the acute,sub-acute,and post-acute phases.Methods: A total of 288 patients with myocardial infarction,145 family members,and 40 cardiac unit nurses were enrolled in this study.Data were collected by survey method using the Cardiac Patient Learning Need Inventory (CPLNI).Data analysis was done using descriptive statistical analysis and analysis of variance.Results: The results showed that the learning needs of patients with myocardial infarction were high according to the perceptions of patients,patients' family members,and nurses.There were differences in the priority of learning that the patient need in relation to the disease and healing process.Conclusion: Patients,family members,and nurses have different perceptions regarding the learning needs of patients with myocardial infarction.To create adequate intervention to meet patient's learning needs,there should be an accurate assessment.The results of this study support the importance of patient-centered,individualized education and attention to learning priorities.

Needs and Opportunities for Information in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania—A Qualitative Study

Background: The majority of breast cancer patients in Tanzania present with advanced disease, and a significant proportion has metastatic breast cancer (MBC) on presentation or develops it during the course of their follow-up. With few treatment options to choose from, such patients often benefit from empathic support and access to information to help them make treatment decisions based on their individual circumstances and needs. Patients with MBC have been shown to present with unique physical, social and psychological needs that require additional time, counselling and availability of health care providers in addition to the routine options available to other patients. In resource-limited settings, the needs of such patients are often unknown and unaddressed, which adds to the anxiety associated with the diagnosis and its treatment. Materials and methods: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted using 3 focus group discussions with a total of 17 participants with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) attending Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants were purposively selected for the study from outpatient clinics and inpatient wards. A semi-structured FGD guide was used to moderate discussions and analysis was done using a thematic approach. Results: The median age of participants was 51 (range 33 - 81 years) with an average of 4 months (range 1 - 12 months) from diagnosis of BC to the interview. 4 (24%) were diagnosed with MBC on first presentation (denovo). Participants spoke about the importance of accurate BC-related information in allowing timely referral and treatment both in the community and within the health system. They recognized the role of mass and social media in increasing awareness about BC and identified myths surrounding cancer treatment especially mastectomy. Correct and timely information at points of care, through media platforms and via ambassadors/patient support groups was perceived as a means to avoiding delays and securing early and effective treatment. Conclusion: Patients with MBC in Tanzania have many unmet informational needs in relation to their disease. Accurate BC-related information is important in allowing early detection and diagnosis. At the community level, provision of information through established media platforms and the use of patient advocates may help to enable early referral and treatment of patients.

Water Resources and Water Services Infrastructure and Its Vulnerability to Extreme Events—The Case of Jordan

This study discussed the water sector as a critical infrastructural element in Jordan where the sector is exposed to the extreme events. The exposure of the country to extreme events has initiated this study. Such events are Pollution accidents, flooding, draughts, overexploitation, failure in electricity supply, climate changes, earthquakes, landslides, failure of dams, failure of wastewater treatment plants, failure of desalination plants, sabotage, fire, water theft, migration and demographic changes (immigration and urban migration), relations to neighboring countries, epidemics, and others. These extreme events are discussed in this article and the results show that failures in the water infrastructure and water supply, in Jordan, with its water sector situation have rigorous percussions on the country’s health, food supply, economy, societal stability, the built environment, and on other water-related issues. The study concludes that developing national programs to protect the water infrastructure in the water-fragile country has become very crucial to reach a robust and resilient water sector which not only means providing the inhabitants with quantitatively sufficient and qualitatively healthy water but also aims to incorporate guaranteeing social, economic and political stability.

The Challenges in Providing Affordable Housing in Nigeria and the Adequate Sustainable Approaches for Addressing Them

Despite multiple schemes implemented by various governments around the country, affordable housing remains elusive to the average Nigerian. Because the situation is comparable to that of other developing nations, it remains a key concern in these countries’ socioeconomic development. Over 52% of Nigeria’s population has been claimed to live in shanties, squatter communities, and informal settlements. This article, therefore, reviews the challenges to the provision of affordable housing in Nigeria and the Sustainable approaches to address them. The article’s findings were based on a thorough examination of the literature. The article’s findings indicated that sustainable approaches for addressing Nigeria’s affordable housing barriers may best be examined through the economic, ecological, social, institutional, and technical factors. The paper urges the present regime, investors, lawmakers, and private developers in Nigeria to implement these approaches for affordable housing provision. The findings from this article will add to the current body of knowledge by providing important information on affordable housing provision and re-directing research interest towards affordable housing in Nigeria and other developing countries.

An evaluation model for smart grids in support of smart cities based on the Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Smart cities depend highly on an intelligent electrical networks to provide a reliable,safe,and clean power supplies.A smart grid achieves such aforementioned power supply by ensuring resilient energy delivery,which presents opportunities to improve the cost-effectiveness of power supply and minimize environmental impacts.A systematic evaluation of the comprehensive benefits brought by smart grid to smart cities can provide necessary theoretical fundamentals for urban planning and construction towards a sustainable energy future.However,most of the present methods of assessing smart cities do not fully take into account the benefits expected from the smart grid.To comprehensively evaluate the development levels of smart cities while revealing the supporting roles of smart grids,this article proposes a model of smart city development needs from the perspective of residents’needs based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory,which serves the primary purpose of building a smart city.By classifying and reintegrating the needs,an evaluation index system of smart grids supporting smart cities was further constructed.A case analysis concluded that smart grids,as an essential foundation and objective requirement for smart cities,are important in promoting scientific urban management,intelligent infrastructure,refined public services,efficient energy utilization,and industrial development and modernization.Further optimization suggestions were given to the city analyzed in the case include strengthening urban management and infrastructure constructions,such as electric vehicle charging facilities and wireless coverage.

An Investigation Into the Needs and Challenges of County-Level Family Education Guidance Services and Corresponding Improvement Measures

The delivery of targeted family education guidance services is essential for establishing a three-in-one education model that encompasses families,schools,and communities.It is also the key to creating a favorable educational environment that promotes the comprehensive and healthy development of individual students.To gain a comprehensive understanding of family education characteristics and trends in Chinese counties,accurately tap into the educational needs of parents,and effectively identify strengths and weaknesses in family education guidance services,this paper employed a quantitative research method based on a questionnaire survey and interview data from J district of C city after years of continuous monitoring of the quality of family education in the area,aiming to explore these issues and put forward several suggestions for improvement.The results indicate that the family learning environment and atmosphere in the district are generally favorable,while parental educational competence requires further improvement.Parents express a strong desire for interactive,systematic,and fragmented family education guidance from schools.Most parents acknowledge the significance of receiving guidance on family education,yet they are disinclined to actively engage in learning-related activities.While the operational mechanisms of county-level family education guidance services have been continuously improved,there is a need for greater overall coordination.Furthermore,the potential of school-led family education guidance services has yet to be fully tapped,and the scientific and professional standards of such guidance need to be further enhanced.Based on the aforementioned findings,we propose recommendations for improvement.Using J district’s effective improvement practices in management,curriculum,and teams as an example,we intend to explore practical ways to promote county-level family education guidance services and provide a valuable reference for the establishment of a comprehensive and effective system to improve such services.

Assessment of orthotic needs in Iranian veterans with ankle and foot disorders

Background: War-related traumas can lead to orthopedic and neurological disorders in victims. However, the scope of such disorders may expand months or even years after the trauma. Orthotic treatment as a rehabilitation process aims to enable people with disabilities to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychological, and social functional levels. This study aimed to investigate the rate of using orthoses among Iranian veterans with neuromuscular and skeletal disorders of the ankle and foot. Furthermore, the priorities of orthotic treatment in those veterans were explored.Methods: This qualitative study was a national health needs assessment conducted in 11 provinces of Iran during 2011–2016. A stakeholder research group was established to survey the veterans in respect to their demographic variables, activities of daily living, current health conditions, and rate of using orthoses.Results: Overall, 907 of the 1124 veteran participants completed the survey(response rate: 80.7%). Most of the veterans were men(97.7%), and their age and disability rate were 52.07±8.13 years and 31.92%±14.93%, respectively. Nearly 42% of the veterans had experience in using orthoses on a daily and weekly basis. As physical ambulation was the main problematic activity in veterans, most of them were using medical shoes and foot orthoses. Nearly 37% of veterans were in need of some type of lower limb orthoses on the contralateral side to compensate for their hip inequality. In sequential order, the most in need orthoses for veterans were foot orthoses(n=538), medical shoes(n=447), lower limb orthoses on the contralateral side(n=320), spinal orthoses(n=273), and upper limb orthoses(n=86).Conclusion: In spite of the high demands for orthoses among Iranian veterans with ankle and foot disorders, the use of orthoses is insufficient. Hence, there is a discrepancy between the current rate of orthoses use and its ideal situation, and more resources should be provided for service providers to be able to serve veterans. Moreover, veterans should be educated regarding orthoses, their use, and their impacts on the user's health status. The findings of a needs assessment of orthoses can be used in strategic planning and decision making to improve health care services for Iranian veterans.

Psychological Emotion Analysis System for Special Needs Children Based on Neural Network

With the development of modern society and the improvement of living standards,care for special needs children has been increasingly highlighted,and numerous corresponding measures such as welfare homes,special education schools,and youth care centers have emerged.Due to the lack of systematic emotional companionship,the mental health of special needs children are bound to be affected.Nowadays,emotional education,analysis,and evaluation are mostly done by psychologists and emotional analysts,and these measures are unpopular.Therefore,many researchers at home and abroad have focused on the solution of psychological issues and the psychological assessment and emotional analysis of such children in their daily lives.In this paper,a special children’s psychological emotional analysis based on neural network is proposed,where the system sends the voice information to a cloud platform through intelligent wearable devices.To ensure that the data collected are valid,a series of pretreatments such as Chinese word segmentation,de-emphasis,and so on are put into the neural network model.The model is based on the further research of transfer learning and Bi-GRU model,which can meet the needs of Chinese text sentiment analysis.The completion rate of the final model test has reached 97%,which means that it is ready for use.Finally,a web page is designed,which can evaluate and detect abnormal psychological state,and at the same time,a personal emotion database can also be established.

Why Teaching and Research Activities Lack Vitality?:A Probe into the Basic Psychological Needs of Teachers

Teaching and research activities are of great significance to the professional development of teachers.The basic psychological needs of teachers include autonomy,competence,and attribution.The engagement of teachers in teaching and research activities can be analyzed from these three perspectives.Under the management system of teaching and research,teachers generally lack autonomy in the organization of teaching and research activities;they are also lack scientific research knowledge and ability;in addition,under the influence of harmonious interpersonal relationships and the culture of individualism,there is a dearth in real communication among teachers.In light of this,we propose targeted countermeasures to promote the vitality of teaching and research activities.

Capacity Building Needs for Manual and Computer Assisted Teaching of Pattern Drafting for Entrepreneurship in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

This study investigated the capacity building needs for manual and computer assisted teaching of pattern drafting for entrepreneurship in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.The study was conducted and guided by two research questions and two hypotheses.This study adopted an ex-post facto research design.The population for the study consisted of 131 Home Economics lecturers from the Universities,Polytechnic,and Colleges of Education in South East Nigeria.The entire population was studied because of its manageable size,hence there was no sampling.The results of this study showed that the Home Economics lecturers are competent in drafting patterns using manual method.Technical skills required for lecturers of Home Economics to advance from manual to computer-assisted teaching of pattern drafting were identified.They include ability to grade patterns,ability to use software packages,and ability to discuss procedures of pattern drafting among others.Based on the findings,it was recommended among others that computer assisted teaching of pattern drafting should be incorporated and applied by Home Economics lecturers to ensure that students acquire technical skills that will enable them to enter into entrepreneurship.