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Explorations of the current attitudes and practices of dietitians regarding the gut microbiota in health are scarce. In this online survey, we assessed the attitudes and practices of dietitians across Europe concerning gut microbiome parameters and the manipulation of the gut microbiota. Pre-graduate dietetic students and other professionals were also invited to participate. The potential interest and preferences of the participants for future educational initiatives about the gut microbiota and the educational resources used were further explored. A total of 179 full responses were recorded (dietitians, n = 155), mainly from the southern and western regions. Most of the participants (>90.0%) believed that probiotics and prebiotics have a place in nutritional practice and that fermented foods with live microbial cultures should be a part of food-based dietary guidelines. A strong belief in the beneficial roles of probiotics and prebiotics in some health situations was also reported among the participants. Most of the dietitians recognised the importance of gut microbiota manipulation and advised the use of probiotics and prebiotics in dietary practice, and they felt quite confident applying the relevant information in their daily practice. Nevertheless, misconceptions were identified, and further guideline-oriented education is necessary. The interest in future e-learning initiatives was high among the participants, and the sources of knowledge, educative formats, and potential areas for further educational efforts were indicated. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning, particularly in higher education institutions. This shift underscores the importance of sustainable education practices aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 4 emphasizes inclusive and equitable quality education, highlighting how online learning environments can enhance accessibility and flexibility for students worldwide. SDG 9 underscores the role of technological advancements in education. SDG 10 focuses on reducing inequality within and among countries, and online education can bridge educational disparities by offering flexible learning options to diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. SDG 17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships, which have been crucial in developing effective online learning solutions. This study investigates the relationship between undergraduate students’ self-regulated online learning, perceived flexibility, and attitudes towards the use of distance learning environments at a state university in İzmir, Türkiye. Utilizing a survey-type correlational research model, data were collected from 300 undergraduate students. The results indicate that undergraduate students exhibit high-level self-regulation, perceive moderate flexibility, and hold positive attitudes towards the use of distance learning environments. The analysis showed that self-regulated online learning is moderately correlated with perceived flexibility and strongly correlated with attitudes towards the use of distance learning environments. These findings suggest that both perceived flexibility and positive attitudes towards the use of distance learning environments play important roles in predicting self-regulated online learning. This research provides valuable insights for educators and institutions aiming to enhance the online learning experience by promoting self-regulated learning behaviors and flexible learning environments. Full article

The aim of this study was to compare physical activity and organized sport participation survey data between different weight classifications in children. In the cross-sectional online data collection, 677 parents (42.8 ± 6.4 years old) provided information about 677 children (10.9 ± 2.5 years old). On average, 77% of the children achieved 60 min of MVPA/day and 63% participated in a club or organized sport. Most of them (63%) were in the healthy weight category, 14% of the children were underweight, and 22% of the children were overweight or obese. The parental support for physical activity was 83%. Club or organized sport participation (OR = 0.56 CI: 0.34–0.91; p < 0.02) and a parent with a higher educational level (OR = 0.25 CI:0.14–0.43; p < 0.01) were found to be preventive for obesity. Football was the most popular and highly chosen sport activity. Regarding sport activities with parents, cycling, walking, and football were the most popular, independently of the weight classification of the child. The overweight and obese children had almost the same participation rate in sport activities than others. Increased physical activity might be explained by the daily physical education in schools and governmental support. Further studies and measures are needed to prevent overweight and obesity in children of parents with a lower educational level. Full article

(1) Background: Rabies is a neglected zoonosis considered to be one of the most significant health threats in the world, responsible of thousands of deaths globally. Algeria is one of the main countries of concern, with more than 15 deaths and more than 100,000 bites by rabid-suspected animals being reported annually. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) toward this disease among university students in the endemic region of Algeria. (2) Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was conducted between June 2023 and March 2024 using a self administered questionnaire. (3) Results: a total of 409 students completed the questionnaire. Overall, 91.2% of them were singles, 70.7% were females, and two-thirds (66%) were between their twenties and thirties in regard to age. The majority were studying for Bachelor’s degrees, and the most represented fields of study were Humanities (31.5%) and Natural and Life Sciences (29.1%).The findings revealed a moderate level of knowledge (63% of correct responses), a positive attitude, and appropriate practices. However, the surveyed students have certain gaps in their information regarding disease transmission, its risk factors, and its clinical signs. In addition, some of them have also shown some negative attitudes, including approving of the systematic killing of a dog who bites someone regardless of its vaccine status (59.2%), and inappropriate practices, especially in regard to unawareness of the importance of early washing of bite wounds, which was reported among 64.5% of the surveyed students. The study also revealed the association of health sciences education with knowledge (AOR: 2.723, CI 95%: 1.317–5.634), attitude (AOR: 2.306, CI 95%: 1.113–4.779) and practice (AOR: 3.560, CI 95%: 1.632–7.769), and the effect of the high level of knowledge on the attitude of surveyed students (AOR: 1.607, CI 95%: 1.052–2.456). (4) Conclusion: These results provide the first report regarding rabies KAP among Algerian university students. Based on these results, the health deciders could adopt their preventive strategy by raising awareness of the less-informed categories, which would consequently affect their behaviors regarding this fatal disease. Full article

The use of social media (SM) platforms in higher education has seen significant growth since the global pandemic disrupted traditional learning methods and forced stakeholders to explore alternatives. This trend is expected to continue with the rise of newer digital learning platforms, tools, programs and pedagogies, particularly within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the evolution towards Education 4.0 and Education 5.0. Despite a significant level of research into SM’s role in informal learning, there has been limited exploration of its integration into pedagogical practices, particularly regarding assessment challenges and innovations in university settings. Additionally, there is scarce research on mobile applications in academics, hindering the effective integration of SM platforms into curricula. This study addresses these gaps by examining stakeholder perceptions of using SM for educational purposes in a university setting in Qatar. Following a comprehensive and comparative literature review and analysis, a thematic analysis of interviews with 20 stakeholders revealed that SM platforms go beyond communication, serving as tools to enhance professional identity, reputation, research profiles, knowledge dissemination, and social practices, but they lack methodologies to integrate effective learning, either independently or in formal learning/teaching/assessment settings. This study proposes a framework to optimize the use of SM platforms, with a particular focus on sustainability, for lifelong learning and knowledge-based societies leading to more sustainable and prosperous economies. The findings encourage the reconsideration of digital assessment and the expansion pedagogical practices in alignment with modern social learning through an expansive array of SM tools and platforms. Full article

While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected both developing and developed countries, students from disadvantaged groups have suffered significantly. During the pandemic, these students not only struggled to access online education but also faced various forms of exclusion. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, this systematic literature review employs the concept of social justice framework to investigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education worldwide, focusing on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in ensuring inclusive and equitable access to quality higher education. The findings suggest that while digital transformation in higher education has provided substantive benefits, its adoption has also ushered in challenges for learning. The review emphasizes that higher education institutions (HEIs), alongside their governments, bear the responsibility of mitigating the challenges inherent in the context of digital learning, thereby advocating for the implementation of comprehensive strategies that adhere to best practices and embrace inclusivity. By operationalizing these strategies, HEIs will be ensuring equitable opportunities and success for all students, while also preventing analogous challenges that may arise in instances of future crises limiting physical mobility. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted dental education significantly, forcing adaptations in both didactic and clinical curricula. This study evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on dental students’ mental health and perceptions of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. An anonymous online survey was administered to dental students at Roseman University of Health Sciences, focusing on health experiences and vaccination perceptions. Results showed 56.8% of students were concerned about their emotional health, 82.1% felt stressed, and 60.6% felt depressed. About 81.9% received the vaccine, with 75.5% believing it effective, though only 55.3% supported mandatory vaccination. The pandemic negatively impacted students’ emotional health, indicating a need for institutional mental health support. This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and findings relate specifically to that period. Further research can focus on investigation of reasonings behind the sentiments. Full article

The diverse backgrounds of health professions faculty often result in inconsistent teaching, clinical techniques, and feedback for students. Faculty calibration is essential for uniform, high-quality instruction. However, scheduling training sessions is challenging due to faculty availability. This study introduces a self-paced, interactive online approach to dental faculty calibration. Four self-paced online modules were developed using an interactive cloud-based platform. A variety of learning activities were interspersed throughout the module to promote active learning. A survey captured faculty’s perception of the online format. ANOVA analyses examined differences in perceived effectiveness of the online format between full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty. The platform analytics offered insights into the faculty’s module performance. Anecdotal feedback from faculty provided evidence of behavioral changes. 94% of the faculty expressed high satisfaction with the online format. The majority of faculty agreed or strongly agreed that the online format was effective (89%), engaging (88%), and easy to navigate (84%). They highlighted the modules’ user-friendliness, flexibility, and engaging content. ANOVA analyses revealed no significant differences in perceived effectiveness of the online format between full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty. Anecdotal feedback demonstrated that faculty were incorporating the knowledge gained from the modules into their teaching practices. This positive online experience also motivated several faculty to integrate similar online approaches into their own courses. This online approach provides a more flexible, sustainable, and interactive approach to faculty development that could be beneficial to other institutions. Full article

Background: We aimed to (1) understand the level of knowledge about sex trafficking of minors among school personnel and the determinants of such knowledge and (2) test the efficacy of short educational videos in increasing knowledge (awareness level) about sex trafficking of minors among school personnel. Methods: We employed an online survey to gather responses from 741 school personnel living in the US. The McNemar test was used to test for differences in knowledge before and after exposure to the videos. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of knowledge based on the respondents’ characteristics. Results: Predictors of knowledge about sex trafficking were years of experience in working with youth, level of education, and being a female. Exposure to the educational videos improved school personnel’s basic knowledge about this crime and interest in seeking additional educational material. Conclusion: School personnel have a high level of awareness of risk factors for sex trafficking but less awareness of the definition of sex trafficking in children. Exposure to short educational videos can increase awareness in the short term. There is a need to develop more comprehensive training initiatives for school personnel on sex trafficking. However, training alone is not sufficient, and there is also a need for developing school protocols and programs to provide adequate support to victims of this crime. Full article

This pilot cross-sectional study was designed to determine the profile of obstetric violence in Ecuador in recent years. An online survey was conducted between March 2022 and April 2022, including women over 18 years who granted their informed consent to participate (n = 1598). We used non-probabilistic sampling to obtain our sample. Fisher’s exact test was performed to assess the association between violence and type of birth, healthcare facility, and education level. Out of the women who participated in the study, 89.2% (n = 1426) identified themselves as Mestiza. Additionally, 88.3% (n = 1411) had completed university-level education. The majority of the participants, specifically 63.6% (n = 1017), received their care in public institutions, and 98.2% (n = 1569) reported structural negligence, while 74.5% (n = 1190) reported violation of their right to information. The entire sample affirmed to have experienced violation of the right of presence. This report shows that obstetric violence is present in Ecuador in different ways and that women experience negligence and violation of their right to receive ethical healthcare during childbirth. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to medical education systems and medical students worldwide, making it necessary to adapt teaching to a remote methodology during the academic year 2020–2021. The aim of this study was to characterize the association between medical professionalism and dropout intention during the pandemic in Peruvian medical schools. Methods: A cross-sectional online-survey-based study was performed in four Peruvian medical schools (two public) during the academic year 2020–2021. Medical students, attending classes from home, answered three scales measuring clinical empathy, teamwork, and lifelong learning abilities (three elements of medical professionalism) and four scales measuring loneliness, anxiety, depression, and subjective wellbeing. In addition, 15 demographic, epidemiological, and academic variables (including dropout intention) were collected. Variables were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The study sample was composed of 1107 students (390 male). Eight variables were included in an explanatory model (Nagelkerke-R² = 0.35). Anxiety, depression, intention to work in the private sector, and teamwork abilities showed positive associations with dropout intention while learning abilities, subjective wellbeing, studying in a public medical school, and acquiring a better perception of medicine during the pandemic showed a negative association with dropout intention. No association was observed for empathy. Conclusions: Each element measured showed a different role, providing new clues on the influence that medical professionalism had on dropout intention during the pandemic. This information can be useful for medical educators to have a better understanding of the influence that professionalism plays in dropout intention. Full article

(1) Background: This study aims to establish the knowledge, attitudes and current behaviours towards female fertility preservation (FP) services amongst healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the UK. (2) Methods: An online survey was advertised publicly on the social media platform Instagram between 25 February 2021 and 11 March 2021. (3) Results: In total, 415 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria and completed the survey. The majority of HCPs discussed FP techniques either never 39.5% (n = 164), once a year 20.7% (n = 86) or once a month 17.8% (n = 74). The majority rated their knowledge of each type of FP method as ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’ and strongly disagreed 14.2% (n = 59) or disagreed 42.2% (n = 175) with the statement they ‘felt confident to counsel a patient on FP’. The majority either agreed 37.8% (n = 157) or strongly agreed 22.2% (n = 92) that it was their responsibility to discuss FP and 38.1% (n = 158) agreed or strongly agreed 19.5% (n = 81) they considered the desire for future fertility when planning treatment. The majority 87.2% (n = 362) had not experienced formal training on FP. (4) Conclusions: Discrepancies in knowledge remain regarding techniques of FP, referral pathways, awareness of facilities offering services and existing educational resources. Many HCPs recognise the importance of FP and their responsibility to initiate discussions. The knowledge that FP may not delay the treatment of cancer has also improved; however, training in FP is scarce. Full article

In conventional engineering education, issues such as the discrepancy between virtual and real environments, rigid practical operations, lack of reflective support, and a disconnect between online and offline learning prevail. Digital twin technology, with its high fidelity and real-time interaction features, presents an innovative instructional aid for engineering education. This study developed a digital twin learning system to assist instructors in implementing project-based teaching models in landscaping technology courses. To assess the effectiveness of this system, a quasi-experiment was designed. Seventy students from a vocational high school majoring in landscaping technology in China were recruited as participants. These students were divided into two groups, each consisting of 35 students, with the same teaching pace. The experimental group utilized the system to supplement the instructor’s teaching of landscaping courses, while the control group received instruction through traditional methods. The experiment lasted for eight weeks, comprising a total of 16 classes. Ultimately, the results indicated that students in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group in critical thinking, cognitive load, learning experience, and academic performance. Additionally, this research examined the acceptance of learners toward using the digital twin learning system and its influencing factors based on the Technology Acceptance Model, aiming to provide insights into enhancing engineering education courses teaching effectiveness and targeted technological development. Full article

Objective: High stress levels can be problematic for teachers and indirectly affect students. Resilience may be a protective factor for overcoming stress. Knowledge about the prevalence and correlates of high stress and low resilience will provide information about the extent of the problem among teachers in Canada. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among teachers in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Participants self-subscribed to the Wellness4Teachers supportive text messaging program and completed the online survey on enrollment. Baseline data collection occurred from 1 September 2022 to 30 August 2023. Resilience and stress were, respectively, assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The data were analyzed with SPSS version 28 using chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 1912 teachers subscribed to the Wellness4Teachers program, and 810 completed the baseline survey, yielding a response rate of 42.40%. Most of the participants, 87.8%, were female, and 12.2% were aged 18 to 61 and above. The prevalence of low resilience was 40.1%, and high stress had a prevalence of 26.3%. After controlling for all the other variables in the logistic regression model, participants with low resilience were 3.10 times more likely to experience high-stress symptoms than those with normal to high resilience (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 2.18–4.41). Conversely, participants who reported high stress were 3.13 times more likely to have low resilience than those with low to moderate stress (OR = 3.13; 95% CI: 2.20–4.44). Additionally, junior and senior high school teachers were, respectively, 2.30 times (OR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.25–4.23) and 2.12 times (OR = 2,12; 95% CI: 1.08–4.18) more likely to have low resilience compared to elementary school teachers. Conclusions: Our study findings suggest a high prevalence of stress and low resilience among teachers in the three Canadian provinces. Administrators, policymakers in the educational field, school boards, and governments should integrate stress management and resilience-building strategies into teachers’ training and continuing professional development programs. Full article

This paper explores how the combination of artificial intelligence, simulation, and e-collaborative (AISEC) tools can support accessibility in analytics courses within higher education. In the era of online and blended learning, addressing the diverse needs of students with varying linguistic backgrounds and analytical proficiencies poses a significant challenge. This paper discusses how the combination of AISEC tools can contribute to mitigating barriers to accessibility for students undertaking analytics courses. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and empirical insights from practical implementations, this paper shows the synergistic benefits of using AISEC tools for facilitating interactive engagement in analytics courses. Furthermore, the manuscript outlines practical strategies and best practices derived from real-world experiences carried out in different universities in Spain, Ireland, and Portugal. Full article