Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rakel Bruland, Wenche Malmedal, Lene Blekken
Summary: In Norway, the number of senior immigrants is increasing. Engagement in voluntary activities is important for their well-being and health. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the experiences of immigrant women aged 50 and above in participating in activities provided by voluntary organizations. The study identified the facilitators and barriers to their engagement, including the importance of learning Norwegian, social relationships, language challenges, limited social integration, and health factors. This article contributes to understanding the experiences of senior immigrant women in voluntary services and the challenges faced by voluntary organizations in promoting participation.
Article
Neurosciences
David M. Baguley, Charlotte Caimino, Annick Gilles, Laure Jacquemin
Summary: This study analyzes the vocabulary used for tinnitus across multiple languages and cultures. The majority of the words have a negative connotation and many are onomatopoeic or describe the sound. Participants experiencing tinnitus had different word preferences based on their own experiences.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Huixue Zhou, Robin Austin, Sheng-Chieh Lu, Greg Marc Silverman, Yuqi Zhou, Halil Kilicoglu, Hua Xu, Rui Zhang
Summary: The study aims to construct a comprehensive Complementary and Integrative Health Lexicon (CIHLex) to better represent the often overlooked physical and psychological CIH approaches in standard terminologies, and to utilize advanced natural language processing techniques for their recognition in biomedical literature.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL INFORMATICS ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Jenni Alisaari, Salla Sissonen, Leena Maria Heikkola
Summary: The study found that a majority of Finnish teachers believe parents should speak their first languages at home, supporting multilingual education. Teachers' justifications reflect different orientations towards language as right, resource, and problem.
TEACHING AND TEACHER EDUCATION
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Christophe Gaudet-Blavignac, Vasiliki Foufi, Mina Bjelogrlic, Christian Lovis
Summary: The review analyzed the use of SNOMED CT in processing and representing clinical free text in healthcare. The majority of the publications focused on using rule-based methods to map text to SNOMED CT concepts, with English being the targeted language. Despite the challenges, there is potential for SNOMED CT to be utilized for improving interoperability and secondary use of data in healthcare.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Connor Tom Keating, Lydia Hickman, Joan Leung, Ruth Monk, Alicia Montgomery, Hannah Heath, Sophie Sowden
Summary: There has been a lot of debate about what language should be used to talk about autism. Our study assessed the language preferences of 654 English-speaking autistic individuals from multiple different countries and found that there is no universally accepted way to talk about autism. The most popular terms varied between countries, but there were some consistent preferences. The findings emphasize the importance of respecting personal preferences when discussing autism.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mario Alberto Viveros Espinoza-Kulick
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic worsened inequities in resources and healthcare, particularly for immigrants and communities of color who have long faced exploitation. Social movement organizations have played a crucial role in addressing the systemic barriers to health and wellbeing created by immigration status and language barriers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Marina Gaeta Gazzola, Emma Maclean, Mark Beitel, Iain D. Carmichael, Katharine M. Cammack, Kathryn F. Eggert, Teresa Roehrich, Lynn M. Madden, Oluwole Jegede, Xiaoying Zheng, Emma Bergman, Declan T. Barry
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the preferences of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) regarding the terminology used by addiction counselors. The findings revealed that among patients receiving methadone treatment, the most preferred terms were addiction, substance use, and substance abuse. Additionally, there were demographic differences in terminology preferences.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jin K. Park, Stella S. Yi
Summary: Food insecurity has long been acknowledged to affect health, and recently population-specific determinants of food insecurity have been systematically studied as an important public health concern. Despite facing unique challenges to equitable access to the food system, immigrant populations have not been extensively described in this context. This article critically reviews recent research that highlights transportation and language access as independent determinants of food access for immigrant populations. It also emphasizes proposals to overcome barriers to access through academic and community-driven approaches that prioritize inclusive policymaking catering to diverse populations.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Paula Alexandra Silva, Renato Santos
Summary: Despite the positive impact of games for health on players' health, users tend to stop playing them after a short period of time, leading benefits to fade. To sustain interest and preserve the health benefits of games for health, this paper introduces a methodology that analyzes user comments posted on YouTube about the Just Dance game. By automatically extracting information about usability, user experience, and perceived health impacts related to quality of life, this methodology provides insights for better understanding user opinions and informing the (re)design of games for health.
MULTIMEDIA TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Joaquin A. Ibanez-Alfonso, Juan Andres Hernandez-Cabrera, Jon Andoni Dunabeitia, Adelina Estevez, Pedro Macizo, Maria Teresa Bajo, Luis J. Fuentes, David Saldana
Summary: Research on reading comprehension of immigrant students found that socioeconomic status has a greater impact on students' abilities, rather than immigrant status. The study suggests that both native and immigrant students from diverse cultural backgrounds may face similar risks of poor reading comprehension, regardless of their language origin.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jacqueline D. Hunter, Eden G. Robertson, Kate Hetherington, David S. Ziegler, Glenn M. Marshall, Judy Kirk, Jonathan M. Marron, Avram E. Denburg, Kristine Barlow-Stewart, Meera Warby, Katherine M. Tucker, Brittany M. Lee, Tracey A. O'Brien, Claire E. Wakefield
Summary: There is a lack of consensus in current literature/guidelines regarding the appropriate term to communicate a cancer-related disease-causing germline variant in childhood cancer. Preferences vary among parents, genetics professionals, and pediatric oncologists. The term 'faulty gene' is perceived as having negative connotations and potentially blaming parents/children. Health professionals face challenges in selecting a term that is scientifically accurate, easily understood, and not distressing to families. It is important to consider families' preferred terminology while providing accurate explanations of genetic findings.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marte K. R. Kjollesdal, Jennifer Gerwing, Thor Indseth
Summary: A study conducted in Norway found that language proficiency among immigrants is associated with their health outcomes. Immigrants with poor language proficiency were more likely to have poorer self-rated health, hypertension, back or neck pain, mental health problems, sleep disturbances, and being overweight. While socioeconomic status played a role, the associations were not further altered by perceived discrimination and lifestyle factors.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medical Informatics
Tianyong Hao, Zhengxing Huang, Likeng Liang, Heng Weng, Buzhou Tang
Summary: With the rapid growth of information technology, the necessity for processing substantial amounts of health data using advanced information technologies is increasing. Health natural language processing, as an interdisciplinary field, plays a substantial role in methodology development and applications in the medical domain.
JMIR MEDICAL INFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Joana P. Cristovao, Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello
Summary: This study discusses the terminology used for the morphological structures of the abdomen and male and female genitalia across the superfamily Scarabaeoidea, proposing standardisation of terminology and introducing new morphological structures. The research provides a Scarabaeoidea-specific glossary and suggests a standardized dissection protocol for male and female Scarabaeoidea specimens. Additionally, sexually dimorphic structures in certain groups are described and illustrated for the first time, offering a non-dissection method for determining the sex of specimens based on external characters.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Altaf Saadi, Mario Cruz-Gonzalez, Andrew Hwang, Lauren Cohen, Margarita Alegria
Summary: This study found that higher PTSD symptoms were associated with cognitive impairment in Asian, but not Latino, older adults. Daytime sleepiness did not moderate the association between PTSD and cognitive functioning in the Asian group.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Altaf Saadi, Pria Anand, Sarah L. Kimball
Summary: Traumatic brain injuries are common among refugees and asylum-seekers due to various causes. These injuries result in neuropsychiatric symptoms and may impact individuals' health outcomes.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC AND LEGAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Altaf Saadi, Uriel Sanchez Molina, Andree Franco-Vasquez, Moira Inkelas, Gery W. Ryan
Summary: This study identified factors influencing the implementation of interventions aimed at mitigating immigration-related stressors in healthcare systems by conducting qualitative interviews with stakeholders from 25 healthcare facilities across 5 states in the USA. Barriers to implementation included legal complexity and challenges in adopting systemic strategies, while facilitators included changes in national policy climate, communication among healthcare personnel, community partnerships, and a shared mission for health equity. Additionally, local variation in immigration-related policies and the role of champions and informal leaders were found to impact implementation success.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Altaf Saadi, Caitlin Patler, Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young
Summary: The USA has the world's largest immigration detention system, and research indicates that detention conditions have a negative impact on the health of detainees. Each confinement condition increases the likelihood of worsening health conditions, and the cumulative effect of these conditions leads to a decline in overall health.
JOURNAL OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DISPARITIES
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jafar Bakhshaie, Terence M. Penn, James Doorley, Tony V. Pham, Jonathan Greenberg, Sarah Bannon, Altaf Saadi, Ana-Maria Vranceanu
Summary: This narrative review examines the conceptual models explaining the relationship between contextual determinants and psychological responses to chronic musculoskeletal pain among Black individuals. The study discusses three relevant conceptual models - socioecological, cumulative stress, and biopsychosocial - and identifies four psychological factors that influence pain outcomes: disproportionate burden of mental health, distinct coping strategies, pain-related perceived injustice and racial/ethnic discrimination, and preferences and expectations related to seeking and receiving pain care.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Altaf Saadi, Adys Mendizabal, Nicte I. Mejia
Summary: This review summarizes existing literature on disparities in teleneurology, including racial or ethnic disparities, language inequities, and the global context. Understanding social and structural barriers in accessing quality teleneurology is critical to addressing and preventing health disparities, ensuring effective and equitable neurological care for all patients.
SEMINARS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nathaniel M. Robbins, Larry Charleston, Altaf Saadi, Zaneta Thayer, Wilfred U. Codrington, Alden Landry, James L. Bernat, Roy Hamilton
Summary: This article highlights the disproportionate health disparities experienced by Black people in the United States in the field of neurology. It emphasizes that race is a social construct and that racism, rather than biological differences, is the root cause of these disparities. The article calls for neurologists to actively promote measures to counteract racism and work towards health equity in neurology.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
A. Parvez, S. Percac-Lima, A. Saadi
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the frequency and range of neurological disorders in resettled refugees receiving care in Massachusetts. The results showed that 36.8% of the participants were diagnosed with at least one neurological disorder, with headaches and sleep disorders being the most common. Participants with neurological illness were more likely to be older, female, and diagnosed with psychiatric comorbidities.
JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Altaf Saadi, Jasmin Williams, Ameerah Parvez, Margarita Alegria, Ana-Maria M. Vranceanu
Summary: The aim of this study was to assess the global prevalence of head trauma in refugees and asylum seekers and describe its clinical characteristics. The results showed a wide range of prevalence rates of head trauma in this population, and there is a lack of systematic screening approaches. Therefore, there is a need to increase attention to head trauma in displaced populations and provide equitable care.
Article
Pediatrics
Judy T. Tang, Altaf Saadi, Erin C. Dunn, Kristen Choi
Summary: This study investigated the concordance between children and parents in reporting social victimization experiences, and found that concordance was associated with child behavioral symptoms. Child behavioral symptoms were related to factors such as family and school environment. Parents generally under-reported children's social victimization experiences, and concordance may serve as an indicator of the severity of experiences.
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Altaf Saadi, Brenda Morales, Lei Chen, May Sudhinaraset
SSM-QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Tala Al-Rousan, Rawan AlHeresh, Altaf Saadi, Hannah El-Sabrout, Megan Young, Tarik Benmarhnia, Benjamin H. Han, Laith Alshawabkeh
Summary: This study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the incidence and risk factors of cardiovascular disease among refugees and asylum seekers. The findings suggest that the refugee experience is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, while psychosocial factors are associated with increased risk of disease among refugees. However, there is variation in the evidence for cardiovascular disease risk factors among refugees in different regions and with different durations of resettlement.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND PREVENTION
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Altaf Saadi, Sarah Bannon, Eric Watson, Ana-Maria Vranceanu
Summary: This narrative review highlights various ways in which racial and ethnic disparities manifest across the full spectrum of TBI care, emphasizing the importance of understanding these differences in ensuring equitable care for all individuals with TBI.
JOURNAL OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DISPARITIES
(2022)