Applying Andersen's healthcare utilization model to assess factors influencing patients' expectations for diagnostic tests at emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in non-urgent emergency department (ED) attendance among people presenting with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms. These non-urgent visits, often manageable in primary care, exacerbated ED overcrowding, which could compromise the quality of ED services. Understanding patients' expectations and the reasons for these ED visits is imperative to mitigate the problem of ED overcrowding.

Are physicians ready for precision antibiotic prescribing? A qualitative analysis of the acceptance of artificial intelligence-enabled clinical decision support systems in India and Singapore.

Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) can augment antibiotic decision-making capabilities, but physicians' hesitancy in adopting them may undermine their utility. We conducted a cross-country comparison of physician perceptions on the barriers and facilitators in accepting an AI-enabled CDSS for antibiotic prescribing.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with physicians from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Singapore, and Christian Medical College Vellore (CMCV), India, between April and December 2022.

An Evidence-Based Serious Game App for Public Education on Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The misuse and overuse of antibiotics contribute to the acceleration of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but public knowledge on appropriate antibiotic use and AMR remained low despite ongoing health promotion efforts. App gamification has gained traction in recent years for health promotion and to affect change in health behaviors. Hence, we developed an evidence-based serious game app "SteWARdS Antibiotic Defence" to educate the public on appropriate antibiotic use and AMR and address knowledge gaps.

Studies on workability, microstructural and hardened strength properties on self-compacted geopolymer concrete subjected to ambient curing.

Due to the enormous increase in the development of infrastructure in a very short span, there is an urge in the need of cement that is commonly used as a binder in the construction industry. This research work carries out the formation of self-compacted geopolymer concrete with the help of alkali activators that are used for curing under ambient curing. Durability, mechanical properties and microstructural analysis of ten different types of mixes of concrete with different combinations of fly ash, micro fly ash and slag were studied in detail.

Gravimetric weight loss of steel in self-compacting concrete blended with wood ash and silica fume.

The present research work deals with the development of self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing wood ash (WA), silica fume (SF) and their combination (1:1 ratio). Several research studies have reported on the performance of WA and SF-blended SCC. However, very limited information is available on the effects of silica dioxide (SiO) and subsequent formation of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) gel and its benefit on the strength and durability enhancement of self-compacting concrete.

Strength and durability characteristics of steel fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete with addition of waste materials.

In general, all countries in the world use ordinary Portland cement concrete for the construction purpose; this ordinary Portland cement (OPC) gives good mechanical properties and durability to the buildings. The binder cement and the filler aggregate are the ingredients widely used in the process of concrete. Natural resources are used to extract both filler and binder elements.

Effect on mechanical properties of lightweight sustainable concrete with the use of waste coconut shell as replacement for coarse aggregate.

Concrete is one of the most important materials that are used in the construction industry all around the world. A larger part of the capacity in concrete is generally employed by the coarse aggregate. Due to the tremendous use of coarse aggregate in the construction industry, the material is getting degraded.

Factors predicting improved compliance towards colonoscopy in individuals with positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT).

Objectives: Follow-up colonoscopy after a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) in any colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme is integral. However, many individuals who had a positive FIT declined colonoscopy subsequently. This study aims to uncover the predictors on completion of colonoscopy using the Health Belief Model (HBM) between individuals who complete and those who did not after a positive FIT.