Nevin Manimala

J Allied Health. 2026 Spring;55(1):81-86. doi: 10.21091/jah.2026.01009.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Up to 15% of U.S. higher education students have a learning disability (LD) such as ADHD, dyslexia, or dysgraphia, which impacts academic skill acquisition. Limited research exists on students with LDs in healthcare science programs, and their representation in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs is unknown. This study aimed to explore the presence of students with LDs in Alabama DPT programs and to examine their perceptions of how their LDs impacted them and whether programs provided adequate accommodations.

METHODS: A 12-item online survey was distributed to 326 students across five Alabama DPT programs.

RESULTS: Ninety-two students completed the survey; these students were mostly female (n=72) and in the age range of 23-24 years old (n=51). Data revealed that students with LDs were present in these programs. Some reported that their LDs influenced their ability to gain admission and that accommodations during enrollment were insufficient. However, most students felt their LDs would not hinder their clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that DPT programs should acknowledge the growing presence of students with LDs, address potential barriers to admission, and ensure effective accommodations are provided. Encouraging students to utilize accommodations offices could enhance their academic experience. The confidence of students with LDs in their clinical abilities should inspire both prospective students and DPT programs to support diversity in physical therapy education.

PMID:41802955 | DOI:10.21091/jah.2026.01009

J Allied Health. 2026 Spring;55(1):69-75. doi: 10.21091/jah.2026.01008.

ABSTRACT

This study sought to estimate the prevalence of inappropriate patient sexual behaviors (IPSBs) directed toward physical therapy students in the United States. Secondary objectives were to estimate whether IPSB is primarily performed by individuals with cognitive impairments, whether students report IPSB, whether students find their clinical instructor (CI) or faculty members’ responses helpful, and whether students receive training on IPSB in school. A survey was distributed to 793 individuals who had graduated from physical therapy programs in the United States within the prior year. Respondents were asked if they had experienced specific IPSBs during their clinical experiences, the cognitive status of the individuals engaging in those behaviors, and whether they told anyone about their worst experience. If a respondent told a CI or a faculty member, they were asked if that individual’s response was helpful. 68 responses were received, and 80.9% reported experiencing IPSB. For most inappropriate behaviors, respondents indicated that cognitively intact individuals were the most common offenders. 62% of respondents reported their worst experience of IPSB to their CIs, but only 8% reported the experience to faculty. When reported, most respondents found their CI or faculty member’s response helpful. Over half received training on IPSB in school.

PMID:41802954 | DOI:10.21091/jah.2026.01008

J Allied Health. 2026 Spring;55(1):41-47. doi: 10.21091/jah.2026.01005.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Financing of professional physical therapy programs has shifted over the last decade with tuition increases of over 100% during this timeframe despite only a 10% rise in salaries.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the debt burden of students enrolled in full-time Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs to determine the percentage of students likely to be negatively affected by debt service upon graduation.

METHODS: A survey was distributed to responders (N = 703) who represented 1st-year (35%), 2nd-year (34%), and 3rd-year (31%) students from public (45%) and private (52%) institutions.

RESULTS: Responders borrowed $101,444 ± $53,102 to pay for their program (median $100,000, mode $150,000). Almost 50% of students enrolled in private programs reported the total debt (undergraduate loan plus DPT loan) would surpass the $150,000 threshold identified as benchmark for net present value. As a percentage of salary, the sample would pay approximately 20% to service the debt in 120 months (10 years) and the debt would only represent 10% of salary if the repayment was made over a period of 25 years.

CONCLUSION: As a result of this borrowing and repayment, graduates should expect financial burdens, professional choices based on income, and impacts on personal decisions.

PMID:41802951 | DOI:10.21091/jah.2026.01005

J Allied Health. 2026 Spring;55(1):33-40. doi: 10.21091/jah.2026.01004.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Certified surgical technologists (CSTs) promote asepsis principles due to their specialized education, help¬ing to minimize surgical site infections (SSIs). However, closing the empathy gap could support understanding and commitment to aseptic technique and improve outcomes.

METHODS: A single intervention, randomized posttest control group design was used to study the effect of a patient experiential video on the state empathy and aseptic technique performance of a convenience sample of CSTs (n = 133). The predictive ability of empathy and safety on CST exam scores was also examined. Data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) controlling for CST exam scores, independent t-tests, and regression analysis.

RESULTS: Differences between the means for the experimental and control groups were not significant. There was a statistically significant increase in mean associative empathy scores between the groups of 1.18 points, 95% CI [-0.01, 2.36], t(131) = 1.96, p < 0.05, d = 0.341. Empathy and safety scores statistically significantly predicted CST score (adjusted R2 = 0.14, p < 0.005). The aseptic safety score added significantly to the prediction, p = 0.001.

CONCLUSION: The significant difference in associative empathy scores produced by a patient-presented video could reduce the empathy gap, reduce psychological reactance, and improve aseptic techniques for CSTs.

PMID:41802950 | DOI:10.21091/jah.2026.01004

J Allied Health. 2026 Spring;55(1):21-31. doi: 10.21091/jah.2026.01003.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Holistic admissions examine a broad range of academic and non-academic applicant factors to determine how an individual will contribute to the learning environment and their potential for success. Prior academic performance is an established indicator of future performance, but less is known about non-academic metrics such as sociodemographic factors and personal attributes, some of which could be considered in holistic admissions practices. This study explored how personal and sociodemographic attributes (age, sex, diversity characteristics) impact academic performance throughout a physical therapist (PT) education program.

SUBJECTS: Three cohorts of first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students at a single institution were invited to participate.

METHODS: In this prospective, observational cohort study, first-year DPT students completed 6 surveys: PROMIS® General Self-efficacy, PROMIS® Anxiety, 12-item Grit Scale, Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and PROMIS® Positive Affect. Investigators used a 3-step hierarchical regression to determine if these personal attributes, along with age, sex, and diversity characteristics, were predictors of first-semester grade point average (GPA), program GPA, and Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT) scores.

RESULTS: 145 students participated (80.7% female, 51% zero diversity characteristics). Age and diversity characteristics were negative predictors in models for first-semester and program GPA (R2=0.22, p<0.001; R2=0.22, p<0.01, respectively). Personal attributes did not contribute additional variance to GPA nor PEAT scores.

CONCLUSION: Of the variables studied, age and diversity characteristics can be useful for predicting GPA, but not PEAT scores. Older and more diverse DPT students have poorer academic outcomes in the didactic phase of their education. Personal attributes can be incorporated into holistic admissions; however, they may not be useful as indicators of academic performance.

PMID:41802949 | DOI:10.21091/jah.2026.01003

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2026 Dec 31;22(1):2641328. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2641328. Epub 2026 Mar 9.

ABSTRACT

Following the January 2025 approval of the first male HPV vaccine in the Chinese mainland, we investigated vaccination willingness and its influencing factors among community-dwelling men. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Beijing, recruiting 480 community-based male residents and 399 men who have sex with men (MSM). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing HPV knowledge and the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify determinants of willingness. We found a high level of vaccination willingness, which was notably higher among MSM (90.73%) than the community-recruited male population (87.29%). Critically, willingness surpassed awareness, indicating significant latent demand despite low overall HPV knowledge. HBM analysis showed that perceived benefits promoted willingness in both groups, while self-efficacy of prevention paradoxically acted as an inhibitor. MSM reported higher perceived susceptibility and benefits, but lower severity, compared to community-recruited men. Determinants diverged significantly: income and sexual behavior were unique drivers for community-recruited men, whereas HPV knowledge and STI self-testing drove willingness in MSM. This study confirms high post-approval vaccination willingness but highlights distinct influencing factors. Findings suggest the need for differentiated strategies: universal approaches should highlight vaccine benefits to convert latent demand, while targeted education for MSM must focus on improving knowledge accuracy.

PMID:41802941 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2026.2641328

N C Med J. 2025 Jul 30;86(2). doi: 10.18043/001c.141309.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We examined the association between driving time and receipt of single-visit long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in North Carolina.

METHODS: We characterized drive time with single-visit LARC placement across a state-wide cohort of 4319 patients who received LARC between March 15, 2019, and March 14, 2021. Drive time was calculated on ArcGIS Pro 3.0.

RESULTS: 68% of patients received a single-visit LARC. Patients who lived 30 minutes from their LARC appointment had 1.54 times the odds of single-visit LARC placement compared to patients who drove 10 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 1.90).

LIMITATIONS: Our data are limited by the electronic medical record-based design, as well as the assumption that the patients home address is their drive time location of origin.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased driving time is associated with single-visit LARC placement. Understanding and addressing barriers to care, including geographic accessibility, is essential to enhancing access to high-quality, person-centered contraceptive care.

PMID:41802939 | DOI:10.18043/001c.141309

N C Med J. 2025 Jul 30;86(2). doi: 10.18043/001c.142245.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Geographic variation in state services and supports for caregivers warrants a closer examination of factors associated with caregiver distress at the state level. We examined factors associated with mentally unhealthy days and frequent mental distress among caregivers as compared to non-caregivers in North Carolina.

METHODS: We used data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System optional caregiving modules (years 2011, 2017, and 2021). Multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) and logistic regression analyses incorporating sampling weights were used to predict the number of mentally unhealthy days (MUDs) out of the past month and the probability of frequent mental distress (FMD), defined as 14 or more MUDs in the past month. We provided socio-demographically adjusted marginal effects comparing caregivers to non-caregivers. We produced estimates using both the total sample and a subset of individuals without reported frequent physical distress (FPD), meaning those with less than 14 physically unhealthy days in the past month.

RESULTS: Caregivers had an average of 1.3 higher predicted number of mentally unhealthy days (95% CI, 0.81.9) and a 4 percentage-point higher probability of having frequent mental distress than non-caregivers (95% CI, 1.66.3) after controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Individuals with lower educational attainment and those unemployed had a higher average number of MUDs (P values < .05).

LIMITATIONS: Primary exposure and outcomes were self-reported measures, and study years were constrained to years that the caregiver module was implemented.

CONCLUSIONS: Further research is warranted to determine if improvements in long-term care services and supports (LTSS) and access may reduce caregiver distress. Useful strategies to support caregivers have been outlined by the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers initiative to address caregivers unmet needs.

PMID:41802936 | DOI:10.18043/001c.142245

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2026 Dec;39(1):2641844. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2026.2641844. Epub 2026 Mar 9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients commonly struggle with secondary infertility following a prior cesarean section due to factors related to the delivery. Distortions in the pelvic anatomy may complicate subsequent treatment attempts using assisted reproductive technology (ART) on different levels, including the myometrium, endometrium, and cervix, as well as intraperitoneal structures.

METHODS: In this narrative review, major databases were searched to examine the effect of a prior cesarean delivery (CD) on pregnancy outcomes from subsequent ART treatments.

FINDINGS: Some mechanisms for the detrimental effect of CD on subsequent ART success, such as the development of a cesarean scar defect (CSD), are well-supported by existing evidence. Other putative mechanisms, namely an increase in difficulty of subsequent embryo transfers, are more speculative at this time.

CONCLUSION/FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Rigorous standardization of CD technique as well as transparent meticulous reporting may mitigate the detrimental effect of prior CD on subsequent ART success.

PMID:41802929 | DOI:10.1080/14767058.2026.2641844

Am J Mens Health. 2026 Mar-Apr;20(2):15579883251414408. doi: 10.1177/15579883251414408. Epub 2026 Mar 9.

ABSTRACT

Although many forms of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) are widely used in international literature, there is yet to be a Turkish version. The CMNI-30 is an instrument consisting of 30 statements developed to measure masculinity ideologies, with statements representing different behaviors associated with masculinity. The CMNI-30 has proven reliable and valid across different languages and cultures. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the CMNI-30. Tested with 1,091 Turkish men, data were collected after content validation with the 10-factor model of the CMNI-30, indicating good construct validity. Also, convergent validity, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, item-total score analysis, and test-retest analyses were applied. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the CMNI-30 was similar to its original structure, and all factor loadings were above 0.30. The fit indices were >0.85, and the root mean square error of approximation value was <0.05. Cronbach’s alpha value was calculated as 0.871. Item-total correlations ranged between .253 and .541, and the test-retest correlation was found to be r = .344 (p < .001). Convergent validity analysis showed a significant positive relationship between CMNI-30 and Male Role Norms Scale. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the CMNI-30.

PMID:41802928 | DOI:10.1177/15579883251414408