Gambling encompasses a wide variety of activities, and the structural characteristics of each form contribute to its potential risk. However, the literature does not fully agree on the risk levels of certain gambling forms. In this study, we classify less risky gambling forms (soft forms) based on public perceptions of their riskiness. We examine the link between gambling experience and problem gambling prevalence. A survey was conducted in a model region of the Czech Republic, a post-socialist country with high gambling availability, with N = 2,498 respondents. A typology of gambling forms (lotteries, betting, and casino games) was created based on perceived risk similarities. Lotteries are the most frequently played gambling form, with 86.3% reporting lifetime participation. Among those who exclusively engage in lottery-type forms, 15 percentage points more women than men participated in the last year, and the gap widens to 31 points over a lifetime. Forms of gambling perceived as more risky show a lower proportion of non-problem gamblers, both for recent and lifetime participation. Furthermore, individuals who gambled within the past month or year are at higher risk of developing gambling problems compared to those whose gambling experiences were less recent.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Gambling * psychology   classification   epidemiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Behavior, Addictive * psychology   epidemiology   classification   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Risk-Taking * MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) still has a relatively high complication rate, underscoring the importance of high-quality training. Despite existing guidelines, real-world data on training conditions remain limited. This pan-European survey aims to systematically explore the perceptions surrounding ERCP training. METHODS: A survey was distributed through the friends of United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Young Talent Group network to physicians working in a UEG member or associated states who regularly performed ERCPs. RESULTS: Of 1035 respondents from 35 countries, 649 were eligible for analysis: 228 trainees, 225 trainers, and 196 individuals who regularly performed ERCP but were neither trainees nor trainers. The mean age was 43 years, with 72.1% identifying as male, 27.6% as female, and 0.3% as non-binary. The majority (80.1%) agreed that a structured training regimen is desirable. However, only 13.7% of trainees and 28.4% of trainers reported having such a structured program in their institutions. Most respondents (79.7%) supported the concept of concentrating training in centers meeting specific quality metrics, with 64.1% suggesting a threshold of 200 annual ERCPs as a prerequisite. This threshold revealed that 36.4% of trainees pursued training in lower-volume centers performing <200 ERCPs annually. As many as 70.1% of trainees performed <50 annual ERCPs, whereas only 5.0% of trainers performed <50 ERCPs annually. A low individual trainee caseload (<50 ERCPs annually) was more common in lower-volume centers than in higher-volume centers (82.9% vs. 63.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The first pan-European survey investigating ERCP training conditions reveals strong support for structured training and the concentration of training efforts within centers meeting specific quality metrics. Furthermore, this survey exposes the low availability of structured training programs with many trainees practicing at lower-volume centers and 71% of all trainees having little hands-on exposure. These data should motivate to standardize ERCP training conditions further and ultimately improve patient care throughout Europe.

• MeSH
• Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde * standards   adverse effects   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Gastroenterology * education   MeSH
• Clinical Competence standards   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Education, Medical, Graduate * standards   methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH

BACKGROUND: Psychotherapy outcomes are typically measured in terms of symptom relief. However, this method might overlook important changes from clients' perspectives when they are asked to report on them. A more client-centred approach might bring a deeper understanding of psychotherapy outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes identified by clients within qualitative psychotherapy research. METHODS: The PsycArticles, PsycInfo, and MEDLINE Complete databases were searched for English language studies published until Nov 11, 2023. Additional studies were identified through references in the primary studies and previous meta-analyses or systematic reviews. Search terms were related to psychotherapy and counselling, clients' or patients' experiences, psychotherapy outcomes and changes, post-treatment perspectives, and types of qualitative methods. Qualitative studies on client-identified outcomes of individual psychotherapy were included. Findings related to clients' perceptions of psychotherapy outcomes were extracted (by ML and checked by TR and LT) and analysed (by all authors) using the descriptive-interpretative meta-analytic approach. All authors have personally experienced psychotherapy as clients. This study was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021277330). FINDINGS: We included 177 studies in the qualitative meta-analysis, from 24 countries, including descriptions from 2908 clients. Most of the studies were of good quality; they covered a wide range of therapeutic approaches and diagnoses. The descriptions of psychotherapy outcomes were classified into 60 meta-categories and grouped into ten clusters. These clusters related to clients' relational and social functioning; their emotional functioning; self-awareness, self-understanding, and more adaptive cognitive processing; behavioural functioning; developing their own resources; clients' attitudes towards themselves; generally embracing life; symptom and problem change; and more general wellbeing. The tenth cluster was outcomes that could not be clearly attributed to psychotherapy, which was considered outside the scope of this study. INTERPRETATION: The meta-analysis showed that clients value outcome dimensions beyond symptom reduction, such as deeper self-understanding, enhanced self-agency, and greater social engagement. By examining psychotherapy outcomes across various diagnoses and therapeutic approaches, we highlight limitations in traditional outcome measures, showing the need for more comprehensive, client-centred assessment tools and the value of incorporating qualitative methods into understanding dimensions of change. FUNDING: European Union.

• MeSH
• Mental Disorders therapy   psychology   MeSH
• Qualitative Research MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Psychotherapy * methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: The knowledge and proficiency of primary care practitioners (PCPs) in diagnosing and managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remain generally low and variable internationally. This variability is partly due to a lack of familiarity with the Rome Foundation diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for this condition. METHODS: We conducted an electronic survey of PCPs in the United States and nine European countries to assess their understanding of IBS pathophysiology; the use of Rome IV criteria in diagnosis, knowledge of and frequency in prescribing various recommended treatments; and the likelihood of referring patients with suspected IBS to subspecialists. RESULTS: Most PCPs in the United States and Europe perceive IBS as a diagnosis of exclusion rather than a definitive diagnosis. They also believe IBS is underdiagnosed in primary care and challenging to diagnose confidently. The majority of PCPs consider diet as a crucial component of IBS management. Notably, US PCPs reported greater confidence than their European counterparts in recommending dietary interventions such as increased dietary fiber, a low FODMAP diet, and gluten restriction. Conversely, both groups exhibited moderate to high confidence in recommending over-the-counter treatments. European PCPs showed greater confidence in treating IBS with antispasmodics and secretagogues, while US PCPs expressed greater confidence in prescribing neuromodulators. Additionally, US PCPs were more likely to refer patients with suspected IBS to a gastroenterologist, whereas both US and European PCPs showed similar referral patterns to dietitians and referred very few patients to mental health providers. Both US and European PCPs reported that IBS is moderately to extremely difficult to treat effectively and emphasized the importance of a strong and longitudinal doctor-patient relationship in managing the condition. CONCLUSION: Despite the Rome Foundation recommendations and criteria to support a positive diagnosis of IBS, most PCPs still rely on exclusionary investigations such as endoscopy and a serologic workup, while a significant percentage suggest referring patients to gastroenterologists.

• MeSH
• Physicians, Primary Care MeSH
• Practice Patterns, Physicians' * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Attitude of Health Personnel MeSH
• Primary Health Care MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome * diagnosis   therapy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH
• United States MeSH

In the present work, we addressed the relationship between parental leave policies and social norms. Using a pre-registered, cross-national approach, we examined the relationship between parental leave policies and the perception of social norms for the gender division of childcare. In this study, 19,259 students (11,924 women) from 48 countries indicated the degree to which they believe childcare is (descriptive norm) and should be (prescriptive norm) equally divided among mothers and fathers. Policies were primarily operationalized as the existence of parental leave options in the respective country. The descriptive and prescriptive norms of equal division of childcare were stronger when parental leave was available in a country - also when controlling for potential confounding variables. Moreover, analyses of time since policy change suggested that policy change may initially affect prescriptive norms and then descriptive norms at a later point. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of the data, drawing causal inferences is difficult.

• MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Child Care * MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Parental Leave * MeSH
• Social Norms * MeSH
• Cross-Cultural Comparison MeSH
• Public Policy MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

While there is substantial research on what people want in their romantic and sexual partners, much of this work focuses on WEIRD, youthful samples, fails to consider the role of undesirable characteristics (i.e., things people do not want in partners) at all, or in conjunction with desirable characteristics (i.e., things people do want in partners), and may be overly reliant on psychometric approaches to pivotal variables in mating psychology like mate value and sociosexuality. In a nationally representative (online) sample of 2280 people from Czechia (aged between 18 and 50 years old), we examined linear and quadratic age, education, and self-perceived mate value (desirability) effects on the desired levels in mate choice of eight undesirable and seven desirable characteristics in men and women in relation to ostensible metrics of mate value. Self-perceived mate value alone explained little variance (men 1%, women 2%), while all mate value and mating strategy indicators together explained little variance of mate preferences and aversions (men 3%, women 5%). Desirable characteristics were better explained by mate value than undesirable ones. Our results are in line with evolutionary predictions suggesting that women are more demanding. Also, more qualities to offer correlate with more expectations in a partner.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Interpersonal Relations MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Marriage psychology   MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Self Concept MeSH
• Sexual Behavior psychology   MeSH
• Sexual Partners * psychology   MeSH
• Choice Behavior MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

Introduction: Venipuncture is a standard invasive procedure in children that causes pain, leading to procedural anxiety. It emphasises the clinical importance of adequate analgesia and the need to identify effective non-pharmacological procedures. Goal: This study primarily aims to comparatively evaluate the analgesic efficacy of four nonpharmacological interventions: Buzzy ® vibrating device, local cooling, felinotherapy, and oral stimulation with a lollipop – compared to standard care (control group) in children aged 4–11 years undergoing venipuncture. The secondary goal was to compare the assessment of pain intensity by the child and the parent. Methods: A prospective five-arm randomised controlled trial included 125 children (25 in each arm). The child and the parent assessed pain intensity immediately after the procedure using the Wong–Baker face scale (WBF 0–5). One-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey’s test (α = 0.05) was used to compare the mean values of the Wong–Baker face scale between groups. Results: The Buzzy® device showed the lowest average pain value according to the children (WBF 1.96 ± 0.90) and was significantly more effective than the lollipop and the control group (p < 0.05). Local cooling (WBF 2.50 ± 1.16) was the second most effective method. The effect of felinotherapy (WBF 2.71 ± 1.16) was not statistically different from the control group (WBF 2.96 ± 1.31). Oral stimulation with a lollipop (WBF 3.79 ± 1.08) was the least effective. According to their perception, parents systematically underestimated children’s pain (average difference in WBF –0.96 points). Neither the age nor the gender of the children influenced the effectiveness of the interventions. Conclusion: Buzzy ® vibrating device is the most effective researched non-pharmacological intervention for reducing pain during venipuncture in children aged 4–11 years. Local cooling is also an effective and affordable alternative.

Goals: This research examines how foreign foster parents perceive the ethnicity of children of Romani origin that they adopt, and how this influences their family and community relationships. It focuses on transracial adoption, the child’s cultural identity, and inclusion within foster care. Particular attention is paid to how parents have implemented strategies for integrating the child into the new family and how they deal with possible prejudices from the surrounding environment. Methods: The research is based on a qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with five foreign surrogate parents living in the Czech Republic. The respondents represent diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, providing deeper insight into different approaches to transracial adoption and the child’s integration into both the family and broader society. The analysis focused on the individual experiences of the parents and their subjective perception of the ethnicity of the adopted children. Results: We found that foster parents emphasise supporting the child’s cultural identity and try to integrate this into family life. Some deliberately seek contact with the Roma community, while others face challenges associated with prejudice in their environment. Although their approach to adopting a child of another ethnic origin is conscious and responsible, concerns about discrimination and social stigma persist. We also noted differences in parents’ strategies for raising children with Roma roots, especially when maintaining their contact with the culture.

This paper is devoted to the social perception of university students with visual impairment by their non-disabled classmates and lecturers. Initially, we will briefly introduce a few definitions of visual impairment, the legislative framework access to higher education for people with disabilities, and the services provided by university support centres. Then, we will continue with a qualitative study conducted among students with VI at Czech universities. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, in which four respondents with VI answered research questions regarding how they are perceived by their non-disabled classmates and lecturers. The study originates from the bachelor’s thesis of the author of this paper.

Human migration is an increasingly common phenomenon and migrants are at risk of disadvantageous treatment. We reasoned that migrants may receive differential treatment by locals based on the closeness of their facial features to the host average. Residents of Türkiye, the country with the largest number of refugees currently, served as participants. Because many of these refugees are of Arabic origin, we created target facial stimuli varying along the axis connecting Turkish and Arabic morphological prototypes (excluding skin colour) computed using geometric morphometrics and available databases. Participants made judgements of two universal dimensions of social perception-warmth and competence-on these faces. We predicted that participants judging faces manipulated towards the Turkish average would provide higher warmth and competence ratings compared to judging the same faces manipulated towards the Arabic average. Bayesian statistical tools were employed to estimate parameter values in multilevel models with intercorrelated varying effects. The findings did not support the prediction and revealed raters (as well as target faces) to be an important source of variation in social judgements. In the absence of simple cues (e.g. skin colour, group labels), the effect of facial morphology on social judgements may be much more complex than previously assumed.

• MeSH
• Bayes Theorem MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Judgment * MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Face anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Facial Recognition physiology   MeSH
• Social Perception * MeSH
• Stereotyping * MeSH
• Refugees psychology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Turkey MeSH