Akiko Kamimura

Objective: To evaluate the use of indoor climbing as an intervention to promote mental and social well-being among college students. Design: A mixed-methods pretest-posttest design was used, incorporating quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups. Methods: Data were collected across two academic semesters between August 2023 and May 2024 in an indoor climbing gym using pre- and post-tests and focus groups. Participants, college students aged 18 to 25, were provided with climbing instruction and equipment, and climbed together during the intervention sessions. Data on mental and social well-being were analyzed by paired t-tests for pre- and post-tests and thematic analysis for focus groups. Results: The results of the pre- and post-tests show significant (p < 0.05) improvement in self-esteem, life satisfaction, social connection, and sense of belonging, and reduced reported anxiety and stress levels. However, self-rated general health did not have a significant improvement (p = 0.10). The findings from the focus groups supported the results of the pre- and post-tests. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that top rope indoor climbing has significant value in intervention-style programs for boosting the mental and social well-being of college students. The employment of such programs may provide a new way to approach contemporary mental well-being crises on college campuses. Future research should include follow-up studies to examine if the benefits to participant well-being are sustained.

Background and Aims: Cancer is responsible for nearly 20% of all deaths in Bolivia. This study explored sociocultural factors, risk perceptions, and healthcare‐seeking behaviors associated with cancer among Aymara women in a high‐altitude community in rural Bolivia. Methods: In May 2025, two focus groups were conducted in Spanish with 20 women aged 18 and older in Sajama, a remote Andean town. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling with support from local collaborators. Discussions were guided by a semi‐structured interview schedule, audio‐recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was conducted using independent coding and integration of findings. Results: Cancer was described as a deeply feared and often silent illness, typically recognized only once symptoms had progressed and perceived as largely incurable. Five key themes emerged: perceptions of cancer risk; barriers to care—including geographic isolation, financial challenges, and mistrust in the healthcare system; the parallel use of traditional and biomedical medicine; lifestyle‐related cancer risks; and environmental stressors contributing to concerns about cancer. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of culturally grounded education and community‐driven strategies to improve cancer awareness, early detection, and access to care among indigenous populations in rural regions.

The ongoing mental health crisis among college students raises the necessity of further research on physical, mental, and social well-being; and the role that indoor climbing can play in fostering social connection and improving mental health while also increasing physical fitness. Indoor climbing has many health benefits. Increasing numbers of young adults are involved in indoor climbing; however, research on health and indoor climbing for young adults is lacking. The objective of this qualitative study was to describe indoor climbing and its relationship with the physical, mental, and social well-being of young adults based on perceptions among indoor climbers. Thirty indoor climbers age 18–25 were interviewed from October 2023 to December 2023. The interviews were transcribed and coded using thematic methods. Most participants agreed that indoor climbing positively affected all three areas of their well-being. Themes emerged showing that climbing facilitates a sense of connection, acts as a form of mindfulness, boosts overall mental health, and encourages healthier lifestyles. The results of this study suggest indoor climbing may be effective to promote health among college students and young adults.

The purpose of this study is to examine experiences among Asian American college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six focus groups were held online via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, USA) with a total of 21 participants in October and November 2020. The focus group guide was built upon the socio-ecological model. Some participants expressed distress when having to leave their houses for pandemic safety and discrimination reasons. The impact of discriminatory events was addressed by participants’ families. Participants emphasized the importance of communities and local organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants indicated that showing support for the Asian American community through social media and public awareness campaigns could be useful in stopping the stigma associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the experiences of Asian American college students during the COVID-19 pandemic provides insight on how to better support Asian American communities during the pandemic.

Background: Accessibility to dental care is vital for uninsured low-income individuals. There is a deficit of research that examines oral healthcare seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic among uninsured low-income individuals. The purpose of this study is to describe oral health-related issues among patients of a free clinic that does not provide dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The sample consists of 254 patients of a free clinic located in the Intermountain West. Data were collected by distributing self-administered paper surveys to patients 18 or older who spoke English and/or Spanish from December 2021 to May 2022. Results: Nearly 40% of study participants reported being long overdue for dental appointments, with many not receiving care within the past two years (n = 96, 37.8%). Less than 30% of free clinic patients had a dental appointment within the past six months (n = 73, 28.9%). Cost is the most substantial barrier for free clinic patients to receive dental care (n = 150, 60%). Conclusion: This study's findings bridge the research gap on dental care experience during the pandemic among uninsured populations and are helpful in increasing knowledge for improving access to dental care at free clinics.

We aimed to explore the healthcare team members’ (HTMs) views on social determinants of health (SDH) screening and referral processes in a pediatric emergency department (PED). We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study to explore PED HTMs’ views on social care practices at a quaternary-level children’s hospital. The survey was created using a goal identification framework. The survey gathered quantitative and qualitative data by assessing SDH screening practices, comfort and personal habits in screening, prioritization of SDH domains, workflows to perform screening, and perceived barriers to screening. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis and multiple reviewers to identify themes in free-text responses. There were 63 HTMs (48% response rate, Table 1), all of whom reported SDH screening efforts should continue in the PED (Fig. 1), yet 36% were unaware of the current SDH screening processes. Participants reported a median comfort level rate of 47.5 out of 100 when asking SDH-related questions (Fig. 1), and the highest reported barriers were “lack of knowledge/skill on resources” (77.3%), “lack of time” (68%), and “patient volume” (59%) (Fig. 2). Regarding the screening process, approximately half of the respondents suggested improvements in “integration of screening” and “variability of screening” (Fig. 4). This explorative analysis demonstrated that HTMs support continuing screening and referring patients for SDH-related needs. In addition, HTM survey respondents suggested improvements in screening and referral processes, opportunities for HTM training, and screening support to address social needs and ultimately improve patient health outcomes.

Dental anxiety, the fear related to dental services, can be presented in diverse ways, hindering those in need of dental treatment. This anxiety often results in higher levels of untreated dental issues, affecting oral health-related quality of life primarily due to insufficient dental care or dental care avoidance. Identifying its causes is crucial for effective support and preventative care. This study explores dental care perceptions and experiences among patients at free clinics, offering valuable insights to improve dental support and care for uninsured and underserved individuals. Two hundred ninety-three immigrant patients, mainly Spanish speakers, participated from October 2023 to January 2024. Findings reveal that 14% experienced dental phobia, primarily linked to local anesthetic shots. The majority of patients reported unmet dental needs, highlighting dental care disparities. Understanding how dental phobia contributes to dental care needs is vital to understand, in order to improve oral health outcomes. Future research should address additional barriers like language, finances, and awareness of services. Additionally, exploring other anxiety factors beyond pain, noise, discomfort, and aesthetics is essential.

Objectives: Stress among free clinic patients is an important issue to address in health care. Evaluating the differences between perceived stress and physiological stress will help healthcare professionals to better understand the stress and coping management skills that will improve health outcomes for underserved populations. The aim of this study was to accelerate research to better...