Zefat Academic College

BackgroundFlight attendants (FAs) are subject to unique occupational demands, increasing their risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMSP). WRMSP is influenced by physical, psychosocial, and demographic factors that may change over time due to evolving work environments and practices.ObjectivesCompare the prevalence of FAs' WRMSP in 2016 vs 2024; Identify key physical and psychosocial predictors of WRMSP in each period; explore implications for ergonomic interventions and health promotion strategies tailored to the aviation work environment.MethodsTwo cross-sectional cohorts of FAs, from 2016 (n = 94) and 2024 (n = 89), completed identical, validated questionnaires using the same sampling frame. Surveys covered demographics, occupational tasks, region-specific pain, and psychosocial factors.ResultsArm and hand pain were less prevalent in 2024. Logistic regressions showed higher odds of neck pain in 2024 associated with stress, attitudes, and satisfaction, but markedly lower odds of arm pain across psychosocial and task factors. Lower back pain was less predicted in 2024 when satisfaction was considered. Across both years, hand pain increased with workload and oven-loading but decreased with age and authority; finger pain rose with effort; upper back pain with BMI and time pressure; shoulder pain with dissatisfaction; elbow pain with standing.ConclusionsTechnological and organizational changes appear to have contributed to reduced arm and hand pain and to lower back pain being less predicted in 2024, while psychosocial stressors were linked to increased neck pain, underscoring the dual impact of ergonomic improvements and persistent organizational pressures on WRMSP.

This article explores how Arab social work students in Israel conceptualize solidarity, navigating between ethnic identity, community loyalty, and universal professional ethics. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, 25 in-depth interviews were thematically analyzed. Findings revealed that students view solidarity as a multidimensional phenomenon, including moral value, emotional empathy, daily mutual aid, and professional identity. A distinction emerged between takaful (communal-religious mutual support) and tadamun (moral trans-border solidarity). The study highlights the tension and interplay between identity-based and universal solidarity, offering an indigenous perspective that bridges local cultural values with global ethics in social work practice.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) offers single-session treatment during breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Outcomes depend heavily on patient selection and tumor characteristics. To assess local recurrence (LR) and prognosis using the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) risk classification in IORT-treated patients. This multicenter retrospective study analyzed 358 IORT cases (356 patients) treated between 2014 and 2018 using the Zeiss INTRABEAM system. Cases were classified per the 2024 ASTRO partial-breast irradiation guidelines. The primary endpoint was local recurrence-free survival (LRFS); secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and mastectomy-free survival (MFS). The median age was 66 years (range 48-80); all tumors were invasive with a median tumor size of 10 mm. At a median follow-up of 7.1 years, LR occurred in 14/358 cases (3.9%) at a median of 5.2 years post-diagnosis. Five- and 8-year LRFS were 98.3% and 94.8%, respectively; 5- and 8-year OS were 99.4% and 97.7%; MFS at 8 years was 98.2%. Cases that were classified as "conditionally recommended" or "conditionally not recommended" had significantly higher LR than the "suitable" group (8.5% vs. 2.7%; HR 3.25, 95% CI 1.05-10.08, p = 0.041). Exploratory analysis showed that cases with ≥2 conditional criteria carried a markedly higher risk than those with 0-1 (21.4% vs. 3.2%; Firth-penalized Cox HR 8.26, 95% CI 2.06-26.06, p = 0.005). In appropriately selected patients, IORT achieves local control consistent with contemporary series. The 2024 ASTRO risk classification effectively identifies high-risk cases, supporting its use for risk-adapted candidate selection.

ABSTRACT This qualitative study examined professional experiences of 34 female Bedouin social workers, graduates of academic institutions in Palestinian Authority territories, who were employed in Israel’s social welfare services. The research aimed:to explore their lived experiences of exclusion, professional delegitimization, and o examine the implications of such exclusion for their professional practice, identity, and well-being, within a complex cross-cultural, national, and political context. All members of the research sample had up to one year’s experience in social work and were enrolled in the Connecting Bridge program, designed to bridge professional and linguistic gaps. Additional data came from focus groups and autobiographical accounts by four Connecting Bridge mentors. The data underwent thematic analysis, using inductive coding and principles of grounded theory. The findings indicated patterns of silencing of the social workers professional voice, including nonrecognition of their authority, lack of professional support leading to reliance on personal connections, a sense of personal and professional insecurity, retreat into appeasement practices, and focus on bureaucratic tasks instead of professional interventions. The implications of these phenomena not only affect the quality of service and the workers’ professional identity, but distort the perception of the social work profession as an arena of recognition, struggle, and resistance.

This article highlights the role of epistemic norms in mitigating the spread of misinformation. The mixed-methods study includes exploratory reconstructions and survey experiments. Two intervention approaches proved efficient in reducing the sharing of misinformation, but only one significantly differentiated between true and false information. This study contributes to the literature on normative countermeasures and is the first to emphasize epistemic norms. Although misinformation is fundamentally an epistemic issue, scholars rarely refer to the rich epistemic literature for conceptualization and theory. The article also draws on focus theory and additional social literature to ensure a holistic framework. In addition to underscoring the role of epistemic norms, we suggest temporal proximity as a new factor to consider in focus theory-based measures. Ethical, empirical, and practical implications are discussed, emphasizing the need to control for countermeasures’ effect on true information sharing, which may threaten to suppress public discourse.

This study examines the impact of traumatic birth experiences on parents of children with cerebral palsy. Background: Traumatic births affect 9-45% of women, potentially causing significant psychological consequences. Objectives: To investigate the losses experienced by parents following traumatic deliveries and their impact on family dynamics and identity. Methods: Twenty-four parents (21 mothers, 3 fathers) from diverse backgrounds in northern Israel participated in qualitative interviews analyzed through thematic and narrative approaches. Results: Six domains of loss emerged: idealized birth experience, autonomy during labor, initial bonding, normative family structure, financial stability, and health security. Parents experienced profound identity disruption while navigating between idealized expectations and the reality of raising a child with special needs. Conclusions: Traumatic births create a domino effect that necessitates reconstruction of family life and self-perception. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive support systems for affected families, addressing both immediate and long-term consequences of traumatic birth experiences.