CORA
Cork Open Research Archive (CORA) is UCC’s Open Access institutional repository which enables UCC researchers to make their research outputs freely available and accessible.
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Prescribing, Medication Adherence, and Blood Pressure Goal Achievement Among Middle‐to‐Older Age Adults in a Primary Care Setting
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-10-21) Elhiny, Rehab; O’Keeffe, Linda M.; Das, Tarun; Burton, Edel; Millar, Seán R.; Byrne, Stephen; Donovan, Maria; Bermingham, Margaret; Cultural Affairs and Mission Department, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Cairo, Egypt; Novartis Ireland; Irish Health Research Board
Background: Blood pressure (BP) control among hypertensive people remains inadequate. This study aims to assess BP goal achievement among people prescribed antihypertensives, to examine medication nonadherence, and to identify demographics associated with goal achievements and medication nonadherence in this population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of the Mitchelstown Cohort Study Rescreen data. Goal achievement was assessed in accordance with the 2013 European guidelines, the guidelines in place during data collection. A validated, self-reported 3-itemmedication nonadherence questionnaire was used, with a mean score ranging from 1 (Perfect Adherence) to 5 (Perfect Non-adherence). Nonadherence was defned as mean score > 1. Multiple imputation was used to impute missing data on covariates and outcomes. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the consistency of results by applying the 2024 European guideline recommendations. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with BP goal achievements and medication non adherence. Results: Antihypertensives were prescribed to 567 participants. Based on imputed data, 63.8% of these achieved 2013 BP goal. Mean medication nonadherence score was 1.6 (SE � 0.06), with 34.8% participants being nonadherent. Having multiple anti-hypertensives pills was associated with lower likelihood of achieving BP goals. In the sensitivity analysis, 38.4% achieved 2024 BP goal and in multivariable analysis, being overweight or obese was associated with not achieving the 2024 goals. Conclusion: The study highlights the gap between guideline BP goals and achieving these goals in real world practice. Key patient and medication factors were identifed that could guide eforts to improve BP goal achievement.
A review of data interoperability as a barrier to non-residential building energy policy: Evidence from Ireland
(Elsevier BV, 2026-09-15) Mitra, Ankur; Bhalla, Kriti; Ahern, Ciara; MaREI the SFI Research Centre for Energy Climate and Marine; Research Ireland; Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Non-residential buildings account for a significant share of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across the EU, yet evidence-based policy development remains hindered by fragmented and non-interoperable building data systems. This study evaluates the suitability of publicly available electronic datasets for characterising Ireland’s non-residential building stock and supporting bottom-up energy modelling in the context of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD 2024/1275/EU).
A systematic scoping review of national government and institutional datasets was conducted using an adapted PRISMA-ScR approach. The analysis identified the national Energy Performance Certificate database and GeoDirectory as the only datasets with sufficient scale and detail to support national non-residential stock analysis. However, substantial limitations were identified, including incompatibilities between economic activity classifications (NACE) and building energy typologies (NEAP), incomplete stock representation, and EPC-triggered sampling bias. Frequently transacted building categories such as retail and warehouses are over-represented, while public-sector, healthcare, recreational, and small service buildings remain under-represented.
The findings demonstrate that the principal barrier to effective non-residential stock modelling in Ireland is not data availability, but deficiencies in data governance, interoperability, standardised building identifiers, and energy-relevant classification systems. Addressing these structural limitations will be critical for effective implementation of the EPBD and for developing reliable national building stock models. While focused on Ireland, the methodological approach and identified challenges are transferable to other EU member states.
From participatory evidence to policy recommendations: protecting children’s right to education amid ongoing war: evidence from Gaza
(Elsevier, 2027-01-01) Ghosheh Wahbeh, Dua; Ali, Kareema; Hassouneh, Nawal
Prolonged war in Gaza has profoundly destabilized education systems, eroding children’s access to safe and meaningful learning and weakening policy accountability mechanisms. Although children’s right to participation is internationally recognized, it also functions as an enabling right that supports the realization of the right to education by ensuring that children’s perspectives inform educational decision-making. However, children lived experiences are rarely integrated into formal educational policymaking in contexts of extreme instability. This study examines how children experience their right to education during ongoing war and how their perspectives, together with those of their educational and social environment, can inform evidence-based policy recommendations for Gaza.
The research was informed by the Lundy Model of Child Participation (space, voice, audience, influence) and the Advocacy Coalition Framework, which provided complementary foundations for designing data collection with children and key actors within their educational and social environment. Education was conceptualized as interdependent with protection, psychosocial well-being, dignity, and identity. Data were collected during 2025. A qualitative, policy-oriented research design employed four complementary methods to enable methodological triangulation: thematic analysis of 29 reflective letters written by children in Gaza; analysis of 33 publicly available video documenting educational experiences and the lived realities of children and their educational and social environments during the war on Gaza (7 October 2023–2025); four focus groups involving 5 children, 9 teachers, 2 parents, and 6 educational experts from Gaza; and four semi-structured interviews with educational experts from the West Bank.
Findings were analyzed through the four dimensions of the right to education (availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability) revealing systemic erosion across all domains. The study identifies policy gaps and advances evidence-informed recommendations: establishing alternative safe learning spaces and coordinated partnerships; ensuring equitable access through mobile and low-connectivity modalities supported by alternative energy; strengthening educational quality through blended models and psychosocial support for teachers; and developing flexible pathways integrating academic and psychosocial components responsive to diverse learner needs. The findings contribute to debates on rights-based educational governance and system rebuilding in fragile and war-affected contexts.
Seeing the whole coastline: Building and testing a comprehensive sustainable coastal vulnerability index
(Elsevier B.V., 2026-08-01) Chalençon, Emma; Cawkwell, Fiona; O'Shea, Michael; Murphy, Jimmy; Cork County Council; Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, DECC, 2022–2026
Highlights: First implementation and evaluation of the Sustainable Coastal Vulnerability Index Integrates hazards with physical, socio-cultural, economic and environmental data Captures exposure and adaptive capacity per the IPCC framework for the Cork coastline Detailed, multi-stage sensitivity analysis demonstrates robustness and reliability Offers a transparent workflow to support sustainable and equitable coastal planning
Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations
(Elsevier BV, 2026-06-04) Swami, Viren; Voracek, Martin; Stieger, Stefan; Aavik, Toivo; Ranjbar, Hamed Abdollahpour; Adebayo, Sulaiman Olanrewaju; Afhami, Reza; Ahmed, Oli; Aimé, Annie; Akel, Marwan; Halbusi, Hussam Al; Alexias, George; Ali, Khawla F.; AlpDal, Nursel; Alsalhani, Anas B.; ÁlvarezSolas, Sara; Soares Amaral, Ana Carolina; Andrianto, Sonny; Aspden, Trefor; Argyrides, Marios; Benzon R. Aruta, John Jamir; Atkin, Stephen; Ayandele, Olusola; Baceviciene, Migle; Bahbouh, Radvan; Ballesio, Andrea; Barron, David; Bellard, Ashleigh; Bender, Sóley Sesselja; Beydaǧ, Kerime Derya; Birovljević, Gorana; Blackburn, MarieÈve; BorjaAlvarez, Teresita; Borowiec, Joanna; Bozogáňová, Miroslava; BratlandSanda, Solfrid; Browning, Matthew H.E.M.; BrytekMatera, Anna; Burakova, Marina; ÇakırKoçak, Yeliz; Camacho, Pablo; Camilleri, Vittorio Emanuele; Cazzato, Valentina; Cerea, Silvia; Chaiwutikornwanich, Apitchaya; Chaleeraktrakoon, Trawin; Chambers, Tim; Chen, QingWei; Chen, Xin; Chien, ChinLung; Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit; Choompunuch, Bovornpot; Compte, Emilio J.; Corrigan, Jennifer; Cosmas, Getrude; Cowden, Richard G.; CzepczorBernat, Kamila; Czub, Marcin; da Silva, Wanderson Roberto; Dadfar, Mahboubeh; Dalley, Simon E.; Dany, Lionel; Datu, Jesus Alfonso D.; Berbert de Carvalho, Pedro Henrique; de Holanda Coelho, Gabriel Lins; De Jesus, Avila Odia S.; Debbabi, Sonia Harzallah; Dhakal, Sandesh; Bernardo, Francesca Di; Dimitrova, Donka D.; Dion, Jacinthe; Dixson, Barnaby; Donofrio, Stacey M.; Drysch, Marius; Du, Hongfei; Dzhambov, Angel M.; ElJor, Claire; Enea, Violeta; Eskin, Mehmet; Farbod, Farinaz; Farrugia, Lorleen; Fian, Leonie; Fisher, Maryanne L.; Folwarczny, Michał; Frederick, David A.; FullerTyszkiewicz, Matthew; Furnham, Adrian; García, Antonio Alías; Geller, Shulamit; Ghisi, Marta; Ghorbani, Alireza; Gomez Martinez, Maria Angeles; Gradidge, Sarah; Graf, Sylvie; Grano, Caterina; Gyene, Gyöngyvér; Hallit, Souheil; Hamdan, Motasem; Handelzalts, Jonathan E.; Hanel, Paul H.P.; Hawks, Steven R.; Hekmati, Issa; Helmy, Mai; Hill, Tetiana; Hina, Farah; Holenweger, Geraldine; Hřebíčková, Martina; Ijabadeniyi, Olasupo Augustine; Imam, Asma; İnce, Başak; Irrazabal, Natalia; Jankauskiene, Rasa; Jiang, DingYu; JiménezBorja, Micaela; JiménezBorja, Verónica; Johnson, Evan M.; Jovanović, Veljko; Jović, Marija; Jović, Marko; Pereira Junqueira, Alessandra Costa; Kahle, LisaMarie; Kantanista, Adam; Karakiraz, Ahmet; Karkin, Ayşe Nur; Kasten, Erich; Khatib, Salam; Khieowan, Nuannut; Kimong, Patricia Joseph; Kiropoulos, Litza; Knittel, Joshua; Kohli, Neena; Koprivnik, Mirjam; Kospakov, Aituar; KrólZielińska, Magdalena; Krug, Isabel; Kuan, Garry; Kueh, Yee Cheng; Kujan, Omar; Kukić, Miljana; Kumar, Sanjay; Kumar, Vipul; Lamba, Nishtha; Lauri, Mary Anne; Laus, Maria Fernanda; LeBlanc, Liza April; Lee, Hyejoo J.; Lipowska, Małgorzata; Lipowski, Mariusz; Lombardo, Caterina; Lukács, Andrea; Maïano, Christophe; Malik, Sadia; Manjary, Mandar; MárquezBaldó, Lidia; MartinezBanfi, Martha; Massar, Karlijn; Matera, Camilla; McAnirlin, Olivia; Mebarak, Moisés; Mechri, Anwar; Filgueiras Meireles, Juliana Fernandes; Mesko, Norbert; Mills, Jacqueline; Miyairi, Maya; Modi, Ritu; Modrzejewska, Adriana; Modrzejewska, Justyna; Mulgrew, Kate E.; Myers, Taryn A.; Namatame, Hikari; Nassani, Mohammad Zakaria; Nerini, Amanda; Neto, Félix; Neto, Joana; Neves, Angela Noguiera; Ng, SiuKuen; Nithiya, Devi; O, Jiaqing; Obeid, Sahar; OdaMontecinos, Camila; Olapegba, Peter Olamakinde; Olonisakin, Tosin Tunrayo; Omar, Salma Samir; Örlygsdóttir, Brynja; Özsoy, Emrah; Otterbring, Tobias; Pahl, Sabine; Panasiti, Maria Serena; Park, Yonguk; Patwary, Muhammad Mainuddin; Pethö, Tatiana; Petrova, Nadezhda; Pietschnig, Jakob; Pourmahmoud, Sadaf; Prabhu, Vishnunarayan Girishan; Poštuvan, Vita; Prokop, Pavol; Ramseyer Winter, Virginia L.; Razmus, Magdalena; Ru, Taotao; Rupar, Mirjana; Sahlan, Reza N.; Hassan, Mohammad Salah; Šalov, Anđela; Sapkota, Saphal; Sarfo, Jacob Owusu; Sawamiya, Yoko; Schaefer, Katrin; SchulteMecklenbeck, Michael; Seekis, Veya; Selvi, Kerim; Sharifi, Mehdi; Shrivastava, Anita; Siddique, Rumana Ferdousi; Sigurdsson, Valdimar; Silkane, Vineta; Šimunić, Ana; Singh, Govind; Slezáčková, Alena; SundgotBorgen, Christine; Hoor, Gill Ten; Tevichapong, Passagorn; Tipandjan, Arun; Todd, Jennifer; Togas, Constantinos; Tonini, Fernando; TovarCastro, Juan Camilo; Jepsen Trangsrud, Lise Katrine; Tripathi, Pankaj; Tudorel, Otilia; Tylka, Tracy L.; Uyzbayeva, Anar; Vally, Zahir; Vanags, Edmunds; Vega, Luis Diego; VicenteArruebarrena, Aitor; VidalMollón, Jose; Vilar, Roosevelt; Villegas, Hyxia; Vintilă, Mona; Wallner, Christoph; White, Mathew P.; Whitebridge, Simon; Windhager, Sonja; Wong, Kah Yan; Yau, Eric Kenson; Yamamiya, Yuko; Lan Yeung, Victoria Wai; Zanetti, Marcelo Callegari; Zawisza, Magdalena; Zeeni, Nadine; Zvaríková, Martina; Tran, Ulrich S.; European Commission
Time spent in nature benefits human mental and physical well-being. However, much of the variance in outcomes of nature contact remains unexplained, suggesting that new mechanistic pathways need to be considered. Here, we tested a novel conceptual model linking nature contact with life satisfaction via pathways involving positive experiences of living in and experiencing the world through the physical self. Using data from the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS; N = 50,363), representing respondents from 58 nations and speaking 36 different languages, we find that nature contact is associated with greater self-compassion and greater perceived restoration in nature, which in turn are associated with more positive body image. In addition, more positive body image is associated with greater life satisfaction. These associations were robust to sensitivity tests, generalised to all gender identities and age groups, and held individually in almost all national groups and languages. Although replications are needed, we propose that the materialities of natural environments help to link bodily experiences to the production and experience of well-being, a process that is largely stable across national groups.