Program Characteristics Research Articles

Master of nursing programs in Australia: A desktop analysis

BackgroundMaster of Nursing (MN) programs serve as an important structured pathway to prepare the nursing workforce to develop advanced capabilities. Little research has been done to examine the key characteristics of MN programs in Australia and their responsiveness to meeting the health needs of the community. AimThe aim of this desktop analysis is to provide a detailed overview of the key characteristics of MN programs in Australia. MethodA desktop analysis of MN programs in Australia utilising content analysis of publicly available information gathered from program websites of Australian Universities. ResultsA total of 70 MN programs were analysed from the 28 that offered these programs. Nine categories were developed that describe the key characteristics of these programs: nomenclature and program focus, program outcomes, regulation and professional recognition, structure, work integrated learning, delivery mode, admission, and tuition fees. Inconsistencies were identified across all categories. DiscussionWhile Australian universities offer a diverse range of MN programs, inconsistencies across the programs can impact quality and intent and have implications for students, employees, and universities. ConclusionThere is a pressing need to ensure the quality of MN education is maintained and adequate to meet healthcare needs. The benefits and risks of professional regulation of all MN programs should be considered as a mechanism for enhancing the quality of nursing education.

Impact of a first-year medical student patient navigation initiative on healthcare access and students' skills

Background: Medical schools with complex patient populations, characterized by linguistic diversity and uncertain immigration status, face challenges in imparting essential skills in patient care, particularly in understanding healthcare barriers, building rapport, and fostering empathy. A South Florida medical school with a predominantly non-English-speaking and undocumented patient population piloted a Patient Navigation (PN) program within the first-year curriculum to address these challenges. We present the student feedback from the program’s first two years to guide medical schools in simultaneously caring for this unique patient population, with the aim of enhancing medical education. Methods: This program diverged from traditional Patient Navigation approaches by leveraging specialized hospital-associated translation services and collaborating with the Health System's Financial Assistance program. We performed a crosssectional study on student feedback surveys to identify program features significantly associated with a satisfying PN experience, and to provide insights to optimize and refine the program for future implementations. Results: The program engaged 245 out of 306 first-year medical students in PN for 118 patients. Successful contact was established with 55% of patients and 70% achieved their navigation objectives. Satisfaction metrics revealed that students given patients were nearly five times more satisfied than their counterparts. This positively impacts both student experience and patient outcomes, showcasing the program's effectiveness in bridging healthcare disparities. Discussion: The PN program proved successful in linking low-risk patients to follow-up care, offering medical students first-hand exposure to the challenges of care for primarily non-English-speaking and undocumented populations. The initiative aimed to enhance healthcare access for marginalized patients while providing medical students with an immersive understanding of patient-centric care beyond conventional curricular offerings. Key lessons learned include improving communication channels between students and patients, and optimizing community resources for streamlined patient support. Future iterations will prioritize these lessons, emphasizing cultural competence and patient advocacy to enhance both student education and patient care outcomes.

Site-initiated adaptations in the implementation of an evidence-based inpatient walking program.

There is increasing recognition of the importance of maximizing program-setting fit in scaling and spreading effective programs. However, in the context of hospital-based mobility programs, there is limited information on how settings could consider local context and modify program characteristics or implementation activities to enhance fit. To fill this gap, we examined site-initiated adaptations to STRIDE, a hospital-based mobility program for older Veterans, at eight Veterans Affairs facilities across the United States. STRIDE was implemented at eight hospitals in a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. During the pre-implementation phase, sites were encouraged to adapt program characteristics to optimize implementation and align with their hospital's resources, needs, and culture. Recommended adaptations included those related to staffing models, marketing, and documentation. To assess the number and types of adaptations, multiple data sources were reviewed, including implementation support notes from site-level support calls and group-based learning collaborative sessions. Adaptations were classified based on the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME), including attention to what was adapted, when, why, and by whom. We reviewed the number and types of adaptations across sites that did and did not sustain STRIDE, defined as continued program delivery during the post-implementation period. A total of 25 adaptations were reported and classified across seven of the eight sites. Adaptations were reported across five areas: program documentation (n = 13), patient eligibility criteria (n = 5), program enhancements (n = 3), staffing model (n = 2), and marketing and recruitment (n = 2). More than one-half of adaptations were planned. Adaptations were common in both sustaining and non-sustaining sites. Adaptations were common within a program designed with flexible implementation in mind. Identifying common areas of planned and unplanned adaptations within a flexible program such as STRIDE may contribute to more efficient and effective national scaling. Future research should evaluate the relationship between adaptations and program implementation.

A systematic review of the impact of therapeutic education programs on the quality of life of people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Faced with a deemed mediocre quality of life (QoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), the effectiveness of therapeutic education (TPE) programs is called into question. This systematic review is conducted to examine the impact of the TPE programs on the QoL of pwMS. A search was performed in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) to identify relevant studies published between 2007 and 2022. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Two reviewers independently extracted data on the study and program characteristics. These data were presented in tables for detailed synthesis and descriptive analyses. The selected studies underwent assessment using recommended evaluation tools. Of the 21 studies included in the review, 13 found a significant improvement in QoL, which was maintained during follow-up testing in 42% of the studies. TPE programs that focused on patients' individual needs and aimed to develop their skills in a personalized manner appeared to promote QoL. Interaction formats (individual, group, remote), session duration [range=1.5-28] and number of sessions [range=1-18] varied between the studies reviewed. Thoughtful, structured design of educational programs requires a match between the educational aspects specific to each individual and the appropriate choice of content, delivery modalities of the interventions and evaluation protocol, as well as a reasonable follow-up time. The conclusions drawn could serve as guidelines to direct future research towards optimal educational interventions. PROSPERO CRD42022338651.

Competing practice-based mentoring frameworks for student-teachers: between quasi-residency and expedited alternative teacher preparation

ABSTRACT At their best, teacher preparation programmes harness the power of mentoring to provide professional, emotional, and organisational support for novice teachers and student-teachers. While teacher mentoring research provides much information regarding effective practices, little is known about how different preparation tracks structure the mentoring they provide. Based on interviews with student-teachers (n = 24), this paper examines and compares the mentoring experiences of students in two different, highly reputed Israeli teacher preparation tracks; Academia-Classroom and Hotam. The analysis focuses on emerging similarities and differences between the tracks, indicating two structural aspects associated with the intensity of mentoring – the division of mentors’ roles and co-teaching – that hindered or supported the quality of student-teachers’ mentoring experience. It exemplifies that, despite the importance of individual agency and interpretation, structural programmatic features are key factors in shaping teacher preparation processes and outcomes.

Effectiveness of 12-Week Core Stability Training on Postural Balance in Soccer Players With Groin Pain: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Core stability training (CST) is effective in improving postural balance, core endurance, and self-reported outcomes in different populations. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CST in soccer players with groin pain (GP). CST would improve postural balance performance, core endurance, and self-reported outcomes in soccer players with GP. Randomized controlled trial. Level 2. Soccer players with GP who met the selection criteria were assigned randomly to a CST (CSTG, n = 10) or a control (CG, n = 10) group. The CG undertook no additional physical activity program besides their usual training. The CSTG performed a 12-week CST comprising 76 ~75 min sessions. Static (force platform) and dynamic (Y-Balance test) postural balance, core endurance (McGill trunk endurance tests), and self-reported outcomes (Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score [HAGOS]) were assessed before and immediately after the 12-week CST. Significant improvements were seen in dynamic postural balance (P = 0.04 to <0.01), HAGOS scores (P = 0.02 to <0.01), and core endurance measures (P < 0.01) in the CSTG in posttest compared with pretest session and compared with CG. Static bipedal postural balance measures showed significant improvements (eyes open, P = 0.02; eyes closed, P < 0.01) in the CSTG in posttest compared with pretest session. However, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between CSTG and CG after the training period. A 12-week CST improved static (foam surface) and dynamic postural balance, core endurance measures, and HAGOS scores. The beneficial effect of CST on improving postural balance, core endurance, and self-reported outcomes in soccer players with GP suggests that this training would be an important feature of rehabilitation programs for these players. Coaches and clinicians should prioritize CST training when designing rehabilitation programs.

Nutritional status, food security and other correlates among adult tuberculosis patients in a block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal.

Tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition are epidemiologically interrelated two major public health problems in India. Food security also influences nutritional status. This aspect needs evaluation in diverse geographical areas. This study aimed to assess the level of food security, nutritional status and correlates among adult TB patients in a block of Murshidabad, West Bengal. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Nabagram block of Murshidabad district during April-July 2023. All adult (≥18 years) patients registered under the Tuberculosis Unit of the block during a reference period of 6 months (October 2022-March 2023) were considered study subjects. Eighty such eligible participants recruited randomly were interviewed with a pre-designed schedule for socio-demographic and programmatic characteristics. Household food security was measured using a validated U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and nutritional status was determined based on body mass index. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for analysis. Among 80 TB patients, 51% were underweight and 20% were severely underweight. The majority (90%) of them had high or marginal food security, and 10% had low or very low food security. On multivariable logistic regression, Hindu religion (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 6.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12-29.39), presence of any chronic morbidity (AOR: 11.61, 95%CI: 2.71-49.78) and receipt of dietary counselling by a health worker (AOR: 7.25, 95%CI: 1.22-43.13) appeared as predictors of underweight. Underweight among TB patients is quite prevalent in the area, and few programmatic interventions are influencing factors. This underscores the importance of nutritional counselling services and the universal provision of Poshan benefits.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIRA AWAS YOJANA AND PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA IN DEVELOPING HOUSING IN INDIA

This paper compares two significant Indian housing development schemes. The first one is the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) scheme and another one is the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme. The present study has investigated both schemes' goals, implementation methods, effects on beneficiaries, and general efficacy using a multifaceted approach. The PMAY scheme was introduced in 2015 to provide urban poor people with affordable housing through the use of a comprehensive and progressive framework. On the other hand, the IAY scheme was implemented in 1985 with the aim of offering housing support to rural populations. The IAY scheme was subsequently merged into the PMAY scheme in 2016, Although both programmes have significantly improved India's housing scarcity. The targeted strategy of the IAY scheme had a significant impact on rural housing, whereas the inclusive and participatory model of the PMAY has demonstrated encouraging results in urban regions. The results imply that a hybrid approach that combines the best features of both programmes would be more successful in addressing India's many housing and housing development issues. The current study has made a small attempt to present a comparative picture of both schemes shows their reach, scale, and results for the beneficiaries in India purely based on secondary data. KEYWORDS: Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Housing Development, Affordable Housing, Social Welfare, Rural Development, etc.

Parent eHealth Preferences: Perceived Credibility and Personal Reactions to AbilitiCBT, BEAM, and Triple P Online

Parental eHealth needs and preferences are unknown. Evidence from in-person programs shows that programs that prioritize parent preferences have higher enrollment and adherence. Better knowledge of parental impressions and preferences based on current eHealth programs could help identify programs that are most in line with parental values, goals, and needs. Accordingly, the present study aimed to compare parental perceptions and preferences based on textual descriptions of three eHealth programs that have been prescribed to parents: AbilitiCBT (mental health-focused), BEAM (mental health and parenting-focused), and Triple P Online (parenting-focused). 177 parents of 0-5-year-old children in the United States were recruited through MTurk. Mental health symptoms in this sample were high (70.1% clinically concerning depression and/or anxiety symptoms and 74.6% clinically concerning parenting stress symptoms). Results showed that Triple P was less likely to be chosen than AbilitiCBT or BEAM; AbilitiCBT seemed more helpful to participants. There was considerable variability, and all programs were preferred by at least 17% of parents. Overall, the present study suggests that parents experiencing high psychological distress are less likely to choose to participate in a parenting program without mental health support and that it is important to offer diverse psychosocial service options to meet the needs of more parents. Further research is needed to identify specific program characteristics that parents prefer as well as parents’ rationale for their choices, which would help better tailor interventions to their preferences.

A randomised controlled test in virtual reality of the effects on paranoid thoughts of virtual humans’ facial animation and expression

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in the study and treatment of paranoia. This is based on the finding that people who mistakenly perceive hostile intent from other people also perceive similar threat from virtual characters. However, there has been no study of the programming characteristics of virtual characters that may influence their interpretation. We set out to investigate how the animation and expressions of virtual humans may affect paranoia. In a two-by-two factor, between-groups, randomized design, 122 individuals with elevated paranoia rated their perceptions of virtual humans, set in an eye-tracking enabled VR lift scenario, that varied in facial animation (static or animated) and expression (neutral or positive). Both facial animation (group difference = 102.328 [51.783, 152.872], p < 0.001, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\eta }_{p}^{2}\\hspace{0.17em}$$\\end{document}= 0.125) and positive expressions (group difference = 53.016 [0.054, 105.979], p = 0.049, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\eta }_{p}^{2}\\hspace{0.17em}$$\\end{document}= 0.033) led to less triggering of paranoid thoughts about the virtual humans. Facial animation (group difference = 2.442 [− 4.161, − 0.724], p = 0.006, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\eta }_{p}^{2}\\hspace{0.17em}$$\\end{document}= 0.063) but not positive expressions (group difference = 0.344 [− 1.429, 2.110], p = 0.681, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\eta }_{p}^{2}\\hspace{0.17em}$$\\end{document}= 0.001) significantly increased the likelihood of neutral thoughts about the characters. Our study shows that the detailed programming of virtual humans can impact the occurrence of paranoid thoughts in VR. The programming of virtual humans needs careful consideration depending on the purpose of their use.

Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review.

Social, cultural, and structural determinants of health for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers can contribute towards poorer sexual health outcomes. People from migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker backgrounds usually use less mainstream sexual healthcare services and have lower levels of sexual health literacy compared with the destination countries' general population. However, there is little collated knowledge about sexual health programs that have been implemented to improve sexual health among these groups. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of programs for improving sexual health among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. This study was a scoping review in which Scopus and PubMed were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English since 2010 from countries similar to and including Australia such as New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries). The final search of databases was performed on 26 June 2023, and resultant studies were inputted into Endnote and Covidence systematic review software to remove duplicates before screening. The study utilised a qualitative approach using inductive thematic analysis of the content of the studies to extract and categorise the characteristics of the program. A total of 3044 articles were screened and 20 were included for data extraction. The included studies were conducted in six countries (the United States of America, Australia, France, Italy, Denmark, and Belgium). The key characteristics of sexual health programs identified included consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, language support, peer education, self-directed learning, group learning, financial support, and outreach services. the programs had a combination of these characteristics to ensure that they can improve target population engagement with educational materials and decrease barriers to accessing sexual healthcare. Consideration of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers' culture, language, socioeconomic characteristics, and access to information and services in the design of the sexual health programs may improve sexual health outcomes among these groups. However, further research is needed to assess the importance and implementation feasibility of the identified characteristics for sexual health programs in specific context.

Corporate volunteering of employees as a tool to influence the reputation of a commercial bank

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in commercial banks plays an important role in improving their reputation, increasing employee engagement and developing corporate culture. The article examines the key features of CSR programs of commercial banks in comparison with companies in other industries, as well as analyzes successful examples of corporate volunteerism and its impact on the bank and society. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) of commercial banks is a strategic approach to integrating social and environmental aspects into the daily activities of banks. The main areas of CSR include financial literacy, improving access to financial services for vulnerable groups, sustainable financing and combating fraud. These programs help to improve the reputation of banks, increase employee engagement and satisfaction, and contribute to solving urgent social and environmental problems. Successful examples of CSR programs include the initiatives of Danske Bank, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank, which actively participate in corporate volunteering and other social projects, demonstrating their responsibility to society and the environment.

Developing GA-FuL: A Generic Wide-Purpose Library for Computing with Geometric Algebra

The Geometric Algebra Fulcrum Library (GA-FuL) version 1.0 is introduced in this paper as a comprehensive computational library for geometric algebra (GA) and Clifford algebra (CA), in addition to other classical algebras. As a sophisticated software system, GA-FuL is useful for practical applications requiring numerical or symbolic prototyping, optimized code generation, and geometric visualization. A comprehensive overview of the GA-FuL design is provided, including its core design intentions, data-driven programming characteristics, and extensible layered design. The library is capable of representing and manipulating sparse multivectors of any dimension, scalar kind, or metric signature, including conformal and projective geometric algebras. Several practical and illustrative use cases of the library are provided to highlight its potential for mathematical, scientific, and engineering applications. The metaprogramming code optimization capabilities of GA-FuL are found to be unique among other software systems. This allows for the automated production of highly efficient code, based on powerful geometric modeling formulations provided by geometric algebra.

Family Engagement Practices in a Public Pre-Kindergarten Program: Variation by Program, Classroom, and Staff Characteristics

ABSTRACT Family engagement is considered a key component of preschool program quality, and early childhood education teachers and programs are increasingly expected to engage families in their programs. However, there is limited knowledge on what strategies preschool programs use to engage families and how these family engagement practices vary across programs. This study uses survey data collected from public pre-kindergarten program administrators and teachers in a mid-sized, urban school district to describe various types of family engagement practices and to examine associations between family engagement practices and pre-K program, classroom, and staff characteristics. We also conduct thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses to triangulate and complement our quantitative findings and to provide insight into teachers’ and administrators’ perceived barriers and facilitators of family engagement. We find that teachers frequently communicated with parents and provided involvement opportunities. Programs also provided various referrals and family support services. Family engagement practices were associated with staff’s professional training and classroom and program characteristics. Our findings highlight the importance of considering program structure, such as half- versus full-day program, and the importance of teachers’ knowledge and training in family engagement for shaping preschool programs’ family engagement practices.

Global addiction university education: a survey of members of International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR)

ABSTRACT Background Quality education is needed for providing quality addiction care. There are addiction university-based programmes worldwide, differing in their characteristics leading to different profiles. The ICUDDR is a global consortium of universities preparing the addiction workforce providing networking and collaboration. The purpose was to categorize the characteristics of the addiction degree programmes, compare them to the first proposed typology of such programmes, and emphasize the meaning of quality in education. Methods The sample consisted of 99 self-selected representatives from 396 current member institutions of ICUDDR. Data were collected using a questionnaire in an online format and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results 35 universities operated at least one degree programme in addictions. Of these, five offered bachelor’s, 16 master’s, and five PhD programmes, and 17 universities provided programmes awarding graduate/postgraduate certificate or diploma. The main focuses of specialized programmes included mostly treatment and prevention. Compared to the typology, we identified all types proposed, and two new types appeared. Conclusions The work provides the first comparison of the proposed typology to the reality of the global representation of universities providing addiction studies and emphasizes the importance of quality assurance and collaboration in addiction education.

The Impact Of The Pre-Employment Card Program On Labor Force Participation In Indonesia (A Post-Covid-19 Analysis)

This study aims to examine the changes in labor absorption, particularly post-COVID-19, influenced by the Pre-Employment Card Program and sociodemographic characteristics. The main variable, the Pre-Employment Card Program, is analyzed based on recipients' status or those who have participated in training and received incentives. Sociodemographic characteristics include three variables: gender (using a dummy variable), education level (seven equivalent education levels), and age (25 to 44 years). Data from the National Labor Force Survey (Sakernas) for February 2022, conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) of Indonesia, is utilized. With a sample of 76,363 respondents aged 25 to 44 years, the study employs the binomial logit method to assess the influence of independent variables on changes in employment status. The results indicate that: a) the Pre-Employment Card Program has a smaller impact on employment compared to other variables, b) males are more likely to be employed than females post-pandemic, c) higher education levels increase the likelihood of employment, and d) older individuals are more likely to be employed or remain employed post-pandemic compared to younger individuals.

Evaluation of Perceived Importance of Mohs Fellowship Training Program Characteristics by American College of Mohs Surgery Members.

Evaluation of Perceived Importance of Mohs Fellowship Training Program Characteristics by American College of Mohs Surgery Members.

Developing a smart forest protection mini program with Spring Boot: Integrating big data and image recognition technologies

Forests are essential for ecological stability yet pose significant management challenges due to their expansive and remote nature. Despite advancements in data acquisition, there is a lack of tools that effectively combine image recognition with big data analytics for real-time monitoring. This study introduces a "Smart Forest Protection" mini program, developed using Spring Boot, which integrates these technologies to facilitate immediate and efficient forest management. The program features intelligent plant recognition, user-driven incident reporting, waste recycling point displays, and a platform for disseminating forest conservation knowledge. Additionally, a big data visualization platform illustrates the spatiotemporal distribution of forests in Zhuhai, aiding governmental and environmental agencies in making informed decisions that enhance forest conservation and promote sustainable practices.

Geographic Trends in Ophthalmology Resident Physician Compensation and Cost-of-Living Expenses

Given that resident physician financial strain has been associated with poor outcomes, objective metrics to forecast financial well-being may be useful to (1) applicants when evaluating ophthalmology residency programs and (2) programs when determining resident benefits. To determine and compare the relative value of ophthalmology resident stipends plus benefits when adjusted for cost-of-living expenses and to analyze program characteristics associated with greater resident net incomes. In this cross-sectional study, the American Medical Association's Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database was used to identify US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited ophthalmology residency programs. Resident physician stipends and stipends plus benefits as well as residency program characteristics from the 2023-2024 academic year were noted for all eligible programs. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator's required annual income (RAI) was selected as a surrogate to approximate cost-of-living expenses. Residency program characteristics, including affiliation, size, ranking, presence of housing benefit, and training year. The primary outcome was the annual stipend plus benefits income surplus (SPBIS) for each residency program, defined as the resident's stipend plus benefits (SPB) minus the RAI for the county in which the residency program is located. Secondary outcomes included income surplus variation by program characteristics. Of 116 ophthalmology residency programs analyzed, 37 (31.9%) were located in the Northeast, 36 (31.0%) in the South, 29 (25.0%) in the Midwest, and 14 (12.1%) in the West. The mean (SD) postgraduate year 1 resident annual SPB was $65 397 ($8205), and the median (IQR) was $63 986 ($59 992-$69 698). After adjusting for the cost of living, the mean (SD) SPBIS was $27 459 ($5734) and the median (IQR) was $27 380 ($23 625-$31 796). Annual cost-of-living expenses varied by as much as $8628 (95% CI, $6310-$10 947) and SPBIS varied by as much as $6283 (95% CI, $3367-$9198) between regions. Resident SPB increased by a mean (SD) of 3.97% (0.98%) for each subsequent training year (range, 0.93%-7.26%). Annual SPBIS increased by a mean (SD) of 9.48% (3.60%) for each subsequent training year. After adjusting for living costs, intraregional and interregional differences in SPBIS among ophthalmology residents can vary by thousands of dollars, impacting residents' financial security. Further discussion regarding compensation may lead to innovative strategies that aim to improve resident well-being and performance.

Family engagement practices and children’s attendance and early learning skills in a public pre-kindergarten program

Family engagement is a key component of preschool program quality with the potential to benefit children’s early learning skills. Yet, there is limited research on what practices teachers and programs use to engage families and whether these practices are associated with improved child outcomes. This study links administrative data on children’s records and survey data collected from public pre-k teachers and administrators in a mid-sized, urban school district to estimate the associations between family engagement practices and children’s attendance in pre-k and their early literacy and socioemotional skills at the end of pre-k. Overall, we found limited evidence that family engagement practices are, on average, associated with children’s outcomes. Only teachers’ practices for communicating with families were associated with lower chronic absenteeism. However, these associations varied by child, family, and program characteristics. Our findings identify promising family engagement practices for preschool programs and highlight the need for future research to consider the heterogenous effects of family engagement across different types of practices and across child, family, and program characteristics.