Conventional Training Program Research Articles

Organizational learning goes virtual?

Purpose– This study aims to deepen understanding of the use of stereoscopic 3D technology (stereo3D) in facilitating organizational learning. The emergence of advanced virtual technologies, in particular to the stereo3D virtual reality, has fundamentally changed the ways in which organizations train their employees. However, in academic or professional studies, there is hitherto, very limited research has been found in understanding the framework of distributed organizational learning in stereo3D virtual reality.Design/methodology/approach– The aim of this research is to investigate the employees’ learning achievement in both the conventional in-house training program and distributed organizational learning approach in a designed stereo3D virtual reality to deepen our understanding of this undiscovered framework. In all, 76 employees from local fashion and apparel organizations were recruited in this empirical study. The quasi-experimental method was adopted to compare the experimental and control groups. The criterion-referenced assessment scale was applied as a post-test to assess employees’ learning achievement in a customer service management training course. A tailor-made stereo3D virtual learning environment was established to conduct the virtual training program.Findings– Surprisingly, the results of this research found no significant difference in both the groups, which indicates that, nowadays, the two completely different learning formats have become similar in organizational learning practices.Originality/value– This research, therefore, suggests a new organizational learning framework with three components: a blended in-house training, a distributed enhancement program in stereo3D virtual reality and an organizational memory system.

The Effect of Group Counseling on Physiological Aspect of Self-care and HbA1C Level of Patients with Diabetes Type II

Background: The most important underlying cause of death in diabetic patients is poor self-care. The effect of education on self-care promotion has been widely investigated; however, the advisory role and impact of the treatment team have been scarcely investigated. Aim: Determining the effect of group counseling on the psychological aspect of self-care and level of glycosylated hemoglobin in the patients with diabetes type II. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 73 patients with type II diabetes mellitus, who had been referred to Parsian Diabetes clinic of Mashhad in 2014, were divided into two groups of intervention and control. The group counseling program was performed in five 1.5-hour sessions with 3-day intervals, and each groups consisted of 8 to 10 people. The content of the meetings was problems in nutrition, exercise, diabetes mellitus disease, diabetes-related mental health problems, diabetes medications, and self-control of blood glucose. Researcher-made diabetes care questionnaire was filled and HbA1c test was measured before and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5 using paired sample and independent t-tests. Results: In this study,27.3 percent of the subjects were male and 72.7 were female with the mean age of 49.1 ± 8.3. The scores of physiological aspect of self-care and HbA1C of the diabetic patients before the intervention was not significantly different between the groups; but in the post-intervention phase, the self-care in intervention group (49.1±5.8) significantly increased compared to the control group (31.8±12.2) (p<0.001). In the post-intervention phase, HbA1C in the intervention group significantly decreased (8.3±0.9) compared to the control group (9.1±1.4) (p<0.006). Conclusion: Group counseling might help to improve the diabetes self-care. Therefore, it can be added to the conventional training programs for better management of this chronic illness.

E-Learning Pros and Cons: Active Learning Culture?

E-learning is becoming more and trendier andparticularly adult learners are offered expanding opportunities to continue their education without conflict with work or family and follow study schedules. Learnerś motivation result from active learning culture and the concept provides simple mechanism for the people engaged in getting knowledge and skills at the time and the manner that makes sense for them.Replacing conventional training programs without considering teaching methods is unlikely to increase the overall effectiveness of education. The paper presents e-learning experience and approaches from 3 different universities and offers ways how learning and knowing can efficiently be pushed forward.

Long‐term Retention of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skills After Shortened Chest Compression–only Training and Conventional Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial

It is unclear how much the length of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training program can be reduced without ruining its effectiveness. The authors aimed to compare CPR skills 6 months and 1 year after training between shortened chest compression-only CPR training and conventional CPR training. Participants were randomly assigned to either the compression-only CPR group, which underwent a 45-minute training program consisting of chest compressions and automated external defibrillator (AED) use with personal training manikins, or the conventional CPR group, which underwent a 180-minute training program with chest compressions, rescue breathing, and AED use. Participants' resuscitation skills were evaluated 6 months and 1 year after the training. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of appropriate chest compressions 1 year after the training. A total of 146 persons were enrolled, and 63 (87.5%) in the compression-only CPR group and 56 (75.7%) in the conventional CPR group completed the 1-year evaluation. The compression-only CPR group was superior to the conventional CPR group regarding the proportion of appropriate chest compression (mean ± SD = 59.8% ± 40.0% vs. 46.3% ± 28.6%; p = 0.036) and the number of appropriate chest compressions (mean ± SD = 119.5 ± 80.0 vs. 77.2 ± 47.8; p = 0.001). Time without chest compression in the compression-only CPR group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional CPR group (mean ± SD = 11.8 ± 21.1 seconds vs. 52.9 ± 14.9 seconds; p < 0.001). The shortened compression-only CPR training program appears to help the general public retain CPR skills better than the conventional CPR training program. UMIN-CTR UMIN000001675.

O uso da plataforma Balance Board como recurso fisioterápico em idosos

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar os efeitos de um programa de treinamento proprioceptivo convencional e de um protocolo com a utilização do videogame associado a Balance Board em indivíduos idosos, em relação a equilíbrio, mobilidade, flexibilidade e quedas. MÉTODO: Trata-se de pesquisa quase experimental, realizada com 32 indivíduos idosos. A amostra consistiu em dois grupos: o primeiro GC (n=16; idade=67,63 anos), com treinamento proprioceptivo convencional e o segundo, GE (n=16; idade=66,88 anos), em treinamento proprioceptivo com a nova ferramenta tecnológica. Foram realizados dez atendimentos, duas vezes na semana, duração de 30 minutos no GC com treinamento proprioceptivo convencional e 30 minutos no GE com plataforma Balance Board. RESULTADOS: Para o GE, somente a variável escala de Berg não apresentou diferença significativa (p&lt;0,05) entre os momentos pré e pós-intervenção, sendo que na escala POMA (p=0,018), Unipodal (p=0,018) e testes de alcance funcional anterior e lateral (p=0,012) observou-se diferença estatística (p&lt;0,05) significativa nos momentos avaliados. Já para o GC, tanto POMA (p=0,043) como a escala Unipodal (p=0,043) apresentaram diferenças significativas entre o momento pré e pós-intervenção. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que o treinamento proprioceptivo com realidade virtual mostrou ser mais eficiente que o treinamento proprioceptivo convencional em indivíduos idosos em relação ao equilíbrio, mobilidade, flexibilidade e quedas.

Africanisation of Legal Education Programmes: The need for Comparative African Legal Studies

Debates and discussions about the African renaissance and the Africanisation of universities have raged for decades. The goal of developing an emancipatory Afrocentric system that frees African education from the continuous and dominant influence of Euro- and American-centric cultural values remains a challenge. This is particularly so with respect to conventional African legal training and research programmes. Some African legal scholars, sometimes imbued with xenophilia, have in many ways participated in the process that has seen the continuous marginalisation of studies on the law in Africa and African law. This paper argues that there is a need to rethink the place devoted to the study of African law and African legal systems. It contends that African law generally and African legal systems specifically will hardly be able to develop when present-day students spend most of their time, especially in a course such as comparative law, studying western legal systems. In order for African legal education to be relevant and meaningful it must prepare and equip today’s lawyers to operate in a global world. It is therefore suggested that an Africanised legal programme should include a course on African legal studies and aim to be contextually and globally relevant whilst being sufficiently innovative and flexible to address the urgent needs of our times.

Growth, training response and health in Standardbred yearlings fed a forage-only diet

The aim of this study was to, from a holistic perspective, describe the effects of a forage-only feeding system and a conventional training program on young Standardbred horses and compare data with similar observations from the literature. Sixteen Standardbred colts fed a forage-only diet for 4 months from breaking (August to December) and with the goal to vigorously trot 5 to 7 km at a speed of 5.6 m/s (3 min/km) were studied. The horses were fed grass haylage (56 to 61% dry matter (DM), 2.80 to 3.02 Mcal DE/kg DM and 130 to 152 g CP/kg DM) ad libitum, 1 kg of a lucerne product and minerals. The amount of training and number of training sessions were documented daily, and feed intake and body development were measured once every month. Heart rate (HR) was measured during and after a standardized exercise test in October and December. In December, a postexercise venous blood sample was collected and analyzed for plasma lactate concentration. Muscle biopsies (m. gluteus medius) were taken and analyzed for glycogen and fiber composition. Health was assessed in October and November by an independent veterinarian using a standardized health scoring protocol. BW and height at withers increased from 402 to 453 kg (root mean square error (RMSE) 6) and from 148.7 to 154.1 cm (RMSE 0.7), respectively, and the body condition score was 4.9 (RMSE 0.2) at the end of the study. Muscle glycogen content was 532 mmol/kg dry weight (s.d. 56). There was a significant decrease in postexercise HR (81 v. 73 bpm, RMSE 8), and the individual amount of training was negatively correlated with HR during and after exercise. Health scores were high and similar at both assessments (8.4 and 8.4 (RMSE 1.0) out of 10; P > 0.05), and the number of lost training days per month due to health problems was <0.9, with the exception of November (5.3 days). It is concluded that yearlings in training fed high-energy forage ad libitum can reach a conventional training goal and grow at least as well as earlier observations on yearlings of other light breeds.

Effectiveness of Conventional Balance Training Exercise Versus Swiss Ball Exercise Program on Balance in Geriatric Population - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: To study and compare the effectiveness of conventional balance exercise training program and Swiss ball exercise training program on balance function in geriatric population. Methodology: 30 individuals were recruited and randomized into two groups A and B. 14 days intervention was given in which group A received the conventional core strengthening exercise and group B underwent Swiss ball balance training program. Pre-intervention and post intervention scores of Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Functional Reach Test (FRT) was measured and data were analyzed using t test. Results: The pre and post comparison of TUG and FRT showed significant change in balance in both the groups (p 0.001). Conclusion: Both conventional and Swiss ball exercise program were proved to be equally effective in improving balance in geriatrics.

CoCAR: An online synchronous training model for empowering ICT capacity of teachers of Chinese as a foreign language

&lt;span&gt;In response to the need to cultivate pre-service Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) teachers' information and communication technology (ICT) competency in online synchronous environments, this research adopted a three-stage cyclical model named &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;cooperation-based cognition, action, and reflection&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span&gt; (CoCAR). The model was implemented in an 18-week program to prepare pre-service CFL teachers for online synchronous teaching. A qualitative approach was adopted to analyse the collected data. The results demonstrate that the CoCAR model benefits the pedagogical growth of the pre-service CFL teachers, and helps them to make progress in online synchronous teaching activity design and tool usage. The proposed model also creates a positive climate for technological and pedagogic knowledge to overcome some common problems in conventional teacher training programs. The CoCAR model, which emphasises cognition, action, and reflection, is considered suitable for the training of online synchronous teaching skills among CFL teachers, and can be applied to general training programs to enhance the ICT capacity of teachers.&lt;/span&gt;

Chronic Conventional Resistance Exercise Reduces Blood Pressure in Stage 1 Hypertensive Men

To investigate the antihypertensive effects of conventional resistance exercise (RE) on the blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive subjects, 15 middle-aged (46 ± 3 years) hypertensive volunteers, deprived of antihypertensive medication (reaching 153 ± 6/93 ± 2 mm Hg systolic/diastolic BP after a 6-week medication washout period) were submitted to a 12-week conventional RE training program (3 sets of 12 repetitions at 60% 1 repetition maximum, 3 times a week on nonconsecutive days). Blood pressure was measured in all phases of the study (washout, training, detraining). Additionally, the plasma levels of several vasodilators or vasoconstrictors that potentially could be involved with the effects of RE on BP were evaluated pre- and posttraining. Conventional RE significantly reduced systolic, diastolic, and mean BP, respectively, by an average of 16 (p < 0.001), 12 (p < 0.01), and 13 mm Hg (p < 0.01) to prehypertensive values. There were no significant changes of vasoactive factors from the kallikrein-kinin or renin-angiotensin systems. After the RE training program, the BP values remained stable during a 4-week detraining period. Taken together, this study shows for the first time that conventional moderate-intensity RE alone is able to reduce the BP of stage 1 hypertensive subjects free of antihypertensive medication. Moreover, the benefits of BP reduction achieved with RE training remained unchanged for up to 4 weeks without exercise.

Motivating Ergonomic Computer Workstation Setup: Sometimes Training Is Not Enough

Musculoskeletal disorders lead to pain and suffering and result in high costs to industry. There is evidence to suggest that whereas conventional ergonomics training programs result in knowledge gains, they may not necessarily translate to changes in behavior. There were 11 participants in an ergonomics training program, and a subsample of participants received a motivational intervention in the form of incentives for correct workstation setup. Training did not yield any changes in ergonomics measures for any participant. Incentives resulted in marked and durable changes in targeted workstation measures. The data suggest that improving worker knowledge about ergonomically correct workstation setup does not necessarily lead to correct workstation setup, and that motivational interventions may be needed to achieve lasting behavior change.

Hormonal responses of Quarter Horses to a 6-week conventional Western-riding training programme

The aim of the research was to evaluate whether a 6-week conventional training programme for Western riding and each exercise training session can induce any different effect on changes of cortisol, total and free iodothyronine and oestradiol-17β levels of mature Quarter Horses. Eighteen Quarter Horses aged 16–20 years (six stallions, six geldings and six mares; mean body weight: 510 ± 70 kg) were recruited according to the level of competition experience, age and pre-training status and were divided into two groups paired by gender: group A, control horses ( n = 9), and group B, trained horses ( n = 9). For 6 weeks, group B horses performed a 5 days per week conventional training programme for Western riding, including 1 day of specific exercise session to simulate the different competitive events. Over the 6-week training period, blood samples from horses were collected once a week immediately before, under resting conditions and 24 h post exercise session. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) showed a significant interaction between training and time for changes in triiodothyronine (T 3 ) ( P P 4 ) and free T 4 (fT 4 ) ( P 4 ( P A significant interaction between exercise session and time for T 4 ( P 4 ( P The results of this study might suggest the benefits of taking into account cortisol and iodothyronine changes to effectively monitor training in Quarter Horses.

Do driver training programs reduce crashes and traffic violations? — A critical examination of the literature

This paper reviews the evaluation literature on the effectiveness of classroom and behind-the-wheel driver training. The primary focus is on North America programs as originally taught in high schools but now also by private instructors. Studies from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia are also included.By far the most rigorous study to date was the experimental study in DeKalb, Georgia, U.S.A. This study used a randomized design including a control group and a very large sample size to provide reasonable statistical precision. I reexamine the DeKalb data in detail and conclude that the study did show evidence of small short-term crash and violation reductions per licensed driver. However, when the accelerated licensure caused by the training is allowed to influence the crash and violation counts, there is evidence of a net increase in crashes.The other studies reviewed present a mixed picture but the better designed quasi-experimental evaluations usually showed no effects on crash rates but almost all suffer from inadequate sample size. I show that as many as 35,000 drivers would be required in a two group design to reliably detect a 10% reduction in crash rates.The advent of GDL laws in North America and other countries has largely remedied the concern over accelerated licensure of high risk teenage drivers by delaying the progress to full licensure. Conventional driver training programs in the U.S. (30h classroom and 6h on-the-road) probably reduce per licensed driver crash rates by as little as 5% over the first 6–12months of driving. The possibility of an effect closer to 0 cannot be dismissed.Some GDLs contain an incentive for applicants to complete an advanced driver training program in return for shortening the provisional period of the GDL. The results of Canadian studies indicate that any effects of the driver training component are not sufficient to offset the increase in accidents due to increased exposure.There is no evidence or reason to believe that merely lengthening the number of hours on the road will increase effectiveness. Programs directed toward attitude change and risk taking better address the underlying cause of the elevated crash risk of young drivers but these behaviors are notoriously resistant to modification in young people.

Investigation of patients with presbyastasis using the cross test

To investigate the equilibrium function of elderly patients experiencing dizziness caused by age-dependent physiological vestibular dysfunction (presbyastasis) and to evaluate the effects of a vestibular rehabilitation program, the author conducted a new balance training program, referred to as the cross test. Nine patients over the age of 65 years who had presbyastasis and who had complained of equilibrium dysfunction for at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. A standing balance training system with a gravicorder was used to examine the patients' equilibrium. The cross test indicates the equilibrium function based on ankle mobility and the center of gravity when individuals successively move forward, backward, right, and left on the gravicorder. The cross test was performed every one or two months for a total of at least 5 times; the results were then analyzed statistically. After participating in the vestibular rehabilitation program, the range of ankle motion improved in all 9 patients, compared with the pretraining values (p<0.001). These findings suggested that the cross test is a reliable method for estimating equilibrium function and the effects of a balance training program in patients with presbyastasis. Furthermore, the test appears to be associated with a prompt improvement in equilibrium dysfunction and thus may be an effective therapeutic option, in conjunction with medication and conventional vestibular training programs.

Vibration Effects on Static Balance and Strength

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a vibration training protocol and a conventional strength training program consisting of similar exercises on knee extensors and flexors strength and postural sway in middle-aged women. 38 women were randomly assigned into a Vibration Group (n=12, static and dynamic exercises on a vibration plate, frequency: 15-25 Hz, amplitude: 2-12.8 cm), a Strength Group (n=16, same exercises without vibration) and a Control Group (n=10). Both experimental groups trained for 12 weeks (3 sessions/w). Static balance was assessed in 3 tasks of increasing difficulty: Normal Quiet Stance, Sharpened Tandem, and One-Legged Stance. Postural sway was evaluated using the Centre of Pressure variations in the Anterior/Posterior and Medio/Lateral direction. Eccentric and concentric strength of knee extensors and flexors was recorded using a Cybex dynamometer. After vibration training, postural sway significantly decreased in both directions for the vibration group in all tasks (p<0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed for the other groups. Isokinetic strength significantly (p<0.05) increased for both experimental groups at selected angular velocities. It was concluded that side-alternating vibration could have beneficial effects on static balance control for middle-aged women. Gains in isokinetic strength were quite similar for both experimental groups.

Vascular Occlusion Training for Inclusion Body Myositis: A Novel Therapeutic Approach

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. It is known to produces remarkable muscle weakness and to greatly compromise function and quality of life. Moreover, clinical practice suggests that, unlike other inflammatory myopathies, the majority of IBM patients are not responsive to treatment with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs to counteract disease progression. Additionally, conventional resistance training programs have been proven ineffective in restoring muscle function and muscle mass in these patients. Nevertheless, we have recently observed that restricting muscle blood flow using tourniquet cuffs in association with moderate intensity resistance training in an IBM patient produced a significant gain in muscle mass and function, along with substantial benefits in quality of life. Thus, a new non-pharmacological approach for IBM patients has been proposed. Herein, we describe the details of a proposed protocol for vascular occlusion associated with a resistance training program for this population.

Vascular Occlusion Training for Inclusion Body Myositis: A Novel Therapeutic Approach

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. It is known to produces remarkable muscle weakness and to greatly compromise function and quality of life. Moreover, clinical practice suggests that, unlike other inflammatory myopathies, the majority of IBM patients are not responsive to treatment with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs to counteract disease progression1. Additionally, conventional resistance training programs have been proven ineffective in restoring muscle function and muscle mass in these patients2,3. Nevertheless, we have recently observed that restricting muscle blood flow using tourniquet cuffs in association with moderate intensity resistance training in an IBM patient produced a significant gain in muscle mass and function, along with substantial benefits in quality of life4. Thus, a new non-pharmacological approach for IBM patients has been proposed. Herein, we describe the details of a proposed protocol for vascular occlusion associated with a resistance training program for this population.

Whole-Body Vibration Training Effects on the Physical Performance of Basketball Players

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 4 weeks of whole-body vibration training added to the conventional training of basketball players. Eighteen competitive basketball players (13 male symbol, 5 female symbol, 18-24 years old) were randomly assigned to a whole-body vibration group (WBVG, n = 10; 7 male symbol and 3 female symbol) or a control group (CG, n = 8; 6 male symbol and 2 female symbol). During the 4-week period, all subjects maintained their conventional basketball training program. The members of WBVG were additionally trained 3 times a week for 20 minutes on a vibration platform (10 unloaded static lower limb exercises, 40-Hz, 4-mm, Silverplate). Testing was performed before and after the 4-week period and comprised strength assessment, vertical jump performance, and a 10-m sprint test. The maximal voluntary isometric strength of the knee extensors significantly increased (p < 0.001) after vibration training, as did squat jump (SJ) height (p < 0.05), whereas performance of the countermovement jump, drop jump, 30-second rebound jump, and 10-m sprint remained unchanged. The results of the present study indicated that a 4-week whole-body vibration training program added to the conventional training of basketball players during the preseason is an effective short-term stimulus to enhance knee extensor strength and slightly SJ performance.

原子力発電分野における安全意識向上のためのＣｒｅｗ Ｒｅｓｏｕｒｃｅ Ｍａｎａｇｅｍｅｎｔ概念に基づく訓練手法

A conventional training program for nuclear power plant operators has been developed with emphasis on improvement of knowledge and skills of individual operators. Although it has certainly contributed to safety operation of nuclear power plants, some recent incidents have indicated the necessity of an improved training program aiming at improvement of the performance of operators working as a team. In the aviation area, crew resource management (CRM) training has shown the effect of resolving team management issues of flight crews, aircraft maintenance crews, and so on. In the present research, we attempted to introduce the CRM concept into operator training in nuclear power plants as training for conceptual skill enhancement. In this paper, a training method specially customized for nuclear power plant operators based on CRM is proposed. The proposed method has been practically utilized in the management training course of Japan Nuclear Technology Institute. The validity of the proposed method has been evaluated by means of a questionnaire survey.

Effects of complex vs non complex training programs on lower body maximum strength and power

The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the effects of a complex training program and a conventional training program, on power and strength development in sport science students. Sixteen undergraduates were randomly divided into two equivalent groups: Complex Training Group (CPG; n = 8) and Conventional Training Group (CVG, n = 8), both of which completed a similar volume and intensity of training. CPG combined maximum strength exercises with power exercises using the complex training method. Subjects comprising the CVG group performed similarly to their CPG counterparts in the first four weeks and the equivalent power training during the second half of the program. Both programs produced gains in the weight lifted (p < 0.01 ) 1 RM back squat and the Squat Jump (p < 0.01 CPG subjects achieved gains in Maximum Strength, the Counter Movement Jump (p < 0.01 and 10, 15 and 20-m runs (p < 0.05) whereas CVG subjects achieved improvements in the 5-m run (p < 0.05). After detraining, CPG subjects experienced a decline in the Counter Movement Jump and in the 10-m run (p < 0.05). Complex and non-complex training programs in untrained subjects may increase the power and maximum strength, and generally result in improvement of these parameters without any one program showing appreciable advantages over the other.