Current Skills Research Articles

An Online Asynchronous Physical Assessment Lab (OAPAL) for Graduate Nursing Students Using Low-Fidelity Simulation With Peer Feedback

Physical assessment courses typically include a didactic component and a skills laboratory component. It is a challenge to create laboratory components in fully online nursing courses. This article reports on the use of an online asynchronous physical assessment laboratory using low-fidelity simulation with peer feedback to teach physical assessment skills to postlicensure nursing students in a fully online advanced health assessment course within an RN to MS program. Students found the online asynchronous physical assessment laboratory favorable, relevant, and engaging and believed it advanced their current skills.

Prelinguistic Vocal Development in Children With Cochlear Implants: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review is designed to (a) describe measures used to quantify vocal development in pediatric cochlear implant (CI) users, (b) synthesize the evidence on prelinguistic vocal development in young children before and after cochlear implantation, and (c) analyze the application of the current evidence for evaluating change in vocal development before and after cochlear implantation for young children. Investigations of prelinguistic vocal development after cochlear implantation are only beginning to uncover the expected course of prelinguistic vocal development in children with CIs and what factors influence that course, which varies substantially across pediatric CI users. A deeper understanding of prelinguistic vocal development will improve professionals' abilities to determine whether a child with a CI is exhibiting sufficient progress soon after implantation and to adjust intervention as needed. We systematically searched PubMed, ProQuest, and CINAHL databases for primary reports of children who received a CI before 5 years 0 months of age that included at least one measure of nonword, nonvegetative vocalizations. We also completed supplementary searches. Of the 1916 identified records, 59 met inclusion criteria. The included records included 1125 total participants, which came from 36 unique samples. Records included a median of 8 participants and rarely included children with disabilities other than hearing loss. Nearly all of the records met criteria for level 3 for quality of evidence on a scale of 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest). Records utilized a wide variety of vocalization measures but often incorporated features related to canonical babbling. The limited evidence from pediatric CI candidates before implantation suggests that they are likely to exhibit deficits in canonical syllables, a critical vocal development skill, and phonetic inventory size. Following cochlear implantation, multiple studies report similar patterns of growth, but faster rates producing canonical syllables in children with CIs than peers with comparable durations of robust hearing. However, caution is warranted because these demonstrated vocal development skills still occur at older chronological ages for children with CIs than chronological age peers with typical hearing. Despite including a relatively large number of records, the evidence in this review regarding changes in vocal development before and after cochlear implantation in young children remains limited. A deeper understanding of when prelinguistic skills are expected to develop, factors that explain deviation from that course, and the long-term impacts of variations in vocal prelinguistic development is needed. The diverse and dynamic nature of the relatively small population of pediatric CI users as well as relatively new vocal development measures present challenges for documenting and predicting vocal development in pediatric CI users before and after cochlear implantation. Synthesizing results across multiple institutions and completing rigorous studies with theoretically motivated, falsifiable research questions will address a number of challenges for understanding prelinguistic vocal development in children with CIs and its relations with other current and future skills. Clinical implications include the need to measure prelinguistic vocalizations regularly and systematically to inform intervention planning.

Public Health Informatics Workforce Skills and Needs: A Descriptive Analysis using the 2017 PH WINS

Abstract In 2017, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials fielded the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), a nationally representative sample of state-level (SHA) and local health department (LHD) public health workers in the United States. The survey was an opportunity to measure the PHI workforce as well as assess the informatics needs of the broader PH workforce. We performed a cross-sectional study using the nationally representative 2017 PH WINS. A total of 17,136 SHA and 26,533 LHD employees participated in the survey. Respondents were asked to rate selected PH competencies with respect to the importance to their day-to-day work (i.e., not important to very important) and their current skill level (e.g., unable to perform, beginner, proficient, expert). We examined skill gaps, defined as discordance between self-reported importance (i.e., need) and skill level, for example, those reporting the competency as “somewhat important” or “very important” and “unable to perform” or “beginner.” Informaticians accounted for 1.1% of SHA respondents and 0.5% of LHD respondents working in a Big City Health Coalition agency, those that serve the top 30 most populous urban areas in the United States. While informaticians generally reported having the skills they needed for their jobs, other PH roles identified gaps. For example, 22.9% of clinical and laboratory workers felt the ability to “identify appropriate sources of data and information to assess the health of a community” was an important skill but they currently possessed low competency. This group similarly identified a gap with respect to collecting ‘valid data for use in decision making.' An informatics-savvy health department requires PHI competencies not just among PHI specialists but also among front line workers, program area managers, and executive leadership. Discordance suggests that agencies should examine ways to enhance training for PHI-related competencies for all PH workers. Key messages The informatics specialists’ role is rare in public health agencies. Significant data and informatics skills gaps persist among the broader public health workforce.

Issue and Challenge for Vocational Teaching Quality in the Vocational College Lecturers: A Systematic Review/ Isu dan Cabaran Kualiti Penyampaian Pengajaran Bidang Vokasional dalam Kalangan Pensyarah Kolej Vokasional: Satu Ulasan Sistematik

Based on demand for professional labor and the growing economy, the Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) system has been transformed into a system that works to develop and equip individuals with current technical skills based on industry demand. The government has undertaken various efforts to strengthen the field of Technical and Vocational Education. Among the efforts undertaken was the transformation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. Kurikulum Standard Kolej Vokasional (KSKV) syllabus has been introduced to guide the teaching process at Vocational College. The KSKV was developed based on the latest industry requirements under the National Occupational Skill Standard (NOSS). Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK) is responsible for ensuring that the skills provided to students meet NOSS standards. However, there are issues and challenges faced in implementing the transformation, which is the level of knowledge and technical skills proficiency that lecturers have that is an important aspect of enabling educators to cope with growing technology. In line with the latest technological advances and industry demands, the issue that has begun among lecturers is the preparation of lecturers in terms of knowledge and technical skills related to the latest technologies updated in KSKV. This will further impact the quality of teaching delivery delivered by lecturers at Vocational College. Finally, the latest technical skills are essential to enable the teaching process delivered by the lecturers to be mastered by the students and thus produce qualified Vocational College graduates according to the latest industry employment standards.

P50 Time and motion study to assess workload versus staffing at in paediatric hospital chemotherapy manufacturing unit

ObjectivesIn order to improve efficiency of the staff workload in the Paediatric Hospital Chemotherapy Manufacturing Unit, tasks conducted by the pharmacy staff were evaluated with their expected roles. The aims of this study were to establish an understanding of the workload at this unit and to develop a proposal for the unit to become technician-led.MethodsThe time taken to perform a pre-determined list of tasks by the senior pharmacy technician was recorded, collated, and compared to tasks performed by the pharmacist. This established the key activities that could be delegated from the pharmacist and the senior pharmacy technician to other members of staff. The findings were discussed with a focus group to establish the efficiency of the manufacturing unit and enable a proposal to be formed.Key findingsA substantial part of the pharmacist’s and senior pharmacy technician’s time was spent on activities which could be delegated to other members of staff of a lower pay band. The financial implication of this estimated that there would be a reduction of around £8,696.70 with the correct utilisation of the staff members. The pharmacists leading this manufacturing unit were spending most of their time on computing and training, therefore reducing the time available for them to focus on patient-facing clinical activities.ConclusionsThe current skill mix was highlighted as being inefficient, due to a lack of delegation from the pharmacists and senior pharmacy technician. A technician-led manufacturing unit can improve the focus of pharmacists on clinical tasks while reducing the cost of activities.ReferencesLord Carter of Coles. Operational productivity and performance in English NHS acute hospitals: unwarranted variations. An independent report for the Department of Health 2016; 10–11: 34–40.Willett MS BK, Rich DS, Ereshefsky L. Prospectus on the economic value of clinical pharmacy services. A position statement of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Pharmacotherapy 1989; 9:45–50.Barnett MJ, et al. Analysis of pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) services in community pharmacies over 7 years. J Manag Care Pharm 2009;15:18–31.Napier P, et al. Introducing a checking technician allows pharmacists to spend more time on patient-focused activities. Res Social AdmPharm 2018;14:382–386.

The roles and capacities of social workers in the lives of older adults seeking healthcare and their caregivers in Ghana.

As Ghana's older population increases in number and proportion, the social and healthcare needs of older adults and their caregivers become more critical highlighting the relevance of social workers' contribution in assisting older adults and their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to explore social workers' contributions, discussed against the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Policy on Ageing and Older Person framework. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach making use of semi-structured interviews to collect information from eight social workers at the Social Welfare Unit in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Themes and codes were developed from the interviews using thematic analysis, employing In-vivo and descriptive coding, and N-Vivo v12 as a management tool. Analysis of interviews revealed three interrelated themes; (a) "We provide it accordingly": Talking about their contributions as systematic, (b) "I think we can do more": Talking about their contributions as insufficient, and (c) "Our efforts are being hampered": Complaints of inadequate resources for working with older adults and their caregivers. The study offers areas of opportunities for social workers per the IFSW policy framework to reflect and examine their current knowledge and skill to address the challenges population ageing presents in Ghana. While social workers contribute towards helping older adults seeking healthcare and their caregivers, their needs cannot be ignored. The findings draw attention to effective policies and programs that can provide social workers with the needed resources to be independent and be able to devise novel approaches unique to older adults and their caregivers.

Identifying essential procedural skills in Canadian undergraduate medical education.

IntroductionWe conducted a national survey to characterize current Canadian procedural skills training in Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME). The goals were to identify the most important procedures students should know upon graduation and assess clinician-educator perceptions regarding implementation of a pre-clerkship procedural program.MethodsWe distributed the survey to physician-educators across Canada’s 17 medical schools. Respondents were directed to an individualized survey that collected demographic data, physician-educator responses on essential procedural skills, as well as physician-educator opinions on the value of a pre-clerkship procedural training program.ResultsThe response rate for this survey was 21% (42 out of 201 distributed surveys were completed). The top 10 most important procedures identified by physician-educators included IV Access, Airway Management, Local anesthesia/field block, Casting, Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery, Testing for STIs, Phlebotomy, Suturing of Lacerations, Nasogastric Tube Insertion, and Venipuncture. Physician-educators supported a pre-clerkship procedural program.ConclusionsIdentifying the most crucial procedural skills is the first step in implementing a competency-based procedural skills training program for Canadian medical students. With the list of essential skills, and the support for physician-educators in developing a pre-clerkship procedural skills curriculum, hopefully there can be future development of formalized curricula.

THE EFFECTS OF PRISON REFORMS ON REFORMATION OF INMATES IN NYANDARUA COUNTY,KENYA

This paper uses data collected for an MA Thesis on effects of prison reforms on reformation of inmates in Nyandarua County prisons, Kenya. This study has been necessitated by the need to make the penal system fair and effective. As has been revealed by this study, despite undertaking prison reforms, the attempt to improve the harsh prison conditions has created other problems that negate the reformation and rehabilitation of offenders.
 The study sought to investigate the effects of prison reforms on reformation of inmates in prisons with a focus on examining the existing prison reforms that have been undertaken in prisons since 2001, the effects of prison reforms on the reformation of prisoners, how Prison reforms have negated the reformation of prisoners, and mechanisms that were in place in prisons to control the negative effects of prison reforms.
 Major research findings obtained revealed that, though reforms have been implemented, a good portion of the reforms remained un-implemented. This may be explained by the fact that the prison authorities themselves did not put in place deliberate measures to rehabilitate inmates. Besides, there were gaps in the marketability of the skills that the prisoners acquired while in prison.
 The study noted the upsurge of prison crimes such as substances and drug abuse, rape and sodomy, and prisoner violence/assaults against other prisoners. The study recommends promotion of prison staff because they are the first line of defense in terms of government reformation efforts. Their stronger good will counts in any prisons reformation agenda.
 The study recommends constant review of prison education and training programmes to conform them to current job market skills for smooth re-integration of prisoners back into the society.

Original Research: Understanding Nursing Home Staff Attitudes Toward Death and Dying: A Survey.

Nearly 70% of nursing home residents are eligible for palliative care, yet few receive formal palliative care outside of hospice. Little is known about nursing home staff attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to palliative care. We administered a modified survey measuring attitudes toward death to 146 nursing home staff members, including both clinical and nonclinical staff, from 14 nursing homes. Nursing home staff generally reported feeling comfortable caring for the dying, but half believed the end of life is a time of great suffering. Pain control (63%), loneliness (52%), and depression (48%) were the most important issues identified with regard to these patients, and there was ambivalence about the use of strong pain medications and the utility of feeding tubes at the end of life. Top priorities identified for improving palliative care included greater family involvement (43%), education and training in pain control (50%) and in management of other symptoms (37%), and use of a palliative care team (35%) at their facility. Findings show there is a need for more palliative care training and education, which should be built on current staff knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward palliative care.

Competencias y habilidades periodísticas en el siglo XXI. Percepción de los estudiantes de periodismo en España

A través de una encuesta (n=176), se busca comprobar la relación que existe entre la percepción de las competencias profesionales en estudiantes de periodismo y sus perfiles sociodemográficos y sus hábitos y modelos de consumo mediático. Los datos fueron analizados mediante pruebas ANOVA y modelos de regresión simple lineal. Los resultados revelan que, en todos los casos, los estudiantes perciben sus competencias por debajo de lo necesario para el desempeño del periodismo. El reconocimiento de las propias competencias informacionales es correlativa con la frecuencia global de consumo informativo. No se ha comprobado, en general, que los hábitos de consumo mediático predigan las expectativas de las competencias profesionales. La excepción en este sentido es la percepción Las Noticias Me Encontrarán (LNME), que se vincula con una menor concesión de importancia a competencias de tipo humanístico frente a las de tipo tecnológico. Respecto a los perfiles sociodemográficos, la autopercepción de las competencias aumenta según los alumnos avanzan de curso académico. Igualmente, los alumnos procedentes del bachillerato de artes conceden menos importancia a competencias informacionales y a la capacidad de oratoria. Por último, la realización de prácticas profesionales se vincula a una mejor percepción de las propias competencias tecnológicas y de conocimiento de la estructura de medios.

Transcranial direct current stimulation and attention skills in burnout patients: a randomized blinded sham-controlled pilot study.

Background: Burnout is characterized by deficiencies in attention and several components of the working memory. It has been shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can have a positive effect on burnout and depressive symptoms, however, the lingering effects of impaired attention and executive functions are the most frustrating. We hypothesized that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can improve the executive control of attention and possibly several other components of working memory in patients with burnout. Methods: This was a randomized double-blind sham-controlled pilot study with two groups. Patients with burnout received three weeks of daily sessions (15 sessions in total) of atDCS or sham stimulation in addition to three weekly sessions of standard behavioral therapy. The primary outcome measure was attention and the central executive of the working memory. Secondary, the effect of atDCS was measured on other components of working memory, on burnout and depression scores, and on quality of life (QoL). Results: We enrolled and randomly assigned 16 patients to a sham or real stimulation group, 15 (7 sham, 8 real) were included in the analysis. atDCS had a significant impact on attention. Post-hoc comparisons also revealed a trend towards more improvement after real tDCS for inhibition and shifting, updating and control, and encoding. Both groups improved on burnout and depression scores. Conclusion: These data provide preliminary evidence for the value of atDCS over the left DLPFC in rehabilitating attention deficits, and possibly also central executive and encoding deficits, in burnout. However, the current study has some limitations, including the sample size and heterogeneous patient population. More elaborate studies are needed to elucidate the specific impact of atDCS over the left DLPFC on burnout. Trial registration: ISRCTN.com ( ISRCTN94275121) 17/11/19.

The Extent to which Knowledge-based Economy Skills are Included in the Secondary Level Curriculum in Qatar

The present study aimed to analyze the knowledge-based economy skills presented in Islamic Education books studied by high school students in Qatar. The sample for the study included Islamic Education books, analyzed cover to cover, for the eleventh and twelfth grades excluding the introduction, the list of references, and lesson questions. The researcher prepared a content analysis form as the study instrument in accordance with previous studies containing 53 signs apportioned to 11 basic rules. The overall result for this study showed a disparity and a low frequency in the ratio of skills based on the knowledge economy included in the content of Islamic education books for high school students. The most inclusive criteria are in descending order "learning how to learn", "management of information" and “problem-solving". The study’s primary aim was to help develop the content of the Islamic curriculum through current global skill trends for high school students. It is necessary to include rules for the skills needed for a knowledge-based economy in middle and high school Islamic books. The study also recommends other group studies be conducted to complement these conclusions and assessments. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.7.5

Information Literacy Skills Assessment in Digital Crisis Management Training for the Safety Domain: Developing an Unobtrusive Method

This study aims to develop an unobtrusive assessment method for information literacy in the context of crisis management decision making in a digital serious game. The goal is to only employ in-game indicators to assess the players’ skill level on different facets of information literacy. In crisis management decision making it is crucial to combine an intuitive approach to decision making, build up by experience, with an analytical approach to decision making, taking into account contextual information about the crisis situation. Situations like these have to be trained frequently, for example by using serious games. Adaptivity can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of serious games. Unobtrusive assessment can enable game developers to make the game adapt to the players current skill level without breaking the flow of gameplay. Participants played a gameplay scenario in the Dilemma Game. Additionally, participants completed a questionnaire that was used as a validation measure for the in-game information literacy assessment. Using latent profile analyses, unobtrusive assessment models could be identified, most of which correlate significantly to the validation measure scores. Although inconsistencies in correlations between the information literacy standards, which call for broader testing of the identified unobtrusive assessment models, have been observed, the results display a good starting point for an unobtrusive assessment method and a first step in the development of an adaptive serious game for information literacy in crisis management decision making.

Transcranial direct current stimulation and attention skills in burnout patients: a randomized blinded sham-controlled pilot study

Background: Burnout is characterized by deficiencies in attention and several components of the working memory. It has been shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can have a positive effect on burnout and depressive symptoms, however, the lingering effects of impaired attention and executive functions are the most frustrating. We hypothesized that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can improve the executive control of attention and possibly several other components of working memory in patients with burnout. Methods: This was a randomized double-blind sham-controlled pilot study with two groups. Patients with burnout received three weeks of daily sessions (15 sessions in total) of atDCS or sham stimulation in addition to three weekly sessions of standard behavioral therapy. The primary outcome measure was attention and the central executive of the working memory. Secondary, the effect of atDCS was measured on other components of working memory, on burnout and depression scores, and on quality of life (QoL). Results: We enrolled and randomly assigned 16 patients to a sham or real stimulation group, 15 (7 sham, 8 real) were included in the analysis. atDCS had a significant impact on attention. Post-hoc comparisons also revealed a trend towards more improvement after real tDCS for inhibition and shifting, updating and control, and encoding. Both groups improved on burnout and depression scores. Conclusion: These data provide preliminary evidence for the value of atDCS over the left DLPFC in rehabilitating attention deficits, and possibly also central executive and encoding deficits, in burnout. However, the current study has some limitations, including the sample size and heterogeneous patient population. More elaborate studies are needed to elucidate the specific impact of atDCS over the left DLPFC on burnout. Trial registration: ISRCTN.com ( ISRCTN94275121) 17/11/19

Procedural Skills Training in Emergency Medicine Physicians Within the Edmonton Zone: A Needs Assessment.

The objectives were to describe the current procedural skill practices, attitudes toward procedural skill competency, and the role for educational skills training sessions among emergency medicine (EM) physicians within a geographic health zone. This is a multicenter descriptive cross-sectional survey of all EM physicians working at 12 emergency departments (EDs) within the Edmonton Zone in 2019. Survey items addressed current procedural skill performance frequency; perceived importance and confidence; current methods to maintain competence; barriers and facilitating factors to participation in a curriculum; preferred teaching methods; and desired frequency of practice for each procedural skill. Survey response rate was 53.6%. Variability in frequency of performed procedures was seen across the type of hospital sites. For the majority of skills, there was a significantly positive correlation between the frequency at which a skill was performed and the perceived confidence performing said skill. There was inconsistency and no significant correlation with perceived importance, perceived confidence or frequency performing a given skill, and the desired frequency of training for that skill. Course availability (76.2%) and time (72.8%) are the most common identified barriers to participation in procedural skills training. This study summarized the current ED procedural skill practices among EM physicians in the Edmonton Zone and attitudes toward an educational curriculum for procedural skill competency. This represents a step toward targeted continuing professional development in staff physicians.

Technical capacities of digitisation centres within ICEDIG participating institutions

DiSSCo, the Distributed System of Scientific Collections, is seeking to centralise certain infrastructure and activities relating to the digitisation of natural science collections. Deciding what activities to distribute, what to centralise, and what geographic level of aggregation (e.g. regional, national or pan European) is most appropriate for each task, was one of the challenges set out within the EC-funded ICEDIG project. In this paper we present the results of a survey of several European collections to establish current digitisation capacity, strengths and skills associated with existing digitisation infrastructure. Our results indicate that most of the institutions surveyed are engaged in large-scale digitisation of collections and that this is usually being undertaken by dedicated teams of digitisers within each institution. Some cross institutional collaboration is happening, but this is still the exception for a variety of funder and practical reasons. These results inform future work that establishes a set of principles to determine how digitisation infrastructure might be most efficiently organised across European organisations in order to maximise progress on the digitisation of the estimated 1.5 billion specimens held within European natural science collections.

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS

Dentistry like any other health care profession is abide by principles of ethics. The ethical principles helps to establish expectations for the dentists to practice their profession with code of professional conduct and also aid in their current skill and knowledge. This review focuses on the current knowledge and application of ethics by dental students and professionals in the present modern world

Impact of Climate Change on Irrigated Agriculture in steppe Zones of Uzbekistan

The study has been conducted in the newly developed by lift irrigation areas of Karshi steppe (Uzbekistan). The research questions included an assessment of the climate change impact on agricultural production. The studies allowed to examine main factors affecting the behavior of agricultural producers in the face of climate change, as well as their current practices and skills for adapting to the effects of climate change. As research results show, the impact of climate change on irrigated agriculture in the study areas has become especially tangible over the last decade. In this regard, situations arise with crop losses and reduced quality of agricultural products. According to research outcomes the agricultural producers have general information and general knowledge about climate change and its impact on agriculture. The most important consequences caused by the climate change impact on irrigated agricultural production include - increasing in water scarcity, growing in numbers of agricultural pests and plant diseases, declining in crop yields, instability and unpleasant weather surprises, the need to spend more labor and resources to get a satisfactory crop yield, salinization of land and water resources contamination, increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts and frosts, and others.

Parent-report Of Children’s Motor Skills Are Selectively Related To Interference Control Among School-aged Children

PURPOSE: Previous research has demonstrated that aerobic fitness and adiposity impact children’s cognitive function. However, whether children’s motor skills independently impact childhood cognition remains unclear. This study examined relationships between children’s motor skills and executive function, relational memory, and academic achievement among school-aged children without diagnosed coordination disorder. METHODS: Participants were children ages 7-12 years old (N=90 [46 females]). Intellectual abilities and academic achievement were measured using the Woodcock-Johnson IV Test (WCJ). Selective attention was assessed using a Flanker task, and relational memory was assessed using a spatial reconstruction task. Aerobic fitness and whole-body adiposity (%Fat) were assessed using a VO2max test and DXA, respectively. Parents completed the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) as an assessment of the child’s current motor skill abilities. Spearman and partial spearman correlation tests were conducted to explore potential relationships. RESULTS: 14% of participants indicated a possible developmental coordination disorder and 50% had a score of 67 and above on the DCDQ. Covariates adjusted for included sex, IQ, socioeconomic status (SES), fitness, and %Fat. Following adjustment, higher scores on the control during movement subscale of the DCDQ were related to greater performance in story recall (Rho= 0.29; P=0.039), a subscale of the WCJ. There was no significant relationship between relational memory and any of the DCDQ outcomes. However, higher scores on the control during movement subscale were related to lower accuracy interference during the Flanker task (Rho=-0.25; P=0.03), indicating that children who had higher motor control while moving exhibited greater selective attention, compared to those who had poorer control abilities during movement. CONCLUSION: Motor control abilities were associated with recall memory and attentional abilities in school-aged children, independent of aerobic fitness and adiposity. Funding: This work was funded by the University of Illinois and the Egg Nutrition Center.

Perception of barriers to research among internal medicine physician hospitalists by career stage

ABSTRACT Background Physician hospitalists may participate in research and generate knowledge for evidence-based hospital practice. Despite this, physician hospitalists are primarily involved in patient care, and there is sparse information on barriers for their participation in research and if these barriers differ by career stage. Methods We conducted a survey of physician hospitalists at Mayo Clinic sites based in four states (Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). We surveyed physician hospitalists on demographics, academic rank, current research skills, barriers for participation in research, and research skills they aspire to acquire. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics and categorized by early-career (<10 years), mid-career (10–20 years), and later-career (≥20 years) stages at Mayo Clinic. The survey was conducted from March to April 2019. Results Of 188 physician hospitalists, there was a 52% response rate with 71% in early career, 21% mid-career, and 7% late career, with 39% female. Physician hospitalists at early-career (90%), mid-career (76%), and later-career (71%) stages were interested in participating in research. Among physician hospitalists with ≤3 peer-reviewed publications, barriers for participation in research included lack of mentorship, time, research skills, and funding. Among physician hospitalists with ≥4 peer-reviewed publications, factors for research success included mentorship (89% early-career, 38% mid-career, 75% later-career; p = 0.002) and membership in a research team. Compared to mid- and later-career physician hospitalists, a higher proportion of early-career hospitalists was interested in acquiring skills to both critically review the literature (70% early-career, 43% mid-career, 0% later-career; p = 0.006) and write manuscripts (86% early-career, 57% mid-career, 50% later-career; p = 0.02); there was generally similar interest across career stages to acquire skills to conduct literature searches and write grants. Conclusion The generally similar responses from physician hospitalists across career stages highlight system-level opportunities to increase research mentorship, promote the acquisition of research skills, and reduce barriers for participation in research.