Current Training Programs Research Articles

Creating the perfect intern anaesthesia rotation: a survey using feedback from past interns

Background: Community service doctors (CSDs) are often expected to administer anaesthesia after minimal training and with very little support, especially in rural hospitals. This leads to unnecessary stress on these junior doctors and may lead to poor anaesthesia outcomes.Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of CSDs administering anaesthesia. This feedback will be used to improve the current intern training programme for anaesthesia and to structure the rotation according to their needs.Methods: A questionnaire was sent to Pietermaritzburg (PMB) interns who completed their anaesthesia intern rotation between 2008 and 2010. Two data sets were collected: quantitative data (this will be reported on in another paper) and qualitative data. The qualitative data included five open-ended questions about the intern rotation in anaesthesia.Results: Between 2008 and 2010, 298 interns completed an anaesthetic rotation. The survey was sent to 259 doctors of whom 189 responded (73%). The ...

Understanding health policy leaders' training needs.

PurposeWe assessed the training needs of health policy leaders and practitioners across career stages; identified areas of core content for health policy training programs; and, identified training modalities for health policy leaders.MethodsWe convened a focus group of health policy leaders at varying career stages to inform the development of the Health Policy Leaders’ Training Needs Assessment tool. We piloted and distributed the tool electronically. We used descriptive statistics and thematic coding for analysis.ResultsSeventy participants varying in age and stage of career completed the tool. “Cost implications of health policies” ranked highest for personal knowledge development and “intersection of policy and politics” ranked highest for health policy leaders in general. “Effective communication skills” ranked as the highest skill element and “integrity” as the highest attribute element. Format for training varied based on age and career stage.ConclusionsThis study highlighted the training needs of health policy leaders personally as well as their perceptions of the needs for training health policy leaders in general. The findings are applicable for current health policy leadership training programs as well as those in development.

Video-based training to improve perceptual-cognitive decision-making performance of Australian football umpires

ABSTRACTDecision-making is a central component of the in-game performance of Australian football umpires; however, current umpire training focuses largely on physiological development with decision-making skills development conducted via explicit lecture-style meetings with limited practice devoted to making actual decisions. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of a video-based training programme, aimed to provide a greater amount of contextualised visual experiences without explicit instruction, to improve decision-making skills of umpires. Australian football umpires (n = 52) were recruited from metropolitan and regional Division 1 competitions. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group and classified according to previous umpire game experience (i.e., experienced; less experienced). The intervention group completed a 12-week video-based decision-making training programme, with decision-making performance assessed at pre-training, and 1-week retention and 3-week retention periods. The control group did not complete any video-based training. Results indicated a significant Group (intervention; Control) × Test interaction (F(1, 100) = 3.98; P = 0.02, partial ῆ2 = 0.074), with follow-up pairwise comparisons indicating significant within-group differences over time for the intervention group. In addition, decision-making performance of the less experienced umpires in the intervention group significantly improved (F(2, 40) = 5.03, P = 0.01, partial ῆ2 = 0.201). Thus, video-based training programmes may be a viable adjunct to current training programmes to hasten decision-making development, especially for less experienced umpires.

Usporedba programa izobrazbe za upravljanje brodicama i jahtama, koje nisu pokrivene STCW Konvencijom u Velikoj Britaniji i Republici Hrvatskoj

Research in this paper was conducted under the EU project TRECVET Core Curriculum for Skippers of Small Commercial Vessels (in short TCC-SCV) where a Faculty of Maritime Studies Rijeka was a project partner. The goal of the project was to analyze seven professional SCV skipper qualifications from UK, France, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Croatia by breaking them into their smallest parts called Fundamental Elements and thereby offering objective comparability. After reviewing and comparing training programs in The United Kingdom and The Republic of Croatia for qualifications, required for operating boats and yachts, set by the appropriate Authorities, this paper analyzed skipper/yacht master certification scheme in terms of theoretical education and practical trainings, syllabus contents, required experience, examination methods and evaluated the overall characteristics. At the end, the authors pointed out to some deficiencies in current training program in The Republic of Croatia and drew the conclusion that experience and lessons from other training programs can find purpose for training program reform in their own country.

Learners’ and employers’ perceptions of vocational training inthe South African tourism industry

With the growth in the tourism industry, it is a priority of government to develop quality Learnerships and Internships in South Africa to improve skills and the qualifications of the tourism workforce. Employers are increasingly conscious of the value for money from their investments in training and are demanding that training be more deliberately aligned with the strategic needs of their organisations. However, the tourism industry still complains that learners are not adequately prepared for the workplace and the learners believe that they have sufficient knowledge to meet the needs of the industry. The purpose of this research was to analyse the skills expectations of learners versus employers with reference to the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA (CATHSSETA). This was achieved by conducting quantitative research by means of a structured questionnaire that was distributed to 217 employers and 1023 learners on the CATHSSETA database. Various significant differences between skills expected by employers and those presented by learners were found. Employers expect higher levels of competence than those which learners in the CATHSSETA programme can deliver. More specifically, employers indicate that learners lack skills in handling customers professionally and being proactive in solving problems. It is thus critical to review current vocational training programmes with the input of all relevant role players in South Africa if this country is serious about the tourism industry.

The current state of orthopaedic residency in 18 European countries.

The aim of this study was to compare differences in current orthopaedic and trauma training programs across Europe. A questionnaire was sent to the FORTE (Federation of Orthopaedic Trainees in Europe) representatives of 25 different European countries, of which 18 responded. The questionnaire included demographic information and information concerning the structure of the training programs, including duration, selection, and mandatory training requirements. The number of trainees per specialist varied between countries from a ratio of 1:2 to 1:7. Residency was generally five to sixyears in all the countries. In more than half of the countries selection was interview-based. Nearly all countries utilized a logbook. About 80% of the participating countries had a final examination. When assessing the components of training it was found that only one country (the United Kingdom) had mandatory minimum requirements for (1) courses, (2) surgical procedures, (3) research and (4) leadership. Nearly 40% of the participating countries had only one or none of these four components as a mandatory training requirement. There are many similarities in training programs, but some important differences remain in overall requirements and final qualification. The main limitation of this study was that we were unable to get data from all the European countries. FORTE will continue to serve as a forum for sharing best practices with the ultimate goal of improving and harmonizing the level of orthopaedic training across Europe. Future studies should aim to include further details about training programs as well as to include data from more countries.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge among nursing students: a questionnaire study.

Objective:Nurses are usually first witnesses to in-hospital sudden cardiac arrests. Training of nurses has an impact on the efficiency and outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and thus, assessment of CPR knowledge among undergraduate nurses is very important to improve training program.Methods:The questionnaire comprised of three parts about CPR knowledge: the first dealing with general questions to understand the importance of CPR in clinical practice; the second comprising the main goal and accuracy of CPR intervention; and the last consisting of questions targeting the indications, methods, and effectiveness of CPR. Descriptive statistics and multiple response analyses were done by IBM SPSS version 20.Results:The students had good knowledge about the importance of CPR in clinical practice and stood average in knowing its indications and effectiveness. The mean score was 64.62±17.84 out of 100 points. While only 11% of them were completely aware about the universal compression ventilation ratio, 16.2% were aware of the current compression depth. In addition, 21.8% of participants have only indicated the order of CPR being compression, airway, and breathing.Conclusion:Knowledge of CPR is good among the nursing students. However, skills of CPR have to be improved by current training programs at regular intervals. Their knowledge and practical approach have to be updated with the current guidelines in CPR.

Preparing a Profession: Development and Design of a Merged Program

The need for improved teacher training arises from the limitations of current teacher training programs. In many universities, general and special education programs continue to operate under separate models. Research shows teacher preparation programs failed to prepare general educators for the challenges of inclusion and collaborative teaching environments. The purpose of this report is to discuss the impetus for the program redesign by describing the outcomes of the joint venture between faculty in the Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education programs. A thorough description of the program (e.g. admissions, course sequence, action labs, and field experiences) as well as critical components will be discussed.

Strengthening Empathy Training Programs for Undergraduate Social Work Students

Profound demographic changes as well as the introduction of religious freedom or convictions of conscience legislation in some states has made it more important than ever to equip undergraduate social work students with the knowledge and skills necessary to convey genuine empathy to clients and client groups who are stigmatized or oppressed and to use this empathic understanding to shape public policy. This article discusses the importance of enhancing current empathy training programs for undergraduate social work students by including content on implicit bias and several empirically supported strategies, including mindfulness practices, that are effective in reducing implicit bias and fostering empathy for members of stigmatized outgroups. This article concludes with an overview of instruments designed to identify, assess, and measure all aspects of interpersonal empathy and social empathy.

A qualitative perspectival review of the Australian and New Zealand Urology Education and Training program.

To conduct a prospective, qualitative review to explore the challenges associated with the delivery of current and future high-quality urological training, and to report the reflective considerations and opinions of leaders in the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) urological surgical training programme. Ethics-approved semi-structured, template-based, qualitative interview techniques were used to evaluate key aspects of the current urology training programme. Those interviewed were senior office bearers and management staff involved in the Surgical Education and Training (SET) programme. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Grounded theory was used with thematic analysis to assess the data. The initial impression given by the data was used to identify critical codes and themes, which were then developed and abstracted to bring together global concepts. Twenty-four extracted themes were outlined. The recent evolution of urology training was documented as the pathway into training has changed several times over the years. The changes in the programme have led to concern from opinion leaders that the 'pendulum has swung too far.' Surgical teachers will only truly develop if appropriate resources are allocated. This can be achieved by making up-skilling courses accessible, relevant and, ultimately, a part of the accreditation of training posts. Management of underperforming trainees is challenging and continues to occupy a significant and disproportionate allocation of resources. Early constructive intervention is very important to avoid unnecessary escalation of complex issues and the resultant inter-personal consequences. The ANZ SET urology programme began, like many of the other surgical specialties, from humble beginnings. It is now a mature programme, but there remain areas needing improvement. The workload of supervisors and office bearers has been increasing and the management of underperforming trainees takes time and resources away from progress in educational development. Progressive steps can be instituted to improve supervisor up-skilling, and structural changes can be made to ensure that office bearers can continue to undertake their valuable work without undue pressure and stress. Some of this will involve separating innovation in education and training from day-to-day trainee management.

STANDARDS OF EFL TEACHER PREPARATION FOR MASTER DEGREE PROGRAMS: TESOL EXPERIENCE

The article is dedicated to the research ofapproaches andprinciples of EFL teacher preparation programs based on the analysis of contemporary Ukrainian programs and TESOL standards. Comparative analysis of the aspects of EFL teacher preparation in Ukraine and the USA has revealed a few considerable differences, such as: aim (theoretical vs applicable), principles (principle-based vsdomain-based), and expected outcomes (knowledge and skills vs competencies). It has been found in the researchthat EFL teacher preparation standards for Master degreein Ukraine are non-existent and therefore current domestic training programs have no clear guidelines (criteria and indicators) as tothe development of professional competence. Based on the research results the following recommendations have been madefor standards development: to define the criteria and performance indicators, develop them based on domain approach and actual needs of labor market in Ukraine and abroad; include a standard of professional development

How I train specialists in transfusion medicine.

The changing focus of transfusion medicine (TM) toward the hospital rather than the blood center and the involvement of TM specialists in a wide range of patient blood management and other specialist activities in the hospital, rather than just blood bank activities, means that the training of the transfusion specialists of the future should be under constant review. We provide overviews of the current training programs of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in the United States and the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board in the United Kingdom, along with specific descriptions of our own training programs at Stanford and Oxford. The numbers of TM fellows in training annually in the United States and of those who attempt to attain board certification have increased substantially over the last 20 years, despite the profound reduction in blood utilization since 2009. These trends reflect increasing job and career opportunities in new activities, such as patient blood management at hospital-based transfusion services. This trend has been seen to a lesser extent in the United Kingdom, although the focus of TM is similarly switching to hospital-based transfusion services. Based on current trends, transfusion medicine is a growing and robust specialty in the United States but perhaps less so in the United Kingdom, increasingly with hospital-centered job opportunities for improving blood utilization and clinical outcomes. Establishing pediatric TM training programs and improving research training are further opportunities for training TM specialists.

Le valutazioni del percorso formativo dei neolaureati in servizio sociale

In recent years strong changes have occurred both in the socialpolicies and in people’s demand for support. As a consequence, all theoperators and, in particular, social workers, for their central role in theservice system, need a more adequate education. The objective of thisarticle is to analyze the social workers’ judgments about the educationreceived, looking at the results of a national survey conducted in 2013-14on graduates from 2006 to 2012. In particular, the research studies theevaluation of the training program in different areas: social and legalchanges, psychological dynamics, social research methodology,methodology and techniques of social work, internships and specificdisciplines of social work. The data show, first of all, substantially positiveratings for all proposed disciplinary axes, although with very articulated anddifferentiated evaluations; at the same time, the judgments become a bit lesspositive for those graduates who work as social workers: this evidence givesthe opportunity to reflect on the current training program.

The role of psychological skills within physiotherapy: a narrative review of the profession and training

The importance of treating the psychological well-being of patients is increasingly recognised as an integral part of physiotherapy provision and specified in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. However, the term psychology encompasses a huge variety of aspects including; communication skills, goal setting, imagery, personality theories and effective inter-disciplinary practices which need be trained. The purpose of this review is to explore the historical development of physiotherapy as a profession in the context of present standards requiring physiotherapists to manage psychological issues that impact rehabilitation. The review will focus specifically on how the role of psychology in practice has evolved and whether this is reflected in current physiotherapy training programmes. Electronic papers were identified through a rigorous search of CINAL, AMED, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and EMBASE. Due to the historical exploration of this review, no time limits were applied to the searches and articles were retrieved as far back as 1894. The history of the profession demonstrates a very ‘hands on’ approach to treatment with minimal psychology related practices. Whilst numerous studies exploring psychology training in physiotherapy have reported significant inconsistencies across UK undergraduate physiotherapy programmes. Due to shifts in the dynamics of healthcare, it is apparent that physiotherapy programmes would benefit from including psychology skills training, as a core module, to meet these ever changing demands. Future research should explore what psychological interventions physiotherapists currently utilise in daily practice, as well as practitioner feelings on the standard and relevance of the psychology content provided in their formal training.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding handling mercury containing medical devices among nurses in a tertiary care paediatric hospital in Sri Lanka.

Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal used in many medical devices in the healthcare sector, making nurses one of the vulnerable occupational groups. To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding handling mercury containing devices and factors associated with knowledge among nurses in a paediatric hospital in Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses (n = 538) working in Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Sri Lanka. Information on the use of mercury containing medical devices, accidental exposure, management of spillage and disposal was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 472 nurses responded with a response rate of 87.7%. Of the 347 mercury thermometer users, 67.1% had experienced breakages while among 405 mercury sphygmomanometer users, 20.0% had experienced mercury spillages, during a three months period prior to the study. A majority (56.8%) had 'good' overall knowledge regarding mercury and its adverse effects while 94.1% had favorable attitudes towards protecting themselves/others from mercury. Practices related to managing a mercury spill were poor. Work experience >10 years (p = 0.032) and favorable attitude (p = 0.007) were associated with good knowledge while having a training on managing a mercury spillage was not (p = 0.850). Gaps in practices on managing a mercury spillage were evident. Current training programmes were not found to be effective.

How to extend GP training and improve urgent and emergency primary care.

Extension to GP training is needed but progress is slow given current financial constraints. A 6-month mandatory period of training in urgent and emergency primary care in the fourth year of an extended training scheme would offer the prospect of making financial savings while addressing training needs that are now inadequately met in the current training programme. Good primary medical care is central to the provision of high-quality, equitable, and cost-effective health services.1 The strong tradition of general medical practice in the UK is a major component of the high performance of the UK healthcare system, which ranked second out of seven in a recent systematic comparison by the Commonwealth Institute.2 The UK has one of the shortest periods of postgraduate training for general medical practitioners among the advanced economies. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has published a detailed case for the extension of training to 4 or 5 years, and detailed proposals for the form that such an extension might take.3 Extension of training is perceived by many as vital if UK general practice is to retain its internationally acknowledged strengths. The proportion of medical graduates training in general practice is too low for projected NHS workforce requirements. Plans are in place to increase the number of training places in general practice training schemes, but current negative perceptions of the future for primary care have led to recent under-recruitment to existing training schemes. The NHS now faces several years of standstill funding, a situation unprecedented in its 65-year history. Every sector of the service is tasked by government with finding ways to do more with less. The prospects for the necessary funding for an extension of GP training seem remote under these circumstances. Increased pressure on hospital emergency services is a major concern for …

Preparing tomorrow’s behavioral medicine scientists and practitioners: a survey of future directions for education and training

Behavioral medicine training is due for an overhaul given the rapid evolution of the field, including a tight funding climate, changing job prospects, and new research and industry collaborations. The purpose of the present study was to collect responses from trainee and practicing members of a multidisciplinary professional society about their perceptions of behavioral medicine training and their suggestions for changes to training for future behavioral medicine scientists and practitioners. A total of 162 faculty and 110 students (total n=272) completed a web-based survey on strengths of their current training programs and ideas for changes. Using a mixed-methods approach, the survey findings are used to highlight seven key areas for improved preparation of the next generation of behavioral medicine scientists and practitioners, which are grant writing, interdisciplinary teamwork, advanced statistics and methods, evolving research program, publishable products from coursework, evolution and use of theory, and non-traditional career paths.

Young adults with paediatric liver disease: future challenges

Liver disease in children is rare with just over 1000 children per year diagnosed in the UK. However, with improvements in diagnosis and surgical advances, <10% of these require liver...

사서직 계속교육 동향 분석 - 온라인교육과 역량기반 교육을 중심으로 -

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the current development of continuing professional education for librarians with particular foci on online learnin g and professional competencies. It analyzed the current online training programs at the National L ibrary of Korea along with on-site programs in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses. I t also examined best practices of online continuing education abroad where more diverse and inter active delivery methods, such as webinars and webcasts, are used to inform latest and practical topics in the field. It found online training programs are not complementing but playing major roles in continuing professional education. The study also examined the current trends that library continu ing educational institutions are applying core competencies schemes to continuing education prog rams in order to systemize their programs and to strengthen individual librarians’ professional competencies.키워드: 사서 계속교육, 온라인 계속교육, 역량기준, 국립중앙도서관Continuing Education, Continuing Professional Development, E-le arning, Online Education, Online Learning, Professional Competencies, C ore Competencies, National Library of Korea

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