Development Specialists Research Articles

A Culturally Sensitive Mobile App (DiaFriend) to Improve Self-Care in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Development Study.

Mobile apps designed with cultural sensitivity have demonstrated higher user acceptability and greater effectiveness in enhancing self-care skills. However, a significant gap exists in developing such apps for specific populations, such as Portuguese Americans living in southern Massachusetts, home to the second-largest Portuguese community in the United States. This group possesses unique cultural traditions, particularly in dietary practices, including a tendency toward high carbohydrate intake. Tailoring diabetes self-care apps to address these specific cultural requirements could substantially improve diabetes management within this population. The aim of this app development project was to develop a prototype diabetes management app for Portuguese Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus using the design thinking methodology, incorporating user-centered design principles and cultural sensitivity. This paper describes the phase-2 results, focusing on app design and development. Phase 2 of this app development project adhered to the design thinking methodology delineated by the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University, focusing on 2 critical steps: ideation and prototyping. This phase started in March 2022 and continued until April 2024. The project was driven by a multidisciplinary team consisting of 2 nurse educators; an app development specialist; and 2 graduate research assistants from the university's Computer and Information Sciences Department, both well-versed in mobile app development. Data collected during phase 1, which will be published separately, informed the app design and development process. The prototype of the DiaFriend app (version 1) was designed and developed. The app comprises five features: (1) blood glucose monitoring, (2) weight tracking, (3) carbohydrate tracking, (4) exercise log, and (5) medication reminder. The carbohydrate tracking feature was explicitly tailored to correspond to Portuguese food culture. This paper presents the front-end interface flowchart, demonstrating how the user navigates through each screen. It also discusses the challenges faced during the backend development, such as data not being able to be stored and retrieved. The DiaFriend app (version 1) distinguishes itself from conventional diabetes self-care apps through its emphasis on cultural sensitivity. The development of this app underscores the importance of cultural considerations in health informatics. It establishes a foundation for future research in developing and evaluating culturally sensitive mobile health apps. The adaptation of such technologies has the potential to enhance self-care practices among Portuguese Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with improved glycated hemoglobin levels as a potential outcome. The last step of the design thinking methodology, testing the app, will be conducted in phase 3 and the results will be published elsewhere.

Evaluating the Quality of Multiple-Choice Test Questions in the Postlicensure Environment.

Multiple-choice test questions are among the main measures of knowledge used by educators in the postlicensure environment; however, these tests are often constructed in the absence of guidelines or the means to evaluate examination quality after administration. Previously, guidance was provided on constructing quality test items. Here we present instruction for professional development specialists to use postadministration test data for an item analysis, providing insight on test flaws and opportunities for iterative examination improvement. The topics of item difficulty, index of discrimination, and distractor analysis are covered for independent analysis, and topics such as reliability are addressed for those who have access to a formal program. Three levels of strategies are described: using a learning management system for item analysis, using free open-source software, and using a minimal standards method of evaluating test items. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(10):487-492.].

Bicycle Infrastructure Safety Assessment From the Perspective of Urban Development Specialists and Engineers

The safety of bicycle infrastructure is a primary factor influencing bicycle travel. While cyclists’ perspectives on infrastructure safety are extensively studied, they are merely the end users. Decisions on infrastructure design are made by engineers and urban development specialists. Therefore, it is crucial to determine if these professionals’ safety assessments align with those of cyclists. A qualitative survey was conducted with 5 expert engineers and 5 urban development specialists, each having 5 to 20 years of experience in transportation infrastructure planning. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance W was used to assess the compatibility of their opinions. The results showed significant compatibility: W = 0.697 for engineers and W = 0.511 for urban development specialists. Seventeen cycling infrastructure installation schemes were evaluated. Both engineers (M = 10.0, SD = 0.0) and urban development specialists (M = 9.8, SD = 0.44) indicated the DT_2 option as providing the greatest sense of security, where the bicycle path is physically separated from both the carriageway and pedestrian path. The key findings reveal agreement on the safety of straight-street segments of bicycle infrastructure but diverging opinions at intersections zones. Urban development specialists are influenced by existing practices and legal frameworks lacking detailed cycling infrastructure guidelines at intersections. Engineers align more closely with cyclists’ perceptions, emphasising physical separation and speed reduction measures. The study concludes that urban development specialists need to better understand cyclists’ needs and prioritize safer infrastructure solutions.

Art for art’s sake? Artists as partners in urban regeneration

ABSTRACT Responding to the polarized view of artists either being displaced or co-opted in urban regeneration, this paper unveils a middle ground in which artists also act as partners or co-producers in these processes. We illustrate this intermediary role in property development processes with reference to a case study of the Seaport Innovation District in Boston by drawing upon a survey of resident artists and interviews with artists, planners, architects and economic development specialists. The paper makes two contributions to the literature. It offers a fresh look at the dialectical relationship between cultural and economic modes of production by more fully integrating consideration of artists’ sensibilities and practice with those of a host of built environment disciplinary practices including architects, planners and real estate developers. As a result, it extends extant analysis of urban regeneration-led gentrification from its urban planning, geography and sociology disciplinary roots into the disciplines of architecture and real estate. Our findings lead onto a research agenda centered on consideration of the intermediary roles played by creative and cultural sector actors and how creativity might be captured to positive effect, in the production of the built environment.

The Impact of Parent-Based Support Programs on Neurodevelopmental Prognosis: Second-Year Results from a Newly Established Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Unit in a Tertiary Hospital.

This study aims to assess the neurodevelopmental progress of high-risk infants 2 years post implementation of the Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Unit (NFU) program at our hospital and explore implementation challenges for insights. Infants were assessed using the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE), The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). A multidisciplinary team provided comprehensive parent education covering neurologic cues, postural advice, and developmental instructions in accordance with the children's assessment findings. In addition, a pediatric physical therapist provided motor development training emphasizing age-appropriate milestones and functional independence, while child development specialists addressed delays identified through BSID-III assessments. A total of 121 high-risk babies were enrolled during a 2-year period. Results revealed that 9 infants exhibited suboptimal HINE scores at 3-4 months, with only 2 maintaining suboptimal scores at 12-15 months. Similarly, 2 infants with suboptimal AIMS scores at 3-4 months reached normal values at 12-15 months. Comparable improvements were observed in BSID-III scores. While no correlation between HINE and AIMS scores was found at the 3-4-month mark, a significant correlation emerged between AIMS and HINE scores at 6-9 months (r = 0.643, P < .001) and 12-15 months (r = 0.820, P < .001). Encouraging early family education alongside regular monitoring of high-risk newborns appears to have a positive impact on their motor and cognitive development. Consideration of clinical recommendations, such as tailored interventions and periodic assessments, may contribute to optimizing developmental outcomes.

Безопасный конвейер доставки программного обеспечения

The presence of vulnerabilities in software is a pressing problem. Vulnerabilities can serve as a basis for breach of confidentiality and information leakage. The purpose of this study is to increase the level of software security at all stages of the life cycle from development and implementation to operation. Achieving this goal is possible through automated analysis of program code and increasing the types of vulnerabilities detected. The work proposes a secure software delivery pipeline that allows for static and dynamic analysis of program code, analysis of the search for vulnerabilities in third-party components and Docker images. The article reviewed popular software tools, their distinctive features, and provided justification for the choice of software solutions that form the basis of the developed secure delivery pipeline. The novelty of the work is the ability of the pipeline to automatically detect vulnerabilities at all stages of the software life cycle, from planning and design to testing, deployment and monitoring in a production environment, which allows you to eliminate vulnerabilities at an early stage, thereby increasing the level of software security. Conducted testing and approbation of a secure software delivery pipeline. Based on the assessment results, the developed secure software delivery pipeline showed that on average 98% of vulnerabilities were identified using the Semgrep tool, 90% of vulnerabilities using the OWASP ZAP tool, 96% of vulnerabilities using the Dependency-Track tool, and 88% using the Trivy tool. The results of the study and experimental data showed that on average, as a result of testing, the accuracy of detecting vulnerabilities is 93%. The practical value of the work lies in the fact that the developed secure software delivery pipeline can be used as a tool for detecting program code vulnerabilities by software development specialists, as well as information security specialists of IT companies. The results obtained can be used in the field of secure software development, formalization and interpretation of vulnerabilities in program code, which will make it possible to create new rules for their identification and development of countermeasures to neutralize them.

PPIM Sabah's admin performance: Smartphone App development for Indonesian students

Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia Malaysia (PPMI)is a Malaysian Indonesian Students Association in Sabah, an organization that associates with Indonesian students studying at campuses in Sabah, Malaysia. Due to the lack of supporting human resources, technological support is needed to assist the activities and work of management in order to improve organizational services and administration. For this reason, we provide a solution through community service. This service seeks to create a smartphone application called "PPIM Sabah” to Enhance Administrative Performance." PPIM Sabah encounters challenges such as inefficiency in administrative procedures, obstacles in data accessibility, and inadequate utilization of technology for administrative duties. In order to tackle these issues, we suggest creating a smartphone application that will aid PPIM Sabah in effectively maintaining member information, coordinating and advertising events, and monitoring financial matters with greater efficiency. The suggested system encompasses crucial functionalities, including membership administration, event coordination, and financial oversight. The application is anticipated to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of PPIM Sabah's administration, diminish the time and exertion needed to perform administrative activities, and enhance the quality of services supplied to members. The proposed activity plan encompasses a comprehensive series of steps, including needs analysis, application design, development, testing, implementation, and evaluation. A group of computer science and software development specialists will collaborate closely with PPIM Sabah at every phase of the development process. By integrating this smartphone application, the PPIM Sabah's administrative efficiency can be greatly enhanced, resulting in concrete advantages for the organization and its members.

Values and Ethics Domain for Professional Identity in Nursing.

A crucial domain of professional identity in nursing is the area of values and ethics. Comprising a set of core values and principles, values and ethics are used to guide nurse conduct. Professional development specialists can use the nursing code of ethics and organizational structure and examples to teach nurses the values and ethics domain of professional identity in nursing. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(6):279-281.].

Bridging the Gap: Standardizing Orientation to Improve Vacancy and Turnover Rates of Ambulatory Oncology Nurses.

This article describes standardizing ambulatory oncology nursing orientation within an academic comprehensive cancer center to reduce turnover rates. The nursing professional development specialist created a standardized orie.

Occupational therapy's role in promoting the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." developmental monitoring program to public health employees.

Occupational therapists can play a key role in early identification of delay at the population health level by providing education to public health employees on how to implement developmental monitoring with caregivers of children birth to age 5. A pretest posttest design was utilized to assess the online education and training that was provided to Department of Public Health employees (N = 339), including Head Start, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Home Visiting, and Early Intervention. Analysis of pretest-posttest survey data showed significant results for all 12 key learning outcomes. Six out of 12 outcomes were found to have a large effect size (d > 0.8), 4 outcomes indicated a medium effect size (d > 0.5), and 2 outcomes had a small effect size (d > 0.2). Participants gained knowledge of the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (LTSAE) developmental monitoring program, the difference between developmental monitoring and screening, the state's referral system and age-appropriate parental engagement activities through knowledge of child development. Occupational therapists are child development specialists who can provide education on developmental monitoring and activities for parental engagement. The online course proved to be an effective platform to promote LTSAE within state agencies.

Development of a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Activity.

Global mobility has made global health a priority within nursing curricula and health care organizations. A collaborative online learning activity could promote international perspectives of health care delivery. Including a collaborative online international learning activity in continuing education for practicing nurses is a viable strategy that is consistent with the internationalization at home movement. Use of a qualitative descriptive evaluation approach when teaching prelicen-sure nursing students and educating practicing nurses provides effective international collaboration, promotes a global mindset, and provides an exemplar for professional development specialists to teach practicing nurses. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(5):220-223.].

HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF THE TRAINING OF DECORATIVE AND APPLIED ARTS SPECIALISTS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF UKRAINE

The paper examines the historical aspects of the development specialists in decorative and applied arts training in Ukraine on the example of porcelain production (late 18th century – today) and its current state abroad. In line with the issue of introduction of this direction of decorative and applied art in our country, examples of its flourishing in the cities of Koret (production of baroque Meissen porcelain), Baranivka, Hrodnytsia, Dovbysh (Iliinskyi Manufactory, Markhlov Factory, Dovbysh Porcelain Factory, Polonsky Porcelain Factory); Poltava, Boryslav, Sumy, Ternopil (opening of porcelain factories in 1965) are characterized. It has been found that along with the foundation and development of porcelain industries there were professional schools focused on training skilled craftsmen to work in the factory, in particular schools in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv; Myrhorod Art and Industrial School in Poltava region, etc.). The high-quality training of pottery and porcelain and faience specialists, teachers of graphic arts and drawing, masters of artistic decoration of products ready to perform significant amounts of physical work - making tiles, bulky dishes, decorating the facades of churches, houses, fireplaces, creating sculptures, interior and exterior decorations - was facilitated by the activities of famous artists and teachers S. Maslenikov, O. Slastion, and V. Krychevskyi, who also supervised the production of outstanding works and participation in industrial exhibitions. Key words: decorative and applied arts, ethnological training of specialists, porcelain production, domestic and foreign experience, ethnography.

How Do Proactive Personality and Internal Locus of Control Play a Role in the Links Between Career Adaptability and Job Search Behaviors of Job Seekers? A Two-Moderator Approach

The present labor market's rapid expansion has pressured individuals to enhance their employability and achieve professional success. Therefore, individuals need to be able to adapt and flourish in the face of unforeseen employment challenges, known as career adaptability. While previous studies have established the benefits of career adaptability in the job search process, there is a lack of understanding regarding the influence of personality characteristics on the relationship between career resources and job search behavior. This study investigates the combined moderating effects of proactive personality and internal locus of control on the link between career adaptability and job search behavior, drawing on career construction theory and planned job search behavior theory. The study sample comprises 308 individuals actively seeking employment in Istanbul and Kocaeli. SPSS AMOS was used for confirmatory factor analysis, and PROCESS Macro was used to examine moderator effects. The findings demonstrated a positive relationship between career adaptability, proactive personality, internal locus of control, and job-seeking behavior. Moreover, as predicted, the combined effect of proactive personality and internal locus of control moderates the relationship between career adaptability and job search behavior, suggesting the relationship is more robust when both traits are high. These findings are essential for researchers in the field of career and job search as well as for practitioners such as career counselors or training and development specialists.

Development and validation of a hip hop intervention programme for pre-school children: Crescer+ (Grow+)

Physical inactivity and obesity in children are public health problems that can be fought through the practice of rhythmic activities such as hip hop. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Crescer+ hip hop physical exercise programme, designed to promote increased physical activity and improved physical-motor skills in children aged 3 to 5 years old. The exercise programme was designed and validated by physical fitness and motor development specialists, following the Revised Guidelines for Reporting Criteria on the Development and Evaluation of Complex Health Interventions (CReDECI2), and the Consensus Guidelines on Physical Exercise Programme Reporting Model (CERT), and went through three phases: development, piloting and evaluation. This study presents an intervention proposal based on children's motor development, emphasizing foundational motor skills and drawn on hip hop's identity motor skills, as well as its exploration of various coordinative abilities. The Crescer+ programme proposal presents suggestions for adapting to the target population and choreographies that can be replicated by physical fitness professionals. Keywords: motor development, second childhood, foundational motor skills, complex intervention, fitness

Современный взгляд на состояние оценки деятельности педагогов дополнительного образования (на примере Ярославской области)

The article examines the economic and social situation of additional education teachers on the example of the Yaroslavl region. Based on the analysis of statistical data and the results of the conducted expert survey, the conclusion is made about its sustainability and stability. At the same time, the problems related to the evalua-tion of teachers’ performance are noted, as in many respects it relies on traditional methods (mainly attestation) and is formal in nature. The methods of evaluating teachers’ performance used in practice do not fully disclose the specifics of their activities. The author’s research delves into the fact that one of the possible options for the implementation of objective assessment will be its reliance on a competence approach, which, on the one hand, allows to take into account the modern requirements for additional education teacher specializing in chil-dren and adults, and, on the other hand, reveals professional deficits and determines the future direction of specialist's development.

An Initiative to Prevent Surgical Site Infections After Cesarean Birth With a Quality Improvement Care Bundle

ObjectiveTo reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) after cesarean birth through a bundled care approach. DesignQuality improvement project. Setting/Local ProblemIn a community hospital obstetric unit, an increase in SSIs after cesarean birth was observed. ParticipantsNursing leaders, obstetricians, certified nurse-midwives, physician assistants, nurses, scrub technicians, a nursing professional development specialist, and an infection prevention practitioner. Interventions/MeasuresAn interdisciplinary team was formed in early 2022, and an evidence-based care bundle including practice changes, education for the team, and enhanced education for patients undergoing cesarean birth was developed and implemented after a review of the literature was completed. All cesarean births were tracked pre- and postintervention to determine the rate of SSIs per 1,000 cesarean births. ResultsA decrease in the rate of SSIs after cesarean birth was observed from preintervention (18.2 per 1,000 cesarean births) to postintervention (11.8 per 1,000 cesarean births). ConclusionAn evidence-based quality improvement care bundle using a multidisciplinary team approach was associated with reduced SSIs in an obstetric unit.

Addressing learning and development issues in airport companies: implications for organizational development specialists

Purpose This study examines the issues affecting learning and development (L&amp;D) interventions to enhance operational efficiency in airport companies. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a case study design following a qualitative approach for data collection and analysis procedure. A purposive sample of fifteen executives, including 6 Chief Executive Officers, along with 9 operational managers from the aviation industry in Namibia were suitable participants to gather information about issues affecting L&amp;D for specific interventions to improve operational efficiency in airport companies. The data was collected using face-to-face interviews. The transcripts generated from the recordings were organized using thematic analysis via NVivo version 12. Findings The results showcased a lack of training needs assessment and process, inadequate specialized training and poor levels of commitment. Hence, specialized L&amp;D interventions will impact commitment and work outcomes, which are essential for operational efficiency in airport companies. Originality/value There is a paucity of literature on how to address L&amp;D issues for operational efficiency in the aviation sector.

Using the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model to Promote Nurse Education and Competency: An Exemplar.

Nurses in all settings need the clinical judgment ability to care for clients with fluid and electrolyte imbalances. An educational activity was developed using the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model to provide nursing professional development specialists with a tool to support the competency of nurses caring for these clients. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(2):59-61].

Pricing in service industries: methods for justifying the cost of developing a design project

The subject of the study is the peculiarities of pricing in the service sector, in particular the process of justifying the standard cost of developing a design project in the domestic pricing system. The object of the study is methods for justifying the cost of developing a design project, used in domestic design practice both in the development of projects financed by public funds and projects financed by a private investor. The purpose of the work is a comparative analysis of domestic methods to justify the cost of developing a design project. The authors consider such aspects of domestic pricing methods as the mathematical apparatus, the price level, basic and current, the possibility of using the methodology to justify the value of the cost when replicating a project or its processing by making minor changes to the parameters, the level of qualifications of development specialists, etc. The research methods used are induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, the method of analogy, logical and historical analysis, scientific abstraction, comparison and classification, theorization, idealization, formalization, positive and normative analysis, verification. The practical significance of the research results lies in the analysis of existing methods of regulatory pricing in the field of design, in the formulation, within the framework of the study, of their advantages and disadvantages, in the development of directions for their improvement. The authors’ special contribution to the study of the topic of pricing in the field of design is the substantiation of the main direction for improving existing domestic methods – the symbiosis of methods of state regulation of pricing in design and recommendations developed by the professional community, which will improve quality by increasing the scientific validity of calculations and taking into account the specifics of the development of design projects.

The Impact of Restricted Clinical Experiences During a Pandemic on Newly Graduated Nurses' Experiences: A Descriptive Study.

A multihospital study examined the impact of restricted clinical opportunities during COVID-19 on newly graduated nurses' experiences, self-reported competence, and self-reported errors upon entry into a nurse residency program and at 6 months. Newly graduated nurses' experiences (n = 2,005) were described using comparative data from cohorts before and during restricted experiences across 22 hospitals; minimal differences were observed. Nursing professional development specialists can utilize this information when creating and sustaining transition-to-practice programs.