Effectiveness Of Program Research Articles

Empowering Communities to Act for a Change: A Review of the Community Empowerment Programs towards Sustainability and Resilience

At the global level, significant efforts have been made to address societal challenges and improve the lives of people and restore the planet’s ecosystems through sustainability and resilience programs. These programs, however, tend to be driven by governments, private sectors, and financial institutions, and therefore often lack a process of empowerment to ensure that the local communities can participate actively in co-designing and implementing these programs. More knowledge is needed on how to develop such programs and how the process of empowerment can be organized so that it supports in the long run sustainability transformation. Against this background, the paper explores the role of community empowerment programs as a critical tool for sustainability management strategies and practices. A semi-systematic review of 21 community empowerment programs for sustainability and resilience is conducted. The analysis reveals that the programs mostly aimed to address challenges such as the lack of education and capacity, limited access to basic services and resources, and poor governance and management. The programs initiators involve a diverse set of actors, especially through established partnerships and networks. Most of the programs address the specific needs of vulnerable or marginalized groups or communities. The structure of the programs typically follows a phased methodological approach, beginning with awareness-raising and problem identification, followed by capacity building that allows for making decisions collaboratively and for co-creating innovative solutions based on local knowledge and values. Also, monitoring and evaluation of transformative impact are mentioned as important structural elements. Specifically, the analysis highlights four main focus areas of empowerment: (1) capacity building, (2) self-reliance, control, ownership, responsibility, and independence, (3) participation, engagement, and collective action, and (4) integration of local knowledge and values. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to such programs. Instead, successful empowerment programs towards sustainability depend on a deep understanding of local contexts and the ability to tailor strategies to meet specific community needs. The review also identified knowledge gaps that require further investigation to enhance the effectiveness of empowerment programs for both people and nature.

A Programme of Hepatitis C Surveillance With Active Linkage to Care (HEAL) for Inpatients in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Jiangsu, China.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health burden in China, affecting more than 10 million individuals. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a hospital-based intervention programme for HCV Surveillance with linkage to care (HEAL) in a prospective cohort. The HEAL programme was carried out targeting inpatients from non-infectious departments of two tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu, China. It consisted of an educational campaign to raise awareness of physicians from non-IDs to promote HCV surveillance, a patient-navigator-centred clinical algorithm responsible for the efficient follow-up of patients with positive HCV antibody, including comprehensive testing, diagnosis and treatment. We characterised the rate of linkage to HCV diagnosis, care and treatment during the pre-intervention period (from 1 July 2016 and June 30, 2018) and after the intervention (from March 2019 to May 2021). During the pre-intervention period, 89,303 (45.3%) out of 196,780 non-ID inpatients were screened for anti-HCV, and 631 patients were tested positive. One hundred and fifty-six (24.7%) patients was followed up for HCV RNA confirmatory testing, and 58 (37.1%) of patients further were diagnosed with chronic HCV infection (CHC). Only 18 (31.3%) of the diagnosed patients with CHC were linked to hepatitis C clinics for treatment, 10 (55.6%) patients received antiviral regimen. Among them, two (11.1%) received DAA treatment, while eight (44.4%) adopted peginterferon/ribavirin regimen. During the intervention period, 232,275 patients were hospitalised in non-infectious department and 151,203 (65.1%) were screened for anti-HCV. Of these, 960 patients tested positive for HCV antibodies, resulting in a prevalence of anti-HCV positivity of 0.63%. Six hundred and seventy (69.8%) patients were enrolled, and 100% were followed up for HCV RNA confirmatory testing. Two hundred and ninety-one (43.4%) individuals with active HCV were identified. Two hundred and thirty-eight (81.8%) of HCV-infected individuals were linked to HCV care, and 157 (65.9%) were linked to treatment. Compared to the pre-intervention period, there was a 2.61-fold increase in the percentage of patients linked to care and a 5.94-fold increase in the proportion of patients who started DAAs therapy. This HEAL programme achieved enhanced HCV Surveillance with linkage to care, which has been demonstrated as an effective strategy in the hospital setting to improve the hepatitis C care continuum by identifying inpatients unaware of their HCV status and facilitating their access to HCV treatment.

The Effect of Wellness Programs on Employee Performance at The Technical University of Kenya

The quest for organizations to improve the health, job satisfaction, and overall performance of their employees has resulted into the adoption of wellness program. This applies for the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) where employee performance is considered integral in delivering quality education to students pursuing various courses. However, the effectiveness of these programs adopted at the TUK remains underexplored and especially with regards to how they impact on employee well-being and performance. This study sought to address this gap by examining how wellness programs impact on the performance of the employees at the university. The study used the descriptive research design and targeted the entire staff population using stratified random sampling to gather data from a representative sample of 182 individuals. The collected quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS. The findings revealed a moderate positive relationship between wellness programs and employee performance, with regression analysis showing that these programs accounted for 31.4% of the variance in performance. The qualitative findings indicated that wellness initiatives boosted morale, reduced absenteeism, and enhanced staff retention, though there were gaps in stress management and sports participation. The study, therefore, concluded that while the wellness programs at TUK had a positive impact, targeted improvements were required in stress management and sports activities. The study recommended the implementation of stress management workshops, enhancement of sports programs, and establishment of a feedback mechanism to continuously adapt and improve wellness initiatives

The Formation of Self-Regulation in Preschool Children with Disabilities with Through Body-Оriented Methods

The present study explored is devoted to the problem of self-regulation formation in preschoolers with general speech underdevelopment in pre-school settings. Under consideration the positive influence of body-oriented methods on the formation of self-regulation. The organization and implementation of an experimental study aimed at developing self-regulation in preschoolers with general speech underdevelopment using body-oriented methods is described. Based on the results of the experimental study, a number of key conclusions were made about the effectiveness of the correctional program: the children in the experimental group developed better skills in controlling their attention when completing tasks without reacting to external stimuli; they began to retain elements in their visual memory better.

Effectiveness Evaluation Method Using System of Systems Architecture Description of Aircraft Health Management in Aircraft Maintenance Program

This study proposes a system modeling method for aircraft maintenance program development that adopts condition-based maintenance using aircraft health management (AHM) based on a systems engineering approach, which considers AHM as a system of systems. The metamodel is tailored on the basis of the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) and the NASA Systems Modeling Handbook for Systems Engineering. It is described using the modeling tool "Balus 2.0" (Levii, Inc). The applicability and effectiveness of a maintenance program adopting AHM is analyzed on the basis of the Maintenance Steering Group-3 (MSG-3), and its effectiveness is evaluated using the proposed system modeling method. The proposed method considers the uncertainty of the aircraft maintenance environment related to airline operations in addition to the uncertainty of the aircraft system. The effectiveness of the proposed system is investigated through a sample problem that considers a tire system using a pressure monitoring system as AHM based on the MSG-3 approach. Finally, the limitations of the proposed method are discussed.

The effects of school-based hygiene intervention programme: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Children are susceptible to infections due to frequent participation in school group activities and their often-suboptimal hygiene practices. Frequent infections in children affect school attendance, academic performances, and general health. The effectiveness of school-based hygiene-related intervention programmes need to be informed by updated high-quality synthesised evidence. In this systematic review, we searched PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomised and non-randomised interventional studies that evaluated school-based hygiene-related interventions. We assessed risk-of-bias (Cochrane risk-of-bias 2 tool), performed random-effect meta-analysis (RevMan 5.4) and rated certainty-of-evidence (GRADE). Thirty-nine trials (41 reports), published from 2011 to 2024 from 22 countries were included. Twenty-three studies contributed data for meta-analysis. All school-based interventions were compared with standard curriculum and demonstrated very low to low certainty-of-evidence due to study methodological limitations and imprecision. Hand-body hygiene interventions may improve knowledge, attitudes and practices (SMD 2.30, 95%CI 1.17 to 3.44, 6 studies, 7301 participants), increase handwashing practices (RR 1.75, 95%CI 1.41 to 2.17, 5 studies, 5479 participants), and reduce infection-related absenteeism (RR 0.74, 95%CI 0.66 to 0.83, 5 studies, 1017852 observations). Genital hygiene interventions may improve attitude (SMD 6.53, 95%CI 2.40 to 10.66, 2 studies, 2644 participants) and practices (RR 2.44, 95%CI 1.28 to 4.68, 1 study, 1201 participants). However, intervention effects on oral hygiene appeared mixed, with worsening of the oral hygiene score (SMD 3.12, 95%CI 1.87 to 4.37, 2 studies, 652 participants) but improved dental hygiene (SMD -0.33, 95%CI -0.53 to -0.13, 3 studies, 4824 participants) and dental caries scores (SMD -0.34, 95%CI -0.52 to -0.16, 4 studies, 2352 participants). Limited evidence suggests that interventions targeting hand-body and genital hygiene practices may improve knowledge, practices, and infection-related absenteeism. However, the effects on oral hygiene intervention appeared mixed. Future research should strengthen randomisation and intervention documentation, and evaluate hygiene-related behaviour, academic performances and health outcomes.

Employment Effects of Skills Trainings in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Recent Randomized Controlled Trials

AbstractThis study provides a comprehensive systematic review of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the employment effects of skills training programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The review focuses on studies conducted between 2019 and 2024, a period marked by a significant increase in the number of RCTs of training interventions in this region, and we thus fill a gap left by earlier reviews that did not reflect this recent surge in experimental studies. We employ the standard SPIDER approach for defining search terms and the PRISMA procedure for search and selection to systematically analyze the impact of these training programs on employment outcomes. The findings reveal a shift towards a more optimistic assessment compared to previous analyses, suggesting that many recent skills training programs do contribute to improving employment-related outcomes.

Long-Run Impacts of an Early-life Nutrition Program: Evidence from the Introduction of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

To study how access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the prenatal and early childhood periods affects long-term health outcomes of the affected cohorts. In order to identify the effects of the WIC program, we exploit variations in the timing of its introduction in different counties and analyze future health indicators of affected cohorts. We use the restricted version of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which includes county-level identifiers through the interview year 2019. Our findings suggest that extending WIC access by one month correlates with a 0.2-0.3% point decrease in asthma incidence (p < 0.1 to p < 0.01) of affected cohorts. Although the connection between WIC and asthma is not fully understood, existing studies suggest potential pathways. Micronutrient deficiencies during early life can impact immune function and inflammation, both relevant to asthma. Moreover, adopting healthier dietary habits may improve microbiome composition, lowering asthma risk. Other indirect benefits of WIC, such as increased use of preventive healthcare services, may also contribute to the prevention of asthma. Despite uncertainties, these estimates remain robust across various model specifications. Our study implies that early-life nutritional support programs such as WIC may alleviate the burden of asthma, although the specific mechanisms and effect sizes remain unclear. Given the substantial impact of asthma in the U.S., our findings underscore the potential long-term benefits of early-life nutritional support programs for lifelong health.

The Effectiveness of a Digital Mental Fitness Program (Positive Intelligence) on Perceived Stress, Self-Compassion, and Ruminative Thinking of Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Students: Longitudinal Study.

Health care students often endure numerous stressors throughout their undergraduate education that can have lasting negative effects on their mental well-being. Positive Intelligence (PQ) is a digital mental fitness program designed to enhance self-mastery and help individuals reach their potential by strengthening various "mental muscles." This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week app-delivered PQ program in reducing perceived stress, increasing self-compassion, and decreasing rumination tendencies among health care undergraduates. We hypothesized that students would show reductions in perceived stress, increases in self-compassion, and decreases in rumination tendencies by the end of the PQ program, compared with their preprogram scores. We adopted an exploratory approach for the 5-month follow-up due to the limited research consensus on the sustained effects of app-based programs over varying periods. The PQ program includes weekly hour-long videos, weekly group meetings, and daily 15-minute app-guided practices. Participants were first-year students from the occupational therapy program at a university in Singapore. Participants completed surveys measuring self-compassion, perceived stress, and rumination levels before and after the PQ program, and again at a 5-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to assess differences across the pretest, immediate posttest, and follow-up posttest. Out of 87 students enrolled in the study, the final sample consisted of 64 students (n=47, 73%, female; mean age 23 years, SD 5.06 years) with complete data. At the end of the 6 weeks, students exhibited significant increases in self-compassion (before the intervention: mean 3.07, SD 0.35; after the intervention: mean 3.34, SD 0.35; P<.001) and reductions in rumination tendencies (before the intervention: mean 3.57, SD 0.40; after the intervention: mean 3.27, SD 0.34; P<.001). However, no significant change in perceived stress levels was observed (before the intervention: 2.99, SD 0.14; after the intervention: mean 2.97, SD 0.16; P=.50). These effects were not influenced by the daily app-based practice of PQ exercises, and there were no sustained effects on self-compassion (mean 3.17, SD 0.27; P=.09) or rumination tendencies (mean 3.42, SD 0.38; P=.06) at the 5-month follow-up. Additionally, there was a significant increase in perceived stress at follow-up (mean 3.17, SD 0.21; P<.001) compared with pre- and postintervention levels. The PQ program did not directly alter stress perceptions but may have reframed students' automatic negative thought processes, increased their awareness of self-sabotaging behaviors, and enhanced their self-compassion while reducing ruminative thinking. These findings highlight the importance of self-awareness for students' well-being. Students can benefit from practices such as mindfulness and peer discussions to enhance self-compassion and reduce rumination. Educators trained in the PQ program can foster a supportive environment that encourages self-compassion, challenges negative self-talk, and helps students manage stress.

Effectiveness of 8-Week Exercise Programs in Improving Menstrual Characteristics in Female Adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 8-week exercise programs (aerobic, stretching, and aerobic plus stretching) in improving menstrual characteristics in female adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, seventy-eight healthy female adolescents aged 12-18 from secondary and high schools in Riyadh participated. Participants were divided into three groups and subjected to different types of exercises (aerobic, stretching, and aerobic plus stretching) for 20-30 min, three times a week. Menstrual pain, stress, and attitudes were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, Adolescent Stress Questionnaire Short Version, and Adolescent Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire, respectively. Assessments were conducted before the intervention and after the third menstrual period post-intervention. Results: The aerobic exercise group experienced a significant reduction in the mean length of the menstrual cycle (p = 0.025). The aerobic plus stretching group had the most significant reduction in mean menstrual pain scores (p < 0.0001). Stress scores were significantly reduced in the stretching group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: We conclude that combining aerobic and stretching exercises significantly reduces menstrual pain, while aerobic exercise decreases menstrual cycle length and pain.

The Effectiveness of Community Poverty Reduction Programmes In the Province of Papua. Indonesia

Qualitative research through a phenomenological approach, while the results showed that the problem of poverty is a problem that must be handled holistically, involving various components that must support each other, both from the aspects of economic policy, education policy, legal policies and others, besides that the mindset of the community also needs to be addressed, this condition can occur if forman and informal education patterns can be applied holistically.

Effectiveness of Prenatal Counseling program on Childbirth Fear and Self-efficacy among Primigravidas

Effectiveness of Prenatal Counseling program on Childbirth Fear and Self-efficacy among Primigravidas

Upskilling India: The national policy on skill development and entrepreneurship

Background India’s National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (NPSDE) was designed to capture the demographic dividend and upskill India’s youth, creating an ‘Athmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) and in the process, also drive economic growth. Policy and Implications The NPSDE’s dual focus on skill development and entrepreneurship was intended to create a framework for empowering India’s workforce and fostering a culture of innovation. However, the policy has encountered several issues, including the ineffective functioning of Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), inadequate infrastructure, and insufficiently skilled trainers. Additionally, the policy’s efforts to include marginalized groups, particularly women, have fallen short due to entrenched social barriers and gender biases, impacting the effectiveness of training programs. Recommendations To improve the effectiveness of the NPSDE, we propose the following recommendations -adopt an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach to enhance coordination and support within the skill development framework; explicitly define ‘skill’ and ‘skilling’ to better align with socio-political realities and address barriers faced by marginalized individuals; and design training initiatives with an empowerment perspective, focusing on access to resources, agency, and social change. We feel these steps can help direct the NPSDE to create a more inclusive and impactful skilling environment. Conclusions While the NPSDE represents a significant effort towards upskilling India and fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship, its implementation has revealed critical limitations. The policy’s progress has been insufficient, with persistent issues in meeting industry needs and addressing socio-economic barriers. Future revisions of the policy should focus on systemic improvements, adopting a more inclusive approach to skilling, and addressing the socio-political dimensions of skill valuation to better support India’s developmental aspirations.

A Scoping Review of 20 Years of College Fitness/Wellness Courses

ABSTRACT Ninety percent of higher education institutions in the US offer conceptually based fitness and wellness (CBFW) courses to improve students’ knowledge and behavior relative to physical and mental health. This literature review investigated CBFW course content, structure, and the effectiveness of courses or programs that sought to improve knowledge (K), perceived health/fitness (PHF), physical health (PH), and mental health (MH). Twenty-three articles, published in English between 2003 and 2023 with 8059 subjects, met our inclusion criteria. The majority of research (65%) focused on courses addressing PHF, K, and PH outcomes; some offered physical activity (PA) labs and reported positive physical outcomes such as increased PA. The remainder (35%) focused on MH strategies and improved MH outcomes (e.g. reduced perceived stress). With the variety of positive benefits reported in these studies, higher education institutions should continue to examine ways in which CBFW courses can be used to improve physical and mental health.

Cultivating a culture of intervention: Bystander programs and the prevention of sexual violence

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of bystander intervention programs in preventing sexual violence, with a focus on the role of masculinity and cultural factors. The review synthesizes findings from six studies, employing a mixed-methods approach to analyze quantitative and qualitative data. The results highlight the significance of bystander intervention in preventing sexual violence, particularly among young people. The studies demonstrate that programs targeting men and boys, addressing traditional masculinity norms, and promoting empathy and prosocial behavior are effective in reducing sexual violence. Cultural factors, such as social norms and community engagement, also play a crucial role in shaping bystander behavior. The review concludes that bystander intervention programs have the potential to create a culture of empathy and action, but require careful consideration of cultural context and nuances. The findings have implications for the development of effective prevention strategies and highlight the need for further research in this area. By understanding the complexities of bystander behavior, we can work towards creating safer and more supportive communities for all individuals.

Impact of the SENA Rural Entrepreneurship Training Program on the Development of Productive Units during the Covid 19 Pandemic in Colombia

Rural productive units represent an alternative for improving the quality of life in rural communities, but they require relevant training for their implementation and sustainability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the business training processes offered by the National Learning Service (SENA) underwent significant transformations, which in many cases were not effective in consolidating these productive units. The objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of SENA training programs during the social confinement in Colombia and their impact on the development of rural productive units in municipalities of Cundinamarca. A qualitative approach with descriptive scope and an action research design was used, employing interviews and focus groups with 22 participants of the SENA Emprende Rural program. The findings indicate that the insufficient accompaniment by tutors and the lack of adequate training hindered the consolidation of the productive units, which led to the closure of seven of them by the beneficiaries. Therefore, it is concluded that it is necessary to offer training programs adjusted to the needs of the rural context, in addition to providing continuous support and financing to ensure the sustainability of the productive units.

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy on enhancing adjustment and reducing impulsivity among Iranian couples

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based training program in improving marital adjustment and reducing impulsivity among Iranian couples. The study used a quasi-experimental design with two groups: experimental and control. The sample of the current study consisted of 16 married couples from the city of Tehran, totaling 32 participants. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups, experimental and control, with each group consisting of 8 couples. The results indicated the effectiveness of the mindfulness program in enhancing marital adjustment, with the posttest mean rising to (2.86), and the average impulsivity score decreased to 2.59, indicating a significant reduction in impulsivity among Iranian couples. Mindfulness-based therapy directly affects participants’ ability to regulate immediate emotions. This increased awareness significantly helps in managing harmful mental behaviors such as impulsivity, substance abuse, and poor adaptability. Future research should investigate the broader effects of mindfulness on mental and behavioral outcomes, with a focus on addressing impulsivity in young couples. Additionally, incorporating mindfulness-based therapy for couples both before and during marriage could enhance interpersonal relationships and overall quality of life.

8068 Beneficial Effects of a Personalized Exercise Program for Patients with Cushing's Disease and Acromegaly After Biochemical Control

Abstract Disclosure: E. Valassi: None. L. Martel-Duguech: None. H. Bascuñana: None. V. Priego-Corredor: None. J. Viñals-Ribé: None. O. González-Viñuela: None. T. Caparrós-Pons: None. S.M. Webb: None. Background: Patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) in remission and controlled acromegaly (ACRO) present with residual metabolic derangements, muscle dysfunction, and poor quality of life (QoL). Although exercise is known to exert positive effects on psychophysical health in several conditions, evidence demonstrating its potential benefits in pituitary diseases is scanty. Main hypothesis: A personalized program of combined (aerobic and resistance training) exercise lasting 12 weeks improves cardiometabolic parameters, body composition, physical performance and QoL in patients with CD in remission and controlled ACRO. Methodology: Ten female patients with CD in remission [mean (±SD) age, 59±4 years, mean (±SD) BMI, 35±2 Kg/m2, median (IQR) duration of remission, 5(4) years] and 10 male patients with controlled ACRO [mean (±SD) age, 53±9 years, mean (±SD) BMI, 27±4 Kg/m2, median (IQR) duration of control, 6(3) years] underwent a 12-week, structured, personalized program of combined aerobic and resistance exercise, under the supervision of professional trainers. We evaluated the following parameters at baseline and within 72 hours after the completion of the exercise program: blood pressure (BP), BMI, waist and neck circumferences; physical performance (gait speed, hand grip strength, 30-Second Chair Stand; Timed “Up and Go”); lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition, using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA); muscle thickness (cm) at the middle and distal third of rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) on both sides, using muscle ultrasound scans in the transverse plane (Philips Affiniti 70; The Netherlands); quality of life (QoL), using the questionnaires CushingQoL in CD patients and AcroQoL in ACRO patients. Major results: After completion of the exercise program, CD patients had lower diastolic BP and waist circumference as compared with baseline (p&amp;lt;0.05). Physical performance globally improved (p&amp;lt;0.01 for all function tests). Femoral BMD was higher, percentage of lean mass increased while trunk fat decreased (p&amp;lt;0.01). RF and VI muscle thickness was greater at both the middle and distal third on the right side (p&amp;lt;0.01), and at the distal third on the left as compared with baseline (p&amp;lt;0.05). ACRO patients had a lower systolic BP as compared with baseline. Gait speed and hand grip strength increased while performance on the 30-Second Chair Stand improved (p&amp;lt;0.05). Muscle thickness at the middle third of the right RF was greater as compared with baseline (p&amp;lt;0.05). QoL was unchanged in both CS and ACRO patients at the end of the program. Conclusions: A customized exercise program promotes beneficial cardiometabolic and muscle changes in patients with CD and ACRO and, therefore, should be offered in a specialized pituitary clinic, within an integrated multidisciplinary team approach. Study financed by ISCIII research project number FIS PI21/01223 Presentation: 6/1/2024

Pembentukan Karakter Religius, Disiplin, dan Mandiri Siswa Taman Kanak-Kanak dalam Budaya Begibung pada Suku Sasak

"Begibung," a communal dining tradition long practiced by the Sasak community, has now become the focus of research in the context of character formation among students at kindergarten. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach, with the study subjects comprising 20 students, 4 educators, and the head of the kindergarten. Research instruments include observation sheets, questionnaires, and interview guidelines, utilizing the Miles and Huberman method for data analysis to attain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of the communal dining program. The questionnaire comprises 5 items assessing religious character, 5 items for discipline, and 7 items for independence. Research findings indicate that the "Begibung" program in kindergarten effectively enhances religious character, achieving a commendable 89%. This outcome reflects the program's success in reinforcing religious values among students. Discipline character, reaching 74%, demonstrates a contribution in shaping student discipline through established rules. The independence character, marked at 65%, presents an opportunity for future enhancement in developing students' self-reliance, with a particular focus on personal initiative. The "Begibung" program in kindergarten proves to be highly effective in shaping the religious, disciplinary, and independent characters of students. This research makes a positive contribution to understanding the potential of the "Begibung" program as a character formation strategy in kindergarten.

Effectiveness of an educational Program on improving nurses’ knowledge regarding Apgar score in Akre city

Background: Newborns are tested shortly after birth to get their Apgar score. This assessment evaluates an infant’s cardiac function, muscle tone, and other essential characteristics to establish whether additional investigations or actions that can be considered as emergency procedures are needed. Objectives: To assess the impact of the educational program in enhancing the knowledge of Apgar scores among nurses. Methodology: A cross-sectional interventional study was conducted with the selected nurses at the General Hospital and the Pediatric and Maternity Hospital in Akre City in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program for enhancing the knowledge of the Apgar score. Eighty nurse nurses, who made up the entire study population during the study period, made up the sample size. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, specially designed for the research, indicating their overall satisfaction. In the data analysis, a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the results. Results: This current study found out that, the overall mean knowledge degrees of the nurses rose 30 days after the program had been initiated; the enhancement is statistically significant. Conclusion: A thorough training program significantly increased the nurses' understanding of the Apgar score