Evidence-based Training Program Research Articles

Efficacy of Community-Delivered PEERS® for Adolescents: Increases in Social Skills and Decreases in Social Anxiety and Loneliness.

PEERS® for Adolescents is an evidence-based social skills training program developed for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is now widely implemented by community providers in clinics and schools. However, majority of past efficacy studies on PEERS® were conducted in controlled research settings, with limited information about its effectiveness when delivered in the community. We sought to examine the effects of PEERS® on social functioning and mental health outcomes when delivered in an outpatient autism specialty clinic. Clinical data from 45 adolescents with social challenges (age range: 11-18 years old; 31.1% female assigned at birth) were extracted for secondary analyses. Paired t-tests were performed to examine the pre- to post-intervention changes in social and mental health outcomes. Correlations between pre- and post-change scores of outcome measures were examined. Self-reported social skills knowledge, caregiver-reported social skills (measured by the Social Skills Improvement Systems) and the number of get-togethers hosted, increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention. Additionally, caregiver-reported anxiety and self-reported loneliness significantly decreased from pre- to post-intervention. Exploratory analyses showed that increases in caregiver-reported social skills were associated with decreases in self-reported loneliness. Our findings provide evidence supporting the efficacy of PEERS® for improving social knowledge and skills of adolescents with social challenges when delivered in the community. The current study also showed the potential benefit of PEERS® for improving adolescent mental health.

A Web-Based Training Program for School Staff to Respond to Self-Harm: Design and Development of the Supportive Response to Self-Harm Program.

Self-harm is common among adolescents and is a major public health concern. School staff may be the first adults to notice a young person's self-harm and are well placed to provide support or signpost students to help. However, school staff often report that they do not feel equipped or confident to support students. Despite the need, there is a lack of evidence-based training about self-harm for school staff. A web-based training program would provide schools with a flexible and cost-effective method of increasing staff knowledge, skills, and confidence in how to respond to students who self-harm. The main objective of this study was to coproduce an evidence-based training program for school staff to improve their skills and confidence in responding to students who self-harm (Supportive Response to Self-Harm [SORTS]). This paper describes the design and development process of an initial prototype coproduced with stakeholders to ensure that the intervention meets their requirements. Using a user-centered design and person-based approach, the SORTS prototype was informed by (1) a review of research literature, existing guidelines, and policies; (2) coproduction discussions with the technical provider and subject matter experts (mental health, education, and self-harm); (3) findings from focus groups with young people; and (4) coproduction workshops with school staff. Thematic analysis using the framework method was applied. Coproduction sessions with experts and the technical provider enabled us to produce a draft of the training content, a wireframe, and example high-fidelity user interface designs. Analysis of focus groups and workshops generated four key themes: (1) need for a training program; (2) acceptability, practicality, and implementation; (3) design, content, and navigation; and (4) adaptations and improvements. The findings showed that there is a clear need for a web-based training program about self-harm in schools, and the proposed program content and design were useful, practical, and acceptable. Consultations with stakeholders informed the iterative development of the prototype. SORTS is a web-based training program for school staff to appropriately respond to students who self-harm that is based on research evidence and developed in collaboration with stakeholders. The SORTS program will equip school staff with the skills and strategies to respond in a supportive way to students who self-harm and encourage schools to adopt a whole-school approach to self-harm. Further research is needed to complete the intervention development based on the feedback from this study and evaluate the program's effectiveness. If found to be effective, the SORTS program could be implemented in schools and other youth organizations.

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Enhancing Sports Performance

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing sports performance. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) hold promise in enhancing sports performance across various disciplines. The study indicate that athletes who engage in mindfulness practices experience improvements in attentional control, emotional regulation, and stress management, all of which are critical for optimal athletic performance. By cultivating present-moment awareness and fostering a non-judgmental attitude toward thoughts and sensations, athletes can better focus on the task at hand, manage competitive pressure, and maintain peak performance under stressful conditions. Furthermore, MBIs have been shown to facilitate skill acquisition and execution, as well as promote recovery and injury rehabilitation. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of incorporating mindfulness training into sports training programs to enhance athletes' mental resilience and overall performance. However, further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms through which mindfulness exerts its effects on sports performance and to optimize the integration of MBIs into athletic training regimens. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Self-determination theory, cognitive-behavioral theory and flow theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing sports performance. Develop evidence-based mindfulness training programs tailored specifically for athletes across different sports disciplines and performance levels. Advocate for the integration of mindfulness training into athlete development programs at the grassroots, elite, and professional levels.

Adapting a dyadic exercise program to be culturally relevant for Hispanic men with prostate cancer using community engagement studio: a brief report.

Cancer disparities exist for Hispanic men with prostate cancer and their caregivers that could be reduced through exercise. Exercising Together© is a six-month, evidence-based dyadic resistance training program that promotes teamwork between prostate cancer survivors and their spouses to improve physical, mental, and relational health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to elicit feedback and recommendations from stakeholders on the Exercising Together© intervention to inform the cultural adaptation of this program for Hispanic men with prostate cancer. We conducted a virtual Community Engagement Studio (V-CES) with community expert stakeholders representing the Hispanic and cancer care communities in Southern Arizona. The V-CES process included orientation, presentation of the research, guided discussion, and evaluation. The V-CES was audio recorded, transcribed, and rapidly analyzed to identify actionable feedback and contextual adaptations. Nine stakeholders (6/9 male; 5/9 Hispanic) completed all V-CES activities. Through stakeholder engagement and feedback from the V-CES, adaptations to the original Exercising Together© intervention included: (1) inclusion of the cancer survivor's identified caregiver, who may not be a spouse; (2) availability in English and Spanish; (3) shortening the intervention to 3 months; (4) remote delivery of the intervention; and (5) incorporation of low burden procedures. Findings from our V-CES informed the adaptation of a culturally relevant dyadic progressive resistance training program for Hispanic men with prostate cancer and their caregivers.

Nutrition and movement to improve quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: the NUMOQUA study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) has long been considered as a degenerative disease of cartilage tissue resulting from bodily wear and tear. However, there is accumulating evidence that inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of OA. In knee OA, the most common form of OA, exercise therapy as an effective component of early treatment addresses functional deficits, pain and inflammation. Since inflammation is critical for the development and progress of OA, anti-inflammatory therapies must be combined strategically.In the course of the NUMOQUA project, an anti-inflammatory therapeutic diet named ‘Austrian Osteoarthritis Cuisine’ was developed. It is based on the framework of the New Nordic Diet combined with the food-based dietary guidelines of Austria, the guidelines for OA, the Austrian food culture and the principles of a sustainable diet. The present study examines the implementation of the ‘Austrian OA Cuisine’ combined with the evidence-based training programme GLA:D® (Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark) in Austrian patients with knee OA and the effects on quality of life, nutritional and inflammatory status, as well as oxidative stress parameters.MethodsA total of 60 participants aged 50 to 75 with knee OA will be included and randomly assigned either to the intervention group or the control group. All participants will undergo the GLA:D® programme in the first 6 weeks. Additionally, the intervention group will receive nutritional group training and individual nutritional counselling on the ‘Austrian OA Cuisine’ over 9 months. The control group will receive general information about a healthy lifestyle. Measurements at baseline and at 4 follow-up dates include nutritional, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Furthermore, anthropometric, behavioural and clinical data will be obtained. The recruitment process lasted from autumn 2022 to January 2024, followed by the intervention until October 2024.DiscussionThe prevalence of OA is expected to increase in the future due to ongoing demographic changes and rising obesity rates. The expected results will provide important evidence on whether this interdisciplinary therapeutic approach could be a new, cost-effective and sustainable strategy to address the disease process of OA without negative side effects.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05955300. Date of registration: 23rd of October 2023.

Effect of evidence-based nursing practices training programme on the competency of nurses caring for mechanically ventilated patients: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundEvidence-Based Practice (EBP) has been recognised worldwide as a standardised approach for enhancing the quality of healthcare and patient outcomes. Nurses play a significant role in integrating EBP, especially in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Consequently, this study aims to examine the effect of an adapted evidence-based nursing practices training programme on the competency level of nurses caring for mechanically ventilated patients.MethodsA prospective open-label parallel 1:1 randomised controlled trial was conducted on 80 nurses caring for ICU patients at the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Egypt. The trial was carried out between November 2022 and February 2023 under the registration number NCT05721664. The enrolled nurses were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received the evidence-based nursing practice training programme (EBNPTP) in accordance with the Johns Hopkins EBP conceptional model, whereas the control group received traditional in-service education. Four assessments (one pre- and three post-assessments) were conducted to evaluate nurses’ competency level over time using the adapted evidence-based nursing competency assessment checklist. The primary endpoint was an increase the competency levels among nurses caring for mechanically ventilated patients.ResultsThe current study results revealed statistically significant differences between intervention and control groups in relation to their level of competency across the three post-assessments, with (p <.001). The study also demonstrated that the nurses’ competency level continued to decline significantly over time, with (p <.001). Additionally, a significant correlation was found between the nurses’ pre-assessment and educational level, acting as independent variables (predictors), and the third endpoint assessment (p <.01), indicated by multiple linear regression.ConclusionThe EBP training programme demonstrated a significant increase in the nurses’ level of competency compared with traditional in-service education. This suggests that by training the nurses in various settings with the essential skills and knowledge for EBP, their competency level can be enhanced, leading to the delivery of effective care and improving patient outcomes. However, the long-term sustainability of the EBP adoptions was insufficient; further studies are needed to investigate the factors that affect the durability of EBP adoption.Trial registrationThe study was registered with Clinical Trials.gov (Registration # NCT05721664) on 10/02/2023.

TeamSTEPPS improves patient safety

BackgroundExamine how Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) can be used to manage patient safety and improve the standard of care for patients.MethodsIn order to...

Voice and Communication in Transmasculine Individuals One Year Under Testosterone Therapy: A Qualitative Study

Objectives/hypothesesThe purpose of this study was to investigate voice and communication difficulties in transmasculine individuals to develop evidence-based voice and communication training programs. Study designQualitative study. MethodsEight transmasculine individuals, who had received testosterone therapy (TT) for at least 1 year, were included in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by 2 experienced voice clinicians. The software program NVivo was used for transcribing and coding the interviews. Data were processed using a thematic analysis. ResultsThe thematic analysis resulted in the identification of five major themes. Most transmasculine individuals experienced a pitch decrease during the first year of TT and encountered voice-related problems, with a higher incidence during the initial period. Additionally, some participants experienced increased satisfaction with how others attributed their gender after 1 year of TT. However, others still experienced a discrepancy between external gender attribution, self-attribution, and their desired attribution by others. Many participants did not receive voice and communication training. In many cases, voice had a significant impact on their well-being and daily life. ConclusionsIt’s difficult to generalize the results of the current study, since the population of transmasculine individuals is heterogeneous in terms of their subjective gender positioning, desired gender attribution, gender attribution received from others, and gender-related aspects of their vocal situation. Some clients may express dissatisfaction with specific aspects of their voice and communication and may require professional support. Therefore, clinical practice for transmasculine individuals should adopt an individualized approach based on a comprehensive examination of the client's perspective.

가정에서의 긍정적 행동지원을 위한 강점기반 부모교육 프로그램 개발 및 효과 검증 연구

The purpose of this study is to develop, implement, evaluate a strength-based parent training program for positive behavior support for families. A total of nine parents of children with developmental disabilities aged between six and 12 participated in this study. The program consists of 10 sessions and incorporates the procedures of Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Families(PTR-F), along with practical exercises in positive psychotherapy and techniques from solution-focused counseling as components. By reviewing the delivery methods of evidence-based parent training programs for children with developmental disabilities developed in foreign countries, the program integrates both collective instructional sessions and personalized guidance; it also facilitates parental implementation via online coaching. To evaluate the impact of the program on parental efficacy in behavior support, the subjective well-being of parents, the positive perceptions of parenting children with disabilities of parents, as well as the adaptive behavior of children with developmental disabilities, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were utilized to measure changes from pre- to post-test for each dependent variable. The results of this study revealed statistically significant differences in all dependent variables both before and after implementing the program. Along with the discussion of the research results, significance and limitations of the study, as well as suggestions for future studies were presented.

The Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation in Junior Athletes.

Sports injuries have historically been addressed and treated from a purely physical perspective. Nevertheless, like in many other aspects of sports, it has become evident during the last decades that psychological considerations and consequent interventions are both vital and inevitable in the work with athletes, particularly in the work with junior athletes. Especially in the domains of sports injury prevention and rehabilitation, psychological measures can yield significant benefits for junior athletes. Stress management techniques, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, motor imagery, or seeking social support have been demonstrated as being highly effective. These techniques, many of them originally intended by sport psychologists to optimize performance, now aid junior athletes in performing at their best while also preventing injury and facilitating a safe return to competition after injury. During injury rehabilitation, sport psychological measures play an important role as well. The purpose of this review is firstly to provide an overview of the psychological factors that significantly support both injury prevention and rehabilitation. We subsequently elaborate on the identification and optimization of these factors by presenting evidence-based psychological interventions and training programs. In addition, we provide science-informed fundamentals that may serve as a basis for the adaptation and/or development of novel psychological measures to support junior athletes during injury prevention and rehabilitation.

A feasibility, randomised controlled trial of Club Connect: a group-based healthy brain ageing cognitive training program for older adults with major depression within an older people’s mental health service

BackgroundUsing the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework, we outline steps taken to implement an evidence-based cognitive training program, Club Connect, in older adults with major depressive disorder in an Older People’s Mental Health Service in Sydney, Australia. The primary aim was to explore feasibility (or ‘reach’), tolerability (or ‘implementation’), and acceptability (or ‘adoption’). The secondary aim was to explore the most sensitive clinical outcomes and measurement tools (i.e. ‘effectiveness’) to inform a formal randomised controlled trial, and to explore the healthcare resources used (i.e. costs) to assist decision-making by health care managers and policy-makers in relation to future resource allocation.MethodsUsing a single blinded feasibility design, 40 participants (mean age: 76.13 years, SD: 7.45, range: 65–95 years) were randomised to either (a) Club Connect, a 10-week group-based multifaceted program, comprising psychoeducation and computer-based cognitive training, or (b) a waitlist control group.ResultsImplementing group-based cognitive training within a clinical setting was feasible, well tolerated and accepted by participants. Further, cognitive training, in comparison to the waiting list control, was associated with moderate to very large effect size improvements in depression, stress and inhibition (ηp2 = 0.115–0.209). We also found moderate effect size improvements on measures of daily functioning, wellbeing and cognitive flexibility. Small effect size improvements for other cognitive and psychosocial outcomes were also observed. The average cost per person participating in in the intervention was AU$607.50.ConclusionsOur findings support the feasibility of implementing group-based cognitive training into a specialised clinical (public health) setting. This trial was registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12619000195156, 12/02/2019).

ChatGPT to generate clinical vignettes for teaching and multiple-choice questions for assessment: A randomized controlled experiment

Aim This study aimed to evaluate the real-life performance of clinical vignettes and multiple-choice questions generated by using ChatGPT. Methods This was a randomized controlled study in an evidence-based medicine training program. We randomly assigned seventy-four medical students to two groups. The ChatGPT group received ill-defined cases generated by ChatGPT, while the control group received human-written cases. At the end of the training, they evaluated the cases by rating 10 statements using a Likert scale. They also answered 15 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) generated by ChatGPT. The case evaluations of the two groups were compared. Some psychometric characteristics (item difficulty and point-biserial correlations) of the test were also reported. Results None of the scores in 10 statements regarding the cases showed a significant difference between the ChatGPT group and the control group (p > .05). In the test, only six MCQs had acceptable levels (higher than 0.30) of point-biserial correlation, and five items could be considered acceptable in classroom settings. Conclusions The results showed that the quality of the vignettes are comparable to those created by human authors, and some multiple-questions have acceptable psychometric characteristics. ChatGPT has potential in generating clinical vignettes for teaching and MCQs for assessment in medical education.

Is Task Analysis a Contributing Factor to Performance Analysis?

Abstract Introduction. With the evolution of sport, the level of athletes is increasing. To be able to win it is necessary to understand what factors influence performance in competition and training. Sports performance analysis has evolved in accordance with data collection in competition practice, with performance indicators related to actions connected to performance outcome. Material and Methods. We intend to verify the importance of task analysis in the performance analysis procedures. The review starts with task definition, then task analysis procedures and sports science application to finish with examples of performance analysis with task analysis. Results. Each task has one or more goals with actions to be carried out and with task, performer, and environment constraints that influence it. Task analysis is a methodology to have information about technique, productivity and safety that allows developing training programmes. Sports task analysis has a preparatory phase, a description (phase analysis), assessment, and an intervention. Performance analysis was based on biomechanical and notational analysis including performance indicators and afterwards reinforced with the ecological dynamics approach with an emphasis on the performer-environment relationship. Similarities between actions from different sports could be observed with performance analysis using task analysis (phase analysis with description of the segmental actions and mechanical principles). Conclusions. Performance task analysis could support evidence-based training programmes with a replication of key features and performance indicators in dry-land training tasks. Future research should identify task constraints and performance indicators with technological devices and make performance analysis more coach friendly.

National training and development curriculum training program impact on placement, permanency, and stability

BackgroundResource parent trainings are an important factor in caregiver readiness and retention, which can improve placement stability and permanency achievement for children and youth, especially those who are marginalized. ObjectiveResource parents need access to evidence-based training programs attentive to caring for children and youth from a variety of diverse backgrounds. This study evaluates placement, permanency, and stability outcomes of children whose resource parents were trained in one such program: the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC). Participants and settingParticipants include adults who completed a resource parent training program (N = 3822) and children in their care (N = 2565) in the U.S. states of Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Missouri. MethodsThis quasi-experimental study involved statistical testing of caregivers and children using AFCARS data. Propensity-score matching was used to control for differences in the child permanency analysis. ResultsWith a better understanding of the realities of fostering, NTDC participants were slightly less likely to foster after training (OR = 0.6; p < .001), self-selecting out before taking a child into the home. Those who did foster were more likely to foster a child who is a teen (OR = 1.4; p = .004), Asian/Asian American (OR = 3.8; p = .02), Black/African American (OR = 1.6; p < .001), or Hispanic/Latinx (OR = 1.7; p = .002). Children of NTDC caregivers entered legal adoptions (OR = 2.0; p = .003) and guardianships (OR = 2.9; p = .03) at higher rates than children of comparison caregivers, while rates of reunification (OR = 1.3; p = .11) were not statistically different. ConclusionsEvidence points to the effectiveness of NTDC in preparing resource parents to provide care for a diverse range of children by age, race, and ethnicity, and for those children to achieve permanency.

Outline and validation of a new dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation educational bundle using the Delphi method

AimDispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) is time-dependent. To date, evidence-based training programmes for dispatchers are lacking. This study aimed to reach expert consensus on an educational bundle content for dispatchers to provide DA-CPR using the Delphi method. MethodAn educational bundle was created by the Swedish Resuscitation Council consisting of three parts: e-learning on DA-CPR, basic life support training and audit of emergency out-of-hospital cardiac arrest calls. Thereafter, a two-round modified Delphi study was conducted between November 2022 and March 2023; 37 experts with broad clinical and/or scientific knowledge of DA-CPR were invited. In the first round, the experts participated in the e-learning module and answered a questionnaire with 13 closed and open questions, whereafter the e-learning part of the bundle was revised. In the second round, the revised e-learning part was evaluated using Likert scores (20 items). The predefined consensus level was set at 80%. ResultsDelphi rounds one and two were assessed by 20 and 18 of the invited experts, respectively. In round one, 18 experts (18 of 20, 90%) stated that they did not miss any content in the programme. In round two, the scale-level content validity index based on the average method (S-CVI/AVE, 0.99) and scale-level content validity index based on universal agreement (S-CVI/UA, 0.85) exceeded the threshold level of 80%. ConclusionExpert consensus on the educational bundle content was reached using the Delphi method. Further work is required to evaluate its effect in real-world out-of-hospital cardiac arrest calls.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Sports Injuries in 11,000 Japanese Collegiate Athletes.

To establish the 1-year prevalence of sports injuries and explore associations of various factors with a sports injury in Japanese collegiate athletes. The data were collected through a web-based survey of Japanese collegiate athletes associated with UNIVAS (Japan Association for University Athletics and Sport). The survey questions asked about athletes' personal characteristics, sports participation, and injuries sustained within the previous year. Follow-up questions on the details regarding the three most serious injuries were asked. Differences in proportions of athlete characteristics between males and females and between injured and uninjured were explored with the chi-square test. Factors associated with sustaining an injury were determined with regression analysis. The prevalence of injuries among Japanese collegiate athletes is high, and most of the sustained injuries require athletes to take a considerable time off training and competition indicating their severity. Athletes from year two and higher at the university, overweight or obese, training more often per week, and with longer sports experience were more likely to sustain an injury within the previous year. There is compelling evidence to suggest that excessive training and insufficient recovery may be contributing to their increased risk of injury. These findings underscore the importance of implementing evidence-based training programs and recovery strategies to mitigate injury risk and optimize performance outcomes among this population.

Effectiveness of Gatekeeper Training for Families of People With Mental Disorders in Korea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Given the high suicide risk among people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders and the significance of intervention in the daily life setting, tailored gatekeeper training is necessary for families of people with mental disorders. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a suicide prevention education program for families of people with mental disorders (SPEM-F), developed by the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Fifty-nine family members of people with mental disorders were recruited from eight community psychiatric rehabilitation centers in Korea and enrolled in a cluster randomized controlled trial. Four facilities were randomized to the experimental group (n=30) and four to the control group (n=29). The study parameters were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up; the effects of SPEM-F (90 minutes, conducted offline) were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. The dependent variables were suicide-related knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, preventive behavioral intention, and family problem-solving communication. The experimental group showed significant increases in suicide-related knowledge (p<0.001), self-efficacy (p<0.05), and preventive behavioral intention (p<0.01) compared with the control group until the 1-month follow-up, including an upward trend in improved family problem-solving communication (p=0.069). The results confirm that SPEM-F is an effective evidence-based gatekeeper training program for families of people with mental disorders, as it focuses on knowledge, self-efficacy, preventive behavioral intention, and communication improvement. As families of people with mental disorders including schizophrenia, are both highly motivated and close to people at high risk for suicide, SPEM-F can effectively promote suicide prevention and gatekeeper activities.

Design and implementation of AMBAR: an innovative evidence-based training program for childbirth and newborn care

Objective. To present the development of a training model called AMBAR (Atención a la mujer embarazada y al recién nacido [Care for pregnant women and newborns]), which was designed to improve the quality of attention of health personnel responsible for obstetric care. Materials and methods. AMBAR was designed based on the results of a qualitative study exploring public health providers’ needs and experiences. It was implemented in three health networks, and a total of 339 health personnel participated. Results. The educational design of the course was appealing to the trained personnel, and the inclusion of simulations in all modules encouraged interest, participation, as well as the integration of new knowledge and skills into practice. Conclusion. AMBAR can promote better practices and increase the quality of birth care. With the proper support and willingness of staff and management, AMBAR can be implemented in all health services, both public and private.

The European Respiratory Society led training programme improves self-reported competency and increases the use of thoracic ultrasound.

Thoracic ultrasound has become a well-implemented diagnostic tool for assessment and monitoring of patients with respiratory symptoms or disease. However, ultrasound examinations are user dependent and sufficient competencies are needed. The European Respiratory Society (ERS) hosts a structured and evidence-based training programme in thoracic ultrasound. This study aimed to explore and discuss the self-reported activity and self-reported competency of the participants during the ERS course. Online surveys were sent to the training programme participants before the second part of the course (practical part of the course), and before and 3 months after the third part of the course (final certification exam). A total of 77 participants completed the surveys. The self-reported frequency of thoracic ultrasound examinations increased during the course, and in the final survey more than 90% of the participants used thoracic ultrasound on weekly basis. The self-reported competency (on technical execution of the thoracic ultrasound examination and overall competency) also increased. The ERS thoracic ultrasound training programme forms the basis of broad theoretical knowledge and sufficient practical skills that seem to lead to behavioural changes, whereby a large proportion of the participants implemented ultrasound in their clinical practice.

Biomechanical Insights for Developing Evidence-Based Training Programs: Unveiling the Kinematic Secrets of the Overhead Forehand Smash in Badminton through Novice-Skilled Player Comparison

Badminton, a dynamic racquet sport demanding agility and power, features the overhead forehand smash as a pivotal offensive shot. Utilizing 3D motion analysis, this research delves into the intricate biomechanical facets underpinning this pivotal shot, with a dual focus on both novice and proficient players. Through a comparative analysis of these two player cohorts, the investigation aims to elucidate the fundamental factors influencing the quality of the forehand smash. Our findings reveal that skilled players exhibit significant improvements in smash quality, including a 60.2% increase in shuttlecock speed, reduced clearance height, and flight angle at release. These enhancements are associated with specific determinants, such as consistent positioning, racket angle at impact, and range of motion (ROM) in various joints. More crucially, full-body tension-arc formation and a four-segment whip-like smash contribute to these improvements. Unique to the whip-like smash is the rapid trunk and shoulder rotations in early whip-like control inducing passive elbow flexion and wrist over-extension, enhancing the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effect of muscles for a more powerful smash. Emphasizing this uniqueness and the determinants simplify smash learning, potentially boosting training effectiveness. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of badminton’s biomechanics and offers practical implications for coaches and players to enhance their forehand smashes, especially among beginners.