Work Experience Research Articles

International Project Management – Another Challenge for Librarians. How Well Prepared Are We for This? A Case Study of the TRAIN4EU Project

The European Universities Initiative (EUI) was established in 2017. Its aim is to strengthen strategic partnerships between higher education institutions across the EU by building networks of universities. At the end of 2023, there were already 50 European University Alliances gathering 430 higher education (HE) institutions. In each of these Alliances, academic libraries are members, too. These libraries are already involved in intra-alliance projects, and these alliances will probably happen more often due to the EU’s project-driven approach. This practice paper is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first attempt to describe another challenge that European academic libraries currently face i.e., project management practice. The alliance partner universities operate under distinct national laws and institutional practices, making it challenging to easily align them for effective cross-university collaborations. Familiarity with the theoretical principles of EU project management and project management methodology greatly facilitates the preparation of the proposal and the work of the project. It also allows more effective management of the project as a whole or its individual parts. This paper maps the challenges that work in international projects brings and provides suggestions on how EUI libraries can utilize project management techniques, while also aiming at showing the paths to facilitate cooperation. Drawing from an analysis of the literature on project management that might apply in library-led projects to strengthen communities of purpose, the paper is based on the example of the work experience on the project TRAIN4EU, that was co-led by the academic librarians from the University of Warsaw Library, Poland, and run by 4EU + universities. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations based on TRAIN4EU practices, lessons learned, as well as pitfalls to avoid.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Food Handlers from Greater Cairo, Egypt

Abstract Background Foodborne illnesses caused by intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the major health problems especially in developing countries. Food handlers play an important role in transmission of IPI during manufacturing, processing, handling, and serving of foodstuff. Objectives The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of IPIs among food handlers in Greater Cairo, Egypt and their associated risk factors. Methodology A cross sectional study was designed whereby 250 food handlers attending four provision health offices from different governorates of Greater Cairo were examined. The demographic data, job title and position, health certification as well as risk factors that might increase the transmission of IPIs were collected in a pre-designed questionnaire. Stool samples were collected from all participants and examined by direct wet/iodine mounts, formol diethyl acetate and modified Ziehl_Neelsen staining techniques. Results 65 food handlers (26%) were found to have IPIs. The commonest parasites detected were Entamoeba histolytica (24.6%), Entamoeba coli (20%), Blastocystis hominis (16.9%), Giardia intestinalis (12.3%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (10.8 %), Ascaris lumbricoides (7.7 %) and Schistosoma mansoni (3.1%). Higher, statistically significant (P < 0.001), prevalence of IPIs was found among food handlers from rural areas, having low educational levels, not having previous health certificates and among those working in popular restaurants and those having poor personal hand hygienic measures. While no differences in prevalence of IPIs was found regarding age, sex, and work experience duration. Conclusion It was concluded that implementation of governmental policies ensuring routine medical checkup and continuous professional training and education of food handlers are essential for prevention of IPIs among food handlers.

Providing sexual health care for international students in Australia: a qualitative study of a general practice team approach.

Background Provision of culturally responsive sexual health care for international students is important, given the large numbers of international students in Australia and known lower levels of health literacy among this cohort. Team-based care in general practice has the potential to provide this care. Methods A qualitative study that developed and evaluated a team-based model of care for female, Mandarin-speaking, international students in a university-based general practice. The model involved patients attending a consultation with a Mandarin-speaking nurse with advanced skills in sexual health who provided education and preventive health advice, followed by a consultation with a GP. Evaluation of the model explored patient and healthcare worker experiences using a survey and a focus group of patients, and interviews with healthcare workers. Data were analysed using a general inductive approach. Results The consultation model was evaluated with 12 patients and seven GPs. Five patients participated in a focus group following the consultation. Survey results showed high levels of patient satisfaction with the model. This was confirmed via the focus group findings. Healthcare workers found the model useful for providing sexual health care for this cohort of patients and were satisfied with the team approach to patient care. Conclusions A team-based approach to providing sexual health care for international students was satisfactory to patients, GPs and the practice nurse. The challenge is providing this type of model in Australian general practice under the current funding model.

NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES REGARDING PATIENT SAFETY AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED TO IT

Patient safety is a critical aspect of healthcare, and nurses' knowledge and attitudes play a vital role in ensuring safety standards are maintained. Understanding the factors influencing nurses' knowledge and attitudes can help develop strategies to improve patient safety. Objective: To assess nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding patient safety and identify factors influencing these aspects. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Nursing Department of a tertiary care hospital from May 2023 to May 2024. A total of 330 full-time nurses were included in the study. Data were collected using a pre-tested 53-item questionnaire available in both English and Urdu. The questionnaire comprised four sections: demographics (age, sex, qualification, and work experience), knowledge about patient safety, attitudes toward patient safety, and factors associated with knowledge and attitude. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors significantly associated with good knowledge and attitudes, with a p-value of <0.05 considered significant. Results: Regarding patient safety knowledge, 49% of nurses had good knowledge, with a mean score of 67.2%. The mean attitude score was 62.4%, and 57% (95% CI: 52.6-60) of participants demonstrated good attitudes towards patient safety. Factors significantly associated with good knowledge included age, qualification, work experience, and prior education and training about patient safety (p<0.05). Age and previous education and training about patient safety were significantly associated with good attitude (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed that while nurses exhibited moderate knowledge, their attitudes toward patient safety were generally favorable. More years of work experience, higher education, and training significantly contributed to better knowledge and attitudes. Implementing targeted educational and training programs can further enhance nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward patient safety.

Experiences of Individual Care Workers in Oral Care of Dementia Patients.

Objective: Dementia is one of the most common diseases in the elderly population. The aim of this study was to reveal the experiences of individual care workers performing oral care for dementia patients. The oral health of the elderly is in a critical state and in most cases not enough attention is paid to this problem. Material and methods: A qualitative research method was chosen for the research. The data collection instrument was a semi-structured interview, the purpose of which was to reveal the experience, knowledge, and attitude of individual care workers towards the importance of oral care and the oral hygiene habits of patients with dementia. The number of research informants was 10. The inclusion criteria were individual care workers working in social care institutions who were responsible for the personal care of dementia patients. Results: The analysis of the study showed that the main obstacles facing individual care workers in performing oral care for dementia patients are related to their cognitive disorders. For this reason, unreasonable fears of patients may arise, which also affect the proper performance of individual oral hygiene and other tasks assigned to employees. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that according the informants' opinions it is crucial to take care of dementia patients' oral care daily.

FACTORS AFFECTING WORK STRESS, SELF-EFFICACY, AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF BANKING OFFICERS IN KALMUNAI, AMPARA DISTRICT

Employee performance is significantly impacted by job stress and self-efficacy which has numerous practical and financial consequences. Self-efficacy is related to job performance, burnout, stress, and role adjustment. Self-efficacy may be regarded as a factor favorably influencing staff morale and, consequently productivity. One of the industries with the most stressful workplaces is the banking sector. Hence, this study aims to investigate how work stress and self-efficacy affect bank workers' performance. Data collection was done using thirty four banking employers in Kalmunai in the Ampara district using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and non-parametric statistical analysis were used for the data analysis. According to the findings of this research, it can be observed that there is a positive correlation between self-efficacy and job performance and a negative correlation between work stress and job performance of employees. Hence, it can be concluded that self-efficacy has a direct impact on the improvement of job performance in any kind of profession while job stress inhibits job performance. Civil status, work experience, salary level, and number of dependents of bank employees have a high association with work stress and self-efficacy.

Healthcare Providers' and Frontline Workers' Experiences of an Ebola Vaccine Trial in the Boende Health District of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This study explored the experiences of healthcare providers (HCPs) and frontline workers who were involved in an Ebola vaccine trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The researchers interviewed a total of 99 participants (HCPs and frontline workers) living and working in the Boende health district during the period of the study, from February to March 2022. These individuals included a mix of trial participants and non-trial participants (staff of the trial, local health authorities, and head nurses of health centers). In-depth individual interviews, as well as focus group discussions (FGDs), were used to understand interviewees' experiences and perceptions. The data were analyzed to identify the main themes. The findings unveiled a multitude of positive experiences among interviewees/FGD participants. The commitment of the trial investigators to improve the study site and to equip the volunteers with necessary skills and knowledge greatly contributed to a positive trial experience. However, some interviewees felt that the reimbursement for time and travel expenses during their trial visits was insufficient in comparison with their expectations. Additionally, there were expressions of worry about the frequency of blood draws during scheduled trial visits. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of addressing and continuously considering the perspectives and concerns of trial participants before designing and implementing vaccine trials. By actively incorporating their inputs, researchers can mitigate concerns and tailor communication strategies, potentially enhancing the overall success and impact of the vaccine trial.

"I feel like I'm changing people's lives, even if it's just two hours at a time": Understanding contingent instructors' emotion management in university teaching.

This article extends existing scholarship on contingent or temporary-contract university instructors' emotional agency by employing the Bolton's emotion management and Cottingham's emotional capital typologies in tandem. In interviews with 40 instructors from universities across Canada, participants described acquiring both primary and secondary emotional capital as an embodied psychosocial resource through past education, upbringing and culture, and knowledge and skills from previous work and training experiences respectively. They then deployed this capital through emotion management based in both social and organizational feeling rules in their capacity as professors. This allowed instructors to reinforce their own sense of purpose, authority and competence as instructors, and to establish fulfilling relationships with students through teaching and mentoring which they infused with personal meaning. However, instructors' agency was also curtailed to varying degrees, by both institutional attitudes around academic contingency and sexist, and in some cases, racist or otherwise patronizing attitudes from students. Despite this, instructors were often able to reaffirm their identities as instructors by using emotion management in self-affirming ways, such as by drawing on self-confidence gained through previous occupations and training, and facilitating cultural backgrounds shared with students through emotional management.

Knowledge of the Nursing Team about Urinary Incontinence and Fecal Incontinence in Institutionalized Elderly

The increase in life expectancy and the decrease in fertility rates represent the new demographic sense in Brazil and in the world. The main consequence of population aging is mainly the new challenges in the treatment of pathologies resulting from advancing age and how to treat our new elderly. Among the existing geriatric diseases, the occurrence of Urinary Incontinence (UI) and Fecal Incontinence (FI) is common, representing a challenge to health professionals, especially nursing. Given this scenario, how prepared is the nursing team to face these pathologies? Objective: To analyze the knowledge of nurses in the identification of Urinary and Fecal Incontinence in institutionalized elderly people. Method: this is a cross-sectional and descriptive research, with quantitative analysis. It was carried out in a Long-Term Care Institution for the Elderly with nurses, who agreed to participate in the research. Data collection took place in the first week of September 2023, on alternating days and shifts to include all employees of the institution. The data were organized in tables and imported into an Excel file for analysis by the researchers. Results: The sociodemographic results showed that most of the team was composed of nurses with more than 5 years of training, more than 10 years of work experience, and the vast majority did not have postgraduate, master's or doctoral degrees. The specific results showed that most nurses recognize FI and IA, but do not recognize the role of nurses in intervening in the pathological process, considering it as normal due to advancing age. Conclusion : Nurses are involved daily in daily practices aimed at institutionalized elderly people, making it important to have a qualified stomatherapist who can assist in conducting FI and IU. In addition, the need for research to strengthen this theme is highlighted.

Analisis SWOT sebagai Strategi dalam Peningkatan Kinerja Pegawai Pemerintahan

This research aims to formulate strategies that must be implemented for performance development by analyzing the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats through analysis on the Government. This research is qualitative descriptive research with a SWOT analysis method that aims to improve the performance of Government employees. Data collection is carried out through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis is carried out qualitatively consisting of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Based on the results and discussions that have been carried out previously, the author concludes that: the strategy used to improve employee performance is the SO (Strengths–Opportunities) strategy, actions that can be taken in the strengths strategy by increasing competence, extensive work experience and high competence. Meanwhile, the opportunities strategy is with the development of new technology that can improve work efficiency and reduce costs, the availability of quality human resources that can strengthen the work team.

What employers really want: a deep dive into résumés and holistic competencies

PurposeThis research aims to understand employers' views and preferences on the assessment of holistic competencies (HCs) in graduates, a topic with existing gaps in literature. With the disparities between higher education practices and employer expectations concerning HC assessment, the study focuses on what employers wish to see in graduates' resumes. As resumes play a pivotal role in recruitment, influencing who gets shortlisted, this research seeks to discern how graduates can optimally make a good first impression. In essence, the study endeavours to enhance knowledge on employers' inferences about a candidate’s HCs and employability skills based on resume content.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive 12-item survey was devised to collect employers' perceptions and expectations of holistic competencies (HCs) assessment. The survey was informed by a synthesis of discussions with employers, teachers and a critical review paper. It aimed to understand employers' HC assessment expectations and bridge the teachers' understanding gap of students' HC achievements. Questions included demographic data, and specifics about employers' perceptions of graduates’ resumes. The survey was hosted on Qualtrics and disseminated via the authors' networks, social media and university departments in Hong Kong, with responses gathered from April to June 2021.FindingsThis study reveals that employers value holistic competencies (HCs), especially those developed through work placements and extracurricular activities, as indicators of job readiness in graduates. It is imperative for students to highlight these competencies in their resumes, potentially also demonstrating them through digital portfolios. The research underscores the need for higher education institutions to systematically document and report students' HC attainments. They can support students by informing them about employer expectations, offering writing workshops and resume samples. Integrating experience-based opportunities into the curriculum can also enhance HC development, preparing students for job market competitiveness and readiness.Research limitations/implicationsThe research limitations include the lack of a widely accepted, standardized method to document and evidence students' holistic competencies (HCs). The implications, however, stress the necessity for students to effectively communicate their HCs to employers, requiring awareness of expectations and adaptability to evolving technologies. Educators and higher education institutions must provide resources and opportunities to students to develop, demonstrate and document these HCs. In the absence of a standardised method for HC reporting, alternative solutions like e-portfolios and platforms like YOCLE can help students gather feedback and present evidence of competencies to prospective employers.Practical implicationsThe study’s practical implications revolve around enhancing job readiness in graduates. Universities need to bolster their support, helping students understand employer expectations, offering writing workshops, resume templates and resources. Incorporation of platforms like YOCLE can help gather and retain evaluations, while promoting internships and extracurricular activities enhances HC development. Graduates must include work experiences, HC achievements and extracurricular activities in their resumes, even exploring digital portfolios for broader evidence presentation. They should also prepare for digital interactions like Zoom calls or video resumes, adapting to the technological advancements propelled by recent global disruptions.Originality/valueThis research provides original insights into employer preferences regarding job candidates' holistic competencies (HCs) in resumes, an area not deeply explored in past literature. Focusing on how resumes can best demonstrate HC attainments, it offers practical guidance for higher education institutions preparing students for the job market. Although the study’s scope is limited by geographical and industry-specific sampling, it provides a foundational understanding of employers' recruitment expectations influenced by resumes. Its value lies in its potential to spur further research into varying contexts and industries, leading to broader implications for graduate employability and resume building practices worldwide.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses regarding airway clearance in neurocritical illness patients: A cross-sectional study.

We aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding airway clearance among nurses and explore the factors affecting the knowledge, attitudes and practices. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Airway clearance is an important method of eliminating excess secretions. In neuroscience nursing, nurses are important executors of airway management, and their knowledge, attitudes and practices can influence the effectiveness of airway clearance. This study was conducted from July to September 2023 in four hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China. A structured questionnaire about airway clearance was designed and used to collect the data. The nurses used this questionnaire to self-rate. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed. The age, work experience, highest educational attainment and technical title of the nurses can significantly influence their knowledge. The age, highest educational attainment and technical title of the nurses can significantly impact their attitudes. Practice scores were significantly influenced by age, work experience, technical title, whether the nurses had received any training on airway clearance techniques, and whether the department developed procedures for implementing the airway clearance technology. Nurses' attitudes were significantly associated with knowledge and practice, and there was no significant correlation between knowledge and practice. This study showed that age, work experience, highest educational attainment and training were related to knowledge, attitudes and practices. These findings suggest that nursing managers can conduct airway clearance training according to age group, working experience and education level of the nurses. No patient or public contribution. The findings show that the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices related to airway clearance in neuroscience nursing among nurses were acceptable, which means that nurses can better perform airway management on patients. These findings serve as a significant reference for designing an airway clearance education for nurses and meet the needs of nurses in clinical nursing practice.

School Administrators’ Perspectives on and Support for Physical Education

Purpose: The socialization literature has identified the importance of school administrator support in physical education teachers’ work experiences. The purpose of this study was to understand how principals’ own socialization influences their perspectives on and support for physical education. Methods: Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 29 school principals (14 males and 15 females) and 15 physical educators (11 males and four females) matched at the schools from which principals were recruited. Results: Qualitative data analysis resulted in four intersecting themes: (a) Administrators’ prior socialization and subjective theories frame support for physical education; (b) supportive principals are visible, engage with their teachers, and hold them accountable; (c) stress is exacerbated when principals and physical educators’ values and beliefs differ; and (d) school and policy constraints influence administrators’ vision and support for physical education. Discussion and Conclusion: Educational leadership programs should consider preparing principals to support the work of physical education teachers.

Underrecognition of migraine-related stigmatizing attitudes and social burden: Results of the OVERCOME Japan study.

Migraine-related stigma (MiRS) and social burden is increasingly recognized. We assessed perspectives and attitudes toward migraine in people with and without migraine in Japan. OVERCOME (Japan) was a cross-sectional, population-based web survey of people with and without migraine (July-September 2020). People with migraine were individuals who met the modified International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria or had self-reported physician-diagnosed migraine. People without migraine were selected per quota sampling to represent the Japanese adult population. People with migraine reported their experiences on stigma and social burden and answered how frequently they experienced stigma using the MiRS questionnaire. Associations between MiRS and disability and MiRS and interictal burden were examined using the migraine disability assessment and Migraine Interictal Burden Scale-4. People without migraine reported their experiences and attitudes toward people with migraine by answering an 11-item attitudinal migraine questionnaire. A total of 17,071 and 2008 people with and without migraine, respectively, completed the survey. Overall, 11,228 (65.8%) respondents with migraine reported that they have never experienced stigma or burden; however, of the 12,383 employed respondents, 5841 (47.2%) reported that their current employers are not "extremely" or "very" understanding about their conditions. Moreover, ∼30%-40% of respondents "sometimes," "often," or "very often" hid their migraine from others. The proportion of respondents who experienced stigma often or very often, as assessed by MiRS, was 16.5%; this increased with the increasing number of monthly migraine headache days. The proportion of respondents with moderate-to-severe disability and interictal burden increased with increasing stigma. Among respondents without migraine, the proportion holding a stigmatizing attitude toward those with migraine was low (<15%); ∼80% had never experienced work- or family-related stigma or burden. MiRS and burden exist but may be hidden and underrecognized in Japan. Disease awareness and education may be important to prevent and reduce stigma and burden.

Comparison of global nursing education and necessary supports for nurse educators between Japan and four English-speaking countries: An international cross-sectional study

AimThis study aimed to compare characteristics of nurse educators, factors related to teaching global nursing, contents of global education and support and the level of burden of global education and factors related to the burden between nurse educators among top nursing universities in Japan and four English-speaking countries. BackgroundIntercultural sensitivity is the active desire to motivate oneself to understand, appreciate and accept different cultures. Nurse educators need to be culturally sensitive to teach cultural care to nursing students. DesignThis is a cross-sectional exploratory international comparative study using an online survey. MethodsParticipants were nurse educators with a nurse lisence in the top 20 in Japan and the top 10 universitiesin the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia (hereafter “English-speaking countries”), respectively. The questions in Google form selected participants by the inclusion criteria. Intercultural sensitivity was measured by the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used for the analyses. Data were collected from October 2023 to January 2024. ResultsA total of 144 in Japan (response rate=29.0%) and 106 educators in English-speaking countries (response rate=2.4%) were included in the analysis. Nurse educators in Japan had less work experience in foreign countries, had fewer opportunities to take part in cross-cultural interactions and had significantly lower intercultural sensitivity. In both groups, those who had more experience in foreign countries with higher intercultural sensitivity taught global nursing. While in Japan nurse educators who had higher proficiency in non-native languages and those who had more frequently taken part in cross-cultural interactions taught global nursing, in English-speaking countries full-time workers who had attended international academic conferences taught. In Japan, global nursing was a more optional course and the number of contents taught was lower. While participants in Japan had international seminars at universities as support for global nursing education, those in English-speaking countries had faculty members with different cultural backgrounds. Participants in Japan felt more burden for global nursing education. In Japan, more proficient non-native language, more frequent cross-cultural interaction and higher intercultural sensitivities were associated with a lower burden, while teaching other than in their native language, contents taught and performance evaluation were associated with a higher burden in English-speaking countries. ConclusionsHigher intercultural sensitivity, performance evaluation and proficiency in non-native language may be important for nurse educators to teach global nursing and support is necessary to enhance them.

Psychological detachment from work during nonwork time as a moderator and mediator of the relationship of workload with fatigue and sleep in hospital nurses

ObjectivesTo examine differences in psychological detachment from work during nonwork time by nurses’ personal and work-related characteristics, and to examine the moderating and mediating effects of psychological detachment on the relationships between nursing workload and fatigue and sleep. MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design with a self-administered online survey. Survey data from 827 hospital nurses providing direct patient care in the United States were used. Moderating and mediating effects of psychological detachment between workload and fatigue/sleep relationships were assessed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro in SPSS. ResultsThere were significant differences in psychological detachment from work based on age, highest nursing degree, work experience, shift length, weekly work hours, and frequency of providing care to patients with COVID-19. The associations of workload with physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and sleep quality were weakened when psychological detachment was high. Psychological detachment statistically mediated the associations between workload and fatigue and sleep problems. ConclusionHealthcare organizations are encouraged to facilitate nurses’ psychological detachment during time-off to protect them from fatigue and sleep problems.

Patient considerations for orthodontists: A comparative study of university students in Malaysia and Taiwan

Background/purposePatients' considerations when choosing an orthodontist are influenced by many factors, including background, ethnicity, and location. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify factors influencing patients’ considerations when selecting an orthodontist in both Malaysia and Taiwan. Materials and methodsIn total, 248 dental students from Taipei Medical University and 110 dental students from Manipal University College Malaysia were selected for this study. Participants' considerations when selecting an orthodontist were assessed using a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire collected data regarding participants’ demographic characteristics and their preferences regarding clinical settings, orthodontist attributes, administrative systems, and the influence of social media. The gathered data were analyzed and compared using independent t-test, ANOVA, and chi-squared for both cohorts. ResultsThe present results revealed significant differences between the Malaysian and Taiwanese participants with several variables, including orthodontist experience, recommendations, pain-free treatment procedures, treatment duration, friendly reception, sources of information about orthodontists, and preferred social media platforms. Notably, among the Taiwanese participants, “person responsible for treatment costs,” was significantly correlated with the orthodontist's age, the orthodontist's work experience, information sources, travel distance, and content posted by orthodontists on social media. By contrast, among the Malaysian participants, this variable was correlated with the work experience of orthodontists. ConclusionSignificant differences were observed between the Malaysian and Taiwanese participants in terms of their considerations when choosing an orthodontist. Participant's gender significantly influenced orthodontist preferences among the Malaysian participants, whereas the individual responsible for treatment costs was identified to be the most crucial factor influencing the Taiwanese participants.

Quality of ultrasound images by midwives implementing ultrasound scanning services during antenatal clinics within selected healthcare facilities of Zambia

BackgroundLimited access to ultrasound services in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) prompts the development of an intensive training program for midwives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of ultrasound images produced by midwives and assess their competency in gestational age assessment using femur length. MethodsA cross-sectional study conducted in 11 healthcare facilities across four districts in Zambia involved the evaluation of 928 images captured during the implementation of the Training in Ultrasound to Determine Gestational Age (TUDA) program in 2021. TUDA, collaboration under the DIPLOMATIC Study, trained 24 midwives intensively for 14 days, followed by eight weeks of supervised scanning. Image assessment utilized the Sarries four-point tool, and statistical analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics. ResultsMidwives achieved an 87.95 % competency level in basic ultrasound scans for gestational age determination using femur length. Assessment by four evaluators showed an average proportion of good-quality images also at 87.95 %. There were no statistically significant differences among assessors, indicating consistency in evaluations. Trainers and radiographers exhibited different average proportions of good-quality images at 91.5 % and 83.9 %, respectively, with no statistically significant differences observed between them.Furthermore, analysis of image quality revealed significant variation among different facilities. Specifically, in Chipata, 24.32 % of scans were classified as poor quality, while in George Clinic, only 2.30 % were considered poor quality. A Chi-square test indicated a substantial correlation between health facility and image quality (χ2 = 15.99, p = 0.025). However, no significant correlations were found between image quality and factors such as work experience, age group, or gender. ConclusionThis study provides critical evidence for successfully training midwives to competent produce high-quality ultrasound images for determining gestational age. These findings are essential for guiding interventions aimed at enhancing ultrasound service delivery and ensuring consistent, high-quality healthcare outcomes, because this is critical for effective prenatal care in Zambia. This has high potential to improve prenatal care. RecommendationZambia needs to train more midwives to provide routine ultrasound services during Antenatal Care (ANC) which may ultimately reduce preterm and still births. We recommend the inclusion of ultrasound scanning in-service and pre-service training and establishment of standardized protocols and guidelines for ultrasound scanning services during antenatal clinics.

Trends of Rising Research Production Among Otolaryngology Residency Applicants.

As competitiveness to obtain a residency position in the field of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Oto-HNS) has continued to rise, applicants have endeavored to set themselves apart. One increasingly popular strategy is maximizing research output. Over the past 6 years, applicant metrics such as board scores and volunteer and work experiences have risen incrementally, while research production has more than doubled, from 8.4 mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications in 2016 to 17.2 in 2022. This coincides with the exponential surge of new research fellowships among Oto-HNS departments over a similar period, which is now up to at least 68 advertised positions. With a significant difference between the research production of matched and unmatched applicants, programs may be signaling a positive bias towards research-heavy applicants. Whether this is intended and/or preferable should be examined more closely.

Outlook on the future role of robots and AI in material recovery facilities: Implications for U.S. recycling and the workforce

This study offers a comprehensive discussion of the future role of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. recycling under different policy environments and its impact on the workforce. The state of recycling in the U.S. is changing rapidly, with techno-economic developments transforming the efficacy and sustainability of recycling and the workforce it employs. This study describes the technical, social, and policy drivers that influence U.S. municipal solid waste (MSW) management and explores pathways for more sustainable outcomes by focusing on different technology options for the sorting of recyclables in material recovery facilities (MRFs). This study presents four distinct scenario storylines for U.S. recycling by 2050 that contrast recycling and robotic futures, particularly with MRFs that maximize material recovery, worker experience, and economic competitiveness, respectively. This study finds that a recycling scenario defined by strong policy support for recycling and the addition of increasingly flexible, collaborative technology in the form of robotics coupled with AI-driven vision systems, offers the greatest potential for better results. Less certain is the role of MRFs by 2050 based on the full cost for public actors and substantial changes in private industry. Insights from this study can directly inform future techno-economic analyses, technology decisions, and policy recommendations.