Frequency Of Training Sessions Research Articles

Examining biomedical waste management knowledge and training level among health care professionals in Saudi Arabia

The rapid development of medical care innovations and the use of newer technologies have resulted in a significant rise in the quantity of waste produced per patient within health care facilities. Biomedical waste in particular has emerged as a pressing concern due to its inherent propensity to pose health hazards and cause environmental harm. The World Health Organization has identified a lack of knowledge and training as primary factors contributing to the failure of Biomedical waste management (BMWM). Thus, our study sought to examine the relationship between BMWM level of knowledge and prior training among health care professionals (HCPs) in 4 different regions in Saudi Arabia. Our study used a cross-sectional design to investigate the BMWM level of knowledge and prior training among HCPs in 4 different regions in Saudi Arabia. Multiple linear and logistic regression was used to assess if Biomedical waste management (MBWM) knowledge and prior tanning are significantly associated with the demographics and professional characteristics of HCPs. 501 HCPs participated in the study. More than half were male, the majority fell within the age range of 24 to 36 years and held a bachelor's degree. The level of BMWM knowledge among HCPs was moderate (M=31.14, SD=4.89) and positively associated with HCPs' prior training in BMWM, workplace environment, and overall experience in the field. Only 26% of the HCPs had received prior BMWM training, and it varied considerably by sex, geographic location, and professional experience. Our study demonstrates a moderate knowledge and lack of training in BMWM among HCPs in Saudi Arabia. Thus, we recommend a national strategy for incorporating infection prevention and control methods associated with BMWM into all health care programs. Furthermore, it is imperative for health officials to enact prompt and efficient surveillance measures, as well as conduct frequent training sessions for HCPs and support personnel.

Factors contributing towards effective maritime simulator training: a systematic literature review

ABSTRACT Training is essential in every industry, and the maritime industry is no exception. Effective training plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. The current study is a systematic literature review examining the factors contributing to effective maritime simulator training. The study identifies key factors that influence the success of simulator training programs, including the quality of training materials, the competency of trainers, the use of realistic scenarios, and the frequency of training sessions. Other important factors include the use of feedback mechanisms, the integration of new technologies, and the inclusion of human factors in the training curriculum. Considering all these factors, the study highlights the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to maritime simulator training. It also suggests that using advanced simulation technologies, such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, can enhance the effectiveness of simulator training programs. Overall, this systematic literature review provides valuable insights into the factors contributing to effective maritime simulator training and offers recommendations for improving the design and implementation of such programs.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Exercise Interventions for Psychotic Disorders: The Impact of Exercise Intensity, Mindfulness Components, and Other Moderators on Symptoms, Functioning, and Cardiometabolic Health.

Exercise therapy has been shown to be an effective complementary treatment for patients with psychotic disorders. However, the specific impacts of different training modalities remain poorly understood. This article aims to quantitatively review the moderating influence of different exercise modalities, hypothesizing that higher exercise intensity as well as utilization of mindfulness-based exercise (MBE) components, will improve intervention outcomes. PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched from 2010 to March 2022 for randomized controlled trials investigating exercise interventions in patients with psychotic disorders (preregistration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/J8QNS). Outcomes considered were positive/negative symptoms, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) General Psychopathology/Total scores, depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body mass index. Separate meta-analyses, including moderator analyses, were performed to evaluate the moderating influence of different training modalities. Of 6653 studies, 40 (n = 2111 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The effects of moderate-intensity exercise exceed low-intensity approaches for PANSS Total scores (P = .02) and depressive symptoms (P = .04). The presence of MBE components was associated with improvements in positive symptoms (P = .04) and PANSS General Psychopathology subscores (P = .04) but also with higher error and between-study heterogeneity. Our analysis also shows improved intervention effects on depression in younger patients (P = .012) and improved psychosocial functioning scores following more frequent sessions (P < .01). A minimum of moderate intensity should be considered. More frequent training sessions per week also seem to be beneficial. While adding mindfulness elements is promising, it increases heterogeneity and requires caution in terms of generalization.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN ACROBATIC GYMNASTICS: HOW IMPORTANT IS THE ATHLETIC PROFILE?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is considered to be an important parameter in the world of sports, as it affects the athletic performance and wellbeing of athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine EI in athletes of Acrobatic gymnastics (ACROGYM). Furthermore, potential differences in EI that may be associated with athletic profile (age, years of participation in ACROGYM, number of competitions, competition category) were investigated. In total, 95 acrobatic gymnasts, 9-18 years old (15.92 ± 3.17 years) participated voluntarily. The athletes’ EI was assessed with the Emotional Quotient Inventory-Youth Version (EQ-i: YV), culturally adapted for the Greek population. According to the results, the ACROGYM athletes presented high levels of EI. However, the correlation analyses revealed that the association between the athletes’ profile and scores on EI scales was not statistically significant (p &gt;.05). The t-tests and the MANOVAs applied showed no statistically significant differences in the EI subscales associated with gymnasts’ (a) participation in national competitions (p &gt; .05); (b) frequency of training sessions per week (p &gt; .05); (c) (not) being a member of a duet or a trio (p &gt; .05); (d) position in the group (base, middle, top). It can be concluded that Greek acrobatic gymnasts present high levels of EI regardless of their age, their sport's experience or their level of performance. Moreover, neither their participation in a group nor their role in it seem to differentiate the dimensions of EI. Nevertheless, further research is needed in order to shed more light into EI in gymnastics.

Effectiveness of cloud-based rehabilitation in children with developmental language disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we considered the case of a child with developmental language disorder (DLD) who could not go to the hospital on time to receive timely rehabilitation treatment due to disrupted hospital operations. The application of cloud-based rehabilitation platforms has provided significant advantages and convenience for children with DLD in-home remote rehabilitation. Among them, the JingYun Rehab Cloud Platform is the most widely used in mainland China. It is an interactive telerehabilitation system developed by Weixin Huang that delivers personalized home rehabilitation for special education children. In this study, we used the JingYun Rehab Cloud Platform to investigate the extent to which cloud-based rehabilitation is effective for children with DLD in terms of language and cognitive outcomes. This was a prospective cohort study including all children who were evaluated and diagnosed with DLD through Sign-Significant Relations and were followed up at the rehabilitation clinic of our institute. We followed 162 children with DLD for 3 months, including 84 children with DLD who participated in remote cloud-based rehabilitation on the JingYun Rehab Cloud Platform and 78 children with DLD as the control group who underwent home-based rehabilitation. Language abilities of both groups were assessed using the Chinese version of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised. Several measures of training performance (language, memory, and cognition tasks) were assessed before and after cloud-based rehabilitation in the remote cloud-based rehabilitation group. Children with DLD in the cloud-based rehabilitation group performed significantly better in language abilities, as assessed by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised, than children with DLD in the control group. Furthermore, for children who participated in remote cloud-based rehabilitation, the frequency of training sessions was proportional to their performance on language, memory, and cognition tasks. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of cloud-based rehabilitation on the JingYun Rehab Cloud Platform in treating children with DLD.

An investigation into the effectiveness of various professionals and behavior modification programs, with or without medication, for the treatment of canine fears

In this follow up study, we investigate a subset of 1,308 dogs whose owners (n = 1,048) described as having at least one form of fearful/anxious behavior. Using a self-reported questionnaire, owners were also asked to indicate the resolutions employed, including training methods and equipment, behavior modification programs, behavior modification and training techniques, medications, and forms of alternative medicine. Owners sought professional help for 50% of the fearful or anxious dogs. Nearly a quarter of the dogs were brought to a veterinarian for help; 15% of which were diagnosed with a medical condition contributing to the dog's misbehavior. Overall, reward-based training, mental stimulation, and habituation were associated with increased odds of improvement. For the specific fear/anxiety-based problems, various consultants and techniques or treatments were found beneficial. Inanimate fears benefited from the use of benzodiazepines, herbal remedies, and dietary changes. Animate fears had increased odds of improvement if the dog was brought to a behavior consultant, use of a relaxation protocol, and systematic desensitization. Situational fears benefitted from mental stimulation, a relaxation protocol, and short, frequent training sessions. Generalized anxiety had increased odds of improvement with nutraceutical therapy and enrollment in dog sporting activities. Negative odds of improvement were found if the dog had pre-existing aggression in conditions involving inanimate fears, situational anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Neutering (male or female) reduced odds of improvement for animate fears, as did consultation with a veterinarian or non-veterinary behaviorist and the use of benzodiazepines. Changes in management had a negative effect on treatment of situational fear/anxiety. Consulting a trainer and hormone therapy reduced odds of improvement with generalized anxiety disorder. Paradoxically, odds of improvement for post-traumatic stress disorder were reduced when increasing a dog's exercise level was employed in treatment.

Impacts of teacher trainings to modify teachers’ attitude towards corporal punishment

The tool traditionally used by school teachers for learning and disciplining the students is corporal punishment. The said research was designed to identify the primary school teacher’s attitude towards corporal punishment and then search out the most effective way for implementing strategies for modification of teachers’ attitudes towards corporal punishment. This was a multi-stage study. At first phase, survey was conducted to identify the teachers having highly positive attitude towards corporal punishment. In the first phase, a four-point Likert scale containing 21 positive and negative statements towards corporal punishment was used to check the attitude towards corporal punishment. The targeted population of the study was all the government boys primary school teachers (785) in Tehsil Kot Chutta, District Dera Ghazi Khan. A total of 260 teachers were selected for the study sample. Then 140 primary school teachers having the most positive attitude towards corporal punishment were selected and equally divided into two groups and then each group was equally sub-divided in control and treatment groups. Combination of attitude modification strategies by two different modes (face-to-face workshop and virtual/online treatment) were applied to treatment groups. t-test was applied to measure statistically significant difference between control group and experimental group. The study results show that most of the teachers were inclined towards corporal punishment. Teachers’ attitudes could be reduced by some strategies like face-to-face workshops for teachers and online training for teachers to modify of positive attitude of teachers toward corporal punishment. Scholars tested strategies by two different modes and found both were decent, but the face-to-face training strategy was more effective than online workshops. It is recommended that frequent training sessions may be conducted to change teachers’ attitude towards corporal punishment on regular bases.

Prevalence of COVID19 infection in health care workers in first wave of pandemic and role of hospital infection control committee in subsequent waves of pandemic

: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new emerging infectious disease, first identified in China in December 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). : To study and analyze the prevalence, demographic characteristics of healthcare workers (HCWs) who tested positive for COVID-19 in a dedicated Covid hospital in Mumbai.This was a retrospective observational study of HCWs with COVID-19 in a dedicated Covid Hospital, Mumbai from April to October 2020.HCW tested positive for COVID-19 was 55 from April to October 2020.The percentage of infected hospital staff was 9.8%. Most of the infected HCWs were in the age group of 51 to 60. Mean age was 42 years. Mortality was 0.1%. Majority HCWs (70.9%) acquired infection from community; 20% acquired from the hospital and 9.1% acquired infection from infected coworkers. Majority of the affected HCWs were nurses followed by doctors. Comorbidities were reported in 23.6% of infected HCWs. 5.4% of infected HCWs received infection because of aerosol generated procedures. 58.1% of HCWs got infection despite receiving prophylaxis like HCQ, Arsenicumalbicum.HCWs are at an increased risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. Preparedness of HICC (Hospital Infection Control Committee), frequent training sessions and mock drills are of paramount importance in preventing spread of infectious disease. Coordination between Hospital Administrators, Public Health Officials of national and international organizations, Engineering Department, Occupational Health and Safety staff is essential in combating pandemic.

Knowledge and Practice of Health-care Workers regarding Hand Hygiene during Third Wave of COVID-19

Background: Iatrogenic and nosocomial infections are a serious threat to a healthcare setting especially during a pandemic. Hand hygiene among the health-care workers stands out to be a pivotal preventive measure. Practical application of hand hygiene measures during third wave of COVID-19 pandemic primarily depend upon the current knowledge among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study design based on validated WHO questionnaire for hand hygiene among the health care workers was conducted during March till May2021 in the settings of Shalamar and Central Park hospital and medical colleges. Results: The sample consisted of 271 participants with 110 males and 161 females, with the mean age of 24.72+ 4.174 years. The sample consisted of 36.2% of medical students, 49.1% of doctors and 14.8% of paramedical staff. Nearly 50.6% of the individuals claim to receive formal training. 47.6% believe that “Health-care workers’ hands when not clean” are the main route of cross-transmission. Nearly 57.2% believed that the hospital environment (surfaces)the most frequent source of germs. Comparison of hand-rubbing and washing revealed that major percentage believe hand rub to be rapid however less effective causing dryness. A majority believe that hand hygiene before touching the patient, immediately after exposure to body fluids or immediate surroundings of patients prevents transmission of germs to the patient and vice versa afterwards prevents transmission to HCW. Conclusion: A large proportion of the sample has considerable knowledge regarding essential hand hygiene in a health care setting. However more frequent training sessions should be conducted to improve it further. Key words: Hand hygiene, Health-care workers, Knowledge

An investigation into the effectiveness of various professionals and behavior modification programs, with or without medication, for the treatment of canine aggression

In this follow up study, we investigate a subset of 963 dogs whose owners (n = 800) described as having at least one form of aggressive behavior. We were particularly interested in learning which types of professionals, if any, were sought for assistance for the presenting behavior. Owners were also asked to indicate the resolutions employed, including training methods and equipment, behavior modification programs, behavior modification and training techniques, medications, and forms of alternative medicine. Using a self-reported questionnaire, both cohesive and dispersive aggressive behaviors were investigated including conflict aggression (CA), interdog housemate aggression (HA), fear aggression toward people (FA), fear aggression toward dogs (FAD), and predatory aggression (PA). Fifty-three percent of dogs with reported aggressive behaviors were mixed breeds. The study sample was 56% male, a majority (91%) of which was neutered. Most commonly, the dogs with reported aggressive behaviors were the sole dog in the household. Fifty-six percent of dogs were brought to at least one professional for remedial assistance. Of the owners that sought help from a DACVB, a majority (81%) found the advice to be helpful for treating their dog's aggression. Fifteen percent of dogs brought to veterinarians for advice about behavior problems were found to have an underlying medical problem contributing to the dog's misbehavior. As far as training equipment was concerned, we found that anti-bark collars and muzzles decreased the probability for successful treatment of aggression. Thirty-six percent of dogs were exposed to behavior modification programs as a form of treatment and an association was found between employment of a systematic desensitization and counterconditioning for treatment of overall aggression. When employing behavior modification training techniques, response blocking was found to decrease probability for improvement when employed for treatment of fear aggression to other dogs and predatory aggression. Improved dog-owner communication, habituation, relaxation protocols, and short and frequent training sessions were the most consistently beneficial behavior modification techniques. At least one beneficial behavior modification technique was identified for each investigated form of aggression. Twenty-one percent of dogs received medication as a form of treatment for aggression. Surprisingly, we failed to find any significant associations between treatment response and the administration of specific medications. When investigating alternative medicines, we found nutraceuticals to be helpful when treating overall aggression.

Impact of low-volume concurrent strength training distribution on muscular adaptation

ObjectivesMilitary-, rescue- and law-enforcement personnel require a high physical capacity including muscular strength. The present study hypothesized that 9 weeks of volume matched concurrent short frequent training sessions increases strength more efficiently than less frequent longer training sessions. DesignA randomized training intervention study with functional and physiological tests before and after the intervention. MethodsMilitary conscripts (n=290) were assigned to micro-training (four 15-min strength and four 15-min endurance bouts weekly); classical-training (one 60-min strength and one 60-min endurance training session weekly) or a control-group (two 60-min standard military physical training sessions weekly). ResultsThere were no group difference between micro-training and classical-training in measures of strength. Standing long jump remained similar while shotput performance was reduced (P≤0.001) in all three groups. Pull-up performance increased (P≤0.001) in micro-training (7.4±4.6 vs. 8.5±4.0 repetitions, n=59) and classical-training (5.7±4.1 vs. 7.1±4.2 repetitions, n=50). Knee extensor MVC increased (P≤0.01) in all groups (micro-training, n=30, 11.5±8.9%; classical-training, n=24, 8.3±11.5% and control, n=19, 7.5±11.8%) while elbow flexor and hand grip MVC remained similar. Micro-training increased (P≤0.05) type IIa percentage from 32.5±11.0% to 37.6±12.3% (n=20) and control-group increased (P≤0.01) type IIax from 4.4±3.0% to 11.6±7.9% (n=8). In control-group type I, fiber size increased (P≤0.05) from 5121±959μm to 6481±2084μm (n=5). Satellite cell content remained similar in all groups. ConclusionsWeekly distribution of low-volume concurrent training completed as either eight 15-min bouts or two 60-min sessions of which 50% was strength training did not impact strength gains in a real-world setting.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ДИСТАНЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ В ПРОСВЕТИТЕЛЬСКОЙ РАБОТЕ ПО ПРОФИЛАКТИКЕ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНЫХ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ РАБОТНИКОВ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЙ СФЕРЫ

Objective: Identify the capabilities of remote technologies in the implementation of a socially educational project on prevention of occupational diseases of educators. Methods: The study involved the participation of workers of educational organizations in the Ryazan region of the Russian Federation, as well as health workers responsible for scheduled health assessments and professional examinations of teaching employees. The study period is 2017-2019. Total number of study participants was: 480 teachers, 51 health workers. Results: The survey of respondents demonstrated a subjective assessment of their health, desire and willingness to use a social internet resources containing information on the capabilities, methods, technologies and tools that help reduce the risks of occupational diseases. On the basis of expert interviews and focus groups, the most effective forms of remote presentation of information (video lectures, webinars, checklists, cases, etc.), frequency of training sessions, forms of control were identified. Conclusion: Developed concept of a permanent remote educational auditory allows solving the problem of informative support of prevention and prophylaxis of occupational diseases of workers in educational system. Keywords: Occupational diseases, teachers, prevention, remote education.

Documentation and investigation of missing health care equipment: The need to safeguard high priced devices in health care institutions

Objective: Missing medical equipment in health care settings decrease productivity, increase spending to replace losses, and potentially endanger patient safety. By documenting and investigating the causes of these incidents, strategies to prevent future occurrences can be developed.Methods: As an example of this approach, we describe the inadvertent disposal of an expensive medical device during a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted within a medical facility. The incident was carefully documented and investigated shortly after it occurred. This information was used to develop targeted interventions to prevent further occurrences.Results: The device was a mattress overlay connected to a computer monitor that generated a continuous pressure image for use by nursing staff in the prevention of pressure injuries. An Environmental Services staff member disposed of one of these devices when the room of an enrolled patient was cleaned following their transfer to another unit. Miscommunication (or a misunderstanding of communicated information) and lack of awareness were identified as the main causes of this error.Discussion: By using the loss as a learning opportunity, the investigation of the incident led to strategies for preventing future occurrences. These included frequent training sessions for staff and improvements in signage. A detailed, factual and timely investigation of the events around the loss of armamentarium coupled with analysis on how to prevent future occurrences should be considered for all incidents involving high cost equipment.Conclusions: A standardized, non-judgmental approach to documenting and investigating the causes of costly equipment loss can lead to strategies for improved asset management and the prevention of further incidents of this nature.

Impact of Educational Intervention for Hand Hygiene on Dental Students' Knowledge, Attitude, and Bacterial Contamination Level on Hands.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the educational intervention for hand hygiene (HH) on knowledge, attitude, and mean colony-forming bacterial counts and type of bacteria on hands of undergraduate dental students. A total of 86 dental students from different clinical grades were included in the study. They were divided into two groups, group I (55 students) received onetime educational session for HH at the start of the academic year and group II (31 students) received an extra reenforce-ment session 6 months later. After 2 weeks of reenforcement session, a self-administrated questionnaire was directed to all participants assessing their knowledge and attitude about HH. Fingertip prints of the five fingers of the dominant hand from every participant were pressed onto blood agar plates in triplets at the same clinical session, before and after HH. Bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) on each plate were recorded and identified microbiologically. The overall scores of knowledge and attitude showed higher levels in group II than in group I with nonsignificant differences between both groups as regards knowledge and significant differences (p < 0.05) as regards attitude. Mean CFUs showed extremely significant differences (p < 0.000) between 2nd and 3rd counts and between 1st and 2nd counts except for students of group I where the difference was only significant (p < 0.05). Normal bacterial flora was identified in 94.9% of the plates (92.2% coagulase-negative Staphylococci and 2.7% Micrococcus). Potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated from the other plates were Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas spp., and spore-forming aerobic nonhemolytic Bacilli. Reenforcement session had a positive impact on HH knowledge, attitude, and reduction of bacterial CFUs. Continuous education with frequent training sessions is recommended to reinforce HH compliance and reduce cross-contamination.

Adapting operational research training to the Rwandan context: the Intermediate Operational Research Training programme

ABSTRACT Background: Promoting national health research agendas in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires adequate numbers of individuals with skills to initiate and conduct research. Recently, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have joined research capacity building efforts to increase research leadership by LMIC nationals. Partners In Health, an international NGO operating in Rwanda, implemented its first Intermediate Operational Research Training (IORT) course to cultivate Rwandan research talent and generate evidence to improve health care delivery. Objective: This paper describes the implementation of IORT to share experiences with other organizations interested in developing similar training programmes. Methods: The Intermediate Operational Research Training utilized a deliverable-driven training model, using learning-by-doing pedagogy with intensive hands-on mentorship to build research skills from protocol development to scientific publication. The course had short (two-day) but frequent training sessions (seven sessions over eight months). Trainees were clinical and programme staff working at the district level who were paired to jointly lead a research project. Results: Of 10 trainees admitted to the course from a pool of 24 applicants, nine trainees completed the course with five research projects published in peer-reviewed journals. Strengths of the course included supportive national and institutional research capacity guidelines, building from a successful training model, and trainee commitment. Challenges included delays in ethical review, high mentorship workload of up to 250 hours of practicum mentorship, lack of access to literature in subscription journals and high costs of open access publication. Conclusions: The IORT course was an effective way to support the district-based government and NGO staff in gaining research skills, as well as answering research questions relevant to health service delivery at district hospitals. Other NGOs should build on successful programmes while adapting course elements to address context-specific challenges. Mentorship for LMIC trainees is critical for effectiveness of research capacity building initiatives.

Association Between Religious Coping and Quality of Working Life in Nurses

Background: Nurses are an important part of the health system, thus it is essential to evaluate the quality of their working life. Based on various studies, positive religious coping has positive consequences such as higher self-esteem and better quality of life. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the association between religious coping and quality of work life among nurses during year 2015. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 285 nurses of four training-therapeutic hospitals (who were selected with the multi-stage sampling method) of Sari city. Data collection tools consisted of a 31-item standard questionnaire of religious coping and Walton’s standard questionnaire of quality of working life that included 32 items. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 using descriptive (mean and SD) and inferential statistics (Pearson and Spearman correlation). Results: Among 285 nurses, 70 (24.6%) were male and 215 (74.4%) were female with an average age of 33 (SD = 6.95; 95%CI: 32.19 - 33.81) years. The mean and standard deviation of religious coping and quality of work life for nurses were 101 ± 16.798 and 85.57 ± 16.769, respectively. Based on statistical test of Pearson correlation, a direct and significant relationship was found between variables of religious coping behaviors and quality of working life of nurses (r = 0.387, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results revealed that there was a significant association between religious coping and quality of life of nurses, and it seemed that by making efforts to improve the quality of religious coping in this group and by frequent training sessions, the quality of life of nurses can be improved.

Effects of tapering on physical match activities in professional soccer players

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to examine: (i) the effect of decreasing training load (TL) during taper weeks on physical match activities in professional soccer players, and (ii) to disclose the relationship between weekly TL and physical match activities. Rating of perceived exertion was collected after each training session and match to quantify the TL in 19 professional players over 17 standard and 7 taper weeks during the season. Physical match activities were quantified by a computerised match analysis system and compared between standard training and taper weeks. Compared to standard weeks, the duration and frequency of training sessions during the taper weeks decreased (−21.7% and −18.8%, respectively; P < 0.01) with no change in intensity (−4.8%; P = 0.09). Consequently, the weekly TL decreased during the taper weeks (−25.5%; P < 0.01). Increases in distance covered by intense running (+15.1%; P < 0.05), high-intensity running (HIR) (+15.7%; P < 0.01), number of sprints (+17.8%; P < 0.05) and number of high-speed runs (+15.7%; P < 0.05) were observed during the seven matches played after the taper weeks. High relationships were observed between TL and HIR distance covered, number of HIR and number of sprints (r = −0.53; r = −0.55; r = −0.65, respectively; P < 0.01). Decreasing TL during taper weeks by reducing training duration and frequency but maintaining intensity was associated with an increase in physical activities during matches. However, it needs to be determined whether tapering or other match factors led to the changes in match activity.

A cross-sectional study evaluating the awareness of pharmacovigilance among MBBS interns of a teaching hospital in south India

Background: Spontaneous reporting is the backbone of any pharmacovigilance programme. The pharmacovigilance programme of India, started in 2010 has not seen considerable success, owing to underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This can be attributed to a lack of awareness of pharmacovigilance among the healthcare professionals. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the level of knowledge, awareness, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among interns of a teaching hospital. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was done among interns of a teaching hospital. A predesigned Questionnaire was distributed among 150 interns, from which 138 completed questionnaires were considered. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions dealing with knowledge, awareness, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance. Data was analysed and presented as percentage of respondents. Results: 71% interns correctly identified the definition of pharmacovigilance. However, their awareness was deficient, in particular about the existence of an ADR monitoring centre in their own institution (33%). The rate of ADR reporting was immensely inadequate (12 %), which is a matter of utmost concern and requires immediate attention. The factors discouraging them from reporting ADRs were insufficient knowledge about the reporting procedure and a lack of time to report. Conclusions: Interns lacked the required level of awareness, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance, which needs to be resolved instantly by organizing frequent training sessions. Continued medical education programmes and workshops may be helpful in increasing their awareness and consequently to improve the rate of spontaneous ADR reporting.

Simulation exercise to improve retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation priorities for in-hospital cardiac arrests: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundTraditional American Heart Association (AHA) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) curriculum focuses on teams of two performing quality chest compressions with rescuers on their knees but does not include training specific to In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests (IHCA), i.e. patient in hospital bed with large resuscitation teams and sophisticated technology available. DesignA randomized controlled trial was conducted with the primary goal of evaluating the effectiveness and ideal frequency of in-situ training on time elapsed from call for help to; (1) initiation of chest compressions and (2) successful defibrillation in IHCA. MethodsNon-intensive care unit nurses were randomized into four groups: standard AHA training (C) and three groups that participated in 15min in-situ IHCA training sessions every two (2M), three (3M) or six months (6M). Curriculum included specific choreography for teams to achieve immediate chest compressions, high chest compression fractions and rapid defibrillation while incorporating use of a backboard, stepstool. ResultsMore frequent training was associated with decreased median (IQR) seconds to: starting compressions: [C: 33(25–40) vs. 6M: 21(15–26) vs. 3M: 14(10–20) vs. 2M: 13(9–20); p<0.001]; and defibrillation: [C: 157(140–254) vs. 6M: 138(107–158) vs. 3M: 115(101–119) vs. 2M: 109(98–129); p<0.001]. A composite outcome of key priorities, compressions within 20s, defibrillation within 180s and use of a backboard, revealed improvement with more frequent training sessions: [C:5%(1/18) vs. 6M: 23%(4/17) vs. 3M: 56%(9/16) vs. 2M: 73%(11/15); p<0.001]. ConclusionResults revealed short in-situ training sessions conducted every 3 months are effective in improving timely initiation of chest compressions and defibrillation in IHCA.

Injury prevention in male veteran football players – a randomised controlled trial using “FIFA 11+”

The warm-up programme “FIFA 11+” has been shown to reduce football injuries in different populations, but so far veteran players have not been investigated. Due to differences in age, skill level and gender, a simple transfer of these results to veteran football is not recommended. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of the “FIFA 11+” in veteran football players.Twenty veteran football teams were recruited for a prospective 9-month (1 season) cluster-randomised trial. The intervention group (INT, n = 146; 45 ± 8 years) performed the “FIFA 11+” at the beginning of each training session, while the control group (CON, n = 119; 43 ± 6 years) followed its regular training routine. Player exposure hours and injuries were recorded according to an international consensus statement.No significant difference was found between INT and CON in overall injury incidence (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.91 [0.64–1.48]; P = 0.89). Only severe injuries reached statistical significance with higher incidence in CON (IRR: 0.46 [0.21–0.97], P = 0.04).Regular conduction (i.e. once a week) of the “FIFA 11+” did not prevent injuries in veteran footballers under real training and competition circumstances. The lack of preventive effects is likely due to the too low overall frequency of training sessions.