Institution In Singapore Research Articles

The Development of Professional Identity among Counsellors in Tertiary Educational Institutions in Singapore

Though counselling as a field has been in existence in Singapore for the last 30 years, many individuals (both members of the public and those of other professions) still do not have a clear idea of the roles played by counsellors. This indicates that counsellors’ professional identity is still fairly weak. The purpose of this study was to identify elements of practice which in-fluence the development of professional identity amongst counsellors working in tertiary educational institutions in Singapore. Using grounded theory as the main methodology, the findings from this study seek to extend the growing literature base (Chong & Ow, 2004; Low, 2015; Yeo & Lee, 2014) on the professional development of counsellors in Singapore as well as to potentially be used as the foundation for further research into future efforts to improve professional identities of counsellors in Singapore.

Rekonsepsi Pendidikan Karakter Berbasis Islam Pada Masyarakat Multikultural Singapura

Inequality that occurs in this life is caused by poor human character. Efforts to equip generations with character education continue to be a concern. The purpose of this research is to reveal; (1) the form of reconceptualization of Islamic-based character education in the Singapore Perdaus institution, (2) the influencing factors, and (3) the impact or implications. The approach used is qualitative, the research data is information about character education in the Perdaus Singapore institution, the data analysis is descriptive-qualitative. The findings of this study are (1) the concept of character education in the Singapore Perdaus institution is implemented in the form of character education through the al-Quran, kurban activities, early childhood education, and character education for youth, (2) there are two influencing factors, namely; External factors include government support, public awareness, well-established community conditions, and high intensity of career women. As for the internal factors in the form of competent human resources, open institutions, and innovation and adequate facilities, (3) the positive impact is the strengthening of public trust in Islamic institutions, the birth of a cultured generation of advanced society, and the opening of job opportunities. The conclusion of this study shows that the values of universal Islamic character do not conflict with the life of developed societies.

Normative reference values and regression equations to predict the 6-minute walk distance in the Asian adult population aged 21-80 years.

The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a widely used field walking test. This study reports the normative reference values (NRV) of distance walked during 6MWT (6MWD) in healthy Singaporeans (aged 21-80) and updates the 6MWD reference equations. This information may facilitate the interpretation of the 6MWD in clinical populations. The Singapore Institute of Technology-Institutional Review Board (SIT-IRB Project Number: 2019099) approved this study to be carried out from June 2019 to January 2021. All participants gave written informed consent before data collection began. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a widely adopted submaximal field-walking test to evaluate functional exercise capacity. This validated test is a reliable, safe, inexpensive, and straightforward assessment tool commonly used as an outcome measure, using the distance walked (6MWD) as the primary outcome. An earlier study has established the normative reference values (NRV) and equation in healthy Singaporeans - however, the small sample size and narrow age range curb adequate representation of the adult population profile. This study aims to update the NRV and reference equations to predict the distance walked during 6MWT (6MWD) for healthy Singaporeans aged 21-80. This cross-sectional study recruited community-dwelling healthy subjects aged 21-80 via convenience sampling. Each subject completed two trials of 6MWT according to the standard protocol. Primary outcome measures included 6MWD, pre-and post-test heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation, and blood pressure (BP). 172 healthy Singaporeans (, ) participated. The overall mean 6MWD was metres. The age-stratified mean 6MWD ranged from metres (aged 21-39) to metres (aged 60-80). Age, gender, and percentage maximum HR predicted (%PredHRmax) were the most significant variables (). 6MWD reference (HR reserve, bpm) (weight, kg), . Applying equations from other studies to the Singaporean population resulted in an overestimation of the 6MWD. This study updated the NRV and reference equations of 6MWD for healthy Singaporeans aged between 21-80 years. This update revises the local benchmarks of 6MWD in Singapore, a widely adopted outcome measure.

Minimizing the risk of patient head injury in cardiac catheterization laboratory

Purpose: Head injury is a reportable event in hospital. Although the occurrence of unexpected head injury during cardiac catheterization examination is somewhat unpredictable, it is believed that to a certain extent, this type of unexpected head injury may be preventable, or at least the risk can be minimized.Methods: The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) nursing team, together with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) faculty members from Health and Social Sciences and Engineering clusters, aimed to design a “protective Guard” that could easily be mounted onto the diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging equipment, for the purpose of minimize the risk of head injury that caused by patients who may suddenly tried to get up or lift up his head and hit their head against the diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging machine during cardiac invasive procedure.Results: A disposable “Protective Guard” was manufactured by SIT with inputs from the NHCS Cardiac Catherization Laboratory team. It can easily be mounted and dismantled and can effectively serve as a shock absorbent if the head hit against the diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging machine. The staff in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory were given some samples for trial. Their responses on user satisfaction survey were very good.Conclusion: As part of the spirit of continuous improvement, the NHCS nursing team has constantly been on the lookout for areas to improve patient experience and address preventable issues.Here, we are showcasing a collaborative qualitative improvement project between SIT and NHCS on minimizing the potential risk of patient head injury during cardiac invasive procedures. Although head injury incident is extremely rare, it has a significant impact to the hospital and staff working in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Indeed, patient safety and experience always the no.1 priority in the healthcare industry. Purpose: Head injury is a reportable event in hospital. Although the occurrence of unexpected head injury during cardiac catheterization examination is somewhat unpredictable, it is believed that to a certain extent, this type of unexpected head injury may be preventable, or at least the risk can be minimized. Methods: The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) nursing team, together with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) faculty members from Health and Social Sciences and Engineering clusters, aimed to design a “protective Guard” that could easily be mounted onto the diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging equipment, for the purpose of minimize the risk of head injury that caused by patients who may suddenly tried to get up or lift up his head and hit their head against the diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging machine during cardiac invasive procedure. Results: A disposable “Protective Guard” was manufactured by SIT with inputs from the NHCS Cardiac Catherization Laboratory team. It can easily be mounted and dismantled and can effectively serve as a shock absorbent if the head hit against the diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging machine. The staff in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory were given some samples for trial. Their responses on user satisfaction survey were very good. Conclusion: As part of the spirit of continuous improvement, the NHCS nursing team has constantly been on the lookout for areas to improve patient experience and address preventable issues. Here, we are showcasing a collaborative qualitative improvement project between SIT and NHCS on minimizing the potential risk of patient head injury during cardiac invasive procedures. Although head injury incident is extremely rare, it has a significant impact to the hospital and staff working in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Indeed, patient safety and experience always the no.1 priority in the healthcare industry.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Trends in a Psychiatric Institute in Singapore.

To compare the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) between inpatients at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore and the general population over 8 years to determine the effectiveness of our infection control strategies. Data for cases of influenza and URTI at our institute between January 2012 and December 2019 were collected. National data were derived from weekly infectious disease bulletins that report daily averages of people attending polyclinics/surgeries with influenza and URTI. Interrupted time series analyses were used to determine the impact of infection prevention and control strategies on incidence. Over the 8 years, there were 1607 cases of URTI involving 182 clusters, equal to 3.16 cases per 10 000 patient-bed-days. 965 (60%) cases and 95 (52%) clusters occurred in long-stay wards, whereas 642 (40%) cases and 87 (48%) clusters occurred in acute wards. The median cluster size was 12 in the long-stay wards and 7 in the acute wards (p < 0.0001). The spikes in cases in June and December may be attributed to the increased staff and visitor mobility during school vacations in June and December. Strategies implemented during the study period did not significantly reduce the incidence of URTI. Previous strategies implemented in 2005 to meet accreditation standards are more likely to be contributors. Infection control strategies of our institute appear to be effective, because the incidence of URTI was lower in our institute than in the community. The similar incidence of URTI in acute and long-stay wards indicates that service-user turnover is not a contributor. Rather, staff and visitors are more likely to be the vector. The larger clusters in long-stay wards indicates a greater risk of transmission in such settings. Increased activity in our institute during school vacations may be associated with an increase in cases in June and December. It is difficult to determine if strategies implemented during the study period successfully reduce the incidence of URTI.

Clinical characteristics and genetic testing outcome of suspected hereditary peripheral nerve sheath tumours in a tertiary cancer institution in Singapore

BackgroundPeripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (PNST) are a diverse group of mostly benign tumours uncommon in the general population. About 5–10% of PNSTs are hereditary, predominantly arising from germline variants in NF1, NF2, SMARCB1, or LZTR1 gene.MethodsWe reviewed the clinical characteristics and genetic testing results of patients referred to the NCIS Adult Cancer Genetics Clinic for suspected hereditary PNST.Results3,001 patients suspected to have various hereditary cancer syndromes were evaluated between year 2000 to March 2021. 13 (0.4%) were clinically diagnosed to have hereditary PNSTs. The majority were male (54%), with a median age at presentation to the genetics clinic of 29 years (range 19–48). 11/13 (85%) patients had multiple PNSTs, 12/13 (92%) had young onset PNSTs, 5/13 (38.5%) had personal and family history of PNST. 11/13 patients (85%) had clinical features of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) including one patient who also fulfilled clinical criteria of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2); 2/13 (14%) had multiple schwannomas. Four patients underwent multi-gene panel testing, including one patient with clinical NF1, one patient who met both clinical NF1 and NF2 criteria, and two patients with multiple schwannomas. The patient with clinical features of NF1 was heterozygous for a pathogenic c. 2033dup variant in the NF1 gene. The patient with both NF1/NF2 features was heterozygous for a novel c.732 T > A nonsense variant in the NF2 gene. The two patients with multiple schwannomas were heterozygous for a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in the LZTR1 gene and are the first LZTR1-positive schwannomatosis patients reported in Asia.ConclusionHereditary PNSTs are rare referrals to an adult cancer genetics clinic. NF1 is the most common PNST seen. LZTR1 variants may be the underlying cause in Asian patients with multiple schwannomatosis.

Association of systemic vitamin D on the course of dengue virus infection in adults: a single-centre dengue cohort study at a large institution in Singapore.

Host immune responses may impact dengue severity in adults. Vitamin D has multiple immunomodulatory effects on innate and adaptive immunity. We evaluated the association between systemic 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH) D] and dengue disease severity in adults. We measured plasma for total 25-(OH) D levels with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using stored samples from participants with laboratory-confirmed dengue, who were prospectively enrolled in 2012-2016 at our institution. A total of 80 participants (median age 43 years) were enrolled in the study. Six participants had severe dengue based on the World Health Organization (WHO) 1997 criteria (i.e. dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome) and another six had severe dengue based on the WHO 2009 criteria. Median 25-(OH) D at the acute phase of dengue was 6.175 (interquartile range 3.82-8.21, range 3.00-15.29) mcg/L in all participants. The 25-(OH) D showed an inverse linear trend with severe dengue manifestations based on the WHO 2009 criteria (adjusted risk ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.57-0.91, P < 0.01) after adjustment for age, gender and ethnicity. Limited studies have evaluated the role of systemic 25-(OH) D on dengue severity. Our study found low systemic 25-(OH) D was associated with increased dengue disease severity, particularly for severe bleeding that was not explained by thrombocytopenia. Further studies investigating the underlying immune mechanisms and effects on the vascular endothelium are needed.

Student satisfaction and interaction in higher education.

Given the pivotal role of student satisfaction in the higher education sector, myriad factors contributing to higher education satisfaction have been examined in the literature. Within this literature, one lesser-researched factor has been that of the quality and types of interpersonal interactions in which students engage. As existing literature has yet to fully explore the contributions made by different forms of interaction to student satisfaction in higher education, this study aimed to provide a more fine-grained analysis of how different forms of interaction between students, their peers and their instructors relate to different aspects of student satisfaction. A total of 280 undergraduate students from one of the largest higher education institutions in Singapore participated in the study. Results provided an in-depth analysis of eight aspects of student satisfaction (i.e. satisfaction with the program, teaching of lecturers, institution, campus facilities, student support provided, own learning, overall university experience and life as a university student in general) and suggested that the different aspects of student satisfaction were associated with three different forms of interaction: student–student formal, student–student informal and student-instructor.

Comparison of clinical characteristics, eating behaviors, and clinical symptoms following fat intake in functional dyspepsia with functional dyspepsia with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities between Singapore and Japan.

To clarify whether there were any significant differences in clinical symptoms and eating patterns between functional dyspepsia (FD) patients and FD with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (FD-P) patients as refractory FD, we compared these factors in multicenter studies in Singapore and Japan. One hundred ninety-eight consecutive patients presenting with FD (n=88), FD-P patients (n=81) based on Rome III classification and controlled group (n=39) recruited from six institutions in Singapore and Japan. Clinical characteristics, clinical symptoms for dietary fat intake, and eating behaviors were estimated using questionnaires. Anxiety and health-related quality of life were determined by STAI-state/-trait and SF-8, respectively. There were no significant differences in age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, past medical history, and history of allergy in FD and FD-P patients between Singapore and Japan. There were no significant differences in FD subtypes, gastrointestinal symptom rating scale score, severity of FD symptoms, and eating pattern in Singapore and Japan. Moreover, there were significant differences in certain eating behaviors between FD and FD-P patients in Singapore and Japan. Interestingly, epigastric pain and early satiety following fat meals in FD-P patients were significantly (P=0.003 and P=0.008, respectively) higher compared with those in FD patients in Japan. Physical component score in FD-P patients was significantly (P=0.019) disturbed compared with those in FD patients in Japan. Epigastric pain and early satiety following fat meals in FD-P patients may be useful tools to differentiate FD-P patients from FD patients in Japan.

Exploring Instrumental, Expectancy, and Valence Components in Motivation for Learning among University Students in Selected ASEAN Country

Motivation is a reason for acting or behaving in a particular way while learning is a structured combination of human elements, materials, facilities, equipment, and procedures that influence each other to achieve learning goals. In others words, motivation for learning is intrinsic, where learners are interested in the course content, or extrinsic, where learners are interested in earning a course grade or credit. Motivation for learning is an important factor for students to achieve success in learning from various backgrounds of study in the university. But, the instrument, expectance, and valence components for motivation learning in university need to be explored and analyzed. This paper aims to identify the instrumental, expectancy, and valence components that influence learning motivation. To obtain the data quantitative research method with survey instruments was used. The survey questionnaire is divided into 4 sections including demographic profile, instrument components, expectancy components, and valence components. About 141 students from selected higher education institutions in ASEAN countries Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia participated in this research. The findings show that extrinsic goal orientation is the most influential factor to motivate the student to study. So that the lecturer has to prepare students to obtain the highest grade by implementing teaching and learning sessions effectively and achieving all the objectives needed.

Minimum standards of clinical practice for physiotherapists working in adult intensive care units in Singapore

Background Physiotherapists play a crucial role in rehabilitating critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). However, variations are found in clinical practice amongst physiotherapists working in the ICU, both locally and internationally, due to the lack of minimum clinical standards and varying knowledge on critical care rehabilitation resulting in inconsistent quality of care. Purpose To establish a framework of the minimum standards of clinical practice for physiotherapists working in ICU in Singapore and compare the standards with existing literature. Methods A three-round modified Delphi questionnaire survey technique collated responses from ICU physiotherapists. The questionnaire contained 222 items, categorised into assessments, conditions and treatments. Responses to the items were either: “Yes, it is essential”, “No, it is not essential”, or “I am not sure”. Consensus for an item was reached when 70% of participants ranked it essential or non-essential. Participants comprised registered physiotherapists who have worked in the ICU for at least six months in the last 12 months and are currently working in the ICU. Results 23 physiotherapists (median ICU-experience 7.0 (4.3–9.8) years) gave consent and completed the initial survey. 13 completed all three rounds of questionnaires. Overall, 163 items were regarded as essential, 21 as non-essential, and 38 did not reach consensus. The identified 163 items varied from similar studies due to different scopes of physiotherapy practice and professional autonomy. Conclusion This framework may guide the content of the physiotherapy education curriculum on critical care rehabilitation and minimise variability in clinical practice across different healthcare institutions in Singapore.

Crisis management in the community mass recall of angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan due to nitrosamine impurities

Introduction Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB) are widely utilized in the treatment of hypertension and nephropathy. In March 2019, a mass recall of selected brands of an ARB, losartan due to reported elevated levels of potentially carcinogenic nitrosamine impurities was implemented in a Singapore primary care institution. Objective To describe the crisis management of the mass losartan recall in a public primary healthcare institution in Singapore. Methods The crisis management framework was adapted from the Gonzalez-Herrero and Pratt model. This crisis was managed over three phases: identification of impending crisis based on risk reports by local health authorities, formation of a task force to develop turnaround strategies and measures, implementation and monitoring of the remedial measures. Data to plan and chart implementation was retrieved from the institution databases, including the Electronic Health Intelligence System for patient medical and prescription records, Outpatient Administrative System for reimbursement of medications and other expenditures incurred. An exigency scheme, Losartas® Review Service (LRS), was established to expedite the replacement of the affected medication with another ARB or another anti-hypertensive medication. Results SingHealth Polyclinics completed the recall of 29,794 (92.1%) patients within 14 weeks. The majority of the patients (76.2%) were attended to by doctors, while 16.5% and 7.3% were managed using the LRS and pharmacy respectively. The institution incurred a cost of SGD2,824,760 (estimated SGD95 per patient) to manage the crisis. Conclusion The successful implementation of a mass medication recall hinged on timely intervention, cross-departmental coordination, effective communication and judicious resource allocation.

Diagnosis and management of polycystic ovary syndrome: Perspectives of clinicians in Singapore

To harmonise the diagnostic processes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and enable clinicians to provide better patient care, it is critical to understand the knowledge gaps in PCOS diagnosis. We evaluated how clinicians in endocrinology, family medicine, general practice and gynaecology diagnose PCOS. This cross-sectional survey involved 208 clinicians from specific subspecialties across various healthcare settings in Singapore. A total of 160 responses were included in the final analysis. Among all the diagnostic criteria, the Rotterdam 2003 criteria was most frequently used (66.3%). More than half of the gynaecologists reported having a standardised workplace protocol while the majority from other specialties reported otherwise. A large percentage of respondents (60.5%) were unable to identify the correct PCOS clinical features, which is concerning. Only 8.8% of respondents used clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism, menstrual disturbances and pelvic ultrasound to diagnose PCOS without performing unnecessary and incorrect investigations. Most clinicians recognised insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus and fertility problems as complications while only a few recognised psychological complications. Many clinicians (37.3%) sought standardisation of PCOS diagnosis and management guidelines for improvement in PCOS care and 81.9% of respondents would appreciate standardised educational materials. This is the first study to the best of our knowledge that gives an insight into the diagnostic and management processes of PCOS among various healthcare institutions in Singapore. This study calls for greater harmonisation of diagnostic processes and holistic evidence-based management of patients with PCOS through standardised workplace protocols and patient education resources.

Emergent geographies of chronic air pollution governance in Southeast Asia: Transboundary publics in Singapore

AbstractHaze is a product of in‐situ biomass fires that becomes mobile as it moves across state boundaries in Southeast Asia. The literature on the governance of transboundary air commons has largely been fixed at the national or supranational scalar of reference. Hence, successes and failures tend to be evaluated based on policy and diplomatic (non)progress. This paper contributes to recent literature that argues that haze should be treated as a challenge and opportunity for transboundary governance and not merely transnational governance. Transboundary governance does not restrict the study of cross‐border relations to national scales of analysis but encompasses resource connections that traverse borders at all scales of governance. This paper focuses on Singapore, a state where biomass fires do not occur but where the effects of haze are acutely felt. Among ASEAN member states, Singapore has been viewed as a particularly active player in region‐wide governance on haze. However, the role of non‐state environmental stewardship initiatives in pathfinding, nudging, and signalling state, corporate and regional actors towards emergent transboundary governance arrangements have been underplayed. By focusing on the efforts of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), Singapore Environment Council (SEC), and People's Movement to Stop Haze (PM Haze), this paper explores how transboundary publics can fill policy gaps in transnational haze governance regimes. As a highly depoliticised city‐state, Singapore's experience serves as a microcosm for ways forward within the broader ASEAN geopolitical culture favouring depoliticised ‘engaged non‐indifference’.

Perceived stress &amp; sentiments of housemen starting work during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore

Introduction: The transition from medical student to houseman is well recognised as a stressful period for newly qualified doctors. This stress is likely to be heightened when the transition occurs during a pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the perceived stress levels of housemen as they begin housemanship and explore their sentiments and preparedness in starting work amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Housemen starting work at a tertiary institution in Singapore in May 2020 completed the following: (1) Perceived Stress Scale, (2) open-ended questions on perceived challenges and concerns and (3) questionnaire on preparedness and confidence in starting work. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data and modified thematic analysis performed for qualitative data. Results: Sixty-one housemen participated. Thirty-five (57.4%) reported high perceived stress. The themes for perceived challenges in this transition included coping with constant change, lack of reliable information from authorities, dealing with disappointment, physical fatigue, and loss of autonomy. The themes for concerns in beginning housemanship elicited relate to clinical competence, transitioning into new responsibilities, risk of infection with COVID-19, senior expectations, physical fatigue and training-related concerns. Despite these challenges and concerns, housemen were prepared to begin work during this pandemic. Conclusion: Housemen transitioning during this pandemic experienced additional stressors and unique challenges pertaining to working in a pandemic. Encouragingly, they remain prepared to start work. Institutions and departments should be mindful of the specific concerns and challenges so that appropriate support can be put in place to support these junior doctors.

Personal Spaces and Communal Consequences: Navigating Geographical Tensions With the Socially Responsible Behavior through Embodied Thinking (SORBET) Project

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted societies in different ways. This variation is inherently geographical with patterns across space and time reflecting underlying societal inequalities. This study describes a learning intervention designed to afford participants opportunities to experience the diffusion of a (virtual) virus within a community, albeit in a safe way. The intervention was enacted in March 2021 among nine undergraduate teachers-in-training at a teacher-education institute in Singapore. Participants were invited to reflect on the connections between their personal decision-making and its impact on the broader community, after having first undertaken a collaborative task in a virtual environment. The Socially Responsible Behavior through Embodied Thinking (SORBET) Project draws on the learning sciences in terms of embodied cognition and projective identity, and in this study, seeks to apply them to geographical understandings of diffusion. Responses from post-activity interviews are reported along three themes, as structured by the cultural–historical activity theory. Through encouraging reflection on authentic experience, the authors hope to catalyze a more grounded appreciation of the need to practice positive social habits in the context of a pandemic and by extension, contribute to the fight against the virus through the application of geographical thinking at local and global scales.

Therapeutic factors in a group experiential learning programme in teacher education

ABSTRACT This qualitative study explored the experiential group learning experiences of student teachers (STs) who participated in a two-day experientially based group learning programme, as part of their curriculum at a teacher training institute in Singapore. This programme is designed as a personal growth group with an emphasis on value and character development. Thirteen groups were selected, with 12 members from each group randomly recruited to participate in the focus group interviews. A total of thirteen focus group interviews were conducted, with 109 STs participating in the sessions. The interview data was transcribed, coded and presented in themes using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The main themes were largely compatible with the therapeutic factors identified by psychiatrist Irvin Yalom that were found to improve interaction and facilitated outcome in group processes in his research. The overall results show that the dominant therapeutic factors experienced by the participants included instillation of hope, universality, imitative behaviour and cohesiveness. These findings provide us with valuable information that may help facilitate a positive and beneficial group learning experience in teacher education.

In What Ways We Depend: Academic Dependency Theory and the Development of East Asian Sociology

AbstractSince it was framed 20 years ago, Syed Farid Alatas's theory of academic dependence has made a long‐lasting impact within the global social science field, and has elevated the previous discussion on academic dependence. In this essay, we critically examine his theory of academic dependence with an original dataset that contains 22 top sociology institutions in East Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. We further engage the data, and theory within the global higher education ranking system, a theme that had not yet emerged when he framed his theory of academic dependence. Our findings suggest that (1) higher rankings do not create job opportunities for locally trained PhDs; (2) emphasis on the number of publications is still prevalent; (3) adopting the standards set up by the ranking agency re‐enforces the existing global division of academic labor. Overall, sociology in these societies after 20 years is now more dependent, rather than autonomous from, the Western academic center.

In What Ways We Depend: Academic Dependency Theory and the Development of East Asian Sociology

AbstractSince it was framed 20 years ago, Syed Farid Alatas's theory of academic dependence has made a long‐lasting impact within the global social science field, and has elevated the previous discussion on academic dependence. In this essay, we critically examine his theory of academic dependence with an original dataset that contains 22 top sociology institutions in East Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. We further engage the data, and theory within the global higher education ranking system, a theme that had not yet emerged when he framed his theory of academic dependence. Our findings suggest that (1) higher rankings do not create job opportunities for locally trained PhDs; (2) emphasis on the number of publications is still prevalent; (3) adopting the standards set up by the ranking agency re‐enforces the existing global division of academic labor. Overall, sociology in these societies after 20 years is now more dependent, rather than autonomous from, the Western academic center.

Salutogenesis and COVID-19 pandemic impacting nursing education across SEANERN affiliated universities: A multi-national study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of many. Particularly, nursing students experience greater stress as their normal curriculum is interrupted and some of them face the risk of being infected as frontline workers. Nursing faculty members may face similar struggles, in addition to developing teaching materials for online learning. Thus, it is important to examine the faculty members' and students' views on their ability to adapt during the pandemic to obtain a holistic view of how learning and training has been affected. DesignThe descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design was used. SettingsData were collected from Southeast and East Asian Nursing Education and Research Network (SEANERN) affiliated nursing institutions from January 2021 to August 2021. ParticipantsA total of 1897 nursing students and 395 faculty members from SEANERN-affiliated nursing institutions in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were recruited for this study. MethodsQuantitative surveys were used to explore the satisfaction levels in education modalities, confidence levels, psychosocial well-being, sense of coherence and stress levels of nursing students and faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsParticipants were mostly satisfied with the new education modalities, although most students felt that their education was compromised. Both groups showed positive levels of psychosocial well-being, despite scoring low to medium on the sense of coherence scale and experiencing great stress. The participants' sense of coherence was positively correlated with their psychosocial well-being and negatively correlated with stress levels. ConclusionsWhile the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted the lives of nursing students and faculty members, most of them had a healthy level of psychosocial well-being. Having a strong sense of coherence was associated with better psychosocial health and lower stress levels. As such, it may be helpful to develop interventions aimed at improving the sense of coherence of nursing students and staff to help them manage stressors better.